Thai rice fiasco leads to dismissal of 2 Customs men

Florence F. Hibionada

Two top personalities of the Bureau of Customs in the Port of Iloilo have been found guilty of grave misconduct and dishonesty by the Office of the Ombudsman.

SOCO at work as matching begins on prints, bloodstains in hotel killing

Florence F. Hibionada

Fingerprints and bloodstains taken from Tuesday’s bloody hotel crime scene are now subject of intensive matching procedures by experts from the Scene of the Crime Operation (SOCO) team.

DOJ chief orders probe of Iloilo prosecutors

Nestor P. Burgos Jr.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. has ordered an investigation on allegations that Iloilo provincial prosecutors have unjustly dismissed complaints against suspected drug pushers.

A.CHRIS FERNANDEZ

The Iloilo Customs Building located in Muelle Loney and Aduana Streets, Iloilo City.

Security of rich Tsinoys assured

Maricar M. Calubiran

To ensure the safety of affluent members of the Filipino-Chinese community here, some 300 cops from the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) will be deployed at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand in today's highlight of the Chinese New Year celebration.

Mayor Jerry Treñas said the police have already put in place security measures to protect the rich Chinese businessmen in the city during the festival. The barangay tanods coming from adjacent barangays of the place of the activity will act as multiplier force to the law enforcers. Uniformed and plainclothes cops will both be fielded.

The police will secure all the areas where the celebration is to be held. Affluent Filipino-Chinese businessmen and their families participate in the yearly Chinese New Year celebration initiated by the city government.

ILOILO NEWS

‘Still safe and sound,’ DOT, hoteliers assure Iloilo guests amid hotel murder shocker

An isolated case. As such, no cause for alarm and the city’s guests? Still safe and sound.Shared sentiments of two executives from two top hotels in Iloilo and the region’s assistant regional director of the Department of Tourism (DOT).

City gov't to offer incentive package to investors

In anticipation of the possible effects of the global financial crisis, the city government will formulate an incentive package in attracting investors like the Megaworld Corporation.

Iloilo City is still a safe place -- Treñas

City Mayor Jerry Treñas said Iloilo City is still a safe place to live and to visit. The recent murder incident in one of the city’s hotels is only an “isolated case.” It does not mean the city is not safe for the local and foreign tourists, he said.

Salary of traffic aides up for release

City Mayor Jerry Treñas yesterday assured all traffic aides that they will soon receive their salaries from January 1-15, 2009. He said he has already signed all the required documents for the release of the salaries of the traffic aides.

10 fellowships open for 7th San Agustin Writers Workshop

The USA Coordinating Center for Research and Publications (UCRP) is now accepting applications for writing fellowships in the 7th San Agustin Writers Workshop to be held on May 4-8, 2009 at Punta Villa, Iloilo City.

PANAY NEWS

DTI to train vendors, farmers, women become entrepreneurs

SAN JOSE, Antique – The Department of Trade and Industry in its endeavor to create employment and livelihood opportunities amidst global economic depression has designed a program to train vendors, farmers, women and other small scale business groups to become entrepreneurs to generate income in the countryside.

LWUA to invest P3.76 B for water projects in 2009

ROXAS CITY – More Filipino people are expected to have access to safe potable water supply this year.Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) Administrator Orlando Hondrade revealed that said office is planning to invest this year an additional P3.76 billion to fund the provincial water projects.

NEGROS NEWS

Mayor sees politics over cases filed against his administration

BACOLOD CITY -- "No other motive except to discredit me and my administration," was Mayor Evelio Leonardia's reaction to the graft charges filed by two allies of Lone District Congressman Monico Puentevella against him and other city officials at the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas.

Businessmen along Lacson St. oppose flyover construction

BACOLOD CITY -- Sangguniang Panglungsod Member Roberto Rojas, Chairperson of the Committee on Infrastructure and Public Works, confirmed yesterday that most businessmen along Lacson Road vehemently oppose the construction of two flyovers along North Drive-Lacson and Burgos - Lacson streets as it will only worsen the present traffic situation.

COLUMNS

		Bonafide Text Teachers By Nicfranz C. de los Reyes

		reflection Media savvy By Roy Cimagala

		Accents Longing for Boracay at Myrtle Beach By Julia Carreon-Lagoc

		Health@Heart Bad Breath: Is there a cure? By Philip S. Chua

		Bridging the gap The early years of the Iloilo Dinagyang By Prof. Henry Funtecha

		Siftings My (Some!) New Year's Resolutions Ma. Zenaida B. French