Zamboanga Del Sur News

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Province of Zamboanga del Sur - Archived News of Zamboanga del Sur
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Seal of Zamboanga del Sur Province
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Zamboanga del Sur Map Locator
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Municipalities within Zamboanga del Sur
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Provincial Capitol of Zamboanga del Sur
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Provincial Capitol of Zamboanga del Sur, Santo Niño, Pagadian city

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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Lapuyan Falls: The favorite haunt of the fair Subanen maidens of Sitio Baga and all its neighboring areas, usual meeting place with many a young country swain in some secluded cavern beneath the rocky forest lane.
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Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines
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Village of Pedagan

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.
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Lintugop, Aurora
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Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur
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Provincial human resource management office of santo niño pagadian city
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Civil Service Commision office in santo niño pagadian city

Pagadian cited for economic dynamism, better infrastructure

By Gideon C. Corgue (ALT/GCC/PIA-Zamboanga del Sur)

PAGADIAN CITY (PIA)-- Philippine Information Agency Region 9 Director Noemi B. Edaga who was the guest speaker during the 50th Araw ng Pagadian anniversary program held at the city gym on Friday, recognized the important contributions of the local officials and stakeholders for making Pagadian a progressive city.

Pagadian, which became a chartered city on June 21, 1969 thru Republic Act 5478 strives to be recognized by Mindanao Economic Boom in the Top 15 Most Competitive Cities in Mindanao.

“Pagadian ranked No.10 in economic dynamism and No. 2 in infrastructure. It is way to go for the city to gain a spot in economic dynamism and resiliency,” Edaga proudly announced.

Edaga said the people can change the landscape of Pagadian into a highly developed urban city but they should also work to preserve peace.

“Let us keep the culture of peace and sobriety in trying times. Let us keep the joy of peaceful living,” Edaga urged.

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Ernesto Mondarte said the golden year celebration is worthy to be remembered, first and foremost because of the blessings of the Almighty Father and the efforts, initiatives, and significant contributions of the past leaders.

“We are gathered here to show our unity, peace, love, respect and cooperation,” Mondarte concluded.

The anniversary program was highlighted with a civic-military parade and mass dance presentation of public secondary schools students.

1 person killed in Shooting Incident

(Zambo del Sur Police Report)

PAGADIAN CITY – One prson was killed in Shooting incident transpired in front of J. Cabahug Hospital along Rizal Avenue corner Roxas Street, San Pedro District, Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur at about 8:10 AM of June 13, 2019.

Police Brigadier Gen. Froilan F Quidilla, PRO9 Director identified the victim as Samer Nian Maguindanaon Esmael, 39 years old, male, married, farmer, and a resident of Bulanit, Labangan, Zamboanga Del Sur. (Cousin of Vice Mayor-elect Matt Nian of Dinas, Zamboanga Del Sur.

Suspects were two (2) unidentified male persons riding in a motorcycle.

Initial investigation disclosed that the victim was on board in a tricycle with two other passengers when it stops in front of Cabahug Hospital for the other two passengers to dismount.

At that juncture, suspects onboard Mio motorcycle approached the victim and without any words shot the victim three (3) times. He tumbles into the pavement sustaining three (3) fatal gunshot wounds in different parts of his body.

Intel and Detective personnel of Pagadian City Police Station are in pursuit of fleeing suspects.

SOCO personnel arrived at about 08:40 AM of June 13, 2019 and conducted crime scene processing procedure.

The duty Doctor of J. Cabahug Hospital in person of Dr. Liz Corazon Cabahug-Parangan, M.D. responded at the crime scene for possible immediate treatment but it was declared dead on the spot.

The victim sustained Two (2) gunshot wounds in front of his chest, and one (1) gunshot wound at the back of his chest, and one (1) gunshot graze at his left face.

The SOCO Team turned-over the crime scene to the Investigator on case at around 9:50 AM of same date.

The cadaver of the victim was brought by his immediate family to Dinas, Zamboanga Del Sur on board on Ambulance vehicle.

Pagadian City Police Station is still continuing its investigation as to the circumstances of the incident to determine the real respondents of this case. Motive of incident is yet to be determined.

