Radoc reacts to ‘lackluster work’ tag

CEBU, Philippines - Usually in anti-drug operations, the bigger the catch, the better.

But for Lapu-Lapu City acting police director Senior Superintendent Armando Radoc, numbers don’t always matter.

Radoc may have agreed to Mayor Paz Radaza’s comment that most of drug confiscations made by the police have been small catches, but for the police official, the fact that the persons arrested are facing non-bailable offense also counts.

In an interview with reporters on Thursday, Radoc also defended his men from Radaza’s earlier statements that the police’s performance in the fight against illegal drugs in the city is “lackluster.”

In December, he said, the city police made a “good number of arrests” involving illegal drug trade and use.

He said they were able to make 30 arrests that month through “constant” buy-bust operations.

He does not also think that the problem of illegal drugs in the city has actually worsened.

Mayor Radaza earlier said she was disappointed by the police department’s “ineffective” performance in the war against the social menace.

In fact, the mayor cited that illegal drugs have also now become a problem in Olango Island.

Radoc did not deny that illegal drugs have reached the island.

As reinforcement, he said he has tapped the barangay captains and informed them of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office’s campaign against drugs.

Radoc said he already met with officials of the Association of Barangay Captains to discuss with them their all-out patrol campaign where the barangay tanods may participate.

“The barangay tanods can help our department in locating hide-outs sa mga illegal drug traders,” Radoc said.

Lapu-Lapu City police’s chief of intelligence unit has already been relieved from post after Radaza’s discussion with Police Regional Office-7 director Prudencio Tom Bañas.

Likewise, the proposal to have police officials in Lapu-Lapu City reshuffled is also being eyed in hopes of improving police performance, something being set aside at the moment because of the lack of manpower.

Radoc could not yet tell when the proposed reshuffling of police personnel in Lapu-Lapu City will be implemented.

Radoc confirmed his men will indeed be reshuffled to improve police performance as earlier suggested by Mayor Paz Radaza.

"Tag-two years ang reshuffling and if there's a need for a call (to transfer), buhaton gyud nato," he said.

However, Radoc has not yet set a definite schedule for the revamp due to lack of manpower.

Radoc said they will be tapping the tourist police so as not to cripple the functions of the city police.

Lapu-Lapu City is home to 464 police personnel, including tourist police and non-uniform personnel.

Meanwhile, Radoc said they are now on the process of scouting potential intelligence chief to replace Senior Inspector Rogelio Pineda, who has been relieved from his post as chief of City Intelligence Branch and City Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations task Group.

"Mo-scout pa mi for intelligence unit kay mo-handle man gud ni siya og confidential documents," Radoc said.

Senior Inspector Judith Besas of the Women and Children's Protection Desk serves as the officer-in-charge of the CIB and CAIDSOTG. (FREEMAN)