By: Aquarius
Posted by: Lozenge
All Freedom Fighters:
The Biliranons have already spoken and have started the fight against corruption when they have given the mandate to Rep Glenn Chong, Mayor Susan V Parilla and a few other candidates allied to Rep Chong in 2007 elections. The win may not have resulted to a desired majority control, but nevertheless it inflicted a major crack on the Espina Dynasty’s solid stronghold in Biliran.The unsuccessful candidacy of former Congressman and former Mayor, Gerardo Espina Sr, and the absence of ....more
UNITED WE STAND IN THE LAND OF FREEDOM
In the land of Freedom, "to be free is not merely to cast out the Espina dynasty from political power, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." For generations, the paradise island of Biliran has breathed the fresh tone of stillness and serenity of freedom and peace. But when the Espina dynasty conquered and dominated the political power in our province, they corrupted not only our natural and economic resources but also the mental upbringing of needy people in rural places....more
June 3, 2007
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE??
The most drammatic success in our history as a young province was the recent May 14 election. Our Biliran voters in exercising their right to vote expressed their sentiments in a mature and valiant manner.
And so, the result of the latest election, contained a simple but very poweful message: " if you respect my peso....
...(more)
The most drammatic success in our history as a young province was the recent May 14 election. Our Biliran voters in exercising their right to vote expressed their sentiments in a mature and valiant manner.
And so, the result of the latest election, contained a simple but very poweful message: " if you respect my peso....
...(more)
Fathers, victims of genocidation
The whole world today celebrates FATHER’S DAY. The world dedicates a especial day to honor fathers as fathers are one of the most important influences in the lives of children, and their unconditional love is an indispensable anchor of certainty and strength.
However, as children in the world rejoice with their respective father, it is sad to contemplate that here in Biliran, 2 families have mourned because of the brutal killing of their father. Their lives had not been spared from any political problems that provide great havoc in our peaceful place. One of the many unfortunate, regrettable aspects of the tragic events of June 7th, 2008 besides the fact that two people have lost their lives. more
However, as children in the world rejoice with their respective father, it is sad to contemplate that here in Biliran, 2 families have mourned because of the brutal killing of their father. Their lives had not been spared from any political problems that provide great havoc in our peaceful place. One of the many unfortunate, regrettable aspects of the tragic events of June 7th, 2008 besides the fact that two people have lost their lives. more
STATEMENT OF TRUTH
REGARDING THE PERSON OF STEPHEN GREINKE AND HIS MALICIOUS ACCUSATIONS AGAINST THE BISHOP OF NAVAL
We, the Clergy and faithful of the Diocese of Naval, would like to express our strongest condemnation to the lies peddled by Stephen Greinke against the bishop of Naval, the Most Rev. Filomeno G. Bactol, D.D.
Last January 2, 2008, Stephen Greinke, in a nationally televised network, has accused the bishop of sexually molesting young boys. We are aghast at this accusation because the bishop is a person of integrity whose ministry of 40 years (15 years in the seminary as formator, 7 years as Pastor, and 18 years as Bishop of Naval) has never been enmeshed in any controversy, much less scandal. We are appalled even more at the brazermess of Greinke as to impute upon the good name of the bishop the very same crime he was accused of doing against innocent young boys in the very Association he bas come to found, purportedly to proclaim the love of God only to find out it has become a trap for his sexual perversions! Such lies therefore that he has concocted can anly come from a heart whose hatred is as deep as his own twisted understanding of what is good and moral. ..... more
GAS PRICE
Join the resistance! I hear we are going to hit close to $1.50 a litre by summer and it might possibly go higher! Want gasoline prices to come down? We need to take some intelligent, united action. Jun Paterno offered this good idea. This makes MUCH MORE SENSE than the "don't buy gas on a certain day" campaign that was going around earlier! The oil companies just laughed at that because they knew we wouldn't continue to "hurt" ourselves by refusing to buy gas. It was more of an inconvenience to us than it was a problem for them. BUT, whoever thought of this idea has come up with a plan that can really work. Please read on and join with us! By now you're probably thinking gasoline priced at about $.79/litre is super cheap. Me too! It is currently $1.10 for regular unleaded in my town. Now that the oil companies and the OPEC ... more
From Advent through Christmas to New Year - a message from biliranevent.com
The Advent season is a special time in our Christian community and a perfect time to preparation to celebrate for the birthday of Christ. As we once again prepare to celebrate the feast of Christmas, we are reminded of God’s great love for us. More importantly, the feast of Christmas is a very special occasion and a time for us not only to reflect on Jesus’ love for us but also to respond to his love by demonstrating love for our fellow men and women. May the expressions of goodwill and the gifts that we exchange be the outward manifestation of that love. more...
CEBUANO KO BAI! ( author unknown)
I am not a Filipino, never considered myself one a long time ago. I am a Cebuano and my late father once said: "There's a whale of a difference between the two". And that distinction between the Cebuano and Filipino is never more pronounced than the result of the 2001 Senatorial Elections. The election results nationwide from Manila to Mindanao showed an even trend, far below the expectations of the anti-Erap advocates. Can you believe that? After we've been screwed in the ass by a pea-brained Tagawg! But the Cebuanos voted differently. We Cebuanos voted with the same clear sightedness and maturity that scared the shit out of Marcos and his KBL lap dogs who despite massive cheating and terrorism in collusion with his Ilocano Generals were defeated by the Pusyon Bisaya during the Parliamentary Elections in the seventies. We Cebuanos have a better sense of truth and justice and we have always been the vanguards against tyranny and oppression since 1521 when Chief Lapu-lapu whacked Magellan.( more )
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«Oldest ‹Older 601 – 800 of 1415 Newer› Newest»FYI
This news clearly demonstrate how elected officials beholden to previous corrupt power holders can challenge a duly elected Governor because he refuses to play around. This is a sad day for the Philippines.
(start of article)
Guiao, 12 board members back recall bid vs Panlilio
http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20080827133567.html
By FRED ROXAS June 27 2008
SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga —Vice Gov. Yeng Guiao and at least 12 of the 13 provincial board members of Pampanga met here yesterday and decided to join a recall petition against Gov. Ed Panlilio.
Panlilio’s former supporters, meanwhile, are divided over the recall move as some want him to resign.
The provincial board members have committed to convince their respective political leaders and supporters in all the political districts in the province and to sign petitions for the recall of the priest-turned-governor.
The recall movement was launched last July 21 by Kambilan, an organization registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to gather in two months at least 100,000 signatures or 10 percent of the registered voters in Pampanga.
Once completed, Kambilan will seek a recall election.
Former provincial board member Rosve Henson, head of Kambilan and former campaign manager of gubernatorial candidate Lilia Pineda in the last election, said that Mrs. Pineda would not run in the gubernatorial contest if the Commission on Elections grants the petition for a recall polls.
The petitioners of the recall movement cited lack of confidence in the leadership of Panlilio as their reason for their bid to oust him.
Meanwhile, it was reported here that former supporters of Governor Panlilio are divided over the issue on whether or not to support the recall move against him.
It was reported that Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL) president Renato Romero said civil society groups are split on the issue as some groups are more inclined to demand the resignation of the governor.
He said the resignation call, however, would come only if the governor fails to fire Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu. The governor was also asked to institute "reforms" in provincial administration.
But Romero said his group supports both the resignation call and recall move against Panlilio.
Another civil-society group, Kapampangan Marangal Inc. (KMI), has rejected the recall move against Panlilio. The group said it is calling for reforms and not to remove Panlilio from his post "at this time."
"We strongly reject the recall initiative filed against Governor Panlilio at this time. A year after the elections, we are just beginning to heal the wounds of divisions through dialogues and peaceful negotiations. Holding a divisive political exercise soon will only re-open the yet unhealed wounds and undermine efforts for Pampanga’s progress," the KMI said.
KMI said it is asking political leaders and the people to give peace and unity a chance.
FYI
This is the first attempt of Gov Rogelio Espina to re-assert his authority over the INP. This is just the beginning.
(start of article)
Relief of Biliran police chief opposed
June 26 2008
http://www.mb.com.ph/archive_pages.php?url=http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2008/08/26/PROV20080826133486.html
NAVAL, Biliran – Various municipal officials and residents of Biliran are opposing the plan of a top provincial official to relieve the police director in the province.
Biliran Lone District Rep.Glenn A. Chong said they opposed moves by Biliran Governor Rogelio J. Espina to relieve Senior Superintendent Arcadio Lelis as provincial director of Biliran, saying the new and acting provincial director is doing his best in the province.
Rep.Chong said Governor Espina has no reason in relieving Lelis as provincial police director, saying Biliran island has become peaceful since the police chief assumed his post.
Rep.Chong said after the ambush of his father Charles Chong near their house that resulted in the killing of two the latter’s bodyguards that resulted in the relief of the former police chief, peace now reigns in the province of Biliran with Lelis as police chief. (Nestor L. Abrematea)
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/aug/27/yehey/opinion/20080827opi4.html
INSIDE CONGRESS
By Efren L. Danao
Dynasty ban forgotten,
Mitra remembered
Almost 18 months ago, Senate Minority Leader Nene Pimentel Jr. vowed to file a bill against political dynasty to give flesh to a constitutional provision. He made the vow to deflect criticisms that the senatorial candidacy of his son and namesake, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel 3rd, violated the constitutional ban on political dynasties.
Nene still has to file a bill against political dynasties. I know him to be a man of his word and since he did not give any definite time on when would he file the measure, then he still hasn’t broken his word.
The constitutional ban on political dynasty was authored and sponsored by Constitutional Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, now a commissioner of the Commission on Elections. During the Con-Com debates in 1986 which I covered, Sarmiento explained: “By including this provision, we widen the opportunities of competent, young, and promising poor candidates to occupy important positions in the government. While it is true we have government officials who have ascended to power despite accident of birth, they are exemptions to the general rule. The economic standing of these officials would show that they come from powerful clans with vast economic fortunes. ”
Unfortunately, the voters never got the promised “wider choice” because of the failure of Congress to pass an enabling law. There have been numerous attempts since the 8th Congress to pass an anti-dynasty law but none has succeeded. This is expected of a House and a Senate that have been populated by political clans that want to entrench themselves in power. They ignored the constitutional provision by stating that under a republican form of government, sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them. In other words, let the people decide.
Of the 2,600 bills filed in the Senate in the 14th Congress, only one seeks to political dynasties—Senate Bill 1468 filed by Sen. Ping Lacson on August 14, 2007. I personally have no high hopes that it would get past the committee level. Come the 2010 elections, expect “graduating” officials to field their relatives as their “successors.”
Mitra remembered
Perhaps, if all politicians were of the caliber of the late Speaker Ramon Mitra, there would have been no need for a constitutional ban on political dynasties. I covered the late Speaker from 1984 at the Regular Batasan until 1992 when he made a stab at Malacañang and lost to President Fidel Ramos.
It was while covering Monching at the regular Batasan for the defunct Veritas Newsmagazine that I got to feel what a political heavyweight he was. This was when we talked about why he ran for congressman in Palawan instead of in Benguet-Baguio City where his father and namesake was the congressman for six consecutive terms.
“I am a native of Palawan, not of Baguio City. Had I been elected in Baguio, I would never have felt that I deserved to be in Congress. The people in Baguio will be voting for my father, not for me, since he was the one who was established there,” he told me.
He revealed that he and his father had a row when his father announced in a family fathering in 1965 that he was retiring and that he had made arrangements with the late President Ferdinand Marcos that his son Monching would run in his place. Monching was a Liberal and he told his father, a Nacionalista, that he had his own plans, and that was to run in Palawan.
“My father was angry. He said I didn’t stand a chance against the incumbent, Nacionalista Congressman Gaudencio Abordo, and that I could not expect any help from him. I told him, ‘Am I asking for help?’ At that instant, I told my wife [Cecille] to pack up and we’ll go home,” Monching recalled.
True to his word, Rep. Ramon Mitra of Benguet did not help Monching.
“There was really nothing he could do for me [in Palawan]. They did not know him from Adam. He left Palawan in 1932 and never went back,” he said.
The row between father and son did not last long, however. Monching said that when the results of the November 1965 elections were coming in and he was already certain to win, he wired his father in Baguio that he needed a six-term congressman as an adviser.
“My father wired back: ‘If that is an offer, I accept. So I knew we were all right,” Monching said.
Monching rose on his own merit. He would have won without a sweat had he ran in Baguio City in 1965. Instead, he ran in Palawan against an incumbent because he wanted the people to vote for him and not for his father. How many politicians still think that way?
efrendanao2003@yahoo.com
Aquarius, Salamat niining imong mga informative posts.
It's sad to know that Roger Espina cant stand with Provincial commander Lelis maybe he refused to accept any bribery from the governor.
Spartacus 1309:
I totally agree with you that criticism when taken positively is productive.
This is a constructive criticism and that is what we are doing here. However, I agree with Vigilant (1307) that we might helping the Espinas to destroy the cribility of Rep. Glenn.
Just a reminder that some of the voters in Biliran who voted Rep. Chong last election are not matured voters. I heard from them that their votes for Rep. Glenn were casted to express sympathy for the death of DP.
Tama jud! mo second the motion jud ko nga daghan sa mga Biliran votante mga dili educado, Kon magpunay jud ta ug pakadaut kang congressman Chong, imbis nga motabang ta aron mama-ayo ang iyang peformances, basin hinoon mitabang ta pagdoot niya. Baya kining mga espina daghan pa ug mga suporters basin mosamot na hionoon ka daghan kay mamalik ang ilang mga supporter sa una nga mibotos kang congressman Chong.
Maayo siguro nga mag-ingat ta uy. Ingon pa ni KKK nga moral support is more than enough to help Cong. Chong.
RS
Kumbati
Please credit the Biliranons with more intelligence than you think.
Rep Chong is professional enough to handle criticisms and this is part of his learning curve.
Aquarius:
I agree with you but Im just wondering what happened to Atty. Villordon last electon.
we'll go back to the issue of the filing of case of corruption against roger espina.
remember, a case against roger espina in ombudsman is a powerful campaign material against him. no other issues will stand above it.
ang sagal nga espina, morag dili na na xa kalansad. i-technical na xa ni atty. ben velasquez about the former's birth certificate. i heard him say it during one of the episodes of bilisiw.
Kumbati 1319
Atty Villordon was beaten by a more popular candidate. Voters who supported Mayor Parilla did not nescessarily vote for Atty Villordon. Don't forget that from the start, it was only Mayor Parilla who was perceived to be the hard to beat candidate.
Further, Vice Mayor Curso appeals to both side of the fence and ran under the administration line up.
It also helped that Vice Governor Curso ran under the same banner.
Aquarius, ang resulta sa election sa higatangan island last year masyadong nakakalungkot. Out of almost 300 voters, 109 votes lang ang nakuha ni Teting ug 23 votes lang ang kang Atty. Villordon. Itong 109 votes ni Teting Curso mao lang ni sila ang nakadawat ug tag 50 pesos, si Villordon wala man manghatag. Nagpasabot nga naay more than 100 voters nga wala mobutar sa vice mayor kay wala matagae.
So, unsaon man nato pagjustify nga intelligence voters ang mga Biliranon?
Anonymous,
I understand where you're coming from. However, we have to look at the big picture. The win for Rep Chong and Mayor Susan Parilla was in indication, that where controversial issues are concerned, the Biliranons tend to vote with their heart not their pockets.
It is now the job of Rep Chong and Mayor Parilla to capitalise on the win and introduce changes which will slowly educate the Biliranons. That after decades of corruption, there is a glimmer of hope that transparent, accountable and honest governance is possible.
If the case filed with the Ombudsman results to the suspension or arrest of Governor Rogelio Espina, Biliranons will tend to be more cautious with who they are voting for. It will also confirm Rep Chong’s accusations of corruption against the Espina Dynasty, which was one of the main driving issues why Biliranons Dumped Gerry Espina Sr. Failure of this case to materialise, will indeed cast a doubt on
Rep Chong’s credibility.
The advantage of Biliran is that it small and manageable. As such, a change can be easily felt if handled efficiently. We cannot accuse and blame the Biliranons for their apathy towards electing deserving candidates without money consideration, if the intelligent community fails to exert efforts to show them that change is possible.
This is the time to educate the Biliranons with action. This is the time for action.
ERRATUM:
I understand where you're coming from. However, we have to look at the big picture. The win for Rep Chong and Mayor Susan Parilla was in indication, that where controversial issues are concerned, the Biliranons tend to vote with their heart not their pockets.
Should read as:
I understand where you're coming from. However, we have to look at the big picture. The win for Rep Chong and Mayor Susan Parilla was in indication, that where controversial issues are concerned, the Biliranons tend to vote with their heads not their pockets.
FYI.
Media releases like this empowers Filipinos to demand for more accountability from its public officials.
I am looking forward to a press release on the corruption issue of the Espina Dynasty in Biliran.
(start of the article)
Nation, 8/29/2008 8:19 PM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=129670
5 officials linked to Macapagal Boulevard overprice suspended
Five officials of the Philippine Reclamation Authority (formerly Public Estates Authority) were meted 90-day suspensions after being implicated in the alleged overpricing of the P1.1 billion Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City.
PRA Chairman Ramon Revilla imposed the sanctions following a Sandiganbayan First Division directive placing PRA-deputy general manager for finance and legal administration Theron Victor V. Lacson, asst. gen. manager Jaime R. Millan, technical services department manager Bernardo T. Viray, project management officer Raphael Pochollo A. Zorilla and legal department manager Cristina Amposta-Mortel under preventive suspension.
The Ombudsman earlier said it found evidence that the five-kilometer road project was overpriced by over P630 million. Aside from the five, private contractor Jesusito Legaspi was also named a defendant in the case.
Revilla said his office implemented the suspension order upon receipt of the court’s resolution.
“In compliance with the Order of this Honorable Court, the PRA immediately …supended the abovenamed accused for a period of ninety (90) days, effective last 04 August 2008 until 02 November 2008,” he said.
The Commission on Audit has yet to file a report of compliance after the graft court also ordered the suspension of state auditor V Manuela E. dela Paz, state auditor and technical services division chief Arturo S. Layug, supervising technical audit specialist Benilda E. Mendoza, asst. chief of technical services Epifanio L. P:ureza, technical specialist II Jose G. Capistrano and technical audit specialist I Ma. Cecilia A. dela Rama.
FYI
Cory: 600 million Asians still live on US$1 a day
Former President Corazon Aquino has called for the promotion of microenterprises to help lift people out of poverty, noting that 600 million Asians still live on just US$1 a day.
In a speech at the Ramon Magsaysay awards' first Asia Forum, Mrs. Aquino urged various sectors to boost small enterprises.
“Many of you are familiar with the disturbing facts that make the Asian success stories somewhat of a paradox: 600 million Asians still live on US$1 a day while another 60% of the region’s population subsist on less than US$2 a day. Reducing poverty in Asia requires more than just economic growth. Such growth needs to be anchored through a program that will enable people in the region to become economically-productive citizens who would share in the task of ensuring a sustainable future,” she said.
Mrs. Aquino won the Ramon Magsasay Award for Peace and International Understanding in 1998.
Aquino added that in helping the poor, the government should not settle on handing out dole outs, but should develop sustainable economic projects.
Unlike dole outs, she said these projects not only help lift the poor out of poverty but they also make them social change agents.
Arroyo said it has been her dream to use people power as a force to eliminate poverty.
She said various sectors, including non-government organizations, rural banks, and cooperatives, should help boost microenterprises and gradually bring the poor in the country’s business mainstream.
Aquino set a goal of expanding the reach of microfinance institutions to more than five million in depressed regions and raising P5 billion within five years.
She said the five million clients approximates the population living below the poverty line in the country, while the P5 billion is the minimum amount needed to augment the current equity and deposit base of the microfinance institutions.
FYI
Garcia lashes out at judiciary on the Web
By Rey E. Requejo
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=politics2_aug29_2008
Winston Garcia, president of the Government Service Insurance System, has taken to the worldwide-web in his fight against corruption in the judiciary and in his crusade to bring down the price of electricity.
Garcia’s remarks against corruption in the appellate court are being broadcasted at the popular Internet video-sharing site YouTube.
Entitled “Hello Garci-a,” the voice clip which runs to about 2:13 minutes appeared to be the voice of the GSIS president. It was joined last Aug. 8. by someone using a pseudonym of “WagKoyaMasakit,” a day after the Supreme Court’s three-member panel headed by retired Justice Carolina Griño-Aquino began its inquiry into the bribery scandal in the appellate court.
Garcia’s tirades against the CA came in the wake of the July 23 ruling promulgated by the appellate court’s Eighth Division. That ruling dismissed the complaint filed by the GSIS in the Securities and Exchange Commission against the Manila Electric Co. due to SEC’s lack of jurisdiction, as well as declared SEC’s undated cease-and-desist order and the SEC’s May 28 show cause order as void and without legal effect.
The CA ruling effectively stopped GSIS’ attempt to take control of Meralco, a move which Garcia earlier stated as necessary in order to lower the rates of electricity.
“Nobody likes increases in the electric rate. Nobody likes to pay. That’s the public sentiment,” Garcia said, in his YouTube’s voice clip. He made the statement apparently to defend his stance against Meralco, whom he accused of making its customers pay for its systems losses.
The GSIS president attributed Meralco’s success in halting the government takeover to the corruption prevalent at the CA.
“But why is it that the oil companies do not have the kind of success in courts like Meralco. It is something we really seriously need to think about. We have to come down to reality right now. Our courts are the most corrupt in any point in time and I have been in the practice for several years now. Today is the worse than five years [ago]. It [CA] is at its worse stage. It is the most corrupt at this stage,” Garcia lamented.
According to Garcia, Meralco has found a way to utilize this judicial corruption to work for its advantage.
“And Meralco can take advantage of that [corruption],” he said.
With the week over the hump, public attention will focus tomorrow on yet another issue before the Supreme Court apart from the Bangsamo Juridical Entity case.
Summoned to appear before an investigative panel are Court of Appeals Justices Conrado Vasquez, Associate Justices Vicente Roxas,jose Sabio Jr., Apolinario Bruselas, Bienvenido Reyes, Myrna Dimaranan Vidal, Martin Villarama, Edgardo Cruz; ans businessman Francis Roa De Borja.
They are the dramatis personae in thec saga that threatens to figuratively burn down the appelate court over the alleged wheelings and dealings and bribery attempts in the high stake quarrel between GSIS Chair Winston Garcia and the nation’s largest power distributor, MERALCO, which Garcia insists is being mismanaged by the Lopez family-controlled MERALCO management an on which he blames high electricity costs.
It is undisputed that MERALCO’s power distribution rates (with the nebulous systems losses also in question) are the highest in this part of the world, while Lopez clan patriarch claims the Arroyo government, through Garcia, is actually after their crown jewels, broadcast giant ABS-CBN, which has recently been perceived as increasingly critical of the Arroyo regime, now in the final 20 months of its rule.
But thoroughly disturbing is how the GSIS-MERALCO war and the bribery allegations have broken the lid over the long known shenanigans in the highest levels of the judiciary over how decisions are manufacture, sold, and bought.
Justices Roxas and Sabio are in the very eye of the storm with text messages continuously being passed around about Roxas having actively solicited his colleagues signatures and how Sabio was supposedly offered “blandishments” such as a promotion to the Supreme Court and a bribe of between 10 and 50 million pesos.
The knowlegeable legal sources I have spoken to say among the things that should be done is:
1. A handwriting analysis of the draft decision written by one of the justices in the case at bar;
2. A style analysis of the same justice’s decisions; and
3. The submission of the justices’ notes in their deliberations.
Now we wait and see how deeply and how seriously the Supreme Court investigation will go and if the public will accept the findings as credible and not a white wash.
Aquarius:
Kon ang tigbantay sa atong balaud, nga mao ang justice system, dili masaligan kay sila mismo maoy nagmaneobra sa corruption, unsaon na manlang kaha nato kini pagsulbad?
Malala na diay jud ang problema sa corruption, do you think nga maykasulbaran pa ito?
FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT JOVITO Salonga on Saturday confirmed the purported corruption in the Court of Appeals and said reforms were urgently needed.
“It is true that there is bribery in the appellate court,” the 88-year-old founder of the judiciary watchdog group Bantay Katarungan told the Inquirer. “It should be stopped. The bribery should be exposed. It should be the beginning of legal reforms in our system of justice.”
We should pray for the success of this legal reforms.
rs 1329
Corruption is too embedded in the Philippine culture that it is not going to be easy nor quick to fix.
It does not mean, however, that there is no hope. What is lacking is the political will to solve the problem.
Biliran is in a different situation as it is only composed of 8th municipalities and I think 132 barangays. It is still in its infancy stage in as far as its province hood is concerned.As such, a change can be initiated,monitored and followed up for strict implementation. That, however, is premised on the presence of a political will and sustainable course of action.
It was unfortunate that the Espina Dynasty have taken over and exercised full control of Biliran in its early infancy stage.Instead of allowing Biliranons to mature politically, it crippled its capacity to make the right choices in as much all major and critical positions were occupied by the same members of the family.
There is hope for Biliran and it all depends on all Biliranons. Rep Glenn Chong has a major role to play, but he has to to be decisive and take control of every major decision making in Biliran.
He also need to open his eyes and ears and recognize help where needed. As it is, he is mounting a lone battle because he does not trust others to help him in his search for solutions for the advancement of Biliran. He cannot win this battle on his own.Three years is such a short time to fight a battle on one's own.
