Gleeful disregard
by Juniper Dominguez, Sabangan, Mountain Province
This is to respectfully follow up the complaints I filed against Department of Public Works and Highway regional director Mariano Alquiza, assistant director Daniel Domingo, DPWH-Mountain Province district engineer Leonardo Leyaley, and acting assistant district engineer Rex Oya-oy. These despicable acts of corruption from gross overpricing, payment of mega-substandard accomplishments, dishonesty, bid fixing, etc. have already reached huge proportions, mainly because of the length of time (more than one year of no action) given to these people that made them do their thing at will. It may be safe to say that the government lost about P300 million of the initially released P620-M SONA funds! I respectfully reiterate, the SONA projects accomplishments in Mountain Province are epitomes of engineering stupidity. They are monumental evidences of graft and corruption. They are far worse than the Cebu lamp posts anomaly, and yet these people are still allowed to circumvent Republic Act 9184 at will.
I hope and pray that one day, action will be taken by your honorable office against these corrupt people for it seems that their greed cannot be moderated.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Who is the rightful Sabangan vice mayor?
Who is the rightful Sabangan vice mayor?
By Gabriel Moguet
Sabangan, Mtn. Prov.— The vice mayoralty contest here between an ex-cop and an ex-army man is not yet over after more than a year since the May 14, 2007 national and local elections.
As per record of the office of the election registrar, Sabangan, Mtn. Prov., Avelino Omaweng Tolean, a retired police investigator, garnered a total of 2,137 votes winning the vice mayoralty seat by just one vote against his rival, Joseph Bernardez, a former scout ranger of the Philippine army and who served here as councilor for three consecutive terms.
Nine days after the proclamation of the winning candidates, Bernardez filed a petition with the Regional Trial Court on May 24 alleging fraud and misappreciation of ballots in nine precincts. Through affidavits, his witnesses alleged that some ballots were not credited in his name despite the “as long as it sounds” COMELEC rule.
Another witness alleged that one spurious ballot at Precinct 15A, Barangay Gayang, was credited in favor of his opponent and at precinct 10A, sitio Legleg, Barangay Camatagan, five dead people got resurrected to cast their votes and seven votes were cast by substitutes for voters who were out of the country.
The RTC then formed a revision committee chaired by Atty. Romualdo Awisan and issued a subpoena for the nine ballot boxes to be counted again.
According to the proclaimed and incumbent vice mayor, Avelino Tolean, the alleged result of the recount turned out to be a tie because three votes were deducted from his 2,137 votes making it 2,134, however, two votes were also deducted from the total votes of his rival which is 2,136 making it also 2,134. The battle now is in the courtroom of Judge Agapito K. Laoagan Jr. of the RTC, Branch 64, of Buguias, Benguet who was appointed by the Supreme Court to handle the case in lieu of Judge Joseph Patna-an who inhibited himself being a native of Sabangan, Mtn. Prov. and a voter also in the municipality.
“It is funny now because both of us have the same moves through our counsels to pray of the court for consideration and non-consideration of our deducted votes. As to the result, it will be up to the court and I hope that it won’t reach the Supreme Court. As of now there are two vice mayors in this town, me and my lawyer because he gets half of my monthly salary,” Tolean jokingly added.**
By Gabriel Moguet
Sabangan, Mtn. Prov.— The vice mayoralty contest here between an ex-cop and an ex-army man is not yet over after more than a year since the May 14, 2007 national and local elections.
As per record of the office of the election registrar, Sabangan, Mtn. Prov., Avelino Omaweng Tolean, a retired police investigator, garnered a total of 2,137 votes winning the vice mayoralty seat by just one vote against his rival, Joseph Bernardez, a former scout ranger of the Philippine army and who served here as councilor for three consecutive terms.
Nine days after the proclamation of the winning candidates, Bernardez filed a petition with the Regional Trial Court on May 24 alleging fraud and misappreciation of ballots in nine precincts. Through affidavits, his witnesses alleged that some ballots were not credited in his name despite the “as long as it sounds” COMELEC rule.
Another witness alleged that one spurious ballot at Precinct 15A, Barangay Gayang, was credited in favor of his opponent and at precinct 10A, sitio Legleg, Barangay Camatagan, five dead people got resurrected to cast their votes and seven votes were cast by substitutes for voters who were out of the country.
