28 September 2005
PHOTO: Not quite New Orleans
This flooding of the highway and bridge in Poblacion, Sta Barbara and neighboring barangays but the cause is eerily similar – storm-induced floodwaters that breached two dikes in the town. Tropical storm Labuyo may not have directly hit Pangasinan but the rains it spawned caused rivers around Sta. Barbara to swell and the dikes at Sinocalan to give way. (PStar Photo by Butch F. Uka)
Store yields banned bomb-making items
NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation agents, acting on a tip, swooped down Thursday on an agricultural store supply in Calasiao town and seized 335 bags of ammonium nitrate, several pieces of blasting caps and detonating cords.
Lawyer Diosdado Araos, leader of the NBI raiding team, said all of the items came from the Mapanao Agricultural Supply store in Poblacion, Calasiao owned by Rolando Mapanao who was arrested and detained at the NBI detention cell in Dagupan City.
The raid was conducted a week after the NBI received a tip from a friend of Mapanao who squealed on the latter’s illegal operation of selling the banned ingredients needed for the manufacture of bombs and explosives.
“We verified the information and applied the necessary search warrant after that,” Araos said, adding that nobody suspected the store to be selling ammonium nitrate because the crystalline materials were neatly concealed in bags of fish feeds at 25 kilos per bag.
A report said that this was the second time Mapanao was arrested for selling bags of ammonium nitrate. The first was when the branch of his agricultural store in Mangaldan town was raided by agents of the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division of the police a few years ago.
A case for violation of Presidential Decree 1866 as amended by Republic Act 8296 or the act punishing illegal possession of firearms, ammunitions and explosives is now being prepared against Mapanao and his cohorts.
Araos admitted that ammonium nitrate is really a sensitive ingredient for the manufacture of bombs, especially with the presence of blasting caps and detonating cords inside Mapanao’s store.
It is different from ammonium sulfate, a commercial salt manufactured from ammoniac liquor produced in the manufacture of gas and used as nitrogenous fertilizer.
Possession and sale of ammonium nitrate is punishable by law unless the person owning or selling this has a license from the Philippine National Police.
The ammonium nitrate seized from Mapanao were however believed not intended for terrorist activities but for illegal fishing activities. Many fishermen from various coastal towns of Pangasinan were frequenting the agricultural supply, it was learned.
Officials said this could explain why blast fishing continues unabated in the municipal waters of the Lingayen Gulf, near Dagupan City, San Fabian and Damortis, Sto. Tomas, La Union.
Lawyer Diosdado Araos, leader of the NBI raiding team, said all of the items came from the Mapanao Agricultural Supply store in Poblacion, Calasiao owned by Rolando Mapanao who was arrested and detained at the NBI detention cell in Dagupan City.
The raid was conducted a week after the NBI received a tip from a friend of Mapanao who squealed on the latter’s illegal operation of selling the banned ingredients needed for the manufacture of bombs and explosives.
“We verified the information and applied the necessary search warrant after that,” Araos said, adding that nobody suspected the store to be selling ammonium nitrate because the crystalline materials were neatly concealed in bags of fish feeds at 25 kilos per bag.
A report said that this was the second time Mapanao was arrested for selling bags of ammonium nitrate. The first was when the branch of his agricultural store in Mangaldan town was raided by agents of the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division of the police a few years ago.
A case for violation of Presidential Decree 1866 as amended by Republic Act 8296 or the act punishing illegal possession of firearms, ammunitions and explosives is now being prepared against Mapanao and his cohorts.
Araos admitted that ammonium nitrate is really a sensitive ingredient for the manufacture of bombs, especially with the presence of blasting caps and detonating cords inside Mapanao’s store.
It is different from ammonium sulfate, a commercial salt manufactured from ammoniac liquor produced in the manufacture of gas and used as nitrogenous fertilizer.
Possession and sale of ammonium nitrate is punishable by law unless the person owning or selling this has a license from the Philippine National Police.
The ammonium nitrate seized from Mapanao were however believed not intended for terrorist activities but for illegal fishing activities. Many fishermen from various coastal towns of Pangasinan were frequenting the agricultural supply, it was learned.
Officials said this could explain why blast fishing continues unabated in the municipal waters of the Lingayen Gulf, near Dagupan City, San Fabian and Damortis, Sto. Tomas, La Union.
Governor offers help to NIA
LINGAYEN – Gov. Victor E. Agbayani said Tuesday that the provincial government is working out a formula with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) for the province to undertake the repair of dilapidated irrigation facilities and later turn the facilities over to the farmers for their use and supervision.
Agbayani said several groups of farmers have complained to him that they are asked by NIA to pay monthly amortization for the use of irrigation facilities that are however no longer functioning effectively.
Most of the irrigation systems were built by NIA some thirty years ago. It was learned that the service fees being collected by the agency are mainly used to pay salaries of employees and hardly any sum is allotted for the repair and maintenance of the irrigation facilities.
The understanding was for NIA to build the irrigation dams and farmers will pay service fees. Through the years however, many of the facilities have been rendered ineffective due to lack of maintenance work.
“Many of the farmers find it difficult to pay the service fees due to poor harvest,” Agbayani said.
The governor proposed that the province will rehabilitate the dilapidated NIA irrigation facilities on condition that part of the service fees to be paid by the farmers would be retained for maintenance.
NIA personnel who try to collect, the dues at present are either flatly rejected by farmers or worse, chased out of the barangays, according to the agency’s information officer.
The province has been constructing communal irrigation system and small water impounding projects which are now serving over 10,000 hectares of farmland in the province.
Agbayani said several groups of farmers have complained to him that they are asked by NIA to pay monthly amortization for the use of irrigation facilities that are however no longer functioning effectively.
Most of the irrigation systems were built by NIA some thirty years ago. It was learned that the service fees being collected by the agency are mainly used to pay salaries of employees and hardly any sum is allotted for the repair and maintenance of the irrigation facilities.
The understanding was for NIA to build the irrigation dams and farmers will pay service fees. Through the years however, many of the facilities have been rendered ineffective due to lack of maintenance work.
“Many of the farmers find it difficult to pay the service fees due to poor harvest,” Agbayani said.
The governor proposed that the province will rehabilitate the dilapidated NIA irrigation facilities on condition that part of the service fees to be paid by the farmers would be retained for maintenance.
NIA personnel who try to collect, the dues at present are either flatly rejected by farmers or worse, chased out of the barangays, according to the agency’s information officer.
The province has been constructing communal irrigation system and small water impounding projects which are now serving over 10,000 hectares of farmland in the province.
Doctor dead in ambush at Calasiao intersection
CALASIAO – A doctor died a few hours after he and his wife were ambushed by a lone gunman near a road intersection here at past 7 a.m. last Tuesday shortly after coming out from a local hotel.
The victim was identified as Dr. Cerdan Lopez, 49, of Galang street in San Carlos City. He was shot through the windshield of the black brand new Ford Escape he was driving just as the car slowed down while approaching the road intersection.
The gunman approached the front right side of the vehicle and opened fire on Lopez, through the windshield. His wife Amy, 49, also a doctor, who was sitting beside him, was unscathed.
Dr. Vivencio Villaflor, owner of the Villaflor Doctors Hospital in Dagupan City, reported at about 12 noon last Tuesday that Lopez was in critical condition. A few minutes later, another report from the hospital stated that the victim was dead.
Inspector Antonio Malicdan, deputy chief of police of Calasiao, said the gunman might have fired eight shots based on the empty shells of Cal. 45 pistol found near the crime scene and another inside the victim’s vehicle.
Eight of the bullets found their marks in the victim’s abdomen. He was already in serious condition when he was wheeled into the hospital’s operating room.
Malicdan said the Lopez couple had just come out from the Regency Hotel a few meters away when the incident happened. They were believed either going home to San Carlos City or proceeding to Urdaneta City.
The gunman and a companion must have waited for the Lopezes in front of Chowking Restaurant were vehicles usually slow down upon reaching the road intersection.
A bystander who was called by Mrs. Lopez to drive them to the hospital said he saw two youths fleeing from the crime scene aboard a motorcycle, taking the Jose R. de Venecia Sr. road towards barangay Lucao in Dagupan City to the west.
Dr. Lopez used to be a staff of the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in San Carlos City till he resigned to devote himself full-time to private practice. Motive for the slaying was still unknown at presstime.
