By Ronron
October 31, 2007
Two policemen died while two others were hurt after they were waylaid on Wednesday morning by armed men in Masbate province, officials said.
Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) spokesman Maj. Randolph Cabangbang said the incident happened at 9:30 am yesterday in Barangay San Pedro, San Pascual town.
Region 5 Police commander Chief Supt. Balligi Tira said in a separate phone interview that the incident also left one of the perpetrators killed on the ground.
Tira said the waylaid troops belong to Police Regional Mobile Group and the San Pascual Municipal Police who were responding to reports of armed men sightings in the area.
“While on their way, they were ambushed. There was a landmine explosion first, and then they were fired upon. But our troops were able to retaliate that’s why we were able to kill one of the perpetrators,” Tira said in Filipino.
Tira said the landmine blast, fortunately, did not hit any of the two police vehicles that were carrying the policemen.
“Our casualties were due to gunshot wounds and not due to the landmine,” he said.
Tira said one policeman died on the spot, while another one died while being transported to the hospital. Two others are being treated at the hospital.
The enemy fatality, however, was brought by the other perpetrators, said Tira.
While Cabangbang tagged the perpetrators as either members of the New People’s Army (NPA) or partisan armed group, Tira refused to make any categorical classification.
“We are investigating if they are really NPA or members of a partisan armed group, and if this incident is election-related or not,” Tira said.
The 6,200-strong NPA has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside in the last 38 years, which include the use of landmine blast targeted against government forces.
Peace talks with the government bogged down in August 2004 after the group and its officials were tagged as terrorists by the US and the European Union.
The Arroyo government has vowed to crush the movement by 2010./DMS
Thursday, November 1, 2007
5,000 cops guard Metro Manila for All Saints’ Day celebration
By Ronron
October 31, 2007
Around 5,000 cops from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) were deployed starting Wednesday afternoon all over Metro Manila to guard the public during the celebration of the All Saints Day and All Souls Day.
NCRPO chief Director Geary Barias told reporters yesterday at Camp Crame that the PNP will be augmented with 3,000 personnel from the Land Transportation Office, Department of Transportation and Communication, and volunteer organizations, and 500 personnel from the National Capital Region Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“At 1pm today (Wednesday), we will be in full force already for Oplan Kaluluwa. But even before that, we have already assigned policemen in bus terminals,” Barias said.
The NCRPO has retained its full alert status even as the rest of the PNP units was downgraded to heightened level on Tuesday morning following the “generally peaceful” conduct of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls last Monday.
Barias said the NCRPO personnel will particularly focus its guarding in 72 cemeteries all over the metropolis. Public assistance centers will be put up, he said.
“There is no intelligence report on terrorist attack,” Barias said when asked about the security situation in Metro Manila.
Barias expects the alert level of the NCRPO to be downgraded come Saturday if the situation normalizes and no longer warrants for more troop deployments./DMS
October 31, 2007
Around 5,000 cops from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) were deployed starting Wednesday afternoon all over Metro Manila to guard the public during the celebration of the All Saints Day and All Souls Day.
NCRPO chief Director Geary Barias told reporters yesterday at Camp Crame that the PNP will be augmented with 3,000 personnel from the Land Transportation Office, Department of Transportation and Communication, and volunteer organizations, and 500 personnel from the National Capital Region Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“At 1pm today (Wednesday), we will be in full force already for Oplan Kaluluwa. But even before that, we have already assigned policemen in bus terminals,” Barias said.
The NCRPO has retained its full alert status even as the rest of the PNP units was downgraded to heightened level on Tuesday morning following the “generally peaceful” conduct of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls last Monday.
Barias said the NCRPO personnel will particularly focus its guarding in 72 cemeteries all over the metropolis. Public assistance centers will be put up, he said.
“There is no intelligence report on terrorist attack,” Barias said when asked about the security situation in Metro Manila.
Barias expects the alert level of the NCRPO to be downgraded come Saturday if the situation normalizes and no longer warrants for more troop deployments./DMS
Barias appeals for patience to families of Glorietta 2 blast victims
By Ronron
October 31, 2007
A day before Filipinos start paying tribute to their dead loved ones, the Philippine National Police (PNP) could only hope to assuage the grief of families of the Glorietta 2 blast victims by assuring them of a thorough investigation, and at the same time appeal for their patience.
In a news conference Wednesday morning at Camp Crame, Quezon City, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Geary Barias, spokesman of the Glorietta 2 blast investigation task force, said the PNP is one with the victims’ families in the search for justice on the incident.
“We are one with you in your search for justice. Very soon, we will end the investigation and hopefully, justice will be served,” Barias said, addressing the families of the victims.
The blast that happened last October 19 resulted in the death of 11 people and the wounding of a little over 100. Initial findings of investigators show that the incident was a gas explosion and not bombing.
On Wednesday, Barias could not say when the investigation will finally wrap up, saying that investigators are still determining the source of ignition that blew off the mixture of methane gas and diesel fumes at the basement of Glorietta 2.
“To the victims of the incident, let’s just be a little patient with the result because we are conducting a very thorough investigation. If this will not be thorough, then we may be filing a useless case later on,” Barias said.
“It’s very important to complete the story because in the court of law, your story should be complete… As much as possible, we have to convince the judge later that this is what happened. We cannot just talk about possibilities. You must have evidence to prove those possibilities,” he added.
Barias reiterated his earlier pronouncements that filing of criminal and civil charges is a logical consequence to the incident because of the casualties.
But when asked yesterday who will be charged, he only said: “I will not jump into the conclusion that it is indeed the Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) that has responsibility. It is the job of our lawyers later on to interpret the contract as to who really has responsibility over this incident.”
According to him, ALI owned up the property but it claimed leasing it to Makati Supermarket in 1992.
“Three days ago, we are looking for the engineer of Makati Supermarket because Ayala said, Makati Supermarket has control over that space. And they gave us also a copy of the contract between Makati Supermarket and them,” Barias said.
Barias said that to “complete the story,” they have to find out if any of the following was the source of the spark that ignited the blast – the submersible pump for the sewage system, the circuit breaker, the light switch, or the light bulb itself.
The pump, he said, is expected to be retrieved from the basement yesterday afternoon for chemical analysis. “If they see some burns at the machine itself, maybe, that would give us conclusions that that is where the spark came from.”
Barias said their initial findings are consistent with those of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Israeli bomb experts that extended technical assistance and made their own investigation too.
During yesterday’s press briefing, Barias showed to reporters from a distance the 13-page report of the AFP that was submitted to PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. by the AFP liason officer, Kurt Plummer, last Tuesday.
The report, dated October 27, stated in its conclusion that “there is no evidence to suggest that the explosion had been caused and/or initiated by an IED or Improvised Explosive Device,” said Barias.
“A fuel-air mixture explosion or that a gas explosion occurred, which originated in the basement,” he went on. Barias withheld the distribution of the AFP report to the media as requested by the AFP.
The Israeli bomb experts also issued the same findings, said Barias.
“These are experts actually hired by one of the companies here and they were just there, they were invited because we are very transparent in our investigation. So they looked at the site for their impression as to what could have caused it,” he said.
“And it was a gas that caused the explosion. That was their only finding,” Barias said.
As to the FBI’s report, Barias said the PNP are still awaiting it.
Barias said the findings of the foreign experts may have reinforced the initial findings of the Multi-Agency Investigating Task Force (MAITF), but it is not yet certain if these will form part in the formal report of the MAITF. He said it will be up to the task force being led by Chief Supt. Luizo Ticman, the chief of the Southern Police District./DMS
October 31, 2007
A day before Filipinos start paying tribute to their dead loved ones, the Philippine National Police (PNP) could only hope to assuage the grief of families of the Glorietta 2 blast victims by assuring them of a thorough investigation, and at the same time appeal for their patience.
