BACOLOD City – A member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod here said they are ready to investigate allegations that one of their colleagues is protecting illegal gambling operations in the city.
Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said they will discuss the issue in a caucus with councilors. The alleged involvement of a city official in illegal gambling or bookies operations surfaced after a breakaway faction of the anti crime and corruption group, Task Force Crusaders, came up with a list last week claiming that a certain city official with initials “RN from SP” was protecting illegal gambling operations, specifically jai-alai. Familiaran said the allegations “affect the reputation not only of the concerned councilor but also of the city council.” “However, I do not believe these allegations because I know him personally for a long time,” the vice mayor said. The Daily Guardian tried to get the side of the councilor but his staffers said he is out of the country. Meanwhile, John Chiong, deputy national commander of TFC, said he will welcome any case to be filed against him and his group. “I will welcome them. It is part of our jobs as advocates,” Chiong said. Chiong was reacting to reports that Senior Supt. Jack Wanky, officer in charge of the Bacolod City Police Office, will file libel charges against him. Chiong said “they should take our advocacy in a positive light so that they can clear their names.” He added that he never mentioned any names of police officers linked to illegal gambling. “Illegal gambling still exists and it is their job of law enforcement agencies to go after them,” Chiong said. Dolly Yasa
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Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, representing Mayor Evelio Leonardia, welcomed the 550 teacher-participants to the two-day 7 th Mid-Year Convention of the Philippine Association for Teachers and Educators, during its opening ceremonies at the L'Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City recently, on the theme “Internationalization and Quality Assurance in Teacher Education: Challenges and Opportunities”.
Familiaran highlighted the important role of teachers and administrators in the community. “You have been dedicated to educate our young citizens and to be better in conquering the real world,” he added in a press release from the city. The convention aimed to equip the teacher-participants of the necessary skills and knowledge in educating the youth, given the new challenges of the time. The organizers said the convention is part of the “continuing development programs” of educators for their personal and professional growth, the press release added.* People and Events BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod will hold a caucus where they will discuss the report that a councilor is an illegal gambling protector.
“RN from SP” was one of the local officials tagged to illegal gambling, a newspaper (not Panay News) reported last week. The paper identified its source as “the real crusaders.” This allegation “affects the reputation not only of the concerned councilor but also of the city council,” said Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, presiding officer. Familiaran said he does not believe the allegation “because I have personally known him for a long time.” Meanwhile Task Force Crusaders deputy national commander John Chiong said they welcome any case that may be filed against him or his organization. A local official named in a “white paper” on illegal gambling Chiong received recently is reportedly pressing charges against the task force. “I will welcome them. It is part of our job as advocates,” he said. Chiong suggested that those tagged in any wrongdoing be more welcoming to their advocacy “so they can clear their names.” In a news conference he called earlier, Chiong clarified that he has never mentioned any name of police officers believed to be protecting illegal gambling. But he stressed that “illegal gambling still exists, and it is their job of law enforcement agencies to go after it.”/PN BY MAE SINGUAY The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) of Bacolod is ready to investigate allegations that one of its members is protecting illegal gambling operations in the city.
Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said that they will discuss the issue in a caucus of councilors. The issue of the alleged involvement of a city official rose after a group calling itself as “The True Crusaders” came up with a list last week claiming that a certain city official with initials “RN from SP” were on their list of officials protecting the operation of illegal gambling jai-alai. Familiaran said the allegations “affect the reputation not only of the concerned councilor but also of the city council.” “However, I do not believe these allegations because I know him personally for a long time,” the Vice Mayor said. The Negros Daily Bulletin (NDB) tried to get the side of the councilor but his staff said he is out of the country. Meanwhile, John Chiong, deputy national commander of Task Force Crusaders (TFC), said he welcomes any case to be filed against him and his group. “I welcome them. It is part of our job as advocates,” Chiong said. Chiong was reacting to reports that Sr. Supt. Jack Wanky, officer in charge of the Bacolod City Police Office, will file libel charges. “They should take our advocacy in a positive light so that they can clear their names,” he pointed out. He added that in a press conference, “I never mentioned any name of police officers.” “Illegal gambling still exists and it is the job of law enforcement agencies to go after them,” Chiong said.* Submitted by Eugene Adiong
EASTER CANTATA. Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, and Councilor Renecito Novero were invited by the Bacolod Evangelical Church to watch its Easter Cantata Sunday*
ISABELA/PULUPANDAN -- About 6,000 people paid their last respects to the late Isabela Mayor Enrique Montilla III who was laid to rest Tuesday, April 18, at the mausoleum in Montilla cemetery in Barangay Ubay, Pulupandan, Negros Occidental.
