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==Amputee swimmer competes in Palaro 2013==
*Source:http://www.rappler.com/sports/26973-amputee-swimmer-competes-in-palaro
*Saturday, April 20, 2013 12:21 pm
:By Natashya Gutierrez (Rappler.com)
DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines - Excitement builds up as Palarong Pambansa 2013 is set to kick-off in two days.
The games are filled with many inspiring stories like this one from a young swimmer in Zamboanga del Sur.
Natashya Gutierrez reports.
Jomar Maalam is a 16-year-old swimmer from Zamboanga del Sur.
He learned to swim living by sea all his life surrounded by fishermen.
Like his teammates he is excited, but nervous for Palarong Pambansa, the country's largest sporting event.
But Jomar is also different from the rest of the swimmers of Region 9.
He has no legs.
DENNIS BUCO, COACH OF AMPUTEE SWIMMER: Kahit ano, kahit pagod na siya, kinakayanan niya kasi gusto niya talaga manalo. interesado talaga siya.
(Even if he’s tired, he still goes on because he really wants to win. He’s invested.)
It is the first time in history Region 9 is sending an amputee swimmer to Palaro.
Jomar has been training for a year, and competes with other regular swimmers in his home region.
This is the first time he will swim against other disabled athletes.
Jomar is unfazed by people who make fun of his disability.
JOMAR MAALAM, AMPUTEE SWIMMER: It's okay with me when they make fun of me. I don't care about other people because this is what God gave me.
Two days before the games begin, Jomar is one of thousands of athletes preparing for Palaro.
Organizers put together last minute preparations. The event gathers the country's best student athletes.
Jomar says training is hard. But he is determined to win a gold and make his parents and 9 siblings proud.
He and his coach Dennis dream of bigger things, like competing in the Asian Games.
Palaro is just the first step.
Stories like Jomar's make Palarong Pambansa the inspirational event it is. Tales of struggle and determination take center stage this coming week, highlighting the resilience of the Filipino athlete.
==Mayor’s continuous absence creates confusion in Pagadian City==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=518042
*Friday, April 19, 2013
:By Charnyl S. Albarracin [(PNA), LAM/TPG/CSA/PJN]
PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, April 19 (PNA) -- Confusion reigns as two elective officials, in the absence of the city mayor, sit as the officer-in-charge of this city.
This came about after Vice-Mayor Romeo Pulmones has assumed as acting mayor last Tuesday, April 16, since Mayor Samuel Co has failed to report in his office since April 12.
Co, in a memorandum dated April 11, has designated City Councilor Baldomero Fernandez as the officer-in-charge effective April 12 while he “is on official travel to Manila.”
In a separate memorandum, also dated April 11, Co, citing the same reason, has designated City Councilor Carlos Madarang, III as the officer-in-charge effective April 17 until the mayor’s return.
Pulmones, upon assuming office, issued a memorandum to all concerned local officials including the city government depository banks, police, military, and other concerned agencies that he is the acting city mayor.
Pulmones has assumed as the acting city mayor invoking Section 46 of the Local Government Code of 1991 citing the mayor is temporarily incapacitated to perform his duties for physical or legal reasons.
Pulmones’ legal counsel, Atty. Kenneth Alivio, said the appointment of an officer-in-charge is only effective for three days and the vice mayor automatically becomes the acting mayor in the fourth day otherwise he can be charge with dereliction of duty should anything untoward happen.
Alivio cited that pursuant to Section 46 paragraph “C” and “D” of the Local Government Code of 1991, which stated: “When the incumbent local chief executive is traveling within the country but outside his territorial jurisdiction for a period not exceeding three (3) consecutive days, he may designate in writing the officer-in-charge of the said office.”
Alivio said in the event, however, that the local chief executive concerned fails or refuses to issue such authorization, the vice mayor shall have the right to assume the powers, duties and functions of the said office on the fourth (4th) day of absence of the said local chief executive, subject to the limitations provided in subsection (c) hereof.”
However, Fernandez said the assumption of Pulmones as acting mayor is not applicable in which Section 46 of the Local Government Code treats a situation where there is a temporary vacancy in the office of the local chief executive.
Fernandez said Pulmones’ memorandum fails to cite a particular legal and factual ground for his assumption as acting city mayor considering that Co is not on leave of absence, neither is he on travel abroad nor suspended from office, thus rendering the latter’s memorandum defective and illegal.
