We are sorry, the requested page does not exist
Activists cheer as Baguio court resumes hearing on anti-terrorist label petition
A Baguio regional court is given the green light by the High Tribunal's court administrator to continue hearing the petition filed by activists.....»»
Man on a mission
He has been to hell and back since entering the country’s premier military school, the Philippine Military Academy, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1982, to seeing action as a police officer, and lately to waltzing into the ring of fire by entering politics. Much has been written about the exploits of former police general Benjamin “Benjie” Magalong, Baguio City Mayor, since 2019, with the positive usually outweighing the negative. Love him, hate him, but believe me, Magalong is no lone ranger. He can sustain the hard yards of fighting criminality and corruption that one wonders where he gets all the energy and focus in addressing the challenges that come his way. Last month, Magalong and a few local chief executives launched “Mayors for Good Governance,” a campaign for responsible leadership and anti-corruption in local governments. They signed A2, a manifesto committing local executives to transparency and the rule of law. The movement has already received support from more than 150 city and municipal mayors nationwide, a testament to how much rests on his stewardship. Corruption is like a “communicable” disease that can easily transmit the evils that go with it from the lowest strata to the highest echelon of society. It has many forms and strains — from petty graft to large-scale kickbacks — and affects people from all walks of life, generations, and races. People get used to it until it becomes a way of life, and in the process, they lose their independence of thought because their eyes are shut. Pope Francis described it best: “Some people behave in relation to corruption as they would with drugs. They think they can take it and leave it as they please. They start with something minor: a kickback here, a bribe there. And between this and that, they gradually lose their freedom.” Fighting corruption is like fighting drugs; it is never one-sided. There are hits and misses along the way. Anything is fair game when you put a face into a noble cause. I was a field operative of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency assigned in Region 8 when Magalong was director of PDEA’s Special Enforcement Service, which was responsible for dismantling numerous drug laboratories and causing the dismissal of several police scalawags. Magalong is one straight arrow. He never compromises his name when it comes to fighting drugs and crime. However, he is also a caring leader who always looks after his men like he would his children. He never tolerates shenanigans but lavishes praise and support for a well-done job. That’s why it did not come as a surprise when he was made chairman of the Mamasapano Board of Inquiry in 2015, which investigated the carnage of 44 Special Action Forces in Maguindanao. I have seen firsthand Magalong’s sincerity when it comes to public service. A public servant who goes beyond his comfort zone to give timely and proper assistance to the public, Magalong has the integrity and bravery to stand by his ideals to the detriment of his career because he wants the country to succeed. Like Magalong, I also had my share of fighting the tentacles of corruption in PDEA and later at the Bureau of Customs, once touted as the most corrupt government agency, during my seven-month stint as a commissioner despite the brickbats and the Sword of Damocles hanging above me. It was a lonely battle indeed, especially since I came to the bureau all alone. Tormentors coming from opposite directions were having a field day — from the not-so-harmless Marites (Mare, ano ang latest?) and Mariposa (Mare, post mo na) to greedy politicians and industry shenanigans. I have no moral qualms regarding Magalong’s mission — to take the arduous and lifelong task of making a difference in people’s lives, especially the poor, who are most hurt by corruption. Taking the high road is never easy, and I am sure that knowing Magalong, he could surmount all the hurdles, including the legal ones, that come in the end. The post Man on a mission appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
No escape for Cordillera ‘pusher’
Hassanal Diampuam Kiram, who sent his 20-year-old nephew to deliver 150 grams of shabu valued at P1,020,000, resulting in the young boy's earlier arrest by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Cordillera agents, will still be sued for drug trafficking. Special Investigator Nielbert T. Pisec, who worked on the case with the NBI Cordillera and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Cordillera operatives, stated that they have enough evidence to prove Kiram was selling shabu in bulk. Since February, when the plan to apprehend Kiram was launched, NBI Cordillera director Janet M. Francisco has ordered five successful test buy operations against him. Although wise by sending his nephew, Muhammad Yasser Rangaig Pangadapun, also from Marawi, Kiram cannot deny the evidence that he was a big-time drug trader. Pangadapun, who on Thursday tested positive for shabu use, underwent inquest proceedings before the Baguio City Prosecutor’s Office last Friday, while Kiram’s drug sale charges will undergo regular filing, Pisec explained. Wednesday’s drug haul was the biggest anti-drug operation the NBI Cordillera had in recent years. The post No escape for Cordillera ‘pusher’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Prosecutor dismisses case vs realty people
BAGUIO CITY — The Office of the Baguio Prosecutor has dismissed the complaints against the owner and 23 employees and individual partners of a realty company, 40 days after their arrest by the Regional Anti-Cyber Crime Unit-Cordillera. On 19 July 2023, the City Prosecutor’s Office released the dismissal order on the case of Casa Infini Builders and Realty Co. Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Jennylyn Floresca and 23 others. The Securities and Exchange Commission had charged Floresca and the others with violations of Sections 8, 26, and 28 of the Securities Regulation Code and violations of certain provisions of the Cybercrime Prevention Act. The prosecutor’s office stressed that the complaint against the respondents was dismissed due to the illegal warrantless arrest and the subsequent illegal warrantless search conducted by the SEC personnel and other government authorities on the company’s premises. “In fact, the petition which initiated the investigation against Casa Infini by SEC was not even attached to the complaint for us to truly determine if there is indeed any evidence of fraud or deceit,” stated the Office of the Prosecutor. On 10 June 2023, operatives from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, RACU Cordillera and the Enforcement and Investor Protection Department launched an entrapment operation against the Casa Infini owner and partners. Two of the operatives posed as registrants and participants to the company’s business presentation. When the undercover police allegedly noticed something “fishy” going on, they signaled to the other operatives who barged into the venue of the presentation. The law enforcers started arresting the participants, confiscating laptops, cellphones and money amounting to more than P1 million as evidence. Prior to the mass arrest, the EIPD received a petition for revocation of Casa Infini’s license permit filed by an unnamed lawyer. In the petition, the complainant accused Casa Infini of illegal activities. On March 2023, EIPD investigators started to track the activities of Casa Infini and on 5 June 2023, the EIPD filed a motion for the issuance of cease and desist order against the company. The SEC En Banc issued the CDO on 8 June 2023 against the Casa Infini. The respondents complained that their arrest caused a great commotion that traumatized senior citizens, children and persons with disabilities attending the business presentation. The post Prosecutor dismisses case vs realty people appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cordillera recorded crimes decrease
BAGUIO CITY — The Cordillera Police on Sunday revealed that crime incidents recorded in the whole region were comparatively lower in the second quarter of the year than those logged in the first quarter. Police Regional Office Cordillera chief PBGEN David Peredo Jr., the crime incident percentage went down to 29 percent after records showed that at least 178 index crimes were logged during the second quarter — lower than the 194 incidents reported in the first quarter. The police also disclosed that there are non-index crimes reaching to 276 in the second quarter compared to the 297 non-index crimes reported in the previous quarter. Peredo reported that in the number of cases in the second quarter, the top three incidents are theft, rape, and physical injuries. For non-index crimes, the top cases are violations of RA 9165, or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, illegal gambling, and violation of RA 9262 or the law against violence against women and children. Peredo claimed that the low crime incidents in the region are a result of their continuous implementation of Enhance Managing Police Operations and simultaneous Anti-Criminality Law Enforcement Operations. The post Cordillera recorded crimes decrease appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Another Baguio City brothel raided
Another Baguio brothel disguised as a massage parlor was raided by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation-Cordillera (NBI-CAR) and anti-trafficking NGO Exodus Road-Philippines......»»
4 ranking PNP officials to face drug raps
Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. on Monday disclosed that four ranking police officials have been recommended to be removed from the Philippine National Police and will undergo pre-charge proceedings at the National Police Commission. Abalos also said that they would only make public the names of the police officials once charges are filed against them and if Malacañang communications will already be forwarded to his office or to the Napolcom that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the four officials’ resignation. The four police officials — two generals and two police colonels — were all members of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group implicated in the 990 kilos of shabu haul in 2022, according to Napolcom vice chairman Atty. Alberto Bernardo. PNP chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr, on the other hand, said that the four police officials “are on administrative holdings” and are already not “holding any key position.” Abalos said after the five-member advisory panel headed by former PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. recommended the acceptance of the courtesy resignations of the third-level officials, including two one-star generals and two colonels, the panel endorsed the filing of administrative charges against the officials before the Napolcom for violation of the PNP’s rules and regulations against illegal drugs. The four were among the 953 third-level officers evaluated by the panel after they submitted their courtesy resignations. Of the total, the panel cleared 917 of them. Aside from Azurin, the other members of the panel are Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, ex-Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro, retired police general Isagani Nerez and former Court of Appeals associate justice Melchor Sadang. Meantime, the 32 officers who were recommended with “further investigation” will have to be reviewed by the Napolcom. Acorda assured the public that after these proceedings and all the gray areas on what really happened to the 990 kilos of shabu, the police force will be renewed. Meantime, Abalos revealed that it will conduct a yearly local anti-drug abuse council performance audit to ensure that they are aligned with the government’s policy against illegal drugs. “The war on drugs is everyone’s business. This is not only the fight of the DILG, PNP and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. This is all our fight that is why we have to ensure that the local government units are with us in this campaign,” said Abalos. He added that the DILG will oversee the performance audit to the 81 provincial ADACs, 146 city ADACs and 1,488 municipal ADACs in the whole country, stressing that the agency will check the LGUs’ adherence to the illegal drug campaign based the criteria of organized local ADAC; conduct of quarterly meetings; allocation of funds for the implementation of anti-drug activities indicated in the Peace and Order and Public Safety Plan; implementation of ADAC plans and programs; support for ADACs in component local government units and innovation. The DILG chief also emphasized the importance of ADAC’s role in the ‘whole-of-nation approach’ that the department enforces in its illegal drug campaign through the Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan program. The post 4 ranking PNP officials to face drug raps appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
7 face raps over Cebu student’s hazing death
Seven individuals, including a professor, are facing a complaint for homicide and violation of the Anti-Hazing Act in connection with the death of University of Cebu student Ronnel Baguio in December 2022......»»
