VOL. 14 NO.

44

ORMOC CITY

P 15.00 at the newsstands

NOV. 25 - DEC. 1, 2013

Website address: www.evmailnews.com

Ormoc cops nab pugante, not sure if there are more

BY LAlAINE M. JImENEA

For feedback/inquiries: e-mail ormocnews22@yahoo.com.ph

ORMOC CITY The city police station I here has nabbed a suspected pugante or escaped inmate from the Leyte Provincial Jail early morning of December 1, Sunday, while he was sleeping inside a private vehicle. The suspected escapee identified himself as one Felipe Gondong y Viajedor, 22, reportedly a resident of Kananga, Leyte but could not tell media what particular sitio he comes from. He had a BCJ 32 tattoed on the back of his left shoulder indicating he is or was a member of the Batang City Jail, a prison gang. In an interview, the suspect admitted he had been imprisoned for stealing a bike in Tacloban City. However, he was vague about questions whether he escaped from the Leyte Provincial Jail or set free, or how many days it was since his alleged escape. He said dugay ra man to (That was a long time ago.). He would also not distinguish whether he escaped or freed at the time of Yolanda when the walls of the Leyte Provincial Jail fell apart. The suspects name is not also on the pictures of the escapees that the provincial jail gave to the police station. The city police station desk officer said they got the jailbirds gallery from the Ormoc City Police Office. Another source said they got it directly from a contingent from the provincial jail who were in the city around three days ago. However, police city director Sr. Supt. Elizar Egloso denied
SEE

ESCAPEES GALLERY. Photo shows some of the pictures of escapees from the Leyte Provincial Jail that is now in the hands of the Ormoc police station 1. At right is the suspected escapee Gondong who has a BCJ 32 mark on his back.

Rep. Lucy, VM Toto Locsin Jr. bat for more permanent shelters, not trapal anymore
I know staring at a starry night sounds romantic, but that just isnt the case anymore when doing so ceases to be a matter of choice, says Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez on her December 1 column Love Lucy at the Philippine Star. The column, titled Wanted: More Shelter Kits to Build Temporary Homes, bespeaks of her efforts to raise more funds to be able to distribute shelter kits to constituents in Ormoc and the towns of the 4th district. The congresswoman, expressing concern that people in the district could get sick as cold, wet days set in, is appealing for people to donate to her cause. She said that, Right now, we have been able to raise enough funds to buy 3,000 Shelter Kits. Lucys concern is shared by party mate Vice Mayor Leo Carmelo Toto Jr. Locsin of Ormoc City. In their caucus this Thursday, November 28, Vice Mayor Locsin said relief efforts for city residents is now on its third week and he believes that instead of using palliative measures like giving out trapal or plastic sheets for roofing, that more permanent solutions should be taken. I am telling donors who come to me to ask what help they can give, to donate shelter kits like what a Swiss foundation has given out, he told councilors. He is also asking donors to buy the materials locally, if possible, to

make money circulate locally and pump-prime economic activities. They can choose where to buy their donations, emphasizing he is not endorsing any
SEE

PUGANTE

P.

SHELTER

P.

This house survived Yolanda!!! .... AND ITS FOR SALE For inquiries, contact:

0917-3245777

2
BIR promises leniency to Yolanda victims
ORMOC CITY Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez, acting on complaints of businessmen that the Bureau of Internal Revenue office here are already imposing penalties and surcharges for late filers, said that Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares has told her to tell businessmen in her district to only pay their basic taxes sans the penalties. This is for the quarterly filings and October monthly taxes whose due dates fell on November 15 and 20, respectively. Henares reportedly promised her that we will be considerate, adding she understands the situation. Henares also promised Gomez she would call up the concerned RDOs. Rep. Gomez, after being apprised of the plight of some businessmen who have been penalized for late filing, said she was appalled at such insensitivity. The last thing on the minds of our businessmen are taxes. Some are still dazed at the scale of the damage from Yolanda. Some do not even have roofs on their heads yet. Some have not yet even opened their establishmentsm, she told Henares. The congresswoman said she first called up Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, who handed his phone to Henares who happened to be beside him. They are in Tacloban today, Lucy told this writer over the phone, and Secretary Kim said she understands the situation. There was no formal pronouncement as to waiving the deadlines, Rep. Gomez said, referring to an alleged extension of the deadline to November 30, but she understands the RDOs of the affected areas were told to be compassionate with the taxpayers.

NEWS
THE SUPREME Court has declared the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), as well as the remaining PDAF for 2013 and those for previous years as unconstitutional. The justices voted 14-0-1, with Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco abstaining because his son is an incumbent congressman. Likewise, the SC said that the release of funds sourced from the Presidential Social Fund to finance priority development projects, pursuant to Sec. 12 of Presidential Decree No. 1869, as amended by PD. No. 1993, shall not be disbursed/released but instead returned to the general coffers of the government, except for the funds covered by the Malampaya funds and the Presidential Social Fund which shall remain therein to be utilized for their respective special purposes not otherwise declared unconstitutional. The Supreme Court, however, denied the petitioners request that the Executive Secretary and/or the Department of Budget and Management and/or Commission on Audit be ordered to provide the public complete lists/schedules or detailed reports related how the funds were released and used in the past. Petitioners access to official documents already available and of public re cord which are not related to these funds must, however, not be prohibited but merely subjected to the custodians reasonable regulations or any valid statutory prohibition on the same. This denial is without prejudice to a proper mandamus case which they or the Commission on Audit may choose to pursue through a separate petition, the SC stated. In addition, the Court denied petitioners wish for the inclusion of the funds subject of these cases in the budgetary deliberations of Congress as the same is a matter left to the prerogative of the political branches of government. Finally, the Court directs the investigation and accordingly prosecution of all government officials and/or private individuals for possible criminal offenses related to the irregular, improper and/or unlawful disbursement/utilization of all funds under the Pork Barrel System. Meanwhile, Senate members welcome the ruling on PDAF, saying they will abide with the decision of the Supreme Court. Senate President Franklin M. Drilon told media that it was even moot and academic already as far as the Senate is concerned as they (Senate) have already waived the use of the remaining PDAF for 2013. He added a majority of the senators have already decided to fully delete the PDAF in the 2014 budget which in effect will lower the countrys budget deficit pegged at P266.2 billion. Full copy of the Supreme Court decision below. In view of the constitutional violations discussed in this Decision, the Court hereby declares as UNCONSTITUTIONAL: (a) the entire 2013 PDAF Article; (b) all legal provisions of past and present Congressional Pork Barrel Laws, such as the previous PDAF and CDF Articles and the various Congressional Insertions, which authorize/d legislatorswhether individually or collectively organized into committeesto intervene, assume or participate in any of the various post-enactment stages of the budget execution, such as but not limited to the areas of project identification, modification and revision of project identification, fund release and/or fund realignment, unrelated to the power of congressional oversight; (c) all legal provisions of past and present Congressional Pork Barrel laws, such as the previous PDAF and CDF Articles and the various Congressional Insertions, which confer/red personal, lump-sum allocations to legislators from which they are able to fund specific projects which they themselves determine; (d) all informal practices of similar import and effect, which the

Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2013

SC declares PDAF or pork barrel unconstitutional

Court similarly deems to be acts of grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of discretion; and (e) the phrases (1) and for such other purposes as may be hereafter directed by the President under Section 8 of Presidential Decree No. 910 and (2) to finance the priority infrastructure development projects under Section 12 of PD 1869, as amended by PD 1993, for both failing the sufficient standard test in violation of the principle of non-delegability of legislative power. WHEREFORE, the petitions are PARTLY GRANTED. In view of the constitutional violations discussed in this Decision, the Court hereby declares as UNCONSTITUTIONAL: (a) the entire 2013 PDAF Article; (b) all legal provisions of past and present Congressional Pork Barrel Laws, such as the previous PDAF and CDF Articles and the various Congressional Insertions, which authorize/d legislatorswhether individually or collectively organized into committeesto intervene, assume or participate in any of the various post-enactment stages of the budget execution, such as but not limited to the areas of project identification, modification and revision of project identification, fund release and/or fund realignment, unrelated to the power of congressional oversight; (c) all legal provisions of past and present Congressional Pork Barrel laws, such as the previous PDAF and CDF Articles and the various Congressional Insertions, which confer/red personal, lump-sum allocations to legislators from which they are able to fund specific projects which they themselves determine; (d) all informal practices of similar import and effect, which the Court similarly deems to be acts of grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of discretion; and (e) the phrases (1) and for such other purposes as may be hereafter directed by the President under Section 8 of Presidential
SEE

Lucys 340 scholars affected by SC decision on PDAF

ORMOC CITY - That question is as good as my question and that of all other representatives with scholars, answered Leyte 4th district representative Lucy Torres- Gomez when asked what will happen to Congressional scholars now that the PDAF has been abolished. I dont know yet. I hope the ones complaining about PDAF has the answer to that, added the Congresswoman who intended her Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for social services, hospitalization and scholarships for constituents. Lucy, however, admits that PDAF was abused by some but the Supreme Courts decision that barred this years remaining PDAF amounting to more than P14 billion to be released affects everyone. The Supreme Court decision prohibits many things including Congressional insertions. Rep. Gomez, who raised from P 2,500.00 to P5,000.00 the financial assistance her scholars received from her PDAF, said that because of the ruling, 340 beneficiaries (280 with DSWD, 60 with CHED) will no longer receive it. Just like the scholars, I am hoping that theres an alternative to this because it is heartbreaking that their schooling may be discontinued. I trust that the President knows the situation and will be able to find a solution to that, the congresswoman concluded. By Jhay Gaspar

