TACLOBAN CITY- Expect more ‘tactical offenses’ to be carried out by the members of the New People’s Army (NPA).
Thus warned an official of the armed group of the Communist Party of the Philippines, reacting to the statement of President Rodrigo Duterte before soldiers of the 803rd Infantry Brigade directing them to ‘neutralize’ men and even women suspected to be NPA members.
“In response to Duterte’s threats, the NPA will strive to intensify tactical offensives to defend the people and to punish the police, military and paramilitary units that are the worst human rights violators and promoters of mining, logging, land grabbing and other plunder,” Ka Karlos, spokesperson of the Efren Martires Command of the NPA operating in Eastern Visayas said in an emailed statement Wednesday.
“The NPA will surely become bigger and stronger because Rodrigo Duterte himself is fast becoming the best NPA recruiter as his human rights violations and dictatorial powers are convincing more people to take up armed struggle and overthrow the reactionary ruling system.”
During his visit to 803rd IB based at Camp Juan Ponce Sumoroy in Catarman, Northern Samar on Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Duterte did not minced word when he directed government soldiers, to include policemen, to neutralize NPA members as a way to end Asia’s longest insurgency problem.
In his speech before the soldiers, Mr.Duterte also slammed the communist group saying they have done nothing to the country but killed Filipinos.
He, however, called on them to surrender and return to the folds of the law and in the process, receive assistance from the government.
Mr. Duterte provided financial assistance to 15 former rebels, an activity that was not opened to media.
Ka Karlos said that the statement of the President is another version of the controversial ‘tokhang’ used by the Philippine National Police on the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign.
“This is worse than the bloody anti-drug war “Tokhang” which was against a part of the poor who were desperate and dabbled in drugs. Now Duterte wants to arrest or kill all who opposes his regime, who could even be conveniently shot dead and described in police parlance as ‘NPA na nanlaban,’ he said.
“This will be carrying out mass murder because the police and military are steeped in fanatical anticommunism and do not see any difference, such as between a student activist and an NPA Red fighter,” he added.
The spokesperson of the armed group operating in the region called on the Army and police not to follow this order of their Commander-in-Chief and respect human rights.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
NPA warns gov’t of intensified ‘tactical offenses’ as response to neutralization call of Pres. Duterte
Pres. Duterte to soldiers: Neutralize the communist terrorists
CATARMAN, Northern Samar-President Duterte has ordered the soldiers to “neutralize” the communist rebels to help end insurgency problem of the country.
In a speech before soldiers belonging to 803rd Infantry Brigade in Camp Juan Ponce Sumoroy on Tuesday(Oct.2), the President said soldiers should kill themselves instead of surrendering during a gun battle with the sparrow unit New People’s Army’s (NPA) liquidation group.
The President said the soldiers should never allow themselves to die in the hands of the sparrow unit members.
“As I promised before, I have your back,” he said.
“Just continue performing your duty well and you can be assured that this administration will take care of you and your children” he added.
Mr. Duterte renewed his call for the NPA rebels to leave the armed struggle and surrender.
“I reiterate this administration’s call for communist terrorists to abandon their extremist activities and return to the fold of the law,” he said.
At the same time, he asked the soldiers to beef up their intelligence gathering and neutralized the communist group.
“We are not into crime prevention. It’s neutralization, neutralization tayo…” he said.
He pointed out that there was no such thing as crime prevention in the fight against communist rebels because the latter were committing crime of rebellion daily.
“There is no crime prevention because the crime is bring committed, perpetrated 24 hours a day. So hindi na kailangan magtanong ng warrant na yan. They are committing the crime of rebellion 24 hours a day, Naghahanap lang yun ng engkwentro,” he said.
“I will be criticized.Im telling you, I am guiding you what is practical and what is true and legal,” he added.
President Duterte went on to his usual rant against the Communist Party of the Philippines which had done nothing but kill police, soldiers and civilians for more than 50 years.
He described CPP founder Jose Sison as “hambugero (egotist)” whose group could not even overran a village.
During his visit, Duterte who was wearing a military camouflage, also provided financial assistance to 15 former NPA members from the province who returned to the folds of the law.
