ILOILO CITY — Mayor Jose Espinosa III on Monday reiterated his call for Ilonggos to refrain from getting involved in illegal drugs, citing that once they are hooked into it, it would be difficult to get out.
The mayor made the warning following the killing of Barangay Bakhaw Punong Barangay Remia Prevendido Gregori by unidentified assassins, while her family was at their resort in Barangay Idcadlum, San Joaquin town, Sunday afternoon.
Gregori was one of the three barangay (village) captains who were placed under investigation by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) for his alleged link to illegal drugs. Her brother, Richard Prevendido, was killed last year following a legitimate operation conducted by the Philippine National Police.
Prevendido was the second suspected drug lord in Western Visayas next to Melvin Odicta, who was also killed in 2016 together with his wife while at the Caticlan port on their way to Iloilo from Manila.
Espinosa said that it would be “un-Christian” for him to comment that Gregori’s death was a welcome development when it comes to government’s fight against illegal drugs, but engaging in such activity destroys children and families in the city”.
“That will serve as a warning. Although you are presumed innocent until proven otherwise by a competent court and by evidence but if there are reports or you are affiliated with such then it brings you no good,” he said.
He particularly said those who would like to assume their roles as “big fishes” are already gone and that they should not bring drugs to the city.
“The President is serious,” he said, stressing that he will never lift a finger to help anyone as the campaign against illegal drugs is “relentless”.
Also killed together with Gregori was the nanny of her grandchild Analee Antipatria. Her husband, Bonifacio Gregori Sr., was wounded.
Gregori, despite being tagged as a narco-politician, won when she ran for re-election during the May 14 polls.
With her death, first barangay councilor Yorelinda Palomo will assume as barangay captain until noontime of June 30, according to lawyer Ferdinand Panes, director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government in Iloilo City.
By reason of succession, the first elected barangay councilor, Joel Alvarado, will assume as Punong Barangay starting noontime of June 30. (Perla Lena/PNA)
