Cagayan de Oro City News October 2014

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Cagayan de Oro City within Misamis Oriental

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

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Cagayan de Oro City Public Market
Cagayan de oro city river.jpg
The river of cagayan de oro city
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St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.
Limketkai Center Mall, Cagayan de Oro City.jpg
Flood Waters in the streets of Cagayan de Oro City
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Cagayan de Oro City Buildings
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Bus Terminal, Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City

PEN to hold literature-teaching workshop in CDO

(Philippine Daily Inquirer)

The Philippine Center of International PEN (Poets, Playwrights, Essayists, Novelists) will hold “For Love of the Word: Workshops on Teaching Philippine Literature in High School and College” on Oct. 27, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m, at the University Conference Hall, Capitol University, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental.

Metrobank Outstanding Teacher awardee and prize-winning writer Jaime An Lim will deliver the master lecture.

Workshop facilitators will be Ferdinand Lopez of the University of Santo Tomas and Steven Patrick Fernandez of Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology.

The lecture will be supplemented by a forum on “The Literature of Peace in Mindanao,” with writers Raul Moldez, Marcelo Geocallo, Shem Salait Linohon and Fernandez.

Program is supported by PEN International in the UK and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.

There is no workshop or forum fee but participants must take care of their travel arrangement, accommodation and meals.

For inquiries and pre-registration, contact Philippine PEN at Solidaridad Bookstore, 531 Padre Faura St., Ermita, Manila; e-mail philippinepen@yahoo.com; call +63917-5287491.

'Untrashing' Macajalar Bay

By Lenesse Marie Libres

JUST how much do we know about trash traveling from the shores to the oceans?

Have we thought of the little trash we throw in the waters that if lumped together could clog our waterways?

One doesn’t have to go far. Cagayan de Oro dwellers have been seeing and experiencing wading into waters during urban flooding that results from the less than an hour of torrential rains here in the city.

With the unabated trash thrown all over world in small ways people can, some groups also have never ceased to do the opposite, picking up others’ trash and ensuring trash goes to its proper disposal, so everybody can live with the possible trash-free planet.

On September 20, 2014, the world held the 28th coastal cleanup day. Tracing back its roots along the Texas coast, Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup day started with a handful of volunteers in 1986.

According to Ocean Conservancy that for the past quarter century, volunteers have assembled through the International Coastal Cleanup to improve the condition of beaches and waterways and raise awareness about the trash problem.

“Now, ocean advocates worldwide are developing practical approaches that strengthen the science, promote sound policies and empower people to engage in action for trash free seas,” the Ocean Conservancy furthered.

In Misamis Oriental including Cagayan de Oro City, 880 participants from coastal cities and municipalities, organizations, local government units and establishments trooped to the beach in the early morning of September 20 last month to remove trash they could sweep.

In a partial data released by Macajalar Bay Development Alliance (MBDA) and Xavier University’s McKeough Marine Center (XU-MMC), a huge amount of plastic trash was collected from the shores of Misamis Oriental including Cagayan de Oro.

MBDA and XU-MMC are still collating the full account of trash collected in Macajalar Bay during the coastal cleanup.

In the shores of Tagoloan town, the top five-collected trash are plastic food wrappers by 16.96 percent; grocery plastic bags by 9.73 percent; toys by 6.78 percent; wood fragments by 6.64 percent and diapers and napkins by 5.90 percent.

Also, the top five trash found along the stretch of Macajalar Bay are grocery plastic bags by 9.18 percent; plastic food wrappers at 8.48 percent; cigarettes at 8.06 percent; plastic trash bags at 5.12 percent and cloth fragments at 4.62 percent.

In Barangay Taboc of Opol in Misamis Oriental, the top five trashes are plastic utensils, fastfood and lunchbox containers, grocery bags and tin cans of juice and processed food.

Barangay Taboc houses a stretch of beach resorts where people gather for picnics, which explains the large presence of plastic utensils and food containers.

MBDA and XU-MMC, the cleanup is a way to inform people that they should be careful about their trash.

“The figures show a large amount of trash even though our information is still partial. A total of 880 participants on record joined us in Macajalar Bay. Other barangays have conducted cleanup but didn’t submit yet accomplished data cards or attendance sheets. The cleanup is a good way to instill to our youth responsibility over their garbage,” Kristine Galarrita, one of the organizers, said.

The data gathered will assist the organizations and stakeholders in policy-making and development of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials to address the global problem on marine debris.

Last year, top 10 collected trash from the World Coastal Cleanup day included cigarette butts of over two million, food wrappers more than 1.5 million, plastic beverage bottles over 940,000, plastic bottle caps of more than 840,000 and straws and stirrers over 550,000.

The Philippines ranked 2nd with the highest collected trash among the 92 countries which participated in 2013.

While the participating countries collate and tally their trash finds this year, here are some key information that we need to know about trash and how it can be lessened if not wiped out in the years ahead.

El Circulo Zamboangueño marks 58 years of Fiesta Pilar in Cagayan de Oro City

By Mike Baños

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - El Circulo Zamboangueño de Cagayan de Oro celebrated 58 years of Fiesta Pilar with a mass at the Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral followed by a “comida communal” at La Ilongga restaurant here.

Over a hundred Zamboangueños and their families joined the recent festivities hosted by spouses Manny and Josy Aliñabon at their restaurant. Manny is a graduate of Ateneo de Zamboanga High School and originally hails from Margosatubig town in Zamboanga del Sur province.

“To all our Zamboangueño friends, whether living in our out of Zamboanga, we extend our warmest greetings in the celebration of the feast day of Nuestra Sra. Virgen del Pilar.” said Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar S. Moreno is a message texted to the group. “We pray for Her continuing guidance and abundant blessings. Cheers.”

Chito Potenciano, coordinator of the half-century old association of families, who originated from Zamboanga, also known as “The City of Flowers,” said the Circulo also held the traditional nine-day novena for Nuestra Señora Virgen del Pilar de Zaragoza, the city's patron saint at La Ilongga.

As has been traditionally practiced by El Circulo for the past 52 years, a Comida Comunal followed the celebration of the mass at the Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral. The veneration of the Lady of the Pillar as Zamboanga City’s patroness is closely tied with its historic Fort Pilar.