He arrived in Catarman at 3:36 p.m. and was accompanied Special Assistant to the President Bong Go and his military adviser, Undersecretary Arthur Tabaquero, who once head of the 8th Infantry Division where the 803rd IB belongs. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
Mayor Gomez to NHA administrator: Resign!
ORMOC CITY- Mayor Richard Gomez of this city has called for the resignation of National Housing Authority (NHA) general manager Marcelino Escalada amid his allegation that the housing agency is using substandard materials in a housing project intended for quake survivors of his city.
Gomez made this challenge to Escalada days after the NHA administrator said that they are mulling of filing charges against the Ormoc city mayor.
Earlier, the actor-turned-city mayor was seen in a video that went viral showing him complaining that the quality of the hollow blocks used in a resettlement site in Barangay Gaas were substandard as they could easily be broken.
This claim of Gomez put their agency in a ‘bad light,’ Escalada said as they maintained that the hollow blocks used passed the quality standard test.
“Problema ng NHA general manager, tingin ko, salita lang siya ng salita kasi di pa siya pumunta sa site. Salita ka ng salita, di mag-resign ka. Hindi pwede na housing agency head ka, tapos di mo nakikita ang proyekto sa napakaraming housing (projects ng NHA).Maraming maaaksidente pag-ganyan ang ugali mo,” Gomez said on Thursday(Oct.4) night in the sidelines of a press conference of the holding of the National Teachers’ Day in Ormoc City.
“Bantayan mo yung mga contactors mo. Bantayan mo yung mga tao mo sa mga probinsiya na gumagawa ng mga projects sa NHA. Do not get mad at me kasi pareho tayong nasa gobyerno,” he added.
Gomez said that he would welcome the plan of the NHA of suing for defamation saying that he was only after the interest of his people why he came out to say that the quality of the hollow blocks used were of low quality.
“Do not shoot the messenger. Shoot the contractor. Pinoprotektuhan ko ang mga buhay ng mga tao. Safety is my primary concern. If they cannot do that, di tayo magkakasundo,” he said.
“It is my moral duty as mayor of Ormoc to make sure na tama ang ginagamit na mga materyales sa mga proyekto dito sa Ormoc,” Gomez added.
Gomez said that he already brought his concern to Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino during his meeting with him on Tuesday(Oct.2).
The Ormoc city mayor also hope that President Rodrigo Duterte will intervene on this issue.
“Huwag kayong magagalit sa amin kung nilalabanan namin ay korupsiyon,” he said, addressing Escalada.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
Journalist-turned entrepreneur making waves in the ‘banig’ industry, products going global
IN 2008, multimedia journalist Ricky Bautista wrote some thorough articles on local native products in his town in Basey, Samar through blogging and in papers.
Viewers and followers then started asking help on how to buy locally handmade and hand-woven handcrafts.
For a year, he served as “mediator” between the community weavers and buyers or lovers of handicrafts.
Until such time in 2014, a year after the devastation of super typhoon ‘Yolanda,’ when almost all people and community folks were down with their livelihood, he and his wife Liezel decided to put out an online store exclusively for introducing the products of the community which are often unheard by the outsiders.
The online shop became the marketplace for weavers.
Their two children ages 10 and 12 inspired them to become start-up entrepreneurs.
In 2017, the family started the “focused” operations of their Henry’s Banig Souvenir Shop.
They hired community weavers mostly women, housewives, “tambays,” and students as part-timers especially during summer or semestral break.
To date, the shop has 14 in-house and part-time workers assigned as weavers, embroiders, assemblers and sewers.
“Most of our clients are resellers who resell the products nationwide and selected areas abroad. We see to it that the product is very affordable, durable but with a twist of modern style,” Bautista said in an interview.
“Also, this is one way for the tourism and livelihood of the community to grow,” he said.
Since the raw materials are being supplied by banig weavers from the town’s remote barangays like Guirang and Loog, the couple would make it sure that the banig being brought into the town will have buyers.
Sometimes, they have to buy all the raw materials themselves so as to spare the banig weavers from further inconveniences in going around the town to sell it.
They, however, assured that the products are “natural, hand-woven, vibrant and world-class quality for both local and global market.”
