Malaysia-based Filipino trader leads 2-day humanitarian outreach in Zambo Sibugay town

MALANGAS, Zamboanga Sibugay, Aug. 19 (PNA) –- The local government has afforded honors to Vicky Tulipas, a native of this town and now Malaysia-based businesswoman, for the humanitarian contribution extended to the thousands of her town mat

es here.

The local government headed by Mayor Marcelo Baquial awarded Tulipas a Plaque of Recognition in a red carpet ceremony held on Thursday at the municipal hall, which was attended by other officials and residents of this town.

Tulipas, a childhood friend of Baquial, sponsored a two-day medical and dental outreach mission dubbed as “Love Offering” from August 11 and 12 with the support of her friends when she arrived here.

The two-day activity, which coincided with Tulipas’ 49th birthday, benefited 4,200 indigent residents from this town’s 25 barangays.

The beneficiaries also received gift packs and free medicines aside from the medical and dental consultations as well as 10 wheelchairs to persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Tulipas said the medical and dental outreach activity is her way of sharing the blessings she received in life through God’s grace.

Tulipas, born in a poor family, traveled at the age of 16 to work in Malaysia. She was able to finish her studies during her stay there and got married to a businessman.

She now owns hotels and restaurants as well as a travel agency in Malaysia.

Baquial said he is happy to learn that Tulipas, his childhood friend, is now an accomplished woman.

The mayor recalled that Tulipas sold banana cue (fried banana on bamboo skewers) while he himself sold ice drop during their childhood days to help their respective families earn a living.

Retired Gen. Alexander Yano, former Armed Forces chief of staff, said Tulipas is also known in the Filipino community in Malaysia as a kind-hearted person “helping her kababayans in need.”

Police, PDEA file charges against 14 persons arrested in anti-drug operations in Zamboanga del Sur

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Aug. 17 (PNA) -– The police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Monday filed charges before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office against 14 persons, 13 of whom were arrested recently in two anti-drug operations in the nearby island town of Margosatubig.

Senior Supt. Michael Nicolas, provincial police director, on Wednesday told the Philippines News Agency that a case for illegal possession of firearms and explosive was also filed against two of the 14 suspects aside for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Charged were the following: Faisal Maito, No. 7 in the drug watch list; Cristopher Moneral; Gomer Alpha; Arwan Isnain; Ruel Apoa; Elmar Calingacion; Acmad Quiazae; Harris Baihakki; Reniel Ranque; Roberto Ponlaroche; Rey Natividad; Alo Alpha; Faruk Kula and Halid Kula.

Nicolas said that except for Halid Kula, all the other suspects were arrested in Sitio Luguimit, Barangay Poblacion, Margosatubig.

He said confiscated from the suspects’ possession were four heat-sealed plastic sachets of methamphetamine hydrochloride locally known as "shabu" and other illegal drug paraphernalia.

He said Kula was arrested in Purok San Francisco, Barangay Igat, Margosatubig.

Nicolas said Kula’s father, Faruk, who was the target of the anti-drug operation, was at large since he was not around when the operatives arrived.

He said the raiding team confiscated from the residence of Kula a small-sized packed of shabu, a hand grenade, seven improvised dynamites, an improvised handgun and two homemade shotguns locally known as “sumpak.”

He said a case of illegal possession of firearms and explosives was also filed against the Kulas aside from violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Nicolas disclosed that anti-drug operations were carried by a joint team of policemen, PDEA operatives, Coast Guard personnel and soldiers. (PNA)

LAP/TPGJR/HIROHITO D. CADION

Gunmen rob passenger bus, kill driver in Zamboanga del Sur

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?&sid=6&pfn=913871&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=Pagadian%20City,%20Zamboanga%20del%20Sur&andor=and&mdte_arch=8&ddte_arch=0&ydte_arch=2016

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Aug. 15 (PNA) -– Police are hunting for seven men behind the PHP300,000 robbery of a passenger bus and the killing of its driver in Dinas town, Zamboanga del Sur early Sunday.