In a news conference Wednesday morning at Camp Crame, Quezon City, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Geary Barias, spokesman of the Glorietta 2 blast investigation task force, said the PNP is one with the victims’ families in the search for justice on the incident.
“We are one with you in your search for justice. Very soon, we will end the investigation and hopefully, justice will be served,” Barias said, addressing the families of the victims.
The blast that happened last October 19 resulted in the death of 11 people and the wounding of a little over 100. Initial findings of investigators show that the incident was a gas explosion and not bombing.
On Wednesday, Barias could not say when the investigation will finally wrap up, saying that investigators are still determining the source of ignition that blew off the mixture of methane gas and diesel fumes at the basement of Glorietta 2.
“To the victims of the incident, let’s just be a little patient with the result because we are conducting a very thorough investigation. If this will not be thorough, then we may be filing a useless case later on,” Barias said.
“It’s very important to complete the story because in the court of law, your story should be complete… As much as possible, we have to convince the judge later that this is what happened. We cannot just talk about possibilities. You must have evidence to prove those possibilities,” he added.
Barias reiterated his earlier pronouncements that filing of criminal and civil charges is a logical consequence to the incident because of the casualties.
But when asked yesterday who will be charged, he only said: “I will not jump into the conclusion that it is indeed the Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) that has responsibility. It is the job of our lawyers later on to interpret the contract as to who really has responsibility over this incident.”
According to him, ALI owned up the property but it claimed leasing it to Makati Supermarket in 1992.
“Three days ago, we are looking for the engineer of Makati Supermarket because Ayala said, Makati Supermarket has control over that space. And they gave us also a copy of the contract between Makati Supermarket and them,” Barias said.
Barias said that to “complete the story,” they have to find out if any of the following was the source of the spark that ignited the blast – the submersible pump for the sewage system, the circuit breaker, the light switch, or the light bulb itself.
The pump, he said, is expected to be retrieved from the basement yesterday afternoon for chemical analysis. “If they see some burns at the machine itself, maybe, that would give us conclusions that that is where the spark came from.”
Barias said their initial findings are consistent with those of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Israeli bomb experts that extended technical assistance and made their own investigation too.
During yesterday’s press briefing, Barias showed to reporters from a distance the 13-page report of the AFP that was submitted to PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. by the AFP liason officer, Kurt Plummer, last Tuesday.
The report, dated October 27, stated in its conclusion that “there is no evidence to suggest that the explosion had been caused and/or initiated by an IED or Improvised Explosive Device,” said Barias.
“A fuel-air mixture explosion or that a gas explosion occurred, which originated in the basement,” he went on. Barias withheld the distribution of the AFP report to the media as requested by the AFP.
The Israeli bomb experts also issued the same findings, said Barias.
“These are experts actually hired by one of the companies here and they were just there, they were invited because we are very transparent in our investigation. So they looked at the site for their impression as to what could have caused it,” he said.
“And it was a gas that caused the explosion. That was their only finding,” Barias said.
As to the FBI’s report, Barias said the PNP are still awaiting it.
Barias said the findings of the foreign experts may have reinforced the initial findings of the Multi-Agency Investigating Task Force (MAITF), but it is not yet certain if these will form part in the formal report of the MAITF. He said it will be up to the task force being led by Chief Supt. Luizo Ticman, the chief of the Southern Police District./DMS
One killed, 2 hurt in QC junk shop blast
By Ronron
October 31, 2007
A boy died while two other persons were hurt in a blast early Wednesday afternoon at a junk shop in Quezon City, police said.
The incident happened past 1pm at the junk shop located at the corner of Batangas and San Antonio Streets in Barangay San Antonio in Muñoz District.
A police officer of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 2 said the two injured victims, identified as Moises Marzan and Anthony Ahento, were brought to the Quezon City General Hospital for treatment. Both worked at the junk shop identified as REM Enterprises.
The dead victim, on the other hand, was identified as Wendell Camacho, 12. He died on the spot as he was badly hit by the explosion.
Police said Camacho is allegedly a vendor of junk materials who just delivered some items to the junk shop owned by Rey Obias.
Investigation is still ongoing as of press time if what exploded was a vintage bomb, or a rifle grenade.
QCPD chief investigator Supt. Franklin Mabanag said initial reports indicate that the explosive material was among the items brought in by Camacho, but the circumstances surrounding the blast is still under investigation.
QCPD Information Officer Supt. Asprinio Cabula said “this incident has a frequency of almost one every three months” in the city.
On June 12, a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) also blew off at a junk shop in Barangay Tandang Sora that killed a 17-year-old male helper, and injured five others, including the shop owner.
The incident prompted the QCPD to educate all junk shop owners and managers in the city about dangerous scraps through a meeting in July.
“We got good attendance… Unfortunately, (Obias) did not attend,” Cabula said.
Mabanag said Obias could be held criminally liable, particularly of homicide. But if it is proven that indeed he was not around during the incident and that it was the fault of Camacho, then he might go scot-free.
As of yesterday afternoon, Mabanag said they have no reason to hold Obias in their custody.
Cabula, meanwhile, said that the QCPD will to continue educate “the owners and conduct visitation inspection on junk shops around Quezon City.”/DMS
October 31, 2007
A boy died while two other persons were hurt in a blast early Wednesday afternoon at a junk shop in Quezon City, police said.
The incident happened past 1pm at the junk shop located at the corner of Batangas and San Antonio Streets in Barangay San Antonio in Muñoz District.
A police officer of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 2 said the two injured victims, identified as Moises Marzan and Anthony Ahento, were brought to the Quezon City General Hospital for treatment. Both worked at the junk shop identified as REM Enterprises.
The dead victim, on the other hand, was identified as Wendell Camacho, 12. He died on the spot as he was badly hit by the explosion.
Police said Camacho is allegedly a vendor of junk materials who just delivered some items to the junk shop owned by Rey Obias.
Investigation is still ongoing as of press time if what exploded was a vintage bomb, or a rifle grenade.
QCPD chief investigator Supt. Franklin Mabanag said initial reports indicate that the explosive material was among the items brought in by Camacho, but the circumstances surrounding the blast is still under investigation.
QCPD Information Officer Supt. Asprinio Cabula said “this incident has a frequency of almost one every three months” in the city.
On June 12, a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) also blew off at a junk shop in Barangay Tandang Sora that killed a 17-year-old male helper, and injured five others, including the shop owner.
The incident prompted the QCPD to educate all junk shop owners and managers in the city about dangerous scraps through a meeting in July.
“We got good attendance… Unfortunately, (Obias) did not attend,” Cabula said.
Mabanag said Obias could be held criminally liable, particularly of homicide. But if it is proven that indeed he was not around during the incident and that it was the fault of Camacho, then he might go scot-free.
As of yesterday afternoon, Mabanag said they have no reason to hold Obias in their custody.
Cabula, meanwhile, said that the QCPD will to continue educate “the owners and conduct visitation inspection on junk shops around Quezon City.”/DMS
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
It’s final, gas blew up Glorietta 2 – PNP chief
By Ronron
October 30, 2007
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said Tuesday that the final findings of the Multi-Agency Investigation Task Force (MAITF) as to the cause of the blast at the Glorietta 2 in Makati City last October 19 is gas and not bomb.
