Gapan mayor, vice mayor,
2 councilors face recall

Gapan City Mayor Christian U. Tinio, Vice Mayor Rodel Matias and Sangguniang Panglunsod Members Marcelino Alvarez and Eliser Padiernos face a recall petition for "loss of confidence" and alleged gross violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act filed by two city residents with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

The 11 page petition was filed by Romeo Natividad of Barangay San Lorenzo, brother of former Mayor Ernesto Natividad; and Reynaldo Gutierrez of Barangay San Nicolas.

The petition carried the signatures of 20,000 voters or 34 percent of the city's 59,139 voters -- higher than the 20 percent requirement set by the COMELEC.

Former Mayor Natividad and Tinio were once allies but became estranged when Natividad fielded his wife Baby against Tinio in the last mayoralty election.

Tinio called the move to recall him and the three other officials a "sham" and "an act of desperation".

“The former mayor's camp would just want to keep the hope of his followers burning until the next elections since the election protest filed by his wife is going nowhere,” Tinio said.

He said the process of collecting the signatures for the recall petition was marred by massive disinformation.

Tinio said that most of those who signed were made to believe that the signatures would be the basis of relief operations as the signature gathering was made right after typhoons Pedring and Quiel. Others thought it was for Christmas gifts, he added.

Former Mayor Natividad, however, said the recall petition was the result of the discontentment with the Tinio administration by city residents .

“Hindi nasisiyahan ang tao sa kanyang pamamahala. Ibinabaon niya ang lungsod sa utang,” Natividad said.

Among the bases of the recall petition was the move of the city government to transfer the "Monday tiangge" to the vicinity of a subdivision owned by the Tinio family, based on a resolution passed by the city council through SP Members Matias, Alvarez and Padiernos.

However, Tinio said the transfer of the tiangge was made upon the approval of the city council in response to the complaint of regular public market vendors who suffer losses due to the hawkers market in the same area.

Tinio was also criticized for buying P120 million worth of heavy equipment sourced from P230 million worth of loans and the construction of another wet market.

“Ang pangungutang ng isang LGU ay hindi basta basta. Maraming prosesong dinadaanan at hindi makakautang kung hindi ka makakabayad,” Tinio said. Entering into a loan agreement, he said, is essential to fast track the programs and projects of a local government.

He cited the acquisition of the heavy equipment that included ten dump trucks, that made possible the prompt implementation of several projects, especially for schools. ###
 
 

Cabanatuan asks for prov'l govt. okay for free sand and gravel extraction

The Cabanatuan City government thanked the provincial government for approving and releasing one of the five government gratuitious permits for sand and gravel extraction that it applied for.

Government gratuitous permits for quarrying operations in any province are granted by governors to government agencies in accordance with the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.

However, lawyer Cesar Villar, head of the city's legal department, appealed that their remaining applications be expedited so the city could implement its pending infrastructure projects.

Villar pointed out that the city has completed the documentary requirements.

The city government has proposed to extract gravel and sand in Barangays Macatbong, Caudillo, Samon, Daang Sarile and Kabulihan in General Mamerto Natividad. However, the city dropped Kabulihan, its original priority site, from the list when the General Natividad municipal government objected. It chose Macatbong as the priority site instead.

Villar said the resources in Macatbong may not be enough. He said the provincial government could approve the remaining sites for the benefit of Cabanatuan residents in terms of building and repairing structures like schools, hospitals and others.

The city has been granted a permit to quarry 20,000 cubic meters within 60 days in Macatbong. However, based on the city's Annual City Development Plan for 2011, the volume of sand and gravel needed for its projects is 318,000 cubic meters which, Villar said, had been reviewed and approved by the provincial government. 

Tension erupted between the city and provincial governments recently when city government ordered the hauling of sand and gravel in Macatbong even before the issuance of a government gratuitious permit.

Villar justified this by saying that the area quarried belongs to the city and the materials from there would be used for the benefit of its citizens. He said the materials were needed so the city could act immediately to complete structures damaged by recent floods.

For its part, the provincial government said quarrying regulation is being practiced on government and private organizations to ensure that projects will not abuse the environment or endanger the welfare Novo Ecijanos. ###
 
 

Mayor  Christian U. Tinio	4th Dist. Rep. Rodolfo W. Antonino

Private group to set up info tech hub in Cabanatuan

A group of private investors is interested in putting up an information technology hub in partnership with the provincial government on a 15 hectare lot in Cabanatuan City to capitalize on the booming information technology and business process outsourcing industries.

Antheros Corporation based in Muntinlupa City has submitted a proposal to Gov. Aurelio M. Umali for the development of the "Nueva Ecija Core Business Hub" in a joint venture with the provincial government.