Perhaps no other institution has played as big a role in shaping Zamboanga City’s Christian Hispanic Heritage as Fort Pilar, and has made it the sole city in Asia that can rightfully lay claim to the moniker Latin City.

Started in 1635, it was built at the instance of Jesuit missionaries and Bishop Fray Pedro of Cebu to ward off Moro pirates. Originally called Real Fuerza de San Jose (Royal Fort of Saint Joseph), its cornerstone was laid by the Jesuit engineer Fray Melchor de Vera, on June 23, 1635 on orders of then Spanish Governor of the Philippines Juan Cerezo de Salamanca.

This event marks the founding of Zamboanga as a city, formerly known as Samboangan. However, subsequent events related to the construction of the fort have sealed its place in the Chabacano heritage of the city which it unique among similar local cultures in the Philippines and Asia.

Renamed the Real Fuerza de Nuestra Señora del Pilar Zaragoza (Royal Fort of Our Lady of the Pillar of Zaragoza) in honor of the patron saint of Spain, Our Lady of the Pillar, it was also the venue of many Marian apparitions, most notably on December 6, 1734 when she appeared to a soldier and again on September 21, 1897 when she appeared over the Basilan Strait and saved the city from a tsunami following a strong earthquake.

Tradition reveals the Virgin Mary appeared to a soldier on December 6, 1734, at the gate of the city. Not recognizing her, the soldier asked her to stop. Upon recognizing her, he fell down to his knees. A relief of the Our Lady of the Pillar was subsequently placed above the eastern wall of the fort making it an outdoor shrine with an altar for praying.

Old folks said the image actually mysteriously appeared in its present site after a pirate attack on the fort while a procession in her honor was being held.

On September 21, 1897, a strong earthquake struck the western region of Mindanao. According to the people who witnessed it, they saw the Virgin Mary floating in mid-air over the Basilan Strait, with her right hand raised to stop the onrushing waves, and saved the city from a tsunami.


Families urged to follow nutrition program

By Butch D. Enerio

THE Department of Health (DOH) in Northern Mindanao is enjoining Filipino families to avail themselves of the government’s nutrition program and afford their children the needed vitamins and other medical interventions for good health.

Dr. Ma. Elen Santua, DOH-Northern Mindanao head, Family Health Cluster, said the continuing education health is a way to constantly remind families, especially the mothers to provide for their children the right nutrition to ensure they grow physically fit and mentally sound.

She said that in many cases, they find it hard to convince the mothers about the nutrition program of the government owing to the lack of education compounded by their financial condition.

“There are mothers who, although submit to the program, out of sheer ignorance use their being poor as an alibi for not being able to sustain giving the needed nutrition to their children, despite that vitamins and other interventions are given for free,” Santua said.

She said that part of the education of the DOH is the food preparations using garden vegetables that can be bought cheap in the market, such as malunggay, squash, root crops and other leafy vegetables, among others, which are rich in nutritional value.

Santua said that DOH’s “Garantisadong Pambata” program is a wholesome approach to meet the nutritional demand and care for growing children, such as breast feeding, immunizations, vitamin A supplement, and other healthy behaviors and sanitary practices to ward off illnesses borne out of dirty surroundings.

Telesfora Madelo, DOH-Northern Mindanao Nutrition Program coordinator, said the government provides micronutrients supplementation of pharmaceutically prepared vitamins and minerals for treatment or prevention of specific micronutrient deficiency; the addition of essential micronutrients to widely consumed food products at levels above its natural state; and the education through the adoption of proper food and nutrition practices, food production and consumption.

She said the DOH also provides know-how for parents to be able to promote child health, human development and quality of life through sequential measurement of physical growth and development of individuals in the community.

The “Garantisadong Pambata” is the institutionalized national preschoolers health campaign conducted every third week of the month of October of each year to all children age 0-71 months.

DOH said it has accomplished about 90 percent on its Vitamin A supplementation covering 4.6 million children in the entire region and 78 percent on the deworming coverage with 700,000 targeted 1-6 year-child population.

Farmers' group slams gov’t for food shortage

By Jigger J. Jerusalem

WITH the government’s perceived inability to address the issue of food security in the country, today should be called “World Hunger Day” instead of World Food Day, a farmers' group said Wednesday.

Richard Colao, secretary-general of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas in northern Mindanao (KMP-NMR), said it’s not only the consumers who are affected by food shortage, but the farmers who are the main producer of the country’s food supply.

Colao said the farmers, particularly those who grow rice, are at a disadvantage since rice bought from other countries overshadows the local product.

What is happening, he said, is that the selling of imported rice in the market is done during the harvest season.

During harvest, prices of rice are lowered and the farmers have no choice but to sell their locally grown product cheap.

Colao said the rice farmers’ efforts are undermined with the entry of the imported rice.

He said the imported rice should be sold to the market during the lean months.

“The National Food Authority (NFA) should time the distribution of imported rice when our farmers are not harvesting. That way, our farmers can still sell their rice at reasonable price, para dili sila alkanse,” Colao said.

“Gamiton lang unta ang pundo sa NFA, ipagawas unta sa panahon nga dili ting-harvest,” he added.

Aside from that, he said big-time traders buy NFA rice in bulk and these are re-sacked and sold as commercial rice, which is more expensive than what the government is selling.

He said the KMP-NMR has also learned that the older rice stock, the quality of which has already deteriorated, is being sold as NFA rice.

He said those who cannot afford to buy commercial rice have no choice, but to queue under the heat of the sun just to buy cheaper rice.

“Bisan og baho na ang bugas, mopalit lang gihapon ang mga kabus kay mao ra man ilang makaya paliton (Even if the rice is already smelly, the poor will still buy it since it’s all they can afford),” Colao furthered.

GMOs

He said other threat to food security is the entry of crops with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the country.

He said that genetically modified rice and corn pose health risks to consumers as they are not viable for the poor farmers since they have to spend more for “farm inputs” like fertilizer and agri-chemicals.

“Dili siya kaya sa yanong mag-uuma (The small-time farmer cannot just afford it),” he said.

One example Colao cited is the Bt-corn, a genetically modified variety of corn, which for every nine kilo, about P5,500 is spent by the farmer.

