Top 30 in watchlist
for drugs arrested

An alleged drug pusher listed in the top 30 of the watchlist was arrested by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in a buy-bust operation at about 4:15 p.m. yesterday in Bacolod City.

Arrested was Ryan Aguirre, 24, of Purok Sigay, Brgy. 2, Bacolod, who is now detained at the lock up cell of Station 1.

Intelligence Officer 2 Von Rian Tecson, PDEA deputy regional director, said they conducted a week-long surveillance on Aguirre before his arrest, after receiving information that he is into alleged illegal drug trade.

Tecson said that Aguirre was apprehended when he handed a small sachet containing suspected shabu to the PDEA poseur-buyer in exchange for P500. Another small sachet of suspected shabu and four elongated sachets of the banned substance were seized by operatives when they frisked Aguirre, he added.

Aguirre, who is jobless, denied the accusations, saying the sachets of suspected shabu seized were not his and was only left to him.

Despite his denial, PDEA will be filing charges against him for violation of Sections 5 and 11 of Republic Act 9165, for sale and possession of illegal drugs.

Tecson also said they received information that illegal drugs proliferation in Bacolod will double during the holidays.*APN

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‘NPA, allies
more desperate’

Barangay Camindangan in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, which used to be the rebel stronghold at the height of insurgency problem in the late 1980’s, is again being turned into a battleground of  the New People’s Army and Philippine Army in winning the hearts and minds of its populace.

Lt. Col. Ricardo Bayhon, 61st Infantry Battalion commander, yesterday said he believes that peace and socio-economic developments, especially in the hinterlands of southern Negros, including Brgy. Camindangan, have something to do with the rebels’ desperate cry for support and attention from the masses.

“They (NPA) are clearly struggling as they are issuing fabricated claims against government forces to mask their begging for public support”, Bayhon said.

1Lt. Joselito Dalida, 61st IB Civil Military Operations officer, said about 50 people from Himamaylan and Kabankalan cities, trooped last week to Brgy. Camindangan, demanding the pull-out of soldiers.

The protestors, the majority of whom have been imported from Kabankalan and Himamaylan, as claimed by Dalida, accused the 61st IB soldiers who were establishing encampments in a barangay center and populated areas, as allegedly behind the harassment and intimidation of leaders and members of Camindangan Small Farmers Association.

Human rights group Karapatan said the death of Levy Remonsada on Nov. 6 in Brgy. Camindangan, which was allegedly carried out by 61st IB soldiers, was the first case of extra-judicial killing in southern Negros.

Contrary to claims of NPA allies, Dalida said Camindangan barangay residents want the presence of 61st IB soldiers, as indicated by the intention of its officials headed by Brgy. Capt. Elier Borres, to pass a resolution calling for the establishment of a detachment in their place.

He added the deployment of troops in Brgy. Camindangan was in response to the request of the Sipalay City government, to address liquidation and extortion activities of the NPA.

The military tagged the group of Reniel Cellon, alias Ka Kumpol, as behind the summary execution of former NPA member Jimmy Reponte in Brgy.Yao-Yao, Cauayan town on Dec. 5 and Levy Remonsada, a member of the Barangay Defense System, in Brgy. Camindangan, Cauayan, last month.

On the other hand, Bayhon maintained that he is not condoning any acts of extra-judicial killings under his command.*GPB

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2 houses robbed,
police say

Two residences in Bacolod City were robbed by unidentified suspects yesterday.

Glen Peter Arindao, 47, of Helvetia Heights, Brgy. Villamonte, Bacolod, told the police that their residence was ransacked at about 3:30 a.m.

Arindao said the suspects, who entered their residence by detaching six slats of their jalousie window, took a Sony Erickson cellular phone valued at P4,500, assorted jewelry worth P15,000 and a Gotchi bag with P2,500.

Police Officer 3 Karyl Mugemulta and PO1 Raffy Calderon are still investigating the case.

Emilio Vison, 40, of Grandville Subdivision, Brgy. Mansilingan also reported that their residence was robbed by unidentified suspects who took their portable CD player, rice cooker, air pot, shoes, razor, several clothes and pants, and undetermined amount of cash.

Meanwhile, Station 1 policemen arrested a theft suspect at about 2:40 p.m. yesterday at Gonzaga Street, Bacolod.

Arrested was Jocelyn Gaboy, 32, of Purok Uno, Sitio Magsungay, Brgy. Singcang-Airport, who is now detained at Station 1.

Gaboy was apprehended through the complaints of Jane Petarial, 24, of San Juan Street, who claimed that the suspect took her belongings.

Police Officer 2 Joshua Barile and the Task Force Negros Intelligence operatives recovered P1,500 in cash and ATM cards from Gaboy, police said.*APN

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