SON OF EX- NEGROS TOWN MAYOR NABBED BY PDEA
BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental: A son of a former town mayor in this province was arrested by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Negros Island Region (PDEA-NIR) last Saturday. PDEA agents nabbed Aliguerre Parroco, currently working at the Office of the mayor of Pontevedra town was nabbed during an operation in Barangay Buenavista Gibong in Pontevedra. The suspect’s father is former town vice mayor Larry Parroco. Roselyn Borja, PDEA-NIR regional director, said the operation was conducted after they received a tip that the suspect was allegedly still continuing his illicit drug business.
Parocco previously surrendered to the Philippine National Police in July last year. Agents recovered around 0.5 grams of shabu worth about P2,000 from the suspect. Parocco, who faces illegal drugs charges, is detained at the Pontevedra Municipal Police Station.
CCTV CAMERAS NOW MANDATORY IN BAGUIO ESTABLISHMENTS
BAGUIO CITY: Mayor Mauricio Domogan has signed a city ordinance requiring all business establishments in the Summer Capital to install closed- circuit television (CCTV) cameras, video recorders and monitors, 24 ours a day, 7 days a week. The ordinance is a requirement for new and current business owners when securing their business permits. Those who already have CCTV cameras will be required to register their installation with the City Treasury Office and the Baguio City Police Office and upgrade their equipment. Institutions that already have such cameras will be required to register the installation with the City Treasury Office and the Baguio City Police Office and must upgrade the old installation. Video recordings from the system will be preserved for 15 days from the date of recording. Exempted from the requirement are: small store owners whose annual capital income is less than P60,000 and business establishments with fewer than three employees; boarding houses with a maximum of four rooms or two units; and small auto vulcanizing shops and carwashes. Establishments will be required to also post a written notice in bold letters measuring a minimum of three inches directed to the public that the establishment is employing surveillance systems. The ordinance, however, states that here will be no CCTV cameras installed in any restroom, toilet, shower, bathroom, changing room and other similar areas and that the establishments will maintain the confidentiality of all video feeds and recordings obtained through the cameras. It also enjoins all establishments to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of all video feeds and recordings obtained via the surveillance system. The only exemptions to this is when the footage is needed in a criminal investigation or prosecution of an offense punishable by law and a request must be made by the Philippine National Police or the National Bureau of Investigation. Violators of the ordinance will be fined P5,000 and/ or imprisonment of one year or both upon the discretion of the court.
REGION 2 POLICE DECLARE WAR ON ILLEGAL GAMBLING
TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan: The Philippine National Police (PNP) office here has started cracking down on the operation of illegal gambling in Cagayan Valley (Region 2). Superintendent Chevalier Iringan, regional information officer, said targets of the campaign are fruit game, majhong, sabong (derby), cara y cruz, tong-its and pepito, among others, provided there is money or goods involved. Iringan added that they are launching the drive against illegal gambling in line with Executive Order 31 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte in February. Records at the regional police office here on illegal gambling show that a total of 31 operations from February 10 to 23 have resulted in the arrest of one financier, two operators and 113 civilians in the region of which 27 were caught red-handed. Iringan said gambling during wake of a deceased person is “an execption to the rule.” But wakes will be subject to verification because they have become a ploy for illegal gambling activities, he added.
BAGUIO BARS PUJS FROM PICKING UP PASSENGERS ALONG THEIR ROUTES
BAGUIO CITY: A measure prohibiting inter-municipality public utility jeepneys from picking up passengers along existing Baguio City PUJ routes has been upgraded into an ordinance. Mayor Mauricio Domogan signed the ordinance, which was based on a resolution of the Traffic and Transportation Management Committee prescribing the guidelines on the operation of the PUJs from outside the city. Under the ordinance, inter-municipality PUJS are those that come or leave from their original route or terminal area in a municipality or city or province and enter another city or province to deliver passengers or baggage to their final point of destination but passing through the route of PUJ franchise holders within the City of Baguio. The measure imposes a no-loading policy so that they will not be allowed to load passengers along routes already covered by PUV- granted franchise by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to operate within the city. Violators will be meted fines ranging from P1,000 to P3,000.