The newly-installed police officer-in-charge of EB Magalona, Senior Inspector Arnold Mesias, faces a tough challenge of Mayor David Albert Lacson for him to bring down the crime rate to zero percent in the town.

Lacson yesterday said Mesias, former Moises Padilla police chief, should also give priority to the resolution of unsolved crimes in the town, in the past two months.

Police records show that the assassination of radio block timer Niel Jimena in Brgy. Tabigue, the killing of Kagawad Rolando Lozada, farmer Lauro Delgado Sr., which is believed to have been perpetrated by members of a bandit group, and the abduction of three others, in barangays San Isidro and Canlusong in EB. Magalona, Negros Occidental, have remained unsolved.

The suspects behind the deaths of Lozada and Delgado are believed to be members of a bandit group, which is also behind robbery-hold-up incidents and timber poaching activities in the hinterlands of EB Magalona, Victorias and Silay City, the police said.

Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, said Mesias will focus on the anti-criminality campaign in EB Magalona, while Supt. Samuel Mina, 3rd district task force chief, will act as “troubleshooter”, and supervise law enforcement and security operations in the district.

Mesias, who assumed command Monday, replaced Senior Inspector Norberto Barniso, who was relieved as the town police chief several months ago, following a series of atrocities committed by the New People’s Army in the municipality.

He said he will do his best to make EB Magalona peaceful, and assist Task Group Jimena in gathering evidence against the suspects in the death of the Iloilo-based broadcaster.

Investigators of Task Group Jimena are zeroing in on three angles in their probe, which may include his job as media practitioner, his being a former confidential agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and personal grudges.

Lacson had earlier expressed alarm over the unsolved crimes in EB Magalona, especially in the hinterland areas that may affect their investment promotion campaign, if not addressed immediately.

He also proposed the setting up of a detachment in Brgy. Canlusong, EB Magalona, to constrict the movements of lawless elements operating in the town hinterlands, and neighboring areas.*GPB

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