Politics in the Philippines Election in 2010

By Joe Espiritu

    We should have been writing on the changes of flora and fauna in our environment but we seriously doubt that this would be interesting to our readers. The hottest topic today is politics. There are people who would ask us about the present local political situation every time we meet. It we do not always have up to date information, we would ask them in turn if we sense that the question is rhetorical. From this we learn a lot.

     Since the local political situation depends usually on the national scene, we would start from there... The administration is not yet firm on who would be the standard bearer. Though opinion pollsters rate VP Noli de Castro as a front runner, administration handlers are still open to Sen. Manny Villar. Villar had declared himself as an oppositionist. But since the opposition is not one solid body but a conglomeration of splintered groups Villar might form his own party or join the administration.

     Though Noli is an honest, plodding do gooder, free from controversy – except for the running gun battle with his comare Loren Legarda – he is less colorful than Villar. The latter, with his considerable logistics would make and ideal presidential candidate. Besides another opposition presidential aspirant Sen. Panfilo Lacson is after his scalp. Then there is another hopeful in the person of Sen Mar Roxas. If Villar jumps the fence, Noli would be left out in the cold and if his sympathizers object, then it will be the turn of the administration party to be splintered.

     Nearer home, we have no information on who will run for congressmen in the First and Second Districts. We can only speculate that Erico Aumentado would want his old post as congressman of the Second District. Rene Relampagos has three options. He could run as congressman of the First District, governor or mayor of the City of Tagbilaran. Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap is interested in the congressional seat of the Third District. He would be a formidable opponent of Boy Jala...

     The Edgar Chatto – Roberto Cajes tandem would be the administration gubernatorial candidate. That is; if Cajes agrees to play a second fiddle to Chatto. Since both were congressmen of different districts, equal in rank but different in localities, there would be an intense horse trading before the team will be formed. They will be opposed by VGov Julius Herrera and Provincial Administrator Tomas Abapo. 

     By geographical considerations, they are evenly matched. Chatto and Herrera are from the First District while Cajes and Abapo are from the Second District. However, exposure-wise .Herrera and Abapo has the edge since they had been holding provincial offices. How to translate that advantage into votes is another story. The gubernatorial dark horse will be Cesar Montano. Never count this Baclayanon out. This multi awarded actor, director, producer had not earned such distinctions through acting alone but by using his administrative and managerial skills to produce successful projects.

     In Jagna, the contest boiled down into a three cornered fight between Fortunato 'Bicbic' Abrenilla, Joseph Rañola and Paris Macarayan. Capt Cipriano Madera has faded out of the picture. While Abrebilla attends to his political fences personally, Rañola has his Jagna Renaissance. Macarayan, who has recently come home fro abroad on the other hand, has his cadre of seamen working for him. Bicbic and Paris are both about to retire... Rañola on the other hand can simply move his operations within the reach so he could serve Jagna effectively if elected.

     Since Abrenilla would be the administration candidate for mayor, his governor would doubtless be Chatto. Rañola is for Cesar Montano while Macarayan would wait for one who comes to him. He seems to be sure of his assets. Since the starting gun had nit yet gone off, we could not say who has the edge. Partisan say they have but those are just speculations. The situation is still fluid. Logistics, campaign strategy and sustained effort would decide who will win. 

Jun Lozada Victim of Injustice

By Joe Espiritu

    For days now, the case of Jun Lozada had been in the top of the news. He had been out of public attention but this time he has been resurrected. The Senate shelved ZTE scandal temporarily it seems .pending resumption after more urgent business had been disposed. If no further political mileage could be gained from this case, chances are it would have died of old age. Some people had breathed easier after the Senate inquisition. When this case is again in the public attention, there would be people who would feel uncomfortable if not threatened.

     This started when the government proposed to link the islands by a broadband network. With this technology, orders, information and other important communications would e beamed directly to persons concerned even to those who are in the outlying places. In turn, the needs and aspirations of the people in the boondocks could be communicated directly to those who really matter. This would mean bringing government nearer to the people.

     One of the companies, which offered to furnish the required network, was the ZTE Corporation a giant technology company in the Peoples Republic of China. Another bidder was a company represented by a son of the former Speaker of the House. At that time Roberto "Jun" Lozada Jr was a consultant. It was not clear whether Jun Lozada was a retained consultant of the ZTE or he was hired for this particular deal only. Lozada claimed to be present when Comelec Chairman Abalos and a well connected private citizen, the First Gentleman brokered the deal. For a sizable consideration, he said. 

