Debate over conception settled decades ago, lawmakers told

MANILA, August 27, 2011–Now the cat is out of the bag.

Pro-RH senators Pia Cayetano and Miriam Defensor Santiago have finally admitted their position on the crucial issue of conception or “when life begins,” a stance that a pro-life group said has “no constitutional and scientific basis.”

The group Filipinos For Life (F4L), in a press release, noted Cayetano and Santiago’s refusal to acknowledge that life begins at fertilization in the Senate debates over the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill.

“The matter of when life begins is important as oral contraceptive pills, aside from being carcinogenic, have a mechanism that prevents a fertilized ovum from implanting onto the uterine wall. Medical experts have long concluded that ‘breakthrough ovulation’ can occur while a woman is on the pill, which leaves room for fertilization,” F4L said.

F4L pointed out that the debate had been settled way back in 1986 – when the Constitutional Commission voted 32-8 on the definition of conception, which is at fertilization, or the point at which sperm and egg meet.

During the ConCom deliberations, it was asked: “When is the moment of conception?” Commissioner Bernardo Villegas replied: “…it is when the ovum is fertilized by the sperm that there is human life.”

It should be recalled, F4L said, that the definition of conception was changed by American obstetricians and gynecologists in the 1960s to justify the use of the contraceptive pill. This erroneous definition is also suited to justify unethical practices such as in-vitro fertilization and stem cell research, F4L noted.

Abraham Daniel Campo Cruz, M.D., Pharmacology instructor at Far Eastern University, said the confusion over the term “conception” and whether it refers to fertilization or implantation is “not a result of lack of scientific data but of verbal engineering.”

“The implications of redefining conception are seen in the mechanisms of action of contraceptive pills and IUDs (intrauterine devices) and whether they act as abortifacients,” he added.

The physician said that “From the pharmacologic standpoint, hormonal contraceptives (pills and injectables) have multiple mechanisms of action.”

Cruz said it must be emphasized that pregnancy is the state of the mother, not of the unborn.

“Therefore, non-implantation does not negate the status of the fertilized ovum/zygote/embryo as a living human being.”

“The key feature of a human pattern is its organization towards the production of a mature human body. Basic embryology teaches us that the instant of fertilization (the union of the ovum and sperm) is time zero of human development,” he explained further.
“Fertilization results in the formation of a new cell that is distinct from the cells that give rise to it, because the fertilized ovum/zygote/embryo, as a stage in human development, possesses the material composition (genetic and molecular) and behavior (developmental pathway) necessary for its maturity.”

“It is therefore only logical that, if we subscribe to the scientific fact that human development begins at fertilization, the prevention of implantation terminates life. While it may be argued that the prevention of implantation is not the primary mechanism of action of these drugs and devices, fertilization can occur, as evidenced by breakthrough ovulations and contraceptive failures. A contraceptive failure is a human being. Thus, the secondary mechanism of preventing implantation constitutes the abortifacient effect of hormonal contraceptives and IUDs,” Cruz said.

“When science finds a plausible risk, social responsibility must compel us to protect the public from exposure to harm,” he asserted.

F4L said it was unfortunate that RH sponsors are relying on information from foreign and local lobbyists, some of whom are open advocates of abortion.

“Cayetano and Santiago should do their own research and not swallow the RH lobby’s talking points hook, line, and sinker,” the group said.

“For RH proponents to hold that a fertilized egg can be dispensable to convince Filipino women to take taxpayer-funded chemical pills is contrary to the Philippine Constitution. Anything that frustrates life from fertilization until birth is abortive,” F4L stated.

“If RH backers want informed consent, conscientious Filipinos should be informed of the abortive effects of contraceptives such as the pill and even the IUD,” it added. (CBCP for Life)

Santiago resorts to ‘cheap shots’ in attack vs. Church

MANILA, August 27, 2011―As the Senate began tackling the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill, top RH proponent Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago herself was not above making what she had described as “cheap shots.”

In an apparent attempt to undermine Church authority on the moral aspects of family and life, Santiago – a self-proclaimed theologian who studied at an ultra-liberal theology school in Quezon City – resurrected old charges long refuted by Catholic apologetics.

Taking the road already traveled by vicious anti-Catholic groups, Santiago lectured the Church hierarchy to learn the “lesson from the Catholic past” in her sponsorship speech on the RH bill, and proceeded to dig up old hats like those involving the astronomers Copernicus and Galileo.

Ignoring history herself, however, Santiago merely said Copernicus was “denounced” for proposing a “new cosmology,” without noting that Pope Clement VII himself and other ecclesiastics encouraged Copernicus on his heliocentric theory. In fact, Copernicus’ book On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres was dedicated to Pope Paul III.

Moreover, Copernicus’ associates were fearful of backlash from Protestant theologians, who had adopted Martin Luther’s vehement objection to heliocentrism.

Galileo, meanwhile, was never tortured, as writers and historians have long argued. He was tried not because of his belief on heliocentricism but because he had encroached on biblical interpretation and theology.

Galileo, who was buried at a Franciscan basilica in Florence, Italy, was also wrong as he believed the sun was the center of the whole universe.

Pro-life advocates were quick to point out Santiago’s flawed theology and RH stance, now ironically supported by Protestant pastors.

“Miriam classifies theology as either traditional or progressive. That labeling is political. In theology as elsewhere, the errors are many, the truth is but one. Theology is either good or bad; sound or unsound,” said former senator Francisco Tatad.

Addressing Santiago’s criticism of the 1968 landmark encyclical Humanae Vitae of Pope Paul VI which prohibited artificial contraception, Tatad said “Humanae Vitae did not initiate a new teaching.”

“It merely reiterated an old one with greater clarity and depth. In his 1930 encyclical Casti Connubii, Pope Pius XI already condemned contraception as a violation of natural law. Long before that, some Fathers and Doctors of the Church had taught that certain acts preventing procreation are gravely sinful. Among them, St. Jerome, St. Augustine, St. Albert the Great, St. Thomas, St. Charles Borromeo, St. Alphonsus Liguori,” he said.

Tatad also corrected his former colleague on conscience, saying true conscience should not run in conflict with the Church.

“Miriam is right: conscience. But with some qualification. First of all, conscience must be properly formed in the truth; it must be a certain conscience, not an erroneous one. Conscience cannot have its own individual truth, otherwise there will be a riot of consciences, and no one will know what the real truth is,” he said. (Dominic Francisco)

Bill co-sponsor admits RH is a population control measure

MANILA, August 26, 2011―The plenary debates at the House of Representatives on August 24 was an unexpected demonstration in unparliamentary behavior by a neophyte solon, but outshining the condescension exemplified was the equally unexpected admission that House Bill 4244, or the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill, targets population control.

Pangasinan Rep. Kimi Cojuangco, co-sponsor of the bill, at times responded with arrogance to Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros Magsaysay’ interpellation, over points in which she apparently was not well-versed but swiftly making an admission that surprised even her co-RH proponents.

“Is [the RH bill] a population measure?” Magsaysay asked.

“Of course,” Cojuangco asserted.

“Of course? It’s a population measure? To curb poverty, do you need to curb population? In your eyes?” Magsaysay further asked.

“Definitely,” came the sure reply.

“In other words, you are contradicting the position of all your other co-sponsors there who said that this is not a population measure, that this is not a poverty alleviation measure.”

The Pangasinan congresswoman paused for a few seconds before saying, “Well, it’s not a population… ay, it is a population measure but it’s not population control.”

After a few more moments of silence in the hall, Cojuangco insisted, “It’s a population measure but it’s not population control.”

Misunderstanding the IRR

Prior to the population control measure admission was a lengthy discussion on the Magna Carta of Women (MCW), which Magsaysay repeatedly pointed out was an existing law that already addresses the concerns Cojuangco mentioned as reasons why an RH law in her opinion was necessary, such as the need for more birthing facilities, maternal health services, to name a few.

To the Pangasinan solon’s insistence that the MCW’s Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) did not carry the weight of the law and were mere guidelines, Magsaysay explained, “When we have a law in the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and there is the IRR on how to implement the law, the IRR is the one being used by the BIR to implement the law that we passed through Congress. So you cannot say that an IRR cannot be implemented, because it is in fact a law.”

Magsaysay then mentioned other departments such as the Bureau of Customs and the Department of Health (DOH) tasked with law implementation and how the IRR for each law determines how this is to be done.

“So I beg to disagree with the Madame Sponsor when she said that the IRR is not a law and that the IRR does not carry the weight of the law.”

Magsaysay continued to enumerate the agencies tasked with implementing the MCW, which is specified in the law’s IRR. According to her, the National Commission on Women (NCW) takes charge of overseeing the proper implementation of the Magna Carta’s provisions by the different agencies–the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Education (DepEd), Commisision on Higher Education (CHEd), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

“Now if there are no funds being allocated by the national government through the budget of the Department of Health, then you can question the national government for not providing these things in the budget, “she added.

