• CIDG says documents on suspects in order
By KIT BAGAIPO
The alleged gun-for-hire tagged in the killing of the owner of Via Bohol Tourist Inn blasted police investigators yesterday claiming he is a "frame-up" victim.
As the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) at Camp Dagohoy prepares its nine witnesses for today's preliminary hearing at the City Prosecutor's Office, the alleged hired gunman said police operatives are just looking for fall guys to have an immediate closure on their investigation.
Via Bohol owner Victoriano Taray, 48, was gunned down by a lone suspect in the early morning of March 12, 2009 after hearing mass at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in barangay Ubujan, this city.
Named respondents in the murder case filed by the CIDG are Aurelia Taray alias Au-au, the wife of the victim; Arnaldo Sarto alias Bogs of barangay Atchila, Ubay; and Renato Sabalande alias Rene, a resident of Poblacion Dagohoy.
Based on corroborating statements of witnesses, Sarto was the alleged triggerman contracted for the slay job by the victim's wife through Sabalande for a sum of P150,000.
All three accused are still at large while the Bohol Police Provincial Office is said to be providing tight security to the witnesses during today's hearing at the Hall of Justice, this city.
"POLICE SET-UP"
Sarto, the suspected gun-for-hire, called up the Chronicle yesterday lambasting police investigators as he denied any involvement in Taray's murder.
He said the police should dig deeper into the case and correct the injustice of pointing to him as the fall guy.
According to Sarto, he does not know Aurelia or any plot perpetrated to kill the latter's husband.
The suspect disclosed he will be consulting a police official regarding his predicament but will remain in hiding until the CIDG will conduct an honest investigation.
PNP CHIEF'S ORDER
In an interview with the Chronicle, Chief Inspector Germano Mallari, CIDG-Bohol chief, said their investigation was in order.
Mallari pointed out that identifying the suspects through their witnesses was a result of diligent and careful police work.
The police official admitted that the case got the attention of PNP Director General Jesus Versoza after the mother of the victim wrote the former regarding the status of the case.
It was upon Versoza's direct orders that the investigation was turned over to the CIDG from the City PNP.
"STRONG CASE"
C/Insp. Mallari is confident that they have built a strong case against the three suspects.
The criminal complaint filed by the CIDG is buttressed by 11 affidavits of witnesses.
However, only three of which linked the wife of the victim with regards to her supposed participation in the crime.
The preliminary hearing will be conducted by City Prosecutor Alberto Rara this afternoon.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Parents of dead 2-month old girl seeks help of NBI
By KIT BAGAIPO
Shortly after her death, 2-month old Creslyn Lamoste allegedly lost her heart at the Gov. Celestino Gallares Regional Hospital (GCGRH) during an autopsy even as the infant's parents claimed they did not allow it.
In an interview with the Chronicle, the child's father Cresencio Lamoste said they confined their daughter at the GCGRH last September 21 due to pneumonia. But she died two days later.
According to Cresencio, the attending physician she identified as a certain Dr. Nagulada allegedly informed them that the hospital will conduct an autopsy.
Knowing their child died of pneumonia, Cresencio and the child's mother Adeline Gonzales at first refused the doctor's request but eventually agreed after they were told it was the hospital's policy.
The doctor allegedly told the parents that the hospital will refuse to admit any other member of their family if they do not agree to the procedure.
Reporters of station dyRD tried to get the side of Dr. Nagulada the past two days but to no avail.
In a separate interview with Dr. Edgar Pizarras, information officer of GCGRH, he said the management of the hospital will verify the case and conduct an investigation.
Pizarras did not say whether it was indeed a policy at the said government hospital to conduct autopsies even when the patient's relatives did not request for such procedure.
The parents discovered that doctors at the GCGRH took the child's heart when they brought her lifeless body for embalming at the Rodan Funeral Homes in Poblacion Calape town.
The embalmer, Jelfon Dano, was the one who discovered that the organ was missing when he tried to re-stitch the opening at the chest of the infant.
Both Cresencio and Adeline were shocked and enraged to learn that the child's heart was taken by doctors without their knowledge.
The couple reported the incident at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) regional office in Cebu City.
They said, they just want to seek justice for what has been done to their daughter.
Dr. Pizarras said the GCGRH will issue a statement once investigation can be conducted.
Shortly after her death, 2-month old Creslyn Lamoste allegedly lost her heart at the Gov. Celestino Gallares Regional Hospital (GCGRH) during an autopsy even as the infant's parents claimed they did not allow it.
In an interview with the Chronicle, the child's father Cresencio Lamoste said they confined their daughter at the GCGRH last September 21 due to pneumonia. But she died two days later.
According to Cresencio, the attending physician she identified as a certain Dr. Nagulada allegedly informed them that the hospital will conduct an autopsy.
Knowing their child died of pneumonia, Cresencio and the child's mother Adeline Gonzales at first refused the doctor's request but eventually agreed after they were told it was the hospital's policy.
The doctor allegedly told the parents that the hospital will refuse to admit any other member of their family if they do not agree to the procedure.
Reporters of station dyRD tried to get the side of Dr. Nagulada the past two days but to no avail.
In a separate interview with Dr. Edgar Pizarras, information officer of GCGRH, he said the management of the hospital will verify the case and conduct an investigation.
Pizarras did not say whether it was indeed a policy at the said government hospital to conduct autopsies even when the patient's relatives did not request for such procedure.
The parents discovered that doctors at the GCGRH took the child's heart when they brought her lifeless body for embalming at the Rodan Funeral Homes in Poblacion Calape town.
The embalmer, Jelfon Dano, was the one who discovered that the organ was missing when he tried to re-stitch the opening at the chest of the infant.
Both Cresencio and Adeline were shocked and enraged to learn that the child's heart was taken by doctors without their knowledge.
The couple reported the incident at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) regional office in Cebu City.
They said, they just want to seek justice for what has been done to their daughter.
Dr. Pizarras said the GCGRH will issue a statement once investigation can be conducted.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Actor Montano declines Arroyo appointment to run for Bohol gov
By Kit Bagaipo
Inquirer Visayas
TAGBILARAN CITY -- Actor-director Cesar Montano announced on Tuesday that he declined the position of film czar so that he could focus on his bid to run for governor in Bohol in the 2010 elections.
Montano has long been rumored to be eyeing the province’s top position but has not confirmed his political plans until Tuesday.
Montano, whose real name is Cesar Manhilot and a registered voter in the town of Baclayon, said he and his family felt honored by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s appointment of him as Presidential Special Envoy for Film and Digital Cinema.
“I am grateful … but I regret to say I could not accept it since this will sidetrack my preparations for a gubernatorial bid in May 2010,” Montano said in a telephone interview aired on radio station dyRD Tagbilaran.
Montano, who initiated the interview, said he wanted to bring in “change in Bohol politics,” which he said was being “used by politicians for business interests.”
The actor-director disclosed that he has the support of his family. Wife and actress Sunshine Cruz is actively involved in promoting tourism in this island-province.
Cruz, who talked briefly during the interview, said she fully supported her husband’s political plans.
Montano’s appointment, which was signed by Ms Arroyo on May 19, would have accorded Montano diplomatic status.
When asked if he would seek the support of Bohol Governor Erico Aumentado, Montano only said that he did not “need the blessings” of the governor.
Inquirer Visayas
TAGBILARAN CITY -- Actor-director Cesar Montano announced on Tuesday that he declined the position of film czar so that he could focus on his bid to run for governor in Bohol in the 2010 elections.
Montano has long been rumored to be eyeing the province’s top position but has not confirmed his political plans until Tuesday.
Montano, whose real name is Cesar Manhilot and a registered voter in the town of Baclayon, said he and his family felt honored by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s appointment of him as Presidential Special Envoy for Film and Digital Cinema.
“I am grateful … but I regret to say I could not accept it since this will sidetrack my preparations for a gubernatorial bid in May 2010,” Montano said in a telephone interview aired on radio station dyRD Tagbilaran.
Montano, who initiated the interview, said he wanted to bring in “change in Bohol politics,” which he said was being “used by politicians for business interests.”
The actor-director disclosed that he has the support of his family. Wife and actress Sunshine Cruz is actively involved in promoting tourism in this island-province.
Cruz, who talked briefly during the interview, said she fully supported her husband’s political plans.
Montano’s appointment, which was signed by Ms Arroyo on May 19, would have accorded Montano diplomatic status.
When asked if he would seek the support of Bohol Governor Erico Aumentado, Montano only said that he did not “need the blessings” of the governor.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Bohol solon defends Con-Ass
Brushing aside strong public objections against the move of the House of Representatives of setting up a constituent assembly (Con-ass) to amend the Constitution, Third District Rep. Adam Relson Jala crushed criticisms pointing out that changes in the Charter is “needed for progress”.
The solon engaged in a two-hour debate over Station dyRD’s top-rated programs “Inyong Alagad” and “Pulso” yesterday with bar topnotcher and 1971 Constitutional Convention delegate former OIC governor Victor Dela Serna.
Dela Serna is one of the vocal critics of Charter Change who sounded off warnings that administration congressmen are in cahoots with President Arroyo to use constitutional amendments as a cover to stay in power beyond 2010.
Jala however lambasted this argument saying “extending term limits of the president or other elected officials is out of the picture” in the passage of House Resolution 1109.
The controversial measure empowers Congress to convene itself into a Constituent Assembly in which members of the House and the Senate would vote jointly – not separately – to amend the 1987 Constitution.
The neophyte solon stressed “the noble intentions” of House Resolution 1109 which is just the “initial step to deal with defects of the 22-year old Constitution”.
“I could not speak for my colleagues in the House who voted for the measure but I can assure you that I am against extending the term of the president beyond 2010,” the lawmaker said.
Jala added that he will be “the first one to stand against any move to include the lifting of term limits”.
The solon explained that the process of amending the Charter could not be rushed to be used as “a charade”, as perceived by its critics, allowing Pres. Arroyo to perpetuate in power.
“While I am also in favor of the shift to parliamentary form of government, I likewise agree that this should be done after 2010 to remove any doubts that Malacañang is behind the move to revise the Charter”, the solon said.
“Amending the Constitution is necessary to make it responsive to much needed reforms such as social, political and economic ills”, he stressed.
In House Resolution 1109, the provisions to be deliberated for amendments are not yet even stated yet, according to Jala.
“We are still on the stage of convening a Con-ass, and this has yet to be considered by the Supreme Court due to contradictory interpretations of this mode of amending the Charter,” the solon explained.
P20-M BRIBE?
Dela Serna cited reports that each of the congressmen who voted for House Resolution 1109 received P20-million from Malacañang.
Jala dismissed the allegations saying the report came from unnamed sources published by the national dailies.
The congressman in turn challenged Dela Serna to file a petition with him at the Supreme Court to resolve the debates on the legality of HR 1109.
