Joint gov’t operatives nabs 7 suspects of illegal drug trade in Kumalarang

Joint gov’t operatives nabs 7 suspects of illegal drug trade in Kumalarang

By JONG CADION

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (April 5, 2015) ---The joint government operatives arrested 7 suspects of illegal drug trade and confiscation of more than 50 grams of shabu in Sunday dawn raid at Barangay Boyugan West in the nearby town of Kumalarang this province.

The raid was lead by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) together with the members of Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office, Provincial Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operation Team and the Provincial Investigation Detective Management Branch (PIDMB) who successfully arrested 2 of the 7 personalities listed in the warrant of arrest (WOA) and another 5 others were handcuffed during the raid.

PDEA Region-9 Director Josep C. Ladip said the raid conducted at the 7 houses Sunday at 2:30 dawn as the result of 2 months surveillance operations.

Ladip identified the 2 of the 7 personalities involved in illegal drugs trade as Jabide Ladjas y Abdulah aka ‘Beds’, 51, Barangay Kagawad of Boyugan West and Ayang Edris y Lamangan 41, a resident also in the same barangay. 

Ladip said the 5 others listed in the WOA were not around during the raid while the 5 other arrested were drug users identified as Abdul Modakil y Tampipi, 32, of Boyugan West; Melvin Solliano y Ornopia, 23 of Barangay Picanan; Claudio Buctuan y Donor, 38 of Barangay Sayao; Yosup Dacula y Calcedo, 35 of Poblacion and Husain Edris y Tampipi, 41 also of Boyugsn West all of Kumalarang town.

The PDEA Director added that the confiscated illegal drugs had an estimated market value of Php80,000.

Kumalarang Mayor Eugenio Salva Jr.  said that he already warned  the people in the barangay but the illegal drug trade still continue. He also expressed his gratitude to the government law enforcement agency for the successful conduct of raid in one of the 18 barangays.

Mayor Salva also confirmed that Barangay Boyugan West located along the national highway near the boundary of Buug, Zamboanga Sibugay was noted being involved in illegal drug trade since he was a Vice Mayor.

Salva is hopeful that the illegal drug trade of the said barangay will be totally eradicated or stop following the raid by the PDEA and police operatives.

Stall construction at the passage way in Pala-o public market obstruct market-goers

Stall construction at the passage way in Pala-o public market obstruct market-goers

Iligan City (April 8, 2015) - Alleged Stall No. 114-A at OPF section was found at the passage way (entrance-exit) at the east side of  Pala-o Public Market, Pala-o, Iligan City. This stall was awarded to JOVITA CAÑETE, of Purok 7, Pala-o, Iligan City, for occupancy award was signed by VIRGINIA P. JUNSAN, Supervision and Administrative Officer, Economic Enterprise Developement and Management Office (EEDMO).
Prior to the award, Junsan posted Notice of vacancy of the said stall dated 30 January 2015 with incomplete data to be supplied supposedly. It was observed that stall 114-A, might be non-existent based on the master plan of the Pala-o public market because the space was found in the passage way of the public market. This new construction definitely cause obstruction to market-goers and a risk during emergencies inside the public market.

Questionable signatures

Signatures in the award certificate was signed by somebody not knowing the names of the persons signed in the document represented the public officials but some signatures might be bogus. Signatories in the award certificate are Melchor Alquisola, Acting City Administrator; Louela S. Maybituin, City Treasurer; City legal officer no name appeared only signature; Hon. Ruderic C. Marzo, SP chair, Ways and Means; Hon. Usafeno Obial, SP chair, Health and Sanitation; Romeo Salig, Representative Market Vendors Association; Roy L. Openiano, SP Chair, Com. on Eco. Enterprise; Virginia P. Junsan, OIC, EEDMO.
 
VIRGINIA P. JUNSAN cited City ordinance No. 2246, otherwise known as the Market Code of Iligan City, is needed to be amended for this purpose. Otherwise, it’s a violation of the said ordinance which disadvantageous to the government and its people, and might fall under the anti-graft and corrupt practices act need for legislative action. Photos of the construction site of the non-existent Stall 114-A found in the passage way is now under construction. Pala-o public market is under the supervision of Jemnevith J. Sechong, Market Superintendent. Information gathered that one stall will costs as much as PhP50,000.00 unofficially to be paid by the applicant. There are 4 stalls to be constructed in this tight passage way. Allegedly this money will go to the pockets of the syndicate corrupt local government personalities. This wrongdoing should be investigated by the Sangguniang Panglunsod of Iligan City and punish the culprits. Reports and photos by Jun Enriquez.

