CEBU CITY, Philippines — As the year 2019 drew to a close, CDN Digital looks back at the top 20 crimes and stories involving police in Cebu for the year.

Cebuanos always open the year with revelry as they celebrate the Fiesta Señor and the Sinulog in January.

But violence, death and tragedy marred the celebrations and revelry. 

SOCO personnel examine the crime scene, where former Cebu City Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro’s vehicle ended up after she was killed by an unidentified gunman. | CDN Digital file photo– Tonee Desspojo

1. Fiscal Castro killed

Castro | CDN file photo / Tonee Despojo

Violence reared its ugly head as people were preparing for the Sinulog with the killing of controversial prosecutor, Mary Ann Castro, who was shot dead by a motorcycle-riding gunman in a business district in Cebu City on January 17, 2019.

Castro had just come from a the Ayala Center area when motorcycle-riding gunman tailed her and peppered her yellow Nissan Juke with bullets. She was negotiating the busy Escario Street in Cebu City at past 9 p.m. when she was attacked.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines Cebu Chapter condemned the killing and called justice for the dead state lawyer.

But two weeks after her killing, her family said they were not satisfied with the investigation of the Cebu City Police Office’s Special Investigation Task Group and then the National Bureau of Investigation stepped in.

The late prosecutor was brought by her family to her hometown in Clarin, Misamis Occidental  on January 26 where she was later laid to rest.

Her death is one of the unsolved killings in Cebu City in 2019.

Read more: Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro shot, killed in Cebu City

Read more: Mary Ann Castro family certain her killer was a professional assassin

Read more: Mary Ann Castro in the eyes of her family: ‘She wanted to die beautiful’

Family and friends of Ashley Abad, dressed in white, attend the Requiem Mass at the Sacred Heart Parish along D. Jakosalem St. Cebu City last January 27, 2019, before she was laid to rest in Mandaue City. CDNDigital | file photo

2. A loss of a young woman and party drugs 

Two days later on January 19, Cebuanos were shocked by the death of a 19-year-old college student, Ashley Abad, who died of an overdose of a party drug, ecstasy.

Abad collapsed during a pre-Sinulog concert in a mall in Cebu City.

Her death caused an uproar for the loss of a promising teenager’s life, especially since it was caused by an overdose of a party drug.

An investigation was conducted on who was responsible for the death of Abad.

On late February, a homicide complaint was filed against the boyfriend of Abad at the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office.

Read more: Ashley Abad: The bright, bubbly girl who can sparkle no more

Read more: Ashley Abad died of ecstasy overdose, PNP confirms; Duterte orders filing of cases vs boyfriend

Read more: Ashley Abad’s boyfriend ready to face charges, says lawyer

Scene of the crime operatives process the area where the shooting incident happened in Barangay Sambag 1, which claimed three lives. | File photo — Contributed photo

3. Tragedy of two feuding families

On January 21, a day after the successful celebration of the Fiesta Señor and the Sinulog Grand Parade on January 20, 2019, which drew millions of people, a tragedy happened in Barangay Sambag I in Cebu City where two feuding families — the Bacaltos and Navales families — ended in shootout.

When the smoke cleared, three lie dead on the street:  Two from the Bacaltos side — the father and his son — while one on the Navales side, a brother of one those involved in the argument that escalated into the bloody incident.

The tragedy did not stop there for these families as those who survived the shootout were jailed — Michael Bacaltos, one of the sons involved in the shootout, is facing a homicide and a frustrated homicide case, while, on the other side, Vanzant Navales, is charged with homicide.

Read more: Three dead as two former friends’ feud leads to shooting incident in Sambag 1

Read  more: Cebu City prosecutor downgrades to homicide case vs suspect in family feud shooting in Sambag I

This is the bullet-riddled van that San Fernando Mayor Neneth Reluya’s group rode when they were ambushed in Talisay City. | CDN Digital file photo — Morexette Erram

4. San Fernando mayor ambushed

A day later on January 22, San Fernando Mayor Lakambini Neneth Reluya, who was on a van together with her husband, some members of her staff and driver were ambushed by armed men in Talisay City.

Reluya and his group were on their way home to San Fernando from Cebu City when they were attacked. Her husband, Councilor Ricardo “Nonoy” Reluya, and two of her staff members – Allan Bayot and Ricky Montenora – died as the attackers peppered the van with bullets.

The deadly attack happened after a town councilor and a barangay captain were shot dead by motorcycle-riding assailants in separate incidents earlier in the month. 

The attacks on the two officials were linked to illegal drugs.

San Fernando is a southern town which is a hometown of self-confessed drug lord, Franz Sabalones.

Seven days later, police tracked down a gun-for-hire group and engaged them in a shootout in Kampo 4 in Talisay City. Jerome Labitad, the target of the police officers, and two others, however, managed to escape.

Police also earlier identified Felix Abacajan Jr., a former Barangay Maghaway councilor, as a prime suspect in the ambush of Reluya.

Abacajan was identified by police as one of the alleged gunman in the Reluya ambush.

 Multiple murder and multiple attempted murder charges were filed against Labitad and Abacajan, and five others for the attack on Reluya.

The suspects, however, remain at large. 

Read more: San Fernando mayor survives ambush

Read more: Bloody night in Talisay City claims 4 lives, including town mayor’s husband

Read more: Police to file charges against suspects in Reluya ambush

Large packs of shabu seized inside a house in a high-end subdivision in Mandaue City by Philippine National Police and Phillipine Drug Enforcement Agency agents at past 11 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, totaled 7.5 kilos and valued at P51 million. | CDN Digital file  photo — Benjie Talisic

5. P51-M shabu seized in Mandaue house

Police raided on February 9 a house in a high-end subdivision in Mandaue City and confiscated 7.5 kilos of suspected shabu.

Police said that the confiscated drugs had an estimated Dangerous Drugs Board value of P51 million.

The house was raided after police arrested a suspected drug courier, who in turn led them to the house. 

It was the biggest drug haul that month for the police.

Read more: P51 million shabu seized from a house in a posh subdivision in Mandaue City

Police cordon area where remains of two persons were found in Sitio Babao, Barangay Maghaway, Talisay City early on Friday, Feb. 22, 2019. |CDND Photo/Benjie Taiisic

6. Six dead in one day

On February 22, in Cebu and Talisay cities, six persons were killed four of them police operations in Cebu City while two were found dead with several gunshot wounds in Talisay City.

The bloody incidents started at dawn in Barangay Zapatera in Cebu City with police officers killing the suspect as he resisted arrest during a buy-bust operation. Police believed the suspect, Kenneth Rosales, was believed to be a party drug supplier in the city.

At about the same time in Talisay City, the two bodies with gunshot wounds were found.

A few hours later, a police operation on loose firearms in Barangay Lusaran in Cebu City, ended in the death of two barangay tanods and a tanod’s wife.

Police said that those killed resisted arrested and allegedly engaged police in a shootout.

