The New People’s Army singing the Internationale somewhere in Agusan del Sur. (davaotoday.com file photo)
DAVAO CITY— The Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 claimed the chief of police captured by the New People’s Army in Governor Generoso town in Davao Oriental province is not involved in drug-related activities in the area as alleged by the NPA.
Police Chief Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan, regional director of PRO 11 said Chief Inspector Arnold Ongachen is not involved in any drug-related activity.
“He is not using illegal drugs, I’m sure about that. And he is not also selling drugs and protecting anybody,” Gaerlan said.
When asked about the source of his information, Gaerlan said that the information came from the intelligence’s investigation among the police official’s co-workers and from the residents in the area.
He said that they are sending the information they gathered to President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.
Duterte has previously said that an NPA leader has told him that they found illegal drugs in the possession of Ongachen during a raid in Governor Generoso Municipal Police Station town in Davao Oriental on May 29.
In a press conference on June 2, Duterte said the NPA can try the police and “sentence him to 20 years hard labor.”
Duterte also said that he will not rescue the police official.
However, Gaerlan said that the Communist Party of the Philippines and New People’s Army should present the findings of their investigation.
The NPA said it targeted the municipal police station based on the people’s demand to punish the protectors of rampant drug trafficking in the area.
Rigoberto Sanchez, spokesperson of the NPA said that they confiscated a sachet of shabu (methamphetamine) from Ongachen following the raid at the police station.
As of now, there is still an ongoing pursuit operation to rescue Ongachen.
Fight vs. illegal drugs
Meanwhile, Gaerlan said that the campaign against illegal drugs is one of their priorities in the region.
“Under my watch, no Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel will be tolerated, condoned on any act pertaining to illegal drugs,” he said.
Gaerlan said that the two PNP personnel who turned out positive in the random drug testing will undergo “maximum implementation of the disciplinary mechanisms”.
Two members of the Philippine National Police in Mati, Davao Oriental tested positive for illegal drug use on June 4 after the Mati City Police Station conducted a surprise random drug test among its personnel.
They were identified as Senior Police Officer 4 Nollo Barsaman and intel operative, PO2 Jesus Mante, Jr.
The PRO 11 also said that assorted illegal drug paraphernalia were found inside the room of Barsaman in the police station. (davaotoday.com)
