GOVERNANCE/POLITICS

KIDAPAWAN CITY --- The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission has cleared Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol from suspicions of pocketing state funds.

“A humbling moment,” Piñol, said in a text message Thursday, referring to a June 11 PACC press communiqué stating he is cleared from allegations of mishandling money earmarked for high-ticket government programs.

The statement was signed by PACC Chairman Dante Jimenez, copies received by media outfits in central Mindanao early Thursday.

KABACAN, North Cotabato – Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol today earned his doctorate in rural development during the commencement exercises of the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) in Kabacan, North Cotabato.

“This is the big event of my life,” Piñol said as he prepared to march at the USM grounds early Saturday morning.

KIDAPAWAN CITY  – Believing the youth as the country’s future, North Cotabato Governor-elect and incumbent Rep. Nancy Catamco today said she will push for voter's education, especially among high school students to break the culture of vote buying during elections.

Rep. Catamco, elected as the next North Cotabato governor, said in a statement that educating high school students on the importance of voting was essential as they would eventually be joining the country's voting population.

NORTH COTABATO --- Central Mindanao’s business sector is anticipating improvements in regional economy if the provincial airport, idle since its construction a decade ago, gets opened soon.

The airport in Mlang town in North Cotabato, designed for large passenger and cargo planes, has never been functional due to alleged controversies  partly triggered by the political hostility between its proponent, the now Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, predecessor then of now out-going third-termer Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza.