Cops expect shabu to flood in Central Visayas: Drug money for poll funds?

CEBU, Philippines — Following the discovery of millions worth of illegal drugs this past week, police in Cebu suspect that more drugs will pour into the region as election nears, as drug personalities try to earn more to try to fund the campaign of politicians.

“There is possibility really of drugs to flood this coming elections because ang drug lords, if naa sila suportahan, gamiton nila ang kwarta sa drugs to buy votes. With our operations guol, kayo na sila karon (If drug lords want to fund politicians, they will use their drug money to buy votes. But with our operations, they must be sad right now),” said Police Regional Office - 7 Director Debold Sinas.

However, there is no evidence just yet that politicians here are receiving drug money.

“We cannot pinpoint kinsa ni padulong ang kwarta. What we know is daghan gyud kwarta needed sa election (We cannot pinpoint to whom the money is going to. What we know is much money is needed in the election),” Sinas added.

Drug lords want to fund politicians because protection from public officials – if the politicians win – makes it easier for the drug trade to flourish.

From March 3 to 8, police confiscated shabu worth at least P221 million during three separate anti-illegal drug operations in Cebu City and Consolacion town.

Elymar Ancajas who was arrested on March 3 in Cebu City disclosed that he got his supply of shabu from one Jocelyn Encila who was also arrested that night in Consolacion.

Police said Encila was the biggest distributor of shabu in Cebu and received orders from her former live-in-partner, Rustico Ygot, who is serving jail time at the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa.

The Bureau of Corrections found out that Ygot had access to the connections outside the jail through a phone capable of internet connection.

The Bureau of Corrections had suspended visitation rights of 45,000 residents in Bilibid due to the continued entrance of contraband items. (FREEMAN)