14 DRUG-AFFECTED BARANGAYS IN CORDI CLEARED 58 Drug-listed Personalities Neutralized

14 barangays of the Cordillera Region with a resident known as a drug user, pusher, manufacturer, marijuana cultivator or any other type of drug personality had been cleared of drug affectation from October in 2009 to date by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) – Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Police Regional Office – Cordillera and other law enforcement agencies; while 58 drug personalities listed in the “Order of Battle” were neutralized.

Nine of the cleared barangays are in Abra, three in Baguio City, and one each in Benguet and Apayao.

As of the latest Regional Drug Situation Validation Workshop participated in by various anti-narcotic units, the Cordillera Region still has 81 barangays affected by dangerous drugs. 13 of these are classified as Seriously Affected and 68 are Moderately Affected. None is classified as just Slightly Affected.

A barangay is said to be “slightly affected” when only a drug user exists in the area and it has no known drug pusher / trafficker. It is “moderately affected” if at least one suspected pusher / trafficker exists in the area, while it is “seriously affected” if it has at least one suspected drug laboratory, warehouse, den, dive, resort or similar establishment, or marijuana cultivation site.

On the other hand, a drug-affected barangay can be declared “drug-cleared” only if it meets the specific parameters such as: non-availability of drug supply; absence of drug transit or transshipment activity; absence of clandestine drug laboratory; absence of clandestine drug warehouse; absence of clandestine chemical warehouse; absence of marijuana cultivation site; absence of drug den, dive or resort; absence of drug pusher; absence of drug user or dependent; absence of protector or coddler and financier; active involvement of barangay officials in anti-drug activities; active involvement of the Sangguniang Kabataan to help maintain the drug-liberated status of the barangay; existence of drug awareness, preventive education and information, and other related programs; and existence of voluntary and compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation processing desk.

Although some Local Government Units (LGUs) and other law enforcement agencies of the region are claiming that their (or this certain) area is drug-cleared, unless it meets all the parameters for barangay drug-clearing, the area can’t be officially declared as drug-free.

The Dangerous Drugs Board, through its Board Regulation No. 2, Series of 2007 re Providing for Revised Guidelines in the Conduct of Barangay Drug-Clearing Operations, enjoins LGUs to appropriate funds for the said clearing operations pursuant to Section 51 of Republic Act (RA) 9165 (The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and other existing laws, rules and regulations. Likewise, the local police unit concerned shall lead the implementation of the revised guidelines, and the PDEA shall provide general supervision over the implementation of the board regulation pursuant to Sections 83 and 84 of RA 9165.

Hence, the clearing of drug-affected barangays is an integral and collaborative responsibility of various stakeholders.

At present, one barangay or just 0.75% of the total number of barangays in Apayao has drug affectation, six barangays or 4.17% of the total barangays of Mountain Province, 13 barangays or 4.29% of the total barangays of Abra, eleven barangays or 6.29% of the total barangays of Ifugao, also eleven barangays or 7.86% of the total barangays of Benguet, twelve barangays or 7.90% of the total barangays of Kalinga, and 27 barangays or 20.93% of the total barangays of Baguio City are drug-affected.

Generally speaking, 6.89% of the total number of barangays in the Cordillera Region has a constituent identified as a drug user, pusher, manufacturer, marijuana cultivator or any other kind of drug personality.

Meanwhile, of the 58 drug personalities in the Cordillera Region who were de-listed since October of last year, 20 are listed under Baguio, 19 under Abra, eleven under Benguet, five under Ifugao, two under Apayao and one under Kalinga.

Entries in the List of Drug Personalities are mostly obtained from Anti-Drug Abuse Councils’ own lists; from information relayed by other government agencies, bureaus or instrumentalities; from walk-in informants; and from investigations by the PDEA – CAR Operations Division.

