Calaca is 5th city of Batangas

Calaca, Batangas – Calaca is officially the newest component city in Batangas after a plebiscite that ratified the conversion of the previously first-class municipality.

This makes Calaca the first component city in Batangas province’s first district and fifth next to the cities of Lipa, Batangas, Tanauan and Sto. Tomas.

Official Comelec results showed that 29,424 voted for yes while 3,781 voted for no.

More than 50 percent of Calaca’s voters population went out to cast their votes in the 37 designated polling centers on Saturday despite the threat of heavy rains brought by southwest monsoon enhanced by the presence of Typhoon Henry.

Witnessing the proclamation were Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia, Commissioner Aimee Ferolino, Mayor Nas Ona, First District Rep. Eric Buhain, former Rep. Eileen Ermita-Buhain and other local officials.

People took to the streets to celebrate Calaca’s conversion into a city.

They clapped their hands and cheered as they watched as tey were captivated with the dazzling fireworks display in front of the municipal hall.

Calaca police officer-in-charge PLt. Col. Willy Salazar said in a press statement that the plebiscite was a success as the activity was done in a peaceful and orderly manner.

In May 26, 2021, then Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11544 for the conversion of Calaca into a component city.

Calaca, which is located 116 kilometers from Manila, used to be a barrio and part of Balayan before it was officially converted into a town on May 10, 1835.

According to the 2020 census, Calaca has a population of 87,361 people with a land area of 114.58 square kilometers.

 

 

Comelec ‘all set’ for Sept. 3 Calaca plebiscite

Calaca, Batangas – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is already set to hold the plebiscite that will determine the fate of the conversion of the Calaca town in Batangas into a component city on Saturday.

“We are 100 percent ready. The briefing of the Plebiscite Board and the Plebiscite Committee concluded on Thursday. All ballots, forms and supplies have been tendered to the Municipal Treasurer, and such will be distributed to all Plebiscite Boards and Plebiscite Committee early tomorrow (Saturday) morning in accordance with the General Instructions,” said acting Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco in an interview Friday.

The Comelec official said that all poll workers for all clustered precincts have been duly accounted for while alternate workers are on standby to fill in for those who will not report.

The Calaca municipal government has allocated a budget of PHP13.7 million for the plebiscite.

There are a total of 58,881 official ballots to be used in the activity — Plebiscite Returns – 123 sets (one set of three copies); Certificate of Canvass and Proclamation – one set of four copies; Statement of Votes by Precinct – eight sets (one set of four copies) and Summary of Votes – one set of four copies.

Each of the said ballot measures 4.5 inches by 8 inches and bears the question, “Pumapayag ka ba na ang munisipalidad ng Calaca ay gawing isang lungsod ng probinsiya ng Batangas na kikilalanin bilang lungsod ng Calaca alinsunod sa Batas Republika bilang 11544 na kilala din bilang Charter of the City of Calaca? (Do you favor the conversion of the municipality of Calaca into a component city of Batangas pursuant to Republic Act 11544 also known as the Charter of the City of Calaca?)

Voters will write either “Yes” or “Oo” to vote for the approval of the proposal, or “No” or “Hindi” to vote for its rejection, in the blank after the question.

Likewise, Comelec said the Province of Maguindanao will also hold a plebiscite on Sept. 17.

The plebiscite is set to ratify the division of the Province of Maguindanao into 2 districts and independent provinces — Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.

The province which is under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has allotted PHP89.17 million for the holding of the plebiscite. (PNA)

7 charged over kidnap, killing of man in Taal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Camp Vicente Lim – The police said on Tuesday they have filed a case of kidnapping with homicide against seven suspects reportedly involved in the abduction and killing of Eugene Del Rosario in Taal, Batangas on August 16.

Police Brigadier General Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr, Calabarzon police director said the case was filed by the Taal Police led by its Chief, Police Major Dante Lalap Majadas, family and witnesses.
Del Rosario was the man who was captured by a CCTV footage from a gasoline station in Taal who was kidnapped by a group of armed men aboard two vehicles.

