Six Abu Sayyaf neutralize in Basilan and Sulu

By Jong Cadion

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (July 31) – Six members of Abu Sayyaf Group were killed based on the cadavers recovered by the Joint Task Forces under Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom), Friday as a result in the continuing offensives operations launched by the military to conduct all-out offensives targeting the Abu Sayyaf Group to neutralize the threat in the provinces of Sulu and Basilan.

WesMinCom Spokesperson Maj. Felimon Tan disclosed that in Basilan, ensuing military operations launched by troops of the Joint Task Force Basilan resulted in the killing of 2 Abu Sayyaf members under Radzmil Jannatul, a.k.a. Khubayb, and a certain Guro Arah at Hill 490 in Barangay Poblacion, Tipo-Tipo at around 6:30am Friday.

Maj. Tan added that also retrieved by troops at the engagement site were two cadavers and a Caliber .50 heavy machine gun while 9 soldiers incurred slight wounds and were airlifted by troops to Zamboanga City for medical attention at the Camp Navarro General Hospital.

Meanwhile, in Sulu, Maj. Tan said also 4 Abu Sayyaf members under Alden Bagadi, a.k.a Sayning, were killed following the intensified conduct of focused military operations in Barangay Langpas, Indanan at 8:50am Friday.

Close air support was provided to the engaged troops. Military troops further recovered the remains of the enemy casualties, he said.

On the government side, WesMinCom official added that 2 soldiers were slightly wounded and were promptly extricated by augmenting troops to Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista for medical treatment and are now in stable condition.

He said, the military has coordinated with the Scene of the Crime Operatives to conduct documentation of the ASG body counts.         

As of this press time, pursuit operations are ongoing, he said.

1,074 PNP PRO 10 personnel takes their oath

by Jong Cadion

PAGADIAN CITY (July 31) – A total of 1074 police personnel from the Police Regional Office 10 (PRO 10) has taken their oath of office Monday July 25 at PRO10 Grandstand in Cagayan de Oro City .

PSupt. Surki A. Sereñas, Public Information Officer said the mass oath taking and donning of ranks of newly-promoted police personnel were administered by Acting Regional Director Police Chief Superintendent Noel G. Constantino.

Sereñas disclosed that of the 1,074 promoted personnel, 88 were Police Commissioned Officers (PCOs) and 986 were Police Non-Commissioned Officers (PNCOs) assigned in different police units of Region 10.

Acting PRO 10 Regional Director PCSupt. Constantino congratulated the successful personnel and emphasized that their promotion does not only implies more authority; it means for greater responsibility that needs more responsive career development to adequately meet the demands of higher positions appropriate to their new ranks.

2 Military and 1 Civilian personnel found positive in drug testing by WesMinCom

By Jong Cadion

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (July 29) – Two military and one civilian personnel of the Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom)  were found positive for use of illegal drugs during the conduct of mandatory drug test on June 28 to supports the anti-drug campaign of the Commander in Chief President Rodrigo Duterte, Military Officials said.

WesMinCom Information Officer Major Filemon Tan said the drug test initiated by the WesMinCom to the 373 military officers and enlisted men to include civilian personnel through the Task Force Moses from AFP GHQ, Camp Aguinaldo.

Major tan disclosed the testing was done in Camp Navarro gymnasium and those found positive will undergo a confirmatory test at a testing center duly accredited by the Department of Health.

Major Tan added that WesMinCom Commander Lt. Gen Mayoralgo M. Dela Cruz in his directives emphasized that soldiers who are drug addicts / users have no place in the AFP.

He added that those found guilty will be discharged from the service without ifs and buts. “Our organization must be clean from drug abuse so that our soldiers can carry out their tasks effectively. With drug abuse, soldiers will lose focus and in the end, will be tempted to do illegal activities that will compromise operations and the safety of his fellow soldiers. Drug addicts have no place in the Western Mindanao Command” the WesMinCom Chief said.

Dapitan City’s ‘Kinabayo Festival’ kicks off

DAPITAN CITY, Zamboanga del Norte, July 18 (PNA) -- The local government through the City Tourism Office has lined up several activities marking the celebration of the Kinabayo Festival.

The highlight of the festival is the feast day of Saint James the Greater, this city’s patron saint, on July 25.

City Tourism Officer Apple Marie Agolong told the Philippines News Agency that the festival kicked off on Saturday with a parade followed by the opening program at 7:00 p.m. at the city plaza.

The 11 lovely candidates for the search for Miss Dapitan City 2016 were presented during the opening program. The coronation night will be on Saturday.

Motorcyclists from Visayas and Mindanao saw action during the Invitational Drag Race Competition on Sunday that attracted huge crowd. It was held at the Dapitan Aquamarine Park (DAMPA).

