Recently in the city of Parañaque, the newly opened Grand Westside Hotel located in Entertainment City was inaugurated with the presence of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., who expressed confidence about its tourism and economic prospects, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday said the newly opened Grand Westside Hotel in Paranaque City, tagged the biggest hotel development in the country yet, would be a major economic and tourism boost.
During the inauguration of Megaworld’s Grand Westside Hotel, Marcos said the 19-story establishment with over 1,500 rooms would not only strengthen the government’s tourism campaign but would also generate more jobs and business opportunities for Filipinos.
Marcos said the hotel’s addition to Philippine tourism is particularly noteworthy in light of the sector’s “remarkable” growth, which contributed 8.6 percent to the country’s gross domestic product in 2023.
“Thanks to this hotel, we can do more. Not only can we accommodate the resurging number of local and international tourists coming to this side of Metro Manila, but we can also expect our Entertainment City to become better known and even more distinguished, elevating its status to more potential visitors in the coming years,” the President said in his speech.
Marcos disclosed that other developments from the real property giant are underway, including the 1,500-seater Grand Opera House also in Paranaque, more theaters and a gaming complex, among other things.
“With all these, we foresee not only the entry of more tourists but also the generation of more jobs, of new businesses and greater opportunity. In fact, [while] many have benefitted from the actual construction of these [properties], around 20,000 direct and indirect jobs will still be created throughout the operation of this hotel in the years to come,” he said.
The President said he is looking forward to Megaworld’s triumphs that will “undoubtedly contribute to the new Philippines, ang Bagong Pilipinas.”
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you delighted with the Grand Westside Hotel operating in the city?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Recently in the city of Parañaque, a high-profile Chinese fugitive with a background of online gambling was arrested in Barangay Tambo, according to a news report by the Manila Standard.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Standard news report. Some parts in boldface…
The National Capital Region Police Office announced the arrest of a high-profile fugitive tagged by the Chinese government as an undesirable alien.
A composite team from the Fugitive Search Unit, Bureau Immigration and Deportation and the Parañaque City Police Station arrested Zhu Tingyun in Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City on Wednesday.
Zhu, 43, was a senior manager of an illegally established online gambling company in the Philippines, with an estimated income of CNY 30 billion from its illegal activities since 2016.
The suspect has been on the run since an outstanding warrant of arrest was issued against him by the Guangxi Cangwu Public Security Bureau on March 2, 2023 for operating a gambling house.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that there could be more Chinese fugitives hiding in your local community? Do you consider Parañaque a hot spot of criminal activities involving Chinese nationals?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Recently, the City Government of Muntinlupa got the highest ranking in the National Capital Region (NCR) with regards to the Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance for the year 2022 and they received the award, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
Mayor Ruffy Biazon announced that the Muntinlupa City government got the highest rating in the National Capital Region for the 2022 Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance.
He said he received the 2022 Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance award from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The award is given to local government units that have shown excellence in implementing programs for the youth and have passed the 2022 Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit (CFLGA).
Biazon said the Muntinlupa City government received a rating of 97 percent, the highest among LGUs in NCR.
“Mula pa noong 2015, recipient na ang Muntinlupa ng Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance award. Patunay ito sa commitment natin sa pagsulong ng kapakanan at mga karapatan ng kabataang Muntinlupeño (Since 2015, Muntinlupa has been a recipient of the Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance award. This is a testament to our commitment to advance the welfare and rights of Muntinlupeño youth),” said Biazon.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, are you delighted with what the City Government has been achieving with regards to child-friendly local governance?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!
In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads from the 1980s and 1990s. In addition, there will be a few flyers of arcade games.
For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.
With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…
1. Contra arcade flyer
A clever visual concept by Konami towards gamers and arcade operators.
Details on the other side of the flyer.
Before it established itself as a popular gaming franchise with console gamers, Contra truly started in the arcades in 1987. First released in Japan on February 1987, Konami went on to release the game in arcades in the United States a month later and the flyer you see here was the Americanized promotion they came up with. Instead of hiring male actors or models to play soldiers, they hired a slim lady to appear with a female Rambo look standing in front of a Contra arcade machine. On the other side of the flyer are details that players and arcade operators can learn from. By today’s standards, this arcade flyer of Contra is still eye-catching and even amusing to look at.
2. College Football’s National Championship print ad
This ad has a strong visual appeal to gamers who like football.