Razon issued the statement in a radio interview late Tuesday afternoon even as he claimed that the final report of the MAITF, headed by Southern Police District Director Chief Supt. Luizo Ticman, is yet to be completed.
In a phone interview, Ticman said their report may be ready in one or two weeks yet.
In explaining his statement, Razon cited “physical evidence” gathered by the investigators as the basis for dropping the bombing angle.
“At this point in time, based on the evidence, if we put it on the weighing scale, it will tilt heavily on the accidental gas explosion (angle),” Razon said.
He said similar findings were reported by investigators from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Australian Federal Police and the Israeli bomb experts who extended technical assistance to the MAITF.
Razon mentioned again the mixture of the methane gas (from the septic tank) and diesel fumes (from the diesel tank) at the basement of Glorietta 2 as the cause of the blast, triggered by a spark possibly from switches or motors.
The post-blast scenario also supports the said theory, particularly the upward push direction of the blast.
“This was an accident waiting to happen,” Razon said.
But when asked if the Ayala Land, Inc. can now be held liable for the accident that killed 11 people and wounded over a hundred others, Razon said: “That is up to the investigation. I have not yet seen the report which will determine if there is liability, if there was negligence.”/DMS
October 30, 2007
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said Tuesday that the final findings of the Multi-Agency Investigation Task Force (MAITF) as to the cause of the blast at the Glorietta 2 in Makati City last October 19 is gas and not bomb.
Razon issued the statement in a radio interview late Tuesday afternoon even as he claimed that the final report of the MAITF, headed by Southern Police District Director Chief Supt. Luizo Ticman, is yet to be completed.
In a phone interview, Ticman said their report may be ready in one or two weeks yet.
In explaining his statement, Razon cited “physical evidence” gathered by the investigators as the basis for dropping the bombing angle.
“At this point in time, based on the evidence, if we put it on the weighing scale, it will tilt heavily on the accidental gas explosion (angle),” Razon said.
He said similar findings were reported by investigators from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Australian Federal Police and the Israeli bomb experts who extended technical assistance to the MAITF.
Razon mentioned again the mixture of the methane gas (from the septic tank) and diesel fumes (from the diesel tank) at the basement of Glorietta 2 as the cause of the blast, triggered by a spark possibly from switches or motors.
The post-blast scenario also supports the said theory, particularly the upward push direction of the blast.
“This was an accident waiting to happen,” Razon said.
But when asked if the Ayala Land, Inc. can now be held liable for the accident that killed 11 people and wounded over a hundred others, Razon said: “That is up to the investigation. I have not yet seen the report which will determine if there is liability, if there was negligence.”/DMS
Seven nabbed in shabu lab raid in Laguna
By Ronron
October 30, 2007
Seven persons, including foreign nationals, were apprehended in a series of raid Tuesday morning in suspected shabu laboratory and warehouse in Laguna province, an official said.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Deputy Director General for Operations Assistant Secretary Rodolfo Caisip said the first raid was conducted at 10 am in Barangay Pagsawitan in Sta. Cruz town.
He said that armed with a search warrant issued by Quezon City Judge Jaime Salazar of Branch 103, joint elements of the PDEA and the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) checked on a two-storey old house that was allegedly used as a medium laboratory.
The raiding team recovered from the house some chemicals and equipment used in the manufacture of shabu, Caisip said, but “no finished product.”
A Chinese-looking man who claims to be a native of Macau was also apprehended. He was identified as Tou Heoung, 44, a shabu cook.
From there, the team proceeded to Barangay Pinagsanjan in Pagsanjan town where they raided at around 11:45 am a resort that was allegedly used as a shabu warehouse.
The team, however, recovered only some chemicals and did not find as well any finished product at the Paradise Resort.
But they nabbed six men, namely: Bruce Samson Ong, alias Michael Tan, 36, an alleged Filipino-Chinese who is the alleged mastermind; Soon Foo Siong, 40, a Singaporean national who serves as Chemist of the group; Chin Soon Goon, 46, a Malaysian national who also serves also as chemist; Jameson Go Ang, the alleged guide and interpreter of the group; Abdul Gaftar Bonsalangan, 45, an alleged courier; and Cosami Datimbang, 41, the alleged financier.
The seven were brought to the PDEA headquarters in Quezon City for interrogation and subsequent filing of case against them, said Caisip.
Caisip could not immediately say what types of chemicals and items were recovered, saying every thing was still being subjected to an inventory.
But he said the “clandestine shabu laboratory, had it reached its full blast operation, could produce high grade methamphetamine hydrochloride worth millions of pesos a day, a scenario that is definitely worst imagining.”
Caisip said the authorities discovered the place after civilians reported it to both the PDEA and AIDSOTF.
The authorities conducted a surveillance on both places in the last four months before they struck on Tuesday./DMS
October 30, 2007
Seven persons, including foreign nationals, were apprehended in a series of raid Tuesday morning in suspected shabu laboratory and warehouse in Laguna province, an official said.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Deputy Director General for Operations Assistant Secretary Rodolfo Caisip said the first raid was conducted at 10 am in Barangay Pagsawitan in Sta. Cruz town.
He said that armed with a search warrant issued by Quezon City Judge Jaime Salazar of Branch 103, joint elements of the PDEA and the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) checked on a two-storey old house that was allegedly used as a medium laboratory.
The raiding team recovered from the house some chemicals and equipment used in the manufacture of shabu, Caisip said, but “no finished product.”
A Chinese-looking man who claims to be a native of Macau was also apprehended. He was identified as Tou Heoung, 44, a shabu cook.
From there, the team proceeded to Barangay Pinagsanjan in Pagsanjan town where they raided at around 11:45 am a resort that was allegedly used as a shabu warehouse.
The team, however, recovered only some chemicals and did not find as well any finished product at the Paradise Resort.
But they nabbed six men, namely: Bruce Samson Ong, alias Michael Tan, 36, an alleged Filipino-Chinese who is the alleged mastermind; Soon Foo Siong, 40, a Singaporean national who serves as Chemist of the group; Chin Soon Goon, 46, a Malaysian national who also serves also as chemist; Jameson Go Ang, the alleged guide and interpreter of the group; Abdul Gaftar Bonsalangan, 45, an alleged courier; and Cosami Datimbang, 41, the alleged financier.
The seven were brought to the PDEA headquarters in Quezon City for interrogation and subsequent filing of case against them, said Caisip.
Caisip could not immediately say what types of chemicals and items were recovered, saying every thing was still being subjected to an inventory.
But he said the “clandestine shabu laboratory, had it reached its full blast operation, could produce high grade methamphetamine hydrochloride worth millions of pesos a day, a scenario that is definitely worst imagining.”
Caisip said the authorities discovered the place after civilians reported it to both the PDEA and AIDSOTF.
The authorities conducted a surveillance on both places in the last four months before they struck on Tuesday./DMS
Three suspected car thieves fall in Pampanga
By Ronron
October 30, 2007
The Traffic Management Group (TMG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) apprehended three suspected car thieves on Monday night in Pampanga province as they were driving a stolen van.
TMG Director Chief Supt. Perfecto Palad identified the suspects as Michael Dingal, 28, Mark Dingal, 25, and Rolando dela Cruz, 20, all of Angeles City, Pampanga.
The three were nabbed at around 10pm the other day (Monday) along Sunset Street in Angeles City as they were found aboard a black Hyundai Starex van (2007 Model) that was earlier reported to have been forcibly taken from its owner at about 1:20 am last October 28.
The van was being driven by a certain Samuel Villarena along Visayas Avenue in Tandang Sora, Quezon City when six armed men on board a Ford Everest blocked it and took it away.