Currently, a total of 170 drug-listed personalities are due for neutralization. None is in Apayao, 13 are in Mountain Province, 15 in Ifugao, 16 in Kalinga, 33 in Benguet, 45 in Baguio City and 48 in Abra; whereas, only one in the list is categorized as both a pusher and financier, five are both couriers and pushers, six are users, ten are couriers, 38 are pushers, and 110 are both pushers and users. (PDEA-CAR)

 

MINER ARRESTED FOR GUN BAN

MT. Province: October 19, 2010, a miner was arrested at about 6:30PM for violation of COMELEC Resolution No. 9028 at Poblacion, Mankayan, Benguet. The victim was identified as Hansel Ngateg y Banguingey, 31 yrs old, married and a resident of Tabio, Mankayan, Benguet.

 

Investigation disclosed that Mankayan MPS responded to a text message from a concerned civilian that a male person fired his firearm along the Cervantes Road, Poblacion, Mankayan, Benguet which resulted to the arrest of the suspect who was in possession of one (1) revolver (paltic) without serial number loaded with three (3) live ammunition and two (2) empty shells of caliber 22 magnum.

 

The suspect together with the confiscated evidence is now under the custody of Mankayan MPS while an appropriate charge is being readied for filling in court. (PRO-COR)

 

FALLING PINE TREE STRUCK A TAXI CAB INJURED 2 OTHERS

Baguio City, October 18, 2010, at around 5:05PM, a txt message from a concerned citizen was received by the Police Station 4 informing that a pine tree was uprooted hitting a Toyota Revo Taxi bearing Plate number AYS-303 along Purok 3, Kias, Baguio City.

Investigations disclosed that the Toyota Revo Taxi driven by Jeffrey Banliangan y Basungit, 28 yrs old and a resident of Virac, itogon, Benguet and his passenger Bellen Pacatew y Llusala, 38 yrs old and a resident of  Balatoc, Itogon, Benguet while traversing along Purok 3, Kias, Baguio City when an uprooted/ falling pine tree struck them. As a result, the driver suffered multiple facial laceration/abrasion on his right hand and leg while his passenger suffered multiple facial laceration/abrasion and fracture on her left thigh. Both victims were immediately rushed to PMA Hospital for medical treatment. They were discharge by the attending physician after ensuring that they were in good condition. This incident was happened the height of the TYPHOON “JUAN”.

 

BARANGAYS GET P51-BILLION IRA SHARES THIS YEAR

The country’s more than 42,000 barangays have a total of P51-billion in Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) at their disposal for development programs and projects at the grassroots level this year, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Citing reports from the National Barangay Operations Office (NBOO), DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo said that based on the National Summary of IRA for Barangays, a total of P51,865,195,577.00 has been allocated for 42,025 barangays nationwide this year.

The Local Government Code defines the IRA as the share of local government units (LGUs) from the national internal revenue taxes, 60 percent of which goes to the national government and 40 percent is allocated to LGUs as IRA. Barangays get a share of 20 percent of the IRA, while provinces and cities receive 23% each, and municipalities, 34%.

Section 286 of the Code also provides that the share of each LGU shall be released, without need of any further action, directly to the provincial, city, municipal or barangay treasurer on a quarterly basis.

Robredo said punong barangays have a great responsibility and accountability to ensure that their IRA is fully utilized to support local development projects.

“They should make sure that barangay funds and the IRA up to last centavo are channeled to projects that will somehow better the lives of their constituents,” he said.

Based on the same NBOO report, barangays in Calabarzon got the highest total IRA with P6,051,123,993.00; followed by Central Luzon with P4,868,985,120.00; the National Capital Region with P4,706,042,169.00; Western Visayas with P4,459,770,152.00; and Eastern Visayas with P3,676,933,919.00.

The DILG Chief stressed that “barangays must not be dependent on IRA,” and should exercise their taxing power to generate more revenues to fund their development projects.

“Barangay officials have an obligation to judiciously utilize their resources, including IRA, and report the same to their constituents,” he said.

In a related development, Robredo said that the Department will propose to Congress several legislative measures to provide LGUs greater flexibility in revenue generation and to raise their fiscal and financial resources.

