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By: Rae Ann Varona - @inquirerdotnet

Asian Journal / INQUIRER.net News Partner / 02:43 AM November 28, 2017

Fernando Laude Sayasaya. PNP

LOS ANGELES — A former Filipino priest wanted in the United States for allegedly molesting two minors in North Dakota between the years 1995 to 1998 has been arrested in Calamba, Laguna, Philippines on Sunday, November 19.

Reports say Fernando Laude Sayasaya was consequently brought to Manila for extradition to the U.S. where he is facing two counts of “gross sexual imposition” filed by brothers Hugo Zamarron and Pablo Zamarron.

Sayasaya faces accusations of engaging the then 15-year-old brothers in sexual contact, both in their home and church, during his assignment as priest at the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in West Fargo, North Dakota.

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The ex-Catholic priest reportedly asked for the church’s permission in December 1998 to visit the Philippines for Christmas, and said he would return to the U.S. in January 1999, which he failed to do.

Tip to location

According to Laguna police who said they received a tip regarding Sayasaya’s location, the former Catholic priest had been changing his name and residence for the past 15 years.  His warrant of arrest was released in 2002.

Police tracked him down through a lot of his acquaintances and traced him to Barangay Looc, Calamba City.

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In 2012, the United States’ Court of Appeals (CA) First Division approved a lower court’s order for Sayasaya’s extradition in 2012.  He had been charged in the District Court East Central Judicial District in Cass County, North Dakota.

“It is… in the interest of civilized communities that crimes should not go unpunished.  On this score, we cannot allow our country to be a haven for fugitives, cowards, and weaklings, who, instead of facing the consequences of their actions choose to run and hide,” said the CA decision.

The Manila City Regional Trial Court (RTC) on December 28, 2010 found probable cause to grant the request of the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) to extradite Sayasaya who then attempted to challenge it.

Petition denied

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In a 23-page ruling, the CA through Associate Justice Amy Lazar-Javier denied Sayasaya’s petition of reversal and said the evidence against his alleged sexual offences “met the standard of probable cause.”

The CA decision also reiterated that the RTC found the affidavit of detective Grey Clayton Warren of the Police Department of West Fargo, North Dakota, who investigated Sayasaya’s illegal acts, as valid.

“This Court gives respect and credence to the foregoing factual findings, which are amply supported by the evidence on record,” said the appeals court.  It also stated that the Philippine government “has an obligation to ensure crimes not go unpunished.”

“Suppression of crimes is the concern not only of the state where it is committed but also of any other state to which the criminal may have escaped,” it added.

Duterte signs amendments to the Revised Penal Code

Malacanan released today, August 31, Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10951 amending RA No. 3815 otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code (RPC).

The fifty-page law with 102 sections consists of provisions adjusting the amount or value of property and damage on which a penalty is based and fines imposed.

Some of the adjustments on the value of property and damage pertain to crimes against property, such as theft and estafa.

In addition, fines are increased on certain crimes against national security, such as treason and crimes against public order, such as rebellion and sedition.

In case of treason, “any Filipino citizen who levies war against the Philippines or adheres to her enemies, giving them aid or comfort within the Philippines or elsewhere, shall be punished by reclusion perpetua to death and shall pay a fine not to exceed P4 million,” stated R.A. No. 10951.

Some of the adjustments on the value of property and damage pertain to crimes against property, such as theft and estafa.

In theft cases under the RPC, the value of stolen property has increased. Similarly, in estafa cases, the value of the fraud has increased.

The maximum fine for light penalties under the RPC, which carry imprisonment of “a minimum of one (1) day to a maximum of six (6) months” is increased from P200 to P40,000.

On the other hand, fines for correctional penalties, which carry a prison term of “a minimum of six months and one day to 12 years” is increased from a minimum of P200 to a maximum of P6000, is increased to a minimum of P40,000 to a maximum of P1.2 million under the new law.

Fines that exceed P6,000, considered afflictive penalties, carry an imprisonment of a minimum of 12 years and 1 day to a maximum of 20 years. Said fines are set at an amount greater than P1.2 million.

Fines previously set with maximum amounts of P5,000, P10,000, and P20,000, on the other hand, are increased to maximum amounts of P1 million, P2 million, and P4 million, respectively.##PCO-Content

Violation of RA 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition)

Sta Cruz - A joint operation of the Laguna Provincial Intelligence Branch, Laguna CIDT and San Pablo CPS against loose firearms at 3:50 in the evening of November 5, 2017 at Brgy 2-F, San Pablo City Laguna led to the apprehension of suspect identified as Reden Landicho y Garcia, 38 yrs old, married, jobless, native of Batangas and a resident of Purok 3, Brgy San Gregorio, San Pablo City, Laguna.

During the operation, the suspects were caught in the act of selling and possessing unregistered and unlicensed firearms

Preventive search was conducted that resulted to the confiscation of one (1) caliber. 45 pistol with serial number 427031, one (1) caliber .45 magazine, three (3) pieces of live ammunition of caliber. 45, and one (1) black shoulder bag from the suspect’s possession and control.

Arrested suspect was brought to San Pablo CPS for safekeeping, while the pieces of evidence confiscated will be submitted to the Regional Crime Laboratory Office (RCLO) 4A, Camp Vicente Lim, Calamba City for ballistics examination and at the Firearms and Explosives Division (FED) for verification of records.

Pertinent documents are now being prepared for filing of case for violation of Illegal Possession of firearms and ammunitions (RA 10591) against the suspect.

Sixteen (16) Wanted and Most Wanted Persons in Laguna arrested under Project Janitor Fish during UNDAS 2017

Sta Cruz, Laguna - Sixteen (16) wanted and most wanted persons were arrested by the police of Laguna in its intensified implementation of Manhunt Charlie and Project Janitor Fish during the height of Undas 2017.

These six (6) most wanted persons in the city and municipal level were rank number two (2) in the City of Cabuyao with case of murder, rank number five (5) in Luisiana with case of statutory rape, rank number seven(7) in Siniloan with case of Frustrated murder, rank number eight (8) in Sta Maria with the case of violation of Section 12 of Article II of RA 9165, rank number nine (9) in San Pedro City with the case of violation of RA 6539 (Carnapping), and rank number ten (10) in Los Banos with the case of rape, all in the province of Laguna.

On the other hand, the ten other wanted persons were arrested for virtue of warrants of arrest for cases of frustrated homicide, qualified theft, theft, violation of RA 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act), PD 1602 (Illegal Gambling), RA 9262 (Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004), reckless imprudence resulting to damage to property, and other deceits.

Laguna PPO Provincial Director PSSUPT Cecilio R Ison Jr. said "During Undas, many Filipinos remember their departed loved ones by paying a visit to the cemetery but for Laguna Police, it is a no holiday-none-operation."

"Taking advantage of the seasons to capture fugitive with warrant of arrest who will be visiting their family and mingling the crowd to evade arrest" he added.

PSSUPT Ison also said that the implementation of Project Janitor Fish during the observance of All Souls and All Saints Day (Undas 2017) focuses on the arrest of wanted criminals who are long before hiding and will take advantage of visiting their relatives, to give justice to the victims and the victim's family by bringing the suspects before the court, to show that no one is above the law by effecting their arrest, to focus the police operation on targeting wanted persons since the cessation of Project Double Barrel.

PSINS Gerry L Sangalang said, "The successful arrest of the five hundred ninety-seven (597) wanted and most wanted persons since its launching were a result of our intensified campaign against wanted persons through the relentless conduct of manhunt operations by virtue of Warrants of Arrest with the relentless effort of our personnel from the Provincial Office, City and Municipal Police Stations, and other operating units in the continuous implementation of Project Janitor Fish."

 The  primary concern of the PNP on November 1 and 2, 2017 (UNDAS 2017) is the provision of safety and security of the public in all cemeteries, and the Chief of the Provincial Intelligence Branch PSUPT Vicente S Cabatingan took this opportunity to lead the police to track down wanted persons in different cemeteries where these were expected to visit their departed love ones.

