By BEHN FER. HORTALEZA, JR.
THE city administration of Dagupan is proceeding ever more cautiously now in its fight against illegal squatters at the beach area in Bonuan Binloc after the initial bravado it exhibited on the issue of public land squatting.
This, after a neighborhood association in the place urged the city hall task force to first determine “with absolute certainty” which tax declarations are valid and which are not to avoid embarrassing situations later.
The neighborhood association, represented by spokesmen lawyer Teofilo Gal-lang and Engr. Rudy Fernandez, both former ranking assistants in the past Lim city administration, pointed out that despite the initial “political thunder” created by the order of Mayor Alipio Fernandez, Jr. cancelling tax declarations in foreshorelands, there remains the matter of proving which properties in the Binloc and Gueset beach areas fall within the coverage of Proclamation 98 and thus deemed inalienable.
City Legal Officer George Mejia had earlier said the city’s absolute and incontrovertible claim over the foreshore lands to the exclusion of all other entities or individuals is based on Presidential Proclamation No. 98.
“What is happening now is that the public, and especially the bona-fide lot owners in or near the area are left confused by the many news reports quoting City hall officials about the cancellation of tax declarations of properties,” Fernandez, a former city councilor and former special assistant to Mayor Benjamin S. Lim, said.
Gal-lang’s group had sought a dialogue with the task force on illegal squatters last week to be appraised on the exact and proper delineation of areas there that may have violated the presidential proclamation before the demolition teams of city hall go to work as threatened by city hall the past weeks.
For some reasons however, the dialogue did not push through
Gal-lang said the mayor’s executive order for the cancellation of tax declarations as reported in the local media did not seem to name which agency will carry out the enforcement or implementation of the cancellation order.
News reports said the city assessor’s office has so far, checked only some five tax declarations in the beach area that may be subjected to cancellations since the city mayor first issued his order last December.
Proclamation 98 declared the 72-hectare foreshoreland in Bonuan as national park. It was issued by then President Diosdado Macapagal in 1964.
By virtue of the proclamation, the city government wields full administrative and stewardship rights as littoral owner over the foreshorelands covered by the park in Bonuan, Mejia said.
PROVINCIAL Police Director Isagani Nerez’es quick answer to the Provincial Governor’s order for a total gun ban in Pangasinan is, as widely expected, the setting up of checkpoints on the road and body searches or frisking of persons in such frequented spots as video-oke bars and nightclubs. It is supposed, and perhaps quite correctly so, that the probability of armed customers being present in such places of entertainment is high.
A report said two members of a gun-for-hire gang were caught at a video-oke joint in Sual last week precisely in implementation of the gun ban. Let us pray that more such pre-emptive operations against such armed individuals or groups roaming in our midst earn similar good results in the coming days so that peace-loving citizens would be relatively safe from those nasty “stray bullets” when guns suddenly start barking.
On the matter of checkpoints to give teeth to the campaign against the unauthorized carrying of firearms outside residence however, we are quite concerned it could give rise to the misimpression ours is a province in grip of terror.The sheer inconvenience and anxiety it gives to motorists especially those traveling at night and are stopped at various points in their trip by policemen shining their flashlights on vehicle and occupants like these were some laboratory specimens getting the once-over from scientists – or even being asked to alight for further and closer inspection if so suspected by an over-eager cop – makes for a strong argument against martial measures employed in times of peace.
We have, we must state, generally an abiding trust in our authorities tasked to man checkpoints. As Nerez raspily points out, they are professionals and well-briefed on manners. But even granting that such a road search is conducted with utmost courtesy and dispatch, it still does not detract from the fact that it impairs citizens’ right to travel undisturbed and uninterrupted by state functionaries.
Armed lawless elements, the kind being targeted by the Espino gun ban, after all – and by instinct of survival – shun or skirt these checkpoints altogether. None of them, to be sure, would be so stupid as to foolishly walk into one knowing he’s illegally “loaded.” This means that it is the lawful, legal, authorized gunholder among civilians that gets to suffer the inconvenience of a random inspection.
