BALANGA CITY, Bataan – The newly-designated officer-in-charge (OIC) of this city’s Police Office may be young but bears a solid academic background and is known in law enforcement circles as a “terrorist hunter.”

Superintendent Melecio “Bong” Buslig, Jr. was a graduate of Philippine National Police Academy Class then took up special and post-graduate courses abroad before joining the Foreign Intelligence and Liaison Office in 2002.

He is credited for arresting elusive international terrorist Fathur Rohman Al-ghozi and owns the distinction of having been awarded two spot promotions for heroism. (Mar T. Supnad)

Lady justice bids farewell

MABALACAT, Pampanga – Former Associate Justice Leonor Ines Luciano passed away last Thursday at the age of 91 due to heart failure.

The former magistrate’s son Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) President Victor Jose I. Luciano led family, relatives and friends in remembering her legacy of advancing the welfare of women in the country.

She was often lauded for her dedication to the service of those most in need, and performed with grace best described as God-given.

She was the first judge of the Juvenile Domestic Relations Court of Quezon City, and Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals. She focused not only on making decisions, but also on rehabilitating the offenders and creating foundations for them and their families. (Franco G. Regala)

Fire razes 20 Cavite shanties

A two-hour fire gutted down at least 20 shanties in Barangay Zapote V, Bacoor, Cavite before dawn yesterday. Senior Inspector Aldwin M. Salazar, Bacoor fire marshal, said that no casualties were reported in the fire that reached third alarm.

Salazar said the fire was the 27th in Bacoor this year.

Citing reports of witnesses, Salazar said the fire started at the house of one Nicomedes Gamboa at 1:45 a.m. Sunday. It was put out at 3:46 a.m. (Anthony Giron)

Stray dolphin ‘Put to sleep'

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan – A female dolphin that went astray into a river in Barangay Pamarawan, this city, from Manila Bay was caught and subject to “mercy killing” by marine biologists of the government after it was found to have an infectious disease.

Marine biologist and a professor at UP Diliman Dr. Lemuel Aragones, said the dolphin was very thin and very sick.

Fishermen who found the dolphin did not harm the marine mammal and called in experts to save it.

Under the Animal Welfare Act, an animal can be killed if it “is afflicted with an incurable communicable disease” or “is deemed necessary to put an end to its misery.” (Freddie C. Velez)

Juice drinks down 25 kids

ILAGAN, Isabela – Twenty-five daycare and elementary pupils were hospitalized recently after drinking alleged expired fruit juices served during a psycho-social session organized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) office and a prestigious organization.

Eleven of the children were still kept under close medical supervision in two private hospitals as of yesterday.

Police said the children suffered stomach pains and vomiting after being served the drinks at the Rang-ayan Elementary School, where a psycho-social session was conducted by the DSWD with Plan International. (Dexter A. See)