Police Heightens Highway Security In Western Mindanao

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / September 8, 2008) – Police have stepped up security to protect travelers from bandits blamed for the series of highway robberies in the provinces in the southern Philippines, officials said Monday.

Bandits had killed five travelers after stopping their vehicle on a highway in Lanao del Norte province last month. A cargo truck was also held up by gunmen in Zamboanga del Sur province and numerous incidents of banditry in the past.

Chief Superintendent Jaime Caringal, chief of the regional police force, ordered police chiefs in the provinces to adopt a contingency plan to prevent further escalation of highway robberies in their areas.

Senior Superintendent Reynaldo Gonzalodo, chief of the regional Highway Patrol Group, also ordered additional deployment of patrol to help in the campaign.

Gonzalodo created a task force made up of different law enforcement agencies which he said will conduct hot pursuit operation against bandits and armed gangs behind highway robberies in western Mindanao.

“We are putting up more checkpoints in strategic areas on the highways and are working closely with police forces and other law enforcement agencies in the provinces to put a stop to these nefarious activities,” he told the Mindanao Examiner. (Erico Rosco)

Zamboanga Village Chieftain Found Dead Inside Motel

Zamboanga City, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / September 6, 2008) – A local village chieftain was found murdered inside his motel room in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines, police said.

Police said the body of Abubakar Alphad was discovered by a room attendant late Friday. His naked body bore six stab wounds believed to be from a screw driver found inside the room of La Terraza motel.

Alphad was the chieftain of Manalipa, one of several island villages off Zamboanga City. Police said Alphad checked in at the motel at around 5 p.m. with an unidentified woman.

A motel attendant, Cora Almasan, has told police investigators that she heard a loud noise inside Alphad’s room later in the night. Almasan said she saw the woman rushing out the room.

Police said robbery could be the motive of the killing because Alphad’s wallet and cell phone, including other belongings, were missing. Police is still investigating the murder. (Erico Rosco)

Robbers Kill House Occupant In Davao City

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 9, 2008) – Burglars barged into a house in the southern Filipino city of Davao and killed its occupant, police said Monday.

Police said the 60-year old Florencia Tobiano was hacked several times and already dead neighbors discovered her body inside the house in Calinan district over the weekend.

Police said Tobiano was probably asleep when the burglars breached into the house. It was unknown how much the robbers took off. (Romy Bwaga)

3 Davao Gang Members Slain In Firefight With Cops

DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 05 Mar) – Police killed three members of a robbery gang in a shootout Monday in the southern Philippine port city of Davao, officials said Monday.

The fighting erupted after police foiled a robbery attempt at a branch of the Mercury drug store in the village of Bayabas in Toril district. A policeman was wounded in the firefight.

Police said the trio, members of the notorious Posadas Gang, attacked policemen who were responding on the robbery at around 9 a.m.

Two others escaped by motorcycle, police said. (Romy Bwaga)