Swe april 30 may 6, 2013

Want real news? Subscribe now, call 251-2341!

By RICKY J. BAUTISTA, SWE News & Features

PUPUA BEACH RESORTCatbalogan City

Home Away from Home!For reservation, contact: 0918.9265.791 (Ben)

Welcome to:SERVICES OFFERED: • CONSTRUCTION • COMPLETE PLANS AND DESIGN • PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISION

CP Nos. 09209604331/09053315161/09228947890E-mail: [email protected]

BEETHOVEN M. BERMEJOManager/Proprietor

BEECARTINECONSTRUCTION & SUPPLYARCHITECTS ENGINEERSDESIGNERS BUILDERS DEVELOPERS

148 MERCEDES CATBALOGAN CITY, SAMAR 318-4 TRES DE ABRIL LABANGON CEBU CITY

Opposition bets ‘no show’ at candidates’ forum in Samar

DENR places 2 Samar caves under its jurisdiction

The Exponent of Samar’s Progress

Chronicling Eventsin Samar Island Since 2002

EXPRESSVOL. 10, NO. 39 APRIL 30 - MAY 6, 2013 CATBALOGAN CITY 8 PAGES

Army troops monitor NPA movements in Samar

See DENR page 7...

See SHOOTING page 7...

Shooting of mayoral bet, son in Northern Samar probed

CATBALOGAN CITY -- Two supporters of Samar 2nd Dis-trict United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) congressional candidate died in an unfortunate accident early Monday morning after attending a political sortie in this city Sunday night.

Police reports said the vehicle hired by the supporters of Reynato “Boy” Latorre reportedly fell off the rough and unfin-ished roads along Barangay Canligues, Paranas town on their way to Barangay Calapi, San Jose de Buan town, after attending the “miting de avance” in Catbalogan City.

Aside from the two victims, whose names were not imme-diately known, several others were seriously injured and were taken to Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in Tacloban City for treatment.

Saddened by the incident, UNA candidate Latorre took the

CATBALOGAN CITY -- Political candidates from the opposition in Samar province were no-show in a candidates’ forum organized by the Social Action Center (SAC) of the Diocese of Calbayog and some media organizations, Saturday.

The forum slated at the St. Mary’s College here was sup-posed to be for candidates seeking top posts in the province.

Instead, only the Liberal Party (LP) led by gubernatorial aspirant Aika Uy-Delgado, vice-gubernatorial candidate Atty. Wilfredo Estorninos and congressional candidate for the sec-ond district Atty. Eunice Babalcon were present.

“We take this (forum) seriously because for us this is a great opportunity to present our master plan of governance for the province of Samar,” Uy-Delgado said.

Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) candidates including incumbent 2nd district representative Mila Tan, her daughter and son respectively governor Sharee Ann Tan (NPC) and vice Governor James Tan of Nationalista Party (NP) -- all seeking for a reelection, did not show up.

Other invited guests who failed to come for unknown reasons were gubernatorial aspirant Tony San Buenabuentura of Kilusang Bagong Makabayan (KBP) and congressional bet Reynato Latoree of Nationalist United Alliance (NUP).

“This cannot be called a forum if there’s only one party here. I am disappointed, this could be the best time for them (to present themselves in public)… but they missed,” Fr. Cesar Aculan of SAC, Diocese of Calbayog said after announcing the cancellation of the event.

The lead organizer said the forum was an opportunity for candidates to present their platforms of government on good governance, peace and order, environment or any issues affect-ing the province. It was also aimed to inform voters whom to vote based on their platforms, said the priest.

While saying that he was saddened by the development, Father Aculan thanked and expressed sorry for all that have exerted efforts to come in the forum.

Amid the cancellation, LP candidates still took the op-portunity to share their platforms - thoroughly searched basic needs of the province, all incorporated in a grand master plan of governance- in a separate venue amid the presence of media representatives.

The LP key programs presented to public included health and humanitarian concerns, education, environment, eco-tourism, energy and communication, empowerment and good governance, livelihood, land and housing, agriculture and fishery, peace and order, population and development and “shared governance program.” (Ricky Bautista)

CATBALOGAN CITY -- The Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division (8ID) is now closely monitoring the movements of the local insurgents in Samar particularly its extortion activities against candidates seeking posts for the May 13 polls.

“The focus of our troops is to be vigilant in monitoring the movements and extortion activities of these rebels,” said Capt. Amado Gutierrez, spokesman of the 8th ID based here.

Every day, the 8ID received reports from the local as-sets and community folks that members of the New People’s Army (NPA) have been roaming around asking money in the form of permit to campaign or permit to win fees to the local candidates.

“We first validate these reports and immediately send troops to the area,” Gutierrez added.

Last Thursday, at least two local insurgents appar-ently conducting extortion activities were killed during the 15-minute encounter with the government security forces in Barangay Albalate, this city.

The other three companions of the rebels fled the scene. Recovered from the two unidentified dead rebels were two assault rifles and explosives, the army said.

Earlier, the military in the region claimed that the NPA is soliciting permit to campaign and permit to win fees from candidates, ranging from P50,000 to P5 million, depending on the position being sought by a candidate.

Documents recovered by the military revealed that the NPA was tasked by the National Democratic Front (NDF) in Eastern Visayas to implement the collection of the “permit to win” and “permit to campaign” fees to local candidates.

Fr. Santiago Salas, NDF in Eastern Visayas spokesman, however, denied the claim. (Ricky Bautista)

CATARMAN, Northern Samar -- The shooting incident in Victoria town of Northern Samar is suspected to be an election-related incident (ERI), and is still undergoing investigation and determination by the committee formed by the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8), according to media relations officer Inspctor Romuel Nacar.

The incident that happened Thursday evening in Brgy. Zone 1, Poblacion in Victoria town, involved incumbent mayor Jose Ardales and his son Jorge who suffered gunshot wounds after they were shot by sus-pects identified by a witness as Precillano Allganza and Albert Kennedy.

In a narration by witness Albino Montopar, security aide of Ardales to members of the PNP, he said that prior to the incident they “heard a burst of gunfire inside the compound of another mayoralty bet Guillermo Jumamil followed by another volume of gunfire in their barangay hall about 100 meters away from the crime scene.”

