Suspects in marijuana trade arrested at dormitel in Naga City

NAGA CITY (Bicol Standard) – Two 22-year-old residents of Iriga City were arrested in a buy-bust operation at Orange Dormitel at Barangay Tinago, in this city Friday afternoon by a composite team of police and army personnel, the Naga City Police Office reported.

Seized from the two suspects identified as Dominique Lorenz dela Cruz y Morana of San Juan, Iriga City and Crisphel Serillano y Almelor, of San Miguel, Iriga City were Php 30,000.00 worth of dried marijuana with fruiting tops and various drug paraphernalia.

Intelligence operatives confirmed to the media that they have intensified information-gathering regarding the alleged use of hotels, motels, inns, and bars in Naga City in the illegal drug trade.

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DILG backs Bulaong in Libmanan controversy

Bulaong

NAGA CITY(Bicol Standard)--Officials and employees of Libmanan, Camarines Sur have expressed hope that they will receive their salaries, bonuses, and other benefits this coming week, after almost four months of being deprived of these.

In an interview, Municipal Council Jesus Camara told the Bicol Standard that they had a fruitful meeting with Presidential Assistant for Bicol Affairs Usec. Marvel Clavecilla here regarding the controversy that hounded employees, officials, and residents.

Camara explained that during the meeting with Clavecilla, they were given assurance by DILG Regional Director Atty. Anthony Nuyda that Acting Mayor Rommel Bulaong will be issued the certification requested by the town’s depository banks for the local government to engage in transactions.

Nuyda told Clavecilla that this is following the directive coming from the central office to recognize Bulaong as the authorized person.

The same certification will be submitted to DILG Municipal Government Operations Officer Nonilon Lopez.

“We expect that the controversy will be resolved by next week,” Camara declared. “Usec. Clavecilla said he wants a win-win solution in this issue.”

The residents, employees, and officials of Libmanan have been suffering brunt of the controversy that ensued when a suspension order was issued to Mayor Bernard Brioso based on the administrative complaint filed against him with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Camarines Sur last year.

Camara, in a related interview, told the Bicol Standard that since November 8, which was the effectivity of the suspension order against Brioso, there had been no transactions in the local government unit.

This includes the non-release of salaries and wages, the Christmas bonus, and other benefits, he said.

Even the payments charged against Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) including electric bills and salaries and wages of employees like street cleaners, among others, remain unsettled.

Camara said that the depository banks of the Local Government Unit, Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines, would not allow the encashment of checks issued by the LGU until a clarification is made by the DILG.

It will be recalled that Brioso was preventively suspended from November 8, 2018 to January 8, 2019 for issuing a Mayor’s Pemit to Tinandayagan Falls and Resort, which is owned by his sister Socorro, who allegedly failed to comply with the documentary requirements.

During such time, Vice Mayor Rommel Bulaong assumed office as Acting Mayor.

Brioso refused to comply with the suspension order, and still continued to perform the functions of the Office of the Mayor, Camara said.

He even issued a memorandum to all department heads, saying that he has a pending appeal with the Office of the President, hence he will not relinquish his position.

On January 8, 2019, Brioso was served another order of suspension, which is punitive in nature, for six months, with which he again refused to comply.

This prompted Clavecilla to call for a dialogue to thresh out the issue.

Clavecilla has scheduled another meeting this coming week, to be attended by DILG RD Nuyda.

In the same meeting, the local officials expect to iron out other issues relevant to the controversy in Libmanan.

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Over P1-M worth of shabu seized in San Felipe, Naga City; 2 arrested

File photo from Camarines Sur police

NAGA CITY (Bicol Standard) – The father of the 21-year-old suspect who was arrested for possession of at least P4.7-million worth of illegal drugs was apprehended by the police in a buy-bust operation here Friday night.

Roel Lizano y San Joaquin, 48 years old, and Barangay Tanod of San Felipe was nabbed at his residence at San Miguel Street, Zone 3, San Felipe, this city.

He was arrested with Carlito Alegre y Mendez, Jr., 37 years old, construction worker and carpenter, who resides in the same street.

The Naga City police said a poseur buyer with an informant purchased from the two suspects five heat-sealed sachets containing a substance believed to be shabu with a P500.00 bill and P84,500.00 boodle money.

