Negros drug lords send surrender feelers

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Some drug lords in the Negros Island Region have signified their intention to surrender, Chief Superintendent Renato Gumban, regional police director, said yesterday.

Gumban said Berya Tolentino, the alleged leader of the so-called Berya drug ring, is among those who sent surrender feelers amid the sustained drug war under Oplan Double Barrel Reloaded.

Gumban said Tolentino could surrender to any law enforcement unit in the region.

Ricky Serenio, a self-confessed member of the Berya drug ring, had claimed the syndicate is giving protection money to some police officers in the region. At least 35 police officers whom Serenio tagged as drug protectors were relieved from their posts and transferred to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Serenio, who was arrested for illegal possession of firearms and explosives as well as grave coercion, was recently released after posting bail.

He claimed the Berya drug ring distributes at least 15 kilos of shabu a month in Bacolod City and 20 kilos in six cities and a town in Negros Occidental.

Drug suspect slain

Meanwhile, unidentified motorcycle-riding men gunned down another drug suspect in Bulacan yesterday.

Erick Villanueva, 29, a resident of Barangay Iba Ibayo in Hagonoy town, was driving his motorcycle at around 4 p.m. when he was shot.

The assailants left a placard identifying the victim as a drug pusher and robber.

P2.1-M shabu seized

At least 22 sachets of shabu weighing 841 grams with an estimated street value of P1.5 million were seized in a sting in Barangay Bonga Mayor in Bustos also in Bulacan on Friday. Teresita Leonardo and Danilo Leonardo were arrested.

Melgin Gubaton, 19, was collared after a raid on a suspected drug den in a banana farm in Purok Silangan, Barangay Agusan Pequeño in Butuan City yielded 55 grams of shabu with an estimated value of P649,000. 

Two of Gubaton’s alleged cohorts escaped.

Gubaton told police he gets his supply of shabu from a certain Walter Pandiin, who claimed the illegal drugs were among those seized by the police in drug stings. 

Police said Gubaton is not on their drug watchlist. 

Arturo Cabayan Dilla was arrested in an anti-drug operation in Barangay Lambakin in Marilao also in Bulacan; Relly Talaro  in Sta. Clara, Sta. Ana in Cagayan and Viomel Nulud in Cutcut, Angeles City, Pampanga on Friday.

They reportedly yielded sachets of shabu.

Talaro is also a suspect in the rape and murder of his daughter Revelyn, 10, whose decomposing body was recovered at a cornfield some 10 meters away from their house on Tuesday. ?– With Ben Serrano, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Francis Elevado, Raymund Catindig, Ric Sapnu