Criminal investigation course to central luzon PNP investigators starts today

CAMP OLIVAS, San Fernando City, Pampanga February 16, 2011-A 45 day criminal investigation course will started today for the 359 police investigators coming from the provinces of Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales and the cities of Angeles and Olongapo to enhance the investigative knowledge and skills of the law enforcers.

Philippine National Police Regional Director PCSupt. Alan Purisima said that the training will be conducted in their respective provincial and city police offices, saying that the police in the region have 798 personnel assigned in various investigation units.

Purisima revealed that out of this figure, only 217 or 27 percent have formal training on investigation. (Jason de Asis)

:� H ; �Ϗ P͐ n:justify'>“The government could work out negotiations with other countries similar to the RP-Spain Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement, which aims to ensure the effective reformation and rehabilitation of Filipinos serving sentences in Spain since they will be afforded the opportunity to serve their sentences in the Philippines,” he said, adding that our OFWs serving long sentences and are awaiting death sentences in countries where no family can visit them.

“This is already a scourge to both the convicted and their families. The anguish of not being able to talk to or see their families forever is already a sentence that amounts to death," Escudero said, adding that the agreement should not be on a quid-pro-quo-basis, which means that all prisoners should be transferred to their country of origin regardless of the number of foreign nationals in Philippine prisons.

“There is a need to pursue this treaty,” Escudero said, since our countrymen are in foreign jails rather than the other way around.

Escudero said that the government should move on it but not to condone what their deeds are but because it is the government's duty to look after the welfare of its citizens no matter if they are guilty or not, reiterating that the government should make available remedies and steps be exhausted to assist our countrymen.

More than 3,000 Filipinos abroad who are either in detention or facing criminal prosecution according to the DFA records and 70 percent are embroiled in immigration-related offenses and will be deported after serving brief sentences while the rest are in custody for crimes such as theft and drug trafficking.

78 Filipinos are convicted for drug charges and awaiting death sentences in China.

There are 630 Filipinos currently serving jail sentences worldwide for transporting drugs who are mostly dummies for drug lords where sixty two percent of them are female according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. (Jason de Asis)

Bacalzo welcomes whistle-blowers on PNP corruption

CABANATUAN CITY, February 16, 2011-Philippine National Police Chief, Director General Raul Bacalzo yesterday said that he welcomes the possibility of whistle-blowers who will expose corruption in the PNP in the mold of retired Army Colonel George Rabusa, saying that he welcomes any investigation, even lifestyle checks similar to those already conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman and the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission.

“Much as we are implementing reforms, including fiscal reforms, we are ready to face any form of investigation,” he said, reiterating that he and his men are ready to face charges that senior PNP officials also received the so-called “pasalubong” (welcome gift) and “pabaon (send-off gift). He said he is not aware of any pabaon.

“I don’t have knowledge on that. In the first place, I have never retired to even get a taste of that. And I will never try receiving that if there is any,” he said.

“The PNP will abide with any instruction coming from relevant authorities for a closer examination of its systems and procedures in its financial transactions,” he added.

Earlier, Bacalzo directed Rey Lanada, Director for Comptrollership and Chief Supt. Rizaldo Tungala Jr., Director for Finance, to render a report to congressional oversight bodies so that these can be effectively guided in their inquiries in aid of legislation.  

At the same time, Bacalzo said he would favor a proposal to set up two sets of police, one national in scope and one local but on certain conditions.

“If in case it would result to the betterment of the PNP as an organization, why not? However, there must be a clear delineation of functions so that their respective functions would not interfere with each other,” he said.

He added that the functions of the National Bureau of Investigation and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group should also be well spelled out. (Jason de Asis)

P5 million building inaugurated by PNP Chief Bacalzo and named to late Dayag who was killed by his deputy COP

TALAVERA, Nueva Ecija, February 16, 2011-A P5-million brand-new police station building named after its former police chief who was gunned down by his drunken  deputy right in front of the old police station last January 1 was inaugurated by Philippine National Police Chief Director General Raul M. Bacalzo here yesterday.

In his first official visit in the province since he became PNP chief last year following the retirement of Jesus Versoza, Balcalzo paid tribute to the late Supt. Ricardo Dayag Jr.  who was gunned down by Inspector Bernardo Castro after the former tried to disarm him when the latter fired his service pistol in front of the police station past 8 pm last New years day.    

As he fell on the pavement, Castro allegedly pumped more bullets on his back, pulled out another gun and finished him off. Castro is now in jail facing criminal and administrative charges while the entire 47 police force of the Talavera police was later relieved for failing to come to the aid of their fallen superior and then later underwent a one-week retraining course.

Dayag’s widow Lilia attended the inauguration and was promised by Bacalzo of assistance from Camp Crame. Bacalzo ordered Chief Supt. Alan Purisima to help fast-track the processing of claims of Mrs. Dayag.

