FEATURE: Presumptive President Maasinhon by birth By Bong Pedalino Exactly a year ago, on May 10, 2015, Mayor 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 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 , 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 (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. Junia said maintenance personnel Barangay micro-business enterprises... have been deployed to remove posters and tarpaulins that were left on (from page 4) roadsides by the candidates and their supporters, it further said. service the needs of BMBEs, as well as technology and marketing assistance. “We always want our national roads to be free from any materials that Under Republic Act No. 9178 or the BMBEs Act of 2002, a BMBE is re- can pose danger to motorists. Sometimes the traffic directional signs can- ferred to as any business entity or enterprises engaged in the production, pro- not be read legibly by the motorists due to some obstructions,” Junia said. cessing or manufacturing of products or commodities, including agro-process- Unlike in the campaign period, tearing down of propaganda materials cannot be done without the presence of personnel from the Commission ing, trading, and services whose total assets, excluding land, shall not be more on Elections and Philippine National Police, according to Engr. Gideon than P3 million. Such assets shall include those arising from loans but not the Sacro, chief of SLDEO maintenance section, the PR said. land on which the plant and equipment are located. “This time, we can do this alone since the election is already done and The DTI issued Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 16-01 last there’s no more pressure from any group. Besides it is our job to ensure April 22, 2016 which provides guidelines on registering BMBEs at Negosyo safety and cleanliness of our national roads,” Sacro added. Centers. Under DAO 16-01, DTI is the sole agency which shall issue a Cer- On mid-April, the SLDEO deployed 93 field men to assist other gov- tificate of Authority (CA) to registered BMBEs at Negosyo Centers or at DTI ernment agencies in the removal and tearing of all unlawful election pro- offices where Negosyo Centers have not been set up. paganda. Same number of personnel is tasked to clear the highway for the Prior to the issuance of the DAO, BMBEs register at the Office of the Trea- post-election clearing, it was learned. surer of the city or municipality where the business is located. The SLDEO mobilized a five-man team in Maasin City and each of Republic Act 9178 or the BMBE Act of 2002 recognizes the role of BMBEs the 18 towns, except in Limasawa Island where only three field men are as an essential driving force for the country’s economic development. Accord- assigned to accomplish the task, it was learned further. ing to the law, BMBEs are “seedbeds of Filipino entrepreneurial talents and strengthening them would increase job generation, provide livelihood and Presumptive President...(from page 1) augment ’ quality of life.” (DTI) meeting. The audience simply laughed it off know- He explained he was not interested in ing fully well that it was said in jest. 196 detainees...(from page 1) the presidency -- a position he kept saying But it was no joke when he claimed that until the last minute of December 10, 2015, he was born here, brandishing a copy of a She noted the orderly conduct of voting in the special polling precincts the last day for substitution of candidates. baptismal record Catholic Bishop Precioso established in different BJMP jails and the Southern Leyte Provincial Jail He said he was simply preaching the Cantillas gave him minutes earlier when he (SLPJ), as follows: Maasin City Jail – 91, Sogod Municipal Jail – 33, San gospel of federalism, an idea which time he dropped by at the convent for a courtesy call. Juan Municipal Jail – 10 and SLPJ – 62. believes has come. And yes, Maasin will be spared from From among the BJMP prison camps, the election ballots for each In March this year when Digong stepped “burning”, because out of 46,061 voters who registered voter- detainee were retrieved from their respective polling again on Maasin’s soil, he was already a actually voted, Duterte got 20,789 votes precincts in different barangays by the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) presidential candidate, With his trademark against Roxas’ 16,925. support group and brought to their special polling precincts, where BEIs invectives-riddled speech, he warned Maas- It will only be a matter of time before facilitate for the electoral process, Abar said. inhons that “kon mapildi ko dinhi’s Maasin, this Maasinhon will be addressed Presi- After fully documenting their ballots by the standby BEIs, the ballots pang-sunogon ta mong tanan ha” (If I lose in dent Rodrigo Roa Duterte. were returned back to their respective polling precincts to be counted, Maasin I will burn you all). she added. Page 2 May 16-31, 2015 Vol. III, No.22 BRIGADA: City Mayor Maloney Samaco (above) repaints a chair at the Maasin City National High School to kick-off the week-long Brigade Eskwela school cleaning volunteer program of DepEd. Behind him (squatting) in sharing the task is Marissa Magan, City DepEd Schools Su- perintendent. Below, Diego Dain Credo of the Governor’s Office stresses a point during a provincial conver- gence meeting for the opening of classes.

