There are barangay officials and government employees in the town of Dauis who are involved in illegal drug activities according to the municipality’s mayor.

Four Dauis barangay councilors who are self-confessed drug users surrendered to the police and vowed to break the illegal and hazardous habit, said Mayor Miriam Sumaylo during a press conference Friday, July 15 at the Metro Centre Hotel in Tagbilaran City.

Sumaylo also revealed that 20 employees working for the Dauis government yielded to authorities as a result of Oplan Tokhang, a nationwide initiative designed to convince illegal drug users and pushers to surrender to authorities and cut drug involvement.

The mayor however did not disclose the names of the said barangay councilors and municipal hall employees.

Sumaylo called for the press conference to answer allegations of drug involvement against her and husband Josever Sumaylo.

Accompanied by lawyer Popot Marapao and Josever Sumaylo, the mayor aired statements from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and other law enforcement agencies clearing the Sumaylos of the accusations.

For his part, SPO4 Ramon Rulona of the Dauis police said that more than 1,030 drug personalities including badjaos have yielded to authorities.

The town’s police are expecting more drug users and pushers to surrender or voluntarily end their drug involvement as Dauis has a large population of 50,000 people and more residents of the municipality are likely to have engaged in drug activities. (with reports from Rey Tutas)