BALER, Aurora—The police station commander in this town has been relieved from his post Wednesday, a few days after operatives of the local police arrested the sister-in-law of Mayor Nelianto Bihasa for possession of illegal drugs.
The arrest reportedly earned the mayor’s ire.
Provincial police director, Senior Supt. Danilo Florentino, removed Chief Inspector Jun dela Cruz from his post, which the latter had occupied for just five months.
Dela Cruz was transferred to the administrative division of the provincial police headquarters in Camp Ravina. He was replaced by Senior Inspector Ferdinand Usita, station commander of the nearby Dipaculao town.
Florentino said that the relief of Dela Cruz was approved by Region 3 police director, Chief Supt. Rudy Lacadin.
The relief of Dela Cruz came five days after operatives of the Baler police arrested Bihasa’s sister-in-law, Leila Sanchez-Bihasa in an operation in Barangay Suklayin on Saturday afternoon.
The PNP has filed an information for violations of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act before the Regional Trial Court here against Sanchez-Bihasa, wife of the mayor’s brother, Amay C. Bihasa.
Sanchez-Bihasa, who is listed in the top 10 of most wanted drug personalities in this capital town, yielded 1.9 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu. She was detained at the police stockade.
Earlier, Dela Cruz said the drug haul was one of the biggest, if not the biggest, seizure by the local police.
He added that the operation only proved that no one would be spared and that there was no sacred cow in Baler when it comes to illegal drugs.
“We are just doing our job. And I want to deliver the message that we policemen are not being controlled by local politicians,” he said.
When asked whether his relief has something to do with the arrest of Sanchez-Bihasa, Dela Cruz replied: “Maybe, it’s possible.”
Florentino said Dela Cruz was tasked by Lacadin to neutralize half of the top 10 drug personalities in the town in two months. He said that Dela Cruz’s performance in the anti-drug campaign was good. Florentino admitted that Bihasa disliked Dela Cruz as police chief.
“In fact, when I assumed my post as provincial director a few months ago, Mayor Bihasa was already seeking his relief. I sought clearance from Regional Director Lacadin and he approved it so I relieved him,” he said.
