Maasin City – Senator Francis Tolentino said that he is waiting for the report of the Philippine Coast Guard on the rescued Chinese vessel that currently docks at the San Pedro Bay, four miles away from the port of Tacloban.

Tolentino, interviewed here in the city, said that he is expecting for the Coast Guard to furnish him with the report within this week.

“Questionable yun kasi malayo na sila sa West Philippines Sea. Questionable yun kasi malayo na sila,” the senator said.

The Chinese vessel FV Kai Da 899 was said to have damaged its hull reason why they sent a distress call which the Coast Guard responded.

Seven Chinese nationals were on board of the said 496-tonnage vessel that was towed to the city seas after it drifted off the waters of Suluan in Guiuan town, Eastern Samar on Jan. 31.

The incident has prompted Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone to call for a further probe.
Evardone said that the crew should answer questions since they are inside Philippine territory to clear suspicion.

Last week, a Chinese consular official visited the stranded Chinese nationals inside the vessel.

The visit was off to the media to cover.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY– An ordinance penalizing owners who park their vehicles unattended and illegally has been passed in the city council.

Councilor Jerry Uy said that the proposed ordinance will address, among others, the worsening traffic problem of the city.

“Most especially with those vehicles that are parked for long hours, that obstruct traffic, they will be towed,” the city official said.

Under the proposed ordinance, penalties will be meted.

For light vehicles, the penalty will be P1,500; medium vehicles, P2,500; and heavy vehicles 4,500.

The erring vehicle owners will also be mandated to pay the P1,000 storage fee of their impounded vehicles. (JASMINE KATE AGOSTO, LNU STUDENT INTERN)

MAASIN CITY– Senator Cynthia Villar lauded the mayor of this city, Nacional Mercado, for his various programs which benefit his people.

Villar was in the city Monday (Feb.13) as a guest of the Sangguniang Bayan Members Congress attended by the city’s village officials.

The senator said that she is happy to know that Mayor Mercado has a wholistic program that covers from agriculture to health and infrastructure development across the city which redounds to the benefit and welfare of his constituents.

“Mayor Nikko is one of the most enthusiastic, persistent, and efficient city mayors in this era. He is hardworking and uses his youthful energy and skills to bring services closer to the people. He is there and he is activating his priority programs anchored in the term Nacional on wheels,” she said in her speech during the gathering held at the city gymnasium.

For her part, Sen. Villar said that she is extending help to the city, especially in the fields of agriculture.

“As your senator who fully supports the agriculture sector, we were able to provide a cacao community-based development enterprise project for Malapoc Sur Tinagak and Sinamay Workers Association of Maasin City. This includes the establishment of a cacao plantation, establishment of a cacao processing facility, plant nursery, greenhouse solar dryer and other agricultural equipment, as well as capacity development training on cacao processing,” she said.

Villar also said that she initiated the Coconut Carabao Development Project (CCDP) and Coconut-Base Improvement Network Program in Maasin where 30 heads of buffaloes were distributed to farmer recipients.

The senator also said that she was happy to know that a farm-to-market road connecting the villages of Hantag and Laboon is ongoing which will be a big help to the farmers in transporting their goods.

“This is a really beneficial project for the agricultural sector and is expected to provide comfort in the lives of nearly five thousand households in the five barangay beneficiaries,” she said.

Meantime, Villar said that she is happy that the local government under Mayor Mercado and the village officials of the city has a harmonious relationship.

“May you also continue to deliver to your constituents your honest service and meaningful programs that aim to improve the lifestyle and stimulate the economy in your barangays,” she said.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA/JOEY A. GABIETA)

ORMOC CITY– An alleged drug den was dismantled in the course of a buy-bust operation in Bato, Leyte on Sunday (Feb.12).

The said drug den is located in sitio Pordoy, Barangay Iniguihan where the suspects were arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted on that day at about 5:14 pm.

Arrested were identified as Ronie Oporto, 49, and said to be the maintainer of the place; Anecita Ucab; and Elmer Merin,35, lawyer Gil Pabilona, the regional director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, said.

Oporto and Ucab are listed as street-level individuals on the drug watch list of the local police.

The operation resulted in the seizure of a sachet of suspected shabu from the possession of Oporto, said to be the target of the buy-bust operation.

Further body search resulted in the discovery of three more sachets of suspected shabu, now totaling in all to 12 grams; several drug paraphernalia, and cash.

Charges of violations of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Law against Illegal Drugs of 2002, were filed against the suspects who are temporarily detained at their custodial facility in Baybay City.
(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY– A man died on the spot after he was caught in the act by the suspect kissing his wife in Barangay Lubi-Lubi, La Paz, Leyte.

The victim was identified as Nilo Suyom,32, a single farmer, was found dead due to several stab wounds inside his house at District II in the said town on Feb. 8.

The suspect, Agusto Pedrigal, 42, married, a construction and a resident of Brgy. Lubi-Lubi of the same town, voluntarily surrendered to the police authorities.

Based on the investigation conducted by the local police, Pedrigal suspected that his wife was having an illicit affair with Suyom.

The suspect made a surprise visit to their home that night and it was confirmed when he arrived home as he caught his wife and the victim kissing. Because of the anger of what he witnessed, the suspect stabbed the victim several times resulting in his instantaneous death.

The suspect is now under the custody of La Paz police municipal station. (ROBERT DEJON)