MORE than 40 police officers were sent to Barangay Tangke in Talisay City to quell the illegal drug trade there.
The 42-member platoon from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) will stay in the coastal barangay for an indefinite period until the Police Regional Office 7 pulls them out, said Talisay City Police chief Marlu Conag.
The Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 denied it is placing Barangay Tangke under its control with the move and said the assignment was in response to some barangay officials’ request.
Supt. Reyman Tolentin, PRO 7 information chief, said the officers are meant to support the Talisay City police in curbing the illegal drug trade in that barangay.
Last July 18, three suspected drug personalities were killed in Talisay City, including Tangke, in simultaneous anti-criminality operations ordered by PRO 7 Director Debold Sinas.
Around 10 a.m. yesterday, the 42 RMFB personnel, most of them with the rank of police officer 1 (PO1), were sent to Barangay Tanke on orders of PRO 7 chief Sinas and Senior Supt. Manuel Abrugena, director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office.
Large contingent
The village, with a population of 13,707, harbors a lot of fishermen but also has a reputation for being a haven for the illegal drug trade.
“Majority of the residents and officials in the barangay want change. Pero meron parin mga sitios sa barangay nga continue pa rin sa illegal nga gawain (But in some sitios, illegal activities continue),” Conag said.
There are about 60 police personnel assigned in Talisay City. With more officers, the police can conduct around-the-clock checkpoints and more surveillance to prevent drug peddlers and their customers from doing business in Tangke, among others.
“Kung wala silang legitimate business doon sa barangay (If strangers come in and fail to show any legitimate business in the barangay), they will be questioned,” Conag said.
In a separate interview, Barangay Tangke Captain Nelson Cabanes told reporters that the officials’ request for police deployment was overdue.
He said that his predecessor, former Barangay Tangke chief Perla Cabanes, had requested the PNP to conduct constant surveillance in their village as one way to improve the barangay’s reputation.
Cabanes said they had identified two sitios, Magay and Rattan, as the most drug-infested.
“Daghan gyung makalitan sa ilang presensya. Pero nalipay sad mi nga naa sila kay ma-minimize na ang palit sa drogas dinhi sa among barangay (Some people were surprised by their presence. But we are happy the police are here, so they can minimize drug peddling in our barangay),” Cabanes added. (JKV with KAL)