     What made Lozada decide to blow the whistle is debatable. He might have done it out of conscience or patriotism or out of pique having been left out in the cold on this deal. At any rate, there were people who would want to get their hands on Lozada. One group said to be identified with the administration wanted him to remain quiet while the other, particularly from the opposition dominated senate wanted him to tell the whole story... When he came home via the international airport, he was allegedly escorted by personnel identified with the administration around allegedly for his protection. Lozada claimed he was kidnapped and released only when the issue became too hot to handle.

     Lozada faced a Senate investigation. His statements were explosive but administration senators pointed out some inconsistencies. To the uninformed observers, which most voters are, the  ZTE bomb blew up like a dud. The only casualty was Comelec Commissioner Abalos. The investigation, if one might call it that ended inconclusively. Lozada was left off for the time being.

     Things were slowly dying down. The ZTE deal like the fertilizer fund scam starring Jocjoc Bolante appeared to be heading towards limbo. Then an administration henchman Mike Defensor accused Jun Lozada of perjury. To project himself as a martyr, Lozada refused to post bail. It worked. It firmed up his image as a persecuted whistle blower. The judge, who presided over his case refused to commit him to the city jail and was too happy to grasp at the technicality, which allowed him to release Lozada to the welcoming arms of the Senate.

     Does Lozada really hold damaging information that he has to be either discredited or neutralized before thing blow up? If he does not, why make an issue of the word of a disgruntled whistle blower? Did his accusers fail to predict the repercussions that would follow his arrest? Any amateur analyst could see that. There must be something bigger than what is apparent. 

Citizen’s Charter of Tubigon

Now in the making, the Citizen's Charter of Tubigon will be designed to empower the townfolk by promoting transparency and accountability in public service.

      Mayor Luna Piezas ordered each office in the municipal government to submit their respective share in the proposed Citizen's Charter on May 18 to the office of the Municipal Local Government Operations Office (MLGOO).

      Piezas tasked MLGOO Sharon Marimon to consolidate and package them.

      The presentation and critiquing is scheduled on May 22.

      The Citizen's Charter is designed to promote good governance and quality service to the public.

      It describes the key services of the municipal government for the benefits of its citizenry, and contains the step-by-step procedures for availing each service, the response time for its delivery, and the municipal officials, department heads and staff responsible for the service.

      It will include the list of requirements the clients must comply to facilitate service delivery.  

      Republic Act 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) of 2007 mandates the formulation of the Citizen's Charter to improve the efficiency of government service.

      It essentially redefines public service by putting the interest of the public first and foremost as the end goal of government service delivery.

      ARTA seeks to establish an effective system that will eliminate bureaucratic red tape, avert graft and corrupt practices and improve efficiency of delivering government frontline services.

      It also mandates all government agencies and instrumentalities to deliver public service in the most efficient manner for the public's convenience.

      A project team has been formed, composed of municipal officials and department heads led by Mayor Piezas who convened a steering committee and task force for the purpose.

      The Steering Committee serves as a primary advisory body to the local chief executive in the overall direction and supervision of the Citizen's Charter Initiative.

      The Task Force on Citizen's Charter takes the lead in the formulation, writing and packaging of the Citizen's Charter. Crafting a Citizen's Charter is a big thing.

      Upon the mayor's instruction, the Steering and Task Force Committee conducted a special meeting on April 20 at the Mayor's office conference room, in coordination with Marimon and Human Resource and Management Officer Crisologo Emnace, to discuss the status of its preparation.

      On April 23, the concerned department and section heads presented their identified frontline services to the public.

      Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Noel Mendaña facilitated the activity.

      Marimon defined the frontline services and Mendaña presented the model Citizen's Charter that will serve as a guide.

      The frontline services being identified on per office basis will be the basis and focus of the Citizen's Charter that they will draft. 

Cebu Pacific Cheap Flights

News dispatched by Cebu Pacific Air.

We're introducing the 'Happy Hour' seat sale for all our domestic and international services. The one-way 'Go Lite' fares are sold at P299 all-in for all domestic flights and P599 for all international flights excluding Osaka, Japan!

