3 soldiers hurt in Mt Prov Army, NPA encounters

>> Monday, November 25, 2013


By Gina Dizon

BESAO, Mountain Province – Three soldiers were seriously hurt in  encounters with the New People’s Army Nov. 15-16 at the boundary of the towns of Besao and Sagada of Mountain Province and Tubo of Abra.

The soldiers belonged to a commando unit of the 50th IB and 503rd Infantry Brigade Philippine Army who were on the way to ambush a rebel camp, the NPA’s Leonardo Pacsi Command based in Mountain Province said in a statement .

The army commando unit reportedly secretly entered the vicinity of Mount Tabbak  Nov. 14 but this was monitored by the NPA. 

The following day, a team of NPA red fighters reportedly sniped at the advancing government troops. 

On Nov. 16, the NPA attacked the same troops while they were resting at Mount Amtinangad.

Police however said only two army soldiers were injured including a civilian when they were ambushed at Amtinangad, Barangay Ambagiw in this town around 2 p.m. Nov. 16. 

Police identified the two soldiers as Private First Class Rogelio Banig Latawan, of Guinaang, Pasil, Kalinga; PFC Menard Adolfo Manno of Upi Gamu, Isabela both soldiers of 503rd Coy of the Philippine Army and civilian  Raymund Bacali from Bangaan, Sagada.

The wounded Bacali and the two soldiers were admitted at the Besao District Hospital morning of Nov. 17.

Police said a combined team from the Regional Public Safety Battalion, Provincial Public Safety Company, Special Action Force and the 503 Brigade were conducting security operations when they met RaymundBacali and another resident from Bangaan named Robin who went to pasture their cattle near the boundaries of Abra and northern Sagada.  

Bacali and Robin were told by the soldiers to guide their way.

Police said Bacali and the two soldiers were resting when they were shot.   

“Instead of helping the nation recover from the devastation of Typhoon Yolanda, the 5th ID chooses to spend millions on military operations,” the LPC said in a statement.

“Since the second week of November, the 5th Infantry Division PA, combined with troops of the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) and Regional Public Safety Battallion (RPSB) of the Cordillera reportedly launched widespread combat operation covering the towns of Sagada, Besao, Bontoc, Tadian and Sadanga of Mountain Province; Tubo and Boliney of Abra; and Quirino, Cervantes and other towns of Ilocos Sur.”

Earlier, unabated and synchronized military operations also by troops of the 5th ID and PNP started in the provinces of Kalinga, Ifugao and Isabela, the LPC said.

“These massive combat operations was launched amidst the grievous suffering of millions of our countrymen in the Visayas where thousands have died and entire towns and cities have been totally devastated due to the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda,” the LPC said.

“The entire world has witnessed the inefficiency and incompetence of the Aquino government in providing relief and rehabilitation services to the calamity victims.  Instead of concentrating on providing much needed assistance to the storm victims, the 5th ID and PNP is shamelessly and insultingly spending millions on a massive military operation while survivors of typhoon Yolanda are dying from hunger and chaos is breaking out in a lot of areas due to lack of food and water.”

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32 nabbed for illegal fishing along Phl sea


SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — Fresh from training to enhance their skills, La Union’s Task Force Fish Watch arrested 32 fishermen and confiscated from them two commercial fishing vessels and 50 buckets of assorted fish last Monday along the Lingayen Gulf.

Boat Captains Bong Basadela Peña, 45, and his 15 crew members on board “Princess Bella 3,” and Francisco Llever, 50, and his crew of 15 on board “Romina 15” are all facing charges for violating local and national fishing laws.

The two vessels are in the custody of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) while the buckets of fish were brought to the local jail for consumption of the inmates. -- Freddie G. Lazaro

Task Force Fish Watch arrested 32 fishermen and confiscated from them two commercial fishing vessels and 50 buckets of assorted fish last Monday along the Lingayen Gulf.

Boat Captains Bong Basadela Peña, 45, and his 15 crew members on board “Princess Bella 3,” and Francisco Llever, 50, and his crew of 15 on board “Romina 15” are all facing charges for violating local and national fishing laws.


The two vessels are in the custody of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) while the buckets of fish were brought to the local jail for consumption of the inmates. -- Freddie G. Lazaro

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Cold front tail-end affecting Northern Luzon - PAGASA


There is no tropical cyclone threatening the country but the tail-end of a cold front is affecting northern Luzon, the state weather bureau said.

In its 24-hour weather forecast, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Cagayan Valley and the province of Aurora will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms.

The regions of Cordillera and Ilocos will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with light rains while Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rains or thunderstorms.

PAGASA said moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon and Visayas as the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

In other parts of the country, winds will be light to moderate coming from the northeast with slight to moderate seas.

