NEWSBRIEFS

DAVAO ORIENTAL

NPA rebel slain

A suspected communist rebel was killed and firearms were recovered following a clash against government troops in Caraga town early on Monday, according to Colonel Leopoldo Galon, spokesperson of the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command.

Galon said the body was found after the 8:30 a.m. firefight in Sitio (sub-village) Logdeck, Barangay (village) Caningag. Troops from the Army’s 6th Scout Ranger Company were conducting a patrol when they ran into some 70 rebels that led to the clash.

“The troops did not suffer any casualty. They are still scouring the encounter site for the possibility of finding other NPA (New People’s Army) casualties,” Galon said.

Two M-16 rifles were found later. Frinston L. Lim, Inquirer Mindanao

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO

Top cops cited

Eight police officers were recognized on November 25 as outstanding policemen and policewomen in Central Luzon.

Those who received the awards were Superintendent Edgar Alan Okubo of the Nueva Ecija police, Superintendent Rommel Velasco of Bataan, Chief Inspector Luisito Tan of Angeles City, Chief Inspector Pascual de los Reyes of Tarlac, Senior Police Officer 2 Desiderio Noora of Aurora, Senior Police Officer 2 Danilo Nazareno of Bataan, Senior Police Officer 1 Shirley Mostoles of Olongapo City and PO2 Norbelita Ingaw of Tarlac.

Chief Superintendent Edgardo Ladao, regional police director, said the awardees were chosen based on their accomplishments in maintaining peace and order and in pursuing crime suspects. He said the screening of awardees was held by a selection board composed of officials of the National Police Commission and the Department of the Interior and Local Government. Jun Malig, Inquirer Central Luzon

SUBIC

Best workers search

The search for the best workers in this free port has started. Lawyer Severo Pastor Jr., head of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s (SBMA) labor department, said the 10 outstanding employees would be chosen from a field of 37 nominees recommended by their employers.

Pastor said the awards, which are given yearly by the Subic Bay Freeport Development Foundation Inc.  in the past 10 years, are a tribute to what the SBMA calls the “heroes of the free port.” He said Subic workers are globally competitive, as proven by the continuous operations of multinational companies here despite the economic crisis that has affected the United States, Japan and parts of Europe. “These workers are considered the best of the best.

“They are exemplary employees not only of the corporations they represent, but also of the whole Subic Freeport,” Pastor said.  Robert Gonzaga, Inquirer Central Luzon