|
Outstanding judges of Eight
Judicial Region bared
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
February 12, 2006
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte –
Three Regional Trial Court judges and three Municipal Trial Circuit Court
judges were chosen as outstanding judges of the Eight Judicial Region.
This was bared by the Rotary
Club of Manila, the first Rotary Club in Asia, through its president Dr.
Cesar Ubaldo, who announced that Regional Trial Court Executive Judge
Salvador Apurillo, RTC Judge Francisco Gedorio Jr. and Absalon Fulache and
Municipal Trial Circuit Court judges Wenceslao Vanilla, Joshua Palalay and
Filemon Tandinco Jr., won the Commitment to Justice Award in Region 8.
According to past president
Fortunato Gupit Jr., chairman of the Commitment to Justice Awards Committee,
the awards have been given to the judges who have disposed of the highest
number of cases in the 2004, based on the statistics provided by the Office
of the Court Administrator.
The announcement of the
Outstanding Judges of Region 8 came as the same time as the outstanding
judges in the other Regions of the
Philippines
were also revealed.
Appropriate scrolls of honor
and pins will be given to the winning judges through the Rotary Clubs in the
Region, Dr. Ubaldo added.
Through the award, the
Rotary Club of Manila hopes to give the judges of the Philippines, models of
exemplary judges who are committed to the administration of justice at the
soonest possible time. In addition, the Club hopes to give the Filipino
people sources of inspiration that justice prevails in this country because
of judges who believe that justice delayed is justice denied.
The awardees in the national
level have been recognized in the presence of then Chief Justice Hilario
Davide and now Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, who is a past president of
the Rotary Club of Manila.
Coco-biodiesel forum
interests regional multi-sectoral groups
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA-8)
February 11, 2006
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte –
Representatives of the various transport, government, business, academe,
cooperatives, non-government and civil society sectors attended the Coco-Biodiesel
forum conducted at the DWU Audio Visual Hall,
Tacloban
City, recently.
Among the speakers were Engr.
Joel Pilapil who represented Philippine coconut Authority director, Ed
Nierva, PIA Dir. Olive Tiu and LTO Director Raul Aguilos.
Engr. Pilapil informed the
participants that the primary role of the Philippine coconut authority is to
see to it that there is an available supply of raw materials and to
encourage investors to go into the manufacture of coco-biodiesel.
Director Tiu thanked the
organizers for reproducing the PIA 8 flyer on coco-biodiesel which is in the
waray-waray dialect. She informed the body that the PIA will continue to
advocate the use of alternative sources of energy particularly coco-biodiesel
because the Region is the number 2 coconut producing region in the country.
She informed the body of the benefits of the coco-biodiesel to the country’s
economy, to the environment, to the user and to the motor vehicle using it.
She also informed the participants that the latest survey of PIA 8 indicated
that there are more people in the private sector than the government sector,
using coco-biodiesel in the Region. These are the transport and the
construction sectors and the private owners of diese-fueled motor vehicles.
She reiterated her call for the media and the participants to help in the
promotion and advocacy on the use of renewable sources of energy.
LTO director Raul Aguilos
who is also the President of the Region Eight Administrators League revealed
that he is thinking of having a caravan sometime in summer which will be
participated by motor vehicles using coco-biodiesel in order to make the
people aware of the coco-biodiesel and its benefits. He said that the Task
Force Bantay Tambutso in Region 8 which he also leads will continue to look
for ways and means to ensure that the air emitted by the vehicles will be
clean and not hazardous to the health of the citizenry.
Mr. Sammy Yap, the president
of the Urbi et Orbi made a thorough presentation on the coco-biodiesel, its
components, manufacture and benefits not only on the environment, not only
on the coffers of the government considering the dollars the government will
save because of the lesser exportation of diesel fuel but also the benefits
in terms of mileage and maintenance of the vehicles and most of all the
economic benefits of the coconut farmers.
Representatives from the
Department of Energy Visayas Field Office which is the lead agency in the
implementation of the use of coco-biodiesel as an alternative fuel, also
made a presentation on the technical aspects of the coco methyl ester better
known as coco-bisodiesel. They informed the participants that so far, the
Department of Energy has accredited only two manufacturers. The DOE can not
guarantee the quality of the products manufactured by the non accredited
manufacturers.
