Actress-Mayoralty Bet Crows her Grand Economic, Social Plans

 By Jigger Ortigoza and Mortz Ortigoza

BAYAMBANG, Pangasinan – The actress-mayoralty candidate of this burgeoning town bared in a mammoth rally here one of the few grand election platforms one can hear in Pangasinan politics.

Candidate Mary Clare Phyllis “Niña” Jose-Quiambao explained before the tens of thousands of crowds that converged to the family owned Saint Vincent Ferrer Prayer Park how she will turn- around the economic, social, and medical plights of her constituents if elected as the chief executive of this more or less 75,000 registered voters’ town.

ACTRESS-MAYORALTY BET Mary Clare Phyllis “Niña” Jose-Quiambao explains before the tens of thousands of crowds that converged to the family owned Saint Vincent Ferrer Prayer Park in Bayambang, Pangasinan how she will turn-around the economic, social, and medical plights of her constituents if elected as Mayor.

She is the wife of exiting Billionaire-Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao.

Global City

“Ito po ay kabilang sa isang 67 hectares’ development projects natin dito sa Barangay Bani. At dito po natin itatayo ang Bayambang Global City,” she rabble roused in the night of March 26 on a high stage amid the cheering and applauding of supporters, politicians, and sea of spectators – drawn by two big Manila bands’ Side A and Rock Steady - that filled up the swanky immense area that hosted the Guinness record breaker taller than the Statue of Liberty the P250 million’s 50.23-meter statue of Saint Vincent Ferrer.

Quiambao's speech preceded the proclamation of the opposition party’s governorship and mayorship candidates and their slates in the forty-four towns and three cities of Pangasinan province.

Jose-Quiambao cited the gargantuan projects she and her husband will implement - when she will be catapulted to office after the May 9 election - like the Bayambang Global City that will host a town center, coliseum, super malls, villages, and government center.

“At sa pamamagitan po dito mas marami pong trabaho sa ating mga Bayambanguenos, mas maraming magbubukas at opurtunidad pa sa ating mga kababayan”

10,000 Jobs from the Quiambaos’ Bamboo Industry

Because of the family’s bamboo plantations in the four towns in Pangasinan, the Quiambaos need 10,000 workers to be part of them.

“Kailangan po namin ng sampung libong trabahante kasi pag may trabaho na po iyon po ang pangarap ng Team Quiambao –Sabangan (vice mayoralty candidate Raul-ic Sabangan) ang rebulusyon sa kahirapan”.

She said that in year 2028 each of the families here should be earning not less than P10,000 a month in case this town, where President Emilio Aguinaldo declared it as the 5th capital of the Philippines in 1899, which has a population of 129,011 (PSA 2020).

Protection Against Abuses to Women and Children

Jose-Quiambao declared too her pet project on the protection of abused women and children.

“Abong na Aro (House of Love) na mag huhubog sa ating mga kababayan na inaabuso. Ngunit sa tingin ko kulang pa tayo sa concrete na programa na ganito”.

Good Governance

She trumpeted the good governance passionately advocated and vigorously implemented by her mayor husband where entrenched and perennial corruption acts committed by the administration of his predecessors here have been eliminated in the last five years.

“Kitang kita ninyo naman po ang mga buwis ninyo. Di ba lalong umunlad ang bayan ng Bayambang at lalo pa po nating papaunlarin patungo sa mas magandang Bayambang".

New Town Owned University

This coming August the local government unit will open the Bayambang Polytechnic University. Quiambao said the free education given by the BPU to the youth here will be their pass for employment that can eventually help their family.

Spiking Agriculture

She crowed about the online computer application concocted by her husband and friends that can jack-up the stocks of the rice, onion, and other farmers here.

“Ibig sabihin noon dapat po ginagamit po natin ang teknolohiya para maka innovate ng mga bagong paraan sa pagsaka. Kaya po ang aking asawa at si Tito George Yulo at iilang pang team ay gumawa po ng isang application ng apps sa phone”.

She called it e-arrow ecosystem embedded in the android phones of the farm workers where its functions can be compared with those offered by online stores’ Lazada and Shopee.

“Sa pamamagitan po ng e-arrow at system na puwede na pong bumili ng (murang) binhi ang ating mga magsasaka at bumili ng fertilizer”.

