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.

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“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

PNP denies VIP perks for road rage suspect

MANILA - The Philippine National Police on Tuesday denied that road rage suspect David Lim Jr., nephew of an alleged drug lord, was given special treatment when he surrendered to authorities.

Lim turned himself in to the Central Visayas police after his mother negotiated for his safe surrender through the help of President Duterte's top aide Christopher Go.

PNP chief Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said the negotiations do not entail VIP treatment as it is only "normal" for Lim's family to try to ensure his safety.

"I don't think there was special treatment. It's just normal sa isang mother na gusto niyang mag-surrender ang anak niya peacefully, na hindi ma-harm, na humanap ng linya na makausap kung pwedeng i-voluntary surrender iyung anak nila. [It's] normal," Dela Rosa told reporters at Camp Crame.

PNP-Central Visayas director Chief Supt. Noli Taliño echoed Dela Rosa's statement, adding that Lim was detained in his office.

Lim, however, was spotted leaving an air-conditioned room of the Regional Intelligence Division before his mugshot and fingerprints were taken.

Lim's father is a sibling of Peter Lim, whom Duterte himself named as a drug lord in July last year. Peter had denied his alleged drug links in a meeting with the President in Malacañang.

Lawyer Orlando Salatandre, who represents the younger Lim, said his client was merely defending himself when he shot a 33-year-old nurse during a traffic altercation in Cebu City last Sunday.

Source : ABS-CBN

Bong Go facilitated road rage suspects surrender: cop chief

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte's top aide, Christopher "Bong" Go, facilitated the surrender of road rage suspect David Lim, Jr., nephew of alleged Visayan drug lord Peter Lim, a police official said Tuesday.

The younger Lim sent surrender feelers to Go on Monday through his family, following a raid in their home by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, said Central Visayas police director Chief Supt. Noli Taliño.

"Nakipag-ugnayan itong family ni David Lim Jr. Nagpadala siya ng surrender feeler kay Secretary Bong Go at iyun nga ang nagsabi sa akin na makipag-ugnayan sa mother," Taliño told radio DZMM.

(The family of David Lim Jr. coordinated and sent a surrender feeler to Secretary Bong Go and he's the one who told us to coordinate with the Lim's mother.

Go himself shared with the media a text message from Lim's family, asking for his help in facilitating the surrender.

"Sir Bong, the family decided to follow your advise to surrender my son David Lim Jr to the regional commander Chief Superintendent Noli Talino tomorrow… Pls help us facilitate his surrender [and] safety," read the message.

After 2 negotiations between the police and Lim's family, the suspect surrendered to authorities in Cebu at around 2 a.m. Tuesday.

He was accompanied by his mother, Bebong Lim, 2 relatives and lawyer Jun Salatandre.

The suspect's father, David Lim Sr., is a sibling of Peter Lim, whom Duterte himself named as a drug lord in July last year.

Peter had denied his alleged drug links in a meeting with the President in Malacañang.

David, meanwhile, was identified by 33-year-old nurse Ephraim Nuñal as the one who shot him in the leg during a traffic altercation in Cebu City on Sunday.

Their argument allegedly started when Nuñal honked his horn at Lim after the latter stopped his Mercedes Benz in the middle of the road.

David said he shot Nuñal when he saw the nurse's companions getting out of the vehicle, according to Taliño.

"Noong nagbabaan daw ang mga kasama ni Nuñal, siguro na-intimidate siya. Bumalik siya sa sasakyan, kinuha yung baril at binaril na itong si Nuñal," the official said.

Lim is temporarily under the custody of the Central Visayas police regional office pending the filing of a case in court on Tuesday.

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.

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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

Arrest warrant out vs cops in Albuera Mayor slay

MANILA, Philippines — A court ordered the arrest of 20 cops involved in the killing of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa in November last year.

Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa revealed on Monday that the Philippine National Police (PNP) has received the copy of arrest warrant over the weekend against members of PNP-Crime Investigation and Detection Group of Region 8 headed by Superintendent Marvin Marcos.

Marcos led the team that allegedly served a search warrant against Espinosa to look for alleged firearms and drugs inside his cell at Baybay sub-provincial jail on Nov. 5, 2016

The operation resulted in the killing of Espinosa and another inmate Raul Yap after they allegedly tried to fight it out against the operatives.

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The Senate investigation suggested that the killing was premeditated after learning that the cops called for Scene of the Crime Operatives even before stepping inside the jail facility.

PNP Chief Dela Rosa divulged earlier that Marcos was already relieved prior to the incident due to alleged involvement in drugs. However, the superintendent was reinstated by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte.

Espinosa was included in the so-called "narco list" of Duterte, and later surrendered to Dela Rosa at Camp Crame, months before he was killed.

Source : http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/03/20/1682936/arrest-warrant-out-vs-cops-albuera-mayor-slay