By Ronron
May 27, 2005
General Santos City - The release here of two alleged Japanese stragglers hangs as of this writing after officials of the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines failed until early Friday night to convince their contact to bring out the alleged World War II veterans.
Embassy officials yesterday told Japanese and local reporters at a hotel here that they were not sure if the mediator, who is also allegedly a Japanese, would be able to turn over the two old Japanese soldiers until last night.
The mediator, according to Embassy officials, contacted the Japanese Embassy in Manila first last Thursday about the existence of the two stragglers who were reported to have been in hiding in the mountains of this city since the second world war ended in 1945.
Historians have said that Japanese soldiers who invaded the Philippines in the 1930's and onwards retreated to the mountains when American soldiers returned in 1944. It was believed that some of these Japanese refused or forgot to return to the lowlands out of fear of being hit back by angry Filipinos whom they abused during the invasion period.
A newspaper in Japan said Yoshio Yamakawa, 87, and Nakauchi Tsuzuki, 83, both of the old Japanese Army, hid in the mountains of this city after failing to escape after the war. They reportedly were not able to catch up with their fellow soldiers who were able to return to Japan.
The two are said to be in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) as they wanted to go back to Japan.
However, NBI Sarangani District Director Atty. Boye Mama said he does not have any knowledge about the said report, adding that they did not even receive an official communication from embassy officials regarding the matter.
"I only learned about it today. Somebody, a Japanese man, called me up and my staff this morning and was asking about that report. I told him I don't know anything about it," Mama said in Filipino in an interview yesterday at his office on Tiongson St., Barangay Lagao of this city.
He said he also verified those two names at the local Immigration office but both were not in the latter's list.
The office of the city mayor here has also conducted verification actions on said report.
A number of news reporters, mostly from Manila, arrived here yesterday morning to verify the report but were only left frustrated at the end of the day. They expect a major breakthrough to happen today./DMS
Saturday, May 28, 2005
Friday, May 27, 2005
3 government agents killed, one civilian injured in shoot-out in Batangas City
By Ronron
May 26, 2005
Three persons, all government agents, were killed and a civilian was injured in a shoot-out before dawn of Thursday outside an entertainment establishment in Lipa City, Batangas, police said.
The slain victims were identified as SPO1 Noel Mendoza, 42, of the Lipa City Police Station Investigation Unit; Sgt. Romeo Loresca, 39, of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) who is assigned at the Anti-Crime Task Force (ACTF); and, a certain Andy Malabanan, 31, a civilian agent of the ACTF.
Civilian Arnold Padera, meanwhile, was hit by a stray bullet on his left leg.
According to a police report, the incident happened at around 1 am yesterday outside the Gimikero Videoke Bar in Barangay Balintawak, Lipa City, Batangas.
Mendoza, with some company, was reportedly at the site for a certain mission when he encountered Loresca, Malabanan, and Sgt. Romeo Bautista, also of the PAF.
Just when Mendoza was about to enter the bar, Bautista reportedly approached him which later resulted to an altercation.
All parties were reportedly intoxicated at that time and were carrying their respective short firearms.
Quoting witnesses, the police said Bautista grabbed Mendoza until a shoot-out occurred.
Loresca and Mendoza were hit and died instantly, while Malabanan expired later at the hospital.
Padera was also rushed to the hospital after the incident.
Police arrested Bautista and detained him at the Lipa City Police Station. Charges of multiple homicide are being prepared against him for filing today (Friday). Police is also encouraging Padera to lodge an attempted homicide case against Bautista./DMS
May 26, 2005
Three persons, all government agents, were killed and a civilian was injured in a shoot-out before dawn of Thursday outside an entertainment establishment in Lipa City, Batangas, police said.
The slain victims were identified as SPO1 Noel Mendoza, 42, of the Lipa City Police Station Investigation Unit; Sgt. Romeo Loresca, 39, of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) who is assigned at the Anti-Crime Task Force (ACTF); and, a certain Andy Malabanan, 31, a civilian agent of the ACTF.
Civilian Arnold Padera, meanwhile, was hit by a stray bullet on his left leg.
According to a police report, the incident happened at around 1 am yesterday outside the Gimikero Videoke Bar in Barangay Balintawak, Lipa City, Batangas.
Mendoza, with some company, was reportedly at the site for a certain mission when he encountered Loresca, Malabanan, and Sgt. Romeo Bautista, also of the PAF.
Just when Mendoza was about to enter the bar, Bautista reportedly approached him which later resulted to an altercation.
All parties were reportedly intoxicated at that time and were carrying their respective short firearms.
Quoting witnesses, the police said Bautista grabbed Mendoza until a shoot-out occurred.
Loresca and Mendoza were hit and died instantly, while Malabanan expired later at the hospital.
Padera was also rushed to the hospital after the incident.
Police arrested Bautista and detained him at the Lipa City Police Station. Charges of multiple homicide are being prepared against him for filing today (Friday). Police is also encouraging Padera to lodge an attempted homicide case against Bautista./DMS
Two Dutchmen killed in anti-cybersex raid in Quezon City
By Ronron
May 26, 2005
Two Dutch nationals who are allegedly engaged in the flesh trade on the internet were killed Wednesday night when authorities raided their dens in New Manila and Cubao, Quezon City.
The victims were identified as brothers Hendrikus Erik Van Engelenburg and Willen Cornelis Van Engelenburg who are accused of running the www.xxx.chat.com cybersex sites.
According to official reports, elements of the Presidential Task Force Hunter on Anti-Illegal Recruitment first swooped down on the first den on #6 Sixth Street near Balete Drive in New Manila, Quezon City at around 8 pm.
Task Force Chief Director Reynaldo Jaylo led the operation that resulted to the death of the brothers after the latter resisted arrest and engaged the authorities in a shoot-out.
Jaylo reportedly shot Hendrikus Erik at the den’s ground floor while other raiding operatives shot Willen Cornelis on the second floor. Both were allegedly armed with caliber 45 pistols.
They were rushed to the nearby St. Luke’s Hospital but were declared dead on arrival. Both were hit in the head.
After the shoot-out, government operatives rescued five female models, who claimed that were just forced to go into the illegal trade, allegedly due to poverty. Each of the ladies reportedly receives a monthly income ranging from P25,000 to P50,000 for either performing self-sex using gadgets, or engaging in sexual activities while being viewed by mostly foreign clients through the webcam.
The second raid was done in another den in Cubao, also ran by the brothers, at around 10 pm.
Task Forcer members caught two models at that time performing self-sex.
Arrested in that raid were the wife of Willen Cornelis, identified as Veronica Rellona, and the firm’s cashier.
The Task Force report said the arrested individuals will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9208 (An Act to Eliminate Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children).
Jaylo justified the raid, saying it was covered by a search warrant issued by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Antonio Eugenio, Jr./DMS
May 26, 2005
Two Dutch nationals who are allegedly engaged in the flesh trade on the internet were killed Wednesday night when authorities raided their dens in New Manila and Cubao, Quezon City.
The victims were identified as brothers Hendrikus Erik Van Engelenburg and Willen Cornelis Van Engelenburg who are accused of running the www.xxx.chat.com cybersex sites.
According to official reports, elements of the Presidential Task Force Hunter on Anti-Illegal Recruitment first swooped down on the first den on #6 Sixth Street near Balete Drive in New Manila, Quezon City at around 8 pm.
