Friday, October 23, 2009
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
‘Double ignorance,’ says Soriano of Fabricante case handling
CAGAYAN JOURNAL (Ben Balce/Oct. 7) - FORMER vice mayor Antonio Soriano yesterday tongue-lashed the city council’s blue ribbon committee and accused its chairperson of ‘‘double ignorance.’’
Over radio station DxCC, Soriano said he was surprised over the way Councilor Adrian Barba has been handling the administrative complaint against Patag barangay chairperson Benedicto Fabricante.
Fabricante was ordered suspended for 90 days by Mayor Constantino Jaraula due to alleged falsification of documents following a recommendation from the blue ribbon committee. Barba is the chairperson of the committee.
Soriano said Barba, being a lawyer by profession and dean of a college of law in the city, was expected to be know the city council’s rules.
‘‘Since he is the chairman of the blue ribbon committee, he should know the house rules,’’ the ex-vice mayor said in the vernacular.
Soriano, also a lawyer, said Barba’s committee even bypassed the head of the city council, Vice Mayor Vicente Emano, when it directly recommended Fabricante’s suspension to Jaraula.
Barba earlier admitted that the suspension of Fabricante was not brought to the plenary, and the committee merely adopted the house rules approved by city council as a whole.
A new set of house rules was adopted in 2008, according to Councilor Ramon Tabor.
“Dili na moagi sa plenary kay ang gihimo sa blue ribbon interlocutory order dili decision,” Barba said.
Soriano said, “It’s very very ironic, dean of a college of law and chair pa sa blue ribbon makaingon s’ya (Barba) nia-ana.”
What Barba and members of the blue ribbon committee did was deprive Fabricante of his right to govern, said Soriano, adding that the village official was elected by Patag residents.
He said the committee acted on its own when it recommended Fabricante’s suspension directly to the mayor’s office.
“Kinsa man diay ang ilang immediate boss sa city council? Di ba ang vice mayor? Kung ang vice mayor ang ilang boss, gi-bypass na nila si Dongkoy (Emano),’’ argued Soriano.
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Friday, September 18, 2009
23 MILF rebels yield in Norcot
CAGAYAN Journal (BEN BALCE/Sep 18) SOME 23 Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels surrendered to the military in North Cotabato, bringing to 84 the number of MILF members who yielded the past few weeks.
Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos said the surrend-erers were under MILF
commander Paron. He said they yielded high-powered firearms.
Maj. Gen. Alfredo Cay-ton, commander of the 602nd Brigade in Carmen,
“The Philippine Army has recorded a total of 363 MILF surrenderers so far this year. This can be attributed to the different development and nation-building endeavors of the government,” said
“With this considerable number of members lost by MILF, there is no doubt that the strength of the rebel group has fallen significantly. More surrenders are expected as a result of the peace and development initiatives of the Philippine Army,” he said.
In another development, 13 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels have yielded to the Army in Bukidnon, military officials said yesterday.
The rebels surrendered Wednesday to 23rd Infantry Battalion commander Lt. Colonel Cresente Maligmat in Managok,
The 13 surrenderers brought with them two carbines, two caliber .357 and two caliber .38 revolvers, three caliber 22 long barrel rifles, two shotguns, an 9mm Ingram and two grenades.
Fourth Infantry Division spokesperson Maj. Michele Anayron said, “They wanted to leave in a peaceful, normal and productive life.’’
Col. Nick Dolojan, the 403rd Brigade commander, said the surrenderers operated in Barangay
Canangaan, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon.
Dolojan said the surrender was due to the massive information campaign and tactical operations conducted by the 403rd Brigade in Bukidnon PNA
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Moreno fights shortage of classrooms
CAGAYAN Journal (Sep 16) - Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar S. Moreno took the most obvious solution to the country's perennial problem on the shortage of classrooms – build more classrooms in the province.
The lack of classrooms is one of the education woes in the Philippines and the province of Misamis Oriental is no exception.
That is why back in 2004, when Gov. Moreno was elected governor of the province, he immediately convened the Local School Board (LSB) and asked a crucial question – when was the last time you constructed a classroom?
The members of the board were surprised because never in the past that this question was asked by the previous local chief executives in spite of the yawning need for classrooms in the province.
Being a product of good education, Gov. Moreno decided to invest big in improving education in Misamis Oriental by building better and more classrooms every year.
