POLICE ROUNDUP

Woman’s body found in Baguio inn

BAGUIO CITY -- A dead body of a woman was found in Room 1 of Katipunan Inn II in Barangay Kagitingan here.

The victim was identified as Mary Ann N. Garcia, 24, of Tobeleng, Loakan Itogon, Benguet by her mother Mailene N. Garcia.

Police said at about 4:45 p.m. same date, the victim together with an unidentified man checked in for two hours. However, the man went out after 30 minutes and left the victim. At around 6:45 p.m., the establishment clerk knocked on the door of the room for check out but no one was responding. She called the building carpenter after 10 minutes of knocking to forcibly open the door and found the victim dead. Recovered in the crime scene were unidentified crystalline chemical and the victim’s cell phone with a farewell message for her mother.

Based on autopsy, the victim died of taking in toxic substance. Authorities are still investigating the identity of the victim’s male companion since there were no CCTV cameras installed in the establishment. -- Ian Pajarillaga

Man who axed wife dead surrenders        

 TARLAC CITY – A man surrendered after axing dead his wife.

In his report Supt. BayaniRazalan identified the man who killed his wife as Julio Trinidad Mercado, 44, of Barangay Cut-cut 2 here.

Mercado admitted axing his wife Alma Delama Mercado, 41, at their residence Friday during a heated argument. Alma died after three days fighting for life at the Intensive Care Unit of the Jecson Medical Center here.

“I was so drunk and I lost control of myself,” Mercado said when he surrendered to the police Wednesday accompanied by his brother Dominador and Barangay Councilor Bernardo Nidera.

Razalan disclosed that Mercado fled after he axed his wife. “I believe he has no intention to kill his wife but probably it was his being drunk that made him do it”, said Razalan.

Razalan said Mercado was charged of parricide, a non-bailable offense, after his wife was pronounced dead.  -- Nelson Bolos

Farmer shot dead by unidentified men

LAGAYAN, Abra – A farmer was shot to death here by still unidentified perpetrators around 7:15 a.m. Thursday.

A police report said that day a few minutes earlier, Insp. George Apostol Acob received a call from Anita M. Seares, chairperson of Barangay Ba-i, informing him of a shooting incident transpired in Sitio Dumayco, Barangay Ba-i, wherein  a certain Maximo Guyang Cortez, 60, resident of Sitio Lunglungboy, Ba-i,was shot dead. 

Investigation showed the victim’s son immediately ran outside their house when he heard the gunfire and saw his father lying on the rice field that prompted him to call for help. The victim sustained one gunshot wound on his chest and one on his head that caused his instant death.

Responding cops and elements of 24th IB, Philippine Army scoured the area to arrest perpetrators but they could not be found. Six fired cartridges of Cal. 5.56 were found in the area.

Engineer, security guard arrested over land dispute

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Police arrested a geodetic engineer and a security guard here Thursday around 3:30 p.m. over a land dispute. Arrested were: Robert Kalang-ad Wanchakan, 44, geodetic engineer, native of Mankayan, Benguet and a resident of Purok 4, Pinget, Baguio City and Fidel Tinay Pa-ay, 34, security guard, of KamogSablan, Benguet,resident of Purok 8, Upper Pinget, Baguio City for physical injuries and threat that transpired about 11 a.m. of same date, in Lamut, Beckel here.

Complainants were farmers Michael Consi Daniel, 25 and Marines Palsa-en Takingan, 63, both residents of Gulon, Ambiong, La Trinidad. 

Initial investigation showed  the group of the suspects were conducting land survey in Lamut,  prompting the victims and other relatives to verify. The victims approached the suspects together with the Sungyap family to stop the land survey but Wanchakan pushed one of the complainants and suddenly punched his upper right cheek. One of the security guards identified as Fidel Pa-ay pulled out a handgun and pointed it to the complainants.

The suspects were detained in La Trinidad Municipal Jail. Case was transmitted to the Prosecutor’s Office of La Trinidad.

Kalinga board member’s bodyguard, tanod arrested for gun ban violation

TABUK CITY – Two persons were arrested here Thursday for violation of the Commission on Elections gun ban.A police report said the suspects were nabbed around 11:45 p.m. They were identified as Lito Arpid Baggas, 26, bodyguard of a Kalinga board member and resident of Sto. Isla Basao, Barangay San Juan here and Jimmy Agayyong Dammay, 30, barangay tanod and a resident of Purok 6, Bulanao.

Investigation disclosed police established a checkpoint at San Juan, and later flagged down and checked a Suzuki motorcycle. Cops noticed a protruding firearm in possession of LitoBaggas and confiscated the  Cal. 9mm Taurus weapon from him loaded with 11 bullets. Suspects were brought to police station where charges were prepared against them.

Woman arrested for swindling, bouncing checks in La Trinidad

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A 44-year-old married woman was arrested here Thursday for cases of swindling and bouncing checks. A police report identified the suspect as  Aida Ngitiw Milo, 44 of Sitio Buhao, Barangay Puguis here. 

