FEATURE: Presumptive President Maasinhon by birth By Bong Pedalino Exactly a year ago, on May 10, 2015, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte visited Maasin City to join a reunion with the Roa clan of barangay Laboon. Digong, as he is fondly called, car- It was Duterte’s second visit to the ries the middle name Roa, the surname city, actually, for his first was in 2013 of his mother, whose roots are traced in days after Yolanda, when he landed by the city. chopper to deliver P3 Million cash assis- His elementary days, at least up to tance personally received by Gov. Roger grade four, were spent at Laboon Ele- Mercado. mentary School. Before he proceeded to Laboon for Back then, there was no inkling that the Roa reunion, Duterte was warmly one of Maasin’s illustrious son has set welcomed by the people and the lead- his eyes on the highest post of the land, ers at the port area where his helicop- although rumuors had it that his going ter landed, up to the city hall where he around the country was part of the “testing held a pep talk like a simple town hall SON OF MAASIN: A sizeable crowd at the bus terminal listen to presidential candidate Rody waters” process towards that direction. (to page 2) Duterte during his campaign in a place he calls his own, with a baptismal record to show for it. 196 detainees cast votes in jail By Erna Sy Gorne Hundreds of detainees cast their votes behind bars during election day. According to Bureau of Jail Management and Penelogy (BJMP) Maasin City Warden CINSP Jenni- fer Joyce Abar, some 196 detainees throughout the province cast their votes last May 9 right from their May 16-31, 2015 Media Center, 2nd Flr., Capitol Bldg. Vol. III, No. 22 respective special polling precincts in their prison camps. (to page 2) Mercado brothers dominate SL polls By Rebecca Cadavos The dominance of the Mercados in Southern Leyte continues as they scored landslide victories in their respective places in the May 9, 2016 elections. Gov. Roger Mercado switched plac- nent, Vice Gov Sheffered Lino Tan who es with brother, Representative Damian only got 68,000 votes. G. Mercado at the local level. The elder Nacional Mercado, the incumbent Mercado, Roger, for representative and governor's son won the mayoralty race Damian as governor. in Maasin City defeating former Maasin Roger, who won against opponent Mayor Gerardo Dator. Nacional, “Nik- former St. Bernard mayor Rico Rentuza ko” to friends, is the president of the As- garnered 111,340 votes while the latter sociation of Barangay Captain Federa- only got 56,882 or a margin of 54,458 tion in Southern Leyte, got 27,946 votes votes, shown from Comelec’s partial/ against Dator’s 10,811 votes. official tally as of 3:00 in the afternoon Roger’s son-in-law, Leoncio Uy Jr. of May 10, 2016 with only the town of also won as board member of the sec- Padre Burgos remaining to transmit its ond district of the province. Secure Digital (SD) Card. It was known that the Mercados His younger brother, Damian who ran under the Liberal Party’s “Daang got 108,190 votes trounced his oppo- Matu w i d .” SL voters turn-out is 80% By Bong Pedalino The number of qualified, reg- Gov. Roger Mercado who is running istered voters in this province who for the province’s lone congressional descended and actually voted in vot- seat, having garnered a partial, un- ing centers on Monday has reached official tally of 114,670 votes against 204,410, data obtained from the pro- his rival, former Saint Bernard Mayor vincial board of canvass showed. Rico Rentuza who got 58,318 votes. With a total registered voting pop- Also proclaimed was incumbent ulation of 261,148 the voters’ turn-out Cong Damian Mercado for the gu- was about 80%. bernatorial post against incumbent But the figure represented all but Vice-Governor Sheffered Tan; Mer- one transmitted returns from the 18 cado had 111,483 votes cast for him, municipalities and one city, because while Tan, 70,753. canvassing of returns from Padre The three-cornered race for Burgos town is still ongoing at this Vice-Governor saw Mercado’s run- writing, the delay caused by a defec- ning mate, incumbent Sogod Coun- tive SD Card, it was learned. cilor Coco Yap pulling away with Padre Burgos has 6,711 regis- 84,749 votes against incumbent tered voters distributed in nine voting Board Member Albert Esclamado’s centers, and with this remaining fig- 48,524 and incumbent Board Mem- ure its result can no longer impact on ber Daisy Gamale’s 17,615. PROCLAIMED: The three-member provincial board of canvassers proclaimed actual votes cast for candidates with Winning candidates for the Sang- the winners of the provincial candidates for Congressman (topmost photo), huge margins. guniang