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SAN MATEO, Isabela -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Region 2 has vowed to boost local production of garlic to stop dependency on other countries to supply our needs.

"The Department of Agriculture will intensify garlic production in the whole of Cagayan Valley," declared Regional Executive Director Narciso Edillo of DA-RFO 02 in his regular morning program "Director's Hour" at radio station DWDA in Tuguegarao City on Tuesday.

Edillo also included other spices like ginger and onion.

"This is in response to the marching order of (DA) Secretary Emmanuel F. Pinol to conduct field trials in all regions," he said. "Taking note of the national demand, only 6% are coming from local production. It means we are dependent on other countries to supply our needs."

DA will hold technology demonstrations or Techno-Demo at its research stations as well as in various research facilities of state colleges and universities. A regional technology forum will be held sometime in November to map out strategies to lower the country's dependence on imported garlic, the agency announced.

"Cagayan Valley [Region 02] is the third largest producer of garlic in the country," cites Robert Olinares, the Regional Technical Director working for the High-Value Crops Development Program. He called on farmers in the coastal towns of Cagayan Valley to raise garlic even on a small scale level.

Olinares also encouraged backyard production among households to save money as the price of garlic is high. Ilocos Region and Region 4A are leading garlic producers at present with Cagayan Valley, Batanes and Nueva Vizcaya as the biggest producers. (Abe Almirol/PNA)



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DAVAO CITY -- The Army's 10th Infantry Division will start training of 300 lumads from Davao City, Davao provinces and the Socsargen areas.

The 300 lumads are part of the 400 new recruits to undergo a six-month training in basic military training and candidate soldier course at the 10th Infantry Division Academy to become soldiers.

This was revealed by Capt. Rhyan Batchar, spokesperson for the 10th Infantry Division, saying 19 of the 300 lumads are females. The recruitment of the lumads was made after learning that many of them wanted to join the government forces.

Batchar also pointed out that the lumads are vulnerable to the recruitment of the lawless groups. In fact, he said majority of the New People's Army (NPA) rebels who were arrested or surrendered to the government authorities were lumads.

Asked if the Army consulted the tribal leaders, Batchar said the Army went through the consultation process because they cannot just accept lumads without the recommendation of the tribal leaders, who know the members of their community.

To give the lumads wish to become soldiers, Batchar said some requirements were waived by the Army such as education level, age, and the civil registry documents. The lumads, however, were required to undergo the medical examination.

All the new recruits will serve as soldiers for one term (3 years) and will be given the opportunity to re-enlist for another three years if they want. But, they will have to take the Armed Forces of the Philippines Service Aptitude Test (APSAT) to qualify for another three years of service.

Lt. Col. Norman Alcomindras of the 10th ID G7 said that after training, the lumads will be deployed to different brigades.

Alcomindras also confirmed that the recruitment of lumads went through series of coordination and processes through the Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Conference for Peace and Development (MIPCD) in respect to their culture.

Batchar dismissed impression the lumads will just serve as CAFGUs. He said the lumads will serve as soldiers and they are entitled to free uniforms, accommodation, and other benefits given to a soldier.

Batchar said the advantage of enlisting the lumads is their familiarity with the terrain in the hinterlands. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)




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ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The city government has invited President Rodrigo Duterte to be the guest of honor in the celebration of the 2017 Zamboanga Hermosa Festival.

Christian Olasiman, city government's special events head, on Monday said President Duterte will be the guest of the main program of the festival and street dance competition on October 11 at Paseo del Mar.

The Zamboanga Hermosa Festival will kick-off on October 1. Its highlight is the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar, the most revered saint of this city, on October 12.

"We extended an invitation to President Rodrigo Duterte as our guest speaker. We are just awaiting for confirmation from Malacañang whether he will attend the festivities on October 11," Olasiman said.

He said there were already initial talks, but there is no confirmation yet from the Office of the President.

The city government has lined up several activities to mark this year's Zamboanga Hermosa Festival.

The festival, especially the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar, draws thousands of visitors to include foreigners. (PNA)



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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — More than 400 police personnel who underwent drug testing had tested negative for traces of prohibited substances, according to the Philippine National Police-10 (PNP-10).

Those who underwent random drug testing came from various offices based in the region who were ordered to subject themselves to a surprise drug test, said Police Supt. Lemuel Gonda, PNP-10 spokesperson.

The testing was conducted by the PNP Regional Crime Laboratory-10 (RCLO-10) to personnel of the Command Group, Directorial Staff, Chief of National Administrative Support Units, and National Operation Support Units and Non-uniformed Personnel, on Sept. 18-21.

Included in the examination were officers from the police offices of Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon.

Supt. Gonda said all the 480 personnel who submitted their urine specimen "yielded negative results" as declared by the RCLO-10 led by Senior Supt. Leocy Magabo, head of the crime laboratory, on Sept. 22.

Gonda said the random and unannounced drug exam was "part of the internal cleansing program, particularly aimed at ferreting out drug-using policemen."

"This is in compliance with the directive of Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa [the PNP chief], to cleanse the rank from Officers down to the lowest rank as part of the PNP internal cleansing strategy of the organization," Gonda said.

Police Chief Supt. Timoteo Pacleb, the PNP-10 regional director, said the examination aims to "restore and uphold the integrity of the organization and public's trust with the conduct of mandatory drug tests among all personnel and intensified efforts to eradicate illegal drugs as majority of heinous crime in the country are drug-related."

Pacleb said he wanted police officers who have "unsullied service reputation, unblemished record, and a character beyond suspicion to perform their mandated task to get rid of illegal drugs, criminality and corruption."

Gonda said the PNP-10 will continue to conduct random drug testing for a drug-free police regional office. (PNA/Jigger J. Jerusalem)



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ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The military on Monday presented four more rescued hostages as government troops continue to close in on the Islamic State for Iraq and Syria (ISIS)-inspired Maute group in Marawi City.

In a phone interview, Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, confirmed the troops rescued the four several days ago at the main battle area in the besieged city of Marawi.

Galvez said they withheld the announcement of rescue of the four hostages so as not to jeopardize the operation.

Galvez revealed that one of the rescued victims is a teacher named Lordvin Acopio. The teacher was rescued together with Father Teresito Suganob on September 16.

The three others who were rescued in the succeeding days were identified as Abdul Naser Ergas Mangondaya; Hadji Abdulah Necson Rakim Anunto; and, Kiram Dato Amkula Ampatoa.

The military earlier said that there are still around 50 hostages who are still in the hands of the Maute group.

Galvez said they will try to liberate Marawi City and end the crisis in few weeks time.

"The gun battle has been reduced and contained in the 10-hectare area of downtown Marawi," he said.

To date, a total of 1,734 people have been rescued by the government forces and other government agencies since the siege began on May 23.

The crisis in Marawi City has been running for almost four months already after the ISIS-inspired Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups attacked the country's lone Islamic City.

More than 600 terrorists and almost 200 soldiers and policemen have been killed since the fighting started.

The armed conflict has triggered humanitarian crisis as more than 300,000 individuals are staying in evacuation centers in the cities and municipalities in Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte provinces.

Galvez said they are relentless in their operations in running after the remaining leaders of the Maute and Abu Sayyaf who are still hiding in Marawi City. (PNA)



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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-10 (LTFRB-10) has warned drivers and operators anew from joining transport strike which is against its regulations.

Most public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators might not be aware of it, but they are not allowed to join any protest action that could disturb the flow of mass transportation as stipulated in their franchise, said LTFRB-10 regional director Aminoden Guro on Monday.

Guro issued the warning following the two-day transport strike being staged by the Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator ng Pilipinas Genuine Organization (Stop and Go Transport Coalition) starting Monday, to oppose the government's planned jeepney modernization program.

Under the modernization program, old-model jeepneys, or those older than 15 years, will be replaced by electric-powered and Euro 4-compliant vehicles.

Stop and Go said the loan package of up to P1.6 million which will be provided to jeepney operators and drivers to be able to cope up with the phase-out plan is out of reach for ordinary drivers.

Guro warned those caught participating in the disruption of public transportation will be sanctioned. He said the penalty is backed up by precedents, as several drivers and operators found to have joined transport strikes in the past had been fined.

First-time offenders will pay a fine of P5,000; P10,000 for the second offense; and P15,000 for the third violation and the revocation of their franchise, he added.

Meanwhile, Guro said that the LTFRB-10 is ready to deploy buses to ferry commuters in case the strikers have succeeded in paralyzing the public transport through its "Libreng Sakay" (free ride) intervention.

He said the LTFRB will work together with the local government unit, Philippine National Police (PNP) and the military in ensuring that passengers could go to their respective homes.

Guro said bus companies operating in the region had lent some of their buses to the agency for "Libreng Sakay" use.

In the city, the transport strike was hardly felt as most of the drivers here are not Stop and Go members. (PNA/Jigger J. Jerusalem)



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MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato -- Government forces on Monday prevented a bombing plot in several areas in Central Mindanao with the arrest of a Moro rebel leader belonging to ISIS-inspired armed group.

Lt. Col. Gerry Besana of the Army's 6th Civil-Military Operations Battalion, said the arrest of Muslimin Ladtugan, also known as "Commander Mus," of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), prevented what could be a bombing spree of the lawless group to divert Army offensives in Maguindanao.

Ladtungan is now in police and military custody facing charges of frustrated murder and illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Acting on tips from civilians, the Army and Midsayap police office personnel raided the hideout of Ladtungan in Barangay Nabalawag, Midsayap at around 8 a.m. Monday.

He did not resist arrest.

Found in his hideout were materials for making improvised explosive devices, an Armalite rifle, an M-14 rifle, a rocket propelled grenade and two .45 caliber pistols.

Besana lauded the vigilant residents in Midsayap who helped the Army's 34th Infantry Battalion to the exact location of Ladtungan's home base that led to his arrest.

Quoting reports from Army and police intelligence agents, Ladtungan was planning to launch a series of bombings in North Cotabato and adjacent provinces to avenge the deaths of 25 BIFF members during clashes against the Army and its allies, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The MILF's Task Force Ittihad (Unity) had been fighting a faction of the BIFF that pledged allegiance to the ISIS. The group is headed by jihadist Esmael Abdulmalik alias Abu Toraife who tried to influence MILF communities in the villages of Tee and Andavit in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao.

Abu Toraife was a student of Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir whom the police killed in an operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in 2015.

The MILF-BIFF clashes also left 11 MILF killed.(PNA)



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COTABATO CITY -- The city police office here has received about 120 new police officers as it beefed up security around the city.

Chief Supt. Cedrick Train, police regional director for Central Mindanao, personally graced the turnover ceremonies of 120 new police recruits after the Cotabato City Peace and Order Council (CCPOC) meeting here over the weekend.

Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, who chairs the CCPOC, said the additional police force will ensure security of the city's more than 300,000 residents

"They will be here for at least a year," Train told reporters, referring to the augmentation police force.

Sayadi lauded PNP Director Gen. Ronald Dela Rosa, Chief Supt. Train and Maj. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, 6th Infantry Division chief, for the additional security.

Accompanying the new police force is the assumption of new city police director, Senior Supt. Rolly Octavio who replaced Senior Supt. Victor Valencia.

Peace and order situation of the city have greatly improved since last year with Sayadi regularly leading "Ronda Patrol," a police-led security measure around the city during the hours when crimes usually transpired.

The "Ronda Patrol" was also a strategy to get rid city streets of minors and illegal drug personalities.

Octavio said the new police force are now deployed to four police stations across the city.(PNA)



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DAVAO CITY -- The first batch of reformists in the city government's six month-TARA NA program for drug dependents will finally graduate on September 30 and will be reintegrated into their community.

TARA NA or the Tabangan Atong Reformist Aron Naay Asenso (Help our reformist for development) is a Davao City Community-Based Rehabilitation Aftercare Program (CBRAP) to start revitalizing the lives of the drug surrenderers.

TARA NA was launched last November 18, 2016, with about P4.9 million allocated for the program.

Ronaldo Rivera of the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) said there are 30 drug reformists who will soon finish the six-month program.

While they are reintegrated into their respective communities, Rivera said they will still be monitored to ensure they are not lured back to drug addiction.

At a certain time, Rivera said the drug reformists will be assisted by the city government in terms of livelihood.

Among the graduates, Rivera said a 13-year-old drug reformist -- the youngest while an 86-year-old is the oldest.

Connie Domog, head research of CADAC, said there are 10,702 drug surrenders registered by the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) from 122 barangays declared by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) affected by the illegal drugs.

Domog said the 122 affected barangays irepresent 67 percent of the 182 total barangays of Davao City.
Rivera said the total 10,702 drug surrenders were those who were subjected to Oplan Tokhang and Takhang.

The number does not include those in the rehabilitation centers and alleged drug users and pushers in high-end subdivisions.

The city also partnered with the University of the Immaculate Concepcion for another phase of the community-based program – the Kaduyog sa Kinabuhi program.

This involves the whole community and the academe.

The drug reformists are from Barangays 5A (8 reformists), Barangay-6A (15 reformists), and Barangay 8A (4 reformists).

Dr. Corazon Umlero, UIC Community Development Service, and NSTP Director, said that of the total number of reformists, 29 percent are females and 69 percent males. She said it is a holistic program which includes physiological approach, psychological, social and economic activities. It also includes spiritual reformation under the auspices of St. Jude Parish.

Earlier, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio announced that drug screening/profiling was conducted in 33 barangays of District 3 from April to June 2017.

As a result, 917 reformists were recorded and enrolled to TARA NA-CBRAP.

The city has also established the New Drug Rehabilitation Center located in Malagos, Baguio District in partnership with Resorts World Manila and Davao City Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Drug Dependents (DCTRCDD).

The building is under construction and is targeted for completion on December 7, 2017. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)



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CALAMBA CITY, Laguna -- Several jeepney routes in the second and third districts of Laguna were affected by the transport strike staged by the Stop and Go Transport Coalition on Monday.

Rommel Palacol, Laguna Action Center head, said the affected routes were Los Banos-Calamba City and Los Banos-Sta Cruz.

Palacol said they noticed a decline in the number of jeepneys plying the said routes as early as 7 a.m. on Monday.

There were no stranded passengers reported as buses and tricycles also ply the said routes.

Palacol, however, assured of stand-by buses and trucks from the Laguna provincial government and Laguna Police Provincial Office to ferry stranded passengers.

He said they have been monitoring the cities of San Pedro, Sta Rosa and Biñan since early Monday morning and noted that the number of jeepneys in the major thoroughfares has not declined.

No cancellation of classes and work was announced. (Roselle Aquino/PNA)



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ILOILO CITY-- Acting Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III sought the help of Presidential Adviser for Western Visayas Jane Javella for the realization of the phase 2 of the flood control project in this city.

In an interview Monday, Espinosa said that he only met Javellana once after she was appointed by Duterte to the position. During the short meeting, he asked her if it was possible that she could help in the concerns of the city as she represents the national government.

Javellana reports directly to the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Visayas under the Office of the President.

Espinosa said the phase 2 of the flood control project is expected to address the flooding problem in Mandurriao district. The completed floodway from Aganan, Pavia to Tabuc Suba in Jaro district was the stage 1 of the project, funded under a loan package with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Espinosa added the second phase was not included in the loan package.  

He has already gotten in touch with Engr. Al Fruto, assistant regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Western Visayas, for the detailed engineering of the project.

The city government, Espinosa said, can not afford the project worth PHP4 billion.  "That's the only solution to the flooding problem in Mandurriao. What we are doing now are just palliative (remedies) because what is needed is a floodway," he added. (PNA)



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CEBU CITY -- A mandatory drug test was conducted among the 90 personnel of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) and one employee came out positive.

"During our mandatory drug testing in CPDRC last Saturday, one turned up positive of illegal drugs. He is a job order employee, but the result is still subject for confirmatory. We were able to test 90 personnel of CPDRC. I think everyone was there and only one tested positive," Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO) chief Ivy Durano-Meca said Monday.

This was the first mandatory drug tests for CPDRC personnel. Last year, the CPADAO conducted drug tests on the inmates, but Meca said they have not yet decided on whether to carry out another testing this year, and this time they will include the management staff of the jail.

"That job order employee can be automatically dismissed, but I would suggest to Governor (Hilario) Davide (III) that we would just have that employee undergo a treatment and rehab program, wherein we can assess the extent of his drug dependency -- whether it is low risk or high risk," Meca added.

In an interview, Gov. Davide said he will recommend a rehabilitation program for the job order employee only this time.

"Our policy has always been to advise a job order employee to resign should he/she be found positive of drug use. Rehabilitation is only for regular and casual employees. But, for now, we will go easy on this one," Davide said.

Meanwhile, several Local Government Units (LGU) have been requesting for drug tests on their employees.

"After we conducted drug tests in Oslob, Cebu, last week, we received lots of request from the different LGUs. The Municipal Government of Oslob, by the way, is negative of drugs," Meca said. (USJR intern Levirose Caballero/PNA)



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DAVAO CITY—The Davao City Government on Monday launched its own two mobile kitchens called "Kusina ng Bayan" to serve hot meals during calamities and disaster.

The two Kusina ng Bayan will be ran by the City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO), which allocated P8 million for the project.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who led the launching ceremony, said the Kusina ng Bayan will be a big help to the victims of calamity given that they cannot cook their own food instantly.

"Kani siya intended to provide hot meals during disaster, usually man gud atong ginahatag immediate kay kanang grocery items. Di mana sila makaluto dayon, mao ni siya ang mag hatag og immediate na luto na pagkaon (This one is intended to provide hot meals during disaster. Usually what we immediately give are grocery items. They cannot instantly cook so this one will immediately provide cooked food)," Duterte-Carpio said.

The city mayor said she plans to purchase another one so that each of the three congressional districts will have one mobile kitchen.

Aside from the victims of calamities, the mayor said the Kusina ng Bayan will also serve those rescuers and volunteers, who are waiting for their food packs.

CSSDO head Ma. Luisa Bermudo said the Kusina ng Bayan will help ease the difficulties felt by the victims during the first hours or days of the disaster especially the vulnerable sectors -- the women, children, elderly, and the persons with disability

"This will help lessen the negative impact of the disaster to the victims especially to the most vulnerable groups, our children, the elderly, the persons with disabilities, the pregnant woman and the lactating mothers," Bermudo said. (Funny Pearl A. Gajunera/PNA)



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CEBU CITY -- The random drug testing for Cebu City Hall employees resumed Monday after it was temporarily discontinued for several weeks.

Over 300 employees under the General Services Office (GSO) participated at the resumption of the drug testing conducted by the Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (Cosap).

Cosap chief Garry Lao said they halted the drug testing for several weeks in order to achieve that so-called "element of surprise."

Other than that, Lao said City Hall employees who have been using drugs might also be alarmed and will stop taking methamphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu." If a drug user abruptly stops his vice, it would be hard for them to get an accurate result, Lao added.

The drug testing for GSO employees has been requested by its chief Ronald Malacora and was approved by Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

Lao said Cosap has also suspended the drug testing for teachers and non-teaching personnel of public schools in Cebu City so that they can assess the results.

Cosap has conducted random drug tests in 12 public elementary and high schools in the city from Sept.ember 11 to 14. ( with reports from Michelle Bugtai/PNA)



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LUBAO, Pampanga -- The municipal hall in Barangay San Nicolas is is eyed to be converted into a museum  to preserve the rich cultural heritage of this town.

Municipal Administrator Elizalde Bernal on Monday said Mayor Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab has sought technical assistance from the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for the plan to turn the town hall into a museum.

