Away ng Narco Cops sa PDEG at ang P6.7- B Shabu

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Sa hearing kamakailan ng Committee on Dangerous Drugs ng House of Representatives na pinamumunuan ni Surigao del Norte 2^nd District Rep. Robert “Ace” Barber, pinagsasabihan ni Antipolo City 2^nd District Cong. Romeo Acop (dating police Heneral at Hepe ng Inspector General Office) ang nasasadlak na si  Police Col. Julian Olonan (chief of Philippines Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) Special Operations Unit (SOU) Region 4A) at Police Capt. Jonathan Sosongco (head ng PDEG SOU 4A arrest team) sa mukhang pagku-cover-up nila sa mga totoong pangyayari sa P990 kilos ng shabu na nagkakahalaga ng P6.7 billion na nasamsam sa Wealth and Personal Development Lending Inc. sa Tondo, Manila.

Ang WPD Lending ay pag-aari ni Police Msgt. Rodolfo Mayo. Si Mayo at si Ney Atadero ay kasalukuyang nakapiit sa Bureau of Jail Management and Penology sa Taguig City.

Photo is internet grabbed.

Si Atadero, siya nga pala, ang naunang nahuli at sinundan ng pagkahuli ni Mayo doon sa halos isang toneladang crystal meth o shabu na nakuha ng mga autoridad sa kanyang building.

“So alin ang totoo, October 8 nahuli si Mayo?” tanong ni Acop – na isang abugado – kay Col. Olonan.

“That was the report of my team leader your Honor,” ani Olonan.

“Do you agree with that Lt. Sosongco? Yes or no?” Giit ni Rep. Acop na dating Hepe rin ng Criminal Investigation & Detection Group (CIDG).

“Ahhh… No, your Honor,” sagot ni Sosongco sa hearing ng kumite ng Kongreso sa Quezon City.

Ayon sa informant ni Acop ang raid sa pinagtataguan ng shabu sa Pasig ay naging sanhi ng ingitan ng dalawang factions ng mga narco cops sa loob ng PDEG bago mangyari ang raid ng halos isang toneladang shabu sa Tondo.

“According to my bubuwit iyon ang precursor ng pag iingitan ninyo sa loob ng PDEG. Ano ang nangyari sa Pasig?”

Iginigiit pero ni Col. Olonan na ang raid sa Pasig ay follow up operation (pagkatapos ng raid sa Tondo) para makapagsamsam pa ng karagdagang bilang ng shabu.

“Iyong sa Pasig your honor is a follow up operation. That was approved by the senior officers of the PNP. Diyan po pumunta ang team ni Col. Ibañez sa Pasig your Honor,” ani ni Olonan.

Si Lt. Col. Arnulfo Ibañez ay officer-in-charge ng PDEG SOU National Capital Region (NCR).

Ayon kay Acop ang raid sa Pasig ng mga taga PDEG ay ikinagalit ni PLt. Col Glenn Gonzales.

Hindi sinagot ni Olonan ang tanong ng Antipolo Congressman.

“Kaya nagkaroon tuloy ng samaan kayo ng loob diyan sa loob. Iyon naman ang katotohanan. Wala lang akong ebidensiya na concrete evidence pero according to my bububwit iyon ang nangyari. Pero iyong October 9 na operation ninyo hindi pala kay Mayo. Tama?,” pangiting tinanong ni Cong. Acop si Olonan.

Bilang isang kumentarista ng diyaryo at blog na ito, ang aking katanungan: Kung hindi pala kay Msgt. Mayo iyong October 9, 2022 raid, ibig sabihin iyong pagsalakay ng mga parak sa kanyang WPD Lending ay ganti ng grupo ni Lt. Col. Gonzales dahil sa pag raid ng bodega nila ng shabu sa Pasig?

“Ano ang epektos nahuli doon? Drugs ba o firearm?” dagdag na tanong ni Rep. Acop.

“Firearm your honor,” ani Olonan.

“Sabi ko na nga e, kasi at the back of my mind parang nagko cover up na kayo, e”.

Anong ibig ng patama dito ni Cong. Acop, na hindi lang baril ang meron doon sa Pasig kundi illegal na druga rin?

READ MY OTHER BLOG:

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.

PNP, Basista Mayor Pinasinayaan ang Pabahay at Palikuran

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BASISTA, Pangasinan - Pinasinayaan kamakailan sa bayan na ito ng Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPO) sa pamumuno ni Police Director Col. Jeff E. Fanged at ni Basista Mayor Jolly R. Resuello ang “Pabahay at Palikuran ng Pulis” Project.

