POLICE ROUNDUP

P260-M marijuana destroyed in Benguet

Some P260 million worth of marijuana plants were destroyed as joint operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Philippine National Police and Philippine Air Force  recently raided more than 50 cannabis plantations in at least two small towns in Benguet, Province.

In a report submitted to NBI Director Nonnatus Caesar Rojas April 24, NBI – Cordillera Administrative Region special investigator Gerard Butale said Operation Cliffhanger 2 resulted in the destruction of 2.56 hectares of fully grown marijuana plants in 51 plantation sites located at the municipalities of Kibungan and Bakun, Benguet province.

The approximate market value of the destroyed marijuana plants was around P260, 972,800, according to Butale. The report showed that Operation Cliffhanger 2 was carried out from April 14 to 20.

“We would like to inform you that the NBI-CAR had been conducting operations for the eradication of marijuana plantations in the municipalities of Bakun and Kibungan, province at the tri-boundaries of the provinces of Benguet, La Union and Ilocos Sur,” Butale said in his report.

So far, Butale said law enforcers destroyed a total of P309,522,100 in the past four months of 2013.

Before Operation Cliffhanger, the NBI conducted Operations Golden Green Sky Emerald Mountain on Jan. 28 to 31 wherein more than P40 million worth of marijuana plants, were uprooted and destroyed from 70 hidden plantations in the far-flung barangays of Ilocos Sur and Benguet provinces, which authorities claimed to be the source of the contraband sold in Metro Manila and four other provinces,

3 hurt as truck flips in Baguio

BAGUIO CITY -  Three passengers of an empty Isuzu elf truck were rushed to the hospital Wednesday afternoon for various injuries after their vehicle turned turtle along the Baguio circumferential road in Suello Village.

Police said the driver of the truck with plate number TCL 973, 18-year-old Sherwin Pilyo, failed to maneuver correctly the vehicle because of heavy fog in the area.

The mishap happened at around 5:30 p.m. after a heavy rainfall over Baguio City.

The truck hit a high portion causing it to turn upside down.

Pilyo suffered left frontal abrasion, left shoulder abrasion, left hip abrasion and left periorbital abrasion, said Rafael Valencia of the 911-on-call rescue group.

Jazel Tubaan, 15, also suffered various injuries while Randy del Rosario suffered bruises at right and left hand, left feet, left elbow and showed difficulty of breathing and pain on his left chest.

12 wanted persons nabbed in Cordillera  

CAMP DANGWA, LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Police recently arrested 12 wanted persons in the Cordillera for various crimes.

Two farmers were arrested by the members of the Mt. Province and Benguet police rape.

They were identified as Elorde Boog Lamong, 23, of Poblacion, Paracelis Mountain Province and Christopher Acquiapat Basilio, 19, of Proper Madaymen, Kibungan, Benguet.

Basilo was arrested in Natubleng, Buguias, Benguet.

Judge Marcelino K. Wacas of the Regional Trial Court Branch 25 of Tabuk City, Kalinga issued the warrant of arrest of Lamong while Judge Danilo P. Camacho of the RTC Branch 62 in La Trinidad, Benguet issued the warrant against Basilio with no bail recommended.

Seven wanted persons were also arrested by personnel of the Abra, Benguet, Mt Province and Kalinga in their residences for various offences.

Johnny Balinyaw Appag, 28, of Sitio Pacak, Brgy Agbannawag, Tabuk City, Kalinga was nabbed for attempted murder with bail set at P120,000.

Rodel Lomas-e Molina, 37, farmer and a resident of atong Buhay, Pasil, Kalinga was also nabbed for reckless imprudence resulting to serious physical injuries.

Dionibi M. Bagay, 49, of Poblacion, San Isidro, Abra was also arrested for murder with no bail recommended. 

Rodel D. Garcia, 30, of  San Antonio, Bangued, Abra was nabbed for frustrated homicide with a recommended bail of P24,000.

