Arrest cousin or face relief

CEBU, Philippines - Medellin Mayor Ricardo Ramirez is giving Insp. Manuel Singson Jr. a chance to either arrest his own cousin who is allegedly the number one drug pusher in Barangay Canhabagat, or be relieved as the town’s police chief.

Ramirez said he is promoting his town as a tourist destination and not as a hub for drug pushers.

This stemmed after barangay and town officials raised their concerns on the alleged proliferation of shabu during a public forum in Barangay Tindog just recently.

Singson said the Medellin police are aware that William Mercader, the police chief’s cousin, is a big time pusher in the town.

Mercader’s customers are reportedly not only from Medellin but also from the neighboring towns.

Ramirez told The FREEMAN that he wants Singson to double his efforts in arresting Mercader after the police chief admitted that the latter is his cousin.

“If that’s the case, I told him he has to double his efforts and in fact I sent him an order because it is embarrassing on my part,” he said.

He further said that if Singson cannot arrest Mercader, he will be forced to seek the assistance of other law enforcement agencies.

Ramirez, who admitted that his patience is wearing thin, has given Singson a chance before asking for the police chief’s relief.

Singson told The FREEMAN that Mercader was once arrested by the Regional Intelligence Division and other higher law enforcement units but was released after posting bail.

“We are just a small operating unit. Even the higher units makadakop niya but makapiyansa,” Singson said.

He welcomes other units who want to help them in their operation as long as they will cooperate with the Medellin police.

Singson refused to comment about the ultimatum of Mayor Ramirez to relieve him as the town’s police chief, but said he is ready with whatever the mayor’s decision will be.

Upon learning of the said report, Supt. Teofilo Siclot, chief of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group, said he will form a team who will be conducting surveillance in the said barangay.     - (THE FREEMAN)