The City of Taguig’s Love Caravan has made its way to Brgy. Cembo on Saturday, January 6, delivering accessible medical, dental, and nutrition services to its residents. This is the second time the Love Caravan was conducted in the EMBO barangays.

Around 1,500 residents  sought medical consultations, with over 300 undergoing dental checkups or procedures. Additionally, more than 200 individuals took advantage of complimentary vaccination and laboratory services.

Following Makati’s abrupt closure of the 8 health centers in EMBO, the City Government of Taguig acted quickly to ensure that health services continue in these barangays.

Aside from the Love Caravan, the following facilities of the city are open to accommodate the residents from EMBO:

* Taguig-Pateros District Hospital (TPDH)

* 31 health centers

* 7 primary care facilities

* 3 Super Health Centers

* Dialysis Center

* 5 Animal Bite Treatment Centers

* 3 main laboratories; and

* 29 community-based laboratories

Taguig also launched Telemedicine in 10 EMBO barangays to augment in delivering health services. Makati reneged on its earlier commitment to turn over the health centers to Taguig last October 1, 2023.

The City has already stationed a satellite pharmacy for EMBO residents where they can avail for FREE the medicines prescribed during their teleconsulation. The satellite pharmacy is located at the 2nd floor, Unit E, Genesis Bldg., 19th Avenue, JP Rizal Extension, East Rembo.

The City’s Dialysis Center has started accepting dialysis patients from EMBO. Patients can access dialysis services, dialyzer, and erythropoietin  — all for free.

The Taguig Love Caravan is a mobile program that goes around the city three times a week, strategically reaching communities to provide health services.

This pioneering program has a wide range of free medical services, including consultations, check-ups, diagnostics and laboratory services, offering residents the opportunity to avail of essential tests such as CBC, urinalysis, Random Blood Sugar (RBS), blood typing, Chest X-ray, ECG, and ultrasound.

Mayor Lani Cayetano personally joined the Love Caravan and reassured residents of EMBO of continued delivery of services including health services.

 #ILoveTaguig

Savoring the last few days of the Holiday break, these new year tourists enjoy the beach of Boracay just before the reality of returning to rigid and hard works start again on Jan. 8. Photo by Carmela Reyes-Estrope

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga—Authorities nabbed four of the region’s most wanted persons who are accused of rapae and acts of lasciviousness in a series of arrest operations until Thursday.

Police Region 3 Director PBGen Jose Hidalgo Jr. said joint effort by Central Luzon police and the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG3) in San Remegio, Antique arrested Joebert Alagos Blancia, also known as “Jokjok”.

Jokjok was nabbed for charges of rape.

John Vincent Hernandez in Candaba, Pampanga, was apprehended by the local police for three counts of rape while Edmond Cubacub was caught in Lubao, also in Pampanga for Acts of Lasciviousness. Similarly,  Leonard Aviera who faces similar charges was arrested in City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.

“These arrests highlight our troops’ commitment to catching top fugitives and ensuring justice for the victims,” Hidalgo said.

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga—Five of Central Luzon’s Top Most Wanted Persons (MWP) were arrested during the week in different police operations in the region. 

Region 3 Police Director PBGen Jose Hidalgo Jr. said Pampanga police arrested on Wednesday 

Jerry Pikit-Pikit, (MWP – Regional Level) and Jerald Nino Fernandez, (Rank 4 MWP – Provincial Level in the said province). 

Hidalgo said Pikit-Pikit is wanted for 2 counta of Violation of Sec. 5 Art. II of RA 9165 with no recommended bail while Fernandez holds a Warrant of Arrest (WOA) for 2 counts of Rape by Sexual Intercourse with no recommended bail, Acts of Lasciviousness Under Art. 336 of the RPC in relation to Sec. 5 (B) of RA 7610 with no recommended bail and Violation of Art. 266-A(2) of the RPC as amended by RA 8353 in relation to Sec. 5(B) of RA 7610 as amended by Sec. 3 of RA 11648 (4 Counts) also with no recommended bail.

Bulacan police also arrested on the same day Gilbert Victoria (Rank 1 MWP in San Miguel town or Municipal Level) by virtue of WOA for the violation of RA 10591(Illegal Possession of Firearm and Ammunition) with P100,000 recommended bail.

