Cebu local news (daily update)

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Cops accused of asking grease money face raps

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman for the Military led the indictment of three police officers assigned at the Talisay City Police Station who allegedly demanded money from the family of an arrested woman.

Graft investigator Avelino Macamus Jr. recommended the filing of a robbery case in court against PO2 Roy Sarsaba, PO3 Eric Enad and PO2 Martin Gorodin III a.k.a PO2 Francisco Keyserling Martin Gorosin III after filing probable cause.

Macamus recommended bail at P100,000 for each of the accused.

The complainants in the case are Elvincito Baguio and Analou Nacario of Upper Linao, Talisay City. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 assisted them in filing the complaint.

The complainants said it was at 2:30 pm on August 14, 2009 when elements of the Talisay City Police Station, including the respondents in the case, conducted a saturation drive against illegal drugs in Barangay Tanke, Talisay City.

Police said while passing First Street, Sitio Galaxy, Barangay Tanke, they saw a woman later identified as Maridel Obrero at a corner holding a small silver pack suspected to be shabu.

Obrero allegedly attempted to escape when she saw the cops, but she was cornered and arrested and brought to the Talisay City Police Station where she was charged for drug possession, a violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. The offense is non-bailable.

The complainants alleged that on that very same day, Sarsaba called them and asked for P100,000 in exchange for shelving the case against Obrero. However, because they could not raise the amount, the cop allegedly agreed to reduce the same to P50,000.

Complainants said they then sought help from the NBI and an entrapment operation led by agent Bernard dela Cruz was conducted. With the NBI agents shadowing him, Elvincito proceeded to the area in Talisay City where he was supposed to give P30,000 to Sarsaba.

Agents who were in the area reportedly saw the Talisay City Patrol Car stop in front of Elvincito and the latter was made to hop in. Elvincito said Sarsaba asked why he only brought P30,000 but still allegedly accepted the money. After, he was made to alight the vehicle and the patrol car sped away.

The agents tried to chase the patrol car but failed to catch up. They then decided to proceed to the Talisay City Police Station and asked the policemen there to produce the subjects of their entrapment operation. However, former Talisay Police Chief Supt. Henry Biñas told them he had ordered his men to report to the PNP Provincial Director for investigation.

In their counter-affidavit, the accused denied the accusations claiming it was “fabricated and distortion of the truth.” They claimed they arrested Obrero during a saturation drive over the possession of shabu.

They also denied they were in the area when an entrapment operation was conducted by the NBI.

But Macamus said the complainants’ statement were “more worthy of credence.”

“What makes the complaint credible and more reliable is the participation therein of the National Bureau of Investigation operatives who have attempted to entrap the respondents but appeared to have been cleverly avoided by the latter,” the resolution reads.

Macamus said “the claims of the accused that they were somewhere else at the time they were being entrapped and chased by the NBI, the same is less believable.” (FREEMAN)

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Witness says cops forced him to liein theft case

CEBU, Philippines - A businessman who earlier filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas against four police officers of the Alcoy Police Station submitted a supplemental affidavit of his vital witness.

Jose Earl Plando, engaged in buying and selling livestock, asked the Ombudsman to suspend PO1 Leon Gesim, PO2 Raniel Cartin, PO1 Gerlito Estremos and PO1 Abrraham Quijano immediately.

Plando filed a case against the four policemen for unlawful arrest and illegal detention. He alleged that he was arrested and detained without further investigation to prove that he helped steal the goats of his neighbor Luz Jackson.

In an affidavit, witness Edward Abanilla said the policemen allegedly forced him to pinpoint Plando and Amelito Estillore as the ones who stole the goats.

Abanilla said he had told the police that he had no knowledge about the identity of the suspects, but to his surprise, the policemen reportedly got angry and forced him to implicate Plando and Estillore.

“The two police investigators adviced and forced me to tell a lie in order to evade for possible prosecution. Due to threatening remarks by the policemen that bothered me, I was confused, that’s why I force to tell a lie during the interrogation,” Abanilla’s affidavit reads.

He said the policemen had promised to help him return home to Tanjay City, Negros Oriental if he cooperated.

In an interview, Cartin denied Abanilla’s allegations.