Palad said elements of Task Force LIMBAS spotted the van on Monday night and flagged it down since it has no license plates.
Upon inspection, the three allegedly failed to present any document for the said vehicle. The police discovered later that it was the same vehicle stolen from Villarena.
“The TMG operatives immediately placed the three occupants under arrest and brought them and the vehicle to the TMG headquarters (in Camp Crame, Quezon City) for further investigation,” Palad said.
During initial interrogation, the three admitted to being members of the carnapping syndicate led by the notorious Raymund Dominguez, Palad said.
Villarena pointed at Mark Dingal as one of the six men who took the van and who hit him with a gun during the incident when the three suspects were presented yesterday morning to the media in Camp Crame.
Palad said the three will be charged with carnapping.
Palad said he is hoping that Congress will act on the PNP’s appeal to classify carnapping as a heinous crime so that suspects will no longer repeat committing the crime.
Palad lamented that with the affordable bail amount for the crime of carnapping, it would be hard to discourage violators of the law from doing the same.
Under the law, a suspect charged with carnapping can post bail at P180,000./DMS
October 30, 2007
The Traffic Management Group (TMG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) apprehended three suspected car thieves on Monday night in Pampanga province as they were driving a stolen van.
TMG Director Chief Supt. Perfecto Palad identified the suspects as Michael Dingal, 28, Mark Dingal, 25, and Rolando dela Cruz, 20, all of Angeles City, Pampanga.
The three were nabbed at around 10pm the other day (Monday) along Sunset Street in Angeles City as they were found aboard a black Hyundai Starex van (2007 Model) that was earlier reported to have been forcibly taken from its owner at about 1:20 am last October 28.
The van was being driven by a certain Samuel Villarena along Visayas Avenue in Tandang Sora, Quezon City when six armed men on board a Ford Everest blocked it and took it away.
Palad said elements of Task Force LIMBAS spotted the van on Monday night and flagged it down since it has no license plates.
Upon inspection, the three allegedly failed to present any document for the said vehicle. The police discovered later that it was the same vehicle stolen from Villarena.
“The TMG operatives immediately placed the three occupants under arrest and brought them and the vehicle to the TMG headquarters (in Camp Crame, Quezon City) for further investigation,” Palad said.
During initial interrogation, the three admitted to being members of the carnapping syndicate led by the notorious Raymund Dominguez, Palad said.
Villarena pointed at Mark Dingal as one of the six men who took the van and who hit him with a gun during the incident when the three suspects were presented yesterday morning to the media in Camp Crame.
Palad said the three will be charged with carnapping.
Palad said he is hoping that Congress will act on the PNP’s appeal to classify carnapping as a heinous crime so that suspects will no longer repeat committing the crime.
Palad lamented that with the affordable bail amount for the crime of carnapping, it would be hard to discourage violators of the law from doing the same.
Under the law, a suspect charged with carnapping can post bail at P180,000./DMS
PNP shifts focus to All Saints and Souls’ Days after local polls
By Ronron
October 30, 2007
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is shifting its focus to the All Saints’ and Souls’ Days following the “generally peaceful” conduct of the village and youth officials’ elections last Monday.
Chief Supt. Silverio Alarcio, chief of the PNP Directorate for Operations, said Tuesday the police is launching OPERATION PLAN (OPLAN) Kaluluwa (Soul) “to ensure the security of your loved ones who will go to cemeteries for the All Saints and All Souls Days.”
By early morning of Wednesday, Traffic Management Group (TMG) Director Chief Supt. Perfecto Palad said they will start setting up “makeshift tents along major thoroughfares, especially on intersections to assist commuters.”
Alarcio and Palad noted that since it will be a long holiday, a lot of people, especially in Metro Manila, are expected to travel to provinces.
“We expect a heavy volume of vehicles in the Northern Luzon Expressway, and people in bus terminals,” Palad said.
Alarcio said aside from securing cemeteries and travel routes, the PNP will also be monitoring possible activities of terrorists, especially that they could take advantage of large gatherings of people.
“The Regional Mobile Group, Provincial Mobile Group and intelligence community will intensify their efforts against plans of enemies like terrorists… Since the 9/11 incident, we have changed our view about holidays,” Alarcio said.
At 8am yesterday (Tuesday), the PNP has downgraded its alert level nationwide from full to heightened level, except for the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the Special Action Force (SAF) unit.
The alert was raised last Sunday in preparations for the nationwide polls last Monday for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials. Hours after the casting of votes, PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. declared the entire election day as generally peaceful.
As of 5am Tuesday, the PNP has recorded a total of 53 election-related violent incidents (ERVI’s) since the start of the election period on September 29, resulting in the death of 29 people, the wounding of 24, and the abduction of one.
During the election day itself from 1am until 11:30 pm, the PNP recorded nine ERVI’s resulting in the death of seven people, and the wounding of three.
The first incident was the shooting of a barangay chairman candidate in Lamitan City, Basilan at 1am. The victim, identified as Hadji Ali Salasim, was hurt.
It was followed at 4am by the burning of a school building in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija. There were no casualties in said incident.
The third and fourth incidents happened almost the same time at 5:30 am. One is the shooting incident in Catarman, Northern Samar that resulted in the death of an incumbent barangay chairman and a barangay tanod, while the other is an ambush in Cataingan, Masbate that resulted in the wounding of two policemen.
The fifth incident is also an ambush at 6am in Silvino Lobos, Northern Samar that left two barangay councilor candidates dead.
The sixth incident – the ransack and destruction of election paraphernalia - followed at 6:15 am in Matina, Davao City.
The seventh incident happened at 12 noon, involving ballot snatching at Pikit, North Cotabato.
The eighth incident is a shooting incident at 12:45 pm in Isabela City, Basilan that left a candidate and his supporter killed.
Finally, the last incident happened at 11:30pm in Sultan Mastura, Sultan Kudarat wherein a newly-proclaimed barangay chairman, identified as Samsudin Lumbos, was shot to death by unidentified suspects.
Alarcio said the police will continue to gather ERVI’s until the election period ends on November 13.
Alarcio said the PNP’s declaration of a generally peaceful elections last Monday is based on the fact that the ERVI total is way below the figure of 159 ERVI’s in the 2002 barangay and SK polls (75 people killed and 69 others wounded).
He said the PNP has downgraded the alert level since the situation is already normalizing.
Asked if the alert will be raised back to full level for the All Saints’ and Souls’ Days, PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao, Jr. said: “We will look at the situation if it warrants the raising of the alert level back to full status.”
On threats of terrorist attack during the long holiday, he said: “We have not received specific intelligence pointing to a group that is out to do something like carry out terrorist activities.”/DMS
October 30, 2007
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is shifting its focus to the All Saints’ and Souls’ Days following the “generally peaceful” conduct of the village and youth officials’ elections last Monday.
Chief Supt. Silverio Alarcio, chief of the PNP Directorate for Operations, said Tuesday the police is launching OPERATION PLAN (OPLAN) Kaluluwa (Soul) “to ensure the security of your loved ones who will go to cemeteries for the All Saints and All Souls Days.”
By early morning of Wednesday, Traffic Management Group (TMG) Director Chief Supt. Perfecto Palad said they will start setting up “makeshift tents along major thoroughfares, especially on intersections to assist commuters.”
Alarcio and Palad noted that since it will be a long holiday, a lot of people, especially in Metro Manila, are expected to travel to provinces.
“We expect a heavy volume of vehicles in the Northern Luzon Expressway, and people in bus terminals,” Palad said.
