CITY OF MALOLOS—Mayor Christian Natividad removed from his job a city government nurse for using the city ambulance for personal and family function and which had hit a 14-year old boy while crossing a road in Calumpit town on Saturday. 

Natividad has also ordered the filing of charges of malversation, Art. 217 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) and Usurpation of Official Functions (Art. 177 of the RPC) including civil and administrative charges against Noel Araneta, 31, a nurse assigned at the City Health Office. 

Allan Santos, 35, driver of the ambulance from Barangay Mojon, City of Malolos was charged with reckless Imprudence resulting in serious physical injuries. 

Based on an investigation, Natividad found an ambulance unit of the city health office was used by Araneta for a family function and allowed Santos to drive the vehicle. The family was allegedly bound for an outing in a resort. While travelling at around 5:30 pm along Calumpit-Pulilan road in Barangay Pungo, Calumpit, it hit pedestrian Shannel Mariano, 14, from Dampol 1st, Pulilan town. 

Quoting a witness, City of Malolos police report said a vehicle in front of the ambulance made a full stop in the pedestrian when all of a sudden, the driver of the ambulance changed lanes and accelerated the engine of the vehicle and hit the victim who was then crossing the road. 

The young victim is now in critical condition at the Bulacan Medical Center. 

According to Natividad, Araneta took the ambulance home on Friday for unknown reasons. 

Araneta and Santos are now detained at Calumpit municipal jail for the said charges. 

The mayor is also investigating other personnel in the city health office who have committed negligence over the incident. “They will also face corresponding charges,” he told the media on Tuesday. 

Let the incident serve as a warning to all the employees of the city health office, Natividad warned. 

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva exhorted the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to ensure that the displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in New Zealand will get their back pay and benefits on time.
 
“Having no job in a foreign country is a nightmare for our kababayan OFWs.  For them, it’s no work, no pay. And without pay, how will they survive?” Villanueva, author of the DMW ACT, said.
 
Villanueva called the attention of the DMW and the DFA to act with dispatch on the situation of the OFWs in NZ to avoid a repeat of the experience of over 10,000 OFWs in Saudi Arabia who lost their jobs in 2015 and have yet to receive back wages and benefits to this day.
 
“We don’t want a repeat of what happened to our kababayans who were laid off in Saudi Arabia and remain waiting to get their pay and other receivables. Let’s act now,” Villanueva said.
 
Some 700 workers are involved in the latest layoff in NZ, who found themselves suddenly jobless when ELE, a skilled labor agency in the construction and manufacturing sector, shut down unannounced four days before Christmas.
 
While the firm promised to pay the OFWs, it did not give a definite date when it would do so.
 
“We ask the DMW and the DFA to immediately make representations with the New Zealand government and the private company so that obligations to our OFWs will be fulfilled in the soonest time possible,” Villanueva said.
 
Villanueva also raised concern that while the visas of the OFWs are valid for three years, they are not allowed to switch jobs.
 
Since the last week of December, the OFWs have been living on their own, and with the help of fellow Filipinos.
 
“We know this is not sustainable. One of these days they will run out of food and other supplies.  Worse, they have families in the Philippines who are worried and yet, in need of support as well,” Villanueva said.
 
Meanwhile, Villanueva also called on the DFA and DMW to be proactive in monitoring the situation of OFWs in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, following violent attacks there early this week.
 
“Our office has received reports of the situation of our kababayans in Papua New Guinea who are seeking assistance from the government because of these violent attacks,” the Majority Leader said.
 
“Our OFWs are obviously the victims here. Swift government action will help alleviate their plight,” Villanueva added.

CAMP OLIVAS, City of San Fernando, Pampanga–Police authorities in Central Luzon gained new alliances as three ex-rebels pledged allegiance back to the government on Monday.

“Ka Keno”, a former member of Sandatahang Yunit Pamproganda that operates in Bataan, voluntarily surrendered to Regional Mobile Force Battalion 3 in Lubao Pampanga and turned over his cal. 38 revolver pistol and ammunition.

Ka Keno received financial aid and groceries from the police.

In Zambales, “Ka Loi”, a former communist terrorist group (CTG) member, handed over his improvised shotgun, grenade launcher ammunition, subversive documents and provided vital information to the police to support its anti-local insurgency campaign.

