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==PGKM wants educated professional politicians in government==
*Source: http://punto.com.ph/News/Article/21865/Volume-8-No-44/Headlines/PGKM-wants-educated-professional-politicians-in-government
*Wednesday, December 31, 2014 1:53 pm
:By Ashley Manabat
ANGELES CITY – After advocating for a minimum educational  requirement for politicians in order to eliminate    incompetent and inept public officials, the Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement (PGKM) is  now contemplating on pushing  for a law that for the next 50 years only those qualified can be voted in public office.
The PGKM said a  50-year  experimental period should be  made into a law that only qualified candidates can be voted  into public office  in order to  professionalize governance.
“Botu tala pamu detang  megaral (Let’s vote for those who finished their  studies),”said PGKM Chair Ruperto Cruz.  The law should also allow those who lack college education  to finish their  courses, he  added.
“Atin lang time magaral detang e megaral (Those who did  not finish their studies should now  have time to study),” he said. In the meantime, let’s weed  out the corrupt public officials, he added.
Cruz said this is  a challenge  to Congress to enact a law that would professionalize  politicians and finally set our course on the right path to good governance.  “Anya mesira ya ing Pilipinas (The Philippines was ruined) because of the kind of  politicians that we have.
They tailored fit everything to their  advantage because of their greed,” Cruz said. Meanwhile, Cruz said the PGKM also supports the plan of Senator Miriam Santiago  that only taxpayers should be allowed to vote.
Why should Filipinos trust their future to persons who  don’t even participate in nation building (referring to  non-taxpayers)?  Santiago asked. How come corporations  promote their employees based on the merit of their  studies? Why not government? Cruz asked.
“We should level up now,” he added.  Earlier, Cruz said thePGKM is  advocating a bill that will require politicians to hurdle a set of criteria or standards in  order to be qualified for election into public office.
Cruz said incompetent public officials who know nothing  about governance usually resort to  corruption. He said  unqualified public officials get themselves elected only to advance  their selfish interests.
However, Cruz said even if the public official’s intention is noble, his lack of educational  background and knowledge in governance will most likely also result in “a weak leadership  that promotes poor economic policies resulting to  unequal distribution of wealth  PGKM wants educated professional politicians in government and poor educational    policies that contribute to the unemployment  problem and promote social injustice.”
Cruz said public officials should not only be competent and knowledgeable in governance but should also be good managers. But if a public official lacks even the most  basic educational qualification, then his constituents will surely suffer because of his ineptitude.
Cruz said the electorate  should be shielded from merely popular candidates. Blood  relations or through  consanguinity  to an incumbent public  official should not be the key to holding public office, he  added.
==Angeles village chief portrays Rizal at hero’s 118th martyrdom rites==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2014/12/30/angeles-village-chief-portrays-rizal-hero-s-118th-martyrdom-rites-384
*Tuesday, December 30, 2014
:By Joey Pavia (Contributor)
MANILA – A barangay captain of Angeles City portrayed Jose Rizal for the fifth straight year on Tuesday during the commemoration of the 118th martyrdom anniversary of the national hero who was executed here on December 30, 1896.
Salapungan Barangay Captain Reynaldo “Rey” Malig said “I am deeply honored to play the role of Rizal as proud member of the Order of the Knights of Rizal (OKOR).”
“The Knights of Rizal led by our past and present leaders made it a point to commemorate the execution of our national hero to remind us of his martyrdom and love for the Filipino people,” said Malig.
Businessman Reghis Romero II, immediate past Supreme Commander of the OKOR and native of Angeles City, used to portray the role of the Rizal before Malig first played the same role in 2010.
Romero said the OKOR “has been reminding the members of the group and the rest of the Filipinos to contribute to nation building.”
OKOR Supreme Commander Jeremias “Jerry” Singson joined Romero, Malig and other OKOR officials at the start of the ceremony at the Fort Santiago in Intramuros.
At 5:30 a.m., Malig started to walk from Fort Santiago, where Rizal was jailed before his execution by Filipino soldiers of the Spanish Army 118 years ago. He walked with arms tied and holding a Holy Rosary for almost an hour before reaching the Rizal Park.
“I made a research and I found out that Rizal was smiling while walking on his way to the place where he would be killed by firing squad. He was not afraid to die for his country,” said Malig.
