SEVEN CHILDREN SAVED FROM SEX DEN
SEVEN young girls forced into prostitution were rescued on Monday from two videoke bars suspected as ‘prostitution’ fronts in Isabela and Quirino provinces, police reports said on Tuesday.

Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr., CIDG chief, said that the girls reportedly between the ages of 14 to 17 were rescued and four suspects were arrested in simultaneous raids by their operatives in Isabela and Quirino. Raided jointly by CIDG Women and Children Protection Division (WCPD) and DOJ’s Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking were the Rose-Janet Videoke bar in Ramon, Isabela and Gina’s Green Bar in Saguday, Quirino. Supt. Emma Libunao, CIDG-WCPD chief, said that their operatives also arrested four persons including two sisters that were reportedly tagged as the owners of the two videoke bars suspect to be prostitution front. The police official said that the operation stemmed from the complaint of three minors from Tala, Caloocan City who escaped from the said videoke bars and reported their ordeal to the CIDG. ANTHONY VARGAS
 
CARDINAL TAGLE CROWNS OUR LADY OF THE PILLAR
Newly installed Cardinal Luisito Antonio Tagle, archbishop of Manila, officiated the canonical crowning of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary (known as Our Lady of the Pillars or Nuestra Señora del Pilar) yesterday, amid an emotionally charged crowd of about 5,000 parishioners, 200 priests from different parishes, prominent local government officials and members of the media inside the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillars along Gen. Castaneda St., Brgy. Poblacion, Imus City. As Cardinal Tagle led the mass at 3 p.m., he broke into tears as he narrated his memories when as a young poor boy from Cavite, he received the sacraments of baptism and confirmation inside this same cathedral. By virtue of a Vatican City ruling, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar (also called Cathedral of Imus) was established on November 12, 1961 as a diocese separate from the Archdiocese of Manila. ROGELIO LIMPIN

PIPELINE LEAK TAINTS BATAAN WATER SUPPLY
DINALUPIHAN, Bataan: The damaged pipeline has been repaired but oil continued to contaminate household water and threatened to pollute the big river in Brgy. San Pablo, Dinalupihan, Bataan City on the fifth Monday. Godofredo de Guzman, Environment and Natural Resources officer of Bataan, said of the 11 shallow and deep wells in San Pablo, nine were contaminated with five already pumping big percentage of diesel fuel. De Guzman brought with him laboratory technicians of the Provincial Health Office to examine the extent of contamination of household water and water in the river. PCSPC is the owner of the pipelines that run from SBMA to Clark in Angeles City, Pampanga province. ERNIE B. ESCONDE

LOSSES MAR BATANGAS LIVELIHOOD COMPLEX
STATE auditors recorded losses of P30 million against a livelihood center in Batangas province because of the mismanagement of the provincial government. The Commission on Audit revealed in the audit report that the Batangas Provincial Livelihood Center has been losing P20 million yearly, excluding the P10.83-million depreciation cost. The edifice was constructed to boost economic activity in the province and serve as a springboard for promotion and investment. It was initiated to address the socio-economic problems brought about by the Batangas Port Development Project. The project includes the construction of a two-storey commercial building with Port Central Passenger Terminal as the main feature of the complex. In 2003, the Batangas government availed of loans with the Land Bank of the Philippines amounting to P237.65 million, payable in 15 years for the construction of the building. It was finished in 2004, but the boost to local economy “did not materialize as planned.” JOHN CONSTANTINE G. CORDON

ILOILO GIRDS FOR ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY
ILOILO CITY: Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog has hailed the celebration of Anti-Corruption Day on Sunday, December 9 as a symbolic reminder of sincere public service and loyalty to the country. An Integrity Parade will be conducted starting at 6:30 a.m. from two assembly areas in the city: the Esplanade River Park and Jaro Plaza going to the Iloilo Sports Complex. Mabilog said the city government is participating in the parade in collaboration with the Office of the Ombudsman, Civil Service Commission, Regional Association of Government Executives and the Association of Resident Ombudsmen in Western Visayas. Also to participate in the parade are anti-corruption partners and crusaders from both public and private sectors in Iloilo City. LYDIA C. PENDON