Kalinga launches new products

TABUK, Kalinga -- New products were launched during the opening of the 2011 Kalinga Ullalim Trade Fair on February 13 at the Capitol Hills.

These locally produced goods include the Pure Ground Coffee of the Balawag Farmer's Multi-purpose Cooperative, Café Chico of the Dengon's Coffee Marketing, polvoron products of Gem's Delicacy and Bugnay - a red wine product made by the Ryan and Sons' Winery.

Mayor orders probe on ‘mulcting’ maritime cops

DAVAO CITY -- The mayor of Island Garden City of Samal has ordered an investigation on the complaint of fishermen against members of the maritime police in Davao Region.

Local execs hail decision on cityhood laws

MATI CITY -- Local government executives hailed Thursday the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) to reverse its earlier ruling on 16 cityhood laws.

The SC on Tuesday reversed it ruling on 16 cityhood laws, which it earlier declared unconstitutional.

Recruiter of convicted Pinay wants to clear name

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday held for questioning a woman in Isabela province who allegedly recruited Sally Ordinario-Villanueva to work as a drug mule in China.

Villanueva was meted with death penalty, along two other overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), for drug trafficking. They will be executed by lethal injection on Monday.

Cityhood laws declared constitutional anew

FOR the third time, the Supreme Court (SC) has reversed itself on the issue of whether or not the Cityhood Laws, which allow 16 municipalities to be converted into cities, is constitutional or not.

After declaring the Cityhood Laws unconstitutional in a ruling issued on August 24, 2010, the Court during last Tuesday’s regular en banc session reversed the decision with a vote of 7-6-2, and reinstated its December 21, 2009 ruling, which affirmed the constitutionality of the said laws.

Guingona: AFP probe first before PNP 'slush fund'

THE Senate should finish its investigation on military corruption before looking into alleged perks given to director generals of the Philippine National Police (PNP, Senator Teofisto Guingona III said Thursday.

In a chance interview, the chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee said the probe on corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is wrapping up anyway.

Military funds sought to be realigned

AMID the allegations of corruption against the military, two legislators move to meddle into the budget allocated for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Speaker goes slow on Ombud’s impeachment

DESPITE the go signal given by the High Tribunal to the House of Representatives on the impeachment proceedings against the Ombudsman, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte sees no need to rush its investigation.

In fact, he wants the House justice committee to wait for final decision of the Supreme Court (SC) if and when Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez decides to file a motion for reconsideration on her petition to stop the impeachment proceedings.

Santiago sees Constitutional Convention by 2013

ACCORDING to Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago's timeline, Filipinos may be voting for members of a Constitutional Convention two years from now.

Santiago said if the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments votes to support Charter change, she will sponsor a resolution on it as soon as possible.

Palace official: Aquino not feeling well

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has a fever, which prompted him to skip some of his scheduled events on Thursday, according to a Malacanang official.

“Yes, the President is not feeling well. I understand he has fever,” said Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda.

Supreme Court warns Vizconde, fines supporter

FOR badmouthing justices who ruled in favor of Hubert Webb’s acquittal, the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday found anti-crime advocate Dante Jimenez guilty of contempt of court and ordered him to pay a P100,000 fine.

In a resolution reached during the its regular en banc session last Tuesday, the high court likewise ordered lawyer Ferdinand Topacio to show cause within a period of 10 days why he should not also be held in contempt of court.

Deportation of Taiwanese has ‘legal basis’

GOVERNMENT told the Court of Appeals (CA) Thursday that the deportation of the 14 Taiwanese nationals to face prosecution in China for $20-million cross-border fraud was done in accordance with the procedures laid down by laws and jurisprudence set by the Supreme Court (SC).

De Lima reacts to complaint vs Mancao

SPEAKING to reporters in an ambush interview, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima on Thursday branded as “rubbish” the complaint of a 43-year-old woman against former policeman Cezar Mancao II.

Teresa Irene Abas lodged a complaint before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office against Mancao for alleged domestic violence and maltreatment, in connection with the law against violence against women and children.

CBCP withdraws from RH consultations in Senate

ON THE heels of the continued advancement of the reproductive health (RH) bill in the Lower House, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Thursday pulled out of the consultation proceedings of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.

In an interview with CBCPNews, CBCP Legal Counsel Jo Imbong related the Church’s decision to formally “disengage” itself from the consultations being conducted by the Senate committee’s technical working group (TWG).

Anti-noise pollution measure proposed

IMPRISONMENT of one month may soon be the penalty for those contributing to the noise pollution problem of the country.