According to Jala, even if majority of the congressmen approved the resolution, the amendments will still pass deliberations of the Con-ass which will eventually be submitted for approval of the electorate in a plebiscite.
Jala countered Dela Serna’s statement that about 80-percent of the country’s populace are opposed to Cha-cha as shown by nationwide independent surveys.
“There is a clear need to revise our Constitution, and if it is indeed true that so many people are against it, then there is only one way of confirming that – a plebiscite,” Jala said.
“We are going through changes in our electoral process to make it more efficient. Hence, I trust doubts that a plebiscite can be railroaded to serve the interest of a few is baseless”, Jala concluded.
The solon engaged in a two-hour debate over Station dyRD’s top-rated programs “Inyong Alagad” and “Pulso” yesterday with bar topnotcher and 1971 Constitutional Convention delegate former OIC governor Victor Dela Serna.
Dela Serna is one of the vocal critics of Charter Change who sounded off warnings that administration congressmen are in cahoots with President Arroyo to use constitutional amendments as a cover to stay in power beyond 2010.
Jala however lambasted this argument saying “extending term limits of the president or other elected officials is out of the picture” in the passage of House Resolution 1109.
The controversial measure empowers Congress to convene itself into a Constituent Assembly in which members of the House and the Senate would vote jointly – not separately – to amend the 1987 Constitution.
The neophyte solon stressed “the noble intentions” of House Resolution 1109 which is just the “initial step to deal with defects of the 22-year old Constitution”.
“I could not speak for my colleagues in the House who voted for the measure but I can assure you that I am against extending the term of the president beyond 2010,” the lawmaker said.
Jala added that he will be “the first one to stand against any move to include the lifting of term limits”.
The solon explained that the process of amending the Charter could not be rushed to be used as “a charade”, as perceived by its critics, allowing Pres. Arroyo to perpetuate in power.
“While I am also in favor of the shift to parliamentary form of government, I likewise agree that this should be done after 2010 to remove any doubts that Malacañang is behind the move to revise the Charter”, the solon said.
“Amending the Constitution is necessary to make it responsive to much needed reforms such as social, political and economic ills”, he stressed.
In House Resolution 1109, the provisions to be deliberated for amendments are not yet even stated yet, according to Jala.
“We are still on the stage of convening a Con-ass, and this has yet to be considered by the Supreme Court due to contradictory interpretations of this mode of amending the Charter,” the solon explained.
P20-M BRIBE?
Dela Serna cited reports that each of the congressmen who voted for House Resolution 1109 received P20-million from Malacañang.
Jala dismissed the allegations saying the report came from unnamed sources published by the national dailies.
The congressman in turn challenged Dela Serna to file a petition with him at the Supreme Court to resolve the debates on the legality of HR 1109.
According to Jala, even if majority of the congressmen approved the resolution, the amendments will still pass deliberations of the Con-ass which will eventually be submitted for approval of the electorate in a plebiscite.
Jala countered Dela Serna’s statement that about 80-percent of the country’s populace are opposed to Cha-cha as shown by nationwide independent surveys.
“There is a clear need to revise our Constitution, and if it is indeed true that so many people are against it, then there is only one way of confirming that – a plebiscite,” Jala said.
“We are going through changes in our electoral process to make it more efficient. Hence, I trust doubts that a plebiscite can be railroaded to serve the interest of a few is baseless”, Jala concluded.
Pregnant ‘swine flu’ victim recovers
• 6 private schools defer class opening
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol –
The 33-year old pregnant woman who tested positive of the Influenza A(H1N1) virus is now into full recovery, according to the Department of Health (DOH) Region 7.
Renan Cimafranca, of the DOH-7 Regional Epidemiology Services Unit (RESU) bared that result of the second swab sample taken from the woman rendered negative.
The second test was taken from the 2-month pregnant woman last June 4, the same day the Regional Institute of Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City confirmed she was afflicted with the A(H1N1) virus based on the first swab sample taken on May 28.
But due to her pregnancy, the DOH-7 advised the woman to still look after her health and continue her self-quarantine at her residence for the next few days.
Cimafranca said health officials are still monitoring the persons who came into contact with the woman since May 23 up to June 4.
“Based on our tracing so far, nobody has exhibited symptoms of flu or developed influenza-like illness,” he said.
The monitoring of those who came into contact with the woman will be done for a period of 10 days, Cimafranca said. Those who had contact with her on June 4 will be monitored until June 14, he added.
“There is no problem right now and we are in constant communication with the woman and her family to monitor their condition,” Cimafranca assured.
Cimafranca said that while they were not able to give antiviral medication to the woman, since she is in the first trimester of pregnancy, her condition kept improving the past days.
The woman arrived in Bohol from California last May 23 but developed flu symptoms two days later and decided to seek medical treatment.
Showing signs of recovery from fever, the woman was discharged from the hospital even before the DOH could confirm that she is stricken with the dreaded A(H1N1) virus. The confirmation came eight days after the swab sample was taken by a team from the DOH regional office (May 28).
“Their response was so delayed and I had to wait several days for the confirmatory results,” she said.
She said regional health officials were the ones who gave her clearance to leave the hospital on May 25.
The release of the woman from the hospital have been the subject of complaints by the public here as she was the first confirmed Influenza A(H1N1) case in the province.
Meanwhile, at least six private schools here have moved their opening of classes to June 15 due to the Influenza A(H1N1) virus.
In separate advisories released to the media Monday morning, the officials of Bohol Wisdom School, Holy Name University, University of Bohol, Bohol Institute of Technology, VDT Learning Center and Holy Spirit School said they postponed the opening of classes as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the dreaded virus in the school’s campuses.
All personnel and enrolled students in these schools were advised of the deferment of class opening through radio announcements.
On the other hand, during Holy Masses yesterday, the Catholic clergy here announced that in order to prevent the spread of the A(H1N1) virus, the faithful could only receive communion by the hand while holding of hands during the praying of “Our Father” should not be done in the meantime.
Villar raids Bohol Lakas-Kampi •Herrera denies coalition split up
Political realignment in the province had just begun.
Shortly after the merger of Lakas-CMD and Kabalikat ng Mamamayang Pilipino (Kampi) which dominates elective posts here in Bohol, presidential timber Senator Manuel Villar stormed its ranks.
As a result, 25 municipal mayors officially took their oaths under the re-organized Nacionalista Party of Villar during a grand political gathering at the Bohol Tropics Resort last May 31. Several vice mayors and municipal councilors also joined the party.
However, downplaying speculations that the dominant political coalition in the province is disintegrating, Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera expressed confidence that a majority of the mayors would still "tow the line" once Gov. Erico Aumentado issues his "marching orders".
The governor is currently out of the country for an official trip with President Arroyo and some members of her Cabinet.
While he did not disregard the possibility that the governor may also join Villar's Nacionalista Party, Herrera said he will stand by Aumentado's decision.
"We respect the decision of the mayors who have decided to join Villar's party but I don't really think our political alliance is splitting up," Herrera stressed.
The vice governor disclosed that he conferred with some of the mayors who joined Nacionalista and most, if not all, of them still believed in a united leadership for the province.
However, he said, each one has to consider what political party could carry them to victory in next year's polls.
According to Herrera, the mayors said that the formula of unity among Bohol's top officials led by Aumentado brought more gains in the province in terms of programs and projects.
Reports reaching the Chronicle revealed that aside from the 25 mayors who coalesced with the Nacionalista Party, there are eight other town executives who have signified their intention of joining Villar's group.
As the Nacionalista Party has admitted that it is on a massive recruitment of incumbent politicians to realize its dream of forming the biggest political party in the country, there is possibility that three other Lakas-Kampi stalwarts would jump ship - First District Rep. Edgar Chatto, Second District Rep. Roberto Cajes and former congressman Eladio Jala who has announced his bid to reclaim the Third District Congressional seat vice his son Rep. Adam Relson Jala.
Political observers see that the exodus of mayors, vice mayors and councilors to Nacionalista also pose a problem over choosing an official candidate for governor if Bohol's Big Five (Aumentado, Herrera, Chatto, Cajes and Jala) will opt to stick together and choose a common candidate for governor be it under the banner of Lakas-Kampi or Nacionalista.
Both Herrera and Chatto are eyeing the position. Herrera earlier declared he is open to talks with Chatto's camp just to keep the unified leadership in the province.
In an interview with the Chronicle, Carmen Mayor Manuel Molina bared that of those who took their oaths under the Nacionalista Party, six town mayors from the First Congressional District, seven from the Second Congressional District, and 12 from the Third Congressional District.
They were: Albur Mayor Cirilo Jalad, Baclayon Mayor Alvin Uy, Calape Mayor Simplicio Yu Jr., Corella Mayor Vito Rapal, Cortes Mayor Apolinaria Balistoy, Sikatuna Mayor Ireneo Calimpusan, Buenavista Mayor Elsa Tirol, Clarin Mayor Hermogenes Diezon, Dagohoy Mayor Herminio Relampagos, Getafe Mayor Theresa Camacho, San Isidro Mayor Apolinar Gumanid, San Miguel Mayor Claudio Bonior, Loboc Mayor Leon Calipusan, Sierra Bullones Mayor Simplicio Maestrado, Pilar Mayor Wilson Pajo, Candijay Mayor Sergio Amora Jr., Mabini Mayor Stephen Rances, Alicia Mayor Pedro Miasco, Anda Mayor Paulino Amper, Batuan Mayor Gregoria Pepito, Bilar Mayor Fanuel Cadelina, Duero Mayor Manuel Tan, Guindulman Mayor Ma. Fe Piezas and Jagna Mayor Exuperio Lloren.
Mayors Jose Jono Jumamoy (Inabanga), Juanario Item (Talibon) and Ceferino Digal (Sevilla) also expressed intent to join the group but failed to attend the meeting while Sagbayan Mayor Jimmy Torrefranca, a last termer, chose to stay with Lakas while allowing his daughter and Vice Mayor Valerie Ann Narona to join the Nacionalista group.
Molina, who is an original member of Nacionalista, added that he is confident other town mayors, vice mayors and councilors will join them in the next few months.
Although he cannot say that Gov. Aumentado will also support Villar, Molina said "it is likely [the governor] will support him".
Molina recalled that Aumentado has close ties with Villar, as the former served as Deputy Speaker for the Visayas at the House of Representatives when Villar was House Speaker. The governor was also chairman of the powerful House committee on appropriations under Villar's Speakership.
"Governor Aumentado is also originally a member of the Nacionalista Party," he said.
Speaking before his new party mates, Villar recalled "that Bohol has produced a president who was also a Nacionalista" referring to former President Carlos P. Garcia.
Five other Philippine presidents came from the Nacionalista Party, Villar said.
Shortly after the merger of Lakas-CMD and Kabalikat ng Mamamayang Pilipino (Kampi) which dominates elective posts here in Bohol, presidential timber Senator Manuel Villar stormed its ranks.
