|
Figueroa, Redaja still
lead in poll survey in Samar
By CHITO DELA TORRE
March
11, 2010
CATBALOGAN CITY – Samar Second District ex-congressman Catalino Figueroa of the island
town of Daram stretched further his already big lead in the
continuing internet poll survey participated in voluntarily by those
who access Piniliay 2010 in www.samarnews.com [
link ]. As of
3 p.m. of March 8 (Monday), Cata got more than half (52 per cent)
of the 636 votes. He amassed 328 votes. That shows he is as of this
time the favourite choice among six candidates for Member of the House
of Representatives for
Samar’s 2nd
District.
|
Redaja |
Figueroa |
The poll survey showed
incumbent Catbalogan City vice-mayor Van Torrevillas only 64 votes
(10%) and incumbent Basey mayor Wilfredo Estorninos 58 (9%). Outgoing
Samar governor Mila Tan nested on a poor fourth berth with only 43
(7%) to her credit, while new names Urbano Alli and Alvin Abejuela
took the poorer and the poorest slots, respectively, with 19 and 16
(both with a 3% percentage equivalence) votes to their credits.
Cata’s votes even went
much higher by 94 votes than that polled for the leading gubernatorial
candidate, incumbent vice-governor and once 90-day governor Jesus B.
Redaja. Jess got only 234 (37%) but still he is the top choice among
six hopefuls for the position of governor. He is followed by
non-government organization leader Pilar Bolok who seized 68 votes
(11% and incumbent sangguniang panlalawigan member Casilda Lim who got
59 (9%). Sharee Ann, incumbent 2nd Dist. Congresswoman and daughter
of Mila Tan, snatched the poor fourth place with 49 (8%) to her
credit. Pedro Labid, a lawyer with a religious group’s backing,
collected 24 votes (4%), while political new-face Darwin Tan kept his
miserable tail-end of 3 votes only (0%).
In the
vice-gubernatorial informal polls, ex-San Jorge mayor Joseph Grey
managed to lead with 135 votes (21%). Rosenaida Rosales reaped 104
(16%) to keep her self on second place. The third and last place
belongs to Stephen James Tan who scored 37 (6%) only.
In the congressional
rivalry for the First District of Samar, Mario Roño (who had a poor
showing in the gubernatorial race to which he was catapulted for a
first try at politics by a mammoth gathering of town and barrio
officials) coveted the top berth with 80 votes (13%). Incumbent
Calbayog City mayor Mel Sarmiento came in closest with 73 votes (11%)
while ex-congressman, lawyer Rodolfo Tuazon kept his third place with
63 (10%). New faces Rodrigo and Alex, both surnamed Tuazon, are
miserable tail-enders with 4 and 3 votes (1% and 0%) respectively.
Those who want to cast
their votes may just go to Piniliay 2010 of this website and click the
join the poll survey tab.
Based on these latest
results, some of those who participated in the survey remarked that
the Tans may not probably be aware of their unconvincing performance
in the survey, but even if they were so, they are probably still
comfortable with the current show of support for them.
However, that show of
support is fast being eaten up by the groundswell of favouring votes
for Cata and if it is erosive, Mila may lose a big chunk in the actual
cast. Yet, Mila’s supporters may not have anything to worry if they
are keeping up their sleeves aces that can overturn the current
indications.
Mila has since January
this year been known to be supporting the presidential candidacy of
senator Manny Villar, and Manny is believed to be providing campaign
funds for Mila. To some of her supporters, that is enough for her to
gain an edge come balloting day.
Didi, who is believed
to have the full backing of the Noynoy-Mar banner of the Liberal
Party, may yet prove he could get the lead. Electoral pulsation in
Samar showed lately that Manny’s Nacionalista Party is also ahead in
“pamulso” as in other parts of the country, that after playing second
fiddle to Noynoy in the early surveys. Yet, Didi has yet to outrank
Van first. Van is fast getting ahead past Didi. Some electors
believe the youth group in Catbalogan could be behind this lead of Van
who openly supported the youth's undertakings since he ran for his
reelection in 2004 to the post of vice-mayor.
This late, though,
other sectors are awaiting for surprise gambits and brilliancy moves
from all those who are lagging behind. Perhaps next week’s results
will not yet proclaim a reversal of performance.
Pinay In Action All-Women’s Run 2010
1,000 women to run for
empowerment, rights
Press Release
By Office of Sen. Pia S. Cayetano
March 9, 2010
PASAY CITY – At
least 1,000 women from Metro Manila and neighboring provinces are
expected to run at this year’s staging of Pinay In Action, an
all-women’s run to be held on March 13, Sunday, at the SM Mall of Asia
Grounds in Pasay City.
 The first and only
all-women’s running competition in the country, Pinay In Action
promotes women’s rights, health, and empowerment in observance of the
International Women’s Month of March. This year’s event will benefit
indigent patients with ovarian, cervical and breast cancer.
Spearheaded by Senator
Pia S. Cayetano, this year’s staging will feature 10-kilometer and
5-kilometer open individual run events, and a 1.6-kilometer team run,
which will pit adult-and-child tandems.
The three events will
start in sequence at
6:00 am for 10K,
6:05 am for 5K and
6:10 am for the 1.6K team run. Awards and special prizes will be given
to the top ten finishers in each event.
“Pinay In Action gives
women a venue to express themselves, keep healthy and fit, and simply
have fun. Running is a symbol of empowerment and freedom. Thus, a
running woman is a symbol of an empowered and independent woman,”
explained Cayetano, a running enthusiast and principal author of the
recently passed Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710).
“The event is not
exclusive for female runners,” she clarified. “Men may also join on
the condition that they register with a female participant and run
behind the women at the starting line. It is also understood they will
not be eligible for the prizes in the individual running events. In
fact, men are encouraged to participate to express their support to
women’s causes.”
Race details and
registration forms are available online on www.pinayinaction.com.
Pre-registration fee is at P350, while race day registration fee is at
P450. The race packet includes the participant’s race number, race
shirt, route map and PIA fact sheet. Race day registration starts at
5:00 AM at the venue.
As in its previous
stagings, Pinay In Action 2010 will feature a Women’s Expo which will
be put up at the Seaside Boulevard facing Manila Bay. The Expo will
showcase wellness products and host information booths on women’s
concerns such as breast, cervical and ovarian cancer, and violence
against women and children. Entrance to the Women’s Expo is free to
the public.
Part of the proceeds
of this year’s event will go to the full radiation treatment of 20
indigent cervical cancer patients and the screening for cervical
cancer of 1,000 indigent patients at the Dr. Jose Reyes Memorial
Medical Center, in cooperation with Carewell Foundation. One full
radiation treatment is P20,000, while screening is at P130 per
patient.
The event will also
benefit breast cancer patients. Pinay In Action will donate funds to
the I Can Serve Foundation for the purchase of
DVD players and instructional videos, which will be
distributed to different barangays all over the country to raise
awareness on breast cancer. Each P1,000 donation by race participants
to I Can Serve will be matched with the same amount of donation by
Pinay In Action.
Women occupy only 19 percent of world’s parliament seats
PIA: “Men still make
the laws of the world”
By Office of Senator Pia S. Cayetano
March 7, 2010
PASAY CITY – Men
continue to dominate membership in national parliaments all over the
world despite significant gains in women’s empowerment and
participation in governance in recent years.
|
FILIPINA
CHAIRS UN MEETING. Senator Pia S. Cayetano (2nd from R) of the
Philippines presides over the 54th session of the United Nations
Commission on the Status of Women held at the UN Headquarters in
New York. |
This was the finding
of the latest study on women membership in national parliaments by the
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), according to Senator Pia S. Cayetano
of the Philippines.
Cayetano, President of
the IPU committee of women parliamentarians, said that barely just one
out of every five lawmakers (18.8 percent) in the world today is a
woman.
“Even in these modern
times where women have become more politically aware and socially
empowered, the hard and sad fact is that men continue to write the
laws of our world,” Cayetano stressed.
The Filipino senator
chaired the 54th session of the United Nations Commission on the
Status of Women, an annual conference of parliamentarians jointly
organized by the IPU and United Nations Division for the Advancement
of Women.
More than 140
representatives from 150 countries attended the main conference and
side meetings held at the UN Headquarters in
New York
from March 2-4.
Cayetano noted that as
of January 31, the IPU found out that men made up 36,330 (81.2
percent) while women occupied only 8,767 (18.8 percent) of the 44,767
seats of parliaments (combined upper and lower houses) all over the
world.
This figure represents
a marginal improvement from 18.3 percent in 2009, and still a far cry
from the target set by the UN Economic and Social Council of having a
minimum of 30 percent women lawmakers in all parliaments. In 1995,
women occupied only 11.3 percent of the world’s combined parliamentary
seats.
