POLICE ROUNDUP

BURNED. Government forces burned a total of PHP4.2 million worth of marijuana discovered in Barangay Badeo, Kibungan, Benguet in a two-day operation on July 12 and 13. Marijuana eradication is a continuing law enforcement activity of the Cordillera Administrative Region police to rid the region of illegal drugs. (Photo courtesy of PROCor-PIO)

3 held in Bangued for P83-K shabu

BANGUED, Abra -- Twelve kilos of suspected shabu worth of P82,960 from three men were confiscated during two drug operations here on July 13.
    Cordillera police director Brig. Gen. Ronal O. Lee identified the arrested suspects as Reymund Jopia Bayle, 37; Marcela Imelda Baoalan Belmonte, 44 and Dexter B. Baruela, 21.
    Confiscated from Baruela were three sachets of suspected shabu worth P74,800 in Barangay Zone 6 and Zone 5.
    Meanwhile, Belmonte allegedly sold a sachet of suspected shabu worth P1,360 to a cop acting as buyer in Barangay Calaba.
    In the course of the operation, another sachet of suspected shabu worth P6,800 was confiscated from Bayle.
    All arrested suspects were brought to Bangued Police Station where charges for illegal drugs were prepared against them.

 P4.2-M marijuana burned in Benguet

By Liza Agoot  

 KIBUNGAN, Benguet -- Some 35 kilos of abandoned dried marijuana stalks worth P4.2 million were found in a plantation here last week. Lt. Col. Rodelio Olsim, chief police information officer said the operation was conducted in Badeo, Kibungan on July 12 and 13.
    He said joint operatives from the 1st Benguet Provincial Mobile Force Company, Provincial Intelligence Unit and Drug Enforcement Unit with the Kibungan municipal police and the Regional Intelligence Division and Intelligence Unit discovered the abandoned dried marijuana stalks in two plantation sites at Sitio Naptong.
    Olsim said 20 kilo, worth P2.4 million, was found in one site on July 12 while the remaining 15 kilograms worth P1.8 million was discovered in another plantation site the following day.
    He said the plants were burned on site. Olsim said the operating troops are still at the mountain scouring the area for more hidden plantation areas.
    The police officer said that marijuana eradication continues not just in Benguet but also in Kalinga and other areas of the region. -- PNA 

Ilocos tanod shot dead

STO. DOMINGO, Ilocos Sur – A village watchman was shot dead here Monday around 6 p.m. at Barangay Cabaritan by still unidentified gunmen.   
    Police identified the victim as Tirzo Tacla Rin, 50, here of Barangay Suksukit, Sto. Domingo. He was chief of tanods in the town.
    The victim was reportedly aboard his motorcycle when he was shot repeatedly by the armed men.
    Police said the victim ran toward his house when his motorcycle fell, but the gunmen followed and finished him off pumping more bullets into the victim.
    The gunmen immediately fled.
    Rin was shot in the head and different parts of his body. He was rushed to Northside Doctors Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.

Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) found several empty bullet shells of Cal. 45.

The Cal. 45 Norinco handgun was also found at the site.

Police are still trying to identify the gunmen.

5 nabbed in Baguio, Tuba for selling P2.6 million drugs to cops

CAMP DANGWA, Benguet – Four persons were arrested by police and anti-narcotics agents July 21 for illegal drugs valued at P2.6 million in Baguio and Benguet.
    Police identified suspects as Laista Ligawen Pedro, 20; Jimmer Sawasi Bedkingan, 27; Azhel Pablo Salvador, 19; Angeline Mae Dominguez Delena, 19 and a minor. In Poblacion,Tuba, Benguet, Pedro, Bedkingan, and a minor were nabbed after they allegedly sold 20 kilos of marijuana worth P2,400,000 to a lawman. Meanwhile, in Dontogan, Marcos Highway, Baguio City, Salvador and Delena were arrested after they allegedly sold to cop who acted buyer 25 grams of shabu  worth P170,000.
    The operation against Salvador and Delena was haled after information that Salvador aka “Esang” was being used by his father Alexander Serrano who is a prisoner at the National Bilibid Prison as a courier of shabu.
    Cases for violation of Republic Act 9165 (illegal drugs) was prepared for filing against the suspects.

5 arrested for selling drugs to Pangasinan cops

By Cesar Ramirez and Eva Visperas

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Five persons including a Jordanian were arrested in separate police operations here Monday.
    Police identified the suspects as Henry Vergara, 36; Alvin Gloria, 31; Manuel Gaygay Jr., 32; Michael John Ferrer, 34, and Yousef Alshanty, 40.
    Vergara was arrested in Barangay Banaoang, Mangaldan; Gloria in Barangay Poblacion West, Alcala; Gaygay in Barangay Sta. Lucia, Urdaneta City; Ferrer in Barangay Del Pilar, Bayambang, and Alshanty in Barangay Carosucan Norte, Asingan.
    Except for Alshanty, all suspects were arrested after they allegedly sold shabu to police undercover agents.
    Alshanty was arrested after he tried to evade a checkpoint in Barangay Carosucan, but was cornered by authorities following a brief chase.

Police subjected the suspect to a body search, which reportedly resulted in confiscation of drugs.

