Politico’s kin eludes drug raid
OPERATIVES of the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG)-Regional Intelligence Division (RID) 7 conducted an operation against the brother of Barili’s Association of Barangay Councils president yesterday dawn.
But they failed to arrest Excel Gingoyon, who escaped by jumping from the window on the second floor of his house in Barangay Guibuangan.
Excel, a former councilor of Guibuangan, is the brother of Nelson Gingoyon, barangay captain of Guibuangan and an ex-officio member of the Municipal Council.
Supt. George Ylanan, RSOG chief, said they instead arrested Erwin Libradella Flores, Excel’s alleged drug courier.
Nelson is running for a seat in the Municipal Council under the One Cebu Party.
The RSOG is still investigating if Nelson knew about his brother’s involvement in the illegal drug trade.
“Nahibawo man gani ang ilang silingan unsa pa kaha ang igsuon nga kapitan (The suspect’s neighbors knew he was dealing drugs what more his brother)?” Ylanan told reporters.
Nelson, in a phone interview, said he heard rumors that Excel went back to his old ways after he was released from jail five years ago.
“Nabut-an pa na siya sa una (He turned a new leaf for awhile),” he said,
Nelson said he initiated the first arrest of Excel after he learned about the latter’s involvement in the illegal trade.
“Narcopolitics”
Chief Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, Police Regional Office 7 director, said it is difficult to link a politician to the illegal drug trade unless the politician is caught.
He said drug money “can be used to political ends,” but only courts can prove this.
“We will look at the objective of politicians’ funding support, if it will be used to buy votes, which is still an illegal activity,” he said in Cebuano. “What will prevent them from using an illegal fund to fund an illegal activity… If the funding came from an illegal activity, what will prevent them from using it for something illegal?”
Nelson, though, said he did not receive drug money from Excel.
“Ang tanang nagbuhat og ilegal kontra nako (Anyone who commits an illegal act is my enemy),” he said.
The RSOG team recovered 25 grams of white crystals believed to be shabu worth P295,000 from Excel.
They also confiscated two KG9 submachine pistols, a revolver, magazines and bullets.
Ylanan said Excel is a level 2 drug pusher who can dispose of a kilo of shabu per week. Some residents reported his activities to police after they got fed up with his illegal drug trade and his public display of firearms.
Comendador said the most they can do is to conduct operations against drug personalities, regardless of their political connections.
Toledo operation
The RSOG team led by Senior Insp. Romeo Sentinta Jr. immediately conducted surveillance on Excel after they received complaints from his neighbors.
A two-week undercover work confirmed the reports.
In an interview with reporters, Flores, 30, said Excel has been involved in the illegal drug trade since last November, although he denied being a drug pusher.
Police, however, seized five sachets of suspected shabu from Flores.
Complaints for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, will be charged against the suspects. Selling drugs is a non-bailable offense.
Separate complaints for illegal possession of firearms and for violating the election gun ban will be filed against Excel.
In Barangay Don Andres Soriano, Toledo City, operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch arrested Wilson Herbias dela Calsada, 31, in a buy-bust last Monday night.
Seized from the suspect were 15.88 grams of white cry