Cop, 4 others nabbed in Pagadian City drug bust ops

By Leah Agonoy (PNA)

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur -- Four people, including a policeman and barangay councilor, were arrested and PHP3.4 million worth of suspected shabu were seized in an anti-drug operation here on Friday.

Agent Cesario Judilla Jr., Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Zamboanga del Sur head, identified the arrested suspects as Police Senior Master Sgt. Ricky Usman Sabturani of the Basilan Police Provincial Office and Omar Sadon, a councilor in Barangay Bayanga Norte, Matanog, Maguindanao.

Judilla identified the other suspects as Jam Macaraya, Daniel Kusain, and Amis Juma Anas.

He said the suspects were arrested after they allegedly sold suspected shabu to an undercover agent around 10 a.m. along the national highway in San Jose District.

He said the PDEA agents and policemen recovered from the suspects 18 large sachets containing suspected shabu and nine bundles of marked money worth PHP900,000.

Sadon denied any knowledge and involvement in the illegal drug trade, claiming he was just hired to drive the other suspects from Maguindanao to the city.

Sadon, the driver of the van (DAK-1806), claimed the other suspects told him to proceed and pick-up “someone” at the Integrated Bus Terminal.

Sabturani also denied involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Judilla said appropriate criminal and administrative charges will be filed against the policeman and his companions.

3 suspected assassins dead in clash with cops

LEAH AGONOY [Inquirer Mindanao, Tony Bergonia (Editor)]

PAGADIAN CITY—Three suspected members of an assassins’ gang were killed in a police operation on Thursday (June 20) at San Carlos village in Tukuran town, Zambaonga del Sur.

Police have not released the identities of the dead suspects but police Capt. Nur Mahadi, of the Tukuran police, said they were residents of Labangan town.

Mahadi said the three were killed in a legitimate police operation which he called “stop and freeze.”

Two of the three dead men, according to police, were suspects in the fatal shooting last May 4 of Ibrahim Ungad, chief of the village of New Labangan in Labangan town.

Ungad was leaving his house when he was attacked by two men and shot once with an improvised 12-gauge shotgun, according to city police chief Lt. Col. Alvin Sanguban. Ungad was declared dead in a hospital.

The three slain suspected assassins were riding a tricycle when stopped by policemen. But instead of yielding, the three allegedly opened fire at the policemen with their handguns. Not one of the policemen was hit.

The suspects’ guns, of unknown make and caliber, were recovered, according to police.

1 dead, 1 hurt in 2 motorbikes collision

By Bong Garcia (SunStar Philippines)

ONE person died while another was critically injured in a head-on collision of two motorcycles in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, the police said Thursday, June 20.

Police Major Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, said the incident occurred at 5:25 p.m. Wednesday at Sitio Gusahan in Canipay Sur village, Midsalip town.

Galvez identified the fatality as Antonio Enomo, 29, who did not reach the Midsalip Infirmary Hospital alive.

Critically injured was Edimar Selim, 32. He was rushed to the infirmary hospital and later transferred to the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center in Pagadian City.

Galvez said investigation showed that Enomo was traveling from the village of Sigapod to Canipay Sur when he collided head-on with Selim, who was also driving motorcycle and traveling the opposite direction.

She said that both Enomo and Selim do not have driver’s licenses and respective motorcycle registration.

Zamboanga del Sur town's most wanted nabbed

By BONG GARCIA (SunStar Philippines)

LAWMEN have arrested one of the most wanted persons in Zamboanga del Sur in a manhunt operation in Ozamiz City, the police reported Wednesday, June 19.

The Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office identified the arrested suspect as Sergio Ramonal, 34, alias Jun-Jun, the number one most wanted person in the town of Kumalarang.

The police said Ramonal was arrested by joint police team of Kumalarang, Zamboanga del Sur and Ozamiz City around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 19, in the village of Baybay Triunfo, Ozamis City.

Police said Ramonal, a resident of the village of Diplo, Kumalarang, has two standing warrants of arrest: the first one is for the crime of murder issued on January 28, 2016 by the court of Pagadian City, and the second was issued on December 2, 2014 by the same court for the crime of murder and frustrated murder.

Ramonal was detained pending his turnover to court authorities, the police added.

