Drug suspect's relatives attempt to bribe cop

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- A police officer here was offered P45,000 by the relatives of a suspected gun and illegal drugs runner in exchange for not pursuing charges against them.

Inspector John Pineda, station commander of the community police assistance center (Compac) 4 in this city, said the money was offered to him by Emelda Gundam, 60, and Michael Gundam, 36.

Bizman: Service strips not feasible

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Businessman Rene Romero said the plan to build service strips in order to save trees along the MacArthur Highway is not feasible.

Romero issued the statement after Architect Edgar Salas, an architecture professor at Holy Angel University (HAU), bared a road perspective which is expected to save full-grown acacia trees along the highway.

Village chief warns 'kaingeros'

ARAYAT -- San Juan Baño village chief Luisito Portacio on Wednesday warned illegal loggers and "kaingeros" (slash-and-burn farmers) who enrich themselves at the expense of Mt. Arayat here.

American trader shot dead

ANGELES CITY -- An American businessman was shot and killed by two gunmen in Barangay Capaya here on Thursday.

School-based employment office agreement signed

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- At least six universities and colleges in Pampanga signed an agreement with the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) for the establishment of school-based Public Employment Service Offices (Pesos).

Power coop dares Benguet exec to sue

THE Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) is challenging Councilor Fred Bagbagen to bring to court his allegations that the firm financed the campaign of the new officers of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC).

Beneco Administrative Officer Leo Belingon said a case in court would be an opportunity for the cooperative to explain their side.

Money claims stall road project

OFFICIALS of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said road-right-of-way claims are delaying the completion of the Baguio City's circumferential road.

Engineer Ireneo Gallato, DPWH Baguio City District head, said the proposed P140-million circumferential road project is expected to be finished next year once these problems are resolved.

Filipino travelers warned against acting as drug mules

VARIOUS government agencies have warned Filipinos traveling abroad to be careful with the packages they carry out of the country as a number of Pinoys have been arrested as drug couriers for international drug syndicates.

Anti-gambling petition reaches Palace

THE anti-gambling advocacy of a multi-sectoral group here has reached the National Government.

Firecracker, gun replica vendors face arrest

A POLICE chief in Baguio warned on Thursday that vendors or suppliers of illegal firecrackers and gun replicas face arrest in consonance with existing rules and regulations.

Baguio Photo Walk II set for Dec. 20

ENCOURAGED by the success of the Baguio Photo Walk during the city's 101st founding anniversary, the Baguio City government, through the City Council committee on tourism, is re-launching the event, dubbed "Photo Walk 2," on Monday, Dec. 20.

Cambridge School reaches out to orphans

THE orphans from the Lingap Center in Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet, will spend a day of fun and merriment at Cambridge School.

Mountain Province town passes sanitation ordinance

BAUKO, Mountain Province - The Municipal Council here has passed an ordinance prohibiting and penalizing unsanitary acts in the town to ensure the people's health and to promote sanitation.

Anti-rabies compliant barangays recognized

BONTOC, Mountain Province - Barangay Poblacion of Tadian municipality was judged the winner in the province-wide search for the most compliant barangay to the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007.

Defense chief to visit slain soldiers in Catarman

TACLOBAN CITY -- Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin is slated to visit Catarman, Northern Samar to personally condole with the family of the 10 soldiers slain in an ambush recently.

Killing of 2 minors in Northern Samar condemned

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Eastern Visayas condemned the deaths of minors in separate ambush incidents in a Northern Samar town.

Children should be spared from any armed conflicts and to kill them is something that should be denounced, said DSWD-Eastern Visayas Director Letecia Corillo in a press conference.

Prudency in giving bonus sought

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) reminded local government units (LGUs) anew to be prudent in granting Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI) by considering financial capability and personal services limitation.

3rd EIATP Media Awards 2010 has 40 entries

FORTY media practitioners have submitted their entries for the 3rd Express It At The Park (EIATP) Media Awards 2010, making this year's event the biggest in number in terms of entries.

High Court ruling on Mikey Arroyo hit

THE Supreme Court (SC) decision dismissing the disqualification cases against Representative Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo could "spell destruction of the party-list system," a lawmaker said Friday.

China reviews death sentence of 5 Pinoys

THE Philippine Embassy in Beijing said Friday that the cases of five convicted Filipino drug mules, sentenced with death penalty, are now being reviewed by the China's Court of Supreme People.

Aside from the five, there were also 70 others facing death penalty with two-year reprieve, 35 cases with life imprisonment sentences, 68 with fixed-term imprisonment, and 27 pending cases.

Government welcomes Filipinos' optimism

MALACAÑANG was elated on a recent survey, showing that nine out 10 Filipinos have high hopes for the coming year.

"Maganda yang hudyat na may pag-asa ang ating mga kababayan. Importante yun dahil kapag may pag-asa, mas meron silang kusa na tumulong sa ating pamahalaan," said Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte.

Rebels: Samar clash is legitimate

THE Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Friday said Tuesday's encounter in Northern Samar was a legitimate clash as its forces were merely "acting in self defense."

Criminal liability of teen offenders pushed

SEVERAL lawmakers wanted to strengthen the country's juvenile justice system to include teenage offenders, citing that syndicates often use children above 15 but below 18 years old in their criminal activities.

PAL employees see joyous holidays

EMBATTLED workers at Philippine Airlines (PAL) are looking forward to a hassle-free yuletide season on the back of Malacañang's move to temporarily halt the retrenchment of 2,600 workers.

Sale of 'suicide cleaner' continues

AN ENVIRONMENTAL group said some jewelry and watch stores in Metro Manila malls are still selling silver cleaning solutions despite a blanket ban on the poisonous substance.

Smuggled diesel oil, ukay-ukay seized

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) confiscated four container vans loaded with diesel oil and used clothing or "ukay-ukay" worth P20 million at the Port of Manila.

Police file raps vs abducted nurse's uncle

THE Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) has filed charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention and murder against three people, including the uncle of a kidnapped nurse.

ZCPO Director Edwin de Ocampo said the cases were filed Thursday against the suspects before the Office of the City Prosecutor.

Port users urged to renew permits early

A TOP official of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has advised the port users to renew their permits early as the PPA-Zamboanga management gears for a brighter economic activity next year.

Leonilo Miole, manager of PPA-Zamboanga, said the PPA central office has set the deadline for renewal of all kinds of permits until December 31 this year.

Bacolod breaks ground for Felisa landfill

BACOLOD City held Thursday the groundbreaking for the construction of the city’s sanitary landfill at Purok Acacia, Barangay Felisa after it secured an Environment Compliance Certificate from the environment office.

Construction will start on January 2011 and the project is expected to be operational by June 30 2011.

Bizmen approve proposed tax hike

THE Bacolod City Government and the local business community have agreed to a graduated tax rate increase spread over four years starting 2011.

Secretary to the Mayor Rodel Parcon told Sun.Star Bacolod Thursday the staggered increase was decided during the latest meeting with the businessmen regarding the proposed local revenue code now pending before the City Council.