APPRECIATION. A female recipient of the Certificate of Appreciation given to her by the Philippines National Police because of her laudable services to the “Pabahay at Palikuran ng Pulis” Project. She is flanked by Pangasinan Police Provincial Office Director Jeff E. Fanged and Basista Mayor J.R Resuello at a ceremony held recently in the landlocked town.

Ang “Pabahay at Palikuran” ay bahagi ng 5Ps o Patubig, Pailaw, Pabahay, Pantawag at Palikuran ni Juana na isang impact project ng Police Regional Office-1 (PRO-1) na nakabase sa San Fernando City, La Union.

Isa sa mga layunin nito ay ang pagsugpo ng gobyerno sa problemang insurhénsiya sa bansa.

Dinaluhan ni Mayor Resuello, Col. Fanged, Faith Based Community Advisers at iba pa ang Ceremonial Turn-Over ng Pabahay at Gift Giving Activity na ginanap noong April 24, 2023 sa Brgy. Poblacion dito. Ang programa ay alinsunod sa PRO1 Flagship Program na 5Ps na sinimulan ng Basista Police Station sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni acting Police Chief Capt. Hermie S. Raymundo.

Ang turn-over ng nasabing proyekto ay tinanggap ni Mr. Rogelio Miranda, isang 59 taong gulang na solo parent na may tatlong anak na nakatira sa ilalim ng kanyang pangangalaga at walang permanente o matatag na trabaho para masuportahan ang mga pangunahing pangangailangan ng kanyang mga anak.

Iginawad din ang Certificate of Appreciation para kay Ms. Anita DG Poquiz at sa mga Community Advisers. 

Kasabay ng nasabing aktibidad ay ang gift giving activity sa tatlumpu't tatlong pamilya mula sa iba't ibang barangay ng munisipalidad bilang bahagi ng PNP Malasakit Program.

Isinagawa din ang pagbabasbas ng inisyu na Basic Assault Rifle Galil Ace22N 5.56, ang landmark na PNP Gazebo at I Love PNP Basista na pinangunahan ni Rev. Fr. Hernan Caronongan.

BIR Eastern P’sinan Spikes Collec. by 3.37%

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

 URDANETA CITY, Pangasinan – The top executive of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in eastern Pangasinan said that her office collected a 3.37% increase against the goal given to it by the national office in the period of January to March this year.

Office of the Bureau of Internal Revenue along McArthur Highway at Brgy. Anonas, Urdaneta City in Pangasinan.

Revenue District Office No. 6 Chief Eden R. Serafica told Northern Watch Newspaper that in the same period RDO No.6 collected P577,625, 192.24 against the goal of P558, 773, 509.52 or an increase of P18, 852, 682.72.

Serafica stressed to this newspaper that her office collected P577, 625, 192.24 last year against the goal of P485, 889, 138.71 or an increase of 18.88 percent.

RDO No. 6 covers one city and 15 municipalities in the eastern part of Pangasinan.

Bataoil Joins Cojuangco's Lingayen Cityhood Bid

TO CARVE - OUT 2 BRGYS IN BUGALLON

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The mayor in this capital town collaborated the ideas of his district congressman that qualification for a cityhood here needs it to carve out two villages on its neighboring town’s Bugallon to satisfy the law's land area or population requirement.

“Maganda ang solution ni Congressman na magtanong tayo sa ibang bayan kung sakali pumayag iyong ibang barangay na maging annex natin madagdagan iyong land area at population maaring mag qualify tayo. Sa ngayon, malayo pa,” declared by Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil on the cityhood’s bid in a meeting held recently with his constituents. He was accompanied in a visit at a certain village by Pangasinan 2nd District Engineering Office District Engineer Edita Manuel of the Department of Public Works & Highway and 2^nd District Rep. Mark O. Cojuangco.

LINGAYEN MAYOR Leopoldo Bataoil (left, photo) and Pangasinan 2nd District Cong. Mark Cojuangco.

The solon said that this first class town could encourage the residents of the two barangays to join for cityhood.

