TACLOBAN CITY- ‘Eli (not his real name), 20 could only expressed his shock, and later anger, when he learned that the trafficking and child labor complaints filed against their Chinese and Taiwanese bosses were dismissed by a provincial prosecutor’s office in Pangasinan.
Eli was among the 32, four of them minors, residents of Barangay 96 of this city who were tricked to work in a fish farm in Sual, Pangasinan.
“Really? It was dismissed? Why? How? What will happen to us now? All we want is for us to be given justice,” Eli, who was visibly shocked, said.
He learned of the dismissal of the complaint when he was informed by Leyte Samar Daily Express.
‘Jerome’, 20, also expressed his dismay when he also learned about the dismissal by the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office on July 25 on ground of technicality.
“All we want is justice. What will happen now to a case being readied by our officials here? But we hope that the dismissal will not affect our complaint here,” he said.
Eli said that he was encouraged to work at the said fish farm due to a good promise by their recruiter.
They were promised of P5,000 but only received P3,500 which is subject to deduction of P200 if they would not report for work; slept in barracks that look more like pig pens and given spoiled food.
They also worked as early as 5 in the morning until 10 pm hoarding fish foods to be used in feeding the fish, exposed to cruel heat of the sun and harsh rain.
“We were told that we will work in a Boracay-like beach. Of course, aside from the promised good pay, the mere mentioned of Boracay made us excited,” Eli said, referring to the world-famous island resort in Aklan province which is closed and undergoing rehabilitation as ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Both Eli and Jerome said that just like the other trafficked victims from their village, they were determined to see their complaints going into full process and win it.
“By winning our case, these recruiters and these Chinese nationals will be stopped in continuing their unlawful practice against people like us who dream nothing but good and decent jobs,” Eli said.
Both said that they have already told their harrowing accounts by executing their affidavits before the city police which will be used in filing the complaint.
Carmela Bastes of the City Social and Development Office had earlier said that the affidavits executed by the trafficked victims are ‘solid evidence’ against the complaints of human trafficking, child abuse and child labor.
The group of men and minors left their village, one of the most depressed areas in the city, on July 11 and arrived in Sual the following day.
They left Tacloban City on board of two vans with markings of one of the country’s leading television networks and “Red Cross,” purportedly to evade any authorities while they were on their destination.
On July 19, the victims were rescued by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the National Bureau of Investigation, both based in Pangasinan.
They returned back to their families on July 24 with the Pangasinan provincial prosecutor’s office dismissing the case of human trafficking and child labor on July 25.
It said that the rescue operation was said to be ‘tantamount to unreasonable search and seizure.’
Eli said that when the government personnel swooped at their premises, the Chinese and Taiwanese owners were not around and ‘hide.’
They don’t know the real names of their bosses as they only addressed them as ‘Boss Ayong’ and ‘Boss Aris.’
Eli said that it was ‘Boss Ayong’ who was harsh to them, cussing them with no reason at all.
Jocelyn Rosales, village chairwoman of Brgy. 96, said that because of the incident, she initiated information campaign in their area on trafficking with the help of Plan Philippines, a non-government organization.
“Most of our villagers here are really poor and could easily be encouraged to work outside Tacloban City with a promise good pay. That is why, we have now a massive information campaign here in the village against trafficking and they should inform us officials if there are somebody who are encouraging them to work outside the city,” Rosales said.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

Issue on who are members of the minority bloc

SALCEDO, Eastern Samar-Vice President Leni Robredo believes that lawmakers from the Liberal Party should be considered as members of the minority bloc.
Robredo made this statement when asked on the current struggle at the House of Representatives as who should be recognized as members of the minority group in the light of change of leadership.
“Oo naman. Pag yung rules ng House of Representatives ang susundin, sila naman talaga ang karapat-dapat,”she said on Thursday (August 2) here in an interview.
“Pero titingnan natin kung ire-respeto yun ng House,” the Vice President added.
Robredo was in town to lead in the distribution of sports equipment donated by FundLife, an international humanitarian organization, to the officials and students of the Salcedo Central School.
Aside from Rep. Romero Quimbo(Marikina City), a Liberal Party stalwart, also seeking to become the minority floor leader are Rep. Danilo Suarez of Quezon province and Rep. Rudy Fariñas of Ilocos Norte.
According to the Vice President, the struggle on minority issue will test the kind of leadership of former president and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
“Lahat nakatutok kay Speaker kung papano niya iha-handle (yung issue) kasi how she handles it would be reflective on the kind of leadership na gagawin niya sa House of Representatives,” Robredo said.
“Yung pagpapakita ng leadership hindi naman pagpasa ng importanteng panukalang batas.Ngayon ang inaabangan natin ay pano niya iha-handle..yung struggle pagdating sa minority,” she added.
Asked on her reactions on Arroyo election’s as Speaker, Robredo said that this could be the time for her to prove allegations hurled against her when she was the President.
“Ito siguro chance para ipakita na hindi totoo yung mga allegations before.Di ba may mga kaso…wala pa naman convictions,” she said.
The opposition leader, however, wished Arroyo well as she steer the Lower House as its Speaker.
Robredo also led in the groundbreaking of a school dormitory located in Barangay Matarinao and donated a service vehicle for students of Matarinao School of Fisheries.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

