ABOUT four village officials in Bacolod City are included in the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) drugs watchlist.
This was confirmed by Police Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Pico, spokesperson of BCPO, Monday, January 13, after a village councilman in Bacolod, who was included in Police Station 2’s drugs watchlist, was shot dead by six unidentified assailants at Purok Kasanag1, Barangay 26, Bacolod Saturday evening.
“We have an ongoing “tokhang” and it’s up for them to surrender or to change totally. Our number one priority is the campaign against illegal drugs. We are not the judge here but we are appealing to those who are included in the watchlist to surrender to authorities,” Pico said.
Kagawad Romeo Canlas, 33, of Barangay 2, was having a drinking session at the compound of kagawad Rino Dellarna of Barangay 26 at about 9:25 p.m. Saturday along with their friends when about six armed men stormed the compound and fired at him several times.
His friends were unharmed. He was the only target of the suspects. The suspects ordered them to drop to the ground and killed the victim.
BCPO’s investigation is still ongoing.
Pico said those who are included in the drugs watchlist can clear their names to the BCPO or any police units in Negros Occidental or in any region.
“If they want to surrender to other regions, the police will accommodate them so they can clear their names,” he said.
Pico also refused to name the four village officials who are included in the drugs watchlist.
Pico said the list was submitted by their confidential informants in villages and the validation is ongoing.
“We have drop boxes in 61 barangays (villages) and those names were submitted in the barangays and we are also validating it since 2018,” he said.
For his part, Mayor Evelio Leonardia said he is hopeful that the authorities can provide them the list of the barangay officials who are included on their watchlist so they can make their assessment.
He said they are hopeful that those who are included in the watchlist will be given a warning that it’s time for them to reform.