Gonzales’ missing kin buried in Nueva Ecija?
Balanga City, Bataan police teams were dispatched to Nueva Ecija after two suspects in the abduction of a couple believed to be close relatives of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales claimed that their bodies were taken to a secluded place in this province.
Senior Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan, Bataan police director, said that police teams are now coordinating with their Nueva Ecija counterparts to pinpoint the place where Rolando Gonzales, 61, and his wife Imelda, 50, were buried by their kidnappers.
The Gonzaleses, who were reportedly engaged in the lending business, were snatched after attending Sunday Mass at the St. Joseph Cathedral here last April 20.
Gaerlan said the confession of Allan Lopez, a leader of a kidnap-for-ransom syndicate operating in Central Luzon, who was arrested Monday night for the abduction of a two-year-old girl and her 16-year-old babysitter in Dinalupihan town, prompted them to reopen the Gonzaleses’ case.
Lopez supposedly told police investigators that the bodies of the couple were taken to a remote place in Nueva Ecija.
Bataan police teams were still scouring sites in the Nueva Ecija towns of Jaen, San Leonardo and Guimba where the Lopez gang could have buried the couple.
Balanga City Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III has ordered the police to exert extra effort to locate the missing couple.
Friday
Rebel captured, attack repulsed
GENERAL TINIO – The Short messaging system or texting proved to be an effective tool in waging war against criminality and insurgency.
Police and military officials in Nueva Ecija, through texting, repulsed a big group of heavily armed New People’s Army guerrillas here Monday (May 26) afternoon.
Reports said the 20-minute encounter between the troops and the rebels in Sitio Cabilugan, Barangay Rio Chico left some casualties on the enemy side and resulted in the capture of an NPA rebel, whose identity was temporarily withheld pending the filing of rebellion charges against him.
The troopers recovered three M-16 Armalite rifles, a Motorola hand-held radio and subversive documents.
Provincial police director Senior Supt. Napoleon Taas said the encounter was an offshoot of a text message sent by a concerned citizen to the “I-Report Mo kay Mamang Pulis” SMS through 0917-382-9099.
He said some 40 rebels, including five amazons, were earlier sighted at the mango farm of Damaso Aves at 7:30 P.M. Sunday.
“Passing through sila. Akala nila safe sila magpahinga sa ilalim ng manggahan. Eh, may nakakita sa kanila at nag-text sa system natin,” said Taas.
He said he mobilized a composite team of the Army’s 73rd Division Reconnaissance Co., the Nueva Ecija PNP and Special Action Force to seal off the area.
Taas called on residents of the province to continue sending vital data at 0917-3829099 or e-mail through www.nuevaecijapulis.com
GENERAL TINIO – The Short messaging system or texting proved to be an effective tool in waging war against criminality and insurgency.
Police and military officials in Nueva Ecija, through texting, repulsed a big group of heavily armed New People’s Army guerrillas here Monday (May 26) afternoon.
Reports said the 20-minute encounter between the troops and the rebels in Sitio Cabilugan, Barangay Rio Chico left some casualties on the enemy side and resulted in the capture of an NPA rebel, whose identity was temporarily withheld pending the filing of rebellion charges against him.
The troopers recovered three M-16 Armalite rifles, a Motorola hand-held radio and subversive documents.
Provincial police director Senior Supt. Napoleon Taas said the encounter was an offshoot of a text message sent by a concerned citizen to the “I-Report Mo kay Mamang Pulis” SMS through 0917-382-9099.
He said some 40 rebels, including five amazons, were earlier sighted at the mango farm of Damaso Aves at 7:30 P.M. Sunday.
“Passing through sila. Akala nila safe sila magpahinga sa ilalim ng manggahan. Eh, may nakakita sa kanila at nag-text sa system natin,” said Taas.
He said he mobilized a composite team of the Army’s 73rd Division Reconnaissance Co., the Nueva Ecija PNP and Special Action Force to seal off the area.
Taas called on residents of the province to continue sending vital data at 0917-3829099 or e-mail through www.nuevaecijapulis.com
Text brigade mobilized vs bank thieves
A text brigade among law enforcement agencies, bank personnel and the citizenry has been mobilize4d in Nueva Ecija to avert the possible occurrence of bank robberies similar to last week’s robbery incident in Laguna.
Senior Superintendent Napoleon Taas. Provincial police director, said that the text brigade is composed of the Nueva Ecija Provincial Police Office, the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. The National Bureau of Investigation, bank personnel and the citizenry.
Taas explained that the text brigade has been constituted into a Joint Anti-Bank Robbery Action Committee (JABRAC) wherein networking will be intensified among the law enforcement agencies by also setting up a surveillance system.
