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• BFAR closes Bajo de Masinloc to fishing
• BFAR helps increase Region 2 fishers’ income
• BFAR gives P4-M fishing equipment to Sulu island town
• BFAR 2 distributes fishing gears
• Villagers put up fish sanctuary to sustain livelihood in

At the same time, Baldoz said that the P22 COLA granted last year will be integrated into the basic pay.

According to the Labor chief, the P30 COLA will be given in two tranches — P20 upon effectivity of the newest wage order and P10 effective November 1, 2012.

The P30 COLA applies to all minimum earners in the private sector.

The new wage hike brings the minimum wage in the NCR to P446 a day for the non-agriculture sector and P409 a day for the other sectors.

Baldoz said the P10 COLA will be added to the minimum wage, raising it further to P456 and P419, respectively.

Excluded from the increase are household or domestic helpers, persons in the personal service of another, including family drivers, and workers of duly registered Barangay Micro Business Enterprises. (PNA) scs/jmc

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The National Capital Region’s wage board has recently approved a P30-additional COLA for Metro Manila workers.

“The other Regional Wage Boards have come up with wage orders ahead of the one of NCR. The wage order that was announced today by the DOLE will be published tomorrow and it will be effective upon publication,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Friday.

According to the Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-NCR, the additional COLA will be implemented in two tranches. The first tranche of P20 will be implemented 15 days after the publication of the new order and the remaining P10 will follow six months after.

The P22-increase in COLA that was given last year will now be integrated in workers’ basic pay in addition to the P20-COLA recently approved by the wage board.

The recent adjustment will raise the daily minimum wage in Metro Manila from P400 to P426. This will also mean an increase of around P900 per month for NCR workers. (PNA) RMA/PCOO/ssc

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In an advisory, MMDA said DPWH will conduct road reblocking and asphalt overlay at the following areas:

* In Epifanio Delos Santos Ave. (EDSA), Quezon City, between Corregidor Road to West Ave. northbound, and Balintawak Cloverleaf to Kaingin Road southbound (second lane).

* In A. Bonifacio Ave., between Dorotea and EDSA northbound (outer lane); in Araneta Ave. between Maria Clara and Calamba Sts. northbound (outer lane); in Fairview, Novaliches, Atherton to Regalado North westbound (third lane); in Regalado North between Bronx St. to Bristol St. (second lane); and in Bonnie Serrano Ave., in front of Veterans Bank, left lane from EDSA, and corner EDSA, left lane.

* In Manila, between Sociogo to Rotonda Phase I, II, III, IV/Nagtahan at Ramon Magsaysay Blvd., also in Espana to P. Margal at A.H. Lacson, Sampaloc.

* In EDSA, Mandaluyong City, between Pinatubo and Madison Sts.

MMDA said that the above-named areas will be closed to traffic starting Friday, May 18, at 10 p.m. until morning May 19 and will be opened to traffic on Monday, May 21, at 4 a.m. (PNA) scs/FFC/CLTC

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MANILA, May 18 – Peace talk between the government and a splinter rebel group is quietly gaining headway with the profiling of its members and inventory of firearms in preparation for disarmament.

Undersecretary Luisito Montalbo of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Friday assured the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPM-P/RPA/ABB) that the closure of the peace process pursued by the government was intended to bind the rebel group to commit to peace and ensure their accountability to the rule of law.

The RPM-P/RPA/ABB is a splinter of the New People’s Army, the armed component of the Communist Party of the Philippines and National Democratic Front (CPP/NDF) which is negotiating a separate peace talks with the Philippine government.

At the same time, Montalbo said Friday that OPAPP would study the findings of the fact-finding mission undertaken by peasant groups on the atrocities allegedly perpetrated by members of the RPM-P/RPA/ABB.

The splinter-rebel group has about 700 armed members nationwide.

The alleged atrocities involved abductions, grave threats, strafing, shooting and other abuses. Montalbo assured the aggrieved parties that justice would be pursued.