FYI
Tax returns may prove corruption, solon says
By Romie A. Evangelista
Monday, September 1, 2008
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=politics2_sept1_2008
Graftbusters, take heed. There’s a bill seeking the mandatory publication of the income tax returns of all state officials as part of moves to prevent graft and corruption in government.
Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City said his House Bill 3003 will also cover officials and employees of all local government units, state-owned and -controlled corporations, and government financial institutions.
Rodriquez’ bill requires the Finance Department, together with the Bureau of Internal Revenue, to cause the publication of all officials’ ITRs, 60 days before their filing during the month of April every year.
Rodriguez noted that graft and corruption remained rampant even as the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan have stepped up the prosecution of erring public servants.
The Arroyo administration also created the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission to conduct lifestyle check and recommend the prosecution of officials and employees who have amassed wealth using their office.
Rodriguez said the government should help push the passage of his bill to ensure transparency and expose the government officials who have enriched themselves while in office.
Effective measures against graft and corruption should be in place in order to promote integrity and honesty in public service, Rodriguez said.
Aquarius:
From 1995, one-fourth of present lawyers say that many or very many judges are corrupt. Although half or 49 percent say they know a case in their own city or province where a judge took a bribe, only 8 percent said they reported the bribery. The main excuse of those who kept silent is that they could not prove it," the SWS said.
Mangahas said the survey showed that corruption "remains a serious problem in the judicial system but it is not cultural."They're saying there's nothing to be done about (corruption) but it's not accepted. There's still the idealism," he said.
Kumbati 1334
Mangahan simply put it in a nice way. One of the reasons why cases are piling up in courts is the "transactional way" the judges treat motions for posponement and non appearance of either the plaintiff and the defendants. In most cases, there are always arrangements behind the screen that in one way or another, is within the control of the judges. A simple favour like an employment referral, a give and take agreements on one case against the other and the usual under the table transaction.
I had once been a victim of a miscarriage of justice due to the "insider interference" of the matter at bar. Insider interference means a personnel, in cahoots with higher court officers have influenced the outcome of the case in favour of the party willing to come into some form of
Aquarius, you are true.
This is the big problem in this country. The IBP knows there is corruption in our courts. . Why? Because it is their members who are doing the corrupting! Sino ba ang mga padrino? Mga abogado rin na kilala ng mga justices. . Kung gusto mo ayusin ang isang kaso, magtanong ka lang kung sino sino ang pwede at paano lalapitan ang isang justice. . presto, sa tamang halaga ay makukuha mo ang advantage sa kaso mo!
ERRATUM:
I had once been a victim of a miscarriage of justice due to the "insider interference" of the matter at bar. Insider interference means a personnel, in cahoots with higher court officers have influenced the outcome of the case in favour of the party willing to come into some form of
SHOULD READ AS:
I had once been a victim of a miscarriage of justice due to the "insider interference" of the matter at bar. Insider interference means a personnel, in cahoots with higher court officers have influenced the outcome of the case in favour of the party willing to come into some form of CONSIDERATION, be it monetary or in kind.
Aquarius:
These people know it and the reason why they are asking the resignation of the CA justices involved in the case is just lip service on their part! Pakitang tao epek at para naman masabi na sila ay against corruption!
FYI
This is what I had been advocating for: to establish a masterplan for Biliran to direct its short, medium and long term development.
(start of article)
Group to create ‘think tank’ arm for Cebu's growth
http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20080903134172.html
By MALOU M. MOZO
September 3 2008
CEBU CITY — The Cebu Business Club (CBC) is now poised to establish a private sector-led coalition foundation that will form as a think tank arm in developing strategies to make the province the "most competitive and respected" in the country.
CBC president Dondi Joseph bared the creation of the Cebu Leads Foundation Inc. (CLFI) composed of 35 Cebuano businessmen, club organizations and civil society members, who will draft the master plan geared at making Cebu a benchmark for economic growth and political stability.
The think tank coalition foundation mentored by economist Jesus Estanislao seeks to build a consensus for a constructive developmental vision for Cebu as the one with the most productive and educated workforce by 2015.
Estanislao said Cebu’s lack of a long-term development plan was what pushed the realization of the master plan.
Joseph said the blue print of the proposed master plan, which covers the three pillars in developing a strategic road map for Cebu--livability, good governance and prosperity--is now being finalized, while the group is working to finish the Securities and Exchange Commission registration of the CLFI.
"Once the foundation is registered, CLFI members will then elect its own Board of Directors. After it is being institutionalized, CBC can assist the foundation to partner with foreign funding agencies," said Joseph.
CLFI is the flagship project of CBC, the latter being a sister organization of the Makati Business Club.
"We want to bring Cebu to something more practical. We believe that Cebu should lead the Philippines in terms of being the best tourist and investment destination, most livable city, and a model of good governance. This will not be a normal strategic plan," Joseph said.
Earlier, CBC identified five specific concerns affecting Cebu’s business environment, like the inadequacy of infrastructure and transportation, power shortage, water shortage, poor quality of education and the lack of good governance.
As CBC adheres to the unity and solidarity of both private and public sectors, Joseph said CLFI would encourage the 54 local government units (LGUs) here to create their own strategic plan, "which will be transparent," to complement those of the private sector.
Transparency in government transactions, he stressed, will help an LGU attract its investment and tourism potentials.
"These strategic plans will go beyond the term of those who are sitting in office," Joseph said, assuring that in order for the plans to sustain, CLFI members will need to create dialogues with emerging political candidates.
empogs 1338
Sad but true. Sometimes we ask ourselves, what the hell are we doing in this blog?
Before the murder of former Gov Danilo Parilla, I have not been involved in anything that was happening in Biliran for the last 20 years. The murder of Danny was a wake up call for me. I thought, maybe I can help make a difference.
I cannot just stand and watch while Biliran is being raped, tortured and robbed of its treasures. Without any action, it is tantamount to aiding and abetting the abuse of the Biliranons by a family political dynasty.
When Rep Glenn Chong sounded the call for help I was just one of those who answered from afar.
The road is hard and long. We have to start somewhere and our active vigilance is a good starting point.
I just hope that our political leaders will take cognizance of our effort to help bring about changes in governance for the advancement of Biliran.
Yes, I agree that the CA justices involved should be given the benefit of the doubt. But as justices in the Court of Appeals, they should face the reality that a tainted court cannot be trusted to give "untainted" decisions. They should resign.
The Philippines is a sad case when it comes to corruption. The actual magnitude of the problem is bad, but it is probably no worse than in places like Indonesia and Thailand. However, it has been politicized as an issue more than in either of these countries, used by political rivals to undercut each other.”
And, this is all well-publicized since “… the media, even more than the courts, is the forum in which all sides try to wage their battles of defamation.”
All the statistics about progress against bureaucratic corruption – no matter how beneficial that progress is for the citizens of the Philippines – tend not to be perceived in the middle of political turmoil, which is beginning to seem (at least in the media) to be a permanent feature of the Philippines
I HEARD FROM A RELIABLE SOURCE THAT THE DIOCESE OF NAVAL IS PLANNING TO PUT UP A LOCAL RADIO STATION THRU THE INNITIATIVE OF FR. BING COLASITO.
LAST SEPT. 2 DURING THEIR PRYSBETERIUM, THE CMN PERSONNEL THRU RADIO VERITAS, CAME TO CONDUCT AN ORIENTATION SEMINAR.
IF THIS PLAN WILL BE MATERIALIZED THIS WOULD BE A GOOD MEDIUM FOR THE REALIZATION OF CAC.
Bishop warns anti-Panlilio priests
MANILA,
September 3, 2008-- A Catholic bishop has cautioned clerics who supported a recall move against their brother priest-turned Pampanga governor Eddie Panlilio not to be swayed by people who are only after their selfish interests.
San Fernando Auxiliary Bishop Pablo David said these politicians will move heaven and earth just to advance their political ambitions.
"It's very obvious that there is a political interest here," David said as he urged the said the priests "to be more discerning.”
At least 17 priests from the Archdiocese of Pampanga, who belong to a group called the Prayer Warrior, allied themselves with the Kapanalig at Kambihan ning Memalen Pampanga, Inc. (Kambilan), which is leading the recall move against Panlilio.
Kambilan targets to gather some 100, 000 signatures that will be attached to a petition that will ask the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for a recall election before January 2009.
David, a symphatizer of Panlilio, has belittled the number of priests against the governor but said they have nothing against them because "we are a free country."
"If they want to vent their sentiments against the present governor, that is their prerogative," he said.
David said the Archdiocese of Pampanga has 136 priests, which means the 17 which means that the 17 who pledged their support to the petition against Panlilio constitute a "minority." (Roy Lagarde)
anonymous 1343:
Maayo jud na matuman unta ito na plano. Unsaon man gud nga controlado sa mge Espina ang radyo natin.
Samot nga waray na maminaw ito nga RN. Siguro naman ngayon medyo problematic na si Micheal A kay may compitensya na unya ang iyang source of bread and butter. Well, pwede man siya mag 15/30 sa mga Espina.So solve gihapon ang problema.
This coming monday, Sept. 8, Rep. Glenn will deliver a priviledge speech about the PROLEND and about the doulbe murdercase filed against the Espina.
This is in relation to the provincial loan and Sec. Gonzales is trying to whitewash the double murder case filed in Manila.
Anonymous
Gerry Espina Sr is now using his connections to get away with his criminal case.
Rep Chong's privilege speech will bring it to the national consciousness, but not enough to produce a strong action. Politicizing a criminal issue will result to either a political resolution, which is not desirable as it will always end up in a compromise. You cannot compromise the lives of the late Inton Parilla and Tony Barcelo and the injury sustained by Joe Casas. Prolend is a political issue. I don't think, Rep Chong will gain any mileage on this as everyone in Congress is doing it as a matter of practice.
With all due respect to the present legal panel of Rep Glenn Chong, I strongly believe that he needs to assemble a stronger legal panel of high profile, experienced lawyers who possess track records in similar cases. Lawyers who generate a media coverage.
The new legal panel can work as a consultant to the case.The fact that Gerry Sr was able to influence the transfer of the case to Manila is a failure of his legal panel to defend its case.
It is about time that Rep Chong recognizes the need to look outside of Biliran for legal assistance on this case. Otherwise, this case will just be recorded as another statistics on miscarriages of justice and worst, a political whitewash.
Rep Chong cannot do everything.
Honestly, I think the case is too big for his present legal panel to handle.
Aquarius, sa akong pagtoo morag naa kay points. Maayo siguro nga magchange ug legal panel si Rep. Chong kinahanglan nga duganangan or ilisdan kay kon mga knowlegiable pa gyud ni sila, unta ang kaso sa graft and corruption ma actionan na. Hangtud karon wala pa gyuy development kon naunsa na. Ning-abot nalang ang ambush case, ang previous case wala pa gihapoy kalamboan. Sapagkakaron, tulo na ni ka kaso nga angya tagaan ni Rep. Chong ug attention, ang kang DP nga death, Graft and corruption ug ang ambush. Nagsapaw-sapaw na ni sila, basin madugangan napod unya ug lain, puro kaso nalang ang nahitabo wala nay kasulbaran.
rep. glenn,
kung dili productive imong team for whatever task nga imo gi-assign sa ila, then pulihi na sila. by doing so, it will also convey message to your other staff to perform and generate credible output. or else, mapulihan sila. dili kay pa banjing-banjing lang. dili sila makamahay sa imo kay sila mismo makahibawo nga wala silay gamit.
your staff and all your team members should fell that working with you is not a privilege but rather an obligation.
mora mag kapoy na paminawon ning mga kaso batok espina. way resulta, puro la kyaw-kyaw...piao si ngi!!!
Spartacus:
Good advice to our congressman. I know he is browsing this site, atleast maka-abot rin sa kanya ang atong mga concern to improve his performance.
I heard that one of his legal panels is Atty. Rede Villordon. He is brillant ug batikan nga abogado. Pero morag galupigon sila sa mga abilidad sa mga espina, Mao nga dili sila mahadlok mo mohimo ug mga crimin kay alam nila na kaya nila palusotan.
Ang kaso bitaw sa election protest nga gihimo ni DP before against Gerry Sr., sa dihang makita nila nga pildihon na sila, mao nga ilang gipa-assasinate si DP. The Espinas will do everything, legal or illegal, just to be always in power, basta tuloy lang ang ligaya. Si Gretchen bitaw, kaya nilang controlahin ang takbo sa pinoy idol para maipakita nila sa mga Biliranon nga mga poderoso sila kaayo.....
FYI
Does it sound familiar?
(start of the article)
Public Lives
A reformer’s cross
By Randy David
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:09:00 09/06/2008
MANILA, Philippines—The election of Catholic priest Fr. Eddie Panlilio in 2007 as governor of Pampanga province was nothing short of phenomenal. Although “Among Ed” won only by more than a thousand votes, his triumph signified for many Filipinos a watershed in the country’s political life, a stunning breakthrough in the longstanding quest for good governance. Overnight, Among Ed became the sensational personification of reform.
The two candidates he defeated—one, the wife of a reputed gambling lord and the other, the incumbent governor himself, the actor-son of an actor-senator—not only represented the twin faces of traditional politics. They were also, not surprisingly, the closest political allies of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who traces her roots to Pampanga.
Among Ed’s first few months were marked by a dramatic achievement that conveyed the simple message of reform. He organized a group of citizen-volunteers to streamline and strictly enforce the collection of government fees from the quarrying of lahar material. (For many years a curse, deadly lahar flows from the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo had left a rich deposit of gravel and sand on Pampanga’s rivers. This lahar deposit has become the main source of the provincial government’s revenues.) Governor Panlilio achieved the unthinkable: he collected in three months the equivalent of what the previous administration of Mark Lapid collected in three years.
Today, just a little more than a year since the priest-governor took office, people are wondering what is happening in Pampanga. There is a movement to recall Among Ed as governor. Among its signatories are about a dozen Catholic priests from the province, who made a show of signing the recall petition at a press conference.
As an observer of Pampanga politics, I do not assign any positive value to this recall movement. Behind it are politicians closely identified with the defeated candidate, former Lubao town mayor Lilia “Baby” Pineda. At best, its claim is ambiguous (“loss of confidence”); at worst, it is too much like the pot calling the kettle black—it reeks of hypocrisy. Similarly, no one is impressed by the behavior of the priests who signed the petition. A number of them were sighted a few months ago in Malacañang, soaking the beleaguered Ms Arroyo in prayer after it became known that she distributed cash to governors and congressmen who were invited to have breakfast and lunch with her. Among the perplexed recipients of the cash gifts was Governor Panlilio himself, who told media about it. Moreover, it is no longer a secret in Pampanga that the tentacles of the underground lottery “jueteng” have long reached the door of the Catholic Church.
But what I take seriously is the clear-headed call for reform coming from the same civil society groups that organized the campaign to make Among Ed governor of the province. One of these groups is Kapampangan Marangal Inc. (KMI), an association of professionals, business people, and religious leaders who lent their time, effort, and meager finances to jump-start the ragtag quixotic campaign to elect Among Ed.
KMI firmly rejects the recall initiative against Governor Panlilio and urges the elected officials of the province “to heal the wounds of divisions through dialogues and peaceful negotiations.” In its statement “No to Recall, Yes to Reforms,” the group calls on their governor: (1) to ensure a system of checks and balances, instead of concentrating decision-making in the hands of his provincial administrator; (2) to give substance to his pledge of economic empowerment for the poor in order to wean them away from dependence on jueteng; and (3) to observe due process in the handling of allegations of corruption against the volunteers who were instrumental in raising lahar tax collections to phenomenal levels. These underpaid volunteers are currently on strike to protest their summary dismissal by the provincial administrator without the benefit of a fair investigation.
When Among Ed decided to run as an alternative candidate in 2007, I knew he had embarked on a difficult crusade. When he won, I had hoped that his training and background as a priest would not be a hindrance but rather a resource he could tap. It now looks to me that he did not have a full appreciation of what it means to be a reformer.
In one encounter with him as a friend, I reminded him that the work of a reformer is an ironic one. Its main purpose, I remember telling him, is to destabilize the old norms and demonstrate the viability of a new way of doing things. But the most challenging part, I said, is achieving this by working as much as possible within the culture, rather than against it.
It is my impression that this man of the cloth brought to his position not just good intentions but also an insidious form of moral righteousness that suited him more for a scorched-earth type of crusade than for politics as we ordinarily understand it—i.e., the art of compromise. This mindset inclines one to uniformly treat every instance of opposition as an arena in which to wage war against evil, rather than as an invitation to find a common ground. This is the worst attitude one can ever bring into politics.
Last week, in her acceptance speech as recipient of the 2008 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service, Isabela province’s Governor Grace Padaca said something along these lines: We cannot afford to fail when we cast ourselves in the role of reformers. If we fail, the failure is more than personal. It often kills hope in reform itself.
If Among Ed fails, it will be a long time before the concerned citizens of Pampanga can again believe in the possibility of peaceful reform. That is the bigger tragedy.
1350 kkk,
i've never heard much about dp's electoral protest against espina. however, taking your post into consideration, that showed nga si dp is working silently but effectively. unfortunately, he was not able to get justice.
unlike now, puro lang blah-blah! piao si ngi!!!
ok, magaling na kung magaling ang mga abogado ni rep. glenn pero hain man ang resulta?
***
reading randy david's column (as posted by aquarius), rep. glenn chong's credibility is at stake if he fails to show reforms in the province. it must be felt by biliranon soon.
This politicization of anti-corruption activities in the Philippines has long been a problem. More than a decade ago, PCAGC (Presidential Commission Against Graft and Corruption) Chairman Eufemio C. Domingo stated that every corruption complaint forwarded to his office was politically motivated. When such charges are used as part of the struggle for political advantage, the public can become cynical, believing that all officials are alike and nothing will change.
To fight this cynicism, people want to see the conviction of a “big fish” to demonstrate progress against corruption. While we might have hoped that the “plunder” conviction of President Estrada would count as such an achievement, the fact that he was pardoned and has since vigorously protested that he is innocent means that this goal was not really achieved. Anti-corruption civil society organizations often have a list of particular cases in which they are interested and for which they track the progress. They focus on those cases as a means of demonstrating that prosecution reinforces other tactics – preventing corruption and promoting a graft-intolerant culture – so that a holistic approach against corruption can be effective. Frustratingly for the Ombudsman, the fact that charges have been filed against Undersecretaries, Deputy Commissioners, or provincial governors does not seem to count as “catching big fish” in the public eye.
Anonymous,
True indeed. This is for the very reason that I suggest that we focus our fight against corruption in Biliran as it is small and change can be effectively felt.
It will be extremely difficult to solve the issue of corruption at large in the Philippines as it is just too big and too many variables. In Biliran, it is a different kettle of fish. Corrupt officials are visible. Lifestyle checks can be easily tracked, documented and investigated. It boils down to a political will.
The Espina Dynasty's fate lies primarily on Rep Glenn Chong's tenacity to pursue the case. His current position as the Representative of the Lone District of Biliran allows him to access and demand for the needed documentations needed to back up allegations of graft and corruption.
The concerned citizens of Biliran can support him through the creation of CAC or an equivalent non partisan body aimed towards putting pressure on the Ombudsman to act on the case.
We need a "big fish" to be convicted to educate the Biliranons that change can be achieved; and no one is above the law.
Hindi pala natuloy ang privilege Speech ni Rep. Glenn kahapon dahil kinausap siya sa speaker of the house na kausapin muna niya si sec. gonzales na ibalik sa Tacloban ang preliminary investigation sa kaso na gifile ni Charlie against Espina Sr. about Biliran ambush.
Mabuti nalang at pumayag ang ating mabait at magaling na congressman. More power!!
P1.2 trillion lost to graft
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:27:00 09/09/2008
The Office of the Omudsman, which investigates and prosecutes graft cases against public servants, received 7,720 new cases in 2001, the year Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed the presidency.
The number of new cases increased in the following years: 8,267 in 2002 and 9,310 in 2003.
Statistics for the succeeding years were not available.
According to the latest available statistics, the total workload of administrative and criminal cases added up to 16,030 in 2003. Of these, 7,302 were disposed of, leaving 8,728 cases pending by the end of 2003.
In a news release in June 2006, the Office of the Ombudsman remarked that in the past five years the government lost P1.2 trillion to graft. The Department of Budget and Management estimated that P21 billion was lost to graft in the procurement of locally funded projects alone. Philippine Daily Inquirer Research
Anonymous
"It is only in the Philippines" that those preliminary investigations on a criminal case can be negotiated upon. The DOJ has no explicit jurisdiction over the conduct of preliminary investigation. They have an oversight function over the different agencies. I posted an article about this in BI.
If DOJ takes all requests for transfer of cases, it won't be able to perform its primary function and it will end up clogging the system. All you need to do is look at the pile of documents at Sec Raul Gonzales’ desk and you will come to the realisation that this is "delayed justice Philippines style".
Sec Gonzales should respect the Prosecutor's office to conduct the investigation.
Gerry Espina Sr must be so desperate to peddle political influence to get away with this case. I reiterate, this is purely a criminal matter, and Sec Gonzales's interference is turning it into a political case.
I can't emphasise enough, this battle is beyond what Rep Glenn Chong's present legal panel can handle. You need high profile and experienced lawyers to handle high profile respondents. Otherwise, this case will be buried among all other piles and piles of cases, which are typical of the Philippine courts, were results could be bought or politically influenced.
Sad but true.
Aquarius 1357:
In the atmosphere of a vigorous media in which charges of corruption are always highlighted, anti-corruption agencies are in a very difficult position. If agencies like the Ombudsman are not in the media, are not visibly taking action, they can be accused of doing nothing. On the other hand, if they do take action and publicly move forward on a particular case, they are immediately attacked as part of the “battles of defamation.” This is a classic case of “damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”
Kumbati 1358
The critical problem facing the Office of the Ombudsman is its inconsistency in its treatment of cases. Whilst they encourage ordinary citizen to file complaints or request for investigation for alleged corrupt public officials and employees, they are not decisive enough to instil fear among the respondents.
It does not help that Gutierrez is perceived to be a lackey of the First Gentleman and the protector of the first family. Their "protector" image also extends to all KAMPI and LAKAS members.
It did not help, either, that PGMA pardoned ERAP for his much-celebrated conviction.
However, as far as Biliran is concerned, there is hope that we can get a conviction if there is a political will. I don't exactly understand why Rep Chong seems to be lukewarm in his pursuit of the corruption case against Gov Espina now.
Is he using the Ombudsman case as the proverbial "sword of Damocles" hanging over Gov Espina and hopes for a suspension just before election? If he does, then he is committing a big mistake. It will be too late by then.
FYI
Whilst this proposal is much needed, it will be more effective if this lifestyle checks be conducted on all public officials on a regular basis. It is ironic, though, that a lawmaker is seeking a lifestyle check on the CA justices without including the members of the House which are more likely, the offenders in many ways than one.
(start of article)
(UPDATE) Solon seeks lifestyle check for CA justices
All members of judiciary to follow, he says
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 13:47:00 09/10/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- A lifestyle check should be performed on all members of the judiciary to be undertaken by an independent body under the Supreme Court, a lawmaker at the House of Representatives said Wednesday.
Manila Representative Bienvenido Abante said the decision of the high court to dismiss appellate court Associate Justice Vicente Roxas for “dishonesty” over a case involving the Manila Electric Co. was just the tip of the iceberg and that cleansing the judiciary of "bad eggs" should be pursued.
In a text message, Abante said he would also draft a bill seeking to exempt the judiciary, including prosecutors, from the salary standardization law.
Asked if he believed the case of Roxas and the other justices who were penalized was just the tip of the iceberg, he said, "I tend to believe that."
He proposed that the independent body be given powers to conduct a lifestyle check on Court of Appeals justices and later on, on all members of the judiciary.
He said that while this would expose the corrupt ones, this would also "exonerate the honest and clean members of the bench."
Lawmakers hailed the penalty meted by the Supreme Court on erring justices of the Court of Appeals, but stressed that more was needed to be done to completely rid the judiciary of "hoodlums in robes."
Abante said the move of the high tribunal showed the resolve of Chief Justice Reynato Puno to cleanse the judiciary expeditiously of "bad eggs."
Speaker Prospero Nograles said the move by the high tribunal should send a warning that it "would not take lightly any act that will smear the integrity of the legal profession."
Sorsogon Representative Jose Solis, a member of the justice committee, said, "This is the first time the Supreme Court is doing their job well, that they are not coddling hoodlums in robes."
"I think they should start policing their own ranks, they are not exempted from this. ... It behooves on all members of the courts to begin looking at their ranks," Solis added.
He said the high court decision against the government on the P25-billion case against business tycoon Lucio Tan has raised a lot of speculation on the justices of the high tribunal.
Citizens Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) partylist Representative Joel Villanueva said that dismissal of Roxas was not enough.
He said disbarment proceedings and criminal cases for corruption and forfeiture should be pursued next by the government.
Bayan Muna partylist representative Satur Ocampo said the Supreme Court should conduct a continuing review of the members of the judiciary, especially the Court of Appeals.
He said the appellate court has been known to be the "arena for litigants to try to influence decisions" and justices sitting here should be men and women of integrity.
Ocampo said the prosecution of erring justices would help restore the integrity of the institution.
FYI
It took 14 years to convict these public officials, and yet, Speaker Nograles has already conditioned the mind of the Filipinos of an appeal. Convicted after 14 years without a reasonable doubt, and yet an appeal?
Speaker Nograles is playing "protector" of his flock.
This is what is wrong with our leaders, they contradict the very institutions they were suppose to protect. God Bless the Philippines.
