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| Police Regional Office IX - Western Mindanao Camp Colonel Romeo Abendan, Brgy Mercedes, Zamboanga City 062-991-3000 Local 3909 |
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| Year 2008 MONTH JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC | ARCHIVE 2007 | |
JULYProvincial News, Thursday, July 17, 2008 Kidnappers' entry, exits points in Zambo placed under watch ZAMBOANGA CITY, July 15 (PNA) -– The Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) is putting up a detachment in Sitio Aplaya, Barangay Manicahan, an area that has been identified as entry and exit points of kidnappers who prey on residents of this city. ZCPO director Sr. Supt. Lurimer Detran said the detachment will be manned by policemen and military troops from the Task Force Zamboanga headed by Col. Darwin Guerra. Sitio Aplaya is a two-kilometer coastline of the 1,801-hectare Barangay Manicahan located 13 kilometers east of this city. It is accessible by sea to the other parts of the region to include Basilan that falls under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), where Preciosa Feliciano, 24, was taken by the kidnappers. A nurse at the Ciudad Medical Zamboanga, Feliciano, who was seized last week in this city, was brought to Basilan province by the kidnappers passing through Sitio Aplaya, Manicahan. The kidnappers' getaway vehicle was recovered in Sitio Aplaya and it was discovered that the unit was servicing the routes of Tuburan-Lamitan-Maluso in Basilan province. Detran said a sufficient number of policemen and military troops will be stationed at the detachment in Sitio Aplaya, Manicahan to ensure the two-kilometer coastline will be closely guarded. Manicahan Barangay Captain Editha Casiño disclosed that Sitio Aplaya poses as security risk to her village since it is unguarded except by a handful of village watchmen (tanod) who stay in the area. The police learned from the residents in Sitio Aplaya, Manicahan they had noticed an unidentified motorized banca moored in their place a few days before Feliciano was seized in this city. Casiño informed the police that the residents in Sitio Aplaya have started receiving threats by unidentified people just after it was reported that Feliciano was abducted. Zamboanga businessman Innocente Bautista, 58, the first kidnap victim in this city this year, was freed by the kidnappers in Sitio Aplaya, Manicahan last June 9. Bautista, the general manager of the Western Mindanao Corporation (Wesmidco) was seized last May 27 from his office along Cabato Road in Barangay Tetuan. (PNA) Provincial News, Thursday, July 17, 2008 Bandits kidnap 2 Globe sub-contractors in Basilan ZAMBOANGA CITY, July 17 (PNA) – Members of a kidnap-for-ransom group believed to have ties with the Abu Sayyaf on Wednesday seized two sub-contractors of a giant telecommunications firm in the island province of Basilan. The latest incident brought to a total of three people now being held captive by the same group of kidnap-for-ransom-group (KFRG) in Basilan. Basilan police director Senior Supt. Salik Macapantar disclosed that the two victims were seized shortly before noon Wednesday in Barangay Languyan in the town of Mohammad Ajul. Macapantar identified the victims as Pilardo Tolentino and Jason Constancia, both residents of Barangay Switch Yakal, Lantawan, Basilan and sub-contractors of Globe Telecom. Tolentino and Constancia, along with nine other sub-contractors, were returning home after inspecting a Globe cell site when the gunmen waylaid their group and seized them. Naval Forces Western Mindanao (Navforwem) chief Rear Admiral EmilioMarayag, Jr. said their companions managed to escape. Macapantar said the two sub-contractors were reportedly seized by the group of Usman Lidjal, a leader of a Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) "lost command" that has allied with the Abu Sayyaf bandits. A text message sent to a broadcast journalist in this city disclosed that the kidnappers are demanding a P3 million ransom in exchange for the release of the two Globe contractors. Lidjal's group is also holding captive Preciosa Feliciano, a nurse of the Ciudad Medical Zamboanga who was seized last July 9 in this city. Feliciano was brought to Barangay Candiis, also in the town of Mohammad Ajul. Lidjal's group has reportedly asked for a P10-million ransom but later reduced the amount to P3 million in exchange for the freedom of Feliciano. Police have already mounted search and rescue operations to free the victims. (PNA) Provincial News, Friday, July 04, 2008 Zambo police recover improvised bombs ZAMBOANGA CITY, July 4 (PNA) – Police on Friday recovered safely two improvised explosive devices (IED) hidden inside a cargo truck before they could explode. The IEDs were discovered by truck helpers when they stopped at a garage in Barangay Mercedes in this city. One of the explosives consisting of ammonium nitrate powder was packed in a liter bottle and the second in an 800-milliliter bottle of soft drinks. The IEDs known as Ammonium Nitrate FuelOil (ANFO) have wires connected to dry cell batteries of 1.5 volts each, a blasting cap and fuse. The IEDs were safely disarmed by the Zamboanga City Police Office Explosives Ordnance Division. The police said the IEDs were placed in one of the hauler trucks contracted by a soft drink firm which has a plant in this city. The police are conducting a thorough investigation to determine who planted the IEDs. (PNA) Provincial News, Friday, July 04, 2008 Shipping firm executive killed in Zambo ZAMBOANGA CITY, July 4 (PNA) -– A shipping firm executive was shot dead by gunmen on a motorcycle on Thursday morning here. in Barangay Canelar here. Police identified the victim as Faustino Saavedra, 69, manager of Ever Lines shipping firm. Saavedra, accompanied by his wife, was driving his car on the way home from the office when shot by the suspects. He succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds upon arrival at the Ciudad Medical Center. Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) investigation chief Senior Insp. Danilo Tendero said business rivalry is most likely the motive in the killing. Ever Lines owns a fleet of ferries that ply from this city to Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Zamboanga del Sur and vice-versa. (PNA) JUNProvincial News, Friday, June 20, 2008 ARMM police director Chief Supt. Joel Goltiao said they will tightly secure the counting areas since it would be the first time that an automated elections will be held in the country. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is using the direct recording electronic (DRE) system in Maguindanao while the optical mark reader(OMR) technology will be used in the other five ARMM provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Shariff Kabunsuan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. The DRE system uses touch-screen or touch-pad technology and is fully automated from the voting to counting and final transmission of results to the canvassing centers at the provincial and regional levels. On the other hand, the OMR Technology requires voters to fill out a paper ballot which is scanned by specially-designed machines. "It is necessary to secure the machines to avoid failure of elections," Goltiao said. Goltiao said policemen will also be deployed in polling precincts in coordination with the military to ensure the peaceful and orderly conduct of the elections. At least 1.4 million registered voters in ARMM will troop to the polling precincts in August 11 to elect a new set of officials to govern the region until 2011. They will elect a regional governor, vice-governor and members of the 24-seat unicameral Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA). Initially, Goltiao disclosed that they have identified the areas where armed groups like the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Abu Sayyaf bandits thrive as election areas of concern. "Their areas of influence are considered election areas of concern," Goltiao added. However, he foresees a peaceful and orderly conduct of election citing the ARMM polls is not as hotly contested as the local and national elections. "They (politicians and supporters) use force and arms (in local election)," he added. Goltiao said he would not recommend for policemen to serve as Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) so that they would have enough personnel to render security duties on election day. Goltiao said the positions of BEIs should be handled by teachers who are selected to serve at the polling precincts. (PNA) National News,
