Presence of US troops in Luisita questioned

SEVERAL lawmakers sought for an investigation on the reported sightings of United States soldiers in Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac while calling for the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

Red Cross on alert due to Mt. Bulusan

AS THE restive Mt. Bulusan continues to spew ashes, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) placed its operation on 24/7 in anticipation of the looming volcanic eruption.

PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang announced that their operation center and Sorsogon chapter will be closely monitoring the development in the activities of the volcano.

Special polls today in Basilan, other areas

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) expressed optimism that there will be a high turnout of voters in today's (Saturday) special elections.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said voters in Basilan province and some areas in Bulacan and Lanao del Sur would still be eager to exercise their right to vote.

Bishops seek Aquino's stand on organ sale

APART from the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) will ask President Benigno Aquino III to give a firm stand on the issue of organ sale.

CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Bioethics Chairman Jose Oliveros said they are hoping to hear the stand of Aquino on the matter amid the plan of his health secretary, Enrique Ona, to review the total ban on non-related organ transplant.

PNP gears for holiday season

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) tightens its security measures against the notorious "Bundol Gang" at the onset of the Christmas Season.

PNP Chief Raul Bacalzo instructed the deployment of mobile patrol units particularly in Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after receiving reports of the proliferation of "Bundol Gang" in the area.

Clearing of vendors on train stations starts

THE Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) started the clearing of its stations from illegal vendors, ensuring comforts of its half a million daily riders.

LRTA Administrator Rafael Rodriguez said the clean-up drive is part of their preparations for the expected influx of passengers this Christmas.

Fight vs city litter bugs on

ANGELES CITY -- Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan recently created an anti-littering task force that would curb indiscriminate waste disposal and encourage environmental stewardship among Angeleños.

Clark HR council for industrial peace cited

CLARK FREEPORT -- Clark Development Corporation (CDC) president Benigno Ricafort has underscored the efforts of the Clark Human Resource Council (CHRC) in helpin g maintain industrial peace inside this Freeport.

At the 2010 Annual Assembly of HR Professionals held at the Hotel Stotsenberg last Wednesday, Ricafort cited the CHRC for promoting healthy competition and complementation among Clark firms.

Angeles City starts campaign vs traffic violators

ANGELES CITY -- Complaints regarding the risks of public utility vehicles (PUVs) without headlights plying major thoroughfares has prompted the City Government to start a massive campaign against violators.

The campaign on arresting drivers of PUVs like jeepneys and tricycles even private vehicles started on Tuesday night.

Creation of bicycle lanes urged

ANGELES CITY -- An environmentalist group here has urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to provide a bicycle lane along MacArthur Highway, which is now called the Manila North Road (MNR).

Farmers benefit from 'OK Kabuhayan'

GUAGUA -- Hundreds of farmer-members of the Barangay Agricultural and Fishery Council (BAFC) coming from 17 villages here have benefitted from the "OK Kabuhayan" program spearheaded by Vice Mayor Anthony Twaño.

Twaño, together with Councilors Sajid Khan Eusoof and Eugene Paul Ponio, co-chairs of the Municipal Council committee on agriculture distributed Friday 17 sprayers and farming tools to BAFC chairmen.

Biz group finds wage increase acceptable

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- A group of Pampanga traders said Wednesday that the recent increase of P14 in the salaries of minimum wage earners is acceptable.

The wage order, issued by the regional tripartite board a few days ago, will take effect on November 22 and will cover workers in Central Luzon.

Pinoys prepare to party for Pacman

DALLAS, Texas -- Not far from the Cowboys Stadium, a few groups of Pinoys will hold a pre-fight party for Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao Saturday and Sunday afternoon, just a few hours before his fight with Antonio Margarito.

Mimi Smith, Joy Bucher, Nathalie and Corazon Miraflores, who are all from Pardo, Cebu CIty, will lead the scores of Pinoys in a short celebration together with friends Renie Rose Luzano of Davao and Mayet Judge from Cagayan.

Bill decriminalizing libel sought

SOME media practitioners in Cagayan de Oro City have urged Representative Maximo Rodriguez of Abante Mindanao (Abamin) to pass a bill decriminalizing libel.

In a forum held at Marigold Hotel on Thursday, in time for the 59th anniversary of the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC), the city's media practitioners said there is a need to decriminalize libel, or at least amend the existing libel law.

Bukidnon hit by filariasis

A FEW towns in the province of Bukidnon are reportedly affected by a vector-borne disease called filariasis, the Department of Health (DOH) in Northern Mindanao said.

