SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga — The mayor of this city, who also sits as president of the League of Cities in the Philippines (LCP), said Friday that the council of city mayors in the country are solid behind the retention of former Naga City Mayor Jesse M. Robredo as the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“Secretary Robredo should not be removed from his post because he had no fault on what had transpired,” Rodriguez said in Filipino. The statements of Rodriguez came after several congressmen had called for Robredo’s resignation for his “failure to solve the first major crisis situation during President Aquino’s administration.”

In a press statement, House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman has called for the resignation of Robredo for “the fatal blunders in the handling of the hostage crisis.” But Rodriguez said Robredo cannot be blamed for the hostage crisis, adding that the removal of the DILG Secretary from his post will not help solving the case. “It was not the fault of (former Naga) Mayor Robredo.

During the situation, a crisis management team was tasked to facilitate the surrender of the suspect and the safety of the victims,” the mayor said. Rodriguez suggested that instead of pointing figures, critics should assist the government in solving the case. (Mark Anthony N. Manuel)

DRUG DUO FALLS

CITY OF BINAN, Laguna — Two suspected members of an organized drug group in this province were arrested by police operatives in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Malaban, here, early Thursday, police said Friday.

Senior Superintendent Gilberto Cruz, Laguna Police Provincial Office (PPO) director, identified the two as Dennis Marfil, 28, and Raulito Amatorio, 40, alleged members of the Bartolo-Aleroso drug syndicate. The crime gang is known to be operating in the 1st District of Laguna.

Cruz said Biñan Police intelligence operatives led by Supt. Joel Pernito, city police chief, staged the sting operation at Zone 2 in Barangay Malaban around 3:40 a.m.

Apart from the three sachets of “shabu” the duo tried to sell to covert agents, a loaded .38-caliber pistol was also seized from them during their arrest. Pernito said that further investigation of the two suspects allegedly linked them to the “Bonnet Gang,” a gun-for-hire syndicate. (Ferdinand F. Castro)

BALANGA TAPS PRIVATE SECTOR

BALANGA CITY, Bataan — The city government plans to tap the private sectors to fund and develop priority infrastructure projects in this capital city in what is perhaps an unprecedented partnership between government and its constituents.

“Many organizations have an unwritten policy of ‘reaching out’ in order to draw support from a potential partner, or vice versa. Whichever the case may be, the city government of Balanga uses these strategies to great effect especially when implementing several programs along the road map heading to the grand vision of establishing a University Town by year 2020,” said Mayor Joet S. Garcia.

He said that with the promise of genuine transparency and good governance, the city government hopes to draw wider participation and support from stakeholders – the business sector, the academe, non – government organizations, the church and the local barangays. And to put money in the proper project, Garcia continues his “Barangay Week” program.

In Barangay Week, the city government holds offices in a barangay for the whole week in order to understand the various problems and issues in the most basic level of governance (Mar T. Supnad)