PCP commander and jail guard fired after seven inmates escaped in Antipolo A PCP commander and a jailer were fired after 7 inmates managed to escape from their detention cell in Antipolo City,  Monday morning. Removed from their post were P/Lt. Amador Razo PCP-2 commander and duty jail guard PLt. Christian Lagac. They are presently being investigated by the Rizal PNP  to determine their command responsibility for the escape of the prisoners. The jail escapees were identified as  Dominic Gabanez, Adrian Demetrio, Angelo Roberto, Russel Martinez, Murphy Sison, Benedict Belmonte, and Edward Magalo. The escaped prisoners have cases of robbery holdup, carnapping, illegal possession of drugs among others. Report reaching the Rizal PNP Command showed that the inmates managed to escape by scaling the gate bars around 3:30 a.m of the  Community Precinct 2 jail.  The said incident was discovered only during a head count. One of the escapee Edward Magalo was back in jail after he was surrendered by his relatives to the authorities yesterday. It was gathered that the inmates were supposed to be transferred to a new detention cell. Thus, a  headcount was conducted that led to the discovery of the incident. Police are now conducting a follow-up investigation to recapture the other inmates. (Madelynne Dominguez) Six drug suspects nabbed in buy-bust op, P20,000 worth of shabu seized Six drug suspects including siblings and two male minors were arrested by the police after yielding more than P20,000 worth of shabu during a buy-bust in Quezon City on Monday. Police Lt. Col. Jeffrey Bilaro, chief of Quezon City Police Station 8 (PS-8), said siblings Francis Lovina, 29, and Rosalinda Lovina, 49 were nabbed along with their cohorts Djusa Duran, 27, Arnold Buco, 40, and two other minors, in a drug sting in Barangay Krus Na Ligas. It appears that all the arrested suspects were newly-identified drug personalities of Barangay Krus Na Ligas except Duran who has a pending case for illegal drugs and posted bail for her temporary liberty. A police report showed that personnel of the PS-8 Drug Enforcement Unit conducted a buy-bust operation against the younger Lovina along Tiburcio Extension around 1:30 a.m. An undercover police officer transacted with the suspect who was with his companions and purchased P300 worth of shabu which resulted in the group's arrest. Seized from the group were nine sachets of shabu with an estimated street value of P20,400, and the buy-bust money. Arrested suspects are now under police custody and were charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Meanwhile, rescued minors were turned over to Quezon City Social Services Development Department for proper intervention. (Alexandria San Juan) Police encourage students to report incidents of bullying Following the opening of classes today, Eastern Police District director Brig. Gen. Christopher Tambungan encouraged students to report incidents of bullying. “Students should immediately report incidents of bullying to Police Assistance Desks established within the vicinity of schools,” Tambungan told the Manila Bulletin on Monday. “We will not let this pass. We have the law known as the Anti-Bullying Act,” he said. The Philippine National Police has earlier formed a task group to help address bullying in schools. PNP spokesperson Col. Bernard Banac has advised victims to report incidents of bullying to authorities for the immediate conduct of an investigation, with the approval of school officials. ‘Peaceful’ opening of classes As of writing, Tambungan said the opening of classes among schools in the eastern metro is “peaceful.” “So far, it's peaceful. No reported an untoward incident related to ‘Balik Eskwela,’” the EPD chief said. To ensure safety and security of students, the EPD said it had deployed over 3000 police personnel to 244 public and private schools in the cities of Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, and Marikina. A total of 102 Police Assistance Desks were also established near schools. Safety fliers were also distributed to students that contained safety tips on what to do in case of emergency. For concerns regarding bullying or any crimes, the EPD encouraged the public to contact the District’s Tactical Operations Center at 641-0877 and 09177283790. They could also report violations by sending them a message on their Facebook account EPD Ang Pamamarisan and on Twitter @epdpio. “Security is our top priority and our personnel is more than ready to extend assistance to the public school that requested our assistance for a safe, orderly and peaceful learning environment for the incoming students,” Tambungan said in a statement sent to the media on Sunday. (Jhon Aldrin Casinas) 2 arrested for trying to rob a posh bar in Makati City Two men were arrested after they tried to rob a posh bar in Makati City and its customers on Monday morning. Makati police said Jonathan Romero, 42, and Jordan Nadonga, 39, posed as employees of a company that provides water services to enter the bar. The suspects, according to a police report, entered the Mariko KTV Bar in Barangay San Lorenzo, Makati around 8:30 a.m. Upon entering the bar, Romero and Nabonga wore their black face masks then declared hold-up at gunpoint. The suspects asked the bar’s valet guard about the location of the safety vault. But, Romero and Nabonga sensed that cops were about to enter the establishment to arrest them. Someone inside the bar already alerted the authorities regarding the ongoing robbery, probers said. The suspects then hastily went out through the fire exit located at the back of the bar. It was learned that they did not get anything from the bar and its customers. Responding policemen, and barangay watchmen were able to go after the suspects and collar them. Seized from them were the two guns they used during their attempt to rob the posh bar. Romero and Nabonga are now under the custody of Makati police. (Jel Santos) Two robbers known for "agaw armas" modus arrested Two notorious robbers known for their "agaw armas" modus were apprehended by police at a checkpoint in Muntinlupa City and a follow-up operation in Biñan, Laguna on Sunday. The suspects were identified by police as Virgilio Baldrias, 32, and Fab Curitina 21. Police found out