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10 armed groups still active in Abra-PNP
B Y DEXTER A SEE

CAMP DANGWA, LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Authorities of the Philippine National Police here said that at least 10 private armed groups are still active in Abra. They said these groups might case disruption of the May 14 elections.

The police reported to the Commission on Elections the 10 private armed groups have at least 127 members and led by 11 known personalities, including politicians, who are their financiers or protectors.

However, names of alleged protectors of financiers of the private armed groups was withheld by Camp Dangwa PNP officers.

Records showed the PAGs in Abra are used to help in the campaign of some politicians and provide security to the politicians and the immediate members of their families.

It was learned that monitored activities of PAG members included harassment of voters, who are not supportive of the politicians the PAGs are serving.

The police said it is only in Abra where some politicians employ the services of armed groups in order to advance their political careers.

It was learned that the PAG members are holders of unlicensed firearms.

Since the creation of Task Force Abra, the PAGs were monitored to have lain low. This came as a result of the sustained checkpoint operations as well as improved police visibility in the province.

Though their movements are restricted, the PAGs still have the capability to created disturbance in the coming elections, officials said.

Earlier, Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. ordered the new leadership of the Task Force Abra to pres the campaign to neutralize the PAGs in the province so that there will be honest, orderly, and peaceful elections in the province.

Despite the clamor by some Abra politicians to disband Task Force Abra, the House of Representatives’ committee on peace and order asked the Comelec to retain the police unit in the province, noting it has been doing a good job in the maintenance of peace and order in the province.

Abra was placed under Comelec control due to a series of violence resulting in the killing of several people, including La Paz Mayor Marc Ysrael Bernos, Board Member James Bersamin and Rep. Luis Bersamin.

Concerned multi-sectoral groups in Abra have expressed objection to the sudden change in the leadership of the Task Force Abra, saying the PAGs are expected to resume their harassment activities if they perceive that the task force has weak leadership.


Comelec reclassifies 2 poll hot spots in Ilocos
BY JERRY PADILLA

SAN FERNANDO, La Union – The Commission on Elections has reclassified two towns in La Union and Ilocos from “areas of immediate concern” to just” areas of concern,” saying that the political tension in these places ebbed.

Lawyer Marino Salas, La Union Election supervisor told newsmen Aringay and Sta. Lucia towns in La Union and Ilocos Sur, respectively, were earlier declared areas of immediate concern as recommended by their municipal registrars due to intense political rivalries.

Salas, however, said tension among local politicians subsided, thus the reclassification.

“If we are going to determine the parameters in declaring a particular place an area of immediate concern, Aringay and Sta. Lucia are not among those that would satisfy these parameters,” he said.

As far as he is concerned, Salas said not a single municipality in Region 1 (Ilocos region0 has been declared an area of immediate concern.

“As far as peace and security in the region is concerned, based on the police report, we consider Aringay and Sta. Lucia as areas of concern only,” he said.

Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil, Ilocos police director, however, told the Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis held at the People’s Hall here last week that Aringay ad Sta. Lucia towns were listed as areas of immediate concern.

Bataoil said a total of 16 towns – seven in La Union, two in Ilocos Sur, and seven in Pangasinan – were listed as areas of concern.

Senior Supt. Franklin Bucayu, La Union police director, said the police chief of Aringay asked the municipal Comelec office last February to place the town under Comelec control due to the intense rivalry among the three mayoral candidates.

Bucayu said the local Comelec registrar approved the request, but they appealed it to Salas since the harrassment of voters has been contained and that candidates have signed a peace covenant to ensure honest, orderly and peaceful elections.

“I’m sure the Comelec en banc would not put Arinagy and Sta. Lucia under Comelec Control, unlike Abra where there are killings and election violence,” Salas said.


NPA guerillas posing as soldiers in fresh attacks

SINAIT, Ilocos Sur – New People’s Army rebels are now using battle dress of government troops commonly referred to as camouflage in the military organization in various provinces under the Northern Luzon Command when they carry out ambushes. Army officials bare this saying suspected NPA rebels pretending to be soldiers killed recently a farmer here Sinait and a barangay councilman in Cabugao in Ilocos Sur.

Last week, residents of barangays Lucban and Guiddam in Abulug, Cagayan reported heavily armed communist rebels pretending to be soldiers in full uniform.

But residents said instead of the usual combat patrols undertaken by soldiers in their areas, rebels were recruiting youths into their movement.

“The residents became suspicious when they noticed the troops’ long, unkempt hair and the way they held their firearms,” said Armed Forces Northern Luzon command chief Lt. Gen. Bonifacio Ramos.

Ramos said on April 14, similarly attired NPA rebels killed farmer Jimmy Igne, 37, in Barangay Nagkalooban, Sinait and barangay councilman Richard Tatson in Barangay Maradodon, Cabugao, both in Ilocos Sur.


Couple, 2 nephews slain in Pangasinan rob case
BY JENNELYN MONDEJAR

ASINGAN, Pangasinan – A couple engaged in the money-lending business and their two nephews were shot dead by robbers who barged inside their house while his town was celebrating in Fiesta night of April 23.

Supt. Johnny Monderin, municipal police chief, identified the victims as Conrado Miranda, 50; his wife, Isabela, 48 and her nephews, Adrian Fred Cancino, 15, and Cesar Cancino, 26. Monderin said a concerned citizen informed the police about the incident in Barangay Calepaan, about five to six km away from the town proper.

