Padaca calls for cop chief's relief: Murder raps filed vs five in Isabela poll exec's slay

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – Murder charges have been filed against suspects in the Nov. 14 killing of Isabela’s highest-ranking election officer, whose murder had generated fears of possible violence in next year’s polls in the province.

Following this, Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca, called for the relief of provincial police director, Senior Supt. Jimmy Rivera describing the killing as “terrible but not totally unexpected.”

Of the five charged suspects, police said, two of them - Harry Taccad and Gerry Calanday - were now in police custody following their arrest in follow-up operations in connection with the shooting of provincial election supervisor Michael Valdez in Tumauni town.

“Taccad (of Tumauini) and Calanday were both (suspected) members of robbery and gun-for-hire groups. They have been charged with murder along with three others in connection with the killing,” said Supt. Vicente Valdez of the provincial police office.

Taccad and Calanday, both arrested in their safehouse in Tumauini town, were already subjected to inquest proceedings with no bail recommended before the Isabela prosecutor’s office evening of Nov. 15 or hours after their arrest.

Authorities are still tracking down the whereabouts of the other three suspects included in the charge sheet.

They were identified as Lito Magdangal alias Michael, Giovanni Taccad Mendoza alias Bunny and a certain Eric Alzate.

Police said that Magdangal, said to be a resident of Santiago City, and Bunny of Kalinga province were the principal suspects in the killing.

The five suspects, police claimed, had long been suspected members of the Magsanoc and Balangue robbery and gun-for-hire groups operating in Santiago City and Roxas town, also both in Isabela.

Police said they have witnesses linking the suspects’ involvement in Valdez’s killing.
Moreover, the remains of the 37-year old Valdez, who succumbed to three gunshot wounds on the back while being rushed to the Tumauini community hospital, were already taken Nov. 15 to his native Agoo town in La Union.

It was learned that Valdez’s half-brother, Felimon Asperin Jr., then the election officer of Bauang town, was also shot dead in the said town three years ago.

Valdez, a lawyer, was tending his garden near his owned Countrystate Hotel and Drive Inn, when two suspects, armed with .45 caliber pistol and who earlier posed as hotel guests, went to him from behind and shot him about 5:45 a.m. on Nov. 14.

The suspects then fled immediately on board a red Honda Wave motorcycle, whose registered owner was later traced to a certain Leonardo Madamba, a suspected member of the Balangue group who was said to be responsible in a series of robberies in Isabela.

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Erroneous report on San Fabian slay hit

The name of a murdered young fresh graduate was unduly tarnished by a television report which stated he was a member of an “acetylene gang” when he was not, his friends and peers in school said.

This, based on the incident last June at San Fabian Pangasinan where three persons from Baguio were reportedly gunned down by unidentified men resulting to the death of one Roel “Bisteken” Sudaypan and a 22-year- old young man in the person of Joel Selya-en. The wife of Sudaypan survived.

Roel Sudaypan was actually detained at San Fabian Police Station of which a bond was posted for his temporary liberty.

Sel-ayen together with the wife of the accused Roel Sudaypan brought the release order to San Fabian Police Station and the accused was released from detention.

The trio went to the nearest highway where their other companions were waiting for them.
Suddenly, two unidentified men riding in a motorcycle shot them which caused the death of the accused and an innocent civilian, 22-year-old Joel Sel-ayen.

They were rushed to Region 1 Dagupan Medical Center but were declared dead on arrival.
Afterwards, ABS-CBN Dagupan reportedly broadcast a report about the incident stating the deceased including Sel-ayen were members or suspected members of acetelyne gang purportedly based on reports they gathered from policemen who initially conducted partial investigation which was reportedly erroneous and was not true.

Sel-ayen, his friends said, was a good young man who was a fresh graduate of University of the Cordilleras in Baguio with a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy degree.

They said he was a young man of good standing in the community and was never involved in such a crime or activities but it was only incidental that he accompanied the wife of the accused in bringing the release order to San Fabian where he was gunned down by unidentified men.

“The point of this clarification is to clarify that Joel Sel-ayen is an innocent young man who is appealing before the conscience of justice that he is not a member of acetylene gang as what the report had said,” his friends said. “We also appeal to the almighty God in prayers that the murderers shall feel their conscience in what they have done and God shall punish them in hell.”

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23 escape death as truck plunges down Sadanga ravine: Another vehicular mishap in Sagada claims two lives

By Eduardo Umaming Jr and Larry Madarang

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- A fully loaded jeep plying the Poblacion – Suyo road here driven by Rafael Tocya, turned turtle while going down toBarangay Ankileng morning of Nov. 14 resulting to the death of two persons.

Responding rescue group composed of residents of Ankileng and Suyo, local police and tourist guides rushed all 19 injured passengers to Saint Theodore’s Hospital where Andrew Bannagao, 57, was declared dead-on-arrival.

He is survived by his wife and three children, the eldest is 15 year old high school student.
Two other victims – Manuel Gaong and Elena Balcita, were immediately brought to a hospital in Baguio where the former died four days later.

