Baguio execs: No to loterya ng bayan Jueteng on in northern Luzon despite DOJ order

BAGUIO CITY – Jueteng operations here and in most parts of northern Luzon are still on despite an order of Justice Sec. Leila De Lima to stop jai alai games which had been used by jueteng operators as pretext to solicit bets for the illegal numbers game.

In this summer capital, sources, who had been calling media outfits, said it was surprising some members of the city council like Edison Bilog have been saying there was no jueteng in Baguio but jai alai when number combinations were 1 to 37, which in essence is jueteng.

This, as majority of city councilors said no to the proposed loterya ng bayan of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes to stop jueteng despite knowledge any action from their assembly wouldn’t matter in so far as franchises to operate PCSO games of chance are concerned.

In 10-votes out of 14 during the council’s July 11 session, councilors placated fears expressed by local religious groups the local government has changed stand vis-à-vis operation of PCSO-led gaming in the city.

The vote was over a resolution authored by Bilog, bolstering the city’s anti-legal gambling position expressed in earlier resolutions numbered 122-2002 and 446-2008 – the anti-casino measures.

In favor of the Bilog proposal were councilors Perlita Chan-Rondez, Betty Lourdes Tabanda, Fred Bagbagen, Erdolfo Balajadia, Philian Weygan-Allan, Peter Fianza, Nicasio Palaganas, Joel Alangsab, and Karminn Yangot.

On the other hand, questioning the manner on how the council voted on the matter were councilors Elmer Datuin, Richard Carino, and Nicasio Aliping – members of the committee on laws whose study on the lottery was pending.

Bilog in the proposal said, “There are 16-gaming outlets franchised by PCSO for the lottery which is geared towards combating the illegal numbers game, jueteng; while 10-other applicants are being processed with deadline set on July 15.”

Allowing the operations, he said, might end up as a ‘front’ for jueteng and a “cash cow for corrupt officials.”

Meanwhile, Carino expressed doubt in the measure claiming its approval was “railroaded.”

In the same proposal he asked, “Why are you trying to pre-empt the report of the committee on laws?”

“Is this now a practice in the council to shortcut everything, or is it another way of protecting jueteng?”

Obviously peeved on the way swift voting on the matter transpired he said, “We are objecting operation of a legitimate government project but we are not denouncing the operation of jueteng in the city.”

Carino subsequently got other councilors to bring the alleged railroading of council rules before the council’s ethics committee. “I did not even know this was going to be included in the session.”

Vicar general of the Catholic Diocese of Baguio Fr. Andres Cosalan Jr. meantime said they attended the session after being informed by Bilog about the measure during an earlier meeting at the Bishop’s Residence.

In Sablan , Benguet, mayor Arthur Baldo said he had revoked the business permit of Meridien Vista Gaming Corp. which operates jai alai saying he didn’t know that bet solicitors of the firm has been getting wagers outside the town like in Baguio, the capital town of La Trinidad in Benguet and Itogon, also in the province.

In Pangasinan, the provincial police office announced Thursday that jai-alai operations in the province have been totally stopped, following the order issued by the Departments of Justice and the Interior and Local Government.

Supt. Geraldo Roxas, PPO director, said officials of MVGC have already stopped its operations since July 11.

Roxas said a monitoring of betting stations showed that MVGC staff have been on leave.

Roxas said that with 40 towns and cities in Pangasinan, off-fronton betting stations were established through business permits granted by town and city executives to MVGC.

He said that any violators will be arrested and charged in court.
Meanwhile, two “jueteng” collectors were arrested on Tuesday in Sison town who said they were collecting bets for a raffle in adjacent La Union.

The police, Roxas said, are now monitoring who operators of the guerilla-type of jueteng operations.

Last month, Supt. Romeo Caramat, the chief of police of Dagupan City, reported there were no illegal numbers games in the city. – With reports from Isagani S. Liporada and Jennelyn Mondejar

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Fire razes Cagayan police station

SOLANA, Cagayan, – An unattended charcoal stove triggered a fire that gutted the police station here Monday night, belated reports said.

