NEWS UPDATES FROM SAMAR

3 NPAs killed in Samar encounter

By Restituto A. Cayubit

Catbalogan City, Western Samar, April 29, 2009 – At least three members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed and several others were wounded in a rebel-military encounter, yesterday, in Samar, a military report said, here today.

Major General Arthur Tabaquero commanding general of the 8^th Infantry Division (8ID), Philippine Army, based in Camp Lukban, barangay Maulong, Catbalogan City, told reporters in an interview that the government troopers from the 63^rd infantry battalion encountered more than 40 NPAs in one of the interior village of Palapag, Northern Samar yesterday morning and that the firefight lasted for almost an hour.

Tabaquero disclosed that acting on the report through a text message from one of the villagers of barangay Magsaysay, Palapag, regarding the presence of the rebels in the barangay, the soldiers went to the area immediately.

Tabaquero also disclosed that upon reaching the area, the government troopers encountered with the rebels killing 3 of them, wounding others and the recovery of one M-16 rifle and a carbine rifle. There is no casualty on the government troopers, Tabaquero added.

Tabaquero said that the rebels, who were caught off-guard withdrew to the interior part of the village and the hot pursuit operation, (as of press time), is still being conducted by the government troopers on the withdrawing rebels.

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More than 1,000 avail of medical mission

By Restituto A. Cayubit

Kabarasan Daku, Palo, Leyte – More than 1,000 people from the six interior barangays of this town have benefited from a military medical mission conducted here the other day..

Major General Arthur Tabaquero commanding general of the 8^th Infantry Division (8ID), Philippine Army, based in Camp Lukban, barangay Maulong, Catbalogan City, said that the medical mission was spearheaded by the Tactical Operation’s Group 8 (TOG-8) Philippine Air Force headed by Lt. Col.. Jay P. Junsay, group commander, TOG-8, based in Tacloban City.

Tabaquero said that the activity which is a yearly program of the TOG-8 Philippine Air Force, as part of the civil military operation, in cooperation with the 8ID and the local government units in the area was four in one as it included the medical, dental, operation tuli and the schistosomiasis mass treatment.

Tabaquero said that this barangay was chosen as the center venue of the mission for the six interior barangays of this town, because it has the biggest population of the other 5 barangays which also benefited the activity that included Kabarasan Guti, Marikum, San Isidro, San Agustin, Gindag-an and Sta. Elena, and this barangay has the high prevalence of the schistosomiasis.

He added that the other participants of the activity were the PNP medical team, DOH-8, Leyte Dental Society, Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center , Palo Rural Health Unit and the APO Lawman.

He also added that there were sponsors who donated assorted medicines and included the PCSO-8, Everwell Drug Store, and 5L Pharmacy, all are based in Tacloban City .

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90 percent affected by parasite; village chief appeals for more schistosomiasis treatment

By Restituto A. Cayubit

Kabarasan Daku, Palo, Leyte - The chairman of this barangay, with almost all the people are affected by the schistosomiasis, is appealing to authorities to conduct more treatment for the schistosomiasis which has a high prevalence in this village and its neighboring villages of this town.

Orlando Corillo, the barangay chairman of this village told reporters in an interview here that schistomiasis has afflicted his village and with a very high prevalence that almost all his villagers are inflicted with the illness. “I can say that almost 90 percent of the people here are infected with the illness, including me. It is only the school children who have not gone yet to the rice fields who are not infected with the illness,” he said.

Corillo’s disclosure was done while there was a military medical mission here recently spearheaded by the Tactical Operation’s Group 8 (TOG-8) Philippine Air Force headed by Lt. Col. Jay P. Junsay, group commander, TOG-8, based in Tacloban City in cooperation with the 8^th Infantry Division (8ID), Philippine Army, based in Camp Lukban, barangay Maulong, Catbalogan City, under the command of Major General Arthur Tabaquero, and the local government units in the area and also participated in by the PNP medical team, DOH-8, Leyte Dental Society, Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center, Palo Rural Health Unit and the APO Lawman.

The medical mission which benefited more than 1,000 people from the six barangays of this town including Kabarasan Guti, Marikum, San Isidro, San Agustin, Gindag-an and Sta. Elena, and this barangay, was four in one as it included the medical, dental, operation tuli and the schistosomiasis mass treatment.

