MAYOR ASKS: MOVE POLICE

Mayor Narciso Creus confirms he asked the Cebu Provincial Police Office to replace half of the town’s police force, whom he linked to illegal drugs But police official says that Mayor Creus was irked by an operation less than 3 weeks ago, where a member of the town council was questioned

Malabuyoc Mayor Narciso Creus alleges that half of his town’s police officers are involved in illegal drugs, but also admits he was irked that a team from the Cebu Provincial Police Office’s intelligence unit arrested “without basis” a sibling of a town official last Feb. 2 Senior Insp. Nazarino Emia of the Intelligence Branch confirms they were going after a suspected pusher in Malabuyoc who was tagged in indiscriminate firing and burglary cases; they questioned a town official who was seen drinking with suspects.

A mayor in one of Cebu’s southern towns wants half of his police officers transferred, after his supporters were taken into custody by the Cebu Provincial Police Office-Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB).

But in an interview with SunStar Cebu yesterday, Malabuyoc Mayor Narciso “Lito” Creus said it was the officers’ alleged involvement in illegal drugs that made him ask the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) to transfer half of the officers assigned to his town.

Creus also admitted he was upset with the PIB because they didn’t provide him with a clear reason they arrested a sibling of his town’s Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) president.

“Nasuko ko atong taga PIB nga didto ba unya nagpataka man na og panakop. Unsa may business nila nga moanha og station? Moanha sa Malabuyoc nga wa may basis ang ilang pagdakop (I was angry that the PIB went to Malabuyoc and arrested whomever they wanted. What business did they have going to the town’s police station? Those arrests were baseless),” Creus said.

Creus also claimed that PIB operatives failed to provide documents as basis of the arrest of a sibling of Malabuyoc ABC president Amalia Ejurango.

“Morag gibuangbuang ko nila ba (It’s as if they wanted to fool me),” he added.

SunStar couldn’t confirm yesterday how many police officers are assigned to the police force of Malabuyoc, which has a popula- tion of 19,373 as of 2015.

In a separate interview, a police official confirmed that the mayor scolded PIB operatives and officers of the Malabuyoc Police Station early this month.

Senior Insp. Nazarino Emia, PIB deputy chief, in an interview with radio dySS and SuperBalita Cebu said that they conducted an operation past 4 p.m. in Barangay Cerdeña last Feb. 2.

Who were they after?

Their target was Junel Diveba, a suspected pusher and criminal gang leader, and his alleged cohort Gary Redido. Both men escaped.

Diveba and his underlings had been accused of harassing residents in Cerdeña, indiscriminate firing, and several burglaries.

Emia said that four persons were brought to the police station for an interview after they were seen drinking with the suspects.

Ejurango and her sibling were among those questioned by the police. Creus’s supporters and the major later went to the police station, after Ejurango informed the mayor, Senior Inspector Emia said.

Emia said that the mayor’s behavior toward the police officers was uncalled for. Senior Insp. Fermin Dunque, Malabuyoc police chief, confirmed that the mayor had scolded them.

Dunque was attending a conference in Cebu City when the operation took place. He received a call from PO1 Renderio Abcin, desk officer, informing him about Mayor Creus’s presence in the police station.

Creus allegedly claimed that the municipal government owned the building where the police station is situated and threatened to padlock the door.

Local support

Dunque instructed Abcin to tell the mayor to call him so he can explain the nature of the operation.

Dunque later received a call from Creus, who immediately asked him about the operation. Dunque explained that PIB operatives tried to arrest Diveba after receiving complaints.

After the incident, Dunque said they still remain in the building and receive logistical support from the local government, like gasoline and water supplies. The police station still has electricity.

Malabuyoc has 14 barangays. Three villages have reportedly been cleared of illegal drugs.