DA names Zamboanga Del Sur town Nat’l quality corn achiever

By ANTONIO P. RIMANDO

PAGADIAN CITY: The mountain municipality of Dinas, Zamboanga del Sur was named recently by the Department of Agriculture (DA) as the country’s “National Quality Corn Achiever” awardee this year.

Dinas Mayor Felicito Chavez, Jr. received his town’s award during a ceremony held late last month at the D’ Leonor Inland Resort in Buhangin, Davao City.

Aside from a Plaque of Recognition, Chavez said the local government unit of Dinas also received a P1-million check “which will be primarily utilized to finance more projects and programs of the Municipal Agriculturist’s Office for corn and other corn production in the community.”

The Dinas executive said the national competition was participated in by 25 qualifiers out of 1,489 towns throughout the country.

Sea turtle in Zamboanga del Sur found dead with hack wounds on neck

By Kaela Malig (/MDM, GMA News)

A sea turtle was found dead floating in the waters off Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur with hack wounds on its neck.

According to a report on Balitanghali on Saturday, local children were playing near the seashore when they spotted the floating carcass of the sea turtle.

Based on the authorities' investigation, the sea turtle have been dead for days now and the hack wounds could mean that the animal was slaughtered before it was left in the sea.

Because the sea turtle was in the advance stage of decomposition, authorities decided to bury the sea turtle already.

Dance, beauty contest highlight CDW Day

By Gideon C. Corgue (ALT/GCC/PIA-Zamboanga del Sur)

PAGADIAN CITY (PIA)-- The Federation of Child Development Workers recently conducted 'Bayanihan Para sa Kabataan' showcasing their beauty and talents in the Search for 2019 Miss CDW to celebrate Child Development Workers’ Day. Winners of the contests were awarded with cash prizes and tokens.

About 100 CDWs from the four clusters of the city participated during the event.

The celebration carries the theme “CDW: Katuwang Tungo sa Magandang Kinabukasan ng Kabataan,” recognizing the vital role of CDWs who provide pre-school education and social development service to the children.

Myrna M. Kwan, City Social Welfare and Development Officer, said these workers play an important role in children’s development by caring for them when their parents are at work or when their parents place their children in their care to help them socialize with other children of their age.

“The DCWs are loyal, committed and dedicated workers in spite of not receiving an honorarium. They are celebrating CDW day because they want to show that the child development workers are functional,” Kwan stated.

She said that despite no resources to finance their week-long activities, they decided to pursue with the celebration to let the government feel that the DCWs are the government’s partner in nation-building.

Jossie Romarate, DCW Federation president, said the DCWs will continue to provide their services to ensure that children in Pagadian City will receive quality early education and social development services in their early and formative years.

Zambo Sur town holds agro-trade fair

By Leah Agonoy (PNA)

PAGADIAN CITY -- The town of Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur, opened Wednesday an agro-trade fair in line with its 63rd founding anniversary celebration.

Dumalinao Mayor Junaflor Cerilles said the trade fair, held in front of the town hall, showcases local products available at the cheapest prices.

Cerilles said the products on display and sale included organic tea, coffee, banana chips, and other farm and fishery products.

“All these (products) are from our very own farmers and fisherfolk,” Cerilles added.

The trade fair opened after the town officials of Dumalinao joined the nation in commemorating the 121st Independence Day of the country.

The municipality of Dumalinao is set to celebrate its 63rd founding anniversary on June 26. A fourth-class town, it has 30 barangays. The town was created by virtue of Republic Act 1593.

Pagadian conducts door-to-door measles immunization drive

By ANTONIO P. RIMANDO

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur: With the increasing cases of measles in this coastal community, Mayor Romeo Pulmones directed City Health Officer Noel Ceniza to intensify its all-out campaign against the dreaded ailment.

Ceniza said the city health office personnel had initiated a house-to-house drive against measles, which recorded close to 100 cases from January to April 2019.

He assured the residents that the measles vaccine “is safe, effective and inexpensive, and has been used since two decades ago.”

Several parents have voluntarily submitted their children for measles vaccination.

Mercy Monciller claimed she took her five-year-old daughter to the health center after her neighbor’s child was afflicted with measles, which is a contagious ailment.

