Leyte’s anti-drug war high value target surrenders to cops

ORMOC CITY, Leyte, Sept. 27 (PNA) -– A self-proclaimed trusted aide of Kerwin Expinosa who was said to have operated drug business in Kananga, Leyte for about four years, voluntarily surrendered to the Albuera town police station on Monday.

Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido, Albuera town police chief, identified the surrenderer as Nick June R. Canin, 35, a high value target based in nearby Kananga town.

Canin laid down to Espenido two large sachets of suspected shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) weighing 8.7 grams with estimated street value of PHP69,600, a caliber 45 pistol containing magazine loaded with live ammunition and a weighing scale.

He opted to give himself up to the drug buster cop based in Albuera town following reports that the local police shot him on Thursday evening as he emerged from his house located in Kananga town center. He denied being subjected in a drug bust.

Kananga police chief Chief Insp. Ricky Reli explained that Canin, the town’s number one target in the drug watch, managed to escape in a drug buy bust operation on Thursday evening, three days before he surrendered to Espenido.

Canin reportedly engaged in a brief firefight with the police when he sensed that he sold illegal substance to an operative and eventually ran to the mountain area. A hot pursuit failed to get him, but the cops allegedly confiscated short firearms and illegal drugs left by the suspect.

Instead of giving himself up to the local police, Canin believed he was safer to surrender to Espenido in Albuera, having learned of surrendered cohorts who remained alive.

The suspected drug pusher claimed that the Kananga police had been unwilling to admit him to surrender. “I learned they wanted me to be their sample (a killed drug suspect) to others.”

Reli explained that Canin was advised to bring along with him two kilograms of illegal drugs, a grenade, caliber 45 gun and a shot gun that he believed the suspect was keeping. The high value target remained unwilling to give them up.

After the alleged buy bust, the suspect confessed that while hiding, unidentified men took turns asking from relatives his whereabouts. The fear for his safety prompted him to surrender. He was glad Espenido responded and kept him unharmed.

“Whoever is willing to surrender even coming from other areas, I will accept them. We are open to help, there is no problem, we only need give and take,” Espenido said.

“I am happy to know of their response on our call for them to surrender and hopefully to stop. My principle is that peace starts on trust, surrender and renew. Everyone wants to start anew.”

“Kerwin is what we are waiting for by now. A relative has sent a message he is willing to surrender,” he added.

Canin even encouraged his former boss to turn himself over to Espenido, saying “Boss come and surrender, I find him (Espenido) a kindhearted person,” he disclosed.

The drug buster cop confirmed Canin focused his drug operation in Kananga as trusted aide of Kerwin.

The Kananga police is preparing charges against Canin for violations of Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, for drug selling and possession as well as illegal possession of firearm, a non-bailable offense. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/ELVIE ROMAN-ROA/EGR