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Samar employees Monday
to protest non-release of 2009 P25,000 bonus by Gov. Mila Tan; Redaja
no. 1 in poll survey for governor
By CHITO DELA TORRE
February
7, 2010
CATBALOGAN CITY –
The Samar provincial alliance of employees will be staging a rally on
February 8, Monday, in front of the Capitol here to protest the
failure of governor Milagrosa Tee Tan to release the P25,000 yearend
bonuses that were due the provincial government employees in year
2009.
Among the protesters
expected to join are those working at the provincial hospital. It was
learned that during the incumbency of OIC-Gov. Jesus B. Redaja, all
the employees received their bonuses, including the Christmas gift
money. Redaja, vice-governor, acted as governor during the 90-day
suspension of Mila Tan which was ordered by the Sandiganbayan.
Some leaders of the
Confederation for the Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government
Employees (COURAGE) are bruited about to extend moral support to the
rallyists, including a representative of COURAGE Party List chapter in
Basey, Samar.
Polls Survey Results
In another
development, Tan, who is running for representative of the Second
District of Samar, placed fourth with only 25 votes (9 percent) of the
total of 291 votes cast as of
February 5, 2010 in a continuing survey being conducted by Samar News.
 Catalino Figueroa, who
lost to Tan’s daughter Sharee Ann in the 2007 congressional race,
obtained 83 “votes” (29%), the highest. Van Torrevillas of Catbalogan
had 44 “votes” (15%) to his credit to place second, while Basey mayor
Wilfredo Estorninos took the third place with 38 “votes” (13%). Alvin
Abejuela and Urbano Alli got only14 and 13 votes, respectively. Of
the 291 “voters” participating in the survey, 74 (25%) remained
undecided.
In the gubernatorial
race, Redaja far leads 5 other hopefuls with 163 “votes” (53%).
Sharee Ann, outgoing congresswoman of the 2nd District, got only
one-fifth (31 “votes” or 11%) of Redaja’s total. Casilda Lim on is on
third place with 37 “votes” (13%), Pedro Labid on fourth with 20 (7%),
Darwin Tan on fifth with a pitiable showing of 2 (1%) and Pilar Bolok
on miserable sixth (0%). Of the 291 “votes” polled, 37 (13%) were
“undecided”.
For the
vice-governor’s choice, Joseph Grey has 95 “votes” (33%), followed by
Rosenaida Rosales with 72 (25%) and tail-ender Stephen James Tan with
23 (8%), also of the same number of survey participants.
In the First District,
Mario Roño and Mel Senen Sarmiento tied with 56 “votes” (19%) each in
the congressional poll. Rodolfo Tuazon got 34 (12%), while Alex
Tuazon and Rodrigo Tuazon had only 2 (1%) each.
Samarnons who want to
participate in the website’s 2010 Philippine Elections Samar
Candidates Poll Survey may log in at
http://2010.philippine-elections.com/samar_survey.html.
1 NPA killed in clash
as Satur visits DavOr, troops recover high powered firearms
Press Release
By DPAO, 10th Infantry Division, PA
February 7, 2010
CAMP APOLINARIO,
Panacan, Davao City – A New People’s Army (NPA) terrorist was killed
in a clash with soldiers in the village of New Visayas in Lupon town
in Davao Oriental province 7:00 AM Saturday as Bayan Muna
representative and senatorial bet Satur Ocampo visited the province.
Operating troops of
the army’s 28th Infantry Battalion responded to information of
residents regarding the presence of armed men in their place which
resulted to an early morning gunbattle. Residents said they were
alarmed by the consolidation of NPA since two days ago and recalled
that this only happens during plenums or when high ranking NPA or a
leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) comes in their
place.
As of press time, army
troops recovered two M16 rifles and one shotgun while the unidentified
cadaver which was left behind by his comrades was brought to the town
proper by soldiers for identification and for proper burial so that
his relatives can accord him their last respect.
Maj. Gen. Carlos
Holganza, commander of the army’s 10th Infantry Division lauded the
concern of local residents in the peace efforts as he expressed grief
on the death of the still unidentified red fighter. “We are moved by
the show of support and concern of our citizens in Davao oriental in
curbing criminality and terrorism in their place. While we are on a
positive note, we grieve over the death of another Filipino who was
lured, deceived and exploited by the CPP-NPA-NDF into joining an
organization known for its notoriety in killing innocent people and
sabotaging our economy with their big time extortion activity.”
Holganza said.
The clash between army
soldiers and NPA terrorists happened barely a day ago as Satur Ocampo,
a former high ranking member of the CPP visited the towns of
Banaybanay, Lupon and Mati City all in Davao Oriental province.
DILG-8 has a new
leadership as Dir. Paler retires
By MYLES JOSEPH E. COLASITO
February
6, 2010
TACLOBAN CITY – The
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 8 now
has a new Regional Director as Dir. William C. Paler bid goodbye to 41
years of government service as he turned over the banner and symbolic
key of the office to OIC-RD Francisco C. Jose last Thursday, February
4, 2010.
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RD
William Paler (left) turns the symbolic key to DILG-8 OIC-RD
Francisco Jose. |
The simple turnover
ceremony at the DILG-08 regional office was witnessed by DILG
provincial directors, City Local Government Operations Officers and
office staff. Dir. Paler and his wife, Virgencita who was an honored
guest, thanked the officers and personnel of DILG-8 for their support
in the 11 years RD Paler served in Eastern Visayas.
Dir. Jose meanwhile
expressed his gratitude to DILG-8 personnel for their warm welcome
even as he promised to continue and build upon the programs and
accomplishments of Dir. Paler.
Being a stalwart of
the department, Director Jose, of DILG-12 (Koronadal City), brings
with him a wealth of experience, having served the agency in various
capacities in several regions. RD Jose entered the then-Department
of Local Government and Community Development (DLGCD) in 1974 as a
Barangay Development Worker (BDW) in Davao del Sur, and rose to the
position of Director
III while serving in Regions 9, 10, 11, and 12. He is active in
civic and community groups, being the chairman of the board of
directors of Bansalan Cooperative Society in Bansalan, Davao del Sur,
as well as past president of the Rotary Club of Bansalan.
Dir. Paler, who first
came to the region as Assistant Director in 1998 before being named
Regional Director in 2002, will leave a legacy of decisive leadership,
strengthening institutional partnerships, upholding performance in the
agency’s targets, stressing merit and fitness in promotions and
recruitment, while giving weight to employee welfare and concerns.
Under Dir. Paler’s
term, several barangays in Eastern Visayas won in the national search
for Outstanding Lupong Tagapamayapa in the national level; the Search
for Most Outstanding Sangguniang Bayan, a program held in coordination
with the Philippine Councilors League, was adopted into a nationwide
Local Legislative Award. After the regional office was razed by a
fire in 2004, he spearheaded the rebuilding of a new office using
minimal funds from the regional budget as well as from the Central
Office.
Like Dir. Jose, Dir.
Paler started as a BDW at the Presidential Assistant in Community
Development (PACD) in 1968 and held various positions, both technical
and administrative, to rise from the ranks and become one of the most
respected DILG regional directors in the country. As a measure of the
trust put in him by his superiors, Dir. Paler’s term was extended
twice from August 8, 2009 to February 8, 2010.
A primary focus of the
department this year will be the training of the officials that will
be elected in the May elections, as well as the other capacity
development services for local government units.
Two new birthing
centers opened in Sta. Fe, Palo towns
By
Provincial
Media Relations Center
February 6, 2010
TACLOBAN CITY – The
provincial government of
Leyte opened anew two birthing centers in a bid to provide quality
and affordable maternal health care services to various residents.
The newly opened
birthing centers are located in Brgy. Milagrosa in Sta. Fe and Palo,
Leyte that would provide more quality health services and pre-natal
support to local residents and neighboring areas.
According to Leyte
Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla who recently led the inauguration of
the two birthing centers is the province’s answer to the nationwide
campaign to reduce child mortality and maternal deaths.
In the Philippines, it
was learned, thousands of mothers die during or after child birth due
to poor health practices. In the region, infant mortality rate is at
36 per 1,000 live births and maternal mortality rate is at 231 per
100,000 live births.
Meanwhile, the main
reason for the high rate of home-based delivery is lack of birthing
facility in the health center in the municipality. Many people cannot
afford travel expenses to the Regional medical center or the
Provincial Hospital which is the closest birthing facility for people,
as well as the expenses for delivery in the hospital.
“Part of the purpose
in having birthing centers is to decongest our hospitals in the city.
With the new facility birthing mothers can have easy access to the
center,” Gov. Petilla said.
As earlier reported,
the Philippine Government through the Department of Health has
promoted delivery in hospitals or health centers with well-equipped
birthing facilities in order to lower infant and maternal mortality
rate.
Pregnant women cannot
avoid various risks when they deliver in their homes. Without proper
medical kits and professional doctors and nurses, women are not
assured of safe delivery especially in case complication or emergency.
“Through this birthing
centers, we can augment the health services provided to our people,”
Gov Petilla added.
On the other hand, the
birthing facilities is complemented with Philhealth cards given by the
provincial government of Leyte to indigent families.
Gov. Petilla also
distributed Philhealth cards recently to enrolled indigent families in
Sta. Fe and Palo towns.
The enrolment of
indigent families is being made possible through the sponsored health
insurance coverage of PhilHealth where local government units can
sponsor coverage for identified and verified indigent beneficiaries.
With the PhilHealth ID
card, the enrolled families may avail themselves of the regular
hospitalization benefit package provided by PhilHealth in any of its
accredited hospitals and other institutional health care providers
nationwide.
Close to two thousand
Paranas families avail of 4Ps
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE
February
5, 2010
CATBALOGAN CITY – As
the month of February opens, close to two thousand families from Paranas town collected their cash subsidy from the program Pantawid
Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) at the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP)
Catbalogan city branch.
On Thursday, the last
batch of beneficiaries swelled at the Catbalogan thoroughfares for
their purchases of vitamins, school supplies and food items.
Crowd at the leading
supermarkets and grocery stores like Lester Lace, Vida Maris and other
popular stores swelled to an unusual high, said an employee of nearby
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
Some 1,878 families
from Paranas town have been given their cash subsidy for the last two
quarters of 2009.
Gloria Pabua, 37, from
Zone 6 of Paranas poblacion was given a hefty sum of ten thosand pesos
for her two high school students, two elementary pupils and three day
care toddlers.
“We are just farmers
and could barely support our eight children, but we labor hard to send
all of them to school,” Gloria narrated in the local dialect as she
was spotted by PIA nursing her youngest baby boy in the crowded Imelda
Park.
They were surprised
that their barangay chairman informed them that they have qualified
for the program of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
While Gloria had many
kids, Victoria Nacario of Barangay Pabanog has only two kids but
because of the low income she and husband have from upland farming, it
seemed next to impossible to send her two kids to school. Vicky
clucthed in her hand the meager share she has from the 4Ps‘ “this is
good enough for my two kids’ school needs, ” Vicky said in an
interview.
The program, strictly
enforces a set of conditions designed in a way as to increase the
chances of attaining the goal of poverty reduction.
Compliance to these
conditions, said DSWD is regularly monitored and to remain in the
program entails compliance.
Gloria and Vicky vowed
to obey the rules, yet Gloria added, “This does not mean that we only
wait for the cash subsidy, with or without this, we will still send
our children to school, because it is our obligation.”