Frank Crawford said he and his wife, Sonya, flew all the way from Toronto, Canada to join the annual ceremony of the OKOR to commemorate the martyrdom of Rizal. He is the regional head of the OKOR in Canada and head of the Youth for Rizal in Canada.
“I joined the Knights of Rizal 15 years ago and I really admire his love for the country,” said Crawford. His wife is the vice president of the Kababaihang (women) Rizalista in Toronto.
Peter Pluckebaum, head of a foreign chapter in Germany, and OKOR Supreme Chancellor Avelino Torres acted as priests and walked beside Malig during the commemorative walk.
The affiliate groups of the OKOR are The Las Damas De Rizal (women) and the Kabataang Pangarap Ni Rizal (youth).
President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, Vice-President Jejomer Binay and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada led the ceremony and wreath-laying for the national hero at the Rizal park.
Singson and members of the OKOR joined Aquino during the ceremony.
==LOOK: Lapid wants to be Angeles mayor==
*Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/focus/12/29/14/look-lapid-wants-be-angeles-mayor
*Monday, December 29, 2014 9:09 pm
:(ABS-CBNnews.com)
Senator Lito Lapid on Monday officially declared his candidacy for mayor of Angeles City in the 2016 elections.
Lapid, a former Pampanga governor, has lawyer Willie Rivera as his running mate.
It is not Lapid's first time to seek a local government position after serving as senator.
He was defeated by a large margin by now Vice-President Jejomar Binay as Makati City mayor in the 2007 elections.
Earlier this year, Lapid bought a P16-million mansion in Angeles City and changed his residential address in his registration with the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Lapid is expected to slug it out with incumbent Angeles Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan.
==Anakpawis bill A vet in each town in agricultural PHL==
*Source: http://punto.com.ph/News/Article/21870/Volume-8-No-44/Business/br-i-u-Anakpawis-bill-i--u--A-vet-in-each-town-in-agricultural-PHL
*Sunday, December 28, 2014 1:43 pm
:By Ding Cervantes
ANGELES CITY- For a country that has remained largely agricultural for centuries, it  doesn’t make sense that no  official slot for  veterinarians has ever been provided by law in local governments.
Noting this, Anakpawis Partylist Rep.Fernando Hicap filed Monday House Bill  5297 or “An Act Providing for the Mandatory Appointment of a  Municipal Veterinarian Officer.”
The bill cited its “purpose of decisivelyaddressing the proliferation of contagious and  harmful animal diseases in the countryside and the immediate delivery of public  veterinary services to far-flung  villages here the raising and production of farm  animals is concentrated.”
“Our economy is largely agricultural, but  our farmers in the towns have no veterinarians  to go to when confronted with problems with their animals. Hence, I am proposing  the mandatory appointment of veterinarian in every municipal government,” Hicap said.
He said the bill would  mend Section 443 of the Local Government Code of 1991  by including a municipal veterinarian to the list of  officials in the municipal government.
“The bill likewise wants to expand the duties and functions of public veterinarians by tasking them to render services at least  once a week in every barangay of the city or municipality they are assigned  to,” he added. Hicap said his bill would guarantee that  “treatment of livestock diseases would be delivered swiftly on the municipal level, to benefit poor farmers.”
==Book on ‘Pisamban Maragul’ launched==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/lifestyle/2014/12/27/book-pisamban-maragul-launched-383832
*Saturday, December 27, 2014
:By Reynaldo G. Navales (Sun.Star Pampanga)
ANGELES CITY -- Love for cultural heritage, piety, generosity. These endearing virtues of Angelenos made it possible for Curia Sancti Rosarii, Inc. (CSRI) a non-government organization affiliated with Holy Rosary Parish (HRP) of Angeles City, to produce a coffee table book which was launched yesterday at the Holy Rosary Parish Hall.
The book, “Pisamban Maragul: The Living Church of Angeles City,” tells the story and history of the Holy Rosary Parish of Angeles City in narratives and images pieced together from oral recollections of Angeles folks coupled with centuries-old handwritten accounts by early chroniclers and parish priests. Edited by Nina L. B. Tomen in collaboration with Bishop Pablo Virgilio S. David, D.D., the book features contributions from local writers and researchers including Daniel Henson Dizon, a descendant of Angeles City’s founders; archaeologists Joel Pabustan Mallari and Charlene Manese Pangilinan; poet Aida Aguas; and Joy L. Cruz, Executive Director of Kuliat Foundation, Inc. among others. Photographers Jing Torno and Lucio Sison of Museo ning Angeles took the lead in capturing captivating images of Pisamban Maragul and the Angeleño community.
