By Satur P. Apoyon
In the Philippines, politicians are pestered with all kinds of moochings or solicitations especially during election season.
The money-making assault is carried out either by individuals or groups, associations or religious congregations.
Only a few dozen among politicians in this former Spanish colony of four hundred years, especially those with party support and tossed by advocacy groups, who can withstand the onslaughts of fund-raisers that some have adopted as an industry.
The media industry is not spared in the madness of such a culture that has barnacled in the psyche of a large segment of the Filipino population up to these days.
Some scoundrels out to misappropriate the clout it brings to the community adopt a myriad of schemes.
One of their modus operandi is to organize an instant press association involving popular journalists in the roster of membership for media plan quota.
Sad to say, the scandalous operation oftentimes prosper due to gullibility or plain tolerance of some politicians or staff of a party media bureau.
In 1992, for example, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and fellow senatorial bet former Health Secretary Juan Flavier were among those molested by pseudo media persons for broadcast propaganda money, knocking their hotel rooms in this city even at bed time.
Other scalawags, competing with so-called barangay ward leaders bringing lists of their controlled voters for funding, would whip out newspaper advertising rate card that does not even exist.
The professional moochers also hound candidates with a string of hospital billings or prescriptions of medicines needing immediate cash allocation, too.
There are also genuine poorest of the poor who would beg from politicians to take care of the transport of the cadaver of kin or give them transportation money to go back to their place of origin from the big city to the province.
The Davao or Mindanao experience can also be prevalent elsewhere in many towns, cities and provinces in the country's archipelago of 7,100 islands.
It is a never-ending charitable obligation for a Pinoy politician to get elected or reelected especially in this time of financial scarcity hitting the majority of the country's burgeoning population now in the vicinity of 93 million.
But not in the United States of Uncle Sam.
According to my fan on Bisayan fiction and now intimate friend, Briccio, a native of Loay, Bohol who now lives in Vallejo, California, USA, it is the other way around there.
Briccio, 80 plus, said in his latest overseas call it is the electorate who are being taxed by American candidates from either the Republicans or Democrats.
He said voters in USA are asked which political party he belongs upon registration in a state electoral office.
As the election campaign starts, solicitation from either the Republicans or Democrats, Briccio said, is mailed to their "members" to give some contribution for the party expenses.
Big contributors are given presentable certificates of appreciation and sometimes given special attention by the victorious party.
In the case of my fan and fellow provinciano, he would only give a little and sometimes made excuses to skip his voluntary obligation being a small-time retiree.
Thus, the system seems to echo the philosophy of John F. Kennedy, one of the great presidents of New England, which summarizes this way: "Think of what you can dole out for a candidate rather than squeezing him or his party of a few dollars".
Briccio did not yet mention the corporate or millionaire's party contribution to the two leading political parties, one of which is that of Barack Obama, the incumbent and first African-American president ever elected since l776.
With our culture as certified blue-blooded everlasting blessed receiver of gifts in cash or in kind such Americanism will ever or will never come to pass yet in our time.
Therefore, Pinoy politicians take cover from pests out to take away a part of your campaign fund or to say the least your pocket money in the sortie trail. (PNA)
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
One of Asia's freest press is the Philippine's rambunctious, noisy press
Bohol Chronicle Editorial: To be able to live and breathe democracy, after 14 years of Martial Law, is a luxury many have often taken for granted. But we should not.
A Congress to make laws and democratically-elected LGUs to govern communities, by and large, are there to see. One of Asia's freest press is the Philippine's rambunctious, noisy press. Largely, there is freedom of expression - let us cherish that.
Philippine elections showcase this type of democracy, though sometimes marred by guns and gold that alter the outcome of the popular will. But it can pass the test.
That is why the decision of progressive groups like those under the wings of Makabayan and Akbayan, among others, to come into the open to compete in the democratic debate of ideas through election to Congress, must be respected.
It is the COMELEC, a constitutional body, which is the only entity empowered by law to accredit candidates and their parties as qualified to run for the people's mandate - not the military nor the police. These groups should be allowed to freely campaign for the people's vote.
It would be unfair to dump all of them as communist fronts since they were precisely accredited by COMELEC since they represent a marginalized constituency that renounces violence as a method for reforms and change. That's why they run for office.
Besides, the military has been specifically mandated by law to remain non-partisan in elections but just maintain peace and order. If the Army runs after rebels asking for permit-to-campaign funds - that is their sound duty. But to discredit COMELEC approved Party List groups and other candidates as "communists" is not part of their job.
Among those parties under the Makabayan wing are: Bayan Muna, Anak Pawis, Gabriela, Kabataan and ACT Teacher. Akbayan has produced some of most avid nationalist-reformists in Etta Rosales, Risa Hontiveros and Walden Bello. Communists?
They should be allowed to say their piece in the same way that Retired Army Major General Jovito Palparan of the Bantay Party List was accredited and then elected as Party List Congressman for 2007.
Palparan was given the chance to debate with the "communists" in Congress which means that is the democratic route for reform in this country. No double standard, please.
Let us be on guard because if we sleep on our sacred duties, we could lose the cherish freedoms that our heroes and the EDSA freedom warriors had fought for.
Let us cite one other example.
The raid and detention of 43 health workers doing a seminar in a resort in Morong Rizal and detained for three days - incommunicado- is a throw back to the Dark Days of Martial Law, that we should never allow to happen again.
Reports of psychological torture and sexual harassment by their captors in Camp Capinpin, Tanay have been media subject for days.
The Military defied for days the order of the Supreme Court of the land to produce the 43 victims before the Court of Appeals. Even AFP Chief Victor Ibrado and former Defense Chief and Lakas presidential candidate Gibo Teodoro were aghast at the Military's violation of a constitutional mandates by not immediately producing the victims in court.
Talk about abuse with impunity.
The Military accused some of the 43 of manufacturing bombs (during the seminar?) and as being active members of the NPA.
If that is so, why the need for interrogation and detention when the Military could just throw the book at them and jail them if indeed the Army had the goods on them?
If only some of them were suspect, why then hold the entire 43 health workers in detention -blindfolded, forced fed and mentally tortured?
Martial Law had caused us so much loss - that of our freedom and bread.
We have not regained the bread - for many are still poor - and now our precious freedom is slowly being carted away with impunity.
In Bohol, seven reformist-leaders have disappeared or died from assassins' bullets.
Today, there are talks that armed men have landed on our shores for the May 2010 elections - which can therefore become bloody.
That is the reason the Sanguniang Panlalawigan had endorsed a Motion to place the entire Bohol under COMELEC control. Fine by us, actually.
That might be the only way we can maintain the respect for democratic space on our way to national reform and progress.
A Congress to make laws and democratically-elected LGUs to govern communities, by and large, are there to see. One of Asia's freest press is the Philippine's rambunctious, noisy press. Largely, there is freedom of expression - let us cherish that.
Philippine elections showcase this type of democracy, though sometimes marred by guns and gold that alter the outcome of the popular will. But it can pass the test.
That is why the decision of progressive groups like those under the wings of Makabayan and Akbayan, among others, to come into the open to compete in the democratic debate of ideas through election to Congress, must be respected.
It is the COMELEC, a constitutional body, which is the only entity empowered by law to accredit candidates and their parties as qualified to run for the people's mandate - not the military nor the police. These groups should be allowed to freely campaign for the people's vote.
It would be unfair to dump all of them as communist fronts since they were precisely accredited by COMELEC since they represent a marginalized constituency that renounces violence as a method for reforms and change. That's why they run for office.
Besides, the military has been specifically mandated by law to remain non-partisan in elections but just maintain peace and order. If the Army runs after rebels asking for permit-to-campaign funds - that is their sound duty. But to discredit COMELEC approved Party List groups and other candidates as "communists" is not part of their job.
Among those parties under the Makabayan wing are: Bayan Muna, Anak Pawis, Gabriela, Kabataan and ACT Teacher. Akbayan has produced some of most avid nationalist-reformists in Etta Rosales, Risa Hontiveros and Walden Bello. Communists?
They should be allowed to say their piece in the same way that Retired Army Major General Jovito Palparan of the Bantay Party List was accredited and then elected as Party List Congressman for 2007.
Palparan was given the chance to debate with the "communists" in Congress which means that is the democratic route for reform in this country. No double standard, please.
