By HENRY EMPEÑO

SUBIC, Zambales — One of the mayors who were stripped of police power over alleged involvement in the illegal drugs trade has called on the National Police Commission (Napolcom) to investigate the cases further so that those implicated could clear their name.

Mayor Jefferson Khonghun, in a press conference here on Saturday, said it was unfair for them to be included in the list of the so-called “narco-politicians” and be stripped of power over the local police without adequate basis.

“We were denied due process. They did not investigate before they came out with that resolution,” Khonghun told the media here.

“Had they investigated deeper, they would not have included me. I know in my heart that I’m not involved in this (drug trade),” he added.

“There’s no reason for this other than politics. You understand how we politicians are being vilified by others because of their own political interests,” the mayor also said.

Khonghun was among the 23 municipal mayors whose deputation to supervise the local police was withdrawn by the Napolcom on October 30 over alleged illegal drugs links.

Undersecretary Catalino Cuy, who is officer in charge of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), said the resolutions were based on a list of “narco-politicians” from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Other than Khonghun, the town mayors in the list released by DILG were: Crisinciano Mahilac of Sinacaban, Misamis Oriental; Michael Gutierrez, of Lopez Jaena, Misamis Occidental; Donjie Animas, Sapang Dalaga, Misamis Occidental; Jason Almonte, Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental; Juanidy Viña, Concepcion , Misamis Occidental; Ezel Villanueva, Calamba, Misamis Occidental; Ferdinand Aguinaldo, Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte; Andres Lacson, Concepcion, Tarlac; Edgardo Pamintuan, Angeles City, Pampanga; and Erlon Agustin, Camiling, Tarlac.

Also in the list were: Eulalio M. Alilio, Lemery, Batangas; Raul Palino, Teresa, Rizal; Antonio Halili, Tanauan City, Batangas; Cecilio Hernandez, Rodriguez, Rizal; Loreto Amante, San Pablo City, Laguna; Mariano Blanco, Ronda, Cebu; Pablo Matinong Jr., Santo Niño, South Cotabato; Christopher Cuan, Libungan, North Cotabato; Albert Palencia, Banga, South Cotabato; Leonida Angcap, Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur; Niever Cabunalda-Rosento, El Nido, Palawan; and Abraham Ibba, Bataraza, Palawan.

The Napolcom resolutions forbade the mayors from giving orders to the local policemen, as well as from getting security detail from among police forces.

Khonghun said, however, that stripping them of police power was one thing, but tagging them as illegal drug trade protectors was not acceptable.

“If removing my authority over the PNP will make them work harder to go after those involved in drugs, then I am supporting that. I strongly support that,” Khonghun said.

The Subic mayor also explained that he has no direct control over the anti-drug campaign in the locality, and that its success or failure cannot be construed as a reflection on the local chief executive because the police have operational control and that he only provided logistical support.

Khonghun added that while the local government provided the police with a list of known drug users in the area, less than 10 percent of those in the list were arrested. “And some were not arrested because they were supposed to be police assets,” he said.

Khonghun also described the local anti-drug drive as a “rollercoaster” that rises and falls on the whim of the operators.

“Initially, they would arrest the suspected users and pushers; then they would stop because of concerns over EJK (extra-judicial killing). Then the arrests would start again, then stopped again because there’s some issue on who should be the lead agency,” Khonghun added.