Student yields marijuana leaves in Pateros
A 22-year-old student was arrested by police after he allegedly yielded suspected dried marijuana leaves during a buy-bust operation in Pateros City on Friday.
The police identified the suspect as Sherwin Babasa, an alternative learning system (ALS) student, and a resident of Barangay Aguho, Pateros City.
Colonel Joey Goforth, Pateros police chief, said school authorities were alarmed upon discovering that there was an illicit drug use among their students. It was later learned that Babasa was allegedly the source of marijuana in their campus.
A minor who was nabbed in a previous police operation also pointed Babasa as his source of illegal drugs, Goforth added.
According to Police Staff Sergeant Willex Daganta, case investigator, elements of the Pateros police's station drug enforcement unit (SDEU) apprehended Babasa during a buy-bust sting along E. Quiogue Street, Barangay Aguho at around 8:10 p.m.
Police seized one sachet of suspected dried marijuana leaves and P100 buy-bust money from the student’s possession.
Police added that Babasa persisted in his illegal drug activities despite undergoing a community-based rehabilitation program
Police said the student claimed that he was just a drug runner and not a drug pusher.
Babasa said that he obtains marijuana from someone who is a resident of another barangay. However, he refused to name his alleged drug supplier.
Babasa was included in the barangay watch list, according to police.
He is now under police custody and will be facing charges with violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (Michelle Guillang)
Victim catches pickpocket, turned over to police
A suspected pickpocket, who allegedly took the cellphone of a student while aboard an MRT-3 train, was arrested in Mandaluyong City Friday.Police identified the suspect as Renante Sol, 30, of Barangay Batasan Hills, Quezon City.
Investigation showed that at around 12:45 p.m. Friday, victim Christopher John Marzan, 20, and Sol were aboard a southbound MRT-3 train about to make a stop at Ortigas Station.
Police said Sol bumped Marzan and took his iPhone 6 plus worth P50,000 from his right short pocket before exiting the train.
After noticing the incident, Marzan ran after Sol who dropped the phone on the floor when Marzan caught up with the suspect and knocked him.
The victim then reported Sol to the on-duty police officer at the station who then placed the suspected pickpocket under arrest.
Case Investigator SPO1 Gregorio Acbay told the Manila Bulletin that Sol, who is facing a charge for pickpocketing, was subjected to inquest proceedings yesterday. (Jhon Aldrin Casinas)
Concerned citizen leads cops to arrest hitman, drug peddlerAn alleged hitman and drug peddler were collared in Parola Compound, Tondo, Manila yesterday afternoon.
Joselito Cañete, 55, fell into the hands of police while at Gate 12, Barangay 20, Zone 2 at around 1 p.m. on Friday.
Authorities said they received information from a concerned citizen that he was carrying a gun.
When they went to the place where the informant said the suspect would be, they caught him having a drug deal with a woman, identified as Maria Nelly Luna, 39 and a resident of the area.
The two were immediately arrested.
During frisking, police recovered a rusty colt 45 pistol with one magazine from Cañete. Cañete said that it was pawned to him.
Four sachets of shabu were also seized from the two suspects.
Investigators said Cañete is a known pusher of illegal drugs in the place. He is also linked to a number of killings there.
Last year, his son, Mark, was also busted in a police operation for drug trade and illegal possession of firearms. (Ria Fernandez)
Suspected hitmen arrested for illegal possession of firearms
Several high-powered firearms and various ammunition were confiscated from four individuals during the implementation of search warrants in BASECO Compound, Port Area, Manila early Saturday morning.
Armed with search warrants issued by Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 106 Judge Angelene Mary Quimpo-Sale for violation of Republic Act No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition, police arrested Rigor Espinosa, Edmund Cayanan, Roel Sarandin, and Jaime Rosini at around 1 a.m. on Mar. 23.
Joint elements of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and Manila Police District (MPD) served the first warrant to Espinosa at his residence at 2nd Street, Muelle del Rio where they found one pistol, one magazine, and six ammunition of caliber 45.
They then proceeded to the house of Cayanan, who is a barangay kagawad, at Block 17. Police seized one unit of 12 gauge Armscor shotgun and five pieces of shotgun ammunition.
Thereafter, they went to Sarandin and Rosini, who are both living near Cayanan’s place. A revolver and three pieces of live ammunition of caliber .38 were recovered from each of them.
Meanwhile, search warrants were also served to Dante Baluya and Randy Escote, who are also neighbors at Block 17, however, authorities found no evidence.
On the sidelines of their operation, police caught a group of men gambling.
Gabby Ayob, one of the suspects, was in possession of an unidentified gun and illegal drugs.
According to CIDG-Manila chief Police Chief Insp. Leandro Gutierrez, some of the apprehended persons have links to a gun-for-hire group. (Ria Fernandez)
Four drug suspects nabbed by police in Pasay
A tip from an informant led to the arrest of four alleged drug suspects in Pasay City on Friday. Three of them were caught by police while in the middle of a shabu session.
Police arrested helpers Edgar Salazar, 42; Richard Cajes, 35; and Mardric Togonon, 32. Authorities said Togonon is included in the drugs watch list of the Pasay City Police Station. Also apprehended was Mark Lester Sandoval, 32, jobless. They are all residents of Zone 15, Pasay City.
Investigation showed that Police Major Armando Yu dispatched operatives to conduct a Simultaneous Anti-Criminality and Law Enforcement Operation (SACLEO) along Champaca Street, Barangay 137 at around 5:50 p.m.
