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Delay in auction of Malaysian ship hit
By Jerry Padilla

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – An official of the Department of Finance in Manila is being blamed for the delay in the auction of the M/TUG Sungai Julan 1, a Malaysian vessel involved in oil smuggling at the Poro Point seaport here in 2007.

Edward Baltazar, former head of the Port of San Fernando who ordered the seizure of the vessel, said his forfeiture order was affirmed by Secretary Margarito Teves but the implementation, which will pave the way for the auction, was allegedly delayed because the document remains at the office of the finance official.

"The forfeiture order has been twice affirmed by the (DOF) legal department and all process regarding the seizure has been done. It’s already for implementation," Baltazar said.

Records of the forfeiture decision have reportedly been transmitted to the finance official’s office last Sept. 1 but no action has been taken and is still pending as of this report.

On July 8, Baltazar’s lawyer filed a motion asking the official to inhibit from participating in the review of the forfeiture decision because the official was a former associate of the law firm representing the owner of the vessel.

The vessel, valued at about P110 million, was docked at the seaport here while the crew, seven Indonesians and five Malaysians, were already released.

Baltazar said the proceeds, if the vessel would be auctioned including its cargo of 77,058 liters of crude oil, would give additional revenue to the government.

La Union jail head, guard sacked over drug dealers’ escape

BALAOAN, La Union – The warden of the jail here and one of his jail guards were relieved from their posts Thursday following the escape of a female detainee charged for transporting several kilos of marijuana.

Senior Supt. Miguel Cawi, regional director of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, relieved Capt. Samuel Mariano and Jail Officer 1 Glenn Wanson for alleged neglect of duty.

Mariano and Wanson were reassigned to the BJMP regional office in San Fernando City pending investigation of administrative cases filed against them.

Cawi imposed the sanction after he discovered in a surprise inspection that illegal drug suspect Beatriz Bias, 29, was missing during a headcount of inmates. Capt. Morris Packley, who replaced Mariano, said Bias escaped after she was allowed by jail personnel to do household chores. – Jerry Padilla

40 kilos of marijuana confiscated, 2 nabbed

By Mar T. Supnad

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union- Police arrested the driver and conductor of a passenger jeepney after the policemen confiscated from them 40 kilos of dried marijuana leaves they concealed on the vehicle along the boundary of Balaoan and Santol towns last week.

Sr. Supt. Noli Talino, La Union police director, said his men led by Chief Insp. Reynaldo L. Lizardo, acting officer of the provincial anti-illegal drug, collared Apolonio Dangla, driver and his conductor Felmin Aliles, both of barangay Sasaba, Santol town, after the two tried two tried to evade arrest when police accosted them in a mobile checkpoint along the highway boundary here.

The arrest of the two came after the policemen were tipped off about the reported regular transport of the two of dried marijuana leaves using their own passenger jeep as courier. “May nag report sa amin na ginagawa nilang pang biyahe ng marijuana etong jeep nila kung kayat nag plano kami na aabangan namin sila. Noong nakita na namin silang dumarating ay bigla namin silang pinahinto. Nagulat na lamang kami nang makita namin sa loob ng hood na may mga cartoon na nakabalot na puno ng matrijuana,” said Major Lizardo.

He said as soon as the policemen noticed the cartoons full of marijuana concealed inside the hood, the driver and conductor tried to run away but they were immediately collared by the policemen.

Talino said the cases of the two was a serious offense which he said is a non-bailable case.

A total of 39 bricks of marijuana were confiscated from the suspects.

Lizardo said the jeepney regularly transported passengers from Santol to Balaoan and that the two have reportedly been using the trips to transport illegal drugs until a concerned resident in the area tipped off the police about the marijuana.

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6 lawmen in shabu lab case suspended
By Jerry Padilla

SAN FERNANDO, La Union – Six of 53 Region 1 (Ilocos) police personnel who were relieved as part of the probe on the shabu laboratory busted in Naguilian, La Union last July, were suspended for three months each while two others have returned to regular duty.

Chief Supt. Ramon Gatan, head of Task Force Bimmotobot, told the media that Supt. Dionicio Borromeo, former Dagupan City police chief, was meted with a 90-day preventive suspension along with Chief Insp. Gil Gempes, SPO4 Ambrosio Sayson, PO3 Joey Abang, PO2 Walter Banan, and PO1 Rodolfo Damian.

Borromeo, who was charged along with 13 others, was tagged by Dante Palaganas, the shabu lab’s caretaker, as one of their alleged protectors. Borromeo denied the allegation in his affidavit.

Gatan said Chief Inspector Erwin Dayag, former police chief of Naguilian town, and SPO1 Pablo Florendo were back on regular duty because they were both complainants in the shabu lab case.

Gatan, deputy regional police director for administration, said the suspension will take effect until January.

Sources in Camp Crame said Gempes and Sayson were suspended due to administrative lapses, and the rest, due to grave misconduct or for their alleged involvement in the shabu lab’s operations.

Gatan said the task force sought the return of the rest of the other relieved police personnel temporarily detailed at Camp Crame if they were cleared.

The three-man prosecution panel created by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales is now evaluating the affidavits of the complainants and accused.

Authorities raided the shabu lab in Barangay Bimmotobot last July 9 and seized chemicals that could produce P27 million worth of shabu.

CIDG revamps 4 reg’l officers

By Mar T. Supnad

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union-The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group started last week a major reshuffle among its personnel affecting four regional chiefs in the country.

Sr. Supt. Marvin Bolabola, RC for Region 1, was designated new RC for Central Luzon (Region 3), replacing Sr. Supt. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar who was, in turn, also designated as RC for Region 7, Cebu.

Region 7 RC, Sr. Supt. Zoilo Lachica, was also designated as RC for Region 1, replacing Bolabola.

Bataan provincial CIDG chief Supt. Warren de Leon, was also designated as RC for Caraga ( Region 13), one of the most junior officers in the CIDG who was given a regional post by the CIDG hierarchy.

Chief Insp. Ruben Tampis, was also designated as Bataan CIDG chief, replacing de Leon. Prior to his designation as CIDG provincial officer, Major Tampis had been the deputy CIDG here, where he earned his reputation as one of the most feared crime-busting CIDG officers for neutralizing a number of wanted persons, organized crime groups, illegal drugs, among others.

A graduate of Criminology and Law, Tampis is a resident of Mariveles town who is regarded in high esteem due to his professionalism in the service.

Baguio-bound van falls into ravine; six injured

SANTOL, La Union – Six passengers of a Baguio-bound Toyota Revo, including a three-year-old girl, were injured when the vehicle fell into a 400-meter ravine in Santol, La Union afternoon of Oct. 21.

Senior Insp. Paterno Oriña, Santol police chief, said the Toyota Revo, driven by Joseph Sappa, 33, lost its brakes while negotiating a mountain road between Barangays Camangga-an and Ramot.

Rushed to the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center in San Fernando City were Sozimo Pa-ing, 26; Noel Pay-sang, 26; Mercy Dumay-ang, 26; Sappa, his wife, Grace, 23, and their three-year-old daughter Aubrey.

Man gets life term for slay of LU exe

By Jerry Padilla

BAUANG, La Union – The Regional Trial Court here sentenced to life imprisonment without eligibility of parole a man accused of killing the municipal treasurer of this town on Aug. 6, 2007.

Judge Ferdinand Fe of RTC Branch 67, in his 19-page decision, also ordered Rogelio Albay alias Rogelio Ordoña to pay the heirs of his victim, Felicidad Picar, of more than P4 million as indemnity.

“Judgment is hereby rendered finding the accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of murder qualified by treachery and is hereby sentenced to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua without eligibility of parole,” Fe said in his Sept. 8 decision which was promulgated Oct. 6.

Ordoña was identified by witnesses as the gunman who mercilessly shot Picar on her head with a Cal. 45 pistol in front of her house morning of Aug. 6, 2007 in Barangay Santiago, this town, while waiting for a ride that would bring her to her office at the municipal hall.

Ordoña was tailed by witnesses as he left the crime scene and later arrested by tanods and policemen when he tried to hide in a forested area near the seashore.

“Thank God, justice has been done,” said Cristine Picar-Manipon, one of the late treasurer’s daughters, after the promulgation.

La Union Vice Gov. Martin De Guzman, who was Picar’s boss for nine years when he was mayor of Bauang from 1998 to 2007 said the court’s decision means justice has been served.

“This is a triumph, not only for the people of Bauang but for the whole province. We have seen that there is justice for crime victims and this is what we are really waiting for, that finally justice has been served for the family of Manang Fely (Picar),” De Guzman said, who visited Picar’s former office at the town hall after the promulgation.

De Guzman said Ordoña was only a hired killer and there is still a mastermind because the incident is suspected to be election-related.

Picar served as vice chairman of the municipal board of election canvassers that handle protests from losing candidates during the 2007 election.

Cris Palabay, coordinator of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption said the court’s effort in deciding the case for barely a year since the crime was committed was laudable.

Man gets life term for slay of LU exec

By Jerry Padilla

BAUANG, La Union – The Regional Trial Court here sentenced to life imprisonment without eligibility of parole a man accused of killing the municipal treasurer of this town on Aug. 6, 2007. Judge Ferdinand Fe of RTC Branch 67, in his 19-page decision, also ordered Rogelio Albay alias Rogelio Ordoña to pay the heirs of his victim, Felicidad Picar, of more than P4 million as indemnity.

“Judgment is hereby rendered finding the accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of murder qualified by treachery and is hereby sentenced to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua without eligibility of parole,” Fe said in his Sept. 8 decision which was promulgated Oct. 6.