There must be a better way for the cops to show they mean business in securing the gentler part of the public
By BEHN FER. HORTALEZA, JR
CIVILIAN local executives had better watch out in the next few years because their political careers are under serious threat.
This, especially if they have among their constituents an illustrious, top-ranking, high-profile police officer who strongly feels there’s life after retirement. You see, chances are these uniformed men, not their current vice mayor or councilor or previous opponents, will be their next (bitter) election rivals.
Lingayen mayor Jonas Castaneda, as reports now go, is in one such fix.The looming ‘threat ‘ of a Police general Leopoldo Bataoil mayoralty ambition, so political pundits say, is growing larger by the day considering the Pol Profile’s approaching retirement from the service.
Many Lingayen pals I’ve talked to say, like the military personality that he is, Bataoil is pre-positioning now and marshaling his men and allies – although he’s quick to parry insinuations about his political intentions for now. The almost regular meetings his band of supporters is having at the general’s wide farm resort in barangay Malimpuec these days belie any denial he makes though, my bagoong informants claim.* * * *
The general who’s getting all the media mileage he needs, courtesy of his loyal and fully greased stable of reporters mostly from the distaff side, is egged no end by the fact that his son, Mon Bataoil, is an incumbent town councilor and has a clique within Jonas’ and Vice Mayor Bartolome’s turf to keep the mayor on his toes all the way to 2010.From what I hear, there are five members of the group to include our old pal, alderman Joe Ferrer, a bagoong magnate who recently delivered a scathing privilege speech at the town council session denouncing political intrigues coming his way.
They it is who are now trying to spoil Jonas’ once flawless facial and disturbing his uh, equanimity.
* * * *
If and when he does throw his hat into the political ring, Bataoil will of course just be following the footsteps of his comrades-in-arms, former police generals Generals Rey Velasco and Amado T. Espino and several others in the national scene who just can’t have enough of public service, it seems, they’d traded their uniform for paisano attire in order to continue to serve la patria.Let’s hope that, in case he makes it as mayor, the Lingayen-born police general won’t also insist on building an airport in the capital town or move to pass an edict banning guns in civilian hands.
Still, having seen how the incumbent Governor Spines operated and won in the last elections, resources, maneuvers, propaganda and all, the veteran political animal that he is, Jonas would be dumb if he does not yet know how to fight a starred, bemedalled police officer when things ever get to that point.
* * * *
Is the fight initiated by City hall against those pesky public domain grabbers at the beach areas of Bonuan winnable?
I think so.The task force formed by Mayor Al only needs to be painstaking and extra careful in its battle preparations (forget about this gung-ho thing; it only emboldens probable softies among the target “squatters” to claw back instead of settling) and make sure they are using “smart bombs” to destroy the “enemy.”
Proclamation No. 98, on which the city administration, thru the city legal officer, based its move to cancel tax declarations in Dagupan foreshorelands – especially those beachlots of Bonuan – spelled out the limits and boundaries of the Tondaligan national park and playground, complete with the Lot Numbers of parcels of land that were made part of the park and therefore officially became public domain since March 26, 1963, the date President Diosdado Macapagal signed the proclamation.
Anyone found building his residence or resthouse within this set domain, regardless of whether he holds a supposed tax declaration, or whether he’s a lowly laborer or a high public official, maybe even a member of the judiciary, is sitting as, what else but a squatter? Simple enough.
Let’s not rush the city assessor into outlawing residents in beach areas outright; for all we know they could be outside the ambit of Proclamation 98 all the while.
* * * *
By the way, Proclamation 98, a copy of which I was able to obtain thru the help of Ryan Ravanzo’s city information office (CIO) and, I suppose, the city assessor’s office, covers parcels of land lining the beach extending from Bonuan Gueset to Boquig and Binloc — with most of these lots situated in the Binloc area.Over the years, it is just possible, many have encroached, knowingly or unknowingly, on such a vast expanse of open public land.
