Golden Journal: 08 April 2007

Monday, April 16, 2007

Acostas cry foul, link accuser to Joe

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Ben Balce / April 16) - THE Acostas lashed back at an anti-corruption group in Bukidnon and accused it of being used as a political tool to discredit them in time for this year's elections.

Three members of Acosta family are seeking three key positions in Bukidnon in hopes of wrestling power from incumbent Gov. Jose Zubiri and his allies. Rep. Nereus Acosta of the province's 1st District is challenging Zubiri's reelection bid, his mother Socorro is seeking to retain her position as the leader of the vote-rich Manolo Fortich town and his sister Ma. Lourdes wants to represent the 1st District in the Lower House.

Socorro a former congresswoman, called the Bukidnon Crusade Against Corruption (BCAC) a fake, saying it allowed itself to be used by the Zubiris for an alleged political demolition job.

Ms. Acosta said BCAC's accusations against her family were ill-motivated.

"These are all lies... malicious and politically motivated," said Acosta as she brushed aside charges she and her family benefitted from the release of public funds to two province-based cooperatives.

Acosta accused Zubiri of being behind BCAC in pursuing graft cases against her and other members of her family.

"The Zubiris are the ones behind the recycling of all these obsolete issues which should be best forgotten. They are always using these issues against us (Acostas) every time there is an election just for them to gain political mileage," said Acosta.

Gov. Zubiri, she said, was "kicking a dead horse."

Acosta said the leader of BCAC, Fr. Venancio Balansag Jr., is a known ally of Zubiri and even allegedly related by affinity to a nephew of Zubiri.

She said Balansag and his group's silence on the damning corruption issues against the Zubiri administration, including the capitol's controversial purchase and subsequent sale of a tomato paste plant in Manolo Fortich town, is suspect.

The Acosta camp said the plant was bought for some P20 million and subsequently sold for some P92 million. The Acostas alleged that "not a single centavo" from the sale of the property went to the coffers of the capitol.

"Clearly, BCAC is a political demolition campaign masquerading as an anti-corruption movement," said Acosta.

Balansag and his group have accused the Acostas of granting millions of pesos in public funds to Bukidnon-based cooperatives that allegedly being run by members of the Acosta family.

Acosta laughed off the accusations, saying the allegations were raised again because Zubiri and his allies were already feeling that heat.

Aggravating this, she said Zubiri's son Miguel, the representative of another Bukidnon didtrict, is poorly performing in the surveys among candidates for senators.

"Our political opponents are threatened and they are becoming more and more desperate," said Socorro.

Specifically, Balnsag's group accused the Acostas of releasing some P8 million in congressional funds for the Bukidnon Integrated Network of Home Industries Inc. (Binhi) and the Bukidnon Vegetable Producers Cooperative (BVPC). The group alleged that was given without the green light of the Manolo Fortich town council.

Elmer de la Rosa, a lawyer of the Acostas, said the funds that were released to Binhi and BVPC were intended for micro-credit loans with interest rates of 2.5 percent per month for operational expenses.

These loans, he said, were granted without collateral to people in need.

"The Grameen banking was scoofed at by the Acosta family's political opponents, particularly the Zubiris, as rather quixotic but when they saw its success, they then wanted to destroy it," de la Rosa said.

De la Rosa said Rep. Acosta's father Juan initiated the lending program, patterned after the Grameen lending program of Bangladesh, to address the credit needs of poor women in Mindanao.

"The programs really helped and uplifted the lives of the people in Bukidnon. They are now lauding the Acosta for the initiative," said de la Rosa.

He said Binhi and BVPC have independent boards of trustees and are not controlled by any family alleged by Balansag and his group.

De la Rosa however admitted that when Binhi was organized in 1989, Dr. Juan Acosta sat as a member of its 15-person interim board.

He said Zubiri's candidate for congressman in the 1st District, Candido Pancrudo, also sat in the Interim board together with Dr. Acosta, Nelson Binayao, Evangeline Urtado and Corazon Arboli.

De la Rosa said Juan left Binhi in 1991, long before the cooperative received a government grant through Rep. Acosta. Neither did Juan get elected as an official of BVPC," he said.

"The Acostas did not control and neither do they own or even have financial interests in Binhi. Of the 15 incorporators, only Juan was an Acosta," said De la Rosa.

