ILOILO City – The search for the region’s top drug suspect still goes on.
Ernesto Bolivar remains active in Western Visayas, according to the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU).
His minions are still operating in the region while he hides in Manila, said RDEU chief Senior Inspector Marc Dado.
But based on RDEU’s intelligence report, Bolivar was recently seen visiting some provinces in Western Visayas.
“We received reports that sometimes he is in Manila and sometimes in the provinces of Capiz and Iloilo,” Dado said.
He added that Bolivar also has new recruits.
“Using new faces is among their strategies para hindi mahalata ng police kasi wala pa silang pangalan sa drug list,” said Dado. “But we are now starting to list down his new downlines. Police operations will follow as soon as we complete our data.”
The RDEU is locating Bolivar’s hiding place, added Dado, refusing to disclose more details so as to not compromise their ongoing operation.
Bolivar has a pending arrest warrant for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
He managed to escape police officers in a buy-bust operation at his house in Barangay Guinacas, Pototan, Iloilo in November 2016.
Iloilo Police Provincial director Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba said he already gave police chiefs across the province – especially in northern Iloilo – a directive to step up monitoring against Bolivar, who is believed to be the right-hand man of slain drug lord Richard Prevendido./PN
