Yoyoy Villame's grandson sings songs vs illegal drugs

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines – Another first has taken place in Bohol: A novelty campaign against illegal drugs, vote-buying, and underestimation of the police showcasing the legacy of the late Boholano king of novelty songs, Yoyoy Villame, through the songs of his grandson, Police Officer 3 Janew Villame of the Clarin Police Station.

Senior Superintendent Dennis Agustin, director of the Bohol Police Provincial Office, said he got the idea of launching CrimeBus-ter, a novelty campaign against illegal drugs through direct interaction with bus passengers.

The "bus," dubbed "CrimeBusTer," was launched last January 14, and Agustin said Villame will ride on it and sing to the passengers his composed ala-Yoyoy novelty songs, while other policemen in the team will be soliciting tips from the passengers on the known drug personalities in their respective barangays.

Agustin, citing the tandem of Yoyoy and Max Surban that topped the music chart in the 80s, also picked Inspector Lamberto Hibaya to do a Max Surban songs in tandem with PO3 Villame. Hibaya–though not a relative of Max Surban–was found to be a good imitator of Surban to complement with PO3 Villame  Yoyoy, or Roman Tesorio Villame in real life, was a native of Calape, Bohol. He died in May 2007 at the age of 74.

Agustin said the BPPO planned to expand the campaign through the Cebu-bound fast crafts, considering that Max Surban is from Cebu.

As of now in the CrimeBus-ter, PO3 Villame sings with his songs, while Hibaya is still composing his own, in the style of Max Surban. They will provide entertainment while conducting information education campaign to passengers of buses and fast crafts, while the police provide security to commuters during their travel, Agustin said.

In the long run, their songs will be recorded with a video to be played later in fast crafts after the Philippine tourism promotional video, as suggested by BPPO information officer and head of the operations division, Supt. Ricky Delelis.

During the launching on Thursday at the Integrated Bus Terminal in Tagbilaran City, the BPPO started with Southern Star buses of the Vallacar Transit where the uniformed PO3 Villame entertained the passengers with his composition of novelty songs on the campaign against illegal drugs and a general gist on the bravery of Boholano policemen, with the call of not selling their votes.

Hibaya, for his part, distributed sheets of paper to the passengers where they can write down the names of suspected drug personalities in their areas. The police assured that the information will be treated confidential and will be validated before any police operation will be conducted against those confirmed drug personalities.

Agustin said he discovered the talent of PO3 Villame and connecting the legacy of his grandfather, Yoyoy, in him could catch the attention of the public and get cooperation in the intelligence gathering to aid the authorities in the drive against criminalities.

The provincial police director added that the campaign would also be a way to relive the legacy of Yoyoy Villame. This time, PO3 Villame and Hibaya, will be loading songs with more serious lyrics. (FREEMAN)