ANGELES CITY -- A Filipina and her Canadian partner were arrested Monday for allegedly operating four cyber sex dens in this city and nearby Mabalacat town. Chief Inspector Randy Glenn Silvio of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Team-Pampanga said in a report that the two have pending warrants of arrest issued by Judge Philbert Iturralde of the Regional trial Court Branch 58 on August 24, 2009. The arrest warrant was issued 10 months after complaints were filed against the suspects for maintaining cyber sex dens that were raided by policemen in Barangay Cuayan, Barangay Malabanias and Barangay Balibago in this city, and Barangay Dau in Mabalacat town.
 
The Canadian and her Filipina partner, who were able to elude arrest during the raid, have been charged with violation of Republic Act (RA) 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.  Silvio and his men served the warrants of arrest to the Canadian national at No. 11, Swissland Apartments along Don Juico Avenue in Barangay Malabanias here and to the Filipina suspect at Barangay Cuayan, also in this city, on Monday. Sun.Star Pampanga is withholding the names of the suspects, provided that Section 6 of RA 9208 prohibits the media from disclosing their identities to the public. (JAM)

LAW enforcement operations targeting the American clients of the cybersex den the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 found operating here in Cebu City have begun in the US.  Atty. Medardo de Lemos, NBI chief, in an interview with Sun.Star Cebu, said federal agents are carrying out the raid based on information the US embassy sent to Cebu last Tuesday.  “It’s very fast because of the technology. They have custody of receipts and the hard disks of the computers we seized,” de Lemos, NBI 7 director, said. The receipts contain records of credit card payments made by clients of the cybersex den to the money transfer account of Archie Abala, one of the two persons arrested during the raid Monday last week.

Clients  He allegedly had recruited the minors, one as young as eight years old, to work in the cybersex den.  Abala allegedly recruited them upon the specific request of some clients. The hard disks, on the other hand, are believed to have temporary internet files, which may contain embedded videos of the clients. NBI operatives raided a suspected cybersex den in Barangay Suba Monday last week. Four minors, two aged 17, one aged 12 and the youngest, 8, were rescued following the operation that resulted in the arrest and indictment of two people. City Prosecutor Nicolas Sellon, acting on the recommendation of inquest prosecutor Ernesto Narido Jr., found probable cause to indict Stella Lopez and Abala for trafficking in large scale. No bail is set.

Evaluation  “A circumspect evaluation of the evidence shows that it is sufficient to support a finding of probable cause for the charge,” Narido’s two-page resolution read. A separate preliminary investigation proceeding will also be held against a third respondent, Alfredo Fernandez, whom the NBI raiding team was not able to arrest. He reportedly is the live-in partner of Lopez and co-owner of the house and internet café used as front of the cybersex den. The rescued minors were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, while the respondents were committed to the Cebu City Jail.

ANGELES CITY – Agents of the National Bureau Investigation (NBI) filed criminal charges against three nationals of Papua New Guinea and a Filipina. The three foreign nationals and the Filipina were charged with violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, the Migrant Workers and Filipino Overseas Act and Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act. The Filipino woman is from Concepcion, Tarlac. They were all arrested and detained for the same offenses.

An inquest document filed by NBI Deputy Director Ruel Lasala last Feb. 15 cited the complaints and sworn statements of the syndicate’s alleged victims who said they were asked to smuggle illegal drugs in China by swallowing “capsulized powder” and carrying luggage especially designed to conceal illegal drugs. A complainant earlier told NBI that the Filipina companion of the Guineans had offered him US$3,000 as a “delivery boy.” But upon learning about the arrest of Filipinos in China due to drug trafficking, he became suspicious and decided to seek the help of the NBI.

Last Feb. 12, operatives of the NBI’s Reaction Arrest and Interdiction Division conducted a sting operation to arrest the suspects with the cooperation of the complainant, who along with two other victims, a Filipino male and a female, were rescued from the syndicate a few hours before their flight to China via the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark Freeport Zone.

