Municipal councilor yields illegal drugs and firearms
An elusive municipal councilor was eventually arrested in a buy bust operation at Dagupan, Tabuk City, Kalinga. He was identified as Dexter Gayawet Batalao, 31 years old, single, municipal councilor of Pasil, Kalinga and temporarily residing at Sitio Pantal Brookside, Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga.
Records show that Batalao previously surrendered on July 16, 2016 during the Oplan Tokhang. However, he did not stop in his illegal drugs trade, thus, considered a High Value Target(HVT) of the police.
On April 8, 2018 at around 2:30 a.m, joint operatives of Provincial Intelligence Branch, Kalinga Drug Enforcement Unit, Tabuk City Police Station, Pasil Municipal Police Station, Regional Intelligence Division and Regional Intelligence Unit 14 conducted the above operation leading to his arrest. During the operation, Batalao tried to escape from the operatives on board his colored black Mitsubishi Galant vehicle together with the P1,000.00 buy bust money upon sensing that he was transacting with an operative but he was immediately intercepted by the members of Tabuk City SWAT Team at Appas, Tabuk City who were then manning a checkpoint.
Confiscated during the operation were the buy bust money amounting to PhP1,000.00; one (1) heat sealed plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance believed to be shabu.
Further search inside his vehicle yielded One (1) unit Ingram machine pistol with inserted magazine and silencer accessory; six (6) rounds ammo for cal.45; forty four (44) rounds for cal. 9mm; 2 pieces lighter and improvized totter.
At around 6:30 AM to 11:30 AM of same date, at Purok 6, Bulanao, Tabuk City, joint personnel of PIB/PDEU, RID, RIU14, CIDG, Tabuk CPS and KPFMC implemented the search warrant against the same suspect at his temporary residence for Violation of RA 9165. The search resulted in the confiscation of four (4) more heat sealed transparent sachet containing white crystalline substance believed to be shabu; crumpled aluminum foil and other drug paraphernalia; 1 long mag for Ingram machine pistol with 31 rounds for 9mm & 1 round for .45 caliber. The search was conducted in the presence of the subject person, a media representative and barangay officials.
All confiscated items were turned over to the Kalinga Provincial Crime Laboratory Office while the suspect was brought to Tabuk City Police Station for safe keeping while documents for filing of appropriate charges are being prepared by personnel of the Kalinga Police Provincial Office.
The PNP continuously intensifieing its efforts as part of its commitment to weed out erring agents and personnel of the government, particularly those involved in the illegal drugs trade.
Homicide or murder
On April 10, 2018 at about 9:00 AM, a shooting incident transpired along Jose Abad Santos St. Laya East, Tabuk City, Kalinga particularly infront of Luda’s residence. The victim was identified as Jefffrey Besas Luda, legal age, married, and resident of Laya East, Tabuk City Kalinga who was shot by the suspect identified as Randy Aboli Pacas, 49, married, and resident of Purok 2, Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga.
The victim who sustained four gunshot wounds was rushed by the responding PNP personnel to the Kalinga Provincial Hospital but was declared Dead On Arrival by the attending physician, while the suspect was subsequently arrested. Recovered from him during the arrest is one ARMSCOR caliber 45 pistol bearing serial number 1224905 with one magazine and four live ammunition. The suspect is presently confined under guard by police personnel at the Kalinga Provincial hospital due to the head injury inflicted by the victim.
Theft (shoplifting)
On April 12, 2018 at around 2:00 PM, a case of theft (Shoplifting) transpired inside Watsons Personal Care Store (Phils.) Inc., Lower Ground Floor SM, Luneta Hill, Baguio City on complaint of Adelfa Maglaya Aromin, 21, single, security guard, and resident of No.76 Military Cut-Off, Baguio City against Genaro Ethan Barrozo Tabelin Jr., 18, single, student, and resident of No. 8 Lower Liwanag, Loakan, Baguio City who sneaked out two (2) pieces of PONDS Age Miracle Anti- Ageing expert BB Cream worth P998.00.
Investigation disclosed that the suspect got the said items and left without paying for these which prompted the S/G to follow him outside and accosted him then recovered the said items in his possession. The suspect was turned over to responding personnel of PS7, BCPO. The case is ready for inquest proceedings.
Vehicular accident
On April 13, 2018 at about 12:30 AM, a concerned citizen reported to Buguias MPS that five occupants of a Tamaraw FX with plate number TRP 722, colored gray which was involved in a vehicular accident were rushed to Lutheran Hospital, Abatan, Buguias, Benguet. Personnel of Buguias MPS immediately proceeded to the said hospital and identified the victims as Larry Espada Lingbanan, 20 years old, single, farmer and resident of Bot-oan, Catlubong, Buguias, Benguet who was declared dead on arrival (DOA) by the attending physician due to sustained head injuries while the four (4) others were declared out of danger from the minor injuries sustained namely:Jimarson Tangec Biniahan, 22 years old, single; Marcial Baliosan Buyagan, 21 years old, single; Eliazar Espada Bibiahan, 25 years old, married; and Arial Locante Barcenal, 32 years old, married. All are farmer and residents of Bot-oan, Catlubong, Buguias, Benguet.
Initial investigation disclosed that the Tamaraw Fx driven by Larry Espada Lingbanan with four passengers was traversing the road towards Abatan, Buguias, Benguet which came from Bot-oan, Catlubong, Buguias when the vehicle drove into a road slope and ended up on its roof.**
