Alleged Suicide
On January 8, 2018 at around 10:00 AM personnel of Buguias MPS responded to a call by Brgy Chairman Ramon Ganasi of Bangao, Buguias, Benguet regarding an alleged suicide by hanging at Sitio Buas, Bangao, Buguias, Benguet where the victim was Wilson Dela Cruz Rosete, 21, single, farm laborer and a native of Ambalangandalen, San Fabian, Pangasinan.
Investigation disclosed that in the morning of January 7, 2018 the victim and his cousin went to harvest and haul potatoes with their neighbors at the said place. After their work, on January 7, 2017 at about 6:00 PM, the victim went home alone to his garden shanty. On January 8, 2018 at about 9:00 AM when his farm employer, Neda Walisan Batrina, went to the shanty of the victim to get farm materials, she noticed the door was padlocked, so she used her duplicate key to open the door and was surprised to see the victim hanging with a nylon rope tied on the ceiling. Dr. Hilda G. Kimakim, Municipal Health Officer, declared the victim dead due to asphyxia by hanging. Further inspection by the medical officer showed that the body was in the stage of rigor mortis, indicating that the victim could have committed suicide on January 8, 2018 at around 1:00 AM. After an investigation no foul play was noted.
Shooting incident
At about 7:30 PM of January 6, 2018 a shooting incident transpired in Sitio Garuk, Dalanao, Bantay, Paracelis, Mountain Province, wherein the victim was identified as Marcelita Luppit y Balanao, 46, married, farmer and resident of Garuk Dalanao, Bantay, Paracelis, Mountain Province who was shot on the head by a certain Pablo Balanao Jr. y Purisima “aka” Bungol.
Investigation disclosed that prior to the incident, the suspect and the victim had an altercation regarding their children, after which the suspect went home and took his converted Cal. 22 then returned to the victim’s house and shot the victim.
The victim was brought to Paracelis District Hospital for medical attention but declared dead on arrival by her attending physician. Personnel Paracelis MPS and MPPMFC are now conducting hot pursuit operation for the possible arrest of the suspect.
Reckless imprudence
A reported reckless imprudence resulting in physical injuries and damage to property transpired between 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM of January 7, 2018 along the national highway at sitio Anew, Anabel, Sadanga.
Investigation disclosed that between 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM of same date, one utility vehicle (Hyundai, Starex Van) owned and driven by Retired PO3 Jorge Calidcan Edades, 55 years old, married and resident of Laya East, Tabuk City Kalinga came from Tabuk with 10 passengers who were all teachers to attend a seminar at Vigan Ilocos Sur and while traversing the national highway at Sitio Anew, Anabel, Sadanga, said driver did not notice a man on the shoulder flagging or signaling him to stop. The driver was shocked when his vehicle was hit by a falling log breaking the side sliding window and inflicting injuries to one of his passengers. The driver immediately brought his injured passenger to Bontoc Gen. Hospital for medical treatment. The victim was identified as Charmie Grace Bilagot Loton, 30 years old, single, teacher and resident of Bulanao, Tabuk, Kalinga. The victim suffered lacerated wound, parietal area 7-8 cm and was referred to Baguio Gen. Hospital for further observation. Likewise, the vehicle incurred damage with undetermined cost. The two persons who fell the logs were identified as Lorenzo Lawingan Lamog, 32 years old, laborer, married and Josua Pil-ey Sarang-ey, 25 years old, laborer, single and both residents of barangay Anabel, Sadanga, Mountain Province. They are now under the custody of the Sadanga MPS.
PROCOR nets 2,293 wanted persons last year
Police Regional Office Cordillera (PROCOR) has arrested a total of 2,293 wanted criminals in various police operations and three belonging to the ten most wanted persons with rewards in 2017.
In its sustained anti-criminality operations specifically the reinvigorated anti-crime program dubbed as “Oplan Lambat-Sibat which aims to keep communities safer with the primary goal of reducing crime and improving public safety, a total of 2,054 wanted persons were arrested last year. The highest performing office is Baguio City Police Office with 857 arrests followed by Benguet PPO with 413; Abra PPO- 224; Kalinga PPO- 204; Ifugao PPO- 191; Apayao-86; and the least which is Mountain Province PPO recorded 79 arrests.
For the Ten Most Wanted Persons (TMWP), a total of 239 were arrested for the period, 10 of which belongs to the regional level, 66 in the provincial level and 163 in the municipal/city level.
Most noteworthy accomplishment during the year was the neutralization of the top most wanted person in the national level, Willy Sagasag with a reward of Php600,000.00, the arrest of the head of the Military Affairs of the CPP/NPA, Prudencio Cortez with a reward of Php4.8M and Bernard Wacoy y Bitaol with a reward of Php90,000.00.
Robbery with FUT
A Robbery through force upon things transpired between 7:00 PM of January 6, 2018 to 2:00 AM of January 7, 2018, at stall No. 10 & 11 of Pilak Silver Shop located at Mines View, Baguio City owned by Precy Adres Marcelo, 66 years old, and a resident of No. 37 Leonard Wood Rd., Baguio City.
Initial investigation showed that the robbers dug a hole from the sewer directly below the shop then carted away assorted silver jewelries valued at more than Php10,000,000.00 and cash amounting to Php49,595.00. Suspects used the same entrance as their exit. Case is still under investigation.
Cadaver found
At about 4:20 PM of January 7, 2018, a telephone call was received from Barangay Chairman Soriano Palunan regarding a cadaver discovered at Purok 1 Barangay Happy Hollow, Baguio City. Personnel of PS 4, BCPO immediately responded and confirmed the veracity of the report wherein the cadaver was already in its advance stage of decomposition and called the assistance of the SOCO led by PCI Julie V Centeno that processed the crime scene and no possible identification was found.
Jerry Langpawin Estilong, 42 years old, married, carpenter and a resident of #56 Happy Hollow, Baguio City narrated that for three days there was a foul odor in their area and people were already complaining about it. At around 3:00 PM of the same date, Jerry was gathering firewood around the forested portion near his residence when he again smelled the foul odor and decided to follow where the stench was coming from and saw a decomposing body in jeans with no shirt. This prompted him to call the attention of their Punong Barangay who in return called the police. The cadaver was brought to Damayan Funeral Homes, Palispis Highway, Baguio City for autopsy and possible identification.**
