LINGAYEN–Peace generally prevailed in Pangasinan on voting day despite the pre-election violence, according to Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez, police provincial director.

Only fistfights and other pormahan (posturing) among hot-tempered supporters and relatives of candidates in some towns in this vote-rich province were reported and were promptly acted upon by the police during the conduct of the May 14 elections.

Nerez told The PUNCH that “of the 10 reports of alleged untoward incidents reported to the police, about 9.5 were considered false reports.”
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AFTER suffering a major setback in his political career, Dagupan City Mayor Benjamin Lim is raring to buckle down to work at the Dagupan City Hall.

“It is still my duty to administer the city in the remaining days of my administration,” Lim said on Thursday at a news conference.

Surrounded by his aides, he said he will seek to complete projects and activities that remain pending as he prepares for the turnover and a smooth transition to the incoming administration under newly-elected City Mayor Alipio Fernandez.
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The Dagupan City government buckled down to work on the litter and vandalism committed during the campaign and on election day.

In a memorandum dated May 15, 2007, one day after polling, City Administrator Rafael Baraan ordered  City Engineer Virginia Rosario to implement a massive clean-up drive to remove all campaign materials posted and hung all over the city.

Rosario confirmed this and reported that her personnel had already started tearing down all posters, streamers and other campaign paraphernalia.
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SAN FABIAN- Re-electionist Atty. Mojamito Libunao Jr. of Lakas-CMD, who is on his last term as mayor, won over Roland Villegas of Kampi, president of the Association of Barangay Captains, in the mayoralty race. Libunao obtained 16,122 votes while Villegas obtained 13,119 votes.

Romulo Magliba of Kampi and a former mayor of San Fabian, bested over his two rival candidates, Mamerto Malanum of Lakas-CMD and Leopoldo Manalo, independent, for the position of vice-mayor. Magliba, obtained 12,907 votes, while Malanum and Manalo garnered 9,133 and 6,305 votes, respectively.
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LINGAYEN–A man posing as a member of the Alex Boncayao Brigade- Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army was arrested on Tuesday by the police in an entrapment operation after he tried to extort P180,000 from the provincial engineer.

Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez, provincial police director, said  a team led by Superintendent Rolando Magno, head of the provincial intelligence branch, captured one Noel Santos, 39, single, and resident of 26 Purok 3, del Rosario Street, San Fernando City, Pampanga.

Santos demanded P180,000 as revolutionary tax, protection money and support  for  their organization from Provincial Engineer Diviña de Leon.
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A bad joke was made and who could be laughing?

People trooped to the home of Speaker Joe de Venecia, Jr., in Bonuan Binloc on Wednesday after receiving gossip spread through text messaging that he was giving balato (reward tips) to all those who supported him.

Bong Visperas, a spokesman of the De Venecia media bureau, clarified on radio that it was a trick played on people and he suspected that it was hatched by those who lost in the elections to put the Speaker in a compromising situation with his supporters.
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DAGUPAN’S WINNERS—Newly-elected officials of Dagupan headed by Mayor-elect Al Fernandez and Vice Mayor-elect Belen Fernandez are proclaimed by members of the City Board of Canvassers led by Atty. Vanessa Roncal (fifth from left). The other elected officials are, from left, Jesus Canto, Michael Fernandez, Farah Decano, Librada Reyna, Alfie Fernandez, Danilo Torio, Jose Netu Tamayo, Chito Samson, Fred Quinto and Karlos Reyna. - (Punchphoto by Willie Lomibao)

LIGHT MOMENT—Mayor-elect Al Fernandez (right) and Vice Mayor-elect Belen Fernandez share a light moment when they read their certificates of canvass, proofs of their victory in the May 14 elections after their proclamation by the City Board of Canvassers. - (Punchphoto by Willie Lomibao)

VELASCO PROCLAIMED—Municipal Elections Officer Candido Urbano (left) reads the certificate of canvass showing the victory of mayoralty candidate retired Police Director Reynaldo Velasco (center) together with his running mate vice mayoralty candidate Ruben Jose. (Punchphoto by Ray Zambrano)

ARENAS MOTHER AND DAUGHTER–Socialite Rosemary ‘Baby’ Arenas arranges rosaries, scapulars and photos of saints which, she said, were the only protections they had during the May 14 elections ruled by guns, goons and golds ranged against her daughter Rachel (left) by her opponents and their followers. – (Punchphoto by Ray Zambrano)