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[av_heading heading=’Peñas to ‘protect’ Negros drug suspect’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY MAE SINGUAY
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BACOLOD City – Two town mayors were tasked to place the No. 1 illegal drug suspect in Negros Island Region in their “protective custody.”
A court granted yesterday the motion for protective custody that Ricky Serenio filed pending his application for the government’s Witness Protection Program.
He executed an affidavit tagging several members of the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and two media workers to the drug trade.
In exchange, Regional Trial Court Branch 54 Judge Eduardo Sayson granted his motion, confirmed Superintendent Robert Lingbawan, head of the Police Regional Office 18’s Regional Special Operation Task Group (RSOTG).
According to Lingbawan, the court ordered that Serenio be placed in the custody of two mayors — the father and son Magdaleno and Miguel Peña of Moises Padilla and Pulupandan, respectively.
It was with the Peñas that Serenio claimed he felt safe, Lingbawan said.
Serenio was taken to the Pulupandan police station custodial facility immediately after the court order was released.
Lingbawan said Magdaleno Peña is a consultant for the PDEA.
Serenio was in the custody of the RSOTG for three days following his arrest in Talisay City, Negros Occidental for grave coercion on Sunday.
He was transferred to the Talisay City police station on Wednesday.
Two days before that, Serenio claimed that he was part of the Beria drug group, which operates in Negros Occidental and this city.
He also claimed that several police officers in Bacolod City, among other professionals, get protection money from them.
Before he was transferred, the 34-year-old Serenio already said he did not feel safe in the custody of the Talisay City police. He feared for his life, he said./PN
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