more report...

► Tortured doc performs free surgery, gives away medicines to poor patients

► Radyo ng Bayan-Borongan airs Boses Han Sinirangan from seas of Guiuan

►This COPS awardee is Leyte's pride

► Northern Samareños avail of PAGCOR led PGMA Serbisyu Muna

► Zumarraga OTOP now operational

► Pinabacdao garners Panibagong Paraan grants anew!

► Jiabong Food Exhibitor rises through trade fairs

► Semana Santa in Basey

► Agrarian reform beneficiaries in Eastern Samar receive 10 coco twining machines

► DYOG Calbayog celebrates its Silver Jubilee

DENR 8’s forest protection and law enforcement efforts gaining

By PURIFICACION S. DALOOS
July 27, 2010

TACLOBAN CITY  –  The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Region 8’s intensified efforts on forest protection and law enforcement have gained grounds as the different operatives of the agency confiscated forest products; jailed forest law violators; suspended employees who were remiss of their duties; implemented stringent policies on giving permits to lumber dealers; and recognized the vital role of the peoples’ organizations and other sectors in forest conservation.

The no-nonsense effort is consistent with the management direction “From the Ridges to the Reefs” which was launched during the assumption of Regional Executive Director Primitivo C. Galinato, Jr.   as the DENR regional chief on November 10, 2009.

Consistent with the said direction, RED Galinato and the different sectoral services, line bureaus and Provincial and Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices have implemented the management strategies for the protection of the environment and conservation of natural resources.

On March 24, 2010, RED Galinato called the 121 Forest Rangers to a summit and exhorted them to consolidate their forces in combating illegal activities in the forest.  The forest rangers were formed into a regional association to organize, strengthen and harmonize their forces.  Quick Response Teams were also created to operate in their respective jurisdictions and merge forces if needed.  Days after the summit on April 14, 2010, the Quick Response Teams from CENROS Albuera, Palo and Baybay all in Leyte had joint operations and confiscated motorcycles loaded with contraband lumber in Capoocan, Leyte.

The perpetrators: RicRic Seblante et. al. coming from the towns of Capoocan and Carigara, Leyte were all jailed in Carigiara.  Criminal complaints were filed against them before the Municipal Trial Court of Carigara for violation of P.D. 705, the Forestry Code of the Philippines.

In a separate report, Forest Management Service Regional Technical Director Felipe S. Calub disclosed that 57 confiscation events of a total of 127 cubic meters of lumber valued at P1.3 million were conducted by the Quick Response Teams from the different field offices throughout the region from January to June of this year.

Recently, the DENR has also received an order from Regional Trial Court, Branch 36 of Carigara, Leyte ordering the disposition of a seized motorboat, two boat keels and illegally sourced lauan lumber, as it meted a penalty to Santiago Villamor and Joseph Villamor from San Miguel, Leyte who have been found violating the forestry code.

After through investigation, the DENR has also caused the suspension of its own employee, Armando Doque who had issued rattan transport permit beyond his authority.

“We may be hard in implementing the one strike policy in dealing with our own employees who do not do their job properly. On the other hand, we give due recognition and reward to our best performing employees.  On June 28, during the culmination program of the Environment Month, the DENR gave recognition to 12 employees and 36 retirees for giving important contributions to the DENR’s thrust and programs.  The DENR had also given recognition to 13 partners from the private sector, local government units and the media for their untiring support to the DENR.  Forest protection and law enforcement is a tough job that we also need the help of our partners from other sectors in dealing with the perpetrators of the forest and doing forest development programs”, RED Galinato said.

The DENR is also imposing the stringent policy of not giving expired lumber dealers, renewal of their license to operate if they cannot assure a legitimate source of lumber which they can trade.  These can come from existing private plantation in and outside Region 8.  “The applicant lumber dealer cannot just show us papers but we have to validate whether they have existing legitimate source of lumber supply”. Galinato added.

Another strategy is seeking the involvement of the people’s organizations under the Community Based Forest Management Program in forest management, they being the actual occupants of the forest areas.  “We will be calling these POs to a summit this coming July 22 to 23 to discuss with them the best strategies for the development and protection of forest areas, Galinato quipped.

The management direction “From the Ridges to the Reefs” is consistent with one of the current priority thrust of DENR Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje on forest protection and development for productivity.  This direction considers that the forestlands should be amply protected as anything that happens in the forest would certainly affect the balance of the lowland including the marine and coastal areas.

Supplemental feeding in Catbalogan gets a twist

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE
July 22, 2010

CATBALOGAN CITY  –  Some 30 malnourished children in Barangay 7, Catbalogan City have been reporting to the barangay hall for their daily ration of nutritious food sponsored by the city government and Makulay ang Buhay feeding program with commercial partners.

Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) Antonia Lomboy told PIA that the feeding program that started in April until September this year is a blessing.

“When I see the kids in the streets, I tell them to go to the barangay hall to get food“, she told PIA.

The invitation is well received and kids would start coming in, bringing with them their own dish and plastic tumblers for their food and milk.

The menu varies from day to day, and is provided by the commercial partners. The kids get to have each day a glass of milk too.

In June, 25 of the kids with below normal weight has normalized, Lomboy proudly reported.

Barangay Chairman Jun Tenedero said partners like the police and Girl Scouts have also assisted the program in their own little way. “This is a partnership of almost every one,” Tenedero added.

Yesterday, July 21 was a special day to the kids, one special patron by the name of Enzo Yu sponsored chicken and spaghetti from Jollibee for them and some 150 children more.

The kids wore their best clothing and some toothless smiles as they ate with the Jolibee mascot.

But Lomboy led them to sing a happy birthday song first before the youngsters devoured their special birthday meal.

Norma Ramirez who is a mother of three malnourished kids and a regular assistant of BNS Lomboy took all her children to the party.

“Di gud kami hini mam nakakatilaw hit jolibee (We can’t afford this type of food),” Norma said trying to restrain her brood of five that had started scampering for the choice chicken cuts. She also did not miss the opportunity to pose with Jollibee and her children.

Enzo Yu took a sneak peek at the children, just smiled without saying a word and left the eating children shortly.

Chairman Tenedero said Yu is a regular donor of the barangay and has been supporting the feeding program in the past years.

Tomorrow, the kids will return to their regular meal with fortified recipes and they will always remember the day when Jollibee visited them. They did not even know why and who is Enzo Yu. (PIA Samar)

Putting the Filipino calamansi into the limelight this Nutrition Month

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
July 13, 2010

TACLOBAN CITY  –  As Region 8 joins the other regions across the country in celebrating this month of July as Nutrition Month, it is but fitting to put into the limelight the Filipino calamansi.

Foreigners describe it as the small green citrus native to the Philippines. The fruit looks like a small lime and is relative of the mandarin orange and the pomelo, others say.

Yes, the lowly versatile tart fruit has gained culinary popularity in the other countries and is being used in many recipes ranging from cocktails to salsas.

Many Filipinos call it calamansi, others call it calamondin, others call it suter. This is citrofortunella microcarpa, a round greenish to yellow in color, 2 cm to 4.5 cm fruit which is normally found in the kitchen of Filipino homes since it does wonders of wonders as a sour flavoring to a variety of dishes from the sautéed rice noodles called bihon to pancit palabok; from the arroz caldo to beefsteak Filipino style.

Calamansi is the secret ingredient to many mouthwatering Filipino delicacies. This writer remembers that the juice of the calamansi leaves are extracted and added to the leche plan to give it an exotic taste. How would the famous Leyte kinilaw taste without the secret ingredient called calamansi? What would dieters do without the calamansi to make the grapelike seeweeds called lato?

What is more refreshing than a glass of calamansi juice or iced tea laced with calamansi on a weather unusually unbearable because of global warming?  Squeeze halved 4 to 5 pieces calamansi, to a cup. Strain it. Add honey or sugar. It's a good source of vitamin C. It keeps common colds away.

So versatile the calamansi is that it is even used for personal hygiene as a deodorant and a whitening agent. Others use it as detergent, removing the grease from the hands, and as a cleansing scrub to pans and dirty or stained clothes. Doesn't Grandma crumbles calamansi leaves and smell it to recover from dizzy spells?

Yet how many calamansi growers have thought that calamansi can be processed into commercial food products such as ready-to-drink juice, juice concentrate, jelly, and jam, and marmalade to name a few?

Indeed, there are many calamansi-based products which are potential sources of sustainable livelihood.

The Department of Science and Technology Industrial Technology Development Institute has developed business concepts involving calamansi processing technologies particularly on Calamansi Concentrate, Calamansi Juice Drink, and Calamansi Jelly. Through this, one will be able to help ensure that the young children of Region 8 will be assured of the supply of the nutritious drink.

