Police urged to release names of drug protectors

Mandaue City Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna urged police to release the names of politicians who reportedly protected drug personalities.

“It creates a not so pleasant image if Mandaue is singled out,” he said.

Fortuna told Superbalita Cebu that he heard that there were government officials from other cities and barangays in Metro Cebu who were tagged as protectors, but the police did not divulge their names in public.

“The thing is that to do the real service is not just to insinuate. What is important is to establish and then go after (them). Not just name (them), but really go after (them). File the charges, arrest them. Mao nay gihuwat sa mga tawo nga (What the public is waiting for is that) we will get the big fish,” Fortuna said.

Mandaue City Association of Barangay Councils president Ernie Manatad said the police’s serious allegations must be investigated.

Manatad is barangay captain of Subangdaku.

In a text message sent to Superbalita Cebu, Manatad said his fellow barangay captains were willing to coordinate with the police.

Sightings

But Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) Director Julian Entoma said he could not release the names because his investigators had not finished verifying the information.

Last October, Cubacub Barangay Councilor Edgar Bihag was shot dead. He was reportedly close to members of the Parojinog drug syndicate.

Mark Lester Castillo and Renan Mabida, two alleged Parojinog group members, were killed last September. Ozamiz City police were looking for them before their murder.

Entoma said there were sightings of Ozamiz City’s most wanted, Marlon Parojinog, in Mandaue City.

Marlon’s presence in the city led Entoma to believe that the former had contacts in Mandaue, including politicians, who were protecting him.

Meanwhile, Entoma told police stations to coordinate with barangay officials in conducting a census on houses that were rented out.

The police official said drug syndicates could be using these houses to store illegal drugs and other contraband.

Entoma’s order came after a house in a subdivision in Barangay Casili was raided last Feb. 8 that resulted in the confiscation of P48 million worth of shabu.