Comelec notes drop in number of registered voters for 2016 polls in Samar

CALBAYOG CITY, Samar, Jan. 4 (PNA) –- A total of 490,420 names appeared on the final list of registered voters for the May 9, 2016 elections in Samar province, lower than what the Commission on Elections (Comelec) recorded two years ago.

The drop in the number of voters, according to the Comelec, was the result of the cleansing/deactivation of some voters due to absence of biometric data, unable to vote for the past two elections as well as the transfer of registration of some voters to other places.

Among the 24 towns and two cities in the province, this city remains a vote-rich area with 110,028 registered voters.

Other top five areas with high-voting population are Catbalogan City (60,033), Basey (31,643), Daram (25,607), and Sta. Rita (24,877).

Samar province has 951 villages. It has a total of 3,385 established precincts and 1,165 clustered precincts.

Meanwhile, the local police has already stepped up its plan to secure the peace and order of the province for the coming elections.

In Calbayog City, city police chief Supt. Salvador Tagle said that stricter conduct of checkpoint will be implemented starting Jan. 10 as election period starts. Gun ban will be enforced during this period.

Tagle calls on the support and cooperation of the public for the smooth conduct of checkpoints.

“We would like to appeal to the public to support the authorities and follow what are prohibited during the election period, especially carrying of guns,” he added. (PNA)
JMC/SQM/JENNIFER S. ALLEGADO/EGR

Poll-related violence still thrives in Calbayog City despite top cop’s order to stop it

CALBAYOG CITY, Dec. 31 (PNA) – A political supporter in this city was hurt in a shooting incident on Wednesday, two days after Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ricardo Marquez personally ordered local cops here to stop violence.

The police identified the victim as Jojo Taduyo, 28, whose brother, a village official in this city, was slain earlier this year.

The suspects, who were riding a motorcycle, shot the victim on Wednesday afternoon along the main road in Carayman village.

Gunmen, however, failed to fatally hit the victim because an unidentified policeman, who was reportedly present at the crime scene was able to return fire to the suspects.

According to a police report, the victim is still confined in a hospital for treatment.

The shooting incident came two days after Marquez personally ordered the local police here to stop election-related violence and neutralize private armed groups (PAGS).

Marquez and Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento were in the city to meet civil society groups to tackle political killings committed by PAGS.

Samar now is one of the six provinces in the country placed by the police under election watch list for 2016 polls.

In the 2010 elections, police managed to neutralize the activities of the “Moloboco” and the “Montealto” private armed groups, however, remnants of such according to the police remain and reportedly now being maintained by some identified politician in Samar.

PNP said they have the list of some members of the group and they are now taking steps to neutralize their activity.

Marquez noted that elections in Samar come with a high price and more often bloody. “Things get violent as desperate politicians cling to power by using private armies during election.”

Four months ago in Victory village, this city, five members of Regulacion family, including children, were brutally killed in what would be the most gruesome election-related violence in Samar.

Since January 2015 to present, the city police here recorded 23 killings.

“Failure to address private armies puts political opponents and ordinary civilians at continued risk from powerful local politicians,” Marquez added.

“The police must be beyond the influence of politicians in their respective areas and need to enforce the full force of the law without fear or favor,” he added.

Meanwhile, Calbayog City Mayor Ronald Aquino said Samar is mourning for peace. The latest shooting victim is reportedly the mayor’s supporter.

“We are against any form of terroristic act here and we are obliged to be against it together,” Aquino said. “This is an attack on our unity and peace.”

Aquino urged the people to be vigilant and to be very watchful to those people responsible for the killings. (PNA)
RMA/SQM/JAZMIN BONIFACIO

Land Bank official says PhP800-M loan not yet released to Samar gov’t

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Dec. 10 (PNA) -– The provincial government here has yet to submit some requirements prior to the tranche-by-tranche disbursement of PHP800 million loan, an official of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) said.

Although the state-owned bank approved the application on Oct. 12, 2015, the Samar provincial government has to present all pre-disbursement requirement set by the bank and the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilpinas.

“The first tranche will be released upon completion of necessary requirements. The local government is still complying pre-release requirements. It is no longer within our control,” said Samar Land Bank Lending Center head Buenaventura Leyva.

The pace of loan disbursement heavily relies on the speed of implementation of the project listed on the local government’s spending plan, according to Leyva.

The official said that Samar provincial government is qualified to secure loan per bank’s assessment and scrutiny of the Bureau of Local Government Finance.

The PHP800 million loan request is not even half of the provincial government’s PHP2.4 billion borrowing capacity

“We are not exposing a certain amount if it is not within the borrowing capacity of local government,” Leyva added. “Our appraisal department will also monitor the utilization of the loan.”

