THE Police Regional Office (PRO) in Central Visayas is monitoring six police officers who are allegedly protecting a drug lord in Tuburan.

Chief Superintendent Patrocinio Comendador Jr., PRO-Central Visayas director, said they are conducting counter-intelligence against the officers who were exposed to the media by Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante.

In an earlier report, Diamante said these police officers are on the payroll of a Level 1 drug pusher operating in his town. The official, however, admitted he has no names of the cops.

Meanwhile, the Police Station 11 of Cebu City Police Station scored in its anti-narcotics drive by arresting Rolando Sorenio Matutinao Jr. in a drug bust in Barangay Duljo Fatima at 11:45 p.m. last Monday.

Seized from the suspect were eight packs of white crystals believed to be shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride). The contraband weighed 17.55 grams and its value was set by Dangerous Drugs Board at P207,090.

The two P100 marked bills used in the operation and suspect’s income amounting to P580 in were also confiscated from Matutinao.

Before the arrest, the suspect approached Police Officer 1 Virgilio Belecario Jr., who acted as a customer.

Marked bill

“Asa mo, Bay (Where are you going, my friend)?” said Matutinao, as quoted by Belicario.

The officer replied he wanted to buy shabu and gave the suspect the marked bills in exchange for a sachet of the illegal drugs. After handing over the items, Matutinao was arrested.

In the morning, six suspected junkies were caught by the operatives of San Remigio Police Station in northern Cebu.

Their main targets, suspected drug personalities Ruben Precillas Dabucol and his brother Rico, eluded arrest along with their three companions after shooting it out with the police officers.

Before the incident at 11:10 a.m., a buy-bust was done with Ruben. When Rico and two unidentified cohorts noticed that the persons they were dealing with were police officers, they started to shoot.

Ruben shoved a police officer, who acted as the poseur buyer, and ran with the other suspects. They jumped into the sea, continued shooting at the police officers and swam.

Revolver

The team, led by Senior Inspector Stephen Amamag-id, arrested Rosilo Ando Metante, 40; Aldwin Lepon Alburo, 44; Archie Rolluqie Servilla, 30; Dave Ramirez Masuangat, 21; Nacinceno Romagos Armero, 31; and Jonjie Edeb Garcia, 32.

Recovered from the suspects were seven sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia, a .357 revolver with five empty shells and a bullet in its chamber, seven motorcycles and two tricycles.

At 12:25 a.m. yesterday, a team from the Police Station 8 collared Mark Kevin Flores, 19, and seized 12 packs of shabu in a buy-bust in Barangay Budlaan, Cebu City.

Complaints for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, will be filed against the suspects.