DRUGS SNITCHED
Another relieved Talisay City police officer tests positive of drug use; city officials worry the incident will scare investors away
8 of 65 Talisay City cops relieved admit to ‘stealing’ drugs seized in buybusts One policeman, also among those relieved, tested positive of drug use Talisay Mayor Eduardo Gullas worries effect of mass relief on investments
Eight relieved Talisay City policemen admitted snitching packs of shabu seized during buy-busts and are being investigated by the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7.
One of the relieved Talisay City police officers also tested positive of drug use, said PRO 7 Director Debold Sinas.
Sinas said the officer holds the rank of a senior police officer 1, but he refused to name the officer pending results of the confirmatory test.
Sinas said the officer will be charged with an administrative complaint, and if found guilty, will be dismissed from service since using illegal drugs is a grave offense.
The eight officers under investigation for snitching shabu packs admitted to having done this but said they didn’t sell the items.
“They denied they recycled the evidence,” Sinas said.
Meanwhile, Sinas said he had talked with Talisay City Mayor Eduardo Gullas after the relief of 65 city police officers last Sunday.
He said Gullas expressed his apprehension of having new police officers as this might discourage investors from doing business the city.
But Capitol officials expressed support for what the PRO 7 did in Talisay, saying it is a first step to rid the city of illegal drugs.
Talisay City Police Chief MarOther lu Conag said he welcomed Sinas’s drug test order before he relieved the 65 officers. He said that before the relief orders, he had suspicion that some of his personnel were into drugs.
“I’m glad that only one came out positive,” Conag said.
Gullas and Vice Mayor Alan Bucao said the mass relief took them aback. They expected that only erring officers would be transferred.
“I had requested that (only) those scalawags be taken out as they will only serve as a liability. I didn’t expect that he (Sinas) would recall the entire force, including those whom I know are working hard,” Gullas said in a press conference yesterday.
Gullas said that despite the allegations against the city’s police force, they have done a lot in improving Talisay’s peace and order.
From January to August this year, the Talisay City Police Station conducted 220 anti-illegal drug operations, arresting 303 drug personalities and seizing 1,147 grams of suspected shabu worth P13.5 million.
The city police also leads the 50 stations in Cebu Province in terms of accomplishments against illegal drugs, illegal gambling and the arrest of wanted persons.
Gullas spoke to the city’s new police force yesterday.
“I have no problem as long as you do your duty and do it sincerely,” Gullas told them.
Gullas assured Conag that the City will continue to support them. He gave the city police two new pick-up trucks worth P1.1 million each. He also said the City will provide cash allowances to police officers.
I had requested that (only) those scalawags be taken out as they will only serve as a liability. I didn’t expect that he (PRO 7 Director Debold Sinas) would recall the entire force, including those who I know are working hard.
TALISAY CITY MAYOR EDUARDO GULLAS