Gen. Bato Answers My Queries on Murders, ICC against Him

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

The reason why former four-star general and national police chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa earned a niche in the heart and mind of Filipino voters was not only his derring-do to belt a song or songs while lady spectators pulled their male counterparts to dance with the music he averagely sang but his provincial demeanour spiced up by his Cebuano or Mindanaon thick accented Tagalog.

These are his comparative advantage to other senatorial rivals like Bam Aquino, JV Ejercito, and others who were outside the Magic 12 of the 2019 Senate Race’s surveys.

I’ve been telling media colleagues here in Luzon why Tagalog ladies loved their Visayan or Mindanoan boyfriends or husbands not because of their sexual prowess but because of the thickness of their tongue in enunciating a correct sounding American word. 

Peace for them is “Pis”.
  As a resident of Mindanao in the middle of 1970s to middle of 1980s, the ballyhooed “Pis” word for them had, son of a gun, multiple meanings. 
Pis could be “Face”, “Peace”, “Paste”, "Piss", or “Fish”.

ITAGA MO SA BATO - Pollster’s Social Weather Station No. 10 senatorial wannabe retired police general Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa was smiling when I told him in "Bisaya" names of his relatives in Barangay Bato, Sta. Cruz , Davao del Sur, my town mate Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol, and his "Good Boy" PMA, classmate in Mindanao.

That’s why when I told former Five –Time House Speaker Joe de Venecia at a presidential rally of the Liberal Party in 2016 that when I asked Senator Manny Pacquiao how was the Peace and Order situation in my beloved island Mindanao, he told me: “Many fish but no order in the Tuna Port there in my home place General Santos City”.

Of course I have to immediately calmed down the rabble rousing Speaker who had a  guffaw but seemed to be hit by a stroke on my joke on what he thought was a faux pas from the Senator whose college degree was complimented by the Acceleration or Accreditation and Equivalency Test of the Department of Education where the world saw him catapulted from Grade 6 to the Tertiary.

Shortage of Buses, bane to commuters

As LTO implements Order with P1M Fine

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – The shortage of the public utility vehicles (PUVs) that ply within the province or to other province became a bane for passengers as the government aggressively implement the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) passed in 2014.

 JAO deterred operators of colorum buses because of the P1 million fine for each of their illegally operating PUVs apprehended by the enforcers of the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

This city’s LTO chief Danny Martinez said that the scarcity of these mini buses could not be solved overnight.

Dilapidated, overcrowded, and without franchise mini-bus in the Philippines. Any more than 15 years old public utility vehicle like in the photo entails a one million pesos penalty by the government to the operator.

“Nasa three years tayo. Ibig sabihin niyan pinagaaralan mabuti sinu-survey mabuti itong ating mga route plan kailangan masusi ang pag-aaral nito. Saan ang kulang, gawa ng sobra magbawas tayo. Saan ang kulang? Iyan ang ginagawa ng government ngayon. Maganda ito joint memorandum circular,” he explained.

The P1 million fine however resulted to inconveniences to the commuters who used to enjoy the abundance of the PUVs.

Aside from buses, JAO penalizes the following vehicles without a franchise from the government:Truck – P200,000; Jeepney – P50,000; Van – P200,000; Sedan – P120,000, and; Motorcycles – P6,000.

Martinez explained that many if not most of the mini buses in the country should have been phased out because of the law that mandate that they should be operating on the street for not more than 15 years.

“Ang problema, marami sa mga minibus nagkaroon ng upgrading ng year model na hao-shiao because of corruption. Iyan ang isang kaso,” he cited.

SP urges CHED to check PSU Board’s Resolution to reappoint Buted

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The provincial board passed a resolution urging the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to look into the propriety of the passage of resolution reappointing Dr. Dexter R. Buted as the Pangasinan State University (PSU) president.

During the regular session on November 26, fourth district board member Jeremy Agerico B. Rosario expressed his disappointment over the passage of PSU Board of Regent Resolution No. 84, Series of 2018 entailing the reappointment of Dr. Buted for second term, subject to the attestation by the Civil Service Commission on its effectivity and validity.

