POLICE ROUNDUP

Rogue cop in rob-holdup killed in drug buy-bust

CABANATUAN CITY-- A rogue former policeman who was once involved in a robbery-holdup was killed during a bungled buy-bust early morning here at Barangay Kapitan Pepe recently.

City police chief Supt. Ponciano Zafra bared this in a  report to Nueva Ecija provincial director Senior Supt Eliseo Tanding, Zafra identifying the slain ex-policeman as former PO1 Alvin Belmonte of Barangay Mabini, Sta. Rosa town.

Belmonte was last assigned in the Palayan City, Nueva Ecija when he, with another cop, were involved in the robbery-holdup of a delivery van of Mighty cigarette Corporation in July 30, 2015, in Gabaldon town.

Belmonte and his group took the cash of the cigarette salesman at gun point and carnapped the delivery van. 

But they were stopped in a checkpoint and scampered on foot to different directions.

He was arrested trying to run-away from where they were stopped. He was jailed but posted bail and subsequently dismissed from the service.

According to Zafra, who personally led the buy-bust operation, Belmonte, before being fatally shot, fired at one of the police operatives. But the cop was wearing a bullet proof vest.

Nineteen sachets of shabu and a handgun were recovered from Belmonte’s body.

Belmonte was suspected of being involved in other cases of robbery-holdup around the province of Nueva Ecija.

The “neutralization” of Belmonte came on the heels of the recent directive of PNP Region 3 Director Chief Supt Amador Corpus to “prioritize internal cleansing to weed-out the police force of scalawags and misfits”.  -- Nelson Bolos

Student nabbed for frustrated homicide

LAMUT, Ifugao – Police arrested a student here Monday for frustrated homicide.  The suspect was named as Jefferson Brazuela Valerio,  24, here of Bliss, Matobato where he was nabbed. This, after judge Romeo U. Habbiling of RTC, Branch 14, Lagawe issued warrant against him and setting bail of P24,000 for his temporary liberty.

Jueteng workers arrested in Sablan

SABLAN, Bengut – Two jueteng workers were arrested here Monday while collecting bet money. Nabbed at Poblacion were Raymundo Velasco Abalo and Noah Dinamling Gaw-a.

Confiscated from the two were two booklets (polyeto), P1,365 bet money and ball pen. Both were brought to Sablan police station where a case for illegal gambling was prepared against them.

Recruit passes out at Army rites, dies

GAMU, Isabela --  A 21-year-old candidate soldier died of heat stroke at the Ilagan Doctors General Hospital in Isabela on June 8 within days of the start of his training.

Julius Hernando of Mallig, Isabela joined the traditional opening ceremony and reception rites for Candidate Soldier Course Class of 546-2018 at the 5th Division Training School of the Philippine Army's 5th Infantry Division here at Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Upi, morning a day earlier.

Reception is the first phase of training, where recruits and candidates go through rigorous physical activity as a rite of passage and to get them ready for further military training.

By noon however, Hernando had passed out and had to be rushed to the camp’s hospital.

He was transferred to IDGH when he started having seizures and showed a decline in vital signs around 5 p.m.

He died at 4:30 a.m.

Maj. Gen. Perfecto Rimando, commanding general of the 5th Infantry Division, assured Hernando's family that they will receive financial support since the recruit died as a certified member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 

House painter falls from 3rd floor; killed

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A young man fell to his death here June 6 at the 3rd floor of Sato’s Bar, Barangay Cruz around 2 p.m. The victim was identified as John Denver Estacio, 19, single, laborer, of Dontogan Green Valley, Baguio City.

His co-worker Jason Bacungan said they were busy working painting the wall outside the building without safety belt when he was called by his father-in-law who was at the first floor.

The victim ignored his father-in law and after a minute, fell on the ground. The victim was brought to Benguet General Hospital where he was declared dead due to head injuries on arrival by attending physician.

 Man nabbed for grave threat vs  Kalinga BIR workers

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – A man was arrested here for grave threat and gun-toting after chasing an Innova vehicle where six personnel of the Bureau of Internal Revenue were in while pointing a gun at them.

A police report said the incident happened around 4 p.m. on June 8

Purok Datu, Bulanao.

The victims were identified as Ivy Jean G. Lomas-e, Domingga B. Bangao, Nilyn Q. Quinsaat, Joselyn B. Tabbang, Cristine A. Blas and Joel P. Tabanganay while the suspect was identified as Ferdinand E. Noval, 45, of Barangay San Juan.

