Government working to protect journalists, says President Aquino

MANILA, April 29 (PNA) -- President Benigno S. Aquino III told foreign journalists that his administration is addressing the killing of media men in the country through an inter-agency committee.

This body has been looking into extralegal killings and forced disappearances, torture and other grave violations of right to life, liberty and security of persons, he said in a joint press conference with US President Barack Obama in Malacanang on Monday.

The President reported that of 62 labor-related cases being investigated by the body, 10 were considered extrajudicial killings.

Of the 10 cases of extrajudicial killings, only one happened during the present administration, he noted.

With regards to the Maguindanao massacre of more than 50 journalists, the President said that more than a hundred people have been indicted for the crime and are undergoing trial.

“That doesn’t mean that we have stopped trying to look for others potentially involved in this particular killing, and may we just state for the record that even when it comes to journalists, it is not a policy of this state to silence critics,” he said.

He noted that another thrust of his government is judicial reform, which he promised when he ran for election in 2010.

The government is also working to speed up ongoing trials in courts to ensure quick disposition of justice, he added. (PNA)
CTB/PCOO/UTB

President Aquino wants Napoles tell-all testimony evaluated; still to be considered ‘accused’

MANILA, April 22 (PNA) -- Businesswoman Janet Napoles may have decided to spill the beans on her alleged involvement in the P10-billion pork barrel scam, but she still remains an accused, Malacanang said Tuesday.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda in a Palace media briefing on Tuesday said that President Benigno S. Aquino III has already directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to evaluate Napoles’ testimony.

“Before meeting with Ms. Janet Napoles, (Justice Secretary Leila de Lima) informed the President, and the President just instructed her to listen to the testimony and evaluate,” Lacieda said.

Although, Napoles has requested to be turned into a state-witness, Lacierda said there were still “no assurances” on that possibility until after her testimony is evaluated.

Government troops pursuing Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan

CITY, Basilan, April 11 (PNA) -– Government troops are hot on the trails of a group of Abu Sayyaf bandits who disrupted Friday the implementation of road concreting project in the municipality of Tipo-Tipo, this province.

Being pursued as of press time is the group of Abu Sayyaf leader Furuji Indama, “who are now occupying school buildings in Barangay Baguindan,” Tipo-Tipo.

Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer Capt. Maria Rowena Muyuela the group of Indama is responsible in extortion activities victimizing project contractors concreting the Magkawa-Al-Barka section of the Basilan Circumferential Road.

The pursuit operation came after two clashes ensued early Friday that left 18 soldiers from the Army’s 18th Infantry Battalion wounded.

Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade information officer Capt. Richard Enciso disclosed that eight of the 18 soldiers were wounded when a clash erupted around 2:25 a.m. Friday in at Sitio Kurellem, Barangay Silangkum, Tipo-Tipo.

Another clash ensued several minutes later in the same area that resulted to the injury of another 10 soldiers.

Enciso said the Abu Sayyaf bandits were believed to also have suffered casualties during the two succeeding clashes.

Muyuela said the soldiers, who suffered slight injuries, were airlifted to the military’s Camp Navarro General Hospital in this city.

Muyuela said the troops were conducting combat operations when they encountered a group the Indama-led Abu Sayyaf bandits.

Muyuela said the combat operation is primarily aimed against the Abu Sayyaf bandits who were responsible in extortions activities victimizing contractors undertaking government projects in Tipo-Tipo area.

She said the combat operation is purposely to clear the areas of Tipo-Tipo and Albarka of Abu Sayyaf influence to pave the way for the normalization and development of the two depressed areas. (PNA)
LAM/TPGJR/RICHARD G. FALCATAN/UTB

Pagadian veterans commemorate ‘Araw ng Kagitingan’

BY: CLARO A. LANIPA

PAGADIAN CITY, April 10 (PIA) – “Araw ng Kagitingan” commemorates the heroism of Filipino and American soldiers who fearlessly fought against the Japanese forces when the later occupied the Philippines in World War II, according to District Commander Caludio F. Porio of the 1st Zamboanga del Sur Veterans District.

“Araw ng Kagitingan” should be a very important event for every Filipinos because it reminds us of our duty to fight for the liberty of our country against foreign invaders,” he added.

“I challenged the Filipinos of this generation to be vigilant against foreign invasions. Never again will we allow sufferings and death,” Porio emphasized.

“In these days and age, heroes are born not only in war. One can be a hero even in a simple act of bringing smile and comfort to a fellow countrymen in distress,” he added.

Commander Porio thanked President Benigno S. Aquino, III, Zamboanga del Sur Governor Antonio Cerilles and Mayor Romeo Pulmones for the great honor and recognition given to the veterans of the province and city.

“It warms the heart of our living heroes, siblings, wives, widows and children that they are loved, recognized and still remembered,” he said.

The program was attended by the senior citizens, civic organizations, Boy and Girl Scouts of the Philippines (BSP & GSP), Regional Provincial and City officials and employees, First Infantry “Tabak” Division,PA, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management of the Philippines (BJMP), Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) among others. (FPG/CAL/PIA9)

PCG tightens security during Holy Week observance

By R.G. Antonet A. Go

ZAMBOANGA CITY, April 5 (PNA) -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is strengthening security measures in all ports here to ensure the safety of travelers during the observance of the Holy Week.

Zamboanga Coast Guard Station (ZCGS) commander Lieutenant Junior Grade (Lt.JG) Jomark Angue disclosed that part of the security measures is the deployment of sea marshals.

