Surigao del Sur Gov

Surigao del Sur Gov. Vicente Pimentel scoffed at the Catholic Church's condemnation of summary executions of suspected drug pushers and users by alleged vigilante groups in Tandag town.
"If we allow ourselves to be dictated to by the church and priests, we can't do anything in our anti-drug campaign," Pimentel, also chair of the regional peace and order council, told reporters in Butuan City.He said he was determined to stop the flourishing drug trade in his province and in Caraga Region.
"I will not listen to comments from the religious sector anymore because what we need is to clean our region of illegal drugs," he said.Bishop Nerio Ochimar of the Archdiocese of Tandag condemned the spate of summary executions of suspected drug pushers and users.