Apparently, Magsaysay’s pointing out the government’s failure to implement the law signed in 2009 upset Cojuangco, resulting in a manner uncharacteristic of legislators in plenary discussions.

“You’re saying that the national government failed. And as a member of the 14th and 12th Congress, where were you? Where were you when the budget allocation was being talked about with regard to the Magna Carta? What happened? Why was nothing asked? Why did you not raise your hand and say we need an allocation for this?” Cojuangco asserted.

After repeating the necessity of a reproductive health law and insisting that the Magna Carta IRR was useless, she got a quiet response from the Zambales lawmaker.

“Madame Sponsor, I would just like to inform you, in case you don’t know, that the lady behind you seated at the table was a member of the group that crafted the IRR of the Magna Carta of Women. How can you say now that nobody… why don’t you ask her?”

Magsaysay was referring to Elizabeth Angsioco of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP), a prominent RH supporter.

The need to implement the Magna Carta of Women

After several more exchanges that tackled the MCW’s provisions on maternal and child health, and the redundancy of the RH bill due to the MCW, the Pangasinan solon again allowed the obvious difference in perspectives and her probable dissatisfaction over the law’s non-implementation to get the better of her.

“Maybe we can agree, do you agree with me? Something is wrong because nothing has happened. Am I not right? Nothing has happened. Tell me, has anything happened?” she said in clipped tones.

“All the beautiful things you talked about, just answer me ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ Has anything happened?”

“That’s precisely my point…”

“Exactly! Has anything happened?”

A new law is what is needed, Cojuangco stressed, to which Magsaysay replied, “We can make laws here, we can even pass that RH bill if you want to. But that does not ensure that the national government will provide you with what is necessary to implement it. Why don’t you compel the government to provide what is necessary to ensure maternal health care as mandated by the Magna Carta of Women?”

“There is an existing law, so compel the national government to provide the funds to ensure that there are birthing facilities in all rural [clinics], that these are equipped with medicines and vitamins as far as pregnant women are concerned, that they also have doctors, nurses and midwives in rural clinics, and that they can also provide free medical services in case the mother has no money to deliver her baby safely,” Magsaysay added.

“You do not need to pass your RH bill to ensure that there are doctors, nurses and midwives because [these are] already provided by law,” she continued.

“All we have to do is to compel the present government to provide proper maternal health care to all the mothers, to provide the proper neonatal care to all the mothers and babies, to provide the proper gynecological care to all women… just to make sure that the mothers do not die, that children do not die. But we don’t need to pass the RH bill; we need to compel the national government to implement the provisions of the MCW,” Magsaysay said.

Plenary sessions at the House of Representatives continue on September 5. (Diana Uichanco)

NOLCOM chief condemns rebels’ arson in Isabela

SAN MARIANO, Isabela, August 26, 2011-Northern Luzon Command Chief Major General Jessie Dellosa lambasted the recent criminal acts perpetrated by more or less thiry (30) members of the New People’s Army (NPA) led by a certain Joey Ramos alias Ka Jerome and Michael Erania alyas Ka Buktong who burned a P1.2 million tractor owned by ECO-Fuel Land Development, Inc., early morning last Wednesday in a place called “Sagpat” here.

The rebels seized the tractor from driver Rogelio “Elyo” Bulan, resident of Barangay Gangalan here while on its way to Sitio Amisan.

NOLCOM Spokesperson Captain Jovily Carmel Cabading said that the NPA’s intention is to ‘ride’ on the issue being raised by farmer group who is opposing the bio-ethanol plant project, adding that this is what the rebels usually does when their targets do not also yield to their extortion demands.  “This is actually an economic sabotage,” she said.

Areal view of San Mariano, Isabela.

Delosa said that this kind of societal issue is definitely being addressed by the local government units and line agencies at present. Dialogues and consultations are being conducted by the latter with the concerned citizens in the area. Whatever the misconceptions about the project, he said, should be threshed out.  

“This is precisely what “Internal Peace and Security Program Bayanihan” is for.  The enemies of state should not be given the opportunity to gain propaganda mileage at the people’s expense,” Dellosa ended.

Earlier, the Isabela Philippine National Police (PNP) also denounced the rebels as a communist terrorist atrocity after they burned the tractor of the multi-billion pesos bio-ethanol project. (Jason de Asis)

Aurelco service center looted by unidentified thieves

BALER, Aurora, August 25, 2011-Police authorities are now investigating the thieves who   got P193,798 cash money, memory black box of CCTV, Biometric with serial number EO6100707 and one handheld icom radio IC-V100 at Aurora Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (AURELCO) service center, Gloria Street, Barangay Suklayin here yesterday night.

