READERS’ COMMENTS

We are featuring comments generated by the editorial, columns and news stories published in this paper. We encourage our readers to submit their comments about the contents of this paper at bicolmail.net or through the facebook accounts of our writers. On “Watchful Eyes Needed” (Published on July 15, 2021): • Perfecto Bragais III I don’t see the direction of your editorial Manong Henry. Is it meant to criticize the decision to take on a 700M loan because the capacity of LGU

Solon wants Mt. Masaraga declared as protected area

By Mar S. Arguelles Albay 3rd District Rep. Fernando Cabredo has filed a bill declaring Mt. Masaraga in Ligao City as protected landscape area. Cabredo, in a recent interview, said he filed a bill entitled Mt. Masaraga Protected Landscape (MMPL) Act of 2021, The bill once approved will declare the mountain as a protected area under the category of protected landscape and funds will be provided for its forest management operations. The solon asaid he filed the bill to prote

Escudero: Prisoners have rights to vote

By Connie Calipay Sorsogon Governor Francis Escudero recently urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to ensure that persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) would be able to exercise their rights to vote in the May 2022 local and national elections. In a statement posted on his Twitter account, Escudero said the rights of these PDLs should be upheld by the government. “Persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) who have not been convicted by a final judgment that includes the penalty

THE WORD OF THE LORD

Gospel: Jn 6:1-15 Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answ

Caceres celebrates Archbishop’s 75th birthday

By Julma M. Narvadez Prayers of thanksgiving and well wishes mark the celebration of the 75th birthday of Most Rev Rolando J. Tria Tirona, OCD, DD. The Archdiocese of Caceres, cognizant of the COVID19 pandemic as a continuing public health and economic issue, decides to celebrate the milestone modestly sans an archdiocesan gathering. Tria Tirona’s 75th birthday coincides with his 9th year in Caceres, having been installed as Archbishop in November 2012. Early in his episcopa

SURAT PASTORAL

ARCHDIOCESE OF CACERES Office of the Archbishop Pilgrim City of Naga, Philippines SURAT PASTORAL Para sa Pangkinaban na Kaaldawan Para sa mga Lolo, Lola, asin Mga Gurang MGA PRIBILEHIADONG SAKSI Ako an saindong Dios asin aatamanon ko kamo sagkod na kamo maggurang saka magputi an saindong buhok. Ako ang naggibo saindo asin ako an maataman saindo; tatabangan ko kamo asin ililigtas ko kamo. (Is 46.4) Namomotan kong mga tugang ki Cristo! Susog sa ipinagbubuot kan satuyang namomot

Missionaries of the Poor founder marks 50th year

By Zyra Ponce The founder of the Missionaries of the Poor (MOP), Father Richard Ho Lung, celebrated his golden jubilee of priestly ordination on July 4 at Heart of Mercy Monastery in Barangay Cararayan, Naga City. The celebration was attended by Camarines Sur 3rd District Rep. Gabriel Bordado, Naga City Mayor Nelson Legacion, City Councilor Jess Albeus and other parish priests within and outside the city. In an interview, Father Ho Lung reminisced his 50-years journey of b

Naga SP enacts telco ordinance

By Jason B. Neola The Sanggunian Panglungsod of Naga City recently enacted an ordinance penalizing the operation officer or a manager of a public utility firm with a fine and/or imprisonment once he or she failed to relocate his/her company’s distribution poles and transmission lines that pose hazard to the public. Telecommunications firms, including Camarines Sur II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Casureco II), will suffer similar consequence should they also fail to remove the

3 cities, 15 towns in Albay back to MGCQ

By Mar S. Arguelles The Albay Interagency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Disease (IATF) on July 15 announced that it has lifted the quarantine status of several cities and towns in Albay from General Community Quarantine (GCQ) to Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) status. Albay Gov. Al Francis Bichara issued on July 14 Executive Order No. 23 placing the 15 towns and three cities under MGCQ effective July 16 due to the apparent decrease of the Covid-19 c

2 rebels killed, 12 guns seized in CamSur clash

By Connie Calipay Two New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed while 12 high-powered firearms were seized after a firefight with government forces in Barangay Bongalon, Sagñay, Camarines Sur on Monday, July 19. Capt. John Paul Belleza, 9th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office chief, said elements of the 83rd Infantry Battalion (83IB) together with the Philippine National Police (PNP) operatives encountered at least 20 NPA rebels. “Intense firefight between the two forces

Lagman: Running for VP spills DU30’s intent

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman does not buy President Duterte’s latest alibi for running for vice president in the 2022 national election, that is, to be immune from lawsuits. “President Duterte fully knows that only the president is immune from lawsuits,” Lagman said in a news release. According to Lagman, “Duterte’s statement on running for vice president to enjoy “immunity” spills the beans on his real intention to become successor-president the moment the office of the elected p

300 cyclists join‘Bike for Peace’

By Cet Dematera More than 300 bikers coming from the different provinces in mainland Bicol have joined on July 17 in Legazpi City the “Bike for Peace” advocacy campaign spearheaded by the government to demand immediate justice for the death of former FEU football player Keith Absalon and his cousin Nolven. The Absalons were killed while biking when suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) detonated a homemade bomb in Masbate City last June. Marlon Loterte, officer-in-

BIATF seeks probe on tugboat voyage

By Mar S. Arguelles The Bicol Inter Agency Task Force (BIATF) on Monday, July 19 has requested its national counterpart to conduct an investigation on breach of health protocols by maritime authorities at the port of Butuan in CARAGA region for allowing the tugboat and barge from Indonesia to sail to Albay on July 17 with 12 of its crew members who were tested positive for Covid-19. Lawyer Anthony Nuyda, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) regional director an

FOREVER ALWAYS

Camarines Sur Gov. Migz Villafuerte ties the knot in civil rites at the Supreme Court to his long time fiancée, Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2017 Rachel Peters with their families as witnesses. The young governor and his beautiful bride sealed their solid relationship after 7 years. jmts/rbmjr/mmec07212021 with photos from GovMigzIG/fb_GovMigzVillafuerte

COMELEC says no to extension of registration

By Paulo DS. Papa Lawyer Maico Julia Jr., Commission on Elections (COMELEC) chief in Naga City, said that there is no change in the September 30, 2021 deadline of the voters registration. Julia, in an interview, told Bicol Mail that the extension of the registration period is not yet certain even if the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) was implemented in the city from June 15 to July 15, 2021. He said the national office of the COMELEC directed all it’s city and

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