MikeLigalig.com

As the yuletide season is fast approaching, the city government has stepped up its drive against the total ban on firecrackers.

The campaign against the firecrackers is in accordance with the city ordinance no. 63 which has been implemented since 2008.

Through public announcements, the anti-firecracker campaign has started with the use of barkers, print, radio and television, including local newspaper Balitang Ozisero, Subic Bay News, cable television SBC TV22, dwGO AM and dwOK FM.

Posting of campaign posters and tarpaulins with the help of City Public Affairs Office (PAO) in different places in the city is also being implemented to continuously remind Olongapeños of the hazards and damages on the use of firecrackers against lives and properties.

Two years ago, in the midst of a fiesta parade, firecrackers exploded along the city’s public market that brought about million of pesos in damages and major injuries to some bystanders.

Mayor James “Bong” Gordon also cautioned on the use of Christmas lights to avoid accident and fire occurrences.

Police urged on Monday motorists to be more careful after six people died in two separate road mishaps in the province last week.

Supt. Ricardo Dayag, Jr. said three people died on the spot on Friday when a motorcycle collided with a farm tractor along national road in Barangay San Miguel Na Munti in this town.

Dayag identified the fatalities as Mark Christopher, 17; Kiel Christopher, 18; ad Leonard Bryan, 19; all surnamed Pangan and residents of Barangay Campus, also of this town.

The incident transpired barely three days after three people, identified as Sir Jade Angeles, 27; a resident of San Josef Norte; Alfonso Batulan, 24 of Barangay Dicarma, both of Cabanatuan City and Zaldy Suba, 24, of San Luis, Pampanga succumbed to multiple injuries when the single motorcycle they were riding was rammed by a Fuso tanker before dawn in Sumacab Este, Cabanatuan City.

PO3 Ernesto Naganao, police investigator, said the Honda Wave 100 motorcycle of Pangans, which was traveling northward, overtook another vehicle and was caught on the wrong lane by the southbound Izusu tractor (CTY 387) driven by Alvin Mallari, 38, of Barangay Bacal II, Talavera.

The Department Science and Technology (DOST) in Cagayan Valley recommended to the department to establish a medicine laboratory in the province of Nueva Vizcaya to study possible existence of herbal medicines in the region.

DOST consultant Dr. Rustico Santos, who is also a former DOST regional director, said that there is a need to put up a laboratory for research of herbal medicine as plenty of herbs in the region are present particularly to the forest areas.

He suggested that a laboratory be established in the province of Nueva Vizcaya as the province has vast area of forests in the area where variety of herb species are present and in like manner accessible to other provinces in the region .

He believed that the region has many potential of herbal plants that needs to study on and see its medicinal values.

Santos said if the proposed laboratory would be put up and operational, it can contribute a lot in the production of herbal products for healing different kinds of diseases.

Authorities restored at 6:33 a.m. Tuesday power supply in all municipalities of Nueva Vizcaya province which a magnitude 5.4 quake struck Monday morning.

Nueva Vizcaya stood without power for over 21 hours after the quake shattered facilities of National Grid Corporation of the Philippines.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported tectonic quake was strongly felt in Barangay Vista Hills in Bayombong town.

PHIVOLCS also reported a magnitude 4.4 tremor struck later at 10:35 a.m. followed by lower-magnitude aftershocks until 9:00 p.m. Monday.

Several schools suspended respective classes and many government employees headed home when the first tremor struck.

Provincial disaster risk reduction management council (PDRRMC) action officer Evaliza Agamata reported no injured persons, however. - pna

Japanese and Filipino technicians near completing installation of the multi-million peso composting machines which will convert into fertilizer Baguio City's 80 tons of daily organic solid waste.

Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan said the machines will be fully operational before May 2011 ends.

By then, he said Baguio City need no longer spend millions of pesos for hauling its waste to an engineered sanitary landfill in Capas, Tarlac province.

Baguio City at present spends some PhP2,000 to properly dispose every ton of its solid waste.

"Income from selling organic fertilizer to be produced would be more than enough for maintenance and operations of the machines - we therefore hope not only to save millions of pesos in hauling and tipping fees for disposing our garbage but to have another source of earnings for the city," Domogan said. - pna

All private vehicles coming here during the holidays are exempted until Jan. 7, 2011 from the city ordinance of reducing the number of motor vehicles entering the central business district (CBD).

City mayor Mauricio Domogan said this was the intent of his latest administrative order, which extended the suspension of the ordinance known as the "number coding scheme" more than two weeks ago.

He said he noticed the sustained number of tourists coming here for the holidays even when the many foreigners who saw action in the Fil-Am international amateur golf tournament had ended during the weekend.

Records show that the city and the whole Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) are expected to achieve their more than two million visitors this year.

Despite of the setback of the first snow show as part of the Christmas activities, many visitors are still excited to witness the other programs, which include those intended for the homecoming Filipinos, ballroom dancing, concerts and out-of-town editions of popular television shows. - pna

The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), is set to build a small port on the western bank of a river adjacent the Korea-Philippines Seafood Processing Plant (K-PSPP) in barangay Bonuan Binloc, Dagupan

The project was committed by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala when he inaugurated the K-PSS last November 30 this year at the request of former Fourth District Congressman Jose de Venecia Jr.

K-PSPP interim manager Westly Rosario, also chief of the National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center (NIFTDC), said the project is a landing port for motorboats from Western Pangasinan and La Union bringing their fish to the plant for processing.

Rosario said the port is necessary so that fish products from Lingayen, Binmaley, Bolinao, Anda and Alaminos can be easily brought to the K-PSPP for processing for sale in the domestic an export market.

He said the K-PSPP needs at least five metric tons of fish daily to process to make it financially viable. - pna

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) targets finish installing soon new road signs that'll help promote safer and easier travel here and in other areas of Cordillera region.

City engineering district chief Ireneo Galleto noted the signs are needed since those installed years earlier are already partially damaged due to vandalism and exposure to natural elements.

Many motorists complain about road signs in the Cordilleras at present, saying what's written on these are hardly visible particularly at night.

Drivers of vehicles involved in mishaps note such signs and the fog increase the risk for road accidents. (PNA)

The provincial government has busted the “untouchable” syndicate and inmate-members operating inside the Pampanga Provincial Jail for more than a decade.

This developed as Governor Lilia Pineda ordered the crackdown of reported extortion activities, proliferation of illegal drugs and prostitution between men and women inmates inside the provincial jail.

Guided with the order and verbal instruction, Second Lt. Nilo C. Villalon, acting provincial warden, has initiated the crackdown of the alleged illegal activities involving provincial guards, personnel and inmates inside the provincial jail.

Villalon said with the verbal instruction of Executive Assistant Dennis Pineda, he made vigorous plan and implemented it under the codename “ Oplan Delta Force”.

He said the Oplan Delta Force was able to identify major problems existing inside the provincial jail wherein some members of the provincial guards were allegedly involved.

In his report to the governor, Villalon said he issued administrative sanction to some provincial guards and personnel for negligence of duty and has recommended for their suspension while others were transferred to other assignment. - pna

Police and stakeholders of the local pyrotechnics industry are working hand-in-hand to ensure safety in the manufacture and sales of fireworks products in anticipation of the high demand for the Christmas season.

The PNP- Civil Security Group (CSG), in coordination with the Philippine Pyrotechnics Manufacturers and Dealers Association Inc. (PPMDAI) and the Provincial Government of Bulacan, on Tuesday held a one-day fireworks safety refresher course at the Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center here.

Chief Supt. Emelito T. Sarmiento, director of PNP-CSG, said the safety refresher course aims to instill safety consciousness to local manufacturers and dealers of fireworks.

He said accidents can be avoided if the stakeholders and the public would strictly follow safety regulations.

Sarmiento said the safety seminar is also geared towards the development of the local fireworks industry.

He said the PNP-CSG have invited resource speakers to provide local manufacturers and dealers with the latest tips on the proper handling, production and shipment of pyrotechnics.

Engineer Celso C. Cruz, chairman emeritus of PPMDAI, gave a lecture on the proper packaging, storage and shipment of fireworks products.

Cruz said some accidents happen due to careless packaging of fireworks.

He urged local manufacturers and dealers to stop the practice of just placing fireworks in paperbags or boxes.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) released to sea a sea turtle surrendered by fishermen who found this in their net last Friday.

Dr. Westly Rosario, chief of the BFAR’s National Integrated Fisheries and Technology Development Center (NIFTDC) in Dagupan, said the fishermen brought the sea turtle to his office, noting it belongs to an endangered specie.

Thanking the fishermen for their good deed, Rosario said they first fed and nursed the sea turtle before releasing back in the deeper portion of the sea to ensure that it will not go back to the shore again.

The sea turtle, he said, was as big as a basin and he suspects it is several years old and was among the sea turtles that was earlier accidentally caught by fishermen and surrendered to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) then released back to the sea after putting a name tag.

The fishermen confirmed they caught the sea turtle twice in their net and after the first time, it was put back to the sea but it again went into their net the second time around.

Rosario admitted noticing increased awareness of the people about endangered species, that is why they now surrender to the BFAR any sea turtle or sea mammal they found stranded in the shores.

He traced this increased awareness to the existence of a fish cemetery, the first of its kind in the country of not the world, where dead sea mammals and giant sea turtles were entombed. - pna

President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed Capiz Governor Victor Tanco and Ma. Luisa Segovia of the Iloilo Business Club as chairman and co-chairman of the Regional Development Council (RDC) in Western Visayas, respectively.

Information from the Knowledge Management Division of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) disclosed the news upon receipt of an Omnibus Appointment Letter sent by the Malacanang to Secretary Cayetano Paderanga Jr. and was forwarded to Director Ro-Ann Bacal here Monday.

“I look forward to working with Governor Tanco and Ms. Segovia in effectively steering the RDC-VI towards the development of Western Visayas (Region VI) for the benefit of its people,” Bacal who is the head of the technical secretariat of the RDC said.

The RDC is composed of the governors of the region, city mayors and mayors of capital towns, presidents of the League of Municipalities, selected regional directors of national line agencies and private sector representatives.

Tanco and Segovia were nominated during the RDC meeting held last Sept. 3.

Tanco is a graduate of B.S. Business Administration at the U.P. Diliman. His career has been centered in local governance, starting as a three-term councilor for Dumarao, Capiz and eventually as its three-term municipal mayor. He was then elected vice-governor of Capiz for three terms and is now a 2nd-termer governor. - pna

Personnel of the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) have been reminded to refrain from engaging in indiscriminate firing this holiday season.

APPO information officer Nida L. Gregas said that APPO director Sr. Supt. Epifanio Bragais had already announced the muzzle taping of issued firearms to prevent personnel from indiscriminate firing.

The schedule for the sealing of firearm will be disseminated to Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel after announcement and proper guidance from higher headquarters, Bragais added.

"The taping of the muzzle is done to make sure their government-issued firearms were not used indiscriminately for the New Year celebrations. This is also to remind our personnel of the consequences if they engaged in indiscriminate firing," he said.

Bragais said those caught violating or firing their guns in welcoming the New Year would be investigated and face possible criminal and administrative charges for illegal discharge of weapons. - pna

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog is eyeing a New Year’s eve countdown along the Treñas Boulevard here with fireworks fired from a barge at the Iloilo River.

The unique project will also ask the cooperation of radio music stations here to synchronize their sounds with that of the fireworks during the New Year celebration along the river.

Mabilog said he would want city residents to experience a unique celebration outside their homes with fireworks and other pyrotechnics to be produced by firework makers in the country and that of the Arevalo fireworks cooperative.

The fireworks cooperative has 20 registered firework makers with more than 300 members who made pyrotechnic making as their main source of livelihood.

As recommended by the Task Force on Trade Investment and Promotions Board chaired by local businessman Felix Tiu, the New Year celebration along the river is expected to eliminate or reduce accident cases caused by indiscriminate use of fireworks and firecrackers.

The task force also recommended to ban ground firecrackers and fireworks and instead have these go up in the air to accompany the fireworks. (PNA)

ILOILO CITY, Dec 14 (PNA) â€" Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog here has vowed to personally lead the implementation of curfew for minors next week at the newest fun haven of this city.

Mabilog admitted receiving reports that minors, especially those belonging to affluent families frequent the Smallville complex along the diversion road to enjoy the many hangouts, bars and restaurants in the area.

Various incidents involving minors happened in the area and cases usually involved those below 18 years old who participated in rambles and frat wars.

The city mayor said the curfew on minors, those below 18 years old, was embodied on city Ordinance 2006-020 that prohibited minors from roaming around starting 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Mabilog said he would personally advise the minors to be at home for safety during the curfew hours, in coordination with city councilor Plaridel Nava, chairman of the SP Committee on Women and Family Relations.

Admitting that a minor can not be jailed for creating public disturbance, the city chief executive said he would do within his powers to convince the minors not to violate the existing law.

Army troopers clashed with a 30-man armed group of the New People’s Army in a forested area between the borders of Nueva Ecija and Aurora, a belated Army news bulletin reported here on Wednesday.

This is the second report of the presence of insurgents since December 6 where a Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) detachment in Lupao, Nueva Ecija, was reportedly fired at by a band of NPA rebels of undetermined number.

The communist terrorists were reportedly encamped in a forested area between Barangay Labi, Bongabon and Barangay Villa in Maria Aurora, Aurora when surprised by troopers of the 48th Infantry Brigade, attached with the Army’s 7th Infantry (“Kaugnay”) Division based in Fort Magsaysay, Palayan City.

Troopers from Charlie Company of the 48th IB, under Lt. Bocala engaged the NPA guerrillas in an intense firefight that lasted about 30 minutes, starting around 12:45 a.m. on Monday.

There were no reports of casualties on the government side, while trails of blood had marked the escape route taken by the red rebels, the army reported. - pna

The Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) is on a maximum visibility mode at the start of the Simbang Gabi on December 16 to ensure the safety of churchgoers.

APPO director S/Supt. Epifanio Bragais has urged the cooperation of the public for them to also on alert for possible criminal elements that are out to take advantage of the traditional Misa de Gallo, PO2 Nilda Grecas, APPOP information officer relayed.

