Did Capitol bypass city in coastal bust?

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City government wants all communication lines of the Cebu provincial government, Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard to be “open for collaboration” following their alleged failure to communicate with the city in a recent joint operation.

An official of Cebu City Bantay Dagat Task Force who asked for anonymity alleged that Loy Anthony Madrigal, Provincial Anti-illegal Fishing Task Force head, intruded the city’s jurisdiction in his pursuit to intercept a boat carrying contraband off the South Road Properties over the weekend.

“Daghang mga lapses kay nidakop wa’y kuyog nga coast guard, wa’y coordination sa city. Dapat unta kun naay dakpunon, naay proper coordination sa syudad kay dili man ilang jurisdiction,” the official said.

Also, City Bantay Dagat Task Force Chief Ranulfo Sebusa went mad and questioned the legitimacy of the said operation that resulted to the seizure of deadly weapons and illegal drugs.

However, Acting Mayor Edgardo Labella said the joint operation did not incur any violation.

“I don’t see any violation and there’s no dispute there as we have the same objective (to safeguard our waters from the entry of contrabands). We are even thankful of the said operation in line with the city’s objective on safeguarding and watching our shorelines,” he said.

“Okay ra i-inform but if there is an immediate action needed or in a situation where quick action is necessary, let us not be the reason for the suspects to escape,” he added.

Labella said though that the incident serves as an “eye opener” to all the government agencies.

“Proper coordination and collaboration is needed for an effective communication. We should work together rather than engage in pity misunderstanding. We are one and interconnected island, we cannot isolate one from the other so dapat naay communication,” he said.

‘We coordinated’

In a separate interview, Madrigal denied he never followed proper protocol in the operation, adding that he coordinated with Navforcen (Naval Forces Central) based in Lapu-Lapu City and Cebu City Police Station 11 in Mambaling.

Madrigal pointed out it did not matter to them whether the province or the city would be the one responsible for the seizure but he reasoned that the operation was conducted at the boundary of Cebu City and Talisay City. Administratively, Talisay is still part of the Capitol’s jurisdiction.

The confiscated 349 grams of marijuana has been forwarded to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency while the two seized rifles, a .22 cal. pistol and another unidentified gun are now at the crime laboratory of the Philippine National Police.

Madrigal said they will file a case on Wednesday with the help of National Bureau of Investigation.

Avoid entry

Meanwhile, Labella, also chairman of the Police Coordinating Advisory Council,  has directed the officials of the coastal barangays to inspect all incoming motor bancas to avoid entry of illegal drugs. This is part of the city’s drive against illegal drugs.

This will be discussed next week during the PCAC’s weekly meeting to be held in Barangay Pasil Sawang, together with the officials of the coastal barangays of Calero, Suba and Mambaling.

“They are required to attend for us to be able to safeguard the entry points against illegal drugs. With more reason, our barangay officials are advised to be more vigilant, watchful and to undertake some measures like inspections of motor bancas,” the acting mayor said.   (FREEMAN)