Mystery person scatters P9-K cash of parish priest

BAGUIO CITY – Police are baffled and still trying to establish identity of a mysterious person or persons who forcibly entered the bedroom of the parish priest of Lourdes Church along Kisad Road here Monday and scattered his P9,816.35 cash on his bed while he was at Vatican City in Rome.    

Police said the incident was reported Monday around 10:45 a.m. by a certain Kelvin Pedro Basilio, 31, maintenance worker, native of Poblacion, Bokod, Benguet .

Basilio said the incident happened Sept. 12-25 wherein the bedroom of Rev. Fr. Mario Tambic, parish priest, was forcibly opened.

If the motive was to steal, police are wondering why the money and other items were not taken.

Was the act a warning or displeasure over something? Police are wondering.

Investigation disclosed Tambic left for the Vatican on Sept. 12.

Around 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 25, Basilio said he entered the room and found out the main door and back door were forcibly opened and destroyed.

He said the cash in different denominations was found scattered on top of the bed while the personal belongings of the victim were still intact in the cabinets.

 Responding scene of the crime team led by Chief Insp. Chester Nitron lifted two fingerprints.

The crime police laboratory didn’t release its findings at press time and whether the perpetrator was identified.

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Ifugao board member urges Duterte: Give pension hike

LAGAWE, Irfugao – President Duterte was urged by a provincial board member here to look after  welfare of retired government service workers who are aging.

Ifugao Board Member Clemente Bongtiwon said government service retirees sought his help to bring to the attention of the President their unattended concerns before the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

Bongtiwon said there is a need to adjust the pension received by retirees, but the process is long and tedious.

“Taking the laws enacted by Congress to benefit the retirees so-called the pensioners, RA 8291 of GSIS Act on Section 14 so states that all pensioners receiving their monthly pension shall be periodically adjusted upon the recommendation of the GSIS president and general manager, endorsed by the Board of Trustees, and upon approval of the President of the Republic of the Philippines,” he said.

Bongtiwon also cited RA 9994 Section 4 on the privileges of Senior Citizens provides that “retirement benefits of retirees shall be regularly reviewed to be responsive and sustainability, practicable and feasible and shall be upgraded to make it at par with the current salary scale enjoyed by those in actual service.”

“Why are these laws sleeping in the Cabinet shelves of Congress. The implementation of these laws should be the oversight of both House of Representatives and Senate with the present administration of President Rodrigo Duterte in compliance to his campaign,” he said.

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Dagupan to motorbikers: Wear helmets, or else…

By Liezle Basa Inigo

DAGUPAN CITY -- Stubborn motorcycle riders and backriders better get used to putting on crash helmets as the city government will strictly implement local and national laws pertaining to the use of helmets starting Sept. 25.

Public Order and Safety Office chief Carlito Ocampo cited City Ordinance No. 1922-2008 also known as Providing Supplementary Rules on the Use of Motorcycle Helmet in consonance with Republic Act 10054 or an act mandating all motorcycle riders to wear standard protective motorcycle helmets while driving, and providing penalties thereof.

Ocampo advised all motorcycle riders to wear helmets to avoid penalties and travel delays.

He said the implementation of the law is for the safety and security of riders and their passengers.

POSO Dagupan will also implement Republic Act 10666, an Act providing for the Safety of Children aboard Motorcycle or the “Children’s Safety on Motorcycle Act of 2015”.

Violators of the Act will be fined P3,000 for the first offense; P5,000 for the second offense and P10,000 for 3rd offense with a one-month suspension of his or her driver’s license.

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CPP on resumption of peace talks

STATEMENT

GRP President Duterte was quoted by news reports saying he was open or not averse to resuming peace talks with the NDFP.

As the Party and NDFP has often stated, it is the policy of the revolutionary forces to remain open to peace negotiations with any ruling regime that expresses willingness to seriously discuss the roots of the armed conflict in accordance with previously agreed principles and procedures as stipulated in The Hague Declaration.

Thus, the NDFP-GRP peace negotiations can resume if Duterte will drop his earlier precondition of a bilateral ceasefire which became the single biggest factor which terminated the talks. The ball is still in Duterte’s hands.

Clearly, Duterte is resurrecting talks of peace negotiations as part of his damage control measures in the face of the increasing isolation of his regime. Duterte is widely blamed for terminating the NDFP-GRP negotiations because of his stubborn insistence to toe the US line of using peace talks as an instrument for the pacification and capitulation of the revolutionary forces.

While open to resuming peace talks with the Duterte regime, revolutionary forces are no longer hopeful that anything substantive will come out of it in the face of Duterte’s subservience to the interests of US imperialism and other big foreign capitalist countries.

How can negotiations on socio-economic questions go anywhere when Duterte zealously implements neoliberal policies and pushes for such anti-people policies as the Compressed Work Week or 12-hour workday, removal of restriction on foreign ownership of public utilities, debt-driven infrastructure projects and others?

What will come out of negotiations on political and constitutional reforms considering Duterte’s all-out subservience to the US military and its counter-insurgency doctrine and aerial bombardment campaign in Marawi and other parts of the country? Duterte’s triple war violates the human rights agreement with impunity. He could not even fulfill his vow to release political prisoners now numbering more than 400./

 By the Communist Party of the Philippines

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Mother Petra ‘Tannaw’ Macliing: mother, activist

TRIBUTE

By Innabuyog

Petra, as a given name is the feminine form of Peter, which is derived from the Greek word, petros meaning, “stone or rock”. Fitting is her given name for Mother Petra Macliing really is like the stone terraces adorning our mountains standing tall with her courage and determination to defend the land that nourishes life – our life. She is also like a rock providing a solid foundation and stable source of inspiration not only for her 8 children but for all the children of the Cordillera. And for that, she is embraced by all of us. She has become the mother of us all – nurturing and life-sustaining.

