Bonnet Gang man killed

ROXAS, Isabela —- Another suspected member of the dreaded Solid Ifugao Bonnet Gang operating in four provinces in Cagayan Valley and in the Cordillera was killed when he exchanged fire with security guards of the Philippine National Bank (PNB) last Sept. 20. Sr. Supt. Napoleon Estilles, Isabela police provincial director, identified the slain suspected Bonnet Gang member as James Binbinon, 32, of barangay Tucod, Cabarroguis, Quirino. Chief Inspector Alexander Santos, Roxas police chief, said Binbinon and five of his companions were reportedly on a stakeout of the PNB branch as early as 9 a.m. The men apparently had been planning to rob not only the PNB branch but also a savings bank in a nearby town. Police said the gang was neutralized in Quirino after their leader, ex-PO2 Marcelino Nginhina, was killed  last month. A guard, Bienvenido Dumacal, 52, suffered four bullet wounds as he fought off the gang men who snatched duffel bags containing cash from an bank armored van. Dumacal died later at a nearby hospital. Two of Binbinon’s accomplices tried to shoot it out with Santos’ men who rushed to the bank but later fled with the loot, which was recovered by pursuing lawmen. A total of R1.7 million in cash was retrieved and turned over to PNB executives. Witnesses said the robbers commandeered two tricycles in their escape but the same vehicles were found at barangay Simimbaan here. The suspects reportedly fled to Paracelis, Mt. Province. (Joe Dasig Jr.)

Visayas

Cebu cops get ultimatum

CEBU CITY — The Cebu City Hall has issued an ultimatum  to policemen to raid beer houses and bars located  on Gen. Maxilom Ave., a busy street in Cebu City where a religious school for girls and a Catholic church are located. It was reported that the establishments were staging lewd shows. Vice Mayor Michael Rama said he has issued the ultimatum but did not say the exact date of the deadline. Rama said police raiders should employ tactics that  will catch the owners of the nigh spots unaware.  Otherwise, he said, the raids will be useless because bar  owners will not allow lewd shows if they know that a  raid will be conducted. The Vice Mayor gave the deadline to policemen after  the Cebu City Anti-Indecency Board (CAIB), through its  president Rene Bullecer, identified three night spots  on Gen. Maxilom Avenue that have been showing lewd  shows. Bullecer criticized the police inaction after a team  from CAIB confirmed, through an extensive surveillance  operation that the three nightspots have indeed been staging nude shows. (Mars Mosqueda Jr.)

Mindanao

Zambo ‘drug queen’ falls

ZAMBOANGA CITY — A long-wanted woman drug dealer finally fell in the hands of elements of the Police Anti-illegal Drug Special Operations Task Force (AID-SOTF) during a “buy-bust” operation conducted recently in barangay Ayala here. City police chief Senior Supt. Mario Yanga identified the suspect as Minda Solaiman, 34, of barangay Zone IV, this city, who was also tagged by the police as one of Zamboanga’s “drug queens.” A tip from concerned Ayala residents received  by the AID-SOTF stated Solaiman was seen selling drugs in a secluded area of Ayala. This prompted elements of the task force to rush to Ayala and conducted the “buy bust” operation which resulted in the arrest of Solaiman. (TPR)