Celeste Warns Calugay: We'll Fight Back

IF YOU HARM US

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY - The political cauldron in Sual town in Pangasinan – classified as a hot spot in the 2019 election – has been brewing wildly.

A truculent former Pangasinan First District Congressman Jesus “Boying” Celeste warned the camp of his mayorship rival Sual Mayor Liseldo “Dong” Calugay that he will fight back in case the latter allies harm him and his supporters.

“Kung gagalaw sila na anuhin nila kami talagang lalabanan ko sila”.

If Calugay and his supporters have been successful in intimidating the son and father tandem during the 2019 election of mayorship and vice mayorship candidates John and Roberto ”Bing” Arcinue, Celeste said it could never happen under his candidacy and to his voters.

2022 MAYORSHIP’S DUKE OUT: From left: Former Nine-Year Pangasinan First District Congressman Jesus "Boying" Celeste and Philippines fourth richest town's Sual, Pangasinan Mayor Liseldo "Dong" Calugay. Celeste will challenge the incumbency of Calugay in the May 9, 2022 Election.

“Hindi ako puweding basta na lang uupo diyan na gaya niyang nangyari nakaraang eleksiyon tatakutin ang mga botante namin. Hindi mangyari iyan sa amin...” he said on a radio interview today.

The older Arcinue told reporters in this city that several days before the May 13, 2019 election, menacing men wearing black jackets roamed gung-ho on their motorcycles in the 19 villages of the coastal town instilling fear to his supporters.

Almost a year before the 2019 poll, Arcinue ally's Barangay Sto. Domingo Punong Barangay Romulo Agbayani was assasinated through a .45 caliber hand gun in front of his house by motorcycle men riding in tandem.

“Somebody wanted to paint my town as disordered. One of my village chiefs was assassinated last June (2018) without even a known reason,” former Mayor Arcinue said.

Some political kibitzers are seeing the possibility of hostilities between the camps of the former solon and the mayor as election on May 9, 2022 is approaching.

In his September 30 interview by Bombo Radyo- Dagupan City, Celeste insinuated about Calugay and his supporters of the alleged presence in the town of flying voters from the latter former residence in Bugallon town and the Tarlac Province.

“Puro ang binabangit niya Bolinao ng Bolinao (former residence of Celeste). May mga kandidatung Bolinao hindi naman maganda iyon. Bakit hindi siya magbanggit na may mga kandidatung Bugallon na dumating din. Ang mga taga Tarlac. Medyo hindi ko kursunada ang sinasabi niya. Sana umabot din sa kanya,” A livid Celeste declared.

In an internet post, Sual Municipal Election Officer Eva Quinto said that there were alleged two thousand persons from other towns who registered as voters in the town.

Although she could not prevent them on their bid to register, the Commission on Election, she said, will thresh them out if they are really fake voters.

Celeste said he wished his rival Calugay will be fair on treating him and his supporters.

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MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

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I am a twenty years seasoned Op-Ed Political Writer in various newspapers and Blogger exposing government corruptions, public officials's idiocy and hypocrisies, and analyzing local and international issues. I have a master’s degree in Public Administration and professional government eligibility. I taught for a decade Political Science and Economics in universities in Metro Manila and cities of Urdaneta, Pangasinan and Dagupan. Follow me on Twitter @totoMortz or email me at totomortz@yahoo.com.

Cayetano to House: Don’t Railroad Passage of 2nd E-Sabong Franchise

Former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday said he hopes the House of Representatives will not “railroad” a second bill granting a franchise to another company to operate online cockfighting (e-sabong) in the country.

In a letter to Majority Floor Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on September 28, 2021, Cayetano asked that he be informed if the bill granting the franchise to Visayas Cockers Club, Inc. would be taken up before the adjournment of Congress on Thursday, September 30. “It is my fervent request that this will not be the case as it deprives the Members of the opportunity to raise questions on a bill of transcendental importance that must be discussed due to the destructive effect it has on our society,” Cayetano told Romualdez.