Baguio in final stage of complying with anti-red tape law
BAGUIO CITY - The city government on Wednesday said it is now in the final stages of correcting flaws found by the Anti Red Tape Authority (ARTA) in the systems and procedures.....»»
Baguio adapts Covid-19 case dashboard to manage dengue cases
BAGUIO CITY - The local government has decided to adapt its coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) dashboard for its anti-dengue drive to manage rising cases in the city."The HSO is shifting its gears using the same data analysis tool and protocols in managing the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covi.....»»
SK kagawad tiklo sa raket na shabu
Kalaboso ang isang Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) kagawad sa isinagawang anti-drug bust operation sa Barangay Gov. Pack, Baguio City, Sabado ng gabi. The post SK kagawad tiklo sa raket na shabu first appeared on Abante......»»
Cordillera PNP dissolves anti-drug unit
The Cordillera regional police dissolved its anti-drug unit after two members were identified as suspects in the abduction and beheading of a driver from Baguio City. Brig. Gen. R’win Pagkalinawan, Cordillera police director, ordered the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU) dissolved effective December 16, said Capt. Marnie Abellanida, regional police information officer. “Ang purpose nito […] The post Cordillera PNP dissolves anti-drug unit appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
FASTLANES: UP OCTA’s proposal for ‘lockdowns’ ignores resiliency factors, anti-poor
CAGAYAN DE ORO (MindaNews / 12 October) — The recommendation of the University of the Philippines’ (UP) research group OCTA could be anti-poor. They recommended the following areas where there is an observe increase of cases per 1,000 population to revert to tighter quarantine measures: Benguet (including Baguio City), Quezon, Pangasinan (including Dagupan), Iloilo (including […].....»»
LTO traffic enforcer caught selling shabu in Baguio City
A Land Transportation Office-Cordillera traffic enforcer was caught selling shabu to anti-narcotics agents at around 10:30 a.m. Friday here, ending the 24-hour long surveillance on him since his first drug arrest on Jan. 31, 2017......»»
New Anti-COVID czar Magalong to radically’ change PH contact tracing system
MANILA, Philippines – On his first day as the Philippines’ new coronavirus tracing chief Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong said on Monday, July 13, that the country’s contact tracing system, a crucial initiative in efforts to curb the outbreak, will “radically” change in its structure. “Gusto ko lang pong ........»»
P13-M ‘hemp’ destroyed
BAGUIO CITY — More than P13 million worth of marijuana was destroyed by joint forces of the Kalinga Provincial Police Office (PPO), Tinglayan Municipal Police Station and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Cordillera during a two-day eradication operation in Barangay Loccong, Tinglayan, Kalinga last week. The anti-illegal weed operation under “Oplan 09 Juliet Lagpot” […] The post P13-M ‘hemp’ destroyed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Kaspersky Shares Cybersecurity Tips for a Peaceful Getaway during the holy week
As the holiday season approaches, the urge to unwind and kick back is natural. And it’s all too common for people to let their guard down completely when connecting to the Internet too– but shouldn’t. Recently, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group shared its findings on identity theft cases in the country. Between November […].....»»
Mandaue drug bust: P476,000 ‘shabu’ seized from HVI
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Authorities seized suspected shabu worth at least P476,000 from a 45-year-old man described as a high-value individual during an anti-illegal drugs operation in Mandaue City early on Wednesday morning, March 27, 2024. The operation took place along Realty Road in the North Reclamation Area in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City, Cebu. The.....»»
Bela pasok na rin sa ‘Pamilya Sagrado’, ka-loveteam din si Piolo?
KASAMA pala si Bela Padilla sa bagong seryeng “Pamilya Sagrado” mula sa Dreamscape Entertainment na nagsu-shoot ngayon sa Baguio City. Nag-post kasi ng video ang aktres sa kanyang Instagram na binubuhat siya ng lead star ng serye na si Piolo Pascual sa iba’t ibang anggulo na ikinatuwa naman ni Bela. Ang caption ng aktres sa.....»»
Fake booking scams up – ACG
Fake booking scams increased in the second week of March, the Anti-Cybercrime Group of the Philippine National Police reported yesterday......»»