Suspected pusher, 2 others killed in Bohol drug raid

GETAFE, Bohol—A suspected drug pusher from Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, was among the three persons killed in a shoot-out during a raid conducted by police operatives on an island off Getafe town, Bohol, on Saturday morning.

Rowen Torrefiel Secretaria and his three friends allegedly drew their guns when joint police teams raided his house on Banacon Island, Getafe, about 4:30 a.m.

Killed were Secretaria and his two friends who were still unidentified.

Another friend, Ricardo Ostolano, 26, and a resident of Calituban Island, Talibon town, was wounded in the firefight and brought to Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in the capital city of Tagbilaran.

According to PO2 Armando Balagot of Getafe police station, the police were armed with a search warrant issued by Judge Irma Zita Masamayor of Regional Trial Court Branch 52 in Talibon town, for violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The raid was conducted by operatives of the regional anti-illegal drugs special operations task group in Central Visayas and Cebu provincial police office (CPPO), which are based in Cebu, as well as the provincial intelligence branch of Bohol police.

The team led by Senior Insp. Henrix Bancoleta served the warrant in the house of Secretaria.

But Secretaria and his three friends drew their guns when they sensed the law enforcers were going to arrest them.

Recovered from the crime scene were one KG 9, one .45-cal. pistol and two .38-cal. revolvers.

According to Supt. Ricky Delilis, spokesperson of Bohol provincial police office, the police had been tracking down Secretaria for years.

He said Secretaria was the subject of their operation last year but he eluded arrest.

“He was on the list of wanted persons but he was very elusive,” said Delilis.

He said Secretaria was a notorious drug-dealer based in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, and was in the list of top 10 drug personalities operating in Cebu and Bohol provinces.

According to Delilis, Secretaria’s illegal drug operation was extensive because it reached the two provinces.

Delilis said the Bohol provincial police office had identified the top 10 areas in Bohol badly infiltrated by the drug trade. These are Tagbilaran City and the towns of Talibon, Inabanga, Getafe, Clarin, Ubay, Panglao, Carmen, Tubigon and Dauis.

He also said illegal drugs from Bohol would usually come from Ozamis City,  Cebu and Metro Manila, including New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

“Bohol is an island and is very near to Cebu. Puwede lang ito marating ng bangka kahit hindi na dumaan ng pier (The drugs were brought here through small boats without passing through the pier),” said Delilis.

In the case of Banacon Island, which is one of the eight island-barangays of Getafe town, it is located almost 4 miles or 6 kilometers from Mactan, Cebu, or 29 minutes away on board a banca.

Delilis said drugs were sent through parcels.

“They have couriers who are using different ports. Drugs from Cebu are sent through roll-on-roll-off (roro) vessels docking at the ports of Tagbilaran, Ubay, Tubigon, Talibon, Jagna, Getafe and Loon,” he added.

Some drugs were shipped from Cebu to the coastal towns of Bohol through fishing vessels, Delilis added.