A Cebu-based Muslim community vowed to support the government’s war against illegal drugs and began their cooperation yesterday by giving the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) a list of people whom they had suspected to be involved in the illegal drugs trade.
Members of the Islamic Propagation Society of Cebu, Inc. paid a courtesy call on PRO-7 director Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño to express their support for the programs of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
According to the group’s president Fredie “Muhammad Arafat” Lozano, they were willing to monitor the members of their community to check on illegal drug users and pushers, if any, and then advice police if needed.
“Gusto nato nga magkig-uban ta nila for peace, so kung unsa ato mahatag, unsa ato matabang para sa peace and order, naa mi (We want to work together with them for peace, so if there’s something we could give and help for peace and order, we are here,)” said Lozano.
Aside from the promise of monitoring drug situation and advising the PNP, Taliño said Lozano also shared with him an initial list of individuals allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.
The list, which included the names of policemen, will be validated by the PNP, Taliño told reporters.
“Malaking tulong. Yun ang appeal natin dito sa Region 7 na yung iba’t- ibang grupo, tumulong sa ating kampanya. Kasi sinasabi natin na hindi lang responsibility ng pulis ito. Hindi lang responsibility ng NGO, kung hindi, this is a shared responsibility ng lahat ng Filipinos, ng Cebuanos dito sa Region 7 para maging successful tayo dito sa kampanya natin (This is really a big help. Our appeal here in Region 7 has always been that everybody should help in the campaign because this is not just a police responsibility nor the NGOs but a shared responsibility of all Filipinos, of Cebuanos here in Region 7 so that the campaign succeeds),” said Taliño.
Lozano, for his part, said that the visit has been part of their tradition to welcome new regional directors in the police force.
Meanwhile in Lapu-Lapu City yesterday, two self-confessed drug dealers, Rasul Pabilla and his partner Brix Daligdig, who police said, were ranked second and third in the city’s list of top drug personalities, surrendered to the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office along with ten other self-confessed drug pushers.
According to Taliño, prior to their surrender, police had conducted several drug operations against Pabilla.
Pabilla and Daligdig’s surrender would greatly benefit the fight against the illegal drug trade in Lapu- Lapu, said Taliño, adding that the cases which will be filed against surrenderers will be based on their own revelations during the investigation that was conducted by Lapu-Lapu City police.