To Thwart Hazing, PMAAA Dialogue With PMA Brass, Cadets

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Members of the Triple A or the Philippine Military Alumni Association, Inc. who called each other “cavalier” conducted recently a pep talk with the members of the “Long Gray Line” at Fort del Pilar, Baguio City after the brutal death of Cadet Fourth Class  Darwin Dormitorio at the hands of his upper classmen.
The two day meetings primordially to foil the evil of hazing and maltreatment ensued last Friday and Saturday in the PMA compound where the PMAAA met separately the military and medical officials of the PMA, the upperclassmen composed of the yearlings (second year), cows (third year), and firsties (fourth year), and the brunt of the maltreatment the vulnerable plebes (first year).

PEP-TALK VS. HAZING. Former police two-star general and Lingayen, Pangasinan Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil exhorted the upper class men cadets of the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City to show to the whole world that they never tolerated hazing. The pep-talk to the cadets ensued with members of the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association, Inc. after Fourth Class Cadet Darwin Dormitorio died because of maltreatment at the hands of his upper class men.

“Let’s shout to the whole world so our voice can be heard that we never tolerated hazing. Marinig ng ating Chief of Staff, ng Secretary of National Defense, ng ating Presidente. Hip hip hooray,” former police two-star general and incumbent Lingayen Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil (PMA Class 1976) ended his rabble rousing speech, probably minted by his nine years as congressman, with his signature cheers of several “hip hips” that the upperclassmen enthusiastically responded with their “hooray” inside the hall where they converged. 

Cong’woman To Resign After Naked Photos, 3-Somes Exposed

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

A contractor in my province reacted on my news article's Projects in DPWH's Districts are Fixed. CLICK HERE TO READ

When I mentioned there the S.O.P or bribe given by a contractor who won the bid at the Department of Public Works & Highway on the multi-million pesos’ construction of government infrastructure to a congressman and the DPWH’s district engineer, he said the bribe given to a solon, National Irrigation Administration’s Provincial Manager, and others in Central and Eastern Pangasinan vary.

“Pare, don’t quote me. Ang bigayan sa Eastern Pangasinan sa construction ng school building ay 12%; Roads and Flood Construction Project 20%; Irrigation 10%”.

In Central Pangasinan, he said the S.O.P is lower.

“Geez, the greed of politicians and public officials in that part of the province is moderate,” I told myself.

Rosario Elected Region-1’s BM League Chair

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN – A seasoned provincial board member (BM) of Pangasinan has been elected chairman of the League of Board Members in the four provinces’ Region 1 to serve from years 2019 to 2022.

BM Jeremy Agerico “Ming” Rosario showed to this newspaper the texts of his Oath of Office where he “solemnly swear that I will faithfully abide and conscientiously discharge to the best of my ability the duties of my position, that I will dedicate myself to attain the goal and objectives of my league”.

 He was sworn by Department of Interior & Local Government Region-1 Director James F. Fadrilan.

LEAGUE – Years 2019-2022 officers of the roughly 60 strong members’ League of Board Members in the four provinces’ Region 1 posed for posterity after their election. Fifth from left second row is its chairman Pangasinan Senior Board Member Jeremy Agerico “Ming” Rosario. Other elected board members from gigantic province were: Louie Sison- Secretary General; Margielou Orange Humilde Versoza- Treasurer; Noel Bince - Board of Director; and Chinky Perez-Tababa - Regional- Provincial Representative

Rosario said being the top honcho of the roughly sixty provincial legislators has indispensable obligation to the country.
 “I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines, defend its constitution and follow the lawful orders of its duly constituted authorities, that I impose upon myself this obligation voluntarily without mental reservation or purpose of evasion so help me God,” his oath said.

Rosario, a medical doctor, finished his six years’ two term as BM in year 2013, chose to run but failed to clinch the mayorship of the first class town Manaoag in that same year.

