Alcala brod, tagged as drug lord, yields

LUCENA CITY, Quezon, Philippines – Tagged as the top drug lord in this province, the brother of former agriculture secretary Proceso Alcala surrendered to the police yesterday.

Cerilo “Athel” Alcala and his son Shajid showed up before provincial police director Sr. Supt. Antonio Yarra and denied their links to drug syndicates.

Yarra said the Alcalas were convinced to surrender by Quezon Rep. Vicente Alcala, the elder Alcala’s brother, and nephew of Lucena Mayor Roderick Alcala.

Yarra said the father and son were both high-value targets in their watch list of drug personalities.

Athel allegedly topped the watch list in the province as a supplier of illegal drugs for more than a decade, with central Quezon as his area of operations.

Police said Athel and his son were arrested in 2009 for possession of illegal drugs. Both were able to post bail.