Policeman, former kagawad fall in drug raid

CEBU, Philippines - A police officer and a former barangay councilman were among those arrested by Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO)-Provincial Intelligence Branch and Provincial Public Safety Company in a drug raid in Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City yesterday dawn.

Former councilman Frederick Go, 46, the subject of the search warrant, was apprehended inside his house around 2 a.m. after suspected shabu, cash and guns were seized from his possession.

Senior Police Officer 1 Cielo Bonite, a resident of Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City, who was inside Go’s house during the raid, was also arrested by CPPO operatives.

CPPO-PPSC head Superintendent Mario Baquiran said they have yet to determine why Bonite was in Go’s residence, as he (Bonite) is presently assigned at the Dumaguete City Police Station.

Bonite’s .9 mm pistol was also confiscated and police have yet to know if it is a service-issued firearm or his personal gun.

They only found out that Bonite, who wore civilian clothes at that time, was a police after they found his police identification card.

“Initial na paliwanag niya ay sabi niya, naanyayahan lang daw doon dumaan kasi siya pabalik na daw sa (kanyang) duty but then pag-alam naman natin na kapag ganyang cases, full–denial siyempre sa part nila. Malaking ano namin na siya ay talagang involved sa drugs,” Baquiran said.

Baquiran added they have been monitoring Go’s activities after he was included on their watchlist.

“Isa siya (Go) sa kasama sa watch-list natin.  Illegal possession of firearms and itong na-monitor natin na nag-engage siya sa illegal drugs,” Baquiran said.

Judge Jerry Dicdican of the Danao City Regional Trial Court issued the search warrant against Go last March 15.

The police later found out that Go was a former Bulacao Barangay councilman, and the son of former Talisay City councilor Emil Go.

The police also arrested Arnold Leceña, 44, of Barangay Bulacao, and Jaime Dela Cerna, 59, a resident of Barangay Tabunok.

Suspected shabu weighing 45 grams worth more than P500,000, a KG-9 submachine gun, .45 pistol,  .22 revolver and a hand grenade were seized inside Go’s house.

Go reportedly owns businesses that engaged in sand-and-gravel and cockfighting.

CPPO Director Eric Noble, on the other hand, said they will file complaints of administrative and criminal cases against Bonite after the incident.

The drug suspects are held under the custody of CPPO and will face cases for violation of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive and Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Go will face a separate complaint under illegal possession of firearms following the seizure of the guns during the raid. (FREEMAN)