PRRD vows to enhance trade relations as he leaves for Brunei, China

President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Sunday afternoon, left for his state visits to Brunei Darussalam and China where he will meet his fellow state leaders to discuss enhancement of special ties and trade relations between the Philippines and its neighbors.

President Duterte said he will meet with Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah in Brunei Darussalam, and the talks will center on enhancing special relations between the two countries.

“We will discuss of further enhancing the special ties and reaffirm the enduring relations between our two countries and peoples,” he said in his departure speech at Davao International Airport.

“I will seek to foster closer cooperation, especially within the context of ASEAN,” the President said.

Among the priority areas for discussion are the stronger two-way trade and investments, developing the country’s Halal sector and the micro, small and medium enterprises.

The President is also set to seek strengthening joint resolve to secure just and lasting peace in Mindanao along with growth and development.

He said in terms of growth and development, he will seek to further strengthen joint resolve at securing just and lasting peace in Mindanao.

“Brunei has been a steadfast partner for peace. As the Philippines enters into important phases in our peace talks, Brunei will continue to play an important role,” he said.

In the area of defense and security cooperation, President Duterte said he will seek collaborative undertakings in the sharing of expertise on maritime security issues as well as in capacity building.

He said he will also seek closer collaboration and mutual support in his campaign against illegal drugs, an important step towards attaining the common goal of realizing an ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Drug-Free Community.

“I am also set to meet with the Filipino Community in Brunei. It will be an opportunity to thank them for their contributions to socioeconomic development and to apprise them of developments here at home,” he said.

From Brunei, the President will proceed to Beijing for his first state visit to China.

Boracay tour guide arrested in drug buy-bust

Police arrested a tour guide in Boracay Island for selling suspected sachets of shabu in a buy-bust operation on October 15.

Senior Inspector Jess Baylon, acting chief of Boracay Tourist Assistance Center (BTAC), identified the suspect as 38-year Rammil Licerio of Barangay Manoc-Manoc, Malay, Aklan. 

“Tawag nila sa mga drugs ay vitamins, ang suspek ay isang pusher-user na nagbebenta ng druga sa mga guests niya,” the police chief said.

The suspect was arrested in a joint operation of BTAC and Malay Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (AIDSOTG) in Sitio Malabunot in Barangay Manoc-Manoc at around 8 p.m. after he sold seven sachets of shabu to a poseur buyer in exchange for P1,000 marked money.

The police chief said Licerio is a newly-identified drug personality operating in Boracay Island after the revalidation of Oplan Double Barrel campaign. 

“During the course of buy-bust operation, ang pamilya ni Licerio ay nagsasabing gawa-gawa naman ito ng mga pulis, ngunit sinusunod lang natin ang police operational procedures sa mga ganitong police operation,” Baylon added.

Last October 12, the Boracay police also nabbed Steve Bonza, resident of Barangay 2, Banago City, Negros Occidental, for selling drugs in Sitio Bantud in Barangay Manoc-Manoc.

Two suspected sachets of shabu and the P1,000 buy-bust money were recovered during the operation.

The suspects are facing charges for violating Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Acts of 2002.

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

187 suspects arrested, 65% of Aklan barangays drug-affected

The number of drug personalities arrested in Aklan has gone up by 306 percent in no let up drug operations from January 1 to October 13. In particular, 187 drug suspects were caught in buy-bust operations this year compared to 46 suspects for the same period last year, data from Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) showed.

About 65 percent of barangays in Aklan were also affected by illegal drugs. Of the 327 barangays, only 113 are considered ‘drug-free.’

Citing records from APPO, a total of 110 suspects were apprehended during the Oplan Double Barrel campaign from July 1 to October 13 while 77 drug personalities were nabbed from January 1 to June 30 Oplan Lambat Sibat operations.

Of the figure this year, 49 were drug users and 138 were drug pushers. No drug personalities have been killed in anti-narcotics operations since January. 

Police also confiscated 171.99 grams of shabu and 59.64 grams of marijuana with Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) value of P1,418,609.33 from January 1 to June 30.

During the Duterte administration’s Oplan Double Barrel, the police units in Aklan seized 73.33 grams of shabu and 52.96 grams of marijuana with DDB value of P452,503.50

Overall, the police recovered P1,871,112.83 worth of illegal drugs from January 1 to October 13.

Data from Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) revealed shabu remains to be the main choice of drug abuse in the country in 2015, with over 95% drug-related cases are related to shabu.

