A COUSIN of a suspected drug pusher’s son who was killed in an anti-narcotics operation in Naga City accused the police of overkill.
Charlotte (real name withheld) said that witnesses told her that John Anthony Pardillo, 26, did not shoot at the operatives.
“My cousin was shot eight times,” she told Sun.Star Cebu. “He never fired.”
PO3 Michael Villarmea, quoted in an earlier report, said the operatives led by SPO3 Deogenes Carillo retaliated, after Pardillo opened fire at them.
Pardillo drew out his firearm, after sensing his father Anu was transacting with the police. Anu managed to escape.
His wife Marjorie and Luis Oralde, 19, were caught by the police.
Charlotte said Marjorie and Pardillo have ten-month-old twins.
“They both lived in the house, but the subject of the warrant was not there,” she said. “Also, we thought we can’t fight the PNP as they are the administration and we haven’t got any money, so not sure why poor cousin was targeted.”
The police were acting on the complaints of neighbors that a certain “Anu” was involved in the illegal drug trade.
Seized in the crime scene were a hand grenade, a .38 revolver with 13 live ammunition, five empty shells from a .357 revolver, a .45 pistol with three live ammunition and an empty shell, four sachets of shabu and eight improvised tooter.
Relieved
Two police officers assigned at the City of Naga were relieved for their alleged illegal drug trade involvement.
Supt. John Clark, City of Naga Police chief, told reporters that since the start of their anti-illegal drug campaign, they have not only focused on cleansing the city of drug peddlers, but have also cleansed their ranks of those allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.
Clark said the first to be relieved was PO3 Maria Genevieve Agcol, who was earlier charged for selling illegal drugs.
Agcol was arrested after her husband, PO2 Dave Agcol, was killed in an anti-illegal drug operation earlier this year.
Charges
Aside from Agcol, another police officer assigned in the City of Naga was also relieved.
Clark refuses to name the second police officer pending the filing of charges.
He said that even if both police officers have been relieved and transferred to other areas, they will still be subjected to internal investigation before the Police Regional Office 7.
Clark confirmed that they will investigate further to determine if there are other police officers who are in cahoots with drug peddlers.
Clark said their P200,000 cash reward for information regarding the city’s top 2 drug peddlers still remains up for grabs.
He said they have not received any information since they put up the cash reward.
Clark is calling the residents or any interested informants to assist them in gathering information on the personalities they are trying to arrest.
