PRO6 unit commanders brace for resurgence of NPA attacks (August 1 , 2010)
Police Regional Office 6 Director, Chief Superintendent Samuel D Pagdilao Jr. has ordered all PNP unit commanders in Western Visayas to brace for the resurgence of New People’s Army (NPA) atrocities in the light of the recent show of belligerence of communist rebels against government and civilian targets.
Pagdilao directed all police provincial directors, chiefs of police, station commanders and police mobile group units to beef-up their camp defenses and strengthen their stations and command posts against attacks and harassments and reminded policemen on deterrent patrols to be wary of ambuscades from the NPA.
Pagdilao issued the directive in response to the latest encounter last Friday between policemen based in Capiz that resulted to minor injuries to three police personnel and a civilian, the burning of L-300 van loaded with cigarettes in Leon , Iloilo and the harassment of Philippine Army detachments in San Remegio town in Antique province and in Igbaras, Iloilo .
Pagdilao said that the PNP in Region 6 is expecting a resurgence of NPA activities throughout the country after President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino in his State of the Nation Address called on all rebel groups to sit down with his administration and to negotiate for a lasting truce.
Pagdilao said that the resurgence of NPA activities in Western Visayas is a clear manifestation that the Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front, both political wing of the New People's Army, are interested in the probable resumption of peace negotiations between the government and their group and that the recent attacks on government troops and civilian targets were carried out to simply strengthen their position before they enter the negotiating table by projecting that they are still a force to reckon with.
In the light of these recent attacks, Pagdilao directed all commanders to conduct aggressive intelligence monitoring of movements of NPA rebels in their respective areas in order to preempt attacks, harassments and other forms of atrocities.
Pagdilao also directed all chiefs of Police Community Relations (PCR) branch down to station level to intensify their PCR activities to mobilize community support against NPA attacks to preclude being at the receiving end of the NPA atrocities.
Pagdilao likewise directed unit commanders of the PNP in Region 6 to coordinate with Armed Forces units in their jurisdictions to further boost the defense of their respective towns and communities.
Pagdilao orders crackdown on illegal gambling, drugs syndicates (August 1 , 2010)
Police authorities in Western Visayas will now concentrate its anti-criminality campaign against illegal gambling and illegal drugs operations following the recent success in its relentless drive against robbery groups, said Police Regional Office 6 Director, Chief Superintendent Samuel D Pagdilao Jr.
Pagdilao ordered all regional intelligence operatives to launch a crackdown on operators of video karera machines, daily double, first-two and other illegal number games particularly those included in the watch list of the Police Regional Office 6. Daily double is an illegal number game that relies on the results of the STL draw while first-two depends on the result of lotto draw for their respective winning combinations.
Among those who are in the PNP watch list for illegal gambling operations are in Central Iloilo maintained and operated by a certain Jimmy and is financed by persons identified as alias Boyet and Junel. In Southern Iloilo, a certain Ningnong was reportedly in charge of the illegal gambing operation and is being financed by a certain Montinola and Imong dela Cruz. In Guimaras province, illegal gambling operation is reportedly being operated by certain Boy Madrid and Boy Jucaban.
Pagdilao directed the Iloilo Police Provincial Office and Guimaras Police Provincial Office to apprehend STL bet collectors collecting in their provinces because the STL is only authorized to operate in Iloilo City with the city government’s authority.
Pagdilao also directed the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group and its counterparts in the provincial, city and station level to hit hard on illegal drugs syndicate operating within the jurisdiction of PRO6, to conduct more intelligence operations against suspected drug manufacturers and suppliers, pushers and traffickers or operators of drug dens, and to confiscate more illegal drugs to further intensify the supply reduction drive of the PNP.
Pagdilao particularly ordered operatives to strike hard on the Prevendido Group and Odicta Group, two leading illegal drugs syndicates operating in Iloilo and its adjacent provinces by pursuing without let up the prosecution of its members charged with violations of anti-drug law and to follow operational procedures in order to ensure conviction and the neutralization of the suspects.
Pagdilao also ordered all police provincial director to come up with a decisive action that will address the problem of illegal drugs in their area by arresting drug pushers included in their watch lists. He likewise ordered his station commanders to hit hard on policemen and other law enforcement agents who will be found to have links to illegal drugs operations, whose activities he said is inimical to the no-compromise policy of the PNP's campaign against illegal drugs.
