BOBON, Northern Samar- A security guard accused of rape was finally arrested after eight years in hiding.
Arrested on January 2 by the members of the Bobon municipal police station led by police chief, Chief Inspector Arnel Ambos, was Jeffrey Buenaobra, 31, at his house in Barangay Santa Clara, this town.
Buenaobra, who has an outstanding warrant for rape issued by Judge Alma Consuelo Esidera, presiding judge of Branch 20 RTC Catarman, Northern Samar on August 8,2008, went into hiding for eight years after he committed the crime.
“We received a tip coming from reliable source that the said accused was visibly seen at their residence on the eve of New Year. Thus, I ordered to strengthen the intelligence network as we assumed that most of wanted persons return to their domicile for holiday season,” Chief Inspector Ambos said.
Thus, after casing and surveillance, the accused, who was listed as other wanted person, was successfully arrested.
PS/Supt. Ceasar ZL Tannagan, acting provincial director, commended the operating unit for showing relentless efforts in clearing the list of wanted persons in the municipality. (PR)
Man accused of rape arrested after 8 years in hiding
East Samar town declared as insurgency-free
BORONGAN CITY- The Philippine Army (PA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) both declared the municipality of San Julian, this province, as insurgency-free.
The declaration was made recently by 801st Brigade Commanding Officer Col. Perfecto Remando and Eastern Samar Police Provincial Office (ESPPO) Director Tranquilino Araral III in a program hosted by the municipal government of San Julian held at the town’s auditorium.
The declaration was based on the recommendation of the 14th Infantry Battalion and the ESPPO — which was strengthened through municipal resolutions — after being assessed that the municipality is already insurgency-free and the internal peace and security is already stable.
The declaration was witnessed by San Julian Mayor Dennis Estaron, Lt. Col. Ronnie Ebarita and San Julian Municipal Police Station (SJMPS) Chief Aldo Mendiola.
In line with this, Mayor Estaron expressed confidence that the declaration of San Julian as insurgency-free will be a big help in the progress and development of the said municipality. (PIA-E. Samar)
Beltejar denies bombing suspects are in Tacloban City; calling it baseless
TACLOBAN CITY- Chief Superintendent Elmer Beltejar, regional police director, dispelled rumors circulating that the suspects of the bombing incident in Hilongos town are in the city.
Beltejar, in dismissing the rumor, called it “baseless” as he maintained that the police are on top of the situation in so far as ensuring the safety of the residents not only in Tacloban but across the region.
The police regional director, in a press statement, said that they have undertaken proactive measures to ensure the security and safety of the public by deploying extra police forces in the streets, malls, terminals, ports and public markets.
Earlier, there were text messages circulating that the suspects of the blast incident in Hilongos on December 28 that injured 32 people are now in Tacloban City.
The police authorities have yet to identify the suspects of the blast incident.
However, based on the footage taken from the CCTV (closed circuit television); three men were allegedly behind the incident that took place on the night of December 28 at the Rizal Park.
The suspects planted the improvised explosive devices of 81 mm mortar using mobile phone in detonating the devices.
President Rodrigo Duterte, who visited Hilongos on December 30, vowed to arrest the suspects.
Meantime, City Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin asked the public not to be alarmed though he asked them to remain vigilant.
(JAZMIN BONIFACIO)
PSA to conduct January 2017 Labor Force Survey using tablets
TACLOBAN CITY-The Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA) will conduct the January 2017 Labor Force Survey (LFS) starting January 8, 2017.
This will be the first LFS enumeration that will use tablets as substitute for the usual pen-and-paper.
Around 2,718 sample households in Region VIII were systematically and randomly selected as respondents.
These households will be visited by PSA personnel and hired statistical researchers and will be interviewed using tablets guided by Computer Aided Data Collection System (CADaCS).
This is the agency’s step to digitization in order to speed up data collection and data processing.
The LFS is a quarterly nationwide survey of households which aims to gather data on the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the population.
It also aims to provide a quantitative framework for the preparation of plans and formulation of policies affecting the labor market.
Specifically, the LFS serves as a tool in measuring the distribution of household population 15 years old and over by employment status – employed, unemployed or underemployed.
It is used to determine various employment and basis of payment. In addition, question on hunger experienced by any member of the household and the frequency of occurrence is also asked.
The PSA is appealing to the public to cooperate and respond to the said undertaking. It assures the public that all information gathered will be held strictly confidential and shall not be used as evidence in court for purposes of taxation, regulation or investigation as provided for in Section 26 of RA 10625.
