Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Swiss Embassy "blesses" villagers

PALAYAN CITY - Townsfolk from a far-flung village in this capital city of Nueva Ecija received a big boost after the Swiss Embassy recently granted a state-of-the art potable water faciulity.

Ambassador Peter Suetter of Switzerland led on Monday the opening of the potable spring water program inBarangay Langka, Palayan City, a project that realizedthe dream of the hundreds of households, according toMayor Romeo Capinpin.

Capinpin said the Swiss Emabassy provided P800,000 to cover basic materials, the LGU answered for additionalconstruction needs while the residents did “bayanihan”for labor.

The non government organization calledNorthern Philippines Tribal Communities Development Center facilitated the project all the way to Suetter’s office. Capinpin said that the project which is a level II potable water system, having faucets on strategic areas for residents to get water, actually cost a bitless than a million pesos, considering the inter-party cooperation.Suetter, on his part, lauded the villagers for the success of the project even as he expressed surprisethat the amount his office released can serve a massof people.

He went to the place almost unnoticed if not for thepolice escorts, according to Roberto Bolinao, cityplanning and development coordinator.The water system, said Bolinao, answered one of the basic needs of our people in the area and we thankeveryone, specially the Swiss Embassy and our NGO facilitator,” he added.

Top cop sees no reason to place Nueva Ecija under Comelec Control

CABANATUAN CITY – “There is no dire need to place Nueva Ecija under ‘Comelec control.’”

Thus declared Nueva Ecija police provincial director, Senior Superintendent Allen Bantolo in contrast with the appeals to place Nueva Ecija under control made by former Nueva Ecija governor and erstwhile National Food Authority Administrator Eduardo Nonato “Edno” Joson, and elder brother Gov. Tomas N. Joson.

Nueva Ecija police provincial director, Senior Superintendent Allen Bantolo told newsmen his advantage over some 50 fellow “senior superintendent” aspirants to the post is his familiarity with the terrain and the sentiments of the local folks here.

Meeting for the first time with the local press, Bantolo said he sees no dire need to place the province under Comelec control, saying “that the political situation here appears under control and the local police are on top of it,” adding, “Compared with that in the Metro Manila area “It is generally peaceful and quiet here. I am going to like it here,” he stressed.

Former Gov. Eduardo Nonato “Edno” Joson had written to the Commission on Elections national office to place the province under Comelec control in order to counter the growing public apprehension about the uneasy conduct of the campaign and outcome of the election. This was endorsed by his brother, three-termer Gov. Tomas N. Joson III, The plea came at the heels of two incidents involving the killing of the president of the Association of Barangay Captain Augusto “Augie” Santiago and the botched up ambush-slay try on a Gapan city councilor where his security aide was killed.

In this regard, Bantolo said his post-election priority project is geared toward increasing high rate of success in the prosecution of cases, especially concerning high-profile personalities.

Vowing to “serve and protect” the people and ensure that the laws are implemented without fear or favor from any persons or groups, Bantolo also promised to conduct an in-depth investigation into the so-called “cold cases” of high-profile personalities including journalists made an issue by human rights bodies both domestic and international.

As chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group “Task Force Maverick” he had strung up a string of successful operations against organized crimes,

Bantolo appealed to the members of the police press corps, headed by Nueva Ecija Press Club president Jojo de Guzman, “to help in the peace-keeping process by not feeding rumors being peddled by some groups with the mere intention of gaining some media mileage, to the damage and detriment of the province and its people.”

He said mediamen could also help the police a lot by projecting the true picture of the more positive and sensitive aspects of crimes solved and the investigative efforts put in by the local police, without injecting unfounded observations by persons with some hidden political agenda.

