Cayetano: Iskolar Bayan Act to widen access to higher education

A milestone in legislation

“Today, we have moved one step closer towards our goal of providing all Filipinos, particularly the poorest of the poor, free access to quality education that will serve as their tool to fight off poverty and unemployment.”

This was the statement made by Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter “Companero” S. Cayetano as President Benigno Aquino III signed into law his bill that aims to provide young Filipinos - 80,000 a year in total - increased access to tertiary education to help them find better and higher paying jobs in the future.

Cayetano welcomed the signing of President Aquino into law the measure known as the Iskolar ng Bayan Act of 2014, which mandates all state universities and colleges (SUCs) to give automatic admission and provide scholarship grants to the top ten (10) public high school students of their respective graduating classes.

“This is good news to Filipino families who are having difficulties sending their children to college. The passage of this law will definitely change the lives of almost 80,000 Filipino youths who are dreaming of a better future for their families. 80,000 families will finally be able to feel the benefits of our growing economy,” he said.

"And this law also states that an  admission exam is not required. So no SUC can deny any student the benefits under this measure as long as they belong to the top 10 of their graduating class."

Camacho, Others Face Jail if found Guilty by Ombudsman - So

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BAYAMBANG – For misrepresenting this town as the owner of the Bayambang Central School in a swap deal with a land and the edifices owned by a Chinese trader, the mayor and other town officials here will find themselves in jail someday.

Abono Party-list Chairman Rosendo  So told Aksyon Radyo last Thursday about the criminal and administrative cases filed by BCS’s Parents Teachers Association President Filipina Alcantara against Mayor Ricardo Camacho and other officials of this town at the Ombudsman who entered into a grossly disadvantageous contract that prejudice the government.

Last November 17, Alcantara charged criminally Camacho of “willfully and feloniously” entering into a land-swap deal with businessman Willy Chua—a transaction that prompted 2000 pupils to relocate to the latter’s property.

She argued in her complaint affidavit that the mayor binds the government in a manifestly and grossly prejudicial transaction.

She also sued administratively Camacho of gross negligence when he “transferred the school with undue haste and without notice or consultation with theDepEd”.

So said one of the grounds against Camacho et al was they negotiated a real property swap owned by the national government and not of the local government unit (LGU) here he represented.

“Iyong issue na iyan malaking issue iyan. I-iswap mo iyong lupa na hindi sa inyo. Talagang makukulong ka niyan pag iyan ang ginawa mo,” he stressed.

He cited that when he went recently to report these malfeasances in Congress he was provided with records that showed the LGU here is not the title owner of the BCS.

He said the deal is lopsided against the government where  the 2.5 hectares of  Chua’s property has a zonal valuation (ZV) of  P435 per square meter (PSM) or P8.9 million only versus the 3.1 hectares BCU with a ZV of P4,600 PSM  or P142 million according to  the  Bureau of Internal Revenue in Calasiao, Pangasinan.

The Abono Party –list chair said the other liability of Camacho and others in the Ombudsman case was when they entered a swap contract with Chua by excluding the Department of Education’s representative in the province in the negotiation.

“Kasi ang nangyari, nagbigay ang SB (Sangunniang Bayan) ng authority to negotiate with DepEd and Wilson Chua. Ang nangyari iniwan iyong Dep Ed kasi hindi pumayag ang Dep Ed. Negotiate niya si Wilson Chua, kasabwat si Wilson Chua kasi bawal iyon. Malaki ang problema ni mayor doon parang ni act niya na siya ang DepEd”.

Duterte’s Prexy Bid Snowballs – Smite Pangasinenses too

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

The members of the Liberal Party in Congress have been doing all the sleight of hands to buttress the budget like that of the Department Interior Local Government to help save the lethargic presidential aspiration of its head - DILG Secretary Mar Roxas.

DIRTY HARRY AND TABAKO. After they swapped their
 shirts, former President Fidel Ramos, a Pangasinense, raised an
"O.K" sign to Davao City's Mayor Rod Duterte. The cigar-
chomping former president was in the city recently. (Photo
Credit: MannyPinol.Com)

Thanks to the expose’ of Senator Merriam Santiago who was guest speaker recently of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

Santiago assailed the P104.5 billion budget of the DILG that stinks with anomaly. She cited one of the items there funded by P12.9 billion for a water service that should belong to the National Irrigation Administration.

Aside from denouncing the P37.3 billion pork embedded in the P2.6 trillion 2015 budget, Santiago insinuated that the P12.9 billion intended for the water service would be used as campaign funds for the ambitions of some politicians in the LP.

The amount was part of the “errata” allotment for water supply and low-cost housing programs of the government.

LP Secretary General Senen Sarmiento however explained that the funding for water services in the DILG budget was not related to irrigation. The Salintubig project, he said, was designed to improve health and sanitation and provide water to rural communities in accordance with the Millennium Development Goals.

Was the feisty Senator wrong here my “cousin” former Region 11 and incumbent Region 1 Regional Manager John Celeste of the National Irrigation Administration?

For me if it did not fall under NIA. It did not either fall to the ambit of the DILG.

It should be a fund for the Local Water Utilities Administration, the Department of Public Works & Highway, or the National Housing Authority.

But the problem with LWUA, DPWH, or NHA they did not fall under the behest of Roxas. If it does not fall under Roxas then it would not make Boy Pick-up, er, Mar Roxas good before the eyes of the public.  LWUA is under the Office of the President. Incase billions of pesos of these funds would be used by water utilities in local government units all over the country, the one who gets the plaudits would be Administrator Andres F. Ibarra  and not Roxas.