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) police director Chief Supt. Joel Goltiao disclosed that Drilon, her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion and Professor Octavio Dinampo, the news team's guide were freed shortly before midnight Barangay Danasi, Talipao town. Drilon, Encarnacion and Dinampo will be airlifted anytime to this city for medical examination and debriefing. Goltiao said the hostages were freed without payment of ransom citing the negotiators who negotiated for the release of the victims stood by the no-ransom policy of the government. The release came several hours after Philippine National Police (PNP) Director-General Avelino Razon expressed optimism that the hostages will be released within a day's time. Drilon and companions' freedom came several hours after the kidnappers have indefinitely extended the deadline of the negotiations for the safe release of the hostages. Last Monday, the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers gave the negotiators and victims' families until noontime of Tuesday to produce the P15 million ransom demand. Valderama was freed last Thursday evening by the kidnappers and had been waiting for the release of the remaining hostages in this city. (PNA) Provincial News Wednesday, June 18, 2008 However, Philippine National Police Director-General Avelino Razon said Tuesday hours before the deadline set by the kidnappers to produce the ransom that they remain hopeful the hostages would be freed safely. The Abu Sayyaf kidnappers have given the negotiators and the families of the hostages to produce P15 million ransom until noontime of Tuesday and threatened to close the door for the negotiations.(PNA) Provincial News, Wednesday, June 18, 2008 The project is part of the "Balik Eskwela" program of the Philippine National Police (PNP). The feeding program would initially benefit the 30 pupils currently enrolled at the Police Regional Office 1 (PRO1) Day Care Center. “This is a timely activity as it encourages young children to come to school. Our feeding program is not just giving them food to eat but also to enhance their proper nutrition,” Hilomen said. The PRO1 Day Care Center is now on its third year of operation, starting with 25 pupils for School Year 2006, and another 28 pupils for SY 2007. The PRO1 Day Care Center, situated right inside the camp, was started on September 26, 2006 in response to Republic Act 8980 and Executive Order 340 directing national government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations to provide day care services for the employees’ pre-school dependents. However, the PRO1 Day Care Center caters not only to children of police personnel but also includes preschoolers at the camp's vicinity. “Our concern is not just concentrated to the children of PNP personnel but also to less fortunate civilians who cannot enroll their children in other day care institutions due to surging tuition fees," Hilomen said. "It is part of our duty to give them proper education and provide them opportunity to learn and develop.” (PNA) LAP/CMR/LVM/FGL/rma Leader of Italian priest kidnappers killed in shootout The renegade rebel leader identified as Akiddin Abdul Salam with aliases as Commander Kiddie, Kuyong and Israel, was killed around 1:35 p.m. Saturday in Barangay Salipyasin, Kabasalan town. Zamboanga Peninsula Police Office (ZPPO) information officer Supt. Jose Bayani Gucela said Commander kiddie was killed when a shootout ensued while the government troops were serving the warrant for the rebel leader's arrest in his hideout. "During the service of warrant of arrest, subject person (Commander Kiddie) resisted arrest and open fired to the arresting team prompting the lawmen to return fire hitting Commander Kiddie on his head exited thru his upper throat that caused his untimely death," Gucela said. Two of Commander Kiddie's companions, who were not immediately identified, have managed to escape to undisclosed place, according to Gucela. He said the arresting team recovered a caliber .45 pistol and three units of cellular telephones from the shootout site. Commander Kiddie's cadaver was brought to the headquarters of the Army's 102nd Infantry Brigade in Barangay Sanito, Ipil for proper documentation, disposition and likewise, fingerprinting, photography and post mortem examination were conducted by the Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Crime Laboratory personnel and Dr. Emma Ruth Igloria from Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Hospital. Gucela said that around 6 p.m. Saturday, Commander Kiddie's remains was turned over to his relatives in the presence of the late rebel leaders' relatives and witnessed by Salipyasin Barangay chairman Ahmad Salipyasin as well as other officials and policemen from Kabasalan municipality. Bossi, of the Pontifico Istituto Missioni Estere (PIME), was kidnapped on June 10, 2007, after celebrating a mass in Barangay Bulawan, Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay. Bossi was freed along the highway of Karomatan in Lanao del Norte province in the evening of July 19 after 39 days in captivity. (PNA) Provincial News, Saturday, June 14, 2008 Zamboanga Peninsula to get more policemen ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 14 (PNA) – Zamboanga Peninsula Police Office (ZPPO) will get a boost as new policemen will be joining the force soon to help maintain peace and order there. ZZPO Director Jaime Caringal said this developed as 368 policemen, who graduated Thursday from their six-month training at Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) in Zamboanga City, will be deployed to different police provincial mobile groups (PPMGs), police stations and the regional mobile group-9 (RMG-9). PPMGs and RMG-9 are maneuver forces of the provincial command and Philippine National Police, respectively. Caringal clarified the graduates must still study handling traffic, investigating, scouting and patrolling before their deployment, however. To help further augment the police force, he said over 100 police recruits are training at Camp Felicisimo Marcos where PPSC is. With the deployment and continuing training of police recruits, he expects his command to meet eventually the region’s ideal police-to-population ratio. Caringal's command covers Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur provinces as well as Isabela and Zamboanga cities. (PNA) Provincial News, Friday, June 13, 2008 The female entertainers, aged 22 to 31, arrived in this city by plane Thursday and checked into two rooms at a local hotel along Tomas Claudio Street, a block away from the central police station. Two of them began to doubt their alleged recruitment and complained at the local Central Police station under Chief of Police Sr. Supt. Lurimer Detran. As a result, a police team checked the girls at the hotel. Initially, the other entertainers quarreled with their two companions who reported the matter to the police, but police investigators managed to convince the other women that they are about to be shipped to Malaysia and possibly end up in brothels. The women claimed that they know their recruiters only by the nicknames "Bong" and "Erick". Two of them got suspicious after they were booked into the hotel and the two provide them instructions only via telephone calls. Bong and Erick were not in the hotel when the policemen arrived. Two of the girls have valid passports, while