OFFICE SPACES FOR RENT

Hermosilla Drive, Ormoc City
0918-923-4408

C/O EV MAIL

Decree No. 910 and (2) to finance the priority infrastructure development projects under Section 12 of PD 1869, as amended by PD 1993, for both failing the sufficient standard test in violation of the principle of non-delegability of legislative power. Accordingly, the Courts temporary injunction dated September 10, 2013 is hereby declared to be PERMANENT. Thus, the disbursement/release of the remaining PDAF Funds allocated for the year 2013, as well as for all previous years, and the Malampaya Funds under the phrase, and for such other purposes as may hereafter be directed by the President pursuant to Section 8 of Presidential Decree No, 910, which are, at the time this Decision is promulgated, not covered by Notice of Cash Allocations (NCA) but only by Special Allotment Release Orders, whether obligated or ot, are hereby ENJOINED. In similar regard, the Court also enjoins the release of funds sourced from the Presidential Social Fund under the phrase, to finance the the priority infrastructure development projects pursuant to Section 12 of Presidential Decree No. 1869, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 1993. Said funds covered by this permanent injunction shall not be disbursed/released but instead returned to the general coffers of the government, except for the funds covered by the Malampaya funds and the Presidential Social Fund which shall remain therein to be utilized for their respective special purposes not otherwise declared unconstitutional. On the other hand, due to improper recourse and lack of proper substantiation, the Court hereby DENIES petitioners prayer seeking that the Executive Secretary and/ or the Department of Budget and Management be ordered to provide the public and the Commission on Audit complete lists/schedules or detailed reports related to the availments and utilization of

PORK BARREL

P.

Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2013

PUGANTE ... from P. 1
being the source of the pictures, saying it did not come from him. He did not even know that his men at the police station had pictures of the escapees. Hindi ko alam yan, he said, at hindi ko rin alam kung saan nangaling yan. Egloso said that what he knows is that the prisoners were set free because there were no walls to keep them in anymore. The warden reportedly told the prisoners to come back if they wanted to have clean slates. Ang alam ko marami nang bumalik ng kusa. Siguro, ito yong mga inosente o may kumpyansang makalaya sila. On the other hand, Ch. Insp. Ibrahim Jambiran, chief of the police station 1, said he is bringing the suspected escapee to Tacloban City himself for the provincial warden to identify whether he was one of those who escaped prison or was already released long before Yolanda. Jambiran also cautioned residents of the city against believing rumors or texts circulating around the city about hardened criminals or escapees roaming around. He said that instead of believing these texts and making them go around the city on a wild goose chase, to take some pro-active steps to guard themselves against bad elements especially that most parts of the city remain dark and powerless. Texts about people getting massacred or robbed began circulating in Ormoc three nights ago. One claimed that many people were killed in a certain barangay and the killers were already on their way to another barangay. The texts caused residents to flee. The police, who had to hop from one reported place to another, found it a false alarm. After said texts circulated on that night, people in the city began burning bonfires from wood and waste rubber in a bid to light up their surroundings. On the evening of December 1, Sunday, the police received a report of shots being fired at Brgy. Bantigue. The shots rang up to Ipil, where people got scared, too. Facebook enthusiasts posted the incidents on their accounts, asking the city to ensure their safety. Meanwhile, people in some villages here has con-

NEWS

A WASTELAND. People who are familiar of Palo and Tacloban will be shocked at the wasteland they would see. (Clockwise from top left) The Palo Cathedral that just celebrated its 75th Jubillee; a small speedboat is right on the middle of the road after it floated inward from the sea at the rotunda near the Tacloban City Hall; the road to Ocho Restaurant, a favorite haunt of Ormoc foodies when visiting Tacloban, is full of debris where water reached more than 6 feet; the scenery on the road along Palo is a total devastation as most houses were either flattened or skeletons of the homes they were once. The official death count has already risen to 5,600 for Eastern Visayas alone, as of press time. There are 1,700 reported missing and there are fears that the death toll could still rise as more bodies are uncovered from the debris by people doing cleanup firmed of the presence of strangers in their barrios at night. Most reports state that they come in twos. A former barangay chairman, who asked not to be named, said he surmises these are robbers out to victimize recipients of cash they received from the Tzu Chi Foundation last week. Last week, the foundation gave away P 8,000, P 12,000 and P 15,000 in cash to 10,000 small to large families aside from relief goods in barangays they adopted as beneficiaries. Let the people know that your businesses are okay or where you are temporary holding office. Inform them through the EV Mail, now only the regions circulating newspaper after Yolanda. Advertise now! Call us at:

STANDARD INSURANCE CO., INC.

Would like to inform our valued clients who are victims of typhoon Yolanda to please report your claim on the following numbers as soon as possible.

PORK BARREL ... from P. 2

the funds subject of these cases. Petitioners access to official documents already available and of public record which are not related to these funds must, however, not be prohibited but merely subjected to the custodians reasonable regulations or any valid statutory prohibition on the same. This denial is without prejudice to a proper mandamus case which they or the Commission on Audit may choose to pursue through a separate petition. The Court also DENIES petitioners prayer to order the inclusion of the funds subject of these cases in the budgetary deliberations of Congress as the same is a matter left to the prerogative of the political branches of government. Finally, the Court hereby DIRECTS all prosecutorial organs of the government to, within the bounds of reasonable dispatch, investigate and accordingly prosecute all government officials and/or private individuals for possible criminal offenses related to the irregular, improper and/ or unlawful disbursement/utilization of all funds under the Pork Barrel System. This Decision is immediately executory but prospective in effect.

Ormoc Branch: CP # 0927-3787073 Look for Mr. Cesar Mojado Tacloban Branch: CP# 0926-4090603 Look for Ms. Jessa Judilla

0918-923-4408

SHELTER ... from P. 1

hardware. Vice Mayor Locsins observation cropped up during a discussion on how the city was apportioning donated tarpaulins and plastic sheets, in the slew of complaints of favoritism. Meanwhile, the Swiss aid group that gave out the shelter kits to Ormoc City is the same group that Rep. Gomez draws her inspiration from. She was given this idea in a visit to Palompon town where Mayor Ramon Oate told her they were able to get an initial 300 kits and another 400 were pledged. The shelter kits provided by the Swiss donors consist of 12 pieces GI sheets, a ridge roll (sanipa), a few kilos of nails of various sizes, one handsaw and a hammer. The kits are packaged to give families with totally and partially damaged homes a permanent shelter, while using materials that they could salvage to construct a livable house. In the website rebuildormoc.com, Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomezs canvass of the materials show that each kit would cost P 3,007.70. She published a breakdown of the items in the shelter kit and their prices for transparency. The same website also shows how much donations she received and from who. The congresswoman is hopeful that if she gets more donations, she would be able to distribute more shelter kits. This is aside from the food and relief items she has helped distribute to various areas. Rep. Gomez said she had been working with the US Navy aboard USS Mustin to do food drops on hard to reach areas. The US Navy also did a food drop at the poblacion of Kananga town, for the congresswomans rice donations to reach her constituents. Rep. Lucy T. Gomez said that despite having no PDAF to work with, she is thankful to the donations coursed through her by various groups. Manuel Lee of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation described Gomez as very trustworthy.

The breakdown of the shelter kits as published in Lucys website.

Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2013

Pols son now selling rice?

I AM writing this under the light of a bubble LED lamp which looks like it has 10 fireflies inside. The bubble is solar powered and we have to put it under the sun for around 6 hours a day. I power my computer once in a while to forays of friends with electricity or generators. It is a pleasant task because I get to make chika with them and sort of keeps me updated. They are Andone of Sabin, Iigo Larrazabal and the IAL family whom I run to at their Ormoc Villa Hotel, Yongyong Pongos of Pongos Hotel whose generosity extends to the whole of Ormoc and beyond with his free charging of cellphones. Sometimes, I get to power it at the City Hall, thanks to Vice Mayor Toto Locsin Jr and other employees there. For my internet needs, I was recently lent a pocket wifi by Ken Enecio. Breme Yoo had also been kind to allow me to use her wifi connection at her office. I have a data plan bundled in my Smart Communications phone but the signal has been lousy recently. One night, with a very important story to send, I had to rush to Buena Vida to Warren and Twinkle Chus house where I was told the 3G signal is good. Unfortunately, when I reached there, it was also slow but went home a bit tipsy after sharing a bottle of wine and good cheese. Practically, I am living on the generosity of my good friends and I thank you all for your unconditional support for my work and the newspaper.
rrr