It was the consensus of the
participants that PGMA did right in issuing MC 55 enjoining the government
agencies to use coco-biodiesel because the government must be the example of
the people. For their part, the participants agreed that each one must do
his or her share in the promotion of coco-biodiesel as his contribution to
the government’s thrust of finding alternative and indigenous sources of
fuel in the country.
Gen. Lomibao graces PNP8 Day
celebration
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
February 8, 2006
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte – Gen.
Arturo Carbonel Lomibao exhorted the men and women of the Philippine
National Police in Region 8 to continue working hard in transforming the PNP
for a strong republic. He said that the past year has been a year of
achievements for PNP 8 in terms of fulfilling its mandates and programs.
General Lomibao who flew in
from Cebu yesterday and who had to fly back immediately to Cebu to fulfill his
commitment in a similar celebration in Cagayan de Oro, said that part of the
PNP’s strategies in transforming the PNP is the construction of PNP
buildings all over the country. With his at the helm, the General programmed
the construction of 250 PNP buildings, seven of which are being constructed
in Region 8 particularly at Southern Leyte and in Eastern Samar. He expects
to build four more in the Region before he retires in July of this year, the
General revealed.
General Lomibao thanked the
President for the additional allocation she announced during the PNP
Anniversary Celebration which the good general said will be used to field in
additional 3,000 policemen to include those who will be fielded in Region 8,
to build additional PNP buildings, to buy more guns and ammunitions so that
the PNP will be adequately armed in its maintenance of peace and order, and
to give additional benefits for the men and women of the Philippine National
Police.
He congratulated the PNP 8
led by General Eliseo dela Paz for their good work and remarkable
accomplishments particularly in the eradication of illegal gambling, the
capture of drug lords and the kidnap for ransom syndicates. He urged the men
and women of the Police to continue the good work they are doing and to fast
track the transformation of Philippine National Police for strong republic.
General dela Paz in his
welcome address emphasized the appropriateness of the theme saying that
nothing is impossible if the men and women in the PNP will set their hearts
into their chosen vocation. As it is, entering the Philippine National
Police service is very difficult and so every policeman must see to it that
they do the best they can so that they will not be removed from service.
True to his word, General
dela Paz kept the anniversary celebration simple but meaningful, in keeping
with the government’s austerity measures.
Eastern Samar BAYAN MUNA
youth leader gunned down
By
SENTAY BELIZAR-QUITORIO
With
stories from Franklin Robedizo
January 30, 2006 |
Sponsor: |
 |
BORONGAN, Eastern Samar – Another Bayan Muna member was shot dead by 3 unidentified men past eight in
the morning of January 30, 2006, at the port of this municipality in
Barangay Alang-alang sitio Rawis. Six empty shells of ammunitions from a 45
caliber pistol was found by authorities at the site of the killing.
According to sources Antonio
Alde III alyas “Taga” 25 years old, married with one child, was in his usual
pastime (fishing) at the
port of
Borongan
before reporting for work at the provincial capitol as casual worker. A
fisherman in a boat nearby saw a man with two other companions pointing a
gun shot the victim twice in the head one in the body and another in the
legs.
Post mortem investigation
conducted by Dr. Daisy Sacmar of Borongan RHU showed the victim suffered 4
gunshot wounds at the left ear, posterior neck, left shoulder and left leg
that caused his instantaneous death.
The three suspects were
described as young men wearing helmets and using a STX Honda blue motorcycle
as get away vehicle. Police said that the suspects fled via the Barangay
Alang-alang road, Sito Rawis exiting at the newly constructed detour bridge.
Some residents claimed to have spotted the suspects in the same bridge
earlier prior to the killing.
Bayan Muna group of Eastern
Samar said Taga or TG was the Secretary General of the KABUSIS (Kabataan
Burabod han Sinirangan Samar) for the municipality of Borongan and the
provincial youth coordinator of the movement. According to friends of the
victim, that prior to this incident Alde disclosed to have received death
threats but did not take it seriously since he considered himself a “no big
wig” in the movement.
Meanwhile Borongan police
ordered investigation on the case. It is noted that previous cases of murder
in Borongan and in the
province
of Eastern Samar has not yet been solved, and the manner of killing is
almost the same with the recent killing of Antonio Alde III.
In related development, a
memorandum dated January 30, 2006
was issued by Governor Ben P. Evardone to Col. Pio L. Manito, provincial PNP
director of the province directing him to conduct a thorough and speedy
investigation on the brutal killing of Antonio Alde III.
According to the memorandum
issued to Manito, Evardone wants a written report within 48 hours and the
updated concrete actions taken to abate occurrence of similar incidents.
