A P5-million cash reward was left by suspected drug dealer Jeffrey “Jaguar” Diaz for anyone who could kill those responsible for his death.
“Before he died, he offered P5 million to anyone who can kill his killers. He already anticipated that he would get killed anytime,” Chief Supt. Patrocinio Comendador Jr., Police Regional Office chief, told reporters.
Comendador refused to identify the source of the information but said it’s very reliable.
He said the target of Jaguar’s cohorts are the police officers assigned at PRO-7.
“Of course, we’re ready (for any attack). Risks are part of a policeman’s life. But we shall not be afraid nor discouraged. It will rather inspire us to do our jobs well,” Comendador said.
Jaguar was shot dead by operatives of the Regional Intelligence Division led by its chief, Supt. Rex Derilo in what police said was a shootout in Las Piñas City last June 17.
Jaguar was considered the top drug personality in Central Visayas.
Comendador said there will be no let up in their campaign against illegal drugs.
Just last Wednesday, he said they almost got another top drug personality.
Unfortunately, the subject of the operation, he said, quickly flew to Macau. He declined to identify their target.
Comendador admitted that there are some policemen who are linked to the illegal drug trade.
But he said it would be futile to reveal their identities without any strong evidence .
“If we publicize it, the operational value is gone. If they know they are being investigated, they can make some adjustments,” Comendador said.
Duljo-Fatima Barangay Chairman Edgar Abella said Diaz vowed to him that he would stop dealing drugs. “Jaguar wanted to be with his family,” Abella said.
Abella said he told Diaz to stop since his presence had damaged the barangay’s reputation and marked it as an illegal drugs hotspot.
He said contrary to the police’s claim, those who attended Diaz’s funeral procession were not paid.
“Jaguar was there to pay their bills and medicines. He gives the poor people 10 kilos of rice and groceries every Christmas,” Abella said.
He also alleged that Diaz supported Mayor Tomas Osmeña, and he was shocked to learn that Osmeña accused him and former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama of protecting Diaz.
During yesterday’s oath taking ceremony of Team Rama councilors, Rama said he ordered the police to go after Diaz when he was mayor.
Osmeña said Abella’s disclosure that he tried to convince Diaz to give up indicates that he knows him well enough “to discuss business with him.”
“I did not wait until I became mayor to bring down illegal drugs in Cebu. And now I am accused of protecting the drug lords? In 30 days, I brought down more than what Mike Rama did, and I was not even a mayor until now,” Osmeña said./With UP Cebu Intern Patrick Byron G. Gattoc