On December 28, improvise explosive devices blasted one at a time in a crowded Rizal Park in Hilongos, Leyte leaving at least 32 persons injured, five seriously wounded. Easily, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte in his talk with the press declared the bombings were related to illegal drugs and fake money. Easily, the administration found a convenient possible suspect in the bloody incident. Although the police disclosed such suspicion after Pres. Duterte publicly declared a possible motive in the cruel incident.
More astonishing was an initial inference that the IEDs and the materials they were made of were similar with the IEDs that exploded in Aleosan, North Cotabato about thirty minutes after the Hilongos incident. What is this telling to the Filipino nation? That drug lords are now retaliating and violence are going beyond proportion? Pres. Duterte was quick to deny that this spate of violent incidents most recently the one in Hilongos and Aleosan are part of a feared masterplan to declare martial law in the country.
Notwithstanding the insinuation, PNP spokesperson S/Supt. Dionardo Carlos clarified that the police will treat the two as separate incidents, unless “there will be information that these are connected.” Assuming for sake of argument that these two were connected, is it proper to pass the blame so fast on those involved in illegal drugs trade without a full blown investigation having been concluded and evidences point positively to it?
The war on drugs is taking so much of the people’s mindset. A new year has set in yet the mindset remains nailed on Pres. Duterte’s war on drugs, as if the war will not end unless his 3 million target is met. He earlier pronounced that per information given to him, there are about 3 million Filipinos who are hooked in drugs in whatever manner. Or could he just be using this as an excuse for fear of blaming his the people who have no fear of killing innocent civilians – the Muslim militiamen whom he erstwhile promise an autonomous turf and semi-independent government? This the conflict Filipinos could expect in 2017.
Cause pre-empted
Contractor-cum- drug pusher killed in Ormoc City
ORMOC CITY- An alleged drug pusher this city was killed during a buy bust operation on the eve of New Year’s celebration.
Em Luzares, 37, married and a resident of Barangay Cogon was killed after he attempted to draw his gun while he was dealing with an undercover policeman, Chief Inspector Joseph Joevel Young, head of Police Station 3 and of the city anti-illegal drugs and special operations task group (CAIDSSOTG),said.
Recovered from the suspect, who was also known to be contractor, was a packed of methamphetamine or shabu and a P500 marked money.
Young added that Luzares was on board in his white car going to the city when the drug transaction was done.
While the transaction was ongoing, the suspect sensed that he was dealing with a law enforcer and drew his gun.
But the undercover policeman was able to shot him first which resulted to his instant death, Young said.
Luzares, a suspected drug pusher known as street value target, was earlier subjected to a series of surveillance but the operatives have difficulty getting chance on him as he was said to be very careful on his illegal drug dealings.
The intensified campaign by the government against the proliferation of illegal drugs have resulted the price of the contraband to increase reason why Luzares, who has a legitimate business, continued to engage in the illegal drug trade, police said.
(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)
2016 expansion leads to crucial makeover in ‘17
Year 2016 is Philippine Airlines’ (PAL) 75th birth year, having flown for the first time in 1941, just months before the outbreak of World War II.
So, on March 15, 2016, PAL management unveiled its new marketing campaign – the Heart of the Filipino – before its personnel and a select group of VIP guests
Special dinners in Manila and major domestic and international stations for PAL personnel and guests were held to start the ball rolling for the year-long 75th anniversary celebration.
A coffee table book and a commemorative postage stamp were unveiled, together with the traditional exhibit of historical photos and memorabilia.
Three of the country’s best contemporary singers – Leah Salonga, Bamboo and Sarah Geronimo – gave life to PAL’s new theme song, “The Heart of the Filipino,” igniting a global campaign that associated heartwarming Filipino service with the flag carrier.
The marketing campaign coincided with the announcement of a new corporate vision – to be a five-star airline within five years.
PAL now aims to rejoin the league of the world’s best airlines, to be ranked five-star by Skytrax, a global airline rating organization.
Inside PAL, employees’ mantra is to “Get That Star” – soliciting personal staff commitments to ensure passenger expectations are exceeded.
In 2016, PAL announced a most impressive financial performance with $134.42 million comprehensive income for 2015, which is a six-fold leap over the previous year.
This is one of the reasons why the Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation (CAPA) named PAL as Airline Turnaround for the Year 2016.
During the year, the airline took delivery of seven new aircraft – two Boeing 777-300ERs and five Airbus A321s – bringing the PAL fleet to 81 aircraft by yearend.
The aircraft deliveries continue until year 2024.
An expanded fleet allowed PAL to fly to four new international destinations (Kuwait, Jeddah, Doha, Saipan), open new routes (Cebu-Singapore, Cebu-Los Angeles, Manila-Taipei-Osaka, Cebu-Caticlan-Clark) and increase flight frequencies (Manila-Los Angeles – twice daily; Manila-Toronto – 3x to 4x weekly; Manila-Beijing – 4x to 6x weekly; and Manila-Vancouver – 7x to 10x weekly).