Joel Dalugdog, a kindergarten pupil, was also accompanied to the city health door-to-door team in their village by his grandmother, who believes that vaccination would keep her grandson from acquiring measles.

Municipal government employee shot dead

By Bong Garcia (SunStar Philippines)

A GOVERNMENT employee was killed in a gun attack in the province of Zamboanga del Sur Wednesday, May 29, 2019.

Rico Lipalam, 40, a utility worker of Tambulig municipal government, was shot dead by an unidentified gunman while he was drinking coffee at the terrace in his mother’s house in Barangay Pelocuban, Tambulig at around 8:40 p.m. Wednesday.

Police Major Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, said Lipalam sustained three gunshot wounds. He failed to reach the hospital alive.

Investigation is ongoing, Galvez said.

Canning firm to give temp jobs to displaced workers

By Julie Alipala [Reporter, Inquirer Mindanao, Alexander T. Magno (Editor)]

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines — Another canning company in this city has announced that it would give interim employment to some 300 workers who were displaced by the temporary shutdown of South West Asian Canning Corp.

South West Asian was forced to stop operations to give way to the repair of its factory boiler which exploded on Tuesday, killing one worker and hurting two others.

Edgar Lim, manager of the canning firm Permex Producer and Exporter Corp., assured all 300 canning workers of South West Asian would have jobs in Permex while waiting for the resumption of work in their own factory.

“No one will be displaced. Permex is glad to have them. We need more than 300 people for a shift,” Lim said.

Lim, who is also the president of Industrial Group of Zamboanga Inc. (IGZI), of which Permex and South West Asian Canning are members, said that canning factories usually help each other to ensure that no worker would end up jobless, especially in an emergency situation.

Permex is one of the country’s leading exporters of its own brand of canned sardines and tuna products. South West Asian Canning Corp. produces King Cup sardines, which is also being exported by Permex.

South West Asian, which is located in Barangay Talisayan here, had to suspend its operation when its industrial steam machine or boiler exploded at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28.

An assistant boiler operator, Zacarias Alberyo Rico, 49, died in the incident.

Two other workers — Anthony Romano Villaflores, 28, a safety officer, and Francisco Caunsag Dumagal, 39, boiler head operator — suffered minor injuries.

Dumagal earlier told the police that erratic pressure movement of the boiler caused it to explode. The company placed the cost of damage at P1.2 million.

3 dead in Zambo Sur mine tunnel collapse

By Roel Pareño (The Philippine Star)

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines — Three persons died when a mine pit collapsed in Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur on Friday.

Maj. Helen Galvez, Zamboanga peninsula police spokesperson, identified the fatalities as Emmanuel Sarabia, 26; Edwin Paran Jr., 22, and Lloyd Baylon, 21, all residents of Barangay San Pedro.

Galvez said initial investigation showed that Sarabia was buried alive while digging a 30-foot mine hole in the property of a certain Edwin Poresores at about 1:45 p.m.

Paran and Baylon, who volunteered to rescue Sarabia, were trapped when the mine pit caved in as they went down. Their companion, Junifer Narido, was pulled alive and brought to a hospital for treatment.

Sarabia’s body was recovered after almost 10 hours.

Lightning kills 16-year-old boy

By BONG GARCIA (SunStar Philippines)

A 16-YEAR-OLD boy was killed in a lightning strike in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, the police reported, Sunday, May 26.

The Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office reported the incident occurred around 7:15 a.m. at Purok Quarry in the village of Abong-abong, Tabina, Zamboanga del Sur.

The police identified the fatality as Roger Guillena, Jr., a Grade 8 student.

Investigation disclosed that prior to the incident, Guillena went to the village of Poblacion aboard on a canoe to buy spare parts of a motorized banca.

The police said that Ronilo Ocang saw Guillena returning home around 7:15 a.m. when a lighting struck the canoe throwing the boy overboard.

The police said that Ocang along with other fishermen managed to recover Guillena around 8:05 a.m. and tried to resuscitate him.

The police added they rushed the victim to the nearest hospital but Guillena expired before they reached Tabina Rural Health Unit.