This is another one of those video game ads I saw while reading comic books in the 1990s. College Football’s National Championship was a Sega Genesis-exclusive American football video game published by Sega (with the Sega Sports brand) to capitalize on gamers who want college football to play with at home. This print ad has a nice visual presentation of the college teams’ logos, screenshots and details of what gamers could expect when they buy and play the game. College Football’s National Championship received mostly positive reviews and it must have sold well because Sega went on to release a sequel to this game.
3. Robotron X print ad
This Robotron game was made at a time when 3D polygons became common for making video games.
Having played the classic game Robotron: 2084 on PC back in the 1980s, I was very surprised to see this print ad in 1996 promoting a brand new Robotron game for PlayStation as well as Windows PC. For the newcomers reading this, Robotron: 2084 was a classic which heavily influenced game designers who went on make other fan-favorite games like Smash TV and Llamatron. What makes Robotron X notable apart from being an official follow-up to the classic game was the fact that it was made at a time when game developers did their stuff to modernize gaming with 3D polygons for visuals while trying to come up with gameplay inspired by the classics. While Robotron X did not make a major impact on gaming, the classic Robotron: 2084 went on to be released in several multi-platform compilations such as Williams Arcade’s Greatest Hits, Midway’s Greatest Arcade Hits, and Midway Arcade Treasures.
4. Space Jam game print ad
If you saw the movie in 1996, were you able to play this video game adaptation?
What makes 1996 a memorable year for basketball fans was the Michael Jordan’s return to prominence (having previously retired for less than two years before returning to the NBA in 1995) and leading a very powerful Chicago Bulls team to what was their 4th NBA championship title. In that same year, Jordan starred in the live-action/animated movie Space Jam which grossed an impressive $250 million worldwide. On the same month the movie came out, the Space Jam video game adaptation was also released on PlayStation and Sega Saturn. This print ad was part of the multimedia hype of the movie and the game itself had a very similar design and visuals concept with NBA Jam but ultimately it failed to become a hit with critics and gamers. Not even the combined visual might of Jordan and Warner Bros. characters could achieve success.
5. Magic Johnson’s Fast Break print ad
Still on basketball video gaming, the side-scrolling Magic Johnson’s Fast Break game was released on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) for console gamers to enjoy. Unsurprisingly, this ad had nice black-and-white art work of Magic Johnson as the dominant figure while leaving little space left to show the game box and only one screenshot. The real meat of this print ad are the details laid down in text description.
6. Virtua Fighter 2 for Sega Genesis print ad
Clearly a late effort by Sega to sell something to its many Genesis owners/fans in America at a time when PlayStation and Nintendo 64 started dominating 5th console generation sales.
In the history of arcade gaming and fighting games, Virtua Fighter 2 was a worthy follow-up to its groundbreaking predecessor. VF2 also made its way on the Sega Saturn which essentially maintained the great gameplay and 60 frames-per-second animation even though the 3D polygonal graphics were noticeably lower in quality compared to its arcade version. With VF2 in the arcades and on Saturn selling well, I was surprised to see this print ad of Sega releasing a totally different version of the game on the aging Sega Genesis console. Virtua Fighter 2 on Genesis had 2D graphics, sprites for the characters and a side-scrolling visual design. In fairness, the game developers exerted effort to recapture some of the gameplay elements within the Genesis limitations and 2D graphics. This print ad is a reminder of Sega’s American division selling a product to the remaining active Genesis owners.
7. Ring King print ad
Ring King itself clearly lacked promotional space in this ad.
In 1987, Data East released their arcade hit game Ring King on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and prepared this print ad involving Ray Leonard, Jr. (on the foreground in boxing gear) and conveniently with the famous Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns (with the promo of their first fight together in the background). Also conveniently, the company inserted their other games on the lowest part of the ad. Ultimately, the presence of Ring King itself was minimized only showing the game cover and two screenshots. This is clearly an eye-catching ad but there was not enough emphasis on the game itself.
8. Super Spacefortress Macross arcade flyer
The arcade flyer released only in Japan.
Have you ever seen the classic anime movie Macross: Do You Remember Love? I really love watching that movie and I played and finished the video game adaptation on PlayStation in 1999. What I never got to play was the arcade game adaptation of it which was released by Banpresto in Japan in 1992. This flyer promoting the game has a strong visual presentation thanks to the artwork made for it. Only one screenshot was shown as well as a clip from 1984 the animated movie (note: the arcade game itself has some images directly from the film plus some newly created ones added) but this ad still had what it takes to capture the attention of the many Macross fans in Japan. This arcade game was eventually released with an English translation in America and Australia.
