LtCol. Dida expressed
disappointment over the inability of this town’s chief executive to
validate the information that are being relayed to him by his men,
saying that he is not getting the right information which eventually
leads provoking circumstances, and eventually destroying the supposed
good rapport of the military and the LGU.
The army officer cited
the recent complaint of Mayor Grey pertaining to the jotting down of
the plate number of his new vehicle which landed in the town’s police
logbook the other week.
“Pina-imbistigahan ko
ang sundalo ko, and I learned na galing talaga sa munisipyo si Pfc.
Alap-ap kasi may ipina-rehistro siya, pero nung nasa labas na siya
nagti-text siya at siguro, over acting na iyong mga tao ni Mayor at
akala e sinusulat na niya ang numero ng plaka”, he explained.
The heating rift
between the LGU chief and the Officers of the 34th IB here is gaining
grounds when Mayor Joseph Grey, ultimately send in his letter request
asking for the immediate relief of the 34th IB’s top officers to the
AFP chief, Secretary of National Defense, CENTCOM Chief and to the 8th
Infantry Division command in Camp Lukban. Catbalogan, Samar.
LtCol. Dida likewise
revealed that the LGU with instructions from Mayor Grey is brewing up
an SB resolution for the ejection of the 34th IB headquarters from its
present site in Brgy. Erenas, this town.
“I am very much
frustrated of the turn of events, pero okey lang talagang ganun, ang
panawagan ko lang naman kay Mayor na sana e wag siya basta basta
magpapaniwala sa mga taong nakapaligid sa kanya, kasi hindi niya alam
isinu-suong na siya ng sarili niyang mga tao sa mga hindi tamang
kundisyon”, LtCol. Dida said.
But when asked on his
comment on the petition of Mayor Grey, the army officer told that
Mayor should have specifically pointed out his accusations saying that
would make his letter substantial and further told that he should have
furnished MGen. Jovito Palparan a copy of it for information.
On the contention of
political partisanship, LtCol. Dida clarified that the staff of the
Operation Blessing of the 700 Club has the final say as to the
operation of its projects is concerned in the said locality, “and our
role is just to see to it that they would be able to implement their
concerns without jeopardizing their safety being the primary partner
of this NGO in their civic programs”, LtCol. Dida informed.
He clarified likewise
that the staff of the 700 Club went to see the Mayor twice to
coordinate the Operation Blessing Well Projects, but accordingly Mayor
Grey was out in that two instances, thus, forcing the said NGO to get
in the nod and acknowledgement of this town’s vice-mayor, being the
second highest elective official.
“And iyong sinasabi
niya na security details sa bahay ng vice-mayor, hindi naman para kay
vice-mayor iyon, nagkata-on na ang ibang mga tao ng Operation Blessing
ay dun sa bahay ng vice-mayor naka-bilet, natural na maglagay kami ng
sundalo dun for security reasons”, he explained, adding that the Light
Armored Vehicle that was said to be part of the complaint as being
used to secure the barangay visits of the vice-mayor was only used
once, but not for the vice-mayor but during the road inspection visit
of Gov. Milagrosa T. Tan to Brgy. Mobo-ob, a remote barangay of this
town.
The army officer
likewise denied the allegations that he, together with vice-mayor
Marcelino Yu allegedly is plotting a political demolition job against
the Mayor by consolidating adverse documents such as a copy of the
alleged warrant of arrest against a certain Stephen Grey, which is
wanted for Murder in Manila and other papers which attributes
adversities to the first family of this town.
Allegedly, Stephen
Grey is a son of the Mayor and subsequently LtCol. Dida showed the
media a copy of the warrant dated
August 10, 2005,
but quick to inform that the said warrant was only handed to them by
the CIDG for information purposes and to assist the police in tipping
them once the said wanted person is sighted.
He likewise retorted
back on the allegations of the army’s involvement in the killings of
Mayor Grey’s identified supporters, citing the circumstance of the
death of Danilo Adona alias “Wangbu”, which was found dead in a rice
field wrapped up in a “banig” allegedly coming from the house of Mayor
Grey.
The army officer
however did not comment on the question if reconciliation between them
with the town’s chief is still possible, but told that he is not
taking the matter personally, and will just stay silent until the
political heat in this town subsides.
Search for Cleanest,
Greenest barangay this City, on going
By ED MEJICA
September 7, 2006
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– In the hope and strong resolve to create and build a cleaner,
greener, and healthier environment, the City Environment and Natural
Resources Office (CENRO), together with the Department of Health, and
Department of Interior and Local Government initiated the search for
the “Clean, Green and Healthy Barangay in Tacloban City” as part of
the Clean and Healthy Cities Initiative Program” launched sometime in
the month of June this year.
