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CAGAYAN DE ORO JOURNAL (April 22) - Team Unity’s campaign juggernaut will mount this week its first major solid push in central Mindanao in a two-day caravan covering five provinces and three cities in the Socsksargen (South Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Saranggani-General Santos City) corridor, a region long hobbled by armed conflicts between government forces and secessionist rebels but which is now fast becoming the island’s economic gem.
The region’s political moguls – General Santos (GenSan) City Mayor Lita Nunez, Sarangani Gov. Migz Dominguez, Koronadal City Mayor Fernando Miguel, Sultan Kudarat Datu Pax Mangadadatu, Maguindanao Gov. Datu Andal Ampatuan and Vice Gov. Datu Bimbo Sinsuat, Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema – will host the caravan and political rallies and are expected to pledge to work for a 12-0 win for Team Unity.
Team Unity’s caravan, scheduled to start from Cotabato City today (April 18), will end the following day in another motorcade in GenSan City. A proclamation rally, hosted by GenSan Mayor Lita Nunez, will be held at the city’s Freedom Park shortly after a scheduled dinner at the residence of newly crowned WBC super-featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao, who is also seeking a congressional post representing the city.
“This is Team Unity’s first major campaign push in Mindanao,” Tourism Secretary and Team Unity spokesman Joseph Ace Durano said yesterday. He recalled that the team of senatorial bets Joker Arroyo, Luis “Chavit” Singson, Vicente Sotto, Tessie Aquino-Oreta, and Ralph Recto had their Pulong Sulong campaign huddle with the voters in the provinces of Misamis Oriental and Lanao del Norte in the first week of March, but said “this happened at the time when the Team Unity’s slate was divided into teams.”
Durano said a series of rallies in the provinces of North Cotabato, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and Sarangani would be squeezed into the two-day caravan.
As scheduled, today’s caravan will start from Cotabato City, the administrative center of Mindanao’s former Region 12 (Central Mindanao), and end in Koronadal City, the administrative center of the newly formed Socsksargen region.
Tomorrow (Thursday), the Team Unity senatorial bets will motor to General Santos City where they are to hold a news conference and later join Sarangani Gov. Dominguez in a proclamation rally in the town of Alabel, near the border of Gensan City. They will then return to GenSan City in a motorcade to have dinner at Pacquiao’s residence and join the proclamation rally hosted by Mayor Nunez.
Socsksargen is Mindanao’s fast-booming economic area, accounting for the country’s largest total daily fish landings. It is also the country’s leading producer of sashimi-grade tuna.
TU senatorial candidates Sultan Jamalul Kiram of Sulu and Juan Miguel Zubiri of Bukidnon vowed to work for peace and development in Mindanao, citing President Arroyo’s commitment to bring peace and progress in the country’s second biggest island. Another TU candidate, Prospero Pichay, represented Surigao del Sur in the House of Representatives.
Aside from the three bets who represent Mindanao in Team Unity senatorial slate and the five fellow candidates who first conducted their Pulong Sulong there, other TU senator-hopefuls to join the Mindanao caravan are Edgardo Angara, Michael Defensor, Vicente Magsaysay and Cesar Montano.
The twelve TU senatorial candidates are hoping to score a 12-0 win in Mindanao, owing to a solid network of dedicated political workers belonging to the six political parties within the ruling coalition.
They are batting for the continuation of President Arroyo’s “8 by ‘08” agenda which aims to sustain the country’s economic growth and spread among the people the fruits of this growth.
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Sunday, April 22, 2007
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Ledesma to Jarales: "Go ahead!"
*FICCO backs Jarales for Misor Board
Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma (left) 2nd District Misamis Oriental provincial board aspirant Fermin Jarales (right) pose for lensman after a few hours talk at bishop’s palace.
CAGAYAN DE ORO JOURNAL (Ben Balce/April 19) - "Go ahead!"
Thus said Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma days after provincial board aspirant for 2nd District Misamis Oriental Fermin Villaroya Jarales visited him seeking his guidance at the bishop’s palace.
Jarales, 28, among the youngest provincial board aspirants in the province, decided to file his certificate of candidacy a day after Ledesma’s "spiritual" guidance.
"I wish you (Jarales) all the luck in your candidacy," said Ledesma adding: "As you want to serve people for the common good is also serving God."
Earlier, Ledesma, vice-president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), through the "Magsilingan Ka!", an interfaith, businessmen’s movement and similar groups that were recently created for clean and credible elections in the entire archdiocese.
Ledesma said, they are taking this step because of the lessons from the May 2004 elections that were widely believed to have been marred by massive cheating.
Jarales is running under Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP) and is also the PDSP’s Cagayan de Oro chairman.
"My visit to the bishop is part of my decision to serve a larger number of people. Serving our people is one of my purposes being a member of Columbian Squire Marshall in the archdiocese," said Jarales.
In 1923, Christian Brother Barnabas McDonald, a noted expert in the field of social welfare work with young people, created an official youth organization of the Knights of Columbus. What Brother Barnabas devised is the Columbian Squires. Jarales is also a Legion of Mary worker.
"To talk to the bishop seeking guidance is not to get attention from the Church, but an intention to continue serving the people as Columbian Squires member and a Christian," said Jarales.
Meanwhile, Ledesma reiterated that the Catholic Church would not endorse any politician or political party during their campaign sorties.
Ledesma said that candidates could only seek support from any religious group and not from individual priests.
"The leaders of the bishops’ organization through ‘Magsilingan Ka’ movement had a "free wheeling" discussion and openly expressing support for platforms of governance espoused by candidates through trans-partisan politics. " said Ledesma.
