ILOILO City – Policemen won’t hesitate to maim or even kill colleagues involved in illegal drugs. They better surrender peacefully instead of fighting back when subjected to police operations, said Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, regional police director.
“We have received consistent reports on police personnel into drug protection racket and illegal drug trading,” said Bulalacao.
He was reacting to President Rodrigo Duterte’s offer of P5 million reward for every slain “ninja cop” or police scalawag.
“Kapag buhay, bigyan kita diez mil (P10,000). (If you bring the cop) to me dead, P5 million,” Duterte said in jest during the convention of Davao’s regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago on Saturday.
The reports were being verified and these police commissioned and non-commissioned officers have been placed under surveillance, said Bulalacao.
“Kasi ‘pag ‘ di kayo nag-surrender dadagdagan ko ‘yan P1 million per month hanggang ang asawa mo maghanap ng boyfriend na papatayin ka,” said President Duterte.
Bulalacao directed his Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU) chief, Senior Inspector Kennith Bermejo, to review the unit’s list of police personnel reported to have links to illegal drugs.
“The President’s offer of a bounty of P5 million is his expression of how serious the government is in eradicating crimes and arresting (erring) officials in the uniform. Criminals hiding in police uniform must heed the call of the President to surrender and reform or face the consequence of getting arrested and jailed,” said Bulalacao.
According to Bermejo, “three or four” police commissioned officers are currently under surveillance.
“We are warning criminals, including those hiding in police uniforms. Never to put up a fight against arresting police officers or we would use force to defend ourselves. Such may end in tragic loss of lives,” said Bulalacao.
Bermejo said if the RDEU has “enough evidence against our colleagues, we will arrest them.”
According to Bulalacao, the hotline numbers he launched to receive tips from the community regarding scalawags in uniform is being flooded with text messages and calls – some 200 already since June 21.
The hotline numbers are 09989673651 and 09985629523 open 24/7.
“These are my personal numbers and I read all messages and entertain calls,” said Bulalacao.
The director, however, issued an appeal: no prank text messages or calls please.
All information and complaints are assessed by a team headed by the Regional Intelligence Division.
“I assure secrecy of the caller’s or text message sender’s identity. Iwasan natin ang pranks kasi this is a serious matter,” said Bulalacao.
Organizational discipline is one of Bulalacao’s major thrusts.
The PRO-6, he stressed, must continue to enjoy the public’s trust and confidence.
“This is the chance of the public to report policemen involved in corruption and other unlawful activities. We are serious in cleansing our organization,” said Bulalacao./PN
