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Police Regional Office VII - Central Visayas |
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| Year 2008 MONTH JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC | ARCHIVE 2007 | |
AugustProvincial News, Tuesday, August 05, 2008 Crimes in Cebu drop by 7 percent in first half of 2008 CEBUCITY, Aug. 5 (PNA) -- Index crimes or crimes against persons andproperties in Cebu Province dropped by seven percent in the firstsemester of 2008, according to the Cebu Provincial Police Office(CPPO). CPPODirector Carmelo Valmoria said index crimes dropped from 978 cases inJanuary to June 2007 to 909 cases for the same period this year. In particular, April to June showed a decreasing trend, with 168 cases in April, 159 cases in May and 117 cases in June. On the other hand, non-index crimes or violations of special laws, increased by seven percent. There were just 429 cases during the same period in 2007, but the CPPO already recorded 461 cases this year. Despite this, total crime volume in Cebu Province decreased by 2.63 percentfrom 1,407 incidents in 2007 to just 1,370 this year. Valmoria said reduction in index crimes was a result of continuous checkpointsand deployment of beat patrols. This was after he issued directives forpolicemen to stay in the streets instead of in the office. He also cited a decline in physical injuries cases – from 353 to 280,saying they have made it a point to deploy personnel during fiesta celebrations to discourage drunken brawls. Vehicular accidents are still leading cause of physical injuries cases in the province. And while murder, rape and robbery cases dropped, theft and homicide incidents have increased in Cebu. There were 325 thefts this year compared to 270 last year, or a difference of16.92 percent, and 51 homicide cases compared to just 32 in 2007, or anincrease of 37.25 percent. Murder cases this year dipped by 11.39 percent after CPPO recorded 88 this year compared to just 79 in 2007. Robberies went down by 23.16 percent, with just 153 cases this year compared to 199 last year. Rape cases, on the other hand, dropped to just 21 this year compared to 36 in 2007, or a decrease of 41.67 percent. (PNA) Provincial News, Tuesday, August 05, 2008 Dumaguete police wages all-out war vs street gangs DUMAGUETECITY, Aug. 5 (PNA) – They may not be as street-smart as their counterparts in the United States, but “gangsters” in Dumaguete who belong to the popular rival groups, Bloods and Crips, may yet be in for a rough ride. Negros Oriental provincial police director Augusto Marquez, Jr. on Tuesday issued a strong message that an all-out war is now in the offing against these gangs, which in the previous year, had ironically signeda peace covenant with the Dumaguete police and the city government. Forawhile there, the rivalry between the Bloods and Crips in Dumaguetequieted down but now “gangsters” are already beginning to surfaceagain, said police intelligence sources. P/Sr.Supt. Marquez noted that despite the peace covenant, a good number ofcrimes committed here in recent months is strongly linked to thesegangs. Not much is known of the gangster culture in Dumaguete, which many people here tend to ignore as yet, even as Marquez admits that there is stilla lot of work to be done. According to him, the police have yet to build up its intelligence networking onthe local street gangs -- which may not even be connected in any way tothe more dangerous US-based groups -- and come up with a list of namesof their members. From there, the list will be circulated to schools, business establishmentsand as a reference for the issuance of police clearance. “Whatperson or business establishment in their right mind would like to hiresomebody who cannot even present a police clearance for employmentbecause he is a gangster”, Marquez pointed out. In recent years, the Bloods and Crips in this famed “city of gentle people” slowly rose to the surface. Studentsand children of prominent families are said to belong to the Bloodswhile mostly out-of-school youths comprise the Crips, intelligencesources said. But the sad part, according to the police sources, is that there is aprevailing denial among parents that their sons and daughters, someattending high-end schools in the city, are members of the Bloods. “I am calling on the parents…if you love your children, get them out of these gangs as fast as you can,” said Marquez. Former city police chief P/Supt. Dionardo Carlos had once said the Bloods andCrips in Dumaguete, perceived to be yet in their infancy stage, aremostly comprised of copycats being lured by the attraction of hip-hopand gangster culture. Theyare not even as structured and violent as the criminal street gangs inthe United States that are known for peddling drugs big-time, Carloshad said. Still,it cannot be denied that perceived “gangsters” in Dumaguete usuallyfigure out in crimes, petty or not, and therefore the need to crushthis growing culture, according to Marquez. Hewarned that in the coming days, there will be relentless policeoperations to ensure the street gangs in Dumaguete would not prosper. Marquezsaid that being a member of a street gang per se may not be a crime,especially if it is becoming a fad, but one thing leads to another. Justrecently, the police filed a criminal case against a 19-year old malesuspected to be a member of a street gang after police confiscated fromhim a bladed weapon. The bottom line, according to Marquez, is that if these gangs are let loose, they would become a problem. Marquez reiterated that he will be pushing to tag the Bloods and Crips as criminal street gangs in the city. He further warned that a list of the groups’ members would be handed overto the different schools here so they can be guided accordingly wheretheir students are concerned.“If they won’t be accepted by a certain school because their name is inthat list, then that’s the consequence they have to face,” the policedirector said.Healso warned that member profiles and video clips uploaded on popularInternet sites, such as YouTube, could be used as a basis for thepolice to add people to their watchlist. He said police cannot just arrest anybody for claiming to belong to anotorious organization, but any information would certainly helpauthorities here in running after these street gangs. (PNA) JULYProvincial News, Friday, July 04, 2008 PNP offers joint mission with Karapatan in seeking justice for human rights victims DUMAGUETE CITY, July 3 (PNA) -- A joint undertaking is offered to the human rights group Karapatan in ferreting out the bad eggs in the Philippine National Police and the military. The offer and challenge was made by PNP provincial director Sr. Supt. Augusto Morales Marquez in saying such mission is also contained in the PNP’s transformation program. Marquez called on the Karapatan group to join them in also seeking justice for human rights victims and abuses. This developed as Anak Pawis secretary general Ronald Ian Evidente belies claims of the 11th IB in Guihulngan that the recent protest rally in the city was attended by only 70 farmers. Evidente said more than 200 made it to the June 25 rally denouncing the so-called militarization and human rights violations in the area. Meanwhile, Marquez said he received reports about the presence of at least six foreign nationals in Linantuyan, Guihulngan in the company of the group of Karapatan members. But according to him, the action is not illegal. Evidente has confirmed the presence of the California-Nevada pastors who joined the Karapatan group in a two-day mercy mission in Linantuyan. (PNA) JUNEProvincial News, Friday, June 20, 2008 No reshuffling of police chiefs in Negros Oriental yet, PNP director says “Why re-invent the wheel?” Marquez pointed out, as he explained that he does not yet find anything remiss with the current set-up at the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NORPPO) that his predecessor, P/SSupt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe had vacated. In many cases, when a police officer is being is being given a new provincial assignment, one of the first things he is expected to do is to reshuffle police chiefs. Marquez said he is of the belief “that the existing arrangement is perfect” until he sees otherwise. “Buenafe’s policies during his stint as provincial PNP director of Negros Oriental are sound and I believe in his wisdom and decision,” he added. Marquez assumed office last June 10 and is still in the process of getting acquainted with the police chiefs, unit commanders and other police personnel. He said he is also scheduled to meet with the different mayors and the three congressmen of the province. Meanwhile, he said he will assess the police stations and if there are gaps in their duties and functions, then he will endeavor to fill them and improve on whatever is lacking. (PNA) Provincial News, Wednesday, June 18, 2008 PNP Provincial Director P/Sr. Supt. Augusto Marquez, Jr. confirmed the report, adding that the subject of the search warrant, Lourdes Baloy, was not around during the raid, which was also witnessed by barangay officials of Linantuyan. Guihulngan Judge Kennedy Duka had issued the warrant on Monday against Baloy, a leader of the peasant-farmers’ group Kaugmaon, and who is also the subject of several complaints from Linantuyan residents who alleged that she was collecting from them revolutionary taxes for the Communist New People’s Army (NPA). Baloy has repeatedly denied the allegations, but with the recovery of the firearm and subversive documents from her house in Linantuyan, military and police sources here are saying that she might be charged with serious crimes like illegal possession of a firearm and perhaps, rebellion. P/Sr. Supt. Marquez said that the police would still be evaluating the documents and other items recovered from Baloy’s house before they make the next move. Marquez stressed that the raid at Baloy’s house was a joint military and police operation in line with the government’s mandate to undertake legal offensives against the insurgents. Col. Cesar Yano, commander of the 302nd Army Brigade based in Tanjay, Negros Oriental, also noted that if Baloy were not guilty, she would have welcomed the search at her house. Yano believes that Baloy knew beforehand that more decisive legal actions would be levelled against her and she could already be in hiding. Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Franco Nemesio Gacal, commander of the 11th IB, said they investigating the identities of Karapatan members who stayed with Baloy on Monday evening at her home in Linantuyan. Guihulngan City has been tagged by the military as a hotbed of insurgency being a strategic location for the regional NPA guerilla front in northern Negros, said Gacal. (PNA) Provincial News, Thursday, June 12, 2008 The assurance came in the wake of a recent raid conducted at a cyber sex den in the city, where seven minors were rescued from the clutches of their supposed employers, said Josefina Lakandula, head of the city police’s Women and Children’s Concerns Desk (WCCD). Lakandula said that a sting operation led to the arrest of a live-in couple and another apartment tenant who allegedly hired the minors under the pretext of employing them as household help. The girls, with ages ranging between 14 and 16, told the police they were made to face the Web camera in the nude for “clients” who they learned later were paying their employers a certain fee. This is the second time that the live-in partners became the subjects of police operations for operating a cyber sex den, Lakandula said. Both had eluded arrest the first time, when city police swooped down on a rented house in the outskirts of the city, and also rescued some minors, several months back. In that incident, the parents of the male partner were arrested. City police chief Leopoldo Cabanag has assured that they have an airtight case against the suspects, who were charged this week of violating provisions of RA 9208, the country’s premier law on anti-trafficking. During the raid, the police caught some of the girls in the act of “performing” in front of the camera. (PNA) Provincial News, Wednesday, 05 June 2008 CV cop chief tells men to save on fuel Roderos said most police offices in the region rely heavily on the gas allocation given to them by local government units (LGUs), such as the Cebu City Government and the Cebu Provincial Government. He said most of the police vehicles in the region are also issued by the local government units. Roderos said pre-selected police stations with very low gas allocations were provided with an additional 50 liters per month by PNP Chief Avelino Razon Jr. He could not give an exact amount on their gas allocation and distribution, but Roderos said it is based on the amount approved by Congress. But Roderos said limited gas allocations could not be made an excuse for police officers to fail to respond to alarms. He said that if they could find ways to do things without using their vehicles, such as conducting foot patrols, they would help save on gas. As for patrol cars with air conditioning, he hopes they will turn off the engine while waiting instead of leaving it on. Roderos said police chiefs could ask from LGUs to spare funds for their local police force. In Cebu City, Police Director Patrocinio Comendador said the police force has 80 service vehicles and 10 motorcycles that are on the streets everyday. Of the 80 service vehicles, three came from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and 77 were City Hall-issued cars. The 10 motorcycles were also provided by the City Government. About 90 percent of the gas allocation is being supplied by the City Government. The rest is being supplied by the Police Regional Office, which releases cash for the fuel supply. Comendador said the Toyota Innova patrol cars are allocated 800 liters a month or about 20 liters per day. Other cars assigned to the police stations and special units, on the other hand, have an average of 300 liters every month. (PNA) Provincial News, Tuesday, June 3, 2008 Police tutors program launched in Cebu CEBU CITY, June 2 (PNA) -– The Philippine National Police (PNP) launch in Cebu Monday the “Pulis Ko, Titser Ko” program, which aims to bring the PNP “closer to the people” by serving as teachers in the countryside. Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil, Camp Crame director for police community relations (PCR), visited Cebu Monday and oriented the selected policemen on the program. Bataoil, in his text message to Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Ronald Roderos, said the program is in line with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s directive to have soldier-and police-teachers in the countryside, particularly those areas affected by insurgency. Selected Regional Mobile Group (RMG) personnel, who are former teachers or holders of bachelor degrees in education, may offer their services to the nearest elementary school of their detachments to act as substitute teachers. ”This is a timely activity in line with the school opening, bringing the PNP closer to people, winning war without firing a shot, and touching people’s lives,” Bataoil said. In Central Visayas, PO1s Might Colimo Marquez and Ayresh Gay Armian Devivar were selected to be the first police teachers from the RMG. Roderos said that aside from the RMG, the provincial Mobile Group in Cebu, Bohol and Negros Oriental will provide two teachers each. Other police teachers from Western and Eastern Visayas also attended the orientation held at the PRO 7 conference room. Bataoil also included PCR officers to familiarize them with the program. The PNP launched in Camp Crame last week the campaign for RMG units in Luzon. PNP chief Avelino Razon Jr. then instructed Bataoil to make the program a nationwide campaign. (PNA) MAYProvincial News, Thursday, May 21, 2008 New PNP director for Negros Oriental named On Wednesday morning, Gov. Emilio Macias II announced he was choosing P/Sr. Supt. Augusto Marquez, Jr. to replace P/Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe who has served in Negros Oriental for about two years and five months. The announcement came as a surprise to many as the governor had repeatedly warned he will not “release” the already over-staying Buenafe because of his exemplary performance and accomplishments as PNP provincial director of Negros Oriental. Under PNP guidelines, a provincial police director is given at least a regular tour of duty of two years. Buenafe took over the position last Dec. 31, 2005 from his predecessor, P/Sr. Supt. Marciano del Mar, who retired from the PNP after serving in the province. According to Gov. Macias, it was a difficult decision for him to let Buenafe go because “he was a police officer I could trust and work with”. But Macias also stressed that he understands the consequences to Buenafe’s career if he was to further extend his stay in the province. Buenafe, a graduate of Philippine Military Class 1987, first served in Negros Oriental in the late 80s as a young lieutenant of the then Philippine Constabulary. He will be swapping positions with incoming PNP provincial director, P/Sr. Supt. Marquez, who is currently the chief of the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division (RIID) of Region VII. At the same time, Buenafe will head the Visayas Area Police Intelligence Office, which covers all RIID offices in Regions VI, VII and VIII. P/Sr. Supt. Buenafe will be reporting directly to Camp Crame. The process of choosing Buenafe’s replacement took longer than usual after Gov. Macias rejected at least three lists of nominees submitted to him from the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City. In the final list from which Macias picked Marquez, other two nominees to the position of Negros Oriental provincial police director were also included, namely P/SSupt. Mariano Natu-el, Jr., and P/Supt. Ruben Sodsod. A formal turnover of command ceremony will be held on June 10 at the PNP Provincial Office at Camp Fernandez in Barangay Agan-an, Sibulan town, about 15 minutes drive from here. Gov. Macias has expressed optimism that Marquez would live up to his expectations and those of the people of Negros Oriental in maintaining peace and order and addressing crime-related problems. The governor said he would be happy and satisfied if Marquez would be able to accomplish at least half of Buenafe’s achievements as provincial police director of Negros Oriental. Marquez, Buenafe and PNP Region VII Deputy Director P/Chief Supt. Federico Terte paid a courtesy call on Gov. Macias at Capitol on Wednesday morning. (PNA) Provincial News, Tuesday, June 3, 2008 Cebu City cops to study English for 16 weeks Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador said the program is part of the police force’s and the Cebu City Government’s effort to improve his men’s writing and communication skills. ”The idea is to improve the knowledge base of the investigators. While we are very strict in the police officers’ proficiency in shooting, there is also a need to improve the investigators’ skills in communication,” he said. The Cebu City Hall, through City Councilor Augustus Pe Jr., provided the funds for the program, Comendador said. The workshop will be held at the Cebu Normal University every Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 7p.m. ”We cannot expect the investigators to be fluent in English because it is not our tongue. But there is always an avenue for improvement,” the CCPO director said. The program also includes translating Cebuano-Visayan narratives to English, writing reports, studying technical and legal vocabulary, mock interviews with client-victims with investigative reports preparation and group output oral presentations. For SPO1 Jay Yballe, Homicide Section chief investigator, the workshop is very helpful, particularly in making investigation reports and affidavits. Yballe said entries in police blotters used to be the butt of jokes by police beat reporters. One of the stories, he said, was of an investigator who wrote bolo in the blotter instead of knife as the assailant’s weapon because he cannot spell the word knife. Yballe said he also helps fellow investigators check out the grammar of reports and affidavits before submitting these to Homicide Section Chief Mario Monilar for his signature. Yballe, with PO3s Geoffrey Gutual and Rex Tion, were among the investigators chosen to participate in the workshop. (PNA) Provincial News,
Thursday, May 15, 2008 DUMAGUETE CITY, May 15 (PNA)-– The Negros Oriental Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Office will be taking part in the 10th Leg of the PNP Transformation Torch Run. The PNP Transformation Torch Run in Region 7 is a project that aims to continuously advocate the PNP Integrated Transformation Program to inform the police personnel and stakeholders of the various projects of the organization. It also aims to promote the importance of physical fitness and well-being as well as deepening the culture of reform within the organization and promote friendship among different PNP units. The 10th Leg of PNP Transformation Torch Run kicked Tuesday at Camp Sergio Osmena, Sr. in Cebu City and will be passing through the different police stations and support units of the PNP. According to P/ C Insp. Rosalinda Abellon, head of the Police Community Relations in the province, provincial police director P/Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe will receive the transformation torch at the provincial headquarters at Camp Fernandez, Sibulan town. Supt. Buenafe will pass the torch to the chiefs of police in the different cities and municipal police stations in the province. The torch will then move on to the island-province of Siquijor. The participants for the run are active and selected uniformed and non-uniformed personnel, representatives from other public and private sectors, local government units and other government offices, non-government organizations and people’s organizations. (PNA) Provincial News,