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Sagada dads tell foreign firm: Stop show of mock death rite


By Gina Dizon

SAGADA, Mountain Province - For “violating” the practice of a death ritual among indigenous people here,  the  Sangguniang Bayan ordered London-based Me and You  Productions, a travel documentary company  to  refrain from showing any part of the film they  shot  in  this culturally-knit tourist town.

The trailer of the film The Moaning of Life is shown now in You Tube including some of the re-enacted death rituals shot in Sagada sometime July this year. 

Earlier,  Me and You Productions through its  Philippine coordinator  Inky Santiago Nakpil wrote a letter to the Sagada  Tourism Information Office  and received by the municipal secretary, informing  them of their  schedule to film  “a  new documentary”  late July.

The filming of a mock death ritual of bringing the dead in a coffin to the rocky slopes of Sitio Baw-eng proceeded without the company paying required fees to the municipal treasury among other complaints the SB received.

A local tourist guide  assisted the film crew including conduct of the death ritual by an elder.

Investigation by the legislative body here revealed that  municipal secretary Robert Pangod  allowed  the  filming with the mock procession of  locals carrying a coffin to sitio Baw-eng   with no dead body in it and the film crew shooting the hauling of the coffin amongst  other “hanging coffins” at the rocky slopes of Baw-eng.

The legislative officers  in their special  session invited  Pangod, tourist guide Bangyay and elder Polat Bosaing  to explain why the  company did not pay the required fees and why Me and You Productions was allowed to  film despite an ordinance requiring a review committee to examine an application to film or document before permit is issued.

A municipal ordinance exacting fees on film making and other related activities, provides that a review  committee  composed of  two representatives from the  tourism council, chairman of the Sangguniang Bayan  committee chairman on tourism,  municipal mayor, and SB committee chairman on culture are tasked to  review  an application to film or document before  the filming is allowed to proceed.

Municipal ordinance  02-2010 requires the payment of  4,000 to 50,000 pesos for filming and documentation for commercial purposes.

In said SB inquiry, Bangyay said they would pay P2,500 fine plus P10,000 filming fee.    

Indigenous Peoples Representative to the Sangguniang Bayan Jaime Dugao said the act was a clear disrespect of customary death and burial practices -- that of making  a coffin  and carrying the dead to burial grounds only when someone dies.

Dugao said the  SB condemned the  act being contrary to  customary  practices and  reprimanded Pangod, Bosaing and  Bangyay saying  their acts remain a subject talked about to serve as reminder that it shall not happen again. 

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Mine firm gives P100K to cops for nabbing heist boss


LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation (LCMC) turned over a check worth P100,000 to the La Trinidad Police Office after the latter and other police operatives succeeded in arresting the leader of the group that robbed gold bars from the company and killed six people in 2001.

La Trinidad is the capital town of Benguet.
            
Senior Supt. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., provincial police director, received the check in behalf of the La Trinidad police office on Monday.

Azurin said the amount was a commitment of the company to the local police. “As promised in 2003, Lepanto Mines turned over the amount as reward for the police operatives,” he said.

The fugitive identified as Agustin Pallatao Quebang, of Barangay Paalaban, Mankayan, and leader of the group was wanted for robbery with multiple homicide. 

Quebang had a P300,00 bounty on his head and wanted for the violent heist of 21 kilos of gold at the LCMC compound in Mankayan, Benguet in 2001 who participated in killing five employees, four security guards and an engineer that time.

He was nabbed early this month in Isabela City, Basilan by a tracker police team from the Cordillera and their counterparts in Region 9.
       
Quebang, in the regional police’s most wanted person list, was with his group when they held up employees of the mining company whom they reportedly shot which resulted to their death.
          
Quebang and his group had taken 21kilos of gold bars from the LMCC while being transported to a small plane in 2001 killing the victims and  taking with them two M16 rifles as they ran.

Following his capture, Quebang was brought to Isabela City police headquarters before he was brought to the local court in Mankayan headed by Judge Agapito Laoagan who issued the warrant for his arrest. 
        
Lawmen who arrested Quebang included members of Benguet Provincial Police office, La Trinidad municipal police station, Isabela City police, Basilan R2-Police Regional Office 9, ISG and Philippine Army.

        
Cordillera regional police director Chief Supt. Benjamin B. Magalong and Benguet police chief congratulated their men who participated in tracking and arresting the suspect.    

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Ailing Imelda wants to reach Tacloban



LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — Flamboyant former first lady now congresswoman, Imelda Romualdez Marcos, is sick, confined in the hospital and for the first few days of the tragedy that has struck her hometown of Tacloban City, kept in the dark of the fate of her relatives back home.

Now that Ms Marcos is well aware of the massive destruction wrought by super-typhoon “Yolanda,” all she wants is to return to her home province of Leyte and see through the welfare of her siblings and help in relief efforts.

But that is not about to happen. Doctors attending to Ms Marcos, Ilocos Sur’s 2nd District representative in Congress, insist that she remain in the hospital and continue treatment for diabetes.