“Maabot po natin iyong P220 million puwede na tayo maging siyudad. Doon sa kakulangan po ng barangays andito sa side ng Agno River. Noong araw po lumiliko ang Agno River ngayon dumidiretso na sila. So may dalawang barangay ngayon andito po sa side natin puwede po natin silang mahikayat na sumali sa Lingayen so madadagdagan ang ating population para maging siyudad tayo. I think papayag kayo, di ba?” the newly elected District Representative told the residents here about the prospect of these villages in Bugallon to capitulate as part of Lingayen.

 Under the amended Section 450 (Republic Act  11683) of the Local Government Code of 1991, the requirements for cityhood by a municipality or a cluster of barangays are the following: a locally generated average annual income, as certified by the Department of Finance, of at least One hundred million pesos (P100,000,000.00) for the last two consecutive years based on 2000 constant prices, and if it has either of the following requisites: "(i) a territory of at least one hundred (100) square kilometers, as certified by the Land Management Bureau; or (ii) a population of not less than one hundred fifty thousand (150,000) inhabitants, as certified by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

In the amended law, it takes only one requirement of either territory or population after the municipality or a cluster of villages complied with the One hundred million pesos’ local income it collected from the last two years.

A city can only be created by an act of Congress and subject to approval by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite to be conducted by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in the local government units (LGUs) directly affected.

This town has a population, land area and local income of 107, 728 (2020 Census), 62.76 square kilometers and P88 million, respectively.

A village under the city can benefit more financially than being under the patronage of a municipality.

Bugallon is under the mayoralty of Prescilla Espino whose husband former Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. and son former 2^nd District Congressman Jumel Espino are political nemesis of Cojuangco since the time his wife Kimi was a District Representative of the province’s 5^th Congressional District. Cojuangco defeated in the May 9, 2022 election Rep. Espino.

The other two ideas of the newly elected Congressman to make Lingayen a city are to make it as a headquarter of the six nuclear power plants he advocated to be built in the nearby fourth class town’s Labrador and conversion of the sprawling Brgy. Estanza to an economics park. 

“So papaano po papalakihin ang income? No.1 na po iyan kung merong kumpanyang darating dito para itayo ang nuclear plant sa Labrador ang No. 1 requirement po nila sa Lingayen. No. 1 po iyan so dito sila magbabayad ng buwis”.

Each nuclear behemoth, he said, cost U.S $4 billion or Php P224 billion.

“Kaya magbabayad lahat ng kontratista na gagawa po diyan. Dito natin pa e-register sa bayan ng Lingayen para magkaroon po tayo ng local income e automatic ilang bilyong pesong halaga ang makamtang kita dito natin”.

The last one is the transformation of Barangay Estanza to a 184 hectares’ eco-park that would generate employment to the residents of the towns of Binmaley, Labrador, Bugallon, Aguilar, Mangatarem and Basista.

“Iyan iyong binabalak ni Governor (Ramon Guico, III) na eco-park sa Barangay Estanza 184 hectares po iyon na e-developed,” the solon disclosed.

He explained that buildings will be built in that village to host the lucrative earning Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and Call Centers to cater with customers abroad. 

Economics of the Expressway Under the Guico Admin

By Mortz C. Ortigoza 

UMINGAN, Pangasinan – “And the Province is the co-owner of it,” quipped to this writer by Pangasinan Governor Ramon “Monmon” Guico, III when he asked him during the fiesta here if the Pangasinan East-West Expressway (PEWEx) that snakes from Bayambang to Binmaley, Rosales to Lingayen, and Lingayen to Bolinao would be a private public partnership (PPP) (successor of the Build Operate and Transfer (BOT)).

“Pangasinan will be earning too from the revenues of the toll gates there?" posed to him by this writer.

“Yes,” he retorted about the interconnection juggernaut's partnership between the provincial government and the private investor.

Pangasinan Governor Ramon "Monmon" Guico, III (Photo is internet grabbed)

Expeditious Travel Time

Pangasinan 2^nd District Congressman Mark Cojuangco said that because of the freeway, travel time of motor vehicles would be significantly reduced by 15 to 20 minutes from the boundary of Tarlac Province to capital town’s Lingayen.

“Pati iyong East-West Expressway mula San Manuel, Tarlac hanggang Lingayen 52 kilometers ilang minute na lang mula TPLEX (Tarlac- Pangasinan- La Union Expressway), right? Siguro 15 to 20 minutes. So mabubuksan talaga ang ekonomiya dito po sa ating bayan (Lingayen)”, disclosed by Cojuangco in one of his pronouncements in April 19 at a public consultation he attended with the capital town’s Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil and Pangasinan 2nd District Engineering Office District Engineer Edita Manuel of the Department of Public Works & Highway.

