The police apprehended
thirty-one people on election day for violation of liquor ban and
seized four homemade shotguns and its ammunitions and a P3,500 worth
of money for alleged vote-buying.
Calbayog City police
chief Supt. Isaias Bañez Tonog presented to local media the homemade
firearms which, he said were taken from the respective residence of
Charnito Miano, 38; Danilo Sarmiento, 43; Julio Branzuela, 36 and
Ezequiel Cosculla, 63 at around 10 a.m. in Barangay Catabunan, Oquendo
District, Calbayog City.
Tonog, who led the
responding police team said that the firearms were seized after
conducting a negotiation and signing of a covenant for an honest,
orderly and peaceful elections between the barangay candidates.
The police chief added
that a concerned citizen tipped the police about barangay candidates
who were observed to be armed with homemade shotgun which made the
residents apprehensive that a failure of election might happen.
“Kay boluntaryo man an
ira pagsurender, ginsidngan ko sira nga diri ta kam pa-filan kaso kay
ini tikang sa tagsa-tagsa nga balay waray man makuha sa iyo mga lawas.
An importante la magin mamingaw. Pero mayda duha nga nandadlagan…ginpabalikan
namon pulis… waray man reported nga bumalik an nandadlagan para
hadlukon an ira mga kalaban,” Tonog explained.
First Time
In the evening of Oct.
29, thirty-one people who includes customers and employees of three
videoke bars in Calbayog.were apprehended who, Tonog said, were caught
selling, serving, and taking intoxicating liquor inside their
establishment.
The two-day liquor ban
started on Oct. 28 and ended Oct. 29 according to the Commission on
Elections (Comelec) Resolution No. 8310.
The resolution states
that the violation of said prohibited acts shall be punishable with
imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than six years and
shall not be subject to probation, and in addition, the guilty party
shall suffer disqualification to hold public office and deprivation of
the right of suffrage.
Cases of violation on
election rules have already been filed against the violators.
“Siring nira nga yana
pala iton nga may yaon nga dakop nga siring siton kay sa national
election waray man ak dide. Seguro kon nakadi ak may yaon ak
nagkadadakop,” Tonog said.
He added that other
business establishments were open the night they did the apprehension
but found them serving only softdrinks.
Comelec resolution No.
8310 provides exemptions to establishments. It stipulates that,
“hotels and other establishments duly certified by the Department of
Tourism as tourist-oriented and habitually in the business of catering
to foreign tourists may be exempted for justifiable reasons from the
liquor ban, provided they secure prior written authority from the
Commission.”
Vote-buying
A P3,500 worth of
money was also presented to media which, Tonog said is from a
complainant of Barangay Oboob, in the same district who received the
money in exchange of the seven votes from the complainant’s family
members.
The police chief said
he had promised them to return the money provided there will be an
orderly election in their barangay.
Of the 157
barangays in Calbayog, only in Barangay Buenavista, an interior
barangay of the city had failure of election. The two aspirants for
Punong Barangay in Bgy. Acedillo received exactly the same number of
votes and settled to break the tie by drawing lots last November 3 in
the City Comelec Office.
Mayor Sarmiento is
speaker of Cities Alliance’ International Events
By GINA
SUELLO-SORILO
November 3, 2007
CALBAYOG CITY, Samar
– Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento flew to Jeju, South Korea recently for
the four-day United Cities and Local Governments’ World Congress where
he was invited as one of the speakers.
The congress which
started October 28 aims to exchange experience of City Development
Strategies (CDS), challenging the delegates on the role of cities in a
global context to promote effective economic growth and poverty
reduction. It will also offer concrete experiences and evidence based
policy recommendations.
With its title:
“Cities without slums- Strategic Responses in Fast Growing Cities,”
the session focus on local governments’ experiences of using CDS and
slum upgrading tools in cities where Cities Alliance members have
financed interventions and promote cities as partners of international
cooperation.
The CDS process is a
tool helping to create a well-governed, sustainable, productive and
social inclusive city. In Calbayog, the activities are monitored and
documented by the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO).
Merla A. Rosalado, the
Chief of Staff and Documentor on Special Projects of the city mayor’s
office informed the media that the city mayor had a 10-minute
presentation on the topic, “Scaling up City Development Strategies in
the Philippines “ last Oct 31.
“An presentation ni
mayor is a combination of the macro-level how is cities in the
Philippines and micro-level how is Calbayog City development strategy
in Calbayog City,” she said adding that a 25-minute open forum
followed after the presentation.
Mayor Sarmiento’s co-presentors
were representatives from Vietnam, Egypt, Argentina and the officials
of the Cities Alliance who sponsored the congress and financed the
CDS. He is the only city mayor who attended the activity as the
presentor from the Philippines along with World Bank representatives
based in the country.
The Cities Alliance is
a global coalition of cities and their development partners committed
to scaling up successful approaches to poverty reduction.
