NBI CHIEF IN ISABELA DRUG MULE CASE KILLED!

(photo credits: news@yahoo.com)

NBI CHIEF WHO PRODUCED CONDEMNED PINAY
HANDLER KILLED IN ACCIDENT

by: Raymund Catindig

SANTIAGO CITY - The Acting regional Director of the National Bureau of Investigation in Cagayan Valley responsible for bringing into the hands of the law the accused handler of condemned Drug mule Sally Ordinario-Villanueva was killed instantly in a vehicular accident at San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija at dawn Monday.

Atty. Florencio Binalay 64, who is due to retire this year was driving his Honda Accord car when it rammed a tree besides the National highway; Nueva Ecija police disclosed. Critically wounded with Binalay is daughter Leonidez Binalay Baquilan 26.

Last February; Binalay said he was highly elated when the person he was to track down- Mapet Cortez a.k.a Tita Cacayan voluntarily acknowledged the NBI “invitation”when agents sought her cooperation at her residence in Alicia town. Binalay told STAR the central office of the NBI ordered him to produce Cacayan to shed light on the busted drug delivery related by Villanueva. Cacayan was said to have handed Villlanueva the silver luggage containing four kilos of Heroine that cost the latter's apprehension and conviction in China.

“At first we were apprehensive that Cacayan would not cooperate. We neither have warrant nor reason to arrest her,” confides Binalay. Luckily, it was Cacayan who told Binalay she was seeking protection from the NBI fearing Villanueva's kin would get back at her the late NBI Director said.
Cacayan, who met Villanueva while they were employed as OFWs in Macau in 2007, said she has nothing to do with the latter's accusation. Binalay said Cacayan voluntarily went with the agents straight to Manila after being briefed at the NBI office in the Capital of Ilagan.

ISABELA DAY CELEBRATION: Catindig Rewrites Isabela's History!

Mr. Raymund F. Catindig intends to celebrate the Isabela Day on May 1 to 10, 2011 to launch a book he intends to entitle as the: “The Tribal Warriors from Cagayan Valley: The Lost Pages in Our History Book”, to commemorate the Isabela Day. Mr. Catindig shall feature in his book other unpopular historical facts and events that helped mold shaping our national history from researches he conducted, where Isabela, the Cagayan Valley and its people played an important role.


"The Tribal Warriors from Cagayan Valley:
The Lost Pages in our History Books".
(Intended Title)
By: Raymund F. Catindig.

"As a people of Cagayan Valley rich in our tradition and culture, it is just but fitting for us to reclaim our place in the lost pages of our history books. It is just but fitting for us to give due honor to our forefathers as a tribe, as a people and as leaders who helped shape the history of our nation. It is just but fitting for us to give due recognition to the roles our forefathers played in molding and shaping the history of our nation, which has long been denied from them.

”The life and times of Gen. Mateo Noriel Luga, who led the revolution of the tribal warriors from Cagayan Valley during the Filipino-Spanish War and the Filipino-American War is just but one of the best example of this denial. Even the National Historical Commission admitted that he might probably be one of the most unsung Revolutionaries the Philippines ever had. His parentage and other information about him remains mysterious, but his legacy is more essential for Filipinos to know”. His name was not even mentioned in the accounts of generals of President Emilio Aguinaldo, may be because he was considered merely as an "Ybanag" who led the tribal warriors from Cagayan Valley to revolt against the Spaniards. Aside from Luga, there were many more tribes and tribal leaders from Cagayan Valley who joined him in the Katipunan. Many never made it back to Cagayan Valley.

“It is just but fitting for us to recognize them and give them due recognition, for us who remained to unite as a people and be proud that once in the missing pages of our history book, there were tribal warriors from Cagayan Valley who left their family, homes and properties to serve the higher interest . It is just but fitting for us to unite and reclaim our place history as a people from Cagayan Valley.

If there is a hero in the missing pages of our history book other than Lapu-Lapu, who stood against foreign power and won, it is none other than this gallant general with the tribal warriors from Cagayan Valley who led the revolution against foreign domination . . ."

"The Tribal Warriors from Cagayan Valley: The Lost Pages in our History Books".
By: Raymund Catindig.

AMERICAN ALLEGED RAPIST!

AMERICAN CHARGED WITH "RAPE" IN TUGUEGARAO Raymund Catindig

TUGUEGARAO CITY- A 50 year old American who have been charged by his sex partner of rape even if the latter went with him voluntarily in a Motel apparently seems to enjoy the “adventure.” This prompted Supt. Feliciano Carangian, Cagayan Assistanct Police Director to seek the Department of Foreign Affairs recall Scotty Brown of Mississipi, United States. Brown is currently residing in Barangay Leonarda here.

