TACLOBAN CITY- The graft charge filed against the regional director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Arthur Saipudin, was dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman.
The case was dismissed by the Ombudsman for lack of probable cause.
However, the anti-graft court finds the LTFRB official guilty of simple misconduct, an administrative offense.
The Ombudsman, on its June 9, 2016 decision, meted Saipudin a three months and one day suspension from office.
Saipudin filed his motion for reconsideration and deferment of the implementation of the penalty.
But last August 30, 2016, LTFRB chairman Martin Degra III issued a memorandum order implementing the suspension order for three months issued by the graft court despite the presence of a pending motion for reconsideration.
“I am a lawyer. I know the rules of law that is why it’s hard for me to just vacate my office and leave my sworn duties and responsibilities” Saipudin said.
The case stemmed from the complaint of Cesario Licopit he filed on October 23, 2015 before the Ombudsman for violation of the Republic Act 3019.
Saipudin, who was appointed to his post on 1987, will retire from government service next year.
Aside from being the regional director of the LTFRB in the region, he is likewise the concurrent regional head of their office in Region 9.
(BEN VERIDIANO)

CAMP VICENTE LUKBAN, CATBALOGAN CITY- In adherence to the declaration of President Rodrigo Duterte’s state of national emergency on account of lawless violence, the 8th Infantry Division and the Police Regional Office – 8 is currently conducting joint AFP-PNP security patrols and checkpoints all throughout Eastern Visayas to secure the people, vital facilities and infrastructures against the Abu Sayyaf and other terrorist groups.
Upon the President’s declaration of state of lawlessness” on September 5, 2016, a coordinating conference was initiated by this Command headed by Major Gen. Jet B Velarmino, 8th ID commanding general, together with the PNP headed by Police Chief Superintendent Elmer Beltejar, acting regional director of PRO-8 and other law enforcement agencies to come up with measures to ensure the safety and well-being of the people of Eastern Visayas.
With that, the body agreed on the need to enhance present security measures especially in public places such as bus terminals, airports, seaports, commercial centers and places of worship.
Maj. Gen Velarmino also added that the 8th ID will deploy sufficient troops to augment the Philippine National Police in their foot and mobile visibility patrols, checkpoints and inspections.
Likewise, troops and K9 bomb sniffing dogs will be augmented to the Philippine Coast Guard and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines/Air Transportation Office in all seaports and airports in the area of responsibility, respectively.
With the aforesaid, we would like to appeal to the public for your utmost cooperation and understanding as we, your Army in Region 8 together with the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies, will continue to do our mandate of protecting and serving the people of Eastern Visayas. (PR)

PALO, Leyte- PNP Chief Director General Ronald de la Rosa issued a stern warning to the police provincial director of Samar to dismantle immediately the private armed groups(PAGs) operating in the province.
The warning was made by de la Rosa during a press conference with the presence of police regional officials to include S/Supt. Elmer Pelobello.
de la Rosa, who attended the 115th police service anniversary of the PNP-8 on Tuesday (Sept.13), met some family members of those killed alledegely by members of a private armed group in Calbayog City.
“Dismantle them all, I don’t care whether they belong to the Tans or to the Sarmientos. My order is for you to dismantle them,” the police chief said.
“Gibain at ubusin mo lahat yan.Kung hindi ere-relieve kita. Kailangan natin ma maintain ang mataas na respeto nang tao sa police ngayon.Kailangan mawala na ang PAGs na yan sa Samar,” de la Rosa added.
de la Rosa was referring to the family of Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan and former congressman and Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento.
Gov. Tan and Sarmiento, brother of incumbent Rep.Edgar Sarmiento, had earlier denied that they maintain their own private armed groups.
Both officials had called on the police hierarchy to break the presence of PAGs in the province, particularly in the first district of the province like in Calbayog and Santa Margarita.
The presence of PAGs in the province has been tagged as reason for the spate of killings mostly involving political supporters of warring politicians in the province.
The presence of PAGS in Calbayog came about again after six barangay officials were killed by PAGs.
Calbayog City Mayor Ronald Aquino personally asked the head of the country’s police force for assistance which include deployment of additional police personnel.
But Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar, police regional director, said that there is already enough police presence in the area coupled with the augmentation by soldiers belonging to the 803d Infantry Brigade.
He also assured the family members of those who were killed by PAGs that the police are doing its best to track down those responsible.
Meantime, Col. Mario Lacurom, commanding officer of the 803rd IB, told Leyte Samar Daily Express in an interview that they were mandated by their central command to address the series of killing incidents in Calbayog which he described as “alarming.”
Lacurom said that Army troops have already been deployed to different areas in the 1st district of Samar with the mission to maintain peace and order in the area and to disarm, arrest all lawless elements such as the private armed groups in Samar.
(JAZMIN BONIFACIO)

TACLOBAN CITY-The Philippine Army will help in the call to dismantle the private armed groups (PAGs) operating in Samar province.
Colonel Mario Lacurom, commanding officer of the 803rd Infantry Brigade based in Catarman, Northern Samar, said that they have deployed Army personnel to help man checkpoints and conduct operations against individuals who have standing warrants, particularly in Calbayog City.
“This is also part of the intensified operation of the PNP, AFP with the indefinite (declaration of the) state of national emergency on account of lawless violence that was declared by our President,” Lacurom explained.
“We will help in maintaining peace in the area and partly running after lawless elements in Calbayog,” he added.
But the Army officer appeal for the cooperation of the public for them to neutralize the PAGs.
“The only way to break down the armed groups is when people say that they do not support them and they want them to be out of their place,” Lacurom said.
During his visit to the region on Tuesday (Sept.13), Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa issued an order for the Samar police to dismantle the PAGs particularly in Calbayog City.
Calbayog Mayor Ronald Aquino personally appealed to de la Rosa for the dismantling of PAGs in his city.
The spate of killing incidents that happened in Calbayog was blamed on the PAGs believed to be controlled and maintained by certain local politicians.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

CARIGARA, Leyte- The National Housing Authority (NHA) will build 3,224 housing units intended for families living in areas considered as flood-prone and in coastal villages.
The construction of houses is part of the assistance by the national government in the aftermath of supertyphoon ‘Yolanda’ that hit Leyte in 2013.
The construction of the houses is now underway.
The resettlement sites are located in Barangays Parag-om consisting of 1,524 units and Cabdigahub involving 680 units. The government has allocated P1 billion for this housing project.
But Mayor Eduardo Ong disclosed that the transfer of the intended beneficiaries to the resettlement sites could be hampered due to the condition set by the NHA.
“They have to destroy their houses before the new units will be awarded to them. It would be difficult because it is where their livelihoods are.Maybe they can stay in their old house during mornings and go home in their new house during evenings,”Ong said, referring to the condition set by NHA.
Ong admits that the LGU cannot afford to provide livelihoods to all residents in the relocation sites.
He said he hope the NHA will reconsider their condition. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)