 “We will continue to implement this project to cleanse our Province from wanted persons, especially most wanted persons. We also encourage the community to continue to assist us for the success of our project and the families of wanted persons who are not yet arrested to surrender them to us or to the nearest police station where they may be." PD ISON said.

511 wanted and most wanted persons arrested under Project Janitor Fish

Sta Cruz, Laguna – The Provincial Intelligence Branch of Laguna Police Provincial Office re-launched its project dubbed as “Project Janitor Fish" on October 17, 2017 at Laguna PPO with a total of Five hundred eleven (511) most wanted and wanted persons within and outside in the Province arrested. 

This project was derived from Letter of Instruction (LOI) Manhunt Charlie that involves the simultaneous service of warrants of arrest with the cooperation of the Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU), the City and Municipal Police Stations, and other operating units of the Police Provincial Office.

The projects primary purpose is to thwart or neutralize all most wanted persons and other wanted persons within the Province and other Provinces.

It was first launched on September 10, 2017 with the arrest of fifty three (53) most wanted persons (MWP) and has been practiced continuously by the Provincial Office, City and Municipal Police stations, and other operating units that resulted to the arrest of a total of five hundred eleven (511) most wanted persons in the province.

Of these, Thirteen (13) were Top 1, Twelve (12) were Top 2, and four (4) were Top 3 Most Wanted Persons at the City and Municipal levels in the Province.

The MWP were further categorized wherein ten (10) were included in the top ten MWP under lambat sibat, eighty eight (88) were included in the top ten MWP under manhunt charlie, two (2) were included in the top ten MWP in both manhunt Charlie and lambat sibat, four hundred eleven (411) were included in the list of other wanted persons.

With Laguna PNP’s aim to focus on the arrest of the most wanted persons, it has re-launched this project that resulted to the arrest of Forty (40) Most Wanted Persons in its simultaneous implementation of warrants of arrest on October 13 to 16, 2017; wherein, thirty-eight (38) were the most wanted persons and other wanted persons from different cities and municipalities of Laguna while the two (2) wanted persons were from the outside of the jurisdiction particularly from Lucena and Tanauan City having a total of forty (40) Most Wanted Persons/Other Wanted Person arrested during the re-launch.

In an interview, the Chief of the Provincial Intelligence Branch PSSUPT Vicente S Cabatingan said “We will be focusing on our intensified campaign against most wanted persons and other wanted persons. Neither will we choose the new nor the old; rather, we will arrest all wanted persons whether their warrants of arrest are newly issued or are already archived.”

Five Suspects for Carnapping arrested in Follow-up Operations

Five suspects identified as Roldan Perez y Cruz, and Raymond Perez y Cruz both residents of Magallanes, Cavite, Mark Angelo C Dorado, resident of Novaliches, Liliw, Laguna, Jomel O Comendador, resident of Kanluran, Lazaan, Nagcarlan, Laguna, and Nordee B Pagtananan, resident of Brgy. Bubukal Sta. Cruz, Laguna and are all vegetable dealers were arrested in follow-up operations conducted by the Provincial Intelligence Branch of Laguna PPO, Nagcarlan MPS, and the Provincial Highway Patrol Team.

The victim one Teddy Coroza y Pontiga, 57 years old, married, and resident of Poblacion II, Nagcarlan, Laguna claimed that his vehicle KIA pride, nica red, bearing plate no. URF-681 that he parked unattended along the highway of Rizal Avenue Poblacion II, Nagcarlan in front of Plantillas car wash went missing at about 2:15 PM of October 3, 2017; hence, the Chief of Police of Nagcarlan MPS PCINSP REYNALDO N VITTO upon coordination with the Acting Provincial Director of Laguna PPO PSSUPT CECILIO R ISON JR., ordered the immediate conduct of follow-up operations to identify and arrest the suspects in the carnapping incident and to locate the whereabouts of the missing vehicle.

