2 more possible bets to run for Alicia mayor
It is possible that two more bets will throw their hats in the mayoral derby in Alicia.
Sources said that police Brig. Gen. Chito Bersalona has expressed interest to run for mayor of Alicia.
Bersalona is a decorated police officer and connected with the Philippine National Police directorate for operations.
Also possibly running for the said post is incumbent Vice Mayor Cesyl Balahay, according to reports.
Early on, Councilor Marcelino Ayuban and incumbent Mayor Victoriano Torres III have been reported to be running for Alicia mayor.
As it stands, it may be a four-cornered fight for the position of mayor of Alicia next year.
Construction worker arrested in Inabanga following buy bust
A construction worker was arrested following a buy-bust operation in Inabanga, reports said on Aug. 2, 2024.
The suspect was identified as Johnmel Rey Zapanta and was arrested in barangay Ubujan, Inabanga on Aug. 1, 2024, reports indicate.
He is from Tubigon but was arrested in the town of Inabanga.
Seized from the suspect were packets containing alleged shabu with a total weight of 1.62 grams, valued at P11, 016.
The suspect is now in police custody and will be facing charges soon.
Cheung receives accolade for being best Jr. PCR officer
Lt. Thomas Zen Cheung
Lt. Thomas Zen Cheung, deputy chief of the Bohol Provincial Police Office’s (BPPO) Police Community Affairs and Development Office (PCADU) has just received another accolade.
Cheung received the award as Best Junior Police Commissioned Officer for Community Relations.
This was disclosed by PCADU chief Lt. Col. Norman Nuez during his guest appearance over the program Open Forum on Aug. 1, 2024, hosted by Ardy Araneta-Batoy.
Nuez cited Cheung for his invaluable contribution to police community relations work.
Nuez said Cheung received the award on July 29, 2024 but did not give further details on air.
Even at a young stage in his police career, Cheung has amassed a number of accolades in police service.
Cheung was cited even by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for his brave campaign against illegal drugs when he was the chief of police of Dauis town for almost two years.
His anti-illegal drug campaign in Dauis resulted into seizures of alleged illegal drugs worth millions of pesos.
Currently, Cheung is back to community relations work where he first gained prominence when he was the former spokesman of the BPPO during the time of former BPPO chief Col. Osmindo Salibo.
Chatto clarifies the air against fake news
Cong. Edgar Chatto clarified the air regarding his role in the establishment of the Cortes campus of the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Multi-Specialty Medical Center.
Chatto told this to Ardy Araneta-Batoy during the July 29, 2024 edition of Open Forum, where he cleared the air on his role in the establishment of the mega hospital.
He said that getting credit is not important; the completion of the project is what counts most and not for people to know who worked to source funds for the facility.
He reacted to a post online where Chatto allegedly took credit for the construction of the state-of-the-art hospital and in spite of the fact that the solon’s work is supposed to be purely legislative.
Chatto said the records show who were the ones
who worked tirelessly to make the project a reality.
Chatto mentioned a myriad of names involved in the project, starting from the conceptualization until the execution of the construction of the Cortes hospital.
He cautioned the public about people on social media whose clear motive is to cause conflict among local leaders.
“Their intention is not for the good of the province,” he said.
He said sowing intrigues would lead to problems and will do more harm than good.
Mendez turbochargers progress in San Miguel
Youthful San Miguel mayor Ian Gil Mendez has turbocharged the projects that would benefit the townsfolk and the local economy.
He revealed the plethora of projects in town during his interview with Ardy Araneta-Batoy on July 29, 2024.
In just a span of several days, the town inaugurated a new tourist attraction and new government buildings, the mayor said.
Mendez, who is expected to run for a second term next year, has continued the legacy of his father, who was the town’s previous mayor.
Lawyer Virgilio Mendez did not run for reelection in 2022; instead, he was a nominee of a party list group called AkoBisdak but failed to win a seat in Congress.
Despite being a novice in politics, the younger Mendez has done a lot for San Miguel.
Mendez has been exhausting all efforts to serve the public, thus turbocharging the services and projects for his constituents.
He said he is making the most of his time in government to perform well and serve the people to the best of his abilities.
Moreover, San Miguel is planning to build its own dialysis center to complement its infirmary.
He said the construction of the dialysis center will hopefully start soon.
The dialysis center is a public-private partnership that will become one of the dialysis centers in Bohol built with the help of the local government unit (LGU), Mendez said.
Mendez said that dialysis patients from San Miguel would no longer travel to Tagbilaran City to get dialysis treatment.
He saw the demand for more dialysis centers and hoped that with the new center, it could help those who need to submit themselves for dialysis.
Most of the government dialysis centers in Bohol are fully booked, as some patients opt to have treatments at private centers instead, most of which are found in the capital city.
Mendez said the center will start with five chairs and increase its capacity as it moves along.
Mayor Herrera defends himself after allegedly tearing scholarship endorsement letter
Calape mayor Julius Herrera has defended himself after allegations that he tore an endorsement letter from a scholarship applicant.
The issue stems from the allegation that a student who wanted to study at Tagbilaran City College (TCC) allegedly asked for Herrera’s endorsement, but it was alleged that the mayor tore the letter asking for Calape’s chief executive’s endorsement.
The mayor insists that he has the option of granting an endorsement to the applicant or not.
Herrera said there were misrepresentations in the reports that appeared online.
He added that the paper he tore was owned by his office, and he never tore the applicant’s letter.
He also chided the applicant for the contents of the letter, which the mayor said were wrong.
He said he cannot be forced to endorse someone who had a very questionable past or character.
Herrera said that, allegedly, the applicant’s father is a noted gambler and is a high roller, able to afford to gamble with huge sums of money at the cockpit each week.
The mayor said he has the option to grant endorsements to those who are truly deserving.
However, the applicant’s father, Eliezar Dano, countered the mayor’s allegations by saying he is not a gambler but a fish vendor.
Mayor Lim’s daughter to run for mayor
Cortes Mayor Lynn Iven Lim said that his daughter will be running for mayor in the said town in next year’s election.
Louise Aira Lim, an incumbent councilor, will try to become the next mayor of Cortes, and her running mate is La Paz barangay captain Allan Pondoc.
Louise obtained a degree in Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship at the University of San Carlos in Cebu City while Pondoc obtained a nursing degree from Holy Name University.
Mayor Lim said his daughter’s lineup is already complete, which is composed of incumbent municipal councilors.
Louise may face the incumbent vice mayor Rudy Uy, in the fight for town mayor. Mayor Lim has reached his term limit and is no longer eligible to run for another term.
Cortes has become one of the most exciting towns in Bohol with the presence of national government agencies and the Gov. Celesfino Gallares Memorial Multi-Specialty Medical Center.
Bohol, Alicia, Iligan police arrest wanted person
The joint forces of Bohol, Alicia, and Iligan police successfully arrested a wanted person in an operation on July 29, 2024, in Alicia.
The suspect was identified as a certain Mario Lomongo, 55, mechanic, of barangay Putlongcam, Alicia.
The authorities served an arrest warrant issued by Judge Alberto Quinto for charges of homicide, as another warrant was served this time by Judge George Espinal of Regional Trial Court Branch 21 based in Carman.
Police also seized a firearm from the suspect, including live ammunition.
No bail is recommended for the suspect’s temporary liberty.