The Taguig City government has released a statement noting that the “law should be allowed to take its course” on the case of Councilor Richard Paul Jordan who faces charges of drug possession and theft.
Jordan was arrested last week at the Solaire Bay Tower Hotel and Casino in Parañaque City for possession of 30 tablets of the Ecstasy party drug.
“We do not condone his conduct,” stated Taguig officials of the councilor, who has since resigned. “We commend those responsible for the apprehension.”
The city’s leadership puts its full trust on the government regarding the cases, the statement added.
“We expect nothing less than the firm implementation of the government’s hard line stance against illegal drugs,” it said.
The national government’s approach to the drug menace has been effective in Taguig, the statement noted. In 2016, Taguig was No. 1 in southern Metro Manila in terms of the arrest of drug peddlers. It has also arrested, jailed, and prosecuted drug personalities, including those in PNP’s Top 10 list.
During her administration, Mayor Lani Cayetano has led a campaign to end the notoriety of Taguig as an “illegal drug hot spot” that was mainly due to the extensive operations of the Tinga drug syndicate.
In 2017, a member of the syndicate, Elisa Tinga, was meted a life sentence and a substantial fine for selling illegal drugs. She is the seventh member of the Tinga drug syndicate nabbed by the authorities since 1996.
“The case of the councilor is a timely reminder to us that the drug menace is real, and that it continues to exist in our midst despite the unrelenting campaign by the national and local governments,” Taguig noted.
“This only proves that instead of going easy on the anti-drugs campaign, as being insisted by a misguided few, the government must remain focused on this fight against illegal drugs.”
Taguig said it would continue its own crusade versus illegal drugs. It has espoused a holistic approach dubbed Drug-Free Community Program, which runs on an anti-drug abuse advocacy but also aims to transform drug dependents into productive members of the society.
“To those who are selling or using drugs, it’s not too late: we ask you to avail of our programs before the law catches up with you,” the city’s statement added.
