Mr. Policeman does it again!

Isadora Romeral

In this day and age, members of the police force are more often than not looked

upon in a negative light. Blame it on the stereotype, but that’s just the way it has

become. Gone are the days when being a police officer simply meant that you

protect the people. Now, to the common person, law enforcers are often seen as

corrupt and biased towards who can give bigger bribe money.

And while this may be true in some cases, there are still those who stick to the

essence of service. And last Friday – April 20, 2010 – three of them were honored.

On the latest episode of Talakayan Sa Isyung Pulis (T.S.I.P.), two of the country’s

latest drug raids were given light, putting focus on the teams behind each. On the

segment “Hepe of the Week,” P/Insp. Virgilio Santiago was applauded for the efforts

he and his team exerted in the raid against three Chinese nationals just last April

18. The raid happened along Better Living in Taguig City and is considered to be

one of the biggest hauls in terms of the amount seized, with 7.5kg of

methamphetamine in the suspects’ possession.

Two others were also given recognition in a later segment, “Mamang Pulis”. After

raiding and closing down a big drug factory in the same city, PO3 Reynaldo Cuevas

and PO2 James Barbajera were also honored. While the first operation was

recognized as being big in terms of the weight of drugs seized, this one was

applauded for its monetary value of rougly Php 11,000,000,000.00.

All of the three police officers are members of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Branch of the

RAID-SOTG and were commended by current PNP Chief Jesus A. Verzosa.

T.S.I.P. is a weekly one-hour program hosted by Philippine National Police (PNP)

Spokesperson C/Supt. Leonardo Espina and Kathy San Gabriel.

 Cop killed in shooting

Isadora Romeral

A police officer and his companion were shot multiple times along Estrada Street,

Barangay Tetuan, Zamboanga City last April 25, 2010 at 4:30 AM.

The victims were PO3 Bernardo Raz, 46 and Alma Bonifacio, 37, both married. Raz

and Bonifacio were riding in tandem on a white police motorcycle with plate number

SK-1530. The unidentified suspects approached them, also in tandem on another

motorcycle. They were shot on the said place, sustaining multiple gunshot wounds,

before the suspects fled to an unknown direction.

Raz, who was shot on different parts of the body, was taken to Western Mindanao

Medicl Center where the attending physician pronounced him as dead on arrival.

Bonifacio was taken to Doctor’s Hospital for treatment of the wounds on both her

legs.

Ronilo Bonifacio, husband of one of the victims, was invited to Zamboanga City CPS

6 for questioning.
 Barangay councilor, abducted

Isadora Romeral

A woman was abducted outside of Bapa Furniture located along National Highway,

Barangay Poblacion, Tagum City, Davao Del Norte last April 24, 2010 at 1:51 PM.

The victim was Mildred Baylon Conol, 46, married, and a barangay councilor at

Barangay Mesaoy, New Corella, where she is a resident. Conol, who was on her way

to buy medicine from the nearest pharmacy, was approached at gunpoint and

forcibly taken by three unidentified suspects onboard Yamaha DT and yellow Honda

XRM motorcycles. The suspects used the said vehicles, without plate numbers, to

leave with the victim enroute to Barangay Mankilam, Tagum City.