POLICE ROUNDUP

Truck plunges down ravine; 1 dead, 20 hurt

BAUKO, Mountain Province — A student was killed and at least 20 more injured after the Elf truck they were riding in careened off the edge of a highway and plunged into a ravine here in SitioCautit, Barangay Guinzadan Central on Sept 12, a belated police report said.

Supt. Davy Vicente Limmong, spokesman of the Police Regional Office-Cordillera Administrative Region, confirmed that one Daphne KepepeBentadan, 17, a 4th year high school student and resident of Barangay Am-am in Tadian town, was killed.

Ex-forest ranger shot dead in Abra

SAN JUAN, Abra -- A former forest ranger was killed by assassins here night of Sept. 15.

Guillermo dela Cuadra, 63, of Barangay Guimba, was playing cards with other villagers at a friend's house in Barangay Supi-il when still unidentified men shot him with assault rifles.

The wounded Cuadra died while being transferred from the St. Therese Wellness Center to the Abra Provincial Hospital in Bangued town.

Police investigators found 12 cartridges for Cal 7.62 mm firearm, two cartridges of Cal. 5.56 mm, and one ammunition of Caliber 7.62 mm.

Investigators have yet to determine the motive for Cuadra's killing.

NPA leaders with P6.6 million bounty arrested

CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City — The army’s Northern Luzon Command reported Monday the recent arrest of three New People’s Army leaders was worth a whopping P6.6 million – as each of them had a high price on their heads.

Major Gen. Gregorio P. Catapang, Jr., Nolcom commander, identified them as Rey Miguel Busania, NPA communications head, with a P3.9-million bounty on his head; Lolita Longuibis, an NPA finance and logistics officer who is worth P2.05 million to the government; and Ofelia IbusInong, who is wanted with a P700,000 prize for her capture. -- Mar T. Supnad

More guns confiscated in Abra; owners arrested

SAN JUAN, Abra– More illegal firearms were confiscated in Abra last week, their owners arrested.

Police arrested  Monday afternoon a 53-year-old woman for keeping several firearms in her home in San Juan.

Senior Supt. Benjamin Lusad, Abra provincial police director, identified the woman as Julie Timbreza of Barangay Supi-il.

Lusad said Timbreza was arrested after a police team found several firearms and ammunition in her house.

Among items recovered from her house were a .45 pistol (Colt MK IV series 80) with serial number 398041, one cal. 30 (M1 Carbine) with a defaced serial number, one Armscor 12-gauge shotgun with serial number 879832, 59 bullets for cal. 30 (M1 Carbine), 14 bullets for cal. 45, four rounds of live ammunition for 12-gauge shotgun, three pieces magazine assembly for .45 pistol, four pieces magazine assembly for cal .30 (M1 Carbine), a black leather holster and and a black gun box (Taurus).

Lusad said the search was conducted in an orderly manner with the presence of barangay kagawads Nelson Barbosa and Mario Blaquera.

Timbreza has been detained at the San Juan Police Station.

In Dolores town, three more firearms and assorted rounds of ammunition were confiscated early Tuesday morning.

Combined personnel of the Dolores Municipal Police Station, Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU-14), and  Abra Provincial Police Office implemented a search warrant at the residence of WilfredoSabugo Ramirez in Barangay Mudiit,  which resulted in the confiscation of Armalite M16 rifle Cal. 22 pistol, air gun, Cal. 22 rifle, air soft baby armalite rifle, magazine for Cal.45 pistol, 11 magazines for M-16 rifle and 31 bullets

Lusadalso  identified a 27- year old farmer arrested for the same offense  as JehoAriolaSindon, of Barangay Pulot proper, Lagayan.

Recovered from his possession was a Caliber .45 Pistol Colt MK IV Series 80 with Serial Number 784132 with 1 magazine loaded with 9 rounds of ammunition.