Let us be on guard because if we sleep on our sacred duties, we could lose the cherish freedoms that our heroes and the EDSA freedom warriors had fought for.
Let us cite one other example.
The raid and detention of 43 health workers doing a seminar in a resort in Morong Rizal and detained for three days - incommunicado- is a throw back to the Dark Days of Martial Law, that we should never allow to happen again.
Reports of psychological torture and sexual harassment by their captors in Camp Capinpin, Tanay have been media subject for days.
The Military defied for days the order of the Supreme Court of the land to produce the 43 victims before the Court of Appeals. Even AFP Chief Victor Ibrado and former Defense Chief and Lakas presidential candidate Gibo Teodoro were aghast at the Military's violation of a constitutional mandates by not immediately producing the victims in court.
Talk about abuse with impunity.
The Military accused some of the 43 of manufacturing bombs (during the seminar?) and as being active members of the NPA.
If that is so, why the need for interrogation and detention when the Military could just throw the book at them and jail them if indeed the Army had the goods on them?
If only some of them were suspect, why then hold the entire 43 health workers in detention -blindfolded, forced fed and mentally tortured?
Martial Law had caused us so much loss - that of our freedom and bread.
We have not regained the bread - for many are still poor - and now our precious freedom is slowly being carted away with impunity.
In Bohol, seven reformist-leaders have disappeared or died from assassins' bullets.
Today, there are talks that armed men have landed on our shores for the May 2010 elections - which can therefore become bloody.
That is the reason the Sanguniang Panlalawigan had endorsed a Motion to place the entire Bohol under COMELEC control. Fine by us, actually.
That might be the only way we can maintain the respect for democratic space on our way to national reform and progress.
Defense boss presides over turnover of rowhouses worth P6-M to former Bohol rebels
Defense boss presides over turnover of rowhouses worth P6-M to former Bohol rebels
By JUNE S. BLANCO
FORMER rebels, now Kauban sa Reporma (KRs) or comrades in reform in Bohol stand to get their own houses, homelots and farmlots with the launching Thursday of the Kalayaan Resettlement Center in Brgy. Remedios, Danao, Bohol.
Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, Undersecretary Danilo Encinas of the Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process, Major Cristobal J.P. Perez of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), Gov. Erico Aumentado and top military and police officials led launching rites for the 25-unit rowhouse costing P6 million.
Fifteen members of the Bohol Composite Farmers Association led by former New People's Army (NPA) strategist circa '70s and '80s Epitacio Ramirez who went by the nom de guerre "Kumander Vargas", and 10 other farmers who already live in the area will occupy the units.
Convergence
The project is a product of Aumentado's signature convergence strategy. For the purpose, he leveraged P1.5 million from the provincial coffers to magnet P3 million from the Office of the President-President's Social Fund (OP-PSF) and another P1.5 million from Opapp.
The Engineer Support Battalion (ESBn) under Lt. Col. Ramon Evan Ruiz based in Brgy. Macaas in Tubigon town will build the rowhouses. The battalion is already a veteran of many school building projects of Aumentado and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, as well as the Department of Education (DepEd).
The homelots and farmlots are on a sprawling 50-hectare area made available by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The Bohol Poverty Reduction Management Office (BPRMO) and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) will provide technical assistance in growing oil palm or jatropha as well as seeds or planting materials for vegetables and other high value cash crops that can be planted between rows while the main crops are still young and unproductive.
On the other hand, the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV) has an ongoing livestock dispersal program that the new Remedios settlers can also avail of. That same day, Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz, OPV head, had asked Aumentado to lead the passing-on-the gift ceremony for 11 heads of carabaos and more goats to their new owners during the civic action at the Remedios barangay hall. These are offspring of animals given to first round beneficiaries.
Remedios is only around three kilometers from Danao town proper.
SND's message
Gonzales said through all these years that he and Aumentado have joined forces to address the decades-old insurgency problem, Bohol has always pushed ahead earlier of the other provinces.
Being one of the most successful provinces in addressing insurgency, he said the Bohol experience should be replicated in the rest of the country.
