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)

Samar gov to cops: Act up, solve shooting incidents

MESSAGE OF GOVERNOR SHAREE ANN TAN RE SAMAR SHOOTING INCIDENTS
Posted by Samar Province on Wednesday, April 6, 2016

CATBALOGAN CITY-- Governor Sharee Ann Tan sternly called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the region to act up and solve the recent spate of shooting incidents that occurred in Calbayog City.

Tan’s call came with a plea to implement law and order in the area without bias to existing political parties in the province. A number of the governor’s family members is vying for high posts in Samar province including the mayoralty seat in Calbayog City, under the banner of the Nacionalista Party.

Tan claimed that not only is the police yet to resolve the spate of killings, most of the victims of which are known supporters of the Tan family, but has also failed to fairly and equally implement law and order.

Among the recent incidents that occurred in Calbayog City involved Rogelio Salvame, 42, a Nacionalista Party organizer in Barangay Guimbauyan Norte, who survived a shooting spree on Sunday morning.

Salvame claimed he was able to identify the gunman who sprayed him with bullets. He said the gunman is on the top list of the police most wanted and is purportedly a supporter of a close rival of the Tans.

Meanwhile, Tan said that it is quite puzzling that most, if not all, of the victims of these shooting incidents are coming from their camp and the police have failed to resolve them.

Tan also asked the police not to allow themselves to be used by politicians and succumb to pressures by other high government officials and be hindered in their honest dispatch of duty.

“Campaign is only for a few weeks and the election is only for a period of time. It is not enough reason to allow themselves to be used for political ambitions,” Tan said.

She also slammed the police for allegedly downplaying the number of shooting incidents that recently occurred and accounting it instead to land disputes and personal motives.

A recent press briefing by the PNP regional office revealed a total of 18 shooting incidents happened in Samar province from January to March of this year. However, PNP-8 Regional Director Chief Supt. Jose Erwin Villacorte said this figure is “not alarming”.

Tan also expressed her disappointment with the spate of shooting incidents even when politicians have signed a peace covenant to stop violence and ensure a peaceful conduct of the election.

“I am calling on the police not just the authorities, but the people, as well as the cooperation of everyone, to remind them not to resort to violence and to respect the dignity of life,” Tan said. (PNA)

Improvements on Sohoton Cave lined up

BASEY, Samar, -- More improvements are now on the pipeline for the Sohoton Cave and Natural Bridge National Park in this town in the bid to draw more tourists.

Photo from Spark Samar Facebook Page 

Basey Tourism Officer Evangeline Ritaga said they are highly considering the recommendation of the Tourism Promotions Board officials who toured the park last year.

Experts found that the site is very attractive to tourists, but its amenities and available services is not yet ready for international market.

The local government unit and the Department of Tourism will take the lead in the improvement projects.

Part of the development that will be done to give better services to visiting tourists is the improvement of tour guiding and food handling services, according to Ritaga.

“The local government unit has made some initiatives, but we are limited with funding constraints,” Ritaga said.

Ritaga noted that since the Samar provincial government initiated the Spark Samar campaign, tourist arrivals in Sohoton went up to 3,259 in 2015 from 865 in 2014.

“We are very thankful to Governor Sharee Ann Tan for doing the campaign but of course this will not be a success without the help of other government agencies like the Department of Tourism and the private sector that had started to come to us to offer help in the promotion of Sohoton,” Ritaga added.

The increase of tourist arrival in Sohoton is attributed by DOT Regional Director Karian Rosa Tiopes to proper coordination between tourism stakeholders.

“This is what happens when provincial and town governments, national line agencies, private sector and communities converge, act together, dedicate time and effort and work for a shared goal to make tourism happen,” said Tiopes.

Last January, ABS-CBN Foundation opened an eco-lodge for tourists who will stay overnight near the natural park.

“The challenge now is for the local organization, Basey local government and residents to enhance the quality service, preservation of natural resources, practice good values to sustain the momentum and increase the arrivals and earnings,” Tiopes added.

Sohoton Cave and Natural Bridge National Park are located within the Samar Island Natural Park, one of the top tourist destination in this province.

Sohoton Cave can be reached from Tacloban through a 45-minute drive passing through the picturesque San Juanico Bridge. A boat would take visitors from the take off point in Guirang village to the cave. (PNA)

Comelec notes drop in number of registered voters for 2016 polls in Samar

Voters Registration (File photo from www.catbalogan.gov.ph)

CALBAYOG CITY -- A total of 490,420 names appeared on the final list of registered voters for the May 9, 2016 elections in Samar province, lower than what the Commission on Elections (Comelec) recorded two years ago.

The drop in the number of voters, according to the Comelec, was the result of the cleansing/deactivation of some voters due to absence of biometric data, unable to vote for the past two elections as well as the transfer of registration of some voters to other places.

Among the 24 towns and two cities in the province, this city remains a vote-rich area with 110,028 registered voters.

Other top five areas with high-voting population are Catbalogan City (60,033), Basey (31,643), Daram (25,607), and Sta. Rita (24,877).

Samar province has 951 villages. It has a total of 3,385 established precincts and 1,165 clustered precincts.

Meanwhile, the local police has already stepped up its plan to secure the peace and order of the province for the coming elections.

In Calbayog City, city police chief Supt. Salvador Tagle said that stricter conduct of checkpoint will be implemented starting Jan. 10 as election period starts. Gun ban will be enforced during this period.

Tagle calls on the support and cooperation of the public for the smooth conduct of checkpoints.

“We would like to appeal to the public to support the authorities and follow what are prohibited during the election period, especially carrying of guns,” he added. (PNA)

Samar guv defends anew Php800-M bank loan application

CATBALOGAN CITY -- The provincial government will push through securing a Php800 million loan from the Landbank of the Philippines, as it would unlock economic opportunities in poverty-stricken communities.

Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan reaffirmed their plan to apply for loan after a provincial legislator and local civil society organization launched a two-week signature drive, opposing the move.

“We badly need this loan to finance the construction of farm-to-market roads since this would jump start livelihood projects, which we have been pushing through for years,” Tan said.

Part of the loan will be used as counterpart fund for the World Bank-funded farm-to-market roads construction under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP).

The Php804.76 million PRDP covers road construction in interior villages in the towns of Basey, Sta. Rita, San Sebastian, Pagsanghan, Motiong, and Villareal.

Under existing rules, recipient local government units are required to put up a 10 percent equity of the total cost of infrastructure projects.

Aside from counterpart of World Bank-funded projects, the local government will also use the loan to finance seven road constructions in Catbalogan City, Gandara, Jiabong, and San Jorge towns. The total cost is Php545 million.

About Php200 million of the loan will also be used in the construction of the first phase of the new Samar Provincial Hospital. Another Php100 million will be utilized to augment national government funds for infrastructure projects in rebel-infested areas.

Tan justified the need for a loan considering that all funds have already been allocated for the implementation of various programs.

“If someone would come and offer 90 percent of the project cost, why not put up 10 percent counterpart to realize the project?” the governor asked, referring to PRDP.

On fears that the loan might be used for election campaign, Tan assured that procurement activities are subject to existing regulations. For PRDP, she said the World Bank process is tedious.

“This is not intended for campaign since we have planned this project in the past long before the election period. Likewise, it is only this year that PRDP came in,” she explained.

The local government will be using the annual internal revenue allotment and of Php1 billion and provincial government properties as collateral. The loan is payable in 15 years, with an annual interest of five percent.

This week, various groups convened for a launching of two week signature drive, blocking the loan application. The target is to gather 600,000 signatures in 24 towns and two cities.

“It has begun. A signature campaign to petition the rejection of the governor's Php800 million loan with Landbank. I was the only one. Now we are many. The administration should hear the people's voice,” said Board Member Alma Uy-Lampasa, on her Facebook post.

Tan defended the loan application, saying that it was approved by majority of provincial legislators. The provincial government has detailed plans on how to spend the loan, she added.

Samar is one of the 10th poorest province in the country with a poverty incidence of 43.5 percent from 2006 to 2012, according to the National Anti-Poverty Commission. The poverty situation is expected to worsen after super typhoon Yolanda ravaged some parts of the province on Nov. 8, 2013. (PNA)

Samar governor dismayed by new Calbayog killing incident

Photo Courtesy of Facebook Pages:
NET25 Western Samar & Province of Samar (Aksyon Padayon!)

CATBALOGAN CITY -- Governor Sharee Ann Tan has expressed dismay over recent killing of their political supporter in Calbayog City even after the signing of peace pact.

Tan said the death of Ryan Cui, who was shot to death by unknown gunmen in Calbayog on Nov. 7, is a big loss to them especially that the victim is a close friend of Calbayog Councilor Raymund Uy.


Uy, an ally of Tan’s family, is running as district representative in the 2016 elections under the Nationalist People’s Coalition. Tan noted that some victims of recent killings are close allies of Uy.

The governor asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct a thorough investigation on the case.

“I am calling not just the authorities, but the people as well as the cooperation of everyone, to remind them not to resort to violence and to respect the dignity of life,” Tan said.

Tan expressed her disappointment with the situation because it’s only been few weeks that politicians in the province signed a peace covenant to stop violence.

“When I heard that report, the question that immediately came into my mind was, what’s the use of signing the covenant if such violence continues to happen?” Tan said.

The official also asked the PNP to jail those with standing warrant of arrest as well as chase members of the private armed group and their handlers. (PNA)

LALAKI BINARIL PATAY HABANG NAKIKIPAG INUMAN SA CALBAYOG CITY, SAMAR Ayon sa imbestigasyon ng mga pulis, Nakilala...

Posted by NET25 Western Samar on Monday, November 9, 2015

Army official to join Samar gubernatorial race

CATBALOGAN CITY -- An Army official who will be retiring from military service Wednesday is eyeing to run for governor in Samar province next year.

After 25 years of military service, Lieutenant Colonel Emilio Zosa returned to Sta. Margarita town, where he grew up and disenchanted with what he has observed of Samar political scene.

“I have been very disappointed with the way the province was being run by some politicians. They always say they want to be the voice of the people, but it ended up differently,” Zosa said.

Zosa is a graduate of class 1991 of the Officers Candidate School (OCS) Philippine Army. He served as the Military Intelligence Commander of the Philippines to Middle East, where he had to travel abroad and to different areas in the country.

Zosa, the provincial chairman of Liberal Party in Samar province, believes that he all need that “determination and a whole lot more” for the 2016 gubernatorial race in the province.

A neophyte in politics, he paints his inexperience as an endowment. He remains untainted by corruption scandals compared to any other politicians in Samar.

He is calling for “transformation” in the entire province. According to him, solutions must be based on policies and ideas. “The people in Samar want a new message and a new messenger,” he added.

Those who once commanded the soldiers, visited Samar villages, carrying his own luggage, wear jeans and rubber shoes. The military, he said, taught him not just to give orders but to lead by example.

“Soldiers are the sons of poor people. I have worked with them for 25 years and I always consider things for their welfare. That's why I have a bond with the people," the official said. "I came from a poor family and have lived in poor villages without water or electricity, and I was fine. I don't think other politicians know how to do that."

Zosa pledges to crack down existence of Private Armed Groups in Samar, fight against corruption, improve the education, medical and health services to the people, livelihood and uphold justice to all the people in the province.

“Reality tells me that there is desperation in Samar,” Sousa said. “We’ve had economic growth, but no development.”
Zosa will be challenging the Tan family, who is in control of key positions in the province.

In 2011, Zosa was reported to be one of the two military intelligence officers who disclosed to senators the names of officials who ordered to wiretap the phones of several officials, including former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and poll commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, during the 2004 elections. (PNA)

Samar gov’t offers cash reward for arrest of wanted private armies

CATBALOGAN CITY -- The Samar provincial government would offer Php100,000 for the immediate arrest of private armies with standing warrant of arrest to attain peace and order in the area.

“The reward is in the hope that criminality in the province will stop and that for criminals to realize that their acts are not welcome in Samar,” said Governor Sharee Ann Tan.

The official made the announcement during the recent Samar Peace and Security Dialogue at the army camp in this city. Private armies members have been tagged as suspects in the recent killings.

“The provincial government has to go to this extent of offering the monetary reward to show to the world that we do not tolerate and we condemn senseless killing in the province,” Tan added.

“I hope that at least within the month, one person with warrant of arrest will be caught by authorities.”

Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Asher Dolina said they have already validated the names of wanted private armies.

“In coordination with the Philippine Army, we will run after them and impose the rule of law in the province of Samar,” Dolina said.

Dolina asked village officials to take part in the drive to hunt down criminals especially when these people are seen in their communities.

The police official, however, refused to divulge the number of wanted PAGS members in Samar as part of their operational plan.

Meawnhile, local officials in Samar from different political parties recently gathered for a peace and security dialogue initiated by the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Batallion and the Philippine National Police.

The dialogue prompted political opponents Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan and Calbayog City Mayor Ronald Aquino to both agree to work for peace.

Town mayors of Sta. Margarita, Matuguinao, Almagro, and San Jorge were also present along with their village officials.

Maj. Gen. Jet Velarmino said the conduct of the dialogue is in response to the series of killings in Samar. From January to mid-September, there are already 34 shooting incidents, resulting to 22 deaths. Most of these were recorded in Calbayog City, the hometown of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento.

Last week, a family of five, including two children, were brutally killed in Victory village in Calbayog by alleged private armies.

Both Tan and Aquino agreed to stop and resolve the killings that are perceived to be politically motivated and perpetrated by private armies.

Tan said the provincial government of Samar will not tolerate any killings, especially when innocent people are the victims.

Aquino, for his part, appreciated the police and army in pursuing the dialogue.

Dolina said the dialogue is the beginning in their pursuit to impose rule of law in the province. (PNA)

Samar towns urged to prepare tourist destinations

from: www.pinoyadventurista.com

CATBALOGAN CITY -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) has called on local government units (LGUs) in Samar to prepare their tourist attractions for development and promotion.

DOT Regional Executive Director Karina Tiopes said that if a town wants to be promoted by the national government, the local government should be prepared in terms of accessibility and tourism assets.

"We need to assess on what their tourism assets are. If it’s a waterfall, what makes it unique? Almost all towns have waterfalls. Tourists want a unique destination,” said Tiopes.

The official admitted that several towns has been questioning the DOT for not getting funds for local eco-tourism development. Tiopes explained that the regional office only gets a PHP9 million budget every year, which limits the DOT’s capability to assist all local government units.

Some local officials also failed to submit project proposals for tourism development, which is a basic requirement for funding support.

“The slow development of an eco-tourism is not always our fault. You need to help yourself. We will help, if you are willing to help yourselves,” Tiopes added.

In the past years, the tourism department has been financing capability trainings for tourist-ready destinations in Samar provice.

Among this is the training of snorkeling guides and reef ranges diving sites at Daraga Islet, Isla Pawikan, and Kinawan Reef in Calbayog City.

In addition, investment campaign will be launched to encourage tour guide operators to promote the site.

Samar province has more than 40 major tourist attractions composed of forests, reefs, waves, waterfalls, and beaches. (PNA)
FFC/SQM/REDNAXELA MAE ALCOBER

Samar gov’t turns over 125 safety gears to river guides

PARANAS, Samar, -- The Samar provincial government has turned over 125 safety gears to Tenani Boat Operators for River Protection and Environmental Development Organization, Incorporated (Torpedo, Inc.) on Monday.

The PHP200,000 worth of gears include throw bags, rash guard, personal floatation device, knee and elbow padding, booties, and helmet, which can be used for the boat-riding activity along Ulot River.

