Umali vetoes 2008 budget
Calls it 'anti-poor and politically motivated'

Gov. Aurelio M. Umali has vetoed the P313.8 million appropriation for 2008 approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), claiming that the budget measure was "anti-poor and politically motivated".

The provincial board had slashed by 22 percent the original P1.4 billion budget proposed by Umali.

Provincial Administrator Alejandro R. Abesamis said that the governor's veto was contained in an executive message sent last February 8 to the SP.

Umali wrote that the trimmed budget would hamper the delivery of basic social services including the scholarship grants to 5,000 deserving students.

He said the lowered budget would also affect the operations of the provincial government which is already reeling from the P1.1 billion debt left by the Joson administration.

He accused the SP of usurping the functions of the executive.

Vice Gov. and SP presiding officer Edward Thomas Joson, meanwhile, defended the budget cuts saying that the offices affected were unable to explain the intended uses of the fund allocations.

He pointed out the "lack of a clear plan and program" of the provincial government, citing the fact that the Provincial Development Council tasked with preparing short term, medium term and long term development plans for the province has not been convened.

Given zero budget for maintenance and operating expenses this year were the Civil Security Services, Provincial Action and Monitoring Office, Office of the Provincial Engineer and the provincial radio station, DWNE.

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office was the biggest casualty with a budget cut of P84 million. The Special Purpose Fund was slashed to P50 million, while the Intelligence and Confidential Fund was cut to P21 million.

Those who signed the 2008 budget measure were Joson and board members Rommel Padilla, Raqueliza Agapito, Wilfredo Munsayac, Melchor Morales, Zaldy Matias, Romanito Juatco, Eric Daniel Salazar, Cesar Cucio and Lance Jarwin Santos -- all of the opposition Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija.

The governor's party mates in the SP -- Joseph Ortiz, Teresita Patiag, Romeo Borja, Jr. and Emmanuel Abesamis -- abstained. ###
 
 

Umali promises P3,000 performance bonus to capitol employees

Gov. Aurelio M. Umali has promised to give an initial P3,000 performance bonus to provincial employees this month, the first time in four years that such a benefit would be given.

He said the provincial government was capable of giving the benefit as revenue collections were flowing in.

Umali said that despite the huge savings realized by the previous administration from 2004 to 2007, it failed to give to the provincial employees what was legally due them. ###
 
 

PGMA gives 69 flatbed dryers to Ecija

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has put up P1 billion for the installation of 1,000 flatbed dyers in 37 key rice producing areas nationwide in a move to stop farmers from drying palay on highways that results in P30 billion worth of postharvest losses annually, and traffic congestion and accidents.

This was announced by Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap during the holding of "Farmers Day" by the party list Butil Farmers Party at the National Food Authority regional office compound in Cabanatuan City last February 8.

Yap said the dryers would also improve rice production levels by ensuring zero losses.

Redentor Gatus, Department of Agriculture director for Central Luzon, said a total of 108 flatbed dryers would be distributed in Central Luzon, 69 of them in Nueva Ecija.

The drying of palay on highways is prohibited by law and a number of government agencies in Nueva Ecija have posted road signs warning against such practice. ###
 
 

Cabanatuan City marks 58th charter anniversary.

Mayor Alvin Vergara led officials and residents in celebrating the 58th anniversary of the cityhood of Cabanatuan through various activities from January 25 to February 3.

Vergara was the honorary chair of the festivities with the theme "Mamamayan... Kabalikat ng Pamahalaan sa Kaunlaran", with Fanny Posada as chair.

Highlights of the celebration on charter day, February 3, was the "Gawad Parangal" to outstanding Cabanatueños held at Lakewood City Clubhouse, a Thanksgiving Mass at St. Nicholas de Tolentine Cathedral and a motorcade around the city.

February 1, Friday, was declared a holiday in the city as the charter day fell on a Sunday.
 

Other featured activities were the  blessing and ribbon cutting last January 26 of the newly constructed welcome arches at the city's boundary with Talavera in the north, and Santa Rosa in the south and the Moto Mania 4 Transhow (4X4 Series) at the National Food Authority compound; wreath laying at the historic Pangatian Shrine, Employees Day, Coke Bingo and the staging of the First Alvin P. Vergara Bonsai and Suiseki Show and Competition and visual arts exhibit at NE Pacific Mall on January 31; the First Cabanatuan City Longanisa Festival at Paco Roman Street, a radio-controlled airplane exhibition at Cesar Vergara Avenue and the Bb. Cabanatuan 2008 Pageant at Freedom Park; and a job fair at the NE Pacific Mall food court participated in by local employers and registered overseas employment agencies. ###
 
 

'Mamang Pulis' program to be implemented in Ecija

Sr. Supt. Napoleon Taas, officer in charge of the Nueva Ecija provincial police office, wants the more than 1,500 policemen under him to be citizen friendly and with increased efficiency and dedication to duty.

To achieve this, he said he would implement the "Mamang Pulis" program conceived  by Philippine National Police chief Avelino Razon, Jr.

Taas told a gathering of the Nueva Ecija Press Club, Inc. and the PNP Press Corps last February 1 that the mere presence of a policeman evokes respect among peace loving citizens and strikes fear in the hearts of criminal elements.

He requested the local media to help inform the people that the police are ready to serve them.

He also asked the chiefs of police and heads of units under him to be more accessible to the public, friendly, efficient and dedicated to duty.

He said he will intensify police visibility and the integrated patrol system in the province, and cleanse the police ranks. ###
 
 

Razon orders probe of police official linked to jueteng

Director General Avelino Razon, Jr. of the Philippine National Police ordered the investigation of a Nueva Ecija police official for the alleged proliferation of illegal gambling in the province.

