‘MAD’ LAUNCHED
THE Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) launched its Multiagency Anti-illegal Drugs Task Force (MAD) program at its headquarters yesterday.
“We are MAD on drugs,” the banner of the task force reads.
The program covers operations against suspected drug personalities and an education and awareness campaign in the barangay level.
City policemen headed the task force and joined by other law enforcement agencies.
Senior Supt. Melvin Buenafe, Cebu City police chief, said they will tap the Church and other nongovernment agencies to help them in their program.
City Hall in-house Ombudsman Romeo Cordova, who is a retired major, said Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants to prioritize the program following the series of drug-related killings in the city a few weeks ago.
He cited in particular the summary executions of two persons whose bodies were found in barangay Taptap.
Cebu City Jail Warden Maria Victoria Jimenez said she supports the task force since 80 percent of the inmates have drug-related cases./CORRESPONDENT CHITO ARAGON
FRAUD TAXI ROBBERY
A taxi driver who claimed to have been victimized by robbers was unable to convince Mandaue City police of his story.
Eduardo Macaalay, who drove a Tiger taxi unit bearing plate number GXF 421, reported to the Investigation and Detection Management Branch (IDMB) of the Mandaue City police that two men hailed his taxi along Pier 4 and asked him to bring them to Compostela town, northern Cebu.
Macalaay alleged that the men declared a holdup and he was forced to give them his money after they poked a weapon at him.
He said the men fled to an undetermined location. But IDMB deputy chief Insp. Ramil Morpos said he noticed the suspect was drunk during the investigation.
Macalaay later admitted he made up the the story since he was unable to pay the five days’ rent of P3,750 and fuel worth P1,200.
Macaalay, a father of six, told Cebu Daily News that he could not think of any other reason to explain his failure to pay for his debts. /REPORTER JUCELL MARIE CUYOS