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Pastor, cohort nabbed for ‘shabu’

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By Freddie Velez

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — Illegal drugs were confiscated to a pastor and in his cohort when arrested during an anti-illegal drugs operation conducted by police authorities Oct. 28 in Sta Rita, this province.
The Sta. Rita police buy-bust operation was conducted in Barangay San Matias and resulted in the arrest of Michael Calvin Lee Bantigui, alias “Mike,” 2nd Lt. Chaplain Officer of a non-government organization Transnational Anti-Organized Crime-Intelligence Group (TAOC-IG) ,of Zone 4, Barangay Becuran, Sta. Rita and Eduardo Dula Pasion, alias “Edward,: of Purok 3, Brgy. Pulong Santol, Porac, Pampanga.
The two allegedly yielded eight heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu and P500 in marked money.


POLICE ROUNDUP

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Cement mixer falls down ravine; boy killed, 2 hurt

KAPANGAN, Benguet – A boy was killed while two others were injured when the cement transit mixer they were riding in fell down a ravine here Oct. 28 around 7:20 p.m. at Sitio Landing, Sagubo.
Immediately, town police and Kapangan Municipal Fire Station ambulance personnel responded at the place of incident. 
Vilmer Ventura,16 was declared dead on arrival at a local hospital due to multiple head injury while Dolphy Dasolas of Baukn town and Abel Bas-il Binaliw, 29,of  Salat, Central, were both injured on the head. The injured were later brought to Benguet General Hospital for further treatment.
Police investigation disclosed the yellow Mitsubishi Fuso Transit Mixer bearing plate number 0301-813710 driven by Dasolas of Bakun, lost his control due to over-speeding at an ascending portion of Salat-Sagubo provincial road.
The vehicle as a result fell down the 100-meter deep ravine. The three passengers including the driver were rushed earlier by cops, fire and medical personnel to Kapangan District Hospital for treatment.

Drunk farmer falls off jeep, killed

ATOK, Benguet – A drunk farmer met his untimely death when he refused to go inside a vehicle, clung to its railing and fell on the road. A police report said the incident happened Oct. 28 around 2:30 p.m. along km 53, Halsema Highway at Barangay Cattubo.
The jeep with plate no. AHC-349 was driven by Henry Ricardo Bestre, 52, farmer of Tulodan, Cattubo while the victim was identified as James Banas-e Nabe, 45, single, farmer, of km 51, Cattubo.
Investigation disclosed Bestre was driving his vehicle to his home in Tulodan when he was flagged down by the victim at km 51, Pakyaw, Paoay and rode going to his workplace at Tulodan.
Sensing that the victim seemed to be under the influence of liquor, Bestre told the victim to get inside his vehicle but the victim refused. When they were at km. 51, Nabe victim fell on the road so Bestre and with the aid of passersby, rushed the victim to Atok District Hospital in Sayangan where he was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician.
Bestre surrendered at the town police station but immediate relatives of the victim opted not to file a complaint saying they will amicably settle the case considering they were all relatives.

Woman cornered for swindling 

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A 54-year-old woman was arrested here Monday at Barangay Bahong for alleged swindling. Nabbed was Feliza Teofilo Ganga, 54, married, resident of said place.
The arrest was made after Melita Amylesha G. Delson-Macaraeg, acting presiding judge of Municipal Trial Court of La Trinidad, First Judicial Region, Benguet issued warrant against her.

 Man shot dead in Pasil

PASIL, Kalinga – A man was killed here in Barangay Balatoc Oct. 28. A police report said Sacki Egao, Basnic, Igaw, 44, married was shot dead by a certain Allur “Allung” Ganagan, Buenafe, 24 around 10 p.m. Both are farmers and residents of the area.
The report said police had a hard time going to the crime site as it was about 37 km away from the nearest police station which is a 3-hour uphill drive and a 1-hour and 30-minute walk from the highway.
The report said the victim and gunman attended a picnic party of their neighbor, a certain Ottogon Baguiwan.
Investigation disclosed that at about 10:20 p.m. of Oct. 30, the suspect followed his wife Cherry and his daughter who went ahead to their home. A heated argument ensued between the suspect and his wife that prompted the suspect to get his short firearm and loaded it.
The suspect’s wife tried to pacify him but he fired his firearm upward, and her wife screamed. At that instance, Igaw and his cousin Clever Amangan responded to pacify the suspect. When the victim tried to confiscate the firearm, the suspect accidentally fired his firearm and hit the victim’s head behind his earlobe, which resulted to his instant death.
Responding cops arrested the suspect at about 5 p.m. of Oct. 29 and confiscated from him a Cal. 45 pistol with magazine loaded with two bullets. Three fired cartridges were found at the crime scene.
Buenafe was brought to Pasil police station where a case was prepared against him.

  Woman arrested for business without permit 

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A certain Espirita Jigano Damugo, 58, married, native of Bontoc, Mountain Province here of JD 151, Bayabas, Pico, was nabbed by cops Monday for operating business without permit.
This, after warrant was issued against her by  Melita Amylesha G. Delson-Macaraeg, acting presiding judge of Municipal Trial Court, La Trinidad, Benguet for violation of La Trinidad Revised Revenue Code. Bail was set at P2,000 for her temporary liberty.

3 men dead in Apayao as truck collides with trike 

LUNA, Apayao – A Ford Ranger pickup truck hit a tricycle travelling without headlights it met along the national highway here in San Isidro on Oct. 28 around 9 p.m. resulting to the death of three persons.
A police report did not identify the victims but said a Suzuki Raider 125 motorcycle without license plate driven by a man wearing a red jacket and adidas blue short pants no. 18, with his back rider wearing  green T-shirt and dark blue short pants with white linings was bumped on its rear by the truck with license plate XEN driven by Julius Talamayan Baddo, 26, single, self-employed here of Barangay San Francisco. 
Investigation disclosed Baddo was rushing Walter Salmazan Aloag to Far North Luzon General Hospital and Training Center, also a victim of motorcycle accident that transpired around 8:30 p.m. of same date in Barangay San Francisco.
Accordingly, the pick-up was travelling along the said highway from San Francisco headed to Barangay Quirino when Baddo dimmed his headlight due to approaching motor vehicle from the opposite lane.
However, upon shifting the headlight back into high, the driver accidentally bumped the approaching motorcycle without headlight. As a result, the motorcycle crashed on the ground while the pickup fell at the rice field at the side of the highway.
The driver and backrider of the motorcycle and Aloag were rushed by police by officials and tanods to the hospital but were declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.
The motorcycle incurred damages on its rear mud guard and detached headlight assembly and was brought to Luna police station for further investigation while the pick-up is still at the place of accident. Baddo voluntarily surrendered to the responding police officers and is now under custody of Luna police pending investigation of the case.

 Kibungan lady taken in Tubao for estafa

TUBAO, La Union – A businesswoman from Madaymen, Kibungan, Beguet was arrested at the public market here Monday for estafa. The suspect was identified as Merina Gad-oan Banez, 44, businesswoman, and resident of Madaymen, Kibungan Benguet.
Maria Ligaya Itliong Rivera, presiding judge, RTC Branch 60, Baguio City earlier issued warrant against her and set bail of P100,000 for her temporary liberty.

 P1-M bail set for woman in estafa

BAGUIO CITY – A woman was arrested here Monday at Bobon, Loakan Proper for many cases of estafa. The suspect was named as Moden Grayle Alya-on Bayangan, 30, married, of No. 30-A ,Purok 14, Cypress, Irisan.
This, after judges Janet Abergos Samar of MTCMM Branch 32, Quezon City; Monaliza V. Tiongson-Tabora, of RTC 7; Glenda Ortiz Soriano, of  MTCC2 Maria Casuga Tabin and MTCC 4, all of Baguio City ordered her arrest.
All four judges set different amounts of bail for her temporary liberty with a total of P1 million.

 Woman nabbed for estafa, carnapping

BAGUIO CITY – Baguio and Tabuk City cops arrested here at Bobun, Purok Sadjo, Loakan Proper a certain Moden Grayle Alya-on Bayangan, 30, married, of 30-A Irisan for estafa. This after Victor A. Dalanao, presiding judge of 2nd Judicial Region MTCC, Tabuk City issued warrants agasint her for estafa cases.
Marivic T. Balisi-Umali, presiding judge of National Capital Judicial Region Regional Trial Court, Branch 20, Manila also issued warrant against her for violations of Republic Act 10883 (Anti-Carnapping Law).

 Bocap surrenders gun to police  

DOLORES, Abra – Chairman Ruel Talledo of Barangay Kimmalaba here turned over here to police Oct. 28 an unlicensed GA 12 pistol without ammunition surrendered to him by a local resident. The name of the gun owner was not disclosed.

Motorbike driver killed in road crash

PASIL, Kalinga – A motorcycle driver was killed when the vehicle slipped and hit pieces of stone piled beside the road here Oct. 28 around 10 a.m. at Venus Barangay Cagaluan.
Investigation disclosed the victim was on his way to Tabuk City when he crashed resulting to serious injuries, The victim was brought to Kalinga Provincial Hospital in Bulanao Tabuk City by a passing government pick-up truck bearing SKW 444 driven by Legaspi Bumon-as but the victim was declared dead on arrival by attending physician.
Police found a damaged helmet and the motorcycle scattered at the pavement of accident site.

Farmer found dead on bed

RIZAL, Kalinga – Police received a report from a concerned citizen through cell phone that they saw the lifeless body of a certain Lacricio Castillo Bangelan 34, married, farmer of Barangay Kinama, Rizal, Kalinga inside their house.
Investigation disclosed around 3 p.m. on Oct. 28, the victim’s mother in-law was looking for him and asked his daughter about his whereabouts.
Her daughter told her grandmother her father was inside their house, Her grandmother knocked at the victim’s room door but Bangelan was not answering prompting her to look for a key duplicate.
When she opened the door an odorous smell emanated and she saw the lifeless body of Bangelan lying on his bed with blood on his nose and mouth. Some witnesses revealed they last saw Bangelan on Oct. 26 around 5 p.m. Bangelan’s relative requested for an autopsy. Investigation is ongoing.

 Businessman chokes, hits boy many times

TUBA, Benguet – A complaint was filed against a businessman here for choking a boy and hitting his head several times.
A police report said the incident happened Oct. 28 around 6:40 p.m. here at Poblacion based on complaint of Ma. Theresa Alvarez Pinlac in behalf of her minor son against John Kawi, 49, businessman.
According to the victim, while he was playing at the rooftop of their boarding house with other children, his friend Hernan was outbalanced and got seated on the galvanized metal sheet.
The suspect heard the sound made by Hernan and angrily proceeded to the rooftop. He went near the victim, choked him and spanked his head for several times. Case is for filing.
A case for violation of Republic Act 7610 (violence against women and children was prepared against Kawi at the police station.

 Ifugao cop hurt in Santiago collision

SANTIAGO CITY – A cop of Aguinaldo, Ifugao was injured when the motorcycle he was driving collided with a tricycle here Oct. 28 around 11 a.m.
The victim was identified as SPO3 Jimmy G. Choy-awon who was injured along the intersection of Sinili Road and Diffun Road, Purok-4, Villa Gonzaga. Investigation disclosed he was on his way to Aguinaldo when the accident happened resulting to a fractured left leg.
The victim was brought to Southern Isabela General Hospital here and later transferred to Mayoyao District Hospital in Ifugao. Choy-awon was covered by a letter order covering the period Oct. 22 -29.

  2 hurt as gunmen fire at Abra party 

BANGUED, Abra – A man and a woman were injured when they were shot by still unidentified men while they were having a drinking spree here at Barangay Lipcan Oct. 27 around 11:35 p.m.
Police named the victims as  Deby Bobita Palaruan, 32, married, here of  Barangay Patucannay and Marlon Sape Damian, 36, married, butcher here of Bacsil, Dangdangala.
Investigation disclosed around 10:30 p.m., the victims with other friends were having a drinking spree at the residence of a certain Beloy who was celebrating his birthday. Suddenly, unidentified suspects fired at the victims.  Palaruan was hit on her right leg and left foot while Marlon Damian was shot on his left leg. Both were rushed at Abra Provincial Hospital by police. Lawmen found five fired bullets for Cal. 45 and two slugs of the same caliber.

 Massage therapist nabbed for frustrated homicide 

BAGUIO CITY – A female massage therapist was arrested here around 6 p.m. on Oct. 27 at Lake Drive, Burnham Park for frustrated homicide. Nabbed was Cecille Cevidal, 25 of Crescencia Village. The arrest was made after Cecilia Corazon S. Dulay-Archog, acting presiding judge of Regional Trial Court, Branch 6, Baguio City issued warrant against her while setting bail of P120,000 for her temporary liberty.

Female gov’t employee, son hurt as car falls 50-foot ravine

BAGUIO CITY – A female government employee and her 11-year-old son were seriously injured when the car they were riding in fell down a 50-foot high ravine here Oct. 27 around 3:45 p.m. at Tetep-an Village Bakakeng Sur.
Cops led by Chief Insp. Reymar L. Remegio responded but were told at accident site victims were rushed to Saint Louis Sacred Heart Hospital for treatment.  
Victims were identified as Marie Tereso Placido, 40, married, and her son Nick Edward, student, both of Nr. 61 Purok 11 Ticuan Road, Bakakeng Sur.
Investigation revealed while Placido was driving her white Ford hatchback bearing license plate number ZST 441backwards, she miscalculated the distance of the vehicle and the edge of the road near a ravine. 
As a result, the vehicle continued to move backwards and fell into the ravine. Both victims sustained multiple injuries and were confined at the Saint Louis Sacred Heart Hospital.

