NEWSBRIEFS

Neighbor slays teen girl over land row

By Liezle Basa Iñigo

STA. BARBARA, Pangasinan — A Grade 8 student was allegedly strangled to death inside her house in this town allegedly by a neighbor who had threatened to kill her entire family hours before her body was found last Tuesday afternoon, police said.

Chief Inspector Rommel Bagsic, Sta. Barbara chief of police, identified the victim as Cheeny Lagrimas Cruz, 13, of Barangay Cablong, here.

Bagsic said the victim’s mother discovered she was dead inside their house at 5:10 p.m. last Tuesday after allegedly spotting their neighbor – Rogelio Banda dela Cruz, 50, single and jobless – coming out of her room.

Homicide investigators who arrested Dela Cruz said the autopsy on the girl indicated that she was strangled to death with the use of a rope.

Bagsic said in the morning prior to the killing, Dela Cruz , who lived alone, had a heated argument with Cheeny’s father over a land dispute.

During that argument, Dela Cruz allegedly threatened to kill the victim’s entire family, he said.

Now jailed and charged with murder, Dela Cruz has denied having killed the teenage girl.

 PNP ‘strike force’ formed to secure Benguet vs insurgents

By Pamela Mariz Geminiano

BAGUIO CITY -- Even if there is no imminent danger from insurgents, the Benguet police force has beefed up its security plan for the region in case of sudden attack, particularly from communist rebels.

The Benguet Provincial Mobile Force has deployed two more platoons spread in various towns of the province to prepare for possible internal threats and aid locals cops in anti-crime operations.

“The mobile force is ready to respond anytime and anywhere,” Police Supt. Edward Aquintey, chief of the mobile force said Thursday.

Serving as first responders, the Benguet Provincial Mobile Force is the province's "strike force," composed of cops trained to take action against sudden attacks.

He said the two platoons were deployed to the towns of Atok, Mankayan, Kabayan, Bokod, and Itogon, areas that are distant from the headquarters of the Benguet Provincial Mobile Force in Abatan, Buguias town.

“It will take time for our troops to respond in cases of threats,” Aquintey explained, saying it would take time for the headquarters to respond in case of sudden attack in these areas.

Benguet is a “white area” in terms of internal threats and has no known camps of insurgents belonging to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army (CPP-NPA).

“But it is best to have a pro-active presence of the mobile force company, just in case,” the police colonel said.

Aquintey described the CPP-NPA as "very mobile," increasing the possibility of their presence in the province.

He related the past incident in Tuba in 2017, where members of the left community in the area exchange fire with the police.

“We cannot be complacent, even if we are considered as a white area,” Aquintey said, saying the presence of the mobile force is a pre-emptive measure.

He added the mobile force also maintains an “advanced-forward” deployment in areas, where there are major installations like the hydroelectric power plants in Binga, Itogon and Ambuklao in Bokod, Benguet.

"We are maintaining one platoon in Itogon, Benguet to address the internal security issues in the south, while we have our headquarters in Buguias, Benguet to secure the northern part," he said. "The mobile force has operational jurisdiction over the province. I would like to reiterate, with the platoons being deployed, it can be easier for us to respond to beleaguered areas."

Aquintey said the mobile force has the personnel and equipment to ensure security in its protected areas.

The group also undergoes training on disaster risk reduction management, equipping the members with skills needed to respond to emergencies due to calamities and disasters.

Aquintey, who also heads the Police Community Relations branch of the Baguio City Police Office, said the Benguet strike force is also linking with the community or talking to the people, not only to aid intelligence and regular police operations but also to develop rapport with the community.

"We should develop our rapport, partnership with the community, especially in far flung areas," he said. "With that relationship, the community will trust the police and the government. War is not always won with the use of firearms.” --  PNA

New structure to replace condemned Magsaysay bldg

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – A new building will replace the condemned old Magsaysay building at the city market before anything disastrous happens, city building officer Nazita Banez said last week.

Banez said program of work for the demolition of the building and the construction of a new three-story edifice prepared by the City Building and Architecture Office was submitted to the local finance committee  headed by city budget officer Leticia Clemente for immediate funding.

The plan will form part of basis for notices to vacate that will be issued to tenants later.

Banez said the CBAO declared the building “ruinous, hazardous and unfit for occupancy” while the Baguio Fire Department pronounced its fire hazard state reiterating its findings made as early as 2010.