Task Force Chief Director Reynaldo Jaylo led the operation that resulted to the death of the brothers after the latter resisted arrest and engaged the authorities in a shoot-out.
Jaylo reportedly shot Hendrikus Erik at the den’s ground floor while other raiding operatives shot Willen Cornelis on the second floor. Both were allegedly armed with caliber 45 pistols.
They were rushed to the nearby St. Luke’s Hospital but were declared dead on arrival. Both were hit in the head.
After the shoot-out, government operatives rescued five female models, who claimed that were just forced to go into the illegal trade, allegedly due to poverty. Each of the ladies reportedly receives a monthly income ranging from P25,000 to P50,000 for either performing self-sex using gadgets, or engaging in sexual activities while being viewed by mostly foreign clients through the webcam.
The second raid was done in another den in Cubao, also ran by the brothers, at around 10 pm.
Task Forcer members caught two models at that time performing self-sex.
Arrested in that raid were the wife of Willen Cornelis, identified as Veronica Rellona, and the firm’s cashier.
The Task Force report said the arrested individuals will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9208 (An Act to Eliminate Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children).
Jaylo justified the raid, saying it was covered by a search warrant issued by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Antonio Eugenio, Jr./DMS
Tornado hits golf course in Cavite, 40 trees uprooted and 26 cars damaged
By Ronron
May 26, 2005
Weather experts confirmed yesterday that what hit a golf course in Cavite on Wednesday afternoon was a tornado.
This was based on the extent of damages left by the calamity, the account of witnesses, and the appearance of the affected place after the incident.
Weather Branch Chief Nathaniel Cruz of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview yesterday that what was perceived as a whirlwind at around 1pm the other day in Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club in Barangay Mabuhay, Carmona, Cavite was indeed a tornado.
The natural calamity, which lasted for more than a minute, resulted in the uprooting of around 40 trees, and the damage of 26 cars after these were run over by the fallen trees.
Fortunately, there was no casualty in the incident.
Cruz said the tornado was estimated to have a diameter of no more than a hundred meters based on the damaged area inside the golf course.
He said the circular formation of the fallen trees also affirmed their theory that what occurred was a tornado. “If it was just an ordinary wind, the fallen trees would be in a single, similar position,” Cruz explained.
“The security personnel of the golf course confirmed that there was a thunderstorm at that time and that the strong wind resembled to that of a tornado,” stated a police report.
Cruz said a tornado needs to have a severe thunderstorm and heavy gray cloud (cumulus nimbus). It is triggered by a difference in the wind strength at the land surface and on the atmosphere.
The strength of the tornado, however, was not immediately determined by the national weather bureau.
The Office of Civil Defense has last recorded a mini tornado incident on May 20 in Bamban, Tarlac which partially damaged six houses, affecting six families./DMS
May 26, 2005
Weather experts confirmed yesterday that what hit a golf course in Cavite on Wednesday afternoon was a tornado.
This was based on the extent of damages left by the calamity, the account of witnesses, and the appearance of the affected place after the incident.
Weather Branch Chief Nathaniel Cruz of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview yesterday that what was perceived as a whirlwind at around 1pm the other day in Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club in Barangay Mabuhay, Carmona, Cavite was indeed a tornado.
The natural calamity, which lasted for more than a minute, resulted in the uprooting of around 40 trees, and the damage of 26 cars after these were run over by the fallen trees.
Fortunately, there was no casualty in the incident.
Cruz said the tornado was estimated to have a diameter of no more than a hundred meters based on the damaged area inside the golf course.
He said the circular formation of the fallen trees also affirmed their theory that what occurred was a tornado. “If it was just an ordinary wind, the fallen trees would be in a single, similar position,” Cruz explained.
“The security personnel of the golf course confirmed that there was a thunderstorm at that time and that the strong wind resembled to that of a tornado,” stated a police report.
Cruz said a tornado needs to have a severe thunderstorm and heavy gray cloud (cumulus nimbus). It is triggered by a difference in the wind strength at the land surface and on the atmosphere.
The strength of the tornado, however, was not immediately determined by the national weather bureau.
The Office of Civil Defense has last recorded a mini tornado incident on May 20 in Bamban, Tarlac which partially damaged six houses, affecting six families./DMS
Bank robbers attack thrift bank, business establishment in Antipolo City; cart away a million pesos
By Ronron
May 26, 2005
A thrift bank and a business establishment beside it in Antipolo City were robbed Thursday morning of around a million pesos by at least four thieves.
According to a police report, the burglary at Real Bank and its adjacent establishment, Jianshe Power Cycle, Inc., both located at the Circumferencial Road in Barangay San Roque, Antipolo City, happened before 8 am yesterday, the time it was discovered by the security guard of the bank.
Initial investigation revealed that the suspects, one of whom is suspected to be a woman, holed first a concrete wall of the Jianshe Power Cycle, Inc., using electric drill and crowbars.
They then ransacked the said establishment, destroyed the steel cabinet inside and carted away cash money amounting to P7,000.00.
Then, they made another hole using the same tools towards the adjacent Real Bank. Using acetylene, the suspects were able to open the vault from which they took more or less one million pesos in cash.
The report indicated that police already has an idea who the possible suspects are, and that they are now being pursued./DMS
May 26, 2005
A thrift bank and a business establishment beside it in Antipolo City were robbed Thursday morning of around a million pesos by at least four thieves.
According to a police report, the burglary at Real Bank and its adjacent establishment, Jianshe Power Cycle, Inc., both located at the Circumferencial Road in Barangay San Roque, Antipolo City, happened before 8 am yesterday, the time it was discovered by the security guard of the bank.
Initial investigation revealed that the suspects, one of whom is suspected to be a woman, holed first a concrete wall of the Jianshe Power Cycle, Inc., using electric drill and crowbars.
They then ransacked the said establishment, destroyed the steel cabinet inside and carted away cash money amounting to P7,000.00.
Then, they made another hole using the same tools towards the adjacent Real Bank. Using acetylene, the suspects were able to open the vault from which they took more or less one million pesos in cash.
The report indicated that police already has an idea who the possible suspects are, and that they are now being pursued./DMS
Suspect in killing of Bicol journalist nabbed
By Ronron
May 26, 2005
Police nabbed on Thursday morning an alleged killer of Bicol journalist Ruel Edrinal, an official said.
Sr. Supt. Pedro Tango, Task Force Newsman commander, said Clarito Arisobal fell into the hands of authorities at around 9 am yesterday in Legaspi City, Albay.
Tango said Arisobal is a suspect in the murder of Edrinal, a DZRC radio broadcaster, on February 11 of last year.
Arisobal is said to be a gun-for-hire and classified as the number one most wanted criminal in the Bicol region. He carries a P250,000-reward for his arrest.
Quoting police records, Tango said Arisobal was also allegedly responsible for the death of a father and son in Masbate on December 14, 2000.
"We are now conducting follow-up operations to arrest the remaining four suspects in connection with the Edrinal killing," Tango said.
Since 1986 when democracy was restored in the Philippines, a total of 68 journalists have been slain in line with their work, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP). /DMS
May 26, 2005
Police nabbed on Thursday morning an alleged killer of Bicol journalist Ruel Edrinal, an official said.
