POLICE ROUNDUP

 Seven arrested in buy-bust operations

BAGUIO CITY -- The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Cordillera said drug use in this  summer capital   is still minimal even if agency agents recently arrested seven drug pushers in buy-bust operations.

Regional PDEA director Ernesto Lee Marzo said compared to other cities in the country, the illegal drug problem in the city is minimal.

He identified  nine drug-affected barangays in the city namely  Irisan, Fairview, Padre Zamora, Bakakeng Central, New Lucban, Leonila Hill, Slaughter House Area, Upper Magsaysay and Camp 8.

A barangay is said to be drug-affected when there is existence of drug users, pushers, manufacturers, marijuana cultivators or other drug personalities regardless of number in the area,” Marzo said.

Marzo noted that the most abused drugs were  shabu and marijuana while emerging drug users  included night spot workers like guests relations officers (GROs), taxi,/bus/truck drivers, students and call center workers.

He said a  highly urbanized city like Baguio is  still the most viable place for drug pushers because of the presence of tourists, both foreign and local,  and that most of the targeted personalities are in the city.

He likewise reported that from January to March 2013, PDEA conducted six buy bust operations, wherein five persons were caught in the act.

Other anti-drug operations conducted in  the city by PDEA in coordination with   other  law enforcement units were arrest of a drug personality in Bakakeng Central Feb.15 and  arrest of another at  Bakakeng Norte.

Marzo likewise bared  from January to March 20, 2013, there was a total of 15 drug cases filed, and out of the 15 drug cases, six illegal drug cases were filed. -- Maria Aprila Cruz

Seven wanted persons nabbed in Cordillera 

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet – Seven wanted persons were arrested in Abra, Benguet, Mountain Province, and Kalinga in two consecutive days on the strength of warrants of arrest issued by different courts.

Ernie Vicente Daniel alias Zander Daniel, 30,  of Tawang, Ambuclao, Bokod, Benguet and resident of Pines Park, La Trinidad, also in the province was arrested along Ferguson, Guisad Road, Baguio City for two counts of rape with no bail recommended.

In Bakun, Benguet, Ferdinand DacaoCamilo, 23, of Purok 12, Irisan, Baguio City was also arrested in his residence for serious physical injuries.

Five other wanted persons were also arrested in the region.

In Benguet, ApolonioEbbes Somalia, 69, farmer, of Peday, Banengbeng, Sablan, Benguet was  arrested in his residence for rape.

Jovelyn Dusca Galletes, 32, of Camp 6, Tuba, Benguet was also nabbed for grave oral defamation. She later posted bail for her temporary liberty.

In Barangay Lanna,Tabuk Kalinga,a farmer identified as Jeremy Ayom Alfonso, 20,  was arrested by police in his residence for theft, serious physical injuries and malicious mischief.

Two wanted persons were also arrested in Isabela and Abra by Mountain Province and Abra police.

Danilo Thomas Agabao, 45, of Anonat, Paracelis, Mountain Province was arrested in Battal, Santiago City, Isabela for murder.

Elbirio Laureta Gavanes, 40, who used to be the barangay treasurer of Presentar, Lagangilang, Abra was arrested in his residence at  Gen. Terrero, Bangar, La Union for malversation of public funds.

All arrested persons were brought to concerned police stations prior to their turnover courts that issued their warrants of arrest.

Boy, 7, toys with pa’s gun, hits cousin, 8

BAGGAO, Cagayan -- The father of a seven-year-old boy is facing charges of illegal possession of firearms as his son toyed with his .22-caliber revolver and shot and wounded his eight-year-old cousin here, police said.

The boy was playing with his cousin and other friends in his house when he brought out his father’s unlicensed revolver.

He accidentally pulled the trigger, hitting his cousin in the chest.

The victim is still under observation at the Cagayan Valley Medical Center here.

P.85M marijuana seized

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet – Police and anti-narcotics agents seized 34 bricks  of dried marijuana valued at P850 during recent operations.

On April 6, Kapangan, Benguet police confiscated four kilos of marijuana bricks along SitioSalakop, Balakbak in the town.

The contraband was valued at P100, 000.

On Monday night, marijuana leaves were also taken by police under a sayote plantation at SitioPagal, Shilan, La Trinidad, Benguet by La Trinidad police, provincial intelligence branch, and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Cordillera.

A concerned citizen tipped police about the marijuana about the abandoned five sacks of dried marijuana leaves around 30 kg and valued at  P750, 000.

33 kg marijuana seized from vegetable porters  

BAGUIO CITY – Thirty three kilos of marijuana valued at P3,926,000.00 were seized in Baguio City and Benguet where two dealers got busted by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Cordillera.

Arrested were Jimmy M. Ibay, 50, of Cogcoga, Km. 3, La Trinidad, Benguet and Renan G. Laxamana, 28, of km 5, Pico, La Trinidad.

Both suspects, both natives of Floridablanca, Pampanga, were arrested at Happy Homes, Baguio City around 2 p.m. Thursday.

