Binay is guest speaker in Bauko Begnas Festival/Sagada driver shot dead

HAPPY WEEKEND 

by Gina Dizon

SAGADA,MOUNTAIN PROVINCE - Northern Sagada resident and driver Christopher Waya-an  Balicag, 48, married was found slumped  and dead in the driver’s seat of his vehicle rammed  at the roadside here at sitio Tabbak,Bangaan evening of February 15,2014. 

Police reports from the Sagada  Philippine National Police revealed that  a cell phone call at 5:20 pm on February 15 was received by said office about an accident at Tabbak urging  PNP  officers  led by SPO4 Johnny Paleyan aided by some members of the Sagada Environmental  Guides Association (SEGA) to proceed to the  site of the reported incident. The team met a vehicle rushing the victim to the nearest St Theodore’s Hospital where victim was pronounced dead on arrival. 

The victim’s medical certificate noted that gunshot wounds were grouped into: three on the right and four on the left portion at the back of the victim’s head and exited on the frontal area of his head. 

Progress investigation led by senior police inspector Benedict Gang-aoen noted that the passenger jeepney started from Sagada around 4 pm on February 15.  Remaining two passengers alighted at sitio Palidan while the victim proceeded home to Tabbak. Sworn statements from the victim’s daughters stated that they found their father’s vehicle rammed in the culvert ditch and their father lying face down with blood oozing from his head.

Police investigation finds murder was committed on the victim though motive of the killing was not yet established. 

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan condemned the killing of Balicag and challenged all concerned on the early resolution of the case. 

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In Bauko, also in Mountain Province, Vice President Jejomar  Binay shall be the guest speaker during the municipality of Bauko’s celebration of its Begnas Festival March 13-15, 2014.

This was made known by Bauko mayor  Abraham Akilit  during a press conference with members of the Montanosa Press Club last  February 13. 

Other  dignitaries  to attend  the festival  include regional director of the Department of  Tourism  Purificacion Molintas   as guest speaker on March 14 and  congressman  Maximo Dalog to  grace the occasion on March 15.  

The Begnas Festival aims to promote the municipality’s  attractions including Mount Polis and Mount Binandilaan as potential trekking sites. There are  indentified 50 plus tourist sites including among others  the Spanish Trail at   Bagnen Proper, pottery and Pandey rice terraces at Bila, and Paradise Falls at Monamon Norte. 

A trek to Mount Polis is scheduled during the festival to jumpstart its trekking sites. 

The three day event shall be also promoting its products including the popular juice wines and organic veggies.

Akilit said some 150 organic farmers are cultivating organic farming and shall eventually let other farmers to practise organic farming. This vegetable town produces tons of vegetables supplying the country with green fresh vegetables with neighbouring veggie producing town of Buguias, Benguet. 

Akilit hopes vice president Binay shall support programs of the municipality one of which is watershed preservation.

Bauko is the headwaters of the mighty Chico River irrigating thousands of ricefields downstream including the rice- producing towns of Tabuk, Isabela and Cagayan along with waters joined from tributaries of Sagada, Sabangan, Bontoc, Sadanga, Tinglayan Kalinga.  

Protection of the watersheds of Bauko is a priority program of the municipality, the former regional director of  the National Irrigation Authority Abraham Akilit said.