Umali has endorsed the proposal to Vice Gov. Jose Gay Padiernos and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for evaluation and possible approval. 

The governor said the proposed project is in line with the public-private partnership program of the national government.

Eng. Jose Balite III, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Trade and Industry Office, said the consortium will initially develop a 6.8 hectare portion of the old capitol compound under a 25 year contract, renewable for another 25 years.

The provincial government will receive P5.37 million a year on building rentals. ###
 
 

NEUST grad tops Mideast architect exam

Vladimir Candelario Figuracion of the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology topped the Architect Licensure Examination given by the Professional Regulation Commission Board of Architecture in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Jeddah and Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; and Doha Qatar last December.

Figuracion got a grade of 86.80 percent.

The examinees who garnered the 9 other highest places are: 2nd place, Reynaldo dela Cruz Dizon, National University-Manila, 85.80; 3rd place, Leandro Pascua Dingayan, Saint Louis University, 85.20; 4th place, Christopher Rodrigo Alipalo Delgado, Jr., La Consolacion College-Bacolod City, 82.10; 5th place, Marlon Ayuban Lascano, Adamson University, 81.40; 6th place, Carlito Pantino Alberto, Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Main-Sta. Mesa, 81.10; 7th place, Eric Garcia Gonzalez, University of Santo Tomas, 80.90; 8th place, Arnold Alquero Datu, Far Eastern University-Manila, 80.80; 9th place, Wilfredo Dalawampu Abarquez, Technological Institute of the Philippines-Manila, 80.50; and 10th place, Marc Jim Sorreda Salmorin, Technological Institute of the Philippines-Quezon City,80.40; Daniel Almirañez Villabroza, National University-Manila, 80.40. ###
 
 

6 teams vie for slots in Ecija inter-collegiate hoop semifinals

Six teams from various universities and colleges are fighting for slots in the Nueva Ecija Collegiate Basketball League (NECBL) semifinals.

Quarterfinal qualifiers include the Wesleyan University-Philippines Knights, College of the Immaculate Conception Kings, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology Phoenix, Central Luzon State University Green Cobras and Good Samaritan College Crusaders.

NECBL is a sports program of the provincial government that aims to encourage young people to engage in sports and stay away from illegal drugs, alcohol, smoking and other destructive vices and activities.

Games are played at the Araullo Gym in Cabanatuan City. ###
 
 

Cabanatuan barangay chair ambushed

The barangay chair of Barangay Santa Arcadia, Cabanatuan City was shot in the head with a shotgun last January 8 and died in a hospital a few days later.

The victim was identified as Edward Wycoco, 47.

Investigation showed that the shooting incident happened at about 9:30 A.M. in Purok 4 of the barangay when two suspects riding a motorcycle fired at the victim with a 12 gauge shotgun while he was riding a multicab. He sustained five bullet wounds in the head.

The victim's wife, Helen, said Wycoco had delivered her home after hearing Mass and was on his way to the site of the activities for the barangay's fiesta when the attack happened.

Wycoco was rushed to the nearby Wesleyan University-Philippines General Hospital in serious condition and died a few days later.

The wife could not provide authorities with leads as to the possible motive for the shooting. ###
 
 

Licab councilor hurt in shooting

A Sangguniang Bayan member of Licab sustained gunshot wounds in different parts of his body but survived after he was shot by two unidentified men while parking his vehicle in his garage.

Sr. Insp. Almario Evaristo, town police chief, said the victim, Rafael Rivera, 40, arrived home at about 7:00 P.M. after inspecting his farm and visiting a wake and was parking his vehicle when fired upon by the motorcycle riding suspects.

He was rushed to the Premiere General Hospital in Cabanatuan City.

Recovered from the scene were caliber .45 and M-16 Armalite shells. ###
 
 

2 CLSU students killed, 3 hurt in highway mishap

Two first year students of Central Luzon State University (CLSU) died and three others were hurt when the tricycle they were riding in was bumped by a tricycle and a truck in Barangay Bantog, the Science City of Muñoz at 6:30 P.M. last January 8.

Servillano Gonzales, Jr., CLSU security officer, identified the fatalities as Stefanie Santos, 16, of Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya and Lileth Linsangan, 16, of Guimba.

Their companions, Crizza Villanueva, Riza May Linsangan and Geraldine Angeles, were rushed to a hospital in Cabanatuan City.

Investigation showed that the victims' tricycle was first bumped from behind by a tricycle used as delivery vehicle, forcing it to cross to the opposite lane where it collided with an oncoming truck.