one with an expired document. The three others claimed that their recruiters promised that they will get the passports in this city. Hundreds of women have found their way to Malaysia after they were lured by illegal recruiters but end up as sex slaves. (PNA) Provincial News, Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Zambo police readies school opening security plan Sr. Supt. Lurimer Detran, officer-in-charge of the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO), said the security plan is dubbed as "Oplan Mag-aaral 2008" which will be implemented simultaneously with "Oplan Balik Eskwela" of the Department of Education (DepEd). Detran said he has met with all the chiefs of police of the 11 police stations and discussed about Oplan Mag-aaral 2008 implementation. Of the 11 police stations, 10 are located in mainland Zamboanga City while one is situated in Sacol Island that comprises four villages and is located 1.2 nautical miles east of this city. Aside from Sacol Island, the Police Station 11 also takes care of maintaining security as well as law and order in nearby island barangays of this city. Detran said some policemen were tasked to conduct roving patrols in all roads leading to the schools while some will be on stationary detail in schools to ensure the protection of the students. Detran said his office has coordinated with the different school officials to determine what the perennial problems are pertaining to security they experience during opening of classes. Thousands of children are trooping to the different schools in this city's 98 villages on Tuesday, the opening day of classes for the school year 2008-2009. Detran said he has also coordinated with the military's Task Force Zamboanga for augmentation of personnel in areas that could not be covered by his command. The Task Force Zamboanga headed by Col. Darwin Guerra which is under the Army's 1st Infantry Division is the maneuver force of the Western Mindanao Command in this city. (PNA) MAYProvincial News,
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Sr. Supt. Lurimer Detran, officer-in-charge of the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO), said the security is dubbed as Operations Plan Balik Eskwela which is aimed to secure all schools in this city. Detran said policemen will be deployed in the premises of every school to ensure the security and safety of the students from lawless elements. He said Oplan Balik Eskwela is aimed to protect the students from petty criminals like hold-ups, snatching and pickpockets aside from lawless elements. Detran said he would ask for an augmentation of personnel from the Zamboanga Peninsula Police Office (ZPPO) to assist his command in the implementation of the security plan. There are 11 police stations under the ZCPO including one in Sacol Island located 1.2 nautical miles east of this city. Thousands of students are trooping to the different public and private schools in this city when classes begins June 10. Officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) expect an increase in the population of students due to the transferees from the other parts of the region. Detran urged the officials of this city's 98 barangays to assist them in the maintaining security in their respective places at the opening of the school year 2008-2009. Col. Darwin Guerra, chief of the military's Task Force Zamboanga (TFZ), said his command will assist the ZCPO secure the schools in areas where they lack personnel. Guerra's command which is under the Army's 1st Infantry Division headed by Maj. Gen. Nehemias Pajarito is the maneuver force of the military's Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) in this city, especially in the far-flung barangays. (PNA) LGI/TPG/rsm Provincial News, Monday, May 22, 2008 Four injured in police field training exercise Placed under investigation is a junior officer, whose name was withheld, of the RMG-9 based on Camp Col. Romeo Abendan in Barangay Mercedes, 11 kilometers east of this city. Detran revealed the incident took place Tuesday when the police trainees were on scout training in Bungiao, an interior and upland barangay located east of Zamboanga City. Detran disclosed that the training staffs and trainees were injured after they were hit by splinters when the bullets, fired by the officer using his service firearm, ricochet and hit the victims. "He fired his gun signaling the start of the field training exercise, but the bullets ricochet and the splinter hit on the victims," he disclosed. He said the investigation is focused on how the incident took place and to determine if there was negligence on the part of the concerned training officer. He said of the four injured so far, only one remain in the hospital for medication. Detran, who is also the concurrent officer-in-charge of the Zamboanga City Police Office, has warned the RMG-9 officers and personnel to be extra cautious in handling police trainees. Detran said any of his officers and men assigned as training staffs found to be negligent in the conduct of the training will be dealt with accordingly. (PNA) LBV/TPG/mec Provincial News, Monday, May 22, 2008 Zambo police on alert vs bank robberies Police Chief Supt. Lurimer Detran said that there are newly opened banks in Zamboanga and the police force does not have any idea if their alarms are in working condition or if they installed any alarm at all. He also directed his men to check that old alarms installed in banks. Detran said that the order on the checking of bank alarms came from top police officials in Manila as an offshoot of the bloodiest bank robbery at Rizal Banking Commercial Corporation (RCBC) branch in Laguna last week in order to prevent similar incident in this city. The police official has also recommended that bank officials be invited to the next Peace and Order Council Meeting where they can thresh out problems on security or any similar matters. Only one bank robbery case occurred in Zamboanga seven years ago, where the robbers were able to barge into the local bank but failed to get any money because they scampered as policemen were alerted by the bank's alarm system. Apart from the banks' alarms check, the local police force is also enforcing a "no place, no travel policy" for all motor vehicles in this city. Detran said the police, in coordination with the Military's Task Force Zamboanga, has set up checkpoint starting last Tuesday night to check on vehicles without plates. It was observed that most vehicles, particularly motorcycles, most crimes in this city are being prepatrated by lawless elements in unmarked motorcycles or those without any plates. The police is also strictly implementing the ban against the unauthorized carrying of firearms by civilians and even law enforcers. Barangay officials are not exempted from the gun ban unless they are properly provided with documents to carry their guns. (PNA) Provincial News, Monday, May 19, 2008 ZPPO creates task force to solve Zambo crimes ZPPO chief Director Jaime Caringal has designated Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) officer-in-charge Sr. Supt. Lurimer Detran as the head of the special task force. Caringal ordered Detran to look into the possibility that the "hired killers" industry has revived in this city aside from solving the spate of killings. They are to determine whether the shooting incidents that injured a lawyer and killed a shipping line official are related to each other and to other incidents occurring in this city. Detran, who is also the concurrent Regional Mobile Group-9 chief, is optimistic that they would have results within a week's time leading to the solution of the recent incidents. Last May 2, Atty. Johnny Boy Dialo, a native of Labason, Zamboanga del Norte was shot and injured inside the Seventh Day Adventist Church while attending a service around 6:40 p.m. together with his family. The police learned from the Seventh Day Adventist worshipers that it was the first time they saw the gunman entered their Church. Last May 5, Clyde Sasil, 57, a shipping firm consultant was shot and killed by one of two men riding tandem in a motorcycle around 7a.m. at the busy intersection of Veterans Avenue-Don Alfaro Street. Police Station 6 chief Sr. Insp. Danilo Tendero disclosed they have already established the identity of the suspects in the gun slay of Sasil. Tendero, however refused to elaborate further so as not to jeopardize their follow-up operations on Sasil's case. The police are also looking into the possibility that the shooting of Dialo has something to do with his profession as a lawyer. (PNA) LBV/Teofilo P. Garcia/utb Provincial News,