* * * *
We asked Ryan who’s a member of the task force if there’s hell to pay awaiting those behind the spurious mass titling of lots and the grant of tax declarations that the “squatters” used (and are actually waving to members of the task force) as proof of their “rightful occupancy.” He said there was, but it will have to wait till the whole lot ownerships in the area are fully and satisfactorily scrutinized and demolition, if at all, is carried out.We believe the greater punishment should go to those behind the land scam – not their victims – because, as one enraged marginal lot owner was loudly wailing over the radio last week, “someone” told them long ago that they already fully own the land and that everything has been “cleared” as regards their right to stay and therefore they willingly and happily paid their “amortizations” to the guy who gave them their “haven.”
I wish I could dismiss these with a curt “Suckers are born every minute” but I can’t.
The sordid scam is just too sickening to be made light of.
Mayor Al and his team, from City Engineer Jane Rosario to City Legal Officer George Mejia to the city assessor and the community environment and natural resources officer owe it to Law and Order to apply the full measure of penalties on these scam artists and their cohorts in government.We’re going to reserve our three cheers for them till then..
By DANNY O. SAGUN
“ANGGAPOMET ni nanpasnokan kon empleyado. Angapomet ni inekal ko dia lapud pulitika.”
Thus did Gov. Amado Espino answer a question from Orly N of Aksyon Radyo about perceptions that he is masibeg, mapasnok and vindictive. Three times during that radio interview he stressed he had not berated any employee.
“I don’t know why they are saying that,” he wondered, adding he would not admit any such perceptions.
He admitted though that he went hard on the department heads as he wanted them to work as he does. “If they are the boss (of the departments), they should be there because I’m here working also’” he stressed.Disciplinarian? Sort of, but he only wanted an efficient dedicated workforce, he said. As to wearing of office uniforms, he said it is a must because Capitol employees have their clothing allowance.
We personally saw how the governor reacted negatively to the manner some department heads presented their respective programs, accomplishments, etc. during the first two weeks of his administration. Literally he pounced on those whom he noted to be speaking out of tune, those who did not seem to know their functions. One lady head cried a river.
Curiously, those heads of offices, or the assistants perceived to be loyal or close to his predecessor, were made to compose a study group. In three months the affected personnel were supposed to come out with the results of their study. By October however, they were still doing that special assignment. While out of their respective turfs, the assistants or somebody else brought in by the governor serves as OICs.
We were informed that the group disbanded after finishing its task at the end of the year. Last month, they were supposed to return to their positions only to be recalled later to do another special assignment. Naelew lara agi pati saramay OIC tan empleado.
This we learned when we tried to invite some heads of offices to be our guest at the weekly Pantongtongan Tayo radio program of the Philippine Information Agency over DZMQ. The persons who received the communication did not know whom to forward the letter, either to the head or the OIC.
The governor could not just fire them under pain of violating civil service rules so he devised other ways for them to get out of their shells. To some observers Spines’ move was another way of saying ‘I don’t like your face.’ In time, those people may just give up and say they’re leaving. Odino ipabangar da met la, alagaren dalay pansalat na panao
Nen MARIO F. KARATEKA
BALEG a katraydoran so ginawa daray pigaran kakaibad partido Lakas nen Ispiker Dyo de Benesya; Dadauloan nen Kongrisman Prospero “Boy’ Nograles na Davao, sarayan kakaalyados manayan andi nen JdV et malinlinew ya asogsogan o asileng ed ambisyon da a singawen so liderato na Kamara ed kabaleyan tayon Dyo de V.
Bangta imbagay presidente na Lakas a si GMA ya agla gigiroen si JdV ed puesto to tan pansiansiaen so moyongan ed Kamara de Representantes, patuloy nin mani-ingal yay Nograles ya sosogsogan met nen Kongrisman Luis Belyapwerte na Kampi, say malet a kalaban nen Ispiker Dyo, a sayan too met lanti et aminpiga lan analin patumbaen si Ispiker balet palpak iyan naynay.
A
Agtayo natetel si Manay Dyina, kapisag-puso nen Ispiker no bilang baleg so sentimyento to laban ed Nograles ta aliling toy pinabaleg tan pinanpiya-an nen asawa ton Manong Dyo iyan too tan natan nian sasagsagen tod beneg so aliling toy ama o agi to.
