Former Pagadian mayor to face court again

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By Jong Cadion

PAGADIAN CITY, MINDANAO-Philippines (Feb.19, 2014) -Pagadian City ex-mayor Samuel Co and his wife, Priscilla, will face the court again this Thursday for another case of syndicated estafa.

Included in Thursday's arraignment are six suspects accused in the same case, identified as Fernando R. Luna, Lelian Lim Gan, Eduardo L. Lim, Wilaine C. Fuentes, Naezelle M. Rodriguez, and Larix Lopez.

According to Atty. Tersendo Poloyapoy, counsel for the Co couple, the six other suspects had voluntarily surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) before the arrest of Mr. and Mrs. Co.

LTFRB: Only 10 RTMI buses under suspension

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Feb. 20 (PNA) -–The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) clarified that the 30-day preventive suspension order the agency slapped on the Rural Transit Mindanao Incorporated (RTMI) is not against the operation of the entire RTMI.

LTFRB head Swilbery Baybayan made the clarification Thursday after the RTMI continue its operation despite the preventive suspension order.

Baybayan said the suspension order issued Tuesday by LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez only covers 10 units of RTMI’s fleet of buses and not the entire company.

RTMI continues operation despite LTFRB suspension order

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PAGADIAN CITY, Feb. 19 (PNA) -–The Rural Transit Mindanao, Incorporated (RTMI) continue its operation here despite suspension order from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

The RTMI is one of the two bus firms the LTFRB has placed on Monday under a 30-day preventive suspension after one of its buses figured in an accident last Saturday that injured 20 passengers, mostly teachers, in the municipality of Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay.

The other bus firm placed under preventive suspension together with RTMI is the Antonina Line after one of its bus figured in an accident Sunday in Libmanan, Camarines Sur that killed five passengers and injured 46 others.

Rural Transit Mindanao continues to operate

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By Jong Cadion

PAGADIAN CITY, Feb. 19, 2014-MINDANAO, Philippines (SOLAR NEWS) -- Rural Transit Mindanao in Pagadian City has yet to cease operation because the company staff still has to be informed by management about the suspension order from the Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

According to Swilbeny Baybayan, an LTFRB official, only one franchise of Rural Bus Mindanao was named in the suspension order.

Out of the 10 buses in the franchise, only two license plates have been confiscated.

20 home-bound teachers, athletes injured in Zambo Sibugay mishap

By Hirohito D. Cadion

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Feb. 16 (PNA) -- Twenty people were injured when a bus carrying home-bound athletic delegation from Basilan fell on its side along the highway in Zamboanga Sibugay Saturday afternoon, a police official said.

Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) information officer Chief Insp. Ariel Huesca said most of the victims were teachers that compose the athletic delegation from Basilan province.

Huesca said the victims came from the just-concluded Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Athletic Association (ARMAA) meet in Marawi City and on the way home via Zamboanga City.

Pagadian City sub-contractors file complain against NHA housing project developer

By Hirohito D. Cadion

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Feb. 14 (PNA) -- Works on the P360-million housing project for soldiers and policemen in this city have been suspended as the sub-contractors have filed complaints of alleged malpractices and non-payments against the developer before the office of Vice President Jejomar Binay, the housing czar.

A copy of the complaint was also furnished to the National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Chito Cruz and NHA Department Manager Rosemarie Sioting since the affected housing projects are funded by the agency.

Vicenzo Cagampang, spokesman of the 14 sub-contractors, said Friday they decided to file the complaint since the Laurasia Realty Corporation, the project developer, has been remiss in its obligation to pay them for the works they accomplished.

The Laurasia Realty Corporation is the developer of the P360-million NHA housing projects for the soldiers and police in Barangay Bogo, this city.

Troops recover 5-year old girl kidnapped in Zamboanga Sibugay

By Teofilo P. Garcia Jr

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb. 13 (PNA) -– Combined police and military forces have safely recovered a five-year-old girl who was kidnapped last month in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, a police official announced Thursday.

Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) information officer Chief Insp. Ariel Huesca said the victim was safely recovered after she was freed around 4 p.m. Tuesday at a secluded area in Barangay Poblacion, Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Huesca identified the victim as Alexa Dela Cruz, who was seized at her residence last January 11 in Sitio Tabion, Barangay Kima, Payao municipality.

Huesca said the victim’s parents are rice traders in the town of Payao.

