Ex-Pangasinan town mayor nabbed for estafa

DAGUPAN CITY -- The former vice mayor of Asingan town who has long been hiding from the law for the crime of large-scale estafa finally got collared.

Accordingly, she was first sighted inside the car showroom. But upon the request of the management, the arresting policemen waited for her to step out of the showroom and served the warrant of arrest.

Dagupan Police Chief Romeo Caramat Jr. identified the suspect as Mila Antonio, a private school teacher and a resident of Barangay Domampot, Asingan.

The warrant was issued by Judge Joven Costales of the Urdaneta City Regional Trial Court Branch 45. He recommended no bail for the suspect's temporary liberty.

Antonio was considered one of the most wanted persons in the Ilocos region, with a standing reward.

She was the vice mayor of Asingan town in 2007. She, however, never assumed office nor presided a single session of the Municipal Council, as she had already went into hiding because of the said case.

Allegedly, Antonio was able to convince her victims (mostly from Asingan town) to invest in her real property development business in Urdaneta City.

The amount shelled out by her victims had reached millions since year 2003, yet she had not shown or presented to the victims any update or development about their supposed business transactions

Source

PSU bats for green environment

PSU bats for green environment

by Venus H. Sarmiento

Lingayen, Pangasinan (28 July) -- The Pangasinan State University embarked on a tree planting activity yesterday and today, as part of its social concern to help protect the environment.

PSU President Victoriano Estira said the commemorative tree planting activity forms part of the 31st anniversary celebration of the school to develop awareness and participation among the students.

"We would like to show the way and lead the way in caring for the environment. We exemplify tree planting as an immediate concern and translate in the form of the participation and more involvement of faculty members and students," Estira said.

The initial tree planting activity was conducted in the nine campuses of PSU located in the towns of Asingan, Binmaley, Bayambang, Infanta, Lingayen and in the cities of San Carlos, Urdaneta and Alaminos. It was capped by the university celebration in the main campus in Lingayen where the planting activity was spearheaded by Estira together with the university's three vice presidents- Dr. Lydia Buduhan for Administration and Planning, Dr. Manolito Manuel for Academic Affairs and Dr. Honorio Cascolan for Research and Extension.

Thousands of forest tree seedlings like mahogany and gimelina were planted to provide shade and recreation area within the vicinity of the school campuses, not to mention their aesthetic value and contribution to filtration of carbon dioxide in the air.

Incidentally, the nature-loving Estira revealed that he just planted 500 seedlings last weekend in his farm located in Bugallon town as it is "always the people's responsibility to sustain and care about the trees and the environment not only for themselves but most importantly for the future generations to come."

A short program honoring the loyal PSU faculty members, retirees and board passers was held after the greening activity. Marcelo Casillan of the PSU Board of Regents, was the event's guest of honor and speaker (PIA-Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p100728.htm&no=23

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Asingan, Pangasinan

Asingan, Pangasinan

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Government Region Ilocos Region (Region I) Province Pangasinan District 6th District, Pangasinan Barangays 21 Income Class: 3rd class; rural Mayor {{{mayor}}} Physical characteristics Population       Total (2007) 51,225

About Asingan, Pangasinan

Asingan is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 51,225 people in 10,499 households. It is the hometown of President Fidel V. Ramos, the 12th President of the Philippines.

Barangays

Asingan is politically subdivided into 21 barangays.

Ariston Este Ariston Weste Bantog Baro Bobonan Cabalitian Calepaan Carosucan Norte Carosucan Sur Coldit Domanpot Dupac Macalong Palaris Poblacion East Poblacion West San Vicente Este San Vicente Weste Sanchez Sobol Toboy

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FVR urges mayor in his hometown Asingan to fix ATRC

ASINGAN, Pangasinan, April 24 — Former President Fidel V. Ramos has urged local government officials here to arrest the steady and marked deterioration of the Asingan Tourism and Recreation Center (ATRC).

In an open letter to Asingan Mayor Carlos Lopez, the former Chief Executive reminded Lopez, who was also the incumbent municipal mayor at the time of his presidency, that the purpose and vision for the ATRC was to create a wholesome community center with sports, reading, recreation and tourism facilities for the "benefit of our townmates, their families and friends," and out-of-town visitors, particularly "balikbayans." It was to be a "centerpiece project and long-term asset for our beloved hometown."

“Unfortunately, I am dismayed, and extremely disappointed, to learn that the Center's pavilion — which used to house a reading center for interested residents, particularly our students, and repository of FVR memorabilia — has been degraded into a karaoke/resto-bar and obvious transaction point for alleged unsavory activities involving 'women for hire', leading to its becoming a front for prostitution," Ramos said.

The former President, who built the ATRC during his presidency, added that he need not remind Lopez — as a previous and current elected "father" of the town — that it is important to protect the youth from such vices as alcoholism and women-trafficking, especially due to the proximity of the national high school named after his beloved mother, Angela Valdez-Ramos.

“This project spans three presidencies — from the time when former Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Philip Ella Juico and myself, together with you as mayor, inaugurated this project's 25-meter swimming pool with a "fun swim/race" on April 18, 1997 - up to the present," he said.

The former President has photos that clearly indicate the steady and unmitigated deterioration of the ATRC.

Ramos strongly urged Lopez to undertake the needed corrections now in order to restore the facilities to their original state and purpose, and remove the stigma now attached to the ATRC because of nefarious activities therein.

Former President Ramos pointed out about the signing ceremony on November 22, 2005 at the Casino Español for the release of P6,000,000, in equal shares emanating from both Secretary Joseph Durano of the Department of Tourism-Philippine Tourism Authority and from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of Congressman Conrado Estrella III of the 6th District of Pangasinan, for the ATRC's initial rehabilitation after it had become inoperational during the term of Lopez as mayor from 1998 to 2001.

“I am constrained to put on record the current state of affairs regarding the Asingan Tourism and Recreation Center. As a resident and continuing taxpayer of Asingan, and as a concerned Filipino citizen and elder, I may be forced to initiate criminal charges against you, and others equally liable and accountable, as may be warranted by a proper investigation, in regard to the disposition of the funds and other assets contributed or donated for the establishment and maintenance of the ATRC since 1998 to-date,” Ramos said. (PNA)

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