Tumulak reveals: 7 brgy execs, tanods named as protectors

CEBU, Philippines - Drug pushers arrested in Cebu City named at least four barangay officials and three tanods who are alleged drug protectors, Councilor David Tumulak said.

Tumulak, also deputy mayor over police matters, said such information were given by the pushers during police interrogations, some of which joined in by Tumulak.

Names of the involved officials and tanods, who are from four barangays in the city, are being withheld pending verification, he said.

With this, Tumulak urged other arrested drug pushers to name their drug protectors and divulge it to the police.

“Gihangyo ang mga drug pushers, nadakpan na man mo, sulti na lang mo sa tinood. If magsige og tago-tago, dili g’yud ta mahuman ani,” he said yesterday.

He also urged policemen to publicly announce the names of those divulged to them by arrested pushers, especially if these are public servants.

If the police find it difficult to publicly name these supposed drug protectors, they can invite the media then have the arrested suspects mention the names, so that this can be properly documented, added Tumulak.

 “If ever maglisod ang atong kapolisan, let the suspect mao’y mosulti. Manawag siya sa media para documented during the interrogation,” he told reporters.

With barangay officials tagged as drug portectors, Tumulak prefers that barangay officials and staff undergo surprise drug test.

Barangays Mabolo, Mambaling, Apas and Labangon have so far undergone drug test facilitated by the Cebu City Office of Substance Abuse Prevention.

As of September 21, a total of 228 workers have been subjected to the test and four were found positive.

Meanwhile, Tumulak called on the remaining drug users and pushers in the city who have no plans of stopping from their illegal activities to just leave the city, so their lives “will still be preserved.”

“Alang sad sa mga drug users nga dili mohunong sa paggamit sa illegal nga drugas, layas mo diri sa Cebu City para masiguro ang inyong kinabuhi kay karun man gud, atong nakita nga nag unay-unay na lang sila. Louy kaayo sa tanan nga daghang nangamatay. Mas maayo pa, kay dili man sila mohunong, mohawa na lang sila ngari, adto sila sa lagyo nga lugar,” he said. (FREEMAN)