MONITORING. Cebu Provincial Police Office Chief Police Colonel Manuel Abrugena seats with Argao Mayor Stanley Caminero during the inter-agency summit for safety and security in Oslob last February 3, 2019. (Photo by John Rey Saavedra)
CEBU CITY — The top police official in Cebu on Monday said authorities are now closely monitoring the activities of the alleged remnants of the Ozamis boys drug group who are reportedly active in the province, in time for the coming mid-term elections.
Cebu City Provincial Police Office (CPPO) chief, Police Colonel Manuel Abrujena, confirmed that his office has received reports about certain personalities who have ties with a drug-linked family from Ozamis City.
“We are receiving reports na yung Parojinog ay nandito nga po sa Cebu island and may mga areas po kami na pinagtutuonan ng pansin (the Parojinogs are here in Cebu island, and we have monitored certain areas) for police operations,” Abrugena said in a radio interview.
“Actually, nandito na sa atin ngayon is yu’ng mga remnants nu’ng nagakaroon ng malawakang police operations sa area sa Mindanao, they feel hindi sila masusundan sa Cebu (those who are here are remnants of the group after massive police operations had been conducted in their area in Mindanao, they feel they are safe here in Cebu),” he added.
Abrugena said he had a “fruitful coordination” with his counterparts in Mindanao in investigating the movement of personalities linked to the family.
“The proximity of Cebu from Mindanao and the group’s previous operations here involving drugs and robberies are what make them think it’s easy to come,” Abrugena said. “I think may kakilala sila dito at may tumatangkilik sa kanila kaya bumabalik-balik sila sa area (they have known some people here and there are people who patronize them here in the area).”
He noted that Cebu is “just one boat ride from Ozamis City.”
He, however, said the group is “very unfortunate that the police are here doing their best” to prevent them from further expanding their illegal drug trade and robbery here in the province".
The police are not discounting the possibility the Ozamis robbery group may strike again in Cebu, now that the May 13 election is approaching.
He said the Parojinogs may have also stricken an alliance with their rival Duhaylungsod group to perpetuate gun-for-hire activities and illegal drug trade.
On February 8, the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) 7 (Central Visayas) caught a certain Charlie Duhaylungsod Fortuna and seized from his possession PHP48-million worth of shabu inside his house in Vista Montana Subdivision in Barangay Casili, Mandaue.
According to the police, Fortuna is an underling of one Romy Ramas, an inmate of the Mandaue City Jail, who reportedly has links to the Parojinog group.
While police intelligence identified some properties linked to the family, Abrugena said probers have found it difficult in ascertaining ownership of condominium units and apartments as these have been named to dummy individuals.
He, however, assured Cebuanos that the police are on its toes to make sure the drug-linked clan will not be successful in its operations in the province. (PNA)