He noted that in another first – Aumentado who also chairs the Bohol Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), Chief Supt. Lani-o Nerez, Central Visayas regional police director and Maj. Gen. Arthur Tabaquero, commander of the Philippine Army's 8th Infantry Division based in Samar signed a joint resolution declaring Bohol insurgency-free.
Where the Government of the Philippines (GOP) and Communist Party of the Philippines leader Jose Ma. Sison have not been very successful, Aumentado has succeeded, Gonzales said, referring to the peace talks in Utrecht that have now stalled.
While Norway, the third party that has been giving support for the talks to continue is now apparently at a loss as to what to do next, Aumentado has found the key – talk to everyone interested and come up with a solution acceptable by all stakeholders: the Kalayaan Resettlement Center in Bohol's case.
Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera, Col. Alan Luga, commander of the 802nd Brigade, Sr. Supt. Anthony Obenza, Bohol police provincial director, Maj. Gen. Ralph Villanueva of the Central Command and Gonzales signed as witnesses.
With Bohol already insurgency-free and therefore "cleared", Aumentado, Tabaquero and Nerez also signed a memorandum of agreement transferring the active role in internal security operations (ISO) from the military to the police pursuant to the National Internal Security Plan (NISP) crafted by the National Security Council that President Arroyo has approved – for the "hold" phase.
The MOA also specified that the Bohol PPOC will take the lead in the "consolidation" and on to the "development" phases.
By JUNE S. BLANCO
FORMER rebels, now Kauban sa Reporma (KRs) or comrades in reform in Bohol stand to get their own houses, homelots and farmlots with the launching Thursday of the Kalayaan Resettlement Center in Brgy. Remedios, Danao, Bohol.
Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, Undersecretary Danilo Encinas of the Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process, Major Cristobal J.P. Perez of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), Gov. Erico Aumentado and top military and police officials led launching rites for the 25-unit rowhouse costing P6 million.
Fifteen members of the Bohol Composite Farmers Association led by former New People's Army (NPA) strategist circa '70s and '80s Epitacio Ramirez who went by the nom de guerre "Kumander Vargas", and 10 other farmers who already live in the area will occupy the units.
Convergence
The project is a product of Aumentado's signature convergence strategy. For the purpose, he leveraged P1.5 million from the provincial coffers to magnet P3 million from the Office of the President-President's Social Fund (OP-PSF) and another P1.5 million from Opapp.
The Engineer Support Battalion (ESBn) under Lt. Col. Ramon Evan Ruiz based in Brgy. Macaas in Tubigon town will build the rowhouses. The battalion is already a veteran of many school building projects of Aumentado and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, as well as the Department of Education (DepEd).
The homelots and farmlots are on a sprawling 50-hectare area made available by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The Bohol Poverty Reduction Management Office (BPRMO) and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) will provide technical assistance in growing oil palm or jatropha as well as seeds or planting materials for vegetables and other high value cash crops that can be planted between rows while the main crops are still young and unproductive.
On the other hand, the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV) has an ongoing livestock dispersal program that the new Remedios settlers can also avail of. That same day, Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz, OPV head, had asked Aumentado to lead the passing-on-the gift ceremony for 11 heads of carabaos and more goats to their new owners during the civic action at the Remedios barangay hall. These are offspring of animals given to first round beneficiaries.
Remedios is only around three kilometers from Danao town proper.
SND's message
Gonzales said through all these years that he and Aumentado have joined forces to address the decades-old insurgency problem, Bohol has always pushed ahead earlier of the other provinces.
Being one of the most successful provinces in addressing insurgency, he said the Bohol experience should be replicated in the rest of the country.
He noted that in another first – Aumentado who also chairs the Bohol Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), Chief Supt. Lani-o Nerez, Central Visayas regional police director and Maj. Gen. Arthur Tabaquero, commander of the Philippine Army's 8th Infantry Division based in Samar signed a joint resolution declaring Bohol insurgency-free.
Where the Government of the Philippines (GOP) and Communist Party of the Philippines leader Jose Ma. Sison have not been very successful, Aumentado has succeeded, Gonzales said, referring to the peace talks in Utrecht that have now stalled.
While Norway, the third party that has been giving support for the talks to continue is now apparently at a loss as to what to do next, Aumentado has found the key – talk to everyone interested and come up with a solution acceptable by all stakeholders: the Kalayaan Resettlement Center in Bohol's case.
Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera, Col. Alan Luga, commander of the 802nd Brigade, Sr. Supt. Anthony Obenza, Bohol police provincial director, Maj. Gen. Ralph Villanueva of the Central Command and Gonzales signed as witnesses.
With Bohol already insurgency-free and therefore "cleared", Aumentado, Tabaquero and Nerez also signed a memorandum of agreement transferring the active role in internal security operations (ISO) from the military to the police pursuant to the National Internal Security Plan (NISP) crafted by the National Security Council that President Arroyo has approved – for the "hold" phase.
The MOA also specified that the Bohol PPOC will take the lead in the "consolidation" and on to the "development" phases.
Tagbilaran Bohol Corruption
Sunday Post: The war of attrition between Mayor Lim and Vice Mayor Veloso arising from the P50 million DBP loan and the subsequent walkout of minority councilors has rubbed in to members of the city's majority bloc.
Commenting on the walk-out, Councilor Oscar Glovasa said the city is the biggest loser in the controversial gesture of the minority members of the SP Monday.
"We have encountered another delay in the rehabilitation of our city roads because of our own making," he said of his peers.
Friday's session was marred by a walk-out by the minority members led by Vice Mayor Veloso and his allies, Councilors Edgar Kapirig, Zenaido Rama, Anne Mariq uit Oppus and Bebiano Inting.
The minority bloc claimed there was no walk-out.
Inting said they left the session after it was already adjourned.
Interviewed after the incident, Veloso said he adjourned the session after it became "unruly".
This version of the incident was denied by the majority bloc which continued the session after the walk-out.
Councilor Danilo Bantugan said Veloso could not adjourn the session since there was no motion.
"Even an ordinary councilman in the barrio knows that for the presiding officer to adjourn the proceedings, a motion is first required," he added.
Councilor Leonides Borja also disputed Veloso's claim that the session had become unruly saying the recordings of the proceedings will bear this out.
"Maybe they forgot that the session was covered live and that the people heard what actually transpired," he added.
Glovasa said that the walk-out again delayed the approval of the resolution authorizing the mayor to sign the agreement with the Development Bank of the Philippines with the city treasurer.
"It means that the people who have been clamoring for the rehabilitation of the city roads will have to wait a little longer," he added.
Glovasa, who is wrapping up his second term as councilor to run for Congress, said the walk-out is "an embarrassment" to the city because it shows what kind of councilors the city has.
Calling the walk-out gimmickry, Glovasa said it shows that the minority councilors are more concerned with stunts than with actual results.
Councilor Edgar Bompat, who presided over the session after Veloso and his group walked out, said the majority bloc is considering the possibility of censuring the minority councilors for their acts of disrespect to the council.
Bantugan said that if the minority bloc refuses to participate in the next session, they will resort to extreme measures.
"If they have no respect for us and for the city government, they should at least respect the people who pay our salaries for us to attend the sessions," he added.
Borja lamented that while they have moved the session day next week from Friday to Tuesday so that they will not miss a session day, the minority bloc instead defaulted on their responsibilities.
Glovasa denied there is any irregularity in the loan and in the implementation of the project saying the Commission on Audit is vigilant in ensuring that the public funds are well spent.
Commenting on the walk-out, Councilor Oscar Glovasa said the city is the biggest loser in the controversial gesture of the minority members of the SP Monday.
"We have encountered another delay in the rehabilitation of our city roads because of our own making," he said of his peers.
Friday's session was marred by a walk-out by the minority members led by Vice Mayor Veloso and his allies, Councilors Edgar Kapirig, Zenaido Rama, Anne Mariq uit Oppus and Bebiano Inting.
The minority bloc claimed there was no walk-out.
Inting said they left the session after it was already adjourned.
Interviewed after the incident, Veloso said he adjourned the session after it became "unruly".
This version of the incident was denied by the majority bloc which continued the session after the walk-out.
Councilor Danilo Bantugan said Veloso could not adjourn the session since there was no motion.
"Even an ordinary councilman in the barrio knows that for the presiding officer to adjourn the proceedings, a motion is first required," he added.