Recovered from Alegre’s possession were around 100 grams of suspected shabu; a perfume box containing seven heat-sealed sachets also with suspected shabu; the P500.00 marked money, the P84,500.00 boodle money; and cash in different denominations amounting to P5,560.00.

Meantime, seized from Lizano were a brown leather wallet with a sachet containing suspected shabu, and one cellphone.

The confiscated suspected shabu had an estimated market value of P1,122,000.00.

Said suspected shabu will be brought to the Provincial Crime Laboratory Office at Barangay Concepcion Grande for examination.

As of this writing, the investigator-on-case is now preparing the necessary documents for filing criminal charges against the suspects for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

It will be recalled that on January 12, Roel Lizano's son Jude Lizano y Alegre was arrested with P4.7 million worth of shabu at Barangay Calauag, this city.

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PhilHealth enhances benefit for infants, aims for healthier babies

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) recently expanded its coverage of essential health services for newborns to enable early detection and management of more congenital disorders which may lead to mental retardation and even death if left untreated.

In its PhilHealth Circular No. 2018-0021 which took effect on January 5, 2019, the state health insurer introduced the enhanced Newborn Care Package, increasing the amount of coverage from P1,750 to P2,950 which pays for supplies for essential newborn care such as Vitamin K, eye ointment, vaccines for hepatitis B and BCG; expanded Newborn Screening test; Newborn Hearing Screening Test; and fees for attending professionals.

The essential newborn care also includes immediate drying of the baby, early skin to skin contact, timely cord clamping, non-separation of mother/baby for early breastfeeding initiation, weighing of the baby, among others.

Meanwhile, the expanded newborn screening test will be able to detect endocrine, amino and fatty acid disorders; organic acid, urea cycle defect, cystic fibrosis, hemoglobinopathies, biotinidase deficiency, and other disorders.

Newborn screening aims to detect at the earliest stage certain genetic and metabolic conditions that may lead to mental retardation or morbidity if left untreated. The screening was integrated into the public health delivery system with the enactment of Republic Act 9288 or the Newborn Screening Act of 2004.

The enhancement in the package is in support of the National Comprehensive Newborn Screening System which expanded the screening from six to over 28 disorders pursuant to Department of Health Administrative Order No. 2014-0045 which issued guidelines on the implementation of the expanded Newborn Screening Program.

The PhilHealth Circular provides that the enhanced package shall be dispensed to qualified newborns delivered in all accredited health care institutions that perform deliveries and provide newborn care which include hospitals, infirmaries/dispensaries, and birthing homes/lying-in clinics.

To ensure entitlement to the said benefit, newborns need to be in the facility for at least 24 hours after birth except those who warrant immediate referral to a higher level facility.

The state health insurer encouraged all active and expecting PhilHealth members to avail of the said package in order to provide newborns with the needed services that will help reduce morbidity and mortality and eliminate the costs associated with treatment and care of lifelong debilitating conditions. (Emelita M. Retuta)

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Batocabe widow replaces slain husband in mayoral race

Gertie Batocabe

DARAGA, Albay -- Gertie Batocabe, the wife of the late Ako Bicol Party List Rep. Rodel Batocabe, has been named the official replacement of her slain husband in the upcoming mayoral race here, Dennis Batocabe, the solon’s older brother, said.

Batocabe, in an interview on Thursday, said their family decided to field Gertie as the official candidate to take the place of her husband, who was gunned down during a gift-giving event in Barangay Burgos in a remote village here last December 22.

“We will officially declare her (Gertie) as the replacement soon after she arrives home in time for the 40th day after the death of her husband,” he said.

Batocabe, when asked how the replacement process would affect the upcoming local election, said, “A vote for Rodel or Batocabe will be a vote for Gertie. Anybody who votes in the name of Rodel would be counted”.

He said they would coordinate with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for further guidance on what election-related policies and measures should be followed.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has placed this town under its control, considering its unstable peace and order situation due to intense political rivalries that could affect the conduct of the May 13 national and local elections.

The move is to ensure public safety during the balloting, the poll body said.

Romeo Serrano, Comelec Assistant Director and Albay Provincial Election Supervisor, on Wednesday said the Comelec en banc issued Resolution 10479 on January 15 after taking into account the recommendation of Comelec-Bicol to place the town under its control. (PNA)

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