City Mayor Dan Lim has expressed concern about the circulation of poison text messages directed against certain members of the Tagbilaran PNP and even he himself. “These past few days, there has been a noticeable resurgence of poison text messages intended to assail the credibility of certain policemen and even against me,” he said in an interview yesterday. Lim said the messages named three policemen who have been actively involved in the intensified campaign against drug pushing personalities in the city.

The mayor said the text messages claim that the policemen were actually in cahoots with certain drug personalities and are targeting only pushers who do not enjoy their protection. “Who are these pushers who are enjoying protection? Since the people behind the poison text messages are hiding behind a cloak of anonymity, why are they hesitant to name names?” the mayor asked. Lim said that he is concerned about the text messages because this might undermine the credibility not only of the policemen but also the anti-drug crusade itself. “Those responsible for this are either of two groups of people – those involved in the anti-drug campaign who are feeling the heat or those who simply want us to fail,” the mayor disclosed.

He pointed out that the recent spate of arrests of major drug distributors including the drug source in Cebu City has adversely affected the drug trade in the city. This has angered illegal drug dealers because their trade is endangered since drug addicts have started to explore other sources far from the city.

Sources in the drug trade has confirmed the mayor's observation saying that the price of shabu has virtually tripled since drug pushers have also started to refuse direct selling to city drug users. The sources said the pushers have become paranoid due to the incidence of success of arrests against known drug peddlers in the city. At the same time, the mayor noted that another possibility is personal grudge not only against some of the policemen but also against him. Lim noted that there are people who have an axe to grind against him for decisions that led to the parting of ways with those who were identified with him. The mayor declined to elaborate. Lim also refused to comment on whether this could be related to politics.