  Motorcycle, trike collide, drivers hurt

ALFONSO LISTA, Ifugao – An employee of the Alfonso Lista Water was severely injured when the motorcycle he was driving was hit by a tricycle here around 9 p.m. of Oct. 27along the national road of Busilac.
The motorcycle bearing plate number BF7 9381 was north-bound and driven by Elmer Agacer Rabago, 29, of ALWS when he was hit by the south-bound tricycle bearing plate number BO311064 driven by Reggie Samor Alvarez, farmer of Busilac.
Investigation showed the motorcycle was towards Sta. Maria on its proper lane when the tricycle traversing towards Pinto suddenly counter-flowed to the opposite lane resulting in the collision of both vehicles.
Both drivers sustained multiple injuries with undetermined cost of damage to their motorcycles.  Rabago and Alvarez were brought to Potia District Hospital. Alvarez was later brought to a hospital in Santiago City, Isabela for treatment due to seriousness of his injuries.

Cop’s worker hurt bad in hit-and-run

RIZAL, Kalinga – A worker of a cop was seriously injured in a hit-and-run case involving a still unidentified motorcycle driver who sped off after hitting the victim who was found bloodied lying by the side of the road.
Police said the incident happened around 12:30 a.m. of Oct. 28. The report said police Insp. Teresito Calimpusan, team leader of RMFB-PRO 2 called Rizal police saying they responded to a hit-and-run incident at Barangay Santor and brought the victim to Juan M. Duyan District Hospital.
The victim was later identified only as a certain Carlos, stay-in worker of SPO2 Chesterly Atawe. Investigation disclosed the victim was walking along Santor-Romualdez road with his co-worker Eddie Monte Falcon when the motorcycle of still unknown description bumped the victim and sped off towards Barangay Romualdez. As a result, the victim incurred severe head injury and injuries on other parts of his body.

P230-M WB-funded Tabuk road to boost development

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By Elvy S. Taquio

TABUK CITY – The Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) and the Kalinga provincial government broke ground recently to start the P230-M World Bank-funded farm-to-market road subproject here covering four barangays.
To develop the western part of the city, the rehabilitation of the 10.4-kilometer Bado-Dangwa-Guilayon FMR was approved under the PRDP’s Infrastructure Development (I-BUILD) component.
It is funded by the World Bank, the Government of the Philippines through the DA, and the LGU of Kalinga.
It will benefit around 1,015 households with 5,906 population residing in barangay Bado Dangwa, Guilayon, Nambucayan and Magnao.
“Residents here have endured the muddy earth road for so long and we are very pleased for the approval of this project, the concreting of this road – our road,” said Jonie Malaggan, chairman of barangay Nambucayan.
The DA-CAR, represented by Robert L. Domoguen and staff along with key local officials of Kalinga headed by Governor Jocel C. Baac led the ground breaking ceremony held at the center portion of the FMR (5km from start) in barangay Nambucayan, Tabuk City.
“The concreting of this road has been a long-time dream of our elders – our great grandparents so let us all be thankful for it being a reality today,” said City Mayor Ferdinand B. Tubban.
According to the project’s Feasibility Study, the road is muddy and not passable during rainy season making the three barangays inaccessible to motor vehicles.
Provincial Agriculturist and Head of the Provincial Project Management and Implementing Unit (PPMIU) of Kalinga Domingo A. Bakilan provided an overview of the project, the technical specifications, and project milestones.
“This project is set to be completed in 748 calendar days,” announced Bakilan. He further said that the 20% equity for this project was appropriated by the City Government of Tabuk. In a Joint Venture Agreement, the FMR will be rehabilitated by Omengan Construction Development Corp., and Royal Sea Bees, Inc.
In his message, Domoguen shared how the province of Kalinga shines in their accomplishments and strategies in accomplishing various programs and projects.
“Kalinga shines and showcases not only the best of Kalinga as a place but the best of its people that you continue to demonstrate even in the implementation of PRDP projects,” Domoguen said as he encouraged the LGU officials to sustain their best practices and keep on improving the systems and strategies that makes Kalinga shine.
Gov. Jocel Baac expressed his gratitude to all the technical staff from the province and the region for eagerly complying with all the requirements for the approval of the project. He also thanked the Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) which is composed of Regional Directors from various government agencies for unanimously approving all subprojects proposed by Kalinga for PRDP funding.
“I urge every resident and the LGU officials to look after this project until its completion,” said Baac adding that with the presence of good roads, farmers are encouraged to go down and sell their products to the market.

Retired PNP general offers Baguio 'fresh air' as mayor

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BAGUIO CITY — He is not a politician, nor a celebrity. But his name rings a bell, since he headed the investigative body that probed the bloody massacre of 44 policemen in duty in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in January 2015.
Fourteen of the slain cops were Cordillerans.
Retired Police Director General Benjamin Magalong said he is offering a "breath of fresh air" to Baguio City, alternately known as the country's Summer Capital because of its cool climate and the City of Pines.
He said that just like in the Mamasapano Massacre verdict, he offers his birthplace a "truthful, honest, result-oriented, and integrity-driven leadership."
“I am not a politician, but you have seen me work. I deliver results, bounded by personal core values that I never let go in any work I do,” Magalong said in an interview. 
The retired police general filed his certificate of candidacy on the last day set by the Commission on Elections for those vying for posts in next year's mid-term elections.
Running for mayor, he is pitted against three other political neophytes (former city tourism officer Benny Alhambra, Apugan-Loakan village watchman Labio Calingayan, and Jeffrey Pinic, who tried his luck as vice mayor in the past polls) and six experienced politicians (incumbent vice mayor Edison Bilog, former vice mayor Antonio Tabora, incumbent councilor and former youth representative Edgar Avila, former councilor Jose Molintas, and incumbent councilor Leandro Yangot Jr.).
The mayoral post will soon be up for grabs, with the exit of Mayor Mauricio Domogan, who is now in his last term as mayor of the city. Domogan had first served three terms as mayor way back, then a congressman for three terms, then three terms again as mayor. He is again running for congressman next year.
As of Dec. 18, 2017, Baguio has a total of 154,914 registered voters. Those who registered during the special registration that ended in September—numbering about 12,000—are still being validated until the final list is out this October.
Magalong said he intends to focus on environment preservation, finding the solution to the mounting road traffic in Baguio, and peace and order.
"Traffic is a major problem in urban areas like Baguio, but it has to be addressed,” he said.
He added he would also like to solve the decade-long garbage woe of this mountain resort city.
Magalong served the Philippine National Police in various capacities—operational and management—for over 38 years. He said he is bound by the four core values of transparency, accountability, ethics, and integrity.
He said he wants to give back to Baguio, where he intends to continue living with his family.
"There's no better place to live in for my family than Baguio. I am from Baguio and I will always be a Baguio boy, and I want to give back to the city after serving the nation," he said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Born and raised in Baguio, Magalong completed his education from Saint Louis University and the Philippine Military Academy, graduating magna cum laude in 1982.
After retiring from the service in December 2016, he served as senior vice president for operations of Steel Asia Corp., a major firm in the Philippines. -- PNA

