P14-Million Pesos Worth of Shabu Seized in Iligan City

Authorities seized last Friday - March 4, 2016 two kilos of shabu worth P14 million at Gasaino Mall Iligan City. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 10 director Wilkins Villanueva told reporters that the anti-drug operation was the culmination of days of surveillance work. He said anti-drug operatives had been keeping an eye on a black Vios Sedan coming from Davao City, and according to an informer, has "Rodrigo Duterte" stickers.

P14-M shabu seized in Iligan City

Villaneuva said the informer told authorities that the target car was to deliver shabu to Iligan City. Police identified the four men arrested during the operation as Ryan Abdul Malik, Sanawiya Ampaso Calumbang, Khadaffy Aloyudan, and Jimmy Sarip – all were residents of Salvador, Lanao del Norte.

Villanueva said the suspects were trapped on Level 2 of the mall's parking area. Also, he said that this was the second attempt to smuggle illegal drugs into the city in months. Last year, a couple was arrested after yielding  a package containing a kilo of shabu.

Earlier, Iligan City's lone district Representative Vicente Belmonte Jr. and chairman of the committee on dangerous drugs said that the couple had been released. “Paiimbestigahan natin ito bakit napawalang-sala ang mag-asawang nahulihan ng isang kilong shabu at maging ang PDEA ay mag-iimbestiga rin,” Belmonte said in an interview on local radio.

COMELEC Checkpoint in Iligan City for Unlicensed Firearms

COMELEC Gun Ban in Iligan City

ILIGAN CITY – Three men were held at a Commission on Elections (COMELEC) checkpoint –manned by soldiers and policemen in Barangay Tipanoy here for possession of unlicensed firearms last February 2, 2016.

Senior Inspector Allan Abalde, chief of the city police Station 4, said the men whom he did not identify were on separate vehicles flagged down by the personnel manning the checkpoint.

Upon verification, none of them could show proper documents for the three .45 caliber pistols seized from their possession, Abalde said.

Charges for violation of the comprehensive firearms law and the COMELEC Gun Ban were now being prepared against the three men, he said.

Read more news information at Inquirer.net.

Oro Power Utility Assures 'No More Brownout'

BEGINNING today, Cagayan de Oro Electric Power and Light Co. (Cepalco) lifts the rotational brownout it enforced in the city since April 10 after the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM), formerly the National Power Corporation (NPC), has added another 30 megawatt to Cepalco’s daily requirement to run the city’s power needs.

Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM)

Last week, Cepalco was only receiving about 60MW-70MW compelling the power utility to resort to load shedding since its own power sources were insufficient to supply the 150MW to power its franchise area.

Marilyn Chavez, Cepalco’s senior manager for Customer and Community Relations, told Sun Star Cagayan de Oro by phone Wednesday that PSALM could now provide 100MW to Cepalco. “Finally, Cepalco has ironed this out and we assure our customers that there’ll be no more power curtailment beginning tomorrow (Thursday) even if the load that PSALM provides is still short of 50MW. Cepalco’s Minergy, independent power producer, the Cabulig hydro and solar power will be sufficient to provide the city’s power demand,” Chavez said.

The neighboring Iligan City and Lanao del Norte haven’t experienced power curtailment which left Cagayan de Oro residents and the business sector wondering why there was insufficient power supply here lately.

Last year, the city experienced only minimal rotational brownout despite the Mindanao power curtailment after the Steag’s coal-fired power plant generators conked out. Steag supplies 210MW to the Mindanao grid.

Hydro Sources Drying Up

Pulangi River in Bukidnon and Lake Lanao, major sources of hydropower electricity in Mindanao, is rapidly drying up worsening the power situation in some cities of Mindanao already reeling with daily rotational brownouts.

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) director Romeo Montenegro said the water level in Pulangi River in Bukidnon went down to 280.85 meters above sea level, way below the baseline limit of 286 meters as of Tuesday.

