By Zaldy Comanda   BAGUIO CITY — Isang 28-anyos na lalaking top most wanted sa Iloilo City ang nasakote ng mga operatiba ng Baguio City Police Office – Police Station 7 sa isang manhunt operation sa Lower General Luna, Baguio City, noong Nobyembre 4. Ayon kay Col.Ruel Tagel, city director, ang wanted na si Alyas Boy,tubong San Juan,Iloilo City ay nakalista bilang Top Most Wanted Person sa iba’t ibang antas sa Western Visayas: Top 8 sa Regional Level sa ilalim ng Police Regional Office 6, Top 8 sa City Level ng Iloilo, at Top 3 sa Station Level ng Station 4, Iloilo City . Nakatakdang sagutin ni Boy ang mga kaso laban sa kanya para sa mga paglabag sa iba’t ibang probisyon ng Republic Act 9165, o Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Kabilang sa mga paglabag ang pagbebenta at pag-iingat ng mga mapanganib na droga, at pagkakaroon ng mga drug paraphernalia. Nagpapatuloy na ang koordinasyon sa Iloilo City Police Station 4 para sa paglipat ng mga akusado sa Iloilo City. Kabilang sa iba pang yunit na sangkot sa matagumpay na pag-aresto ang mga miyembro ng BCPO City Investigation and Detective Management Unit, City Intelligence Unit, investigation and intelligence unit ng PRO-CAR, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 15, at Iloilo City Police Station 4. Ayon kay Tagel, ang e-Warrant System ng Philippine National Police na naging daan sa pagkaka-aresto ng suspek. “ Ang advanced na sistemang ito ay nagsasentro at nagdi-digitize ng mga warrant of arrest sa buong bansa, na nagpapahintulot sa mga yunit ng pagpapatupad ng batas mula sa iba’t ibang rehiyon na ma-access ang real-time na data sa mga wanted na tao. Sa pamamagitan ng e-Warrant System at patuloy na pagtutulungan ng mga yunit ng pulisya, pinalalawak namin ang aming pag-abot upang matiyak na kahit na ang pinakamahirap na mga nagkasala ay dinadala sa hustisya, at upang matiyak na ang bawat sulok ng bansa ay mananatiling ligtas at ligtas,”pahayag ni Tagel.

PAMPLONA,Cagayan — Pinaiigting ngayon ng Cagayan Probincial Police Office ang kanilang pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga mangingisda sa mga coastal municipality, upang makapagbigay ng tamang impormasyon kaugnay sa mga narerekober na mga kontrabando sa karagatan. Ito ay kasunod ng panibagong pagkakarekober ng isang mangingisda ng sa isang plastic na may lamang hinihinalang shabu sa karagatang sakop ng Pamplona, Cagayan, noong Agosto 17, 2024. Batay sa ulat ng pulisya, habang nangingisda sa karagatang sakop ng Pamplona si Alyas Dencio, 50, residnete ng Barangay Bisagu Aparri, Cagayan ay nakita nito ang isang kahina-hinalang plastic na palutang-lutang sa dagat. Nang buksan umano ni Dencio ay nakita ang hinihinalang shabu kaya agad siyang nakipag-ugnayan sa opisyal ng kanilang barangay at ipinagbigay-alam naman ito sa himpilan ng Aparri MPS, para sa kaukulang dokumetasyon at disposisyon. Batay sa pagsisiyasat ng pulisya, aabot sa mahigit P6.7 milyon ang halaga ng naturang kontrabando na may timbang na 998.37 gramo. Sinabi ni Capt. Shiela Joy Fronda, tagapagsalita ng Cagayan PNP ,na mahigpit ang direktiba ng pamunuan ng pulisya sa probinsya ng Cagayan kaugnay sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga mangingisda mula sa mga munisipalidad na malapit sa mga baybayin upang maturuan ng tamang kaalaman kapag may mga narerekober kahinahinalang bagay sa dagat. Matatandaang una rito ay apat na insidente ng pagkakarekober ng mga plastik na may lamang shabu na palutang-lutang sa dagat na sakop ng bayan ng Sachez Mira, Abulug at daawang magkasunod sa Calayan ang naiulat. Inihayag ni Fronda na ang mga mangingisdang nakarekober sa bayan ng Calayan ay nakatanggap naman ng pabuya mula sa Lokal na Pamahalaan ng Calayan habang ang mangingisdang nag-surrender din sa napulot na shabu sa bayan ng Abulug ay nakatanggap din ng pabuya mula sa 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company, PNP Abulug at mula sa kanilang mga stakeholder. (By Cagayan PIO)

