BACOLOD CITY — Operatives of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) seized PHP612,500 worth of suspected shabu and arrested five suspects in two separate buy-busts in this city on Friday.
Police Colonel Henry Biñas, officer-in-charge of BCPO, said the successful operations showed the intensified campaign of the operating units against all forms of criminality in the city.
“We remain steadfast in our mandate to stop the crimes especially the illegal drug trade,” he said in a statement.
Operatives of Police Station 3 arrest four suspects who yield 10 sachets of shabu with an estimated value of PHP462,500 at Sitio Sibucao, Barangay Banago in Bacolod City on Friday (March 1, 2019). Photo courtesy of Bacolod City Police Office
The
first operation conducted by Police Station 3 led to the arrest of John
Francis Potoza, 32, in Sitio Sibucao, Barangay Banago.
Potoza was caught red-handed selling the prohibited substance to an undercover cop at about 12:15 a.m.
Three others, Ernie Poja, 41; Ely John Bandiola, 36; and Butch Amaro, 30, were also apprehended.
The
suspects yielded 10 sachets of shabu with an estimated value of
PHP462,500, along with the PHP500 buy-bust money, and drug
paraphernalia.
Almost two hours later, Jerish Christian Sarno, was
arrested by operatives of Police Station 1 at corner Gonzaga-Bonifacio
Streets after he sold PHP500 worth of shabu to a police poseur-buyer.
Sarno, 23, also yielded 20 sachets of shabu valued at PHP150,000.
All five suspects will face charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 before the City Prosecutor’s Office. (PNA)
BACOLOD CITY — Police arrested four persons in a buy-bust operation at La Herencia Negrense Subdivision in Barangay Mandalagan here early Thursday morning.
The operation, conducted
by the Police Station 3 Drug Enforcement Team, led to the arrest of
high-value target Mary Grace Bonza, 35, and three others identified as
Jaymar Gequinto, 26; Rhonna Grace Laluyan, 29; and Seth Andrew Mendoza,
29.
The suspects yielded eight sachets of suspected shabu with an
estimated value of PHP500,000 along with the PHP2,000 marked money and
PHP1,400 cash.
Eight sachets of suspected shabu worth PHP500,000 were seized by the Bacolod City Police Station 3 Drug Enforcement Team from three suspects in a buy-bust in Barangay Mandalagan on Thursday (Feb.14, 2019). Photo courtesy of Bacolod City Police Office
They are facing charges for violation of Section 5
(sale of dangerous drugs) and Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs)
under Article II of Republic Act 9165.
Senior Supt. Henry Biñas,
officer-in-charge of Bacolod City Police Office, in a statement on
Friday lauded the operating unit for their accomplishment as he urged
them to strive harder in the campaign against illegal drugs.
During
the period February 8 to 14, the Bacolod police have seized about
PHP2.6 million worth of suspected shabu in various buy-bust operations.
Anti-drugs
units recovered PHP2.1 million of the prohibited substance from
February 8 to 10 which led to the arrest of nine suspects while on
February 14 alone, PHP500,000 in shabu were confiscated from four
suspects.
On February 10, Edmond Malanda, 30, was apprehended in
Purok Rosas Pandan, Sitio Sibucao, Barangay Banago together with Maria
Theresa Juarez, 42; and Daryl Punayan, 49.
The three yielded nine sachets of “shabu” valued at PHP130,000.
On
February 9, two persons were nabbed in a buy-bust which led to the
recovery of PHP1.875-million worth of shabu in Purok Riverside, Barangay
Banago.
The operation, conducted by personnel of Police Station 3, led to the arrest of Randy Benjamin, 39, and Jamil Equital, 22. Another suspect, Leoner Jalando-on, 35, was able to escape. (PNA)
BACOLOD CITY — Two persons were arrested while PHP1.875-million worth of suspected shabu were confiscated by police operatives in a buy-bust in Purok Riverside, Barangay Banago here over the weekend, police reported on Sunday.
The operation, conducted
by personnel of Police Station 3 at about 5 a.m. on Saturday, led to the
arrest of Randy Benjamin, 39, and Jamil Equital, 22. Another suspect,
Leoner Jalando-on, 35, fled.
