The Rise Of Kandong Girls In Abatan, Buguias And Lollipop Girls In La Trinidad, Benguet

A few months ago, social workers from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and operatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group swooped into four suspected prostitution dens in the burgeoning town of Buguias in Benguet. When the dusts of the operations had settled, the combined forces of the two agencies nabbed a total of 21 women; 17 were working as bar girls and the other four were either managers, handlers or cashiers. Here's the saddening part: 10 of the 17 bar girls were minors.

When stories about the operations finally found their way to news outlets, they painted a rather different picture of Benguet. A picture that is dark, bleak, even shocking to some. To an outsider, Benguet is a place where you'll find the sweetest strawberries, the most luscious cabbages, and the most vivid mountains that seem to roll into eternity. In short, the province is commonly thought of as a place where you can go to unwind from the rigors of urban life.

A story about the operations from the Manila Standard Today had the headline, "Cops Raid Sex Dens, Nab 21 Women". The Philippine Star was more reserved with its headline, "17 Bar Girls Rescued In Benguet Town". 

A reader's reaction to the stories would depend on the level of his/her knowledge regarding the existence of these dens in Abatan, Buguias. To the uninitiated, the stories may be shocking. But the fact is that the trade has been around in Abatan for years now. Many people are aware of it, the type of people who would say "Nabayag met nga ada agilaklako ti bagi da dita."

Photo from thedialoguechronicle.com.

The obvious question now is how did it come to this? Are the authorities doing anything about it? Are the cases decreasing? Are they increasing? Well, it seems that they are increasing. A recent report from Bombo Radyo Baguio said that there's a perceived higher risk of sexually-transmitted diseases spreading in some Benguet towns because of the proliferation of sex-based trades. A heightened risk means only one thing - more people have entered the picture. Women plying their trades in Abatan have been dubbed as the kandong girls.

The trade is also reportedly on the rise in La Trinidad. According to rumors, there are women with lollipops plying their trade in the streets (especially in the main highway) of the town. A lady with a lollipop is supposedly a signal that she is offering short-time services. That's why they are being referred to as lollipop girls. However, these rumors are yet to be confirmed.

Benguet Adivay Festival 2014 Schedule Of Activities

The calendar of events for this year's edition of the Benguet Adivay Festival is now out. The month-long festivities will have its kick-off program on November 4 at the Benguet Capitol building. Among the activities scheduled are job fairs, pageants, trade fairs, and sports tournaments. The highlights of the festival are the grand parade and canao that will happen on November 24 at the new Benguet Sports Center.

The theme for this year's festival is "On ASEAN Integration: Benguet Faces Its Challenges And Grasps The Opportunities". The theme addresses the imminent roll out of the ASEAN integration next year. Many people in Benguet fear that the integration will negatively affect the farming industry in the province. This is because imported vegetables will likely flood the market once the integration commences.

Majority of the activities in the festival will happen at the Benguet Sports Center in Wangal, La Trinidad. Other events will be held in various places within La Trinidad like the Palispis Hall, the Capitol Gym, and the La Trinidad Municipal Gym. La Trinidad is just a few kilometers away from the city of Baguio. To get there, you can take a taxi or a jeepney. Jeepney stations can be found along Magsaysay Avenue and below the City Hall. Check out the schedule of events below.

[Source: I Love Adivay Facebook page.]

Theme For Adivay Festival 2014 Addresses The Imminent ASEAN Integration

The year 2015 is just over two months away. When it finally comes, people who are in the loop with regards to the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI), will be expecting significant if not major changes in the Cordillera region's economy. 

The province of Benguet will most likely be the one to be affected the most. It's therefore no surprise that for this year's edition of the annual Adivay Festival, the province has chosen a theme that directly addresses the imminence of the integration. This year's theme goes, "On ASEAN Integration: Benguet Faces Its Challenges And Grasps The Opportunities".

The ASEAN Integration is a bold if not ambitious initiative, the core of which aims to create a market in Southeast Asia wherein the flow of goods, services, capital, investments and skilled labor is much less restrictive. A lot of people often use the term "free flow" but this can be very misleading as there can be no free flow of goods, services, etc."Less restrictive" would be the most appropriate term to use.

The economy of the province of Benguet is heavily driven by agriculture. This is why it's expected to be greatly affected by the ASEAN integration. The less restrictive market that the integration creates opens the entry of vegetables from other nations. This will present a substantial increase in competition for Benguet farmers. It's definitely a huge challenge for the province and it admits so in this year's Adivay Festival theme.