Read more: Bloody Friday: 4 killed in early morning police operations, 2 others found dead in Cebu

About 18 kilos of shabu seized in a drug bust in Fatima Homes, Barangay Inayawan, Cebu City past 1 a.m. of Sunday, March 3, 2019. |CDND Photo by Benjie Talisic

7. A drug queen and the P68 million shabu haul

Jocelyn Encila

Two buy-bust operations in Barangay Inayawan in Cebu City and in Consolacion town in northern Cebu on March 3 resulted to one of the biggest drug haul of the police this year.

The operations yielded 28 kilos of suspected shabu, with an estimated Dangerous Drugs Board value of P190.4 million.

The operations led to the arrest of Jocelyn Encila, who was considered as a “drug queen.”

Encila was allegedly connected to the group of Roy Ygot, who is an inmate inside the Bilibid prison and who run the business through the internet.

On March 6, Jenalyn Encila, the sister of Jocelyn, was killed by a motorcycle-riding gunman as she was getting off a taxicab in Barangay Labogon, Mandaue City. 

Police believed that she was killed because of her alleged link to the Roy Ygot group.

 Jenalyn was allegedly the person tasked to distribute illegal drugs and to send the proceeds to Ygot.

Read more: P190M shabu recovered, four arrested in twin drug busts in Cebu City and Consolacion town

Read more: Love and drugs: Encila’s life as Consolacion’s drug queen

Renato Llenes, the self-confessed suspect in the killing of Christine Lee Silawan. | CDN file

8. Christine Lee Silawan murder

Christine Lee Silawan, 16

On March 11, the body of a 16-year-old Mass collector was found in a vacant lot in Sitio Mahayahay, Barangay Bangkal, Lapu-Lapu City — what made the killing even more grotesque and enraged the public and authorities was the way it was done. 

Christine Lee Silawan was stabbed dead and her face skinned. She was stabbed multiple times. Police scrambled to investigate the case and a few days later held the former boyfriend of Silawan as a person of interest.

The National Bureau of Investigation in the Visayas (NBI-7) that was conducting a parallel investigation, arrested Silawan’s former later making him a primary suspect in the crime..

But a month later, police investigators presented another suspect in the killing.

The P1-million bounty placed on the killer’s head prompted three witnesses to surface and point to Renato Llenes, 42, as the suspect in the killing.

LLenes, who confessed to the crime, recounted how they met and became a couple on Facebook. 

He also explained why and how he killed her using a pair of scissors. He murdered the teenager because he was disappointed at her for having a sexual relationship with her previous boyfriend.

With Llenes confession, charges against the former boyfriend were dismissed, and he was later released from detention.

Llenes is now facing a murder case for the killing of Christine Lee Silawan.

Read more: Body of 16-year-old church collector whose face was skinned found in Lapu-Lapu City

Read more: Suspect Llenes recounts how he killed 16-year-old Christine Silawan

Read more: GALLERY: Images of confessed suspect in Christine Lee Silawan murder

Read more: Silawan killing: Teen suspect’s case junked; murder raps readied against self-confessed killer

Police presented security guard Jessie Medequillo to the media for the first time following his surrender on April 12, 2019. | CDND File Photo/Tonee Despojo

9. Another brutal teen killing

On April 8, the body of a 14-year-old girl was found inside a septic tank in a school in Danao City.

Thesa Marie Ygay was found with several stab wounds in her body.

The suspect, Jessie Medequillo, a security guard of the school, who was allegedly the boyfriend of the teenager, surrendered to police a few days later.

He claimed that he killed the girl because he allegedly threatend to kill him after he cut her hair short because he caught her having another boyfriend and going out late at nights.

The suspect also denied being a boyfriend of the girl, whom he allegedly treated as a niece.

Read more: Rage led security guard to kill Danao girl

Guests offer their prayers to the victims of the shooting incident inside a coffee shop in F. Ramos Street, Cebu City on April 11. | Contributed file photo — PHOTO FROM THE OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE OF THE GOOD CUP COFFEE COMPANY

10. Good Cup Coffee murder

On April 11, 2019 at past 11 p.m., a gunman wearing a full-face helmet entered the Good Cup Coffee, a coffee shop, along Ramos Street in Cebu City and fired at the employees.

The assailant killed Michael Hermoso, an award winning barista, and the Kis Ramos, a 21-year-old graduating student of the University of the Philippines.

He also wounded two other employees.

On June 10, 2019, murder charges were filed against Hans Jurgen Dingcong.

Dingcong was allegedly an acquaintance of Hermoso. He was a relationship with Hermoso’s past lovers.

Police believed that the killing was spurred by jealousy.

The suspect is still at large.

Read more: Friends mourn death of ‘Blazing John Michael’, recall his great love for coffee

Read more: Brewing hope: Survivors of tragedy serve Cebu’s best coffee

Read more: Good Cup Coffee shooting: Suspect identified; murder complaint filed

Members of the Scene of the Crime Operatives process the crime scene at the intersection of SB Cabahug Street and AC Cortes Avenue in Barangay Ibabao, Mandaue City on April 14, 2019 where the Canes couple were identified as the victims. | CDN file

11. Couple shot dead in front of daughter

They came from the North Bus Terminal to send some of their ready to wear clothes to a northern town of Cebu.

On their way home on a motorcycle on that fateful night of April 14, Fraldine Kate Ramayla Canes, 24, and her husband, Michael Canes, 27, and their eight-year-old daughter, were waylaid by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Mandaue City.

As they were waiting for the traffic light at the corner of SB Cabahug Street and AC Cortes Avenue in Barangay Ibabao, Mandaue City at past 11 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, 2019, motorcycle-riding gunmen fired at the couple.

A security camera in the area showed one of the gunmen got off his motorcycle and finished the couple off in front of their daughter, who survived the killing.

Police have linked the killing to illegal drugs, claiming that the couple were on their drug watchlist and linked them to the “drug queen,” whom they arrested in March where they confiscated P68 million worth of suspected shabu in two operations. 

Read more: Motorcycle-riding-gunmen kill couple in late night Mandaue ambush

Read more: MCPO chief links Canes couple to drug group

Read more: Family of Canes couple are Duterte supporters

Police Corporal Feliciano Yballe, Jr. | File photo –Photo Courtesy of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas

12. Bloody police misencounter

It started with police tracker teams sent to arrest the killers of a police officer, who was shot dead on April 30 in Toledo City. 

Police Master Sergeant Junard Cinco, a member of the Cebu Provincial Police Drug Enforcement Unit, was killed by motorcycle-riding gunman.

On May 1, police tracker teams, who were sent out to get Cinco’s killers in a supposed hideout in Cebu City’s mountain barangay of Sudlod were stopped on their tracks when it instead led to the death of Police Corporal Feliciano Yballe, a member of the Police Mobile Force of the Cebu City Police Office.

Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas, Police Regional Office in Central Visayas director,  ordered an investigation into the the incident after concluding that Yballe was killed by his fellow policemen in a “misencounter.”

