Ex-Lingayen mayor passes away

By Melvin Samson

LINGAYEN – This town’s former Officer-In-Charge Mayor Feliciano “Sonny”  Casipit Enrique passed away last September 7 due to heart attack.

 Enrique had been suffering from diabetes for quite some time and suffered stroke several years ago but recovered with sufficient medical attention as well as caring and loving family members. Last September 7, he suffered myocardial infarction or commonly known as heart attack while at his farm in Brgy. Libsong here.  He was rushed to the nearest hospital but he was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Viewing of the remains and wake of Enrique was at the Chapel of the Lingayen Heritage Park in Brgy. Maniboc of this capital town.

Enrique left his loving wife Lorna, daughters Rachelle E. Dy and Johnna Marie, equally loving sons, Lloyd Angel and Ghenier; and  brothers and sisters: Romeo, Alejandro, Esmeraldo, Lilia, Linda, Elpidio-“Ely” and Prospero-“Pros/Boy”.

The Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Lingayen passed SB Resolution No.284-Series of 2015 on September 8, 2015, ”Expressing deep sympathy and condolences to the bereaved family of the late former Lingayen OIC-Mayorfor his valuable service to the people and to this town, as well as his contributions as a successful businessman to the development and progress of Lingayen.”  Enrique was even specifically cited for starting the Lingayen Bagoong Jaycees as its Charter President.  The resolution was passed by Councilors: Jonathan Carl R. Arcinue; Sheila C. Gonzales; Silverio V. Tapia, Jr.; Orlando R. Bartolome; Judy D. Vargas; Ramon N. Bataoil; Maria Andrea Verzosa-Meneses; Jay Mark Kevin D. Crisostomo; Faustino O. Ferrer, Jr.; duly attested by Genaro L. Valencerina, Jr., SB Secretary; certified correct by Vice-Mayor Nepthalie D. Pasiliao, SB Presiding Officer; and approved by Lingayen Mayor Josefina V. Castañeda.  A copy of the resolution was provided to the bereaved Enrique Family by the Lingayen LGU.

At Enrique’s funeral last Wednesday morning, September 16, 2015,  a Memorial Service was done at the Lingayen United Methodist Church officiated by former DS’s Rev. Eduardo del Rosario and Rev. Abraham Casipit;  followed by a Necrological Service to Honor the late OIC-Mayor “Sonny” Casipit Enrique, that transpired at the Lingayen Municipal Hall with former Mayor Nolan Evangelista, former Councilor Joe Ferrer and incumbent Mayor Josefina V. Castañeda as well as close friends and relatives who remembered the goodness of the late, former Mayor “Sonny”, as he is warm-heartedly called during their eulogy/tribute messages. His remains was laid to rest at the Enrique Family Mausoleum, on Salvacion Street, Brgy. Maniboc of this town.

During Enrique’s stint as an OIC-Mayor of Lingayen, he did not claim his salary and other benefits.  He instead allocated the same for the allowances of the rank and file employees especially the utility workers at the this town’s hall and the grounds in its vicinity,  wherein they considered Enrique as a friend and a big brother to them.  He was a close political ally to then Rep. Joe Bengson and at that time Mayor Nolan Evangelista. 

CITY JOINS INTERNATIONAL CLEAN-UP DRIVE OF RIVERS, ESTEROS, COASTAL AREAS

DAGUPAN CITY – Close to 4,000 people composed of city hall employees, barangay family, school teachers, volunteers, students and servicemen took part in the International Clean-Up Drive initiated by the Ocean Conservancy on September 19 here.

Ocean Conservancy is a non-governmental environmental advocacy group which protects ocean and marine life. The clean-up drive is observed yearly every month of September in order to clean the sea from tons upon tons of garbage being recklessly dumped every year.

Three coastal areas, 20 river areas and creeks were simultaneously cleaned through the spirit of volunteerism.

“We were really surprised by the number of volunteers who joined the clean-up drive. We overshot our target of only around 300 to 400 volunteers for today’s activity,” said City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Ronald De Guzman.

