DENR tightens watch over illegal log movements on Christmas
BUTUAN CITY – DENR field personnel particularly those who are manning the forest monitoring checkpoints along the Agusan River and highways have tightened their watch to deter attempts in smuggling illegal forest products during the Christmas seasons.
The move followed on the wake of reports reaching the DENR Office of Regional Executive Director Edilberto S. Buiser that illegal log traders are out to seize the opportunity on Christmas season to move illegal logs when everyone at the DENR is having fun with their loved ones especially when there is a long vacation starting December 24,2008 to January 5, 2009.
With his instructions upon all five PENR and 13 CENR officers throughout the Caraga region , RED Buiser made emphasis of the possible attempts by unscrupulous logging businessmen to transport undocumented products at a time when everyone is celebrating the holiday.
Director Buiser told his field officers and those personnel manning the DENR authorized check points to be on alert of this possible movement of illegal logs.
While he understand the desire of the DENR personnel at the forest checkpoint to join their love ones in celebrating Christmas, RED Buiser said the DENR can not relax its duties over its mandate to protect and preserve the natural resources in the region. (Herzon F. Gallego, DENR-13/ PIA-Caraga)
BCWD congratulates the winners of the 3rd Pamaskong Handog Raffle Draw
As a holiday treat for Butuan City Water District’s concessionaires who have been paying their water bill on time and in full, a raffle draw was conducted recently at the BCWD Collection Lobby, results of which was validated by Depatment of Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga representative Ms. Myra Luz A. Gavero.
Raffle4 number 012007 named to Elena E. Escobar of Purok 4-A, Barangay 19 Buhangin, Butuan City with an account name and number registered as Ebarsabal, Cima 2 / Escobar, Senen - 065-12-6530 won the 1 unit 5 cubic ft Refrigerator as 1st prize.
For the 2nd prize, the raffle number 062-12-1375 with account name and number registered as Dorico, Marietta / Martizano, Ana Aneline / Henrequito - 062-12-1375 of Kilometer 4, Baan, Butuan City won 1 unit 21 inches Colored TV.
For the 3rd prize, the raffle number 000470 with an account name and number registered as Suyat, Brunette - 094-12-0051 of Villa Kanangga, Butuan City also won the 1 unit Sewing Machine as the 3rd price.
BCWD also gave consolation prizes. There were five winners awarded, which the first three winners namely Celso Perez of Tindalo Road, Butuan City using the account number registered as 116-12-3360 and raffle number of 017891; Daligdig, Alberto Sr. / Ragdag, Jerry of Purok 10, Barangay San Vicente, Butuan City using the account number registered as 092-12-4175 and raffle number 011017; Dy, Mamerto 2 of Estacio Village, Barangay Bayanihan, Butuan City using the account number registered as 161-12-1988 and account number 011753received 1 DVD Player each.
Meanwhile, the other two winners of the consolation prize received 1 sack of rice each. The account name Radaza, Vicente of Buhangin, Butuan City using the account number 065-12-4815 and raffle number 016928 was the first one to receive the sack of rice, and next is Makinano, Dioscoro of R. Calo Street, Butuan City using the account number 125-12-0835 and raffle number 016693.
Winners or their authorized representatives are advised to present their 2008 Residence Certificate and claim stub upon claiming of prizes through Ms. Agelia J. Mora, Technical Assistant, at the 2nd floor, BCWD Administration Building, Gov. J.A. Rosales Avenue, Butuan City.
Unclaimed prizes after 60 days from receipt of a written notice, and upon approval of DTI, shall be forfeited in favor of the Butuan City Water District. (BCWD/ PIA-Caraga)
POLICE REPORTS
By PO3 Arturo Suganob Campania
Report on illegal logging
On December 19, 2008 (Friday) at 6:00 in the evening at Sitio Malipayon, Villaverde, Tagbina, Surigao del Sur, PNP personnel of Tagbina Municipal Police Station led by PSINSP Ramonito Bajala responded to a report coming from a concerned citizen about illegal logs at said place.
As a result, the responding team recovered abandoned sawn lumbers in different sizes more or less 2,000 board feet. The recovered logs were brought to 1406th PPMG for proper disposition and documentation.
PNP arrests illegal drugs suspects
On December 20, 2008 (Saturday) at 12:00 midnight at Purok 5, Barangay 2, RTR, Agusan del Norte, PNP elements of RTR Municipal Police Station led by Piedmund F Montillano conducted operation against illegal drugs which resulted to the apprehension of the suspects identified as Bonifacio Lozada, 34 years old, single and resident of Purok-6, Barangay Pagatpatan, Butuan City, and Ralph Anthony Llacoa, 16 years old, and resident of Purok-6, Barangay Pagatpatan, Butuan City while actually caught having in their possession two dried marijuana leaves rolled in a cigarette packs.
Suspects and confiscated marijuana leaves were brought to RTR Municipal Police Station for laboratory drug testing while appropriate case is being prepared for filing in court against the suspects.
