NPA unit leader captured in Kalinga
A leader of a New People’s Army (NPA) unit of the Abraham Bannawagan Command under the Kilusang Larangang Guerilla (KLG) Baggas was arrested for robbery and several murder charges.
Authorities captured Arnold Tongdo Tumbali a.k.a DIWAY, 46, single and a resident of Barangay Mabaca, Balbalan, Kalinga at Barangay Lanna, Tabuk City in the afternoon of March 21, 2019 by the joint operating personnel of the Kalinga Police Provincial Office (KPPO), members of the Philippine Army, Regional Intelligence Division Police Regional Office Cordillera (RID PROCOR) and Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU14).
Tumbali is the vice squad leader of Section Committee 1 of the Abraham Bannawagan Command under KLG Baggas operating in the province of Kalinga particularly Balbalan and Pinukpuk. He is known for his involvement in a series of atrocities that happened in the provinces of Apayao and Kalinga.
He was charged for the crimes of double murder and multiple frustrated murder, nine (9) counts of murder with no bail recommended, another case of frustrated murder with a recommended bail bond of Php200,000.00, and robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons with a recommended bail bond of Php100,000.00. All the warrants for his arrest were issued by Hon. Marcelino Wacas, RTC Branch 25, Tabuk City, Kalinga.
Five men arrested for MJ possession and transportation of softwood
Members of the Police Regional Office Cordillera arrested five felons in separate operations for violation of the illegal drugs and illegal logging laws last March 24.
Banaue police arrested three men for possession of marijuana leaves in Sitio Baag, Tam-an, Banaue, Ifugao Sunday morning after they incurred an accident along the national highway.
The suspects were identified as Michael Mercado Perez, 42, businessman and resident of Rizal, Nueva Ecija, while his two passengers were named as Mike Galunio Montinola, driver, 38, gym instructor and a resident of Gonzales St. B.F. Homes, Parañaque City and Erickson Garlitos Estanislao, owner of the vehicle, 40, farmer and a resident of Calderon St. BF Manresa, Parañaque City.
Prior to their arrest, the police responded to a vehicular accident wherein a blue Ford Ranger with plate number AAI 7159 where the suspects were aboard turned upside down. While conducting inquiry, the police saw five packs of dried marijuana leaves wrapped with transparent cellophane inside the vehicle. This prompted the police to search Perez who was acting suspiciously that resulted in the confiscation of four packs of dried marijuana leaves wrapped with transparent cellophane in his possession.
The trio together with the confiscated items are now under the custody of the Banaue police. They are now facing charges for violation of RA 9165 known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002 filed by the police in court.
Moreover, two men were arrested at Sitio Bagbag, Barangay Bulbul, Rizal, Kalinga Sunday night for illegally transporting softwood.
Rizal Municipal Police Station (MPS) identified the arrested suspects as Frank Manuel Agayam, 44, driver, and Jerry Caleda Alejandro, 30, truck helper, and both residents of Kinama, Rizal, Kalinga.
Before their arrest, the suspects were on board an Isuzu Elf truck with plate number RBF 725 when they were flagged down in a COMELEC checkpoint. The driver told the police that his vehicle was loaded only with rice grain, however, when inspected, 50 pieces of soft wood was found hidden under the sacks of rice husk.
The soft wood had a total volume of 900 board feet worth Php40,500.
Both suspects failed to show a permit to transport the said softwood that led to their arrest and the confiscation of the wood.
Agayam and Alejandro are now under the custody of Rizal MPS. They are now facing charges for Violation of PD 705 also known as Illegal Logging filed by the police.