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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Friday, October 20, 2017
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ILOILO – Illegal drugs. Loose firearms. Despotism. Criminal gangs. Private armed groups. Intense political rivalries. These are some of the peace and order challenges in the 5th District, according to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag, regional police director, assured the district’s residents at yesterday’s “peace summit” in San Dionisio town, “Talagang gagawin namin ang lahat. Ibubuhos namin ang available resources para ma-address ang mga concerns.”
The 5th District is made up of the municipalities of Ajuy, Balasan, Barotac Viejo, Batad, Carles, Concepcion, Estancia, Lemery, San Dionisio, San Rafael, and Sara, all in northern Iloilo.
“We mean business in addressing the identified peace and order issues,” said Binag.
Cong. Raul Tupas organized the summit in Barangay Tuble, San Dionisio following Binag’s pronouncement last month that PRO-6 would be focusing its peace and order campaign in northern Iloilo.
A peace covenant was signed yesterday. Among the signatories were local government officials and chiefs of police of the district.
Tupas said maintaining public order and safety is vital for the progress of the 5th District.
Undersecretary Jesus Hinlo of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) graced the peace summit together with DILG-Iloilo director Teodora Sumagaysay. He urged local chief executives to cooperate with the police.
Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba, director of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), gave a peace and order situationer on the district at the summit.
“Maayo ini, at least nabal-an namon kon ano ang estado namon,” said Estancia’s Mayor Rene Cordero.
He vowed to address illegal activities in his municipality but insisted there were no private armed groups in his turf.
“Daw waay man sang gang sa amon ah, waay ako may nabal-an. Katawhay sang amon nga banwa,” said Cordero.
The mayor denied to Panay News early this week that he was maintaining a private army. But he confirmed having hired murder and drug suspect Arturo “Master Pedic” Balume Sr., 62, as security guard for the Estancia fishing port.
Balume was arrested on Oct. 12 in Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental.
Cordero welcomed a possible investigation by the IPPO.
A news release from the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) stated that Balume “served as private armed group” of Cordero during the 2016 elections.
“Wala ko na ‘ya nagagamit sa ila…dugay na na sia sa akon, naghalalin na sila ‘ya,” said Cordero.
Balume faces a double murder charge for the death of two men ambushed in Balasan town on the eve of the May 9, 2016 elections.
The men – Ronaldo Estandarte and Roberto Magarso – were supporters of Estancia mayoral candidate Melinda Requinto whom Cordero defeated./PN
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