By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region 6 (PDEA-6) director Emerson Margate recently revealed he is unaware of Moises Padilla Mayor Magdaleno Peña’s designation as an adviser for the agency.

“During the time of PDEA Director-General Isidro Lapeña, [Peña] was one of the agency’s consultant,” he explained. “We did not receive any information if he is our adviser here in Western Visayas.”

In response, Peña said he has yet to meet with the PDEA regional director and present documents signed by Lapeña confirming his designation as adviser.

“We’ll meet in due time,” the mayor said,

Peña added, if he were a consultant, he would receive a fee from the agency, which is prohibited as an incumbent mayor. He instead claimed to have requested the adviser role as he would not be eligible for monetary compensation.

Margate, meanwhile, acknowledged the assistance provided by the mayor in the recent P72 million shabu haul in San Carlos City.

“All the help we can get [from] the community is welcome,” he affirmed./DGB, WDJ