Run, Deniece Cornejo, Run !

By MORTZ MARCELO ORTIGOZA

I beg to disagree with some quarters at social media Face Book that the Vhong Navarro-Deniece Cornejo-Cedric Lee's brouhaha is a topic best left to the wives of fishermen.  The charges and counter charges hurled at the media by the two camps are mental calisthenics among us spectators. 

Deniece Millet Cornejo

We analyze the incredible (Deniece's attempted rape to rape version) and the credible (time where Navarro entered the condominium floor of Deniece (10:38 pm) and Deniece exiting from the same floor (10:39 pm) as shown by the Condo's camera located in and outside the elevator.

 Jesus Christ, where's the consummated rape? Kaya hindi lang pang tsismis itong scandal. Pang academics rin ito he he dahil mi halong non- bailable case dito gaya ng extortion sa illegal detention or kidnapping.

For arguendo, here’s my pose: Will the prosecutor that handles the case of Vhong finds probable cause (for the tricycle drivers out there who read this column, it means“reasonable ground”) that Cedric, Deniece, et al conspired in the crime of the non-bailable case of kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

According to Article 267 paragraph 3 of the Revised Penal Code, kidnapping and serious illegal detention is if any serious physical injuries shall have been inflicted upon the person kidnapped or detained, or if threats to kill him shall have been made. 
"The penalty shall be reclusion perpetua (life) to death where the kidnapping or detention was committed for the purpose of extorting ransom from the victim or any other person, even if none of the circumstances above mentioned were present in the commission of the offense."

Have you seen the Paquito Diaz face of Vhong transformed to that of Max Alvaro because of the volley of punches, kicks, you name it that landed to it? Did Vhong say that Cedric and company threatened to kill him and his family if he would not shell out a million pesos for his liberty?

Criminal cases like this are being sensationalized too in the United States. If you have cable TV and you watch Fox TV you know what I’m talkin’!

***

Now for that social media  pet peeve the sultry Deniece Cornejo, if the judge of the Regional Trial Court issued a warrant of arrest against her and her fellow conspirators in the illegal detention and kidnapping, does it mean it’s now time to abscond, er, run, and run faster for the pretty faced villain Deniece?

Being thrown in the calaboose (psst, we call it prison cell) means, you would be staying there for up to three years without bail as the court hears your case whether you committed the crime or you ain’t.

***

Would the prohibition of the slaughtering of female carabao in Pangasinan undermines the Pigar-Pigar Industry of Dagupan City and the town of Mangaldan?

The sumptuous Pigar-Pigar in Dagupan City

There was a saying that one has not set foot in Pangasinan and Dagupan City particularly if he has not buried his teeth on that delectable heaven smelling deep-fried carabao beef being sold at the array of concrete and makeshift restaurants along Galvan Street in the city at dusk and at the wee hours.

This gastronomic delight made of fresh carabao beef and liver that are cut into thin strips, mixed with sitsaro, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, bell pepper, etc, onion sliced into rings, soy sauce, salt and pepper, and lots of cooking oil  and down especially with San Miguel Lights become famous outside Dagupan and internationally.

 Every time my brother, who hailed from Sacramento, California, landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport II in Manila, it was his “protocol” to drop by at the Pigar-Pigar’s Food Strip in Dagupan City before he goes to our birth place Baguio City.

“Mananam ito! Ang sarap naman nito,” friends in Manila and Mindanao quipped after they dipped for the first time the Pigar in the fried animal vile with pepper labuyo and boiled rice.

***

With penalty that say the slay and slaughter of quality carabaos without the required documents is considered as punishable acts with corresponding penalties which include reprimand and revocation or cancellation of license to transport livestock passed by the provincial board and signed into law by Governor Amado T. Espino, can we now say “wither Pigar-Pigar Industry?” Or would the stakeholders of the gastronomic marvel just innovate and “import” the water buffalo meat from other provinces.

