March 22, 2010
LEGAZPI CITY – As the national and local elections draw nearer, the number of gun ban violators has also been increasing in the areas of immediate concern in Bicol, particularly in Masbate province, said the Philippine National Police (PNP) Bicol.
PNP Task Force Masbate arrested Geronimo Remula I and Geronimo Remula II, both residents of Barangay Tan-awan in Placer town, Masbate, Sunday morning at their residences, said Police Superintendent Eliciar Lanon Bron, Bicol regional police spokesperson, in a statement.
The suspects were apprehended during a search warrant operation issued by Judge Maximo R. Ables of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 54, Gubat Sorsosgon for carrying firearms in public areas.
Bron said the operation was able to confiscate low and high-powered firearms, including two M-16 rifles (SN 207305 and 732070),one .45 cal pistol with serial number CO2669, four long steel magazines for M-16, one short magazine for M-16, a magazine for .45 caliber pistol, eight live ammunitions for .45 cal gun and 132 live ammunitions for M-16 rifle.
Meanwhile, around 101 persons were arrested in the latest count of gun ban violators regionwide. While at least five of them were barangay captains and government officials, Bron disclosed.
Records show that among the six provinces, Masbate takes the highest number of violation with 46 persons arrested, followed by Camarines Sur, 20; Sorsogon, 18; Albay, 9; and Camarines Norte, 7 and; Catanduanes with only one.
“We are going to place some of our personnel both ARMY and the PNP on conceded-election watch list areas when local campaign period starts by March 26,” said Bron, when asked on possible deployment of additional personnel in election hot areas as in Masbate.
He added that in the case of Masbate with 21 recorded pre-election incidents this year, the moment the local campaign period starts, will be the only time for the local officials to determine the additional forces, depending on the contesting political parties.
The gun ban is enforced to prevent proliferation of carrying undocumented firearms and possible dismantling of private-armed groups in preparation for the first poll automation in the country.Johana Vi Gasga/Inquirer Southern Luzon
Sunday, April 25, 2010
NPA slain in clash
March 1, 2010
LEGAZPI CITY – A member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in an encounter between the government troops and local rebels , Monday noon in Ligao City , Albay, said an Army official.
Captain Amadeo L. Saturnino, acting commander of the 21st Civil Relations Unit, 2nd Civil Relations Group, Civil Relations Service Armed Forces of the Philippines (CRS-AFP), said that the soldiers of the Alpha Company, 2nd Infantry Battalion, and the 901st Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army were conducting combat operation at Barangay (village) Balanac in the said city at around 12:50 p.m. when a gunfight ensued between the Army and 12 NPAs.
Led by 1st Lieutenant. Jonel Tancio, the firefight lasted for about ten minutes that resulted to the recovery of one (1) M-14 rifle with undetermined number of wounded members on the enemy side, said Saturnino.
On the other hand, there was no reported casualty on the government side.
Saturnino said that the slain rebel was not yet identified by the local authorities.
Major General Ruperto R. Pabustan AFP, Commander General of the 9th Infantry Division, expressed his gratitude to the local residents who continuously support the programs of the Philippine Army against insurgency through their relayed information on the presence of NPA groups in the area and tip-offs of extortion activities.Johana Vi Gasga/Inquirer Southern Luzon
LEGAZPI CITY – A member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in an encounter between the government troops and local rebels , Monday noon in Ligao City , Albay, said an Army official.
Captain Amadeo L. Saturnino, acting commander of the 21st Civil Relations Unit, 2nd Civil Relations Group, Civil Relations Service Armed Forces of the Philippines (CRS-AFP), said that the soldiers of the Alpha Company, 2nd Infantry Battalion, and the 901st Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army were conducting combat operation at Barangay (village) Balanac in the said city at around 12:50 p.m. when a gunfight ensued between the Army and 12 NPAs.
Led by 1st Lieutenant. Jonel Tancio, the firefight lasted for about ten minutes that resulted to the recovery of one (1) M-14 rifle with undetermined number of wounded members on the enemy side, said Saturnino.
On the other hand, there was no reported casualty on the government side.
Saturnino said that the slain rebel was not yet identified by the local authorities.
