Cops collar ‘Robinhood'
at drug-affected village

The police yesterday said illegal drugs operations in Bacolod City will lessen with the arrest of one of the most wanted pushers in the city during a late night raid Tuesday.

Edgar Jimena, 35, was playing mahjong in his house when he was arrested by members of Police Station 2, City Mobile Group, and the Anti-Robbery Task Group in Purok Tahong, Brgy. 2, in Bacolod , at about 10 p.m. Tuesday, Police Station 2 commander, Senior Inspector Luisito Acebuche, said.

Jimena is the most-wanted pusher within the area of Police Station 2 that covers Brgy. 2, tagged as one of the illegal drugs areas of concern in Bacolod , Acebuche said.

Around 20 officers including SPO4 Enriqueto Gochoco, SPO1 Hermelo Jalandoni, PO2's Jorlito Roldan, and Roberto Guilaran of Police Station 2 secured the area during the operation to prevent Jimena's neighbors from mobbing the arresting officers, Acebuche said.

He said Jimena is considered the “Robinhood” of Brgy. 2 because he gives out proceeds of drugs to neighbors.

The arrest was made on the strength of a warrant for violations of Section 5 and 11 of the Article 2 of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 52 Judge Anastacio Rufon dated May 16, 2007 , police records show.

No bail was recommended for violation of Section 5 or drug peddling, while a P200,000 bond for violation of Section 11 or illegal possession of drugs was required for Jimena's temporary liberty, police reports said.

Jimena, who tried to escape, according to the police, said poverty pushed him to engage in the illegal trade.

Acebuche said Jimena was caught by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency operatives led by Senior Inspector Joemarie Occeño in a buy-bust operation in March last year but he managed to escape.

He said Jimena's arrest is a message that they mean business in going after drug peddlers and users in Bacolod.*PP

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Would-be suicide
refuses to come down tree

Police and paramedics were still trying to rescue a man who climbed a coconut tree and threatened to kill himself with knives in Bacolod City last night.

As of 8 p.m. yesterday, Rolando Lopez, 52, of Marapara Street , Brgy. Villamonte, Bacolod , was still refusing to come down from the coconut tree where he has stayed for more than 24 hours, starting Tuesday night, PO1 Orlando Caporal of Police Station 4, said.

Initial investigation showed that Lopez, believed to be suffering from a nervous breakdown, went missing Tuesday morning and was later found up the tree.

A television report said Lopez poked his stomach with knives while law enforcers and rescuers tried to convince him to come down.

Lopez's wife told ABS-CBN that his condition may have been triggered by the death of their eldest child.

Police Station 4 commander, Chief Inspector Santiago Rapiz, said they have to persuade Lopez to come down without pressuring him.

On Monday, a fish farm caretaker hanged himself in his house in Pontevedra town, Negros Occidental.

The police said pressures from unpaid debts may have pushed Alexander Dandal to kill himself.*PP

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