Cop chief denies coddling Gringo

BACOLOD CITY — Absurd.

Thus reacted Bacolod City police chief Pedro Merced to allegations that he has been coddling fugitive former Sen. Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan.

"This is not true," said Merced, referring to reports that he has been keeping Honasan in a certain Palanca Hotel here.

"I will be the first person to arrest Honasan if he is sighted in Bacolod," he said, adding that there is no Palanca Hotel in the city.

Merced also clarified that he is not a member of the Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Inc., which Honasan founded.

Police recently raided the residence of Toboso councilor William Ballesteros on reports that Honasan was staying there, but came out empty-handed.

Honasan was tagged as one of the alleged brains of the failed 2003 Oakwood mutiny. The government has offered a P5-million reward for his capture. — Antonieta Lopez