Why Andal Ampatuan Jr. Thought He Could Get Away With It
http://pcij.org/stories/why-andal-ampatuan-jr-thought-he-could-get-away-with-it/
by Alex Tizon, Knight International Journalism Fellow
THE BODY count of the Maguindanao Massacre has gone up each of the past five days. The count is now at 57, with authorities continuing to sift through the blood-soaked dirt just outside the town of Shariff Aguak. Thirty of the victims were journalists and at least twenty-two were [...]
A day to deadline, no opposition in sight
By Jani Arnaiz
November 30, 2009
MAASIN CITY – Without opposition yet in sight a day to the deadline of filing of COCs (Certificate of Candidacies), only Southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado and Maasin mayor Malone Samaco and his slate for councilors has so far filed their candidacies.
Mercado accompanied Lakas-Kampi-CMD candidates in the city in filing [...]
Maasinhons group in UAE elect officers
By Jani Arnaiz
November 30, 2009
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte – Maasinhons who are now working at the United Arab Emirates have elected the pioneering officers of the newly formed Grand Association of Maasinhon Expatriates in UAE.
GAME U was formed with the noble objective of helping Maasinhon expatriates in UAE and foster camaraderie among themselves.
Elected officers were [...]
EDC engineer shot twice, wife also hit
By Roberto C. Dejon
ORMOC CITY, Leyte — A mechanical engineer of Energy Development Corporation is in critical condition after an unidentified gunman shot him twice in the neck in front of a mall yesterday at about 8:30 in the morning.
Police precinct 1 chief, Police Chief Inspector Neil Montaño, identified the victim as Carlos Venezuela y [...]
Rep. Mercado, Maasin officials file COCs
By Bong Pedalino
Maasin City (29 November) — Incumbent City officials here led by Mayor Maloney Samaco trooped to the office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) this morning to personally submit their certificates of candidacies (COCs) and thus be officially recognized as candidates seeking re-election for the May 10, 2010 synchronized and computerized local and [...]
Ormoc tourism center inaugurated
By Roberto C. Dejon
ORMOC CITY, Leyte — The city tourism information center located at the port area of the city was formally opened with a simple ceremony on Monday.
The information center will accommodate tourists, local or foreigners, who want to find a place to stay and a place to visit while in the city.
Mayor Eric [...]
Smartmatic-TIM: No assurance of demonstration of PICOS machine
By Jani Arnaiz
November 27, 2009
MAASIN CITY – Smartmatic TIM Corp., has assured that the technical survey they are conducting in Southern Leyte would be finished by end of November but gave no assurance that demonstration of Precinct Count Optical Scan machines would be done at all in the province.
Coordinators in Southern Leyte of Smartmatic-TIM the [...]
Commentary: Expression of protest
TALKING POINT
By Bong Pedalino
City (26 November) — I devote this piece as an expression of protest in sympathy to our colleagues in the media, the helpless women, and innocent civilians who perished in the inhuman act the world now knew as the Maguindanao massacre.
Pen, it has been said, is mightier than the sword. Hopefully, the [...]
Urduja fails to dampen Gov. Mercado’s birthday bash
By Bong Pedalino
Maasin City (25 November) — The presence of tropical depression Urduja did not in any way spoil the birthday celebration of Gov. Damian Mercado which was held at the city gym here yesterday.
It was raining the whole morning since dawn yesterday, the surrounding wet all over, but inside the gym hearts were warm, [...]
Maasinhons in UAE unite, form association
By Jani Arnaiz
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte – Maasin City expatriates in United Arabs Emirates will group together to foster camaraderie and to help each other in time of needs.
The group will be named Grand Association of Maasinhon Expatriates in UAE.
In an email message, Engineer Sofronio “Loloy” Caberte said the meeting and probably the [...]