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 City PNP chief Supt. Leopoldo Cabanag said operation balik-eskwela is being enforced as they urged the students to take extra precautions by not providing any opportunity for criminals to pounce on their victims. Cabanag gave some tips, such as avoiding walking in dark alleys and texting while standing along the road or on board motorcycles. P/Insp. Rogelio Pineda of the Intelligence Section and the Theft and Robbery Section of the city police called on the public to immediately report the presence of suspicious-looking individuals or when a crime has just been committed. A number of snatching incidents were solved recently because of timely reporting and identification of the suspects, he said. Pineda suggested for students to employ a buddy system in going to school. Enrolment of most colleges and universities are taking place next week, with students already starting to return to Dumaguete. (PNA)
Provincial News, Thursday, May 08, 2008 Sibulan PNP keeps close watch of junkshops DUMAGUETE CITY, May 8 (PNA) – The police in Sibulan, Negros Oriental is now enforcing the strict monitoring of all junkshops in the town following a series of reported incidents of water meter and electric wire theft. Sibulan Chief of Police P/S Insp. Errol Garchitorena expressed alarm over the complaints of barangays residents. Majority of the reported thefts happened in secluded barangays and schools. Garchitorenna said they will monitor all junk shops as these are usually the potential buyers for fenced items such as water meters and electric wires and cables. Any junkshop caught buying these stolen materials will be facing a case for violation of the anti-fencing law, he said. According to the police blotter most of the suspects were utilizing minors as their frontliners, as a law mandates that minors cannot be prosecuted and sent to jail. But, Garchitorena said although minors cannot be placed behind bars, the police will still be filing charges against their parents. Earlier, during a Negros Oriental Peace and Order Council Meeting in the province, Sibulan Mayor Antonio Renacia raised the said concern to the council. Valencia Mayor Rodolfo Gonzalez, Jr. even suggested to conduct regular check and monitoring of all junkshops and if possible limit the junkshop operators in the province. Several electric and telephone wires and cable theft were also reported in Valencia this year. In Dumaguete City, telephone line companies have complained of millions of pesos in damages following several wire thefts this year. To date, a suggestion by Provincial Police Director P/Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe for local governments to pass an ordinance on strict monitoring and regulation of junkshops in their areas has yet to be acted upon. (PNA) LBV/jfp/MA Provincial News, Thursday, May 08, 2008 NegOr police vows to continue relentless operations vs illegal numbers game Swertres DUMAGUETE CITY, May 8 (PNA) -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) 705th Provincial Mobile Group (PMG) in Negros Oriental has recorded at least nine positive operations against illegal numbers game known as “Swertres” during the first quarter of 2008. This, even as P/S Insp. Julius Munez, 705th PMG commander, vowed to relentlessly pursue those who will insist in operating the illegal version of Swertres, a game which is legitimate if tickets are bought from lotto outlets. He said that majority of these apprehensions were done through the information and cooperation of concerned citizens. Munez said the police will continue to monitor all areas reportedly where the illegal Swertres are rampant. The police official however said that the operation of illegal numbers game in the province has slowed down compared to the previous months. (PNA) LBV/FFC/jfp/MA Provincial News, Monday, May 05, 2008 CV crime rate drops by 42 percent in 2008 1st quarter CEBU CITY, MAY 5 (PNA)-– Crime incidents in Central Visayas for the first quarter of the year dropped by 42 percent compared to that of the same period in 2007, the Cebu City-based Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 said. The number of crime incidents dropped from 2,700 in the January to March period last year to only 1,533 during the same period this year, showing a difference of 1,147 crime incidents. Of the 1,553 cases in the first quarter this year, 80 percent were considered solved, which is three percentage points higher than last year’s 77 percent crime solution efficiency. Cebu City accounted for 660 of the 1,553 crime incidents, which is 36 percent lower than last year’s 1,020 incidents. Of the 660 incidents, 307 were index crimes, or offenses against persons and properties, which is 56 percent lower than last year’s 719 incidents. PRO 7 Director Ronald Roderos said the significant drop in index crimes in Cebu City was vital in the downtrend of the region’s total crime volume. Cebu City Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador also said their crime solution efficiency was at 81.67 percent, which means majority of complains brought to the police were solved. He made the report in the “Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis” forum. In the same forum, Cebu Provincial Office Director Carmelo Valmoria also said there is a 3.5 percent reduction in index crimes from Jan. 1 to April 15 this year compared to the same period last year. There are just 734 incidents this year compared to 761 incidents in 2007 in Cebu Province. Valmoria said serious physical injuries remain as having the highest of incidents that usually occur during weekends, when people get drunk and figure in fights. Cebu Province also has the most number of index crimes, followed by Cebu City, Bohol Province, and Lapu-Lapu City. With just seven incidents, Siquijor still has the lowest number of index crimes among provinces in Central Visayas. (PNA) LOR/EB/ad Provincial News, Thursday, May 01, 2008 This developed as operatives swooped down Wednesday on two hold-up suspects believed to be responsible for robbing a man of P100,000 in broad daylight here. Police chief P/Supt. Leopoldo Cabanag disclosed that the suspects, Willer Sapio of Barangay Banilad, Dumaguete and Louie Quiran of Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental, were arrested on two separate sting operations in Barangay Looc, this city. Both were positively identified by Angelo Tam of Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, as those who robbed him near a junkshop in Barangay Calindagan here on Wednesday morning. Cabanag said first to fall in the hands of the police was Sapio, whose revelations during tactical interrogation led to the arrest of Quiran later on in the day. The police chief said both suspects are also reportedly responsible for recent hold-up incidents in the city. Last Saturday, a man reported having lost his cellphone to hold-uppers while on Tuesday evening, another victim said he was held-up at gunpoint by motorcycle-riding suspects who fled with his laptop and cellphone. Cabanag said they have already neutralized one robbery/hold-up gang while another has reportedly gone into hiding. Earlier, the police revealed that at least three groups, albeit not syndicated, were operating in Dumaguete and nearby towns. (PNA) APRILProvincial News, Wednesday, April 30, 2008 DUMAGUETE CITY, April 30 (PNA) -- The police in Dumaguete and Negros Oriental are preparing for Thursday’s celebration of Labor Day although officials here are hopeful that mass activities are going to be peaceful. Negros Oriental Provincial Police Director P/SSupt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe said the police would provide security forces in areas that are most likely used as assembly points and rally venues, such as the Freedom Park, the Quezon Park and the Rizal Boulevard in Dumaguete. Buenafe stressed that while it is not unlawful for people to gather and voice out their sentiments, the police also have a responsibility to ensure a peaceful and orderly assembly of these groups. Outside of Dumaguete, Guihulngan City in northern Negros Oriental is also under close watch by the police, Buenafe noted. Guihulngan City has been tagged by the military and the police as among those topping the list of insurgency-affected areas in the province. He said the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office is also prepared to deploy its fresh batch of Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) graduates as necessary. Buenafe reiterated that maximum tolerance shall be employed at all times although the police are trained to anticipate a worse-case scenario. He cited instances in greater urban areas such as Metro Manila where the police cannot simply disregard mass assemblies as these could turn into violent confrontations. As of press time, the police are still monitoring whether groups have already applied for a permit with the local government units for them to stage their mass actions on Labor Day. (PNA) Provincial News, Tuesday, April 29, 2008 City police chief hits some villages for non-use of VHF radios DUMAGUETE CITY, April 28 (PNA) - The top police official of this city has criticized some barangays for reportedly not utilizing the VHF handheld radios that were distributed to them in recent weeks. Chief of Police Supt. Leopoldo Cabanag said they could not contact these barangays when the police tried to get in touch with the village officials. The police chief said that he had personally experienced being in an area where he tried to contact the barangay through its handheld radios but there was no response. Recently, the city government of Dumaguete turned over two sets of handheld radios to 11 barangays to help the police in their monitoring and allow barangay officials to be the first responders during a callout. The barangayhs were Camanjac, Cantil-e, Candau-ay, Batinguel, Cadawinonan, Talay, Bajumpandan, Poblacion 07, Piapi, Daro and Balugo. Cabanag said he will call the attention of the barangays concerned and conduct a seminar on the correct use of handheld radios, if needed. Meanwhile, he attributed the decreasing incidents of snatching and hold-up to the round-the-clock police patrols especially in secluded barangays. Cabanag said mobility and police visibility are two of the most important factors in maintaining peace and order in a growing city like Dumaguete. (PNA)
