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BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
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Friday, February 24, 2017
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ILOILO City – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) believes family members know where suspected drug lord Richard “Buang” Prevendido is hiding.
Prevendido, a resident of Barangay Bakhaw, Mandurriao district, is currently in hiding. He has a warrant of arrest for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
“Blood is thicker than water. Who else will protect him? Who will buy his food and other needs,” said Deputy Regional Director Levi Ortiz.
One of the more prominent members of Prevendido’s family is his sister Remia Prevendido Gregori, the barangay captain of Bakhaw. In previous radio interviews, she claimed having no idea where her brother was.
Ortiz, however, believed the suspect has contact with his family and trusted friends.
“Those protecting Prevendido may be charged criminally with harboring a criminal,” he said. “It is impossible that his family and relatives have no contact with him.”
PDEA’s view is contrary to the theory of Senior Superintendent Harold Tuzon, the Iloilo police provincial director, that Prevendido was running away not only from the police but also from his family and associates because they might turn against him, too.
The city and provincial governments of Iloilo are offering a combined P1 million reward to whoever could give information leading to the successful arrest of the drug suspect.
According to Tuzon, Prevendido is likely “nagtatago siya ngayon nag mag-isa. Takot siya na ilalaglag ng mga kakilala n’ya kahit pamilya n’ya kasi ang laki ng cash reward.”
Ortiz said they have received tips on the possible whereabouts of Prevendido but declined to divulge these.
On the other hand, Chief Superintendent Jose Gentiles, regional police director, believed Prevendido has not left Western Visayas.
“Nandiyan lang siya sa paligid. Makukuha rin natin siya,” said Gentiles.
Last year, Gentiles gave his men until Dec. 31 to arrest Prevendido. They failed to beat the deadline.
Aided by close confidantes, Prevendido does not stay long in one place and takes taxis or drives his own car, sources told Panay News.
On Jan. 6, 2017 the Regional Trial Court, Branch 21 issued an arrest warrant against Prevendido for violation of Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs) of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. This case was in connection with the shabu recovered from Prevendido’s during a raid last October 2016.
Judge Daniel Antonio Gerardo Amular did not recommend a bail bond.
Ortiz expressed confidence that the suspected drug lord will soon be caught.
“He can run but he can’t forever hide. Makukuha rin sya. Matiyaga ang mga operatives natin,” Ortiz said.
A lot of suspected members of the Prevendido drug group were caught in recent months, including the “high-value” Bonie Prevendido Gregori, Richard’s nephew and son of Remia./PN
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