“We are proposing its demolition as soon as possible because of its status and at the same time we are praying that nothing untoward will happen to the building and to the occupants whom we are advising to begin voluntary relocation pending the issuance of the notices to vacate,” Banez said.

The findings were done in line with Mayor Mauricio Domogan’s order for evaluation of the more than 50-year old building to assess its structural and fire safety condition.

The directive was also meant to determine whether the earlier agreement for the tenants to adopt remedial measures to make the building compliant with the structural and fire safety requirements despite its decrepit state is still applicable in the light of the worsening condition of the building.

 In 2010, the Bureau of Fire Protection declared the building a fire hazard due to violations of the National Building Code and fire safety law.

The BFP and the Baguio City Market Authority even recommended the closure of the edifice due to the gravity of the defects found but the city government agreed to allow the tenants to continue operating on condition that they will institute remedial measures to make it safe for the occupants and their clientele.

Among the defects noted then by the BFP were blocked fire exits, dangling electrical wires and the tenants’ practice of allowing persons to sleep in offices and cook meals in violation of ordinances.

Banez said the proposed new building would cost P73 million and would be implemented as soon as the budget has been worked out.

City treasurer Alex Cabarrubias said there are around 20 occupants renting spaces within the building who are paying meager rental fees.

2 NPA rebs surrender to military in Cagayan

By Freddie Lazaro and Liezle Basa Inigo

RIZAL, Cagayan – Two members of the Milisyang Bayan (People’s Militia) of the New People’s Army Tuesday surrendered to the military here Tuesday.

 Lt. Colonel Isagani G. Nato, spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Northern Luzon Command, on Wednesday said that a 31 – year old man and a 30-year old woman, voluntary surrendered without firearms to elements of the Philippine Army’s 17th Infantry Battalion under the 502nd Brigade of Joint Task Force  “TALA”.

He said the rebel returnees were also members of the Grupong Magsasaka/Farmers Group and Grupong Pangkababaihan/Women’s Group under the supervision of Northern Front, Komiteng Rehiyon Cagayan Valley.

The surrender was facilitated by the community support program teams deployed in the area, with the assistance of the barangay officials from where the MB members operate.

The MBs/PMs, as part time NPAs, are the force multiplier of the underground movement and armed groups.

Military officials said their surrender will have great impact in advancing their struggle as they lost people in their ranks and reduce support from their mass base.

A week ago, regular NPA and MB members also yielded, while firearms and other war materials were recovered by Army troops with the help of local officials and residents in Cagayan and Isabela.

 Mayor defends stance on declaring no classes

By Dexter A. See

 BAGUIO CITY – Following backlash from netizens, mayor Mauricio G. Domogan justified his decision on declaration of suspension of classes in the city during bad weather this monsoon season before prescribed decline for local executives to declare class suspension before 4:30 a.m.

The mayor said it is important to consider the latest weather forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration to help him decide levels that will be suspended.

“We stand by our decision to declare class suspension every early morning when there is bad weather due to the monsoon season. We base our decision to suspend classes on the last PAGASA weather forecast which is issued every early morning. We do not want to commit the mistake of declaring class suspension the day before only to find out that fair weather condition will prevail the following day,” Domogan said.

He added it is better if there are typhoon signals because he immediately refers to rules and regulations in declaring suspension of classes.

“But in situation where monsoon rains prevail, the decision to suspend classes is left to the sound discretion of local executives who have to assess and evaluate decisions before coming out with decisions relative to the matter, he said.

 According to him, even if there will be classes in different levels during monsoon rains it is still the parents who will decide what will be the best for their children, whether to attend classes or stay at home for safety reasons.

He said residents should not compare the situation in the city to the situation in Benguet because the situation in the province is completely different, considering schoolchildren have to walk for several hours and pass through dangerous routes just to reach their schools.

In the city, schools are more accessible because schoolchildren can avail of various modes of transportation to attend classes.

Under rules and regulations, during typhoon signal 1, classes in the pre-school and elementary levels are suspended.

In typhoon signal 2 , classes from pre-school to high school are automatically suspended.

In instances when typhoon signal 3 prevails over an area, classes in all levels including work in government offices are automatically suspended.

He said it will still be the final decision of the parents that will prevail during bad weather because they know is best for their children, and it would be unfair for the parents to put the blame on him when there is no declaration of suspension of classes during bad weather considering that the decision to do so is based on assessment not only of the members of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council but also other concerned stakeholders.

He added that parents should also understand that their children will replace the days when classes were suspended by attending make up classes that will be scheduled by school authorities on Saturdays outside the current school calendar.