DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan, Philippines — The so-called Urdujas of Pangasinan denied Friday that they had banded together to set up a corporation that will be involved in financing alleged illegal gambling activities in Pangasinan.

In a press statement released by the office of Pangasinan 4th District Representative Gina de Venecia, the lady solon said she will not be involved in any number games, not even the state-approved Loterya ng Bayan (LNB).

Speculation arose from an earlier report (not in the Manila Bulletin) that De Venecia, Kimi Cojuangco, Marlyn Agabas and Rachel Arenas preferred the operation of LNB to arrest the widely-operated but illegal “jueteng” numbers game. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

Checkpoints up in Rordiguez

RODRIGUEZ, Rizal — Checkpoints at strategic locations in this town have been beefed up, following the other day’s armed confrontation between the military and suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels on the outskirts of this town.

The encounter between the NPA guerrillas and the Philippine Army at Sitio Balagbag, Barangay Macabud, this town around 7 a.m. the other day resulted in the death of Private First Class Rene Lacquio of the Charlie Company of the 16th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.

The confrontation has prompted Supt. Rommel Estolano, local chief of police, to strengthen the police defense strategy in this municipality. (Nel B. Andrade)

156 vintage bombs found

STA. CRUZ, Laguna — A total of 156 vintage bombs with 75 mm. projectiles were unearthed by residents at the site of a former garrison of American soldiers in Barangay Makiling, Calamba City the other day, police said Friday.

Senior Superintendent Gilberto Cruz, Laguna Police Provincial Office (PPO) director, said the vintage bombs were accidentally dug up by children at a farm located at Purok 2, Barangay Makiling past 11 a.m. Thursday.

Cruz said the bombs were still unexploded. (Ferdinand F. Castro)

France features Kalinga women

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — The tribal tattooing practices of the Kalinga people which are now vanishing will be explored once more with ethnic tattooed women of Kalinga featured in the upcoming photography exhibition organized by the French Embassy.

National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Provincial Director Natividad Sugguiyao said the exhibit titled KM 0 (Kilometer Zero) is part of the FrancoPhil, the 2011 French cultural season in the Philippines, and will run for a month until June 4 at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City. (Dexter A. See)

Carmona opens pride search

CARMONA, Cavite — The search for sons and daughters of Carmona town is now on.

The local administration is looking for men and women residents who have given the town pride and honor in terms of education, arts, sports and other fields.

Information Officer Joanne Bawalan said that selected individuals will vie for Gintong Butil 2011, an annual program for the so-called Carmona’s best achievers.

The program is a brainchild of Mayor Dahlia Loyola and her husband Cavite 5th District Rep. Roy Loyola for the last decade. Deadline for submission of entries or nominations is May 31.

The recognition and awarding ceremonies is set on June 13. (Anthony Giron)