Since then, the proliferation of classrooms began in Misamis Oriental. In less than five years, the provincial government has amazingly completed more than 200 classrooms dispersed all over the province.
Most local government units would have shunned the idea of this ambitious undertaking due to limited funds but Gov. Moreno aggressively implemented the project by identifying the classrooms as a priority program of the provincial government.
The other day, Gov. Moreno turned over the latest set of 4 classrooms and one administration building in Naawan National High School (NNHS). NNHS is a recipient of a total of 18 classrooms from the provincial government in four years time.
Next month, Gov. Moreno is set to turn-over a three-story school building in Gingoog City composed of 18 classrooms.
He also bared his plans in building another three-story school building at the Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGCHS) which is located in Cagayan de Oro City catering to about 13,000 students. (MCR/MisOr Press Office)
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Friday, September 11, 2009
‘Nanding’s debts caused delays in buyback deal’
CAGAYAN Journal (BEN BALCE / Sep 11) - Mayor Constantino Jaraula has asserted that Councilor Reynaldo Advincula owed UKC Builders Inc. some P2 million in unpaid rent at Cogon and that the local legislator’s debts served as a stumbling block in negotiations for the buyback of the public markets.
Advincula, who denied owing UKC Builders P2 million, faulted city treasurer Lino Daral and accused the executive of carrying out a ‘‘demolition job’’ against him. He accused Daral of making up a story against him and, probably, even doctoring documents to put him in bad light.
Jaraula, who exposed Advincula’s alleged P2-million debt because of his market-based business, maintained that the councilor owed that much. He said a highly placed source in UKC Builders informed him that Advincula owed the firm some P2 million in unpaid rent.
‘‘Hapit na gani ko matumba niana,” Jaraula told local radio.
Jaraula claimed city hall’s negotiations with UKC Builders for a buyback deal covering Cogon and Carmen markets were delayed because of Advincula’s debts.
Advincula, the chair of the city council’s economic enterprise committee, earlier said Jaraula did not get his facts straight. He admitted that he owed UKC Builders but claimed the debt, which grew from September 2005 to December 2008, amounted only to over P100 thousand and not P2 million.
He blamed Daral and accused the treasurer of fabricating a story about his alleged P2-million debt.
Advincula said Daral has an ax to grind against him because the councilor pushed for a measure would reduce market stall rentals by as much as 30 percent. He said Daral strongly opposed the move.
The city council earlier passed an ordinance reducing stall rentals at Cogon and Carmen markets by 30 percent. The Jaraula administration said it had no idea how to cushion the impact of the revenue loss as a result of the rent-reduction.
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Oro 2nd district representative vows to block text tax again
CAGAYAN JOURNAL (Susan Palmes / Sept 11) - CAGAYAN de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of the city’s 2nd District yesterday expressed his opposition to the proposed five-centavo tax for every text message sent.
Rodriguez said, ‘‘I am opposed... this is an additional burden.’’
Rodriguez said the text tax move was blocked in the past by him and other congressmen. He said the same group would oppose fresh moves to get Congress’ green light.
‘‘We have tried our best to lower (the rate). In fact, we have our hearing in Congress to reduce the tax,” Rodriguez said.
He said the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) has recently issued an order to lower the tax passed on to the users. ‘‘And now this.’’
He said taxes such as this should be shouldered by the companies and not by the users.
‘‘This is not a ‘sin tax’ like the taxes we impose on liquor and cigarettes. Majority of the 92 million Filipinos could only afford texting as a means of communication,” Rodrriguez said.
Meanwhile, MalacaƱang cited three conditions for the administration to support a proposal to tax text messages.
Deputy spokespersons Anthony Golez and Gary Olivar said the tax should not be passed on to users. Also, they added, it must be made clear how the tax is implemented and who should shoulder it; and, finally, the tax must be utilized for specific purposes such as education, healthcare or computerization.
The proposed measure, now at the committee level of the Lower House, still has to pass through debates and periods of amendments in the plenary session.
Unfortunately, according to Golez, candidates in next year’s elections are now using the proposal to advance their political interests. He said however that people would see through them.
Olivar said short message service (SMS) is the most popular form of communication for Filipinos, especially overseas based workers. “We must not pass on the tax burden to the consumers and the Palace will make sure of this,” Golez said.
He said Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile’s stance on the text tax issue “is not (meant) to protect the telcos but to make sure that the tax is not passed on to the consumers.”
