The Ilocos Times

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Rice farmers in this province started to set-up a three-hectare rice demonstration farm planted with hybrid super rice courtesy of the Peoples Republic of China. Edwin Cariño, head of the Special Projects Office of the Ilocos Norte government said at least five tons of the hybrid super rice were donated recently by the Chinese Consulate Center of Ilocos Norte to help local farmers here increase their yield. In cooperation with the Provincial Agriculture Office, the project is being monitored by agriculture technicians here to ensure proper planting and management of these seeds. According to Mr. Cariño, the Chinese rice seeds can yield about 12 to 15 tons per hectare if properly taken cared of. In Ilocos Norte, at least 250 farmer-beneficiaries were given the chance to try the Chinese rice variety which is expected to boost the agriculture sector. With a favorable weather conditio

By Alfredo C. Garvida, Jr. Contributor Amid the cries of Bongbong's quarters and a disinterested civil society group, led by Mr. Boy Saycon, that the vice presidential race in the just concluded elections was marred by cheating, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo was proclaimed on May, 30, 2016 as the elected vice president of the Philippines by Congress. That Rep. Jonathan Dela Cruz, Bongbong's national spokesman, has stated gamely that the Ilocano senator's camp will respect Leni's proclamation—although they will protest her election on the ground of fraud—defines clearly what the senator's breeding is all about. For the good of the country and those who doubt the integrity of the vice presidential election however, this column hopes that indeed the election was not tainted by fraud, contrary to Mr. Saycon and company's serious allegations that it was. If Mr. Saycon and/or Bongbong will succeed in proving that the Ilocos Norte senator indeed he was ro

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Pagudpud , Ilocos Norte—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources awarded the municipal government here the 2015 Regional Award for Best Practices in the implementation of Republic Act 9003, or the Solid Waste Management law. The awarding was held during the Regional Solid Waste Summit and LGU Awarding of Best Practices in line with the yearly celebration of Philippine Environment Month Day on June 5, 2016. The program had the theme “Fostering Shared Responsibilities in Integrated Solid Waste Management”.    The summit showcases the best practices of LGUs in Region I on solid waste management programs and a venue to meet with the local government units and see how they can give more help on the other issues and concerns towards SWM implementation. An exhibit or booth was showcased by the awardees for SWM programs worthy of sharing. The award was handed over by EMB regional director

The Government’s acquisition of historical cell-site location information (CSLI) from two criminal defendants’ cell phone provider without a warrant did not violate the Fourth Amendment, because it did not constitute a Fourth Amendment search, ruled the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in a split decision (12-3) published May 31, 2016.  CSLI are the records of a phone company that identify which cell tower – usually the one closest to the cell phone – transmitted a signal when the defendants used their cell phones to make and receive calls and texts. To obtain the CSLI from Sprint/Nextel, the Defendants’ cell phone provider, the Government had to apply to a federal court for an order directing the company to disclose the records pursuant to the Stored Communications Act. 18 U.S.C. § 2703(c), (d). Why is this case significant? The government used the historical CSLI obtained from Sprint/Nextel at the defendants’ trial to place them in the vicinity of the armed robberie

IN  Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, elements of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group arrested the municipal assessor, identified as Engr. Reynaldo Galat. Mr. Galat is suspected to be one of Pagudpud’s top drug personalities. A total of 21.2 grams of suspected shabu was confiscated from Mr. Galat during the search warrant operations. He has been a public official for almost 20 years until his arrest. Imee reacts ILOCOS  Norte Governor Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos, meanwhile, expressed her dismay over the Pagudpud official’s involvement in illegal drugs despite holding a government post. The governor said officials guilty to drug charges should face heavier penalties, adding that they do not have the right to hold positions as they destroy the honor and integrity of government service. Ms. Marcos also conveyed her full support to the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office (INPPO) in apprehending other big-time drug users and pushers in the province.

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —In an apparent bid to implement incoming President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s call for an all-out war against illegal drugs, the police here nabbed a 62-year old notorious drug personality. The Laoag police arrested Emelinda Lao aka Linda, 62 years old, single and unemployed following a search warrant implementation on June 2, 2016 at 11 AM. The operation was a joint intel-operation and investigation sections under the guidance of P/Supt. Edwin C. Balles, Laoag police chief; and supervision of P/Sr. Supt. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr, Ilocos Norte police director. Ms. Lao was reportedly a repeat violator of the anti-illegal drugs act. She was nabbed 15 years ago and remained one of the most notorious drug personalities in the city’s drug watch list. She was arrested at Brgy. 23 in this city. The search warrant was issued by Regional Trial Court Brach 13. Confiscated from the suspect were 12 small heat-sealed transparent

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