(start of the article)
Wednesday, September 10 2008
Anti-graft court finds two
Mindoro lawmakers guilty
The anti-graft court convicted two congressmen from Oriental Mindoro province on Tuesday, and sentenced them to up to 10 years in prison.
Representatives Rodolfo Valencia and Alfonso Umali were found guilty of diverting P2.5 million (about $53,600) of provincial government funds 14 years ago. Valencia was then governor, Umali the provincial administrator. The funds were disbursed for the repair and operation of a privately owned ferry in 1994.
The Sandiganbayan will ask the two lawmakers to surrender, as neither was present at the sentencing, court Sheriff Ed Urieta told Agence France-Presse.
But House Speaker Prospero Nograles said both men could still file an appeal and would likely post bail, which was reportedly set at P30,000 each.
The two congressmen also face disciplinary action from the House, but as of press time, no decision on that has been made.
“The House cannot act on the decision of the Sandiganbayan as yet, because we have to wait for the finality of that decision,” he said on local television when asked whether the two would be expelled from the body.
“We are saddened by the news about our colleagues in the House,” the Speaker added. “But since this are a purely judicial proceedings, we will await the finality of the decision as the accused still have the right to appeal.”
Nograles said Valencia and Umali have 15 days to file an appeal.
In a 28-page decision of the Sandiganbayan, Associate Justice Jose Hernandez wrote that the court found Valencia and Umali guilty beyond reasonable doubt, along with their co-accused—former Vice Governor Pedrito Reyes, former Provincial Board Members Jose Enriquez and Jose Leynes, and Alfredo Atienza, the private defendant who owns the vessel.
Justices Gregory Ong and Samuel Martires voted with Hernandez.
“The illegal act of entering into this Credit Agreement was made possible by the collective acts of [the] accused public officials and private [individual] accused [whose moves] were all geared toward consummating the transaction,” according to the court ruling.
The Sandiganbayan also ruled that, “All the conspirators are criminally liable as co-principals regardless of the degree of participation of each of them, for in contemplation of the law, the act of one is the act of all.”
The ruling added that public funds cannot be used for private purposes.
Also on Tuesday, Valencia told The Manila Times that he did nothing wrong.
“We are just implementing a resolution of the provincial board during a state of calamity,” he said. “We will clear it. Definitely, we will file a motion for reconsideration. This is really unfair.”
The fund was released to help the province after it was ravaged by a typhoon, Valencia explained, adding that the ferry paid by the government provided the only safe and reliable link to the Luzon mainland. Oriental Mindoro is on an island off the coast of Batangas province, which is south of Metro Manila.
-- Jomar Canlas and AFP
Aquarius,
System (Philippines) row, after Sabio - in a letter-complaint against Justices Vicente Roxas and Bienvenido Reyes - revealed the attempted felony in consideration for him giving way to Reyes' chairmanship of the CA's Special 9th Division.
It has caught wide media coverage and has achieved political, international and judicial significance because of its very threat to the integrity and credibility of the Philippine judicial system. The corruption scandal forthwith caused the motu proprio assumption of jurisdiction over the issue, by the High Tribunal per its Chief Justice's rare agendum of an En Banc hearing and deliberation on August 6, 2008. The Senate of the Philippines' legislators, inter alia, called for speedy resolution of the issues.[4][5] The scandal engulfs the Judiciary and has uncloaked a dark, transactional periphery of the justice system.
Tamsy 1348
Sorry for the late reply to your comments. What you say is true. It boils down to results.
Anonymous 1362
Very sad and tragic. It could be a reflection of what is also happening in the lower courts.
I hope, the judiciary survives this latest scandal and come out more credible and stronger.
FYI
Sandiganbayan lifts arrest warrants vs Oriental Mindoro congressmen
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 09/12/2008 12:13 PM
The Sandiganbayan on Friday lifted arrest warrants issued against two Oriental Mindoro congressmen found guilty of graft.
The arrest warrant was lifted after Oriental Mindoro representatives Rodolfo Valencia and Alfonso Umali Jr. showed up before the anti-graft court's Fourth Division.
Valencia and Umali personally explained to Fourth Division justices why they failed to show up at the graft case's promulgation last September 9.
"I would like to thank the court for understanding us. I think they would allow a reinvestigation," Valencia said.
The Fourth Division initially refused to lift Umali’s arrest order because the congressmen failed to personally appear before the justices.
Umali, who was confined at the Philippine Heart Center, was forced to rush to the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City to appear before the justices.
The congressman arrived at the anti-graft court building on an ambulance.
Umali’s warrant of arrest was lifted after he explained to the justices that he was confined to the Philippine Heart Center Thursday night due to hypertension.
Fourth Division head Justice Gregory Ong accepted Umali’s explanation and allowed the congressman to post a P30,00 bail bond.
Valencia earlier posted the same amount of bail bond.
Both congressmen said they will file amended motions for reconsideration before the anti-graft court.
Ong, meanwhile, said the two congressmen have made assurances that they will not leave the country to escape the verdict.
In a 29-page decision, the anti-graft court's fourth division said Valencia and Umali and three other former provincial officials violated Section 3 (e) and 3 (g) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act when they forged a P2.5-million loan contract with an engineer that served a private purpose.
The anti-graft court sentenced the two congressmen up to 10 years imprisonment and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
The court also convicted former Oriental Mindoro Vice-Governor Pedrito Reyes, Engineer Alfredo Atienza, and provincial Board members Jose Enrique and Jose Leynes.
The Sandiganbayan said the loan granted by Umali and Valencia to Atienza for the repair and maintenance of private vessel M/V Ace, was "grossly and manifestly disadvantageous to the government."
as of 09/12/2008 12:30 PM
Lifestyle check on for 10 Baguio officials
http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20080912134975.html
CSC submits pertinent papers to Ombudsman
Dexter A. See
September 12 2008
BAGUIO CITY — The Office of the Ombudsman is conducting a lifestyle check on at least 10 appointed and elected officials of the city government in connection with the national government’s drive against graft and corruption.
This was reported by Adela Esteban, director of the Baguio City field office of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), who said that her office has already complied with the subpoena issued by the Ombudsman for them to submit the personal data sheets, statement of assets and liabilities and net worth (SALN) and other documents needed in the lifestyle probe of the 10 officials.
But she did not disclose the identities of the city officials undergoing lifestyle check, saying that the confidentiality of the names must be preserved until the Ombudsman issues its findings.
She said the role of the CSC in the conduct of lifestyle check is to assist the Ombudsman in securing important documents on file in their office in connection with the lifestyle investigation of the officials.
Esteban said some of the city officials undergoing lifestyle check have reached at least 35 years of service, while the others are new.
The CSC has already forwarded the 10 sets of documents to the Ombudsman for Northern Luzon.
Lawyer Lorenzo Danipog, Cordillera CSC director, said the lifestyle check is conducted on national and local government officials who fail to justify their possession of properties or those who could not explain how they have acquired their wealth while in government service.
The lifestyle check is a regular function of the Office of the Ombudsman, the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC), and the Department of Finance (DoF). It is part of the national government’s all-out campaign to rid the public service system of abusive and corrupt officials.
Generally, lifestyle check on officials prospers upon the filing of a formal complaint, but anonymous complaints would also be entertained if there are proper documents that could warrant the conduct of the investigation.
Danipog said the lifestyle check on national and local officials has significantly improved the delivery of services to the people although it has not yet totally stopped graft and corruption in the bureaucracy.
Nevertheless, he said, CSC is still doing its best to check the lapses of government officials and employees in the delivery of basic services to the people.
FYI, Maghearing unta gahapon ang parte sa motion ni Saul to post bill bond peru na postpned ky wla man mo2ngha ang abogado nila mao nga na postponed. ang next schedule is Sept. 26.
Ang ambush case na pinaakialaman ni Sec Gonzales gifilan na sa RTC naval ug Prohibition grave abuse of authority para ma hibalik ang case sa Regional fiscals office dri sa Tcloban
Anonymous 1367
That case should have never been forwarded to DOJ in the first place. Whoever initiated the transfer must be investigated as to the basis of the transfer. If the transfer was only made on the basis of a simple request by the respondents with undue political pressure, specifically dropping the name of Sec Gonzales, then that is a grave abuse of authority.
I bet you, there is money involved and heads should roll as soon as the culprits have been identified.
This is purely a criminal case and should be treated as such.
Sec Raul Gonzales, inspite of his current designation, has no jurisdiction, whatsoever, in the actual conduct of preliminary investigations on a criminal case.
NBI, of which his office has an oversight, has already been involved in the investigation.
What is happening in CA is a clear indication of what is happening in the lower courts and the prosecutors’ office. It is all about money and politics, not justice.
Rep Glenn Chong's legal panel should stand firm and argue its case.
Aquarius:
Thanks for your good points, we learned a lots from you especially on legal matters.
Sad to know that the legal panel of Rep. Glenn is working like turtle, I dont know if there is no money matters involved too. I think, its already 6 months but until now no preliminary investigation happened yet. I heard too that the two police men until now were not able to make their own counter affidavit.
I really beleived the saying goes " justice delayed, justice denied".
KKK 1369
Yes it is frustrating. Was it 6 months or 3 months? If you are referring to the ambush in June 2007 2008, then it is around 3 months.
I can't believe that the two respondent CIDG officers still have not filed their counter affidavits. However, I think they are trying every possible means ,within the confines of the law, to delay filing their affidavit to buy more time. Or are they on AWOL and has not been located?
There is also the issue of how long can Rep Glenn Chong legally take safe custody of the witnesses without putting them under the witness protection program?
kkb 1369,
i dont think the legal panel of rep glenn chong is working like a turle. i think they are working like a snail (i could not think of anything slower that the snail).
the mere fact that the wheels of justice in the phils. turn slow, the legal panel of rep glenn should compensate by pushing their limits.
im beginning to doubt the competence of rep glenn's legal panel. i hope they're not just working with him for money. else, he (glenn) should tap the services of "The Firm".
Spartacus:
Hindi naman siguro ganon ka bagal ang mga abogado ni Atty. Chong, he he he! joker man diay ka!
Siguro they are trying their best naman pero maybe lack of experience ug dili pa siguro nila alam ang pasikotsikot sa atong justice system mao nga bisan ug unsaon nila ug paspas, mabiyaan gyud sila kay dili man mga haniti.
Basin mga neophytes pa ito na mga abugado ug basin pod mga take 3 sa bar.
FYI
Manila Times
Monday, September 15, 2008
Court asks to speed up
case of former governor
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/sep/15/yehey/prov/20080915pro3.html
THE Office of the Ombudsman has asked the Sandiganbayan First Division to expedite the trial of former Camarines Norte provincial Governor Casimiro ‘Roy’ Padilla Jr.
Padilla was charged for malversation of public property after failing to return a cal. 45 pistol issued to him by the Philippine National Police on August 25, 1992.
On September 5, the Office of the Ombudsman, through Bureau VI Acting Director Diosdado Calonge, filed a motion to junk Padilla’s request for a new preliminary investigation and sought immediate setting of trial on the case.
Calonge said the defendant’s motion of preliminary investigation has no legal basis.
“[T] he accused was given an ample opportunity to file his counter-affidavit to the Criminal Complaint but failed to do so… [and] was deemed to have waived such right. In fine, accused was not at all deprived of procedural due process,” Calonge said.
The charge against Padilla was originally filed before Municipal Trial Court of Daet, Camarines Norte.
On September 3, 2001, Supt. Juan Amazona, Camarines Norte-PNP provincial investigation officer, filed a complaint against Padilla after the defendant failed to return the firearm despite three demand letters sent to him on August 1999 and in July and September 2000.
Padilla, on the other hand, failed to file his counter-affidavit as ordered by MTC to refute the charges.
“What is controlling is that the accused does not dispute that he received on loan from Camarines Norte PNP … the subject pistol cal. 45, SN-1955819. [T] he accused cannot now deny the existence and the rightful ownership of the firearm in question,” the document says.
The MTC issued another directive dated January 29, 2002 ordering the transfer of the case to the Sandiganbayan, which has proper jurisdiction because of the defendant’s high position in government.
--Jomar Canlas
FYI
http://ph.news.yahoo.com/gma/20080915/tph-n-vizcaya-jail-warden-suspended-for-ce44f36.html
GMANews.TV - Tuesday, September 16
BAYOMBONG, Philippines – One of the country’s multi-awarded provincial jails is embroiled in a controversy involving its warden accused of engaging in illegal activities inside the establishment.
Nueva Vizcaya Governor Luisa Lloren Cuaresma recently slapped a 30-day preventive suspension against warden Benzon Cadiente of the Nueva Vizcaya provincial jail.
Cadiente was suspended pending the ongoing investigation on his alleged involvement in the premature release of an inmate jailed for drug-related cases.
Cadiente, whose suspension took effect on Sept. 8, is also being investigated for other alleged accumulated administrative malpractices.
The provincial warden who is set to retire next year is serving his third suspension since assuming the post in 2004.
“The suspension was recommended by the provincial government’s committee on investigation, which was the basis of the governor for his (Cadiente) preventive suspension over violations which still have to be proven,” said Manuel Tabora, provincial administrator and acting provincial warden.
However, Ma. Carla Lucia Torralba, provincial human resource management officer, stressed that Cadiente could be reinstated if allegations hurled against him could be disproved.
The Nueva Vizcaya provincial jail, once adjudged as once one of the best managed provincial jails in the country, has been hounded in recent years by allegations of drug dealings involving jail employees, security lapses inside its premises, and unauthorized or premature release of inmates. - Floro Taguinod, GMANews.TV
CA justices led by Presiding Justice Conrado Vasquez Jr. signed yesterday a “covenant of moral recovery” at the CA office in Manila, apparently to prove that they are serious against corruption in the Philippine justices system. Presiding Justice Conrado Vasquez Jr. was recently given a severe reprimand by the Supreme Court in connection with the CA’s handling of the management dispute between the Manila Electric Co. and the Government Service Insurance System. Some quarters have called for the resignation of all the justices implicated in the case, including Vasquez.
Anonymous
Rep Glenn Chong's legal panel should take advantage of what is happening in the judiciary to push for the immediate conduct of preliminary investigation of the Gerry Espina et al case in Tacloban.
Obviously, it is safe to assume that there was either "corruption" or "grave abuse of authority" involved in the transfer of the prelim investgation from Tacloban to DOJ in Manila.
"Abuse of authority" is another form of corruption. Where there is abuse of authority, there is always the issue of money or political favours on the side.
Sec Gonzales may have acted only on the self serving information provided by Gerry Espina Sr, not to mention their "previous dealings" or call it "unholy alliance".
There should be no more impediment to the conduct of preliminary investigation of Gerry Espina Sr et al in Tacloban in the next 4 weeks. If it does not eventuate, Biliranons will only have Rep Chong's legal panel to blame.
The Filipinos are set on what is happening in the judiciary.As such, I don't think Sec Gonzales is stupid enough to use his position to influence this case to do Gerry Sr a favor. Gerry Espina Sr is not worth taking the risk.
He should allow justice to take its normal process.
Aquarius:
You are right. The Biliranon can only hope to the commitment of Rep. Chong's legal panel once they will take advantage this recent development of the signing of a covenant of CA justices in the presence of Chief Justice Reynato Puno.
Now the CA scandal has raised questions about the independence of the judiciary and the extent of corruption in the administration of justice. Some details of the scandal remain unresolved, in particular the role played by lawyer Jesus Santos, who sits on the GSIS board and who served as spokesman for the First Gentleman.
Among all three branches of government, the judiciary has managed to retain a degree of public trust amid protracted political turbulence, though even this trust has been shaken by recent SC decisions on controversial issues. The judiciary should not lose what trust it still enjoys by allowing the rot in its system to spread
FYI
This the type of cases Sec Gonzales has an explicit jurisdiction over. Not Gerry Espina et al's criminal case. He should stick to his mandate not use his office to do personal favors.
(start of article)
Gonzalez says no arrest warrants yet vs Meralco execs
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 09/18/2008 12:44 AM
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said Wednesday there are no warrants of arrest yet for Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) executives in connection with a pending complaint of syndicated estafa filed by a group of electricity consumers.
Gonzalez said a prosecutor has just filed a motion opposing Meralco's earlier motion that sought judicial determination of probable cause in the allegation of syndicated estafa by the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms (Nasecore) before the Pasig City Regional Trial Court.
The Nasecore had alleged that the power distributor earned interest from meter deposits which it charged clients.
Gonzalez said the warrants of arrest could be issued if the court sustains the resolution of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Among those charged in the case were Meralco Chairman Manolo Lopez and company President Jesus Francisco.
Meanwhile, Gonzalez got upset with a Meralco spokesman's statement that the case is a form of harrassment, and he dared the company to prove that the DOJ is harrassing them. - report from TIMI NUBLA, ABS-CBN News
abs-cbnNEWS.com is the online news department of ABS-CBN Interactive Inc., a subsidiary of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., part of the Lopez Group of Companies.
Although Sec Gonzales has an oversight over the National Prosecution Service, he should allow the normal course of justice to occur, specially in the case of Gerry Espina Sr et al.
In Gerry Espina SR et al's case, the DOJ office noted below, can only resolve appeals for review of final resolution by the State Prosecutors in Tacloban in the conduct of the preliminary investigation.
Therefore, this presupposes that the preliminary investigation has already been conducted and a final resolution drawn. An appeal can then be filed in DOJ Manila through the National Prosecution Service.
Gerry Espina Sr attempted to short circuit the process by using his "colleague" Sec Gonzales to influence the outcome of the case even before the State Prosecutor can conduct and issue a final resolution.
This is another underhanded tactics which will boomerang to Gerry Espina Sr. Rep Glenn Chong’s legal panel should hammer the issue in and get it out to the print media of national circulation to bring it to the national consciousness. It is obvious that Gerry Sr is using the "padrino" system of justice.
Here below is the DOJ department who has explicit or direct jurisdiction over the Espina et al case.
National Prosecution Service (DOJ)
Activities:
1. To investigate and prosecute all criminal offenses under Revised Penal Code and other special penal laws.
2. To resolve appeals from petitions for review of the final resolutions of State Prosecutors and Provincial/City Prosecutors in all preliminary investigations conducted by them.
3. To render opinions on queries from prosecutors regarding violations of the Revised Penal Code and other special penal laws.
4. To provide the court with information as basis for the grant or denial of probation.
Aquarius:
Justice secretary Gonzales is an irresponsible and unjust man. No wonder that he was once sanctioned by the Supreme Court for his bad behavior. The only excuse that can be made for Gonzales in the present case is that he suffers from irrationality due to acute senility and that he ought to step down from his office.
Kumbati 1381:
I agree with you. Secretary Raul Gonzales is a BIG EMBARRASSMENT to the Philippines. His tactless comments and antics would lead one to believe that he is suffering from early stage alzheimers. He is starting to become retarted and senile! Someone should just take him out to pasture and put him out of his misery! and take GMA and her whole cabinet with him as well.
I don't know why he's still a member of the cabinet. With all his blunders and arrogance, he might as well leave public office. Too much arrogance and carelessness of his words might lead him again to some dark area of his life. If I remember it correctly, he was disbarred because he tried to get his way against the Supreme Court justices.
The media should not give this guy a minute of exposure. He's not helping in any way resolve the issues of the country.
Masyado kayong updated sa current events, especially political events, kaya nahirapan akong makisabay sa mga posts nyo. Mao nga palagi nalang akong nagbabasa para ma-update din. Thanks!!!
FYI
THE REVISED RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
.
(RULES 110 - 127, RULES OF COURT)
[Effective December 1, 2000]
.
RULE 112 - PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION
Section 1. Preliminary investigation defined; when required. – Preliminary investigation is an inquiry or proceeding to determine whether there is sufficient ground to engender a well-founded belief that a crime has been committed and the respondent is probably guilty thereof, and should be held for trial.
Except as provided in Section 7 of this Rule, a preliminary investigation is required to be conducted before the filing of a compliant or information for an offense where the penalty prescribed by law is at least four (4) years, two (2) months and one (1) day without regard to the fine.
Sec. 2. Officers authorized to conduct preliminary investigations. – The following may conduct preliminary investigations:
(a) Provincial or City Prosecutors and their assistants;
(b) Judges of the Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts;
(c) National and Regional State Prosecutors; and
(d) Other officers as may be authorized by law.
Their authority to conduct preliminary investigations shall include all crimes cognizable by the proper court in their respective territorial jurisdictions.
Sec. 3. Procedure.– The preliminary investigation shall be conducted in the following manner:
(a) The complaint shall state the address of the respondent and shall be accompanied by the affidavits of the complainant and his witnesses, as well as other supporting documents to establish probable cause. They shall be in such number of copies as there are respondents, plus two (2) copies for the official file. The affidavits shall be subscribed and sworn to before any prosecutor or government official authorized to administer oath, or, in their absence or unavailability, before a notary public, each of whom must certify that he personally examined the affiants and that he is satisfied that they voluntarily executed and understood their affidavits.
(b) Within ten (10) days after the filing of the complaint, the investigating officer shall either dismiss it if he finds no ground to continue with the investigation, or issue a subpoena to the respondent attaching to it a copy of the complaint and its supporting affidavits and documents.
The respondent shall have the right to examine the evidence submitted by the complainant which he may not have been furnished and to copy them at his expense. If the evidence is voluminous, the complainant may be required to specify those which he intends to present against the respondent, and these shall be made available for examination or copying by the respondent at his expense.
Objects as evidence need not be furnished a party but shall be made available for examination, copying, or photographing at the expense of the requesting party.
(c) Within ten (10) days from receipt of the subpoena with the complaint and supporting affidavits and documents, the respondent shall submit his counter-affidavit and that of his witnesses and other supporting documents relied upon for his defense. The counter-affidavits shall be subscribed and sworn to and certified as provided in paragraph (a) of this section, with copies thereof furnished by him to the complainant. The respondent shall not be allowed to file a motion to dismiss in lieu of a counter-affidavit.
(d) If the respondent cannot be subpoenaed, or if subpoenaed, does not submit counter-affidavits within the ten (10) day period, the investigating office shall resolve the complaint based on the evidence presented by the complainant.
(e) The investigating officer may set a hearing if there are facts and issues to be clarified from a party or a witness. The parties can be present at the hearing but without the right to examine or cross-examine. They may, however, submit to the investigating officer questions which may be asked to the party or witness concerned.
The hearing shall be held within ten (10) days from submission of the counter-affidavits and other documents or from the expiration of the period for their submission. It shall be terminated within five (5) days.
(f) Within ten (10) days after the investigation, the investigating officer shall determine whether or not there is sufficient ground to hold the respondent for trial.
Sec. 4. Resolution of investigating prosecutor and its review. – If the investigating prosecutor finds cause to hold the respondent for trial, he shall prepare the resolution and information. He shall certify under oath in the information that he, or as shown by the record, an authorized officer, has personally examined the complainant and his witnesses; that there is reasonable ground to believe that a crime has been committed and that the accused is probably guilty thereof; that the accused was informed of the complaint and of the evidence submitted against him; and that he was given an opportunity to submit controverting evidence. Otherwise, he shall recommend the dismissal of the complaint.
Within five (5) days from his resolution, he shall forward the record of the case to the provincial or city prosecutor or chief state prosecutor, or to the Ombudsman or his deputy in cases of offenses cognizable by the Sandiganbayan in the exercise of its original jurisdiction. They shall act on the resolution within ten (10) days from their receipt thereof and shall immediately inform the parties of such action.
No complaint or information may be filed or dismissed by an investigating prosecutor without the prior written authority or approval of the provincial or city prosecutor or chief state prosecutor or the Ombudsman or his deputy.
Where the investigating prosecutor recommends the dismissal of the complaint but his recommendation is disapproved by the provincial or city prosecutor or chief state prosecutor or the Ombudsman or his deputy on the ground that a probable cause exists, the latter may, by himself, file the information against the respondent, or direct another assistant prosecutor or state prosecutor to do so without conducting another preliminary investigation.
If upon petition by a proper party under such rules as the Department of Justice may prescribe or motu propio, the Secretary of Justice reverses or modifies the resolution of the provincial or city prosecutor or chief state prosecutor, he shall direct the prosecutor concerned either to file the corresponding information without conducting anther preliminary investigation, or to dismiss or move for dismissal of the complaint or information with notice to the parties. The same rule shall apply in preliminary investigations conducted by the officers of the Office of the Ombudsman.
Sec. 5. Resolution of investigating judge and its review.
– Within ten (10) days after the preliminary investigation, the investigating judge shall transmit the resolution of the case to the provincial or city prosecutor, or to the Ombudsman or his deputy in cases of offenses cognizable by the Sandiganbayan in the exercise of its original jurisdiction, for appropriate action. The resolution shall state the findings of facts and the law supporting his action, together with the record of the case which shall include: (a) the warrant, if the arrest is by virtue of a warrant; (b) the affidavits, counter-affidavits and other supporting evidence of the parties; (c) the undertaking or bail of the accused and the order for his release; (d) the transcripts of the proceedings during the preliminary investigation; and (e) the order of cancellation of his bail bond, if the resolution is for the dismissal of the complaint.
Within thirty (30) days from receipt of the records, the provincial or city prosecutor, or the Ombudsman or his deputy, as the case may be, shall review the resolution of the investigating judge on the existence of probable cause. Their ruling shall expressly and clearly state the facts and the law on which it is based and the parties shall be furnished with copies thereof. They shall order the release of an accused who is detained if no probable cause is found against him.
