BORACAY ISLAND, Malay, Aklan, (PNA) – Poor Aklan residents are reportedly benefiting through cheaper health services from the thriving tourist industry in this resort island.

Niven Maquirang, Caticlan Jetty Port administration manager, said revenues earned from the jetty port subsidize the health needs of Aklan residents by using facilities of the different district hospitals in Aklan which are government-owned.

The Caticlan Jetty Port in Malay and Cagban Jetty Port in Boracay Island serve as the one-entry and one-exit of both foreign and local tourists bound for and out of Boracay. Each tourist is charged P50 as terminal fee. "Every year, with the influx of tourists, the jetty port is earning revenues worth from P7 million to P8 million. The generated revenues are being utilized for the health needs of poor Aklan residents," Maquirang said.

The Aklan provincial government has reportedly been receiving a substantial number of residents seeking subsidized health services ranging from basic ailments to operations and surgical procedure expenses, among others.

Guard ends teener’s life

CONSOLACION, Cebu – A 14-year-old boy’s head was shattered into pieces when a security guard who accused the kid of stealing scrap metal in a shipyard shot him with a shotgun the other day in Barangay Tayud, this town.

Marikim Solicar Alao died on the spot after he was gunned down by security guard Rodrigo Alog assigned at the Colorado Shipyard. Alao’s two other companions who were onboard a makeshift banca witnessed the shooting. SPO2 Nelson Ducay, Consolacion Police chief investigator said the three minors were onboard a makeshift banca near the shipyard when someone allegedly hit them with stones.

One of the minors said they were already onboard their banca and hurriedly sailed out of the shipyard when they heard a gunshot fired. Immediately, Alao fell into the water with blood oozing from his head. Alao was hit at the back of his head with pellets from the shotgun allegedly fired by Alog.

The other two immediately fished off Alao from the water and called for help. The 14-year-old was declared dead at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center while the security guard surrendered to the police immediately after the incident. Meanwhile, a 15-year-old boy was shot dead by two unidentified men in Barangay Poblacion, Lapu-Lapu City early dawn Sunday. (Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.)

Put Bogo under COMELEC control – solon

CEBU CITY (PNA) – Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu, 4th district) has said he will request the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to place Bogo City under its control during the election period because of the presence of “ex-convicts” who are now being used by some politicians as goons. Salimbangon did not name the politicians but he mentioned the Bogo City Anti-Crime Task Force (CBACTAF) created by a city ordinance.

He told a media forum in Cebu City that he will also request the Cebu Provincial Board to review the city ordinance of Bogo to determine the legality of the creation of the task force. ”They gave a semblance of legality to that group of ex-convicts by way of that ordinance. I will ask the Provincial Board to review that Bogo City ordinance,” Salimbangon said.

He said every time a report reaches him that there is a private army in Bogo City, he is reminded of the Maguindanao massacre allegedly perpetrated by the Ampatuan family who maintained goons. Earlier, Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr. denied that CBACTAF is his private army. The group is comprised of barangay tanods tasked to help local police maintain peace and order.

Salimbangon said Police Regional Office 7 Chief Lani-o Nerez who visited Bogo City recently confirmed the presence of CBACTAF although its members reportedly are without firearms. ”Maybe today, they have no firearms, but what if they are ordered by their boss to harass voters during the campaign period or during Election Day?” Salimbangon said.