The Philippine National Police in the region headed by B/Gen. Vincent Calanoga and the Department of Justice, represented by Undersecretary Raul Vasquez renewed their commitment to further improve the delivery of the criminal justice system, at least in Eastern Visayas.(PRO-8)
The Philippine National Police in the region headed by B/Gen. Vincent Calanoga and the Department of Justice, represented by Undersecretary Raul Vasquez renewed their commitment to further improve the delivery of the criminal justice system, at least in Eastern Visayas.(PRO-8)
ORMOC CITY-The partnership between the Department of Justice and the Police Regional Office 8 was further strengthened with the launching of the symposium on capacity development for officers and police personnel held on July 25 in Tacloban City.
A total of 81 police commissioned officers from the different provincial and city police offices attended the said activity hosted by the Regional Prosecution Office VIII.
The gathering aimed to capacitate police personnel in order to improve the criminal justice system through enhanced case build-up.
In his statement, Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez emphasized the need for further cooperation, coordination, and assistance between the Philippine National Police as the biggest law enforcement agency of the government and the Department of Justice as the prosecution arm of the government.
“We are brothers in arms in this fight, the police and prosecutors. We will ensure that the law enforcement agency and the prosecution arm will be holding hands in battling criminality, particularly the drug problem,” he said.
For his part, police regional director B/Gen. Vincent Calanoga expressed his gratitude for the sustained coordination with the DOJ in providing better service to the people of Eastern Visayas.
“Being here demonstrates our symbolic and strengthened resolve to our interrelated mission of upholding the rule of law and ensuring the effective and efficient administering of justice. This event is a clear depiction of our continued commitment to developing creative potentials, intellectual capacities, and leadership abilities for personnel as well as organizational growth and development,” he stressed. (ROBERT DEJON)
STATEMENT. Police Regional Director B/Gen. Vincent Calanoga disclosed that he was ‘shocked’ on the alleged involvement of Col.Michael David on the illegal drug trade. David was among the 18 high-ranking police officers named by Malacanang whose courtesy resignations were accepted by Pres. Marcos on their reported link to illegal drug trade. Photo shows Calanoga, joined by PLt. Col. Ma. Bella Rentuaya, regional information officer, being interviewed by local media on the issue during a ‘meet and greet’ event held on July 26. (ELVIE ROMAN ROA)
Col. David is PRO-8 regional staff chief
STATEMENT. Police Regional Director B/Gen. Vincent Calanoga disclosed that he was ‘shocked’ on the alleged involvement of Col.Michael David on the illegal drug trade. David was among the 18 high-ranking police officers named by Malacanang whose courtesy resignations were accepted by Pres. Marcos on their reported link to illegal drug trade. Photo shows Calanoga, joined by PLt. Col. Ma. Bella Rentuaya, regional information officer, being interviewed by local media on the issue during a ‘meet and greet’ event held on July 26. (ELVIE ROMAN ROA)
PALO, Leyte– Eastern Visayas top police officer, B/Gen. Vincent Calanoga confirmed that one of the 18 police officers linked to illegal drug activity whose courtesy resignations were accepted by President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. is one of his deputies.
He, however, was quick to say that they were all ‘shocked’ to learn that Col. Michael David, who is the chief of the regional staff, was on the list.
Calanoga was interviewed by the local media on Wednesday night during a ‘meet and greet’ party at the regional police headquarters, this town.
“This is very surprising. Almost everyone was shocked because we work with Col. David and he is doing well and very professional (with his work),” the police regional director said.
He also described the news as ‘very unexpected,’ adding that when he worked with David at the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) back in 2016, he never had any information on his being involved in the illegal drug trade.
“Wala akong na observe na unusual or illegal sa kanyang trabaho when we first worked together at the NCRPO in 2016 until May 2017 when we parted ways. Dito na lang kami nagkita ulit,” Calanoga May 6 of this year.
He also said that he had a personal conversation with David after the news came out and he too was surprised being tagged.
“At wala siyang maisip pano siya na link dito sa illegal drug trade. (And so far), lahat na nakausap ko dito sa PRO-8, wala silang masabing masama kay Col. David,” Calanoga said.
David, who also served as Tacloban city’s top police officer, was named among the 18 third-level police officers tagged to be allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.
Pres. Marcos on Tuesday announced that he accepted the courtesy resignations of these top-ranking police officers who were named based on the investigation conducted by the National Police Commission adhoc advisory group.
Calanoga admitted that David’s inclusion on the list affected the police force in the region but assured the public of their continued campaign against illegal drugs in the region.
He also said that pending the final result of the probe against David, he is giving him the ‘benefit of the doubt,’ adding that he still continues to discharge the functions of his current office.
“He is still with PRO-8. Let’s give the good gentleman the benefit of the doubt until we have the result of the investigation that the National Police Commission will conduct,” Calanoga said.
He added: “As for Col.David, he is still with us at PRO-8 and we are waiting for instructions or order from the national headquarters.”
Calanoga advised the beleaguered David just to ‘hang on’ and as ‘truth would come out.’
David, himself, could not be reached for his comment.
Aside from David, also included in the list was the former police chief of Calbayog City, Samar, Col. Rodolfo Albotra. Jr.
TACLOBAN CITY– The Commission on Population and Development(CPD) in Eastern Visayas marked on Thursday(July 27), the 9th year of the seven children who were earlier identified as ‘symbolic babies’ when the Philippines reached the 100 million mark back in 2014.
However, of the seven symbolic babies, one of them, who was from Biliran province, died in 2016 due to a lingering ailment.
The CPD, earlier known as the Population Commission (Popcom), celebrated the 9th year of Rian Go of Tacloban City; Sunrey Abenales of Northern Samar; Miller Josh Tondo of Leyte; Blair Catalea Balabis of Southern Leyte; Jody Cervantes of Eastern Samar; and Joven Rey Arsenio of Samar, a grand birthday celebration.
All received gifts and cakes from CPD and other government agencies.
Nina Abenales, 36, said that she feels ‘honored’ that her son Sunrey was among the symbolic babies of the region relative to the 100 million passing of the country’s population.
“I was not even aware of it at first until I was informed by a hospital staff that my baby was chosen as one of the 100 million symbolic babies,” she said.
She delivered Sunrey at the Northern Samar Provincial Hospital in Catarman on July 27, 2014. Her other son, Christian, is now 10 years old.
Abenales said that she hopes that her son, who is now in Grade III, will have a bright future ahead of him.
“We are just poor. My husband is in Pampanga working in a private company and in fact, he has not seen Junrey since his birth,” she said.
Abenales, incidentally, was just named a health officer of their village in Doña Pulqueria, Catarman.
Elnora Pulma, the regional head of CPD, said that these symbolic babies, who were born before midnight of July 27, 2014, were not just part of the 100 million Filipinos.
But rather, she said, representation that in the future, all Filipinos will lead a ‘quality of life.’
“(The celebration) is very significant because it poses a challenge for all of us to have a right of a quality of life…to ensure that all Filipinos will actually benefit responsible services being provided by the government,” Pulma said.
Her office, she insisted, is one with the hope that every Filipino child will have a brighter future and in an atmosphere where they could fulfill their full potential as an individual.
ORMOC CITY– A call center agent was arrested in a buy-bust operation that resulted in the seizure of suspected shabu valued at P408,000.
Arrested was Erick Kyle Maghirang,31, who was arrested in a sting operation in Barangay Can-Adieng, this city, on July 21 at about P10:54 pm.
Seized from the suspect were packs of suspected shabu weighing 60 grams and with a commercial value of P408, 000.
The suspect, a resident of Brgy. Linao, also this city, did not issue any comment when asked by the media who were present during the operation.
Charges of violations of sections 5 & 11 Art II of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Law against Illegal Drugs of 2002, was filed against the suspect who is now detained at the lock-up facility of police station 1, this city. (ROBERT DEJON)
ORMOC CITY– A Danish national was arrested who was involved in a vehicular accident that resulted in the death of a businessman from this city.
Arrested was Torben Christiansen, 75, in his residence in Barangay Lungsodaan, Padre Burgos in Southern Leyte on Friday (July 21).
The Danish national figured in a vehicular accident along a national highway in Brgy. Bantigue, this city, on June 5 that resulted in the death of Ronnie Quisido, 55, a businessman.
The arrest of the foreigner was by virtue of a warrant issued by Judge Rene Romero, Jr., the presiding judge of the MTCC, based here, for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and damage to property.
The court recommended bail of P36,000 for the temporary liberty of the accused. (ROBERT DEJON)
ORMOC CITY– A man was killed while his wife and a passenger sustained injuries after the vehicle they were on board hit a steel railway in San Miguel, Leyte on Tuesday (July 26).
The fatality, who was driving a multi-cab type of a vehicle, was identified as Aljun Orbita while his wife, Jenny, and Rodesa Cabidlo, both school teachers, sustained injuries, the local police said.
Major Ronald Espina, the local police chief, said that the incident took place in a steel bridge located in Barangay Santol at about 5:59 pm.
The three were on their way home in Brgy. Sta.Cruz, also in San Miguel.
While navigating at the said bridge, the driver applied a brake causing the tires to slip and started to traverse in a zigzag motion.
This resulted for the vehicle to hit the railway of the bridge. As a result, the driver slammed his head in the windshield, incurring severe wounds due to the impact.
His passengers also sustained injuries in different parts of their bodies and were brought to the nearest hospital but the driver was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician. (ROBERT DEJON)
