Bato: Maute now in Metro Manila as PNP foils bomb plot anew

MANILA, Philippines — Lanao-based Maute group has already established its presence in Metro Manila but Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa advised the public to remain calm yet vigilant at all times.

Dela Rosa revealed in a press briefing on Tuesday the arrest of one of ISIS-inspired Maute group member identified as Nacip Ibrahim last night in Salam Compound in Barangay Culiat, Quezon City.

Authorities confiscated firearms, suspected illegal drugs and components of an improvised explosive device (IED) from Ibrahim who also sheltered the Maute fighters who were arrested last year.

“I am glad that alert operatives of the NCRPO (National Capital Region Police Office) discovered and intercepted in time an improvised explosive device (IED) being prepared by the suspects even before it can be delivered to its possible target or used elsewhere,” the PNP chief said.

Close Ad X

“This discovery leads us to believe that the Maute group has already established presence in Metro Manila, as to what extent, that is the subject of our follow-up investigation and operations,” he added.

NCRPO Director Oscar Albayalde said that Ibrahim was involved in the foiled US Embassy bombing last December that resulted in the placing of the entire country under Terror Alert Level 3.

“Allegedly he is the driver of the (Toyota) Revo ginamit sa pag-transport ng IED from Mindanao to Metro Manila through RORO,” Albayalde explained.

“Mayroon silang contact dito, connections, mayroong members dito that protects them especially those who are coming from Mindanao,” he added.

Despite the terror threat, Dela Rosa assured the safety of the public by cooperating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“I do not want to sound alarmist or cause panic, but prudence, it has been said, is the better part of valor. I, therefore, urge our people to remain calm yet alert and vigilant of the presence of threat groups in our midst,” the nation’s top cop said.

Source : PhilStar

Bato denies receiving Robredos drug war letter

The head of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday denied ignoring Vice President Leni Robredo's letter requesting for information regarding the war on drugs. 

PNP chief Director General Ronald "Bato" said Robredo's January 24 letter missive "did not even land on my desk" because it was addressed to Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno. 

"She's the Vice President of Philippines. Bakit naman itago namin sa kanya ang data," he said. 

Robredo, he added, only requested for a list of deaths under the anti-narcotics campaign, and not for clarification on the PNP's alleged "palit-ulo" scheme which she criticized before a United Nations body.

The Vice President's camp on Monday shared a copy of the letter that Dela Rosa supposedly ignored, as they sought to counter arguments that she should have aired her concerns of irregularities to local authorities before making a statement before the international community

Source : ABS-CBN. 

Arrest warrants out for 19 cops in Espinosa slay

MANILA, Philippines - Nineteen members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Eastern Visayas were ordered arrested yesterday for the murder of Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa and detainee Raul Yap four months ago.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said all the accused were already under the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Region 8 and were undergoing booking procedures.

PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said Baybay City Regional Trial Court Branch 14 Judge Carlos Arguelles issued the warrants for two counts of murder against Supt. Marvin Marcos, Senior Insp. Deogracia Pedong Diaz III, Chief Insp. Calixto Canillas Jr., Insp. Lucresito Candelosas, Senior Police Officers 2 Benjamin Dacallos and Antonio Docil, Senior Police Officer 1 Mark Christian Cadilo, Police Office 3 Norman Abellanosa, Police Officers 2 John Ruel Doculan and Jaime Bacsal and Police Officer 1 Jerlan Cabiyaan.

Four other police officers were charged for the murder of Espinosa – Supt. Santi Noel Matira, Chief Insp. Leo Daio Laraga, Senior Police Officer 4 Melvin Caboyit and Police Officer 3 Johnny Abuda Ibanez – and four others for murder of Yap – Senior Insp. Fritz Bioco Blanco, Senior Police Officer 4 Juanito Duarte, Police Officer 2 Lloyd Ortiguesa and Police Officer 1 Bernard Orpilla.

Close Ad X

Abellanosa, Laraga and witness Paul Olendan were also indicted for two counts of Article 129 of the Revised Penal Code for maliciously obtaining search warrants.

Yesterday, the DOJ released its 24-page resolution, which became the basis for the filing of a complaint before the RTC last week, finding probable cause against the 19 officers. The resolution came a week after the Senate, in its joint committee report, also found criminal liability.

“Upon completion of the booking procedure, which include fingerprinting, documentation, mugshot and medical examination, the Warrants of Arrest will be returned to the RTC Branch 14 and a corresponding commitment order is expected to be issued by the Court for the custody of the respondents,” the DOJ said in a statement.

The resolution was based on the findings of the DOJ panel of prosecutors – chaired by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Lilian Doris Alejo – that established the killings were attended by treachery and that the respondents used stealth to carry out the raid. 

The prosecutors pointed out that the CIDG men were armed and clearly outnumbered the two victims. 

They also ruled that evident premeditation was present since the attack was well planned and the killing was made under the deception of implementing a search warrant. 

