For Guiness Book: A day of crimes and deaths

by Dave M. Suyao

Butuan City (10 March) — In a day, Police Regional Office 13 has recorded three heinous crimes and another two illegal activities that occurred in Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte and Butuan city.

Rico Moreno, truck helper of Coca Cola delivery truck and a resident of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur reported to Lianga Municipal Police Station that they were robbed by three unidentified men wearing bonnet armed with three .38 caliber revolver and a hand grenade while on their way to Barobo, Surigao del Sur from their warehouse in San Francisco Agusan del Sur at 2:00 PM of March 8. Taken from the victims were cash money amounting to P10,000 and a bag containing their personal belongings. On the evening of that same day, the same suspects again held up Soyen Lao, sales manager of Sun Pride Food Corp. and his driver Tito Anib at the same place where the Cocal Cola truck was held up. Taken from Lao and his driver were cash money amounting to P12,000, a Sony Ericsson cellular phone amounting to P37,000, a Seiko Kinetic watch worth 19,800, a college ring worth 5,000 and wallet with P300.00 inside. The case is now under investigation pending the filing of cases in court.

Early morning of that same day, Jefferson Eliot of Poblacion Trento was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen riding on a motorcycle using .45 caliber pistol while on his way to Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, riding on his own Kawasaki motorcycle. The victim suffered four bullet wounds in different parts of his body that resulted to his immediate death. Trento Municipal Police Office is now conducting thorough investigation of the crime.

In Butuan City, Joe Esteranta, 49 years old, a resident of Lopez Jaena Extension and Amado Culima of R. Calo Street were collared by the police led by P/Insp. Domingo Lucero of the PNP vice control section while receiving bet money from their customers in two separate incidents. Taken from the possession of arrested persons were bet money amounting to P1,300 and swertres paraphernalia. According to the police, appropriate charges were already filed in court.

In Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte, police intelligence operatives and fishery wardens confiscated four boxes of small fish locally known as “deslo”, with market value amounting to P3,000, from the possession of suspects inside their fishing boat, while conducting operations against illegal fishing. Appropriate charges are now being prepared for the suspects by the Cabadbaran municipal police office.

It can be recalled that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has declared the sea of Barangay Kalibunan as fish sanctuary and has deputized the fisher folks into fishery wardens to safeguard the sanctuary.

In another incident, one Joel Lasite, an employee of Green Bank in San Francisaco, Agusan del Sur died at the D.O. Plaza Memorial Hospital in Patin-ay, Prosperidad after a vehicular accident. Lasite’s motorcycle collided with a passenger tricycle in front of Xavier College at Barangay 5, San Francisco. He was pronounced dead by the attending physician after few hours of fighting for his life.

Another accidental death happen when Francisco Jungco, head teacher of Santiago Elementary School in Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norter hired Alvin Jomoc, a 20-year old young man to trim the branches of a mahogany tree inside the school campus. While doing the job, Jomoc fell from the tree and was immediately brought to the hospital. But luck did not favor Jomoc. He was pronounced dead when his body arrived at the hospital by the attending physician.

Indeed, crimes and accident happen in just a split of seconds! All the incidents above happened in just a day. It was March 8, 2006. (PIA Caraga)

Plane crash victim’s lawyers to pursue case

Davao City (11 March) — After getting an approval from the Illinois Appellate Court to hear the clash suit in Chicago, The appointed lead counsel of the victims of Air Philippines 541 that crashed in Samal City six years ago. The Nolan Law Group will pursue adjudication process to prove the negligence of the aircraft leasing company.

Air Philippines Flight 541 crashed in the morning of April 19, 1999 in Barangay Camodmod in the Island Garden City of Samal of Davao del Norte province killing all 131 passengers and crew.

American lawyer Donald Nolan said that it would be a test case involving the leasing company AAR Engine Airplane Corporation based in Wooddale, Illinois.

He said they are looking at an angle on the involvement of the leasing company as the latter has the responsibility to make sure that the aircraft is safe for travel.

Nolan said major companies are closely following up the case that involves those that will pay the victims through insurance and the other one for the losses incurred.

North Cotabato Governor Emmanuel Pinol whose brother Paterno and his wife and children where among those who perished in the tragic incident. Said that during the time of former President Joseph Estrada he was able to secure the logbook of the ill-fated aircraft and turned it over to the Nolan Law Group.

However, he said it was found out that several pages of the logbook were missing and these may involve records of the aircraft maintenance and are now subject to legal case.

Nolan said that they had asked the leasing company whether they were able to obtain such records from Air Philippines.

He clarified that with regards to the class suit they also need to find out whether the aircraft was leased to an airline company that is capable of making it safe.

Pinol also said although Air Philippines is not part of this particular case but still they are liable.

Nolan meanwhile said that there are airlines in Asia that are behind in training their crews and even the skills of their crews are even 20 years behind in techniques.

As the airline industry continues to grow, companies must see to it that everything is done to make sure that travel is safe, he said.

Nolan said that there were reports that the aircraft was not in tiptop condition and even got a report that the plane had some defects.

Nolan on the other hand said that they are pushing for an equal claim for Filipino victims as compared to citizens from the US or Europe that were involved on similar accident.

“None among the families involved accepted payment of settlement from the Airline Company so far,” he said.

“The Filipinos really had sacrificed tremendously and will continue to do so just to settle things,” he said.

He said a Filipino victim getting only US$25,000 as against a Singaporean with US$400,000 is not appropriate.

Piñol meanwhile said that although there were offers earlier for settlement first at P300,000 then increased to P3 million and even up to P5 million when the defendant knew the involvement of American lawyers. “Nobody from among the families of the victims accepted settlements” the Governor said.

An affiliate lawyer Manuel Ribbeck who joined Nolan for a meeting with the families of the victims at the Marco Polo Hotel on Thursday said the case will be filed within the year and expects it to be a full-blown trial.

Ribbeck said there is still no set of claim because the value is still to be determined by the juries in the US. (PIA/pdbanzon)

“Balikatan” a big help to Sulu – Rep. Arbison

Zamboanga City (9 March) — Sulu 2nd District Representative Abdulmunir Arbison said the recently concluded US-RP joint military exercises in Sulu have greatly contributed to efforts of the local officials in moving the province forward.

“The US-RP joint military exercises in Sulu have helped us in our desire to further move our province forward”, Cong. Arbison said.

Congressman Arbison cited the humanitarian works rendered by the US forces such as construction of school buildings and medical missions in different parts of the province as among the major contributions while holding BALIKATAN in Sulu. He added that the conduct of this joint military exercise provided basic social services to the Tausugs.

“The holding of the Balikatan in Sulu has provided additional opportunities on health and education for our people”, Arbison stressed.

Rep. Arbison emphasized that the biggest contribution of the BALIKATAN in Sulu was the enhancement of the capabilities of the security forces in the province to maintain peace and order.

“After the BALIKATAN in Basilan, lawlessness in the province has been neutralized, if not, totally eradicated. We hope the same thing will happen in Sulu so our province can further move forward”, Arbison ended. (PIA Zamboanga)