Provincial police director, Sr. Supt. Michael Nicolas, has directed the police of Dimataling, Tabina, San Pablo, Pitogo and San Miguel to assist the Dinas police in tracking down the men.

The Baganian Transit, driven by 59-year-old Diosdado Ritisa, was traveling to Pagadian City from Tabina town when it was waylaid by the seven men in Barangay Proper Dimaya in Dinas at about 7 a.m. Sunday.

One of the men shot Ritisa in the head after all passengers were ordered to disembark from the bus.

The men carted away PHP300,000 in cash, jewelry and mobile phones and fled towards the river in Sitio Balot, Barangay Binuatan in Dinas. (PNA)
CVL/TPGJR/Hirohito D. Cadion

Pagadian City cops uncover new extortion scheme

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PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Aug. 13 (PNA) – Police have warned the public against a new extortion scheme being perpetrated by “gun for hires” through phone calls and text messages.

Senior Supt. Glenn Dulawan, assistant police provincial director for operations, on Saturday issued the warning after they have uncovered the new extortion scheme victimizing businessmen and other individuals in this province.

Dulawan said the modus operandi of the group was to threaten the victim to give in to demands through the use of mobile phone.

At first, Dulawan said, the extortionists would call or send text message introducing themselves as gun for hires and informed the victim that they were already paid 50 percent of the contracted amount to kill him or her.

He said they would then negotiate or demand the victim to settle the remaining 50 percent of the contracted amount in exchange of sparing the victim’s life.

He said the victim would then be instructed to send the payment through money transfer making it difficult for the authorities to conduct entrapment operation.

He advised the public not to be worried once they received call or text message from an unidentified people, citing the scheme was purely extortion.

He said they should immediately report to police once they received call or text message threatening them.

Dulawan said they were already conducting investigation in a bid to unmask the people behind the new extortion scheme victimizing innocent people. (PNA)
RMA/TPGJR/Hirohito D. Cadion

President Duterte to visit 1st Infantry troops in Zamboanga del Sur

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PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Aug. 10 (PNA) – President Rodrigo Duterte will visit Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 10) the troops of the First Infantry “Tabak” Division, the premier command of the Philippine Army, in Camp Major Cesar Sang-an in the nearby Labangan town.

Col. Benedicto Manquiquis, First Infantry Division public affairs officer, told the Philippines News Agency that the President is scheduled to arrive at 1 p.m.

Duterte will plane in through this city from Manila and will take the Presidential helicopter to Camp Cesar Sang-an in Barangay Upper Pulacan, Labangan town.

Maj. Gen. Gerardo Barrientos, First Infantry Division commander, will lead the group of officials who will welcome the President and his party upon arrival at the local airport.

The members of the media are only allowed to cover the President during his “talk-to-men” and visit to the hospital inside Camp Cesar Sang-an.

Manquiquis said President Duterte will hold a command conference to get firsthand information of the ongoing programs and operations of the “Tabak” Division.

Expected to arrive with the President are Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff Gen. Ricardo Visaya and other top government officials. (PNA)
FPV/TPGJR/Hirohito D. Cadion

SUSPECTED ABU SAYYAF GUNMEN SEIZE 3 PEOPLE IN SULU

ROEL D. PAREÑO  
AUGUST 7, 2016

ZAMBOANGA CITY - - Suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen abducted 3 people, including a woman, Saturday morning in a village of Patikul town, Sulu, the military said.

Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesman of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), identified the victims as Shariff Julhasan Abirin, Levi Gonzales, 30, both telecommunication technicians, and Gonzalez’ pregnant wife Daniella Taruc, 26 years old.

Tan said the victims were on board a multicab from Jolo town heading towards the cellsite of globe Telecom at Barangay Bagsak, Talipao town when they were abducted about 10:20a.m Saturday.

Tan said the armed men believed to be Abu Sayyaf’s kidnap for ransom gang flagged down the victims’ vehicle that was traversing the road at Barangay Timpook, Patikul town.