Photo from benguet.gov.ph.

The theme also alludes to opportunities that the integration will open. It's very difficult to think what these opportunities would be. At this point, it seems that the only opportunities that the province will get from this integration is the chance to export agricultural products and skilled labor. There's also the likelihood that more investments from member nations will flow into the province.

It's too early to tell how the integration will affect the province. At this point, however, the challenges seem to trump the opportunities.

Miner In Itogon, Benguet Gunned Down By Fellow Miner

A miner was fatally shot by a fellow miner during a heated altercation in Firstgate, Ucab in Itogon, Benguet last Tuesday (October 21). The victim has been identified as Chito Habiling Balyogan, 32 years old and hailing from Hingyon, Ifugao. The suspect has been identified as Ronald Hangdaan, age unknown. Hangdaan traces his roots from Maddela, Quirino and Banaue, Ifugao.

According to a Bombo Radyo Baguio report, witnesses saw the two men arguing when Hangdaan suddenly pulled out a gun which was allegedly a .45 caliber pistol. Hangdaan directed his first shot into the sky before firing three rounds towards Balyogan. The shots immediately put the victim to the ground.

Balyogan was brought to a hospital and was subjected to a two-hour emergency operation  but it was too late and he expired eventually. The suspect escaped aboard a motorcycle. Investigation and a manhunt for Hangdaan is still ongoing. If you have any information as to his whereabouts, contact the police or the nearest barangay station.

Pilipino Star Ngayon reported that an uneven distribution of earnings from their mining activities may have been the cause for the altercation which led to the shooting.

Photo by Lynn Friedman via Flickr.

Igorot Fighter Eric Kelly To Fight Jadamba Narantungalag For The One FC Featherweight Belt

Writing for the mixed martial arts website sherdog.com, C.J. Tuttle said that the upcoming One Fighting Championship event in Manila this December will feature a bout between Cordilleran fighter Eric Kelly and Jadamba Narantungalag of Mongolia. The Mongolian currently holds the One FC's featherweight belt, a strap he won last August of this year from Koji Oishi of Japan.

No official announcement came from the One FC as to Kelly's opponent. Tuttle didn't provide a source as to why he said that Kelly's opponent will be Narantungalag. However, most fans who are familiar with the One FC's roster of fighters believe that Kelly should be fighting for the organization's belt as he is the number one contender.

Also fighting in the event in Manila dubbed Warrior's Way are Eduard Folayang and Kevin Belingon. Their opponents haven't been announced yet.

The main event for Warrior's Way will be a heavyweight showdown between former Ultimate Fighting Championship standout Brandon Vera and Igor Subora of Ukraine. The two combatants will be entering the One FC cage for the first time. Warrior's Way will be staged at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on December 5, 2014.

Taxi Driver In Baguio City Returns Cash Worth 120,000 Pesos To Passenger Who Left It In His Cab

Baguio City is known for a lot of things - the unique culture of its indigenous people, the scent of pines, Burnham Park, Session Road, strawberries, ube jam, and a plethora of other things. You can now add to this list the honesty of the city's taxi drivers.

There are of course bad apples among them as we hear every now and then of taxi drivers in the city who are rude and disrespectful or worse robbers and rapists. For sure, these bad apples affect the reputation of the whole bunch but the fact remains that Baguio City's taxi drivers are often more honest and trustworthy if you compare them with drivers from other urban centers in the country like Manila.

It's not much of a surprise therefore to hear of a recent incident wherein a Baguio City taxi driver returned a bag of cash worth 120,000 pesos to a passenger who left it in his cab. Franc Eduard Hidalgo (the passenger) forgot his bag one night inside the taxi being driven by Venancio Peralta. Hidalgo can't remember the name of the taxi so he was very worried that he might not be able to recover his money.

To his surprise, he received a message in the morning from the taxi driver saying he wanted to meet up so he can return the bag. So they did and Hidalgo got all of his money back. Peralta also refused the reward that Hidalgo tried to offer him.

Photo by Daniel Horacio Agostini via Flickr.

Hidalgo posted his experience with Peralta's honesty on Facebook. Here's the full text of said post:

"INTEGRITY — doing the right thing even when no one is looking."

About two weeks ago, late at night, while on my way home, I carelessly forgot my bag in a taxi in Baguio, containing my notes, my letters, important files, my sunglasses, my iPad, and at least Php120,000.00. I forgot the plate number of the taxi, I couldn't recall the name of the taxi or even the driver. I panicked!! And didn't know what to do.

The next morning, THANKFULLY, I received a message from the taxi driver that he found my bag, and wanted to meet up to return it, and when we met, he gave the bag and all its contents completely, and even refused the reward I was handing to him.

I'm so happy that there are still good and honest people in this world.

Thank you so much, kuya Venancio Peralta, a man of integrity!! And special mention also to his son for helping, Jhoven Barlaan Peralta!

SMD taxi

plate number: AYS 730

He's Not An Igorot But He Proudly Ran In The Chicago Marathon Wearing Igorot Attire

A man ran the Chicago Marathon in America last October 12, 2014 in Igorot attire. Levi Aliposa, a Filipino who hails from Tacloban City, Leyte and currently resides in Chicago ran in the annual race wearing a g-string, a sash, and Cordilleran accessories. Aliposa joined the marathon for Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare, an agency where Aliposa works as a Community Integration Specialist.

Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare is a "not-for-profit community behavioral healthcare agency whose mission is to serve people with serious mental illnesses." Aliposa posted photos from the race on his Facebook page. Check out some of the photos below. For more photos, visit Aliposa's album here.

It is heartwarming to think that there are people out there who appreciate our culture so much that they go beyond their way to hold it up in front of the world.

Three New Stills From Above The Clouds, An Upcoming Movie Set In The Cordillera Mountains

There's a reason why not too many film directors are keen on shooting films in the Cordilleras. The rugged terrain is just not conducive to both film crew and equipment. But one independent film director took his chances and braved the barriers. He even upped the challenge by filming at no other than the highest mountain in the region - Mount Pulag.

Last September, director Pepe Diokno announced via Facebook that his movie Above The Clouds is finally finished. The project took several years to complete. Diokno told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that it took him two years to pen the script, two years to raise funds, one year to shoot, and more than half a year in post-production. 

Above The Clouds tells the story of a young man (Ruru Madrid) sent to live with his estranged grandfather (Pepe Smith) after losing his parents in a tragic flood. Still battling the effects of his great loss, the boy becomes withdrawn and prefers isolating himself from the people around him.

Concerned about his grandson, the grandfather decided to take him hiking up a mountain, the same mountain that the young boy's parents climbed in the past. Therein starts a journey of realizations and discoveries that will either help the two cope with their grief or cause them to grow even further apart.

Above The Clouds will be making its screening debut in the upcoming Tokyo International Film Festival in Japan which will run from October 23 to 31. The film will be competing with 9 other films from all over Asia in the festival's Asian Future category. Check out three stills from the movie below. All photos courtesy of Diokno via Facebook.

Above The Clouds is Diokno's second film. The budding director made some waves in 2009 with his first film Engkwentro which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. Diokno ended up being awarded the Lion of the Future Award for Best Debut Film.

Igorot Mixed Martial Artist Edward Kelly Loses Fight In Malaysia

Cordilleran mixed martial arts fighter Edward Kelly didn't get the win last night when he squared off against Ev Ting at the Putra Indoor Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Kelly lost to Ting in the final seconds of the second stanza when he got knocked down by a head kick. With Kelly down and nearly out on the mat, the referee put a stop to the contest at the 4:28 mark in the round.

The bout between Kelly and Ting was part of the main card for the event One Fc 21: Roar of Tigers which was headlined by a featherweight battle between Rob Lisita and Marat Gafurov.

In the first round, Kelly and Ting spent most of the time scrambling with Ting pushing Kelly against the cage. Ting scored a successful takedown but Kelly was able to make it back to his feet. Ting closed the round with a head kick that signaled what to come in the second round.

The second round was more competitive as both fighters started exchanging punches and kicks. Ting scored another takedown in the round. The end came when Ting landed a head kick which dropped Kelly to the mat. With Kelly seemingly unable to defend himself, the referee waved to signal the end of the bout.

With the win, Ting improves his record to 8 wins and 2 losses while Kelly drops down to 5 wins and 2 losses. This is the second consecutive time that Kelly lost. Both losses were under the One Fighting Championship banner. Kelly's first fight for the One FC was in December last year where he succumbed to Brazil's Herbert Burns via a rear-naked choke. Check out photos from the bout below. All photos courtesy of One Fighting Championship.

