Five troopers killed in clash with Abra NPAs

TUBO, Abra – Five army troopers were recently killed here by a platoon under the Agustin Begnalen Command, New People’s Army when the guerillas repulsed an attack on their camp by elements of the 50th IB under a certain 1st Lt. Pedrigosa here.

Ka Diego Wadagan, ABC-NPA spokesman said the Army troops initiated their attack by firing on an NPA sentry patrol about 5 a.m.

“In the ensuing gunbattle that raged until noon, NPA guerillas quickly outmaneuvered the army troops and regained the initiative,” he said. “The army troops retreated after being driven back from a small part of the camp they occupied.”

A few hours after the gunbattle, two Huey helicopters and an OV-10 Bronco plane reportedly strafed and bombed parts of barangay Tubtuba, Tubo.

Wadagan said five troopers were killed in the gunbattle. The NPA lost one
guerilla, Richard "Ka Daniel" Pingyan who was hit in the initial burst of bullets. “The raiding enemy troops were transported out of the area by helicopters.”

He said the same army unit set up an 105mm howitzer in Barangay Tubtuba March to April this year.

Wadagan said the army troops killed a farmer, terrorized the residents, and stole livestock when they occupied the community. “They also killed and mutilated the body of Sammy Rey "Ka
Cholo" Cayago, an NPA guerilla whom they captured in action.”

Murder raps filed vs Abra town mayor

GEN. TINIO, Abra -- Police nabbed a gun-for-hire who linked to a town mayor in the ambush slaying of a barangay chairman and his five companions in Abra May last year. Eugenio Califlores, 39, who was tagged as behind several murder cases in Abra was arrested by joint elements of the Gen. Tinio police station and the Abra provincial police office on Sept. 27.

But Senior Supt. Alex Pumecha, Abra police provincial director announced the arrest of Califlores on Wednesday after placing him under tactical interrogation for several days.

The result of the interrogation prompted Pumecha to file multiple murder charges on Oct. 3 against Califlores, Tineg town Mayor Edwin Crisologo, Freddie Tabas, Sikkel Parado, Loreto Gangas, Arnold Castañeda, Robert Valera and Arnel Aguilar.

Califlores reportedly said it was Crisologo who financed and provided the firearms for the ambush slaying of Romero Guyang in the boundary of Barangays Pang-ot and Ba-i in Lagayan town on May 3, 2007. Killed along with Guyang were Edward Guyang, Felima Califlores, Jerson Battalao, Bali Rudbio and Darwin Simmangen.

Wounded were Lorenzo Guyang, Armenio Ayab and Roderick Guyang.

Aside from Califlores, Crisologo and the other suspects remained at large.

After the ambush, Califlores went into hiding at Barangay Rio Chico in Gen. Tinio, Nueva Ecija.
But Cordillera police came to know of his whereabouts and a team headed by Chief Insp. Melvin Napiloy arrested him along with his cousin, Sonny Califlores, 28, for illegal possession of a 12-gauge shotgun.

Califlores was arrested on the strength of an arrest warrant for murder and frustrated murder committed in 1990 and 2000.

Califlores said during interrogation he was enjoying his stay incognito in Nueva Ecija when invited to return to Abra by his former employer, ex-mayor Solomon Lalugan of Lagayan town.

Upon his return, however, Aguilar met him and outlined plans to kill Guyang, who was then the president of Lagayan town’s Association of Barangay Chairmen.

It was Crisologo who financed and distributed firearms for their use in the ambush, Cali­flores said.

The notoriety of Califlores started on April 12, 1990, when as a CAFGU member, he shot to death Danilo Metodio at So Tabio, Poblacion Lagayan for which he was charged under Criminal Case No. 950.

He evaded arrest while under the employ of Lalugan, then the town mayor of Lagayan town.

MORE NEWS, ABRA

Abra River polluted, unfit for human use, says study

BANGUED, Abra — The mighty Abra River, which traces its headwaters to the Mount Data National Park in Mountain Province and Benguet and one of the five largest river systems in the country, is no longer fit for human use because it is now heavily polluted. A study conducted by the Saint Louis University’s College of Engineering’s Applied Research and Development Studies showed that the river, a heritage of the people in this conflict-stricken province, is no longer suitable for human use.

The study entitled, "The Abra River System Water Quality Monitoring," by Josephine Aires Dulay, coordinator of SLU’s environmental research laboratory, which came out in the Northern Luzon Research Journal, stated "except temperature, all parameter readings exceeded allowable limits or did not meet minimum required concentrations defined under Department Administrative Order 34 of the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources for rivers classified as AA or public water supply Class I, Class A, public water Class II, or Class B, and recreational water Class I."

