13 on Catarman’s drug watch list yield to cops in Northern Samar

Billions of pesos worth of shabu have been seized by policemen year in and year out. But this is the first time that hundreds of suspected drug pushers and users are surrendering en masse in many parts of the country. Many perceive this to be an effect of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s ‘kill’ orders against suspects who would resist arrest. (FILE PHOTO FROM RADYO INQUIRER)

CATARMAN, Northern Samar – At least 13 self-confessed drug users and pushers in this capital town surrendered to police authorities Wednesday morning to “clear their names” and “save” their lives.

Senior Superintendent Alberto Garcia, the Catarman Police chief, said the 13 were included in the drug watch list under the Lambat Sibat Target of their office.

He noted that this was the first voluntary surrender of drug suspects in Eastern Visayas since this became a trend in other regions in the Philippines.

One of those who surrendered, Carlo Cho, 35, was number 8 on the watchlist of  the Philippine National Police’s Catarman office. He admitted having been involved in illegal drugs trade but said he already stopped months ago.

“I surrendered because I want to be able to get a decent job again. I cannot be issued a police or barangay clearance because my name is in the drugs watch list,” Cho said. He tagged along five other friends to surrender.

Among those who surrendered with Cho were three personnel of the Civil Security Office (CSO) at the Catarman local government unit. The others were fish vendors, pedicab drivers, a painter, a construction worker and a former barangay official.

Garcia said most of them were previously arrested for selling illegal drugs during buy-bust operations and were detained at the Catarman police lock-up cell.

“Nadismiss ang kaso kaya nakalabas… pero tuloy pa rin sila sa droga (Their cases were dismissed and that’s why they got out … but they continued their drug trade),” he said.

The suspects surrendered voluntarily and were not pressured, he added.

The mug shots of the suspects were taken and they were made to sign affidavits of undertaking in which they pledged not to be involved again in illegal drugs.  They were released afterwards.

The suspects would be under surveillance and would have to wait for one month before they could be issued barangay or police clearances, Garcia said.

“Hindi porke nagsurender sila at nagpimra na ng affidavit eh makiclear sila agad sa aming watchlist. Imomonitor namin sila kung totoong hindi na talaga magdodroga (They will not be cleared and removed from our watchlist just because they surrendered and signed affidavits.  We will monitor them to determine whether they will keep true to their pledge not to engage in te illegal drug trade again),” Garcia said.

There are 52 persons at the Lambat Sibat Target list under illegal drugs at the Catarman police station. Garcia said more suspects would likely surrender in the coming days.  SFM