***

Lately, I have this academic discussion with Luvin Candari, politicaI pundit in the rambunctious island of Mindanao, at  Face Book about the recent column of Butch del Castillo entitled “Low FDI inflows: is it our bad image?” at the Business Mirror. Excerpts: “The Aquino administration has crowed about the 185-percent jump in foreign direct investments (FDI) in the country from 2011 to 2012. But it was really no big deal. It was talking of only $2.8 billion worth of FDI, which means the base figure of the previous year was barely $1 billion, thus, the big quantum jump. At $2.8 billion—compared with Singapore’s $56.7 billion or Indonesia’s $20 billion—our share of FDI was probably the most miserable in the Southeast Asian region.  In 2013 the country fared better with a net FDI inflow of $3.1 billion in the first three quarters alone. Still, that’s slim pickings in a region where total FDI was estimated at $121 billion. We might as well face it: Foreign investors are not exactly jostling one another and banging at our door to get in”.

Luvin opined: “If I am an investor, I would choose a country with clear policy and stable environment. I won't invest in country which changes its policy according to the whims and caprices of the new President. I won't invest in a country where it is very difficult to even register my business. I won't invest in a country where there are hundreds of signatures needed before I can start any meaningful operation. I would invest in a country where my investment has better chance of making reasonable income in the future. Where does Philippines stand?

Luvin’s dig to the pathetic FDI inflows in the Philippines was a reaction to Buth’s thesis:” "Among the current outstanding examples I can cite are the three-years-in-the-making Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) project and the Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS), or the single-ticketing project for the Light Rail Transit and Metro Rail Transit. Both were among the first multimillion-dollar projects to be auctioned off under the PPP Program, which was launched three years ago.
It took a while before the National Economic and Development Authority could give the go-signal to both projects. But when it finally came, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) lost no time in holding the bidding and determining the winning bids in November 2013"

I told him that I disagree with the arguments of Butch that our failure to snare FDI were the result of the aforecited. “Our pathetic numbers of foreign direct investors was the result of my old argument of the 60-40% xenophobic provision in the Constitution that sided with shallow pocketed Filipino businessmen. Our neighbors have been drawing deep pocketed investors with their come-on of 100% foreign ownership for a certain industry. Of course these countries have better infrastructures like highways, ports, cheap electricity, etc that help draw investors. But all of these infras happened with the help of foreign investors thru Public Private Partnership,”I stressed.

Candari, a chemical engineer who was trained in Japan, agreed with me that the culprit for the sluggish growth of the Philippine economy is the 60-40 business equation.

“They (foreigners) could not even buy land to install their business. Who would be in their right mind to build multi-billion pesos or dollars of plants and factories if they could not owned the land. Some of them poured their monies to build their factories sans the land but they are motley,” he explained to me in Ilonggo dialect –  lininti-an , the language in Heaven!

(You can read my selected columns at http://mortzortigoza.blogspot.com and articles at Pangasinan News Aro. You can send comments too attotomortz@yahoo.com).

Nat’l leadership will settle Binmaley’s league prexy rows – BM Espino

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN – The president of the League of Barangays - Pangasinan Chapter in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial board) said that the leadership of national league of barangays will be the one to call an election for the presidency of the League of Barangay in the town of Binmaley.

League’s president and ex-oficio Board Member
Amado T. Espino III (extreme left).

League’s president and ex-oficio Board Member Amado T. Espino III cited his discussion with league’s counsel lawyer Nimrod Camba who told him that the provincial league waits for the imprimatur of the national league because the implementing body for the election in Binmaley would still be the provincial league.

The stand off of who would be the legitimate village league president in Binmaley ensued after acting Liga President lawyer Arsenio Merrera questioned the legality of the election for the presidency in November 9, 2013 of Balogo Barangay Chairman Douglas de los Angeles.

Merrera still seat as the ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Bayan (town council) after the national league revoked the election of delos Angeles and favored Merrera to act as hold-over president after the latter complained in Manila.

Merrera cited that delos Angeles could not be the lawful president even as he garnered majority of the votes of the 33 village chiefs in the town as he bypassed him as acting president to call for the meetings and the election proper in patent violation of the Code of the Liga ng Barangays. He said even the representatives from the Department of Education, DILG, Commission on Election, and the Non-Government Organization did not sign the election canvass after delos Angeles and officers win in that election.

Board Member Espino said that de los Angeles voted for the new set of the provincial league officials in December 18, 20913 held at the Pangasinan Training Center in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

Espino ran unopposed as president in that poll.

“Ang nangyari noon naka-boto si  Douglas (de los Angeles) noong election after sa voting, nalaman natin na na revoked,” he stressed.

Before the advice from the national league how to handle the row in Binmaley, Espino said he and Camba considered the case there as mind-boggling.