Investigation disclosed the victims came from a wake at Purok Datu, on their Innova service vehicle and were heading back to their office at Purok 6 when the incident happened.

They were at the intersection between Baac Street and Provincial Road when their driver turned left and met a speeding motorcycle driven by Noval and almost collided with it.

Since there was no collision, the Innova moved forward. However, they saw the suspect draw a gun and chased them.  The victims were able to seek assistance from PNP personnel assigned at Bulanao sub-station.

Responding personnel arrested the suspect and brought him to Bulanao sub-station for proper disposition.

It turned out Noval’s pellet gun was a replica of a Cal. 45 handgun.

Baguio army reservist nabbed for firing gun

BAGUIO CITY – An Army reservist was arrested here for firing his gun following an altercation with the caretaker of the mess hall here at Teachers Camp around 9:45 p.m. of June 9.

The suspect named as Gerardo Ladesma Javier, 56, resident of place of incident was arrested by cops for firing his government issued firearm described as Cal. 45 handgun with serial no. NWL 32858.

Investigation disclosed Javier had an altercation with Harry Diongco Mallare, 57 making him fire his gun upward. Responding personnel police confiscated the gun of the suspect with two magazines and 15 bullets.

Javier presented mission order being an army reservist but he was found to have no permit and license to carry firearm.

 3 drug, rob suspects killed in shootouts

THREE suspects, three of them drug personalities, were killed in alleged firefights with police officers in Bulacans and Nueva Ecija last week. Former policeman Alvin Belmonte allegedly fired at police officers in a drug bust in Barangay Kapitan Pepe, Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija on June 10.

In Bulacan, two men identified only as Romeo and Edmar drew their guns when they sensed they had sold shabu to undercover agents in Sta. Maria and Meycauayan, respectively, two days earlier, Senior Supt. Chito Bersaluna, Bulacan police acting director, said.

The fatalities yielded sachets of shabu, marked money and guns, police said.

 NIA worker dies while drilling

ALFONSO LISTA, Ifugao – A worker of the National Irrigation Agency’s ALPIP project tunnel died here while drilling a stone here around 8 a.m. on June 8. 

The victim was named as Alberto Buyongan, 55, widower, mine worker of Sabangan, Mt. Province who collapsed while working.

A police report said around the incident was relayed to them the next day around 4:30 p.m. by Rodolfo Batawang Layugan, 51, of Tabuk, Kalinga and safety officer of the NIA project in Sto. Domingo.

The report said the victim and co-workers were drilling rocks wherein the former was operator of the drill machine when he collapsed and slowly laid down on the ground.

Personnel of the NIA-ALPIP rushed the victim to De Vera’s General Hospital in Santiago City, Isabela where he was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician. Investigation showed Buyongan had been taking medicine for hypertension since they began working. Relatives of the victim transported Buyongan’s body to his residence.

Doctor’s truck hits boy in Sablan 

SABLAN, Benguet – A 6-year-old boy was injured when he was hit by a vehicle driven by a doctor here June 10 around 10:30 a.m. 

A police report said the accident happened here along Baguio-Bauang Road in Poblacion involving a Nissan Navara pick-up truck with conduction sticker number FOV351 registered and driven by George Querer Ringor, 37, medical doctor and resident of Barangay San Eugenio, Aringay, La Union. The victim was identified as Emiel Jame Faustino Bacungan, 6, of Barangay Tagudtud, Bagulin, La Union.

Investigation showed the truck was headed to La Union when the victim was accidentally sideswiped by said vehicle when he suddenly crossed the road.  As a result, the victim’s right foot was fractured while his head had scratches. He was immediately rushed Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center for treatment by the doctor. Both parties agreed to settle the case amicably.

Driver hurt in Baguio crash 

BAGUIO CITY – A driver was injured when his vehicle hit another here recently around 5:50 p.m. along Marcos Highway fronting the exit driveway of Hollywood Inn.

A Honda TMX 125 with plate No. BE-13631, driven by Cesar Rodriguez Canapi, 40, ofKamog, Sablan, Benguet  came from BGH Rotonda and while ascending, overtook a passenger jeep then collided with an Isuzu 2010 XL wagon with plate No. AYU-336, driven by  Jerson Yano Agbuya, 31 of Central Pico, La Trinidad, Benguet.

As a result, vehicles incurred damages while Canapi who was hurt on his foot was brought to Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center for treatment.

 Man hoodwinks widow, robs bakery

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Cops are still hunting an unidentified man after he hoodwinked and robbed a businesswoman here of P1,400 inside Franleys Bakery, Barangay Cruz around 9:30 p.m. of June 1.

