LOOK: Suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa's cars

ALBUERA, Leyte – Vehicles, including brand new luxury cars allegedly owned by suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, have been surrendered to police in Albuera, Leyte.

According to Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, Albuera police chief, the vehicles were voluntarily turned over by individuals who were supposedly keeping them for Espinosa.

There are already 15 vehicles parked near the police station, and Espenido said they expect more will arrive as other individuals have called their office to facilitate the turnover of the younger Espinosa’s vehicles in their possession.

Kerwin, the son of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa, would allegedly buy vehicles then place them under the care of his men who have garage in their homes.

SCARED RESIDENTS

Residents of Albuera said some things have changed since their town’s first family was named in President Rodrigo Duterte’s list of alleged “narco-politicos.”

Some vendors in the Albuera market said business has not been as vibrant in recent times. "Natatakot kami," said Shirley Abad, a vendor of dried fish in the market.

Families of individuals who admitted to authorities that they worked for Kerwin and his alleged drug business also confessed to fearing for their lives, despite being placed under police protection, as they were told that unidentified men with harmful intentions were supposedly roaming their area.

"Lagi akong palingon-lingon," said the wife of one witness, who refused to be named.

Police chief Espenido blamed the mayor for threats to the residents’ lives.

"Alam na kasi ng tao na sila ang tagapamatay. Threatened ang mga tao dahil sa pagbalik niya sa opisina,” he said.

However, some Albuera residents continue to stand by their mayor, as they believe that he is a good man.

"Masaya kami dahil bumalik siya rito. Ngayon binabantayan namin. Kahit magdamag, hindi namin siya pababayaan," said Mary Ann Romero.

Other residents declined to comment when approached by ABS-CBN News.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Cyclone could cancel Pope's Leyte visit, says exec

MANILA – A member of the Papal Visit Executive Committee said bad weather may force the cancellation of Pope Francis' visit to Leyte.

Ambassador Marciano Paynor, member of the Papal Visit Executive Committee, said the approaching cyclone east of the Visayas-Mindanao region has cast uncertainty on the pope's January 17 visit to Yolanda-ravaged Tacloban.

''Talagang hindi natin masasabi, pero siyempre ang pinaka (concern) nga is iyung weather ho,'' Paynor told dzMM.

''Kung masyadong malakas ang ulan o hangin, hindi pwedeng mag-landing ang eroplano sa Tacloban. Iyun ang pwedeng makaapekto. Pero pinag-darasal natin na huwag mangyari iyon."

The pope's visit to the typhoon-stricken region is considered the most important part of his visit to the Philippines, which carries the theme ''Mercy and Compassion''.

The pope is scheduled to celebrate Mass at the Tacloban airport, considered the ground zero for Yolanda, and have lunch with 30 survivors of the super typhoon and the destructive Bohol earthquake.

Cyclone
State weather bureau PAGASA said a tropical depression was spotted 1,610 kilometers east of Mindanao as of 4 a.m.

The tropical depression was packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour and was moving west northwest at 19 kph.

PAGASA weather forecaster Jori Loiz told dzMM that the tropical depression will enter the Philippine area of responsibility between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, at which point it will be locally named ''Amang''.

Loiz said the cyclone might re-curve due to the high pressure area. He, however, said even if the cyclone re-curves, it's trough or outer cloudbands will still bring rains over Visayas and Mindanao.

PAGASA said by Friday (January 16), Tacloban City will experience light rains as the tropical cyclone moves closer to the country.

By Saturday (January 17), light to moderate rains and moderate to strong winds will prevail over Tacloban and thunderstorms are likely to occur.

People surge
Meanwhile, Pasig Bishop Mylo Vergara, head of the media committee for the papal visit to the Philippines, said people who want to bring children to any of the papal events in the Philippines, especially in the pope's mass in Luneta, should not be discouraged from doing so.

''Everyone should go. I think even some elderlies are excited to go there. There will be persons with disbailities who would be attending the mass, so why not?" he told ANC's Headstart.

Citing the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene, Vergara noted the Philippines is no stranger to events that see a large number of people converging in one place.

''Ang poong nazareno happens every year. It is something that we look forward to. It is always asked of me, are you afraid of the people surge? Eh people surge na yung poong nazareno hindi ba? And things fall into place afterwards. We do the best in security, in management of the crowd,'' he said.

Nearly 40,000 soldiers and police are being deployed to protect the pontiff during his five-day trip to the Philippines, a majority Catholic nation where attempts have been made to kill visiting popes twice before.

"For this year, this will be the greatest security nightmare that we can have," Philippine military chief General Gregorio Catapang said as he readied his troops for the pontiff's arrival.