He said KMP-NMR has received reports of farmers and their families whose skin turned yellow when they consumed Bt-corn for a few weeks.

Colao said the program of the government geared toward food sufficiency is not wrong, but it should fit the needs of the people and not promote genetically modified crops.

CDO, Iloilo bag first Liveable Cities Design Challenge

By Tricia Aquino (InterAksyon.com)

MANILA- Cagayan De Oro City and Iloilo City won the inaugural Liveable Cities Design Challenge on Wednesday for their proposals of a government evacuation center, and an APEC meeting venue, respectively.

Organized by the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the competition highlights the best designs for disaster-resistant city government or evacuation centers and the development of areas surrounding a possible meeting venue for next year's hosting duties of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit.

Cagayan De Oro City's proposed "Oro Central" will primarily be a four-storey public school with 200 classrooms.

It will have laboratories, a multimedia library, parks, playgrounds, and multipurpose spaces.

As its secondary purpose, the building will be the base of a network of evacuation centers, as well as the command center during disasters.

Its parking lot will double as a space for mobile clinics, showers, standby rafts, and canine kennels.

A multipurpose hall will become an assembly area for responding government and non-government agencies, as well as a distribution area for evacuees.

A sky garden will also be used as a distribution, assembly, and stacking area.

Classrooms will become temporary shelters, and a green roof will be a debriefing and wellness area for evacuees.

Meanwhile, to complement the Iloilo Convention Center, cultural and urban areas in Iloilo City will be revamped.

Fort San Pedro, for example, will have more parks and open spaces. Sunburst Park will be expanded to have a park with recreation spaces, food stalls, and assembly areas.

What used to be the City Slaughter House will become the Rivercraft Pavilion for tourism and transportation. It will have a solar roof and wastewater treatment facilities, and will take advantage of natural light and ventilation.

NCC co-chairman Guillermo Luz said the grand winners, along with runners-up Roxas City, Valenzuela City, and Zamboanga City for the government evacuation center category and Cebu City, Iloilo City, and Legazpi City for the APEC meeting venue category, were praiseworthy in the way they utilized resources, maintained ecological balance, made their cities disaster-resilient, and used their land efficiently.

Good design, he said, was not just about the looks. It was about the projects being of service to the people.

"At the end of the day, this is not about planning," he said. "This is about execution."

Luz said the projects must be implemented on time, at the right price, and in the right place. Financing, maintaining, and operating were also factors included in executing their winning designs.

Five cities competed in the APEC meeting venue category, while 10 competed in the city government or evacuation centers category.

They were judged according to adherence to architectural design princpiples; integration of concepts related to economic and social linkaging and integration, ecological balance, physical or land use efficency, and disaster resiliency; and financial viability.

Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Reconstruction president Nathaniel Von Einsiedel, whose organization was established early this year in response to the need for reconstruction in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda, enumerated the four obstacles to implementing similar designs that would make cities liveable and resilient.

First, national agencies had conflicting interpretations of policies regarding land use.

For example, the Department of Agriculture required that land no longer be agriculturally productive in order to be given clearance for other uses, while the Department for Trade and Industry encouraged and provided incentives to investors and developers of special economic zones.

Second, national agencies had disjointed policies regarding the relocation and resettlement of families living in danger zones. For example, the Commission on Audit required that the land already be titled in the name of the local government unit before it could be developed as relocation and resettlement sites, but in many places, lands were not titled, or if they were, ownership records were outdated or nonexistent.

Third, elected local officials refused to use the power for eminent domain in acquiring land for development projects and public facilities. They would rather purchase cheap land or accept donated land, which were often in bad or disaster-prone locations. This heightened the vulnerability of residents to disasters.

Fourth, partisan politics prevented coordinated, timely, and consistent decisions from being made.

Einsiedel remained hopeful, however, saying a more resilient world was within reach. What was needed was unity in order to implement the winning plans.

"We cannot predict when or when the next shock to our well-being will happen, whether from the global financial system or as a result of a changing global climate or a pandemic like Ebola.

"Threats and stresses to our 21st century world will come in all shapes and sizes. What we can constrol is how we respond, how quickly we bounce back from the blow. Humans are not born resilient. We have to learn it. We have to adapt to it," said Von Einsiedel.

To see their projects to fruition, Cities Development Initiative for Asia project engineer Brian Joseph Capati advised that local government officials look for alternative financing sources for their urban infrastructure projects to augment their own funds.

Sources would include asset leverage; capital markets; domestic financial institutions; private institutional investors; private sector participation; and multilateral, bilateral, and export credit agencies.

With cities making up 50 percent of the Philippines' total population and accounting for over 60 percent of the country's economic growth last year, the link between urban and rural areas should become stronger so that economic growth was dispersed equally across the archipelago, said USAID mission director for the Philippines and the Pacific Islands Gloria Steele.

Shared Service Facility to boost roasted corn production in MisOr

(DTI-MOR/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, October 14 - The Department of Trade and Industry Region (DTI) X has approved a P346,000.00 worth of Shared Service Facility (SSF) Project to increase production capability and quality of SRV Livelihood Association Incorporated's Roasted Corn.

The SSF project involves the acquisition of the following production machineries: Combined Roaster and Single Disk Grinder that will enable uniform roasting to produce high quality fine roasted corn and Tea Bag Machine to upgrade one of its product variants from being packed in “puyo” into tea bag to make it more convenient and attractive to consumers.

With the help of World Vision together with their partner MAKASAKA INC., the organization was able to undergo Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Training conducted by the Northern Mindanao Food and Safety Team and recently preparing for their Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP). The organization aims to get a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) certification as part of their project in expanding their livelihood, Roasted Corn Production.

The approval of the SSF project will directly impact on their aim of expansion with its benefits that include decrease in production costs while increasing its production capacity per month by almost twice its existing production at 180 kg/month, and produce high quality product in order to increase competency in the markets. With such support, sustainability of their livelihood would definitely become even more possible.

SRV Livelihood Association Inc. has 25 women members, and residents of San Roque Village, Dayawan, Villanueva, Misamis Oriental. Their main product is roasted corn in different variants used as a coffee substitute. They have their production building situated at Phase 2b of San Roque still in Villanueva. The product is purely white corn variety where they get their supply from the corn farmers in the different parts of Villanueva.

