Trisikad driver faces drug raps

Drug charges were filed by the police against a trisikad driver arrested for allegedly smoking marijuana in Bacolod City yesterday, the police said.

The charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, were lodged against Jimmy Sebellieta, 22, of Camingawan, Brgy. Estefania, Bacolod, at the City Prosecutor’s Office, Police Station 6 commander, Chief Inspector Ulysses Ortiz, said.

Sebellieta was nabbed by Police Station 6 members led by PO2 Ludovico de la Raya, after he was allegedly seen smoking a marijuana cigaret at Carmen Street, Bacolod, at about 1:40 a.m. yesterday, police records show.

Sebellieta, however, said, that the supposed stick of the illegal substance was not his, and that, he was arrested when he snatched the wallet of a woman at Libertad area and after he was mobbed by bystanders.

He tried to steal because he did not have money to visit his mentally-ill father in Escalante City, Negros Occidental, Sebellieta also said.

On the other hand, his wife, Rosalie, said that the officers may have “planted” the marijuana cigaret “to pile up cases against him.”

Ortiz, however, said Sebellieta’s allegations are the “usual” reasons of illegal drugs suspects.*PP

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BCPO wins national
Salaam center award

For its efforts to maintain peace and order by building good relationship and rapport with the community, including Muslims, the Bacolod City Police Office won the Philippine National Police Best Salaam Police Center Award recently, BCPO director, Senior Supt. Ronilo Quebrar, said yesterday.

Quebrar said they did not expect the citation as they were just doing their job.

Haron Sacar, a resident at the Lopez Jaena-San Sebastian Muslim Center Compound in Brgy. 31, Bacolod, said that the city’s police regularly extends communication efforts to them through meetings.

The compound, which was established in October 1976, is the biggest among the four Muslim centers in Bacolod with its Mosque and Madrasah, Sacar, of one of the 13 families residing in the complex, said.

Other Muslim areas in Bacolod are in barangays Alijis, Mansilingan, and Taculing, Quebrar said.

An assistant to the center’s Imam, meanwhile, said, that while they appreciate the efforts of the police in knowing and helping them with their concerns, they also understand that their members who may violate the law will have to deal with the legal implications.

The Salaam Police Center was organized to harmonize the relationship of the PNP with the Muslim community in the country, its website said.

President Arroyo ordered the creation of the Salaam Police to support the government's anti-terrorism and anti-criminality campaign and to facilitate dialog with Muslim brothers and sisters, the PNP website said.*PP

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