Pubdate: Mon, 11 Apr 2005
Source: Visayan Daily Star (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 Visayan Daily Star
Contact:  http://www.visayandailystar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1688
Author: GPB
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REPORTS LINKING COPS TO DRUGS 'SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS': CALIMA

Negros Occidental police director Charles Calima called "serious
allegations" the reports that some policemen are either involved or
engaged in illegal gambling, or are linked to drug pushing.

"The best way for us to show that we are not engaged in such
activities is through our records of sustained arrest against all
forms of illegal activities," Calima said his order to all Negros
police chiefs, directing them to exert more efforts, be more
aggressive and to sustain the campaign against prohibited drugs and
illegal gambling in their areas.

Calima has himself been the object of what others called "black
propaganda" being an "overspender".

Shrugging off the accusations, Calima said he will not allow himself
to be affected by such reports.

If you allow the operatives from the Negros Occidental police to make
arrests in your areas, then you are reduced to just being liaison
officers of your police stations, Calima said, referring to the police
chiefs.

Let us be more pro-active and aggressive in our anti-criminality
campaign so we can gain the continuing thrust and confidence of the
citizenry, he added.

 From January to March this year, the Negros Occidental police nabbed
24 drug personalities and recovered 91.5 grams of suspected dried
marijuana leaves, and 70 grams of alleged shabu, reports said.

In the same period, the police also arrested 112 persons for illegal
gambling and confiscated P32,981 in alleged cash bets and assorted
illegal gambling paraphernalia, they added. 
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