Grenade, fake bills seized
in anti-illegal gambling raid

A fragmentation grenade and five P220 bills suspected to be fake were recovered in an anti-illegal gambling raid conducted by members of the Games and Amusement Board and Station 2 policemen, in an eatery and a water refilling station, at Hilado Street, Bacolod City, at about 9:30 p.m. Thursday.

Station 2 chief, Senior Insp. Robert Dejucos, said they raided the Tolik's Restaurant and Lake Drop's Purified Drinking Station at K Bro. Building, on the strength of a search warrant issued by Municipal Trial Court in Cities Judge Jose Paolo Arriola.

The warrant was against Edgar Mellama, owner of both establishments, on information that he is into illegal gambling operation, Dejucos said.

He said they asked the permission of the water refilling station's cashier, Jessica Sotor, of Regent Pearl Homes in Brgy. Alijis, to let them in since Mellama was not present when the raid was conducted.

Dejucos added that the grenade was recovered at the eatery, while the alleged fake bills and the gambling paraphernalia were seized from the water refilling station.

Among the gambling paraphernalia recovered were bundles of fax paper tally sheets, three calculators, a scotch tape, a stamping pad, a box of rubber bond, three staplers, 17 ball pens and a bottle of ink marker, police records show.

The raid was witnessed by Brgy. 17 Captain Rober Pabiana and Kagawad Alberto Nonan.*APN

back to top

Tanods banned
from carrying guns

Barangay tanods are not allowed to carry guns,while on duty, even if they have permits to carry their firearms outside their residences.

This was clarified yesterday by Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol, regional police director of Western Visayas, following a shooting incident in Jaro, Iloilo, that left four persons, including a policeman and a barangay chairman dead, and four others wounded.

Querol said barangay tanods, who have been granted permits to carry guns outside their residences, may do so only if they are not on duty.

Querol reiterated his order for police commanders to launch an aggressive campaign against the proliferation of guns and deadly weapons, and said “Oplan Sita” should be implemented at all times, especially in fiestas, festivals and other events where big volumes of people gather.* GPB

back to top

‘Thief' arrested
in Brgy. Banago

A suspected thief was arrested in a police follow-up operation in Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City, at about 4:25 p.m. Wednesday.

Station 7 commander, Chief Insp. Levy Pangue, identified the suspect as Joenard Esquilla, of Purok Makawiwili, Brgy. Banago, who was nabbed on complaint of Esquilla's godmother, Charisse Pericon, who claimed that the suspect ransacked her house and took several items.

A team, led by Senior Insp. Jose Mulleta, Senior Police Officers 1 Manuel Olis and Arthur Alejano, Police Officer 3 Nimrod Mendoza, Police Officer 2 Orven Padernal, Police Officers 1 Rommel Fuentebella and Richard Dema-ala, arrested Esquilla at his residence.

A play station portable valued at P15,000, and pawnshop receipts were recovered from Esquilla during his arrest, Pangue said.

Esquilla is now detained at Police Station 7 and theft charges are being readied against him.*APN

back to top