Carangian said Brown was earlier charged with rape in the town of Lallo. Drugs were allegedly found in his possession during the alleged rape. Last week, a 20-year old woman filed rape charges against the said American claiming she was repeatedly “forced” to have sex inside a downtown Motel. Carangian said, Brown was said to have several criminal cases filed against him in the province but remains to roam around the city scott-free.

SOLON'S DAUGHTER IN CAGAYAN POLL!

SOLON's DAUGHTER IN CAGAYAN POLL CHARLIE C. LAGASCA/RAYMUND F. CATINDIG TUGUEGARAO CITY.

Its all over, Vice Mayor Baby Aline Vargas-Alfonso is now the duly elected Representative of the second Distict of this province dislodging the last of the stalwarts of President Noynoy Aquino’s Liberal Party ...in a one-on-one fight in the special elections held last Saturday. Former Governor Edgar Ramones Lara, conceded stating his call to unite for the progress of Cagayan. The new Congresswoman who is incumbent vice mayor of the Vargas scion hometown of Abulug, Cagayan has been proclaimed by the Commission on Elections by a wide margin shortly before midnight just as Lara issued a press statement conceding defeat to the daughter of late Rep. Florencio Vargas. The latter’s death in June last year had precipitated the conduct of said special election.

Alfonso’s candidacy was backed by the influential machinery of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Gov. Alvaro Antonio, both founding leaders of Team Cagayan, where the Vargases’ political party, Lakas-Kampi-CMD, is affiliated.

Lara, who, himself, served as the district’s congressman for three consecutive terms before being elected governor for two terms, ran under the banner of President Aquino’s Liberal Party, whose almost entire slate was wiped out by the Team Cagayan in last year’s polls.
Lawyer Catherine Allas, Cagayan election supervisor, said that they went on to proclaim Alfonso, considering her already insurmountable lead over Lara, even though the elections returns from the remote towns of Calayan and Rizal, which are around 19,000 votes, have yet to be officially canvassed.

“We no longer waited for the (Calayan and Rizal) results. This would no longer affect (Alfonso’s) lead. Of the (district’s) 10 canvassed towns, Lara only won in (his hometown of) Lasam,” said Allas, describing the conduct of the poll as generally peaceful.

The provincial board of canvassers proclaimed Alfonso after obtaining a commanding lead of 69,461 votes over Lara’s 26,587 or an overwhelming margin of 42,874.
“We can now look forward to resuming the plans and programs of my father which had been held in abeyance since his death. We also doff our hat to our opponent who had conducted a high-level campaign. He can still offer his services to the people even in a private capacity,” said Alfonso, also a former three-term Abulug town mayor.

Alfonso’s father, then third term-seeking 72-year-old Rep. Vargas had also bested Lara in their congressional fight in last year’s election only to succumb to an illness in June last year or a week before the opening of the present Congress.

Lara, whose camp blamed massive irregularities as the cause of his election defeat against then Alcala town mayor now Governor Antonio in their 2007 gubernatorial race, conceded defeat to Alfonso, even congratulating her for her victory.

“I offered myself to be in service of our people. They have made their choice. I must respect that. It has become clear to me that the brand of politics I offered no longer fit the temperament of our electorate. This is a glaring fact I must accept. My congratulations to Madam Alfonso. God bless our people,” said the vanquished Lara.

Besides Abulug, Calayan, Lasam and Rizal, Cagayan’s second district, which has 154,692 registered voters, also comprises the towns of Allacapan, Ballesteros, Claveria, Pamplona, Sanchez Mira, Santa Praxedes, Piat and Santo Niño.

Earlier, the Comelec noted a dismal turnout of voters, which it said could have been attributed to the tsunami scare that engulfed residents despite authorities’ already having lifted the tsunami alert throughout the country before the election date .

“Residents who were evacuated from their homes due to the tsunami alert were scared of returning to their homes and eventually to vote, which somehow resulted in the low turnout of voters,” Allas said.

Of the district’s 12 towns, eight - Abulug, Allacapan, Ballesteros, Claveria, Pamplona, Sanchez Mira, Santa Praxedes and Calayan - had been alerted for a possible tsunami attack.

As per the poll body’s earlier resolution, the election period, which started last Feb. 10, will end on March 22. CCL/RFC

TSUNAMI ALERT!

