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[av_heading heading=’ LGUs urged to offer bounty for arrest of drug suspects ‘ 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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Monday, October 2, 2017
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ILOILO City – The reward scheme that led to the neutralization of drug lord Richard Prevendido should be replicated in operations targeting other fugitive drug suspects, according to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
“Para magpursige pa ang ating kapulisan,” said Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag, regional police director.
After the death of Prevendido in a shootout with policemen in Barangay Balabago, Jaro district on Sept. 1, the PRO-6 pointed to drug suspect Ernesto “Erning” Bolivar of Pototan, Iloilo as next target.
Bolivar is a suspected subgroup leader of Prevendido operating in central Iloilo and Capiz province. He has a standing warrant of arrest for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The provincial government of Iloilo released its P500,000 reward money last week to two informants whose tips to the police led to Prevendido’s neutralization, and another P500,000 as incentive to the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) that worked with other law enforcers to take down the drug lord.
“We truly appreciate the provincial government’s cash reward. Sana nga lahat ng ating local government units will have a similar incentive scheme para magpursige pa ang ating kapulisan, kasi bawat probinsya may mga wanted persons,” said Binag.
Pototan’s Mayor Tomas Peñaflorida said he was willing to allot reward money for Bolivar’s capture.
Bolivar is a resident of Barangay Guinacas, Pototan. He was subjected to a buy-bust operation at his house on Nov. 9, 2016 but managed to escape. Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the PRO-6’s Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group Focus Team 6 and Pototan police recovered a large plastic sachet of shabu from the house.
According to Peñaflorida, he already sent a request to the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Pototan for the reward money.
The scheme had the support of Pototan’s police chief, Senior Inspector Bonifacio Alabe Jr., and Iloilo police director Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba, said the mayor.
How much would be bounty be depends on the SB, according to Peñaflorida.
Another fugitive drug suspect that the PRO-6 wanted to arrest was Arturo “Master Pedic” Balume of Sara, Iloilo. The Balume group’s area of operation was northern Iloilo.
Ajuy town mayor Jett Rojas, president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines – Iloilo chapter, said he was open to pushing all local governments to have reward schemes for fugitives.
He would discuss this with fellow mayors when the league meets sometime this month, said Rojas.
Cong. Raul Tupas (5th District, Iloilo) also welcomed the idea.
According to Binag, one of the informants in the operation to take down Prevendido was a police “asset” while the other was an ally of the drug lord but decided to cooperate with the police.
The city government of Iloilo has offered P500,000, too, to whoever could give information leading to the neutralization of Prevendido. Binag said the PRO-6 was waiting for its release./PN
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