As a result, 25 municipal mayors officially took their oaths under the re-organized Nacionalista Party of Villar during a grand political gathering at the Bohol Tropics Resort last May 31. Several vice mayors and municipal councilors also joined the party.
However, downplaying speculations that the dominant political coalition in the province is disintegrating, Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera expressed confidence that a majority of the mayors would still "tow the line" once Gov. Erico Aumentado issues his "marching orders".
The governor is currently out of the country for an official trip with President Arroyo and some members of her Cabinet.
While he did not disregard the possibility that the governor may also join Villar's Nacionalista Party, Herrera said he will stand by Aumentado's decision.
"We respect the decision of the mayors who have decided to join Villar's party but I don't really think our political alliance is splitting up," Herrera stressed.
The vice governor disclosed that he conferred with some of the mayors who joined Nacionalista and most, if not all, of them still believed in a united leadership for the province.
However, he said, each one has to consider what political party could carry them to victory in next year's polls.
According to Herrera, the mayors said that the formula of unity among Bohol's top officials led by Aumentado brought more gains in the province in terms of programs and projects.
Reports reaching the Chronicle revealed that aside from the 25 mayors who coalesced with the Nacionalista Party, there are eight other town executives who have signified their intention of joining Villar's group.
As the Nacionalista Party has admitted that it is on a massive recruitment of incumbent politicians to realize its dream of forming the biggest political party in the country, there is possibility that three other Lakas-Kampi stalwarts would jump ship - First District Rep. Edgar Chatto, Second District Rep. Roberto Cajes and former congressman Eladio Jala who has announced his bid to reclaim the Third District Congressional seat vice his son Rep. Adam Relson Jala.
Political observers see that the exodus of mayors, vice mayors and councilors to Nacionalista also pose a problem over choosing an official candidate for governor if Bohol's Big Five (Aumentado, Herrera, Chatto, Cajes and Jala) will opt to stick together and choose a common candidate for governor be it under the banner of Lakas-Kampi or Nacionalista.
Both Herrera and Chatto are eyeing the position. Herrera earlier declared he is open to talks with Chatto's camp just to keep the unified leadership in the province.
In an interview with the Chronicle, Carmen Mayor Manuel Molina bared that of those who took their oaths under the Nacionalista Party, six town mayors from the First Congressional District, seven from the Second Congressional District, and 12 from the Third Congressional District.
They were: Albur Mayor Cirilo Jalad, Baclayon Mayor Alvin Uy, Calape Mayor Simplicio Yu Jr., Corella Mayor Vito Rapal, Cortes Mayor Apolinaria Balistoy, Sikatuna Mayor Ireneo Calimpusan, Buenavista Mayor Elsa Tirol, Clarin Mayor Hermogenes Diezon, Dagohoy Mayor Herminio Relampagos, Getafe Mayor Theresa Camacho, San Isidro Mayor Apolinar Gumanid, San Miguel Mayor Claudio Bonior, Loboc Mayor Leon Calipusan, Sierra Bullones Mayor Simplicio Maestrado, Pilar Mayor Wilson Pajo, Candijay Mayor Sergio Amora Jr., Mabini Mayor Stephen Rances, Alicia Mayor Pedro Miasco, Anda Mayor Paulino Amper, Batuan Mayor Gregoria Pepito, Bilar Mayor Fanuel Cadelina, Duero Mayor Manuel Tan, Guindulman Mayor Ma. Fe Piezas and Jagna Mayor Exuperio Lloren.
Mayors Jose Jono Jumamoy (Inabanga), Juanario Item (Talibon) and Ceferino Digal (Sevilla) also expressed intent to join the group but failed to attend the meeting while Sagbayan Mayor Jimmy Torrefranca, a last termer, chose to stay with Lakas while allowing his daughter and Vice Mayor Valerie Ann Narona to join the Nacionalista group.
Molina, who is an original member of Nacionalista, added that he is confident other town mayors, vice mayors and councilors will join them in the next few months.
Although he cannot say that Gov. Aumentado will also support Villar, Molina said "it is likely [the governor] will support him".
Molina recalled that Aumentado has close ties with Villar, as the former served as Deputy Speaker for the Visayas at the House of Representatives when Villar was House Speaker. The governor was also chairman of the powerful House committee on appropriations under Villar's Speakership.
"Governor Aumentado is also originally a member of the Nacionalista Party," he said.
Speaking before his new party mates, Villar recalled "that Bohol has produced a president who was also a Nacionalista" referring to former President Carlos P. Garcia.
Five other Philippine presidents came from the Nacionalista Party, Villar said.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
‘Swine flu’ victim hits health officials
The slow and confusing response of health authorities literally put in a dilemma a 33-year old pregnant woman, who is the first confirmed case of the Influenza A(H1N1) in the province.
Meanwhile, health officials are now closely monitoring a second possible case in one of the coastal towns but assured that the person suspected to be afflicted of the virus has submitted to self-quarantine procedures.
The woman arrived in Bohol from California last May 23 but developed fever after she went swimming. She decided to seek medical treatment at a city hospital taking extra care as she is in her second month of pregnancy.
However, the balikbayan criticized the "lousy" response of health workers to her case.
She was admitted to a private hospital on May 25 but the Department of Health (DOH) regional office took respiratory swab samples from her only three days later (May 28).
The hospital management immediately informed the Provincial Health Office and the City health office on the day the balibayan-patient was admitted at the hospital.
The woman was discharged from the hospital at noontime of June 1 after the regional DOH representative authorized him to check out from the hospital even if she was not given the findings on whether she got inflicted with the virus. The patient recuperated from the fever when the DOH-7 representative, identified as Reinan Cimafranca issued her the clearance to checkout from the hospital on June 1 even if there was no result yet on the swab lab test.
The confirmation came eight days after the swab sample was taken by a team from the DOH regional office.
"Their response was so delayed and I had to wait several days for the confirmatory results," she said.
Although the fatality rate of this particular influenza virus is below one percent of recorded cases, the victim felt her life and that of her unborn child were unnecessarily put in danger.
What fueled her distress even more was the announcement of Provincial Health Officer Dr. Reymoses Cabagnot over the airlanes last Friday that health authorities have been trying to locate her to prevent the spread of the virus.
In an interview with the Chronicle, the woman said she did not expect she had A(H1N1) until she received the information from Renan Cimafranca of DOH-7 last Thursday.
This was confirmed by Cimafranca in a separate interview by the Chronicle that he received the laboratory results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) on Thursday morning which showed that the pregnant woman tested positive of A(H1N1).
Cimafranca said he took a second swab sample from the victim on the same day as it is the standard procedure for confirmed cases in order to re-check if the victim is still positive of the virus. He added that the result of the second test will come out two to three days.
The lack of coordination between the regional health team and the provincial health office was noted when Cabagnot announced that the victim's whereabouts was still unknown even as the regional team was already in contact with her.
Even Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera (presently the acting governor), called out for an emergency meeting with provincial health officers, the Bohol Provincial Police Office and municipal mayors to locate the balikbayan.
The victim said that at the onset of a fever, she went out for swimming and thought she just developed a fever out of being exhausted from the summer heat at the beach.
The release of the patient without being declared as H1N1-free became the subject of complaints by the public who were monitoring over dyRD the first confirmed Influenza A(H1N1) case in the province.
CASE NO. 2?
Reports are verified on another suspected case of A(H1N1) who is reportedly residing in one of the eastern coastal towns.
Dr. Cabagnot disclosed that swab samples have been taken from the suspected case but the laboratory findings from RITM is still pending.
The provincial health officer declined to disclose more information about the patient who has exhibited flu-like symptoms but assured it is under control.
DOH APOLOGY
In a press conference last Friday, regional health officials apologized for "the inconvenience we have caused" to the 2-month pregnant suspected to have the virus.
The DOH pointed to the problem with shipping out the swab samples to the RITM in Muntinlupa City and the numerous samples that its laboratory had to test. After samples test positive, the laboratory technicians have still to re-run tests for verification.
Health authorities said they are taking the case "with caution" in order not to compromise pregnancy.
According to Cimafranca, contact tracing of all those who had contact with the pregnant woman is still ongoing and they are given medication.
CONDITION IMPROVING
Cimafranca disclosed that since the woman was admitted last May 25, her condition is constantly improving.
"There is no problem right now and we are in constant communication with her and her family to monitor their condition," Cimafranca assured.
He said they could not give an antiviral medication to the woman since she is in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Cimafranca said it is not necessary to confine her to a hospital. Aside from her improving condition, her residence is ideal for containment of the virus.
In fact, Cimafranca added, the balikbayan agreed for self-quarantine in her home and she is also limiting her visitors.
The DOH is coordinating with the Tagbilaran City Health Office and Dauis Rural Health Unit for the "thorough monitoring" of the woman's contacts since her arrival here last May 23.
"But based on our tracing so far, nobody has exhibited symptoms of flu or developed influenza-like illness," he said.
VOLUNTARY TESTING
Vice Gov. Herrera urged all those who may have come into contact with the woman to voluntarily submit to medical tests.
Asked regarding another suspected case of A(H1N1) in the province, Herrera assured that the person has already submitted to self-quarantine measures.
The acting governor advised Boholanos to take precautions such as frequent hand-washing saying the Influenza A(H1N1) virus could spread easily.
DENGUE MORE DANGEROUS
In trying to allay public fears over the Influenza A(H1N1) virus, Dr. Cabagnot said the public must also be equally vigilant against dengue fever which is more deadly.
Cabagnot said dengue is more fatal and that cases continue to be recorded in the province since January this year.
Although cases are lower than the preceding year, dengue prevention remains a top priority of health officials.
WHAT TO DO
As the Department of Health (DoH) already appropriately handled Bohol's index AH1N1 case, the provincial health officer turned to strengthening public awareness to allay fears and unnecessary panic among the Boholanos who are afraid that they might also catch the infection.
Cabagnot clarified that AH1N1 is spread through droplet infection. He said this calls for the covering of the nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing, frequent washing of the hands, taking a bath once or even twice daily and general personal hygiene.
He also strongly urges for the meantime social distancing - less beso-beso (cheek-to-cheek kisses or smacks), handshakes and bear hugs with relatives and friends coming in from countries with confirmed AH1N1 cases.
He likewise suggests to persons developing flu-like symptoms with diarrhea, especially those who made contacts with relatives and friends from AH1N1 positive countries to submit to medical check ups.
He said the swine flu virus is less fearsome or dreadful than rabies, dengue or pneumonia. Mortality of AH1N1 remains at 0.8 or less than one for every 1,000 population affected.
Just like any other opportunistic disease however AH1N1 is fatal to a person with lowered immune system and those with lesser resistance like the elderly and the very young children.
He asks for the full cooperation of the mayors, local officials and municipal health officers for the widest dissemination of the suggested steps to take to avoid the infection.