RAILROAD. Former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano calls fellow Congressmen not to railroad the granting of the franchise of the Visayas Cockers Club, Inc. to operate an online (e-sabong) cockfighting business in the country. (Caption Text by Mortz C. Ortigoza)

“Members of the House of Representatives are entitled to due notice of the matters that will be taken up during the plenary session. This is important to allow the members to study the proposed measure, prepare questions for interpellation, and formulate amendments, if necessary,” he added. Cayetano asked that House members be given a day’s notice before interpellations and debate on the measure are scheduled for plenary deliberations. “This is also to prevent delays in the discussion to ensure that the resource persons we requested to invite are present and that the documents we requested are provided – especially on the bill that I am pertaining to,” he said. The first e-sabong franchise was granted to Lucky 8 Star Quest, Inc. on September 13, 2021. Cayetano noted that it took the House a mere day day to move the measure from Committee Recommendation, inclusion in the Order of Business, Period of Sponsorship, and finally to Approval on Second Reading. The former Speaker wrote Romualdez a letter a week later on September 20, 2021 to register his protest on the rushed approval, but he said his motion “was not even read on the record.” In his first letter to Romualdez, Cayetano had emphasized the importance of the proposed franchise because it was a “policy bill” as it was the first time in Philippine history that an e-sabong franchise would be granted. “This will have grave moral implications on our daily lives,” he had said. In his second letter to Romualdez on Tuesday, Cayetano reiterated that the matter ”involves our children and future generations.” “It is imperative that there will be an opportunity to deliberate on this measure and it will not be ‘railroaded,’” he said. Cayetano also requested that the Committee on Legislative Franchises invite the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), officials from the Department of Education, Church leaders and Christian organizations, and other important stakeholders “so that they may have the opportunity to present their sides, noting of the possible dire effects gambling could make on future generations of Filipinos".

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Trolls: Politicians Deadly Weapons to Destroy their Enemies

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MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

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I am a twenty years seasoned Op-Ed Political Writer in various newspapers and Blogger exposing government corruptions, public officials's idiocy and hypocrisies, and analyzing local and international issues. I have a master’s degree in Public Administration and professional government eligibility. I taught for a decade Political Science and Economics in universities in Metro Manila and cities of Urdaneta, Pangasinan and Dagupan. Follow me on Twitter @totoMortz or email me at totomortz@yahoo.com.

Rivals Still Face Blank Wall how to beat the Celestes

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BOLINAO, Pangasinan - Opponents of former Congressman Art Celeste continue to look for answers how to beat him and his kin in this vote rich bailiwick town that saw failed bids of rivals in the past congressional races.

This town, the birthplace of the political family Celestes, has 83,979 population (2020 PSA) and 42, 232 registered voters (April 2021 Comelec).

In case the plan of former Congressman and Corazon Aquino Administration Executive Secretary Oscar Orbos materializes, the elusive keys of how to beat Art Celeste will preoccupy his mind.

MARQUEE Congressional candidates Alaminos City former Mayor Art Celeste (left) and former Malacanang Executive Secretary Oscar Orbos. 

“One of the challenges of Manong Oca Orbos is how to solve the Bolinao Vote Factor. These past 21 years, Celeste brothers have maintained a tight gripped on the congressional seat of the First District of Pangasinan. Thanks to their solid votes in Bolinao. Other congressional contenders like (Lawyer) Vic Millora, (GMA-7 TV Reporter) Maki Pulido, and (former General Manager of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) Tim Orbos were able to win in many smaller towns but when the Bolinao votes were counted, their initial lead were completely wiped out,” a political contributor Deep Throat -2 wrote to this writer.

The District is composed the City of Alaminos and the municipalities of  Agno, Anda, Bani, Bolinao, Burgos, Dasol, Infanta, Mabini and Sual.

The source said instead of 2019 congressional candidate Orbos – who was beaten in a tight race by Rep. Arnold Celeste – challenging Art in the May 9, 2022 election, his older brother Oscar will probably duke- out with the former.

”In preparation for his return in local politics, Manong Oca Orbos is selling his properties in Bani, Pangasinan to fund his campaign. According to a reliable source, he will run as an independent candidate but he welcomes help from other parties who believes that he is more qualified and well equipped than Art Celeste -  his rival for the position,” the source in conditioned of anonymity told Northern Watch Newspaper.

Tim Orbos, added by Deep Throat-2, defected lately from the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and joined the Aksyon Demokratiko of Manila City Mayor and Presidential aspirant Isko Moreno.

