TUBAO, La Union—Mayor Dante Garcia of this town has offered a reward of P2,000 to each high school student who would provide information on individuals involved in illegal drug activities.
Garcia was one of the four alleged narco-politicians in La Union named by Duterte.
He vehemently denied the President’s allegation whose candidacy he strongly supported and campaigned for because he was confident that the proliferation of illegal drugs would cease.
Garcia said he was confident that he would be cleared by the authorities because he submitted himself for investigation and was never involved in any illegal drug activity.
The mayor told an anti-illegal drug symposium at the Tubao National High School that he will keep confidential the names of students who can direct authorities to illegal drug suspects.
“The reward for students is just an extension of the reward system which we are giving to our policemen in Tubao when they arrest an illegal drug suspect. I’ve been offering P10,000 for each arrest made by our police and they have arrested at least 10 suspects. They already received some of their reward,” he said.
The mayor said he, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the local police organized the anti-drug symposium to inform students about the effect of illegal drugs in their lives and communities.
Besmark Bengwayan, PDEA regional information officer, said they discussed to the students and teachers about the different kinds of illegal drugs and its effect to human.
“The activity will help the students and teachers to avoid illegal drugs and instead they will help the government in its anti-illegal drug campaign,” Bengwayan said.