Man nabbed for urinating in public yields grenade, becomes first gun ban violator

Fifteen minutes into the election gun ban period, a man apprehended for urinating in public in Pasay City became the ban’s first arrested violator after police found an MK2 fragmentation grenade inside his pants.

Bernato Daria alias Tangoy, a member of the “BCJ” gang, was apprehended around 12:15 a.m. at the corner of EDSA and M. Dela Cruz st., National Capital Region Police Office chief Dir. Leonardo Espina said.

Roving members of the Pasay City Police Community Precinct 7 arrested Daria after he was seen urinating in full view of the public, a violation of City Ordinance No. 1572, Espina said.

When frisked by policemen, a live MK2 fragmentation grenade was found inside Daria’s pants, prompting the lawmen to also arrest the latter for violating the Omnibus Election Code, the NCRPO chief said.

The police and military, under the supervision of the Commission on Elections, started implementing the gun ban 12 a.m. Sunday. (John Roson)

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Navy man, lover nabbed for maintaining drug den

Authorities arrested a Navy personnel, his common-law wife, and three others for allegedly maintaining a “drug den” near the military headquarters in Taguig City.

Romyr de Torres, an enlisted serviceman at the Navy, and his live-in partner Evelyn Labjata, were arrested at their home in Block 6, Zone 3, Brgy. Fort Bonifacio, on Monday, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Arturo Cacdac said.

Benjie Alit, 43; Eduardo Labjata, 46; and Randy Rili, 26, were also arrested for allegedly serving as “employees” of the drug den, Cacdac said in a statement.

Operatives of the PDEA Special Enforcement Service and Naval Intelligence and Security Force raided De Torres’ home with a search warrant, Cacdac said.

Seized from the house were 25 sachets of methampetamine hydrochloride or shabu, 35 aluminum foil strips with shabu residue, and various drug paraphernalia, according to Cacdac.

De Torres and the others have been charged of violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, at the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office. (John Roson)

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Quake shakes Manila, no damage – OCD

A 3.8-magnitude earthquake shook Metro Manila and nearby provinces Wednesday morning but no damages or casualties were reported, authorities said.

The quake struck around 10:07 a.m. and its epicenter was traced 31 kilometers under Dona Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan, Office of Civil Defense Benito Ramos said.

“Malalim siya kaya hindi masyadong malakas, there is no damage,” Ramos said in a phone interview. (John Roson)

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2 killed, 8 missing due to storm ‘Ofel’ (Son-Tinh)

Two persons were reported killed while eight others remain missing as tropical storm “Ofel” (international name: Son-Tinh) slammed into several provinces in central Philippines and Metro Manila on Thursday, authorities said.

Ruben Tabura, 66, died after being buried in a landslide while fetching water from a river in Brgy. Jaclupan, Talisay City, around 3:30 p.m., Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, Cebu Provincial Police director, said in a text message.

A certain Sophia Recto reportedly died of hypothermia in Marinduque, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Among the missing are fisherman Jonrey Acaso, 28, who set to sea from Pintuyan, Southern Leyte, on Monday and Jonny Ocson, 8, who went swimming at a beach in Odiongan, Romblon, on Wednesday.

Also missing are Muhammad Kanape Guiamad, 11, who went swimming at the Tamontaka River in Cotabato City, and Rigel Saycon, 18, of Dumanjug, Cebu, and two other persons in General Santos City, the NDRRMC said.

Still not included in the NDRRMC’s list are fishermen Christopher Maranan, 24, and Eric Presto, 15, both residents of Brgy. Cuta, Batangas City. The two were last seen 3 a.m. Thursday, according to the Batangas Provincial Police.

In its 5 p.m. report, the disaster agency said nine people, including three whose boat capsized near Tacloban City, Leyte, were still missing.

But Senior Supt. Romulo Cleve Taboso, Tacloban City police director, said the three, identified as Clemente Umban Sr., 50; Ariel Posto, 23; and Olavit Posto, 12, have been able to return home.

The three took shelter on Dio Island and were confirmed to be back at their homes in Sitio Costa Brava, Brgy. San Jose, Thursday morning, Taboso said in a text message.

Southern Luzon, Visayas bear brunt

On Thursday, strong winds and rains brought by “Ofel” hit Quezon, Batangas, Masbate, Romblon, Marindue, Mindoro Island, Pnay Island, and Cebu, after the storm passed through Mindanao and Eastern Visayas.

The town of Bantayan experienced big waves while Tudela reported a power outage and Talisay City, the landslide, Comendador said.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama ordered the suspension of classes at all levels in the city, according to the NDRRMC.

In Masbate, strong winds and waves destroyed three houses in Dimasalang and six fishing boats in Placer, Supt. Jeffrey Fernandez, deputy provincial police director, said.

