Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU)

Units of the 4th Infantry Division are now conducting pursuit operations against four suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) who shot and killed an off-duty Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) member last Jan. 25.

Killed was CAFGU member Danilo Bacudan at Purok 12, Barangay Awao, Sta. Josefa, Agusan Del Sur around 2:15 p.m.

401st Infantry Brigade commander Romeo G. Gan said the rebels held Bacudan and a certain Darwin Laspinas at gunpoint at the mentioned locality for no apparent reason.

According to Gan, Bacudan tried to flee from his NPA captors but was gunned down hitting him in the right leg.

But despite being wounded, the CAGFU member still tried to seek cover, prompting the rebels to fire again, hitting him this time in the head, killing Bacundan instantly.

Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) Harbor Link

The Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) is set to groundbreak on Feb. 7 the construction of the P1.6-billion Harbor Link that would connect the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) to MacArthur Highway in Valenzuela City.

MNTC president and chief executive officer Rodrigo Franco, in a briefing with the Pampanga media over the weekend, said the Segment 9 of the project will officially commence after the first segment of the Harbor Link reconnected NLEX to MacArthur Highway in Valenzuela City.

Franco said the Harbor Link construction covers a 2.1-kilometer expressway that would run from NLEX cloverleaf to MacArthur Highway near Valenzuela City.

Construction, according to him, would take at least one year.

Franco earlier said MNTC is raising between P16 billion and P17 billion from the domestic debt market over the next four years to bankroll ongoing road projects connecting to NLEX.

MNTC also intends to connect NLEX to circumferential Road-5 (C5) worth P10 billion to dramatically decongest traffic along Commonwealth Ave. and Quezon Ave. in Quezon City.

The NLEX C-5 Link and the Harbor Link projects comprise Phase 2 of MNTC's Manila North Expressway concession.

Upon completion, Franco added, Phase 2 would provide an east-west expressway alignment traversing heavily-congested areas of northern Metro Manila and would reduce travel time within the expressway corridor.

MNTC has completed a 2.7-kilometer expressway that links the NLEX main to Mindanao Ave. with the country's largest cloverleaf interchange called Smart Connect Interchange as its main feature.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) Loan

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced Sunday that it is resuming lending to Myanmar after a hiatus of nearly 30 years, offering the country a $ 512 million loan.

"The ADB is resuming operations in Myanmar, with an assistance package for social and economic development that is designed to build a solid foundation for further reforms to alleviate poverty and foster growth," the Manila-based bank said in a statement.

The loan was made possible after the Japan Bank for International Cooperation on Jan. 17 provided Myanmar with bridge financing to clear its approximately $ 500 million debt to the ADB.

Congressman Ben Evardone Planting Controversy

An official of United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) on Monday urged Eastern Samar congressman Ben Evardone to stop sowing intrigues that would undermine the reform agenda of President Benigno Aquino III.

UNA secretary general Toby Tiangco said President Aquino's statement that everything is alright between him and Vice President Jejomar Binay should put an end to the futile attempts of Evardone to sow intrigue between the two highest officials the country.

"The President himself said there is no rift between him and the Vice President and that he is satisfied with the VP's performance as Cabinet member," Tiangco said a press statement.

With this candid statement, Tiangco said Evardone should shut up and instead help his newly-acquired partymates but not by sowing intrigue, which is "the usual weapon of the insecure and the desperate."

Tiangco said Evardone, who was one of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's trusted lieutenants in the 2007 election, and former Arroyo loyalists in the ranks of LP known for "Sipsipolitcs" could undermine the President's reform agenda.

"It is these pseudo reformists, not UNA, who will undermine the President's reform agenda," Tiangco said.

"UNA has always been a constructive opposition. We support and commend programs that benefit the people but will bring up shortcomings and misguided policies of the government," he said.

Tiangco pointed out UNA's full support for the administration's decision to file a case against China before the United Nations as proof that the coalition "is not the traditional opposition that Evardone wants to paint it to be."

Tiangco again dared Evardone to first examine his tainted political background, especially his history of shifting political loyalties, before pointing an accusing finger at UNA.

Evardone served as Media Bureau Director of Team Unity in the 2007 Senatorial Elections under the ruling party Lakas-CMD-Kampi. A staunch ally of former president Gloria Arroyo, Evardone was given a vital post in KAMPI after his controversial resignation from Lakas-CMD in 2008.

Faulty Electrical Wiring

A fire believed caused by faulty electrical wiring gutted down seven houses rendering 15 families homeless in Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City on Monday morning.

