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Philippines arrests suspect related to Sunday s school blast
MANILA, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Philippine troops have arrested a suspect related to a university gym bombing on Sunday that killed four and injured 50 others, a military spokesperson said Friday. Xerxes Trinidad, the Armed Forces of the Philippines' public affairs chief, called the male suspect "one of the accomplices." He did not elaborate on the details of the suspect's arrest. Authorities earlier identifie.....»»
BI reminds departing aliens to settle fees; arrests high-profile Korean fugitive
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday advised all foreign travelers who are leaving the country during the upcoming Undas holiday break to comply with their immigration departure requirements early to avoid unnecessary queuing at the airport on the date of their departure. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco reminded registered foreigners who are studying, working, or living permanently in the Philippines that they can obtain their special return certificate (SRC) or re-entry permit (RP) prior to departure at any of the various BI's district, field, satellite, or extension offices nationwide. While foreign tourists who have stayed in the country for more than six months may also secure their emigration clearance certificates (ECC) before departure, Tansingco said securing the required permits early will decrease queueing time by half, as they will not have to line up at the BI’s airport cashiers anymore. The BI chief added that with the complete elimination of all COVID-related travel restrictions, the bureau is anticipating a spike in passengers at all international airports in the country, especially at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), this upcoming December, and this time they are also experiencing a big increase in the volume of New Year's Day travelers. During this peak season, the bureau reminded all travelers that other immigration services are also available online via the BI’s e-services portal at e-services.immigration.gov.ph. Tansingco shared that the bureau also has a one-stop shop (OSS) facility located at NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City, where departing aliens may also secure the said documents. He also reiterated previous reminders for passengers to arrive at least three hours prior to their flight and go straight to immigration after check-in. The BI is confident that its operations will be smoother this holiday season as it has deployed additional immigration officers and assigned a rapid response team as well as mobile counters for immediate deployment as necessary. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, 24 October, BI agents detained a South Korean wanted person who was allegedly part of a major narcotics ring that smuggled contraband into Korea from the Philippines. Commissioner Tansingco identified the suspect as Choi Sun Hyeok, a 56-year-old male who was arrested at his residence in Bgy. Lahug, Cebu City by the BI Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU) operatives. The BI-FSU operatives were armed with a warrant of deportation, which Tansingco issued pursuant to a summary deportation order that the BI Board of Commissioners issued against Choi in 2017. Tansingco said that Choi would be immediately deported to Seoul, South Korea after the bureau had secured the necessary clearances for his departure. According to the South Korean government, Choi was tagged as a high-profile fugitive, as he is believed to be a member of the so-called MS Alliance syndicate that facilitates the illicit transport of narcotics to Korea. A red notice for his capture was also issued by Interpol this year after an investigation confirmed that he was in the country. According to Interpol’s National Central Bureau (NCB) in Manila, Choi is the subject of a warrant of arrest issued by the Changwon District Court in Korea, where he is charged with violating his country’s narcotics control act. Investigators have also established that this year alone, Choi’s accomplices in the syndicate managed to smuggle into Korea more than 265 grams of methamphetamine by concealing the drug in their underwear. It was gathered that the passport of Choi, who will be committed to the BI detention facility in Taguig City, was already revoked by the Korean government, thus making him an undocumented alien. Choi's name was also placed on the BI blacklist to prevent him from re-entering the Philippines. The post BI reminds departing aliens to settle fees; arrests high-profile Korean fugitive appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
2 Koreans wanted for telecom, wire fraud arrested
Two fugitives were captured by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) after being sought by South Korea and the US for their involvement in fraud-related operations. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco confirmed the arrests of the two South Korean fugitives, who were identified as Kwon Junyoung, 38, and Seok Jongmin, 48. The two were arrested last Saturday in Brgy. Cuayan, Angeles City, Pampanga, by the BI Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU) operatives. Tansingco said that the operation was conducted in collaboration with the South Korean authorities, government intelligence groups, and the Angeles City Police Station. According to the South Korean authorities, Kwon is wanted for telecommunications fraud in South Korea, while Seok is wanted in Texas for engaging in wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft. The BI chief said that as the BI board of commissioners has already issued summary deportation orders against them, soon they will be deported to face the crime they committed. Tansingco added that their names were also placed on the bureau’s blacklist of undesirable aliens, so they are now banned from re-entering the Philippines, the BI chief added. According to information obtained from Interpol's National Central Bureau (NCB) in Manila, the Suwon District Court in Korea issued an arrest order for Kwon on 12 December 2019. Authorities claimed that Kwon was part of a telecom fraud syndicate operating in Dalian, China, that used voice phishing to call random victims. Based on reports, the callers impersonated investigators from the Seoul Central Prosecutor's Office in order to harass the victims and trick them into transferring money to the syndicate's accounts. In