LOCAL POLICE CLUELESS ABOUT SUSPECT IN PDEA BATTLE ORDER

AN OFFICIAL from the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 said the man arrested
late last month with two big plastic packs of shabu once figured prominently
in the watch list of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7.

But Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division (RIID) Chief Cecil Ezra
Sandalo's identification of Willy Solon came even as two local police
officials said Solon is a complete stranger.

Rep. Antonio Cuenco (Cebu City, south) said there was no Willy Solon in the
list of alleged drug peddlers that he once exposed.

The congressman, former chairman of the House committee on illegal drugs,
has not come across any intelligence report that mentions Solon or the
illegal drug ring that he is supposed to have worked with.

Solon, a self-confessed drug courier, was arrested last July 30 while
stepping down the gangplank of a passenger vessel from Manila.

Sandalo said Solon is reportedly deeply involved in the drug trade as a
supplier and courier. He added that he had heard of Solon's name even when
he was still director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO).

Rob Link?

But Acting CCPO Director Melvin Gayotin told Sun.Star that had Solon not
been arrested and presented by the Maritime Group (Marig) 7, he would not
have heard of him.

Gayotin, however, expressed surprise over Solon's revelations that he worked
for a certain Roy Archua of Padre Faura, Manila.

Gayotin said Archua could be the same person convicted of robbing the Far
East Bank & Trust Co. in Mandaue City several years back.

Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau (CIIB) Chief Pablo Labra II,
however, said he is still trying to verify the information.

Labra, though, believes Solon is based in Manila and cannot say if he has
any records there. He added that all he knows of Solon is that he is a
Cebuano who hails from Mabolo, Cebu City.

Investigation

The PDEA is investigating the Maritime Group (Marig) 7 after Solon alleged
that they took two of four kilograms of shabu from him.

Solon swore before Congressman Cuenco at least five times that the police
actually seized four kilos of shabu from him.

Tough Law

Solon had claimed that the arresting officers brought him to two downtown
inns and demanded P.5 million from his source in exchange for his freedom.

Senior Insp. Roger Mangaoan, PO3 Loreto Banilad, PO2 Henry Deluna and PO1
Napoleon Taneo all denied Solon's claims and insisted that only two kilos
were taken from him.

The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Republic Act 9165) drafted by
Cuenco states that a public officer or employee found guilty of
misappropriation, misapplication or failure to account for confiscated or
surrendered dangerous drugs faces life imprisonment to death and a fine
ranging from P500,000 to P10 million.

In addition to this, they will also be disqualified for good from any public
office.

"It's really a black mark on our law enforcement agencies if it is proven
that the Maritime policemen were the ones lying," Cuenco said, referring to
Solon's claim that he brought four kilos of shabu, not two.

He expects PDEA to find out more about the person who was supposed to
receive the shabu from Solon once he docked in Cebu.

Cuenco also said that operatives of the US Drug Enforcement Administration
will be coming to Cebu City in September to brief law enforcement agencies
about more effective strategies in the campaign against illegal drugs.