Pubdate: Sun, 21 Aug 2005 Source: Sunstar Iloilo (Philippines) Copyright: 2005 Sunstar Iloilo. Contact: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/iloilo/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2986 Author: Ruby P. Silubrico Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines TASK FORCE WON'T SPARE COPS ENGAGED IN DRUG TRADE: POLICE CHIEF WARNING for Iloilo City policemen. Law enforcers who are engaged in the drug trade or protecting drug personalities in the City will also be the subject of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) Task Force's campaign against drugs. Though he did not confirm if there are policemen engaged in the drug trade, ICPO Director Norlito Bautista issued the warning that they can't escape from the said campaign. Senior Superintendent Bautista added that the Task Force Bakhaw would not only focus its operation in Bakhaw, Mandurriao but also in the rest of Iloilo City. "Our task force will also focus on other illegal activities like illegal gambling and robbery," he said. Bautista has assigned his ICPO intelligence officer, Chief Inspector Julio Gustilo, as task force chief. The force is set to operate next week after acquiring funding. Gustilo said he would get three personnel from each precinct to come up with the 34 personnel, especially with ranks Police Officer 1 (PO1) and PO2 to augment and man the detachment that will be located in Bakhaw. "Aside from creating police visibility through patrolling, we are going to conduct check points in order to monitor the ins and outs of some personalities in the area," Gustilo said. Bakhaw is considered as a "drug haven", thus, the group will be piloted in this area. Gustilo added that the barangay officials and tanods would also augment them. He believes that by establishing the said task force, rampant drug operations will be stopped. - ---