Ibay and Laxamana work as vegetable porters at the La Trinidad vegetable trading post as front to hide their their illicit drug dealings, said Emely Fama, regional PDEA information officer.

The two reportedly sold to a PDEA undercover agent four, thin blocks of marijuana weighing aggregately 3.20 kilos worth P176,000 and placed in a backpack.

American arrested for child porno

DAGUPAN CITY -- Joint police and United States authorities arrested here a 46-year-old American who has long been wanted in his home country for a string of criminal charges in connection with alleged possession of images relating to child pornography, in a follow-up operation last week.

Senior Supt. Harris Fama, chief of the Detection and Special Operation Division of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, said Brian Thomas Stickney was arrested Monday at his apartment here in Barangay Tebeng.

“Stickney has a US warrant of arrest charged for 14 count of possession of child sex images, which have a US court penalty of 40 years per count,” said Fama. – Bismarck L. Bengwayan

6 nabbed in La Union for illegal drugs  

BALAOAN, La Union –Provincial Police Office and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office 1 agents arrested two men for selling 30 kilos of high grade valued at P750, 500 last week. This brought to six number of suspects arrested of illegal drugs in the province this month.

Identified as SigundoCogaid and Michael Olario, the tandem was convinced to sell the illegal hemp to an agent who posed as a rich buyer.

Both parties agreed to meet here at Barangay Masupe, where the exchange would take place but unknown to the suspects, police and PDEA agents have already cordoned the area.

Both suspects were immediately cuffed as they  received the money and dropped the boxed drugs signaling surrounding anti-narcotics agents to move-in preventing their escape.

Authorities said they were concerned that several La Union residents were reverting back to selling illegal hemp.

“They think that they can make easy money by engaging into this kind of business, we are here to stop them,” said PDEA RO1 regional director Jeoffrey C. Tacio.

He said four men in their early 20’s were arrested in a month selling the same grade of marijuana and admitting the same source.

Suspects will be facing life time imprisonment with a fine of P500,000 to P10 million if found guilty under Sections 5 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

5 dead, 2 rescued in river mishap

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – Heavy rains poured as their banca sailed across the Pampanga River in San Luis town Wednesday morning.

And the unexpected happened: the banca capsized, leaving five people, three of them minors, dead and two others rescued.

Hours of search later yielded the bodies of Alvin Guevarra, 30; his children Aldrey, 9, and Jovelyn, 8; and his sister Rhea, 33; and Nigel Lucero, 9, a relative.

Their companions, Lienard Sieza, 14, and Michael Galaredo, 34, survived by hanging on to water lilies until a fisherman rescued them, according to Senior Supt. R’Win Pagkalinawan, provincial police director.

The victims were all residents of Baesa, Quezon City and were just vacationing with their relatives in San Luis. They were reportedly crossing the river for a picnic on a sandy portion on the other side when tragedy befell them. – RicSapnu, Ding Cervantes

4 men in prison for illegal drugs

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet  – Four male persons including a minor were arrested after illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia’s were found in their possession in front of the Greenfields Videoke Bar along the Provincial Road in San Juan,Tabuk City, Kalinga Monday night.

Chief Supt. Benjamin B. Magalong, regional police director, identified the alleged drug couriers who in their possession shabu in different quantity: JaevenPuyaoDagadag, 25; William PalattaoAmoyen, 26; Baylon  Ordonio Garcia, 24 and a minor.

Cases for illegal drugs were prepared against the suspects, all residents of Tabuk City, Kalinga. Confiscated pieces of evidence were submitted to the provincial crime laboratory for examination.

Magalong said the continued apprehension of drug pushers should serve as a stern warning to the other persons involved in illegal drugs that the PNP will not cease on its relentless campaign to rid Cordillera of this menace.

Cops nab 3 stabbing suspects in La Trinidad

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet –The quick response of La Trinidad town police resulted in the arrest of three vegetable porters near the Farm Station, Swamp here in Barangay Puguis for stabbing a college student at around 8 p.m. on April 2.

Chief Insp. Byron Allatog, chief of the La Trinidad municipal police station, identified the stab victim as ZaldyAyanAplas, 22 of Balili, La Trinidad, while the suspects were identified as Roland Oreondo  Ferrer, 19, also residing at Balili; JumarieAparri, Isnoci, 18, also of Puguis  and one identified as “Mabo.”

Based on initial police investigation, the victim and the suspects were playing billiards when a misunderstanding ensued between them but they were pacified.

The victim went out of the billiard hall and while waiting for a taxi, the suspects followed him and hit his head with an empty bottle.

Zaldy tried to run but “Mabo” stabbed his abdomen with a knife.

The suspects were immediately arrested by responding police while Zaldy was rushed to the Pines Doctor Hospital for treatment.

Suspects are now under the custody of La Trinidad Police Station while appropriate criminal cases are being prepared for filing against them.   Further investigation was also being conducted to determine the identity of “Mabo.”