SURIGAO CITY (MindaNews/20 June) — An outgoing town mayor in Surigao del Norte has urged persons suspected of involvement in illegal drug trade to surrender before her third term ends on June 30.
At the same time, Bacuag Mayor Sheila Mea Orquina-Cebedo said she will give rewards to those who could information on the suspects.
Cebedo admitted there are many drug peddlers and drug addicts in her town.
She said she campaigned against illegal drugs but some of the drug pushers were allegedly in cahoots with some police officers and influential people.
She said this made members of the local police afraid to go after the suspects.
Cebedo warned the suspects to surrender or their names would land on the table of President-elect Rodrigo R. Duterte.
In a post on her Facebook account on Sunday, the mayor said she has a list of the suspects and told them to surrender on or before June 30.
“Those who can arrest them will get a reward of P20,000 per head,” she said in the vernacular.
“They could not escape because this is a national program of Mayor Duterte who is now president. If we cannot do it at our level despite our efforts, we will refer it to him,” she said.
Cebedo also urged drug users to surrender.
In the neighboring town of Placer least 76 persons who were suspected on involvement in illegal drugs have surrendered to authorities from May 29 to June 18.
Cebedo will be replaced by her husband, incumbent Vice Mayor Moke Cebedo. (Roel N. Catoto/MindaNews)