 38 wanted persons nabbed in Cordillera

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet - Police nabbed 38 wanted persons July 10-14, of which 15 were listed as most wanted persons.  
    The Benguet Provincial Police Office had the highest number of arrests with 16; Ifugao PPO with eight, Baguio with six, Abra with five, Kalinga with two and Mountain Province with one.
    Highlighting this week’s operations were the arrest of 15 MWPs.
    Warren Dave Batoy Ojmog, was arrested for rape, Teofilo Pangsan Vizco aka “Pillong” and Jerwin Angeles Dizon for rape while Aurora Costina Manzano was arrested for estafa.
    Meanwhile, Larry Tabbling Bagsao was arrested for attempted murder, Mario Julaton Simon estafa, Jimmy Umingle Chog-ap for rape, Francis Hoggang Lumigat for acts of lasciviousness and John Paul Dela Cruz Guinucud for grave threats.
    All five arrested suspects were listed as no. 1 MWs in different provinces. 
    Kier Dela Cruz Guinucud was arrested for grave threats while Mathew Gosadan Malicdan was nabbed for violation of     Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act).
    Suspect Robin Cannaoay Domingo was also nabbed for frustrated murder. 
    This, as Rogelio Briones De Guzman aka “Taba” was arrested for rape, Lorence Laos Oticao for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition while Tomas Utikao aka” Tomas Batliw Oticao” was apprehended for frustrated homicide.

 
 166 drivers held in Tabuk for violations

TABUK CITY – Numerous motorists were apprehended here July 14 by police for various infractions.
    Together with 1st Kalinga Police Mobile Force Co. and Public Order and Safety Office of Tabuk City, simultaneous checkpoint operations were conducted on the main roads of barangay Bulanao Norte, Bulanao Centro, Calanan and Laya West. 
    A total of 166 persons were nabbed for violations -- 64 for not having drivers’ licenses; 45 for not wearing motorcycle helmets; 11 for no OR/CR; unregistered - 7; wearing slippers and sandos, 5; failure to carry driver’s license, 12; no rearview mirror, 5; arrogant driver, 1; defective horn, 4; no rear light and tail light,1; no plate number,5 and overloading, 8.
    Forty one persons were also held for wearing or improper wearing of facemasks. 
    Dubbed "Oplan Mobile Legend," the simultaneous operation aimed to promote road safety and obedience to traffic rules.
    The operation also included scrutiny of vehicle documents in compliance with the City Transportation and Traffic Code.
    According to Tabuk chief of police Lt. Col. Dinulong B. Tombali, the activity was also done to increase awareness of the public about the traffic rules and regulations in the city.

NPA arms cache found in Apayao  cave by lawmen

CONNER, Apayao -- Cops and troops of the Philippine Army found an arms cache hidden in a cave here at Sitio Bagumbong, Barangay Calafug last week. 

Cordillera police director Brig. Gen. Ronald O. Lee this saying lawmen immediately launched an operation after information from a concerned citizen regarding the firearm cache allegedly left by the KLG Baggas group under Marcial Daggay Command of the New People’s Army.

The firearms were reportedly inside a sack consisting of two Carbine Cal .30 M2, 13 M203 bullets, eight M203 ammo cases, two Garand bandolier with another one for M203; eight cartridge clips for Garand; 29 ammunition for carbine and carbine magazine.

Included were 155 ammunition for Garand, 45 M14 bullets, three riffle grenades, three riffle grenade cases, 81mm mortar, smoke grenade, 14 9mm bullets and ammunition case, gun parts, accessories, among others.

The seized firearms were turned over to Apayao Provincial Crime Laboratory Office for ballistic examination.

P43-M marijuana, bricks seized in Kalinga towns

TINGLAYAN, Kalinga – Police uprooted and burned 183,500 marijuana plants worth P36,700,000 cultivated in a mountain here on July 20.
    This, as dried marijuana bricks worth P7.8 million ready for transport were confiscated in Rizal town, also in the province on July 14.
    Regional police director Brig. Gen. Ronald O. Lee bared this saying the illegal plants were discovered in nine marijuana farms in barangays Loccong and Butbut Proper.
    Police are now trying to identify marijuana cultivators.
    In Rizal town, the marijuana bricks worth P7.8 million ready for transport were confiscated by police and anti-narcotics agents who set up checkpoints and dispatched tracker teams after receiving information regarding marijuana ready for transport here from Hilltop, Agbannawag to Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. 
    While conducting checkpoint, lawmen received another call from a concerned citizen about three marijuana sacks hidden under a concrete sewer line along the Barangay Road here at Sitio Anonang, Liwan West.
    Upon arrival at the place, operatives found the sacks containing 53 pcs of dried marijuana leaves and stalks in bricks and 24 pieces of dried marijuana leaves and stalks.
    All these weighed 65.3 kilo worth P7,836,000.

All confiscated items were inventoried by police witnessed by Melissa Guavez, media representative; Bernadette Malayao of DOJ representative and punong barangay Obdulla D. Antonio.

Bangued village chairman shot dead

BANGUED, Abra -- A barangay (village) chairman was killed in an attack by an unidentified assailant here Monday around 6:20 a.m. Robert Villastiqui of Barangay Lubong died at the scene due to several gunshot wounds in the body, police said.

 The victim was on a motorcycle when he was killed by the assailant, whom witnesses described as wearing a red long-sleeved shirt, black short pants and cap.

 The gunman fled on foot. Villastiqui was a close ally of Bangued mayor Dominic Valera and Gov. Ma. Jocelyn Bernos.

 Probers have yet to identify the suspect and determine the motive for the killing.