Provincial News, Monday, April 21, 2008 Police note rise in murder cases in Cebu City CEBU CITY, April 21 (PNA) - More people were murdered in Cebu City for the first quarter of this year, compared to the same period last year. The murder rate went up 46 percent, even though the total crime volume dropped by 36 percent. For the last three months, 19 people were murdered, compared to 13 cases last year. From 1,030 crime incidents in 2007, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) only recorded a total crime volume of 660 for the same period this year. Crime solution efficiency posted 81.67 percent. That means majority of the cases that reached the desk of the police were solved. The CCPO managed to reduce index crimes or crimes against persons and properties by 307 cases, or 43 percent. Last year, there were 719 registered cases in the city. Theft remains the top index crime with 188 cases. It has fallen by 54.26 percent of 223 cases, though, compared to the 411 cases last year. Non-index crimes or violations of specific laws such as the Dangerous Drugs Act and laws governing illegal gambling, illegal possession of firearms, among others, posted a drop of 20.26 percent, totaling 248 cases. CCPO Director Patrocinio Comendador attributed the rise in murder cases to the rise in gang-related incidents. Eliminating gangs is among the top priorities of the CCPO, he said. Comendador, though was grateful that except for the murder incidents, other crimes posted a drop. This can be attributed to intensified police visibility, random checkpoints and saturation drives conducted by CCPO, he said. (PNA) Provincial News,
Wednesday, April 09, 2008 DUMAGUETE CITY, April 8 (PNA) – The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Negros Oriental has reassured the public it will continue to exercise maximum tolerance in providing security and maintaining peace and order at the Dumaguete port in the face of a still unresolved labor conflict there. P/Chief Supt. Federico Terte, PNP Assistant Regional Director for Central Visayas, and Negros Oriental provincial police director P/Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe on Monday said they are, at the same time, carefully studying other possible police actions to avert a repeat of bloodshed and violence at the city port last March 29. Terte arrived here over the weekend upon instructions from the PNP hierarchy in Camp Crame to “normalize” the port situation. He, however, admitted that it was not yet possible to do so, considering that the labor dispute is still unsettled and striking workers are still picketing inside the port area. To “normalize” would mean resumption of the flow of passengers and cargo in and out of the port, but in recent days, this has not happened, he said. At present, striking workers are only allowing passengers and their luggage to use the port, prompting businessmen and shipping lines to find alternative wharves to load and offload their goods. The police are currently situated at a relatively reasonable distance away from the port and the picket lines, although they said they can come into the pier area once they receive a written request from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA). Terte and Buenafe, meanwhile, welcomed the creation of the Crisis Management Committee, chaired by Mayor Agustin Perdices, to lead a multi-sectoral approach to helping the end the conflict at the Dumaguete port. The committee can now hopefully act as an intermediary in hastening the resolution of the labor dispute that has left an undetermined amount in economic losses already, Perdices said. In a meeting Monday, the committee unanimously passed a resolution recommending some temporary solutions within the 30-day period take over of the port’s cargo handling operations by the PPA. One of the suggestions was for PPA to also accommodate the striking workers so free flow of cargo can resume at the port. The committee is hoping to get a favorable answer from the PPA this week, the mayor said. In the meantime, the police will continue to secure the port premises but follow as strictly as possible the organization’s rules of engagement so as not to aggravate the already tense situation at the port, Buenafe said. He lamented that the PPA in Dumaguete failed to inform the police about the re-opening of the port last Saturday, three days after PPA General Manager Oscar Sevilla had ordered its closure last Wednesday. According to Buenafe, the police received public criticisms again because of their absence within the port area where the strikers gained entry and started their pickets on Saturday. Both Terte and Buenafe pointed this “lapse” to Dumaguete port manager Renato Tolinero, who reportedly told them that he tried but could not contact the provincial police director. When asked to comment on public speculation the police are being made scapegoats in the port conflict, both officials declined, only saying they are here “to do their jobs”. Terte also brushed aside reports that higher-ups and other key players in the labor dispute are pressuring the police here. (PNA) LAP/JFP Provincial News, Saturday, April 05, 2008 Cebu town cop chief named police chief of the week CEBU CITY, April 5 (PNA) – For rescuing 11 minors for a cult, Carmen Police Chief Carlos Reyes was chosen as police chief of the week by the PNP. Insp. Reyes will be featured in the weekly Talakayan Sa Isyung Pulis (Tsip) program on TV station NBN. Camp Crame’s public information officer told Reyes to fax a list of his accomplishments, including the report on the rescue of the minors in Sitio Bito, Barangay Baring in Carmen town. Children who are members of the “Pagtulun-an sa Dios Amahan” (Teachings of God the Father) locked themselves inside a cramped hut with their children and barred anyone from leaving until the “Dios Amahan” revealed his message. Reyes said he did not expect the citation. He said he shared the honor with his subordinates because the achievement was theirs as well. ”This boosts our morale in serving the public and encourages us to work even harder,” Reyes said. Earlier, he already got a commendation letter from Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Carmelo Valmoria for the success of their operation. Valmoria congratulated Reyes for handling the incident “effectively.” He said there were no serious injuries and that Reyes exercised patience in handling the rescue. Reyes admitted that the escape of an inmate facing a murder charge was a setback during his term in Carmen, but he said they tried to make up for it with accomplishments. Reyes said they have also arrested burglars and cellular phone robbers in the town. This is not the first national award Reyes received in his career as a policeman. In 1998, he was awarded investigator of the year when he was still assigned at the Police Regional Office 8 in Eastern Visayas. (PNA) LBV/EB/re
MARCHProvincial News, Tuesday, April 01, 2008 DUMAGUETE CITY, March 31 (PNA) – Law enforcers assigned to the Women’s and Children’s Concerns Desk (WCCD) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Dumaguete and Negros Oriental are carefully studying legal moves to prosecute those responsible for allowing children to take part in the ongoing labor dispute at the city port. The move comes in the heels of a frenzied confrontation between policemen and striking union members at the Dumaguete port last Saturday, where at least eight people were injured in the melee that lasted for about 20 minutes. Although there was no definite report yet of a child getting hurt in the scuffle, video and photo documentation showed many children hurling empty plastic and glass bottles, rocks, and sand at the policemen. Others were also seen holding sticks and other items that could be harmful to people. Early in the day, an estimated 40 children, were used as a human barricade at the main entrance to the Dumaguete port. The children, with ages ranging from nine and up, braved the scorching heat of the sun for hours as they alternated between squatting or sitting down on the concrete road or standing up with their arms chain-linked together. Reports said many of these children belonged to families that are now affected by the impending take over of the new arrastre firm, the Prudential Brokerage and Stevedoring Company, Inc. (PBSCI). The PBSCI has stood pat on its decision to accommodate only a certain number of port workers from the old stevedoring company, the Associated Labor Union-Trade Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP), to the disappointment of the latter. Children, when interviewed, said they felt bad for their parents losing their jobs and expressed fears of going hungry and unable to attend school. However, authorities also criticized the irresponsible act of the adults to “exploit” the children by subjecting them to the dangers of a picket. Police sources said some children were obviously being “brainwashed” by their parents to turn their ire on those whom they thought were the “enemies”. Some of these children were also being visibly forced by their parents to join the picket lines. P/Sr. Insp. Rosalinda Abellon of the Provincial WCCD said they are now coordinating with the City Social Welfare Office in determining the appropriate legal avenues to bar the children from participating in the strike. Social workers who went to the city port on Saturday failed to convince the parents to let their children leave the scene of the strike. Laome Quijote of the City Social Welfare Office said the parents told her they would rather take the chances to answer their liabilities in court. (PNA) LAP/JFP Provincial News, Tuesday, April 01, 2008 DUMAGUETE CITY, March 31 (PNA) -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Command in Negros Oriental will be filing necessary charges against port strikers for causing injuries to some police personnel last Saturday at the Dumaguete port. Officers of Dumaguete PNP and the 705th PMG suffered injuries three civilians, believed to be among the striking union workers were also injured. Those hurt were identified as SPO4 Rodrigo Tubog, P/Sr. Insp. Rodulfo Serrano, SPO1 Alfred Vicente Silbosa, PO1 Mc Arthur Masicampo and PO3 Orlando Gonzaga, and port strikers Sopreano Sabanal, Honorato Rona and Dotip Adjulo. Sabanal is vice president of the Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP). Provincial Police Director P/Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe said he has instructed the Dumaguete police chief, Supt. Leopoldo Cabanag, to identify the strikers who started the riot. According to Supt. Buenafe, the police will still continue to implement maximum tolerance in its effort to maintain a peaceful and free flow of traffic at the Dumagute port. The police also admitted lapses when they failed to confiscate materials from the port strikers that were later used as a weapon. During the incident, the strikers converted the sticks attached to their placards as weapons as they rushed towards the policemen while trying to break the picket line. Some were also using empty bottles of soda filled with sand and chili, plastic