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Mourners bribed to join Cebu drug lord's funeral: police

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ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-interactive"><div style="padding-top:66.375%"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1470101" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></div></figure><p>MANILA - The Cebu City Police Office claimed Wednesday that hundreds of people who attended Monday the funeral of Visayas&#x27; top drug personality, Jeffrey &quot;Jaguar&quot; Diaz, were bribed by his family.</p><p>In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News, Cebu City police chief, Senior Superintendent Benjamin Santos Jr. said they received reports that the mourners were paid P500 to P800.</p><p>Santos said that about 2,500 people attended the burial.</p><p>Footage from ABS-CBN&#x27;s Edgar Escalante shows a large party of family members, friends, and neighbors from Barangay Duljo-Fatima joining the funeral procession for Diaz on Monday.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div style="padding-top:66.375%"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_2_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_2" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1470233" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></div></figure><p>Clad in black shirts bearing an image of Diaz&#x27;s face, the mourners marched from the San Nicolas Parish up to the Calamba Cemetery in V. Rama Avenue.</p><p>Many of them said they had received help from Diaz, whom they consider as their local &quot;Robinhood.&quot;</p><p>Diaz and his bodyguard were killed &quot;as they were roaming around his eight safehouses&quot; in Las Piñas City last June 17, according to Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.</p><p>Osmeña said Diaz&#x27;s death in an alleged shootout disproved claims that he has retired from the drug trade.<br/><br/>Police have meanwhile intensified the crackdown against drug rings in the city, in a bid to stop anyone from replacing Diaz as alleged top narcotics trafficker.</p><p>Regional Investigation Detection and Management Branch chief, Superintendent Henry Biñas said they are also investigating the Diaz&#x27;s properties, which may have been purchased with drug earnings.</p><p>Biñas said they will seek the help of the Anti-Money Laundering Council so that the properties can be transferred to government possession.</p><p>Jaguar owns several land properties in Bohol, Cebu and Luzon.</p><p>-<strong> With reports from Junrey Nadela and Annie Perez, ABS-CBN News</strong></p>

The Cebu City Police Office claimed Wednesday that hundreds of people who attended Monday the funeral of Visayas' top drug personality, Jeffrey "Jaguar" Diaz, were bribed by his family.