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TABUK, CITY --– Amid renewed calls by President Arroyo to end the decades-old insurgency problem, the New People’s Army has intensified its attacks, killing six Army soldiers in separate attacks in the Cordillera.
Ka Tipon Gil-ayab, spokesman of the NPA’s Lejo Cawilan Command in Kalinga said a squad of NPA fighters set up the hasty ambush along the foot trail between Barangays Poswoy and Ab-abaan in the municipality of Balbalan, Kalinga to waylay
34 soldiers under Charlie Company of the 21st IB. The firefight, Gil-ayab said, lasted 4:35 p.m. to 7 p.m. of July 30. “The ambush resulted in the immediate death of three soldiers and two wounded, one of whom died later.
The operating troops were part of the Re-engineered Special Operations Team of the 21st IB and 77th IB in the municipalities of Balbalan, Pinukpuk, Pasil, Lubuagan, including some barrios of Tabuk City,” Gil-ayab said.
Army casualties were named as Staff Sgt. Cio, Sgt. Galimba, and Private First Class Toribio. The military reportedly did not divulge the name of the officer who was seriously wounded – 2Lt. Jay Alambra of the 21st IB. Meanwhile, the NPA’s Agustin Begnalen Command in Bara said it staged an ambush against a platoon of operating troops of the Bravo Coy, 41st IB on Aug. 1 at Barangay Duldulao, Malibcong, Abra wherein six soldiers were killed, nine were wounded and two later died in a hospital.
The rebel group said it retrieved an M16 rifle, ammunitions and backpack after the brief firefight.
“The Red Guerillas used a command-detonated claymore mine and safely withdrew. A company-sized composite contingent of the Bravo and Charlie Coys is currently terrorizing the people of Malibcong Poblacion, Duldulao, and Bayabas, and is forcing the people to allow the establishment of detachments in the municipality.
The overwhelming majority of the people, however, are opposed to the 41st IB's plan,” said ABC-NPA spokesman Ka Diego Wadagan in a statement. In Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela, Maj. Gen. Melchor Dilodilo, chief of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division, said the rebel attacks were meant to show that the NPA is still a force to reckon with. “In fact, our intelligence sources have gathered that the NPA general command has ordered its field forces to step up their attacks on government and private installations to make the impression that they are still a force to reckon with. But here in the north, their strength is on the downtrend,” he said.
On Aug. 1, he said, two soldiers on community outreach missions were killed and two of their colleagues were wounded in an NPA attack in Malibcong, Abra. “This came two days after three other soldiers were slain and another one wounded in a remote Kalinga village,” he added.
Last week, Ms Arroyo reiterated her call for the Armed Forces to crush the communist insurgency on or before 2001 before participants in Cagayan Valley’s first local peace and security assembly in Tuguegarao City.
Authorities have noted increased rebel activities in the Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos regions where the 5th ID operates, including attacks on two Globe Telecom towers in Kalinga and Cagayan.
By Angel Baybay
BONTOC, Mountain Province – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan recently passed a resolution requesting congress through Speaker Prospero Nograles to declare the position of Representative of the lone district of the province vacant and to authorize the Commission on Elections to call for a special election. The resolution was approved by Gov. Maximo Dalog.
After the death of Rep. Victor Dominguez on Feb. 8, the provincial board earlier passed a resolution dated Feb. 15 asking Congress for the conduct of a special election.
On the same date, another resolution was also approved requesting the designation of Baguio City Rep. Mauricio Domogan as caretaker until a permanent congressman shall have been elected by the people. Another resolution reiterating Domogan’s designation was inked by the officials saying that he, who traces his roots to Mountain Province, is the best person suited for the assignment.
Weeks ago, a fourth resolution was prepared by the sangguniang panlalawigan but did not prosper after it failed to muster the signature of majority of the members of the provincial board. The prepared resolution caused a stir among some sectors in the province when the governor asked provincial legal officer Einstein Calaoa for his comment on one of its provisions which stated that the provincial government is willing to shoulder the financial requirements of a special election.
Based on the experience of other areas, the request for declaration of vacancy as contained in the July 15 resolution should had been included in the first resolution since no special election could be held until a vacancy officially occurs.
After the declaration of a vacancy, congress shall then authorize Comelec to call and schedule the balloting. These experiences jibed with the opinion of the provincial attorney when his appearance was sought by the SP in one of its sessions.
The latest resolution emphasized that provincial officials have nothing against Kalinga Rep. Manuel Agyao who was designated caretaker but they simply want the vacated seat to be occupied by a person duly elected by the people of the province.
The latest move of the officialdom was hailed by non-government organizations and constituents. They said denying people a voice in congress even for a day was a form of human rights violation in a democracy.
By Dexter A. See
TUBA, Benguet – The Cordillera Department of Public Works and Highways ordered the temporary closure of Marcos Highway due to a huge road cut at the stretch at Sitio Kaukalan, Taloy Sur here Aug. 6.
The road cut came as a result of monsoon rains that hit Cordillera, but it worsened due to two weeks of continuous rains spawned by Typhoon "Julio.”
Engineer Mariano Alquiza, DPWH regional director, said that closure of Marcos Highway would last for at least three days during which engineers and workers build temporary structures at the site of the road cut to enable vehicles to pass through it.