If your interest has been aroused and now you want to graduate from being just a user or planter of calamansi, please contact DOST 8 under the leadership of Director Edgardo Esperancilla. He will surely be too willing to patiently answer your query.

Survival Issue is a Political Reality, says Cong. Sarmiento

By GINA DEAN-RAGUDO, Samar News.com
July 12, 2010

CALBAYOG CITY  –  Nakabuhi na ak yakan kan SB (Cong. Sonny Belmonte), si GMA (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) damo an naihatag nga proyekto sa Calbayog. Pag-anunsyo niya nga diri na siya madalagan ka speaker, nakuhaan ak sakit sa ulo. (I have given my word to SB, GMA has provided more projects in Calbayog. But when she declared she’s no longer running for speakership, I lost my headache.), says Samar First District Representative Mel S. Sarmiento in a press conference at Calbayog Sports Complex after Calbayog City officials and LP’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan members made their oaths of office on July 1, 2010.

Under the present administration, Cong. Sarmiento admitted that he eventually joined the Liberal Party.  From LAKAS-KAMPI-CMD under GMA, he said that the group (Samar/Calbayog local candidates) finally decided to go back to the mother party (LP) despite creating collateral damage to the former.  In Calbayog City or Samar, only two parties are being recognized by the people – the Liberal Party and Nacionalista Party. Though he further disclosed that the LP has encountered problems leading to political divisions such as the 1940’s Quirino-Avelino wings, 1980’s Kalaw-Salonga wings and Atienza-Drilon wings which was resolved recently. Under Atienza who opted to support former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, they were endorsed to the latter who was then under the LAKAS-KAMPI-CMD. To be assured of support from the national government, they were able to obtain certificates of nominations from LAKAS.

Survival issue is a political reality. Masakit nga an administrasyon an ginhaharass kontra san oposisyon. (It is painful that the administration is being harassed than the opposition). Many incidents took place prior to the elections ending up diffusion and have weakened the administration. There were people assigned in GMA’s office who were not loyal to her, Sarmiento revealed.

Knowing to be an ally of former PGMA, he appreciates the creation of the Truth Commission provided that due process shall be applied.

“Maupay iton nga pagcreate Truth Commission basta may due process. Kay kon sa katapustapusan hearsay la adto ug waray basehan nga mga alegasyon, it would be an advantage on her part. Kay kon mayda man gud basehan adton mga asunto, she has to answer all the charges filed in court. But look at the Marcoses! In the long run, the court had been sympathetic and in favor of them. If there is nothing to prove, justice will preferably be applied. However, if the court finds out that there are basis, then she has to face the reality”, Sarmiento said.

As a first termer in the House, he is appealing to the people that he be given enough time to focus. He expressed his interest on health, education, environment, agriculture and budget/appropriation committees in order to sustain the programs and projects of former Cong. Reynaldo S. Uy.  He would initiate in refiling the bill creating Calbayog District Hospital as an annex to Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) under LGU-Calbayog. He would check on the good programs suitable for the city and the first district of Samar devoid of emotions.

Amidst the stiff political rivalry and enmity taking place between the governor and the first district representative as well as Calbayog City officials, Sarmiento is also preparing for the passage of the bill creating Northwest Samar Province. The alleged corruptible performance of the provincial government has affected the delivery of basic social services as a consequence of its shaky or non-implementation.

“Diri kunta ihulog an harampang sa politika. The area of the first district is not easy – kakuri imanage. Samar is the third largest island in the country. Kunta magin objective in the aspect of management and finances”, Sarmiento clarified.

On the other hand, the solon intends to consult the local officials particularly the chief executives of nine municipalities for the purpose of imparting his knowledge and expertise in governance. His nine-year experience in the executive department could be a tool for development – the local implementation of the programs which is consistent with the national level.

As a former RDC Chair, best valued for his accomplishments in the region raising considerable funds and implemented projects during his term, clarifies that he did not endorse anybody for the chairmanship but is hopeful that the next leader should be closed to the president.

Other bills pending in Congress that he expressed support are the Freedom of Information Bill, Reproductive Health Bill particularly on responsible parenthood, Implementation of Sex Education in the Elementary Level but he has to examine first its provisions, his support for a gunless society intensifying the Law on Gun Ban and his preference for the implementation of constitutional convention with time frame.

Click here to listen to the full interview

The facts re June 5 cocaine recovery in Eastern Samar

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
June 10, 2010

TACLOBAN CITY  –  Director Antonio Pagatpat of the National Bureau of Investigation informed that his agency was not part of the PASG operations that unearthed 17 kilos of cocaine bricks in three different areas of Easter Samar province.

The clarification was made by Director Pagatpat in reaction to local newspaper reports mentioning the NBI as part of the special operations and “took over and helped out in the shipping (of cocaine) in Manila.”

The good NBI 8 Director disclosed that he only came to know about the operations when the PASG team dropped by his office on Sunday, June 7 to ask him to account for the recovered items.

The PASG team returned to Manila in the early morning of Monday together with the recovered items. An NBI agent from the Central Office came to Tacloban to provide security, Director Pagatpat said.

Contrary to the earlier reports that the Civil Aviation Security in Tacloban denied the shipment, thus the recovered items were transported to Manila by land or by water.

The post operation report of the PASG team composed of SPO1 Tito Q. Macatugob, Atty. Lilibeth A. Llagas and PASG civilian agent Hilario Yalong stated that triggered by the nationwide news on the alleged cocaine packs thrown at the waters of Eastern Samar, the PASG started to gather information as to how the unrecovered packs of cocaine may be discovered. Contacting individuals in the area led the PASG to an informant claiming personal knowledge of some places where the cocaine packs were allegedly being hidden.

Armed with a mission order signed by PASG Head, Secretary Antonio A. Villar, Jr., the PASG team arrived in Tacloban City at 4:30 in the afternoon of June 5. The team proceeded to Mercedes, Eastern Samar and coordinated with the Mercedes Police Station at 8:25 in the evening. It was then, that the team learned that there was no office of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Eastern Samar.

The team then coordinated with the “informant” for the first target area. Several persons were sent to Barangay Hagnayan, Salcedo town to dig up the cocaine bricks in the area pinpointed by the informant. The team allegedly remained at Mercedes town.

The persons came back at 11:00 o’clock in the evening, turning over an orange Hersheys bag containing eleven (11) packs of cocaine bricks packed in plastics.

The team immediately reported the recovery to the Chief of PASG Special Operations Group who thereafter relayed and coordinated with the Dangerous Drugs Board and the PDEA.

At dawn of June 6, the Team coordinated again with the informant for the second target area turned out to be at Barangay Minanod in Llorente town. Again, some men were sent to the area to dig up the buried cocaine there.

While the recovery operation in Llorente was ongoing, the informant pinpointed the third and last target area at Sitio Jaklagan, Barangay Buyayawon in Mercedes town. Several persons were also sent to the place.

At 8:45 in the morning of June 6, a total of six (6) packs of cocaine in brick form, one pack of which is slightly damaged exposing the white crystalline substance which appeared to be cocaine, were delivered to the team. Three packs were recovered at Llorente while the other three packs were recovered from Mercedes.

The 17 packs of what appeared to be cocaine bricks which were recovered by the PASG team were brought to the PNP Mercedes Station where initial inventory and photograph-taking were made in the presence of Mercedes Barangay Chairwoman Josefina Macatugob, Mercedes PNP Chief Inspector Marino Estonio, and policemen SPO2 Julio Quilbio and PO1 Luis Ablay, Jr. There was no media representative known in the area. There was no DOJ representative who could be contacted considering that it was a Sunday.

The PASG team received instructions from PASG officials in Manila to take the first flight the following day, Monday, to Manila and to turn over the recovered cargoes directly to the Dangerous Drugs Board and the PDEA main offices in Quezon City considering earlier coordination with said offices.

The PASG team was likewise informed that the recovered items were already coordinated with the National Bureau of Investigation Anti-Illegal Drugs and that two NBI Agents will be sent to Tacloban to assist the team’s travel from Tacloban to Manila.

After the PNP Mercedes chief reported the recovery of cocaine to the PNP Provincial Director of Eastern Samar, the team was escorted by Mercedes and Quinapondan PNP to Tacloban using a patrol vehicle of the Mercedes PNP.

The team and the police escorts then proceeded to the NBI Region 8 Office to turn-over the physical custody of the recovered items for safekeeping until the PASG team’s flight. The recovered items were sealed and signed by Mercedes PNP Station chief, S1 Cyrus Alusan and a media representative in the person of Miriam Desacada of the Philippine Star. No DOJ representative was contacted.

At around 8:00 o’clock in the morning of June 7, by virtue of the memorandum of agreement between the NBI and PDEA, the PASG team escorted by the two NBI agents arrived in Manila and the recovered items were turned over to PDEA chief General Dionisio Santiago.

