SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines – A directive from President Aquino has prompted three of the best search-and-rescue (SAR) units in the country to help in a humanitarian mission to Japan.

Some 40 operatives from the SAR group of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), and the local government units (LGUs) of Makati and Pasig will be going to Japan for a 10-day search and recovery operation.

The group will be arriving at Tokyo’s Yokota Air Base and will be met by the Department of Foreign Affairs officials. (Jonas Reyes)

Laguna P.N.P. opens Facebook account
STA. CRUZ, Laguna – Laguna Philippine National Police (PNP) director Senior Supt. Gilberto Cruz announced Tuesday that his command has created a Facebook account where carnapped, recovered, and abandoned vehicles (CRAVs) could be posted by any person whose vehicle has been missing or believed to have been carnapped by suspected member or members of carnapping syndicates.

Patterned after the CRAV-list account of the famous social media Facebook, Cruz also said that abandoned or recovered vehicles can also be posted by any individual or any lawman in the said Laguna PNP account. (Ferdinand Castro)

2 FIRES STRIKE KAWIT, BACOOR
Two fires razed a row of commercial stalls and three residential houses in Cavite last Monday night.

The two successive fires were the 5th and 6th in March – the Fire Prevention Month. FO2 Warlock Bautista of the Provincial Central Fire Station said that the first fire gutted at least nine small commercial stores and two residential houses in Congbalay, Binakayan, Kawit.

While the second fire struck the house occupied by a certain Bob S. Dinghay on Bahayang Pag-asa Subdivision in Barangay Molino IV, Bacoor at 7:30 p.m. Monday. (Anthony Giron)

Official seeks reconciliation
ANTIPOLO CITY – The city mayor here has extended his arms of reconciliation to all his political opponents so that they can fully serve their constituents well following the recent decision of the Supreme Court clearing any doubt on his legitimacy as the local chief executive here.

Mayor Danilo Leyble, in his announcement during the regular Monday flag raising rites the other day, said the court has dismissed the petition filed by former Rep. Angelito C. Gatlabayan for late filing and insufficient or defective verification. (Nel Andrade)

Ifugao river dredging set
LAGAWE, Ifugao – In a bid to safeguard life, health, property, and public welfare, consistent with the principles of environmental management and control, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) here will conduct a dredging activity at the Ibulao Bridge to clear the province’s main river system from worsening siltation.

Engr. Eugene Batalao, the District Engineer of DPWH District I here, said that it has been identified that there is a need to conduct dredging operations to remove impounded silt materials to preclude riverbank flooding and damage to flood control structures and the Ibulao Bridge itself located in Ibulao, Kiangan and Lagawe. (Dexter See)