Ad space available VOL. 17 NO. 48 ORMOC CITY P 15.00 at the newsstands DECEMBER 26-JAN. 1, 2017 Website address: www.evmailnews.net For feedback/inquiries: e-mail [email protected] Moro terrorists eyed RICE NO LIMIT!!! in Hilongos bombings ... and more Filipino favorites BY LALAine M. JimeneA & MILAGRINA Tonette MArticio RESTAURANT HILONGOS, LEYTE – Authori- now with a better and ties are eyeing the possibility fresher ambiance. that Moro terrorists, financed by drug money, are behind the twin Located at bombings in Hilongos town on 134 Real St., the evening of their feast day on Ormoc City Wednesday, December 28. Pres. Rodrigo Duterte himself confirmed this, in his visit to the victims on December 30, saying that these Moro terrorists are funded by drug money. A theory that they are look- ing at, said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to media, is “It looks like they are employing diversionary tactics elsewhere to ease military pressure on them (in Mindanao).” Identified as having a hand in the bombings are the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and the Maute bandit group, after it was established that the bombs PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE talks to the victims and their families in a one-hour visit to the Hilongos used were 81-mm mortars, bombs General Hospital on December 30. At the back can be seen Gov. Damian Mercado of Southern Leyte. that the two groups use in their acts of terror in Mindanao. What happened? New Year Countdown a success! 32 people were injured in two bombings that occurred just THE FIRST ever New Year’s around 25 meters away from the Countdown in this city police station here. About a thou- was a success, despite jit- sand spectators were watching ters created by the bomb- the free boxing bout that the open ing in Hilongos, Leyte, space nearby, when two bombs around 100 kilometers went off. away. The crowd was Luckily for the town officials thinner than expected, who were seated near the second but enough to fill the bomb, only its blasting cap went quadrangle. off, sparing them. Mayor Richard and Mayor Albert “Bentong” Vil- Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez personally led the count- SEE HILONGOS P. 6 down which welcomed 2017 with a grand fire- works. Before the countdown, the popular South Bor- der band and comedians Tekla and Donita Nose entertained the crowd, interspersed with spiels from the hosts and various STERLING games. INSURANCE CO., INC The New Year’s Eve celebration in Ormoc City “We go further to was relatively peaceful, even as a suspected drug serve you better” pusher was killed by the police when he reportedly For your non-life insurance attempted to shoot at them needs, visit us at: in a buy-bust operation at Door 486 around 10:00 PM before Lilia Avenue, Cogon New Year. Ormoc City, Leyte SEE NEW YEAR Telefax: (053) 561-0750 P. 6 2 NEWS December 26-Jan. 1, 2017 Vega is new OSCA head ORMOC CITY – Eustaquio because our budget will Vega has been appointed be P32 million in 2017 so by Mayor Richard Gomez we need to take good care as the new head of the of it, otherwise the city office of senior citizens af- might get in trouble kay fairs (OSCA) on Thursday, di na ta makaaccommo- effective January 1, 2017, date sa tanan, so we really pursuant to RA 9994 or the need to come up with good Expanded Senior Citizens guidelines to protect the Act of 2010. Ormocanons that deserve Councilor Vince Rama, those privileges,” Councilor chair of the senior citizens Rama said. committee has expressed The official also said support to the newly ap- that some of their priorities pointed head by creating a are to have a 100% enrol- support group that will help ment of senior citizens, and make effective guidelines establish a senior citizens for the distribution of assis- board so that various sec- tance and other privileges. tors will be able to come up He noted that 2017 will with projects for them. be a busy year for for distri- Meanwhile, Mayor bution from the indigents to Richard asked Vega to be other benefits, sharing that fair and give whatever as- President Rodrigo Duterte is flanked by Mayor Richard Gomez and Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez during the lunch they prepared for for Mayor Richard’s first sistance they have immedi- him. At the back are councilors Goito Yrastorza, Nolitz Quilang, Tommy Serafica and Rolando Villasencio. The president used the six months there has been ately to all senior citizens. Ormoc airport in coming to and fro Hilongos. On his way back, he had a late lunch with Ormoc officials and stayed with them no backlogs on birthday “Once you are there, for two hours. gift distribution, and others kinahanglan hapsay imong who were not able to receive padagan so that they will are late filers, while some understand why I have ap- had minor discrepancies. pointed