Senior Supt. Mao Aplasca, Cagayan police director, said the fire started at the kitchen of the Solana police station around 11:30 p.m.

The fire also destroyed the rubber boat issued to the police station for rescue operations.

The damage was estimated at around P450,000, Aplasca said, quoting reports from Chief Insp.r Gabriel Mukay, Solana police chief.

However, other reports, quoting the Bureau of Fire Protection, put the damage at P500,000 to P750,000. – Charlie Lagasca

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MPSPC prexy probe on; classes suspended

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Classes here remain suspended while investigation on a number of complaints from students, faculty and the alumni against state college president Dr Nieves Dacyon was conducted by the Commission on Higher Education here July 13 and 14.

The probe led by CHED director Freddie Bernal interviewed students, faculty, alumni, finance and accounting staff of Mountain Province State Polytechnique College including persons from the community.

Faculty head Daniela Chumacog said the investigation team's findings shall be forwarded to the MPSPC board of trustees for their decision.

No deadline was given on the date of the decision.

The probe team focused questions among issues including alleged mismanagement of funds and school protocols, politically motivated acts on the student-faculty rally, and non- participation during previous Lang-ay festival celebrations.

Among those interviewed include student leader Blaine Bilalat, MPSPC finance officer Leticia Napat-a, Human Resources and Management dean Zenaida Soliven, faculty head Daniela Chumacog and instructor Dan Sokoken, alumni Rosa Kaiser and George Lumiwes, and community representatives Caridad Fiar-od and Mila Fanaang.

“While investigation goes on, classes shall be suspended until MPSPC president Nieves Dacyon steps down,” said student head of the grievance committee Blaine Bilalat, student governor Genesis Kiaki of the teachers education department, president of the students’ governors league Aaron Fagyan, and faculty head Daniela Chumacog.

Dacyon resigned on July 1, amidst an angry and violent rally of students and staff calling for the resignation of the school head.

Dacyon’s resignation however was not accepted by the school’s BOT due to the resignation having been done “under duress.”

The non-acceptance of Dacyon’s resignation by the BOT drew another round of rally from students, faculty and the community on July 9 which was going on at press time.

While this developed, the League of Progressive Students-Mt Province Youth Association called for the resumption of classes while investigation is going on.

Geofrey Diawan of MPYA said the students will be at a loss with the non-holding of classes.
Along with Marceline Pilala, president of the League of Progressive Students-MP chapter, Diawan called for the investigation of alleged irregularities committed by Dacyon, urging transparency of how collected student fees were spent .

“Our claims with the other student leaders of the College are one, an accounting of where the money of students have gone, ” said Diawan and Pilala representing progressive and militant organizations.

LPS along with other student leaders Bilalat, Kiaki, and Fagyan called for transparency where the money has gone covering collected fees namely that of student services fee now student development fee, library, laboratory, and the Regional Annual Administrative tactical Inspection fee (RAATI Fee).

Bilalat said six years of non-addressed claims for books, laboratory equipment including computers, and the installation of the Online Public Access Catalogue went unheeded despite calls for consultation and dialogue in separate dates in 2008 to 2010 with Dacyon’s absence.
Dacyon said consultations were done, as noted in a news story in another paper.

Aaron Fagyan, president of the student Governor’s League said one of the references clamored by students is an updated financial management book not available in the library, and used as a reference by the instructor.

Student leaders asked where the collected P500 development fee then called student services fee amounting to P5 million went.

“Our request for a student center, a student camera, and some trainings were not approve d by the President while other staff requests were quickly approved”, Bilalat said.

Bilalat referred to 8 student-based activities conducted in 2008-2009 out of 32 project- activities costing some P258 thousand.

Bilalat questioned where the rest of the P620 thousand out of the P 878 thousand student development fees collected in school year 2008-2009 went along with the rest of the collected services/development fees from school years 2009-2010.

Student development fees are accessed as per proposals sent for endorsement and approval to the offices of the students affairs, executive dean, the vice president on academic affairs, until it reaches the president.

The president however shall have the final say whether the request is granted or not.

