Author Topic: Boholanos finally wake up to political issues gripping Manila?  (Read 954 times)

benelynne

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Boholanos finally wake up to political issues gripping Manila?
« on: February 25, 2008, 09:24:47 AM »
Bohol Convenors Group formed tom'row

Amid recent events that rocked the capital sending the whole country agog over sordid details of alleged big-time corruption in high places, a multi-sectoral Convenors Group called Boholanos for Truth and Transparency will be formed tomorrow.

The group will hold its first meeting at Saya's Restaurant at 10 a.m. with a cross section of the religious, lawyers, academe, business, youth and civil society aptly represented. The group apparently self-evolved as conscience-stricken individuals representing various interest groups who decided to speak and act together for truth, transparency and good governance.

Technical Consultant and former government corporation top executive Jun Lozada (Philippine Forestry Corporation), has been the center of media focus after exposing that about US$130-million (P6.5-billion) in bribe money through overpricing was to change hands in the ZTE-NBN Broadband project costing US$320 million.

The First Gentleman Mike Arroyo has been implicated in the scam of which some advances in bribe had already been allegedly advanced according to the star witness.

This corroborated the earlier statement made by former NEDA chief Romulo Neri that former Comelec chairman Ben Abalos offered a bribe of P200 million at the Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club. Public pressure eventually led to Abalos' resignation.

Public indignation went fever pitch in the wake of attempts by different government agencies and personalities to prevent Lozada from testifying which tantamount to "kidnapping" according to Lozada's lawyers.

Thereafter Metro Manila and certain key cities in the country have become a site for various protest moves in various forms and intensity.

Among the early convenors are Atty. Isabelo Sales (President IBP-Bohol Chapter), Engr. Albert M. Uy (Regional Council Director BCBP-Bohol and Dumaguete), Engr. Vicente Loquillano (Executive Director, People's Fair Trade Assistance Center Inc.), Albert Sanvictores (Former President, Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry); Atty. Doods Sabijon (Dean, College of Criminology, UB);

Dr. Godofreda Tirol (Dean, Graduate School, UB), Atty. Raul Barbarona (Executive Director, Environmental Legal Assistance Center), Engr. Nilo Sarigumba (President, BACOSH) and Rene L. Relampagos (former Governor, Province of Bohol).

Many members of the Bohol clergy had committed to say "Mass for Truth" offerings in their respective parishes and to attend wherever such kind of mass will be celebrated.

Among them are Msgr. Vicente Nunag III (Parish Priest, Baclayon), Msgr. Gabino Lerin (Parish Priest, Manga, Tagbilaran Parish), Rev. Fr. Faustino Bisol (Parish Priest, Ubujan, Tagbilaran Parish), Msgr. Junix Nalzaro (Parish Priest, Taloto, Tagbilaran Parish), Rev. Fr. Efren Dolauta (Parish Priest, Maribojoc) and Rev. Fr. Rey Evangelista (Parish Priest, Cogtong, Candijay Parish).

According to Msgr. Nunag, beginning March 2 and every Sunday thereafter at 5 p.m. the Mass for Truth will be held in historic Baclayon Church, considered to be the oldest church in the Philippines. All masses will be officiated in English except the fourth Sunday which will be in Latin.

Other concerned groups and associations are likewise invited to join. Many youth groups especially inside the school campuses have already shown interest to join. Other concerned associations and groups "interested in truth and transparency" are invited to join. The Convenors Group will soon have a secretariat or coordinating point for easy organization.

Relampagos, acting in his private capacity as concerned citizen said the movement is to "solidify our crusade for honesty especially for those who are accountable to the people whom they are supposed to serve.


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benelynne

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Re: Boholanos finally wake up to political issues gripping Manila?
« Reply #1 on: February 25, 2008, 09:35:33 AM »
A key personality in this escalating controversy is Boholano Romulo Neri, who is presently head of the Department of Education. He was transferred to his current office after blowing the whistle on the ZTE Broadband Deal while he was still at the helm of NEDA.

Since testifying at the Senate, during which he divulged the Php 200 million bribery offer of Abalos if the loan package from China is approved, he has been tight-lipped about the whole issue.

It is clear, however, that this man knows a lot. What he has to say is deemed to tip the balance on Arroyo's political survival.

Last night, he is supposed to have met with Boholano confidantes. Anyone at TB who is privy to this meeting? Below is Bohol Chronicle's report dated February 24 of this secret meeting:

Commission on Higher Education Chairman Romulo Neri is scheduled to meet with a group of former priests and seminarians, all from Bohol in an undisclosed place in Metro Manila tonight.

The Chronicle source said the scheduled meeting was arranged to "allow the Boholano national official to confide with a group he is very comfortable with."

Neri, 58, is the son of former NAMARCO Chief German Neri, a Boholano.

With the recent turn of events, Neri has reportedly been very selective on persons he would talk with since he can hardly be sure if these persons he will be talking with are "with him or against him."

In fact, a highly placed source told the Chronicle last night that even cousins of Sec. Neri are extra careful to talk with him on his cellular phone knowing that his phone lines are surely being bugged by authorities.

Tonight's scheduled meeting will have no more than 15 Boholano "friends" of Neri.

Until press time, the Chronicle source said the Ched chairman could not confirm 100% attendance to the said meeting, but assured the group he will try his best to be there.

It was not known if Neri will "tell it all" to this group prior on whatever major decision he takes which is expected to come within the next few days. If he will reveal everything to the public, then it will just be a confirmation on what has been revealed by star witness Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. who is a closed personal friend of Neri.

However, Neri's much awaited statement will be far more credible since he will be narrating things on a first person revelation.

The 58-year old Neri has been advised by some friends and relatives to reveal everything and leave for abroad where his professional skills can very well be hired by multi-national companies there.

Sec. Neri was in Tagbilaran City last Jan. 25 to attend the golden year anniversary of priesthood of Msgr. John Pernia, his cousin.

The Chronicle chanced upon Sec. Neri at the Metro Centre Hotel but declined to comment when asked on what will happen next on the multi-million Bayongan Dam irrigation project which he questioned while he was NEDA secretary. He exposed the overpricing of the dam project saying it could be the "country's most expensive irrigation project."




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