Beleaguered and suspended Pangasinan State University
 President Dr. Dexter R. Buted.

In his message, BM Rosario urged CHED through Chairman Dr. J. Prospero E. De Vera, III to make appropriate actions regarding the motion of Buted’s reappointment.

BM Rosario also bared compelling reasons of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pangasinan to oppose the reappointment of Dr. Buted, including:

1. Provincial Resolution No. 505-2016 of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan dated October 17, 2016 declared Dr. Dexter R. Buted as Persona Non Grata in the Province of Pangasinan; and

2. A Decision of the Ombudsman in OMB-L-A-I6-0138 entitled, “Ricardo A. Tapia, Complainant, versus Dexter Buted and Marcelo Gutierrez, Jr., Respondents, for Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service, Grave Misconduct and Oppression, found Respondents administratively liable for Oppression.

MINDANAO VISITS DAGUPAN

Heads of the local government unit (LGU) of M'lang, Cotabato Province listen attentively at the mayor’s office of Dagupan City  as the spokeswoman of the City Planning & Development Office (CPDO) explained the video presentations how the coastal city in Northern Luzon had topped for four consecutive years the Child Friendly Local Governance (CFLG) in the four provinces’ Region-1 from the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) and her being a national nominee this year for the Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities (PACFMC) at a ceremony to be held in Malacanang Palace this coming December 5.

The brass of LGU - M’lang wanted to benchmark the city’s promotion of child's rights to survival, development, protection and participation under the administration of City Mayor Belen T. Fernandez. 
The first class town had been a winner for two consecutive years in the provincial level against 16 towns one city in the CFLG’s tilt.

The town heads (from left in photo above) Consultant to the Mayor Exaltacion Velarde, Municipal Accountant Cynthia Saldajeno Garcia, Municipal Budget Officer Maria Daisy Palomero Garcia, employee of the CPDO, Columnist Marcelo “Mortz” Ortigoza, a former M’lang resident,  Assistant Treasurer Belen dela Seña Guadalupe, and Civil Registry Chief Vilma Magarzo.

Before their November 23 visit, the Mindanao’s heads came from Baguio City to benchmark how the Pines City manages its Burnham Park’s recreation areas so they can emulate them at their town’s plaza.

M’lang annual appropriation budget for 2019 will be P269 million, according to Guzman, which can be at par or much better than some of the burgeoning first class towns in Pangasinan Province.  

The municipality is the town of Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol and former Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Buenaflor Rosell-Ubial. (PHOTO AND TEXT: MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA)

Columnist Ortigoza treated his "kasimanwa" for lunch at the famous Ciudad Elmina Seafood House in the Bangus City. The cozy Ciudad is the favorite restaurant of actors and actresses like Kris Aquino because of the fishpond environment settings.

               At the Ortigozas' residence at the heart of the city proper.

LOOK MA', NO COMPUTER - Author rushes his news report by scribbling using a red pen and an elementary notebook, sannamagan, to crow the good news on his beloved Dagupan City and former town M'lang, North Cotabato. 

FOODS IN DAGUPAN CITY

Ka-on kita ka inasal nga Dagupan Bangrus, Ilocos Pakbet, Crispy Pata nga Plain kag Crispy Pata nga Binagoongan, kag ang pagkaon ka mga hari kag reyna ang sinigang nga black Malaga Fish upod mga kasimanwa ta sa Mlang diri sa Dagupan.

MALAGA FISH. THE VAUNTED PRODUCT OF DAGUPAN'S FISHPOND

At the famous Bagoong (Fish Paste), Bangus, and Daing (dried fish) Market of Dagupan City, Pangasinan.

Drug-Free Town Mangaldan

Thanks to the collaboration of Mayor Bona and the Cops

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

* Narcotics Free Town

* State of the Municipal Address

* Perennial Awardee Seal of Good Local Governance

MANGALDAN - This renowned tapa (cured meat) producing municipality will be declared on November 26 (Monday) by law enforcement agency as “narcotics cleared town”.