Likewise, public vigilance is also being encouraged to ensure safety while at the height of the yuletide celebrations.

The director stressed that the public must also do their share to ascertain their own safety especially this holiday season, which is the best chance for robbers and thieves to make a crime.

The PNP is working day and night in taking firm steps to curb criminality that’s why, community support is essential to win the battle against criminality, Bragais emphasized. (PNA)
LDV/ajp/PGLena/vlo

Iloilo - The Department of Agriculture (DA) here said the Farmer’s Contact Center (FCC) will be fully operational by January 2011.

DA regional technical director Remelyn Recoter said the FCC will be able to address various queries of farmers, cooperative and guest with regards to all agricultural matters by the time it operates some time in January.

Recoter said they are currently compiling and completing existing data on various agriculture programs. These include information, records as well as available materials on rice, corn and other crops, fertilizers, irrigation, loans, livestock and new technologies.

She admitted they are having a hard time cataloguing and sorting the data, especially on the frequently asked questions about the DA’s major agriculture thrust.

The department is also collecting data from its technical experts, commodity resource persons and farmer-scientist who are based in the region.

She hoped the data needed for FCC, which also acts like a data-bank of all agriculture programs and projects, will be more than enough by the time it opens.

Juvy Gaton, chief information officer of DA, said the FCC will serve as a one-stop-shop information center in all agricultural projects and programs in the region.

It will be opened to all agriculture-related inquiries and will try to address all the concerns of the farmers in the region. - pna

Cases of human rights violations in Western Visayas are decreasing, the Commission on Human Rights 6 (CHR-6) said.

From January to November this year, a total of 84 cases in the region were already filed at the commission. Of these, 43 cases were in Negros Occidental, Iloilo, 22; Iloilo City, 11; Aklan, three; Antique and Guimaras with two each and Capiz with only one.

According to Atty. Jonnie Dabuco of CHR-6, most of the complaints that were filed were against members of the Philippine National Police (PNP)with 20; unidentified suspects, 11; civilians, 10; CPP/NPA and Taekwondo teachers, both seven; Philippine Army and husbands, both six.

Other respondents were barangay officials, five; RPA-ABB members, school teachers, fraternity members, and jail guards, all with two; and each one for public official, government employee, NBI agent and Mayor.

Dabuco said the most common complaints were violation of Republic Act 9262 (violation against women and children), 7610 (child abuse), murder, physical injuries, rape, harassments, threat, unlawful arrest, grave misconduct, and hazing. - pna

A freshwater fish endemic and native to the temperate water of Australia is now undergoing field trials in Dagupan City under the watchful eyes of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

Under study at the Dagupan-based National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center (NIFTDC) since 2000, is the Australian silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus), a member of the Terapontidae family.

Dr. Westly Rosario, NIFTDC chief, and researcher Editha Roxas said studies on silver perch started with few stocks donated to the center by a private company.

The fish was first cultured in concrete tanks, then in earthen ponds for the growing out trials with other species like tilapia, catfish and common carps.

Latest report stated the progenies produced by the researchers from the few initial stocks are now being developed into breeders that will lay eggs and when they will mature into fingerlings would be dispersal in inland bodies of water soon.

If the research proves successful, silver perch will be introduced in many fish farms as part of the strategy of the BFAR to produce more protein food in the Filipino dining table and fight hunger.

Growing from 2.5 to 8 kilograms apiece, silver perch is highly regarded as the sleeping giant of world aquaculture, belonging to the low-tropic level in the food chain, similar to milkfish (bangus).

Silver fish is an excellent edible fish. The flesh is white with less bones, which makes it ideal for processing. - pna

Students and visitors both local and foreign have now added reasons to enjoy their visit to the Capitol Complex including the beachfront with the recent installation there of Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) Internet.

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. said people who visit the Capitol area can now avail of a free access to the internet.

He said the installation is a welcome development because the Wi-Fi is an added feature serving the needs of students as well as to attract more visitors to the Capitol.

This, he said, enables students and visitors to avail of free internet access anytime of the day once they are inside the Capitol Complex.

The provincial government has installed two internet routers at the front and back of the Capitol so that users can access the internet whether they are at the Capitol Plaza or at the beachfront.

Gov. Espino said the installed routers have a range of 350 meters and a band width of 1 mbps each.

He said the Capitol Wi-Fi, which is now in full-blast operation, has been opened to the public since August. - pna

The Department of Energy (DOE) is set to conduct an energy audit among resorts and hotels in this resort island in order to encourage stakeholders to take part in their conservation program.

DOE assistant secretary Leonilo Lariosa said the government is able to save P1.2 billion worth of electricity for this year in their campaign for energy conservation efforts among the government offices around the country.

"If the private firms would take part in our energy conservation program, we would be able to use our meager energy resources for a more productive means to further strengthen the economy," he said in a press conference.

The DOE came here as part of their National Energy Consciousness Month (NECM) every December. The theme of this year's celebration is "Towards Energy Access for More Through Energy Efficiency and Conservation."

Energy conservation hopes to reduce need for oil imports. Such reduction will lower the capital and operating costs of electricity and will consequently provide Filipino sufficient electricity at lower possible costs.

"For companies, increased energy efficiency means more savings and higher profit which will lead to greater company stability, more jobs and competitive markets. At the household level, energy conservation will mean less power consumption and more savings from electricity cost," Lariosa added.

To conduct the energy audit, the DOE plans to enter through a memorandum of agreement among business organizations in this resort island such as the Boracay Foundation Incorporated (BFI) and the Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI). - pna

Pyrotechnic vendors are only allowed to sell their products starting December 26 to 31 at the designated areas identified by the city government.

In a press conference, City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the identified firecracker zones are the vacant lot in front of Vic Imperial Appliance Center on Iznart St. in the City Proper; Molo Plaza; Mandurriao Plaza fronting the police station; Jaro Plaza; and La Paz Plaza and Promenade.

In Arevalo, these areas are in the Quezon-JV Jocson Streets to Osmeña Street and the long stretch of Bonifacio and Yulo Streets.

Mabilog said they have identified 20 registered pyrotechnic cooperatives with 300 members in Arevalo district -known to be the capital area of fireworks in this city.

He stressed they already coordinated with them about safety precaution so that there will be less firecracker-related incidents in welcoming Christmas and New Year.

During the displaying and selling of pyrotechnics, vendors are required to have with them buckets of sand and pails of water in case of fire.

Iloilo’s famous Dinagyang celebration here will also present the best of Ilonggo talents during the 2nd Ilonggo Arts Festival slated on January next year.

Anne Divinagracia Sartorio, chairman of the 2nd Ilonggo Arts Festival, said the event will showcase the talents of students and locales in the fields of composo, vocal solo, cheerleading competition and dance sports.

She stressed the Ilonggo Arts Festival will be able to give added attraction for the Dinagyang festival and make the public aware of the hidden talents of the Ilonggos.

The Ilonggo Arts Festival is slated on January 18 to 20, 2010.

Sartorio said both the composo and vocal solo must be an original Filipino music in Ilonggo. While a minimum of cheers in Hiligaynon is a must in the cheerleading event.

Finals competition for composo and cheerleading will be on January 18, vocal solo on January 19 at the SM activity center. While the dance sports finals will be on January 20 at Robinson’s Mall Iloilo.

Champions for vocal solo and composo will receive P3,000, while the dance sports, both in Latin American and Modern Standard dance events will receive P5,000. - pna

Antique Vice Governor Rose Dimamay said that during their Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) session Tuesday they have approved a supplemental budget amounting to P14 million intended for the around 3,325 scholars of the provincial government.

Dimamay, who is the chair of the SP Committee on Education, further said that the scholars who are mostly in their college level are taking up different courses and majority are now enrolled at the University of Antique main campus and in its extensions. There are also scholars who are enrolled in the Catholic school Saint Anthony’s College.

The vice governor said that originally, the allocation for the scholars this year is only P3 million.

Each scholar is being given a budget of P2,500 per semester for their tuition fee and book allowance.

Dimamay said that since Gov. Exequiel B. Javier would like to provide opportunities for the poor but deserving students to finish their education and be able to improve their status in life that he has been sending scholars since he was even congressman of the province.

She said that in Antique there are now about 2,000 to 3,000 scholars that had been helped and graduated from the scholarship program of the province. (PNA)
LAP/AJPetinglay/vlo

Pursuant to the economic vision of President Benigno Aquino III, the Technology Resource Center (TRC) is spearheading the country’s drive towards global technological competitiveness and self-sufficiency through innovative technology projects.

TRC Director General Dennis L. Cunanan said the center is now working hand-in-hand with key government agencies and private sectors to come up with a Philippine-made train coaches, monorail system, power-generating windmills and industrial cranes â€"all using inexpensive, Philippine indigenous materials.

Cunanan said the coming up with these projects would prime economy while making the country more globally competitive.

This is in accordance with TRC’s upgraded functions as spelled out by Secretary Mario Montejo of the Department of Science and Technology, TRC’s parent agency, he said.

Montejo earlier announced that the DOST is delving into innovative technology solutions to help boost the economy and solve pressing problems of the country as per the instruction of President Aquino.

Among the innovative solutions that being pursued by the DOST are the manufacturing of an innovative “mosquito trap” to counter the dengue menace, produce a locally-made computer tablet to revolutionize the public education system and develop a cost-effective ‘health sachet’ to address the malnutrition problem.

In an effort to expedite the realization of these goals, Montejo resolved to course them through TRC.

TRC is a government-owned and controlled corporation more popularly known for its role in disseminating a variety of livelihood technologies through hands-on training and the publication of its education booklets and VCD’s. - pna

Governor Lilia Pineda on Wednesday led the turnover of the 64 units of bunkhouses to landslide victims in Barangay San Juan Bano in this town.

The construction of the bunkhouses was funded by the Pampanga provincial government while Third District Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales purchased the lot for the victims upon the initiative of the concerned local government officials.

I saw your (landslide victims) situation while living in the tents and dilapidated building. That’s why, I, together with other local officials, tried to build these bunkhouses as soon as possible, the governor said.

It can be noted that the groundbreaking ceremony was held last September 26 and in less three months, all 64 units of bunkhouses were erected.

The provincial government spent more than P5.7 million in the construction of the bunkhouses and Rep. Gonzales, on the other hand, gave P1.5 million for the lot.

"This is a dream come true. I thought I am going to die without any permanent place to live in following the destruction of our house due to landslide last year. But through your help, we now have our own home, Bernabe Parel, 65, resident beneficiary, narrated. - pna

By Judy Flores-Partlow

Special Investigator Jess Cañete of the Commission on Human Rights in Negros Oriental said he will write the Japanese Embassy in Manila, seeking any assistance possible for a broke Japanese national found to be overstaying in the Philippines for several years already.

This early, however, Cañete said an initial telephone conversation with personnel from the Japanese consulate in Cebu City had indications the Japanese government may not be able or willing to help the stranded Japanese national here.

Masayoshi Kokubu, 45, a plumber from Yokohama, Japan, is technically a candidate for deportation by the Philippines’ Bureau of Immigration for staying in the country without the necessary travel documents since 2002, said Cañete.

A visit to the Immigration office in Dumaguete on Monday afternoon showed that Kokubu owes the Philippine government about P140,000 in fines and penalties for failure to renew his tourist visa, by which he had entered the country about eight years ago, said Cañete.

Cañete, however, has pleaded to the Immigration office here to allow him custody of Kokubo and not subject him to the regular deportation proceedings considering the “unique” circumstances which have left the man destitute and penniless.

Kokubo is claiming that his live-in Filipino partner, with whom he has a three-year old daughter, had left him in 2007 after he went broke and could no longer support the family.

Some three months ago, he claimed he was forced to leave his house (made of indigenous materials) following some stoning incidents, and since then, neighbors said he was wandering in the fields until he found a shed where he had slept since, said Cañete. Kokubu was subsisting on guavas and whatever little food the neighbors could spare for him.

“It is not like he intended or wanted to be in this situation, he is just a victim of these horrible circumstances,” said Cañete.

Cañete also noted Kokubu’s willingness to go back to Japan despite a little reluctance in leaving behind his daughter.

Monday’s scheduled dialogue between Kokubu and his estranged partner, Rosalinda (not her real name) did not materialize after the woman failed to show up for unknown reasons.

Another Japanese national, Minami Toshimichi, and his Filipina wife, Mila, meanwhile, appeared in the same meeting to give snippets of information about Kokubu’s life in Sibulan. The couple, however, said they were not privy to the fallout between Kokubu and Rosalinda as they live several kilometers away from them.

Toshimichi and Kokubu had met in Manila several years ago, which led to Kokubu’s arrival in Sibulan, also the hometown of Minami and Mila.

Cañete said what is important now is to find all possible venues to have Kokubu sent back to Japan in a safe and sound manner.

According to Cañete, a lady friend and her Japanese husband have already promised to shoulder the airfare of Kokubu in returning to Yokohama.

The Department of Education (DepEd) in Negros Oriental is filing an official complaint before the DepEd division of Lapu-lapu City in Cebu province, this year’s host of the regional schools press conference, for what had happened to their children during the five-day regional contest.

Dr. Celedonia Notarte who acted as supervisor of the Negros Oriental delegation numbering a total of 166, lamented the poor catering services and accommodation they had in Lapu-Lapu City, threatening the health of their children.

At first, they were impressed with the set-up but to their dismay, their children were given what they believe was spoiled meat and bread in the morning, she said.

It was repeated at noon time, when their food tasted bitter, according to Notarte. He reported that after eating the food, some of their children vomited and had stomach ache.

In the evening, some children had opted to eat only rice and drink water while others spent their own money to eat outside the school.

In the afternoon, Notarte tried to contact the caterer but to no avail and to raise the matter to the Department of Health.

