LINGAYEN—There are no vigilante groups in Pangasinan,  so the reported killings or ‘salvaging’ of drug pushers were likely the results of the “purging” among suspected drug personalities, particularly by those who refuse to surrender, police officials said.

P/Senior Supt. Ronald Oliver Lee, acting police director, said Thursday killings of suspected drug personalities are happening everywhere, not just in Pangasinan.

Lee explained that purging must have become necessary for them, killing their fellow drug personalities to pre-empt being exposed by those who are about to surrender to policemen about their illegal activities.

He said they continue to investigate the accounts of ‘salvaging’ supposedly by vigilantes.

As of July 21, thirteen drug personalities had been shot dead in armed encounters with police operatives, 17 were victims of shooting incidents and four bodies, obviously executed, dumped in various areas in the province.

The dumped slain victims had placards or cartons beside their bodies with message: “Pusher ako, wag tularan DDS/PDS”. The obvious speculation is PDS stands for Pangasinan Death Squad.

Lee said the police stations as well as the Internal Affairs Service and the National Police Commission are investigating these cases.

“We are thoroughly probing every shooting incident,” said P/Supt. Jackie Candelario, police deputy provincial director and police information officer. He said it involves checking on the background of the victims.

Candelario echoed Lee’s suspicion that it’s the members of drug syndicates that did the killing before the police get information about them.

He added that it’s easy for anyone to write the “wag tularan” message on a piece of cardboard and leave it for everyone to see, and yet there is no other evidence that points to vigilante groups doing the killings, except the usual message.

Lee said their initial findings confirmed that those executed were active in the illegal drug trade.

Meanwhile, he pointed out that no formal complaint has been filed against any of the policemen in Pangasinan for their participation in the renewed intensified war vs. illegal drugs. (Tita Roces)

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