He said that the JABRAC is patterned after a similar group created by PNP chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. when he was still deputy chief for administration.
The provincial police will carry out the security plan earlier implemented by Taas in 195 banks in the streets of Binondo when he was assigned as district director a few years back.
Taas assured local traders that the Nueva Ecija police had already set up enough police personnel to guard banks from possible assault by bank robbers. The involved heightened police visibility in these areas.
“We have generated enough police movements during my first 100 days as provincial director of Nueva Ecija so we are prepared to deal with this problem of bank robberies,” he said. He said that enough safeguards have been laid out in at least 15 banks which he had earlier inspected in the province.
The security check in banks was laid out by the local police following last week’s bank robbery that left 10 people dead in Cabuyao, Laguna.
At the same time, Taas cautioned local businessmen to exercise vigilance between Fridays,Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays because it is during these days when criminality's are committed.
A text brigade among law enforcement agencies, bank personnel and the citizenry has been mobilize4d in Nueva Ecija to avert the possible occurrence of bank robberies similar to last week’s robbery incident in Laguna.
Senior Superintendent Napoleon Taas. Provincial police director, said that the text brigade is composed of the Nueva Ecija Provincial Police Office, the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. The National Bureau of Investigation, bank personnel and the citizenry.
Taas explained that the text brigade has been constituted into a Joint Anti-Bank Robbery Action Committee (JABRAC) wherein networking will be intensified among the law enforcement agencies by also setting up a surveillance system.
He said that the JABRAC is patterned after a similar group created by PNP chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. when he was still deputy chief for administration.
The provincial police will carry out the security plan earlier implemented by Taas in 195 banks in the streets of Binondo when he was assigned as district director a few years back.
Taas assured local traders that the Nueva Ecija police had already set up enough police personnel to guard banks from possible assault by bank robbers. The involved heightened police visibility in these areas.
“We have generated enough police movements during my first 100 days as provincial director of Nueva Ecija so we are prepared to deal with this problem of bank robberies,” he said. He said that enough safeguards have been laid out in at least 15 banks which he had earlier inspected in the province.
The security check in banks was laid out by the local police following last week’s bank robbery that left 10 people dead in Cabuyao, Laguna.
At the same time, Taas cautioned local businessmen to exercise vigilance between Fridays,Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays because it is during these days when criminality's are committed.
Hoarders drive up prices of onions
Bega, Bongabon, N.E.- Less than half of the town’s farmers
here planted onions last season and produced only one million metric tons or about one-fourth of its usual yearly output due to lack of capital and government support.
This should explain why onions are in short supply and cost P140 per kilo or nearly three times their normal price level.
According to retired Commodore Ismael Aparri, president of Kampilan (Kilusan ng Mamimiling Pilipino Laban sa Kahirapan, Inc.) the normal yearly onion production is four million metric tons. The harvest from Feb. 4 to May 2 was expected at one million MT only.
Many onion farmers here claimed they lost big money after their newly-planted farms were twice destroyed by floods caused by swollen dikes in the town.
“Dalawang beses kaming natalo,” one planter said.
But those who planted onions last season made huge profits because the traders bought their produce at P40 per kilo. “Swertepswerte lang talaga ang pag-tatanim ng sibuyas sa panahong ito gaya ng tumataya sa Lotto. Madalas talo, kung minsan panalo,” said another planter in this once prosperous Nueva Ecija town, which has not attracted big commercial banks one usus\ally seen in first-class municipalities.
At the Bongabon public market, vendors sell what they describe as “tira-tirahan” or leftover onions which were not bought by the local traders due to their size. These “leftover onion” are as small as a P1 coin. Today, these tiny onions are sold even in Metro Manila public markets because price speculators hoard the local produce by keeping them in storage while they wait for better resell prices” caused by artificial shortage.
Big volume consumers. Like five-star hotels will not buy the bigger-sized onion because the local variety would not pass strict quality standards, according to Ms. Lilibeth Valenzuela, president of the Philippine Onion Importers/Growers, Inc.
According to Apparri, he already wrote Malacañang to bring the looming vegetable price crisis to the attention of President Macapagal-Arroyo, who promptly ordered Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap more than three weeks ago to look into the onion price and supply situation.
But until now, Aparri said, Yap has not made any feedback report to Ms. Arroyo. Aparri blames Yap for the worsening supply and price crisis of rice, vegetable and other food products.
Bega, Bongabon, N.E.- Less than half of the town’s farmers
here planted onions last season and produced only one million metric tons or about one-fourth of its usual yearly output due to lack of capital and government support.This should explain why onions are in short supply and cost P140 per kilo or nearly three times their normal price level.
