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[av_heading heading=’I DON’T KEEP GOONS – CORDERO Estancia mayor welcomes police probe ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Tuesday, October 17, 2017
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ILOILO City – Mayor Rene Cordero of Estancia, Iloilo denied maintaining a private army but 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 Iloilo Police Provincial Office (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 defeated Estancia mayoral candidate Melinda Requinto.
Cordero said he was open to any investigation.
“Waay kaso, sabton ko ‘ya ang husto eh….ang husto husto lang bala,” said Cordero.
Balume himself admitted a day after his arrest that he had worked for Cordero. Some five years ago, he was hired as security guard at the town’s fishing port with a daily wage of P240, he said.
Cordero confirmed Balume was in the payroll of the municipality of Estancia.
“Ang obra ‘ya to anay sa fishing port. Bag-o pa lang to anay, daw magamo pa, wala pa maareglar sang maayo. Ti ginbutang ko to sia. Sia to bahala sa security para magtawhay. Ti daw okay naman sang ulihi,” said Cordero.
He further clarified: “Ang banwa nagabayad sa iya, indi ako personal ang gabayad.”
Cordero dismissed as political intrigue his allegedly having a private army.
“Bal-an mo pinulitika ina sa amon to. May against na sa akon nga political official man. Ti daw amo na,” he said.
Balume himself denied any hand in the ambush. He claimed he was confined in a hospital at the time of the crime.
“Indi. Wa’y kami kato. Ara ako sa ospital. Pato-pato nila. Ang iban nga nadakpan nga siling tawo ko, indi ah,” insisted Balume.
He also denied being a leader of a criminal gang engaged in gunrunning, gun-for-hire, drug trafficking, and robbery in the 5th District.
“Tanan nga hold-up indi ko mahimu ginapato-pato nila,” he said.
Balume, a resident of Barangay Bato, Sara town, also admitted having worked for former Sara mayor Neptali Salcedo as bodyguard.
Salcedo could not be reached for comment as of this writing.
The IPPO vowed to dig deeper on the alleged connection of Balume to Cordero and Salcedo.
“Titingnan natin to. Lalaniman natin ‘yong imbestigasyon,” said Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba, police provincial director.
Cordero previously said he was also open to a lifestyle check.
He was among the government officials in Western Visayas named for the lifestyle check, according to National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Region 6 director Max Salvador in an interview over a local radio station.
“I am not hiding anything. My properties are open,” said Cordero.
All his properties were listed in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth, he added.
The mayor believed the lifestyle check stemmed from allegations hurled at him by individuals with political agenda. He did not give names.
Cordero denied being a drug protector. He also said he was supportive of the government’s campaign against hard drugs./PN
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