47 die in Bohol's drug war — BPPO

TAGBILARAN CITY—Atotal of 47 deaths has been documented as a result of President Rodrigo Duterte's campaign against illegal drugs in Bohol from July 1 to October 15,, according to a report of the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) during the Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis (TSIP) yesterday.

Out of 47 deaths, 22 were deemed under legitimate police operations, thus not extra-judicial killings (EJKs), while the 25 others were considered as "deaths under investigation" (DUI), the BPPO but without giving the names of the fatalities.

BPPO's comparative data-over the same July to September period last year-showed that murder cases had increased from 24 to 33, and physical injuries from 205 to 223 this year.

Homicide numbers were the same at six cases, while rape cases decreased from 24 to 20, robbery from 150 to 89, theft (from 475 to 321), carnapping (47 to 30), and cattle rustling (six to two).

In the same cited period, index crimes dropped from 937 cases to 724 this year, while non-index crimes rose from 1,332 to 1,421.

The anti-drug campaign in Bohol yielded more than 31,000 surrenderers, more than 1,000 of them were pushers and also resulted in the reduction of crime volume in the province, BPPO said.

In a related development, BPPO bared that three policemen were found positive of illegal drug use after random drug testing conducted in police stations in various towns in Bohol.

Superintendent George Vale, chief of the BPPO's Provincial Intelligence Branch, did not divulge the identities of the policemen, who are yet to be dismissed from service, pending investigation and formal procedures to be completed that would determine appropriate action against them.

Vale, a former chief of the Tagbilaran Police, warned policemen to stop in engaging in illegal drugs activities.

It will be recalled that Police Officer 3 Irmon Butil was shot dead by Panglao policemen for allegedly resisting arrest during a buy bust operation. Before he was killed, Butil-an active policeman assigned in Lila, Bohol-was tagged as alleged drug pusher and protector.

The TSIP, a police-style press conference, was the first held under the leadership of BPPO's new director, Senior Superintendent Felipe Natividad.

Among those who attended the TSIP were: Superintendent Nicomedes Olaivar (Tagbilaran City Police chief);

Superintendent Patricio Degay (PPSC/ SWAT chief); Chief Inspector Rolly Lauron (PIDMB chief); Senior Inspector Vincent Paul Dumaguing (PCR chief); and Inspector Gerald Luna (Dauis Police chief). —