DAGUPAN RECEIVES SEAL OF GOOD LOCAL GOVERNANCE

DAGUPAN CITY – Mayor Belen T. Fernandez formally received the Seal of Good Local Governance for Dagupan City from the Department of Interior and Local Government in a Conferment Ceremony at Oasis Country Resort and Hotel in San Fernando City, La Union on September  16. 

Dagupan, along with 40 other Local Government  Units in Pangasinan, passed  all the core and essential criteria for the coveted award such as good financial housekeeping, disaster preparedness and social protection, business friendly and competitive LGU, peace and order and environmental management  with high ratings.

Six of the nine cities in the region were conferred with the SGLG. These are the cities of Laoag, Vigan, San Fernando, Alaminos, San Carlos and Dagupan.

Of the four provinces, only the provinces of Ilocos Norte and Pangasinan are SGLG awardees.

4 trike riders shot by gunman in SUV

2 DEAD, 2 WOUNDED

                  

                                    By Melvin Tiangson Samson

                                           

SAN JACINTO - Four persons were shot while riding a motorized tricycle along the national highway at Brgy. Sta. Maria here by unidentified gunman/men who were riding a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) that overtook the tricycle while both vehicles were heading northward at about 4:45p.m of September 18.The tricycle driver was hit in the head and another male passenger was hit on the body that caused both of them to fall from the tricycle before it hit the electric post. Both of them were pronounced dead at the hospital while two other female passengers are undergoing treatment for the gunshot wounds they sustained.

Initial investigation disclosed, that  a certain Jose Rocero y Macaalay, 55, and a resident of Poblacion, Mapandan, Pangasinan was driving his red STX Yamaha motorized tricycle, with plate No. OZ-5780, with three passengers Bernardo Moyargas y Villosillo, 66,  separated, farmer, former safety officer of Philex Mines, Maria Lourdes Rodolfa y Acol, 50, separated, vendor and Dory Quiros y Toralba, 45, separated, vendor, all residents of Brgy. Macayug, Mangaldan, Pangasinan were travelling along the national road of Brgy. Sta. Maria, in this town of Pangasinan heading toward north direction when a white SUV, heading toward the same direction overtook the tricycle and successively shot the driver and passengers causing the tricycle to swerve and incidentally hit the electric post. All the occupants of the tricycle sustained gunshot wounds and they were all rushed to the Manaoag Community Hospital in Brgy. Baritao for medical treatment but the driver  Rocero, who sustained gunshot wound on his head and Moyargas, who sustained gunshot wound on his body, who both fell from the tricycle several meters away before the tricycle hit the electric post,  were declared dead on arrival (DOA) by the attending physician at the emergency room of the hospital while the two other female passengers are undergoing medical treatments.

The assistance of SOCO Urdaneta was requested to process the crime scene and they were able to recover one (1) Norinco Cal.45 with Serial no. 7708053 with six live ammos allegedly owned by the victim Jose Rocero, 16 fired cartridge cases of Cal.45, two deformed fired bullet for Cal. 45 and one metal jacket fragment.

Initial investigation did not reveal the motive(s) of the perpetrators of the crime.  However, the joint probers of the PIDMB, the Pangasinan PPO and the San Jacinto Police Station are still conducting in-depth investigations to identify and apprehend the possible suspect(s).Witness(es) to the said heinous crime as well as those who may know the suspect(s)’ hide-out may contact the local police station for the early resolution of the crime and to deliver justice to the victims and their families,  as citizens’ concern and cooperation may greatly help the police officers and the institution where they belong,  in performing their duties and responsibilities to the community, town, province and the society as a whole. Mere reporting of the SUV’s plate number will be a great lead of information to the police investigators

Informal settlers near Casa Real transferred peacefully to a resettlement area

Lingayen- - -The provincial government through the Provincial Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Office (PHUDCO) has peacefully resettled some 47 families that formerly resided at the back of Casa Real to give way to the rehabilitation works of the historical edifice soon.