Councilor Leonides Borja also disputed Veloso's claim that the session had become unruly saying the recordings of the proceedings will bear this out.
"Maybe they forgot that the session was covered live and that the people heard what actually transpired," he added.
Glovasa said that the walk-out again delayed the approval of the resolution authorizing the mayor to sign the agreement with the Development Bank of the Philippines with the city treasurer.
"It means that the people who have been clamoring for the rehabilitation of the city roads will have to wait a little longer," he added.
Glovasa, who is wrapping up his second term as councilor to run for Congress, said the walk-out is "an embarrassment" to the city because it shows what kind of councilors the city has.
Calling the walk-out gimmickry, Glovasa said it shows that the minority councilors are more concerned with stunts than with actual results.
Councilor Edgar Bompat, who presided over the session after Veloso and his group walked out, said the majority bloc is considering the possibility of censuring the minority councilors for their acts of disrespect to the council.
Bantugan said that if the minority bloc refuses to participate in the next session, they will resort to extreme measures.
"If they have no respect for us and for the city government, they should at least respect the people who pay our salaries for us to attend the sessions," he added.
Borja lamented that while they have moved the session day next week from Friday to Tuesday so that they will not miss a session day, the minority bloc instead defaulted on their responsibilities.
Glovasa denied there is any irregularity in the loan and in the implementation of the project saying the Commission on Audit is vigilant in ensuring that the public funds are well spent.
Political Trend in Bohol Province
From Bohol Sunday Post
There are widening cracks within the ruling Lakas-Kampi Party, and daily the cracks are widening and getting uglier. Unlike in previous elections, where the party stalwarts were united, .today there is an in-fighting among its ranks.
Take the case of Governor Erico Aumentado, who almost lost the position as the official candidate for Congressman of the second district for Lakas-Kampi when the certificate of nomination was awarded to Trinidad Mayor Judith Cajes. Although, this was promptly revoked, Aumentado supporters suspect that Cong. Cajes and Congressman Edgar Chatto were behind it. They cannot forgive the two party stalwarts. So it is an open secret that mayors identified with Aumentado, although official Lakas-Kampi candidates will support
Vice-Governor Julius Herrera. Chatto has to watch his back carefully for those mayoral candidates disguising as Lakas-Kampi candidates but secretly supporting Herrera.
Definitely, Chatto cannot expect Aumentado's support. After the elections, I doubt if Lakas-Kampi will still be intact as the party of domination in Bohol. But well, these are political realities.
Although Chatto has still an advantage at this start of the campaign, there are still several months to go, before the elections. Chatto has to assess carefully his strengths and weaknesses and concentrate his campaigning to areas where his opponent is strong
He must fight like a Packman if he is to win convincingly in the elections. He has to watch his back and trust nobody. Sadly enough these are games of politics.
I am supporting Chatto because he is young and has a vision for Bohol. He listens to suggestions and will surely be guided by the composite opinion of Boholanos.
One big factor is, the money politics, and ironically sometimes, this is the deciding factor. Boholanos especially the old voters still go to the candidates who can buy their votes. What is the extent of vote-buying nobody knows but Chatto should get well prepared for it at this time
At this time, it is easy to predict that the first district will be won by ex-Governor Rene Relampagos. Our good friend, Oscar Glovasa has virtually no chances to win the elections despite the loud support of Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Lim. Outside of Tagbilaran, Glovasa has no known political bailiwick. He cannot be even sure of Tagbilaran.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap has no opponent so he is as good as elected.
There are widening cracks within the ruling Lakas-Kampi Party, and daily the cracks are widening and getting uglier. Unlike in previous elections, where the party stalwarts were united, .today there is an in-fighting among its ranks.
Take the case of Governor Erico Aumentado, who almost lost the position as the official candidate for Congressman of the second district for Lakas-Kampi when the certificate of nomination was awarded to Trinidad Mayor Judith Cajes. Although, this was promptly revoked, Aumentado supporters suspect that Cong. Cajes and Congressman Edgar Chatto were behind it. They cannot forgive the two party stalwarts. So it is an open secret that mayors identified with Aumentado, although official Lakas-Kampi candidates will support
Vice-Governor Julius Herrera. Chatto has to watch his back carefully for those mayoral candidates disguising as Lakas-Kampi candidates but secretly supporting Herrera.