Sr. Supt. Pedro Tango, Task Force Newsman commander, said Clarito Arisobal fell into the hands of authorities at around 9 am yesterday in Legaspi City, Albay.
Tango said Arisobal is a suspect in the murder of Edrinal, a DZRC radio broadcaster, on February 11 of last year.
Arisobal is said to be a gun-for-hire and classified as the number one most wanted criminal in the Bicol region. He carries a P250,000-reward for his arrest.
Quoting police records, Tango said Arisobal was also allegedly responsible for the death of a father and son in Masbate on December 14, 2000.
"We are now conducting follow-up operations to arrest the remaining four suspects in connection with the Edrinal killing," Tango said.
Since 1986 when democracy was restored in the Philippines, a total of 68 journalists have been slain in line with their work, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP). /DMS
Policeman, assassin killed in Bulacan shoot-out
By Ronron
May 26, 2005
A policeman and his assailant were killed in a shootout Thursday afternoon in Bulacan province, initial reports said.
Chief Supt. Alejandro Lapinid, Region III Police Director, identified the slain cop as SPO1 Ramil Gutierrez of the San Ildefonso Municipal Police Station in Bulacan.
His assassin who also died, however, is yet to be identified, while the latter’s accomplice got wounded in the shootout.
Quoting initial reports, Lapinid said the incident happened at 2:45 pm in Cruz na Daan intersection in San Rafael town, Bulacan.
No other details pertaining to the shootout is available yet as of press time.
Investigation is being conducted to ascertain the motive of the incident./DMS
May 26, 2005
A policeman and his assailant were killed in a shootout Thursday afternoon in Bulacan province, initial reports said.
Chief Supt. Alejandro Lapinid, Region III Police Director, identified the slain cop as SPO1 Ramil Gutierrez of the San Ildefonso Municipal Police Station in Bulacan.
His assassin who also died, however, is yet to be identified, while the latter’s accomplice got wounded in the shootout.
Quoting initial reports, Lapinid said the incident happened at 2:45 pm in Cruz na Daan intersection in San Rafael town, Bulacan.
No other details pertaining to the shootout is available yet as of press time.
Investigation is being conducted to ascertain the motive of the incident./DMS
Prosecution of Takemoto killers won’t be supported with fingerprint evidence
By Ronron
May 26, 2005
The prosecution of the suspected killers of Shinya Takemoto will no longer be relying on the results of the examination of the fingerprints lifted from the crime scene as against the index fingerprints of the crime witnesses and suspects.
Police Chief Insp. Jose Palpito, fingerprint examiner of the Region I Police Crime Laboratory, told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview on Thursday that he did not come up with a significant result from the examination he conducted on the fingerprint samples related to the Takemoto case because of their unclear appearance.
“The questioned prints are blurred and fragmented prints. The identity of the suspects cold not be established for lack of basis,” Palpito said in his report dated May 18, 2005.
Palpito said he examined a total of 20 latent prints from the crime scene, and nine other sets of fingerprints from two crime witnesses and seven possible suspects.
The police took for examination the fingerprints of Mary Jane Takemoto, the victim’s wife, and Josefina Juan, the latter’s mother, as well as the of the following suspected possible killers: Romulo Dichoso, Rene Gabriel, Gilbert Domingo, Renante Baltazar, Ariel Baltazar, Romualdo Dichoso, and Romeo Dichoso.
“This (fingerprint examination result) is already final. We could no longer do another examination because the crime scene must have been cleared already of the latent fingerprints. This means the case against the suspects will have to proceed without this physical evidence,” Palpito said.
Police Chief Inspector Joven Aldos, Chief of Solsona Municipal Police Station in Ilocos Norte, said what is important is that there is a confession from one of the suspects.
Rene Gabriel, 24, had admitted that he and his two other friends (Gilbert Domingo and Renante Baltazar), were plotted and carried out the killing of Takemoto, 59, on the evening of May 6, 2005 in his residence in Solsona.
Palpito surmised the surface where the fingerprints were lifted must have been rough./DMS
May 26, 2005
The prosecution of the suspected killers of Shinya Takemoto will no longer be relying on the results of the examination of the fingerprints lifted from the crime scene as against the index fingerprints of the crime witnesses and suspects.
Police Chief Insp. Jose Palpito, fingerprint examiner of the Region I Police Crime Laboratory, told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview on Thursday that he did not come up with a significant result from the examination he conducted on the fingerprint samples related to the Takemoto case because of their unclear appearance.
“The questioned prints are blurred and fragmented prints. The identity of the suspects cold not be established for lack of basis,” Palpito said in his report dated May 18, 2005.
Palpito said he examined a total of 20 latent prints from the crime scene, and nine other sets of fingerprints from two crime witnesses and seven possible suspects.
The police took for examination the fingerprints of Mary Jane Takemoto, the victim’s wife, and Josefina Juan, the latter’s mother, as well as the of the following suspected possible killers: Romulo Dichoso, Rene Gabriel, Gilbert Domingo, Renante Baltazar, Ariel Baltazar, Romualdo Dichoso, and Romeo Dichoso.
“This (fingerprint examination result) is already final. We could no longer do another examination because the crime scene must have been cleared already of the latent fingerprints. This means the case against the suspects will have to proceed without this physical evidence,” Palpito said.
Police Chief Inspector Joven Aldos, Chief of Solsona Municipal Police Station in Ilocos Norte, said what is important is that there is a confession from one of the suspects.
Rene Gabriel, 24, had admitted that he and his two other friends (Gilbert Domingo and Renante Baltazar), were plotted and carried out the killing of Takemoto, 59, on the evening of May 6, 2005 in his residence in Solsona.
Palpito surmised the surface where the fingerprints were lifted must have been rough./DMS
2 rebels killed in AFP-NPA clash in Camarines Sur
By Ronron
May 26, 2005
Two suspected communist rebels were killed in a clash Thursday dawn in Camarines Sur between government troops and the News People's Army (NPA), a military spokesman said.
Philippine Army spokesman Maj. Bartolome Bacarro said a squad from the 42nd Infantry Battalion encountered 10 fully armed rebels at around 4:50 am yesterday at Sitio Mimaag, Higbas village in Caramoan town, Camarines Sur while they were conducting security operation in the area.
The brief firefight that ensued resulted in the death of two unidentified NPA members, while no one was hurt or killed on the government side.
The Army troopers recovered from the rebel group two M16 rifles, three bandoleers for M16, and a jungle pack containing subversive documents.
Bacarro said the fleeing rebels were being pursued by the government troops./DMS
May 26, 2005
Two suspected communist rebels were killed in a clash Thursday dawn in Camarines Sur between government troops and the News People's Army (NPA), a military spokesman said.
Philippine Army spokesman Maj. Bartolome Bacarro said a squad from the 42nd Infantry Battalion encountered 10 fully armed rebels at around 4:50 am yesterday at Sitio Mimaag, Higbas village in Caramoan town, Camarines Sur while they were conducting security operation in the area.
The brief firefight that ensued resulted in the death of two unidentified NPA members, while no one was hurt or killed on the government side.
The Army troopers recovered from the rebel group two M16 rifles, three bandoleers for M16, and a jungle pack containing subversive documents.
