Argao police chief takes precautions for family

CEBU, Philippines - The chief of the Argao Police has started taking precautions for his family’s safety after they received death threats following the arrest of a drug pusher the other week.

Chief Insp. Allan Batobalonos said it is now a rule at their residence to close the gate and doors at all times.

“Even naay mangita nako nga pulis nga not in uniform, ipa-confirm nako daan before entertaining them hasta kung naay mutawag dili magpataka ug tubag,” Batobalonos told The FREEMAN in a phone interview.

Batobalonos said he received the death threats after he filed a case for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, RA 9165, against Allan “Edgar”Tapayan, an alleged Level 2 drug pusher who was arrested during a buy bust operation last June 11.

Seized from Tapayan were five small sachets of shabu amounting to P1,500 and three pieces of P500 bills that the police used as bust money.

Batobalonos said that shortly after Tapayan’s arrest, several persons called the police station and tried to bribe him with at least P300,000 and up to P500,000 in exchange for Tapayan’s liberty.

After he turned down the offer, he received a text message that read, “Grabeha nimo sir oi gidakop nimo akong paryente, gi section 5 man nimo. Bawos-bawos lang unya ta patagua lang imong pamilya kay kadumdom mis inyo.”

Batobalonos said earlier he has reason to believe that the threat came from someone behind the drug syndicate that Tapayan worked for. This time, police are looking into the possibility that the threat may have come from anyone in Tapayan’s family.

“We disregard police’s involvement but it could be someone close to him (Tapayan) or na-kabenefit niya,” Batobalonos said.

Tapayan, an alleged Level 2 drug pusher, could allegedly dispose of illegal drugs amounting P150,000 weekly.

Despite the threat, Provincial Police Director Patrocinio Comendador said their operation against illegal drugs in the province will not stop. He also said the CPPO is behind Batobalonos in investigating the source of the threat.   - (THE FREEMAN)