CEBU, Philippines — Following the P120 million drug haul in Barangay Inayawan, Cebu City last Saturday, Police Regional Office-7 director Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas has ordered a background investigation against Barangay Captain Kirk Bryan Repollo.
Sinas said he has directed Cebu City Police Office director Colonel Royina Garma and Regional Intelligence chief Col. Remos Medina to do the investigation. Sinas said he is wondering why Repollo is against the construction of a satellite police station near the barangay hall.
“We are checking sa barangay captain, kuhaon namo iyang background kung asa siya konektado,” Sinas said.
He said the police will dig everything about Repollo including possible unregistered guns.
“Kalkalon ang iyang (dig into his) background and everything, pagnaa siyay pusil nga unlicensed, tan-awa lang og di siya ma-raid, siguradoha lang nga wala’y makita,” Sinas said.
(If he has unlicensed gun, let’s see if he won’t be raided, make sure nothing is there)
Sinas said he was puzzled by Repollo’s refusal to host the police station when other barangays like Ermita and Pasil are asking for more cops.
“I’m just wondering why he does not want policeman. Pagdili nimo gusto daghan kaayo’g rason pag gusto nimo pwede,” he said.
Repollo denied the accusations from Sinas that he is not willing to cooperate with the police. He said that he has been coordinating with the Pardo Police Station for peace and order concerns of the barangay since he assumed office.
“Kana na shock ko nganong nisulti siya bahin ana nga dili ta pa-deploy nga kami we are in constant coordination and cooperation with Pardo Police Station,” Repollo said.
Repollo said he even provided information of those allegedly involved in illegal activities in his barangay to the police. He said his barangay is very open for any anti-drug operation because it is their role as public official to make sure that the barangay is orderly and peaceful.
Repollo said he is also willing to cooperate in the background investigation against him. He said he has nothing to worry about it because his records are clean. He explained that he is not against the presence of the police station near the barangay hall.
According to him, he was just voicing out the concerns of the residents because the construction of the satellite police station would allegedly cause traffic congestion in the area.
Repollo explained that the barangay offered an alternative area for the construction where it would not cause traffic problem but the police allegedly refused it.
Repollo’s predecessor donated a lot near the barangay hall for the construction of a satellite police station. The project broke ground in April last year with former CCPO director Col. Joel Doria leading the ceremony.
However, the Cebu City government ordered the demolition of the structure for alleged failure to comply with the required permits.
Mayor Tomas Osmeña directed the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification, and Enhancement (PROBE) team on June 5, 2018 to remove or demolish the “illegal” structures in the area.
Garma said the construction may have been completed already by now. She said the Pardo Police Station may have also transferred to the new building.
Sinas previously described the Pardo Police Station as unfit for office because it is located at the public market.
The police recently seized P122.4 million worth of shabu during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Inayawan. The operation also led to the arrest of Elymar Tampos last Saturday. (FREEMAN)