“The book looks at Pisamban Maragul (literally a huge church), not just as a church structure but as a living church – a community that prays together and grows together in faith and service to society,” says editor Tomen. Tomen has written and edited a number of books about Kapampangan church heritage including Kuraldal Atlung Ari of Sasmuan and Libad Bangka of Apalit; Santiago Apostol Church of Betis; and more recently, Apung Mamacalulu of Angeles City.
Among the highlights of the coffee table book are the reminiscences of parish elders, the documentation of the parish’s cultural heritage, and the history of Holy Rosary Parish from the time it began as a capellan (a chapel under Parroquia de San Fernando) in 1812 to the time it became a full-pledged parish in 1829, on to the war years until the modern era. A significant part of the book explores the concept of creating new heritage in the church which merges the principles of heritage conservation with heritage creation. Featured in this section are the newly-renovated structures and newly-introduced rituals that have the potential to be considered heritage pieces in the future.
“This book is our way of making people love and appreciate their church better and the role they play in building it – not just the edifice but the community,” says Bishop David, Parish Priest of Holy Rosary Parish. “Last year, we launched the I Love HRP campaign with the tagline I Am. I Love. I Serve. Before love can grow, one has to know more about what he or she seeks to love. Service is a fruit of this love.” In a number of articles, Bishop David shares his thoughts about the community he leads – its virtues, its treasures, its unique characteristics.
“Pisamban Maragul: The Living Church of Angeles City” is available at the Holy Rosary Parish Office from December 27 to January 18, 2015. The book will be available at a discounted price. Regular price after the Christmas season is P 1,500.00.
“This is not a fundraising project,” says Bishop David. “It is really a gift of nostalgia, our tribute to the pious and generous parishioners of HRP. It is also the perfect Christmas gift for cultural heritage lovers and advocates."
This year, Holy Rosary Parish is celebrating its 185th year of proclamation as a parish.
==DOTC looks into extension of $7-billion commuter rail system to Clark Green City==
*Source: http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/dotc-looks-into-extension-of-7-billion-commuter-rail-system-to-clark-green-city/
*Friday December 26, 2014
:By Lorenz S. Marasigan
THE Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is studying the possibility of extending the country’s commuter rail to the envisioned Clark Green City (CGC), a Cabinet official said.
Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio A. Abaya said the Bases Conversion and Development Authority has sought his office’s assistance to review the prospect of extending the $7-billion Integrated Luzon Railway  to Clark in Pampanga.
While the prospect is still unclear, the DOTC said it will also study the possibility of building a spur line going to Clark.
“[Extending the commuter rail] is going to be costly. What is clear to us is that we will extend the Philippine National Railways [PNR] all the way to Cagayan and Isabela,” Abaya  said.
He added that the line to  the 9,450-hectare metropolis in the north might use train coaches that will run at a speed of 150 kilometers per hour (kph).
“Clark is 100 km away. If it travels at 150 kph, you get there in 40 minutes. You don’t need a bullet train to get there,” Abaya said.
The commuter rail is a 90-km elevated railway system that will link Malolos, Bulacan, and Calamba, Laguna, and is seen to serve commuters in Mega Manila.
Japan International Cooperation Agency is currently conducting a feasibility study for the line that will  interconnect three regions—the National Capital Region, Central Luzon and Calabarzon.
Once the study is completed, the contract will be presented to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Board, which is chaired by President Aquino.
Meanwhile, the P607-billion CGC would be a mix of industrial, institutional and commercial areas, which would apply green technologies using renewable energy from sustainable sources by all facilities and buildings in the proposed community.
Neda approved in August 2013 the master plan for the development of the 9,400 hectares of idle land within the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone as a green city.
The Neda Infrastructure Committee has endorsed the master plan to President Aquino for final approval.
The CGC project is expected to generate as much as P1.57 trillion in revenues every year, contribute at least a 4-percent share to the gross domestic product and employ as many as 925,000 workers once completed.
A 50-year development program, the CGC  project will cost P607 billion, of which P59 billion will be spent for the first five years, coming mostly from the private sector through the public-private partnership program.
==PGKM joins ex-solon’s call for Pacquiao suspension==
*Source: http://punto.com.ph/News/Article/21861/Volume-8-No-44/Headlines/PGKM-joins-ex-solon%E2%80%99s-call-for-Pacquiao-suspension
*Thursday December 25, 2014 3:56 pm
:By Ashley Manabat
ANGELES CITY – The Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement (PGKM) has  joined the call of former Senator Rene    Saguis-ag for the suspension of Rep. Manny Pacquiao from the House of Representatives up to the  end of his term.
Earlier, Saguisag  lambasted the fighting congressman-Philippine Basketball Association  (PBA) playing coach for treating Congress as a  “hobby” and as top absentee in his letter to the  editor published by the Inquirer.
Ruperto Cruz, PGKM  chair, and like Saguisag,  has also called for the suspension of Pacquiao from Congress sayingthe work of a congressman is “a full time job.” Cruz said Pacquiao  should know his limitations.
It is very clear that  the  PBA is just after his  money and Pacquiao’s pockets are being picked  literally by greedy corporations for their own  selfish interests, he added.
Cruz said the PBA has violated its own rules in allowing Pacquiao as  playing coach for  Team  KIA for pecuniary interest. “Why should the  PBA bend its rules for Pacquiao if it is not interested  in getting his  money?” Cruz asked.
Cruz also criticized  the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for giving the Pinoy boxing icon  the honorary rank of acommodore.
A Philippine News Agency (PNA) report  said the PCG has conferred the rank to  Pacquiao which is equivalent to brigadier general in the Armed Forces  of the Philippines (AFP) making him an honorary  “one-star general.”
It was supposedly a gift on his 36th birthday. The report also said the Sarangani representative  took the oath as a  member of the PCG Auxiliary unit on Wednesday  last week. Pacquiao currently  holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the AFP’s Reserve Force.
The Coast Guard is an  attached agency to the  Department of Transportation  of Communications (DOTC).  It was reported that the PCG rank was bestowed  upon  Pacquiao  allegedly to access use of his yacht and helicopter  in emergencies such as calamities.
Cruz expressed  doubts if Pacquiao would allow use of his  vehicles. And even if he did, Cruz questioned  their appropriateness for  such purposes as rescue,  retrieval and relief operations.
“If the PCG rank is  an award for Pacquiao for possible use  of his chopper and yacht, then why did not the PCG  awarded the same ranks to those individuals who have long been lending their equipment, vehicles to government  during calamities,”
Cruz asked, even as he mentioned the Ayalas, Lopezes, Aboitizes and  others as having served such purpose.
At the rate ranks and titles are  bestowed upon Pacquiao, from seargeant to colonel in  he Army to commodore now, a national hero status as “Pambansang Kamao”
Cruz said he would not be surprised  if religious groups would push for his canonization as  a saint. “God forbid that President Aquino would declare  him Honorary President,” Cruz said.
“Then, pours would  not anymore be a banana republic but a garbage  republic.”
This is the reason why the PGKM is calling for  competence in governance, he added.
==High hopes for better 2015 Pampanga bids 2014 goodbye==
*Source: http://punto.com.ph/News/Article/21864/Volume-8-No-44/Headlines/br-i-u-High-hopes-for-better-2015-i--u-Pampanga-bids-2014-goodbye
*Wednesday, December 24, 2014 2:29 pm
:By Ding Cervantes
Pampanga is bidding 2014 farewell short of big good news. With less  than two years in the Aquino administration,    only the promise of a P1.2 billion low-cost carrier  passenger terminal seems to have gained  foothold in the hopes of  Capampangans, Binay,  Central Luzon folk, that the Clark international  Airport would be the pivot for an economic boom  past the devastating eruption of Mt. Pinatubo  in 1991.
The year 2014 also  prominently headlined  a  non-Capampanganin local newspapers. Tondo,  Manila-born Defin Lee was arrested in March over an alleged  P6.6-billion syndicated estafa case on his Xevera housing projects in Mabalacat  City and Bacolor town, and has  remained at the provincial jail in the City of San Fernando since then.
His lawyers linked housing czar Vice Pres.  Jejomar Binay to the case, and Lee himself had openly said he would be doomed should  Binay win the presidency in 2016.
Lawmen and criminality were also highlights in this  province this passing year, the lawmen pursuing suspects in gory crimes and hauling big, as much as P7 billion of shabu  in two areas in the City of San Fernando last  September.
These accomplishments were,  however, negated by cases where criminal groups were  headed by some policemen themselves. CLARK AIRPORT PROMISE It was a government promise that dated back to Executive Order No. 174 signed by  then Pres. Ramos in 1994.