‘Commercio Central’ in Clark ushers Christmas season

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By Mar Supnad

CLARK FREEPORT – ‘Commercio Central’ is set to reopen this Christmas season with new attractions and themes for local and foreign guests.
Clark Manabat, one of the organizers of Commercio, said that the soft opening was held Oct. 26 while the grand reopening will be on Nov. 6.
The lifestyle-weekend market at the Parade Grounds features some 50 concessionaires with additional kiosks that will showcase authentic Kapampangan dishes and products.
Manabat also mentioned that products from other provinces will also be on exhibit.
“Commercio will offer authentic Kapampangan food like sisig, ihaw-ihaw and yung mga street foods. We also have products coming from other provinces like Ilocos yung kanilang empanada and also products from Baguio,” Manabat said.
Manabat added that during the grand re-opening people can expect a lot of new activities that will help to promote tourism.
He also mentioned that several competitions will be conducted which will be participated by different schools and barangays near this Freeport.
“We will have singing and dance competitions, the target participants are pupils from Angeles City and Mabalacat City schools. We will also have a battle of the bands, and drum and lyre competition,” he said.
Manabat said that a lighting ceremony 

Barangay officials deputized vs road obstruction in Baguio

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By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan has deputized barangay officials and personnel to implement “Operation anti-road obstructions” drive in barangays of this summer capital as the yuletide season sets in.
In Administrative order No. 173 series of 2018, the mayor supplemented and Administrative Order No. 116 issued in 2016 creating a task force to implement transportation and traffic regulations in the city by vesting the barangay heads with formal authority to undertake the removal of vehicles, equipment and junked items obstructing city roads and streets.
The mayor deputized a number of enforcers in each of the 128 barangays specifically “to cause the removal of illegally parked vehicles, equipment, including junked items that are parked, occupying or protruding to the roads, construction materials occupying the right-of-way such as sand, gravel, cement, lumber and steel bars, earth spoils, waste materials, debris, embankment, heaps and the like and all kinds of illegal structures such as houses, buildings, shanties, stores, shops, stalls, sheds, canopies, billboards, signages, advertisements, fences, railings, garbage receptacles and the like obstructing city roads and streets in accordance with existing laws and regulations.”
“The deputized barangay officials are likewise authorized to detach the plate number of vehicles illegally parked and unattended in ‘No Parking’ places if the plate number is detachable.  In case of the new white plate, the deputized barangay official shall take the photo of the plate number… pursuant to Section 2 Ordinance No. 91, Series of 1989 to be submitted to the Land Transportation Office with a request that no renewal of the vehicle’s registration unless the violator pays the fine,” the mayor said. 
The mayor said the operation will be done with the assistance and in close coordination with the City Building and Architecture Office, City Engineer’s Office, City Planning and Development Office, City Environment and Park Management Office, Public Order and Safety Division, City Legal Office and the Dept. of Public Works and Highways District Office.
Before being commissioned as enforcers, the officials and personnel underwent a training to prepare them for the task.
As to the guidelines in the enforcement of the Oplan, the mayor said the deputized barangay officials are to get the traffic citation tickets from the City Treasury Office which they will issue to the violators while payment of fines will be made to the CTO.
The barangays will be entitled to 70 percent share from the collection for us in their peace and order programs and activities while the 30 percent will accrue to the city government.
Those deputized who will fail in their task will be subject to sanctions.

Typhoon ‘Rosita’ flattens 600 houses in Isabela

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Typhoon Rosita lashed the province of Isabela on Tuesday with strong winds that decimated over 600 houses.
Based on the latest tally of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, 613 houses were totally damaged while 2,614 are partially destroyed.
As the weather improved in Isabela, residents began repairing their houses with many of them salvaging iron sheets that the winds ripped off roofs and carried away.
Scattered sheets of plywood were collected and used to build temporary shelters.
The town of Alicia recorded the most number of wrecked houses at 189.
Meanwhile, the Isabela Electric Cooperative has begun repairs on toppled electric posts and restoration of power supply.
Last time, it took the cooperative 4 days to restore electricity after Typhoon Ompong hit the province.
Since Rosita’s impact was much harsher, they could not say exactly when they can restore power supply for the rest of the barangays.
At present, water supply was slowly being restored while the provincial government continued to assess the damage left by the typhoon. — Joan Nano

Four dead in Pangasinan, Isabela vehicular crashes

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By Cesar Ramirez 

Four persons died in separate vehicular accidents in Luzon on Oct. 27. Michael Bombasi, 26, was on a motorcycle when it hit a bus driven by Eragym Obar in Alaminos, Pangasinan at around 10 p.m.
Bombasi died at the scene while Obar was brought in for investigation.
Saturnino Disu was checking the engine of his sport utility vehicle (SUV) along the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway in Villasis town when he was hit by a van driven by Elino Balbido, 48.
Disu was declared dead on arrival at the Urdaneta Sacred Heart Hospital in nearby Urdaneta City.
Meanwhile, in Isabela, Lauro Baligod, 45, and Arsenic Mateo, 17, died in separate motorcycle accidents in Cabagan town and Ilagan City, respectively.
Baligod was traveling in Barangay Ngarag at around 6:30 p.m. when his motorcycle collided with another motorcycle driven by Rexie Dayawen, 39.
Baligod was declared dead on arrival at the Milagros Albano District Hospital, where his passenger Jeck Huweit and Dayawen were also taken for treatment of injuries.
Mateo’s motorcycle collided with the motorcycle of James Santos, 20, in Barangay Morado at around 9:30 p.m.  – Raymund Catindig


Call center agent seen by GF dead hanging in room

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BAGUIO CITY – The body of a call center agent was found by his girlfriend hanging by the neck in his rented room at the second basement of a 3-storey building here at No. 20-A, Purok 2, P. Zamora around 7 p.m. Monday.
The body was identified as that of Philip Noel Nonog, single, resident here of Lexberville Subdivision, Balacbac. Police Station 10 disclosed the cadaver of Nonog was discovered by his girlfriend Janah Café Omar who removed the white electrical extension cord looped around his neck.
Accordingly, Omar went to visit Nonog and repeatedly knocked at the door of her boyfriend’s room and even made a call but she could not contact him and nobody responded.
She sought assistance from a helper of the owner of the house to open the main door of the room and they forcibly opened the door. At that instance, she found her boyfriend hanging near the window in sitting position and facing up lifeless.
The cadaver was autopsied as requested by his relatives.