Technical people of the DPWH are now working double time to establish a bailey bridge to serve as a temporary span, while the contractor works on the rehabilitation and restoration of the collapsed portion of the road. Alquiza said P27 million had been earmarked by the DPWH for the repair of the road cut, noting that the complete repair would cost P40 million.
Various district offices of the DPWH in the region were ordered to pool their bailey panels for the temporary span. The Marcos Highway project was funded with a P1.2-billion fund secured from the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) of Japan for its conversion into an all-weather road through the construction of state-of-the-art slope protection walls as well as paving to meet the needs of all kinds of vehicles.
As a temporary measure, Alquiza diverted the route of heavy vehicles coming and going out of Baguio City to Naguilian Road, while light vehicles take Kennon Road as the alternate route.
Marcos Highway serves as the major road linking Baguio and Benguet to the lowlands after the closure of Kennon Road to heavy vehicles due to its unstable geological condition.
Alquiza advised motorists to be patient as they await the restoration of normal vehicular traffic on Marcos Highway, saying the DPWH is doing its best to repair the road cut as soon as possible.
BAUANG, La Union – A drug-crazed man who ripped open the chest of a 14-year-old girl with a scythe and ate her heart and liver is now in jail here after he was nabbed Aug. 3 by policemen.
Bauang police headed by Supt. Manuel Castro, said that day, the victim, identified as Catherine Madriaga, resident of Barangay Pugo, Bauang, went to the house of her cousin who would be her companion in attending mass at 8 a.m. Witnesses said they were later horrified to see Rommel Jandoc, 29, resident of Pugo, all bloodied and eating the internal organs of Catherine. Catherine’s aunt, Gloria de Guzman, 44, said she was in their house when she heard news that someone was stabbed with a scythe. De Guzman ran towards the crime scene and was shocked to see that the victim was her niece, her chest exposed with a big wound and Jandoc’s hands covered with blood as he was eating the internal organs of her niece. Informed of the incident, police later arrested Jandoc and incarcerated him at the municipal jail. Jandoc reportedly had the victim’s heart in his pocket when arrested.
By Jennelyn Mondejar
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The Pangasinan Mayors’ League and Gov. Amado Espino Jr. have put up a P500,000 reward for the arrest of the killers of Agno Mayor Arthur Cabantac. Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico Jr., president of PML and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, told newsmen the mayors agreed on this during their meeting last Monday.
The league will provide P250,000, and Espino, P250,000. Senior Supt. Isagani Nerez, provincial police director, said they have placed a policeman under custody as one of the suspects in Cabantac’s gun-slay Aug. 2 in Poblacion East, Agno town.
The policeman, whom Nerez requested not to be named yet, was formerly assigned in Agno but was transferred to San Quintin town after he allegedly had differences with the slain mayor. Nerez said the policeman was relieved from his post and would undergo paraffin and ballistic tests and a lie detector test.
He said there was no direct evidence yet against the policeman. “We are still giving him the benefit of the doubt,” he said.
Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation of Investigation were working with the task force created by Nerez to probe the case. Nerez said they were eyeing politics as motive but this will be dependent on evidence the task force could gather. Cabantac’s wife Adevilenia said she was thankful to the police, NBI and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for their efforts in solving the case. On Aug. 4, Espino, in his State of the Province Address, said he was waging an all-out war against guns-for-hire in the province, including those hiring their services.
Espino said he was saddened that Pangasinan, which has been enjoying stable peace and order, is now hounded by the recent killings of councilors and Cabantac. Meanwhile, Ms Cabantac said she decided to bring her husband’s remains to their residence in Quezon City and bury him later at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina. She said this is her way of having peace of mind and lessen her family’s grief. “Here, we are so much bothered,” she said. “I will miss his caring and loving ways to us, his family.” She said she told Agno folk, “Pinahiram ko lang siya sa inyo. Sana ibinalik ninyo siya sa amin ng buo at buhay (I only lent him to you. You should have returned him to us whole and alive).” Mrs. Cabantac said her husband traded his good life and job in Metro Manila in exchange for serving his hometown. His job at the National Housing Authority as National Capital Region director and his assignment in the Visayas made him work with some politicians who inspired him to enter the political arena, she said. Mrs. Cabantac works for the NHA and lives with their children in Quezon City. Cabantac was gunned down while playing mahjong with some friends in a neighbor’s residence in Poblacion East last Saturday night of Aug. 2.
Cabantac was playing mahjong in the house of a certain Cecilia Bosa at the corner of Zamora and Jaina streets, about 150 meters from the mayor’s, when he was attacked. Nerez said the mayor had reportedly told his bodyguards to patrol outside Bosa’s house while he was playing mahjong. Nobody was wounded in the shooting.
Four empty M-16 shells were recovered outside Bosa’s house.
Probers were eyeing several motives behind Cabantac’s killing, including politics as he was allegedly at odds with some Sangguniang Bayan members, and personal grudge as he had aggressively carried out his programs and policies that earned him several critics.
Mrs. Cabantac said playing mahjong was her husband’s way of relaxing and it was unfortunate that it was only last weekend when he did not go home in Quezon City, which he used to do. She said she and their four children, all college graduates, objected when he joined politics in 2004 as a mayoral bet but lost. When he decided to run again in 2007 and won, Mrs. Cabantac said they agreed that it would be his last – just to fulfill his vision for Agno’s progress.
SOLANO, Nueva Vizcaya -- Gov. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma and several other government officials were charged before the Ombudsman for stopping the Didipio Gold Copper Project of Australian mining firm OceanaGold in Nueva Vizcaya.
Also facing grave coercion, violations of the Graft and Corrupt practices act and the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 (RA 7942) with the governor are board members Edu Balgos, Francisco Tolentino and Danny Ramos of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, Senior Insp. Iringan of the PNP-Nueva Vizcaya, other police personnel and provincial guards, who for several occasions allegedly caused irreparable damage and delay of the operation of the mining firm. OceanaGold, holder of one of the first two approved Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) in the country, stands to lose $65,000 for every day of delay, said retired Col. Gil Maglanque, assistant general manager of OceanaGold who filed their complaint last month at the Ombudsman. The Didipio Gold Copper Project was halted by Cuaresma’s Nov. 2007 and April 9, 2008 “cease and desist orders,” which OceanaGold claims are patently illegal and lacks legal basis. On Nov. 23 last year, Cuaresma stopped OceanaGold’s earth-moving work insisting it has been quarrying a river without sand and gravel permits from the provincial government. OceanaGold, said Maglanque, was then extracting sand and gravel for exclusive use in its operations “but the governor issued the CDO without issuing them any tax assessment for such alleged quarrying and without any proof that their firm has not paid assessment.” Maglanque added, “She issued the CDO without filing appropriate tax collection suit with the appropriate court as provided by the Local Government Code. We tried to clarify that we were lawfully conducting quarrying activities without permit pursuant to clause 13.4 (g) of the FTAA and section 48 of the Mining Act of 1995.”
“And despite replacing our quarrying contractor in December who applied for permits from the provincial government, Cuaresma again issued another CDO in April this year “without indicating any basis.” “She did not again issue any tax assessment and proof that we have not paid any tax.” On April 24, after OceanaGold sought DENR Secretary Jose Atienza’s opinion in the impasse, the latter wrote the governor explaining that “as FTAA contractor, (OceanaGold) had the right to extract materials within the FTAA area without the need of a permit.” But again, on May 1, also this year, the Nueva Vizcaya PENRO reportedly attempted to serve another CDO but was refused by Oceana Gold insisting there was no legal basis. Again on May 6, Cuaresma, Vice Gov. Jose Gambito, Balgos and all heads of offices of the provincial government went to the mining site to stop it, although on May 11, upon getting clearances from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and DENR, the firm resumed operations. The next day however, the governor and her group allegedly with fully armed men and policemen aboard a convoy of vehicles “forcibly entered by threatening and intimidating the armed guards.” Two days later, Nueva Vizcaya PENRO officials with armed provincial guards and policemen entered the project site without permission from the mining firm.
CABANATUAN CITY – Senior Supt. Napoleon Taas, former provincial director of the Philippine National Police in Nueva Ecija, offered to quit his post over grumblings of Gov. Aurelio Umali who kept nagging PNP Chief Avelino Razon Jr. for his relief.
A source said Taas was not relieved from his post contrary to reports but offered to be relieved because Umali kept badgering Razon for him to be replaced. “Sumbong ng sumbong si Gov. Umali kay Chief PNP kaya minabuti na lang ni Col. Taas na umalis na lang (Gov. Umali kept on reporting to Chief PNP so Col. Taas deemed it wise to just go out),” the source who was privy to the eveNts leading to Taas’ relief, revealed. The source said Razon tried to convince Taas to stay put.
“Hangga’t ako ang Chief PNP ’di ka maaalis diyan (For as long as I am the Chief PNP, you won’t be removed in your post),” the source quoted Razon as telling Taas but the latter politely refused.The source added Taas consoled himself by saying he had served the province for a minimum of six months which, he said, was enough.Taas’ decision to quit the provincial directorship was bared after local businessmen in the province lamented his relief, and asked Razon to explain the move. Earlier, Nueva Ecija Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Kenny Bansale said Taas’ relief was unjustified since he had advanced Razon’s Mamang Pulis program in the province, brought down the crime volume and introduced innovations never before achieved by his predecessors. Because of this, Bansale, said, the morale of police personnel was high and the business community in the province achieved peace of mind.
The source said before Taas was relieved, Razon had dinner with Umali and asked the latter why he kept asking for the police official’s relief.
The governor failed to come up with a logical explanation.
A few weeks back, Umali, the provincial chairman of the ruling Lakas-CMD, also reportedly asked President Arroyo to have Taas relieved for which the latter reportedly replied: “Bakit hindi ba nagtatrabaho ang PD mo (Why, is your PD not doing his job)?”
Umali acknowledged to the President that Taas was doing his job. Earlier, the provincial Chamber of Commerce was reported as having urged chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. to explain the sudden removal of Taas whose performance was rated satisfactory by a high-ranking police official in Central Luzon.
ILAGAN, Isabela – Three suspects in a shooting incident which resulted in the killing of a policeman and the wounding of another on Aug. 1 have been arrested and are now in police custody, reports said.