The 'Happy Hour' seat sale is only available from 11:00am to 2:00pm and 5:00pm to 8:00pm on May 13 to 15, 2009. This is valid for travel from September 1 to 30, 2009. Promotional fares are non-refundable.

If you! 're taking an international flight, you just need to add government taxes to the fare; while domestic fares are all-inclusive.

This seat sale shows that Cebu Pacific will always be the best budget travel option for everyJuan as we offer the lowest fares in every route we operate.

'Go Lite' fares are for passengers traveling with no check-in baggage. Passengers with check-in bags just have to add P200 to the fare.

There are more than 100,000 seats available for this promotion. So hurry, log on to www.cebupacificair.com now! 

Project aims to sustain food security

Born with a green thumb, it's not hard to  explain why V-Guv. Julius Ceasar Herrera, is "going green" in discharging the function of the second highest elected provincial official while at the same time training his sights to the position of next Bohol governor. 

Recall any incidence where he is not at  home when agriculture is  the centerpiece of discussion. 

Whatever one calls it- green revolution, agriculture development or food security, to Herrera , they all mean the  same banana.  

For how else explain the fact when a scramble of chairmanships of committees in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the vice governor proved to his colleagues that being a "son of the soil", the committee on agriculture, should not be allowed to slip in his grips. 

There is only one explanation to this. He loves agriculture, nothing more, nothing less. 

A series of pictures in this paper showing Herrera tilling the soil is a manifestation of his penchant for food sustainability. 

Just like his mentor Gov. Erico Aumentado, Herrera preached the gospel of food security at the time that Bohol was threatened with a rice crisis. It was middle of last year that both officials scrambled to the drawing table to strategize the impact of the rice crisis. 

Immediately, the two top Bohol officials swung into action to put agriculture particularly increased rice production in its priority bloc to maintain Bohol's food security efforts as rice prices went sky high without any ceremony.

After all is said and done, there's no argument that agriculture is the main concern of the province and   nobody can hold a candle when  Herrera was given the task to handle the problem. 

GREENING OF BOHOL 

Green revolution may be a trite to some people let alone those who were mesmerized by its fancy objectives during the unlamented Marcos government. 

Undeterred by its copycat implications, Herrera pursued his own version of greening Bohol with renewed vigor and vitality.

During his birthday last April 21, Herrera made a symbolic launching of his greening program in coordination with the Sangguniang Kabataan  in his hometown in Calape. 

The SK program dubbed Sama-sama sa Kalikasan, went nationwide when it was launched here last April 1 with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the guest of honor. 

Herrera's initiative towards greening Bohol goes hand in hand  with the SK program which calls for the planting of all kinds of crops, vegetables, coconuts, orchards, etc. 

MAIN COMPONENT  

The main component of Herrera's platform of government is the seed distribution program which is now in full swing. 

With backyard gardening as the lynchpin of the program, Herrera is bullish about the prospect of inducing the Boholanos to engage in this productive endeavor in order to attain food sufficiency. 

"Can you imagine, if you no longer buy such ubiquitous vegetables like okra, kalamunggay,  eggplant, pechay, etc. or anything edible because you can just pick them in your backyard, is one typical Herrera exhortation every time he is in the different Bohol barangays evangelizing the importance of his project   

SEED SUBSIDY   

A cursory look of the figure indicating the strides of Herrera's backyard gardening program showed that the project is already promoted in  some 39 towns and more than 700 barangays. It is also in as many barangays that its seed subsidy 'have taken root".  

The recipient-municipalities are  Albururquerque, Calape, Corella, Loon, Maribojoc, Sikatuna, Tubigon, Bien-Unido, Buenavista, Clarin, Dagohoy, Danao, Inabangan, Pres. Garcia, Sagbayan, Ubay, Anda, Batuan, Bilar, Candijay, Carmen, Duero, Garcia-Hernandez, Guindulman, Jagna, Mabini, Sevilla, Valencia and Tagbilaran City.  

Rationalizing his flagship program, Herrera said the principal objective is to have food in every table by providing the seed requirements of those sold out to the idea of food sufficiency. The seeds include squash, eggplant, sitao, ampalaya, okra, kangkong, tomato and pechay.  

The vice-governor said gardening is the best way to cushion the impact of the economic crisis. He told officials why buy vegetables when everybody can grow them with effortless ease. 

