Wanted falls in Kumalarang

KUMALARANG, Zamboanga del Sur—A man was arrested by police in Barangay Diplo, this town early afternoon of January 15, police said.

Accused identified as Cesar Maribujoc of Liloy town in the province of Zamboanga del Norte was now detained at the police station of this town.

Maribujoc was arrested for the crime of estafa at the Regional Trial Court in Liloy town.

Recommended bail bond is P40,000.

Wanted fall Wednesday

PAGADIAN City—Equipped with warrant of arrest, police here arrested an accused Wednesday, January 15 in Balangasan District, this town, police said.

Accused identified as Darwin A. Solon of this place was accused for the crime of slight physical injury at the regional trial court, this town.

Solon was now detained at the police station.

Municipal employee shot dead

GUIPOS, Zamboanga del Sur—One municipal employee was shot to death by an unidentified gunman Wednesday, January 15 in Barangay Legarda Threes, this town, police said in a report.

Authority identified the victim as Albert T. Palahang, 38, married and a resident in this town.

Investigator said Palahang with two others were on their way home on a motorbike when an unidentified gunman shot him (victim) in Purok 4, Barangay Legarda Threes.

The victim was wounded on the different parts of his body that caused his death.

Police recovered one bullet casing of .45-caliber pistol at the crime scene but the identity of the attacker is unknown.

The gunman sped toward unknown direction after the shooting.

Police here are investigating the case.

Farmer found lifeless hanging at tree in Bayog

BAYOG, Zamboanga del Sur—One farmer was found lifeless hanging with rope tied on his neck at a tree in Purok 3, Barangay Damit, this town last January 15, police said.

Authority identified the victim as Raul R. Sesoy, 33, single, farmer and a resident of the place.

Police here are investigating the case to determine the cause of the alleged suicide.

2 schoolchildren hit by motorbike in Dumalinao

DUMALINAO, Zamboanga del Sur—At least two pupils were hit by a running vehicle at a national road in Purok Camansi, Barangay Camanga of this town on January 13, 2014, police said early.

Victims identified as Sonny Boy D. Alo 9 and elementary student of Dumalinao Elementary School and Mark D. Tale, 13 and high school student of Dumalinao National High School all of this town, were brought to a medical center for treatment.

Investigations showed that the motorcycle’s driver was driving toward the town of Dumalinao (from Guipos town of Zamboanga del Sur province) when hit the two victims accidentally as alleged at the place.

Police here are investigation the case.

Wanted falls in Aurora

AURORA, Zamboanga del Sur—A man accused of robbery was arrested by a police team late morning of January 3 in Barangay Monte Alegre in this town, Police said.

Arresting officers were equipped with warrant of arrest issued by Judge Jaime Caberte of Regional Trial Court branch 30, this town.

The accused has to pay P100,000 as bail bond for his temporary release.

Wanted arrested in San Miguel

SAN MIGUEL, Zamboanga del Sur—An accused person for the crime of frustrated murder was arrested by police in Barangay Betinan, this town yesterday (January 15), police said in a report.

Police identified the suspect as Martin Boniao, 37 and resident of the place.

Boniao is now detained temporarily at the police station.

Farmer shot in Labangan town

LABANGAN, Zamboanga del Sur—A farmer was found lying on the ground dead at the public cemetery in the morning of January 15 in this town, police said early.

Victim was identified as Benedicto C. Pilapil, 54, single, farmer, and a resident of Barangay Sta. Cruz, this town.

Investigation showed that Pilapil was walking alone towards home when an unidentified attacker beat him with a branch of tree beside the public cemetery.

Pilapil believed to be choke based on the bruises, contusions and wound on his mouth and neck, investigators said.

A witness said he heard (in a distance) two persons arguing and later heard someone cried out as if groaning with pain.

The motive of the killing is still unknown as of press time.

2 persons swept by strong current

JOSEFINA, Zamboanga del Sur—At least two person died after were swept by a strong current while crossing a river last January 13, police said.

Police identified the victims as Margie Acosta, 22, and her brother Jomarie Acosta, 8, all of Barangay Ebarle, this town.

Police said Margie with her brother were on their way towards home (in this barangay) when the incident happened.

A team from the municipal disaster risk reduction management council, police and barangay officials conducted a rescue operation and discovered Jomarie along the river in Barangay Lipatan.

However, Margie Acosta is still missing as of press time.       

PHL among the highest in usage of ASEAN free trade agreements

QUEZON CITY, Jan. 7 (PIA) - The Philippines notched among the highest usage of ASEAN trade deals in the region, according to experts, urging Asian neighbors to adopt the country’s outreach campaigns to help more businesses reap integration gains.

Efforts to help entrepreneurs meet requirements for obtaining lower tariffs--such as programs implemented by the Philippines--could bridge the gap between Southeast Asian firms’ current preference for using bilateral instead of regional deals, the experts said.

“ASEAN-led FTAs have been generally underused,” Alexander C. Chandra, TKN Southeast Asia Coordinator for the International Institute for Sustainable Development and Ruben Hattari, executive director of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Business Advisory Council, said in a report published last month in Indonesia.

Farmer stabbed in Sominot

SOMINOT, Zamboanga del Sur—One farmer was stabbed and wounded now in critical condition at a hospital, police said.

Victim was identified as Elmer C. Bihag, 28, single and a resident of Purok Siete in Barangay Bulanay, this town.

Police said the suspect identified as Dennis V. Macan, 27, also single and a resident of Purok Dos (same barangay), was singing at a videoke bar when the victim disturbed him and advised to stop singing.

Irritably, Macan punched Bihag and pulled his hunting knife and stabbed the later once.

Suspect sped towards unknown direction after the stabbing.

