Panglao, Bohol Mayor Edgardo “Boy” Arcay has announced
that Police Major Andie Corpus had resumed his post as chief
of Panglao Police Station starting August 2023.
This came after a meeting with Bohol Police Provincial Office
(BPPO) director Colonel Lorenzo Batuan who directed the
reinstallation of Corpuz.
Corpus was abruptly relieved of his duties on June 29, 2023,
after he led series of big-time anti-illegal drugs raid in Panglao,
latest of which resulted in the confiscation of shabu worth P13.7
million.
The relief of Corpus sparked public outrage and suspicion, as
many netizens accused the provincial government of Bohol and
Camp Dagohoy of politicking.
Some also questioned the timing of the relief, as it coincided
with the fatal shooting of a foreign national in Panglao.
Police Regional Office-7 regional director PBGen. Anthony
Aberin visited Bohol to clarify that Corpus’ relief was not related
to his relentless anti-illegal drugs campaign, but rather he was
promoted to a higher rank.
However, Arcay expressed his support for Corpus and
appealed to DILG Sec. Benhur Abalos to reinstate him as the
Panglao police chief.
He said that Corpus was a competent and dedicated officer
who had enormously contributed to the peace and order
situation in Panglao.
He also said that he represented the sentiment of the people
who trusted and respected Corpus.
Batuan confirmed that Abalos had approved the request of
Arcay and that Corpus has been reinstated in August 2023.
The BPPO provincial director said that he hoped that Corpus
would continue to perform his duties with integrity and
professionalism.
Batuan also urged the public to refrain from spreading false and
malicious information about the cause of Corpus’ relief and to
respect the due process of law.
Meanwhile, the Mayor of Panglao has expressed confidence
that the island’s peace and order situation would improve now
that Corpuz is back to his post.
“We are happy that Maj. Corpus will be returning as chief of the
Panglao Police Station,” Mayor Arcay told Bohol media. “He is
a good officer and he has the full support of the people of
Panglao.”
“We believe that Maj. Corpus will be able to lead the Panglao
Police Station to greater heights,” Mayor Arcay said in a radio
interview. “We are confident that he will be able to keep our
community safe.”
PANGLAO AND DAUIS AS CENTER OF ILLEGAL DRUG
TRADING?
Earlier, officials of Panglao town and social media observers in
Bohol were shocked to learn that Corpus was relieved of his
post as chief of police.
Arcay had said he was disappointed with the change of
command at Panglao PNP, 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 to 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 suddenly relieved of
his post, raising questions about the politicization of the police
force.
The reinstatement of Corpuz, according to Arcay, will boost the
anti-illegal drugs campaign in Panglao, and could also affect
the drug trading in Dauis municipality, also in Panglao island.
Recently, not only Panglao but Dauis town has been in the
limelight due big-time confiscation of illegal drugs.
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.
Also, last week, four individuals, including an American national
and a student, were arrested in separate drug busts in
Tagbilaran City and Panglao, Bohol.
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.
Police 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 in possession of shabu worth P510,000.