Duterte clears Cong Espino from Narc Matrix

STATEMENT OF CONG. AMADO T. ESPINO, JR. ON HIS CLEARING OF DRUG MATRIX

I am humbled by the pronouncement of the President today on clearing my involvement on the alleged drug matrix released last August 25, 2016.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday apologized to former Pangasinan Governor Amado 
Espino Jr. and two other Pangasinan officials after he linked them to the illegal drug 
trade several weeks ago. PHOTO CREDIT: GMA-7

I kept my silence for the past three weeks as I know beyond reasonable doubt that I am not guilty of this allegation. More so, when I had the opportunity last August 30, 2016 for a meeting with the President, he promised me to have the matrix revalidated by the proper authorities. Although my family and the people of Pangasinan were saddened by this unprecedented accusation, we remained steadfast on our respect and high regard on the discretion of the President and relied completely on his promised revalidation.

Today, September 27, 2016, my family, friends and the people of Pangasinan would like to express our gratitude to the President for being a true leader and a gentleman. He has my highest esteem for the courageous and bold statement of apology on clearing my name, Raffy Baraan and Raul Sison. Let me reassure the President of my sincere and relentless support on his anti-drug and peace and order campaign which had always been my campaign message for the past six elections. Again, I am so humbled and thank the President, the concerned authorities for this much awaited relief.

God Bless our country

POE: WAGE WAR AGAINST HUNGER

Sen. Grace Poe today said the government must focus on programs to arrest malnutrition and hunger as a way to invest in the nation's human capital, hand-in-hand with the ongoing battle to ensure peace and order.

Poe joined anti-hunger advocates and stakeholders at the Anti-Hunger Summit in Ateneo de Manila in Quezon City to strengthen public-private collaboration in helping provide solutions to the “real problem” of hunger.

"Kung gaano kasigasig ang pamahalaan laban sa droga, hinihiling ko na kasunod nito, gutom naman ang ating wakasan. Kung all-out ang gobyerno sa droga, all-out war sa gutom naman ang isunod natin," Poe said in the event organized by the Gawad Kalinga (GK) and Ateneo de Manila.

Cayetano refutes Trillanes on Matobato testimony: "It's full of half-truths and hearsay"

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano chided Senator Antonio Trillanes IV for insisting on the credibility of self-confessed Davao Death Squad member Edgar Matobato, pointing out that the witness’ testimony against President Rodrigo Duterte is riddled with “half-truths and mere hearsay.”

Trillanes delivered a privilege speech on Monday (September 26) to disprove the inconsistencies of Matobato’s accounts during the Committee on Justice and Human Rights’ probe into the alleged extrajudicial killings being linked to the administration’s war on drugs.

During his interpellation, Cayetano called out Trillanes for trying to portray Matobato as a credible witness in the ongoing inquiry.

“Senator Trillanes chose it upon himself to make assumptions that Matobato is a credible witness… Either we have a mass murderer as a president or we have mass liars as his critics. Hayaan natin ang publiko ang makinig,” Cayetano said, responding to Trillanes' description of the country's President as a "mass murderer."

Cayetano countered claims made by Trillanes regarding Matobato’s statements, which he said are full of contradictions.

“I bring up the concept of half-truths because that is what criminals use. This is what people… who destroy the credibility of others use. I say this because the presentation of Senator Trillanes is full of half-truths,” Cayetano said.

LMP-Pangasinan officers take oath

 

    

LINGAYEN – Newly-elected officers of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Pangasinan chapter took their oath on Friday promising  better leadership and service for Pangasineneses.

 

Mayor Ramon Guico III, chapter president of LMP said that in Pangasinan, mayors care for each other because they see the bigger picture of the advocacies for local governance, shunning away self- gratification.

 

“The key to the progress of our country lies in the local government. If  all  mayors do their part with the support of the national government,  we can really do something for our municipalities,” Guico said during the Induction Ceremony.

 

Guico said one of the first projects of the league is the construction of a building for the chapter within the capitol compound. He sought help from the provincial government to donate a lot for the purpose.

 

The chapter president  said the building will be a decent place where the league can hold its events and trainings and install small offices that will align with the vision of the province, to show that they are united  for the betterment of  Pangasinan.

Gov. Amado Espino III, the event’s guest speaker and inducting officer, readily agreed to donate a lot for the league provided that the building to be established will also house the Vice-Mayors League, the Councillor’s League and the Lliga ng mga Barangay-Pangasinan chapters.

More hospitals for war veterans to rise in the country

LINGAYEN – As the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) continues to expand its services for war veterans, expect more hospitals to rise in the country specifically for this sector.

