New Chief’s Ambition: Remove Talisay City’s ‘drug tag’

CEBU, Philippines — As he assumed his post as chief of the Talisay City police yesterday, Police Major Orlando Carag Jr. said he will continue the program of his predecessor, Police Lieutenant Colonel Marlu Conag, to get rid of drugs in Talisay City.

In particular, he said he wants to remove Talisay City’s tag as being a city rampant with drugs.

“From I have read from iba’t-ibang publications nung nag-scan ako of Talisay, one of the speakers mentioned Talisay was tagged as the shabu city capital of the Philippines, that’s why I want to remove that stigma,” Carag said in an interview after the turnover ceremony yesterday.

“Kasi nakakaawa ‘yung Talisay if that will be the tag of this city. Kumbaga lahat na lang ng nakatira dito, kung ako rin ang nakatira dito nakakahiya pero siyempre may feeling of reservations na hindi ako taga-Talisay kasi with that stigma. Yun ‘yung gusto kung alisin,” he added.

Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas formally welcomed Carag during the turnover ceremony at the Talisay City Hall yesterday.

Gullas said he will fully support of all the agendas of the police, including the three police community precincts that Police Regional Office-7 Director Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas is proposing for Barangay Tabunok, Barangay Lagtang, and another area in the city.

“I will be constantly coordinating with the new chief of police, he has my full support, with contact and kanunay nga coordination, nagtuo ko sa pagtinabangay namo, this is not one type of government kon dili a whole type of government approach to fix and eradicate illegal drugs in Talisay City,” Gullas said.

Sinas also promised Gullas that he will assign 82 additional police personnel to the city.

Meanwhile, Conag is now assignead as the head of the Provincial Intelligence and Investigation Branch of the Cebu Provincial Police Office. — Ma. Mae Labora, CNU Comm intern/BRP (FREEMAN)