The Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) barely dwelled on its successful anti-drug drug operation in Clarin which yielded one of the largest drug hauls for the year, as its directorate immediately after the bust raised concern over lack of involvement of some barangay officials in the government’s anti-drug drive.
Newly installed acting BPPO director Col. Jonathan Cabal during the commemoration of the 25th National Crime Prevention Week in Camp Francisco Dagohoy on Monday, a day after the drug bust, said that he was “disturbed” by the fact that the P6.8-million drug stash was found just “50 meters” away from the house of a barangay councilor in Bacani, Clarin.
“Though meron tayong magandang accomplishment it is sad but there are other factors that had to be considered…a few meters from the drug transaction wherein those drug personalities were conducting their business was the house of a certain kagawad, just a few meters,” said Cabal.
He called out the councilor who he did not name for his “apathy” and for “not giving a damn.”
Cabal, in his speech, asked Governor Arthur Yap to hold accountable elected officials who fail to take action on illegal drug activities in their areas of responsibility.
“We will be requesting the governor to somehow make accountable public officers, especially those elected, who fail to nip in the bud or take action against these types of crime,” he said.
During police surveillance activities, members of the Quiño-Cañete drug group, the target of the drug sting, were seen wielding high-powered firearms including an M16 even before the anti-drug operation, said Major Jojit Mananquil of the Regional Special Operations Group 7 in an earlier interview.
“Klaro naman g’yud na armado kay naa miy mga video ani na nakuha before sa operation… Heavily armed g’yud ni sila,” said Mananquil.
Cabal also lamented the fact that Esterio Quiño and Isagani Cañete, both high-value drug targets who were shot dead during the operation, were already in police custody before but were released through plea deals.
“The wisdom of the Supreme Court should not be questioned, but again, the two who were killed during the police operation were grantees of the plea bargaining,” he said.
Quiño and Cañete were gunned down for allegedly resisting arrest while six of their suspected cohorts in the drug trade including two minors were arrested during the operation in Barangay Bacani on Sunday morning.
Yap meanwhile called on the BPPO to put a premium on intelligence operations for them to prevent crimes as he directed Cabal to boost monitoring and surveillance activities in the province’s 47 municipalities.
“Don’t think that police work begins and ends with the barrel of the gun. Police work begins with intel…That is why you wear your gun lower than where you wear your brain because you have to give more importance on intelligence work,” said Yap.
According to Yap, he will order the transfer of chiefs of police found out to have lagging intelligence efforts.
“Those who will not be up to the task will be recommended for immediate transfer,” he said. (RT)