Bacarro said the fleeing rebels were being pursued by the government troops./DMS
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Hostage-drama in Western Mindanao ends after more than 24 hours in Zamboanga del Sur; 3 hostage-takers run away but being pursued by authorities
By Ronron
May 25, 2005
The hostage drama that began before noon Wednesday in Misamis Occidental ended peacefully yesterday afternoon in Zamboanga del Sur, leaving no one from among the 12 hostages and the volunteer priest-negotiator severely injured or killed by the three suspects.
Sr. Supt. Eduardo Gallego, Deputy Provincial Police Director of Zamboanga del Sur, told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview yesterday that the crisis ended at around 3pm when the hostage-takers alighted from the Isuzu Fuego get-away vehicle at a remote area in Lakewood town, Zamboanga del Sur.
Gallego said the suspects were still holding up at that time three lady victims and Catholic Bishop Emmanuel Cabajar, who volunteered to drive the vehicle for their escape.
The suspects initially brought 12 victims, including a 10-year-old boy, when they transferred from the air-conditioned Rural Transit passenger bus to Cabajar’s vehicle at around 12:30 pm yesterday in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.
The hostage-takers, who are suspected to be members of the communist New People’s Army, had demanded during the stand-off at said place that they be provided a get-away vehicle.
“We gave in to their demand because in this kind of situation, what is paramount to us is the safety of the hostages,” Region IX Police Director Chief Supt. Prospero Noble said in a television interview. And this, according to him, is the same reason why the crisis stretched beyond 24 hours.
Gallego narrated that as the pick-up vehicle drove off outside Labangan and reached Dumalinao town, four hostages, including a 10-year-old boy, managed to escape by jumping off from the back. They were recovered by authorities and turned over to the Provincial Hospital of Zamboanga del Sur for treatment. Zamboanga del Sur Social Welfare officer Chit Sandiego described the escapees to be under trauma.
And upon reaching Lakewood town, the suspects reportedly released five other hostages, leaving three in their hands, plus Cabajar.
“They just wanted to escape. That was their only demand. They did not even divest the hostages of their personal belongings,” Gallego said.
The three armed men held the passengers of the Dipolog City-bound bus after they were cornered at a checkpoint at 11 am Tuesday at the town proper of Sapang Dalaga, Misamis Occidental.
According to Noble, the men were armed with three short firearms and four hand grenades, which they used to threaten to blow up the bus unless their demand was provided.
Noble and Gallego surmise that the suspects were NPA members since they allegedly claimed of being associated with the “leftist movement” and that they went down in a place believed to be influenced by the communist rebel group.
Noble said police and military operatives have immediately conducted pursuit operations against the three suspects in the mountain area of Lakewood./DMS
May 25, 2005
The hostage drama that began before noon Wednesday in Misamis Occidental ended peacefully yesterday afternoon in Zamboanga del Sur, leaving no one from among the 12 hostages and the volunteer priest-negotiator severely injured or killed by the three suspects.
Sr. Supt. Eduardo Gallego, Deputy Provincial Police Director of Zamboanga del Sur, told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview yesterday that the crisis ended at around 3pm when the hostage-takers alighted from the Isuzu Fuego get-away vehicle at a remote area in Lakewood town, Zamboanga del Sur.
Gallego said the suspects were still holding up at that time three lady victims and Catholic Bishop Emmanuel Cabajar, who volunteered to drive the vehicle for their escape.
The suspects initially brought 12 victims, including a 10-year-old boy, when they transferred from the air-conditioned Rural Transit passenger bus to Cabajar’s vehicle at around 12:30 pm yesterday in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.
The hostage-takers, who are suspected to be members of the communist New People’s Army, had demanded during the stand-off at said place that they be provided a get-away vehicle.
“We gave in to their demand because in this kind of situation, what is paramount to us is the safety of the hostages,” Region IX Police Director Chief Supt. Prospero Noble said in a television interview. And this, according to him, is the same reason why the crisis stretched beyond 24 hours.
Gallego narrated that as the pick-up vehicle drove off outside Labangan and reached Dumalinao town, four hostages, including a 10-year-old boy, managed to escape by jumping off from the back. They were recovered by authorities and turned over to the Provincial Hospital of Zamboanga del Sur for treatment. Zamboanga del Sur Social Welfare officer Chit Sandiego described the escapees to be under trauma.
And upon reaching Lakewood town, the suspects reportedly released five other hostages, leaving three in their hands, plus Cabajar.
“They just wanted to escape. That was their only demand. They did not even divest the hostages of their personal belongings,” Gallego said.
The three armed men held the passengers of the Dipolog City-bound bus after they were cornered at a checkpoint at 11 am Tuesday at the town proper of Sapang Dalaga, Misamis Occidental.
According to Noble, the men were armed with three short firearms and four hand grenades, which they used to threaten to blow up the bus unless their demand was provided.
Noble and Gallego surmise that the suspects were NPA members since they allegedly claimed of being associated with the “leftist movement” and that they went down in a place believed to be influenced by the communist rebel group.
Noble said police and military operatives have immediately conducted pursuit operations against the three suspects in the mountain area of Lakewood./DMS
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
181 enlisted military personnel vows allegiance to gov’t
By Ronron
May 23, 2005
The 181 enlisted military personnel who took part in the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny vowed their allegiance to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Arroyo administration on Monday morning during the flag ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, marking the start of their return to the fold of the military service.
Reading a prepared copy, the soldiers, who come from the Philippine Army, Marines and Navy SWAG, swore in Filipino that they “will obey the law and the reasonable and humane mandate that are legally enforced by the authorities of the Republic of the Philippines, without any reservation or intention to defy.”
“To our President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, we would like to manifest our heartfelt support to her leadership and programs for peace and unity among all Filipinos,” Navy SWAG Chief Petty Officer Leonito Fernin said in Filipino in a short speech he delivered during the same rites on behalf of all 181 soldiers.
Fernin, who is the most senior in the group, thanked their families and the AFP leadership for their support to and understanding of the 181 EP’s.
“We would like to thank also all the Filipinos for giving us the second chance to be of service to you. I hope you will help us (181 soldiers) rise and move on, and forget what happened at Oakwood,” he said.
In their oath, the soldiers promised to religiously assume their responsibilities and perform their tasks as soldiers to the best of their abilities.
Likewise, they pledged to uphold and protect the Constitution, as well as abide by it.
Fresh from receiving their punishment for their participation in the Oakwood incident, the soldiers yesterday also expressed willingness to abide with the penalties for any wrongdoing under the rules and regulations of the AFP and the Philippine government.
The 181 soldiers have just been sentenced to a three-rank demotion and forfeiture of two-thirds of their salary after pleading guilty to the charge of violation of the certain Articles of War, except mutiny.
The soldiers were released last Friday after the court considered their detention for almost two years good enough to offset the one-year detention sentence. The Marines and Army soldiers were confined at Fort Bonifacio in Makati City while the Navy SWAG members were detained at the Naval Base in Sangley, Cavite.
After the oath-taking ceremony, the soldiers were immediately briefed about the two-week pre-deployment training that they need to undergo before they could be re-assigned to their respective mother units.
With the commencement yesterday of the two-week training, AFP Public Information Officer Lt. Col. Buenaventura Pascual asked that the case on the 181 enlisted military personnel be closed and the focus be shifted on the on-going case against the 99 officers and 11 other EP’s who also participated in the same mutinous activity.