In the morning after the fight, Kelly posted on Facebook that he's okay and that he's coming back home soon. He also thanked his kababayans, friends, family, and sponsors who went all the way to Malaysia to watch his fight. He also congratulated Ting as well as thanked the One FC for giving him the opportunity to fight in the card.

Eric Kelly, Edward's older brother who also fights for One FC and is currently the number one contender in the featherweight division, also got on Facebook to say thank you to everyone who supported his younger brother. Eric is scheduled to fight next this coming December when the One FC stages another event at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila. MMA fans are hoping that he will be fighting for the One FC featherweight belt which is currently held by Jadamba Narantungalag of Mongolia.

Three Igorot Fighters Scheduled To See Action In One Fighting Championship: Warrior's Way In Manila

At least three Cordilleran mixed martial artists will be seeing action when One Fighting Championship stages another event dubbed Warrior's Way at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila this coming December 5. In an event page created by the MMA promotion company on their official Facebook page,  the names of Cordilleran fighters Eduard Folayang, Eric Kelly and Kevin Belingon were mentioned. However, their opponents haven't been announced yet.

Eric Kelly is coming off a submission win over Australia's Rob Lisita in July of this year. The two featherweights engaged in a bloody battle in front of a packed crowd in Taipei, Taiwan. With the victory, Kelly set himself up as the number one contender for the One FC featherweight belt and at one point he was even rumored to fight champion Koji Oishi in Dubai just more than a month after his fight with Lisita. However, he was advised to take some time off to let the injuries he incurred in the Lisita fight to heal. 

With Kelly in the sidelines, champion Oishi faced Mongolia's Jadamba Narantungalag instead. It was a huge upset as Narantungalag dominated the champion from the first round to the end. Because Kelly is the number one contender in the division, a lot of MMA fans expect his opponent in the upcoming Manila event to be Narantungalag.

Promotional poster for Warrior's Way. Photo by One Fighting Championship.

Eduard Folayang notched two straight victories in his most recent outings in the One FC. This is a redemption of sort after two straight losses in 2012 and 2013 to Lowen Tynanes and Kamal Shalorus respectively.

Kevin Belingon, on the other hand, is coming off a loss to Dae Hwan Kim in his last fight. Belingon fought seven times under the One FC banner and his record under the promotion currently stands at three wins and four losses. Needless to say, the Ifugao fighter's next outing this coming December in Manila is a must-win for him.

Because Warrior's Way is supposed to be a showcase for Filipino fighters, other Cordilleran fighters may join Kelly, Folayang and Belingon in the card. There are several other fighters in the Team Lakay lineup who might make it to the event. There's Honorio Banario, Rey Docyogen, and Geje Eustaquio among others.

Warrior's Way will be headlined by former Ultimate Fighting Championship star Brandon Vera. Vera's opponent hasn't been announced yet. Vera lost his last two fights in the UFC. This will be his first fight in the One FC.

Igorot Fighter Edward Kelly Makes Weight For Upcoming Battle In Malaysia

Looking healthy and sporting a ripped physique, Cordilleran mixed martial artist Edward Kelly stepped upon the scales at the Mines Wellness Hotel in Selangor, Malaysia during the official weigh-in for One Fighting Championship: Roar of Tigers, a fight event that will unfold tomorrow night (October 17) at the Putra Indoor Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. Kelly, who carries the nickname The Rock, made weight weighing in at 143 pounds. His opponent, Ev Ting of Malaysia, weighed in at 145 pounds.

Kelly and Ting are fighting in the stacked card which will be headlined by a featherweight showdown between Rob Lisita of Australia and Marat Gafurov of Russia. This is the second time for both Kelly and Ting to fight under the One FC banner. Kelly who currently holds a record of 5 wins and 1 loss debuted in the One FC last December 2013 wherein he lost via submission to Brazil's Herbert Burns. Ting, on the other hand, won his One FC debut in June of this year by knocking out Yohan Mulia Legowo in the very first round.

Ting is also the more experienced fighter between the two as he currently has a record of 7 wins and 2 losses. This doesn't include the four fights under his belt as an amateur. The two fighters have similar fighting styles and that is they often prefer fighting on their feet than on the ground. With a combined five knockout wins between the two, there's a good chance that this encounter will end with either fighting getting knocked out.

Edward Kelly (right) and Ev Ting (left) on a stare-down at the official weigh-in. Photo by One FC.

