Local News

THE most wanted drug personality in the Cordillera, who is also included in the order of battle of organized crime groups at the time of his last arrest on August 25, 2009, was convicted, just a little over two years later.

Teodulo Villareal y Arnaiz alias “Teddy” was recently apprehended by virtue of a warrant of arrest and bench warrant served against him and his live-in partner, respectively, by a composite team from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (Cidu) and Highway Patrol Group in Cordillera.

BFAR identifies scholars

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 01:27 a.m.

THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Cordillera successfully implemented the Fisherfolk Children Educational Grant (FCEG) under the Fisheries Scholarship Program (FSP) on September 17.

The scholarship grant aims to produce sufficient number of manpower in the fishing industry and assist the deserving children of small-scale fisher folk in the pursuit of higher education for their socio-economic improvement.

Abortionist nabbed

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 01:27 a.m.

CAMP JUAN, Ilocos Norte - Police have arrested a suspected abortionist during an entrapment operation in Barangay 8, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

The suspect was identified as Gloria Ragonjan, 54, a resident of Barangay 8, Laoag City, who was arrested inside a boarding house where she was to perform an abortion on a female asset of the police.

2 electrocuted in Pangasinan town

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 01:26 a.m.

ROSALES, Pangasinan - Two workers of an agricultural firm were electrocuted when they accidentally touched a high-tension wire while working on a pipe inside their compound Wednesday in Barangay Carmen East here

Declared dead upon arrival at the Dr. Chan Hospital in Barangay Carmen West, Rosales were Feliciano de Asis and Alvin Roa, both employees of the Harbest Agri-Business Corporation.

La Union to celebrate Oktoberfest

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 01:26 a.m.

“OKTOBERFEST is the grandest and most exciting beer event not only in Germany but in the country as well and we are bringing it in Bauang,” lawyer Reynaldo Dulay, Bauang Tourism Council chairman said.

The Bauang Tourism Council will be holding the 1st Oktoberfest on October 15 at the Rose Bowl Steakhouse and Restaurant, Pagdalagan Sur, Bauang. Celebration starts at 6:30 p.m. until midnight. It will be co-sponsored by the Municipality of Bauang, the Provincial Government of La Union and the Department of Tourism in Ilocos Region.

DPWH projects should be completed by December

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 01:25 a.m.

BONTOC, Mountain Province – The Department of Public Works and Highways-Mountain Province infrastructure projects should be completed by December in support to Secretary Rogelio Singson’s commitment to President Benigno Aquino III to fast track infrastructure projects within the department’s jurisdiction.

This was announced by officer-in-charge district engineer John Marquez during a meeting with project engineers and contractors Monday at the district office.

PPOC holds talks on peace zones

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 01:25 a.m.

SADANGA, Mt. Province - Majority of the people here are against the proposal to declare Mountain Province as a peace zone for fear that this would just provide the insurgents a space to recharge and regain mass support they had lost in the past.

This was gleaned during the third municipal public consultation conducted in this town by members of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) to sell the idea of peace zone, as well as to gather inputs that will enhance the concept of the peacekeeping initiative.

NIA, groups repair 2 projects

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 01:24 a.m.

BONTOC, Mt. Province – The Provincial Government authorized Governor Leonard Mayaen to enter into contract with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and two irrigators associations for the repair of irrigation projects in this town.

This is for the rehabilitation of the Cafellao irrigation system in Barangay Bontoc Ili and the Guina-ang irrigation system in Barangay Guina-ang, both located in this municipality.

Veterans’ memorial to rise

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 01:24 a.m.

BONTOC, Mt. Province - A Veterans Memorial Marker in honor of the World War II veterans will soon rise at the Provincial Plaza here after members of the Provincial Board passed a resolution approving the request of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Organization (PVAO) to allocate funds for the construction of the marker.

The proposed veterans marker shall be constructed at the provincial plaza beside the Justice Hall building.

‘Rescued’ bar girls recant statement

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 12:59 a.m.

THE women rescued from Jaguar KTV in an anti-human trafficking operation and used as witnesses in the complaint against the bar owner have signed an affidavit, saying they tagged the wrong man.

Their affidavit could kill the complaint that is undergoing preliminary investigation at the Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor.

Barangay captain complains about town police for release of suspects

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 12:57 a.m.

A BARANGAY official of Daanbantayan questioned the northern town’s police for releasing the five men he arrested for alleged illegal fishing.

Malbago Barangay Captain Virgilio Misa said he had intended to file a formal complaint against the fishermen.

New chief to assume position on Sept. 26

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 12:56 a.m.

OUTGOING Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Ager Ontog paid an exit courtesy call on Gov. Gwen Garcia yesterday.

He brought along his replacement, Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo Jr.

Byron may face criminal raps

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 12:54 a.m.

FORMER Capitol Security Consultant Byron Garcia may be slapped with a criminal complaint for carrying a high-powered firearm without a permit to carry license.

In a related development, Talisay Mayor Socrates Fernandez served a cease and desist order yesterday morning against Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) for violating a subdivision plan, which Garcia also complained together with a 200-strong homeowners association.

City to hold Korean Festival on Oct. 1

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 12:53 a.m.

CEBU City will hold for the first time a Korean Day Festival, a celebration that seeks to introduce the culture and traditions of Korea to the Cebuanos.

With an estimated 20,000 Koreans staying in the city, Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said it is only fitting that the City Government hosts a festival that will promote Korean culture among the locals.

Address flooding woes: Quisumbing to DPWH

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 12:52 a.m.

