7 wanted persons arrested
In a 2-day separate police operations conducted in the region on January 7 to 8, 2019, seven wanted persons were successfully arrested.
On January 8, 2019, a member of the notorious termite gang identified as Niño Posdo Daguyen, 30, single, laborer, was arrested in his residence at Purok 6 Kias, Baguio City at about 4:45 p.m. by virtue of a warrant issued by Judge Anacleto M. Bañez of Regional Trial Court, Branch 25, Tagudin, Ilocos Sur on December 5, 2018 for robbery with a recommended bail bond of Php120,000.00.
Valen Aganon, 23, single, farmer, was also arrested in his residence at Brgy. Luyon, Luna, Apayao at about 2:30 p.m. by virtue of a warrant issued by Judge Francisco S. Donato of Regional Trial Court, 2nd Judicial Region, Branch 26 at Luna, Apayao for the crime of rape with no bail bond recommended.
Arrested also on the same day was Engr. Emerson Abenoja Tabernero, 51, married, municipal engineer, a resident of La Trinidad, Benguet. He was nabbed inside the municipal hall of La Trinidad, Benguet by virtue of a warrant issued by Judge Jennifer Humiding of RTC, First Judicial Region, Branch 63, La Trinidad, Benguet for 2 counts of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act with a recommended bail bond of Php60,000.00 for each case.
The following day, arrested wanted persons were Clarissa Catbagan Escobar, 46, at her residence at Manuel Roxas Street, Alfonso Tabora, Baguio City at about 5:40 p.m. by virtue of a warrant issued by Judge Leody M. Opolinto of MTCC Branch 3, Baguio City for a case of other deceits under Article 318 of the Revise Penal Code with a bail bond of Php 220,000.00.; Freddie Tuguinay Cacliong, 46, business man, at his residence at Upper Atok Trail, Baguio City at around 4:00 p.m. by virtue of a warrant issued by Judge Ivan Kim Morales of RTC Br. 59, Baguio City for Violation of Sec. 5 of RA 9262 with Php40,000.00 bail; Arthur Dalipog Narcisa a.k.a. “TOKRING”, 29, married, vendor, a resident of Bunkhouse 1, Tram, Ucab, Itogon, Benguet. He was nabbed at Block 4, Kayang, Baguio City at about 11:40 a.m. by virtue of a warrant issued by Judge Marieta S. Brawner-Cualing of RTC, Branch 9, La Trinidad, Benguet for violation of RA 7610 with a bail bond of Php80,000.00; and Virgilio Hakla Humiding, 19, single, Grade 12 student, resident of Lurad, Diadi, Nueva Vizcaya. He was arrested at Sitio Mabbalat, Poblacion, Kiangan, Ifugao, at 2:30 p.m. by virtue of a warrant issued by Judge Romeo U. Habbiling of RTC Branch 14, Lagawe, Ifugao for robbery with a bail bond of Php100,000.00.
Carnapping and arson
Earl Cunanan, male, 30 years old, a resident of Lower Pinget, Baguio City was on his way home aboard his motorcycle when he saw the vehicle on fire that prompted him to report the incident to the Dizon Subdivision,Barangay Hall. Later, in an interview conducted with Mark Gerald De Guzman, 35 years old, single, online seller, a resident of no. 095 Lower Quirino Hill, Baguio City disclosed that the vehicle was being sold and was entrusted to him by the owner. At around 7:50 p.m. of January 9, 2019, he parked the car, a white 1995 model Honda ESI, bearing Plate Number THD 156 along the road near their residence. The owner of the said car is Kendrian Versoza, of legal age, a resident of City Camp, Baguio City. A CCTV footage reviewed at no. 036 Kalapati Street, Dizon Subdivision, Baguio City showed that a man wearing a sling bag drove the car then stopped at the middle of the bridge and burned it at around 11:45 p.m. of same date. Case is for further investigation.
Gun-for-hire leader and a member arrested
Operatives identified the suspects as Jeremy Navarette Pinera and Oliver Virgo Sotelo, both arrested in Brgy. Arab, Pidigan, Abra at around 6:45 AM on January 9, 2019. They were also identified by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to be members of the JEREMY group that is engaged in gun-for-hire and gun running activities in Abra and adjacent provinces wherein Pinera is their leader while Sotelo is one of its members.
Items confiscated from the possession of Pinera are one hand grenade, one caliber .22 revolver without serial number, one Smith & Wesson Caliber .38 revolver without serial number, eight live ammunition for caliber .22 revolver, one live ammunition for caliber .38 revolver, 17 empty shells for a caliber .45 pistol, and 5 empty shells for caliber 5.56 rifle (M-16) while Mr. Sotelo was in possession of one improvised caliber 5.56 MM pistol.
Arrested suspects are now facing charges for Illegal Possession of Explosives and Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition.**