The victim was identified as Dr. Cerdan Lopez, 49, of Galang street in San Carlos City. He was shot through the windshield of the black brand new Ford Escape he was driving just as the car slowed down while approaching the road intersection.
The gunman approached the front right side of the vehicle and opened fire on Lopez, through the windshield. His wife Amy, 49, also a doctor, who was sitting beside him, was unscathed.
Dr. Vivencio Villaflor, owner of the Villaflor Doctors Hospital in Dagupan City, reported at about 12 noon last Tuesday that Lopez was in critical condition. A few minutes later, another report from the hospital stated that the victim was dead.
Inspector Antonio Malicdan, deputy chief of police of Calasiao, said the gunman might have fired eight shots based on the empty shells of Cal. 45 pistol found near the crime scene and another inside the victim’s vehicle.
Eight of the bullets found their marks in the victim’s abdomen. He was already in serious condition when he was wheeled into the hospital’s operating room.
Malicdan said the Lopez couple had just come out from the Regency Hotel a few meters away when the incident happened. They were believed either going home to San Carlos City or proceeding to Urdaneta City.
The gunman and a companion must have waited for the Lopezes in front of Chowking Restaurant were vehicles usually slow down upon reaching the road intersection.
A bystander who was called by Mrs. Lopez to drive them to the hospital said he saw two youths fleeing from the crime scene aboard a motorcycle, taking the Jose R. de Venecia Sr. road towards barangay Lucao in Dagupan City to the west.
Dr. Lopez used to be a staff of the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in San Carlos City till he resigned to devote himself full-time to private practice. Motive for the slaying was still unknown at presstime.
DOH still blowing hot on fake drugs
ONE more drugstore in Pangasinan was padlocked by the Department of Health last week after it was found selling fake 100 milligram Viagra tablets and for having an expired license to operate as a pharmacy.
Dr. Reynaldo Jacinto, chief of the enforcement and regulation division of the DOH regional office, said personnel of his office inspected the drugstore.
He warned people buying Viagra tablets to be more careful as owners of drugstores may take advantage of them by giving them the fake product instead of the genuine.
This was the second drugstore close by DOH so far. The first was last month in Alaminos City where lawmen, spearheaded by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) seized P600,000 worth of counterfeit medicines and prescription drug called valium.
The owner of the drugstore was the sixth suspect so far arrested and charged since the intensified campaign against counterfeit and fake medicines started.
Jacinto vowed there is no let-up in their operations against counterfeit and or fake medicines in the province which is being tagged as the favorite dumping ground for these banned commodities.
The operations were joined not only by the PDEA but also the National Bureau of Investigation and the police.
The counterfeit and or fake medicines were said to be coming from Region III and Metro Manila. The counterfeit products were labeled to make it appear these came from the United States, Canada, China, Thailand, India and Pakistan.
Only the distributors and retailers of these products have so far been arrested by lawmen. The brains behind the syndicate are yet to be unmasked.
Jacinto earlier said that lawmen now have names of doctors in the provinces of Pangasinan and Ilocos Sur to whom the counterfeit medicines were being sold at exceptionally low prices but DOH-BFAD has refused to reveal their names.
Dr. Reynaldo Jacinto, chief of the enforcement and regulation division of the DOH regional office, said personnel of his office inspected the drugstore.
He warned people buying Viagra tablets to be more careful as owners of drugstores may take advantage of them by giving them the fake product instead of the genuine.
This was the second drugstore close by DOH so far. The first was last month in Alaminos City where lawmen, spearheaded by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) seized P600,000 worth of counterfeit medicines and prescription drug called valium.
The owner of the drugstore was the sixth suspect so far arrested and charged since the intensified campaign against counterfeit and fake medicines started.
Jacinto vowed there is no let-up in their operations against counterfeit and or fake medicines in the province which is being tagged as the favorite dumping ground for these banned commodities.
The operations were joined not only by the PDEA but also the National Bureau of Investigation and the police.
The counterfeit and or fake medicines were said to be coming from Region III and Metro Manila. The counterfeit products were labeled to make it appear these came from the United States, Canada, China, Thailand, India and Pakistan.
Only the distributors and retailers of these products have so far been arrested by lawmen. The brains behind the syndicate are yet to be unmasked.
Jacinto earlier said that lawmen now have names of doctors in the provinces of Pangasinan and Ilocos Sur to whom the counterfeit medicines were being sold at exceptionally low prices but DOH-BFAD has refused to reveal their names.
City dad Michael bats for political reforms
COUNCILOR Michael Fernandez will be exchanging views with the country’s top young legislators when he joins the 3rd National Council Assembly of the National Movement of Young Legislators (NMYL) in Baguio City this weekend.
Fernandez, who was designated acting vice mayor since last week, is NMYL President for Region 1 and concurrently a member of the National Board.
“The NYML has always been mindful of the country’s socio-political situation. And as advocate of new politics, we will be discussing current issues, such as the Charter Change, electoral reforms and federalism during the National Board meeting,” Fernandez said, outlining the coming conference‘s agenda.
He said that as young legislators who play vital roles in local governance, a discussion of these issues will guide them in setting the policy directions of their respective local government units, vis-à-vis the various initiatives of the national government.
Among the leading young leaders with who will be attending the conference are NMYL National President Julian Coseteng of Quezon City together with vice governors, board members, vice mayors and councilors from different parts of the country.
Last week, Fernandez was in Puerto Princesa City after he was selected as member of the Philippine delegation to the 2nd Asian Cities Against Drugs (ASCAD) Conference. Only five city councilors were chosen nationwide.
“The conference’s primary objective was to identify and develop a framework for a comprehensive, coordinated and effective approach to combat the drug scourge in Asian cities,” Fernandez said.
Presentors during the plenary sessions attended by some 200 participants were Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and other Asian countries.
Fernandez, who was designated acting vice mayor since last week, is NMYL President for Region 1 and concurrently a member of the National Board.
“The NYML has always been mindful of the country’s socio-political situation. And as advocate of new politics, we will be discussing current issues, such as the Charter Change, electoral reforms and federalism during the National Board meeting,” Fernandez said, outlining the coming conference‘s agenda.
He said that as young legislators who play vital roles in local governance, a discussion of these issues will guide them in setting the policy directions of their respective local government units, vis-à-vis the various initiatives of the national government.
Among the leading young leaders with who will be attending the conference are NMYL National President Julian Coseteng of Quezon City together with vice governors, board members, vice mayors and councilors from different parts of the country.
Last week, Fernandez was in Puerto Princesa City after he was selected as member of the Philippine delegation to the 2nd Asian Cities Against Drugs (ASCAD) Conference. Only five city councilors were chosen nationwide.
“The conference’s primary objective was to identify and develop a framework for a comprehensive, coordinated and effective approach to combat the drug scourge in Asian cities,” Fernandez said.
Presentors during the plenary sessions attended by some 200 participants were Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and other Asian countries.
3 hospital personnel face probe
LINGAYEN – The cashier, security guard and the driver of an ambulance of the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital from whom P798,000 in payroll money was taken by three armed men Tuesday afternoon in Binmaley town are facing two parallel investigations as a result of the incident.
Ruel Camba, provincial information officer of Pangasinan, said the provincial government has decided to conduct its own investigation on the incident, separate from the investigation now being conducted by the police.
Under investigation for possible negligence are cashier Ruben Manangan, security guard Gilbert dela Cruz and their driver whose name was not immediately known.
Camba said the provincial government has jurisdiction on the three personnel because they are with the Provincial Health Office assigned with the PPH being operated by the province.
He said the money taken by the holdup men were the equivalent of two checks picked up by Manangan from the office of the provincial treasurer, which he encashed with the Land Bank of the Philippines branch in Lingayen.
Officials were puzzled because the checks could have been encashed by him at the Land Bank branch in San Carlos City, which is only about 2.5 kilometers away from barangay Bolingit in San Carlos City where the PPH is located.
Lingayen is some 15 kilometers away from Bolingit in San Carlos. But on the morning of that day, Manangan attended a meeting at the provincial capitol, Camba said
In the past, it was always at the Land Bank branch in San Carlos City where Manangan would encashed checks to cover their 15-day payroll at the PPH.
The Binmaley police also certified that the incident was reported to them more than one hour after the commission of the crime as Manangan and his companions did not go straight to the police station.
Instead, they drove to the PPH to report the matter to their superior before going back to Binmaley to have the incident recorded in the police blotter. The suspects were riding tandem on motorcycle without a plate number and made a clean gateway. (PNA)
Ruel Camba, provincial information officer of Pangasinan, said the provincial government has decided to conduct its own investigation on the incident, separate from the investigation now being conducted by the police.
Under investigation for possible negligence are cashier Ruben Manangan, security guard Gilbert dela Cruz and their driver whose name was not immediately known.
Camba said the provincial government has jurisdiction on the three personnel because they are with the Provincial Health Office assigned with the PPH being operated by the province.
He said the money taken by the holdup men were the equivalent of two checks picked up by Manangan from the office of the provincial treasurer, which he encashed with the Land Bank of the Philippines branch in Lingayen.
Officials were puzzled because the checks could have been encashed by him at the Land Bank branch in San Carlos City, which is only about 2.5 kilometers away from barangay Bolingit in San Carlos City where the PPH is located.
Lingayen is some 15 kilometers away from Bolingit in San Carlos. But on the morning of that day, Manangan attended a meeting at the provincial capitol, Camba said
In the past, it was always at the Land Bank branch in San Carlos City where Manangan would encashed checks to cover their 15-day payroll at the PPH.
The Binmaley police also certified that the incident was reported to them more than one hour after the commission of the crime as Manangan and his companions did not go straight to the police station.
Instead, they drove to the PPH to report the matter to their superior before going back to Binmaley to have the incident recorded in the police blotter. The suspects were riding tandem on motorcycle without a plate number and made a clean gateway. (PNA)
Motorbike-riding robbers having field day here
VILLASIS – Highway robbers struck again last Tuesday in two separate incidents in open defiance of an intensified government crackdown on criminal syndicates operating in the province.
The latest incident happened in Poblacion Zone II of this town where three motorcycle-riding suspects carted away the victim’s clutch bag containing cash of some P212,000, a check worth P25,000, RCBC passbook, and his cellphone.
The victim, Reynan Aguilar, 24, married, of barangay Don Montano in Umingan, told police that before the incident he had encashed two checks worth P212,000 from RCBC bank Carmen branch. While driving northward in a BMW car with plate No. TWD 176 registered under the name of Herminio Rabang, the suspects on a Honda TMX 155, abruptly overtook and blocked his way.
Two robbers fled southward.
On the same day, a softdrinks sales agent claimed to have been held up in Sta. Maria town by unidentified motorcycle-riding men as he and two helpers stopped to answer the call of nature.
Taken from the victim was his sales for the day amounting to some P36,000.
About two weeks earlier, an elderly couple from barangay Cabuloan in Urdaneta City were robbed of some P500,000 they had just withdrawn from a Metrobank branch in that city. Several daring daytime holdups were also staged in Dagupan for the last three months.
The police are looking into the possibility that the hold-up incidents are done by a single criminal group because of the similar pattern used in staging these crimes.
Most victims were bank clients who had just withdrawn their money.
Sr. Supt. Alan Purisima ordered police chiefs to assign policemen in strategic areas like the business district and schools.
In Dagupan City, two policemen in tandem are placed to constantly patrol a specific area. (DOS/PIA)
The latest incident happened in Poblacion Zone II of this town where three motorcycle-riding suspects carted away the victim’s clutch bag containing cash of some P212,000, a check worth P25,000, RCBC passbook, and his cellphone.
The victim, Reynan Aguilar, 24, married, of barangay Don Montano in Umingan, told police that before the incident he had encashed two checks worth P212,000 from RCBC bank Carmen branch. While driving northward in a BMW car with plate No. TWD 176 registered under the name of Herminio Rabang, the suspects on a Honda TMX 155, abruptly overtook and blocked his way.
Two robbers fled southward.
On the same day, a softdrinks sales agent claimed to have been held up in Sta. Maria town by unidentified motorcycle-riding men as he and two helpers stopped to answer the call of nature.
Taken from the victim was his sales for the day amounting to some P36,000.
About two weeks earlier, an elderly couple from barangay Cabuloan in Urdaneta City were robbed of some P500,000 they had just withdrawn from a Metrobank branch in that city. Several daring daytime holdups were also staged in Dagupan for the last three months.
The police are looking into the possibility that the hold-up incidents are done by a single criminal group because of the similar pattern used in staging these crimes.
Most victims were bank clients who had just withdrawn their money.
Sr. Supt. Alan Purisima ordered police chiefs to assign policemen in strategic areas like the business district and schools.
In Dagupan City, two policemen in tandem are placed to constantly patrol a specific area. (DOS/PIA)
Ilocos Sur awaits boxing idol Viloria
VIGAN CITY – Brian Viloria, the Filipino-American boxer who stunned the world by scoring a sensational first-round knock out against World Boxing Council junior flyweight champion Eric Ortiz in Staples Center, Los Angeles City, U.S.A. on September 18, will be given a hero’s welcome here when he comes home in a few days.
A provincial board resolution approved Friday congratulated Viloria, now living in Hawaii although a son of Ilocos Sur, for snatching the world boxing crown and for being an inspiration to legions of boxing, fans all over the Philippines and the world.
Vice Gov. Victor Savellano, presiding officer of the provincial board, said Viloria is a pure-bred Ilocano, his father being from barangay San Jose, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, and his mother from Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur.
Viloria is expected in Ilocos Sur in a few days to visit his ailing grandfather who is now confined in one of the hospitals in the province, an opportunity for him to also see his other relatives who he had not seen for a long time.
The Vilorias now live in Hawaii where Brian was born. But when he was six months old, he was brought by his Hawaii-based parents to Narvacan. It was only when he was already six years old that he was brought back to Hawaii where he lives until now.
Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Chavit Singson earlier joined President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in congratulating not only Viloria but also Rey ‘Boom Boom’ Bautista and Filipino boxing superhero Manny Paquiao for their respective victories in the boxing promotion dubbed as ‘Double-Trouble’ at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
In a privilege speech, Provincial Board Member Suriel Zaragoza, a son of the Narvacan mayor, said Viloria is the first Filipino world boxing champion from the northern part of the country since time immemorial. Most top-rated pugilists are from the Visayas and Mindanao.
A provincial board resolution approved Friday congratulated Viloria, now living in Hawaii although a son of Ilocos Sur, for snatching the world boxing crown and for being an inspiration to legions of boxing, fans all over the Philippines and the world.
Vice Gov. Victor Savellano, presiding officer of the provincial board, said Viloria is a pure-bred Ilocano, his father being from barangay San Jose, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, and his mother from Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur.
Viloria is expected in Ilocos Sur in a few days to visit his ailing grandfather who is now confined in one of the hospitals in the province, an opportunity for him to also see his other relatives who he had not seen for a long time.
The Vilorias now live in Hawaii where Brian was born. But when he was six months old, he was brought by his Hawaii-based parents to Narvacan. It was only when he was already six years old that he was brought back to Hawaii where he lives until now.
Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Chavit Singson earlier joined President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in congratulating not only Viloria but also Rey ‘Boom Boom’ Bautista and Filipino boxing superhero Manny Paquiao for their respective victories in the boxing promotion dubbed as ‘Double-Trouble’ at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
In a privilege speech, Provincial Board Member Suriel Zaragoza, a son of the Narvacan mayor, said Viloria is the first Filipino world boxing champion from the northern part of the country since time immemorial. Most top-rated pugilists are from the Visayas and Mindanao.
Wanted man snared by cops enforcing ‘no-plate, no travel’
SAN CARLOS CITY – The most wanted man in this city who has been involved in cattle rustling, carnaping, holdup and other crimes, along with his two cohorts, accidentally fell into a dragnet set up by police last Tuesday night while the latter were enforcing the ‘no plate, no travel’ policy.
Arrested was Rey Quitaleg of Balite Sur in San Carlos City, tagged by the police as the leader of a group of dreaded criminal elements operating in San Carlos City and other parts of central Pangasinan.
When brought to the city prosecutor’s office for inquest, along with two other suspects, Daniel Evangelito, 24, and Ramon Bacani, 34, Quitaleg introduced himself by another name, prompting prosecutors to suspect something amiss about him.
Evangelito was driving the motorcycle while Bacani and Quitaleg were the back riders. Bacani had a bolo placed in scabbard, a knife, two pliers and a disposable lighter placed in a bag.
Had Quitaleg not tried to conceal his identity, they could have already been released as one of them had a document to support ownership of the motorcycle they were riding on.
Sensing something doubtful about him, the prosecutors immediately called Supt. and Police Chief Geronimo Reside who sent in his warrant officer and who promptly identified Quitaleg as having standing warrants of arrest for carnapping and cattle rustling.
Reside said the Quitaleg group usually moves as a foursome and wondered what may have happened to their other companion.
The group could be the remnants of the dreaded Quitaleg gang of Urbiztondo town that was involved in the kidnapping of a rich matron from Carmen, Rosales, Pangasinan a few years ago.
Some of the members of this group, including their leader, were however later killed in a shoot-out somewhere in Tarlac with agents of the Presidential Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER) team.
Reside said the group of Rey Quitaleg was positively identified as the one responsible for the holdup of a family in San Carlos City in the early morning of June 22 this year where they carted away cash and jewelry estimated at some P500,000.
A case of robbery in band has just been filed against the suspects.
Arrested was Rey Quitaleg of Balite Sur in San Carlos City, tagged by the police as the leader of a group of dreaded criminal elements operating in San Carlos City and other parts of central Pangasinan.
When brought to the city prosecutor’s office for inquest, along with two other suspects, Daniel Evangelito, 24, and Ramon Bacani, 34, Quitaleg introduced himself by another name, prompting prosecutors to suspect something amiss about him.
Evangelito was driving the motorcycle while Bacani and Quitaleg were the back riders. Bacani had a bolo placed in scabbard, a knife, two pliers and a disposable lighter placed in a bag.
Had Quitaleg not tried to conceal his identity, they could have already been released as one of them had a document to support ownership of the motorcycle they were riding on.
Sensing something doubtful about him, the prosecutors immediately called Supt. and Police Chief Geronimo Reside who sent in his warrant officer and who promptly identified Quitaleg as having standing warrants of arrest for carnapping and cattle rustling.
Reside said the Quitaleg group usually moves as a foursome and wondered what may have happened to their other companion.
The group could be the remnants of the dreaded Quitaleg gang of Urbiztondo town that was involved in the kidnapping of a rich matron from Carmen, Rosales, Pangasinan a few years ago.
Some of the members of this group, including their leader, were however later killed in a shoot-out somewhere in Tarlac with agents of the Presidential Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER) team.
Reside said the group of Rey Quitaleg was positively identified as the one responsible for the holdup of a family in San Carlos City in the early morning of June 22 this year where they carted away cash and jewelry estimated at some P500,000.
A case of robbery in band has just been filed against the suspects.
Ombudsman junks another case against Mayor BSL
By Sheila Hortaleza-Aquino
THE Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon has dismissed for lack of merit the cases of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019), illegal use of public funds (technical malversation) and grave misconduct filed against City Mayor Benjamin S. Lim, City Treasurer Romelita Alcantara and Engineer Miguel dela Torre of the City Engineer’s Office.
Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Victor Fernandez approved the decision based on the recommendation of Director Emilio Gonzales III and Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer I Maritess Fabila-Vizconde.
The complainant, lawyer Victor Llamas, who represented the so-called Citizens Coalition for Reforms, Social Justice and Good Government, alleged the three respondents conspired and connived with each other for the purchase of 420 sets of streetlight and their accessories from Grandtex Marketing Corporation without public bidding and corresponding ordinance by the sangguniang panlungsod.
Llamas, a former regional trial court judge, said the procurement of the streetlight in the amount of P8,064,400 was overpriced and that these were installed in February 2003.
“A careful evaluation of the records of the case reveals the respondents cannot be held liable for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act since there is no evidence to show that complainant or the City of Dagupan suffered undue injury under the circumstances,” the ombudsman declared.
Records reveal that Ordinance 1775-2003 passed by the sanggunian covered the purchase of the streetlights and their accessories.
The ordinance which was approved on June 6, 2003 appropriated a total of P10 million for the construction and installation of streetlights and fixtures around the Dagupan City Proper.
Although the construction and installation of the streetlights and their accessories started on March 2003 or prior to the approval of the ordinance, the defects in the implementation of the project were cured by the eventual passage and approval of the ordinance, according to the ombudsman.
The decision added that the purchase from Grandtex Marketing Corporation was made without public bidding because these were procured directly from an exclusive distributor.
Fernandez said General Services Officer-in-Charge Gil Maramba testified that the streetlight exclusively distributed by Grandtex has no suitable substitute of the same quality available in the local market.
“It is worthy to note that the respondents paid Grandtex only on June 19, 2003 which was after the passage and approval of the ordinance appropriating the P10 million amount,” the decision stated.
Fernandez said the charge of illegal use of public funds similarly lacked merit, because one element—the use of public funds or property on something other than the purpose for which such are intended—as provided under Article 220 of the Revised Penal Code, was lacking in order that the accused may be held liable.
“The administrative charge of grave misconduct against the respondents must be dismissed because the procurement of the streetlights and their accessories is legal and supported by proper documents and the administrative case against Mayor Benjamin S. Lim must also be dismissed for being moot and academic considering that he was reelected as City Mayor of Dagupan City last May 2004 x x x” the ombudsman declared.
THE Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon has dismissed for lack of merit the cases of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019), illegal use of public funds (technical malversation) and grave misconduct filed against City Mayor Benjamin S. Lim, City Treasurer Romelita Alcantara and Engineer Miguel dela Torre of the City Engineer’s Office.
Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Victor Fernandez approved the decision based on the recommendation of Director Emilio Gonzales III and Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer I Maritess Fabila-Vizconde.
The complainant, lawyer Victor Llamas, who represented the so-called Citizens Coalition for Reforms, Social Justice and Good Government, alleged the three respondents conspired and connived with each other for the purchase of 420 sets of streetlight and their accessories from Grandtex Marketing Corporation without public bidding and corresponding ordinance by the sangguniang panlungsod.
Llamas, a former regional trial court judge, said the procurement of the streetlight in the amount of P8,064,400 was overpriced and that these were installed in February 2003.
“A careful evaluation of the records of the case reveals the respondents cannot be held liable for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act since there is no evidence to show that complainant or the City of Dagupan suffered undue injury under the circumstances,” the ombudsman declared.
Records reveal that Ordinance 1775-2003 passed by the sanggunian covered the purchase of the streetlights and their accessories.
The ordinance which was approved on June 6, 2003 appropriated a total of P10 million for the construction and installation of streetlights and fixtures around the Dagupan City Proper.
Although the construction and installation of the streetlights and their accessories started on March 2003 or prior to the approval of the ordinance, the defects in the implementation of the project were cured by the eventual passage and approval of the ordinance, according to the ombudsman.
The decision added that the purchase from Grandtex Marketing Corporation was made without public bidding because these were procured directly from an exclusive distributor.
Fernandez said General Services Officer-in-Charge Gil Maramba testified that the streetlight exclusively distributed by Grandtex has no suitable substitute of the same quality available in the local market.
“It is worthy to note that the respondents paid Grandtex only on June 19, 2003 which was after the passage and approval of the ordinance appropriating the P10 million amount,” the decision stated.
Fernandez said the charge of illegal use of public funds similarly lacked merit, because one element—the use of public funds or property on something other than the purpose for which such are intended—as provided under Article 220 of the Revised Penal Code, was lacking in order that the accused may be held liable.
“The administrative charge of grave misconduct against the respondents must be dismissed because the procurement of the streetlights and their accessories is legal and supported by proper documents and the administrative case against Mayor Benjamin S. Lim must also be dismissed for being moot and academic considering that he was reelected as City Mayor of Dagupan City last May 2004 x x x” the ombudsman declared.
Another Taipei visit for BSL
CITY Mayor Benjamin S. Lim led city officials, key personnel of Dagupan and other coastal towns, and private fish farm owners on a visit to Taipei in Taiwan last Wednesday until Sunday, to study the successful fisheries and aquaculture program of that neighboring Asian country.
The study tour was organized in coordination with the Institute of Marine Resource Management of the National Taiwan Ocean University represented by director and professor Dr. Ching-Ta (Ted) Chuang.
Chuang has been to Dagupan City during the 2nd National Bangus Industry Congress where he lectured on minimizing the cost of bangus production based on Taiwan’s experience.
“Through this trip, we hope to learn new fishing technologies and programs that we could replicate in our respective localities to boost our aquaculture industry,” Lim said in a letter to Chuang.
Chuang noted that the fisheries and aquaculture sector has made a significant contribution to Taiwan’s economy.
“Our goal is to pursue further cooperation with the related industries and organizations both at home and abroad,” Chuang said.