Sec. 6. When warrant of arrest may issue. – (a) By the Regional Trial Court. – Within ten (10) days from the filing of the complaint or information, the judge shall personally evaluate the resolution of the prosecutor and its supporting evidence. He may immediately dismiss the case if the evidence on record clearly fails to establish probable cause. If he finds probable cause, he shall issue a warrant of arrest, or a commitment order if the accused has already been arrested pursuant to a warrant issued by the judge who conducted the preliminary investigation or when the complaint or information was filed pursuant to section 7 of this Rule. In case of doubt on the existence of probable cause, the judge may order the prosecutor to present additional evidence within five (5) days from notice and the issue must be resolved by the court within thirty (30) days from the filing of the complaint of information.
Aquarius:
"covenant of moral recovery" what is a covenant? sorry I am not a lawyer. Is a covenant and agreement or an oath? If it is like an oath, sad to say: oath mean to be broken. Why is it that these justices in the CA should not be replaced in order to clean and to make it more cridible? Why not ask all resignation of those all involved. I cannot say truthfully "YOUR HONOR", when the SC punished them, they lost their honor.
KKK 1385
I don't want to sound cynical but this is simply an exercise of damage control.
They don't need to enter into a covenant of "moral recovery"; they need to purge the judiciary of these robed bandits and influence peddling pimps who are responsible for thousands of miscarriages of justice for decades. They should have the decency to tender their resignations.
The only reason this scandal surfaced, like Chavit Singson's case on Erap, is that someone missed out on the money.Lots of money.
break muna tayo!
Listen: Rosas Pokyan (new version of Rosas Pandan) @ joke only....
FYI
Rep Glenn Chong's
Privilege Speech on MDFO - September 16,2008
PRIVILEGE SPEECH : Municipal Development Fund Office
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a matter of personal and collective privilege to seek an investigation by this chamber into the loan transactions between the Department of Finance's Municipal Development Fund Office or MDFO and the Province of Biliran. One of these loans was released recently despite the strong objections of this representation on very serious grounds. While ostensibly entertaining my objections, the MDFO surreptitiously released the first tranche of the loan while my issues have not been fully and properly joined and addressed. It smacks of utter bad faith on the part of the MDFO!
Mr. Speaker, the Municipal Development Fund Office or MDFO was created by virtue of the creation of a revolving fund established under Presidential Decree No. 1914 and as reorganized under Executive Order No. 41, series of 1998. This revolving fund is capitalized by proceeds from foreign loans, grants, domestically-sourced funds, and loan amortizations/repayments. This lending facility is made available to local government units for approved specific sub-programs under different programs, such as LOGOFIND and PROLEND.
One such program under the MDFO is called PROLEND, or program lending, which enshrines and promotes the principles of good governance by fostering accountability, transparency, and predictability.
Sometime on February 7, this representation discovered by accident a loan proposal of the Province of Biliran. On February 12, I wrote the MDFO Executive Director, Ms. Helena Habulan, informing her office of my objections, initially anchored on the absolute lack of public consultations and refusal to satisfy demands for greater public accountability and transparency in the use of previous loan proceeds. I requested for a deferment of the approval of the loan until the objections are properly addressed. On February 21, I wrote the office of the governor seeking certified copies of all documents respecting the loan proposal in pursuit of the public's right to know matters of far-reaching implications. My staff were simply given the runaround and this representation was never even given the courtesy of a reply by the governor. On February 26, I wrote the then chairman of the MDFO Board, now National Treasurer, Roberto Tan, reiterating the same objections and appealing for a deferment. I found out later, Mr. Speaker, that as early as February 19, the MDFO Board already approved in principle the loan proposal.
Without belaboring anyone and consuming all the time of this honorable chamber, I wish to reiterate my objections to this loan proposal on three main issues.
ON THE ISSUE OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND TRANSPARENCY: On March 14, a public consultation was finally conducted upon insistence of this representation. I was given less than 24 hours notice. I scrambled to get a plane seat to be able to attend it. At that hearing I found out the following glaring truths:
i The MDFO was already aware at least 5 days before of the scheduled hearing. I asked several times for confirmation 3 days before the hearing but my calls were never returned.
ii The governor initially and persistently refused to make available the MDFO representative for questioning at the hearing. He only relented when his lies were exposed before the audience.
iii After persistent denials by provincial officials on radio, the MDFO representative confirmed, and for the first time the people heard, that the impending increase in local taxes and charges and revision in land values are one of the deliverables or conditions for the grant of the loan.
iv The governor and the entire Sangguniang Panlalawigan were caught lying flatfooted on the issue of whether or not the SP has granted the governor any authority to borrow. In response to official inquiry from my legal counsel, the SP in letters dated February 19 and March 11, denied granting any authority to borrow. At the hearing, I showed them their own resolution granting the governor the authority to enter into a sub-loan agreement dated as early as January 24. No public hearing or consultation was ever conducted by the SP prior to the grant of this authority.
v After substantially covering my points during the hearing, I asked those in attendance, between 1,500 to 2,000 of them, if they wish for the provincial government to continue with the loan and the attendant conditions. The proponents got a very resounding 'NO' from the public.
vi Another loan application under the KfW lending window, also under the auspices of the MDFO, was the subject of my objection in a letter dated May 5. I received a reply dated June 2 from Dr. Sigrist, the Regional Manager for East Asia/Pacific of the KfW Bankengruppe promising in part to furnish this representation the relevant documents in due course. I never received the promised documents although the notice of bidding for the projects covered by this loan has been posted at this time.
Mr. Speaker, the details of these observations are contained in an 8-page letter addressed to the MDFO Board dated March 17 which I incorporate into this privilege speech as an integral part hereof for the proper and full appreciation by the appropriate investigating committee.
ON THE ISSUE OF ECONOMIC NECESSITY AND FINANCIAL VIABILITY: At the outset Mr. Speaker, let me lay down the premise that these loan agreements do not come without direct tax burden on the part of the people. Taxes must be increased as a condition precedent, therefore, the people will directly bear the burden of the loan. When this direct tax burden is considered against the backdrop of the proponent's programmed investments of the proceeds, the necessity of these loans collapses altogether. Consider these, Mr. Speaker:
i The increase in local taxes, fees, and charges as a required deliverable is gravely ill-timed. Upward tax adjustments in the midst of unprecedented rise in rice, fuel oil, electricity, transportation and other basic commodities in the near term in a predominantly agriculture-based economy is utterly unconscionable and insensitive to the plight of, especially, the poor who will ultimately bear the burden of the tax.
ii Way back in 2005, the governor also obtained a hold-out loan from the PNB for 30 million pesos, of which 12 million pesos was invested in information technology on revenue enhancement... exactly the same project as is sought to be invested with 15 million pesos now... from the proceeds of this MDFO loan! The original 12 million pesos IT project is now the subject of an adverse COA audit report as not having been fully implemented since 2006.
iii The governor also seeks to invest 30 million pesos in low-cost housing in a government complex where, about 2.5 kilometers away, his family is vigorously developing and marketing their low-cost housing project. The market cannot sustain both competing projects. The people cannot reasonably expect the governor to give primacy to the public's interest when the same goes against his own family's business interest. Worse, a potential and material information as conflict of interest was never actually disclosed to the MDFO by the governor. This is gross bad faith!
iv The declaration of the governor at the hearing that he will build a boulevard out of the loan proceeds is quite instructive as to the kind of financial and investment prudence he actually possesses. He will build a boulevard in the midst of rice fields in a remote barangay! This is not a case of absolute necessity, it is plain and simple mental depravity!
v The net debt service capacity of Biliran before these loans stood at 28.9 million pesos. This represents the remaining unencumbered portion of the economic development fund net of amortization on principal and interest for current debts. This amount can be freely used to fund all the 120 million pesos worth of projects proposed under the loan applications. If all proposed projects are funded using this 'free funds' of 28.9 million pesos each year, all these will be completed in about 50 months. If all proposed projects are funded using 'loaned funds' to be released in 3 tranches at reasonably 6 months apart, all these will be completed in just 18 months. So, 50 months under the 'free fund' option minus 18 months under the 'loaned fund' option will give a net advantage of 32 months in terms of rushing the governor's vision of development. In other words, by borrowing 120 million pesos to bankroll these projects, they will be completed 32 months ahead of time than it would if the 'free funds' under the IRA system were to be used. However, this rushed development doesn't come cheap. Total interest due for both loans under the PROLEND and KfW were publicly disclosed at 55 million pesos over the term of the loans. If 55 million pesos in interest payments is to be spread over the net advantage of 32 months, the people of Biliran would be paying a premium of 1.72 million pesos every month because of this 'rushed' development. And that is on top of the increase in taxes they pay as a result of the loan.
vi As it stands today, Mr. Speaker, if both loans are approved, the people of Biliran will be saddled with 191 million pesos in long-term debts, all contracted by only one governor, Rogelio Espina, in a short span of seven (7) years! Of the loan pie of 191 million pesos, 126 million pesos or a full 66% are accounted for by the MDFO!
Mr. Speaker, I submit that the investment priorities of the provincial government of Biliran, with the attendant questions on their propriety, when taken together with the increase in local taxes, fees and charges, the huge finance charges entailed, the relatively short span of time benefit, the attendant burdens of a huge long-term debt stock, and the restrictions imposed on a reasonably stable source of funds for the local government, all taken together will a cast a serious doubt on the future financial viability and development of my province and our people.
ON THE ISSUE OF PAST SIMILAR QUESTIONABLE TRANSACTIONS: I enumerate briefly some very significant prior but similar questionable transactions entered into by the governor using loan proceeds, thus:
i On February 16, 2004, the governor obtained a loan from the PNB for 35 million pesos. All the 35 million pesos was used to purchase only 4 pieces of heavy equipment: 2 units of 6-wheel dump trucks at 4.4 million pesos each, 1 unit excavator for xxx, and 1 unit bulldozer for xxx. The documents show that they were brand new but an actual physical inspection will prove that they are not at all brand new. These equipment were grossly overpriced. A TAS audit by the COA certified that they were brand new on the basis merely of the documents attached, and not on the basis of an actual technical and physical inspection. I have repeatedly asked for copies of the underlying documents of this purchase from the governor for over 2 years now. He persistently refused to give them. I pointed this out clearly to the MDFO. They simply brushed my point aside.
ii On November 8, 2005, the governor obtained another loan, also from the PNB for 30 million pesos. 12 million pesos of this loan was used to purchase various specialized software on revenue enhancement. On pages 26-28 of the COA audit report for CY 2007, this transaction was scathingly and lengthily questioned. More than 2 years after its implementation, a major component of the project has yet to be undertaken by the supplier. While there was no complete delivery, the project was 100% accepted and fully paid, including retention fee. The COA further observed that the project 'has not improved the over-all operations of the agency nor increased the efficiency and effectiveness of the agency's human, material and financial resources.' The system cannot generate the pertinent reports resulting in delays and resorting to manual preparation. It was a total failure and 12 million pesos was wasted! On top of that, 1.247 million pesos in interest was paid up to December 31, 2007 alone for this portion of the loan. In sharp contrast, Mr. Speaker, when I was still in the private sector, my firm also embarked on a computerization project that is almost one-half in the scope of work as this 12 million pesos project at about the same time, but it costed my firm only 1.6 million pesos for both software and specialized terminals from Singapore. This new loan from the MDFO, yet again, seeks to invest another 15 million pesos on a similar IT project for revenue enhancement. I pointed this out clearly to the MDFO although there was no need as they had a copy of the same report way ahead of this representation. The MDFO choose to disregard the COA and this representation and went ahead releasing the loan!
iii Sometime in 2004, the provincial government purchased one unit of x-ray generator. It was valued at 4.76 million pesos and was reported to be brand-new. However, the COA in its report for CY 2007, pages 29-30, made another scathing observation that 3 years since the time the x-ray was purchased, it had lain idle in the x-ray room unused. It could not be used since the time of purchase and delivery because the x-ray room did not have lead as a protective measure. I sought documents from the governor concerning this transaction and expectedly, he refused to grant me access to those documents. Last Thursday, I went home with an x-ray engineer and had this x-ray generator inspected. Mr. Speaker, this supposedly brand-new x-ray, after several tests, could not produce an exposure! 4.76 million pesos lay wasting in a corner of the hospital while interest income foregone from these funds amounting to roughly 700,000 pesos in 3 years compounds the magnitude of such wastage. Now, they are seeking another 40 million pesos in additional loans ostensibly for hospital infrastructure. I asked for documents on this loan proposal. I only got so much as an empty promise. God knows what other equipment will, yet again, lay in some other corners of the hospital for the next several years, unused and wasted!
In sum, Mr. Speaker, I stress, rather emphatically, that it should not necessarily follow that once a proponent is theoretically qualified to avail of any government loan facility, all other considerations are set aside in favor of granting the loan applied for. I submit, it is not the ministerial duty of the MDFO Board to approve any such loan proposal which on its face appears bona fide and in order. If someone, much less an elected member of congress with a solemn duty to honor, raises valid and substantial issues that should require the board to delve deeper and go beyond the four walls of the application in good faith, that board must do so especially in a case where there is absolutely no compelling reason to rush into a premature and precipitate approval and release of such a loan. The board must exercise its better collective judgment instead of just approving the application in principle subject to compliance of what appears to be a dubious checklist that brushed aside substantive issues. If the approval of multi-million peso loans like these by a board were to simply go through a simple checklist of requirements, sans all other considerations, which if complied with is ipso facto approved, then human reason and judgment be better replaced by the more efficient automated machines which then would have better and faster use at the least cost. There is no use allocating 8 million pesos annually to an office where better judgment is obfuscated either by the absence of a functioning brain or by other considerations that clouds a simple concept as good faith.
Mr. Speaker, I do not wish to portray myself as holier than anyone. I am definitely far from being holy. But I have a conscience and a word of honor to uphold. My objections are purely founded on the fact that I promised our people, within my modest means, a better life. These loan transactions imposed one unacceptable condition, i.e. increase in local taxes. Local taxes, as imposed in businesses, are indirect taxes, which means that the one who pays the tax is not necessarily the one who bears the burden of the tax. The final consumer bears the burden of indirect taxes. For public officials to increase taxes under a regime of soaring prices is the height of callousness and insensitivity to the plight of the most vulnerable sectors of society. Mr. Speaker, in my view, this is never a case of a better life. 'Butchered' life may be more apt. If this representation does nothing to stop this imposition, then this representation has no business representing those whom he is supposed to represent.
I am still young, and I am strongly voicing the objections of the people of my generation in my province. We do not want our future pawned over transactions that we, as a people, are not fully aware of because the plain concept of transparency is muddled with denials, We do not want our future pawned over transactions where the economic necessity of the proposed projects are put into serious question thereby casting doubts on the long-term financial viability of our local government. We do not want our future pawned over transactions that we, as a people, may not actually fully benefit from considering that questionable past similar transactions have been uncovered to have not been actually beneficial to the people.
Mr. Speaker, let me go back to the principles so sanctimoniously preached by the MDFO in their implementation of this fund – accountability, transparency, and predictability. Accountability: An office that has no due regard to someone who also owes a duty to the citizenry is never accountable to anyone but themselves. Transparency: A transaction riddled with substantive objections is transparent only in the eyes of either the blind, the cross-eyed, or those pretending to be because they looked the other way. Predictability: What is clearly predictable, Mr. Speaker, is that the MDFO will sweep all objections under the rug and disregard the office of a duly elected member of congress.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I wonder what really impelled the MDFO to approve and release the loan in such a hurry, under the cover of near-secrecy, and brushing aside substantive objections. Let us try to find out their motives through the trail of communications between this representation and the MDFO and on the basis of other extrinsic evidence. We need to institute measures to allow local government units to have effective mechanisms by which contracts entered into by previous dispensations be made to stand the scrutiny of public accountability at some future appropriate time, including remedies such as but not limited to, rescission of contracts if bad faith is clearly established to the great detriment of the public's interest. It is for this reason that I bring this matter before the attention of this chamber so that an inquiry in aid of legislation be made immediately.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker!
Ex-solon’s arrest for ‘faking insanity’ in graft case sought
By Jocelyn Uy
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:02:00 09/18/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Saying that former Surigao del Norte representative Constantino Navarro Jr. has been merely faking insanity to elude prosecution, state prosecutors have asked the Sandiganbayan to order his arrest for 11 graft charges filed in 2003.
"It has now become clear that the accused is not really mentally unsound but is simply evading prosecution as earlier suspected by the prosecution," according to the state lawyers.
They asked the court to issue an arrest warrant against him, stressing that Navarro's repeated and unexplained absence during trial already constituted contempt of court and warranted the cancellation of his bail.
In a five-page motion filed with the Sandiganbayan First Division, the Office of the Special Prosecutor elaborated on the former Mindanao lawmaker's "shameless attempts" at escaping trial for the 11 graft charges filed against him in 2003.
Navarro was charged with 10 counts of graft and malversation for his failure to explain before the Commission on Audit where the P11.8 million of the P13.8-million Countrywide Development Fund he had at his disposal from 1997 to 1998 went.
He was also being held accountable for allegedly overpriced purchase of school supplies, medicines, drug testing kits and rice paddy plows for his district.
Court records showed that Navarro failed to participate in the proceedings of the case after he claimed to be mentally incompetent to stand trial.
In October 2007, the court directed Navarro to undergo mental examination at the National Center for Mental Health to prove his claims. However, the tests were not completed because the lawmaker allegedly stopped cooperating with the NCMH doctors.
Navarro, in March, instead requested that the rest of the examination be conducted in his home, which the court had granted.
"To date, the court and the prosecution have not received the results of any mental exam of Navarro, who was afforded all the opportunity and all the time in the world to prove his mental incapacity," wrote Prosecution Bureau Director Raymundo Olaguer, and assistant special prosecutors Omar Sagadal and Maria Janina Hidalgo.
Navarro or his counsel was also a no-show during the scheduled pre-trial in May and the succeeding proceedings on Monday and Tuesday.
"To put a stop to this shameless attempt at escaping trial, it has become necessary for the court to order his arrest and set his arraignment in accordance with the rules," according to the prosecutors.
Anonymous
This case is 5 years in the making. It is clear that court has bent backwards to accommodate the respondents excuses. This is atrocious. I hope the Gerry Espina et al case as well as the Ombudsman case against Gov Espina will not suffer the same fate.
I strongly believe that the legal panel of the plaintiff has been negligent in pushing for the early resolution of the case. This also demonstrated the double standards our courts exercise in the use of their discretion to accommodate defendants' requests to the detriment of the resolution of the case.
I won't discount financial considerations or political influences involved in this case. Most often than not, the judges sit on the case until the plaintiff loses interest in pursuing the matter on the prodding of either a powerful political figure or money considerations.
Aquarius:
There is a big possibility that the case of Gerry Sr. Et al, will suffer the same fate when it comes to the length of time. But worst might be happened if Gerry Sr. will evade the prosecution by faking an insanity problem, do you think this would work?
KKK, tama jud ka. Kay usahay ra ba sila si boy ty ug ben recafort mocomment nga gi-angoango na ito si gerry sr. Basin iya ning himoon nga basis para ma justify niya nga may metal problem siya aron dili na madayon ang iyang involvement sa Biliran ambush. Masyado ra bang maro ito si pawiks!
Ang galing talaga ng PRIVILEGE SPEECH ni Rep. Glenn. Hindi katulad ng mga Espina na kahit minsan hindi nakapagdiliver ng privilege speech lalo na si Gerry boy or (girl?). Popular lang ito sa sabong kahit saang derby nandoon. Nakakahiya talaga.
Rep. Glenn we are very proud of you, more power!!!
FYI
http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20080921135821.html
Law enforcers sign MoA with DoF
To strengthen fight vs graft and corruption
CEBU CITY – The Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 and the National Bureau Investigation (NBI) 7 have signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Department of Finance (DoF) to strengthen the fight against graft and corruption in the region.
PRO 7 director Ronald Roderos said as one of DoF’s counterpart in continuing the advocacy to fight graft and corruption practices in the region he assures that specific members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) will be deputized for investigation and data gathering.
He said they will strongly cooperate with the DoF to eliminate illegal practices of some government employees in the region.
Atty. Estela V. Sales, Finance Undersecretary for Revenue and Legal Operations said despite the existence of the Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS), a unit under the DoF that conducts lifestyle checks, and investigations on alleged graft and corrupt practices, still the department lacks the resources.
She noted the DoF-RIPS is expanding its network to form partnerships with other concerned government offices and the private sector in all the regions to persistently fight against graft and corruption within the bureaucracy.
Sales said corruption happens everywhere and it has been a global problem for a long time that is why the finance department has been continuously expanding its resources to wipe out illegal practices in different government offices. She added in Metro Manila alone, the DoF-RIPS has filed 61 complaints involving 86 personnel and 34 suspensions base on the track of their performance indicator.
Meanwhile, the DoF-RIPS has also tapped the NBI 7 to assist in the investigation of complaints against alleged corrupt practices, which will not be limited to DoF workers but also extends to municipal, city and provincial treasurers.
NBI 7 supervising agent Ermie Monsanto has earlier expressed utmost cooperation to fight the country’s problem on graft and corruption.
On the other hand, different regional government agencies also signed commitment in line with DoF’s advocacy that includes: Land Transportation Office, Philippine Information Agency, Office of the Presidential Assistant for Central Visayas, the Cebu City Registry of Deeds and City Assessor’s Office, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Cebu Business Club representing the private sector. (Phoebe Jen Indino)
FYI
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/sep/21/yehey/top_stories/20080921top2.html
Sunday, September 21 2008
How pork barrel funds
are allocated to lawmakers
By Sammy Martin, Reporter
How does a congressman “apply” for his pork barrel or PDAF?
It’s quite easy and just a matter of following basic steps required by law to get the funds allocated.
Every legislator is required to choose from the menu given by the Palace’s Budget office (DBM). There they list projects that the national government wants to prioritize in the various congressional districts of the country.
The lawmaker is then obliged to submit his chosen Malacañang-proposed projects to the Appropriations committee. Once all requests are in (there is a deadline), the chairman of the committee submits the whole bunch of requests to the DBM.
If approved by the Palace, the congressman will receive a notice under the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO). This means that the proposed project is ready for bidding. The Awards and Bidding Committee of the concerned agency or Cabinet department supervises the bidding. The agencies and departments have branches and offices in every city, town and province.
Once the bidding and the contract for the project has been awarded, the DBM should be notified at once to release the notice of National Cash Allotment (NCA), which makes money for the implementation of the project ready. The congressman himself usually does whatever he can to keep the approvals going.
Lawmakers say no cold cash passes their hands. But they still have some say. They can object to the winning contractor. People in the know say it is in the negotiations for the actual execution of the contract by the winning contractor that some under-the-table agreements are made. These run from “20 to 50 percent” of contract price.
The hocus-pocus arrangement does not only involve the congressman. The agency and department representative is also involved.
In fairness, there are also congressmen who are immaculately clean and do not tolerate any corruption in the use of their pork barrel.
Insertions
“Congressional insertions” in the yearly General Appropriations Act are criticized for being opaque and should be made more transparent in the budget deliberation process.
Insertions are different from regular PDAF in which all lawmakers have uniform appropriations.
The procedure may have been followed, but buried in that thick book called the GAA are various things that are done in secret and may escape the public eye. When it comes to money matters in the Philippines, there are always two books: what’s true and what’s sanitized.
It has been an open secret that governance in our country is mired with secret deals and modus operandi, to the detriment of the people whose hard-earned money they entrust to the government. Transparency is the bare minimum that government owes them.
According to some good legislators, transparency must be established not only in the budget deliberations process but also in how public funds are being disbursed because in practice, the executive is able to realign funds for other purposes.
They also wish for the disclosure of all deliberations, how decisions were made, how the funds were spent and who benefited.
The questionable practice of lump-sum appropriations—like that for the questionable acquisition programs of the Department of Agriculture—should give way to specific appropriations where delivery to beneficiaries is ensured.
FYI
Please take note of the last paragraphs which dealt with a monitoring group and the website of the local government concerned showing the results of bidding for projects.
It may be a good thing for Rep Glenn Chong and DPWH to consider to put a stop to the Espina group's paid malicious speculations both on radio and on the net.
(start of article)
‘Road to Nowhere’ must lead to transparency, accountability
09/16/08
Posted under Governance
By Harvey S. Keh
THE recent “Road to Nowhere” controversy that has been exposed by Senator Panfilo Lacson and broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez has again brought to light the continuing lack of transparency and accountability in our government dealings and systems.
The main bone of contention in this controversy is a “double entry” of P200 million on the national budget for the extension of the C-5 road. Allegations are being hurled right now at Senate President Manny Villar that his company, which is engaged in the real estate development business has benefited from certain infrastructure appropriations and projects.
Senators led by Senator Lacson and Senator Mar Roxas are now asking for an investigation to take place to ensure that the main culprits are found and charged accordingly. Allies of Senator Villar in the Senate, such as Blue Ribbon Committee Chairperson Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, have defended him saying that this is all part of trying to put down Senator Villar’s bid to become President in 2010.
Whether this is part of politicking for 2010 or not, this issue needs to be resolved as transparently as possible by the Senate. While we are still more than 19 months away from the May 2010 National Elections, this will be a good opportunity for us to see how our national leaders will fare in promoting greater transparency and accountability when it comes to dealing with the taxpayers’ hard earned money. Let us never forget that the lack of transparency and accountability have continued to hound the present Arroyo administration as seen by Hello Garci, the Fertilizer Scam and more recently, the NBN-ZTE Deal.
I am sure that everyone will agree that we do not want to elect a President who cannot be transparent and accountable to every single Filipino. For all the hoopla and hype in the Senate during the NBN-ZTE Deal investigations, it would be good to see how they deal with this situation wherein their very own Senate President is involved. I fervently hope that our senators will go beyond the usual “pa-pogi sa media” and really work hard towards getting the facts clear and holding the necessary people accountable for their actions concerning this issue. Senator Villar should be the first person to support this investigation especially if indeed he has nothing to hide.
