Tarlac, Philippines

AN Army captain based in Camp O’Donnel, Capas, Tarlac, was recently given honors by the Land Bank of the Philippines for returning P250,000 cash which was mistakenly given to him when he exchanged a check by the Philippine Army.

The honest official was identified as Captain Jacinto J. Licay, a special disbursing officer of the  Light Armor Division under the leadership of Maj. Gen. Isagani C. Cachuela.

According to Lt. Col. Romeo S. Brawner Jr., Army spokesman, Capt. Licat went to the Land Bank branch in Capas, Tarlac, on May 7 and encashed a check. Upon returning to Camp O’Donnel, he counted the money and found out that an additional P250,000 was mistakenly given to him.by Fernando M. Cariaso

Journal Online

CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City – Maj. Gen. Isagani Cachuela, who belongs to Philippine Military Aca­demy Class 1976, took over the Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) yesterday, replacing Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang.

New AFP chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano presided over the change of command.

Cachuela faces a tough job of sustaining Nolcom’s gains in its anti-insurgency drive via the Campaign Plan Amihan as part of the military’s effort to reduce the insurgency to an inconsequential level on or before 2010.

During his time, Maclang said Nolcom led all unified commands in the clearing and downgrading of communist guerrilla fronts, with help from local governments.

During the first quarter, Maclang said four guerrilla fronts in Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Bulacan, Pampanga and Tarlac were dismantled and five others in Central Luzon were downgraded.by Ric Sapnu

PhilStar

CAMP MACABULOS, Tarlac  — Agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Team (CIDT) rescued four minors and rounded-up 12 guest relation officers from a prostitution den in Bgy. San Isidro, Tarlac City yesterday.

Supt. Nestor C. Babagay, CIDT Tarlac chief, said the owner, identified as Vridge Espinosa of Bgy. San Isidro was charged with Child Prostitution and Child Abuse cases with a recommended bail of P180,000.

The women were charged with violation of Presidential Decree 969 that prohibits obscene exhibition and indecent shows. A 17-year-old  girl, a resident of Forbes Park, Manila was caught having sexual intercourse with a CIDT poseur customer during the operation. by George Hubierna

Journal Online

PANIQUI, Tarlac – Two suspected drug users and a notorious  drug pusher here was nabbed by joint operatives of Tarlac Provincial Police Office, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Criminal Investigation and Detection Team.

The arrest of the suspects was the result of an earlier order issued by Mayor Miguel “Dors” Cojuangco Rivilla for the police to intensify their campaign against illegal drugs amid reports that numerous drug dealers are active in the town.

Local police head Chief Insp. Bayani Razalan identified the suspects as Reynaldo Puyaoan of San Isidro, a drug pusher; Christopher Balboa and Jonathan Salvador, both drug users. By: George Hubierna

Journal Online

CAMP OLIVAS, PAMPANGA - Four young women who were reportedly forced to work as sex slaves in a massage parlor in Tarlac City were rescued by government agents during a surprise raid in Barangay San Isidro Wednesday.

The raiding team also arrested the maintainer of the “D Castle Massage”, identified as Virgie Tabamo Espinosa, 45 years old, and reportedly the owner of the health clinic.

Superintendent Nestor Babagay, Tarlac Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit chief, said 11 other women were hauled to CIDU headquarters for violating a city ordinance.

In his report to Senior Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar, regional chief of the 3CIDU, Babagay said only six among the 11 women that were rounded-up by his men do not have the necessary working and health permits.

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