SWE April 2 - 8, 2013

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By RICKY J. BAUTISTA, SWE News & Features

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7 E. Visayans make it to PMA Class 2017

See NDF page 2...

Farmer who sodomized 8-yr-old daughter nabbed

NDF warns candidates vs vote-buying, violence

Health exec warns

of heat stroke

See ARMY page 3 ...

Army’s pre-entry exam opened in E.

Visayas

See POLICE page 2...

The Exponent of Samar’s Progress

Chronicling Eventsin Samar Island Since 2002

EXPRESSVOL. 10, NO. 35 APRIL 2 - 8, 2013 CATBALOGAN CITY 8 PAGES

Samar Weekly

WITH the summer heat now on full blast, it’s better to take the necessary precaution to avoid getting heat stroke.

Thus advised Doctor Jaime Opinion, city health of-ficer, who said that among the most vulnerable sector to heat stroke are old persons.

According to him, it is better not to venture out dur-ing 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. during which times the sun’s heat are more scorching.

And if cannot be avoided to go out during this time, it’s better to bring protective gears like umbrella and bottled water to avoid exhaustion, the city health officer said.

“And contrary to public notion, one can have a heat stroke even if you are inside your house as heat exhaustion can happen indoors,” Opinion said.

Thus, he said, proper ven-tilation should be observed, he added.

Since the start of the sum-mer season, Tacloban has been experiencing blistering heat that reached beyond the normal maximum heat of 30.7 degree Celsius.

The hottest recorded by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomi-cal Services (Pagasa) here in Tacloban was 32.2 degrees Celsius.

This kind of heat, the Pagasa said, could result to possible heat exhaustion par-ticularly to the old ones.

Opinion said that his of-fice is closely monitoring the situation as to whether there are individuals who have fallen to heat stroke.

“But there’s none so far,” the city health officer said. (JAG)

<<< ----------------------------MPS GROUNDBREAKING IN DARAM. Chief RSOG and Dep. Reg’l. Di-rector PSSupt. Edgar O. Basbas, SPPO director PSSupt. Eusebio A. Mejos, Daram Mayor Lucia L. Astorga lead other town of-ficials and police officers during the groundbreaking rites of the new P4.5-M Municipal Police Station. (Lilith S. Tena)

CATBALOGAN City – The Army Recruitment Office for Visayas based in Camp Lapu-lapu, Cebu City will conduct a series of Phil-ippine Army Aptitude Test Battery (PAATB) and other pre-entry examinations for Officer Candidate Course (OCC), Officer Preparatory Course (OPC), Probation-ary Officer Training Course (POTC) and Candidate Soldier Course (CSC) to all aspiring and interested applicants from Eastern Visayas.

The examinations will be facilitated by the personnel from the Army Recruitment Office from April 11-18, 2013 on the following dates and venues as indicated: on April 11-12, 2013 at Headquarters 803rd Brigade, Camp Sumoroy,

CATBALOGAN City – A farmer accused of making his daughter his sex slave for three years has finally ar-rested by the police after five long years of hiding.

The police identified the suspect as Nelson Villagracia y Rivera, 43, married, of Ba-rangay Lupig, Sta Rita, Samar.

Suspect is facing 2 counts of rape charges docketed under criminal case numbers 2008-12-3369 and 2008-12-3370 and is ranked number 1 in the list of most wanted persons in Sta. Rita town.

Police said that for three years, the suspect alleged-ly made his then 8-year old daughter, name withheld, a sex

slave since year 2005.Villagracia’s criminal acts

was discovered when the vic-tim finally reported her ordeal to her grandmother sometime in April 2008 who immedi-ately sought the assistance of the police. The victim was al-legedly last raped by her father on that same day she braved to report to her grandmother to put an end to her agony.

The suspect immediately went into hiding before the police could arrest him.

But last Tuesday, infor-mation coming from the Ba-rangay Intelligence Network (BIN) was relayed to the police that lead to Villagracia’s arrest. The suspect was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest

THE National Democratic Front (NDF) in Eastern Visayas said candidates campaigning in the so-called “revolutionary jurisdiction” will be strictly monitored to prevent vote-buying and election violence.

In a statement, NDF spokesperson Santiago Salas said the election candidates must comply with the guidelines of the people’s democratic government, especially the prohibition of vote-buying and coercion..

“While the reactionary ruling system pretends to undergo clean and honest elections, the reality is that traditional politics have always meant the use of money and armed minions to buy and coerce votes. Thus, the revolutionary movement asserts to the traditional politicans that such condescencion towards the people will not be tolerated,” Salas said.

Salas said previous studies have shown the reactionary elections as elitist and rotten to the core.

“Even the legally allowed ceilings for campaign spending

CATBALOGAN City -- Seven young men and women from Eastern Visayas are included in 276 newly selected cadets to compose the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class of 2017.

One comes from Catbalogan City, one from Burauen, Leyte, three from Tacloban City, one from Carigara, Leyte and one from Isabel, Leyte.

PMA formally welcomed 276 new cadets, where 192 are males and 84 females, in a Reception and Oath-Taking Rites on April 1, at PMA, Fort General Gregorio del Pilar, Baguio City.

From a total of 14,540 who took the nationwide examina-tion in August 2012 only 1,096 made it to the next phase of the selection process for PMA Cadetship which is the Complete Physical Examination (CPE) conducted at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center.

Office of Cadet Admission (OCA) Director, Major Darren Comia said that the qualified PMAEE passers went through a rigorous medical, psychological and physical ex-amination to determine their fitness to undergo the four-year military training in the academy.

After the series of examinations, the PMA Cadet Pro-curement Board deliberated and selected the most qualified candidates to compose PMA Class of 2017, he added.

PMA cadets enjoy a full government scholarship with a monthly salary, allowances and a chance to undergo the rare and unique PMA experience designed to develop a well-rounded officer and a leader.

Cadets will earn a Bachelor of Science Degree. They are See PMA page 5...

APRIL 2 - 8, 20132 THE REGIONWebsite: www.issuu.com/samarweeklyexpress

Trailblazer Award to boost police morale - RD Soria

Samar Weekly Express

R.R.V. HARDWAREBrgy. 3, Poblacion,

Calbiga, Samar

DEALER: Gravel and Sand, Hollowblocks and other construction materials

Contact: HENRY BORDOMobile: 09165998846/09295137472

37 cops finish 10-day first responders’ course

‘Budol-budol’ gang strikes in Leyte

CAMP RUPERTO KAN-GLEON, Palo,Leyte- The third Silver Governance Trailblazer Award recently received by the Philippine National Police (PNP) is a significant feat that will boost the morale of police personnel, said the region’s top police official.

“The PNP’s continuing reform program together with our fight against criminal-ity and corruption within our ranks are the major factors in getting the award,” Police Chief Superintendent Elmer Ragadio Soria, regional director of PNP-8, said.

Soria added that the re-cent citation would further motivate policemen in the

THIRTY seven police personnel who finished the 10-day First Responders Course (FRC) Class 01-2013 were awarded certificates recently in rites held at the Regional Special Training Unit 8 (RSTU8).

“The Police First Responders Course aims to train our policemen on the ground on effective and efficient handling of critical situations, proper procedure, skills design to enhancethe capability of the police force in responding to crime incidents andother emergency situations, “ according to Police Senior Superintendent Roel Acidre,chief of the Regional Police Com-munity Relations Division.

Acidre said the training course started on March 18, 2013 – April 3, 2013 at the RSTU under the supervision of Police Superintendent Raymundo Graviles,regional training director and the graduates, composed of police non-commissioned of-ficers from Eastern Visayas underwent this training as part of the Strategic Focus CODE-P: 2013 and Beyond particularly on the Enhancement and Specialization of Skills.

S/Supt. Manuel Cubilloo, chief of the regional operations and plans division acted as the guest of honor and speaker and led the awarding ceremony during the event.

PALO, Leyte- Two fresh high school graduates from Palo National High School lost their laptops amounting to P30,000 each to two persons in a “budol-budol” scam in Palo Thursday afternoon.

The victims were identified as Florderiza Honorio and Sherly Noveda, both 16 years old and residents of the town.

