Vice mayor faces estafa raps over corn deal
CITY OF ILAGAN—A judge here has found probable cause to charge Solana Vice Mayor Meynard Carag in Cagayan province with estafa, for allegedly misappropriating P12.2 million in a deal he made with a private grains milling company. The Mindanao Grains Processing Corp. (MGPC) in Isabela province claimed that Carag was hired in 2012 as a corn buying agent who allegedly failed to deliver the balance of a P15-million corn deal in 2013. Carag, who operates a grains buying station in Tuguegarao City, supplied P2.75 million worth of grains but he failed to deliver the rest “despite repeated demands,” the company said. The order of Judge Andrew Barcena of the Regional Trial Court Branch 17 addressed the recommendation of the Isabela provincial prosecutor’s office to indict Carag, a three-term Solana mayor from 2007 to 2016 who was elected vice mayor in May last year. In his counter-affidavit, Carag denied dealing with MGPC as a broker. He said he did not receive any money “in trust” or “on commission or for administration” or he was under “any obligation to deliver or return the amount.” —VILAMOR VISAYA JR.
NPA rebs yield in Masbate
DIMASALANG, Masbate—At least 19 communist rebels surrendered to the military in Milagros town in Masbate province on Tuesday. Brig. Gen. Fernando Trinidad, commander of the Army’s 903rd Infantry Brigade, said the rebels turned over uniforms, combat boots and 11 firearms, including five M16 rifles, a .45 cal. pistol and bullets. Trinidad said the rebels, whom he did not identify, were taken to a safe house where they would undergo questioning. —SUZENE T. CAJEGAS
Cop nabbed for extortion
LUCENA CITY—Police arrested a fellow policeman here on Tuesday after he received money from a drug suspect in exchange for dropping a case. Senior Supt. Rhoderick Armamento, Quezon provincial police director, said Police Officer 2 Arnel Valdepeña, a member of the Candelaria town police’s drug enforcement unit, was arrested in an entrapment operation at the Regional Trial Court here. The operation, initiated by the Philippine National Police-Counter Intelligence Task Force and local police, was based on a complaint that Valdepeña was allegedly demanding P70,000 from a drug suspect. Valdepeña is facing robbery and extortion charges. —DELFIN T. MALLARI JR.