Cinco’s murder has remained unsolved while most of the members of tracker team were investigated for the misencounter  and faced an administrative complaint.

Read more: Sinas: Corporal Yballe died in a misencounter with fellow police officers

Read more: Sinas: Police unit’s operations halted as 18 cops in Sudlon ‘misencounter’ probed

Personel from the Scene of the Crime Operatives examine the crime scene where Police Captain Delfin Bontuyan was ambushed. CDN Digital photo | CDN Digital file photo — Rosalie Abatyo

13. Captain Bontuyan killed in ambush

On May 21, Police Captain Delfin Bontuyan has just attended a court hearing at at Branch 13 of Cebu City Regional Trial Court and was on his way home to Barangay Talamban, Cebu City.

But Bontuyan never made it home alive as he was shot dead by motorcycle-riding assailants at 3 p.m. near an intersection where a mall and a police station were situated in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.

He was then assigned to the Sulu Provincial Police office at the time of his death.

There were insinuations of links to illegal drugs from the police officials of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas, an allegation denied by her family.

The family defense to that allegation was to let the people vouch for the character of the police officer.

Bontuyan was buried on May 30 at the Angelicum Gardens in Mandaue City with full funeral honors and a 21-gun salute.

But despite the creation of a task group to solve the killing, no one has yet been arrested or identified as the suspect.

This is one of the cases that has remained unsolved in Cebu City.

Read more: Police pursue ‘four men’ in Bontuyan murder

Read more: Bontuyan Family continues to hurt but determined to find justice for slain cop

Former Medellin Mayor Ricky Ramirez. | CDN file photo

14. Former Medellin Mayor killed inside hospital

On June 18, at past 11 p.m. 10 armed men wearing bonnets entered the Bomedco Medical Center in Barangay Luy-a, Medellin town in northern Cebu and shot dead former Mayor Ricardo “Ricky” Ramirez.

Ramirez was on hospital arrest at the hospital, when he was killed.

He was 55.

Ramirez was arrested in 2017 for illegal possession of firearms after several high powered firearms were confiscated by the Provincial Intelligence Branch of the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) during a raid at his house.

He was also killed two months before he would be released for serving time for illegal possession of firearms. 

That is according to an official of the Cebu Provincial Police Office.

His killing, however, has remained unsolved.

Read more: Former Medellin mayor Ricky Ramirez shot dead inside hospital room

Read more: Medellin police continue to look for clues on identity of Ramirez’s murder suspects

Garma

15. Four CCPO chiefs in a year

Police Colonel Royina Garma, Cebu City Police Office chief, the first woman police chief of the CCPO, has retired and vacated her post to become the general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office in July.

She turned over her post to another woman police officer, Police Colonel Gemma Vinluan, who was the head of the Police Children and Women’s Protection Center in Quezon City prior to her Cebu City assignment.

She has also been in the forefront of the war on illegal drugs in Cebu City. Under her watch, several millions worth of suspected shabu were confiscated and drug personalities arrested.

Vinluan, however, only served as the CCPO chief for a few months. She was relieved from her post after the killing of Clarin Mayor David Navarro on October 25 while he was on police custody. 

She was replaced in an acting capacity by Police Colonel Geovanie Maines, who is also the deputy chief of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas’ operations department.

Maines also served for a few months and was replaced on December 27 by Police Colonel Engelbert Soriano, who is the current acting CCPO chief.

Read more: Rape cases among priorities of new Cebu City Police director

Read more: De Leon places Vinluan on ‘floating status’

Read more: Colonel Soriano offers his ‘big heart,’ big plans for Cebu City Police Office

Police confiscate a total of P78.2 million of illegal drugs in a buy-and-bust operation turned armed encounter on Tuesday afternoon, July 22, along Zuelling Avenue in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City. CDND PHOTO / Benjie Talisic

16. Bloody shootout in Mandaue Reclamation

Three men lost their lives in a shootout with Mandaue policemen during a buy-bust operation along Zuellig Avenue at the Mandaue Reclamation Area on July 22.

Two of them died on the spot while the third man died in the hospital.

Police confiscated 11.5 kilos of suspected shabu with an estimated Dangerous Drugs Board value of P78.2 million.

Police believed the three men to be members of a drug group.

Read more: Illegal drugs worth P78.2 million seized in buy-and-bust operation in Mandaue City

Scene of the Crime Operatives take the escalator from the basement to the first floor of the J Centre Mall where the pawnshops that the robbers hit were located. | CDN Digital file photo – Norman Mendoza

17. Daring J Centre Mall heist

Five men who were arrested for the J Centre Mall robbery said they did not have money to pay for their bail set at P100,000 each. | Norman Mendoza

Armed men stormed the J Centre Mall in Mandaue City on October 19, disarmed the guards, and robbed pawnshops and a money changer inside the mall. They fled with several pieces of jewelry and cash estimated to be millions of pesos.

The police caught up with the robbery group in a wharf in Bogo City on board a boat to Masbate.

They arrested seven robbery suspects, but as three were killed later as they allegedly tried to grab the firearm of a police officer transporting the arrested suspects from the wharf to the Bogo Police Station.

Another one was shot dead as he resisted arrest when police closed in on him at the wharf.

The loot however was not with them.

Police later identified the robbery group to be headed by a former member of the Parojinog Robbery group in Ozamis City.

He was caught in a CCTV footage boarding a bus to the north of Cebu. He was also believed to be the one who carried the stolen cash and jewelry.

The five arrested robbery suspects were later charged and jailed.

The heist prompted meetings with police and the local government units and malls on what new security measures they would need to improve on to avoid a similar incident from happening.

Read more: Six armed men staged daring mall heist, carted away jewelry, cash; one security guard hurt  

Read more: In Photos: Police kill 3, arrest 4 suspects in Mandaue mall robbery

Read more: Mandaue mall heist suspects slapped with ‘robbery in band’ case; alert up vs suspects still on the run

The body of Clarin Mayor David Navarro is covered with a blanket while police process the crime scene. | Raul Constantine Labrador

18. Clarin Mayor Navarro shot dead under police custody

Mayor David Navarro of Clarin, Misamis Occidental. CDN Digital photo | Raul Tabanao

Mayor David Navarro, mayor of Clarin town in Misamis Occidental in Mindanao, was supposed to preside in the town’s executive legislative agenda held here in Cebu in October.

Navarro, however, ended up detained on October 24 after he was caught in the security camera on October 23 punching and kicking a male massage therapist in a Cebu City massage parlor.

On October 25, Navarro was being transported by the Abellana Police Station officers to the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office to undergo an inquest proceeding for the charges filed against him for his massage parlor actions.

The convoy of three vehicles were waylaind en route to the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office and killed by at least 10 armed men.

Navarro was listed as No. 31 on Duterte’s list of narco-politicians that was released last March, in time for the midterm polls.