One of these proposed legislations involves the provision of a five percent adjustment fund for LGUs with a negative transfer or where their current IRA does not cover the cost of devolved services, and another five percent performance-based grant to support LGUs which exhibit good performance in fiscal management and local service delivery. (DILG-CAR)

 

GUILTY DRUG PUSHER TOURIST GUIDE GETS LIFE TERM

A drug pusher who had been identified with a drug group, recorded in the drug personality list and covering up as tourist guide was sentenced to life imprisonment nearly eleven months after he was caught inflagrante delicto for sale and possession of shabu across a hotel in Baguio City by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) – Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

In a twelve-page Decision, Hon. Antonio C. Reyes, the Presiding Judge of the First Judicial Region’s Regional Trial Court Branch 61 in Baguio City, ordered last September 13 the conviction to life term and five million pesos fine; and additional twelve years and one day to 20 years incarceration, and three hundred thousand pesos penalty of Roland V. Arquillo for having found Guilty beyond reasonable doubt of Violating, respectively, Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) of Republic Act (RA) 9165 (The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).

“This Court has observed, through the overwhelming evidence presented by the prosecution, that there was a legitimate entrapment operation conducted by the PDEA team in the afternoon of October 31, 2009 that led to the arrest of the accused… The prosecution’s evidence fully maintained the legitimacy of the buy-bust operation and that the arrest of the accused was valid together with the confiscation of three (3) other sachets of shabu”, Judge Reyes has said.

Likewise according to the honorable judge, further strengthening the case of the prosecution is the fact that the PDEA – CAR drug law enforcement officers complied with Section 21 of RA 9165, which deals with keeping the integrity of the contraband confiscated, and wherein they even took pains to preserve the integrity of the corpus delicti subject matter of both the cases of sale and possession.

Meanwhile, on the part of Arquillo, the Decision reads, “…his defense of denial and frame-up are nothing new to this Court. These defenses, like alibi, have been viewed with disfavor by our courts for being easily be concocted and are used as a common defense ploy in most prosecutions for violations of the Dangerous Drugs Act… It must be pointed out that between the positive assertions of the prosecution witnesses and the mere denials of the accused, the former undisputedly deserve more credence and are entitled to greater evidentiary value.” (PDEA-CAR)

 

2nd SCOFAD passes 25 resolutions

BAGUIO CITY – presiding over the Sanguniang Panlungsod Session Hall Monday, SCOFAD Vice-mayor Dominador Delos Reyes had fun banging his gavel.

With only one absent, Senior Citizen Councilors passed a total of 41 proposed resolutions, 25 passed.

Among the resolutions approved is a request for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to reconfigure the one peso coin proposed by SCOFAD Councilor Tolentino Opiniano.

Opiniano also proposed to establish private or public parking areas in all villages and barangays in the city.

Not to be outdone, SCOFAD Councilor Herminia Pascua proposed a resolution requesting the city government and the sanguniang kabataan for the construction and operation of a multi-purpose sports complex which would serve as an avenue for developing sports skills and abilities.

This was supported by yet another resolution requesting Congressman Manny Pacquiao to fund the construction of the sports complex.

SCOFAD Councilor Macrina Olarte focused on benefiting senior citizens more passing a proposed resolution for the restoration and upgrading of the existing Blue Lanes of the Central Business District (CBD) with additional lanes in strategic places including barangay roads and another resolution requesting for the exemption of Leonila Hill Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association from the coverage of the Odd-Even scheme.

A Day Care Center for Senior Citizens was proposed by SCOFAD Councilor Monroe Taclawan and priority to senior citizens in the use of public utilities particularly the bleachers of Burnham Park and Athletic Bowl.

The proposed resolution of SCOFAD Ruperto Edades is more on requesting the Baguio City Market Authority (BCMA) chaired by Mayor Mauricio Domogan in transforming the public market into a discipline zone.

