The Ilocos Times

  ILOCOS Norte Governor Imee R. Marcos hands over an award to Laoag City's Motorist Anti-Street Crime Operatives and Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team Association for Direct Operations (MASCOBADO) for being the most active group on Feb. 5, 2016 at the Ilocos Norte Capitol. (Alaric A. Yanos) By John Michael Mugas PGIN-CMO Fourteen Ilocano police officers were honored by the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) and the Ilocos Norte Provincial Police Office (INPPO) during the Philippine National Police (PNP) Awards on February 5 held at the Provincial Capitol grounds.   The awarding rites, which also recognized outstanding police stations and civic volunteer groups, was held as part of the weeklong celebration of the 198 th   Foundation Anniversary of Ilocos Norte. During the ceremony, Ilocos Norte Governor Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos thanked the entire police force for their bravery, courage and talent ensuring the public safety and inter

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By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—The Commission on Elections (Comelec) local office here has warned all government employees and civil servants to refrain from participating in partisan political activities. Even just a simple “like”, “share” or “comment” in social networking sites like Facebook can mean partisanship, according to lawyer Marino V. Salas, the newly installed provincial election supervisor of Ilocos Norte. Reiterating the call of the Civil Service Commission, Mr. Salas urged government workers to be extra cautious when sharing and liking social media posts of candidates in this year’s elections as this is already a form of electioneering and may result to dismissal from service. “All government employees with or without regular positions are not allowed to participate in partisan political activity. Except those who are appointed as confidential agents of politicians. That’s a basic law,” Mr. Salas explained. Under Section 1.4.e of

LC clean green barangay winners . Barangays 54B (Camanggaan), 57 (Pila) and 52 (San Mateo) emerge as the cleanest, greenest, most productive and safest rural barangays in Laoag City for 2015. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —The city government here awarded the cleanest, greenest, most productive and safest barangays for 2015. The awarding ceremonies was held February 23, 2016 at the City Hall in time for the ABC (Association of Barangay Councils) Night, a part of the month-long Pamulinawen Festival. Barangays 54B (Camangaan), 57 (Pila), and 52A (San Mateo) finished in a triple tie for the rural category; while Barangays 28 (San Bernabe) and 3 (Nuestra Sra. Del Rosario) tied for the top prize in the rural category. All the top winners received P75,000 in cash, a plaque of recognition and a trophy. Finishing as runners-up in the rural category are Barangays 50 (Buttong) and 30A (Suyo), second; and Barangays 53 (Rioeng)

New York —Authorities in the Philippines should swiftly bring to justice the killers of radio reporter Elvis Banggoy Ordaniza, the Committee to Protect Journalists said February 18. Mr. Ordaniza was shot and killed on Tuesday, February 16 in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, on the country's southernmost main island of Mindanao, according to news reports. According to the  National Union of Journalists of the Philippines  (NUJP). Mr. Ordaniza, 49, a reporter for radio station dxWO Power99 FM in Pitogo, was killed by two bullets to the chest while preparing dinner at his home near the small town of Poblacion. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival, NUJP reported. An early police report also said witnesses saw only one gunman, according to the organization. "Elvis Ordaniza's murder is the most recent in a long chain of killings in the Philippines, making it one of the most dan

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Batac City —In time for the general elections in May, a new officer-in-charge was named for this city’s police force. Police Supt. Virgilio Pascua Jr. assumed the OIC post on January 28, 2016. Prior to his assignment here, Mr. Pascua served in Abra province for three years, and was posted in Mindanao for 12 years. Elections preparation IMMEDIATELY buckling down to work, Mr. Pascua personally visited the Batac election officer Josephine Pascua to coordinate preparations for the upcoming elections. The police OIC stressed the need for a peaceful and orderly conduct of election this coming May. He said one of the steps he is planning is to post police officers on all polling precincts here. Mr. Pascua disclosed that as of now, Batac is peaceful but he has yet to observe the situation during election season. The Batac police and election office also plan to hold a “Unity Walk” to be participated in by government officials

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte—The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has allocated P700 million for infrastructure projects for Ilocos Norte’s second engineering district. DPWH 2 nd engineering district head Engr. Mathias Malenab said some of the projects were already bid out in December of last year. He added that the P700 million, which comes from the General Appropriations Act (GAA) do not include the construction and rehabilitation of school buildings and farm-to-market roads among others. He explained that construction and rehabilitation of national roads have the highest budgetary allocation. Currently, Mr. Malenab also disclosed that all ongoing projects in the second district have yet to affected by the election ban. Under the election code, on March 25 the construction of public works, delivery of materials for public works and issuance of treasury warrant or similar devises for a future undertaking ch