Here are
the ten (10) news in 2010 of the Province of Northern Samar:
No. 1
Ambush in Brgy Imelda, Catarman
On the 23rd
of August 2010 ambushed perpetrated by the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels
operating in the province, eight (8) policemen were killed on the spot while on
their way to Brgy. Imelda, Catarman five (5) kilometers away from Catarman
proper to respond a complaint involving a barangay official who was allegedly
killed by the NPA.
No. 2
Ambush in Sta. Fe, Las Navas
The No. 2
spot was the recent ambush made by the NPA that killed ten (10) Philippine Army
soldiers belonging to the 63rd Infantry Battalion and a nine (9) year old boy
who was also killed in the cross fires, and two were miraculously survived the
ambush. Reports reaching the 803rd Brigade based in Camp Sumoroy, Catarman town
revealed that around 3:00 pm on December 14, 2010 while the soldiers were on foot patrol
along Brgy. Sta. Fe and Brgy. Perez, Las Navas, N. Samar area.
No. 3 SK
and Barangay Elections marred with massive vote buying and “kidnapping”
Based on
the reports gathered by the Catarman Weekly Tribune a local newspaper, the
barangay and SK elections vote buying reaches as high as P5,000.00 per voter
while parents of SK candidates spent around P100,000.00 to ensure their sons
and daughters victory. In an
interview, a SK voter who requested anonymity said she was offered as high as
P10,000.00 and was instructed to stay in a beach resort here in Catarman for quite
a number of days free food and accommodation.
The Two
(2) million peso highway robbery landed the number 4 spot.
Domingo
Dianito, municipal treasurer of Las Navas was on his way to Las Navas town on
board of a passenger’s jeepney. With him was the P2 million pesos cash which he
had withdrawn on that day intended for the salaries and wages of
LGU officials and employees of the said town. Upon reaching Barangay Dona
Lucia, Mondragon town near the St. Paul Seminary the two unidentified men that
boarded the jeepney at Petron gas station in Brgy. Bangkerohan, Catarman
stopped the jeeney. There, men who were on board of a car parked just few steps
away where the jeepney had stopped and parked, alighted from the said car
immediately boarded the passenger jeepney and announced that they were looking for a man
who was in possession of a cocaine, suddenly, one of the men that boarded at
Petron gas grabbed the bag that contain the P2 million cash from the municipal
treasurer while the other man draw his pistol and pointed the gun on the head
of the victim.
No. 5
Killings within Catarman
Fifth on
the list was the series of killing within Catarman. In a span of 15 days four people
were killed, of the four two of which were police officers, while the two were
civilians. Two of these killings were executed in broad day light while the two
were done around 6:00 to 7:00 pm.
No. 6
Series of motorcycle incidents that claim more than 10 lives
Sixth was
the series of motorcycle accidents that claim more than 10 lives, the latest of
which was a 75-year-old retired public school teacher from Mondragon who was on
board on his Honda wave motorcycle at the Catarman proper. And the other one was a
certain Nonoy Villadolid a resident from Mondragon who was also on board on his
Honda XRM motorcycle accidentally hit by a Pajero owned by a priest, Father
Infante at the newly constructed Catarman Bridge, according to my cousin the
victim was heading to Mondragon.
No. 7 was
the ambush in Brgy. Makagtas, Catarman, one (1) killed, three wounded
Seventh
was the ambush of Tan’s family along Brgy. Makagtas, Catarman three days after
the Brgy. Imelda ambushed on August 23, 2010. The lone fatality was identified
as Kimberly Trongcoso Tan while three of her brothers were seriously injured.
No. 8
ambush of Atty. Don Avalon and Dr. Myrna Avalon
Atty. Don Avalon was a former Board Member of the second district and former Mayor of San Roque, Northern Samar, Philippines.
No. 9 was the NPA raid in Brgy. Polangi, Catarman
No. 10
was the massive vote buying during the May 10, 2010 elections
And the
tenth spot was the news about the massive vote buying during the May 10, 2010
national and local polls. Candidates buy votes as high as Php10, 000.00 per
voter. In Catarman candidates bought the votes Php1, 500.00 per voter, in
Mondragon candidates bought the votes for Php750.00 per voter.
Aside
from that, the politicians also doled out cash to every graduating student in
the University of Eastern Philippines, in Mondragon High School graduating
students and from Catarman National High School.
