It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
 |
| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1257491 |
The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has imposed a 90-day suspension on former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director, Brig. Gen. Romeo Macapaz, for fabricating a case against a whistleblower in the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of several “sabungeros” (cockfight enthusiasts).
This was announced by Napolcom Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan at a press briefing at the Napolcom headquarters in Quezon City on Thursday.
Reading from a four page-resolution, Calinisan said Macapaz was slapped with cases of grave misconduct, and conduct unbecoming of a police officer, including alleged collusion with police officers involved in the alleged killings of the missing sabungeros.
The Napolcom said the charges, if substantiated, would constitute severe violations of the norms expected of members of the Philippine National Police.
The suspension of Macapaz was based on the complaint of Ellakim Patidongan, who claimed that the former obstructed the investigation into the missing sabungeros when his and his brother’s cellphones were confiscated after their arrest.
"The preliminary evidence and factual allegations supporting the request for preventive suspension point to a level of involvement that satisfies the threshold of ‘serious or grave’ charges and strong evidence of guilt as contemplated in the above rule,” the resolution read.
“Premises considered, the motion for preventive suspension filed by complainant Ellakim T. Patidongan is hereby granted and thus, Brig. Gen Romeo J Macapaz is hereby placed under preventive suspension for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days, effective immediately upon receipt of this resolution.”
The resolution, however, emphasized that the grant of preventive suspension is not tantamount to a finding of culpability on the part of Macapaz.
“The imposition of preventive suspension is not a penalty, but a protective and procedural measure intended to preserve the integrity of the investigation, prevent any undue influence or interference in the proceedings and assure the availability of evidence and witnesses.,” it said.
Ellakim, along with his brother, whistleblower Julie Patidongan (alias Totoy), filed the complaint against Macapaz before the Napolcom on Aug. 14.
The Patidongans also accused Macapaz of attempting to make it appear that they were the masterminds behind the abductions of at least 34 cockfighting enthusiasts between 2021 and 2022.
“The Commission, after a careful and judicious evaluation of the records and the motion, finds that there exists substantial legal and factual basis to warrant the grant of the Motion for Preventive Suspension. The gravity of the charges, the preliminary showing of strong evidence of guilt, and the necessity to safeguard the integrity and impartiality of the proceedings collectively justify the imposition of preventive suspension against the Respondent,” read the resolution.
In the complaint filed by the Napolcom's Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service (IMIS), Macapaz was accused of deliberately obstructing the probe during two separate incidents in July.
According to the charge sheet, Macapaz unlawfully seized the mobile phones of Ellakim and his brother, Jose Patidongan. He refused to return them despite repeated demands.
Macapaz also allegedly altered key evidence by deleting messages contained in the devices.
His actions “impeded, obstructed, and frustrated the pursuit of justice in the missing sabungeros case, which remains one of the most controversial unresolved cases in recent years," read the complaint.
In a text message to reporters on Thursday, Macapaz, who has been reassigned to the Soccsksargen regional police, said he did not hold any evidence but only brought the Patidongan brothers back to the Philippines.
He declined interviews and said he would file his answer to the accusations against him before Napolcom.
Macapaz earlier led the apprehension of the Patidongan brothers from an undisclosed Southeast Asian country and brought them back to the Philippines on July 22.
In a press briefing after the relief of Macapaz as CIDG director, then PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said it was Macapaz who worked to track down the Patidongan brothers and was then investigating how the two were able to leave the country amid the missing sabungeros case.
Ellakim was allegedly caught using the ATM card of victim Melbert John Santos, who went missing in Sta. Cruz, Laguna on Jan. 13, 2022.
Jose, meanwhile, was seen in a video escorting a handcuffed victim, Michael Bautista, in Sta. Cruz on April 28, 2021.
The National Police Commission has imposed a 90-day suspension on former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Director, Brig. Gen. Romeo Macapaz, for fabricating a case against a whistleblower in the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of several “sabungeros."
The Sandiganbayan has granted the petition filed by the Philippine government for the forfeiture of the unlawfully acquired properties of the late Muntinlupa mayor Maximo Argana.
