Cebu City cop linked to Kerwin’s drug group on floating status
The Cebu City policeman now facing administrative investigation after being named an alleged protector of drug lord Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa Jr. is a crack operative who heads the anti-illegal drugs unit of the Talamban Police Station of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO).
The policeman, PO2 Cerilo Luage, has served the CCPO’s Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (CAIDSOTG) before he was reassigned to the Talamban police in mid-September this year.
Senior Insp. Porferio Gabuya, the Talamban police chief, said that since Luage was adept in anti-illegal drugs operations, he assigned him as the team leader of the anti-illegal drugs group of the Talamban police.
Yesterday, however, Luage was placed on floating status.
Senior Supt. Joel Doria, CCPO director, has ordered Luage to turn his identification card and his firearm over to the police office, said Gabuya.
“I have already talked to him (Luage) about this, and he refused to make any comments. As of now, he will be placed under the holding group of the CCPO,” Gabuya told Cebu Daily News in a phone interview yesterday.
Luage was among the ten police officers who were charged with an administrative complaint last Wednesday, October 26, at the National Internal Affairs Service of the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame for the alleged protection of the drug lord.
Former Cebu Provincial Police Office chief Senior Supt. Jose Macanas was also on the list.
Gabuya said he received the information about the complaint lodged against Luage at 2 p.m. yesterday from City Intelligence Branch (CIB) head Chief Insp. Christopher Navida.
Gabuya said he was later directed by Doria to validate the allegations by digging deeper into Luage’s dealings and activities.
But Gabuya said there was no derogatory record involving Luage since the latter joined his station last September.
“I’ve never received any reports or information about him being dragged into illegal drugs trade since he joined my team. Okay man siya. Gatrabaho man pud siya (He is okay. He works hard),” Gabuya said when asked if he has ever heard about any illegal activities involving Luage prior to being linked to Kerwin.
“(But if the investigation reveals that he is guilty), I will relieve him of his assignment,” Gabuya added.
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