CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan, Philippines — A 48-year-old alleged swindler in Central Luzon was arrested Monday afternoon in an entrapment operation conducted by police elements here headed by Chief of Police, Supt. Baltazar Mamaril Jr. in Barangay San Vicente, this city.

Senior Supt. Fernando S. Villanueva, Bulacan police director, identified the suspect as Melchor Gonzales Pengco, married, taxi driver, temporarily residing at 58 Pechayan St., North Fairview, Quezon City, with permanent address at 11-F Magno St., Brgy. 1 Quezon Nueva Ecija. Pengco was arrested during the operation at Malolos Public Market Benedict's Food House.(Freddie C. Velez)

ILLEGAL LOGGING CHARGES DENIED

BAGAC, Bataan, Philippines — Mayor Ramil del Rosario denied Wednesday the reports that he was engaged in illegal logging even as he said that he has long been leading the campaign against illegal loggers in the province.

 “The confiscated illegally cut logs by the police were just brought by the apprehending team to my house in their bid to have the logs inspected by me before these would be brought to PNP headquarters for proper disposition, but the Department of Environment and Natural Resources personnel are accusing me of illegal logging,” Del Rosario claimed.

Sr. Inspector George T. Santiago, chief of police of Bagac PNP, reported to Sr. Supt. Arnold D. Gunnacao, Bataan police director, that they were able to discover 43 pieces or 800 board feet of illegally cut logs abandoned in Sitio Duhat, barangay Saysain, last January 5. (Mar T. Supnad)

5 MILD QUAKES HIT PHILIPPINES

SINAIT, Ilocos Sur, Philippines — At least five tectonic mild earthquakes hit some areas in Babuyan Islands in Cagayan province, Antique in Western Visayas and Surigao and Davao in Mindanao in the past two days, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) satellite office based in Sinait, Ilocos Sur. Porferio De Peralta Jr., Phivolcs – Sinait Officer in Charge, told the latest quake last Tuesday occurred at 2:31 p.m. with a magnitude 2.1 quake hitting some areas of Babuyan Islands.

The epicenter of the quake was located at 9 kilometers northwest of Dalupiri Island. (Freddie G .Lazaro)

ANTIPOLO EXECS SEEK CITYHOOD

ANTIPOLO CITY, Philippines — City government officials here said they are aiming to transform their area from a component city into a highly-urbanized city.

During the first flag raising ceremony last Monday at the city’s Dimasalang Park, Mayor Danilo “Nilo” Leyble officially and publicly announced the plan of the city government to make the city a highly-urbanized city.

City Information Officer, Reuel Vidal said the local chief executive explained to the public during his first public appearance the benefits of the transformation. (Nel B. Andrade)

P.N.P. TRAINING SCHOOL OPENS

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — Police Director General Raul Bacalzo, Chief of the Philippine National police recently led the opening of the Central Luzon PNP’s Unit Training School for Values and Leadership at Clark Freeport Zone.

Chief Supt. Alan La Madrid Purisima, Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) regional director said the Chief PNP sought to enhance the knowledge and skills of every police officer in various aspects of police work. (Franco G. Regala)