MAN ARRESTED IN ILOILO FOR POSSESSION OF SHABU
SOME 25 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, over P212,500, were seized by elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on January 10, 2013, during an entrapment operation in Iloilo City.

Undersecretary Arturo Cacdac Jr., PDEA director general, identified the arrested suspect as Pete John Biclar, alias Bubbles/Toto, a 31-year-old laborer and resident of San Lucas, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo. JING VILLAMENTE

TACLOBAN MARIJUANA DEALER NABBED
A strike team of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) office in Region VIII netted one Bernardo Claridad, at about 6:20 p.m. on January 11, 2013. He was caught in the act of selling a heat-sealed transparent sachet containing suspected dried marijuana leaves to a law enforcer posing as buyer. In a report to PDEA chief, Arturo Cacdac Jr., PDEA director general, Director Gil Pabilona of PDEA eastern Visayas said that Claridad, 42, married and a construction worker residing at El Reposo Street, Tacloban City, sold the substance to a PDEA poseur-buyer for P500. ROBERTO DEJON

CORDILLERA OCD AIMS TO BUILD RESILIENT COMMUNITIES
Baguio City: Taking off from what the office had accomplished in 2012, the Office of Civil Defense-Cordillera (OCD-Cor), this year, aims to strengthen its efforts to build resilient communities in line with its goal of attaining zero-casualties in times of calamity or disasters. OCD-Cor officer-in-charge, Andrew Alex Uy, said that in 2012, their efforts were focused on strengthening the preparedness measures region’s local government units. The said measures focused on disaster risk reduction and management and empowering local communities against disasters. GABY B. KEITH

PDEA RAID LEADS TO ARREST OF WOMAN SUSPECT
Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) confiscated20 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, during the implementation of a search warrant in Legazpi City. Undersecretary Arturo Cacdac Jr. , PDEA director general, said that combined elements of the agency’s regional office-Special Enforcement Team and PDEA Albay provincial office, under Director Archie Grande implemented the search warrant on the house of Clemencia Ayson, alias Emmy, 32, at Purok 2, Brgy. Pigcale, Legazpi. JING VILLAMENTE

JG SUMMIT ACQUIRES BICOL’S SAVINGS BANK
Legazpi City: JG Summit Holdings has acquired the locally operated Legazpi Savings Bank and the South Star Drug in Naga City, Camarines Sur. Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda of Albay province announced that JG Summit banking arm Robinsons Bank is now the majority owner of Legazpi Savings Bank, which has 11 branches scattered in all of Bicol Region—Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte. The Monetary Board has approved on December 26, Robinsons Bank acquisition of the savings bank. MANNY T. UGALDE