by Gemi Formaran Carranza De Guzman LUCENA CITY - The “1 sack of rice for 1 brick of cocaine” scheme being offered by the police...
by Gemi Formaran
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| Carranza |
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| De Guzman |
LUCENA CITY - The “1 sack of rice for 1 brick of cocaine” scheme being offered by the police to every finder of the lucrative illegal drugs scattered along Quezon shorelines turns effective, acoording Quezon’ top police official. The reward has been offered by Calabarzon police director, Chief Supt. Edward Carranza and Quezon police director, Senior Supt. Osmundo de Guzman as a ‘goodwill’ to the finders of high- valued illegal substance which the police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) had been trying to recover.
Carranza earlier issued a stern warning to the public not to possess, keep and sell any found illegal drugs to avoid being arrested and prosecuted just like what happened to fisherman Aldrin Taharan who was caught selling bricks of cocaine he found along the shore of Infanta, Quezon on June 21, 2018.Taharan, 48, who was collared during a drug buy bus operation while selling cocaine in small portions was charged with violations of Sec. 5 of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002) with no bail recommended.
De Guzman said a sack of rice to be given to a finder of a brick is only a gesture of appreciation to his/ her commendable act. He said the offered reward turned out to be an effective way as many residents along the shorelines of depressed coastal and island towns of Quezon are now looking after the scattered bricks of cocaine.
“Actually, it’s only a token in terms of price but we do it to show how grateful we are with their cooperation”, said De Guzman.
He said it’s better for a finder of the illegal drugs to receive a sack of rice than to receive the stiff punishment of the law. The latest recipient of the reward was Mark Aman, 15, grade 7 student and resident of Sitio Sampitan, Bgy. Cagsiay, Mauban, Quezon who yielded a brick of cocaine on Thursday to Chief Insp. Rodelio Calawit, the town police commander.
“At first, the boy was hesitant to surrender the brick but he was pushed by his elder brother who learned about the reward being offered by the police”, said Calawit.
On Monday, a brick of cocaine worth P5, 300,000 was found by watchman Johnel Escudero along the seashore of Bgy. San Jose, also in Mauban.
The following day, another brick was discovered by 16 year- old Raymond Divina, along the coastline of Bgy. Villamanzo Norte, in the island town of Perez, Quezon.
De Guzman said he already ordered his Intelligence operatives to monitor the coastal areas in the Northern Quezon to thwart any possible attempt by drug financiers to buy recovered drugs and have them sold to foreign nationals. He said continuous information dissemination to residents is being conducted by all concerned police stations with the help of village officials.
Asked if they have a plan to give something aside from the rice, De Guzman replied while laughing, “Plano nga naming samahan pa ng ulam ‘yong bigas para mas lalo silang ganahan sa paghahanap ”!
