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BSU sets ‘first int’l confab on food, environment, culture’

May 2, 2017, 4:05 pm
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By Jennelyn S. Tabangcura

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The Benguet State University here will host the “first international conference on food, environment and culture” on May 15-18.
The BSU in partnership with Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIERD) and Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) will gather experts from USA, South Korea, Japan, Bangladesh, Australia, Vietnam and the Philippines for the conference themed,  “Fostering international cooperation for sustainable development through multi-disciplinary RDE” will be held in nearby Hotel Supreme, Baguio City, around 3 km from here.
It aims to deliver analysis, inspiring visions and innovative methods arising from research in a wide range of disciplines.
“Discussing and sharing our experiences relative to food, environment and culture, will serve as an instrument in advancing food security, environment integrity and social consciousness most especially with the threats of climate change, free-trade liberalizations and others,” said BSU vice president for research and extension, Dr. Carlito P. Laurean.
There are 139 participants and paper presenters expected to attend the conference.
Current issues and trends such as climate change, bio-fertilizers, international cooperation and food culture will also be discussed by keynote speakers and plenary speakers.
“Every region has its own best ways and forms of cooperation. It is hoped that our keynote and plenary speakers and paper presenters will share their views and experiences on regional cooperation initiatives and to present their projects as practical examples,” added Laurean.
The keynote speakers will be Dr. Fortunato T. De La Peña, secretary of the Philippine Department of Science and Technology and Dr. Dindo M. Campilan, director of the Asia International Center for Tropical Agriculture-Asia Regional Office in Vietnam.

The plenary speakers will be Dr. Segfredo R. Serrano of the Philippine Department of Agriculture, Dr. Robert C. Kemerait Jr. of the University of Georgia, USA; Dr. Tongmin Sa of the Chungbuk National University, South Korea;  Dr. Peter Brothers of the International Rice Research Institute, Philippines; Dr. Lily Ann D. Lando of the World Fish Philippines Office; Prof. Koji Nakamura of the Kanazawa University, Japan; Sara Jane Ahmed of the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, Bangladesh; Dr. Md. Zaved H. Khan of the Jessore University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh; Dr. Joji K. Cariño of the UN Forest People’s Program; Dr. Michael Tan of the University of the Philippines; Dr. Andrew Butt of La Trobe University, Australia; Dr. Marlowe Aquino of the IFAD-APRACA FinServ Access Regional Project and Dr. Adela Jamorabo-Ruiz of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
Northern Philippine Times
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NEWS BRIEFS

May 2, 2017, 4:08 pm
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2 La Trinidad boxers to fight for world titles

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Two boxers who train at Highland Boxing Stable at the Strawberry Farm here are scheduled to fight for world titles. Gilbert Gomera who is a native of General Santos City but now trains in La Trinidad will fight for the vacant WBC featherweight belt in Russia on May 6.
The Filipino fighter will be accompanied by his trainer Roy Sumile with international promoter and owner of Highland Boxing Gym Brico Santig. Gomera who has a record of 12 wins with two losses will fight a Russian boxer for the vacant belt.
Meanwhile, Jeronil Borres who also trains out of highland boxing gym will fight Richard Rosales of Bohol for the vacant ABF super flyweight belt on May 9 also this year in Isabela. Five others boxers of Highland Boxing Gym will also fight the same day. -- Tan Dulag

New Abra police chief urges discipline among colleagues

BANGUED, Abra -- The newly installed provincial police director here appealed for discipline among colleagues.
“To all men and women in Abra Provincial Police Office, and dala-dala ko lang na plataporma is discipline,” said Senior Supt. Rey De Peralta said during the recent change of command ceremony.
As  new commander, De Peralta urged his colleagues to stay focused and true to their profession to deliver fair decisions and service to all Abrenios.
De Peralta affirmed his readiness to take over and lead Abra police against criminality, illegal drugs and corruption as initiated by police commanders before him.
He said he expects the same support from the people and the local government given to his predecessor, Senior Supt. Alexander Tagum, who is now assigned in Davao City.
De Peralta said he is ready to enjoy everything about Abra, its natural wonders and challenging terrains. -- Ginalyn B. Brioso

Gaspar brings “A book for every child’ to La Union

SAN FERNADO CITY, La Union -- Anna Liza Gaspar is the author of Illustrated Children's Story book entitled Anna In the Town of Partas Gasto which she read to children here of Barangay Poro last week. 
The outreach program is part of Gaspar's project, "A Book for Every Child Project," its advocacy of which is to convince students to read, learn and go to school. The project is aided by Vibal Press and with help of her friends who donated for the project.
The outreach is backed-up by GUMIL La Union and also with the help of the Union Christian College. Barangay Poro is one of the adopted barangays of the Union Christian College for their Outreach Programs.
 Gaspar, after reading her book to the children, gave them notebooks, pencils and a copy of the book to each child.

 Cooperative summit in Baguio pushed

BAGUIO CITY – Councillor Art Allad-iw has called for a cooperative summit here in pursuant to “Constitutional mandate and Philippine Cooperative Code to foster the creation and growth of cooperatives as a practical vehicle for promoting self-reliance and harnessing people power towards the attainment of economic development and social justice.”
Allad-iw’s resolution said “under the Local Government Code of 1991 (RA 7160), local development councils of local government units were operationalized which gave cooperatives, non-government organizations and peoples organizations opportunity to actively participate in local governance giving rise to the new concept of the partnership of the government, private and civil society sectors in the development efforts of society.”
The resolution said the Philippines, despite its positive prospects in economic development, continues to be confronted with economic problems such as poverty and income inequality affecting cooperatives in City of Baguio.
“Given that cooperatives are among the major pillars of the people empowerment movement, there is a need to conduct a Cooperative Summit to mobilize and gather leaders and advocates of Cooperatives and collate their concerns on how to address urgent and strategic issues confronting the cooperatives as a sector;
Their inputs relative to the issues and concerns surrounding cooperatives will be evaluated and utilized in coming-up with short-term, medium-term and long term plans and solutions that will serve as a guide in future legislations,” the resolution said.

Army official lauds NPA members for surrendering

ASIPULO, Ifugao -- The commander of the 54th Infantry Battalion lauded  10 members  of the local militia force of the New People’s Army who recently voluntarily surrendered here to government forces.
“I truly commend the bravery and strong desire of our brothers to denounce their allegiance to the NPA,” Lt. Col. Nicolas Quemado, Jr. said as he appealed to others to do the same to clear their names.
Asipulo Vice Mayor Tomas Pullupul and Namal punong  barangay Grace Tayaban accompanied local militia members to the headquarters of the 54th IB at Barangay Baguinge  in Kiangan’ Ifugao  and  took their oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines administered  by Quemado.
On Feb. 12,  soldiers  from the 54th IB overran a rebel camp in Barangay Namal, Asipulo  and recovered high powered firearms, laptops, cameras and subversive documents containing the list of organized local militia forces. -- PIA Ifugao

Mt. Province awards  ‘golden healthy baby’  

BAUKO, Mountain Province -- The provincial government awarded certificate of recognition and cash prize of P20, 000.00 to baby Yhalina P. Andrada as the winner in the search for the “golden healthy baby 2017.”
The search was one of the activities of the Provincial Health Office in line with the celebration of the recent 50th Foundation Day of the province. It was one way of promoting PHO’s “Healthy mother begets healthy baby” program.
Criteria of the search  were  the following:  the award would be given to the earliest baby born on April 7, 2017, single or twin delivery, normal spontaneous delivery, full term, birth weight of 2.5 kg and above, facility- based delivery, birth attended by skilled attendant, mother completed the four prenatal visits and with at least TT2 and not hypertensive, with mother and child book, and parents of the baby must be from the province.
Baby Yhalina was born at 12:25a.m. April 7 at Luis Hora Memorial Regional Hospital in Abatan here attended by Dr. Jhanice S. Paredes.  Her birth weight was 3.1 kg.
Yhalina is the third child of Claire and Jeobil Andrada from Paktil, Monamon Sur of this municipality. -- Juliet B. Saley

 2 caught illegally cutting trees in Sto, Domingo

CAMP ELPIDIO QUIRINO, Ilocos Sur- Joint policemen and personnel of Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources arrested Wednesday two suspected illegal loggers after they were caught cutting trees in Barangay Paguraper, Sto Domingo town.
Reports received by Senior Supt. Rey de Peralta, police director, showed Sto Domingo police and a DENR representative from Bantay town caught  Orlando Reototar and Walter Natabio, both of San Pablo, Sto Domingo  illegally cutting mahogany and kamagong trees.
"Suspects were caught in the act of cutting mahogany and kamagong trees by using chainsaw at Paguraper. Confiscated cut trees and chainsaw together with arrested persons were brought to Sto. Domingo police station for documentation and proper disposition," said Chief Insp. William Nerona, public information officer.- Myds Supnad

Hike in stipend of daycare workers proposed

 BAGUIO CITY – The city council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance increasing the monthly compensation of day care workers in the city for them to be able to cope with the continuous increase in the prices of basic commodities triggered by the uncontrollable oil prices in the world market.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Leandro B. Yangot, Jr. stated the local legislative measure shall be known as an ordinance increasing the monthly compensation of the day care workers in the city and providing rules for other purposes.
Under the proposed ordinance, Yangot underscored the subsidized day care workers of the city shall be deemed employees of the city and shall be paid their regular salaries under existing appropriations of the local government.
Yangot added the monthly salary of the subsidized day care workers should continuously increase from the original P4,000 to P8,000, hence, subsidized day care workers will be further entitled to benefits and allowances to which regular employees are entitled.
On the other hand, the monthly participation fee of the parents shall not exceed the amount of P20 per month which will be utilized exclusively for the purchase and procurement of teaching materials only.
Based on available records of the City Social Welfare and Development Office, there are already 79 day care workers in the city wherein 12 of whom are regular employees of the local government and they are receiving a salary of at least P14,000 each while the 67 others subsidized day care workers from the city wherein they are receiving P4,000 monthly stipend. -- Dexter A. See