The DepEd official is urging the city government of Lapu-Lapu and the school division to investigate the alleged poisoning of the children, in seeking answers to what transpired during the regional schools press conference in the city. - pna

Aside from raiding clandestine fireworks factories and ensuring that manufacturers and dealers are strictly complying with the safety guidelines, the Bulacan Police Provincial Office (BPPO) on Wednesday started distributing flyers on the safe use of firecrackers in an effort to prevent accidents and fires during the holiday season.

Bulacan police director Sr. Supt. Fernando Villanueva said the Bulacan PNP-Police Community Relations Branch has already distributed the safety tips flyers to the different police stations in the province.

He said the safety tips are timely reminders for revelers on how to stay safe while enjoying the holidays.

Villanueva said most of the flyers will be distributed in towns where fireworks stores are located like Bocaue, Sta. Maria, Baliuag, San Ildefonso and Angat.

He said the Bocaue Police under Supt. Ronaldo de Jesus, the Sta. Maria police station under Supt. Marcos Rivero and the Angat police station headed by Chief Inspector Arwin Tadeo, in coordination with the Bureau of Fire Protection and local government units, are also conducting mobile public address â€"an information drive reminding both the public and dealers on the safe use and proper packaging of fireworks. - pna

More Philippine Army troops have been deployed to Negros Oriental to boost current efforts to quell the insurgency problem in the province.

The 32nd Division Reconnaissance Company (32nd DRC) of the Philippine Army arrived here during the weekend and will operate under the supervision of the 302nd Infantry Brigade based in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental.

Maj. Edgardo Amores, the brigade’s spokesman, said the 32nd DPRC had served about three months as one of the reconnaissance units under the 3rd Infantry Division’s (3ID) Task Group South West (TGSW).

The TGSW was deactivated with the arrival of 47th Infantry Battalion, who took over the Southwest area of Negros Occidental as its new operational area.

The 32nd DRC, under the command of 1Lt Alex B Raposon, contributed greatly to the successful isolation of the Kilusang Larangan South West from the populace, the neutralization of its guerilla bases there, and constantly keeping the enemy on the run, said Maj. Amores.

This unit is highly mobile and primarily operates in conducting reconnaissance missions. They also perform as a direct action unit when necessary. They are equipped with light weaponry and is capable of sustaining long periods of engagement with the enemy. - pna

Around 1,000 evacuees who were displaced by typhoons and massive flooding in this municipality last year benefited from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) outreach project that was held in cooperation with municipal health unit and volunteer rescue team from Metro Manila.

The displaced residents are currently residing in tent cities 1 and 2, and E-Cubes 1 and 2, all temporary resettlements in this municipality.

SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza led officials, physicians and medical staff of Subic and Cubi Dispensary, Public Health and Safety Department headed by Dr. Solomon Jacalne, community relations officers of Public Relations Department headed by Armina C. Llamas and volunteers from Board of Investment (BOI) media pool, during the medical mission and gift-giving for affected families of typhoon “Ondoy.”

Most of those treated during the medical mission were children afflicted with “sore eyes,” cough and colds, and for the elders, high blood pressure and rheumatism.

Medicines, vitamins and gift packages were also distributed to beneficiaries.

Municipal Mayor Nerma Yap lauded the efforts of SBMA officers and employees for their initiative to conduct a medical mission for her constituents. - pna

Officials of the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) and a Chinese metal pipe manufacturing firm recently signed a contract for its expansion project inside this Freeport.

CDC President Benigno N. Ricafort and HLD Clark Metal Pipe Co., Inc. President Zhen Wei Feng signed a contract that will allow the company to lease another four hectares of open space for its additional production line.

Ricafort said the pipe firm is a subsidiary of Huludao City Steel Pipe Industrial Co., Ltd. which was founded in September 1993, specializing in producing high-frequency straight line welding pipes, being used as casing pipe for petroleum products.

For its expansion project, the CDC official said the HLD Clark will be manufacturing additional steel pipes for export.

In August 2009, Ricafort and Zhen signed a 25-year lease contract for the establishment of a metal pipe fabrication plant here.

During the contract signing, Zhenwei said his company will invest more than $ 35 million for the Clark-based company. - PNA

The Iloilo provincial government’s Public Employment Service Office (PESO) is offering more than 500 jobs for job seekers, both for local and overseas employment, in a one-day Christmas job fair at the Capitol ground floor Thursday.

PESO president Francisco Heler said around 60 manpower agencies and establishments here will participate in the job fair.

“Interested applicants may bring their bio-data and other credentials,” said Heler.

He added that most jobs offered by these agencies and establishments are service employment such as sales representatives, service crews, call center agents, and hotel utilities, among others.

There are also jobs offered like computer technicians, nurses, doctors and those medical-related.

In last year's job fair, PESO had facilitated more than 1,000 job seekers who are already employed both locally and abroad.

With this holiday schedule, a pocket of three working days from December 28 (Tuesday) to December 30 (Thursday) remains for the remainder of the year after Christmas.

Herewith is the holiday schedule for December 2010:

Friday, December 24 â€" Additional Special (Non-Working) Day*

Saturday, December 25 â€" Christmas day; Regular Holiday; non-working day*

Sunday, December 26 â€" non-working day

Monday, December 27 â€" Monday nearest Rizal Day, December 30;

Tuesday, December 28 â€" working day

Wednesday, December 29 â€" working day

Thursday, December 30 â€" working day

Friday, December 31 â€" Last Day of the Year; Special non-working day*

Saturday, January 1 â€" non-working day

Sunday, January 2 â€" non-working day

Monday, January 3 â€" working day. (PNA)

By Miko Morelos
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Shrieks of joy greeted the six men acquitted by the Supreme Court in the Vizconde massacre as they stepped out of the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa City Tuesday.

Hubert Webb, Michael Gatchalian, Miguel Rodriguez, Hospicio Fernandez, Antonio Lejano and Peter Estrada were all smiles.

Webb, the principal suspect in the ghastly killings of Estrellita Vizconde and her daughters Carmela and Jennifer, was mobbed every step of his way out.

“I want to thank God for being by our side especially with my family,” he told reporters in a hastily arranged meeting at the NBP conference room.

“I am grateful for the truth. The truth did come out. From the start we already said we’re innocent and we believed in the system. We did not run away.”

Webb lashed at critics who said that his family bought off the magistrates.

He said that if claims that his father, former Sen. Freddie Webb, wielded his influence “why would I allow myself to be jailed for 15 years.”

“Four thousand days,” he said. “I should have been freed a long time ago if the allegations were true.”

Forgiveness, hot bath

He said one of the things he learned in jail was “to forgive the people” who caused him harm.

The elder Webb spoke about his teenage son and his relationship with him while being incarcerated. He was about to share plans of a wedding with his son’s mother when he suddenly stopped talking and his eyes glistened.

Across the hall, teary-eyed siblings entered the room and looked at their brother, clad in regulation orange shirt. Webb put his head on the table and appeared to keep his composure but tears soon streamed down his face.

His brother Jason walked past prison guards and the press, opened his arms and embraced Hubert.

“One hot bath!” Estrada said when asked what he planned to do next.

Fernandez’s wish seemingly came out of his common-law wife.

“We will get married,” Anna Crame, 34, blurted out as Fernandez gave a hearty chuckle. He was profuse in expressing gratitude to Anna, saying if she wasn’t tough as nails, their relationship would not last three years “and counting.”

Philippine Daily Inquirer

There are two “controlling issues” in the case, the Supreme Court said. These are:

• Whether or not Jessica Alfaro’s testimony as eyewitness, describing the crime and identifying Hubert Webb, Antonio Lejano, Michael Gatchalian, Hospicio Fernandez, Peter Estrada, Miguel Rodriguez and two others as the persons who committed it, is entitled to belief.

• Whether or not Webb presented sufficient evidence to prove his alibi and rebut Alfaro’s testimony that he led the others in committing the crime.

The quality of the witness

Was Alfaro an ordinary subdivision girl who showed up at the National Bureau of Investigation after four years, bothered by her conscience or egged on by relatives or friends to come forward and do what was right? No. She was, at the time she revealed her story, working for the NBI as an “asset” … one who earned her living by fraternizing with criminals so she could squeal on them to her NBI handlers. She had to live a life of lies to get rewards that would pay for her subsistence and vices.

But was it possible for Alfaro to lie with such abundant details some of which even tallied with the physical evidence at the scene of the crime? No doubt, yes. Firstly, the Vizconde massacre had been reported in the media with dizzying details.

Alfaro was the NBI’s star witness, their badge of excellent investigative work. After claiming that they had solved the crime of the decade, the NBI people had a stake in making her sound credible and, obviously, they gave her all the preparations she needed for the job of becoming a fairly good substitute witness. She was their “darling” of an asset… Why the trial court and the Court of Appeals failed to see this is mystifying.

The quality of the testimony

What motivated Alfaro to stick it out the whole night with Webb and his friends? They were practically strangers to her and her boyfriend Estrada. When it came to a point that Webb decided with his friends to gang-rape Carmela, clearly, there was nothing in it for Alfaro… If, on the other hand, Alfaro had been too soaked in drugs to think clearly and just followed along where the group took her, how could she remember so many details that only a drug-free mind can?

Alfaro’s trailing Carmela to spy on her unfaithfulness to Webb did not make sense since she was on a limited errand. But, as a critical witness, Alfaro had to provide a reason for Webb to freak out and decide to come with his friends and harm Carmela.

According to Alfaro, when they returned to Carmela’s house the third time at around midnight, she led Webb, Lejano, and Ventura through the pedestrian gate that Carmela had left open. Now, this is weird… Why would Alfaro, a woman, a stranger to Webb before that night, and obviously with no role to play in the gang-rape of Carmela, lead him and the others into the house?

Webb’s alibi

Among the accused, Webb presented the strongest alibi.

Webb claims that in 1991 his parents, Freddie and Elizabeth Webb, sent him to the United States to learn the value of independence, hard work and money.

On June 28, 1991, Webb’s parents visited him in Anaheim, California, and stayed with the Brottmans. On the same day, Freddie Webb introduced Honesto Aragon to his son when he came to visit. [On] June 29, Webb, in the company of his father and Aragon, went to Riverside, California, to look for a car. They bought an MR2 Toyota car… To prove the purchase, Webb presented the Public Records of California Department of Motor Vehicle and a car plate “LEW WEBB.”

In using the car in the United States, Webb even received traffic citations. On June 30, 1991, Webb, again accompanied by his father and Aragon, bought a bicycle at Orange Cycle Center, which issued him a receipt.

When he arrived in Manila, Webb again went through Philippine immigration. The arrival stamp and initials on his passport indicated his return to Manila on Oct. 27, 1992.

Alibi vs positive ID

The trial court and the Court of Appeals were one in rejecting Webb’s alibi as weak against Alfaro’s positive identification of him as the rapist and killer of Carmela and, apparently, the killer as well of her mother and younger sister.

A judge must keep an open mind. He must guard against slipping into a hasty conclusion, often arising from a desire to quickly finish the job of deciding a case.

A positive declaration from a witness that he saw the accused commit the crime should not automatically cancel out the accused’s claim that he did not do it.

To be acceptable, the positive identification must meet at least two criteria: the positive identification of the offender must come from a credible witness, and the witness’ story of what she personally saw must be believable, not inherently contrived. Alfaro and her testimony fail to meet these criteria.

In our criminal justice system, what is important is not whether the court entertains doubts about the innocence of the accused since an open mind is willing to explore all possibilities, but whether it entertains a reasonable, lingering doubt as to his guilt.

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Discussion

The majority holds that petitioners have standing before the Court; that President P-Noy has the power to create the Truth Commission; that he has not usurped the powers of Congress to create public offices and appropriate funds for them; and, finally, that the Truth Commission can conduct investigation without supplanting the powers of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice since the Commission has not been vested with quasi-judicial powers.  I fully conform to these rulings.

The majority holds, however, that Executive Order 1 violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution.  It is here that I register my dissent.

The 1987 Constitution provides in section 1 of Article III (The Bill of Rights) as follows:

Section 1. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.

          The idea behind the “equal protection clause” is that public authorities should treat all persons or things equally in terms of rights granted to and responsibilities imposed on them.  As an element of due process, the equal protection clause bars arbitrary discrimination in favor of or against a class whether in what the law provides and how it is enforced.

Take the comic example of a law that requires married women to wear their wedding rings at all times to warn other men not to entice women to violate their marriage vows.  Such law would be unfair and discriminatory since married men, who are not covered by it, are exposed to similar enticements from women other than their wives.

          But it would be just as unfair and discriminatory if people who hardly share anything in common are grouped together and treated similarly.[2]  The equal protection clause is not violated by a law that applies only to persons falling within a specified class, if such law applies equally to all persons within such class, and reasonable grounds exist for making a distinction between those who fall within it and those who do not.[3]   

For example, restaurant cooks and waiters cannot complain of discrimination against an ordinance that requires them but not other workers to undergo periodic medical check-ups.  Such check-ups are important for food-handlers in the interest of public health but not for ordinary office clerks.  Also, a law that grants a 60-day paid leave to pregnant workers but not to other workers, male or female, is not discriminatory since female workers who just had their babies need more time to care for the latter and make adjustments for going back to work.

          Here, the issue I address is whether or not President P-Noy’s decision to focus the Truth Commission’s investigation solely on the reported corruption during the previous administration, implicitly excluding the corruption during the administrations before it, violates the equal protection clause.  Since absolute equality in treating matters is not required, the ultimate issue in this case is whether or not the President has reasonable grounds for making a distinction between corruptions committed in the recent past and those committed in the remote past.  As a rule, his grounds for making a distinction would be deemed reasonable if they are germane or relevant to the purpose for which he created the Truth Commission.[4]

And what is the President’s purpose in creating the Truth Commission?  This can be inferred from section 1 of Executive Order 1 which states that the Commission’s primary function is to â€"

            xxx seek and find the truth on, and toward this end, investigate reports of graft and corruption of such scale and magnitude that shock and offend the moral and ethical sensibilities of the people, committed by public officials and employees, their co-principals, accomplices and accessories from the private sector, if any, during the previous administration, and thereafter recommend the appropriate action to be taken thereon to ensure that the full measure of justice shall be served without fear or favor.