Operatives of Police Station 3 of the Bacolod City Police Office seize PHP1.875 million worth of suspected shabu along with drug paraphernalia and live ammunition of a 12-gauge shotgun during a raid over the weekend at Purok Riverside, Barangay Banago. Photo courtesy of DYHB Tatak RMN Page
Benjamin, a former village watchman, sold PHP2,000 worth of shabu to an undercover policeman. Equital was identified as his runner.
The suspects also yielded about 150
grams of the prohibited substance along with drug paraphernalia and five
live ammunition of a 12-gauge shotgun.
In an interview, Chief
Insp. Ruel Culanag, head of Police Station 3, said Benjamin, a
newly-identified drug personality, sources his illegal drug supply from
Metro Manila and is believed to be a distributor in nearby localities.
Also
at about 10 p.m. on Saturday, operatives of Police Station 7 arrested
two persons in a buy-bust operation in Purok Cabuguason, Barangay
Mansilingan here.
Bernadette Prado, 36, and Jeric John Medel, 23, were found in possession of PHP7,000 worth of suspected shabu after selling PHP500 of the prohibited substance to a police poseur-buyer. (PNA)
BACOLOD CITY — The Bacolod City Police has engaged the local Muslim community in promoting peace and order in the city.
Bacolod Police OIC Director, Senior Supt. Henry Biñas, met with Muslim leaders at the Bacolod police headquarters on Friday afternoon to discuss various peace-related issues in the wake of the recent bombing incidents in Mindanao. “They agreed to cooperate with the police,” he said.
Biñas noted that both parties agreed to exchange information relevant to peace and order.
Senior Supt. Henry Biñas (center), officer-in-charge director of Bacolod City Police Office, and the chiefs of the 10 police stations meet with the leaders of the local Muslim community (left) to discuss peace-related issues at the city police headquarters on Friday afternoon (Feb. 8, 2019) Photo courtesy of Shiela G. Gelera
“They expressed full support to us and committed that if they have information, they will let the police know,” he added.
Imam Abulkhair Carcauga, overall imam of Muslim communities in Bacolod, said they support peace for Bacolod City “101 percent.”
“We
from the Muslim community, from whatever tribe, are one with the police
for peace and for the maintenance of peace and order,” he added.
Carcauga said they agreed to share information with the police if they learn of any terror threat to the city.
“We should inform them so they can immediately act on it,” he said.
Carcauga added that for now, they don’t have any actual data yet on the total population of Muslims living Bacolod.
“But
there are Muslims anywhere in Bacolod. The Maranaos, who are business
people, are everywhere. We live in Bacolod with our families so we also
want peace in the city,” he added.
Biñas said that even the Bacolod police does not have a detailed inventory of Muslim presence in the city.
He added that they will ask the Muslim community to provide data so the police can come up with an estimate of their population. (PNA)
BACOLOD CITY — The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) is looking into various angles in the murder of Senior Police Officer 4 Oscar Exaltado, deputy chief of Police Station 6, over the weekend.
Exaltado, 46, was gunned down by two unidentified
motorcycle-riding men near his home in Barangay Singcang-Airport on his
way to work around 7:30 a.m. on January 26.
Chief Insp. Ariel
Pico, city police public information officer, said on Monday the Police
Station 8 under by Chief Insp. Charles Gever is tasked to investigate
the case.
Scene of the Crime Operation personnel look into the site in Barangay Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City, where Senior Police Officer 4 Oscar Exaltado was gunned down on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. Photo courtesy of Bombo Radyo Bacolod
Pico said in a radio interview the investigators are focusing on two angles.
The first angle has something to do with work, which could be linked to Exaltado’s duty as warrant server of Police Station 6.
He served warrants of arrest to wanted persons and it’s possible there are some of them holding a grudge against him, Pico said.
He
added that the second angle is related to the alleged involvement of
Exaltado in illegal drugs, which is still subject to further
investigation.
Exaltado, clad in police uniform and driving a
motorcycle, was ambushed in front of J.R. Torres Elementary School. He
sustained multiple shots to the body and head.
“We condemn the
killing of SPO4 Oscar Exaltado, deputy chief of Police Station 6,
Bacolod City…I have already ordered the conduct of a thorough
investigation on this incident to ensure the immediate arrest of the
suspects,” said Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, director of Police Regional
Office (PRO)-6 (Western Visayas), in a statement.
The PRO-6 chief also assured the slain policeman’s family of all possible assistance and benefits due him and his kin. (PNA)
BACOLOD CITY — The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) will deploy at least 1,400 police personnel and force multipliers to secure the Bacolaodiat Festival, this city’s celebration of Chinese New Year, from February 1 to 5.