World Council of Churches to continue monitoring the HR situation in the Philippines; expresses deep concern and solidarity with Morong 43 Health Workers

By ECUMENICAL VOICE
June 8, 2010

GENEVA  –  In a clear signal of continuing solidarity with the churches and human rights defenders in the Philippines, the World Council of Churches through its Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA-WCC) invited the delegation of the Ecumenical Voice for Peace and Human Rights in the Philippines (EVPHRP) to speak before an audience at the WCC headquarters here.

In welcoming the delegation, Dr. Mathews George Chunakara, Director of CCIA-WCC said the WCC has supported the human rights work in the Philippines “for as long as I can remember” and will continue to do so for as long as human rights violations go on. He said the WCC, through its General Secretary, is one of the international organizations that issued statements in support of the call for the release of forty three health workers who were arrested on February 6. He noted the strong partnership between the churches in the Philippines and non-government organizations that take a principled stand on human rights protection. Also, lending support was Ms. Christina Papazoglou, WCC’s Programe Executive for Human Rights.

A highlight of the presentation of the EVPHRP was the case of the illegal arrest, torture and continuing detention of the 43 health workers, more popularly known as the Morong 43. Mr. Jigs Clamor, a member of the delegation and husband of one of the medical doctors of the Morong 43, narrated how his family suffered and continues to suffer while his wife is under detention. He said his wife was told by the military officers of reprisals to her family unless she admits that she and the others are members of the New People’s Army. “This is the same story with the families of the other detainees,” Clamor said. For six days following their arrest, the Philippine Army denied them visitorial rights by their families and legal counsel. He thanked the WCC for calling for the release of the health workers.

Ms. Marie Hilao-Enriquez, Chairperson of the Philippine human rights watchdog, KARAPATAN, and a victim of torture during the Martial Law years, said that international pressure is important for human rights work in the Philippines. The number of victims shoots up, each time nobody is watching, she said. Atty. Edre Olalia, acting Secretary General of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) and a legal counsel of the Morong 43 discussed briefly the legal twist and turns they are confronted with amidst the impunity. All kinds of human rights violations at every juncture were heaped on the Morong 43, he said as he enumerated the extensive grounds for citing the arrest and detention as illegal.

For his part, Fr. Rex Reyes, Jr., General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, underscored the necessity of living out the words of Jesus Christ who said “I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly”. He said the defense of human rights goes beyond political boundaries as, in the process, one speaks and declares hope where it seems not to exist. He underscored the need to affirm the church’s self-understanding as being for and with people. “We do our best to preserve human dignity in that part of the world, conscious of the fact that we are your representatives there. It is an ecumenical task”, Reyes said as he reiterated the WCC’s definition of ecumenism. He thanked the WCC for its unwavering accompaniment to the churches in the Philippines.

Following the session, the delegation paid a call on WCC General Secretary Dr. Olav Fykes Tveit. In welcoming the delegation, Dr. Tveit expressed the WCC’s support to the work of the churches for the defense of human dignity and assured the delegation of his continuing interest on the case of the Morong 43. The delegation is in Geneva to attend the 14th Session of the UN Human Rights Council.

The Case of the Morong 43: emblematic of systemic and systematic human rights violations in the Philippines which are bred by social conditions

By ECUMENICAL VOICE
June 5, 2010

GENEVA  –  “The Morong 43 case is emblematic of the human rights violations occurring in the Philippines. The plethora of violations at every step of the way, the various legal shortcuts, the brazen abuse or total disregard of the law and the deliberate attempts to escape accountability are conclusive evidences of so much impunity in the Philippines.” Atty. Edre Olalia, one of the counsels to the Morong 43 and acting Secretary General of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), made these remarks at the side event highlighting the case of the 43 healthworkers, during the 14th session of the Human Rights Council held at the Palais des Nations at the United Nations.

Also testifying at the side event was Mr. Roneo ‘Jigs’ Clamor, husband of one of the detainees and Deputy Secretary General of the human rights alliance KARAPATAN.  He narrated the circumstances during and following the arrest of the 43 health workers.  Clamor described how his wife was threatened and that her family would be harmed if she refuses to own up being a member of the New People’s Army. The other detainees experienced similar threats and other forms of torture, he said. He added that relatives who visited were subject to harassment by elements of the military. Ms. Marie Hilao-Enriquez, KARAPATAN Chairperson, went on to detail how the Morong 43 was deprived of their rights.

Speaking at the same event, Commissioner Cecilia Quisumbing also rued the failure of the military to respect the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights. Quisumbing said the military does not respect human rights and does not see the difference between the mandate of the CHR and the investigative powers of the police. This is one reason, she said, the military defies the Commission.  Quisumbing also scored the “apparent impropriety of the warrant of arrest”.

In his response to the testimonies of the members of the Ecumenical Voice for Peace and Human Rights in the Philippines, Mr. Eric Sottas, Secretary General of the World Organization against Torture (OMCT), noted that the Morong 43 is an example of the criminalization of social protest where the health workers are portrayed as criminals. Sottas said the social conditions in the Philippines, the vulnerabilities of the people and the great gap between the rich and poor and the fact that human rights defenders are advocating for these rights which are being denied, bear on human rights violations. Sottas said the Philippine government readily admits recommendations from the international community like the UN. But, it remains to be seen whether it has the political will to adopt and implement those recommendations.

Ms. Renate Bloem, representative of the World Alliance for Citizen Participation (CIVICUS) in the UN, reiterated that the international community of NGOs has been doing its share of supporting the case of the Morong 43 and will continue to link up and work for their release.

The side event entitled, The Morong 43 Case in the Philippines, was sponsored by the Ecumenical Voice for Justice and Human Rights in the Philippines and co-sponsored by the Civicus (World Alliance for Citizen Participation) and the World Organization against Torture (OMCT).

Group insists counter-insurgency policy behind attacks on lawyers and judges

By ECUMENICAL VOICE
June 4, 2010

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND  –  Members of a Filipino civil society delegation claimed that the  counter-insurgency policy of the outgoing Arroyo government is the culprit behind the spate of killings involving lawyers, judges and human rights defenders in the Philippines.

“The real problem lies in the outgoing Arroyo government’s counter-insurgency paradigm that employs polices that do not distinguish who are the combatants and who are not; who are armed and who are not…This is a counter-insurgency policy that just lumped together all the critics and all those who are critical of the government’s policies and programs as enemies of the state… and, considering that they are enemies these people must be eliminated, one way or another,” said lawyer Carlos Isagani Zarate, vice president of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) and member of the Ecumenical Voice for Peace and Human Rights in the Philippines (Ecumenical Voice for brevity). The group sent a five-member delegation to Geneva for the 14th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, which is being held from May 31 to June 18.

The other members of the delegation are: Rev. Fr. Rex Reyes, Jr., general secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), delegation head, Marie Hilo Enriquez, chairperson of the human rights alliance KARAPATAN, Edre Olalia, acting secretary general of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) and  Roneo Clamor, deputy secretary general of Karapatan and husband of Dr. Merry Mia-Clamor, one of the health workers dubbed as the Morong 43 now illegally detained by the Arroyo government.

Zarate made the statement during a forum attended by lawyers, jurists, academics and other members of different civil society organizations from the different countries at the Palais des Nations here.

The gathering – with the theme “Attacks on lawyers, Judges, and Human Rights Defenders: The Urgent Need for Protective Measures” – was convened by the Lawyers Rights Watch Canada, Dutch Lawyers for Lawyers Foundation, Judges for Judges and the International Commission of Jurists.  It was one of the side events of the ongoing session of the UN Human Rights Council

“We believe that to effectively address the problem of attacks faced by judges, lawyers and human rights defenders, we have to employ more long term solutions... long term protective measures that will have greater impact on the persons sought to be protected,” said Zarate who was one of the reactors of the said forum.

Since 2001, some 26 lawyers and 17 judges have already been killed in the Philippines. Some 51 other cases of lawyers being attacked, labeled and harassed were also recorded since 2001.

Zarate’s statement came as a response made by Brazilian Judge Gabriela C. Knaul de Albuquerque e Silva, the newly appointed UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, who vowed to make herself available on a “full time“ basis.  She also said she will fully use her powers as a Special Rapporteur to work with members of the civil society organizations “to address the root causes that creates a scenario where threats and intimidations are happening.”

“We have to work together and do more to employ effective protective measures to help the judges, lawyers and human rights defenders,” she said.

“In the Philippine context, there is clear interconnection between the culture of impunity, the counter-insurgency policy of the government and the lack of protective measures to address the problems spawned by such a policy,” Zarate noted.

