STARTING with former police superintendent and congressman Amado Tutaan Espino more popularly known by his monicker, “Spines,” who defeated Dr. Jamie Eloise Agbayani for Pangasinan”s gubernatorial post in the May 14 elections, five former police officers successfully won their bids for elective posts in Pangasinan in the May 14 polls.

After Espino’s spectacular win over the long-reigning Agbayani clan, the more sensational win by an ex policeman in the province was notched by retired Gen. Reynaldo Velasco in Sta Barbara who won the mayorship, roundly defeating the long-ruling Zaplan family in the town on his first try at politics.
Read more

LINGAYEN – It’s a family affair in some local government units in Pangasinan once the newly elected and reelected officials assume office on July 1.

This is because of the election of relatives by the electorate in the May 14 election despite the still unsettled issue on political dynasty.

In the May 14 election, two father and son tandems came out to rule their respective municipalities for the next three years.
Read more

AN IMPOSTOR New People’s Army hit squad member out to extort money from the provincial engineer of Pangasinan was caught by police operatives in an entrapment operation in Calasiao town

The suspect, Noel Santos, 39, of San Fernando City, Pampanga, was arrested in the afternoon of May 15 inside the compound of the Catholic Church in Calasiao while about to receive P180,000 from provincial Engineer Divinia de Leon.

Police said it was already the second time Santos was to receive money from de Leon. The first was last May 8 when the latter, out of fear, gave in to the demand and gave the impostor P45,000, as alleged protection money and as financial support for their organizations. Read more

THE Department of Trade and Industry, Pangasinan Provincial Office and the Philippine Stock Exchange will hold a free orientation on How to Invest in the Stock Market Seminar on Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. to be held at the Star Social Hall, 3rd Floor, DTI Bldg., Arellano St., Dagupan City.

Director Peter O. Mangabat, Provincial Director of DTI Pangasinan said that this is an opportunity for people “to make their money work for them and get an early start on their financial independence.” Read more

BACARRA, Ilocos Norte – The police vowed to leave no stone unturned in its investigation into the cold-blooded slaying of the town mayor and a councilor here by a still unidentified assassin during the celebration night of the Bacarra Farmers’ Festival late Sunday night.

Police Regional Director Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil in an eerie replay of a scene where he also assured the family of slain San Carlos City Mayor Julian Resuello in Pangasinan, made the pledge when he visited the remains of Bacarra Mayor Philip Velasco and Councilor Marcelo Andaya and condoled with their families on Monday morning in their respective homes.
Read more

SAN CARLOS CITY – Thousands of people sent off slain Mayor Julian Resuello to his final resting place at his family-owned Holy Garden Memorial Park at 3:30 p.m. today in barangay Agdao after a holy mass lasting up to noon at the St. Dominic Church.

Tight security was provided by a contingent from the local police, Regional Mobile Group and those from the Philippine Army and Philippine Air Force to prevent any untoward incident.

Everyone who went inside the church was frisked and their bags searched just to make sure no deadly weapons are carried by anyone. Read more

BANGUED, Abra – Violence continues in Abra as a public market supervisor was killed in broad daylight on Saturday by unidentified motorcycle-riding suspects in Zone 6, this town.

The slaying happened just two days after a shooting incident at the fourth floor of Holy Spirit Academy also in this capital town where the victim was Brenda Crisologo, wife of re-electionist Mayor Edwin Crisologo of Tineg town.

PO3 Benjamin Bersalona, duty investigator of the Bangued police station, identified the victim last Saturday as Francis Acena, 42, a former seminarian in Quezon City and also a resident of Zone 6, Bangued town. Read more

CABUGAO, Ilocos Sur – Two persons were hurt when unidentified suspects lobbed a fragmentation grenade at the premises of a defeated mayoralty candidate’s residence here Tuesday night.

Senior Inspector William Nerona of the Cabugao police, said the grenade was thrown by motorcycle-riding men in the front yard of the house of Amelia Amparo Sunio Abaquez who ran and lost in the mayoralty race here, located on Rizal street.

Abaquez and her family at the time were in Manila, leaving their house under the care of two helpers, Bernardino Sunio, 32, and Dolores Jara, 39, who were both slightly wounded. Read more

THE team of former Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez Jr. under the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats clobbered the opposing team in the last election in Dagupan City, giving only one seat to the latter in the city council.

Called United Dagupan, the team of former Immigration Commissioner Fernandez and his running mate, Belen Fernandez, a business magnate, swamped the New-Po team of 28- year old Brian Lim, son of Mayor Benjamin Lim, in all 31 barangays of the city. Read more

LINGAYEN – Pangasinan continues to go for the opposition as electorate placed six Genuine Opposition (GO) senatorial candidates in the 12-man pack.
The top two positions went to GO’s Loren Legarda and Francis Escudero with 696,639 and 625,499 votes, respectively. Independent candidates Francis Pangilinan (third with 570,024) and Gregorio Honasan (11th with 390,818) joined the magic 12.
GO’s bets Manuel Villar, Jr was fourth (557,292), Panfilo Lacson at fifth (540,693); Benigno Aquino III 7th (463,535), and Alan Cayetano landed 10th (390,818). Read more