The organization has been in the business since 2010 and recently was able to penetrate local convenient stores in Tagoloan, Villanueva and Jasaan. Their products are also being displayed in the city particularly at Vjandep in Bulua Cagayan de Oro City, One Town One Product (OTOP) store in SM CDO and Pasalubong Center at El Salvador, Misamis Oriental.

Walkout mars debut of Ms. Global Philippines

Robert R. Requintina

A 22-year-old woman from Cagayan de Oro City was crowned the first Miss Global Philippines during a non-televised beauty contest held at the Resorts World Manila in Pasay City last Saturday night.

But the same beauty contest was marred by a walkout from several members of the media after they were barred from interviewing the winners.

Crowned as the first Miss Global Philippines was crowd favorite Catherine Almirante, 22, from Cagayan de Oro City, who beat 21 other candidates who competed in the inaugural local pageant that was open to single women and single moms.

Almirante, who has joined other beauty contests in the past, will represent the Philippines in the Miss Global 2014 contest happening in style aboard the Crown Princess cruise ship sailing from Los Angeles, California to Mexico (Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas on December 12 to 20.

But Almirante’s moment was upstaged by a walkout of several print reporters from major media organizations who were barred from interviewing the winners. It is customary that media men are allowed to go to the stage to interview the winners after they are crowned. Only the GMA-7 was allowed to do an interview.

In local pageant history, this is the first time that print reporters were not allowed to interview the winners, a move which was met by an uproar from those who were invited to cover the event.

“In the first place, they should have not invited us if they will not allow us to talk to the winners,’’ a reporter commented.

Photographers, on the other hand, were allowed to take photos of the winners from a distance.

RUNNERS-UP

Runners-up, who hold equal ranking, were named Tourism Ambassadors. They are Athena Catriz, 24, from San Pedro, Laguna; Cindy Madduma, 26, from Puerto Princesa City; Sirene Sutton, 20, Las Pinas City; and Lorraine Erum, 27, Pangasinan. Ms. Erum is a single mom.

SAME BEAUTY CAMP

This is also the first time that the Top 5 contestants came from the Kagandahang Flores beauty camp managed by Rodgil Flores. His camp has produced many winners in major competitions this year.

SPECIAL AWARDS

Winners of special awards were: Almirante, Best in Evening Gown and Clean Air Ambassador; Sutton, Best In Swimsuit; Krista Marie Mendiola, Best In Cultural Attire; Xyrzsa Isidro, 23, Makati City; and Lournalyn Mora, People’s Choice Award.

JUDGES

Members of the board of judges were: Rosella Camua, model Michael Seifert, former Miss Philippines Earth Angelee Claudette delos Reyes, Daniel Ongchoco, Aristeo Tengco, Noel Gonzales, and Dr. Almond Derla.

CDO netter cops two badminton titles

philstar.com


MANILA, Philippines - The Cagayan de Oro Shuttle Busters’ Daniel Pantanosas stood tall among the champions after winning two titles in the last leg of first Sun Cellular-Ming Ramos National Juniors Badminton Tournament Mindanao at the Tuna Smashers Badminton courts in General Santos City.

Pantanosas blanked fellow Miguel Gibhran Pana in the finals, 21-11, 21-10, to win the boys singles 17-under trophy of the competition powered by Forthright Events and Sports Management.

Pantanosas played alongside Miguel Pana and snared the 17-under boys’ doubles title against Paolo Joshua Olango and Kurt Anthony Ramos, 21-16, 21-17.

The three-leg tournament is supported by Sun Cellular, SMART Communications, Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP) Sports Foundation and Philippine Badminton Association (PBA) Smash Pilipinas and Babolat.

Janine Peligrino of Goodfaith Badminton defeated Jiselle Joy Capillo of Koronadal City, 21-18, 21-18, to win the girls’ 19-under crown.

Jiselle Joy Capillo retired Michelle Kate Alvarez of Metro Kidapawan Badminton, 2-0, to bag the girls’ 17-under singles trophy.

Arthur Samuel Salvado of Davao City won over John David Barrientos of Space Shuttle Kidapawan, 21-15, 21-4, to gain the boys 15-under singles diadem, while Ma. Lourdes Babanto of CDO Shuttle Busters whipped Kyla Cruz of Goodfaith Badminton, 21-17, 21-18, for the girls’ 15-under singles crown.

Michael Jastine Perez of Mati City ripped Gem Bangcaya of Koronadal Chinese School, 21-11, 21-14, to earn the boys 13-under title and Nevie Tan of C-One zapped Catherine Barrientos of Space Shuttle Kidapawan, 21-19, 11-21, 21-18, for the girls 13-under singles crown.

Other boys’ doubles champion were Ron Danelle Cabalquinto and Julius Fontanilla (15-Under).

In the girls’ doubles, champions were Marinel Diansay and Macy Ann Patricia Salvado (19-under); Sofia Milen Enriquez and Jennifer Saldaga (17-Under); and Ma. Lourdes Babanto and Maxene Renee Olango (15-Under).

In mixed doubles, champions were Richard Joshua Rio and Macy Anne Patricia Salvado (19-Under); Estarco Bacalso and Marinel Diansay (17-Under); and Arthur Samuel Salvado and Georgene Hiso (15-Under).

All the champions of the three-leg junior badminton competition sponsored by Sun Cellular will represent their respective regions in the national finals to be held in Manila late this year.

JBC submits CA shortlist to Aquino

Brian Maglungsod, InterAksyon.com


MANILA, Philippines -- The Judicial and Bar Council submitted to Malacanang on Friday its shortlist of six nominees to replace retired Court of Appeals Associate Justice Amelita Tolentino.

“Pursuant to Article VIII, Section 9 of the Constitution, the Judicial and Bar Council has the honor to submit the following nominations for the position of Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals Honorable Amelita Tolentino,” Chief Justice and JBC ex-oficio chair Ma. Lourdes Sereno said in a one-page transmittal letter to the Office of the President.