The DOJ filed the case after the National Bureau of Investigation and Espinosa’s son Kerwin, a confessed drug lord now under government custody, filed a complaint and asked for an investigation.

Mariel Espinosa, daughter of the late mayor, said the indictment may be the first round of victory in their search for justice.

In a text message, she said their prayers were finally answered and that their family can now move forward. 

Source : PhilStar

Cops in Espinosa slay surrender to CIDG

Supt. Marvin Marcos and other police officers tagged in the murder of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., are now in police custody after a court ordered their arrest.

Marcos and the other cops are with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) - Eastern Visayas.

According to a reliable source, the policemen surrendered around 6:00 A.M. Monday and are now undergoing booking procedure before being brought to the Baybay City court that ordered their arrest.

The media, however, has not yet been allowed inside CIDG headquarters.

Supt. Marcos and his men allegedly shot dead Espinosa, who surrendered in August after being publicly named by President Rodrigo Duterte as a narco-politician, and another inmate, Raul Yap, during a predawn search in their detention cells.

Two Senate panels and the National Bureau of Investigation said in separate reports that Espinosa's killing was "premeditated" by the police to cover up their involvement in the illegal drug activities of the mayor. 

The slain mayor's son Kerwin, who confessed to being a drug dealer in the region, testified during a Senate inquiry that Marcos was on his payroll -- an allegation that the officer tearfully denied. 

Source : http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/20/17/cops-in-espinosa-slay-surrender-to-cidg

Kotong at kidnap oo, pero palit-ulo? Hindi! - PNP Chief

Umalma si PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa sa pahayag ni Vice President Leni Robredo na nagsasagawa umano ang mga pulis ng "palit-ulo" sa gitna ng kampanya kontra sa iligal na droga.

Sa isang video na in-upload sa YouTube, tinuligsa ni Robredo ang madugong kampanya ni Pres. Duterte laban sa iligal na droga. 

Sinabi ni Robredo na bukod sa extra-judicial killings, may iba pang paglabag sa karapatang pantao na nangyayari tulad daw ng "palit-ulo."

Sa ilalim nito, hinuhuli ng mga pulis ang mga kaanak ng isang drug suspect kapag hindi maaresto ang suspek mismo.

Pero ayon kay Dela Rosa, wala pa raw syang naririnig na kaso ng "palit-ulo" bago ito nabanggit ni Robredo. Hindi rin daw sya naniniwala na magagawa ng mga pulis ito. 

"Alam ko may nangongotong na pulis, aminado ko yan. May pulis na nangingidnap, aminado ko yan. Pero yung sinasabing... operation na palit-ulo, sana kung totoo yan ha? Pero hindi ko ma-imagine," sabi ni Dela Rosa sa isang panayam sa DZMM.

Hinamon din ni Dela Rosa ang bise presidente na sabihin sa kanya ang mga pulis na sangkot sa "palit-ulo."

"Ibigay nya sa amin, ako mismo magtatrabaho, pugutan natin ng ulo yang gago na yan," dagdag ni Dela Rosa.

Naglabas din ng sama ng loob si Dela Rosa sa ginawang pagsisiwalat ni Robredo sa international community ukol sa mga umano'y paglabag ng mga pulis sa mga karapatang pantao.

"Yan ang nakakadismaya dyan," sabi ni Dela Rosa ukol sa pahayag ni Robredo.

"Bakit paaksyunan mo sa international court e kung pwede naman dito sa lebel namin?" sabi ni Dela Rosa.

Tinatantyang higit pitong libo na ang napapatay sa kampanya ni Pres. Duterte kontra sa ilegal na droga. 

Source : http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/16/17/kotong-at-kidnap-oo-pero-palit-ulo-hindi-pnp-chief

Cops extorting from truckers will be punished —PNP chief Bato dela Rosa

By AMITA LEGASPI, GMA News

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Monday assured the public that cops extorting money from truckers and suppliers will be punished.

"I assure partners in DA [Department of Agriculture], DILG [Department of Interior and Local Government], and MMDA [Metropolitan Manila Development Authority] and the rest of the country that kotong cops and any police personnel attempting to extort from truckers and suppliers will be dealt with accordingly," he said as he introduced PNP flag ceremony guest of honor and speaker DA Sec. Manny Piñol.

"Gaya ng rogue cops at scalawags na sangkot sa droga, ang pangongotong sa magsasaka, mangingisda ay malaking kasalanan na hindi natin pwedeng palampasin," dela Rosa added.

The PNP and DA are set to sign a memorandum of agreement on Monday for the latter's food lane project.

Dela Rosa said the PNP fully supports the project as he sees it as "another opportunity to strengthen measures against kotong cops.

- See more at: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/602939/news/nation/cops-extorting-from-truckers-will-be-punished-pnp-chief-bato-dela-rosa#sthash.oja13Wl5.dpuf