The findings indicated the river is heavily polluted, making unfit for domestic use and human consumption. Data sampling for the study, which was started in 2004 and performed on a quarterly basis, showed reliable results that could serve as guide for policy-makers and decision-makers to improve the quality of water of the Abra River - the home of the famous Abra eel.

Water samples were taken at different sites along the Abra River from Mountain Province to the Ilocos and were analyzed in terms of physical-chemical characteristics which include temperature, PH, dissolved oxygen, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, biochemical oxygen demand, nitrates, lead, mercury, chromium, and cyanide concentrations.

The samples were taken at Guinaoang, Mankayan and Benguet as the control sample, at the mill outlet, tailings dam spillway, Lepanto Bridge, Kayan, Gilangan, Bulaga, Patongkaliw, Banoen, Manabo, Bucay, Bangued, Banaoang, Caoayan, and Santa.

Dulay’s research noted an alarming presence of toxic substances as there were high nitrate concentrations, heavy metals, and cyanides.

Her study attributed the nitrates to fertilizers, domestic and industrial influence, and even animal manure. Heavy metals present in the water samples included lead, mercury, and chromium in concentrations much higher than the allowable limits.

Although metals are naturally present in the environment, the excess is probably due to industrial discharges. Cyanide was also found to have concentrations above the tolerable limits. It is the most common chemical used to extract gold from ores.

Because of the worsening pollution, the Abra River could no longer sustain productive and life-sustaining functions as its assimilation and purifying capacity is greatly hindered, Dulay stated in her research. – Dexter A See

SC orders transfer of Abra poll case hearing to RTC in Laoag City

TINEG, Abra -- The Supreme Court has transfered the venue of the election protest filed by defeated candidate Lenin Benwaren against Tineg Mayor Edwin Crisologo Sr. to the Regional Trial Court in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

In granting the plea of Crisologo, the 2nd Division of the SC noted dangers facing Crisologo and his counsel, lawyer Estelita Cordero, and said the political turmoil in Abra is "publicly known throughout the country."

The July 28, 2008 resolution of the 2nd Division was received belatedly by Crisologo, who filed the petition on Jan. 17, 2008, several months after his wife Brenda died nearly two months after she was shot by an assassin in Bangued, Abra.

Crisologo’s victory in the May 2007 elections has been questioned by Benwaren in Election Case No. 2007-004, which was originally filed with RTC Branch 2 in Bangued, Abra. Judge Corpuz B. Alzate of the Bangued RTC did not object to the plea of Crisologo for the transfer of the venue of the case.

The SC resolution directed the branch clerk of court of RTC Branch 2 in Bangued to transmit the records of the case to the executive judge of the RTC in Laoag City.

It also ordered the executive judge of the Laoag City RTC to raffle the case to a branch of the court upon receipt of the records.

The SC division also instructed the judge assigned to handle the case to conduct the hearing with dispatch.

Crisologo welcomed the resolution, while Cordero expressed relief, saying it represented a legal victory for her. Benwaren had earlier asked the same SC division to transfer the venue of the case to any court in San Fernando City, La Union, but Crisologo objected.

In a related development, Chief Supt. Ramon Gatan, head of the Region 1 police office, has granted a request of Cordero for the assignment of five security escorts for her each time she attends the hearing on the administrative cases filed against Crisologo in Bangued and Criminal Case numbers 2007-08, 2-7-059-061 and IS Case NBo. 2008-D-138, all of which were described by the lawyer as "harassment suits."

Cordero said the threats to her life had come from a member of a powerful political clan in Abra and that she had reported the matter to the police office in Ilocos Sur and to Brig. Gen. Loreto Rirao Jr., commanding general of the 503rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, which is stationed in Sulvec, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur.

A native of Narvacan, Cordero also handles cases in Abra.

MORE NEWS, ABRA

Comelec rules insufficient recall move vs husband-wife tandem in Abra town

DOLORES, Abra – The Commission on Elections junked a recall petition filed against Dolores mayor Albert Guzman and his wife, Vice Mayor Socorro Guzman.

The Comelec last week ruled the recall petition filed by Cosmele Bringas was insufficient in form and substance.

Bringas, a retired teacher from Poblacion, Dolores, said in her petition town projects’ implementation were not done in compliance to government regulations.

She filed her petition with the Come­lec on July 28 against the Guzman couple.

The vice mayor is a younger sister of former Gov. Vicente Valera who was tagged in the assassination of Abra Rep. Luis Bersamin.

The former governor was linked by authorities to other killings in the province. Comelec has placed as top priority the junked recall petition to be decided in the country among 16 other cases.

MORE NEWS, BENGUET

Itogon exec wants OFWs whereabouts documented
By Flor Abul

ITOGON, Benguet--A municipal councilor filed a resolution requesting the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration through its local office to provide information on whereabouts of Filipino workers who are from the municipality.