Laborer falls to his death at Bontoc college

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BONTOC, Mountain Province – A laborer fell to his death here while fixing the administration building of the Mountain State Polytechnique College at Poblacion last week.
A call was received by police around 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 28 informing them of the accident. Cops went to the place and brought the victim identified as Jefry Morabe Tagcos, 51, married, of Libtong, Burgos, La Union to the Bontoc General Hospital for treatment.
Investigation disclosed around 6 p.m., the victim, after pouring cement on a post, jumped to the floor, but lost his balance causing him to fall on the ground floor at the side of adjacent Senior High building of the Mountain Province General Comprehensive High School. As a result, the victim’s head was fractured and he pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician at BGH. 

Family of four dies in Ifugao landslide

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BANAUE, Ifugao – Four members of a family, including three children perished after a landslide struck their residence Tuesday afternoon in Banaue, Ifugao as typhoon Rosita lashed Northern Luzon.
The landslide was reported at around 1:30 p.m. in Sitio Higib, Barangay Battad, Banaue, Ifugao, amid strong rains, spawned by ‘Rosita’.
The fatalities were identified as Baltazar Pinnay, 48 and his three children, Rydbell,8; Rhezel,10 and Rexibelle 12.
His wife and four other children were spared as they were at a neighbor’s house when the landslide occurred.
Councilor Orland Addug said residents in the area helped retrieve the bodies of the casualties.
The Banaue Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC) said that rescue personnel were conducting road clearing operations at Kinakin-Ducligan road when the incident happened but did not receive information on the incident early enough due to poor communications signals

29 Filipino war veterans awarded US Congressional medal

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By Pamela Mariz Geminiano


FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City -- The United States government has given the Congressional gold medal award to 29 Filipino veterans for their loyalty, valor and sacrifices in the defense of freedom and justice during World War II.
“The congressional gold medal is given to the Filipino war veterans in recognition of their dedicated service, and selfless sacrifice during the war,” said US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, in a ceremony at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) here on Oct. 27.
“This declaration is awarded to an individual or unit who performed outstanding deed or act of service to the security, prosperity, and national interest of the United States.,” he told veterans and their families and witnessed by hundreds of PMA cadets and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The US ambassador added that the Congressional gold medal is also the highest expression of national appreciation from the US Congress for the distinguished achievement and contribution of veterans.
Shared experience fighting the Japanese during the World War II and defeating a post-war communist rebellion further cemented the “special relationship” between the two countries, Kim said.
Santiago Busa Jr., a Filipino-American graduate at West Point and a PMA professor of Internal Relations, said the recognition will not stop in just giving medals, education component is perhaps the most important.
"Americans and Filipinos shall be taught about the sacrifice of both nations, which the medal symbolizes that is proof of the involvement of the Filipinos in WWII" he said.
The medal will serve as a reminder that this history will not be forgotten and will be forever passed on to succeeding generations, he added.
Busa is a member of a “lobby” group belonging to the Philippine Veterans Recognition and Education project that went to all the 314 Congressmen and 70 Senators of the United States to get their support for the passage of Public Act 114-265, entitled “Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act 0f 2016.”
“Public Act 114 is the law that grants the congressional medal to the Filipino veterans of World War II,” Busa said on the sidelines of the awarding ceremony.
The medal does not have an accompanying benefit. No health care or a visa or an education, but only a recognition of the WW II veteran’s sacrifice. “These guys didn’t fight for that, they fought for themselves, they fought for the country, they fought for each other but it’s also good to give them recognition,” he said.
Even if the award was given 76 years after, Busa said “now they feel that they are being appreciated after all these years.”
The veterans who received the Congressional gold medal is led by centenarian Corporal Cato Pulac of La Trinidad; Corporal Rizalino Alingbas, 95, of La Trinidad Benguet; Sergeant Angelo Andrada, 92, of Baguio City; Private Camilo Atas, 94, of Buguias, Benguet; Private First Class Mateo Bakian, 92, of Atok Benguet; Private Cosme Baltazar,94, of Kayapa Nueva Vizcaya; Private First Class Tuacan Barian, 97, of Kapangan Benguet; Private First Class Timoteo Boado, 90, of Baguio City; Private Alberto Bugtong, 93, of Itogon Benguet; Private Camilo Bugtong, 93, of Itogon Benguet; Private First Class Graciano Clavano Jr., 89, of Central Baguio City; Private Pio Doro, 92, of Kapangan Benguet; 2nd Lieutenant Wilfredo Estandian, 96, of La Trinidad Benguet; Private Pedro Hipol, 91,of Bauang La Union; Private Magno Lamsis, 94, of La Trinidad Benguet; Private Vicente Madarang, 92, of Rosario, La Union; Private Ernesto Luis, 91; Private Enrique Sobrepena Jr. of Carmona Cavite; Major Jaime Tabernero, 97, of Rosario La Union; Corporal Jose Tadifa, 97, of San Fernando City, La Union; Sergeant Jose Tiangao, 93, of Itogon Benguet; Private Garcia Wakit, 92, of Sablan Benguet; Private Salvador Yapyapan, 93, of Balaoan, La Union, and Private First Class Orlando Pimentel, 94, of Bakakeng, Baguio City. 
Posthumous award was also given and received by the families of General Vicente Lim; LTC Pastor Martelino, 1Lt. Francisco Paraan and 3Lt. Jose San Juan.
One of the honored veterans, Federico Mandapat Sr. of Baguio City, represented by his son, was also recognized  but was not given a medal during the ceremony as he already received his in California, USA last October 13. 
The awarding, the second in a series, is just the start of the giving of the Congressional gold medal.  Busa said the first batch was given to 13 veterans in a ceremony at the US Embassy in Manila and the next will be on November 13 in Lingayen, Pangasinan, then to each province in the country where the veterans are located.
“What better place to have this ceremony than the PMA where the ideals of the nation converge- the ideals of the beauty of the country- honor, integrity and courage are part of their daily existence,” Busa said.
He urged the cadets to recall history, the reason for their continued existence.  -- PNA


Cops find P3 million MJ bricks on Benguet roads

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LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Some P3.3 million marijuana were seized while two drug suspects were arrested in operations conducted recently by the Police Regional Office-Cordillera.
Chief Supt. Rolando Nana, regional director, said 39 tube forms and 30 bricks of dried marijuana were confiscated in a separate police operation after a concerned citizen tipped off the abandonment of marijuana on a road last Oct. 27.
Nana said Kapangan town police confiscated 26 tubular forms worth P2,850,000 abandoned on the Paykek-Sagubo provincial road at Lomon, Paykekin the town that morning.
They were placed in two traveling bags and a sack found at the right portion of the road hidden in a ravine around four meters deep.
In the afternoon of the same day, operatives seized four tubular marijuana dried leaves worth P444,000 also abandoned on Gov. Bado Dangwa Road, Sitio Longon, Beling-Belis, Kapangan.
The marijuana was placed in a red bag wrapped with a yellow plastic and further taped with brown packaging tape.
In another operation, nearby Kibungan town police in coordination with Kapangan cops found 30 abandoned marijuana bricks and nine tube forms inside the drainage on the road in Barangay Beleng-Belis, Kapangan.
The Dangerous Drugs Board valued the seized marijuana which were placed inside two rice sacks at of P927,500.
He said the seizure of the contraband is an offshoot of tipped information that three vehicles, not locally owned, were seen parked for a long time in the vicinity of the concrete boundary arc of Kibungan-Kapangan, on the national road, which prompted Kapangan and Kibungan police to investigate.

4 vehicles in smash-up; baby dies, 2 women hurt

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KIBUNGAN, Benguet – A 77-year-old man lost control of his Mitsubishi Pajero making it hit a man, then smashed a parked vehicle which set off a chain reaction until four vehicles were  damaged, an unborn baby was killed, while two women were hurt.
A police report said the incident happened Oct. 27 around 5:45 p.m. along the national road in front of the municipal grounds here at Poblacion.
Investigation disclosed the Pajero with license plate number BDT 778 driven by William Gaspar Payangdo, farmer, here of Nalicob, Madaymen came from the municipal grounds, suddenly lost control and accelerated towards the gate and hit a certain Bag-en Bulangen.
It continued accelerating until it bumped a vehicle with license plate number RDM 508 registered to Rey Lucinio Carlos De Leon who was with two females identified as Mary Roselle Gamueda, who was pregnant and Desiree Paulino.
As a result, the first vehicle that was hit moved and hit another vehicle with license plate number RBN 853 driven by Romulo Calis Nabe, 41 of Sagpat, Kibungan.
The latter vehicle hit another vehicle with license plate number XHR 107 driven by Dumlao Calixto Cam-oyao, 41 of Sagpat. All three vehicles were parked along the road. 
Payangdo claimed that after maneuvering in reverse, he shifted to first gear and suddenly the vehicle accelerated out of control. Paulino was rushed to Baguio General Hospital, Baguio City while Gamueda and Bulangen were rushed to the Benguet General Hospital of the capital town of La Trinidad.
The baby of the pregnant woman died with the latter subjected to operation. The mother is no now stable condition. Paulino suffered multiple wounds and a fractured right leg while Bulangen suffered fracture at his right foot but were reported in stable condition.  Payangdo was brought to Kibungan police station where a case was readied for filing against him.

CPA hits red-tagging of 27 members by gov’t lawmen

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BAGUIO CITY – The militant Cordillera Peoples Alliance denounced “intensified terrorist tagging and vilification of indigenous human rights defenders in the Cordillera Region,” reportedly by military and police officers. 
“In recent days, we learned of another wave of attacks to our officers and members no less the handiwork of this fascist regime,” said Bestang Dekdeken, CPA secretary general.
Flyers were reportedly seen in Lamut, Ifugao “bearing 27 names of individuals red-tagged or vilified.”
The list included members of CPA-Ifugao, advisory council member Beverly Longid who is also a former CPA chair, Abie Anongos of executive committee, Audrey Beltran of regional council and CPA pioneer Sarah Abellon, who also faced what they called “trumped-up charges.” 
“Days before, a certain Soledad Balocnit from Dupag, Kalinga wrote to the Taiwan Embassy in Manila vilifying the CPA and cultural activist Alma Sinumlag of the Dap-ayan ti Kultura iti Kordilyera (DKK), a member organization of the CPA,” Dekdeken said.  “CPA with the DKK and Cordillera Youth Center earlier hosted solidarity partners from Taiwan in a successful cultural exchange.”
Balocnit reportedly insinuated that “CPA and the DKK are terrorists with a terroristic agenda thus endangering the visitors from Taiwan. Upon verification with our chapter in Kalinga, no such person exists in Dupag Barangay. For one, the letter was not even signed or dated, only bearing an email address and a general address of Dupag, Tabuk, Kalinga. Anyone can create an email address. Alma was constantly harassed by military agents during the cultural exchange.”
Dekdeken said CPA officers were maliciously included in the Dept. of Justice  proscription petition alluding they were terrorists.
“Earlier, trumped-charges were filed against Cordillera women activists such that Rachel Mariano remains detained,” she added.
“For more than three decades, CPA served in the interest of Cordillera communities, for the defense of ancestral land and self-determination. Nothing is terroristic about this,” the statement said. “On the contrary, CPA is the victim of State terrorism with the historical imposition of State fascism and national oppression.  The Duterte regime is hell-bent on silencing its critics but CPA, with the rest of indigenous peoples in the country, will stand together to defy this and prove time and again that the real terrorist is the US-Duterte regime. 
We appeal to all kakailian to join us in calling for genuine peace for the Cordillera and the rest of country by calling for a stop to harassment, intimidation, vilification, EJKs of indigenous human rights defenders. Activism is not terrorism.”


Girl, 5 buried alive, 3 hurt in Kalinga; buildings damaged

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By Jessica Jane Barriento and Jesse Maguiya

LUBUAGAN, Kalinga -- A 5-year old girl was declared dead after being buried alive by a landslide here Tuesday in Barangay Mabilong at the height of Typhoon Rosita
Romel Salbang, municipal Disaster officer said it was around 4 p.m. when the house she was staying in with two others was covered by the landslide.
He said the girl named Sotera Giwagiw Galo was brought to Kalinga District Hospital but was declared dead on arrival around 4:20 p.m. due to brain injury.
Meanwhile, two other victims were brought to the same hospital for medical treatment. 
Her younger brother Aaron Dwight Giwagiw Galo has injured in his elbow and lower lip.
Also, Maribel Giwagiw, 23 was wounded on both her feet, treated in hospital and discharged.
In Barangay Poblacion, a 50-year old woman was hit on her lumbar when she tried to run away from landslide.
She was immediately brought to the hospital and was confined.
Salbang said the incidents were caused by continuous heavy rains due to Typhoon Rosita.
"Rosita" (Yutu) pummeled Kalinga starting past midnight Monday, washing away one whole school, submerging another up to the ceiling, and leaving at least one house totally wrecked and 18 other residential buildings partially damaged as of Tuesday afternoon.
As of 4 p.m. on Tuesday three out of four school buildings of Dacalan Elementary School in Tanudan town were left "hanging" on the mountain, after these were submerged in flood water that came from overflowing Tanudan river.
Tanudan Mayor Johnwell Tiggangay said the last building standing on the ground was half-submerged in the murky water.
But before the buildings of the school were washed away, residents in the area tried to move out and save classroom chairs and other school equipment at midday.
Tiggangay added the entire compound of another school in town, the Lubo Elementary School in Barangay Lubo, was under water as of this posting. 
The mayor said that no residents in Tanudan were evacuated, as the houses were located on top of the mountain, much higher than where the schools were located.
But several residential buildings in other towns in Kalinga were damaged. One house was reportedly totally wrecked in Lubuagan town. Ten other houses were partially damaged in Lubuagan and eight others were also partially damaged in Pasil town, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC).
No injury has been reported so far in Kalinga province, which has been placed under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 2 since Monday.
The province was placed on red alert as of Tuesday morning.
By 3 p.m., the Kalinga PDRRMC reported that 25 barangays in the seven municipalities and one city in the province had evacuated 610 families or 1,865 persons.
Even before Sunday, public school teachers in Kalinga were ordered to surrender their classroom keys, so the schools could be used as evacuation centers.
Classes in the province have been suspended since Monday.
Kalinga is on the northern part of Cordillera, adjacent to Cagayan and Isabela, where “Rosita” was expected to pass.
The province was among the hardest hit by Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut) in mid-September, with a large portion of its rice plantation flooded and damaged.
Residents, however, have described "Rosita" as worse than "Ompong." – With a PNA report