"I will also suggest to Gov. Erico Aumentado the issuance of an executive order adopting the national technical guidelines, standards and other interactions for reference in the Pandemic Response to Influenza A(H1N1) that Sec. Duque has released, with modifications to make them more suited to the Bohol situation," he said.
Asked if he will suggest that the Tigum Bol-anon Tibuok Kalibutan (TBTK) or the global conference of Boholanos in July ought to be postponed because of the virus threat, Herrera said the task force and the Sandugo festival organizers are in a better position to decide and announce the decision thereafter.
Meanwhile, health officials are now closely monitoring a second possible case in one of the coastal towns but assured that the person suspected to be afflicted of the virus has submitted to self-quarantine procedures.
The woman arrived in Bohol from California last May 23 but developed fever after she went swimming. She decided to seek medical treatment at a city hospital taking extra care as she is in her second month of pregnancy.
However, the balikbayan criticized the "lousy" response of health workers to her case.
She was admitted to a private hospital on May 25 but the Department of Health (DOH) regional office took respiratory swab samples from her only three days later (May 28).
The hospital management immediately informed the Provincial Health Office and the City health office on the day the balibayan-patient was admitted at the hospital.
The woman was discharged from the hospital at noontime of June 1 after the regional DOH representative authorized him to check out from the hospital even if she was not given the findings on whether she got inflicted with the virus. The patient recuperated from the fever when the DOH-7 representative, identified as Reinan Cimafranca issued her the clearance to checkout from the hospital on June 1 even if there was no result yet on the swab lab test.
The confirmation came eight days after the swab sample was taken by a team from the DOH regional office.
"Their response was so delayed and I had to wait several days for the confirmatory results," she said.
Although the fatality rate of this particular influenza virus is below one percent of recorded cases, the victim felt her life and that of her unborn child were unnecessarily put in danger.
What fueled her distress even more was the announcement of Provincial Health Officer Dr. Reymoses Cabagnot over the airlanes last Friday that health authorities have been trying to locate her to prevent the spread of the virus.
In an interview with the Chronicle, the woman said she did not expect she had A(H1N1) until she received the information from Renan Cimafranca of DOH-7 last Thursday.
This was confirmed by Cimafranca in a separate interview by the Chronicle that he received the laboratory results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) on Thursday morning which showed that the pregnant woman tested positive of A(H1N1).
Cimafranca said he took a second swab sample from the victim on the same day as it is the standard procedure for confirmed cases in order to re-check if the victim is still positive of the virus. He added that the result of the second test will come out two to three days.
The lack of coordination between the regional health team and the provincial health office was noted when Cabagnot announced that the victim's whereabouts was still unknown even as the regional team was already in contact with her.
Even Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera (presently the acting governor), called out for an emergency meeting with provincial health officers, the Bohol Provincial Police Office and municipal mayors to locate the balikbayan.
The victim said that at the onset of a fever, she went out for swimming and thought she just developed a fever out of being exhausted from the summer heat at the beach.
The release of the patient without being declared as H1N1-free became the subject of complaints by the public who were monitoring over dyRD the first confirmed Influenza A(H1N1) case in the province.
CASE NO. 2?
Reports are verified on another suspected case of A(H1N1) who is reportedly residing in one of the eastern coastal towns.
Dr. Cabagnot disclosed that swab samples have been taken from the suspected case but the laboratory findings from RITM is still pending.
The provincial health officer declined to disclose more information about the patient who has exhibited flu-like symptoms but assured it is under control.
DOH APOLOGY
In a press conference last Friday, regional health officials apologized for "the inconvenience we have caused" to the 2-month pregnant suspected to have the virus.
The DOH pointed to the problem with shipping out the swab samples to the RITM in Muntinlupa City and the numerous samples that its laboratory had to test. After samples test positive, the laboratory technicians have still to re-run tests for verification.
Health authorities said they are taking the case "with caution" in order not to compromise pregnancy.
According to Cimafranca, contact tracing of all those who had contact with the pregnant woman is still ongoing and they are given medication.
CONDITION IMPROVING
Cimafranca disclosed that since the woman was admitted last May 25, her condition is constantly improving.
"There is no problem right now and we are in constant communication with her and her family to monitor their condition," Cimafranca assured.
He said they could not give an antiviral medication to the woman since she is in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Cimafranca said it is not necessary to confine her to a hospital. Aside from her improving condition, her residence is ideal for containment of the virus.
In fact, Cimafranca added, the balikbayan agreed for self-quarantine in her home and she is also limiting her visitors.
The DOH is coordinating with the Tagbilaran City Health Office and Dauis Rural Health Unit for the "thorough monitoring" of the woman's contacts since her arrival here last May 23.
"But based on our tracing so far, nobody has exhibited symptoms of flu or developed influenza-like illness," he said.
VOLUNTARY TESTING
Vice Gov. Herrera urged all those who may have come into contact with the woman to voluntarily submit to medical tests.
Asked regarding another suspected case of A(H1N1) in the province, Herrera assured that the person has already submitted to self-quarantine measures.
The acting governor advised Boholanos to take precautions such as frequent hand-washing saying the Influenza A(H1N1) virus could spread easily.
DENGUE MORE DANGEROUS
In trying to allay public fears over the Influenza A(H1N1) virus, Dr. Cabagnot said the public must also be equally vigilant against dengue fever which is more deadly.
Cabagnot said dengue is more fatal and that cases continue to be recorded in the province since January this year.
Although cases are lower than the preceding year, dengue prevention remains a top priority of health officials.
WHAT TO DO
As the Department of Health (DoH) already appropriately handled Bohol's index AH1N1 case, the provincial health officer turned to strengthening public awareness to allay fears and unnecessary panic among the Boholanos who are afraid that they might also catch the infection.
Cabagnot clarified that AH1N1 is spread through droplet infection. He said this calls for the covering of the nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing, frequent washing of the hands, taking a bath once or even twice daily and general personal hygiene.
He also strongly urges for the meantime social distancing - less beso-beso (cheek-to-cheek kisses or smacks), handshakes and bear hugs with relatives and friends coming in from countries with confirmed AH1N1 cases.
He likewise suggests to persons developing flu-like symptoms with diarrhea, especially those who made contacts with relatives and friends from AH1N1 positive countries to submit to medical check ups.
He said the swine flu virus is less fearsome or dreadful than rabies, dengue or pneumonia. Mortality of AH1N1 remains at 0.8 or less than one for every 1,000 population affected.
Just like any other opportunistic disease however AH1N1 is fatal to a person with lowered immune system and those with lesser resistance like the elderly and the very young children.
He asks for the full cooperation of the mayors, local officials and municipal health officers for the widest dissemination of the suggested steps to take to avoid the infection.
"I will also suggest to Gov. Erico Aumentado the issuance of an executive order adopting the national technical guidelines, standards and other interactions for reference in the Pandemic Response to Influenza A(H1N1) that Sec. Duque has released, with modifications to make them more suited to the Bohol situation," he said.
Asked if he will suggest that the Tigum Bol-anon Tibuok Kalibutan (TBTK) or the global conference of Boholanos in July ought to be postponed because of the virus threat, Herrera said the task force and the Sandugo festival organizers are in a better position to decide and announce the decision thereafter.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Group keeps watch on P25-M DepEd purchase
By Kit Bagaipo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
TAGBILARAN CITY – An anti-graft group has teamed up with the Department of Education (DepEd) to keep corruption as far away as possible from a DepEd project to buy P25 million worth of furniture for public schools in Bohol province.
Elpidio Jala, DepEd Bohol schools division superintendent, said the DepEd has coordinated with Procurement Watch Inc. (PWI) to keep watch over the process to purchase the pieces of school furniture.
The PWI is a civil society organization formed by a group of concerned citizens with the goal of reducing, if not eliminating, graft and corruption in government through procurement reforms.
The DepEd-PWI watch, also known nationwide as “Bantay Eskwela,” was launched at the Manga High School in Tagbilaran City.
Jala said the partnership was a “timely response” to a Commission on Audit report saying at least P33.8 million of public funds were laid to waste last year due to substandard pieces of furniture bought for public schools in several provinces.
Last year, the DepEd allotted P1 billion for school furniture nationwide. Many of the pieces of furniture were to be delivered this year.
The PWI will keep watch over the ongoing delivery of P10 million worth of furniture, mostly classroom desks and chairs, to different schools in Bohol.
The pieces of furniture were being bought with funds allotted last year and P15 million allotted for school year 2009-2010.
The ongoing procurement program for Bohol schools will buy 5,817 classroom tables, 11,534 chairs, 230 teachers’ tables and 230 teachers’ chairs.
DepEd officials and representatives of PWI and various other groups attended the launching of the monitoring team-up.
Jala said the DepEd welcomed the partnership with PWI as the government lost hundreds of millions of pesos in the past to substandard pieces of furniture made from inferior quality wood.
The Bantay Eskwela project also seeks to keep watch over the other procurement programs of the DepEd.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
TAGBILARAN CITY – An anti-graft group has teamed up with the Department of Education (DepEd) to keep corruption as far away as possible from a DepEd project to buy P25 million worth of furniture for public schools in Bohol province.
Elpidio Jala, DepEd Bohol schools division superintendent, said the DepEd has coordinated with Procurement Watch Inc. (PWI) to keep watch over the process to purchase the pieces of school furniture.
The PWI is a civil society organization formed by a group of concerned citizens with the goal of reducing, if not eliminating, graft and corruption in government through procurement reforms.
The DepEd-PWI watch, also known nationwide as “Bantay Eskwela,” was launched at the Manga High School in Tagbilaran City.
Jala said the partnership was a “timely response” to a Commission on Audit report saying at least P33.8 million of public funds were laid to waste last year due to substandard pieces of furniture bought for public schools in several provinces.
Last year, the DepEd allotted P1 billion for school furniture nationwide. Many of the pieces of furniture were to be delivered this year.
The PWI will keep watch over the ongoing delivery of P10 million worth of furniture, mostly classroom desks and chairs, to different schools in Bohol.
The pieces of furniture were being bought with funds allotted last year and P15 million allotted for school year 2009-2010.
The ongoing procurement program for Bohol schools will buy 5,817 classroom tables, 11,534 chairs, 230 teachers’ tables and 230 teachers’ chairs.
DepEd officials and representatives of PWI and various other groups attended the launching of the monitoring team-up.
Jala said the DepEd welcomed the partnership with PWI as the government lost hundreds of millions of pesos in the past to substandard pieces of furniture made from inferior quality wood.
The Bantay Eskwela project also seeks to keep watch over the other procurement programs of the DepEd.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Bohol police chief opposes STL entry
By Kit Bagaipo
Inquirer Visayas
TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines—Bohol’s top police officer opposed the entry of small town lottery (STL) in the province, saying it will just promote, not wipe out, illegal numbers games.