Evidently, the objective the President sets for the Truth Commission is the uncovering of the “truth” regarding reported corruption in the previous administration “to ensure that the full measure of justice [evidently upon those responsible for it] is served without fear or favor.”  Ultimately, the purpose of the creation of the Truth Commission is to ensure that the corrupt officials of the previous administration are exposed and brought to justice.

          The majority holds that picking on the “previous administration” and not the others before it makes the Commission’s investigation an “adventure in partisan hostility.”  To be fair, said the majority, the search for truth must include corrupt acts not only during the previous administration but also during the administrations before it where the “same magnitude of controversies and anomalies” has been reported.

The majority points out that corruption in the previous administration and corruption in the administrations before it have no substantial difference.  And what difference they have, the majority adds, is not relevant to the purpose of Executive Order 1, which is to uncover corrupt acts and recommend their punishment.  Superficial difference like the difference in time in this case does not make for a valid classification.

But time differentiation should not be so easily dismissed as superficial.  The world in which people live has two great dimensions: the dimension of space and the dimension of time.  Nobody can say that the difference in time between two acts or events makes for a superficial difference.  Such difference is the substance of human existence.  As the Bible says:

There is an appointed time for everything,
and a time for every affair under the heavens.
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to tear down, and a time to build.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them;
a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
a time to be silent and a time to speak.
A time to love, and a time to hate;
a time of war, and a time of peace.
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, New American Bible)

Recognizing the irreversibility of time is indispensable to every sound decision that people make in their lives everyday, like not combing the hair that is no longer there.  In time, parents let their married children leave to make their own homes.  Also, when a loved one passes away, he who is left must know that he cannot bring back the time that is gone.  He is wise to move on with his life after some period of mourning.   To deny the truth that the difference in time makes for substantial difference in human lives is to deny the idea of transition from growth to decay, from life to death, and from relevant to irrelevant.

Here the past presidential administrations the country has gone through in modern history cover a period of 75 years, going back from when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ended her term in 2010 to the time President Manuel L. Quezon began his term in 1935.  The period could even go back 111 years if the administration of President Emilio Aguinaldo from 1989 to 1901 is included.  But, so as not to complicate matters, the latter’s administration might just as well be excluded from this discussion. 

It should be remembered that the right of the State to recover properties unlawfully acquired by public officials does not prescribe.[5]  So, if the majority’s advice were to be literally adopted, the Truth Commission’s investigation to be fair to all should go back 75 years to include the administrations of former Presidents Arroyo, Estrada, Ramos, Aquino, Marcos, Macapagal, Garcia, Magsaysay, Quirino, Roxas, Osmena, Laurel, and Quezon.

As it happens, President P-Noy limited the Truth Commission’s investigation to the 9 years of the previous administration.  He did not include the 66 years of the 12 other administrations before it.  The question, as already stated, is whether the distinction between the recent past and the remote past makes for a substantial difference that is relevant to the purpose of Executive Order 1.

That the distinction makes for a substantial difference is the first point in this dissent.

1. The Right to Equal Protection

Feasibility of success.   Time erodes the evidence of the past.  The likelihood of finding evidence needed for conviction diminishes with the march of time.  Witnesses, like everyone else, have short memories.  And they become scarce, working overseas, migrating, changing addresses, or just passing away.  Official or private documents needed as evidence are easily overwhelmed by the demand to file and keep even more documents generated by new activities and transactions.  Thus, old documents are stored away in basements, garages, or corridors, and eventually lost track of, misplaced, or simply destroyed, whether intentionally or not.  In a government that is notorious for throwing away or mishandling old records, searching for a piece of document after ten years would be uncertain, tedious, long, and costly.

When the government of President Marcos fell in 1986, the new government acted swiftly to sequester suspected wealth, impound documents believed to constitute evidence of wrong-doing, and interview witnesses who could help prosecute the Marcoses and their cronies.  One would think that these actions will ensure successful prosecution of those who committed graft and corruption in that era.  Yet, after just a decade, the prosecution has been mostly unable to find the right documents or call the right witnesses.  Today, after 24 years, the full force of government has failed to produce even one conviction.

Clearly, it would be a waste of effort and time to scour all of 66 years of the administrations before the last, looking for evidence that would produce conviction.  Time has blurred the chance of success.  Limiting the Truth Commission’s investigation to the 9 years of the previous administration gives it the best chance of yielding the required proof needed for successful action against the offenders.

Historically, there have been no known or outstanding inquiries done by the Executive Department into corrupt acts of the past that went beyond the term of the immediately preceding administration.  It makes sense for President P-Noy to limit the investigation to what is practical and attainable, namely, the 9 years of the previous administration.  He strikes at what is here and near.  Perchance, he can get a conviction.  Investigating corruption in the past 75 years rather than in the nearest 9 years, under a nebulous claim of evenhandedness, is the key to failing altogether.  It has been held that if the law presumably hits the evil where it is felt, it is not to be overthrown because there are other instances to which it might have been applied.[6]

Neutralization of Presidential bias.  The Court can take judicial notice of the fact that President P-noy openly attacked the previous administration for its alleged corruption in the course of his election campaign.  In a sense, he has developed a bias against it.  Consequently, his creation of the Truth Commission, consisting of a former Chief Justice, two former Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, and two law professors serves to neutralize such bias and ensure fairness.  The President did not have to include the 66 years of earlier administrations for investigation since he did not specifically target them in his election campaign.

At any rate, it does not mean that when the President created the Truth Commission, he shut the door to the investigation of corruption committed during the 66 years before the previous one.  All existing government agencies that are charged with unearthing crimes committed by public officials are not precluded from following up leads and uncovering corruptions committed during the earlier years.  Those corrupt officials of the remote past have not gained immunity by reason of Executive Order 1.

Matching task to size.  The Truth Commission is a collegial body of just five members with no budget or permanent staffs of its own.  It simply would not have the time and resources for examining hundreds if not thousands of anomalous government contracts that may have been entered into in the past 75 years up to the time of President Quezon.  You cannot order five men to pull a train that a thousand men cannot move.

Good housekeeping.  Directing the investigation of reported corrupt acts committed during the previous administration is, as the Solicitor General pointed out, consistent with good housekeeping.  For example, a new treasurer would be prudent to ensure that the former treasurer he succeeds has balanced his accounts and submitted himself to a closing audit even after the new treasurer has taken over.   This prevents the latter having to unfairly assume the liabilities of his predecessor for shortages in the cash box.  Of course, the new treasurer is not required to look farther into the accounts of the earlier treasurers.

In like manner, it is reasonable for President P-Noy to cause the investigation of the anomalies reportedly committed during the previous administration to which he succeeded.  He has to locate government funds that have not been accounted for.  He has to stanch the bleeding that the government could be suffering even now by reason of anomalous contracts that are still on-going.  Such is a part of good housekeeping.  It does not violate the equal protection clause by its non-inclusion of the earlier administrations in its review.  The latter’s dealings is remotely relevant to good housekeeping that is intended to manage a smooth transition from one administration to the next.

2. The President’s Judgment
as against the Court’s

That is the first point.  The second point is that the Court needs to stand within the limits of its power to review the actions of a co-equal branch, like those of the President, within the sphere of its constitutional authority.  Since, as the majority concedes, the creation of the Truth Commission is within the constitutional powers of President P-Noy to undertake, then to him, not to the Court, belongs the discretion to define the limits of the investigation as he deems fit.  The Court cannot pit its judgment against the judgment of the President in such matter.

And when can the Supreme Court interfere with the exercise of that discretion?  The answer is, as provided in Section 1, Article VIII of the 1987 Constitution, only when the President gravely abuses his exercise of such discretion.  This means that, in restricting the Truth Commission’s investigation only to corruptions committed during the previous administration, he acted capriciously and whimsically or in an arbitrary or despotic manner.[7]

To act capriciously and whimsically is to act freakishly, abruptly, or erratically, like laughing one moment and crying the next without apparent reason.  Does this characterize the President’s action in this case, considering that he merely acted to set a feasible target, neutralize political bias, assign the Commission a task suitable to its limited capacity, and observe correct housekeeping procedures?  Did he act arbitrarily in the manner of little children changing the rules of the game in the middle of the play or despotically in the manner of a dictator?  Unless he did, the Court must rein in its horses.  It cannot itself exceed the limits of its power of review under the Constitution.

Besides, the Court is not better placed than the President to make the decision he made.  Unlike the President, the Court does not have the full resources of the government available to it.  It does not have all the information and data it would need for deciding what objective is fair and viable for a five-member body like the Truth Commission.  Only when the President’s actions are plainly irrational and arbitrary even to the man on the street can the Court step in from Mount Olympus and stop such actions. 

Notably, none of those who have been reported as involved in corruption in the previous administration have come forward to complain that the creation of the Truth Commission has violated their rights to equal protection.  If they committed no wrong, and I believe many would fall in this category, they would probably have an interest in pushing for the convening of the Commission.  On the other hand, if they believe that the investigation unfairly threatens their liberties, they can, if subpoenaed, to testify invoke their right to silence.  As stated in the majority opinion, the findings of the Commission would not bind them.  Such findings would not diminish their right to defend themselves at the appropriate time and forum.

For the above reasons, I join the main dissent of Justice Antonio T. Carpio.



ROBERTO A. ABAD
                                                              Associate Justice

What is the effective cure for almoranas?

Article 4 Philippine Constitution
Section 1. The following are citizens of the Philippines:
[1] Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of the adoption of this Constitution;
[2] Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines;
[3] Those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority; and
[4] Those who are naturalized in accordance with law.

Article 4 Philippine Constitution
Section 2. Natural-born citizens are those who are citizens of the Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect their Philippine citizenship. Those who elect Philippine citizenship in accordance with paragraph (3), Section 1 hereof shall be deemed natural-born citizens.

Article 4 Philippine Constitution
Section 3. Philippine citizenship may be lost or reacquired in the manner provided by law.

Article 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution
Section 4. Citizens of the Philippines who marry aliens shall retain their citizenship, unless by their act or omission, they are deemed, under the law, to have renounced it.

Article 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution
Section 5. Dual allegiance of citizens is inimical to the national interest and shall be dealt with by law.

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Manila Bulletin: It appears Her Majesty approves of the new Narnia film.

Describing a poignant scene toward the end of the third film in the blockbuster series, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader," actor Liam Neeson said he became emotional during its royal world premiere earlier this week.

"I shed a tear the other night and I was told the Queen shed a few tears as well," he told a news conference on Thursday.

Neeson provides the voice of the animated lion Aslan in the movies, based on the children's classics by C.S. Lewis.

Studio backer Twentieth Century Fox will keep a close eye on how the movie performs at the box office when it opens widely next week, having taken over from the Walt Disney Co.

When the first Narnia picture "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" came out in 2005, it earned $745 million in global ticket sales and was the third biggest movie of the year.

But Prince Caspian, the second Narnia picture released in 2008, recorded global box office takings of $420 million.

Mark Johnson, a producer on all three Narnia films, told the briefing that he would like to extend the franchise further.

By ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ
Manila Bulletin

Having written a plethora of hits for other artists and himself, the half-Filipino, half-Puerto Rican R&B singer-songwriter Bruno Mars has now earned a total of seven nominations at the 53rd Grammy Awards.

Mars, whose real name is Peter Hernandez, scored nods mostly as a songwriter and member of the writing/production trio, The Smeezingtons (together with Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine).

He has double nominations on Record of the Year for B.o.B’s “Nothin’ On You” (in which he also lent his infectious vocals), as well as Cee Lo’s “F*** You” (otherwise known as “Forget You”). The latter single (which was famously rendered by Gwyneth Paltrow in one “Glee” episode) is also nominated for Song of the Year.

As the force behind the aforementioned hits, as well as Travie McCoy’s “Billionaire,” Mars and the rest of The Smeezingtons also got a nod for Producer of the Year.

Manila Bulletin - Action star Robin Padilla finally gave his two cents on the rumor that wife Mariel Rodriguez is set to leave ABS-CBN to co-host TV5’s “Willing Willie.”

“Siguro ['yung] kay Mariel saka kay Willie [Revillame], naging amo niya ng matagal si Willie. At alam ko naman na kung ano 'yung pinagsamahan nila, [ay] hindi naman dapat na itapon 'yun. Kaya lang may mas amo si Mariel, at 'yan ang ABS-CBN. Ano man 'yung pupuntahan ng usapan niya kay Willie, dapat aayunan 'yan ng ABS-CBN. Ayoko naman 'yung magka-problema si Mariel sa ABS,” the actor said in a recent interview.

Robin also quashed rumors that he and Willie are caught in a misunderstanding because of this.

“Ay, wala! Ka-lalaki naming tao. Tampuhan... magsyota ba kami? Wala siguro sa 'min 'yun. Lalo na si kapatid na Willie eh, masasabi nating ka-generation natin 'yun. Wala, wala sa amin 'yun,” he said.

More, Robin said that the last time he and Willie talked was when he filled in for the latter’s hosting duties on “Wowowee” in May this year.

By ANNIE S. ALEJO

Manila Bulletin - There are seven books that make up “The Chronicles of Narnia” and with the third series “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” already wowing audiences on the big screen, the renewed interest in legendary author C.S. Lewis has remained since “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” first debuted on screen in 2005.

C.S. Lewis, whose close friends called him Jack, was also friends with another legendary fantasy writer, J.R.R. Tolkien (“Lord of the Rings,” the trilogy was turned into Academy Award-winning movie adaptations). Lewis had a lifelong fascination with fairy tales, myths and ancient legends and this led him to write the first book of this series.

Douglas Gresham, one of his two stepsons, is the executive producer of “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.” Having been on set while the movie was being shot in Australia, Gresham has had the chance to see the extraordinary world of his stepfather come to life.

“I am the creative and artistic director of the C.S. Lewis Company, which is my day job. Making movies is a hobby on the side, although it has become bigger than the day job,” Gresham shares. “I probably know more about Narnia than any other living human being. I certainly know more about Jack than anybody still alive. It was my project to get these movies made at some stage in my life and I have very much been enjoying the process.