But Senior Supt. Dominador Aquino, provincial police director, neither confirmed nor denied allegations that the suspects, including one or more who remain at large, and whose identities were withheld pending further investigation, were aides of a local official here.
“What I can only say is that the suspects and the victims apparently knew each other,” he said, adding they were still investigating the motives behind what the authorities described as a “shooting incident” without the police firing a single shot. According to reports, the policemen were driving back to Alicia town proper when their vehicle was suddenly cut by the suspects’ black Toyota Innova van. The suspects then disembarked and sprayed the vehicle with bullets from an M16 Armalite rifle and then later fled.
The fatality, one PO3 Jonathan Abuan, was shot in the head by bullets coming from an M16 Armalite rifle while his colleague, SPO2 Ludivico Delmendo sustained serious gunshot wounds on the left arm and buttocks. A third companion, SPO3 Nacasio Bautisa, was unhurt. The cops were reportedly returning from a cockpit when they were waylaid by the suspects that evening. -- CL
PDEA-Ilocos head sacked for releasing probe info: 20 more cops probed on large shabu haul
By Jerry Padilla
SAN FERNANDO, La Union – The police task force probing the shabu laboratory, touted as the largest in the country and recently raided in Naguilian, La Union, is set to investigate 20 more policemen to explain how the illegal facility managed to operate more than a year.
This, as the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director in the Ilocos region was relieved from her post Thursday for allegedly releasing confidential information to the media on the ongoing investigation on the shabu laboratory.
Supt. Jane Andres Aunzo, PDEA regional director, was summoned to the PDEA headquarters in Manila and would be replaced by a former Army official, a certain Roberto Opeña, in turnover rites at Camp Diego Silang here tomorrow.
Task Force Bimmotobot, named after the village where the shabu lab was located, is now probing how the syndicate was able to bring in chemicals unnoticed and sneak out finished products despite checkpoints in the area during and after the elections last year.
“They (policemen) did not necessarily participate, but we think they had knowledge of the operation, particularly on the delivery of drugs and chemicals,” a source said.
Another source said law enforcers might have been threatened or bribed, which probably explains why they failed to report anything or do something about it.
Heavily armed personnel, mostly from the Regional Mobile Group, manned checkpoints along Naguilian Road to ensure peaceful and orderly elections last year.
Supt. Dionicio Borromeo, tagged by Dante Palaganas, an arrested caretaker of the shabu lab, as one of the syndicate’s alleged protectors, was then the RMG director before he became police chief of Dagupan City.
Borromeo has been relieved from his post following Palaganas’ allegations. He is now at Camp Crame facing an investigation.
The drug syndicate, according to Palaganas, transported shabu four times to Metro Manila without encountering any problems at the checkpoints.
He said the shabu lab began operating in May last year. It was raided last July 9, yielding chemicals that can produce shabu worth about a trillion pesos.
Earlier, authorities said that aside from Borromeo, four other policemen were being investigated.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the Ilocos region headed by Senior Superintendent Marvin Bolabola will take custody of policemen found to be involved in the illegal activity.
Meanwhile, a high-ranking police official said PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago was bothered with the raw information Aunzo had allegedly given the media because this might affect the investigation.
“I don’t know the real reason why she (Aunzo) was relieved because the order came from Gen. Santiago. They may have reasons for her relief but we would have been more prepared in the investigation into the shabu lab if she stayed longer,” said the police official, who was involved in the investigation.
Task Force Bimmotobot, headed by Chief Supt. Romeo Gatan, earlier designated Aunzo as one of its spokesmen but later withheld her authority to do so due to the alleged release of confidential information in her media interviews.
A PDEA employee said they received information Aunzo had been relieved from her post as Region 1 director and was at the PDEA office in Manila attending a command conference on Aug. 30.
The source said he has not heard of any reason for Aunzo’s relief, adding though that a PDEA regional director is normally replaced when he or she has served for two years in his or her position.
Meanwhile, Gatan said the task force’s legal team has finished the amended complaint it is filing this week.
Gatan said the amended complaint was based on the supplemental affidavit of Dante Palaganas, the arrested caretaker of the shabu lab busted in Barangay Bimmotobot, Naguilian town.
Gatan said US law enforcers have also stepped into the investigation to find out the links of the shabu lab’s operators with international syndicates.
Gatan said US authorities are scheduled to visit this week the site of the shabu lab where authorities seized six truckloads of chemicals that could produce about a trillion pesos worth of the illegal drug.
Besao native selected best cop nationwide
BONTOC, Mountain Province – The people of the province have another reason to celebrate. One of their brother policemen has made them proud having been selected as the best commissioned officer in the whole country in this year’s annual search for the Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service (COPS).
Police Supt. Jonathan Calixto was honored by Metrobank Foundation, PS Bank, and the Rotary Club of New Manila East for his gallantry and professionalism he exemplified as evidenced by his accomplishments as government peace keeper. He received a cash prize of P250,000 and a trophy for the feat.
A native of Kin-iway, Besao, Calixto had his elementary and secondary education in his hometown before he moved to Baguio City where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Criminology at the University of Baguio.
Following the steps of his older brother, Rimas Calixto, who is presently the Regional BJMP director for Region 1, the younger Calixto entered the Philippine National Police Academy and graduated in 1995.