Student leaders claimed there are no clear guidelines on the use of the development fee.
The student leaders called for an audit of the student fees collected.

This, while LPS-MPYA with the Kabataan party list sees the rising of student fees an indication of the budget cut imposed by the State.

The MPSPC suffered a budget cut of 15% with no money allotted for equipment, repairs, construction and improvement of facilities.

Kabataan party list officer Cielo Bayson said, ‘ what MPSPC is suffering is the localized effect of a national budget cut on 112 state universities and colleges’ with some SUCs having their budget down by 24%.

Student development fees started collection in 2007 as per a BOT resolution.
Library jumped from P75 to P300 in school year 2008 onwards.

Tuition jumped from P60 to P75 per unit starting this school year 2011 for incoming freshmen.

The LPS while it called for an internal audit to know where the school funds went and an impartial investigation on allegations of issues, also called for a protest against the looming budget cut and demand the Philippine government for a higher state subsidy.

The school faculty on the other hand, called for a participative governance of MPSPC and replace “despotic” Nieves Dacyon.

A major complaint was Dacyon’s alleged abuse as college president by demanding resignation of all deans and directors despite un-expired terms as provided for in the College Code.

The faculty club in their manifesto identified other complaints including the designation of Dacyon's brother as human resource development coordinator in Tadian campus; shouting and insults hurled on the late administrative officer Jocelyn Aguana when she questioned payment of allegedly irregular purchase of a furniture set.

The list of grievances included the detailing of 19 administrative staff to the Baang campus 29 kilometers from the main campus in Bontoc with no equipment and water supply and other graft -related complaints which reached the Ombudsman.

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P296-M fund for Ecija's poor

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga — Department of Social Welfare and Development Assistant Secretary Florita Villar has allotted P296 million for the implementation of its various pro-poor programs in the province of Nueva Ecija and other areas in Central Luzon.

Villar personally handed the check to Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali during last week’s convergence road show in Palayan City.

Mrs. Evelyn Manalo DSWD Regional information officer disclosed that P172.2 million of the said figure has been allocated for 11,482 household beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilya; P3.5 million for 750 recipients of the Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K); P11.7 million for 1,950 beneficiaries of the Social Pension; P47.6 million for 28,744 beneficiaries of the Supplemental Feeding in Day Care Centers program and P61.3 million for 19,510 famer and fisher folk recipients of the Cash-for-Work Program.

Manalo said Pantawid Pamilya provides cash grants of P1,400 per month during school months (June-March) and P500 per month during non-school months (April-May) to household beneficiaries as long as they comply with certain conditions like the regular visit of children in health centers to avail immunization and maintenance of a class attendance rate of at least 85 percent per month for those who are enrolled in day care centers or schools.

The SEA-K, on the other hand, is a capability-building program that seeks to enhance the skills of poor families through the organization of community-based associations for entrepreneurial development.

SEA-K group projects range from food processing (tocino, longganisa) to bag making.

Manalo added that the Social Pension program provides a monthly stipend of P500 to indigent Senior Citizens aged 77 years old and above who are not receiving any pension, without any permanent source of income and have no regular support from relatives while the Supplement Feeding program gives nutritious food to day care children.

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NCIP told: Cancel Wright Park ancestral land titles

By Isagani S. Liporada

BAGUIO CITY – The city government last week petitioned the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples to issue temporary restraining order (TRO) and injunctive writ barring conveyance of lands covered by overlapping land titles in Wright Park.

It likewise asked NCIP to recall its resolutions awarding Certificate of Ancestral Land Titles (CALT) to heirs of Josephine Abanag, which lands are already covered by titles in the name of the Baguio City and the Republic, praying said CALTs be cancelled.

In an 8-page petition, the city government represented by mayor Mauricio Domogan claimed CALT Nos. CAR BAG-1110-000276 to 1110-000303 and Original Certificate of Title (OCT) CALT-130 were fraudulently acquired by the respondent heirs.

The controversy over the overlapping titles was sparked by requests for certificates of zoning clearance on properties offered as collateral for bank loans filed with the City Planning and Development Office of Baguio.

