The League of Municipalities in the Philippines-Negros Oriental is 100 percent behind President Duterte in the war against illegal drugs.
The statement comes in the heels of a “locked up” meeting Wednesday in Malacañang with the country’s local chief executives.
Negros Oriental Mayors’ League President, Ayungon Mayor Edcel Enardecido, disclosed Thursday that President Duterte did not name names about mayors who are suspected of being involved in illegal drugs.
The President, however, urged them to maximize the use of their respective intelligence funds, or he will personally look into how it is being used, Enardecido added.
Duterte said he is the only person, other than the Commission on Audit, who can ‘make silip’ into the intelligence funds.
It was also disclosed during the meeting that the Negros Island Region is among the top three regions in the country with the most number of pushers and users, the Ayungon Mayor disclosed.
The National Capital Region (Metro Manila) comes first, followed by Region 3/Central Luzon (Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga/Angeles City, Tarlac, and Zambales/Olongapo City) in 2nd place.
Based on records, Negros Oriental alone has more than 13,000 civic action volunteers under Operation TokHang.
Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo said President Duterte met them as a mayor himself, and not as the President.
Duterte appealed to all mayors to help in the fight against the drug trade, corruption, and criminality, Remollo said.
The President was firm in his belief that the drug trade will not flourish in the localities if the mayors and the police are not in cahoots with each other, Remollo added.
Duterte was also appalled by validated reports that local executives up to the barangay level, and the police are involved in the drug trade.
Remollo reiterated his all- out support to the war against illegal drugs and other forms of criminality especially in Dumaguete.
Mabinay Mayor Ernesto Uy and Tanjay City Mayor Reynaldo Concepcion confirmed reports that their cellphones were secured, and so no pictures or recordings were taken during the closed-door usapang-Mayor.
Mayor Concepcion refused to reveal pronouncements made by the President in the meeting so these will “just remain among the mayors themselves”.
The Tanjay Mayor, however, said he is against the taking of lives, especially those of drug addicts. He did not elaborate. (Judy F. Partlow/JG)