Meanwhile, Espino met lately with the officials of the provincial league where they discussed the processes of the fund raising for burial and medical assistances of village officials in the towns in the huge province.

He said his administration will continue giving P20 thousand per burial as traditionally practiced by his predecessor now Bautista Mayor Amadeo Espino – his uncle.

POLICE CARTS

POLICE CARTS: Police Regional Office-1 (PRO-1) chief of Directorial Staff Marlou C. Chan
 (4^th from right) inspects recently in Lingayen, Pangasinan the police carts that would 
be distributed to the crowded areas of the 44 towns and four cities in Pangasinan 
where citizens could have direct access to police assistance. The carts were the brain 
child of Chan when he was the acting police provincial director of the humongous
 province. Chan was accompanied by officer-in-charge chief of PRO-1 Sr. Supt. Moro Virgilio 
Lazo (not in photo) and Sr. Supt. Mariel Magaway (2^nd from right), the new top 
honcho of the regional intelligence division known as R-2. 

Supt. Rodolfo Castro (2nd from left), chief of police of the mammoth 86 villages 
San Carlos City, Pangasinan, explains to Chan (extreme right) and Sr. Supt. Lazo 
and OIC Pangasinan Provincial Director Sterling Raymond Blanco the nitty-gritty of the
 police cart.
 Castro is the poster boy of Police Patrol 101, a squad police visibility project of 
former PRO-1 regional director Chief Supt. Ricardo Marquez and Chan.

Pangasinan: first province to regulate slaughter of female carabaos

Lingayen- - -Pangasinan is the first province in the country to pass and implement an ordinance to regulate the sale or slaughtering of female carabaos (riverine buffaloes and crossbreds).

Carabao being slaughtered in Pangasinan

BANE FOR THE CARABAOS: The sumptuous
Pigar-Pigar , a famous delicacy Pangasinen-
ses love to gorge in Dagupan City and the
town of Mangaldan. This gastronomic
delight is seen as a threat to the survival
 of the water buffalo in Pangasinan as its meat
is the major ingredient of the gastronomic
marvel.

According to the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), Provincial Ordinance No. 170 which was signed into law by Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. last March 2013,  is one big step to contain the depleting number of female carabaos not only in the province but in the entire country.

In a media conference held January 29 at the Malong conference room here, Gloria M. Dela Cruz, PCC Center Director based in La Union, said that carabao specifically the female species, is now a vanishing breed.

This real scenario, according to her, is based on national record which shows that carabao population has depleted.

The recorded population for Pangasinan in January 2010 was 110,268. This went down to 92,470 in July of the same year.

For January 2013, carabao population in the province was recorded at 80,090 and 77,794 in July. Out of the figures stated, roughly 35% comprised the population of female carabaos.

In response to this, the PCC conducts complete supervision and regular monitoring with the assistance of the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian to help save the carabao industry.

PCC programs being implemented include genetic improvement projects like artificial insemination and bull loan.

On the part of the provincial government, since he became the chief executive of the province in 2007, Gov. Espino has directed the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian to conduct artificial inseminations (AIs) in the agricultural stations of the provincial government.

Artificial inseminations gives way to upgrade the quality of native breeds through crossbreeding with superior breeds.

 “We have already trained 16 breeding technicians who take charge in the local level, “Dela Cruz said as she added that the provincial government headed by Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. fully supports the program which led to the release of a P1.5million assistance intended for the buy-back scheme.

The buy-back scheme enables farmers who are financially constrained to sell their female carabaos of good breed to the government.

‘Hindi po kasi maiiwasan na magipit ang mga magsasaka kasi nagpapaaral sila or something like that,” the PCC center chief explained as she further cited that the intervention of the government is of great help.

Pangasinan being a vast agricultural province, has large key areas for carabao industry breeding.

14 municipalities were identified as carabao key areas. These are Alaminos City, Agno, Anda, Bani, Bolinao, Villasis, Binalonan, Pozorrubio, Dasol, Mabini, Burgos, Bautista, San Manuel and Umingan.

The PCC also bared that among the provinces in the country, Pangasinan has the most potential for large breeding as it is likewise being seen as the model province for carabao industry in the North Philippines.

Dr. Eric Perez, OIC Provincial Veterinarian, said that the provincial government has set its sight to implement a stricter policy on the regulation of carabao sale or slaughter as proven in the ordinance.

