TACLOBAN CITY– The man who was seen sitting on top of a giant “pawikan” in a sea village in Marabut town, Samar may face charges. That is if it would be established that he violated certain provisions of Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Act. The said law imposes penalty against a person who causes harm to an endangered species like the giant turtle that was accidentally caught by a fisherman in Barangay Pinamitinan last Wednesday, August5.

As of this writing, the regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is still conducting its investigation over the incident. Center on the probe is one Jose Lastimado who took his picture on top of the turtle and which he posted on his Facebook account that immediately went viral. Lastimado was later identified to be once the president of the town’s association of barangay chairman.

The pawikan, a leatherback marine turtle (Democheleys coriacea) was caught by fisherman Jessy Amora at around 1 early morning last August 5. The leatherback turtle categorized an endangered species measures six feet in length and 36 inches in width of carapace. The weight was unknown. It was pushed back to the sea around 11:30 am on the same day with the help of about 10 men.

The animal was said to be in healthy condition and whatever scratches seen at its carapace was mainly due to the fishnet. Corazon Makabenta, officer-in-charge chief of the conservation and development division of the DENR-8, said that the viral photos posted in social media, were taken before their team arrived in Pinamitinan.

Aside from the DENR, teams coming from the Department of Agriculture and the local government of Marabut also went to the village for the documentation and the release of the leatherback turtle. DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) Theresa Mundita Lim also was alerted on the viral FB post that she immediately requested the DENR regional office to take appropriate action.

But according to Makabenta, DENR regional executive director Leonardo Siballuca had already took action on it on the same day. The office coordinated with Marabut Mayor Percival Ortillo and immediately ordered the release of the turtle back at its original habitat at 11:00 a.m. of the same day. The release was witnessed by the Marabut Bantay Dagat, Shirley Galanza officer of the Department of Agriculture and DENR personnel. It is called leatherback turtle because of its leathery and rubbery shell its distinct characteristic from the common hard-bony turtle shells. The pawikan grows up to seven feet in length and up to 900 lbs.

Makabenta said that the DENR has been campaigning for the protection of the environment and deputized Wildlife Environment Officers. (VICKY C.ARNAIZ)

CATARMAN Samar- In politics, even the strangest bedfellows could be one and united. And this exactly what happened between the province’ bitter political rivals, the Dazas and the Ongs. Their “principle of coalition,” was announced by Rep. Emil Ong and former congressman Raul Daza, both acknowledged political kingpins of Northern Samar. The unexpected coalition of the two political rivals was made during their joint appearance and radio interview over local station DySM on August 7, marking the first time that the Dazas and the Ongs are to unite.

Primarily, the two veteran politicians said that they decided to join forces to ensure the victory of former Interior Sec. Mar Roxas in next year’s presidential elections.
Daza said that this is the best chance for the Visayas, to include Northern Samar, to produce a President as he noted that all the past seven presidents of the country were from Luzon. Roxas is from Western Visayas. Ong belong to the National Unity Party (NUP) of which he is the provincial chairman while Daza is the current regional chairman of the administration Liberal Party (LP) which named Roxas as its standard- bearer in the 2016 presidential derby.

The NUP, majority of members like Ong were allies of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is in coalition with the LP. While both Daza and Ong, who made a public apology to the former on whatever statements he uttered that could hurt him, admitted that while their main reason in forging alliance was to ensure Roxas victory, this could also lead for development of Northern Samar, one of the country’s poorest provinces. “We cross above and over our selfish interests. Waraon ta an mga diperensya. I am happy now of our coalition – magin ehemplo ito sa bug-os nga nasod nga an two warring factions nag tig-ub yana para sa kaupayan san Northehanon”Rep. Ong said.

Ong is the brother of incumbent Governor Jose Ong who trounced Daza’s son, Paul, during the 2013 elections. Daza himself was defeated by Rep. Harlin Abayon, a close ally of Ong, for the congressional race representing the province first district in the 2013 elections. For his part, Daza, who was once the national chairman of the LP, said that while there are still so much things to do on their budding political alliance, this could be a herald something good for the province.

“Dere pagud plantsado an iba nga mga bungto, pero tatalinguhaon namo ni Cong. Emil nga ini nga coalition in tikang sa igbaw tikadto sa ubos, waray lain nga tuyo an kaupayan san Norte San Samar, nga mabag-o an sistema san pinili-ay.We have common rules that have been agreed, wara no. 1, wara no. 2,” Daza added. Daza said that his decision to coalesce with NUP was a result of the series of consultations with his group in the local level for several reasons governed by the spirit of the principles of coalition and not for their own vested political interests as what have been perceived by some political observers.

“Coalition per se is a positive reaction of any activities such as in families, political, business and economics having join forces.Pareho san tindahan nga mag join forces, dako an kita.In the same manner, kon an mga politicians mag-arabuyon the province and municipalities will benefit from the coalition,” Ong said. It was learned that Rep.Ong, who is on his third and last term, will run for governor with his brother, Jose, taking his post as congressman representing the province’ second congressional district in next year’s elections. Vice Gov. Gary Lavin, will be Ong’s running-mate on his gubernatorial bid. Meantime, Daza will run again in the first district with the political future of his son, Paul, remain uncertain.

Both Ong and Daza are hopeful that Rep. Abayon will also make his own move and sacrifice for the betterment of the province and ensure their poll victory in 2016 elections. Political observers in the province welcome the coalition of the two saying this could lead for an ordinary candidate to now run. (PETER PAREDES)