P-Noy urged:Order probe On massacre of Ligiw kin

By Aldwin Quitasol

BANGUED, Abra – Nationwide human rights and cause-oriented groups urged President Aquino to probe massacre of the Ligiw family allegedly by military men even as the Abra provincial board, which tabled the issue for deliberation did not do so for lack of quorum Monday.

They also urged the President, as the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Gen. Felix Brawner, commanding officer of the 5th Infantry Division, wherein 41st Infantry Battalion belongs.to initiate the pull-out.

Over 80 human rights workers nationwide trooped to this province last week to show solidarity and help the Ligiw family in their fight for justice for the brutal killing of their kin allegedly  by government soldiers deployed in Baay-Licuan.

They pressed for total pullout of military troops from the province particularly Baa-Licuan where people are reportedly now “living in a state of fear due to military presence.

The victims of yet the worst human rights violations this March were Ama Licuben Ligiw, 70, and his sons Eddie, 42 and Fermin, 30 were brutally killed and found buried in a shallow grave.

Human rights workers said the Ligiws went missing since March 3, their grave was found on March 7 and their bodies were recovered March 8.

The victims were residents of sitio Sucao, Domenglay village in Licuan-Baay.

On March 26, the Ligiw siblings Edna, Jessie and Edwin filed extrajudicial killing complaints against the 41st IBPA for the murder of their father and brothers at the Commission on Human Rights Cordillera.

The Cordillera Human Rights Alliance reported they were scheduled to meet one of the victims, Freddie in Bangued on March 4 to interview him on his experience when army men coerced him to serve as guide during their operation on Feb. 22.

Fermin's relatives disclosed they learned from the victim that the soldiers accused him of aiding New People's Army guerillas and that the army instructed him not to go to Sucao, his home village.

Abigail Anongos, secretary general of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance said the Ligiw family played a significant role in resisting entry of the Olympus Mining Company in Licuan-Baay and other large-scale mining interests in the area.

She added  the three and the other immediate members of the Ligiw family were members and leaders of Baay Licuan Takderan Umno a Karbengan (BALITOK), Kakailian Salakniban tay Amin a Nagtaudan (KASTAN), the provincial chapter of CPA.

Anongos said “these organizations have long been under attack by the AFP’s political vilification campaign labeling them as enemies of the State”.

Audrey Beltran, CHRA deputy secretary general said the death of the Ligiws caused fear in the province, especially in communities where the 41st IBPA operates.

She added Licuan-Baay and its neighboring municipalities remain heavily militarized.

“The people fear for their security and lives when going to their pacalso (temporary hut used as shelter for farmers and small-scale miners), their small scale mines or swidden farms and thus could not fully tend to their livelihood,” she said.

Beltran said harassment and other human rights violations persist in the community with the continuing presence of the military.

She said an impartial investigation of the case was not being done and there were even efforts to whitewash it.

She added human rights workers in the province especially members and leaders of the Abra Human Rights Movement (ARHM) have been subjected to harassment as they assisted the Ligiw family and documented human rights violations.

“These are the compelling reasons why the presence of the wider community working for human rights and justice need to be concretely be felt in the communities affected by the operations of the 41st IBPA and the 503rd Brigade,” Beltran said.

This, as human rights advocates and members of various organizations as well as individuals stated that “The presence of the elements of the 41st Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) gives the indigenous people of Barangay Dominglay to an atmosphere of insecurity and fear as they are already being prevented from living normally as they did before.”

This was the main finding of the National Solidarity Mission which was participated by 20 organizations done on April 4-7 barely a month after the bodies of the Ligiws were found in a shallow grave near their pacalso (resting hut) in Sitio Sucao, of the said barangay. The three members of the Ligiw family went missing on March 3. Their bodies bore torture marks.

Surviving members of the Ligiw family and their relatives pointed to the 41st IBPA as perpetrators of the brutal murder.

The NSM was held on Sitio Sucao, Domenglay Poblacion, Sitio Mugao of Barangay Dominglay, Licuan Baay; Sitio Manapnap, Barangay Binasaran, Malibcong and Poblacion of Lacub. Participants to the NSM observed that the areas they visited are heavily militarized. They found out that the Bravo Company of the 41st IBPA was even housed at the vicinity of Dominglay Barangay Captain Josephine Cario in SitioSucao.

According to Cario, the soldiers headed by Lt. Mark de los Santos prior to their stay in the vicinity of her residence wrote her a letter and asked permission to encamp in her abode. She said they offered their “bayanihan service” to construct a pathway.

Delegates of the NSM held a solidarity program with the community members of Sitio Sucao and other people coming from the neighboring areas with the presence of some soldiers of the 41st IBPA.

They noted the soldiers were not wearing proper uniforms especially their commanding officer de los Santos while going to such public activities.

The mission also reported disrespect and hostility the delegates of soldiers towards them and the people who attended the gathering.