The RTC then formed a revision committee chaired by Atty. Romualdo Awisan and issued a subpoena for the nine ballot boxes to be counted again.
According to the proclaimed and incumbent vice mayor, Avelino Tolean, the alleged result of the recount turned out to be a tie because three votes were deducted from his 2,137 votes making it 2,134, however, two votes were also deducted from the total votes of his rival which is 2,136 making it also 2,134. The battle now is in the courtroom of Judge Agapito K. Laoagan Jr. of the RTC, Branch 64, of Buguias, Benguet who was appointed by the Supreme Court to handle the case in lieu of Judge Joseph Patna-an who inhibited himself being a native of Sabangan, Mtn. Prov. and a voter also in the municipality.
“It is funny now because both of us have the same moves through our counsels to pray of the court for consideration and non-consideration of our deducted votes. As to the result, it will be up to the court and I hope that it won’t reach the Supreme Court. As of now there are two vice mayors in this town, me and my lawyer because he gets half of my monthly salary,” Tolean jokingly added.**
Kalinga and Mtn. Prov. cultural clash brewing
Kalinga and Mtn. Prov. cultural clash brewing
By Estanislao Albano Jr.
Tabuk City, Kalinga – A clash over their contrasting manners of disposing cases of accidents is threatening to sour the relationships between this province and neighboring Mtn. Province.
The controversy puts Kalinga Congressman Manuel Agyao who is also representing Mtn. Province in Congress as caretaker due to the recent death of Congressman Victor Dominguez in an uncomfortable position.
This developed as a former ranking provincial official of Mtn. Province has called on Agyao through this paper to intervene in the resolution of the vehicular accident on September 8, 2007 in Magabbangon, Cudal, this city. The accident claimed the lives of 10 persons and wounded eight others.
Majority of the victims were Kalinga natives while the owner of the ill-fated truck, Alexander Miranda, was a native of Sabangan, Mtn. Province. He was among the fatalities.
Former Mtn. Province provincial administrator Evelyn Miranda, a sister-in-law of Alexander, is pleading with Agyao to do something about the efforts of the relatives of the fatalities and some survivors to impose the multa on the family of Alexander.
She told this paper that with some Kalinga professionals including several government officials taking the cudgels for them, the relatives of seven of the fatalities are demanding that the family of Alexander pay P50,000.00 for each of the victims as multa or indemnity.
She said that at first, the agreement was for the family to raise P70,000.00 as assistance to the families of the fatalities but that when the money which she claimed is the only remaining resources of Lucia Miranda, the widow, was ready, the claimants and their supporters had said that it is not enough.
“They do not consider that it was an accident and that Alexander was also killed. They do not also seem to believe that the family no longer has anymore money. Actually, P50,000.00 of the P70,000.00 came from the sale of their junked truck, the only remaining property in the name of Alexander, “ Evelyn said qualifying that the amount is not being given as multa but as assistance to the bereaved families.
She lamented that some Kalinga professionals who are in a position to temper the claims of the victims appear instead to be in favor of the giving of indemnity.
“In Mtn. Province, we do not impose any compensation on account of accidents. We do not give a price to life. It cannot be bought or sold. Assistance, if any, is voluntary. They are saying that we have a different culture and that on the other hand, the practice of exacting the multa is part of the Kalinga culture. But our position is that bad cultural practices should be discarded. The practice of girls sleeping in the ulog and the boys sleeping in the ato used to be a part of Mtn. Province culture but that was when our houses were one-room affairs. There came a time when we realized that the practice has become impractical and no longer attuned with the times and it just disappeared. The bagbagto practice (organized tribal stone-throwing fights) vanished for the same reason,” Evelyn said.
Evelyn is hoping that Agyao will look into the plight of Mtn. Province immigrants in Kalinga who she claimed are being treated as second class citizens in Kalinga for generations now.
She said that in cases where Mtn. Province immigrants were victimized by Kalingas through accidents or crimes, they were not paid the multa.
Evelyn is also intending to bring the case to the attention of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Mtn. Province.
Fr. Denver Marrero who assisted the Mirandas in the handling of the aftermath of the accident the family being members of the Anglican Church said that despite their own loss, the family attended to the needs of the other victims right away.
