Wednesday, March 21, 2007

In Davao: Fake Lawyer

(March 21) - The City Prosecutor's Office here has filed estafa charges against a fake lawyer who duped his victims through text messages. Assistant city prosecutor Carlos CastaƱos found sufficient basis to charge Jeffrey Pangandoyon, a resident of Tibungco, with estafa before the Regional Trial Court. (from the Philippine News Agency)

In Puerto Princesa: $3 Million

(March 21) - The Korean government, through the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has granted a $ 3-million (Php 150 million) loan package for the implementation of improvement projects at the Francisco Reyes Airport in Coron, Palawan. (from the Philippine News Agency)

In Boracay Island: One Entry

(March 21) - Tourists visiting this world renown resort island paradise of white fine-sand beaches and pristine waters, can now feel doubly secure with the implementation of the one entry, one exit policy for this tourism haven. (from the Manila Bulletin)

In Biliran Province: Espinas

(March 21) - The Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City has cleared the Espinas of this province of charges by their political rivals that the family is engaged in nefarious activities. (from the Manila Bulletin)

In Ilocos: Ship Sank

The Philippines has cleared use of its airspace for search aircraft from Hong Kong to look for survivors in the sinking of a Panama-registered cargo vessel off Ilocos Norte, radio station dzBB reported Wednesday. Coast Guard commandant Vice Admiral Damian Carlos said the “Unicorn Ace" sank 80 nautical miles off Currimao Point in the northern Philippines province of Ilocos Norte. (from GMA7)

In Baguio: 'Maragtas'

Philippine Navy flag-officer-in-command Vice Admiral Rogelio Calungsad welcomed 73 graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) "Maragtas" (Marangal na Tagapaligtas) Class 2007 who joined the Navy as their branch of service. (from the Manila Bulletin)

In Bohol: Seaweeds

GUSO farmers need not be forever vulnerable to unscrupulous middlemen in the seaweeds industry; a carrageenan processing plant – not even buying stations only – will be constructed in Bohol soon. (from the Bohol Standard)

In Cebu: Confused

AS IF the political affiliations of the candidates in Mandaue City are not confusing enough, mayoral aspirant Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano is now officially endorsed by Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) as its official candidate for mayor in this year’s elections. (from SunStar Cebu)

In Legazpi: 'Big Catch'

The most notorious suspected drug personality here finally fell into police hands after having been caught while in possession of drugs ready for distribution. (from the Philippine News Agency)

In Tuguegarao: Anti-rabies

The regional office of the Department of Health (DOH) vowed to help boost the government's tourism industry as it intensified its anti-rabies campaign in the entire Cagayan Valley region. (from the Philippine News Agency)

In Surigao: Attacks

At least 60 heavily armed New People’s Army (NPA) rebels swooped down on a mining company in Sitio Mendezona, Barangay Raja Cabungsuan, Lingig town, Surigao del Sur, late Tuesday afternoon and disarmed seven company guards of their high powered firearms without firing a single shot, sketchy reports reaching the command and operation center of Northeastern Mindanao Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) here on Wednesday said. (from the Philippine News Agency)

In Butuan City: P1.4 billion

The ground movement of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s P1.4 billion infrastructure and development projects, with four foreign assisted projects, went into high gear in Southern Mindanao region. (from the Philippine News Agency)

In Koronadal: Warrior

The royal council of elders of the century-old Grand Royal Sultanate of Talik may confer a royal title on boxing legend Manny "Pacman’’ Pacquiao and name him Datu Radjik, which means "honorable warrior.’’ (from ABS-CBN)

In Tacloban: "Bejo"

Despite an agreement forged in MalacaƱang by the Romualdezes and the Petillas in Leyte that they will not oppose each other in the coming polls and would support common candidates, Mayor Alfredo "Bejo" Romualdez formally announced on Friday that he is running for governor against incumbent Gov. Carlo Jericho "Icot" Petilla. (from ABS-CBN)

In General Santos: Biotechnology

A MULTISECTORAL group opposing the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in the country has called for the immediate recall from the markets of a corn strain produced by a biotechnology company that allegedly contain toxic elements. (from SunStar GenSan)

In Quezon City: Hunger Strike

At least nine activist-farmers from Negros Occidental were rushed to the hospital on Tuesday night after days into hunger strike in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) office in Quezon City. (from GMA 7 News TV)

In Davao: Internet Padlocked

An Internet cafƩ in Davao City was padlocked Tuesday afternoon after city officials caught 24 minors, including an eight-year-old pupil, playing computer games during school hours there. (from GMA7 News TV)

In Pangasinan: Richard Gomez

Senatorial candidate Richard Gomez visited Pangasinan on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, Gomez was welcomed by Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza when he dropped by the Longanisa festival. He was in Dagupan City with Mayor Benjamin Lim on Sunday morning and in Manaoag late in the afternoon. (from SunStar Pangasinan)

In Cebu: World Youth Day

THE 22nd celebration of the Local World Youth Day (LWYD) will be held in Alcantara, Cebu on March 30 and 31, and April 1. Hosting the event together with Alcantara are the towns of Barili, Dumanjug, Ronda, Moalboal and Badian. (from SunStar Cebu)

In Baguio: Strawberries

WITH the promising income it gives to farmers, the town of La Trinidad is not the only one cultivating strawberries nowadays. Dr. Silverstre Kudan of the Benguet State University (BSU) College of Agriculture said strawberry growing is now expanding to other municipalities in the province. (from SunStar Baguio)

In Surigao: Earthquake

A magnitude 5.3 earthquake rattled Surigao del Sur shortly before noon yesterday, but caused no damage or casualties, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. (from Philippine Star)

In Zamboanga

ANOTHER batch of deportees arrived from Malaysia, bringing to over 2,000 the number of Filipinos deported back to the country by the Malaysian government since January. (from SunStar Zamboanga)

In Bacolod

Mayor Esteban "Sonny" Coscolluela Monday revealed an assassination plot against him including the corresponding P100,000-reward for the assassin. (from SunStar Bacolod)

In Laguna

A daughter of a Chinese-Filipino trader was freed by his kidnappers in front of the Lumban church in Laguna Sunday night, two days after she was snatched in Sta. Cruz, the provincial capitol. (from the Philippine Star)