PNP-7 arrests 273 persons in Central Visayas
in the 1st quarter due to illegal drugs
Cebu City (30 March) - Two-hundred seventy-three (273) persons in Central Visayas have been arrested due to illegal drugs during the past three months as the police heightens its operations against illegal drugs.
Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 Regional Director C/Supt. Ager P. Ontog bared that the arrest of the 273 individuals was a result of 230 joint operations conducted by both the police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7.
“The problem of illegal drugs is not a problem of Cebu alone but it is a nationwide concern” as Ontog admitted that Cebu as a highly urbanized area makes it a lucrative market not only for pushers but also to illegal drug manufacturers, Ontog said.
Ontog however, said that there have been attempts for big-time drug syndicates to manufacture shabu in Cebu due to its strategic area as a transshipment point on top of it being a lucrative market as well.
Illegal substances confiscated by the police for the first quarter consist of the following items: a) 70.23 grams of shabu b) 377 marijuana seedlings c) 628.54 grams of marijuana leaves d) 17 marihuana sticks and e) 956 marijuana plants uprooted.
The total value of the confiscated illegal substances is worth P2,746,083, this is learned.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 Legal Officer Atty. Mauro Licen
on the other hand, said that for the month of March alone, the joint operations with the PRO-7 resulted to the arrest of 64 persons and the confiscation of illegal substances worth P471,000.
Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) Chief S/Supt. Noel GIllamac admitted that there is a slight increase in the illegal drug problem in the city as just recently, the MCPO raided the house of a couple well-known in the area as big-time drug pushers that led to the confiscation of P1.2M worth of shabu.
“A case is already filed against the couple,” Gillamac revealed.
The MCPO chief added that for the past three months, they have arrested 58 drug pushers and 13 drug users.
In Lapulapu City, 28 persons have already been arrested due to illegal drugsas the fight continues, according to Lapulapu City Police Chief S/Supt. Anthony Obenza.
For Cebu City, 130 persons have been arrested and 102 cases are now filed in court, Cebu City Police Office P/Supt. Armando Radoc said.
In the province, 94 persons have been apprehended by the police due to illegal drugs claimed Cebu Provincial Police Office P/Supt. Rodulfo Albotra.
The data on the illegal drug situation form part of the major accomplishments of the PRO-7 for the first quarter as Ontog commended all police units in the region for their actions against illegal drugs. (PIA-Cebu/Fayette C. Riñen)
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PNP-7 chief reminds public to beware of illegal recruitment
‘as China pushed through with execution of 3 Pinoys today’
Cebu City (30 March) - As the country sympathized with the families of the threeFilipinos who were executed before 12 noon today in China due to drug trafficking, the public is again reminded on the dangers of falling victims to illegal recruitment which includes the risk of becoming drug mules.
Police Regional Office (PRO) -7 Chief Gen. Ager P. Ontog said the fate of our fellow countrymen was unfortunate especially as one of the three victims was reportedly just a victim of illegal recruitment.
“It is very important to disseminate to the people of Central Visayas to be cautious at all times when people entice them with huge amount of money to work abroad not knowing that aside from falling victims to illegal recruitment carries the danger of being exploited to become drug couriers,” according to Ontog during this morning’s ‘Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis’ (TSIP) Forum at the PRO-7 Media Center.
Ontog said barangay captains play a very important role in the education drive in the grassroots level as most of those who fall victim to illegal recruitment are poor people.
“Barangay captains have to check on what is going on in their area and make sure that illegal recruitment will not happen in their barangay,” Ontog further said.
The PRO-7 chief added that barangay captains should also check the intention of any ongoing recruitment of workers in their area and whether the purpose is to really provide legitimate jobs or for other illegal purposes such as drug trafficking.
Ontog also asked the media to help in the education drive against illegal recruitment by informing the public to always check the legitimacy of the agency offering jobs abroad.
“Those who are interested to find greener pastures in other countries should always check if the agency is accredited, and never be swayed by the promise of big money” Ontog stressed.
Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA)-7 Regional Director Evelia Durato in a previous PIA forum likewise appealed to the public to always check with their office if therecruitment agency offering jobs abroad are accredited by POEA.
“This is for your own safety because if one is a victim of illegal recruitment, you never know where and what you will end up with such as being forced to be drug mules or become prostitutes,” Durato disclosed.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 Legal Officer Atty. Mauro Licen in the same TSIP Forum said there are 689 cases of drug trafficking involving Filipinos in different parts of the world.
Licen said the advocacy campaign against drug mules continues as a task force against drug mules has been created headed by both the PDEA and the Department of Foreign Affairs. (PIA-Cebu/Fayette C. Riñen)
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DAR-Cebu empowers agrarian reform communities
By: Hazel F. Gloria
Cebu, March 30 (PIA) -- In an effort to create greater empowerment and impact in agrarian communities, the Department of Agrarian Reform-Cebu provincial office has continuously push programs that bring out the best of the agrarian beneficiaries.
DAR-Cebu OIC PARO Paulino Tudlasa, Jr. in a forum with the media recently said that it has established and developed 881 new memberships to the organization of agrarian reform beneficiaries in the province.
