PDEA dares PNP to get justice for Lamis

By Francis Allan L. Angelo
LAW enforcers should take the cudgels for the slain PO2 Jomarie B. Lamis and go after criminals with resolve and vigor, according to the regional head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

PDEA chief Paul Ledesma said he was shocked by the blatant act of criminals in killing Lamis in broad daylight last Monday.

Ledesma said criminals are getting bolder and must be dealt with vigor and decisiveness.

“This needs more proactive response from the people to promote a community which is not just illegal drug free but crime free as a whole,” he said.

Ledesma said PDEA will mount “more decisive and active campaign against crimes and instill discipline in community lest criminals will just mock the system.”

“We must start to be true to our mandate with more vigor and decisiveness and even fearful way. It hurts to imagine that hardworking law enforcers are being killed. They have no respect for the law,” Ledesma said.

On Monday evening, PDEA in coordination with the Iloilo City police mounted a buy-bust operation and raid on a suspected drug den at Brgy. Bakhaw, Mandurriao.

Ledesma said they arrested eight persons and recovered several sachets of suspected shabu, drug paraphernalia, buy-bust money, among others.

At the Iloilo City Hall, acting Mayor Jose Espinosa III called on the Iloilo City Police Office to strengthen its intelligence work.

Espinosa said the suspects in Lamis’ death are professional killers who might still be here.

Espinosa said he is appealing to barangay leaders and residents to report immediately to the police the presence of suspicious characters in their villages to deter crime.

“The police must also follow up with their intelligence networks in the barangays,” he said.

Espinosa said he will meet Iloilo City police office director Dennis Basngi to discuss the rising criminalities in the city.

The acting city mayor will also discuss with Basngi the update on the killing of businesswoman Rose Gustilo Tan and her personal assistant Purificacion Catoera and the taxi driver found dead inside a high end subdivision in LaPaz. (With reports from LCPendon)