THE ROXAS night market bombing and self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato dragging the names of the President and local PNP officials during the senate hearing on extra-judicial killings were two of the top police stories for the year.
But there were other juicy issues as well. Here are some of the top stories in the crime beat that we’ve come across.
POLICE investigators scour the blast site in the Roxas night market.
Davao bombing
Fifteen persons died and 69 injured when an improvised exlosive device (IED) exploded at the massage area of the Roxas night market on Sept. 2 in the evening.
Authorities are investigating a former police officer, identified as PO2 Jessy Vincent Guinto Original, and four others in their link to the bombing.
Alias Abu Aisha was arrested in a police-army checkpoint at Sitio South Madalum, Barangay Nabalawag, Barira in Maguindanao on Dec. 22 around 4 p.m. Also arrested with Original were Arumpac Ibrahim Pandita, Hamsa Bagul, Musa Rasamal and Mohammad Said Jamla.
Two months ago, police arrested Mohammad Lalaog Chenikandiyil alias Datu Boi, Jackson Mangulamas Usi alias Abu Mansor/Jam, Zack Villanueva Lopez alias Haron, and Ansan Abdulla Mamasapano alias Abu Hamsa after they were tagged in the terror attack.
Prior to that, TJ Tagadaya Macabalang, Wendel Factural, and Musaili Mustapha were also arrested. Police also seized the mobile phone containing the video footage prior to the bombing.
‘False and malicious,’ Dubria on EJK claims
In September this year, the chief of the Davao City Police Office described the testimony of senate witness Edgar Matobato in the extrajudicial killings as “false and malicious.”
“Those are false and malicious statements,” DCPO chief, Senior Supt. Michael John Dubria, said. “Actually, the accusations are all hearsays and it is not supported with evidence.”
Matobato, a self-confessed member of Davao Death Squad (DDS), claimed that then mayor and now president, Rodrigo Duterte, had ordered the killings of drug pushers, rapists, snatchers, terrorists, political rivals and even civilians.
Matobato also named SPO4 Arthur Lascanas, Supt. Antonio Rivera, now retired Col. Dionisio Abude and Reynaldo Capote as among those in the DDS operations.
“I don’t see any evidence implicating these police officers (to the allegation),” Dubria said.The DCPO chief said they don’t tolerate extrajudicial killings in the city.“It is not tolerated since it is illegal,” he said.
Dubria said he doesn’t personally know Matobato, but admitted he had heard the name even before the Senate hearing.“I don’t know if he is the same guy,” he added.
For his part, Rivera, now a senior superintendent, who is assigned as Dubria’s deputy director for administration, said he is not a member of the DDS.“There is no DDS,” Rivera said.
While admitting that he saw Matobato before, he really doesn’t know the self-proclaimed DDS hitman. Rivera also admitted he was once assigned to PAOCTF.
RELEASED Norwegian hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad meet President Rodrigo Duterte.
Abducted Norweigian freed
On Sept. 19, President Rodrigo Duterte presented Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad to the media after he was released on Sept. 17 at Barangay Kagay in Patikul, Sulu to former ARMM governor Nur Misuari and Sakur Tan II, Sulu governor.
Duterte presented Sekkingstad to the press at Matina Enclaves in the city along with Presidential Peace Adviser Sec. Jesus Dureza and Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Erik Forner.
Duterte praised the efforts of Peace Secretary Jesus Dureza and former MNLF chair Nur Misuari whom he said worked tirelessly and patiently for the release of the kidnap victim,
“I would also like to thank Sakur Tan. It was a long negotiation and we were able to recover Kjartan alive,” Duterte said.
Sekkingstad was abducted by the Abu Sayyaf Group in Ocean View Resort in the Island Garden City of Samal on Sept. 21, 2015.
Only Sekkingstad and Marites Flor were released while the other victims, Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall were both killed. Flor was released last June 24..
Dureza also told reporters that three Indonesians who were also hostaged were released and turned over to their representative in Jolo . They immediately left for Jakarta.
Looking at Sekkingstad, Dureza said “now, you are a free man.”
Five cops released
On April 25, a hero’s welcome was given to the chief of Paquibato Police and his four personnel upon their release after more than a week of being held captive by the New People’s Army.
Mr. Duterte facilitated their release and promised the five officers a Hong Kong trip with their families after the May elections.
Chief Insp. Leonardo Tarongoy, chief of Paquibato Police, PO3 Rosenie L. Cabuenas, PO3 Rudolf Pacete, PO3 Abdul Azis A. Ali Jr and PO2 Neil C. Arellano were released at Barangay Lumiad in Paquibato District.
They were received by Chief Supt. Manuel Rabago Gaerlan and City Police Director Sr. Supt. Vicente D. Danao Jr. at the Parade Ground of Camp Quintin Merecido .