This, as the local government will transfer its operations to the new municipal building being constructed along Jose Abad Santos Avenue in Barangay Santa Catalina.

The transfer of municipal hall operations is expected to be undertaken in the second semester of 2018.

Bernal said the proposed museum will serve as a reminder to the present and future generations of Lubeños about the rich cultural heritage of the town.

Bernal said he, together with Councilor John Susi and municipal tourism officer Ricky Pablo, have talked to Peter Natividad, member of NCCA sub-committee for national museums, and Kier Franco, project coordinator of the commission's technical assistance program.

They discussed the possible cooperation between the local government unit and NCCA in the design and concept of the proposed museum and funding for the building's conversion.

The municipal hall, which was declared Important Cultural Property (ICP) by the National Museum in 2015, needs to be thoroughly assessed before any modification can be undertaken.

Although the building was erected just about 50 years ago, the ICP declaration was anchored not on the actual structure but the story that goes with it since Lubao was among the earliest seats of the Spanish government in the country. (PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY -- A  total of 91 houses were destroyed while 102 were partially damaged by flooding in this city since Friday night, figures released by the city government as of  Monday afternoon showed.

The latest figures also showed a total of 2,048 or 8,165 persons in 14 barangays were affected, according to data from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) and the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD).

Affected were Barangays 1, 27, 28, 35, 39, 40, 41, Singcang-Airport, Mandalagan, Taculing, Pahanocoy, Mansilingan, Alijis, and Bata.

Sally Abelarde, social  welfare  and development officer IV of DSSD, said the  figures are still subject to validation as the number could still increase.

The CDRRMO reported that the affected families sought shelter in various evacuation centers but returned to their respective homes after the floods subsided early Saturday morning.

Some families still opted to remain in the barangay halls.

The flashfloods came from rains in the mountains that led to rising waters around 8 p.m. on Friday. Rivers overflowed including Lupit and Mandalagan, overflowed. 

On Friday night, Mayor Evelio Leonardia ordered a forced evacuation of residents in "high-risk" areas as pre-emptive measure for the high tide, but later lifted the order after these areas were declared to safe.

As hundreds of commuters were stranded, the city government's private garbage hauler deployed trucks to assist people waiting for transportation along the streets.

Some eight local government units in Negros Occidental also reported flooding, including the cities of Sipalay,  Bago City, Talisay, La Carlota, and the towns of Hinobaan, Murcia, Binalbagan, and Pontevedra, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division said. (PNA)



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DUMAGUETE CITY – The series of robbery/hold-up incidents in Dumaguete City and other parts of Negros Oriental has sent the public clamoring for additional police visibility on the streets.

Supt. Jovito Atanacio, Dumaguete City police chief, however assured they are exerting extra efforts to curb the street crimes hounding residents of this city and nearby municipalities.

Over the weekend, he said some suspected personalities behind the series of robbery/hold-up incidents here have already been identified but he refused to divulge their names.

Atanacio said one of the suspects has, in fact, been already charged in court.

Robbery/hold-up incidents are usually random "at hindi natin mapigilian" (we cannot stop it), and so if a person had such ill motive, he can do it at any time of the day, Atanacio said.

In July and August, he said the number of robbery/hold-up had spiked. Atanacio disclosed that in July, the police had identified three persons of interest but these were "cleared".

However, he lamented that one of the victims had refused to file a case against the suspect. The suspects were from the nearby towns of Sibulan and Bacong and another from Dumaguete.

Atanacio believes the hold-up suspects are engaged in illegal drug use.

The police chief said victims usually do not have the interest to file a case against these suspects such that there is always a chance the crime is repeated. (PNA)



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TACLOBAN CITY -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Visayas has arrested 277 wanted persons with warrants of arrest in a record-breaking one-week operation that started Sept. 17.

PNP Regional Director, Chief Supt. Gilbert Cruz, said Monday that when he assumed office last August 30, he noticed the huge number of warrants of arrest, prompting him to launch a massive simultaneous operation midnight of September 17 in all six provincial offices and two city police offices.

The arrest conducted in the region's six provinces involved cases ranging from murder and drug-related cases to rape and robbery.

Among those arrested were Domingo Agot, the number six most wanted person in Kananga, Leyte. He was charged with murder and has a standing warrant of arrest dated September 13, 1999 or 18 years ago.

Cruz expressed appreciation to the informants for their courage and cooperation with the police leading the PNP to arrest the wanted persons and put them behind bars.

The remarkable arrest rate showed a 500 percent increase from those arrested between January to August 2017.

These included 36 for theft; 32 for murder; homicide, 29; rape, 18; robbery, 13; and physical injuries, 11.

The highest performing office was the Leyte police provincial office that netted 97 persons.

There were 130 arrests for violations of special laws or non-index crimes. (PNA)



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TUGUEGARAO CITY -- The Department of Trade and Industry in Region 2 (DTI-2) has advised consumers to be extra cautious in buying Christmas lights and decorations to avoid fire and other untoward incidents.

 

DTI-2 Information Officer Manilyn Ponce warned Tuesday that there are substandard Christmas decorations and lights in the market bearing fake International Commodity Clearance (ICC) which can be dangerous if not properly scrutinized.

 

Ponce advised the public to verify the authenticity of ICC marks or stickers on these products.

 

With this, the DTI-2 has already started to monitor business establishments in the city and other municipalities.

 

Consumers may report to the DTI any establishments selling substandard Christmas decorations so that proper action maybe taken against the violators. (PNA)



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LAOAG CITY -- Following the increasing number of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) cases in Ilocos Norte, a team from the Provincial Health Office (PHO) is reaching out to the grassroots levels to ensure everybody is well-informed to help prevent the spread of the disease.

Unlike other viruses, the HIV lives inside the body of a human forever. If left untreated, this leads to the disease called AIDS, said health experts.

Dr. Josephine Ruedas, Officer-in-Charge of the Provincial Health Office, said Tuesday the promotion of awareness on HIV/AIDS prevention is among the top priority programs of the Department of Health (DOH) as cases of the disease continue to rise.

In Region 1, data from the DOH shows there are 139 HIV cases covering the four provinces of Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte.

Health experts said HIV/AIDS is acquired through unprotected sex particularly with same sex partners.

In Laoag City, several hospitals here are offering HIV/AIDS test. These are the Gov. Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital, Carmeli Hospital and Laoag City General Hospital. The Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center also offers the same in Batac City. (Leilanie G. Adriano/PNA)



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BAGUIO CITY -- A wounded New People's Army (NPA) member surrendered to government forces in Kalinga on Sunday evening, the Police Regional Office Cordillera (PROCOR) said in a report received on Tuesday morning. 

The rebel allegedly sustained his injury when an erosion occurred at the Gaang Gold Mining in Balbalan town, prompting him to surrender.

Police Chief Superintendent Elmo Francis Sarona, PROCOR regional director, said Joseph Lumaday Masadao also known as "Ronald", 53, single, resident of Sitio Ubel, Gawaan, Balbalan, Kalinga sought refuge from barangay officials.

Convinced by the village leaders, Masadao voluntarily surrendered to receive medical treatment for his injuries.

At around 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, he was received by joint personnel from the Balbalan municipal police office, Regional Public Safety Battalion and the 50th Infantry Battalion.

He was immediately brought to Western Kalinga District Hospital for medical treatment and later transferred to Kalinga Provincial Hospital in Tabuk City for further medical attention.

Sarona said Masadao claims to be a member of the Milisyang Bayan (MB) under the command of Marcial Dagay that operates in Kalinga and nearby provinces.

The rebel returnee is now under the protection of the operating troops for his security and fast facilitation of benefits and financial assistance in order for him to start a new life.

Sarona said Masadao is just one among the many former rebels who opted to embrace the government, lay down their arms and give up their armed struggle to be with their families and to reform their lives together with the community.

The police general said the continued surrender of NPA rebels is a manifestation of successful effort of the government's counter insurgency which includes convincing outlaws to return to the fold of the law. (PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Poor residents here who are suffering from kidney failure or end-stage renal disease may now avail of free dialysis treatment courtesy of the city government.

This, as the local government-run Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Hospital finally opened its P26 million Renal Care and Treatment Unit, which is touted as among the most modern and complete dialysis centers in Mindanao.

Glenville Gonzales, assistant city administrator, said Tuesday the facility has already started catering to patients from the city and the neighboring areas.

He said the city's dialysis center is equipped with brand new dialysis machines and equipment that are at par with those of existing centers operated by private hospitals in the city.

The facility has 15 main units and two backup machines for Sustained Low Efficiency Dialysis or SLED renal replacement therapy and body composition monitor, he said.

"We're even better because while some centers are using refurbished machines, ours are all brand new," Gonzales said.

He said the dialysis center is manned by personnel who are properly trained to handle patients with kidney diseases.

Except for the supplies, blood requirements and laboratory tests, Gonzales said indigent patients may avail of at least 90 free dialysis treatments within the year.

The free treatment is equivalent to the hemodialysis coverage being provided by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

Philhealth has increased the package to 90 days from the previous 45 per year to cope with the needs of the growing number of patients who undergo dialysis treatment.

It adjusted the coverage from P4,500 to P2,500, which is considered the normal cost for hemodialysis treatment per session.

The local government, through City Mayor Ronnel Rivera, pushed for the development of a dialysis unit at the city hospital to provide an alternative to patients who undergo dialysis treatment.

Aside from local residents, the city hospital caters to patients from parts of Sarangani and South Cotabato provinces. (PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- A total of 877 police commissioned and non-commissioned officers in Region 12 have been promoted to the next higher ranks.

The newly-promoted personnel formally donned their new ranks following a mass oath-taking ceremony on Thursday held at the Police Regional Office (PRO)-12 headquarters in Barangay Tambler here.

Supt. Romel Galgo Jr., PRO-12 public information officer, said the promoted police officers were among the personnel from the region who qualified for the Philippine National Police's (PNP) second level regular promotion program for the first semester of 2017.

He said they all passed the examination and stringent vetting process conducted by the PNP promotion board and the National Police Commission.

"The process included thorough screening and interviews that are to make sure that the promotion will be given to deserving personnel," he said.

Galgo said the promoted personnel comprised of 37 police commissioned and 840 non-commissioned officers.

He said the commissioned officers were promoted to the ranks of Inspector to Superintendent while the non-commissioned officers were elevated to the ranks of Police Officer 2 to Senior Police Officer 4.

The most senior officer promoted was Chief Insp. Benito Rotia, who moved to the next rank of Superintendent.

Chief Supt. Cedrick Train, Region 12 police director, urged the newly-promoted personnel to honor their new ranks and the PNP uniform by striving to improve their character and be more responsible and competent.

He said utmost respect should be rendered to their ranks and uniforms, which symbolize their authority to represent the government in enforcing the law and maintaining peace and order.

Train, who led the mass oath-taking ceremony, noted that every rank manifests specific functions and implies added responsibility.

"Keep in mind that the added rank means additional responsibility to your tasks, especially in upholding the core values of the PNP," he said.

The PNP core values are Maka-diyos (God-fearing), Makabayan (Nationalistic), Makatao (Humane), and Makakalikasan (Environment-Friendly).

The police official reminded them that they were not promoted because of their connections and patrons, especially politicians, but due to their competencies, skills and capabilities.

"Promotion means that you should further increase capabilities, skills, competence and knowledge," he said.

Train challenged the promoted personnel to keep their solemn oaths and "always strive to be better" in character.(PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The city government is pushing for the development of a modern integrated food terminal complex through a grant from the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Lawyer Arnel Zapatos, city administrator, said Friday the development planning works are underway for the priority project, which will be built near the Gensan international airport in Barangay Fatima.

He said DA is currently conducting a pre-feasibility study for the proposed facility and has targeted its completion before yearend.

It took off from a feasibility study commissioned by the local government in 2013 as part of its comprehensive economic development plan, he said.

The pre-feasibility study was funded by the Cities Development Initiatives for Asia in response to the request of the local government for a pre-assessment of the economic situation of the city.

Zapatos said the Gensan local government, through the city agriculture, economic management, and cooperative development offices, has been closely coordinating with the DA's Mindanao project management unit regarding the study.

"We're hoping that it will push through in 2018," he said.
In line with the project, the official said local government is set to conduct benchmarking on the food terminals of Valenzuela and Mandaluyong cities in Metro Manila.

The city government currently utilizes the old Alunan passenger terminal in Barangay Bula as "bagsakan" or drop-off point for farm products coming from the neighboring areas.

But the facility, which is located near the city's main public market, is quite crowded and has limited capacity.

Zapatos said the area is not ideal for the development of an integrated food terminal due to lack of space.

"We need a bigger space so we chose a location somewhere near the city airport," he explained.

The official said building the integrated food terminal complex near the airport is considered viable and would complement with the proposed development of the city's "aerotropolis."

The long-term project, which was based on a study conducted three years ago by the Department of Transportation, involves the establishment of an "industrial airport city" in the area. (PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Police have sought for the immediate deportation of four undocumented Indonesian nationals who were caught on Wednesday afternoon in the coastal town of Glan in Sarangani Province.

Chief Insp. Neil Wadingan, chief of the Glan municipal police station, said Friday they found the Indonesians aboard a motorboat that docked at a portion of Barangay Burias at around 12:30 p.m.

He said they responded to the area after receiving a report from concerned residents regarding the presence of the foreigners.

The Indonesians were identified as Pian Mangumpaus, Sarol Udingan, Phaisal Tatale and Arif Udingan, who claimed to be fishermen from Petta, Tabukan Utara sub-district of the Sangihe Island district in North Sulawesi province, Indonesia.

"They did not carry any passport and related documents so we took them in our custody," Wadingan said in a radio interview.

The police official said they immediately reported the matter to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) station in Glan for proper action.

BI personnel referred the case of the Indonesians to the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency for the verification of their identities.

Pedrito Lopez, BI alien control officer in Glan, said the four were not included in their watch list.

But he said they coordinated the matter with the international police to determine if they were involved in terror and other related illegal activities.

Citing their investigation, he said the Indonesians arrived in the area aboard a motorboat earlier this week to purchase construction supplies in this city.

The four left for Sangihe Island last Wednesday but were forced to stop in Barangay Burias in Glan due to engine problem. (PNA)



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DAVAO CITY – Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has envisioned an agriculture sector that is more resilient to climate change given the many challenges it brings to farmers, food security and the government's coffers.

She, however, said there is now greater environmental awareness and support from both government and the private sector's involvement in programs for sustainability of the farms and fishing grounds.

The city mayor said improving farm-to-market roads has remained a paramount concern, considering the fact that when small farmers cannot bring their harvests to the market themselves, they are constrained to resort to pricing schemes even if these put them in a disadvantage position.

But Duterte-Carpio looks forward to the national government's support. She said the Department of Agriculture through Secretary Manny Pinol has programmed multi-million farm-to-market road projects in Davao City.

On the other hand, the city mayor said there is an increase in the volume of support for agri-fisheries infrastructure and inputs from national government agencies, and this encourages urban agriculture.

Despite challenges brought by climate change, the city government has also toiled to support the farmers.

The city has developed a model project for urban container gardening using organic methods that utilize existing spaces in urban areas. The project is located at the rooftop of City Hall.

"We believe that by utilizing organic methods and maximizing our areas, we can not only reduce expenses, but we can guarantee food and environmental safety," she said.

The mayor also cited the Animal Breeding Centers in Malagos, Pangi and Malabog where boars, swine, and chicken are produced for beneficiaries through the Animal Dispersal Program.

She also pointed out the need for small farmers to form or become members of farmers' associations and cooperatives so they can have access to loan programs, intervention and protection services to improve their yield and way of life.

The mayor said the Davao Agri Trade Expo (DATE) 2017, which opened Thursday at SMX Convention Center at SM Lanang Premier, opens a skylight of opportunities in different sectors.

Duterte-Carpio said that inputs gained will not be limited to plans and sessions, but rather there would be concrete outcomes align with the administration's campaign to feed Filipino families.

This year's DATE has 154 exhibitors both foreign and domestic with a projection of 10,000 foot traffic for the duration of the Exposition from September 21 to 23, 2017 with the theme "Towards Available and Affordable Food for All". (Digna D. Banzon/PNA)



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DAVAO CITY – Davao del Norte second district Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr. has expressed optimism he will be proven innocent over the graft charges filed against him by the Office of the Ombudsman in relation to his alleged financial interest in family-owned Tagum Agricultural Development Company (TADECO).

This as he welcomed the filing of graft charges after the Ombudsman saw probable cause to charge him for alleged pecuniary interest in the joint venture agreement between Tadeco and the Bureau of Corrections (Bucor).

"I believe it is only the courts which can resolve my case definitely and with finality," Floirendo said in a press statement.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez against Floirendo. Ombudsman Conchita Morales has approved the filing of the criminal information before the Sandiganbayan in violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The Ombudsman, in the resolution dated September 18, said the Davao del Norte congressman allegedly committed the offense as he owned P7.5 million worth of shares in Tadeco when it renewed the joint venture agreement with Bucor in 2003 for the lease of 5,308.36 hectares of land at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF).

In the statement, Floirendo said he is positive he will be declared innocent in the end. In earlier Senate hearings, Tadeco president and CEO Alex Valoria maintained that the JVA is not only valid and legal, but is also highly beneficial to the government and to some 30,000 direct and indirect workers in the banana industry and other related sectors.

The JVA forged between BuCor and Tadeco reportedly aims to help rehabilitate inmates at the DPPF and prepare them for their eventual reintegration to society by providing them with a decent means of livelihood while serving their sentences.

Tadeco developed a banana plantation inside the DPPF Reservation to realize these goals. Valoria pointed out that the banana operations under the JVA has created 30,000 jobs in direct, indirect and ancillary roles, which translates to the secure livelihood and future of at least 181,000 Filipinos." (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)



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ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has suspended boat trips from this city to nearby provinces due to the prevailing inclement weather condition in the region.

Lieutenant Commander (Lcdr.) Alvin Dagalea, Zamboanga Coastguard Station Commander, said the suspension of boat trips took effect at 1 p.m. Friday.

Affected by the suspension order are boats traveling from this city to Basilan and Sulu and vice-versa.

Dagalea said they suspended the boat trips as it is dangerous for them to sail due to rough seas brought about by continuous rain coupled with strong winds.

A fastcraft ferry was forced to return to the local port after it was battered by strong waves while in the vicinity of the Greater Sta. Cruz Island.

The fastcraft ferry, which plies the Zamboanga-Basilan route via Isabela City, departed the local port before the PCG issued the suspension order.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the continuous rain and strong winds are triggered by the Low Pressure Area (LPA) over Surigao del Sur.

PAGASA said that based on all available data, the LPA was estimated at 175 kilometer northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur as of 3 a.m. Friday. Southwest monsoon affects Palawan. (PNA)



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ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Cebu Pacific (CEB), the country's leading airline, announced the expansion of its international route network and presence in Southeast Asia as it opens its new Zamboanga-Sabah flight service via the city of Sandakan.

CEB announced that through its affiliate, Cebgo, it will operate its first international route out of Zamboanga City with four times weekly flights to Sandakan starting on October 29 this year.

CEB said in a statement Friday that the flights will be every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The one-way flight takes one hour and 30 minutes. It leaves this city at 1:45 p.m. and arrives in Sandakan at 3:15 p.m. The return flight then leaves Sandakan at 4 p.m. and arrives in this city at 5:30 p.m.

