PRO 7 to Dialogue with Residents of Slain Suspected Big-time Drug Lords’ Village

The Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 will conduct a dialogue with residents of Barangay Duljo Fatima, Cebu City, the village where Jeffrey “Jaguar” Diaz, the slain suspected No. 1 drug lord in Central Visayas, once lived.

But Chief Supt. Patrocinio Comendador Jr., PRO 7 director, said the police would go to the place when after emotions surrounding Diaz’s death had subsided.

The residents showed their sympathy for Diaz as some 2,500 mourners attended his funeral on Monday.

Diaz’s family and friends wore black shirts imprinted with his face and the words “Jeffrey ‘Jaguar’ Diaz. We will miss you” in front and “We love you” at the back.

Diaz, who had a reputation for being a Robin Hood of sorts in Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City, was killed with his bodyguard in a shootout with the police on June 17 in Las Pinas City, Metro Manila.

Comendador said the police must be sure they would be safe and convinced the residents of Duljo-Fatima had become receptive to change.

“We have to remove the security threats, the barriers between the people there and the police,” said Comendador.

Police have said that during the shootout with Diaz, they recovered one M-16 rifle with a magazine and live ammunition, a .45 pistol, Php 1.2 million worth of shabu, Php P10,000 cash, jewelry and cell phones from the suspects.

Comendador led his personnel in conducting an anti-illegal drugs symposium on June 9 in Banacon islet, Getafe, Bohol, where suspected drug lord Rowen “Yawa” Secretaria and two of his subordinates were killed in a shootout with police last May 28.

The event was attended by nearly 1,000 residents of the islet. (PNA) RMA/EB/EDS