(By Ruby F. Rayat/Photo Joey Olimpo| PIMRO) LINGAYEN, Pangasinan —The Sangguniang Panlalawigan, in its regular session has confirmed the appointment of Dr. Arcely G. Robeniol as Provincial Government Department Head of the Provincial Veterinarian Office, on June 24.   Sponsored by SP Member Jerry Agerico B. Rosario, the resolution that supported the official designation of Dr. Robeniol stated: “After careful examination, scrutiny, and review of the qualifications, records, and experiences of the recommendee, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan finds the appointment meritorious and therefore interposes no objection to said appointment.” Dr. Robeniol was born and raised in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, but is now a resident of Laoac, Tayug, Pangasinan, having lived there for 29 years after marrying Dr. Roger Robeniol. They are blessed with three children. A graduate of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at Central Luzon State University, Dr. Robeniol rose from the ranks in the provincial government as a casual employee in the year 2000. She was then promoted to Livestock Inspector II from September 2003 to August 2005 and to Veterinarian I from September 2005 to August 2014. She rose to Veterinarian II in September 2014, a position she held before her appointment as Officer-in-Charge of the department under the tenure of Governor Ramon V. Guico III. Dedicated to her profession, the newly confirmed OPVet head vowed to remain proactive in the strict implementation of border control measures for the intra- and inter-regional movement of animals and by-products and will remain an advocate of transparent leadership. “Dr. Robeniol epitomizes the merits of a dedicated steward of livestock health in Pangasinan. For over 24 years of unwavering public service, she has tirelessly ensured the province’s defense against harmful pathogens and diseases that threaten its valuable livestock and poultry industry. Additionally, she has spearheaded community awareness campaigns aimed at rabies prevention, further demonstrating her commitment to public and animal health,” the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Facebook post read. At present, OPVet is in close coordination with its counterparts to ensure the successful conduct of various programs and projects of the provincial government, as embodied in ‘Serbisyong Ang Galing! thrust, which the present administration is instituting.   In addition, Dr. Robeniol said programs like the anti-rabies campaign, management of animal production, and maintaining the health of domesticated farm animals were intensified to adhere to the thrust that Gov. Guico envisioned to attain in the years to come.

CAMP BGEN OSCAR M FLORENDO, La Union — A member of the drug group, was arrested by the personnel of the Bantay Municipal Police Station in the province of Ilocos Sur and caught with illegal drugs, after a search warrant operation was conducted at his house in Bantay, Ilocos Sir, on June 21. Pursuant to the search warrant issued by Presiding Judge Fatima F Vitamog-Querobin, Branch 9, Regional Trial Court, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, the operation was launched against the 37-year-old member of the drug group in the province, who is on record of PDEA as High Value Individual. The Bantay MPS (lead unit) was accompanied by the personnel of ISPIU, RIO1, ISPDEU, 1st ISPMFC, ISPPO, PDEA, ISPO, and 101st MC RMFB1, when the operation was carried out The police recovered as evidence seven grams of suspected shabu with a Standard Drug Price of P47,600.00 contained in three pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets. The meticulous inventory and marking of pieces of evidence was done on-site in the presence of mandatory witnesses, as required by law, and the suspect, who is facing a charge of violation of Republic Act 9165 known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