Angue said they expect an increase in the volume of passengers this coming Holy Week since many people will be going home to their respective provinces for a vacation.

Angue, who is also the spokesman of the Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao, said they will put up help desks in the different ports to assist the passengers during their travel.

He also said they will not tolerate the overloading of passengers to ensure safe travel at sea from the point of origin to the point of destination.

Angue advised ship owners to ensure that their boat is on tip-top condition and must have the complete equipment such as life jackets and life boats.

He said they should also rehearse their crew to ensure good service to the passengers while sailing.

Meanwhile, he also urged the traveling public to immediately report to authorities the presence of people acting suspiciously including and unattended baggage aboard vessels.(PNA)
CTB/TPGJR/RGAAGO/PJN

PRO-12 needs to beef up force with 566 policemen

COTABATO CITY, April 5 (PNA) -- The Police Regional Office-12 (PRO-12) on Saturday announced it is recruiting more than 500 new police officers to improve its capability in securing the more than 3 million residents of the region.

Chief Inspector Aldrin Gonzales, chief of the PRO-12 Public Information Office, said processing of documentary requirements for more than 1,000 applicants have already started at the regional training unit office in Gen. Santos City.

"The region needs about 566 new police officers to serve as additional forces in the region's police offices," Gonzales said in a statement.

"Once officially enlisted, the new cops will have a rank of Police Officer 1 (PO1)," he added.

The qualifications for applicants include a four-year course or bachelor’s degree; professional civil service eligibility; no criminal record; good moral character; and, a height of at least 5’4” for males and 5’2” for females.

Gonzales assured the public that the recruitment process is definitely above board and transparent to avoid suspicion of favoritism once the recruitment is completed.

PRO-12 covers the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, Saranggani and the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Tacurong, Koronadal and Gen.Santos.(PNA)
JBP/NYP

Another batch of Zambo IDPs receive home material assistance

ZAMBOANGA CITY, April 3 (PNA) -– Another batch of families displaced by the siege in September 2013 here received home materials assistance (HOMA) as the rehabilitation efforts of the local government shifts to high gear.

Rodrigo Pagotaisidro, chief of the city government’s Housing and Land Management Division, said the recipients consisting of five families comprising the third batch of beneficiaries received Wednesday their HOMA.

Pagotaisidro said the recipients, whose houses were burned down during the siege, are all residents of Barangay Sta. Catalina.

The recipients of HOMA are all lot owners and the Php 30,000 worth of housing package they received included cement, sand, gravel, deformed bars, tie wire, plywood, lumber, galvanized (corrugated and plain) iron sheets and nails.

The HOMA is a program under the Zamboanga City Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction (Z3R) Plan for internally displaced persons (IDPs) whose homes were burned down in fire incidents during the September 2013 siege last September.

Pagotaisidro said the distribution of the home materials is being done in batches.
Pagotaisidro said the succeeding distribution will be made in accordance to the verified listing of landowners prepared by his office.

The distribution of HOMA is led by the National Housing Authority (NHA) in cooperation with the city government through the office of Pagotaisidro.

The NHA has allocated Php 49.83 million for the HOMA.

The distribution of HOMA started March 28 with 30 families comprising the first batch of beneficiaries.

The second batch of beneficiaries that comprised also of five families received their housing package assistance last Tuesday. (PNA)
FPV/TPGJR/UTB

P500M needed to complete CDO’s superhighway project

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 1 (PNA) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) needs an additional P500 million for the completion of the P 1.5-billion Cagayan de Oro Coastal 

Superhighway project, Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said on Tuesday.

Rodriguez said the 1.4-kilometer coastal road from the village of Puntod to the coastal village of Gusa, in the city’s east coast, is now almost complete.

He said that he has filed a bill in Congress under House Bill No. 4232 for the appropriation of the P500 million for the completion of the Cagayan de Oro’s coastal superhighway.

In the proposed bill, Rodriguez explained that the five provinces and two cities in Northern Mindanao would also benefit from the P815 million Cagayan de Oro 3rd Bridge and Access Road project and the Cagayan de Oro Coastal Super Highway Project.

He said that when completed, the coastal superhighway would serve as an alternate route entry in the city’s west and east coast areas.

The completion of the coastal superhighway would reduce vehicular traffic, especially along the major highway leading to the Port of Cagayan de Oro, thereby enhancing socioeconomic activities in the area, Rodriguez said.

The coastal superhighway, involves the construction of a 352-linear-meter long, four-lane pre-stressed concrete bridge with 11 spans and the concreting of 8.46 kilometers of a four-lane road pavement along the coastal route with an island in the center which will act as a sea wall.

The first phase of the Coastal Superhighway project was the reclamation of the land from the sea, which was followed by the construction of the road that connected Macabalan, Puntod, Lapasan and Gusa, all barangays of the city’s northeastern coast.

This highway is expected to decongest traffic in the main highway (C.M. Recto) because vehicles from and to Bukidnon and Butuan will no longer need to enter the city, but may now use the coastal road to go to the pier area or even proceed to the western part of the city and on to Iligan City, Rodriguez said.

He said a coastal boulevard like the Roxas Boulevard in Metro Manila where people can also roam and enjoy the breeze from the sea was also part of the coastal superhighway’s design.

Rodriguez said DPWH engineers had scheduled the completion of the project in 2010. However, the economic downturn and the increase in the prices of materials and supplies have delayed the completion of the project.

He said that the request for additional funding of P500 million was necessary to meet the scheduled for completion in 2015. (PNA)
JBP/CD/AIDA RAUT/UTB