Osmeña still trusts 2 ‘narco policemen’

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña refuses to believe that two of his former trusted police officials in Central Visayas were taking drug money from self-confessed drug lord Franz Sabalones.

For Osmeña, Superintendents Rex Derilo and George Ylanan had done a great job for Cebu City.

“You know, I really don’t like to believe that, because they have done a great job here in Cebu City,” the mayor said.

According to Osmeña, Derilo and Ylanan were very good at suppressing illegal drug activities while they were assigned in the city. Derilo was the former chief of the Regional Intelligence Division of Police Regional Office-7 while Ylanan was the former Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) chief.

Derilo was reassigned to PRO-9 in Zamboanga Peninsula while Ylanan was ordered to report to PRO-10 in Northern Mindanao.

According to Osmeña, Ylanan told him after they have killed Jeffrey “Jaguar” Diaz that Sabalones was their next target.

“If they were protecting them, why they are running against these people, just keep in mind there are a lot of rivalry in politics even in police,” the mayor said.

“As far as Sabalones is concerned, he’s not active in Cebu City, he is active in the south and I heard of his name anytime but he operates in south, in Talisay and allegedly some spilled over here in Pardo but he is not active in Cebu City,” he added.

Sabalones named Derilo and Ylanan as among the 18 policemen in Central Visayas allegedly protecting his illegal drug trade.

Meanwhile, Osmeña has agreed to give monthly allowance to Cebu City Police Office director Senior Superintendent Joel Doria upon the recommendation of Councilor David Tumulak, who was designated deputy mayor on police matters.

“It’s okay with me, he’s trying hard. Atong tagaan og konsiderasyon,” Osmeña said.

The mayor, however, clarified that this would not apply to the other newly-assigned police officers in the city.

“No, let them prove themselves, remember it’s not an allowance, it’s an incentive allowance. In the case of Doria, he has earned it,” Osmeña said. (FREEMAN)