In a 114-page decision dated Aug. 18, 2025, the Sandganbayan Third Division granted the petition of the government originally filed in 1991 to forfeit in favor of the state unlawfully acquired property included in the estate of Argana, who was mayor of Muntinlupa from 1964 to 1967 and then again in 1972 until his death in 1985.
The court said the heirs of the mayor who are respondents "failed to controvert petitioner's (government) evidence that between 1964 to 1967 and from 1972 up to his death in June 1985, Argana acquired, or made expenditures for, wealth and properties with a cost of PHP5,868,317.36 that were manifestly disproportionate to his lawful income for the same period.”
"Considering respondents' failure to justify how they were able to acquire said properties out of their lawful income, the same are therefore considered to have been unlawfully acquired and should be forfeited in favor of the State," the court said
The court noted that during the time the property were acquired by Argana and his school teacher wife earned around PHP735,000.
In the petition, the Republic alleged that the late Argana, during his incumbency as mayor, acquired no less than 251 Original/Transfer Certificates of Title to parcels of land located in Muntinlupa and its neighboring towns and other assets which are recorded in his name and/or his ownership, and concealed by being recorded in the name of, or held by, or transferred to, his respondent spouse, daughters, brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law and family corporation.
Except for his government salary and representation allowances, the State said Argana had no other known sources of income which may justify acquisition of the aforementioned assets.
The Sandiganbayan said that although the respondents insist that Argana was engaged in the active practice of his profession as a lawyer, was engaged in aqua-culture businesses in Laguna de Bay, and was involved in several other business opportunities, there was no proof of actual income derived therefrom which would justify their acquisition of the properties listed in the petition.
“The respondents failed to sufficiently present any financial document, income statement, or any other document showing the earnings of those businesses. They merely stated the supposed sources of income, but they did not present any evidence proving such," the court said.
“Premises considered, respondents' properties acquired from 1964 to 1967 and from 1972 up to his death in June 1985 which were out of proportion to their lawful income for the said period should be forfeited in favor of the government for failure of the respondents to show, to the court's satisfaction, that the same were lawfully acquired.”
The Sandiganbayan has granted the petition filed by the Philippine government for the forfeiture of the unlawfully acquired properties of the late Muntinlupa mayor Maximo Argana.
 |
| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2101422/general-among-4-cops-probed-in-sabungeros-case-napolcom |
Four more active police officers are under investigation by the National Police Commission (Napolcom) for their alleged involvement in the abduction of sabungeros, or cockfighting enthusiasts.
Napolcom Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Calinisan announced this during a press conference at the agency’s office in Quezon City Thursday.
“We are looking into at least four more names here in the National Police Commission as to their possible involvement. These are names given to us by a possible witness, and we are hoping that witness surfaces,” he said.
Calinisan declined to identify the police officers under investigation.
When asked if the officers were still active, he replied, “Active.”
Pressed on whether any of the officers held a general rank, he answered, “Mayroon” (There is).
He was also asked who the witness was who informed Napolcom about the alleged involvement of the four officers.
“A police officer as well,” Calinisan said.When pressed to identify the officer further or confirm if they were among the 12 cops previously charged administratively in connection with the sabungeros case, the Napolcom vice chairperson only replied, “They know a lot.”
Twelve active police officers had already been administratively charged in connection with the reported kidnapping and killings of at least 34 sabungeros between April 2021 and January 2022.
Four more active police officers are under investigation by the National Police Commission (Napolcom) for their alleged involvement in the abduction of sabungeros, or cockfighting enthusiasts.
The Quezon City government has sounded the alarm over the more than PHP14 billion worth of flood control projects in the city, which were carried without permits and coordination from the local government.
At a press conference on Friday, Mayor Joy Belmonte expressed frustrations over what she said were anomalous flood control projects in the city, citing an audit of 93 flood control projects and 1,652 Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects from 2021 to 2025.
"Bilyon ang nasasayang na pera dito (Billions of pesos were wasted on these). If there was really that real political will to resolve flooding, I believe that this amount that has been wasted would already have been sufficient towards addressing this problem," she said.
