‘Offering bounty for drug lords more practical,’ says majority floor leader

By LITO RULONA,
Correspondent

OFFERING bounty money to expedite in tracking down drug lords and notorious criminals is the most effective way, a city councilor suggested.

This was the reaction made by Majority Floor Leader Ramon Tabor on the pronouncement made by President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to raise the bounty money for catching drug lords to P5 million.

Tabor, who chairs the city council’s committee on police, fire and public safety said he favors giving reward to any individual to form part as drive against rising of criminality in the city.

“This is a practical way of catching up with drug lords even with noted criminals. Imo nang sabwagan og bounty daghan na manginterest. This is a practical way of driving away with drug menace,” he said.

On Saturday, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said he has P1 billion unspent during his campaign and he would use it as bounty money for the arrest or killing of notorious drug traffickers in the country.

“I have money good for 200 persons. Tanang drug lord ihawa ninyo,” Duterte said. It is estimated that with up to P5 million each for the 200 drug pushers, it would amount to at least P1 billion.

On Monday, Tabor said the P5 million reward is big enough to pin down a drug lord that even their own bodyguard or drug courier and underlings will think of grabbing the offer of Duterte.

However, Tabor said during his previous meetings with the local police officials, he was assured that they have not monitored of any drug lord presently residing in the city.

He said the committee information revealed that illegal drug distribution like shabu have been coming in the city from Ozamiz City, Lanao del Sur, and Marawi City.

“Wala pa gyud ta’y drug lord diri in the sense nga siya ang nag-control tanan ilabi na sa distribution of illegal drugs,” he added.

Tabor said Cagayan de Oro and nearby municipalities have been identified only as drug market area or consuming area of illegal drug trade.

“Mao nga grabe na gyud kaayo ang atong problema sa illegal drugs nga ni-apil na down to barangay level. It reaches up to the hinterland barangays,” he said.

On Saturday, President Duterte also offers a cash reward of P50 thousand each for small time drug peddlers. Duterte made the campaign promise to eradicate crime and illegal drugs in the first six months of his presidency.