This, after arrest warrant was issued against her by Glenda T. Ortiz-Soriano, presiding judge of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities, 2nd Branch, Baguio City for swindling. Ortiz-Soriano recommended bail of P50, 000 for her temporary liberty.

Another arrest warrant was issued against her by Judge Delilah Gonzales Munoz, presiding judge of MTC  La Trinidad, Benguet for violation of Batas Pambansa 22 (Bounding Checks Law). Munoz recommended bail of P5, 000

3 drug dealers’ houses raided; guns, ammos, shabu confiscated        

TARLAC CITY -- Three houses of known drug peddlers were raided Wednesday which resulted in the confiscation of guns, ammunitions and illegal drugs.

The raid was jointly conducted by the Tarlac Criminal Investigation and Detection Group led by CInps Angelo Nicolas, this city’s police headed by Supt. BayaniRazalan and by the Tarlac Provincial Public Safety Company under Supt. Samuel Munoz.

Arrested were Dante Rodriguez Ramos, 31, of Barangay San Isidro, JenelynMarimla De Lara, 42, Roy TregeroMagbag, 44, Rodelyn De Lara Magbag, 25, and Rhoyvin De Lara Magbag, 21, all of SitoSuba, Barangay Matatalaib.

“The raid was by virtue of 3 court-issued Search Warrants on the residents of Ramos, De Lara and Roy Magbag who are all in the Watch list of drug personalities in this city”, Razalan.

According to Nicolas, Magbag is the number 6 among the Top 10 Priority Targeted Drug personalities and is the leader of the Magbag robbery and drug group.

The houses of Rodriguez, De Lara and Magbag all yielded Caliber .38  pistols, several pieces of shabu sachets and various drug paraphernalia.

 The raid on the 3 houses was conducted past midnight. – Nelson Bolos         

Unemployed man arrested for frustrated murder

LAGAYAN, Abra – Police arrested an unemployed man here Thursday for frustrated murder. The suspect was identified as Joel Bicera Bersamina, 47, of Barangay Dangdangla Bangued, Abra.

This, after Raphiel F. Alzate, presiding judge, Regional Trial Court Branch 1, Bangued issued arrest warrant against him for trustrated murder and set bail of P200, 000 for his temporary liberty.

Bersamina was released after posting bail following release order signed by Alzate.

Woman arrested for rape

BAGUIO CITY – A 24-year-old woman was arrested here Thursday at Barangay Kitma, rape by sexual assault among other cases. The suspect was identified as Adelia Sales Rodriguez, of Upper Quezon Hil.

Mia Joy Oallares, presiding judge of RTC Branch 59, Baguio City issued arrest warrant against the suspect for violation of Republic Act 7610 and rape by sexual assault. The judge recommended bail of P80,000 and P200,000 respectively for her temporary liberty.

The suspect is now detained at the Criminal Detection Group office here.

Korean student loses belongings to taxi driver 

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A Korean national lost his personal belongings Tuesday to a taxi driver whom he instructed to wait for him in front of the Philippine Postal Services Office here.

The victim, a student of Benguet State University here told police he took the cab inside the BSU Compound near the library together with his friends whom he dropped off at  Gladiola Building in Km 5, Barangay Betag then rode to the PPS to get his package. He asked the  taxi driver to wait for him because he will just get his package leaving his bag inside the cab. When he went back, he noticed that the taxi was already gone. The victim exerted effort to find the cab but he couldn’t.

The victim said the bag contained electronic dictionary worth P4,000, ATM, visa card, student I.D, books and important documents. The CCTV footage was being reviewed by police to identify the taxi driver at press time. – KhyrlLeizel A. Tanacio

Missing Isabela village treasurer surfaces

ECHAGUE, Isabela – The treasurer of Barangay Bacradal here who was reported kidnapped on Monday, surfaced Wednesday, claiming his captors released him without precondition.

Orlando Lagasca told police his captors returned his mobile phone and wallet.

Lagasca was reportedly taken from his house after attending a wedding reception in the village.

Police said they are investigating if the alleged kidnapping and the killing of village chief Nestor Medina of Barangay Rumang-ay are related.  --  RaymundCatindig

Farmer hacks dead another farmer

TABUK CITY – A farmer was hacked dead by another farmer over water here Thursday around 8:40 p.m. A report said cops responded to the incident in Sitio Isla Basao, Barangay San Juan wherein a certain Lawrence Pudayan, of Barangay Malin-awa, Tabuk city was hacked on his nape allegedly by BinsayBallongDugay, 56, of Sitio Isla Basao, Barangay San Juan.

Investigation disclosed around 6 p.m. that day, while the suspect was watering his rice paddies using water from irrigation canal when the  victim asked the suspect to stop. A heated altercation ensued between them prompting the suspect to leave. The suspect came back holding bladed weapon then hacked the victim on his nape the causes his instant death.

Dugay was nowhere to be found when cops went to the area.The victim’s body was brought to his residence in Sitio Isla Basao, San Juan.

Killing of Tarlac cop, drug related?

TARLAC CITY – Police are investigating whether the killing in broad daylight of PO3 Jessie Cabanlong at the busy Mac Arthur Highway fronting the Siesta bus stop, Barangay San Roque, Wednesday was drug related.

