DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The Police Regional Office 11 recorded a total of 64,441 surrenderees since last year when it started its anti-illegal drug campaigns, namely: the Operation Plan Double Barrel, Operation Plan Double Barrel Alpha, and the Operation Plan Double Barrel Alpha Reloaded.
However, the actual numbers may still change as the Philippine National Police is currently revamping its database.
On Wednesday, PRO 11 Spokesperson Police Chief Inspector Andrea Dela Cerna said they are currently “revisiting” the drug surrenderees to fill-up a Bio Profile Form for profiling purposes.
The purpose of the BPF, Dela Cerna said, is to prevent double listing whenever a listed surrenderee is caught again in legitimate buy-bust operations.
“Hindi na sila maconsider as newly identified personalities involved in illegal drugs. Maganda rin po na may profiling at least hindi na nadodoble ang ating mga records” (They will not be considered as newly-identified personalities involved in illegal drugs. It’s better that we have this profiling so that we will avoid having repetitions in our records), she said.
Under the current anti-illegal drugs campaign, voluntary surrenderees, including those who are on the lists as known drug personalities submitted by various baranggay officials submit themselves to the police.
These surrenderees, who often have not been issued warrants of arrest are free to go, but must promise to “change their ways.”
The updated list, Dela Cerna said has registered 56,816 who have filled-up the BPFs.
No ‘hidden cells’ in Davao Region
Dela Cerna also assured that police stations in Davao Region have no “hidden cells,” such as the one found in the Manila Police District Station 1.
She said the PRO 11 Regional Director Police Chief Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan regularly inspects the region’s stations to “check the welfare of his men.”
“Our regional director is doing his rounds in the region. Regularly he is inspecting places, police stations, provinces to check the welfare of his men,” Dela Cerna said.
“I don’t think na may mga ganyan tayo na hidden cells sa Davao Region. With the support of our chief PNP and our city mayor, naisaayos naman natin lahat dito sa ating rehiyon”
(I don’t think that we have those hidden cells in Davao Region. With the support of our chief PNP and our city mayor, we have made sure that everything is in order in our region), she added.
The PNP came under fire after members of the Commission on Human Rights discovered a “secret” cell at the MPD Station 1 in Tondo, Manila.
CHR National Capital Region investigation chief Gilbert Boyser said they found at least 12 persons languishing inside a small, dark, and airless chamber. MPD-1 station commander Superintendent Robert Domingo denied the allegations that the inmates were being made to pay P40,000 to P100,000 each for their release.
Domingo said they were simply maximizing the space because his precinct was overcrowded. The MPD-1, Domingo said, was housing 85 inmates against its 50-man capacity. (davaotoday.com)
