CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Nine suspected members of the notorious Ampang Robbery Gang operating in Metro Manila and Luzon were arrested by operatives from San Fernando City, Pampanga police, Pampanga Provincial Police Office (PPPO), and the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division 3 (RIID3) inside the SM City Pampanga here.
Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina, Pampanga provincial director, and Chief Superintendent Rowland Albano, acting Central Luzon police director, identified the suspects as Crispin Bungolo, Michael Donato, Edgar Ibañez, Rey Nowian Bokol, Leonardo Tabusac, Dolphy Cochoco, Edwin Ayo, Analyn Labigo, and Jenny Calunsod.
Espina said reports gathered from the San Fernando City, Pampanga police and the RIID 3 revealed that heavily armed were seen roaming around SM City Pampanga at 11 a.m.
After receiving the information, operatives from the San Fernando City, Pampanga police led by Superintendent Nicanor Targa and the RIID 3 immediately conducted an operation on the robbery gang that led to their arrest at the SM City Pampanga at 12 p.m. yesterday. (Franco G. Regala)
Church likes simple weddings
Church weddings need not be that expensive, said Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz yesterday.
Cruz said getting married nowadays need not be that expensive, especially those done inside the Church, saying the fundamental focus of marriage are the persons or the couple getting married.
"The fundamental focus of marriage really are the persons or the couple getting married for life and not the celebrations before and after the wedding that will only last for some hours," Cruz said.
In fact, he said marriage in the Church can be altogether free or with a sizable amount of money.
"Totally depending at the option of the couple or the parents or relatives getting married. Marriage in the Church can be most simple or very elaborate at the instance of those getting married and those advising them," he said.
With regards to the latest fad of conducting garden weddings, mostly done by celebrities, Cruz said the Catholic Church still prefers that weddings be done inside the Church, it being a serious and sacred reality.
Garden weddings should be discouraged as much as possible, he said. (Leslie Ann G. Aquino)
Feast of St. Scholastica today
The Catholic Church commemorates today the feast of St. Scholastica, the twin sister of St. Benedict, with masses and novenas in her honor.
The St. Scholastica College’s (SSC) Institutional Campus Ministry Office (ICMO) has lined up activities in honor of the SSC’s patroness, including the recitation of the triduum prayer in her honor as well as a eucharistic celebration.
St. Scholastica is the patron saint against rain, convulsive children, nuns, and storms.
Born in Nursia, Italy in 480, she lived in Plombarola, ruling a community of nuns near Monte Cassino where her brother St. Benedict settled. She visits St. Benedict once a year in a small house near the monastery.
One time, St. Scholastica asked her brother to remain a little longer but he refused. St. Scholastica invoked the help of the Lord who sent a violent storm that prevented St. Benedict from leaving. St. Benedict said: "May God forgive you, sister; what have you done?" St. Scholastica answered: "I asked a favor of you and you refused it. I asked it of God and He has granted it." They spent the night talking about spiritual things and eternal happiness. St. Benedict and his companions left the next day.
Three days later, St. Scholastica died of natural causes. St. Benedict was at that time praying when he suddenly saw his sister’s soul ascending to heaven as a dove. He was filled with joy, he thanked God, and sent some monks to take St. Scholastica’s body to his monastery. He laid her in the tomb that he was preparing for himself.
St. Scholastica died in 543, St. Benedict died soon after. (Christina I. Hermoso)
GSIS policy tackled tomorrow
The GSIS Members’ Hour will discuss the Claims and Loans Interdependency Policy (CLIP) of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for its episode tomorrow, Friday, February 11.
CLIP is a way of the state pension fund to institute both financial discipline among GSIS members and collection efficiency for the system.
It involves the collective suspension of loan privileges of the member when a loan account is in default except when the proceeds from such are used to pay the arrearages.
GSIS Actuarial Group Senior Vice President Fe Dayco and Social Insurance Group Vice President Wenceslao Niñonuevo will explain to viewers how the CLIP helps the GSIS in preventing financial losses and at the same time ensures that members will get a substantial package once they retire.
The GSIS Members’ Hour — which airs every Friday, 6 p.m., over NBN-4 — aims to inform the public, especially the 1.3-million GSIS members and pensioners, the reforms being undertaken by the GSIS, under its President and General Manager Winston Garcia.