Police Superintendent Benjamin C. Villasis Jr., Baler Police Chief said that the unidentified culprits got two (2) safety vaults from the teller’s office and brought to the stock room of AURELCO, broke them and took the money.

Villasis said that the cashiers drawers and cabinets were disarranged. The suspects also immediately deformed, distorted and bended the CCTV camera, slashed its cables and wires installed in the ceiling of the establishment.  

Investigation report stated that the stealing incident was security lapses of the duty lineman who was not oriented as guard in post but a mere standing personnel at their office.

Police found out that the CCTV camera of the office was not properly secured as the robbers even have the opportunity to include the same in their notorious activities.

PNP crime lab latent prints and finger prints impression at the place of the crime.

Earlier, at around 7:45 in the morning Amado Valenzuela reported the incident to the police.

Valenzuela said that Amelita Artilano Y’ Gomez, 45 years old, Aurelco employee and son Zceasar noticed that the office was robbed out/ ransacked by unidentified perpetrators when opened.

The mother and son Artilano found out that the window grill at the backdoor was cut to open the door using a vault cutter as entry point of thieves. (Jason de Asis)

Senator Angara must apologize for red-baiting ― anti-Apeco groups

MANILA, August 25, 2011―The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) demanded an apology from Senator Edgardo Angara after he said that those organizations vehemently opposing the creation of the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Free Ports Authority are fronts of the Maoist Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

The alleged red-baiting against opposers of the Apeco happened during the senator's speech in commemoration of the 402nd founding anniversary of the Baler town, the Aurora's provincial capital.

Pamalakaya national chairperson Fernando Hicap said that Angara is morally, politically and legally obliged to issue a public apology as his Red bashing "escapade" might result to something else.

“Mr. Angara should be largely blamed if the military and other state security forces [should] engage in another brutal campaign against anti-Apeco groups and individuals," Pamalakaya said.

During former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's term, there was a large number of activists who have been slain or abducted and disappeared due to red-tagging.

"Instead of resorting to dirty propaganda and red branding, Senator Angara, his son Rep. Sonny Angara and sister ― Aurora Gov. Bella Angara-Castillo should face all issues surrounding Apeco fair and square," the Pamalakaya chair said.

Last August 22, members of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Pamalakaya, Alyansa ng Magbubukid ng Gitnang Luzon (AMGL), Panlalawigang Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Aurora (Pamana), Anakpawis party list, Government Employees for Genuine Land Reform, Katribu Party list, Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP) and Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) picketed before Congress to appeal the junking of the P332.5 million (US$7,840,960.55 or Euros 5,445,680.78) proposed Apeco funds, as the release of the said funding would give the green light for the alleged creation of the "Angara empire" in the entire Aurora province.

“The P332.5 million worth of taxpayers’ money will be used against the people of Casiguran through massive landgrabbing and water-use conversions. Worse, the people’s money will be used to further strengthen the political dynasty and economic power of the Angaras in Aurora through this PPP project carried out by the office of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III,” said movement convenor and Pamana vice chairperson Elmer Dayson.

Dayson also said that Speaker [Feliciano] Belmonte and [Cavite] Rep. (Joseph Emilio) Abaya should bear in mind about the massive displacement Apeco would bring to 5,430 people in five barangays of Casiguran, Aurora if the Angaras succeed in getting the fund for Apeco project next year.

The groups rallying against Apeco also said that the project would also be detrimental to the environment, particularly to the waters of Aurora. (Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCPNews)

9th journalist killed under Aquino watch

MANILA, August 24, 2011―The media rights' watchdog, Burgos Media Center (BMC) assailed the killing of Hiligaynon broadcaster Niel Jimena, of dyRP (Iloilo) and dyAG (Negros Occidental), the ninth casualty among mediamen under the administration of President Benigno C. Aquino III.

According to news reports, Jimena was chased by unidentified motorcycle-riding assassins, and felled at Barangay Damgo, EB Magalona, in Bacolod City, last Monday, August 22.

Mark Joseph Alejo, BMC spokesperson, in a statement said Aquino should be alarmed on the spate of killings and must act swiftly to be able the resolve the cases.

"President Aquino must do something in the soonest possible time to serve justice to the victims of media killing within his term and even those that were still unsettled, including the Maguindanao Massacre. We want to see sincerity from P-Noy [on serving justice to the murdered journalists] and not just mere lip service," Alejo said.

