By PROCOPIO RESABAL, JR
TAGBILARAN CITY – In a bus terminal in the capital one morning, as a bus going to Ubay town fills up with passengers, PO3 Janew Villame boards the vehicle with his guitar, stands on the aisle behind the driver’s seat, and begins to sing “Round Bohol Rock.”
The song, composed and popularized by Boholano novelty singer Yoyoy Villame, was familiar to the bus riders but the act came as a surprise.
No, it was not for pure entertainment. The singing was part of a novel approach spearheaded by Bohol PNP Director Col. Dennis Palo Agustin to help crime busting operations in the province.
It was launched here last week to encourage bus passengers to assist law enforcers in identifying, and eventually apprehending, drug-related and other criminals in this island province.
The police official, who had been named “Outstanding Public Servant” during the capital city’s 48th Charter Day celebration on July 1, 2014, said he chose the singing approach to make the educational campaign against crime and illegal drugs more effective, adding that he hopes the move will also “revive the legacy of Yoyoy Villame,” who started his singing career in the 70s entertaining passengers in bus stations here.
PO3 Janew Villame, grandson of the novelty singer, covers his grandfather’s songs, while PO2 Cullen Hibaya covers songs by Cebuano novelty singer Max Surban, say media men here.
After a song number or two, the singing policemen, carrying a portable speaker, then talk about the state of criminality in the province, and how the youth have been victimized by drug pushers and bullies. They then distribute a piece of paper and ask the passengers to write suspected drug pushers or other criminals in their town on it, and give this back to the law enforcers without signing their name for protection.
The police will then verify and check the names given by the passengers, Col. Agustin told media practitioners here during the soft launch of the program last January 14.
He said he had talked with bus operators in the province about the program and disclosed plans to expand the “singing crime-busting” to fast-crafts plying the Tagbilaran-Cebu-Tagbilaran route as well.
The provincial police head revealed that Camp Dagohoy had formed a police choir that he will soon ask to sing after Mass at the St. Joseph’s Cathedral, and to speak about the perils of crime and drug abuse.
Col. Agustin has been leading a campaign against the illegal drug trade in the province that has resulted in the arrest, and even killing, of some suspected drug pushers.
The Bohol Chronicle reported late last year that 12 of the 17 killings in the city in 2015 were linked to the drug trade. “Of the 12 slain alleged drug personalities, the triggermen remain unidentified as police had concluded the suspects are also into the drug operation,” the local newspaper said.
Police officials both in the city and the province have assured residents that they are “on top of the situation,” and appealed for cooperation and assistance to help the enforcers apprehend drug personalities in their respective areas.
The Bohol Provincial Police office has reported that P 24.3 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” was confiscated in 2015. From 2013 to 2015, some 760 people were arrested in connection with the drug trade in the province, according to police reports.