Report on illegal gambling
On December 20, 2008 (Saturday) at 7:00 in the evening at Loreto, Dinagat Islands Province, joint operations from Dinagat Municipal Police Station led by PO1 Neil Ian R Colando and Mr Teodoro Polinday, Civil Security Unit of said place apprehended the suspects identified as Gretchen Custodio Lipioso, 22 years old, and resident of Barangay San Juan, Loreto, Dinagat Islands Province, and Vicente Laoguico, resident of Barangay Sta Cruz, Loreto, Dinagat Islands Province while actually caught engaged in illegal gambling locally known as “swertres”.
Confiscated from their possession were tally sheet and gambling paraphernalia.
Arrested persons were brought to Dinagat Islands Provincial Police Office for proper disposition and appropriate charges is being prepared for filing in court.
POLICE REPORTS
By PO3 Rene Boy Ocares Bernaldez
PNP probes CTs attack in Tubay
The communist’s terrorists (CTs) entered Tubay Municipal Police Station on December 22, 2208 (Monday) at around 12:15 in the morning and left at 1:00 in the morning carting away one caliber 9MM pistol and the station's base radio.
No casualty on government side reported. The CTs riding two vans suddenly stopped in front of the Police Station. An undetermined number of CTs, wearing camouflage uniforms, rushed towards the police officers on duty and ordered them lie prone on the ground. They then took the issued 9MM pistol of PO2 Raymund Masambo, one of the guards on duty.
The other six officers who were then resting at the mezzanine floor of the police station noticed the raiding CTs. Since they were only armed with short firearms, they decided to jump out of the station, fled and regroup at the Mayor's residence, which is just behind the police station.
This is part of the pre-arranged security measure being adopted by the station. From there, they were given additional firearms owned by the local government. On the other hand, the CTs noting that there are no firearms inside the police station just carted away the ICOM base radio and the earlier confiscated firearm and proceeded to the nearby Globe Transmission tower.
They poured gasoline and partially burned the office area of the tower. The police officers now armed with more firearms, maneuvered and fired at the CTs forcing them to flee. The extent of damages in the Globe transmission tower is now being investigated.
Allegedly, the SRMI Mining Company located in Tubay was already raided. More or less 30 CTs, in camouflage green uniform approached the two guards on duty near the gate of the mining company and introduced themselves as RMG personnel.
The guards were caught off-guard when their barricades were rammed by the vehicles of the CTs. Thereafter, they were held hostages including the Chief, Security Officer who went out of the company's office. The CTs then ransacked the office and carted away firearms found thereat. Then accompanied by the Security Officer held hostage they went up the mining site using the mining company's four wheel drive vehicles.
They also took the firearms of guards on duty therein. Reportedly, some Security Guards of the mining area were able to elude the raiding CTs bringing with them their firearms. Following firearms carted away were Two M16 rifles with serial numbers 983691 and 980174; three Armscor caliber 38 revolvers with serial numbers 1019281,1019289 and 1067343; Two 12 gauge shotguns with serial numbers 1024896 and 1024898; one 9MM pistol with serial number 1097175.
The said firearms are owned by Gallantry Security Agency, which handles the security of the SRMI mining. Three heavy equipment were burned (1 each Volvo, Komatsu and Caterpillar backhoes). The security force of the mining company was not able to fight back allegedly because they were surprised.
Reinforcements to Tubay were delayed because the CTs set up blocking points at different areas going to Tubay. From Butuan City, the CTs blocked the road at the vicinity of Barangay Sto. NiΓ±o, Butuan City using a Bachelor Bus, the tires of which were shot flat by the CTs.
Hence, the troop of 14th RMG and Agusan del Norte PPMG cannot immediately proceed to Tubay. Also, the reinforcements from 30IB, Philippine Army in Placer, Surigao del Norte were not able to proceed to the area immediately because the CTs set up a checkpoint at the Vicinity of Alegria, Surigao del Norte.
The team from 14th RMG stationed in Santiago, Agusan del Norte was also delayed in reinforcing Tubay because of the blockade of fallen trees set up by CTs in twin bridge, Santiago and at Barangay Tagmamarkay, Tubay, Agusan del Norte.
As of this report, however, all blockades had been cleared. Pursuit operations and strong check/chokepoints are being made by both police and AFP units to apprehend the fleeing CTs who reported used commandeered vans and an Isuzu elf to flee.
Four vans allegedly commandeered and used to ferry the CTs are now in the custody of police. Two drivers of the vans are now undergoing tactical interrogation at Butuan City Police Office (BCPO) and the other two drivers are now undergoing tactical interrogation at Cabadbaran City Police Station led by PCSUPT Jaime Eloreta Milla, Caraga Police Director.
Investigators are now pursing the allegations that the real target of the CTs raid is the Mining Company because of its failure to pay the "forced taxation" being imposed by the terrorists. Investigation is still on going for the probable filing of appropriate cases against the responsible CTs.
Arrest of wanted person
On December 22, 2008 (Monday) at 6:30 in the morning at Purok-8, Barangay Mabahin, Cortes, Surigao del Sur, elements of Cortes Municipal Police Station arrested the suspect identified as Agustin Sequezy Salinas, 38 years old, married and resident of said place.
Suspect was arrested by virtue of warrant of arrest (WOA) issued by Judge Ermilindo Andal, Executive Judge, RTC 11th Judicial region, Branch 27, Tandag City, docketed under criminal case number 5350 for violation of RA 7610 with recommended bailbond of P12,000.00.
Arrested person was brought to concerned judicial authority for proper disposition.
