Pubdate: Wed, 27 Jul 2016
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer (Philippines)
Copyright: 2016 Philippine Daily Inquirer
Contact:  http://www.inquirer.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1073
Author: Ador Vincent S. Mayol

TOP VISAYAS COP BARES OFFER BY VIGILANTES TO HELP IN DRUG WAR

CEBU CITY-The highest-ranking police official in Central Visayas 
revealed an offer made by what he said is a vigilante group to help 
the police bring down drug suspects as part of the Duterte 
administration's war on drugs.

Chief Supt. Noli Talino, Central Visayas police director, said he 
received a text message from an anonymous group offering to help 
police kill suspected pushers and others involved in drug trafficking.

"They want to take the law into their own hands because they could no 
longer stand the presence of people who continue to peddle or use 
illegal drugs," Talino said.

"But no. I won't allow or encourage summary executions because that's 
against the law," he said.

"I told them to give me all the information about the persons who are 
still into drugs and let the police do their thing," said Talino, a 
former Special Action Force officer.

"Maintaining peace and order is the primary work of the police," he added.

Talino said he received a text message from the group on July 21. 
Since then, at least three suspected drug users and a pusher have 
been gunned down by unidentified persons in different areas in Cebu.

Two of those slain-Roldan Cuizon, 30, and Wilson Cuizon, 23-were shot 
dead while supposedly in a pot session in the village of Buaya, 
Lapu-Lapu City on July 22.

On the same day, two motorcycle-riding assailants shot dead Bonie 
"Sadam" Ponce, an alleged pusher in Danao City. The gunmen left 
behind a note saying "I'm a pusher, don't follow my way."

On Monday, Alex Reyes, an alleged drug user and robber in Barangay 
Punta Princesa here, was killed by an unidentified gunman.

Talino said he could not conclude whether these four individuals were 
victims of vigilantes.

"All we can say is that these persons were linked to illegal drugs 
and we don't know who killed them," he said.

While policemen were given by President Duterte three to six months 
to make a dent in the war on drugs, Talino said he is discouraging vigilantism.

"Killing defenseless people is tantamount to summary execution," he said.

He said although suspects had been killed by policemen, "they were 
considered legitimate (operations) because these people tried to kill 
our troops."

In Central Visayas, policemen have killed at least 10 drug suspects 
since July 22.

Talino said the regional police received a total of P300,000 from a 
private group that wanted to help in the war on drugs.

He said he decided to offer the amount as reward to policemen who 
kill suspected drug peddlers.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom