Walang Away sina Guv Monmon, Cong. Mark, Manay Gina

 

MAGKA TEXTMATES PA RIN SILA

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Walang katuturan ang mga intrigang nagsisilabasan at kumakalat sa social media at sa mga kuwentuhan sa tabi-tabi na may hidwaan ang mga malalaking personalidad sa Pangasinan.

Mga fake news writers sa Facebook, bloggers at mga marites ay sila ang mga nagkakalat na may away sina Pangasinan 2^nd District Congressman Mark Cojuangco at comebacking Pangasinan 4^th District congressional candidate Gina de Venecia kay Pangasinan Governor Ramon “Monmon” Guico.

BIGWIGS. From left photo and clockwise: Pangasinan Governor Ramon V. Guico III, Pangasinan 2nd District Cong. Mark Cojuangco, and former Pangasinan 4th District Rep. Gina de Venecia.

Noong sinabi ng writer na ito kay Governor Guico na binati siya ni Cong. Cojuangco ng “Happy Birthday” noong March 19 sa Facebook Page ng huli, pinakita ni Guico  ang text message ni Cojuangco at ang pasalamat ng huli sa pagpuri sa kanya na kasama sa Aguila noong nakipagbuno at nilupig nila ang pamamayagpag ng political family Espino sa probinsiya.

“Pagbati sa iyong maligayang kaarawan, Gov. Ramon Mon-Mon Guico III! Lubos akong nagpapasalamat sa iyong suporta at nakahahawang dedikasyong manilbihan para sa bawat residente ng buong Pangasinan. Isa kang tunay na inspirasyon para sa akin at sa iba pa nating kapwa-lingkod-bayan. Mula sa Distrito Dos, hiling namin ang iyong kasiyahan, mabuting kalusugan, at mas mahaba pang panahon para sa'yong tapat na serbisyo dito sa ating probinsya. Muli, happy-happy birthday, Gov. Mon-Mon!” sulat ni Cong. Cojuangco sa Facebook.

INTRIGA

Nagsimula ang intrigang may hidwaan sina Cojuangco at Guico noong September 14, 2023 noong imbestigahan ng mga miyembro ng provincial board kung saan andoon din ang gobernador sa pinapatayo na 920 meters’ sea walls ng Pangasinan 2nd District Engineering Office ng Department of Public Works & Highway (DPWH).

Ang proyekto ay panukala ni Cojuangco para matigil na ang pagbaha sa kahabaan ng baybayin ng Lingayen at Binmaley towns.

HUWAG IMBITAHIN

Noong na scooped at naging screaming headline ng Northern Watch Newspaper na Politician Marching Order: Don’t Invite the Guicos at R1MC noong sinabi ni Governor Guico noong February 14, 2024 sa isang press conference dito na pinagbabawalan na sila na dumalo sa kaganapan sa regional hospital sa Dagupan City. Ang balita ay may kasamang larawan kung saan si Department of Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, Dagupan City Mayor Belen T. Fernandez, former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Pangasinan 4th District Cong. Christopher de Venecia at kanyang inang si former Congresswoman Gina ay may ribbon cutting sa pagbukas ng bagong Center for Disease Prevention and Control sa nasabing ospital sa Dagupan City.

Akala ng karamihan ay tuluyang naghiwalay na si Governor at Gina de Venecia at ang kanyang anak na si exiting 4^th District Rep. Toff de Venecia.

“Merong instruction: huwag imbitahan ang mga Guicos. Pero lahat ng inilagay doon sa property sa Arellano, Dagupan City ipangalan mo sa probinsiya kasi ang lupa ay titulado sa provincial of Pangasinan. Legally sa probinsiya po iyon..,” ani Guico sa mga reporters sa isang presser na ginanap sa umaga ng Februay 14 sa launching ng Center for the Lifelong Learning (CELL) ng Pangasinan Polytechnic College sa Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center Complex dito.

TEXT MATE PA RIN

Ani Guico sa palitan sa writer na ito sa pagdiriwang ng kanyang kaarawan noong gabi ng March 22 sa Sison, Auditorium dito Capitol: Hindi lang si Gina de Venecia kung hindi pati na rin ang anak niyang congressman ay bumati sa pamamagitan ng texts sa gobernador sa kaarawan niya.