The victim was identified as Felina Catuding Paran, 68, widow, of Salat, Kapangan, Benguet while the suspect wore dark blue jacket, maong pants, rubber shoes, 5’4” in height and had small body build.

Accordingly, the suspect while buying goods, offered help to the victim who made the suspect enter the bakery.

Later, the victim noticed that her bag was opened and upon checking it, found her cash of P400 was missing. She confronted the suspect, who denied taking the money, uttered something in native dialect and ran outside the bakery. The victim shouted for help and tried to hold the suspect, but the later was able to escape and ran towards unknown direction.

 Responding cops scoured the area but the suspect was nowhere to be found. Paran went inside her store and checked her drawer and discovered that her collection of P800 was also missing believed taken away by the suspect.

Man cornered for homicide

SAN MANUEL, Pangasinan – A man was recently arrested here at Camangaan, San Roque for homicide. Nabbed at vicinity of San Roque Dam was Wilfredo Duqueza  Gatchalian, 49 after warrant was issued against him by Cecilia Corazon S Dulay Archog, presiding judge of  RTC, Branch 6, Baguio City. Dulay set bail of P200,000 for Gatchalian’s temporary liberty.

Violence lands man in Tuba jail

TUBA, Benguet – A man nabbed here recently for violation of Republic Act 9262 (violence against women and children). Arrested was Junifer Bednaen Palatic, single, 51, here of Camp 5, Kennon Road. 

This, after Marietta S. Brawner-Cualing, presiding judge of RTC Branch 9, Family Court of Benguet, First Judicial Region issued warrant against him and setting bail of P120,000 and P40,000 for two cases.

 Tabuk bizwoman nabbed for estafa

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – A businesswoman identified as Emy Flor Bren Merlin, 39, single was arrested at her residence here in Barangay Appas recently for estafa.

This, after judge Victor A. Dalanao of MTCC, 2nd Judicial region, Tabuk City issued warrant against her and setting bail of P24,000 for her temporary liberty.

Charges filed vs 2 men for stealing motor parts

BANAUE Ifugao – Police filed charges at the prosecutor’s office here against two men who allegedly recently stripped motorcycles and tricycles of their parts parked along the road here.    

Suspects were named as Benito Gameje Jr. and Cyril Gano.

An unattended motorcycle at Paypayan, Bocos here was taken into custody by police. When the motorcycle was checked by Grace Patawon, she confirmed one side mirror of said motorcycle was part of her motorcycle stolen by unidentified suspects on May 28.

Philip Jansenn Carbon Cacliong also complained to Banaue police saying a battery and carburetor assembly of  said motorcycle were parts of his motorcycle taken evening of May 28.

His testimony was affirmed by Fernando Piog Bacnis Jr., 38 of Paypayan, Bocos. Accordingly, he saw Gameje Jr. and Gano Jr., dismantling a tricycle parked along the road that night removing spare parts and accessories of the vehicle owned by Salvador Guinannoy and another tricycle parked beside it using tools.

Salvador Guinannoy 37 of Proper Bocos, also said early morning of May 29, he found the carburetor of his tricycle was also forcibly removed.

Robbers in van cart away valuable P800-K items

BAYAMBANG, Pangasinan — Robbers on board a van believed to be from a syndicate were tagged in the robbery in some unattended houses in Barangay Buayaen here last week.

The latest incident was reported in Bayambang Police by victims — spouses Gener Ecalner, 43, photographer, and Jocelyn Ecalner, 42 years old, married, businesswoman, both residents of the same place whose house was entered by unidentified culprits.

Around 6 a.m. on June 8, the victims left their house locked and unattended and then went to their photo shop on M. H. Del Pilar Street in Bayambang. At about 4 p.m. of the same date, Jocelyn decided to go back to their house and while approaching their gate’s house she noticed that the main door of their house was opened and there was a gray van parked in front of their gate and whose license plate was covered by a rug, prompting her to call someone.

The van, however, started to accelerate and fled toward the south direction (going to Camiling).

And she immediately entered their house and found that following items were missing: Samsung S Note tablet; four LG home theater speakers; three flat screen LG TVs; assorted pieces of jewelry, three Canon DSLR cameras with complete accessories; six pieces hard drive; one unit of two way radio; one touch screen LG laptop; one Del laptop; and assorted tools with a total estimated cost of P800,000 believed to be taken and carted away by the suspects on board the gray van. -- Liezle Basa-Iñigo