9. 2-in-1 print ad featuring Super C and Snake’s Revenge
A memorable and intriguing print ad from Konami promoting sequels.
This is one of the ads that Konami came up with to promote at least two games using a single-page ad format. I saw this ad in many comic books I read decades ago and its visual concept always caught my attention especially since I played the console game Contra a lot. At the high end of the ad were two fictional newspaper headlines highlighting the respective conflicts of Snake’s Revenge (with a nuclear danger concept) and Super C (with emphasis on alien invaders). These two games were sequels to the classics Metal Gear and Contra, and Konami clearly knew how to take advantage of the older games’ success and do their best to sell the sequels to gamers who love action-packed gaming as well as fantasized armed conflicts. Like the 2-in-1 ad showcasing Contra and Jackal, this was Konami’s aggressive move to sell war-inspired games to the NES userbase which was mostly composed of children and teenagers.
10. True Lies game print ad
There is nothing like taking advantage of the imagery of a Hollywood superstar to promote a video game based on the related movie.
Here is a video game ad I saw in many comic books I read in 1994-1995. True Lies (starring Arnold Schwarzenegger) was one of the big summer season movie hits of 1994 and the video game was part of the business tie-ins with the film. The people who made this print ad made the smart moves of showing not just one but three images of Schwarzenegger to promote the game while leaving some space to show what the game looked like. The True Lies game even had stills from the movie to emphasize the flow of the plot.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from GMA news report. Some parts in boldface…
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Sunday it may file an election-related offense case against suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo following the findings that she and Chinese passport holder Guo Hua Ping have matching fingerprints.
Comelec chairman George Garcia said that the poll body may file charges “motu proprio” or on its own against Guo based on misrepresentation.
Based on Guo’s Certificate of Candidacy (COC) when she ran as mayor of the Tarlac municipality in the 2022 elections, she signed a declaration that she is a Filipino citizen, and that she is not a permanent resident of or an immigrant to a foreign country.
“Ang isang taong ‘yan ay pupwedeng humarap ng election offense na may three to five years na imprisonment. At the same time, pwedeng maharap ng kasong perjury o…dahil nagsinungaling nga sa isang pinanumpaan na dokumento, kasong falsification [of public document],” Garcia said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.
(That person may face an election offense with three to five years imprisonment. At the same time, she may face a case of perjury or falsification of public documents because she lied when she signed a sworn document.)
The poll chairman also pointed out that the country’s laws are applicable to anyone, whether they are Filipinos or foreigners. He also said that a government official may still face a criminal case even after getting elected.
“Kahit ang isang taong tumakbo ay hindi nafile-an ng kasong disqualification o kanselasyon ng kanyang candidacy, hindi nangangahulugan na siya ay pupwede nang malibre o ma-abswelto sa kahit na anong obligasyon o responsibilidad lalo pa’t ito’y kasong kriminal, lalo na ‘yung tinatawag na misrepresentation,” Garcia added.
(Even if a case of disqualification or cancellation of candidacy was not filed against a person running for election, it does not mean that s/he can be absolved from any obligation or responsibility, especially a criminal case like misrepresentation.)
The Comelec earlier submitted to the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality the COC and Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) of Guo.
According to her COC, the 37-year old Guo declared Tarlac, Tarlac as her place of birth.
Guo also stated in her COC that on the day before the May 9 elections, she has been living in the Philippines for 35 years and two months and she has been living in the municipality of Bamban, Tarlac for 18 years and two months.
However, Senator Risa Hontiveros, as confirmed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), revealed that the embattled mayor and Guo Hua Ping are the same person following finding that they have matching fingerprints.
The NBI also showed a picture of another woman with the name Alice Leal Guo who had the same information as the suspended mayor.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think mayor Alice Guo and Guo Hua Ping are one and the same person based on the matching fingerprints?
Two police officers were officially recognized by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) for their swift response that resulted in the neutralization of an armed robber, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. The said cops were wounded during the encounter.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) recognized two police officers for their swift response that led to the neutralization of an armed robber in Las Piñas City.
