A Sulu barangay chairman was gunned down by one of the two unidentified gunmen in Logoy Diutay, Talon-Talon last Thursday night.

A police report identified the fatality as Abdulhan Kiram, barangay chairman of Tulayan, Luuk, Sulu. He died with multiple gunshot wounds in the different parts of the body.

Mayor Celso Lobregat yesterday led the destruction of about P700,000 worth of assorted firecrackers and pyrotechnics, pellet and toy guns, and defective weighing scales in front of City Hall.

The firecrackers were seized by government agents in several raids in unauthorized stores around the city selling the mild explosives for the New Year''s revelry.

An unidentified flying object was sighted hovering over a quiet village in Zamboanga City.

The object, which appeared metallic, was spotted in the remote village of Lumbangan, about 10 kms east.

People living along a riverbank in Mormons Drive, Tetuan found a female fetus stuffed in a shoebox that was floating in the river yesterday morning.

Hobing Magno, a resident of the place, told the police that he saw a shoebox along the riverside prompting him to check its content.

Mayor Celso L. Lobregat yesterday distributed cash assistance to 20 fire victims amounting to P89,000.

The families, who lost their homes in separate fire incidents, got P5,000 each from the mayor representing relocation assistance.

As part of the leadership and steering role of the DSWD in the SWD sector, among its major thrusts are along institutional strengthening and standards setting.

The Department has continuously been exerting efforts at enhancing its partnership and collaboration with various intermediaries and stakeholders geared towards the effective and efficient delivery of social services to the disadvantaged individuals, families and communities.

A disbursing officer of the Department of Education (Dep-Ed) was shot and wounded and held-up by three gunmen who held him up in Magsaysay St., Purok Malipayon, Poblacion, Ipil last Tuesday night.

Police Regional Information Officer Supt. Felixberto Candado identified the victim as Raquel Pareñas, 59, married.

One major cause is the imbalance of oil supply and demand. When the demand is great and the supply is lean, the price shoots up.

There is no way for the demand to decline as nations evolve into economic powers and as lifestyle becomes more sophisticated. The United States, with its vast industrial complexes and millions of cars, is the world''s biggest consumer of oil.

Back in 1998, I had the privilege of representing my province, Basilan, to the 2nd National Youth Parliament, convened by the National Youth Commission as mandated by RA 8044 or the Youth in Nation-Building Act.

It was a very prestigious gathering of all youth leaders, school and community-based, different sectors (out-of-school, disabled, cultural communities, and other youth sectors) throughout the country. We had the opportunity to be honorable parliamentarians, experienced the drafting of bills, the committee meetings, plenary sessions, and well, like our counterparts in Congress, we did have our own "out of order" and "Shut up! Shut up!" moments. Perhaps scenes like these are always expected when you put hundreds of brilliant minds (at least, on that occasion we thought we were brilliant!) in one room.

About 8.4 million of OFWs (some counts say there are at least twice this number) are now in almost every country of the world. They generally get good pay, send money to their families, invest in small and medium enterprises. They save the country from economic ruin. Their remittances strengthen the peso to the point of making it one of the most solid currencies in the world.

When crises threaten to reduce household spending and make the economy contract, OFW remittances rise, as if by miracle, and keep homes, malls, restaurants and factories alive.

A 60-year-old man was killed by his nephew inside his house in Triplitt, San Jose at near dawn yesterday.

PO1 Paul Andrew Cortes, case investigator, identified the fatality as Floreno Amparado, a former painter and owner of a boarding house in the said place.

Bureau of Internal Revenue District Officer Mr. Cresencio A. Agad yesterday asked consumers to demand for receipt every time they pay for goods or services especially this yuletide season.

Agad said that consumers can file a complaint with the BIR if they notice that the receipt issued to them is not registered with BIR.

Congressman Erbie A. Fabian yesterday vowed to make a request with the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) in Manila for the immediate repair of the runway at the Zamboanga International Airport.

Fabian said he will forward his request to DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza and stressed that this matter is a priority considering that it involves safety and the promotion of tourism in Zamboanga City.

Mayor Celso L. Lobregat yesterday expressed strong opposition to any move by the national administration to postpone the local and national elections in 2007 to 2010.

"I am strongly opposing any move to postpone the 2007 election. We the city officials are against such any plan of the national government," Lobregat told reporters during an interview yesterday.

All is set for the observance of the 2nd death anniversary of the late Mayor Maria Clara L. Lobregat here in Zamboanga City.

This developed as Mayor Celso L. Lobregat and Congressman Erbie A. Fabian have enjoined local residents to go out and participate in the several programs and activities slated on January 2, 2006 (Monday) in honor of the late mayor who is best remembered as the very strong, kind and generous leader the city ever had.