In January 2016, PAL ordered six Airbus A350-900, a twin-engine jet designed for long-haul flights, fitted with luxurious cabin amenities that will redefine the standards of premium travel. Four A350s will be delivered in 2018, the last two in 2019.
With the A350, PAL will be able to fly non-stop Manila-New York, through the Arctic region.
Also, PAL ordered five new generation Bombardier Q400 turboprop airplanes, configured with 86 seats (10 seats more than the existing Q400 fleet) and choice seats in the forward section.
Meanwhile, the airline introduced a series of product innovations topped by an enhanced inflight connectivity system called the myPAL Inflight Entertainment System, which consist of myPALeSuite, myPALWifi, myPAL Mobile and myPAL Player apps.
With myPALeSuite, passengers can catch up on the latest movies, TV shows and music while flying. With myPALWi-fi, passengers can surf and browse the internet, update and check social apps at 30,000 feet above ground. With myPAL Mobile, passengers can call and text loved ones. Lastly, with the myPAL Player app, passengers can stream the latest movies, TV shows and music on one’s own device. The myPAL Player app is available on both android and iOS.
Other service enhancements include myPAL Upgrade, which allows passengers to bid online for upgrades to Business Class; myPAL Roam, which is a global mobile hotspot that provides fast and affordable mobile data around the world; Mabuhay Miles Travel Card that serves as a travel wallet; and the PAL Boutique that sells exclusive co-branded items essential for travel.
Other milestones marked in 2016 include:
• In January, PAL adopted a Philippine eaglet, named by employees ‘Sinag,’ and donated a million miles which the Philippine Eagle Foundation may exchange for free tickets in pursuit of their advocacy to nurture and preserve the endangered specie;
• In April, PAL took pride at Maxine Medina for being crowned 2016 Binibining Pilipinas-Universe. She is the daughter of PAL pilot Capt. Max Medina;
• In May, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) presented to PAL and PAL Express a certificate of implementation of the IATA Ground Operations Manual (IGOM), proving the two carriers’ compliance to internationally recognized standards in ground safety and operations;
• For more than a week in August, PAL operated special direct flights to Medina in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to fly Filipino Hajj pilgrims;
• In September, PAL opened its first contact center in China, serving passengers from seven mainland cities – Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, Jinjiang, Shanghai, Xiamen;
• PAL hosted the 60th Assembly of Presidents of the Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines (AAPA) last November;
• Also in November, the 180-seater A320 jets were deployed for the first time to Caticlan, accommodating more passengers to/from Boracay.
Throughout the year, the company maintained being a socially responsible corporate citizen. PAL continued to deliver relief goods to disaster areas, repatriated OFWs in war-torn countries and recently flown financially-challenged, talented Filipinos to represent the best of country in international competitions through its flagship corporate social responsibility project – RPRSNT Pinoy!
The excitement continues in 2017 as PAL lines up more aircraft deliveries, inaugural flights, new products and services – starting with new routes that would fly passengers direct to their destinations without transiting in Manila, such as Clark-Incheon (South Korea) on January 1, 2017
Also in 2017, PAL will start retrofitting its fleet of Airbus A330 with new economy seats, lie-flat Business Class seats and the latest inflight entertainment system through individual seat monitors. By removing more than a hundred seats, all passengers get more legroom.
The country’s pioneer flag carrier is focused at its goal of transforming into a five-star airline. The pace just got faster towards achieving that goal in 2017.
Skeletal remains discovered at the Guiuan Church
GUIUAN, Eastern Samar-Several skeletal remains were recovered inside a church here that is undergoing repair works on January 1.
The skeletal remains, comprising of skulls and bones, were discovered by some construction workers, said Andy Egargo, parish priest of the Immaculate Conception Parish.
He said that the skeletal remains were found beneath the choir loft and the right side of the church’s wall which was being destroyed to give way for the repair of the church which sustained damage when the town was hit by supertyphoon “Yolanda” in 2013.
The priest claimed that the Spanish-era church could have its own catacomb where priests could have been buried there.
The discovered skeletal remains are to be buried at the Catholic cemetery.
(MEL CASPE)
‘Nina’ spared Eastern Visayas
Among PH strongest typhoons this year
TACLOBAN CITY – Contrary to the projection, typhoon “Nina” spared the region from its wrath though various local government units particularly in Northern Samar conducted preemptive evacuations of families living in coastal areas.
Nina, packing a maximum sustained wind of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 255 kph, is considered to be among the strongest typhoons to hit the country.
It battered the Bicol Region displacing more than 300,000 persons based on the report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC).
“The impact of heavy rains due to the tail end of a cold front last week in Samar Island was even more damaging as it caused flooding and rendered some roads and bridges impassable,” Edgar Posadas, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense and regional chair of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council(RDRRMC), said.