that Curitina as the number five most wanted person in Muntinlupa City. Investigation showed that they Baldrias was arrested at 3:30 in the afternoon along Putatan National Road, in front of Weidmanns Plaza, Barangay Putatan, Muntinlupa City while Curitina was arrested at around 4:30 in the afternoon at St. Francis IV Village, Barangay Halang. Biñan City, Laguna. Police said that were conducting checkpoint when they noticed Baldrias riding a Suzuki Raider 150 motorcycle without helmet heading towards Alabang. When he noticed the police officers at the checkpoint, he immediately turned back heading towards the southbound lane but his motorcycle suddenly stopped due to mechanical trouble. Immediately police confronted the suspect and noticed that he tried to draw out a gun from his black sling bag but failed. Baldrias then divulged that the motorcycle and the recovered firearm were owned by Curitina, alias Ace Lopena and revealed to police his safehouse. Joint operatives of the Muntinlupa City Police Warrant and Intelligence Section armed with an arrest warrant then conducted a follow-up operation against Curitina at Brgy. Halang, St. Francis IV Village, Biñan City, Laguna. After several hours, they saw him attempting to alight on one Yamaha NMAX motorcycle, which prompted police to rush in and arrest him but he tried to resist and attempted to draw his gun, but was taken down by the arresting lawmen. They recovered from his possession and control one Glock 9mm, with one magazine loaded with 11 pieces of live ammunition with tampered PNP markings and serial number. During the confrontation, one unidentified person believed to be the suspect's companion ran and escaped leaving one Yamaha Mio color yellow black. The law enforcers also recovered from the compartment of Yamaha Nmax one Armscor 200, Caliber .38 revolver loaded with five pieces of live ammunition and one Armscor Caliber 9mm pistol with one magazine loaded with four pieces of live ammunition. Further investigation revealed that the suspects were responsible in a series of Robbery “Agaw Armas” incidents one with Frustrated Homicide that transpired at about 3:30 AM on April 24 in Paranaque City wherein the victim was a police officer assigned at PNP Crime Laboratory, Camp Crame, Quezon City. Cases for Violation of R.A 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearms) in relation to Omnibus Election Code is now being prepared against the suspects to be referred at the City Prosecutor’s Office of Muntinlupa City. (Dhel Nazario) Two robbers posing as taxi drivers to victimize people nabbed in Caloocan Two men who were allegedly posing as taxi drivers and robbing passengers were arrested by authorities on Sunday evening. The Caloocan City Police identified them as Richie Cruz, 42 and Ryan Espadero, 30, both residents of Tondo, Manila. Their modus, the police said, was that one of them would pose as a taxi driver and the other would serve as a lookout while onboard a motorcycle. An arresting officer added that their recent victims were Chinese-looking passengers, based on the identification cards that they recovered from them. P/Col. Noel Flores, Caloocan City police chief, said that the two, who were both onboard a taxi bearing a fake plate number ABF 9368, were nabbed when members of the anti-carnapping unit were conducting a checkpoint operation on Mabini Street, Caloocan City at around 11 p.m. They were cornered in Gagalangin, Manila after a police chase when they tried to escape after they were flagged down for their tampered taxi sticker. Cruz, who was driving the car, reportedly showed a fake license when the authorities asked for his verification, police said. Meantime, Espadero, who was on the passenger’s seat, allegedly pulled out a .38 caliber pistol during the confrontation, prompting the authorities to arrest them. Seized from them were their vehicle, a fake car plate, a Balisong, a caliber .38 firearm, five pieces of .38 caliber ammunition, four identification cards (IDs) of suspected Chinese-looking victims and 12 pieces of credit cards. They were then brought to police custody for proper disposition. (Joseph Almer Pedrajas) NPD distributes school supplies to elementary school in Malabon Members of the Northern Police District (NPD) distributed several school supplies to students of Longos Elementary School in Malabon City as classes opened Monday. P/Maj. Connie Salas, public information officer of NPD community affairs unit, said that the distribution of school supplies is part of NPD’s ‘Ambagan ng Pulis para sa Lapis’ program. “Instead of Brigada Eskwela, we thought of other projects that we could do this school year. So we came up with this program,” Salas said. At least 100 select Grade 1 students received school supplies including pencils, notebooks and pad papers. “We selected students who were in need, those who did not have enough school supplies,” Aireen Wabel, school principal, said. Salas said that they chose grade 1 students as the recipients of their fundraising program because they want them “to be already encouraged to go to school on the first day of class.” “Most students who lack school materials are actually graded one,” she said. They also chose Longos Elementary School because most of its students were the victims of a fire that hit a residential area here in Malabon, Salas added. Apart from the NPD, members of different cities’ police stations in Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela (CAMANAVA) areas also have their own school supplies distribution program. The Caloocan City Police Station distributed school kits to students of Gomburza Elementary School in Caloocan on the same day. Other city stations will also follow within this week. Meantime, members of Valenzuela City Police Station recently launched their “VCPS Patrol Klasrum,” which serves as mobile school classroom to out-of-school and street children of the city. The program, the public information office said, aims to educate the less privileged children in urban communities and make them aware of several issues, including crime prevention. The mobile classroom, equipped with mini library and television set for the audiovisual presentation, will also be conducted in 32 more barangays in Valenzuela. (Joseph Almer Pedrajas)