by magnolia_eic | Aug 24, 2010 | Headlines, National News
With the rest of the Filipino people, I wish to offer our deepest condolences to the families of the victims whose lives were lost in the hostage situation at the Quirino Grandstand. The Secretary of Foreign Affairs has conveyed our deep feelings of sorrow to the Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China and the people of Hong Kong through Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang. I have tasked Secretaries Soliman and Lim to provide everything necessary for the recovery and return home of the survivors. I have directed the fullest cooperation with the Hong Kong authorities on the part of our officials.
From the onset of this incident, the hostage-taker seemed to not be belligerent, as shown by the release of hostages. These were encouraging signs.
We were going to wait him out. The idea was to let the ground commanders who are the experts in this field handle the operation with minimal interference from people who are less expert.
But the situation deteriorated rapidly when, during the course of the negotiations, he was given the letter of the Ombudsman in which she promised to personally review his case. As he was reading the contents of the letter, while talking to an unknown individual on the phone, he became increasingly agitated.
The presence of his brother also added to the tension.
At this point, he threatened to kill a hostage. The police decided to remove the brother from the scene. As the negotiators were departing, the negotiators were shot at.
Media coverage of his brother being taken into custody further agitated the hostage-taker.
Shots were fired. They seemed to be warning shots, as there was no audible indication of tumult or chaos to show that the hostages were in immediate danger.
Nonetheless, the negotiators tried to reestablish contact the hostage-taker but they were unsuccessful as the cellphone of the hostage-taker was continuously busy. He also refused to answer the throw-phone provided for him by the authorities.
The escape of the driver, combined with his reports that the hostages were being harmed, forced the assault to happen. When the vehicle began to move, and with reports that he had hand grenades, a decision was made to immobilize the vehicle as it would have made the situation even more dangerous.
As we know, the incident tragically ended in the deaths of eight innocent civilians.
We expect more of the facts to come to light and I have ordered Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to thoroughly lead this review.
by magnolia_eic | Aug 24, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Hong Kong — The Hong Kong government has issued a statement saying they were “very disappointed” with the outcome of the hostage siege in Manila which left some seven Hong Kong tourists dead.
The city’ Chief Executive Donald Tsang told a press briefing that, “The outcome is very disappointing. It is a tragedy because a pleasure trip has ended up with casualties and injuries.”
As of press time, Tsang says he has not yet reached President Aquino to confirm pertinent information. He demanded that the Filipino authorities provide full account of the deadly incident to the Hong Kong government.
“We have to get the information from the authorities there. Until now I still cannot have a full grasp of the situation. The numbers (of casualties and injured) keep changing.”
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by magnolia_eic | Aug 23, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Manila, Philippines — A hostage-taking crisis in the capital of the Philippines has ended with six of the bus passengers dead after an exchange of gunshots between the hostage taker and the police. Sources confirmed that the hostage taker has also died due to a gunshot in the head.
The Manila Doctors Hopsital has reported receiving four dead and one woman in critical condition.
The incident started when a dismissed policeman armed with an M16 rifle seized the busload of Hong Kong tourists along the Quirino grandstand to demand his reinstatement in the force.
The driver who escaped moments before police surrounded the bus said the hostage-taker, identified as former Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza, 55, opened fire at the tourists.
Mendoza earlier released nine (9) hostages — leaving the 15 inside the bus, while demanding his job back to free the rest.
Shortly after the end of the hostage crisis, Vice-Mayor Isko Moreno was interviewed by CNN. He cited that the demands of the Mendoza included his motion for reconsideration on the case filed against him which caused him to lose his job. When asked by the news anchor whether he was willing to reinstate Mendoza, Moreno reiterated that the demands of the hostage taker was not just about the job, but of the re-opening of his case.
CNN also asked what made the SWAT team decide to surround the bus and exchange gunshots with the hostage taker, Moreno answered by saying when he came back to the area, he was already bringing the letter from the Ombudsman saying that his case will be re-opened. However, upon approaching the hostage taker together with his brother in order to show the letter, Mendoza’s brother suddenly shouted provoking words which further agitated the situation resulting to the exchange of gunshots between the police and the hostage taker.
The Manila Vice-mayor added that such events do not mean that Manila is no longer a safe place to travel. Saying further that these things happen in many other countries and that the police have done what they could. He could have only hoped that no one would be hurt, however, the hostage taker really wanted to make a statement by firing his M16.
Tweets from ABS-CBN and facebook posts have revealed that Hong Kong Outbound Travel Advisory has declared Philippines as a severe threat and all residents must avoid travel bound for Philippines.
by magnolia_eic | Aug 22, 2010 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
DARKNESS eases out of Barangay Maitum in Catigbian when dialog diffused a potential governance headache here.
Long believed as an incendiary that help spark the avid support to the communist, the situation could not just be left unattended, says Catigbian Mayor Roberto Salinas.
Maitum, an agricultural barangay sliced off from a forest, owns 638.8 hectares all classified timberland based on the 1928 survey.
Being timberlands, farmers eversince could not own lands as this is technically government property.
The implications are unthinkable, says Mayor Roberto Salinas, hinting that everyone here is illegally settling and harvesting their planted trees on government lands can get them to jail.
“The thing is, we have problems collecting real estate and property tax from the people as the lands they settle in, are technically not theirs” bemoaned Salinas.
On his last term, Salinas has since attempted to remedy the situation by reclassification of timberlands into alienable and disposable (A and D) lands. This allows the process of claiming ownership to proceed.
After several attempts, the retired navy captain turned mayor finally succeeded in facilitating a dialog among residents and authorities from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Agrarian Reform (DAR) and local concerned agencies and offices last August 17, 2010.
That day, at the Maitum Barnagy Hall, DENR 7 Regional Director V11 Leonardo Sibaluca, Regional Technical Director (RTD) for Forest Management Service Isabelo Montejo, RTD for Land Management Service Diana Apistar, and DAR RD Rudy Inson, Capitol Consultant Isabelito Tongco, PENRO Nestor Canda, CENRO Eusalem Quiwag, BEMO’s Nunilo La Fuente, DAR Bohol’s Operations chief Ronald Pumatong and Catigbian officials led by Salinas, Vice Mayor Rey Lacea, SB members, MPDC Tifilito Rulida, Mun Treasurere Ranulfo Suarez, Assessor Benjie Lacea, MARO Laura Lacea and Maitum barangay officials led by Brgy Captain Jun Tupaz convened for the historic ironing out of the governance kinks.
DAR Bohol’s Dr Ronald Pumatong recounted the “joint efforts” of the municipality and DAR, which has ushered in the moment.
RTDs Montejo and Diana Apistar admitted before the barangay folks that the problem sprouted from an erroneous 1928 survey.
Both of them however were amenable to reclassify the 356.3 hectares as A and D so these can be titled in favor of the farmers.
The meeting then led to the correction of classification from the erroneous survey thereby identifying more than half of the total Maitum area as alienable and disposable, to the applause of barangay folks.
This leaves only an area of only 282.5 hectares as timberland.
Over the development, DENR RD Sibaluca, urged accelerated process of documentation pegged a month-long target so they can finally turn over the A and D lands to DAR for proper disposition.
Finally, DAR RD Inson directed his men to fast track the titling of the lands already tilled by farmers long time ago.
Asked if the one-month target is attainable, government officials said they are optimistic that it can be done. (racPIABohol)
by magnolia_eic | Aug 22, 2010 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
JOBS and work-trainings for youths remain one of the top priorities for the Chatto Administration.
At the recent Kita ug ang Gobernador weekly radio program aired over Bohol AM stations form the People’s Mansion, Governor Edgar Chatto bared a hurting statistic, only 40% of secondary students in Bohol can proceed to college.
As Chatto read the statistics, he also remarked on the dire necessity to look into the matter of basic work training to high school students.
Who takes care of the remaining 60% graduates who could not go to college and are not trained for jobs? Chatto asked.
Over this, to arrest the need to get the 60% secondary school graduates get jobs, both Chatto and Bohol Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) through Dr. Francisca Opog bared their continued implementation of the programs that assure work for Boholano youth.
Dr. Opog said they are opening up P1M school for work training programs scholarship to employable youth aged 18 years old and older.
On the other hand, Chatto revealed that Capitol intends to continue with the Skills Training Advocating Reliance and Self employment (STARS) a program co funded by the Capitol.
The program identifies at least two skills training beneficiaries from every barangay in Bohol for 12 different skills from every barangay.
The project, as conceptualized by the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry aims to generate as much as 26,616 jobs in its first two years of inception also would hopefully start some P204M income opportunities for Bohol, then explained past president Norris Joseph Oculam.
Then funded by the President’s Social Fund, Capitol put in P6.5M and the three Bohol representatives polled a similar amount to get the local job generation program going.
According to Chatto, the country’s educational modules have not as much included work skills training for high school and it compounds to the problem.
Over this, he instructed his Administrator Alfonso Damalerio III and education consultant Cerina Bolos to work out with Bohol Island State University an agreement to make the school a center for excellence in education so they can expand their extension and education services to the farms where they are most needed. (rac/PIABohol)