They were shocked when the “gunfire was already striking the

By RICKY J. BAUTISTA, SWE News & Features

CATBALOGAN CITY -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Eastern Visayas classified two famous caves in Samar province in a bid to give stronger teeth to laws protecting the pristine caves having potentials of continuously bringing tourists to the region.

2 supporters of congress bets killed in vehicular accident

See SUPPORTERS page 6...

Samar WeeklyTHIS Cave, the Langun-Gobingob

Caves located in Barangay Panayuran, some 7 kilometers from the Calbiga

town proper was classified into Class II level by the Department of Environ-ment and Natural Resources (DENR)

Regional Office 8.Another cave, the Sohoton Caves,

was also marked Level 2. These two caves, was considered the most visited

“show caves “ among other natural wonders in Eastern Visayas.

Being in the Class II level, the DENR has full jurisdiction on said

caves, unless otherwise it will enthrust its management to the Local Govern-

ment Units of Calbiga and Basey.(Ricky Bautista)

APRIL 30 - MAY 6, 20132 THE REGIONWebsite: www.issuu.com/samarweeklyexpress

147 cops, 228 Army personnel avail of local absentee voting in EV

Samar Weekly Express

‘Kris Aquino’ endorses LP bets in Tacloban City

Mayor Alfred vows more employment opportunities for Taclobanons

162 HOTS, 444 near-hired in DOLE 8 Labor Day job fair

TESDA allocates P19.4-M training for work scholarship program in E. Visayas

City coop office releases P2-M help to coops

TACLOBAN CITY -- The Department of Labor and Employ-ment (DOLE) in Eastern Visayas reported of 162 hired-on-the-spot (HOTS) while 444 were considered as near-hired during the Labor Day job fair held at the Tacloban City Convention Center here.

The number of HOTS surpassed the 15 percent target set by the central office taking into account the number of registered applicants recorded at 996.

Of the 162 HOTS, 144 were hired for local employment and the rest are overseas.

Meanwhile, DOLE 8 under regional director Exequiel R. Sarcauga, expects the HOTS to increase with the possible employment coming from the 444 near-hired applicants in the next 30 days.

Near-hired applicants refer to those who have been consid-ered by employers but are yet to submit additional requirements or submit themselves for another interview.

The one-day job fair on Wednesday made available 1, 500 job orders for overseas employment and 1,147 local jobs. (PNA)

TACLOBAN CITY -- Roughly 41 percent of mem-bers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and around 70 percent of the 8th Infantry Division (8ID) in Eastern Visayas have availed of the local absentee voting (LAV), reports said.

Of the 355 approved ap-plications from the Police Regional Office-8 (PRO8)only 147 have cast their votes,

according to media relations officer, Inspt. Romuel Nacar.

Nonetheless, he said that PRO8 under the leadership of C/Supt. Elmer R. Soria assured people of Eastern Visayas the “maximum service on Election Day as some of their personnel need not to compromise their democratic right in order to perform their crucial role of ensuring the electorate in the midterm polls.”

The casting of votes held at the Matapat Hall last April 29-30 was availed mostly by personnel assigned at the Re-gional Public Safety Battalion 8 (RPSB 8) with 116 and sta-tions in Leyte province with 12 voters.

PRO8 headquarters and Eastern Samar have eight vot-ers each and one voter each from cities of Tacloban, Or-moc and Catbalogan.

Policemen who are eligi-ble absentee voters that failed to vote during the two-day period can still vote in the May 13 elections, he added.

On the other hand, Capt. Amado Gutierrez, officer-in-charge of the public affairs office of the 8ID, said that as of Thursday morning’s report 228 of the 330 approved ap-plications from 10 of the 19 units of the division were able to cast their votes.

Those who did not avail were either hospitalized or were part of the combat operations.

Gutierrez also clarified that 1,106 personnel of the 8ID have applied for the LAV but only 877 were approved instead of the earlier report that 608 of the 876 applicants were permitted to vote.

Those whose applica-tions were denied are not registered voters, Gutierrez said.

Meanwhile, the remain-ing nine units have until Friday to submit their ballots to the division. (PNA)

TACLOBAN CITY -- The Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) in Eastern Visayas has allotted a total of P19.4 million for the implementation of its training for work scholarship program, according to its regional director Cleta M. Omega.

Already, Omega said some P3.951 million has been provided with vouchers for trainings in Eastern and Northern Samar as well as at the regional training center based in this city.

According to data provided by the scholarship focal person Elizabeth C. Canales, 115 slots have been approved for their provincial training center (PRC) in Catarman, Northern Samar amounting to P897,000.

These include 65 slots for regular skills training with fund allocation of P447,500 and 50 slots for trainers methodology course worth P450,000.

TACLOBAN CITY --The City Cooperatives Development and Livelihood Assistance Of-fice (CCDLAO) here has already released some P2.12 million worth of Coop Fund loans to 11 city cooperatives as additional business capital officials said.

City mayor Alfred S. Ro-mualdez said that CCDLAO also released F4M fund loans to 222 individuals under his administration.

The CCDLAO was created based on City ordinance 99-08, to provide technical and funding assistance to city cooperatives and individuals.

Around P3, 095,000 F4 FUND loans were released to qualified residents in 56 clusters by the coop office. The F4 Fund is a no collateral loan of P5,000 to P30,000 available to micro-entrepreneurs.

The coop office likewise provides technical assistance to city cooperatives as it com-plies with requirements set by the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) and conducts marketing and livelihood train-ings and forums to cooperatives and walk-in clients.

Last year, the Regional Co-operative Development Council (RCDC) and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) recognized the CCDLAO by naming it as 2012 Regional Out-standing LGU and City Coop Office and the CDA GAWAD PARANGAL Most Outstanding LGU/ Cooperative Develop-ment Office in Region 8. (PNA)

TACLOBAN CITY -- Mayor Alfred Romualdez on Friday vowed to generate more employment opportunities for the residents as he announced the continues influx of big business players in this highly-urbanized city.

Romualdez emphasized that due to the rapid growth of the city in terms of devel-opment and business, more employment will be avail-able soon at the Kanhuraw Business Center, City Public Employment and Service Of-fice and the regional office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

He said that leading com-panies in the country showed interest in putting up their branches in the city which

TACLOBAN CITY -- Presidential sister and multi-media personality Kris Aqui-no visited Tacloban City today to endorse two Liberal Party senatorial candidates Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Grace Poe and city mayoralty bet Florencio “Bem” Noel who is in his last term as party-list representative of An Waray Party-list and his slate.