As a police officer, he led the team that assaulted the perpetrators of the Bicutan siege that caused the death of 22 Abu Sayyaf inmates and the recovery of seven firearms. He also headed the police force which captured the second highest officer of the Jemaah Islamiyah and recovered high intelligence value items.
This performance was hailed by President Arroyo as a big blow to the terror network of the terrorist group. Follow up operations resulting to the capture of Abu Sayyaf gun suppliers effectively limited the capability the group to conduct criminal activities.
Calixto was also among those who secured the Manila Peninsula during the foiled military stand-off led by now Sen. Antonio Trillanes.
In the fight against syndicated crimes, Calixto led Oplan Black Shark that resulted to the capture of members of the Black Shark gang.
The gang is reportedly responsible in series of kidnap for ransom, highway robberies, carnapping, drug trafficking, and other nefarious activities.
He was also a key player in many outreach programs that conducted clean and green drives and tree planting activities with the community people.
He is now assigned as battalion commander of the First Special Action Battalion of the PNP Special Action Force.
In his congratulatory message to Gov. Maximo Dalog and the people of the province, Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto Sobrepeña said such exemplary accomplishments have qualified Calixto to join the elite roster of policemen worth emulating.
This year’s board of judges was chaired by Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara and go-chaired by presiding justice Diosdado Peralta of the Sandiganbayan. -- Angel Baybay
Isabela village chief, 9 others face raps for ‘illegal logging’
By Joan Capuna
SAN MARIANO, Isabela – Illegal logging charges are being readied against a barangay chairman of this remote town and nine others for the shipment of high-grade wood products earlier this month. Gov. Grace Padaca yesterday July 26 said that the province’s anti-illegal logging task force is set to file charges against barangay chairman Floriano Dichoso of Macayocayo, San Mariano and nine others for violation of the anti-illegal logging law.
“We have prepared cases against them,” Padaca said. “The law is the law. If you violated it, then you have to be arrested.”
Dichoso was reportedly included in the case after he reportedly owned responsibility over the more than 4,000 illegally-cut forest products worth more than P500,000.
The task force, also composed of Army and police, discovered the narra lumber while they were being shipped across the Pinacanauan River in remote Benito Soliven town with the use of floaters.
The charges against the illegal logging suspects came in the wake of Padaca’s two-week ultimatum to all illegal loggers and timber poachers to voluntarily surrender the equipment they were using in their illegal activities or face appropriate charges.
“Bring down your chainsaws now and we won’t arrest you,” said Padaca, whom Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Joselito Atienza have given a special deputization order to go after illegal loggers and timber poachers here.
The ultimatum, which took effect July 21 until Aug. 4, was issued during a meeting of the provincial government-led anti-illegal logging task force whose recent revival came amid reports of rampant illegal logging in the province’s protected forest zones.
Padaca said no apprehension, arrest or charges will be made on persons who would voluntarily turn over their chainsaws and other equipment being utilized in the illegal cutting of trees.
In related developments, mayors from the province’s forest zones led by Mayor Jose Mari Diaz of Ilagan said some constituents had to resort to cutting of trees to sustain their basic needs.
Any alternative livelihood for them, they said, would lead to curbing the age-old problem of illegal cutting of trees here.
“We understand their (mayors) concerns for some of their constituents engaged in illegal timber poaching out of poverty,” said provincial environment and natural resources officer forester Felix Taguba.
“We have been implementing alternative ways for their constituents to legally make use of their forest resources.”
2 buses torched in P’sinan terminal
SAN FABIAN, Pangasinan – Two buses of the Five Star company were torched at a terminal here night of July 24.
Authorities said no one was hurt in the incident. Probers ruled out the employees’ claim that communist rebels could be behind the attack, suspecting that a labor dispute was a likely cause.
The company placed the damage at P5.5 million. Armed with handguns, the arsonists used gasoline in plastic gallon containers and small bottles, reports said.
The attackers reportedly told a terminal guard that the Five Star manager owed them something. They casually walked away after setting the two buses on fire. – George Trillo
2 hired killers take pity on victim; cancel slay
By Dexter A See
BAGUIO CITY – For allegedly attempting to have her elder sister assassinated, a teacher in Abra was arrested by Baguio policemen in an entrapment operation conducted in Ilocos Sur.
This came after the killers she had allegedly hired took pity on the supposed victim, Veronica Iban Ganao.
The hired killers were overwhelmed by pity when they saw Veronica’s deformed face with one blind eye, which reportedly came as a result of the first attempt on her life in February last year.
Chief Supt. Eugene G. Martin, director of the Police Regional Office in the Cordillera, identified the alleged mastermind as Herminia Iban Daproza, 40, separated, teacher, native of Dilong, Tubo, Abra, and resident of Zone V, Bangued, Abra.
Veronica also hails from Dilong, Tubo, Abra, but now resides at Tapaw East, Quirino Hill, Baguio City. Confessed gun-for-hire Michael Marquez Bermudez, barangay kagawad, of Patiao, Peñarrubia, Abra, said he and his cohort, Nomer Biendema, his neighbor, were hired by Daproza to kill her elder sister in exchange for P75, 000. T
hey alleged that Daproza had given them a downpayment of P10,000 when they met in the Baguio First Hotel last July 10.