Reading some lines in the ordinance, he noted that, “any person who owns a female breedable carabao shall obtain clearance from the city or municipal agriculture office wherein the said office shall issue a prescribed from agreed by the committee to be filled up by the carabao owner.”

Slay and slaughter of quality carabaos without the required documents is considered as punishable acts with corresponding penalties which include reprimand and revocation or cancellation of license to transport livestock.

/rrb

Bataoil hailed DOLE for showing him its projects

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN – A Pangasinan congressman lauded an official of a government department for showing him the list of projects and programs that her department would be implementing to the solon’s congressional district.

Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil (center) after his interview with
Pangasinan media men. 

Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil (2^nd District, Pangasinan) hailed Violeta Buenaventura, liaison of the Department of Labor & Employment (DOLE) in the first and second congressional districts of Pangasinan, for briefing him about the projects and activities to be implemented by the DOLE in his district for calendar year 2015.

“Ako ay humahanga sa kanilang mga initiatives dahil sa nakita ko sa listahan nila, na iyong mga kailangan na isulong na programa or kabuhayan ay nandoon na sa kanilang listahan”.

The gesture of Buenaventura impressed Bataoil especially after the Supreme Court nullified the pork barrel known as priority development assistance fund (PDAF) November last year.

Before the nullification, members of congress have been given leeway to identify projects and programs to be funded by their PDAF through a particular implementing agency or department.

 “Basta ang importante, pondo na dating nakalaan sa congressman, senator ay nakapa-loob na sa mga implementing agencies. What are these implementing agencies? They are DPWH (Department of Public Works & Highway, DSWD (Department of Social Welfare & Development), CHED (Commission on Higher Education), DedEd (Department of Education), and DOLE,” he stressed.

Bataoil said the revocation of the pork barrel’s lump sum system where it was replaced by line item budgeting of every project, as shown by Buenaventura, before Congress approves it bode well for the solons since they can still recommend to the implementing agency or department the best project or program for their district.

As a result of Buenaventura’s gesture, Bataoil recommended to the DOLE his mushroom culture, organic and vegetable farming projects to be implemented by the department in different towns in the 2^nd congressional district.

Because of the sudden spiked of the budget of government offices like the DOLE after the high tribunal revoked the pork barrel, Bataoil said these offices need the input and suggestions of the solons what are those best projects needed by their constituents.

Bataoil said that even members of congress are now relegated strictly to passing and amending of laws and passing the general appropriation acts (GAA), these agencies and departments are open to their suggestions.

Prov’l Hospital gets SP nod to expand

LINGAYEN---The Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in San Carlos City will soon operate on a 400-bed capacity, this is almost three times its present 140-bed capacity.

The green light to expand came Monday when the Sangguniang Panlalawigan  endorsed the hospital’s application for license with the Department of Health.

           

The SP in its regular session on Monday unanimously approved Provincial Resolution No. 411-2014 requesting for the SP’s endorsement to enable the PPH to apply for a license to increase its bed capacity from 150 to 400 beds.

           

Board Member Antonio Sison, author of the resolution, said the endorsement is a requirement of the DOH to facilitate the issuance of a permit to upgrade a health facility.

           

Sison said the need for the increase in bed capacity which has been long overdue was triggered by the influx of patients who have been seeking medical services from government hospitals which have become a hospital of choice.

           

The improvement and rehabilitation work done on the 14 government hospitals in Pangasinan upon the assumption of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. has resulted to a significant increase in the number of patients and the monthly hospital bed occupancy rate, Sison pointed out.

           

Towards this end, the SP member stressed that there is a need to support the plans of PPH to provide sufficient and higher quality medical and health services to its patients by increasing its bed capacity.

           

This, he said, is also attuned with the main thrusts of Gov. Espino’s administration to have a grassroots basic health care program to accommodate all people especially the poor.

           

Provincial Health Officer Anna Ma. Teresa De Guzman noted that the PPH  is actually catering beyond their bed capacities due to the increased number of patients. At times, they have been accepting 450 to 500 patients so the provincial government has provided extra beds and folding beds at the hospital aisles and lobbies to accommodate the patients.

Electric coop asked to explain huge power rate hike

Lingayen- - -Officials of the electric cooperative serving eastern Pangasinan were called by the Sanguniang Panlalawigan last Monday to explain the reasons behind a jump in its power rates by P5.64 per kilowatt/hour last December.