Two carnappers nabbed, 5 stolen motorcycles recovered

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet  – Police  arrested two suspected carnappers resulting in the recovery of five allegedly stolen motorcycles morning of Sept. 15. 

Senior Supt. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr., provincial police director, said arrested first was Belen Jemar Mateo, 27, vegetable trader and a resident of Km 14, Caponga, Tublay, Benguet.

A follow-up operation brought in Joel Dulay Felix, 28, driver and a resident of Daclan, Tublay.

Four motorcycles – a red Hounda XR; red-black Euro and blue-black RUSI, all with tampered chassis and engine numbers; and a Hensim Hunter 150 which was registered under the name Roel P. Herrera – were recovered from the residence of Mateo. On the other hand, a red-black Rouser with no plate number and defaced chassis and engine number was recovered from Felix.

Charges for theft of motorcycles or carnapping are being prepared against the arrested individuals who are now under the custody of La Trinidad police. with the seized items.

3 arrested for illegal possession of marijuana  

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Police arrested in Barangay here three persons, including a minor in possession of suspected dried marijuana leaves recently.

Senior Supt. John Colinio, provincial director of Kalinga, identified the arrested suspects as Richard Agot Lopez, 27, driver, of  Caloocan City, NCR; Jay Marquez Tolentino, 22 of North Fairview, Quezon City and a minor, a high school student and a resident of Purok 5, Bulanao, Tabuk City.

Joined elements of the Regional Public Safety Battalion and Kalinga Provincial Anti-illegal Drug Special Operation Task Group (PAIDSOTG) intercepted the three suspects and confiscated contraband and other items following a tip.

Seized were five bricks of marijuana leaves, 1 XRM motorcycle, 4 cellular phones, 3 back packs, cash amounting to P 3,256.00 and illegal drug paraphernalia.

The suspects will be charged for illegal drugs.

19 more wanted persons arrested in Cordillera  

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad ,Benguet  -  Police arrested 19  wanted persons in  the Cordillera last week, three of which were listed as “top most wanted persons.”

The No. 6 TMWP was arrested in Tamalunog, Flora, Apayao, said  Senior Supt. Alberlito S. Garcia, Apayao provincial police director who identified him as Jose Calilan Dangue Jr., 31, farmer of Poblacion East, Flora.

Dangue was issued arrest warrant by judgeQuirino M. Andaya with recommended bail of P 200, 000.  

Dangue was charged for frustrated murder after allegedly stabbing Edgardo Lucas at his residence in Poblacion East, Flora August 8.

Meanwhile, Baguio City  and La Trinidad, Benguet police arrested two TMWP in the station level for the 3rd quarter of this year.

Senior Supt. Jesus Cambay, Jr., city police director , identified the suspects as Abagguey Saingan, 25, a resident of Asin, Nangalisan, Tuba, Benguet and listed as No. 2 TMWP station level; and Jonnie Ian Ballo, 23, a resident of Balili, Km 4, La Trinidad, Benguet and listed as  no. 4  and 5 TMWP. 

Saingan was arrested at her residence morning for estafa with recommended bail bond of P 150, 000.

The latter was arrested Tuesday morning in Pico, La Trinidad, Benguet for theft with no bail recommended and two counts of robbery with force upon things with P 300,000 recommended bail bond.

Benguet police also nabbed five farmers identified as Anthony Segundo Palasi, 31, and Johnny Norte Bola-ay aka “Johnny Bola Norte,” 49, both in Canatngan, Paoay, Atok, Benguet; Mario DongkoyBalaso, 35, and  Rufo Sabongan Buasen, 24,  both seized in their residences in Bokod, Benguet; and, Julita Felipe Boring, 77, a resident of Acop, Caponga, Tublay, Benguet caught in her residence with a recommended bail bond of P 100,000.