It was learned that schistosomiasis is an illness caused by blood infection often chronic illness that results from infection of the blood with a parasitic flatworm schistosome. It causes debilitation or weakness and can cause liver and intestinal damage.

It was also learned that schistosomiasis is most common in Asia, Africa, and South America , especially in areas where the water is contaminated by freshwater snails that carry the parasite.

Corillo, who was thankful with the medical mission, said that the latest treatment for the illness in his area was done by the Department of Health 5 years ago and “we are appealing for a more massive and comprehensive treatment of the illness to totally eliminate the schistomiasis in these areas.”

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Road projects in the countryside a boost to anti-insurgency campaign

By Restituto A. Cayubit

Catbalogan City , Western Samar – The roads and other infrastructure projects implemented in the island of Samar are boosts to the fight against the insurgency problem in the island, a military general told reporters in an interview at his office here.

Maj. General Arthur Tabaquero, commanding general of the 8^th Infantry Division, Philipine, Army, based at camp Lukban, Maulong, this city, said that the roads contracted to the interior parts of the island helps the military’s campaign against the communists rebels operating in the island.

Tabaquero averred that with the road network in the interior parts of the island it is easy for his troops to operate and penetrate to the hinterlands where most of the rebels operate. He also said that troops movement, reinforcements and troops insertions become easy.

He also added that the transportation of the supplies and other needed military hardware are easier compared to those areas where there are no road networks.

Tabaquero cited the road projects implemented in the town of Maslog , one of the interior towns of Eastern Samar which previously a hotbed of insurgency. He claimed that with the road to the interior town of Maslog , the rebels were neutralized because the military troopers can easily operate in the area and bring in the military supplies and hardware needed.

He also claimed that aside from these, it gained support from the people in the area for the government’s campaign against insurgency as they observe the development taking place in their localities.

Freeman Opinion

HAVE BAT WILL STRIKE By Juanito Jabat Updated April 29, 2009 12:00 AM
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=462371&publicationSubCategoryId=109

Anti-communist fighter Jun Alcover’s ANAD party-list has been proclaimed by the Comelec and that makes Jun a congressman now. The leftist and left-leaning party-listers in the House will soon have Congressman Alcover from Cebu a tough foe to contend with.

Lonzon: Kongresista na si Jun Alcover

Mata sa Agila
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
by Efren B. Lonzon
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/lonzon-kongresista-na-si-jun-alcover


NAGPAILA lang sa ilang pagkawalhon kining mga tawong misuway sa pagbabag sa paglingkod ni Jun Alcover isip bag-ong kongresista ubos sa ANAD partylist. Porbidang paita dali kaayong nakahimog rally ang walhong grupo nga nagsupak sa nahimong hukom sa korte suprema nga nagmando sa pagdugang ug representante gikan sa partylist.

Angayan sab hinuong mabalaka ang grupo nga nakapusta sa kalihukan sa mga komunista.
Di lang sila ang puntarya sa paglingkod ni Alcover karon sa kongreso kun di apil na ang mga kauban niining kongresista nga sakop sa komunista.
Kini gud ang kaisog ni Alcover di basta-basta kay naprobar na kini dihang siya sibilyan ug gikan sa komunista. Sa ato pa isip Sugbuanon, di nato ikauwaw ang pagpili sa katawhan tungod sa iya unyang paglabok.

Padayon sa imong kawsang nasugdan Jun, kay kami nga imong mga kauban sa media anaa sa imong luyo. Apan dobleha ang pagbantay sa imong seguridad kay diha sa Metro Manila daghang ambush ang nagmalampuson.

Si Alcover mao karon ang kasamtangang presidente sa Cebu Association of Media Practitioner ( CAMP ). Kay mediaman duna siyay mga maayong plano alang sa media dinhi sa Sugbo, sama sa pagtukod ug media center ug livelihood program.

ILLEGAL QUARRY
Para nako maayo ang lakang nga himuon sa Hunta Provincial sa lalawigan sa Sugbo sa paghimo ug pakisusi sa nabuking nga illegal Quarry operation sa lungsod sa Compostela nga naglambigit sa igsoon sa mayor.

Si Gilbert Wagas ang maguwang ni Mayor Ritche Wagas nga maoy sentro sa kontrobersya sa pagpalusot ug anupog ang mipadayag sa iyang kaandam ug way kahadlok sa pag-atubang sa mga board member.