In a dialogue with representatives of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) as well as victims at the OPAPP headquarters in Pasig City, Montalbo thanked the groups “for bringing the results of their investigation to their attention.”

He urged the victims and the KMP and NFSW to file the necessary charges for proper action, stressing that the agency will coordinate with the Department of Justice, the Department of Agrarian Reform, and the Commission on Human Rights to help the aggrieved parties seek justice as soon as it receives copies of affidavits and other pertinent documents from the complainants.

“The GPH-RPM-P/RPA/ABB peace track will need all the feedback we can get from the ground. We want to put a proper closure to this peace track," Montalbo said.

He said the rebel group is aware of this and has been working with the government in the profiling of its members and inventory of firearms in preparation for disarmament.

“This closure track does not deal with nameless nor bogus members. We have done member profiling and have undergone an inventory of their firearms. We can cross-check if the alleged perpetrators of violence and other atrocities are indeed on the list of RPM-P/RPA/ABB members.” Montalbo said.

No fund release yet

Meanwhile, Montalbo shed light on a news report that the government has released funds to the RPM-P/RPA/ABB.

“The funds are intended for development projects in the communities and will be coursed through appropriate government agencies that will implement the projects,” he said,.

Montalbo said OPAPP has only signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the provincial local government units but no release of fund was made yet pending the signing of a closure agreement. (PNA) RMA/RBC/utb

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Judge James V. Go, presiding judge of the Butuan City MTCC Branch 2, was removed from the service, "with forfeiture of all retirement benefits, except accrued leave credits, and with prejudice to reemployment in any branch, agency or instrumentality of the government, including government-owned or controlled corporations."

"…We find that the dismissal of the respondent judge from service is indeed warranted," the SC held in an en banc decision promulgated on April 10, 2012.

"This Court has long maintained the policy of upholding competence and integrity in the administration of justice. Incompetence and inefficiency have no place in the judiciary," the SC said.

The SC said that "respondent's indifference to the charges against him only proves his lack of commitment to the duties of his office, making him unfit to continue in public service."

"This Decision is immediately executory," it added.

The case arose from a judicial audit and physical inventory of pending cases conducted from Sept. 25, 2006 to Oct. 2, 2006 by the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) in Butuan City MTCC.

The audit team discovered that as of audit date, Judge Go failed to immediately arraign the accused in 632 criminal cases, to archive 140 criminal cases, to act on summons issued in 477 criminal cases, to act on 13 cases which had not been acted upon for a considerable length of time, to resolve the pending incidents or motions in 15 criminal cases, to act on 17 civil cases from the time of their filing, to take further action on 32 civil cases, and to resolve motions or incidents in 88 civil cases.

It also noted the reports of some court officials and employees that Judge Go would always leave the court in the morning after finishing all hearings scheduled for the day and would return only on the following day.

When the audit team confronted the judge, he replied that he left early to rest as he suffered a stroke before, and that being a judge, "he is not required to render eight hours of service a day."

The OCA recommended that the judicial audit report be treated as an administrative complaint against Judge Go.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Butuan City and Agusan del Norte Chapter, also issued on Oct. 4, 2006 Resolution No. 2, Series of 2006, expressing disappointment over Judge Go's inefficiency and incompetence, which has caused undue delay in the disposition of cases pending before his sala. The resolution was submitted to the OCA.

The SC resolved on Jan. 29, 2007 to treat the judicial audit report as an administrative complaint for gross inefficiency and gross neglect of duty against Judge Go and his clerk of court, Ma. Elmer M. Rosales, and required them to comment within 15 days from notice.

Instead of filing a comment, Judge Go wrote a letter dated March 12, 2007 addressed to the Court Administrator denying all the allegations in the judicial audit report.

Noting Judge Go's deplorable failure to comply with the said directives, the OCA in a Memorandum dated Dec. 1, 2011, recommended to the SC that Judge Go be dismissed from the service.

In its ruling, the SC said that "the disrespect of respondent becomes more pronounced as the Court has noted that to date, he has not even complied with its latest resolution of February 2, 2011 nor adequately complied with the Decision dated September 27, 2007."

The SC said that it found that Go "did not file the required comment to our show-cause resolutions despite several opportunities granted him by this Court."

"His willful disobedience and disregard to our show-cause resolutions constitutes grave and serious misconduct affecting his fitness and worthiness of the honor and integrity attached to his office," it said.

"It is noteworthy that Judge Go was afforded several opportunities to explain his failure to decide the subject cases long pending before his court and to comply with the directives of this Court, but he has failed, and continuously refuses to heed the same," the SC said.

"This continued refusal to abide by lawful directives issued by this Court is glaring proof that he has become disinterested to remain with the judicial system to which he purports to belong," it said. (PNA)

scs/PTR

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MANILA, May 17 – “Wala munang tulugan!”

This was the urgent call made by the Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC), a United States-based Filipino-American organization, to all Filipinos residing in and outside the United States to vote for Jessica Sanchez, one of the remaining three contenders for the coveted American Idol title for 2012.

The MHC, through Grace Valera, one of its co-directors, in an e-mail to the Philippines News Agency, said that Filipinos across the globe can cast their votes by dialing 1-866-436-5702, 1-866-5705 OR 1-866-5708 (300 TIMES) or TEXT vote to 5702 or vote online www.americanidol.com (50 x only) on Thursday, Manila time.

"We need your solid votes. Do not vote for other contestants,” Valera said

Jessica Sanchez, a Filipino-Mexican-American mestiza residing in California, is a leading contender for the 2012 Idol American television show.

The MHC is aiming to get 100 million votes for Jessica.

Valera has expressed confidence Jessica can get the votes needed to win the coveted title as shown by the 70 million votes she got in last week’s balloting.

The other two leading contenders are Josh Ledet and Phillip Phillips.

Valera said the whole world is watching the outcome of the 11th episode of American Idol.

Jessica’s tantalizing performance has impressed judges of the popular TV show.

Will Jessica Sanchez win the coveted title? Your guess is as good as anybody else. (PNA)

DCT/scs/RBC/mec

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MANILA, May 18 – When Chief Justice Renato Corona finally faces his own impeachment trial on Tuesday, expect Senator-Judge Franklin Drilon not to focus on the supposed 82 dollar accounts, but on the alleged failure of the chief magistrate to report his wealth in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

”Whether or not it is eight or 80 dollar bank accounts, that’s not the issue because ill-gotten wealth is not the issue but failure to report assets,” Drilon said in a DWIZ radio station interview on Friday.

Drilon said the alleged 82 dollar accounts of Corona in five banks worth US$ 10 million as revealed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales in the impeachment court was just ‘peripheral’ issue.

”The real issue is if there are unreported assets. If none, then the Chief Justice should be acquitted because that is the only issue,” Drilon explained.

He said that even the claims of the defense that there was conspiracy to pin down Corona would be immaterial if the chief justice has indeed failed to report his assets.

”But if there is no proof of unreported assets, then that conspiracy claim is important. Right now, the defense should show to the people the truth,” the senator said.

He said Tuesday’s appearance of Corona would be the climax of the three-month impeachment trial.

”It would be super Tuesday,” Drilon stressed.

Meanwhile, Senator Serge Osmena III still believes that Corona should explain the alleged 82 dollar accounts as well as the Basa-Guidote Enterprises Inc. (BGEI) ownership.

“These 82 bank dollar accounts, do these exist? If they do, why were they not declared in his SALN?” Osmena said in a media interview.

Osmena said it is important for the chief justice of the Supreme Court (SC) to show proof that he does not own the 82 dollar accounts.

”If he denies without evidence, then he will be in trouble,” Osmena added.

He also warned Corona not to invoke the temporary restraining order that the SC issued upon the petition of the Philippine Savings Bank which cites Republic Act No. 6426 or the Foreign Currency Deposits Act.

“They will not get away with that. The public know those technicalities will not work at this late stage,” the senator from Cebu said. (PNA) DCT/scs/jfm

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During the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Friday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte called on the Filipino people to continuously support the Philippines’ bet and ensure her victory in the popular singing contest in the United States.

“Please show your support in any way possible for Jessica Sanchez. This is the last stretch and we know that when Filipinos gather and put their minds into it, it will happen,” Valte said.

“As she moves on to the final stage of the competition we stand in solidarity with Jessica Sanchez as she shows the world what Filipinos are capable of,” she said.

In a separate statement from the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson, Valte acknowledged the significant effects of Sanchez’s success in the contest.

“Due to popular demand on Jessica Sanchez’s moving on to the top 2 of American Idol, excellence knows no boundaries, the power of music uplifts us all, the entire Filipino people have united in admiration and enthusiasm over the performances of Jessica Sanchez in American Idol,” the statement read.

“Her perseverance and passion have inspired and surprised not just America but the whole world with a voice that is as powerful as it is stirring. Jessica inspires us to pursue excellence in everything we do no matter how big or small the stage maybe,” it said.

The crowd favorite Sanchez was named in the top two on Season 11 of the American Idol show Thursday evening (Friday morning, Manila time). She will be pitted against Phillip Phillips, the other finalist in the final round of the contest next week.

Sanchez's top 2 achievement is the highest attained by a contestant with Filipino heritage on the show.

Filipino-American Jasmine Trias made it to the top three of AI's Season 3, while Ramiele Malubay, another Fil-Am, placed ninth in Season 7.

Thia Megia, another Filipino-American, meanwhile, finished in the top 11 of last year's competition.

Sanchez, who hails from Chula Vista, San Diego, California was born to a Filipina mother, Editha Bugay from Bataan, while her father is Gilbert Sanchez, a Mexican. (PNA) dct/RMA/PCOO/ssc

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MANILA, May 18 -– Citing constitutional rights of working women for healthful working conditions, Senator Manny Villar has filed a bill prescribing a six-hour working schedule each day for the employed pregnant women.

In filing Senate Bill 3174, or "Pregnant Women Workers Act of 2012", Villar said work brought unwanted stress to the employed pregnant women that might affect their unborn child.

”Pregnant women have a hard time in striking a balance between working and getting the proper rest. As such, this representation finds it proper that the State allow pregnant women to work and earn but limit the time for work to insure that employed pregnant women get the proper rest,” Villar said in the explanatory note of his measure.

The bill provides that all employers should only require pregnant women to render six-hours of work a day prior to the latter’s actual availment of maternity leave benefits prescribed by the existing laws.

The proposed measure, however, provides that the pregnant women who work only six hours a day should also be entitled to receive regular pay and other benefits given to the employees who work eight hours each day.

”Allowing pregnant women workers to work in a six-hour a day schedule and receive the same salary earned from a eight-hour work schedule is the best way to insure that employed pregnant women gets to earn a living and get the proper rest at the same time,” Villar said.

”Life nowadays are hard, the traditional family where the father is the only one working is gone. Women, married or not, are now a vital part of our work force. Sometimes, even when already pregnant, women still go to work and expend energy just to earn and save for their impending delivery,” the senator said.

Villar, whose wife Cynthia formerly served as congresswoman of Las Pinas and being groomed as senatorial candidate of Nacionalista Party (NP) in next year midterm elections, is appealing for support from his colleagues to approve the bill. (PNA) dct/RMA/jfm

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Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte issued the statement during the regular press briefing in the Palace following reports that Faeldon and his group have decided not to push through with their Panatag fishing expedition Friday upon request of the Chief Executive.

"The President indeed did speak to Mr. Faeldon and had asked him to reconsider his plan of going to Panatag Shoal because it might be construed in a negative way," Valte said.

Reports said a fleet of fishing boats to be led by Faeldon and former Annapolis cadet Manny Albuera were supposed to sail to Panatag Shoal to reinforce the country’s territorial claim over the said rich fishing ground.

However, Faeldon and his group heeded the request of President Aquino not to push through with their fishing expedition.

"We were informed this morning that he had reconsidered his plan," Valte said.

Valte said the Philippines maintains its stand to resolve the territorial claims over the contested Panatag Shoal diplomatically and to de-escalate any tensions between the country and China.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Bajo de Masinloc is an integral part of the Philippine territory and part of the municipality of Masinloc, province of Zambales. It is located 124 nautical miles west of Zambales and is within the 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Philippine Continental Shelf. (PNA)

scs/PCOO/ssc

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“TUCP president Atty. Democrito “Kito” Mendoza welcomes the integration of the 22-peso COLA (cost of living allowance) per day. This is beneficial to workers in the computation of overtime pay, holiday pay, premium pay, night shift pay, 13th month pay, retirement pay, etc.

"However, we have mixed feelings with the increase of 30 pesos in two tranches. We will challenge this and file an appeal at the appropriate time.

"We petition for a 90-peso wage increase to narrow the gap between the basic minimum pay of 426 pesos and the family living wage in NCR which is 993 pesos. It is very clear that the wage board does not seriously take into account the lives of the workers. What they did in this instance is to heed the profit-oriented employers.

"Thus, the TUCP, in the days ahead, is constrained to make stronger courses of actions to advance and improve the plight of the workers." (PNA) scs/PR/utb

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SORSOGON CITY, May 18 -– The Inter-Agency Council Against Child Trafficking (IACAT) has identified three seaports in Sorsogon province as “hot spots” for human trafficking.

IACAT head lawyer Ryan Inoncencio said on Friday the seaports serving as exit points for human trafficking in the island province of Masbate and the Visayas were that of Pilar, Bulan and Matnog roll-on, roll-off (Roro) facilities.

The ports in Pilar and Bulan towns, respectively, serve as the jumping board between Sorsogon and Masbate province covering its mainland and the islands of Ticao and Burias.

The port in Matnog town is considered the busiest Roro terminal, serving ferry boat trips to and from Samar and serving as the main transportation link between Visayas and Mindanao regions and Luzon.

Taking advantage of the poverty and limited employment opportunities confronting residents in Masbate, the poorest province in Bicol; and Samar, among the 10 poorest in the country; are human trafficking syndicates recruiting workers including minors for deployment in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Most of the time, minors, particularly girls victimized by these syndicates, end up in force labor and prostitution, according to Inoncencio.

Last week, police operatives in Masbate City arrested a suspected human trafficker with 12 recruits, five of them minors while attempting to board a passenger boat from the Masbate port to Pilar.

Masbate PNP provincial director Sr. Supt. Heriberto Olitoquit identified the suspect as Ricky Astilla, 30, who has been charged by the Masbate police for violation of or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (Republic Act 9208).

Human trafficking and prostitution of children in the Philippines were significant moral and legal issues due to the control and power organized by crime syndicates, Inoncencio said.

Other laws giving protection to workers, children and women are Republic Act No. 7610, the Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, that provides protection of children against abuse, commercial sexual exploitation, trafficking, and employment in illicit activities.

The Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act 7160) also includes provisions for the proper development and welfare of children at the basic political level, the barangay, and enjoins local officials to promote and support activities for the protection and total development of children.

The Masbate victims, particularly the minors who were reportedly promised jobs in Bulacan, were turned over to the local office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for proper dispositions while the rest were sent home after necessary documentations.

“We are also calling on the public, particularly parents of minors, to be extra careful in dealing with persons especially strangers recruiting workers for Metro Manila and other areas outside of their respective towns to avoid being victimized by human traffickers,” Inoncencio said.

Human trafficking was a new form of slavery and abuse against innocent persons, including children who were taken into force labor and prostitution, and fighting it required the cooperation of the public and the community, he said.