Dia apatua-an lamet, tan malinlinew, so kuandan diad politika, anggapoy permanenten kaaro no ag ingen permanenten interes labat. Der ar no pirmanint prens, only pirmanint interes.
Maong met labat ta saray kabaleyan tayon arom a kongresista — ya puerad si Kongrisman Viktor Agbayani a kapartidoan nen JdV ed Lakas tan siyempre kaalyado ton malet –anggaman walarad Kampi tan Nasyonalis Pipol’s Kwalisyon a singara di Kongrismen Rasyel Arenas, Mark Cohuangko tan Conrad Estrella III et nagsipirma ra na manipistoy suporta parad Dyo de V.
Awey labat balet no kasabiy botosan ed Kamara sano Lunes et mansisansian parad Dyo niraya.
Mantalineng tayo labatla, kabaleyan mira, no antoy kisagmakan nen Ispiker tayo tan markaan tayoray mantraydor nid sikato ta bikkelen tayora kasabiy eleksiyon lamet.
* * * *
Lugayan tipay maabig ya kompleanyo sanen Simba, Pebrero 3 si datin Social Welfare Assistant na Sual, Pangasinan a si Myrna P. Estrada. Asapat dalay taon sitenta balet maksil nira. Nanserbi met ira ed silong na DSWD lamlamang ditad Bugallon tan Labrador antis ya na-asayn irad Sual.
Nanretiro rad serbisyo nen Hulyo 50, 2002. Hapi Bersdi pala sirin, mam!
BY BEHN FER. HORTALEZA .JR.
M
ANAOAG – A barangay captain in this pilgrimage town may need a major miracle to keep his post after the second division of the Commission on Election disqualified him from occupying it.
Barangay Chairman Pedro Sales, Jr. of Lipit Norte found himself stripped of the right as barangay chief when the Comelec gave due course to a petition filed by his political rival, Engr. Teofilo Manipon with the election body against him for violation of the Election Code.
Manipon alleged in his petition that Sales’ was not qualified to run or occupy the barangay captain’s position because he had already served three consecutive terms as such official since he first ran and won in the barangay elections of 1994, 1997 and 2002 consecutively.
Manipon said Sales’ candidacy and eventual victory in the barangay elections held last year was void as he was already barred from the running after having finished the mandatory consecutive three-term limit.
Sales had argued in a reply to the poll body that his first term in 1994 was cut short the following year when he ran as a substitute candidate for mayor in place of his father, former Mayor Pedro Sales Sr. In that contest, he lost.
The barangay chairman claimed in his counter-petition that his first win in 1994 should not be counted in determining the actual effective total terms of office he has served.
This was however not recognized by the Comelec second division.
Sales may still file a motion for reconsideration with the poll body which action will send the case to the Comelec en banc for decision, according to Provincial Elections Office Reddy Balarbar.
Balarbar concurred with the Comelec second division’s ruling on the Sales case, saying elective officials are considered resigned when they run for a higher office.
Under the law, Balarbar added the resigned elected official is considered as having already served a full term.
Manipon, the petitioner, meanwhile has filed a quo warrant pleading with the municipal trial court seeking judicial ruling on his desire to be declared Sales’ successor to the post, following the Comelec division’s favorable decision on his petition.
By DANNY O. SAGUN
THE provincial government has set aside P30 million for the purchase of firearms for the barangays.
But the firearms would only be shotguns, not the fancied high-powered long or short ones, Gov. Amado T. Espino clarified Thursday in a radio interview.
“Aliwa ya armalite o machine gun odino (caliber) .45 ya sarag dan ibulsa ya awiten ed paway,” (It’s not Armalite or machine gun or caliber 45 pistol that they can bring with them outside),he said.
The idea is to provide barangay chairmen some sort of protection against criminal elements especially in far-flung barangays, the governor argued.
“At least wala met so iyarap dad saray manggegetmay makapuy ed saray lugar da,” (At least they will have something to stop troublemakers in their places) he noted.
