Category: Legal

Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge, Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., has assured the police force upholds accountability through quick response to reports of abuse of its personnel as the PNP leadership pursues reforms to make the police organization a more transparent, accountable, and credible organization. Citing PNP Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM) records, Danao said some 5,652 PNP personnel were dismissed from the service, 1,150 were demoted in rank, 10,650 were suspended, 853 were sanctioned with salary forfeiture, 2,491 were reprimanded, 222 were restricted to quarters, and 288…

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Authorities have seized more than PHP1 million worth of shabu for the past two weeks during separate operations in this city and Agusan del Norte province. The latest anti-drug operation Thursday evening in the Agusan del Norte town of Carmen resulted in the arrest of three suspects, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Caraga Region (PDEA-13) reported Friday. Backed by local police personnel, PDEA-13 said they arrested Ryan Plaza, Aaron John Bautista, and Jayzer Paul Sapero who yielded 150 grams of shabu worth PHP600,000. “The 50 grams of shabu were…

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The Central Luzon police are on alert for possible rallies in protest of election results. Brig. Gen. Matthew P. Baccay, regional director of the Police Regional Office-Central Luzon (PRO-3), said on Friday he has ordered his men to observe maximum tolerance in case there are groups that would push through with their mass action. Baccay said while police personnel are directed to observe maximum tolerance towards protesters, the groups conducting mass protests should also respect the mandate of the government forces to serve and protect. “The Philippine National Police (PNP)…

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The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday denied allegations that its operatives are profiling personalities who are attending various protest actions at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) main office in Intramuros, Manila. “The PNP has not given any directive to profile any personalities,” PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Roderick Augustus Alba said. He said the duty of PNP personnel deployed to protest rallies is to ensure that the activity is peaceful and protesters would not resort to violence or any untoward incident. “Part of the regular activity of the PNP during…

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Anti-drug operatives of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) seized PHP1.183 million worth of suspected shabu from a couple during a buy-bust at their residence in Purok Kapawa, Barangay Punta Taytay on Friday. Police identified the suspects as Pearl Je-Ann Elera, 26, a high-value individual, and her common-law husband Reigel Troy Quimba, 20. At about 1 a.m., the couple sold a sachet of the prohibited substance worth PHP1,500 to an undercover policeman. Operatives also found in their possession 33 sachets of suspected shabu, weighing about 174 grams, pegged at a…

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One of the long-standing complaints of public school teachers is work overload. That is having to perform other chores that are completely unrelated to their jobs resulting in fatigue and burn-out on their part, that somehow also affect the quality of their teaching. Fully aware of their predicament, presidential frontrunner Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. plans to expand the number of non-teaching personnel in public schools to address the situation. He said one way to maintain high quality education in public schools is to reduce the non-teaching loads of teachers. Based…

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The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday security measures are all set as more than 40,000 police personnel will be deployed for the May 9 national and local elections PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos said this figure is still expected to go up next week to boost the security operations for the upcoming polls. Carlos said more than 16,000 police officers with their mandatory career courses and field training exercises for election duties have been recalled and would serve on election day. “We will have more police on the ground…

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A total of 2,738 people have been arrested so far for violating the election gun ban, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Friday. In a statement, the PNP said 2,661 of those apprehended were civilians, 44 security guards, 16 police officers, and 17 military personnel. It added that a total of 2,612 police operations yielded 2,065 firearms, 11,128 pieces of ammunition, and 1,103 deadly weapons. Citing its latest data, the PNP said the top five regions in terms of the number of arrested violators are the National Capital Region…

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Police in the Bicol region seized some PHP22.3 million worth of illegal drugs from 241 police operations from January to March this year. A report from the Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO-5) on Friday showed that two high-value target individuals died in a buy-bust, 272 suspects arrested, and confiscated some 365.80 grams of marijuana and 3285.32 grams of shabu. In its campaign against loose firearms, police seized 108 firearms without a license; 14 were surrendered and 22 recovered. On illegal gambling, 191 operations resulted in the arrest of 569…

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The Sandiganbayan anti-graft court has acquitted a former Camarines Sur mayor and two other town officials of falsification of municipal resolutions in 2014. The anti-graft court cleared former Caramoan mayor Constantino Cordial Jr., former vice mayor Irene Breis, and former Sangguniang Bayan secretary Danilo Belleza in the charges filed by the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman-Luzon for two counts of falsification of official documents. The charges stemmed from two resolutions dated March 24, 2014 where Cordial allegedly made it appear that then councilors Eduardo Bonita, Lydia Obias, and Francis Benemerito…

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The Philippine National Police (PNP) has sent its third batch search, rescue and retrieval (SRR) to villages in Baybay City and Abuyog, Leyte. The PNP regional office conducted a send-off ceremony for the team at the regional headquarters in Palo, Leyte on Thursday. They will be replacing the other 100 previously augmented personnel after a week of post-disaster duties. At least 70 of them are assigned in Baybay City and 30 are on duty in Abuyog town. “This shifting of schedule of our men and women deployed in said areas…

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The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said it recorded 28 election-related incidents from January 9 up to April 17. PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said of the 28 election-related incidents (ERI), 21 have validated nothing really to do with the election while five were connected to an election that happened in Regions 1 (Ilocos Region), 3 (Central Luzon), 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), 10 (Northern Mindanao) and Cordillera region, and two incidents still being investigated if they are election-related. Fajardo said the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)…

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The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs is seeking an explanation from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) why online cockfighting (e-sabong) continued to operate during the Holy Week. Senator Francis Tolentino said there should be at least a semblance of respect for the Christian tradition. “It’s been part of the Filipino culture to recognize our faith-based practices, noticeably on Good Friday. But I noticed that even on Good Friday, contrary to what PAGCOR has been saying that they have been regulating e-sabong, on the very day…

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The Court of Appeals (CA) absolved a motorist who figured in an accident in 2014 with a motorcycle with three persons on board, one of whom was killed. In a decision dated April 5 and uploaded online recently, the CA Seventh Division denied the appeal filed by the parents of the deceased motorcycle rider, Kim Raymundo, and affirmed the decision of the Valenzuela Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 284. The incident occurred on Nov. 23, 2014 at around 4 a.m. when the borrowed motorcycle ridden by Raymundo who was with…

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Senators must not only introduce brilliant ideas to craft a law but must also have good relationships with other legislators, UniTeam senatorial candidate Harry Roque said. Roque, a former congressman, said having brilliant ideas alone would not be enough in the Senate for a bill to be enacted into law. “Kahit gaano ka brilliant ang ideas mo, hindi uusad ang iyong mga panukalang batas kung hindi mabuti ang relasyon mo sa iyong mga kasamahan (No matter how brilliant your ideas are, your bills will not progress if you do not…

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Police and Bureau of Customs (BOC) operatives arrested two persons and seized some PHP5.2 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in Zamboanga Sibugay province, a top police official said Monday. Col. Richard Verceles, operations chief of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao (APC-WM), said suspects Hamid Pallong and Radzmir Ainami were arrested around 5:20 p.m. Saturday in Barangay Caparan, Ipil town. Pallong and Ainami were caught separately driving a van and a sports utility vehicle loaded with 402 master cases of assorted smuggled cigarettes. Verceles said the operation was launched after receiving…

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The Police Regional Office-10 (PRO-10) said Monday it will deploy 1,223 uniformed personnel to monitor the peace and order during the Holy Week observance throughout Northern Mindanao. Lt. Col. Michelle Olaivar, spokesperson of PRO-10, said the personnel will be safeguarding activities in 181 churches and 58 religious and pilgrimage sites region-wide. Most of the deployment will be in this city with 491 personnel, followed by the province of Misamis Oriental with 171, Olaivar said in an interview. With the recent easing of restrictions in most local government units in the…

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The Supreme Court (SC) cleared former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo of criminal charges arising from the purchase by the Philippine National Police (PNP) of three helicopters in 2009 for PHP105 million. In its resolution uploaded online on Sunday, the SC granted the motion for reconsideration filed by Arroyo and ordered the Sandiganbayan to drop the husband of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from the information filed in the criminal case “at any stage of the proceedings,”. The Dec. 1, 2021 resolution reconsidered a January 2020 decision which dismissed Arroyo’s…

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The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) said it will continue to conduct unannounced checking of vehicles for illegal drugs and random drug testing of public utility vehicle drivers in the region to assure the safety of the commuting public, especially during the Holy Week break. PDEA-CAR Regional Director Gil Ceasario Castro said in a private message over social media on Monday that “we will do it anytime… sa mga (for the) driver when we see the need.” Castro said the “Oplan Harabas” done last…

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At least 1,700 personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) will secure various strategic areas in Western Visayas during the observance of the Holy Week. Cops will be deployed to man random checkpoints, establish police assistance desks, conduct mobile and detective patrols, and other crime prevention efforts to ensure a peaceful and orderly celebration, the Police Regional Office-Western Visayas (PRO-6) said in a statement. Lt. Col. Arnel Solis, the PRO-6 spokesperson, said in an interview on Monday the personnel will be fielded from the existing number of the lower police…

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Police arrested last month 41 individuals wanted for violating laws on women and children’s rights, the Police Regional Office – Caraga (PRO-13) reported Wednesday. In a statement, Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr., the PRO-13 director, said the arrests were made during the series of Simultaneous Anti-Criminality Law Enforcement Operations (SACLEO) conducted last month. Of the arrested persons, 18 were charged for violating the provisions of RA 8353, or the Anti-Rape Law of 1997, while 11 were charged under RA 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and…

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The Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed the Court of Appeals (CA) in ruling as void ad initio (from the start) the marriage between two persons due to the lack of a marriage license when they were wed. In a resolution uploaded last April 4, the SC Second Division turned down the petition filed by state lawyers contesting the 2018 decision of the CA which in turn affirmed the 2013 decision of the Caloocan regional trial court (RTC Branch 130) on the case for nullity of marriage filed by Reynold Q.…

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The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) confiscated about PHP432 million worth of suspected illegal drugs and arrested about 2,010 persons in more than 1,077 operations in March. NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Felipe Natividad said Wednesday the police also cleared 719 barangays of illegal drugs, equivalent to 42.19 percent out of more than 1,709 barangays. “The intensification of our anti-illegal drug campaign to attain our vision of a drug-free community for all is one of the key(s) towards the realization of our goal of keeping Metro Manila safe, peaceful, and…

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Malacañang on Wednesday brushed aside Senator Richard Gordon’s fresh tirade against President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s anti-narcotics drive. In a virtual presser, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, also acting presidential spokesperson, dismissed as a mere “political noise” the claim of Gordon that Duterte seemed to have failed to end the drug problem in the country. “As we all know, we are in the middle of the campaign season and this is part of the political noise,” Andanar said, when sought to react to the statement of Gordon, who is seeking reelection in…

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The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) has assured the public that Himamaylan City remains peaceful and orderly despite the series of clashes between government troops and communist rebels in its hinterland villages in the past several weeks. Lt. Abegael Donasco, the spokesperson of NOCPPO, said on Tuesday the encounters are just isolated cases and there is no need yet to deploy more police personnel to the area. “These do not mean that Himamaylan City is in danger or not safe. Rest assured, there is no peace and order threat…

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The Police Regional Office in Davao Region (PRO-11) has debunked allegations of the existence of illegal drug laboratories in the city. PRO-11 made the declaration in a statement Tuesday amid claims by detractors of President Rodrigo Duterte that his hometown is not that secured from illegal drugs. However, PRO-11 maintained that police units in the city are currently in the clearing stage of illegal drugs here, and that the allegations about the supposed drug laboratories were made in the heat of the campaign for the May 9 national and local…

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Prosecutors have ordered the filing of criminal charges against a delivery rider who threatened to kill presidential bet Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. via social media. In a statement Tuesday, the office of Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento said a bail of PHP72,000 was recommended for the temporary liberty of 49-year-old Michael Go, who was arrested Friday in Barangay Sta. Lucia, Quezon City. Two days earlier, Marcos’ camp already filed a complaint against Go, who denied he posted the alleged threat. The Grave Threat complaint under Article 282 of the Revised Penal…

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As part of efforts to advance its human rights advocacy, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a non-government organization (NGO) advocating human rights protection. AFP chief, General Andres Centino, and Sulong Peace Inc. (SPI) executive director Joeven Reyes-Escober inked the agreement in a ceremony held at the AFP general headquarters building in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. The MOU signing was facilitated by the AFP Center for Law of Armed Conflict (AFPCLOAC) headed by Brig. Gen. Joel Alejandro Nacnac. “The AFP remains…

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Results of the Bar examination taken in February will be released soon, the Supreme Court (SC) said Tuesday. Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, 2020-21 Bar Examinations Committee chairperson, on Tuesday asked for a special en banc session on April 12 for the purpose of considering his report on the first-ever digitalized and regionalized Bar examination and the release of its results, an SC statement read. The oath-taking of the successful examinees is scheduled on May 2, with all other details to be announced later. After a two-year hiatus and two postponements,…

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Police authorities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have created two special operations task groups to help ensure peaceful and orderly national and local elections. Brig. Gen. Arthur R Cabalona, Police Regional Office (PRO)-BARMM director, said Tuesday the task groups were created specifically for Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur provinces, where some places categorized by police as “areas of concern” have been identified. Cabalona, who will head of special task groups, said the Regional Special Operation Task Group (RSOTG) for Cotabato City and Maguindanao (COMAG) and the…

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Police and military officials said Tuesday criminal charges will be filed against members of the New People’s Army for the attack that killed a police officer and hurt five others in Las Navas, Northern Samar. “Charges will be filed against those responsible for the crime. We call upon the Commission on Human Rights to investigate this treacherous attack of the terrorist group. The use of anti-personnel mine clearly defies and violates the objectives of the International Human Rights Law in general,” Philippine National Police Eastern Visayas Regional Director Brig. Gen.…

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The crime rate in Central Luzon fell by 13.04 percent in the first quarter of this year, the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO-3) reported on Tuesday. Based on the Crime Information Reporting and Analysis System, a total of 8,858 crimes were recorded from January to March of this year which is 1,328 cases or 13.04 percent lower compared to the 10,186 cases in the same period of 2021. Brig. Gen. Matthew P. Baccay, regional director of PRO-3, said the reduction of crimes in the region can be attributed to the…

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Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Dionardo Carlo,s on Tuesday lauded the Police Regional Office in Central Luzon (PRO-3) for its significant gains in tracking down wanted persons and arresting erring persons during weeklong anti-crime operations from March 28 to April 4. Citing the report of PRO-3 director, Brig. Gen. Matthew Baccay, Carlos said a total of 368 arrested persons were arrested. These include 138 persons who have outstanding warrants of arrest, 25 of whom are most wanted; 118 nabbed for illegal drugs, 106 accosted for illegal gambling, while six…

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Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is a private individual who can defend himself in court, Malacañang said on Sunday. Acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar made the remark after the United States Department of Justice (US DOJ) announced that a co-accused of Quiboloy has agreed to cooperate with US federal authorities in prosecuting him in his cases in the US. “We reiterate that Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is a private individual. As such, he can defend himself in court in light of…

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The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday recommended that more or less 100 municipalities and 14 cities be placed under the red category for the May 9 elections. “In the last meeting, the red areas all over the country were 100 municipalities and 14 cities. Ngayon, titingnan namin yung update meron tayong color coded, meron tayong green, wala tayong magiging problema sa green areas. Yung yellow and orange binabantayan natin (Now we will look at the update we have color-coded, we have green, we will not have a problem with…

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A total of 118 drug suspects were arrested and some PHP1.4 million worth of illegal drugs were seized during week-long anti-crime operations in Central Luzon. In a statement on Monday, Brig. Gen. Matthew Baccay, director of the Police Regional Office-Central Luzon (PRO-3), said the operations from March 28 to April 4 were part of their continuing efforts to maintain peace and order in the region. Baccay said police operatives seized some 289 heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing shabu, which weighed 207.8 grams and with an estimated value of PHP1.4 million,…

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Anti-drug teams of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) arrested 70 suspects and seized PHP5.396 million worth of suspected shabu in various operations for the month of March. Data released on Monday showed a total of 793.53 grams of illegal drugs, priced at PHP6,800 per gram, were recovered during the said period. Col. Thomas Joseph Martir, police city director, commended the operating units for the “job well done” in continuing efforts to lessen criminality. “We will continue to give the Bacolodnons a safe and peaceful place to live,” he added. From…

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Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos on Monday has ordered to expedite dismissal proceedings against the police officer who is facing criminal and administrative complaints due to his addiction to ‘e-sabong’ (online cockfighting). Carlos said summary dismissal proceedings are underway against Lt. John Kevin Menes, 24, assigned with the PNP Drug Enforcement Group – Special Operations Unit – 4 (DEG– SOU4) of the Police Regional Office 4A (Calabarzon), who is now facing charges of estafa and illegal gambling. “His activity inside a gambling establishment is in violation of…

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The Department of Justice (DOJ) officials said they are still waiting for the formal report of the Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) to explain if prison rules had been breached in the grant of an interview to a person deprived of liberty (PDL) — retired lawmaker and Army general Jovito Palparan — aired by a local television station on Wednesday. “I have requested Bucor to submit a written (report) on the matter, they will comply,” said DOJ Undersecretary Deo Marco on Friday, echoing an earlier statement by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.…

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All 18 municipal police stations in Antique have been directed to maintain a 24-hour checkpoint within their respective localities this election period for the peaceful conduct of the May 2022 polls. Staff Sergeant John Mark Gonzaga, Antique Provincial Police Office (APPO) Information officer, in an interview on Friday, said the round-the-clock checkpoint was upon the order of provincial director, Col. Alexander Golles Mariano, also to prevent most wanted persons and loose firearms from being transported to the province that could be used to threaten or extort from candidates. Since the…

