GUV OFFERS CASH PER ARREST OR JAIL TERM

IN ANOTHER effort to curb the worsening drug problem in Cebu, Gov. Pablo
Garcia yesterday promised the police a reward of at least P5,000 for every
user arrested and at least P10,000 for every pusher apprehended here.
Prosecutors will also get their own reward for "every conviction."

Speaking at the Provincial Peace and Order Council at the Capitol yesterday
morning, Garcia also promised a P1,000 "augmentation" in the monthly
allowance of barangay captains as well as a separate allowance for mayors
starting in August, so they will be better able to look into the drug
situation.

Enough Funds

Both the reward system and the allowances for local chief executives in
barangays, municipalities and cities will cost the Province a lot, but the
governor said they have enough funds.

Anything, he said, to stop the problem that has "undermined the efficiency
and integrity of the police and law enforcement agencies and corrupted even
our local officials."

Later, Garcia said they will also look into granting additional honoraria
for barangay councilors, including the representatives of the Sangguniang
Kabataan (SK).

Not all local chief executives will be deputized and be given allowances
under a body Garcia will form under his office to be called the Anti-Drug
Monitoring and Assistance Task Force.

Unwilling

There may be those who are "not willing" to be deputized because "they might
have relatives or close friends" who will be affected, Garcia explained.

Those who do apply to be deputized will also have to be "screened."

The governor said he will check a list given by the PNP on the five groups
and 15 personalities whom the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) is
currently monitoring.

During his report, CPPO Director Maximo Calimlin showed mayors the list "for
their guidance," without warning members of the media who covered the
meeting that the list was confidential.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 Chief Robelito Comilang said
Calimlim should not have done this as this would "jeopardize" CPPO's
operation.

Criteria

Meanwhile, the reward for pushers could go as high as P50,000 "kung big-time
na," Garcia said.

Calimlim warned, however, that a set of criteria will have to be drafted for
the reward system as incentives for every arrest could be too much of a
drain for the Provincial Government.

Calimlim noted that from June 16 to July 18, there were 107 arrests in the
province. This means that within a month, Capitol may have to spend P535,000
for rewards.

The amount to be appropriated for prosecutors and mayors still has to be
discussed.

In his news conference later, Garcia said he does not believe the figures
Calimlim presented in his report that only 153 of the province's 1,096
barangays (about 14 percent) are seriously affected by drugs.

Also during the meeting, Argao Mayor Wilfredo Caminero asked 78th Infantry
Battalion Commander Rolando Malinao for more information about the alleged
operation of the NPA's Front 5, headed by Jigger Geverola, in Cebu's "far
north."

Caminero said Geverola is his neighbor. KMF