Army men on way to deliver PCOS machines: 2 troopers slain, 5 hurt in Kalinga ‘NPA’ ambush

By DexterA. See

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Two soldiers died while five others were wounded when an elite team of the Philippine Army tasked to serve as security to a team of civilians for the delivery of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines in the upper towns of Kalinga was ambushed by still undetermined number of armed men believed to be members of the New Peoples Army at barangays Naneg here around 9:30 am Thursday.

           

Col. Roger Salvador, commanding officer of the PA’s 501^st Infantry Battalion (IB), said the soldiers were performing their mandated election duty to secure the delivery of the PCOS machines to the towns of Pasil, Lubuagan, Tinglayan and Balbalan when they were waylaid after shortly leaving the city proper en route to their areas of jurisdiction.

            

Those who were killed in the ambush were identified as Cpl. Allen P. Pattaguan and Cpl. Wilfedo C. Bacacao while those who were wounded were named as T/Sgt. Constante V. Alupari, T/Sgt. Herminigildo B. Vergara and PFc. Delfin Goyagoy.

The two other wounded soldiers have yet to be identified by the Philippine Army.

            

According to Salvador, the casualties and wounded soldiers were initially brought to Lubuagan municipal hospital for emergency medical treatment before they were transported to the Kalinga provincial hospital for further treatment.

            

“Despite the unfortunate incident, we were able to secure the PCOS machines and safely deliver them to their destinations,” Salvador told the Manila Standard, adding that joint police and military personnel are own conducting hot pursuit operations against the fleeing rebels in the mountain ranges of Kalinga.

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Rebels admit torching mine drilling facility

MANKAYAN, Benguet  - New Peoples Army guerrillas have claimed responsibility over the April 26 torching of a drilling rig of the  Far South East Gold Resources Inc., a subsidiary of the African-based Goldfields Resources Corp. , in this mining town.

The Benguet-based Jennifer “Maria” Cariño Command” of the NPA said “it was a punishment of the mining company, and it is in support and solidarity with the people of Mankayan and with people of other places against the destructive mining operations.”

Cordillera police director Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong earlier said four men armed with M16 and M203 rifles put ablaze the drilling machine being used by the mining firm in confirming gold ore in Ampontoc, Colalo, Mankayan at around 6:43 p.m. on  April 26, quoting  Lawrence Pasiwen, supervisor of the private Warrior Security Agency.

Mankayan policemen led by Chief Insp. Ferdinand Oydoc, a team from the 50th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army under 1Lt. Roger Durada and another team from the Benguet Police Public Safety Battalion led by Supt. Lambert Suerte tried to run after the armed men but failed to catch them.

In the 70’s, communist guerrillas also burned a drilling rig of Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co., which has partnered with Goldfields in the FSGRI’s projects in Mankayan.

FSGRI, amid local protests, has pursued  its confirmatory drillings in several areas in Mankayan despite heavy oppposition to the operations.

The FSGRI has remained mum on the attack, while the NPA said ”the drilling operations in Colalo is for the planned construction of Tailings Dam 5B of (Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co. for its expansion of mining operations in Mankayan and the nearby municipality of Tadian, Mt. Province."

“The setting up of the tailings dam 5B means the grabbing anew of many hectares of land of the people of Barangays Colalo and Bedbed by LCMC,” the NPA said.

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Tuguegarao mayor’s supporter slain

TUGUEGARAO CITY – A former policeman and supporter of the mayor of this Cagayan city was shot dead along the Maharlika Highway night of May 11, police said.

Two spent .45-caliber shells were recovered at the scene where Pedro Buguina, 49, supporter of Mayor Delfin Ting, was gunned down, said Senior Supt. Gregorio Lim, Cagayan police director.

In Isabela, meanwhile, police are still clueless on the grenade attacks and firing on the houses of three supporters of Dr. Maximin Navarro, son of outgoing Santiago City Mayor Amelita Navarro.    