Meanwhile, local police complained against the NBI operation saying it failed to coordinate with the local authorities. When a member of the Angeles City Traffic Management Transportation Management Unit saw three armed men blocked the path of two black foreign nationals and forced them into a vehicle before dawn on Feb. 13 in Barangay Balibago, he reported the incident as abduction.  After two days, however, the local police were surprised to learn that the supposed “abductors” were NBI agents, who conducted a sting operation against a suspected human and drug trafficking syndicate composed of Guinean nationals and Filipinos.

In a report submitted by Chief Inspector Rogelio Javier, commander of Police Station 4, to City Police Officer-in-Charge Danilo Bautista, said lack of coordination between the local police and the NBI had led to the confusion. He said the NBI had coordinated with the Pampanga Provincial Police Office for their operation, not with the city police.

MANILA— Philippine troops arrested a suspected Muslim militant accused in the high-profile kidnappings of three Americans, two of whom were later killed, and dozens of Filipinos nine years ago, the military reported Friday.  It said Jumadali Arad was captured at Manila harbor Thursday as he was about to board a ship bound for the southern Philippines, where the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf group has planted bombs and carried out kidnappings despite U.S.-backed military offensives against the militants.

Two soldiers were killed and one wounded on southern Basilan Island on Friday when they tripped the wire on a homemade bomb during an operation to track down militants, said regional commander Rear Adm. Alex Pama.  They are believed to be holding two Chinese workers snatched from a plywood factory last year, Pama said. A third hostage, a Filipino, was beheaded a month after the November abductions.

Arad had been in hiding since 2001, when Abu Sayyaf abducted three American and 17 Filipino tourists from the Dos Palmas resort in southwestern Palawan province at the start of a yearlong kidnapping spree, said marine commandant Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban.  American missionary Gracia Burnham survived the jungle captivity, but husband Martin was killed in the military rescue in 2002. The third American, Guillermo Sobero, was beheaded by the militants on Basilan.

Arad, who allegedly drove a speedboat loaded with the hostages during the kidnappings, was reportedly on a mission to buy ammunition for Abu Sayyaf commander Isnilon Hapilon when he was arrested Thursday, the military said in a statement. Hapilon has been indicted in the U.S. on kidnapping and murder charges, and Washington offered a $5 million reward for his capture.

The kidnappings and violence prompted Washington to deploy hundreds of troops to the southern Mindanao region, where they have been training Philippine forces and sharing intelligence. U.S. military personnel are not allowed to engage in combat in the Philippines.  Although the government claims to have crippled Abu Sayyaf after several offensives, the group still poses a major threat. It held three Red Cross workers and several others hostage last year, attacked troops and blew up bridges. A roadside bomb in September killed two U.S. soldiers. The militants, however, have remained without a central leader following the killings of its top commanders and have split into at least five factions, police said. (AP)

ANGELES CITY -- Three suspected members of a robbery syndicate operating in Pampanga and Bulacan were nabbed recently by elements of the city police. The suspects were identified as Rustico Santos, 37, of Barangay Amsic; Ian Alafriz, 32; and Angelito Lobo, 43, of Epza Resettlement Center here. Senior Superintendent Danilo Bautista, city police officer-in-charge, said the three were arrested for possession of illegal drugs and firearms. The suspects, who were on board a van, were intercepted by policemen manning a checkpoint in Barangay Lourdes North West in this city. Police reportedly seized from the suspects shabu, a hand gun, bolt cutter, license plate (ZKC 807) and other tools.  Bautista said the suspects had admitted that they used the tools and the license plate in robbing an establishment in Bulacan.  Bautista said the group might also be responsible in a series of robbery in Barangay Dau in nearby Mabalacat town. Chief Superintendent Jowen Dela Cruz, Dau police station commander, said they are now verifying reports about the possible involvement of the suspects in several robbery incidents in Mabalacat. (Reynaldo G. Navales)

