Pacquiao visits Pangasinan

BINMALEY -- Sarangani Representative Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao visited this town Saturday to inaugurate several infrastructure projects and to grace the town's Sigay Festival celebration.

Pacquiao, who arrived in town at 10:30 a.m., went straight to the church and led the inauguration of the Centennial Park, Estacion Triangle Park and the Municipal Museum.

Government to build hospital for police, emergency personnel

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union -- The Philippine National Police (PNP), with the help of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), will have its own hospital catering primarily to policemen and other uniformed personnel from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Peace and Order Rico Puno announced this Friday when he graced the Police Regional Office’s (PRO) celebration of the 21st PNP Founding Anniversary.

Pacquiao to inaugurate Pangasinan museum

BINMALEY, Pangasinan -- Boxing champion and Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao will pay a visit to this town on Saturday morning to inaugurate a newly-renovated museum.

Around 200 policemen, soldiers, and army reservists were tapped to keep crowd control and security as hundreds of Binmaleyans are expected to troop to Poblacion to take a glimpse of the world famous boxer.

Village chief wins elections after drawing lots

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan -- A candidate was proclaimed winner of the October 2010 barangay elections in Salisay through drawing lots.

Andrew Carvajal was proclaimed as the new Salisay barangay captain after he picked out the rolled piece of paper containing number "1," which is the winning number.

Monastery for contemplative nuns rises in Pangasinan

MALASIQUI -- A monastery for contemplative nuns now stands at the hilly part of Barangay Nancapian, this town.   Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas on Saturday led the blessing of the Poor Clare Monastery of Saint James the Apostle after administering a mass in the chapel.

Dagupan to hold grand Chinese New Year celebration

DAGUPAN CITY -- The Filipino-Chinese community in the city joins the whole country in celebrating the Chinese New Year Monday.   The City Government in partnership with the Chinese community prepared a grander celebration to usher in the incoming Year of the Water Dragon.

Provincial guard suspended

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- A provincial guard was suspended for 60 days for gross misconduct after he encouraged an inmate to stab another last January 18 using an improvised weapon he himself provided.

Provincial guard Marcelo Lopez was slapped with a preventive suspension based on the order issued by Provincial Legal Officer Geraldine Baniqued.

No date yet for closure of Pangasinan bridge

CALASIAO, Pangasinan – The National Government has yet to issue an advisory regarding the date of the closure of the Villamil bridge, which will soon be replaced by a new structure.

Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay, who is expecting the construction of a new bridge to replace the 50-year-old structure that links the town proper to eastern barangays, said the local government is still awaiting an advisory from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) through the 3rd Engineering Sub-district located in Sta. Barbara town.

Pangasinan celebrates anniversary of Lingayen Gulf Landings

LINGAYEN – The Provincial Government of Pangasinan will once again immortalize and refresh today, Monday, the valor and heroism of the Pangasinan World War II veterans and defenders of Philippine Independence.

Governor Amado Espino Jr. will lead the celebration of the 67th Lingayen Gulf Landings Anniversary, back-to-back with the Pangasinan Veteran’s Day. The program will be held at the Veterans Memorial Park at the Capitol Compound.

Teacher arrested

URDANETA CITY – A teacher was arrested for trying to bribe Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents.

A case of violation of Corruption of Public Authority was filed in court against Jenny Reyes, 34, teacher at the Badipa Elementary School. She is, however, out on bail.

Wanted person resisted arrest

UMINGAN – Marcos Agcayab Ducos, 31, is facing two new cases for resisting arrest and grabbing the service firearm of his arresting policeman.

Agcayab has standing warrant of arrest issued by Judge Gonzalo Mapili Jr., Municipal Trial Court, Trece Martires City, Cavite, for the crimes of alarm and scandal, and resistance disobedience to an agent of person in authority.

Mrs. Villasis popularity contest raises P20 M for town

VILLASIS, Pangasinan -- Cash raised from the Mrs. Villasis' popularity contest this year have defied expectations after breaking record-highs. 

Town mayor Dita Abrenica made these remarks on Thursday after contest earnings have reached a total of P19.865 million, which will mainly be used for municipality's improvement.

Body of 10-year-old drowning victim found

BINMALEY, Pangasinan -- The body of the 10-year-old boy who drowned with his younger brother last Monday morning at the beach in Barangay San Isidro Norte was finally found.

Police Inspector Rommel Sembrano, Binmaley Police Station administrative officer, said the cadaver was found by a concerned citizen around 10 a.m. Wednesday along the shoreline in Barangay Buenlag near the boundary of Sabangan in Dagupan City.

Body of one of 2 boys who drowned in Pangasinan recovered

BINMALEY, Pangasinan -- Two boys taking a vacation with their family here drowned at the beach at Barangay San Isidro Norte Monday morning.

The body of Juan Leroan Guija III, 8 years old, was found Monday afternoon while his 10-year-old brother, Jun Michael, remains missing as of Tuesday afternoon.

Allow Christ to renew your hearts, Pangasinan faithful told

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan -- For the New Year, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas asked the faithful to “pause, reflect, and allow Jesus Christ to renew your hearts.”

”Beyond the fireworks and the clinking of glasses and rich tasty food on the table, pause and reflect on these timeless questions and like Mary, ponder these things in your heart. Unless you allow Jesus to renew your heart, this year will just be like the old year,” he stated.

Pangasinan's conjoined twins in critical condition

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan -- Conjoined twins who were delivered by a caesarian operation is fighting for their lives at the Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC).

Sarah and Grace, who weigh 3.8 pounds at birth, have two heads, two livers, two spines but only one set of hands and feet in one body.

1 of 2 corpses found in Pangasinan named

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan -- A male cadaver with several stab wounds found at Bonuan Tondaligan on Tuesday morning was identified by investigators of the Dagupan City Police.

The corpse was identified as Danny Evangelista, 32, a village councilman of Barangay Guesang in nearby Mangaldan town, and manager of the Globe Telecom service center at Nepo Mall in this city.

Officials witness sealing of La Union police's guns

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union -- Representatives from different government agencies witnessed the ceremonial service firearm muzzle taping held at the regional police command here last Tuesday morning.

Among those who attended were regional officials from various agencies such as the Departments of Health and Foreign Affairs, among others.

Dagupan cops warned vs indiscriminate gun firing on New Year

DAGUPAN -- "The masking tape is as fragile as your stay in the police service."

This warning was issued by city police chief Superintendent Romeo Caramat Jr. after masking tape was placed on the muzzle of service firearms to ensure that officers won't fire them indiscriminately during New Year celebrations.

Guv asks leaders to keep town centers clean

LINGAYEN – "The poblacion is the face, the heart and the soul of each town."

Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino Jr. said this during a recent Christmas dinner and fellowship night with local government officials at the Capitol Plaza, as he urged leaders to keep town centers clean.

Miss Dagupan 2011 to be crowned Monday

THE coronation of the Miss Dagupan 2011 and the Pawil Dagupan will highlight Monday's culmination of Dagupan City's fiesta celebration.

Eighteen-year-old Denielle Joie Magno, a third year Masscom student at Colegio de Dagupan, bested 11 other candidates during the Miss Dagupan 2011 Pageant Night last December 18.

All 6 Pangasinan lawmakers sign impeach plaint

DAGUPAN CITY -- All six congressmen from the province of Pangasinan signed the impeachment complaint against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.

They are Representatives Jesus Celeste from the first district, Leopoldo Bataoil (second), Rachel Arenas (third), Gina de Venecia (fourth), Kimi Cojuangco (fifth), and Marlyn Agabas (sixth).

New bridge to begin construction by next year

CALASIAO, Pangasinan -- Authorities said construction of a new bridge that will replace the 50-year-old Villamil bridge may begin by January next year.

The new two-lane bridge will be 7.3 meters wide and will be supported by two concrete abutments and three piers. It will also have four steel girders at every 25 meters.

Dagupan mayor extends hand of friendship to vice mayor

DAGUPAN CITY -- Mayor Benjie Lim has extended the "hand of friendship" to his vice-mayor and vocal critic, Belen Fernandez, during a rare ceremony that both officials attended.

During the City Fiesta 2011 Opening and Lighting ceremony held early Thursday evening, the mayor offered the gesture to all other city officials, including Fernandez, who has been critical of his projects.

Board okays release of productivity bonus

LINGAYEN -- The Provincial Board here approved Friday an appropriation ordinance that authorizes the release of productivity incentives for Provincial Government employees.

The P79,226,256 approved budget includes the P10,000 productivity enhancement incentives to be given to each regular and casual employees of the Provincial Government.

Worker dies after attempting to rob barangay chief

SAN FABIAN, Pangasinan -- A factory worker who allegedly tried to rob a barangay chief's house died after the victim engaged him in a gunfight whose stray bullets, in turn, hit a bus passenger.

Vergilio Mina, a factory worker, said to be from Dasol in Pangasinan, died after being chased and shot by Tiblong (San Fabian) barangay chairman Raul Abaoag.

52 detainees freed after 'court on wheels' visits Pangasinan

DAGUPAN CITY – Fifty-two detainees will be celebrating Christmas with their respective families after ordered released by the judges in the Supreme Court’s "Enhanced Justice on Wheels" (EJOW).

The two customized EJOW buses of the Supreme Court held their mobile hearing and mediation proceedings in front of the Provincial Capitol Building in Lingayen Thursday morning.

Automobile group promotes road safety in Pangasinan

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- “Reduce road accidents” is the battlecry of the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), as it goes around the country with its Drive Tour Caravan.

On Friday morning, former Tourism now AAP Director Secretary Mina Gabor, the ambassadors of Malaysia, Brunei, Greece and Pakistan, together with Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan, led the signing of the Decade Action for Road Safety Pledge held at the Sison Auditorium here.

Council to designate areas for firecracker peddlers

DAGUPAN CITY - The City Council here has proposed an ordinance seeking to designate permanent firecracker selling areas that will be situated away from commercial establishments and busy streets.

At this time of the year, out-of-town traders come to Dagupan to peddle their wares and are usually allowed to occupy whole road stretches - which makes the situation quite dangerous if the firecracker vendors would spread their wares along the side streets.

Pangasinan journalists to hold prayer rally for slain colleagues

DAGUPAN CITY - Journalists in Pangasinan will hold a prayer rally on Wednesday for their fallen comrades in the Maguindanao massacre in Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

On Wednesday will be the second anniversary of what is considered as the single deadliest event for journalists in the world ever.