Investigation showed four men, who were on board a van and a motorcycle, barged inside the Mirandas’ residence and tied up the Cancinos who were watching television in the living room.

They then went up to the room of the Miranda couple, and shot dead, after which they ransacked a cabinet of valuables.

Before fleeing, they shot the Cancinos and Conrado who had just arrived from a neighbor’s house. Conrado died on the spot.

Barangay officials rushed Isabela and the Cancinos to the Sacred Heart Hospital in Urdaneta City but they were pronounced dead on arrival.

Police said at least three other people were in separate rooms at the Miranda residence but they survived the massacre since the robbers did not barge into their rooms.


Only 2 candidates show up at peace-accord rites

LAGAWE, Ifugao – Only two candidates showed up for the peace-covenant signing here on April 16 in connection with the drive for an honest, orderly and peaceful elections in the May 14 polls. The signing of the peace agreement was scheduled by the Commission on Elections, which invited all the provincial candidates, to sign the memorandum of agreement that can help prevent violence and ensure compliance with election laws in the coming election.

The signing was expected to start at 9 a.m., but only Dr. Wesley Dulawan who is a candidate for congressman in the lone district of Ifugao arrived promptly. He was followed by candidate for board member Donato Ananayo Jr. The Ifugao Peace and Order Council headed by provincial police director Pedro Ganir and Comelec officials had waited for more than two hours for the occasion to begin, but other candidates failed to show up. They did not notify the council for their non-appearance. With only two candidates present, the council members and the Comelec decided to cancel the peace-covenant signing. -- DS


SC affirms ownership by town of forest area

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The Supreme Court affirmed with finality the status of a nine-hectare forest reservation in Puglisi, La Trinidad, Benguet as part of the town’s communal forest, after it denied a petition to review a decision of the Court of Appeals that favored the municipal government of La Trinidad in the case.

The action of the High Court validates the municipal government’s ownership of a part of the communal forest.

In a resolution issued by the SC’s third division, the High Court rejected a petition for a certiorari that assailed the CA decision nullifying a lower court’s decision to appeal an earlier ruling that ordered the reversion of the nine-hectare lot to public domain and as part of the Puglisi communal forest.

Earlier, the municipal government of La Trinidad, Benguet maintained that the respondents in the case failed to specify which court the appeal was addressed.

The CA agreed with the argument of the town and denied the appeal of the respondents headed by the heirs of Evaristo Tiotioen, who eventually appealed the decision to the SC in the form of a petition for certiorari.

The High tribunal denied the petition, saying heirs of Tiotioen failed to show sufficient cause that the appellate court erred in its decision.

The case stemmed from a decision of Judge Fernando Cabato of the Regional Trial Court of Benguet issued on May 26, 2005. The ruling declared null and void a certificate of title issued to Tiotioen for the nine-hectare lot in the communal forest.

The respondents then filed a notice of appeal, but the municipal government argued that the appeal was defective for not specifying the court it was seeking appeal.

With the decision of the SC, local officials believe that the municipal government can now move to protect, maintain and sustain the communal forest for the benefit of the municipality. They asserted they were still lucky because they have existing communal forests with thick trees in them future generations may enjoy.


Grantees defend solon’s Baguio education program

BAGUIO CITY -- Past and present grantees of the Rep. Mauricio G. Domogan Educational Financial Assistance Program defended the program being offered by the congressman to poor but deserving students in Baguio, saying poor but deserving students have been given the chance acquire a decent education.

In behalf of the over 1,000 grantees of the program, Agripina “Grapes” L Arboleda, a summa cum laude graduate of Saint Louis University and now a teacher at the institution, lauded Domogan for coming up with the worthy educational financial assistance program.

The MGD-EFAP was envisioned so the present generation would not suffer the same “sweet torture” that Domogan encountered during his student days due to poverty.

“Naranasan niyang tahakin ang mga bundok sa kanilang lugar na nakapaa lamang para makapag-aral. Ito ang pangyayari na ayaw niyang maranasan ng kabataan ngayon kaya’t pilit niyang binuo ang programa na tutulong upang matugunan ng mga mag-aaral ang kanilang mga pangangailangan,” Arboleda said.

She added one of the greatest pieces of wisdom she will share to her students would be the importance of education in one’s life, citing that Domogan is a living testimony that education is indeed a key to success and that he is a leader who is leading by example.

Arboleda said under the program, grantees received P6,000 per semester but the amount was a big help to grantees.

The program is capable of financing full scholarship for students considering that P11 million from the PDAF of Domogan is allotted to the program but that would mean 70-80 percent decrease in the number of MGD-EFAP grantees.

Domogan said he wanted to cater to a greater population so that he could reach out to many and not just a few -- a clear manifestation that he is answering to the call that education is for all and not even poverty should be a hindrance to their right to be educated.

The new teacher said the program is all about accommodating students who are financially incapable of sending themselves to school.

Christina San Andres, a Bachelor of Science major in Economics cum laude who enjoyed the assistance for four years, explained that they were appreciative of the efforts of politicians like Domogan who conceptualized and implemented the educational assistance program for the benefit of poor but deserving students in urban areas like Baguio. – Dexter A. See