Beware of spins
WE WILL always have differences of views and opinions due to our differences of backgrounds, preferences, visions, etc. In a way, this is good, to be expected, and, in fact, also to be fostered. This variety can only enrich our life in many ways. Many of them come in some unexpected, even unwelcome manners. But the conflicts and clashes can shed some light of clarification, and can even release a certain energy to stir us to action and transformation. They somehow enlarge our world, freeing us from the grip of our own biases and improper attachments. They introduce us to new things or to some inconvenient truths that are good for us to realize. Yes, tension is unavoidable in this process, and depending on how we handle it, it can do us a lot of good or it can also harm us. Of course, the best way is always to pray, to bring matters first before God before we present them to others. Then it is good to have a firm hold of our emotions, our thoughts and words, and to constantly hone our communication skills even to the point of polishing the art of eloquence and elegance. By all means, lets avoid gutter language and rude manners. This training is, of course, an ongoing and lifelong process. We can never say we are good enough in this department. Especially these days when events and developments with their issues come to us very rapidly, aided also by our very advanced communication technologies, we should take good care of our formation in this area. Theres just one thing that, I think, we have to be warned about these days. This is the phenomenon of spins, a conscious, self-serving if not malicious effort to distort facts and data. This usually comes about when we are too attached to our views and opinions, when we are not open-minded, when we do not exert effort to understand the views of others, when we think that we are always correct. And all these can be abetted by our undisciplined emotions and passions, and worse, when we blindly follow, as in being fanatical, some ideologies and the official positions of their leaders, often mouthing empty slogans and clichs. For example, in the current heat of the relief and rebuild work in the aftermath of Yolanda and the earthquake, there are obvious attempts to make spins to rationalize things, to hide certain things while showing off other things. We can see that in the Korina-Anderson affair, the PNoy-Mar and the Romualdezes tiff, the DSWD and Lucy Torres things. Things are getting confused and certainly are harming the rehabilitation efforts. The spin also can come about when we happen to be professional communicators like journalists, public relations practitioners, people in media in general who are paid to do the job of communicating. Like lawyers, they can be tasked to promote and defend certain interests of clients, customers, political parties, different groups and sectors of the population. There is nothing wrong
SEE

Was singercomposer Freddie Aguilars wed moral?

SINGER-COMPOSER Freddie Aguilar came into prominence with his song Anak which was an instant hit then and even translated into several languages. This corner was turned off when he used his fame to be a venue for his immorality. How else can one not jump to conclusions after learning that he split off with his third wife and that his youngest daughter who is now 26 years old is much older than his fourth wife who is barely 17. How will his youngest daughter address her step-mother? Because of the noise it created and even possible violation of our statutes, he switched religion and he is now a Muslim under the name of Abdul Fared. Was this not the ploy of the estranged husband (Leviste) of Sen. Loren Legarda so that he can marry her because he was a married man before he met Loren? Why do people change their gods so that they will not be hampered with the law, so that they can go on with illicit relations without prosecu-tion? This was done long ago away from our shores when Cassius Clay of boxing fame changed religion and his name became Muh-hamad Ali, Lew Alcindor to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the NBA, among others. People like these should be banned to live among the run-of-the-mill ones in the face of the earth. They have no business rubbing elbows with their fellowmen. This matter of Freddie Aguilar marrying again has to be seriously addressed to make him aware that he is flaunting the law. We can not just sit idly by as if it is not our business. He is now public prperty. He belongs to the Philippines and likewise, the Philippines is he. The young ones who idolize him will be later on copy-cats. There might follow an exodus to the Muslim religion because they can have more than one marriage and not violate any law. Ones religion reflects conviction. Faith in God is very far away from human endeavor. Let us dissociate our human nature from our firm faith. Give to Cesar what is Cesars and to God what is Gods. How can this corner believe that Fred-dies fourth wife is his last? If he is so uncertain what is true love, we certainly do not know nor can we understand that this is going to be his last. If he believes he can do this as a measure of his success, it will reach a point that he gets fed up like most artists do and end up being his own enemy. The Muslim religion allow this kind of marriage on the condition that the girl has reached the age of puberty. This corner knows of girls who reach puberty at ten years of age. Can we be sure that she knows what is best for her? Something is wrong somewhere. The youngest daughter may find it funny that she will call the one much younger than her (10 years younger) Mama; after all, she is the wife of her father. Since this is a public issue, let the public sound off. He is no longer private. He is public property; public domain. He is watched and viewed by his fans and the general public. He therefore has to behave and not send the wrong signals. Basilan Rep Jim Hataiman-Salliman, a Muslim Congressman expressed hope that the 60-year old Aguilar did not turn to Islam for succor to ensure his marriage with Jovie Albao after the Revised Penal Code restrained him from marrying his bride, who is turning 17 on November 29. He went on further that he was not really aware of any legal impediment in relation to Shariah law and that he was just hoping that the conversion (to Islam) is not for convenience. I dont think it is morally right to shift from one religion to another just for the purpose of marriage, he said. This corner cannot believe that Aguilar found his true love this time. If he married three times before this one, how sure is he that this is the last one? Being an artist, he can be just as moody as any artist. Being an artist is not also a license for him to marry as many times as he pleases. What is lamentable is when the girl reaches her right age only to discover that what her parents thought good for her may turn out bad. Aguilar may have all the right under the law to marry any one he pleases, but what about the backlash? How will his old neighbor take it? How about the new neighbor if he transfers new residence? All eyes will be focused on him because he is quite a celebrity. When he goes out with his new wife, fingers may find pointing to the couple as if they have done something wrong. Eventually, they will have to keep changing addresses. When you are a celebrity, you owe it to your fans to be a model of virtue. Can he and his new bride take the cudgels?

While some parts of the city have electricity already, much is still to be fixed at our parts. However, I am wondering why a neighbor already has electric lights. I dont hear any generator humming. A favored resident perhaps? Or somebody who tapped directly to the mainline without Leyeco V knowing it? I am not really envious about it. I have began to like living with very basic things and disciplining myself to walk the extra mile to make sure that everything is in place and order. When we learned that it will be for a long while when we will have electricity again, we bought an AM/FM radio, reminiscent of our early days as a couple when it was our only appliance. We also bought a MyPhone TV phone. It can only catch the GMA 7 signal but unfortunately, it has not been working for the past few days. I am beginning to think their repeater had been sabotaged? But the thing I like most is our early dinners, after which we troop up to the roof deck for lots of bonding and laughter with the girls. Wed make chika nonstop or sing a few tunes to guitar. No wifi and IPads to distract us from real, face-to-face conversations. Food is not that hard anymore. We have fresh fish and meat available, aside from the variety of restos that have opened and are selling food ala carte, a trend started by Sals Restaurant. Now, there is Fat Choi, Milagrina and even my favorite carinderia just in front of the SSS office.
SEE

VIEW FROM ORMOC P. 8

FR. ROY

P.

The EASTERN VISAYAS MAIL is published weekly with Editorial and Business Offices at Hermosilla Drive, Ormoc City, Leyte Telefax Nos: 561-8580; 255-5746; e-mail: ormocnews22@yahoo.com.ph
Website address:

LALAINE MARCOS-JIMENEA Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

JOSE SANRO C. JIMENEA Business Manager

ENTERED AS 2ND CLASS MAIL MATTER AT THE ORMOC CITY POST OFFICE ON 14 MAY 2003

Administrative Assistants ELVIRA MARTINITO & ROSENDA CELIZ (Ormoc Office) Authorized Representatives: ARSENIA BENDO (Calbayog City) EMILY ABAD/AIREEN ARONDAIN (Biliran) KAREN ANN H. SABIO (Balangiga, E. Samar) MARITESS MASENDO (Hilongos) CHARISA ECHAUZ (Guiuan, E. Samar)

http://www.evmailnews.com email: ormocnews@yahoo.com and/or lalainej@gmail.com

TACLOBAN BRANCH: P. ZAMORA ST. (in front of DBP) (053) 530-3366 Other contact numbers: (053) 500-9389 (Biliran); (055) 560-9670 (Borongan)

Cartoonist: HARRY TERO Marketing Assistants: VICKY ARNAIZ, TED MARCOS

a member of PHIL. PRESS INSTITUTE

Correspondents/ Columnists: PAUL LIBRES, JESSICA CORDERO, JOHN DAVID AGPALO, MUTYA COLLANDER, MARICAR SAMSON, TED MARCOS, IVY CONGSON, DR. MANUEL K. PALOMAR, Ph.D., VICKY C. ARNAIZ, JT DELOS ANGELES, ATTY. BEULAH COELI FIEL, RICARDO MARTINEZ, JR., FR. ROY CIMAGALA,, ATTY. CARLO LORETO, ATTY. EMMANUEL GOLO, ADELINA CARRENO, IIGO LARRAZABAL, YONG ROM,, PROF. EDITHA CAGASAN

KEN ENECIO Section Editor with MAI-MAI T. VELASQUEZ, GILBERT ABAO, EMIE CHU, DR. GERRY PENSERGA, NIKKI TABUCANON SIA

Marketing Representative in Manila: RURAL PRESS COMMUNICATORS REP. INC. 3055 Tolentino St., cor. Balabac St., Pinagkaisahan, Makati City Telephone Numbers: (02)8823978 / (02)8823205 Fax No. (02)8823223 Email Address: ruralpresscomm@yahoo.com; ruralpress@yahoo.com

Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2013

Backbone
CAN AN Ombudsman who has a backbone, instead of a wishbone, make a difference? Read last weeks Court of Appeals decision that upheld Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales order to fire 10 Navy men. They were implicated in the 1995 death of Ensign Philip Pestano who refused to load hot timber and drugs. Associate Justice Jose Reyes Jr. wrote 9th divisions decision: Carpio Morales rightly reversed earlier dismissal of charges by previous ombudsmen Aniano Desierto and Merceditas Gutierrez. It said both had turned a blind eye to the evidence. Sixteen years and four months, noted an Inquirer editorial January last year. Thats how long it has taken the death of Pestao to be recognized for what it has been: cold blooded murder. Conviction remains a long way off... But it offers a glimmer of hope that closure will grace this case. Well, conviction came --- finally.. An Ateneo honor student, Pestao graduated from Philippine Military Academy. As RPS Bacolod City cargo master, Pestao refused to load 14,000 board feet of illegal logs -- a Sulu governors gift to Admiral Pio Caranza. In September, Pestao was shot in his cabin as the ship meandered on a bizarre hour-and-ahalf trip from Cavite to Roxas Blvd. Normally, that trip takes 25 minutes. Logbook entries disappeared. Sans investigation, the Navy ruled within 24 hours: Suicide. Within four months of Pestaos death, comrades disappeared in mysterious circumstances, the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva found. P02 Zosimo Villanueva tipped Pestao on drugs stashed in 20 sacks of rice aboard the ship, then Senator Fred Lim revealed. Villanueva was lost at sea--- but his three companions survived. Only a bloodied speedboat was found. PO3 Fidel Tagaytay was BRP Bacolod Citys radio operator. He vanished when summoned to testify. Wife Leonilas efforts to trace his whereabouts was brushed off by the claim that Tagaytay was absent without leave. Nobody in the Navy bothered to look. Ensign Alvin Farone contacted Marissa, Pestaos sister, saying he wanted to tell what really happened to Philip. He died before he could do so. Then, Lt. Carlito Amoroso ( PMA class 1994 ) moonlighted as close-in security for Admiral Carranza. Amoroso was not a crewmember of BRP Bacolod City. Yet, he tagged along on trips from Tawi-Tawi and to Navy HQ unmanifested. Was he riding shotgun for those controversial logs earlier or drugs? Amoroso became scarce since then. Did he resign? Or has he been tucked into a lowprofile post? The Navy isnt keen on locating, much less asking him questions. Lim fumed: To date, as like the others, (Amoroso) got off scot-free, From May to Sept. 1997, the Senate committees on human rights and national defense examined the Pestao case. Senate Report No. 800, written by the late Senate President and

Selfies stand
LET US ADMIT that we love to take our photograph and upload it to social media website like Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Such self-portrait is called a selfie. Selfies taken that involve multiple people are known as group selfies. Such trend is harmless enough especially to announce certain events or simply to show your funny side, but when it becomes a coyly suggestive close-up by preteens and adolescents, parents and psychologists are worried about what the selfies mean. Some social scientists lump the selfie popularity among younger social media users into the larger narcissism that is more prevalent today, arguing that the self-portraits are an extension of their self-absorption. Perhaps parents and experts are over-analyzing the selfie. I even did a selfie (painting in oil) when I was doing graduate work in the States as a diversion from working all day on plant viruses. It was no Van Gogh and that ended my foray into painting although Ive kept it as a memento of my failed art. The way kids think about technology, media and communication is much different than people even 10 years their senior. Technology is changing so fast that even small generational gaps are meaningful in how we view normal. Developmentally, selfies make sense for children and teens. Self-captured images allow young adults and teens to express their mood and share important experiences. As tweens and teens try to form their identity, selfies serve as a way to test how they look, and therefore feel, in certain outfits, make-up, poses and places. But even though taking selfies is a part of growing up digital, that doesnt mean all selfportraits are okay. Like all behaviors that chil-

former Supreme Court chief justice Marcelo Fernan concluded: Pestao was bludgeoned, then shot and his body rigged to appear as suicide. Identify the persons who participated in the deliberate attempt to make it appear that Pestao killed himself, Fernan wrote then Ombudsman Aniano Desierto. In response, Desierto ordered the Military Ombudsman: Archive the Pestao case since evidence is patchy. Desiertos record as ombudsman was so tainted that former Sen. Lorenzo Taada refused to even address him directly. Over 15 years have elapsed since death of the victim, the UN noted. Authorities have yet to initiate an independent investigation. No suspect was prosecuted, or tried, let alone convicted. This breached the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Like Desierto, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez also refused to see Pestanos parents. But in August, 2007, Gutierrez wrote the UN, saying: the Pestao slay, indeed, merited further investigation. She then did nothing. Zero. Zilch. Nada. When Gutierrez finally acted on Pestaos plea, she dismissed it, then Inquirer columnist now publisher Raul Pangalangan wrote. To add sting to the injury, she served her dismissal order on Pestaos parents day after they signed the impeachment complaint against her. Arrogance wilted into whimpering when, in March 2011, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Gutierrez. She became the second official after President Joseph Estrada to be impaled. Raps ranged from Gutierrez inaction on scams, delay in investigation of ensign Philip Pestaos death, to losing 9 out of every 10 cases it filed. She was trashed for shoving under the rug charges against Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the First Gentleman in the ZTE broadband scandal. The Supreme Court dismissed, on February 2011, Gutierrezs bid to block impeachment. The House impeached her with 212 votes and 46 against (there were 4 abstentions). Gutierrez bristled at at the flimsy decision, adding she ready to face Senate trial. Gutierrez crumbled on April 29 and quit. She personally handed her resignation letter to President Aquino who promptly accepted it. We in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi already knew the truth right after news of Pestanos murder broke, recalled Inquirer columnist Noralyn Mustoffa. The Senate and the UN found the truth after their own investigations. But their findings amounted to nothing under the administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. It had to take Conchita Carpio-Morales, an appointee of President Aquino, to right something unjust. Rramrod-straight Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales made a difference. Who shall find a valiant woman? asks the Book of Proverbs Far, and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.

dren and teens test out, parents should help them to learn the limits and guidelines for which types of pictures are acceptable and which are not. That includes whether others will view the pictures as suggestive or too indulgent. Experts say that its important for parents to remember that finding and establishing this threshold of appropriateness may be challenging since it could be different for each adolescent. They must explain to a child what questionable selfies are or why its not acceptable to send out a sexually suggestive picture. But increasingly, other experts say that selfies can also be a window into deeper adolescent issues. With Facebook becoming a prominent resource in young peoples lives, they could provide a useful avenue for addressing a teens or young adults self-perceptions. Research has shown that adults make emotional connections to what they see posted online, and that their behaviors and decisions are influenced by how peers in their social network are interacting. People often feel envy, loneliness and generally worse about themselves after perusing their friends party pictures, for example. The latest research suggests that teens are more likely to engage in risky activities like smoking and drinking if they see their friends doing it in photos. Maybe it is time for us adults to think about our selfies. Do we upload a shot from Boracay because we want to remember how powdery white the sand was or are we really hoping people would not notice the healthy body we have? If its the latter, then maybe consider a quick bit of Photoshop. great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end. But Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I have no relations with a man? And the angel said to her in reply, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God. Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word. Then the angel departed from her.

The Gospel on Sunday

DECEMBER 8, 2013 2nd Sunday of Advent Luke 1: 26-38 The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgins name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you. But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be

FR. ROY ... from P. 4

with that. Thats how the cookie crumbles in any society. But while this profession is very legitimate, we always have to understand that like all other professions, it is subject to the requirements of ethics and morality. No one should dare to practice journalism or public relations work without a clear idea of ethics and morality. Its true that media practitioners can highlight certain angles of the issues at hand, but they are not free to make up stories, tell lies, fall into deception and unreasonable attacks, or to wag the dog, that is, when something of secondary importance takes on the role of something of primary im portance, often straining credibility. In the world of politics that sadly now colors the relief-and-rebuild operations, spins usually sprout like weeds. We need to actively expose and uproot them as soon as they come. Theres always need to continually rectify our intentions, review the data thoroughly, check on the credibility of the sources. Everyone has to work toward the common good, ferreting the truth where they can be found, and always promoting justice and fairness. There should be eagerness to engage others in a meaningful and respectful dialogue, with the right manners, language, tone and timing. These conditions contribute to sustaining a good and fruitful exchange of views. Neither should we forget the need for delicacy, understanding and forgiveness, both in asking for it and in giving it readily. Thus, even as boldness and decisiveness are crucial in any dialogue, the traits of humility and simplicity should never disappear. These always create a conducive ambience for dialogue. Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

BACK TO BUSINESS AFTER YOLANDA? LET THE PEOPLE KNOW BY ADVERTISING WITH THE EV MAIL, YOUR REGIONAL NEWSWEEKLY!