CEB said the new Zamboanga-Sandakan route supports the drive for seamless logistics connectivity within the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia- Philippines East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

The BIMP-EAGA, which was created in 1994, comprises Mindanao; the entire Borneo Island which is divided between Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia; and other Indonesian islands such as Sulawesi and Maluku.

Its creation was meant to harness capabilities to turn the entire area into a thriving economic and tourism zone.

"Sandakan has had centuries of trade and cultural linkage with the southern Philippines, and we are especially proud to put in place infrastructure to further enhance these ties. Now, the previous 14-hour travel by sea is cut down to just a 40-minute airplane ride," Alexander Lao, President and CEO of Cebgo, said. (PNA)



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CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – About 1,000 victims of flash floods spawn by Tropical Depression "Maring"  on Sept. 12  received grocery relief packs on Friday from SM City Calamba "Operation Tulong Express."

Karen Christine H. Tiqui, SM City Calamba public relations officer told PNA on Friday that the relief goods were part of the SM Supermalls and the SM Foundation socio-civic responsibility for victims of disaster and calamities.

Tiqui said SM City Calamba, in cooperation with the SM Foundation, has mobilized an outreach program to extend support to residents hit by floodwaters from Laguna de Bay, especially in shoreline villages of Palingon, Lingga and Sampiruhan.

Elmundo Olazo, assistant Mall Manager of SM City Calamba spearheaded the "Operation Tulong Express" in coordination with the city government, through the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) chief Celine Manabat.

Mall employees, CSWDO staff and volunteers, with village officials, assisted in the distribution of the relief goods to the affected residents.

Knee-to-hip deep floodwaters inundated 12 barangays here, including the "Hot Spring Resort Capital" village of Pansol, Parian ,  at the height of "Maring." River surge at the swollen San Cristobal River also swept around 30 riverbank shanties of informal settlers. (PNA)

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DASMARIÑAS CITY, Cavite - De La Salle University (DLSU-D) campus here posted another 100% passing rate for its five board examiners who are now in the roster of registered electrical engineers.

The newly licensed engineers are Engr. John Carlo T. Caniedo, Engr. Samuel Shem M. Corvera, Engr. Josiah John V. Delgado, Engr. Aldrin Paul C. Escusa and Engr. Roselvie D. Frias.

The University also posted a similar feat for the Master Electrician Licensure Exams for its lone board-taker Engr. Daryl P. Giron.
 
DLSU-Dasmarinas  remains as one of the "top performing schools" in the board licensure examinations by the Professional Regulation Commission after obtaining from high to perfect passing average.

In the August examinations, DLSU-D's College of Education Graduate Studies (COEDGS), major in Guidance Counseling graduates who took the licensure examination also got the 100 percent passing rate for its eight licensed Guidance Counselors.

The College of Engineering Architecture and Technology (CEAT) likewise posted a high passing average of 87.5 percent where one out of eight board takers did not make it.

 DLSU-D officials expressed jubilation over the results of the professional licensure exams and assured to impart the Lasallian values of faith, zeal, and service to their students and graduates given the "education in an environment surrounded by nature."

The university also allows its students to experience and participate in socially responsible projects as part of their learning process during their entire stay in the university. (PNA)

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BAGUIO CITY -- The Supreme Court (SC) en banc has approved the creation of two branches of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) here to decongest existing courts and guarantee the speedy disposition of cases.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan relayed Thursday that the High Court approved the creation in its en banc session on August 8, upon the recommendation of the Court Administrator.

As the mayor welcomed the High Court's action, he said it will definitely facilitate the resolution of cases and decongest the existing courts, guaranteeing the speedy disposition of justice.

He expressed optimism that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will promptly act on the necessary funding for the newly created positions and the maintenance and operating expenses of newly created courts.

The SC also approved the creation of the positions of two RTC Judges, two Clerks of Court, two Legal Researchers, two Interpreters, eight Stenographers, two Sheriffs, four Clerks, two Process Servers and two Utility Workers to be assigned to the new courts.

It also directed the amendment of all court records to conform to the creation of the two additional RTC Branches.

At present, there are eight RTC branches operating in Baguio.

Aside from approving the creation of the two courts, the SC will also conduct an assessment and evaluation of the Baguio Justice Hall building in preparation for its proposed rehabilitation and upgrading to ensure that the newly created RTC branches will be accommodated once they are operational. (PNA)



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CANDABA, Pampanga --- Some 8,000 live broiler chickens worth at least PHP1.6 million were distributed on Friday for free to the residents of Barangay Bahay Pare in this town, at no cost to the municipal government.

Mayor Danilo Baylon clarified that the broiler chickens are healthy, safe to eat and free from any virus. He  said the distribution is part of the thanksgiving and regular sharing of "love and charity" of Danway Missionaries led by his wife, Aniway Baylon.

Baylon's wife told the beneficiaries: "More than these material blessings, we want to share the blessings of the word of God," she said.

The mayor said they want the people to embrace spiritual upliftment and likewise continue to uphold moral recovery through value formation.

"I want the people of Candaba to completely recover morally and spiritually, hence, any form of gambling especially during fiestas is not allowed in this municipality," he said.

Baylon urged the people to report directly to his office any form of anomalies and irregularities committed by any employee and official of the municipal government. (PNA)



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CEBU CITY -- The Greenway Link Project, which aims to provide alternative routes to the main arterial roads in the entire Cebu Island, was presented to the public Friday at the provincial capitol.

More importantly, the Greenway Link, a project of Governor Hilario Davide III, can be a passage to interior parts of Cebu in times of typhoons or calamities. Relief goods can be delivered to the affected areas easily through these alternate roads.

"Only a few percentage of linear kilometers is needed for new road openings in order to connect the towns to this Greenway Link Project," said Provincial Engineer Hector Jamora who made the presentation.

The routes are mostly existing local roads in the different municipalities that need to be improved in accordance to the desired concept of a complete street with well-paved carriage way, wide lanes for both pedestrians and bikers and streetlights during night time.

Another positive outcome of this project is that it will decongest traffic going to the municipalities, enhance accessibility for local tourism, and pilot a complete street that will promote the "Green Growth" program in every towns and cities initiated by the provincial government.

The project had been proposed to the provincial government after a study was conducted by the Metro Cebu Development Culminating Board.

"The important assumption of this project is that it has accessible fund sources from the national government, availability of heavy equipment for road opening, and support from the public and private sectors in the locality," Jamora said.

The start of the project and its budget will be announced by the governor. (USJR intern Levirose Caballero/PNA)



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DAVAO CITY – President Rodrigo Duterte cited Globe Telecom for choosing Davao City as the host of its USD250-million Southeast Asia-United States (SEA-US) submarine cable system for it reinforces the capacity and resiliency of the country's information system.

The President lauded the project as it would also improve communication capacities, better access to basic services, increased competitiveness, and build smarter cities.

In a speech read for him by Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Martin Andanar, the President said that choosing Davao City as host of the project will generate more investments and create job opportunities not only for Davao, but also in Mindanao.

Duterte also expressed optimism the project would complement the national broadband plan of the government aimed at improving the internet connectivity in the country.

In an interview at the sidelines of the ceremonial launch of the SEA-US cable system at Seda Hotel Friday, Andanar said the project is laudable as this will cause faster internet access in Davao and Mindanao.

He said it is the first cable submarine system which is connected through Davao bypassing earthquake zones in the north.This makes the system more resilient and less susceptible to signal interruptions caused by natural calamities.

"This is really advantageous for the citizens of Davao City and Mindanao," he said.

Ernest Cu, Globe president and CEO, said Davao will benefit from this system getting the best connectivity going out of the country.

He said the system is the first cable run in the country and resilient in relation to other cable currently operating.

"This means quicker interconnection via the internet which we call in technical terms – latency," Cu told said in an interview with reporters.

In this project, Globe is investing US$100 million.

"The cable system is a consortium between four companies in the United States, Hawaii, and Guam.

Cu said the project has been completed and the cable is already carrying traffic since late July.

"This will level up connection. As we build capacity usage goes up as well. And so we have to keep up as the country catches up in terms of building up wireline infrastructure given the fact that we focus on mobile for many years," Cu stressed.

Cu said that with faster connection, Davao can host and address the growing information and communications technology requirements of BPOs, financial institutions, internet service providers, and other content providers in the south.

The SEA-US cable system is connected to the Globe cable landing station in Barangay Talomo which houses the Power Feed Equipment necessary to run the system.

Globe revealed that outside of Luzon, the 14,500-kilometer undersea cable is the first direct connection of Globe to the US via Guam, Hawaii, and California.

This offers faster transmission of data to the US. Globe said the facility uses the latest 100 gigabits per second transmission technology to deliver an additional 20 terabits per second capacity. The additional capacity will cater to the exponential growth of bandwidth between the two continents.

It was learned that the system was built by a consortium of seven international telecommunications companies and links five regions that included Manado in Indonesia, Davao in the Philippines, Piti in Guam, Oahu in Hawaii, and Los Angeles in California, USA. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)



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PAGALUNGAN, Maguindanao -- Central Mindanao's most wanted was killed by his close-in bodyguard, apparently in a bid to take the PHP2 million bounty offered for the wanted man's head, police and local officials said Friday.

Inspector Razul Pandulo, speaking for Maguindanao police provincial office, said Esmael Nasser alias Commander Derby, a ranking member of outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) was shot dead by one of his close aides, who remained unidentified, inside his home in Sitio Abag, Barangay Kilangan here at around 12:30 a.m. Thursday.

Nasser, a former inmate of North Cotabato District Jail, was the leader of an armed group that attacked the jail facility in Barangay Amas, Kidapawan City on January 4 this year and rescued Melvin Casangyao and 156 other inmates.

Casangyao was a detained drug lord who promised to pay Nasser with PHP2 million and one Cal. 50 machine gun if he is rescued by the gang leader.

Nasser, who was facing kidnapping and multiple murder charges, escaped the jail facility last year.

While inside jail, Casangyao made his offer that Nasser took as an inspiration to escape.

On January 4, Casangyao was rescued by Nasser. Of the 156 inmates who also fled, 90 have remained at large and the subject of continuing manhunt by jail officials and local police in North Cotabato.

Casangyao who carries a PHP1 million reward was re-arrested in Barangay Onica, Kidapawan City last May.

Nestor Salama, chair of Barangay Batongkayo in the adjacent town of Datu Montawal, said two armed men barged inside the house of Nasser, who at that time was asleep.

The two gunmen opened fire, killing Nasser instantly. Nasser's wife and a child were injured and are now safe, Salama said.

Aside from leading the jail attack, Nasser was the primary suspect in the murder of Vice Mayor Policronio Dulay in 2014.(PNA)



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DUMAGUETE CITY – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) along with law enforcers and bankers are scrambling to find ways to prevent fraudulent activities involving access devices to credit cards as the police warned of a crime syndicate possibly operating here.

According to Dumaguete police chief, Supt. Jovito Atanacio, there are  fraudsters using access cards believed to be in this capital city, although he declined to give specific details.

He disclosed, however, that this is an organized crime syndicate that has a wide reach, from outside of Dumaguete, and targets unknowing establishments who could not detect a fraudulent transaction.

The police is still trying to determine how to address this problem, Atanacio said.

The cards would be usually credit, debit or Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards, and even rewards cards. Some could be cloned and fake, or authentic but lost, stolen or deactivated/non-existent.

An access device, as defined by Republic Act 8484, "means any card, plate, code, account number, electronic serial number, personal identification number, or other telecommunications service, equipment, or instrumental identifier, or other means of account access that can be used to obtain money, goods, services, or any other thing of value or to initiate a transfer of funds (other than a transfer originated solely by paper instrument".

Atanacio's disclosure came on the heels of the arrest last week of 12 male individuals from Metro Manila for alleged fraud, victimizing a number of business establishments in Dumaguete with the use of access devices.

During a meeting Friday with the Negros Oriental Bankers Club, Inc. (NORBAC), headed by its president Elmer Teves, the BSP-Negros Oriental headed by Nicasio Parco, and Atanacio, the group admitted that credit card theft and similarly-natured fraudulent activities could not be entirely stopped.

This is due to highly advanced technology which fraudsters are using with a number of loopholes that have yet to be addressed, explained Teves, manager of East West Bank here.

While stop-gap measures are being undertaken by the banks,  there is yet no tangible means of preventing credit/debit card theft or ATM skimming, among others, he said.

Teves disclosed that some ways to minimize risks of falling prey to these access device fraudsters are to have the people swap their cards from the magnetic stripe type to the EMV or chip-enabled kind; tell cashiers to be judicious in accepting and transacting with the use of these cards; and to instruct security guards to closely monitor the offsite ATMs.

Seminars/training on how to detect frauds and scams are also being eyed by both the NORBAC and the Bangko Sentral as a means to help prevent or minimize theft.

Atanacio said the problem is a big challenge for them as a fraudulent transaction could be discovered later when the issuing bank or company of the access device reports it.

During the arrest of the 12 suspects last week, law enforcers confiscated access devices such as credit cards and reward cards which they allegedly used in their transactions.

Some of the cards, however, successfully transacted with the merchants or those manning the swipe machines, also known as Point of Sale (POS) terminals.

The syndicated group members were denied bail and are now behind bars at the city jail after they were formally charged in court,  Atanacio said.

He briefed the bankers and Bangko Sentral officials on the current situation in Dumaguete, disclosing that the Philippine National Police (PNP) has organized Task Force DUVASIBA (an acronym for Dumaguete, Valencia, Sibulan, and Bacong), which are adjacent areas forming the so-called Metro Dumaguete.

On the part of the PNP, Atanacio said they are relying on the support of the banks and not "limit information on the part of investigation" so the police can continue with their anti-criminality efforts.

The bankers' association, the police, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reminded the public to be wary and report immediately to the police any suspicious transactions on their access cards.

Meanwhile, Dr. Greg Bacay of BSP here announced that banks have until Sept. 30 to issue EMV cards to their clients, otherwise, they will be held responsible for fraud loses, such as through ATM skimming. (PNA)



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LAOAG CITY — A home care facility for the aged is being considered to be established in Ilocos Norte courtesy of the provincial government.

Dr. Josephine Ruedas, Officer-in-Charge of the Provincial Health Office, said it is about time for a home for the aged to be established in the province and all throughout the country.

Earlier this year, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) based in Region 1 initiated the construction of a home care facility in San Juan, La Union.

With an initial fund of Php12 million, this is the first ever public facility in Region 1 that will cater to the needs of abandoned, ailing senior citizens and those neglected by relatives due to financial difficulties.

In Ilocos Norte, Ruedas said the proposed home for the elderly will prioritize abandoned, neglected, unattached, homeless and abused senior citizens.

In a DSWD survey, it was found out that more than 700 senior citizens are living by themselves in La Union alone.

A similar situation occurs  in parts of the Ilocos provinces and Pangasinan. (PNA)



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QUEZON CITY— Mayor Herbert Bautista and local officials here have joined peace advocates to heighten the nation's consciousness, understanding and sustaining of institutional and popular support to build a culture of peace as they received the "Peace Buzz" that will bring messages and prayers of peace to different provinces in the country.

The Peace Buzz (bus) rolled-off from the Cordillera on Thursday and arrived at the site of the "World Peace Bell" in Quezon City on Friday morning, to continue the journey that will bring messages of peace and prayers to as far as Mindanao to symbolize the country's continuing quest for genuine and lasting peace.

The event is part of the celebration of National Peace Consciousness Month this September.

Bautista said "the celebration of peace is an international event established through a unanimous United Nations resolution, a time when all of humanity can commit to observing peace despite the differences. The commemoration of this month is especially important because we are in troubled times."

"Just remember that peace is the ultimate freedom and the best safety net that we can assure for all our countrymen," he added. 

The peace advocates rang the World Peace Bell five times, signifying the five letters of the world PEACE.

The World Peace Bell in Quezon City was chosen as venue for Quezon City to receive the Peace Buzz caravan of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process or OPAPP that will journey from northern Philippines to the south in Mindanao to further give relevance to the occasion and remind the nation that each one has a role to take, for peace to be attained.

Taking the task of passing on Cordillera's peace message and prayers to the next stop of the Peace Buzz and continuing with the chain of the peace journey of the OPAPP, Bautista said the Quezon City government "is honored to be partner with OPAPP and with all of you in supporting the advocacy to promote a culture of peace based on non-violence, respect for right and freedom, tolerance, understanding and solidarity."

OPAPP deputy presidential adviser, Undersecretary Nabil A. Tan, said "the Peace Buzz signifies a journey, not a destination that is why peace is a process."

He said that the country has been wanting to have total development so that it can have peace throughout the country.

"That is why as we travel, from one point from the north to the south, we will be carrying the message of peace. We have gone a long way in our quest for peace, but we still have many steps to make and there will be challenges," he added.

Tan said "the road to peace is not well paved. There will be humps and bumps. There will be challenges along the way but we should  manage also our expectations," and contribute to its attainment.

Peace, he said, is not just for the government to work on, but should be an effort from everyone.

He said the government needs everybody's participation for the country to attain lasting peace. 

"That is why we should always continue to engage the different peace tables from the youth, to the vulnerable sectors, the women, the youth, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples not only the Bangsamoro, but the IPs in the different parts of the country."

Tan asked for the understanding of all sectors, especially the groups who have issues to raise to the government. "We believe that each one has their own issues to speak about and we believe that the signing of a peace agreement does not end all things and it will mean overnight peace. Peace is so elusive. Peace will take time to nurture. Peace will have to be prayed and done and pushed by all of us, not only government but all of us."

Tan said the root cause of the peace and order problem of the country must be addressed and the signing of the peace agreements is not the end-all solution. 

The peace bus journeyed from the Cordilleras and had its first stop in Quezon City. It will go to Legazpi and other cities in Visayas and Mindanao before it culminates the journey in Marawi. 

On Thursday, during the send-off activity in Baguio, an interfaith prayer and messages of peace were said by an elder Cordillera woman, a Muslim religious leader, religious sector heads, the youth, the Armed Forces, Police and leaders of the Cordillera Regional Development Council and Peace and Order Council.



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LEGAZPI CITY ---- Police Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa said he would get rid of 3,500 rogue policemen who tarnish the good image of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Dela Rosa, in an interview Friday, said, "I will make sure that the days of these police scalawags would end soonest, as the police internal cleansing process is ongoing and in full speed."

"We will try our best to cleanse our ranks as I have said before, it cannot be done overnight or weeks, months or year," he said.

Dela Rosa said measures have been instituted to address the problem on police scalawags but he lamented that "we have already passed the one-year period but there are still cops who commit wrongdoings".

The PNP chief said that of the 175,000-strong police force in the country, around 2 percent or 3,500 are considered police scalawags and these are mostly based in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

The number of cases against bad cops is still insignificant but being magnified by people who are opposed to the campaign to cleanse the PNP of scalawags, specifically with regard the government's war against drugs, Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa cited the purging of close to 300 policemen who are facing charges or found to have committed misconduct.

"Those cops involved in grave misconduct, we make it clear that they would no longer be admitted back to the service," he said.

He even cited the case of the 1,000 policemen in Caloocan City who were removed from the station and told to undergo retraining and be reassigned to other stations in Metro Manila.

Asked what would be the impact of the dismissal of thousands of recidivist cops to the entire PNP organization, Dela Rosa said 2 percent is insignificant but would be very significant on the quality of service it has to deliver to the public.

Dela Rosa, who led the 116th Police Service Anniversary celebration here, urged his men to practice what he called "Kuyogin ang Police" meaning "discipline or police your own ranks".