Banaue folks urged: Join community activities

BANAUE, Ifugao -- Village folks in this tourist town were urged to always participate in community-led activities during barangay assemblies for important updates and information.
“I am enjoining everyone to always attend the activities of your barangays so that you will know personally the situation of your place in terms of good governance and other information from other government agencies,” said Board Member Clemente Bongtiwon who recently graced the barangay assembly of Bocos, this town.
Bongtiwon said the barangay assembly is a venue for village officials and other government agencies to present accomplishments, programs and activities for information of the public to help them in decision making.
With the theme “Sulong Barangay Kontra Droga, Krimen at Katiwalian: Makiaalam! Makilahok! Makiisa!”, the recent Barangay Assembly Day started with a contested ethnic parade and program at the barangay open court.
Representatives of the national government like the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine Information Agency and Banaue Police Station also joined in the barangay assembly and conducted information advocacy. -- PIA Ifugao

NFA-Abra to rice retailers: Renew licenses

BANGUED, Abra -- The National Food Authority urged rice and corn retailers of the towns of Bucloc, Dolores, Luba, Manabo and Sallapadan to renew their licenses to do business.
Requirements for individuals who will renew their licenses are 2x2 ID picture, 2016 Income Tax Returns, and income statement for those with more than P100, 000 capital. 
The same requirements are to be submitted by cooperatives plus a copy of their registration from the Cooperative Development Authority. 
For new applicants, they are required to submit their Tax Identification Number (TIN) and a sketch map of the location of their business for inspection purposes.
NFA Abra Branch provincial manager Veralew de Vera earlier set a schedule from January to June for registration of rice and corn retailers in Abra to avoid congestion in the office.
Scheduled for May are the towns of Daguioman, Malibcong, Lagangilang, Tineg and Villaviciosa.  For the month of June are the municipalities of Pidigan and Tayum. 
Already done are the towns of Bangued, Lagayan and San Isidro in January;    Boliney, Danglas, Langiden, San Juan and Tubo in February, and the towns of Bucay, Lacub, Licuan, San Quintin and Pilar in March. -- PIA Abra

Baguio folks urged: Join  anti-graffiti campaign

BAGUIO CITY--  Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan urged barangay officials here to aggressively implement anti-graffiti campaign to help bring back cleanliness of the city amidst rapidly growing population.
The local chief executive said he cannot understand why there are some youth who resort to graffiti to express their sentiments instead of using their talent and skills in good deeds.
“It is unfortunate that graffiti continues to proliferate in the city because of the increasing number of youngsters involved in the said illegal activity. We do not tolerate individuals involved in dirtying our city that is why we are now involving the barangay officials in our campaign to instill discipline among our youth,” Domogan said.
He added an administrative order was recently issued deputizing barangay officials in the implementation of the citywide anti-graffiti campaign by monitoring their constituents for graffiti to send a clear message to the public that city and barangay officials mean business in ridding their areas of jurisdiction from graffiti. -- Dexter A. See

 Kalinga male employees oriented on healthy lifestyle

CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga -- One hundred male employees of local and national offices here were recently oriented on healthy life style and on men’s role on reproductive health at Davidson Hotel.
Dr. Bernadette Andaya, head of DOH provincial office, said the activity aimed to educate males on their obligation of living a healthy lifestyle and to remind them of their part on the promotion of reproductive health.
Republic Act No. 10354 or the Reproductive Health law “implies that men and women attain equal relationships in matters related to sexual relations and reproduction” thus they should be aware of their respective roles and responsibilities.  
“Being the so-called heads of the family and would-be for those still single, males have to take the heavier responsibility of leading the family through the correct path and be the major bread earner,” Andaya said. -- PIA Kalinga

Programs set to improve Abra PCL in governance

BANGUED, Abra-- The Philippine Councilors’ League Abra Chapter cited importance of capacity development in their ranks order so they could perform their duties efficiently.
PCL Abra President Jun Dion said one program the Sangguniang Bayan members are enjoying now is tie-up program between the Dept. of Interior and Local Government and PCL -- the “newly elected officials program,” a termed-based capacity development program that trains  council members on their roles and functions.
Through this program, councilors are encouraged to pursue their education, take up technical and degree courses in the PCL Legislative Academy to become competent legislators in their areas.
“Maraming SB na ang nag-pursue ng kanilang legislative education from Abra. They will learn how to draft ordinances and resolutions and adapt programs suitable in their own towns,” he said.
Dion said they plan to institute computerization of all council offices in the province to hasten data encoding and decoding and maintain records of all files including ordinances and resolutions.
They are also currently drafting an ordinance to be passed in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan requiring mandatory drug testing of all government employees. -- Ginalyn B. Brioso

Abra, DOLE, turn over P.5-M equipment to farmers’ group
BANGUED, Abra -- The Department of Labor and Employment and provincial government led by Gov. Maria Jocelyn Bernos turned over P498,000  worth of farm implements to San Isidro, Lagangilang Forest Land Management Association, Inc.
These included two sets of kuliglig, two water pumps, one grass cutter and one mechanized rice thresher.
Farm implements were funded by DOLE upon request of the provincial government to help this farmer’s association composed of 115 farmers.
 “They will have to rent the farm implements when they use them for maintenance. They were also required to put up a housing where they can place and keep safe these facilities from the rain and other elements,” said Gabriel De La Vega of DOLE-Abra.
He added this will gear and equip the farmers here so they will not be left out and displaced in this growing Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) consciousness. Giving them farm implements they need will give them confidence to upgrade and hoist their production quantity and quality alike, he said.
“It’s only here that farmers are poor and lowly. In other Asian nations they have cars and live affluently. They are mechanized,” he said.
Bernos urged the farmers to make use of the facilities and take good care of them.
Felipe Trongco, the association’s president, expressed his gratitude to the government in behalf of members for the facilities which will help them in their farming. -- Ginalyn B. Brioso

 DILG trains Abra LGUs on rural monitoring system    

BANGUED, Abra – The Dept. of Interior and Local Government recently conducted among local government units training on “data banking”   in planning development programs and projects to ensure responsiveness of such programs to real needs and problems of communities and effectiveness of implementation.
This was main goal of the training program on community-based monitoring system (CBMS) accelerated poverty profiling (APP) being conducted by the regional DILG for local government units in the province.
Here, participants in CBMS training were local employees of the municipalities of Dolores, Malibcong, Penarrubia and Danglas. 
The first module was orientation on how to use the gadgets and how to administer the survey questionnaires conducted at the Origines Hotel at Barangay Calaba.
This was followed by actual data collection using the CBMS software dubbed as CBMS Scan.  The data collection is expected to be carried out in one month.
The questionnaire is set inside the CBMS Scan, the software being used in the survey. The CBMS scan fast-tracks data collection and processing by encoding data while interviewing the household respondents. The location of the household is taken at the same time by getting the GPS data using android tablets.
It also features security measures to maintain confidentiality of information while facilitating census management.
The participants are likewise taught on how to install and open the CBMS Scan including the menu of CBMS app and the registration of the mobile devices.
The training is an activity among the DILG’s Bureau of Local Government Development, CBMS International Network Coordinating Team, and the four local governments. The training team in Abra was headed by Rolando Gonzales of DILG-CAR.

DOST-Abra checks hydromet devices   

BANGUED, Abra-- The Department of Science and Technology personnel led by provincial head Menandro Buenafe are going around municipalities of the province where hydromet devices were installed to check if they are functioning properly and ready for disasters.
There are four kinds of hydromet devices- the automated rain gauge (ARG), automated weather stations (AWS), water level monitoring station (WLMS), and tandem or combination of ARG and WLMS (TDM).
They save human labor by automatically recording weather-related information. The
Engineer Ingemar Zarate said the ARG measures volume of rainfall. ARGs installed in different sections of Abra River, and almost all 27 municipalities have an ARG. The data collected by the instruments warn of flooding.
The AWS provides timely weather condition of a certain area in its coverage. The data generated from the AWS are directly monitored by the Weather Bureau of the government for ready and easy utilization.
The WLMS, measures water level in a particular area where the device is installed. This serves as an immediate warning device for the local people for their appropriate action to prevent dangers of flooding.
The TDM is more effective as it is a combination of the ARG and WLMS. But not all municipalities have been installed with this device.