Ordoña was identified by witnesses as the gunman who mercilessly shot Picar on her head with a Cal. 45 pistol in front of her house morning of Aug. 6, 2007 in Barangay Santiago, this town, while waiting for a ride that would bring her to her office at the municipal hall. Ordoña was tailed by witnesses as he left the crime scene and later arrested by tanods and policemen when he tried to hide in a forested area near the seashore.

“Thank God, justice has been done,” said Cristine Picar-Manipon, one of the late treasurer’s daughters, after the promulgation.

La Union Vice Gov. Martin De Guzman, who was Picar’s boss for nine years when he was mayor of Bauang from 1998 to 2007 said the court’s decision means justice has been served.

“This is a triumph, not only for the people of Bauang but for the whole province. We have seen that there is justice for crime victims and this is what we are really waiting for, that finally justice has been served for the family of Manang Fely (Picar),” De Guzman said, who visited Picar’s former office at the town hall after the promulgation.

Murder raps filed vs La Union trader, cop

By Jerry Padilla

LUNA, La Union – A businessman here involved in the trucking business, a policeman, and a companion were charged with murder after witnesses tagged them in the Aug. 30 killing of a relative of the mayor of Balaoan town.

Chief Insp. Eduardo Danguecan Jr., Luna police chief, identified the suspects as businessman Arturo Naanus Jr., PO3 Reynante Nayal and a certain Nanding Nobleza.

According to Danguecan, several people witnessed the killing of Alvin Francis Ordoño, a relative of Balaoan Mayor Al-Fred Concepcion and provincial board member Joaquin Ostrea Jr., at the Playa de Azucena Resort here and tagged the three suspects as the ones behind it.

Danguecan said Nayal is now detained at the provincial jail in San Fernando City, while Naanus and Nobleza are still at large.

Ordoño sustained a gunshot wound from a Cal. 45 pistol below the armpit.

Nayal, assigned in Sallapadan, Abra, denied any hand in the killing.

Witnesses alleged that Naanus was the triggerman assisted by Nobleza.

DENR exec cleared of graft charges

By Jerry Padilla

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – The Ilocos regional executive director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources who was accused by three personnel of graft and corruption, was cleared of wrongdoing by the six-man internal audit team from the DENR central office.

Constancio Arciaga, the DENR-Ilocos chief was recently the subject of a series of e-mail complaints sent to DENR Secretary Lito Atienza and the Office of the Ombudsman for the alleged biggest anomaly in DENR Region 1 – the alleged anomalous construction of a P23-million DENR building here.

“Based on contracts, documents and information gathered, Arciaga had no direct participation or involvement in the construction of the project. The team concurs with the findings of the Commission on Audit that the contract cost is considered reasonable,” said the internal audit report.

The audit team report was submitted to lawyer Mary Ann Lucille Sering, DENR Undersecretary for administration, finance and legal.

The online complaint against Arciaga was received by Director Wilbert Candelaria of the Office of the Ombudsman for Luzon sent by a certain Barbara Peñaflor bleived to be a pseudonym.

On Aug. 5, the real identity of the complainant was uncovered when the Ombudsman summoned three DENR personnel, Lourdes Calacal, Teofilo Naoe Jr. and Florence Alicias, to submit their sworn complaint-affidavits.

The three accused Arciaga of alleged violation of RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act which includes abuse of authority, grave misconduct, and gross dishonesty for allegedly pocketing millions of kickbacks from the anomalous construction.

“The allegations of a certain Barbara Peñaflor through e-mails as verified are unfounded, baseless and product of malicious intent to destroy the integrity and credibility of the DENR official,” the report stated.

Arciaga told local newsmen his conscience is clear and that the personnel accusing him merely want to discredit him in his new position which he assumed recently.

He said that he already consulted a lawyer for the filing of criminal and administrative charges against the three personnel who want to destroy his reputation.

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La Union bypass road to be done this month

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union -- The provincial Department of Public Works and Highways said Sept. 2 the 4.2- kilometer San Fernando Bypass Road Extension, which is expected to boost tourism in San Fernando and nearby areas, will be completed next month.

Engineer Elpidio Paragas, district engineer of the La Union 1st Engineering District Office, said the P130-million project is part of President Arroyo’s priority programs for Northern Luzon, which is being developed as a key growth center.

Paragas said the project was first proposed by La Union Gov. Manuel Ortega when he was still a member of the House of the Representatives and was subsequently included in the priority infrastructure projects of the DPWH.

The new road traverses Barangays Biday, Bancusay, Naguituban, Urbiztondo and Ili Sur in San Fernando City, which has recently seen an influx of tourism-related investments.

Paragas said the completion and opening of the San Fernando Bypass Extension Road will decongest traffic along the main highway and improve the infrastructure linkage between the city and the rest of the province, consequently promoting social and economic development in the immediate localities.

The project includes the construction of Bancusay Bridge, an 18-meter reinforced concrete deck girder span.

