Friday, April 20, 2007 Hot political situation, series of robberies manageable: police By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan and Suzette T. Quingco
NOTHING to panic yet. Thus, assured City Police Director Ronilo Quebrar amid series of hold-ups and robberies, including the hot political scenario in Bacolod City.
"Still manageable," described Quebrar on the present situation in the city.
He said, "We've already created Task Force Barakuda (TFB), tasked to avert the occurence of hold-up and robbery cases in Bacolod."
TFB, added Quebrar, will focus on intelligence operation to determine the "brains" behind the series of hold-up and robbery cases.
On record, there were already nine hold-up cases that occured in the city since Holy Week.
The latest victim was the SeaOil gas station in Barangay Mansilingan that lost P27,000 to unknown suspects.
Politically motivated?
Mayor Evelio Leonardia, on the other hand, suspected that hold-up and robbery cases in the city might be "politically motivated."
"This could be true just to demean or discredit my administration," the mayor said.
He instructed Quebrar to strengthen their efforts aimed at averting hold-up and robbery cases.
As soon as possible, answered Quebrar who also said that his key men are now doubling their efforts just to prevent similar incident from occurring.
Quebrar, on the other hand, denied report that hold-up and robbery cases are part of police "drama" in order to pressure the Commission on Election to approve the proposed internal security operation (ISO) in Bacolod with corresponding P13 million budget.
"Ridiculous!" reacted Quebrar. I am not stupid to conduct a drama to the expense of the people. The proposed ISO in the city is there and we don't have any objection on the decision of Comelec to block it because it falls on the election banning period.
Quebrar theorized that hold-up and robbery cases are only triggered by poverty.
Political war
Quebrar, meanwhile, appealed to both Mayor Leonardia and Rep. Monico Puentevella to spare his policemen from any suspicion on the alleged political partisan.
"I assure both Mayor Leonardia and Cong. Puentevella that we policemen will remain neutral and fair to each and every candidate here in Bacolod," he said.
In the case of Clyde Villarete, Quebrar asked Leonardia and Puentevella to "let the court decide on the matter."
Villarete, 29, of Barangay Mandalagan was nabbed Tuesday for allegedly having a balisong (fan knife) and propaganda materials against congressional aspirant Renecito Novero at downtown area.
Villarete is known to be supporter of Puentevella.
Leonardia accused the solon of resorting to dirtypolitics. Puentevella clarified that Villarete only distributed legitimate propaganda materials.
The solon also clarified that the fan knife was not owned by Villarete but was merely "planted" by four arresting persons whom he tagged as supporters of the Leonardia camp.
The four were Ernesto Tagudeña of Barangay Taculing, Resty Cawaling of Barangay 14, Francisco Hiceta of Barangay Singcang-Airport and Manuel Lawrence Caraig of Barangay Mansilingan.
City Legal Officer Allan Zamora, one of Leonardia's political lieutenants at City Hall, however, denied knowing these four persons.
"I don't know anyone of them," Zamora told mediamen during a press conference Wednesday.
Quebrar, however, said, "We only based our action of filing a case against Villarete on the blotter report.
Whether the balisong is planted or not, its up for the court to decide on it."
'Bloody poll'
Meanwhile, Quebrar is hoping that both the Leonardia and Puentevella camps will adhere to peaceful elections on May 14, 2007.
"Despite the present hot political scenario, still I expect that no one will be killed just because of politics. I still expect a peaceful and not a bloody poll in Bacolod," said Quebrar.