(PIA-Samar)
Farmer slain by
terrorist NPA
Press Release
By DPAO, 8th Infantry Division, PA
February
3, 2010
CAMP LUKBAN,
Catbalogan City – An innocent farmer was slain by the members of the
notorious New People’s Army (NPA) at Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Matuguinao,
Samar 1:00
p.m. on Monday, February 2.
Arman Diaz of legal
age, married and a resident of the Brgy. Madoroto of said town was
shot dead by five unidentified members of NPA using assorted high
powered fire arms while he was in his farm place. Victim suffered
gunshot wounds all over his body that caused his instantaneous death.
Based on the reports
of the Army’s 34th Infantry Battalion, the victim was mercilessly
slain in front of his children and wife. After the killing, the dead
body of Diaz was allegedly dragged and emplaced at the center of
barangay plaza to exhibit with the populace. The residents disclosed
that the victim is known for being hushed and hard-working in
upbringing his family and remember nothing to pay with the underground
movement.
The people of
Matuguinao particularly the victim’s family are calling to the human
rights groups especially to the Katungod-Sinirangang Bisayas to give
due attention to the barbaric, un-Godly and violent killing
perpetrated by the terrorists. They also call on to the Katungod-SB
to conduct investigation to give justice to the victim.
“Election Day is fast
approaching. This is perhaps one of their means to sow terror to the
masses in order to create chaos and destruct the rights of the people
to vote and choose a candidate of their choice”, as exposed by Roberto
Gacuma alias Ka Huling in his most interviews. Ka Huling is a former
top rank NPA official of Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC)
that was captured by the government forces sometime in 2007.
Meanwhile, police
authorities in Matuguinao is now conducting necessary investigation to
give justice to the victim. The 34th Infantry Battalion
under Lt. Col. Jose Gongona immediately conducts pursuit and security
operations in the area to go after the perpetrators.
Major General Arthur
Tabaquero, Commander of the 8th Infantry Division said,
“this is a clear manifestation that the terrorist NPA are the number
one violator of human rights. This is also the reason why the
development in the province is at stake.”
Enrile: Villar
violated the Constitution
Press Release
By Office of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile
February 2, 2010
PASAY CITY – Sen.
Manny Villar violated the Philippine Constitution for using his
position to benefit his real estate companies from a multi-billion
road extension project undertaken by the government, according to
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.
Enrile told the Senate
in his sponsorship speech on Committee Report No. 780 that the
investigation by the Committee of the Whole into the controversial C-5
project showed that there was substantial credible evidence of
unethical conduct against Villar.
“As it happened,
Senator Villar used that power to satisfy the interest of his
corporations, and himself and his family. He did not therefore only
violate the conflict of interest rule… Senator Villar also violated
the Constitution because he became directly and indirectly interested
financially in contracts between his corporations and the DPWH, a
government entity,” Enrile said. “We are not supposed to be
financially interested in any contract or any franchise from the
government.”
Since May 2009, Enrile
said the committee had conducted 12 adjudicatory hearings to tackle
the unethical case filed by Sen. Jamby Madrigal, who presented 900
pieces of documentary evidence and at least five witnesses to prove
the improper conduct of Villar.
Not once did Villar
participate in any of the proceedings to dispute the charges, present
counter-evidence or cross-examine the witnesses despite the
opportunities accorded to him, Enrile said, adding that even Villar’s
allies in the Senate chose not to take part in the committee hearings.
“The Committee has
concluded that for the benefit of the corporations of Senator Villar
and he himself and his family, Senator Villar made the Filipino people
suffer the total amount of P6,226,070,427.00,” Enrile said. He
confirmed though that there was no double insertion in the budget as
alleged against Villar.
Based on computation
prepared by the committee, the total cost of the realigned C-5
Extension Road Project as sponsored, proposed and pushed by Villar
ballooned to almost P7 billion as opposed to the original government
plan of P2.5 billion.
“To the aforesaid
amounts of P4,284,970,000.00 and P1,800,000,000.00 or a total of P6
billion – this is the amount that we suggested to be restituted
P6,084,970,000 – the Committee also found and should add to this
P141,100,427.00, representing the overprice done on the properties of
Senator Villar which went into the pocket of Senator Villar and his
family through his corporations to acquire the roads rights-of-way for
the C-5 Extension Project of the DPWH,” Enrile told senators.
Enrile also
underscored the failure of Villar to divest his interests in his real
estate businesses and declare financial interests while pushing for
the massive road expansion project when he was a member of the House
of Representatives, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance and
Senate president – a violation of the Constitution.
“The fact the he (Villar)
continued, I repeat, continued to fund the said project when he was
already a Senator, when he was already a Chairman of the Committee on
Finance, when he was already the Senate President, and yet did not
disclose, not an iota of information, not a wisp of any information,
not even a whisper of his pecuniary interest as so required by the
Constitution, constitutes in a rational mind, not to an irrational
mind, an improper conduct, to say the least,” Enrile said.
Villar owns 52 percent
of Adelfa Corporation, and Rep. Cynthia Villar, his wife, holds 48
percent. The family-owned Adelfa Properties is the holding company of
all the corporations down below, including Golden Haven Memorial Park,
Inc. and Azalea Real Estate Corporation (now known as Brittany
Corporation), which are all involved to the C-5 controversy.
He explained that
Villar could not claim innocence about the issue of overpricing since
Engr. Anastacio Adriano Jr., former senior vice president and general
manager of Adelfa Properties, testified as a hostile witness at a
Senate hearing that he “negotiated all of these for Senator Villar.”
“As I said, it is fair
and safe to assume that Senator Villar knew or ought to have known
about the said overpricing as his corporations stood to gain from such
transactions with the government and considering the closeness of
Senator Villar to Engr. Adriano, who was directly involved in the
transactions, in the negotiations, in the tawaran, and in the lagayan,”
Enrile said.
The report recommended
that Villar be censured for his improper conduct and be asked to
return to the public coffers the money that his companies profited
from the road-right-of-way sale.
“If indeed he (Villar)
is a public servant and he wants to serve his people, donate that
piece of land to the people; do not collect an overpriced land for
heaven’s sake. That will be paid for by the people,” Enrile said.
One terrorist killed,
one soldier wounded in a clash
By DPAO, 8th Infantry Division PA
February 1, 2010
CAMP LUKBAN,
Catbalogan City – A terrorist NPA was killed and two others were
wounded following an encounter transpired between the members of the
Army’s 20th Infantry Battalion and the terrorist group after
responding to the civilian tip that some armed rebels are collecting
foodstuff and extorting money to the local folks of barangay Santander,
Bobon, Northern Samar Friday morning.
The encounter
transpired at around 10 in the morning when the troops of Lt.
Florencio Tayo responded to the tips of the civilians.
Meanwhile, an M16
rifle, two handheld radios at various subversive documents were left
and recovered by the pursuing troops in the area of encounter after
about 10 minutes of firefight.
Initial information
reveals that upon approaching of the troops under Lt. Tayo the said
terrorist group immediately fired upon unto them the initiated the
firefight between the groups.
One soldier was
slightly wounded, Sgt Floro Lozano who was immediately air-evacuated
and now in a stable condition at Camp Lukban Station Hospital.
It is also believed
that more wounded rebels were dragged by their comrades towards their
secured places as evident in their route of withdrawals. This was
confirmed by some of the local folks who personally saw some
withdrawing rebels.
This incident is
another proof that our localities can no longer stand with the
terrorist’s different modes of sourcing out support in order to
sustain their existence. With this, the 20IB thru their commander,
Lt. Col. Jose Narciso continued their pursuit operations in order to
track down with the fleeing rebels and let them face charges against
the law.
Caring for Wetlands,
an answer to Climate Change
By PURIFICACION S. DALOOS
February 1, 2010
TACLOBAN CITY –
Wetlands once again take center stage as the global community
celebrates World Wetlands Day on February 2.
Anchored on the
international theme for World Wetlands Day 2010 "Wetlands,
Biodiversity, and Climate Change," its focus is on Caring for our
wetlands – an answer to climate change. This year’s celebration also
takes cognizance of the United Nations’ declaration making 2010 as the
International Year of Biodiversity. It recognizes the likely impact of
climate change on wetland ecosystems, and the role of wetlands in
climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Wetlands are areas of
land where water covers the soil – all year or just at certain times
of the year. They include swamps, marshes, lakes, lagoons, salt
marshes, mudflats, mangroves, coral reefs, fens, and peatlands.
Wetlands are an important natural resource of the environment as they
provide habitat and breeding grounds for fishes and other marine life,
among others.
Regional Executive
Director Primitivo C. Galinato Jr. stressed that to celebrate WWD
2010, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in region 8
spearheads several activities through the Protected Areas, Wildlife
and Coastal Zone Management Service. It shall conduct information,
education, communication campaigns to increase public awareness on the
importance of wetlands and how climate change may impact wetland
ecosystems.
PAWCZMS Regional
Technical Director Ricardo T. Tomol informed that Dalaw Turo
activities shall be conducted in schools and communities at identified
wetland areas Wetland visit and monitoring of migratory birds in
Canigao Island, Matalom, Leyte shall also form part of the activities
lined up for the celebration.
The tri-media shall
also be tapped to help convey the message of World Wetlands Day to the
public. A lecture series on Wetlands and Biodiversity shall be
sponsored for DENR employees as well as the academe. This will run
from February 8-28 at the DENR regional office.
RED Galinato invites
the public to visit the DENR regional office where an exhibit on the
World Wetlands Day celebration has been set up.
World Wetlands Day
is celebrated internationally each year marks the anniversary of the
signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar
Convention) in Ramsar, Iran, on 2 February 1971.
Establishment of
checkpoints in 803rd Brigade area in connection with the 2010 National
and Local Elections
By Maj. MELECIO Y. CASTILLO, 803rd IB, 8ID PA
January 30,
2010
CATARMAN, Northern
Samar – In compliance to Resolution Number 8729 “Guidelines on the
establishment of Comelec checkpoints in connection with the May 10,
2010 National and Local Elections” of the Commission on Election dated
December 29, 2010, joint checkpoints in coordination with Northern Samar
Provincial Election Officer and Police Provincial Office and the 803rd
Infantry Brigade conducted checkpoints in pre designated areas.
The 803rd Infantry
Brigade operating in the whole Northern Samar and his operational
controlled units provide personnel to Provincial Joint Security
Coordinating Council and the Municipal Joint Security Coordinating
Desk in the implementation of Resolution 8737. Troops coming from the
battalions were augmented to checkpoints in pre designated areas on
the time so desired by the Comelec.
Commanders of
controlled units was instructed by Colonel Arnolfo Atendido, commander
803rd Brigade to make sure and see to it that all personnel who were
tasks to manned checkpoints were properly brief of the following
duties and responsibilities.
A. Officer led (PNP/AFP)
B. Complete uniform
with name cloth
C. Not under the
influence of liquor/drug
D. Any violator of
this shall make the offender and commanding officer jointly liable for
administrative/criminal action.
Colonel Atendido added
also while some of his men were committed for election duties
downstairs, their internal security operations upstairs will not be
affected. They will be focusing neutralization of personalities and
capturing/surrender of firearms this time.
Banker affirms
Catbalogan as a trading hub in Samar province
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE
January
27, 2010
CATBALOGAN CITY –
The manager of Allied Bank in Catbalogan, Samar’s capital affirmed
the pronouncement of Catbalogan Mayor Coefredo ‘Tekwa’ Uy that
Catbalogan is a trading and cyber space hub in the province.