REP. Luigi Quisumbing (Cebu, sixth district) has called upon the state infrastructure department to address the road and drainage problems in his district, following reports that some parts of Cebu are susceptible to flooding and landslides.

Quisumbing, in a statement, has asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to take action and prioritize areas in his district that are in need of road and drainage improvements.

DOTC, Japanese experts ‘to hear’ Rep. Tomas Osmeña’s ideas on new port

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 12:51 a.m.

EXPERTS from the Ministry of Economic, Trade and Industry (Meti) of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) will conduct an initial presentation of the updates of their review of the international container port plan for the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) on Sept. 30.

Undersecretary Aristotle Batuhan of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) said they will invite Rep. Tomas Osmeña because the CPA and Japanese experts want to listen to his inputs.

Envelope with cash from City faceless

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 12:50 a.m.

THE envelopes that contained the P2,000 cash aid given to more than 800 senior citizens in Barangay Camputhaw yesterday no longer bear the picture of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district) believes this an admission of guilt on the part of Rama.

Tejero fire victims ask CH to build drainage system

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 12:49 a.m.

AT LEAST 50 families from three sitios in Barangay Tejero who were displaced by fire last July have asked the Cebu City Government to act on their clogged drainage.

The families blamed the clogged drainage for the stagnant water that they fear would be the breeding ground of dengue-causing mosquitos and other disease-causing pests.

Bank museum notes, items reveal history

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 12:48 a.m.

A DISPLAY of Spanish-era bank notes, a circa 1980s automated teller machine, and a calculator that weighs 42 pounds in a bank museum can tell varied tales of progress and development in the country's history.

These and other artifacts can be found in the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Museum, the first museum in the country located inside an operational bank, said museum consultant Jojo Bersales.

Boy, 16, dies of hazing in Sultan Kudarat

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 12:26 a.m.

TACURONG CITY -- A criminology student of Notre Dame of Tacurong College here died at a hospital due to severe beatings he sustained from an initiation activity of Tau Gamma Phi-Triskelion fraternity.

Nor B. Silongan, 16, a resident of Lambayong town in Sultan Kudarat, died on September 15 and was buried the following day in accordance with the Muslim burial rites.

Nullification of Oil Deregulation Law sought

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 12:21 a.m.

BACOLOD CITY - A party-list group, together with major transport groups in the country, filed on Friday before the Bacolod Regional Trial Court a petition to nullify the Oil Deregulation Law.

Representative Vigor Mendoza (1-Utak partylist), together with nine transport groups in Bacolod City and eight national organizations, trooped to the Hall of Justice and filed the petition.

Approval of Capitol-Ayala deal pushed

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 12:20 a.m.

THE Commission on Audit (COA) provincial office has recommended the approval of the Capitol-Ayala Land deal.

This was confirmed by COA provincial auditor Ernie Villa after he appeared before the COA regional office to personally submit his comment on the deal.

Party-list leader turns over teachers’ federation building

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 12:19 a.m.

REPRESENTATIVE Antonio L. Tinio (ACT Teachers party-list) on Friday turned over the teachers’ federation building he funded from his 2010 Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

Bacolod City Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson and Councilors El Cid Familiaran and Homer Bais joined Tinio in the inauguration and blessing of the Bacolod City Public School Teachers’ Federation (BCPSTF) building, located at Rosario-San Juan Street.

LTO: Claiming 'Pantawid Pasada' cards until Sept. 23 only

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 12:19 a.m.

DRIVERS of public utility jeepneys (PUJs) have only until September 23 to claim their 'Pantawid Pasada' or smartcards at the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

LTO-Bacolod Chief Norman Saril said that after September 23, unclaimed smartcards will be sent back to the Department of Energy (DOE) in Manila.

Sketch of gunman in dispatcher’s slay released

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 12:18 a.m.

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) released on Friday the cartographic sketch of one of the suspects in the killing of a dispatcher last week inside the Bert Martirs Compound, GT Lines V-Hire Terminal at Lopez-Jaena Street, Bacolod City.

Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Director Senior Superintendent Ricardo De la Paz said the NBI has released the sketch of one of the primary suspects in the shooting of dispatcher Ronie Cortez, 33, a resident of Purok Bayanihan, Barangay Villamonte, and temporarily staying at Lopez-Jaena Terminal in said barangay.

Military: ‘NPA rebels running out of ammo’

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 12:17 a.m.

THE New People's Army (NPA) rebels have run out of ammunition, a military official said.

Colonel Oscar Lactao, 303rd Brigade commander, said the NPA rebels operating in northern Negros have run out of ammo, adding that this is the reason why they continue to evade confrontation with the government forces.

Vice mayor to check terminal operator's business permit

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 12:17 a.m.

BACOLOD City Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson will check whether Crispin Chua, the owner and operator of the North Terminal in Bata, has a business permit to operate the in the new North Terminal.

There are reports that Chua has not yet obtained the said permit, but is already operating the North Terminal.

Police brace for inspection

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 12:16 a.m.

THE Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Noppo) is bracing for the annual ORSITE inspection next week.

Noppo Director Senior Superintendent Allan Guisihan said the ORSITE inspection is being conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) national headquarters annually.

Traffic office seizes 29 pedicabs

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 12:15 a.m.

AT least twenty-nine pedicabs were seized by operatives of Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) in different areas of Bacolod Tuesday and Wednesday.

BTAO head Police Chief Inspector Luisito Acebuche on Friday said the pedicabs were seized for illegally operating in different areas of Bacolod City.

Callboy faces murder raps for call center agent slay