Maria Sol Taule of KARAPATAN (National Human Rights Alliance) said soldiers blatantly intimidated  community people and the NSM delegates by taking pictures and videos.

She said army troopers led by de los Santos even entered the church where the people held a mass to harass them.

They hit the attitude of the commanding officer in challenging the community people especially the surviving Ligiw family members to a sapata (an indigenous practice of settling cases or feuds within the indigenous community) to find justice in the killing of the their three kins.

The delegates listed human rights violations in the areas where the 41st IBPA was operating.

They reported such cases like sexual abuse among women and children with several cases of abandoned children from soldier-fathers; violations of children’s rights, particularly, cases of threats and intimidations from elements of the 41st IBPA; intensified harassment, threat and intimidation especially those participating in activities organized under Kakailian, Salakniban Ta'y Amin (KASTAN), Abra Human Rights Alliance and Cordillera Human Rights Alliance. Of note is the systematic insinuation of officers of the 41st IB to the effect that the massacre of the Ligiws is perpetrated by KASTAN. Arsenio Ligiw who is the most vocal member of the Ligiw clan is persistently being associated with KASTAN; and encampments in houses and within residential areas during military combat operations under the pretext of “bayanihan.”

Meanwhile, the national formation of IP organizations criticized the administration because of the killings and HRVs against IP communities.

Kakai Tolentino of the Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (National Alliance of Indigenous Filipinos or KAMP) said that they will not just let go the Ligiw massacre case that happened under the present administration of President Aquino.

They said encampment of the 41st IBPA within civilian facilities endangers the populace, and is a violation of Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Human Rights Law (CARHRIHL) and Republic Act 7610 and makes the women and children more vulnerable to violations. RA 7610 is the “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act”.

Aussie OFW, NGO worker buried after van cliff fall

ITOGON, Benguet – A resident of Bokod town working in Australia and a staffer of a non-government organization were buried last week after they were killed and five others were seriously injured when the van they were riding plunged into a 100-meter ravine here afternoon of April 5.

Police identified the fatalities as Reynaldo Santos Paz, 63, and Thita Edio Saguid, 38, who worked for the NGO Igorota Foundation Inc.

Rescued from the wreckage of the ill-fated Toyota Hilux were Eunice Dangpas Blas, 47, and Cyrilo Cosalan Blas, 55, who both work in Canada; Aris Dangpas Blas, 26, a driver of the Bokod municipal government; Carmela Edio Paz, 44, who works in Australia; and Mika Eido Rufino, 17, a sophomore at the Saint Louis University in Baguio City.

Senior Supt. Rodolfo Azurin, Benguet police director, said police got a call from a concerned citizen about the mishap at around 4:30 p.m. that day, prompting immediate rescue and retrieval operation in Sitio Camisong, Barangay Loacan in this town.

The van’s driver was reportedly negotiating an ascending curved portion of the road when the vehicle overshot toward the right and fell off the cliff. 

Who gets P100,000 bounty?: Charges filed vs jailed Baguio massacre suspect

BAGUIO CITY –Charges were filed Thursday against the suspect in the massacre of five persons, including three children here along Kayang Road market area April 6.

Suspect Philip Tolentino Avino, 31, is now at the city jail after he was brought back from Manila where he surrendered Tuesday evening to vice mayor Isko Moreno.

This, as the medico-legal officer who checked Avino said Thursday he bore seven wounds in the hands.

Dr. Rodrigo Leal, medico-legal officer of the Cordillera Regional Crime Laboratory service, told the media: “He (Avino) had wounds on the hand, four on the right hand and three on the left. These injuries are significant because there are also blood spots seen on the scene of the crime.”

He said blood spots found at the massacre scene will undergo DNA testing to establish if those would match the blood stains on the suspect.

Avino, despite his surrender, denied the crime, saying he was on his way to Metro Manila when the massacre happened.

Baguio police director Senior Supt. Rolando Miranda earlier said Avino was identified by two witnesses who saw him knocking on the door of the apartment where the massacre of five people happened on April 6.

The short pants obtained at the crime scene was likewise identified by the former girlfriend of Avino who claimed she gave it to him as a gift.

Five victims, Jacqueline Nociete,19, his brother Joey,9; Jonalyn lozano,32,housemaid; Dave de Guzman,7 and Raymund del Mundo,9, were brutally killed in the apartment here at at Hilltop market,  Kayang.

 The victims sustained multiple stab wounds on different parts of their bodies that led to their death.

Baguio mayor Mauricio Domogan earlier offered P100,000 bounty for informants who could lead lawmen to arrest of Avino, a.k.a. “Michael Geronimo,”  market porter,  from Sta. Mesa, Manila.

Avino reportedly earlier approached his brother and an aunt to arrange his surrender to Moreno.

In Manila, Avino,  denied allegation he was behind the killing insisting he was aboard a bus that day going to Pasay City, claiming he was framed up for the crime.

Baguio police said they hoped Avino would cooperate in the investigation for the early resolution of the case.

