No mercy for erring soldier says NOLCOM chief

BALER, Aurora, September, 24, 2011-A top executive of the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) lambasted the involvement of a soldier including three civilians after they were nabbed by Baler police in the recent drug net operation at Purok 4, Brgy. Buhangin here Wednesday night, saying that no mercy for erring soldier who will be proven guilty.

NOLCOM Chief, Major General Jessie D. Dellosa said that he will not tolerate the wrongdoings of any personnel under his Command if proven guilty following the apprehension of one Private Jovito Virrey, assigned at 18^th Special Forces Company under the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) based in Hagonoy, Bulacan who was caught in the house of suspected drug pusher identified as Francisco Sotero.

“Let the investigations take its course.  That soldier better explain and justify his presence in that area, otherwise, he will have to face the legal consequences of his actions,”  Dellosa said.  

“The AFP is bent to weed the organization of scalawags and misfits following controversies particularly those involving former officers. “Our Commmander-in-Chief is serious in his "daang matuwid” (straight path) towards genuine reform, and so are we. If some individuals insist in trekking the crooked path,  it is incumbent upon us being their Commander to prevent a few rotten eggs from spoiling the entire organization,” Dellosa said.

Earlier, police anti-drug operation led by Police Chief Inspector Edgardo D. Togonon, Baler PNP chief of police resulted to the arrest of Private Virrey, his brother Reginal both native of Sitio Virrey, Brgy. Pingit, Ricardo delos Santos of Sitio Baclaran, Brgy. Suklayin, and Francisco Sotero of Brgy. Buhangin

The suspects are now in the provincial jail after the Aurora Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory examined them and confirmed that they were all positive in the drug test aside from having confiscated one (1) heat sealed transparent sachet containing Methamphetamine Hydrochloride otherwise known as “SHABU” weighing 1.20 grams, all in all 15 drug paraphernalia in the possession of Sotero. (Jason de Asis)

Army seized 2 high powered firearms in a clash with Ilocos Sur rebels

CERVANTES, Ilocos Sur, September 24, 2011-Soldiers of Charlie Company, 50^th Infantry Batallion under 1^st Lt. Dan Michael Milan and 2^nd lt  Randee Alog seized 1 M16 rifle with magazine and 1 M14 rifle with magazine in the yesterday firefights with rebels at around nine o’clock in the morning in  Barangay Remedios, Cervantes,  Ilocos Sur after it was tipped off by concerned residents here.

Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) Chief Major General Jessie D. Dellosa said that Ilocos Sur is one of the provinces scheduled for handover to the PNP and local government unit because of the improved security situation. 

“It happens that in areas declared insurgency-free, the New People’s Army (NPA) simply refused to acknowledge the fact that the populace even the NPA former mass bases do not want this armed conflict (among Filipinos) to continue anymore. The NPAs go out of their way to make their presence felt by regrouping with ragtag elements from other areas in order to show the people that they still have the number,” Dellosa said.

In Ilocos Region, two provinces namely La Union and Pangasinan were already declared insurgency-free.  “It is just a matter of time before Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte will follow suit because the AFP and PNP here joined efforts in addressing all peace and security concerns in the region with the full support of the local governments unit of course”,  Dellosa explained.

As of this report the firefights still ongoing.  “The exact number of casualties on the enemy side cannot be determined yet.  On the government side, Private First Class Jessie Camacho was slightly wounded on his back,” says Delloso. (Jason de Asis)