Paragas said the P130-million road will enhance the potentials of multi-billion investments in San Fernando such as the Thunderbird Resorts, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT)’s international landing station, and the ongoing Globe Telecom underground fiber optic cable installation along the Manila North Road. -- FSA

Gonzalez orders transfer of LU shabu lab case to DOJ

By Jerry Padilla

SAN FERNANDO, La Union – Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez ordered Tuesday the transfer of the case on the big shabu laboratory busted in Naguilian town, to Manila for preliminary investigation.

Chief Supt. Ramon Gatan, head of Task Force Bimmotobot, named after the remote village in Naguilian where the shabu lab was discovered, told the media Gonzalez’s order was relayed to fiscal Danilo Bumacod of the provincial prosecutor’s office here.

Gatan said the order came out without consultation with authorities concerned or with Bumacod, who was reportedly preparing a resolution for the release of arrest warrants against the suspects.

“The task force was not consulted if there was such a motion to transfer the case,” said Gatan. “We don’t know the reason. There’s no explanation in the order. The case was already up for resolution by Bumacod.”

Gatan, deputy regional police director for administration, said even Bumacod was not aware of the basis for the order, which stated three DOJ prosecutors would handle the preliminary investigation.

Gatan said Bumacod should be included in the panel of prosecutors because he was knowledgeable of the case.

“If the case would be transferred, it would again take a longer period of time for the prosecutors to study the case,” he said.

Gatan meanwhile confirmed two of the 55 policemen who were brought to Camp Crame in connection with the investigation into the shabu lab failed the lie detector test.

“There were five policemen who initially underwent the lie detector test and two of them failed it,” he said. He declined to identify the two policemen.

Gatan said the lie detector test was conducted to determine the credibility of the policemen and even Dante Palaganas, the arrested caretaker of the shabu lab.

2 PNP cols cry foul over reports linking them to trillion shabu lab

By Myds Supnad

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union -- Two senior superintendents who were relieved last week said reports in a national daily that their relief had something to do with the ongoing investigation of the multi-trillion shabu laboratory were wrong.

Superintendents Samuel Diciano and Franklyn Bucayu, former deputy regional director for operations and chief of directorial staff in Region 1, said their relief had nothing to do with the discovery of the shabu laboratory as printed in the newspaper saying it was part of the regular reshuffle being undertaken by the Philippine National Police hierarchy.

"Di totoo yang report. Parehong posisyon din ang ibinigay sa amin ng PNP sa aming bagong pinuntahan at hindi dahil sa shabu lab ang dahilan," said Diciano and Bucayu, recipients of various commendations and merits the previous years.

PNP chief Avelino Razon said last week in radio Bombo relief of various police officers was normal process in reshuffling policemen throughout the country and not in La Union alone due to the retirement of a number of senior top police officers.

Earlier, PNP authorities sacked a total of 52 policemen, 17 of whom are commissioned police officers, from their posts and are now subject of investigation.

Sr. Supt. Marvin Bolabola, regional chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Region 1, said all relieved 52 policemen including a PNP colonel, will be subjected to investigation to avoid whitewash and to show the public that the PNP hierarchy means business in their job to look into the protectors behind it and ferret out the truth into the discovery of the biggest shabu ever discovered in the country.

Tapped by Razon to help investigate the shabu lab, Bolabola said however the policemen will be given due process, saying their relief does not mean they are already guilty but this is to avoid whitewash on investigation of the laboratory. “Mababalik din sila kung napatunayan na wala silang kinalaman sa naturang shabu laboratory, pero mananagot ang mga may kinalaman,” said Bolabola.

Among those charged and investigated were Senior Supt. Dionisio Borromeo, chief of police of Dagupan City who became regional chief of the PNP mobile group in the region; two chiefs of municipal police in La Union and others mostly detailed with the Regional mobile group based in Camp Gen. Oscar Florendo, headquarters of the PNP in Region 1.

Some of the mistah in Philippine Military Academy of Col. Borromeo could not believe he was involved in the shabu laboratory. Six Chinese men were also charged.

The police’s action (in relieving the 52 policemen) came in the wake of revelation of Dante Palaganas, a caretaker of the said shabu lab who tagged Borromeo as one of the police protectors of the laboratory. Borromeo, however, denied the charges.

The shabu lab was earlier used as front for piggery until policemen from the province headed by Sr. Supt. Noli Talino discovered it in a surprised raid that shocked the entire police and community.

The Congressional Oversight Committee in Congress on Dangerous Drugs had inspected the alleged shabu laboratory the other day in line with House investigation being sought by Rep. Tomas Dumpit, Jr. whose district the laboratory was discovered.

No less than General Razon had ordered the creation of “Task Force Bimmutubot” to dig deeper into the shabu laboratory believing the case against those implicated are so strong to merit indictment in court.

La Union airport seen to boost north Luzon trade

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – The newly rehabilitated San Fernando Airport here is expected to boost trade and economy in northern Luzon after its inauguration last week, Mayor Pablo C. Ortega said.

