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Volume 9 Number 68Thu - SatFebruary 4 - 6, 2016

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Wat awesomeness!ANGkOr

SIEM REAP, Cambodia – Hindu tem-ple turned Buddhist turned Hindu turned Buddhist.

Two ancient faiths finding common ground whence sprang the grandeur of Angkor Wat – the largest, longest in continual use, best known of all the other temples in what, arguably, could

be the world’s largest concentration of places of worship in a single, contigu-ous territory of 154 square miles. Aptly called Angkor Archaeological Park.

And Number 1 in the list of the 500 Best Attractions on the Planet com-piled by the largest travel guide book in the world, Lonely Planet.

“Angkor, meaning ‘capital’ actual-ly serving as such of the Khmer King-dom that ruled from the 9th century to the 13th when the temples – wat, in the local language – were construct-ed...” Snippets of historical facts hard-ly heard, much less internalized, in the cacophony of tongues – melodical-

ly Spanish, gutturally German, high-pitched Korean, singsong Vietnamese, cackling Chinese, hardly any Tagalog, and English, both cockney and twangy – resounding from the bas reliefs on the massive walls, echoing through the closed corridors of Angkor Wat.

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By Ashley Manabat

ANGELES CITY – The Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement (PGKM) claimed it has

“unmasked the real owner” of the Capilion Corp. Pte. Ltd. (Capilion) at the Clark Freeport Zone (CFZ) and pointed to Clark Development Corp. (CDC) President-CEO CEO Arthur P. Tugade.

PGKM CLAIMS

‘Tugade is Capilion’

Proof of ownershiP? CDC President-CEO Arthur Tugade presenting Capilion project to Mayor Ed Pamintuan and other local officials. Contributed photos

By Ding Cervantes

ANGELES CITY- A federation of fisherfolk has urged Congress to investigate the pur-chase of arms and ammunitions worth P8.9 million by the Bu-reau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) without permit from the Philippine Na-tional Police.

In a statement, the National Federation of Small Fisherfolk Or-ganization in the Phil-ippines (NFSFOP) cited a report of the Commission on Au-dit (COA) indicating that the purchase was

Probe BFAR’s P8.9-M gun deal

Page 6 please

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By Ashley Manabat

ANGELES CITY – The full and immediate devel-opment of the Clark In-ternational Airport (CIA) just got a boost with the tandem of Senators Grace Poe and Chiz Es-cudero after declaring that they will make the airport their hub in their campaign sorties all over the country.

Poe is running as an independent candidate for president in the com-ing polls while Escudero is her running mate for

Poe, Escudero make Clark airport their hub in presidential campaign

vice president.The two senators

said if they get elect-ed, they will declare the CIA as the country’s pre-mier gateway in the first quarter of the first year of their term, citing the heavily congested Ninoy Aquino International Air-port (NAIA) in Manila.

To show their com-mitment, Escudero said they will make Clark their hub in their campaign sortie beginning next week.

“Gagamitin namin bilang hub ang Clark

sa paglipad patungo sa ibat-ibang parte ng ating bansa dahil dito walang trapik at mas mabilis kami makakau-wi sa Quezon City kay-sa mag-landing kami sa NAIA dahil sa sobrang trapik (We will use Clark as hub in our sorties to other parts of the country because there is no traf-fic here and it is faster for us to go home to Que-zon City as compared to landing at NAIA be-cause of the heavy traffic there),” Escudero said.

“Mas mabilis sa Clark

at sa Clark walang laglag bala (It’s faster in Clark and in Clark there is no planting of bullets),” he added in jest.

“The law mandates that 15 percent of the maximum fuel capacity of airplanes should be reserved but because of the delay in landing due to the congested runway at NAIA, their fuel tanks are already empty when they land,” Escudero noted.

Poe said around five million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) com-

ing from Northern and Central Luzon can ben-efit from the Clark air-port. Because of this, she noted that there will be a significant decrease in the volume of traffic in Metro Manila if Clark will be fully utilized.

Poe said the CIA is ideal because Clark run-ways can still be extend-ed or additional runways can still be constructed.

Poe noted that Thai-land has $42 billion in-come a year from its tourist arrivals while the Philippines earns only

$6 billion a year from its tourism industry.

“So if you compare that, it’s too wide,” she lamented.

She also said unem-ployment in Thailand is only one percent due to its tourism industry while in our country it’s six per-cent. “So we really need to enhance our tour-ism and with this is the strengthening of the in-ternational airports like Clark,” Poe said.

“We also need to add rail systems from Clark to Subic and to city cen-ters like Angeles,” she declared at the Fortune Restaurant here last Fri-day. “It’s important that our cities are connect-ed,” she added.

Poe said the bene-fit from the development of the Clark airport is not only limited in Pam-panga or Central Luzon. “Hindi po ito sa iisang probinsya kundi ito po ay para sa national de-velopment (This is not only for a single province but for national develop-ment),” she said.

CASTILLEJOS, Zam-bales -- A farmer en-gaged in selling danger-ous drugs was arrested by operatives of Castille-jos PNP in drug opera-tion in Barangay Balay-bay here.

Senior Inspector Pancho Doble, head of Castillejos PNP, identi-fied the suspect as Aries Alcantara y Dadural, 24, single, resident of Pa-gaduan Street, Purok 2, Barangay Balaybay.

Castillejos was caught selling shabu worth P500 to a police poseur-buyer.

Recovered from the suspect were one revolv-er with tampered serial number 1843517, one live ammo for 12-gauge shotgun, one caliber 5.56 live bullet, three .45 live bullets, five .38 live bullets, assorted drug paraphernalia, the P500 marked money, and two heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets contain-ing suspected shabu.