“We needed to revitalize the activity because we know that it has so much potential,” said Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Karina Tiopes during the turn over ceremony.
Number of visitors in the river has reached up to 200 during rainy season and 500 tourists during summer days.

“We cannot deny the fact that the eco-tourism is one of the potentials that we have here in Samar,” said Governor Sharee Ann Tan-de los Santos.

Concrete road, trail, and hanging bridge will be constructed in 2016 to make the river more accessible and tourist-friendly.

“We are very thankful for this project because it helped divert our livelihood from transporting illegal logs,” said one of the river guides.

In the past, the Ulot River was the nautical highway for transporting people and illegally cut logs. (PNA)
FFC/RCK/SQM/REDNAXELA MAE ALCOBER

Festival, governor’s report to highlight Samar Day celebration

Samar Governor Sharee Tan (photo from Province
 of Samar -Aksyon Padayon! Facebook Page)

TACLOBAN CITY-- Samar province will celebrate on Tuesday its Samar Day Celebration highlighted by two major events - the Tandaya Festivals of Festivals Grand Showdown competition at the capitol ground in the morning and State of the Provincial Address in the afternoon.

Tandaya Festival of Festivals, formerly dubbed as Samar Day Festivals of Festivals is on its third year this 2015. The provincial government introduced Tandaya to support local tourism.

Tandaya is the ancient name of the province, the term being used by the local government in their tourism promotion under Spark Samar campaign.

Previous winners of the festival competition like the Mayaw-mayaw Festival of Pinabacdao (2014 grand champion) and Carabao Festival of Gandara (2013 grand champion) are expected to join the competition on Tuesday.

In the afternoon, Governor Sharee Ann Tan-de los Santos will deliver her third State of the Provincial Address or the Governor’s Report at the provincial capitol covered court. It will be attended by village officials, mayors and national government agency officials in the province.

Fireworks display and street party in the evening will culminate the Samar Day celebration in Catbalogan City with a simultaneous concert of True Faith band in Calbayog City for the culmination of the celebration.

Samar Day was earlier celebrated every November 10 to commemorate the election of the first officials of the province. During Martial law era, the celebration was moved to August 23.

In the late 1970s, officials change the date to August 11 to honor the day when Queen Isabel of Spain signed the royal decree that established Samar as a separate province from Leyte. (PNA)
CTB/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA/EGR

Samar province gains from summer tourism campaign

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar -– More than three months after the launch of the campaign “Summer sa Samar,” Gov. Sharee Ann Tan said it helped boost the province’s tourism and was proven to be effective.

Following the launching and endorsement of the campaign now popularly known as the Tandaya Trail, there has been an increase in the income and the number of tourists in Sohoton Cave, one of the destinations promoted under the campaign.

“When there is an increase of income, they become conscious of the trainings and services needed to be improved,” said Tan.
She added that the provincial government will continue supporting them, especially now that they are in need of help in some technical aspects.

Moreover, the governor said that after it was launched, the Ulot River in Paranas, one of the towns in Samar, has bloomed.

“There were two weeks that they didn’t accept guest bookings because they were fully-booked. We hope that this coming Samar Day and Catbalogan fiesta, there will be more tourists and they earn more income,” Tan said.

The campaign, which involves tourism activities such as the Ulot Torpedo Boat Adventure, rolling tours in San Juanico Bridge and Yolanda Memorial Park in Sta. Rita, cultural and religious tours in Basey, trips to Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park, and island-hopping in Marabut, kicked off together with “Spark Samar” last April.

These campaigns are initiatives of the provincial government led by Tan and the Department of Tourism Regional Director Katrina Rosa Tiopes.

“Summer sa Samar” and “Spark Samar” aim to set the province as one of the must-see tourist destinations in the country. (PNA)
SCS/SQM/KIMBERLY MAE I. ORTEGO, LNU-INTERN


Visit the Facebook Page of Spark Samar: www.facebook.com/sparksamar