you,” he told Vega. 2 killed, 40 hospitalized due to red tide “Our system needs By Tonette Marticio BILIRAN – Two residents from a payao that was Meanwhile, it was also of Biliran is prohibited as it to be properly validated here are dead from suspect- washed ashore. The prov- reported that a family of has been found positive for ed red tide poisoning and enance of the payao was not seven in Sierra, Catbalogan red tide toxins. PCA calls for a total “coco- 40 others were hospital- ascertained. In Kawayan, it City, were also hospitalized Irong-irong and Cam- ized recently from eating came from shells the people after eating locally known batutay Bays in Western logging” ban starting Jan. 3 contaminated shell fish or harvested from their shore. shellfish known as “sarad” Samar, Matarinao Bay in QUEZON CITY- To pre- PCA Governing Board Alan “tahong”. The victims suffered gathered from the waters of Eastern Samar, the coastal serve and conserve the coco- P. Tanjuakio, Edicio dela Torre The fatalities were an stomach pain, diarrhea and Leyte, which remain posi- waters of Leyte town, Ca- nut trees in the country, Phil- and Ponciano A. Batugal. 81-year old male from Ca- vomiting after eating the tive for red tide toxin. lubian and Carigara Bay ippine Coconut Authority The moratorium will be bucgayan and a 9-year old mussels, reported Eduard The latest shellfish remain positive for red tide. Administrator Billy Andal effective for a period of three girl from Kawayan. Estoso, PIDSR nurse of advisory for signed a national morato- (3) months starting January 3, In a situationer found Biliran. Leyte and rium on the cutting of coco- 2017, while there is an on-go- at the Biliran Blogs, six of The Bureau of Fisher- Samar issued nut trees except in Basilan ing review of the Implement- the red tide poisoning cases ies and Aquatic Resources on December Province and Isabela City. ing Rules and Regulations of came from Cabucgayan, 30 (BFAR) warned shellfish 28, 2016 by “We really have to impose RA 10510593 amending RA from Maripipi Island, and gathered in the waters of the Bureau a moratorium because the 8048 which aims to streamline four from Kawayan. Biliran and nearby Maque- of Fire Pro- RA 8048 is not effectively the processes related to permits Health authorities da, Villareal and Carigara tection show enforced. It is as if the coco and clearances. traced the Cabucgayan Bays remain positive for that harvest- loggers are just making fun of “We really have to do it or poisoning to shells bought paralytic shellfish poison ing and eat- us, they are not taking it seri- else our coconut industry will from Carigara, while the that is beyond the regula- ing shellfish ously. I think it is time to put be endangered. There are more incidents in Maripipi came tory limit. from any part my foot down on this issue,” coconut trees cut than plant- stressed Andal. ed,” said the administrator. Andal signed the mora- “What’s really getting on PWDs can avail of VAT-free purchases torium together with Cabi- my nerve is the fact that the QUEZON CITY - The Department numbers9516033 or 9522809. net Secretay Leoncio “Jun” legal permits given to coco of Social Welfare and Development Benefits, privileges Evasco Jr:, Member of the loggers are being used to il- (DSWD) reiterated that persons with The IRR of R.A. 10754, grants legally cut the coco trees. And disabilities (PWDs) can already avail PWD’s with exemption from Value NOW SHOWING @ the worst part is, our officials of the benefits under Republic Act 1054, Added Tax (VAT) on the purchase of STAR THEATER are the ones in cahoots with the also known as An Act Expanding the coco loggers,” added Andal. Benefits and Privileges of Persons With SEE PWDs P. 7 The proposed moratorium Disability. is expected to strengthen in- The Implementing Rules and Regu- stitutional mechanism in order lations (IRR) of the law which outlines to effectively and efficiently how the benefits are to be implemented manage the enforcement of was signed on December 1 by the the law with the ultimate goal DSWD, Department of Health (DOH), protecting the supply base of and the National Council on Disability the country and to safeguard Affairs (NCDA). the integrity of the systems and Following the signing on Decem- process involved. ber 1 and the publication of the IRR Basilan Province and Isa- on December 8 in two major national bela City are exempted from newspapers, availment of the privileges the moratorium because of commenced on December 23. the Coconut Scale Insect or Showing NEXT: The DSWD also explained that there cocolisap and to encourage is no need for supplemental guidelines _____________ coconut lumber processors to from implementing agencies because *Scheduled showings source their supply of coco- the law and the IRR are sufficient to are subject to change nut lumber in said provinces grant the discount to PWDs.