Remember Prospero “Butch” Pitchay, the former infamous Administrator of the LWUA, where he pampered with loans and grants wide eyed mayors whom he thought could help his high budgeted but failed senatorial bid in 2007?

Whether we like it or not LP bright boys have been making all kinds of skulduggery to pocket billions of pesos to boost the 2016 political stocks of the party in the P2.6 trillion budgets that reek with pork.

***

“What pork barrel? Did the Supreme Court deal the Quo d’Grace on it in November 2013?” you posed probably as you read this column.

Let’s cite what I found months ago when I was interviewing a District Engineer of the corruption prone DPWH. The DE or the chief of the district showed to me all the ongoing and the already bided hundreds of millions of pesos projects in the two congressional districts in my province.

Susmariosep, all of the projects have been contracted by the favored private contractors of the two congressmen.

“Kaya pala natangal iyong isang DE dito kasi akala niya when the Supreme Court dealt 14-0 the pork barrel as unconstitutional, he thought he was already too powerful in awarding projects to his fair-haired boys’ contractors after sensing that the solons have been stripped off with privileges to give projects to contractors at their whims and caprices,“ I told the new DE.

But Malacanang has a game plan how to skewer the high tribunal. Lately pork barrel is alive as exposed by a congressman of progressive party-list group Act. Congressman Tony Tinio said that Commissioner Patricia Lichuanan and then Health Undersecretary Janet Guarin of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd)  and Department of Health (DOH), respectively have been caught res gestae when they instructed congressmen that they still have a say to projects in their district.

(NOTE: See my full article “Reason Behind Cha-Cha: Pres. Aquino Fears Jail” for your insight that you can accessed at http://wwwmortzcortigoza.blogspot.com/2014/08/reason-behind-cha-cha-pres-aquino-fears.html )

That instruction I surmised came from Malacanang for Lichuanan and Garin to inform the solons that happy days are here to stay.

The implementation of invaluable projects means, 20% to 50% of S.O.P  or  cut illegally given by ingratiating private contractors, who constructs below par public infrastructures, to their patron congressmen or senators for them to use in their patronage politics.

BM Bince calls for Better Health Care Services

Lingayen- - -Sanggunian Panlalawigan Member Alfonso Bince, Jr. said in an interview on November 24 that the provincial board has set its sight to further enhance hospital policies among the 14 government owned health facilities in Pangasinan.

Thus the senior board member said that the board will come up with a much improved ‘code of conduct’ that will help ensure better health services among Pangasinense especially among the indigent and senior citizen sectors.

Bince said that the board shall also determine if the PhilHealth ­­ advantage cards for the senior members of the society will already be implemented.

It can be recalled that the national government has recently ordered for the automatic release of health cards among senior citizens among their added benefits so as to ensure that they will be given free medical charges in government owned hospitals.

Bince said that it is only proper that the provincial government will give its constituent the right to acquire free medical services which are of quality and substantial enough to benefit the less privilege sector of the society.

He also disclosed that the administration of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. is keen on carving a lifetime legacy on health for the millions of Pangasinense to enjoy quality service among public hospitals especially the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital (PPH) and all district hospitals where a great influx of patients regularly come.

The need to purchase additional medical equipment also tops the list of the present administration to include CT scans, digital x-rays among others.

Pangasinan receives 2nd Nat’l Award for Corn Production

Lingayen – It's two in a row for the province of Pangasinan.

                On behalf of Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr., Board Member Danilo C. Uy, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee Chairman on Agriculture, received the award for the second time in a row as one of the country's Outstanding Provinces during the 2014 Agri Pinoy Quality Corn Achievers ceremony held in Limketkai, Cagayan de Oro City on November 19-21.

                Elated over the award received by Pangasinan, Governor Espino expressed thanks to the corn farmers whose hardwork and sacrifices in leveling up corn production are beyond measure.

                Pangasinan emerged as a leading corn-producing province along with the provinces of Isabela, Occidental Mindoro, Agusan del Norte and Agusan Del Sur.

                Provincial Agriculturist Dalisay Moya was also hailed as one of the Outstanding Provincial Agriculturists as well as Danilo Tumamao (Isabela) and Carmelita Villanada (Occidental Mindoro). Other awardees from the province were: Venancio Valeroso, Oustanding Provincial Corn Coordinator and Cristina Sison, Oustanding Agricultural Extension Worker.

                The National Quality Corn Achievers Awards launched by the Department of Agriculture (DA) in 2013 recognizes the exemplary efforts of LGUs, provincial corn coordinators and agricultural extension workers to improve corn production and further develop the corn industry in the country.

PMA CADETS VISIT THE CAPITOL

PMA CADETS VISIT THE CAPITOL.  Governor Amado
T. Espino, Jr. (2^nd from left) welcomes the cadets of
Philippine Military Academy Salaknib Class of 2017
 who were on educational tour at the Capitol in Lingayen
 last November 24. Joining the Governor is Provincial
Administrator Rafael Howard F. Baraan (left) and other
 PMA officials. Espino is a member of PMA Class 1972  /VFS

Anti - Napoles Lawyer Assails Witness Protection Program

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – The private prosecutor against incarcerated pork barrel queen Janet Napoles slammed the Witness Protection Program as defective.

POSTER BOY OF CORRUPTION. Students of Lyceum Northwestern University last Tuesday were treated with a video show on the Senate Blue Ribbon’s Sub-Committee hearing on the alleged ill-gotten wealth of Vice President Jejomar Binay .The symposium was led by United Philippines Against Corruption (UPAC) who called Binay as the poster boy of corruption in the Philippines. MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

Lawyer Levi Baligodsaid cited that the WPP protects the security of the witnesses only but could not protect him through outside influences.

“Ibig sabihin tinatago mo iyong witness pero iyong witness is still susceptible to influences. May nakikita akong mga witnesses na nagbabakasyon sa Tagaytay, nasa ilalim iyan ng WPP. At habang nagbabakasyon sila may mga ibang tao na kausap sila”.

He lamented too that the monthly allowance given to the witness is measly and too limited for his needs compared to when he or she was working as professional before he or she availed the program.

“Hindi kalakihan,” he deplored.

Attorney Baligod ,who filed a plunder case against Napoles on the P10 billion embezzlement cases, was here as guest speaker of United Philippines Against Corruption ( UPAC).

UPAC is a newly formed organization of anti-corruption advocates that aims to promote the discussion of the issues of corruption, on all levels of the government, most especially at the local government units, among the young students and the academe.

Baligod exhorted students that they can contribute to mitigate the evils of corruption by reporting to proper government offices potholes on the street and shenanigans of  barangay captain, mayor, governor, and those higher positioned public officials.

“Dahil ang theoria ko diyan kahit napakaraming noong batas natin to fight corruption, kahit napakaraming institutions natin  na labanan ang corruption kagaya ng Ombudsman, Sandiganbayan walang mangyayari diyan kung hindi makialam ang taong bayan,” he stressed.

When asked that many people are lukewarm to expose law breakers because they fear physical and financial harms, he said it is the risk every citizen plays in a democracy.

“That’s the price we have to play in a democracy”.

Freebies, Others in Mangaldan’s Unity Run

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

MANGALDAN – If you want to have free marathon shirt, Zumba dance exercise, party, and a healthy body, then it is time to join the TakBona Unity Run here.

According to Fernando Saguisag "Adje" Cabrera, Administrative Officer 4 of the local government here, it is a unity run created last year by Mayor Bona Fe de Vera-Parayno.

“Brainchild by our good and beloved mayor na magkaroon ng fun run sa Mangaldan so she dubbed it as TakBona indicated na rin ang nickname niya. TakBona is on its second year,” he stressed.

 Cabrera said interested individuals who want to participate are advised to report at the town’s public auditorium at 4 A.M of November 29 for the distribution of 1,500 free singlets before they simultaneously hit the grounds.

Pangasinan Motorists bid thanks to Prov’l Gov’t

Lingayen --- Motorcycle Rights Organization (MRO) East Pangasinan led by Jay-R Viliran, MRO Coordinator, expressed his gratitude to the provincial government mainly to Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. during the Basic First Aid Seminar for Motorcycle Riders held at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center Gymnasium (NRSCC) last November 22, 2014.

Mr. Viliran thanked Governor Espino for sponsoring the venue and extending full support in the conduct of the free training which sought to inform and educate the motorists about safety precautions and basic first aid on road and vehicular accidents.

For the safety of motor riders and pedestrians, motorists should also learn the rules and regulations of the road safety, Gov. Espino stressed in his short message during the opening program of the seminar.

            The MRO East Pangasinan tied up with Philippine National Red Cross – Pangasinan Chapter headed by Florame S. Magalong, Chapter Administrator of PRC. Three volunteers from the humanitarian organization spearheaded the activity; Argie Gattoc, focal person of the Disaster Management Service, lectured about first aid together with Maricar Palang, Safety Service Instructor, and Divina Caguioa who took charge in the demonstration of basic emergency treatment.

Pathetic Conditions in the Police Force

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Can you still remember my column about an Archbishop who agreed with the Chief of Police (CoP) of a City who told him that the payolas from illegal number game jueteng were necessary for the police operation against the bad guys?
Two months after the respective shares of the CoPs in Region 1 had been cut from the management of Meridian  Jai-Alai (successor of Jueteng ), an intelligence operative of the police in a town in Pangasinan told me that police operation reeled in their fights against criminals.
“Mantakin niyo naman may hinuli kaming babae na may kasong non-bailable dito, pero kailangan naming i-present sa judge sa La Union dahil doon nanggaling ang warrant of arrest. Wala kaming pang gas para ibiyahi siya doon,” he lamented.
What he and fellow police did was to ask the husband of the woman if they could hitch a ride on the woman’s car going on the other province.

“Ayaw sana namin sumakay kasi baka makita kami ng judge mapapagalitan kami, pero wala kaming magawa kasi wala ng budget si hepe”
He reminisced the time when payolas from gambling were allowed by the higher command and they have more elbow rooms to chase, arrest, and lock the malefactors.
“Now we contented ourselves for the P200 a day gasoline allowance for our patrol car”.
He cited one of the top wanted men who killed a man in the town whom their intelligence operative found to be hiding in a province near Manila. He said they need around P5 thousand for their vehicle's gas, tool gate fees, meals, and others so they can serve the warrant of arrest to the suspect and bring him back in Pangasinan.
“Ang ginawa namin kina-usap namin ang missis ng victim. Mabuti naman nagbigay ng P5000. Nakakahiya nga pero kulang na kulang ang operation fund namin”.
He cited another instance that a pusher in the town was being protected by two police men from the nearby city and in their town.
“Ang ginawa ko kina-usap ko ang mga taga Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) para hindi ako mapag-initan ng mga kabaro ko. Pina-xerox namin ang P500 pesos then pina-blotter para magamit namin ang tunay na pera sa buy-bust”.
He said the pusher was very suspicious when his poseur-buyer, a civilian who even brought his wife, fished out the P500 bill and offered to buy a shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride).
The pusher told the duo that he could not sell them because he just seen their faces for the first time.
When the poseur-buyer went to their location just meters away to tell them the pusher would not acquiesced, he said he felt embarrassed with the six PDEA operatives who accompanied him because of his tip to them.
“Ginawa ko pina-inum ko sila ng worth P1,500 na beer, tapos nagbigay pa ako ng P500 for their vehicle’s gas”.
When he told his CoP that he spent P2000 of his personal money, the former, apologetic, gave him P1000 to mitigate his expenses.
“Pasensiya bata, wala tayong pera sa laro (Meridiane) ngayon”.

