San Fernando drug raid: Explain failure to monitor drug den - PRO-7

CEBU, Philippines - Being new to the assigned area should not be an excuse for a police officer to be ignorant of the illegal activities happening in his area of responsibility, said an official of the Police Regional Office-7.

“The very minute that you should sit down on your chair and accept your responsibility, dapat istudyohan na dayon nimo og unsa ang naa sa imong lugar,” said Senior Superintendent Rey Lyndon Lawas, chief of the Regional Directorial Staff of PRO-7.

 Lawas was pertaining to the raid conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation-7 last Tuesday on a drug den in San Fernando town which was just some 300 meters from the police station.

He said he will have San Fernando Police personnel explain why they allegedly failed to monitor the presence of the illegal drug activities near their station.

Further, Lawas said “San Fernando Police Station has a lot of explaining to do” if it is proven that residents in the area first asked for their assistance but no action was allegedly taken.

“Kung kana mao na ang scenario, San Fernando Police Station has a lot of explaining to do. Although I don’t want to preempt the conduct of investigation, pero dako gyud kaayo sila og atubangon,” he said.

The PRO-7 official said though that he will let the station chief and his personnel express their side before issuing judgment.

 “Usa kana sa pagalantawon nato. Atong patubagon og pakomentaryohon ang hepe sa San Fernando Police Station ngano’ng wa siya makabantay nga ang activity duol ra unta sa iyang lugar,” said Lawas.

He said he will require not just the chief of San Fernando Police, Chief Inspector Richard Gadingan, to explain but also his men.

Lawas, nevertheless, recalled Gadingan to have made accomplishments when he was still the chief of Minglanilla Police Station.

Last Tuesday night, Gringo Maalyao, 28 and his brother Crisologo, 26, were arrested by NBI-7 agents in a buy-bust operation at Sitio Tapon, Barangay South Poblacion, San Fernando.

At least 300 grams of shabu worth P3.5 million and five guns were confiscated from the suspects.

Raps filed

The NBI-7 has filed complaints against the two brothers before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

Complaints for maintenance of a drug den, possession of illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia, illegal drug sale, and illegal possession of firearms were filed against the brothers, said agent Arnel Pura.

In an inquest proceeding before state prosecutor Mary Anne Demano, the Maalyaos manifested to answer the allegations filed against them.

Prior to last Tuesday’s operation, Pura said, their office received a complaint from a schoolteacher in San Fernando that their students would cut classes and go to the drug den to sniff shabu.

The NBI then conducted surveillance and test-buy leading to the brothers’ arrest.

Gringo has denied the accusations, saying he never sold illegal drugs to students and would even drive them away and tell them that drugs would ruin their future.  (FREEMAN)