Provincial Administrator Alfonso Damalerio II challenged sources of a report indicating that a high-ranking Bohol official is involved in narcotics trade to name the alleged drug protector.

This was Damalerio’s reply after accounts accusing an unnamed government official of being included in the drug list of alleged Eastern Visayas drug lord Kerwin Espinosa surfaced.

According to Damalerio, it would be better for the accused to be named.

The provincial administrator remained undeterred regarding the possibility that the source of the accusation would name the official.

Damalerio said that he is confident that leaders in the province led by Governor Edgar Chatto are doing their part in the national government’s war on drugs.

Bohol is one of several provinces that have had relatively successful anti-drug campaigns as indicated by the number of arrested drug personalities and surrenderees under Oplan Tokhang, he added.

In October, Victor Aguilar and Marlowe Dano, suspected members of a drug syndicate allegedly headed by Espinosa, were arrested by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents in Tagbilaran City.

Both yielded 14 packs of shabu estimated to be worth P300,000 and two .45 caliber pistols. (Allen Doydora)