On January 2, Olongapo City cops apprehended Engelbert De Leon, (Rank 3 MWP in City Level) for the Crime of Rape under Article 266-A, Paragraph 1(a) of the Revised Penal Code (3 Counts) with no recommended bail.      

On Jan. 1, the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 3 (RMFB3) together with Jaen, Nueva Ecija municipal police station elements nabbed Esquivel Mildred (Rank 8 MWP – Municipal Level) for the crime of Frustrated Murder with a recommended bail of P120,000. 

Hidalgo lauded the hard works of the operating troops to locate and capture the top fugitives. He added: “We will make sure that the arrested most wanted individuals will face the consequences of their crimes. These accomplishments only show that the police are restless and will continue to intensify its anti-criminality campaign and ensure peace and order in the communities,” he said. 

This little girl plays with the clear water and white sand in Boracay beach in the afternoon of Jan. 5 as over a thousand local and international tourists spend the first days of 2024 in one of the most famous leisure haven of the Philippines. Photo by Carmela Reyes-Estrope

MANILA—Former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief and now Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa has suggested for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to conduct training on rules on engagement for military personnel, specifically to the auxiliary members of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU).

The chairman of Senate Committee on Public Order made the proposal amid the viral video of a CAFGU auxiliary member who fatally shot a man who allegedly ran amok and the latter’s father in Negros Occidental.

“Hindi niya alam ‘yung rules of engagement [of the PNP] kasi ang CAFGU ay under the military, ‘di ba? ‘Yung rules of engagement nila with confronting ‘yung mga lasing na mga nag-aamok, dapat alam niya,”  Dela Rosa, an alumnus of the Philippine Military Academy, said.

“Tanungin ko siguro ‘yung Armed Forces, particularly ‘yung Philippine Army unit handling the CAFGU kung pwede ba nilang isama sa training nila ‘yung rules and procedure pagdating sa confronting ‘yung mga amok, para ma-improve ‘yung kanilang response sa gano’ng klaseng sitwasyon. Hindi ‘yung baril ng baril lang kaagad. At tsaka ‘yung hindi dapat barilin, idadamay pa, binabaril pa. So dapat matuto sila,” he added.

Dela Rosa stressed the need to train CAFGU members on the rules of engagement as this particular unit of the AFP is deployed in different far-flung communities where police officers are not present.

The CAFGU auxiliary member who was involved in the incident reportedly claimed that he defended himself after the victims allegedly threatened him with a bolo—a large single-edged knife commonly used in Filipino households.

Citing his years of experience in the PNP, Dela Rosa explained that under the Police Operational Procedure, the victims should have been given a warning shot before the CAFGU auxiliary member resorted to firing his gun against the supposed offenders.

“Dapat warning shot muna, ‘di ba? Baka mamaya matakot ‘yung nagdala ng bolo. Dapat hindi niya binaril kaagad. Kung tumuloy, eh dapat kung threatened na ‘yung kanyang sarili, binaril niya sa paa or limb or somewhere na ma-immobilize lang at hindi mamatay agad. So dapat gano’n ang ginawa niya,” the former top cop said.

For Dela Rosa, there is no justification for the shooting of the father of the man who was allegedly running amok.

“Ang ‘di niya ma-justify doon ‘yung pagbaril niya doon sa tatay na lumapit lang ‘yung tatay, wala namang threat, wala namang kutsilyo ang tatay, ‘di ba? Bakit niya pa pinatay ‘yung tatay, dinamay pa niya?  ‘Yun ang talagang unjustified,” he said.

CAMP GEN. ALEJO SANTOS, Bulacan—Three Most Wanted Persons (MWP) were arrested by the police until early today in different track operations in the province. 

Bulacan police director Col. Relly Arnedo said Alfonzo Perez Jr., listed in the Top 10 MWP in the Provincial Level who is wanted for 2 counts of qualified theft; Top 1 MWP in the Municipal Level Jomar Orillosa who is wanted for violation of R.A 9165 and MWP in City Level Leonard Aviera for charges of Acts of Lasciviousness in relation to R.A 7610 were successfully apprehended by different police units since Thursday. 

Arnedo said the three MWP have standing warrant of arrests issued by different Bulacan courts.

In separate operations, Arnedo’s men arrested 15 other wanted persons for various crimes and offenses in Angat, Marilao, Hagonoy, City of San Jose del Monte, San Rafael, Bulakan, Sta. Maria, San Miguel and Paombong. 

