Ilocos Norte's Sangguniang Panlalawigan conducts probe on escaped vessel impounded at Currimao

SP member Da Vinci Crisostomo with acting provincial police director Sterlong Blanco and a coast guard officer

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

LAOAG CITY—A joint committee hearing of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is seeking enlightenment as to what really transpired on the impounded Taiwanese fishing boat, four months after its crew members managed to escape with the boat early this year.

On November 20, the Philippines Coast Guard impounded a Taiwanese fishing boat with a cargo of about 2,000 boxes of imported cigarettes. Concerned authorities composed of the PCG, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Bureau of Customs conducted a thorough investigation but while on the process of validating documents, the impounded vessel reportedly escaped right under the noses of security personnel who were on duty at the Philippine Ports Authority.

Upon the directive of Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos, SP member Da Vinci Crisostomo, in his capacity as chairperson of the committees on laws and peace and order conducted a joint committee hearing on March 31 at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session hall to shed light on the issue.

Attended by members of the PCG, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Immigration and security personnel assigned at the PPA, only the representative from the Bureau of Customs failed to show up at the hearing.

In a letter addressed to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, acting customs collector Lloyd Camangeg explained that he could not attend said hearing in view of a separate meeting he needed to attend in Metro Manila on the same day.

In view of this, Mr. Crisostomo said another hearing will be set to require the BoC to explain their side regarding the issue.

It may be recalled that the BoC personally issued a “seize and detention” order of the impounded Taiwanese vessel, suspected of containing cargo with smuggled cigarettes and prohibited drugs. That time, the foreign vessel was held at the Currimao seaport pending a clearance order from the BoC central office.

“Each of the (government) agencies who responded had their own roles to play in times like this. The Bureau of Customs have to explain so that we will legislate---to find out what really transpired,” Mr. Crisostomo said citing the incident that happened on November 20 was alarming and shameful when the vessel managed to move out of the Currimao seaport without undergoing proper clearance.

Comments

Free dormitories eyed for Nueva Era students in LC, Batac

Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Nueva Era , Ilocos Norte—The municipal government here, headed by Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida is planning to establish dormitories in the cities of Laoag and Batac that will exclusively cater to college students from the said cities. “Sapay la kuma ta maituloyen iti mabiit tay ar-arapaapen tayo ken iti munisipyo a maipatakderan kuma dagiti annak tayo a college students nga agbasbasa idiay siyudad iti Batac ken Laoag iti libre a dormitoryo a bukod da ngem inggana nga awan pay ket an-anusan mi paylaeng nga ibaklay kenni apo bise mayor iti pagbayad da iti kasera aggapu iti bukod mi a suweldo malaksid dagitay it-ited iti munisipyo ken iti barangay nga stipend da kada semester, ” Garvida said. Garvida added that the proposed establishment of dormitories would be a big help to the students’ parents as this would shoulder the expenses of their children for rent and likewise they would feel more secured

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become an annua

P29 per kilo rice sold to vulnerable groups in Ilocos region

BBM RICE. Residents buy rice for only PHP29 per kilo at the NIA compound in San Nicolas town, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. The activity was under a nationwide pilot program of the government to sell quality and affordable rice initially to the vulnerable sectors. (Lei Adriano) San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte —Senior citizens, persons with disability, and solo parents availed of cheap rice sold at PHP29 per kilogram during the grand launching of the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) Rice held at the National Irrigation Administration compound in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. “ Maraming salamat Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa inyong pagmamahal sa Region 1 lalong-lalo na sa bayan namin sa San Nicolas,” said Violeta Pasion, a resident Brgy. 18 Bingao in this town. The low-priced grains were sourced from the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) contract farming with irrigators' association members in the province. Along with Pasion, Epi

The Ilocos Times

Search This Blog