6
Republic of the Philippines Local Civil Registry Office Province : Leyte City/Municipality: Palompon Petition No. CFN-0011-2013 PETITION FOR CHANGE OF FIRST NAME I, LILIA CAMPOS MOJICA, of legal age, Filipino, and a resident of Cebu City, after having been duly sworn in accordance with law declare that: 1) I am the petitioner seeking the change of first name in: a) my Certificate of Live Birth 2) I was born on July 2, 1954 at Palompon, Leyte, Philippines, 3) The birth was recorded under registry number 318 4) The first name to be changed is from MARIA to LILIA 5) The grounds for filing this petition are the following: b) I have habitually and continuously used LILIA and I publicly known in the community with that first name; 6) I submit the following documents to support this petition: a) Certificate of Live Birth (SECPA)/ Cert. of Baptism b) Affidavit of Two Disinterested Persons/Official Transcript of Record c) Appointment/Memorandum/PhilHealth Member Data Record d) Brgy. Clearance/Police Clearance /NBI Clearance/ Certification e) Certificate of Eligibility/ Identification Cards 7) I have not filed any similar petition and that, to the best of my knowledge, no other similar petition is pending with any LCRO, Court or Philippines Consulate. 8) I have no pending criminal, civil or administrative case in any court or any quasi-judicial body. 9) I am filing this petition at the LCRO of Palompon, Leyte in accordance with R.A. No. 9048 and its implementing rules and regulations. (Sgd.) LILIA C. MOJICA Petitioner VERIFICATION I, LILIA C. MOJICA, the petitioner, hereby certify that the allegations herein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. (Sgd.) LILIA C. MOJICA Petitioner SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 22nd day of November 2013 in the city/municipality of Palompon, Leyte petitioner exhibiting her Community Tax Certificate No. 24089571 issued at Palompon, Leyte on June 14, 2013, (Sgd.) CARMELITA G. LODOVICA Municipal Civil Registrar EV Mail Nov. 25- Dec. 1, & 2-8,2013

NOTICES
Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 8th Judicial Region Ormoc City OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT & EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF EJF No. R-ORM-13-00018-FC For: EXTRA-JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE OF REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE under Act 3135 METRO ORMOC COMMUNITY COOPERATIVE (OCCCI), Mortgagee, -versus-ANELIA S. RIVAS, Mortgagor. x-------------------x NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE SALE Upon Extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3135 filed by Metro Ormoc Community Cooperative (OCCCI), Ormoc City against Anelia S. Rivas to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of May 10, 2013 amounts to One Hundred Six Thousand Ten Pesos Only (P106,010.00), including interest and penalties but excluding attorneys fees, sheriffs fees and other expenses of foreclosure, the undersigned sheriff will sell at public auction on January 8, 2014 at 4:00 oclock in the afternoon at the Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court, Ormoc City to the highest bidder, for cash or managers check and in Philippine Currency, the following property with all the improvements located therein, to wit: TAX DECLARATON NO. 05-29012-00433 Office of the Municipal Assessor of Merida, Leyte A parcel of land designated as Cadastral Lot No. 1885-Part located at Brgy. Libjo, Merida, Leyte; bounded on the North by Lot 1888-S-P; on the East by Lot No. 1885-P; on the South by Lot No. 1885-P and on the West by Lot 1885-P; assessed as a residential lot containing an area of Three Hundred (300) square meters. Registered in the name of Lerma M. Serato, a resident of Brgy. Libjo, Merida, Leyte. All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above stated time and date. In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, shall be held on Jan. 15, 2014 without further notice. (Sgd.) ZENEN B. PURAY, JR. Sheriff IV EV Mail Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2-8, 9-15, 2013 Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 8th Judicial Region Branch 35, Ormoc City CASE NO. R-ORM-13-00069-SP IN RE: PETITION FOR CANCELLATION OF BIRTH CERTIFICATE OF RAFAEL L. TABON AT THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF ISABEL, LEYTE & THE NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE, WITH REGISTRY NO. 96-751 AND FOR THE CORRECTION OF PETITIONERS LAST NAME, FATHERS SURNAME, MIDDLE NAME AND MIDDLE INITIAL AND PARENTS DATE & PLACE OF MARRIAGE IN HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE FROM THE ORMOC CITY CIVIL REGISTRAR & NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE AND FOR HIS LEGITIMATION BY REASON OF HIS PARENTS SUBSEQUENT MARRIAGE, RAFAEL LAURITO TABON, Petitioner, -versusTHE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF ISABEL, LEYTE AND THE CITY CIVIL REGISTRAR OF ORMOC CITY, LEYTE, Respondent. x-----------------------x ORDER A verified petition having been filed by the herein petitioner thru counsel Atty. Melinda C. Domael, to render judgment after due notice, publication and hearing, and to render judgment in favor of petitioner by ordering the Local Civil Registrar of Isabel, Leyte and the National Statistics Office to: 1) Cancel the Birth Certificate and/or record or Rafael Laurito Tabon with Registry No. 96-751, 2) Uphold the birth certificate of petitioner with Registry No. 9600406 of the City Civil Registrar of Ormoc City and to order this office and the National Statistics Office to change and/or correct some entries in this Birth Certificate to wit: CHILDS FULL NAME RAFAEL LAURITO TABON FATHERS FULL NAME- HENRY ALFEREZ ORDANEZA DATE AND PLACE OF JUNE 18, 1996, PARENTS MARRIAGE ISABEL, LEYTE MOTHERS FULL MAIDEN- WILMA LAURITO TABON NAME 3) To declare the petitioner as having been legitimated by reason of his parents subsequent marriage. All other relief and remedies just and equitable under the law are likewise prayed for. WHEREAS, this petition is hereby set for hearing on JANUARY 23, 2014 at 8:30 oclock in the morning, at which date, time and place all persons interested may appear and show case is any, why the prayer in the petition should not be granted. WHEREAS, a copy of this Order shall be published in three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation at the expense of the petitioner and shall be posted in three (3) conspicuous places in the bulletin boards of the Ormoc City Hall, the Public Market and of this Court SO ORDERED. In chambers, Hall of Justice, Ormoc City, Philippines, 23 OCTOBER, 2013 (Sgd.)GIRLIE M. BORREL-YU Presiding Judge Cc: Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 8th Judicial Region Branch 35, Ormoc City CASE NO. R-ORM-13-00072-SP IN RE: PETITION FOR CORRECTION OF ENTRY IN THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRY, RODEN S. CAPAROSO, Petitioner, -versusTHE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OFFICE OF THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR, MATAG-OB, LEYTE, Respondent. x-----------------------x ORDER A verified petition having been filed by the herein petitioner thru counsel Atty, Herbert Renomeron of the Public Attorneys Office to render judgment after due notice, publication and hearing in accordance with the Rules of Court that the fact of legitimation in petitioners Records of Birth both in the Office of the Local Civil Registrar of Matag-ob, Leyte and in the National Statistics Office and the Affidavit of Legitimation filed and registered in the said Office of the Local Civil Registrar of Matag-ob, Leyte be cancelled. WHEREAS, this petition is hereby set for hearing on JANUARY 27, 2014 at 8:30 oclock in the morning at which date, time and place all persons interested may appear and show cause if any, why the prayer in the petition should not be granted. WHEREAS, a copy of this Order shall be published in three (3) a consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation at the expense of the petitioner and shall be posted in three (3) conspicuous places in the bulletin boards of the Ormoc City Hall, the Public Market and of this Court. SO ORDERED. In chambers, Hall of Justice, Ormoc City, Philippines, 24 October 2013. (Sgd.)GIRLIE M. BORREL-YU Presiding Judge Cc: Public Attorneys Office Roden S. Caparoso The Solicitor General The Local Civil Registrar, Matag-ob, Leyte Provincial Prosecution Office National Statistics Office GMBY: Fn.:correction.entry.order EV Mail Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2-8, 9-15, 2013 Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 8th Judicial Regional Branch 35, Ormoc City CASE NO. R-ORM-13-00073-SP IN RE: PETITION FOR CORRECTION OF ENTRY IN THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRY, REDEN S. CAPAROSO, Petitioner, -versusTHE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OFFICE OF THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR, MATAG-OB, LEYTE, Respondent. x--------------------x ORDER A verified petition having been filed by the herein petitioner thru counsel Atty. Herbert Renomeron of the Public Attorneys Office, to render judgment after due notice, publication and hearing in accordance with the Rules of Court that the fact of legitimation in petitioners Records of Birth both in the Office of the Local Civil Registrar of Matag-ob, Leyte and in the National Statistics Office and the Affidavit of Legitimation filed and registered in the said Office of the Local Civil Registrar of Matag-ob, Leyte be cancelled. WHEREAS, this petition is hereby set for hearing on JANUARY 27, 2014 at 8:30 oclock in the morning, at which date, time and place all persons interested may appear and show cause if any, why the prayer in the petition should not be granted. WHEREAS, a copy of this Order shall be published in three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation at the expense of the petitioner and shall be posted in three (3) conspicuous places in the bulletin boards of the Ormoc City Hall, the Public Market and of this Court. In chambers, Hall of Justice, Ormoc City, Philippines, 24 October 2013. (Sgd.) GIRLIE M. BORREL YU Presiding Judge Cc: Public Attorneys Office Reden S. Caparoso The Solicitor General The Local Civil Registrar Provincial Prosecution Office GMBY: Fn.:correction.entry.order EV Mail Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2-8, 9-15, 2013
Republic of the Philippines Local Civil Registry Office Province of Leyte Municipality of Hilongos NOTICE OF PUBLICATION In compliance with Sec. 5, R.A. No. 9048, a notice is hereby served to the public that GUNAMA NARRA has filed with this office a Petition for Change of Gender from MALE to FEMALE who was born on JUNE 3, 1983 at Hilongos, Leyte and whose parents are FELIPE G. NARRA and ROSALIA A. VILLARUEL. Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his/her written opposition with this office not later than fifteen (15) days after publication. (Sgd.) ERNESTO MA. FULACHE Municipal Civil Registrar EV Mail Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2-8, 2013

Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2013

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 8th Judicial Region Branch 12, Ormoc City CASE NO. R-ORM-13-00065-SP IN THE MATTER FOR CHANGE/CORRECTION OF NAME OF MIRIAM VEYRA, ALSO KNOWN AS MIRIAM VEYRA, ALSO KNOWN AS MIRIAM ARINO CARILLO or MER or YAN CARILLO, MIRIAM VEYRA, Petitioner, -versusTHE CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL, NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE (NSO), THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF MERIDA LEYTE, Respondent x--------------------------------x ORDER Filed is a verified petition for the correction of entry recorded in the Certificate of Live Birth of MIRIAM VEYRA, by petitioner through counsel praying that after due notice, publication and hearing in accordance with the Rules of Court, this Honorable Court orders and directs to cause the change/correction in the CERTIFICATE of LIVE BIRTH of the petitioner be changed from VEYRA to ARINO at the Office of the Local Civil Registrar of Merida, Leyte and at the Office of the Civil Registrar General of the National Statistics Office. Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, set the hearing thereof on January 24, 2014 at 8:30 in the morning before this Court at which date, time and place, any interested party may appear and show cause if any, why the petition should not be granted. Accordingly, let a copy of this Order be published at the expense of petitioner once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Province of Leyte qualified to publish judicial notices and be posted at the bulletin boards of the Ormoc City Hall and of this court before the scheduled date of hearing. Further, let a copy thereof be furnished the Local Civil Registrar of Merida, Leyte, the Solicitor General, Manila, the Provincial Prosecutor, Ormoc City for their information and appropriate action. SOORDERED. In Chambers, Ormoc City, Philippines, September 27, 2013. (Sgd.) CLINTON C. NUEVO Presiding Judge CCN/jgsjr Copy furnished: Office of the Solicitor General 134 Amorsolo Street Legaspi Village, Makati City Provincial Prosecution Office Hall of Justice, Ormoc City Local Civil Registrar Office of the Local Civil Registrar Merida, Leyte Miriam Veyra/Arino Carillo San Joaquin Street Ormoc City Civil Registrar General National Statistics Office, Sta, Mesa, Manila Atty. Adelito M. Solibaga, Jr. SOLIBAGA LAW OFFICE, Pro Deo Et Patria Bldg. J. Navarro St., Ormoc City EV Mail Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2-8, 9-15, 2013
Republic of the Philippines Local/Civil Registry Office Province of Leyte City of Baybay Petition No. CCE-0144-2013ra-10172 PETITION FOR CORRECTION OF CLERICAL ERROR IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH I, ANALIE O. GLORIA, of legal age, FILIPINO, and a resident of BRGY. IGANG, BAYBAY CITY, LEYTE after having been duly sworn to in accordance with law, hereby declare that: I am the petitioner seeking correction of the clerical error in: The certificate of live birth of JANE O. GLORIA, who is my SON, 1) He was born on NOVEMBER 05, 2000 at BAYBAY, LEYTE, PHILIPPINES, 2) The birth was recorded under registry number 2000-2849, 3) The clerical error(s) to be corrected is (are): Item No. Description From To 2 CHILDS GENDER FEMALE MALE 6 MOTHERSMIDDLE NAME C. CASTANAS 13 FATHERS MIDDLE NAME J. JASME 4) The facts/reasons for filling this petition are the following: Since childhood my son is publicly known as male. His physical features shows that he is male and the Mothers Middle Name & Fathers Middle Name as CASTANAS and JASME respectively. All his other records entry for sex is male. CASTANAS & JASME. Hence, this petition is hereby filed to correct all the erroneous entry in my sons Certificate of Live Birth. Republic of the Philippines Local/Civil Registry Office Province of Leyte City of Baybay Republic of the Philippines) Baybay City, Leyte)SS Petition No. CCE-0145-2013 /RA-10172 PETITION FOR CORRECTION OF CLERICAL ERROR IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH I, JUNVIE K. MASBAD, of legal age, FILIPINO, and a resident of BRGY MASLUG, BAYBAY CITY LEYTE after having been duly sworn to in accordance with law, hereby declare that: 1) I am the petitioner seeking correction of the clerical error in: MY Certificate of live birth 2) I was born on NOVEMBER 14, 1989 ay Baybay, Leyte, Philippines 3) The birth was recorded under registry number 89-2901 4) The clerical error(s) to be corrected is (are) Item No. Description From To CHILDS GENDER F E MALE MALE CHILDS FULL NAME TO READ AS JUNVIE KINKITO MASBAD MOTHERS NAME QUIN QUETO KINKITO FATHERS NAME T O READ AS MASBAD 5) The facts/reasons for filing this petition are the following: Since childhood I am publicly known as Male. My physical features shows that I am Male. All my other records entry for sex is Male. Childs Full Name To Read As JUNVIE KINKITO MASBAD Mothers Last Name as KINKITO and Fathers Last Name To read as MASBAD 6) Submit the following docu5)I submit the following documents to support this petition: a) COLB OCRG COPY b) BAPTISMAL SLIP c) IMMUNIZATION RECORD d) DECS FORM 137 e) SCHOOL CERT. F) MEDICAL CERT. G) MARRIAGE CERT. H) BIRTH CERT OF PARENTS & ID OF MOTHER I) MUN. FORM 102 OF SIBLINGS J) CERT. OF INDIGENCY FROM THE BRGY., CSWD & CITY ASSESSESORS OFFICE 6) He has not filed any similar petition and that to the best of my knowledge, no other similar petition is pending with any LCRO, Court of Philippine Consulate. 7) I am filing this petition at the LCRO of BAYBAY CITY, LEYTE In accordance with R.A. 9048/R.A. 10172 and its implementing rules and regulation. (Sgd.) ANALIE O. GLORIA Petitioner VERIFICATION I, ANALIE O. GLORIA, the petitioner, Hereby certify that the allegations herein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. (Sgd.) ANALIE O. GLORIA Petitioner SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 21st day of OCTOBER, 2013 in the city/ municipality of BAYBAY CITY, LEYTE, petitioner exhibits his Community Tax Certificate No. 11336506 issued at Baybay City, Leyte on 10-31-13 (Sgd.) NOEL V. MANAGBANAG Administering Officer EV Mail Nov. 25- Dec. 1 & 2-8, 2013 ments to support this petition: a) COLB OCRG COPY b) LCR FORM 1A c) BAPTISMAL CERT d) DECS FORM 137-E e) BRGY. POLICE COURT & NBI CLEARANCE f) CERT OF INDIGENCY FROM THE BRGY. CSWD & CITY ASSESSORS OFFICE g) SCHOOL CERTIFICATION h) VRR i) MUN. FORM 102 OF MOTHER j) MEDICAL CERT. 7) I have has not filed any similar petition and that to the best of my knowledge, no other similar petition is pending with any LCRO, Court of Philippine Consulate. 8) I am filing this petition at the LCRO of BAYBAY CITY, LEYTE, In accordance with R.A. 9048/R.A 10172 and its implementing rules and regulation. (Sgd.) JUNVIE K. MASBAD Petitioner VERIFICATION I, JUNVIE K. MASBAD, the petitioner, Hereby certify that the allegations herein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. (Sgd.) JUNVIE K. MASBAD Petitioner SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 21st day of OCTOBER, 2013 in the city/ municipality of BAYBAY CITY, LEYTE, petitioner exhibits his Community Tax Certificate No. 11330392 issued at Baybay City, Leyte on July 17, 2013 (Sgd.) NOEL V. MANAGBANAG Administering Officer EV Mail Nov. 25- Dec. 1 & 2-8, 2013

