Mabilog: Drugwar continues; PRO-6: Next target is Bolivar
Iloilo City — The death of Western Visayas alleged drug lord Richard Prevendido might cripple the drug trade in this part of the country but that's no reason to remain complacent, according to Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.
The Police Regional Office-6 (Western Visayas) added that it is now training its sight on its next target: Ernesto “Erning” Bolivar, 41, who now became Iloilo’s top drug personality, after the police killed the region’s drug kingpin, Richard Prevendido and son Jason in a shootout during a drug raid at a subdivision in Barangay Balabago, Jaro district of Iloilo City, on September 1.
In a statement following Prevendido's death, Mabilog said the Iloilo City government, together with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), will continue with the war on illegal drugs. "And we will not stop until the battle is won," he said.
Mabilog believed that, with Prevendido's death, the illegal drug will be entirely minimized if not eliminated. “Prevendido's death is an exclamation point that will put an end to the era of illegal drugs in Iloilo City," he said, as he commended the policemen for their accomplishment.
The mayor cited police forces from the regional, provincial, and city offices for patiently pursuing leads and tips that led to Prevendido's lair. "This legitimate police operation is proof that our local law enforces are committed to being order and justice in Western Visayas, and Iloilo City in particular," he said.
Mabilog also ordered for the immediate release of P500,000, which is part of the P1.1 million bounty for Prevendido's neutralization. The other P500,000 will be given by the Iloilo provincial government and P100,000 from the PNP.
With Prevendido’s death, Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag, PRO-6 director, placed Bolivar’s on the top list by putting the latter’s mugshot on top of the crossed-out picture of Prevendido.
Before Prevendido was killed, Bolivar was considered sub-group leader of the Prevendido Drug Group, operating in Iloilo province.
Senior Inspector Bonifacio Alabe Jr., Pototan Municipal Police Station chief, said Bolivar, while working for Prevendido, also used to get drugs supply from the Odicta Drug Group, which was on top of the drug trade until its leader, Melvin Odicta Sr., and his wife Meriam were killed by authorities on August 29, last year.
The police also tagged Bolivar as being into gun-for-hire activities. Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, PRO-6 spokesperson, said there were reports that he used to be Odicta’s hatchet man.
When Oplan Tokhang started last year, Bolivar and his cohort, Ricardo Trabuco, turned themselves over to the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), but they allegedly continued their illegal operation after that.
On November 9, the police conducted a raid at Bolivar’s house in Barangay Guinacas of Pototan, but he quickly escaped.