Councilor Joeden Acay said there was need to monitor employment condition and situation of its women constituents who are working overseas considering occurrence of untoward incidents like rape and slays of Filipino women in foreign countries.

He said this was is in line with the policy of the municipal government to protect basic employment rights, welfare and well being of its overseas workers.

Acay requested director Delfina Camarillo of the POEA office in Baguio to allow the designated provincial employment service officer of Itogon to research information on OFWs from the municipality.

Acay also urged establishment of a record data base to include information of OFWs of the municipality like full name, municipal address of the OFW, educational attainment, family members, foreign place of work and complete address, name of the foreign employer, foreign contact number (cellular phone number, email address and any means of communication to contact the OFW), name and address of the recruitment agency which sent the overseas worker abroad among others.

Susan Dapliyan, municipal employment services officer, said her office was collating information of OFWs from barangays and encouraged local social workers to gather information of registered OFWs of the town.

The research of information of OFWs from the municipality was also forwarded to Manuela Pena, regional director of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration for her information.


Abra still ‘most unsafe’ province in Cordillera
By Mar T. Supnad

CAMP DANGWA , Benguet -- Abra is still the most troubled and unsafe province in the Cordillera while Apayao, Ifugao and Kalinga remain the safest provinces in the region.

During a regional command conference called by Chief Supt. Eugene G. Martin, regional police director, it was bared of the 91 murder cases occurred from August, 2007 to August, 2008, in the region, 49 cases were reported in Abra, 19 in Kalinga, Benguet with nine cases, followed by Baguio City and fifth was Apayao with seven murder cases.

Baguio, the most populous city in the region, has recorded 308 index crimes against property, like robbery and theft comprising more than 70 percent of the total regional cases in the region.

Martin said this was obvious because Baguio remains the business and tourism center of the region.

Murder cases remain high in Abra province, it was learned.

Ifugao and Mountain Province had only one each case of murder recorded.

Benguet, had the most recorded number of homicide cases in the same period with 25, followed by Baguio with 19.

Abra had fewer un-premeditated killings at five cases. Baguio had more than half of the 375 physical injury cases with 188, followed by Benguet with 81 and Abra with 42 and MP with 36.

Martin said even with the high-profile cases, the index and non-index crimes in this period is lower than that of last year.

He said index crimes (those against persons or properties) amounted to 1,078 crimes. “Of these, more than 85 percent were solved," he said.

Rape, the other index crime against persons, was concentrated in Benguet, Baguio and Ifugao which accounted for 64 rape cases of the total 99 cases in the region.

Baguio had the most number of index crimes with 465, followed by Benguet with 204 cases out of the regional total of 21,078.

Most of the cases in Baguio were crimes against property like robbery (86 out of the total 154) and theft (222 out of 285).

MORE NEWS, ABRA

Typhoon ‘Igme’ leaves 4 persons dead in Abra
By Jack Turqueza

BANGUED, Abra - Typhoon "Igme" left four persons dead and hundreds homeless, caused heavy damage to the livestock industry of the province, and destroyed hundreds of hectares of agricultural crops as well as fishponds.

The typhoon also ruined water systems and infrastructure facilities in Abra.

Decimia Cabang, provincial social welfare officer and executive officer of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council, identified the dead typhoon victims as Ismael Gayban, Gemma Malaggay and her three-year-old son Dale, and Melissa Balweg, 10, all residents of the upland town of Malibcong.

Gayban, 54, was buried in a landslide in Buanao, Malibcong night of July 27.

On the same day, Balweg was struck by a lightning in their home at Sitio Matalibeng, Barangay Mataragan at about 1 p.m.

Her grandmother who was her companion in the home was unharmed. Gemma, her husband, and son Dale reportedly insisted on crossing the already swollen river between Poblacion and Barangay Duldulao in Malibcong that afternoon.

As they were in the middle of the river, raging floodwaters carried them away. Mother and son drowned, but Gemma’s husband survived.


Multi-sectoral group hits unabated killings in Abra
By Jack Turqueza

BANGUED, Abra – A multisectoral group, composed of members of the clergy, the laity, academe, and media came out with a united stand and condemned the unabated killings in the province, especially in this capital town.

It was noted killings continued even after the 2007 elections.

A manifesto, which was a cry for justice and peace to reign again in Abra, was read Wednesday by Catholic Bishop Leopoldo C. Jaucian, SVD, in a mass he celebrated at the St. James the Elder Cathedral here.

In a text message to this correspondent, the bishop said the manifesto was timely, as the Church marked the 40th anniversary of the late Pope Paul VI’s July 29 "Humanae Vitae," the encyclical on the value, dignity and inviolability of human life.

