DRUG ENFORCERS RELIEVED AS PROBE BEGINS ON SUSPECT'S ROB CLAIMS

Operatives of the city's Drug Enforcement Unit had been ordered
relieved and reassigned to the Security and Service Group, while
investigation is underway over the claims of an arrested suspected
drug pusher that he was robbed of cash and valuables and there was
never a drug bust conducted.

Criminal Investigation and Intelligence chief Paul Labra, who was
called earlier by Mayor Tomas Osmena to verify the allegations, said
relieving and grounding the operatives were necessary to make the
results of the investigation credible.

The operatives under question are PO3 Elmo Rosales, PO2s Gil Garcia
and Cerilo Luage, and PO1s Patrick Mumar and Dindo Lumapac. Last
August 10, they arrested a Jose Franco Apolinario, 53, who they
alleged as a suspected drug pusher in barangay Calamba.

The operatives reported to the city police operation division that
seized from Apolinario were a pack of shabu, and P700 buy bust money.
They then filed drug charges against him.

But last Tuesday, or a week later, Osmena received a text message
telling him that eight packs of shabu, about P500,000, 10 pieces of
jewelry, and cellphones were seized during the arrest of Apolinario.

This upset the mayor as he began suspecting that something fishy was
happening behind the Apolinario case. This prompted him to order Labra
to conduct an investigation.

Apolinario, presently detained at Camp Sotero stockade, had insisted
that there was no drug buy-bust and that he was robbed instead.

"I was asleep. Somebody knocked at my door and when I opened it
diretso og sulod ang usa ka tawo sa akong kuarto, nisunod ang mga
polis. Gitionan ko og armas, I could not resist and then they
ransacked my cabinet. No search warrant, no buy bust, nothing,"
Apolinario said.

He alleged that there was no shabu confiscated and that the operatives
allegedly took P50,000 from his cabinet, P11,050 and US$318 cash from
his wallet, three gold necklaces, two gold pendants, two gold
bracelets, a gold ring, and two pairs of earrings.

Also taken was his Swiss military wristwatch, two gold rings from his
fingers, another pair of gold earring and nine cell phones-which were
pawned to him--from the cabinet.

However, these claimed items were not listed in the operatives' spot
report but Labra told The Freeman that the five policemen had so far
denied Apolinario's allegations.

Apolinario is a native of Aklan province and was a member of the
Philippine Army from 1972 to 1978. In 1976, he relocated to Cebu and
had worked in various bars since 1980 until his last job as floor
manager of a club in Mandaue City.

The operatives had maintained that Apolinario has been a suspected
pusher in barangay Calamba but he said that there was never a warrant
presented at the time of the arrest.