Major General Ruperto R. Pabustan AFP, Commander General of the 9th Infantry Division, expressed his gratitude to the local residents who continuously support the programs of the Philippine Army against insurgency through their relayed information on the presence of NPA groups in the area and tip-offs of extortion activities.Johana Vi Gasga/Inquirer Southern Luzon
Masbate village councilor killed
March 1, 2010
LEGAZPI CITY—At least two village officials were shot by armed suspects, leaving one dead and the other wounded in two separate incidents in Masbate province, Saturday, a police spokesperson said Monday.
Carlos Cabarles, 53, a village councillor (barangay kagawad) of Barangay Luy-a, in Aroroy town Masbate, together with his companion Reynaldo Caña was on board a tricycle Honda TMX with a plate no. EN 3718 when the incident happened at around 8:30 a.m. at the said place, said Police Superintendent Eliciar Bron, Bicol regional police spokesperson.
Bron said that Cabarles and Caña were on their way home after delivering eggplants at Barangay Puro when three unidentified suspects shot Cabarles dead while Caña managed to escape the attack but left wounded.
Police recovered two empty shells for cal.45 pistol at the crime scene.
In a separate incident, Baranagay Kagawad Arman Ado, 45 sustained a gun shot wound on his left breast after surviving an attack at Barangay Ilaya in Balud town, Masbate province, said Bron.
However, the victim managed to hit back the suspect by stabbing him with a bladed weapon during the shooting incident, which occurred at around 10:30 p.m.
The suspect, on the other was identified as Reggie Ado, who was under the influence of alcohol when the crime happened, said Bron.
He added that the wounded councillor was brought immediately to Masbate Provincial hospital for treatment.
The Masbate police has yet to determine if the two incidents are politically-motivated. They are now conducting search operations for the apprehension of the suspects. Johana Vi Gasga/Inquirer Southern Luzon
LEGAZPI CITY—At least two village officials were shot by armed suspects, leaving one dead and the other wounded in two separate incidents in Masbate province, Saturday, a police spokesperson said Monday.
Carlos Cabarles, 53, a village councillor (barangay kagawad) of Barangay Luy-a, in Aroroy town Masbate, together with his companion Reynaldo Caña was on board a tricycle Honda TMX with a plate no. EN 3718 when the incident happened at around 8:30 a.m. at the said place, said Police Superintendent Eliciar Bron, Bicol regional police spokesperson.
Bron said that Cabarles and Caña were on their way home after delivering eggplants at Barangay Puro when three unidentified suspects shot Cabarles dead while Caña managed to escape the attack but left wounded.
Police recovered two empty shells for cal.45 pistol at the crime scene.
In a separate incident, Baranagay Kagawad Arman Ado, 45 sustained a gun shot wound on his left breast after surviving an attack at Barangay Ilaya in Balud town, Masbate province, said Bron.
However, the victim managed to hit back the suspect by stabbing him with a bladed weapon during the shooting incident, which occurred at around 10:30 p.m.
The suspect, on the other was identified as Reggie Ado, who was under the influence of alcohol when the crime happened, said Bron.
He added that the wounded councillor was brought immediately to Masbate Provincial hospital for treatment.
The Masbate police has yet to determine if the two incidents are politically-motivated. They are now conducting search operations for the apprehension of the suspects. Johana Vi Gasga/Inquirer Southern Luzon
Teen drowned, 1 still missing in Cam Norte beach
February 6, 2010
LEGAZPI CITY – Local rescuers recovered yesterday the body of a 14-year-old girl, who was drowned last Thursday after being swept by big waves at Mantigbi beach in Vinzons town, Camarines Norte, a police official reported Saturday.
Liezel Villeno of Barangay Del Carmen, Vinzons was found floating near Sitio Sabang, Labo in Barangay Sula, two days after she disappeared at the beach with her colleague Maribel Pada, 14 of the same residence, said Police Superintendent Eliciar Bron, Bicol regional police spokesperson.
However, Cam Norte police said that they have yet to recover the body of Pada, a second year high school student of Vinzons National High School, added Bron.
And at press time, the rescue team has yielded negative result.