He explained that by growing vegetables in one's backyard, a family maybe able to save the much-needed money for other needs. The vice-governor's simple arithmetic may be computed thus: if  a family  spends at least P30 daily for vegetables then that is something like  P900 per month or P10,800 per year. 

To Herrera, that's a lot of money, for a poor family. But with backyard gardening, this amount could be channeled to some other purposes.

Growing vegetables in backyards can give  a family savings in vegetable budget.   

Citing the irony that Bohol is considered the food basket of Central Visayas in  rice production, what is lamentable is that the province is importing its vegetables and fruits requirements from neighboring islands like Mindanao.   

To make the project felt in the barangay level, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has recently approved a resolution urging local government units of Bohol to make backyard vegetable gardening mandatory in every household.

 

Herrera authored the compulsory nature of backyard farming to stamp out his name in this signature project.

"It's about time to put substance to our call for backyard gardening on vegetables and other crops"., Herrera declared. 

In the resolution, the province is committed to  spearhead efforts towards the development of the agriculture sector considering that Bohol is an agro-industrial province.  

"The agricultural thrust of the province is intended to increase production, food security and sufficiency and raise incomes of the farmers using appropriate technology," the resolution pointed out.  

As for its mandatory aspect, Herrera is proud to announce that the municipalities of Alburquerque, Antequera, Catigbian, Mabini, Candijay and others towns have already adopted compulsive methods in carrying out the objectives of his pet project. (With reports from RVO) - Sunday Post

Project aims to sustain food security

Born with a green thumb, it's not hard to  explain why V-Guv. Julius Ceasar Herrera, is "going green" in discharging the function of the second highest elected provincial official while at the same time training his sights to the position of next Bohol governor. 

Recall any incidence where he is not at  home when agriculture is  the centerpiece of discussion. 

Whatever one calls it- green revolution, agriculture development or food security, to Herrera , they all mean the  same banana.  

For how else explain the fact when a scramble of chairmanships of committees in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the vice governor proved to his colleagues that being a "son of the soil", the committee on agriculture, should not be allowed to slip in his grips. 

There is only one explanation to this. He loves agriculture, nothing more, nothing less. 

A series of pictures in this paper showing Herrera tilling the soil is a manifestation of his penchant for food sustainability. 

Just like his mentor Gov. Erico Aumentado, Herrera preached the gospel of food security at the time that Bohol was threatened with a rice crisis. It was middle of last year that both officials scrambled to the drawing table to strategize the impact of the rice crisis. 

Immediately, the two top Bohol officials swung into action to put agriculture particularly increased rice production in its priority bloc to maintain Bohol's food security efforts as rice prices went sky high without any ceremony.

After all is said and done, there's no argument that agriculture is the main concern of the province and   nobody can hold a candle when  Herrera was given the task to handle the problem. 

GREENING OF BOHOL 

Green revolution may be a trite to some people let alone those who were mesmerized by its fancy objectives during the unlamented Marcos government. 

Undeterred by its copycat implications, Herrera pursued his own version of greening Bohol with renewed vigor and vitality.

During his birthday last April 21, Herrera made a symbolic launching of his greening program in coordination with the Sangguniang Kabataan  in his hometown in Calape. 

The SK program dubbed Sama-sama sa Kalikasan, went nationwide when it was launched here last April 1 with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the guest of honor. 

Herrera's initiative towards greening Bohol goes hand in hand  with the SK program which calls for the planting of all kinds of crops, vegetables, coconuts, orchards, etc. 

MAIN COMPONENT  

The main component of Herrera's platform of government is the seed distribution program which is now in full swing. 

With backyard gardening as the lynchpin of the program, Herrera is bullish about the prospect of inducing the Boholanos to engage in this productive endeavor in order to attain food sufficiency. 

"Can you imagine, if you no longer buy such ubiquitous vegetables like okra, kalamunggay,  eggplant, pechay, etc. or anything edible because you can just pick them in your backyard, is one typical Herrera exhortation every time he is in the different Bohol barangays evangelizing the importance of his project   

SEED SUBSIDY   

A cursory look of the figure indicating the strides of Herrera's backyard gardening program showed that the project is already promoted in  some 39 towns and more than 700 barangays. It is also in as many barangays that its seed subsidy 'have taken root".  