Fernandez said before Co left on official travel last April 11, he was designated as OIC (Officer-in-charge) mayor, including Madarang.
Thus, the circumstances in Section 46 paragraph “C” and “D” where the vice mayor could assume office on the fourth day does not exist, hence, not legally feasible, Fernandez added.
Madarang, without further elaboration, said he would abide by Co’s memorandum designating him as officer-in-charge effective April 17 until the mayor’s return.
Meanwhile, Co’s whereabouts is unknown since he could not be contacted through his mobile phone.
Co’s chief-of-staff Vic Lingating refuses to issue statement concerning the situation in the city government except in saying that all queries should be addressed to the mayor.
City Civil Registrar Leonardo Acorda also refused to say who he recognizes as the acting mayor stressing that he and his office personnel will just continue working and perform their duties and responsibilities in accordance to office’ mandate.
==Pagadian mayor: Syndicated estafa case is hearsay==
*Source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2013/04/18/pagadian-mayor-syndicated-estafa-case-hearsay-278190
*Thursday, April 18, 2013
:(Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)
MANILA -- Pagadian City Mayor Samuel Co should be cleared of the charge of syndicated estafa due to lack of evidence showing his direct participation in the operation of defunct trading firm Aman Futures Group Philippines, Inc., his lawyer said late Wednesday.
Under the law, five people are needed to comprise a syndicate but in this case, lawyer Trixie Angeles said Co is neither an incorporator nor stockholder of Aman.
She added that Co is charged with collecting a four percent tax on Aman deposits even if there was no "receipt, law or ordinance" presented by complainant Julius Labunog, who claimed to have lost P29.63 million to the investment scam.
"The only evidence presented against Mayor Co is the bare allegation by complainant Labunog that Aman and the City of Pagadian entered into an agreement regarding the collection of taxes. But no contract was presented nor any eye or ear witnesses on the alleged transaction. In short, the bare allegation is mere hearsay," said Angeles, who cited a 1995 Supreme Court decision junking hearsay as basis for the establishment of probable cause.
The mayor's camp then accused the Department of Justice of railroading the case after it filed the information with the Iligan City Regional Trial Court branch 1 on March 11 without giving Co an option to appeal the resolution.
"This means that the DOJ had not yet terminated its investigation when it filed the information with the court. Mayor Co still had the right to ask for reconsideration, but the DOJ made sure he would not get notice until after a warrant was issued," said Angeles.
Judge Alberto Quinto issued a warrant of arrest last Thursday but agents of the National Bureau of Investigation failed to find him in his house and office in the city hall.
Angeles had said her client is not hiding from justice as he was allegedly busy campaigning for a congressional seat in Zamboanga del Norte.
Co is currently challenging the arrest order while appealing Quinto's decision junking his motion for a judicial determination of probable cause.
==JCI launches ‘Boto Ko Sagrado’ campaign in Pagadian City==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=517294
*Wednesday, April 17, 2013
:(PNA), FFC/TPG/CHARNYL S. ALBARRACIN/SSC
PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, April 17 (PNA) -– The Junior Chamber International (JCI) has launched the “Boto Ko Sagrado” campaign in this city in an effort to participate in a sensible election on May 13 polls.
The campaign, which was launched on Monday, is aimed to encourage the youths to vote wisely and to choose for candidates who deserve to be in a public office.
It is one of the highlights of the JCI week (April 14-20) celebration that kicked-off on Sunday with a thanksgiving mass at the San Jose Parish Church and followed by a motorcade around this city. The JCI week celebration is themed: “Binding the Regions, Building the Nation.”
The JCI week is jointly celebrated by the JCI Yllana, JCI Greater Pagadian, Inc. and JCI Bayanima.
JCI Yllana president Christine Rose Padayhag said the “Boto Ko Sagrado” campaign is a national program of the Jaycees aimed to educate the young voters to vote wisely and choose leaders who are worthy to serve the country.
The JCI, a non-political and non-sectarian youth service organization, has lined up activities that would form part of the JCI week celebration aside from the launching of the “Boto Ko Sagrado” campaign.
The other activities include the following: spiritual counseling at the Provincial Jail, April 17; anti-dengue campaign, April 18; and, art exhibit, April 19.
