Noel remains confident on Poe’s presidential run

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January 4, 2016

TACLOBAN CITY-Former An Waray party-list congressman Florencio “Bem” Noel expressed his elation over the decision of the Supreme Court granting Senator Grace Poe a temporary reprieve as she continues to battle legal problems on her presidential bid. The Supreme Court issued temporary restraining orders (TRO) in favor of Poe on December 28 directing the Commission on Elections (Comelec) not to bar Poe from running for President in this year’s elections. Noel, who acts as a campaign manager of Poe and that of her running-mate, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, said that the decision of the High Court only shows that it adheres to fairness and justice.

The former solon said that if ever their camp would be denied for a temporary retrieve from the High Court, they would not resort to any extra-judicial act. “We will abide the legal processes. We believe in the system and it (still) works,” Noel stressed. Meantime, Noel said that they are happy that despite of the legal battles that they are facing, Poe continues to be the most preferred by the Filipino voters among the presidential candidates running in next year’s elections. “Her ratings fluctuate but we are still comfortable. They know that we are ahead. That’s why, they want her disqualify,” Noel said, referring to the opponents of Poe.
The Comelec, en banc, had earlier cancelled Poe’s certificate of candidacy due to her failure to meet the 10-year residency as she also fights off issue of her being a Filipino citizen.

Noel said that they remain confident that eventually, Poe, who was just elected as senator in the 2013 elections, will hurdle the legal obstacles and will be allowed to run for President. Poe is running as an independent candidate with Escudero. Poe’s father, the late action king, Fernando Poe, Jr., ran for President in the 2010 election marred with accusation of massive cheating.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

More than 78,000 voters purged from list of registered voters in EV

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January 4, 2016

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Comelec — NO BIO, NO BOTO. With no biometrics data, more than 78,000 voters of the region were disqualified to cast their votes in this year’s polls. Photo shows voters of Tacloban meeting the deadline for their biometrics taken at the city Commission on Election office. (LITO A. BAGUNAS)

NO BIO, NO BOTO. With no biometrics data, more than 78,000 voters of the region were disqualified to cast their votes in this year’s polls. Photo shows voters of Tacloban meeting the deadline for their biometrics taken at the city Commission on Election office. (LITO A. BAGUNAS)

TACLOBAN CITY- Over 78,000 voters in the region could no longer cast their votes in the May 9, 2016 elections. This after they failed to have their biometrics taken as mandated by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Based on the records of the regional Comelec office, there were 78,325 voters who would now be ineligible to cast their votes in the summer balloting. “We have done our part to make sure that they could have their biometrics taken,” lawyer Felicisimo Embalsado, assistant poll director, said. Of the 78,325 deactivated voters, the bulk was from Leyte at 25,005. Embalsado is also the acting Leyte elections supervisor. The remaining were from Samar (23,934); Northern Samar (16,005); Eastern Samar (7,443); Southern Leyte, 4,850 and Biliran, 1,088. With the deactivation of these voters from the list, the region has now 2.69 million registered voters who are qualified to vote for the May 9 elections. Embalsado said that the Comelec could not be blamed why the 78, 325 voters were now disqualified to cast their votes. He said that they have sent registered mails to the voters or in the absence of available postal service, sought assistance to the barangay officials.

The Comelec also placed tarpaulins regarding their “no bio, no boto” campaign in conspicuous places in all areas in the region just to ensure that those who have no biometrics could visit their respective polling offices and have their biometrics taken. Embalsado said that having a biometrics is very important in ensuring the result of the conduct of election would be clean. “It will help clean our registered list of voters,” he said. According to him, a registered voter could no longer vote twice because he will be detected through the automated finger print identification system if he already cast his vote. The Comelec official, however, said that these voters could still cast their votes in the next electoral exercise, which could be the barangay polls on October, 2016, if they would have their biometrics taken. (JOEY A. GABIETA)

SAF deployment for Samar

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January 4, 2016

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PNP chief — HARD AND HURT. Interior Sec. Mel Senen Sarmiento(right) said that he was hurt as Calbayog being labelled as “killbayog,” prompting the country’s top police cop, Director Gen. Ricardo Marquez, that they would get hard against criminals in the city to ensure a peaceful conduct of election this May 9, 2016. (HENRY PUYAT)

HARD AND HURT. Interior Sec. Mel Senen Sarmiento(right) said that he was hurt as Calbayog being labelled as “killbayog,” prompting the country’s top police cop, Director Gen. Ricardo Marquez, that they would get hard against criminals in the city to ensure a peaceful conduct of election this May 9, 2016. (HENRY PUYAT)

CALBAYOG CITY- The elite Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police(PNP) will be deployed in Samar this month in time for the start of the election period on January 10, 2016, to help secure the peace and order situation of the province rocked with series of killing incidents last year. This was disclosed by Police General Director Ricardo Marquez during his visit in Calbayog City where the specially-trained policemen are to be assigned.
Marquez said that about 88 SAF members are to be deployed in the city where series of killing incidents were reported last year with politics eyed as motive. According to Marquez, the SAF as well as the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) personnel will serve as support unit to the existing local police force. Marquez added that there will be no conflict on the functions with other PNP forces in the area, the commander of the Regional Special Operations Task Group (RSOTG) will be the one to look into their deployment.

