Buan not only politician in PDEA's sights

MANILA, Philippines - Mandaluyong mayoralty candidate Ernest Buan is not the only politician in Metro Manila being monitored by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency for alleged narcotics-related activities, an official said yesterday.

Following Buan’s arrest in Pasig City Friday, other personalities will also be apprehended, said Major Valentino Lopez, director of PDEA’s Prevention, Education and Community Involvement Service.  

“Bigger personalities will be arrested under the instruction of (PDEA head Dionisio) Santiago,” Lopez told The STAR.

According to Lopez, different politicians all over the country are being monitored by the PDEA over intelligence reports of their alleged drug-related activities.

Buan, 28, is running for mayor in Mandaluyong City under Aksyon Demokratiko party against incumbent Mayor Benhur Abalos.

He was arrested for allegedly selling cocaine during a drug bust by PDEA agents at a fastfood restaurant at the Tiendesitas shopping center.

Buan’s father claimed his son was “set up” by his political opponents, but Lopez denied the allegation.

 “There was no set up. He (Buan) was arrested during a buy-bust. It was a legitimate operation led by Superintendent Wilkins Villanueva,” Lopez said.

 “It was a product of tedious surveillance that the PDEA undertook. All our buy-busts are covered by pre-ops (pre-operational surveillance),” Lopez added.

According to Lopez, they are still investigating Buan’s alleged clients and whether he is part of a bigger group.

Not LP member

Meanwhile, the Liberal Party clarified yesterday that Buan was never a member of the LP.

LP secretary general Cavite Rep. Joseph Abaya said Buan is a member of Aksyon Demokratiko, a coalition partner of the LP. Buan applied for but was not accepted by the LP membership selection committee last year, he said.

Abaya said the LP strongly agrees with Aksyon Demokratiko’s statement following Buan’s arrest that it would never condone any illegal or immoral act by its members, especially its candidates in the May 10 polls.

“Buan was arrested on a very serious charge. We trust that he will subject himself to, and participate in, the process of law… In fairness, however, to Mr. Buan, we need to get to the bottom of the facts first to determine if the arrest had any basis or was a set-up for political reasons,” he said.

Abaya said they “support and respect Aksyon Demokratiko and its internal disciplining process. The (LP) stands for fairness and the rule of law.”        – With Aurea Calica