The Ilocos Times

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Ilocos netizens here are eagerly awaiting the entry of a third telecom player, which they expect to break duopoly of communication firms in the country. This is one of the good news Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque shared in his recent visit to Laoag as he reported that they have discussed in a cabinet meeting the improvement of the country’s internet connectivity. Like in most parts of the country, residents here have been complaining a lot about the poor internet service provided by the two telecom firms. “I hope the new telco challenger will compete against the two big players in the industry and ensure no consolidation,” said Roger dela Cruz, an information technology graduate from San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte. In social networking sites, rants about crawling internet connectivity both from private and public consumers are a common status posts in the Philippines, having the lowest

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Badoc, Ilocos Norte —The police arrested a suspected unlicensed gunmaker at Brgy. Ar-arusip, in this town. The police nabbed farmer Jimmy Salvacion, 47 in his shanty on by joint operatives of the Badoc police, Crime Investigation and Detection Group and the Ilocos Norte Provincial Mobile Force Company. P/Sr. Insp. Joseph Tayaban of the Badoc police reported seized items include different types of long and small firearms, various live ammunitions, and gun-making equipment. The Badoc police is still assessing the estimated worth of the confiscated items. The police used a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Nida Alejandro of Branch 12, Laoag City. In December last year, a tipster reported to the police about Mr. Asuncion’s alleged activity. As of this posting, the police brought the confiscated items to the Badoc police station after which they turned it ov

Laoag City —the Municipality of Adams made history in Ilocos Norte as the first member of the Indigenous Cultural Community (ICC) in the province to conquer the “Tan-ok ni Ilocano Festival of Festivals.” Usually held in the latter months of the year, “Tan-ok ni Ilocano”, or simply “Tan-ok”, is a grand showdown of town and city festivals set onstage instead of on the streets as in traditional fiestas. Last November, organizers announced the postponement of the contest in light of Ilocos Norte’s 200 th founding year or bicentennial celebration. The “bicentennial edition” of the competition is also its seventh installment. Ilocos Norte governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos shared, “ Kahit winatak-watak ang Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, La Union… hinati-hati ang Cordillera— iisa pa rin ang Ilocano . …( A)ng dami-dami naming kwento, ang daming produkto, ang daming tribo ,” she added, saying “Tan-ok” was Ilocos Norte’s great effort to tell their stories through the ar

Piddig , Ilocos Norte—Police operatives here arrested former town councilor Marvin A. Crisostomo, 42 in a buy-bust operation. According to the police report, Mr. Crisostomo was about to buy bread in a bakery when an undercover police officer approached him to buy shabu. When he handed over the alleged drug, other police officers immediately arrested him. Seized from him were two medium size sachets of suspected shabu and the PHP 1,000 marked money. The police said they surveilled Mr. Crisostomo for several months and was in in their “drug watch” list. (Bernard Ver)