Umali sets deadline for change in peace and order situation

Gov. Aurelio M. Umali has given the newly installed Nueva Ecija police director, Sr. Supt. Agripino Javier, three months to reshape the peace and order situation in the province.

In his first day in office, Umali emphasized that he had every intention to rewrite the political history of the province, particularly in terms of the elimination of political violence.

Umali said he wants the police not only to solve  the series of killings after the May elections as their closure alone would not be enough to allay fears.

Javier, who took over the provincial police office last June 30, is reportedly the personal choice of Umali for the position. The police official is perceived to be efficient in solving crimes given his previous stint with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

He admitted having received a directive from the Philippine National Police chief, Director Gen. Oscar Calderon -- himself a Novo Ecijano -- to solve the series of violence in the province. ###
 
 

Commission to study violence in Ecija

Gov. Aurelio M. Umali has vowed to help the families of victims of political killings in Nueva Ecija by forming a commission to study the series of violent incidents in the province.

Umali assured the relatives of the victims that the provincial government would do its best to solve the recent killings involving local officials. ###
 
 

The killings continue...
San Leonardo municipal engineer slain

The municipal engineer of San Leonardo was shot and killed in front of his house at about 10:10 PM last July 2.

In a report to Camp Crame, Sr. Supt. Agripino Javier, Nueva Ecija police chief, identified the victim as Mauro Balajadia, Jr., 49, a resident of Barangay Mallorca.

The victim was driving his Ford Lynx and was about to enter his compound when fired upon by an unidentified suspect.

Balajadia died on the spot while the suspect boarded a motorcycle and sped off.

It was learned that the victim had come from a meeting with the San Leonardo mayor.

The San Leonardo police are still trying to determine the motive for Balajadia's killing. ###
 
 

Quezon shooting: personal vendetta, not politics

The Nueva Ecija Provincial Police Office has eliminated politics as the motive for the killing of Barangay Dos, Quezon Chair Miguel Sta. Ana, barangay tanod Florencio Alberto, Jr. and former provincial jail guard Victor Ramos, a member of the security force of Quezon Mayor Eduardo Basilio Joson Last June 30.

A barangay council member, Sisenando Coloma, was wounded in the attack.

Sr. Supt. Agripino Javier, Nueva Ecija police director, said personal vendetta was the motive, with Victor Ramos as the main target.

Investigation showed that the suspect, Edgar Indon, 45, a native of Bulacan, led the attack while the victims were having a drinking session in front of a village store.

Somebody from Sta. Ana's group managed to fire back hitting Indon, whose body was later abandoned by his fleeing companions in Zaragoza town.

Javier said Indon was dismissed from the Joson camp after he was accused of being involved in robbery incidents, and later blamed Ramos for his dismissal. 

Earlier, Tomas Lahom, former provincial board secretary and lawyer of former Vice Gov. Mariano Cristino Joson, attributed the attack to politics, pointing out that Sta. Ana was a leader of the Joson party, Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija (BALANE). ###
 
 

Update
Politician tagged as mastermind of Vendivil killings

Nueva Ecija police director Sr. Supt. Agripino Javier said a politician whom he declined to identify has been named as the mastermind of the attack on Lupao Mayor elect Alfredo Vendivil and Vice Mayor elect Virgilio Vendivil in a cockpit arena in San Jose City last June 15.

He said the police are in the process of gathering evidence to produce an airtight case against the politician.

The Vendivil cousins were gunned down by five armed suspects as they went out of the cockpit during a break in the derby that they were sponsoring.

Supt. Magno Biag, deputy provincial director for operations and head of Task Force Vendivil, said their investigation was being hampered by the refusal of witnesses to come out for fear of reprisal from those responsible for the killings. ###
 
 

Surprise!
Umali visits Joson

Gov. Aurelio M. Umali visited Vice Gov. Edward Thomas Joson in the latter's office last July 2, the first working day of newly elected local officials.

The governor said he did not expect a political alliance between his Lakas-Christian-Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party and the Josons' Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija (BALANE) but expressed the belief that they could agree on undertakings that would benefit the people.

Joson, for his part, said "Tayo'y handang sumuporta sa mga programa basta't para sa kapakanan ng ating mga mamamayan."

"Pero kung ito ay may halong katiwalian at para sa pansarilng interes lamang, e, labis na itong panloloko, hindi na uubra sa atin 'yon," he qualified.

Umali has only one party mate in the 13 member Sangguniang Panlalawigan which met for the first time last July 2 with lawyer Bembol Castillo as board secretary.

Joson and nine board members took their oaths of office before Judge Ismael Casabar at the Nueva Ecija Convention Center last June 30.

Umali took his oath before a Santa Rosa barangay chair also at the Convention Center last July 4. ###
 
 

There he goes!
Edno files resolution for snap elections...

First District Rep. Eduardo Nonato "Edno" N. Joson has filed a resolution expressing the sense of Congress to urge President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro to resign their offices to pave the way for special elections for president and vice president.

Joson said the two top officials should resign because their legitimacy as duly elected leaders of the country "has been undermined, questioned, and challenged" as a result of the so-called "Hello Garci" scandal.

He pointed out that the senatorial elections last May 14 where Mrs. Arroyo's ticket was nearly wiped out by the opposition should be considered a vote of no confidence on the Arroyo administration.

Joson's resolution was among the 23 proposed by members of the new 14th Congress. ###
 
 

... and bills to restore the death penalty

First District Rep. Eduardo Nonato N. Joson, reverting to his practice of writing his bills in Filipino which he used to do when he was an assemblyman, filed measures seeking the restoration of the death penalty.

He filed two measures seeking to impose the death sentence on hired killers and law enforcers guilty of involvement in summary or extra judicial killings.

Joson said many murder cases were executed by hired killers, including lawmen and military and police officers.

Joson said those people who have made murder a profession should pay for their crimes with their lives.

In seeking for the immediate approval of his "Anti-Hired Killing" bill, Joson said "Hired killers proliferate and hired killing is the new cottage industry."

"The sanctity of human life, like the sanctity of our democratic institutions, must be defended and protected; otherwise, anarchy and the concomitant law of the jungle or rule of the gun will prevail," he added. ###
 
 

SC fines Ecija judge, three others

The Supreme Court has fined four judges, including one in Nueva Ecija, for gross ignorance of the law and gross negligence.

Ricardo Agapito of Laur was fined P20,000 for gross neglect; Reynaldo Alon of RTC Branch 40 in Silay City, P10,000 for gross negligence; Anastacio Rufon, acting Judge of RTC Branch 51 in Bacolod City, and Dionisio Sison, acting presiding judge of RTC Branch 74 in Antipolo City, P10,000 each for gross ignorance of the law.

The High Court also suspended Henry Avelino of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Pontevedra, Capiz for three months without pay and benefits for sitting on a case for almost 10 years.

It also meted the same penalty to Eddie Rojas of the Regional Trical Court Branch 37 in General Santos city for issuing a 21 day temporary restraining order instead of a 72 day notice in a civil case that was ready to be decided. ###
 
 

Man throws grenade at birthday party

A 44 year old guest threw a grenade at a birthday party in Sitio Pemacco, Carranglan at midnight last July 11, wounding 11 persons.

The party was meant to celebrate the fourth birthday of Franklin Sucaban. The boy and his parents, Ferdinand and Mercy, were among those hurt in the attack.

Police investigators learned that the suspect, Reynoso Lorenzo, had quarreled with Pablito Domingo, 42, deputy chief of the local Bantay Bayan during a drinking session with members of the Philippine Guardian Brotherhood, until the two were pacified by the barangay chair.

The suspect left and then returned a few minutes later with a grenade which he then hurled at the house where the party was taking place.

Among those injured in the blast were Domingo, Barangay T.L. Padilla Chair Oscar Zamora, Milagros Sucaban, Celso Aquino, Jaypee Rosario, Erlinda del Rosario, Rodel del Rosario, Rogelio del Rosario, Marcillana Baltazar and a Cpl. James Patalig of the Charlie Company, 48th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army. ###
 
 

School principal killed

Unidentified armed men shot and killed a school principal in Purok 6, Barangay San Alejandro, Quezon last June 29.

A delayed report received by Camp Crame said the  victim, Fortunato Malubag, 58, was walking to school at about 9:15 AM when he was suddenly shot repeatedly by the motorcycle riding suspects.

The gunmen fled after the shooting.

Investigators found two caliber .45 shells at the scene.

The motive for the killing has yet to be established. ###
 
 

4 Cabanatuan robbery holdup suspects arrested

The Cabanatuan City police arrested four notorious holdup suspects in their hideout.

In a report by Supt. Eliseo Cruz, Cabanatuan City police chief, to Sr. Supt. Agripino Javier, Nueva Ecija police director, he identified those arrested as Remigio Villanueva, 46, of Sitio Deepwell, Barangay Santo Rosario, Santa Rosa; Darwin Castro, 23, of Purok 4; and Joselito Palapayon, 24, and Reneboy Cumilang, 20, both of Barangay Bantug Norte, Cabanatuan City.

The four earlier robbed  Erlinda Nagaño of her belt bag containing P25,000 while she was closing her grocery store in Sangitan Market.

One of the suspects, Villanueva, was arrested by SPO3 Nestor Tabbu and PO3 Ricardo Ansela. He led the police to his group's hideout.

Investigators said the group was responsible for four other robbery holdup cases in Cabanatuan City. ###
 
 

2 arrested for transporting logs

Two 18 year old General Tinio residents were arrested in Barangay San Gregorio, Cabiao for transporting illegal logs.

Those nabbed were Robert Pangilinan Pajarillara of Barangay San Pedro and Marvin Ortega Lagman of Barangay Concepcion, General Tinio.

The two were arrested after the Cabiao police received a tip that a truck full of illegal logs were due to pass through the town. ###
 
 

2 killed in vehicular accident

Two motorcycle riders were killed in a road accident on the night of July 1 in Barangay Balangkare, General Natividad.

The fatalities were identified as Vincent Jay Arocena, 21 and Mark Anthony Sabado, 21,  both of Barangay Mataas na Kahoy. Seriously injured was Michael Sabado, 23.

Investigation showed that Sabado's motorcycle first hit a jeep driven by Edleza Giasnina Sarenas of Barangay Poblacion, and then the motorcycle driven by Arocena. ###