Prov’l police get financial reward from Capitol

Prov’l police get financial reward from Capitol

TWENTY-NINE police officials received cash incentives from the Cebu Provincial Government as reward for their successful drug operations in Medellin and Bogo City last January.

Gov. Hilario Davide III headed yesterday the distribution of checks to the members of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) at the Dignitaries Hall.

They received cash ranging from P2,500 to P10,000.

Drug problem

Davide, chairman of the Cebu Provincial AntiDrug Abuse Commission (CPADAC), said giving out cash incentives is part of their program.

Provincial Board Member Carmen Remedios Durano-Meca, vice chair of CPADAC, assisted the governor in the distribution of cash rewards.

Davide said almost all the towns and cities in the province have a drug problem.

“We are addressing this through the CPADAC for we have a ‘Just Say No’ program. And I am encouraging all our LGUs (local government units) and the barangays to support this program,” he said.

The awardees were Provincial Intelligence Branch Chief Police Supt. Rodolfo Albotra Jr., Police Senior Insp. Leo Logroño, Police Senior Insp. Armando Labora, SPO1 Francis Alen Villamor, SPO4 Jaime Otadoy, SPO2 Analiza Comaling and SPO1 Reynaldo Solante.

Other recipients

Also receiving checks were Ruben Del Mar, Joy Deloso, Joel Deiparine, Roderick Balili, Gabriel Opoc Jr., Crisdie Lawian, Jonathan Tilos, Nick Solomon Obiasada, Godfrey Ybañez, Ehrol Gamboa, Garry Donaire and Mahigu Luchin Demopol.

Rizalito Recongco, Jonathan Buscato, Lea

Juarez, Rey Mora, Jemuel Villaflores, Persival Perigo, Gerlie Ong, Roseller Roxas Jr., Christian Bily Illut and Earl Warren Martinez.

“We are not actually doing this because of the monetary incentives. This is a mandated task and we are just very fortunate to have a Provincial Government in the leadership of the governor who recognizes the efforts of our policemen,” Albotra told reporters.

Aside as serving as motivation, the cash reward also encourages other police units to exert more effort in the campaign against illegal drugs, he said.

Inventory

The CPPO plans to conduct an inventory on the volume of illegal drugs confiscated since January.

Albotra estimated the value of the illegal drugs they’ve confiscated so far this year to be between P25 and P30 million.

“Even if we confiscated small amount of illegal drugs but the mere fact that there is a continuous operation against illegal drugs will give time for pushers to think it over. Especially that there are suspects who got killed in an operation, it will give them a lesson that engaging their selves in the drug business is very risky and dangerous,” he said.

Last January, police captured six persons, including a former robbery suspect, in separate buy-bust operations in Malingin, Bogo City and Lamintak Norte, Medellin.

Illegal drugs and several firearms were confiscated from the suspects.

One person died in Medellin after a shootout.

Not satisfied

In another development, City of Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong said he is amenable to the CPPO relieving the city’s police chief, Supt. Brindo Nacario.

Chiong was reacting to reports that the city’s anti-illegal drug campaign has weakened during Nacario’s watch.

Chiong told reporters he was able to confirm from CPPO officials that they are not satisfied with Nacario’s performance.

It came to a point that he needed to call Nacario’s attention after police apprehended two pushers, one of whom was a minor, during a buy-bust in Barangay Inayagan earlier this month.

He lamented that despite the support they’ve provided to the local police, illegal drug activities in the city continue to rise.

Chiong said he plans to meet Nacario again to talk to him regarding the CPPO’s assessment.

In an earlier interview, Nacario admitted that they couldn’t intensify the city’s anti-illegal drug unit as they lack personnel to handle the huge bulk of cases they are handling.