Mother Petra hails from the humble community of Mainit, Bontoc, Mountain Province. Her husband died after the birth of her last child. And so, Mother Petra raised her family on her own – supporting them by farming, raising pigs, and keeping a sari-sari store. Being a single parent and the hard life in the ili did not hinder her activism for indigenous peoples rights to self-determination and ancestral land. This only made her more resolute in pursuing a better future for all of us and strengthened her role as a mother.

In the 70s through the 80s, Benguet Corporation Incorporated (BCI) forced its way into Mainit for mineral exploration. This was opposed by the Mainit people because of the destruction that it would cause to the environment and to the livelihood of the people. Mother Petra was quoted saying, “There is gold in our mountains but that does not nurture us – the rice fields, swidden lots and hunting grounds do. Our forefathers have said it before and I will also say now: of what use and good would gold be to us when it means destroying our rice fields? What good will it be to us to have glittering gold to adorn our bodies if there is no food and our stomachs will be eternally famished?”

She and other women from their community took the lead in confronting mining engineers who wanted to survey their ili and in 1975, they went on hunger strike to show their opposition to the entry of corporate mining in their territory. Also, as President of the Mainit Irrigation Association (MIA), Mother Petra led an irrigation project that would improve and expand rice farming and in turn strengthen the ili’s opposition against BCI’s mineral exploration echoing the organization’s call, “Rice not gold. You do not eat gold.”

In 1980, even with the country at the grips of Martial Law, Mother Petra again united the Mainit women to take the lead role in confronting BCI which was hell bent in exploiting the gold under the community’s rice terraces. At that time, there was heavy military deployment in Mountain Province and Mother Petra was marked as a supporter of the New Peoples Army and was branded a communist by the military and the government because among the opposition against the Mainit mines, her voice was the loudest. However, she was not cowed and her courage and determination became a shining light during those dark times.

Along with other Mainit women, she initiated dialogues with BCI engineers. However, these proved ineffective since BCI was still able to continue its exploration in Mainit and was able to set-up a camp in the community. To avert any violence that would have resulted from Mainit men wanting to physically assault the BCI camp, Mother Petra led the women in looking for other ways to drive away BCI for good.

With the men not far behind, she and the women, arms linked together went to the BCI camp and demanded the engineers to leave their land. Drawing strength from their collective anger and rage against the repeated violation of their rights as indigenous peoples, they burnt the campsite and threw BCI’s equipment into the river. Some even took equipment that they could carry and brought it to BCI’s office at Poblacion, Bontoc so that company will have no reason to go back into their mountains.

Some of the older women stripped their clothes and exposed their breasts to curse, shame and drive away the engineers. This form of protest is derived from the culture of Bontocs where it is taboo for men to see their mothers and grandmothers – those where they came from, unclothed lest, they will suffer an endless occurrence of bad luck. Also, the women, in their determination to drive away BCI forever, squeezed the testicles of the engineers while chasing them away. And so, BCI left Mainit never to return.

At the time that Mother Petra and her community were confronting BCI, the struggle against the construction of the Chico Dams and against the logging activities of Cellophil Resources Corporation (CRC) was raging in the region. Villages along the Chico River, from Bontoc to Kalinga opposed the construction of the Chico Dams for these will submerge their rice terraces and their homes – their source of livelihood and identity as indigenous peoples. Moreover, the umili of Abra resisted the logging activities of CRC since its continutation would mean the complete denudation of their forests.

Mother Petra and her community actively participated in these struggles. Through her, Mainit women forged solidarity with the women of Kalinga and Abra. They conducted sharing of experiences, especially among the women of the Butbut Tribe and the women of Bugnay. In mass mobilizations in Mountain Province, they would speak and relate their struggle against BCI to the anti-CRC struggle in Abra. There were also several times when Mother Petra would troop to Manila, along with other leaders and elders of the region to speak about what is happening in the Cordillera. Mother Petra’s voice, along with other Bontoc, Kalinga and Abra leaders rang loud and true until finally, the construction of the Chico Dams were put on hold and the logging activities of CRC was stopped.

Mother Petra’s role and contribution to the Cordillera peoples fight for land, life and honor is recognized, not only by the communities in the region but by the international community as well. In 2009, she is one of the awardees of the Women’s World Summit Foundation’s (WSSF) Laureate Prize for Rural Women in honor of her creativity and courage in contributing in the improvement of the quality of life in rural communities, for protecting the environment, transmitting knowledge and standing up for human rights and peace. She is also one of the six Filipino women who was awarded by the Asian Rural Women’s Coalition during the 5th International Day of Rural Women in 2012 for advancing indigenous peoples rights, promoting civil rights, combating violence against women, and for seeking better treatment of the rural poor, political prisoners, farmers and children.