The manifesto lamented "the wrong reasons for which Abra is again in the news." It pointed out that the series of murders committed inside the homes of the victims, inside offices, and in the streets under cover of darkness or in broad daylight, makes the residents worry about their safety, and these crimes truly make Abra live up to its tag as the "killing fields of the North."

"From the reports that as assassin can be hired for a few thousands pesos, life has become very cheap," it read.

In the manifesto, the multi-sectoral group noted the widespread perception of the people that scarcely any of the cases has been solved.

"The police, the military and local government units are supposed to have the training, the skills, and the resources to track down the criminals and bring them to the bar of justice. But no matter their efforts, the peace and order situation does not seem to improve," the manifesto added.

The group said violence will remain uncontrolled for reasons that authorities know the persons behind these killings, but much has not been done against them, as the masterminds are not afraid of the police because they are powerful to be untouchable, and assassins continue to kill with impunity because they are protected by certain authorities.

Admitting that the multi-sectoral group "does not have the power of guns, the influence of political positions, nor financial and manpower resources," the group said it remains optimistic of a better future, and urged concerned agencies to do their job as guarantors of peace and order.

FRONT PAGE

Abra folks barricade cops out to nab ‘untouchable’
By Mar T Supnad

BANGUED, Abra- Tension gripped the town of Baay-licuan when policemen who arrested recently a former barangay kagawad who was facing multiple frustrated murder were blocked by an angry mob who apparently wanted to prevent the arrest of the fugitive dubbed by the police as top wanted person.

Sr. Supt. Alex Pumecha, Abra police director, reported to Chief Supt. Eugene Martin, Cordillera police director that police operatives of Ba-ay Licuan under Sr. Insp. John Ingtitan were sent to Barangay Subagan to serve the warrant of arrest against Jovencio Lucas, 49, issued by Judge Corpuz Alzate of the Regional Trial Court branch 11 of Bangued.

As soon as the policemen captured the wanted person who went into hiding for three years after being indicted for multiple frustrated murder by Judge Alzate, residents in the area began to group themselves, then tried to block the armed policemen who arrested the suspect.

As the policemen tried to go out of the area, the residents barricaded and refused to allow the policemen to leave with the arrested person that led to a standoff.
Additional reinforcements from the PNP’s Special Action Force and from the Provincial Mobile Group had then arrived in the area to support their beleaguered companions. The residents claimed that the case filed against Lucas was already amicably settled.

However, Pumecha said, because of the diplomatic dialogues of policemen with the belligerent residents and with the arrival of reinforcement of the elements of Police Provincial Mobile Group and Special action Force, residents dispersed and allowed the PNP personnel to take the suspect.

Records showed the crime was committed on Aug. 29, 2005 at Ba-ay Licuan when Lucas allegedly ambushed and shot a certain Ave Anquilliano, Reagan Bandril, Aloy Dugayen and Alejo Domingo. Quoting witnesses, police said Lucas who was drunk at that time, then barged into a prayer meeting held by the victims and created a trouble.

He was pacified and told to leave and went home. But he immediately returned with a firearm and shot the victims. He was now under the custody of Abra Provincial Jail on same date of captivity.

MORE NEWS, ABRA

Vendetta eyed in slay of Abra bocap

LANGIDEN, Abra -- Police are eyeing vendetta behind the ambush-killing of a barangay captain and his kagawad in Langiden, Abra last July 9. Senior Supt. Alex Pumecha, Abra police director, said tanod Alfredo Puedo, who survived the ambush that left barangay chairman Ronilo Baruela and councilman Samuel Lopez dead, pointed to a certain Samuel Palecpec, alias Willy, as their alleged attacker.

Palecpec, who also hails from Barangay Malapaaw, is facing murder charges before the provincial prosecutor’s office for the killing of Baruela’s brother, Avelino, in July 2007.

Three months later, Palecpec was ambushed but survived.

In a report to Pumecha, Insp. Sebastian Alcedo, Langiden police chief, said Palecpec suspected that the barangay officials were behind the failed slay try on his life. Alcedo ordered 24-hour security for Puedo.

FRONT PAGE

Abra cops arrest gun-for-hire; mastermind charged

BANGUED, Abra – Around nine hours after a “hit” by a gun-for-hire, Abra police arrested the look-out and lodged murder raps against the hitman and mastermind.

In Camp Dangwa, Benguet, Cordillera police director Chief Supt. Eugene Martin told newsmen the trio will be jailed the rest of their lives in jail for killing Renato Babida Bose in front of the St. James Cathedral in Bangued after the Sunday mass around 9:15 a.m.

Abra intelligence and investigation operatives and Ban­gued policemen under the direction of Senior Supt. Alexander Pumecha immediately tracked down 23-year-old Roldan Gonzales alias Jong, in Sta. Maria town, Ilocos Sur around 6:25 p.m. also on July 6.

