2 of them women

TACLOBAN CITY- Five inmates, two of them women, were caught using shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride inside the subprovincial jail in Abuyog, Leyte.
The inmates were caught in a ‘pot session’ inside the jail’s infirmary section of the jail facility on December 17 at around 9:40 pm.
In a report submitted to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency(PDEA) Director General Aaron Aquino, elements of PDEA RO8 and under Director Edgar T. Jubay identified the suspects as Mario Marmita,38, separated, and resident of Barangay Plaridel, Dagami Leyte; Noli Rinos,52, married, and a resident of Brgy. Inayupan, Javier, Leyte; Allan Sia,33, single, and a resident of Poblacion Zone 2, Mayorga, Leyte; Elvira Cuevas,38, with a live-in partner, and a resident of Poblacion Zone 2, Javier, Leyte; and Jonalyn Culaba,38, married, and a resident of Brgy. Barayong, Abuyog, Leyte.
Confiscated during the said incident was one piece partly opened transparent plastic sachet of suspected shabu with a total weight of 0.5 gram with an estimated market value of P2,500; two strips aluminum foil containing suspected shabu; two pieces rolled tin foil used as improvised tooter, and two pieces disposable lighters.
Cases for violations of Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs), Section 12 (possession of drug paraphernalia), and Section 15 (use of dangerous drugs), Article II of RA 9165 will be charged against the suspects.(PR)

Palo, Leyte. The Fraternal Order of Eagles – Philippine Eagles (TFOE-PE), the First Philippine-Born Socio-civic organization, adds another regional charter to its ranks with the chartering of the Eastern Visayas Region (EVR) last December 9, 2017 at the Department of Education Leyte Division Gym at Government Center, Candahug, Palo, Leyte.
One of the main components for the creation of a regional charter, is to have a minimum of six (6) chartered clubs. TFOE-PE in Eastern Visayas started with the Tacloban City Eagles Club (TCEC) chartered last November 19, 2016 followed by the Sirakwaraynon Eagles Club (SWEC) chartered last March 17, 2017, Kusog Sinirangan Eagles Club (KSEC) chartered last May 20, 2017, San Juanico Eagles Club (SJEC) chartered last August 26, 2017, Catbalogan Eagles Club chartered last September 20, 2017 and the Catarman Eagles Club chartered last September 27, 2017, completing the six-club pre-requisite.
Chartering of the Eastern Visayas Region Eagles was presided by the Philippine Eagles National President Lucio “Louie” F. Ceniza, already his fifth visit to the region, and the incoming 2018 Eagle Club Presidents: Mark Roa Gimenez (TCEC), Atty. Leo S. Giron (SWEC), Adel D.P. Bautista (KSEC), Atty. Jose Nick A. Mendros (SJEC), and Wilfredo Cuevas (CEC). Unfortunately, no one from Catbalogan Eagles Club attended. During the chartering, The Sirak Waraynon Eagles Club and the San Juanico Eagles Club also presented their Eagles Onsite, pre-selected honorary members of each club, Mr. Wezhaun Benson Shi, President of 578 Resources, Incorporated and Mr. Joseph V. Rejuso, President/CEO of VisPet Development Corporation.
The Induction of the Regional Officers for EVR commenced with the swearing in of the Charter Regional Governor Atty. Louis C. Sudario and Charter Regional Vice-Governor Atty. Jose Nick A. Mendros and all of the Charter Regional officials (see Annex 1: TFOE EVR Regional Charter Officers). Prior to his election as Regional Governor for EVR, Sudario was the Charter President of KSEC, one of the most active clubs in the region.
“My challenge to you, Governor Louis, is to unite all the clubs of your region. That will be your first marching order,” said Eagle National President Ceniza during his Opening Message. The EVR encompasses the Provinces of Samar, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, and the Highly Urbanized City of Tacloban.
The Fraternal Order of Eagles – Philippines Eagles was founded in 1979 in Quezon City, and one of the fastest growing socio-civic organizations in the country with 592 Clubs and 28 Regions and counting. Noted prominent Eagles who are currently holding government positions are Philippine President Rodrigo “Digong” R. Duterte, PNP Chief Gen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Senators Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson, Richard “Dick” J. Gordon, Aquilino “Koko” L. Pimentel III, Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, and Emmanuel “Manny” D. Pacquiao, Justice Chief Atty. Vitaliano N. Aguirre II, DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, MMDA Chair Danilo “Danny” D. Lim, and the late DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo. (PR)

