‘Probe into Mexico town’s deals about public funds’

THE ongoing House of Representatives inquiry into P149 million worth of alleged questionable transactions of the municipal government of Mexico, Pampanga under Mayor Teddy Tumang is not in any way intended to scare away investors, according to the chairman of the investigating panel.

During the committee’s last hearing on Tuesday, Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano of Abang Lingkod Party-list, who chairs the committee on public accounts, said the investigation is about accountability, transparency, and safeguarding public funds.

“Let me assure all officials of Mexico, Pampanga, investors, and relevant stakeholders that this legislative inquiry does not wish to stifle the endeavors of legitimate business investors seeking to enhance and invest in the municipality of Mexico,” he said.

“Our aim is not to discourage them… both the committee and the House leadership stand in unwavering support of investors, local and foreign, in the country. This stance underscores our support for fostering economic growth and opportunities,” he said. He alleged that the inquiry “concerns public officials who have exploited their positions to accumulate personal wealth and extend their grip on power.”

BEATING THE HEAT. Youngsters get creative in diving from a coconut trunk into the Loboc River in Loay, Bohol to beat the searing heat on Thursday. Many parts of the country continue to experience increasing heat ammid the El Niño climate phenomenon.

Danny Pata

THE Bureau of Immigration has uncovered a new modus by a human trafficking syndicate by making their victims pretend they are sick to avoid the strict immigration inspection at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco cited the case of a Filipino victim, whose name was withheld in compliance with anti-trafficking laws, who attempted to depart on board a Philippine Airlines flight bound for Thailand.

The victim was intercepted by members of the BI’s Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (IPROBES) after bureau officers found numerous inconsistent statements.

She later admitted that she was actually recruited to work as a household service worker in Lebanon.

“The victim admitted that her recruiter instructed her to feign sickness so she can use a wheelchair. The victim stated that she was instructed to delete all conversations with her recruiter on her mobile phone,” the BI said. Vito Barcelo

Mayor orders probe of fatal QC accident

MAYOR Joy Belmonte on Friday ordered an extensive investigation into the construction site accident at the Quezon City hall compound that killed one person and injured three others on Thursday night.

“I have instructed city engineerlawyer Dale Perral to lead the probe and hold those accountable,” she said.

“First is to identify the kind of system that is being implemented by the contractor at the construction site, and to look into if the aspect of occupational safety is being employed,” she added.

Part of the building’s wall fell during an ongoing demolition was ongoing on Thursday at 10 p.m., which was being undertaken to install a scenic elevator in front of the Civic Center B Building.

The four, all workers of MRB II Construction Corp., were rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center. Rio N. Araja

Lingayen searching for church statue

THE Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan has conducted a search for a religious statue that was stolen and replaced with a replica from one of its parish churches seven years ago.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said that the parish church only learned of the missing image of San Jacinto de Polonia after discovering the frame enclosing the image was not also original.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas made the statement after an archdiocesan investigation confirmed that the current image on the side retablo of the church in San Jacinto town is no longer the original one and was replaced with a replica of San Jacinto de Polonia.

“I have mandated the parish priest to explore all means to recover the missing image of San Jacinto de Polonia in the parish church,” Villegas said. Vito Barcelo