Leyte-Samar POSITIVE l FAIR l FREE VOL. XXXIII NO. 027 SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021 P15.00 IN TACLOBAN Amid question of DILG on him getting the vaccine Alfred says he is willing to face the consequences JOEY A. GABIETA TACLOBAN CITY- Mayor Alfred Romualdez said that he would answer the show cause or- 2 Leyte mayors on anti-COVID vaccination der from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) after he received a vaccine against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) earlier than expected. One took the jab; Romualdez was ad- ministered on Monday the other give way (March 22) with the Si- novac vaccine justifying to a frontliner that he would like to serve TACLOBAN CITY- The additional vaccines as an example not only Two town mayors in Leyte were intended for local among Taclobanons but have took different stand government unit to be ad- more so among health on the inoculation cam- ministered to the barangay workers whom he said paign: one took the shot health workers. many were hesitant to be while the other decline to “After knowing that all vaccinated. receive it. those identified beneficia- But this decision of Mayor Ma.Rosario ries were inoculated and the 58-year old mayor Avestruz of Barugo town those listed in the quick did not sit well as DILG was vaccinated using the substitute list were already Usec.Epimaco Densing AstraZeneca brand on utilized, and that doses in said that they are prepar- March 23 while Mayor the vaccine vials are still ing for a show cause order Myra Georgina Arevalo of available, Mayor Avestruz against him and six oth- Palompon town refused to finally decided to be in- er mayors for receiving FACE THE CONSEQUENCES. Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez said that his de- be vaccinated. oculated taking into con- the vaccine ahead of the cision to have himself inoculated was his way to encourage Taclobanons, including health Both were named sideration that the unused health workers. workers, who are still hesitant to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The move of the city mayor, however, was criticized by some to include the Department of Interior and Local Gov- as among their respec- doses will be wasted,” the see Alfred /page 7 ... ernment who want him to explain why he was vaccinated ahead of some medical workers. tive ‘quick substation list statement added. (QSL).’ For her part, Mayor Based on the informa- Arevalo declined to be giv- Family vows to pursue justice tion posted by the mu- en the AstraZeneca vac- nicipal government on its cine considering that she Thousands pay their last Facebook account, Mayor is also a doctor by profes- Avestruz reportedly had sion and is considered as a her shot only after all the frontliner. respect to slain Mayor Aquino barangay health workers “I am included on the who were scheduled to substitution list not be- CALBAYOG CITY-At be vaccinated on that day cause I am the mayor but least 4,000 grieving Cal- have received the vaccines. see One took /page 7 ... bayognons lined up on the “Was Mayor Avestruz streets to bid farewell to prioritized? The answer is their slain mayor Ronaldo no.The fact that she was in Aquino whose white-col- the quick substitution list ored casket was mounted answers clearly the ques- in a truck bedecked with tion. She was a substitute flowers as he was buried not a priority,” the state- on Wednesday (March 24) ment said posted Thursday afternoon in a private fu- (March 25). neral park here. The mayor’s vaccine, One of them was Jose it added, was part of the Garcia, 49, who described additional 20 doses of the late mayor as “very giv- AstraZeneca received by ing but strict.” Aquino’s widow, Marcelina(right photo) touches the coffin of her husband for the last the municipality from the The tricycle driver said time. The funeral cortege of the slain mayor passes major streets of the city before the original 100 doses of the see Thousand /page 12 ... burial at a private memorial park on Wednesday(March 24). same brand of vaccine. 2 Leyte Samar Daily Express NEWS Saturday, March 27, 2021 USAID acting administrator lauds In the wake of the killing of Mayor Aquino 3 million Filipino students reached through U.S.