They said she also promised them a second job, which is to assassinate her elder sister’s husband, Lorenzo, if the first assignment is successful.
However, while casing her residence, the hired killers took pity on Veronica after seeing her pathetic condition.
They saw her taking care of her two grandchildren in their house and realized she is already old, with a deformed face and one blind on eye.
They forgot their evil scheme as they were overwhelmed by pity.
After talking to their supposed victim, the two hired killers agreed to surrender to the police and turn witness in the prosecution of the case against the alleged mastermind.
During the investigation, the two men told police probers that Daproza also hatched the failed plot on the life of her elder sister, who was hit on the head with a blunt object by unidentified assailants in their hometown last year.
While the investigation was going on, Bermudez maintained contact with Daproza through a mobile phone and gave her the false information that they had already killed her elder sister.
A team of the Baguio City Police Office and the two hired guns, went to Narvacan, Ilocos Sur to conduct an entrapment operation on the alleged mastermind who agreed to give them another partial payment of P7,500.
While on their way to Ilocos Sur, the hired killers and Daproza agreed to meet at a beach resort in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, where she was eventually arrested.
The alleged mastermind is now detained in the Baguio City jail for two counts of attempted murder, but the motive of the failed slay attempts is not yet known because the suspect and the victim refused to divulge the cause of their feud.
‘Spirits possess’ 21 studes; elders perform tribal rite
By Mike Guimbatan Jr.
TUBLAY, Benguet – Bad spirits possessed 21 female high school students here July 25, apparently angered by the construction of a school building in the school compound.
The 21 students of Tublay School of Home Industries passed out one after the other for no apparent reason in the morning until 3 p.m. of same day.
"The students passed out and remained unconscious for a long time. Two of them became hysterical," said councilor Ericson Felipe who witnessed the unusual event.
Local folk pointed to the demolition of an old school building to pave the way for a new concrete building costing R4 million as the cause of the spiritual phenomenon.
Some parents suggested the holding of native ritual to appease the spirits but this was opposed by Catholic parish priest Fr. Benny Villapa who said that the people should not yield to whatever the unseen want.
The students regained consciousness after a little rest, it was learned.
Policemen who responded to the incident said it was a case of "possession by evil spirits." "It is a mere mass hypnosis," said Father Felipe who also said that a similar situation occurred in the municipalities of Kibungan and Bakun, both in Benguet.
A similar disturbance caused by unfriendly spirits occurred in July 2007 at the Tuba National High School-Extension in Tuba, Benguet.
The Tuba spirit possession was a manifestation of an opposition to the construction of a two-storey school building that disturbed the unseen.
At least 16 female students turned hysterical for no apparent reason. The students who were affected had undergone counseling as the Church prayed for them before they regained consciousness.
Elders of Tuba held an indigenous ritual to appease the spirits by butchering a pig, a dog, and native chicken in the school premises.
Spirit possession like those in Tublay and Tuba high schools can be prevented, said a pastor of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.
Pastor Christopher Alegoyojo said there are evil sprits everywhere and they follow a pattern of disturbing high school students, mostly females.
The reason, he said, is that high school students are still in the stage of soul searching and are prone to worldly exposures.
Most women in that stage are weaker, and so there is need for spiritual guidance. Alegoyojo, recently assigned as an outreach UCCP pastor at Kennon Road, this city, admitted he has been driving away evil spirits from possessed teenagers, mostly females.
It is the individual’s faith in Jesus Christ that wards off evil spirits, he added.
City council stops private firm from hauling trash: Baguio officials at loggerheads over garbage-hauling contract
By Dexter A see and Mike Guimbatan Jr.
BAGUIO CITY – The bickering among city officials over the garbage crisis in this mountain resort city is not helping them in the efforts to find a long-term solution to the problem. In fact, the quarrel is aggravating the situation to the prejudice of the residents.
This developed as the hauling of garbage in the city by a private firm, Metro Water Management Corp., has been disallowed for lack of authority from the city council.
Instead, the city’s legislative body decided to appropriate P10 million for the hauling of the city’s garbage that has piled up in the streets for one week now.
The council also decided that the hauling contract will be bidded out.
The councilors have failed to designate a dumping area for the garbage. And as a result of the council’s action, the private hauler is now at risk of not being paid for its services.
The mayor signed the contract with the private hauler without the authority of the council, one councilor said. The mayor should have first referred the contract to the council because it involves the appropriation of funds, the same councilor said.
Councilors were given the impression that Metro Waste is the only accredited hauler, but it turned out that the accreditation of haulers is only for the transport of toxic waste.
If the council decides to appropriate funds for the payment of the hauler without going through competitive bidding, councilors said they would be liable for graft and technical malversation.
While the city officials are locked in a controversy over the funding issue, tons and tons of garbage continue to pile up in the streets.
Due to the unsanitary condition, many tourists are now skipping the city.
The council had turned down plans of the mayor to charge the hauling expenses against the calamity fund as it denied a proposal to place the city under a state of calamity.
But the hauling cost would instead be charged against other kinds of funds of the city government.
Earlier, there were proposals that the garbage collected daily would be dumped temporarily at the lime kiln in Irisan, but this was scrapped down because the area is heavily populated.