As of September 30, the APPO had launched 110 buy-bust operations compared to 38 last year while police raids and search warrants operations reached 15 from the previous nine operations last year.



BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

2017 Mutya it Ati-Atihan finalists named

Three young women with foreign-born parents have something in common: they are competing in the upcoming Mutya it Kalibo Ati-Atihan pageant. 

Filipina-Italian 17-year old Eleonora Valentina Laorenza and her twin sister Theadora Elizabeth from Polo, New Washington, Aklan were selected as official candidates on October 15.

A woman of great ambition and an advocate of feminism, 21-year old Filipina-Arabian May Adel Ahmed Salman from Polo, New Washington, Aklan is also a shoo-in for the crown. Salman was declared second runner-up of Mutya ng Pilipinas Western Visayas 2016 last June.

Out of 26 candidates, 14 finalists survived the screening of Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi) three-member selection committee.  The pageant organizer hopes to complete the 16 official candidates this week, said Kasafi chairman Albert Menez.

Other candidates who will compete on next year’s beauty pageant are Kimberly Joy Dalida, 17, Poblacion, Kalibo, Aklan; Camille Fate Santos, 16,  Linabuan Norte, Kalibo, Aklan; Khadine Hontiveros, 25, Buenasuerte, Nabas, Aklan; Harriette Panagsagan, 17, Man-up, Altavas, Aklan; Rose Fuerte, 17, Poblacion, Kalibo, Aklan; Eirene Mae Cuare, 19, New Buswang, Kalibo, Aklan and Jazzine Mae Andres, 15, Man-up, Altavas, Aklan.

The candidates who made it in the pageant screening are Gillian Christine Bartolome, 19, Tinigao, Kalibo, Aklan; Rosebella Arban, 20, Sta. Cruz, Ibajay, Aklan and Cleoradizel Baruela, 18, Tinigao, Kalibo, Aklan.

Pageant organizer Albert Menez said a Mutya finalist in 2014 was also selected in the screening of candidates at Kalibo Ati-Atihan County Inn last Saturday. She is 19-year old Honey Mae Bandiola from Manoc-Manoc, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan.

Menez said these beautiful women are trying their luck in the pageant world on the same stage on January 6, 2017 for the crown and title.

The roster of aspirants battling for the 7^th edition of Mutya it Kalibo Ati-Atihan will undergo three-months of training and will compete in pre-pageant activities heading to the finals next year at Gov. Augusto B. Legaspi Sports and Cultural Center in Kalibo, Aklan.

The beauty pageant is traditionally held before the merrymakers and devotees will crowd the streets of Kalibo for the street dancing and join other religious activities from January 6 to 15, 2017. 

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

BARANGAY ELECTIONS 2016, TINIYAK NG COMELEC

Tiniyak ng Comelec na matutuloy na ang election sa Octobre, sapagkat ito ay pinunduhan na ng commission on election. Makakaasa ang ating mga mamamayan na maging matiwasay at may mapayapa ating darating na election 2016.

Ayon kay Alma Cahilig ang COMELEC Registrar ng Malay, mag uumpisa ang registration of voters sa July 15 - 30, 201.  at kinakailangan na may edad 18 anyos ang pwedeng magparehistro upang makaboto sa darating na election. Hinde muna sila tatanggap ng mga gustong magpatransfer ng registration kung saan gusto nilang bomoto.

Para naman sa mga Sangguniang Kabataan  dapat may edad 15 – 30 years old ang dapat bomoto. Subalit ang edad 18 hanggang 24 lamang ang edad ang pwedeng kumandidato sa pagka SK.

Gayunpaman, mahigpit na ipinagbabawal ng COMELEC na hindi dapat kumandidato ang 1^st to 3^rd degree relation at ito ay ipinagbabawal.

Sa aming panayam kay Alma Cahilig COMELEC MALAY na kinakailangan magparehistro agad ang mga taong walang Biometrics  sapagkat ito ay madalian at 15 days lamang kayat tuloy tuloy ang registration kahit araw ng sabado at lingo “wala po tayong holiday” ayon sa ating Commission on Election. Inaasahan ng COMELEC na ang lahat ng hindi pa nakapag parehistro ay magparehistro na habang maaga pa at wag nang antayin ang last day of filing upang hinde magahol sa oras at maiwasan ang pag kaantala sa mga gustong magparehistro.