ILAGAN, Isabela

Raymund Catindig

Residents of the isolated coastal towns in this province has came back from the mountains to resume their normal lives after an overnight of chaos wrought by the scare of an impending Tsunami. Dinapigue Mayor Renato Candido said they considered to return to the plains of the poblacion near the coastline at around 9:00 in the evening, an hour passed the expected tidal havoc. Office of the Civil Defense Regional Director Norma Talosig lifted the Tsunami alert no. 2 at 11:00 shortly before midnight. Candido said they are used to conduct mass evacuation in his town since the lashing of Typhoon Kabayan in 2007. Dinapigue which is adjacent to Baler in the province of Aurora is known typhoon path where brewing weather disturbances in the Pacific ocean develops and enters Luzon area. He said they have not noticed the lashing of the effects of the Tsunami in their coastline which is located in the southernmost part of the Isabela eastern seaboard. At the northern Part; Local Government Radio Operator Eugene Pasana told a radio interview that the Tsunami lashing was felt in the shores of Palanan but it was not huge enough to cause a disastrous effect. Hundreds of families were received by the Fr. Eugene Pete Dionisio and were sheltered at the Palanan National Fisheries High School Compound that is some 7.km from the sea shore.

At the Capital town, Bishop Joseph Nacua has alerted parish priest in assigned in the coastal towns to exhaust all available communications to include the ringing of the church bells for 30 minutes. Palanan Parish Priest Sam Salazar waged a text campaign to warn Palanons and residents of the nearby towns to evacuate the shores immediately.

Scores of panic buyers were alarmed since the Church Bells also rang in the capital town but laughed at themselves later realizing that Ilagan is far from the tidal wave threat.
(Photo Credits: Tsunami sign/ Associated Press)

DIMAYUGA ON ISABELA NEWS!

OUR PRAYERS & DEEPEST SYMPATHY

I join Isabela News in its maiden issue, in expressing my deepest sympathy to the people in Japan.

Actual death, injuries and damaged to property is not yet known. I have never imagined that Japan, a country I’ve known for decades where many Filipino entertainers were warmly welcomed and have made good today, would be so helpless as I watched on television how thousands of houses were washed away like a shuffled deck of cards.

I share the sympathy of the Filipinos left behind who now resides and adopted Japan as their new found home since I left the country decades ago. I urge talents who have been part of Bellstar Promotion before to say a prayer for the Japanese and Filipinos in the country who now suffering because of the tragic incident that recently happened in Japan.

It may take time before Japan will recover, but with God with Us, Japan shall surely overcome this nightmare shall awake stronger than ever.

My deepest sympathy and my appreciation for Isabela news for this opportunity.

Bella Dimayuga

CATINDIG JOINED THE MOVEMENT!

Raymond Catindig, communication graduate of the Far Eastern University, a veteran news writer who has worked with the Philippine Daily Star among the major dailies in his arsenal of experience joins the . . . (double click here!)

DINAPIGUE TSUNAMI!

DINAPIGUE TSUNAMI ALERT!
Raymund Catindig

ILAGAN, Isabela- People in the isolated coastal municipality of Dinapgue are moving to higher grounds in anticipation of Tsunami waves expected to crash against the shoreline of this isolated coastal municipality in the Pacific.

Mayor Renato Candido in a text message , said residents have already packed up and are moving to higher grounds at the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains. The lightning exodus is not the first time that took place in the said place. In December 2004; Mayor Candido led the exodus of residents near the sea in response to the alert warning aired by the then Provincial Disaster Council following the tidal wave onslaught in Indonesia. The same evacuation also took place in 2007 in anticipation of typhoon Kabayan (Photo Credits: Dinapigue FB Page).

ASTHMA PATIENTS NEEDS IMMEDIATE CURE!
Ilagan, Isabela – Philippines

ILAGAN, Isabela- A provincial board member here is proposing Nebulizers in each barangay in his district and Governor Faustino Dy III urged that the former include the whole province.

There are people suffering asthma in far flung Barangays of our district! There is a need to address the problem to immediately ease the pain of our constituents before death occurs! A study conducted by the Office of Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Member Rolando Tugade revealed.

Although there is no documented death as yet, incidence of this nature should not be left unchecked. A , Nebulizer, which is a gadget used to relieve asthma patients from respiratory congestions can help ease the suffering of our poor constituents as first aid in case of attack, said Tugade. Consequently, Tugade proposes that each Barangay should be given a Nebulizer to be taken out of his Economic Development Fund. Governor Faustino Dy III realized the wisdom of Tugade’s proposal and urged that the program should include the whole province instead.

However, to evade suspicion on the nobility of his intention considering his past connection with a trading company in Ilagan allegedly supplying Medicines and Medical Gadgets, Tugade requested the Commission on Audit to comment on his proposal to deter suspicion of conflict of interest and provide transparency on government transactions. “I wanted to make it clear that my proposal was a result of a study and my being connected with a trading company engaged in supplying medicines in the past has nothing to do with my proposal. There is a need to immediately ease the pain of our suffering constituents in fur flung Barangays. Rather than to wait for death to happen, this is the immediate solution to address the problem. This is how serious I am when it comes to the health and lives of our constituents,” Tugade said.