3 gang members nabbed

Three of members of the newly-formed group “The Apdo Gang” reported to be operating at the Bacolod City downtown area, were arrested by Station 1 policemen Thursday afternoon.

Station 1 commander Chief Insp. Luisito Acebuche yesterday identified those arrested as Mark Cabardo, 19, of Purok Cagaycay in Brgy. 2, Jeffrey, 21, and his cousin Jesus Apdo, 33, both of Brgy. Singcang Airport, all in Bacolod.

Jesus Apdo was arrested at about 5:15 p.m. at the Bacolod down town area by Police Officers 2 Joshua Barile and Johnny Dela Peña and Police Officer 1 Rolly Jardinico on the complaints of Krizia Mae Cabaltungan, 20, of Brgy. Taculing Bacolod.

Cabalatungan said while she was at the junction of Gatuslao and Gonzaga Streets Jesus took her cellular phone valued at P5,000 and fled. The police recovered her cellphone from the suspect when he was arrested.

About an hour later, Barile, Dela Peña, Jardinico and the members of the Bacolod Anti-Crime Task Force arrested Jeffrey Apdo and Cabardo also at the down town area.

Roy Flores, 38, of Purok Paghidaet, Brgy. Alijis, Bacolod told the police that he was at the junction of Luzuriaga and Gatuslao Street when Jeffrey took his wallet with P3,000 in cash while Cabardo got his cellular phone valued at P9,000, and fled.

When interrogated by Bacolod City Police Officer-in-charge Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz yesterday, the three admitted the accusations against them.

Further investigation showed that Jeffrey Apdo was released only two days ago from Kabankalan City jail after he was also arrested for theft.

Station 7 case investigator Police Officer 3 Karyl Magemulta also reported the arrest of Geomar Dolano, 25, of Sibulan town in Negros Oriental for an alleged pickpocket incident at the Panaad Park and Stadium at about 10:45 p.m. Wednesday.

Police Officers 1 Eric Granada and Mark Marnito seized six cellular phones and a wallet with P900 in cash from Dolano when he was arrested. Dolano did not deny the accusations when he was presented to de la Paz yesterday.*APN

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ARMY SAYS
HR violation
claims unfounded

Dismissing as unfounded and lies the accusations against them of alleged human rights violations, Lt. Col. Eduardo Gubat, 62nd Infantry Battalion commander, yesterday said these will not distract them from exerting pressure on the New People’s Army rebels fleeing from military operations.

Gubat said several alleged victims of human rights, being mobilized by Karapatan-Negros and its allied organizations to malign them, accused the 62nd IB and 33rd Division Reconnaissance Company of maltreatment, violation of domicile, harassments, and even stealing chickens and valuable personal belongings.

He said those militant organizations, that always come to the rescue of the NPA when the armed group is being cornered, initiated what it calls a fault-finding mission, to ease the pressure against the fleeing rebels, and divert the attention of government forces.

In a radio interview, one of the alleged victims of human rights blamed the 62nd IB for the death of his carabao during an encounter in Brgy. Cambayobo, Calatrava, and the maltreatment of his 15-year-old son, two weeks ago.

Gubat said no amount of noise created by groups affiliated with the NPA, will distract them from pursuing the fleeing rebels, who have splintered into small groups to avoid detection.

He, however, said “We are always open to those who have complaints, especially (about) human rights violations.”

A series of armed skirmishes had taken place in the hinterlands of northern Negros, as the NPA also stepped up its liquidation activities, military records showed.

The 6th Regional Public Safety Management Battalion also strengthened the defenses of its police outposts, especially in northern Negros, following reports that rebels will launch tactical operations against them.

Supt. Milko Lirazan, 6th RPSMB director, said the recent harassment of a police outpost in Brgy. Libertad, Escalante City, may be a diversionary tactic for rebels to facilitate the transport of their comrades, who were injured in encounters with army soldiers in northern Negros.

The military had earlier claimed that several rebels were injured when they figured in a misencounter last week at the boundary of Calatrava and Toboso towns.

In central Negros, the 11th Infantry Battalion was also accused of terrorizing the populace, especially in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental, that, on the contrary, was the handiwork of the NPA, Lt. Col. Ramil Bitong said.

Gubat said he would warmly welcome those who have legitimate complaints against his men at the 62nd IB headquarters in Brgy. Bato, Sagay City.

“ We always uphold and respect human rights”, he said.*GPB

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City PNP verifying report
softdrinks firm NPA target

The Bacolod City police is now verifying reports that the New People’s Army has plans to harass a softdrink company because they refused to pay revolutionary taxes, City police officer-in-charge, Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz said, yesterday.

De La Paz withheld the name of the softdrink company, while the report is l being validated.

He said that they are coordinating with the softdrink company so they could act on the report, and verify whether the threat, indeed, came from NPA.

Businessmen and other prominent personalities should be very careful if they receive extortion letters and threats from groups who introduce themselves as rebels as there were incidents in the past when several groups used the name of the NPA to extort money from businessmen.

The softdrink company has not formally reported the alleged threat yet, but De La Paz said they are not ignoring this and, in fact, he has ordered Chief Insp. Leonardo Borromeo of the Intelligence and Investigation Branch to verify the report immediately.

De La Paz also told Borromeo to closely coordinate with the intelligence operatives of the Philippine Army.

Borromeo said they have boosted their intelligence gathering to verify the reported harassment plan of the NPA against the soft drink company.*APN

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