POLICE ROUNDUP

NPA leader killed, CO arrested, 13 surrender

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet – Police recently killed a New People’s Army squad leader, arrested commanding officer of the communist group while 13 surrendered.

The squad leader of the NPA’s West Chico Line, Marco Command Daniel Pinading Alunday was killed while two others were wounded during an encounter in Bontoc, Mountain Province.

The other was the commanding officerof the Sandatahang Platoon Pampropaganda of the communist group’s South Central operating in Abra, identified as Romando Reyes Eduarte who was arrested in Calaba Bridge in Barangay Mudeng, La Paz, Abra following issuance of arrest warrant against him for the killing of a police officer in  Mamasag, Poblacion, LacubAbra.

A police report said other NPA members surrendered to the government forces due to hardship in underground movement.

Meanwhile, the report said NPA elements set afire to heavy construction equipment belonging to Omengan Construction and Development Corp. in Barangay Bayyo, Bontoc, and damaged a bridge embankment along the Bontoc-Banaue Road.

The NPA said that this was a form of punishment after the owners failed to pay revolutionary taxes to the rebel group.

“The information provided by the people in the area and relatives of the misguided Insurgent members greatly contributed to the arrest of the NPA leaders and surrender of the others.” said Chief Supt. Isagani R. Nerez, Cordillera police director.

He urged police to remain alert at all times on any possible retaliatory attacks of the rebels.

“The PNP calls on the other members of the CPP-NPA to lay down their arms, abandon the armed struggle and return to the comfort of the families and assist the police and other law enforcement agencies in bringing peace in the country.”

He urged the public to help the police by providing  information on  presence of an NPA member in their locality through social media or the following numbers: complaint referral -094765880 / 09174297628 or   Regional Tactical Operation Center  074) 422-5515; 09175302679/ 09285591669.

PRO-COR assures students’ safety in opening of classes

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet - In support to the Department of Education in preparation for the opening of classes for the school year and observance of the Maintenance Week known as “Operation BalikEskwela,” police will implement security for safety of students.

Millions of students in different levels are expected to troop to their respective schools during opening of classes in public learning institutions on June 2.

A police report said this might be taken advantage of by unscrupulous individuals and criminal elements to carry out crime against schoolchildren.

Police presence will be established near schools.

“We will extend help to the DepEd’s  “Brigada Eskwela” program in preparing classrooms in public schools before opening of classes and we will ensure students will have access to schools not only during  opening of the classes but throughout the school year,” said Chief Supt. Isagani R. Nerez, regional police  director said.

Barangay official shoots tricycle driver; arrested  

BANGUED, Abra – An official of Barangay Bangbangar, here identified as Edgardo Laureta Ayco, 66, was arrested Monday after allegedly shooting one Roger Blanza Almazan, 60, tricycle driver from Barangay Calaba, also of this capital town.

Senior Supt. Benjamin M. Lusad, Abra provincial director, said the suspect was trying to pacify the intoxicated victim during a wake but the former challenged him and even followed the latter in his house.  

Almazan allegedly confronted and tried to attack Ayco with a knife which provoked the latter to shoot him.

The victim was immediately brought to the Seares Memorial Hospital for medical treatment.

Police arrested Ayco and confiscated a Cal. .22 revolver from him.

The weapon was believed used in the shooting incident.

Stolen cellphone lands lady in jail

BANGUED, Abra – A certain Rhoda BarcenaBribon, 36 Barangay Patucannay here was arrested after being caught in possession of a stolen i-Phone cellphone.

Police said Bribon brought the phone to the repair shop where she allegedly stole it for repair.  

Cellphone technician, Jomar Ayco identified his missing phone and questioned the suspect until she reportedly admitted committing stealing the cellphone from the repair shop.

2 bet collectors nabbed in Baguio

BAGUIO CITY – Police arrested two jueteng collectors last week.  

They were identified as Pablo Diego Mandapat aka “Pabling,” 53, a resident here of Upper Crystal Cave, and Manny Diego Lazaro aka “Pepe”, 34, of Turning Point Crystal Cave.

Both were caught collecting bet money at Lake Drive, Burnham Park here May 10 at about 11:35 p.m.

Joint operatives of the City Intelligence Unit and police Station 7, seized from arrested bet collectors P690.00 cash bets, Meridien bet papers  with written number combinations and two ball pens.

Bakun native nabbed for shabu

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Local police here arrested Samuel Guadna, Guinyawan, 20, of Gambang, Bakun, now residing at Barangay Puguis here for possessing six sachets of shabu weighing around 1.8 grams and a motorcycle without plate number May 11 at around 12:30 a.m. at SitioBuhaw, Pico.