MEXICO – Two motorcycle-riding men barged into an internet café in Barangay Lagundi here on Wednesday and robbed its owners and customers using a toy gun and a bladed weapon.  A report from the Pampanga Provincial Police Office said Jenmarkriz Cyber Café located along the Jose Abad Santos Avenue (former GSO Road) was robbed around 3:00 a.m. by two men on board a Kawasaki motorcycle without license plate. Police identified one of the suspects as Terrence Jake Lopez, 25, resident of Sta. Lucia village in nearby City of San Fernando.  The victims took hold of Lopez when the suspects’ motorcycle malfunctioned and upon learning that the handgun Lopez was carrying was a mere toy copy of a Walther pistol. Taken from the victims were cellular phones, cash, and jewelry. The suspects also destroyed three computer sets and a router, police said.  Lopez companion managed to escape the café. The identity of the other suspect is still unidentified, police said.  Police added that Lopez was charged with robbery with force and intimidation against persons, malicious mischief and violation of the elections gun ban. Lopez has a pending case for unjust vexation, direct assault upon an agent of a person in authority and threat before the municipal trial court in the City of San Fernando, police said. (JAM)

ANGELES CITY -- The death of a barangay executive officer shot by an identified gunman Thursday is not politically motivated, police officials said. Inspector Roger Tomen, commander of Police Station 3 here, said in a report that around 11 a.m., Jesus Barameda, along with village watchmen in Don Bonifacio Subdivision, was waiting for their companions when the fatal incident happened. Senior Superintendent Danilo Bautista, city police officer-in-charge, said the shooting of Barameda was not an election-related case.  “The shooting to death of Barameda doesn’t fall or qualify under election related violence. The victim is not a political leader, organizer, or avid supporter of a particular candidate or party for this coming election,” he said.

Investigation showed that a man wearing a white t-shirt, short pants and white bull cap approached Barameda and shot him. The suspect missed the shot.  
According to the police report, Barameda, who was terrified, ran across the road. He was chased by the still unidentified suspect, who shot him three times with a caliber .45 pistol at close range. The suspect walked away and boarded the getaway motorcycle being driven by another man, who was waiting a few meters away from the crime scene. They sped off towards Barangay Balibago, reports said. The victim was brought by responding policemen to Ospital Ning Angeles but was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Police recovered three empty shells of caliber .45 from the crime scene. The city police pursue at least two angles of the case, according to Bautista. These are job related and personal grudge. The City Police Station 3 is conducting a follow-up investigation to identify the suspect and determine the real motive on the killing, Bautista said. Barameda was serving Councilor Joseph Dimapilis, investigators said. (Jun A. Malig and Reynaldo G. Navales)

MABALACAT -- Two police officers involved in illegal drugs dealing were arrested last Wednesday in a buy-bust operation by narcotics agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).  The policemen, together with another officer detained for drug dealing, were busted by a PDEA team led by Agent Froilan Bitong.  PDEA 3 Regional Director Ronald Allan Ricardo said the suspects had long been subject of a surveillance operation following reports from intelligence officers that the arrested policemen were involved in illegal drugs trafficking.  The suspects, whose names were withheld, were detailed at the Angeles City Police Office Station 6, Ricardo said.  He said a full follow-up investigation is being conducted by PDEA to establish possible links of the suspects to other groups operating in the area.

