Defeating Cerezo a sweet victory - Rosario

VINDICATED: Binmaley com-backing mayor
Sam Rosario.

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

BINMALEY – The newly elected mayor of this first class town considered his victory for the mayoral contest in May 13 this year as the “sweetest.”
 Mayor Simplicio Rosario said compared to the 2004 elections when he defeated the wife of his opponent former mayor Lorenzo Cerezo, the 2013 poll was his sweetest vindication. Rosario was defeated by Cerezo by 460 votes in 2010 election but in this year’s poll he trounced out the latter with thousands of votes.
 He explained that in the May 13 derby he was against all odds when he fought a sitting mayor supported by the congressman, governor, vice governor, two board members, majority of the village chiefs of this 33 barangays, and the vaunted Iglesia Ni Cristo.
 “And yet nanalo ako dahil sa Dios Panginoon, dahil sa tao, some of my leaders my loyalists, some of the ex-barangay captains and kagawad. Sweetest talaga,” he said.
 Rosario said he does not know if he will file a legal case against his predecessor. “I don’t know kasi wala pa akong nakikita,” he quipped.
 The new mayor said when he took his post last June 30 the garbage that strewn all over the town and its villages was overwhelming. “I hired four dump trucks kasi pinababayaan after election. So ang baho ng Binmaley, nag hire ako ng dalawa noong oath taking ko noong linggo. Maraming nagko-complain na mabaho na basura dito sa bayan hangang sa mga barangay,” he said.
Rosario deplored that three weeks after he took office he found that the coffer of this biggest town in the 2nd congressional district has been emptied. He cited the millions of pesos budget for the mayor’s office had turned red in June 30 this year. The half a million pesos public affairs and the social funds had only hundred of pesos left. “Pati gasoline sa office of the mayor ubos na. Na magic ng nakaraang administration ang budget,” a source who asked anonymity showed to this paper the reports prepared by the municipal treasurer and accountant.
 Rosario said he would be realigning the funds for some projects that were funded by the P55 million loan contracted by the municipal government under former mayor Cerezo.

Road elevation in Dagupan to last 50 years - Dion

Dagupan City
Mayor Belen Fernandez

Rep. Gina de Venecia

DAGUPAN CITY – The former chief of the 2nd Engineering District in Pangasinan said that the elevation of the concrete road in this city would last for 50 years.
 “The quality of the concrete is high that the road will last for 50 years,” stressed by Engineer Rodolfo “Boy” Dion.
Dion said the road needs regular maintenance even it is of high quality. He explained that unlike the concrete roads he oversees under his watch, other roads and highway in other parts of the country last up to 25 years. The projects in this city done under the supervision of Dion are P45 million construction of road and drainage system in Bonuan Gueset, P18.5 million drainage system along Arellano-Bani and concreting of the road shoulder Dawel to Tanap Bridge, P47 million raising of grade and construction of drainage system of Mayombo that started from the junction Perez Boulevard to Villaflor Hospital, P20 million raising of grade and construction of drainage of Lucao section from the junction of Old de Venecia Highway to the junction of New de Venecia Highway.
A source who asked anonymity said the projects done by Department of Public Works & Highway under the stewardship of Dion in this city are considered as one of the best in the country. ”Look at the way DPWH constructed the roads in Dagupan. Look at the quality man holes that can be passed by vehicles designed by Dion. Look at the road widening”. Because of the initiatives of Dion to expand different arteries of roads, construct bigger drainage systems, floods have been a thing of the past.
The DPWH’s top honcho said that a kilometer road costs now P20 million. “One kilometer of road costs up to P20 million. Iyan pag mataas ang cemento. Iyong iba P15 million pataas”. Engineer Dion said that before a concrete road can be used it needs 14 days for the cement to be cured. But the public works found it ideal to have a curing period of 27 days. “Ang curing mga 14 days puwedi mo ng padaanan 75%. Pero kung talagang (ideal) aabot tayo ng 27 days,” he said. (MCO)

P9B tax target of BIR Region-1 comes from NEDA - Guballa

Tax Honchos: BIR Region-1 Bigwigs strike a pose for
 posterity during their sports festival.