With the 52 kilometers distance from the boundary of Tarlac to first class town’s Lingayen in Pangasinan and the 54 kilometers (Google) from the capital town to Bolinao that would be 106 kilometers' expressway.

It means 40 minutes of travel of private vehicle and commuters between that stretch.

It means the usual six hours’ inconvenient movement of the travellers from Manila to the pristine beaches of Bolinao and Dasol, Pangasinan would be mitigated to less than four hours.

Comparative Advantage of Pangasinan

That will be good for the tourism industry of the Northern Luzon’s province as it competes with the beaches and recreational places in Boracay in Aklan, El Nido in Palawan and Siargao in Surigao.

When this writer went to Boracay in July last year, airport personnel told him there that there were 24 commercial jets that arrive in the airport everyday like the 170 seaters Airbus of Air Asia he rode with his family.

The flying time between the Island Paradise and Imperial Manila is 25 minutes only (not to mention the one to two hours travel time from their houses to the airport) – an advantage compared to the vexing trip to Bolinao, Dasol, and Alaminos City.

But with a reduced travel movement from the densely populated Metro Manila and its neighboring regions to Pangasinan, many tourists would be attracted to visit Pangasinan. Besides, those beaches in the Visaya and Mindanao cater to the moneyed Pinoys in Luzon and deep pocketed foreigners.

A Pangasinense or a Manileño in his three days stay – like his billet in Hennan Hotel and the expensive foods and drinks there could see him cough up an average of P20,000.

A Metro Manila resident could spend one –fourth only of the P20, 000 he would chalk-up if he travels through Northern Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), TPLEX and the PEWEx to the beaches of Bolinao and Dasol.

Cojuangco earlier said that the PEWEx first leg will start from Bayambang, San Carlos City and Binmaley with a spur to Dagupan City. He disclosed the second phase will be from TPLEx to the province's eastern Pangasinan towns like Umingan, and the third phase will be from Lingayen to Bolinao (What phase is the 52 kilometers Rosales to Lingayen? – Author)

Multiplier Effects of the P3.4 -B Investment 

If this writer computes the 171.5 kilometers from the P20 million per kilometer construction of the two lanes road that includes clearing, grubbing, base preparation, acquisition of road right of way and others as disclosed to him by a District Engineer of the DPWH that will be a staggering P3.4 billion investment shelled out by the private investor that partners with the local government unit (LGU) of the gargantuan province of Pangasinan.

“We don’t even need to spend at P1 billion equity to make the Pangasinan Link Expressway happened. We don’t need it because that highway will be constructed at no cost to the Province of Pangasinan,” excerpt of Guico’s State of the Province Address (SOPA) that drew thunderous applause from the thousands of spectators inside the swanky embellished Sison Auditorium.

He said Pangasinenses will see operation and profit to the public coffer in three to five years by this expressway's venture. 

Economic Importance of the Expressway

According to Economist Thomas P. Keane in his article's The Economic Importance of the National Highway System  that the multiplier effects of a multi-billions of dollars’ highway from the start of the spade works alone are enormous.

If based on the hypothetical assessment and computation of this writer of the P3.4 billion or U.S 60.7 million (171.5 kilometers from the three phases and the kilometers from Rosales to Lingayen at P20 million per kilometer), there would be 494 full-time equivalent jobs per P3.4 billion invested in highway construction. In addition, research shows that this same sum of investment supports approximately 1,231 full-time equivalent jobs in the supplying sectors and 875 positions in the general economy. Therefore, total employment supported per P3.4 billion highway investment is equal to more than 2,600 jobs. These estimates refer to "gross" job creation, meaning that the employment impacts of alternative investments have not been considered in this broad level of analysis.

After the  PEWEx comes into operation, businessmen will benefit for a rapid less expense travel on fuels , wear and tear of their vehicles and foods.
The eastern Pangasinan towns are vegetable producers while most towns in the western part of the province produce milkfish.

“We would like to insure that the future generation of Pangasinan will be taken care of by this government,” the first term Governor Guico continued in his SOPA.

The expressway will be complemented by three state of the arts' North Alignment Terminals (worth P1 billion), Land Ports and Bus Stops (worth P100 million). The fund for the construction of these edifices and infras come from the part of the already approved P6 billion Omnibus Term Loan Facility (credit line) by the LGU in the Land Bank of the Philippines.

 READ MY OTHER BLOG:

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.