She hoped the youth will have interest in farming after she will implement her programs in agriculture.

“Dahil naniniwala po kami sa Team Quiambao-Sabangan No. 1 force ng ating ekonomiya ay agrikultura kaya mabuhay po ang ating magsasaka”.

Hospital

Jose-Quiambao cited the being constructed Julius K. Quiambao Medical and Wellness Center that could treat the health problems of the people here.

Quiambao said the medical center will be the first hospital in Region-1 that has mental health facilities.

“Ito pong hospital na ito ay donasyon ng aming pamilya para sa mga minamahal naming Bayambanguenos at Pangasinense”.

This 77 villages' town for this year has an annual appropriation budget of P700 million.

READ MY OTHER BLOG:

How Other Mayors Create Economics Opportunities to People

 

BIR: Pay Annual Income Tax Return before or on April 8

 

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

CALASIAO, Pangasinan - The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) based in central Pangasinan exhorts taxpayers to pay their annual income tax return (ITR) until the deadline in April 18 this year.

Failure to pay the ITR, the BIR will mete the delinquent taxpayer with three penalties as based on the Internal Revenue Code. A one-time surcharge of either 25% or 50% of the basic tax, 20%/12% annual interest, and a onetime compromise penalty.

To bolster the tax target for this year, the personnel of the Revenue District Office No. 4 continue their tax campaign to get the attention of the taxpayers.

“Iikot po uli kami caravan po uli kami to continue on tax campaign for this year. We will continue on campaigning para sa ating mahal na taxpayers to file their annual income tax on or before April 18, 2020,” Assistant RDO-4 Chief Susan Cabanayan told GMA-7 Regional TV.

RDO-4 is under the watch of RDO-Chief Gil Vinluan.

It covers the cities of San Carlos and Dagupan and towns like Alcala, Basista, Bautista, Bayambang, Calasiao, Laoac, Malasiqui, Manaoag, Mangaldan, Mapandan, San Fabian, San Jacinto, Santa Barbara, and Urbiztondo in central Pangasinan.

RDO No. 4 had collected its P4.038 billion target last year.  

With the customary 17% hike on the preceding year’s total collection, it is estimated that the RDO-Chief and his personnel here will have to collect P4.68 billion for year 2022.

Modern Western Weaponry V. Poorly Armed Russian Army

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

While sitting with some media men on our chairs in a dinner table at the opposition proclamation rally last Friday's night in Bayambang, Pangasinan, some congressman and congressional bets, mayors and mayoralty candidates dropped by at our table and exchanged pleasantries (we missed each other, by golly, since the pandemic in 2020 saw us scampered away from the public scenes).

My son ZJ was wide eyed and quipped to me: Pa' madami pala magaganda dito akala ko sa Dagupan City lang ang mga classy.

"Siyempre classy rin sila dito kasi mga anak ng pulitiko iyan at nagtatapon sila ng pera pag election dahil ang politics is game of the moneyed," I retorted.

When the debonair young Alaminos City Mayor Bryan Celeste passed by our table sorrounded by five bodyguards, I called him.

JAVELIN. The FGM-148 Javelin (AAWS-M) is an American-made portable anti-tank missile system in service since 1996, and continuously upgraded. It replaced the M47 Dragon anti-tank missile in US service.[10] Its fire-and-forget design uses automatic infrared guidance that allows the user to seek cover immediately after launch, as opposed to wire-guided systems, like the system used by the Dragon, which require the user to guide the weapon throughout the engagement. The Javelin's HEAT warhead is capable of defeating modern tanks by hitting them from above where their armor is thinnest, and is also useful against fortifications in a direct attack flight. (Wikipedia)

"Bryan nabasa mo iyong Northern Watch Newspaper I sent sa office mo?"

My son whispered to me: Pa' iyong nakapulupot na maganda sa tabi niya artista iyan.

"Sinong artista iyan?" I asked him since I only watch foreign news outlets CNN, BBC, Fox, and Al Jazeera.

"Pauline Mendoza," he quipped.

When the young well-built Sual's Vice Mayoralty candidate John Christopher Arcinue saw me, I called him: Chris, kamusta ang laban mananalo na tayo sa Mayo?

We exchanged some brief pleasantries.

