Mandaue City police officers bring the Oplan Tokhang at the North Bus Terminal to the bus passengers heading north of Cebu in this September 2016 photo. CDN FILE PHOTO
Fifteen million pesos worth of shabu confiscated, three drug syndicates neutralized, 41 high-value targets and a thousand other drug personalities arrested in 15 months.
Senior Supt. Roberto Alanas, Mandaue City Police Office chief, said that the police office’s achievements in the war against drugs were achieved with the help of all sectors in the community.
“Mandaue City is not exempted of the ill effect of illegal drugs knowing that its 27 barangays are moderately affected of the presence of drug users and drug pushers residing and operating in the area,” said Alanas, who showed the police gains in the drug war with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency now taking the lead role in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.
After the launching of the PNPs Oplan Double Barrel, Double Barrel Alpha and Double Barrel Reloaded, MCPO conducted a total of 866 Anti- Drug Operations and arrested a total of 1,373 drug personalities (963 users, 410 pushers).
Among those arrested was Pablo Loberanes, leader of Loberanes drug group, who was arrested last Jan. 1, 2017 for a traffic violation, illegal drug violation and illegal possession of firearms. Six members of Loberanes group were also arrested in succeeding operations.
The other groups neutralized by the Mandaue police during their yearlong drug war were the Almadin Drug Group, after their leader Joel Almadin and 13 members were arrested in separate operations; the Sadaya Drug Group after their leader Harold Sadaya was identified and 17 of his members were arrested.
From July 2016 to Oct. 10, 2017, the MCPO said Alanas confiscated 1,292.18 grams of shabu with an estimated Dangerous Drugs Board value at P15,247,724.
Alanas also cited the 6,004 drug surrenderers including drug personalities after they visited their homes during Oplan Tokhang operations.
But with the achievements, some of the Mandaue police officers are also facing investigations for the death in early October of three brothers, who were recently released from jail. The police officers claimed that the brothers were killed in an alleged shootout during a police anti-illegal drugs operation at their shanty at the Cebu International Convention Center parking lot.
But the Commission on Human Rights in Central Visayas (CHR-7) are investigating the deaths after the relatives of the brothers sought the CHR-7’s help disputing the claims of the police.