Six cities, town monitored for rampant drug problem

CEBU, Philippines - Five component cities and a town are currently under police scrutiny due to the rampant illegal drug problem in their respective areas as per intelligence monitoring of Cebu Provincial Police Office.

CPPO director Senior Superintendent Noel Gillamac told The FREEMAN that the areas include the cities of Talisay, Naga, Toledo, Bogo and Danao and the municipality of Consolacion.

According to Gillamac, all station commanders who have been informed about the report have been ordered to exert more effort in their campaign against illegal drugs through the conduct of saturation drives and raids.

“Ang problema man gud sa police stations, identified na ang mga personnel, ang tendency diha ini’g conduct og operation ma-burn out na,” said Gillamac.

He said he has directed the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) and the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch to assist the police stations in their operations.

The CPPO director denied possible involvement of policemen from the said police stations in illegal drug activities.

“We do not receive anything that we have personnel involved in illegal trades but if we see them tolerating or even not doing anything then, it is a way of showing that they are protecting illegal activities,” he said.

According to Gillamac, any personnel who are found to be engaging in illegal drug trade will be subjected to pre-charge evaluation.

Recently, more than a half million worth of illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia and illegal gambling machines were seized from seven suspects in a joint operation of different police units in Barangay Tangke, Talisay City.

Four of the suspects were subjects of search warrants while the other three were in PIB’s watchlist.

Subjects of the search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Gilbert Moises of Branch 18 were Marissa Obrero, of Barangay Tunga, Gloria Bazar, Rhoda Obrero, and Hazel Daan, both from Barangay Tangke.

Recovered from them were 38 sachets of shabu, assorted drug paraphernalia, and two functional video karera machines.

Gillamac said all suspects are apparently female, saying that male drug pushers are allegedly trying to avoid the police by using their partners in carrying out their illegal drug activities.

The CPPO director said he has tasked Talisay City Police to monitor identified drug dens so as to prevent pushers from using them again.

He will also be checking the records of the said police station for its accomplishments for performance evaluation.

Should there be no accomplishments, he said he will have Talisay City Police chief Superintendent Carmelo Dayon relieved from his post.

The anti-drug operations conducted were in response to the directive of Police Regional Office-7 director Chief Superintendent Prudencio Tom Bañas to eradicate illegal drugs in Central Visayas.  (FREEMAN)