Her family has urged her to obey the doctor’s advice and assured her that her relatives back in Tacloban City, the Romualdezes, are hands-on in providing relief assistance to typhoon victims.

Information Officer June Arvin Gudoy, who works for Ms Marcos’ daughter Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, said the Marcos family is working with the official government relief system and is currently exploring private efforts in the relief operation of the typhoon victims.

Gudoy said Ms Marcos has also ordered that relief goods be sent to Yolanda victims, along with a personal note she wrote in the Waray dialect to inspire them.

The note read: “Ayaw kawang hinpaglaun; matin dogkitanam ga waray.” (Don’t lose hope; we Warays shall rise again).

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City gov’t gives up Xmas party; donates funds to typhoon victims


BAGUIO CITY - Government employees and officials in Baguio are letting go their lavish partying this Christmas.

Employees and officials will do away with their yearly Christmas party at the City Hall, supposedly with an P800,000 budget this year.

Following the suggestion of the Golden Christmas in Baguio executive committee to Mayor Mauricio Domogan, the more than a thousand city employees and officials will use the allotted money for the party as donation to victims of super typhoon Yolanda.

The Christmas party of city hall employees usually involves an annual feast of catered food, raffle and door prizes for employees and officials.

Baguio will also do away with sponsored luncheon and dinners for sister-city visitors and balikbayans.

Domogan said this is a time to empathize and sacrifice with those without the means to celebrate Christmas.

However, as a tourist destination,  the city will still hang Christmas lights and the giant christmas tree in the central business district, as Baguio still hopes to draw tourists during the Yuletide Season owing to its cold breeze.

Temperature in Baguio has dropped to as low as 13 degrees Celsius, especially with the northeast monsoon blowing in the North.

The “Golden Christmas in Baguio” celebrations will formally open with the lighting of the 15-meter high Christmas Tree at Upper Session Road with rotating angels and lights on December 1.

Other attractions also include a mini-Christmas Village at Burnham Park’s Rose Garden as an added attraction to complement the dancing fountains as Christmas lanterns will also adorn city’s main roads with designs of stalactites, snowflakes, bells, and reindeers.

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GSIS pays P52 B claims, benefits for 9 mos. of 2013


By Marge Jorillo 

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) disbursed P52 billion in  claims and benefits to its members and pensioners as of September 2013, a 31% increase over the Php40 billion disbursed in the same period in 2012.  

These benefits cover life insurance, retirement, pension, survivorship, disability, and funeral.  Of the total amount, the combined pension and retirement claims account for 80%, at Php22.3 billion and Php18.5 billion, respectively.

GSIS president and general manager Robert Vergara attributed the increased release of benefits to the implementation of agencies’ rationalization programs across the bureaucracy.

For the first 10 months of the year, GSIS processed a total of 34,402 retirement claims with a gross amount of P24.8 billion.

He said another reason for the rise in the pay-outs is “that GSIS has become more efficient in resolving the pending requests of our members and pensioners, some of which date as far back as 2010.”
            
The backlog in pending transactions which reached 240,000 as of last year declined fourfold to about 60,000 pending transactions as of October 2013.
            
The pension fund chief said that the continuing reconciliation of agencies’ accounts to address disparities in the records of members, also contributed to the “greater efficiency in the processing of claims and benefits.”
            
GSIS also enlists the cooperation of suspended agencies to settle their outstanding premium obligations by signing a memorandum of agreement with the pension fund. 
            
As of September this year, 144 suspended agencies have signed agreements with GSIS and updated their accounts, which enabled close to 800,000 employees of these agencies, to exercise once again, their loan and dividend privileges.
            
A total of 86 agencies already paid 90% of their premium obligations which restored the loan and dividend privileges of their employees.
            
The collection efficiency for premium contributions also improved to 96% for the first semester of 2013 from 89% in 2010.



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Gen says PDAF should be used for roads,peace progs


By Myds Supnad

CERVANTES, Ilocos Sur- A top military general said here last week the controversial  Priority Development Asssistance Fund (PDAF) should be allocated for “construction of  roads for development and roads for peace."

Maj. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Northern Luzon (NOLCOM), said the public's much-hated PDAF should not be removed and instead be used in developing under- developed towns in the Ilocos and Cordillera regions.

"Andami pang hindi nalalagyan ng kalsada sa mga interior towns dito at dito na lamang gagamitin ang pera sa PDAF para umangat naman ang kabuhayan ng mga tao sa mga liblib na lugar," the two-star general said.

Quoting Ilocos Sur Vice Gov.DV Savellano, Catapang said there are still many remote barangays here that have no roads and are underdeveloped in terms of infrastructures.

He said this should be given attention by the national government."Gaya ng sinasabi ni vice governor na may isang barangay na liblib dito sa upland municipality nahirapang mga tao doon dahil hindi nila nailalabas agad ang kanilang produktong gulay; mahina pa ang presyo."