THEY ALSO VOTE: Inmates in various provincial jails all over the province (Above photos) are not denied their right to vote as the Comelec and the BJMP make extra effort to accommodate them.

AIDS LIGHTING: A touching candle lighting ceremony to raise awareness on the horrors and ill effects of Acute Immune Deficiency Syndrome is held in the central square of the city, the Plaza Anatalio Gaviola, right in front of the Cathedral shortly before dusk.

CITY WINNERS: The newly-elected and re-elected officials of Maasin City celebrate with the usual raising of hands, with Cong. Damian Mercado and Gov. Roger Mercado, as they are duly proclaimed by the City Board of Canvassers.

May 16-31, 2015 Page 3 Vol. III, No.22 For Member, Sangguniang Panlalawigan:

First District: Jessica Escano - 41,187 Fe Edillo - 40,948 Margarita Bantug - 40,672 mobalik ra... Janno Idjao - 35,730 Daryl Resos - 27,099 MAY 9, 2016 NATIONAL AND Anggo Astorga - 13,237 Ruel Dumancas - 8,445 LOCAL ELECTIONS Oscar Camus - 5,762 OFFICIAL, FINAL RESULTS IN SOUTHERN LEYTE Second District: Total number of registered voters: 261,148 Bebe Almario - 43,396 Total number of voters actually voted: 224,936 Lee Uy - 40,735 Voters’ Turnout: 86.13% Tata Estrera - 36,045 Myra Rentuza - 33,764 For President: Miguel Maamo II - 32,257 Romy Gomez - 27,879 Rody Duterte - 93,625 Virgilio Astillo - 21,737 - 73,499 Floro Espina - 8,838 - 20,007 Berting Lariba - 4,439 Jojo Binay - 5,955 Mig Caturan - 2,991 Miriam Santiago - 1,933 Ruben Talaboc - 2,816 Roy Seneres - 149 Mohamad Suwaib - 697

For Vice President:

Leni Robredo - 94,972 Alan Cayetano - 40,689 Bongbong Marcos - 32,792 Chiz Escudero - 16,120 Gringo Honasan - 3,739 - 2,476 The winning senators at the national level. For Senators: (Top 15)

Jericho Petilla - 92,689 Martin Romualdez - 84,336 Frank Drilon - 80,795 - 71,788 Kiko Pangilinan - 68,483 Migz Zubiri - 65,128 - 60,695 EXTRA NEWS - 57,739 - 57,380 Barangay micro-business enterprises may - 54,544 Dick Gordon - 53,808 now register for free at Negosyo Centers - 53,440 - 53,022 MAKATI CITY, May 17 -- Barangay Micro-Business Enterprises (BMBEs) Sergio Osmena III - 51,944 can now register their businesses, free of charge, at the Department of Trade - 50,511 and Industry (DTI) through the agency’s Negosyo Centers. “We encourage micro enterprises to register their businesses and avail of the incentives under the BMBE Law,” DTI Regional Operations Group Super- For Party List: (Top 5) vising Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said. Maglaya said that registered BMBEs can avail of government incentives that An Waray - 42,401 include exemption from the payment of income tax for income arising from Tingog Sinirangan - 13,580 the operation of the enterprise, exemption from the coverage of the minimum COOP-NATCCO - 7,777 wage law, special credit window of government financing institutions that will ACT Teachers - 6,018 (to page 2) Ating Guro - 4,881

For Representative (Lone District):

Oging Mercado - 123,806 Rico Rentuza - 65,998

For Provincial Governor:

Mian Mercado - 120,340 Sheffered Tan - 79,275

For Provincial Vice-Governor:

Coco Yap - 90,699 Albert Esclamado - 55,220 Daisy Gamale - 19,277

Page 4 May 16-31, 2015