Indeed, Mother Petra’s story echoes that of honor, creativity and women power. – (Innabuyog is a group of women’s groups working for indigenous people’s rights in the Cordllera)

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Council sets 9 p.m. curfew for minors in Summer Capital

BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance amending Ordinance No. 50, series of 2009, further amending Ordinance No. 271, series of 1995 otherwise known as the Baguio city curfew ordinance.

            The ordinance authored by Councilor Elaine Sembrano stated as a measure to protect children from crime, violence and harm, children shall not loiter, roam or play on the streets, roads, plazas, parks, internet shops or cafes, amusement or gaming facilities or other public places or establishments in the city between 9 pm to 4 am.

            The prevailing curfew for minors in the city is from 7 pm to 5 am pursuant to existing local ordinances.

            For purposes of the proposed amendatory ordinance, a child or children is defined as a person or persons below 16 years of age.

            On the other hand, an adult purporting to be their guardian, parents or authorized custodian within the third degree of relationship, either by consanguinity or affinity, shall be penalized under other applicable laws and ordinances once they allow their wards to loiter, roam and play around the city during the prescribed curfew hours.

            Likewise, the ordinance stipulated internet cafes or shops or amusement gaming facility owners or managements, who allow a child or children to loiter in their establishments during the prescribed curfew hours shall be meted out the new fines and penalties, specifically a fine of P3,000 for the first offense, a fine of P5,000 for the second offense, and closure of business establishment or non-renewal of business permit of the concerned establishment for the third offense.

            The ordinance shall take effect pursuant to the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (RA) 7160 or the Local government code of the Philippines.

            Sembrano said the proposed amendments that will be introduced to the existing curfew for minors is intended at addressing the recent developments wherein children are required to conduct researches in their studies, thus, they are obliged to stay in the internet cafes to do their respective homeworks considering that some of them do not have internet connections in their residences.

            It has been observed that even with the prescribed curfew for minors which is scheduled at around 7 pm, minors continue to loiter, roam and play around internet cafes, shots, parks and public places and that they are even wearing their school uniforms without being apprehended by concerned police authorities and personnel of the City Social Welfare and Development Office.

            Students have complained that the 7 pm curfew for minors provided under existing ordinances is too early considering that there are also some educational institutions that dismiss their afternoon classes close to the scheduled curfew that is why they are often seen loitering, roaming and playing around the city’s public places and that in most instances, they are often apprehended by authorities while going to the designated terminals of jeepneys to go home.  -- Dexter A. See

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Philex workers clean rivers, plant bamboos on occasion of National Cleanup Month

TUBA, Benguet – Supporting the government’s celebration of September as the National Cleanup Month, Padcal mine has cleaned up a river at its mine camp that it also “adopted” as part of its environmental-protection program, with officials and employees collecting rubbish from the riverbed and planting bamboos along the riverbanks.

About 90 personnel from Padcal mine’s 15 departments participated in the cleanup of and planting of 200 seedlings of tinik, bayog, and giant bamboos at the Sal-angan River, in Itogon’s Brgy. Ampucao, on Saturday, Sept. 16. Itogon and Tuba are the host towns of the company’s gold-and-copper operations in this province.

“That’s how we do things around here—always bring any environmental-protection project or an event a notch higher,” said Eduardo Aratas, manager of Padcal’s Legal Division, who participated in the cleanup and tree-planting drive, which was also part of the government’s International Coastal Cleanup Weekend Celebration. “Not only did we rid the river of rubbish, but also plant trees.”

In a Sept. 11 letter to Manuel Agcaoili, SVP at Philex Mining and resident manager of Padcal, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), of CAR, or Cordillera Administrative Region, in Baguio City, said, “We would like to request your participation in the Orchestrated Cleanup in the region of rivers, creeks, and waterways. Please participate in the cleanup of your respective adopted waterbody…”

Julius Bayogan, manager of Padcal’s Environmental Quality, Monitoring and Evaluation Dept. (EQMED), said the cleanup of Sal-angan River and other waterways at the mine camp has been a regular activity for Philex Mining, which has been in the forefront of environmental protection and community development over the past more than six decades of practicing responsible mining conscientiously.

He said the 90 Padcal personnel had collected 15 sacks of rubbish from the riverbed, eight sacks of which were residual wastes, four sacks of plastic bottles, two sacks of tin cans, one sack of various rubber items like slippers, hoses, and boots.

“Those items that were recyclable have been donated to the residents in nearby villages, while the residual wastes had been brought to our sanitary landfill at the decommissioned and rehabilitated TSF2, or Tailings Storage Facility No. 2, also in Barangay Ampucao,” added Bayogan, who led the four-hour cleanup of the 2-kilometer Sal-angan River. 

He explained that residual wastes include what remains of agricultural, industrial, and mining materials after a treatment process, as well as household trash that cannot be reused or recycled.

On Sept. 19, 2016, Bayogan also led the general cleanup of the Sal-angan River—Padcal’s water source for its mill operation—where the volunteers collected 465 kilograms of waste, 382.5 kg. of which were residual, 45 kg. were biodegradable, and 37.5 kg. were recyclable.

He said the Sal-angan River was “adopted” years ago by Philex Mining to be part of its cleanup drive of waterways and other surroundings at the mine camp.

Last year’s event was also in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s “Bayan Ko, Linis Ko” (“My Country, My Cleanup”), which promoted cleanliness in coastal and inland waterways, creeks, public places, and private establishments nationwide.

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SC approves 2 new trial courts for Baguio City

BAGUIO CITY — The Supreme Court has approved a recommendation seeking to establish two new Regional Trial Courts here to speed up disposition of cases. 