Collection of Garbage Fees from every household in the city is one of the priority resolutions of SCOFAD Councilor Isaias Barongan. He is also requesting the City Health Officer to take positive steps to put up more district health clinics in the city.

In yet another proposed resolution, SCOFAD Rebecca Simeon requested for the construction of a multi-level parking space building to resolve the parking problems in the city. She is also requesting for the deployment of at leat 2 barangay tanods within schoold premises during school days in every barangay.

For his part, SCOFAD Councilor Placido Abuan’s proposed resolution urgently requested the mayor to clear Burnham Park and all other parks of itinerant and ambulant vendors. He also proposed the establishment of an integral system for control and eradication of mendicancy in the city.

SCOFAD Councilor Carlos Tayaban merely supported the proposed resolution of Councilor Edison Bilog for the grant of a 20% discount on all business taxes to all senior citizens who are engaged in business in the city.

Urgent relocation of terminals of provincial public utility vehicles outside the CBD was also proposed by SCOFAD Councilor Alejandro Nigos with a request to Cong. Bernardo Vergara to sponsor a Bill setting the standard honorarium equivalent to the standard wage for barangay officials in the city.

Other resolutions include requesting BENECO to maintain the street and alley lights for the 128 barangays and the 12 burning hours be approved in the city authored by SCOFAD Councilor Nenita Trinidad, proposal to grant aid for women organizations for their livelihood in barangays authored by SCOFAD Councilor Edna Dulay including the increase of financial aid for indigent people by the CSWDO from P2,000 to P10,000 to help in hospitalization needs, SCOFAD Councilor Herminia Pascua appropriating the amount of P2M from available funds for the installation of an elevator in City Hall which would benefit senior citizens and differently abled persons, SCOFAD Carlos Tayaban appropriating P3M to build a barangay entrepreneurship program benefiting all seniors citizens of Baguio and SCOFAD Councilor Nenita Trinidad requesting the city government to give incentives to barangay officials for being the frontliners /workhorses in the implementation of city activities, programs and projects and like city hall officials and employees be given automatically the year-end bonus and other benefits and privileges.

SCOFAD Vice Mayor Dominador Delos Reyes however proposed a single resolution requesting the members of the City Council for the inclusion in the City Annual Budget an allocation of 1% for the Baguio City Senior Citizens.

Present in the session are SCOFAD Congresswoman Editha Ibarra and SCOFAD Mayor Rosalind Camat.

After a series of debates and giggles, the seniors called it a day like no other. ***paul rillorta

ANOTHER PERSON SHOT TO DEATH IN SAN JUAN, ABRA

CAMP BADO DANGWA, LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET: On October 7, 2010 at about 4:00PM, Ariel De Leon y Bilar Alias Amban, 33 yrs old, married, farmer and resident of Sitio Ga-ang, Barnagay Tagaytay, San Juan, Abra was shot to death by unidentified perpetrator/s at Barangay Tagaytay, San Juan, Abra,

 

Initial investigation conducted disclosed that three (3) unidentified male persons went to the house of the victim and were seen having conversation outside the house when suddenly, the victim ran away from his house but was chased by the suspects and shot him at close range. The victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds on the different parts of his body.

 

The SOCO Team processed the crime scene and was able to recover three (3) cartridge cases of caliber .45 while the suspects are now subject for manhunt operations. The Police are now conducting deep investigation to determine the identity of the suspect and motive of the killing.

 

It can be recalled that at about 10:30AM of the same date, a Sangunian Bayan Member of the Municipality of San Isidro, Abra, identified as Arnulfo Callos y Agudal, 49 years old and a resident of Barangay Manayday, San Isidro, Abra was shot to death by still unidentified perpetrator/s while the victim was about to park his motorcycle Honda TMX bearing plate number 4163 AF at the roadside of said street. (PRO-COR)

MUNICIPAL OFFICER OF BUCAY ABRA SHOT TO DEATH

CAMP BADO DANGWA, LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET: At about 9:20AM of October 8, 2010 a Municipal Planning Development Officer of the Municipality of Bucay, Abra identified as Geronimo Torres y Rosales, 44 yrs old, married, and his companion Cirilo Balneg y Moises, 51 yrs old, married, farmer and both resident of Sitio Panpaniki, Barangay Bangcagan, Bucay, Abra was shot by two male persons riding in tandem in a black Honda 155 motorcycle.