In an interview, Honorio and Noveda said that while they were walking home along downtown area, a woman approached them and asked them if they know the address of a certain truck-ing company in Palo.

“The lady started talking to us, and when she noticed that we are answering her in Waray-waray she requested that we’ll speak to her in Tagalog because she cannot understand our language. She then persuaded us to help her locate the address despite us telling her we don’t have any idea on what she was looking for,” Noveda recalled.

Noveda added that while they were talking to the woman, another man went closer to them, offered help, and convinced them to walk few meters away.

“He spoke with a mix of Cebuano and Waray-waray. He told us that he knew of one trucking company in Palo and that we should go with him so that we will be given a reward for help-ing the woman. He was very charismatic. Yet we told them we are already leaving because we felt that the problem was already solved,” recalled Honorio.

Honorio said that when the man left them to contact the said trucking company, the woman offered them to hold her bag, also telling them that it contained P100,000 as payment to the trucking company.

“ The woman asked us of any guarantee that her bag is safe with us. She then demanded that we give to her the laptops we’re bringing that day as an exchange. We believed we’re being hypnotized. We’re not able to react, we’re paralyzed. We gave to her the laptops without hesitation. ”

The two students said that after they dutifully handed their laptops over to the woman, they were asked again to go to a nearby pawnshop in the downtown area.

“When we arrived in the said pawnshop, it was only there that we’ve found out we’re being deceived by the woman. We’re sweating hard as we tried to recall what had happened. And when we opened the bag, we only found bundled of papers,” Honorio said.

“We’ve learned the lesson the hard way. Never talk to strang-ers, never trust them.”

“What was even more painful is that we’ll be using the laptops for a national journalism contest this weekend and that our materials are there,” added Noveda. Local police are now investigating on the incident. (Ronald O. Reyes)

RDC MEETING.Regional Development Council 8 vice-chair and NEDA 8 regional director Bonifacio Uy (3rd from left), RDC-SDC vice-chair and DOST regional direc-tor Edgardo Esperan-cilla, RDC-DAC chair and DBM regional director Imelda Lac-eras and RDC-IDC chair and DPWH regional director Ro-lando Asis during the RDC meeting held at the NEDA conference hall, Candahug, Palo, Leyte, April 5. (Vino R. Cuayzon)

region to strive more in the delivery of quality police ser-vice to the people of Eastern Visayas.

“This award is a recogni-tion of the progress achieved by the PNP strategic plan to es-tablish a capable, efficient and effective police organization by year 2030”, Soria further said.

PNP chief Police Direc-tor General Alan Purisima accepted the award for the PNP on March 19 during the awarding ceremonies held at EDSA Shangri-la Hotel after getting a high grade of 8.5 from the maximum grade of 10 from local and international experts from the prestigious Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA),

the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) and the Center for International Private En-terprise (CIPE) who evaluated the PNP Governance Report and monitors progress in good governance programs of select government agencies.

The PNP was cited in its governance system and suc-cessful implementation of the PNP’s Integrated Trans-formation Program – Perfor-mance Governance System (ITP-PGS) dubbed as the PNP P.A.T.R.O.L. Plan 2030 or Peace and Order Agenda for Transformation and Uphold-ing of the Rule of Law en-hanced by the Chief, PNP’s Strategic Focus “CODE-P:

2013 and Beyond”.CODE-P stands for

Competence, Organizational Reforms, Discipline, Excel-lence and Professionalism and serves as the PNP’s blue-print towards the realization of the PNP P.A.T.R.O.L. Plan 2030 focusing on reform initiatives at all levels of the organization on financial and logistical management, hu-man resources management and police operations. This is the third consecutive Trail-blazer Awards received by the organization, a recipient of same award during the Pub-lic Governance Forums held in March and September last year. (PInsp. Romuel Nacar)

OFFICERS and members of two farmers organizations from Calubian and San Isidro, both in the province of Leyte, reiterated their continuous support to the 802nd Infantry Brigade’s call for peace during the 12th Anniversary of the so-called “Balik-uma” (back to farm) held at Barangay Jubay this town on Wednesday, April 3, 2013.

First Lt. Rod Vincent F. Babera, Civil Military Operations Officer of the 802nd Infantry Brigade of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, identified the two organizations as the Samahan sa Mag-uuma sa Calubian (SAMACA) and Kahugpun-gang Mag-uuma sa San Isidro (KAMAS).

KAMAS and SAMACA which have nearly 2,000 followers were formerly communist-inspired organizations according to a certain Mayang, former secretary of the decimated Northern Leyte Front of the Communist Party of the Philippines in Leyte.

For years, KAMAS and SAMACA battled over rights to farm within the thousand hectares of land owned by the Larrazabals. Their call was officially heard on April 3, 2001 when the landown-ers offered portions of their land to be nurtured by the members of the farmers groups.

In his speech, Col. Valencia stressed that the military will continue to implement actions to encourage the rebels to abandon the armed struggle which had been futile for more than forty years and to return to the folds of law.

Earlier, Col. Valencia suggested the reorganization of KA-MAS and SAMACA into eight associations. Valencia also initiated visits and consultative dialogues with Local Chief Executives and appropriate government agencies for legal, administrative and financial support to the said associations.

With the support of the military, the Taglawigan Farmers Association of San Isidro, Leyte was officially registered in the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) a day before the Anniversary of Balik-uma.

Groups vow to support army’s call for peace issued by Hon. Jovito Abarquez, former Presiding Judge of

Regional Trial Court Branch 30 in Basey, Samar.Villagracia is currently detained at Basey Sub-Provincial

Jail while awaiting trial for the charges filed against him.“The suspect thought he can escape liability on his evil

deeds, but unfortunately for him, our intelligence gathering ef-forts paid off,” Police Chief Superintendent ELMER RAGADIO SORIA, Regional Director of Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) said. (With reports from Insp. Romuel Nacar)

POLICE from page 1 ...

show that candidates for top positions must be multimillion-aires. That means they are representatives of big landlords and big business,” Salas added.

“Candidates at the local level spend commensurately. A candidate for governor or congressman typically spends P100-200 million to win, not just in the legal campaign, but to either buy or coerce votes. They are spending such for three-year posi-tions roughly worth about P 3 million in accumulated salaries. It goes to show that the winning candidates will be recouping their spending by continuing the vicious cycle of systematic cor-ruption, patronage politics and crime while in power,” he added.

The NDF has tasked the New People’s Army (NPA) to enforce their guidelines on the elections.

“Vote-buying and election violence prove the pro-elite and rotten state of the reactionary ruling system. Vote-buying and election violence are essential to the reactionary elections and unmask the farce of the process. Even the strict vigilance of the NPA and those who serve as election watchdogs can only to do so much.

The only way to a genuinely democratic system of gover-nance such as that enjoyed in the revolutionary areas is in doing away with the reactionary ruling system entirely,” Salas said.

NDF from page 1 ...

ENVIRONMENT APRIL 2 - 8, 2013For alerts and feedback, e-mail at [email protected] Website: www.issuu.com/samarweeklyexpress 3

Samar Weekly Express

New College of Law Annex rites

DENR to plant tree seedlings to replace trees to be cut in road upgrading project

IN NORTHERN SAMAR

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Need a Job?Poverty, corruption, basic services need to be addressed - Mayor Kwan

THE aspirant for representative of the lone district of Eastern Samar, Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan, said that poverty, corruption and the non-delivery of the basic social needs are the main issues that need to be given attention by its leaders.

Mayor Kwan in an interview with The Ex-press said that the issues were noted after a survey was conducted, to iden-tify the basic problems faced by the people of Eastern Samar.

“Before I decide to run as representative of the province, I first commissioned a survey to identify the different problems that need to be given attention. The survey found out that the main problem of the Es-tehanons include poverty

THE Department of Environment and Natu-ral Resources (DENR) will plant 226,500 tree seedlings in Samar and Eastern Samar as replace-ment of 2,265 trees that will have to be cut in two contract packages (CP) of US-funded Samar road upgrading project.

Manolito Ragub, DENR regional execu-tive director, said that in every tree cut, it should be replaced with 100 trees to ensure environmental rehabilitation.