Report said two co-horts of the suspect identified as Charlie Al-cantara and Larry Clari-dad evaded arrest during the drug operation and are now being hunted by police.

The suspect is de-tained at Castillejos PNP detention cell fac-ing charges for violation of Section 5, 13 and 14, Article II of RA 9165 and Violation of RA 10591 (Il-legal Possession of Fire-arms and Ammunitions).

–Johnny R. Reblando

Farmer nabbed for

drugs, ammo

Cebu Pacific Ad

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By Ding Cervantes

CITY OF SAN FERNAN-DO - The Authority of the Freeport Area of Bata-an (AFAB) has report-ed P6.2 billion worth of investment pledges in 2015, with foreign com-panies now slated to re-alize their commitments starting this year at the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) in Mariveles town.

Most of the commit-ted investments are in the field of manufactur-ing, business process-ing outsourcing (BPO), information technology (IT), tourism, and pow-er, AFAB reported yes-terday.

“The FAB has been tagged as the emerg-ing economic dragon of the country after it main-tained its status as the fastest growing free-

Freeport gets P6.2-B investment pledges

port from 2012 to 2014,” AFAB said.

Sixteen BPO compa-nies will open in the first IT Technopark in Marive-les, it reported.

AFAB disclosed that major locators include a manufacturer of high-end bag accessories, a food processing firm, and corporations with businesses related to renewable energy proj-ects and tourism devel-opment.

“The newly registered locators will open at least 4,900 jobs in the next three years,” AFAB said.

It also noted that last year, the LKY Resorts and Hotels, Inc. opened the first four-star hotel, the Oriental Hotel Bata-an, in the freeport.

“It is one of the 114 registered locators in FAB as of December last

year, expanding the in-flux of international firms to include Chinese, Ko-rean, Taiwanese, Amer-ican, Japanese, British, Bahraini, French and German businesses,” AFAB reported.

It said that “FAB is the emerging fashion manufacturing hub of the Philippines as it pos-sesses a budding cluster of companies that pro-duce high-end brands of garments, apparel, shoes, and accessories like bags, and jewelries, among others.”

AFAB said Mariveles is eyed to be “the freeport of choice in the country by 2020, and to become a center of trade, innova-tion and sustainable de-velopment in Asia that promotes work-life bal-ance and global compet-itiveness.”

SAN MARCELINO, Zambales ---Di-nakip ng pulisya ang isang karpintero at ang asawa nito matapos nilang na hatawin sa ibat-ibang bahagi ng ka-tawan ng isang menor de edad sa Ba-rangay Rabanes sa bayang ito.

Kinilala ni Senior Inspector Geof-frey Javier, hepe ng San Marcelino PNP, ang mga suspek na sina Rene Luna y Fernandez, 48, at Nida Luna y Marapo, 46, residente ng Purok 2, Ba-rangay Rabanes.

Sa imbestigasyon ng pulisya nagtungo sa bahay ng mga suspek ang isang 16-anyos na dalagita para maningil ng pautang. Sa halip na mag-bayad, nagalit pa umano ang mag-asa-wa at pinagpapalo ang biktima sa ibat-ibang bahagi ng kanyang katawan.

Ang mga suspek ay nahaharap sa kasong physical injury in relation to RA 7610 (Child Abuse Law) sa tanggapan ng Zambales Prosecutor Office.

–Johnny R. Reblando

Mag-asawa huli sa child abuse

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acaesar.blogspot.com

Zona Libre Bong Z. Lacson

Ed i tor i a l Opinion

LLL Trimedia Coordinators, inc.Publisher

General ManagerEditor

Marketing ManagerLayout

Circulation

Atty. Gener C. endonaCaesar “Bong” LacsonJoanna niña V. CorderoDondie B. VenturaLacson Macapagal

Business & Editorial office at Unit B Essel Commercial Center,McArthur Highway, Telabastagan, City of San Fernando

Tel. No. (45) 625•0244 Cel. No. 0917•481•1416puntogitnangluzon@yahoo.com or marketing@punto.com.ph

http://www.punto.com.ph

Tungkol sa TsinaANG PROBLEMA ng Tsina ay ang kanyang deklarasyon na kanyang pagaari ang South China Sea.

Nine-dash line ang kanyang ginagamit na justification para kunin ang kayamanan ng Pilipinas, Vietnam, Malaysia at Indonesia; at palawakin ang kanyang security border upang mapalitan nya ang Estados Unidos bilang security guarantor ng ASEAN rehiyon.

Dahil sa ginagawa ng Tsina, nalagay tuloy sa alanganin ang kanyang mga mamamyan na tumututol sa kanyang policy of aggression, at ang mga may dugong Intsik sa ibang bansa.

Dahil sa ginagawa ng Tsina, nalagay sa peligro o panganib ang kapayapaan at ekonomiya ng buong mundo kung saka-sakaling magkasagupa ang Tsina, Estados Unidos at Japan sa laot. Maiipit tayo sa gitna.

Ngunit hindi natin maiwasan ang gulo, dahil ang Pilipinas ay nasa front lines at itong tatlong

bansa ay ating top three trading partners. At sa totoo lang, minamaliit at inaabuso tayo ng Tsina sa ating sariling laot o Exclusive Economic Zone. Pinipigil ng Tsina ang ating mangingisda, militar at civilian authorities na pumunta o dumaan sa ating air and sea space. Inagaw daw natin sa kanya ang laot at isla sa loob ng atiing EEZ.