In a brief interview with the presidential sister, she revealed that she will not endorse all members of the Liberal Party, but when asked if whom she refused to name them.

“I was asked by my sister for the sake of our brother to keep quiet about my decision, and as a respect to him, I will not tell you who aside these two gets my support,” said Aquino.

“As much as they respect that we are living in a dem-ocratic country and I can choose if who I shall vote for they asked me not to broadcast it to people,” she added.

Tacloban was her last stop after attending Liberal party sortie in Davao and Cebu before going back to Manila to attend her showbiz com-mitment.

On Sunday, Aquino said that she’s with Congressman Edgardo Angara senatorial campaign then by Wednesday, she’ll help her cousin Bam Aquino campaign in Iloilo and Bicol region.

Explaining her decision to support Poe and Escudero, Aquino said that it was Poe’s campaign advocacy to imple-ment free lunch for school age children as it will ensure higher survival rate of school age children attending classes.

While for Escudero, Kris said that he was one of the loyal friends of her brother since they were still member of the House of Representatives.

On rumors of her join-ing politics in 2016 election, Aquino said that it is not an easy task to enter political arena which is why she needs to study and learn more on how to handle public service.

“We still have three more years before my brother ends his term and I said to myself that whenever I enter politics I need to be ready because i need to protect our name,” said Aquino.

“I don’t want to live in the shadow of my parents and my brother,” she added.

However, the presidential sister denied rumors that it will be a national position which she aims if ever she finally decided to run for public office as she would want to follow the footstep of her father who started in local government units first before joining na-tional political arena. (PNA)

The regional training cen-ter (RTC) in Tacloban City, meanwhile, has an approved P1.896 million voucher for 251 slots -- 151 skills program and 100 trainers’ methodology course.

Eastern Samar has 79 slots with P407,500 funds. Skills training include automotive, welding, electrical installation and maintenance.

O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , P750,000 was also approved for TESDA’s English Language Proficiency Program that will benefit 500 recipients; 400 from Northern Samar and 100 at the RTC.

In addition to the regular skills program, a P13 million allocation was also set aside for the Private Education Student Financial Assistance (PESFA) program for those who are interested to pursue technical-vocational courses in private schools.

would mean more employ-ment opportunities and eco-nomic growth in this city – the primary gateway to Eastern Visayas.

In fact, the Robinson’s Place located in Marasbaras district will also put up a one-hectare bus terminal out of its plan to acquire a three-hectare lot, the city chief executive said.

The Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC), which operates the Robinson’s shopping malls, has also acquired another 24,352 square meter lot at the Tacloban New Bus Terminal for its second shopping mall in the city.

“This will gain tremen-dous benefits to the city in terms of income,” Romualdez

said. “(And) once this super-

mall starts to operate, some 2,000 jobless people could land jobs, not to mention the domino effects it will bring to the city such as in the transport sector, more income and taxes in favor of the city govern-ment,” the mayor said.

The mayor attributed all these developments to the good peace and order situ-ation, good governance and transparency under his admin-istration. Prior to its conver-sion into a highly urbanized city in 1998, as shepherded by mayor Romualdez into a competitive city in the coun-try today, Tacloban was an independent component city. (Ricky Bautista)

The training for work scholars posed for posterity with mentors from the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) during one its event.

Kris Aquino

NEWS APRIL 30 - MAY 6, 2013For alerts and feedback, e-mail at [email protected] Website: www.issuu.com/samarweeklyexpress 3


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

Calbiga, Samar

DEALER: Gravel and Sand, Hollowblocks and other construction materials

Contact: HENRY BORDOMobile: 09165998846/09295137472

Contender challenges incumbent Samar guv to debate

SAMAR POLITICS:

COMELEC 8 is 98% ready for May 13 polls

Army ready to thwart any plan of NPA to disrupt May 13 polls

E. Visayas holds simultaneous testing, sealing of PCOS

CATBALOGAN CITY -- Samar province Liberal Party gubernatorial candidate Rosa Jessica “Aika” Uy-Delgado challenged incumbent Gov. Sharee Ann Tan to a debate to enlighten Samare-ños on their respective positions and platforms of governments.

“It is high time we change the manner of elec-tions and politics here in Samar. The people has the right to know what we could offer them, what programs we have set for them to make their lives better than what it is now,” Uy-Delgado said in an interview.

Uy-Delgado, together with other Liberal Party bets were recently formally endorsed by President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III during the latter’s visit in Calbayog City and the LP senatorial slate campaign for the Samar leg.

Uy-Delgado also said this would be a “welcome change” for the people of Samar to see candidates battle it out in the debate field and laying down their respective plans instead of mudslinging that has become a trademark in local politics.

It was learned that local candidates in Samar are being invited to a debate to be staged by the Church, the media and other non-government organizations.

On allegations of rivals going to spend at least P5,000 to buy votes, Uy-Delgado said that she would not resort to votes buying to win but rather would campaign for change of attitude among the voters and the people, taking into consideration that Samar has the potential to become a developed province.

Uy-Delgado is the eldest daughter of the late Calbayog City Mayor Reynaldo Uy, who was killed two years ago by unidentified gunmen in Hinabangan town. The killing was linked to Uy’s political rivals.

C AT B A L O G A N CITY -- Troops of the Eight Infantry Division (8ID) of the Philippine Army (PA) are prepared to thwart any attempts of the New People’s Army (NPA) to disrupt the con-duct of elections in East-ern Visayas on May 13.

“They might resort to it but we are prepared to any of their plans,” ac-

cording to Capt. Amado Gutierrez, officer-in-charge of 8th ID public affairs office.

Currently, he said, their troops are conduct-ing “selected combat op-erations in secluded areas to check out information on NPA personalities col-lecting permit to cam-paign and permit to win” demands. This aside from

their working in tandem with the Philippine Na-tional Police (PNP) in the conduct of checkpoint operations, he added.

Two or three days before the election day, he said they will be shifting from “combat posture to election security posture depending on the ap-preciation of the com-manders of brigades and

battalions.” “Troops will be de-

ployed along vicinity of polling precinct but this will be in line with Come-lec (Commission on Elec-tions) policies like staying away from precincts at a certain distance,” he said.

Atty. Veronico Pet-alcorin, acting regional director of Comelec 8, said that the delineation

of function has already been done between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the PNP to ensure the peaceful conduct of elec-tions.