Sherley Carreon, of abba, Poblacion, Paracelis, Mountain Province was nabbed for theft while Anthony Basio Cogoy, 56, of Camp 1, Tuba, Benguet was nabbed for violation of PD 1612 (anti-fencing law) with a recommended bail bond of P 12,000.

Critito Meria Sr., 62 of Samoyao, Cruz, La Trinidad, Benguet was also arrested for violation of R.A. 7610 or law on protection against child abuse with bail set at P80,000.

Police also arrested Benedicto Abellan Bolesa, 35,of Sallapadan, Abra for rape in Lapting, Nagbukel, Ilocos Sur last week.

Judge Gavino B. Balbin Jr.Bolesa issued a warrant for Bolesa’s arrest.

In Alfolso Lista, Ifugao, Dangpalan Barbero, 19, of Barangay Namillangan in the town was also arrested after judge Eric D. Banasan issued a warrant for reckless imprudence resulting to physical Injuries with bond set at P 10,000.

In Tuba, Benguet, Ronald Ananayo Lamsis, 36, a resident of km 6 Asin Road, Tadiangan in the town was arrested April 15 along Asin Road, Tadiangan for slight physical injury.

Judge Roberto P. Mabalot issued the warrant for his arrest.

2 vans collide; drivers agree to pay damages 

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Two van drivers agreed to amicable settlement following  an accident  to repair damages of their own  vehicles.

Town police reports revealed  Efren L Simmongio, 43,  of Tadian  town  while traversing the  road going to Bontoc on April 17 when he bumped a  green van he was following  owned by Joseph Pag-ang, 35 from Tadian.

Reports said Pag-ang stopped  his vehicle  to  carry a passenger along the way.  

Simmongo who was following from behind miscalculated his driving and bumped the van .    

The green van incurred  damage on its  left back signal light , a deformed left back bumper  while the van owned by Simmongo  incurred damage on its  front right headlight,  right front  bumper , right front door , broken windshield  damaged wiper, and  detached  broken side mirror.  

Cost of damage was not bared in the police report. -- Gina Dizon 

Girl, 14, raped, killed in Quirino

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya  – The decomposing body of a 14-year-old girl vacationing in Quirino province believed killed after she was raped was found last week, according to reports.

Reports identified the victim as Jenny Angela Ducusin, an honor student from Pangasinan whose body was recovered in a grassy, isolated place in Zamora village, Cabarroguis town.

Reports said there were signs the girl was molested before her attacker hit her head with a hard object. – Charlie Lagasca

Four arrested in Abra for gambling

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet - Four persons involved in various crimes were arrested April 21.

In Abra, three tricycle drivers, one a minor were arrested at Zone 2, Bangued, Abra in front of the Franks Burger Stand for illegal gambling.

Chief Supt. Benjamin B. Magalong, regional police director identified the arrested individuals as Roel Pascual,Alcartado, 24, of Danglas town; Nelson Velasco Damian, 21, of Barangay Pidipid, La Paz town and the minor.

Prior to their arrest, police responded to a call of a concerned citizen that gambling (dado) was being played in the said place. 

Around 10 persons were sighted playing dado but when they noticed the arrival of the police, they scampered to different directions. 

The police gave chase which resulted in the arrest of the suspects and the confiscation of the gambling paraphernalia’s and cash amounting to P113.

Man arrested for firing gun at plaza

MAYOYAO, Ifugao -- A 48-year old man identified as . Marcelo Ngayaan Jr, of Barangay Bato-alatbang, here was arrested was arrested for violation of Commission on Elections gun ban and illegal discharge of firearm.

Ngayaan was nabbed by local police after the suspect fired six successive gun shots at the municipal plaza.

Found in his possession was a 9mm pistol with one magazine loaded with ammunition.

The four arrested persons and confiscated pieces of evidence were brought to local police station.

Guns of execs, bets sealed in Abra rites

BANGUED, Abra — Police are now sealing firearms in this province and have upped campaign against proliferation of licensed and unlicensed firearms for the May elections. 