At least 23,600 seed-lings of indigenous spe-cies will be planted in 14.15 hectares to replace the 236 trees cut under

CATARMAN, Northern Samar—University of Eastern Philippines president Atty Mar De Asis together with College of Law Dean Atty. Marlon Fritz- Broto along with district engineer Sandy Pua and several other executives of the university led in the groundbreaking rites of a P6-million two-story annex building around 9 in the morning on March 25, 2013.

The said allocation, which came from Deputy Speaker Raul Daza’s priority development assistance fund (PDAF) would include a library which would help law students on their daily research and studies, Pua said.

Pua added during their regular monthly media forum on March 26 held in their office’s confer-ence room, the said project which has already been awarded and will soon start this April, will run a little more than three months (its construction) as their usual building construction projects.

In his message, De Asis thanked Deputy Speaker Daza’s helping the university particularly for estab-lishing the College of Law for two decades now of its existence, producing many lawyers not only from this province but as well as from other provinces. The same sentiment was also shared by the young-lawyer Dean Fritz-Broto.

Meanwhile, during the forum which was at-tended by around 14 government and private scribes from print, broadcast and from N. Samar Television Channel-8 cable casting over Saturnmar Cable Inc. with its general manager Pedrito Dolon and its CAT-8 OIC- Jeanne Dalmacion, Pua also disclosed of a P67 million fund allocation that has been downloaded to them from the education department for the con-struction of 21 two-story type school buildings par-ticularly, in the island towns and in the hinterlands of the province.

To date, as one of their district office’ vital role, aside of holding consultations to end-users of their future projects before its implementation, they are also tasked at identifying and having as well in its final stage of planning and continuously overseeing and monitoring of various regular infrastructure projects such as; a series of re-blocking, a total of 29 infrastructure projects with an amount of more than P400 million that form part of the 2013 ‘regular infra-projects’, Pua explained. Aside from this, there are also identified projects, some with ‘notice-to-proceed’ as an additional projects coming from the efforts of Deputy Speaker Daza and even from party-list representatives.

Likewise, Pua who is well-known to many as a ‘media-friendly’ office chief despite of his being connected to an office perceived as one most corrupt department before, “as long as we are doing our job in an honest-to-goodness performances coupled with our inter-personal relationship in office, its great to be part in this department particularly, heeding the call from our higher-ups practicing ‘transparency’ we have nothing to fear from the public where their taxes goes, but our vision of its success and as well development and progress of Northern Samar’s first district in particular. (Peter D. Paredes)

CP 1. For CP3, 202,900 seedlings will be planted in 121.71 hectares as re-placement of 2,029 af-fected trees.

Trees that will be cut in CP1 and CP3 have a total volume of 771.98 cubic meters. The DENR has yet to determine the compensation cost for CP2 and CP4.

“The Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices will identify new areas for planting. DENR-accred-ited people’s organization will undertake seedling production, site prepara-tion, planting, and main-tenance of planted seed-lings to ensure survival,”

he added.The budget for re-

planting will be sourced out from P6.15 million earned by the DENR for the replacement of 2,265 trees that will be cut along the road right-of-way of the Samar road project funded by the Millen-nium Challenge Corp. (MCC) of the US.

The Department of Public Works and High-ways and DENR earlier signed an agreement on the transfer of the P6.15 million funds.

The payment will only cover affected trees in roadsides of first and third contract packages (CP).

The DPWH is tasked to assist MCC in the clear-ing the road right-of-way of the 222 kilometers of roads in 15 towns of Sa-mar and Eastern Samar.

A total of 7,739 trees will have to be cut to im-plement the road project divided in four segments.

The first segment, which has been awarded to the consortium of DM Consunji, Inc. and CM Pancho Construction, Inc., will affect 236 trees. This segment covers a 16.3-kilometer road in Paranas, Samar as well as the replacement of Tabu-can bridge.

Another segment, awarded to the consor-

tium of Leyte-based MAC Builders and Chi-nese company Qingjian Group Co., Ltd., will entail the cutting of 2,029 trees.

This segment cov-ers 64.58 kilometers and the replacement of six bridges from the town boundary of San Julian and Sulat to Balangkayan and Llorente municipal boundary in Eastern Sa-mar. The DENR has been conducting inventory of trees cut in road wid-ening. These trees will be used in constructing school buildings and making of school fur-niture. (Sarwell Q. Me-niano)

IN EASTERN SAMAR

for they are unemployed, the corruption done of the leaders, and the non-delivery of basic social services like better road access and water services,” she said.

According to her, the purpose why she com-missioned a survey is be-cause she is a systematic person.

“I am a person who is systematic in the way that I first identify the different problems that made the community suf-fer now and to know the real situation of the entire province for us to make proper and appropriate solutions to it,” Kwan said.

The candidate point-ed out that in addressing all of these issues, good governance, transparency and accountability are needed.

“We believe that gov-

ernment officials are the prime movers on the de-livery of basic social ser-vices to the constituency that they are supposed to serve. If there is good governance, efficient and effective delivery of said services is observed” she said.

“For me, the best so-lution to solve the issue is to strengthen agriculture, marine and fishery re-sources and the tourism aspect of the province in both the southern and northern part,” Kwan added. Kwan assured that she will make Eastern Samar as the most beau-tiful place to live in if the people would pour their support on her candidacy.

“I will bring you to a better place. I am not a liar, I will not just make a promise but I will do it,” she said. (Rey Grado)

THE National Statistic Office is set to conduct the April 2013 Consumer Expectations Survey (CES) in selected areas in Leyte, Southern Leyte, Samar and Eastern Samar.

NSO-8 director Raul Dones the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) contracted the NSO to conduct CES in order to collect comprehensive information on the busi-ness conditions of the country in the household sector.

The NSO’s responsibility is to undertake the data collection and encoding of the questionnaires while BSP’s responsibility is the generation of tables and analysis of the results, Director Dones added.

The CES is a household-based survey on the consumers’ assessment of their financial situation, the economic condition of the country and the overall performance of the government.

This is a complementary survey to BSP’s Business Expectations Survey (BES). It is administered on a sample basis at the household level drawn through a stratified multi-stage random sampling.

The survey has a total sample of about 5,000 house-holds nationwide. The total sample in Region VIII is 126 households.

The conduct of CES aims to provide a quick and regular assessment of the financial condition of consumers and economic condition of the country at

PhilHealth regional vice President Walter Bacarreza (l-r), PhilHealth senior vice-president-Legal Sector Edgar Julio S. Asuncion and Jane Sta. Ana PhilHealth Board member,CAAC member listen to Atty. Michael Troy Polintan (right photo) discusses the role of the PHIC Anti-Fraud Campaign/violations against PhilHealth regulations during the Regional Multi-Sectoral Anti Fraud Awareness Forum held at the Oriental Hotel, Palo, Leyte., April 4. (Raul S. Tiozon/PIA-8)

NSO slates Consumer Surveys

present and in the near future, from the consumers’ own viewpoints.

It also aims to generate forecasts in the direction of the country’s economic activity based on consumers’ outlook in the next 12 months; and to provide quick and regular assessment of consumers’ outlook in terms of their income and expenditures.

Trained NSO field personnel and hired statistical researchers will visit the sample households to gather the required information. In Region VIII, the training was held last April 1, 2013 at NSO Regional Office VIII.

The enumeration for the CES started on April 4 and will end on April 15. Like any other surveys un-dertaken by NSO, the data that will be gathered shall be held strictly confidential and shall not be divulged to any person except to authorize NSO personnel. The data will not be used for taxation, investigation or en-forcement purposes.

Catarman, Northern Samar; April 13-14 at Head-quarters 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, Camp Vicente Lukban, Catbalogan City, Samar; April 15-16, 2013 at Leyte Colleges, Tacloban City and; April 17-18 at Headquarters 8th Regional Community Defense Group, Army Reserve Com-mand, Camp Downes, Ormoc City.

“If you are 21-31 years of age, Filipino citizen (natural-born), Single, at least 5 ft. in height (male or female) Baccalaureate degree holder, and will be able to pass the PAATB with a minimum score of 110 points, you can join the POTC and OCC, and if you are Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the reserve force, you can join the OPC and be a proud member of the Philippine Army Officer Corps.

