TACLOBAN CITY- A former vice mayor of Albuera, Norman Mesina, supports suggestion for Mayor Rolando Espinosa, Sr. to resign from his post. Mesina, who served the post from 2013-2016, said it would be better for Espinosa to resign considering that he got involved in the illegal drug activity. Earlier, Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla and town police chief, Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido suggested for Espinosa, 53, to resign from the post he won during the May 9, 2016 elections. “I believe that the suggestion of the chief of police, Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido for our mayor to resign from office is a laudable one to prevent more bloodshed,” Mesina said. He added that he felt bad that their town was thrust into national limelight in the negative way. Mesina disclosed that the atmosphere pervading in the entire town of Albuera is that of fear. “Before, people were not afraid to walk in the streets even in the wee hours. However, recently with what happened, people tend not to go out from their houses as early as 8 o clock in the evening,” he said. Espinosa surrendered on August 2 before Police Director General Rolando de la Rosa after he was named by President Rodrigo Duterte to be involved in the illegal drug trade. The police tagged Espinosa and his son, Kerwin, as the region’s number one drug lord. Last August 4, police authorities have engaged alleged armed group of Espinosa at his house in sitio Tinago of Barangay Binulho that resulted to the death of his six men. And on Friday (August 5) Vice Mayor Rosa Meneses assumed the post of mayor after she consulted with the local operations officers, Ida Aquilina Lopez. (LIZBETH ANN A.ABELLA)
Albuera vice mayor assumes post of Espinosa
ALBUERA, Leyte- After much hesitation, Vice Mayor Rosa Meneses assumed the post as acting mayor of this town effective Friday (August 5). Meneses assumed the post after Mayor Rolando Espinosa’s designated caretaker, Councilor Sixto de la Victoria, declined the designation. Espinosa, in his letter dated August 2, named de la Victoria, a former mayor, as his caretaker as he took a leave of absence after he surrendered to Police Director General Ronald de la Rosa on the same day he issued his letter. Under section 46 of the Local Government Code, the vice mayor automatically assumes the post of mayor after the allowed three day lapses. “I will assume the post efective today (Friday) and let us see from here (what will happen),” the acting mayor said. Meneses disclosed that she has police security, underscoring the still volatile security situation in Albuera. However, town police chief, Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido assured the people of the town that it is now “peaceful.” Ida Aquilina Lopez, local operations chief, said that she was glad that finally Meneses has assumed the post as acting mayor. As acting mayor, she can discharge all the functions of the mayor except to fire, hire and reassign personnel. According to Lopez, there was fear that the operations in the local government would be in jeopardy if there would be no acting mayor after Espinosa took his leave. The acting mayor is not a political ally of Espinosa who was identified, together with his son Kerwin as the region’s top drug lords. Meantime, Councilor de la Victoria will assumed the post as acting vice mayor being the number one councilor. (ELVIE ROMAN ROA/JOEY A. GABIETA)
Former lawmaker, kins cry foul over narco politics tag
TACLOBAN CITY – Former Northern Samar congressman Emil Ong and his family cried foul over allegations they are into the illegal drug trade. Ong’s brother, Laoang town mayor Hector, and the mayor’s wife, Madeleine, were named by President Rodrigo Duterte as among the protectors of illegal drug syndicates. Hector is the current mayor of Laoang while his wife previously sat as mayor herself. She also served as governor from 1998 to 2001.
In an interview, Ong said their family felt insulted with the accusation and have already been condemned publicly without due process. He said he himself has been strictly campaigning against illegal drugs and illegal gambling in their province long before the former city mayor of Davao City became President.
“When my brother became governor in 2013, I accompanied him to the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in order for the latter to instruct the provincial director to get rid the drug proliferation in our province including illegal gambling,” Ong said. Ong said that the number of minors who are being involved in illegal drug activities are increasing. At one time, Ong disclosed, he borrowed trained dogs which can detect drugs and brought it to the villages in one of their anti-illegal drug campaigns. “It was very successful and many drug dependents were arrested,” Ong said. He asked that the source of information of the President should be thoroughly investigated as this run in contrast to their campaign and their continued stance to fight the menace.
The former solon said that his brother should at least be given the chance to confront his accuser as it is a basic right under the Constitution. He claimed that the name and shame campaign of the President appears like the country is under martial law. For his part, Mayor Ong and his wife Madeleine, denied the allegations that they are into the illegal drug trade. “We are not narco-politicians,” was the mayor’s reaction after the announcement came out on Sunday(August 7). He said he want to see the President to defend himself and his wife. “We are willing to be investigated. I think the list should be reviewed. But I trust President Duterte will accord us due process,” the former mayor said. However, he maintained that despite the accusations, his entire family is still in support of President Duterte’s anti-illegal drug campaign.