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‘Desperate move: Case filed vs Chavit’s sons for ‘vote-buying’

By Teddy Molina

VIGAN, Ilocos Sur -- An election offense case was filed Tuesday before the Commission on Elections against the sons of Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson for allegedly engaging in vote-buying.

Charged were incumbent Ilocos Sur Rep. Ryan Singson and former congressman Ronald Singson who are running for governor and congressman, respectively, under the Nacionalista Party. 

The brothers’ disqualification was also sought in a separate petition filed by Tagudin Mayor Roque Verzosa Jr., the official candidate for governor of the Liberal Party (LP). 

Verzosa said Barangay Captain Joan Tabangcura facilitated the money and prizes donated by the Singsons for the “Nalasin Got Talent” contest and raffle draw during the village fiesta last April 21 to 22. 

He said the Omnibus Election Code prohibits a candidate from giving and receiving contributions for partisan political activity.

Verzosa said the donations were primarily given to support the respondents’ candidacies.

He said the respondents should be disqualified from the elections.

He said pending the resolution of the petition, the Comelec should suspend the proclamation of any of the respondents in case they win in the elections.

           

Ryan, who is the Nacionalista Party’s gubernatorial bet in the May 13 elections, has dismissed as a “desperate move” the filing of a disqualification case against him and his brother, congressional bet Ronald by his opponent, Tagudin Mayor Roque Verzosa.

Verzosa, the Liberal Party’s candidate for governor, charged the two sons of Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson of vote buying. 

It’s a desperate move by a losing candidate,” Ryan said. “I was not even there at the Nalasin fiesta, how could I give money during an event where I was not present?”     

For his part, Ronald said he and his brother have been posting big leads in all surveys.

“The point is we never engage in vote buying. We don’t do that because we don’t need to buy votes, as we are leading by a wide margin in all surveys,” he said.

Ronald’s disqualification was also sought earlier by his rival, lawyer Bertrand Baterina, LP congressional bet in the province’s first district.  

“Why does he not just campaign and present his programs of government,” said Ryan who was campaigning in his rival’s hometown when news broke out that Verzosa had sought his disqualification.   

He challenged Verzosa to show what he has done in Tagudin where he is now on his third term.

Ryan alleged that progress has been stalled in Tagudin for the past nine years, adding that he has done much more in the first district in the less than two years that he served as congressman.  

The Singson brothers said they have not received yet an official copy of Verzosa’s complaint.

“I’m in Tagudin right now,”, the NP bet said Tuesday. “There is no covered court, the roads are only one lane.”

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Two PAGS disbanded after arrest of leaders

By Myds Supnad

CAMP FLORENDO, San Fernando City, La Union- Police ‘neutralized’ two private armies or PAGs by arresting core members and seizing  assorted firearms from them last week.

In his report to Philippine National Police Director Alan Purisima, regional police director Chief Supt.  Ricardo C Marquez said Ilocos policemen disbanded the two PAGs after intelligence operations.

Marquez said arrest of PAG members led their patrons or handlers to voluntarily disband the groups.

Maqruez said  seven members were arrested, two died in encounters, six surrendered while 12 firearms of various types were seized.

The total remaining private armies in the region is down from seven groups with 54 members to five groups with 38 members, Marquez said.

He added 27 criminal gang members engaged in gun- for-hire activities have been arrested and are now languishing in various jail facilities in the region.

       

The regional police office also accounted a total 915 various firearms wherein 420 were illegal seized in police operations such as search warrant operations, checkpoints and oplan sita.

Charges for violation of RA 8294 and Commission on Elections gun ban were filed against the violators.

Marquez added oplan katok was implemented resulting to accounting of 495 firearms deposited by candidates, gun enthusiasts, government officials and private agencies wherein some have expired licenses or were still on process.

             

Marquez lauded efforts of the RSOTG commanders, provincial directors and the intelligence division of PRO1 headed by Senior Supt. Sterling Blanco for  arrests and confiscation or accounting of firearms.