The SC, in an en banc session on Aug. 8, created RTC branches 78 and 79 based on the recommendation of the court administrator.

It also created two positions each for RTC judge, clerk of court V, legal researcher II, interpreter III, court sheriff IV, process server and utility worker, eight for stenographer and four for clerk III.

The positions will be equally distributed between the new RTCs.

The high tribunal has directed the office of the administrative services to submit to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) the newly created positions for funding purposes. 

It also ordered the DBM to immediately release the supplemental allotment release order and notice of cash allocation for the new courts.

Once the new courts become operational, Baguio City will have a total of 10 RTC branches.

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Commercial medical missions in Baguio City to be regulated

BAGUIO CITY – The city council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance regulating and penalizing commercial activities conducted in the guise of medical missions and similar undertakings in the city.

            The ordinance authored by Councilor Edgar M. Avila stated the proposed local legislative measure provides for immediate regulations in the conduct of commercial activities in the guise of medical missions and similar undertakings in the city.

            However, the ordinance shall not cover all medical missions and similar activities conducted for free by duly accredited non-government organizations (NGOs), peoples organizations (POs), religious organizations, media outlets, including but not limited to the Zonta club of Baguio, rotary Club, Lions Club, Kiwanis Club, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, ABS-CBN, GMA 7, TV 5, cooperatives, business corporations, civic organizations and other communications group duly accredited by the local government or entities as their registered line of business, or as part of their social responsibility counterpart or community development activities.

            The ordinance shall apply to business organizations, cooperatives, or individuals or entities who in the guise of medical missions shall promote products and services.

            Except for those earlier cited, the ordinance stipulated that no non-government organization, peoples organization, religious organization, business corporation, cooperatives or any entity shall conduct any medical mission in the city without securing the required permit as contained in the said measure.

            The ordinance will create a Medical Mission Coordinating Committee which will be composed of the City mayor as Chairperson to be co-chaired by the City Health Services Officer who will also serve as its action officer.

            Under the proposed ordinance, the committee shall receive and process letters of intent to conduct medical mission from any interested entity; evaluate the capacity of the applicant, the medical services and procedures to be performed, including the intended beneficiaries; issue the necessary permit and endorsement addressed to the punong barangay concerned or deny the application for cause; keep a record of all medical missions conducted in the city and recommend to the local chief executive or the local legislative body measures to improve the conduct of medical missions in the city.

The procedures in securing a medial mission permit or endorsement to conduct medical mission in any of the barangays in the city shall include the letter of intent addressed to the City mayor through the city Health Services office attached the name and address of the company, cooperative or organization, contact persons, contact number and a brief description of the company; applicable certificate of registration, certification of accreditation from the local legislative body, business permit in the case of business entities, date, time and place of the mission, a literature of the activity or project narrative, list of competent personnel who will be providing the medical services and procedures and list of medical apparatus, medicines or materials to be used or prescribed to the beneficiaries.

            Violators shall face a maximum fine of P5,000 for their third offense and cancellation of accreditation or non-renewal of permit among others.  -- Dexter A. See

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2 slain in Nueva Ecija shootout

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija -- Two alleged members of an armed group were killed while six others were arrested following an alleged encounter with police officers here Sept. 17.

Police identified the fatalities as Jeremy Gomez of Caliwanagan, San Jose City, and Ramon Baldos of Bagong Bayan, General Llanera town, both in Nueva Ecija.

Five of those arrested were Marialuz Dipano, 59; Gideon Reyes, 31; Rodel Soria, 28; Jun Quino, 35, and William Soria, 27.

The suspects reportedly yielded four pistols, a shotgun and several ammunition, according to Central Police director Chief Superintendent Amador Corpus.

Members of the Cabanatuan City police responded to a report that a group of armed men had been spotted roaming in Barangay Pula.

The group reportedly fired at the approaching police officers, triggering an encounter, Corpus said.

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1 soldier wounded, NPA rebs hurt in Ilocos Sur encounter

By Freddie Lazaro

SANTA,CRUZ , Ilocos Sur — Government troops are pursuing New People’s Army guerillas here after a soldier was wounded and undetermined number of rebels were reportedly injured in an encounter at the outskirt village of Barangay Madarang, Salcedo, Ilocos Sur shortly after noontime Sept. 16.

Lt. Colonel Eugenio Julio C Osias, commander of the army’s 81st Infantry Battalion, confirmed the encounter which happened at about 1:30 p.m.

Before the encounter, the soldiers were responded to the reports from residents of Barangay Madarang who were already fed up with NPA’s extortion activities.

“Exhausted from the repeated extortions conducted by NPA rebels in the remote area of Ilocos Sur, the people in the community provided vital information to our troopers regarding the location and whereabouts of said rebels; and in response, our troops conducted intensive military operations against Platun South Ilocos Sur (Platun SIS),” he said..

“When our troops have reached the vicinity of Barangay Madarang, they encountered more or less 15 fully armed NPA rebels which resulted to a 30-minute gunfight,” he added.

It was also reported that the NPA rebels were forced to scamper from the encounter site dragging their wounded comrades after they were overpowered by pursuing soldiers.

During the clearing operation, Osias said they recovered one M653 Rifle, two rifle grenades, three improvised explosive devices (IEDs), one binocular, 50-meter-long wire, one Icom radio with two chargers, documents, personal belongings and medical paraphernalia.

