Probers check Lozano’s ‘drug-link’

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Police Office is zeroing in on the alleged involvement of former policeman Armando “Ahmed” Lozano in illegal activities as motive in the attempt to his life Thursday afternoon.

 CCPO director Sr. Supt. Royina Garma said they are conducting background investigation on Lozano to establish who could have a motive to kill him.

Garma said she had information that Lozano was a bodyguard of Cebuano businessman and alleged drug lord Peter Lim.

"Check ko pa, pero kung ako siya, at alam niya involved siya sa drugs, tumigil siya. He has to stop and leave the city, ganun na lang," Garma said.

Garma warned all police scalawags, even those who were already dismissed from service, to be cautious and watch for their own safety.

"I would like to remind na naman na mag-ingat tayo ngayon kung alam mo na may nagawa kang criminal activity in the past, or involvement sa drugs or whatever, the more na mag-ingat ka dapat sa sarili mo," Garma said.

One of Lozano’s children who requested anonymity admitted that they heard of the allegation that their father was involved in drugs since 1990. The family is willing to be investigated to clear their father’s name.

Lozano was shot by still unidentified gunman inside the Labangon Bliss Elementary School last Thursday afternoon while attending the induction of officers of the Parents Teachers and Community Association (PTCA) where he was the president.

Lozano suffered two gunshot wounds to the body but is now in stable condition in one of the hospitals in the city.

Chief Inspector Clark Ariola, Punta Princesa Police Station chief, said they are reviewing security footages taken from the closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to help identify the culprit.

Following the shooting, school principal Ricardo Aman has requested the officials of Barangays Labangon and Calamba to deploy their tanods in the school.

 “Akong panghinaot nga matabangan ko nila pag-deploy lang gud sa mga tanod para inig kita sa mga bata nga naay tanod dinha, ma-feel safe sila sulod sa eskwelahan,” he told reporters.

The Department of Education in Central Visayas also reminded all school principals to deploy security personnel at the gate.

DepEd-7 assistant regional director Salustiano Jimenez said inspection of bags and of individuals entering the schools must be strictly imposed.

Jimenez said the regional office has already directed Aman to let students and teachers undergo stress debriefing.

“Our concern is on the learners and also for our teachers who happen to be there during the incident. They might be in trauma or the bad experience may retain. Even I, I feel uncomfortable about these shootings,” he told reporters on Friday. —FPL (FREEMAN)