Clark, it said, was to be the future  site of the country’s premier international gateway. Even through Capampangan ex-Pres. Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo, Clark airport struggled towards realizing EO 174.
Local folk in this struggle  knew all too well that prominent Metro Manila-based tycoons lacked enthusiasm for  this move. But it was a measure that Capampangans saw as necessary  to build up the  confidence of more airlines to oper-ate at Clark.
Only recently, newly installed Clark International Airport Corp.  (CIAC) President- CEO Emigdio Tanjuatco urged the national government  to make an unequivocal declaration of the Clark airport as a premiere gateway under  a dual airport system in the country.
“This will significantly boost  the confidence of airlines to establish regular flights at  Clark,” Tanjuatco said, as he cited the experience of Japan which  now has four international  airports and where the biggest, the Narita International Airport, is located 60 kilometers  east of central Tokyo.
Tanjuatco said that an executive order from Pres. Aquino  on such declaration would be “fine”,  but that a “strong statement” from the Department of Transportation and  Communications (DOTC) would do.
Clark is noted to have its  own “catchment” area for potential passengers in the four  regions north of Metro Manila, while the  Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has the regions south of the metropolis.
This, on top of a study indicating  that some three million passengers from Central and Northern Luzon who had flown abroad via NAIA are either not aware of Clark flights or claim that Clark did not have flights to their destinations.
“We are targeting this three million people so we are pursuing plans to have a P1.2 billion low cost carrier terminal finished at Clark soonest,” he noted.
The P1.2 billion is included in the General Appropriations Act for 2015 amid target to have the new terminal totally finished, if not operational,  by the time Pres. Aquino steps down in 2016.
Tanjuatco said the new terminal would  increase the Clark airport’s capacity to as much  as eight million passengers annually. Tanjuatco said CIAC is  continuing with its “roadshow”  campaign to make folk in Central and Northern Luzon aware of Clark flights and convince them that Clark is a better option than NAIA for its proximity and convenience of both travel and facilities.
The good news on the airport was from Pampanga 1st District Rep. Joseller “Yeng” Guiao who had worked for the P1.2 billion budget for a lowcost carrier (LCC) terminal for the Clark airport in the GAA, a first in the history of the  airport.
This, on top of reports that Pres. Aquino had tasked the Department of Transportation and Communications    ((DOTC) to conduct a feasibility study for a new high-speed railway to link Clark to Metro Manila.
:DELFIN LEE  SAGA
Binay orchestrated the cases against him.  “Vice Pres. Binay, face me  in the Senate. Ilabas po natin ang              katotohanan at magkaalaman  na tayo kung sino po and sinungaling sa atin,” Lee said in a post in the Globe Asiatique  Faceboon account.
Addressing Binay, Lee said“kailangan ko pa pong magpa-  subpoena sa Senate para lang masabi ko ang totoo. Humarap  din po kayo (I need to  be asked to be subpoena’s by the Senate to tell the truth. 
Face the Senate, too).” Lee reminded Binay that  “you have always said that you are being a victim of  politicking. I am not a politician but isn’t it true that your politicking  is victimizing me?” “That is what you are doing  to  me, you are using me in politicsto boost your popularity,” he said.
Lee reiterated in his post that he had been “dealing  with Pag-IBIG Fund for 20 years  without negative record norany debt.” “But when you (Binay) assumed  post, I suddenly became a scam artist in less than a month. The fact is that Globe Asiatique had even been a top performer.
Your agency had used my projects as models to lure buyers and borrowers.  Instead of supporting me, you sought  loopholes to create a scam without basis,” he also  said.
He reminded Binay that “we have met each other in nine  cases filed before the Court of Appeals before nine divisions with 27 justices. You did not win, all the decisions favored Globe Asiatique.” But his debate challenge fell on deaf ears.
Not even theSenate could have served asenue  or the debate, after a judge of the Regional Trial Court in San Fernando barred Lee from attending a Senate hearing  on his case.
Lee said he would “rot” in jail in case Binay becomes president in 2016, but recent surveys showed Binay’s presidency has become a challenged  scenario.In March, national and local headlines knew one name: Delfin  Lee.
Initially labelled as fugitive, he was finally arrested in Manila for being allegedly involved in syndicated estafa costing P6.6 billion of government funds for his housing projects in Bacolor and Mabalacat  in Pampanga.