Owing to lack of access roads, farmers in that remote barngay have resorted to planting illegal marijuana drugs that commands higher prices in the market.

"Balitanatin ay dinarayo pa ng mga mamimili sa liblib na barangay ang marijuana, mahal pa angpresyo, samantalang ang kanilang produktong gulay ay maliit  ang presyo, madalang pa ang namimili dahil sa walang kalsada,"Catapang said.

He added he will recommend to Defense secretary Voltaire Gazmin and other top AFP officials to set aside funds from the PDAF for the immediate construction of what he called roads for development and roads for peace, adding the public will certainly benefit from it.

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Vizcaya board members shopping for luxury cars



BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – The 13 members of the provincial board who reportedly gifted themselves with a brand new sport utility vehicle (SUV) worth P1.5 million each through the passage of a resolution are now shopping for the these.

Gov. Ruth Padilla approved Ordinance No. 2013-245, providing each board member not only with new vehicles but also new gadgets such as tablets and laptops.

The board members, according to one of their colleagues, are currently busy choosing the SUV models they want to get for themselves.

The source said board member Efren Quiben, one of the ordinance’s prime movers, is eyeing a Toyota Fortuner, along with his colleagues Nestor Sevillena, Johnny Liban, Percival Marcos, FilmaDulay-Perez, Dolores Binwag and Emerlene Jane Galanta.

On the other hand, board members Pepito Balgos, Donior Tidang, Flodemonte Gerdan and Rex Iritan are picking Nissan Navarra while board members Santiago Dickson and Merlie Talingdan reportedly prefer a Mitsubishi Montero and Isuzu D-Max, respectively, the source said.

“I think it’s time for us to have a new service vehicles so we could function effectively and reach our constituents easily, particularly in the mountain barangays,” one of the board members said.


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Inputs to new Baguio City charter change bill urged


By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan encouraged residents here to submit inputs for the revision of the Baguio City Charter for consideration in the new bill to be filed by Rep. Nicasio Aliping Jr. in Congress.
            
“If you have ideas and suggestions which you think would help improve our charter then by all means come forward and articulate them or submit them to the drafting committee of our Congressman,” the mayor aired during the second public consultation held last Thursday on the Act to Revise the Changer of the City of Baguio.
            
The mayor who authored the original bill during his term as city representative to Congress said they will ensure that the new bill to be filed by Aliping will address the concerns of President Benigno S. Aquino III when he vetoed the bill filed by former Rep. Bernardo Vergara last year.
            
“We want to address the four items raised by the President especially the matter on alienable and disposable land.  We hope to reconcile the effect of the Free Patent law with the other modes of disposing alienable and disposable land in the city,” the mayor said
            
He said he will sit down with the drafting committee to refine and improve the provisions and to make them clear and precise particularly the grounds of veto cited by the President. 
            
Aquino in his veto message said the provisions of the bill “are all covered by the present Local Government Code” and questioned the provisions on the disposition of alienable and disposable land which he said “impinge on the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) exclusive mandate over control and supervision of (these) lots and run counter to the laws governing the disposition of townsite reservations.”         

He also said it was not clear what entity will be in charge of disposal alienable and disposable lots and further questioned the provision that proceeds from the sale of lands through miscellaneous sales applications shall accrue to the city and not to the national treasury.

Aquino also said that some of the provisions of the bill run counter to the Bases Convention and Development Authority (BCDA) Act of 1992 on the matter of disposition of properties already transferred to the BCDA.

Domogan disputed the grounds of veto saying there are concerns in the bill that the LGC cannot address like the settlement of the boundary dispute with Tuba municipality which cannot be carried out on the basis solely of the LGC; that the authority to process the sale of these lots will still rest with the DENR and the participation of the city government will only be as a member of the committee that will facilitate the processing; and that MSA as mode of disposing public lands without public bidding “has been in effect in Baguio under the present charter but only in identified areas.”
            
On the proceeds of the sale of public land accruing to the local treasury, the mayor said this should not have been cited as a ground by the President as this is not an amendment but an existing provision in the city charter.
The mayor said the President’s statement that some of the provisions of the bill run counter to the BCDA Act of 1992 on the matter of disposition of properties already transferred to the BCDA is not true as the bill only covers alienable and disposable public land and thus excludes the BCDA lots.

Aliping will schedule more consultations on the act before crafting the bill and filing it in Congress. 

This will be the city’s fourth attempt to update its charter.

Before the President’s veto, Vergara’s bill managed to get past the Lower House and the Senate courtesy of Senate Committee on Local Government chair Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who went out of his way to push for the passage of the bill.

Domogan during his term as congressman filed the bill twice but the legislations did not go beyond the Lower House. 

The city’s charter has remained unchanged since it was written by Justice George Malcolm in 1909.  The Charter even pre-dates the 1935 Constitution and has not yet been revised since its enactment so that almost all of its provisions have become obsolete and irrelevant.