Jigger told me: Artista din iyang ex. Gf niya si Nadine Lustre.

"Alam ko sinabi ni Lolo niya si Mayor Bing".

When the tall, slim, and goddess looking multi-millionaire actress and mayoralty bet Nina Jose-Quiambao passed by sorrounded by lady aides and brawny bodyguards, I hollered:

"Mayor Nina!"

"Ay Tito Mortz!"

"Fist touch," I quipped

She reciprocated it by extending her right hand and her pricey diamond ring crowned fist touch mine.

***

Damn, how Davids with their U.S and U.K made shoulder fired Javelin and NLAW anti-tank missiles and armed cheap drones' Bayraktar from Turkey routing a deteriorating nuclear power in this war.

I was ecstatic in high school reading broad sheets (Yes Virginia, this probinsiyano read newspapers already at that age) when pajama clad and sandals' wearing Mujaheddin fighters in Afghanistan were armed by the Yanks with their shoulder fired heat seeking Stinger missiles that saw Soviet Russia pilots cowed in horror as they saw their colleagues in their mighty combat jets like MIG -21s and lethally armed helicopters like Mil Mi-24s - yes the one you saw in a Rambo's flick - fell from the skies in fireballs.

Despite being "dehado", technologies like these anti tanks and anti-aircraft can be a game changer.

The hated Russians in Afghanistan withdrew humiliated in the late 1980s because of the Stingers.

After that withdrawal, the once invincible super power Soviet Union crumbled into pieces (where countries like Ukraine was independently created) as the Communist economic system proselytized, er, taught to them by Karl Mark and Vladimir Lenin failed to sustain them.

The American system fed by the ideas of Adam Smith, John Maynard Keynes, and others burgeoned as profit motivation (the best factor to better up the general welfare) among Capitalists like those arm manufacturers I mentioned only spruced up their superior products drawing more customers around the globe and creating more employment wherever the plants of that product are located.

READ MY OTHER BLOG:

Blunders on the scrapped AFP's Missile Systems; Lessons from the Yom Kippur War

Pampanga BIR Lady Chief Soldiers on the P10-B Tax Goal this Year

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Almost ten billion pesos (P10, 000.000) of funds needed by the national government to fund its trillions of pesos’ expenses is feasible under the efficient leadership of the new Revenue District Office No. 21-A Chief here.

RDO Chief Charmaine C. dela Torre told Northern Watch Newspaper that based on the customary seventeen percent (17%) increase to the overall collection in the preceding year of 2021, she will have a tax goal this year of P9.5 billion (as of press time she told this writer that it is P9.7 billion).

TAX PAYER. A 3.6-hectare mixed-use community in Angeles City, Pampanga developed by Rockwell Land.

This burgeoning enterprise pay taxes to the Revenue District Office  No. 21-B of the Bureau of Internal Revenue based in San Fernando City, Pampanga.

“Wala pa ang tax goal (2022). More or less 17 % ang increase. P9.5 billion ang magiging goal ko. Kasi P8.1 billion (of last year’s collection) multiplies by 17% more or less P9.5 billion ang magiging goal,” she cited.

Dela Torre is optimistic to hit the huge amount – the second highest among the dozens of RDOs in Central Luzon – because of the positive outcome of her collection in November and December last year and January and February this year.

“I arrived in November. I’ve been hitting our goals for four consecutive months already November, December, January and then February”.

She was ranked No. 1 in the region with the highest collection in November last year.

Of the P6.6 billion last year’s target given to RDO 21-B, it collected P8.1 billion or an increase of P1.5 billion.

“Two months lang sa akin dito,” she quipped by citing her assumption to the huge office in November 3, 2021.

Revenue District Office No. 21-A Chief Charmaine Caday dela Torre

Her performances in January and February 2022 were laudable too where she collected P718 million of the P489 million goal in January and P570 million of the P498 million target in February.

“I think we were be ranked No. 2 (among the 11 RDOs in Pampanga) in February when we exceeded our goal P72 million as of today,” she said about topping on that month when this writer interviewed her early of March this year.

Upon assumption of office here, Dela Torre tasked the 101 personnel where more or less 35 of them are Examiners to revise the Zonal Valuation of the real properties in her jurisdiction.

