Sotto appoints Oaminal as anti-drug coordinator

CEBU, Philippines — Senator Vicente Sotto III has designated Cebuano lawyer Clarence Paul Oaminal to coordinate with different government agencies in Cebu Province in curbing the illegal drug trade here.

In a November-7 order, Sotto said Oaminal will coordinate with local government units and different law enforcement agencies like the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Justice (DOJ), and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“Atty. Oaminal is further authorized to perform or undertake actions that are necessary or proper to be done as the undersigned might or could lawfully do if personally present in ensuring that laws enacted by Congress on illegal drugs are being properly implemented,” read the order.

Oaminal said Sotto personally handed to him the order last Satuday as the senator was in Cebu to visit his departed loved ones at a private cemetery.

Oaminal, former chairman of Dangerous Drug Board and The FREEMAN columnist, welcomed the designation of the senator.

“Cebu is the center of illegal drug trade in the region. Nikatag ang drugas ug diri na nagsugod sa Cebu. I will remind the different agencies sa ilang mandates ug dapat i-focus ang concentration sa Cebu kay once mapugngan diri, the drugs in other areas will go down,” Oaminal said.

While saying he does not believe that a shabu laboratory operates here, Oaminal said there are big battles that the authorities will face in protecting the two entries; seaports and the airport.

Oaminal said it’s easy for syndicates to operate the illegal drug trade in Cebu because cargoes that will arrive at the seaports and airports are not physically inspected by the authorities.

He said authorities should look at cargoes from China and other manufacturers of illegal drugs.

The current practice, he said, is that the BOC will only check the papers of the cargoes and the bureau does not check the cargoes.

Oaminal, along with former Congressman Antonio Cuenco and Atty. Jose Calida, was a recipient of a Congressional Plaque of Recognition for assisting the government in the extraction of the financier of the mega shabu lab in Mandaue City several years ago.

Drug recovery program

Meanwhile, private drug recovery program managers are planning to offer their services or activities inside jail facilities.

Fe Barino, founder of charismatic-initiated Surrender to God (SuGod), has encouraged the heads and owners of community-based and after-care programs to join them in providing services for the inmates.

She said these program managers, who are mostly addiction professionals and recovery coaches, are willing to lend a hand and expand their respective programs at the jail.

Through SuGod, group of individuals, private rehabilitation facilities, recovery fellowships and community-based initiatives came together to highlight the importance of drug addiction recovery amid the spate of killings in Metro Cebu.

Drugs seized

As this developed, almost P1 million worth of drugs were seized in a series of drug bust operations over the weekend in Talisay City.

Operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) arrested a certain Leo Carlo Cortes, 25, at Sitio Long Dream, Barangay Bulacao last Saturday at around 2 p.m.

His alleged cohorts Margeline Labay, 20, and James Radana, 24, and four other minors, were also arrested.

Seized from them were 11 medium and 13 small packs of suspected shabu; a caliber .45 pistol with 15 live ammunition; KG-9 sub-machinegun with eight live ammunition; a bulletproof vest; and several drug paraphernalia, including a weighing scale that was allegedly used in repacking his illegal drugs.

The police said the seized illegal drugs weighed 55.52 grams value at P655,136.

In another operation, PDEA operatives arrested nine persons who allegedly were visiting a drug den at Sitio Tiago, Barangay San Isidro, Talisay City, just an hour after Cortes’ arrest.

The police said Franklin Rafols, who reportedly maintained the drug den, also sells drugs.

Those caught inside the alleged drug den are Raymond Labra, Jone Ryan Nacario, Christopher Ledona, Stewart Calinpusan, Michael Jay Bayaga and Mark Anthony Nacario.

Seized from the group were nine packs of suspected shabu that weighed 15 grams worth P102,000.  Assorted drug paraphernalis were also confiscated.

The agency’s spokesperson, Leia Albiar, told THE FREEMAN that they received numerous complaints from the residents of the place regarding Rafols’ illegal drug business.

“Mga drayber sa sikad, habal-habal drayber ug mga construction worker kasagarang mamalit niya,” Albiar said.

Yesterday morning, police operatives also arrested Rolando “Tambok” Callino, 29, at Sitio Tigib, Barangay Lagtang, Talisay City.

The Talisay City Police seized 65 small and three medium packs of alleged illegal drugs from Callino that weighed 6.14 grams valued at P72,452. — May B. Miasco, Camille l. Pateres,  Gabriel Bonjoc (FREEMAN)