By: Robert E. Roperos
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (31 January) – “Drug courier is a big embarrassment to the Philippines,” thus said Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Director-General Atty. Jose A. Fabia during the launching of the “Anti-Drug Courier Program” held Monday in one of the local hotels here.
According to DG Fabia, with the latest number of arrested Filipinos in China reaching 209, it said to note that this happens considering that Philippines is one of the major exporters of manpower resources worldwide.
With this development, Fabia enjoins the communicators attending the activity to take responsible in disseminating information to counter the negative effects brought about by drugs.
Drug mules or “drug couriers” are individuals who transport dangerous drugs in exchange for a huge amount of money.
Couriers hide their illegal “cargo” in secret compartments in their luggage. Some are also ingesting dangerous drugs to avoid detection. (PIA-Caraga)
Drug courier cases increase worldwide
By: Robert E. Roperos
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (31 January) – In today’s press conference held in one of the local hotels here, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director-General Jose Gutierrez, Jr. said drug courier problem in the world is alarming as it increases from time to time.
Gutierrez said in 1993, there were only two recorded drug cases and as of January 2011, there are 689 recorded drug courier cases. Of the recorded cases, 431 are females or 63% while 258 are males or 37%.
The PDEA chief also said, currently there are 79 individuals facing death penalty in China. Of the 79 death penalty cases, six are facing death with no reprieve, while 73 are sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve.
As per PDEA’s report, Asia and the Pacific posted 326 cases comprising 88 males and 238 females. American region follows with 152 cases: 60 males and 92 females; Europe – 125 cases: 84 males and 41 females; Middle East and Africa – 86 compose of 26 males and 60 females. (PIA-Caraga)
NSO-Surigao del Sur opens new BREQS-Provincial Outlet
TANDAG, Surigao del Sur, Jan. 31 (PIA) - The National Statistics Office-Surigao del Sur Provincial Office opened its Batch Request Entry System (BREQS) Outlet recently at Tandag, this province.
BREQS served as replacement of the Civil Registry Outlet (CRS) after its operation was stopped due to the fire incident on May 21, 2010.
The BREQS soft launching was done to facilitate the pending request of clients for civil registry documents such as birth, marriage, death and Certificate of No Marriage (Cenomar). However, the formal launching will be on February 22, 2011 with of Carmelita N. Ericta, NSO Administrator and Civil Registrar General.
Batch Request Entry System or BREQS is a scheme where NSO authorizes a partner to receive requests for NSO-issued copies and certifications of civil registry documents from the public and issue the documents to its clientele. The actual processing of the requests is done by the Serbilis Outlet assigned to service the authorized partner (also known as BREQS User.)
The documents that can be requested through BREQS are certificates on birth, marriage, death and Cenomar. The release of the requested documents will be at least one (1) week after it has been filed and paid at the outlet. The payment for the mentioned certificates is P140 for each copy, except for the Cenomar with P195. However, there is an additional payment of P40 for each document as the Census Provident Fund Incorporated (CPFI) service fee. Thus, the payment will become P180 for every copy of birth, marriage and death certificates; and P235 for the Cenomar. The standard NSO service related to document requests would normally take longer without the CPFI service fee. Such service fee partly supports the additional expenses incurred in bringing the request to the online outlet, bank charges for the remittance of payments, use of facilities for forwarding requests and follow-up expenses through telephone, email or text.
The BREQS Outlet shall cater all the residents of Tandag and its neighboring municipalities throughout the province. (Ruel L. Dres /PIA Surigao del Sur)
PIA-PDEA forged partnership to stop drug courier and trafficker
By: David M. Suyao
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Jan. 31 (PIA) - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) forged partnership with the Philippine Information Agency(PIA) to stop the drug courier problem where Filipinos are used in transporting drugs from one country to another, or from the Philippines to other countries.
According to Retired Gen. Jose Gutierez, director general of PDEA, there are already 689 drug courier cases recorded as of January 2011, where 431 are females and 258 are males and where 209 are Filipinos with 79 of them facing death penalty in China.
According to Atty. Jose Fabia, PIA director general, these couriers are using many methods of concealing the illegal drugs upon entry and exit in the country. Some are hiding the illegal drugs in their luggage or suitcases, shoeboxes some place the drugs in books, bottles/ parcels, some undergo minor operation as drugs are swallowed,just to conceal them during inspection and while detection machines.
Gen. Gutierez added that the syndicates are using various modus operandi in recruiting couriers. Number one of which is to befriend potential recruit, and gain their confidence, while others bind marriage with the prospect courier just for the purpose of transporting the drugs. Others use the internet while others offer $2,000 for every successful transaction.
PDEA identified the different kinds of drugs that are being traded through the country. Among them are heroin, shabu, cocaine, marijuana and the rest are unspecified. Malaysia, Macau, Thailand, Nepal, Vietnam, Philippines and many other countries are the point of origin of these drugs.
The Task Force Drug Courier (TFDC) have formulated a three year action plan in order to address the couriers and traffickers. According to the plan, they have eight doable action for prevention, six doable law enforcement activities and five doable coordination enhancement. Aside from their own action plan, PDEA also forged partnership with the Departnemtnof the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Department of Health (DOH), Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Deaprtment of Tourism (DOT and the Department of Education (DepEd) in order to intensify the anti-drug courier program. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Surigao Norte on alert no. 2, Gov orders evacuation of flood -prone families
SURIGAO DEL NORTE, Jan. 31 (PIA) – The Provincial Disaster Risk Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) of Surigao del Norte has declared the entire province on alert level 2 as heavy rainfall is expected brought about by the low pressure area to affect the whole of Mindanao.