The recipient-municipalities are  Albururquerque, Calape, Corella, Loon, Maribojoc, Sikatuna, Tubigon, Bien-Unido, Buenavista, Clarin, Dagohoy, Danao, Inabangan, Pres. Garcia, Sagbayan, Ubay, Anda, Batuan, Bilar, Candijay, Carmen, Duero, Garcia-Hernandez, Guindulman, Jagna, Mabini, Sevilla, Valencia and Tagbilaran City.  

Rationalizing his flagship program, Herrera said the principal objective is to have food in every table by providing the seed requirements of those sold out to the idea of food sufficiency. The seeds include squash, eggplant, sitao, ampalaya, okra, kangkong, tomato and pechay.  

The vice-governor said gardening is the best way to cushion the impact of the economic crisis. He told officials why buy vegetables when everybody can grow them with effortless ease. 

He explained that by growing vegetables in one's backyard, a family maybe able to save the much-needed money for other needs. The vice-governor's simple arithmetic may be computed thus: if  a family  spends at least P30 daily for vegetables then that is something like  P900 per month or P10,800 per year. 

To Herrera, that's a lot of money, for a poor family. But with backyard gardening, this amount could be channeled to some other purposes.

Growing vegetables in backyards can give  a family savings in vegetable budget.   

Citing the irony that Bohol is considered the food basket of Central Visayas in  rice production, what is lamentable is that the province is importing its vegetables and fruits requirements from neighboring islands like Mindanao.   

To make the project felt in the barangay level, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has recently approved a resolution urging local government units of Bohol to make backyard vegetable gardening mandatory in every household.

 

Herrera authored the compulsory nature of backyard farming to stamp out his name in this signature project.

"It's about time to put substance to our call for backyard gardening on vegetables and other crops"., Herrera declared. 

In the resolution, the province is committed to  spearhead efforts towards the development of the agriculture sector considering that Bohol is an agro-industrial province.  

"The agricultural thrust of the province is intended to increase production, food security and sufficiency and raise incomes of the farmers using appropriate technology," the resolution pointed out.  

As for its mandatory aspect, Herrera is proud to announce that the municipalities of Alburquerque, Antequera, Catigbian, Mabini, Candijay and others towns have already adopted compulsive methods in carrying out the objectives of his pet project. (With reports from RVO) - Sunday Post

Pacquiao, NOT Arroyo, Can Unite the Philippines

Today, our very own boxing hero Manny Pacquiao, will once again take on the dreams and ambitions of our nation – a nation where millions of people wallow in utter poverty, a nation so divided, a nation beleaguered by corruption.

When the "Pacman" faces Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas today, he's not just fighting for himself as a boxer, but for the Filipino people and the country as a whole. 

As BBC News describes it: If Hatton loses, many thousands will sigh. If Pacquiao loses, a nation's heart will break. 

Millions of us Filipinos see in Pacquiao something to aspire to, because we see in him our hopes and dreams. 

In his early years, Pacquiao toiled in the streets to earn a living and to survive. This is why people can relate with the boxing superstar. 

As our "Pambansang Kamao" climbs the ring today, we will see once more the Army (the Philippine Army and the New Peoples Army) lay down their arms and call for a truce, even the Muslim insurgents in Mindanao . Crime will almost cease in the towns and cities across the country. 

Every human activity practically grinds to a halt as thousands gather around their television sets and movie houses to witness their hero carry their hopes and dreams. This phenomenon does not only occur in the Philippines . Filipinos all around the world always gather in anticipation of a big Pacquiao fight. 

A victory by Pacquiao in today's match would catapult him to the international boxing Hall of Fame. One of only two fighters who have won the championship title in six weight divisions.

As promoter Bob Arum said, "Pacquiao is a symbol of his people". 

President Arroyo calls Pacquiao "truly one of our nation's heroes who can unite us even in times of divisiveness". 

 "The Filipino people are the real source of my strength. My utmost intention is to unite the Filipino people through my efforts in boxing," Pacquiao proudly declared once. 

Recently named one of the world's 100 most influential people by Time magazine (officially outpolling US President Barack Obama), Pacquiao could become president of our country. 

After the Pacquiao fight, however, can we stay united as a nation? Will the "great unifying force" personified by the "Pacman" dwell among us?

Boys Rite of Passage: Circumcision

By Joe Espiritu

      A few days ago a group of boys scarcely in their teens underwent the rite of passage. This is a ceremony, which transforms boys into men... Hopefully. The foreskins in their peckers were cut off on preparation to – you know what. As hospital garb of patients, they wore loose T shirts to hide their fronts which are without briefs.