Every Filipino has the right to know how our money is being spent by our government leaders and I hope that this controversy will jolt our Senators to finally pass the much needed Freedom to Access of Information Bill that will ensure greater transparency in our government dealings.
While we lament the lack of transparency in our national government, we continue to have bright spots in our local government units led by Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Government Service and Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo. Mayor Robredo is one of the few government officials in our country who has institutionalized mechanisms to ensure transparency in his governance. One of these mechanisms is the establishment of the Naga City Peoples Council (NCPC) which is composed of different Non-Government Organizations, Socio-civic organizations, Academicians and Business Groups.
The NCPC is allowed to sit in and observe city council proceedings, school board deliberations and budget hearings. Aside from this, when one visits the Naga City website, one will be able to see all the results of the biddings that have been conducted and the purchases made by the city government, even the price of a paracetamol tablet in Naga can be seen at the website. We hope that many other local government leaders will emulate Mayor Robredo’s practice of promoting good governance through greater transparency and accountability.
Solon optimistic on geothermal project
http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20080923136034.html
By RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT
September 23 2008
NAVAL, Biliran — The congressman of the lone district in this island province of Eastern Visayas is optimistic on the prospects of geothermal explorations to be conducted here.
Rep. Glenn C. Chong told reporters that he is optimistic because geothermal explorations could attract big investments to the province.
Chong said that he has already discussed the development prospects with the representatives of the company that will conduct the explorations.
He said that the identified sites for the geothermal explorations are Barangay Libtong in Naval and Pulang Yuta near Barangays Villa Vicenta and Cabibihan in the municipality of Caibiran.
He also said that there were earlier explorations in Barangay Libtong, Naval in the 1980s but these were stopped due to the presence of sulfur deposits.
He said that with the present technology, he is optimistic that the exploration in Naval will be pursued.
"There is is already a new technology that would solve the sulfur problem, and that’s why the project looks very promising," Chong said.
He said he is hopeful that the exploration and full development of the large geothermal deposits in the province will generate investments, jobs and economic benefits for the seven municipalities of Biliran.
Bidding of projects done above board, DPWH says
http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20080923136025.html
Bids committee head disputes claim of prejudice vs contractors
By DEXTER A. SEE
September 23 2008
BAGUIO CITY — The chairman of the bids and awards committee (BAC) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the Cordillera disputed yesterday claims of alleged discrimination of contractors in the bidding of public works projects.
Engineer Daniel G. Domingo, DPWH assistant regional director and BAC chairman, said that the allegations were intrigues designed to discredit department officials.
It was alleged that the bidding committee discriminated against contractors in the Cordillera.
Domingo said the allegation of Cordillera prejudice by some self-proclaimed anti-corruption advocates is fabricated, baseless, and unfounded and is aimed at attacking his integrity as a public official.
"I am a Bulakenyo (native of Bulacan), and I am very proud of being one. I cannot change it and I can do nothing about it. Being a human being, I also deserve to be respected as I do respect everyone including my critics. My roots are in the north, and it is possible that my forefathers have even a single drop of Cordilleran blood. But even if they do not have, I cannot insult or demean anybody, especially the Cordillerans because I learned to like and love this place, especially its warm, good people," he said.
"As a matter of fact, I am transferring my place of residency from Bulacan to Baguio so that I can be a Cordilleran by operation of law," Domingo said.
Earlier, some open letters signed by some contractors were circulated in the region, criticizing the BAC official for allegedly unreasonably postponing the scheduled bidding of projects and reportedly making insulting remarks against Cordillera contractors.
Domingo said the primary intention of the letters is to besmirch his reputation and oust him from office.
He said that the BAC is composed of a chairman, a co-chairman, several members, the secretariat, the technical working group and non-government organizations, including the Commission on Audit (COA). The committee acts as a collegial body, and no single person could prevail upon their decision and their actions on the award of projects, he also said.
Disputing the reports, the DPWH official said he had never informed anyone of the re-scheduling or postponement of the opening of bids.
Furthermore, Domingo said he had never favored any contractor in any way in the bidding and in the awarding of projects as the power to bid and award projects does not lie solely on him but on the majority of the BAC members.
Republic Act 9184 provides projects may be awarded to contractors whose bid does not exceed the approved budget cost. BAC is mandated to award the project to the contractor even if his bid equals the approved budget cost because that is provided by law.
Domingo called on the people of the Cordillera not to be concerned about the misinformation because it is simply aimed at sowing intrigue and at ousting him from office.
KKK 1392
It will be extremely difficult for Gerry Espina Sr to use the insanity clause. I don't think he will do that as it will kill all his hopes of a return to power. It will also affect any members of his family contemplating of running for any public position.
He will be more inclined to use political connections and money to get him cleared of this case.
I am not saying he is guilty. At this stage, he is considered innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
FYI
Please take note of the last paragraphs which dealt with a monitoring group and the website of the local government concerned showing the results of bidding for projects.
It may be a good thing for Rep Glenn Chong and DPWH to consider to put a stop to the Espina group's paid malicious speculations both on radio and on the net.
(start of article)
‘Road to Nowhere’ must lead to transparency, accountability
09/16/08
Posted under Governance
By Harvey S. Keh
THE recent “Road to Nowhere” controversy that has been exposed by Senator Panfilo Lacson and broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez has again brought to light the continuing lack of transparency and accountability in our government dealings and systems.
The main bone of contention in this controversy is a “double entry” of P200 million on the national budget for the extension of the C-5 road. Allegations are being hurled right now at Senate President Manny Villar that his company, which is engaged in the real estate development business has benefited from certain infrastructure appropriations and projects.
Senators led by Senator Lacson and Senator Mar Roxas are now asking for an investigation to take place to ensure that the main culprits are found and charged accordingly. Allies of Senator Villar in the Senate, such as Blue Ribbon Committee Chairperson Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, have defended him saying that this is all part of trying to put down Senator Villar’s bid to become President in 2010.
Whether this is part of politicking for 2010 or not, this issue needs to be resolved as transparently as possible by the Senate. While we are still more than 19 months away from the May 2010 National Elections, this will be a good opportunity for us to see how our national leaders will fare in promoting greater transparency and accountability when it comes to dealing with the taxpayers’ hard earned money. Let us never forget that the lack of transparency and accountability have continued to hound the present Arroyo administration as seen by Hello Garci, the Fertilizer Scam and more recently, the NBN-ZTE Deal.
I am sure that everyone will agree that we do not want to elect a President who cannot be transparent and accountable to every single Filipino. For all the hoopla and hype in the Senate during the NBN-ZTE Deal investigations, it would be good to see how they deal with this situation wherein their very own Senate President is involved. I fervently hope that our senators will go beyond the usual “pa-pogi sa media” and really work hard towards getting the facts clear and holding the necessary people accountable for their actions concerning this issue. Senator Villar should be the first person to support this investigation especially if indeed he has nothing to hide.
Every Filipino has the right to know how our money is being spent by our government leaders and I hope that this controversy will jolt our Senators to finally pass the much needed Freedom to Access of Information Bill that will ensure greater transparency in our government dealings.
While we lament the lack of transparency in our national government, we continue to have bright spots in our local government units led by Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Government Service and Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo. Mayor Robredo is one of the few government officials in our country who has institutionalized mechanisms to ensure transparency in his governance. One of these mechanisms is the establishment of the Naga City Peoples Council (NCPC) which is composed of different Non-Government Organizations, Socio-civic organizations, Academicians and Business Groups.
The NCPC is allowed to sit in and observe city council proceedings, school board deliberations and budget hearings. Aside from this, when one visits the Naga City website, one will be able to see all the results of the biddings that have been conducted and the purchases made by the city government, even the price of a paracetamol tablet in Naga can be seen at the website. We hope that many other local government leaders will emulate Mayor Robredo’s practice of promoting good governance through greater transparency and accountability.
Solon optimistic on geothermal project
http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20080923136034.html
By RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT
September 23 2008
NAVAL, Biliran — The congressman of the lone district in this island province of Eastern Visayas is optimistic on the prospects of geothermal explorations to be conducted here.
Rep. Glenn C. Chong told reporters that he is optimistic because geothermal explorations could attract big investments to the province.
Chong said that he has already discussed the development prospects with the representatives of the company that will conduct the explorations.
He said that the identified sites for the geothermal explorations are Barangay Libtong in Naval and Pulang Yuta near Barangays Villa Vicenta and Cabibihan in the municipality of Caibiran.
He also said that there were earlier explorations in Barangay Libtong, Naval in the 1980s but these were stopped due to the presence of sulfur deposits.
He said that with the present technology, he is optimistic that the exploration in Naval will be pursued.
"There is is already a new technology that would solve the sulfur problem, and that’s why the project looks very promising," Chong said.
He said he is hopeful that the exploration and full development of the large geothermal deposits in the province will generate investments, jobs and economic benefits for the seven municipalities of Biliran.
Bidding of projects done above board, DPWH says
http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20080923136025.html
Bids committee head disputes claim of prejudice vs contractors
By DEXTER A. SEE
September 23 2008
BAGUIO CITY — The chairman of the bids and awards committee (BAC) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the Cordillera disputed yesterday claims of alleged discrimination of contractors in the bidding of public works projects.
Engineer Daniel G. Domingo, DPWH assistant regional director and BAC chairman, said that the allegations were intrigues designed to discredit department officials.
It was alleged that the bidding committee discriminated against contractors in the Cordillera.
Domingo said the allegation of Cordillera prejudice by some self-proclaimed anti-corruption advocates is fabricated, baseless, and unfounded and is aimed at attacking his integrity as a public official.
"I am a Bulakenyo (native of Bulacan), and I am very proud of being one. I cannot change it and I can do nothing about it. Being a human being, I also deserve to be respected as I do respect everyone including my critics. My roots are in the north, and it is possible that my forefathers have even a single drop of Cordilleran blood. But even if they do not have, I cannot insult or demean anybody, especially the Cordillerans because I learned to like and love this place, especially its warm, good people," he said.
"As a matter of fact, I am transferring my place of residency from Bulacan to Baguio so that I can be a Cordilleran by operation of law," Domingo said.
Earlier, some open letters signed by some contractors were circulated in the region, criticizing the BAC official for allegedly unreasonably postponing the scheduled bidding of projects and reportedly making insulting remarks against Cordillera contractors.
Domingo said the primary intention of the letters is to besmirch his reputation and oust him from office.
He said that the BAC is composed of a chairman, a co-chairman, several members, the secretariat, the technical working group and non-government organizations, including the Commission on Audit (COA). The committee acts as a collegial body, and no single person could prevail upon their decision and their actions on the award of projects, he also said.
Disputing the reports, the DPWH official said he had never informed anyone of the re-scheduling or postponement of the opening of bids.
Furthermore, Domingo said he had never favored any contractor in any way in the bidding and in the awarding of projects as the power to bid and award projects does not lie solely on him but on the majority of the BAC members.
Republic Act 9184 provides projects may be awarded to contractors whose bid does not exceed the approved budget cost. BAC is mandated to award the project to the contractor even if his bid equals the approved budget cost because that is provided by law.
Domingo called on the people of the Cordillera not to be concerned about the misinformation because it is simply aimed at sowing intrigue and at ousting him from office.
KKK 1392
It will be extremely difficult for Gerry Espina Sr to use the insanity clause. I don't think he will do that as it will kill all his hopes of a return to power. It will also affect any members of his family contemplating of running for any public position.
He will be more inclined to use political connections and money to get him cleared of this case.
I am not saying he is guilty. At this stage, he is considered innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
Aquarius:
Thank you very much for your very informative posts. It is very interesting. More power!!!
aquarius 1400
with the wheels of justice turning slow, for me:
THE ESPINAS ARE CONSIDERED GUILTY UNLESS PROVEN INNOCENT BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT.
spartacus,
guilty? saan mo ba yan nakukuha? hindi ako expert sa ating batas pero sigurado ako na walang basis yan! Baka gusto mo gagawa ng sariling mong code of law!
magresearch ka naman!
Breaking News:
1. Nadismiss man diay ang petition ni Saul para mag post ug bill. Ingon pa sa makakarit nga mga abugado niya, lead by atty. Nueve, ang anak, voluntary daw ang pagsurrender ni Saul, mao nga pwede siya maka post ug bill. Ang baton ni judge jaboco, kon voluntary ang iyang gihimo, it means gusto niya nga mapriso unya karon magpost ug bill?
2. Naghearing na sa gifile nga kaso against sa timbangan. Kay ila mang giyagayagaan si judge jaboco nga nabayaran ni Charlie mao nga naka palit ug pajero. Unya sa paghearing pod kang Saul, maingay masayodo si jerome, gusto pa gyud frontseat nga unta dili man abugado. Mao nga gikasaohan sila ug libel, obstruction of justice, obstruction of administrative proceeding, etc. This coming friday ang promulgation, either mapriso sila or magpost ug bill 30 thousand each. Wala pod silay abugado kay kabalo man daw sila manalipod sa ilang kaugalingon. Makarit pod, wala gani kapasar sa teacher's board exam!!
anonymous:
Ang pinadako nga kaso ang gifile against timbangan is contempt. Ingon pa ni judge jabuco nga kon si Rep. Chong nagpailub lang sa mga pangdaut nila jerome et al., tungod kay ming-ila pa si rep. Chong nga sila mga taong may dignidad bisan ug wala na nila respitahe ang iyang pagkatao apan ang atong hukmanan dili pwede babuyon lang kay mao kini ang tinubdan sa justisya.
decoy 1403,
masyado kang seryoso.
my post is just my opinion referring to aquarius' post. ug kana nga phrase is meant to be a joke.
:-D
FYI,
The nerve of this Solon to justify a clear diversion of funds by using the implied " the end justified the means" rationale.
Did it ever occur to him to seek help from the national government which could have deployed the Philippine Navy or much less, negotiate with major shipping companies to act as temporary charter on a subsidized rate?
What happened after the catastrophe, was the owner of the ferry required to pay the funds back, even on an installment basis?
(start of the article)
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=politics5_sept24_2008
Valencia asks for review of graft case
Oriental Mindoro Rep. Rodolfo Valencia has asked the Sandiganbayan for a review of his conviction for graft involving the P2.5-million calamity loan fund which the provincial government of Mindoro extended to a private boat owner 14 years ago.
Valencia delivered a speech at the plenary session of Congress, and said utmost care must be exercised by the courts to spare the innocent ones.
Valencia exhibited to his colleagues Presidential Proclamation 306 issued by then President Fidel V. Ramos in 1993 declaring a state of calamity in Mindoro Oriental as a result of a series of typhoons that hit the province, including documents and manifestoes serving as evidence on the validity of his humanitarian and official initiatives, as governor then.
Lawyers’ procedural legal oversight should not be considered as ultimate basis in deciding cases, Valencia said.
He said he had already explained his appeal for review and re-investigation of his calamity loan fund case to the anti-graft justices who may consider to grant his request in the interest of justice and fairness.
“I have explained this to the Honorable Justices and I am happy that it may now be possible or me and my colleagues to make the proper presentation of evidence in the course of a re-investigation and review of the case,” Valencia said.
One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men awardees of the Philippine Jaycees in the 1980s, Valencia branded the case against him as politically motivated and blamed it on his detractors and political rivals who lost to him in the provincial elections.
“You can, therefore, imagine our shock and surprise when we learned about the adverse decision of the Sandiganbayan against us,” Valencia said. The Ombudsman had dismissed the same administrative case for lack of merit and substantive evidence.
The P2.5-million loan financed the repair of a private boat which the provincial government used to save lives and deliver relief to victims of natural calamities that devastated Oriental Mindoro in 1993, Valencia said. The legality of the action was supported by Presidential Proclamation 306-A issued by then President Ramos.
“To me and to many others, the case filed against me and my fellow provincial officials clearly had no leg to stand on,” Valencia said before his fellow congressmen.
Valencia emphasized that given the same situation, he will not hesitate to “repeat what I did for the sake and welfare of my constituency.”
Food for thought.
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/sep/24/yehey/top_stories/20080924top5.html
Wednesday, September 24 2008
Among Ed unfazed by recall, politicking
By Llanesca T. Panti, Reporter
Arguing that he simply aims to end corruption in the government, the former priest who became Pampanga governor, Eddie “Among Ed” Panlilio, said he is not bothered by the recall moves against him.
Panlilio said he is confident of finishing his term, citing his belief that his detractors just want to change the way he governs the province—that is, free of kickbacks and shenanigans— he said in an exclusive roundtable interview with The Manila Times on Tuesday.
The governor also believes the opposition against him may be about money.
For instance, Panlilio convened the Provincial Development Council—the first time in 12 years—when he started his term 14 months ago, and he asked the mayors to identify the infrastructure projects they needed. The mayors complied but also insisted that they should control the funds. Plus, they want the provincial capitol to give them the lump sum, the governor added.
But Panlilio objected, mainly because the funds are supposed to be for provincial, not municipal, projects. Plus, he wanted to make sure the money would actually be spent on infrastructure development, instead of going into the pockets of corrupt officials.
“I just want better usage of the funds. I never said that I did not trust them,” Panlilio said. “The mayors will monitor the progress of the projects, but my office will implement it.”
After that encounter with the mayors, Panlilio also met with contractors and found out that the old system allowed officials to get “commissions.”
“Of course, we made it clear that we are not giving commission to anybody. We had fair and square biddings,” he added.
The recall move against the governor was started by the nongovernment organization “Kapanalig at Kambilan Ning Memalen Pampanga Inc.” led by Rosve Henson, who cited Panlilio’s inability to fulfill his promises during his campaign.
The governor’s camp said the protest is politically motivated.
Henson was the former campaign manager of Lilia Pineda, whom Panlilio defeated in the gubernatorial election in 2007.
Almost all of the Pampanga mayors, as well as Vice Gov. Yeng Guiao and provincial board members Edna David and Tars Halili, have also joined the recall move. They need 100,000 signatures to be able to file the case before the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
The governor is criticized for his trips outside the province, the non-usage of quarrying income and lack of policies on solid waste management.
Panlilio answers
The former priest told The Times that the previous provincial government only collected P29 million from quarrying. But his government surpassed that amount in just two months.
Plus, the revenue from quarrying is distributed to local government units, he said, adding that so far the capitol has distributed P78 million for their share.
Panlilio argued that the mayors are the ones who are not cooperating, pointing out their absence from important meetings to tackle solid waste management and the food summit.
“They [political foes] should focus on the task at hand, such as approving the budget for the social programs for the province, or maybe cut down on coaching duties with Red Bull,” Panlilio said, referring to Guiao, also the head coach of Philippine Basketball Association team Red Bull Barako.
“We are still investigating on who is really behind this recall movement. All I know is that this heated up after I filed a case against Bong Pineda,” Panlilio said.
He earlier filed a plunder case against Pineda, husband of former Mayor Lilia Pineda.
Bong Pineda’s name was repeatedly mentioned by star witnesses, including Chavit Singson, as the one who brought jueteng payola to Malacañang during the plunder trial of former President Joseph Estrada.
Political future
Panlilio said he underestimated the challenges he would face to reform the Pampanga government. He did not even want to enter politics in the first place, even if his father was a vice mayor 40 years ago.
Although he is not closing the door on a second term, he conceded that his preference is to return to the priesthood, which he called his “comfort zone.”
Panlilio is on leave from the priesthood.
He said he wishes for unity among Pampanga’s political leaders for the good of the province. Not all politicians are corrupt, he added.
“President Gloria Arroyo could [perhaps] facilitate our talks,” the governor said. “After all, it is her province. We would not let good governance down. We worked hard for it, so might as well go for it until the end.”
CPI rating of 2.3 lowest since start of transparency poll
Corruption in RP at its worst, TI survey shows
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20080924hed1.html
09/24/2008
The Arroyo administration reached another milestone yesterday after the Philippines’ ranking in the yearly Corruption Perception Index (CPI) of watchdog Transparency International (TI) fell to 2.3 points out of a possible 10, the lowest ever for the country and one of the worst in the world since the survey was started in 1996.
The Philippines landed 141st out of 180 countries ranked in this year’s survey and it was bracketed with Yemen, Cameroon and Iran.
In the Asian region, the country’s corruption rating was 25th of 32 countries, ahead only of Timor-Leste, Bangladesh, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Cambodia, Afghanistan and Myanmar.
Among major Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), the country got the lowest score with even Indonesia ranking ahead with 2.6 points and Vietnam, 2.7 points rating.
Transparency International Philippines chairman Dolores Español said the progressive slide in the country’s CPI ranking reflects the perception on the current government and failure of its programs to fight corruption.
Most of the programs undertaken against corruption under the current dispensation are superficial.
“If the government is serious in addressing corruption, it should have been pursuing the many reports coming out concerning irregularities in government and pursue this until perpetrators are penalized,” Español told the Tribune yesterday.
“The corruption situation in the country is worsening and the government should delve into the root of each case after filing it in court. These cases should then be followed through until terminated,” she said.
Improvement in addressing corruption in the country is not happening, she added.
“Government action is not catching up with the speed of corruption happening in the country,” she said.
She cited several corruption issues brought before Congress, particularly the Senate, which were all ignored and attributed to political wrangling.
Español noted that the low rating of the country remained constant at 2.5 points since President Arroyo took over the presidency in 2001, but this plunged “to just .5 points of having the worst ranking in Asia which was that of Myanmar.”
In 1997, the first year of the term of President Joseph Estrada the CPI ranking was 3.05; 3.3 in 1998, 3.6 in 1999, and 2.8 in 2000. It went up a bit to 2.9 in 2001.
According to TI, stopping corrupt practices such as cronyism and embezzlement can save lives in poor countries. Based on the this year’s ranking, Somalia, Iraq and Myanmar again came bottom in its global corruption rankings.
“In the poorest countries, corruption levels can mean the difference between life and death, when money for hospitals or clean water is in play,” TI said.
“The continuing high levels of corruption and poverty plaguing many of the world’s societies amount to an ongoing humanitarian disaster and cannot be tolerated,” the non-governmental organization’s head, Huguette Labelle, said.
Rampant corruption in low-income countries also jeopardizes the global fight against poverty and threatens to derail the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the report published in Berlin said.
This “calls for a more focused and coordinated approach by the global donor community to ensure development assistance is designed to strengthen institutions of governance and oversight in recipient countries, and that aid flows themselves are fortified against abuse and graft,” TI said.
It estimates that unchecked levels of corruption would add $50 billion — or nearly half of annual global aid outlays — to the cost of achieving the MDGs on water and sanitation.
The African Union has estimated that corruption costs the continent $148 billion annually, equal to the gross domestic product of Kenya, Tanzania and Cameroon combined, TI said.
According to TI’s latest Corruption Perceptions Index, the countries worst hit by problems such as back-handers and bribery in 2008 remained Somalia, Myanmar and Iraq.
Somalia, the east African nation without a functioning government since 1991, scored just 1.0 point on TI’s range of between zero, which is highly corrupt, and 10, which is very clean.
Myanmar, which received international condemnation for its heavy-handed crackdown on protests in September 2007, was on 1.3 points, as was Iraq, five years after a US-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein. Haiti was on 1.4.
The score is based on perceptions of the degree of corruption as seen by business people and country analysts.
The places where officials were seen as least likely to line their own pockets were Denmark, Sweden and New Zealand, all sharing first place with a score of 9.3 points, ahead of Singapore in fourth and Finland and Switzerland in joint fifth.
In 2007 Denmark, Finland and New Zealand shared the top spot.
But TI was also critical of some wealthy nations that registered significant drops in the global rankings, such as Britain, whose score fell to 7.7 points from 8.4 in 2007, and Norway, which dropped to 7.9 points from 8.7.
Britain fell to 16th in the rankings from 12th in 2007, and Norway slipped to 14th from ninth.
The continuing emergence of foreign bribery scandals indicates a broader failure by the world’s wealthiest countries to live up to the promise of mutual accountability in the fight against corruption, TI said.
“This sort of double standard is unacceptable and disregards international legal standards,” said Labelle.
“Beyond its corrosive effects on the rule of law and public confidence, this lack of resolution undermines the credibility of the wealthiest nations in calling for greater action to fight corruption by low-income countries.”
Substantial improvements in the rankings were recorded for Albania, Cyprus, Georgia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, South Korea, Tonga and Turkey.
The United States saw its score inch up to 7.3 points from 7.2 points in 2007, putting it at joint 18th place with Japan, whose score fell from 7.5 a year ago.
China was on 3.6 points at 72nd, up from 3.5 points and just ahead of India, whose score dropped to 3.4 from 3.5 to put it in 85th position.
Russia, in 147th place, also saw its score fall, from 2.3 points to 2.1 points. Germany’s rose to 7.9 to 7.8, putting it in 14th position, while France’s dropped to 6.9 from 7.3, making it 23rd.
FYI
Congress crawling with contractors, claims solon
By Norman Bordadora
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:22:00 09/24/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Congress has become like a marketplace with contractors approaching lawmakers offering the release of millions of pesos worth of road users’ tax-funded projects and fat commissions from project cost, an opposition lawmaker has said.
Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez raised the issue during the Department of Public Works and Highways’ presentation of its P120-billion budget for 2009.
He’s waiting for further explanation from the Road Board in sub-committee budget hearings for the alleged inequitable disbursement of the road tax funds that have reached more than P47 billion since 2001.