“I don’t honestly believe STL will help eliminate the existing illegal numbers game such as ‘swertres’,” said Senior Supt. Edgardo Inking, Bohol police chief. “Instead, this will only worsen illegal gambling.”
Ingking said he has submitted a position paper to the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) expressing opposition to the entry of STL here.
He said illegal gambling financiers and operators would only exploit the legalized STL and use this as a cover for an illegal version.
He said in Bohol, at least 27 financiers operate the illegal numbers game called ‘swertres.’
Winning numbers in swertres were once dictated by results of jai-alai, but with jai-alai gone, swertres was transformed into the Visayas version of jueteng, which bases its winning numbers on clandestine lottery draws.
On May 15, police arrested Barangay Captain Manolo Blanco of Barangay Mansasa, Tagbilaran City.
Blanco was caught in possession of illegal gambling paraphernalia and P534,880 in cash believed to be bets on swertres.
Police said Blanco was a “big fish” in illegal gambling in the city.
“We cannot succeed (against) these gambling financiers if the community does not cooperate and if STL outlets are allowed to operate,” Ingking said.
But town mayors in the province remain divided over whether to allow STL to operate in their towns.
Several mayors have already declared their support for STL citing its benefits to local government units (LGUs) which are entitled to shares in STL income.
Of total STL revenues, 55 percent are supposed to be for prizes, 30 percent for charity and 15 percent for operations.
Of the 30 percent for charity, 10 percent is for the LGU in the area where STL operates, 5 percent for the province and 5 percent for the congressional district.
Inquirer Visayas
TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines—Bohol’s top police officer opposed the entry of small town lottery (STL) in the province, saying it will just promote, not wipe out, illegal numbers games.
“I don’t honestly believe STL will help eliminate the existing illegal numbers game such as ‘swertres’,” said Senior Supt. Edgardo Inking, Bohol police chief. “Instead, this will only worsen illegal gambling.”
Ingking said he has submitted a position paper to the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) expressing opposition to the entry of STL here.
He said illegal gambling financiers and operators would only exploit the legalized STL and use this as a cover for an illegal version.
He said in Bohol, at least 27 financiers operate the illegal numbers game called ‘swertres.’
Winning numbers in swertres were once dictated by results of jai-alai, but with jai-alai gone, swertres was transformed into the Visayas version of jueteng, which bases its winning numbers on clandestine lottery draws.
On May 15, police arrested Barangay Captain Manolo Blanco of Barangay Mansasa, Tagbilaran City.
Blanco was caught in possession of illegal gambling paraphernalia and P534,880 in cash believed to be bets on swertres.
Police said Blanco was a “big fish” in illegal gambling in the city.
“We cannot succeed (against) these gambling financiers if the community does not cooperate and if STL outlets are allowed to operate,” Ingking said.
But town mayors in the province remain divided over whether to allow STL to operate in their towns.
Several mayors have already declared their support for STL citing its benefits to local government units (LGUs) which are entitled to shares in STL income.
Of total STL revenues, 55 percent are supposed to be for prizes, 30 percent for charity and 15 percent for operations.
Of the 30 percent for charity, 10 percent is for the LGU in the area where STL operates, 5 percent for the province and 5 percent for the congressional district.
Bohol town targets ‘longest’ handwoven raffia
By Kit Bagaipo, Chito A. Fuentes
Inquirer Visayas
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol—To gain recognition for its century-old raffia weaving tradition, the town of Inabanga, once the cradle of the Philippines’ longest revolt against the Spaniards, will soon roll out the longest handwoven raffia and secure its claim as the home of highly skilled and artistic raffia weavers.
Locally known as “buli,” raffia weaving was introduced to Inabanga in the early 1800s during the time of the revolutionary Francisco Dagohoy. The woven fabrics were then used as sleeping mats and guerrilla uniforms.
On May 19, Inabanga launched its bid for the world’s longest continuous woven raffia fabric—a project that costs P300,000. The completion of the 1.6-kilometer product is expected by June 29, a day before its annual feast, Mayor Jose Jono Jumamoy said.
Anatolio Hugo, 35, said the project unofficially began on February 9 when he started weaving the first three meters. The raffia spool now laid out at the gym is nearly 200 meters long.
Jumamoy said he felt confident that the weavers would beat the deadline although he acknowledged that the weaving had slowed down a bit because tourists and visitors had been allowed to try their hand at weaving.
Inabanga launched the project because the industry could help provide livelihood to its residents. With a population of 40,000, it is primarily agricultural, with its coastal and island villages dependent on fishing.
The launching also highlighted impressive designs, showing the creativity and unique craftsmanship of the weavers. Home and lifestyle products, such as personal accessories, place mats, table runners, pillow cases, decorative rolls, handbags, and fashion accessories were made from raffia.
Governor Erico Aumentado, Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera, Board Members Ma. Fe Lejos, Ester Corazon Galbreath, and Jumamoy attended the opening ceremony.
“Inabanga intends to inform the consumer sector—institutional buyers, exporters, and subcontractors—that we have the production capacity and variety of product lines of excellent quality,” Jumamoy said.
Last year, the town presented a fashion show with models sporting raffia fabrics.
Inabanga has been known as the loom weaving capital of Bohol as its inhabitants became proficient in raffia weaving with buli palms, which are abundant.
Inquirer Visayas
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol—To gain recognition for its century-old raffia weaving tradition, the town of Inabanga, once the cradle of the Philippines’ longest revolt against the Spaniards, will soon roll out the longest handwoven raffia and secure its claim as the home of highly skilled and artistic raffia weavers.
Locally known as “buli,” raffia weaving was introduced to Inabanga in the early 1800s during the time of the revolutionary Francisco Dagohoy. The woven fabrics were then used as sleeping mats and guerrilla uniforms.
On May 19, Inabanga launched its bid for the world’s longest continuous woven raffia fabric—a project that costs P300,000. The completion of the 1.6-kilometer product is expected by June 29, a day before its annual feast, Mayor Jose Jono Jumamoy said.
Anatolio Hugo, 35, said the project unofficially began on February 9 when he started weaving the first three meters. The raffia spool now laid out at the gym is nearly 200 meters long.
Jumamoy said he felt confident that the weavers would beat the deadline although he acknowledged that the weaving had slowed down a bit because tourists and visitors had been allowed to try their hand at weaving.
Inabanga launched the project because the industry could help provide livelihood to its residents. With a population of 40,000, it is primarily agricultural, with its coastal and island villages dependent on fishing.
The launching also highlighted impressive designs, showing the creativity and unique craftsmanship of the weavers. Home and lifestyle products, such as personal accessories, place mats, table runners, pillow cases, decorative rolls, handbags, and fashion accessories were made from raffia.
Governor Erico Aumentado, Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera, Board Members Ma. Fe Lejos, Ester Corazon Galbreath, and Jumamoy attended the opening ceremony.
“Inabanga intends to inform the consumer sector—institutional buyers, exporters, and subcontractors—that we have the production capacity and variety of product lines of excellent quality,” Jumamoy said.
Last year, the town presented a fashion show with models sporting raffia fabrics.
Inabanga has been known as the loom weaving capital of Bohol as its inhabitants became proficient in raffia weaving with buli palms, which are abundant.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Uniting a nation
On Sunday, our very own boxing hero Manny Pacquiao will once again take on the dreams and ambitions of a nation – a nation where millions of people wallow in utter poverty, a nation so divided, a nation beleaguered by corruption.
When the “Pacman” faces Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas this Sunday, he’s not just fighting for himself as a boxer, but for the Filipino people and the country as a whole.
As BBC News describes it: If Hatton loses, many thousands will sigh. If Pacquiao loses, a nation’s heart will break.
Millions of us Filipinos see in Pacquiao something to aspire to, because we see in him our hopes and dreams.
In his early years, Pacquiao toiled in the streets to earn a living and to survive. This is why people can relate with the boxing superstar.
As our “Pambansang Kamao” climbs the ring on Sunday, we will see once more the Army (the Philippine Army and the New Peoples Army) to lay down their arms and call for a truce, even the Muslim insurgents in Mindanao. Crime will almost cease in the towns and cities across the country.
Every human activity practically grinds to a halt as thousands gather around their television sets and movie houses to witness their hero carry their hopes and dreams. This phenomenon does not only occur in the Philippines. Filipinos all around the world always gather in anticipation of a big Pacquiao fight.
As promoter Bob Arum said, “Pacquiao is a symbol of his people”.
President Arroyo calls Pacquiao “truly one of our nation’s heroes who can unite us even in times of divisiveness”.
“The Filipino people are the real source of my strength. My utmost intention is to unite the Filipino people through my efforts in boxing,” Pacquiao proudly declared once.
Recently named one of the world’s 100 most influential people by Time magazine (officially outpolling US President Barack Obama), Pacquiao could become president of our country.
After the Pacquiao fight, however, can we stay united as a nation? Will the “great unifying force” personified by the “Pacman” dwell among us?
When the “Pacman” faces Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas this Sunday, he’s not just fighting for himself as a boxer, but for the Filipino people and the country as a whole.
As BBC News describes it: If Hatton loses, many thousands will sigh. If Pacquiao loses, a nation’s heart will break.
Millions of us Filipinos see in Pacquiao something to aspire to, because we see in him our hopes and dreams.
In his early years, Pacquiao toiled in the streets to earn a living and to survive. This is why people can relate with the boxing superstar.
As our “Pambansang Kamao” climbs the ring on Sunday, we will see once more the Army (the Philippine Army and the New Peoples Army) to lay down their arms and call for a truce, even the Muslim insurgents in Mindanao. Crime will almost cease in the towns and cities across the country.
Every human activity practically grinds to a halt as thousands gather around their television sets and movie houses to witness their hero carry their hopes and dreams. This phenomenon does not only occur in the Philippines. Filipinos all around the world always gather in anticipation of a big Pacquiao fight.
As promoter Bob Arum said, “Pacquiao is a symbol of his people”.
President Arroyo calls Pacquiao “truly one of our nation’s heroes who can unite us even in times of divisiveness”.
“The Filipino people are the real source of my strength. My utmost intention is to unite the Filipino people through my efforts in boxing,” Pacquiao proudly declared once.
Recently named one of the world’s 100 most influential people by Time magazine (officially outpolling US President Barack Obama), Pacquiao could become president of our country.
After the Pacquiao fight, however, can we stay united as a nation? Will the “great unifying force” personified by the “Pacman” dwell among us?
Truths that every Filipino should know
By Patricia Evangelista
Today I will write a manifesto. I would like to correct the perception that my generation is apathetic to the state of the nation. I am told we neither know nor care about issues of policy, of poverty, of the national economy. It is not true, but such is our inexperience that we look towards the obvious superiority of our elders to determine how to go about our lives, to set our moral and ethical standards, to fix upon our minds the path of truth and virtue in a society in constant battle with sin.