contrast, the NCB revealed that Seok is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the US district court in Western Texas. He is accused of conspiring to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, conspiring to commit money laundering, and three counts of aggravated identity theft. Seok is accused of working with other suspects to gain access to the websites of the US Departments of Defence and Veterans Affairs using thousands of US military veterans' stolen personal identification information (PII), depriving the victims of their benefits. The BI-FSU also reported that Seok was arrested after posting bail at the Angeles City regional trial court, where he was charged with robbery and extortion, and will be transferred to the BI’s facility in Bicutan, Taguig. While Kwon will remain in the custody of the Angeles City police due to his ongoing local case, he will continue to be under the BI’s legal custody for deportation proceedings. The post 2 Koreans wanted for telecom, wire fraud arrested appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
75 foreigners involved in online scams deported
The Bureau of Immigration confirmed the deportation of 75 foreign nationals on 22 September at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco shared that those foreigners departed on Friday afternoon via a Royal Air flight RW410 bound for Nanning, Guangxi. These deportees, according to Tansingco, are the first group of foreign nationals to be kicked out of the country for engaging in scams while posing as an online gaming customer care provider. They are part of the group arrested in an operation led by the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and the Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission (PAOCC) against SA Rivendell Global Gaming Corporation located in Pasay City. They were later charged by the BI for undesirability after being tagged as part of a scam syndicate. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which made the arrests, kept custody of the aforementioned foreigners throughout their deportation procedures. The deportees allegedly took part in bitcoin and love schemes that preyed on Westerners. The BI chief said that the initial count of deportees was 76, but the airline offloaded one of them—identified as He Zeng Ming—due to a medical issue after he purportedly complained about chest symptoms. All deportees have been added to the BI's blacklist; thereby, prohibiting them from returning to the country. “The strong partnership of the BI with PAOCC as well as IACAT member agencies led to this massive arrest and deportation of foreign nationals abusing their stay in the country,” said Tansingco. “This is in line with the President’s directive for government agencies to work closely together, in unity, to achieve greater results,” he added. -----anthony ching----- The post 75 foreigners involved in online scams deported appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Case of missing sabungeros getting clearer
The latest arrests on the six suspects in the case of missing sabungeros will give the Philippine National Police investigation a direction to its mastermind. This was how PNP Chief P/Gen. Benjamin Acorda viewed the latest development to an almost three-year case that somehow would lead to the identification of the mastermind and others responsible to the crime. “With this development, the investigation will have a direction and hopefully this will convince, or this would encourage other witnesses to come out and provide information,” Acorda said when he guested at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City. Acorda was referring to the arrest of security guards Julie Patidongan, Gleer Codilla, Mark Carlo Zabala, Virgilio Bayog, Johnry Consolacion and Roberto Matillano Jr. in two safehouses in Parañaque City. He said they are also hopeful that the arrest of six suspects will convince, or encourage other witnesses to provide information. The chief PNP also hinted that some of the six arrested suspects are willing to divulge further information on the matter. Acorda said they are hoping that the suspects would cooperate in the investigation for the PNP to finally identify and file charges against the mastermind and other suspects. “The most effective way to connect the mastermind is the suspects themselves. So I am hoping that they will talk,” Acorda said. The suspects were arrested on Friday in Parañaque City after the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group located their whereabouts through an informant and following a two-month surveillance operation. The six suspects were former security guards of the Manila Arena and we’re listed as respondents for six counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with the abduction of six cockfighting players. Acorda said two other people were collared and are now facing obstruction of justice for providing shelter to the six suspects. The abduction at the Manila Arena was among the series of cases of kidnapping of 34 cockfighting players. Police earlier said the kidnapping was related to allegations of game-fixing for online sabong during the Covid-19 pandemic. On the other end, the families of missing sabungeros John Claude Inonog, Rondel Cristorum, Mark Joseph Velasco, Rowel Gomez, and brothers James Baccay and Marlon Baccay filed formal complaints against the six security officers at the Manila Arena over their disappearance in January 2022. Complaints for six counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention were filed on 18 March 2022, against the six suspects before the Department of Justice. The post Case of missing sabungeros getting clearer appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Case of missing sabungeros now has directions- PNP Chief