The AFP, he said, will be deployed in in-surgency areas, mostly in Samar area. (PNA)

TACLOBAN CITY -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Eastern Visayas is now 98 percent ready for the midterm elections on May 13.

Atty. Veronico Petalcorin, acting regional director of the Comelec here, said that they could not say they are 100 percent prepared because of some glitches that are “manageable and can be corrected in due time.”

“That 98 percent is enough to say that this election will be successful,” he said. Last week the poll body has completed the refresher training for Board of Elec-

tion Inspectors (BEIs) that will facilitate the conduct of the elections. A simultaneous testing and sealing of Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS)

machines was conducted Monday regionwide. Meanwhile, Petalcorin expressed optimism that about 80 to 85 percent of the

region’s 2,576,250 registered voters will cast their votes come May 13. During the 2010 synchronized national and local elections, the turnout in the

region was also at 80 percent. At the national level only around 76 percent cast their votes, he said.

TACLOBAN CITY -- Polling centers in Eastern Visayas on Monday held a simultaneous final testing and sealing (FTS) of Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines that will be used in the counting of votes for the May 13 polls.

Lawyer Veronico Petalcorin, acting regional di-rector of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in this region, said that by 9:00 a.m. around 90 percent of PCOS machines have been delivered to various voting centers.

He said that around noon, all PCOS will most probably be entrusted to their Board of Election In-spectors (BEI) already.

The FTS is an instrument to determine whether or not the machine works.

There will be a mock election where at least 10 ballots bearing fake names will be fed into the PCOS machines.

“If there is a problem then the election will recom-mend for the replacement of the machine and if there is none we have to rearrange the situation,” he said.

By re-arranging he meant that machines coming from far-flung areas will be transferred to the Pobla-cion. Those with few registered voters can just borrow the PCOS machine of other centers.

He assured that voting will continue regardless if the PCOS machine is damaged or there is none at all.

“The only thing is that we have to borrow the PCOS of other barangay. The PCOS is generic, the SIM card is specific,” he explained.

The only downside then is that voters could not fully appreciate the automated election because they could not directly feed their ballots to the machine. Instead, after the voting, the BEI will put their docu-ments in the ballot box and wait for available PCOS. The BEI will already be the one to feed the official ballots to the machine.

Meantime, once the testing is completed and no problems were encountered then the PCOS will be sealed and will be opened only on the day of the elections.

Eastern Visayas has 2,756, 250 registered vot-ers with 5, 135 clustered precincts and 3, 773 voting centers. (PNA)

TACLOBAN CITY -- The National Concilia-tion and Mediation Board (NCMB), an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employ-ment (DOLE), has been successful in promoting industrial peace in East-ern Visayas for the past nine-years.

TACLOBAN CITY -- The Commission on Elec-tions (Comelec) has classified eight municipalities in Northern Samar as “areas of immediate concern” in the run-up to the May 13 midterm elections.

Laywer Veronico G. Petalcorin, officer-in-charge of Comelec in Eastern Visayas said the towns declared as areas of immediate concern are Victoria, Lavezares, Lope de Vega, San Isidro, Pambujan, Gamay, Lapinig and Capul.

“The police and the military will closely monitor these areas to ensure that the elections there will be peaceful and orderly,” Petalcorin said.

Petalcorin added the intense political rivalry, pres-ence of unidentified armed men and goons maintained by political candidates, presence and the capability of the New People’s Army (NPA) to disrupt the voting were the factors taken into consideration in classifying the areas as election areas of immediate concern.

Intense political rivalries and presence of private armed men were present in Victoria, Lapinig, Gamay and Capul towns, while presence of NPA were reported in Pambujan, Lope de Vega, San Isidro and Lavezares towns.

“With just seven days left before the elections, Comelec will regularly update the list of so-called ‘hotspots’,” Petalcorin said. (PNA)

CATBALOGAN CITY – The Dept. of Social Welfare and Development in Eastern Visayas has stricken out 4,477 names from its list of beneficiaries of conditional cash transfer following its eligibility check routine.

Marichu E. Bustillos, regional coordinator of the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program, said their griev-ance team has been doing validation of beneficiaries with the help of their municipal links.

She explained that 1,913 were delisted as a result of the routine check; 128 were delisted due to inclusive error; seven for fraud; 59 have waived; 197 for dupli-cation; 1,217 have no children with ages 0-14 and 956 transferred to non-4Ps areas.

Most of those delisted have members of their fami-lies working as police officers, teachers or are overseas Filipino workers.

Meanwhile, the DSWD is encouraging people to report any beneficiary who they believe is not deserving of the program.

Currently, the program covers 255,079 households in Eastern Visayas. (PNA)

Comelec declares 8 towns in N. Samar ‘hot’

DSWD purges list of CCT beneficiaries

Industrial peace reigns in E. Visayas for the past 9 yearsNCMB regional con-

ciliator-mediator Tomas Biboso said that while they received notices of strike there was no actual strike that took place in the region.

He disclosed that last year there were around four notices of strikes while another two were

filed at the NCMB this year. These did not go into full-blown strikes.

He explained that they were very strong in the promotion of labor-management cooperation (LMC) and in grievance handling which is inte-grated into the collective

See INDUSTRIAL p/5...

TESDA scholar/trainee shows how to fix a broken machine.

The National Association of Philippine NewspapersPHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE


is a member of the

OFFICE:The Samar Weekly Express

is published weekly in multi-lingual format with editorial and business office located at Rizal Avenue, Catbalogan, Samar (Infront

of Fire Department near City Hall)

CONTACT:Telephone (055) 251-2341

Fax: (053) 321-5591Main Office: (053) 321-4833

Mobile: 09207675444

E-MAIL:[email protected], mysolotrek@

gmail.com

WEBSITE:www.issuu.com/samarweeklyexpress

All rights reserved. Except as permitted by

law, no part of Samar Weekly Express may be produced or distributed in any form or by any means stored in a database or retrieval system without its prior written permission from the

publisher.

DALMACIO C. GRAFILPublisher

RICKY J. BAUTISTAEditor-in-Chief

CATHERINE GERADILAOffice-in-Charge

ALMA GRAFILBus. Manager

Columnists, Writers and Account Executives:

Rommel L. RutorChito Dela Torre

Atty. Batas MaricioFr. Roy Cimagala

Ismael AmigoJuan Mercado

Roger SoriaMyra Tambor

Jenna Tizon IgdalinoGina Dean RagudoLilith Sabuco - Teña

Malou Bermejo.

