May 5, 2013 First published by Panay News Philippines
Iloilo - A baby was found dead inside a bag in Brgy. Pasil, New Lucena last Friday.
At around 9 am, a resident of Brgy. Pasil who initially thought it was animal meat inside the bag notified the New Lucena Police station of the package.
Mahan notes it was not anymore a fetus but a full-grown baby. He adds that the hair on his head and fully-developed features suggest he could be at the very least 8 months old.
He was laid on a bloody folded shirt inside the bag but Mahan notes the baby is clean.
Inside, the baby was wrapped in plastic then again in a canvas cloth bag.
Mahan said the baby appeared to have been left earlier that day judging by the condition of the corpse.
The investigator said, "The bag has been left intentionally behind a post and the elevation of the cement road makes it hard to see the bag."
Initial investigation suggests the mother of the child is not from Brgy. Pasil or nearby communities.
Questioning lead to a previously pregnant woman in Brgy. Pasil but the baby is alive and already with the mother.
The baby was brought to the New Lucena Polytechnic College Medical Clinic and Hospital for confirmation of death.
Afterwards, members of the local police and representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) brought the baby to the church for a blessing before it was buried at the municipal cemetery.
Mahan admits that looking for the mother of the dead baby will be very hard because there is no telling where she comes from.
Panay News previously reported that the Social Welfare Department of DSWD 6 has appealed to parents not to abandon their children and consider adoption.
DSWD 6 data shows 32 cases of baby abandonments in the region in recent years.
Social Welfare Officer 1 Rosario Sanagustin has noted in a previous interview the recent infant abandonment cases in Barotac Nuevo, Oton in the province, and an incident along Diversion Rd, Mandurriao in the city.
The Protective Services Unit (PSU) of DSWD 6 is open to adopting babies that will be otherwise abandoned.
DSWD 6 reports 193 court approved adoptions in the region from 2008-2012. (With a report from May Rago-Castillo, DSWD-6/PN)
Family of “slain” OFW wants autopsy, convinced of foul play
April 22, 2013 First Published on The News Today Libre
Melanie Balcoba, 43 years old, is the elder sister of Lozano. She intends to fly to Abu Dhabi to watchdog the investigations within the week after her papers are done.
BRAIN DYSFUNCTION
Balcoba’s younger sister was declared dead 11:45 PM last April 14 at the Sheikh Kalifa Medical City.
According to Overseas Workers Welfare Association - United Arab Emirates (OWWA - UAE), the medical diagnosis was brain dysfunction due to multiple organ failure. However, OWWA UAE have not yet sent a report of the death to the regional office as of Friday.
OWWA 6 Welfare Officer Jack Arroyo said that the diagnosis does not directly mean she died because of abuse.
Balcoba said that on April 14, a concerned Filipino pretended to be a cousin to visit her sister at the hospital. At around 11 PM, the hospital asked the “cousin” to come because Lozano was losing life.
When Balcoba called the hospital to confirm the death, a Filipina nurse answered and told her that they had to move the body from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to the morgue.
ABUSED IN AGENCY
According to Balcoba, her sister did not stay at the Marbco Agency in Abu Dhabi as previously reported. She was transferred to an Ilongga-owned agency called “Expert”.
Fellow Filipinos in the agency saw that Lozano was in bad condition so they took videos of her telling the stories of abuse. They also told Balcoba that her sister was locked in and was verbally abused by the owner of the agency.
Lozano, in the said video given to GMA News, cried, “They would hit me in the head or hit me against the floor. One time, I forgot to put on the sando of my employer’s son. The father went inside the bathroom and belted me.”
Another video showed Lozano a day before she was brought to the hospital. She was lying on her back whimpering because of pain. Her fingers turned blue and she appears unable to talk.
Balcoba said fuming, “The owner of the agency knew that she wasn’t feeling ok, why didn’t they bring her to the hospital as soon as possible?”
FOUL PLAY
Balcoba said that the last phone call was on April 1. Lozano told her best friend in the Philippines that she will be moved by her agency because of the abuse. She also said that Lozano texted friends about the abuse.
Abu Dhabi-based Filipinos has told Balcoba of the dominating rumor that no abuse has been done to her sister and that she died of sickness.
However, the family is sure there was foreplay involved.
“My sister was in Hong Kong before and she never got sick. If you leave the Philippines to work abroad, don’t you get a medical check-up? Why would she suddenly die of sickness?”, Balcoba said over the phone interview.
