NOPPO -- 13 cops
penalized last year

Thirteen policemen were penalized in Negros Occidental last year for various offenses.

Senior Supt. Charles Calima, provincial police director, in his report to the Police Regional Office 6, said a policeman was dismissed from the service, seven others were suspended, two meted preventive suspensions, and three were placed under restriction.

In the implementation of the TABA (Tamad, Abusado, Bastos and Ayaw Padisiplina) campaign, three other policemen were also reprimanded and warned that their cases will be revived if they commit more infractions, Calima said.

Erring policemen were also tasked by Calima to serve as "sacristans" or acolytes during Sunday masses at the Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. chapel, while complaints against them are being deliberated on by the Negros Occidental police Investigation Branch.

The identities of policemen facing criminal and administrative complaints had been withheld by the NOPPO.

Despite several discreet operations conducted against the reported extortion activities of Negros Occidental policemen, not one has been apprehended, Calima said.

While he is immediately imposing sanctions against erring policemen, Calima said he has also awarded 3,407 various medals to policemen and plaques of recognition to police supporters.*GPB

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More guns recovered
by Valladolid police

Three more homemade shotguns were surrendered by three civilians to the police in Valladolid town, bringing to 12 the number of unlicensed guns accounted for by Senior Inspector Rico Santotome from Jan. 3 to 6.

Santotome, Valladolid police chief, said the three homemade firearms were surrendered to him by town residents Bonifacio Castaños, Hernan Hermosa and Elvis Biaoco.

Guns surrendered earlier to the Valladolid police were two .38 caliber revolvers, two .22 caliber revolvers, a rifle, and six homemade shotguns and live ammunition of various calibers.

The intensified campaign against the proliferation of loose firearms in Valladolid is in line with his "Implan Balik Baril" program, Santotome said.

Senior Supt. Charles Calima, provincial police director, who commended Santotome for a job well done in the collection of loose firearms, said 256 assorted firearms and a fragmentation grenade were confiscated in Negros Occidental in 96 operations last year.

Calima ordered other police chiefs to also intensify their campaigns against loose firearms.

Last year 110 persons were also arrested and charged in court for illegal possession of firearms, police records show.*GPB

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'Wanted person' nabbed

An hacienda watchman who has been a fugitive for more than seven years, was arrested in Brgy. Tabunan, Ilog, Friday, town police chief Gabriel Gutierrez said.

Nabbed by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Judge Henry Arles was Jolito Pandacan, 40, of Brgy. Soledad, Ilog, who is facing murder charges, Gutierrez said.

Police investigations show that Pandacan was tagged as a suspect in the killing of tractor driver Renato Peñaranda on Dec. 27, 1998 in Ilog town.

Gutierrez said Peñaranda was hit with a stone before he was stabbed by Pandacan several times, that led to his death.

Pandacan who is now detained at the Ilog police jail after being arrested by a team of policemen led by Gutierrez and Senior Inspector Rosauro Francisco, was denied bail by Arles, the police said.

Both the victim and suspect used to work at Hacienda Soledad in Ilog town.*GPB

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