Quezon experienced “continuous” rain but no storm-related incidents have been reported as of Thursday afternoon, provincial police director Senior Supt. Valeriano de Leon said.

Earlier, the NDRRMC reported that 296 families or 957 people in Maasin City and St. Bernard of Southern Leyte, as well as Palo, Burauen, and La Paz of Leyte fled their homes due to floods.

Landslides occurred in Bontoc, Southern Leyte, affecting roads and bridges, according to local police.

Floods occurred in Brgys. Lagao and Baluan of General Santos City, prompting at least seven families to evacuate, the NDRRMC said.

Metro Manila hit too

Rains also hit Metro Manila from early morning Thursday up to the evening, causing floods in several roads, according to police.

Gutter-deep floods occurred along Sipac st., Almacen, and M. Naval in Navotas City; Nascano st. of Brgy. Tugatog, Malabon City; Pasong Tamo and Pasong Tirad sts. of Makati City, but all remain passable to vehicles, the National Capital Region Police Office reported.

No other storm-related incident has been reported so far in the metropolis.

16,000 stranded in ports, 20 flights cancelled

Some 16,473 people remain stranded Thursday in ports in Cebu City, Tagbilaran City, Dumaguete City, Matnog and Pilar of Sorsogon, Cagayan de Oro City, Surigao City, Iloilo City, Bacolod City, Caticlan of Aklan, Roxas City of Capiz, Batangas, and Mannila, according to the Coast Guard.

Sea travel is still suspended to prevent maritime disasters, according to the agency.

Thousands of airline passengers are also stranded as more than 20 flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have been cancelled. (John Roson)

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Ex-general’s son escapes from drug rehab, kills guard

The son of a former military general shot dead a security guard and injured another in a posh village in Quezon City Saturday night, a day after escaping from a drug rehabilitation facility, police said.

Jose Abaya, 47, son of the late AFP general Antonio Abaya, shot Roger Dikit and Alex Cabalde, both guards at the Silver Cross Drug Foundation Rehab Center, National Capital Region Police director Chief Supt. Leonardo Espina said.

Dikit died on the spot while Cabalde was injured, Espina said.

The incident occurred around 6 p.m. at the Abayas’ home, No. 3 Kingfisher st., Green Meadows Subdivision.

Abaya, reportedly a drug dependent, escaped from the rehabilitation center on Friday, Espina said.

Dikit and Cabalde were tasked to bring Abaya back to the rehab center but he met them with gunfire, Espina said, citing reports from the Quezon City Police.

The guards had asked permission from Abaya’s mother to enter their home, but failed to coordinate with the Quezon City Police Station 12 which has jurisdiction over the area, Espina said. (John Roson)

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Evacuation ongoing in Quezon City as La Mesa reservoir nears spill level

(Updated 12:30 a.m.) Evacuation is ongoing in at least one barangay in Quezon City as the La Mesa water reservoir neared its spilling level amid continuous rains Sunday night, Office of Civil Defense-Metro Manila director Susana Cruz said.

The water level reached 80.13 meters around 12 a.m. Monday so nearby areas were placed under red alert, Cruz said in a text message. The reservoir spills at 80.16 meters.

The Quezon City government is presently facilitating the evacuation in Brgy. North Fairview as responders from the OCD-NCR are presently stuck in a traffic jam caused by a swollen creek in Brgy. Fairview, Cruz said when contacted by phone.

It was not immediately known how many were evacuated.

Meanwhile, Cruz said some 513 families are affected by floods in Brgys. Sta. Lucia, Bagong Silangan, Fairview, Payatas, Gulod, and Nagkaisang Nayon.

Areas in the city’s west river side, including Valencia cor. Canseco sts.; Manga st. in Brgy. Katipunan; Gen. Lim and Col. Moran sts. in Brgy. Sta. Cruz; Brgy. Del Monte along the west river side; Capoas cor. Toctocan sts. in Brgy. Masambong; and Sapamanai Village in Brgy. Fairview are experiencing floods as high as 3 feet, she said.

There is no storm affecting the country but several areas in western Luzon, including Metro Manila, have been experiencing 1- to 5-millimeter-per-hour rains brought by the southwest monsoon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. (John Roson)

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2 PNP generals probed for ‘jueteng’ link

The National Police is investigating National Capital Region Police chief Dir. Alan Purisima and Calabarzon regional police director Chief Supt. James Melad after they were accused of having links with “jueteng” syndicates.

National Police chief Dir. Gen. Nicanor Bartolome said the PNP Internal Affairs Service’s probe is ongoing even though Purisima and Melad have already denied the accusations.

“Ang DILG at Napolcom ay gumagawa rin po ng kanilang sariling imbestigasyon dito… lalo pa at matataas na opisyal nga itong sinasabi doon sa report,” Bartolome said in a radio interview.

