Davao Sur police confirm arrest of 2 Malaysians

THE Davao del Sur Provincial Police Office (DSPPO) confirmed the arrest of two Malaysian nationals in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur on suspicion of being terrorists.

DSPPO Director Ronald dela Rosa said the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and Naval Intelligence operatives arrested Abdul Aziz Usman, 50, and Omar Abu in Barangay Inawayan after a thorough surveillance.

Fish pen owners to get bangus fingerlings

THE government will assist fish pen owners affected by the fish kill in Batangas and Pangasinan, as it is set to distribute bangus fingerlings to help the industry cope with the tragedy, said a Palace official.

"The National Government will be assisting fish pen owners by providing bangus fingerlings for the restocking of bangus. But this can only be done when the water quality is restored, and can be maintained, to allow fingerlings to develop properly," presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement.

Ombudsman seeks to forfeit ex-comptroller's bank accounts

FIELD investigators of the Office of the Ombudsman seek to undertake forfeiture proceedings of some P55.6 million in bank accounts of former military comptroller Jacinto Ligot and his family.

Investigators have found evidence to file a supplemental petition for forfeiture against Ligot, his wife Erlinda, daughter Riza, and sons Paulo and Miguel Ligot, a statement from the Office of the Ombudsman said, adding the funds are "unexplained wealth."

4 charged in black coral case

FOUR individuals, along with their alleged accomplices, were charged with violating Philippine law on coral exploitation and transport, among others.

Exequiel Navarro, Olivia Lim Li, Kim L. Atillano, Ireneo Penuliar, and others were charged with violating Section 91 of the Republic Act 8550, also known as the Fisheries Code of the Philippines, which disallows coral exploitation and its export.

Permit issued to 'small portion' of Aklan reclamation project

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it only issued a permit for a small portion of the controversial reclamation project between the resort island of Boracay and Caticlan in Aklan.

According to the DENR-attached Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), the environmental compliance certificate handed over in 1999 only covers 2.6 hectares on the Caticlan side, not the part of the project that includes Boracay.

Overstaying inmates crowd Bilibid housing: lawmaker

A MEMBER of the House justice committee believes that the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa is still housing detainees who have completed their sentences, causing overcrowding in the national penitentiary.

Deputy Majority Leader and Marikina Representative Romero Frederico Quimbo bared this just days after Justice Secretary Leila De Lima told the House panel that the NBP is overpopulated by 200 percent.

Renaming of South China Sea proposed in Congress

AFTER tension escalated over the disputed South China Sea islands, a party-list legislator filed a resolution urging the House committee on foreign affairs to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the process of renaming the South China Sea to Western Philippine Sea of "Kanlurang Dagat ng Pilipinas".

In House Resolution 1350, Akbayan Representatives Walden Bello and Kaka Bag-ao said the move is aimed at bolstering the Philippine historical and legal claim over the Spratly Island Group.

Senate resolution plans to look into new school curriculum

SENATOR Antonio Trillanes IV has filed a resolution to have the Senate review a new 13-year public school curriculum, which may become a burden to parents without improving the competitiveness of Filipino students.

The Department of Education (DepEd) will begin implementing mandatory kindergarten for the K+12 basic education curriculum.

Bill defines grounds for annulling marriages

A BILL filed at the Senate seeks to set down more concrete indicators of psychological incapacity, a ground for the legal annulment of marriages.

Once enacted, the bill filed by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito will amend the Family Code to make violent behavior and laziness a potential sign of a "psychological incapacity to comply with the essential marital obligations."

Schools asked to allow kids to wear long-sleeved shirts

PHILIPPINE public schools were asked to allow students to wear long sleeved shirts, thereby altering their official uniforms, if only to avoid dengue.

This was urged by an official of the Department of Health (DOH) on Friday, days before the opening of the 2011-2012 school year.

PHL-hosted Asean meet identifies initiatives vs disasters

THE Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Caucus hosted this week by the House of Representatives ended on a high note, having identified legislative initiatives in disaster response management and promotion of the welfare of children.

Specifics of the proposed common legislation are embodied in the Caucus Report to be presented to the next AIPA in Cambodia for consideration and adoption by the General Assembly.

Emano scolds cops in Cogon demolition

CAGAYAN de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano was disgusted with the demolition on the illegal sidewalk vendors at the Cogon Public Market on Thursday.

Emano ordered the Cogon Police Station through City Police Director Gerardo Rosales, chief of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), and the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) to stop the demolition.

Ex-convict shot dead

A 49-YEAR-OLD ex-convict was shot dead near Cogon market area in Cagayan de Oro City on Friday morning.

Artadi Osmeña Lim, who just got out of jail after serving a sentence for murder was vending "Kwik-Kwik," an egg-coated street food along J.R. Borja Street when shot by motorcycle-riding gunmen.

Group to university execs: 'Reexamine your conscience'

A GROUP in Bukidnon was disgusted with the move of Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Maramag, Bukidnon against the farmers who claimed legitimate owners of the land they till.

"We in the Sisters’ Association in Mindanao (SAM) express our support to the ongoing struggle of the farmers of Buffalo, Tamaraw and Limus (BTL) Association in Maramag, Bukidnon against efforts by the administration of CMU to harass and prevent them (farmers) to till from their lands," a statement released Friday said.

Police retrieve grenades from junk shop

POLICE and bomb experts have recovered four "serviceable" rifle grenades in a junk shop in Zamboanga City, a top police official said Friday.

Zamboanga City Police Director Edwin de Ocampo said the rifle grenades were recovered after Roger Delos Reyes, a junk shop owner in Divisoria village, reported to the police headquarters Wednesday about the find.

