BALER, Aurora, Philippines — Senator Edgardo J. Angara lauded Tuesday the P500-million grant from the Japanese government for the construction of the Aurora Memorial Hospital (AMH) in Barangay Reserva in this province.

Angara said the grant was extended through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the improvement of the 70-year-old memorial hospital with the construction of a new building with 50 rooms and complete medical equipment. (Franco G. Regala)

P.N.P. CHIEF VISITS 6 POLICE HEROES

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines — Director General Raul M. Bacalzo, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, went to Cagayan Monday night to personally condole with the families of the five policemen killed in an ambush by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Iluru Sur, Rizal town, last Sunday afternoon.

Bacalzo visited the wake of police couple Inspector Antonio Rueco and SPO2 Maryjane Rueco; PO2 Herminio Rueco, PO2 Jose Baquiran, and PO1 Joven Jimenez at the Ortiz Funeral Homes in this city. He also visited SPO2 Edison Lagua, who was wounded and earlier reported missing but rescued a few hours after the ambush. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

ANTIPOLO RESCUE SUCCESSFUL; 2 FALL

ANTIPOLO CITY, Philippines — Joint forces of the Rizal Police Provincial Office (PPO) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) rescued a Chinese citizen from the hands of a kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) group in a raid of a hotel here where the suspects had kept their victim.

Senior Superintendent Manuel Cesar Prieto, Rizal PPO director, identified the victim as Agustin Soriano Yian, of legal age and a resident of Tondo, Manila. Prieto said Yian was kidnapped from his house last January 8 and then locked him under guard at Room T103 of the GEMS Hotel in Barangay San Jose, Antipolo City.

The successful rescue operation at 10 a.m. Monday also resulted in the recovery of an undetermined amount of ransom money and the arrest of two suspects whose identities have been kept under wraps pending a follow-up operation for accomplices. (Madelynne Dominguez)

70 STUDENTS VIE FOR SCHOLARSHIP

STA. ROSA CITY, Laguna, Philippines – The SM Foundation, Inc. conducted Tuesday the screening for its scholarship program, with 70 students from public schools in the 1st District of Laguna being the initial candidates for free education.

Pamela Baun, SM City-Sta. Rosa Public Information Officer said 10 out of 70 4th year high school students who passed their screenings, interviews, and examination will be granted the SM College Scholarship Program, covering degree courses in Accountancy, Information Technology, Education, and Engineering. (Ferdinand F. Castro)

D.O.L.E. ASSISTS 62 ENTREPRENEURS

BONTOC, Mt. Province, Philippines – The Livelihood Enhancement Program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) has provided livelihood assistance to 62 small entrepreneurs in the province.

Miguela Limmayog, DoLE Provincial Office head, said this program benefits the informal sector by providing them P5,000 worth of raw materials and equipment for the enhancement of their livelihood projects to help them increase their production and primarily to increase their family income. (Dexter A. See)