Sinas: No case of mistaken identity

Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) belied allegations that police mistakenly identified the slain drug suspect in Carmen drug bust last July 18.

Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas, director of PRO-7, stood firm that Raymark Quingco, reportedly the real identity of the slain suspect, was the subject of the operation.

“As to the mistaken identity, I don’t think so because the evidence points nga siya gyud,” he said.

Sinas made the statement after the National Bureau of Investigation-7 started conducting investigation to check whether Quingco was a case of a mistaken identity.

The family of Quingco requested the agency to open an investigation into the operation.

NBI-7 Chief Patricio Bernales Jr. earlier said they will check the circumstances surrounding the death of Quingco, an alleged drug personality in Carmen town.

Quingco was killed in the so-called One Time, Big Time operation of the police last July 18 after he allegedly shot it out with law enforcers.

The relatives alleged that the victim was asked by police if he was “Joseph Taoy” and when the latter responded to the negative, the police reportedly still continued with their operation.

But Sinas said these are just the family’s allegations.

“Actually that is there allegations, we have stated that they could always file a case, and we told our people that we will help them in the case,” he said.

He said it was a legitimate drug bust operation.

“There is already a plan. Kapag legitimate nakahimay na, it is already well-planned out, it is not by chance…dili kay sa makita lang. So chances of mistaken identity is very slim, but naa pa gihapon, but very slim, because before an operation is launched, kahibalo na kung kinsa, unsa orasa, naa na casing and surveillance,” Sinas said.

Based on police operational procedures, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 is tasked to conduct an impartial investigation, he said.

BUY-BUSTS

Meanwhile, 12 drug suspects were arrested in separate buy-bust operations in the cities of Danao, Carcar, Toledo, and Cebu City, and the town of Daanbantayan.

The anti-drug operations resulted in the seizure of 74 small and nine medium pack of shabu totaling to around P600,000.

All suspects are set to face charges for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.