In Iloilo province, there are 98 drug pushers listed in the watch list of the provincial police office, while Aklan has 38, Capiz has 56, Antique has 39 and Guimaras has 8. Negros Occidental provincial police office has the biggest number of suspected drug pushers in their watch list with 115.
At the city level, Bacolod has 25 drug pushers in their watch list, while Arevalo has 29, La Paz has 46, Jaro as 42, Molo has 44 and Mandurriao has 52. Iloilo City ranks top in the most number of drug suspects listed in the PNP watch list, with 104 drug pushers including a policeman with a rank of PO2.
With the present situation of the PNP's drive against illegal drugs in Western Visayas region, Pagdilao reminded the station commanders of the DILG's one-strike policy on illegal drugs.
Pagdilao also forewarned policemen assigned in anti-drugs operating units that they will be held liable if they bungle the prosecution of drug-related cases by failing to appear in court hearings as witnesses.
Pagdilao tells COPs to fortify their stations
in the wake of recent NPA attacks (July 27, 2010)
Police Regional Office 6 director, Chief Superintendent Samuel D Pagdilao Jr. has directed all chiefs-of-police and station commanders especially in far flung barangays of Western Visayas to strengthen their defenses in the wake of the recent attacks by suspected communist insurgents in Iloilo and Antique provinces.
Pagdilao ordered the stations commanders to be more vigilant against treacherous attacks on police stations and other vital government facilities by the terrorist New People's Army (NPA) through target hardening measures and intelligence operations.
Pagdilao also directed Chief Inspector Nelvin Ricohermoso, the commander of the 3rd Maneuver Battalion of the Regional Public Safety Battalion based in Panay island to identify stations that are located in NPA infiltrated areas and reinforce the stations with additional personnel to deter future attacks.
Pagdilao's directive was in response to the attacks on an army detachment in San Remegio, Antique and the latest incident involving suspected communist insurgents who razed an L-300 delivery van loaded with cigarettes on July 26 at Poblacion, Leon, Iloilo province.
Investigation disclosed by Leon Police Station that the L-300 van owned by Megavia Corporation was on its way to Leon Public Market when five armed men believed to be NPA members took the vehicle at gun point from the driver Joemarie Tuadles, 27, and drove it to Brgy. Samlague, Leon.
The suspects were later joined by some 15 men armed with long high powered firearms who took the P270-thousand collection money and later burned the L-300 van, according to report.
Police said that Megavia Corporation has been receiving extortion demands from the NPA lately prior to the incident. Such activities, including the robbery and burning of consumer goods, will surely discourage businessmen from investing in Western Visayas and will retard the economic activities of the area. The people will eventually suffer from their adverse effect.
Pagdilao ordered the local police to investigate the incident and gather more witnesses to identify the perpetrators so that cases of robbery and destruction of property by arson can be filed in court against the perpetrators.
Pagdilao also said that the PNP, in acknowledgment of the primary role of the Armed Forces in the fight against insurgency, will closely coordinate with the AFP units in Western Visayas and check the reported resurgence of rebels’ activities. Pagdilao will urge the AFP to conduct more anti-insurgency operations in order to prevent another attack.
Meanwhile, relative to the PNP’s support role to AFP in Internal Security Operations (ISO), Pagdilao directed all stations to strengthen its intelligence and police community relations and mobilize the community to defend itself against communist terrorists (CT) attacks or influence.
Pagdilao declares Ingeniero a case of accidental death (July 21, 2010)
Police Regional Office 6 director, Chief Superintendent Samuel D Pagdilao Jr. has declared the death of Zosimo Ingeniero a case of accidental death after forensic examination results, witnesses' accounts of the surrounding circumstances and the evaluation of the crime scene by the Joint Investigative Task Group all point to a freak accident as the cause of the victim's death.
The task group supervised by Police Regional Office 6 director, Chief Superintendent Samuel D Pagdilao Jr., is composed of Aklan Police Provincial Director, Senior Superintendent Epifanio A Bragais, Jr, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) investigators headed by Deputy Director for Operations Senior Superintendent Christopher A Laxa, 6th CIDG Regional Chief PSSUPT Benedicto R Gorospe, Aklan Crime Lab Provincial Chief PSUPT Georby C Manuel with Trajectory Expert PCINSP Medardo Palapo, CIDU Provincial Officer PCINSP Armie S Agbuya and Malinao Chief of Police PSINSP Aileen A Rondario.
Pagdilao also declared that there are no evidence to establish a relationship between the Ingeniero case and the killing of Lezo Councilman Fernando Baldomero although the two deceased persons are cousins.
Pagdilao said that ballistic examinations conducted by the PNP Crime Laboratory Service (PNPCLS) concluded that all the .9mm empty shells and slugs including the one extracted from the head of the victim were all fired from the 9mm Ingram machine pistol that was recovered from the crime scene. The Ingram was also tested positive for gun powder residue indicating that it was recently fired.
Pagdilao also said that paraffin tests conducted on Ingeniero's right hand concluded that the victim was positive for gun powder nitrates (GPN) while his three drinking buddies during the fateful night, identified as Belcezar Relimbo, Magdaleno Albacino Jr and Suzano Albacino, have tested negative for GPN.
Trajectory analysis made at the slug extracted from the head of victim confirmed that the bullet, which hit the victim right jaw, was found to have fired in a slightly upward direction. The same conclusion was also made with the two slugs embedded in the trunk of the coconut tree.
A fingerprint analysis also found the presence of Ingeniero’s fingerprints in the Ingram machine pistol.
Polygraph exams conducted on Relimbo and the two Albacinos also yielded normal results.
Belcezar Relimbo later admitted in his testimonies that Ingeniero offered to sell the Ingram to him but he turned it down because he cannot afford it.
Ingeniero, 56, a village watchman from San Ramon, Malinao, Aklan was testing the Ingram but the machine pistol went out of control, hitting him under his right jaw at close range and the coconut tree where he had relieved himself. He was found dead the following morning by Relimbo.
Relimbo, who tried to conceal the Ingram and the 357 magnum of the victim, is now facing obstruction of justice charge for his act.
Pagdilao said that based on the admission of Relimbo and with the support of forensic and testimonial evidence, the joint investigative task group is wrapping up its investigation with a conclusive finding that Ingeniero's death was purely accidental.
PRO6 dismantles suspected PAG in Neg. Occ. (July 15, 2010)
Police operatives in Western Visayas on Tuesday have neutralized a suspected private armed group in Hinigaran, Negros Occidental following a raid on their lair that resulted to the confiscation of several high powered firearms and ammunitions.
Police Regional Office 6 Director, Chief Superintendent Samuel D Pagdilao, Jr. said that joint elements of Special Operations Task Force, Provincial Public Safety Company, and members of Hinigaran Police Station swooped into the lair of a suspected private armed group in Barangay Tuguis and arrested three suspects.
Negros Occidental Police Office Director, PSSUPT Manuel B Felix, in his report to Pagdilao, said the raid was carried out by virtue of a search warrant issued by Judge Rey Allan Drillon of Regional Trial Court 6 of Bacolod City.
Felix identified the suspects as Arnel Barraca, Joel Solorico, Anriano Eualtic alias Ader and Angelito Lagman Colmenares alias Nonoy, all residents of the said place. Except for the latter, all three suspects were arrested by the raiding team.
Confiscated from the suspects were one .38 caliber revolver, one M14 rifle, one .22 caliber long rifle, one .45 caliber pistol, three 12 gauge shotguns, two M16A1 rifles, and cache of ammunitions for these firearms.
Felix added that the suspects failed to show up gun licenses and other documents that legally allow them to keep these firearms. They were all charged for illegal possession of firearms and ammunitions.
Pagdilao said that the neutralization of this group is part of PRO6 response to the Order of the CPNP as relayed by the Deputy Chief PNP for Administration; Police Deputy Director General Jefferson P Soriano during the turnover ceremonies challenging the PRO6 leadership to take a closer look at the PAG’s situation in Western Visayas.
“The arrest of the suspects and the confiscation of these illegal firearms is proof of PRO6’s commitment to answer the challenge as well as to pursue criminals even to the farthest barangay to ensure peace and order,” said Pagdilao.
Pagdilao in this light ordered provincial directors and chiefs-of-police in Western Visayas to conduct similar preemptive strike against known private armed groups within their jurisdictions.
Pagdilao said added that the successful raid is an indication that law and order reigns supreme in Western Visayas and the PNP is on top of the situation.
RDCC6 convenes to prepare for the onset of typhoon season (July 14, 2010)
As Tropical Storm “BASYANG” batters Central and Southern Luzon, Police Regional Office 6 Director, Chief Superintendent Samuel D Pagdilao Jr. convened the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council to prepare Western Visayas for the onset of the typhoon season.
At the first Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) meeting attended by Pagdilao as chairman and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Director Rosario Cabrera as Vice Chairman, he said that pending the reorganization of the RDCC pursuant to RA 10121, the RDCC6 will continue its function of coordinating and directing the efforts and resources of all national and local government agencies in Western Visayas in disaster risk reduction and management in order to mitigate its ill effects.
During the conference, the RDCC clustered its 36 member agencies to four operating groups that will respectively implement plans related to Rescue, Search & Evacuations; Relief & Medical Operations; Recovery & Rehabilitation; and Information Operations.
Members of the uniformed service composed of the PNP, Armed Forces, the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Coast Guard were clustered to lead the search, rescue and evacuation operations with local government units in support, while the Department of Social Welfare and Development will work in symmetry with the Department of Health, Department of Education and the Philippine National Red Cross for relief and medical operations.
In the same manner, the Department of Public Works and Highways and the LGU’s have agreed to lead the recovery and rehabilitation operations while the National Telecommunication Commission and the Public Information Agency will spearhead the RDCC’s information operations. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will be in charge of post-disaster damage assessment.
Pagdilao requested the respective agencies to form their own technical working group that will draft their respective operation plan, which will be submitted to the body when it resumes on August 3, 2010.
For the part of PRO6, Pagdilao directed the commander of the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) to organize, train, and equip itself into PNP's primary quick response for search, rescue and evacuation during times of disasters and calamities in Western Visayas.
Pagdilao said he wanted the RPSB to develop into a dependable quick response team in order to mitigate the adverse effects of calamities on people and properties that the incoming typhoon season might bring.
Pagdilao also wanted The RPSB of PRO6 to be equipped and trained to become efficient not only in search and rescue operations but in providing leadership in organizing and mobilizing the public and other territorial units involved in disaster responses like rationalization of deployment of force multipliers, relief management, search and rescue and evacuations.
PRO6 seeks media inputs in protecting local press (July 14, 2010)
Authorities in Police Regional Office 6 will set a series of dialogues with local media to come up with a doable course of action to promote the protection of journalists covering Western Visayas Region against occupational hazards that usually transform into harassment, threats and other grave measures to silence them.
The objective is to establish a measure of trust for the PNP and the media for the latter to share information to the police about imminent or clear and present danger to their lives so that the PNP can carry out measures to preempt or prevent these threats.
Police Regional Office 6 director, Chief Superintendent Samuel D Pagdilao Jr. told media practitioners in Iloilo City that the PNP is committed to the order of President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino to stop the killings of journalists in the country.
Pagdilao said that PRO6 will seek the opinion and suggestions of the local press in adopting best practices to protect them without having to go beyond the boundaries of the law and without necessarily curtailing their freedom of movement and sacrificing objectivity and transparency in gathering news.
Initial dialogue with some members of the local press has confirmed that some still do receive threats from powerful personalities that they have come across in the exercise of their duties as watchdogs of government abuses as well as civilian excesses.
One doable measure that the media has suggested to Pagdilao is for the PNP to teach them to detect indications that they are being stalked and how to elude them.
Another proposal is to open a line of communication that will allow threatened journalists to report immediate risks and immediately call for police assistance.
Pagdilao hoped that by coming up with a doable target hardening measures with the consent of media, the Philippines could clean its marred image as second only to Iraq as the most dangerous country for journalists in the world.
Relatedly, Pagdilao announced that PRO6 will launch a PNP-media relations seminar in PRO6 to establish a harmonious working relationship between the PNP and the local media and to promote public information and media relations consciousness among PNP personnel at all levels of command. Topics that will help journalists improve their personal safety will be discussed.
Pagdilao said that this seminar-workshop on media relations is a critical step in confidence and capacity-building necessary to improve relations between the PNP and media. Orienting and educating police officers and personnel about the media and inversely (the media learning about the police) especially with respect to each other’s ways and idiosyncrasies will make them more understanding of each other. This will promote a harmonious relationship which revolves around public information, news coverage and reportage.
The PNP-Media Relation Seminar-Workshop in PRO6 is tentatively scheduled the first and second week of August 2010.
Pagdilao declares "all-out-war" vs robbery groups (July 14, 2010)
Police Regional Office 6 Director, Chief Superintendent Samuel D. Pagdilao Jr. has declared an "all-out-war" against all crime groups and ordered all chiefs of police to carry-out more manhunts, arrests and neutralization of criminals especially snatchers and robbery-hold-up groups.
Pagdilao ordered the launching of preemptive and preventive crackdown on all groups identified to be involved in street crimes in urban centers, particularly robbery-hold-up rings in the light of series of robbery incidents in Iloilo Province recently.
Reports reaching the office of Pagdilao disclosed that robbery incidents had struck the towns of San Miguel, Badiangan, San Joaquin, and Passi City in Iloilo Province.
Around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 13, unidentified suspects broke into Homecare Merchandising in Roxas St, San Miguel town and ransacked the vault of the said establishment. The suspects carted some P65,000 cash, assorted cellular phones, MP4 players and three cash register machines.
On Monday, July 12, three armed motorcycle-riding suspects held-up businessman Antero Golez, 48, along Sara Road in Passi City.
On the same day in Badiangan town, two collectors of Taytay Sa Kauswagan, identified as Arnie Muyco and Christian Rigor, were waylaid by motorcycle riding suspects who forcibly carted the collection money amounting to P19,000.
In Purok 3, Poblacion, San Joaquin on the same day, unidentified suspects robbed the Linzel Merchandise and divested the said establishment of office equipment worth P130,000.
Pagdilao directed all PRO6 intelligence operating units to identify, locate and neutralize groups involved in robbery holdup and snatching before they could strike at their victims. He also ordered the Regional Public Safety Battalion to conduct checkpoints in areas where there had been frequent incidents of robbery-holdup.
Pagdilao also ordered the Regional Investigation and Detection Division and its respective units down the stations to come up with a positive action and solve the robbery incidents that had been recorded recently.
Pagdilao likewise directed all police commanders to develop, organize, train and mobilize anti-crime volunteer groups and force multipliers to augment and complement the visibility and patrol operations of the PNP in thickly populated areas.
Pagdilao advised the public also to be mindful of their personal security and that of their properties to deny criminal elements of the opportunity to carry-out their nefarious activities.
Pagdilao creates two probe teams to dig on Baldomero’s murder (July 8, 2010)
Two teams under the Special Investigation Task Group "Baldomero" will be created to fast track the probe in the murder of Lezo Sangguniang Bayan member Fernando Baldomero in Kalibo, Aklan said Chief Superintendent Samuel D Pagdilao Jr., Police Regional Office 6 director.
Pagdilao directed Police Senior Superintendent Epifanio Bragais Jr., Aklan Provincial Police director and commander of the SITG, to form two probe teams with one tasked to find more witnesses in the July 5 killing and the other to backtrack on other incidents that may have direct connections to the murder.
Pagdilao wanted the investigators to find out if there are witnesses who have noticed suspicious looking people who have tracked the movements of the victim before the suspect/s carried out the murder.
Pagdilao also wanted another investigating team to focus on the grenade attack incident at the residence of Baldomero a month before this year’s election campaign for local elective position started and find out if it has anything to do with the murder of Baldomero.
In the absence of additional witnesses or evidence that may lead to the identification of the gunman, Pagdilao said that the motive of the murder of the victim remains to be known.
Pagdilao ordered the investigating teams to gather as many photographs of known assassins, gunmen, henchmen of politicians as well as hit men of rebel groups that witnesses may possibly identify as the suspect in the killing.
Pagdilao said the Baldomero murder is a must solve case given the fact that this is the first case of murder of militant activist since the assumption to office of President Noynoy Aquino who commits to run after the murderers of journalists and activists in the country.
On weekend, Pagdilao visited the wake of Baldomero and assured the family of the victim that the PNP will not stop until justice is served.
Last week, the provincial government of Aklan led by Governor Carlito S. Marquez has raised a half million reward money in exchange for any information that will lead to the identification, arrest and the solution of the killing.
Pagdilao expressed optimism that with the full cooperation of the victim’s family and the reward money, justice may not be elusive for long.
PRO6 releases composite sketch of gunman in Baldomero slay;
Aklan provincial government also raises P500,000 reward money (July 8, 2010)
Police authorities in Western Visayas have come up with the composite sketch of the gunman who killed Fernando Baldomero, a Sangguniang Bayan member of Lezo, Aklan.
Chief Superintendent Samuel D Pagdilao Jr, Police Regional Office 6 director, said the suspect is a medium built male with fair complexion and ages between 30 to 40 years old.
Baldomero, 64, was gunned down around 6:30 a.m., on July 5, at Brgy Estancia, Kalibo.
Pagdilao, in his report to the PNP Task Force USIG, said that the provincial government of Aklan, led by Governor Carlito S Marquez, has raised a P500,000.00 reward money in exchange for any information that will lead to the identification, arrest and the solution of the killing.
Pagdilao said the reward money was raised following the call of Congressmen Teddy Casino, and former Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo for speedy solution of the case. The two congressmen met with the governor and members of Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) in a briefing conference held at the Aklan Provincial Capitol where the development of the investigation on the Baldomero killing was particularly tackled.
Pagdilao also ordered the PRO6 Crime Laboratory Service (SOCO) to fast track its ballistic examination so that the 45. caliber slugs and empty shells recovered at the crime scene could be cross-matched with others lifted from previous shooting incidents in Western Visayas.
Probers are hoping that the firearms used in the Baldomero’s killing could have been used or linked to previous shooting incidents. This will help in the investigation.
Pagdilao also directed Police Senior Superintendent Epifanio Bragais Jr., head of the Special Investigation Task Group “BALDOMERO” to check all motorcycle buy-and-sell shops in Aklan and its nearby provinces and check on the buyers of a blue Suzuki motorcycle that was used as get-away vehicle of the suspect.
Pagdilao said that prior to the killing of the Baldomero, the latter had been the subject of a grenade attack. The incident, which is still under investigation by the PNP in Western Visayas, could also be vital to the ongoing investigation.
Pagdilao expressed optimism that with the full cooperation of the victim’s family and the reward money offered for any information vital to the solution of the case, justice may not be elusive for long.
PRO6 releases composite sketch of gunman in Baldomero slay;
Aklan provincial government also raises P500,000 reward money (July 6 , 2010)
Police authorities in Western Visayas have come up with the composite sketch of the gunman who killed Fernando Baldomero, a Sangguniang Bayan member of Lezo, Aklan.
Chief Superintendent Samuel D Pagdilao Jr, Police Regional Office 6 director, said the suspect is a medium built male with fair complexion and ages between 30 to 40 years old.
Baldomero, 64, was gunned down around 6:30 a.m., on July 5, at Brgy Estancia, Kalibo.
Pagdilao, in his report to the PNP Task Force USIG, said that the provincial government of Aklan, led by Governor Carlito S Marquez, has raised a P500,000.00 reward money in exchange for any information that will lead to the identification, arrest and the solution of the killing.
Pagdilao said the reward money was raised following the call of Congressmen Teddy Casino, and former Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo for speedy solution of the case. The two congressmen met with the governor and members of Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) in a briefing conference held at the Aklan Provincial Capitol where the development of the investigation on the Baldomero killing was particularly tackled.
Pagdilao also ordered the PRO6 Crime Laboratory Service (SOCO) to fast track its ballistic examination so that the 45. caliber slugs and empty shells recovered at the crime scene could be cross-matched with others lifted from previous shooting incidents in Western Visayas.
Probers are hoping that the firearms used in the Baldomero’s killing could have been used or linked to previous shooting incidents. This will help in the investigation.
Pagdilao also directed Police Senior Superintendent Epifanio Bragais Jr., head of the Special Investigation Task Group “BALDOMERO” to check all motorcycle buy-and-sell shops in Aklan and its nearby provinces and check on the buyers of a blue Suzuki motorcycle that was used as get-away vehicle of the suspect.
Pagdilao said that prior to the killing of the Baldomero, the latter had been the subject of a grenade attack. The incident, which is still under investigation by the PNP in Western Visayas, could also be vital to the ongoing investigation.
Pagdilao expressed optimism that with the full cooperation of the victim’s family and the reward money offered for any information vital to the solution of the case, justice may not be elusive for long.
Pagdilao: No revamp of officers (July 6 , 2010)
The reshuffling of police chiefs is not the top priority of Police Chief Superintendent Samuel D. Pagdilao, Jr., the acting regional director of Police Regional Office 6.
Pagdilao who assumed the post on Monday (Jul. 5) will not recommend the revamp in the provincial and city office top posts until he is done reviewing the performance of the incumbent chiefs.
Pagdilao also clarified that the relief of provincial and city directors is the authority of the Chief, Philippine National Police who acts on the recommendation of Senior Officers Promotion and Placement Board.
“With the recommendation from the board, the Chief PNP then submit the list to the provincial governor who will choose his bets for the position,” he explained.
PRO6 has six provincial directors and two city directors.
Meanwhile, Pagdilao will be supportive of the programs of the previous administration, particularly the accounting of personnel.
“We have to sustain all programs and projects that are beneficial both to our police and the community,” he said.
In his inaugural speech, Pagdilao stressed that he would move to strengthen the PRO6’s feedback mechanism to provide him the basis of what to sustain and improve in the present programs and projects of the region’s police force.
Pagdilao forms SITG Baldomero (July 6 , 2010)
The Police Regional Office 6 has formed a Special Investigation Task Group to handle the case involving the killing of Fernando Baldomero, a councilor of Lezo, Aklan.
Baldomero, who is also the provincial chairperson of Bayan Muna in Aklan, was shot to death in front of his house about 6:30 a.m. in Brgy Estancia, Kalibo, Aklan.
PRO6 acting regional director, Police Chief Superintendent Samuel D. Pagdilao, Jr. said Police Senior Superintendent Epifanio Bragais, Jr., Aklan Police Provincial Office director, will head the SITG.
The team will be looking at all angles of the killing of Baldomero.
Other members of SITG Baldomero are Police Chief Inspector Alden Lagradante, Chief of Police of Kalibo, Police Inspector Al Loren Bigay, Officer-in-Charge of Provincial Intelligence Branch, Police Senior Inspector Juffrey Ruzgal, Officer-in-Charge of Provincial Investigation and Detection Management Branch, Police Superintedent Georby Manuel, Chief of Provincial Crime Laboratory Office, Senior Police Officer IV Reynaldo Pacifico, Chief of Criminal Investigation Detection Team, Police Officer II Nida Gregas, Provincial Public Information Officer, and SPOII Alex de Pedro and POI Don Briones for the secretariat.
Pagdilao said the case of Baldomero, as the first killing involving an elected official under the Aquino administration, is the first challenge to his leadership as the newly installed top cop in the region.
“I will closely monitor the investigation and see to it that we get results the soonest possible time,” he added.
Cop caught with P9-million cocaine in Pasig ( (June 19, 2010)
MANILA, Philippines - A policeman was arrested during a drug bust in Pasig City Tuesday by operatives of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF), who allegedly confiscated four kilos of high-grade cocaine with a street value of P9 million from him.
Senior Police Officer 1 Alexander Estabillo, 49, assigned to the intelligence and investigation division of the Aviation Security Group, did not resist arrest when he was cornered by AIDSOTF agents along Las Piestas Drive in Barangay Ugong at about 11:15 p.m. Tuesday.
Aside from the cocaine, AIDSOTF agents also confiscated from Estabillo a 9mm Glock pistol with a magazine loaded with 16 bullets and a white Mitsubishi Strada.
Chief Inspector Roque Merdegia, chief of AIDSOTF’s legal investigation division, said an informant walked into their office at Camp Crame last June 13 claiming that a policeman was offering to sell cocaine to a prospective buyer.
According to Merdegia, AIDSOTF personnel conducted a “test buy” and purchased P1,000 worth of cocaine from Estabillo in Makati City. The Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory confirmed the sample was indeed high-grade cocaine.
A team headed by Superintendent Ismael Fajardo, of the Special Operations Unit 3, arranged a meeting with Estabillo and ordered P2 million worth of cocaine.
“We showed him genuine cash and he claimed that he has four kilos but he intends only to sell a kilo per transaction,” Merdegia told The STAR.
Fajardo’s team arrested Estabillo after he handed over a kilo of cocaine for P1.8 million “boodle” or money.
Merdegia said initial investigation showed that the cocaine came from Borongan, Samar, where a Chinese vessel reportedly unloaded the illegal drugs in the high seas to avoid getting caught with the cocaine.
Estabillo “claimed that somebody asked him to sell the stuff. But he declined to name the source of the illegal drugs,” Merdegia said.