According to City Agriculture Officer Emma Molina, Taiwan’s fishing technologies are more advanced than in the mainland.
The first leg of the proposed itinerary of the Dagupan team was in Kaohsiung where the group visited milkfish and tilapia farms and recreational fishing harbors even as they met with fishermen associations. The group proceeded the next day to the Pin Tung Fisheries Research Instutute, Grouper Farms and the Pintung Government.
The group will also visit the Fisheries Research Institute to learn more about tilapia, eel and aquaculture gene bank.
A tour of Taipei capped the visit of the group.
The rest of the delegates in the study tour are San Fabian Mayor Majamito Libunao, Jr.; Dasol Mayor Angelita Jimenez; Binmaley Councilor Leo Urmaza; Sangguniang Panlungsod members Alex de Venecia, Nicanor Aquino and Teofilo Guadiz III; Georgina Guadiz, wife of Councilor Guadiz; City Agriculture Officer Emma Molina; City Agriculture Office Technologist Felita Ugaban; Executive Assistant Emmanuel Bamba; fish farm owners Jessie Doria, Danilo de Sola, Barangay Captain Marcelino Fernandez, Antonio Caneng and Chi Wang Lim; and Alexander Romulo Siapno, an entrepreneur. (Sheila H. Aquino)
The study tour was organized in coordination with the Institute of Marine Resource Management of the National Taiwan Ocean University represented by director and professor Dr. Ching-Ta (Ted) Chuang.
Chuang has been to Dagupan City during the 2nd National Bangus Industry Congress where he lectured on minimizing the cost of bangus production based on Taiwan’s experience.
“Through this trip, we hope to learn new fishing technologies and programs that we could replicate in our respective localities to boost our aquaculture industry,” Lim said in a letter to Chuang.
Chuang noted that the fisheries and aquaculture sector has made a significant contribution to Taiwan’s economy.
“Our goal is to pursue further cooperation with the related industries and organizations both at home and abroad,” Chuang said.
According to City Agriculture Officer Emma Molina, Taiwan’s fishing technologies are more advanced than in the mainland.
The first leg of the proposed itinerary of the Dagupan team was in Kaohsiung where the group visited milkfish and tilapia farms and recreational fishing harbors even as they met with fishermen associations. The group proceeded the next day to the Pin Tung Fisheries Research Instutute, Grouper Farms and the Pintung Government.
The group will also visit the Fisheries Research Institute to learn more about tilapia, eel and aquaculture gene bank.
A tour of Taipei capped the visit of the group.
The rest of the delegates in the study tour are San Fabian Mayor Majamito Libunao, Jr.; Dasol Mayor Angelita Jimenez; Binmaley Councilor Leo Urmaza; Sangguniang Panlungsod members Alex de Venecia, Nicanor Aquino and Teofilo Guadiz III; Georgina Guadiz, wife of Councilor Guadiz; City Agriculture Officer Emma Molina; City Agriculture Office Technologist Felita Ugaban; Executive Assistant Emmanuel Bamba; fish farm owners Jessie Doria, Danilo de Sola, Barangay Captain Marcelino Fernandez, Antonio Caneng and Chi Wang Lim; and Alexander Romulo Siapno, an entrepreneur. (Sheila H. Aquino)
Drunken driver loses control of 10-wheeler; 2 dead, 3 hurt
MANGALDAN – An over-speeding 10-wheeler truck driven by a drunken driver sideswiped and killed two persons before ramming an electric and telephone posts along the national highway in barangay Bantayan here last Tuesday afternoon.
The truck with plate number AVZ-847 and driven by a certain Rivera was proceeding to Dagupan City from Baguio City when the accident happened.
Police identified the fatalities as Mark Ulanday, 13, and Jovito Caccam of Burgos, La Union. They were declared dead on arrival at the Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City, some seven kilometers away from the accident scene.
Injured were the driver of the truck, identified only by his family name Rivera who was found under the influence of liquor; his helper identified as Rolly William, 22, of Irisan, Baguio City; and one Arjay Yulo, 19.
A case of reckless imprudence resulting to double homicide and one physical injury has been filed by the police against the truck driver who is now detained at the town’s police jail.
Aside from this, the Central Pangasinan Electric Company and Digital Communications of the Philippines (Digitel) are also readying damage suits against the truck driver. (PNA)
The truck with plate number AVZ-847 and driven by a certain Rivera was proceeding to Dagupan City from Baguio City when the accident happened.
Police identified the fatalities as Mark Ulanday, 13, and Jovito Caccam of Burgos, La Union. They were declared dead on arrival at the Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City, some seven kilometers away from the accident scene.
Injured were the driver of the truck, identified only by his family name Rivera who was found under the influence of liquor; his helper identified as Rolly William, 22, of Irisan, Baguio City; and one Arjay Yulo, 19.
A case of reckless imprudence resulting to double homicide and one physical injury has been filed by the police against the truck driver who is now detained at the town’s police jail.
Aside from this, the Central Pangasinan Electric Company and Digital Communications of the Philippines (Digitel) are also readying damage suits against the truck driver. (PNA)
FEATURE: The Real Losers in Cable Piracy
MRS. ELLA CRUZ (not her real name) of Barangay Olympia, Makati City, has been a longtime cable subscriber. Recently, however, she has been feeling shortchanged. Not once has she missed paying her bills, she says, but cable services seemed better years ago when the signal was crystal clear. These days, Ella laments that her cable TV reception seems to have deteriorated.
Aling Ella may not know it, but legitimate subscribers like her are the real victims of the growing cable piracy problem in the country. If left unchecked, cable theft will divest more consumers like Aling Ella of quality cable service.
“Cable companies may have been bleeding financially, but it is the subscribers who are at the losing end in the cable piracy crisis,” said Elpidio Paras, vice-chairman and one-time president of the Philippine Cable Television Association (PCTA).
Paras said illegal cable connections cause a 30-to-40-percent degradation in cable signals. This means ghost images, static lines, blurred pictures, hissing noises, sudden flickers on screen and surges of static noise that can damage the TV set. Thus, legitimate subscribers are not just robed of cable signals; they are incurring other potential losses as well.
“The worst thing is, many subscribers out there don’t know they’ve been had,” Paras pointed out. “They are virtually paying for other people’s illegal cable connection and they only complain when the signal has become so bad.”
Paras added cable theft in Metro Manila have become so rampant that the number of illegal connections have surpassed the total number of subscribers of all the cable companies combined.
“Legitimate subscribers are paying for these illegal connections and they get nothing in return,” Paras said.
That is why cable companies are urging their subscribers to report incidents of cable theft as well as bogus linemen offering free cable in their neighborhood.
Paras said it’s very easy to spot an illegal cable connection.
“One tell-tale sign is the presence of multi-channel splitters in the electric splitters. We keep our cable connections seamless, so all you can see is one cable wire connecting the subscriber to the main cable line. We don’t do octopus connections.”
Subscribers, Paras added, should call their cable company’s hotline whenever they see a splitter. “Subscribers should take part in the battle against illegal connections because ultimately, they are the ones being robbed, not the cable companies,” he said.
Aling Ella may not know it, but legitimate subscribers like her are the real victims of the growing cable piracy problem in the country. If left unchecked, cable theft will divest more consumers like Aling Ella of quality cable service.
“Cable companies may have been bleeding financially, but it is the subscribers who are at the losing end in the cable piracy crisis,” said Elpidio Paras, vice-chairman and one-time president of the Philippine Cable Television Association (PCTA).
Paras said illegal cable connections cause a 30-to-40-percent degradation in cable signals. This means ghost images, static lines, blurred pictures, hissing noises, sudden flickers on screen and surges of static noise that can damage the TV set. Thus, legitimate subscribers are not just robed of cable signals; they are incurring other potential losses as well.
“The worst thing is, many subscribers out there don’t know they’ve been had,” Paras pointed out. “They are virtually paying for other people’s illegal cable connection and they only complain when the signal has become so bad.”
Paras added cable theft in Metro Manila have become so rampant that the number of illegal connections have surpassed the total number of subscribers of all the cable companies combined.
“Legitimate subscribers are paying for these illegal connections and they get nothing in return,” Paras said.
That is why cable companies are urging their subscribers to report incidents of cable theft as well as bogus linemen offering free cable in their neighborhood.
Paras said it’s very easy to spot an illegal cable connection.
“One tell-tale sign is the presence of multi-channel splitters in the electric splitters. We keep our cable connections seamless, so all you can see is one cable wire connecting the subscriber to the main cable line. We don’t do octopus connections.”
Subscribers, Paras added, should call their cable company’s hotline whenever they see a splitter. “Subscribers should take part in the battle against illegal connections because ultimately, they are the ones being robbed, not the cable companies,” he said.
FEATURE: Province puts up institute on environment governance
LINGAYEN – Gov. Victor E. Agbayani has forged a multi-sectoral partnership for the establishment of an Institute of Environmental Governance (IEG) in the province to boost efforts for environmental protection and conservation.
Agbayani explained that under the Local Government Code or Republic Act, local government units are given a broader role in enforcing and implementing environment-related laws and projects.
“With increased power comes additional responsibilities,” he said, as he called for a mechanism to provide training and capability building for local executives and local policy makers in order for them to effectively perform their given mandate.
Among the devolved functions are those on pollution control, solid waste management, law enforcement, management of communal forest, control over small scale mining, fisheries management, and environment protection.
The governor has tapped the assistance of several concerned agencies, notably the Pangasinan State University (PSU), DENR and Tanggol Kalikasan in setting up the IEG at the PSU campus in Lingayen town.
Aside from the governor other signatories to the memorandum of agreement were Dr. Rodolfo Asanion, PSU president, Engr. Roberto Verzola, president of Tanggol Kalikasan; Dr. Andre Uycheoco of the Sagip Lingayen Gulf Project; Dean Rolando Cerezo of the PSU College of Fisheries, and Provincial Agriculturist Jose Almendares.
The training design comprises basic environmental science, relevant environmental policies, applicable management models, basic enforcement skills, and integrated area planning. Almendares said the institute will cater to two levels: one level for barangay officials and another for municipal and provincial officials.
The first batch of trainees was composed of 24 participants from Anda, Bani, Bolinao, Alaminos City, and from the PNP Provincial Mobile Group. (Jennifer Domantay/PIO)
Agbayani explained that under the Local Government Code or Republic Act, local government units are given a broader role in enforcing and implementing environment-related laws and projects.
“With increased power comes additional responsibilities,” he said, as he called for a mechanism to provide training and capability building for local executives and local policy makers in order for them to effectively perform their given mandate.
Among the devolved functions are those on pollution control, solid waste management, law enforcement, management of communal forest, control over small scale mining, fisheries management, and environment protection.
The governor has tapped the assistance of several concerned agencies, notably the Pangasinan State University (PSU), DENR and Tanggol Kalikasan in setting up the IEG at the PSU campus in Lingayen town.
Aside from the governor other signatories to the memorandum of agreement were Dr. Rodolfo Asanion, PSU president, Engr. Roberto Verzola, president of Tanggol Kalikasan; Dr. Andre Uycheoco of the Sagip Lingayen Gulf Project; Dean Rolando Cerezo of the PSU College of Fisheries, and Provincial Agriculturist Jose Almendares.
The training design comprises basic environmental science, relevant environmental policies, applicable management models, basic enforcement skills, and integrated area planning. Almendares said the institute will cater to two levels: one level for barangay officials and another for municipal and provincial officials.
The first batch of trainees was composed of 24 participants from Anda, Bani, Bolinao, Alaminos City, and from the PNP Provincial Mobile Group. (Jennifer Domantay/PIO)
FEATURE: The Pindangan Estate: 100 Years of Conflict
By DANNY O. SAGUN
PIA-Pangasinan Infocenter
SEVENTEEN claimants to the controversy-laden Pindangan Estate in Alcala town finally got their land titles Tuesday in time for the town’s 130th founding anniversary celebration.
The Pindangan Estate, an agricultural land of some 491 hectares touching four barangays in the town, has been ruled a government property some 82 years of conflict between the original owners and later the government and occupants/claimants.
The property was foreclosed by the defunct Agricultural Bank of the Philippines when the original owner, Don Francisco Gonzales, failed to settle his loan obtained in November 1922 with the then government bank. His daughter Cristina, married to Swiss national, Ernest Schenkel, tried in March 1923 to redeem the property thru repurchase on installment basis.
Pending consideration of her application, she applied for a provisionary permit to occupy and cultivate the land which was granted. On October 8, 1923 she filed a lease application but was not granted because of the fact that she had become a Swiss citizen. On November 28, 1923, the land became a government property when the period of her right for redemption expired. She then formed a corporation, Cristina Gonzales, Inc. and filed another lease application with the Director of Lands.
Meanwhile some 93 families occupied the land for themselves even before government took hold of it. The claimants represented by lawyer Cipriano Primicias, protested against the lease application of the corporation, but the agriculture Secretary on December 23. 1926 dismissed their appeal.
The Director of Lands on August 5, 1932, meanwhile, cancelled the corporation’s deed of repurchase. The agriculture secretary however reversed the director’s order and granted Cristina her second repurchase application for which she paid P5,084,62 as first installment. The move only courted more court litigations between and among the claimants that spanned several decades. A group of 178 claimants emerged as well as another group of 302. The land controversy eventually reached the Supreme Court.
On May 15, 1980, the high court resolved to terminate with finality all judicial litigations and authorized the Director of Lands and the Secretary to determine adjudication and distribution of the estate to legitimate claimants and occupants. A modular survey was conducted four years later. On January 18, 1993, the DENR Secretary Angel Alcala issued Administrative Order No. 3 to judiciously implement the 1980 SC decision.
In May 1996, a field team set guidelines to determine the value or cost of the subdivided residential lots and to subject them to bidding. Also in May 1996, Transfer Certificate of Title No. 151 in the name of Cristina Gonzales was transferred to the government with the director of lands as estate administrator. The controversy did not end though as a local court issued a status quo order. The agrarian reform committee of the House of Representatives also held its own inquiry. An inter-agency task force, which was recommended by the House agrarian committee, met with the opposing groups, the 178 claimants and the 302 group to settle their disputes amicably. Several meetings followed between the DENR, the municipal government, and the affected parties for the final resolution of the controversy.
The sangguniang bayan also passed a resolution asking the DENR to finally distribute the property to legitimate claimants as ordered by the high court. Initially, 20 residential lots were approved fro distribution. A group tried desperately to delay the proceedings as if filed a petition for mandamus before the Villasis regional trial court but Judge Manuel Pastor Jr. dismissed it paving the way for the publication and posting of notices for the sale of government lands.
On August 1, 2005, initial bidding for the 20 lots was conducted at the community environment and natural resources office in Dagupan City. Only 17 were bid out because the three supposed bidders had no money for publication in the newspapers. The DENR meanwhile continues to process applications for the other claimants, it was gathered. DENR Regional Executive Director Victor Ancheta and Mayor Manuel Collado led the awarding ceremony Tuesday at the municipal gym coinciding with Alcala Day, the 130th founding anniversary of the town.
OPINYON: Kalamidad tan kasil na linawa
SAYAN INDIO
Mario F. Karateka
AGAYLAY sulit ya nalilikna na Estados Unidos natan. Mantotombokan tan makmaksil iran bagyo – “hurricane” so tawag dadman – so ombabasig ed saray partey New Orleans, Mississippi, tan ingen, ed sayay imbeneg a simba labat, pati Texas, saray estados to ya asingger ed “Gulf coast” a tatawagen.
Say sankabalegan, sankakasilan tan sankayamanan a bansa ed mundo singa labatla gakgalaw ed limay natural iran puwersa. Onlan migiyera ed arom a bansa usar toy sankamodernoan iran armas tan bomba balet no basigan manayay panaon so mismon dalin to et singa ogaw ya kapay-kapay tan man-ngesnges ed sakit. Ansakit a tuloy ed imahen na Estados Unidos so nagagawan pakakanengneng na intiron mundo ed dapag na kakapuyan to.
Kuandaray pigaran Pinoy lanti ya wadian manaayam ed baley ya inianakan, no nipaakar ed kalamidad, sanay lay Pinoy. Delap, pool, yegyeg, ibetag na bulkan, bagyo, anggan bombaan, asali lay Pinoy. Nalalampasan ton amin iya. Pati diad eras tan irap ingen, siansian ag naekal so imis tan gayaga ed lupa to.