Teves Seen in South Korea

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

 Multiple –murder suspect’s Negros Oriental Congressman Arnie Teves was seen two days ago at a buffet in the five-star Lotte Hotel in Seoul, South Korea.

According to Majority Leader and Senator Joel Villanueva four of his friends told him two days ago that they certainly saw Teves eating with pals in the high end restaurant there.

BELEGUERED Negros Oriental Cong. Arnie Teves in his private jet. He was seen lately at a buffet with friends in the five-star's Lotte Hotel in Seoul, South Korea.

The beleaguered Congressman was incriminated by the gunmen who were either captured or who surrendered to the police and military who pursued them vigorously after they assassinated Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo. They use assault rifles M2 Carbine in murdering in March 4 this year the Guv while he distributed government subsidies to his poor constituents in his residence at Brgy. Isidro of the same province. Aside from the governor, five of the people died and 16 were wounded from the six of the ten killers who daringly executed their dastardly act in a military fashion.

Most of these hired assassins were cashiered military men because of their use of illegal drugs. Former Army Sergeant Joven C. Javier and Rickyvelle Luces are former members of the American trained top-tier Light Reaction Regiment (LRR) and Philippines Marine, respectively.

Teves reportedly absconded to Cambodia under the protection of one of the drug cartels there. The Southeast Asian country – famous for its cannabis, methamphetamine, ketamine, MDMA and heroin - has no extradition treaty with the Philippines.

Teves, according to some media reports, was unscathed during the bloody anti-narco war of then President Rodrigo Duterte – where 12,000 Filipinos died according to hrw.org - because the police and other law enforcement agencies were beneficiaries of his lucrative dangerous drugs racket, illegal number game's jueteng and his illegal money churning electronic cockfighting games.

The bald self-confessed former drug addict who is a pilot owned a jet plane and a helicopter that can be seen on his Fly Fast Hangar in Negros.

The jet and chopper pilots received a monthly salary of P350, 000, P180, 000, respectively from the solon.

He owned too a P40 million Lamborghini (BEL 339) and bulletproofs' Lexus and Chevrolet Suburban.

Before Governor Degamo was killed, Teves reigned with terror in Negros that even judges and policemen cowed in fear with him and his family.

According to a news report he was suspected to kill 55 residents of the province. Some of them were Gov. Roel Degamo, Board Member Migz Dungog, Ex Vice Mayor Bongbong Divinagracia of Pamplona, Bayawan City Councilor Inday Tizon, Sta. Catalina Municipal Councilor Tonton Melodia, San Pedro Barangay Captain Raga, Former Miss Dumaguete Neri, Atty. Eduardo Ramon Elesteria, Atty. Archer Baldwin Martinez, Atty. Eliezer Casipong, Bayawan Regional Trial Court Judge Velascom, Junjun Garabato, Court Server of Bayawan Regional Trial Court.

According to news report there are still more people who were murdered aside from the 55 being listed.

Despite being sued with various murder cases lately not only with Governor Degamo but those of Dungog, a former agent of the National Bureau of Investigation and two others in 2019, there are still no pending warrant of arrest issued by a judge against Teves.

fREAD MY OTHER BLOG:

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.

No Illegal Gambling in Mangaldan – Mayor Bona

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

MANGALDAN, Pangasinan – This first class town's mayor Bonafe D. Parayno declared to Northern Watch Newspaper that there is no illegal gambling that proliferates here.

The Mayor said that she even received two signed certifications from two high public officials here that supervise the peace and order and the leadership of the 30 villages.

MAYOR Bonafe D. Parayno (seated 2nd from left and facing the crowd) speaks before the barangay chairmen of the 30 villages' town during the distribution of the P10,000 check for each of them. The Clean & Green Fund  is intended for the cleanliness and beautification of these chairmen's respective barangays. The sum was a pledge from the lady chief executive during the  town's fiesta and Pindang Festival 2023 celebration held last March 12, 2023. Seated with Mayor Parayno is Legal Consultant Lawyer Geraldine Baniqued. Photo Credit: PIO Mangaldan

Parayno said this town’s Chief of Police Lt. Col. Benjamin Zarate, Jr. and Liga ng Barangay (LnB) President Rolly Abalos submitted to her a certification by attesting that there has been no illegal gambling being perpetuated by any malefactor in this landlocked municipality.