 

Kauswagan Mayor brutally torture the cattle rustling suspect

Kauswagan Mayor brutally torture the cattle rustling suspect

Mastermind suspect Elvin Sanchez

Iligan City (April 3, 2015) – Cattle rustling suspect was brutally tortured by Mayor Rommel Arnado of Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte. This was revealed by the suspect-victim Elvin Sanchez a resident of Purok 4, Poblacion, Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte. Sanchez, a farmer with 6 children and separated from his wife said that he was arrested by police on March 30, 2015 at around 11:00 O’clock in the morning in Barangay Poblacion of Kauswagan due to the alleged of being a cattle rustling mastermind. Police authorities said, a certain Marvin Ruben was arrested on the evening of March 29 in Napo, Linamon, Lanao del Norte bringing and walk with him a cattle along the road. Upon reaching the paramilitary checkpoint, Ruben was apprehended and interrogated on who was the owner of the cattle he brings, but no answer was found and it was the reason for the arrest of Ruben and he was turnover to the Linamon police, then the Linamon police turnover him to the Kauswagan police. Police authorities said Ruben pinpointed a certain Elvin Sanchez as the mastermind of the cattle rustling in Kauswagan. Immediately the Kauswagan police manhunted Sanchez and was able to arrest the latter and detained in Kauswagan police detention cell.  

Sanchez pointed injuries in his feet

On the evening of March 31, at around 8:00 O’clock in the evening, Sanchez said that Mayor Rommel Arnado arrived at the police station to investigate Sanchez about the cattle rustling case inside the office of the Kauswagan chief of police. Another suspect Marvin Ruben was also included in that meeting. Sanchez said that Arnado repeatedly asked questions to him on where was the carabao dispersed from the government given to his brother as beneficiary from the Department of Agriculture (DA), which was previously missing prior to the recent cattle rustling incident. Sanchez said that he was accused of inside job by the people of cattle rustling whose farm animal owned by his  brother but he denied of doing it and he further denied participation of the series of cattle rustling cases in Kauswagan. Sanchez said when Arnado asked Ruben about the cattle rustling cases, Ruben pointed to Sanchez as the mastermind and had participation in all the series of cattle rustling in Kauswagan. Sanchez said that Ruben also mentioned a certain Alex Limbo as the Boss of Sanchez. Sanchez said that he knew Marvin Ruben and Alex Limbo but not so much friends as they are. Sanchez questioning his arrest because Ruben was a liar accusing him his participation and he had no knowledge about the crime. Sanchez said that only Ruben should deserved to be arrested because he was caught in the act and not to include him. Sanchez said anybody can easily accused any person of a certain crime but need to be proven. Sanchez said he was in their farm in upper Bagumbayan during the time Ruben was arrested. Sanchez said that he till their lands of almost 3 hectares. Sanchez said Arnado irked to him of answering questions deniably. He said that Arnado pulled out a solid round rattan stick and strike him several times forced him to admit the cases of cattle rustling.

Sanchez pointed injuries in his ear

Sanchez pointed his injuries in his head

Sanchez said that Arnado hit him the rattan stick in many parts of his body, suffered injuries in his foot, hands and head and he collapsed caused him landed in a hospital at the Gregorio T. Lluch Memorial Hospital in Iligan City. Sanchez said the hazing was happened in the evening of March 31 and he was admitted in the hospital on the following day of April 1 because he was already very weak. He said that the police personnel brought him to the hospital. Police authorities said that Marvin Ruben is vital witness to the case against Sanchez together with the owner of the cattle pressing charges of thief against Sanchez and Ruben and the case was already filed in court for inquest proceedings. Police authorities added that whenever there was complaint on cases of thief on livestock and farm animals in Kauswagan the name of Sanchez will always mentioned as suspect but they cannot arrest Sanchez due to lack of evidences. Sanchez and his family said that they will file charges against Mayor Arnado of torturing him inside the police station office. Human rights advocates said that Mayor Arnado was violating the anti-torture law and the human rights law against Elvin Sanchez. Sanchez added that Police personnel had nothing to do of torturing him inside the police station office. Sanchez is now on recovery stage in the hospital suffering from trauma, said that the first hearing of the case against him is on April 10, 2015.