As 2nd Lieutenant, Bantolo first served here as ommanding officer of the then 183rd PC company based in Gapan city in 1986, during the term of former CIDG director Eduardo Matillano, who served as provincial commander. (Magtanggol Vilar)

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Ex-gov wants Ecija placed under Comelec control

PALAYAN CITY - In strange move, former Gov. Eduardo N. Nonato Joson has asked the Commission on Elections to place Nueva Ecija under the poll body’s control

But incumbent Gov., Tomas N. Joson 3rd , who himself disclosed the move, welcomed the move of his brother who run for senator under the late Senator and Presidential candidate Raul Roco during the 2004 elections, saying this in a way erase doubt on the result of voting which, he believes, will be favourable to his family.

While his brother supported the candidacy of Roco, Joson 3rd supported Pres. Arroyo even as another sibling, then vice Gov. Eduardo Joson IV supported the presidential campaign of the late actor Fernando Poe, Jr. That was the first time the public saw such differences among the siblings.

“Sa isang banda e para sa akin okay lang ‘yun,” Joson, who is reportedly eyeing the mayoralty post of the highly urbanizing city of Cabanatuan, said in his “last speech as governor” before the top police and elections officials at the Nueva Ecija Convention Center here where he also urged them to keep being apolitical.

He said he was just informed of his brother’s letter requesting the Comelec to place the province under control.

Besides Joson 3rd, other relatives aspiring for elective positions are incumbent Vice Gov. Mariano Cristino Joson, for governor against third district Rep. Aurelio Umali of Lakas, his eldest son Edward Thomas, as the uncle’s vice gubernatorial tandem for vice governor, and Dale Joson, son of the vice governor incumbent first district Rep. Josie M. Joson for reelection as mayor of their hometown Quezon.

Ed-No who has been elected as governor in 1995 was a former member of the Batasang Pambansa and administrator of National Food Authority during the administration of deposed Pres. Joseph Estrada.

A place under Comelec control, sources said, is poured with beefed up security from various law enforcement agencies with an election commissioner especially overseeing the conduct of elections .

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Nueva Ecija's most wanted falls


PALAYAN CITY: Gov. Tomas N. Joson 3rd put an “X” mark on the poster picture of the most wanted person in the Second District of Nueva Ecija even as the man accused of murder was presented to him on Tuesday.

Senior Supt. Alex Paul I. Monteagudo, director of the Nueva Ecija police provincial office, presented the suspect to Joson at the Nueva Ecija Convention Cen­ter.

The accused was identified as Ariel B. Buban, 29, a resident of Ro­mano Street, Rafael Rueda, San Jose City.

Buban, who was subject of the warrant of arrest issued by Judge Joselito Villarosa of Regional Trial Court Branch 39, was arrested by elements of the provincial mobile group, led by Supt. Rolando Santos, in Mandaluyong City the other day.

He was accused of killing a certain Teofilo Gines last year.

Monteagudo told Joson that the arrest of Buban was a result of the production of various posters, which was funded by the provincial government. “We intended to gain public support when we produced these posters,” Monteagudo explained. - Armand M. Galang,

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Fire hits Cabanatuan City Market

CABANATUAN CITY - A fire caused by firecrackers razed at least P8-million worth of properties in the Cabanatuan City Public Market Saturday night.

Senior Insp. Cesar Balane, Cabanatuan City fire marshal, said that besides the market structures and contents, four tricycles and an owner-type jeep were burned by fire that broke out at about 9:05 p.m. Firemen said the blaze was contained before 11 p.m.

Investigators said the fire started when a kwitis or baby rocket being test fired in a nearby shopping center on Paco Roman Street hit a firecracker stall.

Balane said the firecracker stalls were all without permits even as they were located in an area different from what his office had earlier recommended.


No one was reported hurt.

The fire burned down some 20 stalls in the public market and three stalls in the Ventanilla Building along Burgos Street, which included dry goods, a bakery and drugstores.

At least 17 fire trucks from all over Nueva Ecija and one from a Tarlac City-based civic group beefed up the nine Cabanatuan City trucks in containing the blaze, Balane said. -Armand M. Galang