Talino at Galing ng Pinoy (TGP) Partylist Congressman Jose “Bong” Teves, Jr. last Monday (April 22, 2024) vowed that two pro-law enforcement House Bills which he sponsored would pass Senate scrutiny before the 19th Congress adjourns.
The representative made the statement during his visit and engagement with the Catanduanes police at Camp Francisco Camacho where he turned over 15 desktop computers released by the office of the recently appointed PNP Chief and Teves’ fraternity brother, Major General Rommel Francisco Marbil.
The computers were given to each of the 11 municipal police stations, the CIDG Catanduanes field unit, the two Police Mobile Force Companies and the provincial command.
Teves added as good measure 15 sacks of rice and 15 boxes of instant noodles as a gesture of acknowledgment for the dedication and commitment of the local police in serving and protecting the people.
He likewise joined PD Col. Rayan Ador and his staff in awarding certificates of commendation to Bato MPS chief Maj. Kenneth Ding Gutierres, case investigator MSgt. Dennis Olfindo and operating team member MSgt. John Paul Vega for their role in the buy-bust operation in Guinobatan where one Charlie Lojo was arrested.
In commending the local police for its significant accomplishment of seizing over half a million pesos worth of illegal drugs in the past three months, the TGP representative disclosed that the measure he authored, House Bill 6509 which would provide free legal assistance to uniformed personnel facing charges as a result of their performance of their duties and responsibilities, is now awaiting deliberation in the Senate.
He predicted that it would be approved and signed into law before the 19th Congress holds its last hearing, as one of the co-sponsors is the presidential son, Cong. Sandro Marcos.
Another significant bill filed by Teves is HB 7709 which seeks to establish a forensic DNA database in the Philippines that would greatly speed up the investigation and resolution of criminal cases.
In a brief press conference, the solon also urged the public to take advantage of medical assistance available at the Catanduanes Doctors Hospital, Inc. (CDHI) where the TGP has allocated a considerable amount under the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated (MAIP) program.
The assistance also covers the professional fee of doctors if approved, a similar feature under a separate allocation for MAIP at the Mother Seton Hospital in Naga City where a number of Catandunganons have been brought for treatment.
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Asked about the recent arrest in Taytay, Rizal of the prime suspect in the 2019 rape-slay case in Virac, San Miguel MPS police chief Capt. Lester Quililan said that the accused, Jonard Bonaagua, 33, a native of Balatohan, had been under surveillance by his men for some time now.
He disclosed that the suspect, who evaded arrest along with co-accused Jobert Manibale when the case was filed, frequently changed hiding places and was seen in Tagaytay City and another location in Batangas province.
The team nailed Bonaagua last April 18, 2024 after he went back to his last known address at Barangay San Juan Floodway 1 to help with a party of someone in the house.
The team led by Pat. Kristoffer Dan Garcia surprised him at the kitchen at 1:30 PM while he was chopping meat.
Capt. Quililan said the police has still no idea about the whereabouts of the other suspect.
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SOME SCRIBBLER. A collector of rare books ran into an acquaintance who told him he had just thrown away an old Bible that he found in a dusty, old box. He happened to mention that Guten-somebody-or-other had printed it.
“Not Gutenberg?” gasped the collector.
“Yes, that was it!”
“You idiot! You’ve thrown away one of the first books ever printed. A copy recently sold at auction for half a million dollars!”
“Oh, I don’t think this book would have been worth anything close to that much,” replied the man. “It was scribbled all over in the margins by some guy named Martin Luther.”