(RYAN GABRIEL LLOSA ARCENAS)
SB Member Avila seeks immediate revision of 2 income generating ordinances
SAN ISIDRO, Northern Samar- Councilor Conrado Avila Sr. is asking his colleagues at the town council to hasten the revision of their revenue and incentive codes. The two revenue-generating measures should be reviewed and revised immediately considering their possible impacts to the town’s economy, Avila, mayor of the town for nine years, said. The proposed amendments of the revenue and incentive codes or Ordinances 2016-032 and 2016-033 respectively have been with the town council since last year but the councilors have yet to act on them. Avila said that the town council should set a time table when these two measures should be approved on their revised forms. The former mayor and now councilor Avila made this suggestion during their first regular session on August 1. Councilor Roldan Sabayo, who acts as the majority floor leader of the Sangguniang Bayan, said that the measures would be passed and approved within the month. Sabayo said that he is also aware on the importance of these measures that are expected to help the local economy and shore up the income of the municipal government. San Isidro is a fourth class town which heavily depends on its internal revenue allotment as its main source of income. Meantime, during their August 1 regular session, distribution of committee chairmanships served as the main agenda. The taking into office of Rosalia Salinas, barangay chairperson of Buenavista, as an ex-officio member of the town council was also discussed. Vice Mayor Wilson Tomacas Sr., presiding officer of the council, said that they will work closely with the administration of Mayor Ferdinand “Nanding” Avila to realize all his programs and projects that could benefit the entire town of San Isidro. (PETER D. PAREDES)
DILG warns public on conmen using name of DILG Secretary Sueno, RD Noval to solicit
TACLOBAN CITY- Secretary Ismael D. Sueno of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to put behind bars swindlers who pose as the DILG chief or any of his staff to extort money from unsuspecting local officials or businessmen. In a recent interview with the media, Sueno said he received reports from the field about individuals who present themselves as his personal staff and victimize local officials who want to receive a special favor from the DILG such as grant of fire trucks.
“Tugisin ninyo ang mga mapanlinlang na mga taong ito at siguruhing makakalaboso sila,” he told the PNP. The DILG Secretary said Representative Ann Hofer of the second district of Zamboanga Sibugay wrote him a letter to request for the conduct of an investigation involving an impostor who extorted money from municipal mayors in her congressional district in exchange for a promise of delivery of fire trucks. In Hofer’s letter, she said a person, who spoke with confidence and introduced himself as the DILG Secretary, called her office and told her that the DILG is releasing fire trucks to interested mayors in her district.
The caller gave her his mobile number (09162430582) where the mayors can get in touch with him. Hofer gave the number to several mayors and in less than an hour, Mayor Leonardo Talania of Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay told her that he deposited P75,000 in cash as instructed by “Secretary Sueno” to a certain Elmer G. Ang with BDO Savings Acct. Number 6460047552 from BF Resort, Las Pinas Branch. Hofer was able to warn the other mayors who were then on their way to the nearest Western Union outlets to deposit the same amount to Atty. Esther E. Corpuz. Other similar extortion activities were reported by congressmen Ace Barbers of the 2nd district of Surigao del Norte, Abdulmunir Arbison of the 2nd district of Sulu and Juan Pablo Rimpy Bondoc of the 4th district of Pampanga.
Meanwhile, Regional Director Pedro A. Noval Jr. of DILG-8 (Eastern Visayas) reported that his name was also used to solicit for an unnamed activity purportedly to be held in DILG. Director Noval said that an official from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) was approached this morning (August 1) to donate money for an upcoming DILG activity. “I have not authorized anyone to conduct fund-raising or use my name to solicit any amount for whatever activities”, emphasized RD Noval while calling on the public to report people who shall use his name for solicitations. Secretary Sueno further directed the PNP to coordinate with the National Telecommunications Commission to trace the owner of the cellphone number, as well as with BDO to check the bank’s CCTVs.### (DILG Public Affairs and Communication Service, with additional info from DILG-8) (PR)
Leyte gov’t seeks more drug rehab centers
TACLOBAN CITY – The Leyte provincial government has called on the national government to immediately build drug rehabilitation centers as number of drug personalities yielding to authorities continue to rise. But Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla said that it will not be easy to establish rehabilitation centers given the equipments and expertise requirements. “We cannot construct the center overnight. It’s easier to put a building, but challenging to find the right people to man the facility,” Petilla said. The governor, who is the concurrent Eastern Visayas Regional Development Council Chairman, admitted that local government units, especially in poor provinces, have no financial capability to establish and run a rehabilitation center.
“There must be a national government intervention. I’m quite sure they will address this problem because they are more financially capable,” Petilla added. The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported that 4,706 drug personalities in Leyte have already surrendered to the local police and mayor’s office from July 1 to 31 this year. Of the number, 4,368 are users and 358 are peddlers. With the absence of rehabilitation centers, the police asked those who surrendered to go home and completely abandon the illicit practice. “After the processing, we allowed them to return home, but they are bound to come back for monitoring purposes,” said PNP Leyte provincial director Sr. Supt. Franco Simborio.
Towns with 100 to 600 self-confessed drug personalities are Abuyog, Barugo, Bato, Calubian, Dulag, Hilongos, Hindang, Javier, Kananga, La Paz, Matag-ob, Matalom, Palompon, Pastrana, San Isidro and Tanauan. The province has only one drug treatment and rehabilitation managed by the Department of Health in Dulag, Leyte. It will resume its full operation in October, accommodating up to 100 patients. (SARWELL Q. MENIANO)