Mayor commends cops for drug haul

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Mayor Neil Lizares III of Talisay City, Negros Occidental lauded Talisay PNP chief Major Jigger Gimeno and Silay Police by Major Rollie Pondevilla for scoring one of the biggest drug hauls in the province.

More or less P3.5 million worth of suspected shabu were seized from five drug suspects, who were arrested during a buy-bust operation at the Menlo Village Phase 3 in Brgy. Zone 10, Talisay City Wednesday

Lizares said he is in full support of the national government’s drive against illegal drugs.

He also issued a stern warning to all drug pushers and users that it is never too late to turn their lives around and to put a stop on their illegal activities.

Earlier, Col. Romeo Baleros, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, said that two of the five arrested suspects are women and are believed to be members of the Divinagracia Drug Group.

Arrested were Maria Delmar Parohinog, 22; Joahnna Lusabia, 20; Homark Orquia, 27; Rommel Ferrer, 25; and Jason Parohinog, 19, all of Brgy. Mambulac, Silay City.

Baleros said their initial investigation showed that the shabu was delivered to the arrested suspects by a contact of the Michael Divinagracia Drug Group.

Baleros said he suspects that the supply of shabu may have been earmarked for distribution at the Dinagsa Festival in Cadiz City and the Lubay-Lubay Festival in Cauayan.

While the buy-bust operation was supposed to take place in Silay City, the venue was transferred to Talisay City where the five suspects were collared.

Michael Divinagracia, the alleged leader of a drug group operating in Silay, Talisay and neighboring areas, surrendered to Silay City Mayor Mark Golez in previous years.

But he later resumed his illegal operations later, Baleros said.

Major Jimeno said that Ma. Delmar Parohinog and Lusabia were considered High-Value Target (HVT) Level 3 drug personalities, while Orquia, Ferrer and Jason Parohinog were Street Level Target drug suspects in Silay City.

Baleros commended Jimeno and Maj. Rolly Pondevilla, Silay City police officer-in-charge, and their operatives for a job well done.

Baleros also announced yesterday that he is offering a P200,000 reward for information that may lead to the arrest of Divinagracia, who is categorized as HVT Level 3 drug personality.

The Divinagracia Drug Group is one of the six drug groups operating in Negros Occidental.