SAMAR ISLAND PRESS CLUB, Inc.

The only SEC registered media organization operating in the three provinces of Samar

A sister publication of the Leyte - Samar Daily Express (Tacloban City)and Eastern Samar Bulletin (Borongan City)

OPINION Samar Weekly Express

APRIL 30 - MAY 6, 2013For alerts and feedback, e-mail at [email protected]

EDITORIALVote- buying, the final showdown

Fidelity in an age of promiscuity

Hints and Traces

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

See HINTS page 5...

Deciding who we want to lead our country’s Senate, House of Rep-resentatives and our localities is the best blessing of our democracy. We enjoy the free exercise of our sacred right to vote for those who deserve the trust and confidence of our people to run the affairs of government.

The choice must be based on ideal parameters that would produce officials who possess the qualification, capability, integrity to perform the functions of the office being aspired for. There too is a need to ex-amine the platform or advocacy that a particular candidate is pushing for that would be a good yardstick of what one will do once elected.

But all these are mere ideals of bygone days when elections were truly clean and honest in all aspects, including the voter’s respect to his dignity and honor as a sovereign and rationale being.

It is indeed unfortunate that elections are nothing more than com-mercial transactions with the sacred vote as commodity of the deal. Candidates no longer worry formulating a program of government for voters no longer care asking for the best platform anyway.

Even meetings held by candidates during the campaign do not anymore attract the curiosity and interest of the voters. People would attend to listen only if they are given the best consideration for their presence. We can only find a few who voluntarily go to meetings as a manifestation of responsibility.

Most do not anymore care to listen and just decide on choices with-out knowing well the personalities and issues.

Calls to regain our moral bearings had repeatedly been issued by concerned civic, religious and cause oriented groups. Such appeal to resort to conscience and fight every temptation and influence of money, guns and power ought to be heeded by all and sundry.

The call is very timely as people appear to have lost its moorings on morality and the independent and free exercise of his sovereign will. We really need to reexamine ourselves and try answering basic ques-tions regarding our moral values that ought to guide us in the exercise of our sacred right to vote.

Unfortunately, we have seen in the recent past how money plays a crucial role in winning elections. Voters had been used to receiving tokens, pennies and small bills from candidates who want their names written in the official ballot.

These candidates pretend to be generous givers to the least of their brethren. They try to downplay vote buying as mere acts of kindness and sharing their riches to their constituents who are expectantly wait-ing for the election money. Those who have the riches have the decided advantage to win over the poor and unknown candidates.

But upsets are always possible if voters will only decide to defeat the evil influence of money by voting wisely no matter the bribe.

THE title may refer more immediately to married couples who are committed to their spouses for a lifetime of love. But it can actually be applied to all of us also, single or married, young or old, healthy or not, etc.

That’s because in the end we all have to be faithful to some-thing or someone who, if I have to say things bluntly, is none other than God, our Creator and Father. Some people may choose to be faithful only to their own selves, but that’s another story that we can take up some other time.

We cannot help but live some degree of fidelity because by nature we are a relational being. We are always connected to someone and there is always some kind of hierarchy in this network of relations in which we live. And one task we have to do is to find the place that properly belongs to us. This is the context of fidelity.

We need to be more aware of our duty to be faithful, es-pecially in our present times when forms of promiscuity are increasing and often in a most subtle way. We need to know what is involved in this duty to be faithful.

We also need to know how to distinguish promiscuity from the legitimate attitude that respects and even fosters tolerance of an increasingly diversified world, or more, even taking advantage of such diversity.

We are in tricky times. And so we have to be discerning as we pursue the real and ultimate goals of our life, and everything in it. Here lies the seed of the secret of fidelity. It’s never a passive, laid-back virtue. Rather, it is active and dynamic.

We can only be faithful if we work for it consciously, keeping the right priorities that should be set out by the objective laws that govern us as persons, members of the community in all as-pects—social, economic, political, cultural, etc.—and ultimately as children of God.

Our main problem is that we often take this duty to know who we really are and the laws that properly govern us for grant-ed. We often allow ourselves to be led mainly by the unreliable swings of our emotions and passions, the social and ideological trends, and the changing economic and political weathers, etc.

These are never absolute guides. At best, they give some light

OPINION APRIL 30 - MAY 6, 2013


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.

Test for 2013 candidates: ‘Godliness’

Views on newsBy Ricky J. Bautista

[email protected]

HINTS from page 5 ...

AFM., Industrial Watchman &

Protective AgencyBranch Office:

Camia St., San Pablo, Catbalogan City

Branch Manager: ARIEL C. TY Mobile No. 0947.9711.031

GRTY Gravel &

SandBrgy. Silanga,

Catbalogan, Samar

- Hair, nails and spa services- Specialized on UV Gel Polish- Salon and spa equipments and supplies- Also available: SPA consultancy, SPA treatment demonstration and operational guidance.

Contact: MILA ROSA R. NUEVA Branch Office: Door 3, Salazar St., Quarry Dist., Tac. City

Tel. (053) 325-8876 / CP No. 0916-326-6516E-mail: [email protected]

ChillaxNAIL SALON& SPA

(This column will resume next issue. Ed.)

“Advertise with us without leaving your seat!”

Text ur ADS @ 09207675444!

INDUSTRIAL from page 3 ...

If NDF is only sincere in its warning...

By CHITO DELA TORRE, QN Samar Post

See QN SAMAR page 6...

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Jesus called them together and said, `You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant’…” (Matthew 20:24-26, the Holy Bible).

-ooo- REMINDER: TEST FOR 2013 CANDIDATES-GODLI-

NESS: Let me reprint this column: “President Aquino is right---voters in the May 2013 elections should not elect “pretenders” to public office since only those who will and can really serve should be voted upon. But then, with due respect, he is totally wrong to assume that only those who wear yellow shirts have the capacity to serve well.

“There are many who don the yellow color but are really undeserving of any elective position, even the lowest ones, and there are those who wear other colors but who are really able and capable. What the President should be pounding upon for our people to vote for in May, if he wants his `right path’ campaign to really succeed, are candidates who have the fear and love of God in their hearts, and who are true believers well-versed and obedient to the Word of God, the Bible.

“Undeniably, this country and this nation have already been subjected to all kinds of leaders since time immemorial. It is now time to push for men and women who will lead our people first and foremost to become true listeners and sincere followers of God, a people who will once and for all base their thoughts, words and actions on what God says according to the Bible, and who will act, speak and think in recognition of God’s primacy in our lives, and in loving embrace of the welfare of others.

-ooo- VOTE FOR 2013 CANDIDATES WHO FEAR AND LOVE

GOD: Then, and only then, will this country and its people be able to claim its rightful destiny as a nation blessed, led, guided, and protected by God. Consequently, the question that President Aquino and all of us should try to answer is: who are the candi-dates in the 2013 elections who have the fear and love of God in their hearts? The Bible gives clear indications as to who they are.

In Exodus 18:13-21, Moses was given by his father-in-law, Jethro, the guidelines for selecting officials who will rule over others. Jethro said: “… Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s rep-resentative before God and bring their disputes to him.

“Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens…”

-ooo-CANDIDATES WHO HAVE THE SPIRIT OF GOD: In

Genesis 41:15-40, one of the sons of Jacob or Israel, Joseph, was brought to the Pharaoh of Egypt to explain the king’s two dreams---first about the seven cows and second about the seven heads of grain. On meeting the king, Joseph immediately clarified that the power to explain the dreams belonged only to God, and explained what the dreams meant---seven years of golden harvest to be fol-lowed by seven years of severe famine.

Joseph then explained that what was needed to be done to save Egypt and the surrounding countries from deadly hunger was the installation of a discerning and wise man as a leader of that country. The Pharaoh then asked: “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom the Spirit of God dwells?” Seeing that Joseph was guided by God, the Pharaoh installed him as Egypt’s second ruler, next only to him, the king.

Finally, in Mark 10:43-44, Jesus Christ, our God and Savior, defined what a godly official should consist of. He said: “…who-ever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all…” Our question now is: are there candidates in the May 2013 elections who possess these qualities and therefore deserve to be elected?

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

574 0193, 0922 833 43 96. Email: [email protected], mmauricio

and impulse, and they can condition and exert some influence on the different aspects of our life, but they are in need to be rooted on an absolute, permanent ground—the terra firma who is God.

Fidelity requires of us nothing less than the genuine impulse of love, the love that ultimately comes from God, the author, pat-tern and end of love. It requires an intimate relation with God.

When a couple’s love refuses to conform itself to this love, and prefers to linger on the bodily aspects of love, or some other considerations only, fidelity may survive more of an accident than by intention.

Same with those engaged in other fields of human endeav-ors—business, politics, academics, culture, philosophy, theol-ogy, etc. If their main inspiration is not God, but something or someone else, they will go wayward sooner or later.

This love of God is something we can always have, if we are open to it in the first place, and then work hard to keep it. There will be difficulties, of course, but none that could not be overcome if we just keep our faith and love for God.

This love of God is expressed first when springing from our faith in God we obey his commandments, even if such com-mandments may give us temporary difficulties. It is developed by having recourse to God in the sacraments themselves and in abiding prayer.

This matter about prayer should be understood well, be-cause many misconceptions distort its real character. Prayer is simply keeping our mind and heart in God’s presence, allowing them to act and interact with God according the circumstances of the moment.

This is how we can keep ourselves vitally strong and dy-namic, giving us a good vision of things and the capacity to discern what God really wants of us, especially when we are faced with many so-called legitimate but competing choices, tempting us to be promiscuous.

This is how can be truly faithful, enjoying a sense of mean-ing and direction in our life, a sense of confidence and security amid the many vagaries of life. We need to cultivate and spread this lifestyle and culture.

The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas issued last April 7, 2013 a written warning against “vote-buying and elec-tion violence” inside what it calls as “revolutionary jurisdiction”. The warning is addressed to all political candidates. The NDF, however, did not mention names of specific towns, barrios, sitios, cities or provinces in the Samar-Leyte-Biliran area. That leaves all, including the military and police intelligence officers, either totally unaware that there really exist territories where members of the NDF and the New People’s Army are in total CONTROL and in ACTUAL GOVERNANCE – which is the relatively deepest meaning of the term “revolutionary jurisdiction” – or, cowardly scared and terrified to tell the truth about such existence, or otherwise, they themselves are also ACTIVE MEMBERS, or OPERATIVES, or SUPPORTERS of the NDF and NPA. If the 8th Infantry Division and PNP regional chieftains cannot pinpoint these areas that are within the rebels’ “revolutionary jurisdiction”, then the logical conclusion that intelligent Waray denizens are compelled to make and hold on to would be that they are ineffec-tive, incompetent, and unreliable. If the reverse is true, then the conclusion would be that this “revolutionary jurisdiction” thing is only a figment of imagination.

QN is inclined to believe on the veracity of the NDF’s claim of such a controlled territory (which is another deep meaning of “revolutionary jurisdiction”). That, even if the Waray region has yet to hear of an actual apprehension made by the NDF or NPA of an election candidate who has gone against the NDF warning. But intelligent Waray denizens have already seen, and continue to see, vote-buyers everywhere, and peso bills (P20 or 2 pieces of P20 for a sanggunian candidate, P50 to P100 for vice-mayor, 3 pieces of P100 or P500 for mayor, and higher still for higher elec-tive posts) with attached paper cut-outs containing the number

and name of a vote-buying candidate being given inside homes. That said, the NDF may wish to clarify itself where its claimed jurisdiction lies.

At the outset, the warning has been a boost to the campaign of especially the poor candidates (whose only real intention is to serve the public and not to make money while holding an elective position). But QN has been informed that while there was no act of vote-buying in some barrios which previous military reports confirmed to be either “influenced” or “infested” by the NPA, some who identified themselves as belonging to the NPA made these demand and claim: don’t proceed with your campaign unless you pay first the permit to campaign, and pay higher to win as the NPA will do it for you. So, NO VOTE-BUYING but only PERMIT TO CAMPAIGN, and PAY TO WIN, are these the rules? If so, there is no sense in the warning. That is extortion under the legal criminal law. At least three names of candidates for sangguniang bayan had been named as already through delivering their payments. A candidate for congress-man had also been named, except that the extortion agent said that that candidate will surely win because the NPA is backing him up as he is one of their recognized leaders (well, actually, QN had been shown a video wherein this particular candidate was one long evening talking to rebels in a plenum a few years ago). If such extortion acts are prohibited by the NDF and the NPA itself, then these twin rebel groups should prove to the people about their good intentions for clean, honest and fair elections by forthwith punishing those violating such intentions. It is not clean, honest and fair where the NPA stops candidates from campaigning or distributing or displaying posters and the like, where the NPA demands and accepts PTC or PTW cash, where the NPA campaigns for certain personalities, where the NPA scares campaigners (candidates and their staff or compan-ions) – by the way, scaring is terrorizing! – and where the NPA assures the victory of their choice candidates. All these acts are evil and not makatawo. They destroy democracy itself. They kill freedom. Come on.