“Even if we separated Abanilla and Plando during the interrogation, Abanilla was not forced to pinpoint Plando as one of the suspect for robbery,” Cartin said.

He also said Plando’s arrest and detention were not illegal because a witnessed had pointed to him as one of those responsible for the crime.

Police Insp. Reyco Romagnera of the Alcoy Police Station said he was surprised to learn of the incident and called Plando’s family to file a formal complaint against the four policemen with his office so that a formal investigation can be opened. Jackson herself filed a complaint over the disappearance of her goats. Following the complaint, police officers then called the attention of Plando, Abanilla and Estillore for the interrogation. (FREEMAN)

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Inmate stabs self inside detention cell

CEBU, Philippines - An inmate of Consolacion Police Station tried to commit suicide yesterday morning because he was hurt that his own family had him jailed.

Nicodemus Suarez, 46, a construction worker of Cabangahan, Consolacion town stabbed himself with an 8-inch knife in front of his 19-year-old son who was visiting him.

Suarez reportedly stabbed himself on the upper right side of his chest at 11:12 a.m. inside the detention cell.

The police reportedly heard shouting from their detention cell and upon checking they saw Suarez slumped on the floor and bloodied, with the knife protruding from his upper chest.

Suarez reportedly removed the knife from his own chest while his son, who was in front of him shouted for help.

He was rushed to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center for medical attention.

In an interview over radio station dyRC, Insp. Wilbert Parilla said the victim was hurt that his own family wanted him jailed for threatening them on Wednesday.

Suarez was detained for threatening his family and violating Republic Act 9262 otherwise known as the Anti-violence against women and children law.

This, after Suarez threatened his wife and three of their children that they might share the same fate with the Ponce family in Talisay City where the father killed his wife, three children and their house helper on Sunday.

Parilla said the wife told them that Nicodemus even fired his gun and threatened them.

“Nakadungog mo atong gi-masaker sa Talisay? Basig kamoy ikaduha.” Nicodemus allegedly told his family.

The next day, Suarez reportedly told his family they will all die that day like the Talisay massacre.

This prompted his family to report the incident to the police who apprehended Nicodemus a few meters outside their residence. Parilla said they received reports that Nicodemus was “barkadista” and a drug user.

His wife was the one who led the police to Nicodemus’ secret stash of marijuana in a shed near their residence and told them that her husband uses illegal drugs.

Police are still investigating how the knife was sneaked into the detention cell because they made Suarez remove his things before locking him behind bars.

The police are now searching for the victim’s friend who visited him on Wednesday evening.

Authorities suspect that it was Suarez’ friend who brought the knife which Suarez used to stab himself.

“Posible kadto siya (Suarez friend) ang nagpalusot ato kagabii,” Parilla said.Parilla said Suarez may have tried to commit suicide so that his wife and children will not continue to press charges against him. He pointed out that Parilla being right-handed would have stabbed the left part of his chest.

“Makaduda sad kay kung gusto gyud to siya mamatay, sa left gyud unta to. Kiwaw man gud to nga pagkadunggab kay sa upper right side man nya pagbitad niya sa kutsilyo niingon pa “O, Diyos ko!,” Parilla said.

However, the suspect’s wife insists that they will continue their complaint against her husband because it was not the first time that he threatened their family. (FREEMAN)

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Man kills nephew in Toledo; 1 dead, 3 hurt in Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines - A garbage collector killed his own nephew in Toledo City, an unidentified man was shot dead in Cebu City while an elderly couple were hacked in separate incidents.

Personal grudges were believed to have prompted an uncle to kill his 29-year-old nephew using an improvised shotgun locally known as ‘pugakhang’ last Wednesday evening in Barangay Bagakay, Toledo City.

Relatives rushed Baltazar Villacencio to the Don Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center after he was shot in the stomach. He was still alive upon reaching the hospital but died a few minutes later.

The victim’s uncle, Crisanto Villacencio, 42, a casual employee of the city as a garbage collector, is now the subject of a manhunt operation.

Senior Police Officer 1 RoelCadique revealed that Crisanto had earlier filed a case for physical injuries against Baltazar at the Toledo City Prosecutor’s Office.

