Health authorities campaigns for Filariasis eradication in Eastern Visayas

By GAY B. GASPAY (PIA 8)
November 9, 2006

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  – The Department of Health (DOH), Region-8 presently intensifies its campaign to eradicate permanent disability caused by the disease called filariasis.

Filariasis otherwise called in medical term as Elephantiasis or “buyong” in waray-waray speaking areas has affected a number of people in region 8, with Northern Samar as the highly affected area.

With its theme: “Filariasis Sugpuin, Gamot ay Inumin Isang Beses Isang Taon sa Loob ng Limang Taon”. Filariasis eradication by year 2010 is the prime aim of DOH and other stakeholders.

During the Filariasis Symposia & Presscon held recently at SMED Center, Taloban City, Region 8 DOH Regional Director Benita Pastor said that the eradication of Filariasis is one of the flagship program of the present administration under its comprehensive health service delivered plan, embodied in the policies signed by the President through Exec. Order No. 399 declaring every November as Mass Treatment for Filariasis in endemic areas.

It is likewise included in DOH-Formula One Program implementation framework pushing for health systems and health sector reforms on the “Disease-Free Zones Initiative” focusing on the elimination of certain disease to mention Filariasis as one of that disease, Director Pastor added.

Filariasis, according to National Center for Disease Prevention & Control, medical officer Dr. Leda Hernandez, one of the speakers during the symposia and presscon, is a parasitic disease caused by a microscopic threadlike worm called Wuchereria Bancrofti and Brugia Malaya is transmitted through bites of mosquitoes from an infected person to another.

This threadlike worms enters the body of a person through mosquito bites and usually lodges in lymph nodes. The disease is characterized by swelling of the legs, arms, breast, vagina, and scrotum. With signs and symptoms of pain, on and off fever, cough, chills, wheezing, headache, body malaise and cloudy urine for acute cases, then a person is affected with the disease.

During the early stage of infection, if a person did not submit herself/himself for blood examination no symptoms can be seen. Persons are advised to undergo an annual blood examination if they live in risk communities and to submit themselves at once for treatment if found positive of the disease so as to avoid permanent swelling of affected areas of the body.  Filariasis can be treated by stopping the spread of infection through breaking the cycle of transmission in five years time through what they call Mass Treatment subjecting every person in the community to drink the medication once a year for five years.

This disease is endemic in some areas of the country to include the Provinces of Bicol, Samar, Leyte and Davao. Mosquitoes with filariasis infection usually dwells under the leaves of an Abaca, Pandan and Banana tress and under the leaves of a rootcrop plant called gabi or gaway.

In order to avoid Filariasis affliction especially those living in endemic areas, they are advised to use mosquito nets while sleeping,  use of mosquito and insect repellants, wearing of long sleeves and long pants while in filariasis identified areas and to screen their houses. Burn dried leaves to create smoke which will drive away mosquitoes.

Dr. Hernandez enjoins that fourth state to help them in their campaign to inform the people especially in identified endemic areas of the region to support the program and accept the Mass Treatment strategy in order to attain in eradicating Filariasis by year 2010 in our country.

Rights groups slams military intel for "hit list"

Press Release
By KARAPATAN
November 9, 2006

MANILA, Philippines  – The human rights groups KARAPATAN and Desaparecidos today slammed the government intelligence agency for spying on citizens and including them on its hit list.

Human rights activists held a picket this afternoon in front of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) to protest the recent spate of human rights violations:

KARAPATAN said the Arroyo government's Oplan Bantay Laya had a mechanism called "target research" where military operatives subject citizens and citizens groups to surveillance and unilaterally list them in an order of battle. The consequence of such listing is serious threat and physical elimination through killings or enforced disappearances.

Jigs Clamor, KARAPATAN Secretary General said "Dr. Catayong and the others are among the hundreds of victims of the murderous Arroyo government."  To date, KARAPATAN listed 779 civilian victims of extrajudicial killings and 186 victims of enforced disappearances.

It was learned that Dr. Catayong was among the 31 men and women who were listed as targets of the Samar Leyte Anti-Communist Movement (SLACM) and that prior to Catayong's death, this bit of information was brought to the attention of Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo who visited Tacloban City on September 21, 2006. 

The SLACM is a partner, if not directly under the Civil Relations Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (CRS-AFP) in conducting joint rallies and smear campaign against militant organizations and citizens' groups.

