TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite — Movie and television director Joel C. Lamangan has withdrawn his congressional candidacy in the first district of Cavite province. The Provincial Commission on Elections (Comelec) Office confirmed this as it said that there were also three candidates vying for district board member slots who have withdrawn their bid. Lamangan, known in show business as “Direk Joel,” filed his withdrawal letter through a representative last Thursday, said an assistant at the Comelec office. Lawyer Juanito V. Ravanzo Jr., Comelec supervisor, confirmed Lamangan’s withdrawal from the race. The director did not cite the reason for his backing out of the race. (Anthony Giron)

PAYROLL GONE

CAMP PRESIDENT QUIRINO, Ilocos Sur — Nearly P2 million, intended for Quirino municipal employees as their year-end bonus, is now in the hands of robbers, police revealed yesterday. Senior Inspector Susimo Reyes, local chief of police, said there was nothing else Municipal Treasurer Alejandro Sevilla could do when bonnet-wearing gunmen held him up in Barangay Namitpit in the said town. Sevilla, along with his wife, and two other local government employees, had just withdrawn the money from a bank in Candon City when the holdup men intercepted his sports utility vehicle in Barangay Namitipit. Apart from the P1,980,750 government payroll, robbers also made off with the victims’ wallets and other personal valuables. (Freddie G. Lazaro)