The gunmen seized the victims at gunpoint and took them towards the direction of sitio Kaban-kaban in Patikul town.

Pagadian City officials say PNP should update list of drug personalities submitted to PRRD

(From left to right, VM Mondarte, Mayor Pulmones, and Mayor Relacion)

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Aug. 8 (PNA) – Local government officials said the Philippine National Police (PNP) should update and verify the list of drug personalities submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte.

Mayor Romeo Pulmones and Vice Mayor Ernesto Mondarte issued the statement after President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday named David Navarro, mayor of this city, as among the drug protectors and persons involved in illegal drugs in this province.

Pulmones said Navarro was the incumbent mayor of Clarin, Misamis Occidental and did not serve as mayor although he was a resident of this city.

Pulmones said Navarro and his family have transferred to Clarin, Misamis Occidental, after the provincial government led by then Gov. Aurora Cerilles launched in 2009 an all-out anti-drugs campaign.

Cerilles was supported in the anti-drugs campaign by her husband, Antonio, who was then the second district congressman in the anti-drugs campaign. Antonio is now the governor while his wife is the congresswoman in the second district.

Mondarte said the information needed to be updated as some names of people involved in the illegal drug trade in this province were not included in the list the President released on Sunday.

Mayor Eduardo Relacion of the nearby town of Labangan joined Pulmones and Mondarte in expressing support to the President’s relentless anti-drugs campaign.

Relacion said former Labangan Mayor Abubakar Abdulkarim Afdal has left the town in 2010. Afdal’s name is included in the list the President released on Sunday.

Relecion said that Afdal, like Navarro, has left this province due to the relentless anti-drug campaign the provincial government launched in 2009. (PNA)
RMA/TPGJR/HIROHITO D. CADION

Total of 13, 862 illegal drugs personalities 18 dead in Zamboanga del Sur

By Jong D. Cadion

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (August 4)—The Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office (ZSPPO) has recorded a total of 13, 862 illegal drugs personalities who surrendered as for the month of July with 18 dead in relation drugs shooting incident since the start of the campaign against illegal drugs of President Rodrigo Duterte, Police Official said.

Provincial Director Senior Supt. Michael Nicolas disclosed that out of the total 13, 862 surrenderees 470 are pushers.

Nicolas added that a total of 4,989 houses were visited for the implementation of double-barrel Oplan Tokhang in 26 Munacipalities and 1 city of this province.

Nicolas also stated that of the 18 dead only 1 is recorded killed by the police during buy bust operation that happened in the nearby town of Labangan while the remaining casualties were perpetrated by the unidentified person.

The Police Officials are doing close coordination with the Local Government Units (LGU) for the proper rehabilitation process of the illegal drugs personalities involved, the PNP Provincial Director said.

It was learned that no drug rehabilitation center existed in this province to cater illegal drugs related cases.

Surprise inspection in Pagadian City Jail yields zero drugs

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Aug. 1 (PNA) -- Authorities have conducted on Monday a surprise inspection dubbed as “Oplan Galugad” at the local detention facility in line with the anti-drug campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Local police, along with operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) jointly carried out the operation.

Chief Insp. Nathaniel Aljas, local jail warden, told the Philippines News Agency that no prohibited drugs were found during the surprised inspection except for some bladed weapons, nails, lighters and cigarettes.

Aljas said the inspection was carried out to ensure the local detention facility is a drug-free center.

4 barangays in Zambo Sur town under state of calamity due to floods

Footbridge connecting Baludo and Lower Tiparak collapsed

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Aug. 1 (PNA) -- Four barangays in the nearby town of Tambulig were placed under state of calamity as floods brought about by inclement weather condition damaged some PHP15 million worth of crops in these areas.

Francisco Maca, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer, told the Philippines News Agency that the flood hit barangays San Jose, Baludo, Lower Tiparak, and Sumalig after the Salug River Dako overflowed due to heavy rains since Friday until Monday.

Gov. Antonio Cerilles on Monday convened the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) in an emergency meeting to address the situation in the four barangays in Tambulig.