TACLOBAN CITY- The lawyer of murdered Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa, Sr. said that talking of a possible presidential pardon on those who killed her client is still a long shot at this time.
Lawyer Leilani Villarino said that knowing how slow the judicial system grinds in the country, the decision of the court handling the murder case of Espinosa may outlast the term of President Duterte.
“We’ll see what will be the verdict of the court and if Mr. Duterte is still the President. How can he pardon them if he is no longer the President at that time?” Villarino, reached on her mobile phone, said.
The President, who is waging a controversial and brutal war on illegal drugs, is to step down in 2022.
An impeachment complaint has been filed against him before the House of Representatives using his campaign against illegal drugs as among the grounds.
On Wednesday, Mr. Duterte vowed to grant a presidential pardon to police officers who were convicted in the performance of their duties.
His statement came in the wake of the arrest and detention of members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in the region for the murder of Espinosa, father of the region’s drug lord, Kerwin.
A warrant was issued against the group by Judge Carlos Arguelles of Regional Trial Court-Branch 14 in Baybay City.
Accused of murder were former CIDG-8 director Supt. Marvin Marcos and 18 others. All professed innocence saying they were just performing their sworn duties.
Marcos and his coaccused are currently detained at the CIDG-8 regional office in this city. Media are barred from entering the said office.
Villarino, however, said that they could not question if ever Marcos and his coaccused would be given presidential pardon.
“The process of pardon is granted to our President under our Constitution. But there should be a parameter before he could issue such. For one, there should be a conviction,” she said.
“How could they be pardon by the President if there is no conviction from the court of competent jurisdiction?” Villarino said.
Villarino said that when Mr. Duterte issued the controversial statement, he could be talking as a lawyer.
“Utak abogado ang pinairal niya. He was just rational. But in fairness to the President, wala siyang ginawa that could prejudice the case. Under niya DOJ (Department of Justice), but wala naman siyang ginawa,” she said.
However, the family of Espinosa is sad considering that they are demanding justice “just like any family whose loved one was murdered,” Villarino said. (JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY- Two men from this city were arrested in a buy-bust operation on Wednesday (March 29) that resulted to the seizure of methamphetamine or shabu valued at P25,000.
Senior Supt. Rolando Bade, city police director, in a press statement, identified the arrested drug personalities as Rexter Arbiertas, 41, a carpenter and Jomel Avestrus, 38 and a pedicab driver.
The two were arrested during a buy-bust operation in Barangay 96, Calanipawan area, at about 2:15 am.
The arrest of Arbiertas, who is listed of the city police’s drug watch, and Avestrus, is part of the continued campaign of the police organization, particularly in Tacloban City, against proliferation of illegal drugs now dubbed as “Project Double Barrel Reloaded,” S/Supt. Bade said.
A confidential informant of the police led to the arrest of the suspects.
Bought from them was one piece heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing white crystalline suspected as shabu worth P300.
Recovered from the suspects were six pieces heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance suspected as shabu with an estimated market value of P25,000.
The suspects are now detained at the Tacloban City Police Office headquarters while cases for violation of Sections 5 and 11, Section 2 of RA 9165 or otherwise known as the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002” are being prepared against them before for subsequent filing before the Prosecutor’s Office.(PR)a

CAMP CARLOS DELGADO, CATARMAN, Northern Samar -A laborer was arrested for illegal possession of firearm.
Arrested was Michael Nebrida, 28, single, and a resident of Barangay Narra, Bobon town, Northern Samar on Tuesday (March 28).
Nebrida was arrested by virtue of a warrant of Arrest issued by Judge Alma Consuelo B.D Esidera, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court-Branch 20 based in Catarman.
The suspect violated Sec 28, par (e) sub par 1 of RA 10591, otherwise known as “An Act providing for comprehensive law on firearms and ammunition.”
The court set P80, 000 as bond bail for the accused.
Chief Inspector Arnel Ambos, police chief of Bobon, said that they effected the arrest at 3:30 pm at the suspect’s residence and immediately brought him to the town police station for booking and other process prior his turn-over to the issuing court.
S/Supt.Ceasar ZL Tannagan, police provincial director, said that the arrest of the suspect proves the strong dedication of the PNP personnel in upholding peace and order in the province and extend his outmost appreciation towards the arrest of the suspect. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY- No stone unturned for the hosting of this city of an international gathering next month.
Recently, Mayor Stephany Uy- Tan met with representatives of several sectors as part of the preparation of the city government’s hosting of this year’s United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) Pacific Conference.
Mayor Uy-Tan, in particular, gave focus those in the hotel and food sectors as they are considered to provide front line services during next month’s international gathering.
The city government initiated a training on effective customer service and basic housekeeping for the mentioned sectors in partnership with the Department of Tourism.
The training was attended by front liners, receptionists, room attendants, and owners of the hotels and restaurants in Catbalogan City for the improvement and standardization of service delivery of their tourism workforce through excellent customer service skills, effective communication, and listening skills as well as efficient handling of customer concerns.
“This milestone event is not just a challenge to the local government but a great opportunity as well and we are very much happy to have an overwhelming wave of support from various (sectors and) this event would be a resounding success if we put our hand, our heart and all our might into it,” Uy-Tan said.
The UCLG-ASPAC Pacific Conference and Executive Bureau Meeting will be held on April 4 to 7, a first for the city to host an international conference under the theme “Kauswagan Kalibutan: Creating Connection for Sustainable Societies”.
More than 60 international delegates from 19 member countries of UCLG-ASPAC had already signified their attendance this coming April.
The city government is expecting around 300 international and local participants like mayors, governors and private sectors from the member countries.
Part of the conference and executive bureau meeting are other activities like the Science and Technology Fair which is scheduled on the same dates to be held at the Samar State University – Main Campus.
The event expected participants are researchers and exhibitors from Region 8, focusing on four themes; (1) climate change adaptation, (2) disaster risk reduction and management, (3) alternative energy and science and technology innovations and (4) robotics for the environment.
The fair has also three components,namely,booth displays of S&T Innovations, poster presentation/competition, and oral presentations.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

CAMP CARLOS DELGADO, CATARMAN, Northern Samar -A laborer was arrested for illegal possession of firearm.
Arrested was Michael Nebrida, 28, single, and a resident of Barangay Narra, Bobon town, Northern Samar on Tuesday (March 28).
Nebrida was arrested by virtue of a warrant of Arrest issued by Judge Alma Consuelo B.D Esidera, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court-Branch 20 based in Catarman.
The suspect violated Sec 28, par (e) sub par 1 of RA 10591, otherwise known as “An Act providing for comprehensive law on firearms and ammunition.”
The court set P80, 000 as bond bail for the accused.
Chief Inspector Arnel Ambos, police chief of Bobon, said that they effected the arrest at 3:30 pm at the suspect’s residence and immediately brought him to the town police station for booking and other process prior his turn-over to the issuing court.
S/Supt.Ceasar ZL Tannagan, police provincial director, said that the arrest of the suspect proves the strong dedication of the PNP personnel in upholding peace and order in the province and extend his outmost appreciation towards the arrest of the suspect. (PR)