Mercado: Bata o Matanda

THOUSANDS of young adults -- college students and graduates -- make up the powerful but often underestimated voters block in Angeles City. This sector of the local populace is enlightened and politically aware but largely jobless.

From this group come the members of the Partido Abe Kapampangan, the organization that energizes the reelection bid of City Mayor Ed Pamintuan.

Pampanga honors late Jose Abad Santos

GOVERNOR Lilia Pineda and senatorial bet Jamby Madrigal led the wreath laying rites before the monument of Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos in commemoration of his 71st death anniversary.

The event honoring the Kapampangan martyr and patriot was held at the Capitol grounds and attended by employees and second district Board Member Fritzie David-Dizon.

Legarda’s Pantawid Program bats for 1 college grad per family

REELECTIONIST Senator Loren Legarda said that every family, especially the 3.8 million households that are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), should have at least one college graduate.

Legarda said that her vision, which she will work on in her next term, is a “Pantawid Tuition Program” that will fund one college scholar for every poor family.

Support dev’t of credible naval force – Angara

TEAM PNoy senatorial candidate Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said the Philippine Navy deserves all the support to make it a credible defense force that is fit for a maritime country like the Philippines.

He said that a strong and vigilant navy would successfully defend the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) along the country’s vast coastline and maintain sea lanes of communication with other countries to promote regional and global stability.

Bam to back Clark expansion

SENATORIABLE Benigno “Bam” Aquino announced on Monday that he will strongly push and support the expansion of Clark Freeport and the proposed “airport twinning” when he gets to the Upper House.

In his 36th birthday celebration, Aquino met with officials and businessmen from the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Incorporated over lunch and delivered a brief pep talk before the officers of the Laus Group of Companies at the Carworld headquarters in his second visit to Pampanga.

CDC clarifies CBA issues with employees

FOLLOWING reports of Clark Development Corporation (CDC)’s alleged refusal to implement a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) of the Association of CDC Supervisory Personnel (ACSP), Bonifacio Tarenio Jr., CDC Human Resources department manager issued clarification on the issues surrounding the CBA standoff.

Angara: Stronger anti-lemon provisions for new gadgets

TEAM PNoy senatorial bet Edgardo “Sonny” Angara today pushed for a revision of the Consumer Act of the Philippines (CAP) to put in place stronger anti-lemon provisions for new electronic gadgets, particularly cellular phones, laptops and computer tablets, and other popular technological devices.

13 hopefuls vie for CSF’s Lakan at Mutya 2013

THE candidates for this year’s Lakan at Mutya ning San Fernando were revealed Monday during a press conference of the Pyestang Fernandino 2013 at the Tiburcio Hilario Hall in Heroes Hall.

The 13 Lakan and Mutya candidates from various barangays in San Fernando were introduced. Afterwards, the media asked questions to help them determine the winner of the “Darling of the Press” award.

Mayoral candidate: ‘We’re not buying votes’

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - The camp of mayoral candidate and incumbent Vice Mayor Edwin Santiago denied accusations of former congressman Rey Aquino that the former and his Magsilbi Team are buying votes.

Aquino said he has witnessed one incident in Havana Subdivision last Saturday afternoon. “I was shocked at the brazenness of it all,” he said.

CDC management hits back at workers

CLARK FREEPORT - The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) said the move to unite the employees to strike because of alleged refusal by management to bargain is “unjustified, unwarranted, unreasonable, and very selfish.”

CDC employees earlier threatened to stage a massive labor strike because of alleged unfair labor practices by the CDC management.

Kidnappers grab wrong target

MASANTOL - A 39-year-old carpenter from Barangay Cambasie here who was abducted by still unidentified men was later released after the kidnappers realized they took the wrong man.

Emmanuel Bonifacio said he is lucky to be alive, after unknown individuals abducted him on April 30 around 7:30 p.m. at Bebe Anac.

Sampaguita festival highlights Lubao's 441st year of Christianity

LUBAO, Pampanga - Colorful costumes and electrifying dance moves wowed thousands of Lubaeños during Sunday’s much-awaited 2nd Sampaguita Festival.

The festival coincided with the town’s 441st year of Christianity. Mayor Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab said the historic value of the town dates back to 1572 when the Spaniards came and brought Christianity to the people.

San Luis District Hospital anti-poor?

SAN LUIS, Pampanga - Several patients of the San Luis District Hospital (SLDH) said the health facility is “anti-poor” for failing to implement the directive of Governor Lilia Pineda to prioritize indigent Kapampangans.

A certain “Wilson” from Candaba town, who was an accident victim, was taken to the SLDH around 5 a.m. last Saturday for treatment due to multiple injuries.

Town hosts photography, art appreciation seminar

STA. RITA, Pampanga - The Municipal Government of Sta. Rita, in celebration of its “Aldo ning Balen Sta. Rita,” will be hosting a three-day art appreciation and basic photography seminar on May 17 to 19 at the Municipal Hall’s Conference Hall here.

The seminar will feature talks from award-winning visual artist and photographer Ruston Banal.

Residents alarmed over bike drag race

CANDABA, Pampanga – Alarmed residents here had called the attention of the local police to monitor the drag racing of motorcycles along the portion of the Sta. Ana-Baliuag road in Pansol this town.

According to residents, the race compromises the safety of the people, mostly employees, who are on their way home.

