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| Vol. XX No. 42 |
December 27, 2000 |
Virac, Catanduanes |
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The Catanduanes Tribune Rawis, Virac Catanduanes, Philippines - 5001 Tel. No.: (052) 811-1267 or 811-2640 Fax No.: (052) 811-1267 E-mail:
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Publisher-Editor Edwin A. Gianan |
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Advertising- Circulation Manager Simeon G. Cueno |
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Web Master: Calgary, Canada |
Major Developments
Karapatan
wants abaca prices up, Erap out
The
newly-organized Karapatan-Bicol Catanduanes chapter will be concentrating
on the Erap Resign movement and its bid to support Bayan Muna's campaign
to get into Congress next year via the party-list system.
The
chapter conducted its first provincial assembly last December 10 at the
Social Action Center conference hall at the Virac Diocese compound during
the celebration of Human Rights Day.
Governor
Hector S. Sanchez was invited to the assembly to discuss alleged human
rights violations in the province and the freefall in abaca prices that
have affected the livelihood of thousands of abaca farmers in the island.
However, the governor was out of the province, sending as his
representatives provincial board members Edwin Tanael and Rafael Zuniega.
Aside
from the abaca issue, the assembly also expressed opposition to the
training of Civilian Volunteer Organizations (CVO) in the barangays as
well as demanded the removal of a detachment of Regional Special Action
Force (RSAF) sent here after the New People's Army unit here flexed its
muscles by ambushing a cop in a remote Caramoran barangay sometime in
June.
The
assembly also disputed the Philippine National Police's report that the
NPA killed SPO1 Romeo Avila in Maysuram, Caramoran, claiming that the
lawman was a victim of a misencounter with another PNP unit.
Human
rights situationers were also presented by Honesto Pongan for Catanduanes,
Karapatan-Legaspi's Joel Montas for the Bicol region, and TFD-Karapatan
national representatives Darren Martinez and Girlie Padilla.
Elected as new officers of Karapatan-Catanduanes were Marlon A. Buenafe as chairman; Roberto V. Monterola as vice chairman (urban); Dante Yuga as vice chairman (rural); Leoncio Zuniega as treasurer; Felomino Espiritu as area coordinator for the northeast sector of Pandan, Bagamanoc, Panganiban and Viga; Charles Samonte for the northwest sector of Caramoran; Ruel Abejo and Romeo Vargas for the southwest sector of Virac and San Andres; and Levy Tabera for the southeast sector of San Miguel, Baras and Bato. The post of secretary-general has yet to be filled.
