Police solves highway robberies in Samar

By ROMMEL L. RUTOR
July 21, 2006

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  Vowing to the public that he will go after the suspects of the series of hi-way robbery hold-ups occurring along the Maharlika highway, Samar Police Provincial Director Isdalih Idja Abah, finally scored in his promise when the Samar PNP apprehended two suspects in last Sunday’s hot pursuit operation.

The captured suspects were identified as Arnel P. Dacol and Generoso L. Padoc, both were 22 years old and residents of Brgy. Villa Aurora, Basey, Samar.

Recovered from the possession of the suspects were one .38 caliber revolver with 4 live bullets and two .357 magnum revolvers with four live bullets and two empty shells, and other items believed to be part of the loots in connection to the illegal trade of the suspects.

The Samarnews.com gathered that on July 15, 2006 the two suspects boarded a passenger van marked SWAN with plate number XMF 802 bound for Samar from Tacloban City Terminal, but upon reaching the vicinity of Brgy. San Juan, Sta. Rita town in Samar, the suspects announced the heist.

Unfortunately for the suspects, because one male passenger who was later identified as Angel Tapada, Jr., a member of the Bureau of Fire Protection Unit in Eastern Samar, resisted the heist and grappled with one of the suspects resulting to a scuffle inside the van.

As this developed, one of the suspects shot Tapada who was hit on his right leg, and threatened the other passengers with a grenade, that resulted to a panic among other van passengers who scampered for safety.

The commotion took the attention of P03 Nazario J. Lacambra of Sta. Rita Municipal Police Station (MPS) who was riding his motorcycle and was passing in the area for his routine intelligence toil and was told by some residents that a stick-up is on place and that the suspects are still inside the passenger van.

As a result, PO3 Lacambra immediately called for assistance from Sta. Rita MPS and likewise from the PNP Regional Mobile Group who were assigned at the San Juanico Bridge detachment.

The call for assistance was immediately responded by a joint team of the PNP Mobile group and the PNP Sta. Rita MPS led by SPPO Director Isdalih Idja Abah, who conducted a pursuit operation, which resulted to the capture of the two suspects in a nearby barangay.

The same apprehended suspects are believed to be responsible in the JM Van heist along Maharlika highway within the Brgy. Cantaba area also of Sta. Rita town that victimized four teachers who just claimed their loan from a lending institution in Tacloban City.

A victim from Gandara, Samar, upon learning of the suspect’s apprehension immediately went to the Sta. Rita MPS and positively identified the two suspected hold-uppers, “Amo na talaga ito hira, dire ko hingangalimtan iton nga ira mga nawong”, says the victim who requested not to be identified.

“Ang pag-kahuli nga dalawang ito ay isang lead din para sa amin na mahuli pa ang ibang mga kasamahan nito, na nambibiktima nga mga passenger van plying the Tacloban City and Samar route, sa ngayon ay may mga kasamahan pa ang mga suspects na ito at kasalukuyang mino-monitor nga mga kapulisan natin”, SSupt. Abah revealed.

“Noong martes ay sinampahan na natin ng kasong robbery ang mga suspects at the provincial prosecutor’s office in Basey, Samar, at kasalukuyang naka-detine sila sa Sta. Rita MPS”, he concluded.

New SPPO chief vows to remain neutral amid tight politics in Samar

By ROMMEL L. RUTOR
July 20, 2006

CATBALOGAN, Samar  – Despite the obvious political tug-of-war taking place in the province of Samar which apparently resulted to the relief of former SSupt. Arcadio Lelis from his post as Samar Provincial Police Office (SPPO) chief last month, the new SPPO director SSupt. Ibdalih Adja Abah assured the Samareños that the PNP will remain on the fence as the protector of the people.

It can be recalled that Cong. Reynaldo Uy of Samar’s 1st district admitted earlier of having a hand in SSupt. Lelis’ relief, although this was denied by the PNP hierarchy, including the new SPPO chief here who told that SSupt. Lelis’ relief from SPPO is part of his promotion in his police career.