Senior Insp. Aristotle Banaga, Quezon City Fire District deputy commander, said the blaze started around 10 a.m. at the house of one Winston Sales, a resident of 157 Santa Maria Street corner Commonwealth Avenue.

The conflagration spread to six other houses and reached fourth alarm around 10:53 a.m. before being extinguished at 11:12 a.m.

No one was reported hurt in the incident although damage was placed at some P500,000.

Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) rising

Local shares edged higher by midday Monday, with the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) rising by 0.25 percent or 15.58 points to 6,183.22.

The broader all-shares index followed, surging by 0.39 percent to 3,900.31.

The increase was mainly led by industrial counter that rose by 1.24 percent.

The services and mining and oil sectors were in the red.

Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC)

The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) is set to sell via public bidding on an "as-is, where-is" basis 84 real properties with an aggregate minimum disposal value of about P44.41 million on February 5, 2013.

The bidding, the first for the year, will be held at the Governor's Conference Hall located at the 3/F of the Provincial Capitol Hall in Bacolod City. Opening of bids will start at 2:00 p.m.

The real properties consisting of commercial and residential lots are mostly located in the various cities and provinces of Negros Occidental. The other properties are located in Aklan, Antique, Bohol, Camiguin, Cebu, Iloilo and Negros Oriental.

The PDIC will receive sealed bids only from direct buyers on February 5, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. No extension will be given for the submission of bids. Bidders are likewise advised to come early for the registration. Only bidders will be allowed entry to the venue.

Before submitting their bids, prospective buyers are advised to physically inspect the properties they are interested to buy; assess and verify the land titles and other documents; and determine unpaid taxes, fees or expenses. All bids must be accompanied by a bond or deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the submitted bid either in Cash or Manager's or Cashier's Check issued by a commercial bank. The winning bidder is required to pay the balance of the bid price not later than February 14, 2013.

Bid documents such as Bid Forms, Conditions of Bid, and acceptable formats for the Special Power of Attorney and Secretary's Certificate may be downloaded from the PDIC website, www.pdic.gov.ph.

The list of property descriptions, vicinity maps and lot plans are also available through the PDIC website. For further information, interested bidders may contact Vice President Rosario C. Arnaldo (Asset Management and Disposal Group) or Ms. Marivic C. Puzon (Asset Management and Disposal Department) at telephone numbers, 841-4750 or 841-4754.

100-hectare reforestation project in Mandaon, Masbate

State-owned Development Bank of the Phillippines (DBP) recently launched a 100-hectare reforestation project in Mandaon, Masbate under its DBP Forest program.

The DBP Forest program is a non-credit program that aims to stop denudation and restore the country's forest cover through organized collaboration with government and non-government organizations, state universities and colleges, people's organizations and other qualified forest partners. This is the 39th DBP Forest project launched by the Bank since 2005.

DBP is partnering with the Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa, Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology (DEBESMSCAT) for this project which involves the rehabilitation of the Mabigo watershed. The said watershed supports downstream areas and serves as a source of water for adjoining barangays.

Sixty hectares will be planted with exotic trees like mahogany and acacia while the remaining area will be planted with indigenous forest trees like narra, dao and molave. Aside from hastening the rehabilitation of the watershed, the project is expected to provide employment to DEBESMSCAT graduates and enhance agricultural production through improved water supply in the area.

Rear Admiral Thomas Carney

US Navy salvage teams are now stripping the USS Guardian (MCM-5) of all potentially hazardous materials.

Earlier, the US Navy safely transferred some 15,000 gallons of diesel fuel; 671 gallons of lubricating oil; paints and solvents contained in storage lockers; food supplies and personal properties left behind by the ship's crew.

"We continue to place extra scrutiny on removing everything we can to mitigate possible damage to the marine environment," said Rear Admiral Thomas Carney, the on-scene commander of the salvage operation.

Heavy lift floating cranes are now en route to the site in the Sulu Sea about 80 miles east-southeast of Palawan Island where the mine countermeasures ship ran aground in the early morning of Jan. 17 during a transit to Indonesia.

Kevin Tan Shot Dead

Two motorcycle-riding gunmen shot and killed a construction manager in San Juan City shortly after the latter withdrew some P800,000 in cash from a bank before noon Monday.

The victim, initially identified as Kevin Tan, had just boarded his Altis-type sedan (POZ-789) when the gunman approached him and fired.

Police are tracking down the suspects, who fled aboard a motorcycle toward New Manila.

The shooting occurred at Avalon Bridge at Ortigas Avenue, across a Chinabank branch.

"The bank tellers were startled to hear shots, and were shocked to learn their client was shot," San Juan City police chief Senior Superintendent Bernard Tambaoan said.