Major Caraga transport group nixes strike

By Alexander Lopez

BUTUAN CITY – Caraga

Region's biggest transport group decided it was not in the interest of its members to join the weeklong transport strike that began Monday.

Juanito Ubas, chairperson of the Caraga Federation of Transport Cooperatives (CARFEDTRANSCO), said their members opted to continue plying their routes to serve the riding public.

“We are not joining the strike. All our cooperative members will be on the streets to provide transportation services to the people of the Caraga Region,” Ubas said in a phone interview.

CARFEDTRANSCO has 18 transportation cooperative affiliates in the different provinces in the region, including Butuan City.

In Butuan City, the Butuan Multicab Operators Transport Service Cooperative and the Balangay Transport Service Cooperative, two major groups federated with the CARFEDTRANSCO, also rejected the call for a nationwide strike.

The strike, led by transport group and party-list Manibela, protests the national government's public transport modernization program.

Normal operations of public utility vehicles were observed in the major thoroughfares in Butuan City on Monday morning. (PNA) government is responsive to the needs of our community," Piang said, after he and BARMM Senior Minister Abdulraof Macacua signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the distribution of the ambulances.

Each of the modern ambulances costs P2.5 million.

(Edwin Fernandez | PNA)

ZAMBOANGA CITY –

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) rescued four people aboard a wooden-hulled vessel off Basilan province, an official said Saturday. In a report shared with the media, Commodore Marco Antonio Gines, Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao commander, said the four were rescued Thursday from M/V Ameerazara, which was found near Malamawi Island, Isabela City, Basilan.

Gines said the vessel encountered engine malfunction while transiting from Isabela City to Zamboanga City, prompting the skipper to send a distress message.

Upon receiving the message, Gines said the BRP Cape Engaño launched a search and rescue operation, with the assistance of the Coast Guard Station-Isabela and sub-stations Malamawi and Central Pasangen. (PNA)

Reds kill barangay tanod in Surigao Sur: PRO-13

BUTUAN CITY – Suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels gunned down a barangay tanod (village watchman) in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur on Thursday afternoon.

The victim, identified as Fortunato Jacinto, alias Fortun, 59, was a resident of Purok Pulotan, Barangay Awasian, Tandag City.

In a statement on Saturday, Police Regional Office (PRO) 13 (Caraga)

Director Brig. Gen. Pablo Labra II said Jacinto was actively supporting the government’s call to the remaining NPA rebels in the area to surrender and return to the fold of the law.

Labra also ordered the Tandag City Police Station to conduct a speedy investigation to determine the identities of the perpetrators for their immediate arrest. Based on the disclosure of the victim’s livein partner, seven armed NPA rebels suddenly arrived at their residence on Thursday afternoon and immediately hogtied the victim before shooting him to death using high-powered firearms.

(Alexander Lopez | PNA)