I am, after all, only twenty-three, and brought up to have the highest respect for authority and government. Let me tell you what I’ve learned, from the events of the past week, from headlines and interviews and the decisions made by men and women in power. Let me share with you the truths I have concluded from the wisdom of my elders.
I have learned, first, that a man accused of torture, perjury, and the wholesale murder of dozens—by no less than the Supreme Court and the United Nations—is precisely the sort of man fit to sit in the House of Representatives.
This is the man whom testimonies of escaped political prisoners Oscar Leuterio and Raymond Manalo held responsible for the disappearances and subsequent rapes of UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno, as decided by the Supreme Court in 2008. This is the man the Melo Commission-- established to look into the rash of political disappearances—recommended for investigation. This is the same man that Justice Jose Melo, of that same Commission, permitted to represent the party list group “Bantay”—also known as True Marcos Loyalists, whose sworn duty is to stand for “the marginalized and underrepresented sector” of the military in Congress “to implement the government’s national security program.” Bantay was accepted with knowledge that the military has never been more represented in government since martial law, with the administration actively distributing plum leadership positions to retired military men, and with the certain conviction that the group will be lead by the gentleman lovingly called Butcher by his men.
No matter the protests, the reams of investigative reports, the witnesses, the small girl named Sugar who lost her daddy—Jovito Palaparan’s inclusion into the House of Representatives establishes that killers—for as long as they have powerful friends—are not only excepted from the rule of law, they are ushered into Congress and are called Honorable.
I’ll tell what else I learned, this time from the behavior of the police over the death of Abs-cbn anchor Ted Failon’s wife. I have learned that it is unnecessary to have a warrant for arrest if there are enough members of the police to physically cart away whomever they consider a suspect. I have also learned that it is acceptable for police chiefs to feed false information to journalists to report to the public in order to establish that a man is guilty of killing his wife—as was in the case of Police Superintendent Mabanag in telling members of the Philippine media that Ted Failon was found with scratches on his person (to indicate a fight with his wife) and that there is evidence her body was moved from his car to the bathroom (now found without basis). I am also now aware that it is appropriate to drag possible witnesses from the deathbeds of relatives if the cause is justice—with support of the good secretary of Justice.
I’ll tell you the last lesson I learned, from the ladies of the Court of Appeals in their decision in favor of Lance Corporal Daniel Smith against the young woman we now know as “Nicole.” I have learned that rape is only rape if the woman is a “demure provinciana lass,” and not If she has engaged in “undecorous behavior,” which may include going away for a weekend “to enjoy” with two American friends, and accepting free hotel accommodations after knowing them for the shamefully short period of “only about three months.” And if she did protest, it is only due to sudden and delayed guilt over her behavior, not because she was actually raped.
I have also discovered, from the learned ladies of the CA, that a girl cannot possibly be too drunk to refuse sexual intercourse when “she danced non-stop to the urgent beat of rock and hip-hop music” for a total of 15 minutes “without stumbling clumsily on the floor.” The court of course referred to a previously unreferred-to nugget of jurisprudence: that it is a known fact that “when a woman is drunk, she can hardly rise, much more stand up and dance, or she would just drop. This is a common experience among Filipino girls.” And because of all this, it is logical to conclude that any vaginal contusions a young woman may have acquired consistent with rape are in all probability not due to rape but may in fact be due to “finger grabs.”
It is an important lesson to learn at this time, and one that every young Filipino woman should learn—that if one is raped, one must not speak of it unless one is a farmer’s virgin daughter, and one must not claim to have been drunk and taken advantage of if she has succumbed to the “urgent beat” of hip hop and rock and roll. I am not certain how this jurisprudence applies to reggae or house music, and will assume that R & B is an exception, because the beat is not urgent enough for a drunken girl to sprawl on the ground.
And so I express my gratitude to the men and women who determine law and order in this country, for leading by example and insisting on only what is right and proper. I am glad it was made clear that the gentlemen of this country are permitted to continue in the business of raping and murdering. I intend to take steps to ensure I am never in the presence of gentlemen, alcohol and hiphop music for more than fourteen minutes, on the off-chance I find myself suddenly involved in a “spontaneous romantic encounter.”
If it does happen that I am raped, disappeared, or invited for questioning, in spite of my diligence, it is a relief to know that I and the rest of my generation will be in good hands.
Today I will write a manifesto. I would like to correct the perception that my generation is apathetic to the state of the nation. I am told we neither know nor care about issues of policy, of poverty, of the national economy. It is not true, but such is our inexperience that we look towards the obvious superiority of our elders to determine how to go about our lives, to set our moral and ethical standards, to fix upon our minds the path of truth and virtue in a society in constant battle with sin.
I am, after all, only twenty-three, and brought up to have the highest respect for authority and government. Let me tell you what I’ve learned, from the events of the past week, from headlines and interviews and the decisions made by men and women in power. Let me share with you the truths I have concluded from the wisdom of my elders.
I have learned, first, that a man accused of torture, perjury, and the wholesale murder of dozens—by no less than the Supreme Court and the United Nations—is precisely the sort of man fit to sit in the House of Representatives.
This is the man whom testimonies of escaped political prisoners Oscar Leuterio and Raymond Manalo held responsible for the disappearances and subsequent rapes of UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno, as decided by the Supreme Court in 2008. This is the man the Melo Commission-- established to look into the rash of political disappearances—recommended for investigation. This is the same man that Justice Jose Melo, of that same Commission, permitted to represent the party list group “Bantay”—also known as True Marcos Loyalists, whose sworn duty is to stand for “the marginalized and underrepresented sector” of the military in Congress “to implement the government’s national security program.” Bantay was accepted with knowledge that the military has never been more represented in government since martial law, with the administration actively distributing plum leadership positions to retired military men, and with the certain conviction that the group will be lead by the gentleman lovingly called Butcher by his men.
No matter the protests, the reams of investigative reports, the witnesses, the small girl named Sugar who lost her daddy—Jovito Palaparan’s inclusion into the House of Representatives establishes that killers—for as long as they have powerful friends—are not only excepted from the rule of law, they are ushered into Congress and are called Honorable.
I’ll tell what else I learned, this time from the behavior of the police over the death of Abs-cbn anchor Ted Failon’s wife. I have learned that it is unnecessary to have a warrant for arrest if there are enough members of the police to physically cart away whomever they consider a suspect. I have also learned that it is acceptable for police chiefs to feed false information to journalists to report to the public in order to establish that a man is guilty of killing his wife—as was in the case of Police Superintendent Mabanag in telling members of the Philippine media that Ted Failon was found with scratches on his person (to indicate a fight with his wife) and that there is evidence her body was moved from his car to the bathroom (now found without basis). I am also now aware that it is appropriate to drag possible witnesses from the deathbeds of relatives if the cause is justice—with support of the good secretary of Justice.
I’ll tell you the last lesson I learned, from the ladies of the Court of Appeals in their decision in favor of Lance Corporal Daniel Smith against the young woman we now know as “Nicole.” I have learned that rape is only rape if the woman is a “demure provinciana lass,” and not If she has engaged in “undecorous behavior,” which may include going away for a weekend “to enjoy” with two American friends, and accepting free hotel accommodations after knowing them for the shamefully short period of “only about three months.” And if she did protest, it is only due to sudden and delayed guilt over her behavior, not because she was actually raped.
I have also discovered, from the learned ladies of the CA, that a girl cannot possibly be too drunk to refuse sexual intercourse when “she danced non-stop to the urgent beat of rock and hip-hop music” for a total of 15 minutes “without stumbling clumsily on the floor.” The court of course referred to a previously unreferred-to nugget of jurisprudence: that it is a known fact that “when a woman is drunk, she can hardly rise, much more stand up and dance, or she would just drop. This is a common experience among Filipino girls.” And because of all this, it is logical to conclude that any vaginal contusions a young woman may have acquired consistent with rape are in all probability not due to rape but may in fact be due to “finger grabs.”
It is an important lesson to learn at this time, and one that every young Filipino woman should learn—that if one is raped, one must not speak of it unless one is a farmer’s virgin daughter, and one must not claim to have been drunk and taken advantage of if she has succumbed to the “urgent beat” of hip hop and rock and roll. I am not certain how this jurisprudence applies to reggae or house music, and will assume that R & B is an exception, because the beat is not urgent enough for a drunken girl to sprawl on the ground.
And so I express my gratitude to the men and women who determine law and order in this country, for leading by example and insisting on only what is right and proper. I am glad it was made clear that the gentlemen of this country are permitted to continue in the business of raping and murdering. I intend to take steps to ensure I am never in the presence of gentlemen, alcohol and hiphop music for more than fourteen minutes, on the off-chance I find myself suddenly involved in a “spontaneous romantic encounter.”
If it does happen that I am raped, disappeared, or invited for questioning, in spite of my diligence, it is a relief to know that I and the rest of my generation will be in good hands.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Stronger drive vs illegal numbers game ordered
By Kit Bagaipo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 07:01:00 04/27/2009
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol—The Central Visayas Police Regional Office (PRO-7) has ordered provincial commanders in the region to launch a stronger campaign against the illegal numbers game called “Swertres.”
PRO-7 acting director Chief Superintendent Federico Terte also warned on Thursday that he would remove from their posts the police officers who fail to stop the illegal numbers game.
Terte and Philippine National Police Director General Jesus Verzosa visited Bohol Thursday to inaugurate the new police headquarters in Batuan town and to attend the groundbreaking of the police headquarters in Balilihan town.
Terte said the PRO-7 would send a team to different provinces in the region to help enforce the anti-Swertres campaign.
The apprehension of two Swertres operators in the same area by a police team from another town or unit would mean the removal of the station commander, Terte said.
The relief of two police chiefs in a province would result in the removal of the provincial police director while the relief of three provincial directors would also mean that the regional director would be axed, Terte added.
He directed the provincial directors in Central Visayas to submit within the month an update on the anti-Swertres campaign.
Terte also directed the police chiefs to coordinate with local government officials to make the campaign against illegal gambling a priority in their respective localities.
He called on all sectors, including some members of the media who have been giving tips and results of “Swertres” over the radio programs, to help in the efforts to minimize illegal gambling.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 07:01:00 04/27/2009
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol—The Central Visayas Police Regional Office (PRO-7) has ordered provincial commanders in the region to launch a stronger campaign against the illegal numbers game called “Swertres.”
PRO-7 acting director Chief Superintendent Federico Terte also warned on Thursday that he would remove from their posts the police officers who fail to stop the illegal numbers game.
Terte and Philippine National Police Director General Jesus Verzosa visited Bohol Thursday to inaugurate the new police headquarters in Batuan town and to attend the groundbreaking of the police headquarters in Balilihan town.
Terte said the PRO-7 would send a team to different provinces in the region to help enforce the anti-Swertres campaign.
The apprehension of two Swertres operators in the same area by a police team from another town or unit would mean the removal of the station commander, Terte said.