Ricardo added that they were wondering why an inmate supposedly detained at the police station was able to get out of jail to join the suspects in their illegal activities. Confiscated from the suspects were two transparent heat-sealed plastic sachets containing 40 grams of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu with a street value of P390,000. One 9mm caliber pistol, a .45 caliber pistol, and a .38 Smith and Wesson revolver with live ammunitions were also seized from the suspects.  The suspects will be charged with violations of the Dangerous Drugs Act and illegal possession of firearms in regards with the elections gun ban, Ricardo said. The suspects, who refused to comment on the case, are in the custody of the PDEA in Camp Olivas in the City of San Fernando. (JTD)

MABALACAT – Businessmen with establishments along the stretch of Barangay Dau in this town have assailed the long unattended “spaghetti” or the tangle of wires and cables posing risks to pedestrians and motorists.  The highly populated road stretch from this town’s arch to the main commercial district is the scene of clumped, dangling wires. A businessman, who preferred not to be named, told Sun.Star Pampanga: “It’s been years now since we brought to the attention of authorities these ‘spaghetti’ of cut and dangling wires. Pababa ng pababa ang mga iyan and it has not only become an eyesore but a danger to pedestrians and motorists. Baka naghihintay pa sila na may makuryente diyan o may maaksidente.”  “We’ve written those responsible for these dangling bundle of wires like that Datelcom office across the street. But they have not acted on it. It’s beginning to be irritating,” said an official of nearby Bingo Pinoy.  Sun.Star Pampanga has contacted some officials of the Pampanga Electric Cooperative 2 who denied responsibility for the unattended dangling wires.

“Our wires and lines, especially high tension lines, are well in place and in their new poles. They are maintained and kept safe so as not to induce accidents of any kind. The lines that are dangling and posing risks are those of telecom firms na nakikiposte lang,” they said.  Officials of Datelcom, however, would not comment on the complaints of the businessmen but hinted that the tangled cables are still subject of an ordinance requiring all cable telephone, radio and electric companies and other similar firms engaged in the installation of wires on street posts that they should be arranged regularly and to see to it that all installed tangled and encroached wiring connections are checked or will be subject to penalties if not maintained.  The officials however, vowed to check and correct the dangling wires. (Jovi T. De Leon)

A BUSINESSWOMAN was killed and her son was seriously wounded when fired upon by five unidentified armed men along Mac Arthur Highway in Barangay San Miguel, Betis Monday.  Senior Superintendent Manuel Gearlan, newly-installed officer-in-charge of the Pampanga Police Provincial Office (PPPO), said Amerjan Eusoff Guiam, 59, a businesswoman and her son Joseph, 33, were on board an Isuzu Crosswind with plate number CSN-838 driven by one Joren Laxa.  The victims were on their way for a court hearing when reportedly ambushed by the suspects, said Gearlan. Gearlan said Amerjan sustained gunshot wounds on the head and on different parts of her body while her son Joseph was hit on the lower parts of his body. After shooting the vehicle of the victims, the suspects immediately fled on board a dark colored vehicle without a plate number towards the north, he said.  The victims’ driver who was not hurt during the ambush managed to speed off and brought the victims at the Mother Calcutta Hospital in the City of San Fernando but the mother was pronounced dead on arrival by attending doctors. Her son is still under treatment at the said hospital as of press time. Gearlan said a bystander identified as one Nancy Layug, 40, was also hit by a stray bullet on the head and was also declared dead on arrival in another hospital.  Scene of the Crime Operatives recovered 11 .45 caliber spent shells at the ambush scene.  Police are still investigating on the motive of the killing. (Ric Sapnu)