Alarcio said aside from securing cemeteries and travel routes, the PNP will also be monitoring possible activities of terrorists, especially that they could take advantage of large gatherings of people.
“The Regional Mobile Group, Provincial Mobile Group and intelligence community will intensify their efforts against plans of enemies like terrorists… Since the 9/11 incident, we have changed our view about holidays,” Alarcio said.
At 8am yesterday (Tuesday), the PNP has downgraded its alert level nationwide from full to heightened level, except for the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the Special Action Force (SAF) unit.
The alert was raised last Sunday in preparations for the nationwide polls last Monday for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials. Hours after the casting of votes, PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. declared the entire election day as generally peaceful.
As of 5am Tuesday, the PNP has recorded a total of 53 election-related violent incidents (ERVI’s) since the start of the election period on September 29, resulting in the death of 29 people, the wounding of 24, and the abduction of one.
During the election day itself from 1am until 11:30 pm, the PNP recorded nine ERVI’s resulting in the death of seven people, and the wounding of three.
The first incident was the shooting of a barangay chairman candidate in Lamitan City, Basilan at 1am. The victim, identified as Hadji Ali Salasim, was hurt.
It was followed at 4am by the burning of a school building in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija. There were no casualties in said incident.
The third and fourth incidents happened almost the same time at 5:30 am. One is the shooting incident in Catarman, Northern Samar that resulted in the death of an incumbent barangay chairman and a barangay tanod, while the other is an ambush in Cataingan, Masbate that resulted in the wounding of two policemen.
The fifth incident is also an ambush at 6am in Silvino Lobos, Northern Samar that left two barangay councilor candidates dead.
The sixth incident – the ransack and destruction of election paraphernalia - followed at 6:15 am in Matina, Davao City.
The seventh incident happened at 12 noon, involving ballot snatching at Pikit, North Cotabato.
The eighth incident is a shooting incident at 12:45 pm in Isabela City, Basilan that left a candidate and his supporter killed.
Finally, the last incident happened at 11:30pm in Sultan Mastura, Sultan Kudarat wherein a newly-proclaimed barangay chairman, identified as Samsudin Lumbos, was shot to death by unidentified suspects.
Alarcio said the police will continue to gather ERVI’s until the election period ends on November 13.
Alarcio said the PNP’s declaration of a generally peaceful elections last Monday is based on the fact that the ERVI total is way below the figure of 159 ERVI’s in the 2002 barangay and SK polls (75 people killed and 69 others wounded).
He said the PNP has downgraded the alert level since the situation is already normalizing.
Asked if the alert will be raised back to full level for the All Saints’ and Souls’ Days, PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao, Jr. said: “We will look at the situation if it warrants the raising of the alert level back to full status.”
On threats of terrorist attack during the long holiday, he said: “We have not received specific intelligence pointing to a group that is out to do something like carry out terrorist activities.”/DMS
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Barangay and SK elections generally peaceful – PNP
By Ronron
October 29, 2007
Monday’s election for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials was generally peaceful, noting fewer violent incidents compared to the similar polls in 2002, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday afternoon.
According to PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr., the casting of votes yesterday from 7am until 3pm went smoothly, except for some delays in the transport of election materials and the start of voting in a few areas due to unexpected incidents, and a few election-related violent incidents (ERVI’s).
“The overall assessment that we got was that we had a very peaceful and orderly barangay elections… The 2007 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections will probably go down in history as the most peaceful and widely participated electoral exercise in recent years,” Razon said in a news conference late Monday afternoon at Camp Crame, Quezon City.
For the day, a total of seven ERVI’s were recorded by the PNP, bringing to 48 the running total of ERVI’s since the start of the election season last September 29. The election period will be over on November 13.
Razon said the 48 ERVI figure is smaller than the 159 ERVI’s recorded during the 2002 barangay and SK polls.
The number of deaths and injured persons so far in this year’s barangay polls, which are 25 and 22, respectively, is likewise way below the figure of 75 persons killed and 69 others wounded in the similar activity in 2002.
Of the 25 killed this year, six are barangay chairman candidates, two are barangay councilor candidates, seven are incumbent barangay officials, three are government officials, and seven others are civilians.
Of the 22 wounded, four are barangay chairman candidates, one is a barangay councilor candidate, seven are incumbent barangay officials, and 10 are civilians.
There is also one person missing in this year’s barangay polls, a barangay captain candidate who was allegedly abducted in Basey, Samar last October 25 by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members. The victim was identified as Elizabeth Gutierrez.
According to Razon, the two election-related fatalities yesterday were a barangay captain candidate and his supporter who were shot at around 12:45 pm in Isabela City, Basilan.
The victims, identified as Basher Maharan, and his supporter known only as Hasan, were at the Badjao School Compound in Barangay Tampalan, Malamawi Island, when shot to death by an unidentified suspect.
Razon said the suspect was apprehended, and recovered from him were two M16 rifles.
Another significant ERVI yesterday was the shooting of another barangay captain reelectionist in Akbar town of same province, although the victim survived.
In a text message, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Police director Chief Supt. Joel Goltiao said Hadji Alih Salasim, the incumbent chairman of Barangay Manggusu in Akbar, was shot at around 1am yesterday by an unidentified suspect.
“He was at the gate of Central Elementary School of Lamitan City in Basilan, waiting to escort the ballots to be brought to Akbar Municipality, when shot,” Goltiao said of Salasim.
Salasim was brought to the St. Peter Hospital where he was reported to be in critical condition.
Three hours later, another significant incident in Nueva Ecija province was reported to police, this time, a fire that ate up a school building allegedly because of an electrical problem.
Sr. Supt. Agripino Javier, provincial police director of Nueva Ecija, said a six-room building of the Tanauan Elementary School in Barangay Malbang, Pantabangan was gutted down, although it did not affect the elections there.
There was no casualty in the incident that lasted up to 6am, said Region 3 Police Director Chief Supt. Errol Pan.
“There are no indications that there were people who went inside the building prior to the blaze. There was no evidence recovered also as far as materials used in starting a fire like kerosene,” Javier told Camp Crame reporters.
“The Bureau of Fire is investigating the incident and the initial angle they are looking at is the overloading of electricity. But it’s not yet final. We are not taking that yet because it is not supported by facts,” he added.
But Pan said they are looking into the allegations of the incumbent barangay chairman of Malbang, identified as Danilo Pineda, that his rival, Barangay chairman candidate Loreto Huerta, was responsible for the incident.
“We are investigating the allegations of Mr. Pineda,” Pan said in a phone interview.
Javier said the fire did not cause an interruption in the voting process as the voters assigned there were just transferred to other school buildings.
In Metro Manila, the elections was also generally peaceful although there were incidents of cheating and minor violence, said National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Geary Barias.
Barias said there were flying voters, vote buyers and gun totters who were apprehended from different areas in the capital.
He said five suspected flying voters were apprehended in Quezon City, one in Navotas, and 34 in Pasay City.
The incident in Pasay City resulted in the declaration of a failure of election in nine precincts in Barangay 76, affecting over 200 voters.
In Caloocan City and Malabon City, police caught a suspected vote-buyer in each, while in San Juan City, a man was nabbed for alleged gun-totting incident.
There were also two separate incidents of mauling in Quezon City and Makati City, Barias said.
But so far, the NCR remains to have a zero record as far as ERVI’s is concerned.
Delay in start of the voting process were reported in some areas in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the Bicol Region due to the weather and late arrival of members of the Board of Election Inspectors.