Miranda said Avino, was identified by a key witness, an employee in the eatery owned by the apartment owner, who was also a former live-in partner of the alleged suspect.

Victims were found dead, with blood splattered on the floor of their apartment fourth floor of Chan Building, 3rd Kayang Street in Barangay Kayang, Hilltop by Vilma Nociete, mother of  two victims.

Victim Jackelyn Kale Marquez Nociete, 19, Saint Louis University student, was stabbed 18 times..

Jackelyn Kale, with her nine-year-old brother Joey Marquez Nociete Jr., had 14 stab wounds.

Their house help, Jonalyn Lozano, had 12 stab wounds.

Pronounced dead on arrival at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center were playmates of nine-year-old boy Joey who were identified as Dave John de Guzman and Raymond Del Mundo, both 8.

Dave John had eight stab wounds, while Raymond had five.

Investigation revealed apartment lessee, Vilma, mother of two victims, received a text message from Jackelyn Kale around 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., informing her they had a visitor looking for their father, Joey Nociete Sr.

When Vilma tried calling back her daughter to ask about the person looking for her husband, nobody was answering the phone, prompting her to go back to their rented unit.

At their rented unit, Vilma knocked several times at the door and tried calling the cellphone of her daughter to no avail.

Worried, she decided to ask the building owner for the duplicate key of the unit.

Upon entering the apartment together with another companion, she saw her house helper Lozano bloodied and lifeless on the floor together with two playmates of her son who were also unconsciously lying in their pool of blood.

Vilma said she shouted for help until neighbors came to rush the victims to the BGHMC.

All victims were pronounced dead on arrival due to multiple stab wounds and loss of blood.

Miranda said they identified the suspect after material and testimonial evidences, including statements from a key witness who was a cook at the eatery of the victim’s family.

He said a shirt recovered in the apartment and other pieces of evidence also pointed to Avino as the person responsible for the crime, adding the suspect changed his bloodied shirt and short pants he allegedly left at the crime scene.

Neighbors of the victims claimed the shirt left at the crime scene was that of the then still unidentified man who was knocking at the Nociete’s door afternoon of April 6.

Police said Avino could have entered the apartment around 3:30 to 6:30 pm.

Miranda said the suspect could have been known to the family, as no sign of forcible entry was in crime scene.

According to Miranda, the key witness said she was able to identify the bloodied shorts and belt recovered from the crime scene as that of her former live-in partner's.

The police chief said the key witness was taken in as a cook at the family’s eatery and was adopted as part the Nociete family after she separated from the suspect.

“The witness was the main target of the suspect as he was not amenable to their break-up,” he added.

Based on intelligence reports, the suspect was seen in Cubao, Quezon City and in Malolos, Bulacan.

He added suspect could have been under influence of prohibited drugs when he committed the crime.

Miranda earlier said anybody who has information about the suspect's whereabouts can contact his number at 09178281990, adding that a police manhunt is ongoing.

The victims were rushed to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center where they were declared dead on arrival by Dr. Laoagan Rajiv.

The waitress, who requested that she not be named, identified the suspect through the bloodied short pants and belt he left at the crime scene.

She said that the belt was a gift from her. She added they broke up April 4.

There was no sign of forced entry, according to Senior Insp. Angeline Amangan.

Amangan said the bodies were already rushed to the hospital when they arrived at the crime scene. She said there were signs of struggle. The murder weapon was not recovered.

Although police have not ruled out other motives in the crime like robbery, Amangan said some valuables were left behind, including a computer tablet.

A witness, Mae Dumpit Fernandez, who lives on the fifth floor, said she saw a man knocking at the unit of the victims around 3:30 p.m.

Fernandez described the man as five-foot-three, slim, of dark complexion, and wearing a green sweat shirt and black short pants.

She thought the man was just visiting.

The bodies were taken to Funeraria Paz Monday, while relatives of the two late siblings were taken to Naguillian, La Union.

Meanwhile, Domogan said he was alarmed on increasing heinous crimes in the city the past weeks.

He added crimes against properties and persons escalated the past month.

Domogan said heinous crimes, such as recent shooting incident involving a taxi driver and massacre involving the Noceiete family, do not usually happen in the city.

Miranda, however, downplayed this, saying there was decrease in the city’s crime rate the past month compared to the previous months before he assumed office.

49 nabbed in Pangasinan anti-illegal drugs drive

By Mar T. Supnad

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The campaign against illegal drugs and other crimes in this province is gaining ground with bigger number of arrested drug personalities and wanted persons, according to law enforcement officials.

Senior Supt. Sterling Blanco, provincial police director said just recently, a total 35 operations were conducted, resulting in  arrest of 48 persons and confiscation of 79.79 grams of shabu worth P518.245 and 140.302 grams of dried marijuana leaves worth P10,522.

He said 46 cases have been filed in courts for illegal drugs against suspects.

Blanco said the provincial police command’s campaign in reducing distribution of marijuana and shabu in Pangasinan was  boosted by running after distributors here and reducing supply and demand.

