Morale low after raid — Parañaque police

A week after a raid on what officials have described as the biggest ever shabu laboratory in Metro Manila, the chief of the Parañaque City police said yesterday the morale is low among his men.

"Our morale is low because we were all expecting a promotion. Instead, only two policemen would be promoted," Superintendent Ruben Catabona told The STAR in a phone interview.

Catabona named the two as Senior Police Officer 4 Rolando Santiago of the city police Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) and SPO2 Carlito Joson.

Santiago is the officer on case while Joson is the barangay police supervisor of Barangay Sun Valley. Joson was with the group of barangay tanods who apprehended suspect Xuzi Bin Ong in the wee hours of Nov. 1.

Catabona said he had already brought up the matter of the promotions with his superior, Southern Police District (SPD) director Chief Superintendent Jose Gutierrez Jr.

"But he said it was the ‘higher ups’ who wanted only the two to be recommended for promotion," Catabona said.

The STAR tried but failed to reach Gutierrez for his comment.

According to Catabona, the raid was a major achievement for the police. While he appreciates the commendation given to them, he said a promotion "would encourage people more to do their jobs," not to mention an increase in their salaries.

Apart from his promotion woes, Catabona said a "demolition job" has been launched against him to prevent him from conducting a proper investigation into the shabu case.

Catabona said he suspects that the Chinese triad might have enlisted the help of its local allies to destroy his reputation.

Catabona cited tabloid reports about a sexual harassment case filed against him by a former city hall employee. "The group behind the shabu lab could be using this person who already filed a complaint against me. Gusto nila ako siraan para hindi ako maka-trabaho," he said.

He added that the drug syndicate has also started to threaten Sun Valley barangay captain Bert Guevara and his watchmen.

Guevara told The STAR that the peace and order council meeting he presided over Wednesday night was disrupted after he received a call that an unidentified man tried to enter his house. The timely arrival of his househelp, who came from a drugstore, scared off the intruder. Guevara said that reports reaching him indicated that the man was wearing a bonnet and fled on foot.

Guevara earlier said that he and his tanods now fear for their lives after the raid. He said they have been receiving phone calls from a man inquiring about the status of the investigation as well as their home addresses.

Guevara said that barangay leaders have agreed to "re-organize" their community watch and encourage subdivision residents to "unite and be vigilant."

He also urged the implementation of his proposal to conduct a census among house lessees in the barangay, especially if they are foreigners.