PRO-7 asks other agencies: Inform us of Central Visayas ops

CEBU, Philippines – The Police Regional Office-7 is requesting other law enforcement agencies planning to conduct operations against illegal activities in Central Visayas to coordinate with them to avoid misencounters.

This came in reaction after Manila-based National Bureau of Investigation operatives conducted five anti-illegal drug operations in the province of Bohol last Tuesday wherein Bohol policemen were not informed.

The operation resulted to the confiscation of P5.3 million worth of suspected shabu and 13 people believed to be involved in the illegal drug activity were arrested.

Senior Superindent Rey Lyndon Lawas, chief of the Regional Directorial Staff, said that the police force alone has a hard time addressing all security problems in the country and that they are thankful that other law enforcement agencies “are also doing their share of responsibility.”

However, he said it could have been better if the NBI coordinated with the Bohol Provincial Police Office so that the policemen could have prepared if ever something went wrong with the operation.

Lawas said when he called Senior Superintendent Dennis Agustin, director of the BPPO, Agustin told him that there was no coordination from the NBI personnel from the start and end of the operation.

He said Agustin only knew of the operation when Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto called and asked Agustin to assist the NBI for the custody of the arrested suspects.

Lawas also said in the procedure of the Philippine National Police, all law enforcement agencies planning to conduct operations are requested to coordinate with the nearest police station so that they can at least make a record of the type of operation conducted.

He said because of this, he will try to meet with the authorities of the NBI to discuss the matter.

“Mao na nga if I have the chance, I can probably discuss this, of course with the clearance of our regional director (Chief Superintendent Prudencio Tom Bañas), discuss this with the regional office of the NBI,” said Lawas.

He said other law enforcement agencies don’t even have to give them the details of the operation, especially if the operation is very sensitive. He said it is enough that they would inform them that there is an operation.

“At least we can inform the concerned police station that there’s operation in that place. If in case, there will be shoot out, then they already know the drill,” he said.

Lawas said while this is a minor problem, it needs to be corrected to avoid possible problems during operations.

“There were several misencounters before as a result of non-coordination. Minor (problem) lang naman but it has to be corrected kay what if something turns bad, lisod na,” said Lawas.

On the other hand, NBI-7 assistant director Augusto Eric Isidoro clarified that the coordination with PNP is not mandatory on their part especially if the operation, might be put at risk.

“Ang purpose lang nyan (coordination) is courtesy and to avoid misencounter. Pero kung ma-jejeopardize lang ang operation and since drugs yung operation, hindi mandatory,” he said.

He said the search warrant on the recent operation was even applied in the Regional Trial Court in Manila to avoid leakage.

Isidoro, however, said that the NBI operatives coordinated with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on the said operation, adding that PDEA-7 Director Jeffrey Bangsa knew about the raid.

Section 86 of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 requires NBI, PNP, and the Bureau of Customs to maintain “close coordination with the PDEA on all drug related matters.

Isidoro said except for justifiable grounds, the coordination between NBI and PNP is not mandatory since they are governed by separate chapters.  – /ATO (FREEMAN)