ILOILO – Did Western Visayas’ top drug suspect Ernesto “Erning” Bolivar pass away due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)?
Panay News sources said Bolivar – reportedly in Manila – contracted the virus last week and was immediately cremated.
However, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) could not confirm it.
“We received reports but we cannot confirm them unless may gina–uyatan kita nga medical certificate,” said Police Colonel Gilbert Gorero, IPPO chief.
IPPO personnel also went to the family of Bolivar in Pototan town.
“They denied and refused to discuss it,” Gorero said.
The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) believed Bolivar fled to Manila to avoid being arrested here. He had an arrest warrant for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Section 5, Article II).
Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, former PRO-6 spokesperson, said Bolivar was not active in the region and his whereabouts were unknown.
Bolivar was tagged the region’s No. 1 drug personality after the deaths of drug lords Melvin Odicta Sr. who was gunned down on Aug. 28, 2016 at the Caticlan Jetty Port in Malay, Aklan and Richard Prevendido on Sept. 1, 2017 in Barangay Balabago, Jaro, Iloilo City.
Bolivar’s men reportedly used to operate mainly in the central and northern parts of Iloilo province as well as in Capiz.
They were not only into illegal drugs but also into robbery and gun-for-hire services.
Although Bolivar managed to escape from policemen trying to entrap him in a buy-bust operation at his house in Barangay Guinacas, Pototan, Iloilo on Nov. 9, 2016, the police filed a complaint against him (Criminal Case No. 17-8454)./PN