According to retired Commodore Ismael Aparri, president of Kampilan (Kilusan ng Mamimiling Pilipino Laban sa Kahirapan, Inc.) the normal yearly onion production is four million metric tons. The harvest from Feb. 4 to May 2 was expected at one million MT only.
Many onion farmers here claimed they lost big money after their newly-planted farms were twice destroyed by floods caused by swollen dikes in the town.
“Dalawang beses kaming natalo,” one planter said.
But those who planted onions last season made huge profits because the traders bought their produce at P40 per kilo. “Swertepswerte lang talaga ang pag-tatanim ng sibuyas sa panahong ito gaya ng tumataya sa Lotto. Madalas talo, kung minsan panalo,” said another planter in this once prosperous Nueva Ecija town, which has not attracted big commercial banks one usus\ally seen in first-class municipalities.
At the Bongabon public market, vendors sell what they describe as “tira-tirahan” or leftover onions which were not bought by the local traders due to their size. These “leftover onion” are as small as a P1 coin. Today, these tiny onions are sold even in Metro Manila public markets because price speculators hoard the local produce by keeping them in storage while they wait for better resell prices” caused by artificial shortage.
Big volume consumers. Like five-star hotels will not buy the bigger-sized onion because the local variety would not pass strict quality standards, according to Ms. Lilibeth Valenzuela, president of the Philippine Onion Importers/Growers, Inc.
According to Apparri, he already wrote Malacañang to bring the looming vegetable price crisis to the attention of President Macapagal-Arroyo, who promptly ordered Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap more than three weeks ago to look into the onion price and supply situation.
But until now, Aparri said, Yap has not made any feedback report to Ms. Arroyo. Aparri blames Yap for the worsening supply and price crisis of rice, vegetable and other food products.
‘I am no political terrorist’ – Ecija task force chief
The provincial task force chief against illegal logging and illegal quarrying in Nueva Ecija has disputed reports that his group is resorting to “political Terrorism” in discharging its functions.
“We are not political terrorists. We are here to enforce the laws,” said Fred Hermoso, who was designated by Gov. Aurelio M. Umali as Nueva Ecija Task Force Pagbabago chief last year.
Hermoso, one of Umali’s most trusted political lieutenants and former councilor of Quezon town, said the TF is only exercising the mandate given by the governor in running after so-called “environmental terrorists” or those engaged in the destruction of the environment such as illegal loggers and illegal quarry operators.
He said they do not discriminate and even those closely identified with Umali’s camp are not spared from the TF’s no-nonsense drive.
Hermoso said these efforts by the provincial government, particularly from quarry operations.
He was reacting to accusations hurled by first district Rep. Edno Joson that his group has been engaged in political terrorism and utilizing a platoon of armed men while performing its tasks.
Joson also accused Hermoso’s men of employing unnecessary force in retrieving certain heavy equipment vehicles previously owned by the provincial government.
The provincial task force chief against illegal logging and illegal quarrying in Nueva Ecija has disputed reports that his group is resorting to “political Terrorism” in discharging its functions.
“We are not political terrorists. We are here to enforce the laws,” said Fred Hermoso, who was designated by Gov. Aurelio M. Umali as Nueva Ecija Task Force Pagbabago chief last year.
Hermoso, one of Umali’s most trusted political lieutenants and former councilor of Quezon town, said the TF is only exercising the mandate given by the governor in running after so-called “environmental terrorists” or those engaged in the destruction of the environment such as illegal loggers and illegal quarry operators.
He said they do not discriminate and even those closely identified with Umali’s camp are not spared from the TF’s no-nonsense drive.
Hermoso said these efforts by the provincial government, particularly from quarry operations.
He was reacting to accusations hurled by first district Rep. Edno Joson that his group has been engaged in political terrorism and utilizing a platoon of armed men while performing its tasks.
Joson also accused Hermoso’s men of employing unnecessary force in retrieving certain heavy equipment vehicles previously owned by the provincial government.
‘Urban agriculture’ program launched in Cabanatuan City
As innovative food-production program, called “urban Agriculture,” has been launched in this city in support of the national government’s food-security and production drive.
A counterpart of former President Marcos administration’s “Green Revolution,” urban agriculture also aims to provide low-income residents additional means of livelihood.
Under the program, the presidents of the city’s 24 urban barangays will be trained to become food producers instead of being buyers and consumers of food and other farm produce in the city’s 65 rural barangays.
Cabanatuan City Mayor Alvin Vergara said that to achieve the objective of the program, he had directed the City Agro-Industry and Cooperative Office (CAICO) to spearhead the implementation of the program with the help of the volunteer urban dwellers.
CAICO’s task is to make idle private and public lots productive by planting the areas to vegetables and other crops.
Vergara said that he had asked CAICO to teach and encourage residents to use discarded plastic containers, cooking pots, water basin, used rubber tires, and even rooftops as planting plots if there are no vacant spaces in their backyards.
“We have to be resourceful and more productive in the light of the prevailing global shortage of food, particularly rice, although Cabanatuan is not affected by the crisis yet’” the mayor said.
A 1,000-square meter mini agriculture park showcasing urban agriculture has been established by the city government in the City Hall compound, CAICO chief Narcisa Paguio said.
She said some 400 residents of urban barangays are participating in the program.
They will undergo a one-day training seminar on off-season vegetable and mushroom production using the greenhouse technology, aqua culture, integrated pest management, harvest and post harvest handling of agricultural products, market development and organic fertilizer production.
High-yielding varieties of vegetable seeds will be distributed free during the seminar which will be held on May 27 at City Hall’s mini agriculture park.
As innovative food-production program, called “urban Agriculture,” has been launched in this city in support of the national government’s food-security and production drive.A counterpart of former President Marcos administration’s “Green Revolution,” urban agriculture also aims to provide low-income residents additional means of livelihood.
Under the program, the presidents of the city’s 24 urban barangays will be trained to become food producers instead of being buyers and consumers of food and other farm produce in the city’s 65 rural barangays.
Cabanatuan City Mayor Alvin Vergara said that to achieve the objective of the program, he had directed the City Agro-Industry and Cooperative Office (CAICO) to spearhead the implementation of the program with the help of the volunteer urban dwellers.
CAICO’s task is to make idle private and public lots productive by planting the areas to vegetables and other crops.
Vergara said that he had asked CAICO to teach and encourage residents to use discarded plastic containers, cooking pots, water basin, used rubber tires, and even rooftops as planting plots if there are no vacant spaces in their backyards.
“We have to be resourceful and more productive in the light of the prevailing global shortage of food, particularly rice, although Cabanatuan is not affected by the crisis yet’” the mayor said.
A 1,000-square meter mini agriculture park showcasing urban agriculture has been established by the city government in the City Hall compound, CAICO chief Narcisa Paguio said.
She said some 400 residents of urban barangays are participating in the program.
They will undergo a one-day training seminar on off-season vegetable and mushroom production using the greenhouse technology, aqua culture, integrated pest management, harvest and post harvest handling of agricultural products, market development and organic fertilizer production.
High-yielding varieties of vegetable seeds will be distributed free during the seminar which will be held on May 27 at City Hall’s mini agriculture park.
Ecija’s 6th most wanted arrested
Nueva Ecija’s “No. 6 Most Wanted” was arrested bu police who received a tip that he had been hiding in far-away Isabela.
Senior Superintendent Napoleon C. Taas, Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office (PPO) director, identified the suspects as Juanito Arellano, subject of an arrest warrant for murder as issued by Guimba Regional Trial Court Branch 31 Judge Napoleon Sta. Romana.
Case records show that Arellano is the principal suspect in the killing of one Alex Columbina, of Barangay Maturanoc, Guimba, Nueva Ecija on March 6, 1992 for which he was once the No. 1 Most Wanted Man in Guimba with a P40,000 bounty for his arrest.
Arellano is set for turnover to the Guimba court to face trial
Nueva Ecija’s “No. 6 Most Wanted” was arrested bu police who received a tip that he had been hiding in far-away Isabela.
Senior Superintendent Napoleon C. Taas, Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office (PPO) director, identified the suspects as Juanito Arellano, subject of an arrest warrant for murder as issued by Guimba Regional Trial Court Branch 31 Judge Napoleon Sta. Romana.
Case records show that Arellano is the principal suspect in the killing of one Alex Columbina, of Barangay Maturanoc, Guimba, Nueva Ecija on March 6, 1992 for which he was once the No. 1 Most Wanted Man in Guimba with a P40,000 bounty for his arrest.
Arellano is set for turnover to the Guimba court to face trial
Lift onion import control, GMA urged
Traders in Divisoria yesterday (May 11) appealed to President Macapagal Arroyo to lift the graft-ridden import control on onions to give temporary relief to millions of housewives reeling from skyrocketing prices of food, fuel and electricity.The temporary lifting of the government restrictions –similar to the recently liberalized importation of rice—would avert the looming price crisis and effectively combat the artificial supply shortage created by unscrupulous Nueva Ecija-based groups masquerading as farmer-growers, according to the Philippine Vegetable Importers/Growers, Inc.
The group’s president, Ms. Lilibeth B. Valenzuela, said they will formally seek the help of the Chief Executive to stop the anti-business policy of the Department of Agriculture. She said the continued refusal of Secretary Arthur Yap to issue their requested import permits despite “the admission of the Bureau of Plant Industry in the already rise of onion prices” unduly favored a group of unscrupulous traders masquerading as growers, who buy onions from farmers for as low as P10 per kilo then resell them as huge profits. These price manipulators hoard onions to create artificial supply shortages in order to jack up prices of the commodity.