-Philippine Partnership Eastern Visayas police disowns MANILA-United and officials from the States Agency for In- executive and legis- ternational Develop- lative branches of the ‘malicious’ social media post ment (USAID) Acting Philippine govern- Administrator Gloria ment. TACLOBAN CITY-The Steele on Thursday, Over 14,000 teach- Philippine National Police March 25, congratu- ers and 18,000 local (PNP) here in the region has lated participants of officials, educationdisowned a viral post in so- the 14th Philippine administrators and cial media which alleged the National Education parent-teacher asso- direct involvement of sev- eral local officials and po- Summit for achiev- ciations have received lice personnel in the series ing landmark nation- training under the of killings in Calbayog City al policy reforms that EdGE project. Ad- and its nearby towns. have improved ed- ditionally, the part- “This Office strongly ucation governance nership strengthened condemns the posting and through a partnership Local School Boards, sharing of the said docu- with USAID. village-level School ment. While we acknowl- During her keynote Governing Councils, edge that every person is The killing of Calbayog Mayor Ronaldo Aquino resulted to ‘online war’ with the address, Steele noted and Regional Educa- granted the right to express Philippine National Police regional headquarters denying a post which reportedly that nearly 3 million tion Councils that al- opinion or stand in any is- early grade learners in located local resources sue, this Office does not named some high-ranking policemen in the incident they claimed to be a shootout. the Philippines ben- and shared best prac- condone the writing and The Aquino family insisted that the March 8 incident was an ambush. efitted from USAID’s tices, leading to im- sharing of unsubstantiated being subjected to the lawful steadfast in upholding the nel, who are allegedly in- Education Gover- proved education out- information, especially if investigative procedures.” law and promoting the in- volved in the incident, but nance Effectivenesscomes. it is injurious or offensive “For an accusation to be terest of the public.” the group has not provided (EdGE) program with “Governors, may- to the reputation of oth- ers,” read the statement acted upon, the presence Meanwhile, the us details,” said Lieutenant the Synergeia Founda- ors, and other local of a complainant, either of PRO-Eastern Visayas has Colonel Ma. Bella Rentua- tion, Inc. Synergeia, champions understand from Police Regional Office (PRO)-Eastern Visayas. an individual or a juridical named seven policemen, ya, police regional spokes- with support from the unique conditions “As per initial verifica- entity, is warranted. Should including four high ranking person. USAID, organized of their communities tion, the said post contains the author of the document officials, allegedly involved The policemen involved the two-day summit, and are in the best po- malicious, misleading, and come out into the open in the shooting incident that include have ranks of col- which was attended sition to lead in solving deceptive allegations,” it to prove his allegations, led to the death of Calbayog onel, major, lieutenant and by more than 700 lo- their own develop- added. this Office would be will- City Mayor Ronaldo Aquino corporal. cal government chief ment challenges, given However, PRO-Eastern ing to take appropriate and and five others on March 8, “Their respective offic- executives, teachers, the right opportunity,” Visayas assured the public prompt actions, as mandat- 2021. es are taking custody of the education administra- Steele said from US- that “all formal legal com- ed by law,” it said. “The SITG (Special In- personnel involved while tors, parents, students, see USAID /page 12 ... plaints being addressed to The regional police com- vestigation Task Group) has the investigation is ongo- concerned PNP offices are mand added it “will remain given us clearance of nam- ing,” Rentuaya said. ing those accounted person- The other policemen, Captain Joselito Tabada and Staff Sergeant Romeo DOLE-8 has new director; former director Laoyon, were killed during the incident, while Staff Sergeant Neil Cebu was Centi assign at their central office wounded. TACLOBAN CITY- bor department all these ment. He was the region- of the entire DOLE-Re- The identified police- Personnel of the Depart- years, I have learned that Jalbuena has been in al director of Region 4A gional Office 8 workforce, men were members of ment of Labor and Em- teamwork really makes government service for (Calabarzon) before his we can deliver our pro- the Integrity Monitoring ployment (DOLE) here the dream work. As your over 32 years and has recent re-assignment to grams and services trium- and Enforcement Group in the region welcomed new Director, I commit experienced working in Eastern Visayas last Feb- phantly,” said Jalbuena. (IMEG) and drug enforce- ment unit. their new head, Henry to provide the needed different regional labor ruary 18, 2021. Assistant Regional Di- PRO-Eastern Visayas John Jalbuena. guidance and direction offices. Amid the pandemic, rector Amable Ildefonso “remains neutral in the Jalbuena replaces Ya- just as how I look forward His previous posts in- the new labor director Roa was then the acting conduct of the investiga- hya Centi who was said to your commitment to clude Regions 6, 9, Cor- said he is “excited to serve DOLE-8 director prior to tion by SITG,” according to to have been assigned at work with passion and dillera Administrative the people of Eastern Vi- the appointment of Jal- Rentuaya.