“I’ve been pestered by these contractors approaching me asking if they could facilitate the release of road users’ tax funds for projects in my district offering 20 percent (of the project cost for me) and 30 to 40 percent dun sa itaas,” Rodriguez said.
“What will happen to the project?” he added referring to the questionable fate of the road maintenance and safety projects with more than half of the appropriation going to fat commissions for lawmakers and Road Board officials.
The Road Board, chaired by the DPWH secretary, is mandated by law to disburse the motor vehicle users’ charge collected whenever motorists’ register their vehicles. The funds are meant for road maintenance and putting up road safety devices.
Ebdane during the DPWH budget hearing, admitted hearing about Public Works Secretary Hermogenes offered by contractors and his name being dropped.
“I heard my name being dragged without basis,” Ebdane said.
Rodriguez questioned what he called the discretionary and inequitable release of funds by the Road Board to congressional districts and DPWH regional offices.
For instance, he said one province in Central Luzon received more than P200 million in road users tax-funded projects in 2007. He said Cagayan de Oro City during the same period got only P15 million.
FYI
‘Corruption becoming an addiction,’ bishops warn
By Margaux Ortiz
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:07:00 09/24/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Two Roman Catholic bishops have expressed disappointment over the low rating the Philippines received in the 2008 Corruption Perception Index report of Transparency International (TI), stressing that “corruption in the country has become an addiction.”
“We as a people have not learned our lesson,” Manila Auxiliary Bishop Teodoro Bacani said on Wednesday in an interview over the Church-run Radio Veritas.
“Corruption is an addiction: like an addict, corrupt people do not care about other people's negative perceptions of them and continue doing their unscrupulous deeds,” Bacani stressed.
He said that the strict enforcement of concerned government agencies such as the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Philippine justice system was needed to battle corruption.
Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Public Affairs Committee, lamented that corruption in the country continued to proliferate despite the Catholic Church’s repeated calls to the government to get rid of the “top to bottom” corruption.
Last February, the CBCP scored the moral bankruptcy of the Arroyo government due to “corruption from the top to the bottom" of the bureaucracy.
Bacani also admitted that Filipino priests had a role in the worsening corruption in the country. He said there were priests who tolerated jueteng lords and corrupt politicians.
“There are some priests who even solicit the help of these corrupt government officials in constructing their parish churches,” Bacani said.
“We, as servants of God, should be consistent in our policies,” he said.
Last Tuesday, the Germany-based TI reported that the Philippines has further fallen to the rank of least corrupt countries out of the 180 nations included when it scored only 2.3 out of 10 points.
The rating gave the country rank number 141, where it was joined by three other nations, namely Yemen, Cameroon and Iran.
“I appeal to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to seriously consider the survey and act on it for the Filipino people's sake,” Iñiguez said.
FYI
Why we are a poor country
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:14:00 09/24/2008
We are poor not because of our laziness, or our religion or our burgeoning population. We are poor for obvious reasons:
First, it is due to the inefficiency of our political leaders. Gone are the days when our elected leaders were brilliant and credible. Today, in our political arena, those who get elected are those who have the money, popularity and political monopoly (read: dynasty). They get elected not because of their efficiency but because of their affluence and influence. An efficient leader is someone who does a given task conscientiously.
Second, it is due to graft and corruption. It is believed that the surest way to ruin a nation is to put corrupt leaders in office. Graft and corruption is the problem that continues to burden us. Many young Filipinos can’t afford basic education, health and other social services because of graft and corruption in government. How many millions of pesos are lost to overpricing and payroll-padding? The pork barrel should be scrapped. We wish that all government projects get to be finished on time, without the taint of corruption. Are our leaders not ashamed that we have been tagged as one of the most corrupt countries in Asia?
Third, it is due to government neglect. It is the duty of the government to provide society’s basic needs. When the Catholic Church initiates a certain project (e.g., a housing project), it only means that the Church is trying to fill up something that the government has overlooked. It is not really the duty of the Church to provide for the material needs of man. Her role is to satisfy man’s spiritual needs. However, the Church cannot just close her eyes and let people suffer. So the Church has to take on dual roles. One is inherent in its nature; the other is the province of government.
Lastly, it is due to political will and good governance, or rather the lack of these two elements that are key to economic success. Compromise should not get in the way our leaders serve the people; and service should be devoid of selfish motives. If our country can produce leaders who have political will and who are uncompromising adherents of good governance, we can achieve what we have been aspiring after.
Poverty cannot be eradicated without political reform. It is now the time to make some vital changes. If we want a country free of corruption, then we have to help each other. If we want to take off economically, we have to get rid of all forms of corruption. If we want to be a First World country, the key to realizing this dream is right in our hands.
We pray for our leaders. We pray for our nation. We pray for our success, but we must act now.
JERRY R. OBLEPIAS, St. Peter’s College Seminary, San Pablo City
News break:
Wala man diay madayon ang promulgation karon sa kaso sa timbangan kay holiday man karon diri sa Naval tungod sa pueblo day. Sa October 3 na pod.
Hambog man kaayo manulti ang timbangan sa RN pero halos kada adlaw magpunay ug adto kang judge Jabuco si jerome kay mangayo ug pasaylo. Unsaon nga mahadlok man mapriso for 6 months to 1 year.
Anonymous, dili lang kay 6 months to 1 year ang ilang kapriso kay daghan pa kana nga kaso, giusa-usa lang sa judge, wala lang tigdaa. Kikitaon nato kon hangtud san-o ang utong ni jerome ug mga kauban nga puro mga ulol. Bangin ang balbas ni jerome maabot na sa kiting ayha matapos iya kaso.
Solon claims P120-B ‘padding’ in DPWH
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080927-163265/Solon-claims-P120-B-padding-in-DPWH
By Christian V. Esguerra
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 11:56:00 09/27/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- Following a succession of executive branch officials being ambushed by legislators brandishing telltale Commission on Audit reports at the congressional budget hearings, Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane was Friday confronted with P120 billion that is supposedly missing from his department’s 2007 budget.
Ebdane, who was defending the Department of Public Works and Highways’ proposed P186.6-billion budget for 2009, was called to account for the missing P120 billion by party-list representative Risa Hontiveros.
She said the COA had described the amount as an “overstatement” which she said was “the equivalent of patong and bukol (budget padding).”
Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez confronted Ebdane over another COA finding, that P145.7 million in employee bonuses had been illegally sourced from the motor vehicle user’s charge (MVUC), or the road users’ tax, in the DPWH’s 2004 budget.
Citing the 2005 COA report, Rodriguez said a similar violation occurred when a total of P57.4 million was charged against the same allocation.
He said the law allowed only one percent of the road users’ tax to be spent on administrative and operational expenses.
The COA said the amount was used for “expenses not related to the implementation of the road maintenance project and motor vehicles pollution control programs…defeating the purpose for which the MVUC fund was established.”
The COA said another P17.8 million in the agency’s 2005 budget had been spent “without the corresponding allotment,” violating a provision in the MVUC operating procedures manual.
Ebdane said his agency would submit to the subcommittee hearing a written response to the COA findings raised by Hontiveros and Rodriguez.
Of the alleged P120-billion “padding” in the DPWH’s 2007 budget, Hontiveros said P64.7 billion was traced to the agency’s property, plant and equipment (PPE) account.
“What overstatement in this account means is that there are unsubstantiated, unsupported and erroneous reporting in the procurement or purchase of items under the PPE account,” she said.
“Projects that have already been completed and unserviceable equipment that have already been disposed are still included in the report. Unrelated expenses have reportedly been included as part of the construction cost,” she said.
Talagang, hayopak na sa ka gaguhan itong Governor dahil nagpa-amot sa capitulyo para ibayad sa bill aron dili ma priso ang mga gago na hosts sa timbangan. Saksakan talaga ng walang hiya!!!
Anonymous
Do you have a confirmation of this? Imposing an unauthorised contribution from government employees is illegal.
It will be the height of stupidity for the Provincial Capitol Employees if they agree to this.
aquarius 1415:
I think that is true because I read this also in Bl.com posted by KKB. The hosts of Timbangan have been charged of 2 contempt cases and more criminal cases.
aquarius 1415;
Sinabi yan sa usa sa mga employees sa capitolyo nga pina contribute daw sila para sa bill nila jerome at kasama sa timbangan aron diri sila mapriso. Ayaw niya magpabanggit sa pangalan kay basin makulob iya kaldero kay ibalhin man gyud siya sa layo mao nga nagcontribute nalang siya.
Anonymnous,
As the old saying goes,"Evil triumphs where good people do nothing about it."
It is hard to mount a case where there are no witnesses prepared to come forward. I did not realize that Filipinos, in general, have never learned a lesson from the Marcos years, where everyone is too intimidated to come forward and allow the tyrant to rule for 20 years.
If you have access to that employee, tell him/her I will give him the legal protection and insulate him from losing his job if he comes forward.
You can obtain my email address from Admin and I will have my lawyers in Manila prepare the necessary action
Aquarius 1418:
Do you think, we can do some legal actions about it if it is voluntarily requested?
I'm planning to investigate this matter.
Kumbati 1419
Why would an ordinary Provincial Capitol employee make a financial contribution towards the bail of a non Capitol employee facing fine or imprisonment?
It will be good if you can get hold of any paper trail that will confirm solicitation of money to raise the bail for the Timbangan hosts. All the court needs to see is that there was an implied coercion exerted on the employees to extract the contribution. For that to work, we need the paper trail and a witness/es to come forward and confirm the allegation.
What for is the covenant?
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:48:00 10/04/2008
Justices of the Court Of Appeals signed last Sept. 14 a “covenant” in which they committed to “repair the damage caused” by the bribery scandal linked to the case of Manila Electric Co. versus Government Service Insurance System. They vowed to “prove our detractors wrong ... show them we are not the kind of magistrates we are now perceived to be.”
The covenant commits to:
• Creation of a one-stop shop that will handle the filing of cases, payment of docket fees, follow up of cases, etc.
• Electronic raffling of cases
• Revision of the Internal Rules of the Court of Appeals
• Designation of a retired Supreme Court justice as Ombudsman for the Court of Appeals; and
• Case-load reduction.
As if a pending court case were like a routine government contract, the justices said “the one-stop-shop is intended to reduce the irregularities by minimizing the number of agencies that a litigant would have to go to in filing and following up a case.”
As if machines alone generated public trust, they said “the raffling of cases will become electronic to make sure that there will be no more manipulation in assigning cases to justices.”
As if technical rules are the fountainhead of true justice, they promised that the Internal Rules of the Court of Appeals would be studied and amendments would be proposed.
The question is, why limit the same only to the Court of Appeals? What about the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan, the Court of Tax Appeals, and the lower courts per region? Why not apply the Ombudsman experiment to all judicial regions of the country?
Chief Justice Reynato Puno, with his usual spiritual flavor, stated that “the ‘touching’ covenant could be achieved through moral renewal,” that “together we shall arise, overcome and emerge victorious, so is your invocation of Gods grace ...”
The problem with mankind, Filipinos or otherwise, is that in times of trouble they invoke God as their refuge even with respect to events and issues that are not of His own making.
Moral renewal, yes. But are written technical rules of procedures, computers and infrastructures enough to achieve it? Do justices and lawyers live the precepts of moral enlightenment or is their livelihood ruled by greed and pride, form and externalities, hypocrisy and popularity? That is why I listen to the following words of the Chief Justice with a grain of salt: “I cannot but concur with you that we need moral renewal in this struggle to cleanse the judiciary. It is but right that the first component of our covenant is moral enhancement. This is a recognition that our legal universe revolves around the sun of morality.”
All right, Mr. Justices. Let’s get down to hard and ethical work. Less talk, please. Produce results.
MANUEL J. LASERNA JR., Unit 15, Star Arcade, CV Starr Avenue, Philamlife Village, Las Piñas City
A "Covenant of Moral Recovery"? A grandiose phraseology as could only flow facilely from the pen of a Justice! Is the Covenant sufficiently comprehensive to cover any and all extant corrupt practices (even those yet unearthed?) in the Court of Appeals? But are they just words, Your Honors, so crafted to help restore and preserve whatever re*****tion of integrity still remains in that Court? What sanction does the Covenant provide should there be a breach? Is the full text going to be published in any newspaper assuming no newspaper has yet given it publicity? Or does its "sanctity" worthy of secrecy?
Sus, grabe jud ang scandalo nga nahitabo during sa pontifical mass sa Naval fiesta. Pag-abot sa offering, ang gipa-offer ang mga goverment leaders. Simpre, ang mayor, governor and congressman present jud. Nauna pagpila c Gov. Roger ug cicel. Samtang nag-andam sa paghalad ug nagpaabot sa uban nga offerers, sa dihang mopila na si Cong. Glenn, mikalit ug lakaw ang governor ug si Cecel. Unya giingnan ni gov. ang mga bata nga nauna, candle and cross bearers, " tayna, tayna, aalis na tayo" daghan kaayo nakadungog nga mga manimbahay, nagtawanan kay obvious kaayo nga umiwas kang Congressman. Ang uban nga offerers nahabilin kauban nila mayor, vice mayor ug congressman ug mga SB. Nahimo hinoon nga talk of the fiesta.
Brother Eddie cites need for RP to focus on genuine reforms
http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20081006137191.html
Angie Chui
Brother Eddie Villanueva, president and spiritual advisor of the Jesus is Lord (JIL) movement, said yesterday it is more important to focus on national transformation and find genuine reforms for the country than to engage in partisan political activities.
During a press conference to mark the JIL’s 30th anniversary dubbed "All Peoples Worship His Majesty," Villanueva addressed issues on corruption in government and "bankrupt" electoral process.
"We have looked for positive changes in the wrong places for too long now. And the act has led us only to ever mounting disappointments," he said.
"It is hard to change those who do not wish to change. It is difficult to ask someone who does not want to tell the truth to stop telling lies. It is hard to stop corruption among those who do not fear God. This is the reason why any shot at national transformation, without personal regeneration, is impossible," he said, adding that he needs the people’s support in his crusade.
He said public action for national transformation is vital to see the country rise from the ruins.
Villanueva said the decision on whether or not he will run for President in 2010 is not his decision to make, but God’s.
"The presidency does not have any ‘it’ to me. If the situation should arise and God would reveal to me that I should lead our beloved people to the ‘promised land,’ and I think the Filipino people are clamoring for genuine change and reforms, there is a possibility that I will entertain that challenge," he said.
Although he acknowledged that there are a lot of groups urging him to throw his hat into the race, he said he cannot be tempted to join the 2010 race, if not for God, to fight for God’s agenda.
"I am not saying yes or no… I am always at the disposal of my God, I do hope God will not command me to do so," he said.
Villanueva first ran for President in the 2004 elections but lost.
During the conference, he cited one of the Church’s recognized transformation leaders, Pampanga Gov. Among Ed Panlilio, who, he said, is a symbol of genuine reform in the country.
He said the People Power elections in Pampanga in 2004 -- where Panlilio, a former priest, triumphed over more powerful and wealthier adversaries -- should be seen as a model for the entire country.
Villanueva also recalled the statement made by former National Security Adviser Jose Almonte who said that what the Philippines needs is a genuine reformist president.
The evangelist said with the worsening conditions of the country, it is extremely difficult for the Filipino to elect a genuine reformist president unless the People Power election in Pampanga could be duplicated nationwide.
"We need divine intervention. With the kind of bankrupt, rotten electoral process we have, it requires a miracle from God to raise a genuine reformist national leader who has the passion, competence, and courage to perpetuate genuine change and reforms," he said.
Villanueva, however, acknowledged that there are other transformation leaders in the country who represent a clear message of hope to the people.
Among them, he said, were the Church’s anniversary guests Gov. Grace Padaca of Isabela, Gov. Raffy Nantes of Quezon, and Mayor Jesse Robredo of Naga City of the Kaya Natin! movement.
He said as early as now, Bangon Pilipinas leaders are keeping their eyes open for possible alliances with political parties that share their commitment, vision and standards. So far, he said, there have been representatives from at least four political parties who have approached their group.
Villanueva also disclosed that their group has received several feelers from aspiring candidates to seek their support come election time. He sai if they find a suitable candidate, they will not withhold their blessing.
He, however, placed emphasis on the criteria for endorsing a candidate. Villanueva said for a candidate to be qualified, he would have to have the three Cs – competence, character, and courage.
"It is utterly disgraceful to God that we claim to be the only Christian nation in Asia yet we are today tagged as the number one most corrupt country in the region. I don’t know why we are even silently taking all these perversions sitting down. This should have been a cause for national outrage long time ago. We must altogether rally behind national transformation now, if we are to see our beloved Philippines rise up from the ruins again," Villanueva said.
Aquarius:
Covenants and manifestos are welcome. But this is not enough.
The CA justices know who among their colleagues are rogues in robes. They should take the difficult road of exposing them if they are sincere and determined. Not a very pleasant task but needed to be done for the sake of justice and fair play.
Hopefully, we will not hear anymore of the so-called TRO for sale, a big black eye for the CA justices.
Tamsy 1423;
Ayos itong report mo ngunit kulang. Nandoon kc kami sa harap naka upo kaya kitangkita namin ang ginawa sa pangbastos na doc gov. Paano kc doon siya naka linya sa harap ni fr. bing colasito as receiver of the offerings pero doon niya inabot ang subri kay fr. benjie na nasa kabilang linya nagrereceived. Halatang-hata tuloy na napahiya si fr. bing.
Then, after the mass, yon ang topic namin. Somebody told us na hindi kaya ni doc gov na haharap kang fr. bing dahil nahihiya siya sa ginagawa niya during sa medical mission sa culaba dahil hindi siya nagpadala ng mga doctors as requested by fr. bing dahil may condition ang governor na ang mga tambal sa capitolyo ang ibibigay na naka print ang mukha niya sa mga ibinabalot ng gamot at lagyan ng streamers na tnru the effort of gov. roger espina. Pero hindi pumayag si fr. bing kaya hindi rin nagpadala ng mga doctors ang mabait daw na governor. Kaya wala siyang mukha na haharap kang fr. bing, paano kc obvious masyado na pamulitica ang gusto niya.
tamsy:
Ang demonyo takot jud sa maayo mao dili kaya ng corrupt na governor makig-atubang kang Rep. Glenn, tungod kay nabisto naman pod siya ba nga sa iyang pag-adto sa Australia kay mitambong sa seminar on basic services, ang alotment amount nga gikauyonan sa SP is only 61 thousand pero ang iyang giwithdraw is 120 thousand. Mao nga mauwaw jud siya makig-atubang kay daghan man siya ug anomaliya nga nasabtan sa atong reprensentante.
to all bloggers:
If you want to copy any of the blogs posted in this site and you want to post it to another site like in Bl.com, please dont change the original identity or the original alias of this respective blogger. I know the administrator is not aware about it.
We are not preventing you to copy our posts here but we should also respect its originality.
Thank you!
Admin:
Bitaw, tama jud ka. Nahibulong jud ko bakit tua na didto ang akong post, totally copied pa jud. Observer ra ba ang iyang alias. I know observer uy kay one of the original bloggers na sa Bl.com. Ambot siya ba jud ang nagpost adto or gigamit lang ang iyang
alias. Anyway, ok lang sana na iyang kopyahon ang akong post basta, iyang ibtang pod didto na copied from Bilevent.com and posted by Tamsy.
May mga tao talagang walang originality.
Hi guys!
im the orig OBSERVER aka KKK. Since i joined this site thru the invitation of Kumbati, i changed my alias. I rarely posted any comment here because my time during internet cafe is consumed by reading the blogs here. Most of the blogs posted here are interesting especially the posts of Aquarius. Others too are interesting but Aquarius' posts are very politically informative.
As regards to the post of Tamsy 1423 and Anonymous 1426 which are copied and transfered to Bl.com,then my alias were also used, Im sorry to inform you but that is not my style. I dont want to be accused of plagiarism.
Sana naman, gayahin nila si Aquarius, na everytime nagpopost siya at galing sa ibang source, talagang complete ang Bibleography.
Honesty is the best policy, 'ika nga nila.
To All Bloggers
I believe that Congratulations are in order for Rep Glenn Chong. For such a short time, he has accomplished more than any politicians in Biliran history given the same amount of time.
Looking at the photos and video footage, there seems to be no personal names and photos on the school buses. Biliranons will appreciate the fact that our Representative has taken bold steps to avoid previous actions of plastering his photos on infra projects.
I certainly hope that I have not spoken too soon. I have spoken about this in my previous posts at BI and suggested the following caption:
School Bus Municipality of Naval (other towns as applicable)
Funded by: PDAF of the Representative of the Lone District of Biliran 2008.
For Official Use Only.
I hope the suggestion will be taken into consideration in one way or another.
KKK
Anonymous
Thank you kindly for your comments.
I guess, Mayor Susan V Parilla may need to look hard at the Naval municipal finances to determine if there were cash advances that still remain unliquidated from previous administrations.Money must be recovered to augment the dire funds needed to improve its delivery of services.
(start of article)
Mandaue exec justifies cash advances
By Dale G. Israel
Cebu Daily News
First Posted 13:13:00 10/10/2008
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view/20081010-165696/Mandaue-exec-justifies-cash-advances
Mandaue City Administrator Briccio Joseph Boholst yesterday justified the practice of allowing city officials and personnel to avail of cash advances to provide “a fast (and) responsive delivery of services” to city residents.
Boholst, in response to questions raised by city councilors over the P6.5 million cash advances incurred by Mayor Jonas Cortes’ top subordinates, assured that these advances made by department heads, including him, and other employees were in the process of being liquidated.
“The trade-off there is hold the activity or not to have it. So which would you want?” Boholst asked of his P450,000 cash advance for Mandaue City’s participation in the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo festival held last August.
Boholst said he would not take it against Councilor Emiliano Rosal for reminding them of the liquidation, saying, “It is good that there are a lot of us who will closely watch these cash advances.”
The city administrator said that he would rather not have cash advances were it not for time constraints. He said he only agreed to sign his cash advance, the first he had taken, after he assigned two of his staff to closely monitor the fund releases and receipts.
When he started as city administrator, Boholst said he always made sure that employees who availed of cash advances should be able to liquidate the amounts as soon as possible.
“There is nothing irregular about availing cash advances; it is (how long) the liquidation (is completed) that (is an) issue,” Boholst said.
Boholst said that as far as his cash advance was concerned, he submitted his liquidation documents to the city’s accounting department a few days ago and were now in the process of validation.
“I am sure I am still within the prescribed period for liquidating cash advances,” he pointed out.
The other officials and employees with cash advances were also collating their supporting documents and would be able to submit their liquidation reports soon, Boholst said.
Mayor Cortes could not be reached for comment yesterday as he was in Manila with other mayors of the country to attend a meeting with the League of Cities.
Rosal, during Tuesday's sessions, reminded Cortes to order the liquidation of around P6.5 million worth of cash advances made by employees and department heads based on the balance sheets of June 30, 2008.
During the term of former mayor Thadeo Ouano, there were about P19.5 million in cash advances that remained unliquidated for a period of roughly 10 years, from 1997 to March 2007, according to data compiled from the Commission on Audit’s annual audit reports.
Some of the advances were already liquidated and paid off by former officials but there were still “several millions” that remained unliquidated, Boholst said.
FYI
This is the same DOJ Sec Raul Gonzales who is attempting to influence the Gerry Espina Et Al case. The Philippines should be thankful that at last, Legal Presidential Adviser Sergio Apostol recently resigned this week as legal adviser to PGMA. Sec Gonzales should follow. They have the same "mouth" so to speak.They normally tactlessly speak from their "behind".
(start of article)
Editorial
Heckler in the Cabinet
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:44:00 10/11/2008
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/editorial/view/20081011-165825/Heckler-in-the-Cabinet
MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, who told critics protesting the grant of executive clemency to convicted murderer Claudio Teehankee Jr. to plead their case with Jesus Christ, has issued another piece of advice. And this time it is addressed directly to the family of the murdered Maureen Hultman. “If they can’t accept it, they can jump into the lake,” Gonzalez said Thursday. “Very wide naman ang North Sea.”
Gonzalez was reacting to Anders and Vivian Hultman who protested the “sneaky and hasty” way by which their daughter’s killer had regained his freedom. In 1992, Teehankee, son of the late Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee Sr. and brother of former justice undersecretary and now Ambassador Manuel Teehankee, was convicted for the 1991 double murder of Maureen Hultman, 17, and Roland John Chapman and the near fatal shooting of Jussi Leino. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and another jail term of eight to 14 years for his crimes. But he walked out a free man before midnight on Friday, after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo granted him executive clemency.
The Hultmans, who have since relocated to Sweden, protested the seeming haste and secrecy of the presidential pardon. They said they were not informed beforehand of Teehankee’s release in violation of established procedures.
Administration officials, however, insisted that the Hultmans knew that a presidential pardon was in the works as early as 1999 when they signed a document accepting settlement of civil damages. But the Hultmans said a pardon for Teehankee was not part of the agreement.
To Gonzalez, that made the Hultmans “hypocrites.”
Tactless, tasteless and totally insensitive — that is the justice secretary for you. This is not the first time he has bared his fishwife’s tongue. In 2005 when actress Susan Roces accused Ms Arroyo of stealing the presidency from her husband, Fernando Poe Jr., Gonzalez dismissed her as a “griping widow” and said she was “too beautiful to be sent to jail.” Soon after former President Corazon Aquino called for Ms Arroyo’s resignation, he told her to “first take care of her daughter” Kris Aquino, who was involved in some messy romantic liaisons.
But for sheer boorishness and insensitivity, his remarks against the Hultmans take the cake. Someone ought to tell Gonzalez to go jump into the filthy Pasig River with his foul mouth.
