TACLOBAN CITY– Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez led the celebration of the 8th Anniversary of Tacloban’s conversion into a highly urbanized city (HUC) last December 18-19, 2016.
The celebration highlighted with an HUC Run organized by the City Sports Office (CSO).
Joel Bugho, CSO chief, the event dubbed HUC Commemorative Run 2016 was the single big event of the HUC Day celebration.
The fun run started at 2:00 am at the City Hall Grounds which included four categories for men and women: 42 K, 22 K, 10 k, and 3 k.
Participants who registered received singlet, loot bags, and finisher t-shirts; while winners received cash prizes and medals.
Sponsors for the event include Leyte 1st district Representative Yedda K. Romualdez, QRJ and USAID.
TOMECO, ACCESS 5, BFP, TACRU, Red Cross Delta, ACCESS 5, Basketball Association of the Philippines served as marshals during the event.
Bugho said the city government plans to make the fun run a regular event during HUC Day.
A citywide clean-up drive participated by City Hall employees preceded by a Thanksgiving Mass at the Sto. Niño Church at 9:30 am on Sunday.
Other activities held for the 8th year of Tacloban’s declaration as an HUC included a recognition program for the top 10 real property and business taxpayers of the city and the distribution of food packs worth P1,500 to 100 indigent senior citizens wait-listed for the social pension program of the City Social Welfare and Development Office on Monday, (December 19).
For the eight years that Tacloban has been an HUC, the city has received numerous national and regional awards and citations recognizing its exemplary performance and programs.
Economic progress has likewise become evident in the city in the past years with the influx of various businesses and improved infrastructures, despite of Tacloban’s suffering from the devastation of the world’s strongest typhoon, supertyphoon “Yolanda” that hit the city on November 8,2013.
Former Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez worked for the conversion of Tacloban as an HUC during his first term as Chief Executive.
Tacloban became an HUC after an overwhelming number of Taclobanons voted for its conversion in a plebiscite held December 18, 2008. (HENRY JAMEZ G. ROCA/CIO)
Tacloban city government celebrates 8th HUC Anniversary
Beltejar assures no tolerance of police abuses
PALO, Leyte – Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar reiterated once again his earlier stance against abuses perpetrated by his men.
“We will not tolerate abuses of our men,” Beltejar emphatically stated at the Christmas party of the PNP Press Corps on Friday (December 16) held at the Matapat Hall in Campetic, this town.
He asked members of the media to inform him of any abuses committed by police officers that reach their knowledge so he can do something like filing administrative cases against erring cops.
Alleged police abuses came into light as the national government under President Rodrigo Duterte wages a relentless if not brutal campaign against the proliferation of illegal drugs.
Some human rights groups claimed that some of the so-called extrajudicial killings were perpetrated by the police themselves.
Recognizing the time-honored role of the media as watchdog of the society, Beltejar told newsmen not to hesitate to report to him cops that “ that went out of bounds or did not follow the standard operating procedures,” adding that these are acts that his leadership cannot tolerate.
According to Beltejar, in his talk with the PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, the latter assured him that if it would be found out that the operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) who served search warrants at the Leyte subprovincial jail in Baybay City on November 5 this year really erred, their acts will not be tolerated.
The operation of the CIDG at very early dawn that day led to the death of former Albuera mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., father of the alleged drug lord of the region, Kerwin Espinosa.
Another inmate, Raul Yap, was killed during same operation, whom the CIDG team head C Insp. Leo Larraga claimed placed his man’s life in danger.
The untimely death of the older Espinosa and Yap prompted the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct its own probe.
The investigation found the operation of the CIDG operatives positive for failure to follow the proper procedures which turned out to be a rub out.
Beltejar commended the media for taking a very active stance on the issue about the Espinosa drug group which helped in giving information used during an inquiry conducted by the Senate.
Meantime, PRO8 Regional Police Community Relations Division chief S/Supt. Elizar Egloso, like Beltejar, expressed confidence in the new set of officers of the PNP Press Corps.
Vicky Arnaiz, president of the PNP press corps, assured that the newsmen who are members of the organization will maintain a neutral stance amidst issues confronting the PNP. (EILEEN NAZARENO-
BALLESTEROS)
Truce on drug war this Christmas?
In the data obtained by Rappler.com a total number 6,095 of people were killed in Pres. Rody Duterte’s war on drugs since July 1, 2012 suspected drug personalities killed in police operations, as of December 14; and 3,993victims of extrajudicial or vigilante-style killings, as of December 12. This unprecedented number which never had occurred in the country’s history is a pride of the Duterte administration, an indicator of success of its all out war against drugs. The public however could not contain their angst over the spate of killings spurred by the current administration’s program.
While the leadership of the Philippine National Police constantly denounces police brutality and abuse, the death toll keeps hiking in all time high. This creates the inevitable imprint in the mind of the people that the Philippines is in open season on killing. Police authorities and unidentified assailants including the so-called “Davao Death Squad” are in apparent murder spree over particular “targets”. Again, utilizing the reasons and leeway so boldly articulated by PRRD, the killers enjoy the elusive impunity.