pouches with human feces and stones. Buenafe said the police did not expect a violent confrontation because they were banking on the sobriety of the Dumagueteños as gentle people. Meanwhile, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Director Elias Cayanong and National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB-7) director Edmundo Mirasol arrived here to also help find solutions to the still ongoing labor dispute at the Dumaguete port. Cayanong said they do not have direct responsibility on the issue because the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) is handling the case. In fact, an NLRC sheriff will be coming to Dumaguete on Tuesday to implement the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued against the striking dockhands. Cayanong said they could only assist in finding avenues for striking workers who may not be accommodated by the new porterage company. Mirasol said labor cases usually take years before they are resolved but the NCMB will try to assist in reaching a compromise agreement. PNP Deputy Regional Director Federico Terte is also in Dumaguete to conduct further investigation on the port strike. As of Monday, tension has died down at the city port as strikers returned to their picket lines while police continue to secure the area to allow passengers and port users free access to the facility. Buenafe has clarified that the police are hoping to find peaceful means for the strikers to voluntarily lift their picket. The presence of several police personnel at the pier last Saturday was also intended to ensure peace and order at the pier and there was no dispersal attempt whatsoever. Buenafe said the policemen were only armed with shields and nightsticks and in fact, were forced to retreat towards the pier as they tried to avoid a bloody confrontation with the strikers. (PNA) LAP/JFP&MA PNP Neg. Oriental creates SWAT team DUMAGUETE CITY, March 26 (PNA) -- The Negros Oriental Provincial Police Command on Wednesday has created the first-ever Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) team in the province. The launching was held at the Provincial Headquarters of the Philippine National Police at Camp Fernandez in Agan-an, Sibulan town. Provincial PNP Director P/Sr Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe expressed gratitude to 3rd District Cong. Henry Pryde Teves for his support to the PNP’s development program. The creation of a SWAT Team in the province is a dream come true, said Buenafe. The SWAT team is a specialized unit in the police department, particularly trained to perform dangerous, high risks operations. He also said that Dumaguete and Negros Oriental needed SWAT Team with their growing population and increasing number of investors. Buenafe said 30 police officers from the different police stations in the province will undergo SWAT training. These police officers will compose the ideal number for a SWAT unit. Buenafe also said that there are plans to have assigned SWAT teams in the police stations. The SWAT training will be conducted by Col. Glenn Singco of the Special Action Force (SAF) in Camp Crame, Quezon City. Meanwhile, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas–Dumaguete Branch has formally donated six bullet proof vests to the PNP SWAT team. (PNA) LOR/FFC/jfp/MA Provincial News, Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Director Carmelo Valmoria, in a report to the Regional Development Council (RDC) and Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC), said a total of 3,486 crimes were recorded in 2007 compared to the 4,464 reported in 2006. "The decrease in index crime has been attributed to the continuous anti-criminality campaign of the police as gleaned from its accomplishment especially on the flagship programs," read Valmoria's report presented to the RDC and RPOC last Friday. The average monthly crime rate in 2007 was at 12.2 crimes per 100,000 people every month. The year before showed 17 per month for every 100,000 Cebuanos. Crime solution efficiency, however, was at 83 percent compared to 87 percent in 2006. Valmoria defended the decrease stating that it was due to the "non-cooperation of witnesses with the police for fear of reprisal." In 2006, 3,869 crimes were solved compared to the 2,890 considered solved in 2007 while taking into consideration that there were less crimes for the latter year. Unsolved crime in 2006 was recorded at 595. The year after show an increase of one more crime left unsolved. "Rapid urbanization, urban migration and population density are the dominant factors that considerably affect the crime rate of a particular place," read Valmoria's report. This will explain why Lapu-Lapu City, the most populous area when it was still under the CPPO jurisdiction, has the most number of index crimes reported in Cebu with 482 or 14 percent of the total provincial index crime volume. Index crime is a crime against person or property. Cebu City and Mandaue City, which have their own police offices, were not included in the tally. Talisay City ranked second with 344 cases or 10 percent of the total provincial crime volume. It was followed by Danao City with 230 incidents or seven percent. Carcar City ranked fourth with 111 cases or three percent and Consolacion ranked fifth with 94 incidents, equivalent to 2.6 percent of the total crime in the province. Toledo City had 74 cases (two percent), Liloan with 31 (0.9 percent), Medellin had 27 (0.8 percent), Ronda with 23 (0.6 percent) and Carmen had 18 (0.5 percent). (PNA) vcs/PTR/EB/re Provincial News Thursday, March 06, 2008 CEBU CITY, March 5 (PNA) – Two coal miners were killed in what appeared to be a methane gas explosion Sunday night in a mountain barangay of Argao town, 66 kilometers south of Cebu City, belated police reports said Thursday. FEBRUARYProvincial News Police file charges against two sisters for "cyber-sex den operations" The sisters, Marietta and Marilyn (not their real names) had reportedly posted bail last week after they were charged with violating Article 5, Section 9 RA 7610, said Chief Insp. Rosalinda Abellon, head of the provincial Women and Children's Concerns Desk (WCCD) and the Police Community Relations Section (PCR) of the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office. According to Abellon, five minors whose ages ranged between 13 and 16 were rescued in a raid authorized by the court last Feb. 15 in Bayawan City. On that day, the police swooped down on two adjacent apartments rented by the sisters after close surveillance confirmed reports of cyber-sex operations there. Earlier, a tipster had written the police in Dumaguete about the alleged cyber-sex den in Bayawan City, about 110 kilometers south of here. Abellon said Tina (not her real name), the youngest of the girls, had cooperated with social workers and the police, saying how she and the other minors were given extra money for standing naked in front of the computer web cam. The sisters hired the girls at first as housemaids but were later told to "entertain" some clients via the Internet, Tina added. The other girls who assisted the victims in going online were also minors, Abellon disclosed. Further police investigation revealed that the Internet clients, obviously foreigners, paid the sisters a certain fee via Western Union money transfers. Abellon said the girls are now under the custody of the Social Welfare Office in Bayawan City. (PNA) vcs/PTR/JFP Provincial News DUMAGUETE CITY, Feb. 25 (PNA) – The peace and quiet that prevailed here and in other parts of Negros Oriental during the 22nd EDSA People Power Revolution anniversary gives yet another glimpse of the true nature of the Oriental Negrense. “The very peaceful commemoration (here) of the EDSA people power revolution of 1986 manifests the peace-loving nature of the people of Negros Oriental,” said Provincial Police Director P/Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe. The police reported that so far, no untoward incident related to Monday’s nationwide observance of the popular revolution that toppled the Marcos dictatorship 22 years ago was reported in Negros Oriental. Random checkpoints were held across the province as the police, while on a nationwide heightened alert security level, implemented a gun ban that is to stay in effect until March 3rd. Various police stations across the province all sent radio messages to the provincial police headquarters at Camp Fernandez in Sibulan town, saying that there were no mass actions whatsoever held in their respective areas in relation to the people power anniversary. The same was true even in Guihulngan City in the north, which is a hotbed of the insurgency problem, and where militant groups are said to be getting more active in their campaign against the government, said intelligence sources here. In Dumaguete City, an attempt by a militant transport group to drum up support to their call for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to step down did not prosper, Buenafe said. Only a handful of motorcabs-for-hire (MCHs), - the main form of public transport here – joined the Motor Piston-led motorcade around the city. Buenafe said the activity did not stir public interest, adding it was not even related to the EDSA people power anniversary. The transport group was, instead, calling for the truth behind the ZTE-NBN scandal to come out. Meanwhile, Buenafe has assured that he and all the police personnel in Negros Oriental remain loyal to the Constitution. Buenafe said that during a flag-raising activity Monday morning, he spoke to his men about the importance of the 1986 EDSA People Power revolution and how it had ushered in democracy to the country. The provincial police director assured that his men are staying away from politics as they have other priorities instead, such as keeping the peace. “We have better things to do as far as preserving the peace and order (in Negros Oriental) is concerned…we do not have time to be concerned with politics,” Buenafe stressed. He assured that measures are in place to preempt possible moves by individuals or groups that may take advantage of the volatile situation in the country today due to the ongoing investigation on the botched ZTE-NBN deal. (PNA) LAP/JFP Provincial News, Friday, February 15, 2008 Dumaguete City police personnel undergo random drug testing DUMAGUETE CITY, Feb. 14 (PNA) -- The Dumaguete City police force has started conducting random drug tests for its personnel amid reports that some uniformed men are allegedly into illegal drugs trade, either as a user or protector. P/Supt. Dionardo Carlos said that five policemen have been picked to undergo the drug testing on Wednesday. The Negros Oriental Provincial Police office disarmed a police officer who refused to undergo the drug test. Provincial Police Director P/Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe said he had ordered PO1 Jasper Necesito disarmed when he refused to undergo drug testing. Necesito was already charged with illegal drugs use and was administratively dismissed from the police while he was assigned with the 705th Provincial Mobile Group here. But, in 2006, he was reinstated and assigned to the Dumaguete police station after his administrative case was dismissed. There were reports that alleged that of some of the police in Dumaguete are either using shabu or providing protection to drug pushers. Carlos said his office is also investigating reports that some of these policemen are seen in the vicinity of Barangay Looc here, where illegal drug trade is rampant. p>The police chief said that the drug testing of his policemen would be done regularly and at random at unannounced dates. There are 85 police personnel assigned in the city.