By Manly M. Ugalde
LEGAZPI CITY — With the reported but unconfirmed vigilante groups operating in Naga City, similar groups are expected to expand in other Bicol provinces as the three-month deadline on war against drugs is getting nearer, according to observers here.
Vigilante groups first surfaced in Metro Manila in apparent support to the Philippine National Police’s aggressive campaign against illegal drugs.
An ABS-CBN investigative report said that as of August 2, close to 800 persons were killed in illegal drug campaign, including perpetrators of other crimes following the apparent victory of then presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte in the May 9 elections. On the other hand, police placed the death toll at less than 400. The ABS-CBN report included killings attributed by the PNP the vigilante groups that it disowned but continued to spread in neighoboring provinces outside Metro Manila.
The vigilante killings has become notorious in Davao City under the 20-year stewardship of then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who claimed to have made Davao safe for everyone 24/7.
At least three persons involved in drugs were found dead on three separate dates last month in Naga City with placards beside the victims bearing the words “pusher ako wag tularan – Bicol Vigilante.” Naga City police spokesperson SPO2 Tobias Bongon attributed the killing of the three persons to unidentified armed groups, although he himself denied acknowledging that a vigilante group has indeed existed in Naga or in Bicol.
Camarines Sur and Albay topped the list in drug cases followed by Masbate, Sorsogon, Camarines Norte and Catanduanes. The cities of Naga in Camarines Sur and Legazpi in Albay also topped among the Bicol cities with regards to incidents of illegal drugs.
The Bicol region under the watch of Chief Supt. Melvin Buenafe as police regional director since July 1 is eyeing to put in check 100,000 suspected drug users and peddlers, with those refusing to surrender facing the risk of being killed before the 3-month deadline expires.
Buenafe who comes from Naga City, was hailed by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption for his decisive campaign that quickly resulted to scores of surrenderees and those arrested and killed. But observers noted that only the ‘small fries’ in the illegal drug trade have been made to fall.
According to Manuel Ugalde and Mike Aguilar, president and vice president, respectively, of the Bicol Correspondents League (Bicol) who are supportive of the government’s aggressive anti-drug campaign, the first case in Bicol of vigilante groups against crime coming into the scene occurred during the time of Col. Ferdinand Lagman who was police provincial director of Albay from 2003 – 2006.
Notorious holduppers were killed and dumped in isolated places in the province during that time when illegal drugs were not yet an issue and the vigilantes were pointed to as perpetrators.
It was also under Lagmanwhen juetengwas virtualltstopped, not even a guerilla-type jueteng operation, that earned admiration from the residents and the church.
Ugalde recalled that as he was entering the lobby of Hotel La Trinidad and walking towards the bar, commotion occurred behind him. Five unidentified people were cornered by armed men in civilian clothes that hauled them to a waiting vehicle. The following day, the five alleged notorious holduppers were found dumped on a roadside in Barangay Bogtongnear the Legazpi airport.