Further, Evardone also included in the memorandum to PNP director Manito to
report status of similar incidents in past.
The Governor refers to the
killing of Atty. Norman Bocar, an Executive assistant of the governor, last
September 2005 during the town fiesta celebration, the shooting of Boy
Ambida and Doydoy Abunda (both survived but now in hiding) in separate
incidents, followed by another shooting in Maydolong killing a certain
Bembem Bajado a former municipal councilor, and recently the killing of Alde
and other unsolved crimes.
First Leyte Samar Performing
Arts Festival to be staged
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
January 30, 2006
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte – The
first Leyte Samar Performing Arts Festival will be staged on February 24,
2006 at the Leyte Normal University HRDC Gymnasium.
Tagged as “Tulay Han Aton
Tulin: Pasundayag Nga Lineyte Samarnon” (Bridge of our Heritage: Leyte Samar
Performing Arts Festival) is made possible through the National Commission
for Culture and the Arts and the Holy Infant College of Tacloban in
cooperation with the Holy Infant College Alumni Association.
According to Mrs. Evelina
Acevedo, the treasurer of the Holy Infant College Alumni Association and
Festival Project Director, the Leyte Samar Perfoming Arts Festival will
showcase Leyte-Samar traditional and tradition-inspired performing art forms
featuring well known artists based in the region in a repertoire of
choreographed folk songs, dances, drama, oral poetry, vocal singing and
instrumental music.
Mrs. Acevedo said that this
is a good venue to preserve and continuously improve the traditional
performing arts in Eastern Visayas. This will also educate the young
citizens of the Region on the culture and traditions of their Region.
She said that it is very
seldom that the best performances all over the Region in the different
performing arts, are gathered together to perform at one venue.
The festival will be led by
the world-renowned Leyte Kalipayan Dance Company of Tacloban City,
Balinsasayaw Singers of Tanauan, Leyte, Rahrah Rousers of Palo, Leyte, An
Balangaw U.P. Performing Arts Group of UP Visayas in Tacloban, the Linambay
(Komedya) of Merida, Siday poet Dr. Victorio Sugbo of Tacloban City, the
Siday performers of Can-avid, Eastern Samar, and the Ismayling and Kuratsa
of Calbayog City.
Mrs. Acevedo revealed that
tickets will be sold at affordable prices, the proceeds of which will be for
the benefit of the Balay Darangpanan: Home for the Elderly, operated by the
Religious Sisters of Mercy, who also manage the Holy Infant College of
Tacloban City.
Spotted armed group engaged firefight with
authorities at Samar Sea
By RAY P. GASPAY
January
29, 2006
|
The recovered high powered firearms from the suspects.
|
CATBALOGAN, Samar – A
firefight ensued when members of a seaborne composite team from the Samar
Police Provincial Office, 809th Police Provincial Mobile Group,
Philippine Navy Naval
Special Operations Unit 5, Naval Intelligence and Security Unit 8 and
National Intelligence and Coordinating Agency, under the supervision of
Samar PNP Provincial Director PSSpt. Arcadio B. Lelis, encountered a group
of heavily armed men who were claiming to be members of a Bantay Dagat team of
Calbayog City in the vicinity seawaters of Sitio Cuyabot, Brgy. Tunga-tunga,
Almagro, Samar.
Police report said that
on January 25, 2006 at about 1:00 in the afternoon, the composite team was
conducting a seaborne patrol on board
Philippine Navy naval craft
DF 339 at the seawaters of the first district this province to neutralize a
group of armed men engaging in extortion and piracy activities as reported
by some fishing boat operators victimizing fishing vessels operating in the
area when the encounter happened.
Prior to the incident, while
at the vicinity of the abovementioned place and upon seeing the colored
green motorboat boarded with eight (8) heavily armed men, the joint team
introduced themselves as law enforcers and instructed the said motorboat to
stop but instead, the motorboat sped off to the shoreline while at the same
time opened fire to the approaching law enforcers, prompting the team to
return fire.
The firefight lasted for
about twenty (20) minutes, after which, the suspects withdrew to the hilly
portion of Sitio Cuyabot. The joint team then conducted a brief chase and
clearing operation that resulted in the apprehension of one of the suspects
identified as Riolindo Reyes y Maupay (alias
Rio), 27 years old, single, a native of Oriental Mindoro and
presently residing at Brgy. Rawis, Calbayog City, and the recovery of the
following items to wit: three (3) Baby armalite rifles with magazines SN
551619, SN RP 143674 and one with defaced SN respectively; two (2) M14
rifles with SN 1234885 and 1234752 respectively; one (1) bandoleer with six
(6) magazines of M14 rifle; and personal belongings of the suspects.