(PNA) LOR/FFC/JFP Provincial News, Friday, February 15, 2008 Dumaguete police chief denies seeking post in Camp Crame DUMAGUETE CITY, Feb. 14 (PNA)-– The chief of police of Dumaguete City has denied reports that he will be leaving soon to take a post at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City. P/Supt. Dionardo Carlos said that he will follow any orders from the PNP hierarchy but unless otherwise ordered, he will still remain at the police chief of Dumaguete. Reports are rife that Carlos is seeking the position of PNP Information Officer at Camp Crame, but he denied this. He, however, confirmed that he was going away again for another training by late February until mid-March. Carlos said he is happy to serve the constituents of Dumaguete and will continue with his post here until his tour of duty is up. He also thanked the officials and people of Dumaguete for their support and cooperation, which has greatly helped the city, police station in receiving an award this year. The Dumaguete police station was adjudged the best city police station of the year for 2007 in the Central Visayas region. (PNA) LOR/JFP Provincial News, Saturday, 09 February 2008 Region 7 PNP lauds Neg. Or. police for lowest crime volume DUMAGUETE CITY, Feb. 8 (PNA)-– The Philippine National Police (PNP) hierarchy in Region 7, headed by Chief Supt. Ronald Roderos on Friday lauded the PNP in Negros Oriental for besting other commands in Region 7 by producing the best city and municipal police stations in 2007. In a message read by his deputy regional PNP director, C/Supt. Federico Terte, the PRO-7 director cited the sterling leadership of provincial commander,Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe in reducing the crime volume of the province this year. Records show that from 796 incidents recorded in 2006, the number dropped to 691 in 2007, or 13.2 percent, thus making it the biggest reduction in crime volume in Central Visayas so far in the last 10 years, Terte said. This indicates that each member of the police organization has effectively performed his duties and functions as protector of the people. In 2007, the Valencia police station was adjudged as best police station throughout the country, the Dumaguete police station as best city police station in Region 7 and the Pamplona police station as best peace unit in the region. These are considered unprecedented accomplishments, Roderos said in his statement. Because of this, the Negros Oriental provincial police office was also adjudged as best in the region. Negros Oriental also ranked first in intelligence performance in Central Visayas. Terte led PRO-7 officials during the 17th PNP Day celebration held at Camp Fernandez in Agan-an, Sibulan, and attended by police and military officials, local officials and representatives from various sectors in the community, including the tri-media. In the same activity, the Negros Oriental PNP Provincial Office handed out certificates of recognition to various groups and individuals for their continuous support to the command which helped in their exemplary accomplishments.(PNA) LOR/ jfp/JG Provincial News, Thursday, February 07, 2008 Cop shot dead in Dumaguete City DUMAGUETE CITY, Feb. 6 (PNA) - A police investigator assigned in Bacong town, Negros Oriental, was gunned down Tuesday night by a suspected gun-for-hire in Motong, Dumaguete. SPO2 Avito Arabas Arabe, 50, died on the spot after the suspect shot him at close range while he was driving his motorcycle on the way home to Barangay Camanjac here around 8:45 p.m. Tuesday. Initial police investigation showed that Arabe succumbed to a single gunshot wound to the head. Provincial Police Director P/Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe said Arabe was first reported to have figured in a vehicular accident, prompting traffic investigator PO3 Jonathan Vailoces to respond to the call for help. It was only at the hospital that doctors found a bullet wound in Arabe's head. p>Recovered at the scene was the policeman’s service .45 caliber pistol with holster. Residents near the crime scene said they heard what sounded like gunfire from a distance and when they peeped through their windows, they saw the victim sprawled on the roadside close to his motorcycle. The victim’s sister, Teresita, said they could not find any motive for the killing of SPO2 Arabe except for his work as a policeman. Buenafe said the police also believe Arabe’s death was job-related. According to the provincial police director, Arabe was an investigator in Bacong town where he handled several sensitive cases. Buenafe said they are looking at several angles that could be linked to Arabe’s death, one of which is the perceived rampant illegal quarrying activities in Bacong town. The police in Negros Oriental have denounced the murder of Arabe. Buenafe said the lawmen will not stop until they solve the case and arrest the perpetrators. Buenafe said there are indications that whoever pulled the trigger could be a trained shooter, considering that Arabe was fatally shot with only one bullet. A medico legal officer from the PNP Region 7 Office in Cebu City arrived here Wednesday to conduct an autopsy on Arabe. P/Sr. Insp. Benjamin Lara, medico legal officer of the PNP Crime Laboratory in Region 7, said he had recovered a deformed slug from the head of Arabe. Though not confirmed yet, Lara believes the slug is of a homemade .38 caliber make. Lara said Arabe, was shot at a very close range based on the pattern of fracture in his skull. (PNA) LAP/JFP&JG Provincial News, Saturday, February 02, 2008 Dumaguete City police officers undergo drug testing City PNP station chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos disclosed that a surprise random drug test was held last week on selected police personnel. The results of the drug tests will be known later, he added. Carlos had earlier received reports about policemen moonlighting in identified drug lairs in Dumaguete. It came to him as a surprise in the absence of any directive from him or from the provincial PNP command for these policemen to frequent the area in Barangay Looc here. Carlos, however, stressed it is too early to judge the police personnel while investigation is still ongoing. To avoid white wash, Carlos elevated the investigation to the PNP provincial command although the subject police officers are under constant monitoring. Meanwhile, the city police chief has announced plans of further developing the Dumaguete police station. Carlos disclosed plans to fully develop the facilities of the PNP station, to include concreting of the compound, landscaping of the its frontage, and repainting the main building, among others. “We want our clients to come, not because they are victims or complainants but because they are part of the community and for them to feel they are at home,” Carlos pointed out. The police chief is also eyeing the establishment of a cooperative for the police so they would not be borrowing money from loan sharks. But Carlos stressed these plans would also depend on the support extended to them by their service providers, the community and the local government unit. (PNA) LAP/jfp/JG
JANUARYProvincial News, Friday, February 01, 2008 Baguio City police arrest Iranian student at Silliman U for rape charges DUMAGUETE CITY, Feb. 1 (PNA) – Policemen on Thursday afternoon arrested here an Iranian student of Silliman University in relation to a rape case filed against him before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 59 in Baguio City. Two policemen from Baguio served the warrant of arrest to Molaei Gholamreza, a Civil Engineering student at Silliman University, in the presence of university officials and lawyers. The warrant was issued by Judge Iluminada Cabato of Branch 59 of the Regional Trial Court of Baguio City for alleged “rape through sexual assault and slight physical injuries”. Bail was recommended at P400,000. The policemen presented the warrant of arrest to Silliman University president Dr. Ben Malayang III, who, in turn, convened a group of university officials, including two of its lawyers. Also present, during the service of the warrant was Negros Oriental PNP provincial director, Senior Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe. In a press statement, the university said that the arrested Iranian student had allegedly committed the crime at the time when he was not enrolled at Silliman. Silliman saw to it that it carried out its extended parental responsibility over its student, while satisfying the mandate of law, the press statement said. Prior to the official turnover, Silliman lawyers informed the arrested student of his rights and ensured that he understood the nature of the warrant of arrest. The university has already informed the Iranian Embassy in Manila about the incident. (PNA) LOR/FFC/JFP Provincial News,
