Lacson still in immigration watchlist

MANILA (Updated 12:14 p.m.) -- Although Senator Panfilo Lacson was cleared of charges in connection with the Dacer-Corbito double murder, his name would remain in the Bureau of Immigration (BI) watchlist.

In a television report Sunday, Bureau of Immigration (BI) officer-in-charge Ronaldo Ledesma said the removal of Lacson's name in the watchlist requires another court order.

Militant lawmaker calls for abolition of military academy

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet - On the heels of controversies surrounding the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casiño is calling for a review of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

Casiño said the abolition of Asia's premier military academy should be an option. "There is something wrong with the values system [and] training [in PMA] as we see in the graduates that we have now."

Ibaloi tribe irked by planned park carnival

THE Ibaloi community of Baguio is up in arms against an amusement company's proposal to install carnival rides at the Ibaloi heritage garden, commonly known as the Ibaloi Park.

The community released a statement warning that they would "act accordingly" if the carnival is permitted.

Police collar Cordillera's most wanted carjacker

THE Cordillera Region's Highway Patrol Group caught the region's most wanted carjacker in a police dragnet conducted Thursday afternoon.

HPG-Cordillera Regional Head Vladimir Kahulugan, in an interview yesterday, reported that they arrested Karl Michael Laranang by virtue of a warrant of arrest for violating the anti-Carnapping Act (Republic Act 6539), issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 6.

Bigger prizes await 'Cleanest Village' winners

THE chairperson of the Panagbenga (Flower Festival) committee said prizes are bigger this year for villages with the best gardens.

Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda said the committee aims to encourage villages to maintain and nurture their landscaped gardens year round.

Power firm helps light up Burnham Lake

BEGINNING Thursday, Burnham Lake has been illuminated by colorful lights courtesy of the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco), in time for the annual Panagbenga (Flower Festival) opening.

Social welfare agency encourages adoption

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is encouraging couples to adopt as a means to help the government support orphaned and abandoned children.

Local media denounce DJ's murder

JOURNALISTS from the province of Abra are denouncing the death of disc jockey (DJ) Cirilo Gallardo, who was stabbed to death on January 31 in the town of Bangued.

Road mishap delays mine hearing

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet - Eleven people almost died on their way to a hearing on mining matters in the town of Bakun here on February 3.

Autonomy is the future of Cordillera: Mayor

THE Regional Development Council (RDC) is urging the different provincial government officials to fast-track their information dissemination campaigns on Cordillera's regional autonomy in order to reach the target date for the enactment of Congress 2012.

Obama awards Baguio teacher

BAGUIO-born Filipino teacher Richard L. Cardenas is among 11 individuals, along with four organizations, who recently received the prestigious Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring of US President Barrack Obama.

Agriculture agency financial aid targets three provinces

ABRA, Apayao and the Mountain Province in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) are among the 31 provinces to benefit from the implementation of the Agrikultura: Kaagapay ng Bayang Pinoy (AKBay) program of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

City takes second look at cable car proposal

THE City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) is now evaluating the proposal for the installation of cable cars connecting Mines View Park to Balatoc Mines in Itogon, Benguet.

Junkshops told not to buy water meters

THE City Council is urging owners of junkshops in Baguio City not to buy water meters to help curb incidents of meter theft.

Children's rehab center in need of support

VICE Mayor Daniel Fariñas sought support for House Bill 3665, which aims to establish city and municipal rehabilitation centers for children and young adults with disabilities.

International school kids reach out anew

STUDENTS of the Brent International School (BIS) in Baguio City kept up their tradition Monday morning when they donated over P12,000 to help 13-year-old Mark Anthony Viray in his fight against cancer.

List of roads to be used for Flower Festival bared

MAYOR Mauricio Domogan last week approved a council resolution with specific terms as to the closure of roads and the use of venues for Panagbenga 2011, or the Baguio Flower Festival.

DOH marks February as Oral Health Month

THE Department of Health (DOH) in Davao Region has lined up month-long activities in line with the celebration of Oral Health Month this February.

