‘JAM STEP’ WANTS TO get TO GUINNESS
A non-government organization yesterday launched “Jam Step,’’ a campaign that attempts to break the Guinness World Record in the single aerobic exercise category held by China and coax to action today’s youth living sedentary lives because of modern technology.

Jewel May Lobaton-Pimentel head of the “Ang Batang Pinoy Movement’’ said that the record breaking attempt will be held at the 21-hectare old airport in Bacolod City this Sunday (Feb. 12) where at least 80,000 public school (Grade 4 to 4th year high school) students are expected to participate. Aside from attempting to break a world record and break the country’s own record in 2003 where 47,000 adults participated in the Department of Health feat, Pimentel said that the program is more of an initiative to promote healthy lifestyles among children and the youth. “They (children/youth) are the hopes of our country. If they are unhealthy 20 years from now, our country will also be unhealthy. It’s not too late to in physical activities again using the language of the youth,” Pimentel explain to The Manila Times referring to the word “jam” as a youth word for getting together. She added that the proceeds from sponsorships they would get from companies and government agencies will be used for the construction of the Bacolod Disaster Relief and Preparedness Center. JING VILLAMENTE

CAGAYAN DENR OFFICIAL GUNNED DOWN
A woman official of the Natural and Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Cagayan was shot dead inside her office by a lone gunman, Tuesday night. A report sent to Camp Crame identified the fatality as Melanie Dirain, 46, married and was a Specialist 2 of the City Environmental Natural Resource Office (CENRO). The report said the victim was inside her office at CENRO Bldg. on Sanchez Mira in Cagayan when she was shot at around 7:47 p.m. The victim reportedly died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds. Police recovered from the crime scene four empty shells and three deformed slugs of a .45 pistol. RAFFY AYENG

PDEA LAUDS CEBU JUDGE
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is delighted over the quick resolution of the drug case filed against a female Kenyan arrested in 2011 for transporting three kilograms of shabu in Cebu. PDEA Director General Undersecretary Jose S. Gutierrez, Jr. said PDEA salutes Judge Toribio S. Quiwag of the Regional Trial Court Branch 27 in Lapu-Lapu City for the speedy trial of Asha Atieno Ogotu, the Kenyan nabbed jointly by PDEA, Bureau of Customs (BOC), and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on September 29, 2011 at the Mactan International Airport. “We are really pleased at how fast the case of Ogotu was tried in court. The example of Judge Quiwag demonstrates that it can be done and that justice can be served at the soonest possible time,” said Gutierrez. He added that with more judges like Quiwag, there is a great possibility that the rate of resolving drug cases in 2012 might increase along with the conviction rate. It only took a little over three months to issue a resolution convicting the Kenyan national to life imprisonment as well as a fine of three million pesos for violating Article 2, Section 5 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. RONALD ALVAREZ

OLD MAN COLLARED FOR SELLING ‘WEED’
A 61-year old man was nabbed by agents the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for selling a brick of marijuana to a poseur buyer this week in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. PDEA Director General Undersecretary Jose S. Gutierrez, Jr., identified the arrested suspect as Oscar Addun, married, of Guyabano Street, Barangay Pengue Ruyu, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. Elements of PDEA Regional Office II, under Director Juvenal Azurin, scheduled a transaction with Addun and conducted an operation to entrap the suspect. Upon the pre-arranged signal, PDEA agents arrested the suspect and recovered one brick of dried marijuana leaves with fruiting tops wrapped in a magazine leaf. Confiscated evidence was submitted for quantitative and qualitative laboratory examination. JING VILLAMENTE

LUGA ASSUMES 7th ID TOP POST
THE new commander of the Philippine Army’s 7th Infantry Division in Central Luzon has formally assumed post yesterday. Brig. Gen. Alan Rio Luga was named chief of the said division, replacing Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr., who has been assigned to head the 3rd Infantry Division in Western Visayas. Luga is the son of the former Commanding General of the 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division, General Emilio Luga Jr., and a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1981, as well as Mabanta Jr. The new 7th ID chief hails from a family of soldiers. His brother, Erwin, is also a retired lieutenant colonel of the Philippine Army and belongs to PMA Class 1982. As a young lieutenant, Luga fought insurgents in the hinterlands of Western Visayas. RAFFY AYENG

NEW REGIONAL DIRECTOR TAKES OVER
CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna: Police Chief Supt James Andres Melad, of PMA class “Sandigan” 1982, and the former Chief of the Headquarters Support Service, the unit in charge of the security in Camp Crame, assumed command of the 10,000-strong PRO CALABARZON, replacing Chief Supt Gil Meneses, of PMA class “Mapitagan” 1980, who was designated as Director of the Civil Security Group. The turn-over of command ceremony, presided by PNP Chief Dir Gen Nicanor Bartolome, Chief, was held at the Multi-purpose Center here. In his assumption speech, Melad, outlined his plans for PRO CALABARZON which include both the continuation of the programs of his predecessor and reforms for further improvement of the delivery of police services in the region. ROSELLE R. AQUINO