Zarate urged the people to take good care of these hydromet devices so  these could last longer for their own benefit in terms of safety in times of calamities. -- PIA Abra
Northern Philippine Times
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Work program for Itogon, Baguio waste project set

May 2, 2017, 4:13 pm
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By Aileen P. Refuerzo

ITOGON, Benguet -- The technical assessment team for the Itogon town waste management system project here at Benguet Corporation’s Antamok open pit laid down work program for the project during its first meeting Tuesday.
The team is headed by Benguet Gold Operations resident manager Antonio Buenavista and composed of representatives from  local government units of Itogon town, Benguet and Baguio City, BenguetCorp. and regional offices of  Environmental Management Bureau and the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau and developer Goldrich Natural Resources Exploration and Development Inc.   
Benguet Corp. vice president for compliance Mignon De Leon said the general direction would be waste-to-energy project to serve Itogon and Baguio and eventually the entire Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay (BLISTT) area.
Prior to this however, the need for a temporary waste management facility for the host community will be prioritized to address its need for one.
De Leon said the establishment of an engineered sanitary landfill (ESL) was first considered as a stop gap measure during the meeting among Benguet Governor Crescencio Pacalso and mayors Mauricio Domogan and Victorio Palangdan of Baguio and Itogon,
However, ESL was ruled out after determining that constructing the facility would take the same time and would entail the same cost as establishing the waste-to-energy technology.
City general services officer Romeo Concio said that based on the city’s studies, a modular ESL would take 9-12 months to construct and would command a big budget as the waste-to-energy facility.
It was agreed that the town would instead set up a temporary residual containment area (TRCA) and employ component programs on material recovery facilities and waste segregation as approved by the EMB-CAR.
The TRCA will be allowed to operate for a year with all the required safety and sanitation infrastructure and practices prescribed in the guidelines under the Republic Act No. 9003 or the “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.”
Palangdan has started the information-education-communication drive on TRCA to prepare the community, according to his representative Romeo Pocding.
During the meeting, it was also agreed that the team would schedule the technical presentation of the waste-to-energy technologies of the eight proponents which were shortlisted from a pool of proposals received for the project.     
Concio said the city will closely observe the presentation and will provide inputs based on its interest as a would-be client of the proposed facility.
At present, the city produces 400 tons of wastes a day and its residuals wastes are being transported to Capas, Tarlac at a cost of around P80 million a year.
The establishment of waste-to-energy facility in Itogon will enable the city to cut down its hauling cost amounting to P50 million.
The project is part of BenguetCorp’s rehabilitation program of one portion of its Antamok open pit and will be a joint venture with developer Goldrich.
A memorandum of agreement was earlier forged between the parties including Baguio City which will be obligated to supply 300 tons of wastes to the facility.  
Northern Philippine Times
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Luisita beneficiaries sold, leased lots: DAR

May 2, 2017, 4:13 pm
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TARLAC CITY -- Around 83 percent of farm workers  in Hacienda Luisita are not cultivating the land awarded to them.
A fact-finding inquiry conducted by a team from the Department of Agrarian Reform showed that the farm lots awarded to around 4,000 farm workers in the sugar estate were either leased or sold. The DAR team interviewed 5,031 agrarian reform beneficiaries.
Marcos Risonar Jr., Luisita task force chairman and DAR undersecretary for field operations, said 2,800 beneficiaries rented out their lots while 600 sold them to third-party buyers.
Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano ordered the inquiry to check the status of the awarded lots and determine potential areas for acquisition and distribution by the government.
A report of the DAR team mentioned “influential personalities and politicians” as among those who bought or leased the lots.
Illness in the family and lack of funds to support agricultural production were among the reasons cited for the conveyance of the land. Beneficiaries were not aware of a 10-year prohibition on the lease and sale of awarded land, the report said.
At least 2,000 beneficiaries in Barangays Mabilog, Pando and Motrico in Tarlac City rented out their lots. A majority of the beneficiaries in Barangay Pando said a “prominent political clan” in Tarlac is renting their lots for P7,000 a year.
Beneficiaries in Barangays Cutcut ll and Mapalacsiao have the most number of lots sold.
Only 117 of 236 beneficiaries in Barangay Bantog are using their lots for agricultural purposes.


Northern Philippine Times
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Free dialysis for all patients urged in all gov’t hospitals

May 2, 2017, 4:14 pm
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BAGUIO CITY – Members of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center Dialysis Patients and Partners Association offered suggestions to Sen. Sonny Angara to enhance the lawmaker’s bill that would require all the government hospitals to provide free dialysis treatment for poor patients in the country.
In a letter to Angara dated April 21, association president Ramon Dacawi lauded the senator for taking the cudgels for the thousands of dialysis patients in the country but put forward recommendations and observations recommended ways to “enrich the bill and make it more effective in achieving its purpose.” 
Dacawi proposed that the treatment be made free for all patients whether indigent or not.
He said this can be attained if all the funds being provided by the Philhealth and the Department of Health being accessed through the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives will be pooled into one fund source to propel a unified free dialysis program.
“Free dialysis (for all) is practical and attainable given the fact that Philhealth already provides 90 free dialysis sessions per year for member-patients and the shortfall in the yearly requirement can be covered by the collective DOH fund (formerly the Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF) accessed through the senators and congressmen to realize a nationwide year-round free dialysis health policy,” Dacawi explained.  
He said patients turn to lawmakers to cover the deficiency in their Philhealth allocation but there were many who were not aware or do not have access to these sources given the voluminous papers patients have to submit.
The bill’s provision that only patients who are indigent or whose combined family income does not exceed P30,000 a month should also be reconsidered.
“Even families with monthly income higher than P30,000 per month cannot cope with the financial requirements of maintaining the dialysis treatment of a family member moreso if the patient is the father or the mother who because of his or her condition can no longer work as the sole or main breadwinner thereby drastically reducing or even totally removing the family income,” he said. 
One dialysis session costs P2,200 and a patient undergoes two or three or even four times a week.  This does not include the twice-a-week Epoetin injection at P1,100 per vial plus the maintenance medicines, blood transfusion and hospitalization.
On the proposal to establish dialysis centers in key medical centers, Dacawi said it “is in order but it will take time for all government provincial hospitals to establish (these).”
“With these reasons, we are hopeful that Your Honor would strengthen the bill by making dialysis free for all patients because of its nature as an emergency, life-saving procedure,” Dacawi told the senator.
Dacawi with the media group Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club (BCBC) and the Philippine Information Agency Cordillera (PIA-CAR) spearheaded the signature campaign launched last January to convince national leaders and health offices to adopt a unified free dialysis program in the country.
At present the campaign has produced over 40,000 signatures and counting from all over the country and overseas even as more groups and individuals have initiated their own drives to support the advocacy.
Last week, Braulio Comelab, an Australian expatriate and member of the BIBAK Melbourne Branch met with Dacawi and pledged to initiate his own campaign in his adoptive country. 

Several local government units in the region also passed resolutions of support to the cause. – Aileen P. Refuerzo
Northern Philippine Times
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Probe set on survey, allocation of Cabinet Hill, Teachers Camp lots

May 2, 2017, 4:15 pm
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BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan recently created a team to conduct an investigation and joint survey of lots in Cabinet Hill,Teachers Camp to address questions on certificate of allocations and  accuracy of survey over vacant lots in the area.
In  Administrative Order No. 33, the mayor tasked a team composed of surveyors from the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources Cordillera Administrative Region, the city government, the Cabinet Hill Neighborhood Association Inc. and the Cabinet Hill Allocatees and Homeowners Association to undertake the probe and survey to settle issues raised and to serve as basis in the future.
The move was prompted by a letter of DENR-CAR regional executive director Ralph Pablo on concerns raised by some residents over the lot covered by the approved Lot 3 TS-CAR-000383 particularly on the issuance of Certificate of Allocations over vacant lots and the veracity of the survey.
“Apparently, there seems to be a discrepancy between the approved survey and the verification survey which was recently conducted by the survey team of the DENR-CAR and the private surveyor of the neighborhood association,” Pablo told the mayor.
Pablo added the DENR-CAR and the neighborhood association agreed to conduct another survey with the participation of both parties “to shun any future issue with respect to the boundaries, actual or relative possessions of the lot claims of the concerned residents.”

The mayor gave the survey team 30 days to complete the survey and present to the affected homeowners the findings.   
Northern Philippine Times
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Ten NPA rebels surrender in Ifugao

May 2, 2017, 4:16 pm
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By Myds Supnad

ASIPULO, Ifugao -- Ten members of the Milisyang Bayan of the New People’s Army, led by its commanding officer, Jacinto “Vendo” Hambon, voluntarily surrendered to the 54th Infantry Battalion, 5th Infantry Division, Philippine Army here in Barangay Namal last week.
The MB members were under the Nona Del Rosario Command of the NPA operating in this town. . 
The other surrenderees were identified as Tito Antonio, Rudy Tindaan, Kit-ilan Kitano, Gabriel Bacdayen, Alfredo Kindipan, Dennis Hindac, Victor Palangyew, William Natalec and Kidipan Humiwat.
They were accompanied by Asipulo Vice-Mayor Tomas Pullupul, Asipulo police head Chief Insp. Leo D Guay and  Namal barangay chairman Grace Tayaban. 
After documentation, rebel returnees signed and pledged an oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines.
A total of 21 NPA surrenderees were recorded by Northern Luzon Command in four days wherein six of them were from Kalinga, five from Abra and 10 from Ifugao.

NolCom commander, Lt Gen Romeo Tanalgo cited troopers and local government officials instrumental in surre4nder of the former NPA guerillas. 
Northern Philippine Times
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POLICE ROUNDUP

May 2, 2017, 4:19 pm
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Farmer hacked for kissing neighbor’s wife

PIDDIG, Ilocos Norte – A 52-year-old farmer is fighting for his life after he was hacked for kissing his neighbor’s wife here Wednesday.
Chief Insp. Dexter Corpuz, Ilocos Norte police spokesman, said the incident occurred in a grassy lot in Barangay Estancia at around midnight.
Fernando Ramirez, 47, reportedly followed his wife Elpelita when she went out of their house to meet Romeo Bagaoisan. Bagaoisan was confined at the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center.

