Sinas: Slain cop a drug dealer

CEBU, Philippines — Slain policeman PO3 Micahel Santinno Cortes is a “level two drug distributor” and his death was not a case of mistaken identity.

“It has been confirmed. He is a level two drug distributor and despite being in the list, he continued (business in illegal drugs),” Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas, director of PRO-7 revealed in a press briefing conference yesterday.

The family of Cortes earlier said that the police officer was a victim of mistaken identity.

Cortes was shot dead along with two others in a van in Pooc, Talisay City last Friday. A scavenger who was at the roadside when assailants attacked Cortes’ van died after she was hit by a stray bullet.

Sinas said that Cortes was named several times during a debriefing interview of arrested drug personalities from Talisay City.

They also received information that Cortes has allegedly organized his own private network in Talisay City.

Sinas said that based on their initial coordination with the Police Regional Office in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Cortes frequents Cebu saying he has court hearings.

Cortes was reassigned to Jolo, Sulu since 2016.

Sinas said they will check Cortes’ whereabouts and activities while in Cebu as probers are still clueless as to who may have perpetrated the crime.

“Ang alibi permi diri because naa court appearance. We are trying to gather everything labi na if walay witnesses. That’s why we try to check the background because it is where we know what to investigate, lalo na if walay suspek naabutan,” Sinas said.

The death of Cortes and three others brings the count to 47 in three weeks since September 26. (FREEMAN)