 

Dr. Pilar Ibarra, medical officer of  PVAO said a bill is now filed in Congress seeking for the construction of  veterans’ hospitals outside the National Capital Region.

 

“Our budget has increased from P10 million to P50-million for the whole year and we hope to extend the services not just to Manila-based veterans  but also to veterans in the provinces,

with new programs and new hospitals in other parts of the  country like Visayas and  Mindanao,” Ibarra said during the outreach program held in Pangasinan on Thursday.

 

The Veterans  Memorial Medical Center, the lone hospital which caters to the needs of  veterans, is situated in the NCR.

   

Ibarra said PVAO also  expanded the coverage of the Veterans Hospitalization and Medical Care Program (VHMCP) by  providing subsidy for hospitalization of veterans like giving P1,500 per day of confinement, per patient per year for 45 days of confinement.

Political Cartoon 23

DAGUPAN CELEBRATES FAMILY DAY WITH A FUN WALK

DAGUPAN CITY – Families from all walks of life joined the 24th National Family Week Celebration's fun walk from the city plaza to the CSI Stadia on September 24 on the theme: “Matatag na Pamilya, Maunlad na Bukas”.

Proclamation No. 60 declares the last week of September of every year as Family Week, while Proclamation No. 326 declares the fourth Monday of September of every year as “Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga Day”.

In a fun-filled program facilitated by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) headed by Leah L. Aquino, participating families along with their children joined in parlor games prepared by the participating organizations. The activities included free haircut, free nail art, free massage and free make-up done by students of B.E.L.E.N. Livelihood and Training Program.

“We are truly grateful to the Jesus Christ Saves Global Outreach, Latter-Day Saints, Rotary Club of Uptown Dagupan and the Rotary Club of Dagupan for their support especially in helping our city organize an activity like this for the families of Dagupan,” said Mayor Belen T. Fernandez who also walked along with the employees of the city government and with personnel of the Philippine National Police led by P/Superintendent Neil O. Miro.

The other guests during the program were Miro; Boc Bonifacio, president, Rotary Club of Dagupan; Perla Tanedo, president, Rotary Club of Uptown Dagupan; Greg A. Karganilla, Stake President, Dagupan Philippine Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; and Reverend Pastor Joel Bravo of the Jesus Christ Saves Global Outreach. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/Sept. 24, 2016)

Guv Pogi inducts Dasol student leaders, PTA officials

Lingayen – Governor Amado “Pogi” I. Espino, III led the induction ceremony for the new set of student leaders and Parents’ Teachers’ Association (PTA) officials of the Don Marcelo Jimenez Memorial Polytechnic Institute in Dasol town recently.

            Governor Espino, despite his hectic schedule, took time to visit the school on September 23 to administer the oath-taking ceremony of student leaders representing the school’s supreme student government, interest clubs and homeroom associations. 

          The governor, who vowed support to the education sector, noted that the provincial government under his administration in partnership with the local government unit of Dasol led by Mayor Eric Verzosa will endeavor to further promote education in their locality.

            “We shall work hand-in-hand and help prepare for your future, but we can’t do it alone. You must also do your part,” Governor Espino said.

            Expressing concern for the sacrifices of the parents and guardians of the students for their education, the provincial chief executive likewise stressed the practical things in life that students must always consider.

            “If you don’t think about yourself, think of those who always care for you. Panunuten yo dagiti nagannak kadakayo, dagiti sakripisyo da para kadakayo (Iisipin nyo ang mga magulang nyo at ang mga sakripisyo nila para sa inyo),” Governor Pogi said.

            Meanwhile, Mayor Verzosa thanked Governor Espino for gracing the activity and for his reassuring declaration of support to the town’s agenda for education. 

            Towards the end of the program, DMJMPI President Ray Jimenez Benaza, along with Mayor Verzosa, Vice Mayor Rizalde Bernal and Councilor Nelson Espinosa presented a certificate of commendation to the governor in recognition of his support to the induction rites.

            Inducted in top positions of the school were: Supreme Student Government President Krissel Joy Balazon and Federated Parents’ Teachers’ Association President Raquel Reyes.   /Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca

P’sinan Chess Fest off to great start with crowd-drawing clinics

Lingayen – Drawing 482 participating chess players not only from Pangasinan but also from nearby provinces, this year’s Governor Amado Espino Chess Clinic jumpstarted the 6^th Pangasinan Chess Festival to a great start.

The Provincial Government of Pangasinan-sponsored chess clinic was held in two parts last September 17-18 and 24-25 at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center, Capitol Compound here.