It will be recalled
that during the first charter day celebration of Catbalogan,
collateral materials drumbeat ‘Catbalogan as the trading and cyber
hub’.
Allied Bank Manager
Wilfred Abobo told PIA that with the presence of nine banks alone is a
proof that business is brisk in this part of
Samar.
He added that daily
transactions in his bank alone amounts to an average of P10 M a day.
“But we need
cooperation from the business sector, if we are united, we can move
forward and invite investors to give our business the needed boost ,”
the young manager told PIA in an interview.
The manager also added
that insurgency has somehow declined significantly, making business
here more profitable and more secure.
As Vice President of
the newly reorganized Samar Chamber of Commerce Incorporated (SCCI)
the manager encourages other businessmen to join the group for a
stronger and more solid team that will pave the way to the development
of the area.
Dr Stephen Kunz, a
German national acknowledges the potential of
Samar in the
aqua-marine trade, food processing and entrepreneurship.
(PIA-Samar)
Fear still grips
Ampatuan as hundreds of families remain in evacuation centers
Press Release
By KALINAW
MINDANAO
January 26, 2010
DAVAO CITY – Kalinaw
Mindanao presented to the public today its report which revealed that
hundreds of evacuees are still unable to return to their homes due to
the climate of fear that persists in Ampatuan, Maguindanao, two months
after the massacre.
Kalinaw Mindanao, an
alliance composed of human rights groups, lawyers groups, and Moro and
church-based organizations, conducted a National Interfaith Mission
for Peace and Justice in Maguindanao from January 22 to 26.
According to the
findings of the Mission, around 500 families living near the massacre
site in Brgy. Salman are forced to live in deplorable conditions in
evacuation centers due to the continued presence of the Ampatuan
clan’s private armies and the government military forces in the area.
The evacuees live in cramped makeshift tents, rely on dole-outs, and
receive no medical attention even though children are getting sick
from the lack of food and sanitation.
“These evacuees are
the hidden victims of human rights violations caused by the warlordism
of the Ampatuans and heavy militarization in the province,” said Bai
Ali Indayla of Kalinaw Mindanao.
The evacuees, police
and military officials all confirmed the presence of unidentified
armed men roaming in the area. There are also threats of civilian
houses being burned. Last January 12, 8 houses in Sitio Agapok, Bgy.
Salman were burned down.
Maguindanao police
director Sr. Supt. Alex Lineses also told the
Mission members that several civilians were arrested while martial
law was imposed on the province, and that these civilians remain in
detention. It is not clear whether formal charges have been brought
against them.
The Mission also
reported that majority of the evacuees are eyewitnesses to the
massacre, but are too afraid to come forward. It was also established
that there was the presence of about 400 elements of the Philippine
National Police in the Ampatuan municipal hall, only about one
kilometer from the entrance to the massacre site from the national
highway. “The massacre could have been prevented had the authorities
only performed their duty,” the report stated.
Kalinaw Mindanao
convener and Karapatan secretary general Lovella de Castro said that
the plight of the civilians, who are also victims of the Ampatuan
massacre, should be addressed. “They will not live normal and peaceful
lives unless the Ampatuans are swiftly brought to justice, its private
armies completely dismantled, and all police and military authorities
made to answer for their complicity in the crime,” de Castro stated.
De Castro also added
that the Ampatuan massacre has brought the number of extrajudicial
killings under the Arroyo government to 1,188, of which none of the
perpetrators have been punished.
“We will continue to
demand the accountability of Gloria Arroyo for the Ampatuan massacre
and other human rights violations, even after the elections. We cannot
move forward as a nation, unless Arroyo and the Ampatuans are
punished. Unless this happens, expect that the climate of fear and
culture of impunity in Maguindanao and elsewhere in the country will
continue,” she concluded.
Farmers in Eastern
Visayas cry for land and justice in 23rd anniversary of Mendiola
massacre!
By SAGUPA-SB
January
24, 2010
TACLOBAN CITY – How
many Presidents will be seated before the 13 farmers who died at Mendiola get true justice? This is the big question of peasants sector
in Eastern Visayas in commemorating the 23rd Anniversary of Mendiola
Massacre on January 22, 2010.
“Land for the Farmers!
This is the long time aspiration of the peasant since the Spanish,
American and Japanese colonialism and even today, fake freedom for
land, justice and oppression is represented and implemented by no
other than our own government and the big reason why the farmers has
nothing land to till” express Jose Tico, Spokesperson, SAGUPA-SB.
In commemorating the
23rd Mendiola Massacre Anniversary, the government proves that they
are not serious in solving the real problem of Filipino farmers and
its development and progress. The peasant sector is hungry for a long
time for land and seeks for the implementation of genuine agrarian
reform especially in distributing the land to farmers for free.
“In contrast,
landgrabbing was rampant and at present, fighting for land and justice
has taken away 561 farmers lives which is perpetrated by armed forces
of the Arroyo regime” added Tico.
One big example in
region-8 was the case in
Leyte Saba Basin
area in which the DAR-8 has given the task to distribute the 90,000
hectares of land but instead was given to rich and influential
landlord like Atty. Ching Veloso.
If we can remember,
the march-rally conducted by the farmers in Mendiola last 1987 was
initiated because of land reform negligence of the past Marcos
dictatorship and until now the Lakbayan for land and justice that
started in the far south of Mindanao and North of Luzon is a
courageous act for the Arroyo regime to pay.
One rebel slain in
encounter
By Office of the Division Public Affairs, 8ID
January
17, 2010
CAMP LUKBAN,
Catbalogan City – One NPA bandit was killed and two were wounded
while a government trooper was slightly injured in an encounter in a
remote village in Oras, Eastern Samar Wednesday at around 7:00 O’clock
in the morning.
|
The
unidentified body of an NPA member killed during the encounter. |
Lt. Colonel Armand
Rico, Chief DPAO, 8th Infantry Division, based in Catbalogan City,
said that the wounded soldier, identified as Pfc Ramon Estico, is now
in stable condition and recuperating.
The said encounter,
the first in the area for this year, took place in sitio Tugop,
Barangay Rizal, some 26 kms away from the town proper.
Lt. Col. Rico said
that one of the 10 rebels belonging to SECOM, North East, Eastern
Samar Provincial Party Committee, Eastern Visayas Regional Party
Committee was killed while two others sustained injuries during the 30
minutes firefight that also resulted in the government troops from the
14th Infantry Battalion led by Lt. Antonio Dayag recovering one M16
rifle bearing serial number 135108, one rifle grenade, two back packs,
one bandoler, three with full of ammunition, medical kit, one
detonating cord with blasting cap, and personal belongings.
“The wounded rebels
were dragged by their escaping comrades”, the information officer of
the 8th ID said.
“Our soldiers, under
Lt. Antonio Dayag, were in the area as part of their community work”,
Rico said.
Major General Arthur
Tabaquero, commanding general of the division, immediately directed
for the troops of the 14th IB, under Lt. Col. Jaime Hidalgo, to hunt
down the rebels and intensify security operations in the area.
Largest Gathering of
Independent Muslim Religious Leaders Set to Kick-off in Davao
By Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy
January
13, 2010
The largest gathering
of independent ulama, Muslim religious leaders, will be held on
January 25-29, 2010 at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao City, for
the 3rd National Ulama Summit and Regional Conference of Aleemat, or
women Islamic scholars. Organized by the Philippine Council for Islam
and Democracy (PCID) for the National Ulama Conference of the
Philippines (NUCP), the gathering will be attended by around 500
independent ulama and aleemat representing over 200 ulama led
organizations, an unprecedented assembly of Muslim religious leaders
rarely seen in the country.
The NUCP is a broad
aggrupation that includes the majority of all independent ulama
organization and federations throughout the country. Its members
include some of the most respected Muslim religious leaders and
imminent Islamic scholars coming from the five Muslim provinces and
the various Muslim communities throughout the nation. According to
Amina Rasul, PCID lead convenor, “In today’s world, society demands a
wider and more participative role of the ulama that they get involved
directly in the transformation or reformation process.”
Dr. Aboulkhair Tarason,
an imminent religious leader and NUCP interim chairman said that the
summit is a culmination of the NUCP’s organizational evolution into a
national network of independent ulama leaders and organizations. The
NUCP interim vice chairman, Dr. Hamid Barra, a respected Islamic
scholar said that the ulama has a traditional and religious ascendant
role of continuing to be the moral beacon for the Muslim faithful.
Muslim Mindanao has been in the media eye following the Maguindanao
massacre and the spate of kidnappings attributed to the Abu Sayyaf
Group in Basilan and Sulu and still reels from a decades-old
secessionist conflict between the Moro National Liberation Front, the
Moro Islamic Liberation Front and government troops. The conflict has
displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians and has killed thousands
since it started in the 70s.
However, despite
numbering in the thousands, the aleem, singular for ulama, has never
really been organized into a religious collective similar to the
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), or at least
into a national network. Although some ulama are enlisted in
peace-building efforts these are mostly through government-sponsored
peace initiatives. Trailblazing where others have failed, the NUCP
nears the goal of organizing a truly national network of independent
ulama and aleemat organizations.
The five-day summit is
a culmination of a series of summits and regional forums the NUCP has
conducted last year. The interim NUCP board will likewise elect its
regular members during the summit.
The event is
supported by the British and Dutch embassies, The Asia Foundation and
the Japan Foundation.
Catbalogan police
doubles up effort as election period starts
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE
January
12, 2010
CATBALOGAN CITY – Catbalogan
City police doubles up efforts in maintaining peace and order in
Samar’s capital city as election period started
Sunday, January 10,
2010.
 In an interview with
Catbalogan City police Chief Superintendent Joseph N. Pensotes, he
said that they have established two checkpoints on Sunday, in Barangay
Silanga and Barangay Socorro.
He also added that
they have operations like Operation Kapkap on Sunday night though it
yielded only bladed weapons.
Operation Kapkap,
Pensotes said will be done in areas where the
PNP thinks is necessary.
Further, his men said
Pensotes,”are ready and on call for 24 hours.”
As to the checkpoints,
Pensotes maintained that no bodily search will be done, it shall be
that the police will be on the look-out for dubious personalities in
plain view.
“The city of
Catbalogan is not listed as an area of concern, but just the same, my
men are on alert and ready for any eventuality,” said the chief who
replaced Supt. Ramil Ramirez not so long ago yet.
Presently, Catbalogan
projects a peaceful and orderly city albeit with the usual drunkenness
and petty crimes perpetrated by minors that are readily resolved in
time.
Pensotes urged his
‘kababayans’ not to indulge in heated discussions as to the merits of
their candidates but to remain calm in political discussions.
Finally, the chief of
police of the capital city of
Samar assured the city populace of the commitment of his men
to maintain peace and order this election period and even beyond their
call of duty. (PIA-Samar)
Close to P10M infra
projects fund support given to 3 Leyte towns,
villages
By
Provincial
Media Relations Center
January 11, 2010
TACLOBAN CITY –
Close to P10 million in financial assistance was recently downloaded
by the provincial government of
Leyte to speed up various infrastructure development projects in
three towns and several villages.
The financial
assistance went to the towns of Burauen, Alangalang and Sta. Fe while
the rest were to a number of villages of Burauen and Pastrana in
Leyte’s second district.
