Killing of EV’s top drug lord happened under his watch

TACLOBAN CITY- Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar will officially step down as the region’s top police official on Wednesday (August 30) with Chief Supt. Roberto Badian taking his post.
Badian is currently the regional deputy police director for administration.
The turnover ceremony to be held at the Camp Ruperto Kangleon, regional police headquarters, will be presided by police deputy director general Ramon Apolinario.
Top government officials in the region are expected to attend the turnover rites.
Beltejar, first police regional director for Eastern Visayas named under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, is to step down after reaching the organization’s mandatory retirement age of 56.
“We are successful in the implementation of our programs because we have the support of the 7,704-strong men and women of the PRO-8 who enforces the law and ensure the safety of the people of the region,” Beltejar said.
He was appointed to head the region’s police force on July 1, 2016.
He led the recent 116th founding anniversary of the Philippine National Police attended by Police Director General Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa.
de la Rosa heaped praises on Beltejar on his campaign to contain the proliferation of illegal drugs in the region.
The PNP chief said that under the supervision of the outgoing PNP-8 chief, the region contributed around three percent of the more than 1.3 million drug personalities who voluntarily surrendered under the organization’s “Operation: Tokhang.”
About 42,244 drug dependents and pushers gave themselves up; seized 23,424.976 grams of marijuana and 18,383.95 grams of shabu; and confiscated illegal firearms and arrested high-value targets foremost of which was Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa, Sr.
Director Beltejar was also praised by the local media community for forging a closer relation between them and the police organization.

By: VICKY C. ARNAIZ/JOEY A. GABIETA

Bobon, Northern Samar – A former Miss Northern Samar is among the 35 candidates who will vie in this year’s Miss World Philippines.
Cristina Marie Carpina-Coloma won the Miss Northern Samar title in 2011. Her mother, Susan Carpina-Coloma, is the current municipal administrator.
Her father, Crisanto, is from Pangasinan.
The local beauty queen,26, said that she joined the Miss World-Philippines, to help “inspire” her provincemates and make them proud of her.
At present, Coloma works as entertainment manager Chaos Club at the City of Dreams in Manila.
The winner for this year’s Miss World Philippines will be crowned this Sunday (September 3) at Mall of Asia.
So far, the Philippines has only produced one Miss World winner in Meagan Young back in 2013.
“Tinay,” as Cristina fondly called by her family and close friends, stands at 5’ 8 with vital statistics at 35-24-35.
She is a graduate of AB Communication at the Assumption College and finished her secondary at the St. Scholastica, both in Manila.
Cristina’s mother is seeking help from not only from her province mates but the entire Eastern Visayas and Pangasinan to help her win the crown by supporting her through their text votes. (PETER D. PAREDES)

TACLOBAN CITY – The city government of Tacloban got another boost for its Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) initiatives on Friday, August 25, when it received a donation of a two-storey community evacuation center (CEC) from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The ceremonial turnover of the building located at Barangay Cabalawan, approximately 14 kilometers from the city proper and directly accessible to a number of resettlement sites, was attended by Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez, UNDP Resident Representative Ola Almgren, Deputy Country Director Enrico Caveglia and Eden Garde, program manager for UNDP and other officials of the city government.
Constructed on a lot owned by the city government, the building which has a total floor area of 814 square meters can accommodate approximately 100 families at 500 individuals.
The sturdy structure which can withstand a category 5 typhoon and intensity 9 earthquake, is energized by a 5,000 watts capacity solar panels attached to its roof.
Water and toilet facilities for men, women, and persons with disabilities are also available at the CEC.
Aside from functioning as an evacuation shelter during calamities, the building will also serve as multi-purpose facility for training and other disaster preparedness activities that will be conducted by Tacloban City Rescue Unit (TACRU) – the Emergency Response arm of the City Government.
The Tacloban CEC is the biggest among the 11 evacuation centers built by the UNDP for typhoon Yolanda stricken communities throughout Leyte province.
Mayor Romualdez thanked UNDP for the project and assured its maintenance and preservation, while expressing her wish for more partnerships with the UN agency.
Meantime, Almgren lauded the LGU’s steadfast support for projects related to disaster risk reduction management.
–HENRY JAMES G. ROCA/CIO, Photos by Mike Espina/CIO)