His discontentment in the old party ensued because the officials there did not have the enthusiasm to disqualify Congressman Arnold Celeste on the charges at the Commission on Election that he is a citizen of the United States.

The ineligibility of Celeste in the 2019 race would see Orbos as shoo-in on that post.

The former beat the latter with a 7,488 lead votes where Celeste and Orbos chalked up 101, 234 and 93, 786 votes, respectively.

Arnold next year will be challenging the seat of Mayor Gualberto R. Sison in the one horse's town Agno, Pangasinan.

In the acrimonious 2019 election, it saw the towns of Sual, Mabini, Dasol, and Agno went to the allied mayors of Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino, III and his father and namesake the former governor and congressman of the province.

“His younger brother Tim is now busy as national convenor for Kami Muna Movement which is supporting Isko Moreno for President. "Kumalas si Tim sa PDP-Laban dahil hindi inasikaso ng secretary general ang kasong inhihain niya tungkol sa pagiging US citizen ni Cong Arnold Celeste at sa paniniwala na mas magaling si Isko kaysa ibang kandidato gustong tumakbo sa pagka presidente," Deep Throat -2 cited

Former Congressman Jesus “Boying” Celeste, the eldest of the Celeste brothers, is gung-ho to unseat Philippines fourth richest town Sual Mayor Liseldo “Dong” Calugay in the next year’s electoral derby.

The political kibitzer - who kept sending informations to this writer what transpired at the camps of the Espinos and Orbos -  said the opponents of the Celestes should work smarter and harder to defeat Art in the May 9, 2022 poll.

“They need to get at least 40% of the Bolinao votes to win. Therefore he must work smarter and harder in reducing the Celeste votes in that town”.

In case the congressional showdown between Art Celeste and Oscar Orbos materialized after the filing of the certificate of candidacy at the provincial’s Comelec office at Dagupan City in October 1 to 8 this year, political spectators are curious to see how the voters treat the moneyed and more popular Celeste and the once Renaissance Man and “Whiz Kid” Oscar Orbos – as cited by marquee Op-Ed Writers Maximo V. Soliven and Teddy Benigno - when they tangle with each other in the game of ingratiating of votes of the electorates in the rustic western Pangasinan district.

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Trolls: Politicians Deadly Weapons to Destroy their Enemies  

MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

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I am a twenty years seasoned Op-Ed Political Writer in various newspapers and Blogger exposing government corruptions, public officials's idiocy and hypocrisies, and analyzing local and international issues. I have a master’s degree in Public Administration and professional government eligibility. I taught for a decade Political Science and Economics in universities in Metro Manila and cities of Urdaneta, Pangasinan and Dagupan. Follow me on Twitter @totoMortz or email me at totomortz@yahoo.com.

Paano Magnakaw at Ma-Bunkrupt ang mga Pulitiko

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Filing na ng certificate of candidacy (CoC) sa October 1 to 8, 2022 ng mga tatakbo para sa Pangulo ng Pilipinas, Senador, Kongressman, Gobernador, Mayor, at mga miyembro ng Sangguniang Bayan, Panlungsod, at Lalawigan.

Masaya na naman ang sambayanang Pilipino lalo na ang mga bobotantes at voters- for- sale. Makakatangap na naman sila ng datung na galing sa mga galanteng kandidato.

Dito sa lungsod namin, noong tumakbo ang dalawang kandidatong mayors na mga big time businessmen, isang buwan bago mag May 13, 2019 election estimate ko mga tag P4,000 rin bawat isa sa kanila ang pinamudmud sa karamihan sa mahigit 119, 164 voters (November 2018 Comelec’s data) ng siyudad.

Photo is grabbed by this blog from the internet

Mga magkano iyon? Tag P333,659,200 sila kung sumahin natin ang 70 percent of 83,415 voters ng botante na binili. Magkano ang suweldo monthly ng incumbent City Mayor? Nakakalungkot na more or less P150,000 monthly.

Nakakalulang P333,659,200 kontra sa P5,850,000 sa tatlong taong kasama na ang 13^th months pay serbisyo sa masa! Anyari?