In Tarlac, police facilitated the voluntary surrender of “Eliong”, ex-CTG member, and laid down his homemade shotgun and explosive materials.

Police Region 3 director PBGen Jose Hidalgo Jr. said that together with all member agencies of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in Central Luzon (RTF-ELCAC3) will continue this whole sector approach against communist terrorists to achieve peace and national unity.

LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA–Nakapagpalabas ang Department of Budget and Management (DBM) ng kabuuang P30.1 bilyong pondo para mabayaran ang health emergency allowance (HEA) claims ng mga healthcare at non-healthcare workers sa bansa para sa taong 2023.

Ito ay bilang pagsunod sa direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na ipagpatuloy ang pagbibigay ng nararapat na suporta para sa ating mga tinaguriang makabagong bayani, lalo na ang mga nasa health and medical field.

“Upang masuklian naman natin ang naging sakripisyo ng ating mga health workers sa pribado at pampubliko na mga ospital noong nakaraang pandemya, ipapamahagi na sa kanila ang kanilang COVID health emergency allowance at iba pang mga nabinbing benepisyo,” saad ng Pangulo sa kanyang ikalawang State of the Nation Address noong Hulyo 2023.

Binigyang-diin ni Budget Secretary Mina Pangandaman na magpapatuloy ang PBBM administration, sa pamamagitan ng DBM, sa pagsigurong maibibigay sa mga healthcare at non-healthcare workers ang mga benepisyo at allowance na nakalaan para sa kanila.

“Parte po ng commitment ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos ang tuloy-tuloy na pagbibigay ng financial support sa ating mga healthcare at non-healthcare workers. They deserve all our care and support dahil noong oras na tayo ang nangangailangan sa kanila, they risked their lives and safety just to save and care for us,” ayon kay Sec. Mina.

Ang ipinalabas na P30.11 bilyong pondo noong nakaraang taon ay liban pa sa P24.19 bilyong pondo na inilagak sa Department of Health para sa parehong layunin noong 2022. Para sa 2024 naman, nasa kabuuang P18.96 bilyon ang nakalaan sa ilalim ng FY 2024 General Appropriations Act para mabayaran ang HEA claims ng mga karapat-dapat na pampubliko at pribadong healthcare and non-healthcare workers.

Ang nasabing pondo ay maari nang magamit epektibo noong ika-01 ng Enero 2024. Sa makatuwid, P14.88 bilyon na lamang ang natitirang balanse mula sa kabuuang P88.14 bilyon na kinakailangang halaga para sa implementasyon ng programa.

“We will endeavor to release the balance, as well as the unfunded HEA claims of roughly P14 billion to fulfill the commitment of President Bongbong Marcos in his SONA,” ayon pa kay Secretary Pangandaman.

CAMP GEN. ALEJO SANTOS, Bulacan—Seven illegal drug suspects were arrested in a series of buy-bust operations conducted by different units of the Bulacan police in different towns and cities in the province on Monday.

Bulacan police director Col. Relly Arnedo said Drug Enforcement Unit of City of Malolos police recovered P20,400 worth of shabu from alias  Lagitik, alias Benny and alias Jim during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Santor.

In Sitio Tabing Ilog, Barangay Caingin in Bocaue town, police operatives arrested two illegal drug suspects who yielded 3 sachets of shabu worth P10,200.

In Calumpit town, the Drug Enforcement Unit arrested two drug dealers who yielded 3 sachets of shabu worth P6,800.

All arrested individuals and the confiscated pieces of evidence were brought to the Bulacan Provincial Forensic Unit (PFU) for appropriate examination. Criminal complaints for violations of R.A. 9165 have been prepared against the suspects for filing in court.

The Bulacan PNP’s strong commitment in deterring crime and ensuring public safety in the province is evident through intensified police operations, guided by Police Region 3 Director PBGen Jose Hidalgo Jr. These successful operations highlight the police dedication and effectiveness in minimizing drug-related crimes and law offenders under the “Pulis ng PRO 3, Partner ng Pamayanan” thrust.