This crime often times victimizes people in far-flung villages where poverty is prevalent that is why, Inoncencio said, IACAT had been formed with members, including the PNP, DSWD, Department of Labor, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Justice (DOJ) among others to serve as government arm against this social problem.

Human trafficking in the Philippines according to Inoncencio included recruitment, transport, transfer and harboring of persons by threat, force or coercion or abduction, fraud or deception for exploitation.

The most prevalent forms of sex trafficking in the Philippines are prostitution, sex tourism and mail order brides including bonded labor and domestic work.

A recent report of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said around 100,000 children in the Philippines were involved in prostitution with highest incidence in tourist areas where undetermined number of children are forced into exploitative labor operations. (PNA)

RMA/LAM/LQ/DOC/cbd

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FPOP president Napoleon Hernandez, an ex-officio Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) member here, said the FPOP advocated the importance of having a law that directly address the reproductive health needs of Filipinos.

FPOP is an organization promoting universal access to quality family planning information and education services to address sexual and reproductive and health issues among Filipinos.

Hernandez said a reproductive health care law would give the public direct access to necessary health services, particularly among the poor.

Hernandez said FPOP fully supported the national government's health advocacy and in the passage of the RH bill so that every Filipino could understand and decide for their family's welfare.

He said the new FPOP also planned to establish community-based health distributors in the country where the public could avail of family planning services.

Hernandez said he would also ensure that the 26 FPOP chapters and clinics in the country provide a wide range of family planning services and in examining diseases afflicting women.

On Wednesday, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan here congratulated Hernandez as the new leader of the FPOP.

Hernandez is known in his barangay (San Marcos) in San Mateo, Isabela for introducing and supporting its successful solid waste management program. (PNA)

RMA/LAM/SCD/MEdale/mba

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City administrator Ruben Santos said that each member of the Office of the Senior Citizen’s Association (OSCA) in the city with an age of 77 years old and above will receive P1,500 financial assistance from DSWD per quarter.

He said that the OSCA prioritized those indigent members, particularly those neglected by their family and have no permanent income.

Virginia Fider, 85, of Barangay Sta Maria here thanked the government especially President Benigno Aquino III by implementing the program that helps the old ones like her.

Santos said the second quarter’s release of pension will be on July.

Santos called on the the attention of every household in the city to assist their senior citizen's relatives to register and apply for the pension program of the government.

He said that although personal appearance is advised for the beneficiaries, they can still avail their pension through authorization letter if in case they can no longer walk or travel going to the venue of the releasing activity.

The beneficiaries also thanked the city government for facilitating the pension distribution.

Aside from the DSWD pension, the recipients also members of the advanced clinical enhancement card for their health concern.

The OSCA in this city has also operating their own drug store wherein their members can easily or automatically avail discounts on all kinds of medicines. (PNA)

FFC/zst/EG/ps

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Reports reaching here said an SF-260 training aircraft, with body number 716, took off from the Danilo Atienza Air Base in Sangley Point in Cavite at 6:52 a.m for a proficiency flight to Corregidor in Bataan.

It was reported missing after failing to return on time.

Reports said the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard immediately launched a search and rescue operation and spotted parts of the plane’s wreckage at La Monja Island in Mariveles in Bataan.

However, the fate of the two missing pilots, identified as Maj. Neil Tumaneng and 1st Lt. Michael Arugay is not known. (PNA)

hbc/LAM/zst/FEM/ps

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This surfaced from the statement of the Joint Inspection Team headed by Butuan City Business Permits and Licenses Office.

In their inspection on May 11, the team found out Latest Fashion Store and Langihan General Merchandise, all at Langihan Commercial District near Langihan Market, to have their sales ladies and store workers stay in a separate living and sleeping quarters adjacent to the store especially made for them.

The team’s post inspection report signed by Paul Cabrera, acting chief of the Permits and Licenses Division and Head of the Joint Inspection Team, revealed Latest Fashion owned and operated by Mark Anthony Samper were found to have 14 sales ladies who were stay-ins at the store’s two storey building made of light wood materials.