“Duna na man gu’y estorya nga sila kuno tibuok pamilya ang panimaslan tungod lang pud sa bangi sa pamilya,” he said.

In Cebu City, an unidentified man was found dead at around 7 p.m. on Wednesday night along Jakosalem Street, Barangay Sto Niño, Cebu City.

Residents in the area reportedly heard four gunshots seconds before the victim’s body was found bloodied on the pavement.

The victim, believed to be in his late 20s, sustained several gunshot wounds on different parts of his body which led to his immediate death.

The unidentified victim was medium-built, with brown complexion and was wearing a red shirt and black pair of pants.

Cebu City Police Office homicide investigator SPO1 Victor Ruel Ayuman told The FREEMAN they are still clueless as to the identity of the victim and the motive of the killing.

“Naglisod mi ani nga kaso kay wala gali mi ka-identify sa victim,” he said.

Meanwhile, Junnel Beleña, 23, of Middle Lower Hills, Barangay Apas, Cebu City is now in critical condition after he was shot with an improvised shotgun locally known as “Pugakhang” on Wednesday night at 10 p.m.

Relatives of the victim told The FREEMAN Junnel is set to undergo operation to remove around 20 pellets of the pugakhang from the victim’s right face.

Because of the extreme damage, the victim’s right eye is now completely blind.

The incident happened after Junnel, together with his cousins, Jaime, 26, and Christian, 20, had a brawl with the two suspects, Barry Ocoy and Winston Florida.

Florida was later apprehended while his companion evaded arrest.

Meanwhile, Amancio Cabajar, 64, a security guard of Grand Legacy Subdivision in Buena Hills, Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City, was hacked by his drunk neighbor, Randy Superales, 21, at 12:15 a.m. yesterday.

The victim cried out for help which was heard by his wife, Theresa, 65, who rushed to her husband but was instead attacked by the suspect and was wounded on the right side of her face.

The wounded couple was rushed to CCMC where they are currently recuperating while Superales was apprehended by the responding police. (FREEMAN)

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BFAR continues war vs. illegal fishers

CEBU, Philippines - As the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) celebrate the 48th Fisheries Conservation Week, they confiscated at least 18 boxes of fish believed to have been caught through illegal means.

BFAR-7 Assistant Regional Director Allan Poquita said that BFAR and the Bantay Dagat-Cebu City Commission’s seizure of the boxes of fish, sends a strong message that the government would continue to wage a sustained war against illegal fishing.

The 18 boxes of fish worth P50,000 were seized from the Pasil Market in Cebu City yesterday dawn.

The 48th Fisheries Conservation Week is celebrated from October 16 to 22 with the theme “Karagatan Pagyamanin, Isda Paramihin, Buong Mundo Pasiglahin.”

The annual weeklong observance is celebrated every third week of October by virtue of Proclamation No. 176 by former President Diosdado Macapagal on October 21, 1963.

Poquita said that their office has revitalized its program against illegal fishing and continue to provide training in law enforcement aside from conducting patrol operations especially in the northern part of Cebu where most illegal fishing activities occur.

BFAR-Regional Director Andres Bojos said the celebration of the Fisheries Conservation Week is part of their earnest campaign towards development, management, conservation and protection of our fisheries and aquatic resources to ensure their sustainability.

Bojos said the campaign will also strengthen the linkages and cooperation of all agencies and others stakeholders involved in the development of the fisheries sector.

He added that the annual celebration is significant as it places emphasis on the importance of fishery and aquatic products to the country’s economy and the wise management of coastal and marine environment to sustain biodiversity and improve quality of life for the local communities.

Earlier, the Cebu Provincial Anti-illegal Fishing Task Force confiscated 14 boxes that contained blasted fish worth P28, 000 aboard a truck that came from northern Cebu.

The cargo truck was allowed to proceed to Cebu City and no arrest was made since the other boxes contained fish that were not illegally caught.

The seizure was made based on a tip as a BFAR-7 examiner randomly checked the contents of the boxes which resulted to the confiscation of the 14 boxes but cleared the remaining 35 boxes. (FREEMAN)

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SRU arrests man with marijuana in Balamban

CEBU, Philippines - Half a kilo of dried marijuana plants were confiscated from a 37-year-old man who was arrested by the Special Reaction Unit assigned at Sitio Enad, Barangay Gaas, Balamban on Wednesday evening.