The mayor died of pneumonia leading to cardiac arrest on April 13 at the age of 57. Several local government officials, including Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Lacson, Isabela Vice Mayor Henry Foscablo, Kabankalan City Mayor Isidro Zayco, Sipalay City Mayor Oscar Montilla, Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and former Bacolod councilor Roberto Rojas attended the funeral rites, where the mayor was honored with a 21-gun salute. The mass held at San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish in Isabela town was attended by many of Montilla’s supporters who were wearing white. The vice governor, in his eulogy, asked the Montilla and Malabor families to start a reconciliation for the good of the people of Isabela. Both families had a good relationship before they entered politics, he said. Vice Mayor Francis Malabor took over Montilla’s post. Malabor’s brother, Renato Sr., the mayor who preceded Montilla, was gunned down on June 2015 while was board member of the Fifth District. Lacson got emotional when he remembered Montilla as a very good friend, who defended him when he was bullied in grade school. Roberto Lacson Gabaldon and Councilor Patrick Miguel Montilla, cousin and brother of the late mayor, respectively, said Montilla was a man who always valued public service and love for his family. His brother vowed to continue his programs for the people of Isabela. Montilla’s wife, Irene, thanked her husband’s supporters, friends, and relatives. He (Quito) made everyone feel special with his generosity, kindness, and love, she said. She said her husband has succeeded in living a legacy of service despite his illness. Irene ended her eulogy with Montilla’s battle cry, “Vamos Isabela, Vamos Isabela, Vamos Isabela.” Vamos means “let’s go” or “come on.” After the mass, Montilla’s remains were brought to Pulupandan town where he was buried. About 40 vehicles, including four Ceres Liner buses, trucks, and private cars, joined the convoy from Isabela to Pulupandan. Some residents of Isabela and Hinigaran towns went out of their houses to pay their last respects. Banners were placed in cars, and posted outside some houses that read, “We love you Mayor Quito Montilla and we will miss you. ” Montilla’s sons, Alberto, Juan Miguel, and Enrique IV, expressed their sincerest gratitude to those who grieved with their family over the death of their father, whom they considered as a role model. Montilla was laid to rest around 12:10 p.m. By GLAZYL Y. MASCULINO The Bacolod City government will require operators of beach resorts and swimming pools to have lifeguards to ensure the safety of the public.
Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said he already discussed with executive assistant Jose Maria Vargas the possible review of City Ordinance No. 749 series of 2015 or an “Ordinance requiring all swimming pool, resort owners and similar businesses to have a duly certified lifeguard.” Vargas, cluster head for disaster management, said the ordinance, that was authored by former councilor and now Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, mandates that every resort should hire a lifeguard to ensure the safety of their customers. They need to review the ordinance because it does not provide sanctions, he said, and he plans to request the SangguniangPanlungsod to amend the ordinance to require resorts to have a lifeguard before they could be issued business permits. Only after their office and the Philippine Coast Guard have certified that a resort has a lifeguard, can they be issued a business permit, he said. Leonardia said he believes the ordinance should be strictly implemented. “Resorts are good businesses so they can afford to hire lifeguards. If they cannot hire one, they have no business operating a resort because a lifeguard is supposed to be a regular and permanent fixture of any resort for that matter,” he said. Leonardia said Vargas reported to him that most resorts in Bacolod City have no lifeguards. The mayor also reminded the public to be careful and to avoid unchartered territories when swimming, following the drowning incident in Brgy. 35 Saturday involving a 21-year-old pregnant mother and her 2-year-old son. Meanwhile, Vargas said the mayor also ordered him last week to review their preparations for earthquakes. He will meet with his team on what to do after the mayor issued an executive order to review buildings that they feel are dangerous in case earthquakes of higher magnitudes occur, he said. Vargas said they will write the building owners and remind them to have evacuation plans, and also malls, hotels, establishments in the downtown area especially buildings that are 15-years-old and above. The old City Hall will also be subject to technical evaluation, he said. If they feel that a building is unsafe, they will order it temporarily closed during an earthquake, he added.*CGS BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO The rapid increase of vehicles plying the different routes in Bacolod City, prodded the city legislators to resolve the creation of a highway along the coastal areas of the city. Thus, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod City approved the resolution authored by Councilor Caesar Distrito during special session in Friday, April 7.
