THE acting chief and personnel of the Talisay City Police Station have been receiving death and bomb threats through text messages from unknown persons.
Supt. Aileen Recla said they received the first death threat after they intensified their anti-drug operations in Barangay Tangke.
At first, it was just her staff, but then she, too, got one when they didn’t stop their anti-drug drive in the barangay.
She said they received reports that Barangay Maghaway Councilor Felix Abacajan Jr. was angry at them for going after his men, who had surrendered during Oplan Tokhang.
Recla clarified that it was the Provincial Intelligence Branch, not her personnel, who conducted the operation against Felix, an alleged hitman of the group of suspected drug lord Franz Sabalones, last Oct. 5.
During that raid, Felix’s brother Joeser and their suspected cohort Julian Bonghanoy were killed, while Felix, who is still at large, was hurt after he was shot.
Swat security
Due to the threats, Recla has ordered members of the Special Weapons and Tactics to secure the station.
She also instructed her personnel to check any suspicious people who visit the station.
Recla said this development will not stop them from performing their duties.
She also called on Felix to surrender peacefully and face the law.
Like Recla, Mayor Eduardo Gullas also urged Felix to surrender and to undergo drug rehabilitation.
Gullas told reporters that even though Felix is on the run, his seat as barangay councilor cannot be vacated yet.
Meanwhile, the mayor believes Felix is not the only barangay official who is allegedly involved in illegal drugs.
Gullas told reporters that he plans to ask city and barangay officials to undergo random drug tests.
In a related development, the driver of the getaway vehicle used by Felix to escape last Wednesday’s shootout is out on the streets, after he posted the P12,000-bail last Monday.
Talisay City Regional Trial Court Branch 66 Judge Jacinto Fajardo Jr. ordered the release of Adhmann Canangca-an, who is facing direct assault and attempted murder cases.
Accused’s appeal
Canangca-an’s lawyer, Rameses Villagonzalo, said the accused will face the charges in court “squarely.”
“He (Canangca-an) is a law-abiding citizen. He is not involved in any drug-related trade or any organized crime,” the lawyer said.
Canangca-an, who is Felix’s cousin, surrendered to the Talisay City police hours after the shootout because he wanted to clear his name.
During the press conference, Villagonzalo said Canangca-an did not shoot any police officer.
“He (Canangca-an) does not posses any firearm. He does not have any plan to fight with the PNP or any law enforcement agency,” the lawyer said.
The accused appealed to the authorities to “uphold the rule of law such that no frame-up case should be filed against him,” the lawyer said.
Villagonzalo said his client has yet to decide whether to file charges against police.