By DANNY O. SAGUNPIA-Pangasinan Infocenter

CALASIAO – The Bureau of Internal Revenue regional office here launched last Friday its eService and eLounge aimed at strengthening the bureau’s collection efficiency.

With the computerized tax system, taxpayers from the region can now access and avail of electronic services that include electronic filing and payment system (eFPS), eRegistration, electronic accreditation and registration, and data entry and validation and other electronic services, Regional Director Alfredo Balicanta, Jr. said.

The eFPS is web or Internet service that allows taxpayers paperless filing of tax returns and payment of taxes as well as submission of information needed by the bureau such as sales and purchases and other attachments. The system is available in the BIR portal https://my.bir.gov.ph. Read more

ASINGAN – The police here believe the massacre that happened in barangay Cabalitian last Wednesday has some connection to the celebrated murder of Pasay City Judge Estrellita Paas in Natividad town in September last year.

Killed at past 1 a.m. of Wednesday was Aida Cabiles, 62, who was stabbed several times, particularly in the neck.

Her son, Edmund, 31, fought the intruders but was stabbed in the stomach, along with his son, Raymund0, 12.

Supt. Fidel Drapeza. chief of police of Natividad, said Aida is the mother of Elmer Cabiles, one of the two principal suspects in the brutal slaying of the lady judge in her home.

Cabiles’ co-accused in the slaying, Jornald Vargas,is now at-large after the two were released by the police soon after Regional Trial Court Judge Ulysses R. Butuyan of Tayug dismissed the robbery with murder case case filed against them for lack of probable cause.

Cabiles is now detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology district prison in Urdaneta City for a crime committed sometime in 1966.

The Asingan police found no reason why armed men would barge into the victims’ house and just stab them one after the other if it was not about the case involving their kin.

THE Divine Word Academy of Dagupan (DWAD) will hold its 49th Recognition Day on March 29 at 2 p.m. at the school gymnasium. A thanksgiving mass will usher in the occasion as an expression of thanks to the Almighty.

Highlight of the event will be the induction of the new set of officers of the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) who will serve for two years (2006-2008) led by top businesswoman–civic leader Lelia Chua-Sy.

Twenty-one year old blind girl Minnie Aveline Posadas Juan of San Carlos City, a consistent first honors student and magna cum laude for the Bachelor of Arts degree in English at the Trinity College of Quezon City, will give an inspirational message.
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LINGAYEN – “Thank God, I survived it!”

This was the statement - sigh of Police Director General Arturo Lomibao over his one year anniversary as PNP chief this week.

“I survived it. So it means I can still survive up to July 5 when I retire, with support from the citizenry, the PNP and the media,” Lomibao smilingly jested to mediamen who met with him last week.

He said it will al depend on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo whether he would be extended or not. He said he prefers that he retires in July 2006 so that the younger officer can also have their chance to become PNP chief.
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MALASIQUI – Two persons were arrested by the police Tuesday while transporting a big box containing assorted counterfeit medicines on their way to distribute these to dealers in Pangasinan.

Supt. Leopoldo Rivera, chief of police of Malasiqui, said those arrested wee suspected couriers of counterfeit medicines. They were aboard a tricycle along the Villasis-Malasiqui road enroute to Malasiqui town proper when intercepted by the police.

They were identified as Jessie Quiroz, the tricycle driver, of barangay del Pilar, Paniqui, Tarlac; and Eduardo Apelado of San Fabian town, believed to be members of a big syndicate engaged in the manufacture, transport and distribution of counterfeit or fake medicines.

Rivera said his men intercepted the tricycle suspecting something unusual because the duo rode only on a tricycle while carrying medicine shipment estimated to cost several thousand pesos. Read more

CALASIAO – Mayor Roy Macanlalay proved to be a worthy representative of Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. during the launching Thursday of the web-based services of the Bureau of Internal Revenue here insofar as the campaign for a change in the Constitution is concerned.

Macanlalay took the opportunity to talk on the advantages of the proposed parliamentary government over the present presidential system, as though De Venecia himself was around pitching for the Charter change.

The mayor fired off statistics to prove his point: Of 50 developed countries, 48 have parliamentary governments, while only two, the United States, and Norway are under the presidential system. Of 50 most corrupt countries, 45 have presidential system, while only five are parliamentary. Read more

FORMER GOVERNOR Oscar M. Orbos (left) exhorts members of the Evangelical Business People and Entrepreneurs for Social Transformation (eBest) on the finer points of Christian life in a business setting for a better country and a better world. He was later joined by Pastor Mario Tomboc and other Christian brotherhood officers in a pray-over by Bro. Diony B. Espiritu, national treasurer, Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International, Phils.

A CHILDREN’S halfway home will be inaugurated April 1 in Dagupan City.

Mrs. Gina de Venecia, wife of Speaker Joe de Venecia will open the Haven for Children a regional center for children located in Brgy. Bonuan-Binloc that will serve as “a home away from home” for the neglected children in the region, specifically Pangasinan.

“Here, we hope to address the needs of abandoned children in rural communities. We will rehabilitate tem, restore their self-worth and heal the wounds that have been inflicted on their tender bodies and their innocent hearts,.” Mrs. de Venecia, president of the Congressional Spouses Foundation (CSF) explained the objectives of the project.

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WITH CONSTITUENTS over the weekend, House Speaker Jose C. de Venecia, Jr., hands over a P250,000 check to Imam Kabsaran Capia, president of Christian-Muslim Progressive Multi-purpose Cooperative of Dagupan for the group’s business venture. De Venecia has lately been visiting his district every week. (PStar Photos by Butch F. Uka)

URDANETA CITY– Members of the city police here underwent a surprise drug test Wednesday and Thursday even as combined elements of drug enforcement agencies arrested some 15 suspected drug personalities in simultaneous raids in this city and neighbor Binalonan town.

The unannounced drug test came in the wake of reports that some policemen were either pushers or protectors or users themselves.

As is true in other metropolis, this commercially-growing city has had its share of problem on illegal drugs.

Combined elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, PNP special operations group, regional mobile group, and the Dagupan SWAT team, swooped down last Thursday on suspected drug dens in the city, at the cattle market site in the poblacion area, and in barangays Camantiles and Nancayasan of this city.

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