Initial police reports said that victims were last seen by some youngsters waving their hands when a flash of waves hit the two and were no longer seen.
Meanwhile, Villeno’s cadaver was brought by her relatives at Vinzons Funeral Homes while the other victim is still missing. Johana Vi Gasga/Inquirer Southern Luzon
LEGAZPI CITY – Local rescuers recovered yesterday the body of a 14-year-old girl, who was drowned last Thursday after being swept by big waves at Mantigbi beach in Vinzons town, Camarines Norte, a police official reported Saturday.
Liezel Villeno of Barangay Del Carmen, Vinzons was found floating near Sitio Sabang, Labo in Barangay Sula, two days after she disappeared at the beach with her colleague Maribel Pada, 14 of the same residence, said Police Superintendent Eliciar Bron, Bicol regional police spokesperson.
However, Cam Norte police said that they have yet to recover the body of Pada, a second year high school student of Vinzons National High School, added Bron.
And at press time, the rescue team has yielded negative result.
Initial police reports said that victims were last seen by some youngsters waving their hands when a flash of waves hit the two and were no longer seen.
Meanwhile, Villeno’s cadaver was brought by her relatives at Vinzons Funeral Homes while the other victim is still missing. Johana Vi Gasga/Inquirer Southern Luzon
Farmer shot dead in Sorsogon
February 6, 2010
LEGAZPI CITY – A farmer was gunned down by three unidentified armed suspects in Irosin town, Sorsogon on Thursday night, a police spokesperson said Saturday morning.
Domingo Oliquino, 55 was shot dead at around 7:15 p.m. outside his residence at Barangay Cogon, Sorsogon, said Police Superintendent Eliciar Bron, Bicol regional police spokesperson.
Initial investigation showed that the gunmen, carrying long firearms of unknown rifle, entered into the house of the victim and forcibly dragged the latter outside his room.
Despite escape attempts, the suspects fired upon him several shots, sustaining multiple gunshot wounds on the different parts of his body, Bron added.
Relatives tried to bring the victim at the Irosin District Hospital for necropsy but the physician declared him dead on arrival.
Local police authorities were conducting further investigation to identify the perpetrators and determine the motive of the killing. Johana Vi Gasga/Inquirer Southern Luzon
LEGAZPI CITY – A farmer was gunned down by three unidentified armed suspects in Irosin town, Sorsogon on Thursday night, a police spokesperson said Saturday morning.
Domingo Oliquino, 55 was shot dead at around 7:15 p.m. outside his residence at Barangay Cogon, Sorsogon, said Police Superintendent Eliciar Bron, Bicol regional police spokesperson.
Initial investigation showed that the gunmen, carrying long firearms of unknown rifle, entered into the house of the victim and forcibly dragged the latter outside his room.
Despite escape attempts, the suspects fired upon him several shots, sustaining multiple gunshot wounds on the different parts of his body, Bron added.
Relatives tried to bring the victim at the Irosin District Hospital for necropsy but the physician declared him dead on arrival.
Local police authorities were conducting further investigation to identify the perpetrators and determine the motive of the killing. Johana Vi Gasga/Inquirer Southern Luzon
KARAPATAN-Bikol condems martial law declaration
December 7, 2009
LEGAZPI CITY – Human rights group KARAPATAN-Bikol expressed dissent over the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao on Monday, calling on the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to observe the human rights situation in the Bicol region.
“Just like what they did in Maguinadano, we are asking the CHR main office to send their commissioners to come and see the horrendous human rights situation in the region because we now have the most number of victims of extra-judicial killings in the country,” said John Conception, spokesperson of KARAPATAN-Bikol.
In a statement, Conception added that they hope the CHR can help stop the military rampage in Bicol, so Bicolanos can fully exercise their rights not just in the elections but through their lives and prevent the Palace from declaring martial rule in Bicol or the whole country.
“What is happening now in Bicol is all part of Oplan Bantay Laya 2 and is highly systematized to prevent the further growth of militant organizations and to cripple the structure of militant party-list groups in the coming elections,” he said.
“The present state in Maguindanao is part of the plan to further extend Gloria’s hold on power,” added the human rights defender during the press conference, Monday.
