By Bohol Chronicle
An overwhelming majority of the city residents demanded yesterday for the dismantling of the city task force which is operating directly under the supervision of the city mayor's office.
With election barely 16 days away, well meaning city residents fear the task force will automatically become the "deputized goons" of City Mayor Dan Lim - his brainchild organized under the official name as City Monitoring Team.
During a random survey conducted yesterday by the independent top-rated radio program "Radyo Merkado," 93.6 percent of the respondents echoed their call for the dismantling of the task force.
In connection with the coming election, respondents said the task force will mainly function to "harass voters before and during the May 10 polls."
In fact, independent bet for city kagawad Boy Minoza who was one of the respondents confirmed that tricycle drivers where he placed his propaganda materials were threatened by unidentified persons he believed are members of the task force. The other tricycles where he placed his propaganda tarpaulin were replaced, or if not, covered by tarpaulins of City kagawad Oscar Glovasa who is the mayor's endorsed bet for congressman in the first district.
The same report was confirmed by congressional bet, former Gov. Rene Relampagos who reported that some of the tricycle drivers bearing his propaganda materials were likewise harassed by task force members.
Of the respondents who demanded the dismantling of the task force, 46.8 percent described majority of the task force members as "arrogant and one-sided" in investigating police incident reports.
There were 35.2 percent, including a Tagbilaranon listening to dyRD in Bahrain, who said that the hiring of the task force is a "waste of government funds," saying that most of the feedback from residents showed that the task force is doing "more bad, than good."
Eighteen percent of those who chided the task force said it appears obvious that the mayor's squad "did not undergo training" while some "do not even know the real essence of being members of the task force."
The survey registered a high percentage of respondents who confirmed that majority, if not, all task force members are those known as "tough guys" in the various barangays.
Of the 6.3% who seem to favor the task force, majority of them said "wait if Veloso will become mayor so he can dismantle the task force."
One respondent, who did not join the majority voice defended the mayor's squad by saying "there are very few of the task force members who are abusive."
DRUG PUSHING
The reactions from city residents included reports from survey respondents that some task force members are "planting drugs in the evening."
"Now that the drug personalities are members of the task force, it becomes easier for the drug pushers to operate and peddling the prohibited drugs during night time.
The report was given strength when a task force member identified as Romeo Blanco of Mansasa district was arrested last week for peddling shabu. The suspect, who is the brother of Mansasa Barangay Captain Manolo Blanco, the alleged swertres king in the city, was nabbed during a buy-bust operation conducted by operatives from Camp Dagohoy.
Earlier this year, a card-bearing member of the task force was also cornered at his residence at Lindaville Subdivision in barangay Dao, this city. The suspect, Filbert Ingles, surprisingly, was able to elude arrest even as his residence was already surrounded by elements of the local SWAT team. Until today, Ingles remain free despite assurances from PDEA Asst. Reg'l. Director Yogi Ruiz to arrest the suspect.
MEDIA HARASSMENT
Broadcasters Boyet Requeron and Nestor Daarol earlier reported that the persons who "blocked their way" after hosting their radio programs are top personalities of the dreaded task force.
Requeron identified that among the task force members who recently harassed him after hosting his radio program were Gido Lopena and Jongjong Garcia.
He likewise recalled that after the 2007 elections, his father, Boy Requeron, was mauled at the city port by men identified with Mayor Lim.
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