TACLOBAN CITY – Police authorities claimed that one of the dead bodies found inside a torched vehicle last month was said to have kept the money of an alleged drug lord who was murdered inside a penal colony in Leyte.
Thus, the incident that took place in sitio Abaca, Barangay Balinsasayao in Abuyog town last January 27 could be considered as drug-related, said Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar, regional police director.
Killed inside the vehicle was Bernardino Remolador, 44 and his live-in partner Jennifer Corsiga,25.
Remolador was said to have kept huge amount of drug money of Edgardo Alvarez alias Egay who was killed inside the Abuyog Penal Colony, Abuyog town, last August 11, 2016.
Alvarez, a known drug pusher, was killed while a search warrant was being served to him for alleged possession of drugs and firearms by the members of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
The dead bodies of Remolador and Corsiga were discovered at about 6 am on Jan. 26 by PO1 Marco Alexis Mercado who is assigned at Regional Public Security Battalion (RPSB) based in Tacloban City.
Mercado immediately sought the assistance of the Abuyog police with the members of the scene of the crime (Soco) led by Chief Inspector Edwin Zata processed the crime scene.
Also found inside the burned vehicle Toyota Avanza 1.3M/T with plate number YGC957, color silver, was a service firearm.
It was also learned that the vehicle was owned by the younger brother of Remolador, Fernando who resides in Libangon, Cebu City.
Beltejar said that investigation on this grisly killing is ongoing though they have already some leads who could be behind on the incident. (VICKY C. ARNAIZ)
PNP says drug behind for the killing incident in Abuyog town
SSS cuts 2017 Opex by P1B
The Social Security System (SSS) has cut down its 2017 budget for operating expenses (Opex) by P1 billion as it seeks measures to improve its financial performance.
Dean Amado Valdez, Chairman of the Social Security Commission (SSC) said that from the original proposal of P13.22 billion, the SSC board has only approved the allocation of P12.21 billion for operating expenses, which is 54 percent of the Charter’s limit or 5.7 percent of total revenue.
“SSS has seen improvement in its profitability as a result of cost-efficiency measures that greatly reduced expenditures from 2010 to 2016. With the P1-billion budget cut, we can maintain SSS expenses at levels that will help shore up the agency’s profits for 2017,” Valdez explained.
Relatedly, SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Dooc assured the public of SSS’ strict attention to its duties, particularly the prudent allocation of SSS funds for expenditure.
“With close supervision by the SSC and Governance Commission for GOCCs, the pension fund is kept afloat amid the low-growth environment of the market through management activities that conscientiously comply with the discharge of our fiduciary responsibilities,” Dooc said.
He explained that SSS costs of operating activities had remained below its allowed Charter limit at an average ratio of 59 percent over the past seven years or at 5.9 percent of total revenue. Despite an annual average increase of eight percent in volume of transactions processed by the agency, it has run the cost of its operations with a moderate increase in opex by six percent every year. Taking out inflation, the rate increase is effectively at three percent.
“This continued prudence was achieved amid branch expansion activities and system-wide upgrades that paved the way for growth in membership and collections across the region,” Dooc noted.
He added that SSS will determine how low operating expenses could be further reduced without compromising its operations.
Latest data from the agency showed that SSS has posted P10 billion in total expenses last year, comprised of payments made for the salaries, wages and bonuses of employees; and for maintenance of branches, rent and other operating costs.
The salaries and bonuses of SSS officials have been the subject of criticisms levelled at the SSS in debates around the pension hike issue. SSS, in its previous statements, clarified that these have been capped not only for SSS but across all GOCCs with the enactment of the GOCC Governance Act and Executive Order 24 in 2011.
SSS has 6,000 employees deployed across its 296 branches nationwide and abroad. It has a membership base of over 34 million at present, of which two million are receiving pensions. (PR)
Northern Samar town declared as “drug free”
BOBON, Northern Samar- Their fight against the proliferation of illegal drugs resulted for the town’s declaration as a “drug-free.”
The declaration was made official during a ceremony held on February 1 at the municipal covered court and attended by police and local officials led by Mayor Reny Celespara and S/Supt. Cezar Zafiro Tannagan, police provincial director.
Earlier, the municipal council passed a resolution declaring the town as drug free, in particular, 13 of its 18 barangays which were considered as the most influenced of illegal drugs.
With the declaration, Bobon became the first local government unit in the region to be declared as drug free.
The national government under President Rodrigo Duterte initiated an all-out war against the proliferation of illegal drugs.
During the activity, 247 former drug users surrendered before the local officials, affirming that they would no longer use the illicit drugs.
One of the former drug users, Chito Lustico, made a testimony saying that the illegal drugs did nothing helpful to him but only cause destruction to him and his loved ones.
“It’s not yet too late to abandon this bad vice. This will only kill us. I’ve been using illegal drugs for nearly 20 years and I gained nothing good from it,” he said.
Lustico lauded the government for coming up with a program that would help former drug users like him to become a good citizen of the community.
Meantime, Mayor Celespara said that former drug dependents are not considered, at least by him, as enemies but victims.
