TACLOBAN CITY- The Tacloban City Police Office (TCPO) led by its city director, S/Supt. Michael A. David, true to its commitment in serving the public especially this coming elections, undertook proactive activities in order to have a Secure and Fair Elections (SAFE) 2019.
On January 13, 2019, TCPO spearheaded the conduct of zumba, unity walk, interfaith prayer rally and peace covenant signing at the Tacloban City Convention Center (Astrodome)in coordination with Police Regional Office 8, Commission on Elections, local government Unit of Tacloban and Office of the 1st Representative of Leyte.
The activities started at about 5:00 AM at Fatima Junction (In front of Coca-Cola Plant) with a 30 -minute zumba session led by personnel from the 78IB Philippine Army with about 500 participants.
Afterwhich, the unity walk begun from Fatima Junction to the Tacloban City Convention Center (Astrodome) with participants composed of representatives from Tacloban City Police Office, Regional Mobile Force Batallion 8 and Police Regional Office 8 led by C/Supt. Dionardo Carlos, regional director;Philippine Army, 78th Infantry batallion led by Lt. Col. Danilo Dupiag, commanding officer and Philippine Army, 93rd Infantry Batallion led by Lt. Col. Hilario Palma, commanding officer; Comelec 8 led by its regional director Atty. Jose Nick A. Mendros; Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Tacloban led by Atty. Darwin N. Bibar, city director;National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) 8 led by Atty. Haidee Borja, assistant regional director; Tacloban City Department of Education (DepEd) led by Thelma Quitalig, schools division superintendent; Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Tacloban led by P/Supt. Manuel O. Chan, Jr.;Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Tacloban led by Fire Chief Inspector Joselito S. Sabandal; Peace Action and Rescue with Dedication to Serve the Society (PARDSS) Tacloban Chapter; Kabalikat Civicom; Tacloban Rescue Unity (Tacru); students from Leyte Colleges, Asian Development College, Leyte Normal University and Eastern Visayas State University; Tacloban City Candidates and their supporters; and representatives from different religious groups such as the Islamic Knowledge for Humanity and Livelihhod Association (IKHLAS) led by Ustadz Ismael Cacharro, Reverent Father Ian Paulo Gonzaga from the Sto. Niño Parish Church and Pastor Robert Serrano from the Baptist Church.
At the astrodome, the program commenced with an interfaith prayer with the ceremonial lighting of candles led by the representatives of the different religious groups.
This was followed by the singing of the Philippine National Anthem that was led by the Police Regional Office 8 band with TCPO police director S/Supt. David making his welcome remarks.
S/Supt. David expressed his gratitude to the over-whelming support from all stakeholders in Tacloban City and prayed for their support and cooperation in having a SAFE 2019.
Thenafter, a brief message was given by PNP-8 Director C/Supt. Carlos who emphasized the importance of maintaining Integrity in the electoral process and the responsibility of everyone present to keep the Integrity throughout the election period.
This was followed by a message from Comelec Regional Director Mendros who emphasized that suffrage is a constitutional right of the people to choose leaders whom they see are deserving to lead the nation.
He totally prayed that vote-buying be admonished as it taints the purity and sanctity of the electoral process.
Moreover, he added that every citizen should be active and extra vigilant and report violations to the authorities in order to render justice.
The highlight of these activities was the recital and signing of the Integrity Pledge by 24 candidates for mayor, vice mayor, and councilors in Tacloban City together with the witnesses led by Comelec city director Cañas. (PR)
Unity walk with zumba, interfaith prayer rally and peace covenant signing held in Tacloban City
9 soldiers wounded in a Samar firefight with NPA members
TACLOBAN CITY- Nine government soldiers were wounded after they engaged in a firefight with alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in San Jorge, Samar on Saturday (Jan.12) morning.
Captain Francis Agno, spokesperson of the 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan City in Samar, said that the soldiers were ambushed by still undetermined number of NPA members in Brgy. Bay-ang, about 40 kms away from the town proper of San Jorge town, at about 6:50 am.
The soldiers, who all belong to the 63rd Infantry Battalion under Lt.Col. Rizaldo Laurena and based in Barangay Erenas of said town, were fired upon by the rebels who also used improvised devices during the incident which resulted for the government troops to sustain minor injuries.
The firefight between the two groups lasted for about 30 minutes.
The wounded soldiers were identified by Agno as Sgts. Francisco Datay, Erwin Rafon, and Roel Buquid; Corporals Jorgen Umbaña, Rey Martin Avila, Pastor Arguilles; Private First Class Jonas Sayde; and Privates Judith Romero, and Albert Lomentigar.
The soldiers, who sustained wounds at the different parts of their bodies, were brought to a hospital which Agno declined to identify for security reason.
Agno said that undetermined NPA members who were involved in the attack were reportedly killed. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
PNP-8 will remain neutral, says official
Relative to the May 13,2019 elections
CAMP RUPERTO KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – A police official here in the region said that they will remain to be nonpartisan and will never allow their organization to be used by candidates running in this year’s midterm elections.
