POLICE READIES CHARGES ON SUSPECT IN OLONGAPO SLAY

Camp Olivas, City of San Fernando, Pampanga – Police Regional Office 3 under the leadership of PCSUPT RAUL D PETRASANTA, continues to prove that it is quick in solving cases as the suspect in Olongapo slay victimizing a transgender has been identified.

            After coordination has been made with the United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), wherein the suspect was identified as Private First Class JOSEPH SCOTT PEMBERTON, United States Marine Corps 2^nd Battalion 9^th Marines, assigned at WESTPACEXPRESS. Pemberton was positively identified by Mark Clarence Gelviro, witness, thru photo line-up process provided by the NCIS representative.

         It has been recalled that on October 11, 2014, victim Jeffrey Laude y Serdoncillo, a.k.a.“Jennifer”, 26, male, a resident of 5^th St., Drapper West Tapinac, Olongapo was found  dead at the comfort room of Room Nr. 1, Celzone Lodge located at 87 Ramon Magsaysay Drive, East Tapinac, Olongapo City.

                 Prior to that, victim together with Mark Clarence Gelviro, a.k.a. “Barbie” met suspect PEMBERTON at Ambyanz Disco Bar located along Magsaysay Drive, East Tapinac, Olongapo City on the evening of October 11, 2014 and decided to check-in  at Celzone Lodge. Victim asked Gelviro to leave before the foreigner could discover that they were both gays and transgender.

            The cashier of the hotel, Mr Elias Gallamos and victim’s friend Gelviro identified the suspect as a male with white complexion, marine haircut, approximately 5’8” to 5’10” in height with pointed nose, which fits to the photo showed during investigation.

             A Special Investigation Task Group “LAUDE” was immediately created headed by Olongapo City Police Director together with OCPO Crime Laboratory, Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division and Provincial Legal Service for the immediate filing of appropriate charges against the suspect who is now restricted under the custody of United States Marine Corps 2^nd Battalion 9^th Marines in Olongapo City.

                 PCSUPT PETRASANTA further stated that “After the thorough investigation of the SITG “Laude” and all the findings are out, we will abide to the usual judicial proceedings as contained in the Visiting Forces Agreement to guarantee that justice will be served.”

Senate’s increase in trust rating due to hard work -- senators

MANILA-Senators today expressed their elation over the latest result of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey which showed that the Senate’s trust rating from last quarter increased from 12 percent to 28 percent this month.

 

            Senators attributed the leap in the approval rating to the fact that senators continued to work hard despite the controversies that hounded the Upper Chamber.

 

            “The improving survey rating of the Senate is a reflection of the people’s approval of how the senators have been doing their work,” Senator Cynthia Villar said.

 

“We have seen how senators worked hard to pass measures that will improve the lives of the poor. This will surely encourage us to be more productive,” Villar added.

 

            For his part, Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV said senators welcomed the increase in the approval rating of the Senate in the recent survey. The only way to get the trust of the people back, according to Aquino, is to continue working hard, create innovative and new solutions to age-old problems and to pass relevant laws and policies that will truly benefit the Filipinos.

 

            “It is likely that people appreciate the pro-people legislation coming out of the Senate. I personally receive a lot of support for the tax measures being pushed. So we must continue to push measures which affect people’s lives and touch real issues which our people care about. There is more to do for sure,” Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said.

 

            Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV said he was glad to learn that the Senate has regained its trust rating. He said the positive rating “can only mean that the investigations have the tacit support of the people.”

 

The SWS survey was conducted amid the ongoing Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearing on the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building 2 and allegations of graft and corruption against Vice President Jejomar Binay.

 

            Last month, Pulse Asia also released results of a similar survey which showed an increase in the Senate’s approval rating from 33 percent in June to 40 percent in September.

 

“I’m glad the Senate improved its rating in the past two surveys,” Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee, said.

 

The SWS survey also showed that House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte and Senate President Franklin Drilon enjoyed public satisfaction gains.

