San Isidro Mayor Susan Ang was defeated by a single vote on her reelection bid against Remedio Veloso. (Photo Courtesy)
San Isidro Mayor Susan Ang was defeated by a single vote on her reelection bid against Remedio Veloso. (Photo Courtesy)
TACLOBAN CITY- An incumbent mayor in Leyte who is seeking for a reelection lost on her bid by just a heartbreaking single vote.
Proclaimed as mayor of San Isidro town was Remedio Veloso who garnered his winning votes of 8,829 against the incumbent mayor, Susan Ang’s 8,828 votes.
Ang, who ran under the administration’s PDP-Laban, is seeking for her second term as mayor of the fourth class town with an income of about P90 million.
Her husband, Alan, also appears to be losing on his reelection bid as a board member representing Leyte’s third district.
Veloso, who belongs to the United Nationalist Alliance, was proclaimed by the members of the board of election of canvassers Monday night. The town has about 22,367 registered voters.
The newly-elected mayor of the town of more than 19,000 people spread on its 19 barangays, is the nephew of Rep. Vicente Veloso who is also on his way or gaining his second term against former congressman, Andy Salvacion.
The Leyte Samar Daily Express could not get as of press time, reactions of both Veloso and his opponent Ang.
The town of San Isidro was eyed as among areas in Leyte where violence could possibly occurred after Ang’s administrator, Levi Mabini, was gunned down on May 8 with the group of Veloso blamed for his killing which they denied.
No untoward incident, however, was reported in San Isidro during the conduct of last Monday’s balloting. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
PEACEFUL AND ORDERLY EV ELECTIONS. Thus said lawyer Rafael Olaño, regional director of the Commission on Elections,describing the conduct of the balloting in the region that was marked with technical problems involving vote counting machines and SD cards and massive vote-buying. Photo shows Tacloban City newly-elected mayor, Alfred Romualdez, have casted his vote at the Panalaron Central School.
PEACEFUL AND ORDERLY EV ELECTIONS. Thus said lawyer Rafael Olaño, regional director of the Commission on Elections,describing the conduct of the balloting in the region that was marked with technical problems involving vote counting machines and SD cards and massive vote-buying. Photo shows Tacloban City newly-elected mayor, Alfred Romualdez, have casted his vote at the Panalaron Central School.
Despite of some technical glitches
By: JOEY A. GABIETA
TACLOBAN CITY- Despite of some technical glitches, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) described as successful the Monday’s balloting here in the region.
In fact, the poll body projects that around 85 percent of the region’s more than 3.05 million voters have cast their ballots to fill up the positions up for grabs.
Lawyer Rafael Olaño, Comelec regional director, admitted that while there were SD (secure digital) cards and vote counting machines (VCMs) that malfunctioned during the balloting, these were minor and did not hamper the conduct of the balloting.
“ The conduct of the elections here in region was generally peaceful and orderly (as there were no major) problems encountered except that there were around 30 SD cards and several VMCs that malfunctioned but these are just technical glitches which were replaced right away,” Olaño said in an interview.
He, however, admitted that proclamation of some of the winners have to be delayed due to the malfunctioned SD cards as these are to be reconfigured by the technicians hired by the poll body.
The SD cards contains data that are to be fed to the VCMs.
Among affected by the malfunctioned SD cards are poll winners in Tacloban City. They, however, are expected to be proclaimed Tuesday night or the following day.
In Calbayog City, more than 20 SD cards were also discovered to have malfunctioned reason these are not to be reconfigured.
But Olaño said that these SD cards did not suffer any problem during the final testing and sealing which was held on May 8.
He, also assured that the integrity of the results could not be affected despite these SD cards were corrupted.
The Comelec regional director said that there was also no reported failure of elections except in Las Navas where some members of the board of elections inspectors were harassed by some certain armed group.
Olaño said that he would like to give credit to both the Philippine National Police and the Army for their effort in ensuring that the balloting here in the region would be peaceful and orderly.
“I credit the PNP and the Army which came up strategies to ensure that the elections here in the region would be peaceful and orderly,” he said.
The PNP in the region deployed 1, 390 policemen as well as around 2,000 soldiers across the region, particularly on the 11 areas earlier identified as potential flash points due to presence of the rebel groups or private armed group coupled with intense political rivalries.
While the elections were marked with massive vote-buying the amount ranging from P20 to as high as P4,500, their office did not received any formal complaint regarding such incident, Olaño said.
He also said that the winners of the electoral exercise in the region were the ones who were actually voted by their respective voters. (With reports RONALD O. REYES)
Pablo Silva (back to camera), president of the Sumangga United Farmers Association (SUFA), shows to Regional Director Sheila Enciso (right) and Assistant Regional Director Ma. Fe Malinao of the Department of Agrarian Reform their mushroom production project. (JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA)
Pablo Silva (back to camera), president of the Sumangga United Farmers Association (SUFA), shows to Regional Director Sheila Enciso (right) and Assistant Regional Director Ma. Fe Malinao of the Department of Agrarian Reform their mushroom production project. (JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA)
ORMOC CITY – Regional Director Sheila Enciso of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) was amazed how the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) have improved their quality of lives.
