Cops who rushed drug-free declaration to face raps

CEBU, Philippines — The police can face charges should it be proven that they rushed declaring a barangay drug-free, said the author of the declaration guidelines.

Local government units can also be held liable.

Wilkins Villanueva of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency cited an example:

"If it was certified nga naghunong na more than a year but after two weeks nadakpan, ikaw nga nag-certify nga nihunong siya will be liable for misrepresentation," he told reporters.

Villanueva was in Cebu to lead a lecture on the barangay drug-clearing process attended by around 200 cops from the Police Regional Office – 7. The lecture aimed at instilling among policemen the guidelines in declaring barangays drug-free.

Villanueva made the statement after PRO-7 Director, Chief Supt. Debold Sinas, said he is set to revisit the drug-free status of over a hundred barangays in the region.

Sinas said earlier that police operatives have reportedly become complacent in dealing with barangays with drug-free status.

"Kapag drug-free na barangay, kadalasan sabi ng police namin, 'Ay sir, wala na kami mahuli kasi drug-free,' pero ngano kung kami sa region or sa headquarters manakop, naa man lagi?" Sinas said.

Sinas said he will start revisiting Bogo City, which was declared drug-free last year under its former chief of police, Supt. Bryan Alatog.

Sinas said the intention is not to kick anyone out of the PNP but to remind his men sternly not to be complacent with their work.

Villanueva said he has also asked PDEA-7 Director Wardley Getalla to review the status of barangays here.

He also asked for case folders of each barangay so he can review them personally.

"All declared barangays as drug free have always a possibility of reverting back. If naa summary of info nga bag-o nag-operate then, after a month, it can be stripped of its drug-free status," Villanueva said.

Villanueva said he is having a difficult time declaring barangays drug-free even in his own region in Northern Mindanao.

"And usa ka barangay nga naa sa Metro, lisud kaayo na, even in Cagayan De Oro nga grabe kaayo among pursuit, wala pa gihapon, kay lisud gyud, " he said. (FREEMAN)