This Program seeks to
achieve a better social environment, which supports and promotes
better health conditions and quality of life for the constituency.
Furthermore, it intends to educate Filipinos on the value of
cleanliness, discipline and cooperation; and to increase the level of
awareness on environmental issues.
In support of the
program, Mayor Alfredo T. Romualdez issued an executive Order creating
a technical working group on its advocacy in order to sustain its
workable policies, and program in promoting a healthy environment for
the city.
During the meeting,
Jonathan Hijada, CENRO Chief, pointed out that the city major concern
these days, in supporting its objectives is to get involved in looking
and the search for the cleanest and greenest barangay from among its
138 barangay units.
From this initial
stage, the city will be able to determine the top 3 qualifiers to vie
for the regional and at the same time be qualified for the national
competition.
Based on its
guidelines, the search teams will focus their efforts this September,
duly represented from the local government unit, the non-government
organizations and from the national government, they’re so
knowledgeable and possessing expertise in handling the selection
process.
Ratings will be based
on criteria from general cleanliness, with well-maintained facilities,
presence of healthful and environmental health practices, etc. And,
under the urban space greening, with well maintained green areas and
some support system provided by the barangay on its programs and
projects, etc., relative to sustain a healthful environment.
In a matter of three
months, winners will be determined to receive P50,000; P30,000; and
P15,000; for the first, second and third prizes respectively, with
still 10 consolation prizes at stake.
The formal awarding
will be scheduled this coming December 2006.
Meeting was convened
with representatives from the department of Health, the City Hospital,
the City Health Office, the City DILG Office, the City General
Services Office, KIMRO, and the City ENRO who presided and acted as
the chairperson under the program.
Villar: Human Rights victims under Marcos regime to be compensated
soon
Senate Bill No. 1745 approved on third
reading
By OSV / PNS
September 7, 2006
MANILA, Philippines
– Voting 13-0, the
Senate approved on third reading on Monday night (September 4), Senate
Bill (SB) No. 1745 under Committee Report No. 4, or ‘an act providing
for compensation to the victims of human rights violations during the
regime of former President Ferdinand Marcos, documentation of said
violations, appropriating funds therefore and for other purposes’.
Under SB 1745 or the
‘Human Rights Victims Compensation Act’, compensation will be extended
to the victims of human rights violations committed during the regime
of former President Marcos covering the period of September 21, 1972
to February 25, 1986.
Human rights
violations can be any of the following: warrant-less search, arrest or
detention during the declaration of Martial Law; physical injury,
torture or killing or violation of other human rights including the
freedom of speech, assembly or organization; involuntary exile of a
person from the country; unjust or illegal takeover of a business,
confiscation of property or deprivation of livelihood of a person;
involuntary disappearances; stealing or exploiting of children; sexual
offenses against detainees; violation of the rights of the freedom of
the press; violation of the rights of labor by preventing and
dispersing peaceable strikes; and other violation similar to the above
including those recognized by international law.
“Senate Bill 1745, and
its equivalent House Bill, had been certified as urgent by the
President. So, we acted on it once and for all. Bicameral discussions
on the disagreeing provisions of the measure will follow shortly,”
says Villar, President of the Nacionalista Party.
SB 1745 is authored by
Senators Joker Arroyo, Sergio Osmeña III and Aquilino Pimentel. The
Senate panel for the bicameral conference committee is composed of
Senators Arroyo, Kiko Pangilinan, Ralph Recto, Osmeña and Pimentel.
Army's 8th ID calls Fr. Salas
a first rate liar
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE, (PIA
Samar)
September 6,
2006
CATBALOGAN, Samar –
"The statement made by Fr. Rodrigo Salas, Information Officer of NDF-Eastern
Visayas branding the discovery of a mass grave in Sapang Daco,
Caulisihan, Inopacan Leyte as a "massive hoax" just confirmed their
color- FIRST RATE LIARS!"
This statement was in
a press release distributed to PIA and other media outlets in
Catbalogan town Tuesday.
The statement by Salas
stemmed from the news reports about the discovery of a mass grave of
NPA believed to have been victims of the so called ‘purge’ when NPA
leadership suspected its own ranks of being governments spies. The
grave was reported to be in Inopacan, Leyte.
Capt. Jose Francis de
la Fuente, who penned the press release, added that “this is not a
question of leadership (PGMA, Gonzales and Gen. Esperon) but of
innocent victims who were duped in joining the terrorist NPA and were
brutally murdered because of insecure and selfish leaders.”
It also stated that it
was not scripted but about people who for years agonizingly waited for
their relatives’ safe return and more so about justice for the
victims, their relatives and the entire nation.
On Monday, the LSDE
with a region-wide circulation featured as its banner story, Fr. Salas
claiming that, "the massive hoax desperately aims to cover up the
murder by the Arroyo government of more than 700 activists and
civilians to date and by demonizing the Communist Party of the
Philippines and the New Peoples Army as inherently evil and inhumane."
To this, 18th ID
responded with an equally strongly termed denunciation and addressed
Fr. Salas and his lot to "Stop calling yourself Father and using the
robe as your shield, be true to your conscience, you and your so
called human rights advocates, KARAPATAN, KATUNGOD and others know the
truth."
The statement
concluded with, "It takes more than 20 years for the truth to come
about your purging activities and another 20 years for the truth to
come about the extra judicial killings that is happening now to
discredit the government, grab media mileage and advance your
senseless cause!"
Military bares list of
CPP-NPA-NDF “cleansing” victims
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
September 6, 2006
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte –
The victims of the purging of the CPP-NPA-NDF Southern Leyte Front are
not only from Inopacan but also in the different barangays of Baybay,
Leyte.
This was learned from
Lt. Col. Mario Lacurum who explained that the Garden which is how the
NPA called the place is in the boundary of the towns of Inopacan,
Baybay and Mahaplag, Leyte. This is the typical location of the
communist rebels, to locate in the boundary of several towns where
they have several escape routes.
Lt. Col Lacurom of the
43rd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army observed that many of
the victims have the same family names which reveal that they were
relatives. Per information gathered from former NPA members, some of
those who abducted the victims were their own relatives. It is really
horrible what the NPA rebels did to the very same people they pledged
to help and protect. Instead of making the lives of families easier,
they destroyed them to the extent of making a member of the family
betray the other members.
The victims whose
names were given by the relatives or the residents or the NPA
surrenderees some of whom saw how they were tortured to death by
burning plastic and allowing it to melt on the bodies of the victims
or by jumping on their breast, are from Barangays Monterico, Cabungaan,
Maypatag, Ampihanon, Pansagan and Amguhan in the municipality of
Baybay and Barangay Camansi in Inopacan town.
The partial list given
to PIA includes the 21 purging victims from Barangay Monterico, Baybay,
Leyte, namely: Domingo Eras who was identified by his brother,
Leonarda Eras, Salvador Aviola, Juanita Aviola, Avelino Ayag, Victor
Pasuhil, Concepcion Danguilles, Dome Napoles, Paquito Tronueva, Carlos
Tronueva, Mode Seda, Tito Ayoc, Necoy Catibo, Mancito Solirmo,
Constancio Fernandes, Normalito Eras, Marcia Abenoja, Rafael
Pantoliaga, Anastacio Mayegue, Pedro Alberco and a certain Poncing.
From Barangay
Cabungaan, Baybay, Leyte, the list of the victims include Leonardo
Ballino, Lorenzo Pulta, Cirilo Albarico, Dicong Abilay, Felix
Capillanes, Restituto Ejoc, Carlos Espejo, Jovencio Ballino, Rodolfo
Marra, Angel Jomoc, Wenie Edace, Segundino Estellero, Balbino Rim,
Reynaldo Capillanes, Roman Dedace, Apolonio Saldaga, Isias Laguardia,
Rogelio Daniel, Toring Roluna, Zacarias Laguardia, Netoy Garciano and
Floro Barcos.
The names of six
victims from Barangay Maypatag, Baybay,
Leyte were Tebora Prado, Zosemo Prado, Danilo Macajeto, Inying
Tenaja, Ruel Tenaja and Gorio Tenaja.
From Barangay Amguhan,
Baybay, Leyte, the list includes the following name of victims:
Guellermo Daging, Junior Umbay, Junior Mellapes, Candoy Tenaja,
Anatalio Marona, Zacarias Casil, Alfredo Umbay, Domingo Albarico,
Lucricio Umbay, Jemmy Roluna, Patricio Devocion and Juanito Sayson.
Jose Cabonegro,
Marcelino Tayabas, Danny Limpios and Tonny Baron are the names of the
victims from Barangay Ampihanon, Baybay,
Leyte while Netoy
Garciano is the only victim from Pagsagan, Baybay, Leyte.
From Barangay Camansi
in Inopacan, Leyte, three names were listed: Crispin Calmacio, Casito
Casundo and a certain Bandoy.
The remains of the 67
victims exhumed from the Garden now lie in state at the San Isidro
Labrador Catholic Chapel of Hibod-Hibod, Sogod,
Southern Leyte.
Samarnons unite to
demand for better roads
By ELI C. DALUMPINES, (PIA
Samar)
September 5,
2006