Gresham also shares a little bit of insight about what Lewis was like. Gresham recalls reading the first of the series, “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” when he was about six, in 1951. “It was read to me first by my mother. But Jack would read me bits of what he was writing. That was an interesting experience. Some bits I loved and some I didn’t like at all! I would tell him my thoughts and we used to laugh about it.”

Talking about his stepfather’s now-famous friendship with Tolkien, Gresham says, “Jack (Lewis) and Tolkien gathered together with other great literary minds, all great friends in a loosely affiliated literary group called ‘The Inklings’ and they would read their work to each other; whereupon the rest of the group would just tear it to shreds in criticism. And the result of that is that these works came out pure at the end of it. There is not a wasted word… not even a wasted comma because everything was torn apart and rebuilt in deep conversation with much merriment and lubricated by beer and tobacco smoke.”

Gresham notes that the men had a great time going through that process.  “But of course in today’s world authors couldn’t do that, because something we have lost is the value of understanding criticism. In the academic world today, if someone criticizes you or your work, it is becoming traditional to hate them for it. Back in those days you sought out the people who would criticize you, because you cannot learn from anyone who agrees with you all the time. I have the same problem with some of my children. They say, ‘Don’t criticize me’, I say ‘Why ever not? How else will you learn?’ In academic circles these days, nobody criticizes because people get offended.”

Indeed, it was the power of imagination that shaped the stories those legendary authors told, but it was also the graciousness and openness to listen that helped them find their way around the worlds they created.

And although Gresham admits that Lewis had been “worried about films,” he notes that Lewis knew the technology was evolving but he was “afraid of the uses to which it could be put.” Gresham elaborates that, “That fear was borne out by Hitler’s propaganda movies.”

But Lewis had been really perceptive, even back then. “One of Jack’s biggest problems with Narnia in relation to films is that he felt it was almost impossible to do justice to the character of Aslan with the technology that existed back then,” Gresham notes. But had Lewis seen how Aslan had been done in the movies now, Gresham knows that, “he would be absolutely thrilled with the majesty and dignity of the character.”

By ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ
Manila Bulletin
Boxing champ and congressman Manny Pacquiao has sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in investigating the alleged illegal use of his image by a foundation soliciting donations.

In response to the Saranggani representative’s grievance, the NBI arrested three members of the “Partners Against Malaria” foundation on Dec. 8. They were identified as Anthony Musso, a Puerto Rican; Edward Gutierrez, a US citizen; and Nora Llaniguez, a Filipino.

Pacquiao said in an interview aired on GMA’s “Unang Hirit” that the foundation, which claims that it has the cure for malaria and dengue, used his image and name in their websites (stampoutmalaria.org, partnersagainstmalaria.org, and buyactrx.org) without his knowledge and consent.

“Unfair naman sa akin na mag-post sila ng picture ko at manghingi ng donation nang hindi ko alam. Kawawa naman ‘yung mga tao na nagdo-donate sila sa akin na hindi ko alam,” GMA News quoted him as saying.

As stated in the foundation’s website, “For as little as $50.00 USD your donation will treat an unfortunate child or victim of malaria or dengue fever!” “Partners Against Malaria” was registered in Nevada, USA.

In one of their releases, the organization cited Pacquiao as one of their founding members, who “will be helping to produce the incredible new discovery that will change how Malaria and Dengue Fever are treated worldwide.”

It even announced that after Pacquiao’s fight with Antonio Margarito, the boxer-politician will be working with fellow founders in starting a campaign to promote awareness as well as to raise funds “to offset a severe cycle of malaria and dengue fever which is dramatically impacting his country.”

The piece also contained a photo of the eight-division world champion with the tagline, “Help Manny Pacquiao knockout malaria and dengue in the Philippines and the rest of the world.”

Pacquiao is miffed with the suspects’ accusation that his staff extorted P20 million from them.

“Ang sabi nila nanghihingi daw ang staff ko ng P20 million sa kanila para mai-set sila nang meeting sa akin. Nung inimbestigahan ko ang staff ko, hindi naman totoo,” said Pacquiao in the same GMA report.

The boxer-politician related that Musso, Gutierrez and Llaniguez had asked for his help in the midst of his training in Baguio a few months back. He referred them to his chief of staff, Atty. Jeng Gacal.

In the same GMA article, Gacal said that he declined the group’s request when he learned that they are "peddling" a particular medicine line.

"Ang plano ay mag-donate ng pera worldwide at the amount donated will be used for malaria and dengue, ‘yun produkto rin nila,” he said.

Gutierrez, in a separate interview also aired on “Unang Hirit,” maintained that their group has no ill intentions.

“We are here to help people, who are dying and suffering from malaria and from dengue,” he said.

Atty. Eric Nuqui, supervising agent of the NBI-NCR, said that the department will continue probing on the matter. If enough merits are produced, the suspects may be charged with estafa and swindling.

THE Commission on Human Rights in Bohol now records a significant decrease in human rights cases compared to about a decade ago.

In fact, had not the commission expanded its services to include an legal advice and inter-agency referral system that was not institutionalized in its past functions, the cases this year may have been much lower, admits Bohol CHR Rito Montes.

Montes showed statistics as he bared these developments during the recent Kapihan sa PIA aired live over DyTR.

Set up to commemorate the national Human Rights Week Celebration and adopting the theme Karapatang Pantao: Kilalanin, Tuparin at Pagyamanin, the forum on air with the CHR was aimed to update Boholanos of the human rights situation in Bohol.

In 1999, CHR Bohol noted 57 cases of human rights violations.

This was even lower compared to 2002 when at the height of Bohol’s struggles facing insurgency and holding it by the horns where some 88 cases were recorded.

In 2008 and 2009 however, the CHR said it noted only 24 cases on both years.

It added that their 30 cases form January to November of this year, may be understood because of the newly opened legal assistance and inter-agency referral system that was recently institutionalized and incorporated in the CHR mandate, Montes explained.

In its comparative data provided, CHR bared that that in 2010, while recorded cases of violations went to 30, 7 of these are actually legal advice and assistance cases, a new service by the CHR.

Even then, CHR regional Director Atty. Alejandro Alonso admitted that there are still some areas where the government has not fully addressed.

Alonso was quick to follow it up by citing the need to address the full implementation of the law against extra legal killings and enforced disappearances, which have been reported until the present.

Moreover Atty. Alonzo said human rights education continues to be the agency’s top priority in its efforts to be proactive in its human rights advocacy and violations monitoring mandates.

He also urged everybody’s help in helping to realize their agency mandate to actualize an empowered society. (racPIABohol)

By Ven rebo Arigo

His detractors’ misinterpretation and critics’ wrong perception have failed to erode the stance of Gov. Edgar Chatto against gambling, legal or illegal.

The governor said those who think incorrectly about his consistent position are free to express strictly because this is a democratic country.

“But we can also make our views and principles clearest so as not to mislead the public,” Chatto maintained.

On his live weekly Kita ug Ang Gobernador broadcast, the capitol chief executive reiterated that he is “not in favor of gambling per se, legal or illegal.”

The governor has been firm for Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Director Constantino Paul Barot, Jr. and his men to intensify the drive against all forms of illegal gambling, including illegal numbers game.

With the resurgence of jai-alai which betting stations are regulated by law just like the legitimate outlets of suertres lotto, certain mayors and local government units (LGUs) sought the governor’s “advice.”

Chatto said he is happy that most of them have heeded to his advice.

He has openly expressed his view to the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan led by Vice Gov. Concepcion Lim and mayors who sought his opinion as the “provincial governor and a citizen of the Republic.”

He has also moral obligation to the people and fellow leaders as their governor, and Chatto said he is very well aware of it.

For the nth time, the governor repeated his stance on the issue of illegal gambling or gambling per se in all its forms in response to a query during the Kita ug Ang Gobernador.

The question posed by a lawyer-member of the media touched on the reported pending applications for legitimate jai-ali betting stations in certain towns after one in Alburquerque was allowed by the LGU to operate.

Chatto said that he has discouraged the LGUs from granting permits and asked his legal team to check on the legality of jai-alai operation.

To make himself more understood, the governor cited cockfighting as one activity that involves betting. However, it is deemed legal because cockpit operation is governed by laws.

Thus, he cannot arbitrarily padlock a cockpit just because he is the top official of the province. He stressed that there are regulations governing cockfighting.

As best possible means, the governor did make personal contacts with local officials, law enforcers and church leaders.

He said he has set a meeting with all the mayors that will not just tackle one issue but so many others to make all concerns clearer to all.

The governor revealed he had already shared ideas and discussed them openly with the religious leaders of the Dioceses of Tagbilaran and Talibon.

Chatto cautioned against selective discussion on the gambling issue.

This he made as the public observed a top city official and his spokesmen expressing disgust for the re-entry of jai-alai but who would not condemn illegal suertres.

Chatto said “we should be consistent in our policies, not advocating against one form of gambling while keeping mum on another.”

The governor said that “in singling out, the public would naturally be led to conclude that you favor the other.”

press release

The grand opening blessing and gala inauguration of the multi-million new modern hospital on Saturday January 8, 2011 at 8:00 A.M. at the new site Dampas District, Tagbilaran City.

Francisca “Fancy “ Baluyot, R.N. Chairman Board of Directors and Dr. Benjamin A. Galia, Medical Director respectively of the Medical Mission Group Hospital & Health Services (Bohol Cooperative Hospital) happily announced the good news.

The building features modern equipments, clean, spacious and fully air-conditioned wards, air-conditioned private rooms with TV & refrigerator, de luxe rooms, centralized pipe-in oxygen and suction apparatus, fire alarm system, stand- by generator, spacious parking area, 24-hour security, well-lighted hallways, atrium and modern amenities.

MMGH Hospital is an institution with capable and committed personnel providing quality services to cooperative members, their families and the public and to provide total health services which is affordable, accessible and sustainable. Hospital services include Internal Medicine, Cardiology (Pedia /Adult), Family Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, EENT, Neonatal ICU (NICU), Orthopedics, Obstetrics Gynecology, Endoscopy, ICU, OPD, X-ray & RF, Mobile X-ray, Pharmacy, Pathology, Ultrasound & 2D echo, Medical social services, dental, ambulance services, laboratory and other diagnostic services.

There are more than 1,000 members; 166 are physicians. Investment/ Membership opportunities as well as benefits and privileges for members and investors are being line up.

Invited to grace the affairs are Senator Miguel Zubiri, the Father of the Philippine Cooperative Code 2008, Stockholder regular and associate members, Gov. Edgar M. Chatto, City Mayor Dan Neri Lim, Cong. Rene Relampagos, Cong. Erico B. Aumentado, Cong. Arthur Yap, Department of Health thru Secretary Enrique Ona and Asec. Elmer Punzalan, Philippine Gift of Life officers, advisers and consultants, Land Bank President Hilda E. Pico, LGU thru LMP Pres. Mayor Rose Marie Imboy, Diocese of Tagbilaran thru Bishop Medroso, Dr. Ramie Cadag, Dr. Pepe Recitas and Mr. Richard Uy, Director of Home Reach Foundation, The chairmen and officers of 21 Association of Medical Mission Group Hospital & Health Services in the Philippines, Businessmen, Bohol Medical Society thru Pres.Allan Torrefranca, Civic and Religious Association, Pediatrician, Dr. Mary Ann Ruiz, AMHOP- Dr. Jude Doblas, National, Provincial Local Officials, Mass Media and among others.

The building was finished in 15 months, including installation of equipments, among others by the team of contractor Engr. Christopher Tutor, architectural designer Dr. Frederico A. Malubay of Manila and construction architect in-charge Edgar Gonzales.

The Association of United Development Information Officers (AUDIO) has changed guards by electing its officers for year 2011-2012 during the 2-day enhancement skills training seminar held at Jjs Seafood Village Restauant here.

At the helm is Augustus Escobia, who is the head of the governor’s Office Effective Development Communication (EDCOM), as the president of the AUDIO composed of information officers of the municipalities and national government agencies (NGA) based here.

No less Gov. Edgar M. Chatto has sworn in the new AUDIO officers during a simple ceremony Thursday night.

Inducted were Escobia; Pilar town IO Bert Jaspe, vice-president for LGU; Ma. Lydia Bantugan (DAR), VP for NGA; Ma. Elena Maniwang (Balilihan), secretary; Elvira Bongosia (PIA), assistant secretary; Felita Naomi Molino (Carmen), treasurer; Mae Remedios C. Virtucio (BISU), assistant treasurer; Jun Eric Flor (San Isidro), auditor; and Raymund Vincent Delgado (Tubigon), Jojeline Ruiz-Bunedia (Trinidad), Lindsey Marie Vismanos (Garcia-Hernandez) and Jaminel Damolo (TESDA), public relations officers. Ric V. Obedencio, the past president, is now member of the board of advisors with Rey Anthony Chiu, OIC Information Center manager of the Philippine Information Agency.

Chatto pointed out in is short message that the role of the IOs is vital to the development. He said that information or communication is a two-way street that the IO should see to it that it is “truthful, accurate and quick” in the its dissemination to the people. - press release

By JULIEN MERCED C. MATABUENA
Manila Bulletin

After months of speculations, Comedy King Dolphy finally addressed the rumors about his health.

“Yung sakit ko, medyo... kumbaga sa kuwan eh mahirap gumaling. Mahina ang lungs ko...ilang beses na kong na-pneumonia. Muntik na ko no'n. Pumapasok ako no'n [sa] 'John and Shirley,' 'di ba may dala-dala kong oxygen dun, o,” Dolphy said in his one-on-one interview with Korina Sanchez aired on “TV Patrol,” Dec. 9.

The Comedy King has contracted pneumonia thrice. The last few weeks saw details about his health, including him being rushed to the hospital twice, revealed piece by piece either by himself or by his family. Recall that during the presscon for Dolphy’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry “Father Jejemon” last Dec. 6, Dolphy admitted that he is undergoing oxygen therapy.