The city alleged CALT Nos. CAR BAG-1110-000276 to 1110-000303 appeared to have been registered with the Land Registration Authority, Dec. 8, 2010, and the Registry of Deeds thereafter issued CALT-130.

CALT-130 (102, 302 sq. m.) thereafter was further subdivided into 31-parcels of lot divided among purported heirs.

The new Transfer Certificates of Title (TCT) include those numbered 018-2010002797-2828 as per a December 8, 2010 memorandum of encumbrance on the face of CALT-130.
Private persons under whose names the parcels are now titled include Mercedes Tabon, Joan Gorio, Virginia Gao-an, and Isias Abanag.

Of the 31-parcels, Lot 5 designated under the name of the heirs of Abanag and Mercedes Tabon overlapped with Lot 67 covered by TCT T-32093 in the name of the City Government. The city property has an area of 5,885.70 sq. m.

City legal officer Melchor Rabanes in a separate interview said, “Wright Park and other public realties were also included in CALT-130.”

“These lands are intended for public welfare and service… they cannot be covered by ancestral claims pursuant to section 7 of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (RA 8371).”

Quoting Section 56 of the same law he added, “Property rights within ancestral domains existing before the IPRA law shall be recognized and respected.”

Meanwhile, Rabanes said the city likewise asked NCIP to prevent the Registry of Deeds of Baguio from processing titles over the same property.

Domogan earlier filed the notice of adverse claim on behalf of the city.

However, the ROD denied the city’s notice annotation averring, “There is a March 20, 2011 TRO [by NCIP] ordering ROD to refrain from registering the adverse claim….”

In a May 9 letter to the ROD however, Rabanes said, “The ROD cannot use the TRO issued by NCIP as the city represented by the mayor is not a party to NCIP case No, 13-CAR-11 where the TRO was issued.”

He reminded Ampaguey, “We emphasize the fact that your duty to register the adverse claim to protect the city’s titled property is ministerial in character….”

Earlier, ROD staff Ruby Villa already filed a misfeasance and grave misconduct case against her department head Ampaguey.

In her complaint she alleged someone has been doing her side of the job of processing land titles beyond work hours in different dates in Dec. 2010.

She noted three activities affecting CALTs in violation of Land Registration Authority memos dated September 20 and November 5, 2010 staying processing of ancestral titles.

The CALTs alleged to have been processed under questionable circumstances included O-CALT-130.

For the local government’s side, the CLO is currently studying possible actions against Ampaguey.

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Help desks for tribal folk to address killings

LAGAWE, Ifugao -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of National Defense and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples have set up help desks to address the concerns of indigenous groups, particularly the killings of their leaders.

The defense department, through its human rights desks, has committed to work with the NCIP in crafting a quick response protocol to help leaders of indigenous groups who are facing death threats and harassment and to seek justice, too, for those who were slain.

Ifugao Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat, in a statement, said the NCIP, the main agency tasked to uphold the rights and welfare of indigenous groups, has also formed a task force to quickly respond to human rights violations against tribal folk and their leaders.

“These concerted actions from various government agencies are a welcome move to address the injustices committed against indigenous leaders struggling for the defense of their ancestral domains against destructive projects and land grabbing,” Baguilat said.

“With these (actions), indigenous peoples now have more avenues for the redress of their grievances and they don’t have to travel all the way to Manila to lobby for their issues,” he added.

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Cops banned from drinking in PNP stations, public areas

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet -- The regional police office here has issued a memorandum banning policemen from drinking in police stations or its vicinity or adjacent establishments while on duty, and prohibited from carrying firearms while drinking.

Despite the existence of orders previously disseminated for strict implementation and compliance, the regional police said it was disturbing that some cops committed serious offenses in public view in gross violations of the directives.

This, after a shooting incident at Tinoc, Ifugao on July 2, wherein PO1 Mark Davis B. Dulnuan allegedly shot to death his two colleagues PO1 Leobinep B. Binwihan and PO1 Tom Y. Udan while injuring PO1 Dexter Catiling, all members of the 2nd Company of the Regional Public Safety Battalion.