Read more: Clarin Mayor David Navarro shot dead in Cebu City

Read more: Who is slain Clarin Mayor Navarro and why was he in Cebu City

Read more: Cebu police chief relieved to turn over Navarro case to NBI

Police Colonel Joie Yape | Contributed photo

19. Former PIB chief ambushed, killed

Police Lieutenant Colonel Joie Yape, Jr., the former chief of the Cebu Provincial Intelligence Branch, was killed by a motorcycle-riding gunman as he was walking along Molave Street in Cebu City at past 5 p.m. of November 21.

Yape has just came from a court hearing and was on his way to meet his wife for dinner when he was attacked.

At the time of his death, Yape was an investigator of the Internal Affairs Services and was based in the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame since June 2019.

Yape had been the PIB chief from 2017 to January 2019 when he was then reassigned as the police chief of the police station in Calbayog City in Samar.

A Special Investigation Task Group was formed to investigate the killing of Yape.

His case has also remained unsolved.

Read more: Former PIB chief, Yape, shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Cebu City

Read more: CCPO Chief Maines: We’re probing people, whom Yape has been at odds with

A 48-year-old veterinarian was shot dead on board his vehicle by two unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen in Sitio Maanyag, Barangay Biasong, Talisay City, Cebu, around 2 this dawn, December 30, 2019. | CDN Digital file photo — Paul Lauro

20. Talisay veterinarian shot dead

With the year about to end, a veterinarian in Talisay City was ambushed by motorcycle-riding assailants on December 30 as he was leaving an abattoir in Sitio Maanyag, Barangay Biasong, Talisay City.

Neil Pala Boligao died after he suffered gunshot wounds in his chest.

Talisay City Mayor Gerard Anthony Gullas has called on police to solve the killing.

Read more: Talisay police identify ‘person of interest’ in veterinarian’s ambush

The post Drugs and violence: 20 stories of crimes, tragedy in 2019 appeared first on Cebu Daily News.

Joemarie Londres of Barangay Banawa, Cebu City is caught with suspected shabu in a buy-bust operation in Mandaue City on January 4, 2020. | Norman Mendoza

MANDAUE CITY, Cebu, Philippines — A high-value target from Cebu City fell into the hands of Mandaue City policemen after he was caught with at least P250,000 worth of suspected shabu in an anti-illegal drug operation in Barangay Subangdaku at past noon of January 4, 2020.

Joemarie Londres was arrested during a buy-bust operation in Subangdaku, said Police Captain Marvin Fegarido, Subangdaku Police Station chief.

 Fegarido said that they had placed Londres under surveillance for a few months after they learned about his illegal drug activities from arrested drug personalities.

He said that Londres would allegedly come and go in Mandaue City to ply his illegal drug trade.

Fegarido claimed that Londres was in their drug watchlist and was categorized as a high value target or a drug pusher, who could dispose a kilo of suspected shabu in a month.

Londres was detained at the Subangdaku Police Station detention cell pending the filing of charges. | dbs

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A sachet of suspected illegal drugs was found in an envelope inside this office of suspended barangay captain Francisco Benedicto inside the barangay hall of Zapatera in Cebu City. CDN Digital photo | Alven Marie A. Timtim

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A sachet of suspected shabu was found inside an office at the barangay hall of Zapatera here late Monday night, January 6, 2020.

Barangay employees found the sachet inside an envelop in the office of suspended barangay captain (village chief) Francisco Benedicto at the end of a session at around 10 p.m.

Benedicto was suspended by the Cebu City Council for various allegations last December 20, 2019.

Read: Zapatera chief facing preventive suspension: I am innocent

According to barangay officer-in-charge (OIC) Juan Flores Jr., he asked some of the barangay employees to look for the cord of their hall’s biometric system, after agreeing that it must be put to use after the suspension of Benedicto.

Removing the biometrics system at the barangay hall to prevent personnel from logging in to report to work was among the accusations against Benedicto that led to his preventive suspension.

Flores disclosed that while employees were going through the things inside Benedicto’s office, they were caught by surprise when they found the alleged sachet in an envelope.

Realizing that it could be an illegal drugs, Flores said they immediately called the Parian police to report the incident.

“Wala man mi mag expect nga naay shabu,” said Flores.

(We were not expecting to find illegal drugs.)

Flores clarified that they are not accusing Benedicto of owning the sachet but only reported the incident to the police since it was the right thing to do.

CDN Digital tried to get the side of Benedicto on this matter. But as of this writing, the village chief has not replied yet.

Police Chief Master Sergeant Rommel Bancog of the Parian Police Station told reporters that they will submit the  suspected illegal drugs to the crime laboratory for examination.

He said they will be conducting further investigation on the case. He also clarified that, as of press time, no one is subjected for arrest as they are still working to determine who owned the alleged illegal drugs.

“Kung naay maka tistigos kinsay nag butang didto, depende sa circumstantial evidence namo, kinsay ma tumbok… kung bug-at na gani pwede nato ma file ang kaso,” said Bancog.

(It will depend if there would be a witness who could point to a possible suspect but it will depend on the circumstantial evidence we have. If there is a bigger lead, then we could file a case.)

Watch Bancog’s interview here:

/bmjo

The post Sachet of suspected shabu found inside Zapatera Barangay Hall appeared first on Cebu Daily News.

Police process the suspected illegal drugs seized from a city level target drug personality in Barangay Mangnao in Dumaguete City. | photo courtesy of NOPPO

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental—Police recovered P204,000 worth of suspected shabu (crystal meth) in a buy-bust operation from a city level target drug personality Monday night, January 6, 2020, in Barangay Mangnao here.

The joint elements of the Provincial Intelligence Branch -Special Operations Group (PIB-SOG), Provincial Enforcement Drug Unit (PDEU), Dumaguete Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrested the suspect, identified as Jason Mapili, alias “Manok”, 50, who is a resident of Barangay Mangnao.

The Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) reported that police recovered a total of 30 grams of suspected illegal drugs placed inside two transparent plastic packs. Also seized were illegal drug paraphernalia, a wallet with P720, and a sling bag.

The confiscated drugs were brought to the PNP Crime Laboratory for examination while the suspect is detained at the city police station pending the filing of charges for illegal drug sale. /bmjo

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President Rodrigo Duterte talks about drugs and Cebu’s traffic in a speech at the Cebu City Sports Complex grandstand as he graces the Sinulog Grand Parade on January 19, 2020. | Raul Tabanao

CEBU CITY, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte covered two problems of Cebu as he addressed Cebuanos in a 20-minute speech at the Sinulog Grandstand at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) at past 7 p.m. on Sunday, January 19, 2020.

The President, who arrived past 6:30 p.m., said the horrendous traffic problem of Cebu could only be solved by putting up trains above ground since there were no more space to expand the roads.

Mr. Duterte promised to help find sources of funds to realize the infrastructure project, which drew applause from the audience that waited for him for over two hours.

Read more: Lockdown: Sinulog contingents wait for more than an hour on city streets to enter CCSC

Despite the brief speech, President Duterte did not miss lashing out on the drug problems in Cebu, particularly Talisay City.