“I could have gotten the post as Chief of Staff at the PNP regional headquarters in Tacloban City but he is more senior than me, that is why he was chosen to head that office and I was transferred here in Samar”, SSupt. Abah clarified.

In the recent CCATMAN Weekly Kapehan here, the new SPPO chief put in the picture that the Samar PNP will remain neutral and unbiased, and will continue to function as servant of the people which is being mandated by the constitution, after being informed of Cong. Uy’s statement of influencing the recent local PNP movement in the province.

“Alam ko ang mga isyu na nangyari kay SSupt. Lelis, and his experience is a learning point for us, na dapat dumistansiya talaga tayo sa mga personal na interes ng kung sinuman sa ating komunidad, at itaguyod lamang ang tama ng walang pasubali at pag-aalinlangan”, SSupt. Abah stressed.

He likewise informed media that he will continue the programs and reforms initiated by SSupt. Abah, and would further infuse new programs which he believes is needed by the PNP to be able to get along the present needs of the Samareños.

30 days of visits

Barely 2 days after assumption into office as the new SPPO chief, SSupt. Abah was able to visit and inspect the readiness of at least 22 out of 26 municipal police stations against CPP-NPA raids.

He told that based on his assessment majority of the police stations in his jurisdiction are ready and capable of defending their respective grounds supposed NPA raids will take place, but reserved the prospect that lightning attacks might be one of the only possibilities that government enemies can over-run a police precinct.

“Although kahit sorpresa pa ang atake, basta’t makakita lang ng opportunity ang mga pulis natin na makalaban, I am 100% sure that no NPA rebels can over-run any police station. I would like to cite the case of San Jose de Buan, tatlo lang ang nasa estasyon noon when it was raided, pero lumaban iyong mga pulis natin kaya hindi ito napasok ng mga kalaban”, he explained, and further urged all municipal police chiefs to manifest readiness in their respective turfs.

Fil-Chi Chamber of Commerce turns-over 22 school buildings to Eastern Visayas

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
July 20, 2006

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  Twenty-two school buildings in various areas of Region 8 donated by members of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry will be turned over and inaugurated in August of this year, as a continuing answer to the call of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for national teamwork and partnership.

This was learned from Mr. Henry Yaokasin, the President of the Tacloban City Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He said that the turn over and inauguration will be made in the presence of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry officers and members, Tacloban Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry officers, the local government officials, the school administrators and the students of the respective schools.

Mr. Yaokasin said that on August 3, the officers and members of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry will turn over the first batch of school buildings consisting of 10 units, in the Leyte area.

In the morning of August 3, the school building at Leyte National High School donated by Doña Encarnacion Cabilangan, the school building at Palanog Community School donated by Phil. Soong Ching Ling Foundation and the school building at Cabalawan Elementary School donated by Mr. And Mrs. Vicente Sitosta will be inaugurated.

The afternoon of August 3 will witness the turn-over and inauguration of the school building at San Jose Elementary School in Dulag, Leyte donated by Mr. And Mrs. Roberto Tan, the school building at Leyte State University in Tolosa, Leyte which was donated by Phil. Soong Ching Ling Foundation and the school building at the Tolosa National High School donated by Mr. And Mrs William Gosiaco.

On August 4, another four units of school buildings will be turned over and inaugurated at Jaro Central School which was donated by Mr. And Mrs. Jacinto Ty, at Carigara School of Fisheries donated by T.L.A. Corporation with Mr. Peter Ty as president, Alangalang Elementary School donated by Mr. And Mrs., Henry G. Yang and Alangalang National High School donated by Doña Encarnacion Cabilangan.

The second batch of school buildings which will be turned over and inaugurated on August 10 and 11, are those which are at the Northern Samar area, Lavezarez Agro Industrial High School donated by Mr. and Mrs. Domingo Yap, Rawis National High School and La Perla Elementary School in Lao-ang both donated by Linton Incorporated through Mr. and Mrs. Lim Ka Thong, Ternate Elementary School in San Vicente  donated by Plastmann Industrial, and  Cabacungan Elementary School in Allen donated by Zest-O Corporation.

