Four persons, including an American national and
a student, were arrested in separate drug busts in
Tagbilaran City and Panglao, Bohol on
Wednesday night and Friday morning,
respectively.
The first operation was conducted in Manga,
Tagbilaran City on Wednesday night, where
PDEA-PNP operatives arrested US citizen Esrom
Generalao Jenkins, 42, and his associates Jude
Benis Bantog, 42, and April Valliente Ighot, 28.
The operatives seized 15 packages of illegal drugs
worth P102,000 from the suspects.
In a separate operation in Tawala, Panglao on
Friday morning, police arrested Blair Christian
Graciosa, a student in Panglao.
Graciosa was found with P510,000 worth of shabu.
The suspects are all facing charges for violating
the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
This is the second time in recent months that an
American national has been arrested for drug
trafficking in Bohol. In May, an American national
was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Bohol.
The arrests come as the Bohol Provincial Police
Office (BPPO) is stepping up its campaign against
illegal drugs.
In the past month, the police have arrested dozens
of drug suspects and seized large quantities of
illegal drugs, the most recent was the seizure of
P13.7 million worth of shabu from a drug dealer in
Panglao.
The arrest led to the relief of the chief of police of
Panglao, a move that shocked and dismayed
Boholanos.
PANGLAO AND DAUIS AS DRUG HUB?
The officials of Panglao town and social media
observers in Bohol were shocked to learn that
Police Major Andie Corpus was relieved of his post
as chief of police.
Panglao Mayor Boy Arcay said he was
disappointed with the development, especially
since Corpus had been performing well in his role.
Corpus, who is a native of Panglao, was appointed
to the position in 2022 after Arcay specifically
requested him.
In his short time in office, Corpus led several
successful operations against illegal drugs,
including a raid on June 24 that resulted in the
seizure of more than two kilos of shabu with an
estimated value of P13.7 million.
Corpuz’s team was also responsible in the arrest
of suspected drug personality, a certain Joey
Atacador, who was reported to be the alleged
driver of Dauis Mayor Roman Bullen during a buy-
bust operation in Barangay Libaong, Panglao early
in June 2023.
In April this year, Major Corpuz was responsible
for the seizure of P7.1 million worth of shabu from
alleged drug dealer Matt Darnel Abuyabor, a
resident of Tagbilaran City who was arrested
during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Tangnan,
Panglao.
Despite his accomplishments, Corpus was relieved
of his post, raising questions about the
politicization of the police force and the fairness of
the promotion process.
Officials from the Bohol Provincial Police Office
(BPPO) said that Corpus was simply awaiting
promotion and would be transferred to Police
Regional Office -7 (PRO-7).
However, many suspect that there is another
reason for Corpus’ removal.
Some officials plan to bring the matter to the
attention of the PNP chief and DILG Secretary
Benhur Abalos.
BPPO has clarified that the relief of the chief of
police in the town of Panglao is not related to the
recent big arrests of illegal drugs in the area.
P/Lt. Col. Norman Nuez, spokesperson of the
BPPO, said that the relief of P/Maj. Andie Corpuz
as the chief of police in the Panglao police station
is part of a promotion process.
In the past few months, the Panglao police station
has arrested several high-value drug suspects and
seized large quantities of illegal drugs.
“The relief of Maj. Corpuz is purely a matter of
promotion,” Nuez said. “He has been a very
effective chief of police in Panglao, and we are
confident that he will continue to be successful in
his new assignment.”
Nuez also denied that Corpuz’s relief was related
to the recent shooting incident last June 28
involving a foreign national.
Nuez said that the BPPO is committed to the war
on drugs and that it will continue to work with the
local government and other law enforcement
agencies to keep Bohol safe.
P22-M DRUGS IN MARIVELES, DAUIS
The biggest illegal drug buy-bust operation in
Bohol this year involved more than three kilos and
almost P22 million worth of suspected shabu
seized on July 14, 2023.
The suspect, identified as Sherwin “Winwin”
Trabero Aranas, 33, single, and a resident of
Purok 5, Mariveles in the same town, was caught
with 3.2 kilos of suspected shabu worth P21.9
million.
The buy-bust operation was led by Lt. Thomas Zen
Cheung, chief of Dauis Municipal Police Station,
Maj. Peter Naboye of the PNP Provincial
Intelligence Unit, and Lt. Col. John Kareena
Escober of the PNP Provincial Mobile Force
Company.
Meanwhile, police are urging the public to report
any information about illegal drug activities to the
authorities. (With reports from Ven Rebo Arigo)