Zamboanga del Sur lawmaker acquitted of graft

By Elizabeth Marcelo (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines — Zamboanga del Sur second district Rep. Aurora Cerilles has been cleared of graft over an advertisement deal that the provincial government entered with a local radio station when she was governor in 2005.

“Review... of the records of this case shows that... the prosecution evidence failed to meet the quantum of proof required for the conviction of... Cerilles,” the Sandiganbayan’s Second Division said in a 39-page decision promulgated on May 17.

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2013, the case stemmed from the release of a check amounting to P483,840 as payment to Baganian Broadcasting Corp. (BBC) for advertisements of the provincial government’s programs and activities.

The ombudsman said the payment was illegal because the contract with BBC did not undergo public bidding.

However, the Sandiganbayan said the prosecution failed to present a single evidence or witness that established Cerilles’ direct participation in the selection of BBC and release of payment.

“The only purported participation attributed to the accused... was her supposed signature stamped on the check... The prosecution utterly failed to establish that said stamped signature... is the true and authentic signature of the accused,” the second division said.

The court did not give weight to the prosecution’s allegation that the deal was awarded to BBC because Cerilles’ husband Antonio, a former congressman and now Zamboanga del Sur governor, was the owner of the company.

The Sandiganbayan said the Cerilles family had long divested its shares in BBC, citing a deed of sale dated Sept. 20, 1996 to a certain Alfonso Ortega Jr.

“The prosecution’s evidence failed to overcome the presumption of innocence, thus the accused is entitled to an acquittal... Suspicion, no matter how strong must never sway judgment,” the court said.

ZamSur donates books to far-flung areas

By ANTONIO P. RIMANDO (Campus Press)

PAGADIAN CITY: The Zamboanga del Sur government, in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) provincial schools division and OneHope Philippines, recently distributed books to far-flung local public elementary schools to enable their pupils to improve their reading and comprehension capability.

In this modern world where almost everything can be learned through technology, Zamboanga del Sur Gov. Antonio Cerilles said “there are still children, mostly living in rural communities, who have difficulty in learning how to read and to comprehend what they are reading.”

Cerilles said, “If a child learns how to read and understands what he is perusing, then he can read to learn more. But what happens to a child full of potentials but doesn’t know how to read or lacks reading capacity?” Advertisements

Under Cerilles’ leadership, the local government, Program in partnership with the DepEd, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and local Jaycee chapter, crafted the Reading Comprehensive to address the reading capacity problem of local grade school learners, particularly those enrolled in remote villages.

The initiative includes the distribution of books throughout the province.

Envoy confident Aussie troops safe in Mindanao war games

By Julie Alipala (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR, Philippines — The Australian government is confident that its troops who are participating in military exercises in Mindanao are in safe hands despite its advisory against travel to the region.

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven Robinson told reporters here on Monday that security for the troops had been guaranteed by the Philippine government.

“We have made accommodation for them in terms of security of the troops down here. Of course, with the military general and the police down here and the Navy, our security is good and it’s guaranteed by the Philippine Armed Forces,” Robinson said.

Caution

The Australian government, in a travel advisory posted on its website, advised its citizens “to exercise a high degree of caution in the Philippines,” and “to reconsider the need to travel in eastern Mindanao and do not travel to the areas of central and western Mindanao, including the Zamboanga Peninsula and Sulu archipelago, including southern Sulu Sea area.”

The advisory warned Australians about “very high levels of violent crime and high threat of terrorist attack and kidnapping” in eastern Mindanao.

Robinson said his government was regularly reviewing and updating its travel advisories.

More than 100 Australian troops—122 from the Royal Australian Navy and 47 from the Australian Defense Force—are in western Mindanao for two separate military exercises.

Joint training

The Navy personnel are engaged in maritime training activity using their new patrol ship HMAS Childers within the waters of Sulu and Basilan provinces, alongside their Filipino counterparts.

Rear Adm. Erick Kagaoan, commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao, said an equal number of Philippine Navy personnel, along with two patrol ships, were involved in the exercise.

The two-week training on regional security patrol started on May 20 and will end in the first week of June.

Another exercise started on May 19 in Pulacan, Zamboanga del Sur. Forty-seven members of the Australian Defense Force are participating in the 27-day training, together with 540 soldiers from the Philippine Army’s 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division.

