Person of interest in Cebu gruesome slay falls in Davao

By Lilian Mellejor

 March 15, 2019

DAVAO CITY--A person of interest in the killing of a 16-year-old girl in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, was arrested in Barangay Matina Crossing here late Friday afternoon.

Agents belonging to the Mindanao Area Police Intelligence Office (MAPIO) swooped down on the house where Jonas Martel Bueno was discovered hiding.

Bueno was taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

Victim Christine Lee Silawan, a church collector, was found dead on a vacant lot in Barangay Bankal, Lapu-Lapu City with her face skinned to the skull, her body sustaining 20 stab wounds and 10 other defense wounds, and her tongue, trachea, and esophagus removed.

A bounty of PHP1.8 million was put up for the immediate arrest of the perpetrator.

The victim was a student of Maribago High School and was first reported missing by her mother after she failed to return home from the church on Sunday evening.

The MAPIO operation was led by Police Lt. Col. Vianney Ross Lagundi and consisted of personnel from the National Bureau of Investigation, CIDG, and the Talomo police station.

The warrant of arrest against Bueno was issued by Judge Jerry Dicdican of the Danao City court Branch 25 for killing a farmer last January. (PNA)

2 nabbed, P7-M ‘shabu’ seized in Zambo anti-drug ops

By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.  March 15, 2019

 

Police Col. Joseph Thomas Martir, Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) director (left), talks to Ricky Hassan who was caught on possession of PHP7.1 million worth of shabu during a drug sting on Thursday in Barangay San Roque, Zamboanga City. (Photo courtesy of ZCPO Public Information Office)

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Anti-narcotics agents arrested two alleged big-time drug pushers and seized more than PHP7-million worth of suspected shabu in separate operations in this city, a police official said Friday.

Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) information officer, Capt. Shellamie Chang, identified the arrested suspects as Ricky Hassan, 35, and Ronel Lim, 36.

Chang said Hassan was arrested by City Drug Enforcement Unit operatives of the ZCPO in a buy-bust operation in Sitio Pantano, Barangay San Roque at about 3 p.m. Thursday.

Hassan yielded some PHP7.1-million worth of suspected shabu packed in 21 large heat-sealed plastic sachets, and other pieces of evidence, police said.

Meanwhile, police said Lim was arrested by the drug enforcement team of Police Station 9 in another buy-bust operation in Barangay Sta. Maria at about 7:35 p.m. Thursday.

Seized from Lim's possession were some PHP15,000 worth of suspected shabu packed in 19 heat-sealed plastic sachets, and two hand grenades, police said.

Chang said the two suspects were now being detained while appropriate charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are set to be filed against them.

Lim will also be charged with illegal possession of explosives since he was caught in possession of two grenades, the police official added. (PNA)

64 politicians on narco-list seeking re-election: PDEA

 By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan 

March 5, 2019

MANILA -- The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Tuesday revealed that 64 out of 82 politicians on the “narco-list” are seeking re-election in this year's mid-term polls.

“I think it's 64 (local officials). They filed their COCs (Certificate of Candidacy) and the remaining 18 decided not to file,” PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino told reporters after the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

Aquino said they have yet to finish the revalidation of the list of politicians allegedly involved in illegal drug transactions.

“As of now, there is an instruction for PDEA to disclose the list, but I can’t do it right now because we haven’t finished our revalidation of all the narco politicians. Actually, they are now down to 82. Last time, I said it’s 83 but one of the mayors was arrested, Mayor Franco Salasal of Datu Salibo of Maguindanao,” he said.

However, Aquino noted that the number may go up after the validation process as there are more politicians in the national drug information system.

He said some of those on the list were drug lords while the others provide protection to the illegal drugs trade in their areas.

Aquino reiterated his stand of not being in favor of releasing the list, particularly prior to revalidation as it would be unfair for those on the list and may promote negative campaigning.

“First and foremost, we still remain on my stand. I don’t want the list to be revealed or to be disclosed. That has been my statement from the beginning. Even before the filing of the COCs, that is already my stand,” he explained.

Aquino, however, said he will comply if President Rodrigo Duterte orders him to publicize the list.

"If it will be ordered by the President that this list will be revealed, I should abide by that. I think the authority to disclose the list was not given to PDEA but instead to the SILG (Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Eduardo Año)," he said.

Aquino previously said he would prefer to file charges against politicians on the "narco-list" than publicizing it.

He said it would also be better if they obtain solid evidences against these politicians and directly file charges against them but he noted that building cases against these politicians is not that easy.

Aquino said the DILG is already preparing to file charges against some of those on the list.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier said while it supports the move to unmask politicians on the “narco-list”, it is the President who has the final decision on the matter.

PNP Chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde, said it is the right of the voters to know who among those running in the mid-term elections are involved in illegal drugs trade. (PNA)