POLICE ROUNDUP

 4 nabbed in Baguio City pot session

BAGUIO CITY -- Four men were caught here in the act of having pot session at Purok 2, Tam-awan Road, Pinsao Proper night of June 15. Nabbed were identified as as William Sabado Casibang, 26, of Tam-awan, Pinsao Proper; Joemamel Valera Dipatuan, 35, of Bakakeng Central; Rasul Valera Dipatuan, 31, of Cypress Irisan, both street vendors and Dario Embat Dacera, 35, barber, of Victoria Village.

Confiscated from the suspects were three pieces of plastic sachets containing suspected shabu, one black pouch and assorted drug paraphernalia.

 Three men nabbed for marijuana in Bontoc

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Three suspects landed in jail after they were caught in possession of dried marijuana plants here in front of Cable Cafe, Poblacion afternoon of July 14.

They were identified as Michael Marciano Macunat, 27, gym instructor; Kent Tyron Rega Bejasa, 23 and a 17-year- old student, all residents of Muntinlupa City.

They were apprehended after a concerned citizen informed police the suspects were carrying marijuana plants that prompted them to respond. Ten marijuana bunches and a brick of dried marijuana were confiscated from their possession.

 Baguio PCSO agent arrested for shabu

BAGUIO CITY -- A high value target and a PCSO agent identified as Errol Carlos Singson “Errol” Ibuna, 36, of Ilocos Sur and resident of City Camp Proper, Baguio City was apprehended here by police July 11 at NOVA Lodge, Bakakeng Central last week.

Confiscated from Ibuna were three sachets of suspected shabu and assorted drug paraphernalia 

Laborer cornered in Itogon for shabu

ITOGON, Benguet -- A laborer identified as Christian Lopina Caluza, 23, of Delos Reyes St. Outlook Drive, Baguio City was arrested here July 11 at Binanga Sur, Tuding for illegal drugs.

Two sachets of suspected shabu, black Oppo cellular phone and P1,000 cash were seized from Caluza.

Man nabbed for ‘drug pushing’

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- An alleged drug pusher known as Aquino C. Gonayon aka Kenny “Kinnung” Gonayon Gallema, 41 here of Ubbog, Magsaysay was arrested at Silao St., Bulanao Centro on Monday.

Confiscated from Gonayon were one sachet containing suspected shabu and P1, 000 cash.

Farmer, laborer nabbed for shabu

MANKAYAN, Benguet – A certain James Lucas Espada, 42, farmer, and Claire Dicoy Cati-an, 26, laborer, were apprehended here at Sitio Ambabag, Barangay Guinaoang last week.

 Two sachets containing suspected shabu. P1, 000 buy-bust money, six  aluminum foil; two Nokia cell phones and one brown leader pouch were seized from Espada and Cati-an.

Following this, regional police director Brig. Gen. Israel Ephraim T. Dickson said, men under his command will continue intensified drive against illegal drugs.

 2 Papua New Guinea nationals nabbed for mauling young man

BAGUIO CITY – Police arrested two nationals from Paspua New Guinea here July 15 for mauling a young man around 10 p.m. at No.135, Bakakeng Old Site.

The victim was identified as Dexter Lachica Tresmanio, 23, single who filed a complaint for physical injuries against Clye Ravini, 23, IT student of University of the Cordilleras, and presently residing at Camdas, Baguio City and Rodnuy Aii, 23, student of Easter College, and  resident of Easter Hills Subdivision, Lower Pinget.

 Investigation disclosed the victim was on his way home when he stopped at Rabang Store to buy coffee but was suddenly approached by the two foreign national wherein one of them challenged the victim to a fist fight and suddenly punched his face.

The victim ran towards their house but the two foreign nationals followed him and continued punching the victim several times.

Man arrested in Banaue for homicide

BANAUE, Ifugao – Police arrested a man here July 15 at View Point for homicide. Nabbed was Jimmy L. Dammitan after Judge Segundo Catral of RTC, Branch 14, Lagawe, Ifugao fissued warrant for his arrest with no bail recommended.