PDRRMC Chairperson Gov. Sol Matugas said that families in flood-prone areas are now evacuated to schools. Gov. Matugas also revealed that relief goods and flashlights are now ready for distribution.
“Medical teams are also mobilized,” said Gov. Matugas.
The lady governor also instructed the 5 zone-coordinators led by the local mayors to supervise the pre-disaster work in their respective area of responsibility.
As of press time, classes in the pre-school to secondary levels both from private and public are already suspended. (FEAbkilan, PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Cebuano news:Kampanya sa kahapsay ug kalimpyo sa Kapitolyo gilusad sa Surigao Norte
SURIGAO DEL NORTE, Jan. 31 (PIA) - Ang lalawigan sa Surigao del Norte ubos sa administrasyon ni Gob. Sol F. Matugas maglusad sa kampanya kalabot na sa kahapsay ug kalimpyo sa kapitolyo karong umaabot nga Pebrero tuig 2011.
Kini ubos na sa buhatan sa Provincial Tourism Office ug Environment and Management Office. Ang maong kalihukan buot usab ipatuman ni Gob. Matugas sa ubang munisipyo. Apan gusto sa Gobernador nga kinahanglan nga ang dakbayan sa Surigao maoy iyang unahon pinaagi sa pagdala ug sulat hangyo sa mayor sa dakbayan alang na sa panagtigum sa mga buhatan sa Provincial Tourism ug Environment Office, Provincial Planning Office, City Tourism Office, City Planning Office, City General Services Office, City Environment Office ug City Mayor’s Office.
Tumong ug tuyo sa ilang panagtigum mao ang paghimu sa mga lakang nga angay’ng buhaton kalabot na sa kahapsay ug kalimpyo sa dakbayan. Ilabina sa mga dapit nga gihisgutan sa gobernador nga “eye sores”, sama sa lugar sa Nueva ug Espina Extensions.
Dugang pa sa Gobernador nga ang dakbayan maoy “show window” sa mga langyaw ug dili langyaw nga mga bisita, ug kini nakaapekto ug nakaambit ang lalawigan sa Surigao kalabot na sa “isyu sa pagdumala sa kalimpyo” ilabina nga ang dakbayan Surigao usa man ka component city sa lalawigan. Ug usab maoy pangandoy sa gobernador nga ang dakbayan mamahimo nga pinakalimpyo nga dapit sa rehiyon sa Caraga o kung mahimo sa tibook nasud, mao nga iya kining gipanghingusgan nga kalihukan. Kini maoy usa ka hagit sa lalawigan ug dakbayan alang na sa pagdumala sa kahapsay ug kalimpyo dili lamang sa kapitolyo kondili sa kinatibuk-an sa Probinsya sa Surigao del Norte. (Surigao del Norte PGO-Provincial Information Center/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Butuan City experiences continuous heavy rains; classes suspended in all public and private elementary, high schools
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 31 (PIA) – Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr. said classes have been suspended in all public and private elementary and high schools in the city following the heavy rains that is battering the province of Agusan Del Norte since dawn today.
In a phone-patch interview this morning, Amante also said they are monitoring Agusan River as they expect water level to rise this afternoon due to heavy rains in Compostella Valley. The official further said the city's response team is ready and they have been constantly monitoring the situation.
As of 5:00am today, PAGASA here bared that at 2:00am earlier, a low pressure area was estimated based on satellite & surface data at 480 kms.
PAGASA also revealed that Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming widespread rains over eastern & central Visayas, and northern and eastern Mindanao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.
Also, due to bad weather condition, the Cebu Pacific Airlines and Philippine Airlines here reported that scheduled flights today were cancelled.
Meanwhile, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga Regional Information Officer Leah Quintana reported that their offices in Butuan City and Agusan del Norte are ready to augment relief goods anytime since they have stock relief goods.
Quintana also said that as of press time, their agency has not received any request of relief goods in all barangays.
The public is advised to be vigilant and take precautionary measures to avoid any untoward incidents. (PIA-Caraga)
Mayor Amante hopeful of Butuan’s full recovery after the calamity
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 31 - Following the sporadic floods experienced by Butuan brought about by the heavy rains during the first week of January, Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante Jr. is thankful that the city was able to withstand the threat and is now on the road to full recovery.
In fact, he stressed that it tests the readiness of the city in times of calamities and he is very grateful for the support of all line agencies and stakeholders for their dedication to help the people especially those belonging to the marginalized sector.
In his meeting with President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III on January 14 of this year, at the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Office, Bancasi, this city, he was assured of the national government’s commitment to assist in the rehabilitation of the city as well as the support for all developmental endeavors in building for a stable and economically-viable city.
The President visited the city to see the damages brought about by the said calamity and Mayor Amante personally apprise the President of the extent of the damage, particularly the agricultural sector, affecting most of the 59 rural barangays. During the President’s visit, he turned-over initial relief goods to assuage the concerns of the farmers over the state of their fields with the following items: 50 bags of certified seeds; 3 units water pump engine sets; 2 boxes assorted vegetable seeds; requisition and issue slip for 1 set of assorted medicines and medical supply.
It is of great significance that the President personally evaluated the damages brought about by the bad weather condition which unfortunately affected many areas in Visayas and Mindanao and he is thankful to note that among all the areas in Caraga region, Butuan City is the least hit by the calamity.
The President lauded the efforts of the local government of Butuan for its disaster management readiness in its immediate response to control or lessen the impact of the damages, brought about by the calamity.
Mayor amante assured all Butuanons especially those who were affected by the calamity that the local government will continue to assist them and extend help in whatever means possible until the city will fully recover.
The goods and items received for the mitigation program will be given to the respective departments or offices for distribution to the identified beneficiaries. (PIO/PIA-Caraga)