At the time that the city was scouting for an area where to dump garbage loaded in the city’s dump trucks, the lime kiln was identified as a transfer station, but the residents barricaded the area. This prevented the dumping of the garbage at the lime kiln site.
Meanwhile, three committees were formed to negotiate with groups that offered to help the city in providing temporary relief.
One of the committees chaired by Councilor Erdolfo Balajadia is tasked to meet with executives of Camp John Hay. The second committee chaired by Councilor Isabelo Cosalan Jr. is to meet with officials of Philippine Military Academy.
The task to look for a longer-term solution was assigned to a committee chaired by Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda. It is asked to meet with the Carantes family regarding a 10-hectare land the family had offered to sell in Virac, Itogon, Benguet.
Cagayan mayor’s nephew, aides charged for ex-PC man’s killing
TUGUEGARAO CITY – Two aides and a nephew of a mayor of a remote southwestern town here and three others are now facing murder charges in connection with last week’s killing of a retired sergeant of the now defunct Philippine Constabulary.
Senior Supt. Jude Santos, provincial police director, identified those facing murder charges as Chito Cauilan and Dik-dik Gundan, reportedly both aides of Mayor Raul dela Cruz of Rizal town, and Kit-Kit Littaua, who, together with Cauilan were tagged as the gunmen who shot dead 50-year-old retired Constabulary sergeant Elmer Baligod.
De la Cruz was not immediately available for comment.
Also included in the case filed by the police was the mayor’s nephew identified as Kevin de la Cruz and two others, including a son of a barangay chairman of Rizal. However, except for Cauilan, the five other suspects have yet to be arrested.
The regional trial court here recommended no bail for Cauilan. A separate case of murder was formally filed against the five other suspects before the prosecutor’s office here.
The suspects, police said, were identified by witnesses as responsible in the killing of Baligod, who was shot dead while tending their family’s food stall in front of their house along Del Rosario Street Centro 4 here on June 18. – CL
Four other police ‘protectors’ probed: Razon sacks Dagupan cop chief in large shabu haul
By Jerry Padilla and Mydz Supnad
CAMP DIEGO SILANG, La Union – Four more policemen are being investigated for their possible involvement in the operation of a shabu laboratory discovered in Naguilian, La Union July 9 in the biggest shabu haul in the country in recent years.
Supt. Jane Aunzo, Ilocos regional director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency however, didn’t disclose names of the four cops pending the probe.
Supt, Dionisio Borromeo, who was relieved as police chief of Dagupan City, is also under investigation after an arrested caretaker of the shabu lab tagged him as the one who allegedly looked for the warehouse in Barangay Bimmotobot where the illegal facility was put up.
Investigators have found strong evidence that would warrant the filing of charges against Borromeo, Philippine National Police Director General Avelino Razon Jr. said in Camp Oscar Florendo in San Fernando City, La Union.
A ranking official of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said probers have at least five witnesses who implicated Borromeo in the operations of the shabu lab.
“We have collated all the evidence and we are now evaluating all of them,” said the CIDG official.
Borromeo was summoned at press time to the CIDG headquarters to give his side on the allegations against him. He denied the accusations and promised to answer them “to clear my name at the proper forum.”
Aunzo said there would be no whitewash in the investigation even if policemen were implicated in the shabu lab’s operations.
Seized from the lab were six truckloads of chemicals and equipment that can produce shabu worth about a trillion pesos.
Razon said Tuesday he has ordered a rigid probe on the discovered shabu laboratory including Borromeo among other officials acting as protectors of those operating it. Razon bared this to newsmen saying he ordered the relief of Borromeo who was tagged as an alleged protector of the shabu laboratory.
Razon tasked Chief Sup.Raul Castañeda, director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, to personally lead the investigation into the allegation of shabu lab caretaker Dante Palaganas that Borromeo was the one who looked for the warehouse in Barangay Binmotobot, Naguilian where the shabu lab was put up.
Chief Supt.Romeo Hilomen, Ilocos regional police director, said the investigation stemmed from Palaganas’ allegation that Borromeo was part of their operations.
Following his administrative relief from his post, Borromeo was reportedly assigned to the PNP-Holding and Accounting Unit at Camp Crame in Quezon City to pave the way for the investigation.
Supt. Sonny Verzosa replaced Borromeo as Dagupan City police chief. Razon said a Task Force was formed to look into the possible involvement of other police officials. “I think meron pang iba (there are others) so we ordered a deeper probe.”
Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr., chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council in the Ilocos region, said being one of the authors of the Dangerous Drugs Act and himself a retired police colonel, he was concerned about it considering the volume uncovered.
Razon said he is also looking into the connections of the discovered shabu laboratory in Real, Quezon recently and the Naguilian shabu laboratory.
Meanwhile, Dagupan City Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. said he was surprised and downhearted when Borromeo was administratively relieved from his post pending the investigation.
Fernandez said Borromeo performed well as police chief, especially in the anti-illegal drug campaign but if a police officer is linked to illegal drugs, “that is the worst involvement.”
Hilomen meanwhile warned constituents on proliferation of illegal drugs like shabu saying if there is something strange in a neighborhood like a disgusting smell similar to rotten egg, methane or ammonia, they should call the police.
