Getafe chief sacked; hunt on vs ‘Yawa’s’ 2 brothers

CEBU, Philippines - Before he was slain in an operation over the weekend, suspected drug lord Rowen Secretaria a.k.a. “Yawa” lived in a house on Banacon Island that was only about 15 to 20 minutes ride from Getafe Police Station in mainland Bohol.

Why the local police were not able to act on Secretaria’s alleged illegal activities despite this proximity remains mind-boggling for regional police authorities.

While they look for answers, Police Regional Office-7 Director Patrocinio Comendador Jr. already ordered yesterday the relief of Getafe police chief Inspector Marcelina Mejias effective today.

“I am relieving the COP (chief of police) of Getafe, Bohol because of the failure of arresting the criminal in the area. Why were they not arrested (when) it is only 15 to 20 minutes from Getafe proper?” Comendador said.

Loay police chief Inspector Erenieto Peniza will take over Getafe police, said Senior Superintendent Renato Dugan, chief of the Regional Personnel and Human Resources Development Division.

Peniza will be replaced by Police Inspector Raymund Halasan, the former chief of Loay who was assigned in Mandaue City Police Office during the last elections.

Comendador said an investigation will be conducted to determine whether the slain druglord has police protectors.

He said they will also investigate accounts from islanders describing Secretaria as in fact “a good person” as these stories might have just been made up “to abate the tempo of the operation.”

“This will always be a warning to criminals: We will not hesitate and will not be harassed by any complaints for that matter, trying to twist the facts otherwise in order to slow down our operations,” he said.

Manhunt

With Secretaria’s two brothers still on the loose, Banacon is now a special target of PRO-7.

Comendador did not provide the names of the two, but he said they have standing warrants of arrest. One of them is reportedly wanted for a grave offense that does not allow an offender to post bail bond. 

Comendador said the surviving brothers can be classified as Level 1 drug pushers who are “armed and dangerous.”

PRO-7 already sent personnel from the Regional Public Safety Battalion to hunt down the duo and to diffuse the tension in the area.

Banacon Island is located north of Getafe proper, a three-hour bus ride from Tagbilaran City, and a 30-minute ride via motorized boat from Cebu. It is inhabited by more or less 200 families and is famous for its vast mangrove forests covering around 425 hectares.

Last Saturday morning, Secretaria was killed after he allegedly shot it out with the police in an anti-illegal drugs operation in the island where he allegedly maintained bulk of his operation.

Secretaria could reportedly dispose of five kilos of shabu per week which translate to a whopping street value of P59 million based on Dangerous Drugs Board estimates. Reports have tagged Cebu City barangays of Ermita and Pasil and Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova town as his areas of operation.

His alleged cohort, Ricardo Postolana, 26, was wounded during the shootout and was brought to Governor Gallares Hospital in Tagbilaran City. — (FREEMAN)