RDO-21-A cover the towns of Arayat, Magalang, and Porac and the cities of Angeles and Mabalacat.

“At present we have projects in line. We are in the process of revising our zonal valuation. It was last revised in 2018 so every three years there should be a revision. Last December 2018 nag revised na so noong 2021 December nag expand na ng three years. Pagdating ko dito iyon ang tinutukan ko,” Dela Torre, who used to be the RDO Chiefs of Western Pangasinan and La Union Province, said. She is a native of Calasiao, Pangasinan.

She could benefit on the swell of her collection based on the new zonal valuation that will boost the tax rates of the real properties in the towns and cities she supervises.

Dela Torre recalled how she soldiered on the revision of the zonal valuation of RDO-3 in La Union Province in 2018 and rode on the spike of the robust collection of taxes there until her transfer here in November 3, 2022.

Aside from the amended zonal valuation, she compared how burgeoning the economy of this central Luzon province in terms of high paying taxpayers than those in Region-1 where she had a long stint since being an Examiner there.

“Ang industries natin we have telecommunication. Actually we have a very big taxpayer whom I cannot divulge because of the data privacy. Malaki talaga ang contribution noon”.

She cited too how those traders in the Philippines Economic Zone Authority and the thriving businesses under her jurisdiction here help buttress her collection.

READ MY OTHER BLOG: 

How the Economic Zone catapults Tarlac City

HOW POLITICIANS WIN ELECTION AND PROLONG THEIR STAY IN OFFICE

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P1-B TV Ad for a P300-K Monthly Senate Post

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

 I'm watching both GMA-7 and ABS-CBN evening prime time news.

I saw Sara Duterte endorsing the Senatorial bid of Harry Roque.

Roque has become aggressive lately with his multi-million pesos 30 seconds TV ads that cost more or less P500, 000 per 30 seconds.

When I consulted the latest March 9-14 polls of Publicus Asia, it showed Roque - the pet peeve of many Filipinos because of his eccentric principles - catapulted from the cellar (No. 30 several months ago) to No. 13.

One hard pushed and he will be in the Magic 12 almost two months before the May 9 election.

I suspected Roque's patron President Rodrigo Duterte "bankrolled" his foray in the Senate race -- just like what he did to senatorial bets Bato dela Rosa and Bong Go in the 2019 election.

I've been telling all and sundry that those who can afford the hundreds of millions of pesos of ads on TV win the elusive Senate seat.

Alan Peter Cayetano, Win Gatchalian, Mark Villar, and Joel Villanueva soar in the Top 10 by spending P1 billion each on ads since they patronize the magic of boob tubes middle of last year.

Damn, a billion of pesos to a post that gives P300, 000 a month or P23.4 million as salary in a six years term.

Apela ng SINAG, ABONO Partylist: Suspendihin ang mga Buwis sa Krudo

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Nanawagan ang pangkat ng mga agrikultura sa gobyerno na suspendihin ang 12 percecent value added tax (VAT) at excise taxes sa krudo habang namamayagpag ang pagtaas nito at naging mitsa ng pagtaas ng produksyon at gastusin ng mga magsasaka.

Ani Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) na ang hindi mapantayang pag lubo ng presyo ng langis ay naging suntok sa mga magbababoy, magmamanok, at mga maliliit na mga mangingisda sa Pilipinas.

Despite successive oil price hikes, farmers and fisher folk in the Philippines still wait for their fuel subsidy from the government. Photo credit: CNN- Philippines

Ang chairman ng SINAG ay si Eng. Rosendo So. Siya rin ang pinuno ng Abono Partylist na tagapagtanggol ng mga magsasaka sa Kongreso.

“Oil is not only used for transport in the agriculture sector but are essential inputs to the industry; as fertilizers and feed additives to the livestock and fish industries, and lifeblood of farm machines, tractors and harvesters, water pumps for irrigation, aquaculture and fish farming,” bunyag ng SINAG sa kanilang press statement.

Ani ng SINAG ang gastusin sa pagtanim ng palay ay umakyat na ng halos P5 to P19 kilo na kung saan ay dati itong P14 to P15 kada kilo noong isang taon. Ang paglundag ng presyo ay dahil sa pagtaas ng presyo ng krudo.

