ILOILO City – The reelection of Remia Prevendido Gregori as barangay captain of Bakhaw in Mandurriao district won’t stop the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s (PDEA) monitoring of her activities.
Gregori, sister of slain drug lord Richard Prevendido, has been classified a high-value target of the Mandurriao police in the campaign against illegal drugs.
“Ginagalang naman natin ang pagkapanalo niya. Pero ma-assure namin sa publiko na hindi titigil ang investigation,” said Director Wardley Getalla of PDEA Region 6.
On Sept. 18, 2017 Gregori voluntarily presented herself to the Mandurriao police station for police profiling although she insisted she was not involved in illegal drugs.
Getalla short of admitted PDEA still had nothing on Gregori despite their monitoring.
“Nasa proseso pa rin tayo nang pagkalap ng ebidensya,” said Getalla.
Gregori was not in the drug list that PDEA’s central office made public two weeks before the May 14 barangay election.
In a statement after winning Monday’s polls, Gregori said she was thankful to the people of Barangay Bakhaw.
“They continue to trust me despite the issues I face,” she said.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod previously investigated Gregori for alleged links to illegal drugs.
PDEA described Gregori’s Barangay Bakhaw as the go-to place of drug pushers and users but the barangay captain shrugged off the tag.
“Our barangay has always been peaceful,” Gregori insisted.
Her brother Richard was killed in a shootout with policemen in Barangay Balabago, Jaro district on Sept. 1, 2017.
Two weeks after when she presented herself to the Mandurriao police station, Gregori denied she sheltered her fugitive brother.
Getalla said PDEA-6 would also be investigating reports that drug money was used in the recent election.
“Maraming reports sa amin na ganyan…medyo magpo-pokus tayo sa imbestigasyon kung sino talaga ‘yung gumamit ng drug money or proceeds mula sa ilegal na droga,” said Getalla.
PDEA-6 has also started collating the names of elected barangay officials and check if they have links to drug personalities./PN
