CAMP BGEN OSCAR M FLORENDO – The Police Regional Office 1 (PRO1) hosted today (March 9) a pre-coordinating conference for the formation of an advocacy group for honest, orderly and peaceful elections (HOPE) in May 2010 at the Concorde building here. The conferees were led by Archbishop Ernesto Salgado of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia in Vigan City and Bishop Artemio Rillera of the Diocese of San Fernando City. Also in attendance were Atty. Noli Pipo, Region 1 Election Director; Tagudin Mayor Roque Verzosa; the four Region 1 provincial directors; representatives of the AFP and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting; PRO1 key officers; and other stakeholders, including members of the tri-media. In his opening remarks, Police Chief Superintendent Constante D. Azares, Jr., Region 1 Police Director, emphasized the moral influence of the religious leaders, particularly the bishops, describing them as “our best allies in bringing peace and order in the upcoming political exercise.” The conference centered on a proposal to invite local candidates to participate in a day-long spiritual recollection which shall be highlighted by a peace covenant signing. The talking points included the determination of the date and venue of the recollection/covenant signing; drafting of the peace covenant and the invitation letter to the covenant participants; proposed witnesses to the peace covenant; involvement of the tri-media in the information dissemination and other relevant activities; and the formation of an advocacy group to monitor adherence to the peace covenant. During the open forum, Bishop Rillera stressed that the promotion of peace and order in the region should be a continuing advocacy. “We should remain vigilant, not only during, but also in-between election periods.” For his part, Archbishop Salgado pointed out that all concerned should treat the peace advocacy as doing the will of God. “We are doing this for Christ, putting Christ at the center of this endeavor,” he added. The conference ended with the participants expressing commitment to the formation of an advocacy group towards HOPE 2010. The general mood was summed up by the observation of General Azares that “the peace covenant signing and recollection/retreat will affirm that our prayers and actions are inseparable and that they exert strong influence in the forthcoming political exercise.” ###

Region 1 policewomen joined the kick-off ceremony of the International Women's Day Celebration conducted at the Pacoy Ortega Gym in San Fernando City, La Union on March 8, 2010.

CAMP BGEN OSCAR M FLORENDO – Elements of San Gabriel police station in La Union seized 101 kilograms of marijuana bricks worth P2.525 million and arrested four persons while manning a checkpoint in front of the police station building before dawn today (March 5). In his report to Region 1 police director Chief Superintendent Constante D. Azares, Jr., La Union provincial director Police Senior Superintendent Noli G. Taliño, disclosed that personnel of San Gabriel police led by chief of police Senior Inspector Eduardo Sarmiento flagged down for routine inspection a gray Toyota Hi-Ace van with plate number WSA 591 at around 1:30 AM. Noticing that the occupants were acting unusually nervous, the police officers decided to check the vehicle’s compartment which, after some negotiation, eventually yielded the marijuana bricks. PSSupt Taliño identified the arrested suspects as Bony T. Santos, 34 and Francis Mogati, 22, both residents of La Trinidad, Benguet; and Lindel Camilo, 23, and Molitas Mariacos, 19, both from Barangay Lon-oy, San Gabriel, La Union. They are now detained at the San Gabriel police station The police officers seized fifteen (15) bricks of dried marijuana weighing one kilo each; thirty-three (33) two-kilo bricks; and twenty (20) one-kilo marijuana rolls. According to PSInsp Sarmiento, they requested the presence of Barangay Poblacion Sur Chairman Carlos Caweng and Mr. Nestor Ducusin of Bombo Radyo La Union, also a resident of said barangay, to act as witnesses when the suspects initially refused to open their van’s compartment. When the suspects later voluntarily allowed the interior of the van to be inspected, the police found three sacks, a box and a plastic bag containing the marijuana bricks. PSInsp Sarmiento said that, prior to the arrest, they received a tip from an unidentified concerned citizen regarding the marijuana shipment. PCSupt Azares personally commended PSInsp Sarmiento and the whole San Gabriel police for the major accomplishment, even as he expressed satisfaction over the good police-community relations in the said town. “Keep up the good work, and continue your good partnership with our stakeholders,” the Regional Director said. ###