DINGRAS, Ilocos Norte — Alma Mariano, widow of murdered radio commentator Roger Mariano, has appealed anew for justice for her late husband on the occasion of his second death anniversary last July 31. Mrs. Mariano, slim and softspoken, was teary-eyed as she clasped her husband’s portrait when newsmen visited her in their residence here. She said she and her children were glad that the two accused in the murder of her husband were arraigned in Manila last week. It was learned that the National Press Club and the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines will closely monitor the trial of the Mariano murder case, which had been gathering dust for two years. (Jun Guiang)

LAGAWE, Ifugao – This world-famous province, noted for its centuries-old rice terraces, has finally graduated from the infamous ‘Club 20’ of poorest provinces in the country. Provincial planners said that the graduation of the province from the group was based on a latest poverty data gathered by the National Statistics Coordinating Board (NSCB). Based on NSCB poverty data, Ifugao now ranks 32nd among the well-off provinces. It was learned that the province posted the highest poverty incidence in the Cordillera in 2000 at 55.6 percent and ranked the fourth poorest province in the country. The NSCB based its latest poverty statistics on the results of the family income and expenditure survey that the National Statistics office (NSO) conducted in 2003. Recently, the incidence of poor families in the province improved with a whooping 27.47 percentage points, from 55.6 percent or 18,103 in 2000 to 28.1 percent or 9,069 in 2003. The total number of poor families decreased by 9,034 due to the revitalized anti-poverty campaign by both the local and national governments. Government planners admitted that it is the human development index, which improves the situation of the province. The human development index includes education, health, and nutrition. The provincial government’s efforts to uplift the living condition of the poorhave started to pay off, but there is still much to be done. The challenge now is that local officials should not loose control so that it would not slide back to the status of a poor province. (Dexter See)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — The 41 members of the police’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team here had just completed several weeks of rigid training. Supt. Harry Fama, chief of the Police Information Office here, said that the PNP director of special action force,Senior Supt. Felizardo M Serapio Jr. was the guest of speaker during the closing ceremonies held in the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO) here. Senior Supt. Allan La Madrid Purisima, PPPO director, welcomed the guest speaker and other guests who included Mayor Ricardo V. Riveta of Rosales, Mayor Leticia N Rosete of Agno, Chief Supt. (ret.) Wilmer Panabang, administrator of Alaminos City, and several staff officers. Fama said the 41 policemen underwent 48 days of rigid training. Fama said PPPO thanked Gov. Victor Agbayani for his all-support for the training and other police activities. Before the graduation, the SWAT officers performed "high-risk checkpoint operations and close-quarter combat." The "Top Gun" award was given to PO1 Alano Caburao and the "strongman" award to PO2 Elmer Dameg. Supt. Noli G Taliño, deputy provincial director for operation, said, "the graduates will be go back to their posts and can now apply what they have learned in times of emergencies. (MTS)