TALISAY City Mayor Eduardo Gullas wants the chiefs of the city’s 22 barangays to do background checks on residents moving into their villages.
Gullas made the statement following the deaths of four suspected drug pushers during a police operation in Barangays Tabunok and Jaclupan earlier this week.
In an interview Thursday, Dec. 21, Gullas said that based on police reports, two of the four suspected drug pushers that were killed were not originally residents of Talisay City.
Rodrigo and Noel Alvarez, who were killed by operatives of the Cebu Provincial Intelligence Branch during a buy-bust in Barangay Jaclupan, were originally residents of Barangay Duljo Fatima in Cebu City.
Gullas believes that initial background checks by barangay officials on people transferring to their villages could help in deterring the presence of drug personalities.
The Talisay City mayor said he had raised the matter with the Association of Barangay Councils following the increasing number of police anti-drug operations in some barangays.
“Mas mubantay unta sila kay sayod sila sa ilang barangay kaysa sa uban tawo. Mutabang unta sila ug monitor ug observe sa mga mubisita ug mupuyo sa ilang dapit. Kung naay gisuspetsahan, ipatawag dayun ug tawgon ang ilang attention (They are supposed to be the ones on guard since they know their barangay better than others. They should help monitor and observe outsiders who settle in their areas. Should there be any suspicious persons, they should call immediately their attention),” Gullas said.
Gullas also reminded the city’s police force to be careful with their operations especially that some suspected drug personalities are now willing to fight it out with policemen if they are cornered.
“Hangyo unta sa atong kapulisan to be more careful kung naay operation. Kay labaw sa pagsulbad sa problema sa drogas mao ang pag-conserve and preserve sa kinabuhi (We’re asking the policemen to be more careful in their operation. Because more important than solving the drug problem is to conserve and preserve lives),” Gullas said.
Gullas made the reminder after one of the city’s police officers, PO1 Jaylord Joseph Taping, was hurt in an anti-illegal drug operation in Sitio Mananga 2, Barangay Tabunok last month.
Gullas also expressed his plan to ask the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 to appoint Supt. Marlu Conag as a permanent police chief of his city.
Conag, who has been assigned in Talisay City since April this year, is still serving as officer-in-charge of the component city’s police station.
Gullas said that if he had his way, he would want Conag to lead the city police station because of his performance in ridding Talisay City of illegal drugs.
But Gullas said he is willing to submit to the decision of the PRO 7 on whether they will make Conag his permanent police chief or not. (JKV)