City police awarded best unit
Despite operating in a province tagged as a drug hotspot, the Cebu City Police Office was named Best Performing Drug Enforcement Unit in the country.
Last Monday, the Philippine National Police- Drug Enforcement Group (PNP – DEG) gave the award to CCPO during the first DEG Founding Anniversary in Manila.
CCPO is considered a top unit in terms of its accomplishments, taking into consideration its numerous antiillegal drugs operations covering supply and demand reduction activities. Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he was not surprised with the award since he believes in the capability of CCPO Director Joel Doria.
“Not surprised at all. I already told the Cebuanos that this is the best police chief I ever had,” the mayor told reporters.
Several weeks ago, PNP General Director Oscar Albayalde reiterated the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte that Cebu is still a hotspot for illegal drugs reportedly because of the amount of drugs seized during police operations.
“It's the newspapers who give it a dirty name, no. There's nothing I can do about it,” Osmeña said.
The mayor said he might give an incentive to Doria for the recognition. He reportedly offered Doria a penthouse at a building at the South Road Properties as personal quarters because the police chief reportedly lives at his office.
Doria reportedly has not accepted the offer.
Speaking with The FREEMAN over the phone, Doria said the hot spot tag did not affect the police's ongoing efforts against illegal drugs.
“Tayo naman, lahat ng kampanya na pinapaimplement natin, directives yan galing sa taas, kaya tayo naman, wala namang problema, kahit sabihin nila na hotpsot yan. At least, naprove natin na nabawasan natin,” he said.
“Nakita naman natin, marami tayong naaresto, maraming illegal drugs din ang nawala sa trade,” he added.
Based on records, the CDEU- City Intelligence Branch (CIB) alone, a 10man unit of CCPO led by Supt. Christopher Navida managed to conduct 349 operations from July 2016 until May 2018.
These operations led to the arrest of 524 persons with up to 18,225 grams of shabu worth P188,205,922 seized.
This is more than half of the amount of drugs confiscated by the whole CCPO force which recorded 4,041 operations; 6,541 arrests, and 30,472 grams of shabu worth P350,543,204 seized.
Masipag yung mga pulis natin. Yung mga personnel from CDEU-CIB, mga station commanders, kaya marami tayong accomplishments pagdating sa illegal drugs,” Doria said.
Doria said the recognition from the mayor will serve as additional motivation for the police to do their jobs better.
“We are encouraging ang ating kapulisan to work hard and do better dapat yung area sa Cebu City ay maging safe. Yun ang purpose natin – to serve and protect – kaya tayo naman, trabaho lang ginagawa natin,” he said.
KILLINGS
Meanwhile, while killings in the government's war on drugs have drawn massive criticism, Osmeña said it is actually his wish for all drug criminals to be killed.
“I wish we were number one. I wish all of them (drug criminals) would be shot. They're only concerned about criminals dying. They don't care about the victims. If they all die, that's good for us, right? If it were not a crime or a sin, I'd do the killings myself,” Osmeña said.
A study conducted by three Manila-based schools from May 10, 2016 to September 29, 2017 revealed that Cebu ranks third in drug drug-related killings with 383 deaths.
The biggest number is from the National Capital Region with 2000 deaths followed by Bulacan with 644 deaths.