SUBIC BUSINESS JETS READY TO SOAR
SUBIC Bay Freeport: Twenty years after the last American fighter jet took off, a new breed of jets have taken over the runway and hangars of the Subic Bay International Airport—business jets.

“This is what we want to see. Our airport as a bustling hub for general aviation,” says Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Robert Garcia. The former US military base turned industrial-commercial complex turns 20-years-old week. And Garcia believes that its development is right on track. “I will go very strongly into general aviation, which includes jet charters, flight training schools,” he stressed, adding that logistical services, aircraft refurbishing and repair are the ideal businesses for the international airport. With more than US$8 billion dollars in foreign investment, Subic Bay is the country’s top attraction in the foreign investment community. Leading the pack in this mixed commercial and military thrust is Aviation Concepts, a jet charter firm, whose clients are as diverse as their fleet of commercial fixed wing aircraft. ANTHONY BAYARONG
 
1 DIES, 2 HURT AS TRUCK HITS BIKE
A money-lending collector was killed on the spot and two others were injured after a dump truck rammed a motorcycle Tuesday morning in Surigao City, police reports said on Wednesday. Reports reaching the PNP central operations center in Camp Crame on Wednesday identified the fatality as Kivin Aporbo Ramirez, 21, of Socorro, Surigao del Norte. Those injured were identified as Jose Espinosa Losada, 52, farmer and Gena Maglinte Losada, 42, businesswoman and both are resident of Socorro, Surigao del Norte, reports said. The reports said the three were on a motorcycle (7976), driven by Ramirez, heading north along the national highway in Brgy. Bonifacio, Surigao City when they were hit by a dump truck (YJR-921) at around 11:50 a.m. Tuesday. Investigation revealed that the truck, driven by Raymund Dejano Boholst, 32 of Surigao City, overtook another vehicle at the curve portion of the road, then, swerved to the opposite lane before hitting the motorcycle, the reports said. ANTHONY VARGAS

DENTIST, 3 OTHERS SNARED IN DRUG DEN
A 44-year-old dentist and three others were arrested by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) during an entrapment operation, which resulted in the discovery of a drug den in Cotabato City. PDEA Director General Undersecretary Arturo Cacdac, Jr. said that the suspects, Dr. Rainier Masukat, alias Nen, a rural health dentist of Ilang-Ilang Street; Marvin Sinsuat, alias Marvs, 40, of Barangay Datu Balabaran, Husky Terminal; Rosello Paches, alias Butchoy, 33, of Bagua 3; and Von Lluna, 24, of Lugay-Lugay, Bagua 1, all of Cotabato City, were apprehended after they were seen present inside the illegal facility in Bagua 3, Cotabato City. On November 26, 2012, Ricky Cimafranca, alias Kay-Kay, a watch-listed pusher and the subject of the buy-bust operation, agreed to rendezvous with an undercover agent of PDEA Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) who posed as buyer at his residence doubling as a drug den in Bagua 3. However, after selling and handing one sachet of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu to the poseur-buyer, Cimafranca was able to elude arrest. A hot pursuit ensued, which led the operating unit to enter Cimafranca’s house where Masukat and company were having a pot session. Aside from the object of the buy-bust operation, PDEA agents also recovered various drug paraphernalia. JING VILLAMENTE

EX-INMATE SHOT DEAD
A former inmate and member of a crime gang was shot dead Tuesday evening by an unidentified gunman in Bayugan City, police reports said Wednesday. Reports in Camp Crame said that a certain “Tata”, a resident of Digos City, was shot at around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Purok-10A, Brgy. Poblacion, Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur. The victim was immediately brought by the responding police to New Bayugan Medical Hospital, Bayugan City but was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician while the suspect fled. Further investigation revealed that the victim was allegedly a member of “Sipit-Sipit” gang, who was arrested and detained in Cebu City a few years ago, reports said. ANTHONY VARGAS

DOH BOOSTS ANTI-FILARIASIS CAMPAIGN
ILOILO CITY: The Department of Health regional office here is strengthening its campaign against the spread of filariasis, popularly known as elephantiasis after knowing that some Panay Island municipalities are not immune and has a 1.5 percent remaining filarial rate. Ana Marie Luz Hibionada, DOH 6 regional filariasis program coordinator, said the disease was not eliminated in five years despite massive treatment and deworming under its filariasis elimination program. On the other hand, Iloilo City and other urban centers in Panay do not have a record of filariasis and one case in Calumpang, Molo, Iloilo City three years ago was not a native of the city but came from the province of Capiz. Filariasis was brought about by aedes poecilus mosquitoes and discovered in Panay in 2007. By the next year, DOH started mass treatment and deworming to expunge the filariasis worms inside the human body. LYDIA C. PENDON

AMERICAN ENVOY LEADS FUND-RAISING
BAGUIO CITY: United States Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. led a fund raising activity to generate funds intended to help Baguio-based SAVE the women foundation. The silent auction was done at the Ambassador’s residence in Camp John Hay where local and American alike bid for items donated by supporters and friends of SAVE, which proceeds will be used for the livelihood of women who are victims of intimate relationship abuses. The “silent auction” as the Ambassador called it, was organized to mark the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence” that began on November 25 with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and ends December 10 with International Human Rights Day. Around 80 items were displayed, some are an NBA basketball autographed by Coach Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat to authentic Cordillera G-string, paintings, photographs and others. THOM F. PICAÑA