==DOLE holds consultation on Batas Kasambahay==
*Source:http://piazampen.blogspot.com/2013/04/dole-holds-consultation-on-batas.html
*Tuesday, April 16, 2013 3:11 pm
:By Claro A. Lanipa (PIA9)
PAGADIAN CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Zamboanga del Sur Field Office conducted a multi-stakeholders consultation on the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No 10361, otherwise known as “Domestic Workers Act” or “Batas Kasambahay” yesterday at Chandler Suites this city.
RA 10361 is a new law instituting policies for the protection and welfare of domestic workers which was  signed into law by President Benigno S. Aquino III on January 18, 2013.
The law is a landmark piece of labor and social legislation that recognizes for the first time domestic workers as similar to those in the formal sector. It strengthens respect, protection, and promotion of the rights and welfare of domestic workers or kasambahay.
Lourdes B. Amores, DOLE-Zamboanga del Sur chief said the stakeholders’ consultation was designed to raise public awareness and knowledge on the salient provisions of the law aimed at providing adequate welfare and social protection to domestic helpers.
“It also aims to solicit comments or inputs for the finalization in the crafting of the IRR, because up to this time there is no final IRR for the said law,” Amores added.
The salient provisions of RA 10361 was presented and thoroughly discussed by Atty. Verna Kate Santos, Med Arbiter, MALSU, DOLE-9
In attendance were head of offices and representatives from the PNP, DILG, SSS, PSWDO, Pag-Ibig Fund, PIA, academe, chamber of commerce and non-government organizations.
==DA readies awarding of top RICs in Zamboanga Peninsula==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=516592
*Monday, April 15, 2013
:(PNA), HBC/FMS/SSC
ZAMBOANGA CITY, April 15 (PNA) -– The Dept. of Agriculture will award its three winners for the Search of the Regional Ginang RIC 2013 during its Regional Farm Forum in a still undisclosed place next month.
The search consists of canvassing of cash – votes for candidates of the different Rural Improvement Clubs (RICs) in the Zamboanga Peninsula.
Regional RIC Coordinator Evelyn del Mar said a total of ₱67,960 cash put in by the Pagadian City Rural Improvement Club won them the Search for Gng. RIC 2013.
The RICs of the Zamboanga Peninsula held the 1st and last canvassing of the Regional Ginang RIC search 2013 recently.
The venue was at Café Ilang-ilang, Pagadian City sponsored by RIC Pagadian City president Dr. Priscilla M. Fernandez.
It gathered the following results: 1st Place - Pagadian City with ₱67,960; 2nd Place – Zamboanga del Sur province with ₱21,109; and 3rd Place - Zamboanga City with ₱11,656.
Fifty percent (50%) of the winning amount will go to the candidate herself; 30% will go to the Regional RIC fund for Income Generating Projects, 15% will go to the Provincial or City RIC and 5% will be used for operating expenses during the coronation night.
The coronation will during the Regional Farm Family Forum of the regional office will bring all RICs from the region together in celebration.
The activity will also introduce to RIC members the importance of organic agriculture though the help of the DA which supports these organizations by giving free vegetable seeds and technical assistance.
The promotion of organic farming system will rise to a chemical-free community, Del Mar said..
She said Agriculture Regional Executive Director Eduardo B. Holoyohoy is supportive of Rural-Based Organizations and sees to the success of RIC in its sustainability, self-reliance, and real women empowerment
The RIC primarily provides opportunities for its member’s personal development as well as rural development in the community.
As women are co-equals of men, RIC aims to educate people on women empowerment, hence must be accorded due respect.
Among others, RIC introduced to women the improvement of their livelihood through food processing, banana chips-making, bangus deboning, pot-making, bag-making from recycled materials, and flower arrangement.
Through RIC, the role of women in the region is acknowledged and recognized.
==Pagadian City mayor supporters cry injustice==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=516116
*Sunday, April 14, 2013
:(PNA), PDS/TPGJR/CHARNYL S. ALBARRACIN/JSD
PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, April 13 (PNA) -- Hundreds of people, as a show of support to Mayor Samuel Co, have staged a protest rally in front of the city hall on Friday.
This came about a day after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents tried to serve warrant for syndicated estafa charges but failed to locate Co.
The warrant of arrest was issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 1 of Iligan City.
The case against Co stemmed from his alleged involvement in the Aman Futures pyramiding scam.