Illegal gambling with its increase penalties under Republic Act No. 9287 metes a sixteen (16) years and one (1) day to twenty (20) years jail time, if such person acts as protector or coddler.

Section 3 of the law says that any person who participates in any illegal numbers game shall suffer the following penalties:

a) The penalty of imprisonment from thirty (30) days to ninety (90) days, if such person acts as a bettor;

b) The penalty of imprisonment from six (6) years and one (1) day to eight (8) years, if such person acts as a personnel or staff of an illegal numbers game operation;

The same penalty shall likewise be imposed to any person who allows his vehicle, house, building or land to be used in the operation of the illegal numbers games.

c) The penalty of imprisonment from eight (8) years and one (1) day to ten (10) years, if such person acts as a collector or agent;

d) The penalty of imprisonment from ten (10) years and one (1) day to twelve (12) years, if such person acts as a coordinator, controller or supervisor;

e) The penalty of imprisonment from twelve (12) years and one (1) day to fourteen (14) years, if such person acts as a maintainer, manager or operator; and

f) The penalty of imprisonment from fourteen (14) years and one (1) day to sixteen (16) years, if such person acts as a financier or capitalist;

g) The penalty of imprisonment from sixteen (16) years and one (1) day to twenty (20) years, if such person acts as protector or coddler.

DILG Rebuffs VM Rosario, SB on Excessive Use of Power

AFTER BINMALEY MAYOR PROTESTED

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BINMALEY, Pangasinan - The Department of Interior & Local Government (DILG) repudiated the arbitrariness of the lawmaking body headed by Vice Mayor Sammy Rosario by excessively imposing its legislative power to the executive branch of the local government unit (LGU) here.

DILG Region-1 Director Agnes de Leon refuted the imposition of Section 5 of the Appropriation Ordinance No. 3, Series of 2022 passed by the sanggunian bayan (legislative body) after Mayor Pete Merrera vigorously questioned them in a letter sent to the DILG Regional Office in San Fernando City, La Union.

SCHISM between Binmaley Mayor Pete Merrera and the lawmaking body of the local government unit headed by Vice Mayor Sam Rosario on the prior approval provision of the Appropriation Ordinance No. 3 of 2022.

INVALID 

Section 5 (Other Provisions) of the Appropriation Ordinance according to Director De Leon was invalid because it contradicted the specific provision of the Local Government Code (LGC) expressly granting the power of the municipal mayor to exercise general supervision and control over all programs, projects services and activities of the municipal government.

“By requiring the municipal mayor to submit with the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) an Implementing Rules and Guidelines (IRG) with regard to specified Plans, Projects and Activities (PPAs) of the municipality and subject to the approval of the SB through a resolution before said PPA are implemented, it is like indirectly usurping the power of the municipal mayor to exercise general supervision and control all programs, projects, services, and activities of the municipal government,” De Leon wrote.

The Director found no cogent reason for the subsequent approval of the SB from the mayor.

“Otherwise stated, the implementation of PPAs by the municipality will now be subject to the approval of the SB which is contrary to the LGC provision which gives the power to the municipal mayor to exercise general supervision and control over all programs projects services and activities of the municipal government”.

NO LONGER NECESSARY

 De Leon said the imposition by the SB was no longer necessary as transparency and accountability in the disbursement of the municipal fund are already governed by the LGC and other government auditing and accounting rules.

She cited the disbursement of local funds and statement of accounts in Section 346 of the LGC that says: Disbursements shall be made in accordance with the ordinance authorizing the annual or supplemental appropriations without the prior approval of the Sanggunian concerned. Within thirty (30) days after the close of each month, the local accountant shall furnish the Sanggunian with such financial statements as may be prescribed by the Commission on Audit (COA). In the case of the year-end statement of accounts, the period shall be sixty (60) days after the thirty-first (31s) of December.

In conclusion, the DILG found no applicable provision of law, jurisprudence and/or the Constitution to support the imposition of the condition set forth by the SB in the appropriation ordinance requiring the mayor to submit the IRGs with respect to the implementation of the PPA’s subject for approval by the SB through a resolution.