A veteran intelligence officer and recipient of awards, Blanco said once the supply of illegal drugs here is lessened this will  mean reduction of users since they cannot buy illegal drugs anymore.

In year 2013, under the term of Senior Supt. Marlou Chan, where two electoral events were held, Pangasinan police accomplished 35% more operations and 65% more arrests compared to 2012.

Now chief of police directorial regional staff based in in Camp Gen. Florendo, La Union, Chan said year 2012 was a period of normal police operations and even 2014, compared to 2013, “yet Pangasinan was included in 15 areas of concern. We still accomplished that much in anti-drugs operations and the biggest haul so far in January 2013 operations.”

In other police operations, Chan said Pangasinan office was awarded with most number of guns confiscated with two other major awards (arrest of most wanted persons) for exemplary performance in 2013 elections.

Blanco meanwhile said he launched information drive activities in elementary and secondary schools which students, teachers, barangay officials and members of non-government organizations had attended.

‘Devil truck’ with drunk driver, kid rams vehicles; 9 hurt

By Joana Marie Bayeng and Justina Nadiahan

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A drunk driver, who was with his 8-year-old son, rammed his ‘devil truck’ at several vehicles here along km 4 the Halsema Highway around 10:30 a.m. Thursday that resulted to heavy traffic and wounding of eight persons.

Police said an Isuzu cargo truck with plate number RAH 519 driven by Rogelio Lunggos Saludes, 32, of km.4 Barangay Balili here  came from km.5 headed to Baguio City.

The truck crossed to the opposite lane, sideswiped the left side rear portion of a passenger jeep  with license number AYS 151,  hit the center rope, causing barriers to fall, the smashed the left side front portion of  a Toyota Innova Wagon taxi going towards km.5.

The truck did not stop, instead it moved forward then  sideswiped a Kawasaki motorcycle.

It still did not stop until it collided head on against another passenger jeep with plate number AYC 365.

The truck pushed the jeep southward and finally stopped.

The two jeeps, motorcycle, Innova taxi came from Baguio City were all headed to km.5 when the collisions happened. 

Police identified wounded victims as: Candice Melis Fletcher, Graciano Sangalang De Guzman, Miream Poc-op Katamen, Rhea Oras Camas, Heron Bastian Gayaso, Mariano Jackson Bastian and Oliver Palongias Way-as, driver of the jeep with plate number AYC 365.

Also wounded were Divina Pulano Killia-en, and Gilbert Napiloy Gano.

The victims were rushed to Pines City Doctors Hospital while others were brought to Benguet General Hospital.

All the eight victims were all passengers, including the driver of the jeep (AYC 365).

Some victims were confined at Pines City Doctors Hospital while others were sent home by doctors of Benguet General Hospital after treatment of minor injuries.

Police detained Saludes at the La Trinidad jail while the owner of the Isuzu truck negotiated with involved parties for amicable settlement. 

Charges were being prepared against the Saludes at press time who reportedly had in his possession bottles of gin at the time of the incident.   

Cordillera autonomy meet set April 30 in Baguio City

By Ramon Dacawi

BAGUIO CITY -- The unity and passion needed to flesh out autonomy for the Cordillera may yet be at hand as leaders of this upland region - including its seven congressional representatives - have set a region-wide summit on the issue of self-rule on April 30 at the Baguio City National High School.

The summit comes 27 years after  ratification of the 1987 Constitution that provided for the  creation of autonomous regions for the Cordillera and Muslim Mindanao to  “accelerate (the) economic and social growth and development” of said regions which, despite their natural wealth,  continue to lag behind the rest of the country.

 It comes after two organic acts  to establish self-rule were rejected  in two plebiscites, reportedly mainly due to lack of understanding and appreciation of autonomy resulting from a weak and limited grassroots information campaign.

 The April 30 powwow was forged during a meeting last March 11 among Cordillera congressional representatives with governors, mayors and members of the Regional Development Council who traveled to meet them at the House of Representatives.

 In a meeting of the preparations committee last Tuesday, Baguio Rep. Nicasio Aliping explained the Cordillera solons agreed to come up with a new autonomy bill based on inputs during the whole-day summit.

 Aliping said the solons will set up a committee to help them draft the new measure which will also be based on House Bill 5595 which was filed during the previous Congress and earlier  documents.

 In preparation for the summit and as agreed during the consultation with the Cordillera solons, provincial, city and other local consultations are continuing, according to regional director Milagros Rimando of the National Economic and Development Authority.

 The promise of active engagement of most or all of the Cordillera representatives during and after the summit – especially their eventual drafting and filing of a new organic act – has boosted hopes for warming up the national government’s support to the constitutional mandate for autonomy in the region.

 “Cordillerans led by its officials have to deliver one message to the national government that we want autonomy,”  city mayor Mauricio Domogan, who will host the summit with Rep. Aliping, noted  recently. “To be united is the only way we can drive home the point and for us to be heard.”

