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Archive for June, 2006

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Top city official cites need for water-recycling system

Posted by Michille on 30th June 2006

Top city official cites need for water-recycling system – Sun.Star Zamboanga!

ZAMBOANGA City Vice Mayor Beng Climaco has cited the need to come up with a water recycling system as a means to help ensure a sufficient and continuous water supply for the next generation.

Based on present practice, the vice mayor observed that most residents use potable and clean water for cleaning and washing cars, toilets, and other parts of the house including buildings, watering plants and other domestic chores.

“We should consider now, especially during the rainy season, the setting up of a catchment’s area so that rainwater could be recycled for other purposes,” the vice mayor said.

In other countries like Germany, the water firm has set up catchment’s areas to use rainwater for cleaning stadiums and other chores, according to Climaco, who met with a German couple-Gerhard and Ivy Stetter in the city recently.

The Stetters, together with Climaco and Mayor Celso Lobregat, had dinner with officials of the Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD) where the possibility of studying a system for water recycling was tackled.

Climaco said with the continued denudation of forests and the lack of sustainability of reforestation campaigns, the need to conserve water is urgent.

In Germany, she said, people have realized that drinking water might not be available in the next few years, thus, the implementation of the water recycling system.

Meanwhile, the vice mayor said people should advocate for conscientious use of water.

Water is a basic need of the people therefore it should be conserved so that sufficient and continuous water supply is ensured for the next generation and the other generations to come.

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10 militiamen slain in MILF assault

Posted by Michille on 30th June 2006

10 militiamen slain in MILF assault – Tempo News!

By AARON B. RECUENCO

At least 10 government militiamen were reportedly killed yesterday when Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters assaulted their position in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao in retaliation for shelling a secessionist rebel camp in the same town.

MILF Spokesman Eid Kabalu explained that the attack on the civilian volunteer organization’s (CVO) camp in Barangay Igana Zampung was actually a defensive measure since it is where the mortars were being fired.

In fact, Kabalu said the shelling was only stopped at around 2 p.m. yesterday when their men occupied the CVO’s camp, adding that at least one MILF fighter was wounded in the assault. He added that they have no information as to the exact fatality on the militiamen side but stressed that local residents spotted at least 10 bodies being loaded to a police car.

Kabalu said the militiamen started shelling Camp Omar in Shariff Aguak town at around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, with the CVOs using 81mm and 60mm mortars. “Nagtataka kami kung bakit ganun kalakas ang mga armas nila,” said Kabalu in a phone interview. Authorities would not confirm the fatality on the CVO side but clarified that the MILF assault stemmed from the serving of arrest warrants on two MILF commanders tagged as the brains behind the bombing in Shariff Aguak last week wherein Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan was reportedly the target.

Five people, including security personnel and relatives of Ampatuan, were killed during the explosion while 10 others were wounded.

The arrest order for MILF Commanders Jamil Ombra and Sajid Pakiladato was issued by no less than Director General Arturo Lomibao, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), during his visit in Maguindanao early this week.

But Kabalu questioned the participation of the CVO in arresting their two commanders, saying policemen should have been the ones serving the arrest warrant. “That’s a violation since the PNP should be the one serving the arrest warrant,” said Kabalu.

Kabalu said they are already being contacted by representatives from the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), a peace panel formed to monitor the implementation of the cease-fire agreement, and the International Monitoring regarding the incident.

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Civil service office rejects provincial exec’s appeal

Posted by Michille on 30th June 2006

Civil service office rejects provincial exec’s appeal – Sun.Star Pampanga!

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has turned down the motion for reconsideration filed by Provincial General Services Office (GSO) chief, Lulu Alingcastre, over an administrative case that the commission decided against the official.

In a seven-page response to Alingcastre’s June 15 motion for reconsideration, CSC director IV Karin Litz P. Zerna shrugged off the GSO head’s appeal on the commission’s decision to dismiss and bar her from government service and strip her of retirement benefits, among other penalties.

The administrative case stemmed from a formal charge against her based on an anonymous complaint dated August 13, 2004, which alleged that the department heads of the provincial government “travel abroad almost every month.”

Subsequently, a CSC audit team conducted an investigation and among the findings was that Alingcastre, an engineer, submitted two daily time records (DTRs) for July 2004 and although she was included in the travel authority, she filed a sick leave of absence for July 14-16, 2004.

During the investigation, Alingcastre admitted committing certain mistakes on filing of DTR and leaves of absences, upon which the CSC decision took off.

However, in her motion for reconsideration, Alingcastre questioned the jurisdiction of the CSC on her case.

She contested: “[The CSC] has no original jurisdiction to commence the instant administrative case against [me].”

But Zerna said the complaint against Alingcastre was initiated by the commission because the alleged acts or omissions were committed in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, which is within the territorial jurisdiction of the CSC Region 3 office.

Even then, Zerna explained, the active participation of Alingcastre in the proceedings of the case was tantamount to accepting that the commission has jurisdiction over her case.

