Arrested partygoers question why ex-Davao City info exec allowed to leave drug raid

Some of those arrested in the November 6 drug raid in a Davao de Oro beach resort have questioned why former Davao City chief information officer Jefry Tupas was allowed to leave the area, a report on Unang Balita said Friday.

Seventeen people were arrested and some P1.5 million worth of illegal drugs were seized in the raid conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on a beach resort in Mabini town.

Citing an interview by Davao-based Newsline Philippines, the Unang Balita report said some of those arrested claimed they were just guests to the party and were not in possession of illegal drugs.

They said they saw Tupas was arrested but was released after she said she works for Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte.

But according to PDEA chief Wilkins Villanueva, Tupas was not among the operation's targets.

Tupas, who tendered her resignation a day after the raid, has since been fired by from her job by Mayor Duterte. GMA News reached out to her for her comment but she did not respond.

Tupas had earlier admitted attending the party but said she left after eating and prior to the drug raid.

Malacañang said Thursday authorities did not give preferential treatment to Tupas in the drug raid.  —KBK, GMA News