Brig. Gen. Roberto Ancan, division commander, said the Philippine-Australian exercise “aims to enhance the combat skills, competence on urban warfare operations and interoperability of [personnel of the] Philippine Army and Australian Defense Force.”

The joint exercises will provide an opportunity to conduct combined mission planning and resolution of a terrorism-related incident, he said.

Ex-cop, 5 others fall in Zamboanga anti-drug ops

By Teofilo Garcia, Jr. (PNA)

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives arrested a former policeman and five others and seized from them PHP51,400 worth of illegal drugs in separate anti-drug operations here in the region, an official said Thursday.

Arrested were Robert Gaco, 30; Junie Espania, 27; Randy Lukmani, 35; Albaser Usman, 37; Kaiser Abdulhan, 41, a former policeman; and, Jane Santos, 18.

Maj. Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) information officer, said Gaco and Espania were caught in possession of some PHP34,000 worth of suspected shabu when arrested in a buy-bust operation by joint police and PDEA agents around 9 p.m. Wednesday at a hotel Barangay Paglaum, Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur.

Seized from their possession were five grams of suspected shabu and the PHP19,000 buy-bust money.

The suspects were placed under the custody of the PDEA while charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 is set to be filed against them.

Lukmani, meanwhile, yielded some PHP1,500 worth of suspected shabu packed in five plastic sachets when arrested in another buy-bust operation around 2 p.m. Wednesday in Sitio Sivictol, Barangay Arena Blanco, this city, police said.

Recovered from the possession of Lukmani were PHP200 marked money consisting of two PHP100 bills, police said.

Usman and Abdulhan were arrested in possession of some PHP15,000 worth of suspected shabu packed in 11 plastic sachets around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in Love Drive, Barangy Campo Islam, this city.

Also seized from them were PHP200 marked money comprising of two PHP100 bills.

Santos, meanwhile, was arrested around 3:30 a.m. Thursday in Summer Hill Drive, Barangay San Roque, this city.

Galvez said confiscated from the possession of Santos were at least PHP900 worth of dried marijuana leaves packed in nine heat-sealed plastic sachets and PHP100 marked money.

Philippines, Australia hold Army to Army exercise

By Teofilo Garcia, Jr. (PNA)

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Filipino and Australian soldiers are undergoing a 27-day training exercise to strengthen the capability of both forces in the fight against terrorism.

The training, dubbed as the Philippines-Australia Army to Army Exercise 2019, kicked off Monday in Camp Sang-an that houses the Philippine Army’s First Infantry Division in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.

Brig. Gen. Roberto Ancan, Army’s 1st Infantry Division commander, said Tuesday the training aims to enhance the combat skills, competence on urban warfare operations and interoperability of the Philippine Army and Australian Defence Force (ADF).

Ancan said the training will provide an opportunity to conduct combined mission planning and combined resolution of terrorist incidents. He said the training will also strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two armies.

“The best gift that a commander can give to his men is training. Make the most out of it and apply it when the time comes,” he said.

He said the 27-day training exercise, which ends on June 21, involves the participation of 540 troops--493 Philippine Army and 47 Australian Army.

He added that the Philippine Army participants are from the different organic and operational control units of Army’s 1st Infantry Division namely, 11th and 15th Division Reconnaissance Companies, 16th Scout Ranger Company, Scout Platoons of Infantry Battalions, 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, and Engineer Combat Battalion.

Pagadian exec linked to pyramid scam wins as mayor

By Stephen Bryan Esic (Rappler.com)

Samuel Co of the infamous Aman Futures Group defeats the incumbent mayor of Pagadian City in the May 13 elections

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur— Despite his alleged involvement in what has been dubbed as the biggest pyramid scam in Philippine history, Samuel Co was elected mayor by a landslide on May 13.

Garnering 51,572 votes, Co of the ruling PDP-Laban defeated incumbent mayor Romeo Pulmones of the Nacionalista Party, who only got 37,482 votes.

Co's running mate, Maphilindo Obaob, was also proclaimed vice mayor while his daughter, Sam Tyra Co, won as councilor.

