FOUR DRUG PUSHERS KILLED, 23 NABBED IN PANGASINAN
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan: At least four alleged identified drug pushers were killed by still unknown suspects while a total of 23 others were arrested by police in their separate anti- drug and search warrant operations in various towns and cities in Pangasinan, according to report from the provincial police office obtained by The Manila Times on Saturday. Two of the four drug pushers killed were from Santa Barbara town were identified as Reynaldo Arenas- Macaraeg and Joemen Garcia- Macaraeg, both residents of Barangay Matic- Matic. Reynaldo, notorious drug pusher who surrendered on September 1 at the police station and shifted to driving a passenger jeepney, was shot dead by two still unknown men riding on a motorcycle while he was waiting for passengers in Barangay Minien West. Joemen, identified as drug pusher, was shot dead while sleeping inside their house by another two unknown persons.
COA: SLEEPY CATANDUANES TOWN PAID P4 M FOR JANITORS
LEGAZPI CITY: The municipal government of Caramoran in Catanduanes has paid more than P4 million covering the year 2015 for the salaries of numbers of job order workers who were all designated as janitors, according to the reports from the Commission On Audit (COA). The COA Annual Audit report said the job order workers were also granted travel allowances and incidental expenses. They were mostly assigned at the Office of the Mayor, vice mayor and the Sangguniang Bayan. The COA report said 82 job orders designated as janitors were paid P250 each on a daily basis, adding there were months when the numbers of hired janitors rose to more than 120.
DAR- ARMM PUSHES FOR NATURAL FARMING SYSTEM
COTABATO CITY: The agrarian reform depart- ment in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is pushing for natural farming system in an effort to encourage the agriculture sector to venture into chemicalfree agri products, officials said on Saturday. To capacitate rice farmers, the Department of Agrarian Reform ( DAR- ARMM) and the provincial agrarian reform office held a two- day Natural Farming System Training in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao on Friday. The training provided agrarian reform beneficiaries in the province an opportunity to develop their own farming plans. Before the training proper started, the rationale and objectives of the activity was explained by Rebecca Bautista of the DAR- ARMM regional office. Noemi Barretto also of DAR- ARMM, training leader, explained that natural farming system, specifically the ‘ EMExtended’ and “Bokashi,” harness natural fertilization to achieve cost- efficient and environmentfriendly crop production. EM stands for Effective Microorganisms as coined and created by Dr. Terou Higa of Japan, Barreto said. On the other hand, "Bokashi" is a Japanese word that means “fermented organic matter,” she added.
EASTERN MINDANAO COMMAND ACTIVATES ANTI- TERROR UNIT
THE Davao City-based Eastern Mindanao Command (EMC) formally activated its anti-terror unit, Joint Task Force Haribon, during ceremonies at the Naval Station Felix Apolinario on Saturday. EMC spokesperson, Major Ezra Balagtey, said Joint Task Force Haribon's activation came amid the changing security landscape in Davao City with its emergence as the alternate seat of government and a venue for international events. The unit will be under the operational control of EMC so air, land and sea capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines will be integrated to enhance the security of Davao City and its immediate peripheries, including sea lanes, from terrorism and other threats. Balagtey said Joint Task Force Haribon will also assist the Presidential Security Group in securing the president and other very important personalities.