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Tuesday, September 07, 2004
After 30 years, cop honored for anti-drug campaign
TWO ranking police officials who have been in the forefront in the fight against illegal drugs have already retired after more than 30 years in service.
The Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 gave a special honor to Senior Supt. Julio Augusto, deputy regional director for administration (DRDA), during the flag-raising ceremony yesterday, his last day in government service.
PRO 7 Director Rolando Garcia awarded Augusto the Medalya ng Pambihirang Paglilingkod shortly after trooping the lines at Camp Sergio Osmeña quadrangle past 7 a.m.
Aside from Augusto, Supt. Gaudencio Pagaling, former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 chief, also retired last Aug. 16.
Supt. Amado Marquez replaced Pagaling.
As PRO 7’s DRDA, Augusto also served as executive officer of the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Task Force (Raidsotf), a special anti-drugs unit of the PNP.
Augusto’s successor will automatically act as Raidsotf executive officer.
Cebu City south district Rep. Antonio Cuenco, vice chairman of the committee on dangerous drugs, asked Garcia to designate a new DRDA who is “tough and active” in the anti-drugs campaign.
Criticism
Barely days before his retirement, Augusto and two other police officials hogged the limelight after Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said they have not done anything to solve the drugs problem in Barangay Calamba.
Augusto, Senior Supt. Manuel Cabigon and Supt. Orlando Pestaño all reside in Barangay Calamba, one of the city’s drug-affected barangays.
At least three of 16 sitios in Calamba – Quijano, Mahayahay and the back of Sun Valley Subdivision-- have been consistently reported as hotbeds of illegal drugs.
Defense
Despite the mayor’s harsh comments against the three police officials, Calamba Barangay Captain Esther Concha defended Augusto, her neighbor, saying the police official has been closely working with barangay officials in the fight against illegal drugs since last year.
Meanwhile, PDEA 7’s Marquez paid a courtesy call on Rep. Antonio Cuenco at the latter’s residence and vowed to prioritize the five drug-infested barangays in Cebu City.
Cuenco warned Marquez and his office staff that he would call for their immediate replacement if they fail to curb the illegal drugs problems in Barangays Calamba, Pasil, Ermita, Duljo and Labangon.
“They should double their efforts, hinay kayo ang lihok sa PDEA. Ang ila gihimo kutob ra sa simhot-simhot. If they will not do their job well, I will call for their mass replacement,” Cuenco said.
Cuenco also said he will meet with Timothy Teal, United States Drugs Enforcement Administration officer, tomorrow in Manila to finalize the drugs training for policemen, government prosecutors and barangay officials in Cebu. GC
(September 7, 2004 issue)
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