SAN ANTONIO, Zambales — After more than a year in court, Dr. Estela Deloso Antipolo is ready be proclaimed Tuesday as the mayor of this municipality, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.

Based on the six-page decision by the Comelec En Banc, chaired by Sixto Brillantes, Jr., the proclamation of Romeo D. Lonzanida as the winner in the mayoral race last May is null and void.

The decision shows that Lonzanida cannot be considered a candidate in the last elections since the Supreme Court had earlier affirmed his conviction by the Sandiganbayan for 10 counts of falsification of public documents. (Franco G. Regala)

23 ex-rebels enjoy peace in Bontoc
BONTOC, Mountain Province — Twenty rebel returnees are now currently enjoying the benefits of going back to mainstream society, especially having a peaceful life and earning a descent income because of their active involvement in community-based activities.

Gov. Leonard Mayaen said the number of rebel-returnees has significantly increased this year to 23 – an indication that more individuals who used to carry arms are now realizing that it is still best to stay in mainstream society.

Under the province’s livelihood assistance established through the able leadership of Mayaen, each rebel returnee will receive at least P5,000 per month as honorarium for their involvement in community-based services. (Dexter A. See)

Mobile civil registration set
LIMAY, Bataan — After the success of the mobile one-day processing of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearances and passports here, Mayor Ver Roque revealed Monday that a similar project for civil registration will be done in the barangays.

Roque said this will be conducted next week by the municipality through the Office of Civil Registrar, that will go down to the barangays for the registration of citizens.

Roque said he hopes the project will make his constituents feel that they are important to the local government and that the gesture will encourage them to be responsible citizens. (Mar T. Supnad)

Cardona lilies hamper fishing
CARDONA, Rizal — Fishermen here are losing income because of the overabundance of water hyacinth or lilies in the river. Fishermen have been complaining that due to the overgrowth of flowers in the areas of Cardona and Talim Island, they could hardly earn a living through fishing.

Cardona Mayor Bernardo San Juan confirmed that 14 fishing barangays with 10,000 fishermen are affected by the phenomenon which may last from two to three months. San Juan said he already raised the issue with the Laguna Lake Devleopment Authority (LLDA) which, in turn, allegedly committed to assist the affected fishermen. (Madelynne Dominguez)

O.F.W. loses van at mall
LIPA CITY, Batangas — A Nissan Urvan Escapade was stolen by unidentified carnappers at a parking lot of a mall in Barangay Marawoy, this city on Sunday, police said Monday.

In a report of Lipa City PNP, said victim Jordan Sablayan, 30, Overseas Filipino Worker, parked his maroon Nissan Urvan Escapade (ZLC-836) at the SM City Lipa parking lot around 12:30 p.m.

When he returned hours later, he discovered that his van was already missing. (Ferdinand F. Castro)