The Land Bank official responded to media queries after some groups in the province have been staging protest, opposing the bank loan for fear that it will be used for political gains.

Board Member Lee M. Zosa, chairman of the Committee on Laws, said the loan will not be used for political campaign of incumbent officials led by Governor Sharee Ann Tan, although the financial aid would likely be released during election season.

“We have started seeking loan in 2013, but we’re not able to agree with interest rate terms of the Development Bank of the Philippines. When it failed, the provincial government started talking with Land Bank early this year,” Zosa explained.

The loan will be used to finance the construction of provincial hospital, put up 10 percent counterpart to the nearly PHP1 billion World Bank-funded road projects, and several farm-to-market road constructions.

The local government will use its Internal Revenue Allotment to pay the loan for 15 years and 5 percent fixed interest rate to pay the loan.

“Only 20 percent of the IRA intended for infrastructure will be assigned as payment to Land Bank. There is no danger that budget of the province will be disturbed,” Zosa added.

The legislator puzzled on why critics are questioning the loan application of the province when in fact, almost all local government units in Samar province have existing bank loans.

“We can assure the public that the governor and other leaders will not steal the money. If there’s corruption, anyone can file complaints at the Office of the Ombudsman,” he told reporters. (PNA)
FFC/SQM

Samar gov dismayed over provincial top cop's transfer

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Dec. 4 (PNA) -– Governor Sharee Ann Tan expressed dismay over the recent transfer of Samar police provincial director, whom she described as a “performing cop.”

Tan said that relieving Sr. Supt. Rafael Pelobello might be a setback to the sustainability of their campaign to stop election-related violence.

However, she is hopeful that Pelobello’s replacement, Sr. Supt. Rommel Bernardo Cabagnot, head of the Police Security Protection Group, will be able to match the performance of the former police provincial chief.

The governor lamented that the police official was transferred on November 26 to the general headquarters, four days after he initiated a “one-time, big-time” campaign against illegal drugs in Calbayog, resulting in the arrest of more than 30 people.

“This is my first time that I cried because a police provincial director was relieved. I believe there is injustice. I just hope that there would be sustainable programs now that we have a new provincial director,” Tan said during the closing rite of the 45-day Special Weapons and Armed Tactics training for 20 young police officers on Thursday.

Cabagnot was not present during the ceremony since he has to attend to some unfinished business in Manila.

The governor lauded Pelobello for the synchronized checkpoints and strengthening of Oplan Lambat Sibat introduced by former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas.

The Philippine National Police installed Pelobello as Samar provincial chief on June 19, 2015.

Tan, who has been supporting the presidential bid of Roxas, said they are very concerned with the recent series of killings in Calbayog City and Sta. Margarita town, involving political supporters.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, a former local official in Samar, said the DILG is committed to preventing election-related violence in Samar.

“There is a standing order to ensure that private armies in Samar are neutralized and to ensure safety of our people there,” he said.

Sarmiento’s brother is running for congressman in Samar’s first district against Calbayog City Councilor Raymund Uy, the governor’s political ally.

“I would not want to comment on something that is political in nature now that I am the DILG Secretary. We’re dealing with government official coming from different political parties. I will have to leave political questions with the party,” Sarmiento told reporters in an earlier interview in Tacloban.

Samar province has been listed as one of “concerned areas” during election period due to its history of violence and the presence of private armed groups backed by politicians. (PNA)
LAP/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

20 Samar cops complete SWAT training

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Dec. 3 (PNA) –- At least 20 junior policemen completed on Thursday a 45-day Special Weapons and Armed Tactics (SWAT) training to combat crime in Samar province in time for the 2016 elections.

Concerned with the recent election-related violence, the Samar provincial government sponsored their training and provided firearms for the 20 young police officers.

“You are now more confident to fight criminality because you are skilled. You will help us maintain peace and order during election period,” said Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan during the closing ceremony at the police provincial office compound in Maulong village.

The governor assured that her family, whose three clan members are running for re-election, will never use the local police for their political gains.

“What we expect from you is to do your job as law enforcer because you are not politicians. We will be the one to handle political affairs,” Tan added.

Supt. Joseph Pensotes, Samar police deputy provincial director for administration and operations, said the 20 policemen will serve as elite force of the province.

“We will deploy them in areas where they are needed most. They have commitment to stay in the province for five years,” Pensotes said.

The province, according to the official, has 800 policemen deployed in 24 towns and two cities. About 200 more policemen are needed to augment the existing force to secure 2016 polls. (PNA)
FFC/SQM