The latest arrests of the six suspects in the case of missing sabungeros will give the Philippine National Police investigation a direction to its mastermind. This was how PNP Chief P/General Benjamin Acorda viewed the latest development to an almost three-year case that somehow would lead to the identification of the mastermind and others responsible for the crime. “With this development, the investigation will have a direction and hopefully this will convince, or this would encourage other witnesses to be dedicated to providing information,” Acorda said when he guested at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City. Acorda was referring to the arrest of security guards Julie Patidongan, Gleer Codilla, Mark Carlo Zabala, Virgilio Bayog, Johnry Consolacion, and Roberto Matillano Jr. in two safe houses in Parañaque City. He added said they are also hopeful that the arrest of six suspects will convince, or encourage other witnesses to provide information. The Chief PNP also hinted that some of the six arrested suspects are willing to divulge further information on the matter. Acorda said they are hoping that the suspects would cooperate in the investigation for the PNP to finally identify the file charges against the mastermind and other suspects. “The most effective way to connect the mastermind is the suspects themselves. So I am hoping that they will talk,” Acorda said. “There are some indications that they would talk but we just want to wait and anything that they will say is of course needs the assistance of a lawyer,” he added. The suspects were arrested on Friday in Parañaque City after the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group located their whereabouts through an informant and following a two-month surveillance operation. The six suspects were former security guards of the Manila Arena and we're listed as respondents for six counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with the abduction of six cockfighting players. Acorda said two other people were collared and are now facing obstruction of justice for providing shelter to the six suspects. The abduction at the Manila Arena was among the series of cases of kidnapping of 34 cockfighting players. Police earlier said the kidnapping was related to allegations of game-fixing for online sabong during the Covid-19 pandemic. On the other end, the families of missing saunders John Claude Inonog, Rondel Cristorum, Mark Joseph Velasco, Rowel Gomez, and brothers James Baccay and Marlon Baccay filed formal complaints against the six security officers at the Manila Arena over their disappearance in January 2022. Complaints for six counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention were filed on March 18, 2022, against the six suspects before the Department of Justice. The CIDG also filed a separate case for kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with the disappearance of the missing online sabong master agent Ricardo Lasco, who was reportedly abducted on August 30, 2021, in San Pablo, Laguna. Three former policemen linked to the kidnapping of Lasco have already surrendered. The DOJ in January 2023 filed kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges against six individuals allegedly involved in the disappearance of six sabungeros before the Manila Regional Trial Court. The families, however, withdrew from the cases last month, prompting the kin of other victims to express disappointment. ''We have been hearing reports that there were attempts to really bribe ‘yung mga witnesses,'' Acorda said. The post Case of missing sabungeros now has directions- PNP Chief appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NBI clarifies role in interception
The Bureau of Immigration on Wednesday clarified its role in the interception of Filipinos with arrest warrants at ports of entry and exit. Commissioner Norman Tansingco said arresting Filipinos is not within the immigration’s mandate, pointing out that BI officers cannot serve warrants of arrest against Filipinos. Tansingco made this clarification in response to a query made by Senator Robin Padilla on 5 September during his privilege speech, citing the case of Mohammad Said, a 61-year-old man who allegedly attempted to depart the country for Malaysia on 10 August but was stopped by the BI. The BI chief added that it is the local law enforcement agencies — the NBI and the PNP — who are authorized to conduct arrests. He also clarified that they implement derogatory records as received from courts, Interpol, foreign governments and other competent authorities. If encountered, those with criminal records are turned over to the NBI or the PNP, who in turn, affect the investigation and arrest. Tansingco further clarified that Said was intercepted for being the subject of an Interpol red notice issued in 2017. The said record contained Said’s full name, sex, date of birth, place of birth, and even his passport number. The post NBI clarifies role in interception appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cartel manipulating rice price hikes — Abalos
Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos on Tuesday, made the rounds at Mega-Q-Mart along with Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte to inspect rice stalls and retailers if they are adhering to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Executive Order 39. Abalos said arrests will not take effect yet, for retailers selling rice beyond what is prescribed under EO 39, which is P41 per kilo for regular-milled rice and P45 per for well-milled rice. “Our target really here are the rice cartels. They are the ones causing the high cost of rice,’’ Abalos said. He added that the government will run after cartels that are manipulating the prices of prime commodities like rice. The DILG chief also appealed to rice retailers and dealers to adhere to the government’s rice price ceiling to ease the financial burden of the public. Rice stall owners, on the other hand, complained that they will surely have financial losses if they follow the rice price cap imposed by the government. “We bought rice at high costs, if we make the computation based on the government’s price cap, we will surely incur heavy losses,’’ one of the rice stall owners said. Others said they are contemplating on closing their stalls until the price of regular and well-milled rice stabilizes. Not feasible “We loaned our capital with interest and it is not economically feasible if we sell them (rice at P41 to P45 per kilo),’’ one of them said. When this was relayed to Abalos, the DILG chief told the retailers that the government would provide compensation to help them reduce the prices of their rice. Abalos told rice retailers to bear with the inconvenience, stating that the rice price cap is only “temporary” and not permanent. With the rice price cap in effect, Abalos noted that the government is in the midst of making the necessary computation on how much aid should be provided to the rice dealers and retailers, adding that there is no time table yet on how long the lower cost of rice will last. In the meantime, Abalos noted that the DILG will continue to conduct a massive information drive to make the rice dealers and retailers aware of the rice price cap that they should follow starting 5 September. However, Abalos warned that the government will have no choice but to impose penalties and fines should rogue traders remain stubborn and fail to follow the rice price ceiling stated in EO 39. Earlier, the DILG warned that violators of the rice price ceiling stand to face one year imprisonment but not more than 10 years jail term and pay penalties ranging from P5,000 to as much as P1 million upon the court’s discretion. Individuals or groups involved in the illegal price manipulation of prime commodities face jail terms not lower than five years and not more than 15 years and pay penalties of at least P5,000 up to P2 million. The post Cartel manipulating rice price hikes — Abalos appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Inspections conducted at QC market rice stalls for ceiling compliance
Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos on Tuesday, made a rounds at Mega-Q-Mart along with Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte to inspect rice stalls and retailers if they are adhering to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s Executive Order No. 39. Abalos said arrests will not take effect yet, for retailers selling rice beyond what is prescribed under EO 39, which sets the rice price cap to P41 per kilo for regular-milled rice and P45 per for well-milled rice. “Ang target natin dito yung mga (rice) cartel. Sila talaga ang nagpapataas ng presyo ng bigas (Our target really here are the rice cartels. They are the ones causing the high cost of rice),’’ Abalos said. He added that the government will run after cartels that are manipulating the prices of prime commodities like rice. The DILG chief also appealed to rice retailers and dealers to adhere to the government’s rice price ceiling to ease the financial burden of the public. Rice stall owners on the other hand complained that they will surely have financial losses if they follow the rice price cap imposed by the government. “Nabili namin ito (rice) sa mataas na presyo, pag kinuwenta namin base sa presyong gusto ng pamahalaan siguradong lugi kami (We bought rice at high costs, if we make the computation based on the government’s price cap, we will surely incur heavy losses),’’ one of the rice stall owners said. Others said they are contemplating on closing their stalls until the price of regular and well-milled rice stabilizes. “Inutang namin puhunan na may interest at hindi kami tutubo kung bebental namin ito ng P41 to P45 kada kilo (We loaned our capital with interest and it is not economically feasible if we sell them (rice) at P41 to P45 per kilo),’’ one of them said. When relayed these to Abalos, the DILG chief told the retailers that the government would provide compensation to help them reduce the prices of their rice. Abalos told rice retailers to bear with the inconvenience, stating that the rice price cap is only ‘temporary’ and not permanent. With the rice price cap in effect, Abalos noted that the government is in the midst of making the necessary computation on how much aid should be provided to the rice dealers and retailers, adding that there is no timetable yet on how long the lower cost of rice will last. In the meantime, Abalos noted that the DILG will continue to conduct a massive information drive to make the rice dealers and retailers aware of the rice price cap that they should follow starting 5 Sept. However, Abalos warned that the government will have no choice but to impose penalties and fines should rogue traders remain stubborn and fail to follow the rice price ceiling stated in EO 39. Earlier, the DILG warned that violators of the rice price ceiling stand to face one-year imprisonment and not more than 10 years jail term and pay penalties ranging from P5,000 to as much as P1 million upon the court’s discretion. Individuals or groups involved in the illegal price manipulation of prime commodities face jail terms not lower than five years and not more than 15 years and pay penalties of at least P5,000 up to P2 million. The post Inspections conducted at QC market rice stalls for ceiling compliance appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Trump arrested in Georgia racketeering case
Former US president Donald Trump was arrested at a Georgia jail on Thursday on racketeering and conspiracy charges for trying to overturn the 2020 election results in the southern state. During a brief session lasting less than 30 minutes, the 77-year-old Trump was booked on 13 charges at Atlanta's Fulton County Jail, according to records published by the sheriff's office. Trump's height was listed by the jail as six foot three inches (1.9 meters), his weight as 215 pounds (97 kilograms) and his hair color as "Blond or Strawberry." Other defendants in the racketeering case who have surrendered to the Georgia authorities in recent days have had a mugshot taken. The billionaire has been criminally indicted four times since April, setting the stage for a year of unprecedented drama as he tries to juggle multiple court appearances and another White House campaign. In posts on his Truth Social platform shortly before leaving his New Jersey golf club for the flight to Atlanta, Trump said he was being arrested for "having the audacity to challenge a RIGGED & STOLLEN (sic) ELECTION." "This is yet another SAD DAY IN AMERICA!" he added. Trump was able to dodge having a mugshot taken during his previous arrests this year: in New York on charges of paying hush money to a porn star, in Florida for mishandling top secret government documents, and in Washington on charges of conspiring to upend his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. But Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat said standard procedure in Georgia is to take a defendant's photograph before they are released on bond -- set at $200,000 in Trump's case. The arrest comes one day after Trump spurned a televised debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, featuring eight of his rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination -- all of whom lag well behind him in the polls. He still stole the spotlight, though, with all but two of the candidates saying they would support him as the party's nominee even if he were a convicted felon. During a pre-recorded interview with former Fox News talk show host Tucker Carlson -- which aired on social media at the same time as the debate -- Trump dismissed the criminal cases filed against him as "nonsense." Trump said the Justice Department had been "weaponized" under Biden to hamstring his White House bid. Court dates in election race A tight security perimeter was set up for Trump's booking at the Fulton County Jail, which is under investigation for a slew of inmate deaths and deplorable conditions. Fani Willis, the Fulton County district attorney who filed the sweeping racketeering case, had set a deadline of noon (1600 GMT) on Friday for Trump and the other 18 defendants to surrender. Trump and 11 others have turned themselves in so far. Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows surrendered on Thursday and was released on $100,000 bond. Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, who served as Trump's personal lawyer when he was in the White House and vigorously pushed the false claims that Trump had won the 2020 election, was booked and released on Wednesday. John Eastman, a conservative lawyer who is accused of drawing up a scheme to submit a false slate of Trump electors to Congress from Georgia instead of the legitimate Biden ones, has also been booked and released. A few dozen supporters of the former Republican president gathered outside the jail, including Sharon Anderson who spent the night in her car. "I think this is a political persecution and now that's turned into a political prosecution," Anderson told AFP. Trump is the first US president in history to face criminal charges. His various trials, if they take place next year, may coincide with the Republican presidential primary season, which begins in January, and the campaign for the November 2024 White House election. Special counsel Jack Smith has proposed a January 2024 start date for Trump's trial on charges of conspiring to overturn the last election with a lie-fueled campaign that culminated in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol by his supporters. Trump's attorneys have countered with a suggested start date well after the election -- April 2026. Willis, the Georgia district attorney, initially proposed that the racketeering case begin in March next year, the same month Trump is scheduled to go on trial in New York on charges of paying hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels. On Thursday, after one of the defendants asked for a speedy trial, she proposed that it begin for all 19 in October of this year, a move met with an immediate objection from Trump's lawyers. The Florida case, in which Trump is accused of taking secret government documents as he left the White House and refusing to return them, is scheduled to begin in May. The post Trump arrested in Georgia racketeering case appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘E-sabong’ operators, players arrested
Philippine National Police chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. recently commended the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas as it intensified operations against online cockfighting or e-sabong which saw the arrest of 348 operators and players. Data from the PNP’s crime incident reporting and analysis system showed that the arrests were made from 1 July to 15 August. Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare told DAILY TRIBUNE that their intelligence operation is continually being done in Central Visayas and that the PRO-7 has the highest number of arrest with regard to illegal e-sabong operations. He added that most of those arrested were from Negros Oriental then also in Cebu Province, Cebu City and Bohol. Aside from the arrested 348 suspects in Central Visayas, Acorda disclosed that 328 were arrested in Central Luzon. The post ‘E-sabong’ operators, players arrested appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Police hauls 1,245 e-sabong suspects
The Philippine National Police on Tuesday announced that 1,245 suspects have been apprehended in a comprehensive anti-illegal gambling operation focused on the rampant issue of e-sabong. The operation, which spanned from 1 July 2022, to 15 August 2023, saw the collaborative efforts of various police regional offices and national support units across the country, PNP public affairs office chief Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said in a statement. Data from the PNP Crime Incident Reporting and Analysis System as of 17 August 2023, reveals a significant stride in the campaign against e-sabong activities. Among the apprehended suspects, 437 cases have been referred to prosecutors, while 808 cases have been directed to courts for further legal action. The same case records culled through CIRAS revealed 322 cases resulting in the conviction of the accused. Based on the report submitted by Police Regional Office 7, 348 suspects had already been taken into custody. Among these cases, 123 have been referred to prosecutors, and 225 cases have been forwarded to the courts for prosecution. Following closely behind, Police Regional Office 3 recorded 328 arrests. Of these cases, 170 were referred to prosecutors, and 158 are undergoing trial before the Courts. The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group played an instrumental role in this operation, apprehending 200 suspects. Out of these cases, 27 have been referred to prosecutors for further legal proceedings, while 187 cases are poised for court action. PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. commended the dedication of the police operatives and the profound impact of their actions. The post Police hauls 1,245 e-sabong suspects appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Airport authority arrests suspect in NAIA bomb threat