Anti-drug campaign

When asked if there are organizations out to sabotage the government's campaign against hard drugs, he said there are unconfirmed reports that there are people making moves to disrupt the fight against this menace.

"I still have to validate whether there are indeed people orchestrating this or maybe, these people are manipulated to go against the campaign – ang drug problem na ito ay gamitan," Dela Rosa said.

EU human rights issue

When asked to comment on the statement of the European Union Human Rights Council asking the Philippine government to investigate the alleged cases of extra-judicial killing (EJK) in connection with the government campaign against drugs, Dela Rosa said: "They (EU) don't have to dictate on us what we have to do. Is the Philippines under EU?"

"We are doing our job, we are investigating the cases where we have to establish that some of the EJK cases are not drug-related and are personal clashes that are being blamed on the campaign on drugs," he said.

According to Dela Rosa, the government's campaign against drugs is certainly destroying the illegal business of drug lords, and "they won't take this sitting down because they are losing billions of pesos so they wanted the campaign to fail." (PNA)



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CAMP MARCELO A ADDURU, Tuguegarao City -- A total of 26 drug personalities were arrested in 19 operations conducted by the Isabela Police Provincial Office (IPPO) in five days.

Police Regional Office 2 (PRO2) information officer Chevalier Iringan on Saturday said that from September 18-22, 2017, IPPO conducted various police operations including buy bust, checkpoints, implementation of search and arrest warrants, and police response.

Iringan said two were arrested while serving search warrants, two from serving warrants of arrest, five from hot pursuit operations, three from police response on crime incidents, three from checkpoint operations and 11 during buy-bust.

Among the arrested are two minors caught in buy-bust operations conducted in Alicia, Isabela.

Charges of violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act were filed against the 26 suspects.

"This only shows that Isabela-Philippine National Police is serious in its commitment to President Rodrigo Duterte's campaign against illegal drugs under 'Project: Double Barrel Reloaded'.

"This notable accomplishment will not be possible without the collective efforts of the operating teams, other law enforcement agencies and the community. I am optimistic that we can easily eradicate illegal drugs in our locality if everyone will cooperate," Iringan added. (PNA)



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PALO, Leyte -- The Department of Health (DOH) regional office will start next month its campaign against use of firecrackers this coming holiday season in Eastern Visayas.

DOH senior health program officer Laura Pajares, during Friday's press briefing, said they have been asking local government officials to hold community fireworks display (CFD) for safe holiday celebrations in December.

The DOH will conduct public service announcements, press conferences, posting of info graphics and streamers on social media, and posters by October for massive information drive.

The activity is based on Executive Order No. 28, which provides for the regulation and control of the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.

The anti-firecrackers campaign dubbed "Oplan Iwas Paputok, Fireworks Display ang Patok! Makiisa sa fireworks display sa inyong lugar" is primarily aimed at avoiding fatal injuries due to firecrackers and stray bullets.

The program is in partnership with the Bureau of Fire and Protection, Philippine National Police, Department of Interior and Local Government, and Department Environment and Natural Resources.

Simultaneous regional launching advocacy campaign activities in communities and schools will be on December 13, 2017.

The health department expects everyone to participate in the drive for safe Christmas and New Year's celebration.

From mid-December 2016 to first week of January 2017, the region recorded 98 firecracker-related injuries. (with reports from Reynadel F. Costillas OJT/PNA)



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ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Philippine Navy (PN) and Philippine Air Force (PAF) have been conducting joint exercises to enhance interoperability and operational capability amid the growing threats in the southern Philippines area.

The 1st joint training is code named Naval Forces Western Mindanao-3rd Tactical Operations Command (NFWM-3TOC) Interoperability Exercise "Ayudahan" 2017.

Rear Adm. Rene Medina, Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) commander, on Thursday said the exercises aim to develop the interoperability and operational capabilities of NFWM-TOC units in Western Mindanao Area of Operations.

Medina said it is also to enhance the overall coordination and responsiveness in the conduct of joint maritime operations in support to Internal Security Operations (ISO) and Territorial Defense Operations (TDO).

He said the joint exercises are being carried out in three phases and these are: Preparation Phase, August 1 to September 17); Exercise Phase, Sepember 18 to October 12; and, Termination Phase, October 13 to 16.

He said this included series of classroom instructions, lectures, and discussions on the formulation and execution of joint operation plans, subject matter expertise exchanges (SMEEs) and Field Training Exercises (FTX).

The joint exercise is being participated by the following NFWM units: Naval Task Force 61; Naval Special Operations Unit 6; Naval Air Unit-Western Mindanao; Naval Intelligence and Security Group-Western Mindanao; Maritime Situational Awareness Center- Western Mindanao; and, Naval Station Romulo Espaldon.

The participating units from the 3TOC are as follows: 15th Strike Wing; 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing; 304th Air Intelligence and Security Squadronl; 722nd Special Operations Squadron; 505th Search and Rescue Group (SRG); Edwin Andrews Air Base Hospital; and, Philippine Air Force Engineering Construction Group.

Medina is optimistic that the participating units will take the joint exercise as an opportunity to learn and develop their capabilities during the conduct of joint maritime patrols, surveillance and search patrols, and rescue operations in the Western Mindanao region.

He said the continuous collaboration of the two forces is an evidence of a strong commitment to serve and perform their respective duties for the pursuit of lasting peace, order and development in the Western Mindanao. (TPGJR/PNA)



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DAGUPAN CITY-- Archbishop Socrates Villegas of the Lingayen-Dagupan archdiocese slammed martial law declared 45 years ago today and expressed hope that it would be the last imposed in the country.

In his homily during a noon-day mass Thursday at the Saint John Metropolitan Cathedral here, Villegas said "martial law destroyed our national value and ruined our integrity".

He recalled that when he and the other elder people today were just children, they were compelled to celebrate September 21 as "Araw ng Pasasalamat (Thanksgiving Day)".    

He said they were told that the reason for this was the supposed coming of the new society where discipline was observed but in those years, the truth was opposition was silenced. 

The streets, he said, were very clean but the authorities just hid the garbage in the dumping sites.

"Our elders spoke in whispers for fear someone was spying. We had elections but we knew the results even before the ballots were cast," Villegas said.

He added that television and radio were censored and newspapers were controlled.

Martial law, the archbishop said, was all about murders and lies, hidden wealth, fake medals and dictatorship.

He added, however, that those years of killings and falsehood also brought the best in the Filipino people in so many ways. Some even became martyrs so that the country could regain its freedom.  

He said these martyrs refused to bow down to the authoritarian rule through their courage and conviction and sacrificed their dear lives.    

"For the martyrs of martial law, we offer our thanks giving to the Lord," Villegas said. 

He also mentioned the supposed victims of so-called extra-judicial killings in the country today.

"We voted for change and we should demand for change. Do not tolerate abuses. Demand the change that they promised," Villegas urged the faithful. (PNA)



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ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources (OCENR) has tapped different stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of the solid waste management program of this city.

Among the stakeholders the agency has tapped as partners are the barangays councils, public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators.

Public Service Officer IV Rodrigo Pagotaisidro on Thursday said that partnering with barangay officials, PUV drivers and operators would be a big help to this city's campaign on cleanliness and sanitation.

Reynaldo Gonzales, OCENR chief, said his office has spearheaded on Tuesday the training and orientation for barangay officials concerning the solid waste management program.

He said similar activity was held on Wednesday at City Hall which was attended by the PUV drivers and operators.

He said a massive citywide clean-up drive to be spearheaded by barangay officials will be held on October 1. (TPGJR/PNA)



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DUMAGUETE CITY – The Traffic Management Office (TMO) of Dumaguete City has suspended its clamp down on "erring" tricycle drivers who have not complied with permits and other requirements due to the volume of applications for a certification from the said office.

TMO head Gilbert Ablong said late Wednesday that after the one-day clamp down, the TMO office had to suspend the enforcement because the administrative section could not anymore cope with the volume of applications for traffic certification as a result of the operation.

Ablong, however, enjoined all drivers not to wait for traffic personnel to catch them while plying the city streets without a mayor's permits and be issued citation tickets.

Hundreds of drivers trooped to the Traffic Management Office to ask for a certification as a requirement for the issuance of a police clearance and eventually a mayor's permit to ply the city streets, following an initial clampdown on Tuesday of drivers without the necessary permits. 

Ablong explained the selective enforcement had to be conducted because records of the permit section showed, a lot of motorcabs for hire in the city have no motorized tricycle operators permits or MTOPs, and that many drivers don't have a mayor's permit.

They can come to the office voluntarily before a resumption of the operation is ordered, he said.

He explained that one of the reasons some operators and drivers had failed to comply with the requirements is the investigation conducted by the city regarding the multiple ownership of franchises by a few operators, especially those holding questionable special powers of attorney.

Now that the problem is addressed, Ablong is confident of a good turnout of drivers and operators who will voluntarily comply with all the requirements for their own good.

Ablong considered the report of the permit section a blessing in disguise because if not, they would not have known that many tricycles are operating illegally.

TMO operations chief Danny Atillo also expressed the need for "extra" drivers to register and get mayor's permit to avoid complications later on. Extra drivers are usually assigned in the evening and that they also have to undergo the same seminars as those attended by regular drivers.

He said tricycle drivers in Dumaguete have tripled in number to include driver-operators and assigned drivers. (PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY-- The Police Regional Office (PRO-18) will turn over its 3,495 personnel in Negros Occidental to the PRO-6 in Western Visayas after its deactivation on October 9 following the abolition of the Negros Island Region (NIR).

Based on the PRO-18 list as of Thursday, the personnel included 1,944 from Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office; 743 from Bacolod City Police Office; 274 from Regional Public Safety Battalion; 315 from Class Sinag-Lahi; and Class Masiklab, 219.

The total number is comprised of 158 police commissioned officers; 3,121 police non-commissioned officers; and 216 non-uniformed personnel.

The PRO-18 has a total of 5,387 policemen and staff. The remaining 1,892 personnel will be endorsed to the PRO-7 in Central Visayas.

Chief Superintendent Edmund Gonzales, acting director of PRO-NIR, said the turn-over rites is slated on September 29, although scheduling conflicts may delay it to October 4 or 5.

He added that they are coordinating with the PRO-6 and PRO-7 for the final schedules.

Senior Inspector Armilyn Vargas, public information officer of PRO-18, had earlier said they were preparing for a smooth transition of personnel, equipment and other properties to the PRO-6 in Iloilo City.

They will also turn over the cases handled by PRO-18, she added.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-18 will turn over 650 personnel to the regional offices in Western Visayas and Central Visayas.

These will include 411 personnel for Region 6, and 239 for Region 7.

Senior Superintendent Fred Trajeras Jr., regional director of BFP-18, went to the BFP-6 headquarters in Iloilo City on Monday for the informal turn-over of personnel and resources.

Trajeras added that clearing operations will continue at BFP-18, which is targeted to end before October 9.

After his stint in Negros Island, Trajeras will assume the post of assistant regional director for administration at the BFP-National Capital Region. (PNA)



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DAVAO CITY – Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio named a retired judge to lead the local peace talks with the communist armed group operating in the city.

Duterte-Carpio bared Wednesday she has asked retired judge Ridgway Tanjili to chair the Davao City Local Peace Committee (LCPC), which will be composed of City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) head Ma. Luisa Bermudo, Lawyer Eliza Lapeña from the City Legal Office, Captain Joselito Areja of Barangay Malabog, Davao City Archbishop Romulo Valles, representative from the private sector, and two other consultants.

Tanjili, who was appointed judge by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in early 2000, is a law graduate at the Ateneo de Davao University and a graduate of Master in Public Administration.

Tanjili headed the Public Attorney's Office-Davao for 16 years before he headed the Regional Trial Court Branch 15.

The city mayor also said she has initially talked to the two consultants, but she begged off to name them at this time. She said both have experience in peace works.

Her offer to them, she said will be formalized before October 1 when the LCPC will start to buckle down to work.

The LCPC has one year (until November 18) to engage with the New People's Army (NPA) operating in the city. Davao City has known Red areas in Paquibato, Marilog, Baguio, and Calinan Districts. The NPA guerrilla fronts operating in the city are the Fronts 54, 56, and Pulang Bagani Command (PBC) 1, 2, and reportedly a newly-created PBC 3.

"They (members of the LCPC) will try their best to deliver unsay dapat mahitabo (what should be done)," the mayor said.

If nothing significant happens in November 2018, Duterte-Carpio said she will disband the committee.

Meantime, the mayor revealed she received feelers from a member of the NPA to surrender.

While she welcomed this a good development, Duterte-Carpio clarified her objective for the local peace talks is the NPA to work with government and lay down their arms.

"They (rebels) can work with us with their arms if they want. I will be very flexible just to attain that elusive dream of peace," the mayor stressed.

She said she will find them jobs such as working as forest guards.

But if rebels surrender individually, the mayor said the can seek help from local officials and avail of programs already available for them like the CLIP (Comprehensive Local Integration Program) offered by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The mayor said the LCPC can still help facilitate for each surrenderer to avail programs but she hinted to broader work of the committee like tackling issues on amnesty for those facing charges in local courts, decommissioning of firearms, among others.

Duterte-Carpio confirmed there will be no military component in the LCPC.

Earlier, the military expressed support to the localized peace talks even if the peace negotiations with the communists at the national level had been suspended by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Brig. Gen Bienvenido Datuin, Assistant Division Commander of the Army's 10th Infantry Division, lauded the mayor for initiating the local peace talks and other trailblazing activities like the recruitment of the Special Cafgu active auxiliary (SCAA).

"We will toe-the-line," Datuin earlier said as he does not see any problem on the local peace talks even if the commander-in-chief (President Duterte) has "no talks" policy with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

He said the Philippine Army could even pursue its reintegration program, continue securing the people, and develop conflict-resilient communities.

"It is not about winning the war, but it is about winning the peace," Datuin stressed, hoping that the other side will also respect the peace initiatives of the mayor.

"Let's give it a try," he said.

Duterte-Carpio is pursuing local peace talks as it is her duty as a local leader for the Dabawenyos to achieve just and lasting peace even if the national government already suspended peace negotiations with the NDF. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)



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CEBU CITY -- The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) will ask the Philippine National Police (PNP) or the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the death of disc jockey-call center agent Marie Alexi Bolongaita, whose lifeless body was found inside her apartment in Barangay Busay, Cebu City early Thursday morning.

This was assured by Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, executive director of the PTFoMS and also the supervising undersecretary for the Philippine News Agency.

"We will definitely come in and coordinate with the investigating agencies, either the PNP or the NBI," said Egco after learning of the incident. "There's always that presumption that it's work related."

Egco was here in Cebu as guest of honor in the Cebu Citizens-Press Council meeting in celebration of Cebu Press Freedom Week.

The 29-year-old Bolongaita was found dead with a gunshot wound in the chest.

Recovered at the crime scene were one .22-caliber revolver, five empty shells, three live ammos, and a knife covered with blood.

Bolongaita was the Miss KBP (Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas) in the 2016 Miss Cebu Press Freedom contest.

If the killing will turn out to be work-related, Egco said the PTFoMS will provide legal assistance and security to the family of the victim.

Marie Alexi is the daughter of radio reporter Alex Bolongaita of local station dyRF.

A 36-year-old suspect identified as Reynante Mambiar of Salinas Drive, Lahug was arrested later Thursday after he was positively identified by a witness.

"Right now, Mambiar is under medication because he had a stab wound in his arm and lacerations on his body. He also has a gunshot wound on the face. We have to formalize his arrest," Cebu City Police Office director, Senior Superintendent Joel Doria said.

The blood found on the knife was a positive match to the suspect's.

No stab wound was found in Bolongaita's body.

"As of now, we don't have a concrete motive as to why this thing happened, although there are circumstances surrounding the incident,"  added Supt. Ryan de Varas, Investigation and Detection Management chief of Cebu City police. 

Initial investigation showed Mambiar entered the house of Bolongaita through an open window. Bolongaita lived alone in her apartment and would usually arrive from work around 3 a.m.

"So far, nothing was found missing among Bolongaita's things. It's also possible that the victim was raped because when homicide investigators found her inside her room, she was half naked with no underwear. But we are still waiting for the final result of the investigation for confirmation," de Varas said. (LBG/USJR intern Levirose Caballero/PNA)



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BACOOR CITY, Cavite –- This city kicked off on Thursday its week-long "Bakood Festival 2017" to mark its 346th founding anniversary.

Mayor Lani Mercado Revilla led city officials and employees in the festivities from the cultural facets through dancing and musical entertainment to sports such as biking and badminton and the fishing Olympics.

Organizers said the occasion serves as a great opportunity for Bacooreños to get to know each other in the spirit of fun and sportsmanship and to revisit "the rich heritage and culture of our beloved Bacoor."

According to historical accounts, the city of Bacoor was then named Bakood or Bakoor as a pueblo (town) founded in 1671 and was home of the revolutionary government during the time of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo's First Philippine Republic when town and local leaders officially signed the declaration of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence at a general assembly.

A strategic gateway some 15 kilometers southwest of Metro Manila from Cavite province, Bacoor is now one of Southern Luzon's bustling urban centers and among the country's most competitive cities.

As part of the opening salvo, the 4th Mandaragat (fishing) Olympics was staged at the Sineguelasan Fish Wharf on Thursday.  

The merry-making "Sayawan, Kantahan, at Serenata at the Strike Gym is set on Friday (Sept. 22).

On Saturday (Sept. 23), the city will stage the Zumbanation at the BGC Grounds and the Doowey Hooper Competition at Strike Gym.

The "Palarong Pinoy" will be held at the Strike Gym and the Bacoor City's Outstanding Law Enforcers Awards 2017 at Revilla Hall on Sept. 25.

The celebration will also feature on Sept. 26 an Essay Writing Contest at Revilla Hall and the Complementary Feeding for children under 3 years old at the Strike Gym.

Another crowd-drawer set for Sept. 27 is the culminating activity for "Pinoy Ako Kundiman" or "the Milenya Man" at the Strike Gym and on-the-spot Poster Making Contest at the Main Square Molino.

Families and children will also be treated to "Kiddie Fun Day and Family Day with Ate Lani" on Sept. 28 at Strike Gym.

On Sept. 29, the city will have a dawn "Thanksgiving Mass" at 4 a.m. at Strike Gym; "Unang Hirit Live" Coverage of GMA 7 at 5 a.m. at the Plaza de Padre Mariano Gomez.

On the same day, the city will host the WGI Workshop at 8 a.m. at the Strike Gym and begins the rehearsals for the Marching Band Drill participants starting 9 a.m.

Simultaneous activities will also be held with the "Dugong Alay, Dugtong Buhay ni Sen. Bong Revilla" at Revilla Hall; "Drum Battle Competition" at SM City Bacoor Annex parking grounds and the Jobs Fair at SM City Molino Activity Center.

On Sept. 30, city folks, visitors and tourists will witness the "Musiko 2017"; the "Grandest Marching Band Parade and Drill Competition, and the culminating "Bakood Festival 2017" with a grand parade that will start at 8 a.m. from the Bacoor Elementary school, passing around town up to the Maliksi Elementary School grounds. (Rogelio Limpin/PNA)

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TUGUEGARAO CITY -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Region 2, in partnership with the Cagayan State University (CSU), will develop high quality export products from available raw materials in the region.

During the "Tipon Tipan sa PIA" on Thursday, DOST Cagayan provincial director Engineer Sylvia Lacambra, said they will develop regional products that are globally competitive.

