Family of ‘big-time’ drug suspect mulls legal action

INTEGRATED Bar of the PhilippinesNorthern Mindanao (IBP) president Rey Raagas yesterday, August 12, said the family of Benildo Datu Barros, tagged by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as a ‘notorious’ drug personality, will be taking legal action as soon as Barros is laid to rest.

Raagas, a relative of Barros’ wife, said the family wants to compel authorities to look into the Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) operation that led to the killing of Barros inside his home as well as review the facts of the search warrant.

Barros was shot and killed Thursday morning, August 11, by PDEA operatives serving a search warrant on his house in Sitio Dumagook, Barangay Sta. Cruz, Claveria, town, Misamis Oriental.

“Definitely, naa gyud tay himuon nga mga lakang pero ako lang sa giingnan ang pamilya na ipahiluna sa una ang minatay before we look into it,” Raagas said.

Raagas said how the law enforcers served the warrant was suspicious adding that even Barros’ wife did not see the document.

Raagas also questioned why the hands of Barros’ household help were tied when the police and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-10 (PDEA) entered his house.

“You do not need to tie their hands kay legitimate gud kana nga operation, why the need to strap their hands? When you serve a warrant, kinahanglan with the presence of barangay officials and of course, naa sad ang tag-iya sa balay,” he said.

“In the event that the owner is not at the house, kung kinsa ang immediate nga naa sa balay, dapat naa sila para mapakita ang document nga mag-search sila and not tie them up.Unsa, illegal diay kadto?” Raagas said.

Some things inside the house, ‘which are already irrelevant to the search operations were also lost, Raagas said.

“Nawala ang mga automotive tools like solar panels because I learned he makes those things. Nawala pud ang laptop, cameras, cellphones, even ang iro nga ang breed man siguro is chihuahua nawala pud ug apil,” he said.

Raagas also questioned the time of the service of the warrant, which was at dawn of Thursday, August 11.

Although serving a warrant has no time restrictions, Raagas said, the family still finds it suspicious why it was served at dawn.

“Nganong sa kaadlawon man, although, pwede man anytime, pero maka-question gyud ka ngano man nga search warrant lang gud na, naa ba kaha kay gitago? Or gusto ka walay makakita?” he said.

The PDEA had said Barros was allegedly a ‘notorious’ drug personality whose clientele included some of the rich in the city.

Seized from Barros’ home, the PDEA said, were some 100 grams of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu placed in 18 plastic sachets valued at around P500,000 and two packs of several capsules believed to be ecstasy worth around P150,000 to P200,000.

The PDEA also also recovered from the scene one caliber 38 revolver, two cellphones, one hand grenade and several drug paraphernalia.

Meanwhile, another suspected drug personality was shot dead by authorities after allegedly resisting arrest at Zone 1, Barangay Mambuaya, this city yesterday afternoon, August 12.

A three-minute firefight ensued before suspect Ray ‘Mantoy’ Casipong was shot dead for attempting to shoot Senior Inspector Dennis Ebsolo, Lumbia Police Station chief, during a drug buy-bust operation.

Ebsolo said he was hit in the stomach but only got a bruise since he was wearing a vest when he was shot.

“Nipusil man siyag una after nato siya mapalitan ug suspected illegal drugs worth 500, so under sa rules of engagement, we had to take him down kay alanganin naman ta,” he said.

Ebsolo said Casipong was a listed drug personality in the barangay but refused to surrender during the implementation of ‘Oplan Tokhang.’

Recovered from the suspect’s possession were a pistol and pieces of suspected shabu.