Accomplices of slain alleged  drug lord Rowen “Yawa” Secretaria have fled Banacon Island of Getafe, the group’s known hideout, after the Police Regional Office (PRO-7) intensified the monitoring and patrol of the island-village.

According to the police, they are taking measures to restore normalcy and order in the area now that the barangay is free from the clutches of Secretaria and his men.

The PRO-7 on Thursday, June 9 rounded up the residents of Banacon and conducted a seminar at the island explaining the hazards of being involved in illegal drugs.

The island used to be rife with Secretaria’s cohorts and runners who have uniform tattoos to identify themselves as part of the drug ring, residents said.

Most of the members are of young age and some of them have only been forced to pledge allegiance to Secretaria and serve his cause.

Some residents admitted that their children, being members of Secretaria’s group,  have taken part in illegal activities.

They also said that some accomplices of Secretaria are still in the island but have tried to erase or hide their tattoos that associate them with the drug lord.

According to the Getafe police, some residents were not bothered by Secretaria’s presence in the village as they were receiving help such as the provision of electricity and even food and financial support from the slain drug lord.

Some even dubbed him the “Robin Hood of Banacon,” residents said.

On the other hand, some people in Banacon were terrified of Secretaria and his illegal activities and were losing hope that they would be able to lead normal lives.

Before Secretaria, the also deceased Joel “Tongol” Nudalo used the island as base for his drug operations and hideout while keeping many armed men with him.

After he was killed in a drug raid, Secretaria took over and started to lord over the island.

According to the Getafe police, there are 1000 residents and more than 300 families in the island-village of Banacon and for most of them, fishing is the primary source of income. (with reports from Allen Doydora)