Espino defended the gun purchase amid his earlier move of imposing a total gun ban in the province. Observers saw the two moves as contradictory.
Arming barangay captains was a campaign promise reportedly made during the last elections.
Espino, a former police official, further clarified that arming barangay officials does not mean the province is being portrayed as having peace and order problems. “No, not really,” he said.
The awards given to the local police only showed that law enforcement agencies here are doing their job. The provincial police office and the Dagupan city police station were adjudged the best in the country in their respective categories.
“I could claim ya akatulong so provincial government ed impakaala da na saratan ya awards,” (I could claim that the provincial government helped in their winning the awards) he said. (DOS/PIA)
STO. TOMAS— The countdown is finally on for the staging of the world’s longest corn barbecue measuring 4, 938 meters set in the afternoon of February 10 as part of this town’s Corn Festival.
The corn barbecue grill event will be the top feature of the town’s 100th year founding anniversary celebration.
Mayor Vivien Villar, executive chairperson of the Centennial Celebration, said the putting up of the close to five-kilometer barbecue is a big challenge but she is confident that with the support of the town’s more than 17, 000 population, nothing can stop the town from making it to the Guinness Book of World Records.
Corn is the chief product after rice in Sto. Tomas, a town in southern Pangasinan dominated by the Ilocanos, located just south of the Agno River.
Villar admitted that she and the other town officials, including the people, started planning the activity as early as four years ago in time for the town’s centennial celebration but it was only last year that the plan was put into flesh.
“With all of us working for a common goal, we cannot fail,” said the lady mayor in an interview.
Vice Mayor Timoteo Villar, executive vice chairperson, said the actual corn barbecue extends from the border of Sto. Tomas with Rosales in the east and the town’s boundary with Alcala in the west, passing all 10 barangays of the town.
The effort seeks to break the existing world record of just two kilometers for corn barbecue etched in the Guinness Book by Monzillo, Mexico. .
Rep. Mark Cojuangco of the fifth district of Pangasinan and the wife of Urdaneta City Mayor Amadeo Perez Jr. had been invited to do the honors of lighting the grill units signaling the start of the grilling and capping the town’s Corn Festival.
The town is assured that its bid for the world’s longest barbecue will count based on the entry number sent by Guinness as soon as it sent its registration.
There will be 2, 024 grill units to be used in the record-breaking feat, each unit to barbecue 60 ears of corn or a total of 121, 444 ears, all to be laid out and cooked in embers of charcoal at one time.
800 sacks of charcoal will be purchased all the way from Burgos, Pangasinan, and 1, 050 liters of kerosene will be used.
All these will be manned by more than 7, 000 grillers, including the supervisors. There will be more than 1, 000 marshals that will be deployed to control the crowd of some 100, 000 people, a few of them balikbayan.
At least 100 uniformed policemen will also be deployed to maintain peace and order in the whole town, including another 200 volunteer traffic men to guide vehicles to the detour route towards and out of the town.
Cris Balila, the town’s agriculture officer, said after the first wave of corn consisting of 121, 444 ears had been barbecued, two more waves will be laid out over the charcoal. Thus more than 300, 000 ears is needed for the whole event.
He said this big number of corn ears will come from only six hectares of corn fields, each hectare of which will produce more than 50, 000 ears.
Planted in the town is the hybrid glutinous variety of corn, which is capable of producing as much as 50, 000 ears per hectare and could be harvested 60 days after planting, said Balila.
It takes 20 minutes to barbecue each wave of corn to be laid out in the grilling units or exactly one hour for the entire activity.
Vice Mayor Villar said just to make sure that all plans will be executed up to the minutest details, they had conducted five dry runs since last year, including a briefing for all the participants.
HOUSE Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. said he is inviting his detractors who are seeking to unseat him for a voting on the floor in the House of Representatives to really know who between him and Davao City Congressman Prospero Nograles has the numbers.
In a patch phone interview over a local radio station, Bombo Radyo Dagupan, De Venecia said that he, being the incumbent champion; expects the challengers to present their challenge before the floor so that voting can be done.