The nominees are Manila RTC Branch 12 Judge Reynaldo de Guzman Roxas, Cagayan de Oro City RTC Branch 41 Judge Jeoffre Acebedo, Makati RTC Branch 134 Judge Perpetua Atal-Pano, Marikina RTC Branch 192 Judge Geraldine Fiel-Macaraig, Quezon City Branch 77 Judge Germano Francisco Legaspi and Antipolo City RTC Branch 73 Judge Ronaldo Martin.

De Guzman Roxas handled the libel case filed by Jose Miguel Arroyo, husband of the former president, against Newsbreak magazine, which he later withdrew in 2004.

Atal-Pano was among the nominees for the CA post vacated by Associate Justice Rosalinda Asuncion-Vicente but failed to make the cut.

On the other hand, Fiel-Macaraig is currently handling the child custody case of showbiz couple Raymart Santiago and Claudine Barreto.

Martin was earlier included in the list of nominees for Sandiganbayan justice but lost the position to Judge Ma. Theresa Dolores-Gomez.Â

Tolentino was the judge who presided over the Vizconde massacre case and sentenced to life Hubert Webb, Peter Estrada, Michael Gatchalian, Hospicio Fernandez, Miguel Rodriguez and Antonio Lejano II.

She was appointed to the appellate court on August 27, 2001 and became chairperson of the CA’s Fourth Division until her retirement last July 4.


PSA-10 kicks-off 25th Statistics Month Regional Celebration

(PSA-10/APB/PIA-10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Oct. 10 (PIA) --- The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in region 10 led the regional opening ceremony of the 25th National Statistics Month Celebration at Limketkai Activity Center last October 1.

Representatives from the different regional line agencies and local government units, from the academe and college and high school students from the different schools in the city participated in the opening ceremony.

Cagayan de Oro City Oscar Moreno graced the opening ceremony. In his message, he emphasized the importance of statistics as a support tool for local development planning.

Moreno together with PSA-10 Interim Regional Director Marilou B. Igdon led the ribbon cutting ceremony of the Statistical Exhibit showcasing the different statistical products and information from the eight government agencies.

The opening ceremony was highlighted by the Statistical Symposium which showed study results that can be used as tool for development planning.

Dr. Astrid Cinco of Kinaadman Research Center – Xavier University presented results of their study on Community Problems and Needs Identification of Cagayan de Oro City.

Lodie M. Cadiz of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 10 also presented the results of Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index of 2014 which showed Cagayan de Oro as second most competitive city in the country. Among the municipalities, Manolo Fortich ranked nine as most competitive municipality.

Moreover, Dr. Jonald L. Pimentel of Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology shared an improvement on the use of likert scale as a tool for data analysis in research studies.

Simultaneous with the Statistical Symposium was the conduct of poster-making contest among high school students in the city aimed at raising awareness on the importance of statistics. It was also designed to enhance students’ artistic skills by expressing their understanding on the importance of statistics through artwork. This was participated by students from Puerto National High School (NHS), CDO NHS, Kauswagan NHS, Tablon NHS, Canitoan NHS, Agusan NHS and Kong Hua High School.

Globe boosts retail presence in Cagayan de Oro

(PR)

GLOBE Telecom is strengthening its business and operations in Cagayan de Oro with the opening of its world-class retail store dubbed as “Generation 3” Store at Lim Ket Kai Mall in December 2014.

The Globe Store at Lim ket kai Mall in Cagayan de Oro is the second retail store of the leading telecommunications company to undergo major renovation, paving the way for one of the biggest milestones in telco retail around the world.

The new Globe Store in SM North Edsa in Quezon City is also opening in December to offer Globe customers in Manila a new and leveled-up experience in availing of telecom services.

The new Globe “Generation 3” Stores promise a fresh experience for its customers, boasting of a unique retail concept that is a first of its kind in the Philippines, designed by Tim Kobe, founder and CEO of Eight, Inc. whose brainchild is the iconic Apple store in New York.

On the future Globe Stores, Kobe said: “Globe is transforming the customer experience in the Philippines and it will send shock waves far beyond.”

Among his achievements, Kobe is responsible for the designs of the Apple Stores, the Nike Concept Stores, Coke, Knoll, Virgin Atlantic Airways, and Citibank.

The “Generation 3” stores will house interactive lifestyle vignettes that will feature myriad of products within interesting displays that make it more relevant to customers. The installations are made flexible and reconfigurable allowing the store to transform, keeping the environment always fresh and giving customers a reason to return.

Globe Retail Transformation and Management Head Joe Caliro said, "Apart from our Store in SM North Edsa, we are proud to open our second Generation 3 store here in Cagayan de Oro which we consider one of our strongest markets."

As we remain focused on our business in Cagayan de Oro and Mindanao in general, we have high hopes with the unveiling of our Generation 3 Store, "which we believe will take Globe to the next level of telco retail and customer experience."

Prior to its big opening, the Generation 3 Stores will feature themed surprises -- Arts, Community and Technology (ACT). Working together with distinguished Filipino artists led by Ross Capili, Globe creatively boarded up its Stores with featured live art performances.

Capili working with the theme "past to future" designed the mounted mural on the Globe stores. The mural is set to surprise onlookers every two weeks as participating artists keep on adding and drawing on the canvass.

The live art had enthusiasts and followers abuzz in Twitter using the hashtag #Gen3nextACT and photos uploaded in Facebook as the artists wowed retail onlookers. The art event at Limketkai Mall began on October 4 where Capili was joined by the first set of artists namely Joey and Archie Balcos.

Capili has been in the art scene for almost 40 years specializing in varying expressions, movements and media. With successful exhibitions here and abroad, Capili is also the founder of the Facebook page ArtPhilippines, which gathers over with over 8,000 members composed of Filipino artists here and around the world.

To participate in the#GEN3NextACT follow us on Twitter or get updates on https://www.facebook.com/groups/Gen3nextACT.

DOH-10 hits target on measles, polio immunization

By Lenesse Marie Libres

AS MEASLES outbreak hit the country this year, the Department of Health conducted a nationwide mass immunization for the entire month of September.

The health agency targeted 95 percent coverage in each region and Northern Mindanao hit its target for measles and rubella vaccination.

However, its target for polio vaccination was short by 2 percent due to families in the cities of Ozamiz and Oroquieta who were having trouble in traveling to their nearest health centers.