The victims came from a shopping mall in Muñoz and were returning to the CLSU dormitory 
when the accident happened.

The drivers of the truck, the tricycle and the delivery tricycle surrendered to the police. ###
 
 

2 die in Cabanatuan motorcycle accident

Two of three men riding a motorcycle died in Cabanatuan City when their Honda XRM 125 was sideswiped by a van along the Nueva Ecija-Aurora Road in Barangays Bangad and Lourdes at about 9:00 P.M. last January 15.

The motorcycle driver, Joseph Sibolboro, 17, of Barangay Camp Tinio and his two back riders Jamill John Lauz, 21, and Aaron Garcia, 17, both of Camp Tinio were thrown off the motorcycle.

Sibolboro and Lauz were pronounced dead on arrival at Good Samaritan Hospital.

Garcia, on the other hand, was in critical condition at Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center.

Police are verifying the identities of the driver and owner of the Nissan Urvan car that hit the victims. ###
 
 

Man dies in San Leonardo tricycle-truck collision

A 20 year old man died when his tricycle collided with a Mitsubishi Fuso six wheeler truck along Maharlika Highway in Barangay Castellano, San Leonardo.

Police identified the victim as Christopher Eneria of Purok 4 Barangay Castellano. He died on the spot.

Investigation showed that the victim's tricycle wandered into the lane of the oncoming truck before it was hit.

The truck driver, John Dimalante, 32, of Mestizo Norte, San Carlos City, Pangasinan was detained and charged with homicide through reckless imprudence. ###
 
 

3 Cabanatueños charged with illegal possession of guns

Three men were arrested for carrying unlicensed guns in Barangay Lourdes, Cabanatuan City last January 9.

Supt. Edgar Alan Okubo, chief of the Provincial Public Safety Company of the provincial police, identified the three as Rodel Gamit, 34; Beejay dela Rosario, 21; and Raffy del Rosario, 33, all of Barangay Bagong Sicat, Cabanatuan City.

Found in their possession were a caliber 9 mm pistol, two caliber .45 pistols and 14 rounds of live ammunition.

The two del Rosarios who were riding a Yamaha motorcycle when asked to stop at a mobile checkpoint. However, the two drove on prompting the policemen to chase them, aided by another group of lawmen.

Gamit and Raffy del Rosario could not present the licenses and permits to carry for their guns. The suspects were also found to be drunk. 

The suspects were charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and separate charges for "disobedience to a person in authority and his agent". ###
 
 

Boy dies in firecracker gunpowder blast

A nine year old boy in Cabanatuan City died last January 1 in an explosion outside his family's store while playing with gunpowder extracted from dud firecrackers.

The fatality was identified as John Vincent Gonzales.

Two of his playmates, Roel Pobre, 10, and Richard Rivas, 9, were injured.

“'Yung diyaryo po, nilagyan po ng luces, bigla po sumabog 'yung ‘Goodbye Philippines,’” said Gonzales’s playmate.

 A neighbor said Gonzales collected the gunpowder in an empty "fountain" canister that later exploded. ###
 
 

House painter arrested for transporting marijuana

A motorycycle-riding house painter was arrested at a checkpoint in Pantabangan for transporting marijuana bricks last January 13.

Sr. Supt. Roberto Aliggayu, provincial police director, identified the suspect as Manuel Grospe, Jr., 40, of Barangay Canuto Ramos, San Jose City.

He was arrested at a checkpoint in  Barangay West Poblacion by joint elements of the Provincial Public Safety Company and the Pantabangan police.

The suspect who was driving a red Honda Wave was flagged down after a suspicious looking bulge was noticed on his stomach.

Police discovered 250 grams of dried marijuana bricks in a plastic bag hidden inside the suspect's shirt.

Grospe was detained and charged with possession of illegal drug. ###
 
 

2 former 'Alakdan Gang' members arrested

Police arrested two brothers suspected to be former members f the "Alakdan Group" engaged in robbery hold up and gun-for-hire activities in Nueva Ecija and other parts of Central Luzon.

The suspects were identified as Ferdinand Dumaya, 42, and his brother Rodolfo, 51, both of Barangay San Cristobal, Licab.

They were caught while hiding in the house of their sister, Merlita Juan, in Purok 4, Kapitan Pepe Subdivision, Cabanatuan City at around 8:30 P.M. last January 8.

The two were arrested by operatives of the Provincial Special Reaction and Provincial Intelligence Branch of the provincial police office, based on an warrant for murder issued by Judge Ismael Casabay of the Guimba Regional Trial Court Branch 31.

No bail was recommended for the suspects. ###