To support this, Zerna quoted a Supreme Court decision on a similar issue, which stated that: “While an order or decision rendered without jurisdiction is a total nullity and may be assailed at any stage, active participation in the proceedings in the court which rendered the order or decision will bar such party from attacking its jurisdiction…”

She also denied Alingcastre’s claim that the general services officer was not afforded due process as she was found guilty of an offense other than that charged, that she was a stranger and not a party to the administrative case of dishonesty.

Though she explained that the procedures in an administrative case differ from that of a criminal case, Alingcastre has admitted committing certain mistakes with regard to the filing of her DTR and leaves of absence.

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NDCC prepares for disaster

Posted by Michille on 30th June 2006

NDCC prepares for disaster – PIA!

by Bapa Bedu

COTABATO CITY (30 June) — The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) has prepared contingency measures to mitigate the effects of strong typhoons and rains which are natural occurrence nowadays.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is monitoring very closely the development in the Mt. Bulusan area and other parts of the country affected by Tropical Storm Domeng even while she is on official trip to Italy and Spain.

The President also asked the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to prepare the release of calamity funds and emergency loans for those affected by the eruption of Mt. Bulusan.

Nevertheless, the Government calls on the people from various sectors to come together in anticipation of any calamity situation and show our solidarity, resiliency and altruism in times of need.

Filipinos would be able to do more if the sense of compassion and civic duty of all the citizenry would come to light amid these adversities. (PIA 12)

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Low turnout among Pinoy overseas for 2007 poll list-up noted

Posted by Michille on 30th June 2006

Low turnout among Pinoy overseas for 2007 poll list-up noted – Sun.Star Manila!

Jun Molina of the Commission Overseas Absentee Voting (Coav) said he is certain that the erection of registration booths inside the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) will encourage OFWs to register for the 2007 elections.

More of the story:

AN ELECTION official said Thursday the number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who registered for the May 2007 local and congressional elections under the absentee voting policy is still minimal.

Jun Molina of the Commission Overseas Absentee Voting (Coav) said with barely two months left before the voting registration for the Filipino workers abroad ends on August 31, there were only more than 80,000 OFWs who registered to vote for next year’s elections.

Molina said the turnout was way below than what they expected since their target was supposed to be at least one million. He however hoped that the number would increase as more lists of registered OFWs from various embassies and consular offices would arrive next month.

“We are waiting for the reports from embassies by July 15 and we expect the figure to increase,” he said.

Asked what could be the possible reason for the low turnout of registration among the estimated eight million Filipino workers abroad, Molina said many OFWs, particularly the seafarers feel that they could not vote because they are moving from one port to another. “Some OFWs are not yet properly informed that they could vote, especially the seafarers, in every port call or destination,” he said.

According to him, the seafarers have 60 days to cast their votes, which will start from March 16 to May 14, 2007 while land-based workers are given 30 days or from April 15 to May 14, 2007 to vote.

Records of the Coav showed that majority of the 80,00 OFWs who already registered were household workers from Hong Kong.

 

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Erap giving up Malacañan fight

Posted by Michille on 30th June 2006

Erap giving up Malaca̱an fight РABS-CBN News!

Deposed leader Joseph Estrada said Friday he has no more intention of claiming back his lost presidency once the Sandiganbayan clears him of plunder charges.

Estrada told DZMM he will leave it to the public to pick whoever it wants to put in Malacañan.

“Susuporta na lang tayo (I will just support the decision),” Estrada said.

He said once he gets out from jail, he will help the poor get out of poverty.

The former president said he is confident the court will find him innocent after he told the truth when he testified on the Jose Velarde bank accounts, the “jueteng” payola issue and other corruption allegations. He maintained his innocence of the charges.

Estrada recalled that a month after he stepped down as president, President Arroyo sent former justice secretary Hernani Perez as emissary to convince him to leave the country.

“[Perez told me] I can go to the country of my choice on the condition that I resign in writing as President of the Republic of the Philippines. [There will be] no case [against me,] I’ll just leave,” he said.

Four days after turning the offer down, Estrada said Perez returned with the same offer, which the ousted president again rejected.

“I am not afraid to face the accusations against me because I know that those are all fabricated,” Estrada added.

In a DZMM interview early Friday, Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio said he ended the cross-examination because Estrada has already admitted to the charges at the witness stand.

Villa-Ignacio cited Estrada’s admission of signing the Jose Velarde account.

“There [was] no need for the cross-examination. He already admitted [to the charges],” Villa-Ignacio said.

He said the prosecution’s next step is to nail Estrada in the perjury case for lying under oath that he did not sign the IMPSA power deal contract.

Villa-Ignacio is set to file a motion for reconsideration at the Sandiganbayan for its decision to ban the video showing Estrada signing the contract.

The Sandiganbayan had ruled that the video has no relevance to the plunder charges.

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