She added that the IPU
has been at the forefront of promoting the election of female
legislators among its member-parliaments. Among the schemes the world
body has introduced is the setting of “gender quotas” to encourage
more women to enter politics.
Compared by regional
averages, Nordic countries and the
Americas
registered the highest ratio of women parliamentarians at 42.1 percent
and 22.2 percent, respectively. They are followed by Europe (19.9 to
21.8 percent), Asia (18.9 percent) and Sub-Saharan Africa (18.4
percent). The regions with the lowest ratio of women parliamentarians
are the Pacific (13.2 percent) and Arab countries (10.1 percent).
In the Philippines,
she noted that women comprise only four of the current 23 members of
the Senate (17.4 percent) and occupy 51 out of 240 seats in the House
of Representatives (21.3 percent).
Cayetano concluded:
“The active participation of women and the integration of their
perspective in all levels of governance are crucial in pursing social
equity, genuine development and peace in any country.”
“True democracy
presupposes that men and women are able to work as partners and as
equals, and able to learn from each other’s differences."
Aquino pushes for
expansion of geothermal production
Press Release
March
6, 2010
TACLOBAN CITY –
Liberal Party standard bearer Noynoy Aquino on Tuesday pushed for the
expansion of renewable energy sources, saying that the country should
aim to become the world’s largest producer of geothermal energy.
 He also decried the
failure of the Arroyo administration to properly manage the country’s
existing power generation capacities resulting in the current power
shortages.
“She has been in power
for almost nine years, and yet here we are facing brownouts during a
crucial election season,” the 50-year old senator from Tarlac said in
press conference here.
“This is criminal
negligence. We know that El Niño was going to visit the country. They
knew that Mindanao was going to have a power supply problem. They
should have mapped out a plan earlier on,” Aquino said.
He pointed out it
would take two to three years to build a power plant. But he
acknowledged that there are large-capacity generators which government
can buy to address the lack of supply.
“Mahal patakbuhin,
mahal bilhin (generators). At sa last 2 minutes, masyadong midnight
deal na di natin matiyak ano ang pakay,” Aquino said.
He also said that
while he is open to a special session of Congress to discuss a
possible grant of emergency powers to President Arroyo, Malacañang
must first answer questions on the current power crisis.
The LP bet said he
prefers developing clean, renewable energy because it is less
polluting than fossil fuels.
With more than 1,900
MW of installed geothermal capacity, the Philippines is the
second-largest producer of geothermal energy.
The government has set
a goal of increasing this figure to 3,100 MW within a decade, which
would make the Philippines the largest geothermal energy producer,
surpassing the United States.
NICUA Mining Corp.
insists on misleading destructive effects of mining in Brgy. Pongon,
MacArthur, Leyte
Press Release
By SAGUPA-SB
March 5, 2010
TACLOBAN CITY –
Through their Safety Manager, Mr. Ver Abrugar, NICUA Mining
Corporation is trying to deceive the people, particularly the farmers
of Brgy. Pongon, MacArthur, Leyte by saying that mining 4 meters deep
of soil will not destroy the environment especially on the quality of
the land.
With mining, they will
dig out some minerals like iron but will also include the vegetation,
bacteria, worms and other micro organisms living on the earth, which
have the big role of maintaining the fertility of the soil. Such is
contrary to Mr. Abrugar's statement that mining will not affect the
quality of the land since they will return the soil from where they
excavated it.
“Any million worth of
money would never replace the damage brought by mining the 523
hectares of land” said Jose Tico, Spokesperson of SAGUPA-SB
40 million tons of
magnetite ore is estimated to be extracted from the said land within
almost more than 30 years. This will allegedly amount millions to the
social progress of the affected community.
“NICUA Mining's
declaration that there will be rehabilitation of the land, is
impossible, especially because they will apply chemical fertilizer on
the land. Also, they are mistaken to say that this place is not
productive to farmers considering that for decades, they have been
living in MacArthur,
Leyte,” Tico clarifies.
“There is no
responsible mining and social progress when, you deprive bounty from
the people, you destroy the environment and drive away farmers from
their fields. Rather, those are irresponsible steps for the interests
of foreign capitalists,” added Tico.
In retrospect, on
February 15, farmers of Brgy. Pongon held a protest led by Fr. Arnold
Aurelio, parish priest of MacArthur, Leyte. And on March 3, they had a
meeting on mining in MacArthur, with Archbishop Jose Palma of the
Archdioceses of Palo.
Print Edition of Samar News.com is born
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE
March
4, 2010
 CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar
– The Samar News.com Print Edition will soon be out in circulation.
In its launch
yesterday, attended by government officials, NGOs and fellow media
personalities at the Cocina de Cabral in Catbalogan City,
Samarnews.com the printed edition took center stage along with
‘publisher parents’ Engr. Ray Gaspay and local media personality
Imelda Bonifacio.
In her speech,
Bonifacio vowed to perpetuate the paper as most community papers have
not sustained the test of time.
Samar News.com is an
on-line publication maintained by Engr. Ray Gaspay.
“The hard copy of
Samar News.com is an offering to barangay folks who do not have access
to the internet,” added Bonifacio in her speech.
The maiden printed
issue is an 8-page tabloid size with a red background color in its
front page.
The newcomer community
newspaper has also some Waray news intended for the masses, the
publisher said.
This newspaper will
now join the ranks of weekly community papers circulating in Samar
province like Samar Weekly Express, The Samar Monitor and the Samar
Sunday Star.
Like all other press
entities, Samar News.com vows to furnish Samarnons with the truth!
(PIA-Samar)
Maza dismayed at SC
ruling on VFA, challenges next administration to abrogate VFA
Press Release
By MAKABAYAN
March 3, 2010
MANILA – Nacionalista-Makabayan senatorial candidate Rep. Liza Maza of Gabriela
expressed dismay over the latest decision of the Supreme Court
affirming the constitutionality of the US-RP Visiting Forces Agreement
(VFA).
"The Supreme Court
decision shows the Philippine government’s continued subservience to
the interests of the
United States
government,” Maza said.
Maza is a
co-petitioner in the joint motion with former senator Jovito Salonga,
together with Evalyn Ursua, the lawyer of alleged rape victim Suzette
Nicolas, and lawyer Neri Colmenares representing militant groups
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).
The three-term
representative of Gabriela challenged the next administration to
uphold Philippine sovereignty by working for the abrogation of the
US-RP VFA.
In its motion for
reconsideration, the group argued that "the US soldiers are
circumventing the Constitution as well as the sovereignty of the
Philippines by visiting the country under the pretext of conducting
training exercises, but are actually setting up military positions
under long-term plans."
Named respondents in
the suit were US Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith, President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Foreign Affairs
Secretary Alberto Romulo, then Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez,
Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, and then Chief Presidential Legal
Counsel Sergio Apostol.
Assistant Solicitor
General Luis Simon said that the constitutionality of the VFA has been
deemed "final and valid" when the Court of Appeals in April 2009
acquitted Smith of raping Nicolas in November 2005.
Smith flew out of the
Philippines less than 24 hours after the CA ruling was announced.
Leyte guv assures rice
farmers province ready against El Niño effects
By
Provincial
Media Relations Center
March 1, 2010
TACLOBAN CITY – Even
as their farmlands remain unaffected by the El Niño phenomenon, farmer
in Julita, Leyte has already requested for water pumps for their rice
fields as mitigation measure and to brace for the long dry spell this
year.
In a meeting with
Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla, farmers from Brgy. Dita, Julita,
Leyte expressed alarm over the longer dry days over the past weeks
would affect their production during this cropping season.
However, Gov. Petilla
said he is confident that Leyte’s irrigation system can well sustain
the effects of El Niño and still provide adequate yield for rice
farmers in the province.
According to the
Department of Agriculture, Leyte is more or less 97% irrigated and has
other water sources that can be tapped to bring water to the rice
fields.
The governor assured
the rice farmers that the provincial government can provide for the
necessary equipment to supply the needed amount of water for rice
fields not to dry out.
The province through
the Provincial Agriculturist Office has already readied mitigation
plans to aid farmers in bracing against El Niño.
Gov. Petilla otherwise
informed the farmers that aside from the El Nino, the agriculture
sector has also to contend with the changing climate, effect of which
is already being felt all over the world.
He said that the
expected long dry season is part of the effects of climate change that
there is a need to adapt to the new environmental condition.
It was learned that
through the agriculture department varieties of rice have been
developed in such a way that they could adapt to different kinds of
climate condition
Earlier, the DA-8e
urged farmers to be prepared for the worst as some 14 provinces have
been adversely affected by the El Niño phenomenon.
Although the region as
a whole is considered to be moderately affected, the Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)
warns farmers that El Niño is a real occurrence expected to last until
the month of July and that serious mitigation measures must be
implemented.