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P500-M NLEX works set to reduce accidents


MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga – The Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC), which manages and operates the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx), has allotted P500-million budget for the construction of two additional expressway lanes from Dau exit to Sta. Ines, Pampanga.

The MNTC said they have already prepared all necessary documents and requirements and they are now waiting for the approval of the Toll Regulatory Board to start the expansion project.

It explained that the two lanes would be added from both sides — northbound and southbound — of the expressways.

MNTC president Rodrigo Franco said the expansion is needed to avoid vehicular accidents that occur due to the narrow tracks. 

Franco said most accidents reported in NLEx happened in the said part of the expressway.

In a related development, MNTC also announced that it is set to begin the extension of NLEx up to C-5 in Quezon City on January next year.

The budget for this expansion is P7-billion. MNTC noted that once the expansion has been completed, NLEx to C-5 would become a ten-minute drive.

Franco said that MNTC is now coordinating with the National Housing Authority for the relocation of residents who will be affected by the project. He said right of way issues will be addressed before the start of the extension project.

The MNTC president clarified that the plan is to build a new road network for the expansion project, and not simply a conversion of the national road into an express lane.


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HIV up in Baguio with 8 cases


BAGUIO CITY – Eight new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been recorded in this summer capital this year bringing total of cases in the city to 59 cases since 1992.

Based on the HIV-AIDS registry provided by Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, head of the Baguio Health Department social hygiene clinic, six of the new HIV cases were men having sex with men (MSM) while two were males.

The number of recorded cases this year was six higher compared to 2012.

Brillantes said it was the second time that the city recorded eight cases in a year.

The year that the city recorded eight HIV cases was in 2011, she said.

In 2004 and 2010,  Baguio had six cases each, five cases in 2009, four in 2006 and three each in 1997 and 2005.

For the rest of years since 1992, the city had only one to two cases.

City epidemiology experts said that the ages of the 59 patients range from 17 to 45 years.

Of the said number, 18 have died.

Majority of patients were males (44) while 15 were females.

The city health office said 22 of the cases were males who had sex with males, 18 were overseas Filipino workers, five were blood donors, four were sexually active females, five were sexually active males, three are wives of persons afflicted with the disease while two were foreigners.

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Frustrated slay ends in amicable settlement


By Gina Dizon  

PARACELIS, Mountain Province -- A case of  frustrated murder was amicably settled  through the intervention of elders done the customary way in the case of accused  Rejic Lamong and victim Robert Angnganay both residents of Poblacion Paracelis.   

With facilitation from the peace and order committee members and chairman Mike Assud of the Sangguniang Bayan here, intervening elders compelled the accused to pay P180,000 for damages he caused the victim.

This, as the resolution of the case arrived at an amicable settlement is soon to reach the Regional Trial Court in Bontoc where the case was filed September this year.

Angnganay from Tanudan, Kalinga  and  Lamong from  Natonin both residents of Poblacion Paracelis met in one of the liquor bars at Poblacion in one drunken stupor which resulted to the accused shooting the victim last September.


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P650K marijuana plants discovered in Benguet


KIBUNGAN, Benguet - More than half a million peso worth of marijuana plants were discovered anew here in a remote village here in Benguet last week.

Town policemen led by Senior Insp. Andres Calaowa Jr. went 4 a.m. on Nov. 19  to Barangay Badeo and raided six marijuana plantation sites totaling 650 square meters in sitioTaba-ao and Culangi.

Police found no marijuana cultivators during the raid. The agents were able to uproot 3,250 fully grown marijuana plants valued at 650,000.

Policemen  urged residents in the areas to refrain from engaging in marijuana cultivation, reminding them of the ill effects of the illegal substance.

Authorities consider the highland Cordillera region as biggest producer of good quality marijuana in the country because of its climate coupled with the harsh conditions of terrain that hampers detection of authorities.

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POLICE ROUNDUP


BANGUED, Abra -- Two persons were injured after a 24- year-old man riding a motorcycle reportedly tried to kill a retired cop here along Peñarrubia St., Zone 4 afternoon of Nov. 19.

Senior Supt. Benjamin Lusad, Abra provincial police director, identified the suspect as Marlon Taloma Reyes, a resident of Patucannay, Tayum town while the wounded victims were Aristeo Valera Balanay, 59, retired policeman of Barangay Poblacion, Baay-Licuan town and Charlie Ganti Damian, 18, student, of Sitio Kabildatan, Zone 7, Bangued.

The retired policeman sustained multiple gunshot wounds on his stomach while the student was hit on his left arm by a stray bullet.

Both were brought and confined at the Seares Memorial Hospital, Bangued, Abra for medical treatment.  

Responding elements of the scene of the crime operation team recovered from the crime scene 5 cartridge cases of Caliber .45 and six metal fragments; but, the weapon used was not recovered.

Elements of Bangued police, Provincial Intelligence Branch and Tayum cops pursued and arrested the suspect.

