The 10-year was on her way to attend Teachers Day celebration
TACLOBAN CITY-Five days after her family reported that she was missing, 12-year-old girl Jelieca Lacaba was found dead Sunday (Oct.9) afternoon in a grassy portion in a village in Basey, Samar.
The decomposing body of the girl was found by Arnulfo Agulla in Barangay San Antonio at about 4 pm while he was collecting coconut wine, report from the regional headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP) based in Palo, Leyte said.
The identity of the girl, who was from Brgy. Can-abay, also in Basey, was confirmed by her family who went to San Antonio after learning on the discovery of a dead body in the said area.
Jelieca, it was learned, had asked permission from her parents on October 5 that she was going to their school at Simeon Ocdol National High school to attend the Teachers Day celebration on that day.
However, the Grade 7 student failed to return home, prompting her family to search her whereabouts.
The family of the girl , who bore several wounds on her body, has sought police assistance and possible witnesses for them to attain justice and file a complaint against those responsible on her grisly killing.
The Basey police are still conducting their probe as to who could be behind the killing of the girl. (ROBERT DEJON)
The PAF introduces the addition of its newly acquired two (2) of the six (6) delivered brand new T-129 Attack Helicopter from which marks a breakthrough in the performance of surface strike missions by the unit. These aircraft will be deployed to support combat operations in the southern part of the country, performing roles such as day and night close air support, precision strike, deep strike territorial defense, military operation on urban terrain and air to air warfare.
Moreover, these dedicated aircraft are design for counter insurgency operations and can equip with a wide array of munitions. It is equipped with integrated aircraft survivability equipment, it is built to operate in a challenging environment. Its electronic warfare system that can detect and dispense countermeasure against approaching missiles, combined with capability to deliver stand-off munitions, makes the T-129 ATAK a dreadful helicopter capable of suppressing enemy air defense.
The T-129 features an integrated targeting and cueing system with a sensor turret that contains electro- optical and infrared cameras with a laser designator and lase spot tracker. Its targeting sight unit captures high quality video images and can multiple target tracking. This advance targeting systems calculates target position, distance, course and speed parameters designated and or measures the target range for accurate delivery of rockets and 20mm munitions.
The acquisition of said aircraft is part of the priority project under horizon 2 of the AFP Modernization Program. The contract for acquisition of six (6) helicopters was signed by the AFP-DND and the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) in mid-2020. So far this was considered to be a largest acquisitions project with a valued almost a 13.7 billion pesos.
he acquisitions follow a total package approach and includes complete integrated logistics such as spare parts for two years of operation, training for pilots and crew, ground support equipment and tools for main and forward operating bases, technical support and warranty.
The modernization project of the AFP as a whole brings hope and triumph to the Filipino despite the challenges, its newest addition is now soaring the skies. It is expected to boost further the PAF capability to protect the state against insurgents and terrorists, complementing the capabilities of the existing PAF attack air assets to become more lethal and precise strike capability. The full operationalization of the T-129 ATAK embodies the actualization of a modern and formidable force capable of guarding the priority areas with a new level of lethality and precision. (PR)
ORMOC CITY– A more than an hour-long fire incident in Bobon, Northern Samar has gutted down 11 houses with faulty electrical wiring seen as the cause of the fire on Sunday (Oct.9).
The fire incident, which took place in Barangay Salvacion in the said town, started at about 12:30 midnight and quickly spread as the affected houses were mostly made of light materials, says municipal fire marshal senior fire officer 3 Edwin Madronio.
Based on their investigation, the fire started at the house of Maricar Boltron.
Fire trucks from neighboring towns of Catarman and San Jose joined the local fire bureau in putting up the fire that was declared as totally fire out at 1:56 am.
No one was reported injured from the fire with an estimated damage of P165,000.
Meanwhile, Pat.Randy Maglente, duty desk officer of Bobon municipal police station, in a mobile phone interview disclosed that the local Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office together with Mayor Rene Celespara and Vice Mayor Ligaya Tagros-Uy have distributed relief goods to the fire victims consisting of clothes, beddings, and hygiene kits.
The fire victims are temporarily staying at the town’s terminal building but were given housing materials so they can rebuild their burned houses. (ROBERT DEJON)
TACLOBAN CITY – It was an early Christmas treat for 30 Grade 1 pupils of Judge Antonio Montillo Sr. Elementary School when they were selected by Robinsons North Tacloban to be their guests at the official switch-on of their giant Christmas tree on Sunday(Oct.9).
The pupils received school supplies and toys from Robinsons and their tenants as part of the giant activity held at the shopping mall’s activity area.
Mayor Alfred Romualdez joined Robinsons regional operations manager Jennifer Puno, area marketing manager Ian Virrey, leasing manager Joanna Pauline Modesto, and city tourism officer Malou Tabao in the switching of the giant Christmas tree.
The Palo Ambassadors Orchestra Kusog Performing Arts and the Group San Isidro Dove Choir of Blessed Sacrament provided the entertainment during the more than an hour event.
As Filipinos start to prepare for the Christmas season, Puno said that they wanted their costumers to feel its atmosphere while they shop and dine at the Robinsons shopping mall.
Robinsons North also has lined up events throughout the Christmas season.
Mayor Romualdez, in his message, said that getting back to normal from the pandemic was made possible by the cooperation of all and following protocols set by the government to prevent further spread of the virus.
He also thank Robinsons for staying and helping the city government in facing the challenges brought on by the pandemic that affected the city’s economy.
