STORY NO. 1
GSM -- OR "GALING SA MAGNANAKAW" PHONE RACKET SYNDICATE UPGRADES TO RANSOM AND ROB MODUS OPERANDI
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Senate Majority Leader Loren Legarda yesterday asked police officials and local government executives to crack down on cellular phone robbers and snatchers by conducting surveillance operations and stake outs in drop off points for stolen cellular phones, locally known as 'Galing Sa Magnanakaw' or GSM..
"I urge our local mayors and police officials to act with expediency on this matter. Because it seems that cellular phones have now become more of a bane to those who have one since it attracts lawless elements instead of a being a communications portal," Legarda said.
Reports reaching Senator Legarda's Office revealed blatant exchanges being made by robbers and their customers in broad daylight along C. M. Recto and Quiapo in Manila.
"While it is true that there is still insufficient data to verify the veracity of this underground industry, I am still appealing to concerned government agencies such as the Philippine National Police and Local Government Units (LGUs) to step up their campaign against this schem," Legarda added.
Sources also revealed the modus operandi called 'Ransom a Cellphone' or selling of the phone to their original owners instead of looking for new buyers. Unwitting victims often fall to the ploy only to be robbed again when they reach the pick-up points designated by the robbers.
"I appeal toour countrymen to remain vigilant in order to avoid being victimized by these people. Do not flaunt your cellular phones when in public places and avoid buying your cellular phones from dubious sources," Legarda disclosed.///camille p. balagtas
STORY NO. 2
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Camille P. Balagtas
People's TONIGHT
August 13, 2002
DRILON WARNS PEACE PANEL ON CPP-NDF TRAP
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Be careful with your peace offering to the communists lest the President be exposed to impeachment.
This was the advice of Senate President Franklin M. Drilon to Presidential Adviser on Special Concerns Norberto Gonzales, who had asked the communist rebels what they wanted in exchange for a negotiated peace agreement.
"I would like to caution Mr. Gonzales against acceding to any demand from the communist rebels that can be interpreted as giving them a status of belligerency. The government can never allow to recognize the CPP-NDF as a parallel government," said Drilon.
Giving the CPP-NDF a status of belligerency means the government is recognizing the communist organization's existence as a legitimate government, he said.
According to Drilon, if Gonzales, Malacanang's back channel negotiator, falls prey to this trap, President Macapagal-Arroyo might be open to impeachment charges because the government would be surrendering its sovereignty.
The Senate chief said the biggest stumbling block to the long-running peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines is the rebels' desire to be granted a status of belligerency.
"I hope Mr. Gonzales's peace offering is not an open-ended invitation to bigger trouble for the government."
Drilon recalled that when he was a member of the government peace panel in 1995, then chaired Ambassador Howard Dee, the communist panel was already demanding a status of belligerency.
He said the government panel had consistently rejected the demand because it would dilute Philippine sovereignty.
Drilon said Gonzales should be doubly careful this time because of a recent incident involving the presidential adviser where a document he signed with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Malaysia was interpreted by some quarters as giving up government control of Camp Abubakar, the MILF's erstwhile headquarters.///camille p. balagtas