Sa dami ng pera anak ng bakang dalaga na bumaha na parang dilubyo, nalimas lahat ng stocks at benta ng Jollibee, McDonald, Chowking, 7-11 sa dami ng mga bumili. Ang hindi lang naubos ang Filet-O-Fish ng McDo kasi French sounding ang hamburger na isda ang palaman. Natakot ang mga taga barrio at squatters baka mag-ta-e sila sa mala imported na pagkain na hindi pa nila natikman sa tanang buhay nila hahaha!

Pati flat screen TV at supply ng shabu ayon sa intel ng pulisya nalimas din sa malang unos na dumating.

“Anlaki naman ng bilihan ng boto sa inyo! Noong ako tumakbo tag P200 lang ang bili namin ng boto,” ani ng isang batang Mayor sa Pangasinan noong bumisita ako sa opisina niya at napag usapan namin ang 2022 Election.

Aniya iyong katabing siyudad nilang malaki tag P300 lang kada isa ng botante ang bilihan.

“Mortz, kung gusto mong manalo sa reelection mo, mangurakot ka na pagkaupo mo para maka ipon ka para manalo ka uli,” ika sa akin ng isa ring Mayor sa Central Pangasinan habang nagkakape kami.

Ani niya, galing ang pera nila sa share as elective politicians sa jueteng (illegal number games), S.O.P o cut sa mga infrastructure projects na galing sa 20 percent development fund ng annual budget ng local government unit, at iba pa gaya ng mga suweldo ng mga ghost workers.

(Read my political blog about the details how How Mayor, Guv, Solon Steal to Fund Their Election)

“Iyong Tiyo ng misis ko sa Mangaldan noong matapos ang pinakamahabang term niya nagkawindang windang ang buhay ng pamilya, pati ancestral home na isanla dahil sa reelection niya,” ika ni Bong na manager ng isang napakalaking negosyo sa Urdaneta City.

“Iyong pamangkin ng mother-in-law ko sa Calasiao, matagal naging mayor. Pero ayon lumalakad sa kalsada nanghihingi ng abuloy sa mga kakilala. Bukod sa sabungero sabi nila na bunkrupt sa kaka-takbo sa pagka Alkalde,” sagot ko naman.

Iyong ibang mayor bukod sa pangungurakot, ginamit ang posisyon para makapag patayo ng mga gas stations, memorial parks, iyong iba sinusunog pa ang palengke para makapag loan ng hundreds of million of pesos kung saan kukuha sila ng cut sa contractors para pambili uli ng boto sa re-election.

Bad talaga maging pulitiko. Tama iyong sabi ni Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival 2021 (On The Job: The Missing 8) John Arcilla:

"Mas naiintindihan ko pa at mapapatawad iyong mga mahihirap na napilitan magnakaw dahil sa gutom at kagipitan kaysa doon sa mga taong may mataas na pinag-aralan at katungkulan pero nagnanakaw sa bayan."
"Botante ka? Iligtas mo ang bayan natin. Hindi po ako kandidato, Nagpapaalala lang."

Tama ba si Arcilla sa sinabi niya?

Siya iyong lead actor sa pelikulang Antonio Luna na isinabuhay ang Put*ng Ina na pakikibaka ni Heneral Luna laban sa masasama.

“Goyong (General Emilio Aguinaldo), putang ina mo, tignan mo ginawa mo sa kanya!” ani ni Luna sa naging First President ng Pinas na nakikipag collaborate - gaya ng mga Aquinos ng Tarlac at Laurels ng Batangas sa Hapon - sa mga Amerkanong mananakop.

(Read my blog/column on My critique on the film "Heneral Luna")

Put*ng ina talaga itong mga pulitiko. Buti na lang iyong iba gaya sa sinabi ko sa itaas nakakarma dahil mga kawatan sila hahaha.

  The Lethal, Costly Weapons of a Cobra

MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

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I am a twenty years seasoned Op-Ed Political Writer in various newspapers and Blogger exposing government corruptions, public officials's idiocy and hypocrisies, and analyzing local and international issues. I have a master’s degree in Public Administration and professional government eligibility. I taught for a decade Political Science and Economics in universities in Metro Manila and cities of Urdaneta, Pangasinan and Dagupan. Follow me on Twitter @totoMortz or email me at totomortz@yahoo.com.