But in a few areas in Sulu, Shariff Kabunsuan, Lanao del Sur and Northern Samar, there were failures of election declarations, PNP Directorate for Operations head Chief Supt. Silverio Alarcio said.
“The generally peaceful outcome of the nationwide exercise today is largely due to the efforts of the Commission on Elections in instituting reforms in the electoral system with the assistance of the PNP, AFP, local government units, and NGO’s, and cooperation of the citizens,” Razon said.
Razon said that as of yesterday afternoon, 348 persons were apprehended for violating the gun ban, resulting in the confiscation of 303 firearms, eight explosives, 53 deadly weapons and 3,099 ammunitions.
The PNP chief said the police will not let down their guard in the coming hours and days as the election process proceed to the counting and canvassing of votes. There are around 73,000 security personnel, that include those from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, spread all over the country to secure the elections.
“We are still on full alert in spite of the close of the polls. We will continue maybe up to tomorrow… Hopefully, we will be able to maintain the situation that we saw today with the polls already closed, voting done and counting already in progress or just started,” Razon said.
He said they will continue to monitor the more than 4,000 barangays that are at risk of being influenced by communist insurgents and other threat groups from southern Philippines even if they have not significantly made their presence felt in yesterday’s voting.
“I am giving instruction to all field units to intensify security operations until after the counting and proclamation of winners are completed especially in areas where the start of elections had been delayed,” Razon said./DMS
October 29, 2007
Monday’s election for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials was generally peaceful, noting fewer violent incidents compared to the similar polls in 2002, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday afternoon.
According to PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr., the casting of votes yesterday from 7am until 3pm went smoothly, except for some delays in the transport of election materials and the start of voting in a few areas due to unexpected incidents, and a few election-related violent incidents (ERVI’s).
“The overall assessment that we got was that we had a very peaceful and orderly barangay elections… The 2007 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections will probably go down in history as the most peaceful and widely participated electoral exercise in recent years,” Razon said in a news conference late Monday afternoon at Camp Crame, Quezon City.
For the day, a total of seven ERVI’s were recorded by the PNP, bringing to 48 the running total of ERVI’s since the start of the election season last September 29. The election period will be over on November 13.
Razon said the 48 ERVI figure is smaller than the 159 ERVI’s recorded during the 2002 barangay and SK polls.
The number of deaths and injured persons so far in this year’s barangay polls, which are 25 and 22, respectively, is likewise way below the figure of 75 persons killed and 69 others wounded in the similar activity in 2002.
Of the 25 killed this year, six are barangay chairman candidates, two are barangay councilor candidates, seven are incumbent barangay officials, three are government officials, and seven others are civilians.
Of the 22 wounded, four are barangay chairman candidates, one is a barangay councilor candidate, seven are incumbent barangay officials, and 10 are civilians.
There is also one person missing in this year’s barangay polls, a barangay captain candidate who was allegedly abducted in Basey, Samar last October 25 by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members. The victim was identified as Elizabeth Gutierrez.
According to Razon, the two election-related fatalities yesterday were a barangay captain candidate and his supporter who were shot at around 12:45 pm in Isabela City, Basilan.
The victims, identified as Basher Maharan, and his supporter known only as Hasan, were at the Badjao School Compound in Barangay Tampalan, Malamawi Island, when shot to death by an unidentified suspect.
Razon said the suspect was apprehended, and recovered from him were two M16 rifles.
Another significant ERVI yesterday was the shooting of another barangay captain reelectionist in Akbar town of same province, although the victim survived.
In a text message, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Police director Chief Supt. Joel Goltiao said Hadji Alih Salasim, the incumbent chairman of Barangay Manggusu in Akbar, was shot at around 1am yesterday by an unidentified suspect.
“He was at the gate of Central Elementary School of Lamitan City in Basilan, waiting to escort the ballots to be brought to Akbar Municipality, when shot,” Goltiao said of Salasim.
Salasim was brought to the St. Peter Hospital where he was reported to be in critical condition.
Three hours later, another significant incident in Nueva Ecija province was reported to police, this time, a fire that ate up a school building allegedly because of an electrical problem.
Sr. Supt. Agripino Javier, provincial police director of Nueva Ecija, said a six-room building of the Tanauan Elementary School in Barangay Malbang, Pantabangan was gutted down, although it did not affect the elections there.
There was no casualty in the incident that lasted up to 6am, said Region 3 Police Director Chief Supt. Errol Pan.
“There are no indications that there were people who went inside the building prior to the blaze. There was no evidence recovered also as far as materials used in starting a fire like kerosene,” Javier told Camp Crame reporters.
“The Bureau of Fire is investigating the incident and the initial angle they are looking at is the overloading of electricity. But it’s not yet final. We are not taking that yet because it is not supported by facts,” he added.
But Pan said they are looking into the allegations of the incumbent barangay chairman of Malbang, identified as Danilo Pineda, that his rival, Barangay chairman candidate Loreto Huerta, was responsible for the incident.
“We are investigating the allegations of Mr. Pineda,” Pan said in a phone interview.
Javier said the fire did not cause an interruption in the voting process as the voters assigned there were just transferred to other school buildings.
In Metro Manila, the elections was also generally peaceful although there were incidents of cheating and minor violence, said National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Geary Barias.
Barias said there were flying voters, vote buyers and gun totters who were apprehended from different areas in the capital.
He said five suspected flying voters were apprehended in Quezon City, one in Navotas, and 34 in Pasay City.
The incident in Pasay City resulted in the declaration of a failure of election in nine precincts in Barangay 76, affecting over 200 voters.
In Caloocan City and Malabon City, police caught a suspected vote-buyer in each, while in San Juan City, a man was nabbed for alleged gun-totting incident.
There were also two separate incidents of mauling in Quezon City and Makati City, Barias said.
But so far, the NCR remains to have a zero record as far as ERVI’s is concerned.
Delay in start of the voting process were reported in some areas in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the Bicol Region due to the weather and late arrival of members of the Board of Election Inspectors.
But in a few areas in Sulu, Shariff Kabunsuan, Lanao del Sur and Northern Samar, there were failures of election declarations, PNP Directorate for Operations head Chief Supt. Silverio Alarcio said.
“The generally peaceful outcome of the nationwide exercise today is largely due to the efforts of the Commission on Elections in instituting reforms in the electoral system with the assistance of the PNP, AFP, local government units, and NGO’s, and cooperation of the citizens,” Razon said.
Razon said that as of yesterday afternoon, 348 persons were apprehended for violating the gun ban, resulting in the confiscation of 303 firearms, eight explosives, 53 deadly weapons and 3,099 ammunitions.
The PNP chief said the police will not let down their guard in the coming hours and days as the election process proceed to the counting and canvassing of votes. There are around 73,000 security personnel, that include those from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, spread all over the country to secure the elections.
“We are still on full alert in spite of the close of the polls. We will continue maybe up to tomorrow… Hopefully, we will be able to maintain the situation that we saw today with the polls already closed, voting done and counting already in progress or just started,” Razon said.
He said they will continue to monitor the more than 4,000 barangays that are at risk of being influenced by communist insurgents and other threat groups from southern Philippines even if they have not significantly made their presence felt in yesterday’s voting.
“I am giving instruction to all field units to intensify security operations until after the counting and proclamation of winners are completed especially in areas where the start of elections had been delayed,” Razon said./DMS
Monday, October 29, 2007
5 killed in Catanduanes landslide, three fishermen missing
By Ronron
October 28, 2007
Five persons, including three children, died due to a landslide Saturday night in Catanduanes province, while three fishermen are also reported missing.
