NCRPO chief Nicanor Bartolome said that confiscated from the 132 persons were 57 assorted firearms, 56 bladed weapons and five explosives.

Bartolome said that the Southern Police District (SPD) had the most number of arrests with 40, while the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) had the lowest, with 13 arrests.

He added that the SPD had the highest number of confiscated bladed weapons, with 30 while NPD confiscated the most number of short and high-powered firearms, with 18.

The NCRPO chief said that all the arrested persons have been charged with violating the Omnibus Election Code.

Bartolome also vowed to continue enforcing security checkpoints around the metro for the holiday season. (Jean Fernando)

PHL-Portugal agreement
Exchange programs and visits between Filipinos and Portuguese scholars, teachers, students, researches and administrators can now be explored with the effectivity of the Philippines-Portugal Cultural Agreement.

To mark the recent entry into force of the said agreement Philippine Embassy in Portugal turned over Filipiniana books and publications, donated by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the National Historical Institute (NHI), to the Instituto Camões, the premier Portuguese cultural institution.

According to Ambassador Teresita V.G. Barsana the turnover formed an initial undertaking under the agreement, whose main intent is to promote and further strengthen the relations between the Philippines and Portugal in the fields of culture, art, education, sports, youth and mass media.

Experts in the field of restoration and preservation of cultural heritage, artists and media people from the Philippines and Portugal can also sit down together and introduce mutually beneficial projects. (Roy Mabasa)

San Jose Dioceses to hold first synod next year
The Diocese of San Jose de Nueva Ecija is set to hold its first synod (conference) next year to assess its accomplishments as well as chart plans and programs.

In his synod declaration, Bishop Mylo Hubert C.Vergara, San Jose’s third prelate, said the diocese will hold its first synod called “Sinodo ng Mabuting Katiwala,” from March 20 to 26, 2011. It will be attended by members of the clergy, representatives of religious groups, and leaders of the Catholic laity.

“The Catholic faithful, as well as our homegrown priests in 19 parishes, grew in number during the diocese’s 26 years as a progressive Church,” Bishop Vergara said as he called on the faithful “to reflect, strengthen their faith, and remain committed as a way of thanking God for all His blessings to the Diocese of San Jose.

According to the prelate, participants in the synod will deliberate on important issues such as the formation of the laity and the clergy, the call for more servant leaders, the propagation of basic Christian communities knows as “Damayang Kristiano,” the Church’s involvement in social change, and the proper management of the resources of the diocese.

Manila Bulletin