POLICE ROUNDUP

Bus driver, conductor shot dead in Ilocos Sur
BY FREDDIE LAZARO

BANTAY, Ilocos Sur – A mini bus driver and his conductor were killed when they were gunned down by unidentified men in Barangay Rizal, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur here on July 13, a belated report said.

SPO4 Medardo Sumagit, chief investigator of Cabugao police station, identified the victims as Rolly Corales y Tabaco, 36, mini bus driver, of Barangay Namruangan, Cabugao and Denden Solis, 21, conductor, of Sitio Lubong Danao, Barangay Dardarat, Cabugao.

Investigation showed the shooting incident took place about 9 p.m. on June 13. The victims had just left a store where they drunk a bottle of beer each and were riding a motorcycle when they were shot by the assailants.

Corrales died on the spot, while Solis was dead on arrival at a nearby hospital.


Drunk laborer swept by big waves, drowns
CAOAYAN, ILOCOS Sur- A laborer drowned while swimming in the sea near the shore of Barangay Puetre, Caoayan, this province on July 16.

The victim was reportedly drunk when he was swept by big waves. Senior Insp. Pedro Rafanan, Caoayan chief of police, identified the victim as Frederick Galope, 23, of Barangay Tamag, Vigan City.

Investigation showed the victim and his friend Emmanuel Frio were having a drinking session at Puerte Beach when the victim went swimming in the sea.

A few minutes later, the victim was swept by the big waves and drowned. Frio tried to rescue him to no avail.

Later, the victim’s body was seen floating near the shore. Rafanan advised residents to avoid swimming in the sea due to big waves spawned by bad weather. -- Freddie Lazaro


Former councilor hit by stray bullets, killed
CABUGAO, Ilocos Sur – A former municipal councilor was killed by stray bullets fired by unidentified motorcycle-riding men who fired at a Land Cruiser vehicle parked in front of his store in Barangay Bonifacio here night of July 6.

The victim was drinking softdrink when the shooting incident happened. SPO4 Medardo Sumagit, chief investigator of Cabugao police station, identified the victim as Ricardo Somera, former sangguniang bayan member of Cabugao.

Investigation showed the shooting happened at about 10 p.m.. The victim was drinking softdrink while some friends, including reelected Councilor Jojie Santella, a certain Masong Somera, Elmo Lopez, and Carlito Corpuz, were having a drinking session in his store.

Police said the unidentified gunmen, riding a Black XRM Motorcycle, arrived and fired several times at the Land Cruiser vehicle parked in front of the victim’s store.

As a result, the victim was hit by stray bullets. He was declared dead on arrival. Sumagit said police investigators found three Cal.45 bullets at the shooting site.

The glass windows of the Land Cruiser were shattered. -- Freddie Lazaro


Man, his son buried alive in artesian well
POZORRUBIO,Pangasinan -- A man and his son were buried alive when soil eroded into an artesian well in Barangay Buneg here.

A report reaching the office of police provincial director Senior Supt. Isagani Nerez stated that policemen in Pozorrrubio immediately conducted a rescue operation in the area to save the two men.

Chief Insp. Frankie C. Candelario, chief of police, led the search and rescue operation for Andres Mendoza y Fernandez, 64, married, and his son Alex, 30, married, both artesian-well construction workers.

They were placing culverts in a 10-meter-deep hole for an artesian well in the backyard of Dominga Elorde y Aquino, 47, married, when the soil eroded, caved in and buried them.

Policemen of Pozorrubio and barangay folk led by Barangay Captain Fereras helped in retrieval operation for the victims but it was too late. Both were already dead. -- Jennelyn Mondejar


Trike driver stabbed, killed by his relative
PIDDIG, Ilocos Norte – A tricycle driver was stabbed to death by an allegedly close relative during a quarrel in Barangay Boyboy, this town, police reported.

Piddig police chief Jonathan Papay said the victim, identified as Saturnino Joel Santos, was fatally stabbed by suspect Gerald Bernardo of the same barangay.

The victim’s wife July alleged that her husband was watching an evening TV show when somebody stoned their house.

When he went outside to confront the suspected stone thrower, a quarrel ensued, resulting in the stabbing.

“It was a second violent death in our family,” said the victim’s mother, Salvacion, who sobbed before newsmen.

Her eldest son was fatally shot by a policeman in 1985. Meanwhile, Barangay tanod Romeo Agustin was reportedly shot and wounded in Barangay Estancia, this town due to an alleged personal grudge.
Police said two barangay residents were tagged as suspects in the incident. -- Jun Guiang


Laoag DWC student injured in oven blast
LAOAG CITY – A first-year hotel and restaurant management student of Divine Word College of Laoag here was injured when an oven used in his class’ cooking lesson exploded on July 16.

Mark Lester Pascual, who was treated at the Gov. Roque B Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital here, said it was an accident when the oven burst in flame as he prepared for the cooking lesson.

Doctors said the victim suffered second-degree burn in the right arm.

The school, through vice president for student affairs Romana Bitancor, asked apology from the victim and his family for the accident. – Jun Guiang


Policemen launch Oplan Bakal, arrest 3 suspects
BY MAR SUPNAD

CAMP QUIRINO, Ilocos Sur – Police arrested three persons last as it launched “Oplan Bakal,” to confiscate illegal firearms and lessen crime like murder.

Senior Supt. Jessie L. Cardona, police provincial director, said first to fall was Caesar Pascua, 36, of Barangay BArono, Tagudin, who was caught possessing an unlicensed gun in Linda’s Video bar, on the national highway, Poblacion.

Cardona said his men, led by Insp. Rolando BAttulayan, seized from the suspect a Cal. 38 revolver with six bullets.

In the second operation, Cardona and his men led by Chief Inspectors Marlo Castillo and Ricarte Marquez searched the house of Pedro Cabaccang in Barangay Dinalaoan, Narvacan town on the strength of a search warrant issued by Judge Francisco Ante.

As the policemen searched the place, one Ernesto Cabaccang yielded a shoulder bag that contained a Cal. 45pistol and live bullets.

Ernesto said the gun was pawned to him.

In another case, Cardona said, a man ran amuck and fired his gun in a bar in Barangay Rizal, Cabugao town, causing panic among the customers.

Policemen led by Senior Insp. William Nerona responded and arrested Alvin Soller allegedly while in the act of creating trouble in the videoke bar and firing his home-made Cal.38 revolver.

Cardona said Oplan Bakal was launched in compliance with a directive of Chief Supt. Leopoldo N. Bataoil, Region 1 police director, to rid the region of “loose firearms.”

Police also reported the arrest of four wanted persons in a series of operations in this province.

Senior Supt. Cardona reported that one of the arrested men was murder suspect, Jess Mark Rola, 26 of Barangay Bantaoay, San Vicente town, who was arrested by Insp. Dennis Riberal, municipal chief of police.

Rora was charged with murder in Criminal Case 6243 filed with Branch 20 of the regional trial court in Vigan City. No bail was recommended.

Second to fall was Artemio Aguirre of San Vicente, Lidlidda town, who was charged with rape.