Wednesday, August 01, 2007 Ocarol conviction ‘victory’ in drive v. drugs
FOR acting Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Patrocinio Comendador, the conviction of Christopher “Riking” Ocarol and his sentence of life imprisonment for selling shabu means the police are victorious in the fight against illegal drugs.
“It is a great triumph in our campaign against illegal drugs, not only for the CCPO but for the people of Cebu. It also indicated that our operations are legitimate, contrary to claims by others that we plant evidence,” Comendador said.
Lawyer Alex Tolentino, immediate past president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu City chapter, earlier accused the city police, particularly the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau (CIIB), of planting evidence on suspects.
Comendador said the verdict of Regional Trial Court Judge Gabriel Ingles against Christopher and his alleged partner in the drug trade, Luciano Rivas, would also discourage other drug personalities from engaging in the same illegal activities.
He said other illegal drug personalities would likely face the same fate as Christopher.
Christopher, brother of Pasil Barangay Captain Romeo Ocarol Sr., and Rivas were sentenced to life imprisonment for selling 4.75 grams of shabu.
Christopher was ranked no. 3 in the Cebu City police watch list of drug personalities. (JST)
