Aklan HVT nabbed in Boracay drug bust

A security guard was caught selling illegal drugs in Boracay Island early morning of December 29.

The 36-year old Dodgie Manuel, native of Barangay Sta. Brijida, Mansalay in Oriental Mindoro, was arrested by joint elements of Aklan Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group, Boracay Tourist Assistance Center, Aklan Provincial Public Safety Company, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, PNP Maritime Group and Philippine Army 12th Infantry Battalion at around 4 a.m.

Manuel allegedly sold a sachet of methamphetamine hydrochloride or locally known as shabu at the beach front in Station 2 in Barangay Balabag for P3,000 buy-bust money.

Seized also were the suspect’s mobile phone containing text messages of illegal drug transactions and his wrist watch during the body search.

According to the police, the suspect resisted arrest and tried to escape. After a few minutes of struggle, operatives were able to subdue the suspect and handcuffed him.

Manuel, who is presently residing at Barangay Balabag, is employed as a security guard and assigned at Malay Action Center of the municipal government of Malay in Barangay Balabag. 

He is tagged as High Value Target (HVT) Level 2 personality in the provincial level, said BTAC police community relations officer Senior Police Officer I Christopher Mendoza. 

The suspect was temporarily detained at BTAC lock-up cell pending the filing of charges for violationof Section 5 Article II (selling of drugs) of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Roro ship sank off Batangas, 2 Aklanon crew members rescued

Two Aklanon crew members of the ill-fated M/V Starlite Atlantic Ferry were rescued in the ongoing search and rescue operations in Batangas.

The ship sank between Puerto Galera and Maricaban Island in Mindoro on December 26 between 10:20 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. while it was sheltered in preparation for Typhoon Nina (international name: Nock-ten), the Starlite Ferries said in a statement.

Deck cadets Airon Barrera, 23, residing in New Buswang, Kalibo, Aklan and 27-year old Jill Violyn Gonzales from Poblacion, Ibajay, Aklan were among the rescued 14 crewmen onboard in the afternoon of December 26 off Batangas Bay.

One crew member died and 18 were missing. 

,

The crew members were brought to St. Camillus de Lellis Hospital in Batangas for medical attention.

Starlite Ferries said the cargo-passenger ship experienced barrage of strong winds and rough waves prompting the crew members to “abandon” the ship. No passengers and cargo were on board during the incident except the 33 crew members.

The Philippine Coast Guard was alerted by a 911 call that the Starlite Atlantic ferry was about to sink and that the ship captain the passengers to abandon the ship.

Sea and aerial seaplanes, choppers and tugboats were also dispatched near the vicinity of Maricaban Island in Mindoro for possible survivors. 

Starlite Ferries is also coordinating with the families of the missing crewmen and the Philippine Coast Guard, Marina, Philippine Red Cross, Philippine Air Force, the local officials of Maricaban and Puerto Galera in Mindoro and Matoco and Ilijan of Batangas.

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

250 policemen to augment Kalibo Ati-Atihan security

Around 250 personnel from the Police Regional Office (PRO-6) will provide security to devotees, visitors and merrymakers for the forthcoming Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan festival in Kalibo, Aklan.

Initial deployment of 100 personnel from the region will be on January 2, according to Aklan provincial deputy police director Superintendent Pedro Enriquez.

The rest of the contingent force will arrive before the Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival officially kicks off its tourism and religious events. 

The “Mother of All Philippine Festivals” will be held from January 6, which culminates in the third Sunday on January 15.

Aside from the augmentation force, members of Philippine Army 12th Infantry Battalion, Army reservists and Barangay Police Action Team (BPAT) will be tapped also to provide security support to the festivities.

Enriquez said, “they will conduct their final security coordinating conference next week to fine tune the security plans of the Ati-Atihan festivals.”

On the other hand, at least 77 personnel from Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) and municipal police stations in Aklan will be deployed also in the town of Kalibo for the festivities. 

Police assistance centers in strategic places and staging areas will be established near the festival venues to ensure the safety of the revelers and devotees.

Composite teams from the Bureau of Fire Protection, police, Philippine Army and medical responders are also on standby to respond if needed. 

Meanwhile, uniformed police and military personnel will also intensify their round-the-clock security measures in checkpoints to thwart lawless elements.