Panlalawigan post were also Governor (middle photo), and the Vice-Governor together with members of The Provincial Board of Canvass- duly proclaimed, it was also learned the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in the first and second districts. er proclaimed last night incumbent through facebook posts. Vol. III, No.22 Be sure to secure your Keep away from power homes, PNP tells voters transmission lines, NGCP appeals By Bong Pedalino By Bong Pedalino The Philippine National Police (PNP) provincial director advised voters MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, May 31 (PIA) -- People living in baran- to make sure their homes are locked, especially if nobody is left behind. gays where the high voltage electricity wires of the National Grid Corporation For all we know, robbers, thieves, or burglars -- anybody interested to take of the Philippines (NGCP) traverse should realize the great danger in getting away your valuable things -- may just lurk behind, using the election to car- near these lines that can prove fatal. ry out their wicked ways, Police Sr. Supt. Nelson Eucogco, provincial director, This was stressed by Betty Martinez, corporate communications officer of warned. NGCP in the Visayas, the guest during the Action Center Kapihan sa PIA Ca- Some police elements were put on reserve at municipal police stations pur- ble TV program last week. posely to respond to calls on petty crimes, Eucogco said during the live dydm Right after the cable TV guesting, Martinez also visited radio station dydm Kapihan sa PIA Friday. and guested at the Bantay Tawo public affairs program anchored by Monching For today’s election security precautions, all police stations were duly Buyser to air a similar message. briefed, in particular the provision of personnel as details in virtually all the Her concern proved timely in the light of a deadly accident reportedly out- polling centers in the province, said Eucogco, who assumed as provincial PNP side the fenced perimeter of the NGCP sub-station in barangay Tam-is, this cty, director on January 9, 2016. in which a 51-year old wood gatherer was electrocuted when the long timber He said he had coordinated with a local radio group, MAGMA, which he was about to put on his shoulder nearly made contact with the live, high committed one personnel per station to help transmit information fast which tension wire. can be monitored by all the other stations. Martinez said the strong voltage acted like magnet in a diameter distance of But while all eyes are watching the conduct of events at polling centers, a meter or so of the live wire. Eucogco emphasized this may be taken as an opportunity for those with bad In other words the wood and the wires did not actually touched each other intentions to strike. since the lines did not trip, or no brownout when it happened Sunday, May 22. “Just make sure your homes are locked and secure when you go to polling The case is still under investigation by the NGCP, Martinez said, adding precincts,” Eucogco stressed. that the power firm has always warned residents in the area to always keep a Meanwhile, Provincial Election Officer (PES) Atty. Felicisimo Embalsado safe distance from their power transmission lines. told PIA in an interview in his office last Thursday, that the sealing and testing For safety measures, Martinez reiterated these simple reminders for the of vote counting machines (VCMs) over the past two days were all successful, concerned people to always bear in mind: even as the sealing and testing was still ongoing until May 7. 1. Do not fly kites near transmission lines or climb transmission structures. 2. Do not build grass fires near or under transmission structures as DPWH cleans up highways these may cause power interruptions in the area. from campaign materials 3. Do not put or install television (TV) antennas near or under transmission lines. The Department of Public Works and Highways Southern Leyte 4. Do not plant trees near transmission structures. District Engineering Office (DPWH-SLDEO) has started the remov- 5. Do not park your vehicle near or under transmission lines. al of campaign materials placed on roadsides as part of their year- 6. Do not carry long sticks or any object that might reach or come in round road safety drive, according to an SLDEO Press Release (PR). contact with the power transmission lines. The said PR said post-election cleanup along the 299-kilometer stretch 7. Do not build houses or any structure under the transmission lines. of national highway in the province has started on Thursday, May 12 and (mmp, PIA8-Southern Leyte) will be done on Tuesday, May 17, this week. District Engineer Ma. Margarita C.