A report obtained Sunday from the Catanduanes Governor’s Office identified the fatalities as Nelson Tanael, 37; Michelle Tenoria, 27; Nicole Marvin Tanael, 4; Reinhard Tanael, 3; and Ana Carmela Olat, 10.
Except for Olat who is from Barangay Osmeña in Baras town, the victims are from Barangay Sirang of said town.
The landslide happened late Saturday night after two days of continuous rains in the Bicol region due to the prevailing low-pressure area in the country, local officials said.
There are no available data yet as to the circumstances surrounding the death of the five victims, and even the landslide.
In Bato town, particularly in Barangay Binanuahan, three fishermen were reported missing. They were identified as Melchor Traquena, 31; Gaspar Traquena, 29; and Baltazar Traquena, 26.
No one could say if the three are brothers and when they sailed to fish.
According to a separate report of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, landslides also occurred in Barangays Balongbong and Siguban in Bato town; Barangays Boton, Pangilao, and Buhi Siay in San Miguel town; Barangays Lubas and Cabunganan in San Andres town; Barangays Panubanon and Dariao in Caramoan town; and Barangays Area 7 and 5 in Baras town.
The provincial report said some roads in Bato, San Miguel, and San Andres were rendered impassable due to the presence of boulders and soil as a result of the landslide.
Heavy flooding also happened in other parts of the province, as well in Naga City in Camarines Sur; in low-lying areas in Libon, Ligao City, Oas, and Polangui in Albay province; and in Baao, Bato, Nabua, Iriga City, Buhi, Bula, Pili, Bombon, Cabusao, Calabanga, Camaligan, Canaman, Gainza, Libmanan, Magarao, Milaor, Minalabac and San Fernando in Camarines Sur, the NDCC report said.
The report of the Catanduanes provincial government said a total of 11 barangays were affected by the landslides and flooding, causing inconvenience to 350 families or 2,100 persons.
In Camarines Sur, 123 families or 738 persons from three barangays in Baao town have been brought to different evacuation centers, said Engineer Alvin Magdaong of the Region 5 Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in a DZMM interview yesterday afternoon.
Some P100,000 worth of vegetables have been damaged by the flood and rains in Catanduanes province, the local government said.
Magdaong said Camarines Sur suffered the most as far as flooding is concerned because it is the “downstream of the Bicol river basin.”
“The rainwater from Albay drains to Camarines Sur. So, even if there is no rain there, it could still get flooded if there is heavy rain in Albay. The San Miguel Bay in Camarines Sur is the last draining point of the Bicol River Basin,” Magdaong explained.
“I hope it no longer rains hard… Right now, it is just cloudy in Albay while the sun is reportedly out already in Camarines Sur,” he added.
Clearing operations in affected roads in Catanduanes are also underway as of yesterday afternoon, the provincial government report said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that the low-pressure area hovering the country is no longer expected to intensify into a tropical storm or typhoon./DMS
October 28, 2007
Five persons, including three children, died due to a landslide Saturday night in Catanduanes province, while three fishermen are also reported missing.
A report obtained Sunday from the Catanduanes Governor’s Office identified the fatalities as Nelson Tanael, 37; Michelle Tenoria, 27; Nicole Marvin Tanael, 4; Reinhard Tanael, 3; and Ana Carmela Olat, 10.
Except for Olat who is from Barangay Osmeña in Baras town, the victims are from Barangay Sirang of said town.
The landslide happened late Saturday night after two days of continuous rains in the Bicol region due to the prevailing low-pressure area in the country, local officials said.
There are no available data yet as to the circumstances surrounding the death of the five victims, and even the landslide.
In Bato town, particularly in Barangay Binanuahan, three fishermen were reported missing. They were identified as Melchor Traquena, 31; Gaspar Traquena, 29; and Baltazar Traquena, 26.
No one could say if the three are brothers and when they sailed to fish.
According to a separate report of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, landslides also occurred in Barangays Balongbong and Siguban in Bato town; Barangays Boton, Pangilao, and Buhi Siay in San Miguel town; Barangays Lubas and Cabunganan in San Andres town; Barangays Panubanon and Dariao in Caramoan town; and Barangays Area 7 and 5 in Baras town.
The provincial report said some roads in Bato, San Miguel, and San Andres were rendered impassable due to the presence of boulders and soil as a result of the landslide.
Heavy flooding also happened in other parts of the province, as well in Naga City in Camarines Sur; in low-lying areas in Libon, Ligao City, Oas, and Polangui in Albay province; and in Baao, Bato, Nabua, Iriga City, Buhi, Bula, Pili, Bombon, Cabusao, Calabanga, Camaligan, Canaman, Gainza, Libmanan, Magarao, Milaor, Minalabac and San Fernando in Camarines Sur, the NDCC report said.
The report of the Catanduanes provincial government said a total of 11 barangays were affected by the landslides and flooding, causing inconvenience to 350 families or 2,100 persons.
In Camarines Sur, 123 families or 738 persons from three barangays in Baao town have been brought to different evacuation centers, said Engineer Alvin Magdaong of the Region 5 Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in a DZMM interview yesterday afternoon.
Some P100,000 worth of vegetables have been damaged by the flood and rains in Catanduanes province, the local government said.
Magdaong said Camarines Sur suffered the most as far as flooding is concerned because it is the “downstream of the Bicol river basin.”
“The rainwater from Albay drains to Camarines Sur. So, even if there is no rain there, it could still get flooded if there is heavy rain in Albay. The San Miguel Bay in Camarines Sur is the last draining point of the Bicol River Basin,” Magdaong explained.
“I hope it no longer rains hard… Right now, it is just cloudy in Albay while the sun is reportedly out already in Camarines Sur,” he added.
Clearing operations in affected roads in Catanduanes are also underway as of yesterday afternoon, the provincial government report said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that the low-pressure area hovering the country is no longer expected to intensify into a tropical storm or typhoon./DMS
American soldier dies in Sulu
By Ronron
October 28, 2007
An American soldier who is stationed in the southern Philippines to help train Filipino soldiers and conduct humanitarian activities died last Friday, US and Philippine officials said Sunday.
“We can confirm that a US service member of the US Special Operations Task Force died last October 26 in the southern Philippines in a non-combat incident,” US Embassy in Manila spokesman Rebecca Thompson said in a phone interview.
Sulu Police commander Sr. Supt. Ahirun Ajirim said the incident happened in Panamao town, although he could not confirm or deny if the soldier died at sea due to drowning as reported.
Ajirim said he was on his way Sunday afternoon to Panamao to gather details about the incident.
“The circumstances surrounding the death of the serviceman is under investigation,” Thompson said.
Thompson said she is temporarily withholding the identity of the victim and his unit pending notification to his next of kin.
On October 16, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM) announced that there will be a rotation of US military personnel deployed in Mindanao by November.
It is not known if the victim is part of those set to leave the country.
“This normal rotation is necessary due to the temporary nature of the US military presence in the southern Philippines, confirming the fact that the US does not maintain any permanent bases here in the Philippines,” said Maj. Eugenio Batara, Jr., spokesman of the AFP WESTMINCOM.
Batara said he was announcing in advance the rotation so as to prevent undue alarm from the public if ever they notice a “temporary increase in the number of US military aircraft flying in and out of the airports, specifically in Cotabato and Zamboanga cities.”
“This rotation, however, will not affect the overall number of US troops in the Philippines as the rotation will be on one-on-one basis,” Batara assured. Philippine and American authorities have repeatedly refused to disclose the number of US troops in the south, citing unspecified “security reasons.”
