SK chair, former tanod among those arrested: One killed in Talisay City drug bust

CEBU, Philippines — A high-value target was killed during a buy-bust operation in Talisay City, which also saw the arrest of a former chief tanod and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairperson of Lawaan 3, the barangay where the operation was carried out dawn Wednesday.

The operation targeted 12 drug personalities.

The fatality was identified as Gilbert Ocampo, an alleged hit man of the Luage drug group. He reportedly fired at authorities first and was hit when the policemen fired back.

The other suspects were identified as Kirby Tavera Basillote, Saturnino Basillote, Newton Jan Toritoy, Remediou Regodos Rico, as well as the SK chairperson of Lawaan 3, Guendolyn Luage, and her father, Francisco, the barangay’s former chief tanod.

Eight others who are reportedly new to the trade but are “down lines” of the Luage drug group, were also arrested and have yet to be identified.

Another target of the operation, a certain Anna Fe Abrenica, escaped. She is reportedly the partner of Girlie Luague, a drug lord who was killed in April last year. It was reportedly Girlie who took over leadership of the network left by slain self-confessed drug lord Steve Go who was killed inside the Mandaue City Jail.

Girlie is Francisco’s son

Talisay Police chief Gerard Ace Pelare said the illegal drug business of the Luage family did not end with Girlie’s death. Guendolyn, for one, allegedly collected proceeds of the drugs sold. Francisco, on the other hand, was arrested in July last year but was released through a plea bargaining agreement.

Pelare said the Luage family supplied illegal drugs in Sitio Mananga in Barangay Lawaan and could earn up to P200,000 every week.

Francisco denied the accusation and said he and Guendolyn lived righteously. He said Guendolyn even worked at a big company in Cebu City while fulfilling her responsibilities as SK chairman.

Authorities recovered illegal drugs worth P266,150 from the suspects.

Provincial Police Director Roderick Mariano said they will have to speak with the captain of Barangay Lawaan 3 because the barangay, especially the anti-illegal drug abuse council, appears to have hidden crucial information from the police in the weeks prior to the operation.

"May tinago sila these past few weeks despite our effort na yung anti-illegal drug abuse council to report lahat ng nasa watchlist, but despite that, hindi sila nagre-report so will try to investigate our barangay chairman dun (They have been hiding something these past few weeks despite our effort for the anti-illegal drug abuse council to report to us everyone in the watchlist. Despite that, they have not been reporting to us so I will try to investigate the chairman)," Mariano said.

Talisay Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas told the police to enforce the law without exemption, especially now that the city is intensifying its anti-drug operation after President Rodrigo Duterte called its attention on the matter.

“At the full extent of the law, the law exempts no one,” Gullas said after learning of the arrest of the SK chairperson.

“Naa gyuy uban nga di na gyud mabangbang… kanang naghatag og problema sa society, kana, dakpon gyud na… but we give people, naa may uban ganahan gyud mag-usab… we have the aftercare program for drug dependents (There are those who are adamant… those who give society problems should be arrested… but we have an aftercare program for those who would want to change),” Gullas said.

He said the city has partnered with a non-government organization in taking care of the children of drug dependents who are arrested.

Gullas encouraged Talisay residents to keep sending the city government information that the police can look into and act on accordingly.  JMO (FREEMAN)