Because the Acostas believed in the cooperatives, de la Rosa said the family donated a 1,500-square meter property to BVPC and they allowed Binhi to use one of the family-owned buildings for free.

Binhi, an organization registered with Securuties and exchange Commission (SEC), started with 20 members 17 years ago. It now has a membership of some eight thousand in 140 barangays in eight towns in Bukidnon.

Cagayan de Oro Journal / Home

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Certified list of candidates in Cagayan de Oro

City Mayor
Canoy, Rhona Torralba, Independent
Borres, Felix, Jr. Frias, Independent
Magtajas, Pablo Pagute, PDP Laban/Uno
Calingin, Antonio Padilla, Nationalist People's Coalition
Jaraula, Constantino Galagnara, Lakas-CMDFor

Vice-Mayor
Calingin, Alvin Roa, PDP Laban/Uno
Tagarda, Manolo Zarate, Nationalist People's Coalition
Emano, Vicente Yap, Lakas-CMD

1st District (house of representative)
Tagarda, Manolo Zarate, Independent (withdrew-03-29-07/11:43PM)
Soriano, Antonio Sabanpan, PDP Laban
Montesa, Camilo Miguel Macalla, Liberal Party
Canoy, Reuben Rabe, Independent
Daba, Annie Yamut, Kampi
Bacal, Henry Jabeguero, Independent
Uy, Rolando Adlao, Independent
Spiers, Michelle Tagarda, Lakas-CMD

City Councilors
Baylon, William Nguho, Independent
Oracles, Michael Angelo Martir, Independent
Diel, Carlos Dy, Independent
Nagasan, Rhodora Majaducon, Independent
Ucab, Julieto Quiblat, Independent
Canoy, Marc Torralba, Independent
Calonia, Dominador Pagara, PDP Laban/Uno
Abbu, Jose Pepe Palmera, PDP Laban
Dabatian, Douglas Waga, PDP Laban/Uno
Acedera, Ben Joseph III Falcon, PDP Laban/Uno
Raagas, Roy Hilario Padla, PDP Laban/Uno
Abacahin, Reynaldo Cuas, PDSP
Pansacala, Pastor, Sr. Alisbo, PDSP
Abaday, Roger Gabatan, PDP-Laban/Uno
Cabal, Ricardo Abcede, Nationalist People's Coalition
Sagut, Jose Clodualdo Fallar, Nationalist People's Coalition
Sambaan, Alan Roy Mendoza, Nationalist People's Coalition
Daba, Ruel Roa, Nationalist People's Coalition
Glema, Antonio Cartagena, Nationalist People's Coalition
Ragas, Nicolas Caseñas, Independent
Galacio, Rodulfo Quitos, PDP Laban
Ocon, Elsa Sabrido, PDP Laban/Uno
Lachica, Jaime Janopol, Independent
Calizo, Mary Cor Reyes, Lakas-CMD
Bacal, Alden Dacanay, Lakas-CMD
Acenas, Caesar Ian Enerio, Lakas-CMD
arba, Adrian Lagamon, Lakas-CMD
Brellita, Anthony Obsioma, Lakas-CMD
Pajo, Dante Betonio, Lakas-CMD
Guibone, Cancio Pacuribot, Lakas-CMD
Licayan, Simeon Verula, Lakas-CMD
Beja, Camilo II Molina, Nationalist People's Coalition
Domo, Beverly Bu-ong, Nationalist People's Coalition

2nd District (House of Representative)
Rodriguez, Rufus Bautista, Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino/Uno
Jardin, Samuel Aloysius Magdadaro, PDSP
Rojas, Francisco, Sr. Gorres, KBL
Cabanlas, Edgar Salcedo, Independent
Benaldo, Jose Benjamin Abrio, Lakas-CMD/Kampi

