Terror attacks in Mountain Province
The New People’s Army attacked last March 29, 2019 the Regional Mobile Force Battalion in Tadian, Mountain Province using landmines that killed one policeman and wounded nine others. This comes in the heels of their Anniversary Celebration. and launching of their Permit-to-Campaign Extortion activities being thwarted at Mount Kapuwao, Barangay Bagnen Proper, Bauko, Mountain Province last March 29, 2019.
Only terrorists resort to landmines. The Geneva Convention outlawed the use of landmines in warfare because of the risk to civilians.
With this latest incident, PRO-CORDILLERA reiterated the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) offering rebel returnees PHP15,000 immediate cash assistance. They will also be entitled to a livelihood budget amounting to PHP50,000 and from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and livelihood program from the Department of Social Welfare and Development depending on the assessment that will be done by the concerned agencies, as well as technical and skills development training, housing, Philhealth enrollment, legal assistance and other benefits offered by the government.
4 men arrested and charged for illegal logging
Four suspects were arrested and lumber were hauled and confiscated by the different operating units of the Police Regional Office Cordillera recently.
Three farmers onboard a white Isuzu Elf truck loaded with sawn pine lumber were nabbed for transporting lumber after they were intercepted in a checkpoint at Bay-o, Balili, Mankayan, Benguet in the early morning of April 1, 2019.
Mankayan police identified the arrested suspects as Dendo Martin Gumangan, 36, driver of the elf, native of Hap-hapid, Tinoc, Ifugao, and residing at Gibraltar, Baguio City, Romy Tayaban Pumahing, and Aljun Dulawan Pawingi, both 22 years old, helpers and residing at Ahin, Tinoc, Ifugao.
Suspects came from Dungon, Ahin, Tinoc, Ifugao and were traveling to Palatong, Tabio, Mankayan, Benguet to deliver the lumber when they were apprehended.
As a result, 43 pieces of 2X6X14 sawn pine lumber with undetermined value were confiscated.
In another operation, police arrested a suspect in a checkpoint at Cruz, Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga Friday night of March 29, 2019 after a concerned citizen informed the police of the illegal transportation of lumber from upper Tabuk to Manila.
Tabuk City Police and members of the DENR CENRO, Tabuk City identified the arrested person as Joy Ellodar Macono, 36, a resident of Marble Lane St., Country Homes, Munting Dilaw, Antipolo City and driver of the Foton closed van loaded with narra flitches in different dimensions, with a total volume of 1,600.70 bd ft valued at Php128,000.00.
Moreover, Natonin police recovered 22 pieces of assorted lumber during their anti-illegal logging operation in Sitio Mangnaw, Barangay Saliok, Natonin, Mountain Province in the afternoon of March 29, 2019.
The assorted lumber were scaled and have an estimated market value of Php2,505.00.
All arrested suspects are now facing charges for violation PD 705 or illegal logging filed by the police in court. While the confiscated vehicles and lumber are now under the custody of the concerned operating units.
Physical injuries
On March 30, 2019 at about 11:00 AM, at Purok 2 Happy Homes Old Lucban, Baguio City a case of physical injuries traspired per the complaint of Johnny Floresca Dela, male, 38, married, driver/operator and resident of Irisan, Baguio City against suspect identified as Ronald Lagasca Meneses, male, 38, married, businessman, and resident of No. 171 Teachers Camp, Cabinet Hill, Baguio City.
Prior to the incident, victim was driving his taxi described as Toyota Avanza bearing plate no. AYR 602 with three passengers on board and allegedly got involved in a traffic “altercation” with the suspect who was driving his motor vehicle described as Hyundai Starex with plate no. RKC 55. When they approached Happy Homes Old Lucban, Baguio City particularly in front of Pines City Doctors Hospital, victim took the route of Happy Homes and suspect followed him after which suspect alighted from his vehicle and told the victim, “Inya!” then suddenly boxed his left eye. Responding personnel from Station 2, arrested the suspect while victim was brought to Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center for medical treatment. Case was referred to duty inquest Prosecutor Philip Randolf F. Kiat-ong who ordered the detention of the suspect at the Baguio City Jail.
Belated report on rape
On March 30, 2019 at about 2:30 PM, Goryo (not his real name), 47, farmer, married and a resident of Sitio Manaot, Brgy Monggayang, Aguinaldo, Ifugao accompanied her daughter Menchie (not her real name), single, 23, differently abled person, elementary undergraduate and resident of the same place reported to Aguinaldo MPS that his daughter was allegedly raped by Bombo Mahingyan, of legal age, married, farmer and a resident of Sitio Manaot, Barangay Monggayang, Aguinaldo, Ifugao.
Investigation disclosed that Bombo Mahingyan went to the house of the victim at about 8:00 AM of March 25, 2019 and told her to go with him to the pastureland where he will tell her something. Victim then went with him and while at the pastureland, the suspect took some leaves of wild gabi and used as mat, forced the victim to lay down then removed her lower garments and raped her. After the incident, the suspect threatened that he will box the victim if she revealed what happened to anyone. The victim had undergone medical examination at the Potia District Hospital, Alfonso Lista, Ifugao. The suspect is at large while the victim is under the custody of her parents. Case is being prepared for referral to the Prosecutor’s Office.**
