From the Vera Files: PNP vows to dismantle Samar’s two remaining private armies

CATBALOGAN CITY—As the start of the campaign period for the May 13 elections draws near, the Philippine National Police in Eastern Visayas is pursuing the remaining members of two partisan/private armed groups (PAGs) in hotspot Samar to ensure a “secured and fair elections.”

“Our main goal in this campaign is to make sure that it is really the sovereign will of the people that are reflected in the election results and not due to fear, violence and intimidation,” said Chief Superintendent Elmer R. Soria, Eastern Visayas police director.

The PNP defines PAG as a group of two or more persons being used by a certain politician or individual to sow fear or intimidation, possessing legal or illegal firearms to advance political interest.

In Samar, police identified the remaining PAGs as the Moloboco group and the Montealto group. The groups are allegedly funded by members of political clans in power. The province is among the 15 priority election watchlist areas of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

As early as last September, the PNP began moving to dismantle the two PAGs. (read more . . . )

from the LSDE: PNP-8 to delpoy more cops in Samar Province

Tacloban City - Close to 100 policemen will be deployed to Samar Province, identified as one of the hot spot areas in the country relative to the forthcoming May 13, 2013 midterm election. (read more ...)

from the LSDE: PAG leader in Samar slain

Tacloban City - A leader of a notorious partisan armed group (PAG) in the province of Samar was killed by elements of the Regional Special Operations Task Group (RSOTG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Visayas, according to an official. (read more ...)

PNP, Comelec, private sector urge politicians, bets on peace covenant

Camp Ruperto Kangleon, Palo, Leyte - The Philippine National Police and the Commission on Elections together with the private sector are urging politicians and those who will be running in the forthcoming elections to join them in a peace covenant signing that will make politicians promise to abide by the law and ensure peaceful and orderly election by not engaging in the hiring of private armed groups. (read more ...)

PRO8 partners with Church for peaceful May 2013 polls

Bishop Isabelo Abarquez confers with PNP-8 Regional Director PCSUPT Elmer Soria during a visit last December 8, 20132 at the Bishop's House. Present during the meeting were officers of PRO8's Regional Special Operations Task Force. (LSDE photo)

Camp Ruperto Kangleon, Palo, Leyte - The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) will be partnering with the Roman Catholic Church to help ensure the peaceful conduct of the midterm elections next year, especially in the province of Samar. (read more ...)

PRO-8 readies security plan for 2013 polls

Camp Ruperto Kangleon, Palo, Leyte - The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) is now preparing to ensure a peaceful and orderly electoral exercise next year. (read more ...)

Walk for Peace held in Calbayog

In celebration of the National Month of Peace, a "Walk for Peace with Mama Mary" was held in Calbayog yesterday. The event which was jointly organized by the Diocese of Calbayog and the LGU-City of Calbayog was participated in by student and members of various religious and non-religious organization. The walk commenced in front of the City Hall and was capped by the celebration of the Holy Eucharist the the Nijaga Park.

Bishop Isabelo Abarquez and Mayor Ronaldo Aquino as they led the release of the doves. In photo are Rev. Fr. Julio Gaddi,  Dr. Socorro Bohol and PCInsp Eifronio Obong, Jr.

PNP Opens Crime Lab in Calbayog

Mayor Ronald Aquino shakes hand with PNP Crime Lab Director Chief Supt Lorlie Arroyo after they inked a MOA for the establishment of the PNP Crime Lab in Calbayog City. Also in photo are PSupt Rea Villavicencio and PNP Samar PD PSupt Eusebio Mejos. The Crime Lab is located on the 2nd floor of the Calbayog City Convention Center.

Mayor Aquino's message during the blessing of the SOCO Crime Laboratory

The SOCO Crime Laboratory in Calbayog City was formally inaugurated last Friday, April 20, 2012). The said laboratory is located on the 2nd floor of the Calbayog City Convention Center. Mayor Ronaldo Aquino was invited as the guest of honor during the said event. Here's my raw video of the City Mayor as he delivered his message.

RPA rollcall of PNP

Mayor Ronald Aquino conducted an headcount of the PNP Police Force in Calbayog. It was done this morning following a memorandum issued by DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo. The activity was held in front of the City Hall.

New PNP Chief for Calbayog

Calbayog has a new Chief of Police. Police Chief Inspector Eufronio Obong formally took over his post as the new PNP Chief during the Turn-over Ceremony last Monday (January 9, 2012) at the Calbayog PNP Headquarters. In attendance were Calbayog City Mayor Ronald Aquino and PNP Samar Provincial Director Police Chief Superintendent Nolasco Bathan. 

Here are some raw videos which I took during the turn-over ceremonies.

PCInsp Elmer Cinco delivering his message

PCIsnp Eufronio Obong delivering his message

New Calbayog PNP Chief vows to crush private armed groups

by Ninfa B Quirante


CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Jan. 10 (PIA) -- The newly appointed Calbayog City Police Chief vows to crush private armed groups, and end illegal gambling and illegal drug trade in this prime city of Samar.


In a report aired over Radyo ng Bayan-Calbayog, reporter Gene Navilon said that yesterday, Police Provincial Director Nolasco Bathan officiated the turn over of command from Police Chief Inspector Elmer Cinco to PChief Inspector Eufronio Obong at the Calbayog City Police Station.


“I warn the PNP elements who maybe protectors of illegal traders to shape up as the public needs the PNP not only to maintain peace and order, and prevent crimes but we also need their confidence in us,” Obong said.


