Osmeña against demolition of Pasil-Ermita footbridge

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is against the proposal to demolish the footbridge connecting barangays Pasil and Ermita as it serves as an access road to responders in times of emergencies in the area.

Instead of a demolition, Osmeña said there are other feasible measures to stop the proliferation of illegal drugs in the two known drug-infested barangays.

“There are so many options but destroying the bridge is very dangerous because that [footbridge] is an escape route for fire,” Osmeña told reporters yesterday.

Among the possible measures the city is looking into include the closure of the concrete bridge during night time by installing gates on both ends, implementing a curfew to minors and increasing police visibility in the area.

The proposal to demolish the footbridge came after reports that the bridge connecting Pasil and Ermita is being used as a walkway in the distribution of illegal drugs in the area, which authorities say, involved some minors who are used as drug peddlers.

City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) co- chairman and Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP) head Garry Lao urged the barangay officials of both Pasil and Ermita to strictly implement the curfew for minors and further strengthen their respective localities’ projects against illegal drugs.

“Dili mahimo nga i-demolish ang bridge. Ang kinahanglan nato is manghingusog gyud ang mga officials sa barangay sa pag implement og curfew, pagbutang og gates ug pag-increase sa visibility sa atong kapolisan,” Lao said. (We should not demolish the bridge. Officials should instead strictly implement curfew, set up gates and increase police visibility.)

He further advised the two barangays involved to closely coordinate with each other to address the concern.

The footbridge was originally constructed for market shoppers’ convenient access to the Pasil Fish Market. It is also being used as a passageway for students of Pasil Elementary School.

Meanwhile, an alleged bigtime distributor of shabu in Barangay Suba, Cebu City, is facing charges before the court.

Associate Prosecution Attorney II Sarah Vanessa Lacno elevated the case of Section 5 (selling of dangerous drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act against Edison Nunez Bacalso alias Jason to the court after finding probable cause.

“…the above-named accused, with deliberate intent and without being authorized by law, did then and there sell and deliver to a poseur buyer three heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets each containing white crystalline substance with a total net weight of 79.2209 grams locally known as shabu,” read the charge sheet.

There is no bail recommended for Bacalso’s temporary liberty.

Bacalso, 25, is a resident of Arellano Boulevard, Barangay San Roque, Cebu City.

In their respective affidavits, SPO2 Aristocles Gutierrez and SPO1 Maximino Macua, Jr., of the Special Operations Unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Drug Enforcement Group, alleged that on December 6, 2017, they were tasked by their head, Supt. Glenn Mayam to monitor the alleged rampant illegal drug activities in Barangay Suba.

Following their monitoring, the police learned about the activities of a certain Jason Nunez, who is allegedly the biggest distributor of shabu in Barangay Suba.

They also learned that the illegal drugs were not stored in Barangay Suba but in another place but the meeting place for clients is the said barangay.

With the help of their informant, the police were able to conduct a buy-bust operation against Bacalso.

The poseur-buyer bought 70 grams of shabu amounting to P250 which resulted in Bacalso’s arrest.