He said the identity of the wounded soldier is still withheld prior to notification of his next of kin. His troops however are conducting relentless pursuit operation against the escaping communist rebels while they are still determining NPA casualties based on the traces of blood in the area.

“We are appealing to all sectors of the society, especially to our local elected officials, to cooperate with their government security forces. It is not just us, the Army that will solve this insurgency, but all of us. What we are doing is not just for ourselves but for the people of Ilocos Sur, and the Filipino people, as a whole,” Osias said.

For his part, Major General Angelito M. De Leon, commander of the army’s 7th Infantry Division, commended the soldiers belonging to the 81st IB in their constant effort to defeat NPA rebels in Ilocos Sur and also thanked the local residents of Salcedo for cooperating with their Army.

“For almost six months now, we have been tracking them down, monitoring their movements and making coordination with the local residents whom they have disturbed. This is the third encounter since July, and this is a clear manifestation that the community is with us in ending the problem of insurgency in Ilocos Sur.”, said Colonel Henry A. Robinson Jr., commander of the army’s 702nd Brigade.

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AWOL cop arrested by peers for carjacking

By Raymund Catindig

TUGUEGARAO City --- A police officer who has gone AWOL (absence without official leave) was arrested by his colleagues over pending carjacking charges filed against him in this city on Sept. 27. 

SPO2 Ronald Casibang was arrested at his home in Barangay Ugac Norte, according to city police chief Supt. Edward Guzman.

Casibang, tagged as one of the city's most wanted man, has been facing at least 10 carjacking charges, Guzman said.

The suspect did not resist when members of the city police served a warrant for his arrest issued by Tuguegarao City Regional Trial Court Judge Arnold Agustin.

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POLICE ROUNDUP

Construction worker stabs peer in regional PNP camp

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A construction worker was stabbed by his co-worker here at the regional police headquarters in Camp Dangwa  Friday around 12:30 a.m.

The victim was identified as James Oplas Jr., 29 while the suspect was named as Johnny Moyaen Alingcotan, 32, both residents of Gumatdang, Atok town.

Police said the victim and suspect with three co-workers were having a drinking session at their barracks when the suspect and victim had intense arguments that resulted in a fistfight. Their co-workers pacified them, but the victim still challenged the suspect that prompted the suspect to stab the victim. The suspect escaped after the incident while the victim was brought to the Benguet General Hospital for medical treatment. The victim sustained one stabbed wound in his neck and two stab wounds in his back, and still under observation in the hospital.

Man, 76 posts P500-K bail for estafa

BAGUIO CITY – A 76-year-old man was arrested here Thursday for estafa but posted a half a million peso bail which led to his temporary liberty. 

The accused was named as Rodolfo Aspillaga of No. 89 Upper Engineer’s Hill Baguio City. He was arrested at Satellite Market, Engineer’s Hill after Maria Ligaya V. Itliong-Rivera, acting presiding judge of First Judicial Region RTC Branch 60, Baguio City issued warrant against him.

House caretaker’s body found in Baguio garage

BAGUIO CITY – A house caretaker was found dead in their garage here Thursday around 10:50 a.m. at Balballo-Licaño, Adiwang, Purok 7, Dontogan. The cadaver was identified as that of Lope Hulipas Laugo, 53. His wife Ruth told police at about 7:30 a.m., she found her husband lying, unresponsive and with blood clot near his head near their gate. Ruth said her husband had hypertension. Police, Emergency and Medical Service personnel tried to revive the victim then rushed him to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center but he was declared dead on arrival by attending doctor.

Boy, 14 still missing in Alfonso Lista

ALFONSO LISTA, Ifugao – A 14-year old boy is still missing after he didn’t go home since Sept. 15. Bert Vidal Dazon, 61, of Purok 2, Namillangan here told police Thursday his adopted son Wendel Santillan Decoy, Grade 4 pupil of Namillangan Elementary School was missing..

He said around 11:30 a.m. of Sept. Wendel spanked the stomach of his classmate that prompted him not to go home because he was afraid he might be scolded.

On Sept. 20, he was seen under a Tamarind tree in Purok 2, Namillangan by a student not knowing that he was near the Dazon house.

 Slay of old woman, theft of P500-K jewelry,P25-K unsolved

BAGUIO CITY – Police are still facing a blank wall on murderers of a 77-year-old lady here Sept. 129 who took half a million pesos worth of jewelries when they ransacked her house Tuesday at Lot 1 Block 3, Phase 1, Richview Square Subdivision, Bakakeng Norte.

Dr. Emily Grace Teodoro Estares, 49, resident of the place identified the victim as Lourdes Abalos Teodoro.

Investigation disclosed, Estares, the victim’s daughter came home and discovered the incident around 5:45 p.m. that day.

She claimed their master’s bedroom was ransacked of the jewelries including P25,000 cash.

Police found the second floor backdoor was opened.

 2 slain in Cabanatuan City drug shootout

CABANATUAN CITY -- Two alleged members of an armed group were killed while six others were arrested following an alleged encounter with police officers in here on Sept, 24.

Police identified the fatalities as Jeremy Gomez of Caliwanagan, San Jose City, and Ramon Baldos of Bagong Bayan, General Llanera town, both in Nueva Ecija.