Engr. Angelito Pedeglorio, PHUDCO caretaker, said that all 47 families who used to dwell in Sitio Lagasit are now comfortably residing at their new home in Sitio Aplaya, Brgy. Pangapisan here.

Pedeglorio said that dialogues were conducted between the provincial government and the concerned families in which a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in favor of resettlement was unanimously signed by all 47 households.

Meanwhile, Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. said that the present administration wants to put things in order first before proceeding with the bigger project of restoring one of the oldest public buildings in Pangasinan which was the seat of the provincial government during the Spanish era.

It can be recalled that the Casa Real was declared as a National Historical Landmark in which the Espino administration envisioned to transform into a provincial museum to house historical and cultural relics and memoirs that can provide every Pangasinense and the future generation a visual source of information and appreciation of one’s culture.

In relation to the resettlement, the Governor further said that more families especially those who reside along coastal areas will also be transferred to Sitio Aplaya to start a new life which is hazard-free.

P'sinan news hen sued by Guv files bail

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN – A lady broadcaster will be arraigned at the Regional Trial Cour-69 here after she filed bail bond on the four libel cases charged against her by Pangasinan Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr.

NEWS HEN’S BAIL. DWPR Broadcaster Lina M. Cervantes doing 

the procedural thumb marks last Friday during her filling of her bail 

bonds on the four libel cases charged against her by Pangasinan 

Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr.

Lina M. Cervantes of DWPR-Radyo Asenso filed last Friday P20 thousand reduced bail bond at the office of RTC-69 Judge Loreto Alog who did not issue any more to the police her warrant of arrest.

“It is a reduced bond of P20 thousand from the P40,000 in the four libel cases,” Cervantes told Northern Watch.

A clerk at Alog’s office said that aside from the P20 thousand bond, Cervantes paid P800 for the judicial development fund (JDF).

Cervantes said she is still waiting for the resolution by the office of the prosecutor in San Carlos City, Pangasinan for the other four libel cases filed by the Governor last July against her.

Cervantes and her lawyer Joseph Emmanuel Cera will be coming back at the RTC here for her arraignment.

Arraignment, according to the law, is a criminal proceeding at which the defendant is officially called  before a court of competent jurisdiction, informed of the offense charged in the complaint, information, indictment, or other charging document, and asked to enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or as otherwise permitted by law.

It is still unknown if the governor will accompany his lawyers to attend the event as Cervantes will be asked to declare her innocence or guilt next week by the judge.

On July 9, the governor filed his complaint affidavits here to the comments of Cervantes he thought defamed him and his family.

But the lady broadcaster’s lawyer Cera said, after he and Cervantes filed their counter affidavit early of August this year, that cases filed by Governor Espino to Cervantes, a morning broadcaster, were not libelous because she based them on past public records like the black sand mining in Barangay Maluempec here were the governor and some provincial high officials were indicted by the Ombudsman, the charges of plunder against the governor by former Bugallon, Pangasinan Mayor Ric Orduna, and others.

Exec. Judge curtails press freedom?

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

The administrator of the Supreme Court should know that by prohibiting media men to cover their fellow media practitioner who filed her bail bond recently at the office of the Regional Trial Court Branch 69, Executive Judge Lelia Parayno of the Justice Hall of Lingayen, Pangasinan curtail their Constitutional freedoms of speech, expression, and press.

PHOTO CREDIT:savetheinternet.com

Last Friday the guards at the gate of the Hall were at their usual vexatious demeanour again after I had arguments with them last August when they barred me to enter the compound to cover the filling of counter affidavits of DWPR broadcaster Lina M. Cervantes on the four libel suits filed against her by Pangasinan Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr.

One of the guards told USATV host Jessie Perez, DWPR broadcasters Macky Delgado, Harold Barcelona, and others that TV camera was not allowed because it was an order from Judge Parayno.

“Kahit wala kaming camera puwede naman naming ma cover ng cp (mobile phone) namin ang kasama namin,” mocked by Perez to the idiocy of the guard when we left the building.