These individuals are presently under the custody of the arresting units and stations. 

Bulacan PNP’s relentless pursuit of wanted criminals reflect Police Region 3 Director PBGen Jose Hidalgo Jr.’s mandate in maintaining peace and order in the region under the “Pulis ng PRO 3, Partner ng Pamayanan” thrust. 

CITY OF MALOLOS—Illegal firecrackers still proliferate in the fireworks industry in Bulacan as 32 out of the 186 recorded fireworks-related injuries during the new year revelry were caused by the prohibited types. 

Although sky rocket or kwitis was the top cause of burns or injuries based on report obtained from Bulacan Public Health Office, (PHO), there were burns recorded caused by prohibited Goodbye Philippines,kwitis, large size Judas belt, watusi, Super Lolo, Plapla, piccolo, whistle device, giant whistle bomb, boga, bawang and atomic bomb. 

The Department of Health (DOH) regional office also reported the same prohibited firecrackers including Kabasi and Mother Rockets were also the top causes of injuries in the region. 

The records were within Dec. 21-Jan. 4, PHO Head Edwin Tecson said. 

The proliferation of the illegal types of firecrackers came despite stern order by Gov. Daniel Fernando and Vice Gov. Alexis Castro to all barangay captains in fireworks-producing towns Bocaue, Sta. Maria and other areas to check each residential houses and backyards as explosions and clandestine manufacture of illegal fireworks are reported in backyard operations. 

Bulacan police director Col. Relly Arnedo has also launched an intensified crackdown against manufacturers of prohibited firecrackers which resulted to the arrest of close to 20 individuals in violation of RA 7183, the laws on manufacture, sales and distribution of firecrackers and pyrotechnics. 

Skyrocket or Kwitis caused 54 injuries, followed by five-star which caused 30 cases and fountain which caused 27 injuries. Lucas which is also not prohibited have caused 21 injuries. Only the large five-star is prohibited, the regular types are not prohibited. Plapla caused 9 injuries and prohibited bawang, baby rocket, boga, atomic bomb, piccolo, watusi, large size Judas belt, giant whistle bomb, Goodbye Philippines caused 1-5 injuries. 

Of the 186 cases, 148 are male and 28 are female with 10-19 years old which recorded 51, the highest cases; followed by 10 years old below with 38 cases, followed by ages 20-29 with 34 cases, 30-39 years old with 30 cases, 40-49 years old with 16 cases, 50-59 years old with 11 cases and 60 and above with6 cases. 

City of San Jose del Monte with 26 incidents recorded the highest fireworks-related injuries followed by Sta. Maria with 19 and Bocaue with 18. Pandi town recorded 14 cases, Guiguinto has 11 cases and Balagtas with 10. The remaining cities and towns recorded below 10 cases with Pulilan town with only 1 case. 

Tecson said the injuries mostly included burns in the hands, head, eyes, arm and forearm, legs and foot. There was one case of blast injury with amputation, he said. 

CAMP GEN. ALEJO SANTOS, Bulacan—Police arrested sixteen illegal drug pushers in a series of buy-bust operations in diferent towns and cites early on Friday. 

Bulacan Police Director Col. Relly Arnedo said one alias Rey, 49, tricycle driver from Dasmarinas, Cavite was arrested in Barangay Dampol, Plaridel town. Seized from him were P45,500 worth of shabu. 

In San Ildefonso town, a 34-year-old foreman known as one alias “Pugo” was arrested by the police after engaging them in a drug trade. Seized from him were nine sachets of suspected shabu worth P17,000 including drug paraphernalia, firearms and ammunitions.

In similar buy-bust operations, elements of Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) of Bustos, San Ildefonso, San Rafael, Angat, Guiguinto, and City of San Jose del Monte police  arrested 14 drug suspects who yielded 59 sachets of suspected shabu worth P71,800. 

According to Arnedo, the arrests operations on suspected illegal drug personalities reflect the poloce unwavering commitment in reducing crime and ensuring public safety as guided by Region 3 Police Ditector, PBGen Jose Hidalgo Jr. 

Arnedo added that the success in these operations underscores the police dedication and effectiveness in combating drug-related crimes and apprehending offenders under the “Pulis ng PRO 3, Partner ng Pamayanan” police thrust. 

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