MORE NEWS, PAMPANGA

8 nabbed as CIDG 3 starts major sweep of region’s wanted persons
BY MAR T. SUPNADC

AMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Luzon has invigorated a Philippine National Police campaign to arrest wanted persons.

This developed as Senior Supt. Supt. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar, chief of the CIDG in Central Luzon, said the region’s implementation of "Oplan Pagtutugis" scored a major breakthrough in the campaign against wanted persons with the arrest of eight notorious criminals in its area of responsibility.

"Oplan Pagtutugis," a national PNP operation, had started under the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

It is intended to improve the arrest rate of the PNP in its current anti-crime drive and provide a significant a reduction in the backlog of unserved arrest warrants.
Under the PNP campaign, all police stations nationwide have been directed through provincial police offices to submit monthly reports on arrests of wanted persons and they are also expected to initially bring down respective backlogs of archived cases by at least 20 percent.

Eleazar said three of the arrested persons were in Tarlac, three were in Nueva Ecija, one in Bataan, and one in Zambales.

Arrested by Supt. Benjamin Villasis of the CIDG in Nueva Ecija was Cpl. Oscar Quinones, for murder.

His arrest warrant was issued by Judge Alipio Yumul of the regional Trial Court Branch 66 in Capas, Tarlac.

Also arrested were Rolando Jimenez, 46 of Latore, Talavera, for the crime of estafa; Reynaldo Longalong of Dimasalang, Cabanatuan City and Rosales Joven, 35 of Valdfuente, Cabanatuan City, also for estafa, whose warrants were issued by the RTC Branch 25.


Cops pose as sex customers; rescue 9 minors in raids
CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga- The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, often posing as customers for sex, recently rescued nine minors from various prostitution dens in the region.

Sr. Supt. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar who ordered the raids said the rescue operations were in line with "Oplan Sagip Anghel."

One of the minors rescued in a sex den in Barangay Tiwala, Balagtas town, by the Bulacan CIDG led by Supt. Richie Posadas, CIDG chief in Bulacan, was 16-year-old Roseann, a native of Bangkal, Malolos City.

She was employed as guest relations officer at the Trust videoke bar.
The owners of the bar identified only as Francis and Beth Julia were not present during the raid and are now being hunted by the CIDG.

Roseann was later turned over to the Dept. of Social Welfare and Development for proper disposition.

In a separate operation, the CIDG team led by Senior Insp. Ricky P. Neron reported that one Jessa, 16 of Samar, Leyte , was also rescued when they raided a number of bars along the DRT highway in Pagala, Baliwag.

The operator of the bar identified as Nerissa Palyvos was also not around during the raid.

Eleazar said that charges of violation of R.A. 7160 and R.A. 9231 are being prepared against the bar owners.

In Concepcion, Tarlac, Eleazar reported they also arrested one Romeo Esguerra, 30, who allegedly raped his own daughter, a 12-year-old pupil.

Eleazar said that a separate raid was also conducted in Peace Jazz videoke bar located along Cagayan Valley road in Sto. Cristo, Pulila, Bulacan, resulting to the rescue of one Janeth, 18, of Saluyoy, Meycauayan.

She was caught nude as she was about to have "sex" with a CIDG poseur customer.

Aside from Janeth, five other GROs were also rescued in the same operation. They pointed to one Susana David as owner of the bar but was not around during the raid.

Prior to the raid, Posadas told Eleazar that some clubs and restaurants were also engaged in pornography and prostitution along the area.

Cases of violation of R.A 9208 (Anti-trafficking of Persons Act of 2003) was filed against the suspected maintainers.


Panlilio wants to reconcile with Pampanga mayors
BY GEORGE TRILLO

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Gov. Eddie Panlilio’s Provincial Development Council will continue to map out its Pampanga Annual Development and Investment Plan for 2008 despite prospects of another snub from the Pampanga Mayors League, Members of the PDC executive committee, except Minalin town mayor Edgardo Flores who represented the PNL, met last Nov. 9 and approved in principle the use of some 20 percent – or about P181 million – of the provincial development fund for next year’s ADIP.

Before the Nov. 9 meeting, PML president Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda wrote the executive committee that Flores would not be able to attend.

Pineda is the son of former provincial board member Lilia Pineda who lost to Panlilio in the last gubernatorial polls and has since filed an electoral protest against him.

Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao earlier accused Panlilio of “alienating” himself not only from the provincial board, but also from the mayors.

Panlilio has been at odds with Guiao, the provincial board and some mayors over lahar quarrying operations in the province, among other issues.

But Panlilio told the media he is keeping his doors open to reconciliation with the provincial board and the mayors, saying it is Guiao who refuses to do so.

The PDC is composed of the mayors of this capital city and 20 towns, the congressmen of Pampanga’s four districts, the chairman of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s committee on appropriations, and 13 sectoral representatives.

Panlilio’s information office said next year’s ADIP would focus on the “upgrading, improvement, rehabilitation and construction of important provincial roads traversing various municipalities, as well as the construction of essential provincial structures, such as the Legislative Hall, the Environment and Natural Resources building, and an infirmary.”

PDC will convene again on Nov. 23 “to crystallize the target projects and benefits under ADIP 2008,” the provincial information office said.

It noted that the PDC convened for the first time in 12 years on the very first month of the Panlilio administration.

“This is part of his campaign promise. The PDC’s main task is to set the tone and direction of the progress of Pampanga through various projects to be implemented throughout the province,” said information officer Rommel de Jesus.

“It also sets the process and the setting by which the governor can consult and involve various stakeholders of the province, including the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, local executives and non-government organization representatives,” he added.

The PDC has identified more than 68 priority projects focusing on the upgrading, improvement, rehabilitation and construction of municipal and barangay roads.

“These projects have already been scheduled for bidding and work will commence before the year ends,” De Jesus said.