3rd Siargao int’l women surfing cup opens
GEN. LUNA, SURIGAO DEL NORTE - The 3rd Siargao International Women Surfing Cup officially kicked-off Monday, May 11, 2009 with 24 confirmed foreign and local women tube riders participated.
Countries who participated in the opening ceremony and will compete over the next four days include Australia, China, Japan, United States and some local folks of Siargao, Baler in Quezon, and La Union.
Speaking before a crowd of local and foreign tourists, Gen. Luna Mayor Felipe Espejon expressed his warm welcome as he thanked them for spending much of their money and bringing additional revenues in his town.
Ms. Brooke Farris Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Australia-Asia was greatly amazed with the great waves of Cloud 9 and was very grateful specifically to Gov. Robert Ace Barbers and to the organizers for making the event possible.
Meanwhile, DOT Caraga Regional Director Letty Tan in her inspirational message emphasized the need for the adventure tourists to visit Siargao for according to her “we cannot deny the fact that Siargao is the surfing capital of the Philippines.” She assured the local chief executives of the province and Gen. Luna that for as long as the DOT is here, “we’re always here behind you for all your activities.”
Gov. Robert Ace Barbers, on the other hand, acknowledged the people behind the success of the event. He congratulated and thanked the event coordinator, Mr. Gerry Deagan and Ms. Brooke Farris of ASP, the chairman of the committee on tourism Board Member Milva Garcia, the chairman of the committee on environment Board Member Jose Alabat, Jr. and Mayor Ping Espejon for their support.
The governor was also indebted with the other sponsors for making the event successful. Barbers stressed that the event is just a culminating activity for the whole island of Siargao. The provincial government and the LGU of Gen. Luna according to the Governor hosted several activities dubbed as “Siargao Olympics.” He assured the Siargaonons to expect more fun-filled activities in the years to come.
The opening ceremony ended with the ceremonial breaking of the surf board with Gov. Barbers and other local officials. (Fryan E. Abkilan, PIA-Surigao del Norte)
ARBTF conducts water quality monitoring in Agusan River and Butuan Bay
The Caraga Regional Development Council (RDC) through its Agusan River Basin Task Force (ARBTF) conducted a water quality monitoring in sixteen (16) sampling stations in Agusan River and Butuan Bay on April 21 to 29, 2009. The monitoring activity was designed to establish baseline data on the chemical and physical properties of the water in Agusan River and specific areas in Butuan Bay.
The RDC created the Task Force sometime in CY 2005 as a response to the results of the Water Quality and Oceanographic Assessment of Butuan Bay conducted by Mindanao State University (MSU) – Naawan from May 2000 to May 2001 under the Fishery Resource Management Project (FRMP) of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). The results of the study showed traces (high level) of heavy metals concentration such as mercury, copper, cadmium and lead particularly in the water, sediments and certain species of fish that were collected from specific areas of Butuan Bay.
The ARB Task Force is currently chaired by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) with the following members: National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), Department of Health (DOH), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), City Government of Butuan City and the Provincial Governments of Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur.
The Task Force collected samples of water, sediments and fish in certain areas in Veruela, Sta. Josefa, Bunawan, Talacogon and Esperanza in Agusan del Sur; Nasipit, Magallanes, Cabadbaran and Tubay in Agusan del Norte and; Barangays Amparo, Bit-os and Masao in Butuan City. THe MGB Central Office through its Marine Geological Survey Division assisted the ARB Task Force in the collection of sediment samples considering that the later has no capability to do so. The results of the monitoring activity will be made available in June 2009.
The water quality monitoring activity is a locally funded project of the RDC with funding coming from the RDC’s annual budget and contributions of participating government agencies such as EMB, DPWH, DOH, MGB, DOST, DA, DENR, BFAR and NIA, and; LGUs of Butuan City, Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur. (Grace Harting, NEDA-13/ PIA-Caraga)
Region 10 named grand champion in the 2nd COMELEC Mindanao Goodwill games
Region 10 grabs the grand champion award after the two-day sports competition here at the D.O. Plaza Sports Complex which started May 8 until May 10 with the theme: Bridging Regions- One vision, one mission.
Region 13 Regional Executive Director Atty. Francisco Pobe, said this is the second goodwill games COMELEC conducted that happen only here in Mindanao.
Traveling from as far as Sulu, Tawi-tawi and Basilan, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, COMELEC athletes from the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) proved their skills in swimming, grabbing the first price award in both men and women categories. But not only in swimming that athletes from ARMM excel. They have also proven their ability in badminton, waving their trophies as champions in both men and women categories, while receiving the championship trophy in lawn tennis men’s category. ARMM landed second in the overall championship.
Region 9 composed of Zamboanga provinces ranked third while Caraga Region ranked fourth in the overall rating.
Of the six participating regions, Region 12 falls last in the list, but is good in dart and billiards, while Region 11 composed of Davao provinces and Compostela Valley ranks fifth, but also excel in track and field 100 meter dash for men, and lawn tennis for women.
“This activity of the COMELEC which only happen here in Mindanao proves Mindanaoans have stronger sense of cooperation and teamwork. But not only the people from COMELEC. This activity also proves and showcase the very strong support from our local government units, especially the provincial government of Agusan del Sur. If not with the full cooperation and support of Gov. Maria Valentina “Tina” Plaza, this event will not be as joyful and as colorful as it is”, Dir. Francisco Pobe said.
