ILOILO City – There’s no known “big-time” drug personality in Western Visayas after top drug suspect Ernesto Bolivar, according to the Police Region Office 6 (PRO-6).
There are, however, a few drug groups being monitored in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental, according to Police Brigadier General Rolando Miranda, PRO-6 director.
“Tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang ating campaign against illegal drugs,” Miranda said.
Bolivar reportedly died of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Manila early this month, but police were still verifying his death.
Bolivar fled the region in 2019. He had an arrest warrant for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Section 5, Article II) under Criminal Case No. 17-8454.
PRO-6 tagged Bolivar as the No. 1 drug personality in the region following the deaths of suspected drug lords Melvin Odicta Sr. who was gunned down on Aug. 28, 2016 at the Caticlan Jetty Port in Malay, Aklan, and Richard Prevendido on Sept. 1, 2017 in Barangay Balabago, Jaro district.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Region 6 previously said Negros Occidental and Bacolod City were the “main sources” of illegal drugs in the region.
PDEA spokesperson, Shey Tanaleon said drug groups continue using “new faces” that PDEA and the police were not familiar with to avoid detection.
“We will continue our operations with the police and the barangays,” Tanaleon said./PN
