More Mayors report: “Policemen into drugs”

CEBU, Philippines - More mayors are reporting policemen in the province who are allegedly protecting or are involved in drug operations.

Cebu Provincial Police  Office Director Clifford Gairanod said in a press briefing yesterday that several mayors in the province came to him to report policemen whom they believe are drug protectors or worse — drug pushers themselves.

“Naa’y mga mayor ug vice mayor nga nibisita sa akoa kay nireklamo sa drogas ug kanang nagprotekta sa illegal nga drogas,” Gairanod said.

Gairanod said that this is on top of the four towns and one city that they are monitoring for the presence of drug groups who might finance politicians or may be used as a private army during the elections.

Yesterday morning four municipal mayors in northern Cebu visited his office to report the policemen involved in drugs.

“Naa pay lain bag-o lang niari sa akoa ganihang buntag. Naproblema sila sa drogas kay nagkadaghan unya naproblema sila sa polis kay mao kuno’y protector,” he said.

Gairanod added that the mayors named at least three non-commissioned officers and a police official, most likely a station chief.

“Upat ka lungsod sa northern part, naa silay gibanggit nga tulo ka pangalan, naa pay opisyal, di nato i-disclose kay ma-burn out ta, posible nga hepe,” Gairanod said.

He said that based on the information they received, one of them has connections to a drug lord who is distributing in a city in northern Cebu while another is a distributor of illegal drugs himself.

“Upat ka munisipyo, dala na tanan. May isang drug lord na coverage niya kasama ang city sa north na pinoprotektahan niya,” he added.

He added that if the policemen are proven guilty he will have them dismissed from the service as an example to others.

San Fernando operation

After earning criticisms over the National Bureau of Investigation drug raid last month the San Fernando Police Station redeemed itself after they arrested seven people including a suspected drug pusher who was in possession of at least P1 million worth of shabu, several firearms and a hand grenade in Barangay Bugho, San Fernando town.

Police arrested Castro Barameda, 35, the subject of the buy-bust, after he sold a pack of shabu to a poseur-buyer yesterday dawn.

Dionesio Baroman, 39; Alejandro Umamalin, 31; Joselito Cabasag, 31; Warren Jakosalem, 30; Joey Manano, 33 and Mario Canoy, 29, were also arrested for visiting a drug den.

Chief Inspector Richard Gadingan, station chief, said that they only received information about the suspect’s alleged illegal drug activities five days ago. Aside from text messages, someone actually went to their station to report the information.

Gadingan said around 2 a.m. yesterday they went to Bugho and set up the operation. After the transaction was consummated the suspect was immediately arrested and policemen went to search his house.

Police recovered two .38 cal. revolvers, a .22 cal. revolver; a KG-9 submachine pistol, a hand grenade, three ammunition clips and several live rounds from Barameda’s possession.

Barameda denied owning the firearms saying these were pawned to him, but he admitted to selling drugs out of poverty.

Gadingan said that as they were conducting inventory they heard a gunshot nearby and secured themselves. They were eventually able to leave along with those they arrested at daybreak.

Manano, 33, a vendor, claimed he was sleeping in his house when the police barged in and ordered him to drop to the floor and arrested him. Canoy, also a vendor, told the same story.

Both of them said they can prove their innocence if they are subjected to a drug test because they do not use drugs. The other four arrested men also denied they were sniffing shabu.

Gairanod said that although San Fernando scored big in their latest accomplishment they are not absolved of the drug-protector issue after that NBI operation last month where two brothers and alleged pushers were arrested.

“Nalipay ko sa nahitabo karon, naa’y operations against sa nagprotekta sa ginadiling drogas. Nakabawi siya ug iyang mga tawo,” Gairanod said.

Gairanod said that he is still conducting investigation among the members of San Fernando Police Station including Gadingan to determine if the accusations are true. Aside from that he ordered Gadingan to validate who among his men are involved in illegal drugs. — /BRP (FREEMAN)