Osmeña dares NBI, PRO-7: Reveal those names

CEBU, Philippines - To clear doubts and allegations, Cebu City mayor-elect Tomas Osmeña challenged the National Bureau of Investigation-7 and the Police Regional Office-7 to name the high-profile personalities tagged by suspected drug lord Alvaro “Barok” Alvaro as protectors of illegal drug operations.

In a press conference yesterday, Osmeña said it would be worse if officials of both law enforcement agencies would be mum on this because they might be suspected of covering up and concealing names.

"But if you have information that so and so is implicated, let him say out in public so that the people know. Maybe it's true, maybe it's not true. But at least, people should be aware. It's worse when you keep quiet because some people will suspect that you are covering up," he said.

Alvaro, who surrendered himself to the NBI Bohol earlier this week, is an associate and also an alleged client of slain suspected drug lord Jeffrey "Jaguar" Diaz, who was shot dead earlier this month.

Alvaro was brought to the national office of the NBI in Manila before being brought to Cebu last Wednesday. PRO-7 is now coordinating with NBI-7 on the information given by Alvaro to the bureau, stressing that it should be validated thoroughly.

Osmeña said there are some people who accused him of protecting drug personalities because of the death of Jaguar.

"Would you believe I'm being accused of killing Jaguar because I was protecting him? Who was the mayor for heaven's sake? How could I protect him? I just became mayor last month. (Regional police director Patrocinio) Comendador was just assigned few months ago as the police chief," he said.

He said NBI and PRO should reveal the names "otherwise, all of us are stained."

"So, I'm asking the community, give these guys a chance because they are the ones, you know, we have done more against drugs than Mike Rama has done in six years. We have done more in one month. What has Mike Rama done in six years?" he said, referring to the outgoing and suspended Cebu City mayor.

Osmeña also questioned how come Rama did not capture Jaguar and other drug personalities. However, Rama said the question should be answered by Osmeña.

"He should be very careful in asking that question kay mobalik ra na niya," Rama said.

Rama said the changing of officials heading Cebu City Police Office and the PRO is among the factors.

"Lima kabuok chief of police under my watch. I think it's better that he should be answering because 2010 is a Liberal Party regime. He should not be asking me that question because it was more to be discussed, I don't have the appetite to be discussing it now," he said.

"There was no consistency and permanency. You asked this administration and you ask him because he was part of this administration," Rama added.

Osmeña said he believe that the allegation and doubts against police officials is because of the "very big gap" in the credibility of these law enforcement officials with the community.

He said his recent project in gathering and identifying suspected drug pushers and users in different barangays would help in ridding this gap.

Last Wednesday, at least 50 suspected drug pushers and peddlers vowed to quit the illegal trade and Osmeña convinced them to quit the business for a better future.

Osmeña said it is under the Oplan Pakigsandurot through Tok-Hang (Toktok Hangyo), asking those people involved in illegal trade to leave the business and start a new life. He wants to start the project in Barangay Mabolo first.

"Nagsugod mi sa drive batok sa drugas, nagsugod mi sa police action, bunal gyud. We fight them but actually we are developing political and economic action. Political means the one to talk, we want to talk, ngano man dili, we want to reach out, no, and economic because ato sa tan-awon unsa ila problema, if we can support their problem, we will try something," he said.

Tok-Hang is also a way in which drug pushers and users are encouraged to surrender themselves. As long as these suspected drug pushers and peddlers do not have a standing warrant of arrest, Osmeña said he is willing to assist them.

He said there are social workers who will check the background and profile of each family.

He said the project will help him attain his aim to reduce the drug trade by two percent every month for it is a big help to the city in the next three years.

"One thing that I will assure you, we will improve the situation but of course we could not eliminate the problem but we have to be sure that tomorrow is better than today just like today is better than yesterday, ako 'nang dawaton, let's improve by getting better every day," he said.

"If we can reduce drugs by two percent a month that's very big because in three years it's gone, like that ba," he added, adding that he will set up a community for the drug pushers and peddlers to get rid of illegal drugs in Barangay Kalunasan.

Also, he said the strict policy in responding to any kind of alarm could assist in the battle against illegal drugs and in improving the peace and order situation of the city.

"The problem is no one's calling because nobody trusts the police anymore. I want to challenge the community. Try to call the mobile patrol. My order is very clear. They must respond. This is a different kind of police department," he said.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Intelligence Branch in Cebu Provincial Police Office submitted to PRO-7 the names of several policemen in Cebu Province allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.

PIB deputy Senior Inspector Leo Logroño, however, did not reveal the names as the information is still subject to validation.

"Na-submit na sa region for further investigation. Less than five ang na-submit," he said.

These policemen allegedly have questionable properties. Logroño said lifestyle checks will be conducted on policemen in the province to check if they have ill-gotten wealth.  — with Mylen P. Manto/BRP  (FREEMAN)