ILOILO – There would be no letup in the campaign to arrest fugitives in this province, declared Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba, director of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).
In 2018, various police units across the province arrested a total of 732 wanted persons.
Of these fugitives, 77 were classified as “most wanted” for being charged with heinous crimes such as murder, said Tayaba.
The 655 other arrested persons were charged with “lesser” crimes such as theft and physical injuries, he added.
This year, the IPPO’s top target is drug suspect Ernesto Bolivar, 41, of Barangay Guinacas, Pototan town, said Tayaba.
Bolivar is believed to be a minion of slain drug lord Richard Prevendido and stepped up drug trafficking activities after his boss died in a shootout with policemen in September 2017.
Recently, Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. reiterated the provincial government’s P500 thousand monetary reward to whoever could give information leading to Bolivar’s arrest.
Bolivar has a pending arrest warrant for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. He was charged although he managed to escape from policemen trying to entrap him in a buy-bust operation at his house in Barangay Guinacas on Nov. 9, 2016.
The Bolivar drug group operates mainly in central and northern Iloilo province and parts of nearby Capiz.
One of the most wanted persons arrested last year was Augusto Biñas (ranked No. 9 in Region 6) for murder. He was caught on May 3, 2018 in Barangay Sohoton, Barotac Nuevo. The reward for his arrest was P140,000.
The No. 1 fugitives in Zarraga (Bienvenido Pastrana, charged with murder) and Balasan (Jerick Demaya, charged with robbery and homicide) towns were arrested last year, too.
Among the municipalities, Dumangas had the most number of most wanted persons caught (six), followed by Maasin (five), Lambunao, Ajuy and Barotac Viejo (four each).
Meanwhile, the following towns had the most number of fugitives (charged with lesser crimes) caught last year: Barotac Viejo (41), Sara (34), Lemery (32), and Carles (30)./PN