The supporters claimed that Co is a victim of injustice and political maneuvering by his political opponent in the forthcoming May 13 mid-term elections.
They are carrying streamers that reads: “protest rally against injustice to Mayor Co.”
Co, who is in his last term of office as mayor, is running for congressman in this province first district under the banner of the Liberal Party (LP).
Co’s supporters, who stage the protest rally, stayed until midnight at the quadrangle in front of City Hall and then they peacefully dispersed.
Co was in Manila when the NBI agents tried to serve the warrant of arrest against the official and nine others accused in the pyramiding scam.
Co, in a memorandum dated April 11, has designated Councilor Baldomero Fernandez as this city’s officer-in-charge while he “is on official travel to Manila" effective April 12.
==Pagadian mayor ordered arrested but now in hiding==
*Source:http://globalnation.inquirer.net/71915/pagadian-mayor-ordered-arrested-but-now-in-hiding
*Saturday, April 13, 2013 6:15 am
:By Nancy C. Carvajal With reports from Julie Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao, and Jocelyn R. Uy (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines—Pagadian City Mayor Samuel Co has gone into hiding after learning that an Iligan City court had ordered his arrest in connection with the P12-billion Aman Futures pyramiding scam, according to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Co quickly left a meeting with barangay leaders around 11 a.m. on Thursday, minutes after Judge Alberto Quinto released the arrest order against him and nine others, said Virgilio Mendez, the NBI deputy director for regional services.
“His informant could have informed him immediately because our arresting team carrying the order of arrest missed him by a few minutes,’’ Mendez said.
Aquino ally
Mendez said the NBI has sent out several teams to hunt down the mayor who is reported to have left Pagadian City.
Co, reportedly a political ally of President Aquino, is running for a congressional seat in Zamboanga del Sur under the ruling Liberal Party.
Citing the bureau’s informants, Mendez said Co had changed vehicles and gone into hiding.
“We will ask our men to explain how Co was able to leave quickly,” he added.
Ernesto Mondarte, a Zamboanga del Sur provincial board member, said Co “hastily left Pagadian City on Thursday afternoon.”
“He was in the middle of a meeting with his trusted barangay officials at the executive hall of Pagadian City when he received information he was to be arrested. He hastily left that meeting and Pagadian City,” Mondarte said.
The Inquirer repeatedly tried but failed to contact Co whose phone appeared to have been turned off. He did not reply to text messages either.
Direct involvement
The government has accused the Pagadian mayor of direct involvement in the scam, based on complaints filed by investors who accused him of having put up a company that operated like an authorized representative or sub-branch of Aman Futures.
Last month, the Department of Justice ordered the filing of a syndicated estafa case against Co and several others, including Aman Futures founder Manuel Amalilio, in connection with the fraudulent investment scheme that allegedly victimized some 15,000 people in the Visayas and Mindanao.
The DOJ said that Co had awarded Aman Futures with a temporary business permit even without submitting the pertinent documents required by the local government.
One of string of cases
Quinto’s arrest order against Co stemmed from a syndicated estafa case filed against him by Julius Labunog who claimed to have been defrauded of P29.63 million in the scam.
Also included in the arrest warrant, dated April 11, were Amalilio, who is now serving a two-year jail sentence in Malaysia for possession of fake travel documents, Aman executive Fernando Luna, and employees Lelian Lim Gan, Eduard Lim, Wilanie Fuentes, Naezelle Rodriguez, Lurix Lopez, Jerome Sanchez and Oliver Dequito.
No bail was recommended for their temporary liberty.
Placed on BI lookout list
Except for Amalilio, Sanchez and Dequito, the other accused are now under detention, for other cases filed by other victims of the scam, said Mendez.
The Bureau of Immigration on Friday issued a lookout bulletin against Co to prevent him from fleeing the country.
Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said immigration officers in all airports and seaports have been instructed to arrest Co should he attempt to leave the country.
Co’s photographs have been transmitted to the different ports for posting in all immigration departure counters, he said.
BI spokesperson Ma. Antonette Mangrobang also called on other law enforcement agencies operating in the airports to help the bureau ensure that Co is not able to leave the country.
“It is not only the duty of the BI to prevent wanted persons from fleeing the country. That is also the responsibility of other government agencies. So we appeal for teamwork,” Mangrobang said.