Pinoy sailors’
remittances up $366M
Press Release
By TUCP
February 27, 2010
MANILA – Filipino
sailors aboard foreign ocean-going vessels wired home a total of $3.4
billion in 2009, up $366 million or 12.06 percent from $3.034 billion
in 2008, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) reported
over the weekend.
TUCP secretary-general
and former Senator Ernesto Herrera said Filipino sailors based in
Europe remitted $1.156 billion last year, up $509.594 million or 78.82
percent from $646.406 million in 2008.
Herrera said the cash
sent home by Filipino sailors based in
Asia also increased $180.343 million or 55.07 percent
year-on-year, to $507.801 million from $327.458 million.
The hefty increases
outweighed the $325-million or 16 percent year-on-year drop in
remittances from Filipino sailors based in
America,
to $1.706 billion from $2.031 billion, said Herrera, former chairman
of the Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources
development.
TUCP's revelation came
shortly after the Philippine government bared a plan to sell $500
million of dollar- and euro-denominated bonds to overseas Filipino
workers (OFWs), to partly bridge the projected P293 billion budget
deficit this year.
Last year's 12.06
percent growth in remittances from sea-based OFWs was three times
faster than the 4.15 percent or $555 million year-on-year increase in
the cash sent home by land-based OFWs.
Aggregate remittances
coursed through banks by all land- and sea-based OFWs increased
$921-million or 5.61 percent, to $17.348 billion in 2009 from $16.427
billion in 2008, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
Of the $921-million
increase, land-based OFWs contributed 60 percent, while those at sea
covered the rest.
Sailors now contribute
20 cents out of every dollar sent home by all OFWs, according to
Herrera, whose labor center includes the Philippine Seafarers'
Union.
Herrera said
remittances from Filipino sailors should continue to grow at a
double-digit rate this year, especially once the American economy
regains strength.
Last week, a group of
44 Filipino crewmembers ended their lockdown over unpaid wages aboard
the bankrupt casino cruise ship Palm Beach Princess at Florida's
Riviera Beach City.
One out of four
workers aboard international cruise ships is a Filipino.
Calbayog Prosecutor’s
Office conducts marathon inquest proceedings against gun ban violators
By GINA D. RAGUDO
February
24, 2010
CALBAYOG CITY, Samar
– A marathon inquest proceeding was conducted by the City
Prosecutor’s Office in the afternoon of February 22, 2009 after the
arrest of 21 individuals for violating R.A. 8294 in relation to
COMELEC Resolution No. 8714 or Rules and Regulations on the bearing,
carrying or transporting of firearms or other deadly weapons and
employment, availment or engagement of the services of security
personnel personnel or bodyguards during election period for the
May 10, 2010 local and national elections.
 Among the 21 suspects,
two are under the custody of City Social Welfare and Development
Office, while 19 have been subjected to inquisition under Chief
Prosecutor Feliciano Aguilar and Prosecutors Virgilio Cabral and
Ferdinand Arpon respectively, and Michael Terga who had an outstanding
warrant of arrest for murder, died in an encounter against the joint
elements of the Regional Public Safety Management Battalion (RPSMB),
Regional Intelligence Division (RID) and Special Task Group - Private
Armed Group (STAG
PAG).
It is note taking that
the following persons namely Liberato D. Logero, Wendel G. Terga,
Lolito O. Jalayajay, Jesus A. Jalayajay, Antonio B. Ayawan (residents
of Brgy. San Jose, Calbayog City); Herminigildo S. Estoconing,
Wilfredo D. Velasco, Geronimo M. Velasco, Marwin O. Velasco, Francisco
J. Velasco (Brgy. Sinantan), Romulo B. Paghunasan (Brgy. Navarro),
Jimmmuel T. de Pablo, Elbito P. Fermino, Felipe A. Eyano, Merlito A.
Eyano, Restituto T. Sabilao (Brgy. Patong), Jimmy J. Dealagdon, Elmer
L. Dealagdon (Brgy. Hibatang) and Leo Y. Macabidang (Brgy. Rawis) were
arrested on February 21, around 3:45 in the morning. The joint
elements has confiscated 41 assorted firearms from said operation such
as rifle single shotguns with magazines, calibres 5.56, 22, 45, and
357, airgun, M16 rifle, Ingram and KG9 sub- machine guns and different
ammunitions.
In an interview, PInsp.
Alden E. Dugan revealed that the simultaneous operation conducted by
the joint elements was based on the virtue of the warrants of arrest
issued by Hon. Judge Manuel F. Torrevillas of
RTC Branch 32 and Hon. Judge Reynaldo B. Clemens of
RTC Branch 31 against
Michael Terga for a crime of murder and Lolito Jalayajay for violation
of Section 78 (now Sec. 77) of R. A. 7161, respectively.
He added that based on
the intelligence report, suspects were frequenting in Brgy. Patong and
staying in any of the houses of said place.
Jimmy J. Dealagdon on
the other hand denied allegation of his involvement in the private
armed group based in Brgy. Hibatang and attesting himself as a member
of the lupon.
While the inquest
proceeding was being conducted, Chief Prosecutor Feliciano Aguilar
said that the two minors under the custody of CSWDO will be exempt
from the inquisition and the same office will determine should there
be discernment on their commission of the crime.
Local terrorists blast
IED in DavSur
By DPAO, 10th Infantry Division, PA
February
23, 2010
PANACAN, Davao City
–
Local terrorists blasted an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the
village of Sangay in Malita town in Davao del Sur province
1:35 PM Saturday.
The bomb blast
narrowly missed a passing military convoy going to the village of
Pangleon also in Malita town. Reports show that soldiers were on their
way for a community outreach and “pulong-pulong” (village meeting)
when the explosion occurred.
Local Terrorist
Front-71 (LTF-71) of the New People’s Army (NPA) is believed to be
behind the newest IED explosion in Davao del Sur. Last year four
policemen and a civilian were killed when NPA terrorists exploded a
roadside bomb in this province.
The 10th Infantry
Division (10ID) under Maj. Gen Carlos Holganza strongly condemned the
recent attack. “These local terrorist clearly do not respect Human
Rights. The use of IED is outlawed by every civilized nation in the
world. It clearly shows the terrorist nature of the CPP-NPA-NDF.”
Holganza said.
A record number of
IEDs were blasted by local terrorists in region 11 in the past. A
total of 11 IEDs exploded in the region in 2009, eight of these
explosions resulted in the killing of 11 (10 of which were government
troops and one civilian) and wounding of 30 individuals (28 government
agents and two civilians). Six of these explosions were in the
hinterland parts of Davao City, three in Davao Oriental, one each in
Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur and Compostela Valley Provinces.
Several unexploded
IEDs were also recovered by government troops in different parts of
region 11 in 2009.
No less than Leoncio
Pitao, the notorious terrorist leader in Davao region admitted the use
of IED as one of their tactic in fighting the government in stating
before the media about their emplacements of IEDs fashioned out as
“landmines” along road nets to be exploded anytime.
Post blast
investigation is currently being conducted by a team from the
Explosive and Ordnance Division together with the Davao del Sur
Police.
Satur's solution to
power mess: sack Reyes, repeal EPIRA
Press Release
By MAKABAYAN
February 22, 2010
MANILA – Makabayan
senatorial bet and Nationalista Party guest candidate Satur Ocampo
today proposed a two-step solution to the current power mess – fire
Energy Sec. Angelo Reyes and repeal the law deregulating the power
sector.
"As a first step, the
President should fire Sec. Angelo Reyes for his incompetence and his
failure to uphold the interests of consumers against the big power and
oil firms," Ocampo said.
"We don't need an
energy secretary that doubles as a spokesperson for big oil and power
monopolies. We need a new secretary who upholds the people's
interests," he said, adding: "From day one Reyes did not nothing but
ensure that the oil cartel and the power monopolies continued to rake
in super profits at the expense of the consumers and the public good.
Reyes should have been sacked long ago."
Ocampo also said that
experts need not look far for solutions to the problems besetting the
electricity sector. He called for the repeal of the Electric Power
Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) as a necessary step.
"EPIRA
institutionalized the onerous IPP (independent power producer)
contracts of the Ramos administration and delivered the energy sector
on a silver platter to private monopolies. EPIRA enables the
government to wash its hands of the responsibility of providing the
public with affordable and efficient electricity service," he
stressed.
Said Ocampo:
"Government should not abdicate its strategic role in ensuring cheap
and abundant power. Napocor should be cleansed of corrupt officials
and made to be the country's leading power producer. In this way we
can achieve scale and ensure transparency and accountability in the
energy sector."
Ocampo said that
before EPIRA, the generation and distribution of electricity were a
government service – "There was still the potential for the industry
to be an instrument in increasing national productivity and building
economic progress. It was after EPIRA that that electricity rates in
the Philippines became the highest in Asia."
“Proponents of
deregulation and privatization promised the public that these were the
solution to lower power rates. The exact opposite has happened."