BAYAMBANG DECLARES STATE OF CALAMITY

AFTER ASF INTRUDED 7 BRGYS

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BAYAMBANG, Pangasinan – The local government unit of this central Pangasinan town declared a State of Calamity after hogs in several villages here have been inflicted by the African Swine Fever (ASF).

Of the seven barangays suspected scourged by the dreaded global epidemic, four villages were inside the one kilometer radius.

Authorities here said that the number of barangays affected by ASF will increase after the 1-7-10 protocol is implemented.

The protocol, according to the D.A, means that all hogs in the one kilometer radius should be killed and buried while the owners will be compensated by the government. Movements of the swines in the seven kilometers outside the one kilometer radius would be monitored by authorities while in next ten kilometers radius the owners report to the government any symptoms of the pigs.

Through the State of Calamity, officials of the LGU here could easily extend financial and technical help to the beleaguered hog raisers especially those whose swines were culled.

Recall that 300 pigs were killed in Barangay Apalen here after 30 of them were found in a random testing by the personnel of Agriculture Region-1 Executive Director Lucrecio Alviar to be infected with the African Swine Fever.

The D.A gives P5000.00 for each of the cloven hoofed animal killed while Mayor Quiambao’s office allocates one sack of 50 kilos rice to each of the recipients.

“As a matter of fact puwede na na-approve na iyong resolution noong Monday. Puwede na iyong ayuda basta totoo na iyong kanilang baboy ay pinatay talaga at ibinaon,” he told reporters.

VG Mark Lambino for Governor?

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

While Manila based tabloid writer the still athletic septuagenarian Erning Cayabyab and I were partaking our lunch last Monday at one of the food stalls in the Capitol Compound in Lingayen, Pangasinan, Erning told me to turn my head because there was a towering figure behind me walking to another stall.

Son of a gun, it was nonpareil reporter, broadcaster, and the dark media working horse Atong Remogat. 
The warm blood is “Man of the Hour” and the “Newsmaker” what with three pretty actress Barretto sisters and a niece not only “emotionally” linked to him but scuffled by pulling each other hair, kicking stunts, and one slapping incident that involved Marjorie Barretto that ensued in front and near President Rodrigo Duterte.

MY FIRST VISIT at the chic office of Pangasinan Vice Governor Mark Ronald Lambino (center) at the Capitol Compound in Lingayen, Pangasinan. I posed here for posterity with (from left) Radio Commentator Manny Celso, me, Lambino, 5^th District Board Member Louie Sison, and nonpareil reporter, broadcaster, and the dark media working horse Renato “Atong” Remogat.

That fracas continued at the boob tube and the social media as the kin ripped each other’s reputation to the glee of the Filipino nation.

“Atong!,” I shouted  with zeal while I beckoned him to join us. But he just nodded nonchalantly and proceeded to the restaurant to order his meal sponsored by the office of 6th District Board Member Dong Perez. Perez, just like his father former mayor Badong, is Atong's close pal.

“To’, lika dito!” Atong, who was already sitting, shouted at me using the Ilonggo endearment title of “Toto” for a male who hailed in the southern part of the country and not the rock band “Toto” or the toilet bowl brand with the same name tee-he he he!

“You eat again because I saw Atong ordered another set of lunch while I video interview him because he is unprepared that will make the footage scintillating to the viewers,” I told Erning, whose eyes wondered what does the word’s scintillating mean.

“Hinde na ituro ng editor ko sa Manila iyan, To’ ah!” Erning, a half-Bacolodnon and Pangasinense just like our kabaleyan Larry Henares, told me in Ilonggo as he went to Atong.

Sual folks welcome another power plant

SUAL, Pangasinan – Residents here welcome the entry of another coal-fired power plant after they received assurance from the project proponent that it will not cause pollution in the area.

A group dubbed as Sual Pro-Progress cited the previous public  hearing the municipal government held to take the pulse of the public over the proposed plan to put up another power plant in addition to the existing 1,200-megawatt Sual Coal-Fired Power Plant in barangay Pangascasan.

