2 died, one injured in Boracay electrical incident, investigation ongoing

The Aklan Electric Cooperative (Akelco) is investigating the electrical incident that killed two victims and critically injured a pregnant woman in Barangay Yapak in Boracay Island. 

The high-voltage primary line wires of Akelco accidentally hit the ground for unknown reasons near the house of Rosita Salibio that left her daughter seven-year old Arnelyn Salibio and their neighbour Christina Matillano dead at around 9 a.m. of November 5.

Matillano, 31, died on the spot from injuries sustained in the electrical incident while the younger Salibio was declared dead on arrival in a medical clinic in Barangay Balabag. 

The 41-year old Rosita Salibio, who is also pregnant, remains in critical condition in a hospital in Kalibo, Aklan. 

Akelco manager Engr. Alexis Regalado said a group of Akelco engineers will lead the investigation on the incident and a separate probe from Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers (IIEE) Aklan chapter in collaboration with the Scene of Crime Operations (SOCO).

Regalado said the sole power distributor is also ready to extend assistance to the bereaved families as he also expressed condolences to the unfortunate deaths of Salibio and Matillano. 

“May possible fault ang linya and unfortunately the line dropped near the house of Salibio,” he added. 

Police Officer Officer 3 Reynan Thor Prado, investigator of Boracay Tourist Assistance Center (BTAC), said a primary line of Akelco accidentally dropped while the victims were standing three meters away from the house of Salibio near the main Yapak road. 

Prado said witnesses heard a loud explosion before the victims were electrocuted on the ground. Neighbors also tried to help the victims, but to no avail. 

The investigator added Matillano, a native of Pandan, Sta. Fe, Romblon and temporarily staying at the back of Salibio’s house, went to the house of Salibio to buy papaya when the incident happened.

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Begging in Boracay Island now a no-no

Begging for food and money in Boracay Island and the whole municipality of Malay, Aklan will now be a no-no with Municipal Ordinance No. 354 – an ordinance establishing an organized system of regulating or eradicating mendicancy in the whole town now in place.

The municipal ordinance, which was introduced by Malay SB members Natalie C. Paderes and Rowen T. Aguirre also provides penalties, appropriating funds thereto and for other purposes.

According to the two SB members, the ordinance aims to prevent commission of mendicancy, exploitation of minors through mendicancy and provide rehabilitative services for those already exploited or in immediate danger of exploitation; promote rehabilitation of mendicants and exploited minors found begging by providing developmental, preventive, interceptive, remedial and rehabilitative services; and promote rehabilitation of persons with disabilities by providing short-term developmental and rehabilitative programs or services.

Based on the ordinance, considered mendicants are those capable of earning a living but opting to beg in the streets, offices and other places where people converge, including those who preach for the purpose of soliciting money from the public; and those below 18 years of age who roam the streets and beg for food and money in hotels, restaurants, plazas and private and public offices.

Also considered mendicants, as described by the ordinance, are persons with some forms of disabilities and use this to beg on the streets; those who exploit minors or their own children to beg; those who use fake solicitation letters, communications or documents from the DSWD, the Municipal Health Office and other government agencies to obtain money from public and private individuals; and indigenous people who roam the streets begging for food an money.

Those found abetting mendicancy by voluntarily giving or offering alms, money, food and other material things to the mendicants shall be fined P1,000.00; while a mendicant who continues to beg after having been given rehabilitative programs or services under this ordinance will be fined P500.00 or imprisonment of not less than 1 month and not more than 3 months.

On the other hand, a habitual mendicant shall suffer a fine of P1,000.00 or imprisonment of not less than 3 months but not more than 6 months. Parents who exploit their minor children or use them to beg shall be fined P2,500.00 or imprisonment of not less that 3 months and not more than 6 months.

A person or group of persons who promotes mendicancy or uses exploited minors shall be fined P2,500.00 or an imprisonment of not less than three months but not more than 6 months.

Not covered by the ordinance are charitable institutions, religious or educational organization duly formed or organized under international or Philippine laws and accredited by the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO).

The ordinance stressed that the public must be discouraged from giving alms directly to mendicants, and instead contribute or donate only to lawful fund-raising projects or to charitable institutions and other organized agencies or entities.

Aklan police nabbed high-value target drug personality

Authorities arrested a high-value target (HVT) in drug buy-bust operation in New Washington, Aklan. 

Town’s chief of police Senior Inspector Jerick Vargas identified the Top 8 drug personality in Aklan as Roljohn Tejada, 36, a resident of Barangay Jalas on November 3.

