ORMOC CITY– A village chairman in Mondragon, Northern Samar who is running for a reelection in the October 30 barangay polls was arrested for perjury.
Arrested by the elements of the regional intelligence division of the Philippine National Police on Friday (Oct.6) at about 10 am was Arnel Domasig, 41, chairman of Barangay Talolora in the said town.
The accused was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Allan Cornejo, presiding judge of the 10th Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Catarman -Lope de Vega, 8th Judicial Region, Catarman, Northern Samar dated October 3, 2023.
The court recommended a bail of P36, 000 for the temporary liberty of the accused.
Mondragon hotline receiver in an interview said that the accused immediately applied for bail immediately after he was arrested. (ROBERT DEJON)
ORMOC CITY-A man who is running in this year’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections was gunned down in Gandara, Samar on Friday (Oct.6) at about 3:20 pm with suspects still at large.
Killed was Roldan Pesidas, 43, a supervisor of a security agency who filed a certificate of candidacy for councilor in Barangay Canhawan Gote of the said town.
Based on the report of the local police, the victim was on board his motorcycle and traversing a national road along Brgy. Casab-ahan when a riding-in-tandem appeared from nowhere and shot him several times.
Pesidas died on the spot due to the bullet wounds with the suspects fleeing towards the direction of Catbalogan City.
Gandara police are now conducting a thorough investigation to identify the suspects and the motive of the killing. (ROBERT DEJON)
The provincial board of Northern Samar commended several individuals and groups for their peace efforts and helping preserve the province’s heritage. Among those recognized were Catarman Bishop Emmanuel Trance and Imelda Bonifacio of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity.
In Northern Samar
The provincial board of Northern Samar commended several individuals and groups for their peace efforts and helping preserve the province’s heritage. Among those recognized were Catarman Bishop Emmanuel Trance and Imelda Bonifacio of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity.
TACLOBAN CITY – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Northern Samar passed a resolution commending individuals who are helping the province in the peacebuilding effort and heritage conservation.
Commended for their contribution on peacebuilding are Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) Eastern Visayas Area Manager Imelda Bonifacio and Catarman Diocese Bishop His Excellency Most Reverend Emmanuel Trance.
The Oct. 3 resolution, authored by board member Albert Lucero, commended Bonifacio for her’ diligent watch’ of the several infrastructure projects that turned out be successfully implemented.
These include the road to Silvino Lubos, the Lope de Vega to Silvino Lubos road, the Las Navas to San Jose de Buan, Samar Province road, the farm-to-market roads in Mapanas, and the Lapinig to Jipapad, Eastern Samar road.
“Bonifacio has shown her leadership and commitment as Eastern Visayas area manager of the OPAPRU, and as such, she was instrumental in the establishment of the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (Pamana) provincial project monitoring team in 2014, which has eventually contributed to the efficient and effective implementation of Pamana program in the province,” the resolution states.
Pamana is a national government convergence initiative aimed at extending development interventions to marginalize communities, particularly those that are isolated, hard-to-reach, and conflict-affected, to ensure inclusivity and progress.
In a separate resolution, the provincial board acknowledges the contribution of the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in the province being one of the prime movers of peace-building efforts and a spirited advocate of heritage conservation in the Province of Northern Samar thru Samar Island Partnership for Peace and Development (SIPPAD).
SIPPAD, a convergence of the three Samar Island Bishops headed by the bishops of the Diocese of Catarman, Calbayog, and Borongan, aims to address poverty by linking concerned agencies to provide solutions to problems in the three provinces of Samar, and also conducting third-party monitoring on high-impact government projects to ensure that they will be finished on time and are constructed based on specifications.
The convergence includes officials from the Philippine Army, Philippine National Police, local government units, people’s organizations, and non-government organizations.
The resolution said that Bishop Trance spearheaded the conservation efforts of important artifacts, articles, and heritage churches, and had in fact entered into a memorandum of understanding with the University of Santo Tomas for a series of church heritage conservation projects.
He is one of the driving forces behind the establishment of the Nuestra Señora de Salvacion Historical and Ecclesiastical Museum in Lavezares, the first-ever repository of religious and faith riches in Northern Samar. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
TACLOBAN CITY-Various cooperatives within the city attended the opening ceremony for the 2023 Cooperative Month Celebration on Friday (Oct.6).
The Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) and the city government of Tacloban, through the City Cooperatives Development and Livelihood Assistance Office (CCDLAO), and other stakeholders led the opening ceremony, which was highlighted by a motorcade, Thanksgiving Mass, and an opening program held at the new CCDLAO building at Kanhuraw Hill.
City Councilor Leo Bahin represented Mayor Alfred Romualdez during the event and expressed his solidarity with the cooperatives as catalysts of much-needed economic growth in their respective communities.
CDA Regional Office 8 Director Venus M. Jornales and City Cooperative Officer Ruena Mate were also present during the program.
Among the other activities scheduled this October are the Coop Sportfest, Coop Got Talent, and Mr. and Ms. Coop Sportsfest on October 14, the bloodletting activity on October 18, tree planting and nurturing on October 21, and Coop Pasidungog on October 27.
The month of October is designated as “National Cooperative Month” pursuant to RA No. 11502 to emphasize the significant contribution of cooperatives to the economic growth of the country.
This year’s coop month theme is “Cooperatives: Pioneering the Paths to Recovery Amidst the Modern Challenges of Climate Change and Food Security.” (H.J.ROCA/E.LAGAHIT/TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)
TACLOBAN CITY– A three-classroom building was burned down in a fire incident in a central school in Lavezares, Northern Samar Sunday (Oct.8) morning.
The fire incident at the Lavezares Central Elementary School, located in Barangay Caragas, started at about 8:20 and was put out by 10 am, Senior Fire Officer4 Renato Magnao, the town’s fire chief, said in a phone interview Monday (Oct.9).
“We are still conducting our investigation as to the cause of the fire incident but among the angles that we are considering is it could be due to faulty electrical wiring,” he said.
Several school equipment were destroyed due to the fire incident, Magnao said.
He said that no one was injured in the said fire incident.
“Good thing it happened on Sunday as no one was hurt during the incident,” Magnao said.
The damage due to the fire incident was placed at P1 million. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
The ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas has caught countless innocent civilians in the crossfire. However, it is crucial to acknowledge the actions of Hamas that perpetuate this cycle of violence. Hamas’s barbarism against civilians is not only morally reprehensible but also counterproductive in achieving lasting peace. By targeting civilian populations and disregarding humanitarian principles, it becomes clear that Hamas’ tactics undermine progress toward a just and peaceful resolution.
Hamas has consistently demonstrated its disregard for civilian lives by deliberately targeting Israeli cities and towns, indiscriminately endangering the lives of innocent people. Whether through rocket attacks, suicide bombings, or other tactics, Hamas aims to sow chaos and terrorize Israeli civilians. Such actions cannot be justified under any circumstances and starkly contradict international legal norms to protect non-combatants. Sadly, the use of human shields further illustrates Hamas’ willingness to manipulate civilian populations for their strategic advantage, making it nearly impossible to shield innocents from harm.
Another alarming facet of Hamas’ barbarism lies in its willingness to use civilian locales, such as schools, hospitals, and places of worship, for military purposes. By storing weapons in schools or launching attacks from hospitals, Hamas not only puts civilians at immediate risk but also jeopardizes crucial humanitarian infrastructure. In doing so, Hamas deliberately exploits the principles upon which such institutions are founded, raising doubts about the group’s commitment to human rights. This abuse compromises access to medical care, education, and basic services for the very people it claims to represent.
Hamas’ tactics not only inflict suffering upon innocent civilians but also perpetuate the cycle of violence. By rejecting diplomatic initiatives, engaging in armed conflicts, and refusing to recognize the state of Israel, Hamas hinders any constructive path toward a peaceful resolution. True progress can only be achieved through dialogue, compromise, and a commitment to negotiating lasting agreements that safeguard the rights and aspirations of all parties involved. The use of barbaric acts and terror only deepens the divisions, makes trust-building impossible, and entrenches the conflict further.
The unacceptable actions carried out by Hamas against civilians highlight a disturbing reality that should concern the international community. Ultimately, Hamas’ tactics hinder progress toward a peaceful resolution and undermine the legitimate aspirations of both Palestinians and Israelis for a secure and prosperous future. It is crucial to condemn such barbarism and advocate for a comprehensive approach that prioritizes the protection of civilian lives and upholds human rights.