Poro Point Management Corp., a subsidiary of the Bases Conversion Development Authority, started last year the upgrading and expansion of the airport after President Arroyo approved the allocation of at least P500 million for the project, which also calls for the installation of aeronautical equipment.

Philippine Airlines flights between San Fernando and Manila will be resumed with frequency of four times a week -- on Monday, Wednesday, Fridays and Sunday, Ortega said.

"Hopefully, it will attract tourists to come here as several Koreans have signified their intentions to open flights from their country to the San Fernando Airport."

He said there was possibility of connecting flights between Hong Kong and San Fernando.

He noted there were many overseas contract workers in Hongkong who are from Region I.
“This will provide convenience and the shorter time of travel for the OFWs, he said. "In just one hour, they are in La Union," the mayor said, referring to the time of plane travel between Hong Kong and San Fernando.

Meanwhile, PPMC president and chief executive officer Felix Racadio lauded the resumption of PAL flights here.

PAL will be using its Q300 and Q400 planes that can accommodate 56 and 74 passengers, respectively.

Racadio said that airport in La Union will enhance economic activities in La Union, particularly in the Poro Point freeport zone.

He said that PAL’s decision to include San Fernando in its expansion program is a big boost to the efforts of transforming the freeport zone into a world-class tourism and commercial hub.

Businessmen in La Union and neighboring provinces have long been anticipating PAL’s expansion program because it would cut time of travel to and from Manila.
Ortega said that airline companies can also operate connecting flights to the San Fernando airport.

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‘Lawin’ grounds GMA in La Union resort hotel
By Jerry Padilla

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – President Arroyo was forced to stay overnight Tuesday at the Thunderbird Resort Hotel in Poro Point here due to tropical depression “Lawin.” .

The President arrived around 1 a.m. four hours of travel by land from Laoag City where she presided over a meeting of the National Disaster Coordinating Council in connection with the damage left by typhoon “Karen.”

San Fernando City Vice Mayor Pancrasio Nisce, who represented Mayor Pablo Ortega who is on an official trip to the US said Ms Arroyo decided to stay overnight in La Union because of the bad weather caused by Lawin.

“She was supposed to travel by helicopter but the weather forbidded it so she decided to break her trip to Manila by taking a rest here in La Union,” Nisce said.

He said Ms Arroyo went to her room around 3 a.m. and resumed her trip to Manila after taking breakfast at 8:10 a.m. Wednesday.

One of the President’s concerns with regard to disaster, according to Nisce, was the conflicting and sometimes exaggerated reports on the actual number of affected persons and cost of damage.

“The President wants accurate reporting with regard to the number of affected persons and extent of damage, particularly on the part of NDCC and the Philippine National Red Cross,” he said.

Ms Arroyo was supposed to visit other typhoon-affected areas in Ilocos Norte on Wednesday but this was canceled due to bad weather.

Tropical depression Lawin, moving in a northwesterly direction, passed tip of Cagayan Wednesday night then to the South China Sea.

Robert Sawi, chief of the Pagasa weather forecasting section, said Lawin was earlier forecast to make landfall over Aurora but instead crossed coastal areas, Sawi said.

He said the ridge of high-pressure area located in Visayas and Mindanao prevented Lawin from intensifying but is expected to maintain its strength while it hovered over Cagayan.

52 cops relieved over P-trillion shabu case

By Mar T. Supnad

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union- A total of 52 policemen, 17 of whom are commissioned police officers, have been relieved of their posts in connection with the discovery of the multi-trillion shabu laboratory in Barangay Bimmutubot, Naguilian town last July 9, a police colonel from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group revealed yesterday.

This, as congressional oversight committee on dangerous drugs chaired by Ilocos Norte Rep. Roquito Ablan started the other day its investigation on the case.

Sr. Supt. Marvin Bolabola, CIDG regional chief in Region 1, who was tapped by Philippine National Police Director General Avelino Razon to help investigate the shabu laboratory, said the relief of the 52 policemen including a PNP colonel, is to show the public that the PNP hierarchy means business in their job to look into the protectors behind it and ferret out the truth on the discovery of the biggest shabu ever discovered in the country.

A veteran investigator trained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bolabola said, however, that the relief of the policemen does not mean they are already guilty but this is to avoid whitewash on investigation of the case. “Mababalik din sila kung napatunayan na wala silang kinalaman sa naturang shabu laboratory, pero mananagot ang mga may kinalaman.”

Among those relieved were Sr. Supt. Dionisio Borromeo, chief of police of Dagupan City who became regional chief of the PNP mobile group in the region; two chiefs of municipal police in La Union; and others mostly detailed with the regional mobile group based in Camp Gen. Oscar Florendo, headquarters of the PNP in Region 1.

A graduate of the Philippine Military Academy, Col. Borromeo and the other cops have been charged before the Prosecutor’s office here July 31. Six Chinese men were also charged.