 Domogan feels that Malacanang is not receptive to the push for Cordillera autonomy as it would mean devolution of some of its key powers and function and additional fund provisions called for under an autonomous region set-up.

 In a recent forum here, former provincial planning and development officer Bial Palaez of Benguet also stressed that the key to achieving autonomy is for the region’s leaders to spearhead the push. He said that while he and others worked for  approval of the first autonomy bill, it was rejected in Benguet because the key leaders of the province were campaigned against it.

 The mayor, who has been pushing the quest for self-rule in numerous forums, maintained that the drive must done peacefully, unlike  the forging of a Bangsamoro region in Mindanao which was marked by violence and war.

“Getting into war may appear to be an effective means to get the needed attention from the government, bur let us make a difference and show them that we can attain our autonomy goal through peaceful means even if it will take us a long time to do it,” the mayor said.

 The mayor headed the committee mandated by the Regional Development Council that crafted the draft of the third organic act for Cordillera autonomy which became HP 5595 and Senate Bill 3115.

He noted that the crafting was guided by five principles to provide the Cordillera a permanent regional identity, greater freedom and  power to manage its affairs, develop and benefit from its natural resources and  enjoy more financial benefits from the national government and be abreast with the other regions of the country which are benefiting from the exploitation of its resources

NLRC: Ouster of N. Ecija university president illegal

By Manny Galvez

CABANATUAN CITY  – The ouster of the president of a Methodist-run university here almost two years ago was illegal and unjustified, according to the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC).

The NLRC thus ordered the immediate reinstatement of Manuel Palomo Sr. as president of the 68-year-old Wesleyan University Philippines (WUP), considered as the oldest private university in the province.

Palomo was unseated on March 11, 2012 in a resolution by the WUP’s board of trustees. It was affirmed on the same day by the United Methodist Church’s College of Bishops (UMC-COB), which selects the university president and members of the board of trustees.

In a 28-page decision signed by NLRC Region 3 labor arbiter Mariano Bactin, the commission also ordered the WUP board of trustees and the COB to indemnify Palomo with P8.544 million in back wages; actual, moral and exemplary damages, and attorney’s fees. Palomo was represented in the labor suit by lawyer Valentino Alberto. 

Reacting to the NLRC decision, Palomo said he felt vindicated. “There is no winner or loser in this case as we all belong to the UMC. I sought the intervention of the NLRC because of the absence of any mediation and reconciliation efforts. I looked for avenues to right a wrong – that I was indeed illegally dismissed,” said Palomo, whose term was to expire this April 30.

“I don’t want my grandchildren to live with the thought that their grandfather did something wrong,” he said.

In a one-page notice of decision issued by labor arbitration associate Reynaldo Martin, the NLRC said the ruling shall be immediately executory even pending appeal and the WUP is directed to submit a report of compliance within 10 calendar days from receipt of the decision.

Posting of a bond by the WUP in case it intends to question the NLRC ruling shall not stay the execution for reinstatement, according to the notice.

The NLRC said it found “substantial, convincing and competent evidence” that Palomo was illegally and unjustifiably dismissed as WUP president after a careful evaluation of the facts presented.

5th Infantry Division has new commander

By Charlie Lagasca 

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – The Isabela-based 5th Infantry Division, one of the country’s biggest Army divisions covering northeast Luzon, has a new chief in Maj. Gen. Benito Antonio de Leon. De Leon formally assumed the post April 4 in simple turnover rites presided over by Army chief Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri at the 5th ID headquarters at Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela.

A member of Philippine Military Academy Class 1981, De Leon, who belongs to the Ibanag tribe of Cagayan, replaced Brig. Gen. Ricardo Jalad, who assumed one of the most coveted military posts in an acting capacity from Maj. Gen. Joel Ibañez last month.

Before his appointment, De Leon served as chief of the Armed Forces’ Training and Doctrine Command based at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

Also dubbed as Star Division, the 5th ID covers Cagayan Valley and the Cordilleras, where New People’s Army rebels are still active in several areas, especially in mountain communities.

De Leon vowed to continue the division’s operations “to maintain its momentum toward a peaceful, progressive and prosperous northern Luzon.”

Dagupan operators destroy fish pens; demolition drive on

DAGUPAN CITY -- Several fish pen operators have voluntarily dismantled their illegally-constructed fish pens as the 15-day grace period given by the city government came to an end last month.

Even former Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation President Charice Perez committed to remove the structure she owns as the City Agriculture Office’s “Bantay Dagat” began implementing the demolition order issued by Mayor Belen T. Fernandez against illegal structures that obstruct the natural flow of water in bodies of water.

The subject of the demolition order are fish pens located in prohibited zones, outside the designated navigational lanes, obstructing the natural flow of water and other aquatic resources, said Emma Molina, city agriculture officer.

Molina said six fish pen owners have volunteered to dismantle their fish pens while those who fail to comply will be subject to demolition.

