Seaman faces rape case vs married woman

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - A 30-year old mother of  four children was allegedly raped the other day by a professional seaman.

Victim Janice (not her true name) identified the suspect as Dennis Manuel, 29, resident of Barangay Palmayo in Floridablanca town. 

Janice  narrated that around two in the morning she was sleeping with her children in the living room of their house when Manuel came to satisfy his lustful desire. 

The victim then notice that the suspect is touching her hair while holding a knife pointed to her. 

Janice begged and asked not to hurt her children.

With this, Manuel assured that he will not harm the children only if Janice will submit herself to him.

The victim claimed that  Manuel was able to consummate his purposed against her will. 

Based on the information report prepared by the local police, the suspect also warned the victim not to tell anyone about what happened or else he will kill her children.

Meanwhile, Manuel in his counter affidavit submitted to the Prosecutors' Office vehemently denied the accusation against him saying that he could not be involved in the incident because he was still sleeping at the time the alleged rape incident was committed.

"Noong ika-06 ng Marso humigit kumulang 7:00 o'clockng gabi ay katext ko ang aking kasintahan na isa rin sea woman na kadarating lang at ito ay kasalukuyang naninirahan sa Bgry. Nao Mexico, Pampanga at kaming dalawa ay umabot na nagtetexan hanggang 9:00 o'clock ng gabi at ako ay nakatulog na ng mga oras na iyon," Manuel stated in his counter affidavit. 

Groups endorse Delta for vice governor

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - Various groups in the province had recently endorsed the candidacy vice gubernatorial aspirant Dennis "Delta" Pineda for having proven his sincere desire to reach out the people in the province particularly during calamities.

Pampanga Mayors' League (PML) President and Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo regarded "Delta" as an action man as he led his team during the rescue operations last year  in towns of Sto. Tomas, Minalin, Macabebe and Apalit after the same were heavily devastated by massive flooding.

Pelayo explained it was only Delta who voluntarily devoted his personal resources including  equipment to save the people trapped in their houses by unprecedented flooding leaving their stomach empty due to continuous downpour of heavy rains for several days.

With this gesture of commitment, the PML drafted a letter unanimously approved by the mayors urging Delta to run for vice governor.

"Kami ang pumilit at nakiusap sa kanya para humabol ng bise gobernador dahil nakita natin ang kaniyang malasakit sa mga kapampangan lalu na sa mahigpit na pangangailangan.

Delta is not new to public service. He has been one of the key officers of the Mayors' League in the Philippines.

He is also the former PML President during his stint as the local chief executive in Lubao town for three consecutive terms.

“Mahal po namin dito sa kuatro distrito si Delta dahil hindi niya kami pinabayaan sa oras ng aming pangangailangan,” Melody Zablan, 34, resident of Barangay Poblacion in Sto. Tomas town.

Meanwhile, the Junkshop Operators and Workers Association in Pampanga likewise vowed an all-out support on the political plan of the younger Pineda.

“Malaki ang naitulong sa amin ni Governor Lilia Pineda pati na ng kanyang anak. Ngayon lamang kami binigyan ng ganitong pansin,” Carlos Cayanan, vice president for Floridablanca Junkshop Association.

The mayor likewise  spearheaded a comprehensive development and assistance programs for the gay sector here, through coordination with Rosas, a gay organization that originated in Sta. Rita. town.

“Iboboto naming si Vice Governor Dennis basta tulungan din niya kaming mga bakla dito sa Candaba,” Rustico “Chantal” Aga, 19, gay, resident of Barangay San Agustin, Candaba town said

'Ninang' cries for political harrasment

STO. TOMAS - Incumbent Vice Mayor Gloria "Ninang" Ronquillo  has cried for political harassment after she has charged before the office of the Provincial Prosecutor a local here  for allegedly attempting to cause harm on her.

Ronquillo disclosed that they are having a political caucus in Northville 12 at Barangay San Vicente this town when certain Rolly Ponce suspiciously appeared  in front carrying a bag.

She said the suspect has blocked her way and even tried to grab her hand. 

"Napansin ko na may nakausling punlo ng kutsilyo ang bag kung kaya't nag desisyon ako sa kabila ng pagkababae ko ay naglakas loob na  agawin angbag para na rn proteksiyunan ang sarili ko sa maaaring masamang balak nito,"  the lady vice mayor stated in her sworn statement. 

Ronquillo noted that Ponce is a known supporter of Mayor Lito Naguit.

The incident was witnessed by Councilor Joseph Lingat wherein he has help Ronquillo in grabbing the bag from the suspect.

"Nang pababa na  si Ninang nakita ko na nakikipag agawan na sa dalang bag ni Ponce. Agad ko siyang sinaklolohan at naagaw namin ang bag na pink," Lingat stated. 

After they get the bag, the suspect hurriedly ran in an unknown direction.

Ronquillo checked the bag and she was surprised to discover a rusty bladed weapon and two fans with marking #88, Kabagis Party list. 

Pineda appeals to Panlilio: no mudslinging please; Pray for me instead

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - Governor Lilia Pineda yesterday has appealed to former Governor Eddie “Among Ed” Panlilio to focus on his flat form of government in his public speeches rather than resorting to character assassination and mudslinging.

