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VOLUME 7 NUMBER 126WED - SAT

MAY 7 - 10, 2014

PAGE 6 PLEASE

BY DING CERVANTES

CLARK FREEPORT - The recently signed Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agree-

ment (EDCA) between the US and the Philippines has so far not changed initial plans to move out units of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) from this freeport, but consultations on this are expected to be held by the government.

PAF transfer from Clark not affected by EDCA

COMPASSION. Gov. Lilia G. Pineda gives a sympathetic ear to the kin of the victims and the concerns of the farmers led by Joseph Canlas of the Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon.

PHOTOS BY BONG LACSON

KATARUNGAN. Farmers of Hacienda Dolores take to the Capitol their cries for justice for their leader and kin Nemelao Barcia who was shot dead last Friday and previous victims of violence linked to the land row in the Porac barangay.

BY MALOU DUNGOG

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The Subic Bay Metro-politan Authority (SBMA) has expressed its sup-port to the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) that would allow the in-creased presence of American troops in the country.

In a press briefi ng held here on Monday, SBMA Chairman Rober-to Garcia told reporters that the Subic agency managing the former US military base is in favor of the new agreement as this would strengthen national security.

Garcia, however, stressed that although there is no detail coming from Malacanang as yet,

Subic backs Phl-US pact

“clearly, no US bases will be put up in Subic.”

The pact merely al-lows increased presence of US military troops, ships and planes on ro-tation basis, Garcia add-ed.

The briefi ng was held while US Pres. Barrack Obama and Pres. Be-nigno Aquino III met in Malacanang on Monday. The EDCA was signed by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and US Ambassador Philip Gold-berg.

Garcia also noted that even without the EDCA, the Subic Bay Freeport already plays an important role in na-tional security because it is now the home port of frigates BRP Alcaraz

PAGE 6 PLEASE

Pork price rises in Bulacan

BY DINO BALABOAND ROMMEL RAMOS

MALOLOS CITY—De-spite the increasingly hot weather, livestock in Bu-lacan remained safe but pork price climbed by P10 to P40 per kilo.

As this developed, the Provincial Veterinary Offi ce (PVO) is closely monitoring pig farms in

PAGE 6 PLEASE

EdSa eyes tax freeze

BY ASHLEY MANABAT

CITY OF SAN FERNAN-DO – “Read my lips, there will be no tax increase in San Fernando.” This was the message of Mayor Edwin “Edsa” Santiago yesterday in response to queries from traders and businessmen in this city as he vowed not to raise local taxes.

Santiago, former vice mayor now serving his fi rst term as the city’s top executive, also said under his administra-tion, no new subdivision in the city will be given a permit.

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Looking for PARA-LEGAL StaffRequirements:

• Graduate of any four (4) year legal related course such as AB or BS Legal Management, or any other business course with legal background

• Graduate of Law is an advantage• Preferably with at least 2 years of

experience • Posses excellent written and oral

communication skills and ability to communicate effectively with the management and staff

• Must have basic knowledge of legal terminologies and principles,as well as conducting legal research, processing and facilitating documents for submission & compliance for all requirements for legal transaction.

• Hardworking and willing to work long hours

• Full-Time position(s) available• Age 25- 40 yrs. old

Please Contact: Mary Ann RiveraCell Number: 0923-510 1259

THIS SUMMER, the country’s number one fastfood chain is gath-ering Filipinos across the country as one big happy family for the Jol-libee Family Bee Day. Dubbed as the grandest family picnic ever, it will be held simultaneous-ly across the Philippines in fi ve venues—Quirino Grandstand in Metro Ma-nila, Bayanihan Park in Pampanga, Nuvali foot-ball grounds in Laguna, Plaza Independencia in Cebu and Crocodile Park in Davao – on May 10 (Saturday) from 2-5 pm.

“For over 35 years, Jollibee has played a sig-nifi cant role in the lives of Filipino families by serv-ing as a place where

Jollibee Family Bee Day Grand Picnic set on May 10

they bond and relish one another’s company over superior-tasting food,” said Jollibee Vice Pres-ident for Marketing Har-vey Ong. “The Jollibee Family Bee Day grand picnic is a fun venue to celebrate our strong love for family which also ex-tends to people who have been part of our daily lives.”

The grand family pic-nic will feature excit-ing performances from guest bands like Callalily (Manila), 6 Cycle Mind (Pampanga), Moonstar 88 (Laguna), Spongeco-la (Cebu) and Imago (Davao) as well as ce-lebrity performers for each leg. There will also be raffl e prizes, and side activities for the kids.

To be a part of this one-of-a-kind picnic, simply visit any partici-pating Jollibee store from April 12 to May 9, 2014 nearest to your preferred picnic venue. Tickets are sold for only P150 (with any food purchase) and comes with a set Jol-libee picnic meal (Jol-libee Yum with Cheese, Peach Mango Pie, bot-tle of mineral water and tetra-pack juice) good for one pax which will be distributed on the day of the event plus a special Family Bee Day cap.

So get ready with your picnic mats and gather all your family, relatives and the whole gang for a family picnic like no oth-er! For more details, visit www.jollibee.com.ph.

BY ASHLEY MANABAT

MABALACAT CITY – Ten barangays here adjoining the perimeter fence of the Clark Freeport Zone tasked to help in maintaining the peace and se-curity in the area are now in a quan-dary whether the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) will still renew their mem-orandum of agreement (MOA) or not.

San Joaquin Barangay Captain Davidson David said his barangay tanods have yet to receive any com-

Village chiefs clueless on MOA with CDCpensation from CDC since January for guarding the Clark perimeter fence in their area under the MOA. The previ-ous MOA expired last December 31, 2013.