Chief Inspectors Melvin Napiloy of the Abra police intelligence and investigation branch and Joseph Bayongasan of the Bangued police station found out from Gonzales, who drove the getaway vehicle after the “hit” that a certain Rolly Torres was paid as the triggerman.

Police also found out a certain Alfredo Gazmen allegedly paid them P20,000 for the “hit.”

On June 7, policemen charged the trio for murder before Abra Prosecutor Noel Tolentino. Martin said the hitman and the mastermind will have no place to hide as “the long arm of the law will catch them and answer for their dastardly act.”

This, the police official said amidst criticisms by Abra police detractors.

“Not a single case of killings in the province have been solved,” said lawyer Estelita Cordero, counsel and spokesperson of Tineg town mayor Edwin Crisologo, a critic of Martin.

Earlier, Crisologo led some residents to petition Police Director General Avelino Razon to axe Martin as regional police director and Pumecha as Abra police director for the reported unsolved killings in the province.

Martin however said “Abra now is more peaceful,” as goons linked to politicians have been clamped down by the DILG-instituted Task Force Abra.

Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin said with Martin and Pumecha around, the peace and order situation in the province, which earned the tag “Cordillera killings fields, “is under control and has improved a lot.”

MORE NEWS, ABRA

Bangued trike fare increased to P7.50

BANGUED, Abra — The Bangued municipal council passed recently Municipal Ordinance No. 6, Series of 2008, known as the "New Fare Matrix Ordinance of Bangued." The ordinance, authored by Councilor Danilo Adame, authorizes an increase in the minimum regular tricycle fares from P5.50 to P7.50 in the seven zones in the Bangued town proper.

Students and senior citizens get discounts and are charged P6. Mayor Dominic B. Valera immediately signed the municipal ordinance and marked it as "urgent" for the sangguniang panlalawigan to take immediate action.

The mayor had earlier explained the reasonableness of the fare hike, citing as reason the continuing increase in fuel oil prices which greatly affects the operation of the transport service sector. The riding public did not raise any opposition to the proposed fare hike

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Abra execs pledge support for Cordillera PNP chief against groups, detractors
By Dexter A. See

BANGUED, Abra – Provincial and municipal officials of this conflict-rocked province pledged support for a holistic approach to attain peace following a move by some groups to ruin the image of the province in the national scene.

Negative reports about the allegedly unsolved violent cases in the different parts of the province, particularly in the remote town of Tineg, surfaced after Tineg Mayor Edwin Crisologo sought the ouster of Chief Supt. Eugene G. Martin, director of the Police Regional Office in the Cordillera, and Senior Supt. Alexander Pumecha, Abra police director, for their reported failure to stop the spate of killings in the province.

However, Abra Rep. Cecilia Luna disagreed with the contention of Martin and Pumecha’s detractors, saying the two police officers were responsible for the restoration of peace in Abra and were able to inculcate among the people the importance of upholding the law and the formation of proper values.

She said the two police officers’ "unmatched abilities and resolute commitment as agents of much-awaited reforms in the province" cannot be disputed. Despite intense political pressure and resistance by warring forces, Martin and Pumecha persisted in pursuing peace efforts especially in far-flung communities.

Meanwhile, Abra Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin cited records showing a significant decline in the crime rate in the province and the entire region.

He said this is an indication of the sincerity and commitment of the police in maintaining peace and order in the region, especially in this conflict-rocked province which was plagued by violence in the past several decades. He said the police’s expertise in confronting insurgency, armed conflicts, and intense political rivalry in the province has withstood the test of time the past years.

Bersamin said local officials cannot put the safety and freedom of the people at risk by allowing malicious intentions to destroy the record of the good police officers who have the will and ability to help the people of Abra in realizing their dream of a peaceful, progressive province.

In separate manifestoes, 26 of the 27 mayors in the province said that despite the politically motivated turmoil and difficulties confronting the region, they have always kept their trust and confidence in the leadership of the Cordillera police because they have shown a strong determination to push reforms and make the region a peaceful place.

Non-government organizations and professional groups as well as tribal councils likewise vowed support for the police’s effort at the attainment of lasting peace in the province.


Folks press suspension of absentee Abra mayor
By Dexter A. See

TINEG, Abra – Concerned residents of this remote town formally filed an administrative case against mayor Crisologo for his failure to actually and actively perform his supposed duties and responsibilities after winning the May 14, 2007 local elections.

In an administrative complaint for dereliction of duty and absenteeism, grave misconduct and abandonment filed before the Abra provincial board, residents claimed the mayor never appeared in their town after being proclaimed as the winner in the tightly and hotly-contested mayoralty race and allegedly refused to pay municipal employees.