Conception said it would definitely cause more harm than good. This is more likely a way of Malacañang to gauge the reaction of the Filipino people and prelude of worse things to come,” ended Conception.
There are at least 198 victims of political killings in the region including the slain peasant leader Rodrigo de Torres , BAYAN Muna coordinator in Del Gallego town, Camarines Sur, as the last victim. Johana Vi Gasga/Inquirer Southern Luzon
LEGAZPI CITY – Human rights group KARAPATAN-Bikol expressed dissent over the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao on Monday, calling on the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to observe the human rights situation in the Bicol region.
“Just like what they did in Maguinadano, we are asking the CHR main office to send their commissioners to come and see the horrendous human rights situation in the region because we now have the most number of victims of extra-judicial killings in the country,” said John Conception, spokesperson of KARAPATAN-Bikol.
In a statement, Conception added that they hope the CHR can help stop the military rampage in Bicol, so Bicolanos can fully exercise their rights not just in the elections but through their lives and prevent the Palace from declaring martial rule in Bicol or the whole country.
“What is happening now in Bicol is all part of Oplan Bantay Laya 2 and is highly systematized to prevent the further growth of militant organizations and to cripple the structure of militant party-list groups in the coming elections,” he said.
“The present state in Maguindanao is part of the plan to further extend Gloria’s hold on power,” added the human rights defender during the press conference, Monday.
Conception said it would definitely cause more harm than good. This is more likely a way of Malacañang to gauge the reaction of the Filipino people and prelude of worse things to come,” ended Conception.
There are at least 198 victims of political killings in the region including the slain peasant leader Rodrigo de Torres , BAYAN Muna coordinator in Del Gallego town, Camarines Sur, as the last victim. Johana Vi Gasga/Inquirer Southern Luzon
NPA medical supply found
November 11, 2009
LEGAZPI CITY – The Army troops recovered stockpiles of medicines, allegedly owned by the communist guerrillas in a combat operation in the island-province of Catanduanes on Friday afternoon, a military spokesperson said Saturday.
While conducting internal security operation, the joint elements of the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion, 83rd and 22nd Infantry Battalions discovered some health supplies at 2:45 p.m. at Barangay Sagrada in Bagamanoc town, Catanduanes, said Captain Razaleigh Bansawan, spokesperson of the 901st Infantry Brigade.
Bansawan added that the supplies were recovered from the residents of certain Felix Ubani, a collector of the New People’s Army in the area.
Medical supplies recovered were 21 pieces of syringes with needles; four bottles of hydrogen peroxide; a bottle of betadine; four bottles of local anesthesia; two rolls of elastic bandages; five rolls of micropore rapes and; a bottle of IV fluid.
The military troops also found medicines, including 400 capsules of mefenamic acid, 300 capsules of amoxillin, 200 capsules of cloxacillin sodium, 200 tablets of paracetamol anaseran, 100 tablets of danzen and 109 pieces of biogesic. Johana Vi Gasga/Inquirer Southern Luzon
LEGAZPI CITY – The Army troops recovered stockpiles of medicines, allegedly owned by the communist guerrillas in a combat operation in the island-province of Catanduanes on Friday afternoon, a military spokesperson said Saturday.
While conducting internal security operation, the joint elements of the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion, 83rd and 22nd Infantry Battalions discovered some health supplies at 2:45 p.m. at Barangay Sagrada in Bagamanoc town, Catanduanes, said Captain Razaleigh Bansawan, spokesperson of the 901st Infantry Brigade.
Bansawan added that the supplies were recovered from the residents of certain Felix Ubani, a collector of the New People’s Army in the area.
Medical supplies recovered were 21 pieces of syringes with needles; four bottles of hydrogen peroxide; a bottle of betadine; four bottles of local anesthesia; two rolls of elastic bandages; five rolls of micropore rapes and; a bottle of IV fluid.
The military troops also found medicines, including 400 capsules of mefenamic acid, 300 capsules of amoxillin, 200 capsules of cloxacillin sodium, 200 tablets of paracetamol anaseran, 100 tablets of danzen and 109 pieces of biogesic. Johana Vi Gasga/Inquirer Southern Luzon
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