Probe on as new chief takes over

Cebu Provincial Police chief Clifford Gairanod ordered yesterday the new Poro police chief, Insp. Andres Alpas, to intensify the anti-drug campaign in Poro and in the entire Camotes Islands.

“Lalong paigtingin ang anti-drug campaign sa Poro at sa buong isla,” Gairanod said in an interview.

Alpas replaced the late Senior Insp. Jonas Tahanlangit, who was killed by two motorcycle-riding men in an ambush last Monday afternoon.

Alpas arrived in Poro, Camotes yesterday together with the eight-man Task Force Tahanlangit which will look into Tahanlangit’s death.

The team is made up of members of the Investigation and Detection Management Branch headed by its chief, Clark Arriola.

Gairanod said he also ordered Alpas to boost the morale of the town policemen.

Meanwhile, Arriola’s team is looking for at least two other witnesses who were inside the vehicle when Tahanlangit was attacked.

Gairanod said investigating policemen only reported those who were wounded and did not inform them of the two other passengers who were not wounded in the attack.

Gairanod said Tahanlangit’s passengers were his friends who hitched a ride with him.

According to initial investigation, two names have already surfaced, who are believed to be the persons hired by a suspected drug group operating in mainland Cebu, which extended its illegal trade to Camotes Islands.

Yesterday, the task force viewed the video footage of the Danao port and saw that the possible suspects rode on two separate motorcycles.