Pubdate: Sun, 01 Aug 2004 Source: Sunstar Pangasinan (Philippines) http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/pan/2004/08/01/news/salvaging.of.drug.suspects.continues.html Copyright: 2004 Sunstar Contact: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1726 Author: Fred P. Macaraeg SALVAGING OF DRUG SUSPECTS CONTINUES THE death of a drug personality Friday night in Barangay Bonuan Gueset, Dagupan City indicated that there is a group trying to eliminate drug pushers in Pangasinan. Fernando delos Santos alias Ding, a resident of Paras Road in the same barangay, who was aboard a motorcycle, had been shot at about 8:15 p.m. at the corner of Paras Road and San Fabian-Bonuan Road. SPO1 Pedro Urbano of city police investigation section said that according to witnesses, the suspects were three men, two who boarded a motorcycle while the other one rode in a tricycle. Delos Santos died on the spot after he sustained multiple gunshot wounds at the head and body. A dog tag had been left on top of his body that read: Huwag tularan ang pusher na ito. Rest in peace, alagad ng Mangatarem drug connection. Seven empty shells had been recovered in the crime scene, four from caliber 9mm pistol and three from caliber .45 pistol. Supt. Noli G. Talino, police chief, said they have been conducting follow-up investigation because delos Santos had a companion who managed to escape. "Last night, our policemen had traced him. He had been hit at the shoulder and is now undergoing treatment at the hospital," he said even as he identified the other victim by the name of only Ope. Citing that delos Santos is publicly known as a drug pusher, he said the victim was not only a street pusher but someone in the high hierarchy of a drug syndicate. Talino said the victim had been in the city police's drug watch and had a pending case on car napping, which could have already been resolved by the court. "Delos Santos could be with the group of Punzal because of Mangatarem drug connection statement in the dog tag. We also received an information that he was seen with the group," he said. Former Mangatarem mayor Jessie Punzal once led the group. After he had been arrested, his brother Abelardo took over the helm. Abelardo is now at the provincial jail in Lingayen after he was also arrested. Talino said they have an information that Ope is engaged in the illegal drug activity but not as much as delos Santos who had long been in the drug watch list. The city police have now investigating whether he had been killed due to intrigue in the illegal drug trade world or by vigilantes. "If he had been killed by a vigilante group, we do not tolerate the killing because these are criminals, they have their human rights and there is due process," he said. Admitting that there are still some drug pushers in the city despite the killings that had been happening, he said they have been tasked to neutralized all these drug personalities by arresting them. "There are two ways of neutralizing them. One is by bust-bust operation and the other is through the application of a search warrant," the police chief said. Citing that there is a directive to clear every town and city of drug activities, Talino said that at least they would have apply for two search warrants every month. He said there are still 32 personalities in their drug watch list. "But some of them have already left the city and this is what we trying to validate," he said. Talino said that if a drug personality is no longer in the community, they would seek for certification of non-residency status from the barangay captain. The others are purportedly in the line-up due for application of a search warrant. He further disclosed that the Oplan Katok or having the drug personality sign an oath of undertaking or allegiance not to be involved again in illegal drug activities had already stricken out sometime last March or April. "They had known that it was not effective because it had been used only as a scapegoat. They had been back into the illegal activity," he said. Talino said that the only ways of neutralizing drug personalities is through buy-bust operation or through the application and if they are no longer in the community they had been residing is by applying for non-residency status. "If due to intrigues, they cancel each other's out, then we could say that they are already neutralized, so like what happened last night," he said. He said the incident the other night would serve as a warning to those drug pushers who are already notorious and have already many victims. "We are not tolerating the killing of drug personalities but it is of big help to families of victims of drugs, especially in that area because the operation of Ding Santos is not only in Dagupan but, due to his connections, in the whole province," Talino said. But he said the police would continuous its move in trying to neutralize them by all legal means.