City Hall, police welcome PNP’s return in drug war

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor David Tumulak welcomed the possible return of the police to take the lead in the war against illegal drugs in the country.

Tumulak, deputy mayor for peace and order matters, said he is expecting that the police will conduct several drug operations after few months of conducting surveillance on small and bigtime drug personalities.

“Kompyansa ra tong mga drug pushers. Nagtuo sila nga atong kapolisan, even the suspension sa operation sa police, nagtuo sila nga wala nag-monitor ang atong police ngadto nila,” he said.

With this, he said drug pushers, peddlers, among other drug personalities should “watch out” for the re-launch of war on drugs led by the police.

“Expect ta nga more operations kay daghan na sila'g nakuha nga information after gi-suspend ang operation sa PNP,” he said.

Tumulak admitted that the illegal drug problem has worsened while the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), which has limited resources and personnel, was taking the lead in the drug war.

“Ni-grabe gyud especially katong mga small-time nga drug peddlers especially nga drug distribution sa atong kabarangayan nga nigrabe gyud kay kahibaw sila nga gamay ra ang personnel sa PDEA.  Nikompyansa sila without knowing nga atong kapolisan ni padayon og surveillance,” he said.

He assured that the city government will assist the police in the success of the drug operations of the organization.

The Police Regional Office (PRO)-7, for its part, will wait for the official directive to conduct anti-illegal drug operations a month after the PDEA-7 was mandated as the sole agency to fight drugs.

Last Wednesday, President Rodrigo Duterte stated during his speech to the men of Special Operations Command in Nueva Ecija, that he has no choice but to bring the police force back in the picture.

"Kung mabalik man, if naa directive sa taas we are always ready.  Wala ta nilugak kung kinsa to ang mga taw nga gimonitor, just like a good policeman huwat lang mi unsay sugo sa taas," PRO-7 Spokesperson Superintendent Reymar Tolentin said.

PRO-7 Regional Director Jose Mario Espino said that the region had continued the process of internal cleansing and ready to take over the drug war soon.

Cebu City Police Office Director Joel Doria also said that they will revive the dedicated units solely responsible for conducting anti-illegal drug operations.

"Kung ibabalik sa atin yan, ready naman tayo i-implement kung ano ang ginawa natin previously," Doria said.

CCPO is known for its localized version of Oplan Double Barrel dubbed as Oplan Pokemon where cops from all 11 police stations conduct intensify roving to arrest individuals violating the laws and those with warrant of arrests.

Oplan Pokemon also paved the way for Doria to regain national recognition as one of the Top Ten Outstanding Men in the Philippines of the Metrobank Foundation.

Before the police were asked to give way to PDEA in the fight against drugs, the PRO-7 has visited 1,174,148  houses, 123,417 persons surrendered, 8,724 operations conducted, 13,500 people arrested, and 228 individuals who died in police operations July 1, 2016 to October 10, 2017.

They have also confiscated 49,597.88 grams of suspected shabu, worth of P585,254,984.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said that specific approaches in dealing with the police-led drug campaign are now up to the government to decide what should be the best move.

“It is an issue that I think should be subjected to scrutiny and also reflection and discernment as regards to wisdom of certain actions… As regards with particular approaches, I leave that to the wisdom of the government (to deliberate) what’s the best for the country,” he said.

The 67-year-old prelate reiterated that the Church supports the present administration in curbing illegal drugs being the “mother of all evil” however this advocacy has to be aligned with the legal framework.

“There are principles of course that clear to us. We believe that while we are against (illegal) drugs, certain procedures have to be followed and that we have been repeating over and again, the approach should be legal and should follow the descriptions of the law,” said Palma.

The government’s relentless drug war led initially by PNP has gone controversial after several policemen were questioned over the death of some drug suspects during operations.

These events, however, run contrary to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

The catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that human life is sacred, has dignity, and should be respected. For this reason, killings and murders are highly condemned.

Meanwhile, the PDEA-7 has arrested nine persons in two separate buy-bust operations in Barangay Sambag II and Pulangbato, Cebu City Thursday dawn yielding more than at least P200,000 worth of suspected shabu.

In Barangay Sambag II, a family of three was nabbed for conspiring in selling of illegal drugs.

PDEA -7 Spokesperson Leia Albiar identified the suspect as George Tapayan, 64, his wife Ma. Cristina Tapayan, 56, and daughter, Jackilyn Tapayan, 27.

Also arrested for illegal possession of suspected shabu were Reyner Tapayan, 35; Dave Gabato, 27; and McLeomer Abapo, 29.

In Barangay Pulangbato, two siblings and their nephew were nabbed with suspected shabu worth P100,000.

The arrested suspects were Kharlo Centino, 30, Ian Centino, 34, and John Rick Centino, 23. (FREEMAN)