Abra town mayor, councilor surrender

PDEA: Some P’sinan mayors into drug trade 

MANABO, Abra – A mayor and councilor of this province suspected of involvement in the illegal drug trade surrendered even as there  are certain mayors in Pangasinan who are involved in the illegal drugs trade.

Police said Manabo town Mayor Darell Damasing, 37, and San Juan Councilor Generoso Bose, 54, were among those who recently surrendered under OplanTokhang.

Domasing is a member of the National Unity Party while Bose is a member of the Liberal Party. 

The officials signed an oath of undertaking to stop their illegal activities and cooperate with police in identifying members of drug rings operating in their areas.

         Manabo Vice Mayor Bruno Domingo Jr. witnessed the signing of the oath.

        Damasing and Bose are the first local officials to surrender as President Duterte vowed to name local officials involved in illegal drugs. 

On July 5, various guns, ammunition and drug paraphernalia were seized during a raid on the house of former Langiden mayor Noel Castillo in Bangued.

           In Urdaneta City, Pangasinan Tuesday, newly installed Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Isidro Lapeña said there are certain mayors in Pangasinan who are involved in the illegal drugs trade.

Lapeña, who witnessed Tuesday’s surrender of over 700 drug users and peddlers in Urdanetastopped short of naming names or detailing the involvement of these mayors to the illegal drugs trade, but assured he had a list and that it is already being validated.

He said the anti-illegal drugs campaign was just beginning and that it will be further intensified.

“Wala kaming sasantuhin kahit sino pa sila at hindi namin silatatantanan (We won’t spare anyone; there will be no let-up in the fight against drugs),”  said Lapeña.

A native of this city, Lapeña welcomed the surrender of confessed drug pushers and users in the city at the Cultural Sport Complex, here.

The PDEA Chief — joined Mayor Amadeo G. Perez IV, PDEA Region 1 Director Jeoffrey C. Tacio, and Supt. Jeff Fanged, city police chief — administered the oath on the 700 surrenderers from 27 barangays who pledged to turn away from using and selling illegal drugs. – With a report fromLiezleBasaInigo