Political supporters gunned down in Northern Samar

CATARMAN, Northern Samar -- Violence continues to rise as the election gets hotter in this province with the recent incidents that killed two identified supporters of politicians here.

Police identified the first victim as Ernesto Caparal, 40, resident of Barangay Balnasan and known supporter of Jocelyn Curso, mayoralty candidate of the Liberal Party in San Roque town.

Police: No recorded violence in Calbayog

CALBAYOG CITY -- The local election conducted here Monday ended without any recorded violence, despite few reported incidents before the start of the polls, police said.

Police Senior Inspector Sotero Abrito of Calbayog City Police Station (CCPO) said in a phone interview late Monday evening that they did not receive or monitor any violence during and after the voting in the three districts of Calbayog.

Army deploys units for safe election

CATBALOGAN CITY – Brigade General Gerardo Layug, of 8th Infantry Division, said they will deploy five hundred military units to voting centers in the region, in addition to 900 units from the Philippine National Police (PNP) to have a peaceful election despite Samar’s inclusion on election “hotspots” of the PNP and Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Tacloban top cop relieved from post

THE head of the Tacloban City Police was relieved from his post barely two days before election day – a move that surprised residents here.

Senior Superintendent Romulo Cleve Taboso was removed from his post and was transferred to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (RPHAU) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters.

Independent bishops support Villar’s senatorial bid

THE senatorial bid of former Las Pinas representative Cynthia Villar has earned endorsement of the country’s Catholic and non-Catholic independent bishops, citing candidate’s poverty alleviation advocacy.

In a simple rites at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan on Wednesday, Reverend Efraim Perez, president of the Independent Bishops Conference of the Philippines (IBCP), said they picked Villar due to her track record, competence, and leadership as shown in her nine years’ stint in Congress.

Courts, PAO offices open on Election Day

WHILE employees in public and private offices are largely on vacation today to utilize the time to cast their votes, judges and clerks of courts in lower courts and all public attorneys and staff of Public Attorney’s Office across the archipelago are duty-bound to serve not in the polling precincts but in their respective courts and offices.

In separate circulars issued by Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez and Chief Public Attorney Persida Rueda-Acosta on April 25 and April 29 respectively, both stated the need to ensure that free legal assistance will be provided to public school teachers who may be harassed while in the performance of their election duties.

Northern Samar declared as area of immediate concern

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Eastern Visayas has declared the entire province of Northern Samar as area of immediate concern less than a week before the May 13, 2013 midterm elections.

With this declaration, security in the province was beefed up to prevent any possible untoward incidents during the elections, Comelec Acting Regional Director Veronico Petalcorin said.

Police office to deploy 5,000 cops for polls

CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte -- Police Regional Office-Eastern Visayas (PRO 8) Director Elmer Ragado Soria said Wednesday that they will deploy close to 5,000 policemen to render election duties for the May 13 polls.

This came as the Philippine National Police (PNP) high command raised to full alert status all police units nationwide effective 6 a.m. Monday.

Complaint vs Noel now with KBP

THE Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) national office has taken cognizance of the alleged harassment and intimidation of a radioman by outgoing An Waray Representative Florencio "Bem" Noel, a mayoralty candidate in Tacloban City.

Virginia Velasco, standard authority performance officer of KBP national office, in her letter-response to lawyer Ma. Corazon Sudario, general manager of Philippine Collective Media Corp. who operates dyBR, acknowledged receipt of the complaint filed against Noel last May 3, 2013 regarding the incident last April 26.

Charges filed vs Victoria mayor’s attackers

CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte -- Police have filed criminal charges against two persons tagged as responsible for a gun attack that injured a town mayor and his son in Northern Samar.

The shooting incident, which happened last May 2, injured reelectionist Victoria town Mayor Jose Ardales and his son Jorge. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) considered the incident as an election-related violence considering the personalities involved, but did not yet put the area under its control.

Labor office: No work plan yet from EDC

THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) is still waiting for the Energy Development Corporation’s (EDC) work plan, more than a month after the landslide that killed 14 workers inside the geothermal complex in Kananga, Leyte.

Citing revised timetable, Dole Eastern Visayas Director Exequiel Sarcauga said the EDC is expected to submit its complete geotechnical plan on or before May 30.

Kris Aquino: ‘Game over’ for opponents of Team Noel

“IT’S game over!” said the presidential sister and popular TV-host Kris Aquino, as she addressed a huge crowd of about 30,000 at the Leyte Sports Development Center in Tacloban City on Friday.

Aquino endorsed the mayoralty bid of An Waray party-list Representative Florencio “Bem” Noel together with his coalition team.

Kris eyes local position in 2016

TV HOST and actress Kris Aquino will seek for a local position instead of a national position for 2016 election.

Aquino was in Tacloban to campaign for re-electionist Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero and former Movie and Television Review and Classification Board chair Grace Poe, both candidates of the administration coalition Team PNoy.

2 police officials await reassignment to new post

DESPITE the turnover ceremony sanctioned by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the reassignment of two police officials in Eastern Visayas has yet to be carried out.

Senior Superintendent Brigido Unay is supposed to be transferred to the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) to replace Senior Superintendent Ramil Ramirez.

Thousands attend Noel’s grand rally

THOUSANDS of supporters joined the grand rally conducted by the coalition team of mayoralty bet Florencio “Bem” Noel last Friday afternoon at the Leyte Sports Development Center (LSDC) in Tacloban City.

Presidential sister and movie television host-actress Kris Aquino, Senator Francis Joseph “Chiz” Escudero and senator bet Grace Poe served as the guests of the slate’s grand rally.

DOT official visits Eastern Visayas

LAWYER Maria Victoria Jasmin, Department of Tourism (DOT) undersecretary, recently visited Eastern Visayas to assess and interact with stakeholders of the Local Governance Support Program for Local Economic Development (LGSP-LED) assisted private sector and LGU-NGA stakeholders in Ormoc and Palompon.

Jasmin is the DOT undersecretary for tourism regulation, coordination and resource generation. She also inaugurated and formally turned over the jetty ports in Basey, Samar together with An Waray representative Neil Montejo.

Biliran remains peaceful

BILIRAN remain peaceful said Police Senior Superintendent Felix Diloy as no election related incident yet reported to the Philippine National Police (PNP) since the start of campaign period.

He said PNP is prepared for securing the conduct of May 13, 2013 midterm elections.

2 suspects in shooting suspended mayor, son, now in police custody

CATARMAN, Northern Samar - Two suspects, a former member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) and a bodyguard of a mayoralty candidate, were held as investigations continue on what is now considered by the police as the first election related incident here.

Suspended Victoria town Mayor Jose Ardales and his son, Jorge, were shot Thursday evening.

Kris campaigns for Bem Noel’s mayoralty bid

TACLOBAN CITY - Presidential sister and actress-host Kris Aquino visited the city Friday to campaign for the mayoralty bid of outgoing An Waray Representative Florencio “Bem” Noel.

Aquino, who is among the country’s most popular personalities, said that her campaign for Noel is “voluntary”.

Biliran election official challenges voters

NAVAL, Biliran – The elections supervisor of this province has challenged Biliranons to become responsible and intelligent voters this coming elections.

Lawyer Sabino Mejarito said that changing the mindset of the people remains an elusive dream for all Biliranons as most people still resort to the old style of choosing their leaders.

Lawmaker’s party to hold rally today

THE slate of An Waray party-list Representative Florencio ‘Bem’ Noel is holding a grand rally today, Friday, which is expected to gather at least 21,000 supporters at the Leyte Sports Development Center.

A motorcade, which is set to gather the councilor bets from the different parts of Tacloban City, will converge from various points and will end up at the Leyte Sports Development Center for the grand rally. Vice Mayor Arvin Antoni and Noel will lead the motorcade.

Guv seeks fast relief of police chief

BORONGAN CITY – Eastern Samar Governor Conrado Nicart Jr. requested from Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to relieve provincial director Senior Superintendent Allan Cuevillas. Nicart said Cuevillas must be relieved immediately due to dereliction of duty and inefficiency not only his failure to secure and protect the people of Eastern Samar, but his involvement on politics as well.

The governor said Cuevillas must answer the robbery and hold-up incident that happened in the city last April 26 at 10 p.m. where a pharmacy located at the center of Borongan, near city police station, was robbed by unidentified suspects.

100 troops sent to secure Biliran polls

KANANGA, LEYTE - At least 100 soldiers were dispatched by the 19th Infantry Battalion (19th IB) to boost the number of government forces who shall secure the upcoming May 2013 elections in Biliran.

The troops were immediately deployed after a send-off ceremony held at Philippine Ports Authority, Naval, Biliran around seven in the morning on Wednesday, May 2.

147 cops avail of local absentee voting

CAMP KANGLEON, PALO, LEYTE – Only 147 out of 355 policemen of the Police Regional Office-Eastern Visayas (PRO-8) cast their votes in the local absentee voting.

Chief Superintendent Elmer Soria, PRO-8 director, said the people in Eastern Visayas are assured of the PRO’s maximum service during election as some of its personnel don’t need to compromise their democratic right in order to perform their crucial role of ensuring the electorate in the midterm polls.

Mayor reminds teachers to be fair, honest during polls

GUIUAN Mayor Annaliza Kwan, Eastern Samar district representative, reminded teachers to be fair and honest in doing their duties during the May 2013 elections.

Kwan, during the Liberal Party-Nationalist People's Coalition (LP-NPC) party held at Guiuan, appealed to the teachers to perform their duties and obligations well and not to favor any political camp.

Village chief killed in Calbayog

A VILLAGE chief was killed while his son was seriously wounded when they were ambushed late Monday afternoon in Calbayog City, police official said.

Police Inspector Romuel Nacar, regional information officer of Philippine National Police-Eastern Visayas, identified the victims as Amado Laoyon and his son Rendo, chairman and kagawad of Barangay Barong Lipunan, Calbayog City, respectively.

2 students qualify for Owwa’s scholarship program

CATBALOGAN CITY -- Two incoming college students from Eastern Visayas have qualified for the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) starting this school year.

Rannikka Ann Mondoñedo from the Philippine Science High School-Eastern Visayas Campus and Earl Antonell Doctolero of the Eastern Visayas State University High School are among the 105 national qualifiers of the program, according to Owwa Director Norma Del Rosario.

Board member pushes for Kwan’s candidacy

GUIUAN town would be so lucky and privileged once Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan would be elected as the representative of the lone district of Eastern Samar.

This was according to senior Board Member Jojie Montallana of the first district of Eastern Samar, who was among the guests during the grand rally conducted at Guiuan Town Plaza by the Liberal Party (LP) and Nacionalista Party (NP) coalition team last April 29.

Uy-Delgado will attend candidates’ forum on May 4

LIBERAL Party gubernatorial candidate Rosa Jessica Uy-Delgado expressed her desire to attend and participate at the candidates’ forum on May 4 at the Saint Mary College of Catbalogan for candidates seeking for provincial positions.

“The candidates’ forum is organized by the Samar Partnership for Peace and Development (SPPADE) and the Samar Island Press Club Inc. (SIPC) in cooperation with the dyMS Aksyon Radyo, DyOG Radyo ng Bayan, the Commission on Elections, and the Philippine National Police,” according to SIPC president Rommel Tutor.

Uy: Taclobanons to vote for Team Noel

THE coalition team of mayoralty bet Florencio “Bem” Noel received warm reception from the entire populace of the 138 component villages of Tacloban City, as they visited the area for hand shaking and campaign sorties.

Incumbent Councilor Jerry Uy, in an interview with Leyte Samar Daily Express, said the support shown by the Taclobanons is an indication of their victory in the upcoming election.