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) officer-in-charge Sr. Supt. Lurimer Detran disclosed that David James Rowe was found in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, where the latter is staying. Rowe was located by the San Carlos City police, whose assistance was sought by Detran, two days after the British businessman was reported missing in this city. Fong Kwan Kong, a Chinese national and business partner of Rowe, appeared at the ZCPO on Friday and reported that the British national was missing. Kong, an auto-machine parts businessman, told the police that he and Rowe were supposed to meet on the evening of Thursday but his partner failed to show up and cannot be located since then. "Yes, he (Rowe) is now in Manila," Detran said in a text message on Tuesday. It was not known as to what Rowe is doing in Manila. Detran, however, said that Kong accompanied by his personnel have forwarded a complaint of estafa against Rowe on Monday at the City Prosecutor's Office (CPO). Kong told the police that before Rowe has gone missing, he entrusted his partner the amount of P420,000 to purchase auto-machine parts in Manila but allegedly Rowe failed to deliver to him the goods. Detran said his office will formally inform the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to place Rowe on the watch list to prevent him from leaving the country without facing the complaint filed against him. Detran earlier brushed aside speculations that Rowe might have been abducted by kidnap-for-ransom group or the Abu Sayyaf bandits. "He (Rowe) was gone because of a transaction that went sour," Detran said. (PNA) APRILProvincial News, Friday, April 18, 2008 TMG-9 activates auxiliary office in Pagadian City ZAMBOANGA CITY, April 18 (PNA) -– The Traffic Management Group-9 (TMG-9) will activate the Traffic Management Auxiliary Office (TMAO) in Camp Abelon, Pagadian City, the capital of Zamboanga del Sur province. TMG-9 director Sr. Supt. Rey Cristeto Gonzalodo said TMAO's activation aimed to establish good rapport between the group and the motor vehicle owners and its clientele. Once activated, Gonzalodo said TMAO will conduct outreach programs like traffic safety and discipline seminars in Zamboanga del Sur's 24 towns and one city. TMAO will also embark on environmental management programs and will assist the TMG-9 in crime prevention and detection along the Zamboanga-Pagadian Highway, Gonzalodo said. The Zamboanga-Pagadian Highway links this city to Pagadian traversing Zamboanga Sibugay province and serves as the main thoroughfares for travelers and farmers in brining their farm produce to the market. Zamboanga del Sur police director Sr. Supt. Ramon Ochotorena is turning over a patrol car to TMG office in Pagadian City as part of his office' assistance to its campaign. (PNA) Provincial News,
Monday, April 14, 2008
The explosion occurred few days after the embassies of America and Australia have issued travel advisories warning their nationals not to travel to this city due to threats on foreigners. The explosions took place one after the other with five minutes interval which Task Force Zamboanga (TFZ) chief Col. Darwin Guerra said were just aimed to frighten and cause panic among the populace. The first explosion took place around 4:30 a.m. at the Immaculate Concepcion Metropolitan Cathedral along La Purisima Street and the second around 4:35 a.m. in front of a bank in Veterans Avenue. Guerra said no one was killed or injured in both incidents except that a priest's car was damaged at the Metropolitan Cathedral. The Church's glass panels were also shattered. The first bomb was placed beneath the Church's right wing spiral staircase while the second one was left at the side of the road in front of a building that houses the Department of Foreign Affairs' passport office and Maybank in Veterans Avenue located at least 1.5 kilometers away from the Cathedral. Both bombs were fashioned out of 60-milimeter mortar shell with triggering device based on the initial findings of the Explosive and Ordnance Demolition (EOD) investigators. "Nananakot lamang ang mga suspects," Guerra said citing the mortar shells were old ones. He even downplayed the incidents as isolated cases. Supt. Jonathan Perez, officer-in-charge of the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO), said they have witnesses who could help them identify the bombing suspects. "We are coming up with the artist sketch of the suspects behind these incidents," Perez disclosed without saying how many people could be the culprits. Security has been tight in and around this city since the national Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) meet is being held here. The athletic events which is being held at the Joaquin F. Enriquez, Jr. Memorial Sports Complex and participated in by private schools of the country's 16 regions reeled-off on April 8 and ends on April 14. Guerra said they have not intercepted any report about bombing threats in this city aside from the travel advisories issued by the US and Australian embassies. Security measures in and around the city has been strengthened further by the ZCPO and TFZ. (PNA) LGI/TPG/rsm Provincial News, Tuesday, April 08, 2008 ZAMBOANGA CITY, April 7 (PNA) -– The Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) has intensified the manhunt for the immediate arrest of the mastermind in the killing of a Commission on Audit (COA) official in this city. ZCPO officer-in-charge Supt. Jonathan Perez has ordered the intensified manhunt after the mastermind reportedly went into hiding following the issuance of his arrest warrant. Tagged as the alleged mastermind in last year's gun-slay of the COA official is Enrie Caraecle, the president of the government-owned Zamboanga State College of Marine and Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST). COA lawyer Vilma Aguias was on her way to report for work when she was shot and killed along Cabato road in Barangay Tetuan, this city. Perez also ordered the conduct of an intensified intelligence operation in a bid to locate Caraecle's whereabouts. Caraecle reportedly left for Manila last March 25 on the same day the court issued the warrant for his arrest in connection with the COA official's gun-slay. From then on, he has not returned to this city nor his whereabouts are known. Caraecle was tagged as the mastermind in the killing of Aguias by Eduardo Tan, an alleged gun-for-hire and one of the three suspects the police have arrested after the incident. Caraecle's legal counsel Atty. Dorothy Cajayon has denied that his client is in hiding, citing he is on official leave of absence. Perez said they have coordinated with the police in Manila and that of the nearby province of Zamboanga Sibugay province to help them locate Caraecle. Perez said they have learned that the school official has relatives staying in Manila and Zamboanga Sibugay province. (PNA) LAP/TPG/mec Provincial News,
Tuesday, April 08, 2008 Saludin is said to be a "lost command" leader of the MILF and is operating in the hinterlands of the province. The Zamboanga Peninsula Police Office (ZPPO) reported that the Saludin and his men held hostage 45- year old Cresencia Colot and her young son, Ricson around 6:30 p.m. Friday in Barangay Malian in the town of Gutalac. The ZPPO also reported that after seizing the Saludins the rebel group demanded Edilberto, the husband who is a village watchman to surrender his homemade rifle and bolo in exchange for the release of the hostages. When Edilberto refused, Saludin shot him twice with a caliber .45 pistol but missed, allowing the man to escape. But his wife who knew where her husband had hidden the homemade rifle and bolo handed it over to Saludin in exchange for their release. Saludin refused to free them and instead demanded through a feeler to inform Malian Barangay captain Felix Tanez to negotiate for the hostages' release. Further investigation revealed that Saludin has an axe to grind on the barangay official because the rebel leader lost to Tanez during the barangay elections last October. Saludin's group only released the hostages after learning the arrival of the combined military and police forces in the area and fled to the hinterlands to avoid armed confrontation. (PNA) LOR/TPG/mec Provincial News, Saturday, April 05, 2008 Explosion kills family of three in Zamboanga City ZAMBOANGA CITY, April 4 (PNA) – A family with three members was killed in an explosion in a farming village east of this city, a police official said Friday. Police Station 1 chief Sr. Insp. Domingo Arguilla said the incident happened around 12:40 a.m. Wednesday in Barangay Manugusu. Arguilla identified the victims as Julhani Sala, 55, his wife, Nurjam, 60 and son, Mahmud, 35. They succumbed to multiple shrapnel wounds in the body. Arguilla said no witness were available as the incident took place when everybody in the neighborhood was in deep slumber. The victims' neighbors told the police that they were awakened by the loud explosion but they did see anyone in the area. Arguilla said they recovered shrapnel at the crime scene but have yet to determine the type of the explosive. An in-depth investigation is ongoing. (PNA) LAP/FFC/TPG/utb Provincial News,
Friday, April 04, 2008 ZAMBOANGA CITY, April 3 (PNA) – Operatives of the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) have seized eight gambling slot machines as part of an anti-gambling operation in three barangays of this city. Police reports said the machines were confiscated in Barangays Cabatangan, San Roque and Pasonanca on Tuesday night. The anti-gambling operation was carried out as per instruction of ZCPO officer-in-charge Supt. Jonathan Perez, who ordered a crackdown against all forms of criminalities including illegal gambling. Police Station 7 reported that of the eight confiscated slot machines, seven were small machines locally called as "apple-apple" and one big machine known as "kabalyo-kabalyo." The owners, including the gamblers of the slot machines, managed to escape when they sensed the arrival of the policemen. The confiscated slot machines were turned over to the ZCPO which in turn would be submitted to the court. Perez said he will also concentrate on other priorities like police visibility in the area aside from the illegal gambling campaign. (PNA) LAP/jmc/TPG/egr Provincial News,
Wednesday, April 02, 2008 The police said the grenade was discovered planted under the driver's seat while the bus was about to proceed to the terminal to pick up passengers for its first trip to Zamboanga del Sur from this city. The bus driver, Julio Bernardo, told the police that he immediately stopped his vehicle while about to leave the garage around 2 a.m. Monday after sensing that "something" was connected to the bus' front wheel. When he conducted an inspection, Bernardo said he found a nylon string tied to the tire rim while the other end was attached to a grenade safety pin placed under his seat. Explosive and Ordnance Demolition (EOD) personnel of the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) safely retrieved the explosive, which is an MK-2 fragmentation grenade. "It's a booby trap. The grenade will explode once someone would trip up the nylon string," said SPO4 Rhoy Resuento, one of the on duty EOD personnel of the ZCPO. Both the local police and executives of the Rural Transit Bus Company brushed aside speculations that the fragmentation grenade was planted by a terror group. Resuento said it is clear that the target of the suspect or suspects was the bus driver based on the way the grenade was planted on the vehicle. Resuento said the possible motive is personal grudge noting that Bernardo, the bus driver, was the target and not the passengers. Rural Transit Bus Company Zamboanga head Efren Dela Cruz said they will conduct a separate investigation to determine who has an axe to grind against Bernardo. Dela Cruz said that from now on, they will require all company employees to undergo a thorough inspection before allowing entry into the bus firm garage in this city. The Rural Transit buses ply daily from this city to the provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and as far as Cagayan de Oro City. (PNA) LAP/TPG/mec
MARCHProvincial Saturday, March 29, 2008 Zambo police studies new traffic scheme ZAMBOANGA CITY, Mar. 29 (PNA) – The Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) is conducting a study for the implementation of the new traffic scheme to hasten the flow of vehicles in this city. ZCPO director Sr. Supt. Manuel Barcena said he has ordered his traffic chief Inspector Noel Lozano to review the existing traffic scheme including the deployment of traffic policemen and enforcers. During his inspection around the city, Barcena has noted the worsening traffic situation in the major intersections and in roads leading to the schools and city proper during rush hour. Without mentioning figures, he disclosed that the volume of vehicles has already exceeded the maximum numbers of vehicles suited for the streets of this city. He said the revision of the traffic scheme is necessary for a developing city like Zamboanga that has narrow streets to reduce the traffic congestion. Barcena has ordered Lozano to deploy more traffic policemen on major intersections leading to the city to hasten the flow of vehicles while the new scheme has yet to be implemented. (PNA) LBV/Teofilo P. Garcia/rsm Provincial Saturday, March 29, 2008 Vintage bombs unearthed in Zamboanga ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 28 (PNA) -– The Explosive and Ordnance Demolition (EOD) personnel of the local police have retrieved 22 World War II vintage bombs in an interior barangay east of this city. Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) director Sr. Supt. Manuel Barcena said the vintage bombs were recovered last Tuesday in Barangay Luzuran by one of the residents. Barcena said the resident was digging a pit to dump garbage when he stumbled on the vintage bombs upon reaching two feet deep. The said resident informed Luzuran village councilor Bong Langford about the bombs. The councilor reported it to the Police Station 5, according to Barcena. Langford told the police that the bombs were possibly part of the Japanese soldiers' armaments that were encamped in the area during the World War II. Barcena said the vintage bombs were kept by ZCPO's EOD personnel for safe keeping. (PNA) LOR/FFC/TPG/mec Provincial Tuesday, March 18, 2008 ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 17 (PNA) -– A top official of the Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) said they have lined up religious activities for the Holy Week at Camp Don Basilio Navarro that houses the Wesmincom headquarters in this city. Wesmincom chief Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga said for one, they will establish station of the cross for the officers and men. There will likewise be film showing concerning the passion and death of Jesus Christ. The religious activities will give the soldiers, specifically the Catholic faithful, the opportunity to observe the Holy Week even if they are on alert duty, according to the military official. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has been placed on red alert to thwart possible sabotage by lawless elements in the countryside during the Holy Week. Allaga said the offensive will continue against the Abu Sayyaf bandits and other lawless elements. He also noted that will be a Mass on Good Friday at the Wesmincom chapel. (PNA) LAP/FFC/TPG/mec Provincial Tuesday, March 18, 2008 ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 17 (PNA)-– The Philippine National Police (PNP) has tapped the support of crime watch volunteers to help them fight against drug syndicates and other forms of lawless elements here. Zamboanga Peninsula Police Office (ZPPO) information officer Supt. Jose Bayani Gucela said the crime watch volunteers will teach barangay officials through seminars, on how to determine the presence of drug syndicates and lawless elements in their respective areas. "There is a need to arm the village officials with such knowledge since syndicates could be already operating in their locality like what happened in the village of Lamisahan, east of this city," said Gucela. Gucela said the discovery of the shabu laboratory in Lamisahan was incidental since barangay residents knew it was a tire recapping plant. He said the shabu laboratory could have not been discovered had the village residents not complained about the water and air pollution from what they thought as a tire recapping plant. Barangay Lamisahan officials told the police that they did not know the people who were going in- and- out of the compound since their vehicles were heavily-tinted. Gucela said the barangay officials will undergo seminar in batches under the auspices of the crime watch volunteers. He urged the residents to help their respective barangay officials in guarding their respective areas against the entry of syndicates and lawless elements. (PNA) LOR/FFC/TPG/mec Holy Week security plan up in Zamboanga City ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 10 (PNA) -– The military and police are joining efforts for the peaceful observance of the Holy Week in this city. Task Force Zamboanga chief Col. Darwin Guerra said his command and the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) have readied a joint security plan to be implemented during the observance of the Holy Week. Guerra said his forces will secure the outlying areas of this city's 98 villages while the ZCPO headed by Sr. Supt. Manuel Barcena will handle the security in the city proper. Barcena said that his personnel will secure the churches where religious activities are scheduled to be held. The Abong-Abong Park is located in the village of Pasonanca, nine kilometers north of this city, where the station of the cross is located. Barcena said there will be re-routing of traffic to ensure smooth traffic flow in Abong-Abong Park. The entry of all forms of vehicles will be at Pasonanca and the exit point will be through the village of Tumaga. Aside from uniformed personnel, plainclothes operatives will also be deployed in areas of religious activities. Guerra said he has ordered his troops to strengthen the checkpoints from the eastern and western boundaries of this city. This city shares a common boundary in the east with Tungawan town in Zamboanga Sibugay province and in the west with Sibuco municipality in Zamboanga del Norte. It is public knowledge that there are lawless elements operating in the hinterlands of Sibuco and Tungawan towns. (PNA) LAP/FFC/TPG/mec
Provincial News Pakistani businessman attacked by extortionists in Zambo FEBRUARYProvincial News Police uncover shabu lab in Zambo City ZCPO director Sr. Supt. Manuel Barcena on Sunday said three workers namely Rudyard Payton, 28, Israel Dancel, 25 and Edgar Rico, 35, all natives of Alicia, Zamboanga del Sur when his men accompanied by a sanitary inspector inspected the laboratory on Friday. The presence of the shabu laboratory was uncovered when the residents of the Lamisahan village, an interior barangay east of this city, have complained to the police of the unbearable smell emanating from the property. The villagers also complained about the pollution of the creek in their place caused by the disposal of waste water from the laboratory the reason why the police have brough with them a sanitary inspector from the City Health Office. "They (workers) claimed to be engaged in recapping tires business using as the reason for the unbearable smell in the area," Barcena said. However, Barcena said his police team accompanied by the sanitary inspector found out that there are three makeshift structures in the area that serve as laboratory for the manufacture of shabu, drying area, and billeting place for employees. It has also a hydrogenerator. It is located in a seven-hectare lot in the village of Lamisahan that is owned by a Taiwanese national whose identity was withheld by Barcena including that of the Chinese national. A local newspaper however reported on Sunday that a Chinese national named Weng Li Yang, 42, who is staying in Tomas Claudio Street in downtown Zamboanga, is the owner of the laboratory. Yang and his alleged right hand man named Benjamin Jamora eluded arrest when the lawmen arrived on Friday afternoon at the laboratory. Barcena described the three structures as simple ones wherein no one would think it is a laboratory for prohibited drugs. But, he said the facility has the capacity to produce large volume of shabu. Barcena said however that what are being produced in the Lamisahan laboratory are semi-finish products citing it is being brought to another laboratory, also in this city, to process into finish products. "They don't produce the finish products there (in Lamisahan). It is being brought to another place to convert it into finish product," Barcena said. Police investigation disclosed that the laboratory in Lamisahan has been operating for the past eight years and had been supplying shabu to drug dealers in the region. Barcena said they have also raided two other places—one in the village of Tetuan and the other in Talon-Talon—as manhunt operations continue. He said that his operatives were able to apprehend a vehicle being used in the transport of the prohibited drugs on Sunday in this city. He said they have already coordinated with the police and other concerned government agencies to assist them in the manhunt of the suspects behind the operations of the shabu laboratory in this city. (PNA) LGI/TPG/rsm Provincial News, Thursday, February 21, 2008 Robbers ransack Zambo Norte monastery ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb. 20 (PNA) -– The police have deployed personnel to track down and arrest the suspects who ransacked a monastery of valuables worth P83,000 in Zamboanga del Norte province, an official said on Wednesday. Zamboanga Peninsula police spokesman Supt. Jose Bayani Gucela said the incident took place around 4 p.m. last Saturday at the monastery located in the village of Bituon, Sindangan town, Zamboanga del Norte. Gucela said the robbers barged into the monastery when Sisters Bernadette Casipon, Clarita Vergara and Clarita Saklot were all out of the monastery. The three nuns told the police that they discovered the padlock of the monastery destroyed when they returned after a visit to Siayan monastery, also located in Sindangan. The suspects carted away one blessed silver sacrament (Tabernacle) worth P35,000; gold plated chalice worth P3,000; assorted gold kitchen utensils worth about P25,000; dialysis machine, P5,000; PDX wire, P5,000; new curtains and other valuables valued at P10,000. (PNA) DCT/FFC/TPG/utb Provincial News,