City Councilors
Valmoria, Virgilio Pacheco, Nationalist People's Coalition
Lao, Teodulfo, Jr. Escalera, PDP-Laban
Baconga, Pio Dalman, PDP-Laban/Uno
Damo, Carmelito Ranara, PDP-Laban/Uno
Ravanera, Manuel Revilla, PDP-Laban/Uno
Gan, Leon, Jr. Dumanganop, PDP-Laban/Uno
Saarenas, Eric Pagapula-an, Independent
Mediante, Demosthenes, Jr. Aquino, Nationalist People's Coalition
David, Domingo Sonny Gatasi, Nationalist People's Coalition
Caseres, Anatalio, Jr. Dela Torre, PDP Laban/Uno
Ledesma, Rene Rodriguez, PDP-Laban/Uno
Ramos, Jenny Martinez, Independent
Yee, Morito Pacturan, Independent
Agcopra, Joebert Bonife, PDP-Laban/Uno
Advincula, Reynaldo Navarro, Lakas-CMD
Elipe, President Dagondon, Lakas-CMD
Tabor, Ramon Galvez, Lakas-CMD
Dacer, Alexander Sabana, Lakas-CMD
Nacaya, Ian Mark Quiblat, Lakas-CMD
Goking, Alfonso Go, Lakas-CMD
Salcedo, Enrico Dael, Lakas-CMD
Abejuela, Emmanuel Daing, Lakas-CMD

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New hope for Bacolod City

By GEORGE AGUILAR
(Opinion)

SQUATTING, poor sanitary facilities, poor sewage systems, garbage and traffic, plus the growing incidences of crime, are among the major problems of Bacolod City. The roots of these problems, of course, lie in the pervading poverty, a parochial educational system that sorely lacks facilities (despite the grossly mispriced computers donated by some local officials to public schools), and the lack of employment opportunities in a city that is no longer purely agricultural, but not yet industrial. This I noticed shortly after I moved into the city of smiles as a permanent resident almost two decades ago. The problems were there in the early 90's. They grew worse as the years went by.

Why can't the city government do anything about the above mentioned problems? Well, for one, economic gains made in the city tend to stay in the hands of the elite few and the slowly growing middle class. The poor remain to be as impoverished as they were some 17 years ago. Worse, the population of the poor is growing at an alarming rate with the flourishing of squatters' areas and black market businesses all over the city. Logs, illegal or quasi legal, continue to be dumped onto "side walk" carpentry shops along Lopez Jaena St. while city officials conveniently look the other way. The growing number of public utility vehicles vies for passengers to the point of double and triple parking along busy intersections while hawkers shout and traffic enforcements mere look on.

Bacolod city can no longer claim to be safe from crime. Indeed crime has flourished lately. This includes rape, hold up, burglary, and even the most heinous of crimes. Moreover, urban poor gangs and fraternities have become more public and bolder while spoiled elite kids use our city strips to race their expensive and dangerously fast cars and motorcycles. When caught these rich drag (drug?) racers won't go or stay in jail.

Our city officials seem to be incapable of dealing with the above mentioned problems mainly because they are too engrossed with making more and more money and/or preparing for the next elections. Indeed, everything they do seems to be politically motivated and calculated. Indeed, one root of all of our woes stem from a failure of leadership. This failure of leadership is the fault of the voting public at large. We seem to vote for the least competent among the candidates for each election.

Easily, we can trace the problem for poor leadership in the city to dirty and dishonest elections. There are some 200,000 voter's in the city of Bacolod. Only 40,000 of these voters come from the A and B classes. The remaining 160,000 come from the D and C classes. The votes of the lower middle and urban poor count in every election. This fact alone could and does empower the city's poor but in a perverse manner. Instead of using their votes to vote for pro-poor leaders in Bacolod, the organized poor sell their votes for a few hundreds of pesos, a free trip to the polling centers, plus lunch and snacks (even groceries at times) to boot. For the price of money that is not even enough to get them through the second day, the poor in Bacolod tend to sell their votes to unscrupulous politicians. People who buy votes certainly do not deserve to be in office. But precisely because they do buy votes they win elections easily. And after elections they will spend the next two and a half years making up for the money they spent in buying votes and more. It's a deadly cycle this unprincipled leadership and we can only blame ourselves for allowing vote buying to remain unchallenged within our midst.

But there is hope yet for Bacolod city. Recently a group of independents, principled candidates that belong neither to the machineriesd political parties have emerged from out of the blue. Atty. Andy Hagad, running to represent Bacolod city, Atty. Joel Dojillo, running for mayor, Atty. Lyndon Cana, vice mayor, Celia Flor and Jocelyn Battapa, both running for councilors, are all running as independents who base their platforms on electoral reforms and good governance.