All data will be disseminated in statistical summaries with no reference to any individual person or household.
For inquiries and further information, please contact our office with telephone numbers (053) 321-8392 or (053) 321-5153, and email addresspsa_reg8@yahoo.com. (PR)
Manhunt ongoing against three suspects
Hilongos explosions
HILONGOS, Leyte- Police authorities are still on the manhunt against the perpetrators of the twin explosion incident here that injured 32 people on the night of the town fiesta on December 28.
Senior Inspector Alberto Renomeron, Jr., town police chief, said that once they identify and arrest the suspects, they would immediately file the “appropriate charges” against them.
Based on the footages they obtained from the closed circuit television (CCTV) installed at the town plaza where a boxing fight was ongoing during the explosions, they were able to establish the suspects.
“While everybody in the area were busy on watching the boxing fights, the suspects were seen acting suspiciously which makes us believe that they could be behind on the incident,” Renomeron said.
He said that one male suspect could be responsible in the planting of the improvised explosive devices below the water tank and near the stage of Rizal Park with the help of his two other companions.
He, however, declined to provide details “in order not to preempt our extensive investigation.”
The town police chief said that once the identities of the suspects are known and arrested, they would file appropriate charges.
“Considering that they have used an improvised explosive device(s) in carrying out their act, we might file multiple frustrated murder against them,” Renomeron said.
Police, together with soldiers belonging to the 802nd Infantry Brigade, could be seen in streets within the town proper.
Curfew, though been in placed prior to the incident, has been intensified as well as checkpoints placed in strategic areas within the town,146 kms away from the regional capital of Tacloban City.
Earlier, possible terroristic activity as a possible motive on the twin explosion incident was ruled out by the police authorities.
Proliferation of illegal drugs and on counterfeit money being undertaken by a group around town are the two angles being considered as reasons for the incident that rocked the town of more than 86,000 people.
Town Mayor Albert Villahermosa said that he is confident that the suspects would be arrested soon, charged and put into prison.
“The police are doing everything they can to solve this incident…with the help the of the (CCTV) footages,” he said.
Villahermosa also urged the residents not to be afraid and return to their normal daily lives though should observe vigilance as the suspects are still at-large.
The town, as part of its effort to return to normalcy, held its annual “Alikaraw Festival” on December 31 and a get-together activity attended by more than 3,000 people.
But like in previous years, the activity was held inside the town gymnasium due to the incident.
The more than 300 square meter public plaza, just about 40 meters away from the municipal hall, has become a sort of tourist site in the town with some could be seen taking photos on the area that is often used for public event like the Alikaraw Festival and basketball games.
The police cordon has been lifted on Saturday at the public plaza and was cleaned up from the mess in the aftermath of incident.
The fragments of the IED, an 81 mm mortar, are now in the custody of the police as evidence.
By; Joey Gabieta
Mayor Romualdez confirms new shopping mall for Tacloban
TACLOBAN CITY- Mayor Cristina Romualdez confirmed that a new shopping mall is expected to open its branch in Tacloban, possibly the construction to start within the year.
Romualdez, however, declined to provide details saying she is not in the position to do so.
“But they have already secured an area somewhere along the Coca-Cola area,” the city mayor said.
The Coca- Cola area being referred by Romualdez is the bottling plant and offices of the world’s leading soft drink maker located along Fatima district here.
She added that aside from constructing a shopping mall, the company will also construct another hyper mart within the city.
Earlier, an official of the Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC) which is behind the Robinsons shopping malls has divulged that the construction of its second shopping mall in Tacloban is expected to be finished within the year.
The second Robinsons Place in the city is located at the city bus terminal at Abucay district.
Its first one is along the Marasbaras district.
Mayor Romualdez said that she is happy that big ticket investments are coming in to Tacloban three years after its economy was devastated brought by supertyphoon “Yolanda.”
“I think, we are now recovering, at least in the aspect of our economy,” she said.
Romualdez also assured the local businesmen that the coming in of big players will not affect them.
“I don’t think they will be affected with the coming in of new investors. Tacloban does not only serve among its people but the entire region,” the city mayor stressed.
She added that inviting more investors is among her priorities for 2017 saying this could provide more employment for the people.
In fact, she said, a 13.4 hectare eco-tourism zone, located in the northern part of Tacloban, is to be formally open within the year where investors could put in their outlets.
But Romualdez insisted that transferring the families still living in areas declared as danger zones to their new homes at the relocation sites at the northern part of the city will also be prioritized. (JOEY A. GABIETA)