Hating magkapatid... o hating magkalaban?!
Edno wants two Ecijas 

First Dist. Rep. Eduardo Nonato "Edno" Joson is proposing that Nueva Ecija -- the biggest of the seven Central Luzon provinces -- be split into two to jump-start its development.

Joson said he would start a move in the House of Representatives to create a Nueva Ecija Norte and Nueva Ecija Sur.

He said half of the number of barangays in the province would be enough to create another province.

He said he has broached his proposal to his three fellow lawmakers from Nueva Ecija to get their support for the clustering of the four congressional districts into two separate provinces but only 2nd Dist. Rep. Joseph Violago seemed amenable to it.

Joson said that Gov. Aurelio Umali -- the Josons' political opponent -- might not like his proposal as this would reduce his territory. ###
 
 

Prov'l boards of Ecija, Pampanga meet

The members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Nueva Ecija met with their counterparts from Pampanga to discuss the common problems they face.

Vice Gov. Edward Thomas Joson said the meeting with the Pampanga SP led by Vice Gov. Yeng Guiao took place sometime during the first week of January.

"Magkapareho kasing hindi kasundo ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan ang aming mga gubernador," referring to Aurelio Umali of Nueva Ecija and Fr. Ed Panlilio of Pampanga, "so we decided to compare notes on legislative matters," Joson explained.

Senior Board Member Rommel Padilla of the First District said they initially tackled their proposed budgets for 2008.

"Maganda ang naging usapin namin, inaasahang makakatulong," Padilla said. ###
 
 

Ecija has new police director

Philippine National Police Director General Avelino Razon, Jr. appointed Sr. Supt. Napoleon C. Taas as the new Nueva Ecija police director, replacing Sr. Supt. Agripino S. Javier who served for barely six months and eleven days.

Taas, member of PMA class '84, was Razon's senior executive assistant at the PNP headquarters.

Sr. Supt. Alfredo Caballes, assistant PNP regional director who presided over the turnover ceremonies last January 11, said they received the relief order for Javier last January 10 and did not know the specific reason for it. He also could not say where Javier would be assigned next.

The turnover rites was held one day ahead of the original schedule, surprising Javier. The start of the ceremony was delayed for an hour after the incoming provincial police chief got lost on his way to Nueva Ecija, allegedly because of lack of coordination.

In his speech, Taas thanked Razon, Gov. Aurelio M. Umali and the Central Luzon police director, Chief Supt. Errol Pan, for giving him the rare opportunity to serve the people of Nueva Ecija.

"Let us make Nueva Ecija a bastion of peace and security in the province," he said

"Nandito lang po ang Mamang Pulis upang inyong pag-utusan," he added.

Umali was absent at the turnover rites and was reported to have objected to the designation of Taas and instead lobbied for the retention of Javier for the latter's having drastically improved the peace and order situation in the province. ###
 
 

Jueteng alive again?

There are reports that jueteng resurfaced in five towns in southern Nueva Ecija a few days before Sr. Supt. Agripino Javier was replaced as provincial police director.

It was learned that since January 8, jueteng collections from Cabiao and surrounding towns, including Gapan City, were being brought to San Miguel, Bulacan where the gambling operation is allegedly based.

The jueteng financier could not be readily identified as the CTGH company which tried to operate small town lottery (STL) in Nueva Ecija two months ago has reportedly entered into an agreement with the local Green 2 Corp.

The operation of the two companies failed to get off the ground reportedly because of the rift between the office of Gov. Aurelio Umali and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan presided over by Vice Gov. Edward Thomas Joson.

The the provincial board initially approves a company's application, followed by a certificate of no opposition from the governor's office and only then can the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. issue a permit to operate.

But while the CTGH and Green 2 are engaged in a battle for  legal operations, sources said that another group has crept in, conducting an illicit numbers game. ###
 
 

San Antonio SB secretary killed

The secretary of the Sangguniang Bayan of San Antonio, Alexander Silva, 52, was shot and killed by an unidentified man in front of his house in Barangay Maugat on the night of January 4.

Chief Insp. Benjamin Villasis, chief of the Nueva Ecija Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said that Silva was talking with businessman Ogie Faustino, 20, near the doorway of his house when the gunman fired from outside the iron grill fence a few meters away.

Silva, who was hit in the neck and the right foot, was rushed to the San Antonio District Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.

Faustino could identify the gunman as it was dark.

Mayor Arvin Salonga told investigators that among the latest official acts of Silva was the preparation of charges of violation of a municipal ordinance on local tax against Lani Javier and a certain Pasion whose trucks were impounded last December 30 for allegedly hauling quarry materials without permits.

Javier, who ran for mayor in May 2007 but lost to Salonga, is the wife Sr. Supt. Agripino Javier, the replaced police provincial director.

That incident triggered a word war between Javier, who was still provincial police director then, and Salonga, who is the president of of the Nueva Ecija Chapter of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines.

Javier accused Salonga of "abuse of authority" for "hijacking" and impounding his wife's truck.

Meanwhile, Silva was also working for the release of Barangay Chair Remy Sulit of Papaya, San Antonio who was detained by the police in connection with a case of physical injury. 

Silva's wife, Arlene, said she did not know of any enemy of her husband and believed that the shooting incident was related to his work.

Meanwhile, workers at the San Antonio municipal hall became apprehensive after learning of a threat that four more are set to be killed just like Silva.

Mayor Salonga has offered a reward of P100,000 in cash from his own pocket for any information that would help solve the Silva killing. He said Silva started working for the municipal council during the term of his father, ex-Mayor Jose Salonga. 

Silva left behind ten children including an 11 month old baby. ###
 
 

Barely 24 hours after the Silva killing...
Another San Antonio resident shot dead

A supporter of film director Jose "Kaka" Balagtas was shot and killed a few meters away from the house of San Antonio Mayor Arvin Salonga last January 5, just one day after the town's Sangguniang Bayan secretary was assassinated.

Sr. Insp. Renato Morales of the local police identified the victim as Miguel "Rambo" de Mesa, 48, of Barangay Papaya.

The victim was buying toys for his child at about 7:30 PM when he was shot in the right temple causing his instant death.

The gunman escaped on board at motorcycle without license plates.

Investigators are determining if the killings of de Mesa and SB Secretary Alexander Silva the day before were politically motivated. ###
 
 

San Antonio barangay chair accidentally shoots teener

A 19 year old man was seriously injured when he was accidentally shot by a barangay chair during a melee that marred a basketball tournament in Barangay Papaya, San Antonio.

The victim, Aries E.  Garcia, was taken to the San Antonio District Hospital for treatment.

In a report to Camp Crame, the local police said the melee erupted at 8:15 PM during a basketball game prompting Barangay Chair Raymundo Sulit, armed with a caliber .45 pistol, to intervene.

Sulit's pistol accidentally fired, hitting Garcia in the back.

The barangay chair voluntarily surrendered to the local police. ###
 
 
 

Gapan City's Three Kings Fiesta January 5-6, 2008

 

Pantabangan to become eco-tourism destination

The Nueva Ecija provincial government has created the Pantabangan Eco-tourism Development Committee (PEDC) to prepare Pantabangan to be a premier tourism destination as a miniature version of Baguio, the country's summer capital.

Mayor Romeo Borja said that Gov. Aurelio Umali created PEDC in his Executive Order No. 6.

Borja, a PEDC member, said the committee will evaluate all existing tourism programs and create, recommend, implement and supervise viable tourism programs for the town.

He cited Pantabangan, Aya, Masiway and Casecnan dams that could stimulate local tourism.

Emisonia Gante, municipal tourism officer, sad that Pantabangan has vast untapped potentials for eco-tourism, calling the town a "hidden paradise".

She said that Pantabangan Dam's reservoir can be used for boating, fishing and other water sport activities. She pointed out that the town has a climate comparable to that of Baguio City and thus can be called "Little Baguio". Migratory wild ducks from China also make stop overs in the town from October to February.

Pantabangan already boasts of one of the best hotels in the country, the Best View Hotel, counting among its guests President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who slept there in one of her out-of-town visits. ###
 
 

BLGF regional director suspended over Pantabangan treasurer dispute

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo suspended Oscar Micla, regional director of the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) for one month and one day for his failure to address the problem of Pantabangan where the OIC municipal treasurer refused to vacate the position despite a cease and desist order against her.

The Office of the President affirmed the recommendation of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission to suspend Micla for having remained passive for four months despite the public confusion and bureaucratic disorder brought about by having two municipal treasurers fighting for the same position.

He was found guilty of simple neglect of duty for not meeting the standard of conduct for government officials and for failing to observe commitment to public interest and professionalism in the execution of his official duties as BLGF regional director. ###
 
 

Oops!
Confiscated 'rebentador' cause fire in Muñoz police car

A police mobile car of the Science City of Muñoz went up in flames after confiscated firecrackers ignited while being unloaded in front of the police station on New Year's Eve.

Supt. Fernando Galang said that prior to the incident, the Muñoz police had been implementing a strict campaign against illegal pyrotechnic products

PO1 Manny Lapuga said the incident happened at about 9:00 AM while the firecrackers were being unloaded from the baggage compartment of the Toyota Altis patrol car.

The local fire station rushed to the scene and quickly contained the fire. ###
 
 

Summary execution victim found

The body of a summary execution victim was found dumped in front of the gymnasium of Barangay San Mariano, Santa Rosa on New Year's Day.

Sr. Insp. Roger Sebastian of the local police identified the victim as Eric L. Pestaño, a resident of the area.

The discovery of the victim's body at about 8:00 AM was reported to the police by former Vice Mayor Sesinando Santos.

Pestaño's hands and feet were bound, and a gunshot wound was found below an ear.

He was last seen alive the night before while engaged in a drinking session in the house of his neighbor, Roberto Rivera. ###
 
 

Rookie cop shoots laborer

A laborer in Jaen town was repeatedly shot with an Armalite rifle allegedly by a rookie policeman, but the man survived.

The victim, Philip de Guzman of Santo Niño, Jaen was reported in critical condition after sustaining 11 gunshot wounds.

The suspect who was immediately arrested was identified as PO1 Elmer dela Cruz, assigned to the 33rd Company of the Regional Mobile Group based in Gapan City.

Investigators learned that prior to the shooting incident, de Guzman had mauled dela Cruz for unknown reason.

Last January 11, dela Cruz saw the victim in Barangay Malabon Kaingin and got even by repeatedly shooting him with his Armalite rifle. ###
 
 

Body of Talavera man fished out of Laguna Lake

A fisherman in Barangay San Vicente, Angono, Rizal tossed his net into Laguna Lake and was shocked to accidentally retrieve the decaying body of a man who turned out be from Talavera, Nueva Ecija.

The Angono police identified the body as that of Daniel Caratiquit, 28, of Pantoc, Bulac, Talavera.

A blue backpack found floating near the body contained some of the victim's personal belongings, including his Postal ID.

The body was taken to the Golden Heart Funeral Parlor in Angono. ###