Chief tanod: Anti-drug ops in place in Ermita

CEBU, Philippines - The chief tanod of Barangay Ermita in Cebu City backed the claim of suspended barangay captain Felicisimo "Imok" Rupinta that anti-illegal drugs efforts in the barangay have been in place since last year.  

"Padayon gihapon. Wala'y giputol namo. Sige gihapon among operation bahin sa drogas," said Giovanni Calit.

Calit said that since July 2016, at least 30 cases have been filed against drug suspects arrested in Inayawan. He said, though, that only 10 of the 30 are actual residents and the rest were from other barangays.

"Mga badlungon jud kaayo ba… bisag unsaong badlong 'di gyod motuo," Calit said.

Rupinta said earlier that checkpoints have been in place in the barangay for the past 13 years to prevent drugs from being sneaked in. He also said that barangay officials went house to house - 15 houses in each block - to convince users to stop.

Rupinta has said that in Ermita Proper alone, 197 residents have surrendered and 75 percent of Sitio Bato, where a raid was conducted last November 2016, is now clean.

Rupinta also explained that community participation is as important.

He also said pushers would say no to selling drugs if they have food to feed their families and Ermita addressed this by getting sponsors that could provide livelihood like construction and guarding the barangay restrooms, among others.

He said a training on sewing was scheduled for this Sunday but the same may no longer push through following his suspension.

The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas suspended Rupinta and barangay councilmen Marky Rizaldy Miral, Antonieto Flores, Ryan Jay Rosas, Alio Tamundo, Domingo Ando, Maria Buanghug, and Wilbert Flores for their alleged failure to cooperate in the anti-drug operation in the barangay last year.

The Department of Interior and Local Government enforced the order last Tuesday.

PDEA-7 Director Yogi Filemon Ruiz filed the complaint against the barangay officials after they allegedly refused to assist them during an anti-illegal drugs operation in Sitio Bato in November last year.

Calit said he was there in the vicinity at 4 p.m. with Calimbo and barangay councilman Wilbert Flores when the PDEA and the Army arrived for the raid.

Calit said he told PDEA and the Army that the persons arrested are not residents of the barangay.

For now, the Ermita barangay hall is being managed by barangay secretary Erwin Peñafort and barangay treasurer Enriqueta Cabigon until the Office of the President appoints an official caretaker.

Barangay administrator Alfredo Calimbo has said he and the other barangay officers will resign if the caretaker will not be from within. (FREEMAN)