Subic Bay Freeport – This premier Freeport community gathered on Friday to celebrate the 78th feast day of San Roque, its patron saint. Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño shared that the 78th Feast of San Roque culminated with the traditional Karakol, a street dance where an image of the saint is paraded while dancing along the streets of the Central Business District in Subic Bay Freeport. “It has been awhile since we had a festive atmosphere in this Freeport, and I think the morale of the people here, as well as the tourism industry will benefit from such festivities as the Feast of San Roque Karakol,” Aliño said. The celebration kicked off with a Holy Mass at San Roque chapel, one of the oldest churches in the country, followed by the Karakol, which ended with the street dance competition at the Subic Bay Gym. Three nearby schools participated in the competition namely, Iram High School w/ Senior High School, College of Subic Bay Montessori, and Lyceum of Subic Bay, competing for the best street dance performers at the Karakol Street Dance Competition 2024. Lyceum of Subic Bay emerged as the grand winner of the Karakol Festival Dance Competition, followed by College of Subic Montessori at second place, and Iram High School at third. St. Roch’s Day or Pista ni San Roque is observed on August 16 every year. St. Roch, who was a Frenchman, is recognized as the patron saint of dogs. The San Roque Chapel in Subic Bay Freeport is considered as one of the oldest chapels in the region and was constructed sometime in the 1800s, back when Olongapo was declared a bayside settlement for the Spanish naval fleet. The chapel became the center of spiritual life for the Spanish sailors as well as of the Filipino converts who resided within the vicinity of Subic Bay, then known as Subig. The San Roque chapel was built in 1932, replacing the dilapidated mission church of the Spanish missionaries in Olongapo in the 1800s.

The Baguio Tourism Council (BTC) is leading the charge in promoting responsible tourism at the grassroots level, starting with a tree-planting activity that literally digs into the ground. BTC Chairperson Gladys Vergara is focused on expanding tourism into the city’s outskirt areas. She expressed her gratitude to the Kapisanan ng Brodkasters ng Pilipinas (KBP) Baguio chapter, led by Rico John Ferrer and Letlet Dela Cruz of 95.9 Big Sound FM, for spearheading this annual environmental initiative called “Oplan Broadcatreeing.” Approximately 100 pine tree saplings were planted, along with an equal number of coffee seeds, in an area designated by the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) as an adopted space for the broadcasters’ group to nurture. Ms. Vergara emphasized that she doesn’t mind getting her hands dirty, as long as the effort contributes to preserving Baguio’s forest cover, which is one of the city’s unique natural charms. “Caring for our forest resources will help instill a love for our natural environment,” she said, highlighting that forest preservation is crucial to conserving Baguio’s assets and attracting more tourists. She stressed that a key part of BTC’s tourism mandate is to preserve Baguio’s forested landscape, a natural attraction for visitors. “Let us persevere in doing our part in caring for our environment,” she urged. “By conserving our natural mountain assets, we can attract more tourists, providing them with opportunities to engage in meaningful activities where they, too, can contribute.” During a visit to another barangay, she reiterated the importance of fostering community care for inclusive socio-economic growth. “Every area in Baguio has the potential for social cohesion and economic development,” she pointed out. “The more we care for our forest resources, the more we can sustain growth and development for everyone.” “Nothing is impossible when we all work together,” she said, underscoring that community bonding can pave the way for collective growth. “Looking ahead, I am committed to intensifying our efforts to develop the limitless tourism potential that Baguio has to offer.” At the end of the day, Gladys recalled that in 2016, she launched a green energy advocacy called “Glad to be Green.” Through this initiative, a solar-electric powered Green Bus tech demonstration was conducted for two months, aiming to achieve the following: Promote the use of solar-electric vehicle technology and educate the public on its benefits. Advocate for zero-emissions and contribute to lowering CO2 concentrations in the central business district. Assist in pedestrianizing and decongesting the central business district. The “Glad to be Green” Bus, an environmentally friendly, zero-emissions public transport initiative, was just one of the many green projects lined up for the city in 2016. It provided free rides, reduced the volume of cars clogging the main thoroughfares, and improved the city’s air quality. “Those were years when the passion to serve reached new heights,” she said, noting that she strongly advocated for renewable energy in 2016 as part of an initiative to mitigate the looming effects of climate change by reducing gas emissions.