Sumirit ang presyo ng krudo makaraang mga lingo dahil sa giyera ng Russia at Ukraine. Isiniwalat ng Reuters na noong isang linggo ang presyo ng Brent Crude ay lumundag ng 9.9 percent to $129.78 isang barelis.

READ MY OTHER BLOG:

Abono Unfazed on Rampages of Espino’s Backed API

God Breaches Promise to Make Pacman President

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

I asked a national figure – who is a friend of boxing icon and presidential bet Manny Pacquiao – if he met and talked with the latter.

He said the last time they rubbed elbow in General Santos City was before the Senator filed his certificate of candidacy (CoC) to the Commission on Election about his intention for the No. 1 elective post of the country.

“Sinabihin ko na huwag muna siyang tumakbo dahil bata pa siya. Kahit mag vice president o mag reelect muna as Senator dahil shoo-in naman siya,” the elder pal of Pacman told me over a dinner.

The Almighty God (above in photo) who allegedly promised Senator Manny Pacquiao that comes hell or high water he will be a shoo-in winner in the May 9, 2022 presidential election in the Philippines. A pathetic country in East Asia dominated by bobotantes (stupid) voters as seen by their preferences of those Top 12 senatorial candidates provided by the pollsters.

But the octuplet boxing champ could not be dissuaded.

Damn, was this info given to me true? Hahaha!

Pacquiao – a born again Christian – told him he could not be stopped because GOD HAD ALREADY SPOKEN TO HIM that he will win – come hell or high water - the May 9, 2022 electoral derby for the presidency.

Gee whiz! Looking at the two pollsters’ Pulse Asia and Publicus Asia Inc. February 18-23, 2022 and March 9-14, 2022 surveys, respectively, Pacquiao – a product of the Department of Education's Acceleration or Accreditation and Equivalency Test  that catapulted him from grade 6 to college – showed struggling pathetically at the cellar.

He got 8% in Pulse while he was 1.85% with Publicus while rivals Bongbong Marcos and Leni Robredo compete with 55.1% and 21% (from 15% in the previous poll), respectively, in the latest poll.

With a 6.2 % lost votes from Pulse to Publicus, it seems Manny is not the Chosen One of God but his Cursed One, HesusMariaHusef hahaha!

It seems God is preoccupied with other sinful acts of man on earth – like those Despot Vladimir Putin rolling his military juggernaut on poor Ukraine - that he forgot his promise to the General Santos City’s Wonder Boy?

     ***

Despite being front runner of the presidential race, former Senator Bongbong Marcos and older sister Senator Imee Marcos are frantic to talk and get the endorsement of the still popular cussing President Rodrigo Duterte.

“She added that they have been sending messages to President Duterte, asking for an appointment, probably hoping that a meeting would produce a clearing up of misunderstandings between the Marcos and Duterte families,” as quoted by the Manila Times on its March 13 issue.

My source told me that what got the goat of the tough talking President against Bongbong – where he again lambasted recently as weak leader and has cargo (narc dependent?) – was Imee Marcos giving the information about Duterte’s alleged scandalous corruption on the Pharmally’s brouhaha.

“Siya ang nagbigay ng information kena Senator Richard Gordon, Senate President Tito Sotto, at Senator Franklin Drilon tungkol sa lagayan doon sa Pharmally,” my source told me on conditioned of anonymity.

Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation was one of the biggest scandals that rocked the Duterte Administration last year.

Was what my source told me true against Senator Imee?

The scandal started as an inquiry into the Commission on Audit’s findings that the Department of Health (DOH) poorly spent P67 billions of pandemic funds in 2020 later turned into a full-blown twin congressional investigation into the nitty-gritty of the Duterte government’s pandemic contracts.

The Senate blue ribbon committee hearings, as Rappler.com reported, uncovered that Pharmally cornered P10 billion in pandemic deals between 2020 and 2021 despite it being a small, newly created firm that lacked the funds, track record, and credibility to handle big-ticket government procurement. 

                                                      ***

Some political kibitzers see that without the endorsement of the President the significant lead - although dwindling from 60% to 55% in the latest polls of Pulse to the latest survey of Publicus - of Bongbong to his rivals would be irrelevant if those mostly Duterte appointed Justices (13 out of the 15) of the Supreme Court disqualify him after the election based on the appeals of those petitioners from the five petitions like his tax conviction by the Court of Appeals on his failure to file income tax returns as filed in the Comelec earlier.