Senior Supt. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr., Benguet provincial police director, said the suspect was initially seen with his black Rusi motor cycle without plate number and when accosted he failed to show pertinent documents, he was brought to the station where the drug was discovered in his coin purse.

The suspect is now under police custody while charges are being filed in court against him.

Lawmen confiscate P46,000 lumber in Itogon, Paracelis

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet – Police and members of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office and  Philippine Army confiscated P46, 400 worth of lumber during separate anti-illegal logging operations in Itogon, Benguet and Paracelis, Mountain Province.

Confiscated were 41 pieces of pine lumber worth P12,600 in  Petican, Labilab, Loacan, Itogon, Benguet afternoon of May 11.

Meanwhile, narra and ipil lumber valued at P 33,800.00 were seized at SitioCauayan, Buringal, Paracelis, Mountain Province May 9.

All recovered lumbers are now under the custody of the concerned DENR Offices for proper disposition while no person was arrested during the operations.

2 nabbed for failed slay try on ex-Army officer

BANGUED, Abra-- Two suspects are now in jail after they failed to assassinate a retired Philippine Army officer here  evening of May 9.

Senior Supt. Benjamin M. Lusad, Abra police director  identified the suspects as Mamerto Adame, 34 and Warren Adame, 24, construction worker, both relatives and a residents here of Barangay Sta Rosa.

The victim was identified as Arturo Angelada, 50 resident of Santiago St, Zone 3, Bangued.

Police said Angelada was fixing his children’s swimming gear in front of their house when two men on board a motorcycle suddenly fired at him for still unknown reasons. 

The victim hid and took his firearm inside the house and fire back at the suspects who made a U-turn causing the motorcycle to crash but the suspects were able to run away.

In a follow-up operation, elements of Bangued police and Provincial Public Safety Company traced Mamerto at the house of a certain Babila who was shot on his thigh and immediately brought to the Abra Provincial Hospital where Warren was found receiving treatment due to gunshot wounds on his left knee.

Police recovered 11 empty shells and three fired bullets of Cal. 45 handgun in crime site including red Yamaha RXT 135 motorcyle.

Also confiscated were a firearm holster and a bonnet.

Meanwhile, police are validating papers of the Cal. 45 firearm used by Angelada to determine its legality.

Thief shoots salesman, runs away with P10,000

BAGUIO CITY -- An unidentified thief shot a salesman at Batong’s Store here at Block 2, Middle Quirino Hill May 10  at about 12:15 midnight.

Probers identified the victim as Gerald Limliman De Guzman, 21, of Barangay Irisan here who was then delivering Red Horse Beer together with his companions when the suspect suddenly snatched his sling bag containing around P10,000.00 collection and a Myphone cellphone worth P2,500.

Police revealed that the suspect shot the victim when the latter grappled for his sling bag.

The suspect escaped with the loot towards lower Quirino Hill,  while the victim was brought by his companions to the Baguio General Hospital Medical Center for treatment.

Responding police recovered fired cartridge case of Cal. 9mm at crime scene. 

Police are now conducting investigation to determine identity of the suspect.

Authorities urged the public to report information on the matter so the perpetrator would be arrested.

Gov’t forces confiscate illegal logs in Ifugao

AGUINALDO ,Ifugao -- Forces of 54th Infantry Battalion, Aguinaldo police and Community Environment and Natural Resources Office of Alfonso Lista, Ifugao  confiscated around 3,000 board feet of illegally cut lumber at Barangay Monggayang here May 5.

The joint operation was triggered by complaint of concerned citizen of the barangay who alleged proceeds from rampant illegal logging occurring in the tri-boundaries of the towns of Aguinaldo and Mayoyao both of Ifugao and Natonin of Mt Province of communist rebels operating in the area.

Presence of illegally cut lumbers was relayed to Aguinaldo police who informed the CENRO and personnel of 54IB.

The residents of Monggayang denied ownership of the illegally cut lumbers and the alleged owner to evade arrest.

According to Valeriano N Banggolay, CENRO Officer of Alfonso Lista, the forested part of the towns of Aguinaldo, Mayoyao and Natonin is one of the remaining few and important forest reserves which directly affects life and future not only of the people of Ifugao, Mt Province and Isabela.

This area provides steady supply of water to Magat Dam.” Mr Banggolay said.

Lt. Col. Eddie M Pilapil, commander of 54th IB said illegal logging must be stopped.