He also accused some police deputy directors in the province to be involved in illegal drug trade.

“Mao tong naay mga gipangpatay dinhi nga mga chief of police… Giingnan na tamo nga ayaw. Ayaw gyud kay madisgrasya mo,” Duterte added.

(That is why there were chief of police that was killed here. I warned them that they should not do that. No, they should not do that or something bad would happen to them.)

The President left the grandstand at 7:25 p.m.

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A couple from Brgy. Banilad, Cebu City were arrested in a buy bust operation in Liloan town on January 24, 2020 | CDN Digital Photo by Paul Lauro

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A common law couple or “live-in partners” were arrested on a buy-bust operation on Thursday evening in Liloan town in northern Cebu.

The suspects were identified as Camille Capala, and Mikko Anthon Diago, both 21 years old and residing at A.S. Fortuna Street, Barangay Banilad, Cebu City.

According to police records, both were the subjects of a buy-bust operation conducted by the Liloan Police Station, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Records also stated that a total of 10 pieces of sachets believed contain shabu worth close to P3,000 were confiscated from Capala and Diago.

Arresting officers from the Liloan Police Station also retrieved a motorcycle unit from the arrested couple, who are now detained in Liloan Police Station. /dbs

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Around P300,000 worth of illegal drugs are confiscated from two drug suspects in a buy-bust operation at Barangay Pasil, Cebu City past 2 p.m. Saturday, January 25 | Photo Courtesy of San Nicolas Police Station

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Close to P300,000 worth of illegal drugs was confiscated from two suspected drug pushers after police in Cebu City conducted a buy-bust operation in Barangay Pasil in Cebu City on Saturday afternoon, January 25.

Arresting officers from the San Nicolas Police Station (Police Station 6) arrested Juniel Tamarra, 29, and Noel Español Jr., 28 during the police operation. Both suspects are residents of Cebu City.

According to Police Major Paul Kenneth Albotra, San Nicolas Police Station chief, Tamarra was considered a high-value target (HVT) — a term used by police to describe a drug personality who could dispose large quantities of illegal drugs.

One large and seven medium packs and 13 plastic sachets believed to be containing shabu, weighing a total of 40.42 grams were confiscated from the suspects.

Albotra said that the confiscated suspected shabu had a Dangerous Drugs Board value of P274, 856.

Tamarra and Español were detained at the San Nicolas Police Station detention cell pending the filing of charges against them./dbs

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Police arrested drug suspects Bernard Menyamin (3rd from left)  and Justine Igoy (2nd from left) during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Sawang Calero, Cebu City Monday night, January 27, 2020. | Contributed Photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Bernard Menyamin, 29, was released from detention in March 2019 after he availed of plea bargaining for his illegal drugs case.

But he never stopped his illegal drugs business.

Menyamin, who is from Barangay Mantuyong in Mandaue City, was arrested in a buy-bust operation by the San Nicolas police, Monday night, January 27, 2020 while along JM Basa Street in Barangay Sawang Calero in Cebu City.

Police Major Kenneth Paul Albotra, chief of San Nicolas Police Station, said they confiscated 55 grams of suspected shabu worth P374, 000 from the suspect’s possession.

Albotra said they also arrested Menyamin’s cohort, who was identified as Justine Igoy, 21, of Sitio Ibabao in Barangay Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City.

He said that a previously arrested drug suspect tipped them of Menyamin’s illegal drug activities.

Albotra said that Menyamin, who was first arrested by Mandaue City police for an illegal drugs case in 2010, would often Barangay Sawang Calero in Cebu City to deliver illegal drugs to buyers in the area.  / dcb

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Policemen are seen along the streets in Talisay City to monitor the peace and order situation of the city. | Photo grabbed from Talisay Police Facebook page

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Thirty policemen from the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) have been deployed to augment the Talisay City policemen manning the Police Community Precincts in Barangay Tangke, drug-infested barangay in Talisay City.

The deployment of the 30 PRO-7 policemen is one of the steps to achieve the Talisay City Police Station’s goal to clear Barangay Tangke of illegal drugs within three months.

“Kung mo ingon ka nga Tangke, ang mga tawo drugs dayun mahunahunaan. Unta ma change ang image aning Tangke,” said Police Chief Master Sergeant Meriam Roble, public information officer of the Talisay City Police Station about their goal for Tangke.

(If you talk about Tangke the poeple would then think about drugs. We hope the image of Tangke will change one day.)

Roble said some of the 30 policemen would be assigned to monitor all the entrances and exits of the barangay for 24 hours.

She said that they would monitor these areas in two 12-hour shifts.

“So far controlled nila ang and entrance and exit,” said Roble.

Roble was referring to the entrance and exit points of the barangay leading to Barangay Cansojong and Barangay San Roque.

More random checkpoints will also be conducted in these areas including those near schools and public places where people would usually gather.

She said this control of the area would be necessary especially since the area had been famous as the very place where drug trading and drug use would seem “normal” to people there.

She said another action they had undertaken in line with this goal and program was to identify and get to know the residents of the area by going house to house.

An activity that they started today, February 2, 2020.

She said this was a way for police to also establish a relationship to the people in the community.

She also assured residents in the barangay that they were doing their best to help the community to live peacefully free from illegal drugs./dbs

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Pardo policemen have arrested Joemarie Lopez Anjao after 278 grams of suspected shabu was found in his possession during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Pardo, Cebu City. | Contributed photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A 41-year-old man was caught with suspected shabu worth P1.8 million during a buy-bust operation in Sitio Tabucanal, Barangay Pardo, Cebu City, at 6:30 p.m. on February 7, 2020.

Police Major John Kareen Escober, Pardo Police Station chief, said that the suspect Joemarie Lopez Anjao of Sitio Camansi, Barangay Mambaling was caught with the illegal drugs.

Escober said they placed Anjao in a two-week surveillance before they conducted the buy-bust operation.

This was after the police received reports of Anjao’s illegal activities.

He said that Anjao could dispose of at least 100 grams of suspected shabu per week around Cebu City.

The confiscated drugs from Anjao weighed 278 grams which has a Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) value of P1.8 million.

Anjao was detained at the Pardo Police Station detention cell, pending the filing of charges. /dbs

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A wet Rodrigo Camangyan waits to be transported to the Centro Police Station detention cell after he was caught in a buy-bust operation and tried to escape by jumping into a river. | Norman Mendoza

MANDAUE CITY, Philippines — Determined policemen swam through the chest-deep water of the Butuanon River to arrest a fleeing drug suspect during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Paknaan in Mandaue City at past noon on Sunday, February 9, 2020.

Rodrigo Camangyan of Sitio Pulang Bukid, Barangay Alang-Alang, Mandaue City was caught in the middle of the river and was brought to the riverbank and handcuffed, said Police Major Ramil Morpos, Centro Police Station chief, whose policemen conducted the operation.

Camangyan was caught with 12 packets of suspected shabu with an estimated Dangerous Drugs Board value of P2,400.