Authorities have stated the huge crowds of devout Catholics are their main worry, with up to six million people expected for a mass in Manila on Sunday. – with Agence France-Presse

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Muted revelry in Tacloban as global fireworks usher in 2014

MANILA, Philippines – Tacloban was a picture of a city trying to get back to its feet as the world ushered in 2014 Tuesday night.

Residents were lining up to buy bread or cakes; some were queuing for fruits. Nearing midnight, a concert by singer Rico Blanco, whose family hails from Leyte province, is being prepared. But not all is New Year’s Eve as usual.

“Hindi rin mapigilan ang mga residente na salubungin ang Bagong Taon sa nakasanayang paraan tulad ng pagpapaputok at paghahanda,” reporter Jenette Ruedas said in her report for TV Patrol.

Ruedas likened Tacloban City streets to Divisoria, a strip bustling with food stalls and ambulant vendors with various wares in downtown Manila. But the wrath of typhoon Yolanda, which ripped through Tacloban and nearby cities November 8, is still palpable.

“Mabenta ang torotot bagamat may ilan pa ring nagbebenta ng paputok kahit hindi gaanong mabili,” Ruedas said.

Officials were preparing a midnight fireworks display to try to boost spirits, despite nearly 8,000 dead or missing.

Aid agencies are also organizing free concerts or distributing food for the traditional New Year's Eve dinner, an Agence France Press reporter said.

In the small, ruined farming village of San Isidro, residents are still grappling with the overpowering stench of death as 1,400 corpses stacked in black body bags lay in a field, more than seven weeks after the tragedy.

In any case, Taclobanons are hopeful. They are scheduled to see a fireworks display in the city hall after the concert, Ruedas said.

World welcomes 2014

Elsewhere in the world, traditional yearend fireworks that would usher in the new year began lighting up the skies of some of the world’s biggest landmarks.

Sydney kicked off a promised unprecedented spectacular to mark New Year celebrations, the first in a wave of pyrotechnics to usher in 2014 from Hong Kong to world record-chasing Dubai.

Tonnes of explosives were set to light up Australia's biggest city, with fireworks shooting off the Opera House for the first time in more than 10 years as part of the December 31 extravaganza, focused on the Harbour Bridge.

Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore said the Aus$6 million show ($5.4 million), themed "Shine", was expected to attract 1.6 million spectators.

"We are ready to host the world's best New Year's Eve on the world's most beautiful harbour," Moore told reporters earlier in the day.

The first of a record three fireworks displays took place three hours before midnight, as part of the show Moore promised would be "bigger than ever", showering color over Sydney Harbour.

Dubai’s record-breaking display

Dubai is hoping to break the Guinness World Record for the largest display, pledging to set off more than 400,000 fireworks. Kuwait set the mark in 2011 with an hour-long blast of 77,282 fireworks.

Tonga, located near the international dateline, was one of the first nations to greet 2014, holding a prayer festival that culminates with a bamboo "cannon" fired into the air.

Hong Kong’s countdown

Cities across Asia will be next to hail the New Year, with Hong Kong boasting the biggest-ever countdown show for the Chinese city.

Fireworks will soar from skyscrapers and a one-kilometer line of barges along Victoria Harbour in a "wish upon a star" tourism board show.

In Japan, shoppers were busy buying crabs, tuna sashimi and other delicacies to feast in the New Year, with noodle shops doing an especially brisk trade.

Eating noodles on New Year's Eve is regarded in Japan as a symbolic act to wish for a long life.

Millions of people were due to visit shrines and temples through to early morning in massive, yet quiet tradition, paying their first annual respects and praying for peace for relatives.

Seoul will ring in 2014 with a ritual clanging of the city's 15th-century bronze bell 33 times, reflecting the ancient practice for marking a new year.

Elsewhere in Asia…

In Singapore, people will flock to the financial district for fireworks while thousands of white spheres will be launched to bob on Marina Bay, holding residents' wishes for 2014.

Jakarta has set up 12 city center stages for performances to showcase the vast archipelago's kaleidoscope of cultures.

However, 6,500 police will be out to ensure security amid warnings that extremists in the Muslim-majority nation may target the celebrations, prompting travel warnings from countries including neighboring Australia.

In Indonesia's sharia stronghold of Banda Aceh, Islamic police seized thousands of firecrackers and cardboard trumpets after the city administration banned New Year's Eve celebrations for the first time.

"There should be no activity whatsoever to celebrate the turn of the year," senior Banda Aceh sharia police official Reza Kamilin said after the clerical Ulema Consultative Assembly said New Year's celebrations or wishing someone "Merry Christmas" was "haram" (forbidden) in the city.

In Mumbai, revelers celebrated a court victory over the local police force, which pushed back closing time in bars and restaurants to 5 a.m. instead of 1:30 a.m.