Because of Yap’s inaction on their repeated requests, the Divisoria vegetables traders were forced to import fresh onions even without the required clearance from the Agriculture department just to fill the orders made by several fast food chains and luxury hotels.
These big volume buyers have brought their complaints to the Office of the President, blaming Yap for the artificial escalation of onion prices which reached P130 per kilo and still rising. Because of this, Mrs. Arroyo ordered Yap to immediately act to avert another price crisis from getting out of hand –just like the worsening price crisis also created by unscrupulous price speculators with the help of incompetent Agriculture department officials.
Valenzuela’s group blames Yap’s anti-business policy for the current artificial but temporary onion price crisis. She said Yap must share the blame for the present price crisis because some traders, who were already ‘sick and tired’ of Yap’s alleged incompetence, had imported the commodity despite the lack of import permits, perhaps to fill the orders of their valued customers.
Recently, the Customs bureau impounded several shipments of onions due to lack of government permit. In order to retrieve their onion shipments from Customs custody, the importers just paid the required Customs fines and surcharges then passed on the additional costs to the poor consumers.
It’s a vicious cycle, said Ms. Valenzuela, adding “over-regulation is just one of the main reasons for the sudden rise in the prices of fresh onions, rice and other basic commodities.
DA installing 1,000 flatbed rice dryers in 37 provinces
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has installed over 500 of the 1,000 flatbed dryers that the DA is setting up in 37 rice-producing provinces in the country this year, in line with the long term government goal to guarantee stable rice supply and prices.
In its report to DA Secretary Arthur Yap, the Bureau of Post-harvest Research and Extension (BPRE) said that as of May 5, it had already installed 53 flatbed dryers in Nueva Ecija, one of Luzon’s largest rice-production areas.
Ten flatbed dryers were also installed as of last month in Iloilo; six each in Bulacan, Bohol, and Leyte; five each in Zamboanga del Sur, South Cotabato, and Agusan del Sur; four each in Davao del Sur, Kalinga, and Pampanga; three in Pangasinan, two in Camarines Sur, and one each in
Tarlac, Occidental Mindoro, and Isabela, according to BPRE Director Ricardo Cachuela.
Cachuela said the BPRE is fast-tracking this project, which it is implementing in Irrigator’s Associations (IA) sites in cooperation with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the National Food Authority (NFA), and the National Agribusiness Corp. (Nabcor).
Secretary Yap said this post-harvest support for rice clusters nationwide will be complimented by continuing subsidies for seeds and inputs, disease prevention measures, and the repair and rehabilitation of irrigation facilities in unusable lands to help attain the goal of producing an all-time high of 17.24 million metric tons (MT) of rice this year and even higher yields in 2009 and onwards.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has installed over 500 of the 1,000 flatbed dryers that the DA is setting up in 37 rice-producing provinces in the country this year, in line with the long term government goal to guarantee stable rice supply and prices.In its report to DA Secretary Arthur Yap, the Bureau of Post-harvest Research and Extension (BPRE) said that as of May 5, it had already installed 53 flatbed dryers in Nueva Ecija, one of Luzon’s largest rice-production areas.
Ten flatbed dryers were also installed as of last month in Iloilo; six each in Bulacan, Bohol, and Leyte; five each in Zamboanga del Sur, South Cotabato, and Agusan del Sur; four each in Davao del Sur, Kalinga, and Pampanga; three in Pangasinan, two in Camarines Sur, and one each in
Tarlac, Occidental Mindoro, and Isabela, according to BPRE Director Ricardo Cachuela.
Cachuela said the BPRE is fast-tracking this project, which it is implementing in Irrigator’s Associations (IA) sites in cooperation with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the National Food Authority (NFA), and the National Agribusiness Corp. (Nabcor).
Secretary Yap said this post-harvest support for rice clusters nationwide will be complimented by continuing subsidies for seeds and inputs, disease prevention measures, and the repair and rehabilitation of irrigation facilities in unusable lands to help attain the goal of producing an all-time high of 17.24 million metric tons (MT) of rice this year and even higher yields in 2009 and onwards.
Enrolment in Central Luzon public schools to reach 1.8 M
Two factors cited as cause of unprecedented enrolment hike
The public school population in Central Luzon, one of the Department of Education’s biggest regions, is projected to increase to 1,787,999 in school year 2008-2009 which will start on June 10, it was learned here.
Education Region 3 Director Mario L. Ramirez said the projected total enrolment, which is nearly 25,000 more than last school year’s 1,764981, is broken down to 1,242880 on the elementary level and 545’119 in high school.