Nakakakulo ng dugo, hindi po ba? Kaya dapat natin paspasin ang buildup ng

ating Sandatahang Lakas at Coast Guard/BFAR para ma-totally secure ang ating EEZ. Credible deterrence ang layunin. Taon-taon ang buildup hanggang makamtan ito . Kayat dapat tuloy-tuloy ang buildup without letup.

Ang depensa ng Pilipnas ay nasa ating mga balikat; ating tungkulin at responsibilidad.

Para sa Bayan rafael M. Alunan iii

Opinion

Unjustifiably juvenile

BE FOREWARNED, criminals and children in conflict with the law!

Presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano have declared that among their priorities – if and when they get elected in May – is the amendment of Republic Act 9344 otherwise known as the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006.

“In many cases, drug traffickers use minors as couriers, a modus operandi made rather convenient by the law. Often times, these guys just go scot-free and grow up with no sense of accountability,” said Duterte. “It’s time to bring back order and keep our kids off the streets as we wage an all-out war against organized crime.”

Lawyers both, the tandem proposed to lower the minimum age of criminal liability from 15 to 12 years old, noting that “moral autonomy usually develops as early as age 10.”

Further, that “above 15 but below 18, who were subjected to a diversion program and are not first-time violators, shall be treated as adult offenders.”

Under their consideration too is the possibility of aggravating the punishment for adults who try to exploit minors and use them in carrying out their criminal activities.

Said Cayetano: “Our goal in pushing for these amendments is to end the disorder in the streets. Through this, we reduce the number of crimes committed by minors and protect them from notorious criminals and syndicates who take advantage of their vulnerabilities.”

This, even as he specified that CICL would be detained in facilities separate from adult offenders but and given the same, if not more, rehabilitation, reintegration, and after-care services to ensure their normal growth.

Restorative justice, Cayetano called it. Here is one pressing issue Duterte-Cayetano

hit square in the head. Ever since its enactment into law, “that stupid

Pangilinan Law” that is RA9344, opened the floodgates for juvenile criminality, with the virtual impunity enjoyed by the youthful offenders, even in heinous crimes.

A minor committing murder is no less guilty than an adult committing the same. The victims suffering the same fate – death. Thus the offenders should be treated in equal manner.

That is justice. Plainly.

Alex, when he sizzles“THE NINOY Aquino International Airport, we believe, is in a situation perhaps worse than EDSA. Delays in flights due to congestion of air traffic, resulting in untold opportunity losses, is already a regular occurrence. There is no option at hand other than opening a new international airport, which would take decades and tens of billions of pesos to complete. Meanwhile, we have the Clark International Airport waiting to be utilized.”

Boomed Alexander Sangalang Cauguiran, president of Partido Abe Kapampangan (AbeKa), of his party’s position addressed to presidentiables on the imperative use of the CIA as international gateway.

“The interest of [AbeKa] on this issue lies on the expected boost the airport can bring not only to the local economy but national as well, which could result in more jobs and business opportunities for our people,” furthered he, dangling the sweetener: “Our party will actively support those who see the wisdom of our position.”

Far from motherhood statements on the value of the CIA over NAIA and other prospective alternative airports – routinely spewed by current candidates, presidential and otherwise, amounting to nothing more than soundbites for the six o’clock news – Cauguiran spells out a concrete frame of development for the Clark airport.

His party’s four-point agenda primarily focused on the needed legislation to effect the full operations of the CIA as premier gateway, to wit:

Legislate a “MNL-CRK Dual Airport System” as priority national policy and directing the Department of Transportation and Communications, the Civil Aeronautics Board and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to establish and implement an “Air Traffic Distribution Policy for MNL and CRK.”

Legislate the non-imposition (or a moratorium on the collection) of travel tax in all airports of the Philippines except MNL.

Legislate exemption of Filipino airlines flying domestic routes (at all Philippine airports except MNL) from payment of excise tax and value added tax on their aviation fuel.

Direct the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Department of Health and other government agencies to ensure that pre-employment procedures and services required of OFWs are available near Clark International Airport in Pampanga (preferably under a one-

stop government center).The right interventions, immediately doable

too, we can say of the Abeka agenda.And of its president: The passion for the

Clark airport has not ebbed a bit in Cauguiran, pursued even before he sat as executive vice president of the Clark International Airport Corp., and right thereafter.

We were with Cauguiran when his Move Clark Now joined forces with Ruperto Cruz’s Pinoy Gumising ka Movement in the massive rallies at the very gates of Clark for the “full operationalization of the airport” and in various fora to mobilize support for the cause of the Clark airport. We were in their historic march too to Mendiola, bringing to Malacanang the people’s petition for the airport crafted from the positions gathered at the so-called Clark Summit participated in by various stakeholders. The cause of Clark even taken by PGKM and MCN to the courts. Yes, we were also with them in filing a class suit against the Philippine International Airport Corp. deal on Terminal 3 of NAIA, citing it would negate all the potentials and opportunities in Clark as premier international airport of the country. This, long before the subsequent outcry versus the Piatco deal that ultimately went all the way to the Supreme Court.

As CIAC EVP, we witnessed how Cauguiran championed the cause of the Clark airport in the numerous air talks with other countries that resulted to the increased flights and destinations to and from Clark.

Yes, Cauguiran has always stood on solid ground where the interests of the Clark airport are at stake, characteristically sizzling as ever with passion and fervor.

It comes then as a surprise that Caugurian’s sizzle fizzles out on the issue of Capilion’s Green Frontier project which – by constricting the entry to the Clark Freeport – makes an antithesis to the full development of the Clark airport as premier international gateway.

Sizzle pa more, Sir.

