The provincial director (PD) of the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) insists that the province remains to be generally peaceful despite a spate of killings in the province that happened last month.
This was the statement of Col. Joselito Clarito in a radio interview on Tuesday, Mar. 2, 2021 over Newsmakers ug Uban Pa hosted by the mother and son tandem of Ardy Araneta-Batoy and Chandymar Araneta-Batoy.
The PD said that the province remains relatively peaceful compared to some provinces in Central Visayas.
“Actually, ang ating situation dito, by and large, manageable and ating crime situation dito [sa Bohol] is peaceful, compared sa other provinces sa region 7 [Central Visayas]”, Clarito said in the interview.
His assessment of the crime situation here comes at the heels of a spate of killings that happened in February, 2021.
He said that the police are trying their best to solve the crimes and maintain peace and order in the province.
Last month, Lucresia Tasic, a barangay councilor in Balilihan was killed by still unidentified persons in Hanopol Norte, Balilihan. Clarito said that the police are now in the process of converting the CCTV footage of the incident that may help solve the crime.
There was also an incident in barangay Calituban, Talibon, where a 50-year-old man identified as Framil Cabrera, was killed by unknown perpetrators. The victim was allegedly one of the complainants in the charge filed against Calituban barangay captain Mario Lamanilao.
It can be remembered that Lamanilao is being accused of anomalies in the distribution of Social Amelioration Program (SAP) and was suspended from his post back in Sept., 2020.
Moreover, there two killing incidents that happened in Tagbilaran, six (6) days apart.
On Feb. 21, 2021, Jerome Jaluag was killed by unidentified persons riding in tandem. Clarito said that the victim may have been allegedly involved with drugs prior to the murder. The probe on the killing is still on going, the PD added.
Moreover, on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021, unidentified persons killed the victim identified as Clark Mier at CPG North Avenue. Clarito said that the motive behind the killing may be related to the victim’s work as a collector of a company here in Bohol.