Cops seize shabu

Two suspected drug pushers were arrested by law enforcers in two separate operations in Bacolod City yesterday, the police said.

Rodrigo Salle, alias “Bebot”, 55, and Elmer Martinez, 41, were nabbed by members of the Negros Occidental Police Office Intelligence Division, Philippine Drug Enforcement Unit, and the Bacolod police in two raids, authorities said yesterday.

NOPPO director, Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, said Salle, who was apprehended after a search at his house in Purok Sigay, Brgy. 2, Bacolod, is a “big” shabu peddler in the city.

Recovered from Salle were 12 elongated plastic sachets of suspected shabu and P35,313 believed to be proceeds of the illegal trade, police records show.

A cellphone and assorted drug paraphernalia were also seized from the suspect during the operation that was done on the strength of a search warrant, issued by Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 4 Judge Danilo Amisola on March 3, police reports said.

Salle, who reportedly used to be an electrician, said his arrest yesterday was his second but he refused to comment on the cases he may face.

Martinez, meanwhile, was arrested in a joint buy-bust sting by Police Station 4 and PDEA members led by PO2 Isidro Porral, at his residence in Gonzaga Street, Brgy. 26, Bacolod, at about 3 p.m. yesterday, Rapiz, who led his precinct members, said.

Confiscated from Martinez were six sticks of suspected marijuana, Rapiz said.

He said Martinez had told them he will divulge his supplier to them.

Franco and Rapiz said they will lodge the cases for violations of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 against Salle and Martinez once the laboratory results on the prohibited substance come out today.*PP

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NOPPO reshuffling takes effect

Nine police officers occupying key positions at the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office were relieved and given new assignments effective March 4, police records show.

Among those affected by the reshuffling were Supt. Alex Belonio – Bago police chief, Supt. Armando Tubongbanua – Himamaylan police chief, Inspector Mary Rose Salve Pico – Pontevedra police chief, Supt. Iver Apellido – director of the 611th Provincial Mobile Group, Supt. Jerry Bartolome – 614th PMG director, Supt. Milko Lirazan, Senior Inspectors Argel Ancheta and Regidor Alvarado and Inspector Robert Dejucos.

Apellido replaces Belonio as Bago police chief, Trio succeeded Tubongbanua as Himamaylan police chief, while Ancheta took over the command of Pontevedra Police Station from Pico.

Belonio and Tubongbanua were designated as directors of the 611th and 614th Provincial Mobile Groups, respectively, while Pico is now serving as the deputy police chief of La Carlota City.

Bartolome and Lirazan were also named as Operations and Intelligence chiefs of the NOPPO, Dejucos as deputy director of the 613rd PMG, and Alvarado as chief of the NOPPO Investigation Branch.*GPB

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PNP investigating
‘carnapping’ claim

The police called on the public to lock their vehicles when they park them in public areas after a car was “stolen” and eventually returned by still unidentified persons in Bacolod City yesterday.

Police Station 2 commander, Senior Inspector Luisito Acebuche, said, car owners must ensure that the doors and windows of their vehicles are properly locked when they leave them at such places as churches, roadsides, or malls as they probe a reported carnapping.

Myra Janeo told reporters she and her mother left their white Mitsubishi Lancer for about 20 minutes near the Redemptorist Church at B.S. Aquino Drive, Bacolod, around noon yesterday, when they discovered that it was no longer parked there.

The car was later parked about 15 meters from the original spot.

As Janeo and members of the Scene of the Crime Operatives and Police Station 2 checked on the vehicle, however, nothing was missing except for the key.

The SOCO members lifted a number of fingerprints from the car’s doors but Janeo’s bag that contained her bankcards was intact.

Acebuche said a security guard told them he saw two unidentified men get off the car just after the Janeos had checked the area and proceeded to report the stealing.*PP

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