Pineda said she felt pity to Among Ed as the latter reportedly told the crowd in Lubao town that the incumbent governor is “plastic” when she appealed to the barangay officials to entertain and welcome the former priests in their areas of jurisdiction.

It was learned that a crowd of political spectators from Lubao town had walked-out in one of Panlilio’s campaign sorties while he allegedly hit Pineda in saying that the latter's call to entertain and welcome him in their areas is purely a bluff.

In an interview with the governor, he advised the former-priest-turned-politician to be true to himself as a person who is aspiring to regain the highest position in the provincial government as she reminded him that he used to preach humility and honesty to the faithful when he was still a man of the cloth.

"Ang pakisabi kumu magpakatutu ya y Among Ed. Ali naku sisiran karing Kapampangan. Nung king palage na makasalanan ku, sana pangadi na naku mu,"  (What I am appealing to Among Ed is, he should be true to himself. Do not badmouth me in front of the Kapampangan. If he thinks I am sinner, I ask him to please pray for me),” she said.

The governor clarified that she has no ill-feeling against Panlilio. “It’s good that he runs against me, the people has the opportunity to choose who they want to lead them in the province,” Pineda said.

“Baka sakaling iyang buri da, iboto de at aku tanggapan ku ita uling yang karapatan da ring memalen a makasulat king saligang batas. (He could be the choice of the people. If they would vote for him, I will accept that because it is the right of the people guaranteed in the Constitution,”

But reports have it that the people manifested their dissatisfaction as there were only a number of supporters who joined his campaign sorties in some of the municipalities.

Pineda to Panlilio: avoid character assisination; focus on flat form of government

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - Governor Lilia Pineda yesterday urged former Governor Eddie Panlilio to focus on his flat form of government in his public speeches rather resorting to character assisination merely to pursuade Kapampangan to vote for him.

This came as a crowd of political spectators from Lubao town in one of the campaign sorties left Panlilio while attacking Pineda saying that the latter's call  to entertain the former priest-turned politician is purely bluff.

The governor told Panlilio to be true to himself as a person who is aspiring the regain the highest post in the provincial government aside from his being a former priest who previously preached humility and honesty to the faithful.

"Ang ipinakikiusap ko lang ay magpakatotoo siya. Huwag niya akong sisiraan sa harap ng aking mga kababayan. Kung sa tingin niya ay makasalanan ako ay ipinalangin na lamang niya ako," she said.

However, the governor clarified that she is not mad with Panlilio but instead she feels sorry with what is happening to him campaign sorties as some Kapampangans in places they visited manifested dissatisfaction.

"Hindi ako galit sa kanya. Maganda nga humabol siya mayroon pagpipilian ang mga tao baka sakaling iboto pa siya ng mga tao nung hindi sila masiyahan sa aking performance.

Ex-mayor calls incumbent as ‘queen of humps’

SASMUAN – Former Mayor Nardo Velasco who is eyeing for a comeback yesterday has branded out-going Mayor Josefina Leoncio as ‘queen of humps’ for having constructed a series of the same even in some portions of the national road here.

 He said Leoncio failed to implement legacy programs and projects despite the overwhelming financial support given by the provincial government except that humps were noticeably constructed in major roads and also in front of the municipal hall.

“Wala naman siyang iiwang magandang programa sa mga tao pero humps marami. Pati harap ng munisipyo at paakyat ng tulay nilagyan niya ng humps,” Velasco noted.

The former mayor suggested to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to look into the existence of humps in national road as the same were constructed without the prior notice.

It was learned that under the existing regulations humps are not allowed on national road.

Meanwhile, he explained that the people in this town deserve more than what they had received from the current administration.

With this, Velasco vowed to maximize all available resources in the municipal government including those coming from the provincial capitol to provide quality services and tangible projects beneficial to the general welfare of the people should he gets elected on 2013 midterm elections.

“Ang gusto natin ay ibigay sa tao ang gobyernong para sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng tamang  paggamit ng pondo,” he said.

Sun Star Pampanga tried to reach the Mayor Leoncio for comment but to no avail. 

Pelayo eyes establishment of 'bagsakan center'

CANDABA - Congressional candidate Mayor Jerry Pelayo claimed that he is planning to establish a 'bagsakan center' to market the agriculural produced in eight municipalities in the 4th district of the province.

"Nagpunta ako sa mga coastal barangays nakita natin na kulang ang supply ng bigas kung mayroon man ay mas mahal ang halaga nito sa karaniwang bentahan. Kaya magtatayo ng bagsakan center para iyong mga produkto natin ay pwedi nating doon na lamang dalhin," Pelayo told Sun Star Pampanga.

He explained that there is enough supply of rice in Candaba town which could even cater the needs of the people in coastal communities.

"Dadalhin natin ang bigas sa kanila at iyong mga seafoods naman nila ay ibebenta natin sa ibang mga bayan," Pelayo said.

Pelayo added that 'bagsakan center' initiative will promote economic activities within the district which in the  end will provide oppurtunities and livelihood for the people.

However, he stressed that there is a need to maximize all available resources to attain sustainable development.

"Ang gusto natin maging self reliant tayo. Bago natin ilabas ang produkto sa ibang distrito ay dito na muna natin ibenta  para ang makinabang mismo ay ang ating mga kababayan. Darating ang oras na hindi na kailangan pang umalis pa ng ating kababayan dahil nandito na ang lahat," he pointed out.