Man facing charges
for marijuana: police

Illegal drug possession charges were filed against a 32-year-old man by law enforcers in Bacolod City yesterday, after dried marijuana leaves were allegedly found in his car during his arrest Sunday, the police said.

Randy Capulso is now facing raps for violations of sections 11 and 12, of the Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, after the marijuana samples tested positive at the Philippine National Police Provincial Laboratory in Bacolod, Police Station 2 commander, Senior Inspector Luisito Acebuche, said.

The laboratory confirmed the results yesterday.

Capulso, who refused to comment, was nabbed by officers led by Acebuche after a transparent plastic container with the marijuana leaves was found in his car while his documents were being verified when he figured in a traffic accident at Lacson Street, Bacolod, at about 2 a.m. Sunday.

Police investigation showed that Capulso, who was driving a white Nissan Sentra, tried to escape after he hit the motorcycle of Alexander Jinglope.

His car collided with the taxi driven by Epitacio Sta. Ana when he tried to evade Acebuche’s group who was patrolling near the area, but he was cornered later, police records show.

Residues of marijuana sticks, a disposable lighter, pieces of rolled papers, and bottles of beer were also found in Capulso’s car during his arrest, police reports said.*PP

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Rebel captors to get awards

Good news for the police captors of Randal Echanis whom the military has tagged a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary Danilo Valero said in a statement, that while there is no reward for the arrest of Echanis under the DILG Reward Orders, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and National Police is coming up with a “special reward” for the arresting team, considering the notoriety of Echanis.

Echanis was apprehended by policemen in Bago City, Negros Occidental, by virtue of an arrest warrant for 15 counts of murder, issued by Leyte Judge Ephraim Abando, on Jan. 28.

Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, police provincial director of Negros Occidental, yesterday said he has recommended to Camp Crame the promotion of policemen who arrested Echanis.

Police Director Jefferson Soriano, Task Force USIG chief, said Echanis who is facing 15 counts of murder, in connection with the mass graves discovered in Leyte, was also involved in the assassination of members of the Marxist-Leninist Party of the Philippines-Rebolusyonaryong Hukbo ng Bayan in central Luzon in 2002.

Police records also show that Echanis, who is now detained at the Leyte Provincial Jail, was charged in court for illegal possession of firearms and kidnapping.

Anakpawis partylist Rep. Rafael Mariano and militant groups have disputed military and police claims that Echanis is a member of the CPP Central Committee and chairs its National Peasant Commission.

Echanis said he is the deputy secretary-general of the Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas.

CPP spokesman Gregorio Rosal had joined priest-turned-rebel Luis Jalandoni, chief negotiator of the National Democratic Front, in lambasting the government for what he claimed was the illegal arrest of Echanis.

The arrest of Echanis, who is also a member of the NDFP Reciprocal Working Committee, is a flagrant violation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees under the peace talks, Jalandoni said. *GPB

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