Moalboal drug raid
A Moalboal police investigator inspects the items confiscated in Saturday’s drug raid that resulted in the death of police officers sitio Banilad, barangay Tomonoy, Moalboal, Cebu. (CDN PHOTO/ JUNJIE MENDOZA)
A self-confessed drug user surrendered yesterday to the Fuente police precinct in Cebu City after he was named one of the suspects in the killing of two Moalboal town policemen during a botched drug raid last Saturday.
Ezra-el Yosores Ocariza, a 28-year-old worker of a Moalboal department store, confirmed that he was the rider of a motorcycle that police flagged down just before the fatal shooting of two policemen in sitio Banilad, Barangay Tomoroy, Moalboal.
But Ocariza said he just went to the area to buy drugs. He denied any involvement in the shooting.
Ocariza was turned over to the Moalboal police and will undergo paraffin tests and investigation, said Insp. Edgardo Labe, Moalboal police chief.
Police are still trying to find out the circumstances of the shooting, and who fired the shots that killed the two policemen.
Senior Supt. Noel Gillamac, Cebu provincial police chief, called on the assailants and the subjects of the drug raid to surrender.
“If you feel guilty, then surrender to any police station and I will ensure your safety,” Gillamac said.
PO3 Fabio Fernandez died after being shot near the eye while PO1 Alrasid Jimlani was shot in the back by assailants on board motorcycles at the house of suspected drug pusher, Michael Aquino, in sitio Banilad, barangay Tomonoy.
The shooting came as policemen were conducting an inventory of seized shabu packs in a cottage used by Aquino to transact drug deals.
Aquino evaded arrest, while four persons were handcuffed after they were caught sniffing shabu.
Aquino also escaped during the shooting.
The police were serving a search warrant against Aquino issued by Judge Leopoldo Cañete of the Regional Trial Court.
Amplified by deaths
Moalboal Mayor Inocentes Cabaron said the drug problem in his town was not alarming.
But Provincial Board (PB) Member Christopher Baricuatro of the 2nd district said the shooting was a wake up call on the rampant illegal drug trade in southern Cebu.
“I don’t believe that was an isolated case. Rampant na gyud ang pag gamit ug pag supply sa drugs diha sa south (The use and distribution of drugs in the south is really rampant),” he said.
But Mayor Cabaron said the drug problem was “not that alarming” and that the fugitives were “small pushers.”
He dismissed the possibility that they were part of a large-scale drug operation in the area.
“Naa la’y namatay (Someone died). I think that flared up the situation but our drug problem here is not alarming. It’s just the same as in other towns,” Cabaron said..
“Parehas ra gud mi ug ubang lungsod. Kanang problema sa drugs di man na mawala (The situation here is just the same with other towns).
Where there is development, for example on tourism, the drug problem will follow,” he explained.
They are not part of an organized drug ring,” Cabaron added.
Tomonoy, situated just three kilometers away from the town poblacion, has long been known as the home of drug dens in Moalboal.
Moalboal, famous for its pristine, white sand beaches and rich marine life, mainly relies on fishing and tourism for subsistence.
Cabaron said the town has an active drug awareness program.
All the barangays already have their own functioning anti-drug abuse councils, he said.
However, with the deadly incident last Saturday, Cabaron said he is fed up with preventive measures, and would concentrate on eliminating the drug suppliers.
He said the municipal government will extend financial assistance to the families of the two Moalboal policemen.
Rampant
Drug suppliers have thrived in smaller and remote municipalities since they have already gained the cooperation of the communities in the area, said Baricuatro.
He said the suppliers help the residents in the community through money dole outs, including barangay officials.
“They are protected by the community. They help each other that’s why police have a hard time arresting them,” said Baricuatro.
He said he will raise the matter to Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III in a meeting at the Capitol today.
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