The following day on August 17, his cadaver was later found dumped at the ecotourism road in Sariaya, Quezon.

The victim, whose face was covered with packaging tape, suffered multiple gunshot and stab wounds, police said.

The incident went viral on both social and main media and have gained the interest of the general public over the past weeks.

Nartatez said the back-tracking of CCTV footages, interview of possible witnesses and background investigation of all possible persons of interest were done diligently by the police investigators.

With the display of professionalism, he adds that the police have “gained the trust of the family of the victim”, prompting the latter’s live-in-partner Jane Maureen Cabello and his mother Judith Del Rosario to reveal the victim’s involvement in the series of Basag-Kotse incidents in the provinces of Batangas and Cavite, and some parts of Metro Manila.

They also revealed that Eugene had previously given a statement to the police that revealed the identities of his group members causing the arrest of some.

In their investigation, police sees revence as the possible motive, corroborated with the statement of the two witnesses who came up and identified the driver of the SUV that was used in the abduction of Eugene.

This indicted more in the case Jefferson Sanchez and his six other cohorts, whom the victim have worked with in his Basag Kotse activities.

“We will always uphold the rule of law, whoever the victim is,” RD Nartatez said.

“We have a justice system that is well functioning hence there is no need to stain our hands with blood of others. Let justice prevail in this land. Only in respecting every human rights that we can be called civilized. Let us work together in bringing justice to everyone utilizing proper venue and means.”

 

73 rescued as MV Asia Philippines catches fire in the anchorage area in Batangas

Coast Guard’s search and rescue team assists passengers and crew of the ill-fated MV Asia Philippines in Batangas City Friday afternoon. (courtesy Philippine Coast Guard)

Batangas City – Seventy-three individuals were rescued after a roll-on roll-off vessel MV Asia Philippines caught fire at the anchorage area in Batangas Port here on Friday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

Initial investigation said the ship left Calapan Port at 3:00 p.m. and was expected to arrive at Batangas Port around 5:30 p.m.

It caught fire at about 5:59 pm.

The said ship has 48 passengers and 34 individuals on board while it also has 16 rolling cargoes on board.

The Coast Guard has already dispatched a rescue team and sent a boat for Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations.

As of 7:30 p.m., the SAR team has already rescued 73 individuals.

One injured survivor, a 44-year-old female, was taken to the nearest hospital for proper medical attention.

As of press time, fire fighting and search and rescue operations are ongoing.

 

Dengue cases in Calabarzon up 124%

Fogging operations in Barangay Tambo, Lipa City. (photo by Barangay Capt. Joel Katigbak)

 

Lipa City, Batangas – The Department of Health (DOH)- CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) reported an increase of 124 percent, higher than the reported cases during the same period in 2021.

DOH-Calabarzon Regional Director Ariel Valencia said all provinces in CALABARZON have recorded an upward trend in dengue cases due to the rainy season and increased mobility.

“Patuloy ang pagtaas ng cases natin sa dengue, dahil parin sa patuloy na mga pag-ulan at ang pagtaas ng mobility dahil sa economic activity,” Valencia said.

He added that CALABARZON posted 11,842 dengue cases which is 124 percent higher than the 5, 287 cases recorded during the same period last year.

There were 19 deaths recorded. Data also showed that the primary age group affected by dengue ranged from 1 to 10 years old.

Laguna province logged the highest number of cases at 3,705 followed by Rizal with 2,554; Cavite with 2, 077; Quezon 1, 799; Batangas with 1, 599; and Lucena with 108.

DOH encouraged residents to take the necessary precautions as cases continue to rise since the rainy season is not over.

“Nananawagan ako sa lahat ng mga residente na gawin ang lahat ng mga pag-iingat para maiwasan natin ang paghantong sa epidemic,” Valencia said.

