Pubdate: Fri, 18 Jun 2004
Source: Sunstar Cagayan De Oro (Philippines)
Copyright: 2004 Sunstar Cagayan De Oro.
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2983

PDEA 10 UNVEILS DRUG PROTECTOR'S LIST

PHILIPPINE Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 10 Chief Rene Orbe revealed they 
now have a new list of police officers now acting as "protectors" for some 
drug pushers in Cagayan de Oro City.

"These are new names of police officers and we now have a list of them," he 
told Sun.Star. He added he would be submitting this new list to Philippine 
National Police (PNP) 10 regional director Supt. Nicolas Pasinos who has 
the "jurisdiction and command" to keep and eye over these police officers 
suspected to be protecting drug pushers.

Orbe admitted their list of police officers that are allegedly "drug 
protectors" is getting shorter until recently when they received reports 
that there are now a number of suspected drug pushers who were apprehended 
but were later released.

This local drug czar confessed to being puzzled as to why these drug 
pushers have now rejoined the mainstream where they could again be a threat 
to society.

"Nagtataka talaga kami bakit nakalaya sila lalo na 'yong lumabag sa bagong 
Dangerous Drugs Act," he said. (We are really baffled as to why these 
suspects are now free, particularly those who have violated the new 
Dangerous Drugs Act.)

Orbe then recounted how they have apprehended a man who was once caught as 
a drug pusher but was later released by the police.

He said this man admitted to them that some police officers accepted his 
bribe money and released him.

"The man even told me that these police officers have been doing this 
(accepting bribe money) for the release of some of the other drug pushers 
who were arrested earlier," he said.

Orbe said they already have the names of these police officers and that 
they are just waiting for them to make a single wrong move.

"They (police officers suspected of being drug protectors) better watch out 
as we are also monitoring them," he said. LJA
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart