Calbayog stores reject mutilated banknotes

CALBAYOG CITY -– Private establishments in this city refused to accept the money with stickers and staple markings as payment to purchases of customers.

Thousands of money with stickers of candidates and stapled on sample ballot, has been circulating in this city day since Saturday.

Kahlen Dalac, selling supervisor of Centro Mall Calbayog said that they have received payments from customers with stickers and staple markings, but they refused to accept it.

“Most of our customers have been using money with stickers of candidates name and other with staple markings, in paying the items they purchased, but we refused to accept the money,” Dalac said.

“We are just following the bank’s advise that no stickers or staple markings on the peso bills and that they will not accept it for deposit,” she added.

Other big establishments in the city have placed visible notice in their respective places regarding said advisory.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has been informing the public of its continuous implementation of the ‘Clean Note Policy’ and to intensify the awareness of the said policy to emphasize the importance of the Philippine currency for it represents our country and the Filipino people.

The BSP reminded the public that commercial banks will rejec
t banknotes with staple wires and stickers.

Under Presidential Decree (PD) No. 247 defacing, mutilating, tearing, or partially burning or destroying Philippine banknotes by any means is prohibited.

Stickers, stamped markings, writings, or staple wires on bank notes are unacceptable. PD No. 247 or the Anti-Mutilation Law penalizes anyone who violates the law with a fine of Php20,000 or by imprisonment of not more than five years. (PNA) PGL/SQM/JENNIFER SUMAGANG-ALLEGADO/EGR

San Jorge mayoralty candidate hurt in shooting incident

CALBAYOG CITY -- A mayoralty candidate and his companion in the town of San Jorge in Samar were shot by threemen early Monday morning.

Councilor Lester Bisnar, 48, who is running under Nacionalista Party, and his companion Noel Javolin, 37 gunshot wounds in the leg were brought to a nearby hospital.

San Jorge police cief Sr. Insp. Genaro Nabual said the incident happened around 4:15 a.m. at the town’s Anquiana village while the victims were on board of a van from Catbalogan City.

Nabual said that based on their initial investigation and accounts of eye witnesses, suspects were identified as Stephen Grey, Norman Bernales and Emmanual Pacampara.

The local police launched a manhunt operation to arrest the suspects. Authorities eye politics as one of the angle on the motive behind the attack. (PNA)

AFP deploys troops to thwart NPA intimidation in Samar

MANILA -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines has deployed troops in two barangays in Samar following reports of two incidents of election-related intimidation carried out by the New People's Army (NPA) in the province.

This was disclosed by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla in a briefing Thursday.

"We have received two separate reports of intimidation involving the New People’s Army. (The first which occurred on) May 4, more or less 20 NPAs hauled around 30 residents of Barangay De-it in Matuguinao, Samar, all of which were political leaders of a mayoralty candidate," he added.

"(While the second incident involves) around 15 fully-armed NPAs were also seen in Barangay Candomacol, Motiong, Samar campaigning for the candidacy of a presidential candidate and a senatorial candidate. The group of rebels threatened to execute barangay officials if their endorsed candidates lose in their respective areas. Further reports said that the residents in Barangays Calapi, Bunga, and Malobago in Motiong, Samar requested additional AFP presence due to the NPA members in the area," Padilla revealed.

While no shots were fired on both incidents, he said the AFP has responded to these reports and continues to monitor threat groups who terrorize local communities to ensure the safe and secure conduct of the May 9 elections. (PNA)

Samelco 1 readies contingency plan to ensure brown-out free polls

CALBAYOG CITY -- Samar 1 Electric Cooperative (Samelco 1) laid up its contingency plan to ensure no
power interruption before and during Monday’s elections and until proclamation of winning candidates.

Samelco 1 general manager Sandy Montero said that Task Force Halalan 2016 was created to ensure delivery of reliable, efficient round the clock service during “protected time” to secure substations, distribution lines and power structures, to effectively and productively carry out maintenance tasks and respond accordingly to urgent, emergency call and requests as needed.

Weeks before the elections, the power distribution firm utility has implemented preventive maintenance maintenance in its three substations – Capoocan, Palanas-Cara and San Agustin.

They also conducted clearing overhead and under brushing, repair leaning poles and critical lines, line patrol of the whole coverage area. Said activities were implemented in the whole coverage area of Samelco 1 including the Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) in the island towns of Sto. Nino, Almagro and Tagapul-an.

“We inspected the schools that will be used as polling centers and made sure that power lines are in place and in good condition to avoid power interruptions that will disrupt the conduct of elections.” Montero said.

Starting Sunday, all SAMELCO 1 personnel, especially their linemen in the three substations and SPUG in the island towns will be on standby.

Montero said that service vehicles will also be on standby for monitoring and to respond to calls in case there is an emergency.

Meanwhile, Montero said that despite all these preparations, still they cannot assure that power interruptions will be avoided during the conduct of elections.

“We ask for the cooperation of our consumers, the general public to please avoid activities like cutting of trees or ‘kaingin’ that may interrupt our power supply,” Engr. Montero said.

Samelco 1 is servicing the areas of Calbayog City, Gandara, Matuguinao, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, Sta. Margarita, Tarangnan and the island towns of Sto. Nino, Tagapul-an and Almagro in Samar province. (PNA)

Cops to disband more private armies in Samar

TACLOBAN CITY, April 13 (PNA) –- The Philippine National Police is stepping up their drive to disband 97 suspected members of private armed groups in Samar less than a month before the May 9 elections.

PNP Eastern Visayas Regional Director Chief Supt. Jose Erwin Villacorte said that they may not be able to arrest all suspected private armies, the police managed to neutralize their activities through manhunt operations.

“Most of them are not anymore in Samar. They’re now hiding because of so many raids we have launched,” Villacorte said.

During the first quarter of 2016, the Regional Special Operations Task Group nabbed 11 out of 39 PAGs members with warrant of arrest. During these operations, the police have recovered nine assorted firearms.

Reports reaching the police regional headquarters show that private armed groups (PAGS) with 158 firearms thrive in Calbayog City and nearby towns within the first congressional district of Samar province.

Montealto group based in Calbayog City has the most number of members at 65, followed by Moloboco group with a force of 44 armed men based in nearby Sta. Margarita town. These two groups are in control of 129 firearms.

Private armies are also present in Matuguinao, San Jorge, and Gandara towns. These areas have been consistently identified as hotspot every election period.

PAGs have been reportedly used by some politicians in Samar province to harass their opponent’s political leaders and intimidate voters. (PNA)

Army commits anew to peaceful, orderly May 9 polls

CATBALOGAN CITY, April 13 (PNA) –- The Philippine Army in Samar province reiterated their stand to stay non-partisan this election season while ensuring peaceful and orderly polls in remote communities.

Col. Perfecto Rimando, the Army’s 801st brigade commander based in Hinabangan, Samar said that they recently initiated a peace covenant among candidates in the province as part of soldier’s effort for clean and honest elections.

“Being your Army in Samar province, we will do our mandated task for this political exercise to ensure orderly and peaceful elections. We will abide all the regulations set forth by Commission on Elections as a deputized law enforcement agency,” Rimando said.

The army official told candidates during the signing of peace covenant on Monday that soldiers will remain apolitical and committed to ensure the safety of candidates and help civilians freely exercise their political rights.

“We are here to protect the voting public so that they will cast their votes without intimidation on May 9, 2016,” Rimando added.

The Army have been stepping up their watch against rebels and private armies, whose strength may be used by politicians to threat voters.

The Army-initiated peace covenant signing is backed Comelec, Calbayog Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Philippine National Police, and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.

Samar is the only province in Eastern Visayas that is under the election watchlist area of the poll body.

Running for top provincial position are incumbent Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan-de los Santos who is seeking re-election for third term under Nacionalista Party.

Her opponent is former military intelligence officer Emil Soza of the ruling Liberal Party.

Both candidates were present at the peace covenant signing. This is the first time that they were seen together in a same event since they filed their candidacy.

Other candidates who attended the peace covenant signing were Vice-Governor Stephen James Tan, younger brother of Gov. Tan and their mother, Samar 2nd district representative Milagrosa Tan.

Congressional bets in the 1st district Edgar Sarmiento and Calbayog City Councilor Raymund Uy were also present during the peace pact signing

Bishop Isabelo Abarquez urged the military and police to be the guardian of peace, adheres allegiance to flag and people and defend the life of the citizenry.

“Credible election will create a credible government,” Abarquez added. (PNA)

Cops to disband more private armies in Samar

TACLOBAN CITY, April 13 (PNA) –- The Philippine National Police is stepping up their drive to disband 97 suspected members of private armed groups in Samar less than a month before the May 9 elections.

PNP Eastern Visayas Regional Director Chief Supt. Jose Erwin Villacorte said that they may not be able to arrest all suspected private armies, the police managed to neutralize their activities through manhunt operations.

“Most of them are not anymore in Samar. They’re now hiding because of so many raids we have launched,” Villacorte said.

During the first quarter of 2016, the Regional Special Operations Task Group nabbed 11 out of 39 PAGs members with warrant of arrest. During these operations, the police have recovered nine assorted firearms.

Reports reaching the police regional headquarters show that private armed groups (PAGS) with 158 firearms thrive in Calbayog City and nearby towns within the first congressional district of Samar province.

Montealto group based in Calbayog City has the most number of members at 65, followed by Moloboco group with a force of 44 armed men based in nearby Sta. Margarita town. These two groups are in control of 129 firearms.

Private armies are also present in Matuguinao, San Jorge, and Gandara towns. These areas have been consistently identified as hotspot every election period.

PAGs have been reportedly used by some politicians in Samar province to harass their opponent’s political leaders and intimidate voters. (PNA)
JMC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO