NATIVIDAD – The police and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are still facing a blank wall in their investigation of the brutal slaying of the presiding judge of a Regional Trial Court in Pasay City last Friday, Sept. 23.

The NBI joined the investigation of the case upon the request of the family of slain RTC Judge Estrellita Mariano Paas, 61, who was found by her husband in the comfort room of their house, both hands tied behind her back with a wire and bloodied all over from stab wounds in the nape and head.

A Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) team of the police that examined the body of the judge believes that Paas was killed five or six hours before.

Senior Insp. Bernardo Aromin, Natividad police chief, said they are not ruling out robbery as the motive for the killing although the P14,000 cash and jewelry of the victim were intact.

Discovered missing from the house were the lady judge’s cellphone, a digital camera and a licensed cal. 22 pistol.

Aromin hinted the suspects might have sneaked in when the husband of the judge left the house to induct student officers of a private high school in the town.

Judge Paas was on vacation from work at the time of the incident. She and her husband, a lawyer, and retired Ombudsman, live in Poblacion west here, in front of the Natividad Central School.

The police are also eyeing the possibility that the motive for the brutal slaying was work-related.

Paas was the second trial court judge murdered in Pangasinan. The first was RTC Judge Oscar Uson assigned in Tayug, Pangasinan, who was ambushed and killed by unidentified gunmen on the Asingan-Sta Maria bridge on his way home about three years ago. Uson’s case has remained unsolved.

Philippine National Police Director General Arturo Lomibao gave investigators till today, Sunday, to solve or at least find some leads in connection with the brutal slaying.

Lomibao, who flew in here last Wednesday to personally look into the progress of the investigation of the case, told newsmen he was hoping that investigators could solve the case or at least gather some leads before the lady judge is interred at the municipal cemetery here today Oct. 2.

Lomibao said he talked to the son of the victim, Ronald, a lawyer, who requested that if possible, prior to the interment of his mother, the police shall have already gathered some leads on the identities of the perpetrators including their motives.

“I promised him that we will try our best to identify the suspects and if they (police) can not file the case yet, they shall have at least determined the motives of the suspects so that we can facilitate the filing of the case,” Lomibao said.

He said that based on his talk with investigators, they are following up some leads.

Asked if he was creating a task force purposely to go after the killers of the lady judge, Lomibao said there was no need for it as the PNP Provincial Director of Pangasinan “is on top of the situation.”

“My advice to Colonel Purisima is to talk with the NBI and the (Paas) family so that there would be only one lead agency in the investigation of the case,” Lomibao said, adding, that whichever agency is chosen by the family to be the lead agency, the other agency will have to extend support.

THE selection of a Mrs. Dagupan International 2005 will highlight the coming Dagupan City Fiesta in December.

A first-of-its-kind in the city, Mrs. Dagupan International is a fund-raising contest with overseas married Dagupeña ladies as contestants vying for the title through popularity votes measured in cash donations. The project was conceived by City Mayor Benjamin S. Lim, Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez and Councilor Alex De Venecia, this year’s Hermano Mayor.

“This is a beauty contest from within which exudes the compassion and commitment of the contestants to the city and its people,” De Venecia said.

Away from their city of birth, the contestants reach out with all their hearts to the people of Dagupan by participating in the search for the first Mrs. Dagupan International, De Venecia stressed.

Vying for the title of the first Mrs. Dagupan International 2005 are Nancy Zabala Beltran, Elvira Abalos Mitchell, Virginia Tamayo Nonan and Pauline Castro Perez.

Beltran, who resides in New York, hails from Burgos Street, Dagupan City, and was married to the late Roberto Beltran. Blessed with two children, she is currently a registered nurse in the New-York based Nassau Dialysis Center.

Mitchell was born and raised in barangay Pogo Grande and is a graduate of Dagupan City National High School, batch 1961. She was married to the late Marine Mayor Thomas Mitchell with whom she had six children.

Nonan, on the other hand, was a former school principal of the Doña Victoria Zarate Elementary School in Arellano-Bani, and now a registered nurse in Napa Hospital in Vallejo, California. Born and raised in Bonuan Sabangan, Nonan is currently residing in Vallejo, California with her husband, Emerson Nonan.

Engaged in several jobs as a nurse, hairdresser, parlor owner and hotel attendant before, Perez currently resides in San Francisco, California and has settled as a real state consultant. Perez, a resident of Sanggunian Village in Dagupan, was married to the late Dr. Sergio Basconsillo, a dentist.

The four candidates believe that by joining the contest, they can be effective vehicles for every Dagupeño abroad to share their blessings to their less fortunate kabaleyan.

The Mrs. Dagupan International 2005, including her runner-ups, will be crowned at the city plaza on December 26.

Overseas Dagupeño can place their advertisements, such as family portraits in the souvenir magazine via the City Fiesta 2005 official website, http://www.dagupan.gov.ph/fiesta2005. These advertisements will also be subsequently posted on the website.

Overseas Dagupeño can also have the opportunity to take part in the event by casting their votes for the candidate/s of their choice through the website.

De Venecia guaranteed that this year’s city fiesta will be grand and festive with the holding of a Balikbayan Night, Dagupan City National High School homecoming and University of Pangasinan High School homecoming celebrations. (Sunshine D. Robles)

By SHEILA HORTALEZA-AQUINO

CITY Mayor Benjamin S. Lim is now setting his sights on the fish cage industry in the city and the upgrading of production of fishponds as part of the city government’s vision to ensure the sustainability of the river system while increasing fish production.

The ongoing dredging operations, which can deepen the city’s rivers, should now make viable the operations of fish cages, City Agriculture Officer Emma Molina said, following a study tour by city officials and local fish farm owners in Taiwan last September 21 to 25.

Molina said the city agriculture office will conduct a research on sea cage culture through the use of Philippine technology next year to jumpstart the program.

Fish caging will involve the production of high value marine fish in the main river areas, such as zones 1 and 2, she said.

Molina said the cooperation among the Taiwanese people was a key factor in the success of fisheries and aquaculture industry of that country.

“Taiwan sets its plans and priorities and focuses on research which makes the production and marketing of products successful,” she noted.

In Tainan, one of two counties the group visited, the other being Pintung, each municipality boasts of its own special product much like the ‘One Town, One Product’ project of the Department of Trade and Industry.

“Specialization of products allows the municipality to focus on its production, development and research,” Molina said.

Molina said the National Pintung University of Science and Technology is willing to accommodate scholars from Dagupan while the International Fund for Development Cooperation (IFDC) can be a source of fund.

The mayor is interested in the IFDC’s short-term courses on agriculture, agribusiness, aquaculture, bio-sciences and bio-technology, which can be used for planning the development of Dagupan,” Molina said.

Some of Taiwan’s commodities are grouper, saline tilapia and bangus while shellfish, like hard clam, oyster, abalone, crabs, tuna, shrimps, and prawns are cultured.

Fishermen associations like the Taiwan Aquaculture Development Association and the Long Diann Marine Bio-Technology Company work more like cooperatives, according to Molina.

“These cooperatives have their own specialty with regards to bangus production from breeding, hatchery, fingerlings production, culture processing or marketing of bangus,” she said.

Molina said Mayor Lim wants to develop the city’s 1,000-hectare fishponds through the use of Taiwan’s modern technology since most of the local fishponds do not produce much unlike fishponds.

She said the mayor is considering adopting as a son of Dagupan City Dr. Ching-Ta (Ted) Chuang, a director and professor of the Institute of Marine Resource Management of the National Taiwan Ocean University so that he can extend help to us on research and many others.

Among the other municipal officials who joined the trip were San Fabian Mayor Mojamito Libunao, Jr., Dasol Mayor Angelita Jimenez and Binmaley Councilor Leo Urmaza.

“Dasol is considered the seaweeds center in Pangasinan and in Region 1, much like Taiwan, which also produces seaweeds, so Mayor Jimenez can communicate with the research institutions in Taiwan or send trainees there,” Molina said.

Libunao and Urmaza can work closely with Dagupan since their municipal resources are typically similar with that of Dagupan and the city’s and town’s river systems are interconnected.

THE city of San Carlos, some 200 kilometers north of Manila, continues to bloom and boom commercially despite the political turmoil in the nation’s capital.

To date, a commercial mall owned by the Dagupan-based City Supermarket Inc. is now fast-rising beside the city hall while a few more investors, including some from Manila, are just waiting for the perfect timing to come in.

Vice Mayor Julier Resuello said there is no doubt that the much improved peace and order situation of the city is what attracts investors to the city, now fast emerging as another melting pot of business in central Pangasinan other than Dagupan.

San Carlos City used to be known for its “wild, wild west” image where killings happened quite frequently thus driving away traders.

Even cattle rustling, which used to be rampant, with a barangay of the city - Balite Sur - notorious for harboring cattle thieves, has been tamed. Mayor Julian Resuello had called known suspects in this illegal activity to a “summit” and told them straight to stop their trade.

City Information Officer Guido Tiong however said good governance, more than just improved peace and order, is what’s doing wonders in investments in the city. Tiong said the progressive actions of the Resuellos, father and son, have built strong confidence among the business people that their projects will succeed because they have a transparent city government to deal with.

The mayor and vice mayor’s tandem, Tiong added, has put all the necessary ingredients to make San Carlos go on a roll, to the envy of other cities.

“I believe infrastructure-wise, we have more than adequate of these to date. All roads leading towards San Carlos City are now well paved, although we are putting in some more projects,” said Resuello who may likely succeed his father when the latter completes his last term of office in 2007.

By DANNY O. SAGUN
(PIA-Pangasinan)

SAN FABIAN – Will there be beach areas still left for the public here to enjoy with the unabated conversion of foreshore lands into private resorts and residences?

Councilor Saturnino Distor expressed fear over the possibility as he asked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to stop the “invasion” of beach lands through indiscriminate issuance of so-called foreshore lease agreements (FLAs) and outright squatting.

DENR however has appeared helpless in resolving the problem as private resorts kept mushrooming from the popular Center beach west of the poblacion up to the border of this province and La Union.

“Outgoing provincial environment and natural resources officer Juan delos Reyes, the concerned local governments, as well as the barangay officials should take the lead in the campaign against squatting in public lands,” Distor said.

It was reported that some barangay officials in areas along the Lingayen Gulf have gone to the extent of conniving with unscrupulous businessmen by offering prime beach areas for a fee.

Bewailing this “unholy alliance,” Delos Reyes said the campaign against squatting needs a sustained, full coordination between his office and local officials.

He advised FLA applicants to refrain from occupying the area unless and until their applications are approved, stressing that a mere application does not authorize them to take hold of the property.

Such a practice was evident here and in other coastal areas like Bonuan Binloc in Dagupan City where prime beach lands were being fenced off by supposed claimants.

A similar problem exists in barangay Maniboc in Lingayen.

Delos Reyes said a survey of the Gulf will finally determine the areas considered alienable and disposable and those that should be left untouched.

But a cursory inspection of the beaches here will easily show that many prime beach areas have already been occupied for private use.

Most affected by this illegal action, are beach goers and fishermen who could hardly make their way to the beach as most entrance and exit have been occupied or fenced now.

ALAMINOS CITY – The world-famous Hundred Islands was officially turned over to the city government last Thursday.

Visibly ecstatic about the historic event, Mayor Hernani Braganza said the people of the city are very happy and proud that after more than six decades, the prime tourist destination finally returned to its original owner.

He thanked President Arroyo and tourism officials for making the transfer possible.

In gratitude, Braganza officially declared one of the islands as President Diosdado P. Macapagal Island in honor of the late father of President Gloria M. Arroyo.

“Hundred Islands is God’s gift to mankind, nature’s gift to Alaminos and the people of Pangasinan. (With Alaminos) getting it (HINP), comes big responsibilities. But we are ready to face the challenges of developing and protecting our city’s pride for our children and children’s children,” Braganza added.

Last March, environment and natural resources Secretary Michael Defensor and Philippine Tourism Authority Robert Ace Barbers signed an accord for the transfer of management, control and supervision, and development of the national park to the city.

Two months later, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano and the mayor inked a memorandum of understanding for the drawing up of a Hundred Islands master plan by their respective staffs that will ensure orderly development of the national park.

Several activities were staged lately to help promote tourism not only for the city’s good but for the entire province’s as well. A triathlon open and wall climbing competition were staged as well as the first Hundred Islands cycling tour. The city also hosted the Miss Earth 2004 presentation.

On January 18, 1940, then President Manuel L. Quezon issued Proclamation No. 667 declaring the Hundred Islands as the country’s first national park. In 1974, the islands including the Lucap Bay area was transferred to the PTA.