PNA was able to obtain copy of the Joint Inspection Team report.

The team found out the emergency light at the fire exit already busted and not functioning, absence of exit signs, inadequate emergency firefighting device and only one fire extinguisher, obstructed egress and substandard electrical wirings that may caused fire.

When the sales ladies present during the inspection were asked by the inspection team why they are staying at the store, the sales ladies allegedly replied, the store management required them to do so.

Said establishment had no Fire Safety Inspection Permit, the team found out.

At the Langihan General Merchandise, the team also found out 32 male and female workers were stay-in at the store in a living and sleeping quarters situated just above said store establishment.

The report claimed said store had no emergency amp installation and only one accessible entrance to the building passing to grilled hallway door with no fire exit at all.

It was also found out the fire extinguisher of the building was not functioning because it already expired long time ago.

When the team asked from Langihan General Merchandise store owners if they have issued Fire Safety Inspection Permit, the owners replied there was none.

Cabrera claimed they also went to Explosion Disco Bar and Lounge located at R. Calo St., this city and they found out said establishment had small fire exit, expired extinguisher and no emergency light everywhere in the building which posed grave danger to customers/public if fire will occur anytime now.

In the report it said the Joint Inspection Team was composed of representatives from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), City Architect’s Office, Department of Labor and Employment Caraga regional office, and the City Mayor’s Office.(PNA) hbc/BS/utb

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The towns of San Miguel, Janiuay and San Joaquin availed of the trainings.

The San Miguel availed of the Katarungan Pambarangay Training Orientation, which benefited 19 punong barangays, 15 kagawads, 20 barangay secretaries and nine lupon members.

The Municipality of Janiuay, on the other hand, conducted Basic Orientation and Team Building Seminar with Rope Course for SK Officials participated in by 239 Sangguniang Kabataan members.

A Skills Enhancement Training for Sangguniang Kabataan as well as leadership seminar was held in with 80 SK members as participants. (PNA) RMA/SGSuobiron

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He said the guards had been remiss in their duty that facilitated the escape of three inmates who are facing serious charges.

SGO4 Christopher Gablines identified the three escapees as Exequiel Aniscal, 50, a resident of barangay San Vicente, Maribojoc; Brian Ceniza, 23, of barangay Napo, Inabanga; and Mario Ylaya, 23, of barangay Tambuan, Carmen.

Aniscal is facing charges of robbery with homicide, while Ceniza is facing charges of illegal possession of firearms based on Republic Act 8294, murder, car theft and highway robbery; and Ylaya is facing charges of robbery with intimidation of person.

The trio escaped easily while everyone was busy with the rehearsal for the graduation of the alternative learning program at 2 p.m. Thursday.

The footage from the CCTV camera showed the three, oblivious to everyone in the compound, left the crowd and went to the sentinel area at Gate 6 manned by four jail officers.

Aniscal poked a gun at the Jail Officer 1 Jose Jomar Torreon and took his .45 caliber service firearm, then headed to Gate 2 and took the caliber .9mm service firearm of Senior Jail Officer 3 Menard Bompat.

They immediately fled on a getaway vehicle, a motorcycle, parked outside the jail with the key in it already.

The motorcycle is owned by one Michael Manzano of Purok 7 in barangay Tawala, Panglao who had been listed in the logbook of visitors during that day.

Chatto immediately ordered manhunt on the three escapees and coordinated with Provincial Police Director Constantino Barot Jr. to block all exit points of the province and put up checkpoints in several places.

However, until late Friday afternoon, the pursuit remained futile.

Barot believes the escapees might have separated ways and gone far already through sea transport.

Provincial Administrator Alfonso Damalerio II said it was obvious that there had been lapses on the part of the jail officers and they would be liable for the incident.

Provincial Jail Warden Reynan Torreon, who was in Cebu when the incident happened, will also be included in the investigation for command responsibility, according to Damalerio.(PNA) hbc/RMA/AV/utb

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