She said they will also enhance the design and packaging of by-products from bananas, citrus, mangoes, seaweeds, dairy products and livestock to meet the standards of the export market.

"I believe we have a lot of potentials to develop more export quality products," Lacambra said.

She noted that some of the region's raw materials are being processed and packaged in other regions and they only need to refine the packaging of their products to stand out in the global market.

Meanwhile, officials of CSU Carig campus said they will support all the research and product development initiated by DOST to boost the region's economic growth. (PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY -- Bacolod City remains a key destination for business process outsourcing (BPO) operations in the country, a global real estate services company said.

Colliers International Philippines, in a statement Thursday, said the city is among the pioneering provincial locations that managed to entice global outsourcing companies.

Bacolod is slowly being recognized as a major health information management (HIM) hub outside Metro Manila, the company said, adding that this is primarily attributed to the nursing and allied medical graduates that the city produces annually.

Colliers, however, pointed out that like other BPO hubs across the Philippines, Bacolod also faces the daunting task of retaining its rank in the Tholons annual survey for the most competitive global outsourcing locations.

Tholons is a leading full-service Strategic Advisory firm for Global Outsourcing and Investments.

The company reported that the city's overall vacancy in second quarter of 2017 eased to 6.9 percent from 14.7 percent in the same period last year.

This is due to the significant decline in the Negros First Cyber Centre's vacancy, it said.

Colliers, however, sees the overall vacancy in the city rising only marginally to about eight percent over the next 12 months as a number of online English tutorial and HIM firms have already expressed interest to expand operations here.

Ubiquity, one of the tenants at the Cyber Centre, is also planning to hire more employees and this should contribute to greater office space absorption by the end of the year, the firm said.

Despite the recent decline of Bacolod in the Tholons ranking, from 85th to 97th, the city remains as one of the most competitive BPO hubs in the country being one of only five Philippine locations included in the 2017 survey, it added.

Dom Fredrick Andaya, director for Office Services of Colliers, said they are recommending Bacolod  as expansion or back-up site to BPO and knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) locators.

Andaya cited the city's skilled labor pool, adequate infrastructure, and streamlined business registration system.

"Negros Occidental and Bacolod City have been active in attracting outsourcing investments. Local officials consider the BPO and KPO industry as a major job-generating sector," he added. (PNA)



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TAGBILARAN CITY -- Bohol Governor  Edgar Chatto has condemned the bomb scare that rocked the city on Tuesday and said he will not leave no stone unturned in the investigation of the threat that shocked Tagbilaran City. 

Police have started to trace the landline call to find leads in the investigation. 

Tagbilaran's traffic went awry after police cordoned off the streets leading to a local hospital. 

A hospital staff received the call saying a bomb has been placed inside the building.

Among those jolted by the bomb scare were volunteer doctors conducting a free surgical mission offered by a local charity group and the provincial government for indigent patients.

The bomb scare suspended the operations as everyone in the building was told to evacuate while the bomb squad scoured the building. 

No bomb was found after an hour and a half search and the patients and hospital staff were allowed to return.

The surgical mission continued after the police cleared the hospital. (Dave Albarado/PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY -- More or less 1,000 policemen will be deployed to secure the events of the MassKara Festival 2017 slated on October 1 - 22.

The Bacolod City Police Office as of Thursday plans to dispatch more than 650 policemen along with about 350 augmentation personnel from the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, Police Regional Office-6, and Regional Public Safety Battalion. 

Force multipliers will also be assigned to help secure the  festival sites.

Senior Superintendent Jack Wanky, acting director of BCPO, said earlier this week, the security plan is 90 percent ready.

Among the security measures are gun ban and cellular phone signal jamming in various festival sites during the activity highlights.

This year's festival, themed "Bacolod: City of Southeast Asia,"  celebrates the role of Bacolod in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) community.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia has said it means that Bacolod is not just a city of the Philippines, it now belongs to the ASEAN community.

"We will now interact with the rest of Southeast Asia," he added. "It is time to think ASEAN when we plan for development."

Festival director Eli  Francis Tajanlangit said in a recent press statement  the MassKara theme is also in celebration of the participation of Bacolod  in the Philippine hosting of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN this year.

On March 21-24, Bacolod hosted the 15th Meeting of the ASEAN Senior Officials Responsible for Information at the SMX Convention Center while on August 8, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) chose Bacolod as one of the 74 local government units to participate in the simultaneous ASEAN Landmark Lighting Ceremonies.

Leonardia further said:  "The integration of our country with nine other nations will mean that our horizons will widen, the playing field will be expanded, and we will have a new political and economic order."(PNA)



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NAGUILIAN, Isabela -- Parishioners of St. Joseph the Worker here  on Wednesday welcomed the image of Black Nazarene through a Eucharistic celebration.

The image of Black Nazarene came from Quiapo Church in Manila and will stay at the St. Joseph the Worker in Naguilian town until September 25.

The Knights of Columbus Grand Knight Bobot Callueng of St. Joseph Parish Church said the image will be at the church for the devotees. (PNA)



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BAGUIO CITY -- The City Council here approved on first reading a proposed ordinance declaring it unlawful for any person to make or cause excessive, unnecessary or unusual loud sounds from audio devices within residential areas and public streets.

The ordinance author, Councilor Edgar Avila, on Wednesday said once approved, the "Silent night" ordinance will disallow any loud noise in residential areas, subdivisions and public streets from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily and violators will be penalized with a maximum of PhP5,000.

The ordinance said using videokes or karaokes -- a favorite local past time -- may be allowed until midnight provided that residents get a permit from the barangay at least five days before the intended activity, otherwise, volume must be lowered so as not to disturb neighbors.

Loud sound, music or noise will not be tolerated 200 meters from schools, places of worship or hospitals.

The proposal also defines loud noise as when the volume destroys the serenity and comfort of people in any dwelling or residence, or when the volume is louder than necessary for the convenient hearing of the persons who are in the place in which audio devices such as karaoke, videoke, amplifiers, and musical instruments, among others, are operated.

The proposed ordinance further mentioned that a sound may be considered too loud if it is plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet from its origin.

Avila said people look forward to going home after a hard day's work or after school and expect an evening of rest, peaceful bliss or good night's sleep in the city's cool climate.

He said people are deprived of their well-deserved peace because of rowdy, noisy parties or gatherings in the neighborhood, and neighbors and strangers who take for granted the well-being of others and think only of their own enjoyment, thus, the need to effectively and efficiently address the basic community concern.

Avila added that noisy parties in the neighborhood often lead to disputes that even result in violence, injury and damage to property. (PNA)



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CEBU CITY -- Supervising Undersecretary for Philippine News Agency Joel Egco said on Thursday that plans are afoot to have August 30 of every year declared as National Press Freedom Day.

Egco made the announcement to members of the Cebu Citizens-Press Council (CCPC) during the 25th anniversary of the Cebu Press Freedom Week here.

"Why August 30? Because the date coincides with the birthday of Marcelo del Pilar, who is the Father of Philippine Press Freedom," Egco said. "Del Pilar was, first and foremost, a journalist and not just a revolutionary and a lawyer."

Egco added that there is evidence now that show Del Pilar had actually masterminded the Katipunan.

"La Solidaridad", the propaganda newspaper that Del Pilar edited, was known as "Katipunan" by its Tagalog readers.

Because of these recent historical findings, several groups, including those from Bulacan Province where the Del Pilars originated, came up with a resolution asking President Rodrigo Duterte  to declare August 30 as Press Freedom Day.

According to Egco, among the signatories of the resolution were Bulakeño Senator Joel Villanueva and several government officials of Bulacan.

"I was really surprised that Cebu already has its own Press Freedom Week here. So, I congratulate the Cebu Citizens-Press Council for having your 25th anniversary celebration," said Egco, who was the keynote speaker in the gathering.

"Even when I was president of the National Press Club in 2014, we asked the Aquino government then to declare August 30 as Press Freedom Day. But, unfortunately, it didn't happen. Hopefully, under the Duterte administration, we will be able to have that date declared," Egco said.

The petition has already been forwarded to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines by Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar for further study, Egco added.

"I'm really happy that Cebu has a Press Freedom Week celebration," Egco concluded. (PNA)



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TAGBILARAN CITY -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) here will be distributing drop boxes to different barangays in the city to gain information from the community.

This as Tagbilaran City Police Office (TCPO) acting chief Supt. Patricio Degay Jr. on Friday said that human intelligence has been one of the keys in keeping the peace and order in Bohol and they are eyeing to institutionalize the crowdsourcing of information to fight criminals.

"Makakatulong ang information para sa paghuli ng nga kriminal (information can help in capturing criminals)," said Degay in a phone interview.

Boholanos are known to extend information to the police, Degay said.

Recently, Boholanos gave the local police high performance and trust ratings.

With the trust, Degay wants to ask the public to give information to the police via the drop boxes.

All information will be treated with confidentiality and will be verified further, said Degay.

Drop boxes will also be placed in public areas such as malls, parks, seaport and airport.

Meanwhile, Police Regional Office head Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino said there was zero incident during the successful ASEAN Maritime Meeting that ended here on Friday.

Espino made the pronouncement during a chance interview with reporters at Camp Dagohoy. (Dave Albarado/PNA)



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TACLOBAN CITY-- The Department of Health (DOH) has expressed support to the city government's "New Beginnings for Change Program" designed to rehabilitate drug dependents.

Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial told local officials here Thursday that she is upbeat that the city will achieve the drug-free status.

"The war on drugs anchors on the belief that people can change, people can be reformed. Through this program, drug dependents will have a hope of a better future," Ubial said during the summit at the City Convention Center here.

The official asked concerned agencies to continue to work to completely eliminate the drug menace in the regional capital.

Report from the city police showed that of the 138 villages in the city, 36 have been declared as drug-cleared areas and 11 have been certified as drug-free.

As of end of August 2017, the city has 4,402 drug personalities who surrendered to the local police.

"The New Beginnings Program" is a local government-led drug rehabilitation program aims to prevent the distribution of drugs and help in the recovery of users.

Ubial pointed out that illegal drugs use is not just a security or a criminality issue, but a chronic and recurring mental health illness.

"We believe that we cannot do this alone, this war against drugs. We need the entire community, the police, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the jail guards, the anti-narcotics agents, the social workers, and the teachers," Ubial added.

Heads of national government agencies, key city government officials, government workers, and village officials joined the summit that concluded late Thursday afternoon.

Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez said that the "New Beginnings for Change Program" is the city government's holistic approach in dealing with the drug menace in the city.

"This is a manifestation of our passion to see a drug-cleared Tacloban where people are empowered to thrive and experience an improved quality life," she added.

The program goes beyond the fight against illegal drugs as it incorporates other focus area of President Rodrigo Duterte's administration, the mayor said.

The summit was an expression of unity and synergy toward building of changed lives. (with reports from Pearl Marie L. Ecaldre, OJT/PNA)



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LAOAG CITY -- Showcasing Ilocos Norte's vibrant tourism industry, the province of Ilocos Norte presented its bid on Friday (Sept. 22) as the "Best Tourism-Oriented Local Government Unit" in the country.

Aianree Raquel, provincial tourism chief, said a panel presentation was held at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in Metro Manila to present the tourism highlights of Ilocos Norte in 2016 which serves as basis for the final evaluation.

Raquel said Ilocos Norte has been shortlisted as one of the three provinces in the entire country to compete in the national award category.

Represented by local officials and selected tourism stakeholders here, Raquel said Ilocos Norte has a better chance to win the award this year as it placed first runner-up to Negros Occidental in 2016.

In partnership with the Department of Tourism, the Best Tourism Practices Awards was launched in 2005 by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) and the DOT Pearl Awards 2017.

The initiative seeks to recognize the efforts made by the people in the tourism industry, most especially the LGUs.

Over the last six years under the administration of Gov. Ma. Imelda Josefa "Imee" Marcos, tourism stakeholders here attest to the province's transformation in terms of massive tourism infrastructure development.

In 2012, the provincial government launched its Paoay Kumakaway! Tourism campaign. This paved the way for local job generation as thousands of foreign and local tourists visited Ilocos Norte's major tourism landmarks.

Raquel added Ilocos Norte's entry this year highlights the continuing efforts and programs of the provincial government to sustain the influx of tourists so that they will keep on coming back here.

As the largest job-generating industry in Ilocos Norte, tourism-related activities have recorded over 20,000 jobs annually.

Through public-private partnership, there is also a continuing refurbishment and development of new tourism facilities and sites and construction of access roads to ensure inclusive growth.

The awarding is set on the first week of October in time for the 18th national convention of ATOP in Iloilo City. (PNA)



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ILOILO CITY-- The Korean community here feels safe even as the city was tagged as being the "most shabulized" and the "bedrock of illegal drugs."

Moon Dae Jin, president of the Iloilo Korean Association, said there are around 2,000 of his countrymen in this city, mostly students in different universities while others are doing business.

"The Koreans feel Iloilo is very safe compared to other cities in the Philippines," he said in an interview Thursday night.

According to Moon, many Koreans chose Iloilo City because it is safe, peaceful and clean.

He said that they do not even feel the drug problem in the city.

Moon has been staying here for 17 years. He said that he has been to many cities in the country but decided to reside here.

He also said that he has no plans of moving to other places. He will just visit other cities when he feels like traveling.

Meantime, he said they are still pushing for a direct flight from Incheon, South Korea to Iloilo City and vice versa. (PNA)



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TAGBILARAN CITY -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) signed a memorandum of agreement here in Camp Dagohoy on Friday for better interoperability.

The pact is for Regional Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Council undertakings and coordination for operations, civil military operations, intelligence, administration and investigation.

The alliance can be a huge help against the increasing threat of terrorism and in the war against illegal drugs.

Police Regional Office-7 Chief Superintendent Jose Mario Espino and Philippine Army 302nd Infantry Brigade commander Brigadier General Arnulfo Matanguihan led the signing witnessed by all local police chiefs in Bohol and commanders of the military under the 302nd Brigade.

At the same time, local business leaders in Bohol gave citations to both police and military for their action in neutralizing the Abu Sayyaf Group which entered the province.

Matanguihan received the citation for the military and Bohol Provincial Director Senior Supt. Felipe Natividad received the award for Bohol police.

Security forces have been cited for solid action against the Abu Sayyaf terror threat in the province back in April.

Interoperability is critical in keeping the peace and maintaining Bohol's status as insurgency-free.
Bohol has been insurgency-free since 2010. (Dave Albarado/PNA)



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DAVAO CITY – Executive Judge Emmanuel Carpio issued the release order of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Chieftain Nur Misuari after posting bail on Tuesday in connection to the graft and malversation charges before the Sandiganbayan.

Misuari is facing two counts of graft and two counts of malversation for the alleged anomalous purchase of education materials when he was the governor of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao in 2000.

Misuari reportedly spent P115 million for educational materials, but were not delivered to intended recipients.

The anti-graft court has ordered police authorities to arrest Misuari early this month. It has set the bail at PhP200,000 to PhP460,000 each for malversation through falsification charges, and PhP30,000 each for graft.

Misuari posted a cash bond of P460,000.

Misuari is in Davao City and met with President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday night at the Matina Enclaves. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)



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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte here said they will hold their own protest to mark the 45th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law on September 21.

President Duterte declared Sept. 21 as "National Day of Protest" nationwide, suspending classes in public schools and work in government offices. Private schools and instutions, however, are free to decide whether to suspend classes and work during that day.

Cedrick Sabio, local chapter head of the newly-created PRRD Coalition, said Tuesday his group will march on the streets to counter anti-administration groups that are also expected to stage protest Wednesday.

Sabio said they expect hundreds of thousands of their members all over Northern Mindanao to attend the protest.

PRRD Coalition, according to Sabio, is a conglomeration of 16 organizations that supported Duterte's presidential campaign. He said supporters and volunteers decided to band together to counter the "anti-Duterte propaganda" by some groups opposed to the President's "policies and how he executes them."

On Tuesday, core members of the group met in the city with Political Affairs Secretary Francis Tolentino, who administered the induction of the group's officers. Also present was Energy Undersecretary Ben Ranque, who spoke to the group about the importance of federalism.

"Federalism is the solution to the poverty in the country. We manage our own money at the local level, not the ones in Manila," Ranque said.

For his part, Tolentino expressed gratitude to the people who voted him as a senatorial candidate in the 2016 elections. Tolentino won in the city, but lost at the national level.

Last week, groups opposed to the Duterte administration announced widespread protests to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the declaration of a nationwide martial law by then President Ferdinand Marcos in 1972. (PNA/Mark D. Francisco)



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DAVAO CITY -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday said barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in Mindanao are postponed while the Martial Law is still in effect.

But for Visayas and Luzon, the poll body is still waiting for the final decision of Congress.

Comelec XI Director Marlon Casquejo said the postponement was approved by Comelec in an en banc resolution on August 15 following a consultation with local officials last month.

According to Casquejo, all barangay and SK officials are in hold-over status.

The postponement was considered due to the imposition of martial law. President Rodrigo Duterte has first declared martial law in Mindanao last May 23 until July. The President extended the martial law until the end of December, 2017.

All parties have been notified and there was no opposition to delay the elections, which is scheduled in October, Casquejo said during Wednesday's AFP-PNP Press forum at the Royal Mandaya Hotel.

The barangay and SK polls will happen only 30 days after martial law will be lifted.

Casquejo, however, stressed that Comelec is ready to hold elections if the martial law will be lifted anytime. If martial law ends on December 31, 2017, the elections can take place 30 days after.

He said Comelec continues to accept certificates of candidacy.

Comelec is also printing official ballots while the list of voters and the board of election inspectors are also ready.

Casquejo said there are already three million voters in Davao region. Of the number, 1.2 million voters are in Davao City that already includes SK voters.

For Visayas and Luzon, Casquejo said there are conflicting provisions in the bills passed in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

He cited that the House agreed to the postponement of the barangay and SK elections to May 2018 while the Senate moved for October elections. Another provision is on the status of the barangay officials.

Casquejo said the House moved for hold-over status while the Senate wants to replace the barangay captains in the list of narco politicians. The Senate also gives President Duterte the authority to replace them.

Should the House and Senate still fail to agree on conflicting provisions, Casquejo said Comelec is ready for the October elections in Luzon and Visayas.

Last week, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading House Bill 6308 which seeks to postpone the October 23, 2017, barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to the second Monday of May 2018.

To reset the synchronized barangay and SK polls, the bill seeks to amend Republic Act No. 9164, as amended by RA No. 9340, RA No. 10656 and RA No. 10923, which are all related to barangay and SK elections.

The bill provides that all incumbent barangay and SK officials shall continue to hold office until the next election is held.

The postponement of the barangay and SK elections this year is in support of President Duterte's call to reset the polls because he does not want those financed by druglords to win. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)



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TABACO CITY – The National Housing Authority (NHA) has assured the local government here of at least PHP800 million for the construction of 4,000 housing units to resettle victims of Typhoon Nina that ravaged this city and other contiguous areas in Albay province on Christmas Day last year.

Each housing unit costs PHP200,000 while the local government's counterpart is the lot area which NHA-Bicol Director Albert Perfecto has fixed at 40 hectares.

The city acquired last year a 21-hectare lot in Barangay San Vicente and devoted six hectares to the local Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO).

"The remaining 15 hectares shall be devoted to resettlement of Typhoon Nina victims along with the adjacent lots the city is willing to purchase soon to fully accommodate this NHA Project," said Mayor Cielo Krisel Lagman-Luistro in an interview Wednesday.

