NAME NAMES, REG'L POLICE DARED ON DRUG PROTECTORS

NEGROS Occidental Gov. Joseph Maraqon has challenged the Western Visayas
regional police office in Iloilo City to name the 15 policemen who are
protecting jailed suspected big-time drug lord, Jose Kim "Boy" Cuadra.

Provincial Police Director Vicente Ponteras echoed Maraqon's sentiment
saying that the accusation is too general.

Maraqon said if the allegations are true, the policemen should be dismissed
from service.

Their statements came after Senior Supt. Felix Muchada, deputy regional
director for administration, revealed Monday that at least 15 policemen in
Western Visayas are protecting Cuadra.

However, Muchada failed to identify them although he said that they are
conducting an in-depth probe to pin down these policemen.

They are also probing policemen who have links not only with the Cuadra
group, but also with the five other syndicated drug groups in the region,
added Muchada.

Two of these five drug syndicates allegedly operate in Region 6, and use
Bacolod City as their base of operations.

"The regional police office should name names, otherwise, the whole
organization will be affected by a few," Maraqon said.

He also urged Ponteras to organize a program to encourage policemen,
specifically the so-called "Best of the Best," to do good and refrain from
joining any illegal activity.

On the other hand, Ponteras said that based on records, the Cuadra gang,
which is composed of 20 members, has 61 pending drug cases in court.

One of which was dismissed, while one member identified as Roger Tulmoto
was convicted in December 1998.

Of the drug cases, Kim Cuadra has 21.

Ponteras added that sanctions should be imposed on the policemen should
they be found guilty of protecting syndicated illegal drug groups.

Cuadra and his close-in bodyguards were arrested last April at the Caticlan
airport in Aklan.

Operatives of the Aviation Civil Security Group recovered from the group at
least 12 grams of suspected shabu and shabu paraphernalia.

On the other hand, Muchada disclosed that four members of the regional
office were found positive of drug use.

They are now undergoing summary hearing dismissal proceedings, he added.