Ramirez was arrested in a follow-up operation. – Raymund Catindig

Body with marijuana found at Burnham Park

BAGUIO CITY – A still unidentified body was found here by a jogger Wednesday around 5:30 a.m. at the picnic grove of Burnham Park along Jose Abad Santos Drive.
The jogger was identified as Adelino Sacla Villena Jr., 47. 
Police described the victim as around 5’3” to 5’5” in height, dark complexion, between 25 to 30 years old, and with a tribal tattoo on his right arm.
He had a red Nike sling bag wrapped around him containing one electrical tape, small coin purse with coins, straw and small transparent plastic sachet with shredded marijuana leaves. 
A lone puncture was seen at his left chest particularly below the nipple and drops of blood were found on a piece of carton lying at the road gutter.  
Ramon Bagatey Bulakit, night shift security guard of the area told police around 3:40 a.m. Wednesday, he with another security guard went to the crime scene and drove the gays hanging out there but they failed to see the victim's body. 
The victim was brought to Bahay Damayan for autopsy.


Woman denied bail for business without permit

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A woman was denied bail by a judge here after he was arrested Wednesday for operating without a permit from the municipal government.
Noime Alicnas Burcao, 27, married, was arrested at Central Ambiong where she resides after Delilah Gonzales-Muñoz, presiding judge of MTC, First Judicial Region, Benguet issued arrest warrant against her for violation of Municipal Ordinance No. 12-2005 known as 2005 La Trinidad Revised Revenue Code.


Abreco employee held for stolen van

BANGUED, Abra – Police recovered a stolen vehicle from an employee of the Abra Electric Coop. here Wednesday in Barangay Calaba. Police described the vehicle as  green Nissan  Urvan Estate van bearing plate number UKQ-205 with engine no. ZD30321822K and chassis TWS4PFE25A13277 owned by Perla Morales Molato of Block 92 Lot 7, 32nd Street Phase 2, Madapdap Resettlement Center, Dapdap, Mabalacat, Pampanga.  
The said vehicle was recovered from Jay Claor Regalado, 41 of  Calaba who was taken into custody by Police Provincial Intelligence Branch.


Guard finds gun under vehicle in La Trinidad

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A security guard of the municipal government identified as Keny Khamar Lorenzo surrendered to police here  Wednesday a handgun with no marks. Accordingly, he was doing his beat at plaza municipal hall grounds when he saw the firearm placed under one of the parked vehicles. 

Truck hits 2-year-old who survives

BAGUIO CITY – A truck hit a 2-year-old boy here Wednesday around 3:50 p.m. at along Hanger Market Road fronting Stall 18 hot cake section resulting to serious injuries on the child.
Police named the victim as Iane Carlos. He was hit by a Ford Ranger pickup with conduction sticker 102810, driven by  Lando Ciano Pesase, 48, of IC-94 KM 6 Betag, La Trinidad, Benguet.
Investigation conducted disclosed said vehicle was about to move forward but Pesase overlooked the child who was playing in front of the vehicle hitting the victim.
The child’s father identified as Raymund Epi Palongyas took his child to SLU hospital for treatment with help from the driver.
Police confiscated the driver’s license and OR/CR of the vehicle involved.


3-year-old boy hit by motorcycle badly hurt

PINUKPUK, Kalinga – A 3-year-old boy was seriously injured when he was hit by a motorcycle here Wednesday around 4 p.m. along the national road at Liplipoken, Malagnat.
The victim was identified as Casper Mico D. Villanueva,3, while the motorcycle was driven by Raffy D. Sawadan, 23, here of Sorong, Taga.
A police report said the motorcycle came from Taga and was on its way to Barangay Junction when at a sharp curve, the victim suddenly crossed the road making the driver suddenly brake to evade the victim but was not able to do so.
The victim was immediately brought by the relatives and the driver to Pinukpuk District Hospital for treatment and referred later by PDH attending physician to Kalinga Provincial hospital in Bulanao, Tabuk City for further treatment.


Pajero rams PUJ in front of Tiongsan Trinidad; 5 hurt

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Five public utility jeep passengers were injured when a Mitsubishi Pajero coming from the basement of Tiong Supermart here hit a truck then the jeep wherein the victims were riding around 11 a.m. Monday at km 4 here along the Halsema Highway.  
Police named the victims as  McArthur Sumakey, 46, of Barangay Alapang here;  Roxan De Guzman Advincula, 31, of Lower Lourdes Proper, Baguio City; Maurice Campanado Pagedped, 10, Grade 5 student of La Trinidad Central School; April Ablan Alvarez, 19, student of Benguet State University and  Jerry Luben, 62, laborer of Betag, La Trinidad. 
The involved vehicles were an Isuzu Forward Aluminum Wing Van Truck with plate number ABB 5216, driven by Marcos Dela Cruz Aquino, 43, of Talavera, Nueva Ecija;  Isuzu PUJ Baguio-Trinidad route with plate number AYS 510, driven by Raffy Cangoy of Sabangan, Mountain Province and  Mitsubishi Pajero with plate number WHL 874, driven by Marcos Palawag Luma-ang, 58 of JB 160 Central Pico, Km.4, La Trinidad. 
Police investigation disclosed the Pajero came from the underground parking area of Tingsant and moving upward when its left side portion sideswiped the front bumper windshield of the truck. The Pajero continued moving forward and its front bumper portion bumped the left side rear portion of the PUJ that was at outer lane loading and unloading passengers.
Due to the impact the PUJ passengers were injured and rushed to Benguet General Hospital for treatment. The driver’s licenses of the involved drivers and photocopies of OR-CR of their vehicles were confiscated.


Tabuk City’s  most wanted falls

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The most wanted person of this city was arrested after almost a year in hiding last week.
George Malgapo, 46, a resident of Barangay Cudal, Tabuk was collared at his hideout in Barangay Maguiring in Solana, Cagayan. He was charged with illegal possession of firearms and violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act on July 4, 2016.
Malgapo’s arrest was based on warrants issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Marcelino Wacas.


Atok man nabbed for concubinage

ATOK, Benguet – Cops of this town arrested a man here April 23 in Dungo, Aglipay, Quirino where they followed him for concubinage. Arrested was Raymund Lasta Segundo, 33, married, of Adala, Caliking, Atok after Judge Amparo Malinias-Espada, MCTC Tublay-Atok, Benguet issued warrant against him and set bail of P12,000 for his temporary liberty.

6-year-old girl drowns in Itogon swimming pool

ITOGON, Benguet – A 6-year-old girl identified as Eunice Valdes Codyapas, of Bakakeng Norte, Baguio City drowned at Hillside Swimming Pool here April 23 around 12:40 p.m.
Police investigation disclosed the father of the victim brought his daughter at their cottage leaving the victim at the pool due to heavy rain. The victim went to the adult swimming pool causing her to be drowned. Other visitors rescued the victim and brought her to Baguio  General Hospital for treatment but was declared dead on arrival by attending physician.

Pudtol farmer shoots peer dead in drinking session

PUDTOL, Apayao – A drinking session between two farmers led to the death of one when he was shot by his peer here in Barangay Upper Maton Tuesday around 1:25 p.m.
A police report said Andres Dail Paligat Jr., 30, was shot dead by Ortiz Angco Cosme, 46.
Investigation disclosed both were drinking liquor in the house of Jovita Dumapay when a heated argument ensued between them. The suspect brought out his home made shotgun of his cousin Dumapay and shot the victim which caused his instant death.
Police found pellet of shotgun in crime scene. Suspect is now jailed at Pudtol police station.


Two young men found with shabu after mauling laborer

BAGUIO CITY – Two young men who mauled a laborer were arrested here inside police station 2, Magsaysay Ave. after they were searched and allegedly found in possession of shabu and drug paraphernalia Tuesday around 8 a.m.
Arrested were Keanno Marcos, 19, single, student of Mines View and Jim Fonzelle Obar, 22, unemployed of Pines Park, km 4, La Trinidad, Benguet.
A police report said suspects mauled a certain Bernabe Biswilan Leano, 29, of North Sanitary Camp at Barangay Camdas around 4 a.m. Tuesday.

Laborer arrested for unjust vexation 

BONTOC, Mountain Province – A certain Abdon Agtulao Imingan, 45,  laborer of Bao-angan, Sabangan was arrested here at Poblacion of this capital town for unjust vexation.
This, Marietta S Brawner Cualing, presiding judge of RTC Branch 9, Family Court Benguet Province issued warrant against him  and set bail of P5,000 for each of two cases..


Man nabbed for violence against women, children

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – An unemployed man wanted for violence against women and children was arrested here Tuesday along km 4. The suspect was identified as Christian Sayao Tariga, 39. Judge Mia Joy C. Oallares-Cawed of RTC, First Judicial, Branch 4 issued warrant against him and set bail of P40,000 for his temporary liberty. Tariga posted bail.

House caretaker nabbed for shabu

BAGUIO CITY – A house caretaker was nabbed in buy-bust operation here Monday after allegedly selling shabu to undercover policemen.
The suspect was arrested along an alley at Lourdes Extension. She was identified as Maritess Puntawe Enriquez, 42, of Santa Ana, Metro Manila, and presently residing here at Lourdes Extension.  Confiscated from her were shabu, buy bust money of P500 and a cell phone.


Woman arrested in Baguio buy-bust

BAGUIO CITY – A certain Mary Genny Lee Quinto Dizon, 49, of North Central Bayan Park was arrested here Monday night  along Naguilian Road, fronting Saint Vincent Gym, Campo Filipino Barangay for possession of shabu, P1,500 buy-bust money, drug paraphernalia, cell phone and shoulder bag.