“He is just consistent with his protection for consumers even when he previously investigated the missing load issue in the Senate hearings,” he said. - with reports from PNA
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Thursday, September 10, 2009
Roxas meets Ilonggos
ILONGGOS give Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas a hero's welcome as he arrives at the Iloilo port after a day of meeting with youth and political leaders in Bacolod on Tuesday. Roxas withdrew his bid for the presidency to give way to Senator Benigno "Noynoy" S. Aquino III, who announced yesterday (Wednesday) he was accepting the challenge to lead the reform ticket for 2010. Aquino also announced he has asked Roxas to become his runningmate. (Photo by Gil Nartea)
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Saturday, August 22, 2009
Local officials divided on gamblers’ 2010 bid
CAGAYAN de Oro City (Ben Balce /Aug 22) - LOCAL officials offer differing positions on the application of Alyansa ng mga Sabungero as a party-list group.
Mayor Constantino Ja-raula said he could not hide his frustration over the large number of groups seeking seats in the House of Representatives using the party-list system.
‘‘Wala ko’y objection niana. Ang sa ako wala natuman ang batas sa party-list system law,’’ Jaraula said, adding that despite having dubious or scant credentials, Comelec still continuously approves party-list applications.
‘‘Some organizations were apparently just out to abuse the party-list law,’’ said Jaraula adding: ‘‘Hasta na ang mga mangunguot mag-apply na niana.’’
Jaraula said the party-list law is enshrined in the 1987 Constitution to give important yet voiceless sectors a say in policy-making.
Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has a different view.
Rodriguez said the group and its members could be considered marginalized because ‘‘they live a hand-to-mouth existence, earnings.”
‘‘If the group met all the requirements of the Comelec, why can’t they join as party-list,’’ said Rodriguez, adding that is part in a democratic country.
‘‘I’m in favor... especially if they help the employees and kristos,” said Rodriguez.
A former House member, however, expressed her disapproval.
“It is a bastardization of the law on party list if we allow the Samahan ng Sabungero in Congress,’’ said former party-list representative Loretta Ann Rosales of Akbayan said in an interview.
Rosales said to allow the group would open the floodgates to other groups that are not marginalized to ask for accredition.
She said, “We will then have the jueteng lords, casino players, mga babaero to ask to be accredited also.”
Rosales said there is no need for these groups to be accredited since some of them are in the Palace or Congress already.
“This is sacred,’’ she added, ‘‘itong gusto sa mga sabungero is a kalokohan.’’
For his part, city elections officer Stalin Baguio belittled the Alyansa ng Sabungero.
‘‘A group of cockfighters want to enter party list? But for me they are not [considered] marginalized,’’ said
‘‘This group of sabongeros nga gusto magpa-party list, kinahanglan nga i-verify muna kini kung nag-exist ba o dili, naghatag ba kini ng kaayohan sa miyembro? Kung ma-meet nila ang tanan nga requirements, maka-apil sila,’’ said
‘‘They just formed a group pero lahi ang katuyoan. For me, they (Sabungeros) are not considered a marginalized sector. Mga sugarol man na. How about the pork barrel para sa unsa ang ilang katuyoan ug unsaon nila na?’’ asked
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Thursday, August 20, 2009
Group calls to cancel all coal contracts
CAGAYAN de Oro City (Cagayan Journal / Aug. 20) - The aggressive issuance of coal operating contracts which will open thousands of hectares of lands to coal extraction that will feed coal fired power plants exposes further the bankruptcy of the government in dealing with climate change.
“Coal, being primarily used in power generation, has been the number one source of carbon dioxide and other green house gasses emissions that cause global warming and climate change” said Erwin B. Quinones, Campaigns Paralegal of the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center-Kasama sa Kalikasan/Friends of the Earth Philippines (LRC-KsK/FoE Phils).
As of January 31, 2007 alone, DoE issued 39 coal operating contracts including that of Monte Oro Resources Energy Inc. in Catanduanes and 45 small scale coal mining permits as of April 17, 2007. By 2009, under Philippine Energy Contracting Round, DoE is offering 30 areas for coal mining covering 125 blocks or about 125,000 hectares.