Marikina Representative Marcelino Teodoro recently filed a House measure, which seeks to regulate noise and provide for appropriate penalties to raise people's awareness on their responsibilities to other people's rights against being disturbed and annoyed by noise pollution.

Earthquake drill held in Dagupan City

DAGUPAN CITY -- The preparedness of the teachers and pupils of West Central Elementary School in this city was tested Thursday morning as they joined the nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill.

Their preparedness was evaluated by representatives from the Philippine Red Cross (PRC)-Pangasinan chapter, Dagupan City Police Station, City Health Office, City Agriculture Office, Bureau of Fire Protection, City Waste Management Division, and the media.

Police file rap vs fireworks stockyard owners

POLICE on Thursday filed charges against the owners of Pacific Fireworks and Pacific Hardware Enterprises for the fire that hit their stockyard last January 28 in Barangay Camino Nuevo.

The January 28 incident resulted in the injury of 33 persons when an estimated 60,000 pounds of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic materials went up in smoke following an explosion.

Guv elated over Lamitan cityhood

BASILAN Governor Jum Akbar has expressed elation over the latest Supreme Court (SC) decision affirming the cityhood of 16 towns including Lamitan.

Tornado, flashflood victim assured to continuous aid

THE National Government has assured of continuous supply of relief goods for the victims of the freak tornado coupled with flashflood that recently hit the province of Sulu.

This was announced by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Soliman saying 5,000 more sacks of rice are to be sent to Jolo.

Acting village chief installed

LADJID Tantong is now the acting village chief of Baluno after the incumbent village chief was incapacitated by a gunshot wound.

Baluno barangay chief Felix Custodio is recuperating from a gunshot wound inflicted by still unidentified men last January 21.

'Polluting' plant to get a look-over

STO. TOMAS -- Mayor Lito Naguit bared Wednesday that a joint inspection team is set to conduct a series of ocular inspections at a beleaguered oil recycling facility here.

The inspection will be done to determine whether the oil recycling facility complies with environmental laws that protect the communities and its people from any hazardous effects.

Mayor vows incentive for every regional meet medalist

ANGELES CITY -- Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said on Thursday that athletes who will compete in the Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association (CLRAA) sports meet in Bulacan will get the City Government's support.

"My administration, even in the past, has always been supportive to athletes especially to those who will compete in this prestigious competition, the CLRAA," Pamintuan said.

Aweca agro-forest industries legal

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- An environment group investigating a complaint against Aweca Agro-Forest Industries Corporation on alleged illegal activities said the firm is a legitimate and registered entity.

"It has religiously complied with all the requirements, terms and conditions of the Integrated Forest Management Agreement (Ifma)," Colonel Esperidion Javier, head of a task force under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

City will miss war veteran: exec

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- An official here said the city's last war veteran will be missed because of his contributions in commemorating local heroes.

City employment office lauded for award

ANGELES CITY -- Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan has lauded the city's employment office for bagging the 2010 Regional Best Public Employment Service Office (Peso) in the highly urbanized city category.

The award was given during the recently concluded 2010 Peso Year-End Performance Assessment initiated by the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) Central Luzon held at the Fontana Convention Center in Clark Freeport.

Kids with facial deformities benefit from surgical mission

BACOLOR -- Some 123 children with varying cases of facial deformities were able to avail of the free surgical services of "Operation Smile" and the Kapamapangan Development Foundation (KDF) on Thursday.

Sylvia Ordoñez, trustee of KDF, said most of the beneficiaries come from indigent families from all over Pampanga. She added the non-political mission relied on the help of socio-civic partners in different government and non-government agencies here.

Police intensify pact with civilians

CAMP OLIVAS -- The top police official in Central Luzon vowed to lower crime statistics in the region by intensifying partnership with civilians.

Chief Superintendent Alan Purisima, director of the Philippine National Police in Central Luzon, said partnership of law authorities with civilians is one of their tactics to reduce crime rate.

P26.8M sought for conservation projects

THE Samar Island Biodiversity Project (SIBP) is seeking a P26.8 million budget this year from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for activities conserving the island's vast forest resources.

Public consultation on K+12 program set

THE Department of Education is scheduled to conduct a regional consultation on the K+12 program to be held at its regional office on March 3.

Top communist rebel faces raps

AN ALLEGED top ranking official of the New People's Army (NPA) was charged after his arrest in San Jorge town, Samar last Sunday morning.

Charged for illegal possession of firearms and explosives was Ericson Acosta, who was identified by the military to be in charge of the instruction bureau of the national education department of the communist group-central committee.