STO. TOMAS, Pangasinan—The Biskeg na Pangasinan (Strength of Pangasinan), a group of powerful political leaders, has been accredited by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) national office as a local political party.

Biskeg founder, Undersecretary for Local Governance Antonio Villar Jr told this writer that copy of the party affiliation was furnished him recently by Comelec Commissioner Romeo Brawner.

'This is history in Pangasinan because this is the first time that a local group of leaders was officially recognized as a local political party by no less than the Comelec,” Villar, former mayor for more than 20 years here, said.

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DAGUPAN CITY—The chief of the government-owned Region I Medical Center (RIMC) in this city is successfully implementing a “zero bungis (harelip)” all over Pangasinan until 2007.

Dr. Jesus Canto told this writer that since he assumed his position as RIMC director in 2003, he, together with some doctors, has served more than 500 patients who, for a long time, had suffered with harelip and could not afford to pay for their operation.

Canto said that he initially sought the assistance of International Band of Mercy based in United States that referred him to their local office in the Philippines in order to sustain his project.

He said this is in consonance with his slogan “Smile” during his tenure as hospital chief, saying that a smile cheers up any person, much more the sick people.

“These harelip patients now have the chance to smile again and be at ease in their community,” Canto said.

Others had cleft palate, a more difficult situation.

He advised parents, especially mothers of people who have harelip or cleft palate to bring their children to him so they can do operation on them anytime.

“The earlier, the better,” Canto said for patients who must undergo operation citing that their speech training could easily improve while they are still young.

He added that anybody is welcome to bring anyone with harelip or cleft palate and this is absolutely free until the patient is already well.

DAGUPAN CITY–The regional trial court (RTC) here has granted the petition of the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU) to stop the implementation of Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) two resolutions that would phase out programs of higher educational institutions which have
low passing percentage in licensure examinations.

RTC Judge Rolando Mislang of branch made this move in his 15-page decision dated March 29 regarding the petition for certiorari, prohibition and damages with prayer for temporary restraining order and/or preliminary injunction by
the University of Luzon (UL) as petitioner and PACU as well as Lyceum Northwestern University (LNU) as petitioners-intervenors.

Both UL and LNU are based in this city.

Mislang said “public respondents (CHED through Dr. Carlito Puno, Dr. Saturnino Ocampo Jr, Dr. Ma. Cristina Padolina, Dr. Hadja Luningning Umar, Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, Dr. Willima Medrano and Dr. Catherine Castañeda) and all or any of their agents are hereby enjoined from implementing Resolution No. 475-2004 and Resolution No. 120-2005 and from issuing further statement
in media print or radio or television or through internet or in any forum that is derogatory or damaging to the petitioner/intervenors”.

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DAGUPAN CITY—House Speaker said it would be good if those opposing the people’s initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution will go to the Supreme Court so that the issue will be clarified once and for all.

De Venecia told local reporters in his Bonuan Binloc residence here the other day that,” I think they will go to the Supreme Court. And it would be good if they go to the Supreme Court”.
He added,” we encourage them to go to the Supreme Court so that this issue will be clarified once and for all”.

He said he doesn’t think this will delay their timetable for Charter
change where they hope that the country will have an interim parliament by July.

“How can the Supreme Court issue a TRO ( temporary restraining order) e yong TRO against the Filipino people? Against the powerful forces of public opinion? Of the citizens movements all over the Philippines?”, he said.
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DAGUPAN CITY—Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz gave this reminder to the First Gentleman’s lawyer on why he is now “silent” on former President Joseph Estrada’s jueteng involvement: Juetengate I is past, Juetengate II is still ongoing.

Cruz, whose exposes triggered Senate jueteng probe that involved jueteng payola that allegedly benefited some members of President Gloria Arroyo’s family, told this reporter yesterday in a phone interview that,” While I don’t wish to give serious attention to the observations of the good Atty Jesus Santos, it might be good however to clarify some concerns”.

He said it is “ a rule of good manners and right conduct that when someone is already down, it would be highly improper to still kick him still”.
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