CEBU, Philippines — Another policeman linked to illegal drugs was shot dead Wednesday night in Toledo City, Cebu.
Investigation revealed that PO2 Melchizedek Quijoy Batomalaque, 37, was riding his motorcycle in Kabangkalan Daanlungsod when shot several times by a still unidentified suspect.
Batomalaque succumbed to wounds in the chest and head. He did not make it to the Toledo City hospital alive.
Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Manuel Abrugena said Batomalaque was in Cebu for court duties. His last assignment was at the regional office at the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Abrugena said Batomalaque used to be assigned at the Toledo Police Station before he was transferred to Pinamungajan town and eventually to ARMM last year.
Drug Angle
Batomalaque was the third cop linked to illegal drugs killed in just nine days.
First was Senior Insp. Raymond Hortezuela, the alleged protector of slain drug lord Jeffrey “Jaguar” Diaz.
The second was Jonathan Tilos, 36, who was killed by a still unidentified assailant.
Investigation will focus on three possible motives – personal grudge, work related matters, and involvement in the illegal drug trade.
Abrugena said they will try to find out if an organized crime group targeted Batomalaque for revenge.
“Maaaring work-related in the performance of his duty as police officer… definitely titingnan ang involvement sa illegal drugs, baka may nakagalit na organized crime gangs,” Abrugena said.
Batomalaque’s name surfaced in 2016 during a “major” identification of cops involved in the drug trade.
Police Regional Office -7 Director, Chief Supt. Debold Sinas, confirmed that Batomalaque is on President Rodrigo Duterte’s list of personalities involved in illegal drugs.
Batomalaque was reportedly among the cops that PNP chief Oscar Albayalde directed PRO-7 to monitor.
“Yes, part ni siya sa gipang-monitor kay part sa gipang-check katong mga gipang- believed to be narco cop nga gipang-assign sa laing lugar. Imbes nga naa didto permi, naa diri sa Cebu and we are checking on their backgrounds kung unsa ila gipangbuhat,” Sinas said.
Still, he said the death of the three cops these past nine days is not part of the PNP’s internal cleansing. He said cleaning the ranks does not necessarily mean killing the scalawags.
Sinas said a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) will be formed to investigate the three deaths.
“Mag-create ng SITG to investigate the case and follow-up and identify the suspects. Mao ni normal procedure nga sa mga big cases, we create SITG para mag-focus sa investigation,” Sinas said.
Extortion
In a separate story, a policeman assigned at the Consolacion Police Station was arrested in an entrapment operation for allegedly trying to extort money from the owner of a mobile phone he found.
The cop, SPO2 Vicente Gila, Jr., reportedly found the phone of hotel manager John Vincente Rafols, 22, but instead of returning the phone to the owner, the policeman allegedly demanded P10,000 in exchange.
Rafols then sought help from the police.
“Pag-contact gahapon sa udto, ni-demand sa iya nga mag-transaction sila niya nanawag siya sa station kay mangayo siya police assistance… and naplano namo og tarong,” said Talamban Chief Alvin Llamedo said.
The entrapment was hatched at a mall in Mandaue City. Gila was arrested just as he accepted the P10,000 money he demanded from Rafols.
Llamedo said it was only during the entrapment when they knew that Gila is a policeman.
Gila is behind bars and is facing charges for robbery with extortion.
Gila is on his 19th year of service and would have had the option to retire next year. A cop with a rank of SPO2 earns about P40,000 monthly.
Because of what happened, he was relieved from his post and will undergo summary hearings for his dismissal. — JMO (FREEMAN)