• President Duterte reveals triad members involved in domestic drug trade
• PRRD names VP Robredo Housing  Secretary

In a press briefing in Malacanang today, Calida said a certain Mr. Wu Tuan  (alias “Peter Co”) who is detained in the National Penitentiary, is the one responsible for the Luzon triad, including Metro Manila. He is also the leader of the so-called Bilibid 19 Gang.

The next level 5 drug lord is a certain Peter Lim also known as “Jaguar” who is in charge of the Visayas triad. This person is different from the Jaguar who was killed in an operation recently in Las Piñas City.

Calida mentioned former general Marcelo Garbo as the “associate” and “protector” on the the top level of the triad hierarchy.

Garbo is one of the five Philippine National Police (PNP) generals named by President Duterte on Tuesday as protectors of drug syndicates in the country.

The retired police general was the former PNP Deputy Chief for Operations and former Regional Director of PNP Region VII based in Cebu City. He belongs to PMA class 1981.

Quoting President Duterte, Calida discussed at the press conference Garbo’s involvement in drug trafficking in the Philippines.

He also named Herbert Colangco alias Ampang, who is detained at the New Bilibid Prison, as one of those involved in kidnapping for ransom and bank robberies.  Colangco is likewise a drug lord aligned with the Parojinog drug syndicate Kuratong Baleleng, said Calida.

According to the Sol-Gen,  there are lesser triad members who are regarded as persons of interest which include Chinese nationals, other PNP officials, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology officials, as well as local government officials. PRRD will disclose their identities in future press conferences, he added.

In his speech at the 69th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force, President Duterte ordered the relief of three active officers for their involvement in illegal drug trade — former National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Joel Pagdilao, Western Visayas regional director Chief Supt. Bernardo Diaz, and Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Chief Supt. Edgardo Tinio.

Former police general Vicente “Vic” Loot, now the mayor of Daanbantayan, Cebu, is also involved in illicit narcotics trade, according to the President. PND

The President made the announcement while talking on the phone with the VP in answer to queries by media as to whether she would be appointed as a member of the Cabinet.

Duterte said “pwede ka Housing, Ma’am? Can you be the Housing Secretary? Tanggapin mo Ma’am? (do you accept ma’am?)” PRRD asked Robredo.

Still talking on the phone, the President said “sige, Ma’am, so that will be in time for the next Cabinet meeting and even on security matters para you’d be kept abreast of what is happening to our country. Just for you to know.”

PRRD added that Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea will hand the appointment as HUDCC Chair to her personally.

In another press conference on Tuesday evening, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre briefed members of the media about the earlier press briefing of the President where he said the appointment could have been because the past two meetings between the two highest officials of the land were amiable and was decided upon after some sort of warming up between the two.

Aguirre also said, “we feel that because of the passage of time, there must be some reconsideration of the decision and so here we are. I think this is very good for the country.”

He added that the President and the Vice President are happy with the decision, saying “we could feel that many among the present Cabinet members are also happy with the fact that at last, the Vice President was no longer an officer without any Cabinet position but she is now a full-fledged Cabinet member.”

The HUDCC Chair was the same position held by former vice presidents Jejomar Binay and Noli De Castro. (PND)