“Likewise, if you are either in college level, graduate of any vocational course or high school graduate and interested to join the Candidate Sol-dier Course, you must be18-26 years of age, single, Filipino citizen, at least 5 ft. in height, physically and mentally fit and have completed the local clearances, you can also join the Philippine Army through the Non-Commissioned Officers Corps,” added Capt. Gene Orense, 8ID Spokesman.

Orense said anyone interested may bring along the following original documents during the examination: NSO Birth Certificate; Transcript of Record; College Diploma; ballpen and pencil. Any further inquiries, everyone is advised to contact nearest army camp. (With reports Lilith S. Tena)

ARMY from page 1 ...

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Columnists, Writers and Account Executives:

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OPINION Samar Weekly Express

APRIL 2 - 8, 2013For alerts and feedback, e-mail at [email protected]

EDITORIALThe heat is on

Vinegar Shopper or Journalist?

In DepthBy Juan L. Mercado

[email protected]

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Talk back with our issues of the week. Send us your feedback and your own commentary in our

Letter To Editor Section. Be heard and let us know your say!

See IN-DEPTH page 5...

Today, we wake up in the morning and take our bath, but right after that, our bodies are already perspiring profusely. This heat intensifies as the day moves on, even if the sun doesn’t show at all due to cloudy skies. With a glaring sun above, the more that the heat penetrates, lingering till sundown, even up to the evening when people would have difficulty sleeping due to the intense humidity.

There seems to be so much abnormality in weather and temperature patterns. At times when we are supposed to experience cold months, we experience the heat. When we are supposed to go through dry season, we experience rains and floods. What could have gone wrong?

We just have to get used to all this. This is now the weather trend throughout the world—unpredictable. It’s not getting better; it’s get-ting worse. It’s getting hotter everyday. They call it global warming. The temperature worldwide is rising, causing heat waves among the formerly cold countries. The mountains of ice in the Polar Regions that had been there for millennia are melting fast, joining the ocean and causing it to rise such that plenty of islets now had been drowned.

Global warming is causing much turbulence in weather patterns worldwide, resulting in disastrous calamities wrecking havoc among lives and properties. Floods are getting deeper, storms getting stron-ger, droughts getting longer, the temperature getting hotter. As these consequences worsen, global warming does not in any way diminish: it’s worsening as well.

This is not surprising as people continue to produce waste and toxic materials, endlessly polluting the land, air, and water, cutting forest covers and destroying the ozone layer that protects us from the direct heat of the sun. Man himself is causing and aggravating global warming.

Pinabili lang ng suka sa kanto, pagbalik journalist na” (“Told to buy vinegar at the corner store, he trotted back a journalist”). That put-down reflects a key concern of “Crimes and Unpunish-ment: The Killing of Filipino Journalists.”

Unesco and Asian Institute of Journalism launched the book December.

It underpins weeding out of bogus journalists from the Bureau of Customs beat: 408, under the Arroyo administra-tion, to 96 today... The “Customs press corps” then equaled 408 provincial newspapers (32 are dailies) that was about seven times foreign and local reporters accredited to Malacanang. Commissioner Ruffy Biazon pledged to continue to weeding out hao-siaos — fly-by-night journalists who doubled as fix-ers or PR agents.

“Isn’t it obvious?”, columnist Boo Chanco snapped “Most of those people claiming to represent media are anything but?” Chanco counseled the then mint-new Commissioner Biazon: Keep your nose clean. Then, confront those who flaunt oversize “Press” credentials, even if they threaten you ( Isn’t the correct word “blackmail?)

Most are from tabloids that have no circulation….Past Customs officials tolerated this outsized number of report-ers” because they hid dirt.” Instead, confer with publishers of major papers and network managers to help sift out those who moonlight as fixers. “

“At the new customs port in Sasa, Davao, “Friday boys” are known as warik-warik. They “list media men for funding,” Jun Ledesma of Sun.Star Davao wrote. I “was also told some can even facilitate release of shipments.”.

Is a vinegar shopper a journalist? In 1693, the dictionary logged in the word “journalist” for the first time. This meant “a writer or editor for a news medium.” Or “a writer who aims at a mass audience.”

Since then radio and TV came on stream. The Internet burst into the scene in the mid-1980s. The “[a]dvent of the new and social media has seen emergence of so-called citizen journalists.”

But “fixer” for customs shakedowns has been never been

OPINION APRIL 2 - 8, 2013

Samar Weekly Express

For alerts and feedback, e-mail at [email protected] Website: www.issuu.com/samarweeklyexpress 5

DISCLAIMER:

Views expressed in the opinion and commentary sections do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The Sa-mar Weekly Express. The SWE does not knowingly pub-lish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication, however, reserves the right to edit contributions for clarity, as it sees fit. --- Ed.

Constitutional crisis in Pagadian airport take-over

Evil fathomed, borne and destroyed

Hints and Traces

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

WANTED from page 1 ...

IF there is anything that is very prominently highlighted in the Good Friday liturgy and the entire Easter Triduum that ends on Easter Sunday, it is that all the evil and malice we are capable of committing are fathomed and measured by Christ, borne and assumed by him and finally destroyed and conquered.

This is what we have to bear in mind as we go through the liturgical services that from the human point of view can really be tedious and boring because of the many details involved.

It’s only with this thought that would enable us to enter into the deepest meaning of these days. Otherwise, we would just end up hating the services and itching for an escape.

Our capacity to do evil and to succumb to malice is also infinite. That’s just how things are with us. The range and scope of possibilities for both good and evil, given our spiritual nature, is quite extensive.

That’s a thought that should sober us, especially if we consider the evil possibilities. If we think we have already seen enough evil and malice in this world, think again. There are still more, and in forms that can truly beggar our imagination.

This is not meant to scare us. Rather, it is meant to firm up our conviction that the greatest evil has already been done, and that is the killing of Christ on the cross, the crucifying of not only a great man, even the greatest man, but also of God himself, for Christ is both man and God.

In a sense, we should not worry so much about the evil that can still unfold before our eyes in forms and ways that can really stretch our disbelief to the limit. Nothing can surpass the evil and malice of killing Christ, though we must also admit that every evil we commit contributes and reprises the cruel

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets…” (Jesus Christ, our God and Savior, in Mat-thew 7:12, the Holy Bible).

-ooo- CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS IN TAKE-OVER OF PAGA-

DIAN AIRPORT: There is more than what meets the eye in the on-going take-over and barricade of the runway of the Pagadian City Airport in Zamboanga Del Sur in Mindanao, which has already resulted in the paralization of the airport’s operations for the last two or three days.

What seems to be the bigger issue here is another refusal of other agencies of the Aquino government, particularly the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and other allied offices, to obey a Supreme Court decision directing them to pay the value of the runway to the family that owns the land where the airport was built.

If DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya will not act im-mediately, not only will the operations of the airport be derailed further. A Constitutional crisis may even erupt any moment, pre-cipitated by yet another clash between the executive and judicial branches of government in view of the refusal of the executive branch to obey a direct order of the judicial branch.

-ooo- HOW TAKE-OVER OF AIRPORT CAME ABOUT: Here

is a brief account of how this problem came about: on August 22, 2006, in Civil Case No. 4382, the Regional Trial Court of Pagadian City, Branch 18, issued its Decision recognizing the ownership of the airport’s runway by the Taug-Boto family, and directing the government to pay the family some P8 million, more or less, as purchase price for the land where the runway is located.

On November 24, 2010, the Court of Appeals affirmed the decision of the Regional Trial Court of Pagadian City, with an added directive for the RTC to hold further hearings and deter-mine the real value of the land in question.

On February 3, 2011, the Republic of the Philippines filed with the Supreme Court a petition for review on certiorari, praying to reconsider and set aside the Decision rendered by the Court of Appeals dated November 24, 2010, and to dismiss the complaint in Civil Case No. 4382-2K2, for lack of merit. On June 22, 2011, the Supreme Court denied the Republic’s motion for reconsideration with finality.