These independents stand a better chance of winning if they will band together instead of going it alone. Most of the 40,000 A & B voters will vote for the independents. The problem is their lack of machineries among the C, D, and E voters. Will they be able to reach out to the remaining 160,000 urban poor voters their message of hope in time? I. for one, am praying that they do!

For Comment, email at george.aguilar@gmail.com

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WHY do we have to care for our environment? Why does the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Region 10 care for “cinchona” trees in Bukidnon province?

These are two basic questions that cropped up after the DENR-10 hosted a three-day “Press Privilege Tour” which showcased some of the DENR projects in Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon.

While people have different views in caring for the environment, observers say that there is a need to care for the environment because it is the life and legacy of the next generation.

On one hand, the government, especially the DENR, sees-to-it that forest lands are well managed, protected and wisely utilized thus it has implemented the “Cinchona Forest Reserve,” in Barangay Kaatoan in Lantapan, Bukidnon.

To give you a better idea on what “cinchona” tree is, here is what an official of DENR-10 tells me:

During the lecture on Expanded Forest Protection at Cinchona Reforestation Project, Regional Forest Protection Task Forest chief Ernesto L. Lezada of DENR 10 said the Cinchona Forest Reserve in the province of Bukidnon was first established sometime in 1929 by the defunct Bureau of Forestry.

Its first Project Manager Forester Altamerano whose objective is to produce cinchona bark or the so-called “bark wealth” for the purpose of producing anti-malaria drugs, according to Lezada, headed it.

The cinchona species, according to Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park protected area superintendent Felix Mirasol was introduced originated from Java, Indonesia. He said that the first trial planting showed suitability of the species to the area.

The next several years was engaged in the massive planting of the species that reached up to 500 hectares including nursery establishments.

With this encouraging development, on September 22, 1936 Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon issued the Presidential Proclamation no. 83 declaring the 1,994 hectares as the Kaatoan Forest Reserve for experimental planting of quinine, forest protection and timber production.

With the outbreak of World War II in 1941, the planting was stopped.

Ecosystem Research and Development Division chief Danilo C. Cacanindin said that in 1943, the Kaatoan Forest Reserve including Barangay Kaatoan were made as Japanese garrison and took possession of the area until 1945. A year after, the Americans soldiers occupied Barangay Alanib, few kilometers from Kaatoan.

Cacanindin said that a joint American and Filipino soldiers coming from Talakag, Bukidnon engaged the Japanese soldiers in a fierce fight at Cinchona. Outnumbered and with so many casualties, the Japanese soldiers retreated and left the place. On the other hand, the Americans stayed for a while at Cinchona but left in the same year of 1945.

The following year, cinchona plantation establishment and nursery activities resumed under Forester Tadeo, who served as its project manager. Accordingly, the former project manager Altamerano was killed during the Japanese occupation along with a number of plantation workers and local residents of the area.

In 1956, the whole area was reclassified as alienable and disposable land by then President Ramon Magsaysay by virtue of Presidential Proclamation no. 364. This revoked earlier Proclamation no. 83. It meant that the whole area was opened for cultivation for agricultural purposes and titling to private individuals.

However, the Bureau of Forestry continued its management and protection the reason why not all of the forest reserve were occupied by private individuals and applied for titling.

In 1961 to 1962, the area was also planted with other fast growing tree species such as Falcata, Mahogany and Eucalyptus. Presently, these trees have attained over maturity and are now towering the cinchona compound with an average diameter from 120 to 200 centimeters.

In 1966 to 1968, Hucomad and Jiram companies conducted the First harvesting of the cinchona bark with raw materials directly exported to Brazil. The second harvesting was took place in 1972-73.Thereafter, the plan for harvesting has stopped for reason that malaria illness had been controlled and that other countries have already found alternative source of materials for the manufacture of Malaria drugs. Since then, the price of cinchona bark has gone down and harvesting was no longer feasible.

On July 11, 1988, former President Corazon C. Aquino issued presidential proclamation No. 283 declaring the whole area for “Quinine and Reservation and Experimental” purposes. The proclamation strengthens the status of the project existence and closes all legal issues on the intention of the area.

On November 9, 2000, Congress through the recommendation of the President passed Republic Act 8978 also known as the Mt. Kitanglad Act of 2000, which included the whole of Cinchona area as part of the Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park.