The MOA tasked the barangay ta-nods to safeguard the perimeter fence and assist in the control and prevention of informal settlers as well as illegal vendors and stray animals in their ar-eas of responsibilities around the Clark perimeter fence.

The watchmen are also tasked to

prevent the dumping of garbage and vandalism along the perimeter fence as well as the maintenance of the smooth fl ow of vehicular traffi c in some areas.

Each barangay provides at least 10 village watchmen (tanods) who are su-pervised by the CDC’s Land Preserva-tion Offi ce and the Public Safety De-partment.

The CDC supervision includes the provision of training, orientation, as-signment of duties and disciplinary or administrative actions over the village

watchmen.For their part, each barangay has

a resolution authorizing their chair-man to enter into a MOA with the CDC.

San Francisco Barangay Cap-tain Manuel B. Dingal said the CDC should have formally informed them of the non-renewal of their MOA in-stead of just ignoring their queries.

Nearby Angeles City has four ba-rangays adjoining the Clark perimeter fence with a similar MOA.

NI JOHNNY R. REBLANDO

OLONGAPO CITY –Di-nukot ng may 10 di pa kilalang armadong kalal-akihan ang isang Amer-ican national habang sakay ito ng kayang Ford Everest sa Baloy Long Beach Resort, Barangay Barretto sa lungsod na ito kamakalawa ng gabi.

Kinilala ng pulisya ang biktimang sai John Nash, may sapat na ta-ong gulang at nakatira sa Casa Del Mar Subd. sa Baloy Long Beach, Barangay Barretto.

Amerikano dinukotsa Olongapo

Sa imbestigasyon ng pulisya kay security guard Roldolfo Pinto, da-lawa sa di kilalang kalal-akihan ang nagpanggap na naghahanap ng ku-warto at pagkatapos ay titnungo ang Hamburg’s place na tila may hini-hintay na tao.

Pagkalipas ng ilang minuto lumabas naman sa tinutuluyang subdivi-sion ang biktima sakay ng kanyang Ford Ever-est na walang plaka at sinundan ito ng dala-wang suspek sa di ka-layuanng distansya kung

saan naman naghihintay ang iba pang kasamah-an nito.

Ayon sa mga testigo, pwersahang pinababa ng mga suspek ang biktima sa kanyang Ford Everest at saka ito sa isinakay sa pulang kotse.

Tangay din ng mga suspek ang sasakyan ng biktima sa kaniloang pagtakas.

Patuloy ang isina-sagawang imbesti-gasyon ng Olongapo City PNP para matukoy kung anong grupo ang tumangay sa suspek.

OLONGAPO CITY- Ka-laboso ang sinapit ng isang Japanese nation-al makaraan itong ma-hulihan ng baril habang nasa kahabaan ng Na-tional Highway sa Baran-gay Barretto sa lungsod na ito.

Kinilala ng pulisya ang suspek na si Minuro Tanaka, 39, tubong Osa-ka, Japan.

Kasama ng suspek ang apat pang kaba-

Hapon huli sa barilbayan nang ito ay ma-huli, matapos isuplong ng mga residente sa lugar na habang nasa harapan ng Japanese Restaurant ay nakitaan ito na may kakaibang ikinikilos.

Narekober sa pag-iin-gat ng suspek ang isang .40 pistol na may 10 bala.

Ang suspek ay nasa custody ng Police Station 6 ng Olongapo City PNP

at sasampahan ng ka-song illegal possession of fi rearms and ammu-nition makaraan walang maipakitang kaukulang dokumento.

Ibini-verify na rin ng pulisya sa Firearm and Explosive Division (FED) kung sino ang nagma-may-ari ng baril ganun din kung ito ay nasang-kot na sa ilang criminal activity.

–Johnny R. Reblando

SUBIC, Zambales---Patay ang isang welder nang sumabog ang ginagamit nitong acetylene tank habang nag-wewelding sa loob ng ginagawang bar-ko sa Hanjin Heavy Industries Company Ltd., sa Redondo Peninsula, Sitio Agu-suhin, Barangay Cawag sa bayang ito.

Kinilala ang nasawing si Ryan Ga-pos, 30, tubong Camigin Island at empleyado ng Finback Corp., isang sub-contractor ng Hanjin.

Sa inisyal na imbestigasyon nag-puputol ng bakal sa loob ng barko ang biktima nang bigla na lamang may sum-abog at masunog ang katawan ng nito.

Welder patay sa sabog ng acetylene tank

Nagawa pang isugod sa pagamu-tan ang biktima, subalit kaagad din itong binawian ng buhay.

Kaugnay nito, nagsasagawa na ng imbestigasyon ang Department of La-bor and Employment (DOLE), Region lll sa nasabing insidente para alamin kung paano sumabog ang acetylene tank na ginagamit nito sa pagwe-weld-ing.

Aalamin din ng DOLE kung ang nasabing contractor at mga kawani nito ay sumusunod sa ipinatutupad na safety standard procedure.

–Johnny R. Reblando

THINK GREEN

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BY DING CERVANTES　

CAMP OLIVAS - The wife of the alleged mastermind of the Aman Futures scam was arrested recently in a bar in the City of San Fernando in this province, and was found to have assumed a new identity and even a new nose.

Central Luzon police director, Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta said Abigail Pendulas was arrested late at night on May 2 at the Party Place in Barangay Dolores.

Pendulas, wife of suspected scam brains Manu-el Amalilio, was using the name Azziah De Guzman y Concillado, Petrasanta said.

“The suspect has been in hiding since last year and even managed to change her personal outlook (sic) including artifi cial nose lift,” Petrasanta added.

Pendulas is the subject of a warrant of arrest for syndicated estafa issued by Judge Alberto Quinto of Branch 1 of the Regional Trial Court in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte.