Maayo kini aron gyud molutaw ang kamatuoran. Kay mora naman hinuon nga ang sad-an ugl nakahimog kalapasan ang sentro sa usa ka lungsod nga maoy nagdakop sa dikarga nga maoy gikargahan sa anupog. Pagkapait!

Wa man ta mokondinar sa igsuon sa mayor nga nalambigit sab sa pagpangawat og tubig pinaagi sa pagsimang sa tubo sa lungsod paingon sa ilang balay nga wa moagi ug metro mcwd nga maoy mikiha kaniya.

Ang ato lang, nga kadtong nakahimog krimen maoy masilutan. Ang nahitabo karon si bisan kinsa nalang ang gilambigit sa maong anomaliya.

Naapil gud ang pangan sa pamilyang Durano nga kalayo ra sa tinuod.

Kun wa ko masayop dunay estrektong kamandoan si Gobernador Gwen Garcia nga nagpatuman sa mga lagda sa pagpahigayon og mga quarry sa bas, graba ug anupog dinhi sa probinsya sa Sugbo nga giabusohan sa mga quarry operators.
(Email:efren_lonzon@yahoo.com)

NEW CONGRESSMAN TO PUSH 'PORK BARREL' ACCOUNTING

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/comment/reply/28375
Published at Sun Star Cebu

ANTI-Communist campaigner Pastor “Jun” Alcover Jr. will call for an accounting of all the Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF), also known as the pork barrel, of all legislators.
“They must account for the money they got, down to the last centavo. This is one way of restoring public trust and confidence,” Alcover said in a press conference yesterday.
One of 32 individuals soon to join the House of Representatives on the party-list system, Alcover said members of Congress must concentrate on legislation and not on projects which can encourage bribes and kickbacks.

Asked how he would spend his PDAF, Alcover said he will focus on helping those who supported the campaign against Communism. Alcover is a nominee of the Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (Anad).
“Regular congressmen are even playing safe by paying permit to campaign (PTC) fees during elections and donating portions of their pork barrel to groups identified with the rebels,” Alcover said.
Aside from exposing the congressmen who are sympathizers or members of the Communist Party of the Philippines, Alcover said he will also propose livelihood programs for the families of victims of New People’s Army atrocities.
Alcover also revealed yesterday that he has chosen as his chief of staff a former Cebu district collector of the Bureau of Customs, David Odilao Jr.
Odilao was Anad’s second nominee in the 2007 polls, and worked for 37 years in the government.
But Odilao said he would only help in the organizational stage of Alcover’s congressional office, saying he has no plans of staying long in Manila.
In the 2007 elections, Anad received the highest number of votes for a party-list in Cebu Province. (With GC)

ALCOVER WARNS COMMUNIST PARTY-LIST MEMBERS IN CONGRESS

NEW PARTY-LIST REPS

Thursday, 23 April 2009 - Sun Star Cebu

By Elias O. Baquero

THREE Cebuanos are among 32 individuals who will soon join the House of Representatives, following the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision to expand party-list representation in Congress.

The three represent a cooperatives’ federation, a labor federation and an anti-communist association.

In a ruling last Tuesday, the SC paved the way for 19 additional groups, represented by 32 individuals, to fill party-list seats in the House of Representatives.

These groups include the Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (Anad), the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) and the National Federation of Cooperatives (Coop-Natcco).

Pastor “Jun” Alcover Jr., who is set to join Congress on behalf of Anad party-list, yesterday warned “Communist party-list members” to stop deceiving the people because he will expose them.

“This is now the time that the real democratic forces will confront them in Congress,” Alcover said.

Alcover said he will ask Reps. Teddy Casiño and Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna, among others, to render an accounting of their pork barrel funds. He said he suspects these lawmakers’ funds are being spent on anti-government activities.

During the phone interview, Alcover was with seven other newly declared congressmen, including retired Army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan.

“I will also challenge the regular members of Congress to show their true colors. I know that there are elected congressmen in various parts of the country, including Cebu, who are allied with the Communists. I will also expose them. Just watch me,” said Alcover.

Meanwhile, Raymond Mendoza of the TUCP party-list said he will concentrate on social legislation once he officially joins the Lower House.

Mendoza will be joining his wife Emmylou Aliño-Mendoza, a third-term congresswoman of the first district of North Cotabato.

