14 guards in Baguio City face charges after illegally occupying DA property

Baguio City, Philippines – Cases for trespassing and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition were filed against the 14 security guards of a Manila-based agency that illegally occupied a property owned by the regional Department of Agriculture on Friday, October 07, 2022.

The guards were arrested through a joint police operation following the complaint of the officer-in-charge of the Baguio Animal Breeding and Research Center (BABRC) Robert Lomadeo Domoguen.

Investigation of authorities states the complainant alleged that the guards forcibly entered the government property on Tuesday, October 04, by passing through a concrete fence owned by Isla Land Developers Inc. in Phase 5, Green Valley Village, near the Baguio Dairy Farm.

The guards then forcibly occupied the cottage of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) inside the BABRC by breaking the padlock.

They claimed they were hired by a certain Andrew Bandoc Directo, 38, of Bakakeng Central to guard the area for him to get his parcel of land covered under a Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT).

However, the DA-Cordillera affirmed that the agency owns the disputed land and a litigation concerning the area is still in court.

On October 06, a copy of the termination of contract between the guards and their client was issued to them, but they remained on said property.

On October 07, Domoguen reported to Station 10 of the Baguio City Police Office that the guards are still in the area, resulting in their arrest.

All those arrested are working at the 8 Dragons Elite Security Agency, based in Quezon City.

The security guards were identified as John Joward Martinez Guevarra, 41; Jaime Chicote Milagrosa Jr., 49; Reynaldo Permijo Ramiro, 50; Antonio Luna Banadera, 32; Percival Borja Laguisan Jr., 35; Jovannie Subido Fernandez, 29; George Acosta Molina, 43; Dennis Valencia Cayabyab, 23; Donato Cancing Domingo, 37; Wilfredo Gutierrez Alcaraz Jr., 42; Dante Estoeso Balino, 48; Joselito Jacala Estrada, 40; Raffy Opena Manalastas, 40, and Estrada Melchor Avenigno, 27.

They are expected to post bail on October 10.

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