Also shot dead during the incident were civilians Benjamin Madino Jr and Marcial Calayen, both residents of Tinoc, Ifugao.

These malpractices,a police statement said, caused embarrassment to the PNP tarnishing its integrated transformation program.

Drinking in PNP stations or offices and nearby establishments by policemen while carrying firearms while drinking (on or off- duty), are strictly prohibited.

These include places like nightclubs, beer joints, disco pubs, cockpits and other similar public places, where liquor is served or cockfights are staged, which are considered as off-limits to PNP personnel, except in cases where their presence is required by official duties as authorized by appropriate letter orders.

All chiefs of offices and other superior officers from the command group down to the lowest level are directed to strictly supervise their respective personnel, the statement said.

In cases where violation of the directives that result in a shooting incident, the immediate superior officer of the violator, and the chief of police shall be relieved from their positions if they are found to be remiss in their duties to enforce the directive.

They could also be administratively charged for neglect of duty pursuant to National Police Commission memorandum circular 2007-001 or under the principles of “Command Responsibility” as enunciated by executive order No. 226, series of 1995, or any appropriate case.

The Camp Dangwa memorandum meanwhile directed provincial police directors, Baguio City police chief, battalion commanders of Regional Public Safety Battalion to organize teams to see to it that these instructions are carried out to prevent similar cases from happening in the future.

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Ifugao rep pushes probe of ‘missing’ NLDC funds

LAGAWE, Ifugao – Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat has urged an investigation on how “missing funds” disbursed by the National Livelihood Development Corp., an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture, saying he coursed P5 million of his Priority Development Assistance Fund but this didn’t reach his constituents.

He assailed difficulty in securing assistance for his constituents from the NLDC, adding he allotted the P5 million as livelihood assistance to farmers in Ifugao.

The Department of Budget and Management reportedly coursed the money through NLDC, which then said the best way to use the funds was to invest in an animal dispersal program.

“I thought they would release the checks or the fund which we will then give to the local government units, who will then purchase the animals. But as it turned out, they wanted to purchase and deliver the farm animals themselves,” Baguilat said.
On the day that Baguilat had arranged for the beneficiaries to come together in Ifugao to receive the animals, the supplier reportedly only provided 40 piglets, 30 goats and 150 ducks.

“I could not believe that for P5 million, that was all that I got. I was dismayed. To make matters worse, there was no liquidation report, so I do not know how the P5 million was spent,” Baguilat said.

Following his complaints with the NLDC, the agency eventually gave his office the money to buy another 150 piglets, saying they could now buy the piglets themselves.
“They left it at that. There was no accounting. I am really disappointed. This should not be tolerated. This is corruption. And we don’t know if this is happening in other districts, too, or if this is happening in other branches of government,” Baguilat said.

“I have heard complaints from others saying that they got cows for dispersal that were very thin and seedlings that did not sprout. Somebody is earning from all of these,” he added.

Baguilat has thus called on the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Budget and Management to closely study the procurement system to investigate because people’s money is at stake.

He said if findings reveal irregularities in the procurement, those responsible should be held accountable.

“We are doing our part to help our constituents. The other government agencies should respond for the good of our people so that they know that their taxes are going to the right projects,” he said.

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President Aquino urged: Investigate gunban case

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- A call for an “honest to goodness” investigation on the gunban incident which happened in Paracelis town during the May 11 elections, was forwarded to President Benigno Aquino by concerned citizen Salvador Liked.

This, while resolution from the Department of Justice is awaited from the interposed appeal forwarded by lawyer Lauro Gacayan for the accused Domingo Hewan@ Domingo Fangkingan, Mario Yawan@ Norman Fonite, Floricel Mi-ing and police Insp. Dexter Paredes.