The recovered firearms to
include the motorboat used by the suspects with markings ‘Bantay Dagat first district, Rep.
Reynaldo S. Uy and Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento’ are presently under the
custody of the Samar Police Provincial Office for proper disposition. The
apprehended suspect, Riolindo Reyes, was released by the police in the
afternoon of January 26 (Thursday) to a lawyer who introduced himself as
Atty. Sisenando Fiel, Jr. of Calbayog City after following proper
procedures.
Appropriate case is now
being prepared by the authorities for filing in court against the suspects.
U.S. Medical Mission Team donates 18 million
worth of medical equipments to the Diocese of Borongan
By
SENTAY BELIZAR-QUITORIO
January 28, 2006 |
Sponsor: |
|
BORONGAN, Eastern Samar
– The second medical mission which started from January 16 - and ended
January 27, 2006 concluded with sense of worth after a supposed holiday for
the US medical team from the Diocese of Joliet in
Illinois.
The 16 member-team was
composed of 5 medical doctors two of which were Filipinos-US based from
Pambohan Northern Samar, three nurses, 4 nurse anesthetists, one nun, one
priest, a surgical technician and a Fil-Am businessman from Ilocos region.
Doctor Victor Paul Trinkus
and wife Mary Jane both gynecologists were the head of the team. According
to them this year’s medical mission was very fulfilling because they helped
63 patients whose cases were medically substantial in the sense that somehow
they were able to minimize possible cancer patients among the marginalized
constituents.
Marlie Cenera the over all
coordinator of the mission disclosed that the team brought with them from
the US 2 anesthesia machines 6 mechanical beds, medicines, crutches and
other medical equipments worth 336 Thousand Dollars equivalent to 18M Pesos.
These were very useful during the surgery of patients with ovarian problems
and vaginal hysterectomy, thyroid and goiter cases, hernia, chest operation
and removal of cysts and recommending them for further diagnosis.
Cenera added that these
medical equipments were turned over to Bishop Leonardo Y. Medroso of the
Diocese of Borongan for him to decide which hospital to donate. Dr. Trinkus
urged the diocese to ensure the maintenance of the equipments for the next
medical missions to be conducted and has to be used with utmost
considerations for the poor. These were the only terms that the US medical
team raised during its closing and evaluation meeting.
Cenera further disclosed
that the medical mission of the Diocese of Joliet is a 10-year term
commitment which also aims to equip a hospital and train its staff who will
also be committed to work full time to that hospital, (whichever hospital
that the bishop recommends). Cenera said the Provincial Hospital will be the
recipient of all these equipments since it is the only government hospital
which cooperated in the conduct of mission and the provincial government
also gave a counterpart through the commitment of governor Evardone.
The Diocese of Borongan will
sustain the BKMM (Bulig Kablas Medical Mission) through the partnership with
the Provincial Health Services. In fact, Marlie Cenera in charge of the
program said, part of the proposed condition in the deed of donation, that
the BKMM patients identified by the parishes all over the province will be
given priority in the utilization of the equipments donated by the Diocese
of Joliet.
The provincial government
through its governor Ben P. Evardone legislated by the Sangguniang
Panlalawigan gave an amount of 480 Thousand Pesos as counterpart to the
mission. Evardone also ensured the utilization of the facilities of the
Provincial Hospital in the conduct of the 2-week-long medical mission. Dr.
Buddy Evardone the chief of the hospital and Dr. Reinerio Zamora the head of
the Health Department of the Province together with the resident physicians
and nurses formed the local medical team to support.
Beneficiaries of the medical
mission tearfully testifies to have been relieved from expenses of more than
150 thousand pesos and the misery of pain and discomfort not to include the
anxiety of waiting for death. A middle aged mother whose uterus was
defective and was suffering for years lamented “Pareho ka hin nakikiaway
nga waray ka armas mapatay ka na la nga waray panangga” (You are like
fighting in a war unarmed you face danger without protection and die). “Pero
salamat may ada mga tawo nga nabulig han sugad ha amon nga mga pobre” (But I
am thankful there are those who help poor people like us). “Salamat” (Thank
you).
|