Governor Amado “Pogi” I. Espino, III, a sports enthusiast himself, graced the culmination of the twin weekend chess clinic.

“We will continue to support this chess clinic, as well as all the other sporting events because of your unfailing patronage,” vowed the provincial chief executive, who was overwhelmed by the huge turnout at the event.

He said that these efforts initiated by his predecessor and now Representative Amado T. Espino, Jr. are geared towards developing the next generation as leaders especially in the field of sports.

“Who knows the next Filipino Olympic medalist would come from Pangasinan?” he asserted.

Tech-voc advocates flock in One TESD Summit in Pangasinan

LINGAYEN – Advocates of the technical- vocational education from the four provinces in Ilocos region gathered during the Cycle 2 of the One Technical Education and Skill Development (TESD) summit held on September 21 at the Sison Auditorium here.

Regional Director Cenon Querubin of the Technical Education and Skill Development Authority (TESDA)-Region 1 said the activity aimed to provide information to all technical-vocational stakeholders in order to develop skilled workers to be globally competitive.

Querubin said the summit is also line with the mandates of new leadership of TESDA that focuses on agri-fishery, tourism, development of skilled workers and social equity in relation to the technical-vocational education training (TVET).

He said in order to attain the goal for global competitiveness and social equity in relation to TVET, the agency is currently undertaking two-pronged TVET strategies which are the barangay skill survey and national technical audit to technical-vocational institutions.

“Nais ng aming bagong kalihim sa TESDA na si Secretary Guiling Mamondiong na lahat ng trainees ay magmumula sa liblib na barangay na dapat ang TVET ay maging available sa lahat kaya nagsasagawa kami ngayon ng survey sa lahat ng barangay,” he said.

He added, “The answers of the responders in the survey will determine the programs and trainings that will be prioritized and considered by TESDA.”

DPWH mulls construction of coastal road from Pangasinan to La Union

 

 DAGUPAN CITY – After receiving good reviews for its bay walk project  in Lingayen town, the Department of Public Works and Highways is mulling the construction of a coastal road that will connect the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union.

 

“The coastal road, when approved, will be continued in the town of Binmaley, pass through San Fabian town and will extend to  La Union province,” said Bernard Caronongan, information officer of DPWH in the Second Engineering District of Pangasinan during the KBP Forum on Thursday.

 

The project  however, is still under study and subject for approval, he added.

 

What is clear now, he said, is the extension of the baywalk project in Binmaley town which now has a  P200- million funding. This is the fourth phase of the project, he added.

 

Meanwhile, Engr. Carlo Evangelista of the First Engineering District, said  a by-pass road is now in the works for the Alaminos-Bolinao route.

 

“The 1.7 kilometer by-pass road  will help ease the traffic in the main city of Alaminos  and will also cut travel time for travellers traversing  western Pangasinan,” Evangelista said during the forum.

 

The by-pass road started its first phase in 2015 with an P88-million funding. Phase 2 this year was funded with P64-million and Phase 3 will be competed in 2017 with a P30-million funding.(VHS/PIA-Pangasinan)

P'sinan veterans benefit from PVAO medical outreach program

 

LINGAYEN – More than 200 war veterans and their families availed of free medical  and administrative  services  conducted by the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) and the Veterans Memorial Medical Center  (VMMC) during its outreach program in Pangasinan on Thursday.

 

Medical Officer  Pilar Ibarra of  PVAO  said the program aims to bring PVAO services closer to veterans. It  is part of the  Veterans Hospitalization and Medical Care Program (VHMCP) which aims to provide hospitalization and medical care benefits to Filipino veterans and their dependents

 

 “Layunin nito ang magbigay ng medical services sa ating mga kababayang beterano  na hindi nararating ng VMMC.  Gusto naming magkaroon din ng health care benefits ang ating mga beterano from all over the country,” Ibarra said during the outreach program held at the Narciso Ramos gymnasium.

 

Services rendered during the event ranged from medical consultation to dental check-up, eye examination, ECG, among others. Recipients also received prescription medicines and eyeglasses for free.

 

Aside from medical and surgical services, the PVAO outreach program also established a help desk where concerns of veterans regarding pensions, IDs and re-validation were processed.

 

“The re-validation of  veterans and their dependents is crucial para hindi maputol ang pension nila,” Ibarra added.

 

Romeo Pascua, 65 of San Nicolas town, was grateful for the program. “Maraming services, nakakuha ako ng gamot ko sa maintenance,  dati pumupunta pa ako sa Maynila. Dito nilapit na,  libre pa ang pagkain,” Pascua said.