But  Globe Asiatique President Delfin Lee challenged Vice Pres. Jejomar Binay to a debate in the Senate “for us to let out the truth and find out who is lying.” He believed that
:DRUGS, CRIMES AND COPS
The estimated street value of the drugs was placed  at P7 billion. Amid such accomplishments were cases that  egated  the police image.
In July, authorities busted  a criminal group headed  by rookie policeman following his  arrest and those of his four cohorts shortly after they robbed the residence of a British national in a posh subdivision at Barangay Sta. Cruz,  Porac town.
The gang leader was identified  by the police as PO1John Paul Tanglao, 25,  detailed at the Regional Public Safety Battalion 3 (RPSB3) stationed in Porac and a resident of Marcos Village, Barangay San Nicolas, City of San  Fernando.
The other suspects were  Joey Guiao, 46, alias Kuya,  of Sta. Lucia,  City of San Fernando, Dennis Bigeras, 36, of Pulung Maragul, and Mark Navarro, 25, alias Mac-mac, of Villeras  Compound, Pulung Maragul, both in Angeles City.
Senior Supt. Marlon Madrid, officer-in-charge (OIC) of Pampanga  Provincial Police Office (PPO), said Tanglao, armed with M16 rifle and clad in police uniform,  accompanied by other members of the gang, barged into the residence of Nigel Martin Witty, a  Briton, and accused the victim of running a cybersex den.
The suspects, Madrid said, shoved the victim inside the house at gunpoint as the  suspects started to cart off his belongings in the house. The incident was witnessed by Witty’s live-in partner Suzette Soriano.
Miro said the suspects were about to leave the victim’s residence onboard a blue Toyota Fortuner (ZHF- 737) when intercepted by operatives from the PPO Intelligence Branch and Pampanga  Criminal Investigation  and Detection Group (CIDG).
Last September, criminal  charges were filed against four Chinese nationals who were arrested in a raid on a “mega” shabu laboratory and storage facility in the City of San Fernando. The big catch was  shabu and related paraphernalia worth some P7 billion.
Charged before the Department of Justice were Neri  Tan,  Willy Yap, Jason Lee, and  Ying Ying Huang alias Sophie Lee. All suspects, except for  Huang, were from Xiamen, China.
The fourth suspect was  from Fujian province. The Philippine National Police’s  Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency arrested the suspects  in two separate raids in a  warehouse” in Greenville Subdivision, Barangay San Jose.
And in another “warehouse” in Richtown Subdivision, Barangay Sindalan, all in  San Fernando. Several boxes of shabuwere seized in a house in  Greenville Subdivision  where three of the suspects were arrested. Authorities said they recovered more than 1,000 kilos of  shabu from a  makeshift lab.
==Security in place for 2015 int’l events in Clark- PAF==
*Source: http://punto.com.ph/News/Article/21867/Volume-8-No-44/Feature-Article/Security-in-place-for-2015-int%E2%80%99l-events-in-Clark-PAF
*Tuesday, December 23, 2014 3:02 pm
:By Astrud Aguinaldo
 
CLARK FREEPORT – “It’s all systems go” for a heightened security measure  in this freeport in preparation for the    upcoming  Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation  (APEC), Hot Air Balloon Festival and the Balikatan Exercises here next year.
This was the assurance of Brig. Gen  John Oliviamor Estabillo, commander of  the 600th Air Base Wing of  the Philippine Air Force (PAF), during an interview last Wednesday.  According to Estabillo, Task Group Clark was    formed in support of the upcoming international events here in 2015.
The PAF commander said the heightened security measures were made in close coordination with the Clark Development  Corp. (CDC), Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) and other concerned  government agencies.
“We are doing our best kasi nakatingin sa atin angbuong mundo (the whole world  is looking at us), I hope everything will work as planned,” Estabillo said.
“We have an  excellent outlook for 2015, always back to zero, everything is new.  Whatever lapses we had in the previous  year, we’ll try to improve this time,” Estabillo assured.
The PAF wing commander said the highlight of this year’s accomplishments was the PAF Day  on July 1 held at the Haribon hangar and graced by President Aquino as  guest of honor and speaker.It can be recalled  that on January 10, 1993, the 600th Air Base Wing was activated  replacing the Clark Air Base Command (Cabcom).
The 600th Wing continued to provide base security and a wide variety of  ground support services since  then, Estabillo said.