Finally, Ocampo
said that electricity should be restored as a public utility as
opposed to a privatized business venture. "There's a whole set of
steps that need to be taken – re-nationalize all distribution
companies and IPPs; appoint officials to the regulatory agencies with
the mandate to align rates with the regional average. Privatization
for profit should not be allowed when it comes to utility firms such
as oil, water and electricity," he said.
ICOT Rice program sees
more polished implementation
By
Provincial
Media Relations Center
February 20, 2010
TACLOBAN CITY – The
Increased Crop Output thru Rural Infrastructure and Community
Empowerment (ICOT-RICE) Project of the provincial government of Leyte
will be intensified among the pilot areas identified as well as more
polish in its implementation this year.
According to the
Office of the Provincial Agriculturist it is necessary to polish
certain rules and correct minor flaws in the implementation process of
the ICOT-RICE program before bringing it to other areas of the
province.
This as other
municipalities in the province have been clamoring for the project to
be implemented in their farmlands. Hilongos in the fifth district and
Tabango in the third district have been keen in introducing the
program with their local rice farmers.
With Leyte basically
an agricultural province, the ICOT-RICE aims to promote and expand the
cultivation of hybrid rice as an approach to increase rice
productivity and profitability by establishing rice techno
demonstration projects in rice producing municipalities in the Leyte.
Under Leyte Governor
Carlos Jericho Petilla, various efforts and interventions have been
introduced in order to develop this very sector, on top of the
programs and projects undertaken by the national government.
Two years ago, the
provincial government set on stream the ICOT-RICE project by providing
production loans and marketing assistance to rice farmers, initially
in Sta. Fe, Leyte. The farmer beneficiaries were from Brgy. Pilit,
Sta. Fe, Leyte and the program covers more or less 58 hectares of ricelands.
The venture reportedly
proved to be a big help to these farmers who were once the favorite
preys of loan sharks in the area.
Starting with over 200
farmers in six barangays, there are now over 400 rice farmers covering
eleven barangays who are enjoying the benefits of the ICOT-RICE
project. The production loan amounting to P15,000 per hectare, covers
the expenses for labor, seeds, fertilizers, insurance and pesticides.
As for the marketing
support aspect, the Provincial Government of Leyte buys the palay
produced by its recipients adding one peso every kilo to the
prevailing price in the locality.
Farmers all over the
province are seen to become recipients of the ICOT-RICE Project.
Presently, the Office
of the Provincial Agriculturist supplies quality rice to the different
department of the provincial government as well as its facilities and
even extends to private individuals and groups at competitive cost.
Leyte’s Sports Academy
targets to start this March
By
Provincial
Media Relations Center
February 19, 2010
TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte
province’s comprehensive sports and education program to be dubbed as
Sports Academy, for potential athletes will be underway in March with
recruitment and identification of possible sports scholars already
spread all over the province.
 The province’s core
team for the sports program recently met with barangay captains from
Leyte’s third district to coordinate the recruitment process as well
as with the rest of the barangay chairmen in the province for the same
purpose.
According to 3rd
District Board Rowil Batan recruitment has been intensified with
target date for start of the free sports training already slated this
March 16.
“We have been all over
the barangays in the whole province and coordinating with the chairmen
on possible recruits who could avail of this program all for free,”
Board Member Batan said.
It was learned there
are 60 available slots for the said scholarships where the potential
athletes can get free training in various sports disciplines such as
track and field, swimming, boxing and taekwondo, free board and
lodging and free education.
The Sports Academy is
prioritizing recruits who are out of school youths and cannot afford
to get themselves to schools. As a requirement the potential sports
scholar must be between eight to fourteen years old and stands 5’6’ in
height.
The pool of athletes
who would be recruited under this program 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. A trainer from the
United States
is set to arrive mid March to jumpstart a sports clinic.
The vacated rooms and
spaces at the former Leyte Colleges adjacent to the Leyte Sports
Development Center have been converted into a dormitory for these
athlete-scholars.
Leyte Governor Carlos
Jericho Petilla said to improve the province’s, 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.
“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.
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.
DENR gives away over
20K Free Patents in Region 8
By PURIFICACION S. DALOOS
February
19, 2010
TACLOBAN CITY – The
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in region 8 has
distributed 21,488 Free Patents to beneficiaries of the Handog Titulo
Program at the close of 2009. The land titles distributed covers an
aggregate of 18,566.153 hectares in the six (6) Eastern Visayas
provinces.
Regional Technical
Director Ramon Unay of the Land Management Service revealed that
around 58% were generated through the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Program (CARP) while the Land Administration and Management Project
produced around 40% of the total number of Free Patents distributed.
“A total of 12,540
Free Patents were processed and issued through the DENR-CARP,” says
RTD Unay. “This covers an aggregate area of 11,711.74 hectares
regionwide.”
RTD Unay further
disclosed that the implementation of LAMP Phase 2 in the region has
resulted in the issuance of 8,760 land titles with an aggregate of
6,847.16 hectares in the different Leyte towns were the Project is
being implemented. Another 188 Free Patents were issued under the
regular and downloaded funds of the Department to its field offices in
the region.
Free Patents issued by
the DENR through the Handog Titulo Program serves as absolute proof of
ownership for it beneficiaries. The land titles are given to actual
occupants of alienable and disposable lands after completing certain
documentary requirements.
Regional Executive
Director Primitivo Galinato, Jr. encourages the recipients of the Free
Patents to make their lands productive. The distribution of lands
through the Handog Titulo Program is one of government’s strategies to
address poverty in the uplands as it implements its Anti Hunger
Mitigation Program through the administration of President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo.
Residents say half
kilo of rice given to them not enough
By RICKY J. BAUTISTA
February
18, 2010
BASEY, Samar – Poor
and indigent residents who availed the rice distribution sponsored by
Governor Milagrosa T. Tan apparently got discontented when despite of
their long hours of waiting, they were only given half kilo of rice, a
quantity they said inadequate for a family of six members in one meal.
A 70 years old widow,
Mana Trofina, rose early from her bed last February 8 as leaders of
Tan publicly announced that Tan will arrived in their barangay for a
rice distribution activity. The coming of Tan, who is famous in
distributing cash, rice, caps, umbrellas and appliances in every time
she visit a place, gave so much excitement to Mana Trofina, among with
her neighbors numbering around 100 who spent at least 6 to 8 hours of
waiting at the barangay multi-purpose hall in Can-manila, Basey, Samar.
Fishermen and laborers
from Sitio Bangon, Paraiso, Tabuk and proper, who regularly go out of
home to look for income, had to cancel their daily chores hoping to
get “something” from Tan more than they usually earn. At around 12
noon, an official of the barangay had to buy canned goods and biscuits
to feed the waiting residents, mostly women accompanied by their minor
children.
Until around 3 p.m.,
the Tan’s camp finally arrived bringing with them sacks of rice ready
for distribution, the people still at the midst of their excitement,
started murmuring when their names were called and was given one to
two cans of rice or half kilo, the most, contained in a plastic bag.
Governor Tan was a no show in the activity but she was represented by
her daughter Angel Tan, who likewise handed over a cash of one
thousand pesos (P1,000) for the 11 barangay officials, equivalent to
P90.90 each before she left for another barangay.
Mana Trofina, in her
way home, expressed her frustration and dissatisfaction over the
circumstances saying, “naubos ko lugod ak oras paghinulat hin asya la
ine, kun ginpakabuhi ko nala lugod bangin naka sobra kilo pa ako.” A
pedicab driver named Owen, with three family members depending to him
measured the rice given to him also said, “it was exactly one and a
half (1 ½) can of sardines.” Others who appeared to be coming from a
“relief operation,” lined-up in their way home, were also publicly
expressed their dissatisfaction.
However, not all of
the recipients were disappointed. Other recipients, especially those
“one day-one eat” folks have expressed gratitude to the governor for
the rice they gave to them. “Maupay nala ine kontra hit waray,” they
said.
Meanwhile, sources
said that what transpired in Can-manila has also occurred in other
barangays in Basey. They said the “rice distribution” activities with
the same situation also transpired in their towns.
In another
development, critics of the Tans alleged that the instant rice
distribution in some towns is just a “diversionary” tactics to cover
the raging controversy at the capitol.
While the Tans were
distributing some goods in some towns, capitol employees and other
workers from provincial offices including the district hospitals in
Samar gathered themselves in front of the capitol on February 8, and
staged their long-planned protest rally for the failure of Gov. Tan to
release the P25,000 year-end bonuses that were due the provincial
government employees in year 2009.
Protesters, to include
members of the Confederation for the Unity, Recognition and
Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE), employees of Basey and
Gandara District Hospitals also appealed to the concern authorities to
investigate the questionable transactions of the governor.
This paper, among with
other media outfits, tried to reach Tan at the Capitol but her office
was empty of staff last February 8, 2010. Efforts to get the comments
of Tans went futile.
