SUSPECTED drug lord Jeffrey “Jaguar” Diaz could have told his story if he is still alive today, said a high-ranking police official.
Police Regional Office (PRO)-Central Visayas Director Noli Taliño said Diaz's testimony can possibly help the government destroy the narcotics trade in the country.
The name of Diaz, a native of Barangay Duljo Fatima, Cebu City, surfaced again in the Senate hearing Wednesday, November 23, after he was tagged by Eastern Visayas alleged drug kingpin Kerwin Espinosa as one of his suppliers.
PRO-Central Visayas is also monitoring the recently retired Police Officer 3 Ramon Bolongaita, who was also mentioned by Espinosa during the inquiry.
Investigators are also gathering evidence against Cebuano businessman Peter Lim.
Diaz was killed during a police operation in Las Piñas City last June 17, about 13 days before President Rodrigo Duterte was sworn into office. The operation was led by then PRO-Central Visayas Regional Intelligence Division Chief Rex Derilo and Regional Special Operations Group George Ylanan.
Ylanan, along with fellow police official Marvin Sanchez, was also mentioned by Espinosa as members of the team that caught him in Cebu City decades ago.
When asked by reporters if the operation against Diaz was planned to silence him, Taliño said Camp Crame is investigating it and there is no result yet.
Taliño also told reporters that there was an officer who reportedly “distort” the information given to him.
The officer was relieved from PRO-Central Visayas and is among the police officials being investigated for their alleged connections with drug personalities.
“Pag-upo ko rito, hindi ko alam sino ang kakampi. Eventually, marami na man tayong pulis na pagkakatiwalaan,” said Taliño.
PRO-Central Visayas has received several information through texts and letters about police and government officials involved in the drug trade either as protectors or traders. (KAL/VoxPop Cebu)