February as National Health Month, which was declared under Proclamation 559 dated February 24, 2004, aims is to arouse the dental consciousness among Filipinos.

Landslide hits Cebu

CEBU CITY -- Rain caused a landslide in the Transcentral Highway Saturday afternoon, blocking motorists from Cebu City and Balamban for more than three hours.

Balamban Mayor Ace Binghay said it was the biggest landslide he has encountered. Public works officials assured the public that a road widening project will be pursued there early this year.

Rise in political tension in Cotabato feared

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- The tension between Cotabato City Vice Mayor Muslimin Sema and his political rivals is feared to escalate after he was implicated in the abduction of a Chinese trader here two weeks ago.

Lacson hits De Lima’s manhunt order

MANILA – Senator Panfilo Lacson criticized Justice Secretary Leila De Lima for insisting that his arrest warrant still stands despite a Court of Appeals (CA) ruling lifting the murder charges against him.

In a statement on Saturday, Lacson said De Lima was confusing the public with her “flawed and ill-advised legal opinion.”

15 die from week-long floods, slides

MANILA -- More than half a million Filipinos were affected by week-long heavy rains that caused flashfloods and landslides in Mindanao as the death toll have risen to 15 on Saturday.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) said the latest fatalities included four landslide victims in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Norte.

Village braces for diarrhea, typhoid outbreaks

OFFICIALS of a barangay in Balamban town are bracing for a possible outbreak of diarrhea and typhoid fever.

Health officials announced last Friday that at least 16 residents of the barangay were showing symptoms of the ailments, after drinking water from open springs in the community.

Rama says critics or law will not stop floods from endangering bank settlers’ lives

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama challenged members of the City Council to inspect the length of Mahiga Creek, from the reclamation area in Mabolo to the Mahiga Bridge in Banilad, so they can see the life-threatening situation of the informal settlers along its banks.

Ballots in poll protest altered: expert’s finding

THE Regional Crime Laboratory 7 has concluded the 43 contested ballots in connection with the election protest filed by defeated candidate Ester Concha against incumbent Calamba, Cebu City Barangay Captain Victor Quijano Jr. were altered.

Someone wrote on top of Quijano’s name, and replaced these with the names of Corazon Lim, Ruben Caballero or Concha, according to the findings of forensic document examiner Romeo Oliva Varona.

Traffic czar: fix road mess before lifting projects ban

1. It has been quite a major shift in your government service career: from Cebu City councilor to Cebu City traffic manager, from elective office to appointive office, from legislator to executive bureaucrat. Or is there not much difference between the two jobs? And how have you fitted in?

Barangays need to make first move vs. floods

Ramon Magsaysay awardee Antonio Oposa believes that if barangays would only implement environmental laws and ordinances, the possibility of another flood—like the one experienced in the cities of Mandaue and Cebu last month—would be remote.

The local government unit, for its part, should make sure laws and ordinances are being implemented through a score card.

City DPS mulls treatment plant for wastewater

CEBU City Department of Public Services (DPS) wants the City sewage treatment plant (STP) at the North Reclamation Area to be operational again.

DPS chief Dionisio Gualiza said some private institutions, which he refused to name, have proposed to put in place a system to revive the plant.

1 dead, 1 hurt in MILF attack

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Some 30 armed men attacked a farming village in M'lang town in North Cotabato and killed a 27-year-old farmer and injured another, around 9:45 a.m. Saturday.

M'lang Police Chief Reinante delos Santos identified the slain farmer as Crispin Sabel Macagsaid of Zamora St., in Poblacion-B, and the injured as Noel Arac Deboce of Purok 8, Barangay Palma Perez, both from M'lang town.

Legislator wants public hearing on plastic ban

THE Provincial Board (PB) will conduct a public hearing on the proposed ordinance requiring department stores to use recyclable bags.

Calls to ban the use of plastics were revived after a flood hit the cities of Mandaue and Cebu last month.