Reyes is now under custody of Bangued police while a case was being prepared against him. 

Unidentified men rob Kibungan farm store
KIBUNGAN, Benguet – Police reported a case of robbery with intimidation which reportedly transpired at about 6:25 p.m. on Nov. 19 inside TSR Farm Trading along Sitio Nangayangan, Barangay Madaymen here following  complaint of Martha Sangao Cuyan, saleslady of the establishment.

Investigation revealed that day, two unidentified suspects suddenly went inside the said establishment and one of them pointed a handgun at the complainant.

The suspects took the store collection money if P7, 900 and 13 cans of cabbage seed worth P10, 000 and immediately fled to unknown direction.

Responding personnel of Kibungan have yet to come up with names of suspects.

Hog dealer shot after being slapped by two men
PINUKPOK, Kalinga – Two unidentified men shot a hog dealer after he reportedly chased them here on Nov. 20.
                
Police here said they received a text message from police of nearby Tuao, Cagayan informing them of a shooting incident in SitioTabboyan, Catabbogan, Pinukpuk.

Investigation revealed at about 6 p.m. on Nov. 19, a certain Rolando Conay, 35 of Bugumbayan, Tuao, was allegedly shot by two unidentified men.

Prior to the incident, the suspects without any reason reportedly slapped the victim while they were in Barangay Alapog, Tuao.

The victim boarded his tricycle and chased the suspects who fled also on board  a motorcycle until they reached SitioTabboyan where the suspects shot the victim. 

Conay was shot on his back and fell down the road while trying to drive his tricycle. 

The victim was rushed to Tuao District Hospital for medical treatment and later brought to St. Paul Hospital for further medical treatment.


Bauko cops find P15,000K illegal lumber at watershed 
BAUKO, Mountain Province – Police found illegally sawn lumber worth P15,175 along a watershed at Sitio Am-o, Barangay Abatan here on Nov. 20.

Police led by Senior Insp. Jackson C Damong were on patrol when they found the lumber.

They, along with members of the local fire department tried to locate the owner but turned this turned negative prompting them to haul the lumber and bring these to the Bauko police station.

Explosives confiscated by Balbalan cops from couple       
BALBALAN, Kalinga – Police and army soldiers confiscated explosive devises from a couple engaged in mining here Nov. 20. 

A police report said at about 9:35 a.m. that day, the lawmen intercepted and confiscated a sack of ammonium nitrate, a box blasting cap and two rolls fuse at the PNP checkpoint along Sitio Cadamayan, Poblacion.

Investigation revealed the explosive devices were loaded on a Nissan pick-up truck driven by Jose Gannaban, 37 of Tumawini, Isabela.

Together with him was his wife Gemma Gannaban, 35 of Balbalan Proper.

The arrested persons and their vehicle were brought to Balbalan police station for documentation and appropriate action.

Two miners nabbed in Itogon for highgrading
ITOGON, Benguet – Two miners were arrested here last week by police for highgrading. 

Cyrus Galao Cudal, 24 of Agbannawag, Tabuk City, Kailnga and a resident Purok 2, Kias, Baguio City was arrested at his residence here Nov. 20 by Itogon police following warrant issued against him by Jose S. Encarnacion, presiding Judge of Municipal Trial Court,  Tram, Ucab, Itogon.

Encarnacion recommended bail bond of P10,000 for his temporary liberty.
                
Cudal was detained at the Tram police station .

In another incident on Nov. 20, 2013, Itogon police also arrested  Richard Tudas Abaloy, 25 of Cabaruan, Tabuk City, Kalinga and a resident of Purok 2, Kias Baguio City also for highgrading.

Encarnacion also issued a warrant for his arrest with recommended bail bond of P10,000.. 
                
Abaloy was also deatined at the Tram police station.

 Two top most wanted persons in Kabugao, 7 others arrested
CAMP BADO DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet  - Regional police operatives arrested two top most wanted persons in Apayao and eight other wanted persons in the Cordillera Region.

Senior Supt. Albertlito Garcia, Apayao provincial director, disclosed a tracker team of the Kabugao Municipal Police Station separately arrested the two TMWPs in Kabugao.

The No. 4 TMWP charged for attempted homicide with the use of an unlicensed firearm fell into the hands of law enforcers Nov. 15.

He was identified as Archie C. Dinning, 19, student and a resident of Barangay Musimut, Kabugao.

The suspect allegedly tried to kill one Marietha Sario, 45, a resident of Mosimot, Kabugao in her residence on April 28.

By virtue of a warrant issued by Judge Quirino Andaya of the Regional Trial Court Branchr 26, the No.1 TMWP identified as Marc Paul GubatanDudoc, 33, farmer and a resident of  Madatag, Kabugao was also collared on Nov. 18 along the Apayao River in Barangay.Madatag, Kabuyao.

He was charged for rape with no bail recommended and for frustrated homicide with bail of P30,000.