The Cinchona plantation in the province of Bukidnon is the only plantation found in the whole country to date. The 7 cinchona species planted are calisaya, hybrid, kartamanah, officinalis, succirubra, tjinjiroan and ledgeriana. The present plantation manifests Filipino expertise in tree growing which now becomes the host to some endangered faunal species in the world.

Cinchona area is also host to 5 series of waterfalls of Kulasihan River and sacred ground to our brother Indigenous Peoples. In the recently built table and IP ritual building, giant bamboos and kilala had grown which manifest the activities of the earlier IP’s in the area.

The Kulasihan River is a wonder. In the upstream, the water is visible but further away downstream, the whole river is gone. Many believed that it is an underground river whose exit is the Matin-ao Spring in Barangay Bangcud, which are several kilometers away from the source.

Protecting the environment is not the responsibility of the DENR alone but the responsibility of all. The efforts of our foresters for they are continuously preserving the cinchona trees in Bukidnon through its project “Cinchona Forest Reserve,” in Barangay Kaatoaan, Lantapan, Bukidnon, is one way of caring the environment. (Ben Balce)

NORTHERN Mindanao Medical Center

Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC), a center of wellness and excellence, DOH accredited tertiary hospital in Region 10, is a 300-bed capacity care institution. Formerly known as Northern Mindanao Regional Training hospital (NMRTH), it was renamed in its present classification as a Medical Center by virtue of RA 7938 on March 11, 1995.NMMC is located within the Provincial Capitol Compound in Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental, Mindanao, Philippines. It was now headed by NMMC (acting) chief of hospital Dr. Jose Chan. It is an 89 year old hospital that metamorphosed initially as a 20-bed Misamis Public Hospital in 1918 to a 50-bed Misamis Oriental Provincial Hospital in 1945, then a 200-bed NMRTH in 1966 and finally, as the present 300-bed NMMC in 1995. As a tertiary heath facility, NMMC aims to serve and provide the highest attainable health care in the whole Region 10 and the neighboring provinces and municipalities.

By BEN EMATA
Editor, GetRight Bulletin, Fremont, California, USA
Internet ColumnistFormer President, Cagayan de Oro Press Club
Former President, Fil-Am Press Club of Silicon Valley of California

Gentlemen/Ladies,

Mapait nga balita ang midagsang kanatong tanan. Usa sa atong kauban sa radio ang gipusil didto sa dakbayan sa Iligan ug hangtud karong adlawa malisud ang kahimtang diha sa tambalanan.

Joe Pantoja, kanhi sa DXCO sa Cagayan de Oro atua na sa Iligan nanimpalad. Sakop siya sa COPC ug usa sa mga buotan nga bata sa media lokal. Karon nahitumpawak sa dautan nga kapalaran ug apiki usab ang kabutang sa pamilya. Pila raman lagi intawon ang sueldo niini.

Ang balaan nga kasulatan nagsugo kanato sa pagtinabangay. Mahimo man tingali nga kita dinhi sa America mag-usa alang sa pag-amuma sa usa ka igsoon sa buhat.

Si Don Primo Espina de Montebon mopadala sa atong panudlanan-tesorera, Dolly Ilogon, aron sa pagsugod pagtuyok sa ligid sa kapalaran.

Ako usa na ka retired apan dili pa gayud tired, mohatag usab sa mao gihapon nga kantidad. Si Senyorita Ilogon permi motabang ug mao usab si Senyora Ann Gorra de Rago.Kamo diha mga bantugan kanhiay nga sakop sa media sa Cagayan de Oro tingali motabang usab niini nga suliran sa atong igsoon.

Sa ngalan sa panagmahalay sa taga media, gitawag ko si Jay Valleser, Bramy Bayron, Rey Yanez, Gangging Lagman, Boy Guellena, Joe MacMang, Leonie Tan, Randy, ug uban pa sa pakig timbayayong alang ning atong kauban sa buhat.

Ato usab nga i-ampo si Jo Pantoja nga unta molungtad ang iyang pakigbisug sa kinabuhi ug maluwas siya niini nga katalagman.

Tiliwala sa hulga sa media, gihagit ko ang tanan sa pagbarug kanunay sa katungod sa katawhan ug sa pagsumpo sa mga kaaway sa media. Ipatindog nato ang bandila ug ipakita nato nga hangtud karon mas mahait ang gahum sa prensa kay sa armas de puego sa mga tonto, gago, loko ug mga talawan nga tawo sa kalibutan.

Manghinaut ako alang paglampus sa media sa tibuok kalibutan. Mabuhay and Long Live Press Freedom.

In Mindanao, they called him "Ben". In Luzon, they called him...Benjie, Bondying, and Benj. Anyway, Ben is a native of Capalonga, Camarines Norte; it was the place in the Southern part of Bicol region, wherein hundreds of catholic and non-catholic faith believers lodged during the celebration of the Feast of Jesus of Nazarene.

In his younger age, he spent mostly playing to his elder brother Alex. Ben and Alex were good friends and brothers. Carpentry like making "Bancas" or fishing boats was their fathers usually do. This was also the usual place for Ben and Alex to have more time to play. They also both accompanying their father catching fish and do farming.

At the age of 20, Ben played his role as the eldest brother to his 7 sisters and a younger brother Alvin when Alex accidentally died while studying in Manila. Ben treasured much his brother.

Ben was now married to Alona Viador Castillo with whom he has two children: Christine Joyce 13, and Dianne Angela 7. Ben finished his four-year course (Bachelor of arts major in Political Science) at the University of the East, Manila in 1992. Before he entered U.E., Ben was a former seminarian as he took up AB Philosophy (2nd year) at the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary in Naga City.

In 1996, he joined to Malaya, a national newspaper that circulating throughout the Philippines and Abante, a tabloid newspaper with also has a widely circulated copy not only throughout the Philippines but also in some countries in Asia.

His assignment in Mindanao brought him to cover the severe kidnapping incidents made by the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) including some lawless elements and the government-confessed terrorists... the Abu Sayaff.

Ben was among the reporters like Manila-based Rommel Bagares of Philippine Star and Manny Timonera of Philippine Daily Inquirer who completely covered the peace talks between the GRP and the MILF in Marawi City and signing of an agreement for general cessation of hostilities between government and the MILF at the Pryce Plaza in Cagayan de Oro City.

Before the final signing of the agreement, he has been given the opportunity to met and interviewed privately Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chairman for political affairs and Mohammad Alhaj Murad, MILF military affairs chief at Camp Abubakar in Butig, Lanao del Sur. He also met other MILF's high ranking officials like Lanao del Sur commander Salappudin Mimbantas, MNLF commander of the two Lanao provinces Abdul Jialil Narra, and Commander Bravo of Munai, Lanao del Norte.

He also covered two separate abduction of two foreign priest missionaries Msgr. Desmond Hartford and Fr. Johnham Robert Maez. Hartford was an Irish priest who was abducted by disgruntled members of the MNLF on October 27, 1997.

The kidnappers have been asking the government through National Program for Unification Development Council (NPUDC) to release livelihood funds amounting to P5 million in exchange for priest' release. Ben was among the seven local and national correspondents who covered Hartford's release early Saturday in Tangkal, Lanao del Norte after 13 days' captivity by former commanders of the MNLF's 3rd Mobile Army in Mindanao.

He also covered the kidnapping incident of Robert Johnham Maez, a Columban priest and missionary who were abducted by the MNLF rebel returnees while doing his mission in one of the town in Lanao del Sur. Maez was kidnapped by the MNLF rebel returnees to pressure the government, specifically the NPUDC, who holds their livelihood funds.

In 1997 to 2001, the raging war in central, southern and western Mindanao between the government forces and the MILF, as well as the continued attacks and encounters of the CPP/NPA in Bukidnon and Agusan provinces against the elements of the Army's 4th Infantry Division based at Camp Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro City gave with him another great contribution as his name repeatedly by-lined in said newspapers. His stories were used as headline banners and kept front-pages in Malaya and Abante including in Mindanao Gold Star Daily, a local community newspaper in Mindanao.

Ben was also the first correspondent who took footage at Cebu Pacific's wreckage. He made shots the plane's remains as he was boarded at the Napocor's chopper together with the NAPOCOR's president and AFP's Civil Relations Service head Colonel Nestor Castillo.

In the same year of 1996, He joined in Gold star daily, the biggest newspaper in Mindanao, based in Cagayan de Oro City. Except of being a city reporter, after 3-months, he was appointed by Ernesto G. Chu, the Gold Star Daily's publisher to be the editorial cartoonist. Ben was a newspaperman and an editorial cartoonist for more than ten years now. He was also commissioned as the Executive Editor of the Quarterly Newsletter of the Police Regional Office 10 (PRO-10) of the Philippine National Police since 2002 at present (2007).