Republic of the Philippines Province of Samar Municipality of Sto. Nino OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL CIVIL REGISTRAR NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION Date: October 25, 2013 In compliance with Section 7 of R. A. No. 10172, notice is hereby serve to the public that LOLITA PIDO PRUDENCIADO was filed with this Office a petition for correction of entry in the DATE OF BIRTH from 4 AUGUST 1956 to 6 AUGUST 1956 in the Certificate of Live Birth of LOLITA PIDO PRUDENCIADO, who was born on AUGUST 6, 1956 at Brgy. Cabunga-an, Sto. Nino, Samar and whose parents are EMITO PRUDENCIADO and EUFEMIA PIDO. Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his /her written opposition with this Office not later than ______. (Sgd.) SIMEON N. PARINGIT, JR. Municipal Civil Registrar EV Mail Nov. 25- Dec. 1 & 2-8, 2013 Republic of the Philippines Local Civil Registry Office Province of Samar City of Calbayog NOTICE OF PUBLICATION In Compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to OCRG Memorandum Circular No. 2013-1 Guidelines in the Implementation of the Administrative Order No. 1 Series of 2012 (IRR on R.A. 10172)/Administrative Order No. 1 Series of 2001 (IRR on R.A 9048) Notice is hereby served to the public that RHEYSTAKE TORCINO LUCIS has filed with this Office, a petition for CHANGE OF SEX from MALE to FEMALE in the Certificate of live birth of RHEYSTAKE TORCINO LUCIS at Calbayog City, Samar and whose parents are DANILO RODRIGO LUCIS and LEONILA MONARBA TORCINO hearing registry number 94-660. Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his/her written opposition with this Office not later than November 06, 2013 (Sgd.) FE D. QUEROLJICO City Civil Registrar EV Mail Nov. 25- Dec. 1, & 2-8, 2013 Republic of the Philippines Local /Civil Registry Office Province of Leyte City of Baybay Petition No. CCE-0140-2013/RA 10172 PETITION FOR CORRECTION OF CLERICAL ERROR IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH I, LINE L.REBUYAS, of legal age, FILIPINO, and a resident of ZONE 2 PAULINO ABELLANA, BAYBAY, CITY, LEYTE, after having been duly sworn to in accordance with law, hereby declare that: 1) I am the petitioner seeking correction of the clerical error in: My Certificate of live birth 2) I was born on SEP TEMBER 03, 1989 at BAYBAY LEYTE, PHILIPPINES 3) The birth was recorded under registry number 89-2310 4) The clerical error(s) to be corrected is (are): Item No. Description From To CHILDS GENDER MALE FEMALE 5) The facts/reasons for filing this petition are the following: Since childhood I am publicly known as Female. My physical features shows that I am Female. All my other records entry for sex is Female. Hence, this petition is hereby filed to correct all the erroneous entry in my Certificate of Live Birth. 6) I submit the following documents to support this petition: a) COLB OCRG COPY b) B R G Y. P O L I C E , COURT & NBI CLEARANCE c) VOTERS CERTIFICATION d) AFFIDAVIT OF NONEMPLOYMENT e) DECS FORM 137 E f) DECS 137-A g) MEDICAL CERT. h) BIR FORM NO. 1902 i) IDS j) COLB OF CHILDREN k) BAPTISMAL CERT. 7) I have not filed any similar petition and that to the best of my knowledge, no other similar petition is pending with any LCRO, Court of Philippine Consulate. 8) I am filing this petition at the LCRO of BAYBAY CIY, LEYTE In accordance with R.A. 9048/R.A. 10172 and its implementing rules and regulation. (Sgd.) LINE L. REBUYAS Petitioner VERIFICATION I, LINE L. REBUYAS, the petitioner, Hereby certify that the allegations herein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. (Sgd.) LINE L. REBUYAS Petitioner SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 29th day of October, 2013 in the city of Baybay City, Leyte, petitioner exhibits his Community Tax Certificate No. 24043730 issued at BAYBAY CITY, LEYTE on MARCH 25, 2013 (Sgd.) NOEL V. MANAGBANAG Administering Officer EV Mail Nov. 25- Dec. 1, & 2-8, 2013

Extrajudicial Partition with Sale NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the properties of the late SIXTO SABORNIDO re a parcel of land located in Pili, Almeria, Biliran, covered by ARP No. 00651 denominated as Lot 1936 Lot No. 032, containing an area of 1.423621 has.was partitioned among his heirs and 144 sq. m. sold in favor of AMELISSA D. ELMUNDO per Doc. No. 240; Page No. 48; Book No. 47; Series of 2013 of Notary Public Redentor C. Villordon. EV Mail Nov. 11-17, 18-24, 25 Dec. 1, 2013 Extrajudicial Settlement with Deed of Absolute Sale NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the property of the late MIGUELA M. AMPARADO re a parcel of an agricultural land located in Lo-ok, Almeria, Biliran denominated as survey no. 761-P Lot 54 under ARP No. 00674 R-11, containing an area of 0.269000 has. was settled among her heirs and 725 sq. m. sold in favor of SPS. CARLOS C. SABORNIDO and CLARISA CATOR per Doc. No. 142; Page No. 29; Book No. 42; Series of 2013 of Notary Public Redentor C. Villordon. EV Mail Nov. 11-17, 18-24, 25 Dec. 1, 2013 Extrajudicial Settlement NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the property of the late VICENTE V. SUAZO, SR. re half share of a house and lot situated at Purok 4, Dona Feliza Mejia Subd., Ormoc City, lot containing an area of 200 sq. m. covered by TCT No. T53301 a transfer from TCT No. 31106 described as a parcel of land Lot No. 2363-B-2-B-2 was settled among his heirs per Doc. No. 305; Page No. 61; Book No. 37; Series of 2013 of Notary Public Jasper M. Lucero EV Mail Nov. 11-17, 18-24, 25 Dec. 1, 2013 Extrajudicial Settlement with Sale NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the property of the late FLAVIANO CANETE re an agricultural land located in Ungale, Kawayan, Biliran under ARP No. 00046 denominated as survey no. 2033-P, containing an area of 1.142900 has. was settled among his heirs and 381.50 sq. m. sold in favor of NANCY TILLADA DELLA PIETRA married to WALTER DELLA PIETRA per Doc. No. 287; Page No. 58; Book No. 47; Series of 2013 of Notary Public Redentor C. Villordon. EV Mail Nov. 11-17, 18-24, 25 Dec. 1, 2013 Deed of Extra-Judicial Declaration of Heirs NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the properties of the late FELIX VELOSO re parcels of residential land situated at Veloso St., Brgy. Trinidad, Calbayog, City Samar, containing an area of 540 sq. m., under TD No. 99-01020-01991 ; and residential land situated at Zamora Sts., Brgy. Trinidad, Calbayog City, containing an area of 682 sq.m. under TD No. 00-01020-00983 were declared among his heirs per Doc. No. 293; Page No. 60; Book No. XIX; Series of 2011 of Notary Public AILEEN R. MAGLANA. EV Mail Nov. 25- Dec. 1, 2-8, & 9-15, 2013 Deed of Extrajudicial Settlement with Sale NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the property of the late VICENTA T. LAUREL re an agricultural land designated as Lot No. 5619-C, situated at Brgy. Trinidad, Calbayog City, containing an area of 2000 sq.m. covered by TD No. 99-01020 01695, was settled among her heirs and sold in favor of LOURDES N. AVELINO per Doc. No. 63; Page No. 14; Book No. I; Series of 2013 of Notary Public MA. CARMENCITA P. BAUTISTA. EV Mail Nov. 25- Dec. 1, 2-8, & 9-15, 2013 Extrajudicial Settlement with Absolute Sale NOTICE IS HEREBY given that the property of the late ILDEFONSO SUMAGANG re a parcel of land, situated at Brgy. Tinambacan Sur, Tinambacan District, Calbayog City, designated as Lot No. 6905, with an area of 2,500 sq. m. under TD No. 99-03002-00718, was settled among his heirs and sold in favor of WEST SAMAR TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. represented by IRENE G. SIOPONGCO per Doc. No. 5476; Page No. 1096; Book No. XI; Series of 2012 of Notary Public Ernesto l. Penaflor. EV Mail Nov. 25- Dec. 1, 2-8, & 9-15, 2013,

Atty. Melinda Domael Local Civil Registrar, Isabel, Leyte City CivilRegistrar, Ormoc City National Statistics Office Office of the Solicitor General Office of the Asst. Provincial Prosecutor Rafael Laurito Tabon GMBY: Fn.:correction@entry.order EV Mail Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2-8, 9-15, 2013

Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2013

CLASSIFIEDS

Queen Pineapples
Available at: CHITOS CHOW Ormoc Plaza 255-4144; 561-8144 S & R L A R R A Z A B A L IN TACLOBAN at: P. Burgos St. CORP. Bonifacio St., Ormoc City (near Dahil Sa Iyo) 255-4783; 561-7953 IN CEBU at: No. 2 Wilson Street Lahug, Cebu City 253-0654

S.A. LARRAZABAL

Sabins BEACH

For cottage reservations, call: Tel # 255-3737; 561-1895 Bantigue, Ormoc City RESORT

EV MAIL TRAVEL
Fastest RORO from Ormoc to Cebu!!!

Large format printing & Computers

M/V LITE FERRY 8

ORMOC-CEBU-ORMOC Daily except FRIDAYS Departs Ormoc Departs Cebu
For inquiries and bookings, contact Tel Nos. (053) 561-6036/ (053) 255-3821 or 0922-997-3088

10:00 PM

11:00 AM

Ormoc-Cebu 11:00 AM (Daily) Cebu-Ormoc 10:00 PM (Daily)

Philippine Airlines Inc.

TACLOBAN BRANCH TACLOBAN CITY The following schedule is effective as of 01 June 2011 until further notice: PHILIPPINE AIRLINES AIRBUS 319 & 320 PR 191 MNL 5:40 AM TAC 6:55 AM DAILY PR 192 TAC 7:25 AM MNL 8:35 AM DAILY PR 391 MNL 9:20 AM PR 392 TAC 11:10 AM PR 393 MNL 4:00 PM PR 394 TAC 5:50 PM TAC 10:40 AM MNL 12:25 PM TAC MNL 5:20 PM 7:05 PM DAILY DAILY DAILY DAILY

AIR PHILS EXPRESS Q-300/Q-400 PR 234 CEB 4:10 P.M. TAC 4:50 P.M. DAILY PR 235 TAC 5:10 P.M. CEB 5:50 P.M. DAILY

FOR MORE INFORMATION YOU CAN VISIT OUR OFFICE AT DZR AIRPORT TACLOBAN OR CALL US AT 321-2212/3212213/325-7528 OR OUR AUTHORIZEDAGENTS: ALS TRAVELLERS SHOPPE 053-500-7803 AS DOMS & INTL TICKETING OFFICE 053-325-7000 EASTERN VISAYAS AIR TRAVEL 053-321-7771/321-8608 EMY TICKETING OFFICE, PALO, LEYTE 053-323-7404/523-8981 LEYTE GULF TRAVEL AND TOURS 053-321-7966/523-7966 LEYTE 1ST TRAVEL AGENCY PHILS., INC. 053-523-1313 NORTHSTAR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL 053-321-3974/523-1644 PASHADA TRAVEL , BORONGAN, SAMAR 055-560-9847 Y5A TICKET EXPRESS, MAASIN CITY 053-381-4433 ZJ CABLITAS TICKET EXPRESS, BAYBAY CITY 053-335-3464 ROPERL TRAVEL & TOURS, CATBALOGAN CITY 055-251-2076/251-6133 SUNSHINE TRAVEL AND TOUR 053-321-2246

Commercial rate * - P100.00 per col. cm. * Judicial Notices *- P 60.00 per col. cm * For inquiries: Call (053) 255-5746 & 561-8580 (Ormoc); (053) 530-3366 (Tacloban); 500-9389 (Biliran) * Exclusive of taxes/Black and White rate

8
Angry at media? Enrile shows how
BY JESS DUREZA
(Author is a lawyer and the chairman/president of the Philippine Press Institute, a national organization of Philippine newspapers and publications. He also sits in the Philippine Press Council representing Mindanao.)