NAVAL, Biliran-The five newly-established public school districts of the Department of Education(DepEd)-Division of Biliran were lucky enough during its launching and installation of officers-in-charge recently as they received the first batch of computer sets from Rep.Rogelio Espina of the lone district of Biliran.
The first five public school districts that received the computer sets were the Public School Districts (PSDs) I and II in Naval town, and the PSDs in Kawayan, Caibiran, and Cabucgayan.
It was learned that the other nine PSDs in DepEd-Division of Biliran will also get their sets of computer including other forms of assistance as committed by the Biliran lawmaker.
The five newly installed public school district supervisors were required to submit their budgetary requirements for the proper implementation of the program or project as mandated by DepEd.
Lucille Curso-Roa, chief, School Governance and Operations Division of DepEd-Division of Biliran, said in an interview the division office is now preparing the inventory of all existing equipment and buildings of the 14 PSDs to be able to identify their priorities in their request to Congressman Espina.
The creation of new teacher items for the five newly created PSDs were part of the request for the solon, Roa added.
DepEd Regional Director Ramir Uytico recently called Congressman Espina as “DepEd Congressman” for all his support and all the good things he did to the department during the launching and installation of the new PSDS’ of the newly created public school districts of DepEd-Division of Biliran. (PIA8-Biliran)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has warned against consumption of shellfish gathered from Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar after the recurrence of the red tide phenomenon there.
In a local red tide warning issued Thursday (August 2), BFAR confirmed the red tide bloom in the bay through laboratory analysis for more than a week.
The presence of red tide in both meat and water calls for a ban on the gathering, trading and consumption of shellfish from identified areas, BFAR Regional Director Juan Albaladejo said in a mobile phone interview.
“To safeguard human lives while waiting for the result of confirmatory test of shellfish sample sent to BFAR central office, we are issuing this warning as a precautionary to the public to refrain from gathering, selling, and eating all types of shellfishes and hipon from Matarinao Bay to avoid possible shellfish poisoning,” Albaladejo said.
Fish caught in these areas are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh, washed and cooked thoroughly, according to BFAR’s advisory.
Matarinao Bay, noted for frequent occurrence of red tide, spans the coasts in the towns of Salcedo, Quinapondan, McArthur and Hernani in Eastern Samar.
Earlier, the fisheries bureau also imposed shellfish ban in the coastal waters of Biliran province and Leyte.
Red tide refers to the phenomenon, wherein water is discolored by high concentration of algae.
The discoloration may not necessarily be red in color, but it may also appear yellow, brown, green, blue or milky, depending on the organism involved.
The fisheries bureau has stepped up water sampling activities in the affected areas to ensure the safety of shellfish consumers.
(SARWELL Q. MENIANO/PNA)

CAMP GENERAL VICENTE LUKBAN, CATBALOGAN CITY – The 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division, Philippine Army marked its 30th founding anniversary on Wednesday (August 1) with this years’ theme, “Kabulig han Molupyo ha Kamurayawan, ug Pag-atiman han Kalibungan Pakadto han Kauswagan,” this August 1, 2018 with Secretary Roy A. Cimatu of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as guest of honor and speaker.
The event included a wreath-laying ceremony in honor of the fallen comrade-in-arms and in recognition of their heroism and ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of peace in Eastern Visayas and in Mindanao. The ceremony was attended and witnessed by four of 8IDs Former Division Commanders, retired Major Gen. Rufo de Vera, retired M/Gen Glenn J. Rabonza, Usec. Arthur Tabaquero, the current presidential adviser on military affairs and retired M/Gen. Mario F. Chan, head executive assistant, DENR, soldiers and their loved ones, officers, civilian employees, and invited guests.
Sec.Cimatu also led the awarding to deserving personnel who have shown meritorious achievement in combat and non-combat role that significantly contributed to the overall success of the 8ID’s mission.
In addition, civilian stakeholders who also contributed to the accomplishments of your Army in Eastern Visayas were also awarded with plaques of recognition during the said occasion.
Among the awardees were Atty. Bonifacio G. Uy, regional director, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region 8; Marivel Sacendoncillo, regional director, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 8; Melba J. Arino, Land Management Officer III, CENRO, Pambujan, Northern Samar; Atty. Eunice U. Babalcon, municipal mayor of Paranas, Samar; and Elena G. Piczon.
Sec. Cimatu in his message expressed that, “Today, the Stormtroopers carry a legacy as partners of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in ensuring the environmental protection as deputized agents in the National Greening Program. Anti-illegal logging, enforcement of other related laws of the environment, and preservation of ecological balance and biodiversity.”
“I wish you all the best. I congratulate each and everyone for a job well-done. Happy 30th Anniversary to you all. Damo nga salamat at mabuhay tayong lahat!” Cimatu concluded.
The DENR Secretary also viewed 8ID’s photo display as well as PENRO Samar’s information booth prior to granting interviews with the media. He and his party capped their visit by joining the Stormtroopers in the traditional boodle fight.