-ooo-TAKE-OVER OF AIRPORT PROMPTED BY GOV’T

INACTION: On June 11, 2012, the Regional Trial Court issued its order also dated June 11, 2012, directing the Department of Transportation and Communications to pay the Taug-Boto fam-ily the sum of P5,000,000.00. The Court also ordered the DOTC to deposit the amount with the Clerk of Court. Both these orders were not complied with.

On December 12, 2012, a writ of execution was issued by the Regional Trial Court to compel the payment of the sum of P5,000,000.00 to the Taug-Boto family. At this point, however, the DOTC and allied agencies are continuing to refuse to comply with the orders of the Court, saying that the Taug-Boto family needed to get a “clearance” from the Commission on Audit first.

After a series of negotiations with officials of DOTC, the City Government of Pagadian, the Aviation Security Command of the Philippine National Police and other government agencies, the Taug-Boto famiy was still unable to receive any payment. This was the reason why they decided to finally take-over and barricade the runway.

-ooo- REACTIONS? Please call me at 0917 984 24 68, 0918 574

0193, 0922 833 43 96. Email: [email protected], [email protected].

crucifixion of Christ.This does not mean that we can be cavalier with evil, even

in its slightest forms. We should try to avoid all traces of evil and malice, and resist them with our best efforts. But if we cannot help but fall into them, we should not worry too much, because all that evil has already been borne by Christ and conquered by him.

Besides, St. Paul told us quite clearly that while sin has abounded, the grace of God has abounded even more. It’s a truth that was richly dramatized in the parables of the lost coin, the lost sheep and the prodigal son. What we have to do is to act out what those involved in these parables did—to look and find God again, to ask for pardon.

We need to immerse ourselves more deeply in this convic-tion so we don’t waste precious time and energy tangling with our doubts and fears because of our weakness, temptations and falls. We sometimes go to such extremes in lamenting over these phenomena that we may not be able to get hold of what is truly important—to go back to God.

That’s why it is important that we meditate on the passion, death and resurrection of Christ. Being the culmination and summary of his redemptive work that is also perpetuated in the Church especially through the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, this paschal mystery sheds abundant light on the interplay of grace and evil, mercy and malice, etc.

Such meditation, especially during the Holy Week, can truly widen our perspective and deepen our faith in God and his loving, wise and merciful providence over us. It will take us away from ignorance, error and confusion, so rampant these days insofar as our faith is concerned.

It will also help us to be understanding towards ourselves and others whenever we feel we are committing or seeing evil around us. It will help us to be more charitable, preferring to pray, to ask for pardon, to go to confession, to make atonement, etc.

If there’s any need to clarify something or to defend ourselves, then we can do these with utmost delicacy, without falling into bitter zeal. We would also be encouraged to imitate Christ in ac-cepting the cross, our daily contradictions with faith and trust in God and his providence.

In the end, we will be helped in developing a supernatural and theological outlook toward life, especially its unavoidable dark aspect, and even to have a positive, serene and cheerful at-titude, so necessary these days when we are wracked with a lot of negativism and tension.

among a journalist’s task. And it is in the Customs and politics, that we stumble across a unique Philippine creation — and problem aside from notorious tabloid writers: the “block-timers.”

Radio stations, abroad, don’t have ”block-timers” then. Neither do Asean countries, like Thailand or Malaysia. They claim to be journalists. In reality, they’re “walk-in customers”. At any of 952 radio stations that the National Telecommuni-cations Commission oversees, with a shaky hand, they plunk down cash for airtime.

With no questions asked, they broadcast — what? News and comment, they claim. Character assassination or praise, for a price, their critics counter.

They “give us the opinion of the uneducated that brings us in touch with the ignorance of the community”, Oscar Wilde once wrote. The 2013 political campaign sees blocktimer abuse scrape new depths.

Print media indicates what is “paid ad”. This is published distinct from editorial matter. Block-timers clam up on who picks up their program tabs. But those praised-–or shellacked-–give a fair idea of who pays. Stations wash their hands, by saying: “the program does not reflect the management’s view”.

“Block timing is (also) a primary fund-generator for provincial radio stations,” Melinda de Jesus of Committee on Media Freedom and Responsibility noted earlier. This proved to be the emerging problem for Kapisanan Ng Mga Brodkasters as programs with little accountability proliferate in a country that works by the revised “Golden Rule”: “He who has the gold, rules.”

A CMFR study found lack of training and, even more significant,. ethical sense. Some 25 percent finished high school while 13 percent “had no record of educational attain-ment.” There’s little, by way of training on objectivity, balance, fairness–and avoidance of conflict of interest, as journalism code of ethics provide.

Most “block timers” operate in a moral wasteland, where facts are few and comments have a price tag. “Where the carcass is, there the vultures gather.” Electronic gunslinging is abuse. “Power without responsibility has been the prerogative of the harlot through the ages,” Irish statesman Stanley Baldwin wrote.

KBP found fault with the no-rules-hold coverage in the Luneta hostage crisis. Fines were imposed on major networks. “A mere slap on the wrist,” fumed the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. Perhaps.

But this was a 180-degree turn for KBP from the Chavez versus National Telecommunications case of Feb. 2008. In that en banc decision, the Supreme Court, lashed KBP for playing footsie, with the Macapagal-Arroyo regime’s gags on the “Hello Garci” tapes.

KBP’s Radio Code now prohibits open-ended contracts for “block-timers.” Identifying sponsors of block time programs will increase transparency. But implementation of existing mea-sures-–from certification that the “block timer” adheres to KBP’s code to monthly reports–has been spotty.

Indeed “our membership lists remain porous,” observed a Cebu Press Freedom Week editorial. “We’ve still to flush out hao-shiaos who flaunt press cards or block time microphones.” (Email: [email protected] )

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also commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant and Ensigns in the Armed Forces of the Philippines upon graduating from the Academy.

PMA Superintendent Lt. General Irineo Espino said that this batch has the highest number of female cadets.

During the PMA orientation at the Military Hospital Audi-torium, the Superintendent encouraged the cadets to persevere, to hang on to their beliefs.

Espino also asked the support of the parents, guardians to the cadets and assured them that their children will be in good hands.

Meanwhile, PMA spokesperson Captain Agnes Lynette Flores announced that they are now accepting applicants for PMA entrance examination on August 2013.

Applicants must be at least 17 but not more than 21 years old, with good moral character, high school graduate, at least with 85 average grade and at least 5 feet in height. (Avha Hilario PIA 8- Samar)

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Republic of thePhilippines

REGIONAL TRIAL COURT

8th Judicial RegionBranch 33

Calbiga, SamarIn re: PETITION FOR AMENDMENT COR-

RECTION OF THE INSCRIPTION

CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NUMBER 23020 PARTICULARLY THE TOTAL AREA OF THE PROPERTY OWNED BY THE HEIRS OF

FILOMENO SINGZON, SR. namely, Pedro Q.

Singzon, Paulino Q. Singzon, Paz Q. Singzon and Rafaela

Q. Singzon, herein represented By NILDA A. TORREVILLAS,

Petitioner-versus-

JOSE PACUAN and/or his Heirs or

Representative, In their capacity as owner of lots

adjoining OCT NO. 23020,

ANTONIO ABEL-LAR and/or his Heirs or Representatives, in their capacity as Owner of lots

adjoining OCT No. 23020 HON.

FERNANDINA REYES, in her capacity As the OIC-REGISTER OF

DEEDS OF WESTERN, SAMAR,

HON. RAMOS S. UNAY, In his capacity

As the Regional Technical

Director, Land Management Services of the DENR Regional

Office No. 8,Respondents,

CIVIL CASE NO. C-2013-1202

(Special Proceeding)x- - - - - - - - - - - - - x

ORDERA verified petition was filed before this Court by petitioner, Heirs of Filomeno Singzon, Sr. namely Pedro Q. Singzon, Pau-lino Q. Singzon, Paz Q. Singzon and Rafaela Q. Singzon, herein represented by NILDA A. TOR-REVILLAS, praying that after

due notice and hearing, this Honorable Court orders the Register of Deeds of Samar and/or the Chief of the Bureau of Lands or the Provincial As-sessor of Samar, and Municipal Assessor of Calbiga, Samar to register/annotate the correct land area of Lot No. 5 Psu-08-0065790 in Original Certificate of Title No. 23020 located in Brgy. Bacyaran, Calbiga, Samar, which is Thirty-Five Thousand Six Hundred Sixteen (35,616) square meters NOT Fifteen Thousand Five Hundred One (15,501) square meters.The petition alleges among others that the petitioners are the registeredand owners of the subject land which is more par-ticularly described as follows;“A parcel of land situated in the Poblacion, (Brgy. Bacyaran) Calbiga, Samar bounded on the South East along lines 2-3-4-5-6-7 property owned by Jose Pacuancuan; North West and North East; along lines 7-8-1 property owned by Antonio Abellar containing an area of Fifteen Thosuand Five Hundred One (15,501) square meters”.Original Certificate of title No. 23020 was issued on April 12, 2004 and was registered with the Register of Deeds of Samar on July 19, 2004.That during a relocation survey and verification in May, 2012 it was discovered that the actual and real land area of Lot No. 5 is Thirty-Five Thousand Six Hun-dred Sixteen (35,616) square meters more or less and not Fifteen Thousand Five Hundred One (15,501) square meters.That upon reverification, it was confirmed that an error was indeed committed in the inscription of the area of Lot no. 5 among others so that an order was issued on Aug. 28, 2012 by Ramon S. Unay, OIC, Regional Technical Director, Land Management Services of DENR, Tacloban City, to the Chief, Technical Records Sec-tion and the Chief, Technical Services Section, to effect the necessary corrections on the approved survey returns on file with their office.WHEREFORE, finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, it is hereby given

due course. Let the hearing of this petition be set on July 15, 2013 at 8:30 o’clock in the morning before this Court sit-ting at the Old Municipal Build-ing, Calbiga, Samar, at which date, time and place, all inter-ested persons are required to appear and show cause why the Petition should not be granted.Let a copy of the Order be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the prov-ince once (1) and in the Official Gazette once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks all at the expense of the petitioner.Further, let a copy of this Order with the Petition and its annexes be posted on the bulletin board of this Court and of the Munici-pal Hall of Calbiga, Samar and the Office of Register of Deeds of Samar in Catbalogan City, at least thirty (30) days before the date of hearing at petitioner’s.Furthermore, let a copy of this order together with the Petition and its annexes be furnished the Land Registration Author-ity, Diliman, Quezon City, the office of the Solicitor General, the Provincial Prosecutor of Samar, petitioner and all named respondent.SO ORDERED.IN CHAMBERS, Regional Trial Court, Branch 33, Calbiga, Samar, February 28, 2013.

(Sgd.) JANET M. CABALONA

Judge

SWE March 19 - 25; 26 - April 1 & 2 - 8, 2013 issues

THE National Food Authority (NFA) has re-leased, 99,500 bags of rice for distribution to Filipinos in Mindanao displaced by the Sabah crisis.

National Food Au-thority Administrator Orlan A. Calayag said this was as of April 5.

D i s t r i b u t i o n o f the rice stocks is being handled by the Crisis Management Committee called “Oplan Tabang Ba-sulta.” BASULTA stands for the provinces of Basi-lan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi

NFA releases 106,445 bags of rice for Pinoy returnees

where majority of those fleeing from Sabah have returned to live with their relatives and friends.

The stocks came from NFA warehouses in Zamboanga City, Batan-gas and the National Cap-ital Region (NCR).

Calayag said the NFA will continue to ship rice to BASULTA to ensure that there is enough sup-ply and rice prices in these areas shall remain stable.

Rice prices in BA-SULTA slightly increased during the height of the

crisis but, with NFA’s timely intervention, the market prices have set-tled back to their nor-mal levels at P750 from P780 per 25-kilogram bag of well-milled rice and P950 from P1,030 per 25-kg bag for spe-cial varieties.

Calayag said all NFA warehouses in nearby areas such as Davao and Zamboanga as well as in the NCR are ready to ship additional rice supplies to BA-SULTA when needed. (NFA).

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Republic of the Philip-pines

REGIONAL TRIAL COURT

8th Judicial RegionBRANCH 32Calbayog City

IN RE: PETITION FOR ADOPTION OF

MINOR CHILD MARK ANTHONY

VALE VILLAMENTOWESLEY ALEC JOHN CRUTCH-

FIELDJoined by his WIFE, MARIBEL VALEVILLAMENTO-CRUTCHFIELD

Petitioner,Spl. Proceedings No.

499x- - - - - - - - - - - - -x

O R D E RThis is a verified

petition for Adoption of Minor Child Mark An-thony Vale Villamento, filed on January 29, 2013, by petitioner, thru counsel praying among others, that after due notice, publi-cation and hearing judg-ment be rendered to the effect that: (a) a Decree of Adoption be ordered by the Honorable Court of Minor Child, Mark Anthony Vale Villamento, by his Step-father Wesley Alec John Crutchfield, as a joined by his wife Maribel Vale Villa-mento-Crutchfield, (b) The LocalCivil Registry Office of Calbayog City and the National Statistics Office be ordered to Change the following entries in the Certificate of Live Birth

of MARK ANTHONY: (b.1) His Last Name be changed from VILLAMENTO to CRUTCHFIELD; (b.2) His Middle Name be changed from VALE to VILLAMEN-TO; (b.3) The entry in the name of the father be changed from UNKNOWN be changed to WESLEY ALEC JOHN CRUTCHFIELD, British National, with an occupation of Mechanical and Electrical Engineer.

The petition reads:That petitioners are both

of legal ages, and residents of Maharlika Highway Brgy. Tinambacan Norte, Tinamba-can District, Calbayog City, that petitioner Wesley Alec John Crutchfield is a British National White petitioner Ma-ribel Vale Villamento-Crutch field is a Filipino Subject child, Mark Anthony is the illegitimate child of Maribel, who was born on February 20, 1998, at Brgy. Tinambacan Norte, Calbayog City. His father is unknown. His fact of Birth was registered with the Local Civil Registry Office of Calbayog City, that Wesley ad Maribel met sometime in the year 1999 while Maribel was working in Manila. Wesley is adivorcee with three (3) sons. They instantly feel in love. The following year they lived together and eventually moved to live in Hongkong where Wesley is based be-cause of work as a mechanical and Electrical engineer; that on December 24, 2000, their daughter, Katherine Maribel was born in Hongkong, that in January 18, 200, they got

married in Hongkong; that petitioner was practically the father of Mark Anthony as the latter was growing up. He was and is a doting father, provid-ing him with all his needs and wants. He was always con-cern of Mark Antony’s wel-fare. The family established their residence in Maharlika Highway, Tinambacan Norte, Calbayog City, Mark Anthony enrolled at Buddhist Fat Ho Memorial College Hongkong. Presently, he a second year High Scholl Student; that Mark Anthony practically grew up with his step broth-ers Daniel Joseph, Oliver Samuel, and Joshua Anthony all surnamed Crutchfield. Pe-titioner Wesley’s utmost desire now is to be truly and legally, the father of Mark Anthony whereby the latter will use his family name CRUTCHFIEL; that petitioner Wesley’s sons from his first wife are also of the desire that Mark Anthony be their legally adopted broth-er and will use their surname, CRUTCHFIEL; that peti-tioners only child, Katherine Maribel is also of the desire to see her half-brother be his full brother and will use his fam-ily name CRUTCHFILED; and that petitioner Wesley is known to be a good man and doting father. He a good earner and good provider to his family, including subject child Mark Anothony.

WHEREFORE, finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, notice is hereby given that this case is set for initial hearing on June 3,2013 at 2:00 o’clock in the

afternoon before this Court, at which date, time and place, all persons who have objection thereto may file any opposi-tion and show cause why the petition should not be granted.

The Social Worker of this Court is directed to pre-pare and submit Child and Home Study Report before the hearing, and to conduct counseling sessions with the biological parents in the mat-ter of adoption of the adoptee and to submit her report be-fore the start of hearing.

Let copy of this Order be published at the expense of the petitioner, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks prior the above-setting in a newspaper of general circula-tion in the Province of Samar and in the city of Calbayog.