Two more individuals were arrested in their residences for estafa.  They were identified as Magdalena Pilanta Buenavista, 59, a resident of Demonstration Road, Loakan, Baguio City with a recommended bail bond of P 100,000.00 and Veronico Peralta Masulit, 50, a resident of Presentar, Tangadan, San Quintin, Abra.

Six other wanted persons were also arrested: Jordan Inso Holman, 37, of Ambongdolan, Tublay, Benguet, was arrested  for carnapping with recommended bail of P 180,000; Mathew Canipas Milo, 37, of Lattut, Rizal, Cagayan who is facing charges of attempted murder; Michael Bendanillo Rivas, 26, and Ryan Tanas Udsing, 20, both residents of Twin Peaks, Tuba, Benguet who were charged for physical injuries; Robert Atipoc, Bitaga, 47,  of Batuang, Virac, Itogon, Benguet for theft; and Cruzaldo Garcia Cruz, 46, farmer who  was nabbed at km 5, Pico, La Trinidad, Benguet for acts of lasciviousness.

400 youths join PNP-sponsored Baguio events

BAGUIO CITY – More than 400 youth leaders here were tapped by city police in the month-long activities to empower the youth as agents of peace and crime prevention in their respective places

Senior Supt. Jesus Cambay, Jr., city police director, said  200 of the youth leaders will come from the Alternative Learning system (ALS) classes.

One hundred students will come from the areas of jurisdiction of police stations while another 100 will come from organized youth groups in city schools.

            

“We want to empower today’s youth to be instrumental in our peacekeeping and crime prevention efforts in order to sustain the peace and order in our city and help in attracting the influx of visitors through varied interventions and programs among themselves,” Cambay said.

           

On Sept. 14,city police said they sponsored youth congress to gather their sentiments and recommendations on how to effectively and efficiently undertake peacekeeping efforts that will complement initiatives of law enforcers.

           

On Sept. 21, youth leaders participated in slogan making contests, talent competition, photo shoot and poster making contests to get the interest of the young on in keeping the peace in their communities.

            

Cambay said that an “open house” was held at city police headquarters where various exhibits were done to inspire and get the attention of the youth on how to contribute in implementation of peace initiatives.

He urged youth leaders to join the prepared activities for them this month as responsible and dedicated leaders in the future.

New firearms law to curb proliferation of firearms

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet  – Implementation of Republic 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms Law will curb the proliferation of loose firearms nationwide that will improve peace and order.

           

Chief Supt. Benjamin B. Magalong, regional police director bared this saying 86 percent of murder cases and 78 percent of homicide cases in the country are through use of unlicensed firearms.

          

Magalong said 93 percent of homicide and murder cases often turned out due to unlicensed firearms.

          

Among the issues that were raised by the concerned stakeholders were registration of firearms, especially by security agencies, government agencies and local government, validity of issued letters of order, mission orders, firearms to be registered, those who will be exempted from required threat assessment and whether the Philippine National Police is solely responsible for issuance of threat assessment to applicants of gun licenses.

            

According to the police official, there are around 500 juridical firearms which were registered in the Cordillera aside from the nearly 9,000 loose firearms and firearms with unrenewed licenses.

            

Magalong said the new firearms law has heavier penalties for violators, guaranteed licenses and registration for long and short firearms and the implementation of a final amnesty for all firearms in the different parts of the country to compel firearm holders to register and have their guns licenses.

            

He likened the features of the new firearms law to that of the rules and guidelines of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) where the car is registered while the driver will secure the necessary license whereas the firearm will now be compelled to be registered while the owner will be given the appropriate license.

            

However, security agencies, concerned government agencies and local governments are being requested by the PNP to submit their respective position papers on the issue of juridical registration of firearms for the better appreciation of the technical working group so that appropriate measures could be incorporated in the implementing rules and regulations to ensure that their firearms will be registered in the name of the agencies.

            

This, as stakeholders sought clarification from the PNP on who will issue permits to transport firearms, especially for gun enthusiasts who actively participate in scheduled shooting competitions.