“Ngayong nagsimula na ang face-to-face classes, pinaalalahanan din natin ang mga guro na gawin ang mga kaukulang hakbang para maprotektahan natin ang mga bata habang nasa loob ng paaralan,” he advised.

Before the opening of classes last August 22, DOH CALABARZON in collaboration with the Department of Education has launched the “Para sa Henerasyong Healthy, Balik Sigla sa Pagbalik Eskwela” in selected schools in CALABARZON.

The campaign highlights the school-based Dengue Awareness Campaign with 4S strategy, 7 healthy habits, COVID-19 vaccination, and Konsultayo campaigns of the DOH.

DOH Calabarzon has distributed anti-dengue and other vector control supplies to schools and the Local Government Units , highlighting the ceremonial installation of Olyset nets.

The DOH likewise reiterated its reminder to the public to follow the 4S strategy, referring to search and destroy breeding places, secure self-protection, seek early consultation, and support fogging or spraying in hotspot areas to prevent an outbreak.

Dengue is transmitted through the bite of a female mosquito (Aedes aegypti). Symptoms include a sudden onset of fever with severe headache, severe pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, rash, easy bruising, and nose or gum bleeding.

 

Batelec 2 lowers power rates in August

Lipa City, Batangas – Batangas Electric Cooperative 2 (Batelect 2) will lower electricity rates this August.

In a statement released on the cooperative’s official Facebook page on August 20, the management of Batelec 2 said that the electricity bill for residential consumers will decrease from P14.0649 per kilowatt hour in July 2022 to P14.0506 per kWh this August 2022.

The charge to commercial consumers will also decrease from the previous P13.6805 per kilowatt hour in July 2022 to P13.6850 per kWh this August 2022.

Meanwhile, it is estimated that residential consumers will be reduced by P0.0142 per kilowatt hour while commercial – low voltage consumers will be reduced by P0.0045 per kWh.

According to Batelec, there was a slight decrease in the residential rate for the month of August 2022 caused by the blending of the new power supplier of BATELEC II which lowered the price Generation cost.

Batelec also explained that the generation charge is a pass-through charge and Batelec only acts as a collector of the said fee.

The cooperative continues to remind consumers to be prudent in the use of electricity. (Marlon Luistro)

Election Protest vs Calaca Mayor Ona, dismissed by the court

Former Vice Mayor Renante Macalindong (left) has filed an election protest against Calaca Mayor Nas Ona (right) but it was dismissed by the court. (Marlon Luistro).

Calaca, Batangas – The Balayan Regional Trial Court dismissed yesterday the election protest filed by former Vice Mayor Renante Macalindong against Calaca Mayor Sofronio Leonardo “Nas” Ona.

In a two-page resolution issued by Presiding Judge Cristino Judit of the Balayan Regional Trial Court Branch 10, he said there is no “substantial recovery” that can be established from the pilot clustered protested precincts to merit the continuation of counting the remaining contested precincts.

“With that in mind, the Court is very much disposed and has all the reason to dismiss the protest without any further proceedings,” said Judit in his decision.

The Comelec earlier proclaimed Ona as the winning candidate for mayor of Calaca in the last May 2022 election after Ona got 31,285 votes against competitor Macalindong who got 21,305 votes, with a margin of 9,980 votes.

But Macalindong filed a protest to request a recount of the vote in the contested precincts.

Under Section 4, Rule 10 of the 2022 interim amendments to the 2010 rules of procedure for municipal election contests by the Supreme Court that the pilot clustered protested precincts which shall not be less than and nearest to 20 percent of the total number of protested precincts that will best illustrate the merits of the protest “shall be subject of an initial recount of the ballots.”

Macalindong seeks to establish a substantial recovery of 1,996 votes from Ona’s total margin.

Based on the submitted revision reports, 184 ballots were considered stray and from the said ballots, 14 were claimed by Macalindong while 21 were claimed by Ona.

Based on the physical count of the revision committees, Macalindong got 14 ballots while Ona got a gain of 17 ballots.

