By BEHN FER. HORTALEZA, JR.
THE city administration of Dagupan is proceeding ever more cautiously now in its fight against illegal squatters at the beach area in Bonuan Binloc after the initial bravado it exhibited on the issue of public land squatting.

This, after a neighborhood association in the place urged the city hall task force to first determine “with absolute certainty” which tax declarations are valid and which are not to avoid embarrassing situations later. Read more

PROVINCIAL Police Director Isagani Nerez’es quick answer to the Provincial Governor’s order for a total gun ban in Pangasinan is, as widely expected, the setting up of checkpoints on the road and body searches or frisking of persons in such frequented spots as video-oke bars and nightclubs. It is supposed, and perhaps quite correctly so, that the probability of armed customers being present in such places of entertainment is high.

A report said two members of a gun-for-hire gang were caught at a video-oke joint in Sual last week precisely in implementation of the gun ban. Let us pray that more such pre-emptive operations against such armed individuals or groups roaming in our midst earn similar good results in the coming days so that peace-loving citizens would be relatively safe from those nasty “stray bullets” when guns suddenly start barking.
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By BEHN FER. HORTALEZA, JR

CIVILIAN local executives had better watch out in the next few years because their political careers are under serious threat.

This, especially if they have among their constituents an illustrious, top-ranking, high-profile police officer who strongly feels there’s life after retirement. You see, chances are these uniformed men, not their current vice mayor or councilor or previous opponents, will be their next (bitter) election rivals.
Lingayen mayor Jonas Castaneda, as reports now go, is in one such fix.

The looming ‘threat ‘ of a Police general Leopoldo Bataoil mayoralty ambition, so political pundits say, is growing larger by the day considering the Pol Profile’s approaching retirement from the service.
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By DANNY O. SAGUN

“ANGGAPOMET ni nanpasnokan kon empleyado. Angapomet ni inekal ko dia lapud pulitika.”

Thus did Gov. Amado Espino answer a question from Orly N of Aksyon Radyo about perceptions that he is masibeg, mapasnok and vindictive. Three times during that radio interview he stressed he had not berated any employee.

“I don’t know why they are saying that,” he wondered, adding he would not admit any such perceptions.
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Nen MARIO F. KARATEKA

BALEG a katraydoran so ginawa daray pigaran kakaibad partido Lakas nen Ispiker Dyo de Benesya; Dadauloan nen Kongrisman Prospero “Boy’ Nograles na Davao, sarayan kakaalyados manayan andi nen JdV et malinlinew ya asogsogan o asileng ed ambisyon da a singawen so liderato na Kamara ed kabaleyan tayon Dyo de V.

Bangta imbagay presidente na Lakas a si GMA ya agla gigiroen si JdV ed puesto to tan pansiansiaen so moyongan ed Kamara de Representantes, patuloy nin mani-ingal yay Nograles ya sosogsogan met nen Kongrisman Luis Belyapwerte na Kampi, say malet a kalaban nen Ispiker Dyo, a sayan too met lanti et aminpiga lan analin patumbaen si Ispiker balet palpak iyan naynay.
A Read more

BY BEHN FER. HORTALEZA .JR.
M
ANAOAG – A barangay captain in this pilgrimage town may need a major miracle to keep his post after the second division of the Commission on Election disqualified him from occupying it.

Barangay Chairman Pedro Sales, Jr. of Lipit Norte found himself stripped of the right as barangay chief when the Comelec gave due course to a petition filed by his political rival, Engr. Teofilo Manipon with the election body against him for violation of the Election Code.

Manipon alleged in his petition that Sales’ was not qualified to run or occupy the barangay captain’s position because he had already served three consecutive terms as such official since he first ran and won in the barangay elections of 1994, 1997 and 2002 consecutively.
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By DANNY O. SAGUN

THE provincial government has set aside P30 million for the purchase of firearms for the barangays.

But the firearms would only be shotguns, not the fancied high-powered long or short ones, Gov. Amado T. Espino clarified Thursday in a radio interview.

“Aliwa ya armalite o machine gun odino (caliber) .45 ya sarag dan ibulsa ya awiten ed paway,” (It’s not Armalite or machine gun or caliber 45 pistol that they can bring with them outside),he said.
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STO. TOMAS— The countdown is finally on for the staging of the world’s longest corn barbecue measuring 4, 938 meters set in the afternoon of February 10 as part of this town’s Corn Festival.

The corn barbecue grill event will be the top feature of the town’s 100th year founding anniversary celebration.

Mayor Vivien Villar, executive chairperson of the Centennial Celebration, said the putting up of the close to five-kilometer barbecue is a big challenge but she is confident that with the Read more

HOUSE Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. said he is inviting his detractors who are seeking to unseat him for a voting on the floor in the House of Representatives to really know who between him and Davao City Congressman Prospero Nograles has the numbers.

In a patch phone interview over a local radio station, Bombo Radyo Dagupan, De Venecia said that he, being the incumbent champion; expects the challengers to present their challenge before the floor so that voting can be done.
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LINGAYEN—The total gun ban in Pangasinan ordered by Governor Amado Espino last week registered an initial success with the arrest of two gun holders inside a videoke bar in Sual, Monday.

Police Chief Inspector Medardo Soriano, chief of the Sual police, identified the alleged violators as Samson Berk, alias Edwin Tisoy, 25, of Pantal Centro in Dagupan City, and one Richard Tamayo, 19, also of Dagupan City.

They were caught inside Anahaw Videoke Bar in Sual by the police who were implementing “Operation Bakal”, the campaign against loose firearms.
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