Distrito cited the on-going construction of the Bacolod Economic Highway that was identified as best solution to ease out the traffic congestions in the eastern part of the City, particularly in the Circumferential Road, since sugarcane trucks will be diverted to pass the said highway. However, despite the creation of the Bacolod Economic Highway, the traffic congestions in other major roads of the City particularly within the downtown area, Araneta, San Juan and Lacson Streets, still exist. Hence, to address this issue and to ease out the congestion in the center of the City, the solution that was brought up during several consultations and meetings of concerned agencies and city departments is to create a coastal highway which will span from Barangay Punta-taytay, Sum-ag, Pahanocoy, Tangub, Singcang-Airport, 35, Reclamation Area, 1, 2, 3 and Banago. The coastal access road will serve as alternate and fast access route for delivery and cargo trucks or other vehicles going to the ports of the City, Distrito said. He also said, the creation of the coastal access road, like the Bacolod Economic Highway, will be very beneficial to the people of Bacolod and this will enhance the accessibility of the City which is necessary for tourism and economic development; Hence a project study can be made to determine the viability, cost and impact of the said project to the economy, housing and traffic condition in Bacolod City, Distrito also said. Relative to this proposed coastal road, the City Government of Bacolod through the Sangguniang Panlungsod appeals to the Department of Public Works and Highways to include the proposed coastal access road in their priority projects to be implemented in the Negros Island Region. The said resolution requests the DPWH through Sec. Mark Villar, the Bacolod City Highway Engineering District, and Bacolod Congressman Greg Gasataya, to include as one of their priority projects the creation of the Bacolod Coastal Access Road that will stretch from Barangays Punta Taytay to Sum-ag, Pahanocoy, Tangub, Singcang Airport, 35, Reclamation Areas, passing through Barangays 1, 2, 3 and Banago. Co-authors of this resolution are Councilors Em Ang, Renecito Novero, Elmer Sy, Bart Orola, and Dindo Ramos. Mayor Evelio Leonardia welcomes the proposed construction of a coastal road traversing not inly in the coastal barangays of the city, but will also stretch to the cities of Talisay, Silay, Victorias and the municipality of E.B. Magalona in Negros Occidental. Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) and Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya filed a bill providing for the construction of the coastal road at the House of Representatives on March 13. Gasataya earlier said that when completed, the coastal road estimated to be about 35.8 kilometers long, will open new areas for development in Bacolod and in the third district. Leonardia said he welcomed the development that a bill had been filed for the construction of a coastal road because this is one project that they had been envisioning and discussing with the late Talisay Mayor Anthony Lizares before. He said, the proposed coastal road project is supposed to be connected to Banago Port and BREDCO Port. If that is done, it will have a significant economic impact to the city. If there is a coastal road, there will be no more houses along the shoreline while those affected will be given provision so their livelihood will not be affected, he said. The next step should be a coastal road going to the south. And this proposal from the city had already been approved in the Regional Development Council last month, Leonardia also said. These steps they are taking will eventually lead to the realization of the project. But this will depend on the actual study and actual engineering findings, Leonardia disclosed. To Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, this is a huge project, but lots of informal settlers will be affected and they need to be relocated first.* Submitted by Edith Colmo |
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