ANTIPOLO CITY — A member of a cultural minority is bringing honor to the community which he represents as well as the entire city following his nomination to the search for the outstanding government employee by the Civil Service Commission (CSC). The city has something to be proud in the person of Ernesto Doroteo, 59, a member of the Dumagat, a cultural minority found in Sitio San Ysiro, San Jose, of this city as he is included in the awardees for this year’s Dangal ng Bayan (Outstanding Public Officials and Employees) Awards of the CSC. Doroteo, an employee at the City Social Welfare Department (CSWD) of the Antipolo City government, has been nominated for his efforts in bringing education close to his upland community of San Ysiro. He was instrumental in introducing formal education to the more than 100 children of the Dumagat families. (Nel B. Andrade)

COPS SEIZE GUNS

CAMP GEN. FLORENDO, La Union — A joint team of police operatives seized an assortment of loose firearms and ammunition in a raid of two houses in Sual, Pangasinan, the Police Regional Office 1 (PRO1) based here reported yesterday. Chief Supt. Orlando Mabutas, PRO1 director, said the raiding team swooped down on the residences of Enrico Macatlag Brusdo and Elmer Macatlag, both in Barangay Pangascasan last September 10 by virtue of a search warrant issued by Lingayen Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 68 Judge Georgina Hidalgo. The raids led to the confiscation of three high-powered guns and ammunition from the house of Macatlag and a .45-caliber pistol and assorted bullets from Brudo’s residence. (Rizaldy Comanda)

VET WARNS VS ANIMAL DISEASES

BONTOC, Mt. Province — Animal raisers here are advised to take preventive measures to safeguard their hogs from the dreaded Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome (PRRS), a disease that has already infected several pigs in this capital-town. Dr. Dorris Cobaldez of the Office of the Provincial Veterinary (OPV) said they initially regarded the pig illness as simple fever or pneumonia but results of laboratory test from blood samples taken from sick pigs in barangays Tocucan, Caluttit and Bontoc Poblacion show positive of the PRRS virus.  OPV monitored PRRS cases showed 10 pregnant pigs died in barangay Tocucan. As preventive and control measures, Cobaldez advised swine raisers to monitor pigs and report any clinical signs to their respective Municipal Agriculturist for immediate treatment. (Dexter A. See)

BATAAN COPS NAB 4

CAMP TOLENTINO, Bataan — Police authorities reported yesterday the arrest of four persons accused of theft and peddling illegal drugs in the province. Senior Superintendent Arnold D. Gunnacao, Bataan police director, said that the Mariveles police headed by Supt. Romell Velasco arrested suspected thieves Cesar Cataroca, 24, and Anthony dela Cruz, both residents of San Isidro, Mariveles after they were accused of stealing the motorcycle of one Santiago Pagar. In Orion town, suspected drug pusher Narciso Agustin of Barangay Camachile was allegedly caught in the act of selling a sachet of “shabu” worth P1,000 to police undercover agents led by Sr. Inspector Marvin Pedere. Another drug-bust led to the arrest of Conrado Cruz on Roman Expressway in Barangay Bayan, Orani town, a report received by Gunnacao said. (Mar T. Supnad)