6 cops receive medal of merit

CEBU, Philippines - Police Regional Office-7 personnel once again received awards and recognition from the Dangerous Drugs Board for their performance of police duty after several successful anti-drug operations in the region.

Supt. Pablo Labra II, Chief Insp. George Ylanan, Police Officer 3 Cesar Pandong, PO2 Roy Carlo Veloso, PO1 Frederick Ybañez and PO1 Albert Luardo received the PNP Medal of Merit for a highly meritorious achievement during the conduct of a buy-bust operation last August 25.

The operation was conducted at around 11 p.m. at the parking lot of an establishment in Juana Osmeña Street, barangay Capitol Site, this city, which resulted in the successful arrest of Jamel Otto, a 28-year-old native of Iligan City and an alleged big-time drug dealer.

Otto handed over two packs, containing about 200 grams of crystalline substance believed to be shabu to a police decoy and companions Jovelyn Gumintad and Rolando Ramos, both from Pagadian City.

Also seized from them were another three packs found in the multicab driven by Otto.

This haul of illegal drugs with a total weight of 493.86 grams has an estimated street value of P3 million. It was reportedly the biggest operation done by the Cebu City Police Office.

“With this remarkable accomplishment, awardees have exhibited their sincere commitment and hard work in the campaign against illegal drugs worthy of commendation and emulation by the officers and men of the police organization,” Chief Supt. Lani-o Nerez, director of the PRO-7, said. 

 “We are fast in recognizing efforts of our police personnel to encourage other members to do better in their duties for the common good of our community,” he added.

DDB Secretary Vicente “Tito” Sotto III awarded the outstanding police officers personally and wished that the problem of illegal drugs will soon be insignificant in Central Visayas as how insurgency has been.

“We in the DDB believe that drug-free Philippines is very impossible to achieve because no matter how we destroy illegal drugs, there will always be other forms of drug abuse that will emerge. We might not be able to make Cebu drug-free, but our efforts are directed in making our country a drug-resistant community,” Sotto said. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)