Tejada sold a sachet of suspected methamphetamine hychloride locally known as ““shabu” to a poseur buyer for P1,000 at around 3:30 p.m. 

The arresting team also recovered two sachets of shabu from Tejada during the body search. Police operatives nabbed the drug suspect while selling in a ‘talipapa’ in Barangay Jalas. 

Prior to anti-drug operation, Tejada has been under surveillance after his name has been linked to illegal drug activities in Aklan. 

In Banga town, a drug surrenderee was also arrested in a buy bust in Banga Public Market on November 4.

Police said Rolando Masakayan alias Toto, a resident of Barangay Poblacion, was caught selling two sachets of suspected shabu to a poseur buyer for P2,000 inside the market. 

In Boracay Island, two drug suspects were also apprehended in two separate anti-drug operations. 

Police identified 37-year old Ryan Yabut, 37, a resident of Barangay Bayanan, Muntinlupa City who sold two sachets of shabu at  around 12:40 a.m. on November 3 in Sitio Cabanbanan Upper in Barangay Manoc-Manoc.

Seized from the habal habal driver were the P1,500 buy-bust money and a mobile phone containing text messages of illegal transactions.

An hour after, Jose Lowies Javier, a resident of Hagachac, Makato, Aklan and temporarily residing in Sitio Lugutan in Barangay Manoc-Manoc was also apprehended.

Lowies sold a sachet of shabu for P3,000 to a poseur buyer at around 1:35 a.m. in Sitio Cabanbanan Crossing.

The sting operations were conducted by joint elements of Boracay Tourist Assistance Center (BTAC),Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs and Special Operations Task Group (PAIDSOTG), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Maritime Group.

The suspects faced charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. 

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

East Asians up in Boracay tourist arrivals

Tourists from East Asia dominated the arrivals from January to October this year in Boracay. Countries from East Asia recorded 577,234 arrivals or 78 percent of the total international travelers for the first 10 months. 

Last year, the inbound traffic from Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan and HongKong reached 459,374.  

The biggest arrivals of East Asians were recorded in the months of February with 87,350 followed by July, 72,247; January with 65,918; March, 57,059; August, 57,058 and June with 50,585. 

Southeast Asians from Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia were the second largest visitor-generating markets with 35,522 arrivals. 

North America region or tourists from Mexico, United States of America and Canada ranked third with 24,998 arrivals.

Boracay Island shows no signs of slowing down to achieve the 1.7 million target this year. As of October, the island managed to record 1,466,746 arrivals, which is likely to exceed the 2015 tourist arrivals by November.

Inbound traffic from China and Korea are lifting the tourism growth arrivals in Boracay with 512,521 arrivals from January to October this year. 

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Aklan’s adopted son upset by Mexican boxing champ

The adopted son of Aklan lost his World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantamweight title in Las Vegas, Nevada. Yes, the 33-year old Nonito "Filipino Flash" Donaire Jr. is an adopted son of the province of Aklan. 

This was after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed a resolution way back on April 2009. Nonito’s wife Rachel Marcial is a former United States nationals taekwondo champion from Numancia, Aklan. 

Mexican-American Jesús Gabriel "Jessie" Magdaleno, 24, defeated Donaire in their 12-round championship fight at the Thomas and Mack Center via a unanimous decision on November 6 (Manila time). All three judges decided in favor of unbeaten challenger Magdaleno, 118-110, 116-112 and 116-112.

In a post in his official Facebook page, Donaire said, “thank you for giving all your love and energy but apparently the judges saw it differently. It doesn't matter. It was yesterday and I'm going to celebrate life with the thousands who chanted for me. Tomorrow brings another day and we learn. Thank you God for keeping me safe.”

On April 2009, Donaire was then the world flyweight boxing champion after beating American-Mexican boxer Raul “La Cobrita” Martinez of their 12-round title fight at the Araneta Coliseum.

“Donaire has shown pride and belongingness to Aklanons by publicly declaring in local radio interviews about the family roots of his Filipino-American wife Rachel,” the SP resolution said.

“It is but fitting for Aklan and her people to give due honor to the sports heroics of the Donaire couple being one of our own and must share the pride and honors that both brought to the Filipino people and prominently to Aklanons,” the SP resolution No. 2009-103 stressed.

Meanwhile, Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao reclaimed his WBO welterweight title with a unanimous decision victory against the younger Jessie Vargas.  

The judges scored the title bout dubbed as “Resurgence” for 37-year old Pacquiao, 118-109, 114-113 and 118-109. 

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL