 Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) Director Chief Supt. Elmer R. Soria. Gun ban violators in E. Visayas now at 43 CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte, Philippines, Oct. 23 -- The number of gun ban violators arrested by police units in Eastern Visayas since its implementation last September 28 rose to 43 with barely five days left before the October 28 barangay elections, the director of Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) announced Wednesday. According to Chief Supt. Elmer R. Soria, all the arrested violators were civilians, noting that during the firearms ban implemented in relation to the May midterm polls, three of the 177 violators are military men, six are security guards and one employee of the Commission on Elections (Comelec). “The firearms and other deadly weapons confiscated by our men could have been used to disrupt the peaceful holding of the barangay elections on Monday,” Soria said. The police official informed that the PRO8 had seized 21 firearms wherein 11 are revolvers, four improvised guns or “sumpak,” three pistols, two shotguns and one rifle. Lawmen also confiscated 27 bladed weapons, one grenade and 86 ammunition. Twenty nine violators were arrested during police responses to call for assistance; three were arrested at checkpoints and two wanted men nabbed by the police were also carrying firearms at the time of their arrest. Nine violators were arrested during focused police operations initiated by line units. The ban, that carries a penalty of not less than one year but not more than six years imprisonment which shall not be subject to probation, is being implemented by the police during the election period from September 28 to Nov 12, which is 30 days before and 15 days after the barangay elections. (PNA) 2 insurgents killed in clash with Army troops in Samar town CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan City, Philippines, Oct. 18 -- Two successive encounters between the 43rd Infantry Battalion (43IB) of the 8th Infantry Division (8ID) and members of the People’s Army (NPA) in Samar town this week resulted in the death of the latter’s two members. The separate encounters happened at barangay Rizal of Matuguinao town Tuesday morning. The first clash happened at around 7:01 a.m. and after around 15 minutes, another fighting ensued just some 600 meters away from the first scene. The incident occurred after Lt. Colonel Glen Jun C. Calambuhay, commanding officer of the 43IB, received information through text that armed NPAs have been staying in the said village. According to the informant, the rebels were urging locales to vote for their endorsed candidate while at the same time extorting from them food and money. Calambuhay immediately dispatched his troops to the area that later engaged some 10 to 15 rebels in separate fights. The encounters also led to the recovery of one M16 Armalite rifle with one loaded magazine and one 12-gauge homemade shotgun. Capt. Amado Guiterrez, chief of the 8ID public affairs division, said that the rebels who were killed in the encounter remain to be unidentified as of press time. Meantime, 8ID commanding officer, Brigadier General Jet B. Velarmino said that it is “alarming” that NPAs are already campaigning for their candidates in Rizal village in line with the Oct 28 elections. “Nonetheless, I commend the troops of 43rd Infantry Battalion under the leadership of Lt Col Calambuhay for their commitment to service and dedication to duty that sustain the peace and development in this part of Samar Island,” he added. He also stated that “it is unfortunate and tragic” that the rebels continue with their armed struggle when the Filipino nation “believes that lasting peace, sustainable development and social justice can be attained through peaceful consultations.” (PNA) PRO8 ready for Oct. 28 b'gay polls CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte, Philippines, Oct. 7 -- The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) has assured that all security preparations and operations are now underway as some 2.6 million voters in Eastern Visayas troop to polling centers for the Oct. 28 barangay elections. PRO8 director Chief Supt. Elmer R. Soria said that weeks prior to the start of the election period, he already issued the PRO8 Command Memorandum Circular No. 23/2013 "SAFE 2013– Alpha–Waray" setting forth the security measures to be undertaken by police territorial units in relation to the October polls. "The circular calls for intensified intelligence-driven law enforcement operations and strengthened police-community partnership to preclude violence and ensure order before, during and after the elections," he said. He added that said directive also set the policy guidelines for the dynamic cooperation with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) through the Joint Security Control Center (JPSCC). "Our partnership with our military counterparts aims to thwart attempts by the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee to take advantage of the situation to raise funds through extortion activities and expand their foothold into peaceful communities," Soria disclosed. Among the proactive security measures are the strict implementation of the 45-day gun ban that so far resulted in the arrest of 13 violators, confiscation of eight firearms, eight bladed weapons and 41 assorted ammunitions; and filing of charges in court for violations of the Omnibus Election Code. During Monday's staff conference, Soria reiterated his directive to unit commanders to make an honest-to-goodness assessment of the situation in the barangay level so that appropriate measures will be initiated attuned to the security needs on the ground. Soria further directed his men to sustain police presence through mobile patrolling and intensify checkpoint operations in strategic areas. He also ordered the organization of trackers team to run after wanted criminals especially in areas having intense political rivalries between candidates and their supporters. "We will strengthen the conduct of Focused Police Operations against all factors that may affect the success of the elections," he assured. (PNA) PRO8 activates special task force for barangay elections CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte, Philippines, Oct. 8 -- The Police Regional Office (PRO8) has activated a special task group to be based in Northern Samar to ensure a peaceful and secured barangay elections in October 28. “We want to ensure that the true will of the people in electing their village leaders is reflected in the coming polls and deter any untoward incident that could affect the integrity of the electoral exercise,” said PRO8 chief, C/Supt. Elmer R. Soria. The Regional Special Operations Task Group (RSOTG) was created to conduct Focused Police Operations in the accounting of loose firearms, campaign against wanted persons, criminal gangs, gun-for-hire personalities and other threat groups. Soria explained the task group will be based in Northern Samar due to the prevailing insurgency problem and the estimated high number of loose firearms in the area. Also, 125 villages in the province are listed in the Election Watchlist of Areas aside from the probability of intense political rivalries between the candidates and their supporters. He added that the province would receive greater focus from state security forces during the election period. S/Supt. Teodoro J. Basa, the Deputy Regional Director for Operations, will act as task group commander. The task group will be assigned troops coming from Northern Samar provincial command, the Regional Public Safety Battalion 8 and PRO8 headquarters and will be based at the Northern Samar Police Provincial Office in Camp Delgado, Catarman town, the provincial capital. Earlier, Soria issued the command memorandum circular “SAFE 2013–Alpha–Waray” which detailed the security measures to be undertaken by police territorial units in Eastern Visayas in relation to the barangay polls. (PNA) Shooting incidents in Catbalogan no impact on barangay polls - PRO8 CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte, Philippines, – The two shooting incidents recorded in Catbalogan City the past days will not affect the conduct of a peaceful barangay elections in the city and the entire Samar province, said the region’s top police official. Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) director Chief Supt. Elmer R. Soria assured that the recent gun attacks victimizing a former and an incumbent village official are isolated incidents as he ordered a thorough investigation and manhunt operations against the suspects in the recent case that transpired Thursday evening resulting in the killing of a village councilor. “Pending the result of the investigation, thorough assessment and the establishment of the motive, we cannot consider these yet as election-related incidents,” Soria said. At around 6:20 p.m. Thursday, Narciso Lagbo, 46, was gunned down by two unidentified assailants while waiting for his wife, Daisy, outside Charito’s Delights Fastfood along San Roque street. Victim sustained gunshot wounds at the back of his neck and lower back hip that went through his abdomen resulting in his direct death. Suspects fled towards the Catbalogan public market while responding policemen recovered four fired cartridges, two .45 and two 9mm calibers, and two slugs at the crime scene. Lagbo is a first termer councilor of Brgy. Tagbayaon in Jiabong, Samar, some 15 kilometers from the city. Meanwhile, the police have filed Monday murder charges against Reymund Bañar at the Office of the City under NPS number VIII-08-INQ-131-00432. Bañar was positively identified by witnesses as one of the two gunmen who shot ex-chairman Filomeno Cabarriban of Brgy. Lagundi in Catbalogan City at past 11:00 a.m. Sunday. Notwithstanding the recent shootings, the police official assured that the incidents will not affect peace and order situation and peaceful conduct of the elections in the region. (PNA) |
Military targets to declare Samar as MCA-DRA before yearend, N. Samar by 2014 CATBALOGAN CITY, Philippines, Oct. 24 – The 8th Infantry Division (8ID) of the Philippine Army (PA) based in this city targets to declare Samar as Manageable Conflict-Affected and Development Ready Area (MCA-DRA) by year-end and before end of 2014 for Northern Samar. Cpt. Amado Gutierrez, chief of the Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO), said that strategies in order to achieve this target have been in progress for almost a year. This include exposing the skeletal formation of New People's Army (NPA) within an “influenced barangay” for the people in the community to be aware of their presence and their real intent to overthrow people’s strong desire for peace and development. Such intent of the NPAs, according to Gutierrez, obviously