City Engineer Mark Dale Peral reported that based on the inspection report and findings on the inspected projects, 43 were verified on site as completed, five projects were declared as completed but inspection revealed that ongoing construction works were still being done, while 45 projects were verified as ongoing.
“So if we are asked, if wala kaming idea (we do not have any idea), of course we have an idea that these national projects are being implemented in Quezon City. However, let us be clear, and we want this to be clear, that out of the 1,652 projects across the city implemented by the DPWH, only 315 actually were submitted for purposes of certificate of coordination,” he said.
Peral said that while the city government conducts meetings with the national government agencies that implement infrastructure projects, only 315 have actually been presented to them.
He said that out of the 315, only 138 were approved, leaving 1,337 projects without an application for a certificate of coordination from the city government.
As for the basis for disapproval, he cited projects located on non-buildable sites like the Matalahib Creek pumping station, the Santa Cruz pumping station, and the Mariblo Creek pumping station.
“So why non-buildable site? Because the site actually is located along the creek. So it is a violation of the National Building Code of the Philippines as well as the Water Code of the Philippines, which, incidentally, the enforcement of which is under DPWH,” Peral said.
Belmonte, meanwhile, said the city government found irregularities in the inspected projects, among these are 16 projects with identical contract costs and 25 with identical budgets; projects mislabeled, mislocated, or declared complete but still under construction; the PHP350-million pumping station at Matalahib Creek that is found to cut water flow by 70 percent, thus, worsening floods; and a San Juan River project that is split into 66 phases, among others.
“These projects were implemented in outright violation of our ordinance and even the Water Code,” Peral said.
Peral also confirmed that seven of the top 15 contractors flagged by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in his report for irregularities are active in the city.
City Legal Officer Carlo Lopez Austria warned that “if violations are proven, both officials and contractors could face administrative cases like grave misconduct, or even criminal liability.”
Meanwhile, Belmonte is pushing for better coordination and reforms in the implementation of flood control and other infrastructure projects.
She said that the city government would cooperate fully with Malacañang’s probe and submit a full report.
She also called on the legislative department to create laws that would strengthen the role of the local government units and enhance coordination with national government agencies.
“I feel frustrated and I feel angry because parang dini-disrespect ang local governments, when in fact, ang local government code is very, very strict with regards to the autonomy of local governments,” Belmonte said.
The Quezon City government has sounded the alarm over the more than PHP14 billion worth of flood control projects in the city, which were carried without permits and coordination from the local government.
 |
| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2101967/cop-nabbed-in-bulacan-robbery-linked-to-series-of-heists |
Police arrested in a follow-up operation in Batangas on Thursday a fellow law enforcer believed to be behind a string of robbery-holdup incidents in Bulacan towns, a day after he and his group allegedly targeted a business establishment in Sta. Maria.
Sta. Maria police chief Col. Voltaire Rivera identified the suspect as Police Staff Sergeant Miguel Andrew Oñate, 34, team leader of the Motorcycle Patrol Unit of the Tanauan City Police Station in Batangas and a resident of Barangay Sala in the city.
Rivera said Oñate was arrested in a hot-pursuit operation on Thursday, after he and three still unidentified cohorts reportedly stormed a soft drinks warehouse in Barangay Manggahan, Sta. Maria, at around 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The suspects, armed and wearing bonnets and face masks, tied up warehouse personnel before carting away the day’s cash collections and other valuables.
Investigators were able to identify Oñate through closed-circuit television footage showing his face mask slipping during the robbery. Police also traced the plate number of the suspects’ getaway vehicle, which Oñate had rented. Documents he submitted to the rental company, including a copy of his ID, further confirmed his identity.
“Based on our investigation, the group was also responsible for earlier robbery-holdup incidents in Bocaue and Angat towns,” Rivera told the Inquirer.
Recovered from Oñate were a caliber .45 pistol, three high-capacity magazines with 12 rounds of live ammunition, a replica caliber .45 pistol (Double Eagle), two license plates, three plastic bags of coins labeled “Mentos,” seven Android smartphones, two keypad phones, a katana (samurai sword), a green-and-black bolt cutter, and 59 white cable ties.