She has remained under detention at Camp Oli-vas before being handed over to the court.

Amalilio, a Malaysian who founded the Aman Fu-tures Group Inc., is accused of pulling off a pyramid scam that ripped off thousands of investors, includ-ing local government executives, of as much as P12 billion.

He escaped and was arrested in Sabah, Malay-sia early last year.

Malaysian authorities prevented Amalilio from leaving just as he was about to be returned to the country by agents of the National Bureau of Investi-gation to face charges over the scam.

He has since been sentenced to two years in jail after pleading guilty to holding false travel doc-uments.

According to case records, Amalilio duped inves-tors by promising them dividends ranging from 20 to 80 percent in a maximum of 20 days.

He left for Malaysia even before his victims dis-covered they had been defrauded.

Last December, the NBI also arrested former Pa-gadian City Mayor Samuel Co and his wife for their alleged involvement in the scam.

New name, nose fail to deter arrest of ‘pyramid scammer’

Cebu Pacifi c Ad

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LLL Trimedia Coordinators, Inc.Publisher

General ManagerEditor

Marketing ManagerLayout

Circulation

Atty. Gener C. EndonaCaesar “Bong” LacsonJoanna Niña V. CorderoDondie B. VenturaJojo Manalo/Lacson Macapagal

EDGAR V. MOVIDOFounder

Business & Editorial offi ce at Unit B Essel Commercial Center,McArthur Highway, Telabastagan, City of San Fernando

Tel. No. (45) 625•0244 Cel. No. 0917•481•1416puntogitnangluzon@yahoo.com or marketing@punto.com.ph

http://www.punto.com.ph

Punto! Central Luzon is a proud member ofThe Philippine Press Institute

E d i t o r i a lacaesar.blogspot.com

Zona Libre Bong Z. Lacson

OOpinion

Remembering Abad Santos

MAY 7 is a holiday in the province of Pampanga. Its meaning largely uncelebrated save for the City of San Fernando. Its signifi cance, not only to the province but to the whole Philippines as well, widely unknown.

May 7 marks the martyrdom of Chief Justice Jose Basco Abad Santos, caretaker of the national government of the Republic at the time of the Japanese Occupation, foremost Kapampangan.

In the great epochs of the history of the Philippines, Abad Santos stands shoulder to shoulder with national hero Jose Rizal: what the latter was to the Spanish colonialists, the former was to the Japanese imperialists.

A vignette of history from the website Kapampangan Heroes: At the outbreak of World War II, President Manuel L. Quezon temporarily moved the seat of Philippine government to the USA. Together with Vice President Sergio Osmena and other cabinet members they escaped by submarine from the invading Japanese Imperial Forces as General Douglas MacArthur transferred his general headquarters to Australia to re-organize the Allied Forces. Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos chose to remain in the Philippines as caretaker of the national government administration in the Philippines. The Japanese Military Command repeatedly approached him to make him pledge allegiance to Japan and to the Japanese fl ag but he did not swear in. A Japanese colonel and his troops overtook him in Lanao and he was told that he would be shot to death if he would not swear allegiance to the Japanese fl ag. He did not comply with the request of the Japanese so he was shot by fi ring squad.

Immortal of the heroic moment were Abad Santos’ parting words to his grieving junior: “Do not cry, Pepito, show these people that you are brave. It is an honor to die for one’s country. Not everybody is given that opportunity.”

It is to Oscar S. Rodriguez, current congressman and former city mayor, that the remembrance of Abad Santos is largely due.

Rodriguez’s keen sense of history made sure that the martyr, along with other great men of the province, be enshrined as much in monuments as in the hearts of their people.

“Don Jose Abad Santos’ life takes parallelism in today’s political fi rmament. The ultimate sacrifi ces have to be made for integrity and nationalism. Precisely what our citizens need for emulation, precisely what our leaders need for virtues. Precisely to be ever remembered.” An eternal ring to the words of Rodriguez there, spoken a few years back at the foot of Abad Santos’ monument at the Heroes Park in the city.

So we remember: Unhappy is the land without heroes. But cursed is a nation who forgets its heroes.

CYCLICAL AS the seasons, predictive practices warranting equally predictive commentaries. Falling on deaf ears, yes. But have to be written, nonetheless.

As this edited reprint of a piece published here a few years back.

Flawless de MayoAH, TO what (im)moral depths has this generation descended, we – their elders – wail.

“Our problem is… that which Pope Benedict XVI defi ned as the problem of relativism in the world today. The absence of standards, of moral standards, as though everything depended on the subjective interpretation of the individual.” So lamented Fr. Anton Pascual, president of Catholic church-run Radio Veritas.

“…That which is called secularism, the rejection of God in the life of man, the utter disrespect for God. What is adored is modernism, absolutely displacing the Gospel values of pureness of heart, prudence and respect for the spiritual.” So furthered the good padre.

Indeed, to what depths of secularism have we descended where our folk religion rites are concerned.

In the Mary Month of May is the Flores de Mayo – a tradition dating back to 1865 with young girls doing daily fl oral offering to the Virgin for the whole month.

The other Maytime festivity is the Santacruzan– a dramatization of the search of the Empress Helena of the Cross with her son Constantine. It usually serves as the culmination of the Flores de Mayo with a grand edition – Santacruzan caragulan, in Kapampangan – on the last day of May.

Like other religious rites, both festivities – Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez implores the Catholics faithful – must be taken as “an opportunity to deepen their faith and refl ect on the meaning of the cross in their life.”

Sadly, so sadly, Bishop Iniguez laments, the religious signifi cance has steadily diminished over the years and has become “commercialized.”