Five of those arrested were Marialuz Dipano, 59; Gideon Reyes, 31; Rodel Soria, 28; Jun Quino, 35, and William Soria, 27.

The suspects reportedly yielded four pistols, a shotgun and several ammunition, according to Central Police director Chief Supt. Amador Corpus.

Members of the Cabanatuan City police responded to a report that a group of armed men had been spotted roaming in Barangay Pula.

The group reportedly fired at the approaching police officers, triggering an encounter, Corpus said. – Ric Sapnu

Man hits child with ex-wife

BAGUIO CITY – A case was filed for physical injuries against a man here for physically abusing and hitting his son for no apparent reason here Thursday around 9 a.m. The victim’s mother Charlotte Abaya Talanay, 28 said the incident transpired along the road of Lower Kitma, Bakakeng Central, Sept.  22 around 5 p.m. The victim was identified as Gerald Griffin Talanay Acdong, 6, grade 1 pupil at the Siena Hills Academy Incorporated while the suspect was identified as John Daniel “Tisoy” Cole of Purok 14, Maryland Homes Subdivision, Cypress Irisan.

The suspect and his family reportedly visited the house of the victim because the suspect’s former wife was living there. The suspect and his in-laws had a drinking spree under a nipa house outside the victim’s house.

While the victim and the suspect’s son Coco Cole were playing along the road, the suspect suddenly got angry and chased the victim and his son. The suspect was shouting at the victim “Demonyo ka nga ubing, papatayin kita” several times while he was chasing him.  The suspect  reached the victim and pulled him back and forth holding his T-shirt from his back. Not contented, he carried him and shoved him on the road and hit him with a stone. Due to fear, the victim was trembling and vomited.  Their neighbors saw the incident and shouted at the suspect to stop hurting the child.  

 Motorcycle owner appeals return of stolen motorbike

TUBLAY, Benguet – A thief stole a motorcycle here Tuesday at Dutaan, Daclan, Tublay on complaint of Mark Lee Pedro, 31 urging anyhbody who has knowledge about the stolen vehicle to report it to police. The vehicle was described as black Kawasaki Rouser 135 motorcycle with plate number 1990XK, with engine no. JEZCCF4534 and chassis no. MD2A17CZ9CCF43626.

Pedro parked his motorcycle around 5 p.m. along the highway some 50 meters away from their house and noticed it missing at daybreak the next day.

Stay-out house helper runs away with P68-K jewelries

BAGUIO CITY – Be careful in hiring house helpers. A resident of Lexberville Subdivision, Sto Tomas Proper here identified as Marjorie Dizon Ocon, 34, told police her stay-out house helper stole P68,000 worth of her jewelries on Tuesday which later discovered sold or pawned.

Ocon, 34 identified the suspect as Ritchelle Tagam Obsioma, 31, house helper, sales lady, and a resident of Sariling Sikap, San Carlos, Irisan and AF-06 North Sanitary Camp.

Dizon said she discovered her assorted jewelries placed in a jewelry box at their closet at their master’s bedroom were missing. She suspected her house helper, who cleaned their house on Sept. 15, was the one who took said items. At about 1 p.m. on Sept. 23, complainant went to Malcom Square, where the suspect was working and confronted her about the missing jewelries. The suspect handed to the complainant receipt of pawned jewelries at IslandPhil pawnshop located at General Luna dated Sept. 3 and admitted that she took the two sets of jewelries on Sept. 2 and pawned it the following day at the pawnshop.

 The suspect also admitted to she took the other sets of jewelries on Sept. 15  and sold it at Kayang St. on Sept. 

Items taken by the suspect gold bracelets, earrings, pendants, cell phone Among others.

Cases for theft were filed against the suspect at the Prosecutor’s Office.

Barangay chairman nabbed over shabu

TALAVERA, Nueva Ecija -- Ruben Beltran, 52, chairman of Barangay Minabuyoc here and his alleged cohort Ronnel Roxas, 27, were arrested after selling shabu to policemen who posed as buyers. An M16 rifle and 20 sachets of shabu were allegedly recovered from the suspects.

Farmer nabbed for rape in Kapangan 

KAPANGAN, Benguet –Police arrested a farmer identified as Rocky Patnao Flores,  22 of Central here Tuesdday after Marietta S. Brawner-Cualing, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 9, La Trinidad, Benguet issued warrant against him for rape. Bail was set at

P 240,000 for his temporary liberty.

Two injured in Abra-Kalinga Road crash

TAYUM, Abra – Two persons were injured when their motorbikes collided here Tuesday around 9:15 a.m. along Abra-Kalinga Road at Barangay Gaddani.

The Maton125 with sidecar bearing Plate Number 1367AY, was driven by Roger Saturnino Alagao Sr. with his back rider Shiela Daria Donato, 15. It collided with a Mio110 bearing plate number AU17824 driven by Harvey Tadeo Bosas, 15. Investigation disclosed both motorcycles were traversing the provincial road when the Maton125 accidentally bumped the back portion of the Mio Motorcycle that caused the back rider to fall and was brought to Seares Hospital for treatment while the driver was unhurt. The driver of the Maton was hurt on his leg and brought to Tayum Health Center. Both parties agreed to settle the case amicably.

2 drug suspects killed in Nueva Ecija, Bulacan

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga -- Two drug suspects were killed in alleged encounters with police officers in Bulacan and Nueva Ecija on Monday.