“My victory is the victory of labor. I am giving my assurance to all ALU-TUCP members that I will bring their voice to the halls of Congress,” Mendoza said. ALU stands for the Associated Labor Unions.

Mendoza is the son of ALU-TUCP founder Democrito T. Mendoza, a lawyer. The younger Mendoza serves as vice president for national and international affairs of ALU.

Mendoza was an assistant secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources from 2001 to 2205 and director of the Philippine National Oil Company from 2008 to the present.

The third Cebuano who will soon join Congress is Cresente C. Paez of Coop-Natcco, a national federation of cooperatives. Unlike Anad and TUCP, Coop-Natcco already has one representative in the Lower House.

Among the groups entering Congress on the strength of the SC’s decision are Kabataan, FPJPM, Veterans’ Federation of the Philippines, 1-Utak and Abakada.

ANAD (Alliance for Nationalism & Democracy) NOW CERTIFIED TO SIT IN CONGRESS! JUN ALCOVER NOW A CONGRESSMAN!

19 party-list groups to enter Congress
Updated April 22, 2009 12:00 AM

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=459975&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines – Nineteen party-list groups that lost in the 2007 elections can now enter Congress after the Supreme Court (SC) voided the two-percent threshold in the distribution of party-list seats.

In declaring unconstitutional a provision in Republic Act 7941, the Party-List System Act, the SC opened 32 additional seats for the 19 party-list groups and others now in Congress.

Ruling from Baguio City, the SC also revised the formula of retired Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban granting a maximum of three seats to the party-list group that topped the elections.

In the new formula, the percentage of votes garnered by each party-list candidate is computed by dividing the number of votes garnered by each party by 15,950,900, the total number of votes cast for party-list candidates.

In effect, the SC has granted one seat each to the 19 party-list groups.

These are: Alagad, FPJPM, Uni-Mad, ABS, Kakusa, Kabataan, Aba-ako, Alif, Senior Citizens, AT, VFP, ANAD (Alliance for Nationalism & Democracy), Banat, Ang Kasangga, Bantay, Abakada, 1-Utak, TUCP, and Cocofed. Banat, or Barangay Association for National Advancement and Transparency. – Edu Punay, Aurea Calica

Note: for the actual Supreme Court decision kindly scroll down......

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SC: Fill up 32 remaining party list seats

Court voids 2-percent rule

By Tetch Torres
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 19:08:00 04/21/2009

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090421-200668/SC-Fill-up-32-remaining-party-list-seats


Filed Under: Congress, Elections

MANILA, Philippines – Thirty-two partylist seats at the House of Representatives will be filled up after the Supreme Court voided the two-percent rule to determine whether a partylist should get a second or third seat in Congress.

In a 35-page decision penned by Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, the high tribunal granted a petition filed by the Barangay (village) Association for National Advancement (Banat) and set aside a resolution by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Voting 8-7, the court also affirmed its decision barring major political parties from participating in partylist elections directly or indirectly.

With the ruling, the party list groups Bayan Muna and Buhay will get the maximum three seats each and two seats each for the Citizens Battle Against Corruption (Cibac), Gabriela, Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC), A-Teacher, Akbayan, Alagad, Coop-Natco, Butil, Batas, ARC, Anakpawis, Abono, Amin, Agap, and An Waray.

There are currently 23 partylist lawmakers. The law allows a maximum of 55.

“We declare unconstitutional the two percent threshold in the distribution of additional partylist seats. The allocation of additional seats under the PartyList System shall be in accordance with the procedure used in of this Decision. Major political parties are disallowed from participating in party-list elections,” the court said.

The court said that if the two-percent threshold were followed, it would present "an unwarranted obstacle to the full implementation of Section 5(2), Article 6 of the Constitution and prevents the attainment of the broadest possible representation of party, sectoral or group interests in the House of Representatives."

Under law, a partylist group must have garnered two percent of the total votes cast for the party list election to get one seat.

According to the Comelec resolution, a partylist group must have garnered another two percent of the total votes cast, or a total of four percent, to qualify for a second seat, or a total of six percent to qualify for the maximum three seats.

But the Supreme Court said that according to the Party List Law, the second and third seat should be based on the total votes garnered by the particular party group, not the total votes cast for all partylist groups.

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Access Supreme Court decision at site indicated below:

http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/april2009/179271.htm