Mangaldan police chief jails drug addict brod
MANGALDAN—What policeman would surrender his own brother for being a drug user?
The town’s police chief here not only arranged for his younger brother’s surrender but detained him as well to set the example that no one will be spared in his police station’s anti-illegal drugs operations.
P/Supt. Benjamin Ariola, town police chief, said his brother, Mamerto Ariola, 38, of Barangay Malabago, was among the group of drug users and pushers who surrendered.
He told The PUNCH Wednesday that when he was in the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Group, some doubted his capability because of Mamerto’s drug habit. “I was humiliated (by his acts),” he recalled.
He said he had advised his brother many times to stop using drugs and to undergo rehabilitation. He even got him to work for him as his driver so he could closely monitor his activities.
“I have given him all the advice,” the police chief said.
About two weeks ago, he said he talked to their mother about the all-out war on drugs by the new administration and there’s an ongoing monitoring and tactical operations on drug personalities. He warned that if Mamerto did not submit himself, he would be forced to arrest him.
“I even applied for search warrant in Burgos town’s Regional Trial Court for drug personalities here to prove I would not spare him,” he said.
Mamerto finally surrendered himself to him, assisted by their mom, and had him locked up in station’s detention cell.
Of the nine drug personalities who surrendered to the police here, only Mamerto is detained even after documentation and oath of undertaking were made.
He said it was their family’s mutual agreement to have him stay in jail for six months. While in jail, he said Mamerto would join the local government’s programs for those who surrendered, including physical fitness activities, community service immersion and providing them livelihood opportunities while in the process of detoxification.
Though painful, he said he discussed the situation about Mamerto’s continued detention with their mother and Mamerto’s family to understand that it is for his own good.
The police chief said he would prefer to see his brother inside the jail so he can monitor his rehabilitation.
So far no one had pointed to Mamerto as a drug pusher, he said.
He said he will also pursue his brother’s treatment with the Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Dagupan City for his brother. (Tita Roces)
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