ABS-CBN News  Aug 05, 2016 

(UPDATED) Three mayors have surrendered to Philippine National Police Chief, Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa after learning that they were already in President Rodrigo Duterte’s list of drug suspects.

Maguing, Lanao del Sur Mayor Mamaulan Abinal Molok and former Marantao, Lanao del Sur Mayor Muhammad Ali Abo Abinal have admitted peddling drugs and vowed to change their ways. Mayor Rasul Sangki of Ampatuan, also surrendered to the PNP Chief.

“They already decided na magbagong buhay, at tumulong sa problema sa droga. Why run if you can help (They already decided to change their ways and help stop the drug problem),” Dela Rosa told reporters Friday, as he presented the local officials in Camp Crame.

“Talagang involved sila kaya sila nagsurrender (They were really involved that’s why they surrendered),” he added.

Abinal, for his part, said he is now supporting Duterte and Dela Rosa’s war against drugs.

“Willing ako pumunta dito, suportahan ko programa ng mahal na President Rodrigo Duterte at Chief PNP General Bato. Lahat ng suporta nami’y willing kami (I willingly went here to express my support for President Duterte and General Bato’s [anti-drug] program,” Abinal said, saying he was involved in the illegal drug trade back in 2000 to 2002.

Molok said he will also urge other suspects to surrender.

“Sa lahat ng abot ng makakaya ko, tutulong ako sa pagsugpo ng droga (I will do my best to help stop the drug trade),” he added.

Dela Rosa said the mayors were “down lines” of the so-called “Marimar,” Maguing, Lanao Del Sur former Mayor Johaira Macabuat, who was recently arrested in Cagayan de Oro.

Dela Rosa said the mayors were tied to drug trade in Quiapo and other parts of the country and were not operating in their own municipalities.

“They told me they were not involved in the distribution of drugs in their municipalities,” Dela Rosa said.

The two public officials were turned over to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) after being presented to media.

“We will extract whatever we can from them for reference. We will subject them to some sort of custodial investigation,” said Dela Rosa.

Dela Rosa said he is expecting more mayors to surrender.

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