Nine city cops ‘in drug trade’

CEBU, Philippines - According to a list submitted by Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, chairman of the City Council committee on peace and order, nine policemen in the city are reportedly involved in illegal drug activities.

Tumulak submitted the list to Cebu City Police Office City Intelligence Branch chief Superintendent Romeo Santander yesterday morning.

Tumulak said that these policemen are suspected small-time drug protectors who allegedly accept bribes from drug personalities in their areas in exchange for their protection in case they are caught by law enforcers.

Other policemen in the list also reportedly take the personal items of the drug suspects whenever they implement search warrants in their residences.

Tumulak further said some of them “arrest” drug personalities and pretend to bring them to the police station in their patrol cars but they only drive around in their area negotiating for a bribe to release the suspect.

“Magsige na sila og dakop. Kunohay isud sa sakyanan unya ipaso-paso ra. Di dad-on diretso sa police station. Isuroy ra ang dinakpan unya pangayoan og kwarta. If makahatag og kwarta, buhian na dayon. Murag semi-kidnap,” he said.

The ranks of these policemen range from police offi-cer 1 to senior police officer 3. Tumulak refused to reveal their names and respective units to avoid putting the impending police operations at risk.

He shared that the policemen have long been into their rackets, but it was only now that the public had the courage to report them. He added the information they gathered was based on the consolidated reports of the drug suspects and their families, barangay officials and the general public.

Tumulak said that they have coordinated with the city police to investigate the policemen and verify the reports.

Tumulak personally suggested that these erring policemen will not just be relieved from their posts but also be arrested and put in jail to serve as a lesson for other law enforcers not to follow them.

“Gilabanan lang nato ang mga tarong na pulis. Ang mga daotan kinahanglan wagtangon diri sa Cebu City,” he said.

Santander agreed, saying that relieving a policeman from his post and transferring him to another unit is not enough.

“We do not tolerate those bad eggs from the PNP organization. Masayang ang mga accomplishments nato. Naa’y dagkong accomplishments ang pulis but because of the bad eggs mahulog lang nga wala,” he said.

Santander said that suspicions against these policemen were already raised before but were only validated by the public just now.

 “Gabalik-balik na man ni nga mga allegations. Du-gay na ang mga pangalan ana nila sa lista,” he said.

He also asked the public to give them information about unscrupulous policemen, assuring informant confidentiality.

“We are asking for the information coming from them to compare with the information we gathered,” he said.

Tumulak warned other policemen involved in illegal activities to stop.

“I warn them. Magsige gani sila ana moabot gyud ang gaba. This is a serious allegation. Di ta mo-tolerate. If naa’y dakop, dakop gyud. Wa sila’y katarungan nga mangwarta pa kay ang city government naghatag sa ila og allowances,” he said. — /BRP (FREEMAN)