Despite the difficulty, the region’s coverage for polio vaccination attained 93 percent.

Children nine months to five years old have been given free vaccination for measles while children zero to five years old are given oral polio vaccine.

“The campaign has been done, along with other DOH offices in other regions, to reduce measles and maintain a polio-free country,”DOH-10 said in a statement.

The department said the last mass immunization held nationwide showed great results in reducing rubella, measles and polio and they are certain that this move will also show great results.

As of September 20, national data showed that among regions Northern Mindanao with 83 percent; Davao Region by 70 percent and CARAGA by 69 percent have the most coverage for measles vaccination.

Among five provinces and nine cities in Northern Mindanao: DOH recorded 99 percent coverage in Bukidnon, while 95 percent was covered in Cagayan de Oro, Valencia City with 91 percent and Gingoog City by 85 percent for measles vaccination.

For polio immunization, 95 percent was accommodated in Bukidnon, 91 percent coverage was recorded in Valencia City and 87 percent in Gingoog city.

Last August, Cagayan de Oro recorded the highest number of measles cases in northern Mindanao composing of 36 percent for entire region, with 595-recorded cases by the end of August.

Compared to same period last year, the August 2014 data recorded a double growth. DOH finds it not alarming and it is aiming at attaining zero casualties.

This month, the DOH continues to give free vaccination until October 10, 2014.

Daisy Salinding and her sister, Ronella Sia, were among the mothers who were queuing up to avail the extended free vaccination at the City Health on Tuesday morning bringing their babies.

Salinding’s daughter is only 12 months old, while Sia’s son is still 9 months old.

“Giignan man ko sa akong silingan nga naa lagi daw libre, busa akong gi uban akong manghud (Salinding) kay para sad ma safe among mga anak ug para dili mi madak-an kung simbako masakit ni sila,” Sia said.

CDO joins 2nd Natl Letter Writing Day

By Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat (PHLPost/JMOR/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, October 7 (PIA) – Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) area 8 announces the conduct of 2nd National Letter Writing Day (NLWD) on October 9, 2014 at SM Activity Center in Cagayan de Oro City.

Done simultaneously with PHLPost areas nationwide, the writing activity is in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), Komisyon

Started in 2013, the NLWD is a simultaneous letter writing of select students nationwide. This was created to encourage Filipino students to continue using letters as way of communicating and expressing thoughts.

With this year's theme "Pinasaya," participating students are expected to write happy thoughts to delight a family member, friend, teacher, or anyone special.

According to PHLPost Area 8 director Nimia S. Acebes, the National Letter Writing Day is part of “PHLPost’s Sulat-Mulat Postal Awareness Campaign” with the aim of re-introducing and promoting the art of letter writing as a means of communication among students in today's digital age.

The activity will also help the students hone their composition skills and foster the enjoyment of sending and receiving letters through the postal office.

PHLPost Postmasters will facilitate the discussion and actual letter writing and mailing activities in the said event.

Laguindingan airport sets inaugural night flight

By Jigger J. Jerusalem

TO CHECK if the newly installed navigation aids at Laguindingan Airport are fully functional, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) said an inaugural flight for night landing will be scheduled sometime next month.

Engineer Jose Budiongan, Laguindingan Airport manager, said the inaugural flight would be held either on the first week or second week of November, this year.

“In place na siya tanan. It only needs flight check,” Budiongan told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro by phone Monday evening.

He said Caap was supposed to do a test flight Monday, October 6, but rescheduled it by the end of this month due to technical reasons.

He said the Korean contractor, SKY-KR Consortium, finished the installation of the Air Navigation System and Support Facilities (ANSSF) ahead of the target completion date on November 20.

On September 25, Caap, which manages the airport, conducted the test run on all the navigation aids that include runway lights, taxiway lights, approach lights, beacon lights, and apron lighting system.

Aside from the lights, also installed were the Instrument Landing System (ILS) and VHF Omni Directional Radio Range (VOR), among others.

The ILS is a radio beam transmitter that provides a direction for approaching aircraft that tune their receiver to the ILS frequency while the VOR is a type of short-range radio navigation system for aircraft, enabling aircraft with a receiving unit to determine their position and stay on course by receiving radio signals transmitted by a network of fixed ground radio beacons.

He said the test flight is very essential to check if the navigational instruments are operating properly.

“We have to make the adjustments during the test flight, like the coordinates, settings, and integrity, if within allowable range ba ang signal. Di man pwede i-direct nato, this is in conformity with the international standards,” Budiongan said.

After the inaugural flight for night landing, he said it is up to the airline companies if they will avail of the early morning and night flights.

“I heard they (airline firms) would schedule (early morning and night flights) by December. It depends on them, the availability of aircrafts and scheduling. The ball is in their hand,” he said.

“It’s economics. If tan-aw nila okay, [then] sila na mag-schedule sa additional flights. We’re ready to serve unsa ilang gusto,” he added.

At present, the Laguindingan Airport has an average of 19 inbound and 19 outbound flights per day, and Budiongan said it would depend on the airlines if they add more flights.

He added they can even accommodate international flights, but his concern is its feasibility.

“Maka-cater ta (international flights) but how feasible ba? For how long? Dili man pwede nga karon naa sa sunod wala na pud. There should be continuity,” he said.

2 foreigners shot dead in Cagayan de Oro

By Jigger J. Jerusalem (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro)

CAGAYAN DE ORO - Two foreigners were shot dead in a beach resort in Opol town, Misamis Oriental Sunday afternoon, the police said.

The victims were identified as Robert Erich Loever, 67, and Baltazar Johann Erni, 78, said Opol police station chief Senior Inspector Alwin Baclao.

Baclao said based on the identification cards retrieved from the crime scene and from statements of their companions, both victims hailed from Switzerland.

Baclao added that he has requested for the passports of the victims to be brought to the police office.

He said both Loever and Erni were gunned down at the parking area near the entrance of D. Yasay Beach Resort around 1 p.m. Sunday.

He added the two victims were shot in the head and other parts of their bodies resulting in their instant deaths.

Baclao said the Swiss nationals’ Filipina partners, who were with them when the shooting happened, would serve as primary witnesses.