Last year India cancelled most of its official New Year's celebrations after the fatal gangrape of a student on a New Delhi bus on December 16, which sparked protests and a year of introspection about women's rights.

Revelers and a memorial

In Rio de Janeiro, authorities are predicting 2.3 million people -- a third of them tourists -- will crowd Copacabana Beach for fireworks and pop music.

Major spectaculars will also light up Moscow's Red Square, Berlin's Brandenburg Gate and central London when Big Ben chimes midnight.

An expected one million revelers will gather in New York to mark the stroke of midnight and the traditional New Year's Eve ball-drop over Times Square.

Cape Town will have a free concert with fireworks and a 3D tribute to Nelson Mandela who died on December 5.

Images from the anti-apartheid hero's life will be projected onto City Hall where he gave his first speech after release from 27 years in prison in 1990. -- with report from Agence France-Presse

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Reselling of gasoline rampant in Leyte

MANILA -- Due to the lack of supply in diesel and gasoline in several parts of Leyte, residents have started reselling oil at high prices.

Several gas stations in several towns in Leyte have closed due to lack of supply. Residents have to wait in line in order to buy the oil that they need in some of the gas stations that are still open.

In order to extend the limited supply of gasoline that they have, some gasoline stations limit the amount that they sell to P500 worth of gasoline per person.

This caused some of the residents to resell the product at higher prices.

One liter of gasoline is sold at P50 but can then be resold from P100 to P250 per liter.

Those who choose to resell gasoline said it is their only way to earn some money.

Even owners of gasoline stations cannot control those who want to resell their products.

They can only hope that resellers will be considerate, as they are all victims of the typhoon. -- with reports from Jenny Reyes, TV Patrol

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Gas sold at P300/liter in Leyte town?

MANILA – Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla on Friday said he received reports that some fuel vendors are selling gas at P300 per liter in the typhoon-hit town of Jaro in Leyte.

Petilla said he was not able to verify the report, but he said he won’t be surprised if fuel prices are jacked up because one of the gas stations in the area was shut down.

“Hindi natin nahuli ito, pinuntahan natin, wala naman kaming nahuling nagbebenta. Pero ako’y hindi magtataka kung may magbebenta ng P300 per liter because sa area na ‘yan, medyo natigil ang isang gasolinahan sa pag-operate,” he told dzMM.

Retail prices of petroleum products in Metro Manila range from P40 per liter to P52 per liter.

Petilla assured survivors of the typhoon in the Visayas that there is no shortage of fuel, but he admitted that there is difficulty bringing the supply to the affected areas.

“Sa buong Eastern Visayas, wala tayong shortage sa fuel. Sobra-sobra ang gasolina natin sa area na ‘yan, ang problema lang, hindi dumadating sa mga lugar na dapat nilang datnan,” he said.

The energy chief said around 9 to 10 tankers from Manila have arrived in the Visayas, but distribution has been delayed due to security issues.

He said the tankers were stalled in Catbalogan for a day because of these concerns.

However, Petilla said that as soon as military forces were able to provide security, the tankers proceeded to distributing the supply to all affected areas, except Tacloban City.

Petilla explained that gas stations in Tacloban initially refused to operate, not because of security reasons, but because no banks were open.

“Ang problema nila, walang bangko dito sa Leyte na bukas. Kapag ikaw ay may sale sa isang araw, saan mo ilalagay? Hindi mo naman pwede ilagay sa vault, you have to deposit it somewhere,” he said.

On Friday, several banks in Ormoc, a 2-hour drive from Tacloban, resumed operations which allowed a gas station in Palo to open as well.

Fuel rationing

While there is ample supply of fuel, Petilla said distributors are directed to ration the supply.

He said motorcycles are only allowed to purchase 2 liters of gasoline while large vehicles like buses and trucks are allowed to buy up to 20 liters.

“We cannot do non-rationing at this time kasi nga baka abusuhin naman ng mga scrupulous na mga tao,” Petilla said.

“Iniiwasan din natin ang mga tao magbenta ng bote-bote. Kapag pinayagan natin bumili ng isang drum, pupunta ‘yan sa isang lugar at magbebenta,” he added.

Power restored by Christmas

Petilla said authorities are now working double time to restore electricity in the typhoon-hit areas.

He said the Department of Energy is targeting December 24 to restore power in Samar, Leyte, Panay island, Iloilo and Negros.

Petilla clarified, however, that restoring power in the far-flung areas may take longer.

“Ito ‘yung mga bayan, kasi sa mga libliban na barangay, that will take a little bit of effort na makasama sa December 24,” he said.

He added that authorities will try their best to include even the smallest barangays to have power by Christmas.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com