But the NDF’s warning does make sense. ‘“The election can-didates must comply with the guidelines of the people’s demo-cratic government, especially the prohibition of vote-buying and coercion,” said Fr. Santiago Salas, NDF-EV spokesperson.

‘“While the reactionary ruling system pretends to undergo

bargaining agreement (CBA). This involved processes where most would result to parties settling amicably. If not it will be submitted to voluntary arbitration, he said.

The conduct of strikes involves two issues which are the unfair labor practice (ULP) and CBA deadlock, he explained.

He added that if there are issues other than the two then they can avail of the preventive mediation for those that are union-ized or organized if not they may opt to avail of the Singe Entry Approach (SeNA) for individual workers.

The NCMB caters to organized establishments or those with labor unions or affiliated with federation of labor unions. Cur-rently there are 38 organized establishments in the region. (PNA)

Tired of waiting for something to

happen?

Let us feed your mind, subscribe

now!

Only P520/yearCALL US...055-251-2341

HOUSE FOR SALE

We are selling our House and Lot, 64.46 sq. meters wide (or nearly

120 sq. m. includ-ing front area), 2 bedrooms, with

kitchen, cr, store, balcon, front yard, concrete, near San

Vicente homes in Basey, Samar.

Ready for occupan-cy. Owner leaving.

Rush.

CALL OR TEXT: 09207675444 For

details...

LINE ADS, RUNNING ADS, COMMERCIAL, ELECTION POSTERS, ELECTION MATERIALS, AND MANY MORE...

Call us now for the rates: (055) 251-2341 / (53) 321-4833

FOR YOUR ADVERTISING NEEDS: Call or Text us @ 09207675444 ADS HOTLINE: 321-4833; 251-2341; E-MAIL: [email protected]

APRIL 30 - MAY 6, 2013


For your advertising needs, call us at 251-2341

We value your

MONEY.Classified Ads6

THIS SPACE AD IS FOR SALE

Please contact us 251-2341 or 09207675444 for details.

Name _____________________________________________Address ____________________________________________Signature ___________________________________________

Subscription Rate: P10.00 per copy (in Catbalogan City)

Bill me: (Please check on the box of your billing preference) Monthly AnnualyAttention: For payment, please use:• A check payable to Samar Weekly EXPRESS• A money order payable to Samar Weekly EXPRESS, or Text us and we will pick up your payment (Cell No. 0920.7675.444.)

(cut this subscription form and send to the above address)

Rizal Avenue, Catbalogan City, Samar(Infront of Fire Department, near City Hall)

EXPRESSSamar Weekly

THE EXPONENT OF SAMAR PROGRESS

We Accept Orders on Election

Materials, contact ALMA

GRAFIL @ 251-2341 or 321-4833.

CALL Now!!

4SALE!Baby StrollerUsed but in

good conditionColor blue

P1,000

Slightly Neg.09071079333

It pays to advertise!

Brgy. Bacubac, Basey, Samar

DEALER: Gravel and Sand, Hollowblocks and other construction materials

Contact: 09071079333“We can beat the price in town”

Writers and PhotogsWanted!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].. Call now!!!

BoomBoom Enterprises

Printing Needs?

We accepts print-ing of Election

Materials, Posters, etc., for affordable

price. Contact our

ALMA at 321-4483

or CATHY at 251-2341.

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!

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 revolution-ary movement asserts to the traditional politicians that such condescencion towards the people will not be tolerated.”

‘The NDF-EV spokesperson noted that previous studies have shown the reactionary elections as elitist and rotten to the core.’

QN SAMAR from page 5...responsibility by taking charge of the hospitalization of the injured passengers and the burial of the two other casualties. He, however, explained that the vehicle used by the supporters was not the original transport that supposedly will bring his supporters back to their place.

“The vehicle that we originally hired was delayed, but other supporters including the two fatalities were excited to go home and hired another vehicle that in turn met an accident,” Latorre said. (PNA)

SUPPORTERS from page 1...

CATBALOGAN --The Philippine National Police is monitoring the potential presence of armed groups in Northern Samar province which could be used in the upcoming elections.

Police S/Supt. Isaias Tonog, Northern Samar police provincial director said they have moni-tored the arrival of 10 unidentified persons in one of the villages of Laoang town.

“They reportedly came from Agusan del Norte province and we are strictly monitoring their movements. I also directed the Intelligence Team to validate reports of presence of some armed men in various parts of the province,” Tonog said.

“What we are doing now is to prevent the possibility that they might be used for the elec-tions in Laoang, one of the vote-rich areas in the province,” Tonog added.

About 224 policemen have been deployed to different parts of Northern Samar to provide security before, during and after the May 13 elections.

“We have downloaded policemen that will serve as reaction team members in two con-gressional districts of the province. At least 12 policemen will be assigned for every municipal-ity,” Tonog said.

“We have clustered the police reaction team in the two districts. We also rented motorized boats that will be used to respond police calls in island villages and towns particularly Biri, San Vicente, San Antonio and Capul,” Tonog added.

Northern Samar is composed of 24 mu-nicipalities with more than 321,000 registered voters. (PNA)

Security authorities monitor presence of armed group in Northern Samar

ENVIRONMENT Samar Weekly Express

For your advertising needs, call us at 055-251-2341/053-321-4833 APRIL 30 - MAY 6, 2013 7CHED to decide on tuition fee hike applications of schools in Eastern Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY -- Private colleges in Eastern Visayas were given until May 15 by the Commission on Higher Education regional office to submit docu-ments that would allow them to increase tuition fees collected from students this school year 2013-2014.

CHED Eastern Visayas regional director Liber-tad Garcia said some schools lack documents and the agency would reject the request if they fail to meet the requirements.