TARGET OF THE SB, VEEM

 The Plants, Projects and Activities that become the target of the SB under Rosario are the special program for the employment of students amounting to P700,000.00, tulong pangkabuhayan amounting to P250,000.00, Corona Virus Disease-19 response amounting to P1,000,000.00, aid to individual in crisis situation amounting to P2,500,000.00, provision of medical assistance amounting to P1,500,000.00, Binmaley Scholarship Program amounting P100, 000.00, annual incentives for all senior citizens amounting to P4, 000, 000.00, supplemental feeding program amounting to P1,300, 000.00, distribution of certified palay seeds amounting to P1,000, 000.00, fingerlings dispersal amounting to P4,00,000.00, purchase and distribution of organic fertilizers to rice farmers amounting to P800,000.00, Sigay Festival Town Foundation Day Celebration amounting to P1,500, 000.00, provision of medical hospitalization aid to barangay amounting to P400, 000.00 and Bloom Binmaley Program amounting to P4,000,000.00.

EXCEPTION

As an exception, De Leon cited that the lawmaking body can impose its prior approval as provided in the Local Government Code when the mayor represents the municipality in a business transaction and is signing on its behalf all bonds, contracts and obligations and such other documents made pursuant to law or ordinance.

What Now Dagupan After Mayor Belen Vetoed the 2023 Budget?

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza 

Dagupan City Mayor Belen T. Fernandez vetoed Wednesday’s night the watered down almost P865 million budget of the second class city after the opposition majority lawmakers in the Sanggunian Panlungsod (SP) torn off a significant part her P1.3 billion 2023 proposed budget.

The Chief Executive vetoed the appropriation ordinance on the eight working day of the ten-day prescriptive period upon her receipt otherwise it becomes a law, according to the Local Government Code.

A GRIM FACED Dagupan City Mayor Belen T. Fernandez (left, photo) reads her communication- letter to the members of the Sanggunian Panlungsod (lawmaking body) why she vetoed the diminished almost P865 million 2023 appropriation ordinance they passed. The water downed amount came from the P1.3 billion proposed budget by the office of the mayor she sent to the august body in November last year. It was only approved by the opposition lawmaker last March 28, 2023. Photos at the right top and below are those of the majority opposition legislatures of the city.

She returned the appropriation ordinance to the SP by explaining to the lawmakers why she vetoed it. I don’t know if she –through the advice of her lawyer - cited the doctrine of ultra vires (prejudicial to the public welfare) provided in the Code as part of her communication.

The veto could no longer be overturned by the opposition legislatures – that composed seven out of the twelve councilors – because they need two-third or eight of the votes of the members of the SP as required by law.

With that reality, the local government unit (LGU) of the coastal city operates in the preceding year (2022) budget of another diminished P1.380 billion.

So with the brouhahas that hogged the headlines since last year, how will the Bangus City fares with a reenacted budget?

Its ADVANTAGES, as provided by Section 323 of the Local Government Code (LGC) are the following:

·         the ordinance authorizing the appropriations of the preceding year shall be deemed reenacted and shall remain in force and effect until the ordinance authorizing the proposed appropriations is passed by the SP.

·         annual appropriations for salaries and wages of existing positions, statutory and contractual obligations, and essential operating expenses authorized in the ANNUAL AND SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGETS (emphasis mine) for the preceding year shall be deemed reenacted and disbursement of funds shall be in accordance therewith. Example: The advantage of the reenacted budget to the vetoed almost P865 million appropriation ordinance is the present 769 job order employees (JOEs), 47 day care workers, 31 barangay librarians, 31 barangay nutrition scholars, 65 barangay service point officers, 630 barangay tanod (night guards) and 310 barangay health workers that the Mayor emphatically defended and joined in their acrimonious rally versus the hated Opposition Councilors – as seen on the social media - last April 10 in the public plaza. They could now continue to work and get paid. Those JOEs and others were beneficiaries on the ascension to the mayoralty of Fernandez in May 9, 2022 election where majority of the councilors in the sanggunian panlungsod were her allies. Some of them there waited for their last term to end at noon of May 31 of the same year. Between May 9 to May 31, 2022 these allies frantically approved the P1.380 budget that they denied to the beleaguered administration of Mayor Brian Lim. After approving the budget, expeditious approval of the supplemental budget or budgets followed as they race to complete it or them before May 31.

Why? The new opposition majority dubbed as Magic -7 (a play of words probably from the Magic Group of Companies (malls) of Lim by critics) were waiting at the sideline for their time to make life harder and miserable to the new mayor.

·         Statutory and contractual obligation as mentioned above cover continuing infrastructure development project of the LGU covered by a validly executed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and authorized in the annual or supplemental budget last year is among those deemed reenacted.