Espino and Celeste Team Up

Espino and Celeste Team Up for Scholarship Program.  Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr and Congressman Jesus “Boying” F. Celeste flash the number one sign with over 500 students during the distribution of P1.5 million cash assistance to scholars last November 8 at the El Pescador Resort in Bolinao town. The “Joint Scholarship Program” is a partnership effort of Gov. Espino and Cong. Celeste that provides financial aid to college students in the1st Congressional District in Pangasinan. /OCL

KBP-Pangasinan rejoices over SC junking of political ads airtime limit

DAGUPAN CITY - The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas-Pangasinan Chapter rejoiced over the recent decision of the Supreme Court to junk the petition for limiting  airtime political advertisement during election period.

Jay Mendoza, president of the KBP- Pangasinan chapter said KBP is elated because the group’s hard work in lobbying for it paid off and the broadcast industry was given justice.

“KBP is very happy with the decision. Personally I am very happy too,” Mendoza told the Philippine Information Agency.

Airtime ads will give  chance for politicians to air their advocacies  and at the same time, the public will also have more time to study the platforms of the candidates for elections, he added.

It can be remembered that KBP filed a letter before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) seeking a reconsideration of Resolution 9615 which regulates political campaigns and advertisement. The matter was elevated to the Supreme Court (SC).

In its recent decision,  SC  justices have permanently stopped the Comelec from imposing shorter airtime for political advertisements, The SC voted unanimously recently to strike down Section 9(a) of Comelec Resolution 9615 (as amended by Comelec Resolution 9631)  unconstitutional.

"Prettiest" Gov’t Office in Pangasinan Opens

Bureau of Internal Revenue- Calasiao

By Mortz C.Ortigoza

CALASIAO – Probably the best and coziest government office in Pangasinan if not in Region 1 has just opened last November 17.

The new facade of BIR-RDO-4 in Calasiao, Pangasinan

According to Lee Caday, head of the Taxpayer Assistance Unit, the renovated and swanky Revenue District Office-4 has more spaces to offer to clients and personnel than its old building before.
He said the prime office of the BIR in Region 1 looks like an airport lounge.
“Actually medyo pinalaki iyong space para sa personnel to accommodate in anticipation of the right plan kasi mas dadami personnel. Ang rational plan, medyo anticipated din iyan ni maximize iyong parti-partition tapos pinalitan rin ng modular partition, glass ang partition”.

Airport- liked taxpayers' lounge of BIR's Revenue 
District Office-4 in Calasiao, Pangasinan 

He said the series of construction binged that started from the multiple covered court, the eight rooms’ dormitory that includes the director’s living room and other buildings and facilities are initiatives of Regional Director Arnel Guballa and Assistant Regional Director Edgardo Pagulayan, Jr.
Caday said the four-storey two annexes elevator powered Document Processing Division is the model DPD in the entire country.

Can Pacquiao Negates the Excellent Footworks of Rangy Algieri?

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

When veteran radio commentator Ruel Camba asked me recently inside the booth of DWPR in our city the difference between Chris Algieri and Manny Pacquiao, I told him that even 5’10 in height and 72 inches shoulder and hand reach Algieri, native of Huntington, New York, has 20 bouts on his sleeves where he technically knocked out eight of his opponents, he has a master’s degree in nutrition.

World Boxing Organization's  Welterweight Champ Manny Pacquiao (L) poses
 for posterity with the taller and rangy Chris Algieri whose style is to
 box backtracking.

 “Si Pacquiao aside from his knocked out ratio of 60% of his 63 bouts, he finished only elementary grade until he was accelerated, (through the intervention of the Philippine President?) to college while his fellow examinee, brother and wannabe boxer and wannabe PBA (professional basketball) player flunk,” I explained.

Style makes fight.
I agreed with Siberia, Russia citizen the hard puncher (harder than Pacquiao) Ruslan Provodnikov who bewailed that he should not be fighting the absconding Algieri last June 14, 2014.
Although Provodnikov knocked down twice the New Yorker in the 1st Round, transformed his face from celluloid screen heartthrob Ding- Dong Dantes (Philippine’s version of Ben Alfeck) to flick’s villain the ugly Max Alvarado, the Russian southpaw could hardly hit the back pedaling – Algieri whose   footwork’s could be an inferior version of Ali.

“Ali Dimaporo, the Marcos warlord?” Ruel jokingly posed.
“No”, the greatest Muhammad Ali whose famous poetic quipped “Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee”, I told him.
But Algieri could only float but his stings lack venom, thus branding him as less dangerous pug whose punches lack the knock out’s pop.
In that split decision that Provodnikov lost, his face was unscathed.

MORE THAN 15,000 JOIN 'WALK OF HOPE’ AGAINST DRUG ABUSE

By Leziel C. Aquino

DAGUPAN CITY – More than 15,000 people from different sectors of the society participated in the "Walk of Hope in the Fight Against Drug Abuse" which kicked off the national celebration of the 2014 Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Week hosted by Dagupan City last November 17.