Ramirez attributed the unprecedented rise in the school population largely to two factors.
First is the growing interest of parents, many of them in rural communities, to have their children complete basic education (elementary and secondary education) so that the youngsters could prepare themselves better for a more competitive world in the future.
The second is the expected transfer to public schools of many students from private schools which have announced intention to raise tuition fees.
Ramirez said that as mandated by law, public schools do not collect tuition and matriculation fees from students.
He reported through Education Supervisor II Feliciano Lambus, acting regional planning officer, that the schools division of Bulacan has the biggest projected enrolment with 249,846 on the elementary level (EL) and 107,596 on secondary level (SL), followed by Pampanga with 218,160, EL; and 91,226, SL; and Nueva Ecija, 187,156 ES and 92,226, SL.
Lambus said the other Central Luzon Schools divisions and their respective total enrolments next year are Cabanatuan City, 31,573, EL and 7,682, SL; San Fernando City, 30,308, EL, and 13,803, SL; Olongapo City, 27,655, EL and 15,631, SL; Malolos City, 22,416, EL, and 11,829, SL; Palayan City, 10,885, EL, and 6,080, SL; and Muñoz City, 10,294, EL, and 5,507, SL.
Ramirez asked education officials in the region – including schools superintendents, district supervisors and school principals and teachers to ensure successful enrolment activities and preparation of classrooms.
Two factors cited as cause of unprecedented enrolment hike
The public school population in Central Luzon, one of the Department of Education’s biggest regions, is projected to increase to 1,787,999 in school year 2008-2009 which will start on June 10, it was learned here.Education Region 3 Director Mario L. Ramirez said the projected total enrolment, which is nearly 25,000 more than last school year’s 1,764981, is broken down to 1,242880 on the elementary level and 545’119 in high school.
Ramirez attributed the unprecedented rise in the school population largely to two factors.
First is the growing interest of parents, many of them in rural communities, to have their children complete basic education (elementary and secondary education) so that the youngsters could prepare themselves better for a more competitive world in the future.
The second is the expected transfer to public schools of many students from private schools which have announced intention to raise tuition fees.
Ramirez said that as mandated by law, public schools do not collect tuition and matriculation fees from students.
He reported through Education Supervisor II Feliciano Lambus, acting regional planning officer, that the schools division of Bulacan has the biggest projected enrolment with 249,846 on the elementary level (EL) and 107,596 on secondary level (SL), followed by Pampanga with 218,160, EL; and 91,226, SL; and Nueva Ecija, 187,156 ES and 92,226, SL.
Lambus said the other Central Luzon Schools divisions and their respective total enrolments next year are Cabanatuan City, 31,573, EL and 7,682, SL; San Fernando City, 30,308, EL, and 13,803, SL; Olongapo City, 27,655, EL and 15,631, SL; Malolos City, 22,416, EL, and 11,829, SL; Palayan City, 10,885, EL, and 6,080, SL; and Muñoz City, 10,294, EL, and 5,507, SL.
Ramirez asked education officials in the region – including schools superintendents, district supervisors and school principals and teachers to ensure successful enrolment activities and preparation of classrooms.
12 checkpoints up
Police put up 12 checkpoints in Cabanatuan City to prevent crimes, especially those committed by men on motorcycles.
City police chief Supt. Eliseo Cruz said he ordered his men to be on alert, especially from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., when most of the crimes reportedly happen.
At least three killings, including the death of barlis barangay chair Marcos Soriano, have been reported here since last month. All killers fled on motorcycles.
Police put up 12 checkpoints in Cabanatuan City to prevent crimes, especially those committed by men on motorcycles.
City police chief Supt. Eliseo Cruz said he ordered his men to be on alert, especially from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., when most of the crimes reportedly happen.
At least three killings, including the death of barlis barangay chair Marcos Soriano, have been reported here since last month. All killers fled on motorcycles.
Only 60 0f 733 Ecija cops pass marksmanship course
Only 60 – or eight percent – pf 733 Nueva Ecija policemen have passed the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) marksmanship training required by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
In his directive, PNP chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. required the 115,ooo-strong PNP rank-in-file to “learn how to shoot their service firearms” so they can outshoot criminals.
In consonance with Razon’s directive, the Nueva Ecija police force has conducted the IDPA pistol course since February and 733 of its total 1,450 officers and men have so far undergone it.
As of yesterday (May 11), Senior Superintendent Napoleon Taas, provincial police director, was adjudged an expert for blazing the 45-round IDPA course flawlessly.
Taas brought the house down in the final stage when he shot three rounds at a target (two in the body and one in the head) with a time of 1.71 seconds
All in all, Taas garnered an aggregate score of 54.07 seconds, which placed him in the expert category.