Mayor Bona Fe D. Parayno said the historical feat will be held at nine o’clock in the morning at the third floor of the municipal hall here.

“In line with this, you are hereby enjoined to attend and be a part of this remarkable accomplishment of the Mangaldan PNP and the entire officialdom of Mangaldan, Pangasinan with the full cooperation and participation of our kabaleyan,” the second term mayor exhorts the local government unit officials, village chiefs, officials and teachers of the Department of Education here to attend the signing and declaration of the Drug Cleared Municipality that is led by the Philippines Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippines National Police.

PLEASANTRIES - Mangaldan Mayor Bona Fe D. Parayno and her officials exchange pleasantries with Senator Loren Legarda after the awarding of the town with the 2018 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) held last November 6 at the Tent City of the Manila Hotel in Taguig City. Legarda and Senator Juan Edgardo M. Angara were the keynote speakers while Department of Interior & Local Government Secretary Eduardo M. Año was the welcoming speaker. Mangaldan under Mayor Parayno had been a perennial winner of the SGLG. An elusive award among many towns in Pangasinan.

“I will be counting on your 100 percent attendance as our beloved Governor Amado I. Espino, III will be our Guest of Honor and Speaker,” Parayno told the mentioned officials and workers in a letter.

Meanwhile, Mayor Parayno invites too the same officials and workers and peope in this one of the richest towns in Pangasinan to attend the State of the Municipal Address (SOMA) to be held at the Mangaldan Public Auditorium here on November 30 (Friday) at five o’ clock in the afternoon.

The SOMA will be part of the special session spearheded by the members of the Sangguniang Bayan (legislature) leads by Vice Mayor Pedro Surdilla, Jr.

Moreover, the officials of this town led by Mayor Parayno received its third Seal of Good Local Governance(SGLC) award last November 6 at the Tent City of the Manila Hotel in Taguig City.

Senators Loren B. Legarda and Juan Edgardo M. Angara were the keynote speakers  while  Department of Interior & Local Government Secretary Eduardo M. Año was the welcoming speaker of the event. 

For three consecutive years, Parayno and this town were recipients of the SGLC.

According to the mayor, this first class town was awarded as one of the 263 local government units that included provinces, cities, and municipalities in the country.

She cited that this burgeoning town was one of the 207 among those in the town level and one of those 23 municipalities out of the 44 towns in Pangasinan.

Hit Man Squeals After Mayor Threatened Him

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

I dropped by recently at the ritzy mansion of a first class town mayor in Northern Luzon since I did not  break bread with him for a long time.

I met there too some of his seasoned political leaders that spiked up and spiced up our conversation about politics.

When I told them about the audacity of assassins murdering this year politicians like former La Union Congressman Eufranio Eriguel, Sudipen, La Union Mayor Alexander Buquing, Balaoan, La Union former mayor and incumbent Vice Mayor Alfred Concepcion, and former Bayambang, Pangasinan Councilor Levin N. Uy, the mayor told me about the aborted murder hatched against him.

He narrated that a year ago somebody called him that his perennial bitter rival, who supports a relative for the mayorship, wanted to assassinate him.

He immediately contacted his police brass’ friends at the regional command and sought their help to unmask the perpetrator of the threat.

ASSASSIN EXPOSED

“They have technological marvel that could trace the location of the owner of the mobile phone whenever it rings,” he enthused.

PCSO hits P55B initial target for 2018

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Alexander Balutan announced on Tuesday that the agency has already hit its P55-billion initial target for the month of October, two months before 2018 ends.

“As of January to October, our gross sales is already at P54.8 billion, which is 27 percent higher compared to the same period last year. When we say overall, that is combined Lotto, Keno, Small Town Lottery (STL), and Instant Sweepstakes,” said Balutan.

Last year, PCSO initially targeted P55 billion, but it was adjusted to P60 billion due to the roll out of STL. It also strengthened Lotto products nationwide.

“Like I always say, figures don’t lie. This is a proof that PCSO is and has always been on the right track in meeting its revenue target or more by the end of this year,” added Balutan.

