An ordinance penalizing any person who will cross or breach a police line cordon at any crime scene in Bacolod City, was passed by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod on third and reading yesterday.
The ordinance authored by Councilor El Cid Familiaran, chairman of the SP Committee on Police and Security, provides a fine of P3,000 or an imprisonment of 15 days or both, at the discretion of the Court, for those who violate the law. The ordinance said the hostage-taking incident in Manila on August 2010 that cost many lives and injured several others, shocked the country and strained international relation with China, is a serious reminder of how inept and ill-equipped the concerned law enforcement agencies are in responding to crisis situation. Focused on by TV camera, a yellow cloth strip with words “POLICE LINE, DO NOT CROSS” is seen at the scene of the crime installed a few meters from the hostage taking to warn the bystanders and non-law enforcers to stay away, however to be ignored and violated by them but it was ignored by curious onlookers. Meanwhile, the SP also approved a resolution authored by Councilor Sonya Verdeflor urging Mayor Evelio Leonardia as honorary chairperson of the city’s reconstituted Task Force Clean and Green to start and operationalize the task force effective January 2012 and soliciting the mayor’s office full support for its projects and activities.*CGS CHRYSEE SAMILLANO Visayan Daily Star
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Bacolod City Councilor Em Ang said that the city governmentÕs Bacolod Cares project has raised P1.388 million which included the P1.2 million allocation from the cityÕs Disaster Risk Reduction Management fund.
Ang chairs the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Social Services. She said there is already a big volume of non-cash donations, such as water, rice, clothes, blankets, among others. The biggest donation was from the Fa Tzang Chinese Temple which gave 250 boxes of mineral water, 35 sacks of rice, and 1,200 pairs of slippers, she said. She added that they will ship the donated goods through Negros Navigation. Meanwhile, during the executive-legislative caucus on Wednesday, Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said it was decided that out of the P1.2 million budget, the city will give P500,000 to Iligan, P500,000 to Cagayan de Oro, and P200,000 to Dumaguete. Ang expressed her gratitude to all those who responded to their appeal for contributions. The social workers of the city will continue to accept donations at the cityÕs collection desks at the government center and City Hall, she said. ÒI hope, somehow, through this, the typhoon victims will be able to feel the spirit of Christmas in spite of this adversity,Ó Ang said. Meanwhile, a resolution requesting Mayor Evelio Leonardia to lead various religious denominations in a thanksgiving activity to express gratitude to the Almighty for sparing the City of Bacolod from calamity was approved by the SP Wednesday. Authored by Councilor El Cid Familiaran, the resolution said the previous and recent calamities that had struck the country had damaged government critical infrastructure projects, agricultural and fisheries production and resulted in loss of lives, livelihood,and wastage of billions of pesos. The SP also approved another resolution authored by Ang expressing profound sympathy to the people of Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City, Negros Oriental and other cities and provinces who suffered as a consequence of the disaster brought by tropical storm Sendong./CNC Carla N. Canet Sun Star Bacolod Police Regional Office 6 Director, Chief Superintendent Cipriano Querol Jr. (2nd from the right) seals the muzzle of the issued firearm of Police Superintendent Joseph Bayan, Deputy City Director for Administration of Bacolod City Police Office while BCPO Director, Police Senior Superintendent Ricardo De La Paz and City Councilors El Cid Familiaran and Al Victor Espino look on during simple rites held at BCPO parade grounds in this city. The activity is in compliance with the directive from the higher office to seal all short and long firearms of every police officer to prevent them from firing illegally or indiscriminately during the holiday season
BACOLOD City Councilor El Cid Familiaran authored a resolution which was approved by the City Council Wednesday requesting Philippine National Police chief for service vehicles.
The ten vehicles will be distributed each to ten police stations under the Bacolod City Police Office. He said one of the adopted philosophies worldwide for crime prevention and response is the police visibility which requires for their constant mobility in their area of coverage where vehicles are considered indispensable. In such regard, while the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has been doing its tasks, however, at times its crime response is not so effective, considering its lack of police cars. The increasing index of poverty and other factors has also recently influenced the increase of crime incidence in Bacolod, where the call for additional police vehicles becomes urgent and necessary. As much as the city would want to respond to this need of our police personnel, the same could not act immediately because there are more other pressing concerns which the City has to respond to, Familiaran said. Carla N. Canet Sun Star Bacolod The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) should implement the NO GUN FIRING POLICY on the new year’s eve of December 31. The Resolution authored by Counilor Cl Cid Familiaran was approved by members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod during the regular session yesterday.
Familiaran stated in the resolution to urge BCPO director Police S/Supt. Ricardo dela Paz on this matter because incidents of gun firing during New Year, especially on its Eve has cost innumerable lives of innocent civilians, a number of them children. He also said, aside from proofs as there were victims, in several situations, following the conclusion of New Year celebration, more often than not, piercing galvanized iron-roof bullet heads were usually found inside a home, even beside one’s bedroom, if not along with the debris of firecrackers and empty bullet shells, all showing that really there are individuals considered to be irresponsible gun holders, if not, illegal gun possessors. While the burden lies with the police personnel to observe the “no gun firing” policy during new year’s eve as they are supposed to lead and follow the command, however, to minimize the anxiety of people and for safer New Year’s celebration, there is a need for the Bacolod City Police Office to expand the coverage of prohibiting anyone of gun firing as we celebrate the upcoming New Year. Relevant to this, BCPO director dela Paz already sealed or covered with masking tape the muzzles of policemen’s guns during the taping yesterday morning. The ceremony was a symbol of “no gun firing” policy during new year’s eve, which was also ordered by Regional Director of PRO 6 P/Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol, Jr.* Edith B. Colmo Visayan Daily Star The Bacolod Cares project of the city government has raised P1.388 million as of yesterday, which include the P1.2 million allocation from the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management fund, Bacolod Councilor Em Legaspi-Ang said yesterday.
Ang, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Social Services, yesterday said there is already a big volume of non-cash donations such as water, rice, clothes, blankets, among others, and the biggest donation was from the Fa Tzang Temple that gave 250 boxes of mineral water, 35 sacks of rice, and 1,200 pairs of slippers. She said they will ship the donated goods through Negros Navigation. Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said that during the executive-legislative caucus Wednesday, they decided that out of the P1.2 million budget, the city will give P500,000 to Iligan, P500,000 to Cagayan de Oro and P200,000 to Dumaguete. Ang said they would like to thank all those who responded to their appeal for contributions. The social workers of the city will continue to accept donations at the city’s collection desks at the government center and City Hall, she said. “I hope, somehow, through this, the typhoon victims will be able to feel the spirit of Christmas inspite of this adversity,” Ang said. Meanwhile, a resolution requesting Mayor Evelio Leonardia to lead various religious denominations in a thanksgiving activity to express gratitude to the Almighty for sparing the City of Bacolod from calamity was approved by the SP Wednesday. Authored by Councilor El Cid Familiaran, the resolution said the previous and recent calamities that had struck the country had damaged government critical infrastructure projects, agricultural and fisheries production and resulted in loss of livelihood, many lives and wastage of billions of pesos. The SP also approved another resolution expressing profound sympathy to the people of Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City, Negros Oriental and other cities and provinces who suffered as a consequence of the disaster brought by tropical storm Sendong on December 17, 2011. The resolution authored by Ang said Tropical Storm Sendong ravaged Mindanao, slamming it with devastating rains and unleashing flash floods and landslides that have left a horrifying trail of destruction. Media reports said the death toll has reached 653 (1,026, as of Wednesday – ED), there are 245 injured and 807 reported missing. The cities of Cagayan de Oro with 346 deaths and Iligan with 206 deaths were worst hit by Sendong on Friday and Saturday, it said. The national and local government officials of the affected local government units are appealing for immediate cash assistance, food, non-food items, services and prayers for the residents in the cities and provinces affected by Typhoon Sendong, the resolution also said.*CGS CHRYSEE SAMILLANO Visayan Daily Star This year’s Alay Lakad will be held Sunday, with Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, and Rep. Anthony Golez leading other government officials, teachers, students and civic organizations, a Bacolod City Hall press release said.
The walk for a cause will take off from four points and converge at the public plaza where a short program will be held, and prizes raffled off to participants. Special prizes will be awarded groups with the most number, most colorful, oldest and youngest walk participants, and the longest staying group. Leonardia encouraged the organizers and media to rally the people to join this year’s Alay Lakad because it is good for their health and also to persuade participants to contribute even just small amounts to the Alay Lakad fund which is dedicated for the education of out of school youth. Group I will assemble at Bacolod City National High School, Group II at Goldenfield, Araneta, Group III at West Negros University, and Group IV at Provincial lagoon. Assembly time is 5 a.m. and kick off between 6 and 6:15 a.m., the press release said. Group I will be led by Leonardia, councilors Em Ang and Caesar Distrito with police personnel from stations 6, 7 and 10. They will leave BCNHS at 6 a.m. Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, councilors Archie Baribar, Al Victor Espino, Bobby Rojas and Police Station 2 representatives will be the core group for Group II taking off from Goldenfields at 6:10 a.m., the press release said. Golez, councilors Dindo Ramos, Homer Bais and Elmer Sy, and Station 4 personnel will form part of Group III. They will leave WNU at 6:15 a.m. Marañon joined by councilors Catalino Alisbo, El Cid Familiaran, and Sonya Verdeflor, and Station 1 representatives will lead Group IV leaving the Capitol Lagoon at 6:15 a.m., the press release said. This year’s Alay Lakad group chair is Kiwanis Club of Metro Bacolod Alladino Agbones who revealed that the 2011 targeted funds for the annual walk, which is especially dedicated to the out-of-school youth, is P300,000, and that, the club has already raised P44,000, the press release added.* The term should not be construed as a crowd in violent frenzy but rather its less horrific meaning: “noisy, confused, disturbed, excited and emotional”. The present state of the Bacolod City Council is creating a public perception of an assembly in tumult with charges and counter-charges dominating their supposedly gentlemanly and lady manners.
The day does not pass when the reporters have nothing to write. They are having a field day quoting remarks and responses that only aggravate rather than calm the atmosphere. Surely, only a few councilors are involved but the image does create an SP in tumult. The way the daily dose of issuances from the SP look, there is nothing in the near view that will give us the belief the situation will “normalize” soon and the air of conviviality that dominated the first months of their term will once more prevail. The differences between SP Secretary Nilo Alejandrino and Councilor Cesar Distrito appear beyond resolve and in fact are escalating with broadcasters on both and all sides of the political fences insuring that the issues will not die down but continue to entertain us with the antics of our legislators. These two lawyers are at odds and now the third lawyer, Councilor Sonia Verdeflor has joined the fray, so that the situation, in our more descriptive language, is “naggumon”. Of course earlier, Councilor Archie Baribar, another lawyer had given his views but that was more a scholarly discourse than throwing more fuel into the fire. He was more restrained, like Number One Councilor El Cid Familiaran, who gave his opinion on Alejandrino’s case and then kept his peace. The other councilors have kept their distance so that it appears that Distrito is fighting the battle alone, though it seems he can handle Alejandrino and all comers. What is interesting, though, is the obvious target. Alejandrino and Verdeflor have zeroed on Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson. Perhaps this is not so, but the focus of their attacks is clearly to question Sayson’s ability to manage or lead the council. Alejandrino has cited the political affiliation of Sayson and Distrito in his attempt to force Sayson to inhibit, but his assumption was wrong when he claimed that they belong to the same political party. They are not, but are political allies who ran under the same banner of Grupo Progreso. Nevertheless, they have something in common, but Alejandrino is off the mark. Political alliances are, after all, as strong as your overcooked spaghetti. The controversy became the fodder of the media instruments of the opposition. Sayson is believed to be the crown prince to succeed Mayor Evelio Leonardia in 2013, and the issues are now being used to hammer at Sayson. They are still petty and, in fact, irrelevant, but in a political war, anything and everything can be of use. These premature attacks, however only reinforce the belief that indeed Sayson is the man to beat in 2013 and indirectly bolsters his strength. The attack of Verdeflor is more biting than Alejandrino’s cry of partiality because that is self interest, but that of Verdeflor involves the case of the SP stenographer Conchita Castillo. Verdeflor asked why Castillo continues to work although she was investigated and recommended to be charged allegedly of tampering with the minutes of the SP. Verdeflor investigated this case so that she knows the details. So she asked why Alejandrino was suspended without pay but Castillo continues to work, of course with pay. Verdeflor thus charged Sayson of double standard because Sayson acted immediately in the case of Distrito’s complaint but not in the case of Castillo which took place last May yet. Surely Sayson can answer that because there are differences in the two cases that do not necessarily apply similarly. Her point about the “follow up” of Castillo’s case would have the element of an inquiry until Distrito got into the picture and distorted the follow-up as a mere justification to slash at the Vice Mayor. Her issue now takes on a partisan twist, a snide attack against Sayson. The conflict between Distrito and Alejandrino now is tainted with political color. The opposition in the council (as well as now clear in their media campaign) is expected to draw as much blood from it as they can. The problem of Alejandrino is that he will become the punching bag in this tumult, his cause, no matter how just, will be looked at with a jaundiced eye. This is a litmus test for Sayson’s ability to tread on thorny grounds, to weather the storm. The Christmas season may dampen the controversy a bit but we expect that unless this conflict is resolved before the year’s end this will escalate by 2012. The opposition is in search of an issue against Sayson; this conflict will be a topic served on a silver platter.* MODESTO P. SA-ONOY Visayan Daily Star Meanwhile, the SP approved a resolution Wednesday, authored by Councilor Roberto Rojas, requesting the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corporation to clean up and to cut down cogon grasses at the Reclamation Area.
The resolution said unfortunate events such as hold-up, robbery and rape have occurred in the vacant lots in the Reclamation Area and the location also serves as hiding places for criminals being pursued by the police. During the session Wednesday, Councilor Archie Baribar asked what actions the city would take if BREDCO fails to comply. “We will take over,” Councilor Al Victor Espino, chairman of the SP Committee on Environment, replied in jest, being aware of a pending case filed by BREDCO against the city and some of its officials involving the “Takeover Ordinance.” Acting Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said there is a provision in City Ordinance 303 or the Environment Code which states that the city can undertake the work and charge the labor cost to the concerned individuals or establishments. CHRYSEE SAMILLANO Visayan Daily Star |
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