CEBU CITY, Philippines – Some politicians from Cebu are reportedly part of the list of public officials with alleged drug links that President Rodrigo Duterte is set to reveal in the coming days.

This is according to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Isidro Lapeña, who said on Friday, August 5, that businessman Peter Lim is not the only Cebuano who is being investigated by PDEA.

When asked by reporters if there were more Cebuanos on Duterte’s list, Lapeña replied, “What I know is there are Cebuano politicians.”

Without saying how many were on the list, he said, that their involvement varies “from [being] protectors, drug trafficking, and pushing.”

Duterte told soldiers in Camp Lapu-Lapu in Cebu on Friday that “in a few hours, or a few days,” he would reveal more names of government officials with suspected links to the drug trade, either as protectors or drug lords themselves.

The President has not yet revealed the list, but said they include mayors, judges and a congressman. He was still having these names validated.

Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr of Leyte, and his son, Kerwin are apparently part of that list. The Espinosas are originally from Cebu City. (READ: Relatives of drug suspect Espinosa to PNP: Spare us)

Earlier this week, the President demanded their surrender, which only the mayor had heeded, to date.

Several mayors from Mindanao have also surrendered to Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa, after reportedly learning that they were part of the President’s drug watchlist.

Cebu’s war on drugs

In the first 20 days of Duterte’s presidency, most of the 120 anti-drug operations conducted took place in Central Visayas.

In July, Philippine National Police Region 7 Deputy Director Lyndon Lawas said that illegal drugs are present in Cebu City and Mandaue City’s barangays, and 60% of all of Cebu province’s barangays.

After being given a warning by PNP Region 7 Director Noli Taliño, 75 precinct chiefs in the region were relieved last month due to “poor performance.” He said this was because they were not able to arrest at least half of the suspects on their drug watchlist.

When the PNP chief visited Cebu City in July, he said several police officials in the city were relieved because of their “links to illegal drugs.” 

In Cebu, 20,000 drug users have surrendered to authorities, while 40,000 have surrendered across the region.

After “cleansing” the PNP and local governments of personalities linked to drugs, the PDEA said it would also investigate officials with ties to the illegal drug trade.

Support for soldiers

During his Cebu visit on Friday, Duterte reiterated that he would prioritize beefing up the military and the police to achieve his peace and order goals.

He told soldiers in Cebu that he has already made good on his campaign promise to raise salaries of the military and police. 

“Check your payslips this August,” Duterte told soldiers.

His visit to Cebu was the latest in several visits to military camps across the country to assure troops that he has their backs.

He also promised that primary and secondary education would be free for their dependents.

Once AFP members retire or leave the service, he promised to also provide skills training to work in the call center industry. “We’ll send you to school for 1 to 2 years, and train you in diction, speaking and other skills,” he said in Filipino.

He also said he was shocked at the state of the AFP Medical Center in Quezon City. “This is very important for the soldiers, we should give it to them,” he said on renovating and upgrading the AFP’s medical facilities. – Rappler.com