       They went away from the center proudly holding the T shirt fronts away from their wounded organs. Peer pressure made them smile to show they were brave. They must had been administered anesthesia or they would have been caterwauling in pain if they nobody was around. Watch out when the anesthesia wear off, They would be an ordeal to parents for a day or two.

       There was a time when the ceremony was strictly a pre teenage affair. A group of boys with a few centavos go to the village circumciser. He is usually an old man with a small bolo with razor sharp point. After negotiations, he would make the boy sit in front of him. There were no antibiotics or anti tetanus then. He first chews tender guava leaves, inserts the tip of his bolo upside down beneath the foreskin and with a wooden peg whacks at the bolo point.

       It usually takes two or three whacks before the foreskin is cleanly cut. If the boy is brave enough to observe the proceedings he sees his foreskin turns white first before it bleeds and falls away to the sides of his barangay chairman... Then the circumciser spits the masticated leaves on the bleeding organ and pronounces the ceremony over.

       Some wonder why boys have to undergo such pain. Others would like their ears cut off – no not this organ – than be named p-s-t P S supply the vowels... There are other cultures that forego circumcision. Some South East Asians, Europeans and those living in some parts of the Philippines who go through their lives uncut. The Jews consider this ceremony a part of their culture. Ancient Jewish warrior fights to death knowing that he could be identified as a Jew when captured.

       There are those who say that circumcision is done for hygienic reasons. We do not see any reason for it. There are those who say that uncircumcised guys smell like a boar in heat. This could be uttered in derision perhaps to discredit the guy with the girls. What girl would be friends with a guy under social stigma?

       This time, the circumcising team was led by Board Member Dr. Ben Molina and Board Member Trabajo. The people who did the honors were girls. Come to think of it, in the old days, when a newly circumcised pecker is seemed by a girl, it swells up like a ripe tomato. We assume that the ones who performed the ceremonies were the girls as they were the one wearing gloves. There was a man with them but he seems to be the driver. Besides, he did not have a small bolo with him or was chewing tender guava leaves.

       If the carabao cannot go to the mud hole, then the mud hole must go to the carabao. This non sequitor merely says the Dr. Molina and team did not wait for the boys to go to them but they met at places where the boys were told to be. In that way they went from barangay to barangay to do the honors. Thanks to them there will be boys who will be no longer called p-s-t you supply the vowels. 

Labor Day in the Philippines

Workers called for duty today, May 1, gets 200% more of his regular pay for the first 8 hours of work and another 30% of the hourly rate for the day when he works more, the local labor office says.

  Bohol labor office, through Teri Salas said May 1, traditionally celebrated as the international Labor Day is also a regular holiday in the country and has not been moved as practiced in other holidays. 

  And pursuant to Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Memorandum Circular No. 1, issued March 2004, and citing Executive Order 203 as amended by Republic Act 9177, she said workers for the day, even if they do not go to work collect 100% of their pay rates.

  If the day falls on the workers' rest day and he is called to render duty, he collects 30% more of the 200% rate he gets for the day. He shall not be held for absence if he chooses not to work and can even collect 100% of his day pay, the law states. 

  Moreover, if the day happens to be the worker's rest day, and if he works and renders more than his mandatory 8 hours, he gets 30% of his hourly rate on that day. 

NPA Denies Philippine Masscre of a Family

The communist New People's Army (NPA) washed its hands Thursday off the gruesome massacre of a family in Gingoog City in northern Mindanao last April 9.

NPA North Central Mindanao spokesman Cesar Renerio blamed a paramilitary group for the crime and slammed the military for passing the blame on the NPA to win people's hearts and minds.

"We call on all peace and human rights advocates, the religious and well-meaning politicians to conduct an in-depth investigation to delve on the truth on who really are the perpetrators of this gruesome massacre," Renerio said in an article on the Communist Party of the Philippines website (www.philippinerevolution.net).

Renerio claimed members of the paramilitary group Bungkatol Liberation Front (Bulif) were the ones who massacred the Suarez family last April 9.

Killed were Manuel and Jocelyn Suarez and their children Jan Mark, 6, Bebi, 5, Along, 2, and Niño, two months-old. The incident occurred at Sitio Kamanikan, Malinao in Gingoog.