PANGASINAN — The Police Regional Police 1 (PRO1) reported Friday that 2,700 of its personnel will be deployed to secure the region’s 19,544 polling centers on Monday.

Chief Superintendent Orlando M. Mabutas, PRO 1 director, said the bulk of the deployment is in Pangasinan which owns up to 11,113 precincts in 1,364 barangays.

“We are doing all we can to ensure Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections in the barangays on Monday,” Mabutas said.

“Checkpoint operations all over the region have been intensified, and our implementation of the gun ban has been in full swing since the start of the election period.” (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

Bulacan-Baguio Drug Link Busted

BALAGTAS, Bulacan — The Bulacan-Baguio drug connection was broken by police Criminal Investigation and Detection Team (CIDT) operatives who arrested a couple in possession of five kilos of marijuana bricks in Barangay Wawa, here, on Thursday night.

The CIDT Team led by Senior Police Officer 1 Edwin Pagsibigan busted suspects Temis Bernardo and his live-in partner, Carmen Valenzuela, both of Barangay Pag-asa, Bamban, Tarlac, following the arrest last Monday of Bernardo’s niece Apple dela Cruz who is their alleged contact in this town.

Chief Inspector Marlon Santos, Bulacan CIDT chief, said the contraband has a street value of P27,500. (Freddie C. Velez)

Bataan Disarms 543 Ahead of Polls

MORONG, Bataan — The Police Provincial Office (PPO) here reported Friday having succeeded in its enforcement of the election gun ban after arresting at 543 people found armed in public.

Senior Superintendent Arnold D. Gunnacao, PPO director, said that as of Friday Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban violators arrested in the province composed of 508 civilians, 13 police officers, six military officers, and 16 government personnel.

The latest violator was identified by Gunnacao as Aduardo Ballao, of Barangay Sabang, here, who was found in possession of a .45-caliber pistol inside a karaoke bar on Lakandula Street in Mariveles, the other night. (Mar T. Supnad)

Street Kids Get a Treat

ANTIPOLO CITY — Dozens of street kids here were treated to a whole day of party complete with games and free food Friday as part of the city government and private groups’ program in celebration of National Children's Month.

Various non-government organizations, including big business establishments based in this city and nearby towns of Rizal sponsored the food of some 100 street children who are either solvent sniffers, jeepney barkers, and beggars.

Ms. Nadeia Sarte, chief of the City Social Welfare Deparment (CSWD) said the city goverment Friday launched the very first “Children's Haven” which aims to keep the street kids off the streets by providing long-term assistance to the streetchildren including free education, shelter and livelihood opportunities.

The program has a theme, Bata, Bata, Sali Ka Sa Amin. Major food chains and supermarket chain Shopwise  provided food and goodies to the street kids during the whole day fun-filled activity complete with mascot appearance and clowns at the Dimasalang Park here Friday.

City Mayor Danilo Leyble, in his speech during the affair, thanked the business sector and non-government organizations (NGOs) for committing various assistance to the CSWD’s programs for the street kids. (Nel B. Andrade)