The relief of two police chiefs in a province would result in the removal of the provincial police director while the relief of three provincial directors would also mean that the regional director would be axed, Terte added.
He directed the provincial directors in Central Visayas to submit within the month an update on the anti-Swertres campaign.
Terte also directed the police chiefs to coordinate with local government officials to make the campaign against illegal gambling a priority in their respective localities.
He called on all sectors, including some members of the media who have been giving tips and results of “Swertres” over the radio programs, to help in the efforts to minimize illegal gambling.
Monday, April 20, 2009
3 OFWs forced into prostitution in Malaysia
Victims seek repatriation
By Kit Bagaipo
Inquirer Visayas
TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines -- Three female overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who alleged that the owner of a reflexology center in Malaysia forced them to take drugs and have sex with clients, have sought the help of a Bohol lawmaker for their repatriation.
Through text messages sent to the office of Bohol First District Representative Edgar Chatto, the three OFWs said they wanted be repatriated "as soon as possible" as they feared that they "might not be able to return home alive" because of their dangerous situation in Malaysia.
They claimed that their well-connected employer threatened to torture them if they refused to take drugs or have sex with clients.
In her latest text message, one of the OFWs disclosed that they had not received their salary.
One of the three OFWs also recalled that she and her two friends entered Malaysia as "tourists" although they were assured that they could work there.
However, the owner of the reflexology center did not process their working permits when they entered Malaysia.
They gave their full names and addresses in the Philippines but they asked that their identities be kept confidential to protect their honor and that of their respective families. They also gave their roaming mobile numbers.
They also gave the full name of their Malaysian boss and his business address but they also asked that the information be kept off the record for now.
Chatto, who is currently in the United States, has started contacting the Philippine Embassy in Malaysia, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the families of the three migrant workers.
He said he would check with the Department of Labor and Employment to trace the deployment of the three OFWs.
Chatto authored House Bill 5649, a measure seeking to improve standards of protection and assistance for migrant workers, and House Bill 4898, a legislation creating an OFW pension fund.
By Kit Bagaipo
Inquirer Visayas
TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines -- Three female overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who alleged that the owner of a reflexology center in Malaysia forced them to take drugs and have sex with clients, have sought the help of a Bohol lawmaker for their repatriation.
Through text messages sent to the office of Bohol First District Representative Edgar Chatto, the three OFWs said they wanted be repatriated "as soon as possible" as they feared that they "might not be able to return home alive" because of their dangerous situation in Malaysia.
They claimed that their well-connected employer threatened to torture them if they refused to take drugs or have sex with clients.
In her latest text message, one of the OFWs disclosed that they had not received their salary.
One of the three OFWs also recalled that she and her two friends entered Malaysia as "tourists" although they were assured that they could work there.
However, the owner of the reflexology center did not process their working permits when they entered Malaysia.
They gave their full names and addresses in the Philippines but they asked that their identities be kept confidential to protect their honor and that of their respective families. They also gave their roaming mobile numbers.
They also gave the full name of their Malaysian boss and his business address but they also asked that the information be kept off the record for now.
Chatto, who is currently in the United States, has started contacting the Philippine Embassy in Malaysia, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the families of the three migrant workers.
He said he would check with the Department of Labor and Employment to trace the deployment of the three OFWs.
Chatto authored House Bill 5649, a measure seeking to improve standards of protection and assistance for migrant workers, and House Bill 4898, a legislation creating an OFW pension fund.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
P150M investment in Legacy from Boholanos
By Kit Bagaipo
The Bohol Chronicle
Money claims of Boholano investors against the bankrupt pre-need firm Legacy Group could reach up to P150 million.
This was bared by the legal counsel of the Bohol Investors Group, Atty. Salvador Grupo, as insolvency claims against the pre-need companies of Legacy will be filed on Monday, April 20.
Grupo originally set the deadline for investors to submit their claims today but decided to extend it five more days as the number of claimants has reached 300.
The Bohol Investors Group has also requested a meeting with Legacy owner Celso delos Angeles before filing its notice claims at the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 56 next week.
According to Grupo, the local investors will be intervening in the insolvency proceedings in court as a group, not as individuals.
With investments ranging from P200,000 to P2 million, the total consolidated claims of the group handled by Grupo could reach roughly P150 million.
There are other investors who opted to personally submit their investment claims at the Makati RTC.
Boholano investors were among those victimized by Legacy Group's promise of huge returns.
The Pilipino Rural Bank-Tagbilaran Branch which closed down last December also victimized hundreds of Boholanos who were lured by the high interest rate offers of the bank.
Some 14,000 Boholanos are said to be depositors of the rural bank which is an affiliate of the Legacy Group.
The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) is currently processing insured deposit claims from the rural bank's clients.
The Bohol Chronicle
Money claims of Boholano investors against the bankrupt pre-need firm Legacy Group could reach up to P150 million.
This was bared by the legal counsel of the Bohol Investors Group, Atty. Salvador Grupo, as insolvency claims against the pre-need companies of Legacy will be filed on Monday, April 20.
Grupo originally set the deadline for investors to submit their claims today but decided to extend it five more days as the number of claimants has reached 300.
The Bohol Investors Group has also requested a meeting with Legacy owner Celso delos Angeles before filing its notice claims at the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 56 next week.
According to Grupo, the local investors will be intervening in the insolvency proceedings in court as a group, not as individuals.
With investments ranging from P200,000 to P2 million, the total consolidated claims of the group handled by Grupo could reach roughly P150 million.
There are other investors who opted to personally submit their investment claims at the Makati RTC.
Boholano investors were among those victimized by Legacy Group's promise of huge returns.
The Pilipino Rural Bank-Tagbilaran Branch which closed down last December also victimized hundreds of Boholanos who were lured by the high interest rate offers of the bank.
Some 14,000 Boholanos are said to be depositors of the rural bank which is an affiliate of the Legacy Group.
The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) is currently processing insured deposit claims from the rural bank's clients.
Public warned on buying "hot cars"
By Kit Bagaipo
The Bohol Chronicle
Stolen vehicles that are smuggled into the province continue to sell, victimizing unsuspecting car buyers.
The Traffic Management Group-Bohol Highway Patrol Team based at Camp Dagohoy, this city, is again warning the public of buying second hand cars to check first the records of the vehicle they want to buy to ensure that these are not marked as stolen based on records.
TMG S/Insp. Eduardo Mara told the Chronicle that buyers of second hand cars must be cautious so they would not fall victims of syndicates selling carnapped vehicles.
With the growing tour business in Bohol, Mara said smuggled vans have found their way to Bohol as many tourism operators are investing into the van-for-hire business.
Despite ongoing operations against stolen vehicles, the TMG-Bohol continue to apprehend and seize vehicles that are flagged stolen.
"There are still a lot of 'hot cars' in Bohol, this is because buyers here in the province are more vulnerable compared to the ones in the big cities who are more meticulous in buying vehicles," Mara disclosed.
Last Friday, the highway patrol group seized during an operation in Loboc town a white Nissan Urvan, owned by a certain Rodrigo Balaba, which had been reported stolen on July 14, 2005 in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Mara said, Balaba purchased the van through a financing agency in Cebu City that acted as agent to a certain Dulce Corazon Diasanta, with residence address at Camia Street, Pembo, Makati City.
Although the Nissan van was registered to Diasanta, the TMG believes the name is fictitious as the vehicle was registered at the Land Transportation Office in Molave, Zamboanga del Sur.
METICULOUS CHECKS
Mara explained that car buyers and even second-hand car display centers must have a vehicle macro-etched first to determine if it is not flagged as stolen in the TMG list of hot cars.
"The buyer should take extra caution and determine the records of the vehicle they want to buy," he said.
Car buyers must first go to the TMG office before buying a unit and ensure that the vehicle is not carnapped, otherwise, the buyer may also be held liable, if the unit is apprehended, for buying a stolen vehicle, Mara said.
Tampered chassis or engine numbers can be checked by macro-etching, according to Mara.
Documents of vehicles can be checked at the LTO as smuggled or stolen cars will have registration problems.
Agents of the TMG regional office confiscated at least eight alleged stolen vehicles during an operation here in 2007. The seized cars are now impounded at the TMG regional office in Cebu City.
"A particular vehicle sold by a dealer must bear registration papers from the nearest LTO office," Mara explained.
Mara added that LTO Visayas and Mindanao field offices have become the registration haven for carnappers and smugglers.
The Tagbilaran City LTO office is listed among the main sources of license plates and registration papers for stolen vehicles.
Shipment of hot cars to the provinces have become easier ever since the Anti-Carnapping Clearance have been abolished as a requirement to transport vehicles, Mara concluded.
The Bohol Chronicle
Stolen vehicles that are smuggled into the province continue to sell, victimizing unsuspecting car buyers.
The Traffic Management Group-Bohol Highway Patrol Team based at Camp Dagohoy, this city, is again warning the public of buying second hand cars to check first the records of the vehicle they want to buy to ensure that these are not marked as stolen based on records.
TMG S/Insp. Eduardo Mara told the Chronicle that buyers of second hand cars must be cautious so they would not fall victims of syndicates selling carnapped vehicles.
With the growing tour business in Bohol, Mara said smuggled vans have found their way to Bohol as many tourism operators are investing into the van-for-hire business.
Despite ongoing operations against stolen vehicles, the TMG-Bohol continue to apprehend and seize vehicles that are flagged stolen.
"There are still a lot of 'hot cars' in Bohol, this is because buyers here in the province are more vulnerable compared to the ones in the big cities who are more meticulous in buying vehicles," Mara disclosed.
Last Friday, the highway patrol group seized during an operation in Loboc town a white Nissan Urvan, owned by a certain Rodrigo Balaba, which had been reported stolen on July 14, 2005 in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Mara said, Balaba purchased the van through a financing agency in Cebu City that acted as agent to a certain Dulce Corazon Diasanta, with residence address at Camia Street, Pembo, Makati City.
Although the Nissan van was registered to Diasanta, the TMG believes the name is fictitious as the vehicle was registered at the Land Transportation Office in Molave, Zamboanga del Sur.
METICULOUS CHECKS
Mara explained that car buyers and even second-hand car display centers must have a vehicle macro-etched first to determine if it is not flagged as stolen in the TMG list of hot cars.
"The buyer should take extra caution and determine the records of the vehicle they want to buy," he said.
Car buyers must first go to the TMG office before buying a unit and ensure that the vehicle is not carnapped, otherwise, the buyer may also be held liable, if the unit is apprehended, for buying a stolen vehicle, Mara said.
Tampered chassis or engine numbers can be checked by macro-etching, according to Mara.
Documents of vehicles can be checked at the LTO as smuggled or stolen cars will have registration problems.
Agents of the TMG regional office confiscated at least eight alleged stolen vehicles during an operation here in 2007. The seized cars are now impounded at the TMG regional office in Cebu City.
