Nueva Ecija, Philippines

GENERAL Tinio, Nueva Ecija – The short messaging system or texting proved to be an effective tool in waging war against criminality and  insurgency.

Police and military officials in Nueva Ecija, through texting, repulsed a big group of heavily-armed New People’s Army guerrillas here Monday afternoon.

Reports said the 20-minute encounter between the troops and the rebels in Sitio Cabilugan, Barangay Rio Chico left some casualties on the enemy side and resulted in the capture of an NPA rebel, whose identity was temporarily withheld pending the filing of rebellion charges against him.

The troopers recovered three M-16 Armalite rifles, a Motorola hand-held radio and subversive documents.

Provincial police director Senior Supt. Napoleon C. Taas said the encounter was an offshoot of a text message sent by a concerned citizen to the “I-Report Mo kay Mamang Pulis” SMS through 0917-382-9099. By: Steve A. Gosuico

Journal Online

Combined military and police personnel captured three alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) following an encounter in Nueva Ecija province, the military said Monday.

The 73rd Division Reconnaissance Company, Army intelligence group and the Philippine National Police were verifying reports of 40 armed rebels sighted at Aves Farm along Sitio Kabilogan, Rio, Chico, in General Tinio when an armed encounter with the alleged rebels reportedly occurred.

The report was released by Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr, Philippine Army spokesman.

A 20-minute firefight ensued between the troops and the rebels that resulted to the capture of the three alleged rebels and the recovery of three M16 rifles, one Motorola hand held radio and subversive documents. The alleged rebels were not identified.

The encounter also wounded an officer who was immediately brought to the hospital for treatment.

ABS-CBN News

SAN Jose City, Nueva Ecija – Intensified police checkpoint operations have resulted in the arrest of a security guard carrying an unlicensed pistol in Barangay Sto. Niño here Wednesday night.by Steve A. Gosuico

Journal Online

CABANATUAN CITY: The industry of vegetable-fortified noodles received a big push Thursday after three government agencies vowed to assist local entrepreneurs and provide nutritious food for the marginalized sector.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), National Food Authority (NFA) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) launched veggie noodles as featured product under DTI’s One Town One Product Program at the NFA’s farmers training center here.

DTI Nueva Ecija Director Bi Pili said NFA encourages the over 70 ‘Tindahan Natin’ outlets that sold P18.25 per kilo rice to offer veggie noodles so that poor families can buy them.

Veggie noodles, available in 75-gram packs, are sold in four variants—malunggay, saluyot, carrot and squash.by Armand M. Galang

Manila Times

BEGA, Bongabon — Less than half of the town’s farmers here planted onions last season and produced only one million metric tons or about one-fourth of its usual yearly output due to lack of capital and government support.

This should explain why onions are in short supply and cost P140 per kilo –  or nearly three times their normal price.

According to retired Commodore Ismael Aparri, president of Kampilan (Kilusan ng Mamimiling Pilipino Laban sa Kahirapan, Inc.), the normal yearly onion production is four million metric tons. The harvest from February 4 to May 2 was expected at one million MT only.

Many onion farmers here claimed they lost big money after their newly-planted farms were twice destroyed by big floods caused by swollen dikes in the town. By:  Flor Urfano

Journal Online