The illegal drugs worth P2,000 was inside a plastic bag and placed inside the red backpack of Jude Uy Poliquit, a native of Baybay, Leyte and temporarily residing in Barangay Paknaan, Mandaue City .

The confiscated dried marijuana is now with the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory at the Camp Sotero Cabahug for chemical analysis.

Senior Police Officer 3 Arvie Banate, Balamban police investigator, said that Jude was already under surveillance after their office received information of his illegal activity.

Prior to his arrest, the SRU spotted Jude acting suspicious at the house of Cresenciano Bacus which prompted them to approach him.

After asking questions, the SRU then asked if they could inspect his backpack to which the suspect agreed. They then discovered the plastic bag containing the dried marijuana plants.

Jude admitted that he bought the marijuana from Bobby Baricuatro, of Sitio Calubian, Barangay Manunggal.

He was also planning to take the illegal drugs to Leyte .

Banate said that Jude admitted buying about two kilos of dried marijuana plants worth P8, 000 and half a kilo of it was for his own consumption.

“Pero ako dili ko mutoo nga iyahon na kay sa kadaghan dili na niya mahurot uy, iyaha pud nang i-dispose tingale sa uban,” he said.

Charges for violation of RA 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 is set to be filed today at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office after the results of the chemical analysis will be released. (FREEMAN)

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13-year-old hurt in rape attempt

CEBU, Philippines - A 13-year-old girl was stabbed by an unidentified man who tried to rape her in Sitio Manan-aw, Barangay Bantigue, Bantayan Wednesday afternoon.

The girl, a second year student of Bantayan National High School, sustained a stab wound to her body and was taken to the town’s district hospital.

Her attacker was described as about 20 to 25 years old.

Police said the victim was walking home from her school when approached by her attacker, who was already waiting for her in a secluded area of Barangay Bantigue.

When the man grabbed her right arm, she resisted and shouted for help. This prompted him to stab her with a knife.

“Nahadlok tingali to (attacker) kay nagsingit-singit na man siya maong gidunggab (the victim) na lang,” police said.

Senior Police Officer 1 Lea Balog, Women’s and Children’s Protection Desk officer of the Bantayan Police Station, said they are investigating the case.

“Ako to siya giingnan nga if okay na siya pwede na nako siya ma-estorya og balik,” Balog said.

Police are now inviting a person, whom they refused to identify, for questioning. (FREEMAN)

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Foreign tourist arrivals in Cebu increase 11.33%

CEBU, Philippines - Tourist arrivals in Cebu rose by 11.33 percent with South Korea again contributing the most number of foreign visitors in the first eight months of 2011.

Records of the Department of Tourism-Regional Office said a total of 1,313,316 foreigners visited Cebu from January to August this year compared to 1,179,699 in the same period last year.

DOT regional director Rowena Montecillo said South Korea is the country’s leading source of tourists, accounting for 44.49 percent or 250,353 tourists in the first seven months.

Other major tourist sources are the Association of Southeast Nations, East Asia, South Asia, America, Oceania, Europe and Middle East.

Japan and the United States followed with 106,946 tourists or 19.01 percent and 50,613 tourists or 9 percent, respectively.

The volume of visitors from Hong Kong dropped with negative 52.57 percent and the People’s Republic of China with negative 44.19 percent after a travel ban following a hostage-taking incident in Manila last year.

But Montecillo said Cebu and the rest of Central Visayas are expected to recover after learning that many Hong Kong tourists will be coming here before the yearend.

“We invited them several times but they did not response to our invitation. Right now, the some officials from DOT-Manila and 10 private sector representatives, which eight of them are from Cebu, are now in Hong Kong,” Montecillo said.

As part of the tourism campaign, Montecillo led the launching of the Tourism and Heritage Information Network or THINK-7, which aims to promote tourism in Cebu and the rest of Central Visayas.

Montecillo said the THINK-7 will be a network composed of business, opinion, region and travel writers and reporters from the local mainstream media.

“The more important task in the immediate future is leveraging these tourism assets to attract more tourists. This invariably means marketing abroad. But it is also a reality today that travelers often use Google to learn more about potential destinations they have heard through advertising efforts and by word of mouth,” Montecillo said.