Gay beauty saloon owner stabbed

BAGUIO CITY – The gay owner of a beauty saloon here was stabbed by a still unidentified man he brought to his place early Monday. A police report said they got a phone call from around from a certain Darwin Viray, security guard of Baguio General and Medical Center that a male person was rushed to the hospital with deep laceration on his neck. Police interviewed victim Jonathan Batore Pistola, 45 of Happy Homes Old, Lucban. 
Investigation disclosed Pistola, after drinking with gay friends at Dap- ay Bar in La Trinidad, Benguet that night, decided to proceed to Susan’s Bar at Agrix Building, Bokawkan Road, Baguio City around 2 a.m. where they befriended the suspect. After their drinking session around 5 a.m. Pistola and the suspect took a taxicab and went to Watari Glamorosa Beauty Saloon at Rajah Soliman Street, Baguio which Pistola owns. 
The victim told his male companion to sleep at the sala. But around 6 a.m. without any reason, the suspect attacked the victim and slashed his neck using a sharp instrument. Pistola lost consciousness due to his wound. He reportedly woke up around 3:30 p.m. and sought help from a certain Aunt Andrea who assisted him in getting a taxi to BGHMC. The victim later told police his cell phone was missing. 
Police went to Susan’s bar and got CCTV footages which were reviewed,


Mankayan miner loses motorcycle to thieves

MANKAYAN, Benguet – Still unidentified thieves stole the motorcycle of a miner here last week at Suyoc, Taneg. The owner was named Ismael Dollente Cabrera, 28 of Quirino, Ilocos Sur.
Accordingly, the victim parked his motorcycle near their shanty where it was stolen. No witness was reported.


Paracelis elementary school robbed

PARACELIS, Mountain Province – A certain Rizal Mafat Gasingga, 51, watchman of Canabo Elementary School here at Poblacion reported to police Monday the school was robbed by still unidentified persons over the weekend. 
Investigation disclosed thieves gained entry by forcibly destroying padlock of the Grade 1 room and entered adjacent head teacher’s office and took computer items which included Share FL300 desktop, monitor and Pixpro 1000VA-UPS with still undetermined cost. 
Vilma G. Abad, teacher-in-charge of the school said it was around 7:45 a.m. Monday that she noticed her office was ransacked. No fingerprints were found in crime area.


Security guard loses motorcycle to robber

CALANASAN, Apayao – A security guard lost his motorcycle to a thief here last week when he parked it at Sipagara Street, Poblacion to attend a wedding celebration.
The owner named Saragon Bucao Alid, 41 of Poblacion, after the celebration, went to where he parked his vehicle to go home but found it missing prompting him to report the incident to police.


No bail for man in Itogon rape case

ITOGON, Benguet – A man was arrested here Monday for rape after presiding judge Marietta S. Brawner Cualing of RTC 1st Judicial Region, Branch 9, La Trinidad, Benguet issued arrest warrant against him with no bail recommended. 
Michael Jay Guiang Caras Sr., 41, of San Jose Del Monte Bulacan and a resident of New Mill Site, Virac here was nabbed at Batuang by police who said he was facing two counts of rape.

2 young women nabbed for estafa

ATOK, Benguet – Two young women were arrested here Monday for estafa with bail set by the judge at P400,000 each for their temporary liberty.
Arrested here at Bonglo, Sayangan, were May Ann Osting Bastian (Bonglo), 24 and Rachelle Bangkili Osting, 22, both residents of the place. The arrests warrants were issued by Maria Ligaya V. Itliong-Rivera, presiding judge of RTC Branch 60, First Judicial Region, Baguio City.


Jobless man shoots head, lives

BANGUED, Abra – An unemployed man, saying he had personal problems, reportedly shot himself in the head here Monday and is now in critical condition at Abra Provincial Hospital. 
A police report said the incident happened around 8 a.m. at Bliss Anggad. The victim was identified as Anthony Bello Andea, 46.
The report said prior to the incident, the victim went to Danny Bringas, a neighbor seeking help for his personal problem. Both were reportedly conversing when the victim suddenly drew his firearm then shot his own head. Bringas immediately sought help from neighbors then rushed the victim to APH. Bringas, surrendered a Cal. 45 pistol with defaced serial number and magazine, the alleged weapon used by the victim in shooting himself. 
Cops found one fired bullet in incident site. 


7-year-old drowns along Apayao River

CALANASAN, Apayao – A 7-year-old kid drowned here around 3 p.m.  Monday here along  Apayao River, Poblacion. The victim was named as John Wayne Dawel. 
Police investigation disclosed the victim with his friends went to the river to swim.  While swimming his friends noticed the victim was missing prompting them to search for him and found out he was drowned. The victim was brought to Apayao District Hospital but was declared dead on arrival by Dr. Kystal Gayle Bongcayao. 
Northern Philippine Times
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Ecija bus crash victims start getting fund aid

May 2, 2017, 4:25 pm
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Probe still inconclusive


By Raymund Catindig

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya -- Families of those who died when an overloaded minibus fell into a deep ravine in Nueva Ecija on April 18 have started claiming P200,000 for each victim in passenger insurance, even as the cause of the crash has not yet been conclusively  determined by authorities. 
Latest count showed 34 persons were killed and 43 others injured after the Leomarick minibus from Ilagan, Isabela with 77 passengers plunged into a deep ravine in Barangay Capintalan.       
Aileen Lizada, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board regional spokesperson, said the Passenger Accident Management and Insurance Agency started releasing checks at their office Bayombong office, since Monday. 
Lizada said the families of the fatalities should bring the needed documents, including birth certificates, marriage contracts and identification cards, to receive the assistance. 
She said the operator of the ill-fated bus, Leonardo Patulot, promised to shoulder the medical expenses of the injured victims aside from passenger insurance of P20,000 each. 
The LTFRB set a hearing on the accident on May 2.
Two weeks have passed but the LTFRB still has not determined the cause of the accident involving the Leomarick Trans Bus. LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III said the investigation that the agency is conducting is yet to be completed.
Based on statements made by the bus passenger, some say the engine shut down and lost its brakes. While others say the right front wheel burst.
“Na yung bus daw namatayan ng makina, 4 curves before it fell. Napansin na rin nila na nagsisigawan na at tsaka nakita nila talagang the vehicle was already out of control,” Chair. Delgra III said. (Some said the bus engine shut down four curves before it fell. They also noticed that some passengers were already screaming and saw the vehicle was already out of control.)
LTFRB added that based on the investigation, the Leomarick Trans Bus was out of line, which means, the bus should not have traversed the road.
“So this is out of line. As it appears now, based on our franchise verification,” Chair. Delgra III added.
The Philippine National Police Nueva Vizcaya said that until now there are still bodies left unidentified at the funeral parlor.
“Three cadavers remain unidentified. Two females and one male,” Insp. Robert De Guzman said. 
This, as injured victims of the bus accident can avail themselves of free hospitalization at the Veterans Regional Hospital (VRH) in in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija.
Hospital chief Cerilo Galindez said they would shoulder all  medical expenses, including medicine and food.
Galindez said 10 of the 29 victims confined at VRH would undergo bone implant.
“The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office provided the metal for the surgery,’’ he said.
Last week, President Duterte through LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra handed P1.11 million in financial assistance to the families of the fatalities and survivors of the accident.

Delgra also supervised the distribution of P8.77 million in insurance benefits for the families of the fatalities aside from P20,000 to each of the survivors.
Northern Philippine Times
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Two army soldiers arrested for rape

May 2, 2017, 4:29 pm
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BARLIG, Mountain Province – Two army soldiers were arrested here April 23 by police for rape and are now languishing in jail since the judge who issued their arrest warrant denied them bail.  

Nabbed were Fidel Nanong Pangiyan, 42 and Eroclidon Nanong Pangiyan, 35, both members of 1st CAA Company, 77th Infantry Battalion after warrant was issued against them by Judge Sergio Angannay, Regional Trial Court Branch 36, Bontoc Mt. Province.
Northern Philippine Times
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Ex-PBA player Alvarez nabbed for hurting wife

May 2, 2017, 4:32 pm
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BAGUIO CITY – Retired Philippine Basketball Association  player  Paul “Bong” Beleno Alvarez, 48 was arrested here  after his wife filed complaint against him for violation of Republic Act 9262 (violence against women and children) here at police station along Loakan Road.
Mary Anne Dungca Ting, 38, Alvarez’s wife, who lives with him in Valenzuela City, told police she was manhandled by the basketball player here at Purok Cudirao, Loakan Proper that night around 2:15 a.m. on April 23.
Investigation disclosed the couple had a drinking session at Ganza Restaurant, Burnham, Park, when a heated argument ensued between them but was immediately settled so they went home.
While at their billeting area, a heated altercation again ensued wherein the suspect reportedly inflicted injuries on the victim on different parts of her body.
Responding cops of Station 4 arrested the suspect and brought him at their station for investigation.
Alvarez was incarcerated at the city jail but reportedly posted bail and went home to Manila.