 

“Marakep yan ginawa da (Maganda itong ginawa nila). Libre  ray tambal tan  akapan-ECG  kami ya libre met (Libre ang gamot at nakapag-ECG din kami ng libre),”  Macaria Navarro of Mangaldan and daughter of a veteran, exclaimed.

 

The outreach program is in line with PVAO's objective to reduce the number of indigent veterans as underscored in its strategic blueprint, Kagitingan Roadmap 2022. (VHS/PIA-Pangasinan) 

DOT-TRAINED TRICYCLE DRIVERS TO BECOME TOURIST GUIDES

DAGUPAN CITY – In promoting Dagupan as a city tourist destination and in bringing tourism industry to a new level, the Department of Tourism (DOT), in partnership with the City Tourism Office (CTO), conducted a two-day seminar for tricycle drivers plying the city on September 23-24 at the city museum.

DOT Region I Director Martin Valera welcomed the participants numbering more than 30 tricycle drivers, including personnel of the City Action Service Team (CAST) and the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) along with City Tourism Officer Sharon Maramba.

Valera underscored the important role of the tricycle drivers as partners of the city in the promotion of the city’s tourism industry  as he encouraged them to take part in  this worthy endeavor.

“I had a very sad experience about being charged exorbitantly on three occasions when I rode a tricycle here and I feel that this is not helping promote our tourism industry,” said Valera.

During the two-day seminar, the participants were trained on developing their communication skills, customer relations, effective customer service, art of driving and driving decorum, tourism trends, developing self esteem, self concept and mind binders.

“We have also oriented them on the different tourist destination, spots and places of interest in the city and the components of the city’s tourism industry, promotions and marketing,” said City Tourism Officer Maramba.

As a bonus, the participants were also given lectures on gas and fuel maintenance and updates on the rules, fees and requirement by the Land Transportation Office in the registration of their tricycles. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/Sept. 23, 2016)      

Revives “ole” PC to fight terrorism - Duterte

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

A good relationship by the Philippines with the international community can be gleaned by the Dagupan City’s experienced.

Former Philippine Constabulary Chief 
General  Fidel V. Ramos.

After the City’s mayor Belen Fernandez spoke atworld ocean forum in 2015, the Procter & Gamble (P&G) through the intercessions of the U.S. State Department, International Ocean Conservancy, Asian Development Bank and United Nations pledged to give $8.2 million (Php 401 million) for this year to the premier city in Region-1 for its waste-to-worth project.

The free project is a modern solid waste facility, the first in Asia, with the eventual closure of its 50-year-old dumpsite in compliance with Republic Act. No. 9003, or the “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

The project, whose main purpose is to get rid of plastic and other debris in the sea of this city, will convert garbage collected daily from homes, markets, schools and factories into diesel fuel for jeepneys and motor boats as well as biogas to be used for cooking in homes and also lighting for them.

***

I heard the total package of the military and economic aid Washington gave to the Filipinos run up to P82 million.

In case our country’s leadership chooses to break diplomatic ties with the U.S and other first world countries like those in the European Union, the $8.2 million from P&G and those in the military and economic aid would no longer be available.

The experienced of Iran, North Korea, and Cuba could be an example where the White House exerted pressure for private entities like P&G to stop giving assistance to countries Washington had broken ties.

***

Here’s the breakdown from U.S Department of States that was analogous how U.S military aid are divided when say the measly $66 million 2016 military assistance would be completed at the end of this year.

Foreign Military Sales Financing, International Military Education and Training, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, Non-Proliferation, Anti-Terrorism, Development Assistance, Economic Support Funds, others.

***

Don’t you know that in 1984 to 1988 the Yanks gave us $500 million Military and Economic Aid (MEA)? During the Renegotiation of the U.S Bases in 1988, the Americans agreed to give us Filipinos $481 million in 1989 MEA, another $481 in 1990 of MEA. 
But in 1991 we kicked the Americans out through our narrow minded senators who said the absence of the bases would show that we would be totally independent. 
Five years after G.I Joes left, one of our Reefs Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands was taken by the bully Mainland China.
Presently, the "Gringos" give us $66 million annually while they give Israel $3.1 billion and Pakistan $280 million a year despite the Pakistani generals hid No. 1 Terrorist Osama bin Laden there.

***

Mangaldan Mayor, Experts lead Anti Dope Seminar

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

MANGALDAN – This town mayor Bona Fe D. Parayano and various resource speakers led an anti-dangerous drug seminar for various sectors here about the menace of narcotics and how to avoid them.