Last week, Enciso, accompanied by Assistant Regional Director for Administration and Land Tenure Security Program, Ma. Fe Malinao, together with the Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officers of Ormoc and Tacloban, and Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer Tomas Martinez, visited seven ARB organizations who were installed into their awarded lots under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) from 2016 to 2018 in different areas here and in adjacent Kananga town with the help of KAISAHAN, a non-government organization.
She was surprised to see the big difference in the ARBs faces and stories they tell before and at present.
These ARBs received their certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) many years ago, but struggled for 16 to 20 years before they were able to take possession of the awarded lots either due to strong resistance from the previous landowners or conflict between two contending groups of farmers.
Enciso was happy to see these farmers, who once stared fiercely due to frustrations, now smiling and full of inspiring stories to tell, because aside from the support services extended by DAR, they also get assistance from other government agencies.
In Barangay Sumangga, Pablo Silva, 56, president of the Sumangga United Farmers Association (SUFA), installed in 2016, showed to Enciso their livelihood project, a mushroom production they started in December last year through the assistance extended by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
Silva disclosed that mushroom production is one of their sources of livelihood now. Mushroom grows fast and are sold at P300 for every kilo, Silva shared.
He added that in a day they could harvest nine kilos.
In Barangay Dolores, Benedicto Taneo, president of the Dolores Farmers Association (DOLFA), brought Enciso to their demo farm and shared that they will soon be graduating from the Farmer Field School (FFS) facilitated by the City Agriculturist’s Office.
He disclosed that after FFS, they will be venturing in upland rice (locally known as calinayan) production and marketing.
In Barangay Salvacion, Bienvenido Matuguina shared that he invested part of his income, derived from the sugarland awarded to him, in calamansi production. At present, he has more than 100 calamansi-bearing trees planted in another lot.
He also disclosed that their organization, the Salvacion Farmers Association, has likewise 300 calamansi trees planted in preparation for the calamansi processing project they are planning to venture once the project proposal they submitted to DOST is approved.
In Barangay Sabang Bao, Enciso was caught by surprise when the ARBs, who were installed in April last year, were already harvesting rice in their awarded lots when she arrived; while in Barangay Montebello, the ARBs were peacefully preparing their once contested land to be planted with corn.
Meanwhile, Arnulfo Perez whom we had interviewed two years ago, proudly announced that he is now the president of their organization, the Valencia Small Farmers Association (VASFA).
In the afternoon of the same day, all concerned ARBs gathered in Barangay Montebello for a dialogue with Enciso.
During the said occasion, Enciso expressed her happiness upon seeing them living an improved quality of life as envisioned under CARP.
She likewise reminded the ARBs to continue keeping the land productive. Further, she encouraged those who have children entering college this coming school year to avail of the DAR Scholarship Program for the Dependents of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (DSP-DARBs), a new assistance program extended by the agency to its ARBs. (JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA)
SAN ISIDRO, Leyte- The family of Remedio ‘Bebot’ Veloso, a mayoralty candidate of this town, decried the manner of the local police in treating them as the suspects in the killing of the town’s administrator.
According to Veloso’s elder brother, Emmanuel, the local police joined by members of the Philippine Army, searched their house located in Barangay Paril without any search warrant issued by a court just after the killing incident happened.
To recall, the town administrator, Levi Mabini, was shot dead last May 8 in Barangay Capiñahan after a still unidentified armed men strafed the house of Mayor Susan Ang.
Ang is seeking for another term with Remedio Veloso, running under the UNA (United Nationalist Alliance), as her main opponent for the post.
Based on a police report, the suspects on the killing of Mabini were seen to have entered the compound of the Velosos reason why they went there and conducted their search operation.
Emmanuel Veloso also claimed that the police and the Army blocked their way and asked them not to go out from their compound.
“They directed us not to go out from our property where they conducted their search operation even they were not armed with a search warrant,” he said.
“We are of course disappointed with their actions. Just because my brother is running against the mayor, they will treat us as the suspects,” Veloso added.
Veloso serves as the campaign manager of mayoralty bet Remedio Veloso.
The brothers insisted that they were innocent and have nothing to do with the killing of Mabini.
It was learned that the police and the Army were not able to found the alleged suspects or any evidence that could link them to the killing of Mabini.
Veloso said that the incident made them fear of their lives and they are contemplating of filing legal actions against the police and the Army.
The local police declined to issue any statement on their search on the Veloso property saying it’s the National Bureau of Investigation which will conduct further probe over the incident.
(RYAN GABRIEL ARCENAS)
TACLOBAN CITY – The athletes from the Leyte Sport Academy (LSA) saved the Eastern Visayas delegation from landing at the cellars at the recently finished Palarong Pambansa held in Davao City.
Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla told Leyte Samar Daily Express that there were 26 athletes from the LSA who joined the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) delegation that participated in this year’s Palarong Pambansa in Davao City held last April 27-May 4.