==Lazatin: Rodriguez’s re-election bid good for San Fernando==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2014/12/22/lazatin-rodriguez-s-re-election-bid-good-san-fernando-383326
*Monday, December 22, 2014
:By Joey Pavia (Contributor)
 
ANGELES CITY -- Former first district Representative Carmelo "Tarzan" Lazatin welcomed Monday the decision of third district Representative Oscar "Oca" Rodriguez to seek re-election, allowing a "harmonious relationship" between officials in the nearby City of San Fernando.
In a phone interview, Lazatin said both Rodriguez and City of San Fernando Mayor Edwin Santiago "are doing very good in their respective posts and there is no reason for them to clash in 2016."
“Economic progress is easier to attain when congressmen and mayors are in peace and harmony. More importantly, they are willing to work together for the benefit of the people,” said Lazatin.
“I will be the first to be hurt if they will slug it out in politics next year because they are both long-time friends,” said Lazatin.
It could be recalled that rumors circulated that Rodriguez wants to make a comeback as mayor of this city and challenge his long-time political ally, Santiago. Rodriguez was a former three-term mayor and Santiago was then his vice-mayor on three occasions.
“It heals,” said Santiago when asked to comment about the decision of Rodriguez to seek a second term as congressman in 2016. He did not elaborate.
Lazatin said “Santiago, just like Rodriguez then, is doing well as mayor.”
“What I admire most about Santiago is that there will be no tax increase in the city next year,” he added.
Lazatin said "the local economy improved tremendously during the time of Rodriguez as mayor."
==US custody of Pemberton hit==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2014/12/20/us-custody-pemberton-hit-383077
*Sunday, December 21, 2014 (Date Published)
: By Reynaldo G. Navales
 
CLARK FREEPORT -- Anakpawis Partylist Representative Fernando Hicap described as "highly condemnable" the United States government's hard stand to retain the custody of US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton, suspect for the murder of transgender Jennifer Laude.
Hicap said the people should strongly demand not only for the Philippine government to assert custody of the American soldier while the murder case is still being prosecuted, but also for the immediate termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
The lawmaker said that the recent development on the Laude murder case is a clear demonstration that VFA is favorable to the US and disadvantageous to Filipinos.
"Ito ang pinakadahilan kung bakit nananawagan na kaming ibasura ang VFA dati pa - maaaring gahasain, patayin o agrabyaduhin ng mga sundalong Amerikano ang mga pamilya natin, kababayan, ngunit hindi sila mapapasailalim sa ating justice system. Ang bagay na ito ay nagpapatunay na tinatapakan ng VFA ang ating pambansang soberanya," (This is the very reason why we have demanded the termination of the VFA from the very start - US soldiers could rape, kill and violate our loved ones, fellow countrymen, but they could not be subjected to our justice system. This fact certainly illustrates how the VFA is undermining our national sovereignty) Hicap said in a statement.
Anakpawis said that the government has not only been incapable of protecting the welfare of Filipinos against American infringements but, more appallingly, has in fact been acting as an accomplice to these very violations through its defense of the VFA and the promotion of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
The group also said that the US government’s undercutting of the Philippine justice system, is just one of the many examples of how it has been acting out its superpower status, along with its brazen disregard of international laws and conventions as recently disclosed by reports of its use of torture methods against imprisoned suspected terrorists.
“Kayang i-invoke ng US government o embassy ang anumang probisyon ng VFA dahil nga nagsisilbi sa kanila ito at kontra sa interes ng mga Pilipino,” (The US government through its embassy could conveniently invoke any of the VFA provisions as these actually serve their side to the detriment of Filipino interest) Hicap said.
“Ang paggigiit ng Amerika sa custody kay Pemberton ay sampal sa ating pagka-Pilipino dahil hindi maipagtanggol ng gubyerno ang ating sistemang panghustisya at pambansang soberanya. Hindi tayo makapag-desisyon sa sarili nating teritoryo." (US assertion of Pemberton custody is a slap in the face of the Filipinos because the government could not uphold our justice system and national sovereignty. We could not even decide independently within our own territory) Hicap said.
==Burials resume at Clark Veterans Cemetery==
==Burials resume at Clark Veterans Cemetery==
*Source: http://angelescityvoice.com/burials-resume-at-clark-veterans-cemetery/
*Source: http://angelescityvoice.com/burials-resume-at-clark-veterans-cemetery/
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