Thursday, January 31, 2008 DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 31 (PNA)-– The Dumaguete City police has cited representatives from various sectors in the community for their unwavering support in fighting criminality and maintaining peace and order in the city. Plaques of recognition were given to 18 individuals and groups, 11 members of the Dumaguete media and 11 retired police personnel during a simple awarding ceremony at the city police station on Wednesday in celebration of this year’s 17th PNP Day. City police chief Dionardo Carlos said the citation of these individuals and groups is the PNP’s way of showing their gratitude to the assistance given to the police that had helped the Negros Oriental PNP earn several awards this year in the Central Visayas region. These awards include the Best City Police Station of the Year, Dumaguete PNP; the Best Municipal Police Station, Valencia PNP; the Best Provincial Mobile Group (PMG), the 705th PMG assigned here; and the Best Provincial PNP Command of the Year, the Negros Oriental PNP Provincial Office. Among those given citations were Mayor Agustin Perdices, Governor Emilio Macias II, Cong. George Arnaiz, businessmen, government officials, and civil groups. During the same ceremony, Mayor Perdices turned over 100 brand new handheld radios to the city police. The city had earlier also promised to erect a radio transmitter this year for the Dumaguete police force. Supt. Carlos, meanwhile, announced the promotion of 19 personnel of the city police and also cited three of his personnel for their exemplary performance over the past year. Named PNP Commissioned Officer of the Year was P/Insp. Rodolfo Serrano, PNP Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year, PO3 Feliciano Uzurriaga, and Non-Uniformed Personnel of the Year, Elisa De Alivio. (PNA) LOR/JFP Provincial News, Thursday, January 31, 2008 Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Ronald Roderos, who walked home as second runner-up in the match for star-ranked officers, said he was very proud of the performance of his personnel. He said that out of the 40 awards given, 28 were given to individuals and units from the PRO 7. PRO 7 bagged the top prizes for team vs. team and best regional team. CCPO’s team 1, headed by Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador Jr., was declared champion in the standard category (.45 pistol), while the Cebu Provincial Police Office under Senior Supt. Carmelo Valmoria was awarded runner-up in the Provincial and City Teams match. In the revolver category, CCPO’s Team 2 under Senior Insp. Sarah Jean Recla was declared champion, while CCPO’s Team 4 under Senior Insp. Lourdes Ingente was runner-up. Two other CCPO teams won the top two spots in the production category (9mm pistol), while the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office was declared second runner -up. As for individual awards, Senor Insp. Recla was declared champion in the revolver category under the officers ranked inspector to senior superintendent. As for those ranked P01 to SPO4, SP01 Lyndon Solatorio won in the standard category, while SP01 Renante Cabasag won in the revolver category. For the policewomen, P03 Fe Altubar emerged as champion in he standard category. Roderos announced that there were 17 policewomen from the PRO 7 who competed in the shootfest. He added that the support of the Cebu City Government enabled the teams from the CCPO to win in the competition. The competition began last Friday. The awarding took place last Sunday. PNP Chief Avelino Razon Jr. recently said that those who fail in firearms proficiency should do desk jobs instead of being out on the field. Roderos said the CCPO holds quarterly firearms proficiency tests. For other police units that do not have the same resources for firearms training, Roderos said each station should hold its own firearms proficiency competition every first quarter of the year. For the second quarter, the firearms proficiency is held by the police office, while the third quarter is held by the regional office. The best performers in these tests are sent to the national competition. He said those who want to be assigned in the field should buy their own bullets using their own funds and practice on their own. He added that there were independently sponsored shooting competitions that they could join to strengthen their skills. (PNA) LOR/EB/re Provincial News, Wednesday, January 30, 2008 Negros Oriental PNP officers receive promotion DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 29 (PNA) - Negros Oriental Provincial Police Director Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe formally initiated the pinning of ranks of non-commissioned officers (NCOs) who were promoted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) hierarchy recently. The entire province has a total of 130 police NCOs promoted from their ranks, including those that were assigned at the PNP Provincial Command and the 705th Provincial Mobile Group and from the different police stations of the province. PNP officers and members of the tri-media witnessed the pinning of insignia ranks ceremony during Monday's regular flag retreat at Camp Francisco Fernandez in Agan-an, Sibulan town, some 20 kilometers north of here. Also promoted to the rank of superintendent were Reynaldo Andot, chief of the provincial intelligence unit, Guihulngan police chief Petronilo Gracia, and Canlaon City police chief Manuel Hidalgo. In his message, Buenafe extended his congratulations to the promoted police officers. He said the promotion is an indication of their honest effort in fighting criminality and maintaining peace and order in the province. Buenafe also challenged the police officers to continue doing their best while earning the respect of the community. He said 2008 is a good year for the province as it started with positive developments as a result of the continuing collaborated effort between the PNP, government officials and the community. (PNA) vcs/PTR/jfp/MA Provincial News, Tuesday, January 29, 2008 Satellite police office seen to boost tourism in Cebu CEBU CITY, Jan. 28 (PNA) – Police officials believe that the newly opened community police action center (Compact) at the corner of Jakosalem and Rizal Streets, Cebu City will boost Central Visayas’ potential as the tourism capital of the country. The blue and white P1.6-million center will house 11 police personnel who will operate round the clock. ”Its location is strategic since it is near the Cebu City Hall buildings and the Magellan’s Cross that is regularly visited by tourists,” said Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Ronald Roderos. Compact’s construction began on Nov. 2, 2006. It was completed last June 14. The building, though, wasn’t occupied immediately because other fixtures were not installed yet and the lighting systems had not been arranged, said Cebu City Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador. Within this period, the construction of the Cebu City legislative building, which was inaugurated last Dec. 19, was ongoing. Philippine National Police Chief Avelino Razon Jr. graced the ceremonial opening Friday noon. ”With Compact complementing the functions of other police stations the peole will have a sense of greater safety and security. This city stands to gain much with an efficient Compact Police Station in their midst. Let us fuel our police-community partnership with closer cooperation and mutual trust and witness police-community power in action,” Razon said. Comendador said the station was designed primarily to address the needs of the peace and order campaign at the grassroots level. ”It will also address the needs of the tourists, since it is located in the tourism belt of the city. But its personnel will also respond to incidents within the vicinity under the jurisdiction of station three, Waterfront Police Station, he said. Compact has nine patrol motorcycles, a computer set and furniture. However, it does not have a telephone line. Compact Chief Ryan Devaras advised the public to call hotline 166. Roderos said the “successful and peaceful” Sinulog Grand Parade last Jan. 20 was a result of the “Cebuano spirit,” the deployment of ranking senior superintendents of PRO 7 headquarters command group and directorial staff as sector supervisors, and deployment of the Muslim leaders and community leaders. ”What is the immediate result? The Department of Tourism records revealed that Cebu Island now tops the list of tourist travel destinations in the whole country, followed by Misamis Occidental, Baguio City and Aklan or Boracay,” Roderos said. (PNA) LAP/EB/re Provincial News, Friday, January 25, 2008 PNP provincial director Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe has appealed to holders of loose firearms in Negros Oriental to avail of the firearms amnesty, the deadline of which is on November 14, 2008. To date, the provincial command is yet to account for unlicensed guns even as it received surrender feelers for loose home-made firearms. Buenafe made it clear that home made firearms locally known as “paltik” will not be registered, but the command will accept them as surrendered firearms. Expired licensed firearms should undergo the regular renewal process and will not be registered as loose firearms, according to provincial operations officer Inspector Ronie Macasilhig. Under EO 585-A, payment for the registration of low-powered firearms is P3,000 and P5,000 for high-powered firearms. (PNA) LAP/jfp/JG Provincial News, Friday, January 25, 2008 PNP provincial director Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe has stressed the need for a repeater that can trigger signals from Dauin in the south and up to Tanjay City in the north. Buenafe is eyeing the former repeater site of NORAD-7 somewhere in the north of Dumaguete, even as other radio clubs have signified their intention to be of help to the police in this matter. Another communications group, the REACT Sidlakan, said it is about time the city police acquire its own repeater to augment the communication of the Metro Dumaguete area. (PNA) vcs/PTR/jfp/JG Provincial News, Saturday, January 12, 2008 Police to field 1,830 personnel to secure Sinulog festival activities CEBU CITY, Jan. 11 (PNA) – Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Ronald Roderos has said the Sinulog Task Force will deploy 1,830 police personnel for the Sinulog festivities, particularly during the grand parade and mardi gras on January 20 in Cebu City. These police personnel, he said, will come from the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), Regional Mobile Group (RMG) 7, recruits from the Regional Training School (RTS) and those who are undergoing further schooling. The number does not include military personnel who will be detailed on parade routes to help with crowd control. To avoid a vacuum in the number of security personnel on the evening of January 20, Roderos said only 80 percent will be deployed during the day, and the rest will start taking their posts from 5 p.m. onwards. This will be done to replace police personnel who will already be exhausted after working the entire day. Roderos also said the provincial police will help in the security because the CCPO, under Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador Jr., is also the Sinulog Task Force chief, will have their hands full securing the event. The Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) will conduct joint checkpoints from the southern town of Santander to the northern parts of Cebu. Canine units from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 and the Philippine Air Force will also be detailed in different areas of the parade route. Roderos said the CCPO’s Mobile Patrol Group has been tasked to identify the areas where these will be fielded. Wireless surveillance cameras will be installed on the parade routes. He said the PRO 7 will also borrow from the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) door-sized metal detectors that will be set up at the entrance of Abellana Sports Center. The Philippine Coast Guard and the Maritime Police 7 were also reminded to strictly implement the “no overloading policy” during the fluvial parade to avoid accidents. During the grand festivity, drinking liquor and using huge speakers on the parade route will be prohibited, Roderos said. Organizers have also banned the giving out of product samples from endorsers riding the floats. Roderos also asked people who will either be watching the grand parade or joining the religious processions to avoid bringing too much money or jewelry and immediately report to the nearest police action center or station any suspicious person or packages. (PNA) LAP/EB/bh Provincial News, Saturday, January 12, 2008 Solon urges PNP to arrest remaining ambush suspects DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan 11 (PNA) - Two of five suspects in the ambush-slay in La Libertad, Negros Oriental last year remain at-large, but efforts to have them locked up remain, says Provincial Police Director P/Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe. In a year end report, Buenafe said suspects Boy Dorimon and Tikyo Manait remain in the list of wanted persons in the province, with a reward money of P50,000 each for information leading to their capture. This developed as 1st Dist. Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong averred that it will be an injustice to the victims if the culprits will remain at large, aside from the threat they pose to the family of the victims and the witnesses. To recall, seven people were killed on April 9, 2007 after armed men opened fire at a government dump truck transporting its passengers to a mountain barangay in La Libertad. A former ranking politician in the first district was allegedly linked to the incident, based on the testimony of one of the suspects, William Paunilian, who was arrested in Makati City months later. The La Libertad ambush-slay was considered politically - motivated. (PNA) can/jfp/JG Provincial News, Thursday, January 10, 2008 Police arrest “hired guns”, primary suspect in judge’s slay DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 9 (PNA) – Law enforcement authorities under Task Force Velasco finally got a break in the murder of a judge in Bayawan City in southern Negros Oriental, following the arrest of two suspected guns-for-hire recently. Provincial Police Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe identified the suspected hired guns as Gilbert Garsula Caballero, 35, married, and Robert Caborasan Agbogaa, 39, single, both residents of Culipapa, Hinobaan in Negros Occidental. Caballero and Agbogaa, allegedly members of the Ogabang gun-for-hire group, were arrested last January 3 at a checkpoint conducted by the Bayawan police force, headed by police station commander, Supt. Roy Abella. During the checkpoint at Sitio Busque, Barangay Nangka in Bayawan City, the police seized from the suspects’ possession a home made shot gun with magazine and four live 12-gauge ammunition. Also confiscated was one magazine containing 14 live ammunition for a caliber .45 pistol, although the police believe the suspects may have disposed of the handgun before their arrest. Caballero was wearing a military uniform while driving a Honda XRM motorcycle when he was arrested. The police kept the arrest of the two suspects under wraps until witnesses had executed sworn affidavits that pointed to Caballero as the alleged triggerman in the assassination of Judge Orlando Velaso of the Regional Trial Court Branch 63 in Bayawan City. At least four suspects positively identified Caballero from a police line-up. Judge Velasco had just returned home from a party in the evening of July 27, 2007 when motorcycle-riding suspects rode up to him at the gate of his house and shot him. Task Force Velasco, composed of the National Bureau of Investigation, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Negros Oriental Police Office and the Bayawan police station, was created soon after the judge’s death to relentlessly pursue the Velasco murder case. According to Sr. Supt. Buenafe, the task force had earlier monitored the presence of a gun-for-hire group in the Bayawan area. Buenafe said on Tuesday that both suspects are believed to be members of a gun-for-hire group noted for several assassinations and robbery-hold up cases in the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental in Mindanao. Caballero and Agboga-a were previously reported as members of the Ogabang Gun-For-Hire and robbery criminal gang headed by one Boboy Ogabang of Culipapa, Hinobaan, Negros Occidental along with Delfin Ogabang, Pulin Ogabang, Ricky Ogabang, Renante Delloso, Landring Mamac and a certain Francis, Buenafe further disclosed. Cases of illegal possession of firearms and ammunitions were filed against Caballero and Agbogaa before the Bayawan City prosecutor’s office. Caballero, meanwhile, was charged for the murder of Judge Velasco. Sr. Supt. Buenafe said it is difficult to determine the real motive for the murder of the judge, as Caballero is not cooperating with the police. A gun-for-hire usually takes on a job only for the money. The suspect has refused to disclose any further information, and even if he did, it would be hard to hold the brains behind the judge’s murder liable unless other people corroborated Caballero’s statement, Buenafe said. But, the police officer maintained that the judge’s death was work-related, considering that before he died at the hospital, Velasco had told police investigators some people were after him due to sensitive cases that he was handling. (PNA) LOR/JFP/with reports from JG
PRO 7 now has 3 police generals CEBU CITY, Jan. 8 (PNA) -– Two police officials in the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 were promoted to the rank of one-star general, bringing to three the number of generals in the region. PRO 7 Internal Affairs Service Chief Rolenson Grejaldo was promoted to the rank of chief superintendent last Dec. 17. Deputy Regional Police Director for Administration Federico Terti was promoted to the same rank on Monday. They share the same rank with Chief Supt. Ronald Roderos, PRO-7 director. Roderos announced Teri’s promotion Monday during his new year’s message at the PRO-7 headquarters in Camp Sergio Osmena, Cebu City. The two newly-promoted generals will continue to sit in their present posts pending further instruction from Camp Crame in Metro Manila. (PNA) LAP/FFC/EB/ad Provincial News, Tuesday, January 08, 2008 Crime in Cebu Province dropped by 22% in 2007 CEBU CITY, Jan. 8 (PNA) – Efficient disposition of troops resulting to effective police visibility accounted for a 22 percent drop in the volume of crime committed in Cebu in all of 2007. In fact, the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) has reported that the crime volume in the province took a plunge from 4,464 in 2006 to just 3,486 in 2007. As 2007 ended, crime also decline from 273 in November to only 198 crime incidents in December. Specifically, index crimes, or crimes against persons and property penalized under the Revised Penal Code, dropped to 2,300 in 2007 compared to 2,771 in 2006. And with 125 incidents, index crime was at its lowest in January compared to other months in 2007. This was attributed to the presence of hundreds of field trainees from different regional police offices, who were sent to Cebu as augmentation forces for the 12th Asean Summit. They were tapped for visibility patrols during that time. Index crime rate surged to 209 in February after the field trainees were recalled to their mother units after the summit. Serious physical injury was the most common crime in 2007, with 807 incidents. Theft was second with 764 incidents, followed by 392 robberies, 183 murders, 80 rape cases, and 74 homicides. Of the serious physical injuries cases, 144 occurred in Lapu-Lapu City, 102 in Talisay City, 59 in Danao City, 38 in Carcar City and 35 in Toledo City. Lapu-Lapu also topped the list of theft incidents with 211 cases, followed by Talisay City with 133, Danao City with 94, Consolacion town with 35, and Carcar City with 23. And out of 392 robberies, Talisay City registered the most number with 96 cases. Lapu-Lapu followed with 86, Danao City with 55, Carcar City with 22, and Consolacion with 17. Lapu-Lapu, too, had the most number of murders with 22 cases. Carcar City came in next with 20, Danao City with 12, Daanbantayan with nine, and Sibonga with eight cases. Rape cases were most prevalent also in Lapu-Lapu with 19 incidents. Eight were recorded in Consolacion town, five in Toledo City, and four each in Borbon and Carmen towns. Talisay City had 13 out of 74 homicides; Barili had six, while Carcar City, Alegria and Catmon each registered five cases. Index crimes last year were also most common on a Sunday with 426 out of the 2,300 incidents, and happened between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. The “lowest crime days” were Mondays and Fridays. Crimes happened the least from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. As for the non-index crimes, or violations of special laws, the CPPO registered 223 drug cases, 140 gambling cases, 188 firearms law violations, 18 environmental laws infractions, and 562 offenses against other special laws, for a total of 1,179. With 3,486 index and non-index crimes, the CPPO considered 2,890 incidents, or 82.9 percent, as already solved. (PNA) can/EB/bh Provincial News, Tuesday, January 08, 2008 NegOr PNP lauds additional deployment of Army troops DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 7 (PNA) –- The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Negros Oriental is treating the insurgency problem in the province with concern and it is looking forward to the deployment of additional Army troops here. PNP provincial director Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe said he has complained to the Regional Peace and Order Council in Region VII several times in the past regarding what he perceives as the imbalance in the deployment of troops compared to other provinces in Central Visayas. He said Negros Oriental has more guerilla fronts operating in its area of jurisdiction, but have less government troops in the field. The Army leadership in Negros Island had earlier announced in a statement made to a regional daily that it would be focusing its anti-insurgency operations this year in Negros, after Bohol had showed a significant drop in the rebel problem. Buenafe is hoping that the armed forces will make good its commitment of deploying additional troops in the province, especially in the southeastern portion, where there is perceived guerilla activity due to the presence of three guerilla fronts there. He revealed that several municipalities in the north of Negros Oriental are still under threat of rebel infestation, like Guihulngan, La Libertad, Canlaon, and Vallehermoso.(PNA)
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