The crowd composed of local officials, government employees, court workers, employees of different national agencies, Deped Dagupan officials, teachers, students from public and private colleges, universities, high schools, elementary schools, members of barangay councils and balikbayans.

Even members of the Mandaluyong Anti-Drug Abuse Council joined the four-kilometer walk along the Jose R. de Venecia Expressway Extension from the City Plaza to the CSI Stadia where a program was held.

All the participants were jubilant during the walk as they also danced to the tune of the Happy song while on their way to the CSI Stadia.

BOOK SIGNING

 Former President Fidel Ramos signs a copy of the new book WOW(Words of Wisdom) FVR-111111-11-II, a collection of quotes from the statements, speeches and writings of the former president(FVR) & contemporaries, for former Pangasinan 5th district Rep. Mark Cojuangco last November 11 at the Sison Auditorium in Lingayen. The book launching also coincides with the 114th birth anniversary of Ramos’ father, the late Ambassador Narciso Ramos.CESAR RAMIREZ

Witnesses in Dagupan’s Broadcaster Slay Attempt Retract

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – The two witnesses who saw the suspect on the slay attempt of a broadcaster here have retreated from their testimonies in a joint-affidavit.
According to defense lawyer Rafael Martinez, Armando P. Bautista and Jimbo D. Javier withdrew their sworn statement that they personally saw Rolando “Oning” Lim, Jr., 46, shot Orlando P. Navarro at 1 a.m of August 26 at Brgy. Pantal here.
Navarro was hit by a 22 caliber bullet at his upper back left torso when he was conversing with Bautista in front of the house of Lim. The slug ensconced one and a half inches before his heart before the doctor removed it.
 “Na hindi totoo na nakita naming si Rolando A. Lim, Jr., sa pinangyarihan ng krimen noong 26 Agosto 2014 ng mga ala-una ng madaling araw; Na Kailan lang naming nalaman na doon sa Sinumpaang Salaysay na ginawa ng pulis ay itinuro namin si Rolando A. Lim, Jr. na siyang bumaril kay Ginoong Orlando P. Navarro,” they said in a Joint-Affidavit.
Bautista said there that he did not know Lim.
“I only saw him at the police station when the police asked me to pin-point him as the trigger man,” he said.
Both said that they withdrew their testimony against Lim because it is a grave sin to falsely accuse a person who did not commit the offense.
When asked that the withdrawal of Bautista and Javier would now leave Navarro as the lone witness, Martinez said the case against his client had tremendously weakened because Navarro did not personally see Lim shot him.
The case is still being studied at the office of Joven M. Maramba, this city’s chief prosecutor, for preliminary investigation.
When asked incase Maramba plays “politics” in this high profile incident by resolving the case in favor of Navarro through probable cause, Martinez said he would file a motion for reconsideration and determination of probable cause up to the Department of Justice for his client.
“Just imagine the waste of government resources when this case would be tried without the two vital witnesses helping the State collaborate to tag Oning,” Martinez explained.
The defense counsel said that both the witnesses went to Maramba, accompanied by lawyers from the Commission on Human Rights, to file their Affidavit of Retraction.
Lim, meanwhile, is out of bail in a reduced bond of P100,000 he said his sister produced through a loan.
Meantime, this city’s police chief Christopher Abrahano said, in a text message, the Philippine National Police will be monitoring the Navarro case closely.
He cited jurisprudences where the second statement of withdrawing witnesses like Bautista and Javier could be considered as dubious.

STUPID MEDIA MEN

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

PHOTO CREDIT: www.hollywoodtoday.net

Bureau of Internal Revenue Regional Director Arnel Guballa, Revenue District Officer – 4 Chief  Renato Molina, and Assistant RDO-4 Chief Charmaine dela Torre should check this Mainland Chinese –owned three-storey store near the Orchid’s Hotel in Dagupan City. I just called it a store since it has no commercial signage displayed on its façade.
It does not issue a BIR official receipt or O.R, instead it gives its customer a piece of paper enumerating the goods and the corresponding prices the latter bought there.
“Under process pa po ang O.R noong papel namin kaya papel na lang po ang recibo namin na i-issue sa iyo, “ a Filipina sales lady told a man who bought a set of kitchen utensils
BIR should charge the Chinese who owned the store with either a fine of P10 to P20 thousand for failure to issue the O.R or tax fraud. The owner’s malpractices give unfair competition with their Filipino counterparts who religiously pay their dues at the tax bureau.

Some of these Chinese stores who used this underhanded business strategy have been padlocked and fined by the BIR in the past through Operation Kandado.
*** 

Could you still remember my columns before about a broadcaster (a pastor who accidentally became a radio commentator of a religious station) who asked the mayor of a city why the hizzoner practiced double standard on filling a corruption cases against the city treasurer, cashier, and a clerk who were found to have Prima Facie (Latin words “on the first appearance”) on the cases they allegedly committed.
“Bakit niyo kinasuhan iyong tatlo ng Anti-Graft & Corrupt Practices, bakit si Prima Facie hindi niyo kinasuhan – ano ba ang meron kay Prima Facie at hindi magalaw-galaw, mayor?” he exasperatedly posed in a press conference in San Carlos City.
Of the 30 media men who were at that conference, only three chuckled. The rest were probably as “stupid” as the broadcaster, they thought Prima Facie or Prima Fa-Sy was the older brother of Northern Times publisher Lelia Sy.
Could you still remember a lady radio commentator explaining in his program that those suspected John Doe and Jane Doe who escaped the police dragnet were probably sibling or cousins because of their similar surnames?
The Americans have a quipped for all of those boo-boos: “I’ll be damned!”