The Santacruzan has so turned into “beauty pageants and occasions for people to see movie and television personalities clad in pompous regalia,” that there is a need for the Church “to do everything it could to catechize and inform the faithful of the event’s signifi cance.”

As the Santacruzan, so is the Flores de Mayo – in effect “deVirginized,” secularized to a competition of fashion and a contest of beauty. Morally degenerating into Flawless de Mayo, in the context of glutathione and Dra. Vicky Belo.

Indeed, no spirituality but sheer sexuality can only obtain from a procession of beauty queens and comely lasses showing the most skin and the least faith,

And as if this were not enough a desecration of the Christian essence of the Flores de Mayo and the Santacruzan – the gay community has taken over the whole package, in all their gay apparel in the roles of the characters – from the Banderada to Reynas Sabah, Justicia, Mora, Sentenciada, etcetera to the Emperatriz and Reyna Elena.

“Hindi angkop na sila ay sumagala dahil hindi angkop na pagpapakita ng debosyon na ang lalaki ay nagwawaring babae. Kahit ano pa, ika nga sa Tagalog, mabababoy yan. Ang pagiging mukhang babae ng mga bading ay hindi mapo-focus sa mahal na birhen (It is not proper that they join the parade because it is not a proper show of devotion for men to appear as women. In any case, as they say in Tagalog, it will be profane. Having gays appear as women will shift the focus from the beloved virgin).” So Bishop Ted Bacani, of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ Episcopal Commission on the Doctrine of the Faith, said in an interview over Radio Veritas.

“Gawin natin na maayos na tayo ay makakapagbibigay talaga ng puri sa Diyos at sa ating mahal na birhen (Let’s just do this properly to give praise to God and our beloved virgin),” the good bishop added.

The gay community has long issued a stand on their right to join the Flores de Mayo and the Santacruzan.

A few years back, Danton Remoto, chairman of the gay group Ladlad, said it was not the intention of the gay participants of Santacruzan to insult the Catholic Church: “Ang mga baklang sumasali sa ganyan, wala silang intensiyon na mang-insulto o manlibak sa Simbahan (Those gays who joined theSantacruzan have no intention to insult the Church).”

Still, as Bishop Iniguez says: “Gayunman, kung malaking palabas lamang ang pagsali ng third sex sa sagala, ito’y hindi nararapat dahil ang Santacruzan ay hindi fashion show kung hindi isang sagradong pagdiriwang ng Simbahang Katoliko (Be that as it may, if gays joining the parade is all for show, this is not appropriate because the Santacruzan is not a fashion show, but a sacred celebration of the Catholic Church).”

Neither homophobe nor homophile I am, but a line’s got to be drawn between the unrestrained expression of rights and the disparagement of faith.

Keep the tradition sacred.

HEALTH EDUCATION as de-fi ned by WHO is any combi-nation of learning experienc-es designed to help individu-als and communities improve their health, by increasing their knowledge or infl uencing their attitudes.

Health education builds students’ knowledge, skills, and positive attitudes about health. Health education

C O M M E N T A R YC O M M E N T A R Y

Why should I care about Health Education?

BY RAIDIS L. DELA CRUZ, RN, MAN

teaches about physical, men-tal, emotional and social health. It motivates students to improve and maintain their health, prevent disease, and reduce risky behaviors.

Numerous studies have shown that healthier stu-dents tend to do better in school. They have higher at-tendance, have better grades, and perform better on tests.

For these reasons, we as par-ents should care with our chil-dren’s health. We should be concern on information about our children’s health issues and to know tips on how to keep our children safe and healthy. We should coordi-nate with schools on how to keep a much safer and sup-port programs that promote children’s health.

Know, fi rst, who you are; and then adorn yourself accordingly. –Epictetus

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BY DINO BALABO

MALOLOS CITY—The De-partment of Agriculture (DA) is set to lend Bulacan farm-ers at least 20 water pumps in preparation to the suspension of water allocation from the Angat Dam.

This came as water ele-vation at the dam dropped to 181.92 meters above sea level (MASL) yesterday, or less than two meters before it hit the crit-ical 180 masl.

Gloria Carillo, head of the Bulacan Provincial Agriculture Offi ce (PAO) disclosed that at least half of the 33,000-hect-are ricelands in the province still have standing crops which are supposed to be harvest-ed between today and the fi rst week of June.

“We have at least 15,000 hectares of riceland with standing crops na inaasahang maaapektuhan ng kakulangan ng tubig dahil yung iba ay sa June pa aanihin,” Carillo said.

However, she said that DA Central Luzon Offi ce has of-fered to lend at least 20 water pumps to local farmers, which at eight horsepower each can be used in drawing water from creeks and rivers to be sup-plied to ricelands that still needs water.

The Department of Agriculture vowed to lend water pumps to farmers affected by drought like phenomenon. Farmers from San Miguel town look at a patch of water on a dried up small farm reservoir. PHOTO BY DINO BALABO

DA to lend water pumps to farmersShe said that among the

ricelands that will harvest last are those located in the fi rst district of Bulacan especially those in the towns of Bulakan, Calumpit, Pulilan, Paombong, Hagonopy and this city.

Carillo said they are also encouraging farmers to plant other crops like mongo and peanut, which are import sub-stitutes and are nitrogen fi xing plants.

She explained that the move of the DA to lend wa-ter pumps is in anticipation to possible water shortage as the National Power Corporation (Napocor) is set to suspend al-location for irrigation.

According to Engineer Ro-dolfo German, general Man-ager of the Angat River Hy-droelectric Power Plant, they would stop releasing water for irrigation if water level at the Angat Dam hit the critical 180 masl.

German also said that in case water elevation remains high until May 15, they will still suspend allocation for irriga-tion.

