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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Friday, October 20, 2017
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ILOILO – Mayor Ermelita Salcedo of the municipality of Sara denied her family was giving protection to a criminal group whose suspected leader, Arturo “Master Pedic” Balume Sr., was recently arrested.
Salcedo, however, confirmed that for some five years Balume served as bodyguard of her then mayor husband, Neptali.
“Si Pedic Balume, sa primero nga pagpungko gid ni former mayor Neptali Salcedo, ina sia nangin job hire sa banwa,” Salcedo told reporters yesterday during 5th District’s “peace summit” in the town of San Dionisio.
According to Salcedo, Balume, a 62-year-old resident of Barangay Bato, Sara, left his job because of an eye condition.
“Naglisensya sia kay former mayor Tali nga mapahuway tungod ang iya mata may cataract. Indi sia makakita sang maayo,” she said.
According to the Police Regional Office 6, the Balume group was into robbery, gunrunning, gun-for-hire activities, and drug trafficking.
The Sara mayor vehemently denied the Salcedos were using the Balume criminal group in illegal activities.
“Sa amo na nga bagay, parti sa drugs, amo gid na ang pinakakontra gid namon,” she said.
Salcedo stressed the local government of Sara has always been supportive of the police’s campaign against criminalities.
At Camp Delgado in Iloilo City on Oct. 13 where Balume was presented in a news conference a day after his arrest in Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental, the suspect admitted having worked for two mayors in the 5th District but insisted he did nothing illegal or criminal.
Balume confirmed working as bodyguard of Neptali then as security guard at Estancia’s fishing port. He said he was hired by Estancia’s Mayor Rene Cordero.
Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) director Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba disclosed yesterday that Balume spilled out “vital information” to him.
Tayaba, however, declined to divulge them citing operational concerns.
The information were being verified, said Tayaba.
Balume and 27-year-old son Arturo Jr. were charged with two counts of murder for an election-related ambush in Balasan town last year.
According to PRO-6 spokesperson Gilbert Gorero, Balume was also a sub-group member of slain drug lord Melvin Odicta Sr. operating in Iloilo city and province, Capiz and Negros Occidental provinces.
The group’s sources of illegal drugs were the National Bilibid Prison and Mindanao, he added.
Balume denied being a leader of a criminal gang. According to the PRO-6, however, the Balume group had a total of 14 core members, seven of whom were already “neutralized.”/PN
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