RIAS-6 probes deadly shootout between cops, alleged druggie

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

The PNP Regional Internal Affairs Service 6 (RIAS-6) is investigating the police anti-narcotics operation in Janiuay, Iloilo that led to the death of a suspected drug personality.

Nope, there was no formal complaint against operatives of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU), the team that led the operation.

But Colonel Roger James Brillantes, PNP RIAS-6 chief, explained that a motu proprio investigation is in place because the police officers were involved in the discharge of firearm.

“Whether there’s a complaint or not, we would conduct an investigation,” Brillantes said.

Chief Master Sergeant Joseph Dioso of Iloilo Provincial IAS is leading the investigation.

But Brillantes said they’re still waiting for the RPDEU-6’s after-operation report to ascertain how many personnel are involved in the operation.

The probe stemmed from the killing of an ex-convict who allegedly put up a fight against police operatives.

Police identified the slain suspect as Deniel Dalisay, 33, a native of Barangay Balabag, Pavia, Iloilo, but was residing at Sitio Cantel, Barangay Damires, Janiuay, the area where the drug operation took place.

Dalisay’s friend, 32-year-old Eugene Garzon, also a resident of Damires village, was arrested during the operation.

Their companion, a certain Tarzan, fled.

Members of the RPDEU Team 3 led by Lieutenant Glenn Soliman conducted the operation around 4:30 p.m. wherein a police undercover agent was able to buy a sachet of suspected shabu from Dalisay, Garzon, and Tarzan.

Garzon, whose wife is Dalisay’s cousin, allegedly led authorities inside his house where the trade happened.

As the operatives were about to arrest the suspects, they ran to the back of the portion of the house while Garzon was cornered.

Lieutenant Colonel Mark Anthony Darroca, RPDEU-6 chief, said it was at that juncture when the armed confrontation happened.

Dalisay allegedly shot the operatives first, prompting the officers to retaliate and hit the suspect on the chest.

Police later recovered 11 sachets of suspected shabu, a caliber .9mm pistol (Colt Combat Commander) loaded with five ammunition, an empty cartridge of caliber 9mm pistol, P15,100 marked money, P3,470 cash, and other non-drug items.

RPDEU valued the seized substance at P544,000.

Dalisay was recently released from the New Bilibid Prison. He allegedly established a connection with Jovern Abantao, a detained drug personality from Iloilo City.