Furnish copy of this Or-der together with a copy of the Petition and its Annexes, to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) at 134 Amor-solo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City, the Office of the City Prosecutor, Calbayog City, the Office of the Clerk of Court, Calbayog City, the parties and their counsels, for their information and comments.

SO ORDEREDIN CHAMBERS, February 25, 2013, Calbayog City

(Sgd.) FELICIANO P. AGUILAR

Acting Presiding Judge

SWE March 19 - 25; 26 - April 1 & 2 - 8, 2013 issues

Republic of the Philippines

REGIONAL TRIAL COURT

8TH Judicial RegionBRANCH 32Calbayog City

IN RE: CORREC-TION OF ENTRIES

INTHE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH andCANCELLATION OF

SECONDCERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF

ANNALYN DURAN-TE GALLARDO,

ANNALYN DURAN-TE GALLARDO,

rep.By her father, MANOLO A.

GALLARDO,Petitioner-Versus-

CIVIL REGISTRAR OF MUNICIPALITY

OF TAGAPUL-AN and the CIVIL

REGISTRAR GENER-AL NSO MANILA,

Respondents,Spl. Proceedings No.

494x - - - - - - - - - - - - x

O R D E RThis is a verified petition for Correction of Entries in the Certificate of Live Birth and Cancellation of Second Certificate of Live Birth of Annalyn Durante Gallardo, filed on November 28, 2012, by petitioner, thru counsel, praying among others, that

after due notice and hearing, an order be issued ordering the Civil Registry of the Mu-nicipality of Tagapul-an to correct entries in Petitioner’s Certificate of Live Birth No. 91-29 as follows:

Province - from “blank” to “Samar”Municipality - from “blank” to “Tagapul-an”Middle Name - from “Duran” be “Durante”Mother’s Name - from “Evelyn L. Duran” to “Evelyn Panagan Durante” and Date and Place of Marriage of Parents - from March 14, 1970 & Quezon City to “Forgotten”and cancel petitioner’s Certifi-cate of Live Birth Registry No.

2000-169

The petition reads: That petitioner is of legal age, Filipino and a resident of 42 Sto Niño, Concepcion, Malabon, Metro Manila, here-in represented by her father Manolo A. Gallardo, of legal age, Filipino, and a resident of Brgy. Balocawe, Tagapul-an, Samar. Respondents are im-pleaded merely being the cus-todian of the original copies of Petitioners Certificate of Live Birth; that petitioner was born on January 7, 1978 at Brgy. Balocawe, Tagapul-an, Samar to Manolo Amor Gallardo and Evelyn Panagan Durante; that when petitioner secured a copy of her Certificate of Live Birth from the National Statistics

Office, she discovered that her birth was registered twice, first in 1991 and another in 2000 under registry No. 91-29 and 2000-169 that she further discovered that Registry No. 91-29 has erroneous entries as follows: a) Province should be Samar, b) Municipality should be Tagapul-an, c) Middle Name should be Durante, d) Moth-er’s Name should be Evelyn Panagan Durante & e) Date and Place of Marriage of Parents should be forgotten; and that to forestall confusion and to straighten her birth record, it is necessary that the errors in her Certificate of Live Birth Reg-istry No. 91-29 be corrected and her Certificate of Live Birth Registry No. 2000-169 be cancelled.

WHEREFORE, finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance notice is hereby given that this case is set for initial hearing on June 03, 2013 at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon before this Court, at which date, time and place, all persons who have objection thereto may file any opposition and show cause why the peti-tion should be allowed. Let copy of this Order be published at the expense of the petitioner, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks prior the above-setting in a newspaper of general circula-tion in the Province of Samar and in the City of Calbayog. Furnish copy of this Order together with a copy of the Petition and its annexes to the

Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) at 134 Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City; the Office of the City Pros-ecutor, Calbayog City; the Office of the Clerk of Court, Calbayog City; the parties and their counsels, for their infor-mation and comments. SO ORDERED

IN CHAMBERS, February 25, 2013, Calbayog City

(Sgd.) FELICIANO P. AGULAR

Acting Presiding Judge

SWE March 19 - 25; 26 - April 1 & 2 - 8, 2013 issues

Republic of the Philippines

REGIONAL TRIAL COURT

8th Judicial RegionBRANCH 32Calbayog City

CORRECTION OF EN-TRIES IN THE CERTIF-ICATE OF LIVE BIRTH

OF JESSABELLE TANEO ATENCIO,

JESSABELLE TANEO ATENCIO,Petitioner,-versus-

THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OFFICE

OF THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRY, CALBAY-OG CITY & THE AD-MINISTRATOR AND CIVIL REGISTRAR

GENERAL, NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE,

QUEZON CITY,Respondents

Spl. Proceedings No. 495x- - - - - - - - - - - x

ORDERThis is a verified petition for Correction of Entries in the Certificate of Live Birth of Jessabelle Taneo, filed on De-cember 08, 2012, by petitioner, thru counsel, praying among others, that after due notice and hearing, an order be issued directing the Local Civil Reg-istrar of LCR, Calbayog City, and the Administrator and Civil Registrar General of National Statistics Office, Quezon City to reflect the following correc-tions in the Certificate of Live Birth of Jessabelle Atencio (a) the name of the father be reflected as Jesus Saludario At-encio; (b) the date and place of

marriage of parents be changed from not applicable to April 11, 1993, Calbayog City; (c) the name of the child, from “Jessabelle Taneo” to “Jessa-belle Taneo Atencio”; and (c) the nationality and religion of the father be reflected as “Fili-pino” and “Roman Catholic”, respectively.The petition reads:That petitioner is of legal age and a resident of P-4, Brgy. Payahan, Calbayog City; that petitioner was born on May 3, 1993 to her parents, Rebecca Berba Taneo and Jesus Salu-dario Atencio; that recently when petitioner’s mother se-cured an authenticated copy of her Birth Certificate from NSO, they discovered the following errors; (a) petitioner’s name was reflected as Jessabelle Taneo instead of Jessabelle Taneo Atencio; (b) the date and place of marriage of her parents were recorded as “not applicable” instead of April 11, 1993, Calbayog City; and (c) no information was reflected for the name, nationality and religion of the father of the child; that in the Birth Cer-tificate issued by the LCR of Calbayog City, all information relative to petitioner’s father as well as the erroneous entries mentioned, were correctly en-tered and reflected that on April 11, 1993, her parents were le-gally married as Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Calbayog City but the data on the date and place of marriage of parents was not recorded in petitioner’s Birth Certificate, that when petitioner inquired at the LCR and NSO, she was just advised to submit to the LCR an affida-vit of supplemental report and other supporting documents. In

turn, the City Civil Registrar submitted these documents for Supplemental Report with the NSO; that NSO however denied the petition to approve Supplemental Report; and that to straighten her birth records and to forestall confusion there is a need to correct the errone-ous entries in petitioner’s birth Certificate.WHEREFORE, finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, notice is hereby given that this case is set for initial hearing on June 03, 2013 at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon before this Court, at which date, time and place, all persons who have objection thereto may file any opposi-tion and show cause why the petition should not be allowed.Let copy of this Order be published at the expense of the petitioner, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks prior the above-setting in a newspaper of general circula-tion in the Province of Samar and in the City of Calbayog.Furnish copy of this Order together with a copy of the Petition and its annexes, to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) at 134 Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City; the Office of the City Pros-ecutor, Calbayog City; the Office of the Clerk of Court, Calbayog City; the parties and their counsels, for their infor-mation and comments.SO ORDERED.IN CHAMBERS, February 25, 2013, Calbayog City.

(Sgd.) FELICIANO P. AGUILAR

Acting Presiding Judge

SWE March 19 - 25; 26 - April 1 & 2 - 8, 2013 issues

FIFTY representatives of government agencies in Region IX and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are drafting an action plan to ensure that services are provided to families returning from Sabah.

The plan will involve programs by different line agencies that could be provided for the returnees, a statement from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said.

Based on the April 5 report of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Disaster Risk Reduction and Response Operations Office (DSWD-DRRRO), some 5,349 persons have returned from Sabah.

“The need to converge and pool our resources as well as synchronize our activities is a demand that we need to address,” DSWD Undersecretary Parisya Hashim-Taradji, who presided over the meeting, said.