NANG IINTRIGA

Noong nipasinayaan ng gobernador at ni San Miguel Corporation President at Chief Executive Officer Ramon Ang noong March 21 ang ground breaking ceremony ng P34 billion first phase ng halos 43 kilometro na expressway sa eastern at central Pangasinan sa Brgy. Baligi, Laoac sa Pangasinan, may mga media men na nag titext sa writer na ito kung andoon si business magnate Cezar T. Quiambao matapos nilang makita ang mga naunang ni post niya sa Facebook kung saan makikita sa stage sina Ang, Gov. Guico, amang si Commission on Appointment Vice Chairman at Pangasinan 5^th District Cong. Ramon “Monching” Guico, Jr., at Pangasinan Vice Governor Mark Lambino.

“Andiyan ba si (former Bayambang) Mayor Cezar Quiambao?’’ tanong noong isa.

Kasi pag wala, iintrigahin na naman nilang may away talaga sila Quiambao at Cojuangco kontra kay Guico na kung saan magkasama silang ni wakasan ang paghahari ng mga Espino sa Pangasinan.

“Andito nasa harapang upuan,” ani ng writer na ito kung saan nakita niyang nakaupo roon si Mayor Cezar.

Iyong ibang kritiko ng gobernador ay nagpapadala pa ng music video sa Facebook na may titulong: "Paalam" kung saan naghiwalay na si Cong. Mark kena Governor Monmon at ama niyang si Cong. Monching.

Intriga talaga.

Iba sa mga kritikong ito ay nagpapalabas ng tsismis na tatakbong gobernador si Cong. Mark sa May 2025 election at ang kanyang vice governor tandem ay si dating governor Pogi Espino o ang kanyang amang si ex-governor Amado.

“Hindi totoo iyan!” ani ng isang mataas na opisyla sa Capitol sa writer na ito.

“Walang Cojuangco at Espino na tatakbong gobernador sa susunod na eleksiyon. Walang sapat na pondo ang mga Espino na labanan si Governor Monmon matapos silang lumpuhin sa palakihan ng campaign fund noong huling eleksiyon,” may kumpiyansang pagsambit niya.

Gatekeepers of Ph Skies in the 60's to 20's

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

When I was a kid growing up in the then war-torn Cotabato, I enmeshed myself reading used military magazines from Clark Air Base the Americans would give to the personnel of the Philippines Air Force (PAF) where my father belonged.

One of them was the supersonic F-5 A/B – the one I took photo at the Clark Air Museum in Pampanga after I covered the air acrobats of the South Korean pilots and their TF-50 supersonic jets.

I thought the needle nose F-5s were smaller but looked bigger when I touched and felt its dirty white aluminum alloy skin.

There are two main models of the aircraft, the original F-5A and F-5B Freedom Fighter variants – the Philippines bought 37 of them from 1965 to 1998 from the United States - and the extensively updated F-5E and F-5F Tiger II variants. Smaller and simpler than contemporaries such as the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, the F-5 cost less to procure and operate, making it a popular export aircraft. Though primarily designed for a day air superiority role, the aircraft is also a capable ground-attack platform.

The F5s have been used extensively to patrol areas claimed by the Philippines in the disputed Spratly island chain and the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. They were also used by the famous PAF "Blue Diamonds" aerobatics team that mesmerized the crowds in air shows nationwide in the 1960s and the 70s.

The jets were also used to back soldiers fighting communist insurgents in the central and northern Philippines and Muslim separatist rebels and the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group in Mindanao. They blasted military rebel positions and their Tora-Tora planes (T-28 Trojans) at an air base in Sangley Point, Cavite during a coup attempt in 1989 that nearly toppled the government of President Corazon Aquino.

After 40 years of guarding the nation’s airspace, the PAF retired the F-5s in September 2005.

Tall Order for BIR-North Pam: P14.4-B Target

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga – The Revenue District Office No. 21A - that covers two cities and three towns - has been given a tall order by the national government to collect P14.4 billion this year.

TOP EXECUTIVES of the Bureau of Internal Revenue in central Luzon pose with one of the top taxpayers during the tax campaign kick-off rally of Revenue District Office No. 21A held recently at the Activity Center of Marquee Mall in Angeles City, Pampanga. From left to right: RDO No. 21A Chief Charmaine C. dela Torre, BIR Revenue Region No. 4 Director Emmanuel Ferrer, awardee-taxpayer and her male assistant, RR No. 4 Assistant Regional Director Marlon Mendoza and Assistant RDO No. 21A Chief Amalia de Leon. Photo by Mortz C. Ortigoza

“This year our district’s goal had ballooned to P14.4 billion or P2.7 billion higher than on last year’s collection – a whopping 23 percent increase! This means that we will be again doubling if not tripling the effort to build with this enormous goal,” declared by RDO No. 21A Chief Charmaine C. Dela Torre during the tax campaign kick-off held recently at the Activity Center of Marquee Mall in this city.

