Pathetic Seeing PH Light Fighters Join U.S Superiority Jets

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Because a significant part of the government funds -- ₱700 billion annually or equivalent to roughly 20% of the national budget -- goes to the pockets of plundering Philippines officials, I pity seeing our airforce joining the yearly Cope Thunder being held at either Clark or Basa Air Base with our lightfigher cum trainer FA-50s operates with either the American F-16 multiple role figher (in years 2024 and 2025) and the superiority fighter’s F-22 Raptor for this year’s exercise.

Exercise Cope Thunder 26-1 started in April 6 and concluded on April 17, 2026 at Clark by bringing together the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and U.S. Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) for intensive two-week joint air combat training. The exercise featured PAF FA-50s and U.S. F-22 Raptors, focusing on interoperability, defensive counter-air operations, and combat readiness in Northern Luzon.

Mangaldan Chalks Up P55-M from the Nat’l Gov’t

TO FUNDS THOSE FARM-TO-MARKET ROADS

By Mortz C. Ortigoza, MPA

MANGALDAN, Pangasinan – Through the leadership of the mayor of this progressive town, a new P55 million funding for farm-to-market roads (FMR) here have been accessed from the national government.

TOKYO TREATS. Mangaldan mayor Bona Fe D. Parayno treats a friend and village chiefs at a Japanese restaurant’s Tokio by Hagemu in Brgy, Banaoang, Mangaldan. (Left top photo, from left and clockwise): Mayor Parayno, Editor Mortz Ortigoza, Osiem Kapitan Alberto P. Llena, Landas Kapitan Bernardo Salayog, Jr. Salay Kapitana Celedonia Lim, Maasin Kapitana, Liga ng mga Barangay President, and ex-officio Councilor Florida Abalos.

Those in the other pictures are Poblacion Kapitana Vilma Quinto Galban and Malabago Kapitana Myla Muyarga.

“Ang ginagawa namin ina-access namin ang Ugnayang Bayan Portal (of the Department of Budget and Management) kung saan may mga budget sa farm-to-market roads na pwedeng maaprubahan at maibigay sa Mangaldan,” Agriculture Technologist Manny Aquino of the Municipal Agriculture Office told this writer.