Policewoman arrested in Davao drug sting

DAVAO CITY – A policewoman was arrested in a drug sting operation in Davao City in southern Philippines, officials said on Saturday.

Officials said Senior Master Sergeant Shiela Bande was arrested Friday after dealing with undercover agents. 

IS fighter killed in Lanao Sur

PAGADIAN CITY – Army soldiers clashed with a group of pro-ISIS militants and killing one gunman in Lanao del Sur, one of 5 provinces under the restive Muslim autonomous region, officials said Saturday.

Officials said soldiers from the 82^nd Infantry Battalion tracked down members of the Dawlah Islamiya on a hinterland village near Piagapo town and clashed with the militants. 

ZCWD general manager, pinagbibitiw sa puwesto!

MAINIT NGAYON ang panawagang magbitiw sa kanyang puwesto si Leonardo Rey Vasquez, ang general manager ng Zamboanga City Water District, dahil sa umano’y palpak na serbisyo ng ZCWD at sa isinusulong nitong water rate increase.

Leonardo Rey Vasquez (City Hall Photo)

Kabilang sa mga nanawagang mag-resign si Vasquez ay si Zamboanga Rep. Cesar Jimenez Jr. Ngunit sinabi ni Vasquez na ang mga board of directors lamang ng ZCWD ang maaaring magtanggal sa kanya sa puwesto. Tikom naman ang bibig ng mga board of directors na naturang panawagan. 

Beng sees ‘glorious’ destiny for better Zamboanga

WITH TWO years left in her third and final term as local chief executive, Mayor Beng Climaco vows to continuously work hard for the benefit of all Zamboangueños as she cited the vibrant economy and glorious destiny for a better and brighter Zamboanga City.

“We are just getting started and the possibilities and unlimited potential of the City of Zamboanga excites us to plan and to continuously work hard so that an amazing quality of life will be within reach for every Zamboangueno family as we enter a new decade,” Climaco said. 

Zambo lines up more infra projects

MORE INFRA projects are lined up in Zamboanga as Mayor Beng Climaco fulfils her promises and among these are flood control system, solar-power street lights, parking building, hospitals and health care facilities, among others.

She said for this year alone, the local government with the support of the City Council, allocated P50 million for a multi-layered parking building. Flood control projects and new road network worth over P300 million are also on the table. 

Many business owners closed shops

MANY BUSINESS owners in Zamboanga City had closed shop due to the high cost of space rentals and government taxes due to the TRAIN Law or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2017.

Because of the TRAIN Law, higher taxes have been imposed in personal income tax, estate tax, donor's tax; value added tax, documentary stamp tax and the excise tax of tobacco products, petroleum products, mineral products, automobiles, sweetened beverages, and cosmetic procedures. 

Zambo goes ‘Green’

ZAMBOANGA CITY is going green with the local government continuously exploring new options and technologies on alternative energy in government structures and facilities, and assists in investments on sustainable power supply.

Mayor Beng Climaco has reiterated her call for the City Council to pass an ordinance promoting the use of renewable energy, to include solar powered systems, LED lights and environment-friendly buildings. 

Media groups condemn arrest of Davao radioman

DAVAO CITY – An umbrella group of various media outfits strongly denounced the alleged intimidation and arrest of Davao-based reporter Glenn Jester Hitgano of Radyo ni Juan. 

AlterMidya, a national network of over 30 independent media outfits in the country, said Hitgano was interviewing protesting workers from banana company Philippine Dream Farm Development in Carmen town in Davao del Norte on January 21 when policemen reportedly cut short his interview and took him to the police station. 

CORONAVIRUS: Over 2 dozen people died, hundreds more infected

AT LEAST 25 people have died from coronavirus and hundreds of cases had been confirmed, mostly in China as the Philippines is investigating another case of a five-year old child who travelled from Wuhan in China and admitted in Cebu City for manifesting fever, throat irritation, and cough.

The Department of Health said the case was immediately reported to the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of Central Visayas Center for Health Development. 

Livelihood program set for T’bolis in South Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY – The Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF) has pushed for a sustainable livelihood program for indigenous people in South Cotabato province in southern Philippines.

PEF signed a memorandum of understanding with the United States Agency for International Development, the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Industry (PFIDI), United Maligang Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (UMFMPC), Joscual Trading and the local government of T'boli.

3 top Cebu cops relieved for playing golf

CEBU CITY – National police chief General Archie Gamboa relieved three senior officers for playing golf even during work days in Cebu.

The trio - Colonel Dennis Artil, Police Regional Comptroller; Lieutenant Colonels Glenn Mayam, Police Regional Drug Enforcement Group chief, and Dennis Bad-ang, Police Regional Finance chief, - violated Gamboa’s order to members of the police force prohibiting them from playing golf on weekdays. 

Cebu airport eyes more domestic flights

CEBU CITY – With the complete renovation of its Terminal 1, the multi-awarded and Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) is expected to open domestic flights, said Louie Ferrer, president of GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC).

He said the P1.8-billion renovation started after the opening of the new MCIA international terminal (Terminal 2) in July 2018. It was completed in August 2019. 

Duterte proposes monorail plan for Cebu to ease traffic problems

CEBU CITY – President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to help provide funds for above-ground infrastructure projects to improve the traffic condition in Metro Cebu which, experts say, has cost the local economy over P1 billion in daily productivity.

“Cebu is an old city… Wala pa atong gobyerno, naa na ang inyong daan. So when it became a city, mao nang naghuot mo, you cannot expand it anymore even if you’ll have mass transportation. So it’s either train or sa taas,” Duterte said during his recent visit here. 

Misuari is officially Special Envoy to OIC

FORMER LIBYAN firebrand Nur Misuari’s name is officially included in the list of new presidential appointees after Filipino leader Rodrigo Duterte named the chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front as the country’s Special Envoy to the influential Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Manila released the list recently along with the names of other officials now holding various government positions. Duterte first announced his choice of Misuari in December. 

DOJ to study persona non grata resolution vs. Angkas CEO

THE EXECUTIVE branch will give due consideration to the Senate resolution filed by Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III to declare motorcycle hailing firm Angkas chief executive officer and Singaporean national Angeline Tham as persona non grata for alleged "high-handed, arrogant and irresponsible acts", Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Thursday.

Guevarra said a legislative resolution, in general, merely expresses sentiment and is usually intended to influence executive action. 

Solon lauds signing of 'lifesaving' higher sin tax law

THE CHAIRMAN of the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday said the newly-signed law imposing additional excise taxes on alcoholic beverages and e-cigarettes would save thousands of lives due to healthier consumption of products.

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda made the statement as he lauded President Rodrigo Duterte for signing the “lifesaving” law, which would also provide enhanced funding for universal health care (UHC). 

Cebu on alert as Chinese kid tested positive for 'coronavirus'

HEALTH AUTHORITIES  here are on alert following the discovery of a five-year-old child from Wuhan City, China who tested positive for a suspected coronavirus strain.

Dr. Jaime Bernadas, regional director of Department of Health (DOH) in Region 7 (Central Visayas), said in a video interview posted on the social media page of The Freeman his office has reviewed the protocol on handling such respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus. 

Army exec lauds soldiers injured in southern Negros clash

THE TOP  Philippine Army official in Negros and Panay has lauded the two soldiers of the 15th Infantry Battalion (15IB) injured in a clash with New People’s Army in Cauayan, Negros Occidental on Tuesday afternoon.

“I commend the dauntless troops of the 15IB, especially those who were wounded and who shed their blood in protecting the people from the menace of the communist-terrorists. Wounds only motivate our soldiers to fight harder against oppressors of the Filipino people,” Brig. Gen. Eric Vinoya, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, said in a statement on Wednesday. 

‘Thank you so much’ PBCom

KIDAPAWAN CITY – A team from the Philippine Bank of Communications (PBCom) recently visited a community in Makilala town in North Cotabato province in Mindanao where it handed over temporary learning shelters it helped build.

The team was welcomed by students, faculty and staffs of the Luayon National High School led by its school principal Arnel Manuel. They all thanked PBCom and all those behind the “Donate Joy and Make a Difference 2019” project which began late last year. 

NCot gov’t hastens recovery program for quake-affected Makilala town

THE PROVINCIAL Government here is fast tracking recovery program in earthquake-affected towns in the province, particularly in Makilala town which was hardly hit by the calamity.

Governor Nancy Catamco emphasized that the provincial government wants to get things done the soonest possible time to bring back normalcy in the daily lives of affected residents.