‘Scalawag’ cops under surveillance

SEVERAL teams were formed in the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) to spy on personnel reported to be involved in drug trafficking and other illegal activities, a police official said.

CCPO Director Senior Supt. Joel Doria said the purpose of the surveillance is to gather evidence against the erring officers.

“They conduct background check on our personnel...to make sure we dismiss the undesirable ones in CCPO. We have transferred several erring cops,” he said.

The intelligence gathering started before the operation against Senior Insp. Raymond Hortezuela, who was killed in a drug bust in Barangay Tipolo, Mandaue City last Sunday night.

Hortezuela, a former deputy chief of CCPO-Guadalupe Police Station, was transferred to Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office after Doria received reports about his involvement in the illegal drug trade.

The officer reportedly served as protector of slain Central Visayas drug lord Jeffrey “Jaguar” Diaz. He had been included in the narco-list of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 7.

Last Wednesday night, a former intelligence operative who had links with self-confessed drug lord Franz Sabalones was shot dead in Alegria.

PO3 Jonathan Yaun Tilos, 36, had been included in the government’s list of narco-cops, according to police officials.

“There are officers who forgot their duties. We have to remind them of the things they should do,” Doria said. “Sometimes, we discovered they were in casinos, in cockpit arenas. They should not do that. If they want to do it, they should get out of the service.”

Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he supports Doria’s shame campaign against police scalawags.

“He has my full support. If that’s what he wants to do, that’s fine with me,” he said.

Osmeña said its good that Doria came up with the idea because it shows that he is serious in cleaning their ranks.

By implementing it, the mayor said it will show the police force that the police and the City Government do not tolerate erring officers. (KAL, RVC)