Police here has launched an operation to hunt down the suspect.

8 dead men stuffed in motorboat

ZAMBOANGA City—The bodies of eight men, believed to be victims of massacre, were found stuffed in a motorboat in a village called Manicahan here Friday, January 3, police said.

Relatives with the police team led by Inspector Federico Lindo Jr. went to the site and found the bodies in the state of decomposition were beheaded.

The eight dead men were discovered at sea water between Sacol Island and Barangay Manicahan, this city troops of Manicahan Patrol Base of Zamboanga City Public Safety Company in the afternoon of January 3.

Earlier reports villagers said about five corpse were found inside a motorized boat drifted at the sea.

Police indentified the victims as Mursid Ambasali, Jimmy Sannayani, Benjie Sannayani, Piyad Sannayani, Palaji Sannayani, Jeffrey Sannayani, Palari Buyong and Maastal Jaolani all of Sitio Seaside, Barangay Sangali, this city.

As of press time, the dead bodies were still at the Fisherman’s Village of Barangay Manicahan, while waiting for the arrival of the personnel of Scene of the Crime Operation of Regional Crime Laboratory Office 9.

Police have launched an operations to determine the identities of 

Man lost motorbike to robber

PAGADIAN City—One Bryan Aracay of Barangay Tiguma here lost his motorcycle to alleged carnapper early morning of January 2, police said.

Aracay told police that his motorcycle was parked near his residence and found it missing at around 1:00 at down the same date.

Victim expressed belief that his vehicle was taken by someone.

5 burglars robbed residence

PAGADIAN City—The five identified alleged robberies took P31,000 and other gadgets from the victim identified as Irene D. Barnido, 35, married and resident of Purok Tugas, Balangasan District, this city, police said.

The incident took place at 2:15 of January 3 at the residence of Barnido, the statement disclosed.

Investigators said the suspects entered the house through a window.

Authorities have identified the suspects and criminal charge is readied against them.

Pagadian City sets week-long ‘Pasalamat Festival’ in time for city fiesta

During the 2013 Paalamat Festival (Photo File by JONG CADION)

By HIROHITO D. CADION

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Jan. 9 (PNA) -- The city government has lined up different activities for the week-long event dubbed as “Pasalamat Festival” the highlight of which is this city’s fiesta that falls every third Sunday of January.

The festival will kick-off January 13 with a series of activities showcasing the culture and tradition of this city’s tri-peoples--the Christians, Muslims and Subanens--to enliven the spirits of Sto. Niño devotees.

The festival culminates on the third Sunday of this month, which is this city’s fiesta.

Vice Mayor Divina Grace Yu, who chairs the Pasalamat Festival 2014, said the activities will kick-off January 13 with an agro-trade fair at Plaza Luz to be spearheaded by the City Agriculture Office.

Yu said the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will hold a Jobs Fair the following day, January 14. 

PRO-9 to hire 349 non-uniform personnel

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Jan. 7 (PNA) -- The Police Regional Office-9 is hiring 349 Non-Uniform Personnel (NUP) to serve as crime registrars in the different police stations here in the region.

PRO-9 information officer Chief Insp. Ariel Huesca said the hiring is in accordance to the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) 7,439 vacant positions for NUP intended to be utilized as crime registrar in the different police stations.

The 349 civilians to be hired as crime registrars will be assigned as follows: Zamboanga Del Sur Police Office, 66; Zamboanga Del Norte Police Office, 112; Zamboanga Sibugay Police Office, 111; Zamboanga City Police Office, 55; and, Isabela City Police Station, five.

“All appointees to the said positions must be assigned at the police stations of their appointment,” Huesca said.

LTO set to implement vehicle license plate standardization

LTO District Chief Johan Macaumbos (Photo by JONG CADION)

By HIROHITO D. CADION

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Jan. 7 (PNA) -- The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is set to implement the standardization of license plate for all types of vehicles this year.

“The implementation is ready anytime this year, once our computer system program and some materials needed for the implementation are available,” local LTO District Chief Johan Macaumbos said Tuesday.

Macaumbos said the new license plate number under the standardization will feature alphanumeric design such as three-letter and four-number combination for four-wheel motor vehicle and two-letter and five-number combination for motorcycle.

16 ZamboSur mayor eye GMO-free zone

DUMINGAG, Zamboanga del Sur—At least sixteen municipal mayors planned to start declaring GMO-free zones thru passing an ordinance and info drive in their respective towns early next year after learning that such a proactive strategy has worked in Europe.

“We have long been into organic agriculture, we have long been defensively against genetically modified organisms, but bringing the campaign to ban GMOs in a lighter proactive mood is new for us,” said Dumingag Mayor Nacianceno Pacalioga Jr., the president of the League of Organic Agriculture Municipalities in the Philippines.

Mayor Jun Pacalioga congratulates Ruel Anggi, a model barangay

captain and organic farmer, as Bernward Geier of IFOAM-Europe

and Joseph Wilhelm of Rapunzel Naturkost-Germany look on during

the Awards Night ofAraw ng Dumingag last December 7 at the

Dumingag Cultural Center. (Photo provided)

German organic advocates advised the local organic advocates to re-strategize their anti-GMO position into a pro GMO-free position in a series of forums held recently.

Poised to declare as GMO-free zones are the municipalities of Dumingag, Molave and Mahayag of Zamboanga del Sur, Siayan and Sindangan of Zamboanga del Norte, Bindoy of Negros Oriental, Kauswagan and Kolambugan of Lanao del Norte, Daram of Samar, Bagulin of la Union, General Nakar of Quezon, Damulog of Bukidnon, Alegria of Surigao del Norte, Goa of Camarines Sur, Talisayan of Misamis Oriental and Jimenez of Misamis Occidental.