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[av_heading heading=’‘Verify Negros top drug suspect’s claims’’ 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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Wednesday, January 11, 2017
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BACOLOD City – Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran called on the authorities to validate the claims of the No. 1 illegal drug suspect in Negros Island Region.
Several police officials, a barangay captain and two media workers allegedly get protection money from Ricky Serenio.
Serenio, 34, was arrested on Sunday for grave coercion. He ratted on his supposed protectors in a news conference on Monday.
His claims were “shocking,” according to Familiaran.
They need serious validation, the vice mayor said. “[They were] not a joke.”
Serenio, a resident of Barangay Singcang-Airport, said he belonged to the Beria drug group, which operates in Negros Occidental and this capital city.
Fifteen officials and 20 police noncommissioned officers from the Bacolod City Police Office get money from them, he claimed.
Weekly, the officers would receive between P30,000 and P100,000 or more, depending on their jurisdiction, said Serenio.
If what Serenio said were true, it means around 5 percent of the 644-strong BCPO is involved in drug trafficking, said Familiaran.
Aside from police officers, some judges and court workers and the village chief of Barangay 2 also protect the drug trade, Serenio said.
Two broadcast media workers formerly with Bombo Radyo-Bacolod also get money from him, the drug suspect claimed.
Serenio did not name names. He said he will only indicate the names of his supposed protectors in an affidavit.
Bombo Radyo-Bacolod denied its workers’ involvement in the drug trade.
Still, it is conducting an investigation in light of Serenio’s claims, Station Manager Mary Divine Grace Cuello said on Facebook.
Bombo Radyo-Bacolod does not tolerate involvement in illegal activities — particularly drug trafficking — among its employees, Cuello said.
Meanwhile Ricky Aliguin, village chief of Barangay 2, called on Serenio to name the barangay captain he was referring to.
In a radio interview, Aliguin denied his involvement in illegal drugs. He also denied knowing Serenio.
He stressed that he was helping campaign against drugs in his barangay. He has never tolerated drug use and sale, Aliguin stressed.
Grave coercion was one of the cases Police Station 2 filed against Serenio in August 2016 for allegedly abducting and threatening two suspected drug peddlers on Lacson Street in the same month. Others were abduction, frustrated murder and illegal possession of firearm.
On Sunday, Police Regional Office 18 operatives caught him on Rizal Street, Barangay Zone 9, Talisay City, Negros Occidental./PN
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