AFTER a long surveillance of him by drug operatives, the gig is up for a drugs dealer and his wife. Both originally are from the South.

Michael Bagul, 49, president of the Dagupan Muslim Association and his wife Anna Liza, 40, were arrested in an entrapment conducted by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) at their residence in Tondaligan Bonuan.

The two were tagged as number 1 and 2, respectively in the Drug Watch List of hydrochloride or shabu.
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THE city government has begun clearing away all forms of obstructions from the major streets in Dagupan City’s central business district.

The sidewalk clearing operation headed by city engineer Virginia Rosario is in response to Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr’s directive to strictly implement City Ordinance No. 1873-2006 which prohibits the use of sidewalks as parking area and any purpose other than as passageways for pedestrians.

It also requires all establishments to mark a 10-meter setback from the government property line.
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“I STRONGLY suspect that cases of fraud, payroll padding, overpricing and other irregularities were committed by the administration of my predecessor.”

Thus pointed out Bonuan Gueset Barangay Captain Angel C. Gumarang as he denounced what he called the deliberate refusal of former Barangay Captain Rico Mejia to make a formal turn-over of the barangay’s financial statement, assets and liabilities.
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SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union—One of the most wanted men in La Union was arrested by the police after months of hiding in Rosario town.

Senior Superintendent Franklin Bucayu, La Union Police Director, identified the suspect as Noel Abellera, 21, of barangay Nagtagaan, Rosario, La Union.

Bucayu said Abellera was the third most wanted person in the province with a reward money set for his arrest at P200, 000.
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LAOAG CITY—Two members of a gun-for-hire syndicate, tagged as suspects in the slaying of the legal officer of Laoag City in December last year, were arrested in separate police operations in northern Luzon recently.

Ilocos Region Police Director Chief Superintendent Leopoldo N. Bataoil said the two, including another who is still at large, were believed as the killers of Jose Antonio “Pepoc” Pastor, 49, inside his law office at Barangay 7A in Laoag, just a few meters away from Laoag City Hall.
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LINGAYEN—Governor Amado T. Espino Jr. has announced the provincial government will take a close look and direct intervention regarding recent violent incidents in Tayug when bodyguards of both the town mayor and vice mayor figured in a shootout in the town plaza and in the poblacion.

As a result of that incident and other crimes elsewhere in the province perpetrated with the use of firearms, most of them loose, Espino imposed an unprecedented total gun ban in Pangasinan.
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A MUNICIPAL mayor of Ilocos Sur said the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) should not be crying over the slash of their share from the annual Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).

Narvacan Mayor Edgar D. Zaragosa said the LCP should instead be thankful to the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as the IRA shares of cities for last year “were very much bigger as compared to the shares of different towns all over the country. “
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POLICE Provincial Director Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil has ordered his men to continue searching for the other gunman believed involved in the slaying of Mayor Julian Resuello of San Carlos City on April 28 of last year for a full closure of the case.

“Our job is not yet over”, Bataoil admitted when asked by newsmen whether the slaying of Resuello was already solved.

The police director’s reaction came following published news reports about the slain mayor’s son, incumbent Mayor Julier Resuello, bewailing the pace of investigation on his father’s death. Read the rest of this entry »

ALAMINOS CITY—She was a picture of devastation coming home but this was all she wanted to feel — being back with her loved ones and feeling the warmth of love all around her once more-especially from a caring and concerned city mayor.

Cecilia Lagman, a resident of barangay Victoria here is back home after working in Beirut, Lebanon for two-years with great assistance from Mayor Hernani Braganza.

Narrating her ordeal, Lagman said she was forced by her employer to sign up another term of contract against he will. She disclosed that she is yet to receive her originally agreed upon salary of 200 U.S. dollars a month. Read the rest of this entry »