Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Tuesday directed the Manila Police District to thoroughly investigate the spate of attacks against incumbent barangay chairmen in the city, as authorities see illegal drugs and politics as the motives.
Estrada said he wants to know the reason behind the incidents, as the city government is amid its anti-drug campaign that targets local barangay officials.
The mayor took keen interest in the recent shooting of two barangay chairmen in Ermita and Baseco districts.
“While we go after the barangay officials that are involved in drugs, we should protect the innocent ones. We cannot let those thugs sow fear among our barangay officials who serve as our front liners in our war against drugs and criminality,” Estrada said.
Citing an MPD report, Estrada said police investigators see drugs and politics as the principal motives in the shooting of Chairman Dante Gonzalo of Barangay 670, Zone 72 and Chairman Kristo Hispano of Barangay 649, Zone 88.
Hispano, 37, was shot on June 21 after attending Estrada’s awarding of outstanding barangay officials for the 446th Araw ng Maynila celebration at the Manila Hotel. He survived.
On June 26, unknown assailants shot Gonzalo in front of his bar at the corner of Mabini and Flores streets in Ermita. He died from gunshots to the head and back.
“In the case of Chairman Hispano, we are investigating a suspect. The motive, angle, is related to drugs and politics at the Baseco area,” MPD director Chief Supt. Joel Coronel said.
Because of the city’s serious anti-drug operations, Coronel said drug syndicates appear to be blaming the barangay officials in Baseco.
Unverified reports said the attack on Hispano was revenge for the ambush-slaying of a retired soldier, a certain Master Sgt. Jugie Omandac, the day before along Bonifacio Drive in Intramuros, Coronel said.
The victim was reportedly running against an ally of Hispano in the upcoming barangay elections.
“For Baseco, we expect politics will be heated because of the different parties who intend to run,” Coronel pointed out.
“For Chairman Gonzalo, the motive is illegal drugs also. Apparently, he has colleagues, former barangay employees also involved in illegal drugs transaction, who blame him,” he added.
This situation, Coronel said, prompted police to intensify the monitoring of barangays that have histories of intense political rivalries.
“In the areas we monitored in the past, there were very heated rivalries among the contenders or officials, so we will deploy additional police there,” Coronel said.
On May 26, gunmen also shot and killed Barangay 751, Zone 81 chairman Angelito Sarmiento inside his house at the corner of Leyte and A. Francisco streets in Malate.
Coronel has confirmed Sarmiento was in the MPD’s list of barangay officials involved in drugs.