While many journalists and bloggers use the Internet, the DOT believes that there is a need to maximize the online publications and the social media.

The DOT already tapped media personalities to be included in the steering committee for the program’s formation. (FREEMAN)

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Coop confab kicks off

CEBU, Philippines - The Central Visayas Coop Solidarity Council composed of coop federations and unions in the region kicked off the First Central Visayas Cooperative Congress at the Waterfront Lahug yesterday.

The three-day event is held in cooperation with the Cooperative Development Authority.

Over 200 primary cooperatives and 500 coop leaders gathered for the event.

Part of the event is the launching of 2012 as International Year of Cooperatives as declared by the United Nations to highlight the contribution of cooperatives to global socio-economic development.

With theme “Transformative cooperatives advancing the people, planet, prosperity and peace for sustainable development,” the event aims to increase public awareness about cooperatives and their contribution to development.

The event also aims to promote cooperatives and encourage government to establish policies conducive to their growth and stability.

Today, topics such as the conversion of electrical cooperatives, which are not registered under CDA, will be tackled.

Only cooperatives registered under CDA can enjoy tax exemption privileges.

CDA chairman Orlan Ravanera said members of the Cebu Electric Cooperative (CEBECO) I, II, and III, Bantayan Electric Cooperative (BANELCO), and Camotes Electric Cooperative (CENELCO) are at a loss on their part.

Ravanera said that under the Republic Act 9520, electrical cooperatives will be charged with an additional 12 percent value-added tax apart from the tax that they are paying to the government. (FREEMAN)

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CDA urges power coops to register

FOR their power rates to be tax-free, consumers should register their electric cooperatives with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).

This way, they become the real owners of their cooperatives and receive annual dividends.This was the advice of CDA Executive Director Orlando Ravanera in a press conference yesterday.

He said electric cooperatives are cooperatives only in name and do not operate in a way that empowers the consumers and members.

Instead of being managed by the members, which is the principle of cooperativism, electric cooperatives are controlled by a few influential people, he said.

Former senator Agapito Aquino of the Philippine Cooperative Center said that because power is a service sector, electric cooperatives should be owned by the members and should be supervised and guided by CDA.

The electric cooperatives are supervised by the National Electrification Administration (NEA).

The electric cooperatives in Cebu are the Cebu Electric Cooperative (Cebeco) 1, Cebeco 2, Cebeco 3, Bantyan Electric Cooperative (Banelco) and the Camotes Island Electric Cooperative.

In Bohol, power distribution is undertaken by the Bohol Electric Cooperative (Boheco) 1 and Boheco 2, which are also run by businessmen.

Aquino said electric cooperatives should register with the CDA because while consumers appear to own the power utilities, they do not manage them.

In a press conference for the First Visayas Cooperative Congress at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel yesterday, Ravanera urged power consumers to decide not to operate their electric cooperatives as private corporations.

He also said electric cooperatives should open their books of accounts to their members who are power consumers.

CDA 7 Director Alexander Patac said Republic Act 9520 or the Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008 gives electric cooperatives the option to register with the CDA, or with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a private corporation.

If they choose to register with SEC, Patac said the electric cooperatives will become profit-oriented. They will also be required by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to pay taxes, including the value-added tax (VAT), and as a consequence, power rates will increase.

But Concor Quisaot, assistant general manager for Cebeco 1, 2 and 3, disagreed.

“If they refer to tax exemption, they must conssider that if sales of electric cooperatives are without VAT while its purchases have, the electric coop will be unable to recoup as its rate is on cash flow. It is disastrous and could lead to unimaginable inefficiency,” he said of proposals to register with the CDA, in a text message sent to Sun.Star Cebu.

In the press conference, Patac said RA 9520 mandates NEA to conduct a forum with the power consumers and inform them of their rights under the law.

NEA is also mandated to inform the power consumers of the advantages and disadvantages of registering with CDA or with SEC as a private corporation, after which, a referendum should be conducted.

The deadline for the registration of electric cooperatives with CDA is June 30, 2012.

Ravanera advised the consumers to work on the registration soon because the process takes time.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 21, 2011.