Breastfeeding advocates found ally with RDC-8
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE
February
18, 2010
CALBAYOG CITY, Samar
– Breastfeeding advocates have found a new and formidable partner in
its advocacy – Eastern Visayas RDC.
Today, the Eastern
Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC) proposed for the Establishment of Breastfeeding
Rooms/Corners in Government offices.
In the latest RDC
meeting held today at the Calbayog Sports Center, sponsored by Mayor
Mel Senen Sarmiento, Regional Director Forter Puguon of the Department
of Labor and Employment (DOLE) presented the reasons why such move is
pushed.
The move, said
Puguon’s presentation is consistent with the United Nations Millennium
Development Goal (MDG) number one which is eradicating extreme poverty
and hunger.
“Breastfeeding, “
added Puguon “will also try to reduce child mortality.”
The DOLE Director also
said that doing the act of establishment of breastfeeding
rooms/corners in government offices will create an atmosphere of
harmonizing with the right of the child and the UN
MDG.
“It is also anchored
in the global strategy on Infant and young Child Feeding (IYF-DOH)”
stressed the presenter.
Aside from the given
reasons, breastfeeding is also consistent with the much publicized
Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos and the Updated Medium Term
Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (MTPPAN) for 2008-2010, he
added.
Because mothers refuse
to breastfeed, 30% of under-five children are underweight, according
to the data presented.
The data stressed that
only 16.1% of Filipinos are exclusively breastfed.
Meanwhile, a Filipina
mom blogger wrote:
‘Marketing by milk formula companies has become increasingly
aggressive. The number of women who breastfeed their infants has gone
down dramatically in just a few years, while the sales and profits of
the companies have risen. The irony, in the words of Sen. Edgardo
Angara, author of the Rooming-In and Breastfeeding Act of 1992, is
that each year we import $400 million in milk formula, but spend P536
million to bury 15,000 bottle-fed babies, and another P3.5 billion to
treat infant malnutrition and diarrhea. We needlessly fritter away our
foreign exchange reserves. We forget nature’s first form of
immunization, enabling the infant to fight serious infection. We forgo
the benefits of birth spacing as a form of natural birth control.’
As the RDC meeting
folded up, RDC members could not decide yet whether to support the
move or not, one member asked whether this does not violate a Civil
Service rule, they still have to ask.
Another said,”
Then, if bringing babies in the office may transgress civil service
rules, at least let the mother express her milk in the workplace and
store it in a refrigerator that the office can supply-at the very
least.” (PIA-Samar)
Village officials
recover two dead bodies in a shallow grave
Press Release
By DPAO, 8th Infantry Division, PA
February
17, 2010
CAMP LUKBAN,
Catbalogan City, Samar – Two (2) dead bodies were found by the
barangay officials of Concepcion, Arteche, Eastern Samar buried in a
shallow grave two days following an encounter that transpired between
the terrorists and elements of Army’s 14th Infantry Battalion in the
forested area of Brgy. Dorillo, Jipapad same province.
|
The
2 cadavers were identified as Elcon Liad (True name: Lilio Liad)
alias Binal/Mila/Nilpo/Batoy, 31years old residents of Brgy.
Dorillo, Jipapad E.Samar, CO of Regional Security Force (RSF).and
Navy/Antoi (True name unknown), Political Guide of 1st Squad, RSF
Code name: Bangkaw EVRPC. |
Report disclosed that
around 4:30 P.M. of February 14, while the platoon of Sgt Orosco was
having their temporary patrol base in Brgy. Concepcion, some barangay
officials and tanod personally led by their Chairwoman Zedaria Pajares
brought out two cadavers.
Accordingly, an
undisclosed folk discovered the said grave due to its strong foul
scent that prompted Pajares to lead his constituents to identify and
later on bury the bodies more decently.
Initial report
revealed that the duo’s cause of death were gunshots base on the
wounds that found all over their body. One body suffered a wound at
his right armpit while the other one is at his neck that believed to
be the cause of their instant death.
It can be recalled
that on the morning of February 12, troops under Staff Sergeant Pejana
encountered some 10 terrorist NPAs at Brgy. Dorillo and reported that
most of the rebels were wounded including the owners of their
recovered M16 and M14 rifles.
This situation is no
longer new to the underground movement that once their comrades were
wounded in action, they drag it away from the troops and avoid it
being caught for they are afraid that information can be elicited from
their wounded comrades.
Lt. Col. Jaime
Hidalgo, commander of 14IB already sent his troops to facilitate the
burial and assist the doctors who examine the remains.
Meanwhile, the
Commander of 8th Infantry Division Maj. Gen. Arthur I Tabaquero
expresses his heartfelt appreciation to the Brgy officials who
initiated the simple good deeds of bringing out the truth to the open.
“This simple deed is a
clear manifestation of support to our advocacy of pursuing peace to
achieve development in the whole region,” Said Tabaquero.
“I urge you to carry
on your simple ways of supporting our government to encourage your
fellow local officials to replicate same for us to ultimately attain
our dreamt peace and development in this part of the country,” He
added.
This successful feat
against the terrorist NPA is the third time for this year following an
encounter in Brgy. Rizal, Eastern Samar in January 13 and in Brgy
Santander, Bobon, Northern in January 29 where two (2) M16 rifles,
radios, war materiel, personal belongings and voluminous subversive
documents with significant values were collectively recovered.
Moreover, MajGen.
Tabaquero calls upon the peace-loving Samarnon that should an incident
occur that wounded NPAs were left in their possession by the fleeing
terrorists, they should inform any nearest PNP or Army detachment to
help them attend their medical needs.
“The 8ID will always
be here to give these NPAs, wounded or not a chance to live freely and
re-experience the fruit of democracy whenever they feel the desire
to. We will give necessary medical attention the same treatment we
give when we have our wounded soldiers for it is the right of the
individual.” The good general concluded.
Three days after, two
shallow grave sites were discovered by barangay folks 2kms away from
the encounter site. The barangay officials of Brgy Conception headed
by chairman Freddie Roncales and elements from 14IB responded on said
report, together with Dr. Eduardo de Dios, MHO of Jipapad, Eastern
Samar who later conducted autopsy. The cadavers were identified as
Elcon Liad (TN: Lilio Liad) alias Binal/Mila/Nilpo/Batoy and one known
only as alias Naval/Antoy
Authorities
confirmed that the duo were got killed during the earlier encounter
with the elements of 14IB. Elcon Liad was further identified as the CO
of Regional Security Force (RSF), EVRPC with code name: BANGKAW. Their
remains were provided of decent burial at Public Cemetery of Brgy
Conception, Arteche, Eastern Samar.
COMELEC-8 ensures safe
and credible automated elections in May 2010
By RICKY J. BAUTISTA
February
16, 2010
BASEY, Samar – To
ensure the continuing development of free, orderly, honest, peaceful
and credible electoral processes, the Regional Office of Commission on
Elections (COMELEC-8) has simultaneously conducted a Voters Education
Program and Public Demonstration of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS)
in almost all municipalities and cities in
Eastern Visayas.
This is in part of the
Commission’s six-year modernization program (from 1992-1998)
consisting of eight key components namely flexible legal framework,
systematization of present method of registration, modernization of
electoral, continuing election education campaign, management
information, upgrading of facilities and equipment, decentralization
and development of Comelec personnel.
In Basey Samar, the
Voter’s Education Campaign and demonstrations of PCOS machine was held
on February 15, 2010. Invited participants were the executive and
legislative officials, barangay officials, employees, local candidates
and the general public from the municipalities of Sta. Rita, Basey and
Marabut, all of
Samar.
The PCOS demo was
initiated by Comelec Acting Regional Election Officer Atty. Jose Nick
A. Mendros and his counterpart from Samar Atty. Ma. Corazon Motallana,
Provincial Election Supervisor II, Virginia V. Besas, Basey Election
Officer III and Gray O. Bateo, Marabut Election Officer II.
The Optical Mark
Reader (OMR)
During the
demonstrations, it was learned that PCOS, or optical mark reader (OMR)
or simply known as “ballot counting machine” wherein a voter is given
a ballot, with pre-printed candidates’ names, with corresponding ovals
to shade or broken arrows to connect. The voters in the shaded ballots
would be scanned using this kind of machine.
Accordingly, this
system is already familiar to all students taking the National
Secondary Aptitude Test (NSAT), formerly NCEE (National College
Entrance Examination), given by the Department of Education (DepEd),
and to other people taking the Civil Service Commission (CSC)
Licensure Examinations and other examinations given by the
Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC), wherein the answer sheet is
composed of ovals and the chosen answer would be shaded by the
examinee. A similar system is employed by the Philippine Charity
Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for its Lotto system, wherein ovals
corresponding to the numbers being bet upon are also shaded. In all
these, the answer sheets and the lotto cards are read, or counted, by
OMR machines.