Other journalists who have been killed under the Aquino administration are Jose Daguio, Miguel Belen, Edilberto Cruz, Edison Flameniana Sr., Dr. Gerry Ortega, Cirilio Gallardo, Marlina Sumera and Romeo Olea.

"We want to see culprits and masterminds of these killings be put behind bars and for heads to roll in order for the Aquino government to end the culture of impunity in the country," he said. (Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCPNews)

1 hurt, as army overruns NPA camps in Aurora

BALER, Aurora, August 24, 2011-A Philippine Army sustained minor injury when the government troopers raided and overran a New People’s Army (NPA) camp in Sitio Balagbag, Barangay Dimanayat, San Luis, Aurora Tuesday after a fierce battle with the elements of 48^th Infantry “Guardians” Battalion, Charlie Company led by 2lt Edwin Lauro.

Lt. Col. Kurt A. Decapia identified the wounded in action as PFC Erwin Dacayo, a native of Guimba, Nueva Ecija who was already brought at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Medical Center, V Luna road, Quezon City for medical treatment and now is in a stable condition.

Decapia said that his troops were dispatched to hinterlands of Dimanayat for the purpose of giving clothes, foods and medical mission for the villagers. “The army took foot patrol for several days from Brgy. Diteki to the coastal barangays of San Luis town,” he added.

Pfc Erwin Dacayo in white shirt inside the ambulance.

At that juncture, he said that the villagers and rebel returnees of Brgy. Diteki reported the presence of the rebels in Balagbag area. He immediately called the group of 2lt. Lauro to conduct combat operation in the place; thus, the army encountered more or less fifty (50) rebels at around 6:20 yesterday morning at Balagbag area.

The army encountered the group of Gregorio Torres, Alias Ka Lenny/Jake who is the leader of the regional yunit guerilla (RYG) together with the other rebels in Central Luzon who gathered in the place to conduct atrocities in the province.

“The rebels are projecting that they are still strong and migrating to show proof of their strength. They are few, they just combined themselves as a group from different provinces to conduct atrocities here in the province, but they failed due to the early reports from the residents of Diteki,” he said.

He said that the group of 2lt Lauro overran the said communist rebel camp after an almost an hour of gun battle, believing that many rebels were either killed or injured, as blood stains were seen along the rebels’ withdrawal routes.

 
The military initially recovered from the camp of the rebels, 1 bag of explosives, 2 bags of subversive documents and personal belongings.

As of this report, an operation manhunt and blocking operation are being conducted by the 48^th Infantry Battalion against the rebels. (Jason de Asis)

Operation manhunt versus rebels in Aurora to continue

CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City, August 23, 2011-Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) Chief Major General Jessie Dellosa said that the operation manhunt against the New People’s Army (NPA) will continue to maintain the stability of the peace and order in the entire province.

“The troops led by Lt. Col. Kurt Decapia are inspired and motivated to disrupt the NPA’s extortion activities and show of force in the recent manifestation of the villagers full support to the 48^th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army,” Dellosa said, following the foiled harassment and ambush of Bayanihan Patrol Team of soldiers in Barangay Diteki, San Luis, Aurora last August 12 that led to the recovery of improvised explosive devices.

Three days after, local officials and hundreds of villagers led by Barangay Capt. Maria Fe Rios gathered at Barangay Diteki basketball court in San Luis and openly denounced the atrocities perpetrated by the NPA.

NOLCOM spokesperson Captain Jovily Carmel Cabading said that there is no let-up in the pursuit operations being conducted by government forces against the remaining NPA members.

“The army troopers are trying their best to send a message to the NPAs that they are just being used and abused by their leaders who do not want this armed conflict to end,” she said, adding that the government already re-opens the venue for a sincere “peacetalk” where rebellions will hopefully be resolved in time.

Cabading said that they send message to the rebels that there is a pressing need to give this “peacetalk” a chance to succeed, saying that these atrocities in Aurora will not help anyone achieve genuine peace.

Cabading revealed that one soldier identified as Private First Class Erwin Dacayo was slightly wounded in today’s hot pursuit operation conducted at around 6:20 in the morning.  

The elements of Charlie Company, 48^th Infantry Battalion led by 2lt Edwin Lauro caught up with the armed rebels in Barangay Dimanayat, in their temporary ‘put-up’ camp. NPA’s personal belongings and some subversive documents were left behind as they run for their lives.

Back to Dellosa, he said that it is obvious that the rebels are anti-development and so they will block any progress in the province.  The statement made by Senator Edgardo Angara lately that Aurora can be the richest province in the country because of the Benham Rise (a potential source of energy) might have fueled their (NPA) desire to disrupt peace in the communities.  

Lt. Col. Kurt Decapia emphasized that their unit is open for dialogue even in any means of communication for the fleeing NPAs who wish to surrender to the government. (Jason de Asis)

2 soldiers wounded, 1 civilian died in Zambales clash with rebels

Entrance to Ucaon, Candelaria, Zambales.

CANDELARIA, Zambales, August 23, 2011-Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) spokesperson Captain Jovily Carmel Cabading revealed that two (2) soldiers were wounded, one civilian was fatally hit and undetermined casualties among the rebels in an armed encounter before the dawn yesterday Monday at Sitio Biew, Barangay Taposo, Candelaria, Zambales.

In a telephone interview, Cabading identified the two (2) soldiers who were hit in a gun battle around 4:20 in the morning as Private First Class Antonio Alvarez and Private First Class Oliver Limbag while a courageous civilian volunteer - Christopher Bonustro was killed in action during the crossfire.

She said that the government troops encountered more or less ten member of the “Pinagsanib na Sangay ng Partido (STP) sa platoon Tarlac-Zambales” under the leadership of a certain Evelyn Munoz, Alias Ka Ched, a native of Pangasinan operating in the place.

“The rebel strategy now is migrating in an insurgency province to show proof of their strength. The rebels are only few, they combined themselves as a group more or less ten from different places then they will conduct atrocities, just like what happened in Aurora province,” Cabading said. She added that the rebels would like to trick the people to believe that they are of strong hold.

“Small groups of New People's Army (NPA) from different places gathered in an identified area then did their plan and extorting the people and other kinds of life threatening so that people would give revolutionary tax and other collectible items,” she said.

Cabading said that Major General Jessie Dellosa,  the NOLCOM Chief, wanted the civilian’s heroic deed to be given due recognition by proper authorities because he sacrificed his life in line of duty to ensure the safety and security of  the Zambaleños.

“He did not die in vain. It is a fact that the residents themselves tipped off the NPA’s presence to government forces which meant they condemned their presence in Zambales,” Dellosa said.

Government troops recovered the following items from the site of the encounter:  one (1) M14, one (1) M16, bandoleers with ammunition, documents with high intelligence value and personal belongings.

The 24^th Infantry Battalion army Chief LTC Michael G. Samson also revealed that there are NPA casualties according to the information from the residents and the bloodstains in the NPA withdrawal route are indicators of these.

Samson calls to offer medical assistance to help those NPA wounded in the area.

Samson revealed that prior to the encounter, a civilian tipped-off enabled government troops to catch up with a group of local rebels conducting extortion activities in the said area that led to the clash.

As of this report, a hot pursuit and blocking operations are being conducted by troops of 24^th Infantry Battalion versus the rebels. (Jason de Asis)

Masbate prelate ordained today

SAN JOSE, Antique, August 22, 2011―Bishop Jose Salmorin Bontolo, the third Bishop of Masbate, was ordained to the episcopacy by Jaro Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo at St. Joseph Cathedral in the heart of this bustling capital town.

Concelebrating with Lagdameo was the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Guiseppe Pinto and other archbishops and bishops from all over the Philippines.

Bantolo was vicar general of San Jose de Antique diocese prior to his appointment as bishop of Masbate.

The fifth among 14 children, Bantolo was born in November 12, 1960. His parents are former Mayor Honorio Bancaya Bantolo and Leonita Tuma-ob Salmorin. He studied at Guisijan Elementary School in Laua-an town and finished high school and college at St. Peter's Seminary, this town.

Bantolo took his Theology at San Jose Seminary at Ateneo de Manila University and was ordained to the Diaconate by then Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin on August 3, 1985. Then San Jose de Antique Bishop Raul Q. Martirez ordained him to the priesthood at the Immaculate Conception Parish in Laua-an on April 21, 1986.

He acquired his M. A. In Educational Management from the Jesuit-run Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro city in 1991. He also has a Licentiate in Philosophy from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy in 1998.

Bantolo also has a degree in Applied Theology from the University of Berkeley in California, U. S. A. from 2005-06.

He served as parish priest and chaplain to Filipino communities in Rome, Italy, Athens, Greece, New York and University of Berkeley in the United States of America and the various towns in Antique province. (Melo Acuna)