Braganza, upon election as mayor, moved to acquire the park back for the city as its original owner. His close ties with the President, Defensor and the tourism officials who were his colleagues during his stint in the national government made the transfer possible, it was observed. (PIA/DOS with report from PNA)

LINGAYEN – Pangasinan Gov. Victor Agbayani has ordered the police to do something about the rising incidence of highway robberies perpetrated by armed men usually against persons who have just withdrawn money from banks.

Agbayani summoned Police Provincial Director Alan Purisima to his office after noting the successive highway robbery incidents last week, the biggest of which was the holdup of P798,000 payroll money of the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital somewhere in Binmaley town.

The other incidents happened along the highway in Villasis and in Sta. Maria towns.

In the past, highway robberies also took place in Urdaneta and Dagupan cities, Lingayen and Basista towns. The perpetrators in these cases have not been arrested nor identified.

Purisima said the governor ordered him to provide security not only to banks but also their clients, who are held up by armed men often riding in motorcycles without plate numbers.

He said he will order chiefs of police in different towns and cities to meet with bank officials and personnel to validate reports there are tipsters inside banks spying on people withdrawing big amounts of money.

The National Bureau of Investigation has joined the probe in the holdup of the payroll money of the PPH upon the request of the provincial government, along with the police.

A parallel investigation is now being conducted by the provincial government, the PPH being under its jurisdiction, to find out if the cashier from whom the armed men took the money was negligent. (PNA)

LINGAYEN – A senior member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has asked the committees on agriculture, public services and environment and natural resources to conduct joint public hearings to determine the state of the bangus (milkfish) industry in the province.

In filing Provincial Resolution No. 479-2005 before the SP, Board Member John Agerico B. Rosario, majority floor leader, stressed that the provincial government must identify “viable avenues of intervention” to support and promote the bangus industry in a bid to formally establish Pangasinan as the Bangus Capital of the World.

Bangus is being produced not only in Dagupan City but in almost coastal municipalities in the province like Binmaley, Lingayen, San Fabian, Sual, Bolinao, Anda, Dasol, and Alaminos City.

Rosario said that the local bangus industry has become a major contributor to the province’s economy, providing jobs and infrastructure and generating additional jobs.

“The province of Pangasinan is known worldwide for the taste and quality of bangus with official reports indicating local sales of no less than P30.20 million and exports of $249,399 annually,” he said, quoting figures from the Department of Trade and Industry.

It was not immediately known if the figure already included Dagupan City’s own production and sales figures.

He said local bangus producers however are not spared from the effects of the prevailing economic uncertainties aggravated by escalating oil prices, thus the need for the province to intervene.

Rosario said he has referred the matter to Gov. Victor E. Agbayani who supports the idea of providing interventions in areas such as research, marketing and technical assistance.

Among the areas to be explored are establishment of hatcheries to ensure steady supply of fries and fingerlings, development of new bangus products and markets, technical and credit assistance, management training and capability building. (Jennifer Domantay/PIO)

MANGALDAN – Politics has begun to show its ugly head here this early.
Mayor Herminio Romero was accused by his team mate, Vice Mayor Berex Abalos, his running-mate in the 2004 elections, of encroaching on his functions.

Abalos complained that Romero signed a check for the payment of curtains installed at the sangguniang bayan.

He said it was he who should sign the check as head of the legislative body. He was said to have signed earlier the voucher for such payment.

He wondered why the mayor signed the check considering the fact that he too himself had complained when he was yet vice-mayor.

“Nag-aalburuto siya noon kay Mayor Tito Sarzaba kung pinakikialama iyong pondo ng sanggunian,” he said.

Municipal Treasurer Rosanna Bauzon said her staff only erred in entering the mayor’s name on the check. She also noted that the legal purpose was achieved even if it was Romero who signed the check.

“Napunta rin sa dapat puntahan,” she said referring to the curtains installed at the sanggunian.

Abalos rejected her explanation however saying it has been six months already that he has not been signing checks for sanggunian expenses.

He also claimed that the supplier of the curtains did not even see or consult him. The curtains were said to cost P80,000, considered a big amount for a simple project, observers said.

Supporters of the mayor however claimed Abalos was only finding a way to distance himself and play a fiscalizer’s role in preparation for the coming local elections, setting his sights on the mayorship this early.

Interestingly, Romero practically did the same to Sarbaza during the latter’s stint as mayor, with him (Romero) as the vice mayor. (DOS)