Sept. 17 - 23, 2012 Issue

Fourth of May

Tanco, Cabillan, 11 cops face raps for ‘unlawful arrest, bribery, etc.’

By Edalyn Acta

ROXAS CITY—The Office of the Ombudsman has issued an order signed by Mary Antonette Yalao ordering Capiz Gov. Victor Tanco, Sr., Police Sen. Supt. Domingo Cabillan, and 11 members of the Capiz Police Provincial Office (CPPO)—to file their counter affidavits within 10 days for “unlawful arrest, bribery, corruption of public officials, and violation of R.A. 3019” under Case No. OMB-C-C-12-0329-G. And under Case No. OMB-C-A-12-0347-G, the same were also charged with “grave misconduct, abuse of authority and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.”

Aside from Tanco and Cabillan, the 11 members of the CPPO are: P/Insp. Dennis Sumaliling; P/Insp. Joel Cambi; SPO4 Jack Ochavo; PO3 Gary Diaz; PSI Alcer Monsera; SPO4 Wilfredo Venus, Jr.; SPO2 Rey Jason Gimeno; SPO2 Mark Garcia; SPO1 Rey Molas; PO3 Tomas Obligar, and PO2 Christopher Dinglasan.

Filing their case against the respondents at the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas in Cebu, the complainants Renato D. Lago, his wife Ofelia and his nephew Jerson Magallanes charged said respondents for “unlawful arrest, bribery, corruption of public officials, and violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act” on May 8, 2012.

On the day of the killing itself, both Lago and Magallanes were arrested by police officers Sumaliling and Cambi even without a warrant.

According to Cabillan, the two were arrested owing to the death of Mambusao Vice-Mayor Abel Martinez who was shot by a lone gunman in front of his house on May 4 this year.

Lago and Magallanes work for Kirskat Ventures, a company owned by contractor Leodegario Labao, Jr.

Cabillan said on the phone interview that he still yet to received the said letter. He added he is welling to face the case filed by the complainant against him.

Capiz lists 762 certified skilled workers

By Alex Lumaque

ROXAS CITY—A total of 762 assessed candidates passed the National TVET Competency Assessment and Certification (NATCAC) in Capiz from March 2011 to September this year.

However, this figure may increase as another NATCAC is scheduled in the province from October 15 to 26, said Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Capiz Public Information Officer Julie Baraquia.

“There are 400 NATCAC passers given last August and early this month,” she noted.

The successful candidates received a Certificate of Competency (COC) or National Certificate Level II from TESDA for their respective qualifications.

Certified tech-voc holders can use the COC in applying for jobs in fields that are highly in demand in the country or abroad.

NATCAC is aimed to increase the number of certified Filipino workers and TVET graduates in the TESDA national registry of skilled workers.

The assessment and certification is free and open to all graduating students and graduates of technical vocational courses, skilled workers, and returning overseas Filipino workers.

City brgys to be trained on emergency response

By Edalyn Acta and Felipe Celino

ROXAS City—The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) here this week launched a training program for emergency response in the city barangays.

According to Fire Insp. Kenneth Lester Gemotea, the Barangay Emergency Response Training (BERT) program consists of a series of trainings sought to provide knowledge on how to conduct rescue operations in times of emergencies and calamities.

Gemotea said the training will start on September 24–28 in Brgy. Baybay and will be replicated in Dumolog and Punta Cogon on October 1–5, Punta Cogon on October 8–12, and Culasi on October 15–19.

Led by BFP Region 6, able-bodied residents chosen by their barangay officials will be taught on rescue procedures like vehicular extraction, basic hose handling, wild hose recovery and maneuvering, basic rope techniques, and swift water rescue, among others.

According to Gemotea, the city government allocated P1.2 million and P800,000 worth of rescue equipment for BERT. Among the rescue equipment are firefighting tools, rescue cans, raincoats, flashlights, kern mantle ropes, first-aid kits, searchlights, pulleys, anchor plates, seat harnesses, spine boards, and cervical collars.

Gemotea, acting provincial fire marshal of Capiz, hopes that all the city’s 47 barangays could undergo BERT and that the program will be carried out in the province’s 16 towns.

LIGHT MY FIRE

Under the BERT program led by Fire Insp. Kenneth Lester Gemotea (far right, top photo), Roxas City barangay officials (far left, bottom photo) will be provided survival skills equipment and educated on emergency response skills.