The winning officials were proclaimed in Pagadian City’s Sanggguniang Panlungsod office on Saturday, May 18. The proclamation came 6 days after election day due to the vote-counting machines (VCMs)’s defective SD cards.

Aman Futures scam

Co previously ruled as city mayor from 2003 to 2013.

In 2013, he ran for Congress in Zamboanga del Sur's 1st district under the Liberal Party but lost.

This was a year before he and and his wife were charged with syndicated estafa for their alleged involvement in the multibillion-peso Aman Futures Group investment scam.

Following a surveillance operation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Co was arrested in December 2013 and pleaded not guilty during his February 2014 arraignment.

In 2015, the lower court denied Co's bail petition, noting that he used his position as mayor to influence his supposed victims to part with their money and invest in the scam.

But in October 2016, the Court of Appeals allowed Co to post bail because the prosecution “failed to prove that petitioner performed any overt act in furtherance of the alleged conspiracy.”

By September 2017, Co announced his plan to run for mayor. He was endorsed by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

Back to politics

Co's alleged involvement in the said ponzi scheme did not deter Pagadian voters from electing him.

On election day, May 13, majority of Co’s supporters were seen wearing orange shirts with the print, “Asenso Pagadian,” along with the Duterte fist symbol.

Orange was Pagadian City's signature color during Co's first term as mayor. “Asenso Pagadian” was also the tagline used during Co’s term.

“Rest assured, dili ko mag-pakaulaw. Sulod sa isa ka tuig, makita ninyo ang deperensya sa siyudad sa Pagadian.” he told reporters right after his proclamation as mayor. (Rest assured, I will not make a fool of myself. In a span of one year, you will see the difference in the City of Pagadian.)

In a separate press conference, Co talked about the kind of city government that residents should expect from him.

“Ang gobyerno nga maminaw sa katawhan; ang gobyerno nga muhatag ug mga proyekto sa katawhan; gobyerno nga muatiman sa iyang katawhan; gobyerno nga patas sa tanan," Co said. (A government that listens to the people; a government that gives projects to the people; a government that takes care of its people; a government that is fair to all.)

Grave Threat Incident

(Zamboanga Del Sur Police Report)

RAMON MAGSAYSAY, Zamboanga del Sur - Grave threat incident transpired at Purok 1, Barangay Sinaguing, Ramon Magsaysay, Zamboanga del Sur at about 1:20 PM of May 8, 2019.

Police Brigadier Gen. Emmanuel Luis D Licup, PRO9 Director identified the victim as Benjamin M. Calib-og, Barangay Chairman of Sinaguing Ramon Magsaysay, Zamboanga del Sur.

PNP team of RM MPS while conducting police visibility patrol along the National Highway, particularly at the vicinity of Purok 1, Barangay Sinaguing, Ramon Magsaysay, Zamboanga del Sur, when Hon. Benjamin M. Calib-og, Barangay Captain of Sinaguing Ramon Magsaysay, Zamboanga del Sur, approached to stop the patrol car and reported that there were unidentified persons on board with single motorcycles, and alleged that one of the those person drew a short firearm and pointed at him.

PNP responding team arrived at the area and frisked Jerry Dagooc y Mocoy, 42 years old, male, married, member of Philippine Army in AWOL status and a resident of Purok 4, Barangay Gapasan, Ramon Magsaysay, Zamboanga del Sur, that was positively pinpointed by Hon. Benjamin M. Calib-og the one who drew a cal. 45 pistol at him.

Recovered from the suspect was one holster with markings “Blue Dot 19”. The suspect was brought at Ramon Magsaysay Municipal Police Station for filing of appropriate case.

Zambo Sur town converts campaign materials into school bags

By Leah Agonoy (PNA)

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur -- The municipality of Dumalinao has launched a recycling project converting campaign materials made of plastic and tarpaulins into school bags.

The project was initiated by Dumalinao Mayor Junaflor Cerilles who led “Oplan Baklas” starting Wednesday to remove campaign materials from the different barangays in that town.

Cerilles, an advocate on environmental protection, said in an interview on Friday that the project is in line with her advocacy “to keep the environment clean and green”.

Cerilles, who formed a team of 44 volunteers, said they collected 631 pieces of campaign materials made of plastic and 658 made of tarpaulin at the start of the project.

