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Bacolod City, PhilippinesWednesday, December 5, 2012
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From the Center
with Rolly Espina
OPINIONS

Preparing for the
super typhoon

Rolly Espina

We must doff our hats off to the preparations organized by the provincial and local government units in Negros Occidental for the effects of super typhoon Pablo.

Almost the whole day, radio and television stations repeatedly pounded on the need for the public to be on their toes because typhoon signals number 2 and 3 three were hoisted on the province yesterday.

Lives were saved when the Philippine Coast Guard prevented the ferries and the roll-on-roll-off boats from traveling between Iloilo and Bacolod.

But, of course, there were fisherfolk who defied the ban and sailed in their small boats.

Anyway, I’ll write about the night time result of the preparations by the local disaster relief and management networks.

At least, this was something which became a systematized approach to natural disasters. And the Aquino administration must be congratulated for having realized the importance of improving and systemizing the relief and disaster management councils.

***

The killing of a police officer and the wounding of two others in a shooting incident at the Goldenfields Commercial Center Sunday deserves a decisive and determined investigation by the police.

The incident is full of strange twists as PO2 Arnold Cañal, the slain cop, was not on duty when PO3 Federico Nicolas, sought his help after Police Station 8 officers allegedly did not respond to a text for help in the situation.

A witness to the incident claimed that Cañal was already lying on the ground but Arcenas still shot him repeatedly.

Strange but Bacolod police chief, Ricardo de la Paz, said that Arcenas had been jailed several years ago for killing yet another police officer.

De la Paz has ordered a tracking team to coordinate with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the National Bureau of Investigation.

The question here is, why are these armed men frequenting bars in the city. The firearms and explosives department of the Philippine National Police must accelerate the verification and updating of gun licenses.

***

I got the latest word from Negros Press Club president Armand Toga who is reportedly stranded in Bukidnon by supertyphoon Pablo.

Toga was last reported telling that he saw roofs flying in the sky as “Pablo” pounded Bukidnon. We hope that he and his companions are safe,

We cannot afford to lose the best NPC president ever.

***

Former Rep. Monico Puentevella may have found a good issue against Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday.

Newks stayed behind despite his claim that he already had tickets to Nevada for Manny Pacquiao’s latest fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. Instead, he opted to stay behind because of “Pablo’s threat.

He just said that Leonardia went ahead to do his personal commitment to Pacquiao.

Of course, that is a political issue.*


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