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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Wednesday, October 18, 2017
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ILOILO – Victims of the Balume criminal group in the 5th District have been urged to surface and report to the police their cases.
The suspected leader of the group, Arturo “Master Pedic” Balume, was arrested Thursday last week in Negros Occidental.
According to Cong. Raul Tupas, victims of the group may have been fearful to come out in the past and opted to keep quiet.
“Now they can be assured that the police are doing something,” said Tupas.
He expressed confidence that Balume’s arrest would improve the peace and order situation in the 5th District.
Tupas, however, said there could be other criminal groups operating in northern Iloilo. They should be neutralized also, he stressed.
“We commend the operating team of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) that successfully apprehended Balume, a level 3 high-value target,” said Tupas.
The PRO-6’s Regional Intelligence Division led by Superintendent Julius Balano and Iloilo Police Provincial Office under Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba caught Balume, 62, and 27-year-old son Arturo Jr. at a checkpoint in Barangay Poblacion, Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental.
Both father and son were charged for the death of two men ambushed in Balasan town on the eve of the May 9, 2016 elections.
“Timely” was how Tupas described their capture. On Oct. 19 a “peace summit” will be held in San Dionisio town. Local officials of the 5th District, the police and other sectors will be discussing peace and order concerns.
The 5th District is made up of the towns of Ajuy, Balasan, Barotac Viejo, Batad, Carles, Concepcion, Estancia, Lemery, San Dionisio, San Rafael, and Sara towns.
Aside from illegal drugs, goons are also a problem in this district, according to Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag, regional police director.
This is the reason why the PRO-6 campaign against illegal drugs and criminality would be given more emphasis in the northern Iloilo district, he stressed.
According to Binag, the PRO-6 had received text messages about the illegal drug problem in the district and the criminal gangs operating in the area.
These messages were further boosted by tips gathered from various drop boxes that police stations in the district made available for people slip notes containing information on illegal drugs and armed groups.
“We encourage community partnership in cleansing the 5th District,” said Binag.
He assured residents of the district that “in the performance of our official function, the rule of law and respect for human rights (will be observed).”
“Let us work together in fulfilling PRO-6’s strategic direction – to make Region 6 a peaceful place,” Binag added.
Tupas thanked the PRO-6 for its special focus on his district.
“This is a most welcome development. I am one with other local and national officials supporting the Philippine National Police,” he said.
Tupas noted an improvement in the peace and order in Sara.
“A few months after the election halos naga-cooperate naman ang tanan. Wala naman kita sang mabatian nga nagadayan lang sa merkado nagataklos sang armas ukon ang member sang private armed group mabisita in full view sang mga tawo nga may mga armas,” he said./PN
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