Marrero said that from the money of the family and solicitations, they were able to extend a total assistance of P130,000.00 which included a pig and a cavan of rice for each of the families of the dead victims and a portion of the funeral expenses.
Marrero also said that around a month after the burial of Alexander, the family hosted a meeting of the relatives of the victims and also the surviving passengers wherein the latter had agreed that they will not claim the multa nor file charges.
Marrero related that sometime in November, the family was surprised when some of the relatives of the victims changed their minds. Bargaining then ensued with the family saying they could give only P70,000.00 to be equally divided among the relatives of the victims but the latter wanted P50,000.00 for each dead.
Marrero said that at one point during the June 9 negotiations, Lucia offered that since she no longer has any means of producing the amount demanded, she will just go to jail instead.
Marrero said that on that ill-fated afternoon, Alexander was on his way to his farm in Alubaggan, Calaccad, this city, and when he passed the parking area of vehicles bound for that place, the victims hitched because they missed the last trip for the day.**
By Estanislao Albano Jr.
Tabuk City, Kalinga – A clash over their contrasting manners of disposing cases of accidents is threatening to sour the relationships between this province and neighboring Mtn. Province.
The controversy puts Kalinga Congressman Manuel Agyao who is also representing Mtn. Province in Congress as caretaker due to the recent death of Congressman Victor Dominguez in an uncomfortable position.
This developed as a former ranking provincial official of Mtn. Province has called on Agyao through this paper to intervene in the resolution of the vehicular accident on September 8, 2007 in Magabbangon, Cudal, this city. The accident claimed the lives of 10 persons and wounded eight others.
Majority of the victims were Kalinga natives while the owner of the ill-fated truck, Alexander Miranda, was a native of Sabangan, Mtn. Province. He was among the fatalities.
Former Mtn. Province provincial administrator Evelyn Miranda, a sister-in-law of Alexander, is pleading with Agyao to do something about the efforts of the relatives of the fatalities and some survivors to impose the multa on the family of Alexander.
She told this paper that with some Kalinga professionals including several government officials taking the cudgels for them, the relatives of seven of the fatalities are demanding that the family of Alexander pay P50,000.00 for each of the victims as multa or indemnity.
She said that at first, the agreement was for the family to raise P70,000.00 as assistance to the families of the fatalities but that when the money which she claimed is the only remaining resources of Lucia Miranda, the widow, was ready, the claimants and their supporters had said that it is not enough.
“They do not consider that it was an accident and that Alexander was also killed. They do not also seem to believe that the family no longer has anymore money. Actually, P50,000.00 of the P70,000.00 came from the sale of their junked truck, the only remaining property in the name of Alexander, “ Evelyn said qualifying that the amount is not being given as multa but as assistance to the bereaved families.
She lamented that some Kalinga professionals who are in a position to temper the claims of the victims appear instead to be in favor of the giving of indemnity.
“In Mtn. Province, we do not impose any compensation on account of accidents. We do not give a price to life. It cannot be bought or sold. Assistance, if any, is voluntary. They are saying that we have a different culture and that on the other hand, the practice of exacting the multa is part of the Kalinga culture. But our position is that bad cultural practices should be discarded. The practice of girls sleeping in the ulog and the boys sleeping in the ato used to be a part of Mtn. Province culture but that was when our houses were one-room affairs. There came a time when we realized that the practice has become impractical and no longer attuned with the times and it just disappeared. The bagbagto practice (organized tribal stone-throwing fights) vanished for the same reason,” Evelyn said.
Evelyn is hoping that Agyao will look into the plight of Mtn. Province immigrants in Kalinga who she claimed are being treated as second class citizens in Kalinga for generations now.
She said that in cases where Mtn. Province immigrants were victimized by Kalingas through accidents or crimes, they were not paid the multa.
Evelyn is also intending to bring the case to the attention of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Mtn. Province.
Fr. Denver Marrero who assisted the Mirandas in the handling of the aftermath of the accident the family being members of the Anglican Church said that despite their own loss, the family attended to the needs of the other victims right away.
Marrero said that from the money of the family and solicitations, they were able to extend a total assistance of P130,000.00 which included a pig and a cavan of rice for each of the families of the dead victims and a portion of the funeral expenses.