           

Drilon received the highest gain as his net satisfaction rating rose by 16 points, from 20 percent to a 36 percent while Belmonte’s rating increased from “neutral” positive 2 to “moderate” positive 13.  (Apple Buenaventura, PRIB)

One (1) Killed and Three (3) Wounded in Army-NPA Clash

CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City - One (1) soldier was killed and three (3) were wounded as a result of ongoing combat operations by elements of 54^th Infantry Battalion of 503rd Infantry Brigade, 5^th Infantry Division, Philippine Army against NPA remnants in Sitio Landing, Barangay Camandag, Asipulo, Ifugao about 7:30am, October 14, 2014.

The military forces lead by 1^st Lieutenant James M. Carinan conducted combat operations after they received  information about the presence of NPA remnants in the said area. Upon approaching  the reported area, they encountered the enemy in heavy exchange of gunfires.

Pfc James C En-Ale, Philippine Army was declared dead after the exchange of fire with more or less 25 members of NPA remnants.

Three (3) soldiers were also wounded namely: 1Lt James M. Carinan, Pfc John Ryl J. Discaya and Pfc Raphy C Anongos.

Lieutenant General Felicito Virgilio M Trinidad Jr, the NolCom Commander said, “the loss of our comrades is a proof of our desire to pursue the peace and order in this part of our country, even to the extent of sacrificing their own lives. This is part of our mandate”.

“This will not hinder us in pursuing our  mission to stop these lawless elements”.  LtGen Trinidad concluded.

The military forces are still conducting pursuit operations in the vicinity of Brgy Camandag, Asipulo, Ifugao.

Long-delayed anti-El Niño water summit set in Ecija today

PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija – After a three-month postponement, the  provincial government-sponsored water summit among various national government agencies and local government units (LGUs) will finally be convened today to prepare Nueva Ecija – the country’s rice granary - against the adverse effects of the dreaded El Niño phenomenon on food production and water supply.

          Gov. Aurelio Umali will preside over the summit at the Nueva Ecija Convention Center which will gather such agencies as the Department of Agriculture, the National Irrigation Administration, water districts, LGUs, farmers’ representatives and irrigators’ associations towards formulating an action plan against El Niño.

          Umali, who conceptualized the summit said the event will try to identify the areas in the province which will potentially be hit hard by the prolonged dry spell and mitigate its impact to local farmers.

          The summit was originally scheduled last July but this was postponed following the relief of Josephine Salazar as operations manager of the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems, the operator of the Pantabangan Dam. Salazar swapped post with erstwhile NIA Region 3 director Reynaldo Puno.         

Puno said the summit will come out with projection on the extent of damage that may be caused by El Niño, adding they expect a significant decline in palay and rice production which, if not addressed, will impact on food security targets on a nationwide scale.

          “We will include the farmers in our consultations because they are the ones who will bear the brunt of El Niño,” he said, adding that they will also look into improving the operations of irrigation canals to reduce water loss from the source to distribution areas.   

          Last July, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration advised Filipinos to prepare for below normal rainfall in the last quarter of the year, as scientists are predicting the development of a “weak to moderate” El Niño during the period.

          Pagasa administrator Vicente Malano said below normal rainfall is likely in most areas of Luzon and the Visayas while near normal rainfall conditions are expected over Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Albay, Eastern and Central Visayas and most areas of Mindanao in the months of October, November and December.

          The last time El Niño hit the country was in 2009 and experts said the phenomenon happens every four to five years.

          Umali said the province will have to be prepared for El Niño particularly since water elevation in the Pantabangan Dam fluctuate.

          Yesterday, water level at the dam was at 200.83 meters above sea level (masl).

          According to the National Irrigation Administration, it would take only 22 days of zero rainfall for the water level to shrink to its critical level of 171 masl, which happened nearly two decades ago.

          If the dam’s water level continues to ebb, the dam, which services over 100,000 hectares of farmlands in Nueva Ecija and parts of Bulacan, Pampanga and Tarlac, will be able to irrigate only 40 percent of these areas, Umali said.

          The provincial government released P1 million to bankroll the initial stage of cloud-seeding operations, which is apart from financial support pledged by First Gen. Corp. and other private entities.

          The summit will pave the way for the creation of an inter-agency group that will look for other alternative sources of irrigation water to lessen the province’s dependence on the Pantabangan Dam.

          With the dam not fully operational, they will utilize the Peñaranda River, the Tayabo Dam and other upstream water sources to augment supply. (Manny Galvez)