Vol. 28 Issue 19 28 Sep-05 Oct 2010
ALECO Members to Mull Coop Crisis
Multi-sectoral groups hit coop management for negligence, power hike
Elmer James Bandol
Saturday, October 9th, 2010

LEGAZPI City, Sept. 26, 2010-Multi-stakeholders of the power cooperative here have approved a resolution mandating the Board of Directors (BOD) of the Albay Electric Cooperative (ALECO) to facilitate a special meeting of member-consumers on October 16 to come up with solutions that will bail out the ailing power facility

ALECO consumers asserted their right to call for a special assembly under Article 3, Section 2 of the cooperative by-laws to find a way out of the problems hounding the power cooperative.

Bikol News

Rape-Slay of 16 Year-Old Remains Unsolved
Sonny Sales
Saturday, October 9th, 2010

NAGA CITY- THE RAPE AND SLAYING of a 16 year-old lass in the remote barangay of San Pascual, Tinambac, Camarines Sur last Sept. 26 has remained unsolved with the confirmation that the arrest of a certain Jesus Pujo Olic, 46, in Canaman, Camarines Sur by a  team of the Tinambac town PNP was unrelated to said crime.

Army, Rebels Clash in Catanduanes
HM Cabunoc, Chief 9ID PAO
Saturday, October 9th, 2010

San Andres, Catanduanes (29 September) -- Army soldiers in pursuit of the killers of a village youth leader clashed last September 28) with more or less ten suspected NPA bandits in Catanduanes, a military official said.

Lieutenant Colonel Danilo Aquino, commander of the Army's 83rd Infantry Battalion, said that a squad of soldiers, led by Corporal Rocky Bumalay, caught up with the fleeing bandits of the Probinsyang Yunit Gerilya led by a certain Ka James in Magsaysay village in Bagamanoc town at around 9:30 am.

"Orgullo kan Bikol" Trade Fair Set on October 7-10
JR Berango
Saturday, October 9th, 2010

Legazpi City (27 September) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Bikol will stage anew the the "Orgullo kan Bikol" Regional Trade Fair on October 7-10, 2010 at Megatrade Hall 2, of the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

DTI Bicol Regional Director Jocelyn L.B. Blanco said the trade fair is an annual marketing event where Bikol's homegrown entrepreneurs are afforded valuable market exposure showcasing the region's distinct products, ethnic foods, and delicacies, among others.

Army Corporal Slain During Firefight With Rebels
Sonny Sales
Saturday, October 9th, 2010

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili,  Camarines Sur (2 Oct) -AN ARMY Corporal died during an encounter with communist rebels in the hinterlands of Pinamihagan, Lagonoy, Camarines Sur about 2:00 A.M. last October 1, when an army patrol from the 42nd Infantry Battalion fought rebels who were reportedly extorting " revolutionary fees" from a Chinese firm operating a  copper mine in the upland areas of Lagonoy.

42nd Infantry  Battalion Commander, Lt.  Col. Ernesto Cruz, identified the fatality as Army Corporal Emmanuel Abin  II, 26, a native of Ragay, Camarines Sur.

60-M Fishery Facilities Inaugurated
rcanabe
Saturday, October 9th, 2010

Fabrica, Bula, Camarines Sur (30 Sept) - The Regional Freshwater Fisheries Center (RFFC) here of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 5 inaugurates new facilities composed of post harvest building, mini-feed mill, mini laboratory and training hall with dormitory on September 23, 2010.

UNEP Leads 48th Army ROTC Activation Day
Vox Bikol
Saturday, October 9th, 2010

Iriga City -- The University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) thru the Department of Military Science and Tactics spearheaded the gathering of the best marching bands all over the region for the annual Army ROTC Activation Day held October 1 at the UNEP Parade ground here.

Proceso Alcala
DA Sec. Proceso Alcala in Bikol
Vox Bikol
Saturday, October 9th, 2010
DENR to Probe Stabbing Incident in Bicol National Park
ASA
Saturday, October 9th, 2010

Legazpi City (24 Sept) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will look further into the stabbing of forest ranger Crispulo Santiago by CAFGU Active Auxiliary Sismundo Aldeza in Bicol National Park (BNP), Brgy. Tuaca, Basud Camarines Norte.

Santiago was manning a DENR checkpoint at 22nd IB CAA/Army detachment when he was attacked and stabbed by Aldeza at around 12:30 a.m., September 19, 2010. Aldeza's knife thrust hit the forest ranger's back, rendering the latter shocked but conscious.

