LINGAYEN–“Use your imagination.”

This was what Governor Amada Espino, Jr. told the provincial police upon issuing his directive to finally put an end to cattle rustling.

“If you don’t know how to use your imagination, come to me and I will teach you how,” he added during his first-ever dialogue with the police officials Tuesday at the provincial police office led by Sr. Supt. Isagani Nerez, the provincial director. Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil, police regional director, was also present during the meeting.

During the campaign, Espino had promised to pay victims of cattle rustling for every cow or carabao stolen from them.

“Parang pinutulan mo ng paa at kamay ang mga kawawang magsasaka (As if you cut the poor farmers’ hands and feet),” he said in reference to farmers who have been victimized by cattle rustling.

Espino said he wants the names of lawyers of arrested cattle rustlers because these lawyers abet the crimes by quickly posting bail for the suspects.

“Mas nauuna pang dumating ang abogado ng mga suspects kaysa sa mga pulis na magpapa file ng kaso (These lawyers of the suspects arrive earlier than policemen who will file the case),” he said.

As of June, about 38 cows and eight carabaos stolen by cattle rustlers had been recovered by the police in 21 operations even as some cattle rustlers have become sophisticated in their operations by using refrigerated vans.

ILLEGAL DRUG CAMPAIGN

Meanwhile, Espino also called for an intensive campaign against drug dealers and drug lords as well as insurgent elements.

Espino said he wants a drug-free province and to contain the insurgency problem in the eastern and western parts of the province.

He recalled to his audience he was the one who captured and arrested Kumander Dante, leader of the New People’s Army in Mexico, Pampanga when he was still in the Philippine Constabulary.

“Ngayong gobernador na ako, nakakahiya kung hindi man lang natin mapatigil ito (Now that I’m the governor, it would be embarrassing if we fail to stop this here),” he said.–EVA

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