10 WV COPS PROBED FOR ILLEGAL DRUG LINK

Policemen have been placed under investigation and PRO 6 is digging all
necessary information and evidence against them for appropriate action

NOW it's down to only 10.

From an earlier pronouncement that 18 policemen in Western Visayas are
involved in the illegal drug trade in the region, the number has been
trimmed down to only 10.

Saying that summary dismissal proceedings and administrative charges await
these policemen whom he, however, refused to name, Senior Supt. Felix
Muchada, deputy chief for administration of Police Regional Office (PRO) 6,
said these 10 policemen are now "under probe".

Muchada was the installing officer during Monday's turn-over of command
rites at the Bacolod City Police Office Conference Hall between incoming
city director, Senior Supt. Mario Avenido and Senior Supt. George Bajelot,
now assigned as the deputy regional head of the Regional Mobile Group based
in Camp Aniceto Lacson, Victorias City.

Muchada said these policemen have been placed under investigation and PRO-6
is now collating all necessary information and evidence against them for
appropriate action, among them is their possible dismissal from the service.

Muchada, who read the turnover of command message in behalf of Chief Supt.
Marcelo Navarro Jr., regional police director, challenged Avenido to also
focus on the illegal drug menace in Bacolod.

He said the regional office based in Camp Martin Delgado, Iloilo City, has
already ordered a crackdown on syndicated drug groups operating in Western
Visayas as response to an earlier directive from President Arroyo for an
all-out-war against the illegal drug menace.

Muchada also lauded the Bacolod City Police Office for being the number one
in the apprehension of drug suspects in the whole Region VI.

He said the arrest of Western Visayas suspected big-time drug lord, Jose
Kim "Boy" Cuadra showed that the supply of illegal drugs in Bacolod has
decreased.

Operatives of the Aklan Aviation Civil Security Group arrested Cuadra and
his companions identified as Zaphiro Mendoza and Raymundo Morales, a
provincial government employee assigned at the Provincial Disaster
Management Team last April 22 in Malay, Caticlan Airport, Aklan for drug
possession.

Recovered from them were shabu weighing 12.7 grams and several shabu
paraphernalia.

Cuadra and his family were in Boracay Island for the Holy Week vacation.

Aside from the Cuadra group, the regional police office also identified the
six alleged drug groups operating in the region.

They are the Garcia and Odicta groups in Iloilo City; the Leserio Tagua and
Gumabol groups in Aklan; and the Palmares group in Iloilo province.

Muchada said none of the policemen back the Cuadra group. Reports claiming
the contrary, he said, are mere speculations and a demolition job.

Moreover, Muchada said Bacolod City is peaceful because no major crimes
were committed within this month.

He cited the local police with the help of the Negros Occidental Provincial
Police Office who apprehended the four suspects involved in the killing of
the Bulibuli and Mayagma families.

He also appealed to the public to cooperate with the police to maintain the
city's peace and order situation.

No Kidnapping

On the other hand, Muchada said there are no kidnapping groups in the city.

The police regional office, he noted, already intensified their monitoring
against any possible kidnap groups, which may divert their operations from
Metro Manila to the provinces.