US Homeland Security: Anonymous to attack on Sept 17

09/06/2011 | 02:38 PM

US homeland security officials have issued a bulletin warning against the planned activities of hacktivist group Anonymous in the coming months.

Computerworld reported the bulletin warns financial service firms against Anonymous' attempts to "solicit ideologically dissatisfied, sympathetic employees."

It said that the bulletin, issued by the DHS National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC), was addressed broadly to those in charge of cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection.

For its part, Anonymous said the DHS bulletin shows it is scared of the hacktivist group.

"They are scared of us!" Anonymous said in an entry on its blog site.

According to Computerworld, the DHS also warned of new tools that Anonymous has said it plans to use in launching future attacks.

But its first attack, dubbed Occupy Wall Street (OWS) is scheduled for Sept. 17.

The so-called 'Day of Rage' protest was first announced by a group called Adbusters in July and is being actively supported by Anonymous.

OWS' organizers hope to get 20,000 people to gather on Wall Street on that day to protest various U.S. government policies.

Similar rallies targeting financial districts are being planned in Madrid, Milan, London, Paris and San Francisco, it said. — TJD, GMA News

HOSTAGE TAKING AT BJMP SAN JOSE, ANTIQUE

The San Jose District Jail is located at Marina St., San Jose, Antique beside the San Jose Municipal Motorpool. It has approximately a total area of 500 square meters. It is composed of seven (7) cells ; cells 1, 2, & 3 has an approximate area of 3.5 m x 4 m; cells 4, 5, & 6 has an approximate area of 3.5m x 2.4m; and the Annex building which considered as cell 7 has an approximate area of 3m x 7.5m. The Unit also has its Kitchen Area, Visiting Area, Sunning Area and the Admin building.

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS

a.    At about 5:38 in the afternoon of August 25, 2011 at the Bureau of Jail Management & Penology (BJMP) San Jose District Jail while the inmates were outside their cells to take their supper, detainee/trustee BENNY MIGORE reported to San Jose MPS that detainees CHRISTOPHER FERNANDO, LOYD FRANCISCO, JERRY NALDO and ALLAN LERONA grabbed and shot to death Jail Officer 2 (JO2) ROMAR SAQUIBAL y DESMONTE.

  

b.    Personnel of San Jose MPS led by PCINSP GILBERT T GORERO, COP responded and secured the area and likewise informed AntiquePPO as well as San Jose Mayor Hon. Rony L Molina for the activation of the Crisis Management Committee.

c.    CIMTG was also activated with PSUPT MARLOE L MARFIL as PCIMTG Commander as members of the PPO and Antique PPSC proceeded to the area to secure the place of incident in order to prevent the detainees from escaping. PSUPT MARFIL informed PSSUPT RUPERTO T FLORO JR., PD AntiquePPO, who was in Cebu for an official seminar, and who immediately gave instructions to activate the CMC and PCIMTG as well as to inform higher office.

d.    Upon arrival of the PCIMTG, including members (paramedics, BFP and other concerned agencies), personnel were deployed as a Command Post and Media Holding Area were established.

e.    At about 6:10 in the evening negotiations started with PINSP JUVY E CORDERO, PINSP JEREME M BELO, SPO1 Ariston F Gilza and PO1 Marlon A Galedo who were later on assisted by Prov’l Public Attorney ANTONIO ALCANTARA, as Third Party Intermediary (TPI) whom the inmates personally requested to assist in their surrender. The inmates, led by Lloyd Francisco and armed with a hand grenade demanded for an escape vehicle as further negotiations were conducted.

f.     Cellphones and Motorola handheld radios were provided for the inmates as means of communication during the negotiation.

g.    Detainee/trustee AGAPITO ODANGO SR. and REX REBREZA were utilized by other inmates as emissary to the Negotiating Team and briefed the team regarding the situation inside the facility.

h.    While negotiating, gunfire was heard from inside the jail facility prompting the PCIMTG to alert the SWAT Team led by PSUPT JOSE ROY M TORRECHILLA for possible assault as the suspects warned that they will kill a fellow inmate.

i.      At about 9:30 in the evening JSSUPT IGNACIO PANTI, RD, BJMP6 arrived at the scene. 

j.      Further negotiations centered on the surrender of the inmates, explosive and weapons and at about 9:32 in the evening requested the following demands: gripes on the treatment of other inmates; escape vehicle; food; cigarettes; return of JSINSP PRISEL AREVALO, former District Jail Officer; and if ever they surrender, they be transferred to San Jose MPS for their safety and their eventual transfer to BJMP Manila.

k.    At about 10:45 in the evening PCSUPT ERNESTO A TESORO JR., DRD-A, PRO6 arrived at the scene.  

l.      Negotiations lasted until 11:30 in the evening of the same date as ICPO SWAT Team arrived at San Jose and the inmates sensing that their demands for escape will not be met, opted to peaceably surrender provided that the media will accompany them and at about 12:00 midnight of August 25, 2011, 16 inmates voluntarily surrendered along with a NORINCO caliber .45 pistol bearing SN 1001911 with 2 magazines containing 18 live ammunitions; a HM caliber .38 revolver with ammunitions and M59 fragmentation grenade (without safety pin). Two (2) inmates who acted as emissaries were also taken to San Jose MPS but were later returned to BJMP while the remaining 154 remained at their respective cells.

m.   The 16 inmates who surrendered came from different cells of the 6-cell jail facility. Another inmate, GIDEON MISTAS, who was later pinpointed as one of the suspects was also turned-over to San Jose MPS, making 17 inmates were temporarily detained at San Jose MPS.

n.    At about 3:30 in the morning of August 26, 2011, PCSUPT CIPRIANO E QUEROL, JR., AL HAJ, RD PRO6 arrived at San Jose MPS and meted PSUPT MARFIL, PCINSP GORERO and San Jose Mayor Hon. Rony L Molina. RD and DRD-A PRO6 left Antique at about 4:00 o’clock in the morning enroute to Iloilo City via land vehicle.       

                  INVESTIGATION

a.    Initial investigation on inmate BENNY MIGORE revealed that sometime before the evening mess, he saw fellow inmate ALLAN LERONA picking-up a plastic bag which was believed to have come from outside the walls of the facility and passed the same into Cell Nr 3 where CHRISTOPHER FERNANDO and other inmates were held. Seeing this, Migore informed the Duty Jail Guards. JO3 Rafael Tumaob y Gallano then summoned detainees Allan and Alonzo Lerona for questioning. After the questioning, as JO2 SAQUIBAL was opening the Secondary Fence Gate to allow the duo to return back inside the main jail compound, JO2 Saquibal was suddenly charged, dragged and grappled by FRANCISCO, MISTAS, REYNALDO and NALDO. JO2 Saquibal was later shot on his nape by FERNANDO.

b.    172 detainees scampered into their cells as the Duty Jail Guards returned fire at the suspects. Further investigation disclosed that the smuggling in of a caliber .38 revolver and a hand grenade inside the jail facility was purposely to be used by inmates LOYD FRANCISCO, ALONZO LERONA, ALLAN LERONA, CHRISTOPHER FERNANDO and JERRY NALDO for their escape.

ACTION/S TAKEN

a.    Scene of the Crime Operation was conducted by Antique PCLO led by PSINSP HERBERT A TUNAC and revealed that JO2 Romar Saquibal y Desmonte, 40 years old, single and a resident of Brgy Madrancga, San Jose suffered a gunshot wound on his nape which caused his death and was brought to Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital morgue at around 12:15 in the morning of August 26, 2011 for autopsy. Recovered from the crime scene were eight (8) fired cartridges: one (1) for caliber .45 and seven (7) for caliber 5.56mm (M16).

b.    JSINSP CHARLES CASALAN, Prov’l Jail Administrator was installed as Officer-in-Charge of BJMP San Jose District Jail after the relief of JINSP JOHNY LAYUG who was the Jail Warden during the incident.

c.    Surrendered firearms are in the custody of Antique PCLO for ballistic examinations while the hand grenade is presently in the custody of SPO1 Meneses of the SWAT-EOD, ICPO.

d.    On August 26, 2011 PD, AntiquePPO ordered for the creation and activation of the Special Investigation Task Group “PRESO” (SITG PRESO) tasked to conduct formal investigation into the shooting and hostage-taking incidents effective the same date. SITG “PRESO” is led by PCINSP GILBERT T GORERO, COP, San Jose MPS assisted by personnel from Prov’l IDM and Intelligence Branches; Antique CID Unit; Antique PCLO and San Jose MPS IDM Section.     

  

e.    As of 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon of August 27, 2011 with the consent of Prov’l Warden SALVADOR GERONA, fourteen (14) of the seventeen (17) detainees/suspects were transferred to the Antique Prov’l Jail/Rehabilitation Center, Binirayan Hills, San Jose, Antique and were detained in separate cells while three (3) others, namely LOYD FRANCISCO, CHRISTOPHER FERNANDO and EVELIO MOLINA, were withheld at San Jose MPS lock-up cell.

f.     On August 29, 2011 at about 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon Case Conference with members of the SITG “PRESO” was held at the AntiquePPO Conference Room.

g.    Initially, a criminal charge for MURDER WITH THE USE OF ILLEGALLY POSSESSED FIREARMS is being prepared against all the seventeen (17) suspects wherein four (4) of them, namely LOYD FRANCISCO, JERRY NALDO, CHRISTOPHER FERNANDO and GIDEON MISTAS were ‘PRINCIPALS BY DIRECT PARTICIPATION while the 13 others as accomplices/accessories. In addition, Violation of RA 8294 (Illegal Possession of Explosives) is also being considered to be charged against LOYD FRANCISCO.

Cayetano lays down four key problematic areas to be addressed to attain economic dev’t

Senate minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano urged the Aquino administration to comprehensively address four (4) key problematic areas plaguing our business sector in order to strive for economic development along side its established goal of achieving good governance.

The senator pointed out that peace and order, infrastructure deficiency, good governance and the price of electricity were identified by businessmen as key areas that need to be addressed in order for the country to attain economic development.

“Basically, we need to jumpstart the country’s economic program. Why not focus more on those (4) key problematic areas plaguing our businessmen?” he said.  

Cayetano reiterated that in addressing our country’s problems, the government needs to balance its attention to both the economic side and the good governance side.

He also called on the Malacanang to clearly explain the economic program of the Aquino administration, or what has been referred to as “Aquino-nomics”.

“When they had Reagonomics in the US, for example, they had very specific economic theories regarding their stand on taxes and government spending. That is what is lacking in the government’s economic program now,” he said.

Cayetano also suggested that it would be best if the administration were to come up with a more detailed policy on further borrowings to address the country’s foreign debt crisis.

“With what’s happening in the US, one of the richest countries and now they talk you about a debt default would show us that debt is something to be addressed right away and not to be taken for granted,” he added.

The senator reiterated the need for a very clear debt policy that also involves the policy on further borrowings.  This, he said, should have a clear cut outline of what can and will be borrowed and where this will be used.

He added that the lack of this kind of policy leads to the wastage of further borrowings due to the prevalence of graft and corruption in our system.

The minority leader noted that the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) may be assigned as a clearing house but stressed that achieving increased transparency has to take precedence over other plans regarding the issue of foreign debt.

Sen. Pia: Senate to start RH Bill debates next week RH bill sponsor looks forward to intelligent, focused debates

Senator Pia S. Cayetano said the much-anticipated plenary debates on the Senate version of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill are ready to commence next week at the Upper Chamber.

Cayetano, principal sponsor of Senate Bill No.2865 under Committee Report No.49, otherwise known as ‘The Reproductive Health Act of 2011,’ said she looks forward to ‘intelligent discussions’ between the measure’s sponsors and interpellators in the coming days and weeks.

The lady senator said she expects the interpellations to be opened on the Senate floor after Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago delivers her co-sponsorship speech on the RH Bill during Monday’s session [August 1].

“I look forward to explaining the different issues and defending the RH bill before my colleagues as an urgent measure that will save the lives of mothers, the newborn and the unborn. I also hope to clarify whatever misconceptions they may have in the course of the plenary debates,” added Cayetano, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography and Committee on Youth, Women and Family Relations.

“I do expect sparks to fly from time to time, but I trust the Senate debates to be intelligent, informative and firmly focused on relevant issues related to the measure. The public can follow the debates and actually learn along with us [senators] by monitoring the proceedings through live-streaming on the Senate website [www.senate.gov.ph] and through media news reports,” Cayetano shared.

“In answering the interpellations, I will focus on socioeconomics, which covers such topics as maternal and child health, family planning concerns, statistics and other social issues, while Sen. Defensor-Santiago has offered to discuss issues on Catholic theology and constitutional and international law.”

Twenty out of the 23-member chamber signed Committee Report No.49 when it was filed before the Senate adjourned its first regular session last June. Of this number, six signed without reservations, 13 signed with reservations or signified their intention to interpellate or amend, while only 1 dissented.

