POLICE ROUNDUP

Wanted persons arrested in Ifugao 

AlFONSO LISTA, Ifugao-- Three top most wanted persons (TMWPs) were arrested here July 30at  Sitio Masikal, San Marcos, Alfonso Lista, Ifugao.

Police identified them as Rodolfo De Guzman Umayam, 62, his brother Ben 543 and his wife Gloria, all farmers and resident of Masikal.

They were nabbed following arrest warrant issued by Judge Jesse Harris B. Namuhje of the 3rd Municipal Circuit Trial Court, Alfonso Lista, who recommended bail of P 12,000each.

They were charged with attempted homicide for stabbing Felix Ramirez and John Paul Ramirez on Nov. 10, 2012 in SitioTallo Purok barangay San Marcos, Alfonso Lista.

Man, companions hunted for shooting 3 Kalinga folks

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Police are now hunting a certain Eddie FelominoCarag and his unidentified companion for shooting three residents here over a land dispute.

Police investigation revealed the shooting incident transpired at about 10 p.m. July 31at at Barangay San Francisco here wherein complainants; Elena B. Mamawag,  37;  Jocelyn B. Magitling, 38 and Rafael D. Bangan, 25, were shot by Carag of Laya East, Tabuk City.

           

No one was hurt by complainants who said they went to the area to tend their farms when they were held at gunpoint by Caragand his group.

Carag reportedly told them he was the owner of the farm which the three were cultivating.

During the altercation Carag brought out his homemade shot gun and shot at the complainants direction four times.

            Carag and his group later fled towards the city business center.

 Nissan Pathfinder falls down Mankayan ravine 

MANKAYAN, Benguet -- A Nissan Pathfinder pickup truck owned and driven by a certain Raymund P. Ilke of Lower Cypress, Irisan, Baguio City fell down a ravine here around 10.15 a.m. on July 31.

           

Police said Ilke and  his passengers were bound to Baguio when Ilke suddenly lost control of the vehicle which down the ravine.

The driver including passengers Mary Joy M. Ilke, 44 and Gloria M. Wal, 44 were seriously injured and brought to Abatan Hospital.

They were later transferred to Baguio General Hospital.

                                                   

Young man commits suicide in Itogon

ITOGON, Benguet – A young man was found hanging inside his room here July 28 in what police said was an apparent suicide.

           

A police report identified the victim as   Raymundo C. Adangla, 18, of Camp 3, Acupan, Virac in this town, who was residing at the house of his aunt, Gloria A. Martes where he ws found.

            

Investigation disclosed the victim was last seen by his elder brother Laurence texting in his cellular phone while watching television at the second floor of their aunt’s house.

At around 9 p.m. the night before, the victim reportedly entered his room. At 9 a.m.the following morning, Laurence entered the room of his younger brother and was surprised when he saw him hanging with a belt tied around his neck which was hooked to a nail on top of a cabinet.

He informed their uncle, Dennis Adangla who sought assistance from Julio Quanguey and Vincent Lonogan, both neighbors who helped them in bringing down the body.

Laurence turned over to policemen the victim’s cell phone to check messages that could shed light on the incident.

Dr. Jorelyn Patna-an Bahingawan, municipal health officer examined the body which was later brought to the aunt’s house for the wake.

Cop falls in Ilocos Sur drug operation

BANTAY, Ilocos Sur --Anti-narcotics agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency arrested a police officer during anti-drug operation in Ilocos Sur, the PDEA said on Wednesday.

The PDEA said PO1 Jefferson Estonillo Javier, 30, detailed at Bantay Municipal police station, was nabbed during controlled delivery operation at Zone 6.

Also during the operation last July 26, authorities confiscated from the policeman two pieces of small heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, a plastic sachet containing marijuana dried leaves, a .38 caliber revolver with 12 pieces of live ammunition, and various pieces of drug paraphernalia.

Operatives also seized from the suspect P8,044 in different denominations, US$51 in different denominations, 30 euro currency in denominations of 10, and two Singapore dollars.

Javier is currently detained at Bantay Municipal Police Station, facing drug charges.

Abra prov'l capitol employee shot dead

BANGUED, Abra -- Motorcycle-riding assassins struck again afternoon of July 28 killing an Abra provincial capitol employee.

Paterno Aspacio Benedito, 55, an employee at the Abra provincial capitol in this province’s capital town, was with his son Paterno Jr., 16, and villagemates Erick Blaza and Gelyne Borillo heading home on board a tricycle to Barangay Quilliat in Langiden town, when an assassin sprung from nowhere along Sitio Pudok, Barangay Cabuloan, Bangued, and pumped bullets into Benedito’s head.