This year’s main festival site, the Bacolod City Government Center grounds, will be provided round-the-clock security during the five-day festivities.
Chief
Insp. Lester Leada, acting head of BCPO’s Operations Unit, said in a
press briefing on Friday the police aim for zero major incident and
reduce the occurrence of the eight focus crimes by 30 percent.
SECURITY PLAN. Chief Inspector Lester Leada, acting head of Bacolod City Police Office Operations Unit, presents the security plan during the 1st Inter-Agency Coordinating Conference on Security Preparations for Bacolaodiat 2019 held at the BCPO Patnubay Hall on Friday (Jan. 25, 2019). Photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver
“We also want to reduce the fear of crime and increase the level of confidence of stakeholders during the staging of the festival,” Leada added.
Last year, between 50,000 and 70,000 revelers attended the Bacolaodiat staged in two festival sites, police data showed.
Leada said the security forces will include about 1,000 police personnel, including the BCPO’s own 600 policemen and about 400 augmentation from Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas).
The remaining 400 personnel will comprise volunteers from rescue units and anti-crime groups, he added.
Before the press conference, Leada presented the security plan for this year’s festival during the 1st Inter-Agency Coordinating Conference on Security Preparation for Bacolaodiat 2019, held at the BCPO Patnubay Hall. It was attended by police station chiefs and representatives of various law enforcement agencies.
On February 1, the festival will
kick off at 4 p.m. with the Dazzling Grand Motorcade from Lacson St.,
passing by the Bacolod Public Plaza before proceeding to the Bacolod
City Government Center.
It will be followed by the opening of the Imperial Village and ceremonial lighting of the Government Center.
At 6 p.m., the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra will hold an open-air concert.
The opening night will be capped by the Symphony Lights and Sparks fireworks display and the Lunar Music Festival.
One of the festival highlights, the Bacolaodiat Street Dance Competition, will be held at the Goldenfield Commercial Complex starting 4:30 p.m. on February 3. (PNA)
BACOLOD CITY — Mayor Evelio Leonardia has told the officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) to focus on the campaign against illegal drugs.
Senior Supt. Henry Biñas took over the top post of
the Bacolod City police on Monday from Senior Supt. Francisco Ebreo who
was ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte to step down over the weekend
due to his alleged involvement in illegal drugs.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia (left) receives Senior Supt. Henry Biñas, newly appointed officer-in-charge of Bacolod City Police Office, during his courtesy call at the Bacolod City Government Center on Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Bacolod City PIO
“Every time
there’s a new OIC, the illegal drugs is always one of those I would I
ask them to focus on. We know that in the entire Philippines that is the
problem. We have a President who is passionate about this concern,” the
mayor said on Monday.
Leonardia is scheduled to meet with Biñas late Tuesday afternoon at the Bacolod City Government Center.
On Monday, the staff officers and 10 station commanders of BCPO paid a New Year’s call on the mayor.
The
mayor refused to comment on the President’s revelation about the links
of Ebreo and four other police officers in Bacolod to illegal drugs.
“Basically,
it’s a police matter which I’m not privy to. I think we should wait for
the developments. Let us take it as it is, meaning the President has
spoken. The best thing to do is to wait for the next move. We will take
it from there,” Leonardia said.
“I’d like to believe this is about intelligence gathering. Those things don’t reach our level,” he added.
Leonardia
admitted though that, along with Rep. Greg Gasataya, he had been
seeking the transfer of Ebreo since May last year because of several
considerations.
“We we’re no longer at ease or comfortable with
the situation. We we’re informed that our political opponents were
paying him visits, the likes of Cano Tan (Councilor Ricardo Tan) and
Congressman Paduano (Abang Lingkod partylist Rep. Stephen Paduano),” he
said.
“We we’re wondering why he did not report it to us. It’s
hard to work with a police chief who does not have your complete
confidence,” the mayor said.
He also said that Ebreo did not
consult him before initiating a reshuffling of the station commanders,
and also pulled out police personnel from the city’s enforcement units.
However,
Leonardia said despite the differences of approach between him and the
former police chief, there had been no disruption of police services.
“Let
me be clear about this. It doesn’t mean that there’s a disruption of
police services because our assistance to the police continues,” he
said.
Leonardia noted that the city government provides the BCPO a financial assistance of almost PHP22 million every year.