This was an offshoot of the much-publicized power rate increase effected by the PANELCO III to its more or less 150,000 consumers in 17 towns and the city of Urdaneta.

Sixth District Board Member Ranjit R. Shahani requested the said electric cooperative to submit before the legislative body documents to substantiate/validate the hike.

In the second question hour held January 27 during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, officials of the PANELCO III headed by Atty. Julius Cesar Peralta, Chairman of the Board of Directors, were questioned on the rate increase.

Power generators San Roque Power Plant and Sual Coal Fired Plant were also  invited to help the coop shed light on the “unannounced power hike” which was seen as the highest power rate increase in Pangasinan.

After heated arguments, BM Shahani requested PANELCO III to provide the SP needed documents to include the power supply agreement and resolution on automatic passing on to consumers the increased rate without public hearings.

Shahani further stated that a possible meeting with WESM (Wholesale Electricity Spot Market) can also be of help to shed light on the matter.

Peralta, on the other hand, reiterated that the power rate hike did not come from  the PANECO but a result of the electric cooperatives “exposure to the WESM.”

He stated that it was passed on to the member-consumers because it is a rate increase authorized by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

The PANELCO BOD chair also said that the cooperative is not hiding anything.

 “Anyone can come and ask. May by-laws na umiiral,” Peralta stressed.

Meanwhile, Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. stated that the SP is a perfect venue for the electric cooperative to explain their side.

 “We are talking about public interest here. Both your cooperative and this august body share the same resolve to serve the public. Let us work together on this,” he stressed as he urged the officials of PANELCO III to grab the opportunity given to them and clearly explain to the public the reason of such hike.

The electric cooperative’s rate for residential consumers shot up from P9.80 per kilowatt hour (kWh) to P15.40 per kWh last December when its power generation cost increased to P5.6384 per kWh. The generation costs of all utilities are passed on to their customers.

Panelco III serves 17 towns in the 5^th and 6^th districts and also Urdaneta City.

Other electric cooperatives like the Dagupan Electric Corporation (DECORP) likewise collected an increase last November at P2.98. From said hike, P1.98 was collected in January 2014 bill while the remaining P0.98 was deferred to the consumer’s bill for February.

PANELCO III will effect a P4 to P5 rollback on February as stated by Atty. Peralta.

“We will abide by the decision of the Supreme Court,” Peralta said.

Another suspect in Arcinue couple’s slay falls

Reprinted from the article of Jun Elias in the Philippine Star

A student walks past posters of slain couple Ramon and
Zorahayda Arcinue and suspect Otto Guialaludin
 in Barangay Poblacion, Lingayen, Pangasinan
(Philippine Star)

CAMP DIEGO SILANG, La Union , Philippines -– Another suspect in the March 7, 2012 killing of former vice mayor Ramon Arcinue of Lingayen, Pangasinan and his wife Zorahayda was arrested on Monday afternoon by elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Barangay Pisuac, Urbiztondo, Pangasinan.

Senior Superintendent Francisco Esguerra, CIDG-Region 1 chief, said the suspect, Joey Vedaña, alias Rey Vistro, was nabbed based on an arrest warrant issued by Judge Renato Pinlac of Regional Trial Court Branch 57 in San Carlos City, Pangasinan.

Esguerra said Vedaña was carrying a .38-caliber revolver with five bullets when elements of the Pangasinan-CIDG and the Urbiztondo police accosted him.

The Arcinue couple was gunned down in front of their rented apartment in Sampaloc, Manila. 

Esguerra said Vedaña is an alleged member of the Vistro gun-for-hire gang operating in Pangasinan. 

Vedaña was also tagged in the Aug. 16, 2011 slay of lawyer Leonardo Jimenez in Aguilar, Pangasinan and two other killings in Bayambang town and San Carlos City.

Nation ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

Aside from Vedaña, another suspect in the killing of the Arcinues, Otto Guialaludin, a supposed hired killer known as Boy Muslim, was arrested last November by National Bureau of Investigation agents. 

Two of the slain couple’s children and two motorcycle drivers identified Guialaludin as the alleged triggerman.

Suing policemen at the town or city’s PLEB

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

My source at the police told me that starting January 27, the new Police Regional Office-1 (PRO-1) chief would be Chief Supt. Edgar Orduna Basbas, a son of an Army enlisted man and former chief of police of Dagupan City.