Cayetano earlier expressed confidence that Pres. Benigno Aquino III continues to support the RH Bill, even if there were no references to the measure in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday. “Even if it wasn’t mentioned in the SONA, I believe that the President supports it,” she said.

She also welcomed the ‘openness’ of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who declared that the Senate wasready to discuss the ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ of the RH Bill in the speech he delivered last week to open the chamber's second regular session.

Cayetano suggested 3-fold approach against corruption: “prioritize FOI, Whistleblowers act & strengthening of Witness protection; appoint ‘full-time crusaders’; institutionalize lifestyle checks”

Senate minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano suggested a three-fold approach against corruption to aid the administration achieve its goal of ridding the government of graft and corruption.

First, the senator, a long-time advocate of good governance, pointed out the need for the government to allocate a larger budget to the witness protection program in order to adequately protect the witnesses who have risked their lives in order to bare the truth regarding scams in the government.

“We need a strong ace. Look at what happened to Jun Lozada, to Sandra Cam and to all the other whistleblowers before. There are those who go without security anymore, no longer have jobs and whose families are still in constant danger,” he lamented.

Furthermore, the minority leader expressed his desire that the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, the Whistleblowers Act and the strengthening of the Witness Protection Program be included and prioritized in the Legislative Agenda of the government.

Second, he suggested that the administration appoint point-persons for the cases that need to be resolved.

“We need full-time crusaders. We need people whose full focus is trained on resolving these cases,” he said.

Third, he also stressed the need for lifestyle checks to be institutionalized.

“Why don’t we form an elite team whose only job is to conduct lifestyle checks discretely without any exceptions regardless of position? It can be a presidential commission against graft or an attachment to the Office of the Ombudsman. This can serve as an assurance to the public that the fight against graft is non-stop,” he said.

In this light, Cayetano urged the government to involve non-government organizations (NGOs) and the private sector in its fight against graft and corruption in the country,

“We need a focused powerhouse legal team to serve as the ‘face’ of the fight against corruption. Witnesses, future and present, need to know who are in-charge and whom to go to and approach,” he said.

Antique’s PDRRMC, region’s No. 1, vies for the national

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) of the Province of Antique is again topping the region and a finalist in the national search for this year’s Gawad Kalasag Award.

The Gawad Kalasag Award is given by the Office of the President for the barangay/municipality/city/province for having the most exemplary Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance Plan. The search is a collaborative effort of various offices and agencies such as the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Department of Education, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection and Philippine National Red Cross. The Office of the Civil Defense serves as the secretariat. The local DRRMCs are evaluated based on the following criteria: mitigation, preparedness, response, rehabilitation, plans and projects, good practices, risk vulnerability reduction and actual operation.   

After an evaluation conducted by the said group of agencies, Antique was adjudged as the best in Region VI, thereby making Antique’s PDRRMC an official entry of the region in the national level.           

For five years, Antique became finalist in the search and in 2009 the province garnered 2nd place in the national level apart from receiving 7 awards in different categories.

“Despite the problems encountered by the council especially the lack of high technology equipment the province still excel in the search because we are using our indigenous and available materials around us,” says Mr. Broderick Train an Executive Officer – Designate of the Antique PDRRMC.

Train added that the success of the PDRRMC can be attributed to the agencies composing the council and the unwavering support of Gov. Exequiel Javier and other local officials in PDRRMC-related activities and initiatives.        

Meanwhile, the local PDRRMC is strengthening its community-based program dubbed as “Uligmat Antique” with the goal to establish a disaster resilient community in the province

Antique’s malnutrition rate decreases

San Jose, Antique – Malnutrition rate in the province has decreased from 12.78% last year to 10.32% this year according to the report of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO).

Gov. Exequiel B. Javier when informed of the latest malnutrition status of the province was overjoyed. “Mayad nga result dya kang atun kampanya sa malnutrisyon. This is a sign that we are working to remove the stigma of being number 1 in region VI and number 2 in the country. Nalipay gid ako sa dya nga development.”

It would be recalled that upon knowing that Antique was ranked number 2 in the country and number 1 in Region VI with high incidence of malnutrition, Gov. Javier immediately called health sectors in the province to give due attention to this problem.

As such, the provincial government has allotted P5 M for malnutrition rehabilitation for 2011. The Governor is optimistic that at the end of his first term Antique will be erased from the list of provinces with the high incidence of malnutrition.

The governor added that despite the decrease, the provincial government of Antique will never stop in its campaign to combat malnutrition in the province, instead will double its effort until this problem is totally solved.

Provincial Nutrition Action Officer Nida Pallon said that the decrease in malnutrition cases is due to the seriousness of Gov. Javier and other government officials in the campaign to lessen if not eliminate malnutrition in Antique

She further that the decrease of 2.46% means that the government and other sectors’ intervention to combat malnutrition in the province is effective.

Among the interventions that are being initiated by the government and NGOs is the series of feeding programs among LGU’s which has the highest prevalence of malnutrition. For instance, in Sibalom and Hamtic the Positive Deviance Heart Approach was introduced. This is a 12-day feeding on site (in the Barangay Nutrition Center) and 12-day feeding at home. During the feeding at home, the mother is observed and evaluated by the Barangay Health Workers. Apart from the feeding, the parents especially the mothers are taught of Basic Nutrition. In Tobias Fornier, the DOST-PINOY approach was pioneered wherein malnourished children are fed by ready mixed food from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) in 120 days. The beneficiaries of the feeding programs are the severe underweighted and the underweighted child ages 6-35 months. The programs are being replicated in other towns in the province.        

The municipality of Caluya which was ranked number 2 in Antique for having the highest number of malnourished children in 2010 shows a significant decrease this year. Almost ½ of the malnutrition cases was reduced compare last year. While Hamtic, despite interventions of NGOs and government, the incidence increased this year, making the town number 1 for having the highest prevalence of malnutrition. The increase of the malnutrition rate in Hamtic, according to Pallon, can be attributed to poverty which results to the failure of the parents to feed nutritious food to their children after the feeding by the benefactor was completed on site.

In the recent interview with Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ric Noel Naciongayo, he said that solving malnutrition in Antique is a big challenge by which every Antiqueño should participate and cooperate. He further that the government cannot solve it alone, it needs help from other sectors in the community. 

2 of the 4 nominees for Ombudsman post are Antiqueños

San Jose, Antique – This might come as a surprise but Justice Undersecretary Leah Tanodra-Armamento and Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) Commissioner Gerard Mosquera have Antiqueño blood in their veins.

Armamento hails from the town of Sibalom while Mosquera traces his roots to Culasi. Prior to her appointment as USEC in DOJ by Pres. Aquino, Armamento was a DOJ Assistant Chief State Prosecutor and a member of the peace process team of the government. Meanwhile, Mosquera had a brief stint as Director in the Office of the Ombudsman, and has served as Chief of Party of the United States Agency for Int ernational Development (USAID)’s anti-corruption program in Timor-Leste and played a key role in the creation and organization of East Timor’s first Anti-Corruption Commission. Both, Armamento and Mosquera, graduated from the Ateneo Law School – and have been students of Antique Governor Exequiel B. Javier.

On a phone interview with Javier, he said that both were excellent students. “I am happy that those I taught in Ateneo are becoming successful.”

He added that they are good, honest and proven to have integrity and vouched for their capacity that any one of them can help improve the justice system and the conviction rate of the Ombudsman against corrupt government officials and employees.

“As an Antiqueño I am happy for their nomination,” Javier concluded.

When asked about her nomination, Armamento replied “Daw bukun garing ti husto ang timing nga mahambal ako parte kari-a hay for consideration pa ni president (Benigno Aquino III).”

The two were shortlisted, together with retired SC Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales and former Justice Secretary Artemio Tuquero, by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) who they will recommend to President Benigno Aquino III to succeed Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez who resigned on May 6, 2011.

The four contenders received five votes each from eight-member JBC headed by Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Renato Corona.

The council’s ex-officio members are Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Sen. Francis Escudero, Senate justice committee chairman; and Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., House justice committee chairman. Retired Justice Regino Hermosisima Jr. (SC representative), Justice Aurora Santiago Lagman(private-sector representative), lawyer Ma. Milagros Fernan-Cayosa (Integrated Bar of the Philippines representative) and lawyer Jose Mejia (academe representative) are among the JBC’s regular members.

A sitting president is mandated by the 1987 Constitution to appoint the Ombudsman only from the shortlist prepared by the JBC. President Aquino has until August 4 — 90 days after the position was vacated — to name Gutierrez’s replacement.

The JBC is the constitutional body tasked to scrutinize, screen, and recommend to the President nominees to the vacancies in the judiciary and to nominees to the positions of Ombudsman and deputy Ombudsman.

The other 22 candidates who vied for the Ombudsman post were Alfredo Agawa, retired Judge; Philip Aguinaldo, Judge; Pelagio Apostol, former deputy Ombudsman for Visayas; Procopio Beltran Jr., lawyer; Emmanuel Bonoan, lawyer; Jose Calida, former Justice undersecretary; Howard Calleja, lawyer for suspended Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Zaldy Ampatuan; Felix Carao, lawyer; Orlando Casimiro, acting Ombudsman; Jose Manuel Diokno, national chair of the Free Legal Assistance Group and De La Salle University College of Law dean; Donato Faylona, lawyer; Ernesto Francisco, advocacy lawyer; Raymundo Francisco, lawyer; Catalino Generillo Jr., lawyer; Portia Hormachuelos, Court of Appeals associate justice; Francis Jardeleza, lawyer; Marlon Manuel, public interest lawyer and head of the Alternative Law Groups; Divinagracia Ongkeko, judge; Renan Ramos, lawyer; Roy Seneres, former Ambassador and National Labor Relations Commission chair; and Florencio Villarin, lawyer.

Center for Child Dev’t up soon in Antique

SAN JOSE, Anti-que – A National Child Development Center will soon rise in San Jose de Buenavista with the signing of memorandum of agreement by Mayor Rony L. Molina for LGU San Jose, Dr. Myrna S. Castillo of DepEd- Antique and Executive Director D. Teresita G. Inciong for Early Childhood Care and Development Council.

The establishment of the NCDC is pursuant to the thrust of the national government to promote the optimum growth and development of Filipino children ages 0 - 6 years old.

The center will serve as a laboratory for different modes of delivery of center-based programs of Early Childhood Care and Development.

It will also be a center for the smooth transition of children from early learning – from kindergarten to primary education.

The center will be constructed on a 200 square-meter lot provided by DepEd within the identified school Canuto Pefianco, Sr. Elementary School in Barangay Madrangca.

The ECCDC, on the other hand, will be responsible for the P2.2 million cost of construction of the center while LGU San Jose will finance the construction of the perimeter fence and the establishment of a playground. – SJDB/JCM/MLG/PIA6 Antique

In FocusSTL temporarily stopped?

STL TEMPO-rary stopped? After a series of expose’ by the local media here, the operation of the illegal number game Small town Lottery (STL) was temporarily stopped.  As earlier reported, STL operates in the towns of Sibalom, San Jose and Hamtic.  It was not known who were behind in the operation of said illegal numbers game.  During the inquiry of Sangguniang Panlalawigan last week on STL operation, Sibalom chief of police Insp. Jeremy Belo told the August Body that there is no operation of STL in his area of jurisdiction but results of STL draw were proliferating in the said municipality.

On the part of San Jose, chief of police Chief Inspector Gilbert T. Gorero told the Sangguniang Panlalawigan that there were reports of STL operation but they could not ascertain who were the operators and they find it difficult to arrest the ‘corridors" because they operate in a guerilla manner.

Police Provincial Director Senior Supt. Ruperto Floro ordered his chiefs of police province wide to conduct operation to stop the STL operation.

In an interview over radio station HOT FM-106.9, Floro said that when he received information that a bookie for STL (Small Town Lottery) operated in some barangays in the capital town of San Jose and in the adjacent town of Sibalom, he immediately ordered his intelligence personnel to verify the reports and make arrests. He warned his men that he would apply the "One-Strike" policy in illegal gambling activities. 

STL operations will only be allowed if the local government unit concerned will allow it; this is according to Secretary Jessie Robredo of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Antique Governor Exequiel B. Javier, on the other hand, remains steadfast in his stance against all forms of gambling, we are hoping that STL operations will be permanently stopped.-oOo-

"BINGO MILLIONS" OPERATES IN ANTIQUE?  After the controversial operation of Small Town Lottery (STL) comes now the operation of Bingo Millions. This was again questioned by the local media because, according to them, the operation of Bingo Millions is illegal. It has no franchise from Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).  PAGCOR is a government–sanctioned number games that offers millions of pesos to the winning bettors.  PAGCOR issued a franchise to Commet Management Corporation to operate all over the country.

