[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’NEW DRUG GROUP EMERGES’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
February 5, 2018
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
ILOILO City – A new illegal drug group has emerged in northern Iloilo. It is operating in the 4th and 5th districts, according to the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).
It appears to be following the new strategy being employed by more established groups such as the Prevendido and Bolivar drug groups to blindside the police – recruit new members unfamiliar to the police, said Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba, police provincial director.
“Once matumbok natin ang leader we will reveal the group’s name,” said Tayaba.
As a relatively new group, “medyo hindi pa gaano kalakas ito,” said Tayaba and this is why the IPPO wants it neutralized early.
The 4th District is made up of the towns of Anilao, Banate, Barotac Nuevo, Dingle, Dueñas, Dumangas, and San Enrique and the component city of Passi.
On the other hand, the 5th District is composed of the following municipalities: Ajuy, Balasan, Barotac Viejo, Batad, Carles, Concepcion, Estancia, Lemery, San Dionisio, San Rafael, and Sara.
According to Tayba, the IPPO’s Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) has 1,800 personnel to go after this new drug group, the Prevendido and Bolivar groups.
The IPPO is gearing for a more active role in the antidrug war following the relaunching of the Philippine National Police’s antidrug campaign called Oplan Double Barrel.
In this drive, said Tayaba, the IPPO’s goal is clear – neutralize the three illegal drug groups.
Drug lord Richard Prevendido was killed in a police operation last year but his subordinates regrouped, he said.
On the other hand, the suspected leader of the Bolivar drug group, Ernesto Bolivar of Pototan, Iloilo, remains at large.
“Bolivar is very mobile. Like the late Prevendido, he does not stay in one hiding place. Palipat-lipat siya ng matataguan,” said Tayaba.
How the PDEU would fare against the new drug group and the two other more entrenched groups under the relaunched Oplan Double Barrel remains to be seen. Now, antidrug operations must only be carried out between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This no-night-operation strategy may not sit well with some policemen but they would certainly comply with the new rule, according to the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU) of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
“This would affect our operations…because we now have limited time to operate. The volume of illegal drug recoveries may decline,” said Senior Inspector Kennith Bermejo, RDEU chief.
Also under the supplemental operational guidelines for Oplan Double Barrel, antidrug operations must only be conducted from Monday to Friday and none on weekends.
“If a drug pusher transacts past 5 p.m. we could not arrest him. Malagyo na ang target kag indi na naton makuha ang items. Amo ina ang mga possibilities,” lamented Bermejo.
Transparency was cited as reason for the “8 a.m. to 5 p.m. only” antidrug operations.
Bolivar, a 41-year-old resident of Barangay Guinacas, Pototan, was named a top drug personality following the death of Prevendido in September last year.
He was charged in Criminal Case No. 17-8454 for violation of Section 5, Article II of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
Bolivar was subjected to a buy-bust operation at his house in Barangay Guinacas on Nov. 9, 2016. He managed to flee but 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.
Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawtorne Binag, regional police director, described Bolivar as Prevendido’s “right-hand man.”
When Prevendido was still alive, Bolivar was his supplier of illegal drugs in Iloilo City’s neighboring towns.
After Prevendido died, Bolivar formed his own group and operated in central Iloilo and nearby Capiz province, police said.
The municipal government of Pototan is offering a P200,000 reward to whoever could give information leading to the arrest of Bolivar./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