The Philippine National Police(PNP), under the leadership of Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos, has initiated a unity peace and covenant signing among candidates last Sunday(June 13).
Police Senior Superintendent Ariel Arcinas, acting-regional director for administration of the PNP-8, said that by having the unity walk and peace signing covenant, they have high hopes that the conduct of the balloting across the region would be peaceful and orderly.
“The PNP is always committed to ensure a safe and secure election. We will remain nonpartisan and objective. We are doing this to guide candidates and for them to help us in ensuring a safe and secured election,” Arcinas said.
“Any violation will be dealt accordingly. We are after the rule of law particularly the respect of human rights, we will always abide of the guidelines that is in favor of humanity,” he added.
The PNP in the region, he said, would always act in accordance to the guidelines set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) relative to the May 13 elections.
On Sunday, which marked the start of the election period, the PNP put up checkpoints in strategic areas and start of the gun ban as one of the measures in ensuring the forthcoming balloting will become orderly and violence-free.
Here in the region, the PNP has yet to identify possible areas considered as flashpoints relative to the elections, Arcinas said.
He said that they are still conducting their validation and assessment on the peace and order situation of each area in the region before they could come up with the list of concerned areas.
“As soon as the validation is completed and we satisfy the national headquarters on the requirements of the validation and we are given the go signal to make the list available to public, then will inform you,” Arcinas said during a press conference held here Monday (Jan.14).
Meantime, one candidate was provided with his request for security protection, Supt. Fergen Torred, chief of the police security and protection.
Torred decline to identify the said candidate.
Qualified candidates who will request for police escorts can be provided with two security personnel provided they comply with the requirements set by the Comelec which includes assessment to determine if there is indeed a threat on their security and lives.
Candidates may also employ the services of additional escorts from private security at their own expense.
“Currently all protective securities had been recalled because they need to have authorization from the Comelec,” Torred said.
By: Roel T. Amazona
LTFRB-8 Director Gualberto says 2018 was a banner year for the agency
Hopes to surpass last year’s accomplishments
PALO, Leyte- The regional head of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB-8), Gualberto Gualberto, said that they were happy of their last year’s performance.
And this early, they are confident that they could surpass their 2018 performance for this year, the LTFRB-8 chief said.
Gualberto said that last year, they were able to collect about P3 million out of the fines and penalties their office collected from erring bus and vehicle operators and owners.
He also said that because of their strict implementation of their mandate on apprehending abusive and erring bus drivers, 55 vehicles were apprehended, one of the biggest apprehensions made by the regional LTFRB.
“With this kind of performance, we are confident that we can surpass our records, to include our revenue collection,” Gualberto said.
He also said that LTFRB under his watch is also giving focus on their agency’s modernization program on public transport system.
And part of the modernization program is the mandatory requirement for all public utility vehicles to install free Wifi, GPS (global positioning system), and most importantly, CCTVs (closed circuit televisions).
Failure of the owners to follow this requirement, among others, would mean rejection or cancellation of their franchise, Gualberto said.
Meantime, the LTFRB regional director said that they are also addressing the concern of the residents at the resettlement sites in Tacloban City on the shortage of public utility vehicles.
Gualberto said that once they receive an order from their central office, they would immediately increase the number of public utility buses or jeeps in going to the site where families who lost their houses due to super typhoon ‘Yolanda’were resettled by the government.
At present, there are about 100 vehicles plying in the area.
About 30 more units could be added to help address the need of the families in the area, Gualberto said. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
PEACEFUL ELECTIONS
Spurned man went berserk; shot live-in partner in front of her new lover
ORMOC CITY- A man fueled with jealousy attempted to end the lives of his live-in partner and her new lover inside the couple’s house in Barangay San Jose, this city.
But the gun used by suspect Christopher Villaflor, 39, jammed after shooting the leg of her long-time live-in partner, Susan Regino, 39 during the incident last January 5.
Regino’s new lover, Mark Malinao, 31, who was around during the incident, was also targeted by the spurned lover but his gun malfunctioned giving Malinao the chance to fight with the suspect.
Inspector Melvin Malate, the police chief of station 2 of this city, confirmed the revolver was left by the suspect when he fled was loaded with four live ammunitions.
Citing the statements of the victim, Malate said, as soon as the suspect appeared at their house, he instantly grabbed a gun and fired at Regino who was then about to go to the comfort room.
According to Malate, the woman came to visit her ailing mother six months ago but never went back to their home in Nueva Ecija where she and Villaflor lived. They have three children.
He added that the suspect might have been driven with jealousy when he learned that his live-in partner who tagged along their children, is already living with someone else.
The suspect was able to escape but police authorities are readying in filing of frustrated murder and illegal possession of firearm against him.
(ELVIE ROMAN-ROA)