The ongoing New Public
Market rehabilitation in Burauen town was given P3 million in
financial assistance as counterpart fund of this multi-million
infrastructure, a priority project of incumbent Mayor Fe Renomeron.
According to the lady
mayor rehabilitation of their public market will expand the town
public market, making it more presentable and provide more spaces for
additional occupants.
Rehab of the town
market is also seen to complement the completion of the
Burauen-Albuera road that would connect Leyte’s second biggest town to
Ormoc City in the western side of the province. If the road would
finally be open to traffic and transportation, more business and
economic is seen to ensue in Burauen town.
Sta. Fe’s
farm-to-market road project under the Infrastructure for Rural
Productivity Enhancement Sector (InFRES) program of the Department of
Agriculture was also given P2 million financial support from the
provincial government of Leyte.
InFRES project was
intended to remove constraints to agricultural productivity by
investing in rural infrastructure in regions with high poverty
incidence and high agricultural potential. Its immediate objectives
are to remove the constraints to the improvement of agricultural
productivity caused by the lack or inadequacy of rural infrastructure,
and to reduce rural poverty by increasing agricultural productivity
and profitability.
For Alangalang town,
Mayor Loreto Yu recently received the amount of P1.5 million financial
support from the province for a farm to market road project in Brgy.
Veteranos.
Mayor Yu said, the
attendant objective to this farm to market road project rural
infrastructures is to increase agricultural productivity and help
decrease poverty incidence in the identified area.
In the recent
Icot-Icot ha Barangay made by Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla in
Pastrana, Leyte – his first barangay visits this 2010, the governor
released at least P1.5 million in financial assistance to 14 villages
in Pastrana.
The fund support are
for various infrastructure projects that include multi-purpose halls,
barangay road concreting, day care center, basketball courts, drainage
system, concrete fencing and basketball courts. The said projects are
all structures seen to bolster the various barangay facilities.
In the same visit, the
governor also downloaded financial assistance amounting to P2.4
million to 28 barangays in Burauen, Leyte.
With a total of 77
barangays, the governor advised the rest of the Burauen barangays to
await their respective funding during the year with the province’s
budget being allocated accordingly for the numerous resolutions asking
for the same assistance being sent by the barangays to the provincial
government.
Candidates seeking
security urged to seek permit from Joint Regional Security Control
Desk
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE
January
6, 2010
CATBALOGAN CITY –
The Philippine National Police (PNP) Samar Director Pancho Adelberto Hubilla announced in
a press conference attended by the Samar media that candidates seeking
security personnel from the
PNP or the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
should seek permission from the Joint Regional Security Control Desk (JRSCD).
|
PNP
Samar director Hubilla |
The PNP said that the
JRSCD is headed by the COMELEC Regional Director and that the PNP and
AFP are members.
Comelec Provincial
Supervisor, Atty Corazon Montallana, who was also a panellist in
Monday’s presscon confirmed Hubilla’s announcements and added some
more information as to the preparation for the incoming elections.
Montallana added that
starting January 10, said to be the start of the election period,
until June 9, 2010 total gun ban will also be imposed.
She also cited that
despite exemptions for
PNP personnel and other security providing agencies the same people should
also seek prior permission in writing.
Hubilla likewise
offered that PNP and AFP personnel carrying firearms must be in
uniform, while those that do not wear uniform like PDEA or NBI must
display their IDs conspicuously.
There are at least 30
government agencies that are authorized to bear firearms but they too
have to submit the list of their personnel authorized to bear
firearms.
Reacting to the
question as to who may seek security from among the candidates,
Hubilla informed that only mayoralty candidates and up.
He qualified though
that some candidates requesting security could be given once they have
assessed the situation surrounding the threat and are convinced of the
veracity of the claim.
During the election
period, all PNP chiefs will be under the command of the Comelec.
Campaign period for
local positions start on March 26, 2010, COMELEC said.
(PIA-Samar)
Leyte mayors meet COA
on pre-audit
By
Provincial
Media Relations Center
January 6, 2009
TACLOBAN CITY –
Local chief executives belonging to the League of Municipalities - Leyte Chapter (LMP-Leyte) had their briefing with the Commission on
Audit regarding the restoration and reinforcement of the pre-audit of
select government transactions that started towards the latter half of
2009.
The pre-audit, which
scrutinizes transactions before funds are released and recorded in the
government’s books, was discontinued in 1995. It was entrusted to
internal auditors who are employees of the agency they examine. COA
auditors were restricted to post-audit work.
According to LMP-Leyte
President Tanauan Mayor Roque Tiu, the mayors themselves through the
provincial government, had requested the
COA officers assigned to the province to enlighten them on
the pre-audit process.
“Our mayors have many
questions particularly in the payments of infrastructure projects and
salary payments of employees. These are concerns which the LGUs have
to deal with more often than other transactions, that is why we,
together with the rest of the mayors of Leyte, needed to be briefed
of,” Mayor Tiu said during the special LMP forum with COA officials.
In her presentation,
COA officer Aracelli Go explained that subject to pre-audit are cash
advances except those for payroll, intelligence funds, petty cash
funds and those given for local travel expenses of officers and
employees, first and last salary payments and terminal leave benefits
of government workers, advanced payment and the first and last
progress billings of contracts for infrastructure projects, payment
for road right of way, procurement of government assets, goods and
services, payments made through automatic debit service, release to
nongovernmental organizations and people organizations, transfer of
funds between and among government agencies, releases from trust funds
of local government units and disposal of government property.
The pre-audit, it was
learned, applies to certain transactions of select national government
agencies, local government units and government-owned and controlled
corporations. National high schools, barangays and state corporations
audited under the team approach are exempt from pre-audit.
COA Supervising
Auditor Rosabella Tan said it was restoring the practice of pre-audit
to ensure that transaction is “not illegal, irregular, excessive,
unconscionable or unnecessary”
Prior to the LMP forum
held Wednesday, several local chief executives lamented that the
pre-audit requirement can become more of a hassle than help and can be
prone to another systemic government flaw and could be a huge blow
against the government efforts to deliver quick and efficient service.
However, Leyte
Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla, who was also present during the
forum, said he is in favor of the restoration of the pre-audit to
“protect the LGUs from unforeseen liabilities in the future.”
“With the pre-audit,
mayors can be sure that their transaction followed the required
process and are deemed proper as per COA rules,” Gov. Petilla said.
Alleged failure of
military and PNP to protect civilians: an unfair statement
Press Release
By Office of the Division Public Affairs, 8ID PA
December 26, 2009
CAMP LUKBAN,
Catbalogan, Samar – Failure of military and
PNP to protect civilians as quoted from Sen. Chiz Escudero’s
statement in his interview over the
ABS-CBN News Channel
(ANC) which was published as “Top Story” in a December 4-10 issue of
Bullhorn newspaper is an unfair sweeping statement.
Said statement was
aired relative to the issue of Maguindanao massacre wherein the
Ampatuans are accused of killing almost 60 people including some of
the local media practitioners.
Bullhorn’s title
carrier, “Military and PNP failed to protect civilians” in their early
December issue is misleading and irresponsible considering that Sen.
Escudero was only referring to Maguindanao.
The AFP as always is
focused on its mandated task of protecting the lives and even the
properties of the people. As professional organization, proofs were
already been noted in its various traditional and non-traditional role
of performing its mandate.
The incident in
Maguindanao could not be blamed against the
AFP. Although it was one of the most brutal election-related
atrocities ever recorded, it was an isolated instance that should not
be compared to other areas where peace is dominated thru the
AFP. Moreover, the incident is politically-motivated.
Sen. Escudero is right
when he said, “If you are not a soldier or personnel in uniform, you
have no business carrying a gun” because no civilian must possess any
kind of firearms without proper authority. The AFP is firm to
implement such especially to terrorist-infested areas.
In Eastern Visayas and
in other areas covered by the 8th Infantry Division, the Internal
Security Operations (ISO) is properly carried out. With the intensive
collaboration of other stakeholders, numbers of illegally armed
groups/rebels are notably decreasing due to the Army’s successful
implementation of its campaign against internal threats.
Successive encounters
against the rebels and private armed groups that freed our local
settlers were successfully carried out by the Army for the past
years. This is manifested by the support spearheaded by the local
government and other peoples’ organizations who are contented with the
service of the 8ID troopers.
This resulted to the
downgrade of enemy’s guerilla fronts in
Leyte and
Samar provinces that declined the enemy’s affectation in the whole
region. Two more guerilla fronts are expected to downgrade for this
quarter.
The effective
implementation of ISO in Central Visayas should be taken into
consideration. Cebuanos and Boholanos are now experiencing the result
of having insurgent-free provinces where development is really atop.
Luzon should also be
considered since the socio-economic zone from Metropolitan Manila is
now extended up to the provinces of CALABARZON and in Bulacan due to
degradation of terrorist rebels thru the success of the
AFP’s campaign. The
AFP is generally
winning the battle against the rebellious group for the sake of the
people.
This sweeping
statement depicting the futility of the
AFP in its fight against the depressive group for the sake of
our people is no longer new. The
AFP’s name has always
been implicated in controversies in order to defame and destroy its
nobility.
Although it cannot be
denied that while the
AFP is striving to bring forth the desired liberty of our people, there are
some who are disinterested to the real aspirations of the
AFP for their personal
interest. The AFP is firm with their mandate of protecting our people
for the benefit of the majority.
Senate OKs bill
empowering persons with disabilities in LGUs
Press Release
By Office of Sen. Pia S. Cayetano
December 26, 2009
PASAY CITY – Senator Pia S. Cayetano has welcomed the passage by the Senate of a proposed
measure which seeks to give a voice in local governance to the
country’s estimated 9.7 million persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Senate Bill No.3560,
otherwise known as “An Act establishing the institutional mechanism to
ensure the implementation of programs and services for persons with
disabilities in every province, city and municipality,” the measure
was approved unanimously on second reading by the Senate on December
16 before going on a four-week recess.
Cayetano, Chairperson
of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural
Development and the bill’s principal sponsor, said Senate Bill No.3560
mandates the creation of a “Persons with Disability Affairs Office” (PDAO)
in every province, city and municipality.
In the case of fourth,
fifth and sixth class municipalities, the bill calls on LGUs to
designate a “Focal Person” who shall be responsible for coordinating
and ensuring the delivery of programs and services for PWDs. Priority
in appointment should be given to a PWD with experience in providing
services to his or her fellow PWDs.
The measure also
renames the term, “disabled persons” into “persons with disabilities”
– the internationally accepted and recognized term for people who are
either: 1) hearing impaired; 2) orthopedically impaired; 3) visually
impaired; and 4) mentally challenged.
Cayetano said several
Filipinos with disabilities have proven they can stand out despite
their physical limitations. “Disabilities should never be a hindrance
to excel in one’s chosen field. By being assets in society, many PWDs
are breaking barriers and changing the misimpression that they are a
burden to the nation.”
