‘Tokhang surrenderer,’ another drug suspect slain

By LITO RULONA
and BEN SERRANO
Correspondent

TWO suspected drug pushers from Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental were found dead along main road in Mambatangan, Zone 1, Balubal here on Saturday morning. The two were shot to the head by their killers. Incidentally, one of the victims had just gone to the police and had promised that he would mend his ways.

Puerto police chief Senior Insp. Ian Borinaga identified the victims as White Jack Sigla, 33, and Sammy Dagus, 37.

Police said Sigla succumbed to gunshot wounds on the head and back while Dagus had a lone gunshot wound on the head.

Dagus, according to the police, had a sachet of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu with him.

“We are still trying to determine kung didto ba gyud sila gipatay sa maong lugar o gilabay lang ba kaha sila,” Borinaga said.

The Scene of Crime Operatives (Soco) failed to find empty shells at the crime scene.

Residents said they heard at least five gunshots at around 1 am on Saturday.

Carlos Sigla, father of one of the victims, said his son had a very serious drug problem.

“Gibadlong na nako og miadto na siya sa police kay mi-surrender gahapon sa ‘Tokhang’ pero nanawag man gud si Sammy gabii nga naa sila’y adto-an,” he said.

He said his son had been in jail because of a murder case but was released last year.

“Nahilot nako mao nga dali ra kaayo siya naka-gawas. Nag-oath na gani siya gahapon nga dili na magbaligya og drugs pero milakaw pa man gyud,” said the elder Sigla.

The Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) has stepped up the campaign against illegal drugs.

On Friday night, police arrested Anestis Choryates Jr. of Purok 6, Barangay Tablon, for possession of two sachets of suspected shabu.

Two more suspects, Raymond Burba, 27, of Iligan City and Renelito Burba, 35, of Barangay Bulua were arrested in another buy-bust operation. The cousins allegedly yielded five sachets of suspected shabu.

In Lapasan, police arrested Winefredo Balasabas, 24, of Kolambog, Barangay Lapasan, for possession of nine sachets of suspected shabu.

In Cagayan de Oro and Caraga region alone, some 9,000 self-confessed drug users and pushers have turned themselves in to authorities as the National Police intensified “Oplan Tokhang” nationwide.

Here, Cocpo claimed more than 2,500 individuals coming from the city’s 80 barangays promised to med their ways.

In Caraga, some 7,081 drug personalities went to authorities and signed papers that they would not get involved in illegal drugs again.

Cagayan de Oro Councilor Romeo Calizo said the figures can be understood that the public has responded positively.

However, Calizo added that while Oplan Tokhang has yielded positive results, the campaign against illegal drugs should not only focus on small fries.

“Police should do more to apprehend the so-called big fishes, they have to do more. Ang mga nadakpan (are) small dealers lang,” he said.

Cocpo has estimated an average of 60 drug personalities per barangay in the city which excludes Carmen, Lapasan, Consolacion, Iponan, Gusa, Tablon, Puntod, Bulua, Macasandig, Nazareth, Puerto, Kauswagan and Camaman-an. According to the estimate of former City Police Director Faro Antonio Olaguera they have identified over 1,500 persons either dealing or using illegal drugs in the city.

However, Calizo said the initial Cocpo’s target is only minimal and that there should be more.

“It should be the real score, pero sa akong tan-aw murag more pa ang numbers. Kini nga problema sa drugs murag wala nato ni nahatagan og pagtagad,” he said.

In the past three weeks, authorities have been doing the rounds, knocking on doors and asking drug suspects to stop what they are doing and prevent the involvement of youth in gangs in the barangay levels.

In Surigao del Norte, police have consolidated the number of self-confessed drug personalities to 1,698 individuals, 752 persons in Cabadbaran City, 503 persons in Tubay, 278 persons in Santiago town, and in Agusan del Norte now has a total of 7,081 drug personalities who yielded to the National Police’s Oplan Tokhang which started in July 1 up to July 8.

In a phone interview over the weekend, Surigao del Norte outgoing provincial director Senior Supt. Ernesto Flores, who is at the same Deputy Regional Director for Administration of Police Regional Offiice 13 told Gold Star Daily that Surigao del Norte province has 1,698 self-confessed shabu users and pushers who gave themselves up.

“It is progressing which means many more will surrender, Di nga ako makapaniwala ganun kadami ang shabu users at pushers dito sa Surigao del Norte and the numbers are increasing each day. But it depends in the intensity of the Oplan Tokhang initiated by both civilian and police authorities,” Surigao del Norte outgoing provincial director Senior Supt. Ernesto Flores said.

In Agusan del Sur, 200 persons in Rosario town; 177 persons in San Francisco, 167 persons in Bayugan City, and municipalities of San Luis yielded 235, Talacogon has 147, Prosperidad town has 48, Bunawan town has 34, Sta Josefa town has 27, Veruela has 15, and Sibagat town with only seven persons who turned themselves in.

In Butuan City, PO3 Anthony Echin from the city’s police information office claimed based on their official records that here in Butuan City alone there are about 507 who voluntarily turned themselves in since July 1 up to present.

Meanwhile, NGO Drug Watch-Caraga appealed to President Duterte and PNP Chief Dela Rosa to immediately provide Caraga Region with government drug rehab center saying the region at present has only one public drug rehab center with capacity only of 50 persons.

The group also asked President Duterte to build more detention cells after Police Regional Office 13 Regional Director Chief Supt. Rolando Felix admitted during press conference here about the overcrowding problem of jails in the region saying most jails are already beyond human considerations due massive overcrowding after government’s crackdown on illegal drugs.

Drug Watch-Caraga also asked the Department of Justice and Supreme Court to strengthen the prosecution and judicial system in combating worsening illegal drugs situation in the region and get rid of corruption in the system.