SUSPECTED drug lord Alvaro Alvaro, alias “Barok,” covers his face as he talks with his legal counsel, lawyer John Ungab. TONEE DESPOJO/CEBU DAILY NEWS
CEBU CITY—Authorities are turning a suspected drug lord who surrendered for fear of his life into a mole.
After he surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation in Bohol on Tuesday, Alvaro “Barok” Alvaro was brought to Cebu, then to Manila and back to Cebu.
Alvaro surrendered to the NBI in Bohol on Tuesday afternoon, four days after his friend, Jeffrey “Jaguar” Diaz, was killed in what police said was a gunfight in Las Piñas City.
Police said Diaz was Central Visayas’ No. 1 drug personality and Alvaro was his right hand man.
According to Rennan Augustus Oliva, NBI Bohol director, Alvaro surrendered because he feared for his and his family’s safety.
Oliva said Alvaro surrendered also to help in the investigation of the drug trade. “As part of that he should cooperate with us,” said Oliva.
Alvaro, according to Oliva in a press conference, had given information that would help in busting drug syndicates “but they are subject to verification.”
Alvaro was with his wife and mother when he showed up at the NBI office in Bohol.
Oliva and his team escorted Alvaro to Cebu City on Tuesday, a few hours after the suspect surrendered in Bohol.
Alvaro flew with NBI agents to Manila to help in follow-up operations.
“I won’t give you the specifics because it might jeopardize whatever we’re working on,” said Oliva.
From Manila, Alvaro was brought back to the NBI Central Visayas office in Cebu City past 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
The next day, he was presented to Judge Mercedita Dadole-Ygnacio of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 28 in Mandaue City.
He was supposed to be brought to Judge Jerry Dicdican of RTC Branch 25 in Danao City who issued a warrant for his arrest for illegal possession of firearms and drugs.
But Alvaro was presented to Ygnacio because Dicdican was on leave. The judge ordered that Alvaro be detained at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center.