At the same time, Abra Gov. Eustquio Bersamin, in a separate communication, requested Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno to conduct an investigation on Crisologo over the alleged misuse of the town’s huge Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).

Tineg remains to be the poorest town in this conflict-stricken province even if it has a nearly P5 million monthly IRA.

The complaint disclosed municipal employees have not been paid their salaries and wages the past several months because the mayor cannot be reportedly located to sign appropriate documents for the release of the funds for such purpose.

The filed complaint is expected to result in the escalation of violence in the town due to perceived retaliatory acts by some sympathizers of Crisologo.

However, police authorities said the situation in Tineg is under control despite prevailing conflicts because they have added up to the existing police force to attend to the peace and order needs of the people who are being affected by the political bickering in the town.

Ironically, Tineg has the highest number of murder cases in the province with eight persons having been killed, thus, the complainants sought the conduct of an in-depth and independent investigation to ascertain who is supposed to be liable and impose the corresponding penalty against erring officials.
Earlier, the provincial peace and order council called on concerned government agencies to conduct an investigation on absentee mayors, especially Crisologo, so that they will be forced to go back to their respective territories and serve their constituents.

The conflict between Crisologo and law enforcement officials as well as irate residents stemmed after the former sought the ouster of ranking police officials for their alleged failure to stop the spate of killings in the province over the past several years.

But almost all sectors in the province rallied behind the police officials since they were able to show their ability to restore peace in the province. They also denounced Crisologo’s act for alleged misuse of IRA funds.

Petitions for ouster of Cordillera police director ‘irregular’

BANGUED, Abra — Documents seeking the ouster of Chief Supt. Eugene G. Martin, regional police director, were tainted with irregularities.

Documents purportedly signed by officials and farmer-leaders of Tineg, a remote town of this province were found “fictitious.”

Five members of the Tineg municipal council signed a manifesto (in Ilocano) denying having approved Resolution No. 16, series of 2008, entitled "Condemning the continuous spate of political killings in Tineg and other criminal acts which remain unsolved up to the present."

Councilors Ricardo M. Bangquig, Rey L. Tandi, Solidad P. Zapata, Henry A. Saguid, and Welbert C. Calubing said they never received a notice of the holding of the council session on May 21, 2008 when the supposed resolution was approved.

They added the Tineg municipal council never conducted a single session since the councilors were elected much more a petition seeking the ouster of Martin.

This makes the passage of the purported resolution highly irregular and tainted with fraud, they said.

In a separate joint manifesto, local leaders, barangay officials, members of multi-sectoral groups and residents in Tineg denounced two women for allegedly misrepresenting the farmers and women’s groups in the town, saying they have no right to accuse Martin of alleged failure to stop the spate of killings.

It was stated in the manifesto that it was during his leadership at the police regional office when the unscrupulous activities of local officials were uncovered and exposed.

A certification issued by Carmelita G. Baga, municipal agriculturist of Tineg, stated that one of the alleged women leaders of Barangay Caganayan is not the president of the group or even a member of the Caganayan Farmers Association organized.

In a hand-written letter, the other supposed woman leader, a day care worker at the municipal social welfare and development office of Tineg, said that she was made to sign a document but she was not informed of the content.

She was later surprised to know that the document she had signed sought the ouster of Martin.

This, as the purported call for the relief of Martin dominated the discussions in last week’s peace and order council meeting in Abra.

Abra Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin convened the peace and order council to seek the cooperation of political, church and barangay leaders and non-governmental organizations to stop what was perceived as the return of lawlessness in the province.

But the meeting was focused on the effort of Tineg Mayor Edwin Crisologo to unseat Martin, whom the former blamed for the breakdown of peace and order in the country’s third poorest province.

During the meeting, Crisologo was left alone in his difficult task of ousting the Cordillera police chief as Bersamin and those in attendance rallied behind Martin and Abra police director Senior Supt. Alex Pumecha.

Bersamin even issued a statement of support for Martin and Pumecha whom he credited for the return of normalcy in Abra, once tagged as the murder capital of the country.

“Their records only speak of their sincerity and commitment in maintaining peace and order in the Cordilleras. Gen. Martin and Col. Pumecha’s technical expertise in confronting insurgency, armed conflicts and political upheavals has also withstood the test of time and different political eras,” said Bersamin in his one-page resolution.

In a letter dated May 23 to President Arroyo and Philippine National Police chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr., Crisologo sought the relief of Martin whom he blamed for the rise of political killings and human rights abuses in his town.

He claimed that Martin and Pumecha did not lift a finger to solve the ambush-slays of Dominador Balucas and Renato Liya, the killing of his wife, Brenda Crisologo; the fatal shooting of Sangguniang Bayan member Resty Eduarte and three others, and the recent murder of another councilor, Pedro Enon Sr.

