POLICE ROUNDUP

MMA fighter leads list of awardees during Espina visit

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet -- Police Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, officer-in-charge of the Philippine National Police awarded 11 personnel of regional police exemplary performance to their duties during his recent visit here. 

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter PO1 Crisanto G Pitpitunge received medalyang Kasanayan for demonstrating high sense of discipline to excel in combat sport that propelled him to win in his fight against RambaSomdet, Thailand’s legendary fighter on Nov. 2014 and in defeating Alvin Cacdac, California’s MMA fighter on June 13 at the Ynares Sports Arena.

Other awardees: Chief Supt. Robert G. Quenery, Deputy Regional Director for Administration received Medalyang Kasanayan for his meritorious leadership as Deputy Regional Director for Operation while Senior Supt. Albertlito S. Garcia recievedMedalyangPapuri  for leadership and competence as OIC, Abra Police Provincial Office chief which led to surrender of two members of a Partisan Armed Group identified as Sonny L. Bindo and Jaime Blanes on March 5, 2015.

Also awarded were Supt. Mark D Pespes, Deputy Battalion Commander of Regional Public Safety Battalion and Police Officer 3 Eubert B. Kaniteng who both received Medalyang Paglilingkod sa Santo Papa for their leadership and exemplary devotion as ground commander of PRO-COR and contingent during the State Visit and Apostolic Journey (SVAJ) of his holiness Pope Francis to the country on January 15-19.

Others were Senior Insp. Thrislyn C. Sagpaey, Bakun, Benguet police chief who received Medalyang Papuri for leadership and initiative in intensifying anti-illegal logging in the town. Police Officer 3 Jeremy G. Tugay-an of Regional Intelligence Division who received Medalyang Papuri for arresting a “top most wanted person” with bounty on his head of P90,000 for murder identified as Alex Esquillon on April 8, 2015 along Terminal 2, NAIA, Pasay City; Wilfredo V, Pascual Jr. of Baguio City Police Office who got Medalyang Papuri for completion of Basic Computer Essentials Certification Examination for PNP personnel 35 years and below.

Marites P. Melis of Regional Operation and Plans Division received MedalyangaKasanayan for establishing Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Council website which paved way to faster communication between member agencies.

Jefferson T, Damoslog of Regional Intelligence Division received MedalyangKasanayan in establishing RID clearance database that helped in the processing and issuing of RID clearances.

Jansen Vianney C. Abenoja of Regional Personnel and Human Resource Development Division also received MedalyangKasanayan in managing records of personnel that contributed to the PRO COR RPHRDD being rated No.2 in the DPRM unit performance rating for the first quarter nationwide.

 Espina also cited the leadership of the Cordillera police director Chief Supt. Isagani R. Nerez for “high sense of responsibility that brought good credit not only to the Police Regional Office-Cordillera but also to the whole PNP organization.”

Espinadded this indicated PRO-COR personnel were performing well in their duties and responsibilities.

Van, jeep collide on Bontoc road, 3 hurt

BONTOC, Mountain Province –Police urged motorists to be more careful when driving after a van and jeep recently collided here at SitioAmlosong, Bontoc Ili along the Halsema highway .

According to police investigation, the white colored van, with plate number WCY 313, driven by Lemuel Alingcodan Codiamat, resident of Abatan, Bauko, Mountain Province was on his way to Bontoc when his vehicle collided with a jeep bound to the tourist town of Sagada.

The jeep with plate number AHC 463, white and blue was driven by Johnson Locaneo Suyon of Aguid Sagada.

The driver and passengers of the van were immediately brought to Bontoc General Hospital.

Due to serious injuries, the driver was referred to Luis Hora Regional Hospital in Abatan, Bauko while his passengers were admitted for treatmentat BGH.

The passengers were Diana Bayugan Codiamat, Virginia Mosawan Sillatoc, and Vincent Sillatoc, all residents of Abatan, Bauko.        

The report said police received a text message at about 2:30 p.m. that day informing them of the accident.

Personnel of the Mountain Province Public safety Company, Bontoc municipal police station, Bureau of Fire Department, Bontoc emergency response team, provincial disaster risk reduction management office and other concerned citizens reportedly went immediately to the site and rescued the victims.

Killer of Natonin gardener still unknown

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Police are still investigating the death of a gardener who was stabbed here by a still unknown person on June 5. 

A police report said cops responded to a text message around 11 p.m. that a male was stabbed at Eyeb, Poblacion.

The victim was brought to the Bontoc general hospital for treatment but was later pronounced dead by attending physician.

The victim was identified as a certain Lito Aleton Chinyona, 24, single of Camagwan, Santa Isabel, Natonin, Mountain Province.

Based on police report, the victim was walking when he was stabbed at the back by unidentified suspect who fled to unknown direction.

