RDS chief: How come drug traders elude arrest?

CEBU, Philippines- The chief of the regional directorial staff of the Police Regional Office-7 will look into why many of the subjects of anti-illegal drug operations are able to escape from the police.

Senior Superintendent Rey Lyndon Lawas, RDS-7 chief said one of the complications in police work is the fact that apprehending drug lords or drug pushers becomes useless whenever they are not around the area during the operation.

He said there is already a presumption that illegal drug personalities are able to sense the presence of police in their area before the conduct of an operation.

“We should be one step ahead of the criminals or of the suspects. Labi na karon panahona nga di lang pulis ang magbantay sa mga criminal, ang mga criminal pud gibantayan ang mga pulis,” said Lawas.

Lawas said before the actual operation, the target of the operation are placed under surveillance for a couple of weeks.  

He explained that it should be included during the surveillance watchers in the area who can immediately inform the suspects about the presence of the policemen.

 “Probably, the next time around, dapat, medyo palapdan ang preparasyon sa kapulisan. We must always consider that criminals are watching the police right now,” said Lawas.

Lawas said, with this, they will issue guidelines and directives to the policemen in the field to address the concern.

He is also not discounting the possibility that policemen may also be the one leaking information about the operation so the target could escape.

With this, Lawas said he wanted chiefs of different units to look into the matter.

“It’s not that we are doubting our policemen but if during assessment and evaluation, indicators would prove nga naa na na siya (policemen leaking information to the targets), that’s something to look into,” said Lawas.

Lawas said they will discuss the matter during their regular meeting with the police units.

“We will reevaluate and take a look on the result of their previous operations,” said Lawas.

Drug arrest

Meanwhile, Parian Police Station personnel arrested an alleged level two drug pusher and his live-in partner along Imus Extension in Barangay Lorega, San Miguel, Cebu City Sunday dawn.

Randy Bunal alias “Ranran”, 37, was detained together with the live-in partner, Joselou Barba, 19, after the confiscation of not less than P15,000 worth of suspected shabu inside their house.

Chief Inspector Ryan Devaras, chief of the Parian Police Station, said they have placed Bunal under surveillance for a month before implementing the search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Gilbert Moises in Branch 18.

During the operation, Devaras said the police confiscated 25 small and one medium pack of suspected shabu inside the subject’s house. Barba also yielded five small packs of suspected shabu from her possession.

Devaras said the two admitted that they have long been into illegal drug trade and most of their customers are those working at night.

Devaras said Bunal and Barba will be facing charges for possession of illegal drugs and another case for illegal drug trading will be filed against Bunal.  (FREEMAN)