contradicts to the programs the barangay are pursuing because their agenda is against development. Gutierrez, however, revealed that the kind of strategy they are employing to win peace back usually results to armed encounters because of their concentrated efforts to clear areas infested by NPAs. Meanwhile, another strategy Gutierrez also believed to be effective in meeting the target is encouraging rebels to reintegrate in the mainstream society and avail of the national government’s current program through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP). Gutierrez said that this is a package of livelihood assistance, immediate assistance and remuneration under AFP’s (Armed Forces of the Philippines) "Guns for Peace" to whatever firearm the former rebel will also bring along with him as he returns to the fold of law. Gutierrez also mentioned another package of cash assistance and other available services and opportunities a former rebel is likewise entitled to receive and avail from a local government unit where he is a part of through the Local Social Integration Program (LSIP). At present, Gutierrez disclosed, that there are more than 130 NPAs, militia and members of mass organizations combined who benefited from such government’s programs. They are now productive in their chosen means of subsistence while enjoying a life that is peaceful and happy with their respective family. This program alongside the conduct of combat operations and other activities in the barangay, as stated also by Gutierrez, contributed much to the significant decrease in manpower of NPA’s Regional Party Committee. From the 654 manpower during the first quarter of 2011, it scaled down to 613 during the same period last year and dwindled down again to 575 during the first months of 2013. It continues to drop in number until currently, their manpower is at 569. This means, the Regional Party Committee off-tracked with 85 of its members in the span of three years only. Meanwhile, there was also significant decrease in the number of firearms possessed by NPAs this year in comparison to 2011 and 2012. From 700 during the first semester of 2011, it became 678 during 2012, and has decreased again to 647 during the same quarter of 2013. Currently, it is at 637. With this trend in the number of NPA personalities and firearms continue to decrease; Gutierrez believed a promising result is underway for Samar to be declared as MCA-DRA this year and Northern Samar by 2014. Eastern Samar province was declared already as “Manageable Conflict-Affected and Development Ready Province” March 26 of this year, same with five towns in the Province of Northern Samar just recently. These are the towns of Allen, Biri, Capul, San Antonio and San Vicente. (PNA) PRO8, AFP, Comelec upbeat of a peaceful barangay polls in Eastern Visayas CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte, Philippines, Oct. 22 -- Top officials of the police, military and electoral body in the region are confident of a peaceful conduct of the electoral exercise in Eastern Visayas with less than a week before the barangay elections on October 28. “In the recently conducted midterm polls, we have learned that effective partnership among our respective agencies is anchored on three C’s – cooperation, coordination and commitment – and thus we came up with best practices that ensured the most peaceful elections in recent history here in the region,” Chief Supt. Elmer R. Soria, director of Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8), said during the Regional Joint Security Control Center conference held Monday at PRO8 Matapat Hall. “Under the strengthened JSCC, the “three Cs” shall be prevalent in the performance of the respective functions of our respective agencies to ensure efficient response to any peace and security concerns that may affect the election. The replication and enhancement of the “three C’s formula” and working together doubly hard will ensure a peaceful conduct of the village polls,” he added. Comelec regional director, Atty. Jose Nick Mendros and Brig. Gen. Jet Velarmino, Commanding General of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, echoed Soria’s optimism for a peaceful and successful village polls. The Commission on Elections (Comelec), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) has activated the Joint Security Control Centers (JSCCs) to serve as focal point for all security coordination related to the elections. Soria added that so far, the region remains peaceful with no major threat to election security while continuous implementation of election-related security measures is being undertaken by the police and military. “We have enough security forces to secure the electoral proceedings and they were given specific instructions on their responsibility in the security of polling centers, candidates and the electorate,” he added. As the election draws nearer, the police will continue the religious implementation of preemptive operations like the conduct of checkpoints/chokepoints at pinpointed critical strategic locations; deployment of more personnel to areas with previous election-related incidents; intervention against loose firearms; accounting of wanted persons; prepositioning of reaction teams in areas believed to be of immediate concern and deployment of elements from the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB8) to support police provincial offices and police