ORMOC CITY- Police operatives in Southern Leyte arrested the reported top drug dealer during a buy bust operation on April 3.
Nabbed by the police authorities was Simon Mercado, 36 and a resident of Barangay Canturing, Maasin City near the Metro Hyper Mall, Brgy. Tagnipa of said city.
Senior Inspector Shevert Alvin Machete, chief of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs and Special Operations Task Group(PAIDSOTG), said that seized from the suspect were two sachets of suspected drugs; two unlicensed firearms with several live ammunitions; cash worth P19,569 believed to be proceeds of illegal drug trade and P2,000 marked money.
Mercado was believed to have been engaging in drug selling in the entire province that put him number one in Southern Leyte’s drug watch list.
A policeman, posing as a buyer, bought the illegal drug from the suspect while the latter was inside his car parked near the Metro Hyper.
During a body search, it was discovered that he was concealing another single sachet of suspected drug and cal. 45 pistol tucked on his waist with live ammunitions. While a 9 mm caliber pistol with ammunitions and two magazines for cal. 45 were recovered at his unlicensed car Sedan KIA YDV 714. Village officials, representatives from Department of Justice and media witnessed the search.
With the arrest of Mercado, the illegal drug trade in Southern Leyte is seen to decline, police authorities said.
Police Supt. Armando Bolalin, acting provincial director, encouraged the local police to carry on intensifying Coplan “crystal” that initially handcuffed the province’s top on the watch list.
Mercado was charged through an inquest proceeding for violations of sec. 5 and 11 of RA 9165 (Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and RA 8294 (Illegal Possession of Firearms).  (ELVIE ROMAN-ROA)

Singapore’s Tan donates medical supplies, equipment to Basey District Hospital

BASEY, Samar- Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam made the first visit ever by a head of state to this Yolanda-hit province as he personally lead in the turnover of medical supplies and equipment to the Basey District Hospital, this town, on April 5.
Aside from the members of the Presidential Security Group and his own security personnel, about 230 policemen, both from the municipal government of Basey and the provincial headquarters based in Catbalogan City, were assigned to guard the visiting Singaporean president.
“He is a president that is why we have a very tight security measure,” said Senior Superintendent Roel Acidre, police director for Samar, said.
The province, Basey in particular, was once a hotbed of the communist armed group, the New People’s Army, which the military officials claimed to have been “neutralized.”
President Tan arrived in this town, considered the most devastated area in Samar along with Marabut, at 2:10 p.m. on April 5 and left at around 2:47 p.m.
He was joined by wife, Mary, during his visit at the Basey District Hospital, located at Barangay Loyo, this town, and was met by local officials led by Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan and town Mayor Igmedio Junjie Ponferrada.
Also welcoming the Singaporean president and his group were officials of the Philippine Red Cross led by its chairman, Richard Gordon and secretary general, Gwendolyn Pang.
“Of course, we are honored to be visited by him and we are very much grateful for the donations for our hospital here in Basey,” Gov. Tan said.
The 25-bed Basey District Hospital is being maintained by the provincial government, which was destroyed during the onslaught of the supertyphoon Yolanda. Several of its equipment like its X-ray machine were damaged, said its chief of hospital Dr. Rutchie Igos.
Pres. Tan, in his brief statement before the media, said that his visit to this town and the nearby Tacloban City, was for him to personally see the devastation caused by Yolanda.
And almost five months after Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) pummeled Eastern Visayas, he was “impressed” on what he saw, the visiting Singaporean president said.
“The reason why we are here is to see for ourselves the impact of typhoon Haiyan on the lives and livelihood of the communities living here.And I would say, looking around, driving here, I’m very impressed by the resiliency of the Filipino people,” he said.
Thus, he said, he is confident that the Philippines could bounce back from the massive disaster to hit the Visayas on November 8, 2013.
Tan turned over medical supplies and equipment to the officials of the Basey District Hospital. Repairs of the damaged two buildings of the hospital would need at least P6 million.
“The effort which we are doing in Basey District Hospital is one of the rehabilitation efforts which Singapore is very happy to help. You can see that the hospital was extremely affected by the typhoon; the roofs were blown off. We’ll reconstruct new roof,” he said.
The Singaporean president also said that the donation made by his country to the Philippines, coursed through the Singapore Red Cross, was an indication on the “kinship” of the two nations.
During his visit to the country, Pres. Tan announced of S$7 million as his country’s contribution to the reconstruction and rehabilitation effort of the national government.
Health Regional Director Jose Lacuna said that they need about P500 million to repair several hospitals that sustained damages due to Yolanda. (JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY- The Civil Service Commission (CSC) in the region will conduct inspection to all government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations to check if they are implementing the Anti-Red Tape Act (Arta) of 2007.
The inspection of all government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations is under its “Arta Watch” campaign, said CSC Regional Director Victoria Esber.
Esber said that the Arta Watch is part of the implementation of the Anti-Red Tape Act.
The CSC conducts an unannounced spot check to agencies which renders frontline services as part of the enforcement of the Arta Watch.
“The government agencies in order for them not to fail in the conduct of the Arta Watch must prepare themselves because anytime of the week during office hours we will visit them,” Esber said in an interview with Leyte Samar Daily Express.
She also emphasized that the CSC is not exempted in observing the Arta Watch. “Before the CSC conducts an Arta Watch to other government agencies, we ensure that all our provincial and regional offices are Arta Watch compliant,” Esber said.
The CSC regional director stressed that all government agencies must give their very best in serving the public, especially to their clients.
She said that they must serve their clients with a smile in order for them to be Arta Watch compliant.
Esber said that they will conduct an investigation and file appropriate charges to those government officials or employees who are not doing their jobs especially when there is a pending complaint against them.
The CSC also checks if a government agency is strictly observing the “no noon break policy”. (RYAN GABRIEL L. ARCENAS)

BOBON, Northern Samar— A memorandum of agreement was signed by Mayor Reny Celespara and a representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) that would help strengthen campaign on nutrition and education programs in this town.
The agreement between the Unicef and the local government unit of Bobon, represented by Mayor Celespara, aim to use communication resources to gain multi –sectoral support in attaining the several local developmental goals.
Kathleen Solis represented the Unicef in the signing of the agreement held on March 12, 2014 at the Executive Building.
The signing was also witnessed by different local officials and Dr. Ma. Theresa Velasco of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños’ College of Communication and Development.
The half-day event aimed at “strengthening local nutrition and education programs through communication for behavior and community empowerment initiatives” has also its purpose in achieving or influencing people for an effective communication for the various health and nutrition programs of Bobon town.
Velasco disclosed that aside from Bobon, two other towns in the province of Masbate are also beneficiaries of this Unicef’s technical assistance on developmental communication strategies that will run for months which made them avail series of trainings, lectures, seminars and workshops while their respective municipalities are investing various development programs that would benefit their local citizenry particularly, the needy as target beneficiaries.
Mayor Celespara, a registered nurse by profession, expressed his full support on this program of the Unicef as he expressed his gratitude for choosing his town as a beneficiary. (PETER D. PAREDES)