Authorities described referendum as successful and orderly
YES WINS. As expected, the ‘yes’ votes easily win during the plebiscite held on Oct.8, calling for the merging of 28 barangays into three districts and the renaming of another village. The electoral process was described by the Comelec as peaceful and successful. (ORMOC CITY GOVERNMENT)
ORMOC CITY-As projected, the ‘yes’ votes for the merging of several barangays and the renaming of a barangay won during a plebiscite conducted here in the city on Saturday (Oct.8).
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said that the voters’ turnout for the plebiscite was about 53%.
Of the 5,315 voters who cast their votes during the plebiscite, 4,767 of them favored the merging while the remaining 538 chose to vote no.
There were 10,029 registered voters of the 29 barangays that were involved in the plebiscite.
The plebiscite involved the merging of 28 barangays into three ‘super barangays’ or districts.
Barangay 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 15, 17, 23 and 27 will now be known as Barangay South while Barangays 9, 10, 11, 16, 18, 25 and 28 will now be refer as Barangay East.
Meantime, Barangays 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24 and 26 shall now be known collectively as the Barangay West.
Also, Barangay 29 will be known as Barangay North.
With the merging, the city’s 110 barangays will now be reduced to 85.
Lawyer John Rex Laudiangco, the spokesperson of the Comelec, said that the result will have an immediate effect with the Department of Interior and Local Government(DILG) to be notified on the changes with the final results or votes canvassed during the conduct of the plebiscite as an attached document.
Current officials of the affected barangays will serve their terms until a new election for the barangays and Sangguniang Kabataan(SK) will be conducted.
Top officials of the Comelec, headed by its chairman, George Erwin Garcia, monitored the conduct of the plebiscite declaring it successful and generally peaceful.
A representative of Namfrel (National Citizens Movement for Free Elections), Angel Averia, noted that there were instances that some polling precincts were crowded, there were designated areas for senior citizens and persons with disabilities and there was no proclamation of a non-working day which could contribute why many of the 10,029 voters of the affected villages failed to cast their votes.
The city government of Ormoc decided to collapse these 28 barangays into just three districts on ground for easy management on top of the fact that many of these villages either have few residents which result for them not to have needed personnel like watchmen or lack of areas for them to build facilities like day care or health center and barangay hall.
Mayor Lucy Torres Gomez expressed her gratitude for supporting their move.
“I like to thank everyone who worked to make the merging happen and the barangays who selflessly supported the merging. Time will tell that this is a very good move and will redound for better services to the barangays,” she said.
The move was started back in 2020 during the incumbency of now Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez.
For this political exercise, the city government has allocated P8 million.
Meantime, it was learned from Comelec Chairman Garcia that the Ormoc plebiscite is one of the 20 similar activity that the poll body will be supervising in other parts of the country.
Earlier, the Comelec conducted plebiscites in Alabel, Saranggani province for the creation of a new barangay held last August 20; the conversion of the town of Calaca, Batangas into a city last Sept.3; and the division of Maguindanao province into Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindano del Sur held last Sept.17.
CHRISTMAS ON THE AIR. Tacloban City Alfred Romualdez lead in the switching on a giant Christmas tree at the Robinsons North on Sunday(Oct.9) wherein he announced during an interview on the plan of the city government to buy and rehabilitate the Leyte Park Resort and Hotel, a facility built by her aunt, former first lady Imelda Marcos. (ROBINSONS NORTH)
Using a Land Bank loan
TACLOBAN CITY– The city government here has sought a P1 billion loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines, a sizeable amount of which will be used to buy and rehabilitate a hotel built by former first lady Imelda Marcos.
This was confirmed by City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, nephew of the former first lady, who said that the move to manage the Leyte Park Resort and Hotel is to ‘save’ it from total decay.
“It’s not a question of venturing (into hotel business) but all I want is to save it and make use of it. It’s for the Taclobanons,”Romualdez said.
The city mayor said that eventually, the facility will be offered to a private company that has the capacity and knowledge in running a hotel business.
He also said that the reopening of the hotel will not only provide at least 2,000 jobs but add to the hotel rooms needed by the city as it expects an influx of tourists and even investors with the reopening of the economy affected by the pandemic for almost three years now.
He added that they will hire a private company that will help the city government redesign the hotel as he disclosed that they intend to have a convention center inside the 6.1-hectare property to accommodate thousands of visitors during a meeting or convention.
The city mayor further said that the operation of the Leyte Park Resort and Hotel will complement with the operation of an improved Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport.
According to Romualdez, needed papers are now being prepared regarding the possible takeover of the hotel by the city government using the P1 billion planned loan of the city government from the Land Bank which gave a P1.7 billion credit line to the local government.
The city mayor, however, clarified that not all of the P1 billion planned loan will be spent for the purchase and rehabilitation of the said hotel.
While Romualdez did not say the amount to be spent for this purpose, there were information that the city government will be spending P500 million for this endeavor.
The city mayor said that the hotel is now in a state of decay reason a ‘huge amount’ of money will be needed to make it useful again.
The hotel ceased to operate in 2021 after its private operator, whose been leasing the facility since 1994, did not renew its contract as it chose to build his own hotel, also in the city.
The Leyte Park Resort and Hotel is being managed by the Privatization Management Office (PMO), the Leyte provincial government, and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), an attached agency of the Department of Tourism.
PMO serves as the national government’s marketing arm concerning transferred assets, government corporations and other properties assigned to it by the Privatization Council for disposition.
On the other hand, TIEZA is responsible for implementing policies and programs of the DOT related to the development, promotion, and supervision of tourism projects” in the country.
The Leyte provincial government owns the lot where the hotel is built.
The hotel, located along Magsaysay Boulevard here, was built in 1979 by the Marcos widow and was considered Eastern Visayas’ main hotel during its heyday.
However, it was seized in favor of the national government in 1987 claiming its part of the so-called ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses.
