ILOILO City – A retired member of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who had served for more than one year as director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Western Visayas was shot to death.
PDEA Region 6 condemning the killing of retried police Colonel Rolen Balquin, the city public safety office chief of Cotobato City.
Balquin’s escort, Chief Master Sergeant Arial Gutang, 47, of the Cotabato City police, was wounded too, according to PDEA-6 spokesperson Shey Tanaleon.
The attack happened on Saturday, March 19, along Sinsuat Avenue, Cotobato City.
“We condemn what happened to our former PDEA-6 director. We hope the culprits will be arrested soon,” Tanaleon said.
Balquin served as PDEA-6 director for five years until 2007.
“Kalabanan sa mga kaupdanan ni Balquin sang gin-appoint siya nga PDEA-6 regional director ang halin sa narcotics division sang PNP,” said Tanaleon.
After serving Region 6, Balquin was moved to PDEA Region 4-B before settling in Cotabato City.
Balquin was about to alight from his vehicle around 9 a.m. to check on the enforcement of minimum public health protocols at a newly-opened food establishment in Cotobato City when he was sprayed wit bullets by gunmen aboard a separate vehicle along a busy road in Barangay Rosary Heights Mother.
Balquin succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds.
Recovered from the crime scene were spent bullet shells from .45 pistols.
In a statement, Mayor Cynthia Frances Guiani-Sayadi condemned the shooting and vowed justice to Balquin.
“We may lay Colonel Balquin to rest but we will not rest until you (gunmen) are captured. Tandaan ninyo ‘yan (You remember that),” she said.
“To all our fellow Cotabateños, let us fight against all this lawlessness. Let us fight for Cotabato City,” the mayor added.
Balquin belonged to the Philippine National Police Academy Class of 1987./PN
