By RUBY P. SILUBRICO
POTOTAN, Iloilo — Four personnel of the Pototan police station could be relieved if proven guilty of protecting drug dealers in this municipality, said Senior Supt. Cornelio Salinas, police provincial director.
Salinas, however, refused to mention the names of the four, who have the ranks Police Officer 1 (PO1) and PO2.
He said these policemen are now under monitoring in the wake of reliable information linking them to drug dealers here.
Even the police municipal chief, Senior Insp. Aaron Palomo, expressed suspicion that some of his men had alerted their targets, resulting in “negative operations.”
“Naga-wonder ako kay kon mag-conduct kami surveillance, positive gid, but during our actual operation, the suspects disappear, [making us infer] that they have been alerted by our personnel,” Palomo said.
According to Salinas, if evidence would warrant relieving them, “I will kick them out of their post and file appropriate charges against them.”
Recently, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office Intelligence Section arrested in Brgy. Guinacas here nine drug personalities, including the chief tanod of Brgy. Cubay, Jaro, Iloilo City, and a “high-value” target.
Police recovered 19 sachets of shabu, unlicensed guns and ammunition.
Arrested were Ernesto Bolivar; Ricardo Trabuco, tanod chief; Jade Mendoza; Eliasar Tibog; Nestor Laluma; Ronald Pantong; Sarth Mendoza; Stephen Mendoza; and Rocky Rodriguez./PN