In the follow-up operation immediately conducted by Nagcarlan MPS, it was known that the vehicle was sighted going to Magallanes, Cavite; hence, personnel of Nagcarlan MPS immediately coordinated to Magallanes MPS in Cavite that in turn immediately conducted hot pursuit operation through the conduct of checkpoint simultaneously within its area of responsibility that led to the arrest of suspects Roldan Perez y Cruz and Raymond Perez y Cruz and recovery of the vehicle.

Follow-up operations were further conducted by Nagcarlan MPS at about 3:30 AM at Kanluran, Lazaan, Nagcarlan, and at about 5:00 AM of October 4, 2017, at Novaliches, Liliw, Laguna, that led to the arrest of suspects Jomel Commendador and Mark Angelo Dorado.

A joint follow-up operation was further conducted by the personnel of the Provincial Intelligence Branch of Laguna PPO, of Nagcarlan MPS, and of the Provincial Highway Patrol Team, at about 12:30 am of October 4 at Bubukal, Sta. Cruz, Laguna, that led to the arrest of suspect Nordee Pagtananan y Baltazar.

The crime of Carnapping has been filed against the suspects who were brought to Sta. Cruz Regional Trial Court for inquest proceedings.

239 Personnel took Oath during the mass Oath taking and the Inauguration of Covered Court at Laguna PPO

            Kampo Heneral Paciano Rizal –Two Hundred Thirty Nine (239) personnel of Laguna Police Provincial Office took their oath today witnessed by their loved ones, family members, friends, significant others, and police officers, along with the Inauguration of its covered court during its Monday Flag Raising ceremony.

            The newly promoted officers under the 1^st semester CY 2017 Regular Promotion Program who have been found to have satisfied the Qualification Standards for promotion to the next rank after undergoing meticulous screening that includes neuro-psychiatric examination, panel interviews, and drug test.

            PNP Commendation Medal (Medalya ng Papuri) were awarded by the 4^th District Congressman Hon. Benjamin Agarao Sr. and Laguna PPO Provincial Director PSSUPT CECILIO R ISON JR. to the Chief, Provincial Intelligence Branch PSUPT VICENTE S CABATINGAN, PCINSP RICKY D DALISAY, and PO1 Arnel G Medalla for having demonstrated an exemplary performance, loyalty, and invaluable services as members of the PIB during the successful conduct of Anti-Illegal Drug Buy-bust Operation in relation to Oplan Double Barrel reload.

            The newly promoted officers were presented by the Chief of Provincial Police Human Resource Development Branch PCINSP VICENTE L JARQUE JR. to PSSUPT ISON JR. who administered the mass oath-taking, donning and pinning of ranks of the said personnel.

            In his message, PSUPT ISSON JR emphasized that the well-deserved promotion accompanies a greater responsibility where one must act upon.

Hon. Benjamin Agarao Jr. further emphasized this in his message as he says the PNP as not only an organization but rather like a state that continues to stand firm to support its people who look up on its honor, services, and sacrifices, and continue to work with as partners in order not only for maintenance of peace and order in the community but rather for the promotion of the quality of life of the citizenry.

Inauguration of the newly built covered court followed wherein Rev. Fr. Uriel Umali of Immaculate Concepcion Catholic Church, Sta Cruz, Laguna officiated the blessing of the covered court.

            The construction of the covered court was started during the incumbency of the outgoing Provincial Director PSSUPT JOEL PERNITO and was completed during the incumbency of the current Provincial Director PSSUPT CECILIO R ISON JR. with the support of the 4^th District Representative Hon. Benjie Agarao Jr.

            Cutting of ribbons and unveiling of marker by Hon. Benjamin Agarao Jr. who was the guest of honor and speaker, assisted by PSSUPT ISON JR., and the ceremonial toss by Board Member Joseph Kris Benjamin Agarao, and the Basketball exhibition game followed.

            This covered court will serve as the venue for the activities of Laguna PPO and its station in partnership with the stakeholders and the Local Government Units of the Province including sports activities that promote camaraderie between the PNP and the community. (PIO LPPO)