The Kinabayo Festival activities are as follows: Hip Hop Dance workshop, Sunday to Monday; Hip Hop Dance competition, Tuesday; cooking competition dubbed as Taste of Dapitan, Tuesday; Kinabayo songwriting contest, Wednesday; sports competitions (street basketball, football, beach volleyball, tennis, and shooting), Saturday to Sunday.

Agolong said the Taste of Dapitan cooking competition will showcase the different local delicacies.

Agolong said there will be also horse on parade and racing, street dancing, drum and lyre and drum and bugle competition as well as “Ratsada sa Banda 2016” in the evening of July 25.

 

  

The Kinabayo Festival is a three-in-one affair combining religious, cultural and sports events marking the celebration of its Patron Saint James or Señor Santiago for the locals. (PNA)

BNB/TPGJR/Hirohito D. Cadion

Ex-health secretary indicted for graft over R1MC project

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/795334/ex-health-secretary-indicted-for-graft-over-anomalous-r1mc-project

Former health secretary Enrique Ona and two others were indicted by the Ombudsman for graft over the allegedly anomalous procurement of the P392.2-million modernization program of the Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC).

In a statement on Monday, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales found probable cause to charge Ona, former undersecretary Teodoro Herbosa and former assistant secretary Nicolas Lutero III with graft or violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act or Republic Act 3019.

They were also found guilty of the administrative offense of grave misconduct and were thus dismissed from service, perpetually disqualified from public office and forfeited  their retirement benefits. In case of separation from the service, the penalty is convertible to a fine equivalent to respondents’ one-year salary.

The Ombudsman said Ona and the others gave undue advantage to Specified Contractors & Development Inc. (SCDI) which lost the bidding for the modernization of R1MC.

According to the Ombudsman’s investigation, SCDI was post-disqualified for failure to comply with the agency’s detailed estimate requirements in the bidding for the P392.2-million R1MC modernization program implemented by the Department of Health in 2012.

This compelled the SCDI as the second lowest bidder to file a motion for reconsideration that was denied by the Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC).

The third lowest bidder Northern Builders Inc. was awarded the contract in Aug. 2013. SCDI did not file a protest then as provided for under the Government Procurement Reform Act or Republic Act 9184.

However, that month, SCDI instead filed a letter of complaint before the Office of the President alleging anomalies in the procurement.

Ona thus requested Lutero to conduct a fact-finding investigation.

In Sept. 2013, Ona instructed R1MC chief Dr. Joseph Rolando Mejia to give an update on the project.

In a letter dated Sept. 16, 2013, then undersecretary Herbosa wrote to Mejia for him to nullify or set aside the issuance of the Notice of Award to winning bidder Northern Builders and continue with the post-qualification of SCDI.

On Sept. 30, Ona issued a Cease and Desist Order to Mejia pending investigation of the SCDI complaint.

Three months later, the health department held a rebidding of the project.

In her resolution, Morales said the decision by the bids and awards committee to award the contract to Northern Builders should have become final and executory when SCDI failed to file a protest or appeal.

Thus, Ona could no longer intervene and issue a cease and desist order, Morales said.

“While Ona had the power to investigate any infractions or violations committed by its employees including the members of the SBAC, this does not mean that he could simply invalidate and declare null and void the proceedings and decisions made by the SBAC without observing the provisions of R.A. No. 9184,” Morales said.

Morales said her office was convinced that Ona, Lutero and Herbosa conspired to give unwarranted benefit to SCDI in the bidding for the R1MC project.

The respondents are given a chance to file their motions for reconsideration which if denied by the Ombudsman would signal the official filing of charges against them before the Sandiganbayan. RAM/rga

Military takes offensive against ASG in Basilan

ISABELA CITY,  Basilan ---  The  military here last July 7 conducted an offensive against terrorists who attacked the Municipal Hall of  Tipo-Tipo the night before as if challenging the government when they raised the the flag of the ISIS, referring to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

Elements of the 18th Infantry Battalion, backed by UV-10 Howitzer artillery and Philippine Air Force, tracked down the Abu Sayyaf Group numbering some 700.

Senior Superintendent Oscar Nantes, Basilan Police Office director, said they have heightened its   red alert status with combat augmentation force on the ready to thwart enemy attacks that undermine the security of the island-province.

"We stand by the order of the President to track down the terrorists and neutralize these enemies to restore the peace here in support of the advocacy on the peace process," Nantes said.

Basilan Governor Hataman Jim Salliman said the provincial government has validated the number of displaced families in the three municipalities affected by the conflict situation.

The provincial government immediately served the immediate needs of some 1,300 families or more than 7,000 individuals at the different evacuation centers where the governor personally visited to distribute the relief assistance.