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Napag-uusapanLangfelix M. Garcia

Don Pedro Abad Santos y Basco: Ing Bayaning Fernandino

(Kaugne ning banuahan a pamagmasusi ning Siyudad San Fernando king Aldo nang Kebaitan Don Pedro Abad Santos, a mararapat balang Enero 31, king Heroes Hall, barangay San Juan, CSFP; at penimunan nang Mayor Edwin ‘EdSa’ D. Santiago ngening banuang 2016, iting kawatasan a sinulat ning maluka yung talasuyu dikil king bie nang delanan Don Pedro ya pamung yampang mi para king malugud yung pamamasa).

NINUNG E MAKAKILALA kang Don Pedro Abad Santos A kabilang karing liping king tepangan mipabantug?At nu’ mas pinili na pa ing bie maybug mate danupKesa king timawang bili a kemulatan nang lubus,King ba’nang apatpat keta ing sistemang e makatudA kanita mengibabo king gamat ding propetaryus;Keta a nung insanu ring king marangle e patugut Ilang alang yuling pale king bale ra neng papalut!

Makanano, kulang namu ing e ra ngan soluan ketaDing ganid a asyenderu itang pupul king gabun da;At pablasang ma-prinsipyung tau ketang panaun na,Ing “land reform”, ditak-ditak, pinla na ne kanita pa;Pati social justice program ning Presidente kanita,Ditman e na pitakutan pinintas arap ning masa; Pikanlapan de y “Perico”, Sentral Luzon ding makualta,Uli ning ukulan deti – iti suksuk ya karela. Pablasang mibait ya man king dase ning kayatinan,Y Don Pedro simpli yamu at alang ditmang ketasan;Kaya ding pakakalulu, ilang dapat munang saupanAt sukat nang ipaglualu laban king e karampatan;Nung iniasa’t keti Sentral Luzon ya ing mitagurian“Champion of the Peasants” ngara at peka-founder na bilangNing “Socialist Party of the Philippines” king kabilugan.

Bilang abogadu, e la ditak kilub ning aldo-aldoDing kalulung ortelanu a pasaup kang Don Pedro;Karin, a nu’ ding kasaup na lima lang abugado,Dapot libri mu’ing serbisyong pagkalub na karing tau;Misan ya pang babie kualta ban asaupan na lang ustuDetang alang pilisunan king kalukan a masolu;At keta nung ating datang a mamitbit sang’ rigalu,Kemarailan, king magdala, ipauli namung pihu.

Y Don Pedro, makanian ya kasampat a pilublubanAt e ya migkait saup kenu pa mang mengailangan;Nung inia king meging bie na, waman e’ibat king kalukan,Birian na pa ing king paka-kalulu mu miglayunan,Kabang king balen Minalin niti sindu ing kimutanA belangkas deti laban king e ustung kalakaran; Angga na king mirate ya king dase ning kakaluluan,At isuku na ing sabla king Ginung Dios a Miglalang!

Pilan la pa? O atin pa kayang anti kang Don PedroA keta mas pinili nong’ pakiabayan ding kaluluAt den ipaglualu na la laban karing propetaryuKabang ya king keyang bili kabilang de reti mismu?Inia nung ya kalupa ria ding karaniwan a tau,Nanu’t e na king propesyon niti bilang abogaduAmpon alang nanu pa mang liliwan king bie misentruIng pulayi na ning sabla king bayaning Fernandino?

A nu’ angga king panaun a’yti ala pang malino Ulat a nu’ ing katawan nang gabun ning mal tang’ ‘hero,’Milibing ya o ali king ‘public cemetery’ mismuNing balayan ning Minalin ketang panaun ning gulu;Ulining pelalung bale o sintungan niting kubuE ra balung ituldu ken o linawan nung insanuKing dane o sakup na ning barangay Sto. RosarioMilibing ing bangkala ning matenakan a Don Pedro!

Marahil nung ing meging bie nang Don Pedro yang apusanDing keraklan a magnasang king gubyernu manungkulan,Kakusuelu ring memalen lalu’t nung king MalakanyangIng milukluk kalupa ne prinsipyu at pilubluban;Pablasang iting bayaning kekatamung parangalan,King bistama’t makualta ya pemalit nang kakaluluanIng bie niti king maskup at mapanganib a kabilianKing ba’nalang asaupan ding makabasul king kalukan!!!

By Ernie Esconde

BALANGA CITY - Outspoken Bataan Bishop Ruperto San-tos on Wednesday admon-ished local candidates during the signing of the peace cov-enant at the Saint Joseph Ca-thedral here to protect the en-vironment and display love for the province.

“Ipakita natin na ang Bata-an ay masaya, maayos, ma-ganda. Hindi dapat masira ang kanyang karagatan, ka-bundukan. Hindi ipagpapalit ang mga lupa dahil sa tubo at malaking kita. Hindi dudumi-han ang hangin at tubigan,” the bishop of the Diocese of Balanga told candidates.

He said that the welfare of the citizens should be the pri-

Protect the environment, bishop asks candidates

ority above oneself. “Illegal gambling, illegal logging and mining ruin the moral fiber of society. Anyone who chooses to campaign for the destruc-tion of Bataan only thinks of himself,” Santos said.

He urged local candidates that all actions and decisions should be about the good of the community more than one-self, more than the interest of others.

The prelate said there are different candidates who may be expressing different views but should do and promise only one thing – to love Bataan and serve the people of Bataan.

Santos, in what he de-scribed as his long sermon, asked candidates to be re-minded of the 3 K’s – Karan-

galan ng Panginoon, Kabuti-han ng Bataan at Kaligtasan ng bawat isa at ng kaluluwa.

