CAMP PRESIDENT QUIRINO, Ilocos Sur — Three suspected drug pushers were arrested in a buybust operations that was perfectly planned by the police here, it was reported here yesterday.
Senior Superintendent Mario Subagan, PNP provincial director, said that the Vigan City PNP headed by Chief Inspector Rey de Peralta were able to arrest Mary Ann Rociles, 22, of Ayusan Norte; Mario Lima of Balaleng, Bantay town and Bernardo Queval of Salindeg, this city after a buybust operation.
De Peralta reported to Colonel Subagan that prior to the operation, his men received intelligence report that there was a drug deal that is about to transpire, prompting him to designate his police to act as buyer of shabu.
A discreet operation was launched later, resulting in the apprehension of the suspects right after they sold shabu to the police buyer.
Subagan said that 10 sachets of shabu worth P13,500 were confiscated from the suspects who were all charged with violation of illegal law. (Mar T. Supnad)
Cottage industries promoted
In support of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s 10-point economic agenda, the GMA 2010 VisMin Foundation announced yesterday that their organization’s response to the rising need for service-oriented job opportunity is coordinating with the Chamber of Cottage Industries (CCI) in re-training community-based entrepreneurs nationwide.
Jaime Vistar, director-general and chief executive officer of GMA 2010 VisMin Foundation, said the foundation will exert effort to urge President Arroyo to make full use of the cottage industries in generating jobs and livelihood opportunities in the countryside.
Vistar, together with former chairman of Videogram Regulatory Board and GMA 2010 Foundation vice chairman, lawyer Dennis Funa, said: "To ease the heavily congested Metro Manila, new communities should be developed, and to address this, there must be infrastructure in the countryside.
"To revive cottage industries is to reawaken entrepreneurs, idle hands, out-of-school youths opportunities, handicrafts, furniture making, weaving, gift items, housewares, food manufacturing, metal craft, marine and aquatic products, coconut by-products and many other small and medium enterprises could boost employment generation," Vistar said.
Loren at ‘Newsstand’ forum
Former Senator and Vice Presidential candidate Loren Legarda is today’s guest at the weekly media forum, Newsstand, at the Ambassador Hotel.
Legarda ran as vice presidential candidate of Fernando Poe Jr. in the last presidential election under the Koalisyon ng Mamamayang Pilipino (KMP).
Poe and Legarda recently filed an electoral protest with the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro. The PET has yet to act on the protest case.
Legarda like De Castro was a popular broadcaster with ABS-CBN before she ran for senator in 1998. She was well known for her fearless exposé’ on many issues especially on the environment.
As a journalist, Legarda received many awards and recognition for excellence in her craft and a distinct public service.
As senator, she authored many outstanding bills which are now landmark legislations on family and the environment.
Legarda is expected to give a backgrounder on their electoral protest and an appraisal of the current political situation.
Newsstand is held every Friday at the Baudelaire Hall, Ambassador Hotel, 2021 Mabini St., Malate, Manila.
Lead convenors are Sammy Julian, Panay News Manila News Bureau Chief and president, Malacañang Press Corp; Roy Mabasa, Manila Bulletin; Recto Mercene, Today; William Dipasupil, Manila Times; Norman Cordon, Ambassador Hotel; Fred Lobo, Manila Bulletin and Roger Peyuan, Global News and Information Services.
Set up OWWA branch
in Angeles, mayor asks
ANGELES CITY – Local officials in this city have asked the Overseas Workers and Welfare Administration (OWWA) to establish an office here to assist a big number of families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Mayor Carmelo Lazatin said that he sought an OWWA office at the city hall upon learning that families of OFWs in this city have been going to its main office in Manila or regional office in the City of San Fernando for assistance.
Lazatin said in his letter to Mamerto Mercado, OWWA regional director, that the city government would provide necessary office space and supplies once the request is granted.
"Even an OWWA desk in the city hall will suffice in the meantime where families of OFWs could consult for assistance,’’ Lazatin said.
City Councilor Jay Sangil said that the family of OFW Orlando Bayani, 45, who was wounded in an ambush in Iraq recently, had to seek the assistance of the city mayor’s office regarding his problem.
Sangil said that he and Lazatin referred the problem of Bayani to the regional OWWA office who needed an immediate surgery of his injured right eye.
He added that it took sometime before Philippine authorities in Kuwait could attend to the problem of Bayani because of the absence of OWWA office here.
Lazatin has directed Adelina Doecales, head of the local Public Employment and Services Office (PESO) to update the list of OFWs in Angeles City and the respective addresses of their families.
The mayor also said he would
organize a get-together party for the families of OFWs here so that they could be briefed on where to go in cases of emergency.
Sangil said that the city government has extended a financial assistance of
R5,000 for the family of Bayani who was wounded when a convoy of 10 trucks, including the one driven by Angelo de la Cruz, was ambushed by Iraqi militants. De la Cruz, who was kidnapped, was later released by his captors after their demand for the pullout from Iraq of the Philippine peacekeeping contingent was granted by President Arroyo.
Lazatin also offered scholarships to the children of Bayani and a job opportunity to his daughter Eleny, a graduate of nursing, in the United Kingdom.
Sangil sponsored a resolution before the local city council seeking the national government’s intervention in improving OWWA’s response to cases of deaths and life-threatening situations being encountered by OFWs in foreign countries. (Fred Roxas)
