Leyte-Samar DAILY EXPRESS POSITIVE l FAIR l FREE VOL. XXXI NO. 018 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019 P15.00 IN TACLOBAN Gov. Ong asked by Malacañang to explain absenteeism complaint JOEY A. GABIETA/RACHEL V. ARNAIZ TACLOBAN CITY- Northern Samar Governor Jose Ong was directed by Malacañang to an- Gov. Petilla appeals to parents to swer a complaint filed against him for his alleged frequent absences. have their children immunized amid The letter, issued on Management Office calling increasing measles cases in Leyte January 14, was signed by for the suspension of classes lawyer Ryan Alvin Acosta, or works, citing as an exam- TACLOBAN CITY And of the con- deputy executive secretary ple, a such order when the – Leyte Governor firmed 16 deaths for legal affairs of the Of- province was hit by tropical Leopoldo Dominico due to measles in fice of the President. depression ‘Samuel’ on No- Petilla has called on the region, Leyte The order stemmed vember 20,2018. parents to have their has 13, to include from a complaint filed by “With his habitual ab- children immunized the four from lawyer Reyzandro Unay, sence in the province of with the Tacloban City. a resident of San Roque Northern Samar, by no anti-measles “Those who town in Northern Samar, stretch of imagination can vaccine. have not T h e on December 12,2018 respondent Ong be expect- yet re- call of before the Office of the ed to perform (his) duties ceived the gov- Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico President who alleges that and responsibilities when the mea- e r n o r Petilla issues an appeal to parents to Ong’s “calloused habitual it is clearly physically im- have their children receive anti-mea- sles vac- came in absenteeism” is tanta- possible for him to do so,” sles vaccine as the province experi- cination the wake mount to dishonesty, mis- Unay said on his 14-page ences an unprecedented increase of should of the conduct in office and der- complaint, a copy was fur- measles. a v a i l increas- eliction of duty. nished to Leyte Samar Daily ing number of persons con- (it),” Petilla said. Thus, he is seeking the Express. tacting the measles virus in The governor said that Office of the President to Unay claims that Ong, Malacañang has directed Northern Samar Governor Jose Leyte. based on the reports re- suspend Ong, who is serv- when he is not in the prov- Ong to answer a complaint against him which center on his Records from the re- layed to him, the measles ing on his second term but ince, stays in Manila to at- alleged absenteeism. Ong said that the allegation is base- gional office of the Depart- outbreak is not only affect- is running as congressman tend his businesses and oth- less. ment of Health (DOH) ing babies or children but in the second district of er personal concerns. disclosed that Leyte has the even adults which makes it the province in this year’s that even during times of And despite of his al- plaint said. highest number of measles more worrisome. midterm elections. calamities, of which North- leged frequent absences, He added that in most cases. Thus, Petilla is calling “So egregiously shame- ern Samar is prone to, he the governor continues to cases, it is Vice Gov. Gary As of this week, about even the adults to have less and irresponsible of a cannot attend to the imme- claim his salaries, travel al- Lavin who issues memoran- 312 persons, mostly chil- themselves vaccinated, public official is respond- diate needs of his constitu- lowances and other emolu- da and orders to the Provin- dren, were afflicted with especially those who did ent’s Ong’s absenteeism ents,” part of Unay’s com- see Gov. Ong /page 11 ... cial Disaster Risk Reduction measles across the province. not receive the vaccine, or have them inoculated as a booster. Business complex, public terminal to be constructed Gov. Petilla said that parents should not be afraid to have their chil- Gaisano-led company enters joint dren vaccinated and should give priority on the well- being of their children. venture deal with Samar gov’t Earlier, President Rod- rigo Duterte has also made TACLOBAN CITY- benefits in favor of Samar’s a similar call to parents to The provincial government economy and its people. have their children treated of Samar and the Gaisano- “Among the advan- see Gov. Petilla / owned Metro Retail Stores tages of this joint venture Group Inc. (MRSGI) has is the foreseeable increase page 11 ... entered a joint venture in employment rate, the agreement wherein a economic boom, and the 22-hectare property locat- revenues from the op- ed in Catbalogan City will eration of the convention be converted into a mixed- center, government center use complex. with business processing And this early, Gover- outsourcing(BPO) center, nor Sharee Ann Tan ex- and terminal will all belong pressed her optimism that to the province,” Tan said. the joint venture agree- The governor heralded A joint venture agreement was entered by Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan with Gaisano- ment that she entered in the joint venture agreement owned Metro Retail Stores Group, Inc.that will develop a 22-hectare of lot in Catbalogan behalf of the provincial see Gaisano-led / City into a mixed-use complex. government will reap page 11 ... 