CALASIAO – The regional director of the Bureau of Internal Revenue in Region 1 said that the P9 billion goals given by the government to his office came primarily from the National Economic Development Authority.
 “Actually iyong goal setting namin is galing from NEDA ibibigay sa BIR then BIR idi-distribute sa mga regional offices,” stressed by CPA-Lawyer Arnel Guballa.
The P9 billion goals given this year was a leapfrogged from the P7 billion tax target given by the national government to his office last year.
 Guballa explained that the tall order for him this year does not necessarily mean that new burgeoning businesses sprouted like mushrooms in the four provinces Region 1.
 A source who asked anonymity at the BIR said that the goal given to Region 1 is much bigger than the 6.6 percent Gross Domestic Products last year. “Mabuti pa iyong national government humahataw sa six percent GDP, kami sa BIR nag ta-target ng 25 percent averaged per year,” he said.
Guballa cited that the national goal of P1.24 Trillion has been proportionally given to all regional offices all over the country. In the first quarter this year, BIR Region-1 collected P2,723,090,332.18 compared to the same quarter last year of P2,288,565,335.35 or an increase of P434,524,996.83.
Compared to the Bureau of Custom , BIR collected P1.058 trillion versus the P1.066-trillion target last year or a short of P8 billion. While the BoC has a collection of P290 billion versus its tax goal of P347 billion last year, or short of P57 billion.
 Meanwhile, BIR Region 1’s prime Revenue District Office – 4 under Christine Cardona collected P802,439,068.69 in the first quarter this year compared to the same quarter last year where it collected P624,740,467.49 . It was a spiked of P177,698,601.20.
RDO-4 has a goal of P2.5 billion this year. RDO-4 that is based here has been a top performer by besting the other five RDOs in Region 1 .
 On the data, given by Assistant RDO-4 chief Charmaine C. de la Torre to this paper, it showed that RDO-4 has been outperforming the other five RDOs in the region. “Our district is not only a top performer in Region 1 but has already exceeded our cumulative goal as of April 31, 2013 by almost Php 3 million,” de la Torre stressed. (MCO)

“Presidentiables” for mayors’ league in P’sinan floated

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Rosario

DAGUPAN CITY – A political operator who asked anonymity said that there are six prospective bets for the presidency of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines -Pangasinan Chapter (LMP-PC) who are being floated by some quarters these days.

Nacar

He said in case the election of the 44 members local chief executive’s organization in the province push through on October 5 this year, the following hopefuls are Binmaley Mayor Sam Rosario, Bayambang Mayor Ric Camacho, Aguilar Mayor Eduardo Ballesteros, Tayug Mayor Tyrone Agabas, Laoac Mayor Silverio Alarcio, and PML-PC Incumbent president Noel Nacar.
 Nacar, at the inaugural address of Pangasinan Governor Amado T. Espino at the Sison Auditorium in Lingayen, told this paper that he seeks reelection in the LMP-PC.

