FORTY-NINE policemen in the Province received yesterday more than P2 million cash reward from the Provincial Government for their successful operations against illegal drugs this year.
Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III and Provincial Board Member Carmen Remedios Durano Meca distributed the checks to the police officials assigned in different local government units and Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO).
CPPO Director Noel Gillamac and Provincial Intelligence Branch Chief Rodulfo Albotra Jr. were also present at the Dignitaries Hall in Capitol to receive their awards.
Davide, chairman of Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Commission (CPADAC), told the policemen the incentive is the Capitol’s way of thanking the officers for their commitment and service in eliminating illegal drugs.
“Drugs is not just a problem of the Province and the LGUs but also a problem of the community. Dako ang natampo sa kapulisan sa pagbatok sa ilegal nga drugas (Police have contributed a lot in the fight against) illegal drugs,” Davide said.
The policemen received cash incentives ranging from P3,000 to P15,000 each. They had conducted 11 operations in nine local government units.
Cities, towns
These include the towns of San Remigio, Balamban, Consolacion, Sibonga and Moalboal, and the cities of Toledo, Naga, Danao, and Carcar. Two operations were made each in Balamban and Toledo.
Albotra said the biggest operation they made was in San Remigio, where they caught Maribel Arcenal, wife of alleged drug lord Reynaldo Arcenal, and her brother and confiscated 2 kilos of suspected shabu worth P23.6 million.
Albotra said they usually meet persons who do not want to cooperate during their operations because they are afraid of their security.
He said the community has a moral obligation to support in the fight against prohibited drugs.
Gillamac said the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force in Camp Crame invited the CPPO during its 12th Founding Anniversary on Sept. 23 to receive an award.
CPADAC Executive Director Joey Herrera said they realigned a portion of the budget for trainings and Just Say No program under the maintenance and other operating expenses to augment the P300,000 budget that was only left for the incentives given to the policemen.
CPADAC only allocated P1 million for the cash incentive this year.
“These operations that were given cash rewards and incentives passed the (CPADAC) guidelines, including the high value of drugs confiscated, its impact to the community and tips came from CPADAC,” Herrera said.