Previous efforts by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in providing assistance to those typhoon victims with totally and partially damaged houses through its Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) will not affect NHA's selection of priority resettlement beneficiaries.

"The ESA is not resettlement. It was for reconstruction of totally damaged and for repairs of partially damaged houses where they are originally located," City Administrator Gerardo Colarina told the Philippine News Agency.

City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) records show there were 4,008 totally damaged and 10,262 partially damaged houses in the aftermath of Typhoon Nina.

Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman extended assistance to typhoon victims by providing each of them six pieces 12-foot corrugated G. I. sheets for the totally damaged houses and four pieces for every partially damaged house, and tarpaulins for damaged schools.

Mayor Luistro, the congressman's daughter, said: "It came from his own pocket, from our family, from friends and from corporate sponsors with the ardent intention of providing immediate roofing for the victims and for affected schools while efforts using government funds, local and national, are on its way."

Jennifer Mayo, CSWDO ESA coordinator, also confirmed 1,182 typhoon victims were extended financial assistance by the DSWD last August 24, the department's fourth payout for victims with totally damaged houses. The following day, it started the first payout for those with partially damaged houses. (Freddie Vargas/PNA)



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KIDAPAWAN CITY -- More policemen will be deployed in North Cotabato to augment its present police force at the municipal level and improve peace and order situation, a top police official said Wednesday.

Senior Supt. Jonathan Tangonan, acting North Cotabato police provincial director, told reporters that Chief Supt. Cedrick Train, police regional director for Central Mindanao, has already committed to the request of his office and that of local government executives.

Without giving the exact number of police personnel in North Cotabato's 17 municipalities and one city for security reason, Tangonan said the augmentation will help ensure safety of local residents.

"We really lack police personnel and this request was backed by the provincial government and other political leaders," he told reporters.

Tangonan said the additional police forces will be deployed in the municipalities to improve security situation.

North Cotabato has several threat groups that occasionally create trouble that send civilians fleeing.

The outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) operate at the borders of North Cotabato and Maguindanao and for several occasion had harassed communities, including the recent attack by BIFF in Pigcawayan, North Cotabato.

Beside the BIFF, a huge number of communist rebels also operate in North Cotabato's second district. Guerilla Front 53 operates in the mountains of Arakan, President Rojas, Kidapawan City, Magpet, Makilala, Tulunan and Mlang.

The province is also home to two Moro fronts (Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front) that already signed separate peace deals with the national government.

Clan wars involving Moro families in North Cotabato also hinder the attainment of peace in the province.

Beside the local police, North Cotabato is also home to the Army's 602nd Infantry Brigade based in Carmen, North Cotabato. Three Army battalions, 39th Infantry Battalion, 34th Infantry Battalion and 7th Infantry Battalion are based in North Cotabato.

Tangonan said the police is prepared to thwart any destabilization attempt in the province even as he appealed to the public to continue supporting local police in combatting crimes, illegal drugs and lawlessness.(PNA)



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ZAMBOANGA CITY – Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Undersecretary Nabil Tan has exhorted the need to sustain and advance the gains of the peace process to counter and address the root cause of violent extremism -- a key driver that led to the ongoing armed conflict in Marawi City.

Tan, who is actively involved for years in the peace negotiations with the Moro fronts representing the government, made the appeal during a forum on the Bangsamoro Peace Process and Countering Violent Extremism and Terrorism on Sunday, September 17.

Tan said furthering the peace building in Mindanao would discourage the emergence of violent extremism and radicalism particularly in conflict-ridden areas.

Tan provided updates on the developments of the implementation of the peace agreements between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MNLF).

He exhorted the need to support the overall peace process in Mindanao amid the ongoing conflict in Marawi City.

"The crisis in Marawi is just a microcosm of things until and unless fully healed, conflict can erupt," he said, adding that the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) "will actively engage in the social and cultural healing processes because they are very important."

"The social healing and cultural healing is part of the Task Force Bangon Marawi, which OPAPP is a member," he said.

"Poor governance, non-involvement of the youth, education, health, etc. these can be drivers of extremism because when hope is almost lost, which is prevalent in the conflict area, it's a fertile ground for extremism," Tan, chair of the government implementing panels dealing with the MILF and MNLF, said.

Sheik Zayd Ocfemia, chair for social affairs of the Zamboanga Peninsula Ulama Council, emphasized during the forum that wrong interpretations of the teachings of Islam, and the vulnerability of the people in the conflict-prone areas are some of the major causes of the violent extremism in Mindanao.

 Tolerance and co-existing with other religions are at the center of the teachings of Islam, Ocfemia said.

Quoting a verse from the holy Quran, Ocfemia said Islam is against the notion of using violence.

He said the Ulama or Muslim clerics in the country have earlier issued a fatwa or Islamic law declaring terrorism as "haram" or forbidden.

Ocfemia noted that they have laid down several actions to address violent extremism and terrorism through countering "the narrative of the radicals and the war mongers by instituting policies and programs aimed at reducing poverty, promoting social justice and equal opportunities regardless of religion or ethnicity."

The Ulama also called on to strengthen "interfaith dialogues with the cultural and religious sensitivities of all groups in order to attract wider participation among Muslim scholars."

Prof. Alih Aiyub, secretary-general of the National Ulama Council of the Philippines, said the mixture of structural violence in Mindanao has provided a conducive environment for radicalism to emerge.

Aiyub said a comprehensive solution to address the social ills in the conflict-ridden areas should be implemented on the ground.

For his part, Rear Admiral Rene Medina, Naval Forces Western Mindanao commander, said the military is tapping all sectors, particularly the Moro fronts to "completely defeat terrorism."

"Security is a shared responsibility. It needs sustainment of partnership between the different stakeholders," Medina said.

He represented Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, during the forum.

"The resolution of the Bangsamoro question is the long-term solution in achieving peace in Muslim Mindanao...It has direct and lasting impact in combating terrorism," Medina said, quoting Galvez.

During the forum, Peter Cheng, OPAPP program manager for Zamboanga-Basilan-Sulu-Tawi-Tawi areas, also provided the updates to the participants about the six-point Peace and Development Agenda of the Duterte administration.

Abul-Jalil Umngan, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Western Mindanao area manager, also spelled-out the strategic direction for Mindanao "to operationalize the policy directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to push for the systemic shift to a federal form of government."

"As such, we will be providing a mechanism that will bring the Moro people together to forge unity; ensure their participation in the national discourse on federalism; and isolate the extremist groups within our midst. For this purpose, we will be at the soonest, convene the All Moro Convention," Umngan, representing Secretary Datu Hj. Abul Khayr Alonto, said.

The whole-day forum was initiated by OPAPP in connection with the month-long celebration of the National Peace Consciousness Month this September. (PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Police operatives arrested a college dropout-turned-drug pusher in a buy-bust operation in a housing village in nearby Koronadal City on Tuesday night.

Chief Insp. Jomero Sentinta, deputy chief of the Koronadal City police station, identified the suspect as John Charles Dondiego Nambong, 22, a resident of Villa Agreda Subdivision Phase 1 in Barangay Sto.Niño.

He said the suspect was arrested at around 11:45 p.m. by elements from the Koronadal City police's drug enforcement unit at a portion of Sueno Village in Barangay Morales.

Nambong was caught in the act of selling a sachet of suspected metamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu worth P500 to a police officer who posed as a buyer, he said.

In a subsequent search, Sentinta said they recovered a medium pack and large packs of suspected shabu worth P118, 000 and various drug paraphernalia.

The police official said Nambong is a former information technology student of a private college in Koronadal City but dropped out and turned to the illegal drug trade.

"He is considered a high value target and reportedly linked to a local drug group," Sentinta said.

He said they have long been monitoring the movements of the suspected, who is included in the city's drug watch list.

Sentina said they properly validated the suspect's illegal activities and launched several test buys prior to the operation.

The evidence seized from Nambong was sent by the Koranadal City police station to the South Cotabato Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) crime laboratory in Koronadal City for proper examination.

The suspect, who is currently detained at the police station's lock up cell, would be charged for violation of sections 5 and 11or selling and possession of dangerous drugs, under Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002. (PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The operations of authorized sweepstakes and lotto outlets of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) here are set to resume soon, with the issuance on Tuesday of official concurrence from the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP).

The City Council passed a resolution during its regular session, allowing the PCSO and its authorized franchisees to operate lotto and sweepstakes outlets within the city's 26 barangays.

City Councilor Rosalita Nunez said the move practically allowed local lotto and sweepstakes outlets to resume their operations after being suspended by the city government last Friday due to the lack of official concurrence from the SP.

The official said sweepstakes and lotto outlets have long been operating and providing benefits for the city.

"This is a revalidation or confirmation of the existence and operations of sweepstakes and lotto in the city," she said.

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera issued on Sept. 14 a cease and desist order against the operations of all legal numbers game products of the PCSO pending the issuance of the council's concurrence.

The order specifically covers the operations of all outlets for lotto, sweepstakes, Small Town Lottery (STL) and other related products.

He said such move is in compliance with the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 9649, which amended the city charter.

Section 2 of RA 9649 added a new section, 101-A, to RA 5412 or the city charter, requiring the prior concurrence of the city government for the "establishment and/or operation of any form of gambling authorized under existing laws."

City Councilor Franklin Gacal, chair of the SP Games and Amusement Committee, clarified that the approved resolution only covered the operations of lotto and sweepstakes.
He said the cease and desist order for the STL will continue until the SP issues a similar measure.

Gacal said the concurrence for lotto and sweepstakes was immediately approved as they don't have any pending issue and their operations have so far "smooth sailing."

"For the STL, we should study it first and put in place the necessary measures," he said.

Last month, the SP called for the stoppage of STL operations in the city due to the lack of official concurrence from the local government, through the SP.

In a resolution, it declared the operations of PCSO's authorized local franchise, Trento Gaming Corporation, as illegal and directed the city police to stop its operations.

With the issuance of the SP's concurrence for the lotto and sweepstakes, city administrator, Lawyer Arnel Zapatos, said he will immediately recommend to the mayor the lifting of their cease and desist order.

He will also seek the issuance of another directive that would sustain the temporary stoppage of the STL operations.

"The mayor is very firm on this and he has ordered the business permits and licensing division to look into the compliance of the concerned outlets," he said. (PNA



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The provincial government of South Cotabato has adopted the tagline "Land of the Dreamweavers" as the official brand for its tourism promotion and marketing campaigns.

Cesar Sulit Jr., South Cotabato senior tourism operations officer, said Wednesday the move is mainly aimed to enhance the local government's continuing efforts to develop the province as a top cultural and ecotourism destination in the country.

He said the new brand is a tribute to the province's tribal "dreamweavers" and the famed T'nalak fabric.

T'nalak is a traditional craft of the T'boli tribe, which is based in the municipalities of T'boli and Lake Sebu, featuring unique designs inspired by the dreams of women weavers.

The province holds the T'nalak Festival every July as part of its foundation anniversary celebration.

To complement the tourism brand, Sulit said they also adopted "South Cotabato, Our Home, Now Your Destination" as official slogan.

The new tourism brand and slogan were conceptualized by the local government's arts, culture, tourism and museum promotions unit, he said.

"These represent the core of our tourism promotion and marketing campaign as well as what our province wants to achieve for the tourism sector," Sulit said.

He said they have initially prepared audio-visual presentations and other related materials to help mainstream the new tourism brand and slogan.

These will be included later on in the province's official communication and tourism promotional materials like brochures and posters, he said.

South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes, who had endorsed the new tourism brand and slogan, expressed hopes that they would help bring the province's tourism campaign to new levels.

She acknowledged that the local government needs to strengthen its tourism campaigns to offset the impact of the continuing conflict in parts of Mindanao.

"We need to strive more because of martial law and with the negative perception about our place," she said.

Fuentes said the province's recent achievements would be put to waste if these are not addressed properly.

The province was adjudged last month by the National Competitiveness Council as the country's second most competitive province.

It improved a notch higher after landing third in 2016.(PNA)



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BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan -- The organizer of the annual Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival is now gearing up for next year's celebration.

Ati-Atihan, an annual festival that attracts thousands of local and international tourists, is a week-long celebration every second week of January.

The more than 800-year-old festival, dubbed as the "Mother of All Philippine Festivals" is organized yearly by the Kalibo Santo Niño Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (KASAFI).

Albert Meñez, KASAFI chairman, said Wednesday that preparations for the festival are already underway.

He said Kalibo Ati-Atihan 2018 will officially open on October 20.

Following the opening salvo, a series of events will also be scheduled for the celebration in January.

Meñez said the selection for Mutya it Kalibo Ati-atihan 2018, which is one of the highlights of the festival, is still open.

Next year's festival will also highlight the search for Mr. Ati-Atihan Festival King.

Aside from the capital town of Kalibo, other towns in Aklan also have their own version of Ati-Atihan, including Boracay. (PNA)



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SOUTH UPI, Maguindanao -- Police have launched a massive manhunt Wednesday against two men who shot dead a village chief here.

Senior Supt. Agustin Tello, Maguindanao police provincial director, said members of South Upi municipal police station have been following up a lead after informants provided investigators with the gunmen's physical description.

Citing reports from South Upi police, Tello identified the victim as Mamayog Datuwata, 56, chair of Barangay Lamud.

Datuwata was walking alone toward the barangay hall at sitio Sta. Fe when two men riding in tandem on a motorbike passed by. One of the suspects opened fire on the village official, hitting him at the back of his head.

He succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds in the head and body. He died on the spot.

Tello said several witnesses came forward and offered information that could eventually lead to the suspects' arrest.

Tello said the attack against Datuwata, a Maguindanao Muslim, could be politically motivated or due to "rido" (family feud) involving his family and another clan in South Upi.(PNA)



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LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- The Pangasinan police has beefed up security in the border areas of eastern Pangasinan following a clash between elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the New People's Army (NPA) in Caranglan, Nueva Ecija.

At least nine NPA rebels were reportedly killed in the firefight that began early today (Wednesday).

According to Senior Supt. Ronald Oliver Lee, police provincial director, the firefight involves soldiers of the Philippine Army and a band of NPA rebels in Caranglan, Nueva Ecija.

Lee said government forces now manning the border areas in the Pangasinan side are from the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office, Provincial Public Safety Company and the Regional Public Safety Battalion, all of the police;  as well as from the Army's 84th Infantry Brigade.

He said these forces are being readied to intercept NPA rebels who may be straying into Pangasinan after being driven out from Caranglan, Nueva Ecija.

In fact, he said, the police and the military boosted their strength in the areas around the towns of San Nicolas, Natividad, San Quintin and Umingan, Pangasinan where they were already on full alert since July 28 this year.

On July 28, elements of the Regional Public Safety Battalion 1 (RSPB1) clashed with NPA rebels in the boundary of Barangays Sta. Maria and Malico in  San Nicolas where one  government trooper was killed and another was wounded.

Another firefight happened on August 25 in the same area resulting in the death of three NPA rebels..

Lee admitted that NPA rebels who clashed with government forces in San Nicolas on July 28 and August 25  in San Nicolas, Pangasinan came from Nueva Ecija where they are reportedly actively operating. (PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The provincial government of South Cotabato is pushing for the inclusion of 10 more road projects worth P1.014 billion into the national government's Conditional Matching Grant to Provinces (CMGP) program for next year.

Vicente Ayongao, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Engineer's Office, said Wednesday they have submitted the proposed projects to concerned national government agencies for consideration in the program's 2018 cycle.

He said the 10 road projects are included in the province's priorities under its annual infrastructure program.

"These are for road repair, rehabilitation and other improvements," Ayongao said in a statement.

The proposed projects are the Tampakan-Tablu (boundary) road project in Tampakan town worth P258.117 million; junction national highway-Cebuano-Kipalbig (boundary) road project in Tampakan worth P69 million; Tampakan-Sta. Cruz-Topland (boundary) road project in Tampakan town and Koronadal City worth P41.4 million; junction national highway-Palian-Cannery-junction Upper Klinan road project in Tupi and Polomolok worth P140.41 million;
Junction national highway-Sulit-Bentung-Crossing Aflek road project in Polomolok and T'boli worth P32.92 million; junction national highway-Poblacion Tantangan-Tacub-Tinago (boundary) road project in Tantangan worth P138 million; junction national highway-New Iloilo-Cabuling-New Lambunao (boundary) road project in Tantangan worth P83.214 million; junction provincial road-Gen. Paulino Santos-Caloocan (boundary) road project in Koronadal City worth P21.85 million; Centrala-Naci-Lambontong road project in Surallah worth P111.55 million; and, Centrala-Buenvista-Canahay road project in Surallah worth P18.45 million.

The CMGP is the successor of the Konkreto at Ayos na Lansangan ang Daan Tungo sa Pangkalahatang Kaunlaran or the KALSADA program, which was launched by the national government in 2016 following the completion of the Australian Aid's Provincial Road Management Facility that covered 10 selected provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao.

The program aims to partly address the poor state of provincial roads across the country and to improve the competency of provinces in local road management and in incorporating reforms in public financial management.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Budget and Management has approved eight roads projects in the province worth P366,926,330 under the 2017 cycle of the CMGP.

Ayongao said the bidding process for these projects is currently ongoing as reported by the provincial bids and awards division.
He said these projects are targeted for full implementation before yearend.(PNA)



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DAVAO CITY -- Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has ordered the suspension of classes Thursday in all private schools from K-12 to college level, due to the expected protest actions from various sectors.

"Since it is a national day of protest (September 21) and declared by the Office of the President as such, since it covers only public schools, we will also declare a suspension of clases for private schools," Duterte-Carpio said in a press conference at City Hall Wednesday.

She said the suspension of classes in the city (private schools) will ensure the safety of the students during the day of protest. It will also make sure that the students will not be disturbed by the protest actions.

"Just stay home and prepare for your September 22 classes," the city mayor said.

Duterte-Carpio said the protest actions that will be conducted at the Freedom Park and Rizal Park will not require a permit from City Hall.
A group of protesters has indicated its intention to converge in the said areas and to march along the downtown area.

"It's okay because there are no classes to interrupt," she said.

A Memorandum Circular issued by Malacañang suspended work and classes in all government offices, including local government units and public schools in all levels including stare and LGU universities, colleges/technical and vocational schools.

The circular indicated that other branches of government where the executive branch has no jurisdiction are not covered by the suspension.

"Government employees who will be assigned to report for work on September 21 shall be remunerated through compensatory time-off for hours of work rendered, per Civil Service Commission (CSC) rules and regulations," read the circular.

Suspension of work in the private sector and classes in private schools in the affected areas is left to the sound discretion of their respective heads.

A Memorandum Circular issued by Malacañang suspended work and classes in all government offices including local government units and public schools in all levels including stare and LGU universities, colleges/technical and vocational schools.

The Circular indicated that other branches of government where the executive branch has no jurisdiction are not covered by the suspension.

"Government employees who will be assigned to report for work on September 21 shall be remunerated through compensatory time-off for hours of work rendered, per Civil Service Commission (CSC) rules and regulations," read the Circular. (Lovely Carillo/PNA)



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DAVAO CITY -- Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has ordered the suspension of classes Thursday in all private schools from K-12 to college level, due to the expected protest actions from various sectors.

"Since it is a national day of protest (September 21) and declared by the Office of the President as such, since it covers only public schools, we will also declare a suspension of clases for private schools," Duterte-Carpio said in a press conference at City Hall Wednesday.

She said the suspension of classes in the city (private schools) will ensure the safety of the students during the day of protest. It will also make sure that the students will not be disturbed by the protest actions.