The operation was conducted after police received a telephone call from an informant tipping them off about the illegal drug trade taking place in front of Salazar's house.
Upon their arrival, operatives found Salazar standing in front of his house and toying one sachet containing white substances.
Police said Salazar immediately ran inside his house when he saw the approaching policemen, and then a brief chase ensued.
During the encounter, Cajes, Togonon, and Sandoval were caught engaging in a pot session inside Salazar's house.
Authorities seized from their possession two sachets of suspected shabu and drug paraphernalia including a lighter and foil with traces of shabu.
Cases for violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are being prepared for filing against them. (Michelle Guillang)
Fire hits warehouse in Caloocan
At least P17.5 million worth of property was destroyed in a fire that hit a warehouse in Sta. Quiteria, Caloocan City on Friday evening.
Supt. Stephen Requina, city fire marshal, said that one person was injured.
Initial investigation showed that the fire that engulfed the Hahsy Industries, Inc. reached first alarm at around 7:40 p.m. and was raised to the fifth alarm at around 8:04 p.m.
The Caloocan City Bureau of Fire Protection declared fire out at around 12:05 a.m. on Saturday, but the firefighters returned to the warehouse in the late morning to continue a mop-up operation.
The firefighters had difficulty to put out the flames as the warehouse was full of plastic materials, the report added.
At least 60 fire personnel responded to the incident.
Requina said that they are still investigating the cause of the incident. (Joseph Almer Pedrajas)
Minors hurt in Taguig stabbing incidents
Two minors on their way home were hurt in separate stabbing incidents in Taguig City on Friday.
One of the victims was identified as Esmerald Gabriel, 16, a resident of Capistrano Compound, Barangay Ibayo-Tipas, Taguig City. Gabriel is currently confined at the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital.
Police identified the suspect as Ian Victoria, a resident of Barangay Ususan, Taguig City. Victoria remains at large.
Investigation showed that the incident occurred at around 1:10 in the morning at Pulong Kendi, Barangay Sta. Ana, Taguig City.
Police said that the victim was on her way home from a birthday party when the suspect, armed with a bladed weapon, suddenly appeared out of nowhere and blocked her way.
For no particular reason, he then started stabbing the victim before fleeing to an undisclosed direction. The victim was able to ask assistance from the Taguig Rescue Team and was brought to the hospital for treatment.
At around 5 in the afternoon on the same day, Heaven Matuguina, 14, was also stabbed at Maharlika Park, Maharlika Village, Taguig City. He is also confined at the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital.
Investigation showed that the victim and his classmates were on their way home after practicing for their school project. While on their way, a group of minors blocked their way and challenged them to a fistfight.
Matuguina's group did not react until one of the minors brought out a Swiss army knife and started stabbing the victim. They were able to ask for assistance and he was brought to the hospital while the unidentified suspects were able to escape. (Dhel Nazario)
Woman shot dead in front of daughter
A woman, who could have been pregnant with her fifth child, was killed by an unidentified gunman in front of her daughter in their house at Barangay San Roque, Navotas City on Friday evening.
Chief Supt. Aldrin Thompson identified the victim as Romelyn Jane Sioson, 28.
She left behind four children, aged 4, 5, 6, and 12. Residents in the area said Sioson was pregnant with her fifth child, but Thompson said they have yet to verify this.
The victim was in the police's drug watchlist, Thompson added.
Investigation showed that Sioson, along with her eldest daughter, was cleaning her house when an armed man entered and shot her repeatedly in different parts of her body.
The victim died on the spot after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds, while the gunman fled.
Retrieved from the crime scene were two fired cartridge cases, a fired bullet, a cartridge, and drug paraphernalia.
Sioson's body was brought to Eusebio Funeral Homes for autopsy examination.
Follow-up operation is ongoing. (Minka Klaudia Tiangco)
Indian student arrested in a checkpoint for a string of violations
An Indian student was arrested on Friday night after he was caught driving a motorcycle with no driver's license while allegedly intoxicated in Las Piñas City.
The man was identified by police as Bhupesh Singhmar, 24, a resident of Torre Sur, Pamplona Tres, Las Piñas City. Singhmar is a student of the Perpetual College.
Investigation showed that he was flagged down at around 11 in the evening in front a convenience store at Ocampo Street corner Alabang-Zapote Road, Pamplona Tres in the city.
Singhmar was arrested by elements of the Police Community Precinct 3 at a Comelec checkpoint in the area.
According to police, it turned out that the suspect whilst not wearing a crash helmet, was also unable to produce a driver's license, and was also under the influence of alcohol.
He was later brought to the investigation section and is now under the custody of the Las Piñas City Police for filing of appropriate charges. (Dhel Nazario)
74-year-old man arrested for possession of firearms and ammunition
A 74-year-old man who was found to have several unlicensed firearms in his residence was arrested by the police on Thursday evening.
The Valenzuela City Police (VCP) identified the arrested suspect as Alberto Mariano, caretaker, a native of Mountain Province and resident of the said city.
Investigation showed that joint elements of Station Intelligence Branch and VCP Community Precinct 6 and 7 conducted a raid, armed with a search warrant, at the house of Mariano in Dalandanan, Valenzuela at around 8:45 p.m.
Upon arrival at the area, the police discovered one unit of unlicensed Blue Armscor 12-gauge shotgun with four live ammunition and one unlicensed caliber 9mm Taurus with four live ammunition.
The arrested suspect and the seized items are now under police custody for proper disposition. (Joseph Almer Pedrajas)