stations, the police official further informed. (PNA) 1,000 cops to augment police units for barangay polls security in Eastern Visayas CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte, Philippines, Oct. 22 -- The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) will be sending more than a thousand policemen to augment the different provincial and city police offices’ and render election duties during the October 28 barangay elections. “With the peaceful elections as our goal, the optimum utilization of our manpower and logistical resources will ensure its realization,” said Chief Supt. Elmer R. Soria, the region’s top cop. “This move will safeguard the welfare of the electorate and the entire community before, during and after the elections,” he added. He said that a total of 1,003 policemen will be sent to the different police stations starting Oct. 24 to supplement the number of police personnel in the field who will render election duties. The augmentation personnel were drawn from the Regional Public Safety Battalion with 600 men, 150 from the regional headquarters, 59 from PNP National Support Units and 194 personnel who are undergoing mandatory schooling at the Regional Training School 8 (RTS8). The three Samar provinces will be augmented with the most number of policemen. Northern Samar, earlier identified as a priority area for increased security focus in the coming polls, has the highest augmentation personnel at 294 followed by Samar with 208 and Eastern Samar with 201. Other deployment distributions are 130 men for Leyte; 80 for Southern Leyte; 50 for Biliran and 20 men each for Tacloban and Ormoc cities. The police regional director added that augmentation troops will be detailed further to different city and municipal police stations and help conduct patrols, checkpoints, anti-crime operations and man the polling centers on the day of the elections. Reactionary Standby Support Forces (RSSF) were also activated at the regional headquarters and provincial and city police offices to immediately respond to all forms of election-related emergencies, Soria added. (PNA)  A group of NPA rebels in Samar Island. (Photo: ebsirang.blogspot.com) NPA activities neutralized in 5 Northern Samar towns TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines, Oct 19 --– Five towns of rebel-infested Northern Samar province have been jointly declared by the provincial government and the Philippine Army as manageable conflict-affected and development-ready areas. Governor Jose Ong, Jr. declared on Thursday the towns of Allen, Biri, Capul, San Antonio and San Vicente 'insurgency-free' after noting zero rebel activities for the past several years. “The significance of this occasion goes beyond the assurance that the constituents of these municipalities can live happier in these secured areas. The absence of insurgency is vitally more significant as it will pave the way for the launching of more development projects,” Ong said. Brig. Gen Jet B. Velarmino, commander of the Philippine Army’s 8th infantry division, attributed the achievement to the participation of local residents. “As we join them in their victory, I also encourage each and every resident of Northern Samar to sustain what you have started. Let us nurture what we have just achieved and commit ourselves to winning the peace,” Velarmino added. These towns are located in the northwestern part of the province are all island municipalities except for Allen, the region’s gateway to Luzon. These areas are now considered as tourist destinations. Biri is known for rock formations. The towns of Capul, San Antonio and San Vicente are endowed with white and pink beaches. The Philippine Army said they are on track in making the provinces of Samar and Northern Samar insurgent-free by 2016. Capt. Amado Gutierrez, spokesman of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division, is optimistic of significantly minimizing New People’s Army activities in the two economically-depressed provinces of Samar by 2016. Of the six provinces in Region 8, four have already been declared as insurgent-free, these are Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, and Southern Leyte. The Army official could not give exact estimate of the strength of the insurgents operating in Samar since many of them come to Samar from Bicol and move back to Bicol. The absence of road networks in the tri-boundaries of the island and lack of education, make people vulnerable to the influence of communist-rebels. Samar and Northern Samar registered the lowest simple literacy rates in Eastern Visayas at 85.4 percent and 88.3 percent, respectively, according to the National Statistics Office.