AT LEAST 100 bar owners and managers in Cebu City expressed Wednesday, September 7, their support for the police’s campaign against illegal drugs.
Part of their agreement was that two to three policemen in civilian clothes may be sent to these establishments.
Their employees may also be tested for drugs.
Senior Superintendent Joel Doria, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) acting director, said one of the places the city’s intelligence operatives will check is the comfort room, in case any illegal transactions take place there.
Doria said that some owners told him they suspected some of their employees were selling illegal drugs inside their establishments.
“Very productive yung pinag-usapan kanina kasi sila mismo they admitted na hindi nila minsan mamomonitor ng ibang employee nila (It was a very productive meeting. Some of them admitted they can’t monitor all their employees all the time),” he said.
The police official said they are looking for party drugs like Ecstasy.
Doria said that during his stint in a Manila police office, he found out that the management of some bars refused to let customers bring bottled drinks inside their establishments because these might contain drugs.
Businessman Nixon Dizon said he was amenable to having undercover police officers conduct surveillance in his restobar. He does not want his own workers to be engaged in illegal activities.
“Dili ta kalikay nga ang atong empleyado ug ang atong mga managers mao nay mamaligya ba. Kinsa man diay mamaligyag party drugs? Kinsa ma’y naa dinha? Basically, mao na ako gi-question ni city director (Doria) nga much better nga dili pahibaw-on ang mga managers kon mag-surveillance kay basin ang mo-tip sila ra (Some of the employees or managers may be selling party drugs. Who else is there? That’s why I suggested to the city director that we not inform the managers about when surveillance will be done, so they can’t top others about it),” he told reporters.
Doria said they that the police have not received reports that party drugs have entered the club scene in Cebu City, but their monitoring will continue.
The restobar and club owners told Doria they do not have a group yet, but that they will form one so they can easily inform the police.
Kamagayan Councilman Tito Avila, who also owns a restobar, said some owners noticed suspicious men inside their respective establishments. He said they were afraid to report to the authorities because they might get killed by drug pushers.
The owners, he said, recognize the need to organize themselves.
“Kon maghugpong god, ma-exchange dayon ang information regarding aning criminals and other illicit actions. Mao bitaw nga mihangyo ko nga aron effective kaayo, mag-organize tag association para ang police ug ang bar owners well-informed (If we form a group, we can more easily exchange information about these criminals. That’s why I appealed for us to organize an association that will help the police and bar owners be well-informed),” said Avila.