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue Region No. 4 Director Emmanuel Ferrer, who was one of the speakers, said that the flagship district faces a tough goal for this year.

“Mabigat lalo ang kanilang goal. Sila po ang flagship district natin sa buong region.  Sila po ang may pinakamataas na goal for this year and their goal this year: P14.457 billion”.

Dela Torre appealed to the taxpayers to continue their support for the BIR by paying the correct taxes.

Photo by Mortz C. Ortigoza

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

“As we will also continue to give back to you what you truly deserve and that is giving you better and efficient quality service to everyone,” Dela Torre, a native of Calasiao, Pangasinan, stressed.

The RDO Chief optimistically told hundreds of crowd that she soldiered on because last year bode well for her district. Even Director Ferrer lauded Dela Torre’s district in hailing the most number of taxpayers who attended the tax campaign kick-off he ever witnessed in the region.

The multitude included the awardees for the individual and non-individual taxpayers, Director Ferrer, Assistant Regional Director Marlon Mendoza, Assistant RDO No. 21A Chief Amalia de Leon, and other officials of the tax agency in North Pampanga.

The RDO-21A Chief exceeded the 2022 collection of P10.4 billion by racking up P11.7 billion in 2023 or a surplus of P1.3 billion. She lauded the men and women of RDO-21A and the support of Ferrer and Mendoza for a positive performance last year.

“And of course let’s not forget to acknowledge and thank the source of all these blessings and glory and praise to our God”.

The North Pampanga chief called the taxpayers to pay faithfully their taxes as the April 15 deadline for the annual income tax return (ITR) approaches.

RDO 21A became a consistent achiever awardee on goal attainment from January to October 2023 while based on the audit and investigation for 2023, it cumulated P364 million versus P171 million in 2022 on its deficiency tax collection.

It filed cases against four erring taxpayers under the Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) that violated the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC), filed cases on four taxpayers on Oplan Kandado or closure of their shops, collected P85.3 million in 2023 versus P31 million in 2022 on excise taxes on quarry operations.

Photo by Mortz C. Ortigoza

Dela Torre’s district became the top RDO under Revenue Region No. 4 in Tax Awareness Program (TAP) for 2022. It was a first runner up nationwide on the 2023 Tax Infomercial Making Contest.

On its Tax Compliance Verification Drive (TCVD), it chalked up 2, 807 in 2023 compared to 1,626 in 2022. On the increase on the number of business registrants, there were 29, 954 in 2023 versus the 24, 893 in 2022.

Moreover, RDO 21A garnered the highest overall satisfaction rating among taxpayers in the region while it successfully passed the ISO 9001 that covered business registration, one-time transaction process, processing and issuance of tax clearance certificate, and retrieval of BCS Reports and tax returns filed with authorized agent banks.

“Let’s do it again this 2024. Let’s embrace this year’s slogan of the BIR: “Sa tamang buwis pag-asenso’y mabilis,” Dela Torre exhorted the taxpayers.

Mayor J.R Lauds Various Officials for Successful Fiesta

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BASISTA, Pangasinan – The mayor of this town hailed the invaluable contributions of local, provincial, and national officials for the successful seven days and nine nights' town fiesta for this year.

LUMINARIES. From left photo and clockwise: Basista Mayor Jolly R. Resuello, Pangasinan Governor Ramon V. Guico III, and 2^nd District Cong. Mark O. Cojuangco.

“Ako po ay lubos na nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng tumulong, sumuporta, at umalalay sa pitong araw at siyam na gabi na town fiesta ng ating bayan. Ganon din sa ating mga kababayang tumangkilik at nag abang upang matunghayan ang hinanda ng pamahalaang lokal para sa ating kapistahan. Hindi po natin ito magagawa ng matagumpay kung wala po ang inyong suporta at presensiya, maraming salamat po,” said by Mayor Jolly R. Resuello.

The mayor extolled  the indispensable contribution of Pangasinan 2^nd District Congressman Mark O. Cojuangco, Pangasinan Governor Ramon V. Guico III, Vice Gov. Mark Ronald Lambino and the legislature he headed particularly Board Members Haidee Pacheco and Philip Theodore Cruz.