“There were 12 requests but these are not final. We are still studying them. Some documents were lacking so we returned it to the schools for them to accomplish before May 15,” Garcia said.

There are about 95 private colleges and universi-ties in Eastern Visayas.

One of CHED’s requirements is for schools to consult students and other concerned groups about the planned tuition hikes.

“If they cannot comply, then we will have to disapprove the request,” Garcia said.

Garcia added that if granted, 70 percent of the incremental proceeds from the school fee increase should go to upgrading teachers and school person-nel’s benefits, salaries and allowance.

The rest would go to improvements in school facilities and equipment.

Garcia meanwhile said CHED is set to come out with stricter guidelines in granting petitions for increase in tuition and other school fees.

“We will be having a multi-sectoral meeting to discuss and develop a reasonable formula for tuition increase,” Garcia said.

Garcia added that CHED will release by end of May the list of schools whose petitions for tuition hike and other fees were granted. (PNA)

TACLOBAN CITY – With popular TV host Kris Aquino joining them, reelectionist Sen. Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero and Grace Poe-Llamanzares wrapped up their two-day campaign sorties in four major cities in a festive atmosphere.

In front of an estimated 26,000 crowd inside the sprawling Tacloban sports complex, the two senato-rial candidates took the opportunity to ask to vote not only for them but for the local bets led by mayoralty candidate Florencio ‘Bem’ Noel who organized the grand rally late Friday afternoon.

”It’s an honor to stand before (you) this after-noon. We came here not only to campaign for our-selves but to particularly express and show support to my friend, your candidate for mayor Bem Noel,” Escudero said to the delight of the big crowd.

Escudero also appealed for support for the whole Team PNoy especially for Kris Aquino’s cousin Bam Aquino.

He stressed that the administration candidates are needed as partners of President Benigno Aquino III to sustain the ‘Tuwid na Daan’ (straight path) policy of the government.

”President Aquino needs the help of everybody to continue the platforms of government he has been fighting for straight path, no wang-wang (sirens) and you are my boss,” Escudero said.

”We pray that we will be able to serve you as your representatives, your voice in the Senate. I hope you won’t forget us (in May 13 elections,” he added.

Poe, daughter of the late popular action movie actor Fernando Poe Jr., promised to continue the pro-poor advocacies of his father who died six months later after losing in the presidential race in 2004.

”Now that we have opportunity to continue my father’s advocacies to help the poor under the growing economy of President Aquino’s straight path policy; I’m offering myself to continue the dreams of my father, FPJ,” Poe told the cheering crowd.

Poe said she wanted to push for free meals for school children in all public schools and stable water irrigation supply in all agricultural lands.

As expected, Kris Aquino drew the loudest ap-plause as she endorsed Escudero and Poe as well as her cousin Bam Aquino.

”Don’t forget our candidates of PNoy, all of them here on stage including the Team PNoy in the senate. But of course, don’t forget my most loved No. 28, Grace Poe and ‘love, love of Heart (Evangelista), No. 13, Chiz Escudero and of course my cousin No. 3 Bam Aquino,” she appealed to the crowd.

Escudero, Poe greeted by 26, 000 crowd in Tacloban

The 12 interconnecting caves, called Langun-Gobingob Cave located in the town of Calbiga and the widely known Sohoton Cave in Basey have been clas-sified by the DENR as Class II caves.

The Langun-Gobingob Cave, dubbed as the country’s biggest and largest cave system-measuring to around 2,968 hectares, had been regularly attracting foreign and local cavers.

The Sohoton Cave, on the other hand, is the only premier “show cave” in the region that hauls young and old tourists every year. It is located inside the Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park (SNBN) protected area.

The two caves are both inside the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) being protected by the DENR.

DENR regional executive director Manolito Ragub said the classification was in line with the agency’s bid to protect, conserve and manage the resources within and outside the caves pursuant to Republic Act No. 9072 otherwise known as the National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act.

For this the two caves shall be under the adminis-trative jurisdiction of the DENR in coordination with the Department of Tourism (DOT), National Museum of the Philippines (NMP), National Historical Institute (NHI), the local government units of Calbiga and Basey, stakeholders from the academe, Non-Government Or-ganizations, and other government agencies.

However, the DENR may opt to delegate the man-agement of the caves to the LGUs, or other interested parties consistent with the Public Private Partnership

DENR from page 1... policy of the Aquino Ad-ministration,” Ragub said.

Ragub defined Class II caves as caves that have hazardous conditions, contain sensitive geo-logical, archaeological, cultural, historical and biological values or high quality eco-systems.

“Such caves are open to experienced spelunkers or caving enthusiasts in guided visits, although some portions may be closed seasonally or per-manently for conserva-tion purposes,” Ragub said.

As this developed, it was learned that pursu-ant to RA 9072, a man-agement plan is being prepared for each cave to consider all ecotourism, scientific, educational and economic activities, as well as monitoring and reclassification in the areas.

(Ricky Bautista)

residence of mayor Ardales,” he added. The two victims went outside of their house to inves-

tigate but while they were crossing the pathway along San Joaquin street the suspects shot the elder Ardales on his neck and the younger one in his abdomen

Another witness, Jonel Derotas said that in the morn-ing of the same day, he saw Kennedy who was armed with armalite firing his rifle towards the air and challenging the brave ones to come out. He then went inside the compound of candidate Jumamil.

Meanwhile, the local police recovered from the scene of the crime 21 pieces of fired cartridge cases of caliber 5.56 and one piece of unfired cartridge of cal 5.56; fired cartridge case of cal. 30 (carbine); fired cartridge case of cal.45; fired bullet of cal. 45; unfired cartridge of cal 45; deformed lead core and deformed metal jacket.

Jumamil, upon request from local authorities, also voluntarily presented the suspects who were identified by the witnesses. They were already subjected to paraffin test.

Likewise the local police also worked on the filing of proper charges against them. The two victims were im-mediately brought to the hospital. The incumbent mayor is now in a stable condition while his son is under observation.

The Samar Police Provincial Office (SPPO) has reported an “intense political rivalry between the opposing candidates caused by the preventive suspension of Ardales by the Sang-guniang Panlalawigan” in 2012 due to an administrative case.

Pending the result of the investigation, Nacar noted that the region still has no recorded case of election-related violent incident. (PNA)

SHOOTING from page 1...