Disqualification or removal from office means mandatory succession of vice presidential front runner Sara Duterte as provided by the Constitution.

READ MY OTHER BLOG:

Drilon knocked out Pacquiao in the worst Senate debate

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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.

Basista celebrates star-studded grand fiesta

AFTER COVID-19 DEPRIVED FOLKS WITH TWO FESTIVITIES

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BASISTA, Pangasinan – The people of this landlocked rustic town have been treated by their Mayor with a grand three-day festival graced by actors, reggae rock band, and basketball stars from Manila after the pandemic deprived them of the customary fiestas for two years.

“Mga bisita namin dito mga stand-up comedians. Ang purpose namin maging masaya sila kasi almost two years sila walang fiesta. Sa second day ano iyon banda Chocolate Factory from Manila. Tapos sa third day basketball exhibition game mga artista (versus local government personnel). Pitong artista,” disclosed to Northern Watch Newspaper by Mayor Jolly Roque “J.R” Resuello.

ENTERTAINERS from Manila like the renowned stand - up comedians’ Boobay and Ate Gay (top photo clockwise), reggae rock band’s Chocolate Factory, and various actors  entertain the people of the landlocked rustic Basista town in Pangasinan in a three-day star-studded fiesta sponsored by their Mayor Jolly Roque “J.R” Resuello. 

The series of merriment on March 17, 18, and 19 of this year have the following events:

On March 17, the day’s events were bike ride fun (5:30 A.m); mass (8:30 A.m); Bingo and Smart Raffle (1:00 P.m). The night’s event was Barangay Night participated by the Pogi (Governor Amado Espino, III) Band, Naxia Band, and stand-up comedians like Ate Gay and Boobay.

On March 18, the day’s events were Zumba (6:00 A.m) Medical Mission, and Jobs’ Fair (8:00 to 12 noon). The night’s event was Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Night graced by Chocolate Factory Band.

On March 19, the day’s events were Latik and Suman Festival (9;00 A.m) and,; Basketball Exhibition with actors like Gene Padilla, Piolo Ravales, Marco Alcaraz, Gab Lagman, Adrian Alandy, Martin Escudero, and Vice Ganda's boyfriend Ion Perez. The night’s event will be People’s Night where the more or less 40,000 residents here witness the awarding of plaque of recognition to outstanding sons of this central Pangasinan town and an orchestra.

READ MY OTHER BLOG:

Paano Magnakaw at Ma-Bunkrupt ang mga Pulitiko

Mayor Hits Predecessor, Dads; Crows his Feats

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

AGUILAR, Pangasinan – The Mayor in this rustic landlocked town boasted his accomplishment in his almost three years’ stints compared to the nine years’ term of his predecessor who had done little to the people here.

“E compare ninyo iyan nine years nila sa three ko. Botante na ang magsasalita basta sabihin lang kung ano ang nagawa ko sa Aguilar naibibibay ko sa Aguilar kung ano ang nagawa ko sa Aguilar ng three years at saka nine years sa kanila,” a passionate Mayor Roldan “Boyet” Sagles told Northern Watch Newspaper.

Aguilar, Pangasinan Mayor Roldan "Boyet" Sagles

Sagles, a long reigning Vice Mayor here, replaced exiting Mayor Eduardo Ballesteros after he beat Beth Ballesteros - the wife of former Mayor Ballesteros - in the 2019 election.

The Mayor lamented that the mostly opposition and Ballesteros’ friendly members of the legislature (Sangguniang Bayan) would not give him a resolution to avail another P50 million grant from the national government for the construction of the second regional evacuation center’s edifice.

“Ayaw mo iyan. Ayaw nila akong umangat. Ayaw nila akong makapag project na ganyan. May kilala ako sa Pagcor”.

Sagles said if his wife Vil wins the May 9 mayoralty election versus Councilor Kristal Ballesteros Soriano, their friend in the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) would continue to intercede for the multi-million pesos intended to the people here.

In the almost three years stint of Sagles, a dentist, he either procured or created the following: New dump truck, new firetruck, new ambulance, new municipal warehouse, solar street lights, P30 million evacuation center in Barangay Buer, newly designed plaza, more farm to market roads, Corona Virus Disease-19 building, or distribution late this year of 16 Mitsubishi utility vans to each of the sixteen barangays.