Saray manaaral ed onian ugaliy Pinoy, ibabagaran singa laba-labay to kono so nasasakitan, samay tatawagen dan masokismo (masochism, ed Ingles) ta lalon mamapakasil iya na karakter to. Kuay arom balet, say sipor ya pananisia tod Dios a Manamalsa (faith) a tan say aralem ya sukat na ilalo to (hope) ya makabangon ed irap so mamapakasil ed tipikal a Pilipino. Ontan met say sipor a ugali ton maelek o magalaw makakatulong ed pakakalingwan tod problema tora – ya no nalilikna bilang iya na sakey ya Yuropano (European) odino Norte Amerikano (North American) et ngalngali tola kaambagel.
Nengneng molay litrato odino saray ipapaway dad telebisyon no ontan ya dela-delap ed pigaran paspasen: Maslak ed saray totoo ya onaarap ed kamera, manimis, manelek tan pakawey-kawey ni ingen – anggan say danom et anggad awak dala, odino say agos na delap ed bakgrawn da et makmaksil. Ikomparam ed saramay abantayan mon kalupaan tan ayos daray Amerikano nen binasigan ira nen Hyurikin Katrina, nagnagba so lupa da tan ameneng-meneng ira tan mangoyangoy so arom.
Duman talaga so Pinoy.
Agmetla pankelawan ingen ta wadtan ya mabata-batar so istoryay Bataan tan Korehidor nen imbeneg a giyera mundial ya istoryay anos, tepel tan sibeg na saray sundalon Pilipino ya akilaban ed saray Hapones anggad kasampotan na biskeg da.
Mabuhay so Pilipinas!
Mario F. Karateka
AGAYLAY sulit ya nalilikna na Estados Unidos natan. Mantotombokan tan makmaksil iran bagyo – “hurricane” so tawag dadman – so ombabasig ed saray partey New Orleans, Mississippi, tan ingen, ed sayay imbeneg a simba labat, pati Texas, saray estados to ya asingger ed “Gulf coast” a tatawagen.
Say sankabalegan, sankakasilan tan sankayamanan a bansa ed mundo singa labatla gakgalaw ed limay natural iran puwersa. Onlan migiyera ed arom a bansa usar toy sankamodernoan iran armas tan bomba balet no basigan manayay panaon so mismon dalin to et singa ogaw ya kapay-kapay tan man-ngesnges ed sakit. Ansakit a tuloy ed imahen na Estados Unidos so nagagawan pakakanengneng na intiron mundo ed dapag na kakapuyan to.
Kuandaray pigaran Pinoy lanti ya wadian manaayam ed baley ya inianakan, no nipaakar ed kalamidad, sanay lay Pinoy. Delap, pool, yegyeg, ibetag na bulkan, bagyo, anggan bombaan, asali lay Pinoy. Nalalampasan ton amin iya. Pati diad eras tan irap ingen, siansian ag naekal so imis tan gayaga ed lupa to.
Saray manaaral ed onian ugaliy Pinoy, ibabagaran singa laba-labay to kono so nasasakitan, samay tatawagen dan masokismo (masochism, ed Ingles) ta lalon mamapakasil iya na karakter to. Kuay arom balet, say sipor ya pananisia tod Dios a Manamalsa (faith) a tan say aralem ya sukat na ilalo to (hope) ya makabangon ed irap so mamapakasil ed tipikal a Pilipino. Ontan met say sipor a ugali ton maelek o magalaw makakatulong ed pakakalingwan tod problema tora – ya no nalilikna bilang iya na sakey ya Yuropano (European) odino Norte Amerikano (North American) et ngalngali tola kaambagel.
Nengneng molay litrato odino saray ipapaway dad telebisyon no ontan ya dela-delap ed pigaran paspasen: Maslak ed saray totoo ya onaarap ed kamera, manimis, manelek tan pakawey-kawey ni ingen – anggan say danom et anggad awak dala, odino say agos na delap ed bakgrawn da et makmaksil. Ikomparam ed saramay abantayan mon kalupaan tan ayos daray Amerikano nen binasigan ira nen Hyurikin Katrina, nagnagba so lupa da tan ameneng-meneng ira tan mangoyangoy so arom.
Duman talaga so Pinoy.
Agmetla pankelawan ingen ta wadtan ya mabata-batar so istoryay Bataan tan Korehidor nen imbeneg a giyera mundial ya istoryay anos, tepel tan sibeg na saray sundalon Pilipino ya akilaban ed saray Hapones anggad kasampotan na biskeg da.
Mabuhay so Pilipinas!
EDITORIAL: Bird flu pandemic: How unprepared are we for it?
H5NI.
That is the particular strain of the avian (bird) influenza that the world’s medical and research community is looking and watching out for today.
While many of us in the Philippines are preoccupied with finding out the Political and Moral Truths, or hiding it, in the Garci case, the deadly bird flu has crept up on our neighboring Asian country, Indonesia, which has reported four confirmed deaths from the disease so far, with 17 others now in hospitals under close observation for symptoms of the pathogenic H5NI.
With God’s blessing, the Philippines remains free from the disease until now even while a less virulent strain of the avian flu was found some months back in a poultry farm in Bulacan, prompting the culling of the feathered ones to stop whatever possibility of a spread.
The World Health Organization’s chief last week said that bird flu was moving towards becoming transmissible to and by humans and that the world has “no time to waste to prevent a pandemic.” As many of us might not yet know, the last great influenza pandemic was in 1918-1919, causing an estimated 40 million to 50 million deaths.
No time to waste, and yet our politician-leaders are squandering precious funds and efforts over just about anything, instead of fully preparing for the worse and mounting as many defenses as it could for our sake.
In Europe and North America, they are stocking up on anti-virals and speeding up research on vaccine development and preparations for social and economic disruptions. This because the scientific community agrees there will only be a window of “a few weeks to contain an outbreak before a pandemic virus spreads with lethal speed.”
Now, how have we been doing in our own preparation in these 7,107 islands?
A matter of national security such as this one now staring countries all over the world in the face – and here, our national security chief himself has become, so to speak, a jailbird, courtesy of the Senate. Not to worry though, he hasn’t got the H5NI avian flu strain, that’s for sure.
That is the particular strain of the avian (bird) influenza that the world’s medical and research community is looking and watching out for today.
While many of us in the Philippines are preoccupied with finding out the Political and Moral Truths, or hiding it, in the Garci case, the deadly bird flu has crept up on our neighboring Asian country, Indonesia, which has reported four confirmed deaths from the disease so far, with 17 others now in hospitals under close observation for symptoms of the pathogenic H5NI.
With God’s blessing, the Philippines remains free from the disease until now even while a less virulent strain of the avian flu was found some months back in a poultry farm in Bulacan, prompting the culling of the feathered ones to stop whatever possibility of a spread.
The World Health Organization’s chief last week said that bird flu was moving towards becoming transmissible to and by humans and that the world has “no time to waste to prevent a pandemic.” As many of us might not yet know, the last great influenza pandemic was in 1918-1919, causing an estimated 40 million to 50 million deaths.
No time to waste, and yet our politician-leaders are squandering precious funds and efforts over just about anything, instead of fully preparing for the worse and mounting as many defenses as it could for our sake.
In Europe and North America, they are stocking up on anti-virals and speeding up research on vaccine development and preparations for social and economic disruptions. This because the scientific community agrees there will only be a window of “a few weeks to contain an outbreak before a pandemic virus spreads with lethal speed.”
Now, how have we been doing in our own preparation in these 7,107 islands?
A matter of national security such as this one now staring countries all over the world in the face – and here, our national security chief himself has become, so to speak, a jailbird, courtesy of the Senate. Not to worry though, he hasn’t got the H5NI avian flu strain, that’s for sure.
OPINION: Handling media
AFTER ALL
Behn Fer. Hortaleza, Jr.
SINCE we started in this trade, back when we were still in college and just earning our spurs from the likes of veteran writers and editors Armando R. Ravanzo, Bayardo E. Estrada, Dominador P. Navarro, Magno Vent Cornel, all now in the Great Beyond and Dante M.Velasco, Gerardo E. Garcia, and elder brod Rhee Fer. Hortaleza, all still active and practicing the calling, we guess we’ve done our own fair share of ministry work for journalism.
Campus journalism seminars, classroom lectures, press club skills workshops, media orientation gatherings and similar activities in various places have seen us teaching the new ones whom we’ve often visualized stepping into our shoes when the time comes. As fate would have it, our two daughters seem to have inherited the writing inclination (possibly, the genes), without much prodding from us. As was their luck, when they applied for their jobs, their former employers had simply felt they were a chip off the old block and pronto, put them a-writing. If there’s ever a forced learning, theirs must have been it, although we must admit, they already had the basics to begin with.