"Just stay home and prepare for your September 22 classes," the city mayor said.

Duterte-Carpio said the protest actions that will be conducted at the Freedom Park and Rizal Park will not require a permit from City Hall.
A group of protesters has indicated its intention to converge in the said areas and to march along the downtown area.

"It's okay because there are no classes to interrupt," she said.

A Memorandum Circular issued by Malacañang suspended work and classes in all government offices, including local government units and public schools in all levels including stare and LGU universities, colleges/technical and vocational schools.

The circular indicated that other branches of government where the executive branch has no jurisdiction are not covered by the suspension.

"Government employees who will be assigned to report for work on September 21 shall be remunerated through compensatory time-off for hours of work rendered, per Civil Service Commission (CSC) rules and regulations," read the circular.

Suspension of work in the private sector and classes in private schools in the affected areas is left to the sound discretion of their respective heads.

A Memorandum Circular issued by Malacañang suspended work and classes in all government offices including local government units and public schools in all levels including stare and LGU universities, colleges/technical and vocational schools.

The Circular indicated that other branches of government where the executive branch has no jurisdiction are not covered by the suspension.

"Government employees who will be assigned to report for work on September 21 shall be remunerated through compensatory time-off for hours of work rendered, per Civil Service Commission (CSC) rules and regulations," read the Circular. (Lovely Carillo/PNA)



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NASUGBU, Batangas -- Five persons were killed and two others were injured in a vehicular accident in Sitio Bayabasan, Barangay Aga, Nasugbu, Batangas, Tuesday afternoon.

Police Senior Inspector Joel Bunquin Ilagan, Nasugbu deputy chief of pólice, said a Hyundai Starex van with plate number UOU 631 was on its way to Nasugbu when it collided with an 18-wheeler trailer truck owned by JC Movers. 

The truck, which was driven by 56-year-old Gerardo San Pedro Tiongson, was bound for Calaca, Batangas from Cavite.

Tiongson reportedly lost control of the brakes due to the slippery road caused by moderate rains.

Police investigation showed the trailer truck tilted and tumbled as it descended through the slope portion of the road and collided head-on with the Starex van that was traversing the opposite direction.

The truck slipped through, pushing the Starex van until it fell into the ravine on the left shoulder of the road and smashed onto an approaching jeepney.

The rear portion of the trailer truck also hit the passenger-type jeepney owned and driven by Giovanni Pilac Bulaclac, 21, of Sitio Bayabasan, Barangay Aga, Nasugbu, Batangas.

Investigators said all passengers aboard the van were killed including the driver identified as Oscar Daulong Dela Cruz, 46, of Martha Subdivision, Marilao, Bulacan.

The other fatalities were Hermelinda Mesias Corsiga, 47, helper from Valle Verde 4, Barangay Ugong Pasig City; Maria Angela Benares, 40, and her father, the van owner, Benjamin Jalandoni, 71 years old. 

Another female victim identified only as "Daday" who was brought to the Apacible Memorial District Hospital, died later while being treated.

The driver of the passenger jeepney was unharmed while the truck trailer driver sustained injuries in different parts of his body and is now under hospital arrest at the Apacible Memorial District Hospital. (Robert A. Maico/PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY -- The provincial government of Negros Occidental on Wednesday released a total of PHP6.1 million project funds to three municipalities.

Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. led the turnover of checks to officials in a ceremony held at the Capitol.

Pontevedra town received PHP5 million for the improvement of its Multi-Purpose Government Center while Valladolid town got a total of PHP1 million for its four barangays that will receive PHP250,000 each.

Batuan was granted financial assistance for the construction of a perimeter fence; Bagumbayan, for the construction of an open canal; Lacaron, for the renovation of its Day Care Center; and Sagua Banua, for the concrete paving of its basketball court.

San Enrique, Barangay Poblacion received PHP100,000 for the purchase of filling materials for a barangay site.

On Sept. 7, nine villages from two local government units received a total of PHP3.35 million in checks from the provincial government for the implementation of various projects.

Five villages in Hinigaran town, which is under the Fifth District, received a total assistance of PHP1.350 million.

Recipients were Barangays II, I-Poblacion, Baga-as, Anahaw, and Nanunga, with projects, including the concreting of a barangay mini-fish wharf and seawall protection, the construction of a multi-purpose pavement, the installation of streetlights, the rehabilitation of a health center, and the extension of covered court roofing.

Also turned over were a total of PHP2 million in checks to officials of Barangay 3, 8, Camansi, and Camugao of Kabankalan City.

The assistance will be used for their respective projects, including the construction of concrete fence and drainage system, riprapping of drainage canal, rehabilitation of multi-purpose building, and enclosure of covered court.

Last month, 23 barangays in Negros Occidental received a total of PHP7.4 million worth of financial assistance for its projects from the provincial government.

Three barangays of Manapla town were given a total of PHP1.5 million for the renovation of their respective barangay halls.

Also released were a total of PHP5.9 million financial assistance for the implementation of various projects in 20 barangays. (PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY -- The Provincial Board of Negros Occidental approved Wednesday the granting of a PHP1-million assistance to the Association of Negros Producers for the staging of the 32nd Negros Trade Fair at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City on Sept. 27- October 1.

Fourth District Board Member Victor Javellana, who proposed the resolution, said the annual trade fair is beneficial to local producers, who will showcase the best of Negros through their products.

The five-day event is themed "Food for Thought", with the tagline "Feast your Eyes, Fill your Heart, and Feed your Soul".

It is expected to gather at least 80 Negrense entrepreneurs who will offer "better and more innovative products".

The event is also seen to boost the tourism industry of Negros Occidental, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Artemio Ticar, DOT-Western Visayas designated tourism area development head for Negros Occidental, said the trade fair is a platform to showcase the province as one of the country's top tourism destinations.

Food products offered by Negrense enterprises promote the province's rich culinary tourism, he added.

Also available during the fair are gifts, decor and homestyle, fashion and garments, furniture and furnishings, natural and organic sectors, which are part of the components of tourism packages offered by Negros Occidental, Ticar said.

"With thousands visiting the Negros Trade Fair, it is a potential venue to showcase and promote our vast tourism offerings," the DOT official said.

According to a latest survey of the DOT and the Philippine Statistics Authority, Negros Occidental is the second most visited place in the country by domestic travelers.

In 2016, Negros Occidental placed second in terms of number of tourist arrivals in Western Visayas, with 1.65 million visitors last year.

The province is one of the preferred familiarization and post-event tour destinations in Western Visayas, along with Iloilo. (PNA)



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CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga -- A total of 1,657 newly-promoted police personnel in Central Luzon took their oath at the Police Regional Office 3 parade grounds here on Wednesday.

Chief Supt. Amador V. Corpus, Regional Director of the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3), administered the oath-taking and mass pinning of the newly promoted 95 police commissioned officers and 1,562 police non-commissioned officers, witnessed by their families and relatives.

Corpus, in his message, said that promotion is not a reward of what was done well, but recognition that each police personnel has the potential to do more.

He warned the newly-promoted police personnel to stay away from doing nefarious activities as they carry on their fight on illegal drugs, illegal gambling and all forms of lawlessness.

"I warn each and every one of you to stay away from doing nefarious activities as I am quick to impose upon you an appropriate punishment if you are found linked to crimes. I will not tolerate any one of you for violating our laws, as you are not worthy to wear our uniform and you should be removed from our ranks. I am serious about this. All I simply ask from you is to do your job effectively and efficiently and you will be rewarded and supported by my leadership," Corpus said. (PNA)



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DUMAGUETE CITY – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) District Office in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental has been named one of the recipients of the regional "Best Brigada Ahensya" award.

LTO-Bayawan District Office chief Alberta Janine F. Lawas said Wednesday she received a letter dated Sept. 18, 2017 from the Civil Service Commission in Region 7, signed by Director IV Editha Lozano, informing her of the award.

This is one of the highlights of the 117th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary, with the theme "Tugaon sa Hamon sa Pagbabago: Malasakit ng Lingkod Bayani".

The regional awarding ceremony is set in the afternoon of September 28 at the Montebello Villa Hotel in Banilad, Cebu City.

The awarding ceremony "aims to recognize outstanding achievements of public servants in Region 7 and to motivate others to strive for excellence," the CSC director said in her letter.

Among those that will be recognized are Region 7's winners in the Search for Outstanding Government Workers or the Honor Awards Program (HAP), Search For Best Brigada Ahensya, Best Bilis Aksyon Partners, Most Outstanding Human Resource Management Practitioner, and recognition of agency partners, the CSC added. (PNA)



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COTABATO CITY – Anti-narcotics operatives arrested on Tuesday dawn one of the members of a drug syndicate operating in Maguindanao, Gen. Santos City and Cotabato City.

In a report, Director Juvenal Azurin of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-ARMM) identified the suspect as Nihara Sabayani Makmod, allegedly a member of Saba Drug Group operating in southern Mindanao.

Armed with search warrants, PDEA-ARMM operatives and Datu Odin Sinsuat police officers raided the house of Makmod in Barangay Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao at 5 a.m. Makmod did not resist arrest.

Recovered from his house were suspected shabu with estimated market value of PHP50,000.

In separate anti-drug operations in Barangay Kusiong, also in Datu Odin Sinsuat town, PDEA and police operatives arrested six persons for illegal drugs and firearm possession.

Chief Inspector Achmad Alibonga, Datu Odin Sinsuat town police chief, said joint Army, police and PDEA law enforcement operatives arrested Antonio Roales, 62, businessman and resident of Barangay Kusiong.

Roales owned the Club Cusiong Beach resort.

Alibonga said the raiding team, backed by the Army's 19th Infantry Battalion, was armed with arrest warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 13 Executive Judge Bansawan Ibrahim for frustrated murder.

Also arrested with Roales were Jery Indo, 23, security guard, Reynald Anton, 28, helper, Orlando Mosela Ariston, 26 and Raymond Duran Clemente, 43, security guard and a resident of Upi, Maguindanao.

Seized from them were three .45 caliber pistol, a cal. 38 revolver, improvised shotgun, an improvised UZI submachinegun, a fragmentation grenade and ammunition for various caliber.

The suspects are facing charges of violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act) and Republic Act 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearms and Explosives). (PNA)



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COTABATO CITY -- Two Moro rebel organizations that signed peace deal with the government on Tuesday expressed full support to the police campaign against illegal drugs in North Cotabato.

Mayor Gigi Catamco of Matalam, North Cotabato invited local leaders of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MNLF) in her office for a dialogue regarding the matter.

Present during the dialogue was acting North Cotabato police director Senior Supt. Jonathan Tangonan and representatives from Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine Army.

The Moro rebel leaders signed a covenant with government law enforcers expressing their full support to the campaign aimed at "cleansing" Moro communities of illegal drug personalities.

Reports have it that some Maguindanaons are engaged in illegal drug activities in North Cotabato, including relatives of rebel leaders.

Speaking over DXND Radyo Bida in Kidapawan City, Tangonan said the commanders admitted that involvement of illegal drugs by some of its followers led to family feud or clan wars.

Matalam is in the "radar" of PDEA-12 due to huge volume of prohibited drugs circulating in town and nearby communities.

The MNLF and MILF leadership in North Cotabato will help the police and other law enforcers in intelligence gathering.

The MNLF signed a peace deal with the government in 1996 while the MILF forged a peace agreement with Manila in 2014.

Under the government and MILF ceasefire agreement, the rebel organization will assist government forces in enforcing search warrants against law offenders hiding in their respective communities.

The group is also bound to clear its ranks of terrorists and other lawless elements.(PNA)



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TAGBILARAN CITY -- Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade wants to strengthen connectivity among Southeast Asian nations and come up with a single maritime industry in the region.

Tugade underscored this vision at the start of the 34th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Maritime Transport Working Group (TWG) Meeting on Tuesday at a resort in the island town of Panglao, Bohol.

About 200 delegates from 10 ASEAN countries will be in town to hammer out policies for a unified, regional maritime industry in Southeast Asia.

Tugade shared his visits to fish and sea ports as well as the new Bohol airport to make a point about connectivity.

"I wanted to see the connectivity of this island in relation to other islands," Tugade said.

He hopes the delegates will see the impact of connectivity in a bigger platform and wider paradigm with a single shipping industry bound by a uniform policy and guided by the ASEAN spirit.

The TWG will put in place mechanisms for connectivity that can ensure sustainability and profitability of a connected maritime industry for ASEAN countries.

The meeting will seek policy direction in connecting the various countries of ASEAN in terms of infrastructure and also in security.

As this developed, more than 3,500 security personnel have been detailed in various places near the venue. Medical stations have also been installed in the coastal areas for emergency situations.

Police Regional Office - 7 Director, Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino, said there are no perceived threats for the meetings in Bohol. He said the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency has assured the local police force that there are no serious threats that may disrupt the second ASEAN meeting held in Bohol. (Dave Albarado/PNA)



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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—A large number of public utility vehicle (PUV) operators and drivers are not aware of the provisions of their franchise and this has contributed to the lack of appreciation for traffic rules, said the chief of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Region 10 (LTFRB-10).

Many PUV drivers are not even aware that one of the requirements stipulated in the terms and conditions of the franchise issued to them was that they are not allowed to join transport strikes, among others, LTFRB-10 director Aminoden Guro said Tuesday.

If public utility drivers are proven to have participated in protest action against the government through transport strikes, Guro said they can be sanctioned, and worse, their franchise could be revoked.

PUV drivers from the region are required by the LTFRB to attend a one-day Public Utility Drivers Academy Program (PUDAP) where they will be re-trained on traffic rules and have to pass the five modules, which included the terms of the condition of their franchise, road safety, good driving habits, road rage and anger management, traffic signs and pavement markings.

PUDAP was launched all over the country by the LTFRB on August 17.

The re-training of the PUV drivers was realized through Executive Order 202, which mandates the LTFRB to formulate and implement policies including the requiring of operators and drivers of public land transportation service to attend trainings and seminars in line with their roles and responsibilities.

Those who did not pass the post-seminar examination will have to repeat the particular module which they have failed until they are given an identification card that certifies they have passed the academy.

Aside from their lack of knowledge on the terms of conditions of their Certificate of Public Convenience, there are also drivers who need to control their attitude while on the road.

"Many of them don't give way to pedestrians and their fellow motorists, and some display antagonistic character while driving," Guro said.

He also noticed that those who come from major urban centers like Metro Manila and Cebu are more knowledgeable on the traffic rules than those from small towns.

Guro said more than 250 drivers had already participated in the PUDAP. Northern Mindanao has about 20,000 PUV drivers.

He said the PUDAP is one of the programs to modernize the country's mass transportation system as the agency will also introduce electric jeepneys (e-jeepneys) in the next three years.

Guro said the LTFRB will assist the PUV operators and drivers in availing of loans from government banks so they could purchase the e-jeepney, which range from P1 million to P1.5 million.

Operators have the option of buying regular or air-conditioned e-jeepneys.

Guro said these new PUVs will be a convenience to the riding public as they are new and emit no pollutants.

Meanwhile, the city government has launched its own seminar for Cagayan de Oro's PUV operators and drivers, last Friday, Sept. 15.

Mayor Oscar Moreno, in his keynote speech, said the city's traffic problem must be properly solved and countermeasures must be put in place for Cagayan de Oro's growth trajectory to maintain its course. (PNA/Jigger J. Jerusalem)



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ORMOC CITY, Leyte -- Members of the City Public Safety Company (CPSC) nabbed on Monday afternoon the city's eighth most wanted person wanted for rape.

Supt. Joel Camacho, CPSC chief said fugitive Jason Dapola, 25, an on-call reflexologist, did not resist when he was arrested by the police upon arrival to his aunt's home in Lao village from Lauag, Quezon province where he went hiding.

At the police station detention cell, Dapola denied raping a girl living in the same village who he said he only felt pity of.

"I am wondering why I was charged when I only showed gratitude by escorting her home," suspect Dapola told reporters on Tuesday.

He recalled, the incident on January 2014, led to the filing of charges against him by the girl's mother.

He admitted leaving the city upon learning that his warrant of arrest was issued but due to a relative's encouragement, he decided to come home and face the accusation.

The arresting team headed by Insp. Bryan Erandio was armed with a warrant of arrest issued by Presiding Judge Hon. Girlie M. Borrel-Yu of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 35, Ormoc City issued on December 2016 with no bail recommended for the arrested suspect.

The city police had launched on Monday a week-long one-time big-time operation, focusing on to warranted persons of various offenses.  Dapola's arrest was the second for the day, Camacho added.

Surveillance is being conducted against other personalities with standing warrants. (PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The diverse and rich culture, heritage and artistry of peoples within the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) take centerstage in a five-day grand culture and arts festival that will open here Wednesday.

Adelina Suemith, acting executive director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), said Tuesday they are all set for the first-ever Budayaw Festival, which is dubbed as BIMP-EAGA's "festival of festivals."

She said more than 300 contemporary artists and indigenous cultural masters from parts of the sub-region are joining various showcases slated until Sunday, Sept. 24.

These included cultural performances, visual arts exhibitions, young chorale concerts, "Ikat" weaving showcases, indigenous traditional music exchanges, culture and history colloquium, and tourism exhibition.

"We are ready and very excited with the lined up activities. We're inviting everyone to witness this festival, which is not just of our country, but of the four nations of the BIMP-EAGA," Seuemith said.

The festivity will start Wednesday morning with the opening of four Budayaw exhibitions at the city's three shopping malls - the KCC Veranza, Gaisano and SM City General Santos.

These are the "Muslims in the Philippines Culture and History" exhibition, Budayaw Tourism Roadshow, Travel and Trade Fair, "Under One Sky" visual arts exhibition, and "Tapestry of Dreams: IKAT Master Weavers Pavilion."

The festival's formal opening ceremony is scheduled in the afternoon at the Greenleaf Hotel here, and will be followed by the Budayaw grand public performance at the SM Mall atrium.

An outdoor concert dubbed "Budayaw Konsierto sa Kahapunon" featuring Joey Ayala is slated in the evening.

The Budayaw colloquium on "Cultural Exchanges in the EAGA" and the "Tanghalang Bantugan: Budayaw Country Performances" will highlight the second day of the festivity.

On Friday, Sept. 22, participating artists and cultural performers will join the special outreach performances and creative interactions cum cultural exchanges in the municipalities of Maitum, Alabel and Malungon in Sarangani.

The famed traditional woven cloths of various Mindanao tribes will be showcased in a special fashion show dubbed "Southern Weaves Fashion Fair" spearheaded by popular designer Renee Salud.

The exhibitions, concerts, colloquium, country and features performances will continue at the three shopping malls until the closing of the festival on Sunday.

Budayaw, is a combination of Bahasa term "budaya" for culture and Filipino term "dayaw" that means "something beautiful or something good."

Spearheaded by the NCCA, Budayaw Festival is a banner project of the BIMP-EAGA cooperating countries to advance culture and development in the sub-regional grouping.

It was designed to showcase the diverse creative expressions of the people in the EAGA; advance opportunities for cultural exchanges among peoples, communities, artists and cultural workers; and, forge collaboration between public and private sector in support for the festival.

The first Budayaw Festival is supported by the city government of General Santos, Mindanao State University-General Santos, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Department of Tourism, Sarangani provincial government and the Mindanao Development Authority.(PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Inmates at the overcrowded South Cotabato Rehabilitation and Detention Center got some relief following the completion of four new cells at the facility.