Before his term ends at noon of June 30 this year, Sagles cited the following projects in the pipeline he prepares to implement in the first half of this year: Solar lights in the stretches of the national highway that cover various villages here, the P5 million oval at Mapita Economic Park, another police car, and another fire truck to be funded by the coffer of the local government unit.

He looks on the renovation if not construction of a new public market after Save More, a supermarket owned by SM Retail, signified to him to put shop here.

He deplored the actuation of some real property owners here on spiking excessively their lot intended to be a location of the American franchise’s McDonald fast food company.

“May McDo ako dito ang lupa na lang ang wala. P8, 000 per square meter (psm). Saan ka kukuha ng P8,000 psm alangan naman kukunin ng McDo iyan. Mahal iyan”.

He said McDonald will backtrack if the seller inflated the price of the land.

“Ayaw ni McDo mahal parang city na. Bibilhin mo ng P3,000 psm bebenta mo ng P5,000 tubo ka na ng kaunti”

READ MY OTHER BLOG:

Shield Law Does not Protect Radio Announcers on Libel

NBI Arrested more than Hundred's Peryahan Workers in P’sinan

 

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY –  The simultaneous raids recently by operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation from Manila in the areas of an illegal number’s betting game jueteng operator in Pangasinan could be a blow to its beneficiaries.

More than a hundred workers of the Peryahan ng Bayan (PnB) in 13 towns and cities of the province have been apprehended last Friday by the NBI.

According to new franchisee Grand 88 Gaming Corporation's Executive Elvin Cruz, the workers that included the cobradores (collectors) of the Global Mobile Online Corporation (GMOC) - PnB have been busted inflagrante dilecto in a massive raid in the towns of Alcala, Bautista, Malasiqui, San Fabian (two locations), San Manuel, Mangatarem, Villasis, Manaoag, Mangaldan, and other towns and cities of Dagupan and San Carlos.

ILLEGAL. Philippines Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) closes an outlet of the Peryahan ng Bayan for operating illegally in Bacolod City. (Photo credit: Watchmen)

“Iyong pagiging illegal ng Peryahan ay dahil sa kautusan ng ating Presidente na suspended sila. Kung maalaala ninyo po na ating mahal na Presidente ay nag issue ng suspension order sa lahat ng mga palaro sa PCSO noong July 2019. Na reinstate na ho ang Lotto, Keno, at STL pero ang Peryahan ng Bayan hanggang ngayon po considered suspended. So iyon ho ang pinagmulan ng pagiging illegal ng operation ng Peryahan ng Bayan at hindi na ho iyon na po puwedeng gamitin ang tinatawag na status quo ante order bilang karapatan nila bilang autoridad nila na magpatuloy,” Lawyer Cruz explained to a radio interview.

Pasig City Regional Trial Court- Branch 161 Judge Nicanor A. Manalo, Jr. recalled in January 24, 2020 his Writ of Execution favoring GMOC – PnB after receiving a copy of the suspension order by President Rodrigo Duterte through Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea of the operation of the betting game's outfit.

The arrested individuals, according to Cruz, have been turned over by the NBI to the local police precincts for processing and detention.

He said they have been charged with the illegal gambling act as provided by Republic Act No. 9287.

It has various penalties of imprisonment from eight years and one day to ten years if such person acts as a collector or agent to sixteen years and one day to twenty years if such person acts as protector or coddler.

The March 11 seizures of the paraphernalia and arrest of the personnel of PnB came from the February 26, 2022 letter of Philippine Charity Sweepstake Office (PCSO) Vice Chairperson and General Manager Royina Marzan Garma to  chief PNP Director General Dionardo Bernardo Carlos, NBI Director Eric B. Distor, NBI  Deputy Director Lawyer Antonio Pagatpat Acting Director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Police Brig. Gen. Elisio DC Cruz, Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino, III, and Pangasinan Police Provincial Director Richmond L. Tadina that Peryahan ng Bayan has not been given the authority to operate or resume operation anywhere in the country including the province of Pangasinan pursuant to this memorandum issued by Executive Secretary Medialdea.