Alarcio

In an interview at his office, Rosario was ambivalent to run despite the prodding of some interest groups because of his closeness to presidential hopeful Vice President Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalists Alliance. “I’ll run probably if I will be endorsed by the governor,” Rosario was overheard to say.
 The operator said that majority of the Pangasinan mayors would gravitate to Rosario since the maneuvering of the camp of Binay for the highest office of the land will start next year. “A lot of mayors would ingratiate with Rosario by supporting him because of the projects that Binay will give just like what he did in 2007-2010 when he gave mini-vans and other projects to mayors whose towns signed an agreement to become a sister city of Makati because of the intervention of Rosario,” he said in Filipino. The operator said that Malasiqui Mayor Armando Domantay, an ideal for the leadership of the LMP-PC because of his being a last termer mayor and has millions of pesos to boot, declined but instead endorses Bayambang Mayor Camacho. “Si Ric na lang ang patakbuhin niyo kasi wala siyang kalaban noong last election at hindi siya gumastos. Last termer na rin siya at back- up pa siya ni (business mogul) Cesar Quimbao,” Domantay quipped.
But Camacho said it is impossible for him to run because he is preoccupied preparing for the town’s 400 years anniversary and his municipality’s bid for the Guinness Book of World Record to defeat Turkey’s 6.2 kilometers grill.
Turkey, according to Camacho, trounced-out Dagupan City in terms of the longest grill in the Guinness.
 It is a common knowledge among political players in the humongous province that running and winning the presidency of the LMP-PL entails expenses like dole-outs and the dinning and wining of the mayors that the candidate should shoulder.
“One has to shell-out tens of thousands of pesos for the 44 members LMP-PC to win. One has to prepare himself to give a sum to a hizzoner in case he solicits for his town fiesta and others”.
 The source said that an ideal candidate for this prestigious body, where its president rub- elbows with the "who’s who" of the national government , should be moneyed where he can source his wherewithal from whatever means he can tap before he wins the plum.
 Another competent candidate for the league, according to the source, is Laoac Mayor Alarcio. “He is perceptive. He is good in planning,” he said.
 The only problem, the source said, is he is hesitant to run if he has to shell out sums just to ingratiate with the votes of his fellow mayors.
 “Why should I spend for them when I will be serving them?” the source quoted the mayor, a former police general.
The other candidates, the operator said, are Aguilar Mayor Ballesteros who has a thriving construction business, and Tayug Mayor Tyrone Agabas, although a neophyte mayor, has a deep pocket to spend for the internecine financial warfare during the campaign period notwithstanding his being a lawyer, a former Board Member, and the husband of Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas (6th District, Pangasinan) .
“Of course andiyan si Mayor Nacar ng Dasol who was catapulted at the perch of the league in the last election (LMP-PC) by Abono Chairman Rosendo So”.
 He said Chairman So’s support in the coming election is crucial because of his well-oiled political machinery.
Political spectators in Pangasinan unanimously agreed that the election of the LMP-PC is high stake for this year because of the willing supports of presidential hopefuls Secretary Mar Roxas of the Department of Interior & Local Government and Liberal Party’s presidential hopeful, and Vice President Binay who have the moist eyes to position their stocks in the almost 2 million votes rich Pangasinan in the presidential election in 2016.
 “Whoever gets the support of the president of the mayors’ league and the governor have the comparative advantage in the race to Malacanang in 2016,” the operator opined.

Binay on 2016: Cannons ready to be fired

BY AYEE MACARAIG

MANILA, Philippines – Being the first and only politician to declare his 2016 presidential bid, Vice President Jejomar Binay already anticipates his critics to fire away. “The cannons are ready to be fired. Ang mga paninira, nag-uumpisa na, so okay lang,” Binay said in an exclusive interview on ANC’s new show Beyond Politics with Lynda Jumilla on Tuesday, July 9. (The attacks are already starting, so it’s okay.) In the interview, Binay and his 3 politician children said that while their critics are preparing to attack, they are also ready to address issues raised against them. The Vice President said his detractors are launching a “peripheral attack” focusing on his son, Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, to derail his presidential candidacy.
The younger Binay affirmed this. “What we’re hearing right now, nagwi-witch-hunt, naghahanap ng butas, transactions made in the city government. Ito ang nakarating sa amin. Dahil 'di maatake ang father ko, sisimulan sa mga anak, sa pamilya, bago pumunta sa father ko,” Mayor Binay said. (They are doing a witch-hunt, finding loopholes in the transactions made in the city government.
This reached us. Because they can’t attack my father, they start with us children, the family, before targeting him.) Vice President Binay said that this early, he already knows what issues will be raised against him. “One thing’s sure. From the position of vice president and up to now, I cannot think of a case against me. In fact, we’ve been awarded several instances for how we handle our finances and for having the right expenses. So manggagaling lang 'yun sa pagka-mayor ko,” the Binay patriarch said. (The attack will only come from my years as a mayor.) 3 parties in 2016 Binay was Makati mayor from 1986 to 2010, only stepping down for 3 years because of a term limit. As Makati mayor, he faced various graft cases and suspension but none of the charges prospered. His wife, former Makati Mayor Elenita Binay, has two graft cases at the Sandiganbayan. Besides his son, his daughters Sen Nancy Binay and re-elected Makati 2nd District Rep Abigail Binay came to his defense, branding the issues against their father as rehashed and recycled. Vice President Binay said that aside from his “old graft cases,” his critics are also reviving rumors about his health.
He again denied that he is undergoing dialysis and that he has lupus. Binay earlier told the Philippine Medical Association that he is willing to undergo a physical examination to dispel speculations that he is ill. Asked who is behind the alleged smear campaign, Binay laughed. He also refused to name potential rivals for the presidency but dropped hints. “I suppose there will be 3 political parties vying for the position of president and vice president and they will probably have their own senatorial line-up. Nacionalista Party, Liberal Party, and UNA. I doubt Lakas will join, they might just coalesce [with other groups],” said the founder of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
 Unlike in 2010, Binay’s candidacy is now the subject of public scrutiny. In his vice presidential bid, Binay was dismissed as an unlikely winner with his low survey ratings but emerged to be the poll’s dark horse. BINAY DYNASTY

Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, Makati 2nd District Rep Abigail Binay, Sen Nancy Binay and Vice President Jejomar Binay sit down for an interview with ANC's Beyond Politics. Vice President Binay jokes that they are indeed the "Binay dynasty." Photo from Sen Binay's Instagram account BINAY DYNASTY. Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, Makati 2nd District Rep Abigail Binay, Sen Nancy Binay and Vice President Jejomar Binay sit down for an interview with ANC's Beyond Politics. Vice President Binay jokes that they are indeed the "Binay dynasty." Photo from Sen Binay's Instagram account ‘Social media is saddening’ The Binay siblings said they are already used to the political attacks, an experience they had to deal with since childhood. Mayor Binay said: “When we were young, our father was always in the opposition so they filed many cases against him. I really appreciate the fact that my father will take the time to explain to us these issues. ‘Children, when you hear this from your classmates, this is the explanation. Be ready to explain.’ “For many years, our father did this, and now we are also doing this with our children. It’s sad but we have to face it. Our father taught us to defend ourselves.” Mayor Binay said this is what made social media “saddening.” “You can easily accuse something against a person and not prove it.” Binay’s son revealed that during Nancy’s senatorial campaign, he actively played a role and constantly reminded his elder sister not to take the attacks against her on social media personally. Senator Binay came under fire for issues ranging from her inexperience, refusal to join debates, to her skin color. The Binays also get attacked online over political dynasty, a label they embraced and even joked about. Yet they again defended themselves, saying they subject themselves to the people’s will in elections. 
READ: Binays: Nothing wrong with 4 of us in gov't Senator Binay said: “Why deprive the voters of people they can choose from just because you have the same last name. It works both ways. Why deprive others the opportunity to serve but also why deprive voters of choices?” Rep Abigail Binay issued an appeal to social media users. “Let’s be responsible. Let’s be less judgmental. All of us, we don’t like being judged. Tao lang kami, nasasaktan din kami. If you put yourselves in our position, how would you feel? So medyo hinay-hinay lang.” (We are just human, we get hurt. Be careful when you say things online.) VP, Abigail clashed over RH Despite the dynasty tag, Rep Binay said each of them has his or her own mind. She cited the Reproductive Health (RH) law as an issue where she differed from her father. Rep Binay voted to pass the RH bill. “It’s a heated debate so browbeating with dad, but of course you have to consider the position of your parents, your constituents also, and your personal position, but at the end of the day, minsan magtatampo, 'di ka kakausapin konti but I guess that’s normal.” (He will feel bad and won’t talk to you for a while.) Vice President Binay laughed and said, “Talagang nagalit ako sa [kanya sa] RH. Sinulatan ko ng ilang beses iyan.” (I really got mad at her over RH. I wrote to her several times.) Rep Binay said even when she was in the session hall, her father would still repeatedly call her to convince her to change her mind. “Can you imagine how divisive issues like that are? Even if you say dynasty, we have different opinions. We have different styles, so it doesn’t mean we come from one family, we’re the same as the father or the sibling. We’re all individuals.” – Rappler.com