In accepting his father's Lifetime Achievement Award at the 12th Cinemanila Film Festival's last Dec. 1, Epi Quizon disclosed that the doctor has advised Dolphy to avoid going to malls and other crowded places for health reasons.

Dolphy, whose movies have always been surefire hits, said that his latest endeavor need not be a box office hit anymore so long as it makes viewers happy. - manila bulletin

By JULIEN MERCED C. MATABUENA
Manila Bulletin

Presidential sister Kris Aquino finally reacts to reports that she allegedly stopped local clothing company Bench from getting Valenzuela City councilor and “Willing Willie” co-host Shalani Soledad as its latest endorser.

On Dec. 10, Kris aired her side via social networking site Twitter.

“#1 I'm not under contract w/ Bench. #2 I don't have a share in Bench ownership. And #3 shalani hasn't done me any harm, in fact I'm very appreciative of her effort to help Noy's campaign & I wish her well w/ her new show. Please- wag manira na walang basehan!,” the “Dalaw” star stated.

The news that Shalani, who’s also President Noynoy Aquino’s ex-girlfriend, is going to be the new endorser for Bench first came out in an interview by PEP with the councilor’s aunt Baby Soledad last Nov. 24.

“Actually nag-pictorial na sila ng Bench, with Willie. Oo. Tapos na, pictorial sila last week. So lalabas na siguro 'yun by next week o baka first week ng December. Sa billboard. Bench,” Shalani’s aunt was quoted on the site, saying that her niece is focused on hosting and endorsements.

However, malicious rumors have purported that Kris reacted negatively about the endorsement deal to Mr. Ben Chan, Bench’s top honcho. According also to PEP, they received this information from a reliable source claimed to be close to Shalani.

Regal Entertainment Inc. holds a campus tour in Cavite for “Super Inday and the Golden Bibe” whose lead star Marian Rivera is a Caviteña.

Marian and the cast of the fantasy flick visit Governor Ferrer Memorial National High School (Main), Governor Ferrer Memorial National Highschool (Biclatan Annex), General Alona Elementary School (Biclatan), and Dasmariñas National High School Monday, Dec. 13. The stars of the movie will also grace the office of Congressman Antonio Ferrer, Mayor Luis Ferrer and Councilor Kerby Salazar at the municipal hall.

Meanwhile, due to insistent public demand, Regal has extended its Face that Scares (Scariest Face-Painted Photo) and “Super Inday and the Golden Bibe” (Cosplay Photo Contest) Facebook promos until Dec. 15.

Interested parties may send their entries at adprom@regalfilms.com. Contestants will be invited to the “Super Inday” and “SR&RXII” red-carpet premiers where the winners will be awarded. For more details, check out Regal Entertainment Inc.’s official page on Facebook. - Manila Bulletin, source

GMANews.TV

President Benigno Aquino III is not convinced the time is rife for filing an impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Renato Corona, just a couple of days after the Supreme Court had stricken down as unconstitutional Aquino’s Executive Order 1 creating the Truth Commission.

Speaking before a barangay assembly in Tarlac City, Aquino himself said over the weekend that impeachment moves against Corona would be a waste of time. “We only have six years to run this administration," he said. “An impeachment case brings loss of opportunities." He said that instead of focusing attention on an impeachment case, it would be better to hold deeper and wider dialogues discussing the Truth Commission.

The President said his legal team is already studying how to convince the Supreme Court to reverse its ruling declaring the Truth Commission unconstitutional.

This page requires a higher version browser Aquino led the village assembly in Barangay Central, one of four villages inside Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac, where he is a registered voter. Simultaneously nationwide, some 42,000 barangays were also holding similar assemblies.

Aquino challenged all barangay officials elected in the recent village elections to espouse “transparency, accountability, and turn their backs on corruption." He also took time aside to belie reports that Balikatan joint military exercises would be held in Hacienda Luisita. â€" With a report by Claire Delfin/VS/KBK, GMANews.TV

By PEP.ph

Labis ang kalungkutang nadarama ngayon ni Gardo Versoza sanhi ng pagpanaw ng kanyang ina, si Mrs. Purisima "Baby" Polintan Torres, matapos itong ma-confine sa Cardinal Santos Hospital sa loob ng labing-apat na araw, mula noong November 27 hanggang December 10, 2010.

Si Mommy Baby ay 68 years old.

"Nag-shoot up ang BP [blood pressure] ni Mommy, up to 200, kaya isinugod namin siya sa Cardinal Santos," banggit ni Gardo sa PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) kagabi, 10, matapos naming mabalitaan ang pagyao ng kanyang ina.

"Nung November 27 yun," patuloy niya. Pagkatapos nun, hindi pa rin naging stable ang kundisyon niya kahit binibigyan siya ng doctor ng pampababa ng blood pressure.

"Dalawang beses siyang nag-seizure kaya dinala na siya sa ICU [intensive care unit]. Ang nangyari naman, minsan bababa ang BP niya, pero mababang-mababa, tapos pag tumaas, sobrang taas naman."

Nanatili ang ganung kundisyon ni Mommy Baby throughout her confinement na ang nagbabantay nang madalas ay si Gardo at ang kanyang girlfriend at road manager na si  Ivy Vicencio.

Kagabi, habang ina-autopsiya ang labi ng yumao ay nanatiling nasa ground floor lobby ng ospital sina Gardo at Ivy. Inaantabayanan nila ang pormal na sasabihin ng mga doktor hinggil sa tunay na karamdaman o sanhi ng pagkamatay ng ina ng aktor.

"Hanggang kanina [dakong 7:40 PM nang bawian ng buhay si Mommy Baby], hindi masabi ng mga doktor ang totoong sakit niya," malungkot pang sambit ni Gardo. 

"Pero malinaw na nagkaroon na ng kumplikasyon sa mga vital organs niya, although okey naman ang heart niya habang nasa ICU siya."

source: PEP.ph - JINKEE TO ENTER SHOWBIZ? Sinagot naman ni Jinkee ang lumabas na balitang papasukin na niya ang showbiz. Totoo ba ito?

"Siguro hosting, kasi medyo mahiyain ako. Aykong mag-acting," sabi niya.

Dagdag ni Jinkee, "Magpapaalam pa ako sa boss ko."

Pero ang "boss" niyang si Manny nga, mukhang tutol sa pagpasok ng kanyang misis sa showbiz.

"Hindi, ayoko siyang pumasok," sabi ng boxing champ.

"Kasi mamaya baka mapabayan yung business namin, mahirap.

"Bakit pa siya papasok ng showbiz? What for?"

Kagabi, Disyembre 10, ay nagpaunlak ng panayam si Ben Chanâ€"may-ari ng Pinoy apparel brand na Benchâ€"sa PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) at iba pang mga entertainment press na dumalo sa launch ng bago nitong perfume line sa Trinoma, Quezon City.

Ang event ay para sa launch ng Greta, ang bagong pabango ni Gretchen Barretto na kasali sa Celebrity Scents Collection ng Bench.

Naganap ang panayam kay Mr. Ben bago lumabas si Gretchen sa stage.

Tinalakay ni Mr. Ben ang mga lumabas na issue na kaugnay ang Bench, si Willie Revillame, si Kris Aquino, at si Shalani Soledad.

Lumabas kasi ang balitang kinukuha ng Bench na endorser si Shalani Soledad, ang TV host-politician na dating girlfriend ng Pangulong Noynoy Aquino.

Nauna nang lumabas dito sa PEP Alerts ang balita na inilathala dalawang linggo na ang nakararaan, sinabing malapit nang i-launch na endorser ng Bench si Shalani.

Nakapag-pictorial na rin daw ito para sa billboard niya na makikita ngayong Disyembre. Kasama niya sa billboard ang co-host niya sa Willing Willie na si Willie Revillame, na isa nang Bench endorser ngayon. - PEP.ph, source

The Conservation International and Cemex Philippines have tied up with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to protect and preserve tarsier under DENR's Adopt-a-Wildlife Species (AAWS) program.

Their collaboration in fact chose the tiny animal, often mistaken for the smallest monkey in the world, as the first species for protection under the AAWS.          

Timely enough, the ambassador of the Czech Republic, His Excellency Josef Rychtar, is presently in Bohol to inspect a hydro-power project site - and see for himself the tarsier right in its sanctuary in Corella.

Many have viewed as "commercialization" the display of tarsiers along tourist route outside the nocturnal animal's natural habitat.

Their have been claims, however, that tarsiers have multiplied even in captivity beyond their forest home, making the "ET (extra-terrestrial)-looking" animal an ET by the meaning "extra-territorial."

Having a tiny body supporting its 360-degree rotating large head with oversized round eyes, the tarsier has been acclaimed to be the smallest and oldest known living primate on Earth.

It has attained an iconic stature not just in Bohol but Philippine tourism, an industry regarded as an engine for national economic growth and recovery.

Gov. Edgar Chatto said the economic and tourism values now of tarsier should only tell of how paramount its preservation must indeed be.

Green advocates have considered the existence of tarsier as one indication of the state of Bohol's environmental health.

Chatto said during his live Friday morning airing of the Kita ug Ang Gobernador that preserving the tarsier would not mean that tourists could no longer see it.

The AAWS program adopting tarsier will be implemented in three phases for three years starting in 2011.

According to a report, this is to ensure the sustainability of the benefits to the biodiversity and stakeholders in Bohol.

The tarsier was chosen under the AAWS program reportedly "because it is the most visible symbol of the Philippines" and "is not only unusual but also attractive."

While they are endemic to a Corella forest in Bohol, tarsiers have also been found somewhere in Samar and Leyte.

It is an established tourism industry fact, though, that whenever and wherever it is mentioned, tarsier always goes with the surname Bohol.

In its global evaluation of various species, the 2010 International Union for Conservation of Nature classified tarsier as "near threatened."

The category suggests that it may not yet be critically endangered today but the tarsier is close to qualifying for the category of the threatened species in not a remote future.

This helps explains why there is also now a new DENR manual for wildlife law enforcers being adopted to speed up the prosecution of offenders.

The manual is called the Wildlife Law Enforcement Manual of Operations (WLEMO) to guide the WEOs or wildlife enforcement officers in seizing illegally collected, possessed and traded wildlife species.

By Bohol Chronicle

Capitol will release before Christmas some P49.8 million in bonuses to its workers, who greeted with joy the announcement that the goodies include their long-denied Collective Negotiation Agreement (CAN) bonus.

Each regular employee of the provincial government stands to get P25,000, including the annual CNA bonus of P5,000 which was not given in many years by the past administration.

The bonus will also be received by the co-terminus and plantilla casual workers, who have benefits as those of the regular employees.          

Gov. Edgar Chatto announced during the capitol convocation on Monday that contractual and job order casual workers can get P5,000 bonus each.

They should have worked for at least four months until last November 30, according to Provincial Budget Officer Valeria Orig.

The regular, co-terminus and plantilla casual employees, plus the elective officials, already number to some 1,300. They exclude the contractual and job order casual workers.

The governor announced the bonuses as he also awarded capitol's ten model employees for the month of October. Each awardee received a plaque of recognition and a sack of rice. (See captioned awarding foto.)

The awarding by the governor together with Vice Gov. Concepcion Lim and the provincial board members was graced by Civil Service Commission (CSC) Provincial Director Nissi Cherry Asis and the governor' wife and Bohol's First lady, Pureza Veloso-Chatto.

The governor further committed to reward the work dedication of the employees not just in the spirit of Christmas but also timely with the general assembly of the Bohol Provincial Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BOPE-MPC) on Friday.

BOPE-PMC officials and members led by their board chairman, Ruben Jimenez, vowed to strengthen their support to the initiatives of the Chatto-Lim administration.

The governor has repeatedly emphasized his policy of securing the welfare of the provincial employees for them to be more motivated in their jobs.

Inspired people work better, Chatto said. (Ven rebo Arigo)

By Bohol Chronicle

The Supreme Court of the Philippines headed by Chief Justice Renato Corona has become a "truth obstruction" to the people as the new Aquino administration is setting off towards unveiling the evils of the past.

This was the common observation made by former OIC Gov. Victor de la Serna, a bar topnotcher and Fr. Ted Gapuz S.V.D., academic chair of Holy Name University during separate interviews by the Chronicle the day after the Supreme Court declared as "unconstitutional" the Executive Order # 1 of P-noy otherwise known as the Truth Commission.

The "syndicate" in the Supreme Court to insulate former Pres. Gloria Arroyo from persecution was manifested in several decisions on the moves of P-noy, stressed de la Serna, while Gapuz said that the action of the Supreme Court, in a layman's view, has become an obstruction of truth.

They also pointed out that even people who are not lawyers can see the daringly bias actions of the Supreme Court in trying to hide the evils of the past GMA regime.

Both also agreed that the mandate received by Aquino last election, of which he promised that he will not engage in corruption and he will go after GMA's lies, is more material than any decision by a Supreme Court.          

De la Serna said that it had been thrice that the Supreme Court manifested its pro-GMA decisions on the moves of Aquino. The first time was when they issued a Temporary Restraining Order against the impeachment of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. The second time was when Aquino issued Executive Order declaring the midnight appointments of GMA as void, and the Supreme Court immediately made a judicial legislation by supplying a loophole in the Philippine Constitution in a decision that "the election ban on appointments does not apply to the Supreme Court". The third time was the recent move declaring the Truth Commission as unconstitutional.

Both de la Serna and Gapuz agreed that the pursuit of truth must be pushed by Aquino.

While de la Serna said that the Truth Commission may possibly be privately funded to continue, Gapuz said that any other form of a commission will do, as long as this will unveil the truth.

Gapuz added that truth is not personality-oriented but is intended for the welfare of the people.

As long as the people will not know about the truth of the past, it would be very hard to move forward towards a promising future. And the people will not know the truth if the same persons will comprise the Corona- headed Supreme Court, both stressed.

Both of them agreed that the people of all classes must support the moves of Aquino in unveiling the truth.