After being identified as the person who allegedly sent a bomb threat through text message to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport hotline, the Philippines National Police - Aviation Security Group, together with the Airport Police Department, arrested the female passenger as the suspect in the recent bomb threat at the NAIA. According to the airport authority, operatives from the PNP-AVSEGROUP and the APD successfully apprehended a passenger for her alleged involvement in the threat at NAIA Terminal 3. Based on the report, a text message was received by the NAIA hotline through SMS on Wednesday, 16 August 2023. PNP-AVSEU NCR Chief Police Col. Arnel J. Apud identified the suspect as a 21-year-old female presently residing at #036 Jasmine St., Saint 2, Christopher Subdivision, Brgy. Mayapa, Calamba, Laguna, and an outbound passenger of Cebu Pacific flight 5J803 bound for Singapore, with an estimated time of departure of 8:15 p.m. on 16 August. Apud said the reports revealed that after receiving an alleged bomb threat sent via SMS to the NAIA hotline, the operatives from AVSEGROUP, in coordination with the APD, immediately initiated operational research to identify and locate the suspect responsible for the threat. After a thorough investigation and gathering of evidence, later that day, personnel of AVSEGROUP were able to locate the suspect and arrest her for violation of Presidential Decree No. 1727, otherwise known as "the malicious dissemination of false information or the willful making of any threat concerning bombs, explosives, or any similar device." She was promptly informed of the nature of her arrest and was apprised of her rights under the law. The suspect was immediately brought to NAIA Police Station 3 for documentation and proper disposition. P/BGen. Jack L. Wanky, director of the Premier Police Force in all airports nationwide, urged the public to refrain from spreading false information regarding security threats. "Such behaviors not only put the safety of all individuals at risk but also disrupt normal operations and induce unwarranted panic to the air-riding public." The AVSEGROUP along with airport authorities will not tolerate such reckless behavior. The consequences of making false claims, especially in relation to threats as serious as bombs, will be meted out to the full extent of the law. We are fully committed to identifying and apprehending individuals who engage in such unlawful activities. The post Airport authority arrests suspect in NAIA bomb threat appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EU slams arrests of Niger ministers by putschists
The European Union on Monday condemned the arrest by Niger's new junta of ministers from the ousted government and demanded they be freed immediately. The party of deposed President Mohamed Bazoum warned that the West African country risked becoming a "dictatorial and totalitarian regime" after a series of arrests. The PNDS party said the ministers for oil and mining were detained, along with the head of its national executive committee. "The EU denounces the continuing arrests of Ministers and senior officials of President Mohamed Bazoum's government by the putschists in Niger," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell posted on social media. "We call for their immediate release." The EU has condemned the armed takeover in Niger, a country it had seen as a key bulwark of stability in the volatile Sahel region. The 27-nation bloc has suspended budgetary support to Niamey and warned it could impose further sanctions over the coup. Bazoum, a Western ally whose election just over two years ago marked Niger's first peaceful transition of power since independence, was toppled on July 26 by the elite Presidential Guard. The post EU slams arrests of Niger ministers by putschists appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PNP informants receive over P11M
The Philippine National Police on Wednesday revealed that it has already provided at least P11.7 million worth of cash rewards to confidential informants who provided key information that led to the arrest of 13 most wanted persons in the country. The awarding took place at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Wednesday, with the incentive being handed to the informants by PNP chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. “For today’s activity, we have P11,710,000. This is a call, this is a challenge from the President to perform our job and be more intensified in making sure that all our ranks is cleansed by doing their job as CI officers,” Acorda said. He also encouraged the public to continue supporting and helping the PNP by providing necessary information on criminals and wanted persons for their immediate arrests. The PNP Reward Program grants monetary rewards to individuals who were instrumental in the successful capture, surrender, or death of most wanted persons. Meanwhile, the PNP has procured more guns, vehicles and other equipment worth over P571 million as part of the efforts to boost the operational capabilities of the police force. The post PNP informants receive over P11M appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Acorda: BBM’s second SoNA ‘peaceful’
About 5,000 protesters were allowed by the police to express their grievances along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City Monday as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his second State of the Nation Address at the Batasang Pambansa before a joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Philippine National Police chief Benjamin Acorda Jr. said he had ordered maximum tolerance to be employed by the cops in dealing with the protesters, who also held activities near Mendiola Bridge in Manila, within sight of Malacañang Palace, the seat of government power. Acorda said as he inspected police lines near the SoNA venue that, “we are professionals and we exercise [restraint] in all our dealings [with the people] while providing the proper security for the President.” “We talked with our personnel and we emphasized the observance of human rights and maximum tolerance,” he added, explaining that the police made sure that pro-administration and anti-Marcos groups did not get close to one another. He said they were allowed to hold their respective programs far from each other so as to prevent untowards incidents arising from misunderstanding and the taunting that attended encounters of rival groups in the past. The Quezon City government designated places where the groups could hold their respective programs. “Regardless of affiliation, whether pro or anti and whatever, our guidelines included maximum tolerance, and we appealed to them to stay in their designated areas,” the PNP chief said. The PNP deployed more than 20,000 policemen, who were augmented by personnel from various government agencies that included the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the military, the Bureau of Fire Protection and local government units. The anti-SoNA rally was staged along Commonwealth Avenue while pro-Marcos supporters held their own program near the Commission on Audit compound. Acorda said the SoNA was delivered by the President in relative peace, with no untoward incident reported. Earlier, Metro Manila chief P/Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. warned protesters that as much as the police do not want to use unnecessary