As of press time, some political spectators have bated breath if the designation of Basbas by Director General Allan Purisima, chief of the Philippine National Police, could no longer be scuttled by Secretary Mar Roxas of the Department of Interior & Local Government  as what previously happened in Region 1 and its provinces.

The vote rich Region 1 is considered as a sensitive police post since it is part of the positioning of Roxas for his presidential ambition in 2016 presidential election.
(The spectators "fear" , son of a gun, happened.My source this afternoon informed me that after all the practice for the parade, and financial expenses for the turn-over ceremony schedules tomorrow (January 30) between Basbas and the acting PRO-1 top honcho has indeed  been scuttled. Hindi na basbasan si Basbas ng mga Diyos sa Malacanang! - MCO)

PR0-1 for months has been deprived of a full-time star-ranked regional director.

 The top regional police office has been under the hold-over watch of the able Colonel Moro Virgilio Lazo after former PRO-1 chief  General Ricardo Marquez was plucked as acting director for operation at the national police office in Manila

Weeks after Marquez reassignment, rumors permeated the air that Chief Supt. Wendy Rosario, Marquez classmate or mistah at PMA ’82, succeeds him at PRO-1.

But according to my source, former PNP chief General Art Lomibao blocked his appointment by calling those powers-that-be telling them about his gripes in the past against Rosario.

* **

Lately, members of the PNP from the regional and provincial police offices swooped down on 23 suspected illegal gambling bet collectors in Uminggan, Pangasinan. 
Scuttlebutt said that some enterprising retired and active PNP officials protect the operation of the illegal activity there.

But a source told me this could not happened.

“Hindi mo pueding banga-in si Atong Ang. Nobody can operate jueteng bukis that compete with his Meridien's Jai Alai".

He said the National Bureau of Investigation is under the beck and call of Ang to raid the den of the bukis and arrest its cabo, cobradores, and others who are involved with it. He stressed with Ang’s influence with the NBI, it could make any members of the police look bad incase they dip their fingers on this malfeasance.

***

Barangay Chairman Godfrey Carbonel of Talogtog, Mangaldan has been endorsed by various sectors in the famous tapa (dry meat) town as representative of the Liga ng mga Barangay (League of Barangays) for the People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) as the village chief who used to represent the League passed away.

“Mayor Bonafe de Vera-Parayno should appoint Kapitan Godo for the PLEB since he is the most qualified from the Liga. He is a Bachelor of Laws graduate, a perceptive member of the media that could bring PLEB- Mangaldan to places.

Oh, did I mention PLEB as a powerful entity that unscrupulous policemen should be trembling?

According to Republic Act Numbered 6975 otherwise known as the “Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990″that  provided for the creation of PLEB, it said there that it shall have the power to hear and adjudicate all citizen’s complaints formally filed with, or referred to it, against any uniformed member of the PNP, and, if warranted, impose the corresponding penalty.

According to Rule VI of the law the following administrative offenses should be what the citizen of a town or city file against an erring policeman:

a. Neglect of duty; b. Irregularity in the Performance of Duty; c. Misconduct; d. Incompetency; e. Oppression; f. Dishonesty; g. Disloyalty to the Government; and h. Violation of Law

          PLEB’s Rule VII defined the following penalties that may be imposed in police administrative cases:

a.      Withholding of privileges; b. Restriction to specified limits; c. Suspension; d. Forfeiture of salary or fine; e. Demotion;f. Forced Resignation; g. Dismissal.

****

As the complaint against the unscrupulous uniformed member of the PNP continues, the complainant can ask for his preventive suspension in the service.

 The following rules should be the PLEB may ask any authorized superior of the bad cop to place under preventive suspension a subordinate police officer who is the subject of a complaint.  In the following cases the superior officer shall not deny a request for preventive suspension:

 a) when the respondent refuses to heed the PLEB’s summons or subpoena; b) when the PNP personnel has been charged with offenses involving bodily harm or grave threats; c) when the respondent is in a position to tamper with the evidence; and d) when the respondent is in a position to unduly influence the witnesses (Section 13).