Bathan challenged the new chief and members of the police force to persevere in the quest to preserve Calbayog City’s peace and order. (with Gene Navilon DYOG NBQ/PIA 8-Samar)

New Police Car and Firetruck for Calbayog

Five days ago (January 5, 2012), Calbayog City received a new Police Patrol Car and a new Fire Truck. Congressman Mel Sarmiento and Mayor Ronald Aquino were present during the blessing and turnover program. Rev. Fr. Armando Cagomoc led the prayer of blessing. Police Chief Inspector Elmer Cinco led the officers and men of PNP Calbayog in the said activity.

Congressman Mel Sarmiento and Mayor Ronaldo Aquino as they took time to pose with Fr. Armando Cagomoc and PCInsp Elmer Cinco after the blessing and turnover of the vehicles.

images from the funeral

Here are some more pictures I got from Kim and Jan Fortaleza. Taken during the funeral of Mayor Uy at the St. Ignatius Memorial Park.

Sketches of Mayor Uy’s killers released

Sketches of Calbayog City mayor’s killers released

INQUIRER.net
First Posted 17:27:00 05/04/2011
Filed Under: Crime, Police, Local authorities, local officials

MANILA, Philippines – Composite sketches of suspects tagged in the killing of Calbayog City Mayor Reynaldo Uy were released by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Wednesday.

The sketches, according to CIDG Director Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr., were based on the accounts of a number of witnesses.

Uy, who was also the provincial chairman of the Liberal Party, was shot dead on April 30 while attending a show at the town’s social hall.

(READ MORE . . . )

Family says it's politically motivated

Family says it's politically motivated
By Marlon A. Taño (The Freeman)

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines - "It`s a highly planned and politically motivated murder done by a corrupted criminal who hide in his or her mother's skirt, as what our dialect would call as "talawan" or coward.

This was part of the official statement aired to the local media Monday night by the bereaved family of Calbayog City Mayor Reynaldo Uy who was shot dead by a still unidentified gunman during the vesper's day of the Hinabangan town fiesta in Samar Saturday evening, April 30.

The official statement was read by Uy's eldest daughter Rosa Jessica Delgado at the St. Peter Funeral Homes in this city, a day before the mayor's remains was brought to his hometown in Calbayog City.

Delgado, in the statement, said that "her father's political legacy to change Samar was the main reason why he was assassinated. Our Dad was a good leader, he believed in change and reform. Most politicians would say the same line but the people of Samar believed that my father already made it happen."

The mayor's daughter did not talk about any pertinent details on the killing saying that the family will just wait for the official results of the investigation now conducted by the PNP Task Force Uy.

"His death is not the end, but the beginning of a new journey. His death will also serve as an instrument to unite all Samareños for one great purpose: To change Samar and make it known nationally as a loving and beautiful place not the feared province ravaged by political killings during elections," Delgado said.

At about 7 a.m. yesterday, the remains of Uy was transported to Calbayog City, accompanied by a convoy of hundreds of supporters with some sympathizers putting up placards along the national highway declaring their support for the mayor's advocacy for a united Samar province.

A day after the assassination of the city mayor, Samar Governor Sharee-Ann Tan Delos Santos, in a radio interview on Sunday, belied insinuations that she and her family were behind the killing for political reasons.

Delos Santos, a daughter of former governor and now representative of Samar's 2nd district, declared that it was never her family's act to resort to any violence against political rivals, and that her respect for the mayor remains intact to this day.

"I would like to tell my fellow Samareños that we have no knowledge about the killing. We have differences in our political beliefs but we cannot afford to resort to violence against a person whom I respect so much. We have been in the same political party when I first run for Congress in 2004; unfortunately we parted ways but it was part of politics," said the governor.

Delos Santos said she already asked Police Regional Office-8 director Chief Supt. Arnold Revilla to fasttract the investigation that would identify and arrest the perpetrators so that her name and that of her family will also be cleared. "We want this case be resolved immediately, so truth will come out on who are responsible in this killing," she said.

Revilla earlier said he was not discounting the possibility that the killing of Uy has something to do with politics considering that he led a recall petition against the governor.

The governor however said the recall petition was not enough to convince her and her family to kill any one. She assured any investigating agency of her cooperation at any time in the investigation.

Delos Santos admitted that, on Saturday afternoon, she was also in Hinabangan town for the rice and Philhealth distribution to five barangays. She said she was even invited by some of her political leaders in the area to attend the town fiesta dance but she politely declined.

The wake for the mayor is now held in Calbayog City where thousand of political supporters wearing yellow shirts and ribbons came to pay their respects.

Representative Mel Senen Sarmiento (1st district, Samar) lamented over what he termed as a tragedy in the city. He said he lost a friend and a political partner who had been pursuing development of the province to improve the lives of the constituents. He asked the officials of the police and the NBI to work to resolve the case so that justice for the mayor will be served the soonest possible time.

According to Revilla, there are now two eyewitnesses in custody of the PRO-8 for further investigation. He hoped that an artist's sketch of the gunman would be completed, leading to the identification of the perpetrators. "We are optimistic to finish the investigation, of course with the cooperation of the witnesses," he said.

— with reports from Miriam Garcia Desacada (FREEMAN)

Candidates' Forum to be held today

In an effort to educate or inform the local voters for the forthcoming elections, the Samar Partnership for Peace and Development (SPPADE) will spearhead a "Candidates' Forum".

The said forum will be held at 8:00 am today at the Julio Cardinal Rosales Hall of the Centennial Pastoral Center.

SPPADE counts among its members the Dioceses in Samar through its Social Action Centers (SAC), the AFP, the PNP and various NGOs.