POLICE ROUNDUP

 3 Aurora cops face raps

BALER, Aurora – Three police officers, including a captain, have been charged before the provincial prosecutor’s office over the death of their colleague at a police station here.

Senior Inspector Bartolome Antolin, chief of the provincial public safety company; Insp. Zardel Jastiva and SPO 4 Leo Teneza were charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide on Tuesday.

The widow of PO2 Lourex Sindac, Elvie, filed the complaint.

Murder charges were earlier filed against PO1s Rexie Torre, Melvin Hugo and Mark Einnor Querijero in connection with the case.

Sindac was allegedly killed when Hugo’s service firearm accidentally went off after midnight on Dec. 15.

Antolin was the station commander while the other respondents were at the scene during the incident.

Sindac’s family raised doubts Lourex’s death was due to an accident, saying he could have been shot.

Antolin, Jastiva and Teneza were charged for allegedly failing to immediately bring Sindac to the hospital.  -- Manny Galvez

      

Robbery suspect slain in shootout

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – One of three motorcycle-riding men tagged in a series of robberies in this province was killed in a shootout with police officers in San Fernando City March 25.

Before the shootout, Chaser Bolalin and his companions reportedly robbed at gunpoint a resident in Barangay Quebiawan, according to provincial police director Senior Supt. Rodolfo Recomono Jr.

A concerned citizen called for help, but the suspects fled toward Barangay Alasas, where they were cornered by responding police officers.

The suspects reportedly shot at the officers, triggering a firefight, which resulted in Bolalin’s death. – Ric Sapnu     

Cook mauled after cooking meal for men

BAGUIO CITY- Some eight male persons allegedly mauled a cook in front of Pay Lite store, Caguioa Street here around 3 a.m. of March 21.

The victim was identified as Rosebelt Resoles Ignacio 22, of Aklan,Capiz of Barangay Pinsao.

Suspects went inside Pay Lite store and had a meal while the victim went out the store and sat to rest after cooking.

After eating, one of the suspects went out and smoked cigarette then looked at the victim. Moments later another suspect followed and there they mauled the victim without any reason. When victim tried to fight, other suspects went out and they aided one another in mauling the victim.

As a result, the victim sustained injuries at his left eyebrow, left eye and mouth. –Jethro Lagasca

Family of 3 slain in Cagayan

TUGUEGARAO CITY – A sexagenarian couple and their daughter were killed in Pamplona, Cagayan on Wednesday.

Police found the bloodied bodies of Emilio Coloma and his wife Hilaria, both 61, and daughter Maria Cristina, 25, at their house in Purok 1, Barangay Centro in Pamplona town around 4 a.m.

Maria Cristina’s two-year-old son, who was sleeping in his room, was unhurt. Her partner, Ciano Bunao, was arrested in a follow-up operation.

Probers are eyeing jealousy as the motive for the attack. Bunao accused his partner of having an affair. – Raymond Catindig

Police officer shot dead to his room

BAGUIO CITY – A cop was shot here around 4:30 a.m. March 18, here at No.49 New Lucban, believed victim of foul play or suicide.

Police identified the victim as PO3 Roman Waguis Canuto, 43, assigned at Traffic Management Branch La-Trinidad Municipal Police Station.

Initial investigation showed the victim arrived at their house and went into his room and locked the door.

After a few minutes, his brother Roger Canuto and father Estacio Canuto heard a gunshot emanating from the victim’s room which prompted Roger to check.

Roger could not open the door so he destroyed the doorknob.

When he entered to the victim’s room, he discovered the lifeless body of the victim with blood oozing from his head.

A 9mm Pietro Berreta with an open chamber, detached magazine, and a bullet were found beside the victim’s body.

Scene of the crime operations head Supt. Jaime Leal proceeded to the scene, led an investigation and brought the body to Bahay-Damayan, Marcos Highway for autopsy. – Jethro Lagasca

P1.4 M shabu seized in police checkpoint

TARLAC CITY -- More than P1.4 million worth of shabu was confiscated from a motorist flagged down in a police checkpoint.

PSupt Bayani Razalan, this city’s police chief, said the illegal drugs belongs to Zoilo Andrew Padilla Ignacio who was driving a black Yamaha MIO SOUL 125 when he was estopped in the police-manned Commission on Election (COMELEC) checkpoint in Barangay San Isidro here.

The 46-year old Ignacio is from Barangay San isidro, Lapaz, Tarlac.

“When asked to show the registration of his motorcycle, Ignacio nervously opened his small black sling bag and it was brimming with plastic sachets of shabu”, said Razalan.

“Ignacio even tried to flee the checkpoint but was chased and cornered by PO2 Noverlito Pastor and PO1 Kerwin Puno”, also said Razalan.

The shabu confiscated from Ignacio weighed almost 85 grams packed in 10 plastic sachets.

“In ‘whole sale’, ignacio’s shabu is worth around P200,000. But once re-packed to ‘retail size’ of 0.03 gram-sachet sold at P500 a piece, his contraband could be worth more than P1.4 million”, disclosed Razalan.

It was gathered that Ignacio is listed as Number 1 Drug Personality in the town of Lapaz. A digital micro weighing scale and several pieces of drug paraphernalia were also seized from him.

“He will be charged for violation of Section 11 of RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs law) but since the illegal drugs confiscated from him is more than 5 grams, Ignacio will not be allowed to post bail”, said Razalan.