“Our long-term plan is to have a stable, strong factory that will somehow support local artisans and their dependents as well as promote the banig industry in the global market. If this happens, we can also help the tourism of this town which is now dubbed as ‘banig capital’ of the Philippines,” Bautista said.
Their products include mats, slippers, handbags, fold-able mats with handle, coin purse, wallets, wine and bottle holder, placemats, table runner, hats, wall decors, candle holder, jewelry box, and cell phone pouch.
They also produced shoulder bags, tote bags, pencil pouches, pillowcase, decorative mats, training kits, laptop covers, and banig envelops.
These banig items are best as corporate giveaways, token souvenir, or for personal collections.
The products are ideal for seminar, convention as well as simple events that need memorable but native touches, Bautista, who went into self-study in terms of designing the products, said.
Meanwhile, Bautista and his wife remain thankful to those who patronize the local banig products, saying it helps the community weavers and artisans by marketing the products without marking up the factory price.
He, however, hoped that the government particularly the Department of Trade and Industry will include start-up entrepreneurs like them in the promotion and marketing as well as product enhancement training.
When asked about the support they receive from the DTI, Bautista said that as of now, they’re not as lucky as the “Big 4” in Basey who gets regular support from the government in terms of training, promotions, and financial loans.
“Sa ngayon po, we rely only from ‘walk-in’ and ‘referrals’ clients. Our buyers pass on our brands and products to their friends who likewise introduce the same stuff to another handicraft lovers,” he said.
“Most often than not, the clients’ offer their exclusive designs especially those buyers from abroad,” he added.
To inquire about how to help the banig weavers or buy banig products from Basey, they can contact Bautista through mobile 0921-501-7777 / 0912-288-5769, or e-mail trexpelunker@yahoo.com. You can also visit their production site at Sitio Bamgon, Brgy. Canmanila, Basey, Samar or at Facebook: Henry’s banig Souvenir Shop.
PNP to stage fun run on Oct.27; proceeds to go to poor people
PALO, Leyte- The Philippine National Office Regional Office No. 8 will host the first ever PRO8 Evening Fun Run this year.
Chief Superintendent Dionardo Carlos, police regional director, said that the event will take place on October 27 and will start at 8 pm.
The fun run will begin at the PRO8 Grandstand inside the regional headquarters to be participated by running enthusiasts from the police organization and other stakeholders in the region.
“This is in line with the celebration of the Worldwide Halloween Festivity celebrated every end of October in preparation for the commemoration of All Saints and All Souls Day on November 1 and 2,” Carlos said.
As the PNP envisions for the evolution of Police units and its police officers into a community and service-oriented organization, particularly in gearing up harmonious community interactions, the fun run was conceptualized with the intent of promoting camaraderie between the police and community while at the same time, enjoy the Halloween festivities.
The event is open for all interested runners from PNP and other stakeholders.
There are two categories, the 3-km and 5-km run with a registration fee of P350 and P450 respectively, inclusive of race bib, singlet and the winning prize respectively.
As part of the mission of PRO-8, the proceeds that will be raised on this event will be given to the less fortunate families in the community.
“It will surely be an exciting event. We will not just enjoy the run as we will be happy extending our hands to the lowly,” Chief Supt. Carlos said.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
Gov. Petilla inaugurates projects worth P54 million in Dulag town
TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico ‘Mic’ Petilla inaugurated various projects in Dulag town with combined projects cost of over P54 million.
The governor inaugurated the concreting of a 2.8 kilometers provincial road section worth P25 million in the barangays of San Jose-Calubian-San Isidro; the Tabu Cabarasan road worth P3.29 million; the provincial road in Brgy. Salvacion-Cogon-Rizal worth P20 million
Another road project launched by the governor was a 3.2 kilometers road connecting the barangays of Salvacion-Alegre-Cabacungan-Del Carmen worth P3 million.
The other two projects inaugurated were the covered court worth P2.51 million in Brgy.Bolontohan, and a tanod outpost worth P220,000 in Brgy. Buntay.
During the project inaugurations, Gov.Petilla also distributed 4,000 food packs for the constituents of the six barangays.
(RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)