The suspect was brought to Hingyon police of the town where he was jailed.

Man nabbed for estafa in Rizal

RIZAL, Kalinga – Cops arrested a certain Emilio A. Atencio here June 15 I Barangay Kinama for estafa. This, after Judge Marcelino K. Wacas  of RTC  Branch 25 of Bulanao, Tabuk City issued warrant for his arrest with bail of P40,000 for his tempiorary liberty.

Cop’s house burned in Tabuk

TABUK CITY – The house of a cop was partially burned here June 15 around 11:40 a.m. Laya West. The hosue was owned by Julius D Baribaras who was assigned at Divilacan, Isabela provincial police office.  No person was injured.

 12 biz establishments caught violating city smoke-free law

By Aileen P. Refuerzo and Gaby Keith

BAGUIO CITY – Twelve establishments were caught violating the city’s Smoke-Free Ordinance in a lightning inspection last July 19.

Led by the Smoke-Free Task Force composed of personnel from the Smoke-Free Baguio Project, Permits and Licensing Division, the Public Order and Safety Division staff members and the Baguio City Police Office, the inspection covered 22 establishments   mostly groceries and vape shops located within the central business district.

Most of the violators had no permit to sell as these were located within the prohibited zone or within the 100 meter perimeter of schools, churches, parks and the city market.

Some were found to have been openly displaying their goods and posting cigarette advertisements.

They were issued citation tickets and will have to pay their fines.

Two individuals were also accosted for smoking.

The inspections will continue as the city sustains the smoking drive year-round.

The task force reminded the public on the violations and their corresponding penalties under Ordinance No. 34 series of 2017.

The violations are:

On Section 5 particularly on prohibited areas, those caught violating the ordinance while in the following areas: enclosed or partially enclosed areas, public conveyance, work place, unauthorized Designated Smoking Areas/Designated Vaping Areas, government vehicles, other public place and those allowing or abetting or tolerating above violations will be fined P1,000 for first offense, P2,000 for second offense and P3,000 for third offense;

As to access restriction, the following are prohibited acts:

Selling or distributing tobacco products/ and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) to minors, purchasing tobacco products/ENDS from minors, ordering or instructing or compelling a minor to use or light up, buy, or sell or distribute or advertise or promote tobacco products; selling or distributing tobacco products or ENDS in a school, public playground, other facilities frequented by minors, Dept. of Health officers or agencies, hospital, health facility or within 100 meters from any point in the perimeter of these places; selling tobacco products or ENDS within premises of government facilities, without business permit to see, as individual piece or per stick, removed from original pack without proper government regulated and approved health warning, by ambulant or street vendors including mobile or temporary stalls or kiosks or stations or units and selling or distributing sweets or snacks or toys or others in the form of tobacco products which appeal to minors.

Such acts are punishable with fines P2,000 for first offense, P3,000 for second and  P5,000 for third offense.

Persons who fail to perform certain duties and obligations are also liable to wit: 

Failure to post special No Smoking/Vaping or DSA/DVA signage (public or work place or public convenience); failure to remove ashtrays or receptacles in the area; DSA without certificate or permit from the government; failure to post sign in relation to the 100-meter restriction of sale or distribution of tobacco/ENDS products; failure to report violation on 100 meter restriction from perimeter; failure to secure permit to sell tobacco or ENDS products; failure to post special warning on sales or distribution of tobacco/ENDS for minors; failure to remove tobacco/ENDS advertisements or promotional paraphernalia; failure to secure approval and follow specifications for special tobacco/ENDS storage or containment; failure to establish internal procedure or follow specifications when violation occurs; failulre to ensure awareness of employees on the ordinance; failure to allow inspectors to inspect establishment or conveyance or failure to post signage in either the local dialect or in English.