It was not known if his wife went along with him.
Northern Philippine Times
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Baguio toasts MMA fighters’ victories

May 2, 2017, 4:33 pm
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By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – The city government toasted the victories of its local athletes in recent international and national competitions.
The city council approved on Monday resolutions of commendation to the Team Lakay mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters led by lightweight world champion Eduard “The Landslide” Folayang for a sweep of the “ONE: Kings of Destiny championship held April 21 at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
Folayang successfully defended his title by a unanimous decision after five rounds of intense action over Malaysian Ev Ting in the main event while his teammates also lorded it over their respective opponents.
Bantamweight Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon, defeated Finnish Toni “Dynamite” Tauru by submission (verbal Tapout) at 2:27 minutes of round 1; Lightweight Honorio “The Rock” Banario defeated Czech Jaroslav Jartim by Knockout at 1:31 minutes of round 2; Flyweight Danny “The King” Kingad defeated Malaysian Muhammad Aiman by unanimous decision after 3 rounds; and Women’s Atomweight Gina “Conviction” Iniong defeated Filipino-English Natalie Gonzales Hills by unanimous decision after 3 rounds.
Arrangements are being made for a victory parade to honor the fighters.
In Resolution No. 141 series of 2017, the body hailed their feat saying it brought great pride to the city and the Cordillera region.
“The agility, strength, endurance and discipline that the Team Lakay Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighters displayed are remarkable and proof that Filipinos particularly the Cordillerans are born to conquer every field of sport the world has,” the resolution noted.
“The officialdom of the City of Baguio recognizes the dedication of Team Lakay Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighters for the glory they earned. It is a pride of the whole Cordillera and it serves as a constant reminder that Filipinos most specially the Cordillerans are born to win;
“The victories of Team Lakay Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighters deserve commendation for bringing glory and pride to their families, the country and the City of Baguio as well and for making their mark in the field of Mixed Martial Arts internationally.”  
In another move, the body approved Resolution No. 140 citing young archers Albert Gambican, Mitzi Mae Tabayag, Denny Hanz Binhaon, Darick Faroden and their coach Franklin Espiritu for winning three gold medals and one silver medal in the Manila Polo Club-Boysen Archery Invitational Tournament held at Manila Polo Club, Makati City last March participated in by bowmen from various provinces in Luzon.
Ten-year old Gambican, eight-year old Darick Faroden of Dominican-Mirador Elementary School, 12-year old Mitzi Mae Tabayag of Saint Louis University-Laboratory Elementary School and Denny Hanz Binhaon delivered the medal haul.

“Their impressive achievement brought pride and honor not only to their families but also to the City of Baguio having been placed in the glare of publicity once again,” the resolution noted. 
Northern Philippine Times
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Father of former Miss World Philippines latest victim in war on drugs

May 2, 2017, 4:34 pm
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By Raymund Catindig

SOLANO, Nueva Vizcaya -- The father of a beauty queen has become the latest victim in the government’s war on drugs that claimed over 8,000 lives since president Rodrigo Duterte took power last year.
Edmundo Parungao allegedly shot himself inside a police station here after a drugs-related arrest.
Forensic and ballistics tests conducted on the body of the father of Miss World Philippines 2015 Hillarie Danielle Parungao showed the man committed suicide, a police official insisted.
Chief Insp. James Bag-ey – who heads the crime laboratory in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya told media the bullet that pierced the skull of Edmundo from his mouth hit the ceiling of Solano police station.
Bag-ey said traces of blood and few strands of hair were found in a hole in the ceiling created by the bullet. 
The beauty queen said she did not believe that her father took his life.
The elder Parungao reportedly grabbed the service firearm of his police escort, PO2 Marck Baccay and shot himself at Solano police station.
Parungao was arrested during a sting in Barangay Osmeña.
Parungao reportedly complained of chest pain, prompting authorities to remove his handcuffs to bring him to a hospital.
Bag-ey said the absence of gunpowder burns on the victim’s hands was due to the position and trajectory of the firing.
Since the gun used was new, no traces of nitrate can necessarily be found when it was fired only once, he said.
Although Baccay tested negative for paraffin, Bag-ey said the results of the forensic and ballistics tests are not conclusive.
“I could only assume that Parungao was more likely to have shot himself based on evidence at hand,” Bag-ey said.
Several people witnessed Parungao’s alleged suicide, according to Chief Insp. Billy Mangali, Solano police chief.
“I’m broken, I will always be, and no one or nothing can ever mend my heart,” his daughter Hillarie, 26, wrote on Facebook.
Ms Parungao, a TV presenter who was crowned Miss World Philippines in 2015, wrote a grief-ridden tribute to her father, who she credited with launching her modeling career as he used to ask for her photos when he was working in Taiwan.
As a child she “followed him everywhere” on his rare visits home and she once found him crying in the garden.
“My first memory of my dad –  a man in his denim jeans and white t-shirt. Bubbly, full of life and love, hurting and sobbing,” she wrote. “As I sit watching him now sleeping still, I told him, ‘Dad, you will never be hurt anymore’.”
According to police report, her father grabbed the gun of his police escort who uncuffed him when he complained of chest pains.
It fits a pattern of reports where thousands of drugs suspects have allegedly been killed fighting arrest in “encounters” with police, or while reaching for guns in custody.
On Monday a Filipino lawyer asked the International Criminal Court in The Hague to charge Mr Duterte and 11 other Philippine officials with mass murder and crimes against humanity for the killing of thousands over the past three decades.
Jude Josue Sabio has previously represented self-confessed hitman, Edgar Matobato, who made headlines last year when he claimed he worked as a paid assassin for Duterte when he was mayor of Davao City in the southern Philippines.
The Philippine government has so far not responded to the case. Mr Duterte has previously said killing criminals is not a crime against humanity.

Last week, he also warned he could “eat the liver” of terrorists.
Northern Philippine Times
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Cordillera leaders push autonomy to federalism

May 2, 2017, 4:34 pm
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By Dexter A. See 

BAUKO, Mountain Province – Close to 200 local officials, civil society organization and tribal leaders from the Cordillera signed the Mount Data declaration of support for the establishment of the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera towards realization of planned shift from presidential to federal form of government by the Duterte administration.
The signing was done by Cordillera officials and tribal leaders after a forum entitled “Pioneer Autonomy Advocates, Getting Together” headed by Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process and the Cordillera Regional Development Council at Mount Data hotel here Monday.
“We, Cordillerans recognize our differences but we remain united by our shared goal to achieve regional autonomy in order to establish our permanent Cordillera identity, to accelerate the region’s socio-economic development and to have responsive policies for the Cordillera within the context of our common and distinctive historical and cultural heritage, economic structures and other relevant characteristics do declare our commitment to support the establishment of an autonomous region of the Cordillera towards federalism,” the declaration stated.
The Cordillera leaders, tribal elders and civil society heads declared their commitment by collectively urging President Rodrigo R. Duterte to certify as priority and urgent House Bill No. 5343 which is an Act establishing the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera; exert all necessary efforts available to ensure that HB 5343 will be enacted into law without substantial change; support the establishment of regional autonomy in the Cordillera while awaiting the establishment of a federal system of government, and pushing as separate federal state by itself once a federal form of government is operationalized; adopting the 2017-2019 road map for achieving autonomy towards federalism as our guide in pursuing autonomy in the region.
The leaders also committed to continue capacitating themselves on the current discourse on federalism vis-à-vis autonomy to become effective advocates; conduct consistent information, education and communication activities to increase awareness and support among our fellow Cordillerans and constituents; active in engaging in programs, projects and activities of the RDC-CAR in forwarding autonomy at various levels; pursue a process of healing, reconciliation and building back cohesive relationships to advance the advocacy for the attainment of regional autonomy and support the initiatives of the OPAPP that facilitate the region’s autonomy advocacy together with Muslim Mindanao.

Key personalities who were present during the forum were Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza, RDC-CAR chairman and Baguio City Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan, Mountain Province Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan, Jr., Mountain Province Vice Governor Francis Tauli, Kalinga Gov. Jocel C. Baac, Kalinga Vice Gov. James Edubba, all provincial and municipal officials of Mountain Province and leaders and members of the fragmented Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army and representatives from civil society organizations.
Northern Philippine Times
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Safety officer shoots dead boy, 14 in Lagawe concert

May 2, 2017, 4:35 pm
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Buck hoe operator buried alive 


LAGAWE, Ifugao – A concert turned to mayhem here Wednesday night when a 14-year-old boy was reportedly shot dead in the head for still undisclosed reasons  by a member of this capital town’s public order and safety committee.
 Police investigation revealed the incident happened around 10:20 p.m. at Lagawe Central School open gymnasium.
The victim was identified as Ethan Ryo Anselmo Sia of Yakal St., Poblacion North, Lagawe, Ifugao while the suspect was named as Michael Liobon Dinamling, 45, married, of Dullagan, Poblacion North.
Investigation disclosed while the concert-for-a-cause was in progress, a gunshot was heard and the victim seated at the left side of the gym was hit on his head causing him to become unconscious.
The victim was immediately brought by responding cops to Natuwolan Clinic here at Cudog as Dinamling was arrested.
Confiscated from the suspect by concerned civilians and turned over to police was Cal .38 revolver loaded with four bullets and one fired cartridge case.
The victim suffered a gunshot wound on the right side of his head and was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician at said clinic.
Case was still under investigation at press time.
Meanwhile, in Mayoyao town, a buck hoe operator was buried along with his heavy machinery by landslide here midday Wednesday
but survived to tell the tale.
Police said the incident happened along the national road in front of Denver Abagan’s residence at Sitio Bulhe, Barangay Mapawoy where a road widening project was ongoing under Alpha-Alpha Construction.
Buck hoe operator Jonathan Santiago Gallad of Purok 4, Baretbet, Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya said after clearing the road, he was about to park the heavy machinery when a huge landslide suddenly occurred.
The operator was buried by the debris but was immediately rescued by his co-workers and other concerned citizens and was brought to Mayoyao District Hospital by police and disaster personnel.