One action plan is to issue a Family Access Card to dis-placed persons from Sabah upon disembarkation to any point in Mindanao. The Provincial Social Welfare Officers (PSWOs)

Gov’t. agencies pool efforts to help Pinoys from Sabahof the three provinces of ARMM – Tawi-Tawi, Sulu and Basilan, will provide color-coded cards to displaced families to entitle them to services being provided by the national and local governments and to prevent duplication in the availment of the services.

Taradji explained that the access cards will systematize provision of relief, transportation, and shelter assistance and cash-for-work to the displaced families.

She added that the DSWD will also deploy twelve social workers to Sabah today, April 8 to reinforce the efforts of staff currently assist-ing the affected Filipinos.

The undersecretary also disclosed that the DSWD will deploy a four-man team to Tawi-Tawi and Sulu on April 9-13 to undertake needs assessment and contingency planning for the continued arrival of displaced Filipinos from Sabah.

To date, a total of P10.4 million worth of humanitarian aid was provided to the affected families through the combined resources of DSWD (P10.4 million) and NGOs (P4,100). The aid includes relief packs, hygiene kits and transportation assistance. (DSWD).

Writers and Fotogs Wanted!If you a photo enthusiasts, a blogger and has

passion in writing and willing to be trained in various fields of journalism, you might just be the person we’re looking for and this might be your opportunity to become a promising journalist.

Come and submit yourself to us, bring your credentials at SWE Office located at Rizal Avenue, this city or 251-2341 look for Cathy or email your intention to [email protected].

Hurry, this might be your big break in life!

APRIL 2 - 8, 2013 8 Pages AKSYON NA,

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AKSYON GILBERT ‘Gibo’ ARTECHE

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2013 National Festival of Talents to be held in Tacloban City

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TACLOBAN CITY – More than 1, 400 high school students and their coaches from all over the country will converge in Tacloban beginning tommorow until Wednesday next week for the 2nd National Festival of Talents (NFT) – a skills exhibition program of the Department of Education (DepEd) through the Bureau of Secondary Education (BSE).

The city government of Tacloban through Mayor Alfred Ro-mualdez allocated a counterpart fund of P500, 000 for the holding of the national event in the city which will showcase the talents of the participating students from the 17 regions of the country.

Events during the five-day Festival of Talents will be held simultaneously in 10 locations within the city, namely Patio Vic-toria, TESDA, City Engineers Office, Balyuan Amphitheater, As-trodome, LNU Gym, PRTV-12, RTR Elementary School, Balyuan Convention Center and Hotel Alejandro. The student-delegates will compete in six categories: Tagisan ng Talino, Broadcasting Exhibition, Foreign Language Competition, Population Quiz, Technolympics, and Sining Pambansa.

Delegates will start arriving starting today and will be billeted in the following schools: Sto. Niño Sped Center, Kapangian El-ementary School, RTR Elementary School, Panalaron Elementary School, Rizal Central School, Leyte National High School, Bañez Elementary School and San Fernando Central School.

A parade on April 7, Sunday at 2 pm to be participated in by the regional delegates in their local costumes will formally start the national event. The parade will start at the Magsaysay Boulevard and will end at the Astrodome where an opening

program will highlight a “Unity Dance” to be participated in by the different DepEd regional directors. The DepEd directors will dance the kuracha – a folk dance native to Eastern Visayas.

Among the expected guests is DepEd Undersecretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs Alberto Muyot who will represent Education Secretary Bro. Armin A. Luistro, FS.

Now on its second year, the NFT was first held in Iloilo City last year.

The skills exhibition program will include competition on industrial arts, home economics, agri-fishery arts and ICT.

In his congratulatory message for the program, City Mayor Romualdez said the festival and competition “will surely prove what our young people know and can do-that our youths are multi- talented.”

“They are capable of doing great things and that with perse-verance and creativity, there is no limit to what our students can achieve,” Mayor Romualdez said.

Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, of Leyte’s 1st district, also conveyed his congratulations to the organizers for coming up with the said skills exhibition program and for choosing Ta-cloban as its host.

DepEd Regional Director Luisa Bautista-Yu wished all the delegates for a successful event.

This year’s National Festival of Talents theme is : Showcasing a Tapestry of Talents for Responsible Stewardship.”

The first NFT was hosted in Iloilo city last year.(By Henry James Roca & Ronald O. Reyes)

MANILA, Philippines – Unbeaten American superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr. is not considering a fight with Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao at the moment, saying the “Pacman” has to overcome certain hurdles first.

“Manny Pacquiao got a lot of hurdles to get over to get to (me),” Mayweather said in an interview with CBS Sports during the Final Four of the 2013 NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

“He just got two back-to-back losses,” he pointed out.

Pacquiao suffered a controversial split decision defeat to American Timothy Bradley Jr. in June 2012, and then was brutally knocked out by Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez when they faced off for the fourth time in December 2012.

Negotiations for a fight between Mayweather and

The Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) unveiled this year’s 50 official candidates last March 18 in a presentation held at Makati Shangri-La Hotel and this early, some of them have already caught the eye of 2012 Miss Universe first runner-up Janine Mari Tugonon.

‘’This year, halos madaming magaganda, like I think I chose more than five to 10 na talagang pwedeng pasok sa international pageant. And halos lahat sa kanila merong kakaibang stories and very talented din,’’ Janine told Bulletin Entertainment.

Janine said she has a ‘’gut feeling’’ about some of them including Bea Rose Santiago of Masbate City and Marita Cassandra Naidas of Antipolo City.

Bea, 23, is a Gawad Kalinga Ambassador and a Communication graduate at the York University in Toronto, Canada. Born in the Philippines, she and her family mi-grated to Toronto when she was 14.

Bea was astounded upon learning of Janine’s comment. ‘’I’m so flattered, parang maiiyak ako,’’ she said, adding that it has certainly boosted her confidence.

On the other hand, Filipina-Korean Cassandra, 22, was born in the US and raised in the Philippines. She graduated with a degree in AB Psychology at De La Salle University.

‘’I’m really grateful (for Janine’s comment) and I’ll use it as an inspiration to work harder,’’ she said.

Janine is confident that many of the candidates have the potential to bring home the glory from international beauty pageants. ‘’Halos lahat sa kanila very competitive, seryosong-seryoso,’’ she said.

Janine has this advice to all the candidates: ‘’It’s a combination of hard work - sy-empre kailangan dyan ay you train your body sa gym, perseverance, discipline and, of course, iyong relationship mo kay Lord, napaka-importante niyan.’’

Janine recalled her own experience in joining beauty pageants.‘’Akala ng mga tao, it’s very easy na you just join and you just grab and all pero

‘di nila alam behind that it’s very tiring, lalo na iyong time ko, very pressured at ang dami-daming negative people around you that keep telling you negative stuff.’’

What enabled her to surmount the pressure is faith in God, saying that she sur-rendered everything to His plans.

The grand coronation night of Bb. Pilipinas 2013 will be held on April 14 at Smart Araneta Colisuem and will be telecast live on ABS-CBN. (From the wires)

Bb. Pilipinas 2013 Parade of BeautiesReigning Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2012 Janine Tugonon paraded along with Binibining Pilipinas 2013 candidates around Araneta Center for the annual Parade of Beauties in Cubao, Quezon City on April 6, 2013. (NPPA Images)

Janine Tugonon sizes up Bb. Pilipinas 2013 bets

Pacquiao has to get over hurdles, says Floyd

Pacquiao have broken down repeatedly over the past few years as neither side can ever come to an agreement.

But the American boxer insisted that he is only asking for one thing from Pacquiao.

“Only thing I was asking for was random blood and urine testing, just to show the world that the sport of boxing is a clean sport,” Mayweather said.

Pacquiao has already agreed to random blood and urine testing, but early last year, talks broke down again after the two camps failed to agree on the revenue sharing.

While Pacquiao has yet to return to the ring fol-lowing his devastating loss to Marquez, Mayweather is set to fight again on May 4.

He will face dangerous welterweight Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, whom he called a “solid, tough competitor.”

“He’s strong, he’s solid. We’ll just see what he brings to the table on May 4th,” Mayweather said.

(From the wires)