Zarate also criticized the penchant of the Philippine government to “misrepresent” the manner by which it addresses the problem of impunity in the Philippines. He pointed for example the claims of an official of the Philippine Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, who claimed that the Arroyo government immediately acted to “swiftly bring to justice those responsible” for the now internationally-condemned November 23, 2009 Ampatuan Massacre in Maguindanao, Mindanao.  “What swift justice is he boasting about? The Arroyo government through Acting Secretary of Justice Agra even tried to exonerate two of the principal accused in the case while the attention of the Filipinos was focused on the recently concluded May national elections,” Zarate said.

Tricycle driver wins national award on poetry

By NEIL D. LOPIDO
June 2, 2010

TACLOBAN CITY  –  Nemesio “Totoy” Baldesco, a tricycle “padyak” driver from Calbayog City, won the Jimmy Y. Balacuit Special Award on Poetry in the just concluded 17th Iligan National Writers Workshop held at the Mindanao State University, Iligan City on May 23-28, 2010.

According to Harold Mercurio, Lamiraw Creative Writing Workshop Coordinator of the Northwest Samar State University in Calbayog City, Baldesco was given with such meritorious award by the panel of critics from big universities in the country for his craftsmanship in his poem “Sikad” which talks about the life of a tricycle driver who takes pain in earning money just to feed his family and send his children to school.

Mercurio informed PIA that the panel of critics who granted the said award were: Antonio Enriquez (Ateneo de Zamboanga), Leoncio P. Deriada (UP Iloilo), Merlie M. Alunan (UP Tacloban), Victor N. Sugbo (UP Tacloban), German V. Gervacio (MSU-IIT), Steven P.C. Fernandez (MSU-IIT), this year’s keynote lecturer, Lawrence Ypil (Ateneo de Manila University), and workshop director, Christine Godinez-Ortega (MSU-IIT).

Baldesco was the only fellow from Eastern Visayas. Along with him were: Bernardo Miguel from Calabanga, Camarines Sur; Paul A. Castillo from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila; Roberto Klemente R. Timonera from MSU-IIT, Iligan City; Gratian Paul R. Tidor, MSU-IIT, Dipolog City; Herminigildo M. Dico, MSU-IIT, Dumingog, Zamboanga del Sur; Jona B. Bering from the University of San Carlos, Cebu City; Jayson E. Parba, Capitol University, Cagayan de Oro City; Kyra Camille C. Ballesteros, Ateneo de Manila University, Taytay, Rizal; Romulo P. Pena, UP Diliman, Quezon City; Reynaldo A. Villaruz, Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion, Roxas City; and Anili F. Butcon, Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City.

Mercurio gladly informed also that the said writer has already received numerous awards from various award-giving bodies. In Eastern Visayas for example, the Ibabao Arts Council of Calbayog bestowed unto him the Poet Laureate Award of Calbayog in 2008 during the Siday sa Kahanginan Poetry and the Provincial Government of Samar proclaimed him Champion in the Oral Siday Competition held in 2004 during the Samar Day Celebration. While at the national scene, Baldesco received a Gantimpalang Ani Award for Poetry in 1994 from the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and in 2007 the Gawad Komisyon Karangalang Banggit for Poetry by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF).

As a traditional writer in Waray, Baldesco updated himself in contemporary writing through his active involvement in the annual Lamiraw Regional Creative Writing Workshop held in Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU). His attendance in the Iligan workshop this year is a big leap in broadening his knowledge in poetry and literary criticism, especially in honing his craftsmanship, Mercurio said.

Baldesco, 55, lives in Brgy. Matobato in Calbayog City, together with his writer-wife Ana and his children who are also artists in their respective fields.  (PIA-8/Lamiraw)

Militant groups condemn illegal detention, trumped-up charges to 10 Hacienda Yulo peasants

Press Release
By KASAMA-TK
May 23, 2010

CALAMBA CITY  –  In what militants perceive to be the most brutal land dispute incident after the May elections, 10 farmers from Hacienda Yulo have been illegally arrested, handcuffed and are still detained while hundreds were injured after tensions broke yesterday at Sitio Buntog, Brgy. Canlubang, Calamba City. Fabricated charges were also filed to the peasants. The incident has now solicited condemnation from militant groups throughout the country.

This after Dan Calvo, land surveyor and architect of Yulo owned Laguna Estate Development Corp. and San Cristobal Realty Corp., refused to honor the peasants' document on a pending petition for revocation of DAR Exemption Order. With him were 50 combined members of the SWAT, the local and regional PNP, and private security guards all with high-caliber rifles who violently pushed the residents blocking their path and illegally arrested the peasants at their protest camp.

Of the 10 peasants who remain behind bars at a local police station, 4 of them are women (including an old-aged) while 3 minors namely: Maria Garcia (39 yrs old); Dorotea Mangubat (46 yrs old); Annabel Natanauan (28 yrs old); Francisca Mangubat (71 yrs old); Mario Mangubat (36 yrs old); Gilbert Caraan (25 yrs old); Lamberto Caraan (40 yrs old); Roger Nedia, (16 yrs old); Jhefe De Leon, (15 yrs old); and Melvin Natanauan , (16 yrs old). Twelve-year old Jorge Mangubat was also illegaly detained but was released last night at around 8 pm. The peasants were also charged with direct assault, alarm and sacandal, serious resistance and disobedience and grave coercion.

Eric Laurel, secretary general of Samahan ng mga Mamamayang Nagkakaisa sa Buntog (SAMANA-Buntog), demanded to the police to at least spare the 3 minors from the dispute. A prosecutor suggested to bring the 3 minors to "rehabilitation" but Laurel countered it could only lead to "brainwashing" these minors away from their legal struggle.

He recounted the incident yesterday that the peasants were only peacefully manning their camp until these armed men came and told them that they had "no rights". "The surveyor even tore up the papers we showed him and started cursing when we tried to peacefully negotiate with him," Laurel added.

Right after news of the peasants have been brought to the police station, around a 100 protesters staged an overnight vigil infront of the Municipal Hall and others stationed in protest camp at  Crossing, Calamba City gathering support from local residents. Laurel said that more protesters are expected to arrive today.

The Hacienda Yulo, 7,100 hectares of land owned by the Jose Miguel Yulo clan, is to be converted into a subdivision and golf course instead of granting ownership to the farmers. Laurel said that the land ownership to the farmers should have been granted as early as the 1960's. The project was even more pursued when the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program and its 5 year extension CARPer was enacted into law. He criticized the CARPer law saying the land dispute in Yulo is a proof that the law only favors landlords into keeping their lands.

In a press conference, Guillermo Bautista, chairperson of Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan (KASAMA-TK) condemned the apparent violence and fascism from the state forces on the peasants who were only upholding their legitimate right for genuine land reform. "The May 2010 elections are just drawing to a conclusion yet here we see the bleak reality in our society that farmers who lived all their lives tilling the land are still continuously persecuted." Bautista said.

"As if causing injury and illegally detaining them were not enough, the police even filed fabricated cases. We have a hundred witnesses to prove otherwise," he stressed.

He feared that if the presumed president-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III will not take seriously the demand of the peasants for genuine agrarian reform in addressing these land disputes; more cases of violence may occur. He noted peasant communities in Southern Tagalog where Hacienda Yulo, Hacienda Looc in Batangas and lands in Quezon province can be found.

"We pose a challenge to Noynoy Aquino, who is an apparent landlord of Hacienda Luisita, to set an example as leader of this nation to uplift the lives of the poor farmers. More farmers will surely express dismay and dissent to the new regime if no concrete changes happen," Bautista added.

Today marks a year after the farmers' campout outside of the gates of the House of Representative were violently demolished and protesters dispersed by the PNP. The camp-out was to call the junking of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with ‘Reforms’ or CARPer and for the passage of House Bill 3059 or Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill filed by Anakpawis Partylist, Bayan Muna and Gabriela Women’s Party.

Reference: Guillermo Bautista, Chairperson KASAMA-TK

TFC to take Catbalogan on global pursuits

By JOHN HECTHOR SAY, Samar News.com
UP-Tacloban Intern
May 20, 2010

CATBALOGAN CITY  –  To fill-in Catbalogan’s lack of global media hype, ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel (TFC) team took approach to the provincial capital on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 with documentations of the city’s tourist and socio-cultural attributes to be released on-air via TFC broadcast.

At around 10 o’clock in the morning of Tuesday, TFC’s team, primarily composed of interstitial specialist/producer Norguia Abdula, TFC Konek researcher/coordinator May Aquino and together with their technical colleagues, arrived at the Catbalogan City Hall right behind a previous trip in Calbayog City. Catbalogan City Planning Department officer Raul Reyes and executive assistant Ador Hurtado were there to grace the visitors’ arrival.

Principally divided into two groups, the visitors partook separate assignments; one was tasked to do interstitial segments purchasing Catbalogan’s livelihood and tourist amenities led by Norguia Abdula, and the other was tasked on documenting community affairs for the TV reality show TFC Konek organized by May Aquino.

