MORE NEWS, BENGUET

Shabu ‘pusher’ nabbed, released 4 times; jailed

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet -- An alleged notorious pusher of shabu in the target list of drug personalities in the Cordillera, was rearrested after being apprehended and jailed for three times, prosecuted and acquitted two times in the past, all in Baguio.

The suspect was identified as Allan Nider y Sunga, 40, married and high school graduate, was busted with Frits Besselink y Batnag, 29, married, 2nd Year college and a driver. Both are residents of Baguio, although the latter claimed he was half-Dutch.

Nider and Besselink were arrested around midnight of March 24 after reportedly selling a sachet of shabu to an agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency who acted as buyer during a buy-bust operation carried out by the unit at Rimando Road. , ABCR (Andres Bonifacio-Caguioa-Rimando), Baguio .

When frisked by arresting officers, Nider yielded four more sachets of the illegal drug, which were placed in his belt bag.

The Samsung and Motorola cellular phones, and public utility jeepney bearing plate number AVK 500 with Mines View-Baguio City route, used by the suspects for the ‘entrapment’ deal, were seized as additional evidence against them.

Besselink’s other Nokia 3315 phone was also confiscated when the anti-drug operatives found a suspiciously concealed odd compartment in the gadget where sachets of shabu can fit. The suspect said he only used shabu and didn’t peddle.
Cases for illegal drugs will be filed against the two suspects.’

Nider was first arrested with a companion for illegal drugs on April 15, 2003 along Quirino Highway (popularly known as Naguilian Road) in Baguio by agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

The two suspects were nabbed with .six grams of shabu. The criminal cases against them, filed at the Branch 61, 1st Judicial Region, Regional Trial Court of Baguio City were dismissed on May 10, 2005 .

On August 21, 2005, or a little over three months after his acquittal, Nider was again apprehended for drug violations at San Carlos Heights, Irisan.

He was busted with another cohort, a certain Dolores Dakin, by regional PDEA operatives, where nearly half a gram of shabu was confiscated from them. The cases against the two were dismissed at the prosecution level on Sept. 27, 2005 .

Nearly two years later, on March 6, 200 , Nider was nabbed once more at Carnelia Alley, QM, Baguio City by members of PDEA.

He was then with another cohort named Renato Busoy y Esquerdo. Nearly a gram of shabu was seized from the duo. Cases for illegal drugs were filed against the suspects but the respondents were acquitted on Jan. 8, 2008.


5 ‘shoplifters’ nabbed in La Trinidad, Benguet
CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet — Combined police operatives here arrested a group of women whose modus operandi consists of shoplifting valuable items from big stores along the Halsema highway, particularly in the towns of Atok and Tublay.

However, the group’s get-away vehicle and its driver managed to slip through a checkpoint established by policemen who were alarmed by the increase of shoplifting activities in the two Benguet towns.

Chief Supt. Orlando Pestano, Cordillera police director identified the suspects as Lea Perez, 42, married, a resident of Malabon City, Metro Manila; Lisa Baga-an, 41, a resident of Quezon City; Grace Candeliria, 30; Leonora Apundar, 58; and a certain Marilyn Barracas, 37, all residents of Sucat, Parañaque.

Pestano said the modus operandi of the group was noticed by storeowners who noticed different shapes of the bodies of the suspects while going in and out of the big stores.

Some of the storeowners became suspicious after they noticed that one woman who did not look pregnant when she entered an establishment, came out later looking pregnant.

Among the victims of the notorious shoplifting syndicate was a grocery along Km. 50, Sayangan, Atok, Benguet, which engages in selling farm commodities and merchandise. – Dexter A See


Benguet town regulates cockfighting activities
TUBLAY, Benguet — The municipal council here has approved an ordinance regulating proliferation of illegal cockpits in this fifth-class town to ensure added income for the implementation of various priority projects which lack appropriate funding from concerned government agencies.

The collective action of the local legislators in passing the ordinance amidst criticism from religious and other sectors of the town was anchored on the argument that regulating cockfighting is better than controlling the said activity.
The council, however, justified its action by saying that the passage of the ordinance is not joining the gambling operations but it took into consideration the difficulty of controlling illegal gambling.

“Paddot,” the local term for cockfighting, has been said to be illegally proliferating in various villages of this town which resulted in criticisms by the local residents on the failure of their local officials and law enforcers to act on stopping the illegal activity.

Under the ordinance, the municipal government will issue permits and licenses for the operation, establishment and maintenance of cockpits and to regulate cockfighting as well as the commercial breeding of gamecocks.

The measure also establishes a centralized cockpit, whether for bladed or non-bladed cockfighting for better supervision and regulation. – Dexter A See


Cordi PNP chief bars cops from wearing camouflage uniforms
By Dexter A. See

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet – Regional police authorities here ordered law enforcers not to wear camouflage uniforms when doing their duties and responsibilities in urban centers of the Cordillera since it would send a wrong signal to the populace.

Chief Supt. Orlando Pestano, regional police director, said camouflage uniforms cause tension, thus, law enforcers should not be the ones creating unde pressure on people.

According to him, cops in camouflage uniforms could eventually drive away tourists which contribute to growth of local economy thus, policemen should not make the wrong move by wearing their camouflage uniforms and strutting in public in full battle gear.

Pestano said law enforcers are the protectors of peace and order in the country and must be the ones leading by example.

The police official’s reaction came after Manila’s Finest Brotherhood Association Inc. issued a manifesto strongly opposing a memorandum issued by higher authorities requiring them to use camouflage uniforms during special operations.

Pestano said of law enforces will be allowed to use such uniforms and roam in populated areas, people will be frightened and would spread stories which might result in eventual reduction of tourist arrivals.

Pestano made a commitment to local reporters that policemen in the region will not be required to wear their issued camouflage uniforms so that they will remain as the guardians of peace.

He said peacekeeping and anti-criminality campaign is not achieved through the use of camouflage uniforms but it is done through constant communication with the community coupled with efficient and effective law enforcement.

Pestano said anti-drug operations and the campaign against loose firearms or hardened criminals does not require the policemen wearing camouflage uniforms but it should be done in a manner by which the rights of the concerned individuals and the community will be protected from being abused by policemen.