Earlier, a certain “Molly Acuna” sent reporters a statement accusing Purisima and Melad of receiving money from jueteng syndicates.

Molly Acuna claimed to be a civilian asset of the PNP Intelligence Group but the head of that unit, Chief Supt. Charles Calima, denied having such an employee, Bartolome said. (John Roson)

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Shipping exec kidnapped

Armed men abducted a shipping company manager while he was biking in Las Pinas City early Saturday, police said.

Superintendent Jenny Tecson, spokeswoman of the Southern Police District, identified the victim as Vicente Cordero III, 27, a manager of Shogun Ships Co. Inc. and resident of the plush South Joya Tower in Rockwell, Makati City.

The abduction occurred around 7:30 a.m., while Cordero was riding his bicycle along the Daang Hari Road, in front of Versailes Subd., Brgy. Almanza Dos.

More or less six men carrying M16 rifles and caliber-.45 pistols allegedly forced Cordero into a white Mitsubishi Adventure (WBF-237) then sped away, Tecson said in a text message.

Local authorities are conducting follow-up operations and notified nearby police units of the incident, she said.

Cordero, according to some articles published in the Internet, is the son of Vicente Cordero Jr., Shogun Ships Co. Inc.’s chief executive officer. Both are said to be bike enthusiasts and participated in some cycling events with officials of other companies. (John Roson)

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16 cops face probe, disarmed for bloody clash with Paranaque demolition protesters

Sixteen policemen have been disarmed and restricted to their quarters so they can be investigated over the deadly clash with residents who opposed a demolition of houses and establishments in Paranaque City Monday morning, a police spokeswoman said.

The 16, all members of the Paranaque City Police’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, are being probed by the Metro Manila Southern Police District’s (SPD) investigation and detection management division, SPD spokeswoman Supt. Jenny Tecson said.

“The investigators will try to determine what really transpired and what prompted or provoked the SWAT team to open fire,” Tecson said in a text message Monday night.

“Should these personnel be found negligent later on, appropriate charges will be filed against them, administratively and criminally,” she said.

One of the residents who opposed the demolition, identified as Arnel Leonor, 20, succumbed to a head injury in the middle of the clash while 10 policemen and five residents were injured, Tecson said.

Thirty-three people, comprised of 23 men, two men, and eight minors, were arrested for allegedly participating in the clash along Sucat Road.

The fighting started around 10 a.m. while Sheriff Alejandro Abrematea, of the Paranaque City Regional Trial Court Branch 195, was discussing with residents how the demolition will be implemented at Silverio Compound.

About 1,500 “militants” assaulted the ranks of policemen located 300 meters away, throwing stones, molotov bombs, pillboxes, and bottles. Some even tried to burn police cars and firetrucks, Tecson said in an earlier message.

Several minutes into the attack, the policemen released tear gas and charged back, until they recovered the protester-occupied section of Sucat Road around 11:30 a.m.

“Our CDM (civil disturbance management) personnel were all unarmed and were reminded to strictly adhere to the policy of maximum tolerance and respect the rights of all quarters,” Tecson said.

“Lives and properties of not only policemen, but also civilians including commuters, were put at risk and the CDM needed to restore order immediately especially after molotovs starting landing and exploding near a gasoline station,” she added. (John Roson)

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4 killed in Taguig bomb blast

Two policemen and two civilians got killed while at least eight other people were injured when a “vintage bomb” exploded at a junkshop in Taguig City Wednesday afternoon, police said.

Killed on the spot were PO3 Elizalde Bisaya and junkshop employee Crisanto Daguio while PO2 Jose Toralba and Riza Romualdo, who owns a nearby bakery, died while being taken to the hospital, National Capital Region Police chief Dir. Alan Purisima said.

Eight other people, including PO2 Arnold Mayo who is in serious condition, are presently being treated at the hospital.

All the policemen are members of the elite PNP Special Action Force’s Explosives and Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team, Purisima said.

The explosion occurred around 3 p.m. near the corner of Daisy and Sto Niño sts., Purok 1, Brgy. Lower Bicutan.

“Allegedly ay nakita nila (policemen) ‘yung bomba somewhere then dinala sa talyer para i-defuse, parang binubuksan,” Purisima said in a phone interview.

Initial investigation indicated that Daguio tried to defuse the bomb using a wrench but failed, so he used a welding machine, causing the explosion.

The scene is just about 3 kilometers from the NCRPO’s Camp Bagong Diwa headquarters and field reports state that a “vintage bomb” went off, NCRPO spokesman Supt. Danilo Pecaño said.

“Inaalam pa natin ngayon kung saan nakuha ‘yung bomba, baka sa malapit lang, or kung may nag-surrender nito,” Purisima said. (John Roson)

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