In a related development, the First Community Credit Cooperative (FICCO) expressed support to Jarales’ bid for the provincial board.
The 100 thousand-strong’ Ficco endorsed Jarales, himself being a Ficco board member.
Jarales is the second son of the 7 children of Mr. Ban Jarales and Mrs. Jocelyn Villaroya of Gimangpang, Initao, Misamis Oriental.
As to professional experience, Jarales was employed as human resource development manager of Misamis Oriental - 1 Rural Electric Service Cooperative, Inc. (Moresco) in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental from November 2006 to April 13, 2007.
"I resigned from my position at Moresco to prove that I’m serious with my candidacy," said Jarales, taking a snipe at his detractors.
He also used to the municipal administrator of Opol LGU from January 2002 to November 2006.
Jarales also worked as legal researcher at Dela Rosa Gomos Dayao Cantago & Narrido Law Firm in Cagayan de Oro from January 1998 to 2002.
He was also the assistant regional coordinator of the Federation of free Workers (FFW) Region 10 in January 2002.
He was an intern of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 10 (Trade Promotions Division) in May 1997 and was employed at Cagayan de Oro – Iligan Corridor – Project Management Office (CIC – PMO) in April 1997.
Jarales is a product of Xavier University (Ateneo de Cagayan) graduated (full scholar, Dean’s list) with the degree of BS in Development Communication
(Major in Journalism) from June 1994 to March 1998.
At present, he is taking up Bachelor of Laws (Third Year) at the same institution.
During his college days at Xavier University, Jarales was president of XU Aggie Student Council in 1997-1998; chairperson, Directorate XU Central Student Government in 1997 – 1998; Editor – In – Chief of ‘Communique’ college organ in1996; a ‘Crusader’ college organ correspondent in 1996-1997 and founder of Mastersonian Scythe Fraternity in 1997.
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Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma (left) 2nd District Misamis Oriental provincial board aspirant Fermin Jarales (right) pose for lensman after a few hours talk at bishop’s palace.
CAGAYAN DE ORO JOURNAL (Ben Balce/April 19) - "Go ahead!"
Thus said Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma days after provincial board aspirant for 2nd District Misamis Oriental Fermin Villaroya Jarales visited him seeking his guidance at the bishop’s palace.
Jarales, 28, among the youngest provincial board aspirants in the province, decided to file his certificate of candidacy a day after Ledesma’s "spiritual" guidance.
"I wish you (Jarales) all the luck in your candidacy," said Ledesma adding: "As you want to serve people for the common good is also serving God."
Earlier, Ledesma, vice-president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), through the "Magsilingan Ka!", an interfaith, businessmen’s movement and similar groups that were recently created for clean and credible elections in the entire archdiocese.
Ledesma said, they are taking this step because of the lessons from the May 2004 elections that were widely believed to have been marred by massive cheating.
Jarales is running under Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP) and is also the PDSP’s Cagayan de Oro chairman.
"My visit to the bishop is part of my decision to serve a larger number of people. Serving our people is one of my purposes being a member of Columbian Squire Marshall in the archdiocese," said Jarales.
In 1923, Christian Brother Barnabas McDonald, a noted expert in the field of social welfare work with young people, created an official youth organization of the Knights of Columbus. What Brother Barnabas devised is the Columbian Squires. Jarales is also a Legion of Mary worker.
"To talk to the bishop seeking guidance is not to get attention from the Church, but an intention to continue serving the people as Columbian Squires member and a Christian," said Jarales.
Meanwhile, Ledesma reiterated that the Catholic Church would not endorse any politician or political party during their campaign sorties.
Ledesma said that candidates could only seek support from any religious group and not from individual priests.
"The leaders of the bishops’ organization through ‘Magsilingan Ka’ movement had a "free wheeling" discussion and openly expressing support for platforms of governance espoused by candidates through trans-partisan politics. " said Ledesma.
In a related development, the First Community Credit Cooperative (FICCO) expressed support to Jarales’ bid for the provincial board.
The 100 thousand-strong’ Ficco endorsed Jarales, himself being a Ficco board member.
Jarales is the second son of the 7 children of Mr. Ban Jarales and Mrs. Jocelyn Villaroya of Gimangpang, Initao, Misamis Oriental.
As to professional experience, Jarales was employed as human resource development manager of Misamis Oriental - 1 Rural Electric Service Cooperative, Inc. (Moresco) in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental from November 2006 to April 13, 2007.
"I resigned from my position at Moresco to prove that I’m serious with my candidacy," said Jarales, taking a snipe at his detractors.
He also used to the municipal administrator of Opol LGU from January 2002 to November 2006.
Jarales also worked as legal researcher at Dela Rosa Gomos Dayao Cantago & Narrido Law Firm in Cagayan de Oro from January 1998 to 2002.
He was also the assistant regional coordinator of the Federation of free Workers (FFW) Region 10 in January 2002.
He was an intern of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 10 (Trade Promotions Division) in May 1997 and was employed at Cagayan de Oro – Iligan Corridor – Project Management Office (CIC – PMO) in April 1997.
Jarales is a product of Xavier University (Ateneo de Cagayan) graduated (full scholar, Dean’s list) with the degree of BS in Development Communication
(Major in Journalism) from June 1994 to March 1998.
At present, he is taking up Bachelor of Laws (Third Year) at the same institution.
During his college days at Xavier University, Jarales was president of XU Aggie Student Council in 1997-1998; chairperson, Directorate XU Central Student Government in 1997 – 1998; Editor – In – Chief of ‘Communique’ college organ in1996; a ‘Crusader’ college organ correspondent in 1996-1997 and founder of Mastersonian Scythe Fraternity in 1997.
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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
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
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