LUCBAN, Quezon — Betty B. Nantes, wife of Rep. Rafael P. Nantes of the first district of Quezon and an active member of the Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc. (CSFI), urged the wives of all the local officials in the district to support the austerity measures initiated by the government led by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to ease the country’s financial crisis.
Mrs. Nantes made the call as the CSFI, headed by Gina de Venecia, wife of House Speaker Jose C. de Venecia Jr., echoed the President’s call to save the nation from the financial crisis by saying that the wives of all local officials should help their husbands in the campaign to collect more revenues for the government.
“Patronizing our own products could also be of great help to raise needed revenues,” Mrs. Nantes said.
“The working tandem of the husband and wife is an example which will make the people feel the sincere and united efforts of local officials in addressing the problems gripping the country,” Mrs. Nantes said.
Mrs. Nantes added that the financial crisis the country is facing can be solved through the concerted efforts and resolve of the whole family and the community. “We owe not to one or to a few the responsibility to save our country. It is the duty of every Filipino to show his love and patriotism for the sake of everybody and the next generation.” (DM)
Bomb-making materials seized
Elements of the Philippine Navy (PN) seized bomb-making materials in Masbate early Saturday morning, the PN headquarters said yesterday.
PN spokesman Capt. Geronimo Malabanan said joint elements of the Naval Task Force 31 (NTF31), Naval Special Warfare Unit 3 (NSWU3), BRP Simeon Castro (PC374), naval intelligence operatives, and the Philippine National Police Regional Maritime Command 5 arrested Joey Lape and Raul Aldao upon searching two warehouses in Sitio Kiputol, Barangay Pasig, Claveria, Masbate, after receiving reports that the warehouses stored ammonium nitrate.
Seized from the warehouse were three caliber .357 revolvers, 126 pieces of blasting caps, and nine one kilo, 11 half kilo, and one 350 gram pack of ammonium nitrate. (Yul Malicse)
Town councilor shot dead
PAGADIAN CITY — Two motorcycle-riding gunmen shot dead a councilor of Dinas, Zamboanga del Sur.
A police report received in Camp Reginaldo Abelon, this city, identified the fatality as Sangguniang Bayan (municipal council) member Alejandro Campomanes, 58, of Barangay Lower Dimaya, Dinas.
The report said Campomanes was on his way home from the town’s center or poblacion where he followed up some documents when two persons riding tandem on a motorcycle following him fired at him several times with a .45 caliber pistol.
Campomanes died on the spot, police said, adding that the killers sped to an undisclosed direction. (Tony Pe. Rimando)
Meralco wire suspects held
SAN JOSE DEL MONTE CITY — Five men allegedly responsible for the theft of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) wires were arrested by elements of the San Jose del Monte police in Barangay Tungkong Mangga, this city, following an intensified campaign ordered by San Jose del Monte City Mayor Angelito M. Sarmiento against crime here.
In a report to the Police Regional Office 3 by Senior Supt. Felizardo Serapio, the arresting team led by Supt. Marcelo Morales, chief of police here, identified the suspects, all natives of Leyte, as Leydo Abad, 34, jobless; Romy Tabogon, 37, jobless; Noel Basco, 23; Aramando Papayla, 27, construction worker, all residents of Bagong Silang, Caloocan City; and Hermes Sumalinog, 41, jobless, resident of Zabarte Road, Quezon City.
Recovered from the suspects were two homemade double barreled shotguns with bullets, three knives, and two sacks of Meralco electric wires.
Criminal cases were filed against the suspects for violation of Presidential Decree (PD) 1866 and robbery. They are detained at the San Jose del Monte City jail.