AIDSOTF commander Deputy Director General Eduardo Acuna ordered the filing of appropriate charges against Estabillo, who is currently detained at Camp Crame.
Gun ban ends, PRO-6 to run against loose firearms (June 9, 2010)
The total gun ban ended June 9 despite the move of the Philippine National Police and other advocates for a gunless society to place the ban in effect forever.
The PNP pushes for the permanent total gun ban, citing the decrease in the crime rates since the implementation of the ban in Jan. 10.
About 3,000 persons nationwide were arrested for violations of the Commission on Elections Memorandum Circular 8714.
Police Chief Superintendent Isagani Cuevas, Regional Director of Police Regional Office 6, said that, even without the gun ban, the PNP will continue to run after those who carry firearms without license and or permit to carry firearm outside of residence.
“We will sustain our campaign against illegal possession of firearms pursuant to P.D. 1866 as amended by RA 8294,” he said.
Cuevas also said that PRO-6 posted commendable results in the implementation of Comelec gun ban.
Initial report showed that PRO-6 has 311 persons arrested, including 11 government officials; 248 firearms, 77 bladed weapons and nine grenades confiscated; and, filed 211 cases in court.
Cuevas said the intensified implementation of gun ban made the May 10 elections in Western Visayas relatively peaceful and orderly.
Hiring of security guards for schools encouraged (June 4 , 2010)
The government cannot afford to hire security guards for all schools, hence Parents Teachers Community Associations are enjoined to consider the hiring of security guards as one of their support projects.
This is what Director Mildred Garay of the Department of Education Regional Office 6 said during the interview at Talakayan Sa Isyung Pulis program of Police Regional Office 6 at CPU TV Channel (Sky Cable Channel 8) on Thursday.
Garay said the presence of security guards is important to ensure the safety of children in school.
However, while there are public schools with plantilla positions for security guards, many schools don’t have.
Thus, these schools without plantilla positions for security guards usually resort to getting the support of parents for the hiring of security guards. The PTCA allocates budget for the purpose.
Garay said the collection of fees for security guards, once agreed by PTCA, is therefore allowed by the DepEd Order 65 series of 2010.
Chief Superintendent Isagani Cuevas, Director of PRO 6, supports the idea of Garay of calling the PTCA to consider the hiring of security guards.
Cuevas said while there are police personnel being deployed near the school premises, the presence of security guards remains very important.
“Our police personnel simply conduct visibility patrol; they cannot give attention to checking who comes in or out of the school which is the function of a security guard,” he said.
PRO6 warns students, parents against criminals with the opening of classes (June 3, 2010)
Pickpockets, cell phone/wallet snatchers, robbers and other criminals are expected to heighten their operations as the school year opens on June 15.
Chief Superintendent Isagani Cuevas, Regional Director of Police Regional Office 6, said the opening of classes is usually marked with higher rates in street crimes.
The unwary students and shoppers could be the top targets of these street criminals.
This is why Cuevas warns students, parents and the rest of the public to be extra cautious as they go for enrollment or buying schools supplies.
He said the public must be concerned with their safety despite the massive police visibility and intelligence monitoring.
Under PRO6 Operational Plan Balik Eskwela 2010, police units are also directed to put up Public Assistance Center near the school premises. It will be manned by at least two police uniformed personnel.
Police personnel in civilian clothes will also augment the security in major streets, malls and other areas where people usually gather during this event.
PRO6 also encouraged the public to take note of the hotline numbers of their police stations.
In Iloilo City, the hotline numbers are Patrol 117, 166 (City Proper, Molo and Arevalo Distrcits) and 16600 (La Paz, Jaro and Mandurriao Districts).
Message of the PNP Top Cop (May 09 , 2010)
Today is a crucial day for us Filipinos as we exercise our right and sacred duty to elect the next leaders of our nation.
We in the PNP are doing our best to ensure that the electoral exercise will be peaceful and orderly.
Let us be vigilant but patient and allow these processes to take a credible course towards reflecting the true will of the people.
We remain your servants and protectors, loyal only to our Constitution and with the best interest of the people foremost in our hearts and minds.
Let us then respect and support, whoever gets the mandate of the people, for there is no authority except that which God has established.
And together as a nation, let us move on towards a better and brighter future.
- PDG JESUS A. VERZOSA, 10 May 2010