Morpos said that policemen were about to arrest Camangyan at past noon when the buy-bust operation happened.

After realizing that it was a buy-bust operation, Camangyan ran towards the Butuanon River and jumped into it.

The policemen of the Centro Police Station were not deterred and jumped right into the river to pursue the fleeing suspect, whom they arrested before he could reach the other side of the river.

Morpos said that Camangyan was considered as a newly identified drug dealer, who was being monitored for a few weeks before the buy-bust operation.

He said that a concerned citizen reported Camangyan’s illegal activities in the area.

Camangyan was detained at the Centro Police Station detention cell pending the filing of charges.

These are the illegal drugs worth almost P700,000 that have been confiscated in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Paknaan, Mandaue City. | Norman V. Mendoza

Earlier in the day at past 10 a.m., the Opao Police Station policemen scored big in another buy-bust operation also in Barangay Paknaan.

This developed after Police Major Aldrin Villacampa and his policemen arrested three drug suspects and confiscated almost P700,000 worth of suspected shabu.

Those arrested were Freddie Puesca, 42, of Barrio Luz, Cebu City and his cohorts — siblings Rico Seno and Miguel Seno of Barangay Guizo, Mandaue City.

Siblings Rico and Miguel were  first arrested by Villacampa’s team in a buy-bust operation.

A followup operation followed against the suspected supplier, who was later arrested and who turned out to be Puesca.

Villacampa said that Puesca was arrested for possession of illegal drugs in a checkpoint three months ago but he was released after he made a plea bargain in court.

The three suspects were detained at the Opao Police Station pending the filing of charges./dbs

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CEBU CITY, Philippines— The man who was shot dead in Sitio Campo 5, Barangay Manipis Talisay City on Wednesday morning, February 19, 2020, remains unidentified.

Police Master Sergeant Renaldo Tañico, desk officer of the Talisay City Police told CDN Digital that they are still conducting follow-up investigations to identify the man and possibly establish the motive of his killing.

The police said that some witnesses told them that the shooting victim man walking along the road in a remote area of the barangay when a lone gunman alighted from a black van and shot the victim several times. The gunman went back inside the vehicle and fled as the victim fell to the ground.

According to a police report, the man, who bore four bullet wounds, was believed to be in his late 20s to early 30s. He was wearing a blue shirt, jeans, and rubber shoes.

The shooting incident allegedly happened around 7:30 am and was reported to the Talisay City Police by some concerned citizen.

Found at the crime scene were four empty shells of still unknown caliber, four small-sized packs of suspected shabu (crystal meth), a couple of “suki” cards and withdrawal receipts.

Police Senior Master Sergeant Alfredo Mandal the investigator of the case said they are still conducting further investigations.  /rcg

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CCPO chief, Police Colonel Engelbert Soriano. | CDN Digital Photo Morexette Marie B. Erram

CEBU CITY, Philippines –  Police in Cebu are now investigating the ties between Cebu City’s most wanted criminal and some of the province’s top drug personalities.

Police Colonel Engelbert Soriano, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) chief, said Wilfedro Sabella’s connections with Jerome Labitad and the Labitad group should be looked into.

Jerome Labitad, who remains at large, is one of the most wanted criminals in Cebu City.

At a press conference Thursday, February 20, Soriano said there’s a possibility that Sabella could be among the group behind the ambush of San Fernando Lakambini Reluya and five others in February 2019.

“We’re looking into that possibility. The only thing that’s certain as of now is that he is connected to the Labitad group. We’re coordinating with the province police on this matter,” Soriano said.

Jerome Labitad was one of the primary suspects tagged in the ambush of Reluya that resulted in the death of three people, including her husband and former San Fernando Councilor Ricardo ‘Nonoy’ Reluya, who were with her during that time.

READ MORE: Reluya ambush update: Police look at ballistic exam as evidence vs suspects

Labitad, who remains at large, is reportedly the trusted aide of slain, self-confessed drug lord Franz Sabalones.

Sabella, 44, was arrested in Talisay City on Wednesday, February 19, for murder. He had ties with Labitad that led him to reportedly work for Sabalones.

READ MORE: Cops nab Cebu City’s most wanted 

While he denied his involvement with Sabalones, Sabella admitted that he murdered the thief whom he caught stealing his rooster in 2001.

He also confirmed claims from the police that he briefly worked for Labitad whom he pointed out was his relative./dbs

The post Police looking into Labitad, Sabalones ties of Cebu City’s most wanted criminal appeared first on Cebu Daily News.

Policemen do their random house to house visitations in Barangay Tangke, Talisay City on Sunday, February 16, 2020. | Alven Marie Timtim

CEBU CITY, Philippines — After successfully “minimizing”  the illegal drugs in Barangay Tangke, Talisay, city’s police are starting to focus on the other barangays in the city in its anti-illegal drug campaign.

Police Major Gerard Ace Pelare, Talisay City Police Station chief, told CDN Digital in an interview that they were anticipating the illegal drug activities to spring up in other barangays in the city especially since Barangay Tangke, which had been known as an illegal drugs hotspot in the city, had been closely monitored to prevent any illegal drug trade in the barangay from happening.

Pelare, which called the strict monitoring and implementation of rules and regulations in the barangay and controlling entrace and exit points there as a “police lockdown” in the barangay had prompted drug personalities in the barangay to lie low and do their illegal activities where there would be lesser police presence.

“The effect was the illegal drug activities were transferring to (Barangays) Tabunok and Lawaan,” said Pelare.

Aside from trying to duplicate what he did to Tangke to prevent illegal drug trade from proliferating in a barangay, Pelare said that he would first focus on going after the Luage drug group.

He described the group as descendants of the Steve Go drug group — the drug group which was then headed by Steve Go, a suspected drug lord, who was killed by a fellow inmate in the Mandaue City Jail a few years ago.

With the death of Go, one of the members, Luage, took over and made this his group.

He said that they would also be locating the whereabouts of known drug personalities who had fled Tangke and could possibly be hiding in the other barangays of the city.

One of those drug personalities was a high-value individual and might be a big-time supplier of illegal drugs had now been monitored said Pelare.

Although the police would start to focus on the other barangays of Talisay City, Pelare assured that there would still be an intensified campaign against illegal drugs and tight security in Tangke as they would not want the drug personalities to return to the barangay.

Pelare said they would have to maintain the police force there and continue to implement the strict rules and regulations in the barangay to prevent drug personalities to again start their illegal drug business in the area. /dbs

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Around 400 youth leaders representing the seven districts of Cebu Province, take their oath as full-fledged members of the Kabataan Kontra Droga At Terorismo (KKDAT) at the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) headquarters in Sudlon, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, this afternoon, February 25, 2020. | CDND Files / Alven Marie A. Timtim

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) is hoping that through the Kabataan Kontra Droga At Terorismo (KKDAT), they will have another crucial sidekick in their campaign against illegal drugs.