Marrero also said that around a month after the burial of Alexander, the family hosted a meeting of the relatives of the victims and also the surviving passengers wherein the latter had agreed that they will not claim the multa nor file charges.
Marrero related that sometime in November, the family was surprised when some of the relatives of the victims changed their minds. Bargaining then ensued with the family saying they could give only P70,000.00 to be equally divided among the relatives of the victims but the latter wanted P50,000.00 for each dead.
Marrero said that at one point during the June 9 negotiations, Lucia offered that since she no longer has any means of producing the amount demanded, she will just go to jail instead.
Marrero said that on that ill-fated afternoon, Alexander was on his way to his farm in Alubaggan, Calaccad, this city, and when he passed the parking area of vehicles bound for that place, the victims hitched because they missed the last trip for the day.**
Gov dispels rumor on stance in special polls
Gov dispels rumor on stance in special polls
by Angel Baybay / MP PIO
BONTOC, Mountain Province – Amidst the growing political unrest, provincial governor Maximo Dalog took time to answer accusations on his alleged negative stance for the conduct of a special election to fill up the post of the late congressman Victor Dominguez.The prevailing political atmosphere has seeded a cloud of suspicion and distrust between and among local political bigwigs. Among the many suspicions circulating is Dalog’s supposed opposition to the holding of a special election.In his weekly program at the local radio station, the governor stated that he is not against the holding of an election for the people to choose who will fill up the vacant post. “Just like all citizens of the pro-vince, I share the belief that the authority to decide who will occupy any elective post resides in the people. In fact, I did not oppose the earlier moves by provincial officials and other groups when they sought an audience with officials of the Lower House asking them to come out with a legislation to set the parameters of the election. But it was unfortunate that the problem on funds to bankroll the expenses of an election dimmed the collective efforts,” he said.With the problem on where to source out the needed funding, the office of the sangguniang panlalawigan forwarded to the governor’s office an excerpt of their meeting requesting Congress for the passage of a legislation for the conduct of a special election and providing among other things that the provincial government will shoulder the financial requirement for the election. But aware of the threat of some groups to sue the governor should he use any amount from the provincial coffers for a political exercise that should be funded by the national government, he referred the matter to the provincial attorney for his legal opinion. “It was this specific question of whether or not it is legal to use funds of the provincial government and not whether or not it is legal to hold a special election that was referred to the provincial legal officer,” Dalog said, refuting allegations that his decision to seek the advice of the legal officer is a delaying tactic to ward off the attempts of some groups lobbying for the special election.The provincial attorney, however, refused to act on the matter until a copy of a resolution supporting the excerpt of the meeting signed by majority of the members of the local legislative body will be furnished his office.“I hope this will dispel the growing suspicion that I am against the holding of an election. I may have lobbied for the assignment of a caretaker congressman but this does not mean denying the people their right of choice. A caretaker is one who will temporarily oversee the concerns of the congressional district until a replacement has been chosen,” Dalog said.
by Angel Baybay / MP PIO
BONTOC, Mountain Province – Amidst the growing political unrest, provincial governor Maximo Dalog took time to answer accusations on his alleged negative stance for the conduct of a special election to fill up the post of the late congressman Victor Dominguez.The prevailing political atmosphere has seeded a cloud of suspicion and distrust between and among local political bigwigs. Among the many suspicions circulating is Dalog’s supposed opposition to the holding of a special election.In his weekly program at the local radio station, the governor stated that he is not against the holding of an election for the people to choose who will fill up the vacant post. “Just like all citizens of the pro-vince, I share the belief that the authority to decide who will occupy any elective post resides in the people. In fact, I did not oppose the earlier moves by provincial officials and other groups when they sought an audience with officials of the Lower House asking them to come out with a legislation to set the parameters of the election. But it was unfortunate that the problem on funds to bankroll the expenses of an election dimmed the collective efforts,” he said.With the problem on where to source out the needed funding, the office of the sangguniang panlalawigan forwarded to the governor’s office an excerpt of their meeting requesting Congress for the passage of a legislation for the conduct of a special election and providing among other things that the provincial government will shoulder the financial requirement for the election. But aware of the threat of some groups to sue the governor should he use any amount from the provincial coffers for a political exercise that should be funded by the national government, he referred the matter to the provincial attorney for his legal opinion. “It was this specific question of whether or not it is legal to use funds of the provincial government and not whether or not it is legal to hold a special election that was referred to the provincial legal officer,” Dalog said, refuting allegations that his decision to seek the advice of the legal officer is a delaying tactic to ward off the attempts of some groups lobbying for the special election.The provincial attorney, however, refused to act on the matter until a copy of a resolution supporting the excerpt of the meeting signed by majority of the members of the local legislative body will be furnished his office.“I hope this will dispel the growing suspicion that I am against the holding of an election. I may have lobbied for the assignment of a caretaker congressman but this does not mean denying the people their right of choice. A caretaker is one who will temporarily oversee the concerns of the congressional district until a replacement has been chosen,” Dalog said.
