Bohol police authorities arrested a hitman of a drug group and his accomplices
during a buy bust operation on Wednesday morning, October 19, 2023.
The operation took place in Purok 1, Barangay Danao, Panglao town, where the
suspects were found with illegal drugs and firearms.
The hitman was identified as Rejie Toribio Abundo, who was considered a high value
individual by the police.
He was arrested along with his partner Christian Manayaga, Bridget Rose Olaivar,
Princess Vanna Cutaran and two minors who were rescued by the authorities.
The police seized from the suspects 55 grams of suspected shabu worth ₱374,000
and two .9MM caliber weapons and a KG9 sub machine gun with ammunition.
The suspects were allegedly involved in several shooting incidents in Bohol province
that were related to illegal drugs.
Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of Police Brigadier General
Anthony Aberin, chief of the Police Regional Office, said that the arrested drug group
was also a potential threat to the upcoming barangay and SK elections in Bohol.
He said that Abundo and his cohorts were hired as hitmen and gun for hire by their
drug boss to eliminate their rivals.
Pelare added that the police in Bohol will conduct a back tracking of the previous
shooting incidents in the province to compare them with the recovered weapons from
the arrested suspects.
He said the police will continue to intensify their campaign against illegal drugs and
criminality in the region.
In a press release issued on October 20, 2023, Aberin congratulated the
collaborative and in-depth police operation of the operating units in Bohol that led to
the arrest of these perpetrators who will potentially sow violence in the upcoming
elections.
“With 10 days more to go before elections, PRO 7 will be relentless in weeding out
all threats to peace and security disruptions for the upcoming Barangay and SK
Elections consistent with our goal of having a peaceful, secured and safe electoral
process”, he said.
The press release also stated that after an intensified intelligence-monitoring on
suspected high-value individuals in Panglao, Bohol, a well-coordinated buy-bust
operation was conducted in Barangay Danao. The operation resulted in the arrest of
four high profile personalities including one female suspect. Likewise, two minors
who were utilized by the group in illegal activities were rescued.
The arrested suspects are now in police custody for appropriate charges and pieces
of evidence collected will be submitted to the Forensic Unit for examination.
MINORS INVOLVED IN DRUGS
The Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) has issued a new regulation to ensure that the
rights of children allegedly involved in illegal drugs are respected, protected, and
fulfilled in all stages of implementation of the government’s anti-illegal drug
campaign.
DDB Regulation No. 2, s. of 2023, which was published on October 18, 2023,
applies to the handling of any child who is identified or suspected to be allegedly
involved in dangerous drugs or who comes into contact with a person in authority as
a result of, or in connection with, the anti illegal drugs campaign initiated either by
the national or local government.
According to the regulation, a child involved in illegal drugs can approach or
surrender to any person in authority such as the law enforcers, Local Social Welfare
Development Officer (LSWDO), the Barangay Council for the Protection of the Child
(BCPC), or any other DSWD-Accredited non-government organization.
The regulation also defines two categories of children involved in illegal drugs: Child
at Risk (CAR) and Child in conflict with the Law (CICL).
A CAR is a child who submits or surrenders to a person-in-authority in connection
with any anti-illegal drugs campaign of the government for alleged use of dangerous
drugs (but not for other alleged violations of Republic Act No. 9165 or other penal
offenses).
A CICL is a child who is allegedly involved in dangerous drugs, apprehended for an
alleged offense under RA No. 9165, and submits or surrenders for an offense under
RA No. 9165 other than use of dangerous drugs (e.g., courier of illegal drugs).
The regulation specifies the procedures and protocols for the proper handling and
referral of CARs and CICLs, as well as the roles and responsibilities of various
agencies and stakeholders involved in their care and rehabilitation.
The regulation also mandates the establishment of a database system for monitoring
and reporting the status and progress of CARs and CICLs, as well as the provision
of adequate funding and resources for their programs and services.
DDB said that the regulation aims to uphold the best interest of the child and to
promote their holistic development and reintegration into society.