In her sponsorship
speech, Cayetano cited several outstanding PWDs, and more can follow
with enough support at the local government level:
Isabela Governor Grace
Padaca, whose polio did not prevent her from serving her province
mates, a 2008 Ramon Magsaysay awardee for government service;
Roselle Ambubuyog,
visually impaired student from Ateneo who graduated Summa Cum Laude
and now heads a number of foundations for the blind while acting as
consultant for a US firm that develops new products for the blind;
Ana Kristina Arce,
23-year-old hearing impaired student who is the first to graduate
magna cum laude from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde;
Olegario “Ollie”
Cantos VII, visually impaired Filipino-American lawyer who is
presently the Vice-Chairman of United States Pres. Barack Obama’s
Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities; and
Adeline “Ads”
Dumapong-Ancheta, the first Filipina Paralympics medalist who won the
bronze medal in powerlifting in the 2000 Paralympics, and has recently
gone to swimming despite having no legs below the knee and no right
hand.
“Passing Senate Bill
3560 is a step towards the right path. Establishing these
institutional mechanisms would ensure that the Magna Carta for
Disabled Persons will now be implemented and thus helping our brothers
and sisters living with disabilities in their rehabilitation,
self-development, and self-reliance and for their eventual integration
into the mainstream of society,” Cayetano stressed.
Other coauthors of the
measure are Senators Loren Legarda, Lito Lapid, Miriam Defesor-Santiago,
Edgardo Angara, Manny Villar, Antonio Trillanes IV, Mar Roxas, Bong
Revilla and Alan Peter Cayetano.
Prov’l capitol
employees to receive P22,500 additional bonus
By
Provincial
Media Relations Center
December 23, 2009
TACLOBAN CITY –
Employees of the Leyte provincial government will receive higher
additional cash gifts this Christmas in the amount of P22,500.
Announcement of the
amount for the extra cash gift was the most awaited part during the
Provincial Christmas Party for the more than 2,000 capitol employees.
Leyte Governor Carlos
Jericho Petilla made the announcement himself and provided too a
breakdown of the total P22, 500 to be received by regular and casual
employees.
The provincial
government have allotted P5,000 plain bonus for each of the around
2,000 employees, another P5,000 under the Productivity Enhancement
Incentive (PEI) and another P12,500 under the collective negotiation
agreement or (CNA) making the bonus P22,500 in all.
Job-order employees
would also receive P5,000 as cash incentive this December.
Gov. Petilla said the
P5,000 plain bonus and P5,000
PEI combined can be doubled the amount under the
“Double-your-money Program” of the provincial government wherein the
amount, if not taken or collected this time, would double in May next
year that could be intended to shoulder school tuition fees of
children.
Employees can also opt
to have the amount enrolled in the “Triple-your-money Program” wherein
the P10,000, if not immediately taken now, would grow three-fold in
case the employee gets sick or encounters any emergency be it related
to health or properties.
Gov. Petilla otherwise
discouraged the employees from selling their bonuses for them to have
extra budget to be spent during the holiday celebration.
The provincial
government has allotted at least P50 million for this extra cash gift
this year.
State workers of the
capitol expect to receive the amount before December 24.
Army troops gains over
ISO campaign
Press Release
By Office of the Division Public Affairs, 8ID PA
December 21, 2009
ORAS, Eastern Samar –
The Army’s 14th Infantry Battalion encountered anew against the
terrorist New Peoples Army in Sitio Bagti, Brgy. Mabini, Basey, Samar
around 2 p.m. last Saturday.
Reports reaching to
this headquarters disclosed that the said encounter transpired in
response to civilian information that some armed men were conducting
extortion activities in aforesaid sitio.
In order to confirm
the report, a squad size under 1Lt Del Rosario were sent out by the
said battalion wherein more than 15 members of local terrorist group (LTG)
were caught resting at forested area within the proximities of the
reported sitio after conducting extortion activity.
Firefight ensued for
almost 10 minutes that forced the
LTG to flee bringing along with them their wounded buddies while
one soldier was slightly wounded, Private First Class Jonel Doron who
is now in stable condition.
One Caliber 30 caliber
rifle, three combat packs, volume of subversive documents and personal
belongings were some of the articles recovered after the group of Lt
Del Rosario scoured the scene of encounter.
Meanwhile, Lt. Col.
Armand Rico, spokesperson of 8th Infantry Division said that the
Commander, 8ID Major General Arthur Tabaquero has conveyed his
appreciation with the successful implementation of their ISO campaign
even before the end of this year.
Lt. Col. Rico said
that Gen. Tabaquero salutes with the sacrifices of his soldiers who
are in the “frontline” of the campaign fearlessly fore-fronting the
risk just to maintain the peace in their respective areas.
“This is a
manifestation that our people’s minds are already aware with the true
score of the communist rebels operating in their area. The series of
encounters of their troops against the rebels due to the people’s
report proves that our people are already acting for their cause”,
said Rico.
Rico added that,
“The long deprived peace and progress will soon be achieved because no
less than the people itself wants the terrorist to be completely
eliminated in the region”
Historic opportunity
to stop climate chaos squandered in Copenhagen
Press Release
By GREENPEACE
December 20, 2009
COPENHAGEN –
Greenpeace strongly condemned the arrogance of the heads of state
from the world¹s most powerful countries for presenting a ‘take it or
leave¹ deal to the Copenhagen Climate Summit. Whilst en route to the
airport they claimed the deal was done, it was not. All they left was
chaos and confusion in their wake.
|
President Arroyo delivers her statement during the high
level segment of COP and CMP National statement intergovermental
and non-govermental organisation on behalf of their constituents
at the Bella Center in Copenhagen, Denmark during the UN Climate
Change Conference. (JERRY CARUAL/ PCPO/ PNS) |
Working through the
night negotiators struggled to understand the status of the so called
“Copenhagen Accord¹ as the Copenhagen Climate Summit came to an
inglorious, incoherent and fiercely disputed close.
Greenpeace
International Executive Director, Kumi Naidoo, warned: “The world is
facing tragic crises of leadership. Rather than coming together to
secure a future for hundreds of millions of people by agreeing an
historic deal to avert climate chaos, leaders of the world¹s most
powerful countries have betrayed future and current generations.
Averting climate chaos has just gotten a whole lot harder.”
The Copenhagen Accord
is being hailed by some as a step forward. It is not. In fact it has
not even been formally adopted by the Conference of the Parties
(COP). It does not contain strong measures for emission reductions in
developed countries. It is a major concession to climate polluting
industries, especially in the fossil fuel sector which lobbied hard to
undermine a deal and now has a license to continue to pollute.
There are a few plus
points, however, it provides for the establishment of a new Climate
Funding Mechanism and agrees on the need of large scale finance, up to
100 billion dollars a year, to allow developing countries to protect
their forest, to put their economies on a low carbon pathway and to
help them adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Furthermore developing
countries agreed to take both voluntary action to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and to increase those actions if financial support was
provided by developed countries.
“Even as we welcome
the establishment of the Climate Funding Mechanism that will provide
positive incentives for the protection of forests, we regret the lack
of deforestation reduction targets. This is a missed opportunity both
for the forests and for the climate,” said Shailendra Yashwant,
Greenpeace Southeast Asia Campaign Director.
“Although the fund
could thankfully undermine the use of carbon projects and offsetting
tricks of developed countries, the lack of [deforestation reduction]
targets is a loophole which will see the positive impact of real
efforts to reduce deforestation undermined by national activities
which will lead to international leakage.”
The conference did not
agree a way forward to establish a legally binding agreement.
Although
negotiations will continue next year, the loss of the ‘legally
binding¹ objective made the Copenhagen Summit a huge missed
opportunity. The world now has to resume the journey on the road from
Bali to Mexico where a fair, ambitious and legally binding agreement
to avert catastrophic climate change must be adopted.
Army troops encounter
anew killing two rebels, firearms recovered
Press Release
By Office of the Division Public Affairs, 8ID PA
December 14, 2009
CAMP LUKBAN,
Catbalogan, Samar – The Army’s 63rd Infantry Battalion
successfully carried out their mission in an encounter against the
terrorist rebels in Brgy. Cagmanaba, Jipapad, Eastern Samar on
Wednesday afternoon.
Report reaching to
this headquarters by 1Lt. Josephus Emar M. Rempillo, public affairs
officer of the aforesaid battalion disclosed that around 1:00 p.m. on
December 9 while conducting security operations in the forested area
of the afore-mentioned barangay, troops of “A” Coy under 1Lt Rodrigo
C. Sinoy Jr. encountered some 20 NPA bandits under unknown leader who
believed to be heading to said barangay for extortion activity.
Accordingly, firefight
lasted for about 15 minutes before the enemy was forced to withdraw
upon sensing their inferiority. The said incident has resulted to the
recovery of two M16 rifles, ammunitions, personal belongings and
subversive documents.
This also resulted to
the killing of a terrorist whose identity is still being find out up
to this press time and wounding more as evident in the bloodstains in
the site of encounter. No casualty has reported in the government
side.
Meanwhile, Lt. Col.
Arman Rico, 8ID’s spokesperson said that Maj. Gen. Arthur I. Tabaquero,
commander of 8ID has already conveyed his congratulations to the 63IB
for the successful implementation of ISO and the laudable feat in the
pursuit of peace and development initiatives of the local government
in their area.
Lt. Col. Rico also
said, the said success was the result of information being provided by
the localities with regards to the terrorist activities in their
area. “This is the result of the continuous information campaign
being carried out by all Army units in our area of responsibility”, he
added.
Meanwhile, the 63IB
is continuously conducting pursuit operations to track down the
fleeing terrorist and let them face with their violations of the
people’s rights in the said part of the region.
ANAD hails lifting of
martial law in Maguindanao
Press Release
By
ANAD Partylist
December 13, 2009
QUEZON CITY – “The lifting of
Presidential Proclamation 1959 is a manifestation of government’s
sensitivities and full reliance on factual developments on the
ground,” said ANAD Partylist Rep. Jun Alcover in reaction to the
lifting of martial law in the province of Maguindanao, in the evening
of Saturday (December 12, 2009).
The Alliance for
Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) Partylist supports PP 1959’s imposition in the face of the so-called
looming rebellion brought about by the total collapse in the delivery
of basic and judicial services by the local government of that
province, and the continued resistance by thousands of armed
supporters of the Ampatuan family, a known political warlord in the
area.
“We, in ANAD, were all
out in support of government’s initiative to restore public order,
return of the delivery of basic services by government, and the
justiciable resolution of the Nov. 22 massacre of 57 hapless
civilians, including 30 media personalities, in Masalay, Maguindanao,”
Rep. Alcover pointed out.
“The lifting of PP
1959 or its imposition was a prerogative solely vested by the
constitution on the country’s Chief Executive,” said Rep. Alcover even
as he describes the petitioners against PP 1959 before the Supreme
Court and the number of mass protest actions as grandstanding and
hallowed noise.
Rep. Alcover cited the
fact that the short-lived martial rule, in Maguindanao, “clearly shows
President Macapagal-Arroyo’s adeptness to the rule of law and
resiliency towards factual happenings in the field. Here, the
President has made an unequivocal statement of her commitment towards
justice and truth which is directly in contrast to what her detractors
had been saying, time and again,” Alcover added.
On the continued
tirades by Maoist terrorist sectoral front and pseudo partylist
personalities even with the lifting of martial law, with a shrug of a
shoulder, Alcover said, “What can we expect from these people? They
always take up and make use of any issue against government to advance
their lost cause. Maka-libre sila ng exposure, di ba?” Alcover
quipped.
“With the lifting of
martial law, Congress should now focus on a number of vital bills,
like the 2010 national budget and other pro-people measures, which our
people needs,” he stressed.