By: Alex Roy Dela Cruz

CITY OF MALOLOS–Former DTI Assistant Secretary Carissa Cruz Evangelista and her team recently visited the Philippine Jewelry Center (PJC) in Pandayan, City of Meycauayan, also well-known as the jewelry capital of Bulacan. The PJC is a prominent institution on jewelry industry, managed by the Meycauayan Jewelry Industry Association, Inc. or MJIA. The visit was intended to interview jewelers and assess the current status of the jewelry industry as part of their commitment to develop a comprehensive Philippine Jewelry Roadmap that will serve as basis for program implementation for the growth and development of the jewelry industry.  In support, DTI-Bulacan Provincial Office, represented by STIDS Alex Roy Dela Cruz joined the team during the visit.

Big Players such as the owners of Golden Hills Jewelry, Bijou Jewellery, Kit Silver Jewelry, P. Zuñiga Jewelry, Maricar’s Jewelry, Ricel’s Jewelry and other officers of the jewelry association led by MJIA’s Chairperson Cecilia Ramos and President Peter Zuñiga willingly shared their thoughts and ideas during the interview. That includes pertinent data on their production and narration of their wide experiences as the key players of the industry.

The team also visited the production site of Golden Hills Jewellery owned by Antonio “Boy” Atienza located at Saluyosoy, City of Meycauayan, Bulacan. Mr. Atienza toured the team on each section of the production facility. He explained the modern jewelry making process using computer-aided designs and new technologies and showed the astonishing world-class outputs.

A follow-through virtual meeting was arranged with Ms. Carissa’s team and DTI-Bulacan on December 11, 2023 to determine government interventions to the industry. It was attended by OIC-ARD Edna Dizon, STIDS Lota Yasa, and STIDS Alex Roy Dela Cruz. The summary of DTI assistance to the jewelry industry, Action Plan for the jewelry sector, the concerns of the jewelry center, and the essential needs of the industry were among the topics discussed during the meeting.

The inputs during this meeting and the previous interview with the industry players will form part of a wholistic roadmap that scrutinize the whole supply and value chain of the jewelry industry from mining of gold and silver, sourcing of precious stones, distribution of raw materials, down to the channels of distribution and end market in order to come up with efficient policies and programs leaning towards the advancement of the industry to be at par with the existing global standards.

CITY OF MALOLOS – Twenty logs of illegal timber were busted in Brgy. Bonga Menor in Bustos, Bulacan by the Philippine National Police monitoring team on January 4, 2024, Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Office reported.

The captured Elf truck that was reported to have no cutting and transport permit has breached Section 68 of Presidential Decree No. 705 Series of 1975, commonly referred to as the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines.

While the truck driver did not face any charges, the Elf truck containing the seized 20 pieces of illicit timber is still under the custody of Bonga Menor’s barangay office.

Meanwhile, Governor Daniel R. Fernando reminded the Bulakenyos that each individual has a part to play and a duty to fulfill in taking care of the natural resources.

“Lahat tayo ay may gampanin at may pananagutan sa ating likas na yaman kung kaya’t magtulungan po tayo upang mas mapaigting natin ang pagprotekta sa ating kalikasan,” Fernando said.

Also, BENRO Head Atty. Julius Victor C. Degala encourages the Bulakenyos to report any illegal activities that go against the campaign on protecting and preserving the environment and natural resources.

“Sana mahalin natin ang ating kapaligiran at likas na yaman. Siguraduhin natin na ang mga susunod na henerasyon ay makararanas din ng magandang lugar tulad natin kaya gawin natin ang tama, gawin natin ang dapat, at gawin natin sa lalong madaling panahon,” Degala said.

CITY OF MABALACAT, PAMPANGA –   Five drug suspects were collared inside a makeshift drug den and around P103,000.00 worth of shabu were confiscated following a buy-bust operation in Purok San Isidro, Barangay Dau on Friday.

PDEA team leader identified the apprehended suspects as Jessy Tiglao, 39, the alleged drug den operator. He is a resident of 9625 Pamintuan Village, Dau, Mabalacat; Romeo Bundalian, 55, from Bamban, Tarlac; Emer Lebas, 43, from Maligaya Street , San Nicolas, San Fernando, Pampanga; Jojie Cabilles, 37, from Dau, Mabalacat and Christian Estrada, 18, also from Dau, Mabalacat.

Seized from them were more or less 15 grams of shabu worth P103,000.00; assorted sniffing paraphernalia; and the marked money used during the sting.

Recovered illegal substances will be forwarded to PDEA RO III Laboratory Section for forensic examination.

The operation was conducted by joint operatives of PDEA Tarlac and Pampanga Provincial Offices.

Charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed against the arrested suspects.