NEWS

Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2013

Commercial flights back in Tacloban, Cebu Pac issues advisory for re-routing
COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS are back at the DZR Airport in Tacloban City, this was learned through an advisory from the Philippine Information Agency. Tacloban airport now has 10 flights. Three from Manila and back and 7 to Cebu and back. Of the 10 flights in and out, Philippine Airlines has five, Cebu Pacific has 4 and Zest Air, one. Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific has issued an advisory dated November 28, 2013 for Tacloban passengers who would like to reroute their flights to the nearest alternate airport. Cebu Pacific passengers with flights to and from Tacloban from November 7, 2013 until January 15, 2014 are advised that they have the option to rebook their flights or reroute to the nearest alternate airport without penalties, for travel within 120 days. They may also opt for full travel fund or full refund. Passengers may call (02)7020-888 or (032)2308888 for their preferred option, any time before their scheduled flights. Those who wish to check the status of their flights may go to https://www.cebupacificair. com/Pages/check-flight-status.aspx Cebu Pacific will continue to provide updates as soon as they are available. Follow @CebuPacificAir on Twitter or Cebu Pacific Airs official Facebook page. with a PR

METRO MANILA ---The Philippine P r e s s I n s t i t u t e Philippine Press Institute/Philippine Press Council caucus on Friday (PPI) met the other evening, November 30 at Jeepney Bar of Hotel Intercontinental in Makati night in downtown on Senator Juan Ponce Enriles complaint against the Philippine Daily Makati and dis- Inquirer. Present were: Council Chair Atty. Antonio La Via from the cussed how to deal Ateneo School of Government, Institute Chair Atty. Jesus Jess Dureza, with the complaint PDI publisher Atty. Raul Pangalangan, Pilipino Star Ngayon editorfiled by Senator in-chief and representative of The Philippine Star Al Pedroche, Manila Juan Ponce Enrile Standard Today news editor Joel Palacios, Peoples Journal senior against the Philip- reporter Bernadette Tamayo and PPI executive director Ariel Sebellino. pine Daily Inquirer. side reasonably heard as a way of vindication. It stemmed from the publication of PDI of a story that identi- It is a mechanism that allows the media sector fied him as allegedly the mastermind or itself the matter of policing its own ranks and brains behind the alleged PDAF scam of disciplining its own members and at the same Janet Napoles. Senator Enrile vehemently time upholding press freedom. However, there are certain jurisdictional denied this. Instead of filing a libel or civil case in the elements that must be present to set in motion regular courts, it was instead filed before the this procedure of seeking redress. Here are some Philippine Press Council (PPC), asking for an basic things to bear in mind before the council investigation and the corresponding sanctions can take cognizance of a complaint. First, the newspaper subject of the comimposed, if warranted. I will not talk here about the merits of the Enrile complaint. I will just plaint must be a PPI member. This is necessary because sanctions cannot be imposed on non show to you what this process is all about. This grievance procedure is not known members for obvious reasons, the press council to many. But at PPC, an aggrieved citizen being an instrumentality of PPI. Secondly, there can lodge a complaint against the newspaper must be no other pending case in court or in concerned without going to court and seek re- any other body over the same subject matter. In dress from the print media sector itself. PPC this case, a certification submitted by the comis composed of sectoral representatives from plainant must first attest to this non-pendency. the academe, civil society and private media. Thirdly, there must be a waiver on the part of It somehow serves as a watchdog in that an the complaining party as to judicial recourse, individual can lodge a complaint against a PPI meaning he will forego of his right to go to the newspaper-member if he feels aggrieved due to regular court or any other administrative body a published article and he needs to also have his to seek redress if he submits to the jurisdiction of the press council. Lastly, the complainant must show proof that he had communicated to the newspaper concerned to give his side In response to the program to a published derogatory report but this has of the Insurance Commission not been given due consideration by the said (IC) AGARANG PROSESO, publication. BENEPISYO AY SIGURADO so If all the above elements are present, the as to help the insured victims of press council shall then take cognizance of typhoon Yolanda, the Association the complaint and after due investigation and of Insurance Claimsmen, Inc. hearing both parties, a decision is rendered. An (AICI) in coordination with erring newspaper will be required to publish the Philippine Insurance & Reinsurance decision of the council and/or will be ordered Association (PIRA) set-up a call to give reasonable space for the publication of center which will handle all the the complainants own side of the story subject insurance inquiries and reports. of the case. If the newspaper refuses to comply, a possible fine can be imposed and the other Please report your claim on the PPI newspaper-members may then proceed to following numbers as soon as publish in their own publications either the depossible. cision or the side of the aggrieved party or both. Smart- 0947-9537954 This mechanism for redress has not been Globe- 0927-8899077 resorted to too often by aggrieved citizens prinSun- 0933-5316685 cipally because this procedure for redress is not With the following informations: known to many yet. In fact, there were not too 1. Insureds name many of such complaints lodged before the 2. Contact number council up to the present. According to records, 3. Insurance Company

Boeing donates through World Vision

A brand-new Boeing 777300ER the latest addition to the Philippine Airlines (PAL) fleet arrived in Manila November 26 from the Boeing delivery center i n E v e re t t , Wa s h i n g t o n , USA, carrying 20 tons of tents and temporary shelter paraphernalia for survivors of typhoon Yolanda. The Boeing donation was received by World Vision Philippines, an international childrens charity organization, represented by (shown from left) Mary Ann Rosina, Carolyn Abalajon and Meldee Gordovin. the most notable and the latest case so far heard was the case filed by former Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo against the late Philippine Star columnist Max Soliven, for the latters series of commentaries allegedly derogatory to former ES Bert. But this happened many years ago. In fact, incumbent PPC chair Tony La Vina said the council had been inactive for sometime and needs to re-charge batteries now with the Enrile complaint filed before it. Provincial or regional press councils may also be organized by the local press groups to address their own local problems. I was informed that the press council that is most active and functioning today is the press council in Cebu City. I touched base with the council through Ms. Cherrie Lim when I was in Cebu last week.We need to replicate this mechanism nationwide. For the moment, the Philippine Press Council has been moribund and it got out of long slumber only with this recent complaint filed before it by a senator of the Republic. This will now bring me to some other important points I wish to stress. If the press council is active and functioning and worthy of the publics trust, there is in fact no more need for Congress to pass the controversial right to reply bill that media is opposing. I understand the right to information bill that media is pushing is still pending in Congress and is subject to a quid pro quo deal where the last time I checked, Congress seemed to push for an exchange deal for the latters baby, the Right to Reply bill. Come to think of it, there is no more need for this tit for tat arrangement. The intendment of the right to reply law is rendered moot by this press council mechanism. Moreover, by availing of the press council grievance machinery, we all avoid and prevent long, tedious, expensive and acrimonious law suits and cases between the press and litigants seeking redress. We always also hear the advocacy of de-criminalizing libel. This press council mechanism, if normally availed of by those who have complaints against newspapers, will bring about this desired end -- even before the law is amended. Ultimately, this will all bring us a more responsible , a much livelier and freer press -- a necessary bulwark of our democracy.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

VIEW FROM ORMOC ... from P. 4

rrr

There are so much issues floating around that it is important to separate the chaff from the grain. But there is one thing I am sure about: relief from the government is coming in trickles. Here in Malbasag, I can only remember receiving relief from the government twice only. The third that we got was from the BCBP of Maasin. Its not that I am really desperate to get it, but I feel I should be getting my fair share. I dont agree with the view that I might not need it that is why I am not receiving it. First, if it is due me, it is due me. Whatever I do with it is my decision to make.

Another friend asked me how I would feel if I knew that a mayors son is selling rice now. Before Yolanda, he was selling something else. After Yolanda, he is now selling rice. Well, generally, there is nothing wrong about people selling rice. However, from the point of delicadeza, a politicians son selling rice after Yolanda smacks of insensitivity or just plain greed. Talk about the opportunity being there and grabbing it. This is good business sense, I dare say, only it is being done at the wrong place and at the wrong time. And we are not even trying to entertain questions that he could probably be getting his stocks from relief.

has TRANSFERRED its office to Hermosilla Drive, Ormoc City after Yolandas aftermath. We are still having a signage made. In the meantime, the landmark is the chapel at Malbasag. Because landlines have not been restored yet, contact us at:

0932-536-1122 (Sun); 0916-4938704 (Elvie); 0921-211-9603.

Thank you for your continued patronage!!!