Several mornings ago, a TV reporter of a national network reported that Governor Amado T. Espino and two of his department heads had filed a Motion for Reconsideration on the administrative indictment of the Ombudsman against them on the illegal mining in 2011 of magnetite black sand they allegedly committed.
Her report was wrong unless she and her news writer perused the press release of the Ombudsman sent to us media men through our e-mails.
In that e-mail it showed that the Governor was absolved administratively because he won his reelection bid in 2013. The law says that the election of a public officials exonerate him for the administrative case or cases filed against him before he won his reelection. The logic, according to jurisprudence, is the electorates have forgiven him.
But he would not be absolved on the Criminal Case’s Anti-Graft & Corrupt Practices Act filled against him even if he allegedly committed it before his victory in the 2013 polls.
The governor, media reports said, had filled a motion for reconsideration to free him and company from the indictment because the black sand just stand idly, but that’s already another story from the distinction of administrative and criminal cases.  
Administrative Case is a whale of different to Criminal Case.
That TV reporter and news writer should have known the difference if they have consulted a lawyer before they broadcast their blunder to millions of listeners from Bulacan to Ilocos.
***
O ito pa, when Mangaldan Mayor Bona Fe de Vera-Parayno came from an administrative hearing she presided versus two of her department heads who swindled a bank in Villasis town, a lady reporter of  the same religious station I mentioned earlier confidently asked her when the two would go to prison.
The mayor could just shook her head and be amused on the uneducated question.
“Son of a gun, when did it happen that an administratively liable public official goes into prison? Walang nakukulong sa administrative o civil case, iyong nakukulong iyong nasira ang door knob ng kuwarto niya kaya hindi siya makalabas ng bahay o iyong na convict ng criminal case, “  I told another media guy who cut his teeth on the trade.
But still the wannabe reporter persisted in asking some other out- of- this- world questions that the mayor found queer.
Parayno, who felt irritated, asked her to go to the town’s legal consultant and inquire what she wants to report.
“Ano ang natapos mo,” I asked the reporter.
“Theology, “she retorted.
“May itatanong ako sa iyo, basic ng political science. Ano ang pinag-kaiba ng Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary as branches of government?”
“Ay, hindi ko po alam iyan.Theology kasi ang natapos ko,” she turned pink with embarrassment in answering my question.
Susmariosep, I’ll be damned!
This is the problem with media outlets; they sent nincompoop, imbecile, and idiots to gather news for them. They don’t know that it has a repercussion on the stocks of their stations before the eyes of their listeners or viewers.
Back to that TV news guys, it does not mean that after you graduated in journalism or mass communication and worked with marquee news network it means you’re already infallible.
“If  you do not want to go to law school just to take the basic of political, civil, and criminal law in first year, you better buy books on these subjects and read diligently the laws there so that in the press conference (remember that Prima Facie guy?) or during your news reporting you would not find yourself ludicrous, er, ridiculous before your viewers,” I told media friends.  

 (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).

Obama’s Veto Power and the Republican's Majority

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

PHOTO CREDIT: ABC 7 Chicago.com

The American voters have spoken, according to CNN.com.election as of press time it says: 53 senators for the Republican Party or the Grand Old Party (GOP) while 46 solons for the Democrats who used to control that House before the November 4 election.

In the House of Representatives, according to the same source, 244 congressmen for the GOP while 186 representatives for the Democrats.

So what’s the implication of this U.S election to legislation that will be passed by Congress dominated by the Republicans that will be signed into law by a Democrat Party President Barrack Obama?

If the president vetoes the bills he did not like, then he has to return it to Congress where each of both Houses overturned the bill by two-third votes to make it a law.

But the problem is the GOP could not muster 290 votes or two-third from the 435 members of the House or the 66 or two-third from the 100 members of the Senate to pass a law at their own volition.

Just like in the Philippines, a two-third vote of both Houses can overturn a presidential veto into a law.

Here’s the United States Constitution  and its provisions written in a plain English - attention Filipino writers who have the propensity for high highfalutin!:

Gov. Espino condemns shooting of Capitol senior employee

LINGAYEN – Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. has condemned in strongest terms the act of violence inflicted by two motorcycle riding-in-tandem against an employee of the provincial government who was a recent victim of a shooting incident here.

            In a press statement issued by the governor, he said “we condemn the act of violence inflicted upon a totally defenseless, peace-loving and easily one of the most hard working senior employees of the PTO.”

            As he denounced the act committed by the suspects, Gov. Espino likewise called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Command to give utmost attention to solve the violent incident.

            He also asked the PNP to conduct a full-dress investigation and exert all means to identify and arrest the criminals immediately.

            On Tuesday, November 4, at about 5:30 p.m., two men riding in tandem followed Judith Santillan from her office at the Capitol and fired shots at her as she was about to enter her house in Guilig St., Lingayen

            Santillan, who works as a Supervising Administrative Officer at the PTO, sustained two fatal injuries in the abdomen.

            The 50-year-old senior employee of the provincial government underwent surgical procedure and is now recuperating.

            Dr. King Orduna, the attending anesthesiologist, said Santillan has a 90 percent chance of survival.

            However, he disclosed that the two gunshot wounds damaged Santillan’s liver, spleen and intestines.

            Orduna said 10 percent of her liver was removed but is expected to regenerate on its own.

            Portion of her intestines was also removed, according to Orduna.

Mangaldan Mayor Orders Cop to help Suspend Village Officials

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

MANGALDAN – Due to an earlier memorandum to preventively suspend the village chief and a councilwoman in this town, Mayor Bona Fe de Vera-Parayno ordered the chief of police (COP) here to ensure the implementation of the suspension.