Definitely, Chatto cannot expect Aumentado's support. After the elections, I doubt if Lakas-Kampi will still be intact as the party of domination in Bohol. But well, these are political realities.
Although Chatto has still an advantage at this start of the campaign, there are still several months to go, before the elections. Chatto has to assess carefully his strengths and weaknesses and concentrate his campaigning to areas where his opponent is strong
He must fight like a Packman if he is to win convincingly in the elections. He has to watch his back and trust nobody. Sadly enough these are games of politics.
I am supporting Chatto because he is young and has a vision for Bohol. He listens to suggestions and will surely be guided by the composite opinion of Boholanos.
One big factor is, the money politics, and ironically sometimes, this is the deciding factor. Boholanos especially the old voters still go to the candidates who can buy their votes. What is the extent of vote-buying nobody knows but Chatto should get well prepared for it at this time
At this time, it is easy to predict that the first district will be won by ex-Governor Rene Relampagos. Our good friend, Oscar Glovasa has virtually no chances to win the elections despite the loud support of Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Lim. Outside of Tagbilaran, Glovasa has no known political bailiwick. He cannot be even sure of Tagbilaran.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap has no opponent so he is as good as elected.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
How to solve insurgency in the Philippines
By Ben Cal
Abaya made the remarks at the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and the Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG) on the implementation of the Sorsogon Initiative to bring about sanctuaries of peace and development in the province.
The province of Sorsogon is one of the few remaining areas in the country where communist insurgency is active but which the government is dealing with through peace talks initiated by the local people themselves.
The Spanish government has allocated P20 million to finance various peace projects to support the Sorsogon Initiative.
The MOA signatories were Secretary Abaya in behalf of OPAPP, DILG Secretary Ronaldo V. Puno, who was represented by DILG Undersecretary Melchor Rosales; Spanish Ambassador Luis Arias-Romero on behalf of the Spanish government; Sorsogon Governor Sally Lee; Bishop Arturo Bastes of the Archdiocese of Sorsogon; and Atty. Loida Nicolas-Lewis, co-convenor of the Sorsogon Alliance for Peace and Development.
The signing was held at the Oakwood Premier in Ortigas Center, Pasig City on Tuesday.
"I would like to express my great thanks to the Spanish Government for the assistance they are giving us, not just now in this big project but also the smaller projects that led to this," Abaya said.
She also cited the efforts by the local stakeholder group in Sorsogon for working together with the OPAPP and the government peace panel to support the peace initiative.
"I hope that Sorsogon will really be such a big model for the communities that want peace. The peace talks, as we all know, are not in limbo. The peace talks are going on in an informal way but there is certainly interest on both sides to continue talking," Abaya said.
"There have been statements made by (Defense) Secretary Bert Gonzales that perhaps the local talks should begin in the Philippines. My response has always been the initiatives that emanate from the community are those that work best," Abaya said, adding, "We have seen that in Bohol and now we're seeing that in Sorsogon."
Bohol is the first province in the whole Philippines to have declared that the communist insurgency waged by the New People's Army (NPA) has been eradicated mid last year through a program initiated by Bohol Governor Erico B. Aumentado, providing livelihood to former rebels.
"These are models that other communities can look to. So while the peace talks remain as a door through which the leadership and the other members of the CPP/NPA/NDF can come in so that they can mainstream with us, there are still such initiatives such as the Sorsogon and even the Bohol Initiative, where people who would like to participate and really be truly involved in peace can really come in," Abaya said.
Abaya revealed that Sorsogon is close to her heart as a peacemaker herself.
"I would like to give you a message about how I felt about this Sorsogon Initiative when I heard that it was finally going to take place. This is very personal to me. I got involved in the Sorsogon Initiative at its very roots, through Loida Nicholas-Lewis," Abaya said.
Four years ago, Abaya went to Sorsogon to train a small group on how to dialogue.
"It was a very intimate group that really wanted to learn how to dialogue and I thought it was a very eye-opening experience, not just for them but also for me," she added.
