Veloso- Tuazon
TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte Representative Anna Victoria Veloso- Tuazon has condemned the recent killing of Barangay Captain Mary Ann Orillano of Mataloto, Leyte, calling for swift justice for her family and community.
In a statement, Veloso- Tuazon expressed deep sorrow and outrage over the incident, highlighting how Orillano’s death has left her young child orphaned and the village without a dedicated leader.
“By what authority does one arrogate upon himself the decision to forfeit a life, as if another person’s life were less valuable than others?” Veloso-Tuazon remarked, underscoring the senselessness of the killing.
She noted that Orillano’s murder reflects a troubling trend of escalating violence in Leyte’s third district, adding, “As if our district has not seen enough horror and bloodshed, as if we are not traumatized enough from losing loved ones and colleagues in service.”
Orillano, known to be a political ally of Tuazon, was ambushed and killed by an unidentified assailant on October 24 while on her way home to Mataloto.
The lawmaker has echoed calls for increased security across the district, urging the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to honor their commitment to protect barangay officials, many of whom face significant risks in their roles.
Leyte Provincial Police Director Colonel Apas confirmed that police teams have been deployed to investigate the crime, while former congressman Vicente Veloso also expressed his commitment to the case.
“I will not stop until justice is served to her. I will spend the rest of my life defending justice,” Veloso said. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
Baseball, dragon boat and curling as Philippine inspirations
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR III
For a change, Team games tool center stage this week and these events Baseball, Dragon Boat and Curling was a glimmer of hope that Olympic and beyond, the team is capable of glory.
Sports victories have a unique power to inspire and unite a nation. When athletes achieve greatness, their triumphs resonate far beyond the playing field, touching the hearts and minds of people from all walks of life.
Baseball came as a non-surprise as Mark Steven Manaig cracked a 3 Homerun and beat the Hong Kong with 9-2, the homerun sealed the East Asia Cup. The Filipinos claimed the overall championship at the conclusion of the ICF Dragon Boat World Championships on Sunday at the Puerto Princesa Bay walk in Palawan. The Filipino paddlers collected a record 11 gold medals on top of 20 silvers and 16 bronzes during the four-day competition. The Philippine Curling Ruled Division B of the Pan Continental Curling Championship. Curling is a game on Ice where the Tea, move granite stones to a target.
In all, the victories were all Team games. The tactical side is so different with individual games like Gymnastics and Weightlifting but these are Olympic games too. And that, these early we are hopeful that these would resonate beyond. The hope is that we can get Golden glory in the team sports we are already as the victories proved, world class.
A win on this world stage is a testament of the strength and acumen of the Filipino Athlete and the strength of united efforts of the Philippine Team. It can bring national pride and inspire the people.
It can be the change agent that can finally erase the doubt in all of us.
After all, these are notable triumph that we must celebrate. These are moments that can and must uplift a nation, ravaged by calamities of nature and tragically calamities made by men.