The victim incurred minor injuries on his right knee and ankle.  The weather during the incident was sunny.
Northern Philippine Times
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Micro enterprises

May 19, 2017, 1:39 am
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BANTAY GOBYERNO 
Ike Señeres

It is very inspiring that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte strongly advocated support for micro-enterprises during the recent summit of the Association of South East Nations (ASEAN) with the Philippines as the host country. We do not know what the other member countries will do in order to respond to his call, but it is a good call as any for the Philippines as a whole.
As a matter of fact, it is a clarion call or a call to arms so to speak, not only for the government to already take action, but for the entire private sector to take action as well, hopefully for them to make it their top priority. As we know it, the top business leaders of our country would always accompany the President in all ASEAN summits. This last summit however is very much different, because our country hosted it, and so we are doubly obligated to make the summit agreements happen.
 Reading between the lines, we could say that the promotion of micro-enterprises is really part of President Duterte’s business development agenda, but on closer look, it is very clear that it is actually part of his anti-poverty agenda. As it was originally referred to in the business sector, “Small and Medium Enterprises” (SMEs) was the original popular term but somewhere along the way, “Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises” (MSME) came up as an alternative term, wherein it was clearly understood that “Micro” is the category that is smaller than “Small”.
Interpreting these terms in some other way, it could be said that “Micro” is really the low end segment of what is “Small”, but that is really just a matter of perspective. As far as I am concerned however, I would prefer the term SME, and I think that that is alright, for as long as I will not neglect what is “Micro”.
 Under normal circumstances or shall we say as it is supposed to be, the promotion of, and the assistance to SMEs is the responsibility of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Although that is the common wisdom, I would disagree with that perspective, because the business of SMEs involves a complete supply chain wherein “selling” and “manufacturing” (being the domains of DTI) are just parts of it.
Among others, the complete supply chain would involve training, financing, product positioning, labelling, packaging, advertising, promotions, distribution and logistics. These are really just the basic components of the complete supply chain, because there should also be advanced components such as computerization and automation, wherein the latter two would also include the use of electronic commerce and cloud computing.
 As I see it, aside from the DTI, the promotion of, and the assistance to SMEs should also involve the participation of many other government agencies such as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Department of Transportation (DOTR), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD), the Cooperatives Development Authority (CDA), the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), the Design Center of the Philippines (DCP), the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), the Philippine Postal Savings Bank (PPSB) and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), among others.
Going back to the basics, the businesses of enterprises big and small are classified into “products” and “services”. This is the reason why I am advocating that the government should now form two working groups or task forces that would focus on these two classifications, given the fact that these two are really very much different from each other. Whatever the government has to do, it should have measurable goals, such as the target number of SMEs that could be created and supported, regardless of what classification they would fall under.
As expected, the government should take the lead in creating and sustaining the complete supply chain, but of course the private sector or more specifically “big business” should also take an active part, more so that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs are now compulsory on their part.
With the support of some private companies, it is now possible to assist some micro-entrepreneurs who would like to go into the business of food retail and street level distribution, with the help of some non-government organizations (NGOs) such as the Community Chest Foundation Incorporated (CCFI), People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) and Caritas Manila Incorporated (CMI).
The idea is to provide community based livelihood programs through CCFI, at the same time providing workplace based livelihood programs through PMAP and parish based livelihood programs through CMI. The idea is for these NGOs to identify the project beneficiaries. These are just small steps that will be taken, but hopefully, this will lead to bigger actions for the future. Hopefully, these programs could develop business models that could later on be replicated nationwide.

For feedback email iseneres@yahoo.com or text +639956441780
Northern Philippine Times
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The ICC case against Duterte

May 19, 2017, 1:48 am
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PERRYSCOPE
Perry Diaz  

On November 17, 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte, before heading to Lima, Peru, told the media he just might order the Philippines’ withdrawal from the International Court of Justice (ICC).  
He got the idea following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s withdrawal of Russia’s membership from ICC, who the day before had signed an order to formally withdraw Russia’s signature from the founding statute of the ICC.  He claimed that ICC was “one-sided and inefficient” and that the ICC had failed to live up to ”hopes of the international community.” 
Russia signed the Rome Statute in 2000 that set up the ICC, the world’s first permanent court that investigates genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.  Russia said she was unhappy with the ICC’s treatment of the case on Russia’s short war with Georgia in 2008, saying the ICC ignored the aggression of Georgia against civilians in South Ossetia – a pro-Russia separatist region of Georgia.  But the truth of the matter is it was Russia who invaded Georgia in support of South Ossetia’s secession from Georgia.  Many believed that Putin’s withdrawal was triggered by ICC’s published report that classified the Russian annexation of Crimea as an “occupation.”
Other countries that had served notice to withdraw from the ICC are Gambia, South Africa, and Burundi, who had charged that the ICC had been used “for the persecution of Africans and especially their leaders, while ignoring crimes committed by the West.” 
To date, the ICC has opened investigations into 10 situations in: (1) the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (2) Uganda; (3) the Central African Republic I; (4) Darfur, Sudan; (5) Kenya; (6) Libya; the (7) Côte d'Ivoire; (8) Mali; (9) the Central African Republic II; and (10) Georgia.  The ICC has publicly indicted 40 people. It has issued arrest warrants for 32 individuals and summonses to eight others.
Seven persons are in detention. Proceedings against 23 are ongoing: 10 are at large as fugitives, four are under arrest but not in the Court's custody, eight are at trial, and one is appealing his conviction. Proceedings against 17 have been completed: three have been convicted, one has been acquitted, six have had the charges against them dismissed, two have had the charges against them withdrawn, one has had his case declared inadmissible, and four have died before trial. [Source: Wikipedia]
Among them was the late dictator Muammar Gaddafi and his son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, who were both killed in the aftermath of the Libyan revolution.
So far, four had been convicted, to wit:
Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo – A politician in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  He leads the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo (MLC), a rebel group turned political party.  He was elected president in 2006 and senator in 2007.  On May 24, 2008, he was arrested near Brussels on the basis of an arrest warrant issued by the ICC.  
He was charged with two counts of crimes against humanity and three counts of war crimes.  On March 21, 2016, he was convicted on these charges.  On June 21, 2016, he was imprisoned on a 19-year sentence following a landmark conviction at the ICC.  In September 2016, he appealed against his conviction alleging a mistrial. 
He awaits further sentencing for corruptly influencing witnesses through means of bribery during his trial for war crimes.
Germain Katanga (aka Simba) – A former leader of the Patriotic Resistance Force in Ituri (FRPI) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On October17, 2007, the Congolese authorities surrendered him to the ICC to stand trial on six counts of war crimes and three counts of crimes against humanity.  The charges include murder, sexual slavery, rape, willful killing, and directing crimes against civilians, to name a few.  
On March 7, 2014, the ICC convicted Katanga on five counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity as an accessory to the February 2003 massacre in the village of Bogoro.  The verdict was the second-ever conviction in the 12 years of operation of the ICC.  It followed the 2012 conviction of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo.
Thomas Lubanga Dyilo – A convicted war criminal from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he was the first person ever convicted by the ICC.  
He led the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) and was a key player in the Ituri conflict.  On March 17, 2006, he became the first person arrested under a warrant issued by the ICC.  He was charged of “conscripting and enlisting children under the age of 15 and using them to participate actively in hostilities.”  On July 10, 2012, he was found guilty and sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment. 
Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi (aka Abu Tourab) – He was a member of Ansar Dine, a Tuareg Islamist militia in North Africa.  In 2006, he pleaded guilty in the ICC for the war crime of attacking religious and historical buildings in the Malian city of Timbuktu.  He was the first person convicted by the ICC for such a crime.  He was sentenced to nine years in prison.
Complaint against Duterte
Last October, Sen. Leila de Lima called for an international investigation into the country’s drug war, which had left 4,000 people dead during Duterte ‘s first four months in office.  De Lima, a former justice secretary said that the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) must end and that the ICC should investigate them. 
The following month, Duterte came to the attention of the ICC.  An ICC judge said she was closely monitoring Duterte’s “war on drugs” for possible human rights violations.
Last April 24, attorney Jude Sabio, a lawyer for confessed hitman Edgar Matobato, filed a 77-page criminal complaint against Duterte and at least 11 senior government officials in the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, the Netherlands.  
The complaint alleges that Duterte and the others were liable for murder and called for an investigation, arrest warrants, and a trial.  Sabio said that Duterte “repeatedly, unchangingly and continuously" committed crimes against humanity and that under him, killing drug suspects and other criminals has become "best practice." 
The complaint was based on the testimony of Matobato and another confessed hitman, retired policeman Arturo Lascanas, and statements from rights groups and media reports, including a recent Reuters series detailing the killings.  The question is: What are the chances of convicting Duterte based on Sabio’s complaint?  It’s not easy. And the fact that Duterte would still be president until May 2022, it would be very unlikely to bring him to trial.
The ICC’ing of Duterte
Since 2002, the ICC has received over 12,000 complaints or communications, of which nine have gone to trial and six verdicts have been delivered.  The ICC has no powers of enforcement, and any non-compliance has to be referred to the United Nations or the court's own oversight and legislative body, the Assembly of States Parties. 
Of the six verdicts rendered by ICC, four were convicted as mentioned earlier.  But it took the cooperation of their governments to bring them to justice.  In the case of Duterte, it would be virtually impossible for the Philippine government to turn him over to ICC.  So why even file a complaint against him?
While Duterte is safe from ICC prosecution for as long as he remains on Philippine soil, he can be served an ICC arrest warrant in another country where he may be visiting, provided that country is a signatory to the Rome Statute and would cooperate with the ICC, as in the case of Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo.