"But that event was something very special to me because something very personal happened to me in that place. A day before I went to Sorsogon, it was Mother's Day and it was a big event because all my sisters and I gathered to be with our mother.
"That very day I told her that I was going to be away to Sorsogon but that I'll be back and I'll see her again.
"When I came back, I found out that my mother had died," Abaya recalled with sadness.
"I guess my mother pursued her own peace. So was I in Sorsogon trying also to pursue peace. Sorsogon is a very meaningful place for me because it brings out many memories about peace and in many different ways," she said.
"After that particular training in Sorsogon, they told me that the group that I trained had actually gone up to the mountain and started to do their dialogue. And after a few months I was informed that despite all of their fears, their anxieties, their trepidation, they finally got to have some very, very good dialogues and finally the people have started to ask what they can expect from government. And that we brought to the panel and we at the panel were at a loss because we didn't know it would happen so soon. And this was because of the dialogue that was started then.
"From then on it snowballed and then it gave way into several project and finally it has come to this, the Sorsogon Initiative, which I understand is going to be a much bigger project from what we originally had planned for," Abaya said. (PNA Features)
Irrigation Project in Lanao del Sur Philippines
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ordered military engineers under Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) chief Lt. General Delfin Dolorfino to complete the Malaig Irrigation Project in the adjacent town of Butig, which was suspended due to the activities of rogue Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Commander Bravo.
The project, which was among the major irrigation projects mentioned in the President's 2006 State of the Nation Address, is part of government's goal to increase farm productivity in Agribusiness Mindanao super region, one of five growth corridors aimed at maximizing the country's strengths in agriculture and agribusiness, information technology, and tourism.
The President also instructed Public Works Secretary Vic Domingo to start within two weeks construction work on the long-stalled Lake Lanao Circumferential Road, which was conceptualized during a visit here decades back by the President's father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal.
"Secretary Domingo said the equipment are ready and the project already awarded to the winning contractor," the President told the faculty and students of Unda Memorial National Agricultural School (UMNAS) here this afternoon.
The project, which was among the major irrigation projects mentioned in the President's 2006 State of the Nation Address, is part of government's goal to increase farm productivity in Agribusiness Mindanao super region, one of five growth corridors aimed at maximizing the country's strengths in agriculture and agribusiness, information technology, and tourism.
The President also instructed Public Works Secretary Vic Domingo to start within two weeks construction work on the long-stalled Lake Lanao Circumferential Road, which was conceptualized during a visit here decades back by the President's father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal.
"Secretary Domingo said the equipment are ready and the project already awarded to the winning contractor," the President told the faculty and students of Unda Memorial National Agricultural School (UMNAS) here this afternoon.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Team From Malaysia Arrives in the Philippines
Government efforts to achieve peace in fast-developing Mindanao region have gained the needed support with the arrival in Manila of the Malaysian members of the International Monitoring Team.
The IMT is a third party monitoring team composed of unarmed police and military personnel from Malaysia, Libya and Brunei Darussalam.
It was first formed in 2004 and acted as monitoring team on the implementation of the 1997 general agreement on the cessation of hostilities of the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front peace panels.
Expected to arrive here Wednesday is the IMT Reconnaisance Team to conduct an ocular inspection of the proposed IMT sites in preparation for the deployment of a new batch to Mindanao to be known as IMT-5.
In November 2008, the mandate of the IMT lapsed and has never been reviewed until July last year when the GRP and MILF peace panels met in Malaysia to resume peace negotiations following the 2008 hostilities when the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain was nullified the Philippine Supreme Court.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Josefina Lichauco passed away
FORMER Transportation and Communication secretary Josefina Lichauco passed away at 5:20 Sunday, a television report said.
Lichauco, 75, died of cardio-pulmonary arrest at the St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig without recovering from a coma following a stroke in Hong Kong last January 31. She was flown to Manila Wednesday.
Report also said the Lichauco was cremated and will be buried in a crypt inside the Sanctuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Makati on Thursday. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)
Lichauco, 75, died of cardio-pulmonary arrest at the St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig without recovering from a coma following a stroke in Hong Kong last January 31. She was flown to Manila Wednesday.
Report also said the Lichauco was cremated and will be buried in a crypt inside the Sanctuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Makati on Thursday. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
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