Aside from South
Korea, Rosalado revealed that the city mayor is also invited to attend
the Public Policy Forum sponsored by the Cities Alliance with Housing
and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), League of Cities
of the Philippines, Asian Development Bank, World Bank and the UN
Habitat on November 5 and 6.
“Although it is being
held in Manila, this is also an international event. There are many
countries that are included in here. Two presentors…one coming from
Manila
and one from the countrysides…Mayor Sarmiento will once again make a
presentation with Marikina mayor Marides Fernando,” Rosalado added.
Rosalado also
disclosed that on November 8 and 9, Mayor Sarmiento will also make a
presentation in the Eastern Visayas Local Peace and Security Assembly
sponsored by the National Security Council at the Leyte Park Hotel in
Tacloban. No less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will grace
the activity.
DTI awards Seal of
Excellence to 23 certified establishments in Region 8
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
November
3, 2007
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– For upholding consumer rights and ethical business practices, the
Department of Trade in Region 8 recently awarded the seal of
excellence to twenty three DTI Certified Establishments in the Region.
This is an improvement from last year's only 11 business
establishments.
Mr. Joe Molina of the
DTI-Leyte informed PIA that this is in connection with the DTI
Certified Establishment Program which was launched by Trade Secretary
Peter Favila two years ago. The DTI-CE Program gives due recognition
to establishments that uphold the rights of consumers and practice
responsible business, where consumers indeed get value for money.
The Program also
encourages the setting up of a sustainable Consumers Welfare Desk or a
DTI-recognized consumer service center that will provide information
to consumers and serve as a mechanism for speedy resolution of
consumer complaints.
No less than DTI 8
Director Cynthia Nierras and DTI-Leyte Ed Belas presented the seal of
excellence to the owners of the 23 business establishments.
Of the 23 business
establishments cited, three (3) were presented the Silver Seal Award
for having achieved in the past the Bronze Award, for complying with
the requirements and social responsibility. The Silver Award was
presented to Gleen Marketing Tacloban, Gleen Marketing Ormoc and
Gaisano Tacloban.
Bronze Awards were
given to twenty business establishments which has complied with the
Fair Trade Laws and has set up a consumers welfare desk in their
respective establishments.
The bronze awardees
include IP Car Service Center in Tacloban City for the service and
repair shops, RL Appliance Corporation Tacloban, RL Appliance Ormoc,
RL Appliance Baybay, Nena’s Trading Tacloban, Highway Supermart in
Tacloban, Citi hardware, Leyte Home Depot and Imperial Appliance Plaza
in Tacloban.
Also included are the
Tanauan Moon River Grocery, Gaisano Ormoc, Brodeth Enterprises in
Baybay, Belen Supermart in Baybay, EKS Mart in Baybay, MNC Service
Center in Baybay, Iza Commercial in Bato and Servitec in Ormoc.
The seal of excellence
which can be found at the door of the business establishments has the
open wings logo which symbolizes commitment to nurture, guide and
protect both the consumers and the establishment from unfair trade
practices.
The logo also has
stretched feathers which depict readiness to fly in open and
competitive market and face its challenges, as well as provide a
higher quality service.
The feathers forming
the wings also reflect cooperation and harmony. As in many myths,
wings as represented by the logo, have to be earned by their wearer.
When entering
business establishments, consumers can be assured quality and safety
of all products they will buy, once they see the DTI Certified
Establishment logo posted at the establishment’s door.
National Security
Council conducts local peace and security assembly in Eastern Visayas
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
November
2, 2007
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– A Local Peace and Security Assembly will be conducted in Eastern
Visayas Region on November 8-9, 2007 at the Leyte Park Resort Hotel in
Tacloban City, Province of Leyte.
Ret. Lt. General
Victor A. Mayo, Senior Deputy Director General of the National
Security Council informed that no less than Her Excellency, President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is expected to be the Guest of Honor during
the said Assembly.
The Assembly, Lt.
General Mayo said, is a multi-sectoral undertaking that is aimed at
strengthening local mechanisms to address peace and security problems
with the active participation of various stakeholders in the Region.
The outcome of the
peace and security assembly would be adopted in
Eastern Visayas to promote stronger cooperation and complementation
between the national and local governments to promote progress and
development particularly in the countryside.
Furthermore, the
expenses for transportation and accommodation of the participants from
the Government Sector shall be shouldered by their respective
departments or agencies or offices. The National Security Council
shall provide for the meals during the Assembly dates, Lt. General
Mayo clarified.
The participants are
expected to arrive on November 7, in the evening of which, the
coordination meeting of the secretariat and facilitators will be
conducted.
Eastern Visayas is
composed of the provinces of Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Samar,
Eastern Samar and Northern Samar.
Protesting Sumilao
farmers reach Tacloban
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
November
1, 2007
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– After walking for twenty days, the protesting Higaonon farmers
from Sumilao, Bukidnon arrived in Tacloban in the afternoon of October
30, taking refuge for a night’s sleep at the
Redemptorist
Church.