Since the system makes
use of ballots, and also considering the fact that it is already
familiar to the public, this system was recommended as the most for
the Philippine setting. “With the use of centralized counting centers,
a ballot counter could be assigned to count the ballots from several
precincts or even from a whole municipality depending on the number of
registered voters,” Atty. Mendros said.
Worries of the Public
In open public
demonstrations, the public is very much worried on their lack of
knowledge of computerized voting, jammers, counting of ballots,
unusual ballot rejection, machine error, mistake in shading ballots
among other minor problems. But the COMELEC personnel have assured the
public of its safety by answering all the issues and worries raised by
the public. Volunteers coming from the listening public were called up
stage to have a personal test and operation of the machine.
Pre-testing of ballot insertion to the machine and other procedure
were also demonstrated to the public. Atty. Mendros called on
teachers, barangay officials, and ordinary citizens to test the
machine themselves.
The COMELEC top brass
also assured the public that no one or even the BEIs can change or
alter the number of votes the machine counted. He further explained
that even the jammers cannot affect the voting process, “it will only
delay the transmittal of the election results, and it is a very minor
problem and the Commission can handle it,” he said.
Features and Major
Changes
In a separate source,
this writer obtained the Modernization Project Demonstration Kits
previously distributed by the COMELEC saying the automated election
system have the following features: use of appropriate ballots,
stand-alone machine that can generate immediate results, provisions
for audit trails, minimum human intervention and adequate safeguard or
security measures as mandated by Section 7 of RA 8436 otherwise known
as “An Act Authorizing the Commission on Elections to Use an Automated
Election System in the May 11, 1998 National or Local Elections and in
Subsequent National and Local Electoral Exercises, Providing Funds
Therefore and for Other Purposes.”
It also explained that
the major changes of this automated system from the old manual system
of voting, counting and canvassing of votes are the following: no
writing of names, ballots are not anymore counted in the polling
places, added security features in the printing and shipment of
ballots, human intervention is limited to telling the machine to start
and stop the counting the ballots, has data storage device because the
appreciation of ballots is entirely done by the machine.
In short, the
Commission assures the public, “there are no more venues for adding a
digit before or after a totaled number of votes. The machine operator
cannot tell the machine to credit the vote of a candidate to another,
or to increase or decrease a candidate’s vote because it’s just not
what it is programmed to do.”
Meanwhile, the COMELEC,
however, failed to explain in their demonstrations the exact number of
clustered precincts per municipality but assured there were surely one
machine in every barangay in the coming May 2010 elections in the
Philippines. In Eastern Visayas, as of
March 17, 2009 data, the Commission has recorded six (6) provinces,
seven (7) cities, 136 municipalities, 16,408 polling precincts and
2,337,185 registered voters in Eastern Visayas region.
803rd Brigade turns
over 72 completed KBP projects to
barangay officials
Press Release
By 803rd INFANTRY (Peacemaker) BRIGADE
February 16, 2010
CAMP SUMOROY, Catarman,
Northern Samar – Seventy two (72) newly completed Kalayan sa
Barangay Program (KBP) projects were turned-over to the different
barangay officials of Lope de Vega, Bobon, Catarman, Northern Samar
last February 6 and 7, 2010.
These KBP projects
that were constructed in the barangays previously affected by
insurgency in Northern Samar were made possible through the collective
effort of the residents of the barangays, the local government units
and the military led by the 803rd Brigade, Philippine Army under the
able leadership of Col. Arnolfo Atendido through the Special Operation
Teams (SOT) of the brigade from calendar year 2004 to 2008. This is in
line with the national government’s outreach program dubbed as “People
Government Mobile Action (PGMA) Serbisyo Muna” caravan.
Said projects were
funded by the AFP/DND and constructions were undertaken by the
Philippine Army engineers under LtCol. Rizalito Tibon of 543rd
Engineering Battalion. Among the projects constructed were the
following: two (2) farm to market roads; twelve (12) health centers;
eight (8) two classroom school buildings; twelve (12) sets of street
lights and four (4) level of ii water systems.
The turn-over was
supervised by the office of the Presidential Assistant for Eastern
Visayas represented by Mr. Alberto Ellema and witnessed by Colonel
Atendido represented by Major Melecio Y. Castillo, civil military
operations officer of 803rd Brigade, PA, Colonel Arnaldo Fernandez Jr,
commander 53rd Engineering Brigade, PA, Lieutenant Colonel Rizalito
Tibon, battalion commander of 543rd Engineering Construction
Battalion, PA and provincial and local government officials of
Northern Samar.
Completed KBP projects
were received by the respective barangay captains of the
municipalities of Lope de Vega, Catarman, and Bobon all of
Northern Samar. Twenty six (26) barangay captains who were recipient of the
KBP projects expressed their deepest gratitude to the officers and men
of the Philippine Army for the immediate implementation and completion
of the projects.
To sum-up the effort
of the 534 Engineering Battalion, a total of 72 KBP projects were
completed and turned-over to barangay officials of Northern Samar by
803rd Infantry Brigade, Phiilippine Army breaken down into 24 school
buildings, 19 health centers, 13 sets street lightings, 6 barangays
electrifications, 8 water systems and 2 farm to market roads.
On the message of
Colonel Atendido delivered by Major Castillo encourages the residents
to take good care of the facilities and reminded them that said
project was a component of the peace and development program in the
barangays.
In his parting
words, Major Castillo reminded the barangay officials not to allow
terrorists to enter their barangays nor provide support to ensure that
peace and properity reign in their respective barangays.
KARAPATAN shows true
color, calls for the release of 43 self confessed NPA
Press Release
By DPAO, 8th Infantry Division, PA
February
15, 2010
CAMP LUKBAN,
Catbalogan City, Samar – Karapatan, a self-proclaimed human rights
advocate once again masked and appeared before the Court of Appeals
and called for the release of the 43 rebels that was arrested in
Morong, Rizal last February 6.
In a 10-paragraphed
press release in Samar News.com dated February 13, Karapatan Secretary
General Lovella de Castro repeatedly covered and tagged the said
rebels to be “health workers” that must immediately be released.
But before Karapatan
came into open, one of the arrested NPA, Valentino Paulino or "Ka
Beloy" already confessed that he and the 42 others were members of
guerilla movement that even his two (2) companions were amongst who
hostage a police inspector sometime in 2009. This was published by
Jocelyn Uy in the February 11 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
entitled, “Self-confessed NPA says he, 42 health workers are rebels.”
While Karapatan keeps
on distancing itself to the terrorist NPA and proclaimed that they are
just for the human rights of the innocent people and nothing to do
with the NPA, its action speaks louder how they undeniably show its
true color to be linked and lawyer-ing with the armed bandits.
"My comrades are still
detained in the camp... so I would like to ask your assistance to help
them return to the fold of the law," Paulino, who confessed to be an
NPA member in Bulacan and part of the "Morong 43," said when they were
presented for a press conference.
This statement
mistuned the Karapatan’s crow in covering up these arrested bandits
and tagging them as “health workers” as their usual propaganda lines.
And now that the
Karapatan is sponsoring the families and relatives of the detained
rebels to claim that they underwent torture and forced them to admit
that they are members of the NPA, the AFP has already expected it
because the party would not "take it sitting down" as it was the
biggest arrest of communist guerillas by security forces in recent
history.
With these actions,
Karapatan hurdles the cry for justice that these rebels committed.
Their charges includes three counts of illegal possession of firearms,
three counts of violation of the Commission on Election gun ban and
one count of illegal possession of explosives. Several firearms and
explosives were also seized from the group during the arrest.
Meanwhile, a police
inspector Cuntapay positively identified Linda Otañez and Pearl Irene
Martinez as amongst who hostage him following an ambushed to their
team on January 3, 2009 in Macabud, Rodriquez, Rizal killing PO1 Erickson
Aquino and seriously wounded two others because of the use of
landmine.
Among those who were
also identified are Otanez, Aldrin Garcia, Edwin Detera, Antonio de
Dios, Reynaldo Macabenta and Mark Escartin.
Karapatan’s claim that
the arrested person was “health workers” in their press release
submitted to Samar News.com opposes the statement of Ka Beloy and
Cuntapay that was published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
While Ka Beloy admits
that he and 42 others were rebels and Cuntapays identification to the
two companions as his hostage-takers, Karapatan endlessly sing
otherwise that only intensifies the earlier revelation of the former
rebels who are already returned in the full-fold of the law that
Karapatan is an ally of the NPA terrorist.
Instead of condemning
this legitimate arrest, why not Karapatan focus their advocacy against
the real atrocity and barbaric killings perpetrated by the NPA? The
answer is obvious.
To the peace-loving
people of Samar-Leyte, let us focus our attention to things that would
help our region more appealing not only to our neighboring provinces
but also to our neighboring countries.