Doduc reportedly hit the head of a 45- year-old man identified as Napoleon Cerut with a stone on June 9 in Poclacion Kabugao.

Later, he allegedly raped a 25-year- old woman in Sitio Labbabg, Barangay Madata, Kabugao on July 3.   

Meanwhile, two wanted persons were arrested for estafa and illegal recruitment.

They were named as Nieves Binayo Lim, 52, a resident of Betag, La Trinidad who was arrested at km 5, La Trinidad and Jocelyn Aggalatiw Aguares, 45, a resident of Baguio City.

In another case,a warrant was served to Mavlin Ham Kim, 51, a resident of Luboc, Balili, La Trinidad, Benguet at the District Jail of La Trinidad, Benguet while serving sentence for less serious physical injuries.

Other Wanted Persons arrested were John Paul Orobia Madriaga, 18, helper, a resident of Calumbaya, Dolores, Abra for murder with no bail recommended;

Ronie Cagaid Caray, 30, tricycle driver and resident of Colabaoan, San Juan, Abra was also nabbed for violation of  gun ban and illegal possession of firearms.

In another case, Johnson Damoco, 47, businessman,  was arrested in his residence at T-Alonzo Street, Baguio City for violation of the Social Security Act of 1997.

Jever Muscara Eulogio, 18, a resident of Sitio Ili,  Datacan, Kapangan, Benguet was nabbed for theft while  Marivic A. Asiong  was arrested at Poyopoy Tuba Benguet for Violation of BP 22 (Anti- Bouncing Check Law).

All arrested suspects are under the custody of the concerned police stations prior to their subsequent turnover to the courts concerned except Lim, Damoco and Asiong who posted bail.

6 wanted persons nabbed in Cordillera
CAMP BADO DANGWA, Benguet — Six persons including the 10th most wanted person in Tayum, Abra were arrested by policemen in the Cordillera region last November 13-14. Bernardino Tugadi Leal “aka” Narding, 51, a laborer and resident of Barangay Budac, Tayum, who is wanted for murder was collared11:30 a.m. of November 13 in Bantay, Ilocos Sur.

Senior Insp. Daniel Bandoc, Tayum acting police chief, said Leal had been evading the law for a year. Others arrested separately for various offenses were Mark GuinayanLomin, 22, of San Gabriel, La Union; Fernando BangoranTadeo, 53, of Dolores, Abra; Ronie CanlasGalo, 22; Jaymark Allaga Pumihic, 30, of Lamut, Ifugao, and Rolando T. Soriano, 47.

Tayum, Abra native nabbed for murder  
BANTAY, Ilocos Sur, – Police here arrested one of the top most wanted persons (TMWP) of Tayum, Abra  last week. 

Through a warrant issued by Judge Rafael F Alzate, Tayum’s No.10 TMWP who had been hiding for almost a year was nabbed in Bantay Nov.13.

Senior Insp Daniel Guimbongan Bandoc, acting chief of police identified him as  BernardinoTugadi Leal a.k.a “Narding”, 51, laborer of Barangay Budac, Tayum.   

Leal was charged for murder for shooting one RodelPe Benito in a ricefield between SitioTiker and SitioAddamay, Budac on Dec. 5, 2012.

Lady pickpocket nabbed in Baguio
BAGUIO CITY – Police arrested a lady for allegedly robbing another female inside a department store around 6 p.m. of Nov. 20.

Police said the incident happened inside Novo Enterprises along General Luna Road here.

The victim was identified as MarilouTaquio Awingan, 43, married, of Barangay Amsing Siapno Pacdal.

The suspect was named as Mary Grace Reyes Novicio, 30, married, jobless, of Hacienda Nonong, San Luis, Baler, Aurora Province.

Investigation revealed that the victim was at the said establishment when she felt somebody touching her bag.

Later, the victim discovered that her wallet was gone prompting her to seek assistance of the security guard which resulted to the arrest of the suspect wherein the victim’s wallet was recovered.

Responding police brought the suspect to the Baguio City Jail where she is now detained as ordered by inquest prosecutor Rolando Vergara. 

Baguio supermarket thieves arrested
BAGUIO CITY – A jobless lady identified as Katrina Olivo Valdez, 31, single, of Turning Point, Bakakeng Norte here was nabbed about 7:45 a.m. on Nov.  20 inside Sunshine Supermarket, along Abanao St. for robbery.

Investigation revealed store watcher Arnold Aquino Mercado saw the suspect and her companion in the act of putting pieces of grocery items inside their travelling bags.

The suspects went immediately to the exit without paying for the items prompting Mercado to follow and apprehend them and recovered grocery items worth P 2,332.

Valdez was detained at the Baguio City Jail as ordered by Prosecutor Nimia Castillo Peralta.

5 men nabbed for crimes
CAMP DANGWA, Benguet – Five men were nabbed for various crimes in the Cordillera last week. 