Ev Ting (left) and Edward Kelly (right) pose for the cameras at the weigh-in. Photo by One FC.

Edward Kelly is the younger brother of Eric Kelly, the number one contender in the One FC's featherweight division. Eric's last fight was a submission win over Rob Lisita in July of this year. The One FC has just announced that Eric will be fighting in Manila this coming December for an event dubbed One Fighting Championship: Warrior's Way. It's still unknown if he'll be fighting for the One FC featherweight championship belt which is currently held by Jadamba Narantungalag of Mongolia.

One Fighting Championship: Roar of Tigers will be held at the Putra Indoor Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. The fight between Kelly and Ting will be the seventh bout in the card. Fans in Asia can catch the fights live on the Fox Sports channel. For fans from around the world, they can watch a streaming of the card for $9.99. For more information about the streaming, fans can visit the promotion's official website at onefc.com.

2 Dead Men Found Along Marcos Highway In Poyopoy, Tuba, Benguet

Two still unidentified men were found on a ravine along a stretch of Marcos Highway within the vicinity of Poyopoy in Tuba, Benguet on Wednesday morning (October 15). The two male cadavers were found by garbage collectors between 8 and 9 in the morning of said date.

Based on a post-mortem examination conducted by Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) of the Baguio City Police, the cause of death for one of the victims is either because of a punctured wound on his head or asphyxia caused by strangulation. The cause of death for the other victim is also believed to be asphyxia because of strangulation.

The two men have heights of between 5'1'' and 5'3". They are believed to have been thrown at the ravine a day before they were found by garbage collectors.

The bodies of the two men were brought to the La Paz Funeraria. The Baguio City police is also calling on people who have missing relatives to go to La Paz Funeraria, the Baguio City Police Office, or to the Tuba Municipal Police Station for possible identification.

The stretch of Marcos Highway along Tuba is infamously known for a dumping ground for dead bodies. Prior to the men found this Wednesday, a dead man was also found there last March with his ankles tied and his eyes covered with masking tape.

Photo by Glory Balegan (Bombo Radyo).

Post by Glory C. Balegan.

[Source: Glory Balegan via Facebook.]

Fire Hits Tiong San La Trinidad

[Updated] Another branch of the Tiong San store chain caught fire this morning. Firetrucks and medical personnel rushed to the La Trinidad branch of Tiong San which is located along Kilometer 4 after receiving reports that a fire started within the building. The fire reportedly originated from the Greenwich store located at the basement of the building.

There were no casualties and the damage to the building was minimal. Authorities are still investigating as to the cause of the fire. Check out photos from the site below. All photos by Heart Cordillera (Highland Emergency Action and Response Team). See more photos here. You can also check out a photo album on the incident by the Benguet Chapter of the Philippine Red Cross here.

It can be recalled that the Magsaysay branch of Tiong San in Baguio City also caught fire a few months ago which led to damages worth millions of pesos.

Government Soldiers Clash With Suspected NPA Rebels In Asipulo, Ifugao

A firefight between government soldiers and suspected New People's Army rebels erupted this morning in Asipulo, a town in Ifugao. According to a Bombo Radyo Baguio report, members of the 54th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army were conducting community development projects in the town when they encountered the rebels.

As of this writing, three soldiers were reported to have been wounded while one died. However, according to Brigadier General Roger Salvador, commander of the Philippine Army's 501st Brigade, the fatality is yet to be confirmed whether it's true or a false. The encounter between the two forces occurred between six and eight in the morning of October 14 (Tuesday).

This new encounter between government soldiers and rebels in Asipulo follows at least two other clashes that happened during the last few weeks in the Cordillera region.

It can be recalled that firefights between the two forces have been erupting in the province of Abra last September. During these clashes, at least 10 people were killed most of whom were from the rebel side. Also, in the first week of October, four NPA rebels died when they were engaged by government forces in the province of Apayao. Said rebels were reportedly trying to extort money from a town in the province.

File photo of New People's Army members during a program in Samar. (Photo from philippinerevolution.net)

Manag-ay Tako: A Reunion Concert Of The Salidummay Peforming Group

October is Indigenous People's Month in the Philippines. As part of its celebration, the Salidummay Performing Group will be staging a one night only reunion concert on October 26, 2014 at the Bulwagang Juan Luna at the University of the Philippines: Baguio. Named Manag-ay Tako, the show will be a two-hour affair from 6 to 8 pm in the evening. The concert is to be presented by the Dap-ayan Ti Kultura Iti Kordilyera (DKK).

Tickets to the event have been pegged at 100 pesos each. To avail of tickets, you can go to the University of the Philippines Baguio to inquire, or you can contact the Dap-ayan Ti Kultura Iti Kordilyera via their Facebook page. You can also contact Matyline Camfili for more information through her Facebook account.

For a long time now, the Salidummay Performing Group and the Dap-ayan Ti Kultura Iti Kordilyera have been in the forefront with regards to the creation and promotion of arts that defend and place Cordilleran culture on a pedestal. Their songs, performances and other works often tackle social issues like self-determination, heritage protection, and liberty for all.

The DKK in particular describes itself as "an alliance of cultural organizations and individuals in the Cordillera." As to what they do, DKK says that it "promotes a nationalist, scientific and mass-oriented arts and culture, inspired by the rich heritage of the Cordillera home and culture; steadfast in the defense of our cultural integrity, land, life and resources; committed to advance the rights and welfare of artists and cultural workers, bind ourselves in the service of the struggle for self-determination and national democracy."

Click on the photo to enlarge it.

Bomb Threat Causes Suspension And Disruption Of Classes In Saint Louis University Baguio City

No one would fault you if you are to declare Baguio City as the Bomb Threat Capital of the Philippines. After all, during the last few months, three bomb threats have rocked three educational institutions in the city. The first one to be targeted was University of the Cordilleras. Then University of the Philippines Baguio. And now Saint Louis University.

Last Friday afternoon (October 10), classes at the main campus of SLU along Bonifacio street had to be suspended so that all students, teachers, and employees can be evacuated after the school received via email a bomb threat stating that there's a bomb within the university's premises.

The university immediately called the Baguio City Police for help. Members of the elite force Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) swept through the campus but they weren't able to find anything. Investigation about the incident is ongoing.

Students of Saint Louis University flocking into the streets as they evacuate the school campus. (Photo: Mark Del Carmen via Facebook)

Some of the teachers in Saint Louis University think that the perpetrator of the threats could be a disgruntled student who failed on any of his exams. The university has just finished its preliminary examinations for their students. It can also be recalled that the threats directed towards UP Baguio several weeks ago were suspected to be students as the threats were sent right on examination day.

8 Acetylene Gang Members Captured! Items Confiscated From Them Include Guns And Grenades.

Eight members of the notorious Acetylene Gang were captured by combined forces of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat on Wednesday (October 1). The eight suspects were captured at a checkpoint around 3 p.m. at purok Waya-Waya, barangay San Emmanuel in the southern city.

All of the men are from Luzon, mostly from the Cordillera region. They were identified as follows:

Kayao Christopher, 23, from La Trinidad, Benguet

Payas Richard Mayangao from Tarlac City

Jonathan Jabradilla, 31, from Baguio City

Elvis Lawig, 52, from Besao, Mt. Province

Palong Apayez, 43, from Ilocos Sur

Alan Diwan, 28, from Isabela

Johnny Ramos, 35, from Quirino

Nadario Tayoyo, from Benguet

Several items were confiscated from the suspects. These include the following: acetylene tank, acetylene torch, grenades, handguns, drill, screwdrivers,  IDs, and various receipts. Also taken from them is a grey van with the plate number VCP-913. These items were allegedly used by the captured men during their alleged criminal operations which usually involved tunneling though the ground in order to reach their targets like banks, pawnshops and jewelry stores.

Some of the items confiscated from the captured men. Photo by Bombo Radyo Koronadal via Facebook.

A report by Bombo Radyo Koronadal quoted Police Senior Superintendent Jose Arnaldo Briones Jr, provincial director of the South Cotabato PNP, saying that the suspects were planning to rob an RCBC bank located in the municipality of Surallah in South Cotabato. The men reportedly started digging a tunnel there but the police learned about their operations which led to their arrest.

The men will be facing charges on illegal possession of firearms and explosives. They are currently under the custody of the South Cotabato police.

Acetylene Gang is a term loosely used to refer to robbery groups whose modus operandi is to dig tunnels leading to business establishments such as banks, jewelry stores, shopping malls, and pawnshops. Many of the members are miners.

Post by Bombo Radyo Koronadal.

Post by Bombo Radyo Koronadal.

[Sources: Bombo Radyo Koronadal, Mindanao Examiner]