Let us not be easily
provoked by the propaganda lines openly released by the Karapatan or
Karapatan-SB so as not to destruct our aims of pursuing a peaceful and
developed Samar-Leyte.
Malacañang and DOH
must ignore CBCP and stop double speak on HIV/AIDS, says Reproductive
Health advocate
By VIGIE BENOSA-LLORIN
February
15, 2010
MANILA – Calling
condom and roses mix an amateurish act of gimmickry, a leading
reproductive health advocacy group challenges the Department of Health
(DOH) to take more seriously its HIV/AIDS awareness program, which
must include ensuring access to condom especially for high-risk,
vulnerable groups.
Ramon San Pascual,
Executive Director of the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on
Population and Development Foundation, Inc. (PLCPD), objects to DOH
insistence that condom is freely distributed on valentines day solely
to fight HIV/AIDS and not as family planning method.
“Such stance to please
some Catholic leaders confuses our people,” laments San Pascual. He
added, “HIV/AIDS and lack of family planning services are both urgent
public health issues that must be attended by DOH in integral manner.
What rationale would explain DOH having a split personality on condom
use?”
San Pascual argues
that by denying the Filipino people with reproductive health
information and services over the years, by not investing on condom
and other forms of contraceptives, this government has left people on
their own without reproductive health and education assistance. Such
neglect resulted to high cases of maternal mortality due to
birth-related complications, while an unusually high case of HIV/AIDS
was registered in recent months.
Another development
that galled San Pascual is the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP) coming into the picture in the height of media
interest on the issue.
“Calling for a
national summit of various stakeholders to discus HIV-AIDS is just
CBCP’s way to pressure Government and divert its attention towards
directly addressing the issue. It was no less than the Catholic Pope
who name condom use as immoral,” reminds San Pascual.
“Now they are coming
in amid reports of condom distribution conducted by DOH. Really, what
hypocrisy,” laments San Pascual.
San Pascual also
blames Congress and the Arroyo administration on the missed
opportunity to strengthen the HIV/AIDS program through House Bill 5043
or the “Reproductive Health and Population Development Act”, yet
Speaker Prospero Nograles and President Gloria Arroyo chose to give in
to the pressures of some Catholic bishops and leaders.
“The challenge is for
the government, DOH, Congress and our society as a whole, to confront
the menace of HIV-AIDS in truthful, effective manner, not by cowering
to the dictate of a single church,” he further said.
“As it is now,
Malacañang is directly responsible for the sudden rise of HIV cases,”
San Pascual concluded.
CA hearing of habeas corpus petition
Karapatan: Free the 43
health care workers now!
Press Release
By KARAPATAN
February
13, 2010
QUEZON CITY – Human
rights alliance Karapatan on Friday joins the relatives and different
groups and organizations in support of the release of the illegally
arrested 43 health workers, at the hearing of the petition for the
writ of habeas corpus at the Court of Appeals.
The relatives filed a
petition for the writ of habeas corpus at the Supreme Court and the
high court’s First Division granted it on Thursday, ordering the AFP
to present all of the 43 health care workers who were forcibly taken
on February 6 in Morong, Rizal, before the appellate court.
“We welcome this
response of the SC,” Karapatan Secretary General Lovella de Castro
said. “The arrest and detention of the health workers are illegal and
they should immediately be freed.”
Karapatan, however,
also expressed its outrage over the
AFP’s exploitation of one of the victims, Valentin Paulino, in
their extensive propaganda campaign to vilify the health workers as
members of the New People’s Army.
“We strongly condemn
the AFP for putting Paulino under duress and forcing him to admit that
he and the other victims are members of the NPA,” exclaimed de Castro.
“We believe that, along with the other victims, Paulino underwent
severe physical and psychological torture to coerce him to implicate
himself and the other health workers.”
On Thursday, with
Commission on Human Rights chairperson Leila de Lima, lawyers and
doctors were able interview the victims inside
Camp Capinpin
in Tanay, Rizal. It was the first time, since they were forcibly taken
and kept under illegal detention, that the victims were allowed to be
visited by their legal counsel and doctors.
De Castro narrated
that the AFP took Paulino from the Camp and presented him at a press
conference in Tanay, Rizal that Thursday, without the consent or
knowledge of the lawyers who were present. “The AFP delayed the
lawyers and doctors from meeting all of the victims so that they can
‘steal’ Paulino,” she said. “And this is further proof that the
military is again circumventing the constitutional laws and judicial
procedures, and they are utilizing all dirty means to implicate the
victims of fabricated criminal charges.”
De Castro also added
that under detention in the Camp, the victims were locked up in
individual holding cells, isolated from one another. The victims said
that they were tactically interrogated by the soldiers every night,
and that they were threatened that they, and their loved ones, will be
harmed if they don’t ‘cooperate.’
Karapatan reiterated
that this case is another blow to the Arroyo administration’s dismal
record on human rights.
“If the Ampatuan
massacre is the case with the largest number of victims of
extrajudicial killing, this case of the 43 health workers is of
massive illegal arrest and illegal detention. And it will definitely
put Mrs. Arroyo to further shame if these doctors, nurses and
community health care workers will not be immediately released,” de
Castro concluded.
14IB recovers firearms
following a tip from civilian
By DPAO, 8th Infantry Division, PA
February
13, 2010
CAMP LUKBAN,
Catbalogan City, Samar – Two (2) high powered firearms were
recovered by troopers from Army’s 14th Infantry Battalion in a
forested side of Brgy. Dorillo, Jipapad town of Eastern, Samar after a
firefight against the members of the terrorist New People’s Army (NPA)
on Friday morning.
Report reaching to
this headquarters disclosed that while the troops under Sgt. Jessesito
Pejano conducts their regular security patrol, a civilian approached
and informed them that some 10 armed groups were sighted not far
distant from their present location.
The undisclosed
civilian also said that these armed groups are the same group who
regularly collects foodstuff and extort from them.
Accordingly, after
assessing the information, Pejano led his troops towards the given
location and there they confirmed the civilians tip.
Firefight between the
two groups commenced and lasted for about 20 minutes after the
terrorist group fled dragging along their wounded comrades.
The incident resulted
to the wounding of two NPA rebels leaving along their respective
firearms that were recovered by the troops during their clearing in
the encounter site while no reported hurt in the side of the
government forces.
An M16 rifle and an
M14 rifle bearing the serial number 180888 and 1264373 respectively
that was recovered in the encounter are now in the possession of the
14IB and are being turned-over to the higher unit after its
inspection.
Lt. Col. Jaime
Hidalgo, commander of 14IB said that a pursuit and blocking operations
is on progress as of press time in order to track the fleeing
terrorist and let them face various criminal charges against the
innocent people.
Lt. Col. Hidalgo also
calls the barangays immediately surrounding the encounter site to
report any wounded person that may be sighted in their area to help
them provide medical attention.
Meanwhile, Maj.
Gen. Arthur I. Tabaquero lauded the troops for the successful security
operations. “While we continue to perform our mandated task of
preserving peace and stability in the province, we are calling to our
people to intensify their usual support extended to our government in
the pursuit of peace stability for the ultimate attainment of
development of the whole province.
PNP Chief Verzosa to
lead one thousand “Unity Fun” runners in Samar
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE
February
10, 2010
CATBALOGAN CITY –
The Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Jesus A. Verzosa will lead more than a thousand
“Unity Fun” runners in Catbalogan, Samar on
February 11, 2010.
In an invitation
penned by PNP Samar Provincial Director, Pancho Adelberto Hubilla, it
mentions that the “Unity Run” is dubbed in Filipino as “Takbo ng
Pinagsamang Simbahan, Sandatahang Lakas, Pambansang Pulisya ng
Pilipinas, Mga Mamamahayag at Mag-aaral Para sa Malinis, Maayos at
Mapayapang Halalan 2010”.
City Chief Joseph
Pensotes meanwhile, said that it is a big honor for the PNP Provincial
and City stations to be considered for Chief Verzosa’s visit.
His whole team is now
very busy in the preparations, Pensotes added.
PNP Chief Verzosa, 8th
Infantry Division (8th ID) Commanding General Arthur Tabaquero and
PCSupt Rey Lañada are also expected to deliver messages along with
Msgr Leonardo Guadalquever and other special guests.
PSSupt Pio L Manito,
Deputy Regional Operations and Plans Division RO 08 will present to
Verzosa Assessment of the 2004 and 2007 elections / Preparations and
Accomplishments for the forthcoming National and Local Elections.
Hubilla, on the other
hand will conduct a peace and order briefing of Samar PPO.
Highlight of the
gathering is a covenant signing and release of doves to symbolize
‘freedom’.
Presently, PNP Samar
and the city PNP are busier than ever to ensure the successful run.
