New cop chief told: Convince Sabalones’ men to surrender

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Eric Noble yesterday challenged the newly-designated police chief of San Fernando, Cebu to convince drug personalities in his jurisdiction to surrender.

In particular, Noble wants Police Senior Inspector Adrian Nalua to convince drug personalities connected to Franz Sabalones, the suspected Central Visayas drug lord, to give up their illegal trade.

Noble said he told Nalua during their turnover ceremony together with other police chiefs yesterday morning that Sabalones had already stopped his illegal drug operations in the town and has changed after his surrender last year.

“Sabi ko nga (doon kay Nalua) si Sabalones nagbago daw. Kung nagbago, pwede ko siyang imbitahin na kumbinsihin pa ang ibang drug lords ng sa ganun ay hindi na tayo maghanapan ng mga nagtatago,” Noble said.

Noble, however, remains unconvinced that Sabalones has changed.

Nalua, who was previously assigned at the Naga City Police Station, said that he accepted Noble’s challenge and will try to do his best in eradicating illegal drugs.

“Ang task nato is very challenging. Akong priority karon kay ang internal cleansing. If I work with a clean team, ma-find out gyud nato ang truth kung unsa gyud ka tinuod nga nagbag-o ba gyud ang drug lords didto o wala. We will fight illegal drugs,” he said.

As the new chief of police, Nalua said he will still pay his respects to the town officials, especially Vice Mayor Fralz Sabalones, who is the brother of Franz.

Aside from Nalua, several police officials were also reassigned to other police stations.

Noble said the reshuffling of posts is a regular procedure.

“Regular namin yan na ikot.  Iba nyan, enhancing,” he said.

The movement includes Insp. Abell Laborte, who heads the Dalaguete Police Station, transferred to the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU); Senior Insp. Roger Quijano, chief of Santa Fe Police Station, is now under the Provincial Investigation and Detection Management Bureau (PIDMB); while Senior Inspector Leo Ty of PIDMB was reassigned to the Naga City Police Station.

Chief Insp. Mikhail Mallorca of Provincial Intelligence Branch was transferred to Santa Fe Police Station; Insp. Stanley Canoy, chief of Borbon Police Station, was moved to Provincial Operations and Plans Branch (POPB).

Superintendent Marlu Corag of Provincial Public Safety Company was assigned to Tuburan Police Station; Chief Inspector Rolan Aliser of the Tuburan Police Station was transferred to PDEU; Senior Inspector Verñino Noserale of Talisay City Police Station was reassigned to Dalaguete Police Station.

Senior Inspector Diosdado Malazarte, the San Fernando Police Station chief was transferred to POPB; and Senior Insp. William Homoc of the Provincial Holding and Accounting Unit of CPPO was assigned to Borbon Police Station.

As to his plan of relieving all police officers in San Fernando, Noble said the decision will now depend on Nalua.

“I will wait for the recommendation ng kanilang hepe kung palitan. (This is) to tell the world that we are serious in the fight against illegal drugs,” Noble said. (FREEMAN)