POLICE ROUNDUP

P16.5M worth of marijuana burned

KIBUNGAN, Benguet – Lawmen raided a 2,350-square meter marijuana plantation in three remote villages here in Barangay Badeo and burned at least P16.5 million worth of the illegal plant on Jan. 27.

At least 8,100 pieces of fully grown marijuana plants, 4,000 seedlings, 117 kilograms of marijuana stalks, two kilos of dried leaves, and five kilos of seeds were set on fire the other day, said Cordillera police director Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong.

Operatives of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Cordillera Administrative Region and Kapangan police discovered the marijuana plants and seedlings from January 24 to January 26.

The burned marijuana plants in the 13 cultivation sites have an estimated value of over P4 million.

Magalong said they would sustain operations against marijuana plantations especially with the approaching harvest season this summer.

He added said the plantation was tipped off to them. However, no cultivator was cornered in the operation.

Magalong said police operations to reduce supply and lessen dependence of people in the cultivation of the illegal hemp as their main source of livelihood and make a paradigm shift in their way of life.

The Cordilleras still remains to be the biggest producer of marijuana in the entire country accounting to at least 85 percent of the illegal marijuana supply.

Newly installed Benguet police director, Senior Supt. Rodolfo Azurin Jr.’s said his priority program is “to rid Benguet with its identity as the marijuana producer and earn the respect of cultivators not to cultivate the illegal hemp that pose a serious threat to the lives of people."


Pangasinan policeman shoots self over problems
DAGUPAN CITY – A policeman was reported to have committed suicide by shooting himself near a beach in BonuanTondaligan in this city.

Initial investigation showed the body of PO2 Ariel Frianeza, 32, a resident of Barangay Malabago in Mangaldan town, was found by two beachgoers.

A report by Supt. Christopher Abrahano, Mangaldan police chief, said the victim was last seen drinking and crying over personal problems.

Frianeza was pronounced dead on arrival at the Decena Hospital in BonuanGueset.

Wanted persons nabbed in Banaue
BANAUE, Ifugao – Three persons wanted for attempted rape, serious physical injuries and malicious mischief were arrested in this tourist town last week for various offenses.

Provincial police director Senior Supt. Angelito A. Casimiro bared this saying Banaue police chief Senior Supt. Orlando Bakisan and his men, arrested Javier G. Addangna, 39 of Barangay Ducligan for attempted rape.

This, following a warrant issued by Jesse HarisNamuje, presiding judge of 3rd municipal circuit trial court of Alfonso Lista, Ifugao for his arrest.

Namuje recommended bail of P10,000.

Another wanted person was nabbed by same police at People Lodge and Restaurant here Jan. 29.

Arrested for serious physical injuries was Anthony M. Catteg, 25 of Pugo, Amganad, Banaue.

Judge Frederic T. Cabbigat of 1st MCTC, Banaue, who issued warrant for his arrest set bail at P10,000.

Also on Jan. 29, at Poblacion , same police nabbed Nestor K. Ballawig, 39 of View Point for malicious mischief.

Judge Cabbigat who issued the arrest warrant also set bail at P10,000.


Firearms seized from NIA-Isabela
CAUAYAN CITY, Isabela – About a dozen assorted shotguns, including five .38 caliber revolvers, were seized from the National Irrigation Administration office here Jan. 25.

The seizure was part of the police’s “OplanKatok” or the drive against loose firearms, said operations head Chief Inspector Rico Cagurangan.

Cagurangan said Nilo Villanueva, NIA general services officer, who turned over the firearms, admitted that he failed to renew the licenses of the guns in his custody.

Senior Supt. Franklin Mabanag, Isabela police director, said they are also following up the status of 390 shotguns assigned to village chairmen during the administration of former governors Faustino Dy Jr. and Grace Padaca.

Ilocos ‘top’ drug pusher arrested in buy bust
NAGUILLAN, La Union -- One of Ilocos region’s notorious drug pushers was nabbed by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency here .

Bryan Tilles, 25, a resident of Barangay Lioac, was caught in a buy-bust operation on Jan. 24 selling four sachets of shabu to a disguised government agent.

Various drug paraphernalia and the two P500 marked bills used during the transaction were also seized from the suspect.

Tilles, according to the PDEA, was under tight surveillance for some time because of his involvement in the proliferation of shabu in Naguilian and Bauang towns.

Meanwhile in Pangasinan, two suspected pushers-- Roberto Dela Cruz and Isidro Caita -- were arrested by agents of PDEA Pangasinan’s Special Enforcement Team after they sold four sachets of shabu weighing abto 17.2 grams to a poseur-buyer along Palaris Street, Poblacion, San Carlos City in Pangasinan on January 22.

The duo including Tilles are now facing violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), Article II, of Republic Act 9165, or the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

An additional charge for violation of possessing drug paraphernalia (Section 12) was also filed against Tilles.


Ex-NE mayor wanted for 7 years nabbed in QC hospital
By Liam Anacleto

GAPAN, Nueva Ecija - A former mayor of this town, wanted for a multiple murder case for seven years, was arrested Thursday while having dialysis treatment in a hospital in Quezon City.

Joint elements of the Intelligence Group of the Philippine National Police and Quezon City police arrested former Gapan mayor Ernesto Natividad at the Urology Center of the Philippines Institute.

Police said Natividad had a bounty of P1 million.

Natividad was tagged in the 2006 killing of brothers Ericson and EbertsonPascual.

He had been in hiding ever since but relatives of the victims and police persisted in efforts to locate him.

Last Thursday, the long arm of the law caught up with the former mayor who may spend the rest of his life in jail despite his serious ailment.


151 nabbed for illegal drugs in Cordillera
BAGUIO CITY -- A total of 151 drug law violators were arrested in the Cordillera Region last year to date for illegal drugs with P1,099,860.00 shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride seized in operations.

A Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency press statement said 111 of the arrested drug personalities were pushers.

Latest to be arrested was a 47-year old man who allegedly worked as talipapa vendor, cockfighting bet collector and shabu pusher who was arrested in a buy-bust operation around 4 p.m. Jan. 22 here at North Santo Tomas Road corner Nevada Road, Santo Rosario.

Police identified the arrested man as Jun R. Ilarde alias “Buwang” of No. 27 Upper Quezon Hill and native of Occidental Mindoro.

Ilarde reportedly sold about .09 grams of shabu worth P2,000 to an agent of the government agency who acted as buyer.

Charges for illegal drugs will be filed againtIlarded, the PDEA said.