Upon arrival at the
Redemptorist Church, the farmers who are on a 60-day protest march to
Manila,
took time out to hear mass. By their looks, one could see the
exhaustion from the long walk under sunny and rainy weather, but their
enthusiasm and strong desire to really reach Manila are very much
apparent.
The protesting
Higaonon farmers from Sumilao, Bukidnon started the Visayas-leg of
their 60-day protest march to Manila on Wednesday, October 25,
arriving in Liloan. The Visayas leg will last for 16 days.
According to the
protesting farmers, their protest march seeks to dramatize the
farmers' 10-year clamor for ownership of the 144-hectare Quisumbing
Estate which they claim form part of their ancestral land.
They are going to
Manila to request President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to intercede for
them. In 1995, the farmers were issued a certificate of land ownership
award over the estate but Malacañang later canceled the CLOA.
Information received
by the Philippine Information Agency stated that the farmers are also
advocating the extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform program
which is supposed to expire next year.
Verified information
has it that the farmers who were originally 54 when they left San
Vicente Village at about 4:00 o'clock in the afternoon of October 10,
are now down to 51 when their medical support team decided not to let
Sonia Bayo and Dote Agustin to continue with the walk.
A week of walking had
taken physical toll on the two marchers with Agustin suffering from
recurrent fever while Bayo, with recurring stomach pains and vomiting.
Agustin's wife, Emerita Buclasan, was forced to return to Bukidnon to
attend to her sick husband.
On October 29, one of
the protesting farmers who was identified as Ms. Merida, was
hospitalized at the Leyte Provincial Hospital because of stomach pain
and is still confined at the same hospital.
Mayor Roque Tiu of
Tanauan, Leyte who is the president of the League of Municipalities of
the Philippines, Leyte Chapter, informed the Philippine Information
Agency that the he was requested to send the Tanauan Ambulance to
Mayorga, Leyte, about 30 minutes away from Tanauan, to transport the
lady Sumilao farmer who collapsed in Mayorga, while walking from
Abuyog towards Dulag and Tolosa.
Department of Agrarian
Reform Assistant Regional Director Antonio Tan said that the same lady
farmer was given dextrose at the
Abuyog
District
Hospital
last night. The protesting farmers, according to ARD Tan slept in
Tolosa last night.
Today, the protesting
Sumilao farmers continued their walk, stopping only at the Assumption
Academy in Tanauan to take their lunch. They then continued their walk
braving the intermittent rains going to Tacloban.
It was learned that
the protesting marchers are not without the necessary assistance
because they have a medical team accompanying them. It was also
learned that they have the full assistance of the Philippine National
Police, the AFP, the Department of Agrarian Reform and the Church, to
see to it that nothing untoward will happen to the farmers.
Village chief aspirant
gunned down in Calbayog
By GINA
SUELLO-SORILO
October 30, 2007
CALBAYOG CITY, Samar
– A barangay chairman aspirant was shot dead on board his motorized
passenger cab in Brgy. Tabawan on Saturday, October 28.
The police report said
that Roger Diongzon Buscagan, 35, of Barangay Alibaba was shot by a
lone gunman at Sitio Atipolo, Barangay Tabawan, 12:30 p.m. in a
motorized cab he is driving bound for interior barangays in Calbayog.
Buscagan suffered
gunshot wounds on the different parts of his body. He was first rushed
to the Our Lady of Porziuncola Hospital in Calbayog and while he was
being transferred he died before reaching
Northern
Samar Public Hospital
in Catarman, Northern Samar.
Police recovered one
deformed slug of undetermined caliber at the crime scene.
A hot pursuit
operation conducted by the Calbayog PNP SWAT Team resulted to the
arrest of the suspect who was positively identified by the witness.
The suspect and the
witness were both passengers on board the motorized cab driven by the
victim when the incident happened, police investigation disclosed.
Personal grudge is
being looked into as the motive behind the shooting, the police said.
According to the
witness, the suspect allegedly boarded the motorcab together with
three women and upon reaching Barangay Guin-on, the latter alighted
and the former transferred and sat at the back of the victim. Upon
reaching Barangay Tabawan, the suspect allegedly told the victim to
stop by saying “Dinhi nala ako mahawas” and simultaneously drew his
handgun and fired the victim at the back.
The witness further
alleged that the suspect jumped and fired again then immediately fled.
Meanwhile, the house
of chairwoman Eulalia Lagang who is seeking re-election was fired at
by an unidentified assailant in Purok 2, Barangay Acedillo at about
2:30 a.m. last Sunday (October 28), police report said. Nobody was
reportedly hurt.
Calbayog City police
investigators are still conducting an investigation on the incident
and cannot make any conclusions yet.
Election officer
Rafael Payod disclosed that Barangays Acedillo and Alibaba are both
areas of concern.
“Mayda kami joint
coordination sa army. Sa lugar nga diri naaabot namon mayda man army
para matagan dayon aksyon an complaint,” Police Chief P/Supt. Isaias
Bañez Tonog said in a radio interview.
