Danao: Drugs, gunrunning a ‘family business’ in Isla Verde

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Senior Superintendent Vicente D. Danao Jr. yesterday said drug dealing and gunrunning in Isla Verde, Quezon Boulevard has become a “family business” with two brothers, their brother-in-law, and even their father who is a former barangay captain arrested in a raid last Saturday at around 4:30 a.m.
In an interview, Danao told reporters that during surveillance conducted by police operatives several months ago, Kahlid Palawan alias “King” and Pangalian Palawan were identified as two of the people who were selling drugs and guns in the area.
Danao said even their brother-in-law Nasarudin Batara alias Bobong Palawan was also involved in the illegal activity.
“Parang lumalabas na family business yung droga (It appears that the drug trade is a family business),” he said.
Danao said even the Palawan brothers’ father Karim, who is a former barangay captain of Barangay 23-C, was subjected to surveillance because his children had been tagged during the “Oplan Tokhang” of former DCPO director Senior Superintendent Ronald dela Rosa.
Danao said although the former barangay captain was not included in the search warrants, he was still arrested during the raid since he was inside the house.
“Unfortunately, the former barangay captain was also staying there. That is why he was included among the arrested suspects,” he added.
Danao said the firearms confiscated during the raid were separately owned by the former barangay captain and by his children.
Danao said they are still investigating the source of the illegal drugs and firearms as well as identifying the entry point of the contraband.
“Masyadong maluwang kasi Davao City especially in our shoreline, kasi bangkang maliit pwede makargahan kahit 5 kilos na unnoticable (Our shoreline is too wide here in Davao City. Even small boats can carry up to 5 kilos of drugs and not be noticed),” he said.
Danao said out of the 18 warrant of arrest implemented by police on Saturday, only 13 were positive on concealment of illegal drugs.
This led to the arrest of 20 suspects because some people who were not in the search warrant were also apprehended since they were inside the houses of the suspects during the raid.
The other suspects arrested during the raid were Maricris Batara, Abdullah Salem, Bokary Dimangadap, Pao-Pao Daradagan, Salem Ina Shaman, Rosita Lopez, Abdullah Mama, Umar, Barayman, Aslani Candidato, Aquino Dimangadap, Asnari Sultan, Sampiamo Gamor, Raymart Catito, Christian Sanglay, Carlito Pique and Ricky Pangandaman.
The police recovered a total of 300 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) with a street value of P2.7 million.
Also seized from the possession of the suspects were five caliber .45 pistols, an M-79 grenade launcher, seven 9mm pistols, seven .38 revolvers, two fragmentation grenades, and 114 assorted ammunition.
The operation was initiated by the DCPO, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 11, Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (RAIDSTOG)11, Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB)11, Regional Investigation and Detection Management Division (RIDMD)11, Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) 11, and Highway Patrol Group.