They won’t inspect mayor’s house: Police reject Loot’s offer

CEBU, Philippines — Police are not keen on inspecting Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot’s house, despite his declaration that his residence is open for checking if only to prove it’s not “flooded” with drugs as President Duterte said.

Chief Superintendent Robert Quenery, director of Police Regional Office-7, yesterday told reporters that they won’t inspect the mayor’s house just for compliance sake.

“Primarily, kung ikaw mag-open ka ng house mo for us to visit, would you think we will find anything? Siyempre wala. Basically, it’s always intelligence-driven dapat,” he said.

Loot was quick to take Quenery’s statement in stride, saying he agreed with it.

“I agree (with) his point. It's normal and logical. Anybody in his position as investigator will say the same. In the same manner also that it is also normal and logical reaction on my part to offer the gesture, being not guilty of the accusation,” the mayor said in a text message to The FREEMAN last night.

Banking on Quenery’s “deeper intelligence efforts,” Loot said he trusts that the top police official in Central Visayas can help him clear his name.

The PRO-7 chief’s remarks came after President Duterte, in a speech during a private dinner with Cebu’s local chief executives on Saturday, accused the former general-turned-mayor of using his house to allegedly hide illegal drugs.

“Sabi ko si Loot nandito raw. Where are you? Huwag mo akong lokohin… Remember, General Loot, your house was flooded with drugs sa isang kwarto. Huwag na tayong maglokohan dito,” Duterte said.

“Huwag ka talagang magsalig-salig diha nga heneral ka. Hindi ako naaano ng mga heneral-heneral diyan. Either magkaintindihan tayo dito o magsabi ka lang kung anong gusto mo,” he added.

Though he has been seeking an audience with Duterte, Loot was among the at least three mayors who were not invited to the dinner with the president.

In a newspaper report, Loot belied claims illegal drugs were stored in his house, saying the insinuations might have started from “trolls” wanting to tarnish his reputation. He also expressed willingness to open his house and compound to investigators.

But as if it was not enough, the president, speaking before residents and officials of Tabogon town, northern Cebu that was celebrating a fiesta on Sunday, once again took a swipe at the former general.

“Kamong nangadato na, pahuway na mo… Ambot og nahinumdom pa ni sila. Gipatawag ko man ni tanang mayor, tanang governor sa Malacañang. Gisirhan nako.  Niingon pa nako nga, ‘Pasayloa ko ninyo kay kaning akong mga tabi karon, hait ni. Dili angay para sa ako mosulti ingon-ani kay pareho ra tang mayor, governor. Pero mapugos ko.

“Giingnan nako na sila, ‘Ayaw mo’g sulod diha kay patyon ta gyud mo. Ambot si Loot og buhi pa ba ang p**** i** niya. Ayaw ko’g tagai anang *** ina niya. Heneral-heneral ka. Ayaw ko hatagi’g bulls*** niana. General? General problem ka lang diha.”

Yesterday, Quenery said police will only inspect Loot’s house if they received validated information, and not through the latter’s invitation.

“Well that’s what he (Loot) says, but of course, we will not go there for compliance lang na mag- inspect sa bahay niya. But basically, it’s (inspection) still an aftermath of a deeper intelligence gathering than just simply walking around his house,” he said.

Quenery, however, clarified that intelligence information gathering is being done by the national headquarters, not the regional police.

Even then, he believes that Duterte’s information about Loot is unlikely to be faulty because the chief executive has, at his disposal, all the law-enforcement agencies that can mine intelligence reports.

Asked of his next move now, Loot said he would find similar connections that former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama “used to reach out to the president and have an audience with him.”

Cop Chief Relieved

Meanwhile, the police chief of Daanbantayan has been relieved following the strafing of Loot and his family at the new port in Maya, the town’s northernmost barangay, last May 13.

Senior Inspector Irish Delim was replaced by former San Fernando police chief Senior Inspector Adrian Nalua.

The spokesperson of Cebu Provincial Police Office, Superintendent Virgilio Bayon-on, explained that the replacement was part of a standard operating procedure but assured it won’t affect police investigation into the incident.

“SOP na siya basta naay ingon ana nga panghitabo sa area of responsibility sa usa ka station commander. I-relieve siya sa post basta aduna lang usab ta’y mga available nga police official,” said Bayon-on.

The order was released last Thursday.

Nalua, for his part, said he is taking his sudden transfer to Daanbantayan as a challenge more than pressure.

“Part man gyod na sa PNP, sa among organization ang movement. Wala ra man nuon ko na-pressure knowing nga naay dakong incident prior sa akong reassignment. Na-challenge hinuon ta ug atong buhaton ang tanan nga atong matabang para sa imbestigasyon,” he told The FREEMAN over the phone.

Nalua also clarified that Delim is still part of the special investigation task group that was formed to look into the strafing.

Police Outposts, Please

In line with the incident, Cebu Provincial Board Member Sun Shimura (4th district), a stepson of Loot, yesterday filed a resolution urging the PRO-7 to put up police outposts in the province’s ports and tourist attractions.

Shimura was with Loot when the strafing transpired. They were about to disembark from a pump boat from Malapascua, a popular island destination in the north, when they were strafed by unidentified men inside a white van.

“The establishment of police outposts in several areas like ports and tourist destinations is a significant move and a pivotal initiative in curbing or apprehending perpetrators of any crime or illegal activities,” the resolution read.

Shimura chairs the committee on peace and order at the provincial board.

He said that aside from the security of his family, he was also worried about the strafing incident’s effects on the province’s tourism.

Shimura was supposed to deliver a privilege speech yesterday to question why no policemen were detailed at the Maya port when the election gun ban was still in effect, but decided not to pursue with his speech after learning that the CPPO has already relieved Daanbantayan’s chief of police. — with Le Phyllis F. Antojado and Ermida Q. Moradas/JMD (FREEMAN)