During the public hearings, officials of Korean Electric Power Corporation or KEPCO assured the residents that they will be using the latest technology in producing electricity called the ultra-super critical coal technology that considerably reduces green gas emission.

They said that majority of the residents favored the idea of constructing another power plant that would provide jobs and additional income for the people and the municipality.

Fossil Power Plant.

Mindanaon is LGUs’ Engr. National Prexy

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BAGUIO CITY – A municipal engineer of the local government unit (LGU) of Mlang, Cotabato Province was elected as president of the prestigious City and Municipal Engineers Association of the Philippines (CMEAP).

Armando “Mandy” Jaromay told this newspaper that members of the national board of the CMEAP he headed will serve from January 2020 to December 2021.

The election was held recently during the association’s 12^th National Convention at Newtown Plaza Hotel in Leonard Wood Road here.

CHANGE OF GUARD. Incoming City and Municipal Engineers Association of the Philippines (CMEAP) President Mandy Jaromay (left photo) and outgoing CMEAP President Jane Rosario. The latter is the City Engineer of Dagupan City while the former is the Municipal Engineer of M’lang, Cotabato Province.

Jaromay, the first municipal engineer of M’lang, said that he is presently the acting president of the CMEAP after its chair Maria Virginia V. Rosario was on a vacation leave in the United States.

Rosario, the City Engineer of Dagupan City, will be retiring on November 11 this year according to Jaromay.

He will update this newspaper about the programs he and his national board will undertake before they assumed office in January next year.

Projects' Bidding in DPWH’s Districts are Fixed

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

 A former mayor and an official of a congressman said that all government projects being bidded at many districts of the Department of Public Works & Highway are fixed.

The officials, who speak on condition of anonymity, cited that those projects have been given to the favored contractors of the solon at the district in Pangasinan where the projects are intended.

“Ako ang tirador ni congressman noon. May pre-qualification bid iyan ayon sa R.A 9184. Mahabang proceso. May pass –fail criteria pa iyon documents mo. My post – qualification pa. It’s sad to say all bidding in public works lahat fixed iyon,” the aide of a solon stressed to this writer.

Republic Act 9184 is Modernization, Standardization and Regulation of the Procurement Activities of the Government.

Money exchanges hands between a contractor and a corrupt government official.

Based on his experiences those projects intended for a district need the imprimatur of a congressman who decides whom it can be awarded in a bid.

“Takot ang D.E ng DPWH sa congressman,” he said.

D.E is District Engineer or the top honcho of the DPWH in a selected number of local government units that include a city and towns or purely towns only.

Tax man to hunt those errant shop owners

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

After I posted the mall’s brouhaha that became “viral” (a Facebook’s parlance means “quickly becomes very popular”) that major radio commentators feasted, a lawyer - friend reported to me how one of the stalls in a new business establishment in Dagupan City violated the tax law of the country by not issuing an official receipt (O.R) of the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

“Mahaba ang pila namin sa sikat nila na “drink” ng mapansin ko na binabawi ng attendant iyong recibo na binigay niya sa harap ko na customer. Noong ako na ang nagbayad sinabi ko na kailangan ko ng O.R ng BIR. Binigyan ako pero binabawi rin niya,” the lawyer, who declared on condition of anonymity, told me.

When he introduced himself as a lawyer and lectured her that the store violated the tax law of the land, the attendant, who felt those lectures were “Greek”, told him they don’t have the O.R.

“Imagine they have been operating for more than a week without issuing receipts from the BIR. They should have shut down their shop.” He told me.
He called his friends at the BIR and reported the matter.

I know another store there that did not have an O.R but did not open to business afraid that it could commit infraction, according to its staff.

“We are still waiting for our official receipt,” he told me.