Mangaldan Mayor Bona Fe de Vera-Parayno officiates a wedding rites
among her constituents.

In a memorandum sent to Police Supt. Jackie C. Candelario, this town’s COP, Mayor Parayno said she wanted to see Candelario strictly comply with the directive.

“We were informed that to date the preventive suspension order is not being observed by Punong Barangay Joselito G. Quinto and Barangay Kagawad Melinda P. Morillo of Barangay Poblacion, Mangaldan, Pangasinan,” the mayor wrote.
The memorandum was dated October 16 this year.
 In September 20, 2014 the mayor wrote Quinto and Morillo, the No. 1 village councilor, a memorandum for their preventive suspension.
“In view of the Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 2014-83 dated September 18, 2014, a copy of which is hereto attached, recommending for your preventive suspension Administrative Case No. 01-2014, where you are impleaded as respondent; and pursuant to Section 63 and 64 of the Local Government Code (RA 7160), you are hereby preventively suspended for a period of sixty days (60) effective upon receipt hereof”.
The mayor said on that memorandum that the suspension is not a penalty.
“While you can you cannot draw your salaries in the meantime, the same and all other benefits withheld during such suspension shall be paid in full to you upon your exoneration”.
But according to the consultant of the mayor, who asked not to be identified, the duo could not be found every time the police served the September 18 suspension.
Quinto and Morillo through their lawyer Joseph Emmanuel Cera filed a civil action prohibition/injunction with prayer for the issuance of a status quo ante order against Mayor Parayno and others seeking the issuance of a TRO on the mayor’s issuance of a preventive suspension order.
The TRO hampered the mayor to serve within the 20 days from the date of its issuance (TRO) any suspension to the respondents.
With the 20 days over, the October 16 memorandum of preventive suspension against Quinto and Morillo made No. 2 Brgy. Council Woman Naomi Fabia, the wife of Municipal Councilor Alberto Fabia serves as acting Brgy. Chairman in the 60 days suspension of Quinto and Morillo that would end on the middle of December this year.
The administrative case of Quinto and Morillo ensued from their issuance of business permits with corresponding fees for establishments even without an approved barangay ordinance.
The mayor claimed it was not within the duo’s jurisdiction to issue such permits and therefore committing illegal exaction.

Urdaneta earns more on Local Taxes than IRA – Bobom

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Mayor Amadeo Gregorio Perez III

URDANETA CITY – If many towns and cities are internal revenue allotment (IRA) dependent on the national government, this robust city earns more on its local taxes.
Mayor Amadeo Gregorio Perez III said that that the first class city operates on a more than P600 million budget this year where P260 million came from the IRA.
With the P250 million, this 125,451 populated city according to the 2010 Census is backed up by the more than P350 million local funds.
The Local Government Code says that the allocation formula of IRA in a town, city, or province is 50%, 25%, and 25% for the population, land area, and equal sharing from the national taxes.
Perez cited this  city owned Urdaneta City University as the major source of the local revenue.
“May UCU kasi more than P140 million (yearly income)”.
He said however that what UCU churned out goes to the university’s coffer.
UCU used to producte P200 million a year.
When asked if the revenue’s of the school declined be blamed to the demand slumped of nurses abroad, Perez instead said that UCU is huge with 15,000 students.
The mayor said the drivers of the economic growth here have been the construction binged of infrastructure facilities and farm-to-market roads.
Building of these facilities not only generates jobs to people but expedites movement of goods and services, he said.
One of the big ticket businesses that put shop here was the Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (APTC)
Building of APTCs throughout the country is in line with President Benigno Aquino III continuing efforts to enable small farmers earn more profit. Farmers here for instance will now have a venue where they can market their products directly to institutional buyers.
Urdaneta is known as cattle and vegetable hub in Northern Luzon,

FVR Launches New Book in Pangasinan

Lingayen- - -Former President Fidel V. Ramos launched on Tuesday, November 11, his newest addition to his commissioned and published books entitled “111111-111-II Wonder of Words: The Timeless Quotes of Fidel V. Ramos & Contemporaries,” on November 11 at the posh Sison Auditorium here.

The former president said the book which contains bits of wisdom on good governance, is the only legacy that he could share with the people of Pangasinan and the entire nation.

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr., who led provincial officials and guests in welcoming the former president, commended him not only for the publication of the book which he dubbed as, ‘book of all ages’ but for all the “lasting infrastructure projects which were established in Pangasinan during his presidency.”

The governor said that this and more proves that Pres. Ramos is truly “Pangasinan’s most illustrious son.’

Pres. Ramos, on the other hand, said that with the leadership of the governor, Pangasinan is now considered as one of the best provinces in the country, if not the No.1.

With key words like ‘caring, sharing, and daring,’ the former president said Pangasinan is heading on the right track.

Meanwhile, Board Member Ranjit R. Shahani in his welcome remarks noted that the leadership of Pres. Ramos and Gov. Espino are “intertwined” because both leaders have done and still doing their best to elevate Pangasinan into one great province.

He dubbed then President Ramos as the “greatest Pangasinense” and Gov. Espino as the “greatest governor” of Pangasinan.

FVR Wonder of Words is a companion piece of FVR WOW Book 1 which was also launched in Pangasinan in November 2011 to commemorate the 111th birth anniversary of his diplomat father, the late Foreign Affairs Secretary Narciso R. Ramos.