“They can do it either on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday and I am ready,” he said.
He added that if Nograles really has more than 121 congressmen going for him, then they should sit down and vote and elect the next Speaker.
De Venecia recalled that a few months’ ago during the fight for speakership, the group of Congressman Pablo Garcia of Cebu was also saying they have the numbers, but eventually Garcia withdrew after he sensed that he had only a few congressmen on his side.
The House Speaker, who is congressman of the fourth district of Pangasinan, revealed he was invited to Malacañang by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, along with Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Trade Secretary Peter Favila and Majority Leader Art Defensor.
“The meeting went well and the President repeatedly said that she is supporting my speakership against Congressman Nograles, “De Venecia said.
He said the President and himself (de Venecia) met again last Sunday and this time, together with former President Fidel Ramos.
President Arroyo is the chairman of the ruling party Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats while Ramos is the chairman emeritus. De Venecia is the Lakas CMD national president.
On the speakership issue, De Venecia said President Arroyo promised to talk to her son Reps. Mikey Arroyo and Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo to stop campaigning for Nograles.
Mikey took a leave of absence from Lakas CMD while Diosdado and their uncle Ignacio or Iggy are with the Kabalikat ng Mamamamayang Pilipino (Kampi) which is now allegedly supporting Nograles.
The Speaker said he made Nograles as house majority leader and chairman of the committee on appointments but added that sometimes people forget because of their ambition.
De Venecia thanked the people of Pangasinan, especially from his own fourth district, for rallying behind hin in this new challenge to his house leadership.
All the five congressmen of Pangasinan are with him, he said, and that the 30 congressmen from Northern Luzon, belonging to the so-called Solid North, have backed him in this speakership fight, if any.
“The Northern Luzon congressmen signed a manifesto pledging their support and 30 out of 30 congressmen signed,“ he added.
At the same time, De Venecia expressed hope the rumor is not true that he is being eased out as Speaker of the House as a form of revenge because of the testimony of his son, Jose De Venecia III, in the Senate about the National Broadband Network deal.
“I hope it is not true because Joey had said it all in the Senate investigation. My son had already done his part, his duty,” the elder De Venecia said. (PNA)
LINGAYEN—The total gun ban in Pangasinan ordered by Governor Amado Espino last week registered an initial success with the arrest of two gun holders inside a videoke bar in Sual, Monday.
Police Chief Inspector Medardo Soriano, chief of the Sual police, identified the alleged violators as Samson Berk, alias Edwin Tisoy, 25, of Pantal Centro in Dagupan City, and one Richard Tamayo, 19, also of Dagupan City.
They were caught inside Anahaw Videoke Bar in Sual by the police who were implementing “Operation Bakal”, the campaign against loose firearms.
Seized from them were a caliber 45 pistol and a caliber .38 revolver.
During the investigation, authorities found Berk as one of the suspects in the recent slaying of a certain Clarita Disu of Sual town.
Disu’s daughter positively identified Berk as one of those who shot and killed her mother but the suspect denied the accusation.
The two are now under police custody pending the filling of formal charges against them. (PNA)
Well now, here’s something to keep you smiling. This is really accurate. If you are a call center agent, you would enjoy this. If you employ call center agents, this may help answer some questions you may have. Take a look!
Employees in Switzerland are required to work for 2 months before they can leave their current job. Both Singapore and Hongkong, limits this period to only 1 week. Taiwan requires 20 days. Both Austria, China and the Philippines require 30 days/1 month.
Vietnam requires 45 days. European countries like Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland and Luxemborg including Ukraine must give longer notices!
This podcast is made possible by the collaboration between DZRH and Eradioportal a Bitstop media production. Also checkout Taft Tower Dormitories official site hosted by BNShosting.net.
This podcast is made possible by the collaboration between DZRH and Eradioportal a Bitstop media production. Also checkout Taft Tower Dormitories official site hosted by BNShosting.net.
This podcast is made possible by the collaboration between DZRH and Eradioportal a Bitstop media production. Also checkout Taft Tower Dormitories official site hosted by BNShosting.net.
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