"Seeking and defending the truth is not a job assigned only to lawyers, but it is a responsibility of every being to know and seek the truth and so we have to make our own personal moves to support P-noy in his quest towards the truth", both concluded. ( Anthony Rañoa Aniscal )

Citing the readiness and openness of both towns, Bohol First District Rep. Rene Relampagos, in session last Thursday of the House of Representatives, filed for the establishment of specialized TESDA centers in the towns of Loon and Balilihan.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is the government agency mandated with managing and supervising technical education and skills development in the country. Established in 1994, the agency integrated the functions of the then National Manpower and Youth Council, Bureau of Technical-Vocational Education of the then Department of Education, Culture and Sports, and the Office of Apprenticeship of the Department of Labor and Employment.          

Training in one of the country's TESDA centers includes courses in tailoring, dressmaking, bread and pastry production, automotive servicing, shielded metal arc welding, consumer electronics, commercial cooking, and other technical skills. TESDA courses are also designed to meet the standards of local and international labor markets.

Rep. Relampagos believes that TESDA training centers will enhance the competencies of local residents and even those from neighboring towns and would prepare them for eventual employment or entrepreneurship.

"Skills development is one area that is seen by many as having the full potential to contribute to the improvement of the local economy, he noted.

The First District solon added that with the emergence of the global market of skills, the local communities of Bohol will be better served if it is prepared to meet the needs and requirements of both the domestic and international labor markets.

By Bohol Chronicle

A well-rounded young leader was elected last Friday as the new federation president of the provincial Sangguniang Kabataan during a purely "no money" election held at the Bohol Tropics Resort Club. He will succeed former national SK president Jane Cajes as president of the SK in the province.

Unlike in the municipal and city SK elections where cash flooded the young people's pockets, the provincial election was observed to be devoid of "vote buying."

Observers said that if that is the new tone of the new leadership of Doxson Asoy, the SK president San Isidro town, then perhaps, a ray of hope might surface in the horizon to totally change the direction of the SK wherein majority of the Boholanos oftentimes demand for its abolition.          
Asoy was unopposed after reports leaked to the Chronicle that there was an internal agreement for a possible time sharing with Jetro Nathaniel Lim of Loay town who got elected as the vice president.

Other officers elected were Arlene Rule of Corella as secretary, Lounel Kenneth Guivencan of Dimiao as treasurer, Bjorn Ebojo of Dauis as auditor, Ian Albert Blasé of Balilihan as PRO, Bryan Baguio of Loboc and Jose Jugo IV of Maribojoc as sergeant-at-arms.

The new SK president is the son of San Isidro Vice Mayor and Mrs. Eudocio Asoy while the vice president is the son of BM Brigido and Loay Mayor May Imboy.

WHO'S ASOY?

The new SK provincial president will soon be a board member of the province once he will assume as ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. He succeeds Jane Censoria Cajes, daughter of Trinidad Mayor and Mrs. Roberto Cajes.

The 17-yr old new SK prexy is a second year aircraft maintenance student at the Indiana Aeronautic University in Lapu-Lapu City.

He is not new to leadership and challenges as he also served as president at the San Isidro High School during his high school days.

He is active in religious activities being an affiliate of the Knights of the Altar even until his present school. He is involved in the Parish Youth Ministry and is supporting youth build-up in his town.

Gov. Edgar Chatto who was a national figure of the then Kabataang Barangay (SK), spoke to the SK leaders citing the fact that there is a need to provide specific programs and directions of the SK. Likewise, the governor views the need to require these SK leaders to render regular reports of their accomplishments and programs.

"I am not for the abolition of SK," the governor categorically said as he challenged the new young leaders to act diligently in order to change the public perception of what SK is as of today. (Anthony Aniscal)

By Bohol Chronicle

It would take a "legal cure" for the "insult and humiliation" to soothe Sangguniang Panlalawigan Senior Member Dionisio Balite, whom Vice-Governor Concepcion Lim proved to be not her choice of substitute.

In a privileged speech during the SP regular session Friday, Balite proved that Lim messed up when she issued a memorandum designating SP Member Cesar Tomas Lopez, the second highest ranking SP member, as officer-in-charge of the Office of the Vice-Governor during her temporary stint as acting governor during the governor's official visit to China.

Balite read before the SP members, the letter of DILG-7 Regional Director Pedro Noval Jr. dated December 2, 2010 which he received on December 3, that "the highest ranking SP member, shall, although temporarily, automatically exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the vice governor as acting vice governor during the vacancy in the office of the vice governor by reason of the latter's temporary assumption as acting governor."

Noval's letter was in response to Balite's query-letter dated October 20, 2010, seeking legal opinion on the situation.

Before Governor Edgar Chatto left on October 9 for an official visit to China, he issued an "unnumbered memorandum" dated October 8, 2010, designating the vice governor as acting governor until he would return on October 18.          

Then, in her capacity as acting governor, Lim issued Memorandum Order 37 on October 11, 2010, designating Lopez as officer-in-charge of the Office of the Vice-Governor effective October 11-13, 2010 only.

Balite, actually, only found it out when he reported to office early morning of October 15 to meet constituents and scan official communications.

This caused Balite to question why Lim chose to Lopez, who is the second highest ranking SP Member.

Balite felt insulted as he is, in fact, the senior SP member.

Balite further narrated that minutes before the October 15 regular session started, he received a call from the Office of the Vice Governor informing him to preside over the SP regular session that day.

At first, he hesitated but he later felt obligated to preside the regular sessionconscious of Section 46 of R.A. 7160- that as the first ranking SP member, he must take over the Office of the Vice Governor, "by operation of law, the moment the vice governor takes the place of the governor caused by the latter's trip abroad".

Balite, indeed, presided the regular session of SP on October 15 even without designation as acting vice governor.

Instead of delivering a privileged speech right then or the following sessions, Balite said he opted to seek the Noval's legal opinion.

In his letter dated October 20, 2010, Balite asked Noval whether there was a difference in the designation of an OIC of the vice governor from that of and acting vice-governor and whether the designation of Lopez, the second ranking SP member, as OIC of the Office of the Vice Governor falls within the same category as that of an acting vice governor and enjoys the same power and privilege.

Balite also asked Noval if Lopez's designation by Lim valid under Sectio 46 of RA 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, and if not "what happens to the acts performed especially the papers signed by Board Member Lopez in his capacity as OIC of the Office of the Vice Governor."

Balite also wondered if it was legal for him to have presided over the October 15 regular, despite the absence of a designation as the acting vice governor.

Citing Supreme Court decisions, Noval explained that "unlike the local chief executive who may designate an OIC if traveling within the country but outside his territorial jurisdiction, vice governors have not been conferred with such power by the Local Government Code. Therefore, in no case can they designate an OIC vice governor".

Based on Noval's opinion, Balite described Lim's action as "an exercise in futility. It is a waste of official time".

"But the clearest message, is that the appointment extended on October 11, 2010 to the 2nd highest ranking member of this lawmaking body (Memorandum Order No. 37) is not only terribly illegal.

It speaks of an utter lack of legal consultation. It is hoped, however, that it does not constitute ignorance of the law," Balite pointed out.

Balite emphasized that "respect among peers cannot be imposed. Neither can it be demanded. In fact, it cannot be legislated. It is earned".

"How can we, as elected officials in the province, elicit respect from our fellow local officials down below-the municipal officials and the barangay officers-if we can not even respect the law (R.A. 7160) that gives us the power to govern?" he added.

For the incident, Balite demanded "legal cure on the insult, shortchange and humiliation suffered by the ever-loved constituents of the 3rd district of Bohol".

"If ever there was anyone, anybody, or any class of citizens who was insulted by the issuance of Memorandum Order No. 37, then the 114,720 voters who catapulted this representation to the Senior Board Membership of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the third of its row, (first in 2001, 2nd in 2004 elections) are the very one's being insulted. And because of that insult suffered by this representation's 114,720 voters, this representation cannot help but demand explanation from the Office of the Vice Governor," Balite pointed out.

By Bohol Chronicle

Another set of complaints has been filed in the office of the Ombudsman against embattled National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Regional Director VII Engr. Modesto G. Membreve.

This time around , it is coming from a group of Concerned Citizens of Bohol and the Rest of Region VII.

Signing as complainants were Engr. Petronilo S. Sarigumba, President of Bohol Against Corruption and Social Harrassment (BACOSH) and Josephus Gaviola who presented a Community Tax Certificate (CTC) issued at Alburquerque and hails from Brgy. Sta. Felomina, Alburquerque, Bohol.

When reached for his reaction by the Chronicle, Engr. Membreve said that he will reserve his reply upon receiving a copy of the complaint.

The Complaint included a Prayer for the Issuance of a 90-day Preventive Suspension against Membreve for violation of provisions on Nepotism, violation of Section 3 of RA No. 3019, otherwise known as Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Section 4 of RA No. 6713 - Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The 15- page complaint with 26 annexes, notarized by Atty. Danilo A. Bantugan, was filed at the Office of the Ombudsman, Cebu City at 10:05AM last Thursday.

Complainants Sarigumba and Gaviola called on the Ombudsman to conduct a "fearless, complete, thorough, comprehensive and incisive investigation on the anomalies of the respondent public official".

Both complaints were similar in nature to a previous complaint filed by Jun Gulle except that allegations of immorality against the NIA official and complaint against Membreve's wife meddling in government contracts were dropped by the complainants in the second case.

Copies of a summary of complaints shall be furnished the respondent if the Ombudsman finds reasonable grounds to investigate further.

Respondent will be required to submit a written answer within seventy two (72) hours from receipt of order to respond to complaint and if found satisfactory, it shall dismiss the case against the respondent.

The complainants charged Membreve for allegedly "causing the appointment of his two (2) daughters and his son-in-law to the NIA".           

Although the appointment was initially issued by the Regional Irrigation Manager of Region 10, "Membreve's daughters and son-in-law were later transferred and were working in NIA Offices in Region 7 which is under the control and supervision of respondent Membreve, himself, who is the Regional Irrigation Manager of Region 7".

Sarigumba and Gaviola decried the" ingenuity thought by respondent Membreve" by attempting to skirt this prohibition by letting the Regional Irrigation Manager of Region 10 appoint his two (2) daughters and his son-in-law to the NIA".

Documents attached to the complaint sheets showed that services of Membreve's two daughters and son-in-law were first "engaged" for the Balingasag River Irrigation Project from July 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009. Subsequent employment as shown in the Plantilla of Casual Appointment also showed that presently their services are being engaged in the P450M Talakag River Irrigation Project in Bukidnon from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

The complaint noted that "respondent Membreve was formerly connected at NIA Region 10 as Division Manager" before his assignment as OIC, Project Manager of Bohol Irrrigation Project Stage 2 from 2004-2009.

Upon completion of the Bohol Irrigation Project, the NIA Regional Office 7 was established from the original and composite Regions 7 and 8 offices based in Tacloban City.

Complainants identified Membreve's daughters as Hannah Grace V. Membreve allegedly, working as Engineer B with daily wage of P687.22 at the Bohol Provincial Irrigation Office (BPIO), Tagbilaran City and Ma. Heddah M. Hilot, data encoder at P493.54/day together with her husband, Ronaldo B. Hilot, Irrigators Development Officer A at P687.22/day, both allegedly working at the Bohol Irrigation System (BIS), Pilar, Bohol.

All appointment papers of the respondents (two daughers and son-in-law) as casual employees were signed and approved by NIA Region 10 Regional Manager Julius Maquiling and the Civil Service Commission Field Office.

The complainants also denounced Membreve for his alleged lavish preferences and lifestyle as evidenced by four vehicles - 1991 Nissan pick-up, 1994 Mitsubishi Pajero, 2006 Chevrolet Optra and a 2007 Honda City, all registered under the name of Modesto G. Membreve.

As shown by attached LTO documents, all four vehicles are registered under Modesto G. Membreve with different addresses - the Nissan pick-up with address in Bool, Tagbilaran City, Pajero in Ubay, Chevy Optra and Honda City with address both in 1881 Z. Sun Valley V. Rama Ave., Cebu City.

Sarigumba and Gaviola also requested the Ombudsman to look into the respondents frequent travel abroad as shown by attached printouts of his travel records from the Bureau of Immigration.

Although there was no showing by the complainants if the respondent Membreve declared these vehicles in his Statement of Assets and Liabilities (SALN) or the alleged travels were part of official travels in connection with his official duties as a ranking NIA Regional Official, the complainants still were reportedly scandalized by the respondent's flaunting of his alleged "wealth and possessions which is not commensurate to his income as a public official with a Salary Grade 26".

The complainants were also appalled by respondent alleged order for" lowly paid workers to vacate the NIA compound and live in apartments adding cost to their living".

Membreve, according to complainants converted the sleeping quarters into an "expensive and elegant quarters with expensive seats, tables and furniture with all rooms air conditioned".

The complaint also accused Membreve of "collecting an equivalent of 10% of the Approved Budget Cost (ABC) from project contractors" and arranging "buy-outs of contract/bidding"

Charges of defective and poor project implementation under the supervision of Membreve were also raised citing the Bohol Irrigation Project Stage 2 and the Talibon Small Reservoir irrigation Project (SRIP) spillway and retaining wall. Complainants raised fears that the dam will be "decommissioned for patent defects".

Overpricing of four SRIP's in Mabini-Cayacay, Mabini, Benliw, Ubay, Hibale, Danao and Bonot-Bonot, Buenavista were also included for allegedly incurring a 100% overprice.

Complaints of overpricing zeroed in on a NIA project in Clarin were "materials were overpriced by 200%. Bidding was arranged" with the winning bidder identified as engaged in the "garments and medical equipments business allegedly rewarding Membreve of travel to the US".

Usurpation and abuse of authority were also alleged against the respondent for "conducting biddings and approving projects which amounts are beyond his legal authority to approve".

Sarigumba and Gaviola expressed dismay on the move of Membreve for allegedly approving and awarding projects under the authority of the NIA Provincial Office in violation NIA Memo Circular No. 14 series of 2009.

Complainants claimed that Membreve "usurped and performed functions not legally authorized to approve and award".