In a data from the office of Arnel Casas, officer-in-charge Assistant General Manager for Gaming, Product Development and Marketing Sector, it reported that Lotto was the highest earning product with P27,987,584,260 gross sales, which is 5.13 percent higher compared to the same period last year.

Libo-Libo Nakinabang sa District-Wide Medical Mission ni Cong Toff

  Mahigit limang libong residente ng Quatro Distrito ang nakinabang sa nakalipas na four-day, district-wide medical at dental mission ni Congressman Christopher “Toff” De Venecia.

Ayon sa talaan ng kanyang opisina, 5,424 residents ng Dagupan City, Mangaldan, San Fabian, Manaoag at San Jacinto ang nagamot, nabunutan ng ngipin , nakatikim ng libreng hilot, at nabigyan pati ng manicure, pedicure at libreng gupit.

Ito ay “bayanihan at it’s finest”, ani Congressman De Venecia, dahil ang mga nagsagawa ng libreng hilot, gupit , manicure at pedicure ay pawang mga scholars ng kongresista, na naghandog ng libreng serbisyo para sa kanilang kababayan.

A smiling grandmother was pictured by a cameraman during the free haircut sponsored by Pangasinan Fourth District Congressman Toff de Venecia to his constituents in one of the five local government units of the district.

Ang mga piling vocational schools, sa pakikipagtulungan ng Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) ay nagsagawa rin ng libreng training tungkol sa paghahanda ng mga processed foods gaya ng paggawa ng siomai at bangus fishballs. 

Bukod pa riyan ang pamamahagi ni Congressman De Venecia ng mga portable tents sa bawat barangay ng Distrito, water pumps sa mga magsasaka at nag-inagurasyon ng pitong malalaking proyekto sa 4th District.

Last week, 4th Dist. Rep. Cristopher de Venecia led the inauguration of seven big infrastructure projects built across his turf, sponsored medical-dental missions and distributed tents as his birthday gift to his constituents. The infrastructure projects included the following: multi-purpose Barangay Hall in Lasip Grande, Dagupan City; three-storey building in Gregorio del Pilar Elementary School in Bonuan Gueset, Dagupan City; multi-purpose building in Barangay Nalsian, Manaoag; Barangay Hall and Day Care Center in Bonuan Binloc, Dagupan City; multi-purpose building in Tempra-Guilig in San Fabian; Barangay Hall in Bari, Mangaldan and multi-purpose Building in Lobong, San Jacinto.

P2.3M Reward vs Killer of Uy – Bayambang Mayor

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BAYAMBANG – The smarting mayor of this historic town offered two million pesos to anybody who can pinpoint the mastermind of the assassination last Friday of his political confidant.

Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao described Levin N. Uy, 49, as not only his political strategist but his lead man to all his projects in this thriving town.

Uy, a former councilor, was the director of his renowned charitable Kasama Kita sa Barangay Foundation.

MAYOR MOURNS - Bayambang Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao (standing) deplored the untimely death of his man Friday and political strategist Levin Napier Uy, 49, the director of his Kasama Kita sa Barangay Foundation. Uy was felled by an assassin bullet in the morning of November 16. Quiambao assailed the dastardly act and offered two million pesos reward to the one who can pinpoint the perpetrator and his principal. Quiambao, in this press conference, is joined by Pangasinan governorship candidate and Alaminos City Mayor Art Celeste (5th from left), congressional aspirants and Binalonan Mayor Ramon “Monmon” Guico, III and Board Member Raul Sison (3rd and 4th from left, respectively), the mourning family of Uy, elective officials of the town, and Bayambang Chief of Police Fidel DG Junio.

“I don’t want to accuse anyone but the people of Bayambang know who is the head or mastermind of the death of Levin Uy. Wala akong sinasabi pero alam ninyo lahat kung sino iyan. Kaya, I hope justice will prevail. And I’m putting two million pesos para sa reward para mahuli kung sino ang pumatay kay Levin Uy,” he emphatically said.

