LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines – The massive river clean-up drive is bringing back the pristine beauty and richness of the rivers in this province.

A task force formed by Governor Amado Espino Jr. had cleared a total length of 160 kilometers of the Agno River and other waterways in Pangasinan from illegally-constructed fishing structures stretching along the municipalities of Binmaley, Lingayen, Bugallon, Labrador, San Fabian and the City of San Carlos.

The assessment was made after a meeting on river clean-up and the current river situation in Pangasinan recently. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

PRO 3 opens crime probe training

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – The Police Regional Office 3 (PRO 3) opened recently the Criminal Investigation Course (CIC) to 381 police officers in adherence to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief’s policy to ensure that all its personnel have knowledge on police investigation.

Chief Superintendent Edgardo T. Ladao said the 45-day training course was opened by at the PRO3 Gymnasium here with Director Arturo G. Cacdac Jr., Director of the Directorate for Investigation Detective Management Division, in attendance.

All participants are expected to have investigative capability and protecting the integrity of crime scenes. (Franco G. Regala)

'Dragon' falls

TARLAC CITY – A prominent member of the Underground movement was arrested for allegedly extorting money from a food court outlet inside the SM Mall here, police reported Monday.

Senior Superintendent Oscar Albayalde, Regional Intelligence Office 3 chief, said intelligence operatives in Tarlac arrested “Kumander Dragon”, whose real identity is Leopito Lapuzan, of Barangay Burgos, San Jose, Tarlac, in an entrapment at the SM Mall food court.

A leader of the Kilusang Larangan Gerlya 1 of Tarlac Provincial Committee, Kumander Dragon was arrested after allegedly being caught red-handed receiving P20,000 in supposed extortion money from a restaurant owner. (Mar T. Supnad)

Embassy hosts America in 3D

BAGUIO CITY – The United States Embassy is inviting people from all walks of life to join its officials and employees when it brings America in 3D in this mountain resort city on July 8-10, 2011 at the SM City Baguio.

America in 3D is a new nationwide initiative of the US embassy highlighting American culture, values and society so that people will be fully aware of what is really happening in the US.

The public will be joining free fun events which include musical performances from jazz to hip-hop, from country music to broadway tunes, free samplings of American food, and cooking demonstrations. (Dexter A. See)

Skills for 357 Limay folk

LIMAY, Bataan – A total of 357 Limay folk recently completed various skills training courses in this industrial town last week.

The granting of free skills training program was initiated by Mayor Ver Roque and the town’s council in an apparent move by the local administration here to have their constituents readied to be employed due to the reported expansion program of Petron Corp. and other multinational companies operating here.

Meanwhile, Roque has provided seed capital for the operators and drivers of the tricycles here even as he urged them to form their cooperatives. (Mar T. Supnad)