MORE NEWS, BENGUET

Kayapa assessor cleared of involvement in loggingcontroversy in Bokod

BOKOD, Benguet – In a turnaround, two persons respectively produced separate affidavits and cleared the municipal assessor of Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya of any participation in illegal logging in Bobok, Bokod.

In their affidavits, Carlos Sinakay of Kayapa and Ruben Ventura of Bobok refuted an article, except their identities.

Sinakay who was mentioned in the article as an employee of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples denied having implicated Jerome Velasco in his activities, saying in his affidavit that he never mentioned the name of the assessor.

For his part, Ventura denied having affirmed the statements of Sinakay, but both admitted to having knowledge of two make-shift shacks.

It was mentioned in the previous article that allegedly, illegal lumbers were stashed in the makeshift shacks.

Ventura said in his affidavit that he “did not see any lumber inside or outside the makeshift shacks,” while Sinakay denied having stashed any illegally cut pine lumber.

The latter further said in his affidavit that he was in the area “busy planting coffee seedlings” contrary to the article statement which said, he was loading sand from the stockpile of the Satrap Construction.

Sinakay and Ventura in their affidavits both dated Jan. 11 and subscribed by Kayapa Mayor John Dipas Balasya said they voluntarily executed the documents.

Ventura further stated he was not “coerced, intimidated, threatened nor promised any reward” into executing his affidavit.

Attached to the affidavits were inspection reports submitted to the Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer by investigation teams composed of forest rangers and policemen in Bokod.

All of the inspection reports of the team mentioned about the two shanties that were padlocked but did not find any lumber.

The same reports also recommended that checkpoints be established and additional forest rangers be assigned in the area.


Three rape suspects with money rewards nabbed

CAMP DANGWA, Benguet -- Three persons each with a P90,000 bounty for their arrest were nabbed in the region last week for rape, police said.

In Itogon, Benguet, personnel of the town and regional intelligence operatives nabbed on Jan. 27 one Ricky Lamagan y Bulicio, 24, single, farmer, private miner and resident of Lolita, Ampucao, Itogon in the town.

An arrest warrant for rape against Lamagan was issued by Judge Francis Buliyat of first Judicial Region, Family Court of Benguet Province with no bail recommended.

In La Trinidad, Benguet a certain Arthur Camelo y Ngiao, 19 of Buguias, Benguet was arrested by police on Jan. 27 in the town for rape.

On Jan. 28 at Cabanao, Balili also in La Trinidad, police nabbed a certain Ramon Lid-ayan y Aliba, 44, married and a resident of the above mentioned place. His arrest was made on the strength of a warrant of arrest for rape issued by Judge Francis Buliyat of the regional trial court.

In Asipulo, Ifugao, a 14 year old Grade 4 pupil at Panubtuban Elementary School, a resident of Nuntiguing, Panubtuban in the town allegedly raped a four-year-old Day Care pupil and a seven- year- old Grade 1 pupil of the same school.

Investigation disclosed sometime in December 2007, the suspect raped his seven-year-old victim old victim while she was walking along their coffee plantation.

On Jan. 6, he allegedly raped his four-year-old victim while she was picking coffee at their plantation.

In another separate occasion, he again raped his seven-year-old old victim on Jan. 27 while she was on her way to a coffee plantation at an irrigation canal.


Skeletal remains of senile elder found after 3 years

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Police found here in a ravine last week the remains of a seventy-year-old widow who had been missing for three years.

Police identified the missing person as Magdalena Yadyadan Wag-iyen, 70 of km 6, Betag La Trinidad, Benguet whose bones were found at Barangay Shilan around 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 28.

The skeletal remains were found by an eight year old boy who was gathering firewood at the place.

A certain Kagawad Carbonel guided the team to the location where the remains were found at a 75 meter deep ravine.

Her relatives have reportedly confirmed it was the elderly’s body after her clothing, key and key chain were identified as that of her by her daughter Judith Wag-iyen Angnen, a resident of the same address.

Wagiyen’s relatives told police she was senile when they reported here missing since Oct. 26, 2005 to La Trinidad MPS.

The remains were turned over to the family and brought home to their residence.