Joining Taas as experts were PO3 Remigio Sabado Jr. with a score of 55.06; and SPO2 Ernesto Espino Jr., 59.13.
The sharpshooters were PO3 Freddie Cunanan for scoring 65.03; PO3 Rodel Maniaol, 66.03; and PO3 Orlando Villanueva, 71.59, while the marksmen were PO2 Antonio Otic Jr. and PO1 Elmer Culala, with scores of 77.79 and 79.14, respectively.
Taas said the IDPA course will continue until all Nueva Ecija policemen have undergone it.
Those who fail to pass will undergo mandatory training, as required under Razon’s directive, until such time they pass the IDPA course.
As a incentive, Taas is offering a handgun as prize to any of his men who would beat his aggregate score.
He said his men are now holding shooting practices on weekends in a bid to beat him.
Taas thanked Gov. Aurelio Umali for shouldering the cost of 65,000 bullets for the IDPA course.
Only 60 – or eight percent – pf 733 Nueva Ecija policemen have passed the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) marksmanship training required by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
In his directive, PNP chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. required the 115,ooo-strong PNP rank-in-file to “learn how to shoot their service firearms” so they can outshoot criminals.
In consonance with Razon’s directive, the Nueva Ecija police force has conducted the IDPA pistol course since February and 733 of its total 1,450 officers and men have so far undergone it.
As of yesterday (May 11), Senior Superintendent Napoleon Taas, provincial police director, was adjudged an expert for blazing the 45-round IDPA course flawlessly.
Taas brought the house down in the final stage when he shot three rounds at a target (two in the body and one in the head) with a time of 1.71 seconds
All in all, Taas garnered an aggregate score of 54.07 seconds, which placed him in the expert category.
Joining Taas as experts were PO3 Remigio Sabado Jr. with a score of 55.06; and SPO2 Ernesto Espino Jr., 59.13.
The sharpshooters were PO3 Freddie Cunanan for scoring 65.03; PO3 Rodel Maniaol, 66.03; and PO3 Orlando Villanueva, 71.59, while the marksmen were PO2 Antonio Otic Jr. and PO1 Elmer Culala, with scores of 77.79 and 79.14, respectively.
Taas said the IDPA course will continue until all Nueva Ecija policemen have undergone it.
Those who fail to pass will undergo mandatory training, as required under Razon’s directive, until such time they pass the IDPA course.
As a incentive, Taas is offering a handgun as prize to any of his men who would beat his aggregate score.
He said his men are now holding shooting practices on weekends in a bid to beat him.
Taas thanked Gov. Aurelio Umali for shouldering the cost of 65,000 bullets for the IDPA course.
Sex offender judge seeks probation
A former municipal trial court judge of Cabanatuan City convicted by the First Division of the Sandiganbayan on two counts each of sexual harassment and acts of lasciviousness last April 15 is asking the graft court not to put him behind bars to serve his five year sentence.
Accused Rogelio M. Esteban, in a motion dated April 28, applied for probation under Presidential Decree No. 968, citing the fact that his jail term is lower than the six year threshold and he has no previous conviction for any crime.
Defense lawyer Daniel T. Salomon said his client is willing to abide by all the conditions that the Sandiganbayan will impose. He said Esteban is now 72 years old and it would be in the spirit of the probation law that seeks to promote the rehabilitation of offenders to grant his motion and “provide him an opportunity for reformation which might be less probable if he were to serve a prison sentence.”
The graft court found Esteban guilty beyond reasonable doubt of forcibly kissing and groping a female employee. The complainant said the judge tried to get her to agree to become his girlfriend in exchange for signing her appointment as bookbinder of court records.
Aside from jail time, Esteban was ordered to pay the victim P100,000 in moral damages.
Esteban was dismissed from government service by order of the Supreme Court based on the same complaint.
A former municipal trial court judge of Cabanatuan City convicted by the First Division of the Sandiganbayan on two counts each of sexual harassment and acts of lasciviousness last April 15 is asking the graft court not to put him behind bars to serve his five year sentence.
Accused Rogelio M. Esteban, in a motion dated April 28, applied for probation under Presidential Decree No. 968, citing the fact that his jail term is lower than the six year threshold and he has no previous conviction for any crime.
Defense lawyer Daniel T. Salomon said his client is willing to abide by all the conditions that the Sandiganbayan will impose. He said Esteban is now 72 years old and it would be in the spirit of the probation law that seeks to promote the rehabilitation of offenders to grant his motion and “provide him an opportunity for reformation which might be less probable if he were to serve a prison sentence.”
The graft court found Esteban guilty beyond reasonable doubt of forcibly kissing and groping a female employee. The complainant said the judge tried to get her to agree to become his girlfriend in exchange for signing her appointment as bookbinder of court records.