ANGELES CITY -- Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) announced Wednesday that it will soon be releasing “new generation bank notes” in a bid to demonetize, update, and improve security features of paper bills in the country. Managing Director Pedro Tordilla Jr. of BSP’s Regional Monetary Affairs Sub-Sector said the new generation bills would be introduced before the end of the year.  Tordilla, who spoke before representatives of various sectors during the BSP Consultative Meeting on the artificial coin shortage, said the current bank notes have been in circulation for 23 years already.  The new generation bank notes will be made from cutting edge technology that will become hard for counterfeiters to follow. It will also carry the world heritage sites in the country as declared by the United Nations. The meeting was attended by the banking sector, other financial institutions, national government agencies, non-government organizations, transportation sector and local government units, he said.  “There is also a move to intensify colors of the bank notes to help users identify them more easily by the color alone. There will also be changes as some of the bank notes will include popular flora and fauna themes,” Tordilla said. Tordilla said that included in new generation bank notes is the design for the new five hundred peso bill in which the figure of late senator Benigno Aquino would be joined by the figure of his wife former president Corazon Aquino. Old notes or bills will be demonetized in two to three years time after which, these can no longer be used to purchase goods or services but can be changed to new bills through banks.  Tordilla also denied rumors that the BSP will shift to use plastic money as new generation bank notes. He said that such move would be disastrous for the local abaca sector.  “We will not be turning to plastic money because we want to protect the local abaca industry. Some 40 percent of our bank notes are made from abaca which is known to lengthen the durability and life of the bank notes. The remaining composition of our banknotes is 60 percent cotton,” Tordilla said.  However, Tordilla said there is still much to be done in educating the public on the proper use of bank notes like using wallets for storage and avoiding inflicting any form of mutilation when using bank notes.  “We can greatly help the BSP and lengthen the life of our banknotes if we are more responsible in the use of our paper bills,” Tordilla said, stressing that by 2012, the BSP will also start demonetizing current coins in the circulation for the planned introduction of new generation coins. (Ian Ocampo Flora) 

CLARK FREEPORT -- The new SF 260 trainer aircraft the Philippine Air Force (PAF) is acquiring is being built inside the Clark Freeport.  Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales inspected Friday the Aerotech Industries Philippines, an aircraft manufacturing facility, where the trainer aircraft is being assembled.  Gonzales said he is pushing for upgrading the Armed Forces capability through reviving a US$13.1 million project for the acquisition of 18 SF 260 trainer plane for the Air Force pilot training.  He announced his approval of an amended contract for the supply and delivery of the aircraft by Italian company Alenia Aermacchi and its local partner, the Aerotech Industries Philippines.  Aside from the PAF, the Aermacchi also distributes SF 260 to the Italian Air Force.  The amended contract was earlier endorsed by newly-installed AFP chief-of-staff General Delfin Bangit and PAF Commanding General Oscar Rabena.  Gonzales said the project is expected to boost the country’s aviation industry because of its technology transfer aspect.  The contract with the Italian company also involves integrated logistics package, such as pilot, technical and maintenance training and after-sales support, including provision of initial equipment and spare parts.  The SF 260 trainer aircraft is in service with 27 military customers, civilian flying schools worldwide with almost 1000 units in flight operations, according to Aerotech Philippines.

ANGELES CITY -- Residents of a subdivision in Barangay Balibago here are complaining in what they described as illegal treasure hunting in the area. Members of Concerned Residents of Diamond Subdivision have expressed fear over the reported diggings inside a property owned by one Norman Haynes. Some of their apprehensions include the danger of soil erosion, flooding, and illness among others.  With a battle cry “No to Mining, No to Treasure Hunting, Yes to Health, Yes to Environment,” the residents are appealing to city officials to intercede on the case and stop the illegal mining in their subdivision. Former councilor Louie Reyes filed last year a complaint in court against Haynes in connection with the alleged diggings inside Haynes’ property. Baptist Pastor Tony Horn, a former employee of Haynes company, confirmed that there is a digging going on inside the property. Aside from the noise, Reyes said a foul odor emits from Haynes lot. Horn claimed that he is being harassed by a group of individuals after he testified in court against Haynes’ company. Horn had experienced harassment through libel case, qualified theft, and hold departure order according to Reyes.  "Pastor Tony was arrested and handcuffed in front of his children and church members without an arrest warrant. He is begging for help from the Filipinos," Reyes said.  Sun.Star Pampanga, however, was not able to get Haynes’ side on the issue as of this posting Friday.  But Balibago village chief Tony Mamac said they found no excavation when he and other barangay officials inspected Haynes’ property. “Wala naman kaming nakitang hukay dun. Meron kaming nakitang generator at mga frame na bakal pero diggings wala naman,” Mamac said. (Reynaldo G. Navales)