Landslide buries DPWH building; 8 bodies found

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DU30 visits as 4 rescued, 22 missing in Mt. Province catastrophe 


By Angel Baybay

NATONIN, Mountain Province -- Eight were confirmed dead, 22 still missing, four rescued while 10 others escaped from the landslide at Barangay Banawel here that buried a Dept. of Public Works and Highways Tuesday as Typhoon “Rosita” unleashed its wrath which residents said was the worst natural calamity to happen in the town in recent years.  
Mayor Mateo Chiyawan and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council confirmed these figures amid conflicting figures from other sources and media outfits covering the incident.
Most of the casualties were employees of RAF Construction and Moment Diagram Construction contracted by the DPWH to extend and make the roof of the DPWH building of the second district engineering office.
Retrieved dead from the slide were Benito Longan, 78; Junjun Laron RAF employee and native of Agoo, La Union; Joel Arevalo, 39 from Bicol region; Gregorio Castro from Baguio City and three other unidentified individuals.
Mike Saleo-an, of barangay Banawel and one of those who volunteered to join the retrieval operations was reportedly carried away by a strong current while crossing a creek on his way home to Sitio Pomangwao.
His body was fished downstream by residents who responded to the alarm.
Rescued were Juventino Lammawen, Jupiter Pacyod, Fritzgerald Lumpanga and Junjun Gallingoy. All of them suffered minor injuries.
Together with some private houses, the DPWH building was crushed and buried t Tuesday afternoon by rolling boulders and mud from a massive landslide up the mountain slope.
As of press time, rescuers had to use bare hands and tools since heavy equipment volunteered by government offices from and outside the province were busy clearing many landslides going to the accident area.
Volunteer rescuers walked through many kilometers but this did not dampen the their will to help.
Aside from the medical and rescue teams from  different local government units of the province including contingents from the police, Army, and Fire Department, teams from nearby provinces reached ground zero.
After an aerial visit last Thursday, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered all national line agencies to facilitate the recovery of Natonin.
The president urged the DPWH to hasten opening of road networks going to and from Natonin.
Upon the request of Gov, Bonifacio Lacwasan, Jr. who accompanied the president last Thursday, the President also ordered the DSWD to airlift basic goods to the affected people of Natonin.
Lacwasan, as of press time, was following up his request for airlifting of the cadavers to Alfonso Lista in Ifugao where they will be transported by vehicles to their grieving families.
                 Rescue and retrieval operations started Wednesday morning and survivors and dead bodies were found by midday, Natonin Councilor Rafael Bulawe said.
Bulawe said it was past 1:30 p.m., when the rescuers found four survivors from rubble of the building at Sitio Har’rang in Barangay Banawel.
Bulawe said two persons were the first to be rescued.
Juventino Gallad Lammawen and Fritz Lumpanga were rescued near the landslide area.
According to Lammawen, while he was closing the main gate of the DPWH compound at around 4 p.m. on Tuesday he noticed the soil on the mountain starting to move which prompted him to jump into a concrete culvert to seek refuge.
Jonnel Emengga, chief of the DPWH-MP District 2 Planning and Design Division, said according to an eyewitness, the mountain across the DPWH building eroded around 4 p.m., eventually burying the whole two-story concrete structure and everything around it.
Emengga said the DPWH building was supposed to be empty, with only the two guards on duty.
He said probably the guards allowed some residents to seek refuge at the height of the typhoon.
Bulawe said the Bureau of Fire personnel, DPWH workers, and residents were the first to help in the search and rescue operations.
“It is difficult to reach the place due to several landslides and mudflow on the road, which is about two kilometers away from the Poblacion,” Bulawe said.
He said it took a while for the rescue and retrieval operation to start, as flood water and landslide mud on the way were waist-deep.
Bulawe said members of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office were doing road clearing operations around 4 p.m. on Tuesday, when the incident happened.
He said there was no signal in the area that is why they only learned of the incident at 7 p.m. when they returned to the MDRRMC office at Poblacion.
In a report, the Mountain Province Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said all the three buildings in the DPWH compound were buried in the landslide.
It was learned that those who sought refuge at the building were construction workers working for the completion of the DPWH buildings.
"The ill-fated building is beside a residential area and the strong rain and wind could have prompted residents to seek refuge at the (concrete) office," Emengga said.
Describing the structure and the location, the engineer said the building was around  200 square meters in floor area with two stories already finished. At the back and beside it were buildings, which were also being constructed.
Fronting the building is a two-lane concrete highway located some eight meters from the base of the building.
Chiyawan earlier reported one of those killed in the Barangay Banawel landslide was a citizen hoping to rescue those trapped when the landslide was triggered by the rains and winds of Typhoon Rosita on Tuesday evening.
The mayor said the chances of plucking out more survivors in the landslide is grim.
"These 22 missing are considered casualties, no chances of survival... Karamihan ng natabunan laborers ng second building," he said. "It's completely ground zero. Wala kang makitang building, lahat putik," Mayor Chiyawan said.
Office of Civil Defense Cordillera Regional Director Ruben Carandang saidrescue operations proved to be a challenge because roads leading to ground zero are only accessible by foot and rescuers have to resort to manual ways to search for the laborers.
Carandang said it was taxing to reach the landslide area because of the other landslides that also occurred near the area.
"Maraming landslide because there's a road-widening project ongoing there going to the DPWH building," he said.
Chiyawan said the laborers and nearby residents that sought shelter in the two DPWH buildings, one of which was still under construction.
"Ginawang evacuation center kasi malakas ang hangin. Itong building ay concrete so feasible for an evacuation center. In the afternoon humina ang hangin, bumalik sila sa tahanan nila, pero naiwan ang laborers kasi ongoing ang construction ng second building within the same area," he said.
The DPWH said at least 17 other landslides were reported along the roads leading to Natonin.
The agency said the location of the building was "never identified as a danger zone" and passed a safety test six years ago.
"We checked, but it was really safe. There were quality tests conducted and it was constructed before 2012," Gladys Faith Claver of Mt. Province 2nd District Engineering Office, said.  
"Nagkataon lang na malakas ang ulan, na talagang nag-mudslide kaya tinulak ang buong building," Claver added.
Describing the structure and the location, Emengga said the building is concrete and more or less 200 square meters in floor area with two storeys finished.
At the back and on its side are buildings which are also being constructed.
Emengga said this entire area was wiped out by the landslide.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary Ana Marie Banaag expressed grief over the fate of the landslide victims.
“I am one with our kakailyan in Natonin, Mountain Province during these trying times,” said Banaag, who was former mayor of Natonin.
A report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said national officials have requested two Philippine Air Force to be able to immediately respond to the Natonin tragedy.
The office is the agency’s Mountain Province Second District Engineering Office for the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Fire eats up 2 buildings at Kiltepan Peak

