“Drug pusher’s” book has names of cops

CEBU, Philippines - A name of a police official and five non-commissioned police officers are reportedly written in the “blue book” owned by a suspected drug pusher who was killed recently in Bohol province.

Superintendent Pablo Labra II, chief of the Regional Intelligence Division-7, disclosed that there are policemen who are still in the service that are reportedly receiving amounts from the group of ex-policeman Owen Rosales. Rosales went on AWOL in 2010.

Rosales was among those killed in a shootout with Bohol police two weeks ago in Bien Unido following the ambush-slay of Ubay Bohol Police Station chief, Chief  Inspector George Caña.

Labra said that the female minor companion of the drug group was found positive of gun powder residue as well as of those who were arrested which indicates that they fired guns prior to the encounter.

He said that the policemen included in the “blue book” are now being investigated and would probably face administrative charges if found to have been involved in illegal activity.

“We are looking for more witnesses and pieces of evidence to support  the administrative investigation,” Labra said.

There were also several code names in the blue book which Labra suspects are also of PNP personnel. Even on the cellular phones recovered from those who were killed, some of the text messages were also from policemen.

Recently, the PNP Crime Laboratory-7 which conducted the ballistics examination, confirmed that the empty shells found from where the ambush-slay took place matched with the M16 armalite rifle recovered from Rosales’ camp.

Since illegal drugs were the primary motive of the crime, Police Regional Office-7 director, Chief Superintendent Prudencio Bañas ordered Bohol police chief, Superintendent Dennis Agustin to dismantle the drug group.

Killed in the hot pursuit operation in Bien Unido town were Rosales, Amie Camero, Armando Quisto, Glenn Sayson, Junifer Bicada and Carlito Kiamko. Those who surrendered were Roberto Olalo, Paolo Avenido, Orlando Garcia and Joan Cajes.

Police recovered four .45 pistols, 9mm pistol, two .38 recolvers, M16 rifle, one hand grenade, and several packets of shabu.

Police are confident that the recent bloody encounter could lessen drug operations in the province. —/ATO (FREEMAN)