HRET resolves 17 out of 38 election cases
October 5, 2008Seventeen of the 38 election cases filed against members of the House of Representatives in connection with the May, 2007 elections have been resolved by the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET).
Supreme Court Justice Consuelo Ynares Santiago, HRET chairperson, said that of the 17 cases, nine were resolved on the merits and dismissed on other grounds, while the rest were withdrawn by either the protestant or the petitioner in the case.
The HRET is the sole judge of all contests relating to the election, returns, and qualifications of the members of the House of Representatives under Section 17, Article VI, of the 1987 Constitution.
The resolved cases were those filed by Robert Lyndon Barbers, son of the late Senator Robert Z. Barbers, against Rep. Guillermo A. Romarate Jr. of the 2nd District of Surigao del Norte; that of Renato Unico Jr. against former Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner now Camarines Norte Rep. Liwayway Vinzons-Chato, and the petition for quo warranto filed by actor Mat Ranillo III against Rep. Rosendo S. Labadlabad of the 2nd District of Zamboanga del Norte.
The rest of the cases are: Jesnar R. Falcon v. Florencio C. Garay (2nd District, Surigao del Sur); Elda E. Libanan v. Teodolo M. Coquilla (Eastern Samar); Arceli B. Wong v. Joseph A. Santiago (Catanduanes); Carlo Luis P. Rabat v. Thelma Z. Almario (2nd District, Davao Oriental); Roberto R. Castañares v. Roger G. Mercado and The Provincial Board of Canvassers of Southern Leyte (Southern Leyte);
Vicente A. Sandoval v. Antonio C. Alvarez (1st District, Palawan); Marie Therese Veloso v. Andres D. Salvacion Jr. (3rd District, Leyte); Olegario S. Reyes Jr. and Joseph M. Saria v. Jose Antonio F. Roxas (Pasay); Anuar Joe Abubakar v. Nur Gaspar Jaafar (Tawi-tawi); Arnel M. Cerafica v. Ma. Laarni Cayetano (1st District, Taguig-Pateros); Randolph S. Ting v. Manuel M. Mamba (3rd District Cagayan); Baisandra S.A. Sema v. Didagen P. Dilangalen (District of Shariff Kabunsuan Province with Cotabato City); Joseph V. Grey v. Reynaldo S. Uy (1st District, Western Samar); and Imelda Q. Dimaporo v. Vicente Belmonte (1st District, Lanao del Norte).
Ynares said that of the 38 election cases, 29 were election protests and nine quo warranto petitions.
With the resolution of the 17 cases, only 21 cases have yet to be resolved by the HRET. Seventeen of the pending cases are election protests, while four are quo warranto petitions, she said.
The other members of the HRET are SC Justices Ma. Alicia Austria-Martinez and Conchita Carpio Morales, and Rep. Mauricio G. Domogan (Baguio, lone district), Rep. Fredenil H. Castro (Capiz, 2nd District), Rep. Roberto C. Cajes (Bohol, 2nd District), Rep. Solomon R. Chungalao (Ifugao, lone district), Rep. Florencio T. Miraflores Jr. (Aklan, lone district), and Rep. Justin Marc SB. Chipeco (Laguna, 2nd District) as members. (manila bulletin)
Surigao Norte joins "Clean-up the World" drive
October 2, 2008Surigao del Norte (September 30) - The provincial government of Surigao del Norte successfully staged a one-day province-wide clean up drive dubbed as “Clean Up Surigao… Clean Up the World” just recently with the theme “Start Today… Save Tomorrow. Clean Up Our Climate.”
The activity aimed at inspiring and assisting communities to clean-up, fix up and conserve their local environment through carrying out initiatives such as waste removal, tree planting and water and energy conservation projects.
The “Clean Up Surigao… Clean Up the World” involved the different sectors in the community such as the academe, business, and religious sectors including Non-Government Organizations (NGO’s) in the conduct of a clean up drive on sea beaches, rivers, canals, drainage systems, and other public areas that would minimize the litter problem, improve the quality of waters, prevent the spread of diseases and consequently contribute towards a cleaner and healthier province.
Gov. Robert Ace Barbers in his short message thanked all the stakeholders throughout the city and province for participating in the said event.
Meantime, Prov’l Environment and Management Office (PEMO) OIC, Antonieto Charcos, in a radio interview bared the membership of the province to the Clean Up the World, an international environmental organization based in Australia mobilizing an estimated 35 million volunteers from more than 100 countries.
Clean Up Surigao formed part of the Clean Up the World, a year-round community-led environment campaign that takes place in local communities. Charcos also added that this is now the second time the province joined in the activity. (PIA-Surigao del Norte/PEMO)
PGMA releases P1.05-M employment fund in Surigao del Norte
October 1, 2008At least P1.05 million fund from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s employment program was released in Surigao del Norte recently.
The money was released through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Patinio-Banban-Fabio (PBF) Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) - Kabayan group in Taganaan, Surigao del Norte.
The check was personally handed by DSWD Regional Director Mercedita Jabagat to Taganaan Mayor Cesar Diaz. It is meant to finance expanded micro-enterprise projects of its members.
Diaz also gave the check to Susan Rubantes, PBF SEA-Kabayan president.
Jabagat said some of the funding is for 48 individuals who have been provided with additional capital to their existing livelihood projects such as poultry raising, rice farming, sari-sari store, banagan culture, buy and sell of basic commodities, food processing, fishing, piggery, fish cage and food vending.
