Bañas: Probe ‘lapse’ in Bohol operation

CEBU, Philippines - Police Regional Office-7 director, Chief Superintendent Prudencio Bañas, has directed the provincial director of Bohol to look into the possible operational lapses committed by the Provincial Intelligence Branch during an anti-drug operation which cost the life of a policeman and the wounding of three others.

Bañas want to know why the PIB operatives in Bohol were caught unguarded by the group of suspected drug pusher Artemio Tare, Jr. resulting in the death of PO1 Michael June Ejoc and the wounding of PO1 Reynan Tagotongan, PO2 Judito Jasmin, and PO1 Carlito Gamalo.

Tagotongan was seriously injured after he was hit in the head and had to undergo a major operation. He is now in stable condition, said Chief Inspector Alvin Futalan, PIB chief. The two other policemen were already discharged from the hospital.

Tare was also killed by the police in Guindulman town after he allegedly fired at a police checkpoint Saturday evening. 

 PIB operatives responded to a reported drug trade in Tagbilaran City Thursday morning when they were fired upon by the group of Tare killing Ejoc on the spot.

Futalan said he found nothing irregular in the conduct of the operation. He said they observed the proper operating procedure during the incident.

“Walay violation kaayo sa SOP (standard operating procedure), na-tsambahan lang to, nakadawat mig alarma ‘nya gi-verify, part sa among job, part sa surveillance, very rare nga incident,” Futalan said.

But Bañas said the policemen should not have been too complacent and should have taken extra precautionary measures.

“We should be more careful in our operations, in whatever operations…in our fight against all forms of criminalities to be on their guard they should not be complacent,” Bañas stressed.

“Di man nato maingon nga giundestimate, in the first place wa mi makahibawo kinsa to nga personality nga tua didto nga among giverify,” Futalan explained.

Futalan said, henceforth, he will require all operatives to be in full battle gear in future operations.

 “Nasubo pod ba, as police officer parte man sa maong trabaho, nalipay pud ko nga natagaan namo ug justice ang kauban namo,” Futalan said, referring to the death of Tare.

Futalan said all PIB operatives in Bohol were placed under stress debriefing after the incident.

“Ako lang pud nga gi-debriefing ang akong mga tawo nga dili lang pod ma-discourage, namatyan mi ‘nya naay nangaigo basin ma low moral ang mga tawo,” he said. (FREEMAN)