ASINGAN, Pangasinan, Philippines — A reputed judge in this province said Thursday that a total gun ban does not solve criminality, criticizing the stand of this town’s local police chief who is considering the continuous implementation of the gun ban imposed during the recent election period.

Judge Ulysses Butuyan of the Regional Trial Court Branch 51 in Tayug said the strict enforcement of the law is the key to keeping peace and order.

Butuyan had a dissenting opinion to the belief of Superintendent Domingo Eden who attributed the lower crime rate in Asingan during the election period to the implementation of the gun ban.

The judge said Eden should concentrate on police vigilance in order to catch, prosecute and lock up individuals with unlicensed firearms and use the same for criminal activities. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

CITY HONORS C.N.N. HERO

CAVITE, Philippines – Efren G. Peñaflorida Jr., the 29-year-old “kariton classroom” teacher who gained world recognition for winning this year’s CNN Hero award, was honored by the Cavite City government with the “Kuya Ef Day” last November 22. Cited as one of the city’s greatest residents, Peñaflorida was honored anew for his feats as a teacher to the underprivileged.

Mayor Romeo G. Ramos and other local officials led the activities for the Efren Peñaflorida Day that was declared during the flag-raising ceremony at the city hall last Monday.

Although Peñaflorida was not present, about a thousand of students from public and private schools and residents gathered at the area to celebrate the day declared in his honor. (Anthony Giron)

PUREGOLD ROB SUSPECT NABBED

CAMP GEN. SANTOS, Bulacan, Philippines – A suspected member of the “Salisi Gang” who had spirited out thousands of assorted items from Puregold supermarket in recent weeks was caught last Wednesday in Barangay Bagong Nayon, Baliuag, this province, police reported Thursday.

Senior Supt. Fernando S. Villanueva, Bulacan police director, identified the suspect as Raymart dela Cruz Geli, 18, of Kahilom 2, Pandacan, Metro Manila.

Villanueva said Geli was allegedly caught in the act of stealing assorted merchandise inside a Mercury Drug outlet in Puregold. Security guard Mark Bonifacio Castillo, 24, was the one who allegedly caught Geli stealing P13,009 worth of merchandise around 8 a.m. last Wednesday.

Villanueva said further investigation showed that Geli and his alleged cohorts were the same individuals involved in stealing P52,315 worth of merchandise from Puregold last November 18. (Freddie C. Velez)

3 DRUG SUSPECTS FALL IN CAVITE

CAMP GEN. LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Three suspected drug pushers listed in the police watchlist were arrested by anti-narcotics agents in separate operations in Dasmariñas City and Imus in Cavite, reports said Thursday.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 4-A Director Randy Pedroso identified those arrested as Abelardo Patan-tao, 30, of Citta Italia Subdivision, Imus; Analiza Fuentes, alias “Ana Echon,” 41, single, of Barangay Palico, Imus; and Judith Enqriquez, 45, married, a businesswoman, of South Crest Village, San Agustin 2, Dasmariñas City. Pedroso said the suspects were collared in their respective residences during raids conducted by PDEA agents.

A total of 18 sachets of “shabu,” drug paraphernalia, and rounds of ammunition for .45-caliber and .22-cal. pistols were seized from the suspects. (Ferdinand F. Castro)