I told the watch man that what he told us that they only followed order from Parayno was prohibited by law.

“Sumunod lang kami sa utos ni judge,” he told me.

Whether Judge Parayno ordered it or not, the guard using her name to prevent us from doing our job, just like other media men had done in the country, covering the filing of bail bonds of our colleague would not sit her well because she is an officer of the law that should be protecting our rights like freedom of the press.

Besides, we did not cover a hearing inside the sala of the judge but a mere filing in the office of Regional Trial Court Judge Loreto Alog of the bail bond this month and the filing of counter-affidavits at the office of the provincial prosecutor last month.

Last early August I lambasted the guards and their supervisor named Vallo when they would not let me in when I told them that I was there to cover the filing of Cervantes of her counter-affidavits.

Here was the excerpt of that encounter:

“Here was an arrogant supervisor of the security guards of the Bessang Pass at the Hall of Justice in Lingayen, Pangasinan telling media men last Monday that they were not allowed to cover fellow media woman, Lina Cervantes of DWPR, who filed her counter affidavits on the libel cases filed by Pangasinan Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr.

“Iyan ang utos sa amin ni executive judge, bawal ang coverage ng media,” the security supervisor named Vallo, who is a dead ringer of movie side kick Bentong, sternly told me.

“Paano naging bawal, hinde naman korte ang iko-cover ko sa office ng fiscal naman ang pupuntahan ko,? I calmly posed.

“Lahat dito hawak ng executive judge,” he hissed.

“Sa buong Pilipinas ngayon lang ako nakakita na ang media bawal pumasok sa office ng fiscal, under sa Department of Justice iyan hinde sa sala ng judge o sa Supreme Court. Noong na libel ako, may dala rin akong national TV (GMA-7) network dito” I protested.

***

Just as I predicted: Presidential bet falls from survey

Presidential aspirants in the Philippines can take a look and learn a lesson on the Republican presidential bets on the debate sponsored by cable TV CNN last Thursday. In that debate, where charisma and intelligence matter, some bets falter. Their mistakes in answering questions from the panel could zap out their previous gains in the past surveys.

Take for instance Dr. Ben Carson, who was breathing with 23% poll rate at the back of Donald Trump’s 27%, whose tragic answer when asked if he was the president of the United States after the September 11, 2001 Twin Towers attack what would he do.

He said that he would not send troops to invade Afghanistan to make Al Quida leader Osama Bin Laden and his Taliban ilk’s pay after they hatched a plan in making American Airliners fly as cruise missiles, with Muslim terrorists manoeuvring the cockpits, and plunge in the Towers in New York City that killed 2,996 people.

For me (who scribbled this article after the debate Thursday) Carson could lose points in the next polls because of his unintelligent remarks on Afghanistan.

On that debate, New Jersey Governor “His Immensity” Cris Christie, a presidential bet, disputed Carson who said after the attacked, 9 out of 10 people he met told him that they favour President George H.W Bush to invade Afghanistan and make the Talibans’ and Bin Laden pay for what they did to the Americans.

Son of a gun, after I opened Fox News TV (Friday afternoon) I saw Trump crowing in a town hall meeting that in Time Magazine, News Max, others he was the runaway winner on the polls vis-a-vis the CNN debate and heard from him how Carson plummeted and the cellar dweller Carly Fiorina, a former Hewlett-Packard CEO, skyrocketed.

Fiorina’s poll stock, for me, spiked because of her intelligent retorts to the panel and savvy in arguing with fellow presidential wannabes.

Filipino politicians running in the national office should be careful of what come out of their mouth. It could be a faux pas just like what some of them had mouthed by defending the hated demonstrators of the Iglesia ni Cristo that caused monstrous traffic at EDSA for four days. Not to mention the peeved of the majority of the Filipinos on the INC swashbuckling on their connection with the power-that-be as a result of their block voting every election.

(You can read my selected columns at http://mortzortigoza.blogspot.com and articles at P’nan Biggest News. You can send comments too at totomortz@yahoo.com)