Rivera said police are continuing their follow-up investigation to identify and arrest Oñate’s three other cohorts who remain at large.
A cop who was busted for robbery is behind a string of robberies in the area.
 |
| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/08/31/2469331/ombudsman-files-graft-vs-ex-doe-chiefcusi-4-others |
Former Energy secretary Alfonso Cusi and four other former officials of the Department of Energy (DOE) were charged with graft by the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the allegedly railroaded approval of the sale of substantial shares in the Malampaya gas project to a company owned by Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy in 2019.
In a press statement issued yesterday, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) confirmed that a case of graft has been filed by the ombudsman against Cusi and other former DOE officials.
“The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) confirms that a case involving the Malampaya gas project has been filed with the Sandiganbayan against – among others – PDP acting chairman and former Energy secretary Alfonso G. Cusi,” PDP spokesman Ferdinand Topacio, said.
“It must be emphasized that this is the same case that was previously dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman, which found no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of Sec. Cusi,” he added.
Topacio said the ombudsman’s reversal of its previous resolution is the subject of their camp’s pending petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court.
Thus, Topacio said, out of respect to the SC and in adherence to the sub judice rule, the PDP “will not comment further on the merits” of the case.
“Suffice it to state that the PDP affirms our continued belief in the innocence of our acting chairman and reaffirms our faith and confidence in his leadership and abilities to lead our party during these trying times,” he said.
The ombudsman has yet to respond to requests for a copy of the charge sheet.
A record from the ombudsman’s Office of the Special Prosecutor showed that a case of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act was filed against Cusi, former Energy undersecretaries Donato Dionisio Marcos and Robert Biron Uy, assistant secretary Leonido Jimenez Pulido III and director Cesar Gaba dela Fuente III.
The record showed that the case was filed at the Sandiganbayan on Aug. 28.
It was in 2022 when the ombudsman started its investigation on Cusi and other DOE officials in connection with the sale of the Malampaya shares.
The investigation was prompted by a Senate committee on energy report transmitted by then committee chair Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.
Based on the committee report, the DOE supposedly railroaded the approval of the sale of 45 percent interest in the Malampaya gas project of Chevron Malampaya LLC Philippines to UC Malampaya, an indirect subsidiary of Udenna Corp., a company owned by Uy.
The 45 percent shares were sold to UC Malampaya for $545 million.
Gatchalian earlier said the extensive hearings of the Senate committee on energy revealed several irregularities in the DOE’s approval of the sale of the Malampaya shares.
For one, the senator said, it was admitted by Cusi during the hearing that UC Malampaya failed the financial test, but the DOE still proceeded with endorsing the sale of Chevron’s 45 percent Malampaya shares to the former.
Gatchalian said it was also revealed during the hearing that UC Malampaya failed to submit its audited financial statements before the sale was approved.He pointed out, as the DOE-sanctioned deal states UC Malampaya would rely on earnings from Malampaya operations to pay for its 45 percent share, the DOE should have ensured first that the company has the financial capacity to sustain operations and to conduct further exploration.It was earlier reported that Udenna also bought another 45 percent of Malampaya shares held by Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. for $380 million, making the Dennis Uy-led company the holder of 90 percent shares in the Malampaya natural gas project.
In 2022, the ombudsman dismissed the graft complaint against Cusi and the other respondents for supposed insufficiency of evidence.
In 2024, however, it reversed its earlier decision and said there was probable cause to indict Cusi and the other respondents for graft. This prompted Cusi to file a petition for certiorari before the SC, seeking the nullification of the ombudsman’s 2024 resolution.
Former Energy secretary Alfonso Cusi and four other former officials of the Department of Energy (DOE) were charged with graft by the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the allegedly railroaded approval of the sale of substantial shares in the Malampaya gas project to a company owned by Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy in 2019.
 |
| https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/655064/lto-7-exec-arturo-apolinar-faces-ombudsman-complaint-for-grave-misconduct-extortion |
A complaint has been filed with the Office of the Ombudsman against Engr. Arturo Apolinar, assistant regional director of the Land Transportation Office (LTO)-7, for grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the service, and dishonesty.