“It’s defi nite that water al-location for farmers will be cut, whichever comes fi rst,” he said referring to May 15 target date and the critical 180 masl.

Start saving waterMALOLOS CITY—The National Power Corporation (Napo-cor) reiterated its call for Metro Manila residents to con-serve water to avoid possible supply interruption.

This came as water level at the giant Angat Dam further dropped to 181.92 meters above sea level (masl) yester-day, just over one meter before it the 180 masl critical level.

Napocor President Gladys Cruz-Sta.Rita made assur-ance that cloud seeding operation over Angat Dam will be implemented this week.

“It is time to conserve water para ma-avoid ang possible supply interruptions,” said Engineer Rodolfo German in an interview.

As general manager of the Angat River Hydroelectric Power Plant of the Napocor which manages the Angat Dam and its 53,000-hectare watershed, German said water el-evation at the dam is now dropping at rate of .30 meter to about half meter every day.

He said that water level at the dam is expected to hit the critical 180 masol within days, if there is no rainfall within the watershed.

German also explained that at present, the bulk of wa-ter from the dam is being supplied for potable water needs of Metro Manila and nearby areas like Rizal province and parts of Cavite and Bulacan.

This is through the Manila Water Corporation Incorporat-ed (MWCI) which supplies Metro Manila’s east zone which includes cities in Rizal; and Maynilad Water Services Inc., (Maynilad) which supplies the metro’s west zone including parts of the cities of San Jose Del Monte and Meycauayan and the town of Obando in Bulacan.

German also said that at present, water allocation for Metro Manila remained at 41 cubic meters per second (cms).

But it is lower than the normal allocation of 46 cms, as the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) decided to reduce allocation for the metro weeks ago in anticipation of impending dry spell.

Meanwhile, Cruz-Sta. Rita made assurance that planned cloud seeding operations will start this week in the hope to replenish water at the dam reservoir.

She also echoed German’s call for water conservation and water recycling in services areas of the Metropolitan Water Works and Sewerage System’s concessionaires.

Last April 25, the Napocor said that they are targeting the last days of April and the fi rst week of May for the im-plementation of cloud seeding operations.

They said that memorandums of agreement are being prepared for approval of concerned government agencies.

–Dino Balabo

NAPOCOR TO MM

THE NATIONAL Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Zamboanga-Sulu-Ta-wi-Tawi condemns the latest killing of a community-based journalist in Bongao, Tawi-tawi just a day after the observance of World Press Freedom.

Richard Nadjid, 35, mar-ried and a father of fi ve, was gunned down the night of May 4, 2014 near his home in Bon-gao.

While investigators say they have yet to establish the motive for the killing, it is dis-turbing that Tawi-Tawi provin-cial police director Senior Supt. Joselito Salido has immediate-ly and baselessly dismissed the possibility of Nadjid’s mur-der being work-related, calling

Tawi-Tawi journalist27th killed under PNoy

the victim “just one disc jock-ey, a person that plays popular music on FM radio station. He is not a journalist.”

That the chief of a prov-ince’s police force can display not only insensitivity but, more alarming, ignorance refl ects on the quality of what is sup-posed to be the country’s main law enforcement agency and explains why media murders and human rights violations in general continue to be com-mitted with impunity.

For Salido’s enlightenment, Nadjid was not only the station manager of DxNN Power Myx FM station in Bongao, he also handled the station’s regular morning news and public af-fairs program.

But Salido’s cop-out on Na-djid’s murder is not surpris-ing given how his command-er-in-chief, President Benigno Aquino III, himself set the tone by dismissing media killings with the blanket insinuation that these murders were prod-ded by motives other than the victims’ work.

Nadjid is the second mem-ber of Tawi-Tawi’s fourth estate killed and the 27th under Aqui-no, the worst year-on-year re-cord under any administration.

On June 25, 2007, radio broadcaster Vicente Sumal-pong, production supervisor of Radyo ng Bayan, was gunned down. As with ALL media kill-ings in this country, the mas-termind remains at large.

LIVEABLE CITY. Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan presents to members of Capampangan in Media Inc. programs and projects that have contributed to Angeles City’s ranking as one of the “most liveable” urban centers in the country. PHOTO BY BONG LACSON

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FROM PAGE 1

NOTICE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENTNotice is hereby given that the heirs of MARCELINO LACSAMANA

SIMBUL who died intestate on November 11, 2013 in Pasig City executed an Affi davit of Extrajudicial Settlement of his estate, more particularly described as parcels of land, to wit:

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 87104Registry of Deeds for Angeles City

Lot 10, Block 7 of the subdivision plan (LRC) Psd-66539 (Sheet 1), being aportion of Lot 702-B, described on plan (LRC) Psd-48796, LRC (GLRO) Cad. Record No. 124, situated in Barrio of Pampang, City of Angeles, Island of Luzon;

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 563905-RRegistry of Deeds for the Province of Pampanga

Lot 653-A-2-B-2, of the subd. plan Psd-03-135345, being aportion of Lot 653-A-2-B (LRC) Psd-191502, LRC Rec. No., situated in Bo. of San Nicolas, Mun. of Magalang, Prov. of Pampanga;

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 316477-RRegistry of Deeds for the Province of Pampanga

Lot 653-A-2-E, of the subd. plan (LRC) Psd-191502, being aportion of Lot 653-A-2 (LRC) Psd-155429, LRC Cad. Rec. No. 128, situated in Bo. of San Nicolas, Mun. of Magalang, Prov. of Pampanga;

before Notary Public Almario D. Marimla as per Doc No. 808, Page No. 73, Book No. XX, Series of 2014.Punto! Central Luzon: May 7, 14 & 21, 2014

NOTICE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENTNotice is hereby given that the heirs of NATIVIDAD CENTENO-LIM who

died intestate on June 26, 2000 in Angeles City and JOHN P. LIM SR. who died intestate on July 24, 1989 in Quezon City executed an Affi davit of Extrajudicial Settlement with Deed of Absolute Sale of their estate, more particularly described as a parcel of land (Lot 28 of the Cadastral Survey of Angeles) with all buildings and improvements except those expressedly noted as belonging to other persons, situated in the Municipality of Angeles and covered by Transfer Certifi cate of Title No. 16653-R of the Registry of Deeds of Angeles City, before Notary Public Eric V. Mendoza as per Doc No. 364, Page No. 122, Book No. 61, Series of 2014.

