Three cities on the spot   By Ermin Garcia Jr. IT is, indeed, heartening to learn that our towns and cities are racing to be declared drug-free by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. Curiously, the cities of Dagupan, San Carlos and Urdaneta have not even been declared drug-free even by…

The war on drugs here is being won   By Ermin Garcia Jr. THE war on drugs in Pangasinan is definitely being won! While there are only 6 towns and 1 city that have been declared drug-free as validated by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), there are already 35…

Another lip service from Liga ng mga Barangay   By Ermin Garcia Jr. FIRST, an FYI! Here’s a snapshot of crime situation in the country vis-à-vis the war on drugs from PNP validated by PDEA: Period: July 1, 2016 – August 29, 2017 Anti-Drug Operations Conducted: 70,854 Drug Personalities Who…

Fake news from the archdiocese   By Ermin Garcia Jr. I fully support and join the call for communio as described in the “Post Synodal Message” authorized by Lingayen–Dagupan Archdiocese Bishop Socrates Villegas to be read last in all Sunday masses on September 10 in all churches in the archdiocese….

War on drugs, a communication failure   By Ermin Garcia Jr. AS the war on drugs progresses, the war’s critics and detractors have been busy discrediting it in mainstream and social media daily, and I must concede they have been effective to a great extent. Ironically, the war’s thrust and…

Tireless sniping at PDU30   By Ermin Garcia Jr. THE week that passed had a lot of surprises. Foremost was: what was thought to be a slam-dunk for the guys and gals in yellow, simply just went pffft. I’m referring to the brouhaha created by Manila’s tri-media prompted by the…

Shabu behind rape cases   By Ermin Garcia Jr. THE briefing that the P/Sr. Inspector Ria Tacderan, chief of the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office, gave local newsmen during the KBP Forum baffled me some. Indeed, we have reason to be alarmed that…

Why oh why, VP Leni?   By Ermin Garcia Jr. WELL, well, it looks like Veep Leni Robredo has again agreed to lend her voice to efforts to cut down President Duterte to size, particularly on the issue of drug peddlers being killed in legitimate police entrapment operations. Ms. Robredo…

IDs for Muslims a bad idea By Ermin Garcia Jr.   THERE are two legislative measures that I hope our representatives at the Lower House will fully support: the establishment of the national ID system and the amendment of Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 that requires children below…

Pangasinan, a flashpoint? By Ermin Garcia Jr.   IT looks like PNP Provincial Director Ronald Lee spoke too soon when he said the province is free of insurgency problems. The reported firefight between the government troops and NPA rebels at presstime in San Nicolas town on the border with Benguet…