The police’s action (in relieving the 52 policemen) came in the wake of revelation of Dante Palaganas, a caretaker of the said shabu lab who tagged Borromeo as one of the police protectors of the laboratory. Borromeo, however, denied the charges.

The shabu lab was earlier used as front for piggery until policemen from the province headed by Sr. Supt. Noli Talino discovered it in a surprised raid that shocked the entire police and community.

The Congressional Oversight Committee in Congress on Dangerous Drugs had inspected the alleged shabu laboratory Wednesday in line with House investigation being sought by Rep. Tomas Dumpit, Jr. whose district the laboratory was discovered.

Razon had ordered the creation of “Task Force Bimmutubot” to dig deeper into the shabu laboratory believing the case against those implicated are so strong to merit indictment in court.
Chemicals seized from the illegal facility in Barangay Bimmotobot could produce P27 million worth of shabu, not one trillion as earlier estimated, based on the actual computation of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago said this in an ambush interview, as his men barred reporters from covering the briefing at the Masigasig Center at Camp Florendo and even blocked a GMA-7 cameraman from getting footage of the meeting.

“Yung chemicals, if mixed, based on actual computation, could produce shabu worth only around P27 million,” Santiago said.

“It is not one trillion pesos worth that would be produced. The figure was bloated. Let’s go to the actual seizure and do not add other ingredients. There are no other ingredients like ephedrine,” he added, saying he was not aware the briefing was closed to the media.

Authorities seized at least six truckloads of chemicals and equipment, which are now stored at the warehouse of the PDEA regional office at Camp Diego Silang.

In the briefing were La Union Reps. Victor Ortega and Tomas Dumpit Jr., some local officials, and PDEA and police personnel.

Reporters were only allowed to enter the conference venue when Ablan requested for coverage, as Ortega and Dumpit shook hands. The two lawmakers recently figured in a “word war” over the shabu lab issue.

Santiago said an international syndicate could be behind the shabu lab.
“This is an international syndicate but the timing of the raid in Naguilian did not yield any foreign suspects unlike the operation in Real, Quezon. We’re trying to see the linkages,” he said.

40 more La Union cops relieved over shabu lab

By Jerry Padilla and Jennelyn Mondejar

SAN FERNANDO, La Union – Fifteen officers and 25 personnel of police units in La Union and the regional police command at Camp Florendo here were ordered relieved from their posts on August 12 following the probe on the huge shabu laboratory discovered in Naguilian town last July 9. Two of the relieved officers were municipal police chiefs and another was a unit head at Camp Diego Silang.

Director Edgardo Acuña, Philippine National Police chief of personnel and records management at Camp Crame, signed the Aug. 12 order relieving 40 police personnel and reassigning them to the holding unit at the PNP national headquarters.

A source said there was no reason indicated in the relief order but this was related to the investigation into the shabu lab. “Although they are not directly involved in the operation, investigators would like to dig deeper on what they possibly know about it.”

Most of the relieved police personnel were earlier assigned to the Regional Mobile Group formerly headed by Supt. Dionicio Borromeo, who was relieved as Dagupan City police chief after he was implicated in the shabu lab. Dante Palaganas, arrested caretaker of the shabu lab, tagged Borromeo as one of the protectors of the illegal drug operations in Barangay Bimmutubot, Naguilian town.

Last July 31, police filed a complaint against Borromeo with the provincial prosecutor’s office here, along with PO3 Joey Abang, PO2 Walter Banan, PO1 Rodolfo Damian, lot owner Eusebio Tangalin, and Joselito Artuz alias George Cordero, the shabu lab’s alleged financier from Marilao, Bulacan, and six Chinese men.

Palaganas and Andy Tangalin were earlier charged before the Bauang regional trial court.

The Congressional Oversight Committee on Dangerous Drugs chaired by Ilocos Norte Rep. Roquito Ablan was scheduled to inspect the shabu lab site at press time in line with the House investigation sought by Rep. Tomas Dumpit Jr., whose resolution got the support of first district Rep. Victor Ortega.

This, as the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group recommended the relief of four policemen, including a police colonel, linked to the operation of the busted shabu laboratory in La Union. The CIDG forwarded their recommendation last week to Philippine National Police chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. who has yet to act on it.

“We already submitted our initial recommendation to Gen. Razon. It is up to him to announce whether he’ll sustain our findings or not,” a CIDG official said.

Charged last week before the La Union provincial prosecutor’s office for violation of Section 8 in relation to Section 26 Article of R.A. 9165 were Borromeo, PO3 Joey Abang, PO2 Walter Banan, PO1 Rodolfo Damian, lot owner Eusebio Tangalin, shabu lab alleged financier Joselito Artuz, alias George Cordero and several John Does including six Chinese nationals led by a certain Jimmy.

They were charged based on the seven-page affidavit of the shabu lab caretaker Palaganas. Palaganas alleged that Borromeo ordered him to scout for an area where they intend to put up a piggery but it turned out later to be a shabu laboratory.