Last April 16, Tarongoy and four police officers were held by NPA after they went to Barangay Mapula in Paquibato District to investigate the attack on a detachment at 11:45 a.m. of April 16.
Prior to the incident, one militiaman and a civilian were wounded after the rebels attacked and burned the army detachment in Barangay Salapawan at 7:30 a.m. of the same day.
According to the report, Ricky Aguio, a barangay peace and order unit member of Barangay Mapula, called Chief Insp. Leonardo Tarongoy, commander of Paquibato police and reported that the 72nd IB detachment was attacked by communist rebels.
At 8:45 a.m. Tarongoy brought along PO3 Rosenie Cabuenas, PO3 Abdul Asiz Ali, PO2 Neil Arellano to investigate. They failed to come back.
Later, Gina Ordas, 47, said that her husband, Ronald, the mobile patrol driver, was abducted along with the police officers.
Army joins fight vs. drugs
The army is joining the fight against drugs. Aside from strengthening its anti-terrorism operations; the army’s Eastern Mindanao Command also intensifies its support to law enforcement operations following also the mandate of President Rodrigo Duterte in the fight against illegal drugs.
Maj. Ezra Balagtey, EastMinCom spokesperson, said this was the order of Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, EastMinCom commander, to his subordinate commanders during the command conference at Naval Station Felix Apolinario, Panacan.
Guerrero directed his unit commanders to coordinate closely with their local police counterparts.
Balagtey said the tasks that Guerrero ordered are “to intensify intelligence gathering on illegal drug personalities and other security threats and to conduct anti and counter-terrorism activities in the area”.
Balagtey said the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ EastMincom and the Police National Police’s Directorate for Integrated Police Operations Eastern Mindanaorecently signed a Joint Action Plan for the matter.
Police arrest over libel case overkill, broadcaster claims
In February, a radio personality from Digos City cried foul over how the police arrested him in connection to the five counts of libel filed against him by the former vice governor of Davao del Sur.
Police arrested Arvin Malaza alias Jun Blanco on the complaint of Arsenio Latasa.
Malaza’s troubles started in early August when he made Latasa, who was also former Digos City mayor, the object of his criticism over his radio and television programs aired over cable TV.
The broadcaster alleged that Latasa enriched himself while in public office.
He also insinuated that Latasa – whom he called names on air – was behind the extra-judicial killings of suspected criminals when he was mayor of Digos City from 1992 to 2010.
Malaza’s other accusation was that Latasa had an affair with the wife of another broadcaster and probably had fathered a child with her.
The wife of the said broadcaster also filed on Sept. 9 at least 11 counts of libel against Malaza at the City Prosecutor’s Office.
All in all, Malaza reportedly faced about 250 libel counts on complaints from Latasa and others whom the broadcaster allegedly maligned in his program.
Malaza owns and operates Muews Radio and Muews TV in Digos.
Millions-worth of illegal drug torched
More or less P2.1 million worth of illegal drugs were burned by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-XI) at around 3 p.m. at Magsaysay Park.
In an interview at PDEA-XI office, spokesperson Nephi Noli Dimaandal said the confiscated drugs were seized in different buy-busts, raids and the application of search warrants in the city.
They recorded more or less P1.5 million worth shabu, P36,000 worth of cocaine and P600,000 marijuana.
“These are all decided cases, 124 cases in Regional Trial Court Branch 9 and 33 in Branch 13,” he said.
150 has. of flora, fauna burned in Mt. Apo fire
On April 7, the Bureau of Fire and Protection in the region claimed that 150 hectares of flora and fauna were burned by the Mt. Apo fire, which started on Black Saturday.
Fire Sr. Insp. Nestor Jimenez, spokesperson of the BFP-XI, said that based on their assessment, about 151 hectares were damaged by fire which, although significant, is still only half of the initial estimates.
The Philippine Air Force Huey rescue helicopter that flew in from Cebu City dumped drums of water over Mt. Apo’s Sta Cruz trail.
Philippine Eagle survives shooting
On Feb. 24, Matatag, a Philippine Eagle released in January last year, was winged by a bullet from residents of Barangay Tambobong, Baguio District.
Meanwhile, suspects Tiburcio S. Aparecio, 24, and brother Rolando S. Aparecio, 18, appeared at the Baguio Police Precinct to own up to the shooting.
Arson at Haran?
On Feb. 25, police investigators verified reports of armed men torching two dormitories inside the UCCP Haran compound around 2:30 a.m. along Fr. Selga Street that injured two children and four other Lumads.
According to Crestoni Latiban Monzon, secretary general of Pasaka farmers group, one of the temporary shelters near gate 2 was deliberately set on fire.
Among those injured were Magno Kulot, 14; Odessa Dumol, 12; Loloy Manayap, 30, and his 2-year-old son, all residents of Talaingod, Davao Del norte.
After a few minutes, they heard an explosion from Gregorio Gonzales dorm occupied by students before the flames started to spread to the adjacent dorm.
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