The widespread flooding, which displaced more than 72,000 families, has killed two persons each in Eastern Samar and Northern Samar and one from Samar.
Bridges and roads, to include a portion constructed under the MMC (Millennium Challenge Corp) of the United States, were damaged or destroyed due to heavy rains last week.
But while Nina spared the region, notably Northern Samar which was the area most likely to bore the brunt had it directly hit the region, local government units were in full alert for any possibility.
At least 4,317 residents in coastal communities in Northern Samar were preemptively evacuated to evacuation centers for their safety.
On Monday (December 26), they were directed to return to their respective houses after the storm signal was lifted.
Of the total affected individuals, 409 families were from Pambujan; 3,384 from Rosario; 124 from Laoang and 400 from the provincial capital of Catarman.
These individuals composed of 1,086 families, stayed in 16 designated evacuation centers meant for residents in low- lying communities.
“The local government units were very proactive. All affected families were supported by local resources although relief goods from the national government have been prepositioned,” Posadas said.
More than 1,800 Luzon-bound passengers resumed their travel after the Philippine Coast Guard lifted the sea travel ban since December 23 after storm signal was hoisted in Northern Samar and Sorsogon provinces.
Aside from passengers, the typhoon had also stranded 279 buses, trucks, and light cars as authorities imposed travel ban of five roll-on roll-off vessels docked in ports of Allen and San Isidro towns.
“Personnel from the local police and local government unit were assigned in ports to attend to the needs of stranded passengers who spent Christmas at port terminals,” Posadas said.
While sea travel resumed, the three airline companies – Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Air Asia – cancelled on Monday 10 Manila-Tacloban flights as the typhoon affected the National Capital Region and nearby provinces.
Also cancelled are Philippine Airline flights bound for Calbayog City in Samar and Catarman in Northern Samar from Metro Manila.
By: SARWELL Q. MENIANO/ROEL T. AMAZONA
Students raised funds for children of Aleppo
Giving back after world responded due to “Yolanda”
TACLOBAN CITY- Where is Aleppo?
To majority of us, Aleppo may sound unfamiliar but for a group of students of this city, the place is where they intend to give the money that they collected out of selling “ukay-ukay” or used clothings.
For three days, Frances Anido, 18 and her friends not only endured rains and dusts to sell the used clothings in a busy street along Marasbaras district that they have collected but also tried to explain to their buyers about Aleppo, a city in Syria that is besieged with civil war that resulted to deaths of thousands of men, women and children.
Anido, a second year nursing student at the RTR Medical Foundation, and her seven friends, put up a stall covered with a huge umbrella as they sell the used clothings to the public whom they say “are not also familiar with what is happening in Aleppo.”
“My friends decided to come up with this undertaking because what we see in TV in Aleppo breaks our heart, especially those involving innocent children,” she said.
“They should not suffer or experience this kind of horror at their young age,” Anido added.
In particular, they were touched and troubled on the video involving Omran Daqneesh, who was hit during an air strike.
His haunting photo, sitting in silence inside an ambulance, touched the hearts of the world as he was declared as the “face of Aleppo.”
By raising funds out of selling the used clothings that they collected from among themselves and their friends, they hope to help the victims, particularly the children displaced by the five-year civil war in Aleppo.
The group started collecting the used clothings early this month. “We were glad that some of friends and even friends of our friends, when we explained to them the purpose, immediately gave their share,” Anido said.
For three days, which they started on Wednesday(December 21), of selling used clothings, the group raised about P15,000.
“We will convert it into dollars and send it online to Save the Children,” Anido said, referring to an international humanitarian organization that primarily aims to help children affected by disaster, man-made or natural.
Incidentally, Save the Children was among the international humanitarian groups that responded when Tacloban City was pummeled when it was hit by supertyphoon “Yolanda.”
“The world helped us when we we’re hit by Yolanda and I guess, we should somehow extend help to those who are in dire need like Aleppo,” Anido said.
Her friend, Raven Bolino, 17 who is from Basey, Samar and taking physical therapist at the RTR School, put up a monitor wherein videos showing the war in Aleppo were shown.
“By showing the video to our buyers, they get to know what is happening in Aleppo. Admittedly, many of us are not aware on what is happening in Aleppo and where it is located,” Bolino said.
She said that they also explained to their buyers what is happening in Aleppo.
“Some of them buy our items because we sell them at lower price. But we explain to them why we are selling these used clothings. We explained to them what’s happening in Aleppo and we show them the video,” Bolino said.
They sold their items ranging from P20 up to P60.Evangeline Globioso,50, from Palo, Leyte, admitted that she is not aware that such a place exists or what’s happening there.“Glad to know that they are doing this for a cause. I am poor so I could only buy one item,” Globioso said. A man, who saw them selling used clothings and for what purpose, left a message to the group: “We need people like you.”
This simple message, Anido and Bolino said, “was unexpected but warms our hearts.” (JOEY A. GABIETA)