IBP HOLDS 14TH CONVENTION
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) will open its 14th National Lawyers Convention today at the SMX Convention Center in Lanang, Davao City to coincide with the celebration of its 40th

anniversary, IBP National President and National Convention Organizing Committee Chairman Roan Libarios said. President Benigno Aquino 3rd has been invited to keynote the convention which has the theme “ IBP: 40 years of No Master But Laws, No Guide But Conscience, No Aim But Justice.” Also invited were Vice President Jejomar Binay who will be the guest speaker for the closing and awarding ceremonies, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Francis Escudero and Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. Mayor Sarah Duterte of Davao City will also be on hand to welcome and present the symbolic key to the city to the IBP officials and participating delegations. The convention will be highlighted by the IBP National President’s Report, the National Forum on “Initiatives for Efficiency and Integrity in Justice Delivery” to be participated in by resource persons from the Judicial, Quasi-Judicial and Investigation and Prosecutorial branches of the Judiciary including the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Commission on Elections, Office of the Ombudsman, Department of Justice, National Police Commission and the National Labor Relations Commission. The convention will also cover the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement, Philippine Law Practice in the Future, National Accreditation System, and Law Curriculum and Bar Examination Reforms.

BFAR BUILDS ERSATZ CORAL REEFS IN ILOILO
ILOILO CITY: The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is set to establish an artificial reef designed as a fish sanctuary and breeding place for fishes in southern of Iloilo particularly in coastal areas between the municipalities of Oton and Tigbauan. This was announced by Department of Tourism Regional Director Helen Catalbas after setting the Pamunit Festival to be held after the Holy Week in April this year. Catalbas said her office is coordinating with BFAR in holding another tourism event in Iloilo with the participation of international and national personalities in game fishing and fishing using hook and line in catching fish. The proposed Pamunit Festival is spearheaded by the Panay Anglers Association and Iloilo Pamunit Festival Association is giving cognizance to the environmental friendly way of catching fish without dynamites, thereby protecting the environment. LYDIA C. PENDON

LUSAD HEADS ABRA’S FINEST
CAMP BADO DANGWA, Benguet: “Lusad could do the job.” Confident enough, Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong, Cordillera police chief, said, Senior Supt. Benjamin Lusad could keep up with his expectations and is the best man to implement the second and third phase in the peacekeeping strategy plan for the province of Abra. Abra has earned the moniker “killing fields of the north” from high incidence of politically related murders. Magalong said he has high expectations with Lusad. The people of Abra, he added have a high regard for Lusad from what they heard. Magalong added, Lusad is a well rounded officer, he has a lot of accomplishments in operations and is good performer when it comes to administration and investigation. Meanwhile, Gov. Nestor Fongwan said, “although Benguet will lose one of its sons to the province of Abra, it will be the gain of the Abrenios.”
LARRY MADARANG

CLASSES IN TYPHOON-HIT AREAS BACK TO NORMAL
THE Department of Education (DepEd) assured on Tuesday that school operations in the typhoon-hit provinces of Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley will back to normal as school divisions personnel in the areas continue to exert efforts in providing the necessary needs of the affected students. In a statement, Education Secretary Armin Luistro said that as of January 11, some 71, 586 textbooks have been delivered to the affected areas. “These comprise the initial replenishment of textbooks which we sourced from regional and central office stocks,” Luistro added. DepEd said that 200 additional tents, which serve as temporary classrooms and debriefing areas, have been procured and are expected to be fully delivered in affected areas by the first week of February.
NEIL A. ALCOBER

SEVEN BENGUET WEED PLANTATIONS RAIDED
Seven marijuana plantation sites were destroyed during a two-day eradication operation conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), in collaboration with counterparts from the Philippine National Police (PNP). PDEA Director General Undersecretary Arturo Cacdac Jr. said that the plantations were located in seven adjacent sites in Sitios Alamenes, Al-alinao and Dagadag, all in Barangay Badeo, Kibungan, Benguet, with an estimated total land area of 4,738 square meters. A total of 17,776 pieces of fully grown marijuana plants and 33,800 marijuana seedlings were uprooted; and 3,000 grams of marijuana seeds were confiscated. They were burned on site during the operation. Operatives of PDEA Regional Office-Cordillera Administrative Region under Director Ronald Allan Ricardo, augmented by the Benguet provincial and local police conducted the eradication operation from January 9 to 10, 2013.
JING VILLAMENTE