In an earlier interview, Atty. Ruel Pulido, defense counsel of the suspected mutineers, said 67 of the 99 officers are already contemplating on entering into a plea bargaining agreement with the prosecution similar to what the 181 EP’s did.
The 11 remaining EP’s, for their part, are still awaiting the decision of the General Court Martial on the motion they filed for the re-investigation of their case, as they assert they were not in Oakwood at the time of the accident.
More than 300 military officers and soldiers took over Oakwood Premier hotel and condominium in Makati City on July 27, 2003 to air their grievances against the alleged corruption in the military service and the Arroyo administration./DMS
May 23, 2005
The 181 enlisted military personnel who took part in the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny vowed their allegiance to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Arroyo administration on Monday morning during the flag ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, marking the start of their return to the fold of the military service.
Reading a prepared copy, the soldiers, who come from the Philippine Army, Marines and Navy SWAG, swore in Filipino that they “will obey the law and the reasonable and humane mandate that are legally enforced by the authorities of the Republic of the Philippines, without any reservation or intention to defy.”
“To our President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, we would like to manifest our heartfelt support to her leadership and programs for peace and unity among all Filipinos,” Navy SWAG Chief Petty Officer Leonito Fernin said in Filipino in a short speech he delivered during the same rites on behalf of all 181 soldiers.
Fernin, who is the most senior in the group, thanked their families and the AFP leadership for their support to and understanding of the 181 EP’s.
“We would like to thank also all the Filipinos for giving us the second chance to be of service to you. I hope you will help us (181 soldiers) rise and move on, and forget what happened at Oakwood,” he said.
In their oath, the soldiers promised to religiously assume their responsibilities and perform their tasks as soldiers to the best of their abilities.
Likewise, they pledged to uphold and protect the Constitution, as well as abide by it.
Fresh from receiving their punishment for their participation in the Oakwood incident, the soldiers yesterday also expressed willingness to abide with the penalties for any wrongdoing under the rules and regulations of the AFP and the Philippine government.
The 181 soldiers have just been sentenced to a three-rank demotion and forfeiture of two-thirds of their salary after pleading guilty to the charge of violation of the certain Articles of War, except mutiny.
The soldiers were released last Friday after the court considered their detention for almost two years good enough to offset the one-year detention sentence. The Marines and Army soldiers were confined at Fort Bonifacio in Makati City while the Navy SWAG members were detained at the Naval Base in Sangley, Cavite.
After the oath-taking ceremony, the soldiers were immediately briefed about the two-week pre-deployment training that they need to undergo before they could be re-assigned to their respective mother units.
With the commencement yesterday of the two-week training, AFP Public Information Officer Lt. Col. Buenaventura Pascual asked that the case on the 181 enlisted military personnel be closed and the focus be shifted on the on-going case against the 99 officers and 11 other EP’s who also participated in the same mutinous activity.
In an earlier interview, Atty. Ruel Pulido, defense counsel of the suspected mutineers, said 67 of the 99 officers are already contemplating on entering into a plea bargaining agreement with the prosecution similar to what the 181 EP’s did.
The 11 remaining EP’s, for their part, are still awaiting the decision of the General Court Martial on the motion they filed for the re-investigation of their case, as they assert they were not in Oakwood at the time of the accident.
More than 300 military officers and soldiers took over Oakwood Premier hotel and condominium in Makati City on July 27, 2003 to air their grievances against the alleged corruption in the military service and the Arroyo administration./DMS
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Robles told to SHUT UP by AFP
By Ronron
May 18, 2005
A military spokesman on Wednesday told Rex Robles, a member of the executive council of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement, to keep silent if he has nothing good to say about the country.
The reaction came a day after Robles, a retired senior commander of the Philippine military who figured in a successful coup against the government of the later President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, hinted of a possibility of military intervention if the present government fails to address the prevailing economic and social problems.
“To Commodore Robles: Shut up. You are doing disservice to the Armed Forces and the people whom you once served,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Information Officer Col. Buenaventura Pascual said in a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
Robles had raised fresh warnings on Tuesday about the inevitableness for disgruntled military men to link up with political groups to change the present administration unless the present problems are solved.
His statements came over a week since another retired military and government official, Fortunato Abat, threatened to overthrow the Arroyo administration in exchange for his proposed revolutionary government.
Pascual stressed the AFP is “solidly behind President (Gloria Macapagal) Arroyo” and that “there is no such group that will go against the chain of command.”
He just branded Robles’ statements as “a pigment of his imagination.”
“If he has any political ambition, he must join the elections. He might win there,” Pascual said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP), for its part, cleared speculations of a coup d etat following Robles’ pronouncements, saying that it has not received any reports to that effect.
“Those are only allegations and we are always prepared for it,” said PNP Acting Chief Dep. Dir. Gen. Ricardo de Leon./DMS
May 18, 2005
A military spokesman on Wednesday told Rex Robles, a member of the executive council of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement, to keep silent if he has nothing good to say about the country.
The reaction came a day after Robles, a retired senior commander of the Philippine military who figured in a successful coup against the government of the later President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, hinted of a possibility of military intervention if the present government fails to address the prevailing economic and social problems.
“To Commodore Robles: Shut up. You are doing disservice to the Armed Forces and the people whom you once served,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Information Officer Col. Buenaventura Pascual said in a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
Robles had raised fresh warnings on Tuesday about the inevitableness for disgruntled military men to link up with political groups to change the present administration unless the present problems are solved.
His statements came over a week since another retired military and government official, Fortunato Abat, threatened to overthrow the Arroyo administration in exchange for his proposed revolutionary government.
Pascual stressed the AFP is “solidly behind President (Gloria Macapagal) Arroyo” and that “there is no such group that will go against the chain of command.”
He just branded Robles’ statements as “a pigment of his imagination.”
“If he has any political ambition, he must join the elections. He might win there,” Pascual said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP), for its part, cleared speculations of a coup d etat following Robles’ pronouncements, saying that it has not received any reports to that effect.
“Those are only allegations and we are always prepared for it,” said PNP Acting Chief Dep. Dir. Gen. Ricardo de Leon./DMS
Tabloid columnist escapes ambush attempt in Valenzuela City
By Ronron
May 18, 2005
A columnist of Metro Manila-based tabloid Bulgar survived an ambush attempt against him Wednesday dawn by unidentified suspects, police said.
Pablo Hernandez III, 41, was on his way home with a companion and was cruising along Rosario St. in Valenzuela City on board a yellow car when he was fired upon at around 3:30 am by two motorcycle-riding men who were trailing them, said Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Col. Leopoldo Bataoil.
The car, a Toyota Corona with plate number NMS-287, was being driven by Hernandez’ driver, George Macalla, 32.
The suspects were on board an Enduro motorcycle, colored white and black with unspecified plate number, and were armed with an unknown handgun.
Initial investigation revealed that the suspects, coming from the back of the victims, overtook the car and blocked the latter before shooting Hernandez several times but missed.
The car was hit four times on its hood and wind shield.
Hernandez told Bataoil he was able to fire back using his Ingram pistol, prompting the suspects to withdraw towards the direction of Gen. T. de Leon Road of said city. Hernandez is said to be an authorized gun-carrier.
Police later recovered from the crime scene a spent shell for 9 mm caliber pistol and a ball cap believed to be owned by one of the suspects.
On February 8 of this year, Hernandez also survived an attack by a hired killer, the first attempt against his life.