“The SAF and the intelligence group will serve as the support units to the local police force, the commander of the RSOTG will make their deployment,” Marquez stressed.
Marquez added that essentially the priority deployment of SAF is to address election concerns, use operations against private armed groups (PAGs), among others. Samar, along with other five provinces in the country, was earlier declared by the PNP as under area of concern for the upcoming elections. But Marquez clarified that said declaration was not due to the reported killings in Calbayog, saying it was based on the situation of the province in general. He added that they asked the commanders on the ground to make an assessment on factors that have impact on elections like presence of PAGS, politically motivated incidents, election- related incidents during the past two elections, partisan political rivalries of candidates and loose firearms. “We ask our commanders on the ground to make an assessment on the factors that have impact on elections. It is not Calbayog but the entire province of Samar that is under the watch list,” Marquez said.

“We are closely looking into former members of PAGS that were reported before,” he added. At least 43 shooting incidents were recorded last year in Calbayog. In 2014, 48 similar incidents were reported by the Calbayog police. Marquez said that they are dedicated to solve the problem as he also urged the residents to help them in their effort of addressing the killings in the province. “We do not entertain the illusion that we can solve the problem but we are committed and dedicated to solve this problem,” Marquez stressed. By JENNIFER SUMAGANG-ALLEGADO

Sec. Alcala to turn over aid to farmers, fisherfolks

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December 7, 2015

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fishfolk — DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala leads the turnover of agricultural interventions to LGUs during the Yolanda commemoration last year.

DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala leads the turnover of agricultural interventions to LGUs during the Yolanda commemoration last year. — DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala leads the turnover of agricultural interventions

TACLOBAN CITY- Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala is to arrive in Tacloban this Friday,Nov.27, to led in the distribution of about P1 billion worth assistance to the region’s farmers and fisherfolks.
Sec. Alcala will hand over various agriculture productivity enhancing initiatives, including those in support of agricultural rehabilitation through the Rehabilitation Assistance for Yolanda (RAY), the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), the Bottom Up Budgeting (BUB) and the Pamana(Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan) programs.
During this visit, the Agriculture Secretary will grace the technical forum on coping with the challenges of the ASEAN Economic Community and climate change at the Leyte National High School Gymnasium in Tacloban which will be attended by nearly 2,000 farmers and fisherfolk, devolved agricultural extension workers, and officials from the various local government units regionwide.
Sec. Alcala is also expected to hold a press conference with the local media before proceeding to Javier, Leyte.
The town of Javier is the region’s model of successful convergence projects implemented within the municipality.
The Secretary will have a brief stopover / tour at the dairy buffalo multiplier farm at Barangay Picas, before gracing the ribbon-cutting/ opening program and harvest festival- cum- FFT graduation where around 500 farmers and local officials are expected to attend. (Ma. Christina E. Colasito)

King impressed on Leyte recovery

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December 7, 2015

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petilla — The second time around. King Carl Gustaf XVI of Sweden visits Tacloban on November 21 to check the progress on the construction of boy scout building funded by the king himself. Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla(left) and Vice Gov. Carlo Loreto (behind Petilla) welcome the monarch. (GINA P. GEREZ)

TACLOBAN CITY- King Carl Gustaf XVI said that he was impressed on how Leyte, particularly Tacloban, now looks like two years after it was pummeled by supertyphoon “Yolanda.”

The Swedish king, who arrived at the Daniel Z. Romualdez (DZR) Airport at 9:26 in the morning last November 21, was in the city to personally check on the progress on the construction of a two-storey building intended for the Boy Scout of the Philippines(BSP)-Leyte Council. His visit was said to be of private one though there were several Presidential Security Guard members trailing him as well as members of the local police. Members of the local boy scout also lined up along the streets to welcome the king who was dressed in the boy scout attire. “From the plane, there is a tremendous change. The last time I came here, it was very gray and now it’s green,” the king said.
King Gustaf first visited Tacloban, ground zero of the world’s strongest typhoon to make landfall, last January 26 last year. During his first visit, the king went to the boy scout building of the province which was destroyed due to Yolanda and led in the turn-over of uniforms to scout members in the city. In all his engagements, the media were allowed to cover them but his Saturday, the media were informed that the king wishes not to be covered except for a 30-minute press briefing held at the VIP Lounge of the DZR Airport.

In his interaction with the media, the king underscores the importance for the young scouts to know more and value on environmental protection. “(The) scout movement is one of the world’s oldest environmental movements in the world. We help educate people…on climate change,” the king said. It was learned that the newly-repaired two-storey boy scout building in Leyte will not only be used for activities related to the scout movements but even about disaster preparedness The king emphasized that scouting helps develop young people and be prepared especially during calamities. “In scouting, we want to help the young boys and girls harness their potentials and develop their skills and be prepared especially during disaster,” Gustaf said. After the press briefing, the king immediately left the VIP Lounge and motor his way to the boy scout building located along M.H.del Pilar Street that is under construction and expected to be finished by February next year.

He led in the unveiling of the marker for the said facility. King Gustaf, who is the honorary chairman of the World Scout Foundation, donated P7 million for the construction of the building. The Swedish king also met the beneficiaries, parents of boy scout members of Tacloban, of a livelihood project he sponsored. The project involved in the giving of carabaos and sari-sari stores.

The king also visited the shipwreck located in Anibong district that was converted into a memorial park as well as another Yolanda monument located inside the compound of the astrodome along Sagkahan district before his return to Manila at 2 pm. The king was welcomed by provincial officials led by Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, Vice Gov. Carlo Loreto and Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla. Gustaf was joined by Scott Teare, secretary general of the World Organization of the Scouts Movement(WOSM); Mark Knippernberg, deputy director of the World Scout Foundation(WSF); Goran Hagerdal, WOSM global director and John Geoghegan, director of the WSF.