3 killed, 8 wounded in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte attempt jailbreak

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By Ely Dumaboc and Jong Cadion

Zamboanga City (August 30, 2014) --- Three people died while 8 others were wounded during the attempted jail break at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in the nearby Municipality of Siocon Zamboanga del Norte.

Police reports reaching at the Police regional Office-9 identified the 3 fatalities as Jail Officcer-1 Ryanbel Bagun and two detainees identified as Preciouso Humoc and Rowell Humoc both with murder case.

The 8 wounded were identified as PO1 Paul Oliver Tomboc, JO2 Roldan Felizarta, JO1 Patrick Galvez, and PO3 Intud Jay Hachuela and four detainees identified as Lito Magsayo (murder case), Wilmark Canunyo (robbery homicide case), Reneboy Humoc ( murder case), and  Zanaida Insu.

Police, military on red alert vs bomb threats

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Police and military authorities in Pagadian City and Zamboanga del Sur have been on red alert since last week following receipt of a text message that bombing will take place in some parts of Mindanao.

City Councilor Ernesto Mondarte on Friday (August 29) said that the bomb threats had been confirmed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, adding that local authorities had also received a similar threat before a blast in Cotabato City last week.

Mondarte said that the matter had also been discussed during the Peace and Order Council meeting to ramp up efforts and precautionary measures against such terrorist acts.

Zamboanga police chief leads conduct of drug testing

Senior Supt. Angelito Casimiro

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 28 (PNA) -– A total of 50 policemen, including Zamboanga City police director Senior Supt. Angelito Casimiro, has undergone drug testing in this city.

Casimiro said the drug testing was held Wednesday at the 9th Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory in compliance with the memorandum issued by the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame.

Casimiro said the drug testing is to ensure that no one among the policemen is engaged or hooked into the use of prohibited drugs.

Casimiro said those who will be found positive will be slapped with administrative charges which may lead to dismissal from service.

He said that 17, including himself, of the 50 policemen that have undergone drug testing were officers while the other 33 were non-commissioned officers.

He said the conduct of drug testing will continue but the schedules will not be announced. (PNA)
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Filipino Peacekeepers hold their ground in Golan Heights

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CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – At about 10 am 28 August 2014 (Syria Time), Syrian Anti Government Armed Elements (AGAE) occupied the Fijian positions of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights and demanded that they surrender their firearms. However, upon surrendering their firearms, the 43 Fijian Peacekeepers were taken hostage, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Official said.

AFP Public Affairs Office Chief LTC Ramon P. Sagala in his press statement Friday said that later the AGAEs surrounded the Philippine contingent’s encampments with Fijian hostages in tow and demanded that the Filipino troops surrender their firearms.

Sagala said the Philippine peacekeepers held their ground and demonstrated their resolve to defend their positions.

Sagala added that the Filipino peacemaker did not surrender their firearms as they may in turn be held hostage themselves.

This resulted in a stand-off which is still the prevailing situation at this time as UN officials try to peacefully resolve the situation, Sagala disclosed.

As of press time the Philippine government and the United Nations are in close coordination and are working together to ensure the safety and security of our troops, he said.

DA sets technology forum on Adlai production in Dinas, Zamboanga del Sur

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PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Aug. 28 (PNA) -– The Department of Agriculture (DA) is holding a two-day technology forum on Adlai production in the nearby town of Dinas, this province.

DA-9 PIO Melba Wee

The two-day event, dubbed as the First National Adlai Grand Farmer’s Field Days and Technology Forum, is set to be held next month from Sept. 3-4 with no less than DA Secretary Proceso Alcala as the keynote speaker.

Alcala has helped promote Adlai as alternative food crop.

DA Regional Information Officer Melba Wee said Thursday the two-day activity will be spearheaded by DA Regional Director Constancio Alama and the Zamboanga Peninsula Integrated Agricultural Research Center (ZAMPIARC) in collaboration with the Mindanao Zonal Research Development and Extension Network, Bureau of Agricultural Research, High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), National Adlai Technical Working Group and the municipal government Dinas.

Probe on city’s ‘overpriced’ projects urged

By Cris Diaz

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Aug. 28 (PNA) -- A city councilor is calling for the conduct of a probe on the reported overpriced construction of eight public school buildings in Cagayan De Oro City.