The interstitial team joined other LGU personnel to seek oyster culture footages at the Samar State University. The other team, the TFC Konek, took efforts on exclusive documentation of a family’s gala at the D’Leopards Calapog beach resort. The latter was lifted from a Catbaloganon’s request based in the US who approached TFC Konek to do a video stream of his family here in Samar.

By noontime, both teams convened at Flaming Hut restaurant for a lunch and for a brief break. Motions resumed at around 2 o’clock in the afternoon.

Despite the scorching summer heat, the interstitial team managed to do a city tour which featured some of Catbalogan’s most important landmarks. Feat backing was even more complemented with Miss Charo Nabong’s assistance, one of the principal founders of the book “O, Catbalogan.” The book was published under the Katbalaoganon Foundation., Inc. and traces the city’s history, culture, food and delicacies, landmarks and developmental milestones across time.

The interstitial segment would catch Catbalogan’s two faces: the past and the present. Photos of the city’s earlier façade, provided by the book, will be collided with its newer look which was pulled off through the team’s intra-city photography sessions. This in turn will create a significant appeal on Catbalogan’s physical change which weathered through the test of history and economic developments. Additionally, Filipinos abroad, as well as foreigners, may be able to see our city’s potential as a tourism and cultural hub that can possibly draw investors and other interested parties.

Landmarks and places visited by the team include the old and new Antiao bridges, St. Barthlomew Parish Church, the Pieta Shrine, St. Mary’s College of Catbalogan (formerly Sacred Heart College), the Samar Provincial Capitol Building and Capitol Park, the century-old Samar National High School and the marketplace. A panoramic view of the entire city was also shot from the Brgy. Socorro perspective.

By late afternoon, both interstitial and TFC Konek teams gathered at Charito’s Delights Restaurant and Pasalubong Center to feature another segment that will showcase Catbalogan’s foods and pastries. The interstitial team was directly put into the restaurant’s main production house while the TFC Konek team arranged a TV special that cites a group’s snack while at Charito’s Delights.

TFC’s sojourn to feature Catbalogan in the global scene was an important way to give a publicity conduit of the city for foreign consumers and developers. Furthermore, not only the city could do an appeal abroad but circumstances might as well include the entire Samar Island. With this, the team also featured an exclusive interview with Joni Bonifacio, a well-known Samarnon explorer of the island.

Bonificio has been exploring Samar Island for more than a decade now, concentrating much of his time on cave spelunking, island trekking and on water adventures. And to keep a firm respect of his natal place, he organized a tourist institution which he calls Trexplore. It primarily drives Samarnons (and tourists more importantly) to discover the entire island, invest an effort to mold its fullest potential and endorse it not only to the local goers but to foreigners as well. With this, Samar could be known as a promising hot spot for die-hard travelers and appreciators of virgin nature worldwide.

In the followings days, The TFC team will already be heading to Paranas, Basey and Guiuan. The same goals are in their way as they have had here in Catbalogan.

Voting difficulties retard 2010 polls

By JOHN HECTHOR SAY, Samar News.com
UP-Tacloban Intern
May 11, 2010

CATBALOGAN CITY  –  Against the sweltering heat of the sun, chunks of Catbaloganon voters for the 2010 Elections went into their respective precincts yesterday, May 10, 2010 to cast their votes and observe the effectiveness of automated polls. However, glitches struck their way, causing delays of voting mobility.

In the initial hours of the automated voting, numerous problems were encountered by the voters. Most common to these is the glitch on very long lines of individuals heading their precincts.

Emeliana Balila, 19, a first-time voter from Brgy. Maulong, complained with this situation, saying “kanina pa ako 9am pumila, ngada yana (6:30pm) waray pa ako makavote.”

She further confirms that the long lines in their precincts, put up in Catbalogan IV Elementary School, were due to the very slow pace of ballot processing by their Board of Election Inspectors (BEI).

In Catbalogan III Elementary School precincts, which hold one of Catbalogan’s largest barangays, Brgy. Canlapwas, same queries were fed by the voters.

Ariel Hilvano, 34, a resident of the said barangay has been in the precincts since noontime, but was only able to vote by 6:55pm.

Five to 7 precincts were clustered into just one precinct, while voting hours were extended to 12 hours from the previous 8 hours.

These re-arrangements for the 2010 elections were based on the assumption that the poll automation system will speed up the voting process since voting will be via precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines. Each clustered precinct was expected to process around 1,000 voters. In previous manual polls, each precinct could only process 100 to 250 voters.

A voter, who asked samarnews.com to keep his anonymity, speculated that the long lines in the precincts were brought up with the waiting of voters to receive “payments” from various political candidates in the morning. This made afternoon sessions too loaded with heavy voters influx and very slow shrinkage of lines.

On the other hand, some individuals met no hitches in their respective precincts, flaunting orderly and smooth run of voting in their places. Carina de Guia, 28, a voter from Poblacion 2 who casted her vote in Salug Elementary School says “…okay man an dalagan, less than 15 minutes la ngani ak naghinulat para makabutos”

Carina went in the precinct in the morning, at around 8 o’clock and finished her job by 8:25 am.

Although morning voting sessions in Salug Elementary School were not generally met with problems, afternoon sessions turned the wheel below. Lines began to lengthen and voters started to complain against the BEI. This has followed after some PCOS machines failed to function properly and when the voting population started to swell.

Technically, many precincts in the city also experienced PCOS machines failures. In Catbalogan I Elementary School, a correspondent reported about a shutdown of the machines. In Guinsorongan Integrated School, machines stopped functioning. Voters from Salug Elementary School precincts complained about paper jams.

But not long since machine malfunctions began, technicalities were immediately fixed. Though the failures resulted in the lengthening of lines, at least voters felt a little relieved when machines properly worked again.

However, problems were not only addressed on machine failures. Ballot rejections were also reported, including the case of Teresa Tan, 57, wherein the machine, although functioning well, refused to accept her ballot. The BEI speculated that she might have had an error in her shading or her ballot could have been folded or tainted.

“Maupay man ada hadto nak ka-shade han mga lidong. Dire man liwat mahugaw nak balota. Malain la nak pamati kay waray man karawta han makina nak balota…”, Teresa refutes.

Another problem that concern the 2010 Elections was related on vote-buying. A particular case in Guinsorongan, a respondent who chose not to tell his/her name reported about an “open-ballot” activity in their precinct. According to him, he/she would be paid an amount summing up to P1,500 if only he/she will vote his candidates (one gubernatorial, one vice gubernatorial, and one congressional) and show his ballot to the partisan individual who was just near the windows of the precinct he was in. Not until he finishes voting, then was only the time he/she will receive the agreed amount.

“P1,500 it iya karuyag iduhol ha ak kun bubutusan ko daw hira….. Pero ihahatag la kuno niya an kwarta kun matapos na ak bumotos. Open-voting an labas hadto, mapwesto daw la ak hirani bintana para makita niya nak pag-shade…”, the respondent explains.

The voting period for the 2010 elections was originally set for 7am to 6 pm but was then moved up to 7pm. In the past, voting period was only up to 3 p.m.

Politics, showbiz, sexuality others in the mind of Boy Abunda

By ALICE NICART
May 8, 2010

BORONGAN CITY  –  He was an ordinary boy who sold vegetables around Borongan neighborhood and would be hurt discreetly as tongues waggled against his grandfather being a son out of wedlock, but that was 40 years passed and Boy Abunda has rose to become one of the respected personalities in showbiz and politics.

Yesterday, it was the “king of talks” turn to answer and not ask questions as he freely offered the Sinirangan Press any topic under the sun for discussion.

How he made it to the top, he said maybe because of hard work, his being a bookworm, his perseverance, self-trust and strong faith in God.

Seated beside his gray-haired Nanay (who served a full three term as the town’s vice mayor) and sister Fe who is seeking a mayoralty seat after finishing a vice mayoralty term, Boy who was clad in black casual get up, found comfort in standing instead most of the time in the entire press conference.

Very early before the election trail, rumors spread in town that Boy Abunda was joining the political race in the provincial level.

Some of the questions (Q) and (A) answers:

Q - Why didn’t you (indeed) run?

A - Not a few politicians convinced me to run but I did not feel the urge to run for a public office; I don’t know however what’s gonna happen in the future, maybe, I can even run for the Senate, however, at the moment, maybe I will just have to make hay while the sun shines.  But please do not compare my sister with me. I learned of some unpleasant words which have come out against Mana: that she is tanga, bulok,walang kakayahan; although that is partially true because I graduated valedictorian, and I am into my Masters, but while I am ambitious and hurdled every bit of challenge in the big city, Mana chose to stay here  with you and serve you. Frankly, I am embarrassed a bit but I have told Mana, let us swallow these mudslinging, tinuyoan man la nim. But I believe it does take anyone to be a genius, to be a graduate of a law school in order to become an effective leader. There are a lot of leaders who had met just the minimum requirements, still several others are just ordinary citizens, yet, they were just as effective as the most learned ones, maybe even better.

