By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Former Berya drug group bagman Ricky Serenio lauded the Philippine National Police-Counter Intelligence Task Force (PNP-CITF) for eliminating former Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) member, Police Superintendent Santiago Rapiz, who was killed earlier this week during a buy-bust operation in Dipolog City, Zamboanga Del Norte.

In a statement emailed to members of the media yesterday afternoon, Serenio said Rapiz was named in his sworn affidavit as a major player in the Negros Occidental illegal drug trade and claimed the recent operation proved he was telling the truth.

Serenio also said he hopes the government will not stop hunting down erring cops involved in illegal drugs, especially those he already named.

He added, aside from Rapiz, the other cops he claimed were providing police protection for those involved in illegal drugs included Police Senior Superintendent William Señoron, Senior Police Officer 3 Joshua Barile, Police Superintendent Maharlika Villasis, Police Superintendent Orly Gabinete, Police Superintendent Edel Manzano, and Police Superintendent Antonieto Cañete.

The said police officers previously denied the allegations.

Serenio has requested the PNP-CITF and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to keep an eye on the cops named, claiming the drug trade continues to flourish because of their presence./DGB, WDJ