CAMP CARLOS DELGADO, CATARMAN, Northern Samar – Two days after election period was set, Allen Municipal Police Station (MPS) cops apprehended a violator of the gun ban imposed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on January 15, 2019 at Allen town.
To support the initial report forwarded to this office, Police Chief Inspector Antonio Montaño, OIC of Allen MPS averred that the suspect identified as Johnson Lascano y Salazar, 29 years old, married, driver and resident of Brgy. Jubasan of said town was accosted while they were establishing Comelec checkpoint at 7:30 o’clock in the evening in consonance with the election period.
He added that Lascano, while driving a Ford pick-up, color black with no plate number from Brgy. Jubasan bound to Allen proper was stopped when he blatantly ignored the initial signage to slow down as checkpoint was ahead.
When approached and asked why he ignored the checkpoint, he was seemingly calling his alleged employer while confusedly holding a black bag.
Looking suspiciously, he was politely asked by PO2 Felix Labajo to show what is inside his bag and they found out that the suspect was carrying an unlicensed caliber 45 firearm.
Subsequently, suspect was apprised of his rights and brought to the municipal police station.
Suspect has undergone inquest proceeding for violation of R. A 10591 in relation to Omnibus Election Code.
Progress report disclosed that accused waived his rights under Art. 125 of Revised Penal Code and availed of the preliminary investigation while Prosecutor Rico Leo Sacaben recommended his bail amounting to P 120,000.
Meanwhile, PS/Supt. Reynaldo B. de la Cruz reiterated that election period has set in already and it shall last until June 12, 2019, and checkpoints are established all over the nation, so anyone that will be caught carrying unauthorized firearms and other deadly weapons will be charged for violation of election laws. He encouraged all the motorist to bear with the police during checkpoints.
Feel free to contact us at the following contact number and social media accounts: Provincial Police Community Relation Branch hotline number: 09065993368 or email us at our gmail account-nsppopcrb@gmail.com; Facebook Page-NsppoNorthsamar ; Webpage at nsppo.pro8.pnp.gov.ph for more details.
(PO3 GERALDINE S. CASTILLO/PR)

NAVAL, Biliran-The chief of the provincial Comelec (Commission on Elections) office in Biliran on Sunday, Jan. 13, told local candidates, who attended the Unity Walk, Ecumenical Prayer Rally, and Covenant Signing, to follow election laws.
Lawyer Antonio Gulay, Jr., provincial election supervisor, said this reminder in his short message during the said activity held at the Naval Gymnasium.
Gulay emphasized to the candidates the P3.00 allowable expense per voter as provided for by law.
He further reminded the candidates not to engage in vote-buying and follow the proper sizes and installation of campaign posters during the campaign period.
The provincial election chief reminded the candidates to follow what the integrity pledge they signed to achieve a clean, orderly, and peaceful elections in the province.
The unity walk, initiated by the Biliran Police Provincial Office, was also attended by the municipal level candidates of Naval and the provincial level candidates of Biliran.
Gulay also reminded the public during the PIA-Biliran’s Kapihan Forum (Panginsayod) on Monday to be aware of the prohibited acts during election period which runs from January 13 to June 12, 2019.
He stressed the imposition of gun ban, the prohibition of betting as to which candidates are to win, proper hanging of candidates’ campaign posters and not to engage in vote-buying.
Gulay, who just assumed as the provincial election supervisor in Biliran last December 28, 2018, is hopeful for an orderly and peaceful elections in the province on May 13, 2019.
(LDL/MLT/PIA-8 Biliran)

Questioned incident happened in 2009

TACLOBAN CITY- For an act that happened about 10 years ago, Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone is now facing a graft complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman.
Evardone, who was governor at that time, was accused by Edilberto Grata, Jr., for violation of section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act as his questioned acts allegedly resulted to ‘undue injury’ to the provincial government of Eastern Samar.
Grata, who is a resident of Can-avid, also in Eastern Samar, in his complaint he filed before the anti-graft court on Jan.14, stated that Evardone committed graft involving P5.37 million by extending financial assistance to the Liga ng mga Barangay- Eastern Samar which was used for a Lakbay Aral involving barangay leaders of the province for a seminar on good governance in Baguio City on February,2009.
He also said that during the seminar, Evardone, who was on his last term as governor at that time and had expressed his desire to run for congressman during the 2010 elections, also handed P1,000 each to the barangay leaders who attended the seminar.
The provincial government, under Evardone, also entered an agreement with SEAIR to transport the participants, Grata said on his complaint.
Grata said that part of the ‘overall design of the seminar workshop was a commitment made by the governor and the participants.
“In this situation, each barangay chairperson would be made to express his/her commitment of support to then Governor Evardone who made known his intentions to run for Congress in 2010 elections,” he said.
And by giving their support on his congressional bid, Evardone then gave P1,000 each to them, Grata added.
But Evardone, who is now on his last term as congressman of the lone district of Eastern Samar and is seeking for the gubernatorial post in this year’s elections, dismissed the complaint as nothing but ‘purely politically motivated.’
“The fund in questions were aid to barangays transferred to the Liga ng mga Barangays through a memorandum of understanding. It was the liga that disbursed the funds, which were fully liquidated and supported by official receipts and airline tickets. So not a single centavo passed through me,” Evardone, in a press statement, said.
“This happened a decade ago and the timing is suspect. Why only now? There is no doubt that the filing of the case is purely politically motivated,” the congressman said.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

CAMP RUPERTO KANGLEON, PALO, Leyte – Nine police units of the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO 8) received various awards for the 3rd Stage (Proficiency) of the Performance Governance System popularly known as PNP P.A.T.R.O.L. Plan 2030 during the conferment and awarding ceremony on January 16, 2019 at the PRO 8 Matapat Hall.
Eastern Visayas Police Director Chief Supt Dionardo Carlos told reporters in a press conference here that the awardees were as follows: Leyte Police Provincial Office and Tacloban City Police Office for Gold Eagle Award; Ormoc City Police Office; Eastern Samar Police Provincial Office; Biliran Police Provincial Office; Northern Samar Police Provincial Office; Samar Police Provincial Office; Regional Mobile Force Battalion; and Southern Leyte Police Provincial Office for Silver Eagle Award.
C/Supt Carlos also told reporters that said awards were the result of exemplary performances of all the Provincial and City Police Offices and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion contributing to PRO8 Headquarters’ conferment with Gold Medal Award last January 15, 2018 at PNP national headquarters in Quezon City.
Carlos explained that PNP P.A.T.R.O.L. Plan 2030 is the Philippine National Police strategy towards real and lasting transformation.
Its journey began in 2009 when it was selected by the Office of the President to be one of the six national agencies to participate in a landmark Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact Eligibility agreement for adopting the said Performance Governance System.
“With great appreciation, I commend the men and women of PRO8 with their zealous efforts for such a remarkable achievement,” Carlos said.
Currently, this PRO is doing its best foot forward heading its way to the last stage, the Institutionalization Stage, Carlos said.
(RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)