“In view of this, respectfully request for the conduct of intensive law enforcement operation against all illegal number games in the whole province of Pangasinan,” she exhorted.

Attorney Cruz lauded the NBI for their action but assailed the officers of the Philippine National Police of their inaction.

“Ang ating local na mga law enforcement agencies ang ating provincial office ng Philippine National Police despite our coordination with them mukhang ayaw. Wala ng kilos mula ho ng February 28 na sulat ni GM”.

The lawyer said it is useless to patronize PnB because it did not pay taxes to the national and local governments.

GM Garma said that the government losses money from it which did not benefit the medical programs of the country including the share of the local government units and the PNP.

The Executive of Grand 88 would not answer the query of Bombo Radyo Reporter who was behind the operation for several years of PnB in the gargantuan province.

“Wala pang ebidensiya ay hirap on my part na sabihin kung sino ito. Siguro sa mga darating na araw kung nakakuha tayo ng mas matibay pa na ebidensiya baka sakali puwede natin masabi. Hindi pa natin masabi kung sino ang pinaka ulo nito”.

Cruz warned operators of illegal gambling in the forty- four towns and four cities’ province that there would be more raids from the law enforcers if they will continue their nefarious activities.

Grand 88 has been given an authority to operate by the PCSO from February 28, 2022 to February 27, 2023.

The franchise of the small town lottery does not need permits from the LGU pursuant to the PCSO Charter, Bureau of Internal Revenue's rulings, and Supreme Court’s resolutions.

Reporters have been invited to witness its draw in March 3, 2022 by the public relation officer of Bayambang Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao held in Brgy. Libsong in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

READ MY OTHER BLOG:

Peryahan ng Bayan No Authority to Operate – Speed Game, Inc.

Burial Needs of Poor in San Fabian Shoulder by Mayor

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

SAN FABIAN, Pangasinan – The indigents in this coastal first class town are lucky even to their grave because their Mayor generously pay for their burial expenses.

“Iyong singko mil sabi ko pabayaran na sa barangay official e di libre na ha-ha-ha! Damay na lahat ataol, embalsamo pati libing kami na rin pati nitso (The P5,000 I told the solicitor to bill their village chief so the family would not worry for the expenses (chuckle). They were all inclusive coffin, embalming including the burial and the tomb),” Constante “Danny” B. Agbayani told Northern Watch Newspaper about a bereaved family member who solicited in his office P25,000 for her father’s burial needs.

WINNING TANDEM. San Fabian, Pangasinan mayorship candidate Marlyn E. Agbayani and spouse vice mayoralty bet and incumbent Mayor Danny Agbayani (second and third on the photo) and Barangay Sagud Bahley Chairman Efren R. Fajardo and wife pose for posterity in a social activity. (Photo credit: Lea Mapanao Fajardo)

He said all of his poor constituents are given equal opportunities to receive their financial aid he forks out from his pocket.

The fund given yearly by the local government unit to the coffer of the social welfare and development could not cope with the needs of the destitute in the more or less 90,000 populated town.

The financial assistance of the Mayor from the embalming to the internment of his people here could shame even the aid given by the four cities of Pangasinan to their constituents who face similar needs here.

Meanwhile, Agbayani said he and his wife Marlyn and supporters are in the road already at five o’clock in the morning to meet and consult the residents of two barangays.

He said there were three hundred people average that attended the sortie but the biggest attendance was seven hundred individuals.

Agbayani slides to the vice mayoralty while the spouse runs for the mayorship. She is pitted with Provincial Board Member Liberato Villegas and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) former Regional Director Juvenal B. Azurin for the mayoralty derby of the May 9, 2022 election.

“After the dawn meeting everybody except the village chief was a recipient of a financial dole out of P100 from either the Mayor or the wife,” a supporter told this writer.

The Kapitan receives thousands of pesos because of his intercession to make the meeting possible.

33 of the 34 barangay chiefs support the candidacies of the couple.   

 Agbayani is known to have a huge campaign war chest complements of his moneyed and powerful patrons and proceeds of his burgeoning construction business of government projects in and out of this town.

“We have now 60,000 voters but only 45,000 voted last 2019 election,” he told Northern Watch Newspaper.

READ MY OTHER BLOG:

It’s Nice to Die in this City