Man caught using shabu during Moalboal operation surrenders

CEBU, Philippines - A municipal employee of Moalboal who was seen using shabu during the controversial drugs operation in the town last Friday has surrendered also last Sunday.

Police Officer 3 Ramon Chinel of the Moalboal Police said yesterday that Eric Lidio, 24, surrendered at around 5 p.m., around 16 hours after a suspect in the shooting of policemen Fabio Fernandez and Alrasid Jimlani, two of those who took part in the operation, surrendered to authorities.

Fernandez and Jimlani were shot dead by men on motorcycle while they were conducting inventory at the site.

Lidio has not been considered a suspect in the killing but he was among those who ran away at the height of the shooting. Lidio said he and three others who were still in handcuffs ran for safety to the mountain. He said proceeded home afterwards and does not know where the other three went.

Lidio and the three other drug suspects were caught in the act of sniffing shabu when cops arrived to implement a search warrant at the house of a certain Michael Aquino in Barangay Tomonoy.

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Meanwhile, as far as suspect Ezra-el Ocariza is concerned, Provincial Police Director Noel Gillamac said he has already directed the Provincial Investigation and Detection Management Branch to ascertain his possible participation in the shooting.

Ocariza, a resident of Alegria town, surrendered to the Fuente Police Station in Cebu City around 1 a.m. last Sunday purposely to clear his name.  He admitted being in the area during the incident but said he only went there to buy shabu for personal use.

For his part, PIDMB chief, Superintendent Rodolfo Albotra, said they are now investigating both Ocariza and Lidio’s possible links to the case. He reiterated, however, that PIDMB is only helping the Moalboal Police and the latter is still the head agency in the probe.

Gillamac urged the other three men who managed to escape to surrender and assured them of their safety.

Lapses?

Yesterday, Governor Hilario Davide disclosed that Police Regional Office 7 Director, Chief Superintendent Prudencio Tom Bañas, had informed him that there may be lapses on the part of the Moalboal Police in carrying the operation out.

“Si General Bañas kaganiha naghisgotay mi - ingon siya there may have been lapse on the part sa police officers who conducted sa raid,” Davide said.

Bañas, clarified, however, that this report is yet to be verified and he is awaiting the final report from Gillamac to see if lapses were indeed committed.

“I’m waiting for the official report from the provincial director… I directed Senior Superintendent Conrad Capa to look into this matter…but he reported nga medyo may mga lapses nga,” Bañas said.

“Actually, that should have already a good accomplishment on the part of the policemen who conducted the raid, if only for that incident na yung security procedure nila… na hindi nila in-observe, natapos na pala ang kanilang search yun pa ang nagyari,” he added.

He said that as much as possible, policemen should not conduct a search at night but if the time is vital to the operation, necessary precautions must be put in place.

Also yesterday, Davide said before police station chiefs in the province that the provincial government will provide financial assistance to the families of the slain cops. (FREEMAN)