In his letter to Aquino, Liked asked why there was no effort from the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police to establish identities of other suspects in three cars apprehended in the May 11 incident based on affidavits of witnesses and arresting elements of the Philippine Army and other John Does,

Said case which is now in the jurisdiction of the Regional Trial Court of Bontoc, was filed in the Prosecutor’s office in Bontoc by 2Lt Alvin Dagondon of the Philippine Army then forwarded to the office of the Regional State Prosecutor Ceasar Roxas following protest on the inhibition of Bontoc prosecutor Golda Bannawi. Said case was then assigned to Baguio Prosecutor Elmer Sagsago then assigned to Prosecutor Elizabeth Bringas of Vigan Ilocos Sur following the inhibition of prosecutor Sagsago on said case.

Bringas in her resolution indicted the three drivers Domingo Hewan@ Domingo Fangkingan, Mario Yawan@ Norma Fonite, Floricel Miing and P/C Inspector Dexter Paredes as to violation of the Comelec gun ban and illegal possession firearms.

The three accused drivers were apprehended in Bunot Paracelis having in their possession six guns including that of a Bush Master Assault Rifle registered in the name of Maximo Dalog.

Liked questioned the resolution of Bringas why other suspects including Clarence Dalog, son of Mountain Province congressman Maximo Dalog was not included in Bringas’ indictment despite affidavits of witnesses.

Emphasizing Aquino’s calls for “kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap,” Liked asked where the guns, vehicles and the suspects are now.

Said letter was forwarded to the Department of Justice, Department of Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines. National Police Commission and other offices.

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Two men nabbed for murder, theft

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A man wanted for murder was nabbed by police here July 12 along km 5.

Police identified the suspect as John T. Langawan, 45 of Loo, Buguias, Benguet by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Agapito K Laoagan Jr., presiding judge of Regional Trial Court Abatan, Buguias.

Langawan was arrested by personnel of Mankayan police and Regional Intelligence Unit.

No bail was recommended for Langawan’s release so he was brought to the court concern for proper disposition.

Meanwhile, police nabbed on the same date a certain Randy P. Cabiggat, 27, farmer of Bahong, La Trinidad for theft.

An arrest warrant was earlier issued Delilah Gonzales- Munoz, presiding judge of Municipal Trial Court of La Trinidad for Cabiggat with recommended bail of P6,000.

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Benguet mourns death of well-loved ex-gov

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet - The people of this province mourned the death of former Gov. Andres Bugnosen, who died July 10 at a hospital in Baguio City after a lingering illness.

Bugnosen is well remembered by his constituents as a leader who gave medical services to the people, especially in rural areas and implemented a beautification program of the provincial capitol and transparency in governance.

Deborah B. Madrid, daughter of the late governor described her father as "a very caring, loving and responsible father, one who is very dedicated to public service."

Madrid thanked all the people for their prayers offered to his late father.

Other local officials in Baguio City and Benguet paid their last respects to the late governor, who was described by many of his constituents as a "kind and healing doctor."

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Police asked to act on ‘taxi boys’

By Aileen P. Refuerzo
BAGUIO CITY – The days of the ‘taxi’ boys – children milling in front of business establishments jostling for position to hail taxicabs for passengers during rush hours unmindful of the danger of being bumped or sideswiped by the vehicles – are numbered.

The city council last Monday approved a resolution asking the city police chief through the traffic division to implement the necessary measures to protect the interest of the children and the taxi commuters, and to coordinate with the City Social Welfare And Development Office for appropriate intervention programs for the so called “taxi boys” found along the central business district here.

Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda, proponent of the measure, said, “it has been observed that several groups of children and teenage boys have strategically positioned themselves outside business establishments located at the CBD ‘assisting’ customers in getting a taxi and loading their baggage in exchange for a voluntary amount.”

Tabanda said this practice “inconveniences the unwilling shoppers who sometimes are forced to shell out money for services they never asked for.”

“This also creates traffic congestion and chaos as these boys race against each other, disregarding traffic regulations and warnings,” Tabanda noted.

“Because of this practice, these groups of boys are constantly exposed to danger as they run the risk of being run over.”

Tabanda said the Children’s Welfare and Protection Code of Baguio City (Ord. 74, series of 2009) provided mechanisms to protect the children from circumstances which gravely threaten or endanger their survival and normal development.

She said the city police should coordinate with the OCSWADO which is the lead agency in the implementation of programs and services that cater to the needs of children needing special intervention.

The said offices were also asked to submit a report on any action conducted on said concern.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan through the Alay sa Kalinisan last year called for the investigation of the activities of said children hailing taxicabs for passengers for a fee which was suspected to be part of the activities of a syndicate.

Coordination was eventually done with the parents of said children resulting to the temporary stoppage of the activity. But the children went back to the streets eventually.

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Ecija towns to ban use of plastic bags

PEÑARANDA, Nueva Ecija – Municipal mayors in Nueva Ecija have declared a ban on the use of plastic bags in the province in support of the campaign for environmental protection and the fight against global warming.

Mayor Ferdinand Abesamis, president of the 27-member League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Nueva Ecija chapter, said the prohibition on the use of plastic bags is contained in LMP-NE Resolution 003-2011 passed during their regular meeting last July 5.

Abesamis said the municipalities would convene their respective municipal councils and enact ordinances parallel to the league’s resolution. -- MG

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Comelec registration week begins Monday

By Ramon Dacawi

BAGUIO CITY -- The Commission on Elections has set July 18 to 23 as National Voters’ Registration Week for persons with disabilities (PWDs) to coincide with the observance of National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week.

The Comelec declared the week as such through Resolution 11-0623 adopted last June 7 in response to a request from Manuel Agcaoili, chairman of the Alyansa ng may Kapansanang Pinoy, Inc. and Ambassador Henrietta de Villa, national chair of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.

The Comelec however, announced that registration centers opened in towns and cities will be for the residents of the said localities.

Here, the office of city election officer Modesto Bahul Jr. said registrants may report to the Comelec office along Gov. Pack Road.

Jeremy Philippe Nishimor, executive director of the League of Cities of the Philippines, called on city mayors to help disseminate information on the registration week and to assist registrants.

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DPWH modifies rules on Kennon truck ban

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY — The Cordillera office of the Department of Public Works and Highways here, upon consultation with the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee sub-committee on public works and infrastructure, issued modified rules in the implementation of the truck ban along Kennon road pending the rehabilitation of several alleged damaged bridges along the road.

Engineer Edilberto P. Carabbacan, DPWH regional director, said the previous truck ban advisory was modified pending assessment of three bridges along Kennon Road: Bridge 2 at Camp 7, Demonstration Bridge at Camp 6 and Camp 6 Bridge by the Bureau of Design as requested by truckers particularly sand and gravel haulers operators.

Under the new rules, vehicles coming from Baguio City going to Camp 6 quarry area and vice versa are allowed to pass through Kennon road, but they should abide by the safety measures provided.

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Cordillera celebrates 24th founding

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY— Friday was a non-working holiday in the Cordillera Administrative Region in commemoration of the region’s 24th founding anniversary.

Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Rodolfo Llamas were guests honor and speakers during the Cordillera Day program Friday for the occasion at the Baguio Convention Center.

Delegations from the six provinces: Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province and Baguio City joined the commemoration of the region’s creation.

The CAR was created through Executive Order No. 220 issued by former President Corazon C. Aquino on July 15, 1987 to bring government services to the grassroots level and prepare the region for autonomy.

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2 most wanted men in Pangasinan slays fall

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Two of the most wanted persons in Pangasinan, who are believed leader and member of guns-for-fire syndicate, were arrested last week, the provincial police office said.

Supt. Geraldo Roxas, provincial police chief identified the suspects as Eduardo de Guzman and Oscar Ancheta, both of Aguilar town here.

The warrant of arrest for the two, issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Teodoro C. Fernandez of Branch 38 of Lingayen, was in connection with Criminal Case No. L-9209 for murder.

No bail was recommended for their provisional liberty.

The two were arrested by elements of the Special Operations Group headed by Supt. Ronald Gayo, Provincial Intelligence Branch, Provincial Public Safety Company led by Insp. Bernabe Ramos, SWAT team, Aguilar Police and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

Roxas confirmed that the two were suspected leader and member of the De Guzman gun-for-hire and cattle rustling group operating in Pangasinan.