Police is not yet certain whether or not the attacks were related to Hernandez’ profession but the columnist claimed in a radio interview the attacks were most likely related to his job.
“The PNP assures him (Hernandez) that we will look into the incident… The Valenzuela City Police will be patrolling the vicinity of his residence in Quezon City to ensure the security of Mr. Hernandez,” PNP Acting Chief Dep. Dir. Gen. Ricardo de Leon said at a press conference later in the afternoon at Camp Crame, Quezon City.
The attack on Hernandez came after a publisher-editor in Dingalan, Aurora was shot dead by assailants allegedly hired by the local chief executive there./DMS
May 18, 2005
A columnist of Metro Manila-based tabloid Bulgar survived an ambush attempt against him Wednesday dawn by unidentified suspects, police said.
Pablo Hernandez III, 41, was on his way home with a companion and was cruising along Rosario St. in Valenzuela City on board a yellow car when he was fired upon at around 3:30 am by two motorcycle-riding men who were trailing them, said Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Col. Leopoldo Bataoil.
The car, a Toyota Corona with plate number NMS-287, was being driven by Hernandez’ driver, George Macalla, 32.
The suspects were on board an Enduro motorcycle, colored white and black with unspecified plate number, and were armed with an unknown handgun.
Initial investigation revealed that the suspects, coming from the back of the victims, overtook the car and blocked the latter before shooting Hernandez several times but missed.
The car was hit four times on its hood and wind shield.
Hernandez told Bataoil he was able to fire back using his Ingram pistol, prompting the suspects to withdraw towards the direction of Gen. T. de Leon Road of said city. Hernandez is said to be an authorized gun-carrier.
Police later recovered from the crime scene a spent shell for 9 mm caliber pistol and a ball cap believed to be owned by one of the suspects.
On February 8 of this year, Hernandez also survived an attack by a hired killer, the first attempt against his life.
Police is not yet certain whether or not the attacks were related to Hernandez’ profession but the columnist claimed in a radio interview the attacks were most likely related to his job.
“The PNP assures him (Hernandez) that we will look into the incident… The Valenzuela City Police will be patrolling the vicinity of his residence in Quezon City to ensure the security of Mr. Hernandez,” PNP Acting Chief Dep. Dir. Gen. Ricardo de Leon said at a press conference later in the afternoon at Camp Crame, Quezon City.
The attack on Hernandez came after a publisher-editor in Dingalan, Aurora was shot dead by assailants allegedly hired by the local chief executive there./DMS
Fight vs. loose firearms now a priority by PNP
By Ronron
May 18, 2005
Citing statistics in previous years showing an overwhelming number of unlicensed firearms used in criminal cases, the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership on Wednesday announced that the fight against loose firearms will already be considered "a priority matter."
PNP Acting Chief Deputy Director General Ricardo De Leon told a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City yesterday that the police has stepped up its campaign against loose firearms as it also thinks of ways to account all firearms.
"Out of last year's 1,731 firearms involved in criminal cases, only 12 are licensed while all the rest are unlicensed," de Leon disclosed.
Records showed that from 1993 until 2003, a total of 11,412 unlicensed firearms were used out of the 13,365 firearms used in different criminal cases. Only 1,953 were properly documented.
The PNP admitted that the sudden spate of killings, especially on high profile personalities, may be attributable to the continued proliferation of loose firearms.
In the first quarter of this year, a total of 1,477 reported crime incidents involved the use of 1,893 loose firearms, official police records show.
"We are looking into some options of the ballistics information management system. Since we have not started the program and we are now doing a manual, it has to be computerized," de Leon said.
Without giving an estimated timeframe, de Leon said the PNP will fast-track its schedule of implementing a computerized system for all licensed firearms, including the renewables, "so we'll have a computerized record of the ballistics."
He also encouraged carriers of loose firearms to avail of the government's amnesty until September.
To show the PNP's seriousness in this fight, de Leon reported that from January until May 15 of this year, a total of 817 loose firearms have already been confiscated, quite an "accomplishment" when compared to the 903 recovered in the entire year of 2004./DMS
May 18, 2005
Citing statistics in previous years showing an overwhelming number of unlicensed firearms used in criminal cases, the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership on Wednesday announced that the fight against loose firearms will already be considered "a priority matter."
PNP Acting Chief Deputy Director General Ricardo De Leon told a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City yesterday that the police has stepped up its campaign against loose firearms as it also thinks of ways to account all firearms.
"Out of last year's 1,731 firearms involved in criminal cases, only 12 are licensed while all the rest are unlicensed," de Leon disclosed.
Records showed that from 1993 until 2003, a total of 11,412 unlicensed firearms were used out of the 13,365 firearms used in different criminal cases. Only 1,953 were properly documented.
The PNP admitted that the sudden spate of killings, especially on high profile personalities, may be attributable to the continued proliferation of loose firearms.
In the first quarter of this year, a total of 1,477 reported crime incidents involved the use of 1,893 loose firearms, official police records show.
"We are looking into some options of the ballistics information management system. Since we have not started the program and we are now doing a manual, it has to be computerized," de Leon said.
Without giving an estimated timeframe, de Leon said the PNP will fast-track its schedule of implementing a computerized system for all licensed firearms, including the renewables, "so we'll have a computerized record of the ballistics."
He also encouraged carriers of loose firearms to avail of the government's amnesty until September.
To show the PNP's seriousness in this fight, de Leon reported that from January until May 15 of this year, a total of 817 loose firearms have already been confiscated, quite an "accomplishment" when compared to the 903 recovered in the entire year of 2004./DMS
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Plane crashes in Rizal, one killed
By Ronron
May 17, 2005
A Bonanza V35 aircraft carrying loads of fish from Palawan crashed Tuesday evening in a mountainous area in Morong, Rizal.
The pilot, Capt. Felimon Mendoza, was instantly killed while the plane was in total wreck, said Rizal Provincial Police Director S/Supt. Leocadio Santiago.
Mendoza's body was said to be crushed.
The eight-seater fixed wing aircraft, with tail number RP C639, showed signs of engine trouble or loss of fuel, said Santiago, based on accounts of local residents who heard the engine conked before plunging into the hilly area of Sitio Agas, Barangay San Guillermo, Morong at around 6:20 pm.
But Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Restituto Padilla theorized the plane could have crashed due to the severe weather disturbance prevailing at the place of accident.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit Rizal, Metro Manila and other neighboring provinces yesterday evening after long weeks of extremely dry season.
Padilla said the rescue team of the Air Force were not even able to land at the crash site last night due to the weather.
The aircraft, owned and operated by Bonanza Air Services, came from Sandoval, Palawan and was bound for Manila.
Yesterday's crash came a day after a Cessna plane ditched into the waters of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, killing two people.
On May 8, four persons were also killed when another aircraft crashed in a hilly portion of Tanauan City, Batangas.
And two weeks earlier, a military chopper crashed in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija while conducting aerial survey. Nine people died in that accident, including the country's famous seismologist, Dr. Raymundo Punongbayan./DMS
May 17, 2005
A Bonanza V35 aircraft carrying loads of fish from Palawan crashed Tuesday evening in a mountainous area in Morong, Rizal.
The pilot, Capt. Felimon Mendoza, was instantly killed while the plane was in total wreck, said Rizal Provincial Police Director S/Supt. Leocadio Santiago.