Mr. Yaokasin said that the third batch will be the school buildings in the provinces of Leyte and Southern Leyte which will be turned over and inaugurated on August 17 and 18.

On August 17, the turn-over will be at Pastor Salazar High School in Tabango, Leyte donated by Avesco Marketing Corporation, San Isidro College in San Isidro, Leyte donated by Avesco Marketing Corporation.

On August 18, the Federation will turn over 5 units of school building in Sourthern Leyte: Lib-og Elementary School in Maasin City donated by Mr. And Mrs. Hao Ping Hong; Lonoy Elementary School donated by Mr. And Mrs. Johnny Cobakiat, Maasin Central School and Sogod National High School both donated by Mr. And Mrs. William Castro; and San Juan National High School donated by Mr. And Mrs. Benito Cu Uy Gan.

This is not the first time that the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry has donated school buildings in Region 8. It has been doing this for years already.

Raps vs. Gov. Tan sped up dissolution of Samar’s “therapeutic committee”

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  Whine not anymore if the drugs and other medicines that are currently being purchased by the province for distribution and use of the Samareños, are not the ones that they really need, because there is no more body who sees to it that the medicines being purchased are the right medicines that the people need.

In the last session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) here, ex-Officio Board Member Joseph Escober presented with firm insistence that the “therapeutic committee” be dissolve due to a simple reason of redundancy of its existence with the new “procurement law”, that gives local chief executives the authority to purchase drugs or other merchandise at their discretion.

BM Escober’s motion was likewise backed up by BM Fe Arcales, who informed that the said committee has been useless and inactive since its creation, and at present only two of its original members are readily available even if it will convene.

The motion that came as a surprise to the “august body”, and likewise stirred suspicion among other members of the SP that “something” might have cropped again in the procurement routines of the office of Governor Milagrosa T. Tan, at which has been exercising the privileges endowed by the new procurement law.

During the course of the SP session, some board members did not question the motion but contended the scuttling assertion of BM Escober to resolve the subject right during the last SP session.

“We could have treat the matter some other time, and possibly could have conducted a thorough study if dissolving the said committee will not affect our health services to the people”, a reliable insider in the SP who requested not to be identified just yet said.

“I don’t see any urgency over the subject, it is very apparent that drugs and medical supplies for the province’ health programs are being rendered by the governor’s office, the whole of Samar know this fact, and that is her right based on our procurement law”, he added.

The same source disclosed that during the deliberation over the issue, BM Escober was noted saying as quoted “Kay adto na liwat, ginkasuhan na liwat hi Governor!”, with BM Minandro “Boy” Tiopes contended by saying as quoted “Kay amo ngayan, ngan kita na liwat dinhe an pagsisinamukon”.

On the other hand, Vice-Governor Jesus B. Redaja, confirmed that there was indeed a rush in repealing the ordinance that created the “therapeutic committee”, and admitted that the SP did no longer considered studying the proposed motion despite of the fact that the said ordinance holds a provision that will supposedly ensure that Samareño people gets the right medicines that they need. “And that provision is not stipulated in the new procurement law”, he revealed.

“Sec. 4 of that ordinance says that the therapeutic committee shall act as the recommending body as to the kind of medicines that should be procured by the province, and such recommendation is based on the assessment made relative to the medical need of the constituents” explained Redaja.

“I don’t know exactly why should they rush the SP to repeal the ordinance, kay bisan pa man na-repeal na nam ine, kun an kaso dida pa han na-eksister pa ine nga committee, useless gad ine nga pag-dinali hiton pira nga mga board members, lugod waray ma-presentar hin maupay iton mga dapat nga buhaton alinsunod hin pag-repeal hin usa nga ordinansa”, Redaja concluded.