Reports said that before the incident, Loever and Erni, together with their partners, had a meal at the resort, but police could not yet confirm this.

Baclao said the victims came from the adjoining beach resort before the shooting.

It was learned that Loever’s fiancée is five months pregnant, while Erni’s companion, Rowelyn Jane Odchigue, is his girlfriend.

Unmasked shooters

Their female partners said the three unidentified gunmen did not wear any mask or any facial covering when they approached the victims. They were seen walking away from the crime scene after the shooting.

Baclao said investigators are discounting robbery as motive since no personal stuff or money was taken by the shooters from the victims.

The police, however, are still digging deeper into the motive of the shooting.

In the initial investigation by the police, Loever and Erni were residents at Xavier Estates, Fr. Mastersons Avenue in Barangay Upper Balulang, but it could not yet be determined how long they had been staying at the said posh housing community.

As of Sunday afternoon, Baclao said the relatives of the victims or the Swiss Embassy located in Makati City, Metro Manila were not informed yet about the incident.

It can be recalled that last year, American national Michael Alan Turner, together with his Filipina lover, were also killed at another beach resort in Opol.

Isolated case

Vice-governor Joey Pelaez, in a text message sent to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro Sunday, has condemned the killing as he called on authorities to fast track the investigation that will lead to the identification of the gunmen.

“We condemn the shooting of foreign guests in the province of Misamis Oriental. We call on the [Philippine National Police] to immediately work on the apprehension of the perpetrators of this dastardly act,” Pelaez said.

“The impact of the shooting will definitely affect the tourism industry of the province, which the Provincial Government led by Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano worked so hard to promote,” he said.

Pelaez, however, has assured the public that the slaying was an isolated incident and province is generally peaceful.

Cagayan de Oro developer and architect joins World Architecture Festival 2014, talks on resilient developments

(CDODev.Com)

Can you imagine a Cagayan de Oro green property developer being with the world’s top architects and as one of the guest speakers at the World Architecture Festival in Singapore? Italian architect and Cagayan de Oro developer Arch. Romolo V. Nati has just done that. He is representing the Philippines as a guest speaker at the festival. Arch. Nati is the executive chairman and CEO of ItalpinasEuroasian Design and Eco-Development Corp. (ITPI), an Italian-Filipino real estate firm specializing in green architecture and design.

The World Architecture Festival 2014 is an annual and largest celebration of architectural marvels in the world. It is a three-day event that started last Oct. 1 and ends today. It is also a global competition that seeks to honor the best in building design.

Arch. Nati gave a talk on Resilient Developments for Vulnerable Environments focusing on the Philippines during the second day. He was also elected as one of the judges for the shortlisted entries under the House category. Joining him at the festival is ITPI President Atty. JojoLeviste.

In his talk, Nati stressed the importance of high-performance design in buildings in order for it to be sustainable and at the same time reduce the impact on the environment.

“The Philippines experiences frequent natural disasters every year. This makes the country very vulnerable as houses in the Philippines are generally not built to withstand extreme weather conditions.

As a developer, our designs very well address this issue. By studying nature and the local climate of an area, we are able to design buildings that not only mitigate environmental impact but can endure extreme weather conditions,” shared Nati.

Atty, Leviste also shared his views on the company’s participation at the festival: “We are very proud to be part of this prestigious festival. It is indeed an extraordinary experience for us. We are thankful and honored that we had the opportunity to showcase our sustainable projects and share our ideas with the best architects in the world.”

ITPI is the developer of Primavera Residences, an Italian-designed green condo complex located in Uptown Cagayan de Oro. Primavera Residences is Cagayan de Oro’s first eco-friendly mixed-use development. It comprise residential, commercial, and office units for purchase and rent. All units are ready for occupancy.

Want to own an internationally-awarded Primavera Residences unit designed by an Italian architect? Grab this opportunity and call+63-917-7921080 or visit the website atwww.primaveraresidences.com.

No shortage in the supply of coins – BSP

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Oct. 3 (PIA) --- The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) here said there is no shortage in the supply of coins.

According to BSP, they have issued around 21.86 billion pieces of coins as of August 31, 2014.

Dexter Erick Demafeliz, senior research specialist of BSP Cagayan de Oro branch, said the problem is not on supply but on circulation of coins.

This is because some people keep coins in piggy banks, drawers and other containers.

Demafeliz said the solution to the perceived shortage is re-circulation of coins by all users that is why BSP launched an inter-agency coin recirculation contest on October 1 during the opening ceremony of the 25th National Statistics Month (NSM) celebration in the region.

The contest aims to flush-out idle coins in storage, promote the importance of coins, and correct wrongful sales practices.

The inter-agency coin recirculation contest is open to agency members of the Regional Statistical Coordination Committee (RSCC). The agency with the most number of collected fit coins donated by their employees wins the contest and their chosen beneficiary gets the proceeds.

The coins must still be shiny, in its original size and form, and free from adhesive tapes and any form of damage, said Demafeliz.

Coins which are bent or twisted out of shape, defaced or with signs of corrosion, has been considerably reduced in weight by natural abrasion or wear and tear, and has shown signs of flipping, clipping or perforation are considered unfit and will not be accepted in the contest.

We will only accept fit coins because our main purpose is recirculation, he added.

Also, only low denomination legal tender, -25, -10, -5 and -1 centavo coins collected will be included in the counting.

Demafeliz said the inter-agency coin recirculation contest will run from October 1 until October 27, 2014.

Collected coins must be submitted for counting to BSP Cagayan de Oro branch only on October 27 from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. Coins will not be accepted before and beyond the allotted schedule.

Top three winners will be awarded trophies during the NSM culminating activity on October 30 while other participating agencies will be given certificates. (APB/PIA-10)

Customs bureau welcomes Mindanao Container Terminal

By Jigger J. Jerusalem


EVEN before an endorsement from a government policy-making body came out, the Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT) sub-port in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, has what it takes to be the region’s main port of entry, a Bureau of Customs-Northern Mindanao (BOC-10) official said.

“It is capable. In terms of readiness, Phividec, the port’s owner, has the facilities and logistical needs,” for MCT to become the new principal port of entry, lawyer Roswald Joseph Pague, BOC-10 administrative officer, said.

MCT is located inside the Phividec Industrial Estate in Barangay Sugbongcogon, Tagoloan.

During its recent meeting, the Regional Development Council Executive Committee in Region 10 (RDC-10 ExCom), has endorsed the proposed declaration of the MCT as the principal port of entry from its present status as a sub-port of the Cagayan de Oro base port.

“Contributing 86 percent share of the region’s total customs collection in 2013, the MCT consistently showed increasing domestic and foreign cargo and ship calls. Declaring it as a principal would emphasize its role in the region’s vision of becoming a major gateway in the south,” RDC-10 in a statement said.

Pague said the BOC-10 is open to that possibility considering the volume of the import transactions is done at the MCT, and it has the biggest collection of import duties and taxes among Northern Mindanao’s seaports.

Based on the recent data gathered by the National Economic Development Authority-10 (Neda-10), MCT accounted the biggest share of customs collection at 88.83 percent, while the base port of Cagayan de Oro contributed only 8.27 percent.

Once the RDC-10’s endorsement will be implemented, Pague said it is expected that the collection at MCT will also increase as this has been the trend year after year.

As more and more companies will invest in Mindanao, MCT’s collection performance will also make an upward trend due to that effect.

Aside from that, the council also supported and endorsed the following recommendations to the BOC-10: bring back total cargo inspection inside the MCT premises and fully implement the electronic selectivity system; review and roll out of an improved system in disposing abandoned cargoes and implement BOC’s rationalization plan to ensure the right number of personnel to carry out timely disposal of abandoned shipments reportedly overstaying at the MCT; and reassess the load port survey (LPS) to counter or reduce additional upfront costs for imported raw materials in bulk further considering the inclusion of containerized cargoes.

RDC-10 said that back in mid-2013, the BOC assigned cargo examination to a private contractor in a separate designated examination area or customs clearing area (DEA/CCA) outside the MCT.

Because of this, the BOC-10 x-ray machine inside the MCT compound was transferred to the DEA/CCA.

“The transfer has incurred additional cost burden to the shippers as said cargo movements are charged between MCT and DEA,” it added.

Establish plantilla

Pague said if the x-ray machine will be back under BOC-10 control, expenses of importer and exporters will be lessened by about P2,000.

But he said if the MCT will become the new principal port of entry, the BOC-10 should also establish plantilla or staff of not less than 100 employees at the MCT for it to be effective in its function.

At present, he added, “the status of the MCT is just like an ad hoc office, there are no plantilla positions assigned in that port. All the positions at MCT are coming from the plantilla of the Cagayan de Oro port. That [needs] to be addressed.”

Pague said the designation of the MCT head should also be promoted from sub-port collector to district collector.

Since there can only be one principal port of entry in the region, and with the promotion of MCT, the Cagayan de Oro port will become the sub-port, he said.

Cop involved in illegal drugs nabbed

By Jigger J. Jerusalem


A FEMALE police officer of Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) was arrested by anti-narcotics operatives, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 10 (PDEA-10) said Tuesday.

Arrested was SPO1 Nancy Peralta, 44, assigned at the Macabalan police station, said Emerson Margate, PDEA-10 regional director.

Margate said Peralta was apprehended during a buy-bust operation at Silver Creek subdivision in Barangay Carmen around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.


The PDEA agents confiscated 16 sachets containing what authorities suspect as shabu, an illegal drug, totaling to 15 grams with an estimated street value of P75,000.

Apprehended with Peralta were Rodel Castillon and Arlen Lindongan who were inside Peralta's residence during the operation, Margate said. He added the PDEA-10 operatives caught the three suspects as they were about to take begin their "shabu" session.

The suspects will go through urine test to verify if their alleged use of illegal substances is founded.

Margate said they had been closely monitoring Peralta’s activities since her name surfaced last year as one of those allegedly involved in illegal drugs.

“Etong si SPO1 Peralta, matagal na pong minamanmanan (We had been closely keeping an eye on SPO1 Peralta). Maraming reports dumating sa office namin, and from other law enforcement units,” he said.

He added PDEA-10 operatives conducted a follow-up operation after arresting Peralta but it turned up nothing.

Margate clarified Peralta’s arrest has no connection with the apprehension of retired policeman Reynaldo dela Victoria during an entrapment operation by PDEA-10 on September 2, 2014.

Taken from dela Victoria’s possession during the buy-bust was the suspected shabu, weighing about 25 grams, with an estimated worth of P175,000.

‘High-level suspect’

Margate said the operation was in coordination with Cocpo’s City Intelligence Branch (CIB).

He admitted the PDEA-10 found it hard to build up their case against Peralta because, as a law enforcer, she was careful and knew the ins and outs of anti-drug operations.

Three weeks ago, he said the agency had a break that led to Peralta’s arrest.

But Margate believes since Peralta is a police officer, “marami siyang connection with illegal drug traffickers not just in the city but in the region. Ma-classify natin siya as ‘mataas’ (high-level suspect).”

Meanwhile, the Macabalan police confirmed to this paper that Peralta has been assigned to them after being transferred from the Agora police station within this year.

Inspector Sebastian Balagot Jr., Macabalan deputy station commander, told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro by phone Tuesday evening that Peralta is one of their own but she was facing administrative cases for having been absent without leave (Awol) and negligence of duty for failure to report since September 1, 2014.

Balagot said they have been monitoring Peralta as they received information that she has been allegedly involved in dealing in illegal substance.

For his part, Chief Inspector Lemuel Gonda, Cocpo’s chief of operations and plans branch, has also confirmed in a text message that Peralta’s arrest was a result of a joint operation of Cocpo and PDEA-10.

“We have close coordination with PDEA-10 to conduct illegal drugs operations especially involved uniformed police personnel, as part of the ‘Oplan Bahay Linis’ (cleansing the Cocpo organization),” Gonda said.

Detained at the PDEA-10 detention cell on Tuesday, Peralta refused to talk to reporters and instead told them to speak with her lawyer on any query regarding her arrest.

Margate said Peralta confessed she was a user, but denied being a drug dealer.

He added they also received information that she has many runners who sell the substance to her clients.

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