Traffic rerouting for motorists and vehicles will be implemented also starting January 9 until January 15 to give way to festival events especially on major streets leading to Kalibo Pastrana Park and Kalibo Magsaysay Park.
 
Aside from Kalibo Ati-Atihan, the popular festival is also celebrated in Boracay Island on January 9 and in the towns of Malinao  on January 14 and Makato on January 15. 

The Ibajay Ati Municipal and Devotional Fiesta will be on January 22, Batan Ati-Atihan Malakara  Festival on January 15 and Altavas Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan festival on January 22 to pay homage to Senor Sto. Nino. 





BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Church, gov’t leaders welcome Sto. Nino devotees and visitors

Kalibo Bishop Jose Corazon Tala-oc led well-wishers of the religious festivities of Ati-Atihan festival in Kalibo, Aklan in reverence to the Senor Sto. Nino.

Tala-oc said, “the Sto. Nino tells us that we are God’s children. He reminds us of our deepest identity all of us are God’s children, members of God’s family. He continues to remind us of this calling and to spread the reign of the kingdom of the Father throughout the world.”

“My dear Aklanons we love Senor Sto. Nino so much. May this love be translated into the message of this Divine Child, that each of us put on humility, simplicity in action and respect of person. May our Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan celebration gain for us the wisdom and the grace to defend the sanctity of life, especially the infants, the unborn and the protection of marriage,” the Bishop said.

The Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan will be celebrated in the capital town of Kalibo from January 6 to 15, 2017. 

Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores, in his message, said, “the Ati-Atihan is a happy blend of all aspects of Aklanon life, human life for that matter.”

“The festival is a demonstration of the Aklanon’s godliness, his special reverence for the Holy Child,” he added.

Miraflores stressed, “as we keep in step in tempting rhythm of the Ati-Atihan drums while chanting a prayer to the Holy Child, let us bear in mind that we are keeping a commitment that dates back to our forefathers and shall live on with our descendants.”

Kalibo mayor William Lachica, for his part, said the “festival remains to be our pride and icon of the rich culture, colourful tradition and strong faith and devotion to Senor Sto. Nino of the Kalibonhns and the Aklanons.”

“May this festivity strengthens our faith as we continue to face the challenges of life and in promoting our culture,” he added.

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

41 suspects arrested in Kalibo drug war

Police arrested 41 drug suspects in the anti-illegal drug campaigns from January to November this year, the Kalibo municipal police station reported.

From July to November, there were 23 persons caught during the intensified police buy-bust operations of Municipal Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group (MAIDSOTG) and other law enforcement agencies. 

The month of August had the most number of arrests with 10 followed by February with five; September, March and June had four each; May, October, July and November had three arrests and April with two apprehensions by the police.

No arrest for illegal drugs, however, was recorded in the month of January.

Police said the suspects violated the Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 for selling and possession of prohibited drugs.

Police-to-Population ratio

The capital town of Aklan has a daytime population of 81,982 due to the influx of transients, students and workers from neighboring towns and provinces. With 70 uniformed personnel assigned in Kalibo municipal police station, it has a nominal police-to-population ratio of 1:1,171 or one policeman for every 1,171 persons.

The present police-to-population ratio is less than 700 shy of the ideal ratio of 1:500. 

To enhance police visibility, Kalibo police is beefed up by force multipliers and auxiliary cops for patrol deployment and traffic management.

At present, the Kalibo municipal police station is headed by Chief Inspector Terence Paul Sta. Ana, who assumed the post last August. 

Wanted persons

Despite the current size of Kalibo police force, a total of 37 wanted persons were apprehended from January to November.

The month of June had the most number of wanted persons arrested with seven followed the months of January, May, July and October with four each.

Also, seven persons were nabbed for unauthorized carrying of guns and deadly weapons under Republic Act No. 10591 for the first 10 months.

Police also filed 130 cases for various crimes committed by the suspects from January to November.

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Kalibo PNP: Crime volume down by 21.68%

The crime volume in the town of Kalibo went down during the first 11 months this year, according to latest figures from Kalibo municipal police station.

The total crime volume declined to 2,098 from January to November this year compared to 2,679 in 2015 or a drop of 21.68 percent.

January had the most number of crimes recorded with 298 followed by October 226 and February with 209. In November alone, crime volume also declined by 39.43 percent from 317 cases compared to 192 last year.

Index crime fell 27.83 percent from 970 to 700 while non-index crime slid down 18.13 percent from 1,709 to 1,399. Index crimes are crimes against persons, such as homicide, rape, murder, homicide and physical injury.

Murder and homicide cases went up 50 percent from six to nine while rape cases went down 21.42 percent from 14 to 11. No murder cases were reported last year, according to crime records of Kalibo police station.

Data also shows the months of November and April had four and three rape cases, respectively.

Physical injuries also declined by 3.19 percent to 333 last year from 344 this year.

Non-index crimes had a downward trend from a high of 169 cases in January to 109 in November.

Robbery cases decreased by 8 percent to 46 from 50; theft went down by 49.6 percent from 514 to 259 and carnaping / motornapping (motor theft) declined by 35.7 percent or 42 cases last year to 27 this year.

Theft cases in January had 61 followed by October with 33 and November with 32.

Out of 16 barangays, Briones, Bakhaw Norte, Nalook, Mabilo and Caano were also declared drug-free in the intensified anti-drug campaign.  

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

GMA RTV gears up for Ati-Atihan Kapuso Fiesta

The GMA Kapuso Network will bring some of its hottest stars for the Ati-Atihan Kapuso Fiesta this January as part of the festivities of 2017 Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Festival.

Oliver Victor Amoroso, officer-in-charge of GMA Regional TV Department, said “GMA-7 is excited to partner once again with Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi) for the 2017 Ati-Atihan festival. GMA Regional TV would like to thank Kasafi especially its chairman Albert Menez.”

“Just like in 2014, as the festival’s strategic partner, we will be steadfast also in promoting the festival. Nawa’y ang aming pakikiisa sa Ati-Atihan ay magdala ng kasiyahan sa lahat ng mga Kapuso at lalo pang magpalawig sa Ati-Atihan festival bilang Mother of All Philippine Festivals,” Amoroso added.

GMA RTV Iloilo/Bacolod regional manager Jonathan Cabillon and Kasafi chairman Albert Menez signed the partnership deal on December 21. 

The Ati-Atihan festival in Kalibo, Aklan will be held from January 6 to 15 in celebration of the Feast of Senor Sto. Nino de Kalibo.

Kapuso stars Julie Anne San Jose and Martin Del Rosario will treat their fans with a fun-filled Kapuso Fiesta at Kalibo Pastrana Park on January 10. The Kapuso talents headlined the newest GMA Prime afternoon series “Pinulot ka lang sa Lupa.”

GMA Artist Talent Center James Wright will also perform on January 6 during the Mutya it Kalibo Ati-Atihan pageant and coronation night at ABL Sports and Cultural Center in Kalibo, Aklan.

Sixteen candidates are competing for the crown and title of Ati-Atihan beauty pageant, one of the must-see events of the yearly celebration.

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

DOT: Boracay on track to reach 1.7 million arrivals

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is confident the world’s best beach destination will achieve its target of 1.7 million tourists this year.

Kristoffer Leo Velete, DOT-Boracay officer-in-charge, said, “they are optimistic the tourists target will be achieved by Boracay Island by end of the year with the influx of visitors during the holidays.”

As of the month of November, a total of 1,585,821 tourists stayed in Boracay, up by 15 percent compared to last year.

There were 801,956 foreigners and 745,772 domestic tourists also from January to November this year.  

Velete said Boracay Island is set to increase its arrivals during Christmas holidays and before the New Eve celebration.

Majority of the hotels and resorts in the island are also fully booked and the Caticlan airport accommodates bigger aircrafts to cater inbound markets, he added.

Data from Municipal Malay Tourism Office, the island resort registered 135,847 arrivals last December. Last month, Boracay Island already surpassed last year’s tourist arrivals of 1,560,106.

Korea, China and Taiwan were the three biggest markets of Boracay, accounting for 70 percent of the foreign visitors.  

On the other hand, Boracay police, Task Group-Boracay and force multipliers are on alert for the holiday season to secure the visitors and residents. Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy also tightened its maritime security measures around Boracay Island.

Passengers of motorized pump boats are required to wear lifejackets prior to departure to Cagban and Caticlan ports. 

