Desperate calls by some parents to save their children from drug addiction prompted the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) to raid a drug den near a school in barangay South Poblacion, San Fernando town, southern Cebu last Tuesday afternoon.
NBI-7 operatives arrested Gringo Maalyao and seized a half kilo of suspected drugs with an estimated value of P2 million and five firearms.
The suspect’s brother Crisologo, Joseph Billok and Jupiter Lawas were also arrested.
“The complaint is coming from the parents of the high school students, as reportedly they have become addicted to drugs,” said NBI-7 regional director Ricardo Diaz.
The drug den was also near the town’s police station.
“It’s a one-stop shop. People can buy drugs and use it right there,” said Diaz.
A surveillance and a test-buy were made before the raid was conducted.
Diaz said Maalyao has been known as a drug peddler in the area since last year.
Some of his alleged customers were students of the high school nearby.
An investigation will be made to verify reports that Maalyao had a policeman as a protector.
“I conducted an inquiry. It (drug den) was located 300 to 400 meters from the police station,” said Senior Supt. Clifford Gairanod, director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO).
All policemen of the town’s police station, including Senior Insp. Richard Gadingan, the town police chief, will be asked to explain why they failed to detect the drug den.
“I was able to talk to the chief of police and he told me that the suspect was not in their watchlist,” said Gairanod.
According to town police chief Gadingan, the NBI-7 had informed them about the operation.
Gadingan said he had other things to attend to and some of their policemen were asked to augment the security force for the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC).
Gairanod said he has already identified 10 town police chiefs who will be relieved for failing to follow an order to conduct at least two operations a month against illegal drugs in their areas.
The town police chiefs are from Alcantara, Barili, Carmen, Compostela, Oslob, Pilar, Ronda, Samboan, Tabuelan, Tudela and Toledo City.
Gairanod said he will be sending a letter to each town and city mayor to inform them about the transfer of the police officials.
“This should serve as a warning to all chiefs of police that I’m not joking and I mean business,” said Gairanod.