The complaint was filed by Carmen Celestial, an employee of LTO-7, and was received by the Ombudsman on Friday, August 29, 2025.
In her complaint, she alleged that Apolinar used his influence to allow an insurance company to illegally tap electrical and water lines at the LTO Motor Vehicle Inspection Center (MVIC) compound in M. Logarta, Subangdaku, Mandaue City.
The electrical line allegedly came from the office of Engr. Apolinar, going to a privately constructed building intended to be used as an insurance office located adjacent to the MVIC compound, thereby allowing this insurance office to benefit from the free water and electrical fees to the detriment of the government.
She also alleged that Apolinar also extorts P500,000 from a private emission testing center (PETCs) as a fee for his help in having their applications approved by higher authorities.
“Not content, Engr. (A)Polinar also regularly visits these Private Emission Testing Centers PETC in the guise of inspection but in reality, he is merely waiting for these PETC’s to give him money whenever he would visit them,” the complaint reads.
Celestial urged the Ombudsman to investigate these grave and serious allegations.
Prior to this, Assistant Secretary Lawyer Vigor Mendoza, chief of LTO, issued a notice to explain against Apolinar on the issue.
“Moreover, the investigation report identified a certain Mark, also known as ‘Makoy,’ allegedly your trusted aide, as the individual responsible for the installation of the illegal connections,” Mendoza said in his letter.
In a comment, Apolinar, however, said that he will not yet issue a statement since he hasn’t received a copy of the complaint.
“Thank you for your concern. No comment lang ako kasi wala pa naman akong natatanggap na notice. Sorry po,” he said in a text message.
A complaint has been filed with the Office of the Ombudsman against Engr. Arturo Apolinar, assistant regional director of the Land Transportation Office (LTO)-7, for grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the service, and dishonesty.
A policeman assigned in Talisay City is now facing charges of attempted homicide after he allegedly threatened to shoot a man and drew his service firearm following an altercation inside a cockpit arena in Naga City last Saturday, August 30.
Police reports identified the suspect as Patrolman Frank Omambac Alemento, 46, a resident of Barangay Mainit, City of Naga, and currently assigned to the Talisay City Police Station.
In an interview with CDN Digital on Monday, September 1, Police Master Sergeant Aristeo Tampus, the case investigator, said that on top of the criminal charges, Alemento may also face administrative sanctions depending on the outcome of the Cebu Police Provincial Office’s (CPPO) investigation.
The probe will determine his liabilities and whether formal administrative proceedings should be filed.
Tampus said that Alemento entered the Naga Sports Arena around 1:30 p.m. carrying a bottle of beer and his fighting cock.
Witnesses said he later got into a heated argument with another man during the cockfight pairing and the altercation further escalated when the man forcefully pushed away Alemento’s game fowl causing it to fall to the ground.
Alemento then picks up his fowl and allegedly pulled out his service firearm and threatened to shoot the man, sparking panic among the crowd.
A struggle ensued, and the man he was fighting with, managed to wrestle away the gun, which was later turned over to the cockpit manager. No gunshots were fired during the incident.
Responding police officers swiftly arrested Alemento and secured his firearm.
He is now detained at the Naga City Police Station pending inquest proceedings for the cases filed against him.
The incident has also highlighted existing rules that ban government workers, including police officers, from gambling places.
This is based on a directive from the Office of the President, Memorandum Circular No. 06 (2001), which reminds all government employees to stay out of casinos and similar establishments.
The rule comes from Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1067-B (s. 1977), as amended by PD No. 1869 (s. 1983), which specifically bars police, military, and other government officials from entering or betting in gambling venues such as cockpits and casinos—even if they are wearing civilian clothes.
If the Cebu Provincial Police Office’s (CPPO) investigating unit finds enough basis, Alemento could also face separate administrative proceedings for violating the ban on uniformed personnel inside gambling areas.
This would be on top of the criminal complaints already lodged against him.
