There are other personalities in the Talisay City, Negros Occidental, government hooked on illegal drugs, aside from the two high-ranking officials arrested recently by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

But Insp. Joemarie Occeño, who led the PDEA team that arrested acting Talisay treasurer Levi Doronila at his office at the Talisay City Hall in November last year, and General Services Office head Archibald Tuvilla Friday night - both for using shabu - refused to elaborate.

Occeño told the DAILY STAR through the phone last night that they will file charges against Tuvilla today before the Talisay City Prosecutor's Office, either for violation of section 5, or transporting, or section 11, for possession, of shabu both of which are punishable under Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Asked about the signed statement of support for Tuvilla issued by the Liga ng mga Barangay in Talisay Monday, Occeño said he can't understand why the barangay captains have come up which such a stand.

"It seems that they are tolerating it," he said, referring to the proliferation of illegal drugs that has reportedly become rampant among Talisaynons.

He said the move of the Liga may not yield good results.
Eighteen, or majority of the members of the barangay captains league of Talisay condemned the PDEA for apprehending Tuvilla and Sannil Arcenas, a job order casual, claiming that the two were framed.

But Occeño said yesterday that Tuvilla had been under surveillance for about two months before the search on his car was done, and yielded four elongated sachets of shabu and its paraphernalia.

Occeño said he is willing to face whatever move the Liga ng mga Barangay will undertake against PDEA, and even the countercharges of Tuvilla, should there be any.

On the refusal of Tuvilla to undertake the drug testing mandated by section 36 of the anti-drugs law, Occeño said that although it is mandatory, they cannot physically force Tuvilla or any accused to undergo the test.

The law provides that the test be done within 24 hours upon the apprehension of the suspect.

But this could be used as an aggravating circumstance against Tuvilla, he added.

Tuvilla has refused to take the drug test, saying the PDEA may manipulate the result to his disadvantage.

Occeño, however, said Tuvilla's act of resorting to alibi may just bolster the presumption that he is, indeed, using illegal drugs.

He said he is challenging Tuvilla to undergo a drug test to prove otherwise.*GCT

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