Tuesday, February 19, 2008 ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb. 19 (PNA) - Forensic experts of the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Philippine National Police (PNP) have taken samples of body tissues for DNA tests to determine whether the remains exhumed on Monday in Tawi-Tawi belong to that of Jemaah Islamiyah bomber Dulmatin, a military official said. Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer Maj.Eugenio Batara on Tuesday said the results will be known within a week's time. "If it will be found out later that the body was really that of Dulmatin, then this will be a big blow on the Abu Sayyaf Group/Jemaah Islamiyah organization and a great success of Westmincom in its campaign against terror not only in the Philippines but in the whole South East Asia region as well," Batara said. The body was recovered on Monday afternoon in Bato-Bato, Tawi-Tawi by combined personnel from the Naval Forces Western Mindanao, military intelligence and PNP. The recovered body was shipped to this city for proper identification. Military troops in pursuit of the killers of Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) priest, Fr. Jesus Reynaldo Roda and captors of Notre Dame teacher Omar Taup have clashed with the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf last January 31 in the village of Lubbok, Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi. The military earlier monitored that Dulmatin suffered gunshot wounds on his right ribs, left ankle and shrapnel wounds on his right eyebrow and right cheek during the January 31 clash but was able to escape. Batara said initial inspection of the cadaver shows the signs of gunshot wounds. After tissue samples were taken, Westmincom chief Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga has given instructions to coordinate with the Westmincom's chaplain, who himself is an Imam, to facilitate a decent Muslim burial for the body, according to Batara. He said the body will be buried Tuesday afternoon at a Muslim cemetery in this city. (PNA) LAP/TPG/utb Provincial News, Thursday, February 14, 2008 ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb. 13 (PNA) -– Traffic Management Group-9 director Sr. Supt. Cristeto Rey Gonzalodo has ordered his men to thoroughly inspect all types of vehicles arriving in this city and sold locally as second hand or used cars. Gonzalodo issued the order following reports that some of the vehicles that are brought here as used cars might have been involved in the commission of crimes in the metropolis and other parts of the country. Gonzalodo said proper coordination with the concerned government agencies has been fone so that his men could conduct the inspection while the vehicle is still being unloaded at the local wharf. Most of the vehicles that are sold as used cars in this city are brought through the local wharf since these are transported by boat, he said. He appealed to prospective buyers to coordinate with his office before buying any unit of used cars to ensure that what they are buying are not included in the TMG's list of hot cars. Gonzalodo said it is easy to determine whether what they are buying are hot cars or not since all of the TMG offices were furnished a copy of the list of hot cars in the country. He said hot cars may either been stolen or vehicles that are found to have been used in the commission of crimes. Gonzalodo's personnel recently turned over two units of hot cars seized in the city to the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) for proper disposition. He said they are closely working together with the PASG in the inspection of vehicles that are brought into this city. (PNA) LOR/FFC/TPG/mec Provincial News, Thursday, February 07, 2008 Security measures ready for Zambo Sibugay anniversary ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb. 7 (PNA) -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) is ready to implement a security plan to ensure the peaceful and orderly celebration of the founding anniversary of Zamboanga Sibugay province. Zamboanga Sibugay police director Sr. Supt. Francisco Cristobal said the provincial government has lined up series of activities for the 12-day founding anniversary celebration of Zamboanga Sibugay. Cristobal said that plainclothes policemen will be deployed in strategic places to augment uniformed personnel. Cristobal said he has already coordinated with the Army's 102nd Infantry Brigade for augmentation of personnel in the maintenance of peace and order during the festivities. Dubbed as "Araw ng Sibugay", the founding anniversary of Zamboanga Sibugay will be from February 14 to 26. Most of the activities will be held in Ipil town, the capital of the province. Zamboanga Sibugay was then the third congressional district of Zamboanga del Sur province. It was created into a province in 2001 through the effort of then Congressman George Hofer, who is now the province' governor. Zamboanga Sibugay is the 79th province created in the country. (PNA) DCT/FFC/TPG/utb Provincial News, Thursday, February 07, 2008 Police arrest Dos Palmas kidnapping suspect Chief Insp. Albert Larubis, chief of the Isabela City police force, said the suspect, Al-muadz Ismael, was arrested around 12:45 p.m. Tuesday in San Rafael village, Isabela City, the capital of Basilan province. Larubis said initially, Ismael was arrested for allegedly stealing a motorcycle which was found in his possession during his arrest. However, Larubis said they later found him to be a member of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf bandit group responsible for the series of kidnappings in the previous years. He said that Ismael has a standing warrant of arrest for multiple murder case pending at a Basilan court aside from being a member of the Abu Sayyaf. He said Ismael was involved the killing of seven people including an Army Scout Ranger personnel on Oct. 15, 1997 in the village of Lunot, Isabela City. He said that further investigation showed that the suspect is a follower of the remaining Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, who is being sought by the US government for the kidnapping and killing of three American citizens. The three American citizens were among the 20 people the Abu Sayyaf bandits seized in 2001 at the Dos Palmas Beach Resort in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. The rest of the hostages are Filipinos including businessmen on vacation with family members, and resort workers. Of the three Americans, the Abu Sayyaf beheaded Guillermo Sobero while in captivity in the forest of Basilan province. Missionary Martin Burham was killed when the government forces raided their lair and rescued the hostages in 2001 in the hinterlands of Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte. Gracia, the wife of Martin, was rescued by the government troops. "It is possible he (Ismael) was involved, considering he is one of the followers of Hapilon," Larubis said. The US Department of State, through its Rewards for Justice Program, is offering a reward of up to $ 5 million for information leading directly to the apprehension or conviction of Hapilon for his alleged involvement in terrorist acts against US nationals and other foreign nationals in and around the Philippines. (PNA) LAP/TPG/utb
JANUARYProvincial News, Friday, February 01, 2008 Sulu village chief dies, another hurt in Zambo gun attack ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb. 1 (PNA) – A Sulu village chief was killed and another person injured during a gun attack in a busy street in this city Thursday night. Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) director Sr. Supt. Manuel Barcena said the shooting incident took place along Mayor Jaldon in downtown Zamboanga City. Barcena identified the slain village chief as Asmuarajah Musa of Barangay Gata-Gata, Panglima Estino town, Sulu. Wounded was Hadji Jamal Dasat, 40, village chief of Kanula, Panamao town of the same province. The official said they are conducting a thorough investigation to unmask the suspects in a gun attack. Investigation disclosed that the victims were returning to a local hotel where they are billeted when shot by one of two men riding in a motorcycle. Barcena said the victims have just bought a jacket and a pair of slippers from a nearby dry goods outlet when shot. The victims are in the city attending a seminar for village chiefs in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces. (PNA) LOR/FFC/TPG/utb Provincial News,