SI BINAY, AYAW SUMIPOT, SUMAGOT, MANAGOT - CAYETANO

SI BINAY, AYAW SUMIPOT, AYAW SUMAGOT, AYAW MANAGOT…

 ASC: Si Binay, ayaw sumipot, ayaw sumagot, ayaw managot. So yun ang simpleng issue dito. Bakit tumatagal ang hearing? Hindi dahil sa mga witnesses na willing mag-testify, hindi sa mga dokumento na hawak na ni Vice Mayor Mercado, kung hindi dahil ayaw sumagot ni VP Binay, ayaw niya sumipot sa hearing. Pati sa debate, umatras siya.

And then, ang pinaka-importante, pinipigilan niya na ang ebidensya ay makarating sa Senado. Halimbawa, may alegasyon na overpriced ang building, pwede ba namang ang alegasyon ay paniwalaan namin? Titingnan muna namin ang dokumento. Pero ang siyudad naman ng Makati, pinipigilan ni VP Binay na i-deliver ang mga dokumento. Pwede ba namang basta’t sabihin lang ni VP Binay na dumaan na sa COA yan – eh COA mismo ang nagsabi na may problema - pwede bang maniwala na lang kami sa kanya? Tapos sinabi ni Vice Mayor Mercado na bagmen niya si Mr. Gerry Limlingan at si Ms. Ebeng Baloloy, pwede ba namang tanggapin na lang natin na sinabi ni Vice President Binay na kaibigan niya lang si Mr. Limlingan? Samantalang sa ilang korporasyon, nandoon palagi ang pangalan ni Mr. Limlingan? So, dapat dumating din siya diyan. Ang problema, pinipigilan ni VP Binay na mag-appear siya doon.

 SI VICE PRESIDENT, SIGAW NANG SIGAW NG SUGOD, ATRAS NAMAN NG ATRAS. NANGHAHAMON SA DEBATE, HINDI NAMAN DADATING.

Ang problema kasi, iba ang sinasabi ni VP Binay sa ating Pangulo, iba ang sinasabi niya sa mga probinsya, iba ang sinasabi niya sa mga militar kapag sila ay nagbu-boodle fight, pero iba ang katotohanan. Katulad noon, sabi nila sa mga tao ngayon, walang ebidensya at pinipigilan namin silang magbigay ng ebidensya. Nakita niyo naman, trak-trak na ng ebidensya ang napresenta sa Senado. Sinasabi naman nila, pinipigilan namin silang magpresenta ng ebidensya, eh ang pinapadala naman nila sa spokesman na ebidensya, pekeng certification ng UE. So, kung sila, gusto nilang matapos ang hearing, kami din, dahil trabaho pa para sa amin ito. Hindi madali ang mag-prepare, hindi madali na pag-aralan lahat ng dokumento na ito. In fact, kung ginagawa ng lahat ng ahensya ng gobyerno ang trabaho nila - noong araw ah; remember, hindi ko pinagbibintangan ang Ombudsman o COA ngayon dahil nire-reform nila - , but noong nangyari ito, ten years ago, fifteen years ago, three years ago, ang iba dito nangyari noong panahon ni Presidente Arroyo. Kung ang COA noon ay nasita kaagad sa malaking overprice, sana wala nang trabaho ang Senado ngayon.

So unfair na sabihin sa Senado na pinapatagal ito at unfair na sinasabing pinag-iinitan si Vice President. Siya naman ang nagsabi na gusto niyang tumakbong presidente. Diba, kapag gusto mong tumakbong presidente, dapat handa ka na nasa ilalim ka ng microscope. Pero si Vice President, sigaw nang sigaw ng sugod, atras naman ng atras. Nanghahamon sa debate, hindi naman dadating.

Kasi, ang estimate namin, one or two hearings per building, kaya na ito. Ang problema, humaba dahil, katulad niyan, sinabi ni Mr. Tiu na siya daw ang may-ari, so imbes na isang hearing, naging tatlo. So hindi ko talaga mae-estimate. Kung aaraw-arawin namin ito katulad ng impeachment, baka dalawang linggo tapos ito. Pero mismong ang kampo naman ni Vice President Binay ang nagsasabing madami kaming ibang trabaho, asikasuhin namin ang trabaho. Katulad noon, simula Martes meron kaming budget hearing. Kalakaran na sa Senado, aming unwritten rule, na basta’t may budget hearing, walang ibang hearing. So for the next two weeks from Tuesday, wala kaming ibang hearing. So gusto man namin tapusin, anong gagawin namin? Ititigil namin ang budget hearing para matapos muna ito?

So kung gusto ng Vice President na matapos ito kaagad, kung siya ay nakikiusap sa Pangulo, simple lang ito. Siya ay sumipot, siya ay sumagot.

MALAKI DIN ANG MAGAGAWA NG PANGULO AT NG EXECUTIVE DEPT. PARA MAPABILIS ITO... MORE IMPORTANTLY, PARA MAPAKITA SA MGA TAO NA BAWAL ANG KORAPSYON SA ATING BANSA.

The President is a very emotional and passionate person. He really wants to make a change at gusto niya talaga ng tuwid na daan. Having said that, tao din siya. So nag-apela sa harap niya, nagmukhang kawawa ang Vice President, so siguro ginive niya ang opinion niya, what he thinks is fair. Pero kung malalaman ng Pangulo ang lahat ng ginagawa ng Vice President to delay, to sabotage, para guluhin ang hearing, as a former senator and as the architect ng tuwid na daan, I am sure na ang kalooban ng Pangulo ay walang kaibi-kaibigan, walang kama-kamag-anak. Basta’t kung ano ang tama, yun ang sundin. Kung corrupt, kasuhan, kung hindi, hindi.