VETERANS’ DAY

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — In celebration of the annual Pangasinan Veteran’s Day and the 68th anniversary of the Lingayen Gulf Landings tomorrow, a program has been prepared to honor war veterans at the Veterans’ Memorial. Gov. Amado T. Espino will lead the activity which starts with a Thanksgiving Mass at 7 a.m., followed by a wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate the heroism of World War II veterans. A video presentation featuring memories of World War II veterans, including interviews of surviving heroes, will also be shown. Ambassadors Harry Thomas, Jr. of the United States; Bill Twedell of Australia; and Tosihinao Urabe of Japan, are expected to grace the event. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

HERMOSA’S FUTURE

HERMOSA, Bataan — The economic development seen over the past years in this once-sleepy town is expected to reach new heights as Mayor Danilo Malana and Bataan 2nd District Rep. Abet S. Garcia agreed to work together for the realization of more infrastructure and livelihood programs in Hermosa. Malana presented Garcia before a recent gathering of 3,000 barangay leaders, health workers, teachers and residents of this town where the congressman assured them that future priority projects include Hermosa. Political kibitzers though cast doubt on the partnership of the two leaders as talk is rife that Malana may shift his support from Garcia to Felicito Payumo who is running for governor against the young congressman in May. (Mar T. Supnad)

GOV WANTS NEW P.P.O. DIRECTOR

TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite — Cavite Governor Juanito Victor C. Remulla Jr. said yesterday he wants a new director of the Police Provincial Office (PPO), following the shooting incident in Kawit town last Friday. Remulla said he is already preparing a letter to Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Alan Purisima to have Senior Superintendent Alexander D.G. Rafael replaced as PPO director and investigated on the poor response of his men to the shooting spree of one Ronald Bae who killed nine people and wounded 12 more. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan is also calling for its own investigation on the incident. (Anthony Giron)

BIG REWARD

CAMP PACIANO RIZAL, Laguna — Pakil Mayor Vipops Martinez is offering a reward of R100,000 for information leading to the arrest of a former employee of a resort who allegedly hacked to death two people in the town last Saturday. Senior Superintendent Pascual Muñoz, Laguna Police Provincial Office (PPO) director, said the hunt is on for Ronie Gabion, of legal age, who is the primary suspect in the killing of retired US Navy man, Cesar Dalena, 57, the owner of a leisure resort in Mount Pingas, Barangay Rizal, and his helper, Jackielyn Sapulayan, 19. Muñoz said initial investigation showed that Gabion was fired from his job at Dalena’s resort prior to the attack. (Ferdinand F. Castro)

SCHOLARS’ FUND

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The city government here has released a total of R13 million as part of the city’s Scholarship in Education for Empowerment and Development (SEED) program. Some 4,698 students from 35 villages in the city benefited from the 14-year-old scholarship project that emphasizes the need to prioritize education in achieving total economic growth. The program provides financial assistance twice a year to its beneficiaries worth R2,000 for secondary scholars and R5,000 for tertiary scholars. (Mark Anthony N. Manuel)