Martin told newsmen the call for his relief was “hatched by people who do not want peace to prevail in Abra.”

He said Crisologo should not blame the police alone for the outbreak of violence in his town because “being the mayor he also has to do his share on the problem.”

MORE NEWS, ABRA

PNP report:Some Abra mayors not reporting in their offices
By Mar T. Supnad

BANGUED, Abra — Some Abra mayors who were accused of not holding offices in their municipal halls were mentioned in a report of a ranking Philippine National Police officer who had recommended an inquiry on reasons why they were not reporting in their respective offices.

Senior Supt. Noel Manabat, chief of the Task Force Abra, has written Gov. Eustaqiuo Bersamin to investigate Tineg town Mayor Edwin Crisologo and other town mayors for not regularly holding offices in their own municipal halls.

This, according to Manabat’s report, could be "derailing government services to the public."

But this report is not a secret here, especially among local newsmen, as this practice has been observed to be happening for a long time already.

As this developed, around 80 policemen were deployed recently in the remote town of Tineg that has been wracked by political killings and a reported worsening criminality.

Chief Supt. Eugene G. Martin, Police Regional Office 2 director, and Sr. Supt. Alex Pumecha, Abra PNP director, reportedly, had assured Crisologo that the PNP will support his measures to address peace and order concerns in his town.

This is one of the issues highlighted on a classified report by the Abra Police Provincial Police Office in response to reports from daily national newspapers that the government, particularly the Cordillera police regional command, had been allegedly remiss in rendering the needed services particularly ensuring the protection and security of politicians.

But the report approved by Abra police director S/Supt. Alexander Pumecha said that elected Tineg officials should return to the municipality to personally serve their constituents and not to hold office in the capital town of Bangued due to alleged security reasons.

Issues and concerns that have great impacts on the general populace of Tineg town are not being addressed substantially, it was observed here, because of the non-presence of some of the elected officials in the municipality.

Manabat, who is also the deputy regional director for operations of the Cordillera police, has written Bersamin last May 15 requesting an inquiry into the reasons why Crisologo could not be located in his office.

Councilor killed in Abra; violence rises

BANGUED, Abra – Assassins in the province have become bolder with their latest victim, 65-year-old Tineg town councilor Pedro Inon who was shot dead night of May 19 in his boarding house here at Barangay Calaba.

A septuagenarian lawyer and a security guard were also recently killed inside their own turfs.

Criminal defense lawyer Demetrio Villamor Pre, 75, was gunned down in his house-cum-law office in Barangay Bone 4, Bangued town.

That same day, and just a few steps away from Pre’s house, 32-year-old security guard Efren Bersalona was slain in the Bangued town hall where he was on duty.

The Bangued town hall is a few meters away from the provincial capitol building where President Arroyo met with National Security Council and Cordillera leaders a week before the killings. Both murders remain unsolved.

Inon, the third ranking board member of hinterland Tineg town, was resting in his boarding house when he was killed night of May 19.

Inon was a known political ally of Tineg Mayor Edwin Crisologo, who in turn, was associated with former governor Vicente Valera.

MORE NEWS, ABRA

Abra mayor orders freeze on rice sale
By Marites Benas

LA PAZ, Abra –The town mayor here ordered farmers to put on hold the sale of their palay produce as well as clean rice even as the rice crisis in the national level is still unresolved.

Mayor Sto. Niño "JB" Bernos issued the order according to the president of the Municipal Agriculture and Fisheries Council of La Paz Luis Valdez in reaction to rice shortage as played up in the National Capital Region.

This is also a measure issued to mitigate possible price manipulations of rice in Abra and to ensure a stable supply of rice in the locality, the mayor said.

Tagged as one of Abra's rice granaries, La Paz is one of two major rice producing municipalities with Manabo.

This is because La Paz has vast areas of valleys and plains suitable for palay production situated along the Abra River basin.

As of this writing, the price of palay in La Paz remains at P14.00 per kilo. Following the directive of Bernos they would like to maintain their supply despite the high price of clean rice in the local market which is now P85.00 per ganta or P33.00 per kilogram.

Meanwhile, Valdez said, they maintain their production of other cash crops such as garlic especially during their second cropping season. But despite this, they still maintain their existing volume of palay production.

MORE NEWS, ABRA

Abra mayor orders freeze on rice sale
By Marites Benas

LA PAZ, Abra –The town mayor here ordered farmers to put on hold the sale of their palay produce as well as clean rice even as the rice crisis in the national level is still unresolved.

Mayor Sto. Niño "JB" Bernos issued the order according to the president of the Municipal Agriculture and Fisheries Council of La Paz Luis Valdez in reaction to rice shortage as played up in the National Capital Region.

This is also a measure issued to mitigate possible price manipulations of rice in Abra and to ensure a stable supply of rice in the locality, the mayor said.