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By Gina Dizon

SAGADA, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE- A  disastrous fire believed to be arson razed two buildings estimated at P5 million here at the scenic  Kiltepan  Peak on the property of businessman Wilson Capuyan night of November 8, 2018.  One is a restaurant which had not been operational for a year and the other is a residential cottage. No one is staying in both buildings  except for a caretaker who goes to clean from time to time. 
          By  9:10 pm on the night of November 8,  four consecutive  heavy blasts of what seemed to be explosives were heard in town followed by  continuous pealing of bells.
          Continued and fast pealing of bells in town had always been associated to signal a disastrous fire is on-going leading a number of residents to go to the site of the fire including officials from the local government unit, and the Sagada-based elements from the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire.
            The fire heavily ate up the two structures with almost all parts razed down leaving the posts and the concrete walls of the restaurant building unfired with the intervention of the  BOF. 
            Eleven unused explosives were found in the vicinity of one of the razed buildings, and a heavy smell of gasoline at another unburned cottage.
            As of presstime, investigation is on- going by the Post Blast unit of the Bureau of Fire.   


Sagada senior citizens take over gov’t posts; pass laws

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By Mary Tumapang

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- Senior citizens of this municipality assumed their functions as local chief executive  and councilors in response to the senior citizens officers of the day (SCOFAD) with the passage of four resolutions, three ordinances  and execution of executive unctions.
After the Oct. 29 flag ceremony, Mayor Joseph Gewan called on proper candle and lighting of ‘sa-eng’ (pitch wood) at the cemetery on Nov. 1 All Saints Day and eve of  All Souls Day the next day.
Gewan was the mayor of the day while Conchita Bosaing was the SCOFAD vice mayor.
Other senior citizens- Rosalia Padayao, Mary Bangcawayan, Muriel Omaweng, Agnes Kollin, Mary Daoas, Jane Bawing, Fr Moreno Tuguinay, Fr Domingo Mayapit and James Ticgangay   became councilors for the day.
The SCOFAD program was done in celebration of the Senior Citizens Week pursuant to Republic Act 9994 known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act which recognizes contributions of senior citizens in nation building.
Resolutions passed by the SCOFAD included requesting the local chief executive Mayor James Pooten Jr to allocate P30,000 annually from the municipal budget for the conduct of SCOFAD.
 Another resolution passed was the urging all public utility vehicle owners and operators plying the route from Sagada to Bondoc , Besao and the nearby barangays bound to Suyo, Aguid, Suyo, Balugan from Poblacion to implement the 20% discount for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and students as provided in RA 9994.
A resolution requesting the municipal development council (MDC) to identify priority on the concreting and providing of hand rails of the existing steps from the national road to the new municipal building.
A resolution requesting the local chief executive to provide a space at the public market as show room for all finished recycled waste products was also passed by the SCOFAD-Sangguniang Bayan.
Ordinances passed on first reading were customary practices and beliefs on accepting a member of the dap-ay, on building a house, and attending the cultural ‘begnas.’
Said resolutions and ordinances shall be pursued into legislation by incumbent members of the SB.
SCOFAD 2018 is the first time that said activity is conducted  in the municipality of  Sagada .
Incumbent  SB  members offered their one day net pay to cover the honorarium of the  SCOFAD including their meals for lunch. 


6th PMGCI golf for a cause set November 2

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BAGUIO CITY – The Philex Mines Golf Club, Inc. will be conducting the 6th PMGCI “golf for a cause” at the Baguio Golf and Country Club fairway on Nov. 20.
The golf tournament is aimed to raise funds to sustain the established scholarship program for mining engineering that was started several years ago.
The 6th edition of the fund raising event will be done in the same year of the 60th founding anniversary of Philex Mining Corp.’s Padcal Mine in Tuba, Benguet that was established sometime in 1958.
The Philex Mines Golfers Club is composed of employees of the Padcal Mine of Philex Mining Corporation in the mining rich province of Benguet who are golf enthusiasts themselves. No less than PHILEX’s President and CEO, Engr. Euls Austin, a single-digit handicap player, led the group together with then Padcal Mine’s resident manager engineer Libby Ricafort.
It was during one of the group’s fellowship session after a good round of golf when the idea to make a meaningful reason for the group to continue playing the costly sport while enjoying it.
The group went to envision to establish a college scholarship program for deserving children of the miners-employees of the Padcal Mine. And the 1st Golf for a Cause was born during on the occasion of the 50th year anniversary of operation of PHILEX’s Padcal Mine.
Aside from Philex Mining Corporation, the 6th PMGCI golf for Cause will be done in partnership with the       Baguio Golf and Country Club, Delta Earthmoving Inc., Epiroc Philippines Inc., Gendiesel Philippines Inc., Hicor Manufacturing Corporation, Manila Electric Company, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation and Prince Ace Corporation, among others.
PMGCI was officially registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Sept. 9, 2013 prior to its registration with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
Among the main incorporators of the group include Libby Ricafort, Noel Tan, Louie Leganzo, Ceasar Romualdo and Eduardo Aratas.
The group takes pride in having 11 graduates, all of them licensed with the last four joining the successful examinees in the 2018 mining licensure examination, netting the Club a 100% batting average at the national examination in a 7-year stretch. Like the first seven mining engineers, this year’s newly licensed engineers hoped to land a slot in the employee roster of Philex’s Padcal Mine.
PMGCI officials said is year’s golf for a cause will be a fun-filled event for the golf enthusiasts, sponsors and most especially the scholars who will benefit from the staging of the
said event right in the heart of the country’s undisputed summer capital and in one of the premier golf courses in the city.

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