Because of this, according to the judge, even assuming that the protestant can only recover 28 ballots and the actual gain based on the physical count, he can only recover 28 ballots, which is “way below than the intended substantial recovery needed”

Worse, with the same assumption afforded accordingly, Ona can recover 38 ballots which will actually widen the overall vote lead.

“Based on the above determination, it is correct to state that there can be no substantial recovery that could be established from the pilot clustered protested precincts to merit the continuation of the revision of the remaining contested precincts,” said Judge Judit in his decision.

“With that in mind, the Court is very much disposed and has all the reason to dismiss the protest without any further proceedings,” he added.

Mayor Ona was elated with the court’s decision.

“Let’s continue with proper governance and the continued development of our beloved Calaca! And to my political opponents, let’s just focus on the development of our town and move on. The election is over and it’s time to to work for the betterment of our people,” said Ona speaking in Filipino, in a message posted on his official Facebook page on August 22.

Macalindong’s camp has yet to comment on the said decision.

Batangas will remain on Alert Level 1 until August 31 – DOH

Metro Manila. Philippines — Batangas province and four other areas in Calabarzon will continue to be under Alert Level 1 status, along with dozens of other regions and areas from August16 to 31, the Department of Health (DOH) announced on August 19.

Also under Alert Level 1 status are the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and Lucena City.

Likewise, Quezon province remains on Alert Level 2.

The average daily attack rate and total bed utilization of an area were used as the basis for setting the said alert level.

DOH-Calabarzon Center for Health Development data reported on Sunday 50 new cases, bringing the total number of active cases in the region to 3,882. Two more deaths were reported, increasing the death toll to 13,692.

On the other hand, there were 148 new recoveries reported, leading to a total of 505,046 recovered COVID patients since the start of the pandemic more than two years ago.

So far, Calabarzon has 522,620 total COVID cases.

In Friday’s press briefing , DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire told that as of August 18 at least 72.3 million Filipinos have already been fully vaccinated against COVID19.

About 6.8 million senior citizens have been vaccinated while more than 9.8 million adolescents as well a 4.5 million have been fully vaccinated, she added.

Also, more than 17.3 million individuals have had their first booster dose while more than 1.9 million Filipinos have received their second dose.

P144.3 M-worth shabu shipment seized in NAIA

Manila, Philippines – Authorities led by the led by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have seized a shipment of methamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known as shabu, leading to the arrest of a South African courier at the NAIA in Pasay City on August 19.

Agents from BOC NAIA, together with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the NAIA Inter-Agency Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Group have monitored the courier’s travels from South Africa and Qatar until his arrival at NAIA.

The passenger’s luggage was subjected to K9 sweeping and X-ray scanning, resulting in the discovery of 21,215 kilos of shabu in his possession.

The suspect is now under investigation in the custody of the PDEA and eventual inquest for violation of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and RA 10863 also known as the Customs Modernization And Tariff Act (CMTA).

Army-NPA clash once again in Lobo

Lobo, Batangas – Another encounter between military forces and at least 10 members of the rebel New People’s Army occurred at Kulapihan site, Barangay Pinaghawanan here on Thursday afternoon, the 59th Infantry Battalion (IB) Philippine Army said.

No casualties from the military side were reported after the gunfire which lasted for 20 minutes.

The military said it seized from the encounter site various war equipment such as an M16 rifle, IED and explosive devices, bandoliers with magazines and high ammunition counts as well as bags with personal and other war items.

Residents told the soldiers that there were wounded rebels.

Presently, the 59th IB said they continue to conduct Focus Military operations.

They continue to coordinate with police personnel and the local government of Lobo with regard to the incident.

“Once again the leadership of 59IB is calling the terrorist CPP-NPA-NDF to return to the government before it reaches to the point that you are the one’s being visited in a wake. Just surrender before it’s too late for you,” the 59th IB told the rebel forces in its Facebook post.