Mangaldan Acting Chief of Police Superintendent Arnold P. Solomon.

Dubbed as “Mangaldan Anti-Illegal Drugs Seminar; Signing of the Pledge of Commitment”, the event was held last September 20 at the 3^rd Floor of the air conditioned convention hall of the municipal building.

Police Superintendent Arnold P. Solomon, Acting Chief of Police here, discussed the Municipal Drug Situation and Oplan Tokhang.

Tokhang is part of the Philippine National Police’s Oplan Double Barrel against illegal drugs where known drug users and pushers are persuaded to mend their ways before the full force of the law brought down on them.

  Dr. Ophelia T. Rivera, Municipal Health Officer explored the Drugs and its Effects on the users.

“The impact of drug abuse and dependence can be far-reaching, affecting almost every organ in the human body,” Mayor Parayno said on this town’s Face Book Community Page Mangaldan Sweetheart.

 Mr. Lemton M. Agricola, consultant and motivational speaker, discussed how a user recovers from narcotic’s dependency.  Police Superintendent Ferdinand de Asis, representative of Police Senior Supt. Ronald Oliver Lee, acting police provincial director, discussed the numbers of pushers and users and also the number of surrenderers.

DRUG TEST. Mayor Bona Fe D. Rarayno (extreme left) leads the
administering of the illegal drug test among the 30 villages elective officials.

After the discussion, Mayor Parayno and elective village officials led the sworn of support versus illegal drugs and signing of pledge of commitment.

A drug test ensued with the village officials.

Meanwhile, elective and appointive officials and workers of the local government unit (LGU) here plant trees recently in cooperation with the 166^th Anniversary of the Philippine Civil Service.

Rosario to Cops: Concentrate more on illegal drugs

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BINMALEY – The mayor here badgers the police to prioritize in their fight against criminals the dangerous drugs’ menace.

Mayor Simplicio Rosario recalled the days when he advised his new chiefs of police since 2004 that he wanted them to prioritize in their crime operations narcotic’s peddlers.

Binmaley Mayor Sam Rosario leads appointive, elective, and police
officials of the local government unit in a surprised drug test called
by the hizzoner.

“Ang sinasabi ko lahat ng bago maskin na umupo ako noon pang 2004 – 2007 na ang aking pakiusap ko sa inyo concentrate more on drugs, iyon ang sabi ko concentrate on drugs”, stressed by the mayor.

Because of the aggressive national policy of the Duterte Administration to extinguish the proliferation of illegal drugs in six months, Rosario said he observed that index and non-index crime fell when Duterte assumed office at noon of July 30 to present compared to the same period last year.

 “May mga paisa-isa, wala ng masyadong nakawan, maraming natatakot,” he cited.

According to PNP’ manual, Index Crimes are crimes like theft, robbery, others which are serious in nature and which occur with sufficient frequency and regularly such that they can serve as index to crime situation, while Non-Index Crimes consist of non-physical confrontation such as drug possession, drug seizure, and driving under influence of liquor or drugs or violation of special laws.

CITY TO INSTALL NEW AIR CON UNITS at MALIMGAS PUBLIC MARKET

DAGUPAN CITY – A new air conditioning system to replace the already dilapidated air conditioning units at the Malimgas Public Market due to ordinary wear and tear will soon be installed.

This is in answer to the request of stall owners occupying the second floor area of Malimgas Public Market.

Engineer Melchor V. Guiang, the city’s General Services Officer assured the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) on Tuesday in their regular session that a newly purchased air conditioning unit will be installed within the next few days at the Malimgas Public Market.

This is in view of the plight of the stall owners who appeared before the SP on Tuesday asking the councilors to immediately address their concerns so as to protect them from getting sick and to restore the economic conditions in the area, attract more investors and invite public to buy goods thereat.

Carol Castro, one of the occupants of a stall at the Malimgas Public Market, narrated before the SP her sentiments that she is always suffering from hypertension because of the hot temperature in the area.

“Lagi po akong inaatake ng high blood pressure dahil sa mainit na kondisyon sa loob. Kaya kami po ay umaapela ng tulong mula sa SP na sanay matulungan kami sa aming hiling,” said Castro.

In lieu of this, the SP called on Engineer Guiang over the phone to appraise them if the city has already purchased a new aircon unit for the market since an amount has already been appropriated for the purpose. 

  

In addition, the SP passed a resolution asking Mayor Belen T. Fernandez to appropriate funds for the purchase of additional air condition units aside from the newly purchased aircon unit to ensure more healthy conditions of the people in the building. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/Sept. 20, 2016)