Capitol andPDEA forge tie-up againstillegal drugs in Pangasinan

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The provincial government, in partnership with the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA), has adopted an integrated approach to intensify the campaign against the trafficking and use of illegal drugs in the province. The partnership was forged after Gov. Amado .Espino, Jr. met with PDEA regional director Jeoffrey Tacio and his provincial operations chief in Pangasinan at the Capitol yesterday where some kinks in the anti-illegal drugs campaign were ironed out. Briefed on the situation of the government’s on-going drive against the menace, the governor directed Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim,Jr. and Provincial Information Officer Orpheus Velasco to map out a comprehensive, year-round operational plan and massive information drive to effectively carry out the partnership. “This partnership serves as a strong warning to drug-traffickers and users,” the governor said, as he urged all segments of society to get involved in the anti-illegal drugs movement. A bemedalled police officer for capturing drug lords and author of the Dangerous Drugs Act as a Congressman,Governor Espino said that the anti-drug campaign should be taken seriously from prevention, apprehension to prosecution (PAP). Immediately after the meeting with the governor, the PDEA officials sat down with Calimlim and Velasco and agreed that the provincial government will make full use of its machinery on matters of illegal drugs use prevention. The PDEA, on the other hand, will concentrate on carrying out its law-enforcement mandate of running after drug traffickers and their minions and subsequent prosecution of all those arrested. According to Tacio, the partnership is the first kind to be adopted in the government’s anti-drugs campaign. “This is a big boost to PDEA’s campaign in this part of the country,”Tacio said, as he pointed out that the agency’s operations are hampered by limited logistical resources and manpower. As an initial step, the partnership decided to harness organized youth groups in the province, particularly the Federation of Sangguniang Kabataan. As per instructions of the governor, the provincial government’s 1,500 scholars will be mobilized to help galvanize the advocacy of the movement for a drug-free Pangasinan. Calimlim said an orientation-seminar has been set for the purpose on July 26 at the Capitol Complex. This will be followed by a similar activity with the province’s SK federation on July 27 at the Subic Freeport Zone in Olongapo City, the vice governor said. He stressed that a monthly work program is now being finalized to be implemented immediately. (PIO)

PNPA grad hits hubris of PMA alumni

By MORTZ C.ORTIGOZA

 DAVAO CITY – A mid level officer of the police who is an alumnus of the Philippine National Police Academy assailed the elitist mentality of some members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) after they recommended that the Philippine National Police should start accepting again graduates of the PMA.
The decorated official said the members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Alumni Association and generals at Camp Crame failed to see how graduates of the PMA and PNPA, the lateral entry, and those officials who rose from the rank live in harmony at the PNP.
 “The entry of PMA graduate to the PNP to infuse a brand new kind leadership is a non-issue,” he said.
He lamented the proposal to accept the graduates of the Baguio City based academy is an elitist thinking. “These people from PMAAA thought they have the Torrens title or franchise at the the PNP,” the police official stressed.
 He said PMAyers were responsible in shrouding the bad image of the Philippine Constabulary (precursor of the present police force) and the PNP.
“They got Colonel (Dionesio) Borromeo (who was convicted and now incarcerated at the national penitentiary) who was involved in the P1 trillion shabu hoard in Naguillan, La Union. PMAyers like General (Carlos) Garcia, General (Angelo) Reyes, General Jacinto Ligot were sued with graft and corruption. He said there are those generals at the PNP who were involved in cheating for the election of then president Gloria M. Arroyo”.
 He said the PNPA was created and brought up by the PMAyers.
“It was introduced in 1978 for members of the PC/INP (Integrated National Police) who want to be officer. It used to accept college graduates who were eventually trained at Silang, Cavite for two years.
He explained that in 1980, PNPA started training cadets for four-year course just like their counterparts at the PMA.
 “The PNPA started accepting high school graduates. PNPA and PMA have the same tradition because of the PMA graduates who mentor them. We have the same cat calls and lingo. We call our classmate from the academy as “mistah”, too. When we were plebes we sneaked to get food we call as “take life”.
 He said a PNPA graduates has advantage over a PMAyer in terms of police work. He explained that a cadet at the PNPA learned the Revised Penal Codes, the Rules of Court, investigation, community relation while his counterpart at Fort del Pilar in Baguio City learned only the Revised Penal Codes. “The police are honed with community service. Before we go to a place we size up the community relation with the police fares in the area. We work with the community to maintain peace and order”. He said graduates of the PMA are mission oriented. “What they do is search and destroys. They f__k the community and not build it”.
 He said the perception of PMAyers is better than PNPAyers is a non-issue.
 “Ang competence ay nasa tao. Merong gagong graduate sa U.P (University of the Philippines), merong matino at magaling na graduate sa U.L (University of Luzon in Dagupan City)”.
 He said the PNPA alumni at the police, who composed the bulk of the officers’ corps of the police, opt to be silent on the raucous raised by PMAAA and Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac.
 “Let them (PMAAA) self-destruct on the crap they mouthed,” he said.
 Recently, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said it was impossible to accept graduates of the PMA to the PNP because they are barred by the Constitution to join the police force.
Article XVI, Section 6 of the 1987 Constitution states that, "The State shall establish and maintain one police force, which shall be national in scope and civilian in character."