Punto! Central Luzon: April 25, May 2 & 9, 2014

“From where I stand, there has so far been no change to the plans to transfer the air force from Clark, but we can expect that consultations will be done by the gov-ernment,” PAF spokes-person Col Miguel Okol said in a telephone inter-view.

The Bases Conver-sion Development Au-thority (BCDA) earlier announced that all units of the PAF here would be moved out to other loca-tions to give way to more investors in this Free-port.

But the signing of EDCA last April has raised concerns on whether this plan would be delayed or altogeth-er scrapped as the US Air Force is expected to use this former US mili-tary base under the new agreement. If the PAF moves out, Clark could no longer be classifi ed as a Philippine military camp qualifying under EDCA.

PAF transfer from Clark not affected by EDCAEarlier, the Clark De-

velopment Corp. (CDC) which is BCDA’s imple-menting arm in this free-port, said that only 145 hectares of land with-in its jurisdiction remain available for lease to in-vestors. Some 300 more hectares have been occupied by the PAF here, covering residen-tial areas, a hotel, a golf course, a resort, a foot-ball fi eld, among other facilities.

While Okol said he was confi dent that “the national government would not permit ham-pering the development of Clark” and that “noth-ing has been said to the effect that the develop-ment of Clark should stop,” he also cautioned that “national develop-ment and national se-curity should go hand in hand.”

Still, Okol stressed that “EDCA has nothing to do with the develop-ment of Clark Freeport” although he said he was not aware of any gov-ernment list of military

camps that would be open for temporary use by the US military under the agreement.

Local business lead-er Ruperto Cruz, who founded the Pinoy Gu-mising Ka Movement (PGKM) which pushed for the development of Clark as the country’s premiere international airport after the US mili-tary left its base here in 1991, said he would not object to the use of Clark by the Americans.

“There’s nothing wrong with that, for as long as this will not af-fect development plans at Clark,” he said.

Cruz, who has busi-ness interests in Chi-na, said that the pres-ence of the US military in the country could serve as deterrent to “bully-ing by China”, referring to the territorial confl ict between China and the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea.

“The government must not use EDCA as reason for any delay in the development of

Clark,” he said.Seven units of PAF in

this freeport have start-ed with elements from the 710th Special Opera-tions Wing (SPOW) mov-ing to the northern Crow Valley area traditionally used for US-Philippine military bombing exercis-es in Capas, Tarlac.

The initial plan of the government is to move the 410th Mainte-nance Wing, the Air Lo-gistics Command, and the 420th Supply Wing, to Basa Air Base in Flor-idablanca, Pampanga. There were also initial plans to transfer the Air Defense Wing to Subic Freeport, but there were reports that the Subic Bay Metropolitan Author-ity (SBMA) considered charging lease for land use there.

New buildings have already been construct-ed in Crow Valley area north of this freeport to accommodate the 710th SPOW, on top of an ad-ministration building and a watchtower built years ago by the 600th Air Base

Wing in the site covering some 7,000 hectares.

But sources from the PAF said the transfer of the rest of the air force units would depend on the availability of more funds. It is estimated that the transfer of the en-tire PAF based at Clark would cost about P9.5 billion, to include the cost of horizontal and verti-cal replication of needed structures found here.

EDCA is a ten-page document containing a preamble and 12 arti-cles and has been de-scribed as a framework agreement that raises the scope of the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).

The Preamble to the EDCA refers to the obli-gations of the Philippines and the United States,

under both the Charter of the United Nations and the MDT, to settle international disputes by peaceful means, not to endanger international peace and security, and to refrain from the threat or use of force “in any manner inconsistent with the purposes of the Unit-ed Nations.”

The preamble states that both parties “share an understanding for the United States not to es-tablish a permanent mili-tary presence or base in the territory of the Philip-pines.”

It concludes, “all Unit-ed States access to and use of facilities and ar-eas will be at the invi-tation of the Philippines and with full respect for the Philippines Constitu-tion and Philippine laws.”

(PF-16) and BRP Grego-rio Del Pilar (PF-15), the newest additions to the Philippine Navy fl eet.

One squadron of combat planes of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) is also expected to be stationed at the former Federal Express (FedEx) terminal inside the Subic Bay Interna-tional Airport, Garcia said.

The SBMA offi cial also contended that the new security agreement became necessary be-cause of the series of in-cidents in the West Phil-ippine Sea, especially in the area of the Scar-borough Shoal, where Filipino fi shermen were barred by Chinese Coast

Subic backs...FROM PAGE 1 Guard vessels.

Garcia said, however, that he remains optimis-tic that the agreement will be a temporary ar-rangement that will serve the purpose of benefi ting most Filipinos.

Meanwhile, some protesters staged an an-ti-US rally in front of the main gate of the Subic Bay Freeport to de-nounce the visit of Pres. Obama.

Garcia said the Subic authority let them fi n-ish the rally at their own time.