Chief Supt. Benjamin B. Magalong, regional police director led inspection and muzzle-taping of 60 assorted firearms owned by incumbent local officials and candidates of various elective positions in Abra at the  Abra police provincial office here in Camp Juan Villamor and in the municipality of Lapaz.

Present during the ceremony were members of the Regional Special Operation Task Group led by Chief Supt. Roberto Q. Soriano, deputy regional director for administration and RSOTG commander and Abra police chief Senior Supt. Benjamin M. Lusad.

Also present were Col. Raul Bautista, deputy brigade commander of 503rd Brigade, PA, local officials and political candidates including media.

Taped at the Abra PPO were 49 high powered and low powered firearms owned by incumbent local officials and candidates of elective positions in Abra.

Magalong said in La Paz, 11 assorted firearms owned by local officials and political candidates were muzzle taped followed surrender of 21 assorted unlicensed firearms mostly homemade.

This activity highlighted the signing of a peace covenant for a peaceful election among the candidates of Lapaz municipality of various positions.

Magalong said they are trying to account over 800 declared loose firearms and 1,800 firearms whose permits were not renewed by their owners. -- Mar T. Supnad

P143 kg marijuana seized in Cordillera

TUBLAY, Benguet –Seventy two kilos of marijuana blocks worth P143,971,886 were seized by narcotics agents from January to April. 

This, as an alleged marijuana dealer, who hails from Kibungan town, was arrested with P442,915 worth of marijuana near a school in Lower Acop, Caponga, Tublay April 18 around 9 p.m. 

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency officer Emely Cayandag Fama identified the suspect was Erick A. Perto, 24, of Mocgao, Badeo, Kibungan and resident also of  Lower Acop.

Fama said Perto was nabbed by PDEA agents after he and his bothert traded eight blocks or 8 kg of dried marijuana to a PDEA agent in buy-bust operation.

Erick’s brother evaded arrest.

                

Criminal cases illegal drugs were prepared against the brothers. 

                

Meanwhile for a total of 26.16 grams of shabu was confiscated within that time in the region.

                

Operations led to arrest of 13 pushers, eight possessors, two cultivators and two users of prohibited drugs, or a total of 25 apprehended persons.

Twenty two cases for illegal drugs were filed in court against the suspects.

Out of school youth nabbed for stabbing businesswoman

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet – An out of school youth was arrested here April 17 for stabbing a 33- year old businesswoman identified as Gina Batalon in Barangay, Palao. 

Police said the victim was sleeping when she noticed that the suspect who was under the influence of liquor was sitting beside her feet.

The victim then asked the minor what he was doing in their house but suddenly the suspect stabbed her several times in the body without any reason.

The victim shouted for help that prompted the minor to run outside her house and fled the crime scene.

Victim’s relatives brought her to the Abra Provincial Hospital for medical treatment.

Investigation disclosed the suspect entered the backdoor of the house by dismantling the lock of the door and went inside the room of the victim. 

The suspect is now under the custody of the Bangued municipal police station.

The kitchen knife which he used was recovered at the crime scene by responding police operatives.

The minor was later turned over to the provincial Social Welfare and Development office.

Gov’t worker nabbed for drawing gun in pub  

LAGAWE, Ifugao -- A 41-year old government employee was arrested here night of April 16 for possessing a firearm and for attempting to draw the gun inside the Good Taste Bar and Restaurant here in Dullagan Poblacion West.

                

Police identified the suspect as Edward Tuguinay Kimayong, a resident of Poblacion West,

A waitress of the bar promptly reported the unruly suspect who was seen with a firearm tucked on his waist.

Policemen subdued Kimayong when the latter attempted to draw his firearm.

Confiscated from Kimmayung was a Cal. 45 pistol with seven bullets.

Kimmayong is now under the custody of Lagawe police while a case for illegal guns is being prepared against him after he was arrested by personnel of Ifugao Provincial Public Safety Company and Lagawe Municipal Police Station.