Top drug personality in Negros Occidental city surrenders

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – A top drug personality in Silay City in this province has surrendered to authorities.

Alain Gamboa, 32, of Barangay 1 surrendered to Silay Mayor Mark Golez  in the presence of Ronnie Delicana, director of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Negros Island Region, and Superintendent Willy Diel, city police chief, at the city hall on Thursday, July 7.

Delicana said that Gamboa, who was in the agency’s “target list,” was a “courier” of illegal drugs, which he gets from Luzon and Cebu.

He said that the suspect has a “significant influence” in the illegal drug trade in the city.

“Majority of the supply of drugs came from him. He deals with the suppliers but he doesn’t sell at the street level,” Delicana said.

Authorities interviewed Gamboa, and the information he provided will be evaluated. (READ: Duterte inspires Negros Occidental cops to intensify campaign vs drugs)

Delicana said they will “release him with the undertaking to stop his illegal activity but he is not exempted from possible arrest if found to have committed the crime again.

Gamboa, who has no previous criminal record, said he feared for his life, as he cited the Philippine National Police’s aggressive campaign against illegal drugs wherein some  drug suspects were killed.

He said that the government’s campaign has provided people like him an opportunity to change. 

Gamboa is the first drug suspect who surrendered to Silay authorities since July 1, the start of Oplan Tokhang (a combination of toktok and hangyo), meaning knock and then plead with suspected local drug users and peddlers to voluntarily surrender and stop their illegal activities.

As of July 8, 1,037 drug personalities have surrendered to different localities in Negros Occidental, with Sipalay City topping the list with 144.

In Negros Oriental, 2,456 drug personalities have yielded to authorities,  475 from Guihulngan City. – Rappler.com