The region’s DSWD chief also said the money will also be used to help the members get affordable basic shelter provisions or use it for home improvement.
She exhorted the beneficiaries to pay their dues religiously because the amount they pay will also be used to finance other groups that wanted to avail of SEA-Kabayan.
Rubantes expressed her gratitude to DSWD for the technical and financial assistance.
“I promised to do my responsibilities as president of the group and enjoined my members to manage their respective businesses well so they can pay the weekly dues,” she said.
SEA Level II - Kabayan is a follow-up program for beneficiaries/associations that have been graduated from SEA-K Level I and have manifested the capability to manage larger amount of credit assistance.
Surigao del Norte Gov. Robert Ace Barbers also expressed his gratitude to President Arroyo’s livelihood and employment program in the province. (PNA)
Philex takes over Anglo stake for $55m
September 28, 2008Philex Mining Corp. yesterday said it acquired the 50-percent stake of Anglo American Exploration (Philippines) BV in the Boyongan copper-gold mine in Surigao del Norte for $55 million.
Philex vice president for finance Renato Migriño said in a disclosure to the stock exchange that the acquisition gave the company full control over the property. Philex Gold Philippines Inc., an 81-percent owned unit, owns the other 50 percent interest in the mine.
He said the acquisition, approved by company’s board yesterday, involved the sale of the shares owned by Anglo American in joint venture companies, Silangan Mindanao Mining Co. Inc. and Silangan Mindanao Exploration Co. Inc., to Philex Mining.
Anglo American is a wholly-owned subsidiary of UK-based Anglo American Plc.
The assets include four mining tenements and a mineral production sharing agreement over five parcels, including the Boyongan deposit in Surigao del Norte.
Philex Gold and Anglo discovered the Boyongan deposit in 2000 in a 25,184-hectare area.
Anglo provided all the funds for exploration, earning its 50-percent interest in the process, and completed 97,360 meters of diamond drilling in 193 holes.
It also completed the pre-feasibility study of the Boyongan deposit in December 2007 and discovered other mineralized centers.
“Anglo subsequently offered its rights over the property to Philex for $55 million, subject to the execution of the necessary agreements for the transaction. This now paves the way for the continued development of Boyongan and the adjacent areas expeditiously and for the best interest of the company,” said Migriño. (manilastandardtoday)
Philippine’s Alcala claims Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational
Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational
Surfing Australia
Cloud 9 Siargao Island Philipines
23 - 30 September 2007
Philippine’s Edito Alcala Wins Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational In Perfect Barrels
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 27 September, 2008 : - - Philippines surfer Edito ‘Peso’ Alcala is the new king of Cloud 9 after defeating the world’s best tube riders to win the prestigious Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational at the remote island of Siargao in the Philippines. Cloud 9, an ultra perfect right hand reef break, lived up to expectation, serving out epic 2-2.5 metre barrelling waves for the final day of competition surfing.
Local ace Alcala, who learned to surf at the revered break, rode barrel after perfect barrel to beat defending title holder Wade Goodall (Caloundra, Qld, Aus) in a tight 35-minute man-on-man final. “I’m so happy,” said Alcala, who surfed away with $7,500 (USD) for his efforts. “It’s a dream come true to win this event and beating the reigning champion in the final makes it that much more sweeter. I’m stocked.”
But 20-year-old Alcala didn’t have it all his own way in the final, having to fight back from a slow start to take home a last-minute victory over Goodall in front of a vocal Philippines crowd. Sitting in second with two minutes to go and with priority, Alcala jagged a set wave before weaving through the belly of a Cloud 9 cavern to jag a heat-winning 9.43 ride. Alcala finishing on a final two wave combined total of 18.16-points to Goodall’s 17.77.
“I wasn’t expecting that last wave to come through,” he said. “I could tell it was a good one when it barrelled all the way down the reef. All my friends were in the channel watching and were hooting me after I flicked off. I just knew that I got the score.”
Sunshine Coast star Goodall, who heads home with $4,500 (USD) for his runner-up placing today, couldn’t replicate the barrel riding performance that saw him take out last year’s event and was clearly disappointed with the end result.
“I wanted it really badly,” said Goodall. “He was chasing me the whole final so I new if a good wave came that he was going to get it because he’s so good in the pit out there. It’s bittersweet really.” Earlier in the day, Goodall posted the event’s only 10-point ride in the first semi-final. Tucking into a Cloud 9 beast, Goodall came flying out before taking to the sky with a radical aerial manoeuvre to be awarded the perfect ride.
Edito Alcala : photo Jake White
“When we woke up the heats were running super early and the waves were just pumping,” said Goodall. “It was an unexpected swell. No one knew it was coming and it seemed to get better throughout the morning, especially in my semi-final.” Finishing in equal third today was Hawaii’s Granger Larsen, who was eliminated by Goodall in semi-final one, and Indonesia’s Lee Wilson, who went down to Alcala in a closely fought semi two.
What separates the Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational from standard competitive surfing is that invited contestants are involved in deciding what conditions they will surf in. With only two full days required to finalise the competition and a seven-day competition window, organisers have the luxury to wait for ideal conditions in which to run the event during Cloud 9’s prime swell period.
Due to Siargao’s proximity to the Philippines, big swells from the Pacific Ocean roll in from the second deepest stretch of water in the world to create flawlessly hollow waves. The Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational is proudly supported by the Provincial Government of Surigao Del Norte with support from the Department of Tourism Philippines. (globalsurfnews)