A policeman assigned in Talisay City is now facing charges of attempted homicide after he allegedly threatened to shoot a man and drew his service firearm following an altercation inside a cockpit arena in Naga City.
 |
| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2102834/marikina-police-chief-sacked-over-2-cops-alleged-sexual-assault |
The Marikina City police chief was relieved from his post for possible negligence after two of their personnel were accused of raping a female colleague, the Eastern Police District (EPD) announced.
“We administratively relieved the chief of police of Marikina for the pending investigation,” EPD Director Brig. Gen. Aden Lagradante said in a press briefing at Camp Crame on Monday.
“When we say he is under investigation, we’ll investigate if the chief of police is remiss in his function or [in] his duties in overseeing his personnel,” he added.
The EPD director added that the two officers’ substation commander was also administratively relieved. He did not identify the Marikina police chief and the substation commander.
The incident allegedly took place on the evening of August 17 along a jogging lane in Libis, Barangay Santo Niño, Marikina City.
According to a police report obtained by INQUIRER.net, a patrolman and a staff sergeant forced a female patrolman to drink liquor and then raped her in the back of their patrol car.
The officers face charges of acts of lasciviousness and violation of Republic Act 8353, or the Anti-Rape Law.They were also stripped of their service firearms and reassigned to the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit.
The Marikina City police chief was relieved from his post for possible negligence after two of their personnel were accused of raping a female colleague, the Eastern Police District (EPD) announced.
A Baguio court has convicted a police official for homicide over the death of Ryan Dave Almora, a resident who was killed during the height of the government’s war on drugs in July 2016.
In its decision, the Baguio Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 60 sentenced Police Colonel Dante Lubos to 10 years to 14 years, eight months, and one day of imprisonment.
Aside from this, the court ordered him to pay the complainant, Almora’s sister, P1.7 million as actual damages, P173,500 as attorney’s fees and cost of suit, P100,000 as moral damages, P50,000 as exemplary damages, and P50,000 as civil indemnity.
The court said all the award for damages shall earn a 6% interest per annum until fully paid.
In its ruling, the court did not give weight to Lubos’ defense that Almora was the first to fire shots, noting that the hands of Almora did not contain gunpowder nitrates and there was a lack of physical evidence to prove that he fired a gun.
“In view of all the foregoing evidence, the self-serving claim of the accused that there was unlawful aggression on the part of the accused necessitating him to retaliate and defend himself could not be sustained,” the court said.
The Court also ruled that Almora’s injuries did not indicate that he was in a position to fight back as he sustained two gunshot wounds in his chest and one in his abdomen.
It said that the trajectory of the gunshot wounds appear to be downward, which suggests that the assailant or assailants was positioned from a higher elevation than Almora.
Aside from this, the RTC said that there was a discrepancy in the testimonies of two participants in the buy-bust operation.
One claimed that gunshots were heard 10 to 15 minutes after the authorities and the civilian informant entered the victim’s residence while the other testified that gunshots were heard only a few seconds after they entered.
“Unfortunately for the accused, he failed to prove the existence of any of the justifying circumstances claimed as his defenses. The inevitable conclusion therefore is that the accused is guilty of the crime of homicide beyond reasonable doubt,” the decision read.
A Baguio court has convicted a police official for homicide over the death of Ryan Dave Almora, a resident who was killed during the height of the government’s war on drugs in July 2016.
Five employees of the Land Transportation Office (LTO)—Cagayan Valley regional office were arrested on Monday in an entrapment operation for allegedly attempting to extort P200,000 in exchange for the release of an impounded vehicle, according to authorities.
Police said the operation took place at the Baldovi Terminal Compound on Sulacan Street in Barangay Banggot, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya, according to a delayed police report released Tuesday.
The suspects, identified by their aliases as Khain, 29; Abhel, 35; Hacob, 36; Munding, 39; and Totoy, 42, are all employees of LTO-Cagayan Valley. Authorities apprehended them while they were attempting to collect the marked extortion money, which had been set up in the entrapment operation.
Police Major Randy Velarde, chief of Bambang police, said the victims—whose identities are withheld for security reasons—provided affidavits to the Nueva Vizcaya Police Provincial Office.
