ILOILO CITY -- The local government unit of Sara, Iloilo on Monday afternoon gave PHP100,000 cash reward to the informant whose tips led to the successful arrest of Western Visayas High Value Target Level 3 Arturo Balume Sr. @ Master Pedik and his four other members last October.
Mary Joy Abellar, municipal treasurer of Sara town, personally handed over to the informant the cash reward in the presence of Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba, Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) director.
Abellar said that the reward was sourced from the peace and order fund of the local government unit.
The informant gave “specific” tips about the whereabouts of Balume and his group that were really “vital” in the success of their operations, Tayaba said.
“This particular gesture of LGU will bolster our police operational accomplishments because many will give information to us. I hope other LGUs will also do the same to those most wanted persons engaged in illegal drugs,” Tayaba added.
Balume and his group members were arrested last October 12 at Barangay Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental.
Joint elements of the Regional Intelligence Division 6, operatives of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office and operatives of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office successfully implemented the warrant of arrest against Arturo Balume Sr. and his son, Arturo Jr., 27.
The suspects were arrested by virtue of warrants of arrest for two counts of murder for the killings of Ronaldo Estandarte of Estancia, Iloilo and Robert Magarso of Passi City, Iloilo, both personal security of mayoralty Candidate Melina Requinto of Estancia, Iloilo last May 2016.
Balume was categorized as HVT 3, being the sub-group leader of the slain Western Visayas top drug lord Melvin Odicta Sr. Drug Group. (PNA)
PNA photo by Cindy Ferrer