Authorities shut down a big time Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) provider in Quezon City, complying with the Finance chief’s ordered crackdown on gambling sites that refuse to pay taxes. Extreme right is Bureau of Internal Revenue Deputy Commissioner Arnel Guballa. (FILE PHOTO)

When I narrated the incident last Tuesday with BIR Revenue District Office No. 4 Chief Ernesto I. Mangabat, who oversees two cities and 13 towns in central Pangasinan, and Taxpayer Assistance Unit Lee Caday, the point man of BIR Region-1 Director Thelma S. Milabao who was out –of-town, they were alarmed.

Group cite more benefits from second power plant in Sual town

 SUAL, Pangasinan – A multi-sectoral group of residents here that includes senior citizens and womenfolk, is urging the new leaders to support the second power plant because of the numerous benefits the residents of Sual could get from the project to be constructed by a multi-national company based in South Korea.

Calling themselves as Sual Proprogress, the group said they support the development thrusts of the municipal government headed by Mayor Lizeldo “Dong” Calugay, particularly the construction of the Sual International Seaport which could draw in more investors.

However, they said, the frequent power interruptions in many parts of Pangasinan could disrupt the flow of investors that could generate additional revenues for the province as well as job opportunities for the people.

In welcoming the entry of another power plant in their locality, they listed several benefits that the municipality of Sual and its residents could derive from the project:

1.       The proposed power plant project would provide more than one thousand jobs for local folk that would mean higher purchasing power and standard of living for Sual residents;

LMP- P'SINAN CHAPTER OFFICERS MEET WITH GUV

LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES OF THE PHILIPPINES – PANGASINAN CHAPTER OFFICERS. Local chief executives flash the Pangasinan no. 1 sign alongside Governor Amado I. Espino III (4^th from left) who earlier administered their oath-taking ceremony as the new set of officers of League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) – Pangasinan Chapter at the Ceremonial Hall of the Urduja House on October 17. The LMP – Pangasinan officers are: Lingayen Mayor Leopoldo N. Bataoil (3^rd from right), president; Dasol Mayor Noel A. Nacar, vice-president; Balungao Mayor Maria Theresa R. Peralta, secretary; Binmaley Mayor Simplicio L. Rosario, treasurer; Calasiao Mayor Joseph Arman C. Bauzon, auditor; and Basista Mayor Jolly R. Resuello, public relations officer. /SMDG (Photo by Meinard Sadim)

Charges Loom for Aguilar's LGU Exec. for Bid Doc. Anomaly

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – An official of the local government unit (LGU) of Aguilar, Pangasinan is being mulled to be complained criminally and administratively at the Ombudsman.

The source, who asked for anonymity, said that when he wanted to buy a bidding document for the Bids & Awards Committee (BAC) to competitively tender with those favored contractors of the allegedly power that be, the official gave him a runaround.

“Kasi Martes mayroon siyang DILG visitor, then the following day Miyerkules mayroon siyang appointment sa labas for project identification. So busy in short wala siyang appropriate time,” he stressed.

A file darkened photo of a whistle blower.

When the source asked the female executive to give him an available date and time for them to meet, he was told Thursday and Friday of this week.

Last Friday she was indisposed, the source said, that prompted him to report this anomaly to media men in this city.

He cited the department head should not deprive those contractors who are not friends of the administration there because the project is advertised at the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PHILGEPS).

The source wanted to bid cheaply to all contracts on infrastructure projects entered by the local government unit under Mayor Roldan C. Sagles.

“I supposed they are trying to evade all interested parties for their favored contractor,” he told reporters.

Dagupan Mayor Zeroes on Floods as Most Urgent Problem

                                                    FIRST 100 DAYS REPORT

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY - In the First 100 Days Report of the mayor here, he zeroed on the scourge of floods as the most pressing problem his administration faces.

Mayor Marc Brian Lim said that the topographic survey he commissioned through the Dagupan Anti-Flooding Commission will be the basis of all flood mitigation projects that will soon be finished.