He said Cordero leased the area from Tangalin for P20,000 a month and the Chinese nationals cooked shabu in the said place four times since May last year.

Borromeo was relieved from his post earlier, apparently to prevent him from influencing the investigation of the case by Task Force Bimmotobot tasked by Razon to investigate the operation of the shabu lab in Naguillan. Those recommended for relief from Police Regional Office 1 were Abang, Banan and Damian.

CIDG director Chief Supt. Raul Castañeda said they took the statements of at least 20 policemen, including officers, suspected to have something to do with the shabu lab operations.

Castañeda said they gave Borromeo five days to submit his counter-affidavit on the case but the accused waived his right to do so saying he finds it necessary only to present his side in court.

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Korean student drowns at sea
By Jerry Padilla SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – A 26-year-old female Korean student of the Pines International Academy in Baguio City drowned while swimming along the beach of Barangay San Agustin here afternoon of Aug. 9. Supt. Rolando Bersola, city police director, identified the victim as Jung Chan Ik, 26.

Her companions who survived after they were rescued by local divers were identified as Yu Jin Park, 25, Kyung Ha Park, 24, and Hana Shin, 25.

Bersola said the victim was found floating at the vicinity of San Francisco coast by divers from the San Fernando Life Savers and the Philippine Navy, 30 minutes after they rescued her companions.

He said the victim, together with her companions, ignored the repeated warnings by beach resort personnel to refrain from swimming because the sea was rough due to bad weather condition.

Eufemia Ducusin, administrative officer of the Sea Park Beach Resort, where the Koreans were billeted, said they checked-in at about 1 p.m. that day and forewarned them against swimming because of the bad weather.

They were also warned by the resort’s security guard Edmundo Adobas but it did not stop them. Thirty minutes later, Adobas said he saw them waving for help meters away from the shore.


PAL resumes Poro,La Union flights
By Jerry Padilla

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – The Philippine Airlines resumed operation last week at the expanded Poro Point International Airport here while formal launching of its inaugural flight was held Friday. Josefa Catherine Bada, vice president for airport operation of the Poro Point Management Corp., told newsmen PAL will be flying from Manila to San Fernando, vise versa, every Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Bada said PAL will be using its Q300 and Q400 planes that can accommodate 56 and 74 passengers, respectively.

“We are now officially open since Aug. 7 but we will be holding the formal launching of domestic flight on Aug. 15,” Bada said

Lawyer Felix Racadio, PPMC president and chief executive officer, said the resumption of PAL flights will enhance economic activities in La Union particularly inside the Poro Point Freeport Zone.

“PAL’s decision to include San Fernando in its expansion program is a big boost to the ongoing efforts of transforming the Freeport Zone into a world-class tourism and commercial destination,” Racadio said.

PPMC initiated the airport’s upgrading and expansion early this year after President Arroyo approved the allocation of at least P500 million for the repair and construction of several facilities and installation of navigational equipment.

Racadio said businessmen in La Union and its neighboring provinces welcomed PAL’s expansion program because it will ease their travel time going to and from Manila.

“In no time, Poro Point and the rest of La Union will be more accessible to the domestic and foreign tourism markets,” he said.

He said that the airport’s runway and the upgrading of its facilities can now accommodate international flights using B-737 and A320 aircrafts.


La Union bypass road to ease traffic, boost trade
By Rodrigo V. Dela Pena Jr.

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – With La Union identified as a key growth center in Northern Luzon by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the Department of Public Works and Highways will soon be unveiling the San Fernando Bypass Road Extension, a project designed to ease the flow of traffic along the city's National Highway.

Proposed by Gov. Manoling Ortega when he was still a congressman and now being completed under the current term of Rep. Victor Ortega, the two-lane concrete road will run 4.2 kilometers, parallel to the national highway, and will connect the existing San Fernando Bypass Road and Manila North Road at Barangay Ili Sur, San Juan, La Union.

Costing around P130-million, the project is scheduled to be completed by year 2009.

According to Elpidio C. Paragas, District Engineer of DPWH – La Union 1st Engineering Office, the road project will decongest traffic from the main highway and improve the infrastructure linkage within the city and the province, consequently promoting social and economic development of the locality.
The new road traverses various barangays, including Biday, Bancusay, Naguituban, Urbiztondo and Ili Sur.

The project also incorporates the construction of the Bancusay Bridge, an 18 lineal meter reinforced concrete deck girder bridge, which is scheduled to be completed by October 2008.

Spurred by multi-billion-peso investments such as the Thunderbird Resorts, Philippines Long Distance Co.'s international cable landing station and the on-going Globe Telecom's underground Fiber Optic Cable installation along the Manila North Road and San Fernando Bypass Road, La Union's economy has seen rapid growth.

This is especially evident in San Fernando City, as it recently garnered the award for being the Most Competitive Small-Sized City nationwide, despite the global economic slowdown.