City Councilor Roger Abaday, a member of the administration’s minority bloc, on Thursday insisted that an investigation should be made to determine whether the construction of the city government’s school projects is above board.

“Kinahanglan imbistigahon kini nga mga proyekto para mahibaw-an kung insaktoba ang comparative cost analysis,” (An investigation of this project should be done to find if the comparative cost analysis is correct), Abaday said.

He said that an authorized agency should look into the projects and conduct a thorough investigation – in the interest of the public.

An incensed Abaday made the reaction after the City Council’s Committee on Education reported the comparative discrepancies of the construction cost of public school buildings of the city government compared to other government agencies.

Five-day Philippine Scouting Centennial Jamboree set in Zamboanga City

Photo grabbed from Skyscrapercity.com

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 28 (PNA) – Preparations are underway for the holding of the five-day Philippine Scouting Centennial Jamboree in this city.

Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) Scout Executive Arthur Griño said Thursday they have already met with Zamboanga City police director Senior Supt. Angelito Casimiro and discussed matters pertaining to security.

However, Griño emphasized they are not concerned about the security of the participants citing “as far as security is concern, it is well coordinated.”

The centennial jamboree will be held from November 9-13 inside the compound of the Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority and Freeport in Sitio San Ramon, Barangay Talisayan, west of this city.

Pagadian City holds bomb awareness education campaign

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Security personnel of Gaisano Mall Capital in Pagadian City

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Aug. 27 (PNA) -- The week-long bomb awareness education campaign in a bid to thwart bomb plots by lawless elements reeled off Wednesday in this city.

The education campaign is being conducted by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) in partnership with the Explosive Ordnance Demolition (EOD) of the police and military commands.

EOD personnel visited visited hotels and pension houses

CDRRMC Coordinator Haron Damada said Wednesday they have organized two teams--Teams A and B--to conduct the bomb awareness education campaign to all concerned stakeholders. 

NPA arms cache radio transceivers discovered by Army

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Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur – The commander of First Infantry (Tabak) Division Brigadier General Gerardo F. Barrientos, Jr. commended the troops of the 53rd Infantry (Matapat) Battalion on Friday (August 22) after they discovered an arms cache and two handheld radio transceivers in the tri-boundary of Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, and Misamis Occidental.

Barrientos said this was a result of the good relations between soldiers and the members of the community.

According to Barrientos: "In return fo the delivery of basic services, the community turns away from violence and denounces the presence of the New People's Army [NPA] and it's armaments. This indicates that the community wants peace and development."

Tabak Division Public Affairs Officer Capt. Franco Suelto said that the elements of 53rd Infantry Battalion discovered two serviceable M16 rifles with magazines and ammunitions in an arms cache as well as two handheld radio transceivers located at a forested area in the tri-boundary of Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, and Misamis Occidental around 5 p.m. on Thursday (August 20). 

Alleged NPA member nabbed in Zambo del Sur

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Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur - A woman suspected of being a member of the New People's Army was apprehended by the 53rd Infantry (Matapat) Battalion and the Margosatubig Police as she was being treated at the Margosatubig Regional Hospital in Margosatubig, Zamboanga de Sur.

Margosatubig, Zambo Sur Regional Hospital

Lt. Col. Alvin V. Luzon, commander of the Matapat Battalion, identified the suspect as Annabelle Quijano, allegedly a member of the Natarang Gerilya (Front Committee) KARA, which operates in the towns of Zamboanga del Sur.

According to Luzon, Quijano has warrants of arrest for murder, theft, attempted murder, malicious mischief, and frustrated homicide.

Luzon added that Quijano was apprehended after she was rushed to the emergency room of the Margosatubig Regional Hospital because of profuse bleeding due to miscarriage.

A tipster alerted authorities to Quijano's presence in the hospital.

Luzon said they would ensure Quijano's safety and respect her rights. But she would still need to face the charges against her once she has recovered.

Brig. Gen. Gerardo F. Barrientos Jr., commander of the 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division, said that the apprehension of Quijano is another big blow to the NPA in Zamboanga del Sur. - 9News Online, from a report by Jong Cadion