Author Bios

Sonny Sales

Sonny Sales

Articles by this author:

  • Opponents of CAMSUR division want plebiscite held after 2013 elections (Bikol News)

    NAGA CITY – During the public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Local Government on the bill proposing the division of Camarines Sur, Governor Luis Raymund Villafuerte made an appeal to move the proposed plebiscite on the matter after the 2013 mid-term elections.

    Some 8000 protagonists on both sides of the issue packed the Naga City Coliseum Thursday for a Senate committee hearing that lasted for 6 hours. Senator Bongbong Marcos presided over the meeting with committe members, Senators Gregorio Honasan and Manuel Villar also in attendance.

    Leading opponent of the bill Gov. Villafuerte told newsmen after the public hearing, “hinahamon nila kami”, takot daw kami sa plebisito, pero ang totoo gusto nilang madaliin ang plebisito, para maka-paglagay sila ng kandidato sa bagong probinsya.”

    By: Sonny Sales
  • Police director sacked over mining issues (Bikol News)

    DAET, Camarines Norte (June 30, 2012) - The sacking of the Camarines Norte provincial police chief now appears to have been ordered from the national leadership because of the latter's failure to stop mining operations in the province.

    This week, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Camp Crame office installed Supt. Jose L. Capinpin as officer-in-charge of the Camarines Norte Provincial Police Office (PPO) in replacement of former Police director Senior Supt. Joselito Esquivel.

    The sacked police director found an ally in Camarines Norte Governor Edgar Tallado who scored the lack of due process in Esquivel’s removal from office while praising the former director's successes in anti-crime campaign in the province.

    By: Sonny Sales
  • P-Noy asked to act on illegal fishing, logging and substandard national road in Caramoan Peninsula (Bikol News)

    PILI, CAMARINES SUR (June 9, 2012) – The people of Presentacion, Camarines Sur led by the religious sector are asking the intercession of President Aquino to address violations and illegal acts committed against the people ranging from rampant illegal fishing, illegal logging and the substandard construction of a national road.

    A resolution under the heading Office of the Church Council of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, North Bicol Conference, Parubcan Evangelical Church, based in Presentacion (formerly Parubcan), Camarines Sur mentions of violations like substandard construction of the Lagonoy-Presentacion-Caramoan National Road and rampant illegal fishing at the waters of Lagonoy Gulf and illegal logging in the municipality of Presentacion.

    By: Sonny Sales
  • Death of a 13-year old boy blamed on teenage fraternity (Bikol News)

    SIPOCOT, Camarine Sur (Oct. 1, 2011) – A 13 year-old  elementary school pupil  from barangay Tara in this town was buried on Friday (Sept. 30) but the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) regional office may exhume the body to determine the cause of his death.

    Sipocot Municipal Police Station (MPS) under Police Chief Insp. Noel P. Aquino said Friday that fraternity hazing might have been the cause of the death of Marcian “Totoy” Abrasado, a Grade six pupil at the Tara Elementary School.

    By: Sonny Sales
  • Gov. LRay's armed escorts face gun raps (Bikol News)

    NAGA City -- Suspected private armed group members are facing charges of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and bladed weapons and violation of the Comelec gun ban before the City Prosecutor’s Office here.

    Naga City police spokesman SPO2 Randy Solano told newsmen on Wednesday that a bail of Php140,000 cash has been recommended for each of the eight security personnel facing the charges, Solano said.

    According to Solano, it is the first time within the election period that security personnel of a politician were apprehended for possession of assorted firearms.

    Solano said the respondents were armed escorts of Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte. He said those charged have no permit to carry outside of residence and no election exemption documents.

    By: Sonny Sales
  • Fear gags Masbate journalists (Bikol News)

    LEGAZPI CITY – Threatened by private armed groups (PAGs) operating in the second and third districts of the province of Masbate, journalists based in the area cannot completely report election-related stories coming out of the province.

    Masbate-based broadcast journalists who participated in the National Union of Journalists (NUJP) training and forum on election reporting said “that constant fear of retaliation from private armed groups employed by politicians” is the main reason that prevents local reporters from posting reports on continued violence and political controversies in Masbate.

    By: Sonny Sales
  • Radio broadcaster,wife, 3 others slapped murder charges in Lupi mayor killing (Bikol News)

    NAGA CITY – A composite police force dubbed ‘Task Force Matamorosa’ filed before the City Prosecutor’s Office a case of murder against a local radio broadcaster, his wife and three other suspects on the killing of Lupi Mayor Raul Matamorosa six months ago.

    Naga Police Deputy City director for administration, Police Supt. Nilo Savilla Berdin Jr., told newsmen on Thursday (April 25) that after six months of investigation the police has sufficient evidence to file murder charges against Jupre P. Osabal also known as Joe Osabal and a popular local radio broadcaster, his wife, Jocelyn, now the incumbent mayor of Lupi and Matamorosa’s former Vice-Mayor; Wilfredo Rabaca Sasota of Libon, Albay, believed to be a member of the “Concepcion gun-for-hire group”; David Osea, a driver of the local government of Lupi and Eure Terceño, a barangay kagawad of Bulawan, Lupi.

    Mayor Matamorosa was gunned-down in front of a TV appliance repair shop along the Naga Diversion Road in the afternoon of October 27, 2012 and died in the hospital hours later.

    By: Sonny Sales
  • Rebels raid a Chinese mining firm in Camarines Norte (Bikol News)

    NAGA CITY – A Chinese mining company operating in Camarines Norte has declared losses amounting to 4 million pesos after communist rebels burned heavy equipment and forcibly took the firearms of its security guards.

    According to reports made available during the weekend, the rebels attacked a mining site in barangay Napaod, Labo, Camarines Norte and burned two dump trucks and two pay loaders owned by BUHAY-TAP Mining International, a company registered in the People’s Republic of China.

    This was an incidental revelation made public by Camarines Norte Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial director, Police Senior Supt. Moises Cudal Pagaduan during a weekend PNP-Army dialog with civil society groups in Bicol aimed to discuss safeguards for the May 2013 polls.

    By: Sonny Sales
  • Abducted father and son found dead (Bikol News)

    SAN FERNANDO, Camarines Sur - The dead bodies of father and son, identified as Martin Copino and his 20-year old son, Jimson, have been recovered by the San Fernando police more than a week after they were abducted from their home.

    In the evening of February 28 armed group of 10  men forcibly took the victim from their home  in sitio Calomagnan, San Fernando town.

    By: Sonny Sales
  • National Most Wanted arrested in Masbate (Bikol News)

    CAMP SIMEON OLA, LEGAZPI CITY –  Ruel Caballero Vargas, alias “Weng” who carries a Php. 150,000 bounty on his head and ranked third among the police’s National Most Wanted has recently been arrested in Masbate.

    A joint police Intelligence operatives of the PIT5, RIU5, Regional Police Office, 5, led by Police Insp. Gilberto L. Alcovindas conducted the operation in barangay Lanang, Aroroy, Masbate at about 8:00 A.M. on Wednesday (March 6).

    By: Sonny Sales