Present in the peace cove-nant signing were Gov. Albert Garcia, 1st District congres-sional rivals Hermosa Mayor Danilo Malana and transgen-der woman Geraldine Roman and candidates for members of the sangguniang panlalaw-igan in the 1st and 2nd dis-tricts.

Garcia is running unop-posed in his second term as governor.

Senior Supt. Rhodel Ser-monia, provincial police direc-tor, the Philippine Army, City Election Officer Melanio Si-bayan and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting initiated the peace covenant.

By Ding Cervantes

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - The Bataan provincial police reported yesterday the arrest of 44 persons, mostly want-ed for illegal drugs, in its One Time, Big Time (OTBT) opera-tions against criminality.

In a report, Bataan police director Senior Supt. Rhoel Sermonia said the haul was the result of this year’s two OTBT operations which he de-scribed as “a locally hatched crime buster program that sweeps Bataan streets for fel-ons.”

Sermonia said the two op-erations led to the arrest of 26 persons last January 25, and 18 more persons on January 17.

“Your police is one with the provincial government in its

‘ONE TIME, BIG TIME’

44 nabbed in police opsvision to produce a province conducive to investments. Peace and order are big fac-tors in that vision,” Sermonia said.

The first OTBT led to the arrest of the primary suspect in the killing of Bataan journal-ist Nerlie Ledesma of Abante newspaper last year.

Sermonia named the sus-pect as Inocencio Dela Cruz Bendo, a resident of Sitio Tor-res, Samal town, who was tagged as the gunman in the journalist’s slay in January 2015 in Balanga City.

“That operation also result-ed in the arrest of several top wanted illegal drug suspects including Abraham Manali-li, one of the top 18 drug per-sonalities of Dinalupihan town; Fortune Paguio, one of the top seven in Morong town; and

Richard Paguio, with three standing warrants, also from Morong,” he also reported.

Held simultaneously by municipal and city police sta-tions, the second OTBT netted 16 drug pushers among those arrested, as well as the confis-cation of shabu worth P30,700, on top of several guns.

“Bataan is a generally peaceful province that attracts investors and tourists with its peace and order situation. We will see to it that the province enjoys the same status,” Ser-monia added.

In all, PNP-Bataan has car-ried out three OTBT opera-tions.

In December last year, an-other OTBT operation held in Mariveles town resulted in the arrest of 10 persons and four high-powered firearms.

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO–Dr. Antonio “Jay” Rivera, offi-cer –in-charge of the Provin-cial Health Office (PHO) as-sured the intensification of the fight against dengue in Pam-panga as the provincial gov-ernment under Governor Lilia Pineda formulated more effec-tive “Dengue Prevention and Control Program” for this year.

“There is really a need for us to cooperate and be always on the go and alert in combat-ing the dengue virus carried by mosquitoes. Dengue is deadly. We must be serious and more focused,” said Dr. Rivera.

The PHO executive urged all Cabalens to practice clean-liness, orderliness inside and outside of their houses as mosquitoes carrying the den-gue virus hibernate in watery and dirty places.

“ We need also to imple-ment curative measures and services to prevent the peo-ple, especially the children to be victims of the said deadly virus,” the PHO said.

Fight against denguein Pampanga intensified

As this developed, the PHO announced that from January to June, the provincial gov-ernment will effect the imme-diate purchase of mist blow-er, personal protection equip-ment (PPE) and thermometers which are necessary in the fight against dengue.

The Department of Health (DOH) through the PHO and municipal health offices will also provide two-day training of barangay task force on ba-sic integrated vector manage-ment (IVM) and actual dengue vector surveillance (DVS) –per municipality starting this month until May. DVS will be conduct-ed simultaneously in the whole province and this will be moni-tored closely in public elemen-tary school to assure the safe-ty of pupils prone to dengue virus.

The health department will also carry out the installation of long lasting insecticide treated curtains (LLITC) in Guagua, Lubao and San Luis, Angeles City, Mabalacat City, this city

and in other municipalities with provincial program implemen-tation review (PIR).

The DOH and PHO tapped the direct support of the rural health units and district hos-pitals as lead implementers of dengue prevention and control program.

PHO official said “BRIGA-DA ESKWELA” plays an im-portant role in the dengue pre-vention and control program that would start on May be-fore the school year begins. “Through Brigada Eskwela, the parents of the students help in cleaning and fixing the classroom and the school premises,” PHO said.

Last year, the PHO record-ed a total of 9,829 dengue cas-es from January to December 31 . This is 78% higher than the same period in 2014.

It was also learned that Angeles City has the highest number of dengue cases with one dead followed by the City of San Fernando. – Aida Bay-bayan Bungue/Pamp PIO

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From page 1

done by BFAR in 2012. “BFAR has pur-

chased five M16 with in-sufficient supporting doc-uments, 10 assault rifles, 28 shotguns, 120 9mm pistols, ten .25 hand-guns, 20 tactical flash-lights, and 50,000 as-sorted ammunitions, all

Probe BFAR’s P8.9-M gun dealamounting P8.925 mil-lion that wasn’t even in the bureau’s allocation,” the federation said.

“The purchased fire-arms were more than enough compared to the BFAR personnel that are authorized to use those firearms,” noted NFS-FOP Vice Chair Salvador France.

France said that in relation to the purchase, BFAR asked its 76 em-ployees to attend train-ing in the use of the fire-arms, that “all those em-ployees were unautho-rized and unqualified.”

BFAR had claimed that the firearms were meant to use against for-eign harassment, as well

as fishers engaged in “il-legal, unregulated and unreported fishing” in vi-olation of the amended Fisheries Code.