Gov. Petilla said that the LSA athletes won 6 golds, 6 silvers and 7 bronzes from athletics (100, 200) meter dash, 110-meter hurdles, javelin throw and another two from wrestling.
Based on the final and official tally of the 2019 Palarong Pambansa, the region got 11 gold, 8 silver and 19 bronze medals and landed 13th in the regional medal ranking.
Petilla pointed out that if the LSA athletes did not garner the number of medals won, the EVRAA would have only obtained 5 gold, 2 silver and 11 bronze medals and landed in the 14th rank.
Petilla recalled that in 2018 Palarong Pambansa held in Vigan City, LSA-trained athletes also did something in saving EVRAA from finishing in the 17th (lowest rank) in the medal ranking.
He added that out of the 9 gold, 10 silver, and 9 bronze medals won of EVRAA, 8 golds, 5 silver and 6 bronzes were harvested by LSA athletes.
Petilla said LSA athletes have been the main contributor for the EVRAA gold output in the past six years of the Palarong Pambansa tournaments.
The LSA delegation have also won gold medals in international tournaments in the past.
(RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)
Former Special Assistant to the President and 2019 senatorial aspirant Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Monday congratulated new doctors belonging to the Seventh Day Adventist Church, saying they are kindred spirits united by their dedication to serve the people.
In his message before the new doctors during the recognition rites held at the Vikings in Mall of Asia in Pasay City, Go also urged them to value service above all, noting that service to the people is also service to God.
“Unang-una gusto kong batiin ang mga miyembro ng Seventh Day Adventist Church na nakapasa ng Physician Licensure Examination at ngayon ay ganap nang mga doktor. Nagbigay karangalan kayo sa inyong pamilya, simbahan at pamayanan,” Go said.
Among the new doctors who belong to the Seventh Day Adventists are three of the top 10 in the 2019 Physician’s Board Exams for March 2019, namely Clinton Rosita Rabadon of West Visayas State University-La Paz (1st place), Dale Ivan Aurigue Bruel of the University of the East-Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center (7th) , and Wilma Cleo Yvonne Borja Dapog of Cebu Doctor’s University-College of Medicine.
“Galingan po ninyo ang inyong propesyon dahil kailangan kayo ng ating bayan. Alam ko bilang mga miyembro ng inyong simbahan malakas ang pananampalataya ninyo sa Diyos at inaalay ninyo sa kanya ang bawat tagumpay na inyong nakakamit. Sana lagi ninyong isa-isip ang paglilingkod sa kapwa ay paglilingkod sa Diyos,” he added.
Go said doctors and health workers are close to his heart because they share a common advocacy, noting that among his top priorities is the improvement in the delivery of medical services.
“Malapit sa puso ko ang mga doktor at iba pang health care professionals dahil kalusugan po ang isa sa mga prayoridad ko,” Go said.
“Iisa po ang ating misyon, and we have the same passion—to serve the community and to serve the people, because for us, tayong lahat, para sa atin ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo po sa Diyos,” he added.
Go lamented that in going around the country, he noticed that many public hospitals lack enough facilities and equipment to handle the number of patients.
“Isang kama, dalawa o tatlong bata. Paano gagaling ang mga pasyente kung ganun po ang kanilang kalagayan?” said Go, who is pushing for additional funding for public health institutions.
He also pointed out that during his stint as SAP, he had helped President Rodrigo Duterte in establishing Malasakit Centers as part of their shared vision to help poor patients.
A brainchild of Go, the Malasakit Center is a program of the Duterte administration meant to make it easier and faster for indigent patients to avail of medical and financial assistance from the government by bringing together in one room concerned agencies such as the DOH, DSWD, PCSO and Philhealth.
Go is pushing for a law that would institutionalize Malasakit Center and enable the establishment of such centers in more provinces and key urban areas in the country.
Meanwhile, Go also thanked the leadership of the Seventh Day Adventist Church for giving him the opportunity to meet and address their congregation during their gathering.
“Masaya po ako na binigyan ako ng pagkakataon na makapagsalita po dito…Salamat po sa pagkakataong ibinigay ninyo sa akin na makahalubilo at makapagsalita sa inyo at maibahagi ko po ang pareho nating layunin,” Go said.
He also thanked the church for their support to President Duterte and his campaign against criminality, illegal drugs, and corruption.
“Salamat po sa tulong at suporta ninyo kay Pangulong Duterte sa kanyang kampanya,” Go said.
The former SAP had been consistently saying that he fully supports the programs and policies of President Duterte, particularly the campaign against criminality, corruption and illegal drugs.
“Ipapagpatuloy ko po ang mga pagbabagong nasimulan ni Pangulong Duterte,” Go said.
Other priority concerns under Go’s legislative agenda include programs for agriculture, education, housing for the poor, long-term sports development, localized peace talks, fire protection and prevention, barangay welfare, creation of a Department of OFW and improved benefits for senior citizens.