(PNA) PRO8 chief calls for vigilance amid bomb pranks in Tacloban CAMP KANGLEON, Palo,Leyte, Philippines, Oct 15 -- The director of Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) encouraged the public to be calm but vigilant and report bomb pranksters in the wake of a bomb threat scare that hit the Halls of Justice in Tacloban City last week. “The peace and order situation in Eastern Visayas is within manageable level with no major threat to security posed by criminals and terrorist groups,” assured Chief Supt. Elmer R. Soria. Nevertheless, the police official called on the public to immediately relay to the nearest police station information on criminal and other nefarious activities so that immediate police action will be undertaken. “We will treat any information as vital and confidential and will act on it immediately,'” the PRO8 chief added, further calling the public to refrain from spreading speculations and wrong information, which only bring confusion and fear to the populace. Thursday morning last week, the Explosive and Ordnance Disposal Team (EODT) of PRO8 responded to an alleged bomb threat at the Bulwagan ng Katarungan along Magsaysay boulevard from a caller who identified himself as a military intelligence officer and claimed that bombs were planted inside the air-conditioning units of Regional Trial Court branches 7, 8 and 9 and the Office of the City Prosecutor. After performing intensive and extensive search on above offices and the building premises, the scene was declared clear and safe by the EOD team at around 10:15 a.m. As this developed, Soria asked the citizenry to remain calm and avoid being part of “bomb jokes” or “prank calls” regarding bombs particularly in the regional capital. “Making jokes about bombs is punishable by law and those who will do so will be arrested and criminal charges will be filed,” he said. He added that his men have intensified their intelligence information gathering in coordination with other members of the intelligence community and maximized police presence in places where people converge to pre-empt any terroristic and criminal activities. “All security measures are being done by the police to ensure the safety of the people not only in Tacloban City but in the entire region,” Soria said. (PNA) Father, son nabbed for marijuana cultivation in Leyte CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte, Philippines, Oct 14 – A farmer and his son were nabbed by authorities Friday night for cultivating marijuana plants in their farmland in an upland village in Burauen town in Leyte. In a belated police reports, those arrested were identified as Alexander Redubla, 52, and his son Axel, 18, after policemen from Burauen police station led by C/Insp. Federico Sanchez recently swooped down their farmland in Brgy. Cali after receiving tips from an informant that the two are cultivating marijuana plants in the area, according to Eastern Visayas police director PCSupt. Elmer R. Soria. Soria informed that operatives confiscated and uprooted 12 stalks of fully-grown marijuana plants weighing more or less three and half kilos. The lawmen also seized one homemade shotgun, locally known as “bardog” from the suspects, he added. Inventory of the seized marijuana plants were witnessed by Brgy. Chairman Lolita Ala, Kagawad Danilo Moralina and Erick Tupaz of DYVL radio station. Arrested persons and confiscated items were brought to Burauen police station for proper disposition as criminal charges are being prepared against them.(PNA) Arrest of most wanted persons in Northern Samar will help ensure peaceful village polls - Soria CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte, Oct. 14 -- The apprehension of three most wanted persons in Northern Samar over the weekend will help ensure the peaceful conduct of the barangay elections in the province, said the region’s top police official. Chief Supt. Elmer R. Soria, director of Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8), said that the implementation of focused and sustained police operations against wanted persons and deployment of Regional Special Operations Task Group (RSOTG) are aimed at minimizing, if not eradicating, the occurrence of election-related incident in the province which was earlier tagged as priority area in the forthcoming polls. “Persons with criminal records and wanted by law could be tapped by unscrupulous politicians to advance their political interest in the coming polls by using them to harass, intimidate or even neutralize their political opponents,” Soria said. With this, Soria directed an intensified manhunt operation against wanted persons in the province that resulted in the arrest of most wanted men of Catarman, Laoang and Rosario towns over the weekend. He identified the arrested fugitives as Noel Cabales, 41; Atus Villocero, 40; and Ubaldo Frago, 22; all in the most wanted persons list in above towns. Cabales was nabbed by operatives from Catarman Municipal Police Station led by Supt. Jesus Miranda on Saturday afternoon in his hide-out in Brgy. Ipil-ipil. The suspect had standing arrest warrant for murder under criminal case number 5260 at the sala of Judge Alma Esidera of Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 20 in Catarman, the provincial capital. Cabales is 10th in the most wanted persons list of Catarman with no bail bond recommended for his temporary liberty. Murder suspect Villocero, who is ranked 9th in the most wanted persons list of Laoang town, was arrested Saturday evening at his residence in Brgy. Agaudahan. The arresting team led by S/Insp. Sam Andarino was armed with an arrest warrant issued by RTC branch 22 Judge Jose Falcotelo for criminal case number 4428. At around 11:30 a.m. also on Saturday, Frago was arrested in a Comelec checkpoint along the national highway in Brgy.1 in Rosario town. Frago is facing robbery charges before the sala of Judge Armando L. Rosadiño of 6th San Jose-Biri-Rosario municipal circuit trial courts in criminal case number 5131 with P12,000 recommended bail. Suspect is the number five most wanted person of Rosario town. All arrested suspects were brought to the issuing courts for proper disposition, Soria added. In Oct. 8, the