“We commend the people of Catanduanes, led by the Catholic Church, in vehemently opposing the plan to extract coal in their province” Quinones said, referring to the moves to oppose 6.2B coal mine project linked to businessman Enrique Razon Jr. in the
“We will likewise continue to support the various grassroots effort all over the country to stop coal mine companies in extracting coal, more so that it will primarily be used to fuel power generation plants that pollute our atmosphere” Quinones added.
In Southernmost Mindanao, the Department of Energy (DoE) entered into three (3) coal operating contracts (COC) covering 17,000 hectares of land in the tri-boundary of South Cotabato, Sarangani and
Particularly located at Brgy. Ned, Lake Sebu in South Cotabato, local folks organized themselves into Hublag Kontra Mina (HUKOM-Movement Against Mining), campaigned against coal mining and called for the cancellation of coal operating contracts issued to the MG Mining and Energy Corporation (MGMEC) whose rights and privileges under the contract was transferred to Sultan Energy Philippines Corporation (SEPC), Daguma Agro-Minerals Incorporated (DAMI) and Bonanza Energy Resources Incorporated (BERI).
Quinones added that portions of the contract areas rest in a protected zone called “Watershed Forest Reservation of Allah Valley River System as declared under Proclamation No. 2455 issued on September 12, 1985, and Kabulnan Watershed Forest Reserve under Proclamation No. 214 issued on February 08, 2000 which serves as the headwater of many rivers in the Provinces of Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato and Sarangani.”
The area is also part of the Surallah-Baningo Resettlement Project established by the Ministry of Agrarian Reform in 1969 and is being cultivated by farmer settlers since then.
“All Coal Operating Contracts (COSs) should be cancelled now and no more area should be offered for coal extraction from now on” Quinones demands. (Press Release)
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Monday, August 17, 2009
Roxas presses more teeth in OFW protection
At the same time, Roxas vowed to press for reforms in government policy involving the deployment of skilled and non-skilled workers to other countries as he noted the growing number of Filipinos overseas and the rising number of OFW-related incidents.
“Naniniwala akong ang pinakamahalaga nating maibibigay sa mga OFW natin ay seguridad. Kailangang bigyan natin ang mga OFW ng sapat na suporta at proteksyon para hindi sila abusuhin kapag nasa abroad na sila (I believe that the best thing we can give to our OFW is security for them. We need to give them all the support and protection so they will be spared abuse when they are abroad),” he said.
The Visayan senator said the government must also reduce the financial burden of Filipino overseas workers by removing the 0.15% Documentary Stamps Tax (DST) on money remittances to the country. It is a “significant financial burden to (OFWs) considering that the country is already experiencing unprecedented highs in food and oil prices,” he said.
At the same time, Roxas pushed for the professionalization of the Foreign Service system, which he said would ensure that only the most talented and most qualified are recruited by the government to ensure that our OFWs will get quality assistance from personnel and officers of the Department of
Foreign Affairs here and abroad.
He also pressed Malacanang to release the P50 million for the OFW Social Reintegration program that President Arroyo has yet to release to the Department of Labor and Employment. The program provides “balikbayan” OFWs with sufficient knowledge of how to use their savings as well as investment opportunities and other forms of reintegration assistance.
Roxas said the government must ensure that OFWs have access to communication wherever they are to so they can easily call Philippine offices in their areas in cases of employer problems and that free legal services for those facing legal problems are readily available.
He also said pre-departure orientation and preparation seminars should likewise be given to departing OFWs to brief them of their rights and on what they should and could do should they encounter difficulties in their jobs.
But all these reforms, he stressed, could only take place once an activist government – one that cares for and listen to its people – takes over from the current administration, which has consistently shown insensitivity to the plight of its workers abroad.
PRESS STATEMENT
Office of Senator Mar Roxas
Please refer to:
Ms. Jenny Bugarin
Tel. 832-82-80 /+63920-950-6140
MEDIA
Office of Senator MAR Roxas
Senate of the
Telephone: 832-82-80 / 833-68-53
Email: media@marroxas.com /
media.marroxas@yahoo.com /
media.marroxas@gmail.com
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Monday, August 03, 2009
Arrested NPA leader is a big loss in their organization says Empedrad
“He is a big fish. His apprehension is a big loss to their organization,” said Empedrad adding that considering he is the head of five Front committees of the NPA operating in
Alfredo Mapano a.k.a.
