CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – A lead man detailed at the Pampanga Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) who was the alleged target in police buy bust operations at Barangay Sta. Ines, Bacolor town sometime on April 26, is included in the list of ‘Level-1’ high value personalities involved in illegal drugs trade, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)disclosed Wednesday.
“Wilfredo Galura is among those listed as operating in Bacolor and nearby towns in Pampanga,” PDEA Central Luzon Director Juvenal Azurin told reporters during press conference held in this regional police headquarters.
Galura, who claimed he was the victim of a setup, adding that pieces of evidence found during the buy bust operations were all planted, went into hiding after the April 26 drug sting.
He surfaced for an interview with Manila-based television crews, where he lambasted the Pampanga drug enforcement unit and PDEA for carrying out a so-called “Tanim Droga modus”.
Galura, according to some employees of the Provincial Engineering Office (PEO), filed his leave of absence shortly after the April 26 raid at his residence. The leave is good for a month only.
Azurin and Senior Supt. Joel Consulta, director of the Pampanga Provincial Police Office, said they have yet to file a criminal case against Galura.
Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino, Director of Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3), refuted Galura’s claim of planted evidence, saying the police and PDEA have secure evidence that will pin him down.
“The Uzi sub-machine pistol found at the place of the buy bust was sold to Galura by a businessman, Albert Lacanilao,” Aquino said, flashing the deed of sale of the gun.
Galura was in the company of several other suspected illegal drug traffickers at a canteen in Bgy. Sta. Ines, apparently waiting for drug courier when PDEA and lawmen carried out the bust.
Aquino said Galura and a certain “Balweg” eluded arrest while three of their companions yielded to the law enforcers. These were Francisco Manabat, Chief Tanod, Willie Marin and Cesar Sta. Cruz, all residents in said place.
“It was a legitimate operation, no tanim-droga or whatsoever took place during the bust,” Azurin said, countering Galura’s allegation.
Aquino said he ordered the temporary relief of several personnel involved in the operation including the Chief of Police of Bacolor town Supt. Sonia Alvarez while the incident is under investigation. He vowed to reinstate them once they are cleared when the probe is completed.
Click and watch this report by News5’s Dindo Flora:
