Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said Monday that he will not pursue the complaint against the two town mayors who have custody of Negros Island Region top drug suspect Ricky Serenio.
This is because there is a move to transfer Serenio to the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame, he said.
The governor said he is in favor of transferring the suspect to a police headquarters for his safety.
Earlier, Marañon assailed Moises Padilla Mayor Magdaleno Peña and son Pulupandan Mayor Miguel Peña after Serenio, who linked several high-ranking policemen and other local enforcers to the illegal drug trade, was put under their custody.
Marañon said he will have the move investigated and he will file a complaint as he claimed it is questionable.
The elder Peña, a consultant of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, challenged the governor to file the complaint.
Serenio, who is still detained at Pulupandan Municipal Police Station, was arrested on January 8 at Talisay City during the service of warrant for grave coercion.
Serenio, who is believed to be the bagman of Berya drug group, named more than 35 police officers who are allegedly receiving protection money from their group as stated in his sworn statement.
Anti-GMO ordinance
Marañon admitted Monday that it’s hard to implement the province’s anti-genetically modified organisms (GMO) ordinance.
Like any other law, it’s hard to implement it and not all of the provisions are implemented, he said.
Asked if the entry of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in the province was due to the non-imposition of the provincial ordinance, Marañon said “it’s a very technical question.”
The governor said there’s a need to prove if HFCS came from genetically modified corn.
Marañon said the sugar industry leaders should lobby to stop the importation of HFCS.
He said the role of the provincial government is to support as the problem is not only in Negros Occidental, but in Luzon and in Mindanao, too.
Leaders of the sugar industry and multi-sectoral groups have asked President Rodrigo Duterte to stop the HFCS importation as it is killing the industry.
Earlier, the Sugar Regulatory Administration said they could not stop the importation of HFCS as they need a legislation to act on it.