Mapano according to Empedrad headed the North Central Mindanao areas whom under him different NPA committees such as the Local Terrorist Areas 88 and 4A in Agusan province, Local Terrorist Areas 89 and 6 in Bukidnon and the remnants of 4B in Misamis Oriental.
“He (Mapano) arrested at Middleton hotel in CDO while with his wife,” said Empedrad. He said that Mapano was reportedly while on vacation when he was arrested.
Army’s 4th Infantry Division spokesman Major Michelle Anayron said Mapano was captured by virtue of eight (8) warrants of arrests issued by the different trial courts in Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon and Agusan del Sur.
Over DxIF Bombo radio, Anayron said Mapano was unarmed when apprehended by the combined PNP and 4ID personnel.
The apprehending authorities served to the Mapano six warrants of arrests with no bail bond recommended according to Anayron.
Cases filed against Mapano were criminal cases numbers 2003-955 for robbery with homicide issued by the Regional Trial Court of Misamis Oriental, 10th Judicial Region, Cagayan de Oro City; 2252 for robbery with double homicide and damage to properties issued by RTC Branch 7, Bayugan, Agusan del Sur;
4603 for double murder with frustrated murder issued by RTC Branch 6, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur; 2006-3388 for robbery with homicide issued by RTC Branch 43, Gingoog City; 2003-955 for Robbery with Homicide issued by RTC Branch 18, Cagayan de Oro City; and Criminal Case Number 2846 for Murder issued by the Municipal Trial Court, Prosperided, Agusan del Sur.
Aside from the six non-bailable warrants of arrests, Mapano is also facing two arrest warrants under criminal case number 2006-3392 for frustrated murder issued by RTC 43,
In a joint statement, Anayron said that 4ID commander, Brigadier General Mario Chan and Regional police head C/Superintendent Empedrad lauded the Army and PNP personnel involved in the operation.
Anayron said Chan and Empedrad also attributed the success of the operation to the various sectors of Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro (LGUs and Civilians) whose help and invaluable information led authorities to the exact location of Mapano and enabled authorities to serve the arrest warrants.
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24 former rebels receive financial assistance
Misamis Oriental governor Oscar S. Moreno with OPAPP program implementation and monitoring director Susana H. Macaida, vice-governor and PPOC chair Norris Babierra and
Anak-Mindanao party-list representative Ariel Hernandez who, before winning a seat in the House of Representatives, was executive director of Balay Mindanao Foundation, Inc. (BMFI) and sat as vice-chair in the PPOC, also graced the occasion.
Governor Moreno, in an interview yesterday (Monday), assured the former CPP-NPA members that the provincial government with the national government agencies and development-oriented institutions will continually respond to the needs of the communities where they come from.
To drive home a point, the provincial governor narrated his personal experiences in transforming sitio Lantad of barangay Kibanban, Balingasag which, in the past, serve as the regional headquarters of the CPP-NPA, into an economically-thriving community today.
Already a special agrarian reform community (SARC), Lantad has been a recipient of numerous livelihood and basic infrastructure support programs from the time the provincial government constructed a road that would link it to the town proper.
Governor Moreno said they will also do the same to barangay Tama of Magsaysay which, for so many years in the past and just like Lantad, was a hotbed of insurgency. Barangay Tama was launched as a SARC two months ago.
For her part, director Macaida stressed that the giving out of financial assistance to those who decide to rejoin the mainstream society, after having been engaged in armed struggle to topple down the government, has been a national government’s program since the restoration of democratic institutions after the people power revolution in 1986.
The OPAPP, she said, continues work in the spirit of the National Reconciliation and Development Program (NRDP) that was launched by past President Corazon C. Aquino in 1987. Such, she said, was pursued by under President Fidel V. Ramos, President Joseph E. Estrada, and under incumbent President Gloria M. Arroyo.
Meanwhile, PPOC executive officer Teddy Sabuga-a disclosed that the giving out of financial assistance to former rebels took a long process since the profiling of the would-be beneficiaries have to be conducted.
Although majority of the 24 are from this city, the other beneficiaries are from the municipalities of Alubijid, Balingasag, Claveria, Lagonglong,
Sabuga-a, who is also the provincial social welfare and development officer, said the profiling and the processing of financial assistance to rebel returnees were primarily the tasks of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), particularly DILG Misamis Oriental provincial director Ponciano D. Caberte and Gingoog City local government operations officer Rubiconceasar U. Agcopra (Uriel Quilinguing).
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