He said “no ransom” was paid in exchange for the released of the victim.

He said the victim was immediately taken to the municipal health office for medical check-up after her release.

He said the victim was handed over to his father, Alejandro Dela Cruz, in the presence of Payao Mayor Carol Mendoza.

He said that the police of Payao have already filed criminal charges against five people tagged as among those responsible in the kidnapping of the young girl.

Huesca did not elaborate the details except to say that investigation continues in a bid to unmask the identities of the other suspects. (PNA)
CTB/TPGJR/UTB

Kapatagan MDRRMC alerted due to continuous rainfall

Photo by Nikel Navarro

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Feb. 14 (PNA) –- Mayor Alan Lim of Kapatagan municipality in the nearby Lanao del Norte province has placed on alert its Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) following continues rainfall since Wednesday.

Lim’s order came after the river in Barangay Lanipao, Lanao del Norte has overflowed due to continuous rainfall and has already submerged some 60 hectares of rice field in the area.

Lanipao barangay captain Therisa Abucay said the river started to overflow around 10 p.m. Wednesday that inundated the rice field as well as some of the residential area in her barangay.

Pagadian City sets mass wedding on Valentine’s Day

By Hirohito D. Cadion

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Feb. 13 (PNA) –- A total of 66 couples who had been living together for years sans the sacrament of matrimony, will tie the knot on Valentine’s Day in a mass wedding to be officiated by the city chief executive.

City Civil Registrar Leo Acorda said Thursday that Mayor Romeo Pulmones will officiate the mass wedding that will be held at the function hall of the City Commercial Center (C3) mall.

Acorda said the mass wedding is being sponsored by the local government as part of this city’s annual activities in observance of the Civil Registration Month every February.

New revenue district officer prioritizes tax mapping in Pagadian City

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Feb. 11 (PNA) -– Newly-installed Revenue District Officer Casan P. Azis announced that he will prioritize the implementation of the tax mapping campaign in a bid to meet his office’ target collection goal for this year.

Azis made the announcement after he assumed Monday as the new head of the Revenue District Office (RDO) No. 92 replacing Franklin Ladores, who retired last month.

“My first priority is to conduct surveillance through tax mapping operations. So we are requesting the media to help us in our information and education campaign and also cooperation of the taxpayers to help improve tax collection in order to reach our target goal,” Azis said.

Van carrying Jolo athletic delegation plunges into a cliff; 1 killed, 11 injured

By Hirohito D. Cadion

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Feb. 10 (PNA) -– A public school teacher was killed while 11 others were injured when a van carrying an athletic delegation from Jolo plunged into a cliff Sunday morning in Buug, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Buug police station commander Insp. Roex Quierrez said the accident took place around 11:30 a.m. Sunday along the national highway in Barangay Bulaan of said municipality.

BIR 2014 Tax drive kicks-off in Pagadian City

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Feb. 8 (PNA) -- The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) over the weekend kicked-off its tax campaign in a bid to improve revenue collections in this province.

The tax campaign was launched Friday through a simple program held at the Liga ng mga Barangay Convention Center here.

The launching of the tax campaign was jointly spearheaded by BIR regional director Alert Alocilja and Revenue district officer Rodrigo Calid.

The 2014 tax campaign is anchored on the theme “I Pay My Taxes Right, It’s as easy as register file pay (RFP).”

DILG implements P25-M road project in Zamboanga del Sur

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Feb. 10 (PNA) – The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) through the PAyapa and MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) has started the implementation of a P25-million road project linking the town of Dumalinao to this city through the coastal area.

DILG Regional Director Paisal Abutazil led the recent groundbreaking that signaled the start in the implementation of the five-kilometer road project.

Mayor Romeo Pulmones and Vice Mayor Divina Grace Yu as well as some city councilors and barangay officials joined Abutazil in the groundbreaking ceremony.

Pagadian ex-mayor pleads not guilty

By JONG CADION

PAGADIAN CITY, Philippines (Feb. 7, 2014 Pagadian FRONTLNE NEWS) Former Pagadian City Mayor Samuel Co submitted a not-guilty plea Thursday in the syndicated estafa case filed against him during arraignment at Branch 1 of the Regional Trial Court, Hall of Justice in Iligan City.

Co and his wife, Priscilla, were charged for their alleged involvement in the Aman Futures investment scam at Pagadian in 2013.