The second term’s mayor extended his gratitude to the members of the municipal lawmaking body headed by Vice Mayor Dante P. Bustarde, Executive Committee, Local Finance Committee, municipal departments and employees, barangay officials of the 13 villages, Department of Education- Basista District headed by Public School District Supervisor Dr. Catherine Operana, the private schools, the civil society organization, Binibining Basista, the orchestra, pastors and others.

“At sa aking mga kababayan, asahan niyo po na ang inyong lingkod kasama ang ating mga opisyales ng bayan ng Basista ay patuloy at hinding hindi magsasawang mag dala ng kasiyahan at progreso sa ating mahal na bayan ng Basista. At lagi ninyo pong tatandaan na mahal na mahal po namin kayo,” Mayor Resuello ended his plaudits and gratitude.

 

Guv Monmon's Birthday Bash

 During the birthday celebration of Pangasinan Governor Monmon Guico held tonight at the Sison Auditorium in the Capitol in Lingayen.

I posed in the photos here with the Guv, First Lady Maan Guico, Provincial Director Col. Jeff Fanged and his Intel Chief, Mayors, former Hizzoners, politicians and department heads of the provincial government in the gargantuan province.

GUV’S B-DAY. During the birthday celebration of Pangasinan Governor Monmon Guicon (extreme left) held at dusk of March 22 at the Sison Auditorium in the Capitol in Lingayen. Others in photo are Pangasinan First Lady Maan Tuazon-Guico (fourth from left), consultants, department heads and hospital chiefs. Photo by Mortz C. Ortigoza

LUMINARIES. During the birthday celebration of Pangasinan Governor Monmon Guico (extreme left) held at dusk of March 22 at the Sison Auditorium in the Capitol in Lingayen. Others in photo from second from left to right: Northern Watch Newspaper Editor-in-Chief Mortz C. Ortigoza, Calasiao former Mayor Roy Macanlalay, and Calasiao Mayor Kevin Roy Macanlalay.

Monching kay Rammy: Laban Tayo sa Cong. o Itago Mo na Lang Yaman Mo

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Nagkahuntahan kami ni powerful Vice Chairman of the Commission on Appointment at Pangasinan 5^th District Cong. Monching Guico tungkol sa hamon ng mga taga kampo ni Urdaneta City Mayor Rammy Parayno sa sideline ng ground breaking ng P34 billion Pangasinan Link Expressway (PILEX) sa Laoac, Pangasinan. Ito’y pinangunahan ni San Miguel Corporation Chair Ramon Ang.

Congressman Monching Guico (left) and Urdaneta City Mayor Rammy Parayno.

“Kuya Monching, sabi ng mga maka Mayor Rammy Parayno bloggers at commenters mas gusto daw ni Mayor na kayo ang makabangaan niya kesa ang manugang ninyong si Maan Guico (asawa ni Governor Monmon Guico) sa eleksiyon ng pagka mayor sa susunod na taon,” ika ko.

Nakangiti si Congressman Monching  - isang beteranong pulitiko at matagal ng Alkalde ng Binalonan.

“Isulat mo sa blog mo na kung gusto niya na makalaban ako tumakbo siyang congressman!”

Ang isyung paghamon kay Cong. Monching ay nagsimula noong maghamon ang mga pro-Parayno bloggers na minamaliit nila si Madam Maan dahil wala daw siyang maiambag sa Urdaneta at dayo pa sa siyudad dahil galing siya sa Pampanga.

Sinulat ko sa blog ko sa 101 Talk Radio at P’nan News noong March 19 na may title: Matalino at Eloquent si Maan Guico.

Sabi nila kaPampangan daw si Madam, dayo at walang maiiambag sa siyudad pag siya’y manalo.

Napaka idiotic naman ang ganitong klaseng buladas na nagsilabasan sa social media at mga radyo.

Laos na iyang salitang “dayo”. Nasa Constitution, Omnibus Election Code, Local Government Code (LGC) at iba pang mga batas na ang pagiging residente ng isang tao para magkandidato ay “An elective local official must be… a registered voter in the… city…; a resident therein for at least one (1) year immediately preceding the day of the election… (Section 39 LGC). 