police regional office activated the RSOTG in Northern Samar to ensure peaceful and secured barangay elections in the province. The history of election-related incidents in the 2007 and 2010 village polls, insurgency problem, estimated high number of loose firearms and the probability of intense political rivalries between the candidates and their supporters are among the factors that were considered by the authorities in increasing security focus and attention to the area. Also, 125 villages in the province are listed in the Election Watchlist of Areas (EWAS) for the forthcoming polls. The police official said he is confident that the recent arrests would help ensure the conduct of secure elections in Northern Samar. He added that from July 1 to Oct 8, police units in the region have so far arrested 32 persons included in the most wanted list. (PNA) CCPO targets maximum police visibility on barangay elections CALBAYOG CITY, Samar, Oct. 14 (PNA) -- The Calbayog City Police Office (CCPO) here will observe maximum police visibility in its area of jurisdiction following a directive from C/Supt. Elmer R. Soria for tighter security measures in line with the upcoming October 28 Barangay elections. This city is a recipient of augmentation force composed of local police who undergo Field Training Program (FTP) and new graduates of the Special Counter-Insurgency Operations Unit Training (SCOUT). CCPO officer-in-charge Supt. Elmer B. Cinco said that these are in addition to the “64 effective local organic police” in the city. The target is to deploy two police officers in every voting center. Supt. Cinco also reported that a quick reaction team will be formed in every Police Community Precinct (PCP) of Tinambacan and Oquendo and another “standby” team in the city’s police headquarters. As barangay elections draw near, Cinco expects more additional augmentation for the city. However, he added that the augmentation will depend on the assessment of their higher headquarters as to the peace and order situation of the locality. (PNA) Intensified anti-illegal drugs drive in EV nets 8 suspects CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte, Philippines, Oct 11 -- The top police official in Eastern Visayas reiterated his directive for his men to continue hitting hard on criminal elements behind the trafficking of illegal drugs in the region even as he announced the arrest of eight drug suspects in a series of police operations conducted recently. “While we are gaining headway in our campaign, all police units must sustain intensified police operations against illegal drugs as the drug menace will always remain as one of our primary concerns,” said Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) director Chief Supt. Elmer R. Soria. Soria added that recent focused police operations in Leyte, Southern Leyte, Samar and Biliran have resulted in the arrest of eight suspected drug pushers and the confiscation of sizeable volume of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu”, several drug paraphernalia and two short firearms. The police official identified the suspects as Leonilo Orzal, 32; Allan Cabulang, 29; Dario Damaso, 36; Reynaldo Ranola alias Rickman, 47; Roy Villamora, 35; Kemuel Caones, 25; Eric Mendoza, 43 and Carmen Bolotaolo, 42. Orzal, Cabulang and Damaso were arrested in a buybust operation early Tuesday morning at Brgy. Bunga in Biliran province by the Regional Special Operations Group 8 (RSOG8) under S/Insp. Dinvir Revita that also led to the confiscation of two sachet of suspected “shabu”, P500-bill buybust money and several drug paraphernalia. At 2:30 p.m.Tuesday, a buybust operation by a police team from Calbayog City Police Station led by PSupt. Elmer B. Cinco at Purok 5, Brgy. East Awang in Calbayog City led to the arrest of Ranola and the seizure of two medium-sized sachets containing suspected “shabu”; P2000-bill used as buybust money and one black Cherry mobile phone. Villamora and Caones, meanwhile, were arrested in a buybust operation by a composite police team from Alangalang police station and Leyte Police Provincial Office under the supervision of PCInsp. Santi Noel Matira at Brgy. San Antonio, Alangalang town in Leyte. Two small heat-sealed sachets of “shabu” and P500-bill marked money were confiscated from the suspects. In Maasin City, couple Mendoza and Balotaolo were nabbed in a manhunt operation early Wednesday morning at Brgy. Mantahan by a police team led by C/Insp. Reynaldo Torlao. Balotalo was arrested based in an arrest warrant for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 under criminal case number 13-08-3946 issued by Judge Ma. Daisy Paler Gonzalez of Regional Trial Court Branch 25 in Maasin City,. During the arrest, the duo was caught in the act of segregating and repacking suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu”. Aside from three sachets of suspected “shabu” granules and several drug paraphernalia, one unit .38 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver loaded with five ammunitions and one unit .22 caliber magnum Black Widow revolver, both without serial numbers, and 11 ammunitions for .22 caliber were confiscated in plain view by the arresting policemen. The eight suspects are now detained at police station lock-up cells while Soria assured that arresting policemen will actively attend all the prosecution proceedings so that suspects will eventually be convicted for drug offenses. (PNA) |