The presence of numerous, well-known beach resorts and recreational facilities within the province make the area a popular destination among local and international tourists.

"With the San Fernando Bypass Road Extension, motorists can travel in a safe and convenient manner, ensuring satisfaction among our stakeholders, through our thriving city and province," said Paragas.

Man kills girl, eats her liver and heart

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.

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Lawyer barred from handling shabu case

BAUANG, La Union – A woman lawyer claiming to be the lawyer of Dante Palaganas, the detained shabu laboratory caretaker, was barred from handling the high profile case during his arraignment last week at the Regional Trial Court, Branch 33 here.

Lawyer Aida Dizon said she was asked by an alleged common-law wife of Palaganas to help in the case but was not allowed to represent her client because there were other lawyers who appeared to handle Palaganas’ case.

“We will no more represent them (Palaganas and co-accused Andy Tangalin). We have lost our personality (to represent them in court) because they already have other lawyers,” Dizon said explaining she came from Manila and was working as an individual lawyer without law firm connections.

Lawyers of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines – La Union chapter were sought by the Catholic Church, in coordination with Task Force Bimmutubot, to help Palaganas in the case.

“I was expecting that I would be his counsel but somebody entered his appearance (in the court),” Dizon said, saying Palaganas snubbed her inside the courtroom. Dizon said she went last week to the La Union provincial jail to talk to Palaganas but was prevented from entering because there were ongoing investigations by policemen. J

udge Rose Marie Alim deferred the arraignment on Aug. 4 due to the filing of an amended complaint based on Palaganas’ supplemental affidavit. Intelligence agents suspected that the woman lawyer was probably sent, not by Palaganas’ common-law wife, but by somebody to work on the case.

“There maybe effort (from the other suspects) to get the sympathy of Palaganas by providing him legal assistance,” a source said.

If not barred, Dizon said she was supposed to file a motion for dismissal of the case because there was allegedly no probable cause on the evidences based on her evaluation.

“It’s good enough I was able to get the entire record of the case. Based on my evaluation, I concluded that there is no probable cause,” Dizon said saying that she filed on Aug. 1 a “motion for determination of probable cause and to hold arraignment in abeyance.”

Aside from Palaganas and Tangalin, other respondents of the case were former Dagupan police chief superintendent Dionicio Borromeo, Police Officer 3 Joey Abang, Police Officer 2 Walter Banan, Police Officer 1 Rodolfo Damian, lot owner Eusebio Tangalin, and Joselito Artuz alias George Cordero, a resident of Marilao, Bulacan who allegedly served as financer of the drug laboratory.

Also charged were several John Does who include at least six Chinese men headed by a certain Jimmy. Palaganas alleged that Borromeo ordered him to scout for an area where he is allegedly going to build a piggery but it turned out to be a drug laboratory.

He said Cordero leased the area where the Chinese manufactured shabu four times since May last year. He said that the policemen allegedly ignored his plea when he informed them about the matter. Authorities raided the laboratory on July 9 yielding six truckloads of chemicals which can produce a trillion peso-worth of shabu.


2 missing La Union fishers rescued
By Freddie Lazaro

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — The two fishers, who were reported missing last Aug. 3 after they went fishing in the sea off Agoo, La Union were rescued by residents near the shore of Barangay Paringao, Bauang, La Union on Aug. 6. Office of the Civil Defense in Ilocos Region regional director Eugene Cabrera bared this identifying the rescued fishers as Virgilio Abarra Angan Angan, 31, and Ana Doming Soriano Gutieres, 22, both residents of Balwarte, Agoo.

"The two were rescued at about 11 a.m. last Wednesday August 6," Cabrera said.

He said search-and-rescue operations for three other missing fishermen of Barangay Paratong, Bangar, La Union continues.

"The Philippine Navy and the Coast Guard units, both based in Poro Point, this city, have dispatched their diesel fast craft in the China Sea for the search and rescue operations of the other three missing fishermen," Cabrera said.


Opena is La Union new PDEA chief

CAMP DIEGO SILANG, La Union – Senior Supt. Roberto S. Opena was designated Ilocos regional police director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office 1 on Aug. 6, in turnover rites here.

The event was witnessed by the heads of law enforcement units of Region 1 including PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago who highlighted achievements of outgoing regional director Supt. Jan Andres Aunzo who served the regional office for more than two years.

Aunzo was reassigned to the PDEA national headquarters made effective by the agency orders dated July 25 which also stated Opeňa as her replacement. Opena traces his roots in Balanga, Bataan, but grew up in Baguio City where he graduated a criminology course.

On 2003, he finished his Masters in Business Administration at Wesleyan University, Philippines. Formerly a technical assistant of Task Force Garuda of PDEA, he worked on numerous government and private institutions as an intelligence officer and held key military positions covering a broad range of field command and staff assignments. He is also a recipient of numerous awards and decorations. -- Bismarck L. Bengwayan