Wala daw maiambag na maganda si Misis Guico:

Sino ba ang mister niyan di ba ang guwapong Gobernador ng seventh economically biggest province in the Philippines kung saan lalong dumami ang kita noong isang taon ng tax initiative niya sa quarry resources: Nakapagkulekta ang province, cities, towns at barangays ng P626, 626, 641.73 noong 2023 kontra sa P51, 729, 841.6 noong gobernador pa si Pogi Espino noong 2022.

May P5.73 billion budget pa ang mister niya sa taong ito. Ngayon sasabihin ninyo walang maiambag e kung iyong ibang proyekto noong probinsiya e channel ng mahal niyang esposo sa Urdaneta e di lalong jackpot ang Carabao City dahil naka buy one take three sila.

Tandaan, hindi take two kundi take three kasi father-in-law ni Madam Maan si 5^th District Cong. Monching Guico.

Ani Congressman Monching mabuti pang itago na lang ni Rammy ang yaman na gagamitin niya sa parating ng eleksiyon para magamit pa niya sa pagtanda niya.

“Gagastos ako at gagastos din si (Governor) Monmon kay Maan. Mabuti pang itago na lang niya ang pera niyang gagamitin”.

Nakikita ng mga political pundits ang labanang Maan at Rammy ay lulunod  sa mga taga Urdaneta  sa pagbaha ng grasya.

REAKSIYON NG GOBERNADOR

Noong sinabi ko kay Governor Guico na minamaliit ng mga kalaban si Maan dahil dayo lang daw ang kanyang maybahay.

Ani ng gobernador: “Paano naging dayo e First Lady nga siya ng Pangasinan?”

O ayan, klarong klaro na tunay ngang taga Pangasinan si Maan Guico dahil hindi lang siya residente dito kung hindi FIRST LADY PA.

SMC, Guico Break Ground for P34-B Expressway

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza and Ruby Bernardino

LAOAC, Pangasinan – The top honcho of the behemoth San Miguel Corporation and the governor of one of the biggest provinces ground break the first phase of the almost 43 kilometers expressway in Pangasinan.

MARKER. San Miguel Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Ramon Ang (second from right) and Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico, III (second from left) prepare to unveil the marker of the ground breaking ceremony of the P34 billion almost 43 kilometers Pangasinan Link Expressway (PLEX) held Thursday at Brgy. Baligi in Laoac, Pangasinan. Others in photo are powerful Commission on Appointment Vice Chairman and Pangasinan 5^th District Cong. Ramon “Monching” Guico, Jr. (extreme right) and Pangasinan Vice Governor Mark Lambino (extreme left).  Photo and caption by Mortz Ortigoza 

Spearheaded by Governor Ramon V. Guico III and President and Chief Executive Officer Ramon Ang of the San Miguel Corporation (SMC), the P34 billion project - a historic first in the province of Pangasinan - is part of SMC’s broader initiative to enhance the road networks in Central and Northern Luzon.

In this part of the province, PLEX is a realization of an ambitious dream of the governor to bolster the province’s economic and tourism growth and a “game changer” for Pangasinan.

“Naramdaman po namin ang pag-unlad dahil sa infrastructure projects sa TPLEX (Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway owned too by SMC). The same mode if you’re able to construct this Pangasinan Link Expressway opens so many doors to other towns and cities sa Pangasinan definitely. There will be growth in business, investment, there will be more jobs and more ease in travel within the province and outside the province,” Governor Guico said.

It can be recalled that the joint venture and tollway concession agreements between the two parties were officially sealed on October 19, 2023.

“PLEX is set to connect the east and the west of Pangasinan improving travel and drives the economic development. This project is part of our commitment of improving the lives of our kababayan by creating jobs and opening up more economic opportunities at no cost to the government,” stressed by Ang – the No. 4 richest billionaire in the Philippines with U.S$3.3 billion in assets according to Forbes 2024.

The first phase of the 42.76-kilometer gigantic project will span from the town of Binalonan to the capital town of Lingayen.

Project segments include 6.9 kilometers (km) from Binalonan to Manaoag; 11.3 km. From Manaoag to Calasiao; 2.39 km in the Calasiao area; and 22.7 km from Calasiao to Lingayen.

PLEX is a four-year public-private partnership initiative that is expected to change Pangasinan’s inland connectivity to facilitate faster movement of people, commodities, and services.

With its establishment, travel time from Binalonan to Lingayen will be reduced from an hour and 40 minutes to only about 20 to 30 minutes.

In 35 years, PLEX will be owned by the provincial government.