As a result, Montenegro said the hydro plant in Pulangi is now capable of producing only 30MW of electricity out of its 250MW rated capacity.

“It (Pulangi hydro plant) is not out, but it is producing only 30MW because there is no more water except silt,” Montenegro said in a text message.

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)

Cagayan de Oro reeled under a daily eight-hour rotational brownout in its franchise area in Cagayan de Oro and the towns of Jasaan and Villanueva in Misamis Oriental that began Tuesday.

Pagadian City and nearby province of Zamboanga de Sibugay are also under severe power curtailment, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines said Wednesday.

To make matters worse for Cagayan de Oro and Pagadian cities, the newly completed 150-megawatts Boiler Unit 2 of Therma South Inc. (TSI), a power plant owned by the Aboitiz Power in Davao City, failed to go on line when it sustained damages during the Mindanao-wide blackout last Easter Sunday, April 5.

Prior to that, Cepalco secured a 20-megawatt supply from TSI supposedly to alleviate the critical power situation in Cagayan de Oro.

The same thing happened to Lake Lanao where, Montenegro said, the prolonged dry spell of weak “ El Nino” has reduced the electricity output of the six cascading hydro plants along the Agus River.

“All Agus plants are running but some units are derated or having reduced output,” he said.

Montenegro said water level in Lake Lanao had plunged to 699. 82 meters above sea level.

He said the maximum water level for Agus hydro plants to operate safely without damaging its machineries is 702 meters above sea level.

“Cepalco’s current load portfolio cannot cover high demand because of the summer heat,” Montenegro said.

Pulangi and Agus River in Lanao provinces supplies more than 52 percent of the electricity in Mindanao

Cepalco vice president Ralph Paguio said even with their standby power plants and the Independent Load Producers (ILP), they do not have enough electricity to cover their entire franchise area.

“This force us to resort to power curtailment to equitably share whatever supply there is,” Paguio said.

He said they offset the shortfall with from Cepalco’s coal plant, Minergy which produces 42 megawatts of electricity and participating ILP firms in Cagayan de Oro.

Paguio said still there is a shortfall of electricity they could not meet.

Aboitiz communications officer Wilfredo Alfredo III said the electricity supply from Therma South could have eased the situation in Cagayan de Oro.

“The brownouts could have been cut to only two hours not eight hours,” Wilfredo said.

In a statement, Aboitiz Power said the sudden loss in last Easter Sunday’s Mindanao-wide blackout caused the damage at the TSI Unit 2 boiler which was scheduled to go on line this month.

TSI president Benjie Cariaso said repairs can run up to ten months but he added that their Unit 1 coal plant is still scheduled to operate in June 2015.

Cariaso said repairs to the Boiler Unit 2’s air-preheater as well as the electrostatic precipitator can run up to 10 months delaying its commissioning.

Read more news information at Sunstar.com.

During a Buy-Bust Operation - Worth of P80K of Illegal Drugs Siezed!

According to reports in our neighboring city, CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY --- Authorities have seized illegal drug dealings worth of about 80,000 Pesos during their buy bust operation in a certain lodging house in the said city. Illegal drugs are getting worse and are getting high amount of quantity being transacted in our major cities in Northern Mindanao area. We already know what comes after with this kind of crimes and the major purpose behind this illegal campaign. We could name a few, terrorism, funding for illegal firearms or other worst case that we could think of. As for us, a good citizen in our lovely city we should be vigilant and watchful of any illegal activities that we could know of --- and let the authorities know about it. Let's help fight these illegal activities and report to our local authorities. It's the least that we could do!

Illegal Drugs

As the report says...

"... Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force Officer-in-Charge Senior Inspector Gilbert Rollen said they arrested suspected drug pusher Ervin Loma following two months of surveillance operation.

Rollen said Loma had been moving from one lodging house to another. The suspect allegedly sold drugs to customers in various lodging houses.

Loma admitted that the illegal drugs he obtained came from Iligan City.

He is facing charges for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act."

– Report from Shiela Joy Labrador, ABS-CBN News Northern Mindanao"

Gov’t Probes MILF Training Camp in Iligan City

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

NGCP: 9 Hours of Power Interruption in Some Parts of Lanao Norte

Power Interruption!

ILIGAN CITY, PHILIPPINES – A nine-hour power interruption may occur in parts of Lanao del Norte province and in Iligan City on Sunday, April 12, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said.

In an advisory, the NGCP said the power interruption may affect areas covered by Lanao del Norte Electric Cooperative (LANECO).

The power interruption is scheduled in parts of Baloi, Lanao del Norte and parts of Ditucalan, Iligan City from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

NGCP said the interruption aims to facilitate preventive maintenance of the 7.5-megavolt power transformer at Baloi substation, which requires the shutdown of Abaga-MOM-MRO-Ditucalan 13.8-kilovolt line. (Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News)

DOH-Northern Mindanao Employs Micronutrients Supplement

IN STRENGTHENING the advocacy on children’s wellbeing, the Department of Health (DOH) in Northern Mindanao is undertaking a strategic approach to support the micronutrients program in the region.

The advocacy dubbed as “Garantisadong Pambata 2015” (GP) implements packages and services available for every child.

Experts on nutrition gathered in a media forum in Cagayan de Oro last April 8 that tackled the highlights of GP.

Telesfora Madelo, DOH-Northern Mindanao nutrition program coordinator, said the program components of GP are immunization for infants and de-worming for children but highlighted the micronutrient supplementation.

Karen Yee, program coordinator for immunization, said the target population covers six weeks to 11 months infants.

Yee said that pneumococcal vaccine (PCV 13) was already distributed in barangay health centers in the Northern Mindanao and it will be given in three doses.

“This PCV13 is previously given by private doctors with fees. That’s why we consider it as a milestone in child immunization because right now it’s free,” Yee said.

“In providing micronutrient supplementation, we give vitamin A capsules to infants and iron tablets to all pregnant and lactating mothers which are all available in our barangay health centers,” Madelo said.

“DOH will be implementing GP every day not only for this month or this coming October,” Madelo said.

She also said that included in the GP services is the “Operation Timbang,” which is aimed at monitoring annual weighing of infants and children to lessen the impact of malnutrition.

Mitch Navales, program coordinator of National Nutrition Council (NNC), said malnutrition is the root of all sickness with deficiency, excess or over nutrition and imbalance in terms of micronutrients as its indicators.

She said that only two provinces, Bukidnon and Misamis Occidental, in the region are listed to have mild iodine deficiency disorder — children from 6-12 years old — from 2008 to 2013.(April Argen Pat B. Marzon/SunStar)

Rape Victim OFW in Bahrain Seeking Help through Video

A video of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) seeking help after being allegedly raped and beaten by her employer’s son has been making the rounds on the Internet.

28 year old Abby Luna, a domestic worker in Hamad, Bahrain, narrated in a three-minute video uploaded on Facebook on Thursday how she had been raped, beaten and threatened by her attacker.

Luna, a native of Los Baños, Laguna, said she was raped on April 8 at her employer’s house.

Video of Rape Victim OFW in Bahrain Seeking Help

She said she sustained wounds and bruises after the attack by her employer’s son, whom she claimed was a drug addict.

Luna also said she was threatened by the rapist not to speak of the incident to her employer because she would be killed and buried in the desert.

image source: Facebook Screenshot

Though fearing for her life, she said she reported the rape to her employer who scolded her and asked her why she didn’t tell him right away.

The employer’s son, however, said Luna seduced him.

“Tulungan niyo ako (Help me), please,” a crying Luna said in the video.

“Sana matulungan ako na makaalis dito, natatakot na ako (I hope to get help so I can leave this place, I’m so scared).”

Luna said her employer had told her she had to wait for two months before she could leave and she would have to pay for her return ticket.

She was also told by the employer that if she got pregnant, she had to abort the fetus.

Luna then asked for help to contact the Philippine Embassy in Bahrain so she could be rescued.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Charles Jose told INQUIRER.net that the OFW is now in the custody of the Philippine Embassy in Bahrain.

Joint Inspection Team Visits Alleged BIAF-MILF Training Facility in Limunsudan

ILIGAN CITY, April 1 -- A joint inspection and validation team visited an alleged training camp of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)–Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) in sitio Limunsudan, barangay Rogongon, Iligan City, on March 29.

The visit was in response to a report from the Higaonon tribe submitted to the Iligan City Council which the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army (PA), took the lead in this endeavor, as part of their area of coverage.

Col Gilbert I. Gapay, brigade commander, 2nd Mech IB, described the area as unoccupied training facility that covers an estimated one hectare area located in the tri-boundary of Iligan City, Talakag of Bukidnon and Tagoloan II of Lanao del Sur. It will take five hours by land trip via Talakag town and another three hours walk to the site.

The semblance of a training facility is intact due to present structures to include fence, obstacle course, tiger jump, monkey bar, beam, training wooden rifle for demonstration, balance beam, watchtower beside the entrance gate, exit gate and nipa huts, Gapay added.

The Joint Inspection and Validation Team was composed of GRP-MILF Coordinating Committee on Cessation of  Hostilities (CCCH) representative, International Monitoring Team (IMT), Adhoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) Civil Society Organization (CSO), Pakigdait Incorporated, Local Government Unit of Iligan City and Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) representative, Philippine Army, Philippine National Police (PNP).

The team met and had a dialogue with the Higaonon tribal leaders with their members who are also residents of sitio Limunsudan.

After the visit, the team will have an assessment as to its findings, giving a week’s time for its official report to be released. (2nd Mech (Magbalantay)/PA/PIA-10 LDN)

Read more News update at http://news.pia.gov.ph/.

Mayoralty Row Affects Government Transactions at Iligan City Hall

A mayoralty row has affected government transactions in Iligan City in Lanao del Norte province.

Both Mayor Celso Regencia and Vice Mayor Rudy Marzo are claiming that they are the rightful head of the city, GMA News TV's "Balita Pilipinas Ngayon" reported Monday.

Celso Regencia

Regencia was slapped with a 60-day suspension by Malacañang for alleged abuse of authority, but got the Court of Appeals to grant his petition for a temporary restraining order against the suspension.

But when the suspension order was issued, Marzo had already taken his oath as acting mayor.

Rudy Marzo

Regencia and Marzo led their respective flag-raising ceremonies Monday, with Marzo saying he is just doing his job as acting mayor.

However, Regencia said the TRO issued on March 31 effectively stopped his suspension, adding he will continue discharging his duties.

Read more about the news at http://www.gmanetwork.com/

Actress Max Collins Doesn’t Want to Be Known As a Sexy Star

Max Collins

After gracing the cover of a men’s magazine last month, actress Max Collins said she did not want to bare more flesh if given another chance.

“Huwag muna, masyado na ’yon eh. Baka ma-overexpose ako … baka wala nang mystery (Not in a long time, [the magazine cover] was too much. I might get overexposed and lose the mystery),” Max told INQUIRER.net.

She said she wanted to avoid being known as a “sexy star.”

“Baka maging sexy star na, eh iiniwasan ko rin ’yon.”

The actress said she wanted to retain her wholesome image.

The 22-year-old “Bubble Gang” star said she was happy with the “positive and respectful comments” she received from her friends and fans after posing for the magazine.

“[I discovered] I became more confident in the sense that I had to stand for what I did. I’ve become more mature because of that,” the GMA talent said.

Max Collins --- "not a sexy start"

Max said she didn’t prepare for the shoot or work out to enhance her curves, adding she wanted to represent “normal women who didn’t have abs.”

“Sabi ko … ako na lang ’yong magre-represent sa mga babaeng siguro normal o ’yong mga babaeng wala pang abs,” she said.

“Hindi masyadong toned ang katawan, pero parang feminine lang (Not too toned, just feminine-like).”

The actress said she gained more male fans after her magazine stint, “kasi dati feeling ko nai-intimidate ’yong mga lalaki sa ’kin kasi mestiza ako tapos parang Inglisera pa (because I used to feel I intimidate them with my mestiza look and the way I speak in English).”

Meanwhile, Max said “career” was the reason why she turned down her suitor, actor Pancho Magno, who had been courting her since last year.

“It will be hard for me because I don’t have enough time [for a relationship],” she said.

“He can’t have a normal relationship with me because my work is not normal. As an actress I have long taping hours. I don’t have enough time, there’s too much work to do.”

Read more entertainment news at Inquirer.com.

Why Bill Gates’ Foundation Supports IRRI

Senior Officials of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) have visited the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños, Laguna to get updates on the food and nutrition programs the foundation has been supporting.

“We are thankful that the BMGF has come for updates on the food and nutrition security initiatives that they support,” Robert Zeigler, Director General of IRRI said in a statement.

“The foundation is a staunch partner in applying the best of science so that people in the rice-eating world will not go hungry,” Zeigler added.

Bill Gates

The IRRI said senior officials including Pamela Anderson, Director of the Agricultural Development Program, and Gary Atlin, Senior Program Officer visited the site and had a tour at IRRI’s research facilities.

Scientists gave briefings to the BMGF officials on key advances, including the latest on climate change-ready rice and healthier varieties that aim to help solve micronutrient deficiencies, which afflict about 2 billion people globally.

IRRI scientists showed to the BMGF team experimental rice plots for the development of flood- and drought-tolerant rice.

IRRI said the stress-tolerant varieties hold the promise of improving the livelihoods of the world’s poorest farmers who till lands most vulnerable to climate change.

The Inquirer earlier reported that Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates had a six-hour “confidential” visit at the IRRI’s headquarters in Laguna.

Immigration sources have said that Gates arrived in Puerto Princesa City on April 4 on a private jet with US registry number N887WM.

The American billionaire has evaded the public until he was sighted at the IRRI headquarters on Wednesday morning.

IRRI is a major grantee of the BMGF.

Read more news at Inquirer.net. 

ILIGAN OUTING Another “Very Good” Reception for Duterte

ILIGAN CITY – Mayor Rodrigo Duterte left another “very good” impression in this city.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte

Duterte was in Iligan to speak during the 45th commencement exercises of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT).

A motorcade took escorted him to the venue from the Iligan City National High School grounds where his chopper landed.

On hand to greet him upon his arrival were school officials, members of the Iligan Fury Moto Club and the Samporna clan which considers Duterte a distant relative.

The 5,000-capacity MSU-IIT gym was packed to the rafters by 1,612 graduates and their families and friends. The door had to be shut by security personnel after Duterte’s entrance was delayed by the usual throng of admirers.

Duterte was greeted with a standing ovation after he was introduced by MSU-IIT chancellor Sukarno Tanggol, one of the country’s foremost scholars and himself an expert and author on federalism.

Tanggol disclosed that when the announcement that Duterte was the commencement speaker was posted on Facebook, it instantly generated “more than 1,000 likes and more than a hundred shares.”

The chancellor revealed that a daughter of a faculty member herself had unwittingly rode on a taxi driven by the mayor on one of his fabled nocturnal past times which is going after criminals.

“(Duterte) is a legend, a hero and an idol”, Tanggol described Duterte in his introduction.

The audience stayed on in spite of the sweltering heat throughout the solemn ceremony.

Duterte did not read his prepared speech and instead spoke extemporaneously when he traced the history of the conflict in Mindanao.

The audience which was a mixture of Moslems and Christians listened attentively as Duterte presented his argument that the Mamasapano incident had its roots in the 1521 arrival of Ferdinand Magellan and the subsequent subjugation of the Philippines.

At the end of his 38-minute address, the entire graduating class rose as one to applaud the mayor who was uncharacteristically garbed in a toga.

Duterte was treated to a late lunch at the Office of the Chancellor where he was again besieged by admirers waiting to have their selfies and groupies with him.

He next proceeded to the College of Engineering amphitheater to speak at a federalism forum arranged by the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Committee Iligan chapter headed by ex-Mayor Franklin Quijano.

Before Duterte’s turn, Tanggo gave excerpts of his book on federalism although he admitted he had to make it very brief because Duterte had to fly back to Davao.

Duterte said that earlier that day, he read in the news the warning of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles that violence will break out if the Bangsamoro Basic Law fails.

While he called for calm, Duterte said he is actively pushing for federalism because it is Mindanao’s last card to avert bloodshed.

Acknowledging the persistent calls for him to run, Duterte urged his audience to look to Manila first because there are enough materials there.

“(Vice President Jejomar) Binay, good. (Sen. Grace) Poe, good. (Secretary Mar) Roxas, good. (Sen. Alan Peter) Cayetano, good,” he started off.

Like in his previous sorties, the audience stayed silent, waiting for the clincher.

“But if you’re not satisfied, look south. Duterte, very good,”

Like in his previous sorties, the audience broke into instant applause and cheering.

Iligan was another “very good” outing for Duterte. 

by: (CHITO A. FUENTES)

Iligan City Mayor Refuses to Recognize Suspension

ILIGAN CITY – The Department of the Interior and Local Government regional office in Northern Mindanao on Friday served the suspension order against Mayor Celso Regencia and installed Vice Mayor Ruderic Marzo as acting mayor.

Mayor Celso Regencia ---- ILIGAN CITY

Regencia, who was defiant, refused to receive the suspension order, which was served by DILG Northern Mindanao Director Rene Burdeos – who came here with members of the Special Weapon and Action Team from the Northern Mindanao police office.

He said the suspension order was politically-motivated.

Regencia ran and won in the 2013 elections under the National Unity Party against Liberal Party candidate Henry Dy. He and Aquino-ally and Iligan City Representative Vicente Belmonte Jr. are known political enemies.

With Regencia’s refusal to acknowledge the order, Burdeos posted it instead inside the city hall.

The six-month suspension order issued by Malacañang against Regencia stemmed from the mayor’s alleged abuse of authority when he stripped Marzo of his right to sign in job order employees.

In the four-page order dated March 2 and signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Regencia was being suspended under Section 60 of the Local Government Code.

“Wherefore, as recommended by the DILG, respondent Mayor Celso G. Regencia is found guilty for abuse of authority and meted a penalty of six months suspension,” Ochoa’s order reads, citing that under Republic Act 7160, elected officials may be disciplined, suspended or removed from office for not more than six months for abuse of authority.

In the order, Ochoa said Regencia’s explanation that he was only trying to curb the influx of ghost employees at the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) was unacceptable.

The mayor allegedly failed to provide enough evidence that ghost employees indeed existed at the SP.

On January 15, 2014, Regencia – through a memorandum order – told the city’s human resource development officer, the budget officer, the city treasurer and the city accountant that no job orders at the SP should be processed for payments without his approval.

He said he was acting on allegations of ghost and the unusual number of casual employees at the SP, who were hired under non-existing legislative enhancement projects.

But Marzo contested Regencia’s memorandum and said it paralyzed the operation in the SP and the office of the vice mayor “causing abrupt interruption and suspension of transportation services, public and committee hearings, sessions and liaison, janitorial and messengerial services.”

In July 2014, the DILG started investigating Marzo’s complaint.

In January this year, the DILG submitted its investigation report to Ochoa’s office, with a recommendation that Regencia should be suspended for abuse of authority.

Ochoa, in his order, added that Regencia has no authority to restrict and/or prohibit Marzo from exercising his authority to appoint employees – whether casual or regular – for the office of the vice mayor and the SP.

