Cops, Coast Guard personnel in Cebu drug matrix

MANILA, Philippines — Three police officers and a member of the intelligence unit of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) have been identified as members of a drug ring operating in Cebu.

A copy of the Central Visayas drug matrix obtained by The STAR showed that the police officers – with ranks of staff sergeant, corporal and patrolman – are with the group led by Rustico Ygot, who is serving his sentence at the New Bilibid Prison.

“We identified the personalities behind the large-scale drug distribution ring... we expect to make arrests in due time,” Col. Remus Medina, Central Visayas police intelligence officer, said.

Jocelyn Encila, alias Joy, who was arrested in Consolacion, Cebu last Sunday, was identified as Ygot’s contact.

Authorities seized shabu with an estimated street value of P190.4 million, said to be the biggest drug haul in the province since 2016.

“This... is only the tip of the iceberg... Encila (regularly) gets 20 kilos of shabu not only from Ygot but also from other members of the drug ring,” Medina said.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to look into Ygot’s drug deals.

Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas, Central Visayas police director, ordered a manhunt for the police officers and PCG personnel.

Sinas also requested Bureau of Corrections director Nicanor Faeldon to place Ygot on solitary confinement and confiscate his cell phone and other gadgets.

2 killed in stings

Meanwhile, police said Jun-Jun Besaen, 32, alias Praning, was killed in an anti-drug operation in Barangay 4, Lucena, Quezon at around 10 p.m. on Monday.

Col. Osmundo de Guzman, Quezon police director, said the fatality was on the drug watchlist.

A certain alias Daryl was killed in a sting in Barangay Makiling, Calamba also on Monday night.

Col. Eleazar Matta, Laguna police director, said the fatality was a drug surrenderee who was also tagged in robberies in the city.       

In Zamboanga del Sur, 60 more barangays were declared drug-free. These are in Mahayag with 14 barangays; Aurora, 10; Tukuran, nine; Molave, eight; Ramon Magsaysay, eight, and Sominot, 11.

At least 293 barangays of the total 681 in the province are now cleared of illegal drugs. – With Ed Amoroso, Roel Pareño