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)
9 soldiers wounded in a Samar firefight with NPA members
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)
Student arrested in a buy-bust operation in Maasin City
GOVERNMENT CENTER, PALO, Leyte- A college student from Maasin City was arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted by the elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
Arrested was Darwin Salada, 24 and a resident of Barangay Ibarra of the said city.
Caught in Salada’s possession during the January 9 sting operation held at about 10:45 pm was one piece of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu weighing about 0.05 gram with an estimated market value of P340.
The arrested suspect was identified as a new drug personality in Maasin City, reports PDEA Regional Director Edgar Jubay to PDEA Director General Aaron N. Aquino.
The buy-bust operation was also participated by PDEA provincial office and elements of the Maasin City’s Drug Enforcement Unit.
The suspect will be facing charges for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of RA 9165.
Salada is now temporarily detained at the lock-up facility of the Maasin City Police Office. (PR)