But who will do it? In a more civil and decent administration such coarse remarks would have cost Gonzalez his job. But apparently the President thinks he is just being cute. Or perhaps she believes she needs a resident heckler in her Cabinet to drown out protests against the miscues and blunders of her administration.
Aquarius:
Kon tackless ito si Sec. Gonzales, mas tackless ito si Gerry, Sr. That's why, no wonder, these two guys are like brothers. As saying goes " birds with the same feathers are the same birds"
Intoy 1436
Indeed. I heard Gerry Espina
Sr used inappropriate words in his radio program. Unbecoming of a former Congressman, but then again, it reflects his true background when he was young.
Don't forget this is the same Gerry Espina Sr who claimed to have a PHD from a U.S. University.A lie documented in his resume for almost 40 years.
Hello mga bloggers:
Pwerte gyung alegriha ganina diri sa prisohan sa Naval kay daghana kaayo mga tawo sa dihang napriso ang hosts sa timbangan. Stimate ko more than 2 hundred ang nagboooo kang Jerome ug George. Giayo-ayo gyud sila ug kantiaw.
Unya sa radyo sigi sila ug ingon daghan daw sila ug supporters, pero asa naman? ang niduaw intawon ganina ang family ra ni George ug ang igsoon ni Jerome nga babae ang naminyo sa taga laka.
Aguy, maayo ra gyud nga napriso kay hambug kaayo. Sigi man gud na siya ug estorya nga kon bakak pa ang ilang gipanulti sa radyo, dugay ra unta sila napriso.
Looy bitaw jud sina Jerome at George dahil hindi lang pinagtawanan sa mga tawo nga nagadto didto, giadto pa gyud ni Risa ang sinaligan ni Grace Ang sa iyang tindahan ug iyang gi-away pag-ayo ang duha ka na priso nga mga timbangiro.
Unsaon man jud nga ila mang gi-ayo ug saway si risa nga estricta daw kaayo ug morag hawod daw ingon pa sa mga timbangiro nga mga walay boot. Mao nga nasuko si Risa ug giayo-ayo niya kasaba, wala lang maabti sa Bil.com interview.
Dili madrawing ang nawong ni Benladin nga way boot ug George nga ugok. Bagay nga sa kanila!!!
Aquarius:
I just want to ask your legal opinion about the case of Timbangan's hosts Jerome and George. They are accusing the court for injustices because they are not given due process.
What is your opinion aboit this? thanks!
Empogs 1440
I am not familiar with the brief of the case, but reading from BI's news release, we can assume that due process was observed. Hon Judge Rogelio Joboco will not rule on the case unless due process was observed.
The report also stated that both have apologized to the court. They should now stop from making comments to avoid further complications. It is highly advisable to let their legal counsel do the talking.
Breaking news:
Natuloy na pala ang prelimenary invistigation sa kaso na naka file against Gery Espina ragarding his involvement of Naval Ambush.
The case hearing was executed at the regional trial court in Tacloban city yesterday.
The judge found any probable cause of the case against Gerry Espina, Sr.
Now, the Timbangan hosts are shouting for fairness. I think they should ask first themselves if they are fair too in their respective broadcasting at RN.
These guys are being used by the Espina to create political chaos in our province. I know, they are paid blabbermouth of the Epina dynasty.
I heard that the Espina are planning to use this issue in order to destroy the cridibility of our very own representative in a dramatic way.
But, im sure they would not be successful. Biliranon is now getting politically aware and politically awaken.
Kumbati 1443
I think Gerry Espina Sr and Gov Rogelio Espina's have put themselves in a precarious position.
If they put up money for the Timbangan hosts' P20, 000.00 fines, it will confirm the suspicion that they are the real sponsors of the radio program. Therefore, Biliranons will conclude that they have been financing the program solely aimed at discrediting Rep Glenn Chong and family including anyone associated with him. If they provide the former with legal counsel, Biliranons will also arrive at the same conclusion.
I am beginning to think that, Arcenal and Manco will unfortunately be left to their own devices. There will be attempts from the third member of Timbangan, Gerry Tibon to generate a so called “support group”, but I don’t think it will attract the intelligent community of Biliran.
This is a lesson that aspiring radio commentators must learn. In delivering commentaries, like any other forms of media, there are no substitute to speaking out the truth from your own point of view, supported by thorough research and delivering the message in straight facts without having to be arrogant, insulting and sarcastic. One cannot be in a position where broadcasts are obviously partisan. You can make a stand, but it has to be an informed stand.
Lastly, CASH FOR COMMENTS is highly unethical. I hope I have not touched a nerve.
Aquarius,
Sa pagkakaron ang pagkapriso sa duha ka hosts sa Timbangan maoy gamiton sa mga espinas aron ilang ipakita sa Biliran nga daghan pa sila ug mga supporters. Ang ilang mga 15/30 ninglihok na aron pagpahibalo sa mga membro sa FOGE ug 4H Club nga mangadto sila police station aron modu-aw kang Jerome ug George ug moamot kada usa ug piso para sa penalty nga 10 thousand, kibali 20 thousand ang duha. Kay ang una nga kaso, indirect contempt, 10 days inprisonments and 10,000.00 pesos penalty. After this, lain napod nga kaso ang efile ni judge Jaboco. Daghan pani nga kaso nga ilang atubangon, atong tan-awon kon asa kutub ang paghinakutay sa mga espinas sa ilang FOGE ug 4H club members.
Aquarius 1444:
I totally agree with you that CASH FOR COMMENT IS HIGHLY UNETHICAL. If we compared to professionals, journalists in the Philippine are paid salaries so measly. The reports from the Philippine Journalism Review (PJR) explained that the entry levels for reporters in major board sheets found that new reporters earn from P 4,500 to P 7,000 per a month ( this is ten years ago). So, when a politician come along offering you double, triple or even quadruple your salary, and may be throws in a car, how can you refuse? This is what happened to Jack Catandihan, a journalist in Tacloban city, who is hired by the Espinas to make good reports in favour to their political interest. What I heard is that, this guy is receiving 20,000 pesos per news.
The welfare of journalist is critical to ethical practical of journalism. We see it the relations of press freedom and the professionalization of Philippine Journalist is not paying enough. Corruption is major in this case as far as decrease professionalization and habitual.
Many reasons can influence them, like economic situation made the country be poor. Secondly, is also cause of newspapers can get enough money, but also people is not buying and do not understand what they suppose to or from the media. So it makes small circulation. Electronic media, television and radio were less advertisement.
Another factors is poor training. Although develop communication program, but nothing. This program is only a few as good.
If we hope its condition can be restored by press association in The Philippine, it means that nothing. Because press association like National Press Club (NPC) which has thousands number of journalists did not do anything to correct the resources from government official or businessmen who gave a big contribution for their media. Moreover NPC has already taken donation from government Arroyo about P1 million. So this association is difficult to correct the government if makes mistaken.
The other hand, there is also the factor of stiff competition among the news media. The race to capture readership or audience is pushing the news media to be more enterprising about the stories they cover, to widen the scope of their coverage to include issues that the press might have ignored or overlooked in the past.
Erratum:
JACK C. GADAINGAN not Jack Catandihan
Intoy 1445
Vigilant 1446
Indeed. Let us look at the positive side of this event.
It will give Radyo Natin an opportunity to clean up the format of their radio programs. Michael Aguilos need to re-establish his authority and impose a code of conduct that all broadcasters need to strictly follow to enable the radio station to achieve one of its primary purposes: to inform the listening public of TRUTHFUL facts about what is happening in Biliran and the world.
Programs need to be screened to comply with the code. Similarly, commentaries need to be regularly monitored for compliance. Violations of which, result to suspension or termination of the program. That is the job of the program director and primarily, the station master.
Radyo Natin should not allow itself to become the conduit of bad media. It is equally responsible for what is happening to the Timbangan hosts’ predicament. Aguilos did not define and impose a code of conduct all broadcasters need to observe to insure, that the listening public only receives truthful news and commentaries.
The freedom to air one's view carries with it a responsibility to be truthful.
anonynous 1442
That is a welcome development. I hope something official will be released in the media soon. Thank you for keeping us up to date.
Well done.
Anonymous 1442:
Kang Saul pa na kaso ang gihearing for preliminary investigations. Wala pa ang kang Gerry Espina kay pending pa ang gifile nga prohibition to bring the criminal case back to Tacloban.
Anyway, thank you for your update, baka na misheard mo lang. God bless!
To all Bloggers,
I am posting suggestions that Radyo Natin may consider. These are compilations of practises from various sources that I have come across all these years. I hope this will help Michael Aguilos fix his program formats and clarify the do's and don'ts for his program hosts and commentators:
Part 1.
CODE OF PRACTICE
Purpose
The purpose of this Code is to promote accuracy and fairness in news and current affairs programs.
News programs including news flashes
1. Present news accurately;
2. Not present news in such a way as to create public panic, or unnecessary distress to listeners;
3. Distinguish news from comment; and
4. Not use material relating to a person’s personal or private affairs, or which invades an individual’s privacy, unless there is a public interest in broadcasting such information.
In the preparation and presentation of current affairs programs, the radio station must ensure that:
1. Factual material is presented accurately and that reasonable efforts are made to correct substantial errors of fact at the earliest possible opportunity;
2. The reporting of factual material is clearly distinguishable from commentary and analysis;
3. Reasonable efforts are made or reasonable opportunities are given to present significant viewpoints when dealing with controversial issues of public importance, either within the same program or similar programs, while the issue has immediate relevance to the community;
4. Viewpoints expressed to the radio station for broadcast are not misrepresented and material is not presented in a misleading manner by giving wrong or improper emphasis or by editing out of context;
5. Respect is given to each person's legitimate right to protection from unjustified use of material which is obtained without an individual's consent or other unwarranted and intrusive invasions of privacy.
(continued on part 2)
Part 2
PROGRAMS UNSUITABLE FOR BROADCAST
1. The purpose of this Code is to prevent the broadcast of programs which are unsuitable, having regard to prevailing community standards and attitudes.
Definition
2. In this code "programs" means all matter broadcast.
Guidelines:
1.A licensee must not broadcast a program which:
(a) Is likely to incite, encourage or present for its own sake violence or brutality;
(b) Simulate news or events in such a way as to mislead or alarm listeners;
(c) Present as desirable:
(i) The misuse of alcoholic liquor; or
(ii) The use of illegal drugs, narcotics or tobacco.
(d) Depicts suicide favorably or presents suicide as a means of achieving a desired result; or
(e) Is likely to incite or perpetuate hatred against or vilify any person or group on the basis of age, ethnicity, nationality, race, gender, sexual preference, religion or physical or mental disability.
2. Nothing in sub-clauses 1. (c), 1(d) or 1(e) prevents the radio station from broadcasting a program of the kind or kinds referred to in those sub-clauses if the program is presented reasonably and in good faith for academic, artistic (including comedy or satire), religious instruction, scientific or research purposes or for other purposes in the public interest, including discussion or debate about any act or matter.
(continued in part 3)
Part 3
Program Content and Language, including Sex and Sexual Behaviour
1. (a) All program content must meet contemporary standards of decency, having regard to the likely characteristics of the audience of the radio station’s service.
1. (b) The gratuitous use in a program of language likely to offend the anticipated audience for that program must be avoided;
2. The radio station must not broadcast audio of actual sexual acts.
3. Radio Station must not broadcast a feature program which has an explicit sexual theme as its core component unless it is broadcast between 9.30 pm and 5.00 am and an appropriate warning is made prior to commencement of the program and at hourly intervals during broadcast of the program.
4. Nothing in clause 1 prevents a licensee from broadcasting a program at any time, of the kind referred to in that clause, if the program is in the public interest, including discussion or debate about current events.
(continued in part 4)
Part 4
INTERVIEWS AND TALKBACK PROGRAMS
Purpose:
The purpose of this clause is to prevent the unauthorized broadcast of statements by identifiable persons.
1. A Radio Station must not broadcast the words of an identifiable person
Unless:
(a) That person has been informed in advance or a reasonable person would be aware that the words may be broadcast; or
(b) In the case of words which have been recorded without the knowledge of the person, that person has subsequently, but prior to the broadcast, expressed consent to the broadcast of the words.
Part 5
BROADCAST OF EMERGENCY INFORMATION
Purpose:
The purpose of this code is to ensure licensees have procedures in place to enable the timely and accurate broadcast of emergency information.
Broadcast of emergency information:
1 The Radio Station will, in consultation with appropriate emergency and essential service organizations, implement a set of internal procedures to enable the timely and accurate broadcast of warnings and information supplied by such organizations relating to an existing or threatened emergency.
2. Designated position in relation to each station is to be identified as the contact officer during business and non-business hours for all matters relative to this code.
3. It is recognized that compliance by the radio station with clause 1 of this code is dependent upon the co-operation of the emergency or essential service organizations. The radio station will not be regarded as in breach of this code if any emergency or essential service organization declines or fails to respond to the licensee’s request to consult or provide relevant information.
4. In developing internal
procedures pursuant to clause 2, the radio station will not be responsible for inaccurate information provided by any emergency or essential service organization or for the failure of an emergency or essential service organization to comply with the procedures.
BROADCASTS OF EMERGENCY INFORMATION:
These suggestions are designed to assist in defining emergency and identifying appropriate emergency service organizations.
‘Emergencies’ are generally regarded as situations in which there is an imminent or actual threat within the community, whereby life or property are at risk and which requires a significant and co-coordinated response by emergency or essential service organizations.
A range of emergency and essential service organizations will be relevant for each license area. As a general guide, emergency or essential service organizations include Police, Fire Department, Ambulance, water, port or health authorities and the PAGASA. The radio station and appropriate emergency or essential service organizations in the covered area should jointly identify, develop and maintain effective lines of communication.
Aquarius:
This is something good idea. I hope, Micheal A. will follow these guidelines. But as far as I know, Radyo Natin is controlled by the Espinas.
I remembered right after the Naval Ambush, Bidlisiw Program had tried to make special program daily but sad to say that they find hard to take time for this. After some negotiation, Micheal A. grants their request by cancelling one of the programs. Actually, Boy ty tried negotiating between 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM but Micheal A. refused to grant him because he doesn’t want to cancel the existing programs. So, they have no choice but to take it.
Surprisingly, right after the special program of Bidlisiw, the governor made his response immediately. So, my conclusion is that, the espinas are having no problem to make their own especial program anytime they wanted. This is the reason why I said that Radyo Natin is controlled by them.
Anonymous
There has been a lot of speculation as to the ownership of Radyo Natin. Way back in 2007 elections, I have queried MBC as to the ownership, but they confirmed that, Michael Aguilos, a former employee, is their business partner. The MBC spokesman has also confirmed that it is not a franchise but rather a business partnership.
Therefore, the business decision to allocate time slots is the sole prerogative of Aguilos. Aguilos maybe influenced by the Espina Dynasty in as much as they used to have full control of Biliran.
I made that query back in 2007 with a view to purchasing a franchise on the other MBC program formats. I wanted to buy one and donate it to the Freedom Fighter volunteers to give the Biliranons another option. MBC was not prepared to give me one as the Biliran Province is too small to make running 2 radio stations economically feasible. They did offered to give me Calubian, but I declined it on the basis that it was not physically feasible to run the station outside Biliran.
Further, establishing another radio station with other providers is difficult as it needs to be approved by Congress. As it is, we need to be contented with RN. We just need to be vigilant and participative to insure the media content coming out of the programs are constructive and adhere to the purpose it was expected to accomplish.
It is up to Michael Aguilos if he allows himself to be used for destructive purposes perpetrated by political parties. Establishing a doable code of conduct can help him establish a neutral ground from which he can police and monitor the media content of the program formats he approved for broadcasts.
If Michael Aguilos cannot handle the political pressure, he might as well, give up the Radio Station so that other entities can take over. There will be no shortage of takers.
To All Bloggers:
Please access the following link to read the full code. I have only picked up compilations which I think will apply to Biliran's situation:
Broadcast Code of the Philippines 2007
http://www.kbp.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/Broadcast%20Code%20of%202007.pdf
Aqurius, tinood na uy nga controlado sa mga espina ang RN kay usa sa akong basihan ana, kon ang kampo ni Atty. Chong ang mangayo sa recorded program like pag-usapan natin, kang jun del rosario nga program, sibya sa probinsya, kay naay gusto nga paminawon sila boy ty for clarification apan moingon lang si aguilos nga na erase na. Pero kon ang kampo sa mga Espina ang magkinahanglan, parihas sa timbangan, naa dayon ug completo sila sa kopya.
Obvious kaayo nga si Aguilos is pro Espina, 15/30 kc siya....
RS
All Bloggers
All indications lead to the conclusion, that indeed the Espina Dynasty has influence over Michael Aguilos. However, there is nothing we can do about that. It is Aguilos' prerogative. It is his business. As I said in my previous post, I queried the nature of the ownership of Radyo Natin Naval, but Jonathan Decena, the MBC executive in charged of all Radyo Natin stations throughout the country confirmed, that in as far as Naval is concerned, MBC have decided to award the station as a business partnership. In most areas, the Radyo Natin is entered into as a franchise. I don't know why Naval has to be treated as a partnership instead of a franchise. I did clarify whether there are other personalities or entities in partnership with Michael Aguilos, but Decena replied in the negative. I guess we just have to take their word for it.
Please read through the Broadcast Code 2007 to have full understanding of the regulations governing broadcast media. This will give us enough ammunition to police the operation of Radyo Natin. If RAdyo Natin ignores violations of the code, we will then have the grounds to put up a legal action which will eventually lead to a change of ownership. I will be watching this very closely.
http://www.kbp.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/Broadcast%20Code%20of%202007.pdf
Good for them!!!!
Timbangan hosts are crazy and idiots. These guys are nothing but Espinas puppet. They are talking fluff pieces that establish a false reality and pull the wool over somebody's eyes.
Now, these guys are soliciting symphaty from the public. But, I'm sure Biliranons are now difficult to to be deceived by them.
They deserved to be in jail and I hope the court will ban them from doing any program in RN on air.
Arcenal and company are very rude, malicious and lack of decency and respect to authority.
So, good for you timbangan sa mga Espina! you deserve to be shitttttt!
Alagad itong mga timbangan, WARAY MGA BATASAN!!!!
Giayoayo man nila ug dago-dago ang corte, kon ang corte mo act against them according to the law, adto nila eblame kang Atty. Chong.
Hastilan kaupay man ito mga tawhana hiloan.
Bastos kaupay ang gipanulti ni jerome ug george last wednesday nga episode ada sa Bl.com.
Klaro man kaayo nga gigamit sa mga Espina ito nga hitabo kay sering pa ni Jerome " sukad masukad, yana pa may na priso na mga critiko sa politician. Dugay na kaayo ang mga Espina sa politika, pero wala pa silay gipapriso nga critiko nila"
Amo nga ang ilang pagpangbastos kang Atty. Chong diri man makaon sa ido. Ila ni nga gituyo kay aron masuko ang Congressman ug kasohan sila. Ug kon mapriso na, ila dayong gamiton ito against sa congressman.
Itong mga ESPINA ANG BWESIT NGA MGA POLITICIANS!!!!!!
NAGPAGAMIT LANG POD ITONG TIMBANGAN NGA WARAY MGA BOOT!!!
Tabili, tama jud ka uy! ingon pa sa gago nga jerome, unsa man kuno ilang sala nga igo man lang sila nagsulti sa ilang observation?
kabuang niya kon wala pa silay sala, nganong permi man siya magbalikbalik kang judge jaboco ug mangayog pasaylo bi? wala man kaha silay sala?
Ang pinaka dako nila nga sala kay gihimo lang sila nga mga irong buang sa mga espina, kon unsay ipapaghot, mopaghot pod!
Tabili 1462:
Tama ito na wala pay gipapriso nga mga Espina nga mga critics nila sa politica, pero GIPAPATAY DAMO NA KAAYO!
Newsbreak:
kusog ang balita dito sa Naval na gipabanned ni judge jaboco ang timbangan sa RN. Dili pa ni confirm kay wala pa namo nakita ang document. We try to confirm it kang Aguilos pero wala siyang sinabi, deadma. Tingnan natin mamaya kon magprograma pa ba ang timbangan nga limbongan!
Atong hinumduman karon nga ang pagkabalhug sa mga kuwang ug timbang mao ang ilang kawalay respetar sa korte ug sa mga patakaran niini. Dili tungod kay ning kontra sila kang Cong. Chong.
Sa akong pagbasa ani, dunay gikahadlokan sa Pugak sa manghitabo sa korte karon, mao na nga iya gayud ipadaut ug maayo ang huwes. Wa ta kahibawo kung duna na pod gipadala ang mga Bandido ngadto sa Siquijor, basin lang man makatabang ang barang.
Pinaagi sa pagkabalhug sa duka ka kiling ug timbang, gusto ni Pugak ug ni Rabbit nga makaigo kang Cong. Chong ug sa huwes. Pero karaan na ning taktikaha. Tataw kaayo ang mga minaru nga motibo sa kadaghanang mga Biliranon.
To All Bloggers
Does anyone know about the main sponsor of Timbangan which is called Biliran Alliance for Rural Development? I have posted my comments at BI asking Timbangan hosts to inform Biliranons who this main sponsor is. Further, we would like to know who are the officers and how they raise funds in as much as sponsoring a blocktime costs a lot of money.
Please post any information about this entity.
Aquarius 1467:
Bilaran Alliance for Rural Development is organized by the hosts of Timbanga just recently. Some people who joined this group are members of 15/30.
As of now there is no constitution and by-laws being promulgated by this group. They just used it as a propaganda or front line in order to shield up the real sponsors or backers of their program.
Here in Naval, it is widely known that the Espina dynasty is the real sponsors or bakers of the said program Timbangan.
KKB 1466:
Dili ba ang judge before is known nga mga Espina friend? ngano nga karon madhadlok naman sila?
Suppose to be, according to the law, 6 months imprisonment and penalty of 30,000.00 pesos pero ang gihimo sa judge is 10 days only and 10,000 pesos. May mga rumors dito na basin nahangyo sa mga Espina. Gani, dili unta kasohan ni judge Jaboco pero napugos lang siya to protect the integrity of the court kay grabe na pod kayo ang pangbastos sa Timbangan.
I heard nga nag-issue ang court to ban Timbangan from airing over RN, pero diha man lagi ganina? Basin nahangyo na pod nga dili nlang ipaban.
Kumbati 1468
Thank you for the information. They cannot use this entity unless it is registered and the name of officers published.
It will be interesting to see how they raise funds. It cannot solicit funds from any individual, businesses or obtained government grant unless it is duly registered under applicable laws.
Individual sponsors may opt to remain anonymous for privacy reasons. However, an association or organization, civic, private or government initiated must be disclosed for transparency.
It will be appreciated if anyone can post further details. It is easy to assume that the Espina Dynasty is real backers of Timbangan, but we need to prove it.
The Broadcast Code of the Philippines 2007 prohibits the following:
Sec. 3. FAIRNESS AND OBJECTIVITY
3.a. News reports shall be fair, factual, and objective.(g)
3.b. Receiving bribes, gifts, privileges or any consideration to favor one side of a story, stop a
story from airing , or put any person in either bad or
favorable light is prohibited.( G)
3.c. Side comments expressing personal opinions while
a news item is being reported or delivered are prohibited to prevent the listener from mistaking
opinion for news. (S)
3.d. When presented as part of a news program, editorials or commentaries must be identified as
such and presented as distinct from news reports.(S)
Aquarius:
Are there any qualifications to become a radio commentator?
I know we have a National Union of Journalist in the Philippines (NUJP), who are qualified to join them?
Kumbati 1469,
Ang mga Bandido daghan kaayo ug fair weather friends sa dihang na monopoliya pa nila ang gahum sa Biliran. Apil mga huwes, pulis, contractor, drug lords. Karon kay morag tisawop na ang fair weather para sa ila, ning distansya na pod ang mga nagpaka friend-friend. Mao may gyud seguro na ang kinabuhi sa tawo.
Nagkalisang lisang na ni si Pugak karon. Makita man nato sa aksyon sa iyang mga iro, naglaway na ug andam nang mobanghag. Sayop lang sila nga ilang gisuwayan ang mga patakaran sa korte ug sa integridad niini. Wala pa ni labot nga isyu sa huwes o politika ha? Integrity of the court lang ni. Bahala na ug unsaon lambigit sa mga kuwang ug timbang ang huwes and si Cong. Chong.
Maayo na lang gad unta dili ashan. Pero kay mopaak, delikado ta sa rabies.
KKB 1472:
Daghan man gud mga haka-haka nga akong nabatian mahitungod sa mga panghitabo karon.
Kining tanan mga gawagawa lang sa mga Espina. Remember nga miingon si Rep. Glenn nga wala siyay pagsalig sa integrity sa prosecutor sa Naval mao nga adto niya gifile sa regional trial court, Tacloban city. Maglisud man gud ang mga Espina pagsabutahi sa corte sa Tacloban kay dili man niya kailla mao nga iyang gihangyo si Sec. Gonzales nga ipabalhin sa Manila ang trial. Karon kay nagfile man ug prohibition ang kampo ni Rep. Chong aron ibalik sa Tacloban. Mao ni nga nahadlok napod ang mga Espina. So, nangita sila ug pama-agi nga dili madayon sa Tacloban, instead, ibalhin sa Naval ang trial. Aron maconvince nila ang judicatora nga kinahanglan nga mokaylap una sa Naval na ang mga Espina ug ang corte not in good term para kon aquited ang ma Espina ug mga kauban sa Naval ambush case, walay sindicato nga na involved, fair ang laban. Ngano man? kay nagconflict and huwis ug mga Espina tungod sa nahitabo sa Timangan' hosts.
