Danao, Liloan have best police station, drug council

CEBU, Philippines - Danao City Police Station and Liloan Police Station were hailed as the top performing city and municipal police station, respectively, by the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council.

Both were recognized in yesterday’s awarding ceremony for CPADAC’s “Just Say No Program,” which is part of the Capitol’s observance of the Drug Awareness and Prevention Month.

For the award, Danao City received P200,000 and a trophy.

Bogo City Police Station and Naga City Police Station followed Danao City in the city level.

For the municipal category, Liloan Police Station was hailed best performing, followed by Tuburan and Balamban police stations as second placers, and Consolacion Police Station as third placer.

Liloan, represented by station chief Senior Inspector Ramil Morpos, also received P200,000 cash and a trophy.

CPADAC, together with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Incorporated (RAFI), also awarded top three cities with the best anti-drug abuse council.

For the city level, Danao City, famous for its gun-making industry, also topped the award, followed by Naga City and Carcar City.

In the municipal level, Liloan also got the first place, followed by Tuburan and Consolacion. Cash prizes and trophies were also awarded to the winners.

Through performance scorecards, the winners were chosen based on their campaign against illegal drug abuse. The two major criteria were drug demand reduction and drug supply reduction strategy.

The awarding ceremony was attended by Governor Hilario Davide III, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, mayors and law enforcers.

Davide cited the need for students and teachers to participate and increase their involvement in the campaign against illegal drugs.

CPADAC vice chair and Provincial Board Member Ivy Durano Mecca also said women also have roles in bringing awareness on drug abuse.

“Each one of us has to play an important role. As a woman, we could influence our children,” said Mecca.

P100T shabu seized

In another development, at least P100,000 worth of shabu was seized and five men were arrested inside a drug den in Poblacion Ward 1, Minglanilla Thursday night.

One of those arrested by operatives of the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (RAIDSOTG)-7 was the target of the buy-bust operation, Ian Jimenez, 29.

Others who were reportedly caught inside a drug den Jimenez was operating were Elmer Baptismo, 32; Jose Borda, 37; Jerome Largo, 37; and Louie Janes, 40.

According to Senior Inspector Mark Henrix Bancoleta of the RAIDSOTG-7, they received information about Jimenez’s illegal drug activities in the area.

Bancoleta said Jimenez has two cottages in the area where he allegedly sells shabu and where his customers would engage in drug sessions.

The buy-bust operation was hatched and conducted at around 9 p.m. last Thursday, leading to the suspects’ arrest.

The police seized from Jimenez six medium and 18 small packs of suspected shabu. Janes yielded three small packs of shabu, Borda four small packs, and Baptismo five small packs.

Police also confiscated from Largo a cal. 45 pistol.

Jimenez denied that he is a drug pusher while the other four suspects denied the illegal drugs and firearm confiscated were from them.

All suspects will be facing charges for violating the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Badian marijuana

In Barangay Santangan, Badian, a 40-year-old man was arrested while at least 198 stalks of fully-grown marijuana plants he was allegedly cultivating were uprooted by the police last Thursday.

Oscar Dioquino was immediately arrested after Badian police reportedly caught him in the act of cultivating the marijuana plantation located some 10 meters from his house.

An unlicensed cal. 357 magnum revolver and two live rounds were also confiscated from the suspect.

Senior Police Officer 3 Ronald Elcana of Badian Police Station, who led the operation, said three days prior to the operation, a concerned citizen informed them about Dioquino’s alleged marijuana cultivation.

Eclana said they uprooted at least 198 stalks of marijuana.

The suspect told the police that he only cultivated the marijuana for his personal consumption.

He is now detained and will be facing charges while the uprooted marijuana plants were brought to the PNP Crime Laboratory for examination. — Ma. Fatima R. Secuya with Friensy G. Larawan and Reinhard Julius O. Buhia, USJ-R Interns/NSA (FREEMAN)