PALO, Leyte- The executive director of the Leyte Center for Development, Inc.(LCDe),Jazmin Jerusalem, was chosen as one of 12 climate heroines in a photo exhibit/press conference which featured women leaders from all over the world.
Each of the climate heroines spoke how she led her organization in facing the challenges brought about by climate change and its effects.
Jerusalem represented the Philippines in this momentous event held last November 20 in Bonn, Germany.
“It’s such an honor to have been chosen as Philippine climate heroine in the prestigious photo exhibit by CARE-Germany. The event gave me a chance to speak about the conditions of our people especially after (super) typhoon Yolanda that hit us four years ago. It also opened opportunities of partnership with various organizations in Germany and Belgium. Most importantly, I was able to share how LCDe made a difference in its emergency response and rehabilitation after the strongest storm ever recorded in the world affected thousands in Eastern Visayas,” Jerusalem said.
The activity was spearheaded by CARE-Germany, which is an international non-government organization granting projects worldwide to fight poverty and restore human dignity.
The climate heroine photo exhibit was attended by German government officials like the Minister of Environment, parliamentarians, Mayor of Bonn as well as top officers of CARE International.
Furthermore, Jerusalem was asked to speak during a forum of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change or COP23 also in Bonn, Germany.
She spoke on women’s role and the challenges of climate change. In attendance were government and NGO representatives from different countries united in a common cause; that of combatting climate change through pressuring governments to reduce their carbon emissions. (PR)

Four years after Tacloban was pummeled by ‘Yolanda’

TACLOBAN CITY- Four years after this city was devastated by super typhoon ‘Yolanda,’ Tacloban is now fast turning into a magnet for investors.
And with the coming in of investors to the city, not only the city government will earn additional sources of revenue but more importantly, generate employment to the locals and even those coming from its nearby areas, a city official said.
Based on the records of the City Business and Licensing Office (CBLO), out of the 7,172 establishments existing in the city, 1,315 of them are new investors.
This week, the Robinsons Mall will open for business its second branch in Tacloban, a testament that the economy of the city ravaged by Yolanda in 2013, has bounced back.
“Tacloban City is going up and is booming which is not only good for the city government but more so provide additional employment not only among its residents but even those coming from its nearby areas,” Corinne Cinco-Cadavis, head of the CBLO, said.
Cadavis said that next year, the Gaisano Mall, its third branch in Tacloban and one of the country’s biggest construction depots, will also open.
The official said that the coming in of these high-profile investments to the city is an indicator that they still have the confidence in Tacloban which saw its worst devastation since World War II when Yolanda pummeled it in 2013.
“We expect more investors to come in as we have received several inquiries from them, looking for locations,” Cadavis said.
She added that the coming in of big investors and so-called ‘brand names’ will also be a big advantage for the people of the city and nearby areas as they would no longer travel to Manila or Cebu.
New and bigger hotels are also sprouting in the city after it was devastated by Yolanda, Cadavis said.
“People are coming in to the city probably because they are curious what happened to us in 2013 and are surprised that we have recovered,” she said.
And as the city grows and expands, measures are now being undertaken by the city government under Mayor Cristina Romualdez, she added.
For one, needed infrastructures like wide roads are now being undertaken by the city government.
For her part, Mayor Romualdez had repeatedly said that she is doing her best to ensure that Tacloban will not only continue its hold as the region’s premier city but could compete with other cities in the country by attracting investors.
A sizeable portion in the northern part of the city has been identified by the city government as its economic zone where light and semi-light industries could be put up.

By: JOEY A. GABIETA

In the wake of Pres. Duterte’s
declaration as a terror group

TACLOBAN CITY- Soldiers in Eastern Visayas are in alert for possible attacks from the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) after President Rodrigo Duterte officially labeled the communist group as a terror group and for its forthcoming anniversary this December 26.
This was disclosed by Captain Francis Agno, chief of the Public Affairs Office of the 8th Infantry Division whose headquarters is based in Catbalogan City.
Agno said that they are anticipating arm attacks by the rebel members of the CPP reason they are now in alert.
“They will surely stage attacks as a show of force although they just number fewer than 200,” Agno, reached on his mobile phone, said.
“But we will continue our combat operations as we expect that their Sparrow Units will conduct attacks against us and other law enforcers,” he added.
Most of these rebels are operating on Samar Island composed of (western) Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar.
However, there are still some rebels operating in Leyte and in fact, engaged government troops in Albuera town last November 28.
Agno said that while there are just about 200 armed members of the communist group in the region, they are conducting ‘mass recruitment’ especially in remote barangays, citing their intelligence gathering.
Mr. Duterte has officially labeled the CPP-NPA as a terror group after he earlier ended peace talks with the former.
Agno said that they are solidly behind on the declaration of the President calling the CPP-NPA as a terror group.
“That is a correct label. They have been terrorizing our people; killing them all these years,” he said.
The military official asked the people in the communities and officials to help them in their campaign against the rebels.
“We have also strengthened our coordination with our PNP counterpart particularly on intelligence sharing,” Agno said.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)