PRO 7 Chief Orders Probe on Possible Lapses in Bohol Anti-Drug Operation

(PNA) — Chief Supt. Prudencio Tom Bañas, Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 director, has directed the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) leadership to look into possible lapses by the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) during an anti-drug operation which cost the life of a policeman and the wounding of three others.

Bañas said he wanted to know why the PIB operatives in Bohol were caught off-guard by the group of suspected drug pusher Artemio Tare, Jr. resulting in the death of PO1 Michael June Ejoc and the wounding of PO1 Reynan Tagotongan, PO2 Judito Jasmin and PO1 Carlito Gamalo.

Tagotongan was seriously injured after he was hit in the head and had to undergo a major operation.

He is now in stable condition, said Chief Inspector Alvin Futalan, PIB chief of the BPPO.

The two other policemen were already discharged from the hospital.

Tare was also killed by the police in Guindulman town in a shootout that ensued after he allegedly fired at a police checkpoint Saturday evening.

PIB operatives responded to a reported drug trade in Tagbilaran City Thursday morning when they were fired upon by the group of Tare killing Ejoc on the spot.

Futalan said he found nothing irregular in the conduct of the operation.

He said they observed the proper operating procedure during the incident.

But Bañas said the policemen should not have been too complacent and should have taken extra precautionary measures.

“We should be more careful in our operations, in whatever operations, in our fight against all forms of criminalities,” Bañas said. (PNA) CMR/EB