Police Colonel Roderick Mariano, chief of the CPPO told reporters during the official oath-taking ceremony of the 400 KKDAT representatives around Cebu on Tuesday afternoon, February 25, 2020, that with the help of the young leaders, they will be able to curtail the proliferation of illegal drugs.

Mariano also hopes that with the help of the youth leaders, more towns and cities in the province will be declared drug-free.

“Naniniwala ako na itong pag-intensify natin sa ating laban sa droga, ay makakatulong ng lmalaki itong mga kabataan na ‘to,” said Mariano.

He said that with the “power of youth” the information dissemination about the ill effects of illegal drugs will now be made easier as the youth sector will now play an active role in the government’s fight against illegal substances.

Mariano said the support of the KKDAT members alone will intensify their information drive as the youngsters can now spread vital information to their respective family members.

He said that with various activities being lined up by the organization, the youth will now play a vital role in combatting illegal drugs, terrorism, and crimes.

Police Colonel Geovannie Maines, deputy regional director for operations of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas  (PRO-7) who was the guest speaker of the oath-taking ceremony, said the KKDAT members would also be of help in their intelligence efforts since they know the young people who are involved in illegal activities in their community.

Maines however, advised the youth that as they vow to coordinate with the police, their safety should come first which means that when they do give police information, it should only be done discreetly so their safety will not be compromised.

The KKDAT is a program that was initiated by the Philippine National Police (PNP) as one of their community engagement programs to fight illegal drugs, terrorism and all forms of criminality. /rcg

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Police Major Alvin Llamed0, chief of the Carbon Police Station. | Immae Lachica

CEBU CITY, Philippines— The killing of a woman in Sitio Kawit in Barangay Ermita in Cebu City could be drug-related, said Police Major Alvin Llamed0, chief of the Carbon Police Station.

Llamedo said that Hedelisa Andrino (not Ediliza as reported earlier), 45, is involved in illegal drugs peddling together with her common-law-husband who was only identified as a certain Joe.

“Kung atong tanawn, naa gyuy link ni sila sa illegal drugs, iyang live-in partner sad subject for monitoring sad,” said Llamedo.

(Based on our investigation, the killing was linked to illegal drugs because even her live-in partner is subject to (police) monitoring.)

Andrino’s son, whom Llamedo failed to name, is also detained at the Cebu City Jail for an illegal drug case.

“Sa pagka karon  ang angulo na atong gi tanaw, nag profile ta sa atong biktima duna tay na kuha nga mga information nga involve sya sa ilegal drugs, kay atong gi tanaw dinhi wa man siyay mga kontra,” he added.

(After profiling our victim, we received information on her alleged involvement in illegal drugs but she did not have enemies in the neighborhood.)

Read: Wife of drug suspect killed in Ermita

Quoting the outcome of their initial investigation, Llamedo said that the still unidentified gunman walked into the interior of Sitio Kawit to kill Andrino, who was inside a neighbor’s house that is also used for playing bingo.

“Mag standby gyud ni siya didto ma kadlawn,” added Llamedo.

(She would often stay in the area even at dawn.)

Llamedo said that the suspect fired a single shot hitting Andrino on the left side of his head before he sped off towards a waiting motorcycle.

Carbon police continue to investigate Andrino’s killing hoping to identify and locate her killer. / dcb

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Police rescue two girls and arrest two men during a buy-bust operation in a house in Perez Compound in Barangay Alang-Alang, Mandaue City at past 5 p.m. of March 9, 2020. | Norman Mendoza

MANDAUE CITY, Philippines –Two 14-year-old girls were rescued by policemen after they raided a house in Perez Compound, Barangay Alang-Alang, Mandaue City during a buy-bust operation.

Police Major Ramil Morpos, Centro Police Station chief, said they confiscated 20 packets of suspected shabu during the operation and arrested two men, one of whom was a sibling of one of the minors.

Morpos said that the illegal drugs had an estimated Dangerous Drugs Board value of P4,000.

He also said that one of the girls was allegedly involved in selling the illegal drugs with her 29-year-old brother, who lived in the compound.

CDN Digital is withholding the name of the brother to protect the identity of the minor.

The other girl was one of the visitors of the siblings and was held because she was inside one room of the house with a certain Jayboy Damao, 22, with illegal drugs and illegal drug paraphernalia.

The two men were detained at the Centro Police Station pending the filing of charges while the two minors were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)./dbs

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Kung seryoso  gyud ang gobyerno batok niining Coronavirus Disease 2019 o COVID-19, nganong di naman lang modeklarar og martial law si Presidente Rodrigo Roa Duterte suud sa pipila ka simana o mga buwan aron mapadali ang pagsulbad ning maong krisis?

Kinahanglang  mosakripisyo kita niining panahuna aron dili mosamot ang sitwasyon.

Ipatuman ang total lockdown sa tibuuk nasud unya kadtong mga gahi’g ulo ipa-priso aron motagam.

Unya samtang ubos kita sa martial law ug total lockdown kinahanglang hatagan og pagkaon sa gobyerno kadtong mga pobre gyud kaayo nga maoy apektado.

Martial law declaration akong nahuna-hunaan nga maoy pinaka-epektibo tungod kay segurado nga makalikay kita sa COVID-19.

Maka-ayo kini sa ekonomiya sa nasud kung madali ang pag-sulbad kay sa magsige kita’g atras-abante sa mga lakang nga makapa-apiki na hinoon kay naulahi nata paghimo’g mga prevention.

Gawas pa sab mga gahi na kaayo’g ulo ang mga estudyante. Giingnan nga magpondo sa panimay, nanglaag hinoon human gipangsuspenso ilang mga klase sugod niadtong Martes.

Nanghambog ang gobyerno nga duna tay insaktong kuwarta nga binilyon pag-combat sa COVID-19 pero unsa may kapuslanan ni-anang binilyong salapi kung dili na gamiton pagpalit og mga kagamitan, pagkaon ug mga bitamina batok sa COVID-19?

***

Lahi na gyud ron ang atong sitwasyon tungod niining grabeng pagsaka sa nainfected aning COVID-19 kay nakapa-alarma ug nakamugna’g panic kanato ug sa tibuuk kalibutan.

Dili na gyud ni ka komedyahan. Sa amo-a lang opisina sa GMA-7 Complex bawal na gyud nga makasulod ang dili trabahante.

Kami nga mga kawani, ipa-ubos sa thermal scanner ug mandatory gyud ang pagbubu og sanitizer o alcohol sa among mga kamot aron pagsiguro.

***

Samtang sa mga korte sa Qimonda IT Center, sugod niadtong Biyernes nga misuspenso sa mga hearings, gisugdan sab dayon ang pagdisinfect sa mga court premises.

Sa emergency meeting nila ni Executive Judge Macaundas Hadjirasul nasabutan nga ipatuman gyud ang social distancing.

Dili na kinahanglan nga paadtoon sa bista ang mga dinakpan unya papirmahon og waiver for non-appearance.

Kadtong mga bag-o pa nga dinakpan nga dalhon sa Qimonda adto ra sa gawas sa building papaabuton samtang magpaabot sa iyang commitment order sa huwes.