Firms to pay 10% amusement tax

CAGAYAN de Oro City Government is requiring establishments in the city that would show Manny Pacquiao's fight live on Sunday, November 14, to pay a 10 percent amusement tax.

City treasurer Lino Daral said malls, bars, restaurants, movie houses and hotels that charge an additional amount for the live showing must pay for amusement taxes for the additional service.

Labor office halts PAL on outsourcing plan

MANILA -- The Labor department on Friday stopped the management of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) from pushing through with the outsourcing of its "non-core" services.

The move came after President Benigno Aquino III, who was in Yokohama, Japan for the 18th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders meeting, announced that he will intervene in the labor dispute between PAL management and its workers in a bid to "get them closer to negotiated settlement."

Mayor dismayed with security firm

MAYOR Mauricio Domogan expressed disappointment over the robbery of City Hall offices for the second time last Wednesday.

"I am upset!" Domogan announced after learning of the robbery.

Labor not satisfied with P12 allowance hike

LABOR is far from happy with the latest P12 increase in the cost of living allowance (Cola) for the region's workers.

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board decided on the increase last Wednesday after four meetings, said Teodoro Delson, an officer of the board.

Igorots demand apology from US Secret Service

LAGAWE, Ifugao -- Three Igorots have demanded that the US Secret Service issue an apology not only to Cordillerans but to all indigenous peoples of the world.

The three Igorots were discriminated against for wearing only their native Igorot "wanes" (g-string) to attend former US president Bill Clinton's forum held at the Manila Hotel, Wednesday.

City wins eviction case vs resort manager

THE Baguio City government won its case against businessman Roger Sinot, current manager of city-owned Asin resort complex.

Lawmaker asks for P680-M pork to fix roads

BENGUET Representative Ronald Cosalan is waiting for the approval of his requested P680-million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for next year.

Cosalan said the Senate is still reviewing the proposed national budget even though the House of Representative has already approved it. The lawmaker stressed that his requested fund, if approved, will be used for the repair of all Benguet national roads.

Sun.Star covers Pacquiao-Margarito bout

CEBU CITY -- Readers of www.sunstar.com.ph will be treated once again to a blow-by-blow account of the super-welterweight match between pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and Mexican Antonio Margarito.

Trader seized in Zambo Sibugay

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Gunmen seized another trader in Zamboanga Sibugay on Tuesday, as police authorities identify the whereabouts of a businesswoman who was kidnapped in Basilan a week earlier.

Police said Reynaldo Drapiza, 58, was navigating his motorized banca loaded with passengers on Tuesday when the gunmen aboard another boat appeared and seized the trader at gunpoint.

Military academy raises curriculum

FORT DEL PILAR -- Cadets at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) are getting a dose of a new curriculum.

Captain Agnes Lynette Flores, PMA information chief, said the curriculum design of the academy has changed over the years, beginning with teaching plebes basic courses and upgrading to integration programs.

Government troops seize rebels' camp in Abra

NARVACAN, Ilocos Sur -- Troops under the Philippine Army's 41st Infantry Battalion overran on Wednesday morning a big camp believed to be the headquarters of the New People's Army (NPA) operating in the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Before the troops discovered the NPA camp located near a mining site in the outskirts of Sitio Sap-al, Barangay Buneg, Lacub, Abra, a brief firefight ensued between them and the rebels in the area.

214 bizmen benefit from livelihood program

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Some 214 micro-entrepreneurs and 50 members of the Sagada Environmental Guides Association (Sega) will benefit from the Livelihood Enhancement Program of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole).

All these applicants were assessed and evaluated by the Dole and qualified as beneficiaries under the implementing rules of the program.

IRA dependence of Cordillera LGUs addressed

MEASURES to increase revenues of local government units (LGUs) are now being prepared by Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jessie Robredo.

Robredo, who addressed government accountants during their national conference in Baguio City, said raising local revenues is the only way to put a stop to local governments' dependency on Internal Revenue Allotment.

Rebels hostage village folk

SUSPECTED communist rebels raided a village in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur on Wednesday and took hostage residents for more than two hours before leaving.

Lt. Colonel Medel Aguilar, spokesman of the Philippine Army's 10th Infantry Division, identified the rebels as belonging to Guerrilla Front 72 headed by one Kumander Bobo.

Journalist's slay case to be transferred to Cebu

MATI, Davao Oriental -- The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the transfer of the case of slain journalist Jessiderio Camangyan, who was allegedly shot and killed by a police officer in Davao Oriental.

Unofficial reports reaching Sun.Star Davao showed that the High Court ordered for the transfer of the murder case from the Regional Trial Court Branch 5 in Mati to a special court in Cebu City tasked to hear cases of journalist killings in the country.