FILIPINOS HELP
Balcoba was herself an OFW in Hong Kong.
She said a lot of Filipinos in Abu Dhabi helped her sister.
Balcoba has received offers from Filipinos in Abu Dhabi for provisions of both food and accommodation.
TCI Recruitment Corporation, Lozano’s agency in Manila, volunteered to handle the airlines and paper fees for Balcoba.
Balcoba finally said, “If my sister died of disease, it will be easy to accept. But no, she didn’t, we have to seek justice for her.”*
Sister of allegedly slain Ilongga OFW in Abu Dhabi tells TNT Libre that the family wants an autopsy and is convinced the death of Marites Balcoba Lozano was due to abuse from her employer .
Melanie Balcoba, 43 years old, is the elder sister of Lozano. She intends to fly to Abu Dhabi to watchdog the investigations within the week after her papers are done.
BRAIN DYSFUNCTION
Balcoba’s younger sister was declared dead 11:45 PM last April 14 at the Sheikh Kalifa Medical City.
According to Overseas Workers Welfare Association - United Arab Emirates (OWWA - UAE), the medical diagnosis was brain dysfunction due to multiple organ failure. However, OWWA UAE have not yet sent a report of the death to the regional office as of Friday.
OWWA 6 Welfare Officer Jack Arroyo said that the diagnosis does not directly mean she died because of abuse.
Balcoba said that on April 14, a concerned Filipino pretended to be a cousin to visit her sister at the hospital. At around 11 PM, the hospital asked the “cousin” to come because Lozano was losing life.
When Balcoba called the hospital to confirm the death, a Filipina nurse answered and told her that they had to move the body from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to the morgue.
ABUSED IN AGENCY
According to Balcoba, her sister did not stay at the Marbco Agency in Abu Dhabi as previously reported. She was transferred to an Ilongga-owned agency called “Expert”.
Fellow Filipinos in the agency saw that Lozano was in bad condition so they took videos of her telling the stories of abuse. They also told Balcoba that her sister was locked in and was verbally abused by the owner of the agency.
Lozano, in the said video given to GMA News, cried, “They would hit me in the head or hit me against the floor. One time, I forgot to put on the sando of my employer’s son. The father went inside the bathroom and belted me.”
Another video showed Lozano a day before she was brought to the hospital. She was lying on her back whimpering because of pain. Her fingers turned blue and she appears unable to talk.
Balcoba said fuming, “The owner of the agency knew that she wasn’t feeling ok, why didn’t they bring her to the hospital as soon as possible?”
FOUL PLAY
Balcoba said that the last phone call was on April 1. Lozano told her best friend in the Philippines that she will be moved by her agency because of the abuse. She also said that Lozano texted friends about the abuse.
Abu Dhabi-based Filipinos has told Balcoba of the dominating rumor that no abuse has been done to her sister and that she died of sickness.
However, the family is sure there was foreplay involved.
“My sister was in Hong Kong before and she never got sick. If you leave the Philippines to work abroad, don’t you get a medical check-up? Why would she suddenly die of sickness?”, Balcoba said over the phone interview.
FILIPINOS HELP
Balcoba was herself an OFW in Hong Kong.
She said a lot of Filipinos in Abu Dhabi helped her sister.
Balcoba has received offers from Filipinos in Abu Dhabi for provisions of both food and accommodation.
TCI Recruitment Corporation, Lozano’s agency in Manila, volunteered to handle the airlines and paper fees for Balcoba.
Balcoba finally said, “If my sister died of disease, it will be easy to accept. But no, she didn’t, we have to seek justice for her.”*
Sen Drilon, Guv and 6 others accused of vote buying
May 4, 2013 First published on The News Today Libre
CONSTRUCTION FUNDS USED
The first complaint was filed against Drilon, Defensor and congressional bet Pavia mayor Arcadio Gorriceta.
According to Syjuco, only P3 million out of the P10 million-budget was spent on the construction of the Sta. Barbara Covered Gym.
The rest will be allegedly used as cash "gifts" for the barangay captain who can give 15,000 votes for the congressional bet Gorriceta.
GRADUATES GIVEN CASH
Public high school graduates in the 2nd district all received P500 as educational assistance but according to Syjuco, the giving of the amount is a violation of the Comelec ban against giving of gifts within the election period which began last March 30.
However, Defensor denies the accusation saying that the funds came directly from the Office of the President and they just executed orders from the higher-ups.
He also denies Syjuco's allegation that the students were influenced to vote for specific candidates.