Kananga Municipal
Hospital gets anew financial support from Province for operations
By
Provincial
Media Relations Center
December 12, 2009
TACLOBAN CITY – Even
has full operation and control has already been given to the local
government of Kananga of the Kananga Municipal Hospital, the said
facility would still be receiving financial aid from its former
possessor – the provincial government of Leyte.
With this, the
hospital, fully turned over to the Kananga LGU in September, received
anew financial assistance from the province amounting to P875,000 for
the third quarter of this year.
According to Kananga
Mayor Elmer Codilla, though the province has relinquished its
management and operation of the former community hospital, the
provincial government through Gov. Carlos Jericho Petilla has
committed to provide assistance to the hospital for a period of five
years, which at such point would be enough time for the LGU to be
financially stable for its operations.
To recall, after many
negotiations and convincing from the governor this year, Mayor Codilla
finally gave his nod for the LGU to handle the management of the said
community hospital against the alternative option of full closure
since the said facility has not been earning much to support its own
operations.
“We looked for means
to continue the operation of the hospital so that we can still provide
a decent health facility for people from the western part of the
province,” Mayor Codilla said.
It was learned, the
KMH gets an average of 46 patients a day and on peak days, such as
Mondays, patients can number up to 98 a day.
In 1991 the government
introduced a major devolution of national government services, which
included the first wave of health sector reform, through the
introduction of the Local Government Code of 1991. The Code devolved
basic services, to include health services among others, to local
government units.
With the devolution of
health services to LGUs, the provincial governments oversee provincial
and district hospitals, while the municipal governments manage rural
health units (RHUs) and barangay (village) health stations.
During his first term,
Gov. Petilla implemented a hospital improvement plan to make the
district hospitals under the province’s wings independent and
self-sustaining; however, some of these hospitals remain
non-performing costing the province more by subsidizing its
operations.
For some LGUs, the
decentralization process have been favorable, especially those LGUs
which are resource-rich.
Gov. Petilla said
closing the hospitals however weighed heavily in the government’s
thrust to provide health care especially with 70% of the community
hospitals clientele belonging to the low-income level.
Aside from turning
over the community hospital to the Kananga LGU, the provincial
government has also provided it with a financial assistance of P3.5
million to rehabilitate some of its existing facilities and services.
AHRC launches online
petition to revoke Maguindanao's martial law
Press Release
December
9, 2009
HONG KONG – The
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) today launched an online petition
to call upon the members of the Philippine Congress to revoke a
proclamation which placed the province of Maguindanao, in southern
Philippines, under martial law.
http://www.petitiononline.com/m23p1959/petition-sign.html
Philippine President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed the Proclamation No. 1959 on December
4. However, the justification is devoid of constitutionality as it is
in contradiction to article 7 section 18 of the 1987 Philippine
Constitution which states, "…the Constitution clearly requires that
only in 'case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety
requires it' can martial law be declared,".
The full text of the
petition can be read and online at: A petition asking the Philippine
Congress to revoke the martial law in Maguindanao province
http://www.petitiononline.com/m23p1959/petition.html
The petitioners are
urged to sign and leave comments online. The petition will be
submitted to the Philippine Congress.
The AHRC believes
there was no overt acts of "invasion or rebellion" to justify this
proclamation. The martial law was declared, not for reasons of
suppressing rebellion, but to allow the police and the military to
execute warrantless arrest and detention.
By placing the
province under martial law and suspending the privilege of the writ of
habeas corpus the policemen and the military have been given a
freehand to arrest, detain and conduct searches without court
warrants.
There have been
arrests of the Ampatuans, a powerful political clan accused of
masterminding the Maguindanao massacre, and their supporters, but
there have also been arrests of persons who are then subject to
questioning despite having no involvement in the massacre.
Today, the two
chambers of the Philippine Congress – the House of Senate and the
House of Representatives – have begun deliberating on whether or not
to revoke the martial law.
Samar Island newsmen
condemn massacre of journalists in Maguindanao
By RICKY J. BAUTISTA
November
26, 2009
CATBALOGAN CITY –
This is the darkest day and infamy in the history of journalism in
the Philippines.
The entire community
of journalists in the three provinces of Samar Island has joined
hundreds of media organizations here and abroad in expressing outrage
and condemnation over the gruesome fate suffered by their murdered
colleagues when a political convoy was ambushed and slaughtered by
gunmen in the Maguindanao province of Southern Philippines, Monday,
November 23, this year.
The Samar Island Press
Club (SIPC), a legitimate media organization composed of members
working for print, radio and televisions stations in North, West and
East Samar has also demand speedy solution over this biggest single
massacre of working journalists committed by beasts, bring to justice
the guilty murderers with dispatch, without fear or favor.
Starting today,
members of the SIPC will wear a black t-shirt with “stop killing
journalist” print, condemn in each radio programs and newspaper
columns and will put a wide tarpaulin with full condemnation of this
kind of “barbaric acts” against innocent civilians.
The full text of the
statement released by the SIPC yesterday runs as follows:
“We, the members of
the Samar Island Press Club (SIPC) from East, North and Western
Provinces of Samar Island, condemn in its strongest possible term the
recent massacre in the Province of Maguindanao that claimed more than
40 innocent lives in which more or less 15 of the victims are members
of the media who were merely covering the event as part of their duty
and obligation to the people of Maguindanao.
This despicable and
savage killings of the members of the Fourth Estate perpetrated in
such a horrid and loathsome manner that can only be done by beasts and
barbaric beings who have divested themselves of the tiniest semblance
of humanity is not only a brazen affront to press freedom but shows
lack of respect to human dignity and sanctity.
We can only imagine
the evil lurks in the hearts of these most vicious criminals!
Clearly, their demonic
masters who are behind this barbaric acts are sending us a message to
spare them from exposing their evil and Godless acts against their so
called "enemies" to shut up and zipped our mouth, close our eyes, and
turned our ears deaf.
But, they are wrong
because we fear no one, we will continue to exercise our sworn in duty
because that is where we exist, we will continue to expose and oppose
ills in government bureaucracy.
We will continue to
fight those who would try to quell our God-given gift and our
constitutionally enshrined democratic principles such as the Freedom
of the Press, the rights of the people to information, and the right
of every person to redress grievances against the State.
With one indignant,
persistent voice, we the members of the Samar Island Press Club (SIPC)
proclaim to all concerned government authorities, that we demand
speedy solution over this heinous crime committed by beasts, bring to
justice the guilty murderers with dispatch, without fear or favor.”
The SIPC call came
after a political convoy of over 50 persons, composed of newsmen,
lawyers, and other civilians was ambushed, beheaded and slaughtered by
around 100 armed men in Maguindanao, Southern Philippines. Most of the
victims were peppered with bullets and buried including their
vehicles.
Buluan vice mayor
Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu told ANC News that his wife, Genalyn, his
sister, and some relatives were on their way to file a certificate of
candidacy on his behalf when they were abducted. Mangudadatu is
running for governor of Maguindanao.
He said his wife
called him at around
9:30 in the
morning to say an armed group, supposedly of the Ampatuan clan, a
political rival, flagged down their convoy on their way to Shariff
Aguak town, where the election office of the province is located.
As of yesterday, the
police and military has taken over the whole province apparently to
“build confident control measures.” All concerned government agencies
has also been deployed in the area to help in the investigations and
control peace and order situation in the area.
ICOT-P opens new
Aquaculture Training & Production Center in Leyte town
By
Provincial
Media Relations Center
November 26, 2009
TACLOBAN CITY – At
least 44 high school students benefits from the newly launched
Aquaculture Training and Production training, started among three
public secondary schools in Leyte, Leyte.
The training course,
called Income Creating Opportunities Technology-Project (ICOT-P) on
Aquaculture Technology Course, is bankrolled by the provincial
government of Leyte to provide livelihood skills to students who are
unable to proceed to tertiary level of education and earn a degree.
Leyte Gov. Carlos
Jericho Petilla, who initiated the training program under his
expanding ICOT-P training courses, led the opening of the ICOT
Aquaculture Training and Production Center in Leyte town that covers
more or less 10,000 square meters of fish pond apportioned for the
aquaculture students.
Already 7,000 square
meters of the area have been developed where the students can grow
their fish variety.
During the recent
inauguration at least 5,000 fish fry or fingerlings of different
variety were spread into the constructed fish pond.
The ICOT-P is a
pro-poor project initiated by Gov. Petilla and is being implemented
by the Provincial Government of Leyte. It focuses on graduating
secondary level students who cannot pursue college education, by
providing technology and skills transfer initially on modern
agriculture and entrepreneurship, thereby creating opportunities for
gainful income with the use of technology even without college
education.
With the success of
the initial implementation in various public high schools in the
province, the ICOT-P program has extented to the field of information
technology when it offered the ICOT-P on IT program and providing them
a venue for an IT training course throuh the ICOT-P on IT Data Center
at the Leyte ICT Park in Palo.
However, with yet
another success story and graduating hundreds of high school students
from various recipent schools, the program expanded this year to
include aquaculture training and production among selected public high
schools.
The ICOT-P envisions
to bridge societal divides in the province of Leyte by providing
opportunities to young students of Leyte to acquire skills and
technologies that will make them productive members of the society
despite economic situation in life.
ICOT-P is has become a
landmark program of the provincial government, a milestone in its
efforts to provide quality life for its constituents through community
development, values formation and development and poverty alleviation.
Bagsakan Center opens
in San Jorge, Samar
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA
Samar)
November 24,
2009
CATBALOGAN, Samar –
To accommodate the land produce of hundreds of farmers from San
Jorge, a new Bagsakan Center was formally opened Monday with
Department of Agriculture - Regional Field Unit 08 (DA-RFU 08)
Regional Director Leo Cañeda.
The Bagsakan Center,
the fifth in Samar province is one of the support facilities provided
by the national government through DA which is intended to help the
farmers.
This will generate
livelihood by giving them post-harvest and marketing facilities to
market their produce and encourage them to produce surpluses instead
of merely producing for their own consumption.
Ms Concepcion Ursua,
was assigned by Mayor Nancy Grey to manage the Bagsakan Center.
With San Jorge’s
agricultural land of 12,140 hectares, and a forest land of some 26,839
hectares based on her profile, farmers will be able to maximize the
Bagsakan Center.
One Maricar Martinez,
a fish vendor for 15 years is grateful for the Bagsakan Center, at
least here they will be organized.
“Unlike before when we
all had to bring tables for our items, today, we won’t have to do
that, the stalls are tiled and look really neat and presentable“,
beamed Martinez.
Mayor Nancy Grey
thanked DA for the opportunity.
Just last week, DA
launched The Farmers Scientist Training Program (FSTP) for corn
farmers where close to a hundred farmers from San Jorge will benefit
from it.
Today, Grey was doubly
grateful for another give-away – three mechanical dryers have been
promised by Director Cañeda one for Barangay La Paz, another for
Barangay Quezon and another for Northwestern Samar State
University-San Jorge Campus.
Farmers and buyers
alike crowded the new Bagsakan Center as it virtually opened yesterday
and sold items at reasonable prices.
Leyte welcomes new
government-run resort
By
Provincial
Media Relations Center
November 24, 2009
TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte’s
western side welcomes the opening of a new P4 million worth local
government run resort seen to boost the local tourism industry in the
area.
The Sibugay Mountain
Resort in Sitio Soob, Poblacion, Albuera,
Leyte is being poised to become an alternative eco-tourism resort
and seen to create jobs and open livelihood opportunities.