Sabangan organizes local women council
Sabangan organizes local women council
by Juliet Saley / PIA
SABANGAN, Mountain Province – To ensure women having equal rights and opportunities with men in society, Republic Act 7192, otherwise known as the “Women in development and nation building” mandates all government agencies to involve the women sector in the implementation of their programs and activities particularly planning and legislation.Pursuant to this Act, the municipal government of this municipality organized the Local Council for Women.With the new administration and new personalities in this local government unit, mayor Donato Dang-lose issued Executive Order 004-08 reorganizing the council.The council is chaired by Municipal Social Welfare and Development officer Brigida Mangay-at. Members include municipal treasurer Caroline Astudillo; Felicidad Danglose, MOSAI president; Marianita Altaki of BIR-Sabangan; Luz Bernardez, records officer of Sabangan LGU; municipal health nurse Elizabeth Billao; municipal agriculturist Eveline Dalog; Juanita Lampac, secretary to the local chief executive; NGO representatives Felipa Gasmena and Juliet Palicos; SB secretary Pauline Padsoyan; municipal health officer Dr. Zaida Chel Danag; RIC federation president Janet Dominguez; Carmen Lardizabal, senior citizen representative; Theodore Velasco, local legislative staff officer; municipal budget officer Robert Beke; and municipal planning and development officer Salvador Decoy.The council is tasked to lead more women to get involved in the social, civic, and political activities in the municipality; to serve as a vehicle in the mainstreaming of women in the pursuit of peace, equality, and sustainable development; to prepare plans and projects integrating the plans and activities of the council. It also serves as steering committee in the observance of Women’s Month and to take actions on matters relating to the welfare of women especially on information education campaigns involving laws protecting women.
by Juliet Saley / PIA
SABANGAN, Mountain Province – To ensure women having equal rights and opportunities with men in society, Republic Act 7192, otherwise known as the “Women in development and nation building” mandates all government agencies to involve the women sector in the implementation of their programs and activities particularly planning and legislation.Pursuant to this Act, the municipal government of this municipality organized the Local Council for Women.With the new administration and new personalities in this local government unit, mayor Donato Dang-lose issued Executive Order 004-08 reorganizing the council.The council is chaired by Municipal Social Welfare and Development officer Brigida Mangay-at. Members include municipal treasurer Caroline Astudillo; Felicidad Danglose, MOSAI president; Marianita Altaki of BIR-Sabangan; Luz Bernardez, records officer of Sabangan LGU; municipal health nurse Elizabeth Billao; municipal agriculturist Eveline Dalog; Juanita Lampac, secretary to the local chief executive; NGO representatives Felipa Gasmena and Juliet Palicos; SB secretary Pauline Padsoyan; municipal health officer Dr. Zaida Chel Danag; RIC federation president Janet Dominguez; Carmen Lardizabal, senior citizen representative; Theodore Velasco, local legislative staff officer; municipal budget officer Robert Beke; and municipal planning and development officer Salvador Decoy.The council is tasked to lead more women to get involved in the social, civic, and political activities in the municipality; to serve as a vehicle in the mainstreaming of women in the pursuit of peace, equality, and sustainable development; to prepare plans and projects integrating the plans and activities of the council. It also serves as steering committee in the observance of Women’s Month and to take actions on matters relating to the welfare of women especially on information education campaigns involving laws protecting women.
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