Ecija vice mayor held up; loses P50K to robbers

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija–A municipal vice mayor in Nueva Ecija lost P50,000 to two unidentified hold-up men who took away his cash he just withdrew from an ATM (automated teller machine) here the day before Christmas Day, police reported. 

         

            Police Senior Superintendent Crizaldo Nieves, provincial police director, identified the victim as Vice Mayor Emmanuel Manuel of Gen. Natividad, Nueva Ecija.

          

         The unidentified holdup men pulled off the heist at around 8:45 am last December 24 along the Maharlika Highway, Barangay Dicarma here.

          

         Manuel told police that he just withdrew cash at the ATM booth of the Philippine National Bank in Barangay Sangitan then drove his Toyota Tamaraw FX bearing license plate TRT-378 on his way home when it encountered engine trouble.

 As he was about to step out of his car, the suspects suddenly appeared and declared the hold-up at gunpoint.

They then carted away his bag containing P50,000 worth of cash and fled towards the north direction aboard a black motorcycle. (Manny Galvez) 

Maranan forms “Task Force Pablo,” earmarks P500 M for rehab works in 4 regions

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija-Administrator Claro V.  Maranan of the National Irrigation Administration has formed “Task Force Pablo” (TFP) and earmarked P500 million to fast-track rehabilitation works in four regions of Mindanao.

In a memorandum, Maranan named Felix Razo, NIA senior deputy administrator, as head of the  task force which flew yesterday to Region 11 in Davao City for a four-day inspection of Pablo-related irrigation projects.

          Razo’s team is also composed of Florentino R. David, internal audit services department manager; internal control officers Teresita G. Pantalla and Mary Jean P. Estefanio and systems management division senior engineer Maria Gracia A. Ramos.

          Maranan directed the task force to conduct audit on the implementation of restoration and rehabilitation works of all projects funded under the Typhoon Pablo Fund. The audit will cover procurement up to contract administration.

          For the restoration works, an initial amount of P500 million has been released for damaged irrigation facilities in Regions 10 to 13.

          As part of the administrative reforms being instituted at NIA, Maranan said four irrigation management officers will be reshuffled.

On December 29, Maranan will meet with farmers for their feedback on issues involving irrigation and the agency.

          The creation of the task force was in line with the seven-point development agenda of Maranan outlining the agency’s course of action on

various aspects of organizational and operational performance.

          This is aimed at achieving the following: 1) provide creative and speedy solutions to the urgent problems confronting NIA; 2) rally support of employees and officers in carrying out the reform agenda and 3) document the program for future reference as a learning organization committed to continuing improvement. 

          Maranan explained that his program is consistent with President Aquino’s vision to turn the country into a nation of transformational leaders, a government dedicated to honing and mobilizing people’s skills and energies as well as the responsible harnessing of natural resources, and the value for excellence and integrity. (Manny Galvez)