According to a source, the operation of Bingo Millions is being operated by private individuals here with bet collectors and dealers/players in the various municipalities of this province.

It has no betting stations as what the PAGCOR requires the franchisee to operate. According to reports, Bingo Millions was approved by PAGCOR in February 2010 and it has been operating in Iloilo, Negros Oriental, Southern Leyte, Eastern Samar and Metro Manila. It never mentioned the province of Antique. Unless they have the documents to show that they have the franchise and the betting stations set up here, then we believed that is legal.  They should set up first the mechanism before they operate the Bingo Millions. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan should also conduct an inquiry on this operation because Bingo Millions is operating in the province in a guerilla type. Where did the bettors buy their tickets? Who are those operators?  The public should know?

STATE OF THE NATION PNoy vows to end corruption, picks Morales as Ombudsman

By SAMMY JULIAN, Manila News Bureau Chief FRANCO JOSE BAROÑA, Malacañang Reporter MANILA – “When the new Ombudsman takes office, we will have an honest-to-goodness anti-corruption office, not one that condones corruption and abuses in government,” said President Benigno Aquino III in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA). He announced the appointment of retired Supreme Court Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales as the new Ombudsman. He expects that this year, “we will have filed our first major case against the corrupt and their accomplices. And these will be real cases, with strong evidence and clear testimonies which will lead to the punishment of the guilty.” Yet again, Aquino used wang-wang as a fitting symbol of change from the culture of corruption “not just in our streets, but even in our collective attitude.” “Over the years, the wang-wang had come to symbolize abuse of authority,” he said in his speech delivered entirely in Filipino. “It was routinely used by public officials to violate traffic laws, inconveniencing ordinary motorists – as if only the time of the powerful few, and no one else’s, mattered. Instead of behaving like public servants, they acted like kings.” “Do you want the corrupt held accountable? So do I. Do you want to see the end of wang-wang both on the streets and the sense of entitlement that has led to the abuse that we have lived with for so long? So do I,” the President said. It was Carpio-Morales who administered the oath of office to Aquino when he took over the presidency on June 30, 2010. Carpio-Morales will serve a full seven-year term at the Office of the Ombudsman. She takes over the post vacated by Merceditas Gutierrez who resigned after the House of Representatives impeached her. Aquino enumerated the strides his government made in various fields. Among these were reviving investor confidence, especially in the energy sector (140 companies are ready to participate in the exploration and strengthening of oil and natural gas resources); employing zero-based budgeting to end wasteful programs; and stopping excessive rice importation. He said his administration has to put an end to “the culture of entitlement, to wang-wang…along our roads, in government, in our society as a whole…This will bring confidence that will attract business; this will also ensure that the people’s money is put in its rightful place.” “Funding for infrastructure will secure the sustained growth of the economy, which will then give rise to jobs, and public service that guarantees that no one will be left behind. More opportunities for livelihood will be opened by tourism; the strengthening of our agriculture sector will ensure that every Filipino will have food on his table. We will invest on those who were once neglected. All this will create a cycle wherein all available jobs are filled, and where businesses flourish through the empowerment of their,” the President said. President Aquino also boasted that the once low credit ratings of the country have now been upgraded by Moody’s, Standard and Poors, Fitch, and Japan Credit Ratings Agency “in recognition of our prudent use of funds and creative financial management.” “These improved credit ratings mean lower interest on our debts. Our innovative fiscal approach has saved taxpayers P23 billion in the first four months of this year. This is enough to cover the P2.3 million conditional cash transfer beneficiaries for the entire year,” Aquino stressed. He pointed out that in the nine and a half years before he was elected into office, the country’s credit rating was upgraded only once, and downgraded six times by different credit ratings agencies. “Compare this to the four upgrades we have achieved in the single year we have been in office,” President Aquino declared. “This was no small feat, considering that the upgrades came after ratings agencies have grown considerably more conservative in their assessments, especially in the wake of criticism they received after the recent American financial crisis.” Aquino boasted of a lower self-rated hunger rating, which decreased to 15.1 percent this year from 20.5 percent last year, based on figures from pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS). Filipinos are now finding more jobs in the domestic market and slowly letting go of their ambition to find employment abroad, he said. Aquino also cited the 0.8 percentage-point drop in the unemployment rate in April from a high of eight percent in 2010. The President, however, was conscious that despite the gains in local employment, the government cannot afford to rest on its laurels. This problem is compounded by “jobs mismatch” that continues to hound local industries every year, Aquino said. Citing statistics from Philjobnet, Aquino said some 50,000 jobs remain unfilled every month because the skills of the graduates being produced each year do not match the requirements of the industries. To counter this, Aquino said he had called on the Department of Labor and Employment, the Commission on Higher Education, yhe Technical Skills and Development Authority and the Department of Education to address the skills mismatch./PN

HOT FM BUGASONG NEWS ALERT: TORNADO HIT PANDAN, ANTIQUE, BETWEEN 5:30-6:00PM TODAY CENTRO NORTE BADLY HIT. ACCORDING TO MAYOR JONATHAN DIOSO TAN EVEN THE MUNICIPAL HALL WAS ALSO HIT BY THE TORNADO. UPDATE OF THE DAMAGE WILL FOLLOW.

Dolphin fished at Bugasong coast

SAN JOSE, Antique — A Risso dolphin, also known as Grampus, was fished out by fishermen at the coastal waters of Brgy. Camangahan, Bugasong, Antique the other day.
Barangay officials of Camangahan alerted the police and environment officials after they found a dying dolphin at their coastal waters, said Jose Allan Bartolo of Bugasong.
The dolphin was brought to the plaza where school children took curiosity of the said species.
The Risso dolphin weighed around 200 kilograms and has a length of about 8.5 feet.
Risso dolphins are known to be one of the large species of dolphins.
Because of their size, they are usually found in deeper parts of the ocean rather than along the shores, living in temperate and tropical waters.
“We immediately proceeded to the barangay after receiving a call at about 10:45 a.m.,” said Bartolo.

Local government officials said this was the first time they saw a Risso dolphin in the village. (PNA)

LGU Bugasong received funding support from PDAF of Senator Francis "chiz" Escudero in the amount of PHP 500,000.00 pesos

BUGASONG, Antique--The Department of Budget and Management released Notice of Funding Check Issued to the Local Government Unit of Bugasong informing the said LGU that the funding assistance from the PDAF of Senator Franciz " Chiz" Escudero was already released covered by Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) No. G-11-00490 for the construction/repair/rehabilitation/renovation of Bugasong Public Market. This is considered as new development initiative and a product of linkaging undertaken by the LGU. The said amount was already transfered to the Account of LGU Bugasong. Meanwhile, Mayor Bernard Pesayco extend his gratitude to the Honorable Senator for his Concern to the people of Bugasong. Senator Escudero's assistance is very much visible since the typhoon frank, relief operations, distribution of vegetables seeds and now the support for the LGU infrastructure project.

Loren calls for ‘green’ enterprises

MANILA – Sen. Loren Legarda urged the cooperative sector to join in the nationwide effort to make the country disaster- and climate-resilient. Legarda, chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, made the statement during the First National Capital Region Cooperative Sector Conference on Climate Change organized by the Metro South Cooperative Bank Foundation, Inc. She encouraged cooperatives to focus on green enterprises that make use of recycled and natural materials, like the ECHOstore which promotes the creation of products and designs made by various communities and livelihood groups in the country, thereby advocating green living, fair trade and care for the environment. “One of the principles of cooperativism — the concern for community — is geared towards the achievement of sustainable development, which is essential in climate change adaptation,” she said. The senator has partnered with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to conduct livelihood programs that promote green skills such as newspaper bag weaving, creating slippers and bags from water lilies, and making accessories such as bracelets and rosaries from old magazine strips. She said the cooperatives sector can also forge a partnership with the Small Business (SB) Corporation, which can provide loans to help micro, small and medium enterprises. Legarda stressed that what is important is to promote a sustainable lifestyle because unsustainable development practices have depleted the country’s natural resources, and this ecosystems decline is further aggravated by climate change. She explained that it is the task of every citizen to be involved in efforts to reduce disaster risks and adapt to climate change. Furthermore, the cooperative sector has the capacity to be key participants in meeting the challenge of this global phenomenon. “I urge all cooperatives to take up this important task of reviving and nurturing our environment. You must continue to improve your current activities that promote sustainable development, unite and mobilize your collective efforts in confronting the climate change challenge,” she said. “There is no time to lose. We must all work together and forge a network of cooperation to raise awareness and promote solutions to climate change. We must be resolute in creating a safer future for this and the next generations,” Legarda concluded./PN