2 Leyte Samar Daily Express NEWS Saturday, February 23, 2019 Biliran prepares for EVRAA 2019 Teachers undergo officiating and coaching training NAVAL, Biliran- A Espina. total of 373 teachers at- Both officials have been tended and participated supporting the sports pro- a three- day division- gram of the Department of based regional training Education (DepEd). for training and coaching The training covered Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico ‘Mic’ Petilla presided the 1st quarterly meeting of the Provincial Peace official enhancement. all games such as archery, and Order Council and the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council on Wednesday(Feb.20)held at the Governor’s The activity wasbaseball, basketball, soft- Hall-Museum at the provincial capitol building. Among those who attended the meeting were Palo Mayor aimed at capacitating and ball, sepak takraw, taek- Remedios ‘Matin’ Petilla; Director Edgar Jubay of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency; Lt.Col. Roberto enhancing the coaching wondo, volleyball, boxing, Beatisula, commanding officer of the 93rd Infantry Battalion and S/Supt. Rolando Bade, provincial police skills of teachers who chess, bowling, billiard, director. (GINA P. GEREZ) will serve as coaches in arnis, among others. the forthcoming Eastern Resource speakers and Visayas Regional Athletic trainers from other school Association (EVRAA) divisions shared their ex- Leyte mayor files perjury, falsification Meet which is set on pertise on the different April 7-12, 2019 in Or- techniques and strategies moc City. in winning the games. of public documents against his Biliran has improved Last December, a spe- its ranking during the last cial four- training for gym- vice mayor and councilor nastics was also conducted three years where it holds CARIGARA, Leyte- Ong alleged that the disqualification on the for Biliranon gymnasts the crown in archery for The mayor of this town witness of the complain- grounds of residency. with trainers from Manila. the last five years. has filed criminal cases ants, Maritess Cantojos, Dennis Garay, It was participated by In an interview, Ryan against the incumbent denied that she signed spokesperson of Mayor elementary and secondary Remandaban, the divi- vice mayor and a coun- an affidavit supporting Ong, dismissed the dis- pupils and students who sion sports coordinator, cilor who is running the disqualification cases qualification petitions aspire to become versatile expressed his thanks to against him in this year’s filed against Mayor Ong saying it’s nothing but gymnasts. Biliran wants the eight mayors of the midterm elections. and his son, Eduardo, Jr. political harassment to restore back gymnas- province for supporting Mayor Eduardo Ong Cantojos claimed saying that Ong has tics along with other new the sports program of filed perjury and falsi- that her signature that been serving as mayor Governor Gerardo J. Es- games. (REY E. FAJARDO) fication of public docu- appeared on the com- of Carigara for the past pina, Jr. and Rep. Roger ments against Vice May- plaint was forged. six years now. or Mildred Modesto Ong also said that Still, they will answer Landslide-hit road and Councilor Rachel Mayor Eduardo Ong lawyer Ulpiano Arpon, the petition as they re- Makabenta before the Jr., who was said to have main positive that it in Southern Leyte Office of the Assistant mates in this year’s notarized the disqualifi- will eventually be dis- Provincial Prosecutor elections, committed cation cases filed against missed by the Comelec undergoes major rehab based this town on Feb- forgery using falsified them before the Com- for lack of merit. MAASIN CITY – The immediately,” Junia said. ruary 18. documents when they mission on Elections has Mayor Ong claims Department of Pub- The field office will apply On his affidavit- filed disqualificationalso made a denial. residency in Barangay lic Works and Highways displacement piling instal- complaint, Ong claimed cases against him and Ong, who is seek- Sagkahan of said town. that both Makabenta his son who is his run- ing for his third and last (ROEL T. AMAZONA/ (DPWH) has kicked off the lation method to stabilize LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA) rehabilitation and stabiliza- the foundation of the land- and Modesto, running- ning mate. term as mayor, faces tion works of the landslide- slide site. Workers will drive hit area in Sogod, Southern piles 30 meters below un- Leyte to fully restore the derground to reach the sol- PSA reports of 0.4% decline of inflation major road section within id ground foundation and the year.