Ang gipanulti nila Jerome ug George last wedneday klaro kaayo nga scripted kay sa dihang si George na ang misulti, maklaro kaayo ang dictation ni Jerome. Morag naay gibasa.
Busa, angay gyud nga magbantay pag-aayo ang atong maabtik nga congressman.
Kumbati 1473,
Daghan lang gayud diay gihapon ug taktika si Pugak no aron maniobrahon niya ang paglakat sa panahon dinhi sa ato? Sa kaso ini karon sa mga kimpang nga timbangan, abi seguro niya ug iyang mabulingan ang huwes ug si Cong. Chong. Apan ang resulta mao nga gipanamastamasan hinoon sa mga iro ang integridad ug pamalakat sa korte sa balaud.
Ang naalaut ani karon sa taktika ni Pugak mao hinoon si Jerome ug si Jorge. Sunod na ni si Utip ug si Jerry ug malipat. Maayo ug iapil na lang pod ang manager sa RN, kay duna ni siyay tulubagon sa pagkalapas sa broadcast ethics diha sa radyo.
Pero bisan pa ug unsaon, tisawop na gayud gihapon ang panahon para sa mga Bandido nga nagpakaharihari una dinhi sa ato.
Kumbati 1473:
Sa palagay ko may puntos ka! Baka mga papakana ng mga panlilinlang lang ito sa kampo ng mga espina. Huwag sana tayong magsasaya ng patapos dahil sa nangyari nganyon na nasa kulongan na ang mga asong ulol ng mga espina. Datapwat, pag-iingatan natin ng maigi at samahan natin ng mataimtim na pagdarasal na hindi tayo mahuli sa bitag sa kampo ng mga espina.
Kon sa madaling salita baka drama lang nila ito dahil sabi ni Jerome hindi raw sila magfile ng complain for lack of due process and abuse of authority sa court of appeals. Kon talagang victims of injustices itong mga hosts ng timbangan dapat eforward nila ito sa court of appeals para mapatunayan nila. BAka sabihin nila na wala silang pera? naku kaya nga nila na gagastos ng 6,000 pesos a week sa programa nila? ibig sabihin may source of financial support sila, bat hindi nila ito gagamitin para mapatunayan nila na mayroong abuse of authority at lack of due process ang ginagawa ni judge jaboco. Ito lang kasi ang pinaka maganda na paraan para lilitaw ang katotohanan. Ngunit, kon pupunta sila ng court of appeals, baka masira ang plano nila, dahil drama lang nga itong mga pangyayari ngayon!!!
kkb 1474,
Ano pasahop na ang adlaw sa mga Espina? ano ka helo? baka ang idolatry nyo na Glenda ang pasahop na? Bidlisiw pa, pero pasahop na... he he he he!
Kairo pod ni si Decoy uy, trying hard man mag Binisaya. Bandido gayud ni.
Sakto lang gyud nang imong alyas - decoy, as in dekorasyon, o butang nga gamiton paglipatlipat. Mao ka na ana, kapantay sa mga nabalhug nga kimpang nga natibhangan.
Bisan tuod ug hapit na mosawop, muuna na lang ko sa imo ug ingon nga "good evening".
KKB, pasagdahi nlang na si decoy kay mora na ug si utip nga walay direction, sama sa mga asong askal.
Mga taong polically frustrated na mao nga kapit na sa patalim!!!!
KKB 1477:
Ay naku sa yo KKB! talagang humiwalay na ang iyong topic! pati user'sname ko pinaki-alaman mo!
Baka hindi mo alam na nahuli ko na ang ibig sabihin ng KKB (Kapisanan ng mga Kabaklaan sa Biliran) baka sorogate sister ka ni Glenda? anong say mo? he he he he!
Intoy 1478:
ikaw naman, isip mo ay gamatoy, mabuti pa magpa totoy ka nalang kang KKB!!! he he he
Anonymous 1471
Sorry for the late reply. I have been away.
Generally, minimum educational qualification is the completion of a 4 year degree, preferably in journalism or mass communication. However, broadcasters are also categorized as accredited or non accredited with either NUJP, KBP or other recognized bodies subject to completing their respective prescribed courses, certifications and training programs.
However, in practice, employment really is dependent on meeting employer's requirements in terms of the suitable education and work experience and relative references.
In the case of Radyo Natin, it would have been advisable that Michael Aguilos had implemented the Broadcasters Code of the Philippines 2007 which require radio personnel, broadcasters, and commentators and block timers to be accredited with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters sa Pilipinas (KBP)of which MBC is a complying member.
But the basic requirement of a broadcast journalist or commentator is to be truthful to the facts presented, independent assessments of issues and fairness to entities, and individuals involved.
Please read the preamble of the Code. To me, it contains the most important qualifications that commentators must hold to be on and off the air, so to speak.
To me, you don’t have to be a college degree holder to qualify to become a commentator with Radyo Natin. Accredited with KBP, preferable. What you do need is that sense of honesty, fairness and the love for Biliran and Biliranons.
ERRATUM:
It should read this way:
For me, you don’t have to be a college degree holder to qualify to become a commentator with Radyo Natin. Accredited with KBP, a must. What you do need is that sense of honesty, fairness, independence ,ethics, audacity to speak out the truth and the love for Biliran and Biliranons.
Dia napod itong mga manghak nga espina dogs, dinhi na pod manggulo! walay insakto nga tumong kon dili manglawgaw lang!
Maayo pag manahimik mo kay malinawon ito nga site, karon gugolohin nyo.
Mao man jud ni inyong style, puro mga demolation team sa mga espina. Unsaon man gud nga member man sa 15/30 mao nga bisan walay klarong isulti mopaghot jud aron lang labanan ang ilang amo nga mga kawatan!
Nag-ingon man mga hosts nga bag-o sa Timbangan nga mangayo sila ug tabang sa mga supporters nila para sa piso-piso campaign para ibayad sa multa nila Jerom ug George. Pero deadma jud ang mga tao diri sa Naval kay halos tanan, nangasuko jud aning mga tawhana. What I heard nga bisan gani ang mga parents ni jerome wala man mo duaw. Ugma mag ten days na sila.
Anonymous 1483:
Ay sus! bisan mag-unsa pa ang mga Espina, wala nay motoo sa ila. Ila ning mga drama kay nagsolicit pod tawon ni sila ug simpatiya sa mga tawo. Pero, morag sawa na ang mga tawo sa ilang mga binu-ang.
Karon, ang mga tawon nalang nga mga parihas nilag mga kina-iya nga mga kawatan maoy nagpabilin nga mga suporters nila.
Kining mga 15/30 nga mga wala poy ulaw, bisan ug walay mga trabaho gusto lang modawat ug limpyo. Mga ka kulay gyud sa mga Espina nga mga corupt.
A typical example of a violation against the Broadcast Code:
(start of article)
DOJ CHIEF ON BRAVO INTERVIEW
‘ABS-CBN violated broadcast code’
Network: ‘It was a legitimate story’
By Tetch Torres
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 19:11:00 10/22/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez is considering a complaint against broadcast network ASB-CBN for airing on television an interview with wanted Moro rebel commander Abdullah Macapaar, alias Commander Bravo.
Gonzalez accused the network of violating provisions of the Broadcast of the Philippines, particularly Sections 2 and 4, which state that “criminals shall not be glorified” and that “crime should always be condemned.”
However, reacting to the justice chief’s charges, the network, in a statement from news and current affairs head Maria Ressa, said the interview with Macapaar was “a legitimate story, and our interview with him aired October 20 and 21 adhere to ethical standards of journalism.”
Gonzalez said he might file the complaint against ABS-CBN before the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP, Association of Broadcaster of the Philippines).
He also accused ABS-CBN reporter Jorge Cariño of asking “loaded” questions and claimed that it was not enough for the network to get the side of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
"The interview created an impact that he [Macapaar] is greater than life with his followers cheering at his back," Gonzalez said.
He also claimed the interview terrorized people by the impression that MILF might launch attacks.
Gonzalez said ABS-CBN should have coordinated with authorities to help catch Macapaar instead of allegedly allowing itself to be used for the Moro rebel leaders’ propaganda.
However, Ressa said it was ABS-CBN’s “responsibility as journalists to report on people and events that affect public interest.”
She also stressed that “the public has the right to know” about Macapaar, who “is one of the country’s most wanted men, a key figure in the collapse of the peace process in Mindanao.”
Ressa pointed out that ABS-CBN has been covering Macapaar “for many years now -- even during peacetime. We will continue to report on what he says and does with the same zeal and professionalism that we would use when covering his arrest -- if and when that happens.”
Aquarius:
Kon naay mga guidelines and ethical standard of journalism, ngano nga ang RN Naval bisan kinsa man lang ang mosulti basta makabayad lang.
Ambot kon kasabot ba kaha si Mr. Aguilos ani nga guidelines and ehtical Standard of Journalism kay morag wala mana siyay pk alam sa ipanulti sa mga block timer basta maka income lang ang RN.
Anonymous 1486
Biliranons have been tolerant of these violations.AS such, if no one files a formal complaint, business will go on as usual.
Michael Aguilos is totally responsible for the implementation of the Code. Failure to do so is subject to appropriate fines and penalties.
However, if no one complaints, it will be taken as no violations. It is up to the Biliranons to inform KBP of these violations.
Aguilos has been negligent in the exercise of his duties, and if he continues to do so, he is in peril of losing his license to operate.
ERRATUM:previous post.
Should read as:
However, if no one complains, it will be interpreted as no violations. It is up to the Biliranons to inform KBP of these violations.
FYI
Biliran, 5 towns link up to enhance tax collection
By JACK C. GADAINGAN
http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20081023138761.html
NAVAL, Biliran -- To enhance revenue generation, the provincial government, and five of this province’s component municipalities are into full computerization and interconnectivity on the real property tax system.
This developed after the first release of P24 million from an P80-million loan package from the Department of Finance’s Program Lending (Prolend) that paves the way for the initial stages of implementation, including training of computer encoders and operators who are the end-users of the computerization and interconnectivity system.
Trained for five days at the Biliran Provincial Information Technology Learning Center (BPITLC) were two personnel each of the Office of Municipal Assessor, Office of Municipal Accountant, and Municipal Treasurer’s Offices of the municipalities that opted to be interconnected with the provincial government’s taxation system.
These towns are Almeria, Kawayan, Cabucgayan, Culaba, and Biliran.
But due to partisan politics, the towns of Naval, Caibiran, and Maripipi declined to be included in this computerization and interconnectivity program which is cost-free.
Biliran Gov. Rogelio Roger J. Espina said the computerization program will transform the province and its component municipalities into electronic local government units (e-LGUs), and establish an accurate and transparent scheme on real property and business tax sharing between the province and the towns.
Kawawa talaga ang mga Biliranon ngayon dahil tataas naman ang tax. Lalo ng pinahihirapan ni Doc Rabbit ang ating mga polobing mamayan.
Kahit gaano pa ka efficient ang tax collection kon popunta lang ito sa bulsa ng mga Espina, wala talagang gamit.
Kailan pa kaya tayo makahihinga sa mga abuso ng mga Espina.
I believe the time has come to break out of this too much loan made by the Espina government which does not serve us well. We have to re-examine the idea of loan for development which is not worth it. I don’t know what will happen to us if Gov. Roger Espina will win next election as congressman.
Our present congressman Rep. Glenn Chong has ultimate purpose behind his effort as a law maker and also to point the way to a more self-reliant development.
It is increasingly recognizable that funds for infrastructure projects and other related programs by our congressman are very possible without hampering the economy of our poor province. It is also another problem for our farmers because taxes will increase too. What kind of developments the Gov. Roger Espina is trying to propose for us?
The previous 35 million loans were not properly audited. Now, another 80 million loans are in progress and we are doubtful if this loans will provide progress for our province or for Espina’s. Indeed, there has been regression and a serious loss of proper political policy in provincial level governance. This is a real negative historic legacy by the Espina corrupt government for past 15 years and maybe more than that if we will not open widely our perspective for right direction.
Kumbati 1491
The key to the development of Biliran is a master plan or blue print defining the vision for the province for the next 50 years, broken down into short medium and long term strategies.
The decision makers need to establish how they want Biliran to be promoted to its neighboring regions, nationwide and to the world. Will Biliran be seen as a tourist destination? As an agricultural province? As a metropolitan hub? As a source of highly skilled manpower? As an education capital of the region?
The town planning will then be drafted defining the physical structural requirements, infrastructure government services, manpower, funding and business development requirements The draft strategic plan will need to be explained to the Biliranons and gather more inputs until a widely acceptable plan is arrive at.
Due to the scarcity of funds, viable coordinated strategic implementation programs will need to be sorted out to establish priorities in line with the master plan.
I have nothing against borrowing funds to finance developmental projects, if conducted within the auspices of a master plan. Biliranons must be given thorough information as the nature of the funding, application of funds, timetable for the completion and most importantly, what impact it will generate on their day to day living.
Will it result to more disposable income for the family? Will it promote a healthier Biliranon? Will it keep the prices of goods within reasonable level? Will it assure the Biliranons of ample supply of food and services? Will it keep the cost of education within reach of poor and underprivileged? Will it promote more efficiency within the bureaucracy that will result to savings in its day to day operation? Will the savings be given back to the Biliranons in terms of improved services?
These are just a few questions that need to be considered in the initiation and implementation of any developmental plans. Unfortunately, the absence of a master plan has led to the unnecessary wastage of funds and opportunities.
The responsibility of initiating and implementing a master plan for Biliran is a shared responsibility of the Provincial Government and each municipal government. The Office of the Representative of the Lone District of Biliran can assist in terms of legislation; and obtaining additional funding within his discretion.
Borrowing funds to finance developmental projects is one of the sources of funds available to any government entity. I reiterate, there is nothing wrong about that if conducted within the auspices of a master plan.
Uy nakagawas na diay sa prisohan ang duha ka timbangero nga puro hambugero kagabei lang mga 1:00 AM. Pero karon na pod ang hearing sa second count of indirect contempt, nag start at 9:00 AM. I heard 3 counts of indirect contempt are filed against them.
Atong hulaton kon ano na usab ang mga excuses ang ipalabas niining mga tawhana. Abangan!!!!!
Aquarius 1492:
Very interesting points you raised up for the development of our province. And I think, your ideas might well be the answer. I think, to, that the root of the problems we face lie in our political leaders in the provincial level, then, that’s the time I’m all for making master plan! I think the center of it is our inner motivation and world view, which is heavily shaped by the master plan.
I see our present local government constantly striving and wanting things we do not have, instead of feeling satisfied with our current situation and I see many others in the same situation. We tend to focus our attention on the world around us, instead of focusing on how we can change inside to be more satisfied regardless of our surroundings.
I believe that if we can find ways to achieve development, regardless of our circumstances, then we will have the discipline that is needed to live more sustainably.
Wala diay madayon ang hearing ganina para sa second count for indirect contempt sa mga timbangero nga mga abusado kay ang ilang abugado nagfile ug motion for reconsidiration, sa Nov. 5 na pod. Kay kon nadayon to ganina another 60 days napod unta sila mapriso.
Ang ilang abugado kay si Atty. Almadro man diay. Siya ug si Roselyn ang nagkuha nila gabii sa prisohan. Ilang gituyo nga 1:00 AM ipagawas ang duha ka piniriso nga mga timbangero kay aron dili makit-an sa mga tawo.
Karon ato ng maklaro nga si Almadro diay ang usa sa mga nagpaluyo aning mga timbangero mao hambog kaayo.
Anonymous
All Freedom Fighters
If indeed, SB Roselyn Espina Paras and Atty Ruben Almadro fetched the Timbangan hosts from prison, it may lead to the conclusion, that in all this time, Atty Almadro has always been working with the Espina Dynasty ever since the 2007 elections.
I will let you draw your own conclusion. It would have been wise for him to appear independent of the Espina Dynasty than working with them. You call it "delicadeza".
Now the truth may be revealed. Was Atty Ruben Almadro a decoy for the Espina Dynasty to divide the 2007vote for the Governor in case it became too tight? This might explain the past failures of Atty Almadro to appear on their campaign sorties back in 2007.
BTW, can anyone shed a light of the person from Cabucgayan who supposedly convince Gerry Espina Sr to come back to Biliran to run for Congressman? The same person, according to Gerry Sr in his radio program "Pagusapan", founded FOGE.
Is that person and Atty Ruben Almadro one and the same? I hope, for his sake, that he is not.
Anonymous
All Freedom Fighters
If indeed, SB Roselyn Espina Paras and Atty Ruben Almadro fetched the Timbangan hosts from prison, it may lead to the conclusion, that in all this time, Atty Almadro has always been working with the Espina Dynasty ever since the 2007 elections.
I will let you draw your own conclusion. It would have been wise for him to appear independent of the Espina Dynasty than working with them. You call it "delicadeza".
Now the truth may be revealed. Was Atty Ruben Almadro a decoy for the Espina Dynasty to divide the 2007vote for the Governor in case it became too tight? This might explain the past failures of Atty Almadro to appear on their campaign sorties back in 2007.
BTW, can anyone shed a light of the person from Cabucgayan who supposedly convince Gerry Espina Sr to come back to Biliran to run for Congressman? The same person, according to Gerry Sr in his radio program "Pagusapan", founded FOGE.
Is that person and Atty Ruben Almadro one and the same? I hope, for his sake, that he is not.
FYI,
Important information on Atty Ruben Almadro.
Please click on the link below to read the full jurisprudence.
http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2003/mar2003/ac_5246_2003.html
PHILIPPINE JURISPRUDENCE - FULL TEXT
The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation
A.C. No. 5246 March 20, 2003
EDGAR O. PEREA vs. ATTY. RUBEN ALMADRO
Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
SECOND DIVISION
A.C. No. 5246 March 20, 2003
EDGAR O. PEREA, complainant,
vs.
ATTY. RUBEN ALMADRO, respondent.
Resolution:
The report was adopted and approved by the Board of Governors of the IBP Commission on Bar Discipline with some modifications thus:
"RESOLVED to ADOPT and APPROVE, as it is hereby ADOPTED and APPROVED, the Report and Recommendation of the Investigating Commissioner of the above-entitled case, herein made part of this Resolution/Decision as Annex "A"; and, finding the recommendation fully supported by the evidence on record and the applicable laws and rules, with modification, and considering that Atty. Ruben L. Almadro�s actuations reveal not only serious neglect or indifference to his duties as a lawyer but more gravely his open disrespect for the court and the authority it represent. Respondent is hereby SUSPENDED from the practice of law for one (1) year and FINED for Ten Thousand (P 10,000.00) Pesos. Likewise, Atty. Sua and Atty. Alambra are ordered to explain why they should not be held in contempt for deliberately foisting a deliberate falsehood and misrepresentation."11
Hala, na dibar diay gyud ni si Atty. Almadro!
Last election sa paghunat gyud ni almadro nga siya ang modagan pagka governor, majority sa mga freedom fighters against gyud kaayo sa maong plano. Pero ni insist gyud ang opposition group kay tagaan daw ug onother chance c Almadro.
Karon ning gawas na gyud ang tinood nga kulay ni Reuben Almadro. Klaro kaayo ang report sa una nga nabayaran na siya ug 5 million sa mga Espina para dili lang niya tinod-on pagpangumpanya ug dili siya naghatag ug kuarta. Siguro minggasto si Almadro ug mga 1 million sa iyang pangumpanya, unya nakadawat siya ug 5 million, naa pa siyay 4 million.
Karon ang iyang plano, modagan siya pagka congressman. Nganong congressman man gyud? kay aron mabahin ang mga butanti ni Rep. Glenn.
Kon matinood man ito, pila man sab kaha ang iyang madawat sa mga
Espina. Dinhi nato makita ang personal interest nga gitinguha ni Reuben Almadro. Naa pa nang iyang asawa nga si Ruby, pwerting estriktaha, maayo ra ba ug kaguapa!
Admin
What happened to my previous post on the jurisprudence of the Supreme Court on Atty Ruben Almadro?
That is a public document readily available through the internet and Biliranons need to know who they are dealing with.
It is a very important piece of information.
To All Freedom Fighters:
Please access the following link to read the full text.
Jurisprudence
SECOND DIVISION
[A.C. No. 5246. March 20, 2003]
EDGAR O. PEREA, complainant, vs. ATTY. RUBEN ALMADRO, respondent.
http://www.supremecourt.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2004/aug2004/..%5C..%5C2003%5Cmar2003%5Cac_5246.htm
Anonymous 1499:
I know what do you mean because I was part of it who opposed the candidacy of Atty. Almadro for governor last election.
FYI, I was one of his active leaders before when he ran for congressman and his team mate was Roger Yu.
There's a lot of inconsistency as regards to what he said. Some of our watchers did not receive any financial compensation because he never showed up during and after the election. Even the snacks and lunch were shouldered by some of our leaders and they don’t receive any refund as he promised.
I was really surprised because he was very determined to fight against the Espina during the campaign period but for the last minute during the rally de advance, he did not appeared and especially during the election. Much more, we can’t reach his cell phone.
We are confused because 1 week before the election he was already out of reached. Somebody told us that he is in Manila to settle up his funds for elections. However, the news after election, he settled up the funds dealt by the Espina.
That’s why, last election, I was really negative about his candidacy for governor against Roger Espina. I was sure that he was very unwinnable. He is not very strong candidate to fight Roger Espina. Even if he fought against Gerry Sr. for congressman, his chance to win is clear as mud. I believed that only Atty. Chong, Susan Parilla and Dr. Pajo are strong candidates against the Espina dynasty.
Ngayon alam ko na!
Yon pala na hindi na muna nag-open ang Biliranisland.com dahil sa mga expose si Utip. Hindi kasi kaya ng mga pro chong ecounter attact ang mga ipinalabas ni Utip tungkol sa mga anomaliya sa iyong idolatry na si glenda! Para hindi mabulgar lahat ang mga modus operandes sa kampo ng mga opposition, giclose muna para hindi mahalata na iniwasan ang mga blogs ni Utip, konwari nasira raw ang database.
Hindi ako magaling sa computer pero nalaman ko thru my friend na magaling sa computer na mayroong back-up file yong mga website gaya ng biliranisland.com to prevent from hacking.
Takot kasi ang kampo sa opposition na malaman sa taga abroad ang mga anomaliya nila at hindi na magdonate para sa 2010 election campaign, kaya hininto muna.
My friend KKB darling na saan kana. Hindi kana kumibo dahil nabuking na ang kasarian mo.
Hindi kasi alam ni Utip ang site na ito. Kon malaman ito ni Utip, baka ito naman ang mawala sa internet.
Decoy 1503
Don't give credit to Utip for BI.
Yahoo's small business server is down not only for BI but also for the rest of the website hosting subscribers. They are working on it and hopefully it will be up soon.BI's webhosting is based in U.S.A. and the webmaster has been in constant communication with them until the problem is solved.
The last time BI had a problem it took them over a week to fix it.
Utip's posts are not exposes but rather malicious allegations which he cannot substantiate. You read my posts on Utip in BI when it comes back. I have been challenging him to formalize his complaints, but he couldn't.
Utip is nothing but a paid hack whose instructions have been to say one thing: destroy Rep Glenn Chong, his family and associates.
Every time he opens his mouth he digs a deeper hole for the Espina Dynasty.
You are not one of them, are you?
Aquarius, maayo jud nimo pagka ulo ni decoy. Boringog man gud ng tawhana mao nga gipasigarbo pa si utip nga pwerte kasip-sip. Walay hinungdan ang mga blogs niya puro lang mga intriga.
Usa na siya sa mga demolition team sa mga espina, sa internet, sa radyo ug sa mga kabaryohan nga magsuroysuroy aron siraan ang credibility sa atong maabtik nga congressman.
Mao ni sila ang mga member sa 15/30, mao nga bankrupt ron ang capitolyo, murag dili makahatag ug xmas bunos ang governor sa mga empleyado, kay iyang gisiguro ang mga 15/30.
Tama jud c decoy!
Kon wala pa niya ibulgar ang hinungdan kon ngano nga nawala sa internet ang Bl.com, dili pa unta na mobalik ron.
Basin moingon mo nagkakataon lang? no way! tinuyo na uy, kay pwede man ang webmaster maghimo ug temporary nga site kon nadaut man, di ba my friend decoy?
Tan-awa c KKB wala na nagpatim-aw kay basin berde jud siya ug dugo ug naulaw na magpasayasaya. Mao diay nga ang iyang alias sa una JDR2 kay iya man permi sungogun c Jun nga Darna. Ito c KKB, Darna2 pud diay ni siya no?
Karon nakakita na ug katapat c inday KKB, he he he he!
diehard,
It is obvious that you don't know how hosted websites operate. I should know. I have been assisting BI in following up Yahoo small business in USA to fix the problem not only on this week’s, but also of their previous problems in the previous months. BI has graduated from just a simple blog site into a proper, fully operational website which contains intricate system and large file content that cannot just be booted out from a temporary site.
When BI was hacked back in 2007 just before the elections, I created an alternative site called Biliran Insight, which I then terminated when BI came back to operation. BI was simple then. Mostly blogs on the death of former Gov Danny Parilla, and running online version of The Biliran Clarion.
Now Jalmz, BI’s Webmaster, has done a great job. The increasing traffic has also exposed the website to unforeseen outages which are mostly host server oriented.
BTW, Utip has nothing to do with this whatsoever. If there is anyone who wants BI to be out of operation, it will be Utip’s benefactors.
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