3 brothers killed in drug ops
Three brothers who have just been released from prison for drugs were killed in a buybust operation at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) in Mandaue City early dawn Monday.
The Umpad brothers - Ruben, 25, Jerome, 28, and Vincent, 26, were killed when they allegedly shot it out with authorities.
Police Chief Inspector Michelangelo Beltran, chief of the Mandaue City Police Office - Station 3, said they received information that the three went back to stealing and selling drugs after they were released on September 28 via the Supreme Court's Enhanced Justice on Wheels (EJOW) program.
They were at the Mandaue City Jail for 10 years.
"Ang previous case nila, na-dismiss, murder og direct assault, mao nangalaya na sila… kaso kay ang complainant, wala na nico operate sa police… that's the reason nangalaya sila," Beltran said.
The three were said to be new players in the drug trade.
"Naa'y ni-tip namo, naa'y nanawag namo, ug niingon niduwa daw kuno ni sila balik, kini si Vincent. Mosuyop sad silag balik," he said.
Surveillance on the suspects yielded positive results, prompting the team to hatch the operation.
At the CICC, it was reportedly Jerome who sensed police presence and opened fire first. Ruben and Vincent then followed suit and pulled their guns out.
Later, the three did not make it to the hospital alive.
Police recovered five small sachets of shabu; the P300 buy-bust money, a .45 caliber pistol; a .25 revolver, and a .357 revolver from the brothers.
The youngest of the siblings, Rustom, 23, was also arrested.
DELIBERATE?
The brothers' grandmother, Conchita, said her grandchildren were asleep when policemen barged into their shelter at the CICC.
"Gituyo gyud nila'g patay… nangatog ra man na," Conchita said.
The family is among the 2,222 relocating at the CICC after they were displaced by the fire that hit Barangay Mantuyong in March last year.
Conchita said his grandchildren were set to leave for Manila yesterday and even went to church to attend mass last Sunday.
Beltran dismissed Conchita's accusation.
"Ilaha sad na nga version. Naa man ta'y tawo ni-verify gyud," the police chief said.
At the Mandaue City Hall, Mayor Luigi Quisumbing said the city's police force always conducts its operations professionally.
"Because of their conduct in the anti-drug war and in the anti-criminality, the MCPO has become one of the most awarded police stations in the country not just in the region. I am sure that they would not do anything to jeopardize their reputation," Quisumbing said.
Asked why it was personnel from Station 3 that conducted the operation and not Station 1, which has jurisdiction of the area, Quisumbing said all stations "fall within the blanket of authority".
"The MCPO (headquarters) itself, the reason why we have several stations is to make sure that we have police visibility for every sector but certainly the MCPO is empowered to shift their manpower as required. I see nothing irregular with that," the mayor said.
Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino, chief of the Police Regional Office (PRO) -7, also stands by his men.
He said the police are open to any investigation if there are doubts in their operation.
“Every police operation can be subject to an investigation by other agency… open ang Philippine National Police (PNP) dyan. I stand by what was reported to me by the City Director of Mandaue City Police Office that the person died in a police operation because of a legitimate buy bust operation that they conducted,” Espino said.
He told The FREEMAN drug personalities who have surrendered are still being monitored.
“Kahit na-abswelto na sila, but if they still commit again a violation at napag-alaman ng pulis, ito, hindi sila exempted. Even sa mga sinasabi nila na drug surrenderees, ganun din. It doesn't mean if you surrendered, pwede kana ulit magbenta, continuous ang ating operation against those persons involved in drug trafficking,” Espino said.