Quiambao, a business czar, even exhorted the killer to come public and identify his principal so he can get the millions of pesos bounty.

“Sana naman kung sino ang pumatay, I don’t know kung puwedi siyang maging witness, ibibigay ko sa kanya ang dalawang milyon sabihin lang niya kung sino ang nag utos sa pagpatay kay Levin Uy. Si Levin mga anak bata pa po!”
Abono Party List group's chairman Rosendo So also offered P300,000 as bounty.

SM City Rosales Xmas Centerpiece Unveiled

SM CITY ROSALES Christmas Centerpiece unveiled on November 9

Let your imagination take flight to a whole new level!

Feast your eyes in this year’s 25 feet Christmas tree of SM City Rosales. It serves as the enchanting abode to these glitzy fairies who are ready to bring holiday cheers and sparkles to everyone!

The inspiration for this year’s display are Christmas fairies. What you see are a group of Fairies dressed in blush and teal ensemble adorned in crystals and floral trimmings. They are also known help families discover how magical love and open hearts can be this holiday season.

The exterior of the tree is centered on the idea of a white Christmas – we see cool lighting and white trimmings beautifully placed in our fairies’ lovely home.

The Day I Met the Queen

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

The first time I heard the song of the British rock band Queen was in Paco, Manila in 1980. I was in second year high school  spending my vacation in the jungle asphalt of the Metropolis with my air force’s father who was in his furlough.

“Turorum-tum-tom turo-ro-rum tutom! “Turorum-tum-tom turo-ro-rum tutom!” low riffed by the four strings bass guitar of John Deacon, the composer, who would start the song while the hard beat of the sticks to the drums of Roger Taylor accompanied the “Turorum-tum-tom turo-ro-rum tutom!” that made them stimulate my mind.

"Ansarap naman niyang beat," I quipped to myself.

Then lead singer Freddie Mercury deep throaty flirty-growl and high-pitched voice opened the vocal with:

Steve walks warily down the street

With the brim pulled way down low

Ain't no sound but the sound of his feet

Machine guns ready to go

Are you ready? Hey, are you ready for this?

Are you hanging on the edge of your seat?

Of course I did not know yet the names of the lead singer, lead guitarist Brian May, bass guitarist, and the drummer of the rock band created in London in 1970.

The song caught me with its funk rock beat of the bass guitar, drum, and its boogie styled melody.

I later learned that the song, Another One Bites the Dust, was the Billboard hit, Grammy Award Nominated for Best Rock Performance, and winner of the American Music Award for Favorite Rock Single Nominee.

Computer Literacy Gives Huge Employment Opportunities – Cong Toff

 Thus He launches Computer on Wheels Program

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

A Pangasinan congressman recognized that computer literacy and basic computer training are essential components of learning that will provide wider employment opportunities to the Filipinos.

The office of Fourth District Representative Christopher “Toff” de Venecia announced that the Computer on Wheels dubbed as Tech4Ed Computer Skills Development Vehicle in the District will provide his constituents the indispensable computer literacy and basic computer training, especially those in the far flung areas.

Through a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), De Venecia launched the Program last October 20, 2017 at the Mabilao Covered Court.

 

  The Tech4Ed Computer Skills Development Vehicle of Congressman Toff de Venecia

The program officially started last November 13, 2017 at Barangay Pao in the Municipality of Manaoag that already served as of November 2018 the following barangays:

·         Pao, Manaoag;  Banaoang, Mangaldan; Lipit Sur and Lipit Norte, Manaoag; Longos Central, San Fabian; Sapang, Manaoag; Pugaro, Dagupan City; Pantal, Manaoag; Tiblong, San Fabian; Baritao, Manaoag;Tempra Guilig, San Fabian; San Ramon, Manaoag; Tocok, San Fabian; Salaan, Mangaldan

·         Sta. Maria, San Jacinto; Poblacion, Mangaladan; Cayanga, San Fabian;  Tebag, Mangaldan; Capaoay, San Jacinto;  Cabaruan, San Fabian; Palua, Mangaldan

·         Nibaliw Center, San Fabian; Osiem, Mangaldan; Gueguesangen, Mangaldan

·         Salay, Mangaldan;   Embarcadero, Mangaldan; Bantayan, Mangaldan; Malued, Dagupan City;Talogtog, Mangaldan; Pogo, Mangaldan; Bateng, Mangaldan;

BENEFICIARIES - Some of the beneficiaries of the Computer on Wheels Program of Pangasinan Fourth District Rep. Christopher de Venecia.