Last week, after a self-imposed semi-retirement from the journalism lecture circuit, we again found ourself engaging in the talk before a rather new audience – the corporate communications officers and various key personnel of the National Transmission Corporation (Transco) on quite a fresh subject: Media Handling.
As it turned out though, other than just discussing the hows and whys of interacting with Media, we (brod Rhee, Radyo ng Bayan’s Bernie Errasquin, and Skycable’s Rommel Partosa, Migs Velarde and Marlon Marville) ended up answering a slew of questions from the Transco guys who were mostly uninitiated on the ways of the press, about Media’s role in improving the moral standards of society. While the audience was low on practical skills of journalism, it certainly was high on perception of the morals and attitudes that should govern the craft.
We believe we all acquitted ourselves well in the “engagement” though.
It was such a welcome change from the humdrum lectures we do on “5 Ws and 1 H” in the journalism lecture circuit. When people probe into your philosophies, and you offer to share these with them, there’s some catharsis that follows.
As the veteran journalist, now executive director of the Center for Culture and Mass Media Foundation, Inc. Alito Malinao told his audience of young masscom students yesterday in the journalism seminar at the Lyceum-Northwestern University: Sharing joy increases happiness, sharing grief lessens the pain.
Behn Fer. Hortaleza, Jr.
SINCE we started in this trade, back when we were still in college and just earning our spurs from the likes of veteran writers and editors Armando R. Ravanzo, Bayardo E. Estrada, Dominador P. Navarro, Magno Vent Cornel, all now in the Great Beyond and Dante M.Velasco, Gerardo E. Garcia, and elder brod Rhee Fer. Hortaleza, all still active and practicing the calling, we guess we’ve done our own fair share of ministry work for journalism.
Campus journalism seminars, classroom lectures, press club skills workshops, media orientation gatherings and similar activities in various places have seen us teaching the new ones whom we’ve often visualized stepping into our shoes when the time comes. As fate would have it, our two daughters seem to have inherited the writing inclination (possibly, the genes), without much prodding from us. As was their luck, when they applied for their jobs, their former employers had simply felt they were a chip off the old block and pronto, put them a-writing. If there’s ever a forced learning, theirs must have been it, although we must admit, they already had the basics to begin with.
Last week, after a self-imposed semi-retirement from the journalism lecture circuit, we again found ourself engaging in the talk before a rather new audience – the corporate communications officers and various key personnel of the National Transmission Corporation (Transco) on quite a fresh subject: Media Handling.
As it turned out though, other than just discussing the hows and whys of interacting with Media, we (brod Rhee, Radyo ng Bayan’s Bernie Errasquin, and Skycable’s Rommel Partosa, Migs Velarde and Marlon Marville) ended up answering a slew of questions from the Transco guys who were mostly uninitiated on the ways of the press, about Media’s role in improving the moral standards of society. While the audience was low on practical skills of journalism, it certainly was high on perception of the morals and attitudes that should govern the craft.
We believe we all acquitted ourselves well in the “engagement” though.
It was such a welcome change from the humdrum lectures we do on “5 Ws and 1 H” in the journalism lecture circuit. When people probe into your philosophies, and you offer to share these with them, there’s some catharsis that follows.
As the veteran journalist, now executive director of the Center for Culture and Mass Media Foundation, Inc. Alito Malinao told his audience of young masscom students yesterday in the journalism seminar at the Lyceum-Northwestern University: Sharing joy increases happiness, sharing grief lessens the pain.
OPINION: Benjie, the Biyahero
The Pen Speaks
By Danny O. Sagun
COASTAL town mayors including Dagupan’s Benjie Lim left Wednesday for Taiwan purportedly on a study tour of the island’s rich aquaculture industry. Now, why do they have to go to that place considering that our country is not bereft of experts who, we learned, actually just transferred the technology to the Taiwan technicians? Only that the Taiwanese improved on it while most of our fisherfolk here contented themselves with the traditional or primitive system
The study tour may become just another junket as were the previous lakbay aral here and abroad by local executives and legislators. Remember the trips to Boracay and Bohol by some councilors from Binmaley? We heard no positive results after those junkets.
***
Before he left, Lim told mediamen expenses for his constant trips abroad came from his own pocket, adding that he was not just loitering or merrymaking but moving things for the city’s good.
The mayor was indeed noted often absent in his office and people just get informed he might already be in the U.S. or China. Several time, Vice-Mayor Alvin Fernandez was left to man City Hall.
What’s BSL doing in China, the birthplace of his father? Well, he might be seeing his relatives there. Or he might be taking care of a business. Rumor has it that he is partnering with a close political mentor of his on a certain business venture. Lim’s stint as general manager of the Philippine Duty-Free Ship during the Ramos years has established his connection far and wide. But he might be working really for the city’s interest, who can tell? BSL is a human dynamo. He was quoted as saying he was inviting investors for the long delayed fish processing plant in Bonuan the funding of which from the national government has yet to come although the President herself made the pledge during a visit in her early years in office.
Lim could not just wait endlessly for funds for the project from the national government particularly now that he had severed his ties with GMA when he joined calls for her resignation last July. So he must be looking for possible help outside, particularly from his father’s countrymen, that’s a fair guess. Is Benjie’s absence at City Hall already affecting his governance or performance?
After initiating bold changes in say, the traffic system to include the lights, park improvement at the city plaza, and renovations at City Hall including reassignments of offices threat, the city’s scene seems to have practically remained the same.
Some people say the city administration got “burned” with such big projects as acquiring the deteriorating Mac Adore building and construction of a new market-cum-mall involving huge funding. The new Malimgas market continues to suffer in terms of patronage and the Mac Adore building remains an unsightly abandoned edifice. What happened to the proposed transfer of government offices there after the construction of the Malimgas market?
Perhaps, Lim should limit his overseas trips and staying more at home to prevent the early deterioration of his grand projects. Sayang met kasi.
By Danny O. Sagun
COASTAL town mayors including Dagupan’s Benjie Lim left Wednesday for Taiwan purportedly on a study tour of the island’s rich aquaculture industry. Now, why do they have to go to that place considering that our country is not bereft of experts who, we learned, actually just transferred the technology to the Taiwan technicians? Only that the Taiwanese improved on it while most of our fisherfolk here contented themselves with the traditional or primitive system
The study tour may become just another junket as were the previous lakbay aral here and abroad by local executives and legislators. Remember the trips to Boracay and Bohol by some councilors from Binmaley? We heard no positive results after those junkets.
***
Before he left, Lim told mediamen expenses for his constant trips abroad came from his own pocket, adding that he was not just loitering or merrymaking but moving things for the city’s good.
The mayor was indeed noted often absent in his office and people just get informed he might already be in the U.S. or China. Several time, Vice-Mayor Alvin Fernandez was left to man City Hall.
What’s BSL doing in China, the birthplace of his father? Well, he might be seeing his relatives there. Or he might be taking care of a business. Rumor has it that he is partnering with a close political mentor of his on a certain business venture. Lim’s stint as general manager of the Philippine Duty-Free Ship during the Ramos years has established his connection far and wide. But he might be working really for the city’s interest, who can tell? BSL is a human dynamo. He was quoted as saying he was inviting investors for the long delayed fish processing plant in Bonuan the funding of which from the national government has yet to come although the President herself made the pledge during a visit in her early years in office.
Lim could not just wait endlessly for funds for the project from the national government particularly now that he had severed his ties with GMA when he joined calls for her resignation last July. So he must be looking for possible help outside, particularly from his father’s countrymen, that’s a fair guess. Is Benjie’s absence at City Hall already affecting his governance or performance?
After initiating bold changes in say, the traffic system to include the lights, park improvement at the city plaza, and renovations at City Hall including reassignments of offices threat, the city’s scene seems to have practically remained the same.
Some people say the city administration got “burned” with such big projects as acquiring the deteriorating Mac Adore building and construction of a new market-cum-mall involving huge funding. The new Malimgas market continues to suffer in terms of patronage and the Mac Adore building remains an unsightly abandoned edifice. What happened to the proposed transfer of government offices there after the construction of the Malimgas market?
Perhaps, Lim should limit his overseas trips and staying more at home to prevent the early deterioration of his grand projects. Sayang met kasi.