Defensor said, "We all know this is a political gimmick, just look at how near this is to election day! That was only financial education aide free from any political agenda."
He also said it was as if Syjuco was turning the world upside down when Syjuco is in fact the one guilty of the charges.
VOTES FOR PROMISES
Gorriceta and Drilon face another charge together with Leganes Mayor Ike Roxa, Sta. Barbara Mayor Dennies Superficial, Leon Mayor Rolito Cahilig, Zarraga Mayor Gregorio Brazas, ex-Leon Mayor Romulo Cabana and Alimbodian Vice Mayor Geefre Alunsabe.
The final complaints accuses the group of holding meetings and inviting barangay officials. The alleged meeting involved promises in exchange for votes Syjuco said.
NOT JUST PROPAGANDA
Denying the governor's allegation of the case being a mere gimmick, Syjuco's legal group headed by Atty. Jerom Padios of J. C. Padios Law Firm said that it is the exact time to file the case.
He says, "From time to time, we hear of these violations but we never really take actions. It is high time we step-up and report this to the proper authorities."
Padios is also confident in the amount of evidence they have which they intend to release "in the right time".
The Pavia Municipal Office said that mayor Gorriceta is now busy with his municipality's "Carabao-Carroza Festival" while Defensor told Aksyon! Radyo the case is nothing to worry about.
Syjuco and his wife Judy currently face a graft case amounting to P20 million. The Office of the Ombudsman cites a P20 Million fund forwarded to TESDA (which Syjuco was previous Director General of), which was then moved to a non-goverment organization founded by Syjuco. /
* With reports from G. Sendico, AM Moises, Bombo Radyo, Aksyon Radyo Iloilo.
Iloilo City - Re-electionist 2nd District Rep. Agusto "Buboy" Syjuco filed charges of vote-buying against 7 officials and an ex-mayor including Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon and Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr.
Syjuco filed three separate cases yesterday to the acting provincial election supervisor Atty. Jessie Suarez of COMELEC 6.CONSTRUCTION FUNDS USED
The first complaint was filed against Drilon, Defensor and congressional bet Pavia mayor Arcadio Gorriceta.
According to Syjuco, only P3 million out of the P10 million-budget was spent on the construction of the Sta. Barbara Covered Gym.
The rest will be allegedly used as cash "gifts" for the barangay captain who can give 15,000 votes for the congressional bet Gorriceta.
GRADUATES GIVEN CASH
Public high school graduates in the 2nd district all received P500 as educational assistance but according to Syjuco, the giving of the amount is a violation of the Comelec ban against giving of gifts within the election period which began last March 30.
However, Defensor denies the accusation saying that the funds came directly from the Office of the President and they just executed orders from the higher-ups.
He also denies Syjuco's allegation that the students were influenced to vote for specific candidates.
Defensor said, "We all know this is a political gimmick, just look at how near this is to election day! That was only financial education aide free from any political agenda."
He also said it was as if Syjuco was turning the world upside down when Syjuco is in fact the one guilty of the charges.
VOTES FOR PROMISES
Gorriceta and Drilon face another charge together with Leganes Mayor Ike Roxa, Sta. Barbara Mayor Dennies Superficial, Leon Mayor Rolito Cahilig, Zarraga Mayor Gregorio Brazas, ex-Leon Mayor Romulo Cabana and Alimbodian Vice Mayor Geefre Alunsabe.
The final complaints accuses the group of holding meetings and inviting barangay officials. The alleged meeting involved promises in exchange for votes Syjuco said.
NOT JUST PROPAGANDA
Denying the governor's allegation of the case being a mere gimmick, Syjuco's legal group headed by Atty. Jerom Padios of J. C. Padios Law Firm said that it is the exact time to file the case.
He says, "From time to time, we hear of these violations but we never really take actions. It is high time we step-up and report this to the proper authorities."
Padios is also confident in the amount of evidence they have which they intend to release "in the right time".
The Pavia Municipal Office said that mayor Gorriceta is now busy with his municipality's "Carabao-Carroza Festival" while Defensor told Aksyon! Radyo the case is nothing to worry about.
Syjuco and his wife Judy currently face a graft case amounting to P20 million. The Office of the Ombudsman cites a P20 Million fund forwarded to TESDA (which Syjuco was previous Director General of), which was then moved to a non-goverment organization founded by Syjuco. /
* With reports from G. Sendico, AM Moises, Bombo Radyo, Aksyon Radyo Iloilo.
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