2006 BNS Congress held

By RACHEL ANN M. VILLEGAS, KIMRO
July 19, 2006

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  Realizing the urgent need for collaborative efforts to curb the growing malnutrition problem in Tacloban City, the City Nutrition Office (CNO), through the dynamic leadership of CNO-OIC Malu P. Tabao together with the City Government of Tacloban, recently concluded the 2006 BNS Congress, bearing this year’s theme: “Kumain ng RIGHT, para maging batang BRIGHT”, specifically focusing on the “New Trends and Challenges”, Monday, July 17, 2006.

The Congress was actively participated by 102 Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) who served as the front liners in promoting proper nutrition and feeding practices among infants and school children.

National Nutrition Council (NNC) Program Coordinator Carina Z. Santiago, imparted her knowledge and expertise on the Role of the BNS in promoting the Right Food for the Bright Child. She disclosed that hunger and malnutrition are serious global health problems and afflicts millions of Filipinos especially the school children. “Twenty-six (26%) is the prevalence rate of malnutrition among school children ages ranging from 6-10”.

The role of BNS on this challenge is to disseminate nutrition information to the barangay level and they are deployed in more areas in the city to reach out to the more malnourished children. Significantly it is the role of BNS to advocate nutrition program and strategies to the community.

New trends and updates on Food Fortification Program was discussed by Ms. Emily Grande (DOH), to create greater awareness among our people of the value and importance of proper nutrition. The National Nutrition Council (NCC) has issued Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos (NGF). It advises the public to eat a variety of food – fish, lean meat, poultry, fruits, vegetables, milk and milk products; use iodized salt, have regular exercise, and avoid smoking and drinking of alcoholic beverages

The City Nutrition Council, chaired by the City Mayor, Alfredo “Bejo” Romualdez, stepped up its efforts by initiating partnership with the NNC and the LGU for joint feeding and nutrition programs in such areas in Tacloban City.

8th Infantry Division: Sustains the shaping and sharpening of troops for counter insurgency!

Press Release
By Division Public Affairs Office, 8th Infantry Division, PA
July 18, 2006

CATBALOGAN, Samar  – One hundred percent filled-up 46th Infantry Battalion composed of 34 Officers and 542 Soldiers braced up as the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army opened the Battalion Retraining at Camp Lukban grounds around 3:30 in the afternoon of July 12, 2006.

8th Infantry Division’s Commanding General, Major General Bonifacio B. Ramos AFP finds the retraining of 46th Infantry Battalion timely for their renewed campaign to put an end to the communist insurgency menace in Eastern Visayas.

It can be recalled that soldiers belonging to 8th Infantry Division recently scored against the CPP/NPAs in Region 8 in two separate operations in Ormoc City and Northern Samar where the communist terrorists suffered two killed and three apprehended and the troops’ capture of five high-powered firearms, one low-powered firearm, laptop computer, assorted ammunitions and CPP/NPA subversive documents.

The troops, with complete equipment in full battle gear diligently listened as Major General Ramos emphasized the need to eradicate the remaining CPP/NPA threat from the region. “I challenge you to re-shape & re-sharp your tactics & techniques to carry out the pronouncement of the national leadership and the AFP to run these enemies of the state, to the ground. Only when there is an atmosphere of peace that sustained economic growth and development could come in” He said.

He likewise stressed the importance of one’s strength of will and character in efficiently accomplishing the task of reducing insurgency to an insignificant level at the soonest possible time. “Let us remember that battles & conflicts are fought and won, not by machines, but by the men behind them. No matter how technologically advanced these machines are, still it is the soldier’s attitude and the commander’s ability to employ his available resources that matters the most.” He further said.

The battalion retraining is in line with the Philippine Army’s program to refurbish the equipment and armaments of the Infantry Battalion and refresh the knowledge and skills of our soldiers to effectively carry out the pronouncement of the national leadership to put an end to the CPP/NPA terrorist movement in order to promote economic growth and development.