Senior Inspector Ronnie Astrero, chief of the Police Community Precinct (PCP) 6, personally led the 8-member police team manning the anti-gun ban checkpoint when Ignacio was flagged down travelling towards the city proper said Razalan’s report to Police Provincial Director PSSupt Alex Sintin. – Nelson Bolos   

Fire burns 4 buildings, 18 condo units in Baguio

BAGUIO CITY- Four buildings were burned here at Barangay Green Valley Green Valley with 18 condominium units affected on March 22. Police said the fire quickly spreads because the buildings were made of wood.

Personnel of more than 10 fire trucks from Tuba and La-Trinidad including water delivery vehicles helped put out the fire.

Police investigation disclosed the fire started around 8 a.m. and controlled by 10:30 a.m. Probers are still investigating cause of conflagration. -- Jethro Lagasca

Carpenter, driver stabbed many times, one dead

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A carpenter and his cousin, a taxi driver were stabbed by still unidentified men while waiting for a taxi in front of a restobar along Halsema highway at Balili on March 25.

Jose Balong-angey, 41, of Mangkayan Benguet was announced dead on arrival after being rushed to the hospital due to multiple stab wounds while his cousin, Jonathan Balong-angey, 26, taxi driver was confined in the hospital due to stab wounds on his back, abdomen and right elbow.

The two victims together with their friends just came from Sparthalens Bar when their female companion accidentally bumped one of the two male suspects who were standing at the door of the said establishment. The two male suspects followed and teased them until misunderstanding happened that resulted to a fight. The victims didn’t know the suspects were armed with knife.

Shelter Madla-ay, Rex Langbis and Vinward Butoeg who were riding a taxi going to Trinidad witnessed the incident and helped bring the victims to Benguet General Hospital for treatment. A knife measuring 8 inches was used in the incident and was recovered at the crime scene. – KC Bautista

Gov’t employee, brod lose gadgets to thieves

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – One black Asus laptop worth P42,000 and P800 worth sling bag was stolen by unidentified suspects while the victims were sleeping at their residence here at Tebteb, Balili night of March 24.

Investigation revealed occupants Arthur Apad Tolito, 50, government employee of Bakun, Benguet and his brother Warren Tolito closed and locked all their windows except the one at the sala. One hour later, Arthur woke up and turned off the TV and lights outside, leaving Warren sleeping. At around 7 a.m. of March 25, Arthur noticed that all their windows were fully open and his laptop was missing. When he went out, he saw some of the personal belongings of Warren scattered outside.

Police said around 1 a.m., they chased male male minors within the area who fled. –KC Bautista

3 drown while taking selfies

BAYAMBANG, Pangasinan – Two siblings and their cousin slipped and drowned while taking selfies on a raft in Agno River in Barangay Carungay here on Wednesday afternoon.

The bodies of Kyla Bautista, 16; her brother Kenneth, 20, and cousin Karen San Jose, 14, were recovered after a few hours.

The victims were with their relatives, who went swimming in the river, when the incident occurred.

Police said victims did not know how to swim. – Eva Visperas

Student robbed while sleeping

LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET – A student was robbed of here valuables while sleeping at dawn of March 23 in their house when his older brother, Dindo Agsalog, went out to take a bath leaving the door of the room open.

Dindo revealed to the police that he left the victim, his sister Donabell, 18, student, of Agaldang Apartment, Betag, sleeping inside their room for 10 minutes to take a bath. As he went back to the room, he noticed that the Acer laptop and Oppo cellular phone placed on top of their phone was missing. He awakened the victim who said she did not notice the suspect who entered their room and got the said items. The acer laptop was worth P19,000 while the Oppo cellular phone was worth P4,500. – Princess Natividad

Nurse, students robbed of belongings

BAGUIO CITY -- Two cases of robbery were reported in Session Road and SM Baguio on Easter Sunday.

A registered nurse from Mandaluyong, Metro Manila billeted at Ridge Crest, Bakakeng named Rodolfo Flores, 57 reported his light peach wallet containing P30,000.00 and US $1,200.00 cash, US driver’s license, US-issued credit cards, and various advantage cards were allegedly robbed in SM Baguio.

Earlier on said day, a University of Baguio student was robbed of his cell phone at a 7/11 store here along Session Road.

Police report said the student left his phone at the serving area of the convenience store after buying food together with his colleagues, when he returned to get the phone, it was no longer there. CCTV footage was requested but store employees said it required a police order to provide access to said footage. – Carlito Lacanlale

2 men mauled at Session Road

BAGUIO CITY –  Two young men were mauled by still unidentified persons here night of March 25 along Session Road.

Police named the victims as Borer Cedrick Belga, 27, helper at the University of Baguio canteen, and Jelbert Quipit Danias, 31ofSlaughter Compound Lower Magsaysay. The victims said they came from a drinking session then while they were walking down, a group of several men suddenly went near them and without apparent reason mauled them then immediately scampered to unknown directions.

Cops scoured the area for the suspects but to no avail. Victims were brought at the Baguio General Hospital for medical attention. – Michelle B. Gavanes

Thief steals P20 in book store ; spares P10,000

BAGUIO CITY – The Mt. Cloud Book Store in Casa Vallejo along Upper Session Rd. here was  robbed by unidentified thief on March 28 by breaking the window of the store.

Store keeper Gabrielle C. Calucin, 23, said t she closed the bookshop at 8:27 p.m. and returned the following day and noticinf their window was broken so she immediately checked their collections.

According to police report, the book store collection amounting to P10,000 was left untouched while a glass jar with a P20 bill was stolen.

Police officers led by SPO2 Jonathan Cawalo probed the incident. – Carlito Lacanlale