Meat shop held up

CAMP OLIVAS - Three unidentified men held up a Fresh Options branch in Barangay Sindalan, City of San Fernando, carting away the day’s collection.

In a report here, Superintendent Ricardo David, city chief of police, said the suspects, pretending to be customers, pulled out a .45 caliber pistol, pointed it at the cashier and declared a hold-up.

Cops nab suspect in apartment rob

CAMP OLIVAS -- Police arrested one of the suspects behind the robbery of three tenants in an apartment in Barangay San Pedro Cutud, City of San Fernando the other day.

Superintendent Ricardo David, city chief of police, identified the arrested suspect as Russel Cunanan, 28, of Barangay San Isidro of said city.

Ex-village chief slain

CAMP OLIVAS -- A former village chief of Barangay Dela Paz in San Simon town was shot and killed Saturday by two unidentified motorcycle-riding armed men along Barangay Dela Paz of the said town.

Senior Superintendent Oscar Albayalde, officer-in-charge of the Pampanga provincial police office, identified the victim as Marciano Intal, 63, an alleged supporter of reelectionist San Simon Mayor Leonora Capule-Wong.

Velasco: Case vs me is ‘politically motivated’

SASMUAN -- Former Mayor Nardo M. Velasco branded as "politically motivated" the case filed against him by known allies of his political opponent.

Velasco, who is running again for the mayoralty seat of this town, told Sun.Star Pampanga in a phone interview Saturday that the said "falsification of public documents" case was filed in 2006 by an employee of his political rival.

Angara: All bets should reject violence

TEAM PNoy senatorial bet Edgardo “Sonny” Angara asked Saturday all political candidates in the May 2013 elections to take a strong stand against all forms of violence on killings, venomous words, and cyber bullying.

Angara said candidates and political leaders should work to bring peace, stability and hope to regions too often paralyzed by fear, hatred and violence.

Comelec to hold dry run of PCOS machines Monday

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Commission on Elections will be holding a dry run of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines in polling precincts all over the province tomorrow, a day after the machines arrived in Pampanga.

The dry run, according to lawyer Fernando Cot-om, Comelec provincial chairman, will be held for “fine tuning and familiarization.”

Guv eyes P100 million for livelihood programs

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Governor Lilia Pineda said the other day that she would ask the Provincial Board to allocate another P100 million for livelihood and employment programs if she is given a fresh mandate after the elections.

She said there is a need to strengthen the job generating mechanism of the province, including the provision of employment opportunities to Kapampangans.

Cabigting to move for livelihoods, development programs

ANGELES CITY — Reelectionist Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting said Saturday she will move for more livelihood and development programs if reelected.

Cabigting said she is set to finish the home stretch of her campaign with visiting constituents and capping the whole campaign with a prayer.

Foundation hosts seminar for livelihood

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The Kapampangan Development Foundation (KDF) has conducted a seminar on “Organic Swine and Quail Egg Raising” at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) covered court in Barangay Maimpis.

The event is part of the seminar series being hosted by KDF to benefit locals who are looking for affordable livelihood options. 

Zubiri to push development of Clark

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Senatoriable Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri has vowed to push for the further development of Clark Freeport and to make Clark International Airport the country's premier air hub.

During a meeting with officials of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (PamCham), Zubiri said it was his way of "reciprocating" the support accorded to him by Kapampangans in the last elections.

Court orders arrest of ex-Sasmuan mayor

SASMUAN -- The Municipal Trial Court (MTC) Third Judicial Region in this second district town of Pampanga recently issued a warrant of arrest against former mayor Nardo Velasco.

Judge Jerry Perico, presiding judge of the MTC Third Judicial Region, issued the warrant of arrest against Velasco, who is charged with "falsification of public documents."

Lawyer wounded in ambush

CAMP OLIVAS -- A lawyer was seriously wounded when two men assaulted him along Abad Santos Avenue (Jasa), formerly Olongapo-Gapan-road (GSO), in Barangay Parian, Mexico town, Thursday night.

Senior Superintendent Oscar Albayalde, Pampanga Police Provincial Office officer-in-charge, identified the victim as Ryann Rueda, 31, a resident of Barangay San Vicente, Sto. Tomas, Pampanga.

San Fernando fetes governance council with marker

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The City Government of San Fernando honored Thursday the men and women of the Multi-Sectoral Governance Council (MSGC) by unveiling and installing a marker at Heroes Hall.

City Planning Officer Engr. Fernando Limbitco said the marker is "dedicated to the men and women of the city of San Fernando whose direct and active participation in governance propelled the city to greater heights and closer to its vision of becoming a habitat of human excellence in 2013."

DFA urged to augment Saudi embassy staff

TEAM PNoy senatorial candidate Edgardo "Sonny" Angara urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to deploy additional staff to the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to facilitate the documentation and swift repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have indicated their intention to come home.

Angara said the number of stranded Filipinos encamped beside the Philippine Consulate building in Jeddah has surged to more than 3,000 based on reports from Saudi Arabia.

Comelec asks troops to ‘protect people'

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Provincial election supervisor Fernando Cot-Om said Friday during the send-off ceremonies of augmentation troops that "protection of the people" is the most important mission in the upcoming elections."

Cot-Om said the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines, ballots and election paraphernalia are just secondary. "But it doesn't mean that they should be taken for granted."