“We allowed them to express their sentiments, as that is their right. We did not disperse them, but we did not allow them to come inside the Free-port, as this is a rally-free area,” Garcia added.

the province for possible cases of pneumonia, the most prevalent disease during sudden shifts in temperatures.

Records from online weather watch like accu-weather.com and meteo-media showed that daily temperature in the prov-ince climbs to as high as 34 degrees Celsius, nor-mally punctuated by sud-den rainfall in the after-noon or in early evening.

Dr. Voltaire Basinang, head of the PVO, said that they intensifi ed sur-

Pork price rises in BulacanFROM PAGE 1 veillance for weather-re-

lated disease on live-stock in the province.

Fortunately, they have not monitored any outbreak, but noted an incident of porcine epi-demic diarrhea (PED) in a farm located in Pandi town last February.

“So far, our livestock farms remain safe from weather-induced diseas-es,” he said.

He noted that the PED incident in Pan-di town was immedi-ately addressed by the farm owner and stressed that it is not necessarily

weather-related.He explained that

PED is production relat-ed.

“At this time, we are in close contact with lo-cal livestock growers for possible incidence of pneumonia,” Basinang said, adding that sudden change in temperature usually cause pneumo-nia among livestock.

“Para ding pneumo-nia sa tao yan, pag big-la-biglang nagbago ang temperature, nagkaka-sakit ang mga baboy,” Basinang said.

Meanwhile, pork price

in the Malolos City pub-lic market here climbed by P10 to P40 a kilo re-cently.

Local vendors not-ed that this wass due to short supply of pork.

According to the PVO, local pork require-ment is supplied by back-yard pig farmers, while large commercial farms in the province supply 60 percent of Metro Manila pork need.

Records showed that Bulacan is supplying at least 450,000 kilos of pork to Metro Manila ev-ery month.

This capital city has 35 barangays with 300,000 registered to-tal population in 2013 based on the Socio Eco-nomic Census data con-ducted in partnership with the University of the Assumption here.

Affected families un-der its Sagip-Ilog pro-gram and the Northrail Project of the national government were relo-cated to Northville reset-tlement in Barangay Cal-ulut which is considered the largest barangay and Barangay Juliana as the smallest village.

EdSa eyes tax freezeFROM PAGE 1 The city has a total

land area of 6,774 hect-ares.

Meanwhile, baran-gay offi cials from the 35 barangays of the city re-cently went to Baguio City on a “Lakbay-Aral” program sponsored by the city government and the Department of Inte-rior and Local Govern-ment (DILG).

The learning activity, held from April 30 to May 2, was intended to widen barangay kagawads’ (vil-lage watchmen) knowl-edge and understanding of how good governance and shared responsibility can bring about the ho-

listic development of so-ciety.

Divided into three clusters, the participants were deployed to two local government units and a university campus to observe best practic-es according to areas of study, namely, agricul-ture in the municipality of Bauang, La Union; envi-ronment, in Naguilian, La Union; and investment, at the Benguet State University.

Santiago said the ba-rangay, though known to be the smallest unit of government, plays an integral factor in uplift-ing the lives of Fernan-

dinos. He urged the ba-rangay offi cials to pursue the practices they have learned during the sem-inar and apply them in their respective areas of responsibility.

For his part, San Fer-nando DILG offi cer Engr. Algy Canlas thanked the participants and the city government in helping to make the seminar possi-ble.

Also present during the event were Vice May-or Jimmy Lazatin, Coun-cilors Nelson Lingat, Lito Ocampo, Noel Tulabut, BJ Lagman, and other city offi cials and employ-ees.

NOTICE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENTNotice is hereby given that the heirs of ARNEL LUCAS CASILI who died

intestate on March 8, 2014 in Saudi Arabia executed an Affi davit of Extrajudicial Settlement of his estate, more particularly described as Claims and Benefi ts from OWWA, Philippine Embassy, DFA, SSS, Pag-ibig and his employer, AL HASA AL MUBARRA/SHANGHAI RESTAURANT, before Notary Public Gener C. Endona as per Doc No. 332, Page No. 48, Book No. 48, Series of 2014.

Punto! Central Luzon: May 7, 14 & 21, 2014

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The GossipmillerCesar Pambid

Lovers in Europe

DAHIL SA magkasamang pagbiyahe nila sa Europe, iniisip ng marami na totoong mag-on na nga sina Rocco Nacino at Lovi Poe.

Isa pa, bagamat kababalik lang ng dalawa mula sa kanilang bakasyon ay tila nakaplano na ang mga susunod pa nilang trips abroad.

Dahil open naman sina Rocco at Lovi sa kanilang pagsasama sa malalayong lugar, kulang na lang ang direktang pag-amin ng dalawa tungkol sa estado ng kanilang relasyon.

Pero pahayag ng Kapuso actor, “We’re not saying anything.“Itong matter na ‘to, we want to keep it private.“Well, kitang-kita naman na we’re proud of what’s happening with us. “So, ano… the thing is we just wanna keep it to ourselves lang.“Siyempre lahat, alam na ng mga tao!“But then, this is one thing na we can treasure.”Kapansin-pansin ang ibang aura ni Rocco matapos makabalik sa Pilipinas

mula sa sampung araw na bakasyon nila ni Lovi sa Europe. Refreshed ang hitsura niya.