“I thank the men and women of the Flood Mitigation Commission, led by Joseph Lo, for volunteering, at no expense to the city government, their time and expertise, to once and for all document and implement our long term strategic plan to solve our flooding problem,” he stressed last Thursday to a limited number of invited crowd at the narrow space’s City’s Museum here.

REPORT - Dagupan City Mayor Marc Brian Lim during his First 100 Days Report to his constituents. 

The open dumpsite in Barangay Bonuan Binloc has been dubbed by Lim as an ignorance problem that needs urgent action.

During the six years of former mayor Belen T. Fernandez’s administration, the waste yard has been neglected and its deterioration was hidden from the public because officials barred media men to investigate and report it.

“If we are to analyze it fully, it was really an ignorance problem. At least now we can say that Teddy Villamil and the Waste Management Division are focused on trying to resolve it”.

He will expedite the solution of the herculean garbage problem because of the eco-park in the adjacent area.

Mediocre, Stupid Radio Announcers

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Radio announcers should not emulate this mediocre female radio announcer who was convicted with libel by the Regional Trial Court.

Because of imprudence that borders to stupidity, she maliciously attacked on her program a person to commit a higher crime despite knowing that her ire committed a less serious offense.

Libel, according to Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code has the following elements: 1. The allegation of a discreditable act or condition concerning another; 2. Publication (jurisprudence called it too as “broadcasting”) of the charge; 3. Identity of the person defamed; 4. Existence of Malice.

The judge of the Regional Trial Court, who handled the case for several years, saw all the four elements consummated by the wannabe radio woman.  

With that conviction where she is sentenced to serve several years in the slammer, she got the following options.

A female radio announcer opines inside the station's booth.

She pays tens of thousands of pesos for her lawyer for her Petition to Appeal at the Court of Appeals (C.A).

If the C.A will affirm the decision of the RTC, she shells out again tens of thousands of pesos for a lawyer who will write an appeal to the Supreme Court.

If the highest tribunal agreed with the RTC’s decision she goes to jail and serve the several years’ sentence given to her by the Regional Trial Court.

If she applies for probation, within 15 days upon receipt of the decision of the RTC, to avoid the adverse decision of the S.C, she opens herself with civil indemnity the complainant will file against her with hundreds of thousands of pesos’ damages. Thanks to mediocrity and stupidity, she reaps now the consequences of her bravado thinking she got the microphone in the booth and a license to maliciously and orally slander another person.

***

I remember a radio announcer in my province who zealously lambasting on air the incompetence of the district engineer of the Department of Public Works & Highway.

He singled out the rough and tumble road abandoned with neglect by the government.

Unfortunately, the district engineer, the top man of the DPWH that covers two congressional districts, was driving his car and was tuned to the frequency of the radio station.

When the D.E stormed into the booth of the station where the broadcaster was unleashing his vitriol against the former, the latter was startled as if he saw a ghost.

“You do your homework first before you attack me. The road you are assailing is provincial road and not a national highway that is under my watch!” the district engineer screamed at him.

I could cite other irresponsible radio announcers because of mediocrity and stupidity where they dragged themselves to an awkward position like financial expenses because they were sued with libel by those they orally slandered.

*** 

The difference between the administrations of former Dagupan City’s mayor Belen T. Fernandez and incumbent mayor Brian Lim, during the stints of the former public toilets at the back of the office of the park administrator and near the mayor shed in Barangay Bonuan Gueset was free of charge to the public who relieved themselves there.

Last Wednesday when I went there to pee, a woman holding a mop, billed me five pesos for the use of the john there.

Other guys and gals I saw there shelling out too five pesos for the use of the two toilets without even given a receipt by the woman to account that those monies were going to the public coffer.

I don’t know if Mayor Lim knows this but it if this “misconduct” or shenanigan or mulcting or whatever was done by his employees there, he will look bad before the eyes of his constituents up to the May 2022 election when ex-mayor Fernandez will make a comeback.