Meanwhile, Desaparecidos, an organization of families of victims of enforced disappearance, echoed and supported the concerns raised by the International Commission of Jurists on the counter-terrorism law pending in the Senate that risk resulting in serious human rights violations.

Ghay Portajada, Desaparecidos Spokesperson said "The AFP have been abducting and keeping victims hidden, denying them due process and protection of law. This has been going on for years and we fear that a counter-terrorism law full of provisions prone to abuse would further lead to the rise of enforced disappearance and other human rights violations.

149 Candidate Soldier graduates!

By Maj. FELIX M. MANGYAO (INF) PA
November 8, 2006

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan, Samar  –  At least one hundred forty nine (149) Candidate Soldiers (CS) graduated after six (6) months of rigorous military training under the auspices of the 8th Infantry Division based here on November 06, 2006.

The new graduates came mostly from different municipalities of Region 8 while some came from Luzon and Mindanao. They will be distributed to different military units of this Command to serve as additional force to go after the remaining elements of the New People’s Army.

The highlight of the graduation ceremony was the message of the Commanding General of the 8th Infantry Division, MajGen. Rodrigo F. Maclang, who challenged the new graduates to do their share in nation building and in combating the Communist Terrorists (New Peoples Army) who are continuously preying on the people of this Region through their extortion activities.

He also offered five (5) points of advice to the new soldiers that would be of great help as they go along their chosen career.  Maclang encouraged them to look for a role model and make sure that they should replicate everything that is good from his role model.  Secondly, he reminded them to save money – “be judiciously in spending your money and be wise in applying for loans which is every soldiers pitfall. Be weary of loan sharks lurking in the dark, ready to deceive you.” Maclang added.

He also emphasized that learning is a continuous process as they discover the intricacies of the service. He reminded them that, we are all public servants and the civilian populace expect nothing less, so don’t let it get into your head. Further, Maclang also advised the new soldiers to stay away from troubles and drugs, for he will not hesitate to discharge anyone who cannot measure-up to standard set by the organization. Finally, Maclang challenged the soldiers to strive for excellence, and should not be content with what they already know, “do with your utmost best in all your endeavor, as you bring the 8th Infantry Division to greater and glorious heights,” Maclang ended.

In a short conversation with CS Andro A. Aberia, the top of the Class, he avowed that the 149 strong members of his Class are ready and duty bound to protect the people of Samar and Leyte from the claws of Communism. He further stressed, “we are well prepared, mentally and physically, to crush these lawless NPA in order to free our constituents from their evil doings.”

Eastern Samar champions the cause of children

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
November 8, 2006

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  In line with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s proclamation of October 2006 to October 2007 as the National Year for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, Eastern Samar leads the other provinces in Eastern Visayas when it comes to championing the rights of children.

This fact could be glimpsed from the report of the Regional Sub Committee for the Welfare of Children on the status of formulation of the Four Gifts for Children in support of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and in the mainstreaming of the Child Friendly Movement.

Of the six provinces and four cities of Eastern Visayas, only Eastern Samar under the leadership of Governor Ben Evardone, has completed the formulation of the Four Gifts of Children. Eastern Samar has formulated the provincial development plan for children, the local investment plan for children, the local code for children and Governor Evardone has presented the local state of the children report.

DSWD 8 Director Letecia Corillo who is the chairperson of the Regional Sub Committee for the Welfare of Children, noted that the provinces of Southern Leyte under Governor Rosette Lerias, Biliran under Governor Espina and Northern Samar have completed the formulation of the three gifts and are in the process of formulating their Local Code for Children.

The Provinces of Leyte under Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla and Samar under Governor Mila Tan have also completed the formulation of the three gifts of children and has not started formulating the Local Code for Children.

Meanwhile, the City of Maasin is leading the other cities of the Region in championing the cause of children. It has completed three gifts and it is in the process of completing the fourth gift which is the Local Code for Children.

The City of Tacloban is now in the process of completing the all the four gifts except the local state of the children report. The City of Ormoc has not started formulating any of the four gifts, though.

Calbayog City on the other hand, is now in the process of completing the local development plan for children and the local investment plan for children. It has not started formulating the third and the fourth gift.

Tough cop bids goodbye, PSupt. Lagmay takes over PPO Eastern Samar

By SENTAY BELIZAR-QUITORIO
November 5, 2006

BORONGAN, Eastern Samar  –  The simple turn over ceremony of the Eastern Samar Provincial PNP command Friday of last week Nov. 3, 2006, was rather emotional for the outgoing provincial director.