“Ang lamig dun, grabe!” sabi ng aktor nang makausap namin.“Araw-araw nagdya-jogging kami dun. Ang hirap magpawis doon, e.“Saktong birthday ng daddy ko nang dumating ako. “’Tapos I left for Boracay para sa wedding ng kaibigan ko. “Si Lovi naman, balik-trabaho agad-agad para sa taping ng bagong soap

niyang Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real.Masaya naman daw para sa kanilang dalawa ang mga pamilya nila, lalo na

raw ang mga magulang ni Rocco.“Happy sila na pagbalik ko, parang… very fresh daw ako!” tawa ulit ngStarStruck

alumnus.“Yeah, parang very fresh daw kami. Very happy, very positive.“Maganda raw yung aura namin pagbalik namin.“Kasi ano… we got to refresh naman kasi talaga. “We got to recharge physically at lalo na spiritually.“Ang maganda, the whole experience was an adventure talaga.”Kuwento pa niya, “Naiwan kami ng train! “Naglalakad lang kami around Rome, bumabasa lang kami sa map.“Free-fl owing lang, we got to talk a lot.“Uusually, dito [sa Pilipinas], si Lovi ang nagsasalita, ako yung

nakikinig.“Doon, may time na ako ang nagsasalita at nag-o-open up. “‘Yon, we got to bond a lot.“Lalo na nung island-hopping kami, habang nasa boat kami, nag-

o-open up kami at nagkukuwentuhan.“Kahit may jet lag pa siya, pero kinaya naman niya.”“So, we got to bond a lot.“Masaya, nakapunta kami sa apat na bansa, so magandang

adventure.“At ngayon, pagbalik namin, parang may motto na rin kami na

‘work hard to travel.’ “At least, gutom kami na magtrabaho ngayon. “And nalaman namin na, through travelling, nakaka-

recharge ng spirit at ng sense of ano… yung work ethics.“At saka yung pagiging enthusiastic sa trabaho. “It makes you richer inside na, in your mind, you come

back na refreshed ang sarili mo.”Sabi nga, one good thing deserves another. At, heto nga,

may plano na ang dalawa para sa susunod nilang biyahe.

Sila na raw ni Tom Rodriguez???“Pagpahingain muna ninyo ang puso ko!”- - CARLA ABELLANA

DI TYPE ni Carla Abellana na igimik sila ni Tom Rodriguez sa “So It’s You. “Huwag na lang ipilit kasi sasabihin ng tao, gumigimik lang kami to promote our movie,” sabi niya. “Isa pa, we both just came from a break up, so I think it’s better that papagpahingahin muna namin ang mga puso namin.”

Paano kung balikan siya ni Geoff Eigenmann? “Honestly, I don’t see it working out now talaga. Pero gaya nang lagi kong sinasabi, ayoko magsalita nang patapos, baka gulatin tayo ng Diyos, hindi natin alam. May mga bagay na nagbabago at baka du’n din kami ibalik or du’n din kami dalhin ulit. So we’ll really never know talaga. Ipagdarasal na lang natin na i-guide tayo ni Lord kung saan tayo dapat. Hindi ko naman sinasara totally ang pinto.”

Mother Lily Monteverde, producer of “So It’s You,” is very positive that their movie will earn money at the box offi ce because she has great on-screen chemistry with Tom as her leading man. “I’ve seen the completed movie and I’m so proud of them. Ang ganda nilang dalawa tingnan sa big screen. This is a feel good movie about second chances that everyone will surely like, thanks to the great job of our director, Jun Lana, who’ll make you all fall in love all over again.”

Rita Avila mahusay makisamaPANAY ANG papuring binibigay ni Rita Avila kina Jackie Rice at Max Collins na gumaganap na mga anak niya sa isang teleserye “Ang gaganda ng mga anak ko, parehong mestiza,” sabi niya. “At parehong mabait at magaling umarte, kaya proud ako. Max is a very intelligent girl and Jackie has a great sense of humor kaya napapatawa niya ako.”

Rita’s character in “Innamorata” has an ugly scar on one half of his face and she was still wearing the prosthetic make up applied to her when she faced the writers who are on a press visit at their beautiful set in Antipolo. We asked her how it feels to have latex make up like that? “Okay lang ito compared sa nilalagay kay Max dahil buong face niya, pinapapangit. Ito, madali lang alisin kapag tapos na ako mag-taping. I just wipe it off with wet tissue. Pero mawawala na ito kasi ipapa-opera na ako sa story kaya hindi na ko lalagyan ng make-up in future episodes.”

She’s been doing soaps only on GMA7 now. Her last show with ABS was ‘Walang Hanggan’ where she resigned due to health reasons. Did ABS feel bad about this? “I don’t know. Basta for me, okay pa rin ako sa kanila. Kaya lang, nagkasunud-sunod nga ang soaps ko sa GMA: ‘Sana ay Ikaw na Nga’, then ‘Kahit Nasaan Ka Man’ and now, itong ‘Inamorata’. But my husband (FM Reyes) is still with ABS. He’s now directing ‘Moon of Desire’ na nakakatapat namin sa afternoon slot nila.”

How do they feel that they have rival shows? “Wala. Tinatawanan lang namin. E, ganun talaga. It happens.”Rita is one of the good friends of Marian Rivera. “Una kaming nagkasama sa very fi rst soap niya, ‘Kung Mamahalin Mo Lang Ako,’ with Camille Prats, produced by TAPE. Since then, naging malapit na kami sa isa’t isa. When she heard na mayaman ang role

ko sa ‘Walang Hanggan’, she sent me clothes na puwede kong gamitin doon. Puro bagong damit ‘yun. Ang sweet talaga niya. Very supportive siya maging sa dolls na alaga ko. Bilib ako sa loyalty niya, pati ang ibang mga naging anak ko, sina Katrina Halili, Melissa Ricks, Andrea Torres at Max Collins, sinusubaybayan nila ang postings ko sa Instagram about my dolls.”

Rita has just fi nished her third book for children, “The Invisible Wings,” about children who dream of being angels on earth. It will be published by St. Paul’s and to be released a couple of months from now.

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agbabago at baka du’n dinknow talaga. Ipagdarasal

Lovi Poe

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