TASK FORCE WON'T SPARE COPS ENGAGED IN DRUG TRADE: POLICE CHIEF

WARNING for Iloilo City policemen.

Law enforcers who are engaged in the drug trade or protecting drug
personalities in the City will also be the subject of the Iloilo City
Police Office (ICPO) Task Force's campaign against drugs.

Though he did not confirm if there are policemen engaged in the drug
trade, ICPO Director Norlito Bautista issued the warning that they
can't escape from the said campaign.

Senior Superintendent Bautista added that the Task Force Bakhaw would
not only focus its operation in Bakhaw, Mandurriao but also in the
rest of Iloilo City.

"Our task force will also focus on other illegal activities like
illegal gambling and robbery," he said.

Bautista has assigned his ICPO intelligence officer, Chief Inspector
Julio Gustilo, as task force chief. The force is set to operate next
week after acquiring funding.

Gustilo said he would get three personnel from each precinct to come
up with the 34 personnel, especially with ranks Police Officer 1 (PO1)
and PO2 to augment and man the detachment that will be located in Bakhaw.

"Aside from creating police visibility through patrolling, we are
going to conduct check points in order to monitor the ins and outs of
some personalities in the area," Gustilo said.

Bakhaw is considered as a "drug haven", thus, the group will be
piloted in this area.

Gustilo added that the barangay officials and tanods would also
augment them. He believes that by establishing the said task force,
rampant drug operations will be stopped.