They cited projects below P3M which should be under the authority of the NIA Provincial Office to approve and award but were allegedly transferred to the Regional Office under Membreve.

Complainants also implored the Ombudsman to act with "great urgency and importance" for the issuance of a preventive suspension against Membreve for allegedly "using his power and influence to intimidate potential witnesses against him".

This, after polygraph tests administered by the NBI as per request of Membreve on some 14 NIA Regional and Provincial employees suspected of leaking documents to be used as evidence against Membreve.

A letter addressed to the Director of the NBI byPacifico J. Alfarero, Jr., one of the fourteen (14) employees who were subjected to the polygraph test by the NBI was attached to the complaint.

The letter also condemned the manner the employees were subjected to the lie detector tests as "weird and unwanted".

According to NIA employees results of the lie detector tests are expected to be released by the NBI this month. (CVM)

By Bohol Chronicle

"Hell hath no wrath like a woman scorned" aptly describes the defiant stand of Doljo Barangay Kapitan Mercia Denoso on the contentious issue of a barangay road used from time immemorial as access to and from the seashore.

This access road was closed to give way to the ongoing construction of a five star hotel.

The closure triggered a storm of protest by officials and residents of Barangay Doljo that reached all the way to the Office of the Governor and the Sangguniang Panglalawigan.

Denoso, together with majority of the barangay council boycotted the signing of a deed of donation for a 855 sq.m. concrete road that will serve as a road for public use to and from the seashore.

The road donated by Johnny Chan, representing Belle South Pacific Properties, Inc., owner of Bellevue Bohol, a 5 star hotel under construction, was in exchange of the closure of the long existing barangay road that is located smack right between two titled properties of Belle South Pacific Properties, Inc.

Denoso told the Chronicle that barangay officials were one in agreement not to accept the road donated by Chan since there was nothing to exchange.

"The long existing barangay road was closed by Bellevue without our consent. The claim of representatives of Bellevue that no documents exist to prove there is a barangay road was belied by two Titles annotating the technical description of the barangay road", Denoso said.           
The 6,262 square meter property is covered by two titles - TCT No. 33569 with an area of 5,000 sq.m. and TCT No. 33570 with an area of 1,262 sq.m.

Technical descriptions of both titles shows the existence of a "barrio road" that separate the two properties.

The "barrio road" has a length of 280m more or less extending up to the salvage zone.
Denoso also assailed a hastily prepared MOA by the Sangguniang Bayan without the proper consultation with the barangay officials and residents.

As worded, the MOA presumed that the LGU of Panglao "have been publicly using as Barangay Road a portion of land that directly traversed the lot owned by Belle South Pacific Properties, Inc."

The MOA also admitted that Belle South Pacific closed the barangay road to give way to the construction of the hotel even as Belle South Pacific"shall be allowed to utilize the unused part of the old barangay road to be an access way for suppliers to and from the kitchen of the Hotel"

A certification dated April 20, 2010 was issued by the Office of the Sangguniang Bayan that no endorsement was given to close the barangay road.

The certification was signed by former Vice Mayor Pedro Fuertes upon the request of Engr. Antonio Dominguez.

The feisty Engr. Dominguez, a geodetic engineer, also a vocal critic of the road closure was responsible for most of the cadastral survey done on lots near the shores of Doljo including the lots presently owned by Bell South Pacific.

Dominguez told the Chronicle that ever since the Bellevue properties were in the possession of the late Troadio Tecson, then by Cattleya, the existence of the "barrio road" were annotated on the titles.

Bell South Pacific reportedly bought the properties from Cattleya.

The purchase was hounded by controversy with allegations of a P10M pay off to a Supreme Court justice for a favorable decision for one of the parties. Hefty fines were meted to the Boholano lawyer for his reckless accusations.

The controversy is now scheduled for hearing at the Sangguniang Panglalawigan.

In a strongly worded letter to Governor Edgar Chatto, charges of land grabbing, illegal occupation and fencing including present danger of environmental damage due to a total disregard of the 20 meters salvage zone were alleged by Engr. Dominguez against the ongoing Bellevue construction.

Questions of "conflict of interest" were also raised by Dominguez on the hiring of Elvie Sarmiento, whom he claimed to serve as a consultant of Bellevue while employed as a private secretary to the Mayor of Panglao.

Published by the Bohol Chronicle
The former teacher of the slain third year high school student of Tagbilaran Grace Christian School was arrested last Thursday after an expanded manhunt was launched province-wide.

A combined police force from Bilar and Cortes led by P02 Joseph Penaso and P02 Giovanni Rios, swooped down on a store in Bilar town where the suspect, Julius Hubac, 32, married, a resident of Bilar town, was cornered by operatives shortly before noontime last Thursday.

The police team was armed with a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Suceso Arcamo.

The suspect who used to be the teacher of the victim, Mezie Rose B. Onod, 15, at a Catholic school in Cortes town was charged of the crime of Acts of Lasciviousness in criminal case no. 14990 under the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 3 based in the city. This incident happened before Onod was forced to transfer at the Grace Christian School in the city.

Hubac who posted a P12,000 bail was released by the police on the same day.

Earlier, P02 Silvano Palacio of the city PNP made a build-up on the case after he invited witnesses of the crime near the Tagbilaran City Airport for interview at the city PNP.          

The gruesome killing of the innocent student shocked the Tagbilaran community as the witnesses confirmed that the lone gunman, which police theorized as a "gun-for-hire", casually approached the victim and shot her from the back at close range. Onod was about to board a tricycle before 5 in the afternoon at the corner of Airport and Lamdagan roads, this city, few meters away from the Grace Christian School.

A day after the incident, TGCS principal Robert Rio issued a statement through the media strongly denouncing the killing in cold blood in broad daylight.

The school came up with a paid ad in a local paper demanding for justice for their slain student.

Police said the killing of the innocent lady student came few days after the case she filed against Hubac was allegedly reopened for investigation.

Police said that Hubac was reportedly seen on the day before the girl was shot.

Bits of information gathered by the various police units will now be consolidated for the formal filing of charges against the suspect.

SUSPECT'S STATEMENT

In an exclusive interview over top-rated Tagbilaran-By-Nite radio program over DYRD last night, Hubac appealed to the public not to immediately conclude that he is the mastermind of the murder.

Hubac narrated that the case filed against him by the victim which was previously child abuse was already dismissed by the provincial prosecutor. However, the victim's family lately appealed to the DOJ Manila which prompted the case to be re-opened and the DOJ revised it to acts of lasciviousness.

Hubac said that he could not manage to mastermind the murder of the victim who is still young and has a promising future.

"I am asking the public to think reasonably because I have really no involvement over the death of the victim", Hubac concluded. (Anthony Anasco)

I hope a movie about her life would be made. A very interesting story.

Vilma Santos to Run Philippine President in 2016
This has been reported by a daily paper in Manila. Any confirmation?

Unequal footing

Also on “SNN,” December 8, Vicki Belo, said her controversial beau, Hayden Kho, needs to build his own career to boost his self-esteem and enhance their relationship. “I don’t want a relationship where he’s always seen as affixed to me. Hopefully, [we can have] a relationship of equals,” said Vicki. - PDI

Straight English

Manny Pacquiao looked dapper in a suit and tie as he performed his signature song, “Para Sa’yo Ang Laban Na ’To,” on “Willing Willie” December 10. Afterwards, Willie Revillame asked the champ to greet his wife, Jinkee. His message: “I love you, and I’ll always be with you forever. That’s English!”

That’s a knockout! - PDI

Out of bounds

With Kris Aquino revealing that his estranged husband, James Yap, will be doing a cameo role as a body double in her upcoming horror flick, “Dalaw,” people are wondering, wouldn’t this re-ignite their romance? The reigning PBA MVP’s reply on “TV Patrol” December 8: “‘Yan ang ’di ko masagot.” - PDI

Out of bounds

With Kris Aquino revealing that his estranged husband, James Yap, will be doing a cameo role as a body double in her upcoming horror flick, “Dalaw,” people are wondering, wouldn’t this re-ignite their romance? The reigning PBA MVP’s reply on “TV Patrol” December 8: “‘Yan ang ’di ko masagot.” - PDI Entertainment

News anchor Ted Failon confirmed on “Showbiz News Ngayon” that he and Kris Aquino were indeed set to have dinner, but stressed that they were just good friends. When “SNN” pressed, Failon laughed, and excused himself. - PDI Entertainment

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There are many things that you don't want to see a dealership do to you as a buyer, but there are some things that you should not do as well, if you don't want to alienate the dealer. Here is a list of don'ts; that you should abide by if you are really looking to get a good deal.

· Don't try to pull one over on the dealer by lying about the condition of your trade in vehicle. It is just a lie that you can't get away with, and could cause many cost increases later.
· Don't bother looking for a car if you have had a recent bankruptcy because you will not get approved anyway.
· Don't give the dealership a deposit and then try to take it back for no reason because you should have researched the car before making the purchase. You can also lose money on the return.
· Don't bother lying about your debt load and credit rating because they will check it anyway.
· Don't offer any money for a car unless you already know the dealer cost because you are setting yourself up to get ripped off.

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You can reduce the amount of drag on your car when you keep the exterior clean and waxed. This will add some gas savings into your pocket. It may seem like a small thing to do, and you most likely won't notice any difference at all in your fuel consumption, but keep in mind that every little bit helps when it comes to reducing your gas costs and saving at the gas pumps when you fill your car.

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The Payoff Your Loan Scam

This is when the dealer offers to pay off the balance of your current car loan no matter how much money you still owe. It is a common sales strategy. When the average buyer hears it, they think that by purchasing a new car with a new dealership, they will automatically owe no more money on their current car. That couldn't be further from the truth.

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You should never purchase gasohol for your car since it contains only two-thirds of the energy of gasoline. This means that you would need to buy much more gasohol to go the same distance on a tank of gasoline. Gasohol is a mixture of ethanol (alcohol made from grain) and gas, and is used by some farmers to help cut the amount of pollution in the air.

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They can offer you one dollar over the invoice. You should know that there are hidden factory incentives in the invoice price that lowers the cost of the car for the dealership. It's no bargain for you. If a dealership is very quick to show you the invoice, you should be aware that they are fully aware that they will be making money on that car off of you and they can settle at a lower price for the car.

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Every new purchase has a clause in the contract that usually states that the deal is subject to loan approval. This gives the finance manager a loophole in getting more money out of you. All that this means in the contract is that the deal is not finished yet even you already have possession of the car and have signed the contract.

The dealer can then charge you $1000 more in finance fees and up your monthly payments by $50. This scam is generally pulled on people with bad credit because it is more plausible. If you are wondering why they would sell you the car at 6% APR if they knew you had bad credit (remember they ran the credit search already) the answer is simple; to sell the car.

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There are other parts of gas saving devices such as the liquid injection, ignition devices and fuel line devices. They help the engine to maintain the temperature and they also in checking the fuel consumption level.

The way to keep a track of your fuel expenditure is by using fuel cost calculator. You can figure it out if you are spending more or less than your budgets.

Liquid Injection. These types of fuel saving products add liquid to the air and fuel intake system of your car instead of into the combustion chamber of your engine.
- Goodman Engine System-Model 1800
- Waag-Injection System

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Here is a listing of the types of alternate fuels that are available depending on what type of vehicle that you drive. Researching these different fuel types might give you the incentive to drive a vehicle that uses a lower priced fuel so that you can save money on your transportation costs.

- Biodiesel
- Ethanol
- Battery-electric and hybrid vehicles
- Fuel cells and hydrogen
- Natural gas
- Propane

As far as transporting passengers is concerned, shipping in the Philippines will become obsolete. Low-income individuals can now afford any flight of Cebu Pacific or Air Philippines Express. I know it is cheaper to fly from Manila to Tagbilaran than to take a boat.

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The engine in the newest Honda Civic SI has also been given a serious upgrade. It's been boosted up to a 197 horsepower, 2 liter i-VTEC engine, which given the overall low weight of the car gives it a whole lot of zip. Honda Civic SI's have been noted for their 'zip' in the past, making novel racecars with a little modification, but this newest model hardly needs to be modified. With an amazingly tight turning radius, good balance and low center of gravity, the Honda Civic SI handles beautifully even at fairly high speeds.

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Sometimes when we are in a hurry we push on the accelerator very fast to move ahead of others. Met with accidents and pushing the other vehicles; these are some of the things that happen when running fast from the stoplight. Cold winters could play very crucial role on how you maintain your car and cut the cists of your gas. Keeping the car idle for sometime before driving could costs you more on the fuel consumption.

Uso pa ba ang Harana sa mga Barrio?

Try to combine as many purposes into one trip as you can for the following reasons

- You'll save time and money by combining the number of errands and stops that you make in one trip.
- When you make several smaller trips, especially in cold weather, you will use up to twice as much fuel than if you were taking a multipurpose trip.
- Cold starts for your car use up more gas and are harder on vehicle maintenance than driving for a longer period of time, keeping the engine of your car warm.
- Planning your trip makes your driving more efficient and you spend less time driving aimlessly from location to location.There are ways that you can get to work that will help you save on gas consumption for your car.
- When driving to work avoid the peak times for rush hours. This way you'll use up less fuel and you'll spend less of you precious time sitting around in heavy traffic.
- Try telecommuting from work if you're in a position to do so.
- If you are the owner of more than one vehicle you should try to drive the car that has the best gas mileage more often than the one with higher gas mileage. Save the vehicle with the lower gas mileage for those trips when you don't want your new vehicle damaged or don't want to put the miles on the odometer.
- Find out about ride-sharing programs and carpools that are available in your local area. By commuting to work with others you'll be cutting your monthly fuel costs by as much as half. You'll also be saving on the wear and tear of your car. Many large cities have what is known as the HOV lane (high occupancy vehicle) to encourage drivers to commute to work.
- Use the public transit service if it's convenient for you and available where you live. You may be able to drive your vehicle to the bus depot and commute from there. Even though you're still driving your car part way to work you'll still notice a substantial savings when it comes to the cost of your commute to and from work.
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