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BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
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Thursday, February 23, 2017
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ILOILO City – Despite the P1 million reward for his capture, suspected drug lord Richard “Buang” Prevendido remains elusive. Is he dead or alive?
Senior Superintendent Harold Tuzon, Iloilo police provincial director, has a theory. Prevendido has become so careful not to get found because he is afraid that even his relatives and associates would turn against him.
He does not believe Prevendido is dead already.
“I don’t think he’s dead or was killed. The reward for his arrest is so big. Many are surely interested to catch him alive.
The reward was announced last month yet – half a million pesos each from the city and provincial governments of Iloilo.
“If he’s dead or was killed, nobody won’t get the reward,” said Tuzon.
So where is Prevendido hiding? According to his nephew and arrested drug suspect Ednie Jimena, his uncle enjoys protection from an official in the Police Regional Office 6 and two former agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. He, however, did not name anyone in particular.
“We continue to receive information from the community but all turned out negative so far,” said Tuzon.
Prevendido is a resident of Barangay Bakhaw, Mandurriao district but has relatives in the 3rd District of Iloilo, Tuzon said.
“Sa tingin ko nagtatago siya ngayon nag mag-isa. Takot siya na ilalaglag ng mga kakilala n’ya kahit pamilya n’ya kasi ang laki ng cash reward,” he added.
Last Oct. 31, 2016 PDEA operatives raided Prevendido’s house in Barangay Bakhaw and seized a total of 83.235 grams of shabu valued over half a million pesos. He was charged with violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and a warrant of arrest was eventually issued for his arrest.
Tuzon said his men checked Iloilo’s 3rd District but the suspect was not there.
December last year, Chief Superintendent Jose Gentiles, regional police director, said many quarters were interested to kill Prevendido because he may have incriminating information.
“Patuloy pa rin tayo sa paghahanap sa kanya. Wala kaming natatanggap na information na patay na siya,” Gentiles said recently./PN
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