Cabanlong, who hails from Barangay Militar, Fort Magsaysay, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, was  assigned at the San Clemente police station but was formerly with the Nueva Ecija Public Safety Company and with the Munoz City police station.

A police investigator here, who requested that his name be withheld, revealed that Cabanlong was suspected to be involved in illegal drugs in Nueva Ecija.

“Base sa aming imbestigasyon, may connection ‘di umano si Cabanlong sa mga drug groups sa Nueva Ecija, at malamang related ang pagka-transfer niya ditto saTarlac sa pagpatay sa kanya ”, said the police source.

“Kung totooito, maaring may commitment siya o utangsamga drug suppliers nanaiwananniyasa Nueva Ecija kaya siyapinatay”, added the investigator.

From the Nueva Ecija police command, Cabanlong was ordered re-assigned to the San Clemente police station only last January.  

He was shot in the head by an unidentified lone gunman while crossing the Mac Arthur highway fronting the Siesta bus stop. The cold-blooded killing was witnessed by several persons who were waiting for north-bound buses around 10:30 in the morning.

In a separate interview, police chief Supt. Bayani Razalan said, “our investigation is still ongoing and we are looking into all possible motives in the killing of PO3 Cabanlong. Rest assured we will not stop (our investigation) until we arrest the killer of Cabanlong”.  -- Nelson Bolos

Tourist loses gadgets in pickpocket incident

BAGUIO CITY -- A local tourist lost P33,000 worth of gadgets to a pickpocket morning of Feb. 14 here along Harrison Road.

Victim Mike Ybanez Sarceno,40,of Quezon City and his companions were looking for a restaurant in the said place around 8 a.m. when his bluetooth headset suddenly alarmed, signaling that his gold-plated Samsung S5 and blue Samsung S3 were five meters away from the headset. Upon checking, he noticed that the zipper of his belt bag placed at his back was open and the gadgets were gone.

The victim said he didn’t notice someone went near him. Police officials no CCTV cameras installed in the vicinity. -- Ian Pajarillaga

16 gang members arrested in La Union

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union --  Police and narcotics operatives arrested Thursday 16 gang members involved in illegal drugs, shooting incidents and various offenses.

Senior Supt. Angelito D Dumangeng, provincial police director, partnered with other government personnel  in implementation of 23 search warrants and two arrest warrants from courts in Pangasinan and La Union.

They seize five illegal guns, ammunition, a rocket launcher, 104 sachets of shabu, 1 lunchbox of white crystalline substance believed to be shabu, 31 sachets of Marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Dumangeg said the arrested gang leaders and members included drug personalities from the towns of Bauang, Agoo, City of San Fernando,  Caba, Sto Tomas, San Juan, Rosario and Aringay.

Chief Supt.  Ericson T Velasquez, police Ilocos director cited his men and other law enforcement agencies for initiating operations. - MydsSupnad

 P28-M marijuana destroyed in Benguet, La Union, Kalinga

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet -- – Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency personnel destroyed over 60,000 marijuana plants and seedlings with an estimated value of P28 million in separate operations in Benguet, La Union and Kalinga last week.

Anti-drug operatives discovered around 53,900 marijuana plants in a 2,850-square-meter plantation in the mountain village of Takadang in Kibungan, Benguet. 

Authorities said it was the biggest marijuana plantation raid in the province since January.

Chief Supt. Ericson Velasquez, Ilocos police director, said 8,800 marijuana plants worth P1.7 million were uprooted in four plantations in Barangay Sapdaan in Santol, La Union.

In Tinglayan, Kalinga, 7,000 marijuana plants worth P1.4 million were destroyed in Barangay Bugnay, said Senior Superintendent Victor Wanchakan, Kalinga police director. 


Grenade launcher, illegal drugs confiscated in Caba

CABA, La Union – A grenade launcher, five sachets of suspected shabu, 12 packs of dried marijuana leaves, drug paraphernalia and ammunition were seized during a raid here on a suspected drug den.


Senior Supt. Angelito Dumangeng, La Union police director, said the operator of the drug den, Ramon Gapuz, is the second most wanted drug suspect in the province.

Violence against women, children down in Baguio

BAGUIO CITY -- A lower number of violence against women and children was recorded at start of this year compared to same period last year, according to the Women and Children Protection Desk of Baguio City Police Office.

A total of 42 cases of violence against women and children were recorded by the Women and Children Protection Desk last January. Among the listed cases, 25 were physical abuse and 17 were psychological abuse. Compared to the same period last year, the office recorded a higher number of cases totaling to 108 cases, 41 were filed in court. It is expected to increase in the succeeding moths but the WCPD is hoping that it will not be greater on the total cases recorded last year.

SPO4 Lieza Batanes of the Women and Children Protection Desk said most common cases were physical abuse and psychological abuse.

She said they cannot force abused women to file cases against violent husbands because it just a waste of time and the case might just be dismissed.

She said most cases of violence began due to misunderstanding of couples which adversely affected children. – JortonCampana