Mayor Nerito Santos, a kumpare of Bacalzo, said the Sangguniang Bayan led by Vice Mayor Vince de Leon has passed a resolution naming the new police station as Colonel Dayag Building in honor of the dead comrade. The municipal government donated the lot housing the two-story building.

Chief Supt. Felipe Rojas Jr., deputy director of the Camp Crame-based Directorate for Logistics said they spent P5 million for the Class C building, P1.5 million was released during the term of Bacalzo. 

He said that the PNP is spending an average of P100 million for the construction of new police stations all over the country.

Mrs. Dayag later told newsmen that she has not forgiven Castro yet for killing her husband. “As of now, hindi pa siguro (not yet),” she said. As a single parent, she said she is doing her best to make both ends meet for their five children left by her husband, including his eldest who is taking up law at St. Louis University in Baguio City.

Bacalzo, who was provincial director here in 2001, said the 135,000-strong police force is now undertaking a rigid retraining course in line with the back-to-basics policy of the PNP. He said had the Talavera police been retrained much earlier, the incident involving Dayag would not have happened. “This is the first time that a whole police station undergoes training from the police chief to PO1 (Police Officer 1) to develop camaraderie,” he said.

He added that the back-to-the basics campaign involves two components namely the virtue of courtesy and discipline and good manners and right conduct; and basic skill of policing.

He said police officers even to the level of provincial directors are asked to demonstrate in front of guests the proper way of arresting people.

Bacalzo admitted that the first two weeks of January was the most trying for the PNP when 14 policemen were involved in eight high-profile cases. He said, however, that in spite of these controversies involving lawmen, they were just a small fraction of the 135,000-strong police force.

“In fairness to our good policemen, I still believe that they are performing their jobs well,” he said, adding lawmen should not get distracted by these incidents but to consider these as lessons learned. 

Bacalzo later administered the oath of office of the new officers of the Association of Police Chiefs of the Philippines. He was also awarded a plaque of appreciation by the municipal government. (Jason de Asis)

Angara-Castillo donates fisher folks fishing materials in celebration of “Araw ng Mangingisda”

BALER, Aurora, February 16, 2011-Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo donates three (3) fish smoking chamber (tinapahan), 10 bottom set gillnet and a live fish container and souvenir t-shirts for the fisherfolks of Aurora and the 119 fishermen who joined the “baler bay angling contest 2011” led by Provincial Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Officer (PFARO) chief Victoriano San Pedro held at Brgy. Sabang beach yesterday here.

Angara-Castillo said the importance of fishermen in the everyday lives of Aurorans especially in delivering fresh fish in the market, saying that they are the pillars of businessman and buyers purchasing their products, as they say all of them are the real hero for showing to the world that they are using traditional fishing and not illegal fishing.

The lady governor added that the open type fish smoking chamber aims to promote and intensify processing activities in Aurora to produce value added products as additional income through provision of fish processing equipments to the small scale fish processor by the provincial government of aurora and PFARO.

She also directed PFARO chief San Pedro and Brgy. Captain Benedicto Isaguirre to submit to her office the names of the Baler Anglers club, Inc. and the contestants who joined yesterday and last year in order to give scholarship for elementary, high school and college who really needs it, adding that she requires the duo to submit it to her on the month of May, and directs them to create livelihood projects that is feasible in the said barangay where she manifests her willingness to give personal cash money for the start up of their chosen business for fishermen.

San Pedro said that the events started 5 years ago after the consultation with the fisher folks to conduct it every year to promote aqua tourism and sustainable development in the province, saying that Aurora is really a paradise which maintains the traditional method of fishing and ensures fresh fish.

“Although that the province has too much reefs, he is planning to have artificial reefs here in Aurora for the house of the fish for the anglers and make sure that they will continue promoting natural method of fishing,” San Pedro said, adding that this artificial reef is a human-made underwater structure, typically built for the purpose of promoting marine life and improve hydrodynamics for surfing or to control beach erosion.

“We will use bamboos for this artificial reefs designed to provide hard surfaces to which algae and invertebrates such as barnacles, corals and oysters cling, the accumulation of marine life in turn provides intricate structure and food for assemblages of fish,” San Pedro explained.

Meanwhile, results of the contest in connection with the 32^nd Aurora Day Celebration of “Kawilan sa Dalampasigan”. Special cash prices were awarded to Joseph Ajinto, Geronimo Carrasco and Efren Belen for best in fishing attire, Eulogio Duldulao for oldest Angler with catch, Alvin Cailing who received fastest catcher and youngest angler with catch, Virgilio Aganad for smallest single catch and Joseph Ajinto for the biggest catch. For the over-all major prizes, Ana Macanili won the third place, Francis Villamora for second price and the 1^st price was awarded to Joseph Ajinto. (Jason de Asis)