Mendoza's body was said to be crushed.
The eight-seater fixed wing aircraft, with tail number RP C639, showed signs of engine trouble or loss of fuel, said Santiago, based on accounts of local residents who heard the engine conked before plunging into the hilly area of Sitio Agas, Barangay San Guillermo, Morong at around 6:20 pm.
But Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Restituto Padilla theorized the plane could have crashed due to the severe weather disturbance prevailing at the place of accident.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit Rizal, Metro Manila and other neighboring provinces yesterday evening after long weeks of extremely dry season.
Padilla said the rescue team of the Air Force were not even able to land at the crash site last night due to the weather.
The aircraft, owned and operated by Bonanza Air Services, came from Sandoval, Palawan and was bound for Manila.
Yesterday's crash came a day after a Cessna plane ditched into the waters of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, killing two people.
On May 8, four persons were also killed when another aircraft crashed in a hilly portion of Tanauan City, Batangas.
And two weeks earlier, a military chopper crashed in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija while conducting aerial survey. Nine people died in that accident, including the country's famous seismologist, Dr. Raymundo Punongbayan./DMS
21 downed, one of whom died, in Silay City, Negros Occidental due to alleged food poisoning
By Ronron
May 17, 2005
Twenty-one people were downed, one of whom died, since last weekend in Silay City, Negros Occidental due to alleged food poisoning.
Seven of the victims were only reported yesterday, but no other details were made available to Manila Shimbun during several interview attempts at the city police and Integrated Provincial Hospital (IPH).
Five other victims were also reported last May 15. They were identified in a police report as: Jason Sonio, 11; Pinky Paran, 8; Andreta Paran, one year old and eight months; Faith Salavante, 12; and Ral John Salavante, 10.
The five were allegedly part of the same group that ate the previous day (May 14) two kinds of locally sold fish that were no longer fresh. Police identified the fish as galunggong and lambiyaw.
On that day (May 14), eight persons were sent to the hospital after eating the same set of fish. One of the victims, a nine-year-old boy, died upon arrival at IPH, said police.
IPH Chief Dr. Ma. Estrella Ledesma said the victims were all diagnosed to have suffered "acute gastroenteritis with severe dehydration."
The fish was allegedly brought from an ambulant vendor in Sitio Patag Diutay, Barangay Patag, SilayCity, about 30 kilometers away from the city proper./DMS
May 17, 2005
Twenty-one people were downed, one of whom died, since last weekend in Silay City, Negros Occidental due to alleged food poisoning.
Seven of the victims were only reported yesterday, but no other details were made available to Manila Shimbun during several interview attempts at the city police and Integrated Provincial Hospital (IPH).
Five other victims were also reported last May 15. They were identified in a police report as: Jason Sonio, 11; Pinky Paran, 8; Andreta Paran, one year old and eight months; Faith Salavante, 12; and Ral John Salavante, 10.
The five were allegedly part of the same group that ate the previous day (May 14) two kinds of locally sold fish that were no longer fresh. Police identified the fish as galunggong and lambiyaw.
On that day (May 14), eight persons were sent to the hospital after eating the same set of fish. One of the victims, a nine-year-old boy, died upon arrival at IPH, said police.
IPH Chief Dr. Ma. Estrella Ledesma said the victims were all diagnosed to have suffered "acute gastroenteritis with severe dehydration."
The fish was allegedly brought from an ambulant vendor in Sitio Patag Diutay, Barangay Patag, SilayCity, about 30 kilometers away from the city proper./DMS
Japanese killing suspect confesses
By Ronron
May 17, 2005
Solsona Mayor Joseph de Lara confirmed in a phone interview Tuesday with Manila Shimbun the confession of suspect Rene Gabriel before him last Friday morning about his participation in the killing of Takemoto.
Meanwhile, Mary Jane Takemoto, the victim’s wife, was delighted about the positive development of her husband’s case, especially that it cleared her from being the prime suspect.
Mary Jane, in a phone interview also with Manila Shimbun yesterday, said the identification of the suspects and the arrest of one eased the pain she was carrying in her heart.
“At least, the death of my husband will be given justice already and the accusations against me will be cleared,” she said in Filipino.
But she stressed she is still lonely and sad because said development will not bring her husband back to life.
The suspects, according to Mary Jane, are not known to the Takemoto’s although she already heard their nicknames before.
Mary Jane said she met Gabriel last Monday at the Ilocos Norte Provincial Police Office but they did not exchange words and come near to each other, as advised by the police.
“I was told not to approach him because I might say bad words against him, he might back out from testifying,” she said.
Mary Jane disclosed that Takemoto’s body was already autopsied Wednesday last week by the medico-legal team from the National Bureau of Investigation-Region 1.
His body will be buried tomorrow (Thursday) in the same locality./DMS
May 17, 2005
Solsona Mayor Joseph de Lara confirmed in a phone interview Tuesday with Manila Shimbun the confession of suspect Rene Gabriel before him last Friday morning about his participation in the killing of Takemoto.
Meanwhile, Mary Jane Takemoto, the victim’s wife, was delighted about the positive development of her husband’s case, especially that it cleared her from being the prime suspect.
Mary Jane, in a phone interview also with Manila Shimbun yesterday, said the identification of the suspects and the arrest of one eased the pain she was carrying in her heart.
“At least, the death of my husband will be given justice already and the accusations against me will be cleared,” she said in Filipino.
But she stressed she is still lonely and sad because said development will not bring her husband back to life.
The suspects, according to Mary Jane, are not known to the Takemoto’s although she already heard their nicknames before.
Mary Jane said she met Gabriel last Monday at the Ilocos Norte Provincial Police Office but they did not exchange words and come near to each other, as advised by the police.
“I was told not to approach him because I might say bad words against him, he might back out from testifying,” she said.
Mary Jane disclosed that Takemoto’s body was already autopsied Wednesday last week by the medico-legal team from the National Bureau of Investigation-Region 1.
His body will be buried tomorrow (Thursday) in the same locality./DMS
Four newly-repaired Navy vessels to be deployed starting today (Wednesday)
By Ronron
May 17, 2005
The Philippine Navy will deploy starting today (Wednesday) four newly-repaired vessels at its different Naval Forces around the country as part of the agency’s 107th anniversary celebration this week.
In a statement released yesterday, Navy Public Information Officer Capt. Geronimo Malabanan said BRP Quezon (Patrol Ship 70) will be sent to Naval Forces West based in Zamboanga City.
BRP Cebu (PS28) and BRP Simeon Castro (Patrol Gunboat 374) will go to the Naval Forces in Southern Luzon, located in Legaspi City, Albay.
And the fourth surface asset, BRP Bagong Lakas (PG 102), will be deployed to the Naval Forces Western Mindanao in Davao City.
Malabanan said the deployment of the four vessels is aimed as sustaining the conduct of the naval and maritime operations of the respective Naval Forces.
The Philippine Navy has a little over a hundred patrol ships and gunboats, according to Malabanan.
A send-off ceremony for the four vessels will be held at 10:30 am today at the Philippine Navy headquarters along Roxas Boulevard in Manila City./DMS
May 17, 2005
The Philippine Navy will deploy starting today (Wednesday) four newly-repaired vessels at its different Naval Forces around the country as part of the agency’s 107th anniversary celebration this week.
In a statement released yesterday, Navy Public Information Officer Capt. Geronimo Malabanan said BRP Quezon (Patrol Ship 70) will be sent to Naval Forces West based in Zamboanga City.
BRP Cebu (PS28) and BRP Simeon Castro (Patrol Gunboat 374) will go to the Naval Forces in Southern Luzon, located in Legaspi City, Albay.
And the fourth surface asset, BRP Bagong Lakas (PG 102), will be deployed to the Naval Forces Western Mindanao in Davao City.
Malabanan said the deployment of the four vessels is aimed as sustaining the conduct of the naval and maritime operations of the respective Naval Forces.
The Philippine Navy has a little over a hundred patrol ships and gunboats, according to Malabanan.
A send-off ceremony for the four vessels will be held at 10:30 am today at the Philippine Navy headquarters along Roxas Boulevard in Manila City./DMS
Official says verdict on mutineers not assurance of non-recurrence of military uprisings in the future
By Ronron
May 17, 2005
Any verdict on the more than 300 government soldiers who attempted to grab power from the Arroyo administration on July 27, 2003 does not ensure that the country will be free from future military uprisings.
Thus said UP Professor Carolina Hernandez, a member of the Feliciano Commission that investigated the so-called failed Oakwood Mutiny two years ago and who now serves as Presidential Adviser on the Implementation of the Recommendation of the Feliciano Commission.
“I can not say it will stop because a coup d etat or a coup attempt is a result of many factors… The enforcement of the law to discipline those erring soldiers is only one component of the many factors,” Hernandez told reporters on Tuesday in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
The military court last week has sentenced the 184 enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) who took part in the Oakwood Mutiny to a demotion in their respective ranks, forfeiture of a percentage of their salary and a detention for a year with hard labor as penalty after pleading guilty to three lesser charges.
On the other hand, majority of the officers, excluding the core group headed by Lt. (SG) Antonio Trillanes IV and Capt. Milo Maestrocampo, have sent feelers for a plea bargain, wherein they are expected also to plead guilty to lesser charges in exchange for the dropping of the mutiny charge against them.
Hernandez, in an earlier interview with Manila Shimbun, had welcomed the decision of the AFP tribunal as regards the cases of the EP’s.
“In this case, there are legal processes that are going on both the civilian and the military courts. And you know, the judicial process allows plea bargaining. So, you have to support that kind of approach,” Hernandez said yesterday.
She said that what is important is that the law in this particular case was enforced, “consistent with the recommendation, with the sense of the (Feliciano) Commission that the law has to be enforced.”
But Hernandez is hopeful that with the enforcement of the law on the EP’s, the July 2003 incident will no longer be replicated.
“It (handing down the verdict) is probably one of the important components for deterring future coup attempts but it is not the only one,” she said.
Asked what she thinks is the appropriate punishment for the mutiny leaders, Hernandez replied: “There is a coup d etat law, there is a law prohibiting mutiny. So they (courts) will know what to do. In the case of the Articles of War, there is also a range of penalties for certain violations of certain articles. And I think the General Court Martial will know what to do. So it’s not a good idea if I would be answering that question.”/DMS
May 17, 2005
Any verdict on the more than 300 government soldiers who attempted to grab power from the Arroyo administration on July 27, 2003 does not ensure that the country will be free from future military uprisings.
Thus said UP Professor Carolina Hernandez, a member of the Feliciano Commission that investigated the so-called failed Oakwood Mutiny two years ago and who now serves as Presidential Adviser on the Implementation of the Recommendation of the Feliciano Commission.
“I can not say it will stop because a coup d etat or a coup attempt is a result of many factors… The enforcement of the law to discipline those erring soldiers is only one component of the many factors,” Hernandez told reporters on Tuesday in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
The military court last week has sentenced the 184 enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) who took part in the Oakwood Mutiny to a demotion in their respective ranks, forfeiture of a percentage of their salary and a detention for a year with hard labor as penalty after pleading guilty to three lesser charges.
On the other hand, majority of the officers, excluding the core group headed by Lt. (SG) Antonio Trillanes IV and Capt. Milo Maestrocampo, have sent feelers for a plea bargain, wherein they are expected also to plead guilty to lesser charges in exchange for the dropping of the mutiny charge against them.
Hernandez, in an earlier interview with Manila Shimbun, had welcomed the decision of the AFP tribunal as regards the cases of the EP’s.
“In this case, there are legal processes that are going on both the civilian and the military courts. And you know, the judicial process allows plea bargaining. So, you have to support that kind of approach,” Hernandez said yesterday.
She said that what is important is that the law in this particular case was enforced, “consistent with the recommendation, with the sense of the (Feliciano) Commission that the law has to be enforced.”
But Hernandez is hopeful that with the enforcement of the law on the EP’s, the July 2003 incident will no longer be replicated.
“It (handing down the verdict) is probably one of the important components for deterring future coup attempts but it is not the only one,” she said.
Asked what she thinks is the appropriate punishment for the mutiny leaders, Hernandez replied: “There is a coup d etat law, there is a law prohibiting mutiny. So they (courts) will know what to do. In the case of the Articles of War, there is also a range of penalties for certain violations of certain articles. And I think the General Court Martial will know what to do. So it’s not a good idea if I would be answering that question.”/DMS
Four killed in robbery-slay in Lipa City, Batangas
By Ronron
May 17, 2005
Four persons were killed in a robbery-slay incident early Tuesday morning in Lipa City, Batangas, police said.
According to the Lipa City Police Station, the incident happened at around 4 am when an unidentified male robber barged into the residence of the three slain victims located in Levitown Subdivision, Barangay Marauoy, Lipa City.
The robber was killed later when police responded to the alarm.
The dead victims were identified as Rodoflo Lunar, 62; his alleged live-in partner, Editha Tapalla, 39; and the household helper, Sophia Encernado, 21. They sustained multiple stab wounds, according to police.
It was not yet known if the suspect was able to get anything from the victims’ house but what was certain was that the suspect stabbed the victims to death before fleeing.
The mobile patrol of the Lipa City Police was able to respond promptly because of the alarm raised by the children of Tapalla who escaped the attack. They were identified as Judith, 10, and Dantes, 17.
Police said the suspect was shot dead by the authorities near the victims’ residence when he tried to escape and refused to surrender.
Investigation on the case is still going on as of this writing./DMS
May 17, 2005
Four persons were killed in a robbery-slay incident early Tuesday morning in Lipa City, Batangas, police said.
According to the Lipa City Police Station, the incident happened at around 4 am when an unidentified male robber barged into the residence of the three slain victims located in Levitown Subdivision, Barangay Marauoy, Lipa City.
The robber was killed later when police responded to the alarm.
The dead victims were identified as Rodoflo Lunar, 62; his alleged live-in partner, Editha Tapalla, 39; and the household helper, Sophia Encernado, 21. They sustained multiple stab wounds, according to police.
It was not yet known if the suspect was able to get anything from the victims’ house but what was certain was that the suspect stabbed the victims to death before fleeing.
The mobile patrol of the Lipa City Police was able to respond promptly because of the alarm raised by the children of Tapalla who escaped the attack. They were identified as Judith, 10, and Dantes, 17.
Police said the suspect was shot dead by the authorities near the victims’ residence when he tried to escape and refused to surrender.
Investigation on the case is still going on as of this writing./DMS
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