Batara encouraged the public to “welcome” the US forces “so that we could avail of the help that our American brothers are extending to us.”
“The United States had been supporting the (AFP) to defeat the terrorist organizations in this part of the country and they had been constantly involved in humanitarian assistance and civic action programs of the government in order to deliver basic services to our less privileged brothers in Mindanao, … Christians and Muslims alike,” Batara said.
Batara reiterated that the US Forces are in the Philippines “at the invitation of the government … to provide advice and assistance” to the AFP.”
In February of this year, an American soldier, identified as US Marine Corporal Timothy Lewis, 20, died also in Sulu due to “cardiac arrest” even as he has yet to participate in this year’s Balikatan exercises.
American forces are not allowed to engage in combat operations in the Philippines. Their presence in the country is sanctioned by the RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty./DMS
October 28, 2007
An American soldier who is stationed in the southern Philippines to help train Filipino soldiers and conduct humanitarian activities died last Friday, US and Philippine officials said Sunday.
“We can confirm that a US service member of the US Special Operations Task Force died last October 26 in the southern Philippines in a non-combat incident,” US Embassy in Manila spokesman Rebecca Thompson said in a phone interview.
Sulu Police commander Sr. Supt. Ahirun Ajirim said the incident happened in Panamao town, although he could not confirm or deny if the soldier died at sea due to drowning as reported.
Ajirim said he was on his way Sunday afternoon to Panamao to gather details about the incident.
“The circumstances surrounding the death of the serviceman is under investigation,” Thompson said.
Thompson said she is temporarily withholding the identity of the victim and his unit pending notification to his next of kin.
On October 16, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM) announced that there will be a rotation of US military personnel deployed in Mindanao by November.
It is not known if the victim is part of those set to leave the country.
“This normal rotation is necessary due to the temporary nature of the US military presence in the southern Philippines, confirming the fact that the US does not maintain any permanent bases here in the Philippines,” said Maj. Eugenio Batara, Jr., spokesman of the AFP WESTMINCOM.
Batara said he was announcing in advance the rotation so as to prevent undue alarm from the public if ever they notice a “temporary increase in the number of US military aircraft flying in and out of the airports, specifically in Cotabato and Zamboanga cities.”
“This rotation, however, will not affect the overall number of US troops in the Philippines as the rotation will be on one-on-one basis,” Batara assured. Philippine and American authorities have repeatedly refused to disclose the number of US troops in the south, citing unspecified “security reasons.”
Batara encouraged the public to “welcome” the US forces “so that we could avail of the help that our American brothers are extending to us.”
“The United States had been supporting the (AFP) to defeat the terrorist organizations in this part of the country and they had been constantly involved in humanitarian assistance and civic action programs of the government in order to deliver basic services to our less privileged brothers in Mindanao, … Christians and Muslims alike,” Batara said.
Batara reiterated that the US Forces are in the Philippines “at the invitation of the government … to provide advice and assistance” to the AFP.”
In February of this year, an American soldier, identified as US Marine Corporal Timothy Lewis, 20, died also in Sulu due to “cardiac arrest” even as he has yet to participate in this year’s Balikatan exercises.
American forces are not allowed to engage in combat operations in the Philippines. Their presence in the country is sanctioned by the RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty./DMS
20 killed, 13 wounded in 30 ERVI’s so far, says PNP
By Ronron
October 28, 2007
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded 30 election-related violent incidents (ERVI’s) so far in relation to the October 29 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls, resulting in the deaths of 20 people and the wounding of 13 others, a report disclosed Sunday.
The incidents cover the period September 29, the start of the election season, until October 27, or two days before the village and youth polls, based on the report released by Sr. Supt. Jose Gentiles of the PNP Directorate for Operations.
Twenty-five of the ERVI’s are shooting incidents, two are ambush, two are harassment and one was perpetrated by suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA), the report showed.
Geographically, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has the most number of incidents, with six; followed by Regions 1 and 6, with four each; Regions 3, 5, 7, 10, 13 and the Cordillera Administrative Region, with two each; and Regions 4-A, 8, 9, and 12, with one each.
No ERVI’s were so far recorded in Regions 2, 4-B, 11, and the National Capital Region (NCR), the report showed.
Of the fatalities, five are barangay chairman candidates, two are barangay councilor candidates, four are incumbent barangay officials, three are government officials and six are civilians.
The wounded victims, on the other hand, include two barangay chairman candidates, one barangay councilor candidate, five incumbent barangay officials, and six civilians.
Gentiles, speaking on DZBB radio yesterday morning, pointed out that the figures are way below the 159 incidents recorded in the 2002 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls. PNP data showed that 75 people were killed and 69 others were injured during the previous local elections.
Aside from violence, the PNP is also focused on apprehending gun ban and liquor ban violators.
The gun ban took effect during the start of the election period last September 29, while the liquor ban began midnight of Saturday. The former will expire at the end of the election period on November 13, while the latter will be lifted midnight of Monday.
“Our Election Monitoring Action Center is monitoring so that we can respond to the situation that develops in the different places during the conduct of our elections,” PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said in a separate radio interview yesterday noon.
Based on historical data, the PNP tagged around 4,355 villages all over the country, or about 10.3 percent of all barangays, as areas of election concern due to possible influence by the NPA.
The PNP and Armed Forces had already raised their alert to the highest levels in preparation for the elections.
The Commission on Elections had said that voting will start at 7am Monday and end at 3pm, after which counting and canvassing will commence./DMS
October 28, 2007
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded 30 election-related violent incidents (ERVI’s) so far in relation to the October 29 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls, resulting in the deaths of 20 people and the wounding of 13 others, a report disclosed Sunday.
The incidents cover the period September 29, the start of the election season, until October 27, or two days before the village and youth polls, based on the report released by Sr. Supt. Jose Gentiles of the PNP Directorate for Operations.
Twenty-five of the ERVI’s are shooting incidents, two are ambush, two are harassment and one was perpetrated by suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA), the report showed.
Geographically, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has the most number of incidents, with six; followed by Regions 1 and 6, with four each; Regions 3, 5, 7, 10, 13 and the Cordillera Administrative Region, with two each; and Regions 4-A, 8, 9, and 12, with one each.
No ERVI’s were so far recorded in Regions 2, 4-B, 11, and the National Capital Region (NCR), the report showed.
Of the fatalities, five are barangay chairman candidates, two are barangay councilor candidates, four are incumbent barangay officials, three are government officials and six are civilians.
The wounded victims, on the other hand, include two barangay chairman candidates, one barangay councilor candidate, five incumbent barangay officials, and six civilians.
Gentiles, speaking on DZBB radio yesterday morning, pointed out that the figures are way below the 159 incidents recorded in the 2002 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls. PNP data showed that 75 people were killed and 69 others were injured during the previous local elections.
Aside from violence, the PNP is also focused on apprehending gun ban and liquor ban violators.
The gun ban took effect during the start of the election period last September 29, while the liquor ban began midnight of Saturday. The former will expire at the end of the election period on November 13, while the latter will be lifted midnight of Monday.
“Our Election Monitoring Action Center is monitoring so that we can respond to the situation that develops in the different places during the conduct of our elections,” PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said in a separate radio interview yesterday noon.
Based on historical data, the PNP tagged around 4,355 villages all over the country, or about 10.3 percent of all barangays, as areas of election concern due to possible influence by the NPA.
The PNP and Armed Forces had already raised their alert to the highest levels in preparation for the elections.
The Commission on Elections had said that voting will start at 7am Monday and end at 3pm, after which counting and canvassing will commence./DMS
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