CIDG gets new chief

CEBU, Philippines – Sr. Supt. Ramon Rafael, a former volunteer in East Timor, yesterday assumed as new chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group yesterday.

Former CIDG chief Guillermo Eleazar turned over his post to Rafael in a simple ceremony at the CIDG office yesterday. Eleazar would continue service at Camp Crame.

Admitting that not all goals of CIDG were met during his term, Eleazar said he remains proud of their significant accomplishments, including the resolution of sensational cases, the arrest of most wanted persons, and the neutralization of criminals.

November last year, CIDG seized an estimated P3 million worth of shabu from a suspected big time drug pusher in San Fernando town.

They arrested Joselito Caballero Navarro and his cohort Christopher Luna whom authorities later learned to be facing murder charges.

The raid was conducted by virtue of a warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Meinrado Paredes after weeks of surveillance.

Yet Eleazar said one of the most important accomplishments of CIDG is for its members to learn to work together and motivate each other, Eleazar said.

“What I’ve learned is that we work together and we motivate each other. Yung dumating ako dito, may room for improvement particularly on the administrative portion, on how to deal with the reporting system, and making our unit capable to deliver the services to the people,” Eleazar said.

For his part, Rafael said he will continue supporting the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency just like what his former classmate, Eleazar, did during his term.   

“Bigyan natin ito nang pansin dahil ang droga ay salot sa atin,” Rafael said.

Rafael said he was very happy upon learning that he would be assigned in Central Visayas, considering that he been assigned in Mindanao for quite sometime.

An important advice he can give his men, Rafael said, is for them to love their job and do good all the time. — Christopher Gabriel Bonjoc and Niña Chrismae Sumacot/JMO (THE FREEMAN)