Saturday, July 08, 2006

Bagabuyo says Emano could end up behind bars for defying court

LAWYER Rogelio Bagabuyo on Tuesday warned that Mayor Vicente Emano could end up behind bars for allegedly defying a court order.

"I will bring this matter even if it reaches the Supreme Court because Emano no longer respects the court. If he can’t respect the court, how can he be expected to respect ordinary Cagayanons?" asked Bagabuyo.

Bagabuyo’s warning came even as the 17th branch of the Regional Trial Court here gave Emano and Bugo leader Nerio Obliosca 10 days to explain why they should not be held in contempt.

Judge Florenciana Abbu issued the order after Obliosca admitted that he continued to perform the duties of barangay chairperson despite a 20-day temporary restraining order issued by the court.

In a courtroom early this week, Obliosca said he was merely following Mayor Emano’s orders.
On June 16, Abbu ordered Obliosca to refrain from exercising the powers of a village chief in Barangay Bugo.

"He (Obliosca) admitted during cross exams. Despite his receipt of the TRO and advise by his counsel to obey it, still Obliosca defied the order," Bagabuyo said. "Defying a lawful order from the court is a criminal offense."

Bagabuyo said Obliosca and Emano violated Rule 17 of the Rules of Court.

Bagabuyo said Obliosca violated the order by attending a meeting for barangay chairpersons at Pearlmont Hotel. Obliosca maintained that it was Emano who ordered him to attend the meeting.

Obliosca said he also received an invitation from the ombudsman to attend the activity.
"Mayor Emano personally asked me to attend through a letter," Obliosca said.

The TRO was issued after lawyer Perseverando Araña staged a comeback last month. He was elected barangay chairperson but he submitted a resignation letter to Emano early this year, prompting the mayor to name Obliosca as his replacement. Arana said President Arroyo never accepted his resignation.

"That can be read at Gold Star Daily"

Sia: Nanding is lying

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (LITO RULONA and Cagayan de Oro Journal / July 7) - "HE lies.’’
Councilor Juan Sia said this in response to embattled Councilor Reynaldo Advincula who accused him of being ‘‘irresponsible.’’

Sia earlier divulged that it was Advincula’s committee that pushed for the approval of an ordinance that wiped off the debts of market vendors. Debts incurred by the Advinculas who are leasing stalls at city hall-owned Cogon market were among those written off when the city council approved the ordinance last April.

Councilor Sia, known to be mild-mannered, said, ‘‘He (Advincula) is not telling the truth. He lies."

Sia maintained that Advincula failed to show a list of the vendors and their corresponding debts despite demands from him (Sia) during meetings of the finance committee.

Sia, finance committee chair, said he was saddened over Advincula’s reaction. He said he merely told the truth about what really happened.

"Kinsa namakak namo karon? The record will show that he (Advincula) agreed to furnish my committee a list of vendors in its next meeting," said Sia.

This, he said, never happened. Instead, Sia said, he was surprised because the then proposal reached the plenary.

Sia said the then proposed ordinance was certified as ‘‘urgent.’’
"God knows what’s really happening around here. Mao na lang ako nahibaw-an naka-pasar na og ordinance," said Sia.

At the city council last Monday, Sia said Advincula approached and greeted him. But he said he told Advincula: "Walang personalan. The record shows it all."

Hearing this, Sia said Advincula avoided a confrontation and went outside the session hall.

Excerpts from the minutes of the Dec. 6, 2005 meeting of the finance committee shows that Sia demanded a list of vendors. Motion no. 262-2005 also shows that he asked the City Economic Enterprise Department (CEED) to submit to the committee a list of delinquent stall holders with the corresponding debts.

Advincula during an earlier interview admitted that he had owed city hall nearly P10 thousand, but he said his debts were written off with the passage of Ordinance no. 10127-2006.

The stall awared to him is now registered under the name of his son Reynaldo Jr.
Advincula was the chair of the market committee at the time of the passage of the ordinance.

Meanwhile, Councilor Edgar Cabanlas lashed at former mayor Manolo Tagarda Sr. for allegedly engaging in "dirty politics" when he threatened to bring Advincula to the ombudsman for his alleged conflicts of interest.

On Tuesday, Tagarda filed disbarment case against Cabanlas and three other lawyers of Mayor Vicente Emano for allegedly lying in court in regard to city hall’s memorandum of agreement with UKC Builders, the redeveloper of Cogon market.

Advincula also lashed at Tagarda and challenged his former political ally to file the case as soon as possible.

Tagarda is "talking a lot in front of the media," said Advincula. ‘‘File it immediately.’’
He said he suspected Tagarda was only bluffing.

After filing the disbarment case against Cabanlas and the other lawyers, Tagarda said Advincula would be next.

"I am still completing some documents to prove his (Advincula’s) wrongdoings," Tagarda said in an interview over DxCC.

Advincula replied: "I am hoping that he (Tagarda) would be able prove in court that my actions as a public official and my business interests constitute violations."

Advincula said he welcomes a case against him in court so he could prove his innocence.
He said Tagarda was only making noise because he wants to stage a politcal comeback.

Cabanlas laughed off Tagarda’s accusations, saying the former councilor and mayor was just "forgetful due to old age."

"Gibungaw na tingali kana si Atty. Tagarda, walay lingaw," said Cabanlas.

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Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Ocon says Emano, council keeping Oro in the dark on P300-m deal with UKC

OPPOSITION Councilor Zaldy Ocon sharply criticized the PaDayon Pilipino-dominated city council and Mayor Vicente Emano for allegedly keeping Cagaya-nons in the dark in regard to its new multimillion-peso deals with the construction firm UKC Builders.

"The contracts have not been shown to the public until now," said Ocon.

The undertaking, a bridge and road project, according to Ocon, would cost the city some P332 million. The bridge would be built near the St. Augustine Cathedral and would link Carmen and Nazareth.

Ocon also questioned two ordinances that authorized revisions in an agreement between city hall and UKC Builders Inc. He said the contract was revised despite his and Councilor Alvin Calingin’s objections.

Ocon said councilors closely identified with Emano approved the ordinances despite the mayor’s failure to show copies of the contracts for the ‘‘5th Bridge’’ and ‘‘access road’’ project.

One of the ordinances (Ordinance Number 225-2006) set aside P8,033,093.39 to pay residents whose properties would be affected by the road project. The road project implementation received a city council green light through Ordinance no. 10150-2006.

He said city hall has already set aside P141 million for the road project.
‘‘How come there is an additional P8,033,093.39?" asked Ocon.

Ocon said the agreement with UKC is "defective" and ‘‘is full of legal infirmities."
Ocon questioned the road project, saying spending over P140 million was too much.

‘‘How many kilometers? Where would it start and where would it end?" he asked.

He accused PaDayon Pilipino councilors of approving the ordinances on orders of Emano.

"I wonder why they’re hiding the contract and why they can’t give us the specifications," Ocon said. "They approved the contracts without any plan, without public bidding and until, they haven’t shown the original contracts that were supposedly revised."

"that can be read at Gold Star Daily"