By RIC V. OBEDENCIO

Police Regional Office-7 director Chief Superintendent Prudencio Bañas ordered a 30-day validation of the drug suspects' list, which reportedly included some policemen who were allegedly protectors of the illegal drugs trade in Bohol. The existence of the list that included the names of policemen was confirmed earlier by Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) director, Senior Superintendent Dennis Agustin, who however did not reveal them because investigation is still going on at this time for gathering of evidences. Like Agustin, Bañas did not divulge the identities of “some” policemen involved in the drug trade in Bohol. He also did not rule out nor deny if there were also local government officials who might be linked to the drug trade in the province. Bañas wanted this report and list validated, and he warned his men in Bohol that PRO-7 will not hesitate to press charges against policemen and LGU officials who will be found involved in the illegal drug trade.

The PRO-7 top official told reporters here that he ordered his men to stop the illegal trade, the crackdown of which is being undertaken seriously. The illegal drug trade is now rampant in Bohol and is now the concern of everybody, not just of the police or law enforcers, as it will destroy the community, he said. Bañas also cited the important role of the media in helping curb or running after the culprits in the illegal drugs trade. “We could not afford to be complacent” in the fight against this illegal activity,” he said. Asked if the morale of the police force in Bohol is now affected following the killing of Senior Superintendent George Caña, Ubay Police town chief, last month, Bañas replied that the incident is now a big challenge to the police. Bañas paid courtesy calls to Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto and Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Lim Yap II in separate occasions on Wednesday. He later presided over a command conference of the 47 town police chiefs and city police chief at Camp Dagohoy in Tagbilaran, along with other police officials of PRO-7.(FREEMAN)