The RD said these law enforcement operations complemented by community help paved the way to reduction of priority areas of concern from 34 to 32.

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Survey: Get money, but don’t vote for buying politicos

by Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Will the electorate  vote for a candidate who buys votes?  

A survey done by the Montanosa Press Club showed respondent-voters  will accept the money but won’t necessarily vote for the candidate whom the moneyis  intended for. 

A survey done in  six  towns of   Bontoc, ,Barlig, Sagada, Sabangan,  Bauko, Besao showed ­­­­­ 45 percent of 546  respondents  said they  will accept  the money; 13 percent  respondents  said  maybe  while 28 percent  were  categorical in saying they will not  get the money.  

Fourteen percent did not respond.A total of 546 respondents were interviewed in  91 barangays of  Sagada, Bontoc, Sabangan, Barlig, Bauko and  Besao. 

Random sampling of  six respondents per  barangay  were  taken by  volunteers from the  Benguet State University’s   Development  Communication  interns who  interviewed respondents from Bontoc and  Sagada. 

Volunteers from the Mountain Province Youth Alliance conducted survey in Barlig and Sadanga towns while  youth volunteers from Sabangan, Sagada, and Bauko conducted the survey in  Sabangan, Bauko and Besao.

As to whether they will vote for the candidate whom the money is intended for, 4 percent  said they would, 53 percent  said maybe while 43 percent said no.

Respondents said their choice candidate maybe the one who gave the money, but if the candidate is not their candidate which the money is intended for, they will not vote for said  candidate.

While vote-buying is manifested in different forms, some voters are reportedly receiving 500 peso bills  plus Maling canned pork and  noodles for a candidate.

Fake money bills are also being reportedly distributed in the name of one candidate to destroy said candidate while 500 to 1000 pesos bills are reportedly being given to voters in the  eastern front.  

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Daughter continues slain father’s mayoralty bid

By Mar T. Supnad

TARLAC CITY — The family of slain mayoralty candidate who was brutally killed Monday and the Lakas-CMD party endorsed Wednesday the victim’s daughter to replace him to run for mayor of San Jose town.

Lakas-CMD provincial chair Pearl Pacada, who is running for governor, confirmed this Wednesday saying the family of Rudy Abella, and Lakas had endorsed the candidacy of Lalaine Abella, to run for mayor.

Rudy Abella was shot dead in full view of the public and in broad daylight Monday by unknown gunmen while campaigning at Sitio Sta. Cruz, Barangay Iba, San Jose.

According to police director Senior Supt Alfred Corpus, they have already angles on the shooting to death of the victim identified as Rudy Abella, 65, incumbent chairman of Barangay Burgos and president of the Association of Barangay Captains.

“We have now the computerized sketch of the suspects and we have already angles on the killing,” said  Corpuz.

The victim, who is reportedly a strong contender of reelectionist Mayor Jose “Penggoy” Yap, elder brother of Gov. Victor Yap, was a former policeman.

As this developed, gubernatorial candidate Pearl E. Pacada, chairman of Lakas-CMD in Tarlac, condemned yesterday the merciless and indiscriminate killing of her strong  political leader in San Jose.

Initial police investigation showed that prior to the incident the victim together with Barangay Iba chairman Judy Laurzano, his vice mayoralty candidate, were having their campaign sortie at said place when bursts of gun fires broke out.

The victim was then seated and waiting for his turn to talk before a large crowd when two unidentified gunmen armed with caliber 45 and 9mm pistols approached the victim and suddenly shot him at close range, hitting his chest and abdomen.

Police said the shooting rampage also hit a certain Marites Sigua, 35, of the place of incident which was hit by a stray bullet.

Meanwhile, Senator Bong Revilla, Chairman Lakas-CMD and Rep. Martin Romualdez, part president, condemned yesterday in the strongest terms the brutal and barbaric killing of mayoral candidate Rudy Abella in San Jose, Tarlac.

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