ILOILO City – The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) is keeping drug suspect Ernesto “Erning” Bolivar as its top target while still verifying claims he is already dead.
“Sa subong indi pa kita makahambal nga patay na gid man sia unless makita naton iya urn kag maka-secure kita sang original copy of his death certificate signed by the doctor (of the) hospital where he allegedly died,” said Police Lieutenant Colonel Arnel Solis, PRO-6 spokesperson.
What the regional police so far has, according to Solis, is an electronic copy of Bolivar’s death certificate sent via Viber.
“Once we secure the original copy and his urn is shipped her, that’s the time we will close his case,” Solis said.
The 45-year-old Bolivar reportedly died of acute respiratory failure on Oct. 5 at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.
He fled the region in 2019.
Bolivar had an arrest warrant for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Section 5, Article II) under Criminal Case No. 17-8454.
His wife and children in Barangay Guinacas, Pototan, Iloilo were waiting for his urn to be sent by his live-in partner in Metro Manila.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) earlier said Bolivar’s death was a “big minus factor” to the proliferation of illicit drugs in Western Visayas.
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./PN