The young Lim, a former vice mayor, vanquished six years’ mayor Fernandez, an ally of the de Venecias, in a close- shave contest with a 1,239 (1.4%) lead votes among the 97,073 voters in the massive vote buying marred May 13, 2019 poll. 

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

READ MY OTHER BLOG/COLUMN:

Who is Stupid Between Me and This Ex-Solon, Radioman?

Lim, De Venecia Collaborate

       WILL THIS THREATEN EX MAYOR BELEN?

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – This city’s mayor has been seen several times rubbing elbows with the district’s congressman while the latter has been doing his medical missions to his constituents, a close ally of the solon told this writer.

The ally, who asked for anonymity, said that Pangasinan Fourth District Representative Christopher de Venecia reached out lately with Mayor Brian Lim because that should be an ideal thing to do.

COLLABORATION - Pangasinan Fourth District Representative Christopher "Toff" de Venecia (2nd from left) and Dagupan City Mayor Brian Lim (holding boxes of medicines) lead the medical and dental mission at Barangay Poblacion Oeste in the city. The activity, as part of the young solon’s week long birthday celebration in the congressional district, was conducted in the village with the help of the city government. The mission was augmented by free haircut, manicure, pedicure, massage, and distribution of eyeglasses to the grateful constituents. (Photo Credit: City Information Office)

Recently, the duo was seen together at Barangay Poblacion Oeste during de Venecia’s medical and dental missions there

The activity, as part of the young solon’s week long birthday celebration in the congressional district, was conducted in the village with the help of the city government. The mission was augmented by free haircut, manicure, pedicure, massage, and distribution of eyeglasses to the grateful constituents in the village.

Skilled workers needed in Sual

SUAL, Pangasinan – Thousands of skilled workers are neededhere with the planned construction of another coal-fired power plant.

Labor officials are now encouraging residents to acquire skills particularly those needed for building construction and power plant operation such as electricians, welders, plumbers, plant maintenance crew, etc.

Provincial Employment Services Officer Alex Ferrer welcomed this development, adding that the thrust of the provincial leadership is to encourage more investors to come to Pangasinan.

The PESO chief said Gov. Amado  “Pogi” Espino III has been “very supportive in our programs and projects to provide ample job opportunities for our people.”

He said the province is ideal for new investments with its growing population of highly skilled workers being trained through the province’s mobile skills training program which has already churned out hundreds of graduates in various technical and vocational courses.

                                                2^nd power plant

The biggest power producer in South Korea, the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), is currently holding talks with municipal officials headed by Mayor Lizeldo Calugay for the construction of the second power plant.

Should the plan push through, Sual residents would benefit by way of employment as the project requires thousands of electricians, office staff, security personnel, plumbers, welders, masons, utility workers, etc.

BIR Eastern P’gasinan Struggles to Collect P2.5B goal

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

URDANETA CITY –Officials of the Revenue District Office No. 6 (RDO-6) of the Bureau of Internal Revenue here have a hard time collecting their P2.5 billion tax goal this year.

The major “culprit” they blamed for this obstacle was the One-Time Transaction (ONETT) that ensued in the recent years.

Head of the Taxpayer Assistance Unit Lee Caday, who is based at the BIR regional office, explained to this newspaper that the huge collection chalked up by then RDO-6 chiefs Beverly S. Milo and Maribel Utit became a bane to the current RDO-6 chief Cecilia C. Campos and Assistant RDO-6 chief Lolita A. Salayog.

Revenue District Office No. 6 Chief Cecilia Campos 

“During the time of RDO-6 chiefs Milo and Utit, the TPLEX was constructed in the district and the operator bought lands of the farmers there through expropriation. A lot of taxes went to the RDO there where BIR main office in Quezon City based its tax goal by exceeding it for the present officials to collect,” Caday stressed on the Tarlac-Pangasinan- La Union Express Way.

He said it was a tall order for the brass here that oversees a city and 15 towns in eastern Pangasinan.