Ben loved most writing poetry and playing guitar. Ben has wanted to do this since he was in high school. His writing skills caught the ear of a late University of the Philippines (UP) professor Ephraim C. Romero, handling courses in International Law, International Relations, International Organizations, Comparative Governments, Sociology, Economics and History courses. Ben can be seen as one of the researchers and the book cover designer of International Relations, a Philippine textbook in Political Science, Economics, Business, Sociology and Law authored by Romero, Prof. Edgar V. Rosero and Prof. Roman R. Dannug. The book was foreword by Jose David Lapuz, a 1971 T.O.Y.M. Awardees in Political Science.

Ben was a regular member of COPC, Cagayan de Oro Press Club. He was elected as one of the members of the board in 2006 and was re-elected in 2007. He was a regular member of the National Union of Journalist in the Philippines (NUJP) Cagayan de Oro Chapter and elected as auditor in 2006 - 2007. Ben was also a member of Pecojon, (Peace and Conflict Journalism Network).

Ben is now keep busy updating three on-line websites as the on-line team manager: the Cagayan de Oro Journal (http://cagayandeorojournal.blogspot.com/), the Jacnet, “Journalists against Corruption Network” (http://jacnet.blogspot.com/), the official website of the Cagayan de Oro Press Club and the Radical Urban Big Bikers (http://radicalurbanbigbikers.blogspot.com).
For Ben, being a provincial correspondent assigned in Mindanao made him a difference!

Statement of PECOJON
on the Arrest of Journalists
at The Peninsula Manila Hotel

In democracy, we, as journalists, cannot neglect our duty to keep the public informed about events and processes which concern the public interest.

Our duty does not diminish when we, as journalists, face dangerous or uncomfortable situations such as an upcoming engagement of PNP-SWAT operatives aiming to forcibly remove from The Peninsula Manila Hotel a group of soldiers and civilians who demand for the ouster of the President.

As eyes and ears of the public, it is our job to seek information from those inside the hotel as well as from the forces aiming to remove them. It is our task to keep the public informed about what is going on.

We, as media practitioners, are not supposed to join the parties of a conflict, neither by reporting in favor of any side nor by joining them handcuffed in arrest.

In behalf of our member journalists in the Philippines and around the world, PECOJON strongly questions the act of arresting media personnel in The Peninsula Manila Hotel on November 29, 2007. We remind those in charge that access to information and the freedom to report to the public is a pillar of democracy.

Legitimate journalists can be quickly and easily identified without arrest or “processing.” Harassment of journalists, questioning of press freedom and limiting public access to relevant information mean questioning democracy as such.PECOJON-The Peace and Conflict Journalism Network

*National Secretariat Philippineswww.pecojon. org
Nov. 30, 2007
Cagayan de Oro City

* PECOJON is an international network of journalists committed to improving the quality of reporting of conflict, crisis and war through mainstreaming conflict sensitive reporting, improving journalists’ security and providing training and education.

Moreno condemns botched coup bid

Statement of
Gov. Oscar S. Moreno
on the Magdalo Episode II (November 29, 2007)

Today’s actions of Sen. Antonio Trillanes and his Magdalo colleagues must be condemned for they directly strike at the heart of our constitutional order. These actions are despicable and have no place in our society. They are pure and simple anarchy.

We are a government of laws and not of men, and it is imperative and compelling that all of us must at all times uphold the rule of law. The actions of Sen. Trillanes and his Magdalo supporters actually disregard these fundamental principles that our people hold so dear.

Military adventurism not only directly contravenes our constitution; it also destroys our constitutional order, sets a very bad example to our people, conveys a wrong message to the international community, and sets back the hard-earned gains of our country.

It cannot be denied that people at times may encounter or face frustrating situations. All of us go through these moments. Yet, there are constitutional remedies. Some may take time, others may be difficult to many.

But certainly, there are remedies that our constitutional regime allows. Military adventurism can never be justified. Neither the gun nor popularity can provide the justification for a person or his cohorts to take the law in their own hands.

We fully support the constitutional authorities of our country, and the fundamental principle that civilian supremacy over the military must at all times exist.