ILOILO CITY (PNA) — The Department of Agriculture (DA) will pursue cloud seeding operations by middle or last week of April in a move to augment supply of water in central Panay Island, particularly in watershed areas. This was assured by Agriculture Regional Executive Director Larry Nacionales after he received field reports that watermelon farms in Iloilo have started to mature and that harvesting of fruit-bearing mango trees have already started. Nacionales said some 300 hectares of watermelon farms and over 200 hectares of mango farms are ready to absorb salt-rich rainwaters by middle or third week of April. He also said that the DA has allotted some P2.8 million to fund cloud seeding operations intended to augment the supply of water in severely affected areas, especially watersheds and rice farms in central Panay. Iloilo City and the province are currently suffering from severe potable water shortage with the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) reporting highly reduced water levels at the Maasin Dam, in Maasin, Iloilo, a main water source.

Man with Nubain ampules charged

CEBU CITY — Police has filed charges against a 47-year-old man who was arrested in a checkpoint at the South Road Properties after he was caught in possession of 500 ampules of Nubain, a regulated drug. A case for violation of City Ordinance 1427, which regulates the sale of Nubain, Tramal, Stadol, and other pain killers, was filed against Celso Labiano, a native of Castillano, Negros Occidental. Aside from the 500 ampules of Nubain, police also found 100 vials from Labiano. The items were found when policemen checked the taxi Labiano was in, together with a 12-year-old girl. The police team led by Insp. Gualberto Gabales flagged down the cab for customary checking, and became suspicious when Labiano, who was on the front seat, quickly handed over five small boxes to the 12-year-old girl sitting at the rear seat. The ampules were discovered when the cops checked the boxes. Gabales was arrested after he failed to present a prescription from a physician. He claimed that the ampules were to be delivered to Iligan. Interviewed by the police, the girl said in tears that she has been accompanying the suspect in delivering the items many times. (Mars Mosqueda)

Two killed, 1 wounded by NPA

CAMP LUKBAN, Maulong, Catbalogan City, Samar — Two were killed and another wounded after members of the New People’s Army (NPA) fired at a family in Barangay Bag-otan, Matuguinao, Samar Wednesday morning, a military report said Monday. Major General Arthur Tabaquero, Commanding General, 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, based here, told reporters in an interview that the family of Domingo de la Cruz, 50, of Barangay Bag-otan, Matuguinao, Samar, was fired upon by four members of the rebel group while they were still sleeping in their farm hut early in the morning. Tabaquero said the NPAs, using high powered firearms, instantly killed De la Cruz and his son Jovic, 22, and wounded the latter’s wife, Mylene, 20, who is now in the Maruguinao hospital for medical treatment. The military official also said that the main reason why the family of Dela Cruz was strafed was because the NPA suspected them of being military informants. Tabaquero further said that his Army division has provided the Philippine National Police (PNP) forces in Matuguinao with augmentation troops in pursuing the NPA group. (Restituto Cayubit)