The executive secretary also said that while the mayor has the authority to appoint officials and employees, that power did not extend to the SP because it is under the authority and power of the vice mayor.

Read more news at http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/.

CA Gives Suspended Iligan City Mayor Relief

ILIGAN CITY – Mayor Celso Regencia got a 60-day reprieve against the suspension that Malacañang slapped on him last month for alleged abuse of authority.

On Wednesday, the Court of Appeals 23rd division in Cagayan de Oro City granted Regencia’s petition for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) after posting a bond of P100,000.

In the two-page TRO, the CA said it granted Regencia’s petition “in the interest of justice, so as not to render nugatory and ineffectual the resolution of this court of the issues herein…”

Mayor Celso Regencia

On March 2, Malacañang – through an order signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa – suspended Regencia for 60 days after finding him guilty of abuse of authority for stripping Vice Mayor Ruderic Marzo of his authority to appoint job order employees at the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) in 2014.

Regencia – through a memorandum order issued in January 2014 – told the city’s human resource development officer, the budget officer, the city treasurer and the city accountant that no job orders at the SP should be processed for payments without his approval.

He said he was acting on allegations of ghost employees and the unusual number of casual workers at the SP, who were hired under non-existing legislative enhancement projects.

In the Malacañang order, which quoted an investigation by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on the matter, Ochoa said Regencia’s explanation that he was only trying to curb the influx of ghost employees at the SP was unacceptable.

The mayor allegedly failed to provide enough evidence that ghost employees indeed existed at the SP and had caused “abrupt interruption and suspension of transportation services, public and committee hearings, sessions and liaison, janitorial and messengerial services” at the SP and the office of the vice mayor.

Ochoa, in his order, added that Regencia has no authority to restrict and/or prohibit Marzo from exercising his authority to appoint employees – whether casual or regular – for the office of the vice mayor and the SP.

The executive secretary also said that while the mayor has the authority to appoint officials and employees, that power did not extend to the SP because it is under the authority and power of the vice mayor.

The DILG in Northern Mindanao served the order on March 27 and installed Marzo as acting mayor.

But Regencia, who viewed his suspension as politically-motivated, declined to acknowledge Malacañang’s order.

He instead sought the CA’s intervention.

In the TRO, the CA directed “all parties to maintain the status quo ante” or the prevailing condition at the city government before the implementation of the Malacañang order.

The CA also resolved that Regencia’s suspension was “inimical to the interest of the electorate who voted for him.”

Regencia ran and won in the 2013 elections under the National Unity Party against Liberal Party candidate Henry Dy. He and Iligan City Representative Vicente Belmonte Jr., an ally of President Benigno III, are known political enemies.

Read more news at Inquirer.net.

5 Killed as Armed Men Barge Into Lodging House in Iligan City

Crime Scene

Five people were killed after armed men barged into a lodging house in Iligan City early Wednesday.

The incident occurred at about 2 a.m., GMA Northern Mindanao's Francis Damit reported on GMA News TV's Balita Pilipinas Ngayon.

Citing closed-circuit television footage, the report said the suspects entered the establishment at 2 a.m., got near the cashier, and got a key.

It also showed the men making the cashier and room boy lie on the floor, and disarming the security guard.

The men then entered a room and shot five people inside. The report initially identified the fatalities as Glaiza Castillano, Muhammad Ali Amerul Bungaros, Vanz Pakinggan, Ashley, and Kia.

Recovered from the area were two sachets of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) and five aluminum foils.

Police suspect the crime was drug-related.

"Sa nakikita naming ebidensya galing doon sa crime scene, may mga drugs talaga," said PO3 Benjielou Tupas.

Investigation showed two of the suspects checked in, while the other three were their visitors.