PSSupt. Pio Laher Manito (DSC) formally turned over the provincial PNP command of Eastern Samar to PSupt. Efren Fajardo Lagmay from the Ilocos region whose recent assignment was Regional Service Officer of PNP RO8 and a former Quezon City police officer.

PSupt. Lagmay strongly expressed his priority to continue the campaign against illegal drug.  “This is with no compromise” Lagmay declared.

Manito served the province of Eastern Samar for more than 2 years as Provincial Director of the PNP and was promoted to Police Senior Superintendent or full pledge Colonel during his stint as PD of the province. “This made my assignment in Eastern Samar very memorable” Manito tearfully declared.

Speaking through and in between quotations which he emotionally explained, Manito accepted the change of assignment as part of his career as police officer and servant of the public. His attachment to work and people he worked with made him very sentimental, “not so much with the achievements it’s just part of my job” he added.

According to Mr. Joseph Alan Limbauan the provincial administrator, before Manito became the PD, illegal drugs were rampant. It was for that reason Governor Evardone choose Manito to head the PPO to minimize if not put an end to operations of illegal drugs.

Limbauan described Manito’s toughness as loyalty to work. In fact he (Limbauan) said, Manito will pull out police officer and assign to another town when necessity calls, without informing the local chief executive. This was confirmed by the later in a telephone interview. “Possible amo ine an rason kay ano nga mayda mga mayors nga naderi ha akon and even moved to replace me as PPO (Provincial Police Office) chief” Manito alleged.  “I did not violate any law when I did the reassignment of the men under me, it was necessary and their expertise were practiced where it was needed” the former PPO chief squarely answered.

His (Manito) good records in fighting against illegal drugs operations in the region and being highly recommended by then RD Coloma, has made him the choice of the chief executive.

Records show that cases related to illegal drugs and its operation declined in Eastern Samar and was awarded the best PPO in the region in the year 2004.

However the series of more or less ten counts of unsolved extrajudicial killings seemed too deep to investigate and continuous refusal of relatives of the victims to cooperate and absence of witnesses made it doubly difficult according to the former Eastern Samar PPO chief. “We did try our best” he retorted “I trust my successor that he will continue the fight against any illegal activity and sustain peace and order of the province” Manito added.

“I am leaving with an open door that anytime the people with whom I have worked with need my help and services, gladly will I accept and hope too that when I visit the province I will find an open heart and mind and even arms to welcome me”, Manito concluded.

Another Communist Terrorist falls in Samar

By Maj. FELIX M. MANGYAO, (INF) PA
November 4, 2006

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan, Samar – Another member of the Communist Terrorist CPP/NPA identified as Jongie Openiano alias Ogie was apprehended by combined elements of Bravo Company, 52nd Infantry (Cadre) Battalion and the 34th Infantry Battalion of the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army led by Corporal Mario C Tamayo last October 26, 2006 at around five in the afternoon at Barangay Mabuligon, Matuguinao, Western Samar.

Openiano is a member of the Central Front Samar 2 under the leadership of a certain Allie Tafalla alias Macao, operating in Matuguinao and other parts of Western Samar. He was positively identified by Jovic Dela Cruz as the one who shot and killed his brother Julie Dela Cruz in the morning of October 7, 2006. Other members of Dela Cruz' family who were wounded during the incident were Dominador Dela Cruz, Jhonny Dela Cruz and Myleen Dela Cruz. Openiano was formally turned-over to the Matuguinao PNP for proper disposition. [see related news]

Records from Matuguinao PNP revealed that prior to his apprehension Openiano was involved in a series of criminal activities to include collection of revolutionary taxes, extortion, grave threats and the murder of innocent civilians who refused to give financial and logistical support to the underground movement. These are only some of the notorious activities undertaken by the communist terrorists not only here in Eastern Visayas but also in different far flung areas of the country.

MajGen. Rodrigo F. Maclang, Commanding General of the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army based at Camp Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar, once again encouraged all the Samareños to stop giving any kind of support to this band of terrorists who have done nothing good for the country.

He further encouraged everyone to give timely and valuable information to the authorities for the immediate action against atrocities that are being committed by these lawless elements. In one of the press conferences held recently, Maclang disclosed that this insurgency problem cannot be solved by the military alone. "There should be a joint effort between the civilians and the military if we are to put an end to the almost four decades old insurgency problem hounding our country. This menace to society shall continue if some of the Samareños will only take this problem for granted," Maclang added.