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

DTI-Aklan monitors Noche Buena items, Christmas lights

To prevent price abuse of retailers and traders, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-Aklan) conducted market monitoring activities to ensure big stores, malls and markets selling Noche Buena products within the set price ceilings.

According to DTI-Aklan officer-in-charge Ma. Carmen Iturralde, Noche Buena items sold in stores monitored by DTI were within the suggested retail prices (SRP).

DTI urged the consumers to download “e-Presyo” application, an online monitoring scheme, for price updates, suggested retail prices of basic commodities and the results of monitoring of stores.  The retail prices can be viewed also in DTI website.

Establishments are required to display the SRP posters provided by DTI in strategic places to help the consumers in their purchases for the holidays. Retailers and traders are advised to follow the published SRPs for products such as ham, cheese, sardines, fruit cocktails to avoid complaints from consumers.

Iturralde also encouraged the consumers to buy Christmas lights with the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers and with labels on the Christmas lights package such as address, name and distributor of the product for easy monitoring.

DTI-Aklan monitored 14 stores and found them compliant with the prescribed requirements of Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS).

Christmas lights and products with ICC stickers have passed the safety tests, according to Iturralde during the media briefing.

ICC certificates must be also posted / visible in the area of the establishments.

Meanwhile, DTI-Aklan funded a shared facility for production of handcrafted fashion bags and souvenir items in Dumatad, Tangalan and Caano, Kalibo through Uswag Development Foundation, Inc. for P778,000 with 22 high-speed sewing machines and four storage cabinets for the products.

The agency also launched the Negosyo Centers in Numancia on November 17 and in Lezo on December 14.

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

‘Shabu’ woman arrested in Boracay in buy-bust

Operatives in Boracay Island nabbed a woman from Mindanao on December 20 in a police buy-bust operation.

Ronellie Morit, 39, native of Loreto Agusan del Sur, was arrested at about 11 p.m. at Barangay Yapak. A poseur buyer personally bought a small heat-sealed plastic sachet containing methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu to Morit in exchange for P1,000 marked money.

Morit was temporarily staying in Sitio Hagdan in Barangay Yapak when joint elements from Malay Municipal Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group (MAIDSOTG), Boracay Tourist Assistance Center (BTAC), 605^th Maritime Police, 12^th Infantry Battalion (IB), Aklan Public Safety Company (APSC), the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group (PAIDSOTG) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) carried out the sting operation.

Police also seized a sachet of suspected shabu from Morit during the body search at the scene of the crime.

In another buy-bust in the capital town of Kalibo, operatives also caught 29-year old Jowin Briones of Regalado Street in Barangay Poblacion after selling P1,000 worth of shabu to a poseur buyer.

The suspect, however, denied he engaged in illegal drug trade.

The suspects faced charges for drug peddling and possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act No. 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Pagdayaw recognizes Kalibo’s excellence in governance

The town of Kalibo, Aklan was cited 2^nd best performing local government unit (1^st-3^rd class category) by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Western Visayas in the 2016 Excellence in Local Governance Awards in Iloilo City.

The town was declared second runner-up in three out of four fields of governance – economic development, environmental management initiatives and social services. It was also first runner up in administrative governance for the 1st to 3rd class municipalities.

For the second year in a row, San Jose de Buenavista, Antique was the Best Performing Local Government Unit after topping all four categories. The town of Kalibo under the leadership of Mayor William Sucgang Lachica was first runner-up overall.

The first-class town of Malay in Aklan was also first runner-up in economic governance during the 2016 Pagdayaw in Punta Villa Resort in Arevalo, Iloilo City on December 21.

In the provincial category, Aklan got first runner-up in economic governance and second runner-up in social and administrative governance.

The province of Iloilo was the recipient of Hall of Famer award after winning three consecutive years for the same award for Best Performing Province.

Iloilo topped the three categories – economic, social and environmental while the province of Capiz took home the excellence award in administrative governance.

This year’s theme focuses on “Pagpupugay at Pasasalamat sa Matino, Mahusay at Maasahang Pamahalaang Lokal.”

The annual regional search for Excellence in Local Governance or Excell was initiated by DILG VI to recognize best managed local governments in the region showcasing their achievements in the components of the Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS).

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL