Floirendo regains powerful CA position

Rep. Antonio R. Floirendo, Jr. (2nd Disrict, Davao del Norte) has regained his post as assistant majority floor leader in the poweful Commission on Appointments (CA) which confirms or turns down nominations/appointments submitted to it by the President.

Floirendo lost his CA seat in May 2017 at the height of his bitter quarrel with erstwhile close friend ex-speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. He was also stripped of his membership in the ruling PDP-Laban party, of which Alvarez is secretary- general.

CA chair and Senate President Sen. Vicente Sotto III swore in Floirendo in simple rites at the Senate on January 30, 2019.

While CA membership is confined to members of Congress, the commission is independent of Congress. The swearing in ceremony was administered by Senate President Tito Sotto accompanied by CA Vice Chairman Cong. Ronny Zamora and Majority Leader Cong. Bambol Tolentino

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Mayor Sara orders ‘No Backpack Policy’ in Davao churches

In the wake of the recent bombing in Jolo, Sulu, the city government of Davao will implement the ‘No Backpack policy’ in churches and other places of worship in the city.

“The city mayor has instructed us that churchgoers should no longer bring backpacks in going inside their places of worship for security reasons,” Public Safety and Security Command Center head, Benito de Leon said.

The PSSCC head further said that instead, churchgoers are advised to bring small handbags or purses in order for security forces to monitor suspicious activities more efficiently.

“In that manner, we could avoid an incident, wherein some malicious individuals could put in explosive devices in backpacks, the same scheme that happened in Jolo,” de Leon added.

However, in the event of unforeseen circumstances where the churchgoers would bring big bags, the PSSCC is asking for the public’s cooperation to submit themselves to inspection.

De Leon also said that they have coordinated with the parish priests in Davao to include this call in their announcements.

Davao City will deploy joint forces of the Davao City Police Office, Task Force Davao and the Davao police auxiliaries to man the inspection in the churches within the city.

On Sunday morning, two bombs exploded about a minute apart during a mass at the Jolo Cathedral in Sulu, killing 27 individuals and injuring more than 100 people.

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1 dead, 11 wounded in NPA attack in Magpet

Two police vehicles were waylaid by suspected New People’s Army rebels in Magpet, North Cotabato Monday, January 28.

The incident happened in Purok 4, Kabisig around 5:45 p.m. The cops were onboard two vehicles of the Provincial Mobile Force when attacked.

The attackers are believed to be members of the MBs of GF53 under Cmdr @ Alon.

Firefight immediately ensued with the enemy withdrewing later towards the general direction of Brgy Inac, Magpet.

The rebels reportedly used improvised explosive device in their attack that caused injuries to the 12 policemen with one fatal.

The fatality is identified as P01 CHRISTOPHER ANADON, 29 years old. He died at about 9:48 p.m at the Kidapawan Medical Specialist Center, Inc.

The injured are identified as:

1. P01 STEPHENSON BATO0N PARRENO, 27, married;

2. SPO1 MICHAEL MARIANO G. ESCANO, 42, married;

3. PO2 MARINERL R. PASTORES, 38, married;

4. PO1 ELIEZER D. LANGCUBAN, 27, married;

5. PO1 DARRELL E. FEROLINO, 26, married;

6. PO1 PHIL JAN RAY C. CANAREJO, 27, single;

7. PO1 FRANZ DEO A. LECHAGO, 25, single;

8. PO1 MARK VINCENT CAPILITAN, 30, married;

9. PO2 DENNIS MANALO DORADO, 40, married;

10. SPO1 WILFRED CASTANARES PEROCHO, 38, married;

11. PO1 IAN FRANCIS DUREMDES SENIEL, 33, married

Dutertes visit bombed Jolo church

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte conduct an inspection inside the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu on January 28, 2019 where two explosions occurred inside and outside the church last January 27.

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STATEMENT BY MAYOR INDAY SARA DUTERTE ON THE BOMBING OF JOLO CATHEDRAL

We strongly condemn the bombing of the Jolo Cathedral on Jan 27, 2019 that killed over 27 individuals.

The deadly attacks betray the cowardice of the perpetrators and their desire to sow fear, hate, violence, and senseless death. It was an act of terrorism that we have to resolutely fight as a nation.

Davao City has also its own experience of terrorism that resulted in death and destruction — but we refused to be cowed or be defeated by the devils behind it.

Dabawenyos pray that Jolo and its people will also stand and rise with dignity and strong resolve to overcome this tragedy and deliver the perpetrators to the government so that justice may be served.

We commiserate with the families of the victims and offer them our condolences and prayers.