Aside from jail time, Esteban was ordered to pay the victim P100,000 in moral damages.
Esteban was dismissed from government service by order of the Supreme Court based on the same complaint.
Ex-village chief gets 12 years jail term
A regional trial court handed down a guilty verdict on a former barangay chairman in Jaen, Nueva Ecija who killed a man 13 years ago.
Presiding Judge Celso Baguio, of Branch 34 meted Emmanuel Leabres a jail term of 6 to 12 years for the fatal shooting of Leoncio dela Peña in Barangay San Pablo last June 15, 1995.
The court also ordered the accused to pay Dela Peña heirs P50,000 in actual damages and P50,000 in moral damages, P28,000 in actual damages and P50,000 in attorney’s fees and litigation expenses.
Lawyer Rogelio Velarde, counsel for Leabres, asked the court for 15 days to file a motion for reconsideration.
A regional trial court handed down a guilty verdict on a former barangay chairman in Jaen, Nueva Ecija who killed a man 13 years ago.
Presiding Judge Celso Baguio, of Branch 34 meted Emmanuel Leabres a jail term of 6 to 12 years for the fatal shooting of Leoncio dela Peña in Barangay San Pablo last June 15, 1995.
The court also ordered the accused to pay Dela Peña heirs P50,000 in actual damages and P50,000 in moral damages, P28,000 in actual damages and P50,000 in attorney’s fees and litigation expenses.
Lawyer Rogelio Velarde, counsel for Leabres, asked the court for 15 days to file a motion for reconsideration.
Barangay leader arrested for arms
Police and soldiers on Saturday (May 3) arrested the president of the Association of Barangay Captains in Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija, and his two security aides after the troops found unlicensed firearms and bullets in his office.
Senior Supt. Napoleon Taas, Nueva Ecija police director, said a team of policemen and soldiers went to the barangay hall of San Francisco in Sto. Domingo on Saturday to serve an arrest warrant for frustrated murder against Guillermo Bernardo, ABC president in the town, but it found guns in his office.
Arrested with Bernardo were his security aides, Madien Bernardo and Ernesto Corpuz. Taas said the team recovered three assault rifles, two 45 cal. Pistols and bullets
Police and soldiers on Saturday (May 3) arrested the president of the Association of Barangay Captains in Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija, and his two security aides after the troops found unlicensed firearms and bullets in his office.
Senior Supt. Napoleon Taas, Nueva Ecija police director, said a team of policemen and soldiers went to the barangay hall of San Francisco in Sto. Domingo on Saturday to serve an arrest warrant for frustrated murder against Guillermo Bernardo, ABC president in the town, but it found guns in his office.
Arrested with Bernardo were his security aides, Madien Bernardo and Ernesto Corpuz. Taas said the team recovered three assault rifles, two 45 cal. Pistols and bullets
CL has enough rice
As of their latest inventory, Crisostomo said total rice stocks for the region, including US rice, commercial rice and household stocks, have reached 5,724,0Central Luzon consumers need not worry of any impending rice shortage for the National Food Authority has enough buffer stock for the next 82 days, a top regional official said here on Friday (May 2).
“There is no rice crisis in Central Luzon as NFA rice remains pegged at P18.25 per kilo,” said NFA Region 3 director Nicolas Crisostomo.
64 bags.
He said this total volume has been allocated to the region’s seven provinces with Bulacan getting 1,475,175 bags, Pampanga and Nueva Ecija 1,273,599 and 1,069,177 bags, respectively; Tarlac 995,747 bags; Zambales 417,371 bags; Bataan, 302,121 bags; and Aurora, 170,874 bags. Nueva Ecija, the country’s rice granary, enjoys a huge 66-percent surplus going into this year’s dry-crop harvest season.
As of their latest inventory, Crisostomo said total rice stocks for the region, including US rice, commercial rice and household stocks, have reached 5,724,0Central Luzon consumers need not worry of any impending rice shortage for the National Food Authority has enough buffer stock for the next 82 days, a top regional official said here on Friday (May 2).
“There is no rice crisis in Central Luzon as NFA rice remains pegged at P18.25 per kilo,” said NFA Region 3 director Nicolas Crisostomo.
64 bags.
He said this total volume has been allocated to the region’s seven provinces with Bulacan getting 1,475,175 bags, Pampanga and Nueva Ecija 1,273,599 and 1,069,177 bags, respectively; Tarlac 995,747 bags; Zambales 417,371 bags; Bataan, 302,121 bags; and Aurora, 170,874 bags. Nueva Ecija, the country’s rice granary, enjoys a huge 66-percent surplus going into this year’s dry-crop harvest season.