CHIEF Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 chief, commended the police officers for the intensified campaign against illegal drugs after the apprehension of millions of pesos worth of illegal drugs last week.
“If we continue this, we can assure that we apprehend more drug peddlers holding large supplies that come from another area,” Comendador said, referring to the confiscation of at least P30 million worth of illegal drugs last week in Cebu City and Bohol.
Though there is no evidence linking the apprehended drug personalities to political campaigns, police are looking into the incidents. “It will be hard to establish. However, we are seeing a pattern here that there is a bigger supply of drugs in some areas whose officials might be using drug lords to support their candidacy. Though we don’t have evidence, we are keeping an eye on it,” said Comendador.
Meanwhile, police arrested 21 persons in separate police anti-drug operations in Lapu-Lapu and Toledo cities, and Pinamungajan town.
In Lapu-Lapu City last Sunday, four persons were arrested in two separate anti-drug operations in Sitio Casanta, Barangay Mactan and Sitio Kaingin, Barangay Buaya.
Chief Insp. Mark Gifter Sucalit, City Intelligence Branch chief, identified the suspects as Junrey Malingin, Olongapo Malingin, Ryan Augusto and Tyron Pura. Confiscated from them were P143,000 worth of illegal drugs, a KG 9 Submachine pistol, 9 mm pistol ammunition, and drug paraphernalia.
In Pinamungajan town, police arrested 10 persons in separate raids and in Toledo City, seven persons were also arrested and 16 sachets of suspected shabu confiscated. /Correspondents Norman Mendoza, Apple M. Ta-as, and Rene Alima