6 SUSPECTED COUNTERFEITERS NABBED OVER FAKE MONEY

SIX individuals were arrested for producing and selling counterfeit money amounting to P1 million in Pasig City on Tuesday morning. The suspects were identified as Jaypee Balis alias Jheppy Sanday, Aladin Akil, Satar Akil, Ramil Badang, Alpha Sabar and Watari Kusay. They are said to be part of a syndicate involved in counterfeit money operation in the city, with Balis as their leader. The Southern National Capital Region (NCR) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) originally served a search warrant against them for possessing illegal possession of firearms at 8:30 a.m. Upon serving the warrant, the Southern NCR- CIDG was able to recover nine wrappers of suspected fake P1,000 bills, five wrappers of suspected fake P500 bills and 100 pieces of rejected or suspected fake P500 bills.The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas personnel confirmed that the confiscated bills are fake. Police also recovered one Smith &Wesson 38 cal. revolver, five cal. 38 live ammunition and two magazines. Southern NCR- CIDG chief and Senior Supt. Wilson Asueta said authorities have been monitoring the group. He said the counterfeit money being sold may be used in the coming barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan ( Youth Council) elections. The elections are set for May 14. The suspects will face charges for violating Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and Article 168 or Illegal Possession of Counterfeit Treasury.

EX- CUSTOMS OFFICER, EX- VILLAGE COUNCILOR GUILTY OF BREACH OF CONDUCT

THE Pasay City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 45 has convicted Jose Dimatulac, then- Customs Operations Officer III of the Bureau of Customs, after he pleaded guilty to charges that stemmed from failure to file his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth ( SALN) from 2005 to 2011. According to a statement issued by the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday, the court found him guilty of seven counts of violation of Section 8 of Republic Act ( RA) 6713 and fined him a total of P14,000. RA 6713 is the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. According to the same statement, the Mandaluyong City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 60 also found former barangay kagawad ( councilor) Saturnino Guanga of Mandaluyong City guilty of five counts of violation of Section 8 of RA 6713 “for not filing his SALN from 2009 to 2013.” The court fined Guanga P5,000. “During the course of their respective trials, Dimatulac and Guanga changed their ‘ not guilty’ plea to ‘guilty,’” according to the Ombudsman’s statement. A SALN is a declaration made under oath of assets ( lands, houses, cash), liabilities ( personal or institutional loans) and business and financial interests of a government official or employee, of his or her spouse, and of his or her unmarried children under 18 years old who are living in their parents’s households. Under the law, all government officials and employees must submit their SALN within 30 days after they assume office and then on or before April 30 of every year and within 30 days after they leave from the service.

MAYOR ORDERS FREE ANTI- RABIES VACCINATION IN CAVITE CITY

GENERAL TRIAS City Mayor Antonio Ferrer has ordered an intensified animal vaccination drive throughout the city to protect residents and visitors from rabies infection. The City Agriculture Office under Neri Marquez now goes around the city’s 33 barangay ( villages) to conduct free rabies vaccination of dogs and cats and at the same time. The ultimate goal of the city is to have a rabies- free General Trias for the coming year. Last year, around 16,689 dogs and cats were vaccinated by the office. “The more cost- effective way of addressing the problem of rabies is to look at the source of rabies, dogs, cats and other animals but more commonly, 90 percent are from dogs and cats,” Marquez said. Rabies is a viral disease that should never be neglected and according to the Department of Health, the number of rabies infection usually rises during summer months. An anti- rabies shot in private veterinary clinics costs around P500 to P1,000.

QUEZON CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY TO IMPLEMENT DRESS CODE

THE Quezon City Public Library ( QCPL) is calling on its readers, researchers and other library patrons to avoid wearing improper and vulgar outfits to ensure that decency is observed inside the city’s book hub. The QCPL is going to implement a dress code not only in the main library at the QC Hall compound but also in its 18 branch libraries in the city. ThedDress code will prohibit visitors dressed in indecent outfits to avoid distraction among library users. Improper get- ups, according to QCPL head Emelita Villanueva, more often than not distract the attention of readers who wish to deeply focus on what they are reading. She said there are people mindful of others who are roaming the library area improperly dressed. “Library patrons are also requested to avoid loitering inside the library and needlessly talking to avoid too much noise and maintain silence. Wearing rude, offensive and eye- catching outfits should also be reprimanded to favor those who do not want to be disturbed,” Villanueva added.