 Bacayao Norte, Dagupan City; Anolid, Mangaldan; David, Mangaldan; Malabago, Mangaldan; Caranglaan, Dagupan City; and Maasin, Mangaldan

  

The Computer on Wheels Program has served 422 beneficiaries in 2017 and 1,326 beneficiaries from January to October 2018, bringing the total beneficiaries served to 1,748 beneficiaries as of press time. The Program caters to senior citizens, out of school youth, parents, elementary and high school students, barangay officials, barangay health workers, barangay tanods, and teachers.

As proof of the initiative and innovation of the district, the Tech4Ed Computer Skills Development Vehicle of Congressman De Venecia has been nominated as one of the six (6) finalists of the National Tech4Ed Awards 2018 under the Emerging Category. 
The awarding ceremony will be held on November 15, 2018 at The Royal Mandaya Hotel in Davao City.

DAGUPAN AWARDED 4TH SEAL OF CHILD-FRIENDLY LOCAL GOVERNANCE

DAGUPAN CITY – This city was conferred with the 2017 Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance (SCFLG) by the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) in a ceremony held on November 12 at the Sison Auditorium in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

4^TH SEAL OF CHILD-FRIENDLY LOCAL GOVERNANCE – City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) Chief Leah Aquino (center, right), City Planning and Development Officer Engineer Josephine Corpuz (2^nd from left), City Health Officer Ophelia T. Rivera (center, left), and CSWD Supervising Social Worker Irene Ferrer (3^rd from left) receives the city’s fourth Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance award from the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC). For this, the city is again qualified for the fourth consecutive year as nominee for the Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities (PACFMC). Also in photo are Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Director James Fadrilan  (far left), DILG Provincial Director Agnes De Leon  (2^nd from right) and Pangasinan Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim, Jr.  (3^rd from right).(CIO photo by Arriz Fruelda)

Signed by Emmanuel Leyco – CWC Chairperson and Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Social Welfare and Development; and Eduardo Año – CWC member and Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Interior and Local Government, the seal is conferred to outstanding local government units in recognition of their commitment in promoting child rights to survival, development, protection and participation

Agbayani Will Batter Libunao In The Mayorship Race

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Re-elective San Fabian, Pangasinan Mayor Constante “Danny” Agbayani will beat to a pulp in the next year’s election come backing former mayor Mojamito Libunao, a supporter of the incumbent hizzoner (abbreviation of HisHonortheMayor) told me.

“The Libunaos are politically washed out, they are no longer popular with the people here,” the source, who asked for anonymity, told me by referring to Libunao, a lawyer, and his wife Irene where the spouses used to switch the mayoralty position to govern the town for almost two decades

The Libunaos had traumatic experienced with the down-to-earth Agbayani when the latter buried in a landslide votes in the 2013 and 2016 elections then Mayor Irene and come backing mayorship bet Mojamito.

Agbayani defeated former mayor Mojamito, a U.P Law classmate of Super Heavyweight Senator Franklin Drilon, in the May 2016 election where Libunao ate the dust with 12,588 votes versus Danny’s 24,383 votes.

REMATCH - San Fabian Mayor Danny Agbayani (Left) and former mayor Jamming Libunao.

Son of a gun that’s 66% versus 34%! 

How could Jamming justify to all and sundry that he could defeat  next year the least educated but pro hoi polloi, er, masa Danny, who loves to speak in the vernacular “Please no English, as we are all Filipinos” as my radio tandem Harold Barcelona teased me every time Harold and I exited from the office of the good demeanor mayor.