Co was charged with collecting a "tax" on investments in Aman, based on a complaint by Julius Labunog, who claimed to have lost P29.63 million to the investment scam.

The couple was arrested on December 14, 2013 in Taguig City. They were detained at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after the arrest.

Co was escorted by NBI agents from Manila to Iligan City, and brought immediately back to Manila after the hearing.

The couple are temporary held in the detention facility at the NBI in Manila.

DENR-PIA IX SIGN MOA TO MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE

DENR-IX Executive Director Arleigh J. Adorable

during the MOA signing  in Pagadian City, Zambo.

del Sur with OIC RPAO Roservirico Tan witness.

By JONG CADION

         

PAGADIAN CITY, ZAMBOSUR (Feb. 5, 2014 Pagadian FONTLINE NEWS) -- The Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) IX represented by its Executive Director Arleigh J. Adorable recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Director Noemi B. Edaga of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) IX for the dissemination of information about Climate Change Mitigation to various sectors of society at the local level.

Also present during the MOA signing were Gedion Corgue and OIC RPAO Roservirico Tan who signed as witnesses for Dir. Edaga and Executive Director Adorable, respectively.

         

The aforesaid Accord was an offshoot of the Agreement which was signed earlier by their respective secretaries at the main office in Manila for the immediate adoption of mitigation measures, nationwide aimed at minimizing the effects of climate change and global warming.

Zambo mining firm denies virus infestation link to its exploration works

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Feb. 5 (PNA) -– The Atro Mining-Vitali, Inc. (AMVI) has denied that the firm’s exploration activities are causing the White Spots Syndrome Virus (WSSV) infestation in some of the fishponds in Barangay Vitali, Zamboanga City.

AMVI corporate communication officer Antonio Manaytay said linking the reported infestations to the AMVI explorations “is a product of hasty, irresponsible and sweeping generalizations without taking into consideration a wider picture where prawn and shrimp farmers in Zamboanga Sibugay and Sarangani provinces had also observed the same deaths of stocks.”

Manaytay issued the statement as he noted that the Zamboanga City agriculture office through its Field Office No. 6 has already warned prawn farmers in Barangay Vitali of a possible outbreak and infestation of WSSV on the shrimp farming industry with the onset of hot weather.

Army applicants reach 1,043

By Hirohito D. Cadion

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Feb. 5 (PNA) -- A total of 1,043 applicants have submitted their requirements to the Army’s First Infantry Division for the yearly in-processing of the Candidate Soldier (CS) selection.

Army’s 1st Infantry Division information officer-in-charge Capt. Jefferson Mamauag said the applicant came from the provinces of Zamboanga, Lanao and Basilan and neighboring Regions.

Mamauag said the CS applicants have undergone on Sunday the pre-screening phase wherein they must pass the height requirement of not less than five feet; possess no physical deformities; tattoo; ear pierced and not color blind; with normal blood pressure and dental health; and, they must have the Philippine Army Aptitude Test Battery (PAATB) score of not less than 80 points.

Zambo Sur CARP beneficiaries seek DAR chief assistance

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Feb. 4 (PNA) -- A group of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) from Barangay Lourmah, Mahayag town has asked Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Virgilio Delos Reyes to pursue the survey and land distribution before the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms ends in June this year.

In a letter sent Monday and signed by 119 farmers, they also requested Delos Reyes to investigate the continues demolition of their residences and harassment allegedly done by the landowner.

“We the 119 farmers were confirmed as the farmer beneficiaries of the 166 hectares of land of the Abuton Estate after being recognized by the Department of Agrarian Reform on March 25, 2013,” the Samahan ng mga Magbubukid sa Lourma led by Virgilio Fuentes stated in the letter addressed to Delos Reyes.

DENR partners with WBPP to boost bird, nature photography

By HIROHITO D. CADION

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Feb. 4 (PNA) -–The Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), formerly the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB), of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has teamed up with the Wild Bird Photographers of the Philippines (WBPP) in a bid to promote bird photography in the country.

DENR Regional Public Affairs Officer-in-Charge Rosevirico Tan said Tuesday the primary objective of the partnership is not just to take photographs of the birds but to encourage taking pictures of birds in their natural habitat and “behaving as they naturally behave.”

Tan said the project known as “Partnership on Bird and Nature Photography” was forged by BMB Director Mundita Lim and WBPP president Rey Sta. Ana. The project will run for five years.