He reminded the public that fighting illegal drugs have been a part of his crusade since he entered public office, starting from being a village chairman.
“I initiated for the dismantling of a drug group especially, drug users through alternative livelihood and learnings for the victims. We must be very thankful to the PNP leadership for this declaration and must not stop in monitoring any illegal drug activities,” the town mayor said. (PETER D. PAREDES)
Mamanwa tribe in Leyte helps protect Philippine Eagle
BURAUEN, Leyte- The Mamanwa tribe living in Barangay Kagbana, this town, is helping in the protection of the national bird.
Bernal Managbanag, the chieftain of the tribe in an interview during the second Mahagnao outdoor festival, held here recently, confirms the presence of the Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyii) in their village saying that the big bird “can carry a wild piglet weighing 10 to 15 kilos.”
He added that they observe that eagle also eats snakes, monkeys, weasel and other animals.
The members of the Mamanwa participated in the festival that promoted environmental conservation, protection and ecotourism of the Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park, here.
Managbanag said that they recognized the bird as the Philippine eagle when the personnel from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, regional office 8 (DENR-8), based in Tacloban City introduced to them the animal before the occurrence of supertyphoon “Yolanda” in 2013.
Managbanag said that they have been observing the presence of the bird in their area many years ago and there were people hunting it for food.
He added that his tribe is now protecting the bird after the DENR-8 personnel asked them to protect it.
DENR-8 Regional Director Leonardo said that based on their initial assessment, the Philippine eagle is roaming along the forests in the Anonang-Lobi mountain ranges located at the boundaries of the towns of Burauen-Jaro-Albuera and Ormoc City.
He added that his men in the field are further conducting studies on the range or how far is the coverage of the Philippine eagle forest habitat in Leyte.
Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, in an interview, said when it was confirmed that the Philippine eagle exists in the province sometime in 2014, his office immediately conducted information dissemination for its protection.
Eagles should not be harmed as they are protected under our laws, Petilla said.
Petilla and Sibbaluca are appealing for and soliciting support from the general public, the local government units, private organizations, stakeholders and concerned other concerned government agencies to help preserve the Philippine Eagle now freely flying in the mountain ranges of Leyte island.
(RESTITUTO CAYUBIT)
On the red
Besides today being Valentine’s Day, the day of hearts and the day of reds, people are on their toes and on the red for whatever might happen this day – either favourable or not. Albeit denied by the police and military authorities, the fear of terrorist attack in Eastern Visayas by the Maute group in collaboration with the militant Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group, keeps the people in the region vigilant. Tacloban City was earlier reported a target of the Maute group’s bomb attack.
On Monday, February 13, an explosion happened in the heart of Tacloban City, causing people to fear that the Maute group has already staged its threat. The paranoia sent people to surmise that what exploded was an improvised explosive device (IED) paralyzing some activities in nearby offices and institutions. The explosive and ordnance unit of the Tacloban City Police Office later announced that what caused the explosion was the detonation done by the EOU of a suspicious package of celfone with wire attached to a speaker with some wires with them wrapped in plastic bag. There was no IED that exploded.
Although the police authorities have already declared safety in the city’s environs, they advised the people to remain vigilant. Stay on the red and be on your toes are among the best principles to carry on these days. Tacloban City Vice Mayor Jerry “Sambo” Yaokasin, in his social media post urged the Taclobanons to continue to be vigilant to ensure their safety. Otherwise stated, the people’s safety is in their own hands not in another’s.
While that may be in a bigger scale, the smaller one, such as the lovers’ celebration of Valentine’s Day now, take on same caveat. The safety of one does not completely depend upon another persons gesture but upon one’s own vigilance.
Festival held aim to preserve Mahagnao Natural Park
BURAUEN, Leyte- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in partnership with the local government unit of Burauen conducted the second Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park Outdoor Festival in Mahagnao Natural Park.
Among the activities held during the February 3 festival included fun run, kayak racing, photo contest, and booth making contest to commemorate the declaration of Mahagnao as a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Area System through Proclamation Number 117 in 1998.
This year’s Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park Outdoor Festival also recognized the members of the Mamanwa tribe from Mindanao who have been living in Barangay Kagbana for more than 50 years now.
During the festival, the Mamanwas showcased their traditional dance to the visitors. Meantime, soldiers belonging to the 78th Infantry Battalion, whose headquarter is based in this town, also performed a Tausug dance.
Leyte Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Ranulfo Abriol said that the activity is meant to dramatize their call for the protection and preservation of Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park.
Abriol called on the residents and tourists of the natural park not to do any act that would result to its destruction.
The vast park is also now considered to be one of the fast emerging tourist attractions of the town.
Mahagnao Volcano is a dormant volcano located in Barangay Mahagnao, more than 30 kms away from the town proper.
The area is composed of wetland forest and abundant with hot springs, awe-inspiring craters, hot springs, multi-colored muds and rocks, lakes, virgin forests with giant ferns and orchids, lagoon, and temperature climate
Part of Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park located in the southern part is Lake Malagsom, a crater lake with green acidic water that serves as nesting and breeding grounds of thousands of Philippine wild ducks. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)