force, they would arrest anyone who would cause trouble. “When you are struck, you’ll be in pain so don’t strike anyone. The police are ready and we have the necessary protective gear. Our cops know what to do and they will affect arrests as needed,” Nartatez said. He had vowed to enforce the Clean Air Act should protesters burn effigies. No arrests were reported, however, when a “two-faced” effigy of the President was burned. Still, Nartatez said they were documenting everything and violators “will face penalties.” Progressive groups started their protest march near the Philippine Coconut Authority and ended it along Tandang Sora near the Commission on Human Rights, where they held a program. The NCRPO earlier deployed two Skydio drones, along with a mobile command center bus, for a wide aerial view coverage. These drones, the NCRPO said, were used to effectively monitor the movement of people and vehicles and prevent untoward incidents. A gun ban was also imposed over Metro Manila, Calabarzon and Central Luzon, starting 12:01 a.m. on 24 July until midnight the next day. Small groups of militants staged their rally at Claro. M. Recto Avenue in Manila. The post Acorda: BBM’s second SoNA ‘peaceful’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Japanese fugitive nabbed by BI
The Bureau of Immigration reported the arrest of a Japanese fugitive wanted for robbery in Japan. According to the BI Fugitive Search Unit, a 54-year-old Takeuchi Kazuo was apprehended last Thursday morning in Manila along Roxas Boulevard as a result of a mission order issued by BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco. The Sage Summary Court of Japan has issued an arrest order for Takeuchi for robbery causing bodily injury and theft. He was also tagged as a fugitive from justice by the Japanese government. After learning that Takeuchi had eluded capture by fleeing to the Philippines, the Japanese government notified the BI of his case in April 2023. Following the information’s reception, the BI-FSU conducted an immediate manhunt to find and arrest the said fugitive. Tansingco said that they work in close coordination with foreign governments, who provide them with information about fugitives that might be attempting to hide in the country. The BI chief added that these have resulted in numerous arrests and interceptions through the cooperation of their counterparts. Takeuchi will face a summary deportation order and be temporarily detained in the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, pending his deportation proceedings. The post Japanese fugitive nabbed by BI appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Unveiling the shabu bust scandal
On 13 June, Secretary Benhur Abalos of the Department of the Interior and Local Government announced that criminal charges have been filed against 50 police officers, including Gen. Benjamin Santos, former PNP-Drug Enforcement Group chief, and Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo. The investigation leading to the charges was conducted jointly by the National Police Commission and the Philippine National Police’s Special Investigation Task Group which uncovered the officers’ alleged involvement in a coverup in the seizure of 990 kilograms of shabu worth around P6.7 billion in October 2022. They were charged with violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Dangerous Drugs Act, the Revised Penal Code (specifically, falsification, perjury, false testimony, and malversation of public property), and Presidential Decree 1829, which deals with obstruction of justice. Much of the evidence was obtained from closed-circuit television camera footage which captured the alleged involvement of police officers in the attempt to pilfer 42 kilograms from the total 990 kilograms of shabu seized at WPD Lending, a finance company owned by Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo. The CCTV footage taken on 8 October 2022 corresponded to the day Mayo was apprehended during a drug operation at WPD Lending which resulted in the seizure of the 990 kilograms of shabu. What appeared to be a momentous victory for the PNP, however, quickly turned into a massive scandal seemingly straight out of the big screen. On 10 April, Secretary Abalos stepped forward to unveil a complex syndicated coverup surrounding the shabu bust. For the first time in public, he presented the CCTV footage that revealed a stark disparity between the reports filed by the PNP regarding the arrest of Mayo. This revelation, coupled with multiple reports, prompted Abalos to issue a statement exposing the “massive attempt to cover up” Mayo’s arrest and implicating certain PNP officials in the process. Subsequently, the House of Representatives Committee on Dangerous Drugs and the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs initiated separate inquiries into the anomalies surrounding the drug bust. Mayo and several PNP officials were summoned to shed light on the matter during these investigations. During the congressional hearings, Congressmen Barbers and Acop were able to spot several conflicting details from the PNP officials ranging from the date, time, and place of the arrests of Mayo and his alleged accomplice, Ney Atadero. Among those questioned about the conflicting details were Brig. Gen. Narcisco Domingo Jr., Lt. Col. Julius Olonan, and Capt. Jonathan Sosongco. The three officers were among the 10 ranking officers who were placed on leave after an alleged attempt to cover up Mayo’s arrest was uncovered by the National Police Commission’s fact-finding board. Olonan claimed that only Atadero was arrested at 1 p.m. at WPD Lending in Tondo, while Mayo was arrested in Bambang. Sosongco said both Mayo and Atadero were captured at around 4 p.m. at the Western Police District. The CCTV footage, however, showed that on or about 1:40 p.m. at WPD Lending, Mayo appeared in handcuffs as he alighted from a grey SUV while being escorted by the team of Sosongco who were followed by a black sedan from which Sosongco alighted. This was in stark contrast to what was reported by the PNP that Mayo was arrested by a Captain Piñon. The CCTV footage further showed several PNP officers entering and exiting WPD Lending, carrying suitcases that were loaded into vehicles and on a motorcycle. These vehicles and the motorcycle were then driven to a nearby establishment suspected to belong to another PNP official named Jimenez, where the suitcases were believed unloaded. This Jimenez was a subordinate of Colonel Ibañez