Sunday, December 18, 2005 (Philippines)

One always knows when a city celebration is on by the way workers, even in the heat of the noontime sun, feverishly rush the painting of bridges, walls, and other areas most visible to visitors. Balikbayans are coming in for the Dagupan City fiesta that starts December 15. (Pangasinan Star photo/Butch F. Uka) TAYUG -- The Paas murder and theft case is taking a much more serious turn here with Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Ulysses Raciles Butuyan, who had dismissed the complaint against the two suspects last November 30 now reportedly getting death threats. Butuyan admitted last week that there is a present threat to his life by people whose identities he prefers not to divulge as yet. A source close to the judge said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has likewise told him that the threat to the court magistrate's and the two suspects lives "is real." [full story]