Dir. Pobe also expressed his gratitude to other government agencies for lending him their
facilities and extending their utmost assistance during the activity.
The 2nd COMELEC Mindanao Goodwill Games ended with a 15-minute fireworks that filled the air of the sports complex with bangs and colors. It was 12:00 midnight of May 10, 2009. (Dave M. Suyao, PIA Agusan del Sur with reports from John Louie Luar)
POLICE REPORTS
By PO3 Philip Amer Posas Mazo and
PO2 Darlin Cabalinan Migullas
Recovery of dead person
On May 12, 2009 at Sitio Bolo, Casagayan, Santiago Agusan del Norte, information was received by Santiago Municipal Police Station that a dead body of a male person believed to be murdered and allegedly buried at the mountainous area of the above-mentioned place who was identified as Jerry Larong, 50 years old, small scale miner, a resident of Caman-onan, Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte.
Immediately, COP of Santiago Municipal Police Station coordinated with the LGU, Barangay Officials and the Tribal Chieftain of the area and planned for a retrieval operation.
On May 12, 2009 around 10:00 in the morning, the joint team reached Sitio Bolo and positively recovered the remains of Jerry Larong.
Investigation revealed that on the evening of May 9, 2009, the victim was seen by neighbors having a drinking session with an unidentified male companion inside his cottage and around 2:OO o'clock dawn of May 10, 2009, three gun shots were heard from the said cottage.
That morning, blood stains were seen by neighbors inside the cottage and noticed a filled land digging just meters away where the victim was recovered by the authorities.
Case is now in the process of investigation to identify the suspect and determine its motive for filing of appropriate charges in court. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
PNP arrests wanted person
On May 12, 2009 at 5:30 in the afternoon at Langihan Public Market, Barangay Holy Redeemer, Butuan City, a certain Bernardo Mangubat Maones, 42 years old, married and a resident of Purok-1A, Barangay Doongan, Butuan City was arrested by elements of Warrant Section of Butuan City Police Station 2 led by SPO3 Advincula by virtue of warrant of arrest (WOA) dated October 20, 2008issued by Hon James V Go of MTCC branch 2, Libertad, Butuan City under CC number 39512 for the crime of frustrated murder with recommended bail bond of Php 12,OOO.OO.
Subject person is now temporarily detained at Butuan City Police Station 2 for proper disposition. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
Recovery of carnapped vehicle
On May 11, 2009 at 11:30 in the morning at Sambulawan Street, Barangay Poblacion, Bayugan, Agusan del Sur, PNP elements of Bayugan City Police Station (CPS) recovered one unit Suzuki multicab, color blue, bearing plate YES-796 owned by Paterna Taray, a resident of 46 Taloto District, Tagbilaran City , Bohol.
Said vehicle was allegedly carnapped last January 11, 2009 at Barangay Taloto, Tagbilaran City by a certain Glenn Cadampog who is now detained at Tagbilaran City jail.
Recovered vehicle is now under the custody of Bayugan City Police Station for investigation and proper disposition. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
Report on illegal drugs
On May 11, 2009 at 8:40 in the evening at Purok-1B, Duran Street, Barangay Taglatawan, Bayugan City, elements of Bayugan City Police Station (BCPS) led by PCI Rudy T. Cuyop, COP apprehended the suspect identified as Paito Noraiza Omar, of legal age, single, and a resident of Barangay Karkam, Nonongan, Marawi City for violation of R.A. 9165 (Illegal Possession of Dangerous Drugs).
Confiscated from his possession was one transparent sachet of suspected "shabu" with estimated value of PhP 3, 000.00.
Said suspect and confiscated item was brought to Butuan City Police Station for documentation and for filing of appropriate charges in court. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
Report on robbery incident
On May 10, 2009 at 2:30 in the afternoon at Barangay Mansayao, Mainit, Surigao del Norte, three unidentified suspects allegedly robbed the two residents of Alegria, Surigao del Norte identified as Francisco Baroma, 60 years old and Gloriafe Ranque, 20 years old at the above-mentioned place, who were both peddlers of a certain Edwin Palamos of same place.
Initial investigation disclosed that the victims while peddling using an Isuzu elf at the said place, they were blocked by the suspects wearing bonnet, armed with 12 gauge "Sumpak" and 38 caliber revolver pointing the said firearms at the victims and declared a hold-up.
Suspects carted away the victims' cash money amounting to about PhP 30,000.00.
Upon receipt of such report, personnel of Mainit Municipal Police Station led by PI Silvestre Asiong Jr., COP a hot pursuit operation for possible identification and apprehension of suspects. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
Report on loose firearm
On May 12, 2009 at 11:50 in the evening at Sitio Mandagao, Poblacion, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, elements of Bunawan Municipal Police Station led by SPO1 Alex Edeza responded to a reported commotion happened at the abovementioned place and apprehended the suspect identified as Romil Jopson, 19 years old, single, farmer and a resident of said place.
Suspect was arrested for illegal possession of firearm. Confiscated from his possession was one unit caliber .357 revolver (paltik) loaded with five live ammos.
Arrested person is now under the custody of Bunawan Municipal Police Station for proper disposition. Appropriate charge is being readied for filing in court. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
