THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has aired  concern over the growing number of barangay officials  arrested for involvement in illegal drug trafficking and abuse.

PDEA chair Undersecretary Jose S. Gutierrez Jr. said that in the last two years, 12 barangay councilors were arrested for drug-pushing while nine were caught in 2011 for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

“Barangay officials are supposed to implement the law and maintain peace and order in their area and promote the well-being of their constituents, but it’s a shame that some of them do the exact opposite,” Gutierrez said.

Presence of barangay officials who are directly involved in illegal drug trafficking or are themselves known for using drugs has been a problem for authorities over the years. There is also the presence of barangay officials who are totally oblivious or ignorant of ongoing illegal drug activities in their communities.

In 2006, Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force agents raided the notorious shabu ‘tiyangge’ in Pasig City located a few blocks away from the local police station, the Pasig City Hall and the barangay headquarters.

The ‘tiyangge’ became notorious for being a place where drug users including high school and college students can buy shabu and use them in make-shift shanties built by drug dealers living in the area.

A number of barangay officials have also been the object of complaint for doing nothing about illegal drug activities in their areas.

Last Wednesday, a barangay councilor in Pinili, Ilocos Norte was wounded in a firefight with PDEA and local police operatives who tried to arrest him in a buy-bust operation.

Nelvin Caranto, a 39-year old ‘kagawad’ of Bgy. Sto. Tomas in Pinili municipality sensed the entrapment and pulled out a caliber .45 pistol before firing at the officers. One agent shot him in the right foot to disable him.

The suspect is now being treated at the Batac Medical Hospital under police guard.