After last week’s arrest of Balume drug group leader Arturo Balume, Sr., Estancia Mayor Rene Cordero recently denied utilizing him as a hitman, affirming the suspect was solely employed to oversee the Estancia Port.

Balume is suspected of murdering Ronaldo Estandarte and Roberto Magarso, bodyguards for Cordero’s opponent in the previous mayoral election, Melina Requinto.

The suspect also denied being hired as a hitman.

Balume was arrested last week, alongside his son, Arturo Balume II, in Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental.

A subsequent search by police yielded 10 small sachets of suspected shabu, several .38 caliber and .45 caliber bullets, a .45 caliber magazine, a .38 caliber pistol, a .45 caliber pistol, and a mobile phone.

The elder Balume also previously worked as security personnel for former Sara Mayor Neptali Salcedo./WDJ