He added a foul smell led police to the clandestine shabu laboratory in Naguilian. Hilomen said drug syndicates usually run shabu labs near a hog or poultry farm to avoid detection.
“They would say it’s just a piggery farm,” he said.
Hilomen said an asset of Senior Supt. Noli Taliño, La Union police director, reported the strange odor in Barangay Binmotobot, prompting police to conduct surveillance.
Hilomen said a foul smell also led to the recent discovery of another shabu lab in Real, Quezon which, along with another illegal facility in Laguna, yielded shabu chemicals worth about P300 million.
Three Chinese and two Taiwanese nationals and a Filipino were arrested in the twin raids.
He said the suspects there could be operating other shabu labs in the Ilocos region.
Intelligence reports said the Naguilian lab had produced about 100 kilos of shabu from May to July last year. – With reports from Jerry Padilla, Mydz Supnad and Jennelyn Mondejar
DOTC lifts transport ban on Kennon Road
By Dexter A. See
BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera office of the Department of Transportation and Communications has lifted its order banning garage vans from traversing Kennon Road, the shortest route from this mountain resort city to the lowlands and vice versa.
The lifting of the ban is expected to help operators save on fuel expense amidst the soaring prices of oil. Lawyer Federico J. Mandapat, Cordillera DOTC director, issued an order allowing vans to pass through the 34- km road to help them cope with increase in fuel cost.
Because of the ban on Kennon, the drivers of the passenger vans erlier had to travel through Marcos Highway, a circuitous route to and from this city.
Last year, Mandapat banned garage vans from passing through Kennon because of its reportedly unstable, delicate condition, using as basis a report that the highway is geologically unstable.
All vans were ordered to take Marcos Highway to ensure safety of the passengers.
In lifting the ban on Kennon, Mandapat said his campaign against colorum vehicles and road-safety violations committed by van operators and drivers is expected to be boosted.
The ban on Kennon had caused a misunderstanding and mudslinging between Benguet provincial leaders and DOTC officials who traded serious accusations the past several months. On the Baguio section of Kennon, meanwhile, the city government has banned six-wheel trucks and mini buses from traversing the highway.
This was to ensure safety of motorists and protect the road from further deterioration.
Van operators and drivers said passing through Kennon resulted in reduction in travel time and fuel expense.
Compared to travel on Marcos Highway, Kennon trip resulted in savings of over P300 in fuel expense and cut in travel time by 20 minutes of travel, they said.
Perfecto Itliong Jr., regional director of the Public Transport Affairs Office in the Cordillera, said Mandapat’s order was laudable because van operators and drivers can now earn more considering hard times when everybody has resorted to belt tightening amidst skyrocketing prices of commodities.
At the same time, he said, the rift between DOTC and the transport sector was considered settled and a harmonious working relationship was now a possibility.
Earlier, the Cordillera office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau reported that 85 percent of Kennon areas were geologically hazardous especially during rainy season,
This was caused mainly by existence of highly fractured rock formations located in the mountain slopes posing serious threat to communities alongside the road as well as motorists using the national highway.
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.
‘Low prices causing low rice production: Hike palay prices, traders urge gov’t
By Dexter A See
BAGUIO CITY – Despite threats aired to reduce their allocations because of their exposè about the alleged diversion of cheap rice to rice-producing areas, rice traders here urged the national government to increase the buying price of palay. They said higher palay prices would serve as incentives for farmers to continue and increase production of the staple.
Instead of wasting billions of pesos in taxpayer’s money for allegedly overpriced imported rice, traders and retailers here said government funds should be used to jack up palay prices.
This could prevent farmers from selling their lands to developers who convert the farms into industrial or residential areas, they said.
If the government spends $ 1,200 or P45,900 per metric ton of rice, they added, the amount saved could be used instead to increase the buying price of palay from P17 to P20 per kilo. The increase in price would help the farmers cope with the rising prices of basic commodities.
In such case, 80 kilos of palay, which yield 50 kilos or one cavan of rice, would cost P1,600, way above the prevailing 17 per-kilo buying price of palay.
Aside from increasing the buying price of palay, the traders and retailers cited the urgent need to flood the Metro Manila markets with sufficient rice supply to help reduce the skyrocketing prices of commercial rice in urban centers.
The traders said that Region II, particularly Isabela, has abundant supply of rice but they are puzzled why the stock is not being released to Metro Manila outlets, noting the big demand during this so-called "lean months."
While admitting that there is a P2-P3 reduction in the prices of commercial rice, they said the decline in rice prices is still very low because the supposed regular price is from P28 to P30 per kilo. The national government had been bragging about the existence of sufficient rice supply in the country brought about by the arrival of hundreds of tons of imported rice, but it appears that the imported rice could not stabilize the prices in the markets because of the failure of concerned government agencies to flood the markets, particularly those in urban centers, with the stock in rice-producing areas.
They asked the Department of Agriculture and the National Food Authority not to limit their rice allocation as sanction for exposing the diversion of rice, saying the reduced allocation would adversely affect the poor residents.
Instead, the DA and NFA should act decisively by reducing the excessive rice prices brought about by the limited supply. This could be done by releasing the tons of rice kept in warehouses in Region II, the said.
