By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
THE FIGHT against illegal drugs, particularly shabu, in Bacolod City is gaining ground.
Lately, no less than Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Director Colonel Noel Aliño tagged a top suspect – Camaria Caunda, suspected leader of the Caunda-Cuadra drug ring.
According to Aliño, the group operates in Cebu, Bacolod and Iloilo.
He, however, dismissed speculations that some Negros politicians are behind Caunda.
Too, he said there’s no truth to rumors that there’s a shabu laboratory in Bacolod.
“Hindi totoo yan,” said Aliño.
But the BCPO director can’t ascertain yet if it’s true that an ex- BCPO official is a “right hand” of Caunda.
“We’re looking into that information. Pero pakitulong naman. Kung meron kayong information, sabihin n’yo lang sa amin,” he said.
Aliño is “itching” to catch Caunda by hook or by crook, dead or alive.
Right now, he said, they’re willing to give P100,000 cash reward to anyone who can give information that would lead to the arrest of Caunda.
LEGACY
Aliño said he knows he won’t stay long in Bacolod. Before he exits, he wants to leave a legacy – a drug-free city. Thus, he wants Caunda arrested.
“Kailangan natin makuha ang ugat ng problema ng droga dito sa Bacolod,” he stressed.
For now, he bared, they were able to nab Caunda’s trusted man, a certain “Acader”, in Cebu City.
Soon, “Acader” will be presented to the Bacolod media, he promised.
But he believes “marami pang ibang links itong si Caunda dito sa Bacolod.” That’s why he told his men to be serious in the campaign against illegal drugs.
“Ipapalo ko po ang pusil ng sino mang malaman ko na pulis na nagtatanggap ng suhol. Likewise, papakain ko sa kanila ang pera,” he warned.
‘WALA NG PA-CUTE PA’
In the past four months of his leadership at BCPO, Aliño’s operational accomplishment (April 18 to Aug. 10) was highlighted by confiscations of shabu worth P40,983,600 in 159 anti-drug ops.
A total of 194 high value individuals/targets were also netted.
“This is the product of our honest-to-goodness and aggressive antidrug operations,” he enunciated.
“Wala nang pa-cute. Tama na ang pagpa-cute sa drug ops,” he told the media, referring to his policemen.
BREDCO Port, added Aliño, remains a transshipment point of shabu.
TOLENTINO GROUP
Aside from the Caunda-Cuadra ring, Aliño said, they’re also looking into the existence of another drug group – the Veria/Beria Tolentino-led drug ring.
He, however, stressed that the Tolentino group is not as big as the Caunda-Cuadra group.
He asked for everyone’s support, especially the civilians, in the quest to clear Bacolod of illegal drugs.
‘DRUG BUSTER’
Well, it can’t be denied that Aliño set foot in Bacolod amid controversies hounding the BCPO. The “wigit bangkay” sequel to the infamous “wigit kamot and ti-il” uglified his entry.
Adding to the “mess” were his distasteful “quotable quotes” that raised the eyebrows of many Bacoleños, including businessmen.
Now, Aliño is trying his best to be totally accepted by the Bacolod community.
Recently, BCPO becoming the No. 1 city police station in the country is one of his best accomplishments.
However, to be a “drug buster” is kinda different. There’s a “nice flavor” in this tag. Bacoleños seem to love Aliño this way. More so if he can catch Caunda soonest.
For sure, it’ll be a “plus factor” for his leadership, image and integrity at BCPO, and will be his formidable legacy in Bacolod./PN