Police said the shooter escaped on board a motorcycle towards Barangay Cabuloan, also in Bangued.

Investigators said that the shooter could have had companions because of the spent shells found at the crime scene.

Investigators found three fired cartridges of .45 pistol and a spent shell from an unknown caliber.

Benedito died at the hospital where he was rushed several minutes after the shooting.

Abra police tracker teams are now hunting down the shooter and his possible companions.

Father drowns while rescuing son, nephew

CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur — A man drowned after rescuing his son and nephew who found themselves in trouble while swimming in the beach of Barangay Luba, Santa Lucia, Ilocos Sur Tuesday.

Chief Inspector Benedicto Cardenas, Santa Lucia chief of police, identified the victim as Orlando Cacatian, 57, of Tiaong, Quezon. While he died, Cacatian has been hailed a hero for rescuing his son, Leonard Cacatian, 17, and nephew Frederick Rivera, 18, from drowning when a strong current and big waves pulled the two under water. -- Freddie G. Lazaro

Bus bumps trike; one dead, another injured

TAGUDIN, Ilocos Sur — A motorcycle driver died, while the backrider was critically injured when they were accidentally bumped by a passenger bus along the national highway in Barangay Bitalag, this town, July 27.

Police identified the fatality as Renato Manzano, a resident of Barangay Lintik, Banayoyo, Ilocos Sur.

The injured victim was identified as Oscar Gambon, also a resident of Barangay Lintik. Investigation showed that the victims were travelling along the national highway, while the bus driven by Joy Raquepo was behind them.

They were allegedly bumped after making a u-turn at the highway. -- Freddie Lazaro

Cousins caught with P3.2M marijuana 

BAGUIO CITY – Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Cordillera recently seized more than P3.2 million worth of marijuana blocks about to be shipped.

A PDEA report said 47 kilos of marijuana were seized from a repeat offender and his cousin during a buy-bust operation here.

Ten large blocks of dried fruiting tops and nine oval or tubular packs of dried stalks wrapped and bound in a tan-colored packaging tape and placed in a sack bag and traveling bag were supposed to be shipped to the lowlands by cousins Kenneth Lagadeo, 28 and Melchor Lagadeo, 25.

The contraband was valued at P3,208,000.00.

PDEA-Cordillera spokesperson Emily Fama said Kenneth was a repeat drug law violator.

During the arrest, Lagadeo identified himself as Ardie Ramos.

The cousins, who are natives of a known lair of marijuana cultivators in Badeo, Kibungan, Benguet, were collared at around 4 a.m. in Barangay San Roque, where they sold the marijuana bricks to an undercover PDEA agent.

PDEA added that Kenneth was arrested on April 5, 2009 along with a certain Jerry Adiwang with 2,909.90 grams of dried marijuana fruiting tops in bricks.

The two were acquitted two years after and released.

Satur Dayao, a cousin of Kenneth and Melchor, had been convicted and sentenced to a life term on Dec. 12, 2011 for the same offense.

Meanwhile, anti-narcotics agents also busted two marijuana suppliers from Bakun town in Benguet.

Nabbed were Olibrum Canias, 30 and J-pee Pacuz, 19, residents of SitioBarbarit, Barangay Bagu in Bakun.

They were caught selling four huge blocks of marijuana bricks weighing 17,293 grams.

Miner dies of poison gas inside Benguet tunnel

MANKAYAN, Benguet–Residents were urged to take precaution in entering mine tunnels after a miner was killed  after inhaling poisonous gas inside a mining tunnel in SitioBagwit, Barangay Suyoc July 12.

Police identified the victim as Sonny Cobcobo, 44, a resident of Barangay Guinaoang, Mankayan,

Investigation revealed a team of miners entered the tunnel that reeked of a strong odor which knocked Cobcobo unconscious.

This prompted them to come out and rush the victim to the Lutheran Hospital in Barangay Abatan, Buguias, Benguet, where he was declared dead on arrival. The type of poisonous gas is still under investigation.

Officials urge gun muzzling in Abra

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Local officials are calling for an extension to the mandatory muzzling of firearms of law enforcers in Abra to ensure that the peace enjoyed in the province during the midterm elections that culminated last May carries over until the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in October.

Abra politicians concurred to the proposal of Bangued Mayor Valera, which was endorsed by Gov. EustaquioBersamin, that the move to secure guns from indiscriminate firing must be continued. Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong, Police Regional Office-Cordillera Administrative Region director, said Abra’s officials have shown solidarity in nurturing peace and order initiatives.