Under investigation for alleged links to jueteng is Supt. Ferdinand Vero, deputy chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for Region 3.

It was reported that Vero himself was allegedly one of the jueteng financiers in Aliaga, Carranglan and Llanera where his wife, Lorna Vero, is the mayor.

It was also alleged that Vero was trying to talk to officials of Talavera, Cuyapo, Guimba and Zaragoza to allow jueteng operations in exchange for eight percent commission from the illegal game's gross daily take.

Razon warned that he would not tolerate Vero's alleged questionable activities since the campaign against illegal gambling remains one of the priority objectives of the PNP. ###
 
 

Peasant leader abducted, released

An official of a farmers group was forcibly taken allegedly by members of the New People's Army from his house in the Science City of Muñoz at dawn last February 8, and released 40 hours later.

The victim was identified as Franco Corpus, 30, vice chair of the Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (AMGL) Nueva Ecija chapter and a barangay kagawad.

It was learned that the abductors -- two men and two women -- knocked at Corpus' house in Barangay Pandalla and once inside, ordered the household members to lie face down. The victim was blindfolded and bound and led into a van.

The release of Corpus was confirmed by Sr. Supt. Napoleon Taas, officer-in-charge of the Nueva Ecija police.

It was reported that investigators recovered a rubber shoe marked "AFP" which could belong to one of the abductors.

During a tactical interrogation, Corpus would not directly identify those involved in his  abduction.

"Sa akin na lang iyon; nag-aalala rin ako sa aking pamilya." he said.

Corpus said he was involved with the AMGL in 2005 and became inactive afterwards. He won as the third highest ranked councilor in his barangay in the November 2007 elections. ###
 
 

Murder suspect nabbed after 10 years of hiding

Police operatives have arrested Nueva Ecija's second most wanted man who had been charged as the prime suspect in the murder ten years ago of a man and the aborted murder of his five farm helpers in Gapan City.

Sr. Supt. Napoleon C. Taas, officer-in-charge of the Nueva Ecija police, said that Patricio Quiambao, 60, was arrested by a composite team at a mountainous place in Barangay Pita, Dinalupihan, Bataan last February 2.

Quiambao was wanted for the fatal shooting of Renato de Guzman in Barangay Mangino, Gapan City on June 1, 1998.

During Quiambao's shooting spree at de Guzman's farm, five workers were also wounded.

Supt. Marlon Bingcang, Gapan City police chief, said that the five and de Guzman were on their way to work in the farm when Quiambao arrived on a scooter and threatened to shoot them if they entered the place. De Guzman did not pay attention to him and tried to open the padlocked gate when Quiambao drew his gun and fired at the group.

De Guzman died from gunshot wounds in a local hospital while the five workers sustained serious injuries.

The prosecutor handling the case initially filed an information for homicide and multiple frustrated homicide against Quiambao at the Gapan Regional Trial Court but the suspect did not show up during the preliminary hearing and was reported to have gone into hiding. The information was later upgraded to murder and multiple frustrated murder after the prosecutor pointed out that the shooting seemed premeditated since the suspect arrived at the crime scene already armed, with the element of treachery present as he suddenly and unexpectedly fired at the victims. ###
 
 

Rape suspect arrested

A retired government employee facing a string of rape cases was arrested by the police in Barangay Daang Sarile, Cabanatuan City last February 4.

Supt. Eliseo Cruz, city police chief, identified the suspect as Catalino Escuadro Garcia, 65, a retired National Irrigation Administration employee, of Dikelandia, Daang Sarile.

Garcia was arrested based on warrants issued by Judge Evelyn Dimaculangan-Querijero of the Regional Trial Court Branch 36, for cases of rape, sexual assault and act of lasciviousness.

The suspect, listed as number 15 among the top 20 most wanted persons in Nueva Ecija, peacefully went with the arresting officers. ###
 
 

Jealousy drives man to burn own house 

Investigators are looking into jealousy as the motive that drove a 55 year old man to burn his house in Barnagay Kalinawan, San Jose city last February 13.

It was learned that the suspect, Monching Natividad, would go into fits of jealousy whenever he would see his live-in partner Rosie Advincula, 50, leaving the house all dressed up.

During the couple's latest quarrel on the eve of Valentine's Day, Natividad set fire to their house.

Advincula had Natividad arrested, but during a confrontation at the police station, the woman forgave her lover and withdrew the case against him. ###
 
 

Army soldier dies after motorbike accident

A 28 year old Army man died after a motorcycle accident along the Muñoz-Lupao road in Purok Cabyawan, Barangay Franza, the Science City of Muñoz.

The fatality was identified as Jerry Nimer Ruiz of Barangay Poblacion North, Muñoz.

Investigation showed that Ruiz was driving home at about 1:00 AM last February 13 when he ran over a dog, causing his motorcycle to slide.  The victim's head hit the pavement so hard that his helmet broke.

He was rushed to CLSU Hospital, and later transferred to PJG Extension Hospital in Talavera where he died. ###
 
 

2 youths stabbed in rumble

Two male teenagers were seriously hurt when they fought it out with three other teenagers in Facoma, Barangay Abar 1st, San Jose City last February 2.

In a report submitted by Supt. Sydney Villaflor to the office of Mayor Marivic Belena,  the victims were identified as Miguelito Divina Montañosa, 18, and Michael Tayao Arcega, 16, both residents of Riverside, Barangay Abar 1st. They sustained stab wounds and were taken to Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center in Cabanatuan City.

The suspects were identified as two 16 year old and one 15 year old males, all residents of Romano  St.,  Barangay Rafael Rueda, San Jose City.

The city police has asked for the help of the City Social  Welfare Development Office as all the suspects and one of the victims are minors. ###