Cebu druglord eludes arrest in Bohol raid

CEBU, Philippines - Police seized at least P3.5 million worth of suspected shabu and assorted firearms in a raid Thursday on the hideout of a suspected Cebu druglord on an island in Getafe, Bohol.

Armed with a search warrant, operatives of the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (RAIDSOTG) and the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) however failed to arrest Rowen Secretaria.

Judge Soliver Peras of the Regional Trial Court Branch 10 issued the search warrant against Secretaria, alias Yawa, a resident of Barangay Ermita in Cebu City.

Police instead arrested Secretaria’s alleged accomplices Harold Bejasa, alias Rambo, 23, also of barangay Ermita, and Chardilito Conson, 31, of Getafe.

Bejasa, police said, served as Secretaria’s right hand while Conson works as his lookout.  Policemen, onboard three pumpboats and a speedboat, proceeded to Banacon Island past 9 a.m.

The team was led by RAIDSOTG chief Marvin Sanchez and PIB chief Rodulfo Albotra.

The team initially held seven people who were at the vicinity of Secretaria’s hideout while police were searching for him.

Authorities later learned that the suspect had already left the island.

But police continued the search, believing that Secretaria was just hiding in one of the houses in the area, and failed to find him.

During the operation, police recovered a caliber. 45 pistol, cal. 9mm pistol, cal. 38 revolver, and a KG9 pistol.

They also recovered firearm magazines, silencer, several ammunitions, drug paraphernalia and a radio for communication.

Police also recovered from the suspect’s nearby house two large packs of suspected shabu weighing 300 grams worth P3.5 million.

RAIDSOTG deputy chief Henrix Bancoleta said they have been monitoring Secretaria after receiving information that he is one of the druglords in Cebu City.

Police expressed disappointment that local officials in the area did not coordinate with them immediately and that neighbors of the suspects were also uncooperative.

“Natingala gani mi diri kay wa kuno sila makaila sa among subject nga si Yawa. Pero sa among info, ilado kaayo ni siya dinhi, mahadlok gani ning mga tawo nila dire,” Bancoleta said.

Both Bejasa and Conson denied any involvement in Secretaria’s drug activities. — Lesley C. Vestil of Banat News and Niña G. Sumacot/LPM (FREEMAN)