Police told: Probe EJKs in province

DAVIDE

Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III told the new Cebu provincial police chief to investigate any occurrence of extrajudicial killings in the province.

Davide told reporters that while he told Senior Supt. Eric Noble, Cebu provincial police chief, to intensify the campaign against illegal drugs, he made it clear that he doesn’t tolerate extrajudicial killings.

“I told him (Noble) point blank I don’t condone EJK. If there is EJK dapat imbestigahan sa police (the police should immediately investigate),” Davide said of his conversation with the new provincial police chief.

The governor said he assured Noble, who paid a courtesy visit to his office yesterday, that the province supports the police’s aggressive campaign against illegal drugs.

Noble took over leadership of the Cebu provincial police last October 1, replacing Senior Supt. Jose Macanas who was relieved from the post last Sept. 30.

Davide also asked Noble to continue to augment the police detail at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC).

In Cebu City, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) is investigating a police official assigned in one of the precincts for his alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.

The policeman has been allegedly receiving payola from drug personalities, including drug lord Franz Sabalones.

CCPO director Senior Supt. Joel Doria, however, refused to reveal the identity of the policeman while the investigation is ongoing.

Doria said the policeman was named a drug protector by a number of drug suspects who were arrested by the police.

Cellphone messages which the police secured showed the exchange of messages between the policeman and a member of a drug group.

“We have seen the messages. And based on that, we decided to conduct an investigation. We don’t want the situation to worsen,” Doria said.

He said the policeman is likely to be relieved from his post and transferred to the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit.

Chief Supt. Noli Taliño, director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), earlier cautioned police officers with ties to the illegal drug trade to quit or else they will be hunted down.

“You better stop it now. Hahabulin ko kayo (I’ll chase you down),” he said.

Taliño said they are validating the involvement of some local policemen in the illegal drugs trade.

Close to a hundred policemen from Central Visayas were relieved from their posts and were transferred to other regions due to their alleged involvement in illegal drugs.