Iloilo rocked by extortion letters

ILOILO CITY – The talk of the town here were the extortion letters sent to several business establishments as well as prominent Ilonggo personalities. The recipients included Mayor Gerry Trenas who immediately dubbed them as the "absurd."

The letter purportedly was signed by a certain Talal al Skoti, who claimed to be a member of the Jemaah Islamiya, an international terrorist group based in Indonesia with links to Al Qaeda.

The letter-writer demanded P500,000 from Trenas and threatened to explode powerful explosives anytime should the mayor refuse the request. The money purportedly will be for their exit from the country because the peace negotiations between the Muslims and the Philippine government is successful and "our participation for peace is no longer needed."

Although considered by Trenas as "ridiculous," the city mayor also ordered Iloilo City police chief Supt. Policarpio Segubre to trace the sender and beef up security measures in the city.

Regional PNP director Marcelo Navarro Jr., however, said the letters could not have come from the Jl and must have been the work of local extortionists.

Six big business establishments reportedly received a copy of the letter.

The intent of the letter-sender, speculated police chief Segubre was just to destabilize the situation and to create the impression of turmoil during the visit of US President George Bush.

"Their main purpose is sabotage," Segubre said.

But there was no widespread anxiety. If the purpose was to create a climate of ear, that failed.

For example, the joint induction of five Lions clubs at the Hotel Amigo Terrace Ball Room went ahead and lasted until the wee hours of the morning. Past international director Enrique Lim, the guest speaker, gave a fatherly advice to the officers of the Bacolod Capitol, Cebu Capitol, Emerald, Allied and Fort San Pedro Lions Clubs.

Aside from key officials of various Panay clubs and those of Negros, there were also present past district governors Rene Mabilog, Jun Jacela, Celso Hofilena, Dr. Pete Jaena, and Pompeyo Querubin.

District 301-B vice governor Felipe Lim led the celebrants and gamely joined the cultural presentation by Emerald, Fr. San Pedro, and Allied.

And the visiting lions shopped at the SM City, the Robinson’s Place and Gaisano where shoppers went around unconcerned about the extortion letters.

Focus On Crime Solution - Valdez

Bacolod has gone "ga-ga" with the start of the Masskara Festival. But that has not bugged the word war between the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau off Investigation over the former Pahanocoy Barangay Captain Eleuterio Salabas et al multiple murder case.

"The real issue – the unresolved case of former Barangay Captain Salabas has been relegated to the sidelines," criticized Mayor Joy Valdez the two warring groups.

She urged both to set aside their difference and instead work together to solve the case.

She also announced that she will confer soon with NBI Director Wycoco and DILG Secretary Jose Lina to resolve the case.

The NBI had filed the multiple murder case against Dongail and 15 John Does with the Guihulngan (Negros Oriental) municipal trial court which ordered the arrest of the police officer, noted for his campaign against drugs.

Dongail is now remanded to the custody of PNP Bacolod Chief George Bajelot. The PNP chief demurred about turning over Dongail to the Guihulngan town jail.

Correspondingly, the Himamaylan RTC also issued a warrant for the arrest of the principal witness Louie Gersaniba, 29, of Barangay. Banago, Bacolod, for qualified theft.

NBI chief Celso Estorga said he will turn over the witness to the court as soon as he gets the warrant of arrest. They were not able to turn him over Saturday.

Gernasiba reportedly has two more estafa complaints before the Bacolod police.

Gersaniba implicated Dongail in the kidnap murder of Salabas, R. Suganob, and Maximo Lomonjo in August.

Police aired suspicions that a local drug lord has a hand in the pinning down Dongail. Top regional police officers also contended the same and the alumni of the Western Visayas Police Academy signed a manifesto in favor of Dongail.

Police chief Vicente Poneras, the provincial PNP head, also disclosed that they have two witnesses who may be able to shed further light as to the real killers of Salabas et al.

Masskara

Masskara officially kicked off Saturday with the fancy drill at the Public Plaza by ROTC cadets. It was also Bacolod P4MP Farmers and Fisherfolk Association Day at the crowded Bay Center.

Later in the evening, the city held the Talent Night of the Miss Masskara Queen 2003 again at the Bay Center.

Three were chosen among the Best Talent. These were Ma. Christina Agravante, Weena Karlyn Casuyon, and Richell Catalan.

The opening salvo of the multi-event festival proved a top drawer.

On Wednesday, the 5th Negros Open Tenpin Bowling Tournament kicks off at the Paeng Nepomuceno Sugarbowl at Robinson’s Place.

Already there have been listed up 150 participants from various places of the country. And, Andy Hagad, disclosed that the tournament had to turn off many more applicants for participation in the tourney.

The Negros Gamefowl breeders 8 cocks derby also kicked off at the Bredco auditorium with hundreds of the country’s top cockers vying for the P5-million prize money.

ADDENDA: But there were other interesting news items. For one, there was the clamor by Bayawan Mayor German Sarana for the Central Visayas Regional Development Council to order an investigation into unscrupulous cement dealers in Negros Occidental. This was supported by Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado who noted the prices of Apo cement, manufactured in Cebu, is cheaper in Metro Manila. The RDC approved the resolution addressed to the Department of Trade and Industry..... There was also the interesting development in Silay City, for lack of gasoline and diesel, City Mayor Carlos Gamban ordered the grounding of almost all city vehicles and heavy equipment. The reason – the Silay City Sangguniang Panlunsod turned down the city’s supplemental budget which recommended P2.5 million for gasoline and other fuel. The city has 56 vehicles, including two firetrucks, a police patrol car and 21 motorcycles. That, if a fire breaks out in the city, chances are that the lone city firetruck may not able to respond to calls for help. As they say it, for lack of a nail...