Violators face fines of P1,000, P2,000 and P3,000 for the successive offenses.

On advertisement and promotion ban, the following are prohibited: Placing cinema or outdoor advertisements of tobacco products or ENDS; placing or positing or display or distribution of advertisement or promotion  materials that show brand or company name or logo or insignia in the establishment where minors are allowed entry; conduct of promotional activities or campaigns or events or product sampling in establishments or locations where it is prohibited or where minors are allowed entry; or display or placing of tobacco products or ENDS in open store shelves or racks.

The fines for these violations are P2,000 P3,000 and P5,000

If violators are minors, they have the option to render community service upon referral to the Women and Children Police Unit or the Office of the City Social Welfare and Development Office.

Anti-insurgency body to craft Cordillera program

By Liza Agoot  

BAGUIO CITY -- The Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) here started Thursday to craft anti-insurgency and poverty alleviation programs for the Cordillera Administrative Region.

“The plans and programs of the clusters will be crafted and finalized that will spell out how the clusters will implement programs and activities to attain the goal of not just to end insurgency but also to provide a better opportunity and life for the people,” National Security Adviser and NTF-ELCAC vice-chairperson Hermogenes Esperon said during the press briefing on the sidelines of the workshop.

The regional task force has a national counterpart in which President Rodrigo Duterte acts as the national task force commander.

Esperon said all the directors --members of the Regional Development Council (RDC) and the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC)-- will come up with plans and programs that will address the concerns of insurgents.

“These issues are being exploited as issues against the government,” he said.

In the two-day regional planning workshop, the participants will come up with the regional action plan and implementing arms of 12 lines of efforts which include: situational awareness and knowledge management; local government empowerment; legal cooperation; strategic communication; sectoral unification, capacity building and empowerment; basic services; poverty reduction, livelihood and employment; infrastructure, resource management and employment; localized peace engagement; peace, law and enforcement and development support; Enhanced Comprehensive Integration Program (E-CLIP) and amnesty program; and international engagement.

National Security Council Undersecretary Vicente Agdamag said they hope to make Cordillera the model in achieving the ELCAC goals.

“We will focus our effort and will emphasize on the delivery of basic services,” Agdamag said.

The goal primary goal of ELCAC is the development of the place and improvement of the lives of the people.

“It’s not only on ending the local communist armed conflict but more than that, it is about regional development at hindi nagtatapos sa pagtigil ng labanan (our effort will not end by ending insurgency),” Agdamag said.

Also during the briefing, a former New People's Army cadre said the government has the logistics, the resources, and energy but it has to make it felt by the people down to the grassroots and the farthest village in the countryside. (PNA)

DTI checks hardware stores in Abra on steel compliance

BANGUED, Abra--To ensure that no sub-standard steel bars are being sold in the province, the Department of Trade and Industry – Abra Provincial Office in cooperation with the local government and Bangued Police Station conducted inspection of hardware stores in this capital town.

Two monitoring teams from DTI   inspected  SGL Trading, G4 Construction Supply, Ubbog Lumber and Hardware, Abra Fairway General Merchandizing and B.A. Builders Commercial.

Each team checked samples of 10 mm and 12 mm steel bars. Proper markings were  first inspected.

The markings were spotted in a distance of every one meter per steel bar.

After the inspection of the markings, the actual weighing and measuring of each sample were done.

All the hardware stores inspected were compliant with the standards on steel bars set by the Bureau of Philippine Standards.

All samples bore the proper markings such as the company logo or the emblem of the brand and all fall within the allowable length and weight.

Prior to the inspection, the team presented and discussed with owners of the establishments procedures to be made.

 “Substandard steel bars cannot withstand shakings during earthquake and there’s a possibility that buildings might collapse if they are not built with quality steel bars,” monitoring team leader Marcos Rex Hall said. Primary materials needed must be compliant to product standards especially with steel bars. (JDP/CAGT-PIA CAR, Abra)