Tagbilaran remains to be a peaceful city as recent killings were traced as an off shot to the massive crackdown against drug trafficking  which has resulted to the rivalry in the complicated drug trade operating here.

This was the statement issued yesterday by City Mayor John Geesnell Yap after holding a one-on-one conference with his newly promoted police chief, Police Supt. George Vale. The closed door meeting followed after his weekly “Meet the Mayor” radio program mid-morning yesterday.

Mayor Yap said that per a detailed report rendered to him by his police chief, it was learned that of the seven killings since January this year, five were drug related while one was due to an alleged land dispute and the another was a road accident.

He categorically said that there was no such thing as a “mistaken identity” in the rush of killings.

“If there was a mistaken identity (God forbids), then the peace and order condition in the city becomes dangerous and alarming,” the mayor stressed.

Mayor Yap said police probers zeroed in that the murder of drug personalities Cris Ian Dolauta Ordineza of barangay Bool and Mark Anthony de Guzman of barangay Tiptip was due to “unfinished drug business.” Ordineza was gunned down in broad daylight of April 6 while de Guzman was shot dead 9:45 in the evening of April 23.  However, the suspects in the two killings remain unidentified by the police.

The police, according to the mayor, likewise pointed the murder of a certain Pio John Aceron of Poblacion II Iast May 20 and Jaypee Paparon of Poblacion III, seven days later, to the drug operation here.  Investigators are still trying to put facts and information together that could lead to the identities of the suspects.

Police Chief Vale told the mayor during their meeting that initial investigation pointed to non-payment of their purchased drugs as the motive behind the killings

He likewise mentioned that the latest victim identified as Reynaldo Pocoy of Tamblot st who was gunned down inside Haydee’s Barbeque Haus last June 14. The murder  has something to do with the drug trade since the victim was allegedly involved in illegal drug activities in the city.

Mayor Yap ordered the city police chief to intensify their investigation so as the identities of the suspects will be known in due time.

He took exception of the murder of radio blocktimer, Engr, Maurito Lim who was gunned down  due to an alleged land dispute. The suspect, Jovani Orenia who was arrested and charged for violation of Republic Act. 9165 is still facing murder charges. Lim was gunned down in cold blood while about to board his weekly radio program over dyRD last Feb., 14. The triggerman caught him right after he parked his Izusu Crosswind in front of dyRD studios along B. Inting st., few minutes before he boarded his radio program.

Meanwhile, Mayor Lim allayed fears of some sectors  that the city is becoming a “risky” place to stay. He said aside from the drug personalities, no innocent civilians were victims of any shooting incident.

In fact, police records showed that of the five shooting incidents since March this year, four were drug related while one involved a notorious police character, identified as Eugen Paredes, of Causeway Drive, Poblacion I, this city.

Police identified those involved in the shooting incidents as Rhemus Solis of Rajah Sikatuna Ave., Dampas; John Edward Torreon of Gallares st., Anacleto Cuervas of Dampas district and Conrado Bragat of J Borja st.,

Police Chief Vale said the four victims of shooting incidents were also linked up to the drug trade.

Mayor Yap, during his meeting with the City Peace and Order Council asked the police to improve their intelligence network so to be able to get leads for the identity of the suspects/

URVEY FAVORS

DRUG MURDER

Ninety-four percent of the city residents “seemed to like” the recent killings involving drug personalities in the city.

This was the result of a random survey conducted by top-rated “Radyo Merkado” of dyRD yesterday morning.

Of the 94% who welcomed the killings of drug personalities, 32% demanded that authorities should work double time to identify the suspects. The respondents said that if the triggermen will never be identified,  the suspicion for “vigilantes against drugs” would surface.

Well meaning respondents likewise aired their views, calling for a more serious drive to minimize the entry of drugs in the province. They said that sea ports scattered in many coastal towns are the easy entry points of drugs coming from Cebu City as well as from Mindanao provinces.