Observance of Holy Week in Bicol generally peaceful - PNP

By Sally A. Atento

LEGAZPI CITY, April 3 (PIA) – This year’s observance of the holy week in the Bicol region has been generally peaceful, said Philippine National Police Bicol spokesman Police Supt. Renato Bataller.

“In general, our office has not recorded any major untoward incident in the region although we monitored cases of vehicular accident, shooting and drowning,” said Bataller.

As reported by the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD V) here, said vehicular accident involving a Toyota Fortuner and Kawasaki motorcycle driven by Fr. Jasper D. Valdez on his way to the cathedral for the Holy Thursday mass happened at the vicinity of the bridge in Brgy Manhumlad, Matnog Sorsogon around 5:39 in the morning of March 28.

Fr. Valdez, assistant parish priest of Matnog Sorsogon, sustained injuries in different parts of his body and was brought to Matnog District Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

The shooting incident reported in Bgy Siay, San Miguel Catanduanes on March 28 involved 5 unidentified gunmen and victims identified as Jerome Bernal, 29-years old, and Myline Tindugan, his 23 – year old, eight month pregnant live-in partner.

Bernal died while Tindugan was brought for treatment at the Eastern Bicol Medical Center.

Meanwhile three cases of drowning were also recorded in the region.

The incidents happened in Magpanambo River in Polangui Albay, Sta Magdalena in Sorsogon and Puraran Beach in Baras Catanduanes which involved a resident of Minnesota USA.

Mikel Skot Strandlund, 56 years old, allegedly drowned after being swept by a sudden huge wave while swimming. He was immediately brought to the hospital by a team from Baras Municipal Police Station but was pronounced dead on arrival.

On full alert during the observance of the holy week in the region are public assistance centers put up in strategic locations including transport terminals, airports and seaports to ensure peace and security especially of travelers. (MAL/SAA/PIA5)


Archdiocese of Caceres launch Voters Education Campaign

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, April 3 (PIA) --- “Through prayer and discernment, vigilance and hardwork, let us hear God’s voice in our hearts. Let us listen to Him as He calls us to build His Kingdom on earth," Archbishop of Caceres Rolando J.Tria Tirona, O.C.D., D.D. said in a letter during the launching of the Caceres Voters Education Program 2013 recently.

The activity held at the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral was participated in by Archdiocesan priests, officers and members of various institutions and civic organizations, media and other stakeholders.

It envisions to create a well- informed society whose votes would be based on the dictates of their conscience and not on the dictates of power and money.

In the said letter, Tirona reiterated that when a Catholic makes his choice, “he is influenced solely by the desire to bring God to the world, and not by the desires of his human patrons. A decision influenced by fear of losing a job, a shelter or favors from politicians, is a decision that violates the basic tenet of our faith- that man, by his dignity, has free will.”

The Voters Education Program also endeavors to promote what is dubbed as a “Catholic vote”- a free, informed and evangelized conscience vote where our faith bears fruit in the public decisions and political choices.

Fr. Wilmer Tria, the program’s Over-all Coordinator said that various activities will also be held in line with the Voters Education campaign of the Archdiocese of Caceres. It includes signature campaign against political dynasty and a media campaign promoting a conscience vote.

“As the pastoral letter stated, when a Catholic makes his choice, he is able to distinguish fact from fiction. Just from unjust, good from evil. An informed vote is not swayed by the multi-million pesos-worth of strategies to paint a perfect picture over a rotten political leadership.”

Aside from the signature campaign, the Archdiocese also plans to conduct lectures to reiterate the church’s appeal to have a catholic vote that is free, informed and evangelized. There will also be evangelized catechesis, political for a and reporting that would require an expertise of an investigative journalist. This campaign will also be included during homilies.

The organizers also seek to place in various publications the track records of each running political candidate.

“The Catholic vote jumpstarts our renewed commitment to promote the social teachings of the Church. Our participation in the democratic processes of our nation does not begin and end in elections,” Tirona added

In line with this, the local church of Caceres, under its education ministry created a new Commission on the Promotion of Social Teachings. It is task to develop an ongoing program that envisions a “vibrant community of disciples of Christ, vigilant in its mission to build the Kingdom of God in our society.” (MAL/LSM/PIA5)