ILOILO City – The death of Western Visayas’ top drug suspect Ernesto “Erning” Bolivar was a “big minus factor” to the proliferation of illicit drugs in the region, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
Bolivar reportedly died of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) while hiding in Manila.
Despite being wanted, “alam nating patuloy pa rin ‘yan (illegal drug trade) through phone kasi source of income na nya ang illegal drugs,” said Director Alex Tablate of PDEA-6.
According to Tablate, Bolivar’s death would probably neutralize his minions and contacts.
“Malaki ang naitulong ng pagkamatay nya kahit hindi naman natin pinalangin. Gusto pa rin nating mahuli nang buhay para may time pa siya magbagong buhay,” Tablate told Panay News.
Based on the information received by the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), Bolivar passed away on Oct. 5.
However, his urn is yet to be sent back to his house in Barangay Guinacas, Pototan, Iloilo. His live-in partner in Manila was reportedly quarantined.
Bolivar reportedly fled to Manila sometime in 2019.
He has an arrest warrant for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Section 5, Article II) under Criminal Case No. 17-8454.
The Police Regional Office 6 (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.
Bolivar’s men reportedly used to operate mainly in the central and northern parts of Iloilo province as well as in Capiz.
They were not only into illegal drugs but also into robbery and gun-for-hire services.
On the other hand, PRO-6 spokesperson, Police Lieutenant Colonel Arnel Solis said PDEA-6 and PRO-6, through the Intelligence Division and Regional Investigation and Detection Management Division (RIDMD), will convene as soon as Bolivar’s urn arrives in Iloilo.
“We are yet to conduct a conference with concerned agencies to know if who is now the region’s top personality. But, so far, wala na kita sang daku nga drug personality sa Iloilo kag neutralized naman ang mga dalagko. Definitely, Bolivar will be erased in our list,” Solis said./PN