In a news release on Friday, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. and PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil awarded on Thursday the Medal of Valor, Medal of Merit, and the PNP Wounded Medal to Master Sergeants Avelino Lopez and Bong Panton for their gallantry in the face of grave danger.
The two police officers, both assigned to the Tactical Motorcycle Riding Unit (TMRU) of the Las Piñas City Police Station, responded to a robbery incident inside the Olivarez Guevarra Subdivision in the city’s Barangay Manuyo Dos past noon on Thursday.
Investigation showed the suspect climbed the wall of a compound inside the subdivision. He then encountered the victim inside the latter’s house and physically assaulted him, resulting in an altercation.
The suspect managed to seize the victim’s 9-mm Parabellum pistol and fled the scene on foot.
The victim sought assistance from the TMRU personnel patrolling the area. The two police officers tracked the suspect, who attempted to escape by firing at them.
The unidentified suspect was killed in the ensuing gunfight by the responding officers.
During the encounter, Lopez and Panton sustained gunshot wounds in the leg. They were immediately transported to the Las Piñas Doctors Hospital for medical treatment and are in stable condition.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Are you thankful to the two wounded cops who neutralized the armed robber?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
More than two-thirds of the participating voters of Las Piñas City approved the ordinance setting the territorial boundaries of the twenty barangays during the plebiscite this past Saturday which was handled by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), according to a GMA Network news report. Specifically, 68% of the voters voted in favor of the proposal although COMELEC chairman George Garcia pointed out that the voter turnout was low.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA news report. Some parts in boldface…
Over 41,000 residents (67%) of Las Piñas City on Saturday voted in favor of an ordinance that sets the territorial boundaries of the 20 barangays in the city.
Based on the certificate of canvass of votes shared by Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia to members of the media, 41,493 residents voted “yes” while 19,498 voted “no” when asked if they agree with delineating the territorial boundaries of the 20 barangays.
With this, the ordinance was proclaimed ratified and approved.
“Nanalo po ang ‘yes,’ and therefore epektibo na ang ordinansa tungkol sa pagliliwanag ng paghahati ng bawat barangay doon sa 20 barangays sa Las Piñas,” Garcia said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.
(‘Yes’ won, and therefore the ordinance regarding the delineation of the division of each barangay in the 20 barangays in Las Piñas is now effective.)
He, however, lamented the low voter turnout which was only around 20%.Las Piñas City has a total of 308,059 registered voters, but only 61,237 voters actually voted in the plebiscite.
Ordinance No. 1941-23 Series of 2023 delineates the territorial boundaries of the 20 barangays in the city in accordance with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ cadastral survey that was completed in March 2015.
The ordinance states that since the creation of the barangays in 1978, “the territorial metes and bounds of the said barangays have not been properly identified such that there are barangays whose land areas are not contiguous and/or overlapping with another barangay.”
“Moreover, confusion in the territorial boundaries of the barangays is being encountered which could cause disputes, or be subject of disputes, especially since the cadastral mapping in 1980 for the barangays conflicted with the boundaries as set forth in the Presidential Decrees,” the ordinance added.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Do you think the low turnout of voters during the plebiscite is a major issue? Do you think the newly approved ordinance will solve local problems and confusion with regards to the territorial boundaries of all barangays in the city?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1984 to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics universe through a tale of the Wolverine monthly series.
This particular tale shows were Wolverine went and what he has been doing since he decided to leave the X-Men in Wolverine #75 (1993). Since Magneto removed the Adamantium out of him in X-Men #25 (1993) and Wolverine discovered that his claws were made of pure bones (part of him all along), he has been very determine to search for answers and the truth about himself.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Wolverine #87, published in 1994 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Larry Hama and drawn by Adam Kubert.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins in the Southeast Asian city of Madripoor (fictional) where Wolverine and his former teammate Gambit are reunited. As they walk, Gambit tells him that Sabretooth (Wolverine’s long-time rival) is staying in Charles Xavier’s mansion (refer to X-Men #28 and #29). As they talk, Wolverine notices something odd at the Princess Bar which he previously visited and there seems to be something wrong. The two decided to break in, causing damage and expecting the worst. It turns out, a lot of people are inside (including those who became friends of Logan) who prepared a surprise celebration for Wolverine.
As the celebration goes on, ninjas at the top of the building watch Wolverine carefully as they prepare to go down and kill him…
Quality
Amazingly, Wolverine managed to slash the two falling guys with his bone claws and impressed Gambit.
