POLICE ROUNDUP: 3 Kalinga robbery suspects arrested

By Liezle Basa Inigo 

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – Police arrested a 24-year-old robbery-holdup suspect and his two companions after a brief chase in Quezon, Isabela on Wednesday, Jan. 11.
    The Police Regional Office 2 (Cagayan Valley) here in Camp Adduru identified the suspects as Kalinga residents Rico Palas, 24; Ismael Salibad, 31, and a minor.
    Local police said they received a call from a concerned citizen that the wanted Palas and two others were spotted in a bar in Barangay Arellano.
    Lawmen proceeded to serve a warrant of arrest against Palas but he sensed their arrival and left with his friends onboard two motorcycles.
    Police chased the suspects and the back rider of one of the motorcycles fired at pursuing lawmen until they were cornered in Barangay Arellano.
    Suspects yielded guns, bullets, grenades, cellphones, and a marijuana brick valued at P2,660. The trio and pieces of evidence were taken to the local police station for proper disposition.

Teacher held for drugs in Isabela

ANGADAN, Isabela -- Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Cagayan Valley arrested a public school teacher in a sting here on Monday. Quoting town police chief Maj. Ardee Tion, Cagayan Valley police information officer Lt. Col. Saturnino Soriano said Virgilio Estrada, 35, was apprehended after selling three sachets of shabu worth P2,000 to undercover PDEA agents in Purok 7, Barangay Centro. Estrada was tagged a ”high-value” target of both the police and PDEA in Angadanan.    

Man, 18 held for snatching woman’s phone 

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Patrolling cops nabbed an 18-year-old man for assaulting a woman and snatching her cell phone here Jan. 11.
    Based on report submitted to Cordillera police director Brig. Gen. Mafelino A. Bazar, the suspect was identified as Jesrael T Bakidan, native of Apayao now  residing in La Trinidad.
    Police said the victim was walking in front of a convenience store in Barangay Pico when suddenly the suspect came from behind her and pulled her right hand which caused her to lose balance, then suspect grabbed her cell phone.
    The victim chased the suspect and was able to hold him.
    However, the suspect punched her face and pushed her into a canal.
    She shouted and immediately called the assistance of patrolling police officers who arrested the suspect.
    Bakidan is now under custody of La Trinidad Police Station and facing charges for violation of Article 295 of the Revised Penal Code or robbery with violence.
    In a statement, Bazar commended Cpl. Jordan B. Dulay and Pat. Keenan Mark P. Lami-ing for their prompt action on the incident.