Ronnie Buenaventura, alias Kulot, reportedly pulled out a gun after sensing he was dealing with undercover agents in Balagtas, Bulacan.

Buenaventura allegedly fired at the officers, triggering a shootout that resulted in his death.

Police said they recovered a pistol and three plastic sachets said to contain shabu from the suspect.

Meanwhile, Leo Sarmiento, 48, was killed after he reportedly fired at police officers during a sting in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija.

Probers said they recovered a .9mm pistol, three plastic sachets said to contain shabu and marked money from the suspect. – Ric Sapnu

 Motorbike driver, rider hurt in Baguio collision  

BAGUIO CITY – A motorcycle rider and his rider identified as Lito Tanacio Caasi, 28, and Conception Padilla Caasi, 28, were injured when their motorcycle hit the rear of an Isuzu Crosswind wagon taxi driven by Brendon Basungit Lasang, 28 here Tuesday around 8:30 p.m. along Leonard Wood Road. 

Both vehicles incurred damages while the rider the injured were brought to Baguio General and Hospital and Medical Center for treatment.

Young man nabbed for threat to kill minor

SAN ISIDRO, Abra – A young man was arrested here for pointing an unlicensed gun at a minor and threatening to kill him here Tuesday around 2 p.m. at the Poblacion.

The victim was named as Raymon P. Paladera, 17 while the suspect was identified as Jedd Paul Biendima Anastacio, 24 of Poblacion. 

Police said the victim and three other students identified as Regie Castillo Balobar, 13; Bryan Joshua Mandigma Pacsa, 14 and Marvin Dulay Palom, all students of San Isidro National High School were playing at the waiting shed when the suspect arrived and drew a Cal. 38 revolver, pointed to the victim’s left temple then said in Ilokano: “Kayat mo ta patayen ka ta makulongak laengen (You want me to kill you so I’ll be jailed?)”Saan nak tit-titigan loko (Don’t look at me fool), then walked away. Police arrested Anastacio at their house and confiscated the gun from him.

 Worker in hurt after hitting Trinidad ramp  

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A stay-in worker of the Good Taste Building in nearby Baguio City driving a motorcycle hit a road safety ramp here along km 3 Wednesday around 1:45 a.m. and was rendered unconscious.  

The victim, identified as Kenneth B. Alonzo, 33, was hit on his head and rushed to the Benguet General Hospital by responding police. The victim was allegedly drunk. He was still confined at the hospital at press time.

 Three nabbed for robbery in Tabuk

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Three alleged thieves were nabbed here Monday on complaint of Mark John Bacani Manao, 20 and Myrianne Daligdig Basacoy, 27 who said they robbed along the street of Barangay Bulanao.

 Investigation showed that while Manao was driving his motorcycle along Purok 6 when the suspects flagged him down around 8:15 a.m. and one of them pointed a steel tube at him while the other two suspects forcibly took away his Black Berry leap cell phone and ₱280 cash then fled. Bassacoy said earlier around 8 a.m. earlier while she was walking along Purok 5, she was suddenly choked by two male persons with the use of steel tube and forcibly took her Huawie cellphone.

The three suspects were arrested and identified as Mark Anthony Jensen Manangbao;  Luie Duguiang Listo, 17 and Ricky Sagasag Amangao, 19.

‘Freelancer’ nabbed for estafa

BAGUIO CITY – A “freelancer” was “arrested” here Monday at Cooyeesan Hotel Plaza for estafa. Cops served arrest warrant on Whienburger Paligan Chilagan, 30, of Mayoyao, Ifugao and  resident here of of 008-A, Purok 12, Irisan. This, after Jennifer P. Humiding, presiding judge of RTC Branch 63, La Trinidad, Benguet issued warrant against him setting bail of ₱200,000 for his temporary liberty. 

Chilagan showed an order that he was on bail.

7 arrested for guns, explosives, drugs

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet -- – Four persons were arrested for criminal offenses by regional police in the region over the past days.

Through tipped information, three suspects were separately arrested for illegal possession of firearms and explosive. 

 Two individuals identified as Percival Vargas Gumihid, 21, construction worker, of Lower Tomay, La Trinidad Benguet  and Roberto Biluan Panday Jr, 32, private miner, residing at Bua Tuding, Itogon, Benguet were nabbed inside Amarillo Bar, Legarda Road, Baguio City early morning of Sept. 25.

A Cal. 45 pistol with a magazine loaded with 10 bullets placed inside a sling bag was confiscated by cops. 

Other suspects identified as   Melchor Weni Pitir, 24, construction worker,  of km 3 Balili, La Trinidad Benguet was arrested inside the Tubanians Videoke Bar for illegal possession of a handgun while Rodolfo Cadap Totanes, 42, farmer, of Taaw, Marivic, Sapid, Mankayan, Benguet was arrested for possession of a hand grenade inside the Galvalley Videoke Bar at Slaughter Compound, Poblacion, Mankayan Sept. 23.

Police confiscated a Cal. 38 Smith and Wesson without ammunition from the possession of Pitir while a hand grenade was also recovered from Rudy.

 For violation of 9165, Rany Padio Marquez was arrested in his residence at Wandag/Baco-og St., Casigayan, Tabuk City, Kalinga on Sept. 21, 2017 for illegal drugs.

This, after  Victor A.  Dalanao, presiding judge of MTCC, 2nd Judicial Region, Tabuk City, Kalinga issued warrant for his arrest. Confiscated from him were sachets containing suspected Shabu, assorted drug paraphernalia, and cell phone.