A certain Mark Lomin, 22, security guard, a native of San Gabriel, La Union and Fernando Bangoran Tadeo, 53, of Barangay Lub-Lubba, Dolores, Abra were arrested last week in front of PNB, Session Road, Baguio City and JTC Mall, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, respectively, both for violation of RA 9262 (Violence against women and children).

Meanwhile, the following with warrants of arrest were also separately arrested: RonieCanlasGalo, 22, of Barangay Labon, Bucay, Abra for rape with no bail recommended; Jaymark Allaga Pumihic, 30, who arrested in his residence at Sitio Maleteng, Lucban, Lamut, Ifugao, for attempted homicide and unintentional abortion and Rolando Soriano 47, who was arrested at Philex Mines Padcal, Benguet for theft.

Two kubradors nabbed for illegal gambling 
BAGUIO CITY – Two men were arrested at Petron Gas Station, Naguilian Road here morning of Nov. 13 for illegal gambling.

Senior Supt. Jesus D. Cambay, Jr., city police director identified the two “kubradores” as Rafael Nino Mendoza, 32, a resident of No. 21 Upper Quezon Hill, Baguio City and Donate Ramos Alcantara, 42, a resident here of Barangay Balsigan.
                
Joint operatives of Baguio City Police Office  and Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit – Cordillera Administrative Region conducted the  anti-illegal gambling operation that resulted in the arrest of suspects engaged in jueteng who were reportedly using Meridien jai alai cards to solicit bets.

Confiscated from them were cash bets amounting to P10,780.in different  denominations, Meridien papepilitos for "Jai Alai" with written number combinations, and two black ballpens.

The suspects were released as per order of the concerned court even as cases were filed against them.  

Teenager arrested for P275K marijuana bricks
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Local police and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency caught a teen-ager who was found in possession of marijuana bricks and leaves at a police checkpoint in Upper Wangal, La Trinidad Nov. 13 at around 10:30 p.m.

Seniot Insp. James DomansiAcod who led the team identified the suspect as Lowie Daganos Cantores, 18, and a resident of Les-eng, Kibungan, Benguet. 

The checkpoint was established on account of tipped information that dried MJ were being transported along Sablan-La Trinidad road.

Confiscated were three dried marijuana bricks and eight pieces of MJ leaves wrapped in a newspaper inside a sack valued by the Dangerous Drug Board worth P275,000.
                
Cantores was brought to La Trinidad police station where a case was prepared against him for filing.

Man wanted for rape, frustrated homicide arrested in Apayao
KABUGAO, Apayao – Local police arrested Marc Paul GubatanDudoc, 33 of Barangay Madatag here Nov. 18, along a river for rape and frustrated homicide. 

Judge Quirino Andaya of Regional Trial Court 2nd Judicial Region, Luna, Apayao issued the warrant for his arrest with no bail recommended and for frustrated komicide with bail of P 30, 000.

The arrested suspect is now under the custody of Kabugao police.

Widows nabbed for illegal gambling  
LAGAWE, Ifugao – Local police arrested Helen Nadugo, 69 and Naty Butic Lunag, 64, both widows and businesswomen for illegal gambling around 4:20 p.m. on Nov. 18 in their residence located at Poblacion East.

Confiscated from them were bingo paraphernalia.

Confiscated items and the widows were brought to the Lagawe police station while a case for illegal gambling was prepared against them.

2 arrested in Abra for illegal gun 
PIDIGAN, Abra – Two men were arrested here while a gun was confiscated from them last week. 

The suspects were identified as  Julius  Libuen Tabas, 25, a resident of Barangay Collago, Lagayan, Abra and Rony Pacurza Dulay, 36 a resident of Barangay Yuyeng, Pidigan.

They were arrested after firing their guns and making trouble inside the Mountview videoke bar in Barangay Pamutic, Pidigan.

Pidigan police confiscated a Cal. 45 pistol with a magazine loaded with two rounds of ammunition from the possession of Dulay.

Both suspects and the confiscated items were brought to the Pidigan police sation where charges for illegal possession of firearms and alarm and scandal were prepared against them.

Two log haulers arrested in Benguet
Two individuals were arrested while assorted sawn lumber were confiscated from them here at Sitio Pantal, Poblacion on Nov 12.

Senior Supt Rodolfo Azurin, provincial police director, identified the arrested hauler as Claudio C. Songyap, 30, driver and his helper Rogelio M. Bencio, 52.

Both are residents of Tojacap, Duacan, Kabayan. 
                
Acting on information, Kabayan police arrested the two while transporting the illegally obtained pine lumber aboard an Izusu van.

Confiscated were 69 pieces of pine logs with a market value of P 22,981.

Municipal Interior and Local Govenrment officer Sergio Gayaso and councilor  Kelcho,  witnessed inventory of the impounded pine logs.

The confiscated items and suspects were brought to Kabayan police station where a case against them was prepared.


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