“This is a clear mis-use of public funds and abuse of power by BFAR Director Asis Perez. Those millions of funds could have been used to support and rehabilitate

our municipal fisherfolk,” France said.

France noted that from 2011 up to the first half of 2015, the total un-obligated budget of BFAR reached P9.3 billion.

“This is amidst the poverty incidence among fisherfolk and despite the bureau’s 17 percent an-nual budget increase,”

he said. France also said that

“instead of juggling funds according to the mere whim of BFAR officials, they should instead be used for projects that uplift the wellbeing of fisherfolk.”

He also urged a probe on “where those billions of unobligated funds went.”

“Untrue. It is a base-less allegation,” CDC Communications Dept. Manager Noel Tulabut dismissed the claims in a text message.

PGKM Chair Ruper-to Cruz said he has ob-tained photographs se-cretly taken during a pre-sentation of the Capilion project at the CFZ to city officials led by Mayor Ed-gardo Pamintuan which clearly showed Tugade directing the power point presentation.

Cruz noted that while the perspective of the Capilion project was flashed on the screen in

‘Tugade is Capilion’From page 1 one of the photographs,

Tugade “seemed” to have been directing the presentation with Pa-mintuan, Association of Barangay Chairmen President Lito Ganzon, Malabanias Barangay Chair Rey Gueco and several others listening intently.

“Why is Tugade the one presenting the Cap-ilion project to city of-ficials when he is the CDC president and not the Capilion CEO?” asked Cruz.

“From the time we first heard of Capilion, not one executive of the company has come forward to explain their

project to the people,” he said. “It’s always Tugade and the CDC that have painstakingly explained its benefits.”

The PGKM chair also said Capillion of Singa-pore is spelled with a double L while Tugade’s Capilion is spelled with only a single letter L which is definitely not the same.

Pamintuan hit“Why is Mayor Pa-

mintuan silent on the Capilion project when its social cost will be bur-dened by the people of Angeles?” he asked, citing the projected traf-fic gridlock at the Clark

main gate where the project is located spill-ing over to Balibago and Malabanas.

“Some forces are at play here consider-ing that Tugade and Pamintuan come from the same fraternity, the same school and proba-bly the same group that owns Capilion,” he said.

Cruz said Pamintu-an’s silence is “deafen-ing.”

Cruz pointed to a case filed by a group of businessmen from the city against CDC at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) here. The group sued CDC after it de-molished their stalls lo-

cated along the perime-ter fence of the CFZ for which they paid P40,000 each to the CDC.

Before that, the stall owners were treated with apathy by the city gov-ernment, Cruz claimed. “When they tried to get business permits from the city government, they were allegedly re-fused and were pointed to CDC. But when they tried to go to the CDC, they were turned down and had their stalls de-molished.”

“There is a clear con-spiracy against them,” he said.

“Pamintuan should have fought for the

rights of his constitu-ents,” Cruz said. “Aside from the traffic gridlock, the Capilion project will block the view of the nu-merous hotels and es-tablishments located along the CFZ perime-ter fence. But the mayor doesn’t care.”

Cruz said Tugade should not be allowed to railroad the Capilion project because it will not only burden the city with its social cost but more importantly it will stunt the development of the Clark International Airport.

“We cannot just sim-ply sit and allow this to happen,” he said.

By Ashley Manabat

CLARK FREEPORT -- The Angeles City Police Office (ACPO) is encouraging wit-nesses to come out and pro-vide additional information on the slaying of PO1 Jomar Ba-tul last Christmas Eve at the parking lot of SM City Clark here.

“I encourage witnesses to come out so that they can exe-cute affidavits that can provide additional information,” Senior Supt. Sydney Villaflor, Ange-les City police director, said.

Police urge witnesses in mall slay to come outPossible witnesses have

reportedly been giving infor-mation that Batul was initial-ly seen around the Puregold area here where he allegedly tried to carnap a vehicle but was foiled.

He then proceeded to the Berthaphil area where he was caught on CCTV at the Jol-libee parking lot arguing with some people and allegedly pulling out a gun.

Batul then reportedly crossed the street and com-mandeered a passing white L-300 van of the Mura Keni

Catering Services. He alleged-ly told the driver at gunpoint to proceed to the main gate where he alighted and walked to the SM parking lot where he was eventually gunned down by pursuing security forces of the Clark Development Corp. (CDC).

During the media forum “Talk Widus” organized by the Pampanga Press Club at the Widus Hotel and Casino here last Friday, Villaflor assured the protection and security of possible witnesses who can provide additional information

on the case.Meanwhile, Villaflor said

based on the request of Bat-ul’s relatives, a joint investiga-tion body was created com-posed of the Philippine Na-tional Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investiga-tion (NBI).

He said last week, the NBI has summoned members of the CDC security personnel in-volved in the alleged gunfight while the security personnel of SM City Clark will be asked to appear this week.

Villaflor said he cannot

comment further until the in-vestigation is wrapped up be-cause there are still some aspects that needed to be threshed out.

But he admitted that based on Batul’s autopsy report, he was shot from behind. “Unfor-tunately, may mga ibang tama coming from behind (Unfortu-nately, he has other gunshot wounds coming from behind),” he said.

The NBI has conducted at least two reenactments of the alleged gunfight at the SM parking lot.

wATer MeeT. Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda formally opens the 37th Phil. Association of Water Districts national convention held at Fontana Convention Center. The governor bats for safe and affordable water. Photo by Deng Pangilinan

Agreement at the board room of the office of the president.

PDI is a registered sub-les-see locator in Clark Freeport Zone since 2014. The compa-ny is engaged in the business of manufacturing & design of furniture and other related ac-cessories.