Tagged as one of Abra's rice granaries, La Paz is one of two major rice producing municipalities with Manabo.

This is because La Paz has vast areas of valleys and plains suitable for palay production situated along the Abra River basin.

As of this writing, the price of palay in La Paz remains at P14.00 per kilo. Following the directive of Bernos they would like to maintain their supply despite the high price of clean rice in the local market which is now P85.00 per ganta or P33.00 per kilogram.

Meanwhile, Valdez said, they maintain their production of other cash crops such as garlic especially during their second cropping season. But despite this, they still maintain their existing volume of palay production.

2 men shoot to death ex-governor’s lawyer

By Jack Turqueza

BANGUED, Abra – A trial lawyer here was gunned down by two motorcycle-riding assassins in his law office-residence here afternoon of April 20.

The killers immediately fled, riding a motorcycle with no plate number.

Police identified the victim as lawyer Demetrio Pre, 65, of Zone 4, this town. He was shot twice in the head with a caliber .45 pistol and died on the spot.

Police investigation showed Pre was talking with a client, identified as Bernardo Bañez, 71, of Zone 2, this town, when he was attacked.

Bañez was reportedly asking the lawyer about the supposed court hearing last week on a civil case involving a land dispute the former had filed against Charmine Burgos in 2000 when the assassins barged in the office and fired at Pre.

Lawmen theorized that the motive in the murder of Pre might have something to do with a land problem.

Probers said their investigation is focused on efforts to identify the killers.

Cordillera police spokesman Supt. Arni Dean Emock said Bangued policemen who are now investigating the assassination initially found out Pre was attending to a client named Bernardo Bañes, 71, when the two gunmen barged inside the law office and shot the lawyer twice in the head. “They were conversing with his client when the incident occurred,” Emock said.

The lawyer suffered two gunshot wounds from a .45 caliber firearm on his forehead and left eye.

The gunmen who are now being hunted, police said, fled aboard a motorcycle.
Pre was rushed to the Seares Memorial Clinic but was pronounced dead-on-arrival by attending physicians.

The slain lawyer was brought to the Tamo Funeral Parlor, also in Bangued town for autopsy.

Emock said investigators are looking at the possibility that the slaying is related to a land dispute where the 75-year old lawyer is involved.

But reliable sources said that police should look into other angles like possible vendetta against him because he was one of the lawyers of former governor Vicente Valera who was tagged as brains in the December 2006 killing of then Abra Rep. Luis Bersamin and other alleged political killings in the province.

Abra police director Senior Supt. Alexander Pumecha said they are on their toes for the early solution of the killing. Several hours after Pre’s slaying, and just a few steps from the crime scene, 32-year old security guard Efren Bersalona was slain inside the town hall in Bangued.

Abrenians oppose mining project

BANGUED, Abra -- Upland farmers belonging to the Binongan indigenous community of Baay-Licuan, Abra have organized themselves into two groups in an effort to prevent the operations of Canadian mining firm Olympus Pacific Minerals in their town.

The Baay-Licuan Intay Salakniban and Baay-Licuan Takderan Omnu a Karbengan vowed to oppose the mining projects of Olympus and other foreign mining companies that may venture deep in the tribe’s ancestral domain. BLIS and Balitok condemned Olympus for conducting exploration in Capcapo, which is part of their ancestral domain, without securing free, prior and informed consent, as required by the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act.

Olympus had tied up with Abra Mining and Industrial Co. and Jabel Mining to prospect for minerals in the area and had been drilling there since February 2007. Residents, opposing the exploration, had petitioned the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples to stop the activities of the Canadian firm. NCIP in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) managed to stop the operations only on Aug. 30, 2007.

Cordillera Peoples’ Alliance secretary general Windel Bolinget said Olympus should stop all its activities because the people have already aired their opposition to the mining operations.

"The CPA will continue to support the Baay-Licuan community in their struggle to defend their ancestral domain from destructive projects," he said. It is only now that Olympus has scheduled a series of meetings with the people of Barangays Lenneng, Bunglo, Poblacion, Caoayan, Dominglay, Mogao, Bulbulala, Tumalip, Nalbuan and Subagan but the residents would most likely junk the plea of Olympus, the CPA leader said.

Bolinget also denounced the harassment of CPA members and community leaders in Barangay Poblacion who were doing the groundwork for the 24th edition of the Cordillera Day. He said members of the 41st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army tagged them as members of the New People’s Army.

"Branding organizations and community leaders as NPA members makes them open targets of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), giving them a license to attack and violate the rights of civilians and communities whose activities and commitment to defend their lives, ancestral domain and resources are but just and legitimate," Bolinget said. The celebration of Cordillera Day will be held in Baay-Licuan. – Marvyn Benaning