Juan Lanzaderas Jr., provincial jail warden, said they formally opened Tuesday the newly-completed prison cells, which were constructed through funding from the provincial government.

He said the local government had released some PhP2.3 million for the construction of the four cells, which can accommodate 50 inmates each.

"This is big relief for our inmates considering that our jail is really overcrowded," he said in an interview.

The provincial jail has a population of around 1,200 inmates, which is way beyond its capacity of 400.

The provincial government, through South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes, approved last year the construction of the additional cells to help decongest the facility.

It also funded the construction of a multipurpose hall that would serve as livelihood training facility for the inmates.

Lanzaderas said that aside from the new cells, they also opened the jail's 10 newly-rehabilitated and refurbished conjugal rooms.

He said the conjugal rooms were mainly improved to make them "presentable and conducive for the couples."

The improvements included the repainting of the walls and the installation of floor tiles, he said.

The official said couples who are both inmates of the jail may use the conjugal rooms once every month for a maximum of two hours.

Those whose husbands and wives are based outside the jail may use the rooms during the visitation hours once every week for the same period, he said.

"But only those couples who have marriage certificates will be allowed to use our conjugal rooms," Lanzaderas said.

He said couples may bring their own beddings when using the conjugal rooms and would be charged with a minimal fee of P10 to cover for the maintenance expenses.

Aside from the new prison cells and improved conjugal rooms, the provincial jail received two new prison vehicles worth P2 million each from the provincial government.

Fuentes earlier vowed to provide two more vehicles for the facility by next year.(PNA)



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DAVAO CITY – A family from a Mansaka tribe from Davao del Norte will represent the region in the national search for Huwarang Pamilya organized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Couple Ian and Grace Betua, who serviws the lumad community in Balaguran, Sto Tomas town, is already the regional winner in the competition as DSWD's recognition of the beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

The couple is recognized for their voluntary service advocating cleanliness in the community. Grace said her husband, who works with the Tagum Agricultural Development Company (TADECO), helps whenever he is free from work.

Grace said Ian is supporting her advocacy program and understands her community work. The couple has a daughter who is already in Grade 9.

DSWD XI Director Mercedita Jabagat said the search for Huwarang Pamilya is aimed at recognizing family-beneficiaries of the 4Ps who maintain strong family ties, demonstrate positive Filipino values and have good positive impact in the community where they reside.

Also representing the region is Kenneth Bardinas, the regional exemplary child winner. Bardinas, who is from Dujali, Davao del Norte, was a finalist in The Voice under the team of coach Bamboo.

Jabagat said Bardinas has a good scholastic record and attends school regularly despite the family's economic condition. Bardinas has never been a repeater in school.

Jabagat said the Pantawid Pamilya children beneficiaries were judged according to their performance in school including in extra-curricular activities, talent, good moral character, no indicator of behavioural problems, among others.

Bardinas took home P20,000 as a regional winner in the search for exemplary children of Pantawid Pamilya 2017.

The Betua and the Bardinas families are only among the 260,946 household beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT). Of the total number, 231,831 are beneficiaries of the regular CCT and 29,115 beneficiaries of the modified CCT for Indigenous Peoples in Davao Region.

By province, Compostela Valley has 62,809 household beneficiaries; Davao del Norte – 58,654; Davao Oriental – 40,890; Davao Occidental – 34,617; Davao del Sur – 30,750; and, Davao City has 33,226.

Jabagat said that as of the last generation from the Pantawid database on September 6, 2017, there is a decrease of 124 households from August 2017 primarily due to the deactivation of the beneficiaries as they are no longer eligible members.

Jabagat, however, said this number is still subject to further verification. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)

 



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ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Four members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) have surrendered through the concerted effort of the government troops and concerned stakeholders in the province of Sulu, military official said Tuesday.

The four, who were followers of the late bandit sub-leader Alhabsy Misaya, surrendered at around 8:30 p.m. Saturday in Barangay Likud, Pata, Sulu.

Pata, which comprises of 14 barangays, is a fifth class island municipality of Sulu with a population of 22,163 based on 2015 census on population.

Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, identified the surrenderees as Aldin Hadil Akmad, 25, Willing Ibba Jaabal, 45, Ijal Samsain Sadjal, 25, and, Emar Ladjar Udjah, 17.

Sobejana said they turned over four high-powered firearms consisting of three caliber .30 M1 Garand rifles and an M-16 Armalite rifle when they surrendered to Lt. Col. Jesse Montoya, Army's 2nd Special Forces Battalion commander.

"Through the joint efforts of the 3rd Sulu Civilian Active Auxiliary Company and the Special Intelligence Team, Akmad and his companions decided to return to the folds of the law," Sobejana said.

The surrender of Akmad and his three companions brought the number of ASG members who surrendered to the government to 111 since January this year within the area of jurisdiction of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).

Of the total, 65 yielded to the troops in Basilan, 23 in Sulu, 21 in Tawi-Tawi, and two in Zamboanga City.

The Westmincom said they surrendered brought about by the continues military offensive against them.

Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Westmincom chief, said the surrender of the ASG members due to successful coordination with all concerned stakeholders.

"Our Joint Task Forces are committed in intensifying the offensives to neutralize the remaining Abu Sayyaf bandits, who are on the run now. This operational accomplishment is attributed to our soldiers on the ground who made this possible," Galvez added. (TPGJR/PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has encouraged Negrenses to engage in business during the "ber" months, particularly December, when consumer spending is high.

DTI-Negros Occidental Provincial Director Lea Gonzales said that during this period, people have the capacity to spend more, owing to the Christmas bonus and other cash incentives they receive.

Tourists, including Filipinos from abroad, also visit Negros Occidental during the Christmas season, providing local entrepreneurs more opportunities to earn.

In demand during the holidays are food, decors and housewares.

"Buyers start to look for various gift items by this time. The demand for these commodities even increases towards the holiday season," Gonzales said.

She added that aspiring entrepreneurs, such as students, should have the proper approach, which they can learn through inquiry, consultation, and training services provided by the DTI through the Negosyo Centers.

"One should have an entrepreneurial mindset, and it would also help if the business is aligned with their interests so that they will enjoy the experience," Gonzales said, adding that it is also important to test first the product to see if it will "click" in the market.

Business newbies should also consider the availability of raw materials, she added.

Moreover, Gonzales said that existing enterprises should continue to innovate.

For example, pastry producers should think of innovative designs and presentations, aside from ensuring product quality.

"Innovation provides a product the competitive advantage over other commodities of the same line," she said. (PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The provincial government of South Cotabato has allocated an additional P167 million to fund the implementation of its priority programs and projects for this year.

South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes said Tuesday such funding comprised the local government's second supplemental budget, which was approved by the provincial board in a special session late last week.

She said the funds will be utilized for the implementation of additional development projects and provision of basic services.

The governor said they have set aside nearly P40 million for the local government's 20 percent Local Development Fund, which was specifically intended for the construction and rehabilitation of infrastructure projects.

She said among the priority projects are the construction of the Lake Lahit Tourism facility worth P20 million and the rehabilitation of the Lamdalag-Lamkadi-Klubi Road worth P7.15 million in Lake Sebu town.

"These are part of our commitment this year in line with the continuing enhancement of our tourism sector in Lake Sebu," she said.

The local government and the Department of Tourism have poured millions of pesos worth of development projects these past years in the scenic Lake Sebu town, which is the province's banner tourist destination.

The projects included the construction and upgrading of the area's road networks and development of tourism facilities.
Lake Sebu hosts three major lakes, waterfalls and spring water resources that regularly draw domestic and foreign tourists.

Fuentes said they also allotted some P19.1 million for the purchase of medical, dental and laboratory supplies, drugs and medicines, and medical equipment for the provincial hospital in Koronadal City.

She said an additional P25 million was set aside as subsidy for hospital and health-related programs.
Some P4.2 million was set to augment the operational expenses of the Norala district hospital, P2.2 million for the Upper Valley Community Hospital and P1.5 million for the Polomolok municipal hospital, she said.

Fuentes said an additional P8 million was allocated for the local government's flagship Kabugwason Paglaum Scholarship Program.

Some P22.3 million was set aside for the operational expenses of the executive department while the rest of the funds was allotted for other office and non-office expenses, she said.

The supplemental budget will be drawn from the provincial government's cash saving in 2016 and unappropriated balance from this year's general fund's savings, reversion of unsubstantiated payable accounts, collection of prior year real property tax receivable and underestimated income.(PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY -- A total of 25 inmates of the Metro Bacolod District Jail-Female Dormitory  (MBDJ-FD) were found negative for illegal drugs.

The results of Monday's random drug test were announced by the jail management in their official Facebook account, accompanied by a photo of the drug testing kits used by the inmates.

The drug test, which used urine samples, was conducted by Jail Officer 1 Carmena Ingente, who is also the jail nurse.

The test was initiated as Chief Supt. Deogracias Tapayan, newly-installed acting chief of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), expressed his commitment to clear all jails of illegal drugs and all forms of contraband, and to improve the management of jail facilities as directed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

"The MBDJ-FD is one with acting BJMP chief Deogracias Tapayan in his campaign against illegal drugs inside all jail facilities," the jail management added.

The female jail facility, located in Barangay Handumanan, houses more than 150 inmates.

On Monday, Tapayan also launched the BJMP's community hotline campaign dubbed "e-Tap mo si Sir Taps", which aims to gather information, complaints, and jail concerns from the public.

The e-Tap hotline is a feedback mechanism to provide the public a direct and convenient channel of communication for the immediate action of the BJMP. (PNA)



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SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao -- Fighting erupted anew Sunday between government-allied Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and ISIS-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao, leaving two MILF fighters killed and four others injured, police said.

Senior Supt. Agustin Tello, Maguindanao police provincial director, said Monday the fighting between the MILF Task Force Ittihad (Unity) and BIFF, an armed group operating in Maguindanao second district who pledged allegiance to ISIS, erupted at 1 p.m. Sunday in Barangays Tee and Andavit, Datu Salibo, Maguindanao.

The slain MILF fighters were not identified in the report. Those injured were Surani Abelusa, 50 of Midsayap, North Cotabato; Taha Sabpa, 30 of Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao; Mustapha Musa, 40, of Mamasapano, Maguindanao, and Mokamad Kadil of Pigcawayan, North Cotabato, all followers of MILF Commander Ustsdz Goma.

Tello said MILF and Datu Salibo poluce could not say how many BIFF terrorists were killed in the three-hour clash.

The MILF had been hunting down ISIS-inspired group led by Abu Toraife after the terrorist group tried to infiltrate MILF held areas in Maguindanao.

Under the government and MILF ceasefire agreement, the MILF committed to help the government get rid their communities of terrorists and other lawless elements.

The government and the MILF signed a peace deal in 2014 aimed at ending the decades-old Moro problem in southern Philippines.

The injured MILF fighters are now confined at the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center in Cotabato City.

Tello said sporadic fighting continues as of posting.(PNA)



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ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Two bandits were killed in a clash with government troops in the hinterlands of Zamboanga del Norte, a top police official said Monday.

Chief Supt. Billy Beltran, Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) director, said the clash happened at around 2 p.m. Sunday at Sitio Sibugon, Barangay Panganuran, Sibuco, in Zamboanga del Norte.

Beltran said the clash happened when the joint Public Safety Company policemen and Army's 42nd Infantry Battalion troops chanced upon 10 rebels while on security operations.

He said the firefight lasted for about 10 minutes, after which the rebels led by a certain Commander Kadyo fled towards north direction, leaving behind their two slain companions.
He said Kadyo's group was involved in banditry such as killings, robbery hold-ups and piracy.

He said the troops recovered from the clash site the following: one Garand rifle; one improvised shotgun; 11 ammunition for shotgun; 112 ammunition for Garand rifle; an ammunition for M-203 grenade launcher; a handbag; six identification cards; a solar panel; three cellular phones; two wallets; a calculator; three camouflage t-shirts; a camouflage pants; three ammunition bandoliers; and several documents.

He added that the two bodies of Kadyo's followers were turned over to the officials of Barangay Lambagoan, Sibuco, Zamboanga Del Norte.

No one among the troops was either killed or wounded during the clash, Beltran added. (PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Two mine workers were killed while another was hurt after being trapped for hours inside a small-scale mine tunnel that collapsed Sunday in an upland village in Kiamba town, Sarangani Province.

Venancio Wata III, operations team leader of the Sarangani Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, on Monday said the victims were working inside a tunnel in sitio Banawag in Barangay Tablao, Kiamba when it suddenly caved in early Sunday.

He said the collapsed tunnel was among the structures operating illegally at the mountainous boundaries of Kiamba and Maitum towns.

He identified the trapped workers as Danilo Marquizo, Elizer Marquizo and Nelson Pastrana, all residents of Barangay Malandag in Malungon, Sarangani.

Rescuers from the Maitum municipal police station led Sr. Insp. Rodel Javison, Bureau of Fire Protection-Maitum and the Kiamba search and rescue team immediately responded to the scene and recovered the victims at around 12:35 p.m, Wata said.

Wata identified the dead victims as Elizer Marquizo and Nelson Pastrana.

"They were declared dead upon arrival at the Maitum municipal hospital," he told PNA in a phone interview.

Wata said Danilo Marquizo suffered from hypothermia and is currently undergoing treatment at the same hospital.

During the rescue operation, two members of the team identified as Yanyan Ungat and Marvin Ilao, both residents of Barangay New La Union in Maitum, were also rushed to the hospital after complaining of severe headaches.

"They complained of severe headaches as a result of the suffocation," he said.

The local governments of Kiamba and Maitum launched a series of crackdowns against illegal small-scale gold mining activities in the area, but they continued to thrive as operators resorted to clandestine operations. (PNA)



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PALO, Leyte – The Philippine National Police (PNP) regional office here turned over on Monday 20 body cameras to city police offices in Eastern Visayas.


PNP Regional Director Chief Supt. Gilberto Cruz said the body cameras are donations of private individuals who requested anonymity.


The body camera will be used by police drug enforcement units in seven cities to ensure respect of human rights during anti-illegal drug operations.


"We want transparency in our police operations. We don't want to be criticized and people thinking that we are doing something wrong during our police operations here in the region," Cruz told reporters.


The police official said camera recordings are evidence on what really transpired during police operations if someone would come out and report human rights violations.


"This will ensure protection, not only to suspects but to law enforcers as well because we can use the video recording as evidence," Cruz said.


Cruz added they are aiming to provide body cameras to all 211 police stations and precincts in the region's 136 towns and seven cities.


The call for police operatives to use body cameras came after Caloocan policemen were allegedly involved in the killing of 17-year old Kian delos Santos in a police operation.


Senator Sherwin Gatchalian was among the first lawmakers who proposed the use of body cameras since "it is a powerful tool and evidence to hold police scalawags accountable for administrative and criminal liabilities when they abuse their authority while performing their duty."


During his visit to the regional office here, Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa expressed support to the use of body cameras in police operations.

The move, however, is hampered by budget constraints, prompting the PNP to seek higher funding from lawmakers. (PNA)



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DAVAO CITY -- Social media has kept the number of mail-order brides or marriage migrants afloat, an official of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas said Monday.

Marriage sponsors under such scheme are making money to as much as P500,000 to P1 million.

In Davao Region, cases of marriage migration have reached 9,990 with the province of Davao del Sur, which includes Davao City, registering the highest with 7,490, according to a data collected from 2005 to present.

Emigrant Services Officer Ma. Camille Lacaba of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) said 25 percent of Davao Region's marriage migrants were made possible by online sites like Facebook, chats, and dating websites.

While there is nothing wrong in connecting with other people, Lacaba said Filipinos must ensure they linked with somebody who has a verified identity and through safe and legal websites.

"Most of the time foreigners (dating online) have fraudulent identities," she said in an interview Monday on the sidelines of the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Annex here.

Lacaba said marriage migrants are highest in the United States, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and Canada. She pointed to South Korea as having the most mail-order bride schemes.

But she said CFO is able to conduct workshops with South Korea-bound Filipinos especially on family culture.

Lacaba said Filipinos must know the family dynamics of the Koreans.

For example, she said the eldest son of a Korean family has the responsibility to take care of the parents when they grow old. The decision of the parents for the family of the eldest son comes first, next the siblings before the wife's decision is taken.

"We must get Filipinos ready for this," Lacaba said.

She added that marriage brokers particularly in South Korea and Japan are legal, but not in the Philippines because the government protects the rights of the Filipinos.

That is why Lacaba said it is important for Filipinos migrating to any foreign country to undergo pre-departure orientation seminars (PDOS) conducted by CFO.

Lacaba said marriage migration is the fastest and easiest way of obtaining green cards or immigrant visas. But, she stressed it also exposes one to risks such as physical abuse.

She said the CFO has intercepted 5,091 cases of marriage with multiple sponsorships.

"We are the only country with the counter-checking system," Lacaba bared.

CFO, which is under the Office the President, is tasked to promote and uphold the interests, rights, and welfare of overseas Filipinos, and strengthen their ties with the Philippines.

Emigrant Services Officer Allan Ducusin said other Filipinos have obtained permanent residency abroad through sponsorship of their immediate family members or under an independent category like professions in demand in host countries.

CFO has already registered 46,014 immigrant Filipinos from Davao region.

Ducusin said there are still Filipino immigrants who come home to settle permanently or retire in the country. But once they stay here permanently, their green cards are also canceled, Ducusin added.

Ducusin said CFO has no satellite office in Davao, but they conduct mobile PDOS for Davaoenos so that they do not have to travel to Manila. On September 21 and 22, CFO will hold a mobile PDOS here at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) office. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)



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CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao -- An Army led anti-drug operation in the upland town of Banisilan, North Cotabato over the weekend left one person dead and the recovery of unlicensed high-powered guns and ammunition, the military here said Monday.

Capt. John Arvin Encinas, spokesperson for the 6th Infantry Division, said joint elements of 34th Infantry Battalion and Banisilan Municipal Police Station clashed with undetermined number of gunmen at 5 a.m. in Barangay Wadya which left Buenvenido Gumban, a suspected drug peddler, dead.

He said the Army and police personnel were to serve warrants of arrest against Gumban, one of the suspected drug peddlers in Banisilan.

But as the troops were proceeding to Gumban's home, they were met with ammunition forcing government forces to return fire.

Recovered from Gumban's house was a .45 caliber pistol, a 12-gauge shot gun and three huge sachets of methamphetamine hydrochloride. No casualty was reported on government side.

Two hours later, joint police and Army forces also served the warrant of arrest for Wilmer Oriendo, an alleged drug pusher in nearby Barangay Gastav, also in Banisilan.

However, the suspect managed to escape before the lawmen arrived in his home at around 9 p.m.

Government forces recovered from Oriendo's home one M-16 Armalite rifle, one rifle grenade launcher, one .45 caliber pistol and ammunition.

Major Gen. Arnel dela Vega, 6th Infantry Division commander and has supervision over 34th Infantry Battalion, lauded the Army for helping in the campaign against illegal drugs.

He said the 6th ID is providing all out support to other law enforcement agencies in the war on drugs.

In separate police operation, two suspected drug peddlers who resisted arrest and fired at law enforcers were killed in an anti-drug operation in Mlang, North Cotabato Sunday afternoon.

Killed were Monaim Paglas and Mahdem Bagundang, both residents of Barangay Dungguan in Mlang, North Cotabato.

In a report, the Mlang Municipal Police Office said police were to enter the house of Paglas and Bagundang at 6 p.m. to serve the warrant but were fired upon by the suspects.

The incident was witnessed by village officials. (PNA)



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