Q - Why Noynoy?

A - You have seen my TV ads with Sen. Manny Villar, they are my good friends with his wife; Let me tell you however that contrary to the tsismis that I was paid in millions for that ad, it’s a lie. I believe in Sen. Villar, but things changed after the death of Madam Cory. Nagpaalam ako ng maayos kay Manny Villar but my friendship with Kris has become deeply rooted long ago until I became an adopted second son of the Aquino’s; I was at the death bed of Mrs. Cory; I wrote that script of Noynoy which partly said… “Sa ngalan ng Diyos at ng aking mga magulang, hindi ako magnanakaw.” Nonoy is a humble and a very simple man… my family relationship will definitely comes first to a friendly connection.

Q - Who is your congressman?

A - Ben Evardone.  Because I believe in his platforms, I know him. My governor is Docena.

Q - How true that you have not been helping local talents from Borongan, hasn’t anybody excelled in the standards of one Boy Abunda?

A - I do help, but not enough because I am busy. Nobody has excelled. Yes…We have a lot of talents…remember you need not be a mestizo or mestiza but you must possess the X-factor.

Q - Was  being a gay an element to your successes?

A - Don’t look at me as a gay but as a person. Being a gay will not hamper one’s ambitions and in pushing to be the best he can. You know, culture is not always right…our culture has not been kind to gays…but I will not apologize for being a gay.  I support Ladlad the same way I support An Waray. Did I commit a sin in my 27 years of relationship?  Let us talk about sexuality in the context of responsibility…But I can say, I’ve become a mother that Nanay wanted me to be. Don’t you wonder why I endorsed Sunsilk when I got no hair? Argentina and Bear Brand? Again, don’t look at me as a gay but as a person because I believe in the equality of men.

Boy Abunda admitted, after helping her, he was offered a position by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo but he opted to be just a consultant in the area of communications. And asked if he could accept a cabinet post should Noynoy wins, he answered in the negative.  (PIA-Eastern Samar)

City gov’t eyes economic feats in PINES; project proposals expected to draw foreign investors

By JOHN HECTHOR SAY, Samar News.com
UP-Tacloban Intern
May 7, 2010

CATBALOGAN CITY  –  in preparation with the upcoming Philippine International Eco Show (PINES) of DTI’s Center for International Trade Missions and Expositions (CITEM) to be held on August 26-28, 2010 at the SMX Convention Center Pasay City, the city locals of Catbalogan begun securing certain project slots for the aforesaid conference, Assistant City Planning officer Raul Reyes says.

The Philippine International Eco-Show (PINES) is an international conference/exhibition that showcases a diversified shelf of innovative environment-friendly materials, products and services. It is slated to feature an exhibition, a conference, business matching and eco-business tour. Target visitors are Venture Capitalists; Urban Planners, Property Developers; Contractors, Architects, Designers, Original Equipment Manufacturers, Multinational Corporations, Motor Vehicle Assemblers, Hospitality Related Industries (Hotels, Resorts, Spas, Wellness Centers, Cruise Liners), Importers, Wholesalers, Distributors, Facility Managers, Government Agencies, Non-Government Organizations, Green Building Materials and Technology Providers.

Formed under the Kyoto Protocol, the said event is idealized towards creating a greener and healthier earth that doesn’t only bring environment-conscious products and services but is also set to do reforms and innovations in the trade systems of the world.

By this sense, and to make Catbalogan a feasible entry for this conference, the City Planning Office has already formulated a short list of eco-projects that it may present to the foreign investors (whom the city targets to realize the plans). Among these are the construction of a small-scale tidal power generation plant in Brgy. Silanga, the creation of a tourism loop within Eastern Visayas (comprising Catbalogan City itself, Daram, Babatngon and Calbiga) and a project called Cradle-to-Cradle Solid Waste Management.

Engr. Reyes further explains that these projects do not only seek economic aids for Catbalogan but will also generate direct or indirect financial and aesthetic benefits to other areas within the region, particularly those that comprise the tourism loop.

Samarnes.com is also put to become the official media partner of the City Planning Office for the PINES.

Turbines in the sea

Being the major project proposal of the City Planning Office, the construction of a tidal power-generation plant is expected to receive the fastest approval from the investors in the PINES conference. This is what Engr. Reyes calls as a Techno and Eco-Tourism venture.

The prospect area for the power plant to be built is on the bay situated between the island of Buri and the barangay of Silanga. The area is currently being crossed with a causeway which particularly prevents the strong flow of the waters running on its sides. Engr. Reyes pushes that if only a huge hole would be bored in the causeway, great chances are seen to occur that the waters from the surrounding bay will increase in current pressure. Especially that the area is prone to tidal activities, rich energy source is expected to materialize.

Micro-turbines will be built under the causeway which will be used to generate energy. With a length of about 140 meters, the water flowing under the causeway is estimated to produce a sizable amount of energy enough to feed a particular commercial unit or residential region with sufficient energy needs. Additionally, the city also plans to use the now-rich surrounding water areas as a fertility ground to culture certain breeds of fish, such as bangus, tilapia and sea cucumber due to the fact that oxygen is already in free flow in these waterways. With this, Buri and Silanga can feasibly become affluent processing zones for fish- and energy-related products.

However, to secure the safety of the fishes and to protect mother nature, screens would be built near the causeway to safeguard these sea creatures from the working turbines.

The improvement of the local airport is also thought to become a major outcome of the project. With lots of investors and business enthusiasts to flee on the island, and with a bulky number of tourists to set foot on the beaches, the development of the airport is no way an impossibility.

The Tourism Loop

As seen in the map, Catbalogan is situated in very strategic position in Eastern Visayas. Its port operates with neighboring islands and it is positioned in a commanding location that concretizes it to become a major gateway for several destinations in the region.

The tourism loop being developed by the city is aimed to make Catbalogan a high-caliber retirement place for tourists as well as to discover hidden riches of its neighboring municipalities, particularly Daram and Calbiga. However, the loop also includes the municipality of Babatngon, an area found in the island of Leyte. Though it may not serve as a major tourist destination, the place is intended to carry loads of passengers who travel via Catbalogan-Daram-Tacloban route. By this scheme, Batbatngon will benefit from the loop mostly by means of sea traffic and other related services.

Major tourist activities include sea diving and beach events in Daram, spelunking, cave trekking, white water rafting and waterfall amusements in Calbiga as well as commercial, entertainment, leisure and socio-cultural festivities in Catbalogan City. The city is also envisioned of becoming a MICE destination (meetings, incentives, conference and exhibitions) where it can accommodate visitors from all-over the country to hold big business and educational forums.

With concrete plans underway, this tourism loop is expected to generate good economic benefits for the province of Samar.

From bins to kitchens

Engr. Raul Reyes would also be preparing a presentation in PINES that will practically feature a restaurant-waste collector relation which he calls Cradle-to-Cradle Solid Waste Management. This project in particular, is dubbed as a corporate social responsibility plan.

The project is aimed towards making Catbalogan a self-sufficient city for food needs. Here, restaurants and other food-related processing establishments are suggested to form organizations in order to systematize the process of waste-food disposal. More so, an envisioned union of waste collectors is also expected to be formed for it to become a backing agency for the restaurants. They’ll be collecting wastes from these food houses, process them as livestock feeds and in return, become suppliers of raw materials (especially meat).

Other waste products would also be used as fertilizers for local farms, thus creating organic agricultural fields (planned to be in Mahayag). Expert agriculturists and food scientists will be hired so that waste collectors would be correctly guided on their tasks.

Clearly, the project will form a cyclic or closed loop, wherein food processors are required to feed their wastes to waste-collecting agencies and in return, the latter will solely provide the raw materials for the former.

Voters’ Walk for Unity in North Samar successful

By AILENE N. DIAZ
May 1, 2010

CATARMAN, Northern Samar  –  The Diocese of Catarman led by Bishop Emmanuel C. Trance and the Northern Samar Peace and Development Forum initiated a unity walk called Voters’ Walk for Unity on April 24, 2010 for a Clean, Honest, Accurate, Meaningful and Peaceful (CHAMP) Elections.

The Unity Walk took off at 5:00 in the morning at University of Eastern Philippines Grandstand and reached the Sacred Heart Plaza fronting Catarman Cathedral, an hour after.

In a program afterwards, sector representatives were given time to share his/her thoughts and opportunity to express their support to the advocacy of the diocese and NSPDF.

