By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Police Regional Office-18 (PRO-18) Director, Police Chief Superintendent Renato Gumban, confirmed yesterday afternoon that alleged drug lord Berya Tolentino sent surrender feelers to his office. He also confirmed other Negros Island Region (NIR) drug lords have also sent feelers.
He credited the Philippine National Police (PNP) “Oplan: Double Barrel Alpha Reloaded” with pressuring drug groups, noting they have arrested many individuals in the province with links to illegal drugs.
Gumban suggested Tolentino surrender to any law enforcement authority as soon as possible, adding there is an arrest warrant currently out for her, but would not reveal the specific charge.
He also confirmed reading the supplemental affidavit, released by former Berya drug group bagman Ricky Serenio, and has already submitted his recommendations to the PNP-Internal Affairs Service.
Meanwhile, Gumban clarified the new process in probing high-ranking cops with alleged drug involvement.
Once relieved from their post, the officer in question is moved to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (RPHAU), where they await the decision from national headquarters.
“For police ranked superintendent and below, they will be reassigned to the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB),” he explained. “For those ranked Senior Superintendent, Camp Crame will be the one to decide where they’ll be reassigned.”
Gumban noted the investigation by the Internal Affairs Service begins next week, citing the delay was due to the busy schedules ensuring the safety of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings in Bacolod City.
Earlier, Serenio claimed Tolentino is planning to surface in order to execute her own affidavits./WDJ