Leyte Governor Carlos
Jericho Petilla, who recently led the inauguration rites of the
resort, said investments in tourism yields more positive result if it
comes from the private sector; however, in the case of the recently
opened resort in Albuera, sans interested private investors coming in,
the local government took the initiative and developed the resort
themselves.
Gov. Petilla otherwise
lauded the project started by the local government of Albuera under
Mayor Sixto dela Victoria for making the first move to further their
growing tourism industry in the area.
“Even in the midst of
the global economic crisis, the tourism industry remains a key sector
in generating jobs and various. That is why we have always encouraged
the private sector and even the local government units themselves to
put in their efforts towards advance this industry,” Gov. Petilla said
during the inauguration rites.
He likewise pointed
out that tourism should not be promoted at the expense of the
environment. The provincial government, he added, advocates promoting
and carrying out environmental awareness and solid waste management
programs to ensure the cleanliness and beauty of local tourist
destinations.
The governor noted
that with the Sibugay Mountain Resort, the Albuera LGU has manage to
package the resort as an eco-tourism destination, preserving the
natural beauty of the environment with its lush mountain, green trees
and clean flowing river.
According to Mayor
dela Victoria, the leisure pool they have constructed alongside the
river complements the natural ambience of the place.
Located more or less 2
kilometers away from the town proper of Albuera, the Sibugay Mountain
Resort is accessible by motor ride from the poblacion to Sitio Soob at
a fare rate of P10.
The resort also offers
low entrance fee pegged at P25 per head for any interested patron.
Cottage fee range is from P200 to P300. With this amount, the resort’s
pool and other amenities are all for free.
Aside from the newly
inaugurated mountain resort, Albuera also play host to another
well-known resort – the Baybayon ni Agalon – which has become a
favorite spot for local and foreign tourists visiting the province.
Leyte to recruit,
spend on athletes for championship caliber training
By
Provincial
Media Relations Center
November 19, 2009
TACLOBAN CITY – A
comprehensive sports and education program is cooking up for Leyte
through a good recruitment and training program that would scout
potential athletes from different places in the province.
Leyte Governor Carlos
Jericho Petilla said to improve the provinces’, and subsequently the
region’s, standing in national sports competition, there is a need to
implement a good recruitment program that would provide championship
caliber training for athletes with potentials.
The governor further
bared this would be a comprehensive sports and education program where
the recruited athletes would simultaneously train and attend school at
the expense of the provincial government.
“This would be very
expensive but if it’s the only way to do it, then we have to pursue
this option,” Gov. Petilla said.
The pool of athletes
who would be recruited under this program, it was learned, would be
housed in one place where they would attend sports trainings under
professional trainers and coaches and at the same time complete their
school studies supervised by the Department of Education.
The vacated rooms and
spaces at the former Leyte Colleges adjacent to the Leyte Sports
Development Center is being eyed as the area where these athletes can
be housed for their training and studies complete with the provision
of the appropriate training gears and an athlete’s nutritional diet.
Meanwhile, the Leyte
Sports Development Center, site of the Palarong Pambansa 2009, would
be the training ground for these players, the governor added.
Sports being eyed for
the training program are athletics and swimming that carry most of the
medal haul during sports competition.
“Athletics and
swimming comprise more or less fifty percent of the total medal tally
in a sports competition such as Palaro, so these are the sport we are
going to give focus first,” Gov. Petilla said.
With an improved pool
of athletes, the governor added, the province and the region can
improve it medal finish in national sports competition such as the
Palarong Pambansa.
GAB boxing chief
credits U.S. docs for Gorres’ immediate recovery
 By ALEX P. VIDAL /
PNS
November
16, 2009
LAS VEGAS, Nevada –
The fast transport of fallen Cebuano boxer Z Gorres from boxing ring
to the hospital and his immediate operation to remove the blood clot
in his brain were the main factors for his quick recovery, said Games
and Amusement Board (GAB) boxing division chief Nasser Cruz.
Cruz, who is also a
doctor, credited the “excellent” response made by medical officials of
the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) and the doctors who
attended to Gorres when he was fighting for his life at the
University
Medical Center hospital, here.
Cruz said the
27-year-old number two bantamweight contender in the world survived
the 24-hour time line given by Dr. Michael Seiss, a neurosurgeon, who
performed the operation on his brain to remove the blood clot.
Gorres fell in his
corner after winning a 10-round non-title fight against Luis Melendez
of Columbia at the Mandalay Bay House of Blues on November 13. Doctors
immediately performed the surgery and opened his skull after he
suffered subdural hematoma.
“We are in the city
famous for its high standard medical facilities,” said Cruz, who is
here together with his bosses, chairman Eric Buhain and commissioners
Angel Bautista and Ramon Guanzon, to watch the “Firepower” WBO title
tussle between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Angel Cotto.
Cruz said a blood clot
is not difficult if the patient has been attended to immediately.
“Blood clot happens in
any sports event. It happens even in hockey and amateur boxing,” he
explained. “It’s only a matter of how you protect yourself that’s why
we have a third man in the ring cautioning the participants to protect
themselves at all times,” Cruz added.
Cruz stressed that
Gorres, nicknamed “Butchoy”, may undergo a series of rehabilitation
and might stay for a while in the
United States
“but it won’t be too long. The longest may be one month.”
He said Gorres’
medical bills are covered by insurance being a licensed professional
boxer under the NSAC.
Gorres’ family in Cebu,
however, is expected to receive some cash from social fund of the
Philippine government, Cruz confirmed. The GAB board will have to meet
to discuss the matter, he said.
Cruz also ruled out
the possibility for Gorres not to be able to go back to boxing again.
“Well, he can be a
boxing trainer after he recovers,” he quipped.
Noted boxing historian
Hermie Rivera, meanwhile, said he was monitoring Gorres’ progress
regularly saying he expected the Cebuano fighter to recover soon.
“I like that man,”
Rivera, first manager of former WBA bantamweight champion Luisito
Espinosa, said. “He is one of the best boxers we have today.”
Samar PNP lights
30-foot blue star as a sign of peace and friendship
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA
Samar)
November 15,
2009
CATBALOGAN, Samar – The Philippine National Police (PNP) Samar last Thursday night lighted a 30-foot blue star
as a sign of peace and friendship.
At six in the evening,
Samar mayors, Girl Scouts, PNP personnel donning Santa Claus hats, and
other guests joined PSSupt Pancho Hubilla, Samar’s PNP Provincial
Director in the switch on, accompanied by singing of Christmas songs
from PNP’s “Santa Claus”.
In his message,
Director Hubilla said that it is colored blue because it is PNPs
color.
“I asked my men, how
we could extend our greetings of peace and friendship not only to
Samareños but to all travellers passing by the highway.”
“This is the answer”,
he mused.
The PNP camp in Samar
is along Daang Maharlika where motorists to and from
Luzon and
Mindanao pass through day and night.
The PNP official also
vowed to “do better” than last year in their commitment of service.
Meanwhile, PSSupt Gil
Hitosis who represented
PNP Regional Director Mario San Diego praised the
PNP in this part for
being the first group to initiate such gesture of peace and
friendship.
“This is first of its
kind in the Samar island”, he commented.
The regional PNP
official also talked of reforms that are being done in the whole
PNP hierarchy for the better.
Officers from the
adjacent 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, barangay officials of
barangay Maulong and the media also graced the memorable Christmas
offering of the men in uniform.
APAC plans expansion
at Leyte ICT Park
By
Provincial
Media Relations Center
November 14, 2009
TACLOBAN CITY – APAC
Customer Services Inc., the call center locator at the Leyte ICT Park
has recently asked the provincial government of Leyte for another
2,500 square meter office space for its expansion plans.
This was revealed by
Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla during the recent Provincial
Development Council Meeting which he chairs held at the Governor’s
Hall with majority of local chief executives in attendance together
with municipal and local planners.
The governor said
plans are currently being laid on the table as the provincial
government is set provide more space for APAC’s expansion to ensure
that job generation would still cascade here in the province and in
the region.
“APAC approached me
two weeks ago for more office space for their expansion and if not
they would expand in another province,” Gov. Petilla said.
The governor disclosed
the province immediately has to go straight to the drawing board for
the ICT Park’s growth to ensure that the job market
APAC’s expansion would create would still benefit
jobseekers from Leyte and Eastern Visayas provinces.
APAC presently
occupies the former Leyte Academic center (LAC) Gymnasium that sits on
a 3,000-square meter site and was turned into a high-end call center
facility when APAC located and finally opened early this year.
APAC officials have
earlier revealed that their Leyte site would only be the start of the
company's five-year expansion in the country where 80% of its growth
will be in the provinces.
With the 2,500 square
meters additional office space
APAC is asking could house at least 600 more call center agents,
Gov. Petilla revealed.
The governor added his
talks with some top officials of the business process outsourcing in
the country reveals that BPO and ICT business would still be brisk
this year despite the global economic slowdown.
“We see the need to
capitalize on the bigger growth of the ICT industry in the province,”
Gov. Petilla told local chief executives.
Leyte, he said, has
become an alternative hub for provincial expansion of BPO and ICT
players because of its existing fiber optic connections, a good
education system with 5,000 to 8,000 graduates every year, and
incentives from the local government.
The BPO and ICT
Industry is known as the “Sunrise Industry” of the country, due to the
fact that this industry has brought in millions of dollars in
investment from foreign companies, while creating several thousand
jobs in the process.
The governor likewise
said with ICT coming in expansion of both upstream and downstream
industries are seen like telecommunications, food, real estate,
construction, electronics, transportation, entertainment and lifestyle
businesses.
Pacquiao now calls
Roach ‘My boxing master’
By ALEX P. VIDAL /
PNS
November
13, 2009
LAS VEGAS, Nevada –
Manny Pacquiao flashed a smile most of the time during the final press
conference of the “Pacquiao vs Cotto: Firepower” at the Hollywood
Theater in MGM Grand, here, November 11 , as he announced a change in
the way he addresses his adopted father and coach, Freddie Roach.
|
WBC
Junior Welterweight Champion Manny Pacquiao and WBO Welterweight
Champion Miguel Angel Cotto shows off their form to the crowd
gathered at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, during
their official weigh in where Pacquiao weighed 144 lbs and Cotto
weighing 145 lbs. (CHRIS FERNANDEZ / PNS) |
“He is now my boxing
master,” Pacquiao, 30, declared. “I used to call him coach Freddie,
but now I am calling him my boxing master.”
Pacquiao acknowledged
the support of his training staff that included conditioning adviser
Alex Ariza and friend Buboy Fernandez for his preparations to snatch
Miguel Angel Cotto’s WBO welterweight bauble and the chance to pocket
seven world boxing titles in different divisions.
After arriving by land
from a five-hour trip from Hollywood to Las Vegas on November 9,
Pacquiao, who is expected to relinquish his International Boxing
Organization (IBO) light welterweight crown for a chance to dethrone
Cotto, continued to engage in light workouts at the
IBA Gym in Tropicana where he was followed by a horde of fans
carrying all sorts of souvenir items for his signature.
Pacquiao was the last
to leave the Hollywood Theater en route to
IBA Gym after the media forum where he was swarmed by
mostly Hispanic-speaking journalists from
Puerto Rico and
Mexico.
When asked why Time
magazine, which featured him in its most recent issue, considered him
more than just a world champion, he quipped, “it is my great pleasure
to help my countrymen who are in need.”