Wednesday, January 23, 2008 ZAMBOANGA CITY, Jan. 22 (PNA) -- A flashflood hit a remote village in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, displacing 17 families or 74 people, the regional police reported. A belated report reaching the Zamboanga Peninsula Police Office (ZPPO) disclosed that the incident took place around 8 p.m. on Thursday in Barangay San Antonio, Katipunan town. The ZPPO said the flashflood was spawned by continuous rainfall experienced last week in the province of Zamboanga del Norte. Of the 74 people affected, 40 of them are children. They were temporarily housed at San Antonio Elementary school. No one was reported killed or injured during the incident, according to the ZPPO report. The Municipal Disaster and Coordinating Council (MDCC) led by Katipunan Vice-Mayor Paquito Equia have distributed relief goods to affected families. Among the relief goods that were distributed are canned goods, noodles, rice, mineral water and clothing. Policemen from the Zamboanga del Norte police provincial office were detailed at the evacuation center to secure the area. (PNA) DCT/jfm/TPG/utb Provincial News,
Thursday, January 17, 2008 ZAMBOANGA CITY, Jan. 17 (PNA) -– Pirates attacked two groups of fishermen, killing one while two were still missing in the sea waters of Zamboanga del Sur and Basilan provinces, the police reported here. Belated police reports disclosed that the incidents took place on Saturday in the vicinity of Bilik-Bilik Island in Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur and Saluping Island in Sumisip, Basilan province. The Zamboanga Peninsula Police Office (ZPPO) reported that Jeson Dejos, 25 and his brother Elmer, 18, of Tabina municipality were on fishing venture offshore Dumalinao town when pirates robbed them at gunpoint. The pirates, led by a certain Commander Basir, divested the Dejos brothers of a radio communication set, a compass and P2,000 in cash. The pirates fled and left the Dejos brothers unharmed, the ZPPO reported. Councilman Mun Bayani of Tictabon Island village of this city turned over the remains of a fisherman named Danny Muhammad when he reported to the Police Station 3 about the incident that took place near Saluping Island in Sumisip, Basilan. Bayani's village is close to Saluping Island barangay of Sumisip although Tictabon's political jurisdiction falls within this city. He told the police that Muhammad's remains were fished out by his constituents in the shores of Tictabon Island and reported to him about the incident. The police learned that Muhammad along with two other fishermen namely Jimboy Saut and a certain Tomas went fishing when pirates attacked them. Saut and Tomas were listed as missing after they failed to return home. (PNA) LAP/FFC/TPG/rsm Provincial News,
Monday, January 14, 2008 ZAMBOANGA CITY, Jan. 13 (PNA) – Operatives of the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) have arrested two people believed to be illegal recruiters operating in this city. ZCPO's Women and Children's Desk chief Senior Inspector Esperanza Santiago reported to ZCPO director Sr. Supt. Manuel Barcena that the suspects were arrested last Wednesday in Barangay Ayala, west of this city. The arrested suspects were identified as Junar Pradel and Evelyn Navarro, both residents of Zone 7, Barangay Ayala. They were arrested in a follow-up operation after two of the suspects' victims, who are residents of Barangay Quiniput, 35 kilometers east of this city, reported to the police about their activities. Two young ladies, aged 19 and 14 years old, were allegedly recruited to work as domestic helpers in Malaysia but were forced to work as guest relations officers in one of the nightclubs there. Zamboanga City is accessible by sea transport to Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia with two locally-owned and operated ferry ply the Zamboanga-Sandakan route twice a week. In most cases, victims of illegal recruitment are transported to Sabah, via Tawi-Tawi by small boats to avoid detection from authorities especially the immigration. The suspects are detained at the local police headquarters. Formal complaint has been forwarded to the City Prosecutor's Office for the eventual filing of illegal recruitment case in court against them. Navarro has denied that they illegally recruited the two young ladies citing their parents know what kind of job awaits the victims in Sabah. (PNA) LGI/TPG/rsm Provincial News, Sunday, Janaury 13, 2008 Zambo cops undergoing capability training ZAMBOANGA CITY, Jan. 12 (PNA) – Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) is training 1,001 policemen in its camp in Bgy. Pasonanca north of Zamboanga City. PPSC Superintendent Marcial Mahistrado said 733 of the trainees are newly recruited from the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Sur and the cities Dapitan, Dipolog, Isabela, Pagadian and Zamboanga. He said 218 of the policemen are re-training while 50 others are undertaking advance career training for capability improvement. Newly recruited policemen will undergo another six months' training on community immersion so they can apply lessons learned from their six month-long classroom instruction in Camp Felicismo Marcos and which focuses on investigation, patrol and traffic management. (PNA) LOR/CJT/TPG/rsm Provincial News, Sunday, Janaury 13, 2008 Police reveals MILF occupied Zambo school ZAMBOANGA CITY, Jan. 12 (PNA) – A Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) allegedly seized a school in Bgy. Lakiki, Sibuco town, Zamboanga del Norte province very recently. Zamboanga Peninsula Police Office Director Jaime Caringal revealed this but he said it's still unclear when and why the MILF did it. However, he said the group wasn't creating trouble in the area. Caringal said Sibuco Mayor Norbi Edding will write the Committee on Ceasefire and Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), which implements the government-MILF ceasefire agreement, to inform the latter on what happened. Police have already coordinated with the military to ensure security in the area, Caringal also said. MILF CCCH chairman Von Alhaq acknowledged the organization has followers residing in Barangay Lakiki. He refused to confirm if the MILF really occupied the school since they were seen in the area attending the wedding of a comrade. He said the group left the area immediately after the event. (PNA) LOR/CJT/TPG/rsm Provincial News, Friday, January 11, 2008 ZAMBOANGA CITY, Jan. 11 (PNA) -- The Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) and the Zamboanga Peninsula Police Office (ZPPO) consider 2007 as a banner year in their campaign against all forms of lawless elements in their respective areas of jurisdiction. Westmincom chief and newly promoted Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga said his command has neutralized almost 200 lawless elements to include a Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) follower. Of the neutralized lawless elements, 100 were al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf bandits, including one leader, 79 rouge members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), eight members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and one JI member, Allaga said. He said that the anti-terrorist campaign will remain their priority within his area of jurisdiction this year. Allaga's area of jurisdiction stretches from the province of Lanao del Norte up to Tawi-Tawi, the Philippines' southern tip. The police is optimistic that there will more successes in the Westmincom's anti-terror campaign this year. He had been inculcating the troops in the field to be fully committed to their duty as the guardians of law and order. Zamboanga Peninsula Police Office (ZPPO) Director Jaime Caringal said they will accelerate this year the campaign against the New People's Army (NPA). Caringal's area of jurisdiction includes the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay and the cities of Dapitan, Dipolog, Isabela, Pagadian and Zamboanga. A front committee of the NPA has been reportedly operating in the so-called Baganian Peninsula that covers some of the municipalities between the three Zamboanga provinces. (PNA) LOR/FFC/TPG/cbc
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