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The Supreme Court (SC) has turned down for being moot a petition filed by one of senior Department of Agriculture (DA) officials indicted in the cases in connection with the PHP700-million fertilizer fund scam uncovered by the Senate in 2005. In a resolution uploaded online on March 23, the SC’s First Division dismissed “for being moot and academic” the petition filed by retired former DA Regional Executive Director Roger C. Chio who died two years ago at the age of 74 questioning the Sandiganbayan’s decision to proceed with trying him…

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A police officer assigned at the Police Regional Office (PRO)-4A (Calabarzon) is now facing administrative and criminal cases for acts due to his addiction to e-sabong (online cockfighting). Based on the reports reaching Camp Crame on Thursday, the police officer was identified as Lt. John Kevin Menes, 24, assigned at PNP Drug Enforcement Group – Special Operations Unit – 4 (DEG– SOU4), PRO-4A, who is facing raps for estafa and illegal gambling. Menes, a graduate of the PNP Academy, was first restricted at the headquarters of the PRO-4A in Laguna…

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Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Thursday said his office will be eyeing the help of banks to check on cashless transactions used in vote-buying and electoral fraud. Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner George Garcia earlier said the poll body has received information regarding the use of cashless transactions for vote-buying in some areas. Guevarra, during the Laging Handa public briefing, said these cashless transactions may be even easier to prove due to a more evident paper trail to follow. “Palagay ko ay kung makikita na maliwanag na may pattern iyang…

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The Philippine National Police (PNP) regional office here has deployed the third batch of police officers to different parts of Eastern Visayas for a peacekeeping mission ahead of the May 9 elections. Some 408 policemen formally accepted their temporary assignment through a ceremony on Wednesday at the regional headquarters here, the PNP said in a media release on Thursday. Of the number, 255 are men and 153 women for deployment to the different town and city police stations in the region’s six provinces. “As the elections become nearer, we are…

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The chief of the Police Regional Office of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) condemned Monday the killing of this city’s public order and safety department head, in an attack over the weekend that also wounded a police officer. In a statement, Brig. Gen. Arthur R. Cabalona also appealed to witnesses to provide authorities with information that will help fast-track the investigation on the murder of retired Colonel Rolen Balquin, the city public order and safety head. “We appeal to whoever may have witnessed the incident to help…

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WASHINGTON – US President Joe Biden on Wednesday said he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is a “war criminal” as Moscow’s war on Ukraine is about to enter its fourth week. “I think he is a war criminal,” Biden told a reporter in an exchange. His remarks came a day after the US Senate passed a resolution seeking to back an investigation of war crimes into the Russian president for the war in Ukraine. Reports have repeatedly come out from Ukraine of Russian forces targeting civilian premises, including maternity hospital…

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MANILA – The special investigation task group (SITG) formed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) has identified four persons of interest in the attack on Infanta, Quezon Mayor Filipina Grace America last month. PNP chief, Gen. Dionardo Carlos, said Thursday the probers collected vital pieces of evidence such as the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage showing the possible suspects within the vicinity of the crime scene. During the third conference of SITG “America” along with the Election Related Incident Validation Committee, police investigators presented sworn statements from four personalities that are…

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MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed a petition filed by a Bulacan mayor questioning the recall petition filed against him in 2017. In a resolution uploaded to the SC website on March 11, the high court en banc “dismissed for having become moot and academic” the suit filed by former Pandi, Bulacan mayor Celestino T. Marquez following the end of his term in 2019. “Considering that the petition for recall… sought to remove petitioner during the remainder of his term which ended in 2019, we note that the…

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LEGAZPI CITY – The Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO-5) on Thursday intensified its efforts against any attempts to disturb the peace ahead of the Lenten celebration as the entire regional police force remains under full alert. Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, PRO-5 regional director, ordered all police units and stations to maximize patrol operations against those who might take advantage of the solemnity of the event. “As part of the preparation, PRO-5 shall deploy Road Safety Marshalls in convergence points particularly in bus terminals, airports, seaports, recreational areas including highways,…

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MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said there is no need for a loyalty check among police officers as it turned down calls for the establishment of a revolutionary government as a solution to the country’s corruption problem. “I don’t think there is a need for a loyalty check because it is clear that there is a proper chain of command. We will follow that. We know and respect the rights of our fellow Filipinos to speak their mind outside of the PNP. But we respect the…

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