(PIA-Samar)
NPA killed in DavOr
clash rise to 3, 2 more believed to be dead; troops recover bombs, high
powered firearms
Press Release
By DPAO, 10th Infantry Division, PA
February 10, 2010
CAMP APOLINARIO,
Panacan, Davao City – At least three New People’s Army (NPA)
terrorists were killed in a clash with soldiers in the village of New
Visayas in Lupon town in Davao Oriental province 7:00 AM Saturday
while two more are believed to be dead.
The fatalities were
identified as Anthony Ang alias Junjun of Brgy Baon, Leonilo Lucnod
Alias Michael of Brgy San Roque both of
San Isidro
in Davao Oriental and Romel Duran alias Rolan whose address is yet to
be ascertained. The cadavers of the NPAs who were left behind by their
comrades were brought to the town proper by soldiers and local
residents for identification and for proper burial so that their
relatives can accord them their last respect.
Reports coming from
village leaders say two more NPAs were killed in the firefight
including a woman. Residents say they were buried in an undisclosed
place somewhere in the nearby village of Tagugpo in Lupon town.
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.
Army troops recovered
two M16 rifles, four Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), several
firing devices, blasting caps, one shotgun, five rifle grenades, nine
clips for Garand rifle, ammunitions, two handheld radios, one
binocular, assorted medicines, medical paraphernalia and subversive
documents.
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 NPAs. “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 fellow Filipinos who were 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 recovery of IEDs
is a welcome development as our citizens will be a lot safer against
the threat of terrorism. The use of IEDs by the NPA only strengthens
their notoriety as a terror organization who does not respect Human
Rights and International Humanitarian Law.” Holganza added.
It maybe recalled that
the use of IED as a tactic was publicly admitted by Leoncio Pitao a
notorious NPA terrorist leader in
Davao.
NPAs consolidated as Satur visits the Province
Residents said they
were alarmed by the consolidation of NPA since two days ago before the
bloody gunbattle 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.
The clash between army
soldiers and NPA terrorists happened barely half 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.
Accompanying Ocampo in the visit were Liza Masa of Gabriela and Rafael
Mariano of Anakpawis.
Ocampo, Masa and other
others are yet to denounce the use of armed struggle being waged by
the NPA as a means of establishing a Maoist regime but failed to do so
on many occasions.
Relatives of 43 health
workers file petition before SC, demand their immediate release
Press Release
By KARAPATAN
February
9, 2010
QUEZON CITY – Human
rights alliance Karapatan joins the relatives of the 43 abducted and
illegally detained health workers in their filing for the petition of
the writ of habeas corpus at the Supreme Court today.
The relatives were led
by Karapatan Deputy Secretary General Roneo Clamor, whose wife Dr.
Merry Mia-Clamor is one of the doctors forcibly taken by the joint
military and police forces last Saturday, February 6.
The health workers
were held incommunicado for almost three days in Camp Capinpin, Tanay,
Rizal, and were denied their right to see their relatives and lawyers.
It was only yesterday afternoon when some of the relatives, along with
Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Leila de Lima, were allowed
inside the camp to talk to the victims.
The petition prayed
that all of the 43 health workers be presented before the Court and be
immediately released.
Karapatan vowed to
continue to support the relatives in their fight to free their
illegally detained loved ones. “We will continue to demand for the
release of these doctors, nurses and health workers,” Secretary
General Lovella de Castro said. “We are counting the days that this
regime is keeping the victims in detention. The longer that they are
incarcerated, more people here and abroad will hold protests against
the Arroyo regime and demand that they be freed.”
De Castro also warned
Mrs. Gloria Arroyo that she and her military henchmen will further be
put into shame before the international human rights community for
this latest brazen and terrorist attack against the Filipino people.
“We have already
called the attention of the international community,” de Castro said,
“and we have already received letters of condemnation over the
incident and support for the victims, from the countries of
United Kingdom,
Belgium, France, Canada and Australia, and more will flood in from
other countries.”
She also reported that
Filipino-American communities in the United States have trooped to the
Philippine Consulates to stage protest actions.
“We will not stop
until Mrs. Arroyo and her cohorts are held accountable for their
crimes against the people,” concluded de Castro.
Catbalogan City PNP
awarded as Model Urban Police Station
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE
February
9, 2010
CATBALOGAN CITY – Catbalogan
City PNP Police Station has coveted the Model Urban Police Station for
2009.
 This was bared by
Catbalogan City Chief of Police Supt Joseph Pensotes to PIA after
talking about their preparations for the Unity Fun Run with PNP Chief
Jesus Versoza in Samar on February 11, 2010.
Pensotes and his men
received the award and citation during the 19th PNP anniversary held
on February 1, 2010.
The chief attributed
the award to his troops who are always on their toes pursuing
criminals and violators of special laws.
“The award gives us
inspiration to sustain our gains in the fight against criminality,”
the police officer beamed.
Pensotes replaced the
then Chief PSupt. Ramil Ramirez on July 30, 2009.
With his
accomplishments, the hefty officer has seemingly wiped out a
significant number of illegal drugs dealer with ten apprehensions and
cases filed in court.
The City PNP has also
scored in its fight against illegal gambling, illegal logging, illegal
fishing and loose firearms.
Some 24 wanted persons
have also been arrested and charged.
Of its 116 number of
arrests, some 83 cases have now been lodged in court.
“These are our
accomplishments along with our regular responsibility of securing the
populace and keeping peace and order in the city of
Catbalogan“,
Pensotes stressed.
Although the PNP
elements are always on the alert in pursuing criminal elements, they
are also ever-reliable in securing VIPs who come for a visit, reaching
out to communities for their various advocacies through personal
dialogues and their weekly radio program at Aksyon Radyo-DYMS. PNP
Catbalogan is also active in its socio civic response to anti-crime
NGO partners and other civic groups.
Presently, PNP
Catbalogan is very visible implementing OPLAN 01-01 or “Bantay Pinili-ay
2010” and sustaining the conduct of PNP/COMELEC Checkpoint, Oplan
“BAKAL” and Oplan “SITA. (PIA-Samar)
Farmers condemn
illegal arrests of 42 doctors and health workers, call for their
immediate release
Press Release
By Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
February
8, 2010
QUEZON CITY – The
militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP, Peasant Movement of the Philippines) and Tanggol Magsasaka
(Peasant Network for Land, Justice and Human Rights) condemned the
illegal arrests of 42 doctors and health workers by an overkill force
of 300 police and military in Morong town, Rizal province.
"We totally condemn
this vicious act of the Arroyo government, the abduction of 42
patriotic doctors and medical personnels who offer their services to
the poor. We strongly call for their immediate release," said Antonio
Flores, KMP Spokesperson and Tanggol Magsasaka Co-Convenor.
"The Arroyo government
that is run by a syndicate sucks the public funds through corruption,
the root cause of absence of medical services to the people, has the
guts to abduct those who offer their services to the needy," said
Flores.
"Rizal Philippine
National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines – Southern Luzon
Command should be appropriately punished as this is a disservice to
the people and country," said Flores.
The Health Alliance
for Democracy (HEAD), a group of medical personnel who regularly offer
their services to the farmers said that the victims were raided 6:15
am at the resthouse of Dr. Melecia Velmonte, while they were
conducting health skills training. They were blindfolded and forcibly
brought to Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, the headquarters of the
202nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army.
KMP said that that the
abducted medical workers who are associated with the HEAD should be in
fact be honored of their service and commitment to the people, instead
the barbaric Arroyo government has violated their basic rights.
Moreoever, Arroyo government's counter-insurgency program Oplan Bantay
Laya is now victimizing even the health sector, in addition to the
already persecuted peasants, fisherfolk, workers and other poor
sectors.
"Colonel Aurelio
Baladad and Police Superintendent Balonglong, leaders of PNP and AFP
raiding team, respectively, should be ashamed of themselves, as being
paid mercenaries of the corrupt Arroyo government we accept that they
are useless to the people, but as they victimize health workers who
offer free services to the poor, this is very unacceptable and should
be condemned not just by the peasants, but by all sectors," Flores
said.
The peasant group said
that HEAD, Health Alliance for Human Rights, Council for Health
Development and Alliance of Health Workers are medical personnels'
groups who regularly gives free medical services to the farmers.
"They are with us in
our recent nationwide Lakbayan ng Anakpawis para sa Lupa at Katarungan
this January, they launched a relief and medical mission at our
peasant areas in Montalban after Ondoy, they rendered free services
during our camp-out in Congress in April to May 2009, a medical
mission for the farmers at Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation in Laur,
Nueva Ecija in October 2008," said Flores.
"They are very
important to the peasants and poor sectors, unlike the PNP and AFP,
who we wish to banish from the face of the earth," he added.
"We reiterate our call
for the enraged condemnation of their abduction and their immediate
release. Let us not tolerate this stupid act of stupid people.
Immediately free the doctors and health workers and justice for the
violations of their basic rights," Flores called.
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. |