He was referring to
victims of super typhoons in the
Philippines
that killed hundreds of fellow Filipinos and rendered thousands of
them homeless. Pacquiao, who was training in
Baguio City when the
typhoon slammed, donated goods to the victims and personally led a
special team to distribute them.
His gesture generated
a big publicity and was monitored by international media.
“I wish to remain
humble and I only want to provide happiness and entertainment to my
countrymen and my family,” Pacquiao explained.
Before going to bed at
8 o’clock in the evening, Pacquiao gathers a selected group of family
members and friends for a prayer inside his posh hotel room on the
60th floor of The Hotel, Mandalay Bay’s adjacent building.
On Saturday, history
will be made in boxing, Paquiao vowed.
DENR-8 has a new
Regional Executive Director
By PURIFICACION S. DALOOS
November
12, 2009
TACLOBAN CITY – The
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Region has a
new Regional Executive Director (RED).
|
Regional Executive Director
Primitivo C. Galinato, Jr. |
Forester Primitivo C.
Galinato, Jr. assumed his post as the new RED of DENR, Region 8. RED
Galinato swapped post with RED Regidor M. De Leon who was reassigned
as RED for the DENR Cordillera Administrative Region in Northern Luzon
with Regional Office in
Baguio
City.
In simple turn over
rites held at the Leyte Park Hotel on November 10, 2009, RED Galinato
asked the support of all DENR employees in the Region for the
fulfilment of the mandate of the DENR like what the employees did
during the administration of RED De Leon. “Let me borrow your
strengths and powers so that together we can accomplish the targets
expected from us”, RED Galinato exhorted the DENR employees.
As he vowed to lead
the DENR 8, the best he can, RED Galinato also set the direction of
his leadership. Generally, he said, “All of us should work for a
purpose. People or investment and development of human resources must
be given importance to effectively carry out the plans and programs of
the Department. Also, competence and credibility of the DENR human
resources are needed to serve best the targeted clientele and
communities. Good governance must be observed for the whole DENR
family to fulfil the DENR’s mandate on environmental protection and
natural resources conservation”.
DENR Secretary Jose
L. Atienza issued DENR Special Order No. 2009-814 dated October 19,
2009 to effect the swapping of the two DENR officials as part of the
DENR’s continuing organizational development.
Gov’t Center groomed
to become Leyte’s next central business district
By
Provincial
Media Relations Center
November 10, 2009
TACLOBAN CITY – New
infrastructure development are now underway at the Government Center
in Palo, Leyte as the provincial government grooms the area to be the
next central business district for the province of Leyte.
Leyte Governor Carlos
Jericho disclosed projects currently being undertaken at the
Government Center include a mini-terminal and a convention center,
both facilities seen to augment the economic growth and business
opportunities rising along the area.
The mini-terminal, he
said, will be constructed at the vacant lot in between the regional
office of the National Food Authority (NFA-8) and the fastfood
franchise Andoks, which lot is still part of the
Government
Center
of the provincial government.
“The mini-terminal
would basically function as a parking space for passenger vehicles
plying along the Palo route going to the south and west of
Leyte,” the governor said.
Members of the Palo
Police, as well as gasoline station owners along the junction and
highway of the government center have long complained that the lanes
along these areas are being used as parking space for passenger
vehicles.
Meanwhile, Gov.
Petilla likewise disclosed the planned convention center would be
located at the back of the former Leyte Academic Center Gymnasium
which, to recall, has been leased out to a call center company which
opened full operation early this year and the first call center
locator inside the Leyte ICT Park.
The convention center
is seen to replace the former LAC Gymnasium that could become a venue
for big gatherings and even national conventions.
The governor disclosed
the ongoing rehabilitation of the MacArthur Park Resort Hotel being
undertaken by a private conglomerate would complement the tourist
promotion efforts of the province together.
Works at the MacArthur
Park Resort Hotel, also located at the Government Center, is paced to
meet its soft opening deadline on April 30 next year and become fully
operational before the next Leyte Gulf Landing Commemoration in the
month of October.
To recall, the said
hotel had an original target date of opening last October 20, however,
rehabilitation works have been delayed.
The province has also
recently opened a Police Assistance Center at the Government Center,
located just beside the Leyte ICT Park, that provide peace, order,
security and other police assistance to the area.
The Police Assistance
Center would be manned by police officers from the Leyte Norte Police
Provincial Office.
Gov. Petilla likewise
mentioned these developments have been part of his long term goals
when he first assumed in office in 2004.
“They never believed
me then that these are possible and we can make these new developments
in the area but look at what we have now. We have increased activity
here and little by little, people start noticing all there,” Gov.
Petilla said.
Gov. Evardone appoints
200 youths as Junior Ambassadors of Environment
By
BRYAN MONTES AZURA
November
9, 2009
BORONGAN, Eastern
Samar – Eastern Samar Governor Ben P. Evardone appointed some 200
young people from various schools in the province as Junior
Ambassadors of Environment as part of the province’s effort to convey
the message of the importance of preserving the environment during the
Youth Congress on Climate Change held at the Provincial Capitol on
Wednesday, this municipality.
|
Gov.
Ben P. Evardone shares some encouraging words to some 200 Eastern
Samareño youths who partook on the 1st Provincial Youth Congress
on Climate Change held during the celebration of the 44th Founding
Anniversary of the Province of Eastern Samar. |
In his message to the
youth participants, the governor stressed that evidences of changes on
climate due to the degradation of the environment not only in the
country but the whole planet are already obvious. “We need to preserve
our environment,” the governor said.
He further stressed
that the issue on climate change is encompassing as it affects
everyone from all walks of life. “This issue is close to my heart,
your heart and everybody’s heart as this affects us all,” he said.
The governor continued
that his administration did not just initiate the said forum for the
young people “not just to protect the environment but to secure the
future.” “If you don’t do something today, you might have no future to
look forward to,” Evardone said.
The congress, a
highlight of the 44th Founding Anniversary of the Province of Eastern
Samar, was attended by around 200 secondary and tertiary students from
different schools in the province. According to Dorinda Labro of
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO-Eastern
Samar), an environment advocate and one of the resource persons during
the youth gathering, the planet is running against time. “If there is
a time to act to fight climate change, is should be now,” Labro said.
Analiz Solis of
Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Administration (PAG-ASA)
main office, also a resource person of the said event, said that the
weather bureau has already recorded more frequent and bigger weather
disturbances. Temperature has already slowly increased as per record
compared to previous years.
Though weather
authorities vary in their interpretation whether the change of climate
are results of the so-called global warming, the governor said that
everybody should get involve in preserving the environment.
“Your appointment will
be on voluntary basis but this will serve as an opportunity for you to
share your talent, time, resources and heart,” Gov. Evardone
challenged the newly appointed ambassadors.
Sentay Quiorio,
Provincial Tourism Officer and facilitator of the said gathering, said
that while there’s no definite description yet as to the function of
the junior ambassadors, but what’s definite is they should serve as
advocates of the environment. “Even in little ways such as starting
discussions on climate change among their peers and being conscious
especially in garbage disposals can already be a meaningful
contribution as far their appointments are concerned,” Quitorio said.
The governor said that
the group will be an added force to the advocates from the media,
academe, Church, NGOs, GOs and Pos in the battle against climate
change.
Anjettes Capada,
Student Council President of
Dolores National
High School,
said that her appointment as environment ambassador will give her the
chance to prove that even young people as her can do something for the
environment. “I should be a model to my fellow students and youth,”
she said. “With the availability of new technologies such as internet
and cellular phones, I’ll inform my friends to be more caring to our
planet so that we will still have a future to see,” Capada said.
Chiz backs passage of
Freedom of Info Bill
By Office of Sen. Chiz Escudero
November
9, 2009
PASAY CITY –
Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero yesterday expressed his support for the
passage of the Freedom of Information bill before the Senate adjourns
for the 2010 elections.
“This is a measure
that will go a long way in our people’s fight against graft and
corruption in high places and boost transparency in government. It’s
time has come,” he said.
Escudero also asked
the Senate to act on a bill requiring all public officials and
employees to waive the exemption of their deposit accounts from the
bank secrecy law. Senate Bill No. 1476 was one of the first bills he
filed during his first year as senator in 2007.
The waiver will be
made in favor of the Office of the Ombudsman and the Anti-Money
Laundering Council (AMLC) that would enable them to compel financial
institutions here and abroad to provide information and documents on
financial assets, deposits, investments in bonds and securities of
those in the public service.
The proposed freedom
on information act seeks to implement the right of the people to
information on matters of public concern and the state policy of full
disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest.
Escudero proposed
amendments to the bill seeking to ensure that official records related
to loans obtained or guaranteed by government; government contracts;
statements of asset, liabilities, and net worth of government
officials; and those pertaining to official investigations on graft
and corrupt practices of public officers “should not be destroyed.”
He also asked for the
creation of a records management program that will allow easy
identification, retrieval and communication of information to the
public.
The 40-year old
lawmaker also sought the creation of a database, in digital and online
form, of all laws, presidential issuances, and appointments, and
opinions of the Secretary of Justice.
“This will aid us all
in maintaining institutional memory. Rascals and malefactors have
always found comfort in the fact that we seem to have very short
memory as a people,” he said.
Escudero was among
several senators who signed the committee report on Senate Bill 3308
last June 3. The measure was jointly sponsored by the committees on
public information and mass media and on civil service and government
reorganization.
Big grocery chain
eyeing to expand at Leyte Gov’t Center
By
Provincial
Media Relations Center
November 7, 2009
TACLOBAN CITY – Not
another mall but a big national grocery chain is eyeing to open a new
branch at the
Government Center
area.
Leyte Governor Carlos
Jericho Petilla disclosed this amid talks of a possible new mall
player to come in after the successful opening of the first ever mall
in the city of Tacloban.
“I don’t think another
mall would be viable at the moment. The first mall has just opened
this year. We have to give them a chance to grow first on its own,”
Gov. Petilla said.
A period of three to
five years, the governor added, would be sufficient time for the
current mall owner to grow and development before a new player in this
business could come in and flourish in the same way.
Gov. Petilla however
disclosed that not a mall, rather a “big grocery chain” is eyeing a
site at the Government Center as expansion of its branch. He otherwise
did not disclose yet the name of the possible locator.
The number of
employees working at the various government offices located at the
Government Center, workers inside the Leyte ICT Park and schools
located nearby are seen to provide a big market for a grocery chain to
open in the area, the governoir said.
He likewise added that
drawing these kind of companies and businesses to the Government
Center is part of the long-term plan of the province charted when he
first assumed office in 2004.
The long-term
development project for the
Government Center
is seen to draw together the principal elements of shopping, business
and recreation within a single spot with the rehabilitation of a
five-star hotel, an accessible IT facility, government offices,
commercial areas and a public transport terminal which is already
underway.
Gov. Petilla said that
if the unutilized portion of the vast land at the Government Center
will be turned into an intensive commercial and tourism hub, thousands
of jobs will be created for the Leyteños. Creation of even a grocery
chain would mean jobs for the unemployed in the area and nearby towns
he said.
“This will also stir
the economy not only of the
province of
Leyte
but of the entire Eastern Visayas,” Governor Petilla told local media
in an interview.
As the infrastructure
and other facilities are being put into place by the provincial
government, the governor said, the next big step in the coming years
would be for “more investors to come in to invest and expand their
business operations here in the province.” |