Punta is an Italian word that means “best of the best” and “top of the world.”

The target operations of the expansion project will be in September 2016 and expect-ed to employ about 100 work-ers.

The company also envi-sions to revolutionize the in-dustry of rattan by using new style machine tools and sys-tem for small scale furniture factory.

Lee said his aim is to ac-complish his dreams and build

SoKor furniture manufacturer expands operations in ClarkCLARK FREEPORT – A South Korean furniture manufacturer expanded its operations infus-ing an estimated P50 million

within a year to a 9,314 square meters project here.

Clark Development Cor-poration (CDC) President and

CEO Atty. Arthur P. Tugade and Punta Design, Inc. (PDI) President and CEO Byung Mo Lee recently signed the Lease

a firm in Clark manufacturing furniture using rattan as its pri-mary material.

“Furniture is an art and the person who has dreams would move forward, but the person who is already satisfied with his situation will stop,” Lee said.

Punta Design Philippines is an overseas affiliated compa-ny of Punta Design USA.

Also present during LA signing are: CDC director Francisco Villanueva Jr.; Noel F. Manankil, VP for Admin and Finance; Evangeline G. Teja-da, VP Business Development and Business Enhancement Group; Ricardo C. Banayat VP, Security Services; Alveen H. Tabag, VP Engineering; Su Jin Kim, VP PDI and other CDC and PDI officials.

–CDC CommDep

THINKGREEN

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THE PHILIPPINES’ leading airline, Cebu Pa-cific (PSE: CEB), flew 18.4 million passengers in 2015, an increase of 9% from 16.9 million pas-sengers flown in 2014. On average, CEB flights were 83% full during the year.

Growth in passen-ger volume was large-ly driven by the airline’s low-cost long-haul ser-vices, and increased fre-quencies in key domes-tic markets. CEB also posted notable passen-ger growth in internation-al destinations such as Hong Kong, Tokyo (Nari-ta) and Nagoya in Japan, and Beijing and Shang-hai in China.

CEB tops 18-M passenger target for 2015Posts highest number of passengers flown in one day

“Last January 3, 2016, the Cebu Pacific Air group carried a total of 62,947 passengers—the highest number of travellers we have ever flown in one day. This scalable growth in our key domestic and inter-national markets reflects our commitment in driv-ing trade and tourism in the countries we operate in, and enabling more travellers to connect with families and friends around the globe,” said Atty. JR Mantaring, CEB VP for Corporate Affairs.

Passengers flown on CEB’s long-haul routes grew by 146% year-on-year, on the back of in-creased presence in

Australia and the Middle East.

CEB carried over 150,000 passengers be-tween Manila and Syd-ney for full-year 2015. Based on the latest re-port from Australia’s Bu-reau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE), the airline remains the larg-est carrier on the Ma-nila – Sydney route, with 40% market share from November 2014 to Oc-tober 2015. During this period, overall traffic be-tween Manila and Syd-ney also grew by 69%.

Meanwhile, passen-ger growth on flights to and from the Middle East remained robust, driv-

en by sustained capacity between Manila and Ri-yadh, Kuwait, and Dubai, and the launch of Manila – Doha in June 2015. Among the Middle East routes, flights between Manila and Dubai post-ed the highest number of passengers, with over 230,000 guests flown in 2015.

Passengers flown to short haul internation-al destinations such as Hong Kong, Japan and China also increased. Passenger volume to and from Japan, in partic-ular, grew by 39% to over 280,000 in 2015 as CEB successfully stimulated traffic with the launch of its operations from Ma-

nila and Cebu to Tokyo (Narita), and Manila to Nagoya. The airline also mounted flights between Manila and Fukuoka, its fourth destination in Ja-pan, in December 2015.

In the Philippines, domestic passengers increased by 7.41% in 2015, following add-ed frequencies between Manila and Tagbilaran (Bohol), and Cebu and Tandag (Surigao del Sur). Both routes posted over 100% in passenger growth year-on-year.

CEB offers flights to a network of over 90 routes on 64 destinations, span-ning Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. It is slat-ed to launch direct flights between Manila and Guam, its first US destina-tion, on March 15, 2016.

For bookings and in-quiries, guests can visit www.cebupacificair.com or call (+632)7020-888 or (+6332)230-8888. The latest seat sales can be found on CEB’s official Facebook and Twitter pages. Guests may also download the Cebu Pa-cific official mobile app on the App Store and Google Play.

Cebu Pacific’s 57-strong fleet is com-prised of 8 Airbus A319, 35 Airbus A320, 6 Air-bus A330, and 8 ATR 72-500 aircraft. It is one of the most modern air-craft fleets in the world. Between 2016 and 2021, CEB expects delivery of three more brand-new Airbus A320, 30 Airbus A321neo, and 16 ATR 72-600 aircraft.

SM City Baliwag’s “FEB-ents” for the month of hearts are definitely tours not to miss as everyone’s invited to meet the cast of GMA-7 upcom-ing soap every afternoon dub as “Hanggang Makita kang Muli”. Catch Bea Binene, Kim Rodriguez and Jak Rober-to on February 6, 2016 (Sat-urday) at SM City Baliwag’s The Event Center 5PM.

On February 7, 2016, 5pm, day after the Mall Tour you’ll be serenaded by the

Ultimate Multimedia Star, Ms. Toni Gonzaga- Soriano as she’ll be promoting her 7th al-bum.

“It’s time for the ultimate comeback!” Gonzaga said.

There are seven songs which consist of six revivals and the rearranged and new-ly mastered version of her 2007 hit, Catch Me, I’m Fall-ing.

