Use of 'necessary force'
against robbers justified

Negros Occidental police director Charles Calima yesterday justified the use of "necessary force" against the group of Ka Jim, three of whose armed members were recently neutralized by the Talisay police in Negros Occidental.

If they resist arrest, we will be forced to apply whatever force is necessary to subdue them, Calima said, referring to robbers who will resist arrest and put up a fight against authorities.

Police investigations show that rebel returnee Rodelio Oliveros, alias Ka Jim, has pending arrest warrants for murder, robbery with homicide and rape in Bago City, Negros Occidental.

Two members of the group identified as Gary Hojella and his brother-in-law, Efren Tambong, were captured by the police on Friday in Talisay City, after their attempt to rob a rice retailer was foiled, police chief Jerry Bartolome said.

Police investigations also showed that the elder brother of Hojella, Jimmy, was shot dead by Talisay policemen after he pulled out a fragmentation grenade from his pocket.

Two .38 caliber revolvers, a .357 magnum revolver and a fragmentation grenade were recovered by the Talisay police from the captured and slain robbery-hold-up suspects.

If they open fire or attempt to use their firearms against us, we have to use our guns also to defend ourselves, Calima said, referring to the group of Ka Jim.

The slain Hojella was positively identified by the police as the one who had shot Kagawad Roy Villaflor and robbed him of about P200,000 in cash in May last year, in Brgy. Ma-ao, Bago City, citing testimonies of Grace Villaflor, wife of the victim.

Bartolome said they are slated to file charges for illegal possession of firearms and explosives against Hojella and Tambong, before the Talisay City Prosecutor's Office today.

Bago police chief Alex Belonio said the group of Ka Jim has been categorized as "armed and dangerous".

With the positive identification of Hojella and Tambong, Belonio said they will file an amended complaint against the arrested suspects in Talisay City, in connection with the robbery-slay of Villaflor in Bago City last year.

Belonio added that Geovannie Hojella, brother of Gary and Jimmy, and also a member of the robbery-hold-up group, was also shot by his neighbor in Brgy. Inolingan, Moises Padilla, before the incident in Talisay City.*GPB

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COPS program
discussed at NOPPO training

A lecture on the Community-Oriented Policing System, or COPS, program of the Philippine National Police was conducted to personnel of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office taking the Special Weekend Academy Training, held Saturday, at the NOPPO headquarters, in Bacolod City.

The speaker, Supt. William Señoron, chief of police of Sagay City, said that the system is a personalized and sustained policing from a decentralized place, and working in a proactive partnership with the citizens to identify and solve problems, a NOPPO press release said yesterday.

Señoron added that fear, poverty and ignorance among the people result in the commission of crimes. He encouraged the policemen to undertake proactive measures in crime prevention, the press release said.

The lecture also took up democracy and the criminal justice system, elements of COPS, a comparative analysis of COPS at the community level, the National Anti-Crime Strategy and the Basic Steps in Community Organizing Work, the press release added.*

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8 persons apprehended
for marijuana, rugby use

Eight persons were apprehended by the Bacolod police for allegedly using suspected marijuana and sniffing a volatile substance, rugby, in Bacolod City over the weekend.

Celso Selano Alvarez, 22 and Felix Costa Selano, 28, both of Brgy. Pta. Taytay; Edwin Geocadin Palma, 37; Eddie Alcala Tortal, 31; Hecson Hechanova de los Santos, 21, all of Purok Masagana, Brgy. Sum-ag, Bacolod City were arrested by Precinct 9 policemen in the act of sniffing volatile substance at Paraiso Beach Resort in Brgy. Pta. Taytay at about 3:30 p.m. Sunday, police reports said.

PO3s Gary Buaron and Arlyn Torrendon, detailed in Precinct 9 recovered two sticks of partially burned sticks of suspected marijuana, police reports said.

The suspects are now detained in Police Precinct 9 for violation of section 11 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, police reports said.

SPO1 Gustilo of Precinct 8 also arrested Reynaldo Asupan Llanto, 34, of Fabrica, Sagay City, Negros Occidental and temporarily residing at Zone 4, Purok Villa Esperanza, Brgy. Tangub for alleged possession of a suspected marijuana cigaret and a bladed weapon in the barangay, Sunday midnight, police reports said.

Meanwhile, Insp. Danilo Francisco, Precinct 8 commander, and his men collared Jury Parohinog Victoriano, 21 and Ronilo Palma Arsaga, 23, both of Purok Neptune, Brgy. Singcang-Aiport for allegedly sniffing volatile substance, or rugby in a vacant lot near the Gaisano City Mall in Bacolod City at about 12:05 p.m. Saturday, police reports said.

Recovered from them were eight sachets and a bottle containing suspected rugby, police reports also said.

Llanto, Victoriano and Arsaga are now detained in the lock-up cell of Police Precinct 8.*DMG

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