47 CV cops tagged as ‘protectors’

CEBU CITY — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has listed 47 policemen in Central Visayas as alleged protectors of drug pushers.

PDEA-Region 7 chief Robelito Comilang refused to identify the 47 policemen, but said they are now verifying reports provided by concerned citizens about these law enforcers.

He even refused to confirm whether the five Lapu-Lapu City policemen whom a drug suspect had tagged as his alleged protectors, are in their list.

Comilang said some of the 47 policemen had tested positive for drug use in random drug tests.

Last week, drug suspect Gilbert Jumao-as executed an affidavit identifying SPO1 Leovero Augusto, PO2 John Bensi, PO2 Johnny Hernandez, SPO3 Eduardo Augusto and Joel Hernandez, all of the Lapu-Lapu City police, as his alleged protectors.

Jumao-as alleged that the five policemen extorted P2,500 to P4,000 from him every week.

Meanwhile, Comilang denied reports about the existence of a shabu laboratory in Daanbantayan town, saying they have not received any information about such an illegal facility.

Nevertheless, he urged the informant of Rep. Antonio Cuenco to directly report to him about the alleged shabu laboratory.

He said the informant can avail himself of the government’s "private eye program" where his identity will be kept confidential, and can even get a P1-million reward if his report proves to be true.

In 2000, he said an informant, hiding under the alias of "Abu," received P81,000 for providing information that led to the arrest of suspected drug pushers from Ozamiz City. — Freeman News Service