The victims said that they initially agreed to a P25,000 settlement, which later rose to P40,000 after the suspects demanded the full P200,000 for the van’s release.
In addition to the marked bills, authorities seized P40,000 in cash, a .45-caliber handgun, a Glock 9mm pistol, ammunition, a sachet of suspected shabu, and other personal items from the suspects.
The men are currently in police custody, with charges for robbery-extortion, illegal possession of firearms, and violations of the anti-drug law being prepared against them.
Five employees of the Land Transportation Office—Cagayan Valley regional office were arrested on Monday in an entrapment operation for allegedly attempting to extort P200,000 in exchange for the release of an impounded vehicle, according to authorities.
A 30-year-old police officer shot and killed his live-in partner in their house in Barangay Aplaya, Digos City, Davao del Sur on Sunday, Aug. 31.The Digos City police identified the suspect as Police Patrolman Orland, assigned to the Hagonoy, Davao del Sur Municipal Police Station.Investigation said the suspect arrived home drunk with his daughter. The victim confronted the suspect who got irked and shot her with his service firearm.The victim sustained multiple bullet wounds and died on the spot. Her mother was wounded by stray bullets and was taken to a hospital.The suspect was arrested in a follow-up operation and in police custody. Recovered from the crime scene were fired cartridge cases and deformed bullets.He faces appropriate cases and dismissal from the service. Follow-up investigation is ongoing.
Administrative complaints have been filed against four police officers who were also implicated in the missing sabungeros case for allegedly kidnapping four people during anti-narcotics operations in 2021.
If proven true, the complaints will prove that some police officers tagged in the disappearance of cockfight enthusiasts were also involved in extrajudicial killings during detained former president Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war, according to the National Police Commission (Napolcom).
“This would have a huge historical impact,” Napolcom vice chairman and executive officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan said yesterday.
The families of Charles Dean Sotto, Dane Mark Carlos and siblings Jordi and Mico Mateos yesterday filed complaints with the Napolcom office in Quezon City.
Lt. Col. Ryan Jay Orapa allegedly led the officers who kidnapped the victims. The three other suspects are Maj. Mark Philip Almedilla, S/Sgt. Edmund Munoz and M/Sgt. Mark Anthony Manrique.
Sotto’s mother, Elizabeth, mentioned seven other names linked to the kidnappings.
Two confidential informants were also charged.
uge historical impact,” Napolcom vice chairman and executive officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan said yesterday.
The families of Charles Dean Sotto, Dane Mark Carlos and siblings Jordi and Mico Mateos yesterday filed complaints with the Napolcom office in Quezon City.
Lt. Col. Ryan Jay Orapa allegedly led the officers who kidnapped the victims. The three other suspects are Maj. Mark Philip Almedilla, S/Sgt. Edmund Munoz and M/Sgt. Mark Anthony Manrique.
Sotto’s mother, Elizabeth, mentioned seven other names linked to the kidnappings.
Two confidential informants were also charged.
Administrative complaints have been filed against four police officers who were also implicated in the missing sabungeros case for allegedly kidnapping four people during anti-narcotics operations in 2021.
 |
| https://mb.com.ph/2025/09/03/former-barangay-councilor-shot-dead |
A 54-year-old former barangay councilor was gunned down in Hacienda Cabayao, Barangay San Pablo, Manapla, Negros Occidental on Wednesday morning, Sept. 3.Investigation said a man was looking for a lost carabao in the area and asked for the house of the victim Pablo.The victim went out of his house and had a brief conversation with the suspect after which the suspect drew his firearm and shot the victim multiple times.Pablo died on the spot and the suspect entered the victim’s house and threatened his family before fleeing towards a mountainous area.Recovered from the crime scene were 10 empty shells and a live .45 caliber ammunition.Police are pursuing the suspect and conducting follow-up investigation.Meanwhile, police arrested a 41-year-old Chinese for dealing smuggled cigarettes worth P7.8 million in this city on Aug. 29.The suspect, Allan, was apprehended following intelligence-driven reports about his illegal activity.He faces appropriate cases.