==BEIs equipped, ready for May 2013 automated polls, says city election chief==
*Source:http://piazampen.blogspot.com/2013/04/beis-equipped-ready-for-may-2013.html
*Friday, April 12, 2013 9:59 am
:By Gideon C. Corgue (PIA9)
PAGADIAN CITY – Public school teachers in Zamboanga del Sur and Pagadian City who will serve as members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) have already been equipped with the knowledge and capacities in operating the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines and are now ready to serve in the May 13, 2013 automated elections.
This was declared by city election supervisor Atty. Dinah C. Sapong in an exclusive interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) during the training for the last batch of more than 3,000 public school teachers on April 3-4 at Chandler Suites here.
Sapong said the two-day extensive training, which was composed of lectures and hands on, was done in seven batches starting last March 8 until April 4.
“The participants were also given lectures on the guidelines and general instructions governing the conduct of the midterm elections, and basic PCOS operations like the switching on and off of the machine,” she explained.
Sapong said a training for PCOS technicians was also conducted to give support and technical assistance to the BEIs during the elections.
The city election supervisor also disclosed that after the training, the participants underwent both written and practical exams administered by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for them to qualify not only as certified BEIs but certified PCOs operators as well.
“Those who failed the exam would be immediately replaced. That’s how strict the training was,” Sapong declared. 
given authority by the national government to handle the technical aspect.
The trainers were composed mostly of municipal elections officers and some election assistants in the province who were trained by the COMELEC personnel department during the regional pool of trainers’ training held on Feb. 26-March 5 in Zamboanga City.
“I am optimistic that the BEIs can perform their roles effectively and help ensure the smooth conduct of the elections,” Sapong concluded.
==LGRRC-9 personnel undergo library management training==
*Source:http://piazampen.blogspot.com/2013/04/lgrrc-9-personnel-undergo-library.html
*Thursday, April 11, 2013 10:19 am
:By Franklin P. Gumapon (PIA9)
PAGADIAN CITY - Four personnel assigned at the Local Governance Regional Resource Center (LGRRC) of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-9 have attended the two-day coaching on Integrated Library Resource Management System (ILMS) held here on April 4-5 at the DILG-9 conference room.
Aimed at making the LGRRC systematically organized, the participants were trained on basic library operations such as acknowledging and accessioning of library materials, cataloguing, shelving, uploading of available materials to ILMS database and many others.
DILG-9 information officer Lemuel Mejares told the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) that the training was conducted singlehandedly by Local Government National Resource Center (LGNRC) librarian Arturo O. Morales III.
Morales said “making the LGRRC-9 systematically organized from the physical set-up to management assistance is not far closer than the value proposition to improve local governance in the knowledge sharing and utilization.”
He also inspected and assessed the physical features and management of the LGRRC library to enhance its operations and services.
For his part, DILG-9 Assistant Regional Director and LGRRC Manager Pedro G. Cuevas Jr. has been grateful for the initiative in helping improve the operations and services of the center.
Attending the workshop were librarian-designate Dihsie Lauron, ITO/multi-media focal person Ard C. Catalino, linkage focal person Anang Lia I. Sahi and multi-media and linkage member Lemuel C. Mejares.
The center has acquired three copies of the Local Government Code Annotated authored by Miriam Defensor Santiago and other related books which are now accessible for its clients.
         
Morales emphasized that as a special library, it is crucial to have copies of these books as they are “the most widely read references for local governance.”
A tour to the city library was also made to acquaint the trainees with its features and operations that can be adopted at the LGRRC.
Both the city library and LGRRC agreed for information/knowledge sharing especially on local governance.
“With this knowledge sharing, we will recommend to our readers to also visit your library,” City Librarian Samuela Oceña said.
Morales assured that once accessioning of all resource materials is done, these can be accessed and browsed at the LGRRC website, http://lgrc.lga.gov.ph. Initial list of books available can also be seen through this link: http://122.49.213.26/cgi-bin/koha/opac-search.pl.
==Palad-Palad festival caps Bayog’s 46th founding anniversary==
==Palad-Palad festival caps Bayog’s 46th founding anniversary==
*Source:http://piazampen.blogspot.com/2013/04/palad-palad-festival-caps-bayogs-46th.html
*Source:http://piazampen.blogspot.com/2013/04/palad-palad-festival-caps-bayogs-46th.html
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