of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group Special Operations Unit 4A, who was also listed in the Drug Watch list along with Mayo and Jimenez, whom Ibañez specifically asked to be part of his team. Domingo denied a coverup and said that the senior officers seen in the CCTV footage were discussing their next moves. He said efforts were being made to identify other cohorts of Mayo, recover the pilfered drugs, and cooperate with the Department of Justice in building a case against the suspects. The ramifications of these revelations led former president Rodrigo Duterte to accuse the PNP of being the “gatekeeper” of the illegal drug trade and challenged its personnel to resign. He expressed concern about the significant volume of drugs allegedly passing through the hands of the police, even reaching the level of the generals. Secretary Abalos assured Duterte and the public that they were taking action on the issue of alleged drug ties among police officers and that they were actively carrying out their responsibilities and conducting investigations into the matter. As we delve further into the shabu bust scandal, it is crucial that we remain focused on our ultimate objectives: purging the PNP of corruption, rebuilding public trust, and upholding the rule of law. He should be applauded for his courage in exposing the complicity of senior PNP officials, despite the potential risk to his personal safety from both internal and external syndicates. His unwavering resolve to root out drug connections in the PNP and restore its damaged reputation is truly commendable and deserving of our admiration. The post Unveiling the shabu bust scandal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Teves mocks DoJ over ‘bribing’ allegations
Embattled Negros Oriental Third District Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. mocked Justice Secretary Boying Remulla’s claim that the suspects were bribed with P8 million each to recant their statements against him. In a Facebook video uploaded on Saturday, Teves labeled the alleged P8-million bribe as a figment of the Department of Justice’s imagination, stressed that he had no idea where Remulla obtained the figure. The accused lawmaker’s remark came a day after Remulla’s claim that the offer to the suspects began when his alleged co-mastermind Marvin Miranda was allowed to speak with a lawyer he earlier refuted knowing. “When Marvin Miranda was caught on 31 March, about six days after that, the rustling started. When he finally spoke to the lawyer he didn’t want to let in at first, the money offer to the other accused began,” said the Justice chief. To recall, five more suspects in the sensational 4 March killing of Degamo and nine others recanted their confessions before the Manila Regional Trial Court on 31 May, bringing the total number of suspects who initially cooperated with authorities but have now recanted their statements to 10. All 11 accused, including Miranda, filed a move to quash as they alleged that their arrests were unlawful. The most recent suspects to recant are Winrich Esturis, Eugelio Gonyon Jr., John Louie Gonyon, Joric Labrador and Benjie Rodriguez. They were represented by lawyer Jord Valenton, who said his clients were subjected to torture to confess to taking part in the assassination. Remulla over the weekend named former Justice Undersecretary Reynante Orceo as the person who allegedly spoke with Miranda and other suspects. Teves contended, though, that the Justice chief was only fabricating it against him. Previously, Teves was given another 60-day suspension and forfeited his committee memberships by the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges on Wednesday as a punishment for his continued defiance of Speaker Martin Romualdez’s call to return home and face the allegations against him in the Degamo murder case and report to work. His first suspension lapsed on 22 May. Teves left for the US since February this year. His stay outside the country despite his expired travel clearance is one of the reasons the House is running after him. The post Teves mocks DoJ over ‘bribing’ allegations appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Anti-monarchists among UK protesters arrested before king’s coronation
UK police on Saturday arrested leading members of the anti-monarchy group Republic as they prepared to protest along the route of a procession for the coronation of King Charles III, the organization said. "They've arrested six of our organizers and seized hundreds of placards, they won't tell us why they've arrested them or where they're being held," a Republic activist told AFP in London's Trafalgar Square. Republic chief executive Graham Smith was one of those arrested before the group had a chance to wave placards declaring: "Not My King." Some onlookers nearby shouted "free Graham Smith" but others shouted "God save the king" and waved UK flags. A camera crew from the group Alliance of European Republican Movements was at the scene and asked a senior police officer why the group had been detained. "They're under arrest. End of," the officer told them, walking off, according to footage posted by the group on Twitter. UK police forces were controversially granted new anti-protest powers by the government under a new law rushed through this week. On its Twitter feed, Republic confirmed the arrests and seizure of placards. "Is this democracy?" it demanded. Smith told reporters last week: "We certainly have no plans to disrupt the actual procession." Waving placards and shouting would show "in front of the world's press that we are not a country of loyalists, that there is a growing opposition", the Republic founder said. The new law was enacted after months of disruptive tactics around Britain by groups opposed to fossil fuels. It entails stiffer jail terms against activists gluing and padlocking themselves to immovable objects. Separately Saturday, 13 members of the group Just Stop Oil were arrested and handcuffed by police on The Mall between Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace, an AFP reporter saw. In a statement, the Metropolitan police confirmed only seven arrests early Saturday "on suspicion of offenses including breaching the peace and conspiracy to cause public nuisance close to the coronation". Officers seized "lock-on devices" from one group next to Trafalgar Square, it said. The post Anti-monarchists among UK protesters arrested before king’s coronation appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»