The record shows that there are 66 fish pens due for demolition: 20 in Lucao; 15 in Calmay; 11 in Carael; eight in Tapuac; seven in Pugaro; two in Salapingao; two in Lomboy and one in Tambac.

The dismantling comes more than a month before the start of the 2014 month long Bangus festival that will start on April 1.

The festival will highlight its newest addition “Bangusine” or Bangus Cuisine International that will be participated in by international students from the different universities here who will cook bangus their native way. – Liezle BasaInigo

Holy Week preparations:‘Lakbay-alalay’ set to ensure smooth travel in Ilocos Region

By Liezle BasaInigo

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La  Union — Effective this Holy Week, the “Lakbay-Alalay” program of the Department of Public Works and Highways Region 1 will be  activated  to ensure the smooth travel and provide reliable assistance to motorists.

Department of Public Works Highway Region 1 Regional Director Melanio C. Briosos has instructed the 10 District Engineers to organize their teams that will be responsible to maintain the smooth travel and provide assistance to motorists from April 13 to 20.

Briosos also urged district engineers to give commuters and motorists comfortable trip with the traffic service maintenance especially the informative/regulatory warning signs or traffic advisory for alternate routes specifying the entry and exit points with the corresponding distances  passing traffic areas where construction activities are.

He reiterated continuous  removal of obstructions along the national roads and bridges to avoid accidents .

The members of the “Lakbay-Alalay” team, he said, will be assigned on a round-the-clock shift  along the Manila North Road, and they are to coordinate with agencies like the Land Transportation Office, Philippine National Police, Officials of the Local Government Units to give necessary assistance that maybe required or provided on a normal and emergency situations.

The stations of the “Lakbay Alalay” team of DPWH Ilocos Norte First and Second District Engineering Offices will be located at  the following areas: Baduang Section, Pagudpud, Manila North Road, San Nicolas town proper, Batac City, MNR Currimao and Badoc, Ilocos Norte and  in front of the DPWH Second DEO office at San Pablo, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte

DPWH Ilocos Sur First DEO team will be placed at the MNR Bantay and Magsingal, Ilocos Sur; for the Second DEO they will be positioned along the MNR of Narvacan, Candon City proper and MNR City Hall Command Post.

DPWH La Union First DEO team will be located at the MNR- San Fernando-Bacnotan and Bacnotan-Sudipen, La Union; for the DPWH Second DEO the members of the “LakbayAlalay” team will be seen along the MNR of Agoo, Caba, and the roads along Agoo-Baguio City (Tubao and Pugo Section), Caba-Bauang, Rosario-Pugo and Bauang-Baguio City Roads.

DPWH Pangasinan First DEO “Lakbay Alalay” team will be stationed at the   Pangasinan-Zambales Rd and Alaminos City proper.

On the other hand, DPWH Pangasinan Second DEO has its team members at Guibel, San Jacinto Section along Mangaldan-Manaoag-Binalonan Road, Socony Section at Pangasinan-Tarlac Road, Manat Section along Pangasinan-Zambales Road, and at the Pangasinan-La Union Road and Dagupan City National Roads.

The DPWH Pangasinan Third DEO team will be at the MNR along Carmen-Rosales, Binalonan (Poblacion) and at the Pangasinan-Nueva-Viscaya Road (Sta Maria Section).

The “Lakbay Alalay”  team members  of the  DPWH Pangasinan  Fourth DEO is situated along the Urdaneta  Junction-Dagupan Road,Villasis-Malasiqui-San Carlos Road,Camiling-Wawa-Bayambang-Malasiqui-Sta Barbara Road; Carmen Junction-Bayambang-San Carlos –Manat Road.

Briosos also urged district engineers to give commuters and motorists comfortable trip with the traffic service maintenance especially the informative/regulatory warning signs or traffic advisory for alternate routes specifying the entry and exit points with the corresponding distances  passing traffic areas where construction activities are.

He  reiterated the continuous  removal of obstructions along the national roads and bridges to avoid accidents .

The members of the “Lakbay-Alalay” team, he said, will be assigned on a round-the-clock shift  along the Manila North Road, and they are to coordinate with agencies like the Land Transportation Office, Philippine National Police, Officials of the Local Government Units to give necessary assistance that maybe required or provided on a normal and emergency situations.

The stations of the “Lakbay Alalay” team of DPWH Ilocos Norte First and Second District Engineering Offices will be located at  the following areas: Baduang Section, Pagudpud, Manila North Road, San Nicolas town proper, Batac City, MNR Currimao and Badoc, Ilocos Norte and  in front of the DPWH Second DEO office at San Pablo, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte

DPWH Ilocos Sur First DEO team will be placed at the MNR Bantay and Magsingal, Ilocos Sur; for the Second DEO they will be positioned along the MNR of Narvacan, Candon City proper and MNR City Hall Command Post.

