An alleged illegal drug user in Brgy. Looc, Dumaguete City, Oriental Negros was arrested recently by a Task Force 24 team patrolling the area.

Police identified the suspect as Rey Viliran Mariano, 32, single, of Barangay Calindagan, in the city.

The patrolling task force team chanced on three people they perceived were having suspicious negotiations. When they approached, two of the men scrambled away and disappeared in the close-quartered houses, leaving Mariano alone.

During inspection, the agents found on Mariano two small plastic sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P400 each.

He was later charged in court, and a P200,000 bail for his provisional liberty was recommended.

Investigations also revealed that Mariano had arrived from Manila for vacation in Dumaguete.

Looc is known to have several illegal drug peddlers and buyers coming from different places in the city and other parts of the province.

Looc kagawad Roger Talavera, meanwhile, said that majority of illegal drug suspects and convicts at the Dumageute City jail in Barangay Bajumpandan are residents of, or were arrested in Looc.

Newly installed city chief of police Supt. Deonard Carlos meanwhile received a letter-request from Vice Mayor William Ablong who suggested the creation of a group of police officers in civilian clothes to undertake monitoring activities and surveillance operations.

Ablong, who cited the achievements of the Task Force 24, also suggested the formation of an auxiliary unit to be financed by the city government.

Mayor Agustin Perdices also reiterated his stand against summary execution or extra-judicial means of addressing the spate of snatchings and petty crimes in the city.

He said he doesn't want to disregard the human rights of the suspects.

On the suggestion to disable parts of the body, or cutting the fingers of arrested suspects, Perdices refused to give a categorical statement.*JG

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