By Zaldy Comanda CAMP BGEN OSCAR M FLORENDO – Pangasinan police successfully arrested a high-value drug suspect and two street-level individuals, seizing a firearm and suspected shabu worth Php471,240.00 in a series of operations. A high-value target, known as “Nanay,” was apprehended in Brgy. Tomana West, Rosales, Pangasinan. The 67-year-old suspect, a resident of Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, was captured by joint operatives from the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 1 (RPDEU1), Regional Intelligence Division of Police Regional Office 1 (RID PRO1), Philippine Drug Enforcement Group – Special Operations Unit 1 (PDEG SOU1), PDEA Pangasinan, PIU Pangasinan, PDEU Pangasinan, and Rosales Municipal Police Station (MPS), in coordination with PDEA RO1 resulted in the seizure of 60 grams of suspected shabu valued at Php408,000.00, contained in four heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets, on June 19. In a separate buy-bust operation, Villasis Municipal Police Station, along with the Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU) of Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (Pang PPO) and in coordination with PDEA RO1, executed a buy-bust operation in Barangay rBarraca, Villasis, Pangasinan,on June 20, 2024 The operation targeted street-level drug activities, resulting in the arrest of two individuals: a 34-year-old driver and a 39-year-old painter from San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. The suspects were found with 9.3 grams of suspected shabu valued at P63,240.00, contained in nine heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets. A caliber .38 revolver with ammunition was also confiscated All operations adhered to legal procedures, with the presence of mandatory witnesses and thorough documentation. The inventory and markings of the seized evidence were completed on-site. Brig.Gen.Lou Evangelista, regional director, praised the coordinated efforts of the police units and partner agencies involved in these operations. “Our commitment to keeping our region drug-free is unwavering. These successful arrests and seizures demonstrate our dedication to preventing the entry of drugs and ensuring a drug-free safe homeland for our families,” he stated.

Narvacan, Ilocos Sur – Mayor Pablito Sanidad,Sr., led the groundbreaking for the construction of a new Narvacan multi-purpose building in Ilocos Sur  worth P96-M,on June 17. The building will  serves as  convention hall, indoor sports center, auditorium, gymnasium and venue of sectoral, educational and other official events and activities. The event was attended VM Ccv Caloy Valera, Sbm Edna Cabalo Sanidad, Bernadette C Lim, Reina Alexa Antolin, Jovenn Bernal Ampo Jr., Margarito Tejada, Pilong Cabreros, Popong dela Cuadra, Brgy Kap Alex Gomez and other brgy officials and engineers and staff of the DPWH & SATRAP Cons Co.

Camp BGEN OSCAR M FLORENDO, La Union -Two high-value targets, one  associated with a notorious drug group was captured during separate buy-bust operations in Ilocos Norte, on June 15  The operations resulted in the confiscation of a total of  11.17 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated value of P75,556.00. The leader of the Gamdaca Drug Group under COPLAN GAMDA, was apprehended in the buy-bust operation in Solsona, Ilocos Norte. This successful operation was a collaborative effort led by Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit and Ilocos Norte Provincial Intelligence Unit together with Solsona MPS, RID 1, and PDEA INPO, with coordination from PDEA RO1. The suspect was found in possession of 8 grams of suspected shabu, neatly packaged in four heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets with an estimated value of P54,000.00. In a buy-bust operation in Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur, another high-value target was captured by personnel from Sta. Cruz MPS, ISPDEU, ISPIU, and Sta. Cruz MARLET unit, in coordination with PDEA RO1.  The operation yielded the confiscation of 3.17 grams of suspected shabu estimated at P21,556. Brig.Gen.Lou Evangelista,regional director, expressed his appreciation for the dedication and effectiveness of his team, stating, “These and other numerous arrests across the region are a testament to our promise of making Region 1 our safe homeland.” The successful capture of these high-value targets marks a significant blow to drug trafficking in the region and underscores the commitment of law enforcement to safeguarding the community against the impact of illegal drugs.

The Local Government Unit of Cervantes, Veterans Federation of the Philippines, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, 50th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army and the Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur led the wreath laying ceremony at the Bessang Pass Natural Monument in Cervantes Ilocos Sur in commemoration of the 79th Anniversary of the Victory of Bessang Pass. The event commemorates the victory on 14 June 1945 by Filipino soldiers serving the U.S. Army Forces in the Philippines Northern Luzon (USAFIP-NL) over the Imperial Japanese Army in the Battle of Bessang Pass which led to Japan’s eventual surrender and end to World War II in the Philippines. It is considered the greatest Filipino Victory in World War II. Governor Jerry Singson represented by SPM Ben Maggay, Cervantes Mayor Pablito Benjamin Maggay II, Department of History UP Diliman Representative Ricardo Jose, Pastoral Formator and Trainor Benito Cabanit, PVAO Administrator USEC LT General Reynaldo Mapagu (Ret) and Vice Mayor Armando Gabuno attended the commemoration.