DPWH La Union First DEO team will be located at the MNR- San Fernando-Bacnotan and Bacnotan-Sudipen, La Union; for the DPWH Second DEO the members of the “Lakbay Alalay” team will be seen along the MNR of Agoo, Caba, and the roads along Agoo-Baguio City (Tubao and Pugo Section), Caba-Bauang, Rosario-Pugo and Bauang-Baguio City Roads.

DPWH Pangasinan First DEO “Lakbay Alalay” team will be stationed at the   Pangasinan-Zambales Rd and Alaminos City proper.

On the other hand, DPWH Pangasinan Second DEO has its team members at Guibel, San Jacinto Section along Mangaldan-Manaoag-Binalonan Road, Socony Section at Pangasinan-Tarlac Road, Manat Section along Pangasinan-Zambales Road, and at the Pangasinan-La Union Road and Dagupan City National Roads.

The DPWH Pangasinan Third DEO team will be at the MNR along Carmen-Rosales, Binalonan (Poblacion) and at the Pangasinan-Nueva-Viscaya Road (Sta Maria Section).

The “Lakbay Alalay”  team members  of the  DPWH Pangasinan  Fourth DEO is situated along the Urdaneta  Junction-Dagupan Road,Villasis-Malasiqui-San Carlos Road,Camiling-Wawa-Bayambang-Malasiqui-Sta Barbara Road; Carmen Junction-Bayambang-San Carlos –Manat Road.

Benguet solon to start probe on centralized gun licensing

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The centralized issuance of gun licenses by the Philippine National Police is anti-poor, impractical and an added burden to responsible gunholders that could result to proliferation of loose firearms in the coming months, Rep. Ronald M. Cosalan said here last week.

The lawmaker said he is willing to sponsor a House resolution calling for an inquiry on the circumstances that compelled the PNP leadership to close the operation of its satellite offices processing gun licenses and permits and for the centralized issuance of such licenses which could result to numerous firearms that will no longer be renewed for practicality purposes.

“It will be easy for us to determine what kind of schemes are again involved in this matter,” Cosalan said.

He claimed even policemen using their private firearms in discharging their duties and responsibilities due to the lack of sufficient firearms to be issued to the law enforcers are complaining on the difficulty of renewing the licenses and permits of their firearms considering that it has become costly on their part for them to travel to Camp Crame just to process their gun licenses.

According to him, ordinary gunholders cannot afford the expensive travel to Manila for the renewal of their firearm licenses and permits, especially that the processing is not done for only a day but for several days, thus, an added expense on their part

 “We call on our gunholders to formalize their complaints and get their acts together so that we can initiate the necessary congressional inquiry and formulate appropriate solutions to address their valid issues against the centralized issuance of gun licenses,” Cosalan said.

He warned the PNP leadership to immediately come out with a decisive action on the issues being raised by responsible gunholders before it will be too late which could result to the proliferation of loose firearms that could be used for illegal activities thereby defeating the purpose of the new comprehensive gun control measure.

“The PNP leadership must also effectively and efficiently answer the valid allegations that the centralized issuance of firearm licenses is for fund-raising purposes,” Cosalan added.

If the same is true, he tossed back the question to the PNP on the purpose of the fund-raising and for whoever the personality behind such controversial decision.

Cosalan said centralized issuance of gun licenses would result to a heavy loss of income on the part of the government once responsible gunholders decide not to renew or process the licenses of their guns thereby significantly affecting the national government’s revenue generation efforts.

 Comparing the situation of Luzon gunholders to those in Visayas and Mindanao, Cosalan said those gunholders in Visayas and Mindanao are the ones who will greatly suffer from the centralized issuance of gun licenses and permits because of the huge expenses that they will entail in their air or water or by land travel among other incidental expenses.

“We also have some doubts when the PNP suddenly decided to practice the centralized issuance of gun licenses, thus, the PNP leadership will have a lot of explaining to do to satisfy all the issues and concerns of the affected sector before the situation goes out of control,” Cosalan said.

P6.4 billion released to pave Cordillera roads

LUNA, Apayao – At least P6.4 billion was released by the Department of Budget and Management to Department of Public Works and Highways to improve national and secondary national  roads in Cordillera this year to achieve commitment of President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III to have all national roads and 80 percent of secondary national arterial roads concreted by the middle of 2016.

Engineer Edilberto P. Carabbacan, DPWH regional director, said Apayao received the biggest chunk of the funds at a little over P1.4 billion, followed by Ifugao with P1.3 billion, then Kalinga at P1.2 billion, Benguet with P1.1 billion, Mountain Province with P600, Abra with P4 million and Baguio with only P380 million.

“At the end of 2013, approximately 55 percent of the region’s nearly 2,000 kilometers of national roads were already concreted because of the P6.6 billion funds released by the national government for numerous infrastructure projects,”Carabbacan said.

Because of the earlier bidding of the programmed projects, the DPWH official said that most of the programmed projects were completed before the rainy season, thus, increased access to the remote communities in the region have been existent.