If you are familiar with Team X (revealed in flashbacks in X-Men #5 and X-Men #6) composed of Wolverine, Sabretooth and Maverick as black ops operatives, then the story of this comic book will really become relevant with you. In fact, reading the mentioned comic books is a must.
Without spoiling the plot, I can say that creative duo of Hama and Kubert came up with their own contribution to the Team X mythos (with flashbacks visualized in similar style to those in the above-mentioned X-Men comic books of 1992) while emphasizing how the past affects Wolverine, Sabretooth and Maverick in the present day.
What Hama-Kubert came up with was not the typical good-versus-evil superhero tale but rather a believable expansion of the Team X legacy, what the three former members have in common, and what uncertainties are they dealing with as surviving mutants. In the case of Wolverine, this tale adds depth to his solo exploits since leaving his team behind in search for answers.
Conclusion
Wolverine dancing with a pretty lady while two guys above watch them.
Wolverine #87 (1994) is a fine character exploration and also a nice revelation about Team X. Considering how good the contributions from Hama and Kubert are, they would not be so relevant if you have never read Team X’s flashbacks in the two specific X-Men comic books published in 1992 and that alone makes this one a tricky read.
Over in the province of Batangas, the City Council of Batangas recently approved a resolution for the banning of the application and operation of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) within their jurisdiction, according to a GMA Network news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from GMA news report. Some parts in boldface…
The Batangas City Council has approved a resolution banning the application and operation of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the city.
The decision was made during a regular session on Monday, June 24, 2024.
The move came in light of issues and an ongoing Senate investigation into POGOs in Bamban, Tarlac, which allegedly involved the local government unit (LGU) there.
“Saying it is with regard to the issue at Bamban, Tarlac na investigation ng Senate sa POGO involving the LGU. It would give assurance din sa mga Batangueno na hindi dapat matakot sa mga POGO activities dito sa Batangas City,” Nestor Dimacuha, chairman of the Committee on Laws and Rules, said.
For Mary Jane Ante, a 39-year-old helper at a small eatery in Batangas City, the ban brings great relief. Despite knowing that POGOs could provide many jobs, she prefers not to have foreign operators in the country due to safety concerns.
“Baka sumakop sila sa Pilipinas. Dito na lang, ayos din para Pilipino na lang ang magtatrabaho sa atin at wala na ‘yung mga taga-ibang bansa,” Ante said.
“Hindi naman talaga maganda ang sugal talaga sa pang araw-araw, kasi nakakaperwisyo yan ng pamilya. Hindi ako pabor sa ganoon. Huwag na lang pumasok dito ang POGO para walang ma-perwisyo,” Arnel Montalbo, a printing shop owner, added.
The resolution cites that POGOs tarnish the dignity of the LGU, leaving no room for such operations in the city. It also serves as a warning to businesses operating secretly as POGOs, despite having business permits.
The council will request the mayor to revoke permits of establishments found to be operating illegally as POGOs.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the City Council of Batangas did the right move? Do you think more local government units (LGUs) around the country should approve legislation banning POGOs?
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, a former police major got arrested by the local police as a result of a drug buy-bust operation that succeeded, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
A dismissed police major was arrested by members of the Las Piñas Police Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) after he yielded suspected shabu an a gun during a buy-bust operation last Tuesday, June 18.
Las Piñas police chief Col. Sandro Taffala, identified the suspect as ex-Major Reynante Ibon, 54, a resident of Batangas City.
Tafalla said Ibon, who included in police gallery of high value individual (HVI), was nabbed at around 12:20 a.m. at the corner of Saging and Strawberry Streets in Barangay CAA, Las Piñas City.
He said confiscated from the suspect were 15 grams shabu placed in seven plastic sachets worth P102,000, one blue rubber pouch, a white Nissan X-rail with plate number ZRU718, and a cellular phone. The city police chief said SDEU operatives also confiscated from the suspect one .45-caliber pistol with four rounds of ammunition.
Tafalla said Ibon along with the confiscated shabu was brought to the Southern Police District (SPD) Forensic Unit for drug testing, while the confiscated gun was turned over to the SPD Crime Laboratory for ballistic examination.
Police investigators are also conducting firearms verification to determine the registered owner of the gun.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Do you think that buy-bust operations are an effective way of arresting criminals in the city?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Author Carlo Carrasco 