Salliman added that he fully supports President Rodrigo Duterte’s mandate to neutralize the terrorists in an effort to restore peace the soonest. (Becky D. de Asis)

Zambo Sur town employees, policemen ordered to undergo drug test

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?&sid=6&pfn=901679&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=Hirohito%20D.%20Cadion&andor=and&mdte_arch=7&ddte_arch=0&ydte_arch=2016

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, July 6 (PNA) –- Local government officials to include the barangay officials as well as police personnel in the nearby town of Dumingag have been ordered to undergo drug test.

The order to undergo drug test issued by newly-elected Dumingag Mayor Mark Pacalioga was the first directive of the official upon his assumption of office.

Pacalioga said the move is in support to the campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte against the proliferation of prohibited drugs.

Butch Cabilan, Dumingag municipal administrator, and the members of the municipal council have immediately submitted themselves to drug test just after the issuance of the order.

Cabilan said the move showed they fully support the anti-drug campaign of the town mayor.

Pacalioga and his father Vice Mayor Nacianceno Pacalioga and the entire police force of Dumingag are scheduled to undergo drug test next week.

It will be recalled that the first two batches of “drug personalities” consisting of 20 people to surrender in this province is from the town of Dumingag.

The police authorities refer drug personalities to either pushers or users of prohibited drugs.

In related development, 110 drug personalities have voluntarily surrendered on Tuesday to police authorities in the nearby municipality of Dumalinao.

Chief Insp. Eric Humpa, Dumalinao police chief, said five of the 110 are included in the drug watch list of his office. (PNA)
PGL/TPGJR/Hirohito D. Cadion

Tawi-Tawi Governor Matba Assumes Office brings peace and prosperity

BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi- “I shall continue to implement all the programs and projects that we have stated for the good people of Tawi-Taw.  This is my unfinished mission. This is will be my direction to bring peace and prosperity to our beloved province,” newly elected Tawi-Tawi provincial governor Rashidin H. Matba said during his oath-taking ceremonies held last  June 30, Thursday here.

Matba was officially sworn into the highest post along with some elected officials before TRC judge Abdulmoin Pakkam and witnessed by throng of friends and supporters during the inaugural rites at Kasulutan beach resort building, his temporary seat of office.

The young Matba is the son of the late former undefeated provincial governor Hajiri Gerry Matba, considered the legendary leader of the province after it was declared a separate province apart from the Sulu mainland archipelago during the 70s. She is married to former Agusan del Sur, Congresswoman and now Governor Angelica Amante Matba.

Matba won overwhelmingly in the May 9, 2016 hotly contested but peaceful elections for the gubernatorial seat over the incumbent governor Norbert Sahali by a margin of more than 17 thousand votes. He ran as the province’s standard-bearer under the National United Party (NUP).

Briefly, Matba served as elected governor in 2004 and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Regional Assemblyman in—with “flying colors” that benefited a lot his constituents though his innovative and dynamic leadership style which endeared him in the hearts of his people.

In his short inaugural speech, Matba expressed his plans and vision for the Tawi-Tawi people even as he emphasized to work for the continuity of his past accomplishments.

“As governor whom you elected last election, subay natuh harapun iban tukuhun in maksud ta niyu katan para ha kasambuhan sin amba raayat iban kahatulan iban kasanyangan sin hulah natuh, Tawi-Tawi,” Matba stressed.

A comprehensive local executive agenda, which he has started during his stint as governor were centred on addressing basic needs of his constituent through responsive socio-economic services, livelihood, to include agriculture and fisheries development and cultural uplift; providing power supply and water systems, infrastructure development, information and promotion of tourism, trade and business opportunities, health services, environment protection and conservation, establish security, peace and order, accountability, good governance and professionalism.

Matba vowed to continue these programs, which are needed with the help of the various sectors of the communities in the different municipalities, the religious, academe, business sectors and other stakeholders along with the NGOs and People’s Organizations.

After 12 years, Governor Matba was catapulted to power to serve at the helm of the provincial government in the next 3 years immediately assumed office on the same day as mandated by the Constitution. Gov. Matba was only 30 when elected as Chief Executive of the province accompanied by hundreds of supporters led by incumbent and re-electionist Provincial Vice-Governor Michail “Tati” K. Ahaja.

Gov. Matba toured the provincial capitol building and met with province’s officials and employees who warmly welcome him with hugs and hands shakes amid cheers of felicitation as he reached their respective offices. He was later briefed by his newly appointed provincial administrator Hadji Titing Usman, Human Resource Development Officer Prof. Eddie Alih and the Provincial Planning Development Officer, Wahab Bakil.

Earlier, sympathizers had also welcome him upon his arrival at the Sanga-Sanga airport terminal and accorded him appropriate honor as a show of their courtesy support.

Military and police officials likewise, took time out to give the new governor their due courtesy and respect escorted him to the venues of the event.

Meanwhile, Matba has appealed for support from all sectors in order to fast tract implementation of all the development projects which are also in line with newly assumed President Rodrigo Roa Duterte administration’s platforms. (bfcs)