By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) yesterday said they are presently validating information regarding an unnamed barangay captain who was accused by President Rodrigo Duterte of having links to illegal drugs.

BCPO director, Police Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo, said, unlike them, the president has all the resources to access the said information. The police official explained they previously conducted a validation on a barangay captain, which turned out negative, but, with the new information from the president, they will reopen the issue.

He said they are presently monitoring more than one barangay official.

Ebreo said he could not divulge the exact number or identities of the barangay officials as it may compromise the ongoing monitoring.

The BCPO director was also unable to confirm or deny the possibility Duterte might be referring to former Barangay 35 captain Maui Huelar, who was arrested in November 2016 following a Barangay Singcang-Airport buy-bust operation.

Last Saturday, Duterte threatened to kill the unnamed barangay captain.

“Get out of the city, if not–I’m telling you frankly–I will destroy you,” the president said to the unnamed official.

Duterte also criticized other barangay officials with previous engagement with illegal drugs, claiming they are pretending to be “incorruptible.”

He also issued a warning to all drug personalities./DGB, WDJ