“Being a good police officer is one of the most difficult, dangerous, idealistic jobs in the world.” –Thomas Hauser
While serving as Iloilo City Mobile Group chief in the late 1990s, Police Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba, current Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) director, was one of the police officials in Western Visayas close to Iloilo reporters (especially the ladies). Sun Star Iloilo reporters Ednalyn Belonio-Diamante and Ruby Silubrico always had good stories after interviewing Tayaba.
The IPPO chief graduated from the Philippine National Police Academy in 1993 and endeared himself to the press by being approachable and available for interviews. Originally from Pangasinan, other positions he served include Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Region VI director and commander for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Regional Public Safety Battalion.
In his current position, he led the operation that terminated Western Visayas drug lord Richard ‘Buang’ Prevendido last year, resulting in Tayaba being known as the “conqueror.” Following the recent killing of the drug lord’s sister, Barangay Captain Remia Prevendido-Gregori of Iloilo City’s Mandurriao district, the provincial police chief called the slain barangay official a high-value target.
He noted, at least six unidentified armed men in a red car assaulted the Prevendido-Gregori, along with her helper, Analee Antipatria, who was also killed during the incident.
As of this writing, the suspects remain unidentified.
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Minutes after a foiled assassination attempt on Police Officer 1 (PO1) Dorben Acap of the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (RPHAU) last Tuesday at Sitio Pajo located in Barangay Dulonan of Iloilo City’s Arevalo district, PO2 Melvin Mocorro, who reportedly worked under Tayaba, was rushed to a hospital with gunshot wounds.
Mocorro is accused of ambushing Acap, who managed to fire back.
The targeted police officer survived and vowed to reveal more about the botched attempt on his life once cleared by doctors.
As of this writing, there is no confirmation Mocorro was involved in the incident.
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Over the next several weeks and months, both the IPPO and Police Regional Office-6, led by Police Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, will be stepping up their campaign against “persons of authority” involved with illegal drugs, this includes police officers and elected officials.
Tayaba and his team’s remarkable operations against dangerous individuals in illegal drugs trade have gained national attention, particularly with their campaigns taking place after President Rodrigo Duterte revealed to town and city councilors from across the country during their recent national convention in Iloilo City he wanted more illegal drug traffickers killed – including “narco cops.”/WDJ