In addition, she believes that the set of songs were perfectly suits the story of

Stars to shine at SM City Baliwag’s FeB-entslove that she does with her husband. The entire album is like a short story of their shared love to each other which transpired and themed through music.

“Music moves you in dif-ferent ways. And when you’re in love, it echoes the emo-tional chord of your heart,” Gonzaga added.

Be there to witness Ms. Toni Gonzaga-Soriano album tour at SM City Baliwag’s The Event Center. –PR

THE Social Security System (SSS) and De-partment of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for-malized their joint com-mitment to intensify em-ployer compliance and impose penalties on vi-olators of labor and so-cial security policies through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on information sharing that covers SSS-related is-sues affecting workers employment.

Under the MOA, DOLE would provide the SSS with a monthly summary of employees’ SSS-related Requests for Assistance received under the labor depart-ment’s Single Entry Ap-proach (SEnA) Program. DOLE would also fur-nish copies of official re-cords on final and exec-utory orders in all its la-bor standards involving employer violations of the Social Security Law such as registration of employees, reporting and under reporting of employees and non re-mittance or under remit-tance of SSS contribu-tions. DOLE would also give the contact details on employment, em-ployees and employers involved in such cases, and allow the SSS to

SSS-DOLE agreement on information sharing to

intensify employer complianceuse pertinent documents such as Labor Compli-ance Inspection Reports and transcripts and ev-idence obtained from DOLE adjudication hear-ings.

The SSS, on the oth-er hand, through its Op-erations Group Heads would coordinate with the DOLE Regional Di-rectors within their re-spective areas for ap-propriate action on the referred SSS cases. These SSS Operations Group Heads would also update their respective

DOLE Regional Direc-tors of the steps taken against the involved em-ployers and SSS actions on the workers’ requests for assistance relayed by DOLE. Photo shows SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio S. de Quiros, Jr. (right) and Labor Secretary Ro-salinda D. Baldoz (left) present the MOA they signed on behalf of their respective agencies during ceremonies held at the Executive Lounge of the SSS Main Office last December 22. –PR

DOLE Sec. Rosalinda Baldoz exchanges MOA copies with SSS Pres. Emilio De Quiros Jr.

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The bas reliefs, sim-ply spectacular! The grandest in scope a de-piction of the conclud-ing episode of the Indian epic Mahabharata – “the Battle of Kurukshetra when the Pandava and Kaurava clans met in fi-nal deadly combat” – complete with chariots, horsemen, foot soldiers, spears, swords, bows and arrows.

The bas reliefs de-tailed day-to-day life too – families in banquets, men in drinking sprees, different games …one of which instantly caught the fancy of Business Mirror’s Joey Pavia – cockfighting!

Spread throughout the temple walls were countless apsaras or bare-breasted female spirits in various stages of dance. No two apsar-

Wat awesomeness!From page 1 as are the same, not in

their hairdos, dresses, poses. So we are told by our tour guide Mr. King.

Asked why the bo-soms and cheeks of the apsaras looked more smoothly polished than the rest of their parts, King said: “Those are the parts usually rubbed, not so much for lust as for luck.”

While Angkor Wat – with its five massive tow-ers topped by tiers of lotuses tapering at the apex, expansive court-yards, stone causeway and wide moat – is un-arguably the most im-posing, it is Bayon that offers the most sumptu-ous feast for the eyes – intricate carvings on the columns, walls, and tow-ers topped by faces – of the Buddha or any of the Khmer kings? – looking in all four directions of the compass.

And its own fair share of apsaras too. Every which way one looks is a view worth keeping. Bay-on truly makes a photog-rapher’s nirvana.

Of late, second only to Angkor Wat in popu-larity is Ta Phrom tem-ple, after being famously featured in the Angelina Jolie starrer Lara Croft:

Tomb Raider. With less carvings

and bas reliefs than ei-ther Bayon or Angkor, Ta Phrom’s attraction is its primeval state – giant balete and other forest trees rooted in or crack-ing the walls, strangling columns, entangling gates and doorways, whence one half ex-

pects mystical creatures to suddenly appear, fol-lowed by some primal scream. Really, cinemat-ic.

Speaking of gates, the most picturesque is the South Gate of An-gkor Thom, the bridge leading to it lined up – on the right side facing the entryway by mas-sive statues of demons, and on the left by equally massive statues of gods. Evoking the eternal con-flict between good and evil on the road to heav-en’s gate.

Sunset view is best from the Pre Rup tem-ple, so it is advertised. With the sun setting be-hind the lush vegetation by the west end, and not on the temple itself, it does not live up to its billing.

But Pre Rup by itself does not fail to impress. Predominantly brick in material – giving some clues to its funerary func-tion – its towers glow to a golden orange just be-fore dusk. Its very steep

stairs make some daunt-ing challenge even to the fitness buff. The less ath-letic though can repair to the wooden stairs with railings at the right side of the temple.

A number of oth-er “major” temples are scattered throughout the park – Phimeanak-as, Elephant Terrance, Srah Srong viewed from the touring bus this time. Ready to get their own exploration the next time around.

Hopefully not in the usual touristy arrive-shoot-pose-shoot-self-ie-groupie-shoot-upload-leave-for-the-next-spot scheme of things this time.

As we see and cap-ture the magnificence of a place, so should we also sense its majesty. In the case of a temple, be imbued with its spir-ituality. Coming less as tourists than pilgrims, only then can its awe-someness be truly expe-rienced.

– Bong Z. Lacson

Bayon temple. Photos by Bong Lacson

Ta Phrom. Lara Croft locale.

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