PRO-6 probe cops in ‘cohort’ with Rapiz

THE Police Regional Office (Pro)–western Visayas are probing some policemen who were allegedly in “cohort” with a police officer from Negros Occidental who was killed in a drug bust at Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte.

Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, director of Pro-western Visayas, said they have identified some police personnel, however, he refused to reveal their

identities as they are still validating the reports.

“We also need to do police operations,” he added.

On November 5, Superintendent Santiago Rapiz died in a police operation in front of Andres Bonifacio College gymnasium after he resisted arrest from operatives of the Counter-intelligence Task Force (CITF) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and PRO-9.

Authorities said that Rapiz was tagged in illegal drugs after his name was mentioned by several high-value targets (HVTS) previously arrested by the PDEA. This was also why he was included in the drugs watchlist of President Rodrigo Duterte.

He was also allegedly a protector of Iloilo businessman Melvin Odicta, an alleged drug lord, and was receiving P700,000 weekly from different drug personalities when he was assigned in Region 6,” based on intelligence reports.

Bulalacao said they are now validating reports that Rapiz was reportedly supporting the left organization while he was assigned as police chief in Escalante City, Negros Occidental.

“He’s sleeping with the enemies,” he added.

He said validation of the reports is ongoing.

Rapiz was formerly assigned in Negros Occidental as police chiefs of different municipalities and cities, and heads of different police stations and units in Bacolod City.

He was reassigned to Zamboanga after he was named by Western Visayas top drug personality Ricky Serenio as one of the policemen involved in the illegal drug trade in the province in 2016.

Aside from their close monitoring on Rapiz’s alleged “cohorts,” Bulalacao said they will also be conducting further investigation on other policemen who have been reportedly involved in illegal drugs as part of their internal cleansing efforts.

“I do not want to have a personnel involved in illegal drugs. I do not want it. I do not like it. I want to get rid of them,” Bulalacao stressed.

He said those who will be proved to be engaging in the illegal drug trade will be subject for a case build-up and police operation.

When asked if “narcocops” will have the same fate as Rapiz, Bulalacao said he still believes in due process and principle of human rights, “but if they will put up a fight against us, we will definitely protect ourselves.”*