Benguet police seize illegal lumber

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet - The intensified campaign by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Philippine National Police against the destruction of our few remaining forest product resulted to the confiscation of 1, 324 of board feet of illegal pine lumbers with a total market value of 38, 912.00.

         

Senior Supt. Rodlofo Jun Azurin, Benguet provincial police director several pine lumber were confiscated in separate places.

            

Ampucao, Itogon Benguet police and Philex Mines Corp. workers confiscated 414 board feet with a market value of P11,592 in Sitio Sedwing, Ampucao.

           

In Bokod town, 910 board feet valued at P27,320 were also confiscated at SitioTaal, Jangjang, Ambuklao.

            

No suspects were arrested.

2 men held up in Apayao; P8K taken

KABUGAO, Apayao – A certain Jayson Enciso and a minor identified only as Austin, both residents of Barangay Lenneng here, are now the object of a police manhunt after they reportedly forcibly took P8,000 from two victims. 

            

A police report said the robbery recently happened 12:30 p.m. along the national road, near the boundary of Kabugao-Conner towns in Barangay Lenneng, Kabugao.

Victims were identified as Mauricio Dulnuan, 33, miner, of Piiwan, Hungduan, Ifugao, now residing at Dipipio, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya and Julius Guay, 35, also a miner, of Maggoc, Hungduan, Ifugao and now residing at Tukod, Cabaroguis, Quirino.

Investigation revealed that the victims were on board on  motorcycle on their way to Conner, Apayao when suddenly, suspects also boarded on a motorcycle chased them and blocked their way.

Enciso allegedly drew a handgun and pointed to the victims and declared a hold–up.

He then commanded his companion, a minor, to take the wallet of Dulnuan, containing P 8,000.00 and important documents.

Also taken from his pocker were unaccounted bills. from his pocket.

Suspects escaped towards Lenneng.

Drunkards jailed for not paying bar drinks  

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Two drunkards are now in jail here for failing to pay P1,2000 worth of drinks they incurred in a bar.

Police said the incident recently happened about 9:55 pm at Plaza View Sing-Along, Engngeg Building, at the public market, Poblacion.

Investigation disclosed that Yankee Tabling Dao-angan, 25, construction worker, native of Bekigan, Sadanga town and his unidentified companion had a drinking spree at the establishment and tried to leave without paying their bills prompting the manager identified as Shirley Bagawi Gittabao, 18, of Poblacion. to call for police assistance.

The drunks reportedly created commotion and broke a bottle of beer and uttered unsavory words against  Gittabao when she demanded payment.

Responding police apprehended the suspects.

Van falls down Bontoc road; driver injured

 BONTOC, Montain Province – The driver of a van was injured when he bumped his vehicle to an electric post causing it to fall down the road about 5:30 a.m. recently along the national road at SitioBawi, Barangay Gonogon.

Police said the Pregio Kia van bearing plate number WDN- 444, was owned and driven by Justin Kitongan, aka Paksay, 31, small scale miner, resident of Fedilisan, Sagada town

His passenger was identified as Bernard Addogan, 27, helper, resident of Ambagiw, Besao town.

            

Investigation disclosed the dark blue van was on its way to Baguio City when the driver lost control of the steering wheel due to loose brake.

The driver sustained minor injuries and was brought to the Bontoc General Hospital for medical treatment while his passenger was unhurt.

The vehicle’s windshield was broken, its front left tire detached, while the axle was also broken.

Four hurt as van truck collide along Kennon

TUBA, Benguet – A passenger van ascending towards Baguio City skidded, bumped pavement of the wet road then collided with  a Forward Truck descending towards La Union here about 3 p.m. recently along Kennon Road here at SitioTokang, Camp 3.

The passenger van was driven by Edgar De Guzman, 39, of Binalonan, Pangasinan, while the Forward truck was driven by Jerry Picpican, 39, of Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet.

            

Four passengers of the van sustained injuries and were rushed to Baguio General Hospital for treatment.

            

They were identified as  Almar Valerio,  22, of 215 Military Cut Off, Baguio City; RealynIglisia,  17 of Inoman, Pozorrubio, Pangasinan; Angelita  Estuesta, 22, of Engineers Hill, Baguio City and Japhet Calica, 19, of Sison, Pangasinan.

            

All injured passenger were discharged after treatment. The van incurred heavy damages on its front portion while the the truck was damaged on its left side.

Both drivers agreed to settle the case amicably.