The duo were reportedly involved in the shooting to death of one Allan Calugay, a member of the Civilian Volunteer Organization on March 24, 2011 in sitio Cereli, Barangay Bocakliw, Aguilar and the shooting to death of Benigno Conception at Barangay Banaga, Bugallon on April 26, 2011.

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4 Paracelis murder suspects surrender

PARACELIS, Mountain Province – Four murder suspects recently surrendered here to police following an arrest warrant issued for their capture by Judge Bernabe Mendoza of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 23 in Roxas, Isabela.

The suspects surrendered July 7 at about 5 a.m. after cops based at Dannal, Anonat here led by Insp. Apdilon C. Galong in coordination with punong barangay Elvira Manipon Acosta served the arrest warrant.

Suspects were identified as Jonathan S. Montero, 30; Dante De Guzman, 30; Virgo V. Sagaydoro, 29, and Marlon Yadao, 32, all farmers and residents of Dannal.

Acosta convinced the suspects to voluntary surrender to the police. The suspects were later brought to the police office here.

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Cordillera road projects almost complete: DPWH

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY — The Cordillera office of the Department of Public Works and Highways here reported works under the P5.2 billion State of the Nation Address (SONA) projects in the provinces of Ifugao, Mountain Province and Kalinga are 93 percent complete.

Engineer Nestor Nicolas of DPWH reported from 2007 to 2009, their office received P5.2 billion for SONA projects covering Halsema Highway Phase II (Mountain Data-Bontoc Section), Phase III (Bontoc-Banaue Section), and Bontoc –Tabuk-Tuguegarao road.

The road projects were included in the SONA of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2006.

According to Nicolas, the P5.2B total budget for SONA composed of 86 projects of which 73 are already completed, two were suspended due to problems on Road Right of Way (RROW) and eleven were terminated.

To date, the P1.9 billion Halsema Highway Phase II is now 96 percent complete. It involves the construction of 35.6 kilometers of concrete road, while the P0.86 billion worth Phase III is now 96 percent complete.

It includes the construction of 36.35 kilometers of concrete road.

Meanwhile, the P0.948 billion Bontoc-Tinglayan Boundary Section 1 road project which includes the concreting of 23.28 kilometers of road is now 82 percent complete, while the P2.3 billion Tinglayan Boundary-Tabuk Section 2 Project that includes concreting of 57.34 kilometers is now 95 percent complete.

These projects when completed will greatly ease up travel to the Cagayan Valley and will open up greater economic and tourism opportunities to the areas traversed by these road networks.

Nicholas said local officials are helping the agency solve road-right-of-way conflicts in certain portions of roads so remaining works will be implemented smoothly the coming months.

Because of improved roads in the said areas, travel time from Baguio to Bontoc, Mountain Province had been reduced from six hours to only four hours while travel time from Bontoc to Banaue, Ifugao is now only less than an hour compared to the two hours travel time before the road was improved.

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Marijuana supplier of students nabbed

BAGUIO CITY – An alleged distributor of marijuana to high school students was arrested here recently by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Cordillera in a buy-bust operation.

Al Denver W. Sayan, 25, private surveyor, resident of Green Valley here, was apprehended around 2 a.m. July 10 outside the gate of his house.

Sayan sold dried marijuana stalks, some wrapped in newspaper and bound with masking tape, weighing 54.76 grams; and some draped in a plastic bag that weighed 38.38 grams, to an anti-narcotic operative who posed as buyer.

Sayan tried to sell to the drug law enforcement officer 142.11 grams of marijuana, valued at P12,866.

Cases for illegal drugs were filed at the Regional Trial Court against him.

A police report said Sayan supplies marijuana to high school students and packages his wares into low-budget packets.

Earlier, around 40,000 full-grown marijuana plants and 2,000 marijuana seedlings valued at P880,000 were recently uprooted and burned at three plantations here at Barangay Tacadang, Kibungan, Benguet.

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