23 unlicensed firearms confiscated in 5 months

THE Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) has confiscated a total of 23 unlicensed firearms for the first five months of this year, a top police official announced.

ZCPO Director Edwin de Ocampo said the confiscation of the unlicensed guns was done in different occasions and places during follow-up operations, as well as at police checkpoints.

Congress asked to help bank depositors, employees

HOUSE Deputy Speaker for Mindanao Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has asked a Congress committee to intercede on behalf of the Banco Filipino Saving and Mortgage Bank depositors and employees.

Salazar, Zamboanga City's first district congresswoman, said she is concerned with how the depositors are going to be paid and how the employees are going to be taken care of in view of Banco Filipino's reported bankruptcy.

Education office cites chabacano workbook

A CHABACANO workbook has been cited as a model in the implementation of a Department of Education (DepEd) order that encourages mother-tongue-based multi-lingual education for learners.

5 luxury cars seized in Pampanga raid

PAMPANGA -- Police seized five luxury cars in a raid on a house occupied by two Korean nationals in Angeles City, Pampanga.

The cars were three Chevrolet Captiva SUVs and two Chevrolet Caprice sedans. Authorities believed the luxury vehicles were smuggled.

Cops find new angle on bizman’s murder

THE Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (Cidu) in the City of San Fernando said Friday it found a new angle on the murder of businessman Florencio Yap, Rene Tetangco and Dennis Guinto.

“We hope to unearth the real motive with the new angle. We are going to meet with the families of the victims and hopefully, this new angle will convince them and give them a better picture of the motives and events that transpired,” Senior Superintendent Rudy Lacudin, who led the Cidu, said.

Pampanga to be haven for retirees

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Officials said preparations for creating Pampanga as a haven for both local and foreign retirees in Central Luzon are ongoing.

Regional Coordinator for the Housing Sector of the Central Luzon Retirement Industry Enhancement Team (CLRIET) Albert dela Cruz said he has allotted 200 housing units at the Amber Trail Resorts and Residences in Mexico town, which he owns, for retirement houses of salaried employees.

Guv plots fiesta-like revelry for Aetas

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Governor Lilia Pineda is set to hold a fiesta-like celebration for Aetas in Pampanga as part of the 20th anniversary of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption.

“Aeta natives will celebrate the Mt. Pinatubo eruption like a fiesta,” Pineda said.

Thousands get medical aid from SM

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Thousands of indigents trooped Thursday to SM City Pampanga for its second round of a complete medical mission.

According to SM City Pampanga Public Relations Officer Rain Cervantes, the medical mission was spearheaded by SM Foundation Inc., Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine National Red Cross, GMA Kapuso Foundation and essential manpower provided by the City of San Fernando’s City Health Office and OCA-Nars.

Public informed on Full Disclosure Policy

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Central Luzon continuously provides information and advocacy activities on the government’s Full Disclosure Policy (FDP).

The department, represented by LGOO IV Melerie Pineda, shared the objectives as well as the legal bases and requirements of FDP during a live one-hour interview at Hamon Central Luzon, a daily nighttime program of CLTV 36, hosted by Tonette Orejas.

2 nabbed for stealing motorcycle

CAMP OLIVAS -- Two men were arrested in Mabalacat town after stealing a motorcycle owned by a municipal hall employee.

Edilberto Morales Jr., 25, and John Rey Waje, 28, were arrested for allegedly stealing a motorcycle owned by Benigno Tolentino III, a staff at the mayor’s office.

RCC Colegio De San Raphael opens

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The new RCC Colegio De San Raphael (CDSR) was recently inaugurated in preparation for its opening this school year.

The inauguration was graced by City Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, fourth district Representative Anna York Bondoc-Sagum, Mabalacat City Mayor Marino Morales, Angeles City Mayor Ed Pamintuan, and first district Representative Carmelo Lazatin.

Cebu jeep drivers to get Pantawid Pasada cards next week

CEBU CITY (Updated 5:26 p.m.) -- Jeepney drivers in Cebu will receive Pantawid Pasada cards next week, but they may not be able to enjoy them until the end of the month.

This developed as Undersecretary Aristotle Batuhan denied an online report he is leaving his post at the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) after Secretary Jose de Jesus left.

Police arrest suspect in bus bombing

MANILA (2nd Update, 6:55 p.m.) -- Police have arrested a suspect in a bus bombing earlier this year that killed five people and wounded 13 others in the bloodiest attack in the Philippines capital in six years.

National police spokesman Agrimero Cruz said Ryan Sison, a member of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf Group, was arrested around 10:40 a.m. Thursday by joint military and police forces at a safe house in Purok 5, Dalahikan village in Lucena City, Quezon.

Tricycle fare hike looms

MORE than 3,000 tricycle drivers in Iloilo City asked the City Government to increase the fare by P1 to meet their daily subsistence needs due to high cost of living.

Mario Silvederio, president of the Metro Iloilo City Tricycle Owners and Drivers (MICFTODA), sent a letter petition to the City Council requesting amendments of the 1,999-old city ordinance or draft a new city regulation ordinance that will increase the tricycle fare from P6.50 to P7.50 for a three-kilometer distance.

Reforestation for survival launched

ILOILO Governor Arthur Defensor said the province is launching one million trees to be planted this year in a bid to solve water problems.

During the recent meeting of business and government leaders in Iloilo City, the governor said, “The power problem was already addressed by the coal-fired power plant, but the water problem still remains. Let us not argue anymore about it. The city needs the province for its water source.”