Valley checkpoint guards arrested

The La Trinidad Municipal Police Office is warning the motoring public on checkpoints being established by nonuniformed personnel who are not connected with the PNP but are collecting money.

On the heels of the arrest of five laborers, October 3 in Lamtang, Puguis in La Trinidad on information that a checkpoint was established along the National Road by laborers under Dwight Nicolas Bello III aka “Kimat” which caused heavy traffic in the area.

Police responded to the complaints and saw five individuals in civilian clothes wearing reflectorized vests with the label of “Security” marked at the back, all of them manning a checkpoint.

Police immediately they arrested the group identified as follows; Mark Anthony Begnalen Belmonte, 24, laborer; Christopher Begnalen Belmonte, 28, inventory custodian; Raquipo Ancheta Bernal, 41, driver; Richardson Blin Bernal, 27, laborer; and Joyle Patrick Bajo Salarzon, 31, all natives of Lagangilang, Abra, and stay-in at Lamtang residents in Tuba town.

Confiscated from them were two barricades made of steel bars with signs indicating "Slow down Private Property,” all suspects were reported to collect fees from truck drivers passing the highway.

The arrested suspects are now under the custody of La Trinidad police while a case of extortion, grave coercion, violation of anti obstruction and usurpation of authority are being prepared against them.