By the end of this year, Carabbacan explained approximately 80 percent of the region’s national and secondary national arterial roads will be concreted thereby helping spur economic growth in the interior parts of the region.

He said stringent rules are being enforced in the bidding of the different infrastructure projects to make sure that contractors who are financially and technically capable of prosecuting projects in mountainous areas will be the ones who will be awarded the multi-billion contractors for the sake of quality work beneficial to the motoring and commuting public.

Before the Aquino administration embarked on a 4-year infrastructure development program in 2012, around 40 percent of the national and secondary national arterial roads in the region were concreted, thus, people in the remote communities of Benguet, Mountain Province, Kalinga, Abra and Apayao were deprived of the benefits of development.

Carabbacan revealed the substantial improvement of major road networks in the region will translate to economic growth because of increased investment opportunities, increased employment for local residents and increased income for concerned local governments.

He added the agency and project implementers are trying their best to comply with the marching orders of Public Secretary Rogelio Singson to make all national and secondary national arterial roads comply with international standards for the benefit of the motorists.

According to Carabbacan, the implemented and soon to be implemented road projects were designed to ensure that the stat of the environment will be protected and preserved in order to enhance the growth of the ecotourism industry of the region which is seen to be instrumental in spurring the economic growth of the remote communities. -- Dexter A. See

Kalinga roadway owners told: Stop unsound property claims

By Peter Balocnit

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The Kalinga District Engineering Office of the Department of Public Works and Highways is hastening concreting of all secondary roads in the province.

This, as they appealed to stakeholders along road rights-of-way to cooperate and refrain from asking unreasonable property damage claims.

Engineer Teodoro Owek, construction chief of KDEO, said P153 million was earmarked this year for concrete pavement of secondary roads that include  the Pinukpuk-Balbalan national highway, Bulanao-Paracelis, Bulu-Malalao, and other secondary roads connecting Kalinga to other provinces.

He said KDEO is implementing projects  during summers to take advantage of good  weather.  

 “These are government projects and we all benefit from them so our appeal for concern communities and individuals is to give way for their implementation,”  Owek said.

Aside from road projects, the DPWH is also busy  constructing school buildings  which task was lodged to the agency last year.

Owek  said   P123M  was also allotted for the construction of classroom buildings in the province and all  of these projects are on-going. 

2 NPA guerrillas killed in another Bontoc clash

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Government forces killed April 2 a leader of the New People’s Army and a “female NPA amazon” operating in the tri-borders of Abra, Mountain Province and Ilocos Sur provinces known as the AMPIS area during an encounter that started here early last week.

In Camp Dangwa, Benguet, Chief Supt. Isagani R. Nerez, regional police director identified only one fatality as Daniel Pinading Alunday a.k.a. “Tikid,” team leader of the NPA’s Squad 2, West Chico Line of the Kilusang Larangan Guerilla Marco Command operating in Mountain Province.

Alunday was reportedly brought down to Barangay Dalican here afternoon of April 6, upon request of relatives, facilitated by the Cordillera People’s Alliance and later brought to Balbalan, Kalinga.

Another NPA guerrilla was also wounded during operation conducted by police and military units, Nerez said.

But according to Ruel Tabliago, information officer of the 54th IB, another female NPA member was killed during the encounter.

Tabliago said elements of the 54th infantry battalion and Mt Province police provincial office clashed with the NPA at vicinity of Bandung Hill, at Barangay Dalican here  around 3 pm on April 2.

The engagement lasted more than an hour, reportedly led to wounding of several NPA guerillas.  One wounded in the government  side identified as  PO1 Manuel Dagsan was reportedly now in stable condition.

Tabliago said Alunday was a native of Poswoy, Balbalan Kalinga.

He added as of  April 5,  elements of the 50th IB  also encountered around 30  NPA in  Baklingayan,  Tabakdo, Tubo,  Abra. Pursuit operations are reportedly ongoing.

Lt Col Eddie Pilapil commanding officer of the 54th infantry battalion expressed his sympathies to the families of the fallen rebels saying,  “only through peace can development and social justice be attained. We encourage our brothers in the NPA to lay down their arms and take advantage of the government’s  integration program. There are many ways to solve our problem and fighting is not one of the solutions”.

This, as Nerez said government forces were conducting operations are press time to rid the tri-boundary of rebel forces. 

Nerez said despite sustaining casualties during their operation against the insurgents on March 29, where two were killed and two were wounded, they are determined to bring justice to the victims and flush the NPA guerillas out from the area.

Two weeks ago, while police were advancing to another NPA camp, a firefight took place that resulted to the injury of PO1 Emmanuel Dagsan, a member of the Mountain Province Public Safety Company who sustained a gunshot wound on his right thigh.  

He was immediately rushed to the Baguio General Hospital for medical treatment.      

At present, operating personnel were still pursuing NPA guerillas and  trying to drive them away from a forested area to capture another training camp of the communist rebels.