Kalinga elders, CPLA: Cops not jailing drug offenders

By Peter A. Balocnit

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Residents and former cadres of the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army recently said here police officers were not jailing suspects in illegal drug trafficking.

This, when the Kalinga Police Public Safety Company, Police Advisory Council and law enforcers held information drive in barangays to stop proliferation of illegal drugs in the province. 

Pablo Weygan, former CPLA commander, now an elder of Barangay Ileb where the latest event was held, assured support of his tribe against the menace.

However, together with other elders and officials, they aired their misgivings against the police and prosecutors saying those caught violating the law were not being jailed.

              To this, lawyer Zane Mark Bongayon, Kalinga National Police CommIssion director and KPPSC PAC chairman, said cases are treated fairly in court through due process, saying policemen found coddling suspects are dealt with accordingly.

Law enforcers said information dirvesere needed in the province as drug pushers and users  can’t be counted on to be  bothered by their  conscience  over their dealings that destroy lives of people and communities.

Ileb is one of  hot spot sitios of illegal drugs in the city, and the activity was aimed to get  support and cooperation of residents in resettlement site of former CPLA members against illegal drugs.

          Police personnel led by Supt. Jomarick Felina and the PAC members distributed assorted gifts mostly food items to children and parents in Ileb during the occasion.