The report said Chinyona was employed as gardener in Sayangan, Atok, Benguet.

He was about to go home to Natonin but was not able to catch the passenger jeep bound to Natonin.

He had a drinking spree with a certain Rocky. He suddenly left his companion.

Following this, Bontoc police chief Senior Insp. Richard Soliven urged the setting up of CCTVs and street lights in the town to lessen crimes such as rumbles, hold ups, stabbings.  -- Francis B. Degay

Citizen’s arrest law to lessen Baguio crimes     

BAGUIO CITY – A proposed ordinance giving power to ordinary citizens to apprehend any person committing a crime or violating any law or ordinance in this mountain resort will soon be tackled in the city council here.

The Citizen’s Arrest Ordinance in the City of Baguio which adopted the provisions of the rules of court specifically the rules on criminal procedure was proposed by Councilor Leandro Yangot, Jr.

The said ordinance strengthens the citizen’s authority in the apprehension of criminal offenders or lawless elements within the territorial jurisdiction of Baguio.

The ordinance seeks to put an end to rampant violations of existing laws, local ordinances and other issuances and criminal offenses and criminal offenders, as per the draft ordinance seem to fearless in committing crimes.

“Due to limited number of the local police force and other law enforcers, various criminal offenses and even simple transgressions are committed even in broad daylight and in public view and the perpetrators are scot-free,” Yangot said.

“The private citizen’s active role and participation is very much needed in the apprehension of criminal offenders in pursuit of the maintenance of peace and order and protection of the citizenry,” he said.

Yangot added, “the Local Government Unit (LGU) may validly enact such legislative measure designed to promote peace and order, safety and the general welfare of its constituents in the exercise of its police powers.”

“While citizen’s arrest is embodied in Rule 113 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure of the Rules of Court of the Philippines, majority of the people are not cognizant of this provision, he said, hence the need for an ordinance to adopt the same.”

Yangot said, “enacting the ordinance is but proper in order to strengthen the citizen’;s authority in the apprehension of criminal offenders or lawless elements.”

Section 3 of the proposed ordinance states a private person or citizen may lawfully effect Citizen’s Arrest even without a warrant of arrest provided the circumstances are; 

When in his presence, the person to be arrested has committed, is actually committing a crime, or is attempting to commit an offense; or when an offense has just been committed and he has probable cause to believe based on personal knowledge of facts or circumstances that the person to be arrested has committed it, and when the person to be arrested is a prisoner who has escaped from a penal establishment or place where he is serving final judgement or is temporarily confined while his case is pending, or has escaped while being transferred from one confinement to another.

The proposed ordinance will be tackled in the city council soon. -- Paul Rillorta

PRO-COR holds 16th IAS anniversary; top cops cited

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet – The Police Regional Office Cordillera hosted for the first time the 16th Internal Affairs Service (IAS) Foundation Anniversary here  June 15 with signing of memorandum of agreement between the IAS, PRO- and National Police Commission in the region, regional police director Chief Supt. Isagani R. Nerez said. 

Senior Supt. Leo Angelo D. Leuterio, RIAS-Cordillera regional director, said under the MOA the regional RIAS will conduct audits on all PNP units within PRO-Cordillera region pursuant to Section 39 of Republic Act 8551, Sec 2.

Unannounced inspections will also be done on police units to enhance operations.

NAPOLCOM-CAR has administrative and operational supervision and control over the PNP.

During said celebration, five PNP personnel of RIAS –Cordillera were awarded for  exemplary performance to  duties and responsibilities: Supt. Jorge Supsupin Benitez as outstanding senior PCO of the year; Supt. Esteban CutiDulnuan as  outstanding provincial superintendent of the year; Spo3 Dario Elan Marcelino, outstanding prosecutor of the year; PO3 Janeth Bucalen Tabanganay,  outstanding inspection and audit PNCO of the year  and Spo3 Randy Campos Lucas, outstanding investigator of the year.

 Nerez congratulated Leuterio for making PRO-COR as site of the event. He added that RIAS-Cordillera will be a good partner in pursuing and contributing to PRO-COR operations through audit functions.

Women’s Brigade receives 75 rainboots from PRO-Cordillera

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet –The visit of Directorial Integrated Police Operation-Northern Luzon headed by James Andres B. Melad here highlighted distribution of 75 rain boots as provided by regional police officer to the La Trinidad Women’s Brigade June 22. 

The 75 rain boots were handed over by Melad regional police director Chief Supt.Isagani R. Nerezto LTWB president Mila Bingcola.

Nerez said this will help the women in their voluntary activities like clean and green projects, implementation of curfew and other voluntary peacekeeping services in barangays Betag, Balili, Pico, Puguis and Poblacion.

Nerez urged local officials and individuals to supportthe program to support police in peace-keeping activities.