“I expect more (collection of campaign materials) on the next few days,” she said.

She also admitted being among the politicians who contributed to “these plastic wastes”.

Cerilles, a reelectionist, as of Saturday is reportedly leading in the canvassing of votes.

She said the school bags will be given to children of poor families in time for the opening of the next school year.

A women’s group has been tapped to make the bags.

Gunmen disrupt canvassing of votes in Zambo Sur town

By Leah Agonoy (PNA)

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur -- The canvassing of ballots in the town of Dimataling, this province, was disrupted for several hours after the electricity was cut-off at the municipal hall where the counting is being conducted on Thursday night.

Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Luis Licup, Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) director, said six masked gunmen shot the power transformer outside the town hall of Dimataling around 11 p.m. Thursday, thus, cutting-off electricity at the municipal hall building.

Licup said the gunmen fled towards Barangay Sugbay Uno when soldiers and policemen responded to the site.

He added that no one was killed or wounded during the incident.

Recovered from the crime scene were 23 empty shells and two live ammunitions of caliber 5.56-millimeter rifle, and two empty shells and three bullets of caliber .30 M1 Garand rifle.

Licup said the town's election officer has ordered placing all the Vote Counting Machines (VCMs) at the municipal treasurer’s office while the security personnel and poll watchers stayed inside the town hall.

Lt. Col. Marlowe Patria, Army’s 53rd Infantry Battalion commander, confirmed about the incident and said security has been tightened at the municipal hall.

Patria said the canvassing of votes resumed after power has been restored at the municipal hall around 7 a.m. Friday.

“We leave it to the police to investigate and establish the identities of the perpetrators,” Patria added.

Initial results showed that incumbent Dimataling Mayor Maria Dolores Baya is leading the mayoralty race with 3,151 votes against her opponent Abel Yrauda's 2,536 votes.

VCM destroyed in Zambo Sur town fire

By Leah Agonoy (PNA)

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur - One of the eight Vote Counting Machines (VCM) with still uncanvassed votes was intentionally burned in the town of San Pablo, this province.

Capt. Herminigildo Bajao Jr., San Pablo police chief, said the incident occurred around 11:10 p.m. Wednesday at the town’s central elementary school.

Bajao said that before the fire broke out, a grenade exploded near the fire station that diverted the attention of security forces and poll watchers detailed at the school.

Suddenly, he said a fire broke out in the school, particularly at the classroom where eight VCMs with uncanvassed votes due to defective Secure Digital (SD) Cards were kept for safekeeping.

He said firemen managed to quickly put off the fire while the responding policemen secured the VCMs except for one, which was placed near the window.

The burnt VCM with 427 uncanvassed ballots is from Barangay Lumbayao, San Pablo.

The eight VCMs were placed in the classroom for safekeeping while waiting for the defective SD cards to be reconfigured so that the election results could be transmitted to the Municipal Board of Canvassers.

Bajao said investigation showed that an unidentified person poured gasoline into the room through the window and set it on fire.

Data from the local election office showed that the town of San Pablo has so far transmitted the votes canvassed from 23 of the 31 clustered precincts representing 74.19 percent as of 4:26 a.m. Thursday.

1 killed, 7 hurt in Zambo Sur election eve shootout

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora (PNA)

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- A political supporter was killed while seven others, including a mayoralty aspirant, were wounded in a shootout on the eve of the election in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, a military official said Monday.

Col. Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer, disclosed that the shootout occurred in Sitio Sibuan, Purok 3, Barangay Tubod, Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur at about 10:15 p.m. Sunday.

Besana said the shootout broke out when the troops returned fire after the group of Domingo Mirrar, a mayoralty candidate in Lakewood, fired upon the soldiers who were on mobile security patrol.

He said the shootout resulted in the death of one supporter of Mirrar, whose identity was not immediately available.

Mirrar, although wounded, managed to escape while the troops arrested six of his supporters, Besana said, adding that they have requested the police to conduct an investigation over the incident.

Recovered at the shootout site were a caliber .45 pistol with two magazines loaded with ammunition, and three magazines of M-16 Armalite rifle with ammunition, the military official said.

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