DOH Readies Philhealth Registration Day in Bikol
PNA
Saturday, October 9th, 2010

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 27- Preparations for the massive registration on Oct. 2 for the government's health program, dubbed "PhilHealth Sabado," has been in full swing in Bikol.

The Department of Health (DOH) over the weekend started conducting orientation and organizational meeting in Masbate and Sorsogon to ensure success of the program.

In Masbate, some 46,9000 families identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development as the "poorest of the poor" are targeted for the day-long weekend registration.

Viewpoints

The Myths of the "Ber Months
Tito Genova Valiente
Saturday, October 9th, 2010

The countdown for Christmas has already started in major cities and in major media TV networks all over the Philippines. We in Bikol - in Naga especially - do not start counting the way to Yuletide until after September. We know the reason for that: the Peñafrancia occupies our consciousness till the end of that month. Comes November then we begin going with the fashion of the metropolis: exclaim and declare that we have the longest celebration of Christmas.

For Bikol and the World
65th UNGA: Freedom and Equality
Che Carpio
Saturday, October 9th, 2010

Every September, the UN General Assembly holds its annual session. Over the years, it has become a procession or ritual of speeches by world leaders that try to address the problems and challenges that face all nations and peoples of the world.

If there is one thing we can be sure of, when people talk, at least they're not fighting for the meantime. And that is an achievement in itself.

Editorial Logo
Unproductive
Editor
Saturday, October 9th, 2010

The dialogue last Friday between President Noynoy Aquino and the prelates of the Catholic Church's hierarchy had been intended to sober the inordinately heated discussions taking place between the government and the Church on the legislation regarding reproductive health. While the dialogue did not end the dispute, it did introduce a measure of sobriety and a clearer assessment of what is at issue.

At What Price?
Benjie Oliveros
Saturday, October 9th, 2010

Malacañang has been trumpeting the success of the US trip of President Benigno Aquino III and in the process, downplaying the P25 million expense.

Church News

CBCP Head Denies Threatening Aquino of Excommunication
CBCPNews
Saturday, October 9th, 2010

MANILA, Oct.1, 2010-Although "frustrated" with President Aquino's plan to push artificial contraception, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines denied threatening him with excommunication.

CBCP President and Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar underscored that they still believe in the spirit of dialogue as an "initial approach" on the matter "and not confrontation."

"Threat of excommunication at this point of time can hardly be considered to be in line with dialogue," Odchimar said in a "disclaimer" issued Friday.

Hundreds Gather for Quaipo Anti-contraception Rally
Roy Lagarde
Saturday, October 9th, 2010

MANILA, Oct. 2, 2010-Hundreds of people trooped to Quiapo Church for a "pro-life" prayer rally that included a Catholic archbishop who urged the government to rethink its position on contraception.

The rally included students and parents. Many waved graphic signs with pictures of aborted fetuses.

A group of rallyists, for instance, were holding a streamer bearing a sign of "Kontrasepsyon Bahagi ng Globalisasyon (contraception a part of globalization)."

Muslims Join Outrage vs Birth Control
CBCPNews
Saturday, October 9th, 2010

MANILA, Sept. 30, 2010-A group of Muslims has joined the growing chorus of voices opposing any effort by President Benigno Aquino III to promote artificial family planning.

In what could be a boost to the Catholic Church's campaign against contraceptives, the Imam Council of the Philippines said they are against birth control pills and condoms even among married couples.

Ibram Moxir, council head, said the Islam community is one with the Catholic hierarchy in opposing the passage of the Reproductive Health bill which seeks to control the country's growing birth rate.

Cruz Chides Jueteng Legalization Bill
CBCPNews
Saturday, October 9th, 2010

MANILA, Sept. 30, 2010-Retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz maintained that legalizing jueteng will not stop the multi-million illegal numbers game in the country.

Cruz, head of the Krusadang Bayan Laban sa Jueteng, pointed out that legitimizing underground lottery would only spawn other forms of gambling in the country.

"It is in the nature of jueteng to be illegal because that's where the money is. Another game will come out with maybe a different name but similar operators and structure than that of jueteng," said Cruz.

Features

Robredo Photo
Ang Alamat ni Pogi
(Panghuling Bahagi)
Kristian Cordero
Saturday, October 9th, 2010

Apt ang pagtawag na Pogi kay Robredo, dahil image-based, "pogi points" naman talaga ang kanyang advantage at entry point sa kanyang rise to political stardom. Identified naman siya sa "ideal o redemptive politics" kaya naging trademark niya minsan ang mga bulaklaking polo ni Raul Roco hanggang sa mag-yellow na siya last election.