CPPO chief to target index crimes

CEBU, Philippines - As the new Cebu Provincial Police Director, Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador vowed to focus on lowering index crimes in the province.

Index crimes include homicide, non-negligent manslaughter, robbery, rape, aggravated assault, burglary, theft, car theft, arson, and physical injury, which is the highest among other crimes.

Last week he sent a letter to the Provincial Board asking them to create a provincial ordinance minimizing the drinking of liquor during celebrations.

Comendador said drinking too much liquor is usually the source of many crimes.

He also wants the police stations in the different towns to be professionally capable during operations.

Comendador also told his policemen to be ready for anything, especially when they are on patrol.

He wants his personnel to bring with them not just their firearms but also their flashlights, especially during saturation drives.

Last Monday, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia confirmed that she chose Comendador, then acting provincial police chief, to permanently head the CPPO.

However, the national headquarters of the PNP has yet to issue an appointment before Comendador can formally assume the position.

Meanwhile, Comendador called for an investigation into the alleged harassment of an alleged big-time drug pusher who was arrested by the operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch.

Inspector Julius Ompad of the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch is tasked to handle the investigation.

Jerry Tito Bataluna, 48, who was nabbed by the PIB operatives last Saturday evening at Sitio Juan Luna, Barangay Looc, Danao City, alleged that he was harassed, punched and kicked by the operatives during his arrest until he was brought to the Consolacion Police Station, where he was detained.

He said he was buying cellular phone load in a store when he was suddenly arrested by the operatives and harassed.

“Mura ko’g baboy gipasok sa sakyanan, gitaptapan nila akong mata unya gitamak-tamakan. Gisukmag pa gyud ko kay kuno nisukol ko,” Bataluna said who suffered contusions, bruises and a black left eye.

PIB chief Supt. Rodulfo Albotra said the suspect did try to fight back and resist the operatives.

“Gahi na siya nga pusher but we dare him to file a case kung unsa gani we will answer him,” he said.

Aside from the harassment, Ompad is also tasked to determine if there was a proper inventory made of the money confiscated from the suspect.

Bataluna said he had pocket money amounting to almost P50,000 in earnings from his internet café at the time, but only P3,200 cash was recorded in the police blotter.

Bataluna, who is in the priority list of the PIB, was nabbed with several packs of illegal drugs estimated at having a street value of P65,000 during a buy-bust operation led by Senior Insp. Mark Gifter Sucalit.

Confiscated from his possession were four medium plastic packs of shabu, two large plastic packs of shabu, seven small plastic packs of shabu, P1,000 buy-bust money, P3,200 cash, a cellular phone, two hand-rolled aluminum foils, and a wallet with ID cards.

The drugs were brought to the PNP crime laboratory at Camp Sotero Cabahug for chemical analysis.

Comendador said he needs to look into the incident to make sure no lapses were made.

“This is a serious allegation I’ll make sure wala’y hocus-pocus nga nahitabo as I assume office,” he added.

Violation of Section 5, 11, and 12 of Republic Act 9165 including direct assault and resisting arrest are set to be filed against the suspect before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office. – (FREEMAN)