All are one in pushing for a clean, honest, accurate, meaningful and peaceful elections and this could only be achieved according to them, if people will stop selling their votes and candidates will refrain from vote buying.

Dr. Mindanilla Broto, vice president for external affairs of the University of Eastern Philippines said, that the University is with the group in the crusade for a CHAMP elections. She said we have to select leaders who are honest themselves and who advocate for a peaceful and meaningful government.

PNP representative PSInspector Rafael Habawel Tayaban expressed his order to carry on and encouraged everyone to move as one as he shouted “let’s do it together.”

NGO representative, Mr. Joe Lim, also stressed his belief that there is strength in unity and that he will not waiver his advocacy for a peaceful polls.

On her part, youth representative, Ms. Annie Mey Tantuan vowed not to sell her votes and encouraged youth to be an instrument of CHAMP for 2010 elections.

Col. Rolando Malinao, Deputy Commander of 803rd Brigade assured the people that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is ready for the CHAMP elections. He said that in any successful endeavor, it requires a collective and concerted help of everybody and the help of God.

Sis. Maribel Carceller, the director of SHIFT Foundation, Inc. on the other hand, made an appeal to everyone to lead a meaningful life. She said, if you sell your votes, you are not selling yourself but you are selling your country.

Ms. Maribel Buenaobra of The Asian Foundation, took part in the program and expressed her appreciation to the Diocese in leading the advocacy in promoting a peaceful elections.

Bishop Trance on his part informed the people of what the Diocese, NSPDF and PPCRV have been doing in pursuit for a clean, honest, accurate, meaningful and peaceful elections. The NSPDF and the Diocese thru its social action commission and PPCRV is in the frontline for voters’ education and in establishing a pre-during and post election monitoring scheme.

Bishop stressed that the election is the future of the country and this is the future of the people. The Bishop further said, “we have to work together, we need to work together to avoid cheating to happen”.

The program ends with the lighting of torch, offering of prayers, releasing of doves, signing of covenant for a CHAMP elections.

The event was participated in by members of NSPDF, priests, PPCRV Volunteers, UEP, youth, AFP, PNP, other national government agencies, non-government organizations, religious and renewal communities such as Couples for Christ, Familia, Women for Christ and Servants of God Community.  (PIA-Northern Samar)

On the 3rd year commemoration of Jonas’ abduction and disappearance

Mrs. Edith Burgos: What can the Presidentiables do for Jonas Burgos and the human rights situation in the Philippines?

Press Release
By DESAPARECIDOS
April 28, 2010

MANILA, Philippines  –  “Today, April 28, 2010, I dare all presidential candidates to make a stand on enforced disappearances, torture, extra judicial killings and other violations of human rights.  I challenge all of them to bare their human rights agenda instead of wasting their time mud-slinging. I ask all those seeking the highest post in the land what they can do for Jonas and the human rights situation in the country because this present government of Mrs. Gloria Arroyo has done nothing to find my son and give justice to what happened,” said Mrs. Edita Burgos in commemoration of the 3rd year of the abduction and disappearance of Jonas Burgos, activist, agriculturist and son of media icon Joe Burgos.

Three years ago today, Jonas was forcibly taken by armed men, believed to be members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, from a mall in Quezon City while eating inside a fast food restaurant. Since then, the Burgos family and friends have searched for him, yet he remains missing.

“We have brought his case to the Court of Appeals, the Commission on Human Rights and even the United Nations.” says Mrs. Edith Burgos, “Unfortunately, the CA refused to grant me the Writ of habeas corpus and the writ of amparo, the Supreme Court has remained silent on my appeal for the reversal of the CA’s decision. This petition was filed in August 1, 2008, more than 1 year and 8 months ago, meanwhile the officers whom we have charged in court have been promoted. So now we ask – where is justice?”

Like other families who have lost their loved ones through enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings and other human rights violations, Mrs. Burgos has not stopped and will not stop searching for her son, Jonas. She will continue to seek for justice for him and for the thousands of victims of human rights violations under the present government.

According to the human rights group Desaparecidos, the human rights situation in the Philippines within this decade and under the leadership of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been at its worst since the time of the Marcos dictatorship. A total of 1,118 victims of extrajudicial killings and 204 victims of enforced disappearance has been documented by the human rights group Karapatan. The figures are only for the period of 2001-2009, add other cases that have been documented from January to April of this year, have yet to be added.

Aside from the enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killings, other human rights violations continue to be committed by the Arroyo administration. “If this is the case, then we cannot hope for any justice from the current government.” Mrs. Burgos stated, adding that with just 12 days to go, they have not heard any Presidential candidate offer their human rights agenda to the Filipino people. “What can Noynoy Aquino, Manny Villar, Erap Estrada, Gibo Teodoro, Dick Gordon, Eddie Villanueva, Nick Perlas, Jamby Madrigal and Jaycee delos Reyes do to improve the human rights situation in the country?” Mrs. Burgos asked.

Desaparecidos Deputy Secretary General Lorena “Aya” Santos could only agree. “In case these Presidential bets have forgotten, may we remind them that human rights issues – economic, social, civil, political and cultural rights – are the issues we as a nation must confront.  Thus, we challenge those running for positions in government to present their human rights agenda to the nation and show us how they will protect the rights of the Filipino people.

WWIII may not be caused by gasoline but by water – DENR-CENRO

By ALICE E. NICART (PIA Eastern Samar)
March 25, 2010

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar  –  Information Officer, Ms. Dorinda Labro of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-CENRO) warned the public, as she quoted a world report that says, “should water shortage reach a global scale,  the Third World War may not be caused by gasoline but by water”.

Labro said that there is about 2,000 cubic miles of ground water which the whole world gets from, and should it be contaminated, trouble might just take place in any given time.

Philippines might not be spared of the scrambling for drinking water, because even if we might have sufficient supply for all the Filipinos, foreigners would come and plunder our water.

“Let us not forget that water is more important than the solids we take,” Ms. Labro spoke on air over Radyo ng Bayan-DYES through Soc Aberia’s afternoon program, “Info Centrum”, in connection with the World’s observance of the World Water Week.

The DENR Information Officer has been going around the province and the Region to advocate for a better and protected environment in order for man to save himself and the planet from global warming.

At present, she is a hospitable host to another environment-friendly lady volunteer from Germany, Maria Kleimann, whom she said she has conducted to several areas in the province.

In a brief telephone interview, the 19-year old German lady informed this writer, that cleaning and greening is a big thing in her country.  She also said that, in her rounds with Ms. Labro, she noticed that people have cut several rainforest and burnt them, unlike in Germany, when they plant and cultivate trees and manage well their trashes.

Dorinda said her guest does not even eat meat.  She prefers vegetables instead, cooked with coconut milk, because eating meat adds to the emission of methane gas, she jibed.

In order to save the environment particularly, water, Labro advised his listeners to maintain a simple lifestyle: put off the aircon unit when coolness has prevailed the room; don’t swing the electric fan when only one person is using it; unplug appliances when not in use; never fill the glass to the brim with water, when you can’t consume the whole amount, otherwise you will just throw away the remaining water; if you can use up a pail of water when bathing, then, spare the other pail for others’ use.

Leyte IDOL Season 5 grand winner named, received standing ovation from judges, crowd

By Provincial Media Relations Center
March 23, 2010

TACLOBAN CITY  –  Leyte mined again another singing sensation as the Season 5 Leyte IDOL Star Category drew to a close Sunday night naming young mother May Obando as this year’s grand winner.

May wowed the judges, who stood on standing ovation in almost of the three performances she rendered during the Grand Finals night held at the Leyte National High School Gymnasium and earned herself P150,000 as cash prize and P50,000 worth of other prizes.

The newest Leyte IDOL winner sang the songs May Bukas Pa in the OPM Category, On My Own from the play Les Miserables in the Broadway category and went upbeat in the RNB Category – all three performances given high points by the judges composed of singer Bituin Escalante, singer comedienne Joy Viado and songwriter Jonathan Manalo.

May’s husband and kid was among the hundreds of crowd that jampacked the LNHS Gym together with the rest of the IDOL finalists’ supporters from Tanauan, Leyte, Ormoc City and Baybay City.

Also named as first runner up in this year’s Leyte IDOL was Reginald Detabali of Ormoc City who got the prize of P100,000. His singing style was being compared by the judges to artist Gary Valenciano.

Meanwhile, another Ormoc belter Christine Ricarte took home the cash prize of P50,000 after being named as the second runner up. Christine was likewise a favourite early on with the judges with her solid renditions of chosen songs in the three different categories set for the night.

Though she did not get the top three spots, Tanauan’s Mary Rose Modesto was named as Texter’s Choice for having gathered the most number of votes through texts.

Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla opened the Grand Finals Night with an OPM number and after which vowed to continue the said singing search saying this is more than just a talent search but already an institution in the provincial government that provide opportunities both in singer careers and other personal developments of Leyte’s young talents.

Also present during the night were Palo Mayoralty candidate Remedios “Matin” Petilla, Tacloban Mayoralty candidate Councilor Bob Abellanosa, Board Members Lesmes Lumen and Evangeline Esperas, Tanauan Mayor Roque Tiu, Babatngon Mayor Charita Chan, Tabango Mayor Benjamin Jonathan Remandaban and other officials from the provincial government.

The grand finals night was seen worldwide over live mainstreaming through ABC-5 and heard over live simulcast over local AM radios DYVL Aksiyon Radyo and DYDW Radyo Diwa. Leyte Samar Daily Express was also one of the Leyte IDOL’s official media partners.

Protect Witnesses to Maguindanao Massacre

Two Relatives of Witnesses Killed; Many Suspects Remain at Large

By HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
March 9, 2010

NEW YORK  –  Philippine authorities should act swiftly to protect eyewitnesses to the November 2009 massacre of at least 57 people in Maguindanao province on Mindanao, and to protect their families as well, Human Rights Watch said on Monday.

Concerns for the safety of witnesses are highlighted by the killings of two relatives of witnesses and the shooting of a third; the large number of police, military, and paramilitary personnel implicated in the massacre who remain at large; and lax security measures that allowed one suspect to escape detention, Human Rights Watch said.

"Witnesses won't come forward if there is a 'second Maguindanao massacre' of witnesses and their families," said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The government needs to act quickly to protect witnesses and their relatives, and to arrest and securely detain the remaining suspects."

On November 23, 2009, in the town of Ampatuan, Maguindanao, Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, dozens of gunmen stopped a convoy that was en route to file Buluan Vice-Mayor Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu's candidacy for the upcoming Maguindanao gubernatorial elections. The gunmen summarily executed at least 57 people, including Mangudadatu family members and supporters, bystanders, and more than 30 media workers.

Those charged with the killings include members of the local governing family, the Ampatuans, together with police, military, and paramilitary personnel. Andal Ampatuan Jr., mayor of Datu Unsay and son of the Maguindanao governor, Andal Ampatuan Sr., is the lead suspect in the case. He was charged on December 1, 2009; he is in custody while his bail hearing continues.

Several eyewitnesses have come forward to testify about the massacre.

On February 21, 2010, the elder brother of one suspect-turned-witness, Police Officer 1 Rainier Ebus, was shot multiple times in Datu Piang and severely wounded. According to credible sources that could not be confirmed, Ampatuan's men had offered Ebus 5 million pesos (over US$100,000) to recant his witness statement. The brother was shot after he refused to do so.

Credible sources also told Human Rights Watch that another witness was offered 25 million pesos (over US$500,000) to recant his signed witness statement. He refused. Within weeks of testifying in court, two of his family members were shot dead. The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) told Human Rights Watch that local police were investigating these crimes.

A member of the Ampatuan paramilitary forces told Human Rights Watch that the Ampatuans have placed a bounty on the heads of those who cooperate with investigators to testify against the Ampatuan family. He said that in late 2009, men linked to the Ampatuan family ordered him to kill one of the men involved in the massacre. The paramilitary force member said he escaped the Ampatuan fold after hearing that he was the next to be killed. He said he has learned that there is a 2 million peso (over US$40,000) bounty on his head.

Human Rights Watch urged the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to thoroughly and transparently investigate these killings and acts of intimidation against witnesses. To the extent that jailed Ampatuan family members are implicated, the NBI should investigate the Philippine authorities responsible for their custody.

The Justice Department, on February 9, filed charges against 197 people for 57 counts of murder on February 9, 2010. Arrest warrants have yet to be issued due to judicial delays, though some of those implicated are in custody charged with other crimes.

Of the 197 charged, 63 are police officers. Forty-nine of these police officers are under "restrictive custody"; the remaining 14 are "absent without leave." A Criminal Investigation and Detection Group spokesperson told Human Rights Watch that firearms are confiscated from police officers under restrictive custody and the officers are largely restricted to the police camp, though they can leave under guard. They remain on active duty and can be assigned administrative tasks.

Human Rights Watch questioned the effectiveness of this custody status since at least one police suspect, Anwar Masukat, escaped restrictive custody in late December or early January, reportedly swore an affidavit recanting his witness statement, and is now missing. Masukat had initially provided a signed statement implicating Ampatuan Jr. as the leader of the Maguindanao massacre. In his new statement, he pointed instead to another police witness as the massacre's mastermind. The Investigation Group spokesperson told Human Rights Watch that Masukat escaped restrictive custody while en route from Camp Crame, in Manila, to his unit in Maguindanao.

The threat to witnesses is highlighted by the government’s lax detention of a suspect in custody, Human Rights Watch said. Retired Police Superintendent Piang Adam, the former Maguindanao provincial police director, escaped from the Sultan Kudarat Provincial Jail in Tacurong City between February 16 and 17. The Sultan Kudarat provincial police director, Senior Superintendent Suharto Teng Tocao, is a relative of Adam, and his jail guard, Taha Kadalum, was his cousin and has since been charged in relation to the escape.

Following this escape, the Philippine police chief, Director General Jesus Verzosa, ordered tighter security on all jail facilities and noted the need for a review of security systems and procedures. Human Rights Watch called on Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno to carry out an urgent review of the detention arrangements of all those implicated in the Maguindanao massacre and publicly report on the findings and measures taken.

Human Rights Watch stressed the need for stronger witness protection measures to ensure, in keeping with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's statement of November 25, 2009, that "the perpetrators (of the Maguindanao massacre) will not escape justice."

The United Nations special envoy on extrajudicial executions, Philip Alston, recommended in 2007 that the government ensure protection for persons who testify in killings for as long as they are at risk, and that they be provided housing and other assistance to ensure their security and well-being. Human Rights Watch made similar recommendations in its 2007 and 2009 reports about extrajudicial killings. None of these recommendations have been implemented.

Human Rights Watch called on the Arroyo administration to provide sufficient funding to ensure adequate protection for witnesses and their families, and urged the government to promptly investigate acts of witness intimidation and killing, and to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. Security forces and the Justice Department should take the measures needed to protect their physical safety, including relocation where necessary, and ensure that witnesses and their families are afforded appropriate housing. Witnesses who are themselves implicated in the killings should be appropriately – and safely – detained prior to trial.

Human Rights Watch also urged the Philippine Congress to increase significantly the penalties for intimidating or assaulting a witness. Currently, intimidating a witness incurs a fine of not more than 3,000 pesos (US$65) or imprisonment of six months to one year, or both. Offenses against intimidating witnesses should also be expanded to include offenses against their relatives.

"President Arroyo has a long way to go to live up to her promise that the perpetrators of the Maguindanao massacre do not escape justice," Pearson said. "The legacy of her administration will depend in great measure on the outcome of this horrific case."

Rape cases up 22%

By Office of Rep. Emmylou "Lala" Taliño-Mendoza
February 22, 2010

QUEZON CITY  –  A total of 3,159 rape cases were reported to the authorities countrywide in the 12 months of 2009, up 22 percent from the 2,585 recorded over the same period in 2008, Cotabato Rep. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza disclosed Sunday.

Citing National Police statistics, Taliño-Mendoza, a gubernatorial candidate in her home province, said the 2009 figures translate to an average of almost nine rape cases being committed every day, or one incident every two-and-a-half hours.

"The actual number of rape cases is of course much higher than those reported, possibly as many as 6,000, since many women and girls still opt not to complain to the authorities," Taliño-Mendoza said.

She cited a study showing that "half of rape victims would not file a complaint because of the stigma and the embarrassment of recalling their ordeal to the authorities."

Metro Manila had 466 rape incidents last year; Western Visayas, 429; Central Luzon, 316; CALABARZON, 312; Bicol, 293; Southern Mindanao, 203; Central Visayas, 160; and MIMAROPA, 153.

Ilocos had 145 cases; Northern Mindanao, 144; Eastern Visayas, 119; Western Mindanao, 109; Cordillera, 93; Caraga, 78; Central Mindanao, 73; Cagayan Valley, 53; and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, 13.

To cope with the surge in rape and other sexual assaults on women and children, Taliño-Mendoza sought:

The establishment of one rape crisis center in every city and province, as mandated by the Rape Victims' Assistance and Protection Act;

The creation of a desk for women and children in every barangay hall;

A forceful campaign against drug and alcohol abuse, and all forms of pornography;

The installation of a National Sex Offender violator Public Website patterned after that of the U.S., to enable the public to alert themselves about the possible presence of sex malefactors in their communities; and,

The setting up of fully trained anti-sex crimes units in every regional police office.