Samtang kadtong magpakasal, pakuyugan lang sila og unom ka tawo sa ilang isig ka pamilya.

Unya ang mga abogado gitambagan nga di na lang magdala og mga tawo gawas niadtong motestigo sa mga kaso.

***

Mas daghan ang pangutana kay sa tubag sa pagpusil-patay niadtong Miyerkules sa hapon kang Municipal Councilor Maria Liza Toledo didto sa munisipyo sa Ginatilan.

Kinsa  man gyud ang responsable nga migamit og sniper rifle?

Dili kaha tagagobyerno ra ang mi-unay?

Unsa may background sa biktima? Negosyante? Narco politician?

Unsa may motibo sa krimen?

Segun sa hepe nga atua kini sa Manila nagpuyo unya mouli lang sa Ginatilan panahon nga sila magsession.

Unsa ka tinuud nga apil kunohay ni siya sa drugs watchlist ni Presidente Duterte? Unsa ka tinuud nga kunohay ang hinigugma niini atua napriso sa New Bilibid Prison nga kunohay padayong nakatransact sa iyang negosyo sa illegal drugs?

In  fairness ni Konsehal Toledo nga kinsa kunohay nangangkon nga paryente ni Presidente Duterte, dili na siya katubag sa mga isyu batok kaniya.

Way kalambigitan ang pulitika sa iyang kamatayon? How about sa iyang negosyo ug ubang personal nga butang? Maayo tingali nga subayon ang tanang anggulo.

Makapang-lingo-lingo lang ko kay babaye’ng daku unya elected public official pa gyud ang biktima.

Maglaum ko nga matubag kining tanan sa gi-umol nga SITG o Special Investigation Task Group./dbs

The post ‘Martial law ta versus COVID-19!’ appeared first on Cebu Daily News.

Five suspects in a drug buy-bust operation in Consolacion town are being processed at the town’s police station on March 20, 2020. | Contributed photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Drug personalities should think twice about continuing their illegal drug business in Consolacion.

Police Major Verniño Noserale, Consolacion Police Station chief, warned these drug personalities because their enemies were not only police officers now but also the town’s residents.

Noserale was referring to the police’s latest anti-illegal drug operation where they confiscated 1.5 kilograms of suspected shabu with an estimated worth of P9.7 million and arrested five people, who were believed to be members of a bigger drug group.

Noserale credited the success to the operation to the information given by concerned citizens, who provided important reports during the three-week case buildup against the suspects.

“The public is now more aware and concerned as they see the collaborative operations of the government agencies. We can say that the community is trusting the law enforcement agencies more which give them the confidence to divulge information,” said Noserale.

The buy-bust operation in Purok 1, Barangay Nangka, Consolacion, Cebu at around 6:30 p.m., on Friday, March 20, 2020 also yielded 1.5 kilograms of suspected shabu and the arrest of the five suspects.

Read more:  Consolacion drug bust yields P9.7M shabu; 5 nabbed

Keeping it in the family, kin’s roles

According to Noserale, the arrested personalities in the recent buy-bust were an organized group and might be members of a bigger drug group or might possibly be members of old drug groups.

He said that these people recently arrested were relatives and could be traced in the same family tree.

The arrested suspects were identified as Ronel Dayaganon Giganto, 27, of Purok 1, Nangka, Consolacion; Francesco Cabahug Garofalo, 27, of Tabok, Mandaue City; Rico Dela Cruz Uy, 19, of Looc, Mandaue City; Ronie Etcobanez Conol, 29, of Riverside, Poblacion Oriental, Consolacion, and Josephine Dela Cruz Uy, 21, of Looc, Mandaue City.

One person identified as certain Cela Solliano Dela Cruz, 26, a resident of Riverside, Looc, Mandaue City, was able to elude arrest, but Noserale assured that the police are already conducting follow up investigation to trace her whereabouts.

Noserale said that Dela Cruz was considered as the main transactor or the negotiator of the group’s trade.

The possible source might her husband who is now inside the provincial jail after being locked up for illegal drug case three years ago.

Noserale said according to interviews with arrested persons, Dela Cruz was identified as the one who allegedly managed the group.

Giganto, was said to be the brother of Dela Cruz’s husband and was assigned as the main pick-up and delivery boy of the group.

Both Rico and Josephine Dela Cruz Uy, were Dela Cruz’s half siblings and were assigned as distributors of the group’s other client.

Conol, a native of Consolacion served as the one who packs the illegal drugs into their sachets, while Garofalo, a call center agent, was included in the arrest as he was the customer present when the buy-bust happened.

Pursuing the one that got away

Although Dela Cruz had escaped, Noserale said the arrest of the five personalities and the seizure of the illegal drugs was a big loss to the group and their business.

They also recovered the cellphone owned by Giganto and had already submitted it to the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU) for contact tracing.

Noserale said the cellphone was already a big help because they could continue to profile the arrested suspects.

The Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) would also be tapped according to Noserale as they had noticed that all of the arrested except for Conol, were from Mandaue City.

Noserale said that with the help of their counter agencies and community assistance, they would be able to catch not only the Dela Cruz, but her cohorts as well./dbs

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Talisay City police arrested three individuals for the possession of 55 grams of suspected shabu worth P374,000 in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Tangke, Talisay City Sunday dawn, April 5, 2020. | Contributed Photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The illegal drug problem in Barangay Tangke in Talisay City is far from over.

Personnel of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) of the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) arrested three individuals for the possession of 55 grams of suspected shabu worth P374,000 in a buy-bust operation in the barangay past 3 a.m. today, April 5, 2020.

The arrest was the first to be made since the Talisay City police launched an intensified anti-drug campaign in the barangay that is considered as one of the hotbeds for illegal drugs in the city.

Read: Talisay cops launch campaign to win over Tangke community’s hearts

Police Lieutenant Colonel Marlu Conag, PIB chief, identified the arrested individuals as Junry Paculaba Minguito, 33; Ricardo Paculaba Minguito, 45; and Rolito Quinto Minguito, 21.

Junry and Ricardo are from Barangay Tangke while Rolito is a resident of Barangay Busay in Cebu City.

Conag said that the two brothers from Barangay Tangke are fishermen while Rolito, who is their nephew, works as a barber.  The three men sell illegal drugs to earn additional income.

Information provided by a Tangke resident tipped PIB on Junry’s illegal drug activities.

Conag said they placed the suspect under surveillance for three weeks before the planned the buy-bust operation at dawn today.  They recovered the 50 grams of shabu from Junry’s residence which the two other suspects also occupied.

Junry told the police that he was forced to sell drugs in his residence because the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine made it difficult for him to deliver supplies to his buyers.

The three men are now detained at the CPPO detention facility located in Sitio Sudlon in Barangay Lahug while complaints for the violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are being prepared for filing against them.

Conag said they also continue to conduct follow up investigations to identify the source of the shabu based on Junry’s confession. / dcb

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