As of this writing, Balcita is still recovering in the hospital but there is no way to know her full condition.

The other 16 passengers were transferred to Bontoc General Hospital to further check on their injuries.

All were declared safe, and already out from the hospital except for a certain Grace Fiayongan who is 9 nine months, and expecting her due date.

Initial police investigation revealed the vehicle’s hydraulic brake malfunctioned that may had the accident.. This is the second vehicular accident in this municipality in a span of two weeks.
On Oct. 31, a family-owned jeep fell some 70 meters deep along the Dantay – Sagada that claimed the lives of couple Victor and Beatrice Batcagan, their 1 month old baby Jay Batcagan, 16 year old Masinlay Tomy Sia-ed, and Elizabeth Batcagan, 58 year old and school principal of Ankileng National High School.

This happened almost the same site of a similar accident some years back involving teachers from Besao.

Meantime, BIBAK International through Ms. Lulu Delson and accompanied by Caridad Fiar-od made a visit and interview to the family of the late Victor and Beatrice Batcagan for a possible scholarship assistance to one of the 6 surviving children.

Meanwhile, 23 persons including a former provincial board member escaped death after their vehicle plunged down a 10 meter ravine in Sadanga town also in the province on Nov. 17.

Chief Insp. Marcial Faed, provincial operations officer told this writer the incident happened around 5: p.m., at Sitio Indakling, Poblacion.

He identified the vehicle as an Elf truck with plate number UTF 327 owned and driven by Albert Limmayog, a former Mountain Province board member.

Limmayog is now undergoing medical treatment at Bontoc General Hospital.

Rescued and also undergoing medical treatment are Tolentino Garwinen, Rita Wanawan, Paul Egcatan, Mary Baniwas,Qncita Padya-os, Sarawsaw Atuan, Marsaline Iseguen, Palangeo Tudyog, Angelo Agayyong, Julius Amarangeb, Jayson Gadwa, Dominica Fatawil, Benhur Falisong, Domingo Gadwa, Alban Gariwen, Fanwa Tao-ey, Patric Nisban, Paula Atuan, Leopoldo Pais, Jonathan Ngados, Abel Tudyog, Theodora Gadwa, Benedicto Garwinen and Peter Ingan.

All victims were rushed to the Bontoc General Hospital, Faed said.

According to Faed, Limmayog claimed he experienced mechanical defects while negotiating the road which caused the accident.

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4 NPA rebs surrender to cops after gunfight

TINOC, Ifugao – Five suspected members of the New People’s Army surrendered after a gunfight with government troops here Nov. 11 at Barangay Gumbang.

PO1, Juliet Nalidong, provincial police relations officer said around 70 communist guerillas were earlier cited in the area planning to take over the police station.

This.prompted police to send reinforcements in the area led by Inspectors Ernesto Bekesan and and Christian Salonga but they were fired at by the “rebels.”

The troops and guerillas exchanged fire with them. Four of the rebels later surrendered.

Recovered from rebels were five high powered firearms, five explosives, paraphernalia for acupuncture and assorted subversive materials.

Those who who surrendered were Abigail Joy Landicho Aman, known as Ka Mayen and identified as the company commander, 22, of Paranaque City, 2nd yr Law student of UP Manila; Jan Kristel Trajano Cruz, identified as the political leader of the group, 24, of Bagumbayan,Taguig City, 3rd yr college of UP Diliman; Alfredo Muñes Ramos, known as Ka Pilan, 28 of Caloocan City, college undergraduate of Unviersity of the East and Mark Joseph Dacer Gidayawan, 19, elementary graduate of Navotas, Manila.

The captives were brought to the provincial police office for investigation.

A case of illegal possession of firearms, ammunitions and explosives was filed againt the suspects on Nov. 16.

They were later incarcerated at the municipal jail in Kiangan town in the province around 4:30 p.m. that day on order of Judge Joseph Baguilat, of the regional trial court with no bail recommended.

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Two Cordillera police execs, 18 others sacked

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Two police officers and 18 others were dismissed from the Philippine National Police here for various offenses.

Cordillera police also suspended 28 other policemen (two police commissioned officers and 26 non-commissioned officers) in efforts to ride the service of scalalwags.

Chief Supt. Samuel Diciano, police deputy regional director for administration said the erring cops were dismissed from from January to date.

Meanwhile, a senior police officer who had illegally occupied land inside Camp Dangwa, the Regional police headquarters voluntarily tore down his house this week.

Some police personnel also followed suit.

Since last year residents in Camp Dangwa held dialogues with the Regional Command since the camp would be developed and structures would be built.

They were given ample time to look for alternative places and notice to vacate.

Regional Director Chief Supt. Orlando Pestaño said with implementation of development and as proposal site for material recovery facility in compliance with the government’s solid waste disposal program, government is also constructing offices.

Pestaño cited police officers and men who are now doing their part in transferring their properties and leaving their houses for the realization of a worthy development of police services.

He said that as much as possible, they don’t want to implement forced eviction and it is a priority to “protect PNP property.

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