New mayor vows to erase drug menace in Albuera, Leyte

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 10 (PNA) –- The new mayor in Albuera, Leyte vowed to step up the campaign against illegal drugs in their town previously reigned by slain Mayor Rolando Espinosa, Sr., whose family are allegedly involved in drug trade.

Rosa Meneses said their top priority now is to completely wipe out illegal drugs in their town and return everything to normalcy.

In support to the present administration’s anti-illegal drug campaign, Meneses said they will have a local launching of Mamamayang Ayaw Sa Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw Sa Iligal na Droga (Masa Masid) program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Masa Masid is a community-based anti-criminality, anti-corruption, and anti-illegal drugs program, which encourages multi-sectoral partnership to intensify the spirit of volunteerism at the village level.

Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla asked the regional offices of the Philippine National Police and DILG regional office to prioritize the Albuera town in Masa Masid implementation.

“It is the most appropriate place to start doing the program. Hopefully, the town will be declared as illegal drug-free,” he added.

Meneses said that she never expected that she would be a town mayor because she only ran last elections as vice mayor.

The official ran under Aksyon Demokratiko together with Ramon dela Cerna, Jr. who was the former town mayor. Espinosa, a newcomer and independent candidate, won the mayoralty race.

Meneses said that although Mayor Espinosa has a bad reputation after being linked to illegal drugs, the local government will still hold a wake at the municipal building to honor him as an elected official.

“Whatever happened, he was once a mayor of Albuera, Leyte. We will pay a tribute to him,” Meneses said.

Meanwhile, Petilla already instructed the provincial agriculture office to intensify the economic program for Albuera to ensure that development will reach all villages of the town.

“Even we are from a different political party, we are all willing to set aside our differences and work together for Albuera to recover from the trauma caused by the recent events,” Petilla stressed.

Being the vice mayor, Meneses assumed the post as mayor on Monday or just two days after Espinosa was killed in a raid by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group inside the Leyte sub-provincial jail in Baybay City. (PNA)

JMC/SQM/RTA/EGR