 2 farmers stab each other; now in serious condition

TINOC, Ifugao -- Two farmers were brought to the Tinoc District Hospital here and are now in serious condition after they stabbed each other here around 11:45 of Sept. 23.

A police report said Emmanuel D. Robles, 23, farmer, of Banao, Lagawe, Ifugao was brought to the hospital due to stab wounds. When responding personnel were at the hospital, another person was brought by a concerned citizen for stab wounds also identified as Carlos William 34, farmer, of Ambaguio, Nueva Vizcaya and resident of Nalatang, Ap-apid Tinoc Ifugao who was allegedly stabbed by Robles.

Investigation disclosed around 11:30 p.m. while William was cooking inside his house, Robles who was allegedly under the influence of liquor suddenly entered and without any reason stabbed him with a knife prompting him to grapple Robles. William picked a kitchen knife and stabbed Robles then ran and sought help from his brother-in-law who brought him to TDH.  William was brought later to Luis Hora Memorial Regional Hospital at Abatan, Bauko, Mt. Province while Robles was referred to Panopdopan District Hospital in Lamut, Ifugao.

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Lawmen uproot P11-M marijuana in Kalinga raids

TINGLAYAN, Kalinga – An estimated P11,040,000 worth of fully-grown marijuana plants was destroyed by elements of Police Regional Office Cordillera, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Philippine Army during a 2-day marijuana eradication drive in this remote town.

Lawmen uprooted the illegal plants at Barangay Buscalan Sept. 20-21 at nine marijuana plantation sites in Mt. Chumanchil, Sitio Bato, Loccong.

No cultivator was arrested during the operation wherein 40,850 fully grown marijuana plants were burned while some were brought to Kalinga provincial police office as evidence.

Lawmen coordinated earlier with municipal and barangay officials for the operation.

Marijuana cultivation is reportedly the source of livelihood of some folks here. Government officials have tried to dissuade them from the illegal practice but they have reportedly persisted with this due to lack of livelihood options.

Regional police director Chief Supt. Elmo Francis Oco Sarona cited his men for the successful mission.

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Laborer stops Bontoc road proj

BONTOC, Mountain Province – A complaint was lodged against a laborer for allegedly stopping a government project, the upgrading of the national road here at Pakkil, Caluttit.

Felix Fatog Diaz III, 65, contractor told police the incident happened Tuesday around 4:45 p.m. when Cyril Magkachi Sawi, laborer, of Barangay Chakchakan tried to stop construction work.

Investigation disclosed that while heavy equipment operator Julius Agramos,  28, of Sac-angan, Caluttit was working at the project site, the suspect allegedly went there and told him: “Awnin paylang man sa ta marpas una am-in Stop that until everything is finished.”

A police report said this created annoyance, irritation and disturbance on the mind of the complainant.

The case was endorsed to the Barangay Lupon of Bontoc Ili for settlement.

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Navy boat captain relieved over Pangasinan sea collision

2 Vietnamese fishers dead 

BOLINAO, Pangasinan -- The captain and crew members of a Philippine Navy patrol boat that figured in a collision with a Vietnamese fishing vessel in waters off this town last week have been relieved from their posts.

Two Vietnamese fishermen were found dead after an exchange of gunfire reportedly occurred between the two vessels.

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Eduardo and Navy chief Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado ordered the relief of the captain of BRP Miguel Malvar to pave the way for an impartial investigation into the incident, according to Col. Edgard Arevalo, AFP public affairs office chief.

“The rest of the patrol boat’s crewmembers were restricted on the Navy ship to ensure their availability during the investigation,” Arevalo said.

He refused to identify the Navy boat captain.

The Vietnamese fishermen were found dead on their boat while five others were arrested after a chase with a Philippine Navy patrol vessel ended in a collision in the waters off this town Sept. 16.

The Navy was on its way to Subic when it spotted six Vietnamese fishing boats allegedly poaching in the coastal waters of this town shortly before midnight.

The boats were reportedly using “very bright lights.”

The Navy approached the boats, but one of them switched off the light and sped off, prompting a chase.

The boat reportedly rammed the Navy patrol vessel.

Authorities boarded and searched the Vietnamese boat, where they found the bodies lying on the deck and arrested five others.

Pangasinan police director Senior Supt. Ronald Lee identified the fatalities as Le Van Liem and Le Van Reo, both 41.

Arrested were boat captain Pham To, 34, and crewmembers Phan Lam, 34; Nguyen Thanh Chi, 49; Phan Van Liem, 41, and Nguyen Van Trong, 41.

The five Vietnamese were turned over to the local police and would be charged with poaching, Lt. Jose Covarrubias, spokesman for the Naval Forces Northern Luzon, said.

It is not clear how the two Vietnamese died, but initial reports showed there was an exchange of gunfire.

The cadavers bore gunshot wounds. 

Covarrubias said they were verifying the information.

Malacañang assured the government of Vietnam that a fair and thorough probe would be conducted on the incident.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano relayed to Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh the Palace’s assurance on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York Monday.

Probers from the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine National Police have been deployed to Pangasinan to look into the incident.

The team found six bullet holes on the boat’s bow, portside and stern. 

Five large yellowfin tuna, a sack of dried squid and a hook line were also found on the boat. – With a report from Eva Visperas and AFP

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