Initial investigation disclosed that the victims together with Junior Jimenez were having a conversation in front of the Torres’ residence when the suspects arrived and pretended to inquire something when suddenly, the back rider shot the victims.

The victim Geronimo Torres sustained gunshot wound on his left stomach and right breast while Mr. Cirilo Balneg was shot on his left thigh and both were immediately rushed to the hospital but Mr Torres was pronounced Dead on Arrival (DOA) by the attending physician while Mr. Balneg is now in safe condition at the hospital.

Investigator to together with SOCOP processed the crime scene which resulted to the recovery of twelve (12) cartridge cases and three (3) slugs for caliber .45.

Meanwhile,  PRO – COR Regional Director PCSUPT VILLAMOR A BUMANGLAG, ordered the deployment of additional PNP personnel from the Regional Public Safety Battalion in order to relieve tension in the area while Abra Task Force Commander PSSUPT ELMER SORIA, is now at the area to lead in the investigation of the case in coordination with  the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) headed by the Provincial Director. (PRO-COR)

City welcomes new warden

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan Monday officially welcomed the newly installed Baguio City Jail Warden.

A native of Mankayan, Benguet Jail Chief Inspector Severino Gangan Khita has been assigned as early as September 21 to man the city’s only prison facility.

Prior to his assignment as the new warden, Khita became a Deputy Warden of Paranaque City Jail, OIC Warden of Pasay City Jail, Deputy Warden of Urdaneta City Jail, Warden of Bauang City Jail, Warden of Batac City Jail and Warden of Laoag City Jail.

His latest assignment, the BJMPRO-CAR until his transfer as warden of the Baguio City Jail.

Khita traces his childhood in Lepanto where he spent his Elementary and Secondary Schooling.

A Doctor of Philosophy, Khita said he will continue to ensure the establishment of a secured, clean, adequately equipped city jail and will continue to provide quality services for the custody, safekeeping and development of inmates.

To date, there are at least 428 residents of the city’s jail, 87% comprise the male population while the remaining 13% are female residents.

The city jail, still unknown to many houses “Barangay Pag-asa”, considered by some as the 129^th barangay of the city. ***paul rillorta

 

Rehab for Old Market Building underway

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan this week already put into play the members of the study team to recommend measures to save the 50 year old Magsaysay Building fronting the center mall.

Formerly named the Dimalanta Building, the wooden structure known to city residents as the old market building is now in danger of closure having been branded by the Baguio Fire Department as a Fire Hazard.

Though the BFP recommended the cessation of all business activities in the building, the city government found it fit to adopt and implement appropriate measures to save the same and preserve its old grandeur while significantly improving its condition.

Defects noted by the BFP includes fire exits being obstructed, dangling electrical wires, tenants sleeping and cooking in rooms in violation of existing ordinances adds to its present condition which could still be corrected.

Administrative Order No. 155 s2010 creating the city’s study team to find measures to correct the present defects can lead to its eventual rehabilitation.

A period of 30 days is pegged for a joint inspection within which proper recommendations by the team will be considered as options for its needed renovation.

City Mayor Mauricio Domogan is the Chairman for the Study Team. The members include Councilor Perlita Chan Rondez who is also the Chairperson for the City Council’s Committee on Market, Trade and Commerce.

Also as members are City Fire Marshall Richard Villanueva, City Building and Architecture Officer  Oscar Flores, City Treasurer Thelma Manaois, City Engineer Leo Bernardez and Ms. Nancy Alabanza, President of the Baguio Market Vendors Association. ***paul rillorta