***

 The decision of the PLEB exonerating or reprimanding the respondent in an administrative case is final and executory upon receipt of a copy thereof by the parties, hence unappealable. (B) Where the decision of the PLEB involves the penalty of withholding of privileges, restriction, suspension, forfeiture of salary or fine, demotion, or forced resignation, the same shall become final and executory only after the lapse of ten (10) days from the receipt of a copy thereof by the respondent unless the latter files a motion for reconsideration or appeal within said period (at the Regional Appellate Board) in which case, the resolution on the motion or appeal shall become final and executory only after the lapse of ten (10) days from receipt of a copy of said resolution by the respondent (C) However, where the decision of the PLEB involves the penalty of dismissal, the same shall be immediately executory upon receipt of a copy thereof by the respondent as furnished to him by his/her immediate superior officer.   The filing of a motion for reconsideration or appeal as the case may be, within the reglementary period of ten (10) days shall not suspend the implementation thereof (Section 25).

***

With all those nuances of how a complainant files a case and how members of the PLEB treat the case as based on PLEB, Kapitan Godo fits the job as a law graduate.

 By the way the PLEB shall be composed of the following:

a) Any member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod/Bayan chosen by his/her respective sanggunian; b) Any punong-barangay of the city or municipality concerned chosen by the Liga ng mga Barangay; and c) Three (3) other members who are removable only for cause to be chosen by the local peace and order council from among the respected members of the community known for their probity and integrity, one (1) of whom must be a woman and another, a member of the Bar, or in the absence thereof, a college graduate, or, the principal of the central elementary school in the locality.

The Chairman of the PLEB shall be elected from among its members.

(Send comments to totomortz@yahoo.com)

Rosario slams complainant’s argument at the provincial board

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BINMALEY – The mayor here who faces two administrative cases at the Sangguniang Panlungsod (provincial board) assails the argument of the lawyer of his complainant Leon Castro that he violated the law by appointing his relative as the administrator of this town.

Mayor Simplicio Rosario rebutted the argument of lawyer Manuel Manuel that he ran roughshod with the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees when he appointed lawyer and this town’s administrator Herminio Escat, his relative within the third degree of affinity.

“Kung i-appoint mo ng permanently that’s bawal but if the appointing authority is co-terminus with the appointee puwedi po iyan. Wala namang masama diyan. Ano naman ang kukunin ko na maging empleyado ko kung hindi ko mapag-katiwalaan,” he stressed in Filipino.

Mayor Rosario cited the case of Dagupan City former Mayor Al Fernandez when he appointed his son Alvin as his chief of staff in running the affairs of the city.

“So kailangan iyong i-appoint mo na confidante mo. Kung ano ang pagkakamali niya doon sagot mo (as mayor)”.

Escat is the husband of the mayor‘s niece Maricel who is also his secretary.

Maricel’s mother Felicitas is Rosario’s sister.

Manuel and Castro in press statements assailed the appointment of Escat as a patent violation of the Code of Conduct .

In the Code’s Rule VII public disclosure’s clause it says that every official or employee shall identify and disclose under oath to the best of his knowledge and information, his relatives in the government , up to the fourth civil degree of relationship, either of consanguinity or affinity, including bilas, inso , and balae, in the prescribed form, Annex A, which shall be filed; (a) within thirty (30) days after assumption of office, the information contained therein must be reckoned as of his first day of office;(b) on or before April 30 of every year thereafter, the information contained therein must be reckoned as of the end of the preceding year; or (c) within thirty (30) days after separation from the service.

Manuel told the media that Escat lied on his notarized personal data sheet he submitted to the local government unit here when he said he is a resident of No. 38 San Isidro Norte when he is a resident of the United States of America as a green card holder, and answered “No” when asked in the sheet if he is related within the 4^th degree of consanguinity and affinity to the appointing or recommending authority that was the mayor.

Rosario rebuffed Manuel in citing at the hearing called by the provincial board the case of Caasi versus the Commission on Election.

Caasi versus Comelec was about the disqualification case of mayoral candidate of Bolinao, Pangasinan Mateo Caasi against Merito Miguel - his rival.

Caasi said Miguel was a green card holder and thus disqualified to run for the top public post of the town. The Supreme Court favored Caasi saying Miguel’s immigration to the United States in 1984 constituted an abandonment of his domicile and residence in the Philippines thus his disqualification to run for the mayoralty. Rosario explained that Manuel’s Caasi’s argument was off tangent as the latter ran for the mayoralty while his case at the provincial board involved his appointment of Escat.

“This is pure harassment! Hindi nila matangap na tinalo ko sila,” he insinuated against his political rivals in and outside of this town whom he suspected to undermine his post.