“It is a consistent and a substantial assistance,” the mayor said. (PNA)
BACOLOD CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) urged the local candidates here to promote clean and peaceful elections on May 13.
City Election Officer Mavil Majarucon-Sia made the call after the Comelec, together with the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) and the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade, led a unity walk, prayer rally, and peace covenant signing at the Bacolod public plaza on Sunday, January 13.
“We just
want to remind them, our mandate is to make sure that we have clean,
honest and credible elections. They have to bear with us, if from time
to time, we send them notices in relation to their violations of the
campaign rules,” she said.
Some of the candidates in Bacolod City led by Rep. Greg Gasataya (2nd from left) and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran (right) after the prayer rally and signing of the peace covenant at the Bacolod public plaza on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019. Photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver
The candidates who attended the signing activity were mostly from the ruling Grupo Progreso led by reelectionists Rep. Greg Gasataya and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who both said their presence shows their support to the call of the poll body.
Part of the covenant read: “I sign this Integrity Pledge for
free, orderly honest, peaceful and credible elections, and through my
words and actions commit to abide by the tenets of our Constitution,
election laws, rules and regulations, respecting the sanctity of our
electoral exercise.”
Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who went to Kalibo,
Aklan, to fulfill an annual religious vow, missed the peace covenant
signing, but said in a statement that he is “very willing to sign (it)
and would gladly do so anytime when he comes back.”
He added that his signatures in the peace covenant in all previous elections were as good for the coming elections.
Sia
said the signing of the integrity pledge during the ceremony was merely
symbolic since the candidates already signed a similar document when
they filed their certificates of candidacy last October.
“We hope
and pray that this will be a peaceful and credible elections for Bacolod
City so we can maintain our record. In the May 2016 elections, Region 6
(Western Visayas) was awarded as the most peaceful region,” she added.
Chief
Insp. Ariel Pico, public information officer of BCPO, said the activity
in Bacolod has been successful as part of the simultaneous kickoff of
the election period nationwide.
Only a few of the candidates were not able to attend, he added.
Col.
Benedict Arevalo, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, who attended
the separate unity walk and peace covenant signing for provincial
candidates in Negros Occidental at the Capitol Lagoon and Park, said the
Philippine Army supports the poll body in its aim for peaceful and
orderly elections.
“Our mandate is to guarantee the safety and orderliness of the coming elections. To all the stakeholders, I said if we can walk together, we can work together,” he added. (PNA)
BACOLOD CITY — The regional police chief of Western Visayas has confirmed that the head of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has vacated his post after being fired by President Rodrigo Duterte, and a new official has been named to replace him.
Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, director of Police Regional Office-6, in a text message to the Philippine News Agency, said he has designated Senior Supt. Henry Biñas as officer-in-charge of the Bacolod police effective Sunday, January 13.
Biñas, who is in Iloilo City, said in a telephone interview that he was preparing to assume the top post of BCPO.
Before
his latest assignment, Biñas was chief of the Regional Personnel and
Human Resource Development Division of PRO-6 based in Camp Martin
Delgado in Iloilo City, and was previously director of Iloilo City
Police Office and Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office.
Duterte ordered the relief of Ebreo on Saturday, Jan. 12, after receiving reports of his alleged involvement in illegal drugs.
The
Chief Executive named Ebreo and four other police officers here as drug
protectors while speaking before an audience in a private function at
L’Fisher Hotel in this city.
The four others are Supt. Allan
Macapagal, deputy city director for operation; Supt. Ritchie Yatar,
chief of City Mobile Force Company; Supt. Nassrudin Tayuan, former team
leader of City Drug Enforcement Unit; and Senior Insp. Victor Paulino,
former chief of Police Station 3, who was re-assigned to the City Mobile
Force Company last month.
The five relieved police officials were
told to report to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit at
the PRO-6 headquarters in Iloilo City.
The relief of Ebreo came 14 months after he assumed post as OIC city police director in November 2017.
In
May last year, Ebreo and Paulino were awarded the Philippine National
Police Medal of Merit for demonstrating exemplary competence and
commendable performance during the operation against notorious drug
leader Ramy Poja, the number one most wanted person of Police Station 3,
who was killed after a hot pursuit operation in Sitio Sibucao, Barangay
Banago.
In 2018, the BCPO seized more than PHP42.157 million worth of shabu in 432 operations. (PNA)
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