Under its program beneficiaries’ development component, Tudlasa told the media, “We have established the social infrastructure and capability building services of the agrarian reform farmers within their respective agrarian reform communities (ARCs).”
In Cebu province, there are already 30 established Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) Tudlasa said.
For 2010, five (5) ARC Development Plans were integrated in the local development plans of the LGUs, Tudlasa added.
According to DAR, the program beneficiaries’ development is one of the major support services components of CARP.
It aims to capacitate ARBs and provide them access to the necessary support service to make their lands more productive.
It also enables them to venture into income generating livelihood projects and actively participate in community governance.
In the delivery of agrarian justice, DAR-Cebu accomplished 118 percent in the adjudication of agrarian cases.
“It means we were able to resolve 355 agrarian-related cases out of 300 cases that were targeted for the year,” Tudlasa said.
The nature of cases handled included just compensation and regular cases such as land ejectment, fixing and collection of lease rentals, reinstatement / recovery of possession, cancellation of EP / CLOA, among others, Tudalasa explained.
He further stated that DAR-Cebu also accomplished 247 percent in agrarian legal assistance with the resolution of 2,755 cases.
These are the resolution of agrarian law implementation (ALI cases), the ARB representation before Judicial and Quasi-Judicial Courts, and the mediation and conciliation of agrarian disputes, the agrarian officer said.
DAR-Cebu provincial agrarian reform officer (PARO) Grace Fua acknowledged the sincere and unwavering efforts of the Municipal Agrarian Reform Officers (MAROs), DAR field personnel and all other DAR staff for their genuine contribution to hasten the land distribution in Cebu province.
“Because of their dedication, resolutions of agrarian cases have been made faster, and the delivery of support services became more responsive,” Fua concluded. (PIA-7/HFG with data from DAR-PARO)
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NYC announces the opening of the 9th Search for TAYO
By: Minerva BC Newman
Cebu, March 30 (PIA) – The 9th Search for the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO 9) in the country is on.
The National Youth Commission (NYC) in Central Visayas in a press release said, the search is open to all groups, organizations, clubs and societies whose membership are composed of at least 15 members that are 15-30 years old.
The project entry to be submitted must be a recently concluded project or an ongoing program. A project proposal does not qualify as an entry, NYC said.
For a continuing project entry, or one that started in 2009, it must either be completed, or a major portion must have been undertaken.
An organization can submit only one entry. Recipients of other awards are also eligible to join but winners of last year’s TAYO are not eligible for the competition.
Although, other previous TAYO winners and finalists may still participate, provided they submit a project entry different from the one they submitted before.
Organization and program/project profiles shall be provided in a white, short 8.5 x 11 in. bond paper only and participants are advised to use only staple wires to put together documents. Do not bind project entries for submission.
Do not attach other documents that are not required for submission. When necessary, the TAYO secretariat will request for additional data.
Lack or non-compliance of search requirements will result in automatic disqualification. The organizers reserve the right to modify, alter or amend the rules or waive compliance at their sole discretion if such steps are in accordance with the purpose of the search and awards scheme.
Organizations shall be judged on the basis of the submitted project entry. TAYO focuses on projects that meet the criteria that included; impact of the project entry on stakeholders; harnessing the spirit of volunteerism and citizenship.
This involves the community, especially the youth in planning, implementing and evaluating the program or project.
The entries shall also be judged according to creativity and innovation specifically in the introduction or application of new technologies, uniqueness of services or products, promotion of unique or indigenous ways or materials.
Sustainability and effective use of resources especially in financial resourcefulness, networking with similar organizations, identifying local supporters are included in the criteria for judging.
Interested youth organizations may send their requirements to tayo9enrty@gmail.com as a single email and hard copy submission should contain five copies of an accomplished entry form and organizers said, do not leave any items in the entry form blank and make sure that all information asked for is answered.
The winning organization will receive a P50T grant intended to fund new projects or continue long-term programs and a special trophy sculpted by Toym de Lean Imao.
Deadline for submission of entries is on July 31, 3011. For further inquiries, please visittayo.secretariat@gmail.com or call 02-687-5917; 211-6392; 416-2833 or you can also download entry forms at www.nyc.gov.ph. (PIA-7/MBCN & report from NYC-7)
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DAR Cebu meets its target of land distribution in 2010
By: Hazel F. Gloria
Cebu City, March 29 (PIA)—The Department of Agrarian Reform Cebu province has distributed 4,042 hectares of agricultural lands transforming 2,973 landless farmers into landowners.
During the AGIO-7 Forum recently, DAR-Cebu OIC-PARO Pualino Tudlasa, Jr said this is equivalent to 135% of the 3000-hectare target for the year.
“The department performed beyond its physical targets for 2010,” Tudlasa added.
The total area distributed during the period Tudlasa added, DAR-Cebu has a total working scope of 36,423 hectares for land distribution. It has already distributed 28,489 hectares of lands to 25,672 farmer beneficiaries.
DAR through the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) implements the three major components-- land tenure improvements (LTI), delivery of agrarian justice (DAJ) and program beneficiaries’ development (PBD). (PIA-7/HFG)