After arrest of pusher family of Argao police chief gets death threats

CEBU, Philippines - The family of the Argao Police chief reportedly received death threats after an alleged big time drug pusher was arrested in Barangay Talaga and charged last week.

Police investigator Allan Batobalonos alleged the threat came from someone behind the drug syndicate that the alleged pusher, Allan “Edgar” Tapayan, worked for. 

“Grabeha nimo sir oi gidakop man nimo akong paryente, gi-section 5 man nimo. Bawos-bawos lang unya ta patagua lang imong pamilya kay kadumdom mis inyo,” the text message reads.

Batobalonos said that shortly after Tapayan’s arrest last week, several persons called the police station and tried to bribe him with at least P300,000 and up to P500,000 in exchange for Tapayan’s liberty. Batobalonos refused all these.

“Suko sila nga gi-file na ang kaso. Maayo lang unta’g ako pero ako pamilya man gipuntirya,” Batobalonos said in a phone interview.

Tapayan, an alleged Level 2 drug pusher, was nabbed by the Argao police during a buy-bust operation last June 11. Seized from his possession were five small sachets of shabu amounting P1,500 and three pieces of P500 bill used as the bust money.

Batobalonos disclosed that Tapayan has been the number one source of illegal drugs for Argao down to the Samboan. There are five towns in between Argao to Samboan, including Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob and Santander. Tapayan would reportedly dispose of shabu amounting to P150,000 per week.

“Iya gyud ning whole south,” Batobalonos said, adding, they had difficulty in arresting Tapayan because the drug suspect reportedly had several hideouts in different towns.

Batobalonos said he has hints as to who sent the threats, but is yet to confirm his information.

“Wa may galagot nako nga politician but somebody said 20 percent nga pulis pero i-confirm una nako,” he said.

Provincial Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador, meanwhile, said he already directed Batobalonos to investigate the threat with the support of CPPO investigators.

“I want to emphasize to those making threats that they just can’t threaten my personnel with CPPO on the sidelines,” Comendador said in a text message. —(FREEMAN)