The witnesses also said the suspects claimed they were not there to rob the establishment, though they took the employees' mobile phones and some computers. — Joel Locsin/ELR/KG, GMA News

Civil Service Exam Results of October 2014

Hello! It's been a long time since I have visited and updated this blog. I must have been very busy... :)

Any updates from the "Civil Service Exam Results of October 2014"? Soon after I can acquire the results, I'll post it here then. Meanwhile let's have a look at some news events in Iligan City or if you find the contents there outdated, I suggest go ahead and search on Google instead! :)

Let's just keep posted with the "Civil Service Exam Results" taken last October 2014. ChoW!

Jeffrey Barranco

superpipoy
the Webmaster

NUP Applicants: Taking the Personality and IQ Test

Camp Cabili, Tipanoy, Iligan City

The Personality Test and IQ Test for Non-Uniformed Personnel (NUP) Applicants in Iligan City was conducted at Camp Cabili, Brgy. Tipanoy, Iligan City around 9:00am to 12:00nn today. The NUP Applicants were being divided into 2 batches to take the test exams to accommodate the venue. 1st batch was being scheduled at 9:00am to 10:30am and sequentially the 2nd batch came next at 10:30am to 12:00nn. This gave a chance for those applicants who came late at the said schedule. But despite with this chance given, NEVER GET LATE if you are going take any employment examination next time. This will give a negative impact to your employment status.

Congratulations to all NUP Applicants who have successfully taken the Personality Test and IQ Test at Camp Cabili, Brgy. Tipanoy, Iligan City. Good luck to all of you! You have succeeded the first initial test given by the Officers of the NUP Affairs Section, ORPHRDD.

Also, please take note of these "Schedules for NUP Applicants in Iligan City". This is just to remind that there is still another set of examinations to be given for the coming days.

How to Apply for NUP Position in the Philippine National Police (PNP)

NUP stands for Non-Uniformed Personnel and there are four vacant positions that are needed in the PNP force as of this first quarter of the year 2014. These positions are designated in every police station in the local district of the Philippines and are responsible mainly in office related tasks. Main requirement for this position must be a computer literate and must pass certain criteria for each level position you desired to apply for.
Read more information about the Vacant Positions with their Corresponding Qualification Standards and Salary Grades here.

There are several steps to take note when applying for NUP in the Philippine National Police

1. First is to inquire and visit your local “Admin Section of Headquarters Police Provincial Office” or “Admin PNCOs of municipal/city police station” pertaining for the NUP vacant position details available. For most reasons, if you are to apply for NUP, you will be designated at the nearest local police station from your residence.
2. Complete all the necessary documents required for the vacant position you desired or qualified to apply for.
•    Application Letter addressed to… (This information is provided in step 1 and in your application letter indicate the position you are applying for)
•     Duly Accomplished Personal Data Sheet (CSC Form 212-Revised 2005)
•     Transcript of Records and Diploma
•     Certificate of Eligibility
•     Certificate of Training/s
•     Certificate of Employment (If there are any)
•     NBI Clearance
•     NSO Birth Certificate
•     NSO Marriage Certificate (If applicable)
3. After completing all necessary documents, make 2 copies of all the documents you have acquired and have it authenticated by the issuing agency / office.
   

   Note: “Submit 1 original and 1 authenticated copy of NBI Clearance, NSO Birth Certificate, and NSO Marriage Certificate. All other documents must be authenticated.

4. Compile all necessary documents in a 2 separate folders. Separating the original copy and the authenticated copy and; submit it to the Admin PNCOs of the municipal/city police station/Headquarters Police Provincial Office on January 31, 2014 where the item you are applying for belongs.
   

   Note: If NBI clearance is not yet released by January 31, 2014, an official receipt or any proof of application for the said clearance will be accepted. However, date of application for the said clearance must not be later than January 24, 2014.

5. Wait for further announcements of schedules and other important details through the contact number you provided in your application letter or visit your Admin PNCOs regularly. Always take note of the schedules released for interviews, exams and other important requirements that will be announced.

Take note on these latest schedule updates for NUP Applicants in Iligan City.

Visit http://pnp.gov.ph/portal/ for more information.