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CAGAYAN DE ORO (MindaNews / 03 May) — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) regional office here released on Thursday, the eve of the start of the campaign period for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, the names of 11 barangay officials with alleged links to drug syndicates in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao).
PDEA region 10 Director Wilkins Villanueva said the names of the 11barangay officials suspected for their drug links, all of them seeking reelection, are included in the nationwide narco list of 207 barangay executives released recently by PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino.
Villanueva said of the 11 barangay officials in Region 10, seven are from Ozamiz City; three from Iligan City and one from Misamis Occidental.
“I assure you this will not serve as a hit list,” Villanueva told reporters here.
He said they released the names of the barangay officials so the voters will know who they are voting for on May 14.
MindaNews is withholding the identities of the barangay officials until PDEA files criminal charges against them.
Aside from the 11 barangay officials, Villanueva said they are also investigating 22 other barangay officials with alleged links to drugs: eight from Bukidnon; five from Lanao del Norte; four from Misamis Oriental; three from Cagayan de Oro; one from Camiguin Island; and one from Misamis Occidental.
He said they will submit the new list to PDEA national office as soon as they complete their investigation. (Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)