The Catholic Church is strongly opposed to death penalty, much more to the extra-judicial killings going on across the archipelago in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs. In this season of love and gift-giving, can it be possible that like a ceasefire between rebel troops in Mindanao and the government forces, there will also a truce on war on drugs this month? At least this time, life which is the most important gift to humanity, will be given worth. The dictum “Save the user, jail the pusher” can by then be given practical application.
Sec.Sueno directed BJMP to clean facilities, personnel of illegal drug
TACLOBAN CITY- Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno issued a stern warning to all jail officials and personnel to clean their facilities from the illegal drugs or face sanctions.
Sueno made this warning during his visit to Tacloban last December 14 wherein he said that illegal drugs continue to the discovered in jail facilities, citing in particular those in Metro Manila.
“I received reports that some BJMP (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology) personnel are involved in the illegal drug trade,” Sueno said.
He said that he will personally check on this matter and find out how many BJMP are involved in the illegal drug either as users or as protectors.
In the region, BJMP regional director, Senior Supt. Efren Nemenio, said that he could assure the Interior Secretary that the jails in the region are free from illegal drug and his personnel are not into engaged in the illicit business.
He, however, said that there are few personnel who are under their monitoring to “validate” reports that they are into illegal drug.
“We have also list of BJMP personnel who are into illegal drugs and (similar list) based from the PNP (Philippine National Police) and PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) also,” Nemenio said.
There are 46 jail facilities in the region that are under the supervision of the BJMP which has 401 personnel.
Recently, a BJMP member assigned in Tacloban City, was arrested in a buy-bust operation last December 13.
Arrested was Ronelda Calamayan,52, together with one Teddy Magpili,44, both residents of Barangay 83-C, Taguiktik, San Jose district, this city.
At least 28 sachets of methamphetamine (shabu) were confiscated from the suspects who are now detained at the Tacloban City lock-up facility. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
Interior Secretary Sueno, Mayor Romualdez inaugurate new Tacloban city court building
TACLOBAN CITY– “We are lucky to have a President who says what he means and means what he says… a President who will not let politics stand in the way to help his constituents,” so said Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez, during the turnover over ceremony of Recovery Assistance on Yolanda (RAY) Projects on Thursday morning, December 15.
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ismael Sueno and Mayor Romualdez led in the inauguration of the newly- built Tacloban City Court Building and ceremonial turnover of completed RAY projects in the City.
The P28 million building will house the two branches of the City Court and the City Civil Registrar’s Office.
In his message during the ceremony, Secretary Sueno expressed his amazement over the fast recovery of Tacloban three years after supertyphoon “Yolanda” and his admiration for the resilience of Taclobanons.
He also committed that the DILG is willing to help in anyway the local government and assured its fast implementation.
“The President loves the people of Tacloban and wants to expedite all government transactions… he abhors red tape and is passionate about his campaign to eradicate drugs and corruption in government,” added Sueno.
Three years ago, then Mayor Duterte was the first government official to send aid to the City after it was battered by typhoon Yolanda, bringing in needed medical and food supplies, among others.
Meanwhile, Mayor Romualdez expressed her gratitude to the national government for the projects and lauded the DILG for its mandate to strengthen the capability of local government unit.
“Taclobanons are fortunate to have been beneficiaries of infrastructure and livelihood assistance from the DILG… [and the project] is a testament of our desire to build back better and resilient,” the city mayor said.
Also present during the inauguration was DILG Regional Director Marivel Sacendillo, City Director Darwin Bibar and representatives of other government agencies.
RAY funded projects in Tacloban totalled more than P230 million and included the rehabilitation and construction of important public structures like public market, astrodome and other barangay infrastructures.
RAY Phases I and II projects have already been completed in the city. (HENRY JAMES G.ROCA/PHOTOS: MARIO PAPURAN/CIO)
Influx of investors expected to come to Tacloban
3 years after “Yolanda”
TACLOBAN CITY- More investors are expected to come and do business in the city, three years after it was devastated by supertyphoon “Yolanda.”
Among the newest big-ticket investment in the city was the opening of a new wing of the Robinsons Place-Tacloban on December 8.
The new extension of the Robinsons Place-Tacloban has 80 available spaces wherein 85 percent are already occupied by the tenants.
Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez and Leyte Rep. Yedda Romualdez and Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla led in the opening of the new wing, dubbed as “The Atrium.”
The city mayor said that the coming in of new investors to Tacloban is an indication that the city is now in the roads towards full economic recovery providing additional employment to the people from the city and those coming from other areas of the region.
Aside from the “expanded” Robinsons Place-Tacloban, expected to open are its 380-rooms Imperial Hotel and another shopping located at the Abucay bus terminal.
When Tacloban was hit by Yolanda on November 8, 2013, almost all of its business establishments, among others, were destroyed and were heavily looted.
Among the latest establishments to open business in Tacloban were branches of Puregold, Savers Depot with several hotels making their renovations and expansion in an anticipation of tourist’s influx.
Also, a regional warehouse intended for relief goods during a disaster situation was inaugurated in Tacloban funded by the New Zealand government and turned over to the Philippine Red Cross. (GAY B. GASPAY,TISAT/KANHURAW MEDIA TEAM