The DISADVANTAGES of the reenacted budget:

·         In the implementation of such reenacted ordinance, the local treasurer shall exclude from the estimates of income last year those realized from nonrecurring sources like national aids, proceeds from loans, sale of assets, prior year adjustments and other analogous sources of income.

·         No ordinance authorizing supplemental appropriations shall be passed in place of the annual appropriations.

·         There will be no creation of positions, no filling of positions, no new programs, projects and no activities for the Fernandez Administration.

·         The increase in the internal revenue allotment (IRA) allocation for this year 2023 cannot be utilized since the same is not covered by an appropriation ordinance.

·         Non-recurring activities (national aids, proceeds from loans, sale of assets, prior year adjustments and others) cannot be undertaken NO MATTER HOW VITAL THEY MAY BE (emphasis mine).

·         The twenty-percent (20%) Development or Infrastructure Fund – for government buildings, roads, others -  is not included. If half of the P1.380 is P690 million and was from the internal revenue allotment (they called it now as national tax allotment (NTA)) where the 20% of the Development Fund is computed, then the city loses P138 million this year for infras.

What say you my dear readers (to quote the quip of my favorite book author and Fox TV host Bill O'Reilly), would the 2022 reenacted budget bode well for the people of Dagupan City this year?

READ MY OTHER BLOG:

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.

Dagupan Diminished Budget is Not for 3rd Class Town

By Mortz C. Ortigoza 

My namesake and father Lt. Marcelo Ortigoza, Sr. attended the Araw Ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) today in a Cotabato town. My father is 94 years old and the only 44 living soldiers (out of the 7, 420) who fought the Chinese and North Koreans in the early 1950s Korean War.

In case the brewing tensions between China and Taiwan break out and the Chinese invade Luzon and the rest of the country because of the three U.S bases through the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) in Naval Base Camilo Osias and Lal-lo Airport in Cagayan and Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela, I would be seeing myself, my two grown up sons and you - yes you, son of a gun, the able bodied male specie reading this column- bear arms and fight to the death the Commie Chinese just like what the Ukrainian citizens have been doing with the Russian invaders. And of course, just like what the 7, 420 intrepid and gallant Pinoy soldiers had done in the 1950s.

Dagupan City. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com

Some media men in Dagupan City have kept repeating on their outlets that the watered down budget of Mayor Belen T. Fernandez from P1.3 billion to almost P865 million significantly reduced it to a THIRD CLASS TOWN.

I’ve honed my media experiences writing straight news on the annual budget of various local government units from first class to fourth class towns in the gargantuan province of Pangasinan since time immemorial.

For example, Mangaldan Mayor Bonafe D. Parayno and Sta. Barbara Mayor Lito Zaplan told me that their present budget this year is P430 million, P326 million, respectively. Mangaldan and Sta. Barbara like Calasiao (P380 million) and Binmaley (P350 million) are first class towns based on the classification of the Department of Finance (DoF).

Urbiztondo Mayor Modeng Operania disclosed to me his third class town has a budget this year of P216 million. Last year Aguilar Mayor Roldan Sagles told me his third class municipality had a budget of P232, 276, 019,00 last year.

 Deliberation, debate and legislation for the budget of a town and a city for the ensuing year by the Sanggunian (lawmaking body) start in October 16 according to the Local Government Code of the Philippines). The Code gives the lawmaking body up to March 31 the following year as deadline otherwise the Mayor is prejudiced to have a reenacted budget of the preceding year where the 20% development fund or infrastructure fund is omitted as mandated by law.

 To many mayors in the country, the infrastructure funds that run to tens if not hundreds of millions of pesos are their illegal source of doughs through the so-called S.O.P – the euphemism of “cut” that runs up to 10% - 20% per project from their favored contractor. They used these monies to fund their reelection, stipends for their mistresses, expenses of their family and their purchase of their new vehicles and houses.

With the average budget of P224 million by the two third class towns Urbiztondo and Aguilar, how come the Dagupan City budget of P865 million eroded to a third class town?

Baka third class city kasi second class city lang ang Dagupan when it was declassified by the DOF from being first class in the late 2000s or early 2010s.

An example of a third class city in the country was San Carlos City, Pangasinan in year 2020. It had an annual budget of ₱ 941.4 million. A fourth class city in year 2020 was Alaminos City, Pangasinan. It had an annual budget of P703.1 million.

Dagupan City as third class town?

Where did these media friends get their facts? It seems they f*cked up bigtime with their reportage, hahaha!

READ MY OTHER BLOG:

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.