Drugs among angles in AWOL cop’s death

CEBU, Philippines — The Police Regional Office (PRO) – 7 is now validating if the death of the police officer who has been Absent Without Leave (AWOL) was related to illegal drugs.

“As of now, nay mga hungihong nga involved siya. That is why there is a need to validate it. It can be the cause of his relief or re-assignment sa mga reports nga involved siya sa drugs but it remains to be validated,” said PRO-7 Spokesperson Reyman Tolentin.

A former Senior Police Officer 1, Ben Serohijos, 44, was shot dead in Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City on Saturday dawn.

Police from Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Homicide Section recovered one small pack of suspected shabu, drug paraphernalia and assorted identification cards from the possession of Serohijos.

He was employed as a supervisor of a security agency.

Serohijos, who was a native of Bohol, was formerly assigned to Siquijor before he was reassigned to Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (PHAU).

Then he was reassigned to Cordillera in August 2016 but he did not report to his new assignment and went AWOL.

Tolentin said that they are still investigating the reason for the victim’s reassignment to PHAU in 2016.

He reiterated that the series of shooting incidents should not be a cause for alarm.

Operations

Meanwhile in Minglanilla, almost P200,000 worth of suspected shabu and an unlicensed firearm were recovered from three suspected drug personalities during a checkpoint in Barangay Poblacion Ward IV on Sunday at around 9 p.m.

The arrested personalities were identified by the police as Arman Cabrillos Digal, 37, of Talisay City; Frandy Beriso Rayno, 35, of Minglanilla; and Maverick Abegonia Reyes, 29, of Minglanilla.

Police Officer 3 Nikki Carlo Plarisan of Minglanilla Police Station said the suspects were on board a motorcycle and was flagged down at a checkpoint.

Plarisan said that the suspects tried to evade the checkpoint but they were cornered by the operatives which resulted in the recovery of an estimated 13.8 grams of suspected shabu inside a sling bag with an estimated value of P162,840.

Police allegedly recovered from Rayno’s possession a caliber .38 with live ammunition.

All the arrested suspects are now temporarily detained in Minglanilla police lock up cell pending filing of charges. (FREEMAN)