At the end of the day, the ICC case against of Duterte, while it may seem like an exercise in futility, would bring the killings to the consciousness of the international community who can then use political pressure and economic sanctions including the freezing of foreign bank accounts of Duterte and his cohorts.  (PerryDiaz@gmail.com)
Northern Philippine Times
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The thug appeal of Rodrigo Duterte

May 19, 2017, 1:50 am
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BEHIND THE SCENES
Alfred P. Dizon

(We would like to share an article sent to us about the enigma that is President Duterte)

On Saturday, Donald Trump extended a White House invitation to Rodrigo Duterte, president of the Philippines. The invitation surprised many: Duterte has compared himself to Hitler, and even Trump’s closest aides didn’t know that Hitler might be coming to dinner. Almost all of Duterte’s press in the U.S. has been negative.
He has bragged of summarily executing criminals, in at least three cases by his own hand. He pledged to murder tens of thousands of them, especially drug dealers. He said he intended to pivot toward China, ending a very long history of an Asian special relationship between the Philippines and the United States.
For extra measure, to kill off any sentimentality between the two countries, he called Barack Obama a “son of a whore.” (Duterte congratulated Trump on his election but suggested he might be too busy to accept the invitation to visit Washington.)
What, then, is there to love about Duterte—for Filipinos, or Trump, or both? Last year, I was in the southern Philippines, on the Philippine president’s home island of Mindanao. I asked around to see if anyone could tell me an endearing story—a baby kissed with apparent sincerity; an effortlessly folksy answer to the concerns of an ordinary person—anything that might explain his wild popularity.
He won the 2016 Philippine presidential election handily, and before that he spent 22 years as mayor of Davao City, the island’s largest, and would likely have been elected mayor-for-life if the job existed.
This is the story I was told. During Duterte’s mayorship, Davao City enacted a smoking ban in indoor public places. (Duterte has now proposed a similar measure nationally.)
Over a quarter of Filipinos smoke, so the ban was expected to be difficult to enforce—and before long, a café owner called city hall to report a tourist who kept smoking after being warned that it was against the law.
Duterte showed up to deal with the situation. He told the tourist that it was, regrettably, too late simply to extinguish the cigarette. Duterte then pulled out a .38 snub-nosed revolver and pointed it at the smoker’s scrotum, announcing that the smoker could either swallow the cigarette butt or have his balls shot off. He ate the cigarette butt.
A version of this story, now famous, was related on Facebook by Manny Piñol, a Duterte supporter, in September 2015.
Another version, on the Filipino news site Rappler, adds comment from Duterte’s office—admitting that Duterte forced a tourist to eat a cigarette “a long time ago,” but claiming he used unspecified means that did not involve pointing a revolver at him. As with all folklore, it matters little whether it is true.
What matters is that Duterte’s fans love him because he is a thug, not in spite of his thuggery. Gangsters and rebels ran Mindanao for years, and now a gangster was restoring order by going after every miscreant, no matter how minor the offense.
I do not approve of shooting people in the scrotum, but even I must admit this story is kind of rad. No one was hurt, and a scofflaw was left shaken and certain not to re-offend.
And I suspect that anyone who doesn’t at least smile, even in horror, upon hearing it will have a hard time understanding Duterte and the enchantment he apparently exerts on Trump.
Many have pointed out that Trump has a hotel under construction in Manila, and that his blossoming friendship with Duterte follows the Turkish, Russian, Indian, and Argentine examples of otherwise-inexplicable friendship following Trump’s own business interests.
But a simpler answer is that Duterte is the politician Trump dreams of being. None of the obstacles to Trump’s plans—constitutional, moral, electoral—encumber Duterte.
Indeed their transgression makes him more powerful and beloved. Recall Trump’s famous boast that he could walk up to someone on Fifth Avenue and shoot him, and the Trump fans would still love him.
Duterte is Trump without the pesky superego, without the small voice of conscience to inhibit him from saying or doing the outrageous.
Trump speculates about shooting someone in the street. Duterte brags about having actually done so. Trump tells Billy Bush that he likes to sexually assault women. Referring to a 1989 incident in which an Australian missionary was gang raped and murdered, Duterte said last year she was beautiful and regretted that he didn’t get first crack at her.
Duterte’s fans in Mindanao seem to think that in fair trade for this murderous vulgarity they’ve gotten public order and a check on corruption, since (as Kipling said of colonial police in Kim) their guy may be corrupt, but at least he suffers no rivals.

The terms of the Trump exchange, for a more timorous vulgarity, are less clear, but it seems likely that the deal here is just as rotten.
Northern Philippine Times
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More science needed in mining controversy

May 19, 2017, 1:51 am
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EDITORIAL

The rejection of the appointment of Regina Lopez as Environment Secretary, 10 months into her term in office by the Commission on Appointments even as President Rodrigo Duterte supported her, has highlighted once again the mining controversy. Lopez was the second member of Duterte's cabinet dismissed by Congress.
Lopez angered the mining sector after ordering in February closure of more than half the country's mines and cancellation of dozens of contracts for undeveloped mines to protect water resources.
She also banned open-pit mining owing to many factors such as safety issues and stakeholder concerns, fraught with opposition from environmental nongovernment organizations and pressure groups.
In the Cordillera and other parts of the country, mining  is an industry where thousands of families obtain their income, its proponents say.
These form part of estimated 1.2 million engaged in mining, given undocumented illegal mining taking place in many areas.
Going against mining is politically difficult, as Lopez found out. Even environmentalists fear backlash and are careful not to campaign against the sector, while some progressive groups opt to support what they call “pro-people mining” to improve welfare of those engaged in the industry — not to suppress it.
Mining advocates say the industry provides not only income and livelihood but building materials for homes, from cement (that is made from minerals), to reinforced bar and galvanized iron sheets.
A country’s mineral wealth is state property and forms part of the national patrimony that can only be utilized by locals, with the benefits equitably shared and environmental and social safeguards put in place by law, according to the 1987 Constitution.
By according to cause oriented groups, money produced from the industry are just being brought out the country by “owners.” 
Anti-mining advocates say the country is not getting that much taxes or fees for the extractive industry which had caused so much environmental damage and suffering to rural folks who have lost their livelihood.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is in charge of minerals development, through the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau.
Mine firms say they have obtained necessary permits and clearances do so after hurdling years of impact assessments, stakeholder surveys and meetings.
During operations, they say they are subjected to regular audits on their safety and environmental standards, and to check whether the minerals taken out are properly valued so the people, both immediate neighbors and the rest of the country, obtain their just share.
But then, according to Lopez, the DENR has been fraught with corruption on issuance of permits with some of its officials demanding P200 to 300 thousand for a signature.
Following her audit, mining companies questioned the process after Lopez ordered their closure. They said technical aspects were not sufficiently explained to the public.
It is time for more science and less politics -- for more dialogue and less speeches on issues based on facts that need discussion, rather than avoiding or spinning them.
The issue is far from over. Extractive industries have always been controversial in this country that has suffered serious mining disasters.
The mining industry says it is one of the nation’s major employers and revenue earners. They say relying completely on imported minerals is certain to increase cost of producing many items from electronic components to roads and houses.
On the other hand, environment warriors such as Gina Lopez also have valid concerns about the damage, often irreversible, that mining inflicts on the environment and even on public health.
Open pit mines in particular are an ugly sight. Several of the major mining disasters in this country and elsewhere in the world occurred at sites operated by big mining firms. 

Mining firms must persuade the government and the public that there is such a thing as responsible mining, and that it is possible to restore the environment once extraction activities are over – otherwise the controversy won’t go away, even if Gina Lopez is out as DENR Secretary.  
Northern Philippine Times
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Baguilat hits ‘extra-judicial’ impeachment case vs Robredo

May 19, 2017, 1:53 am
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IFUGAO Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat criticized what he called the extra-judicial filing of another impeachment complaint against Vice President Leni Robredo, calling it political adventurism by a group of critics who are wanting in credibility yet are determined to forcibly remove Robredo from office despite her clear mandate from the Filipino people.
A group of critics on Tuesday filed an impeachment complaint against Robredo, which also used the name of PBA Partylist Rep. Jericho Nograles without his knowledge or consent. 
 "I'm calling this an extra-judicial filing because, much like EJKs, it disregards procedure, is baseless and abuses whatever discretion is granted to the perpetrators," Baguilat said.
"Without a willing endorser, it appears that the impeachment complaint against the vice president is now being peddled among members of the House like some cheap product, in the hope that someone, anyone, would allow themselves to be used for a publicity stunt. I urge my colleagues to not put their name to something that is patently baseless," said Baguilat, who represents the independent minority bloc in the Lower House.
"I would also like to caution the group behind the impeachment complaint against using any member of Congress to further their cause," added Baguilat, who, like Robredo, is a member of the Liberal Party.
As an LP member, Baguilat said he remained solidly behind the vice president and will block any attempts to forcibly remove her from office. 
"I am firm in my belief that she is doing her job to serve the Filipino people, this despite the concerted efforts to prevent her from doing all that she can for the nation," said Baguilat.
Baguilat also scored the group of patently pro-Duterte individuals for not even taking the time to file their case properly and according to the rules and regulations of the House of Representatives.
"For me, it is quite obvious that they are driven by no other motivation than to shame Vice President Robredo by any means, never mind if it violates due process or even common sense," said Baguilat.
He commended Rep. Nograles for censuring the group for brazenly including his name in the complaint and for having the foresight to say that as a member of the justice committee, he cannot sign the impeachment complaint lest he become a biased adjudicator.
"I appeal to the sense of fairness, objectivity and public duty of my other colleagues in the House, to see this strained impeachment complaint for what it truly is: an insidious campaign against the Vice President and, ultimately, a half-baked attempt to destabilize our country's leadership, especially considering the President's command to put a stop to these complaints," Baguilat said.


Northern Philippine Times
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