For lackluster anti-drug efforts: 2 towns lose cops

CEBU, Philippines —  The Police Regional Office-7 has relieved the entire police forces, including the chiefs, of Daanbantayan and San Fernando towns following their “dismal” performance in the war against illegal drugs.

PRO-7 Director Chief Supt. Debold Sinas yesterday announced the relief of 22 policemen, including police chief Senior Inspector Adrian Nalua, during a visit to the northern Cebu town.

The policemen received a dressing down from the PRO-7 chief, who was unimpressed with their anti-illegal drug campaign efforts in 2018.

Daanbantayan, presently led by controversial Mayor Vicente Loot, is a first income-class municipality located on the northern tip of the province with a population of roughly 90,000. Yet Sinas said the town police only managed to conduct 11 anti-drug operations last year.

Sinas said their performance in the fight against illegal gambling was also lackluster.

“I don’t believe there are no drugs and illegal gambling here,” he told the relieved policemen in a huddle yesterday morning.

Sinas revealed receiving intelligence reports that policemen there were reluctant to implement the laws because they personally knew their subjects.

Of the 22 relieved policemen, eight were reportedly natives of the town.

“We don’t have to go through the hassle of monitoring these cops, and monitoring the enemy at the same time. They were supposed to work to resolve these issues. So it would be better to eliminate them altogether and bring in fresh troops,” he said.

Sinas said the relief of town police personnel will also serve as a good preparation for the elections in May as they will not be attached or beholden to officials running for posts.

Twenty-eight members of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion with ranks of Police Officer 1 and 2 will take over police operations in the town. They will be led by Chief Inspector William Homoc, who comes from his last post in San Remigio town.

Though none of the new cops is from Daanbantayan, Sinas expressed confidence that they can effectively run the police force, quipping that they are “bright men who are college graduates.”

As for the relieved cops, they will be assigned at the RMFB in the town of Sibonga, southern Cebu where they will undergo moral recovery training.

They have also been disarmed and given three days to process their clearance with the station, including the formal turnover of their firearms and other police equipment.

Not Demoralized

Nalua, in a separate interview, said that despite being surprised by his relief, he was not demoralized knowing that reassignments are part of their job.

Nalua, whose next assignment is Oslob in the south, admitted that some of his men were not supportive to the campaign against drugs.

“It is somewhat challenging because some of my personnel are from Daanbantayan. They have lots of relatives here. Maybe that’s the reason why our anti-drug operations have been weak, because they are familiar with the people,” he said.

For his part, Homoc called on the community to support the drug war. “We need to step up. Whatever accomplishments the previous leadership had, we have to surpass,” he said.

Homoc got instructions from Sinas not to pay a courtesy call on Loot as the mayor has long been stripped of his police powers.

Sabalones

Sinas also ordered the relief of the 22-strong police force of San Fernando, where the cohorts and underlings of self-confessed drug lord Franz Sabalones allegedly continue to operate.

“They have grown complacent,” Sinas said.

The town police chief, Senior Insp. Arvi Arbuis, was among those relieved.

They will be replaced by 32 fresh policemen from the region and will be headed by Chief Insp. Lymel Pasquin.

Daanbatayan and San Fernando became the second and third stations to have been sacked by Sinas for their poor performance, the first one being Talisay City police in September. — JMD (FREEMAN)