"A particular vehicle sold by a dealer must bear registration papers from the nearest LTO office," Mara explained.
Mara added that LTO Visayas and Mindanao field offices have become the registration haven for carnappers and smugglers.
The Tagbilaran City LTO office is listed among the main sources of license plates and registration papers for stolen vehicles.
Shipment of hot cars to the provinces have become easier ever since the Anti-Carnapping Clearance have been abolished as a requirement to transport vehicles, Mara concluded.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Bohol politics sizzles: Jala says “No deal” with Sec. Yap
By Kit Bagaipo
The Bohol Chronicle
The battle for the Third District congressional seat will be a virtual clash of the titans - between two administration figures holding national posts in the Arroyo government.
As reports arise that Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Arthur Yap is maneuvering to cut a compromise deal for a single term in Congress, former congressman and now Transportation and Communication Assistant Secretary Eladio Jala, who has bared his plans of staging a comeback in the 3rd district, says no such agreement was reached between him and the agriculture boss.
In fact, the two officials have evaded discussing their own political agenda during chance encounters and sorties in the 3rd district, said Jala in an interview with the Chronicle yesterday.
The rumors on Sec. Yap's intention to run in the 3rd congressional district was confirmed after he filed for voter's registration in barangay Buenavista, Loboc town, two weeks ago.
Originally registered as voter in Manila, Yap is a Boholano by affinity due to his marriage to the daughter of Annie Gow, a native of Loboc.
According to reports, the camp of Yap is striking a deal with Jala in order to be given the opportunity to represent the 3rd district in Congress. The congressional mandate will purportedly be Yap's stepping stone for a senatorial bid in the 2013 elections.
The 3rd congressional district will be tendered to Yap "on a silver platter", according to the report, with the assurance that Yap will vacate it after one term in office and run for senator in the 2013 polls.
When asked to comment on such negotiation, Yap in a text message to the Chronicle last night said, "I have not been informed or aware of such arrangement".
Jala will not totally sit it out in the next three years as he will retain his cabinet portfolio in the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) or may be given an even higher position by President Arroyo, according to the report.
Jala however brushed aside any likelihood for such a scenario.
"Such a deal is the surest way to alienate your supporters," said Jala who declared his intention of reclaiming his old congressional seat presently held by son Adam Relson Jala.
"If somebody has to withdraw from this race, it should be him (Yap), not me," Jala stressed.
Jala said his desire to serve again the people in the 3rd district gained momentum as supporters and leaders have persuaded him to seek re-election.
Jala was first elected as provincial board member representing the 3rd district for six years before his three terms in Congress.
The former lawmaker's dominance was put to test in the last election following his son's slim victory over former governor Rene Relampagos. Jala got 65,081 votes over Relampagos' 62,106 votes.
Despite allegations of vote-padding and vote-shaving, the Jalas persevered keeping the congressional post within the family.
"The voters will be the ultimate judge. But as I see it now, I still have the warm support of my constituents in the 3rd district," he added.
"While forging such an agreement allows us to form alliances and ensure that the top leaders of Bohol remain a cohesive force, I don't think I can turn my back to my supporters who have been intact for more than 15 years," Jala pointed out.
GMA'S NOD?
Asked whether Pres. Arroyo would intercede to iron out hitches within the administration bloc especially the looming collision with Sec. Yap, former congressman Jala admitted there has been no official statement from the president on the matter.
In fact, Pres. Arroyo was very cautious to comment on Bohol political positioning during a recent meeting at the Palace with Gov. Erico Aumentado, Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera, Rep. Edgar Chatto, Rep. Roberto Cajes, and the Jalas.
"Even before we met with the president in Malacañang, I already informed the other Bohol leaders that in the event Pres. Arroyo would ask me to give way for Sec. Yap, I would readily turn down such proposal," Jala disclosed.
He said Aumentado, Herrera, Chatto and Cajes all agreed to respect his decision but each expressed their intention for party unity.
"I was honestly worried that the president would ask me to yield in favor of Yap, but I'm glad she did not," Jala said.
Arroyo went on to discuss about ongoing projects in the province and simply listened to the Bohol political situationer.
YAP'S VISIBILITY
The DA secretary is always visible in Bohol, especially in the towns of the 3rd district where he had been rumored to run since last year.
One of Pres. Arroyo's designated stewards in implementing the Comprehensive Livelihood Employment Program (CLEEP), Yap has at his disposal some P50-million in DA funds to help farmers.
In another interview, Yap had said his visits to Bohol "must not be injected with political color" as this is in line with his job to implement agri-related production program especially that he was assigned by the President to coordinate the projects in the province
Asked to comment about the use of agriculture funds and Yap's political positioning in the 3rd district, Jala said he is just thankful to the secretary for bringing projects to the district which is represented by his son.
One of the youngest to be appointed to the Arroyo cabinet, Yap, who is a lawyer by profession, held at least five positions in government since 2001.
He first entered government as president of the Philippine International Trading Corporation of the Department of Trade and Industry. He later served as administrator of the National Food Authority for two years. Yap was also designated director general of the Presidential Management Staff.
Pres. Arroyo became the secretary's economics professor when he took management and economics in college.
The Bohol Chronicle
The battle for the Third District congressional seat will be a virtual clash of the titans - between two administration figures holding national posts in the Arroyo government.
As reports arise that Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Arthur Yap is maneuvering to cut a compromise deal for a single term in Congress, former congressman and now Transportation and Communication Assistant Secretary Eladio Jala, who has bared his plans of staging a comeback in the 3rd district, says no such agreement was reached between him and the agriculture boss.
In fact, the two officials have evaded discussing their own political agenda during chance encounters and sorties in the 3rd district, said Jala in an interview with the Chronicle yesterday.
The rumors on Sec. Yap's intention to run in the 3rd congressional district was confirmed after he filed for voter's registration in barangay Buenavista, Loboc town, two weeks ago.
Originally registered as voter in Manila, Yap is a Boholano by affinity due to his marriage to the daughter of Annie Gow, a native of Loboc.
According to reports, the camp of Yap is striking a deal with Jala in order to be given the opportunity to represent the 3rd district in Congress. The congressional mandate will purportedly be Yap's stepping stone for a senatorial bid in the 2013 elections.
The 3rd congressional district will be tendered to Yap "on a silver platter", according to the report, with the assurance that Yap will vacate it after one term in office and run for senator in the 2013 polls.
When asked to comment on such negotiation, Yap in a text message to the Chronicle last night said, "I have not been informed or aware of such arrangement".
Jala will not totally sit it out in the next three years as he will retain his cabinet portfolio in the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) or may be given an even higher position by President Arroyo, according to the report.
Jala however brushed aside any likelihood for such a scenario.
"Such a deal is the surest way to alienate your supporters," said Jala who declared his intention of reclaiming his old congressional seat presently held by son Adam Relson Jala.
"If somebody has to withdraw from this race, it should be him (Yap), not me," Jala stressed.
Jala said his desire to serve again the people in the 3rd district gained momentum as supporters and leaders have persuaded him to seek re-election.
Jala was first elected as provincial board member representing the 3rd district for six years before his three terms in Congress.
The former lawmaker's dominance was put to test in the last election following his son's slim victory over former governor Rene Relampagos. Jala got 65,081 votes over Relampagos' 62,106 votes.
Despite allegations of vote-padding and vote-shaving, the Jalas persevered keeping the congressional post within the family.
"The voters will be the ultimate judge. But as I see it now, I still have the warm support of my constituents in the 3rd district," he added.
"While forging such an agreement allows us to form alliances and ensure that the top leaders of Bohol remain a cohesive force, I don't think I can turn my back to my supporters who have been intact for more than 15 years," Jala pointed out.
GMA'S NOD?
Asked whether Pres. Arroyo would intercede to iron out hitches within the administration bloc especially the looming collision with Sec. Yap, former congressman Jala admitted there has been no official statement from the president on the matter.
In fact, Pres. Arroyo was very cautious to comment on Bohol political positioning during a recent meeting at the Palace with Gov. Erico Aumentado, Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera, Rep. Edgar Chatto, Rep. Roberto Cajes, and the Jalas.
"Even before we met with the president in Malacañang, I already informed the other Bohol leaders that in the event Pres. Arroyo would ask me to give way for Sec. Yap, I would readily turn down such proposal," Jala disclosed.
He said Aumentado, Herrera, Chatto and Cajes all agreed to respect his decision but each expressed their intention for party unity.
"I was honestly worried that the president would ask me to yield in favor of Yap, but I'm glad she did not," Jala said.
Arroyo went on to discuss about ongoing projects in the province and simply listened to the Bohol political situationer.
YAP'S VISIBILITY
The DA secretary is always visible in Bohol, especially in the towns of the 3rd district where he had been rumored to run since last year.
One of Pres. Arroyo's designated stewards in implementing the Comprehensive Livelihood Employment Program (CLEEP), Yap has at his disposal some P50-million in DA funds to help farmers.
In another interview, Yap had said his visits to Bohol "must not be injected with political color" as this is in line with his job to implement agri-related production program especially that he was assigned by the President to coordinate the projects in the province
Asked to comment about the use of agriculture funds and Yap's political positioning in the 3rd district, Jala said he is just thankful to the secretary for bringing projects to the district which is represented by his son.
One of the youngest to be appointed to the Arroyo cabinet, Yap, who is a lawyer by profession, held at least five positions in government since 2001.
He first entered government as president of the Philippine International Trading Corporation of the Department of Trade and Industry. He later served as administrator of the National Food Authority for two years. Yap was also designated director general of the Presidential Management Staff.
Pres. Arroyo became the secretary's economics professor when he took management and economics in college.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Other suspects in slaying of British national still at large
By Kit Bagaipo
First posted by The Bohol Chronicle
"I am worth more dead than alive."
These were the words of slain British national Martin Williams to his lawyer days before he was murdered as he sensed somebody was out to try to kill him.
The lifeless body of Williams, 43 years old, was discovered stripped to his underwear beside Boloc-boloc Spring in barangay Mansasa, this city, with multiple stab wounds to the chest, abdomen, head and other parts of the body on the morning of March 24.
Two suspects have been arrested by the police and are being charged for the brutal crime - one Christian Gulle, 22, and a female teenage companion, 19-year old Irene Borja, both residents of barangay Mansasa.
Gulle confessed to investigators that he stabbed Williams several times after the Briton allegedly tried to rape and hurt his friend Borja on the night of March 23.
However, Williams' family and his counsel Atty. Alexander Lim said the British man could not have been killed by one person alone.
"We have reason to believe that the murder suspect did not do it on his own but had help from others," Lim said.
Williams had 14 stab wounds and several injuries on the head and different parts of the body.
"The way the stab wounds and injuries were positioned raises doubts on Gulle's confession," according to Lim.
The victim's counsel added that his own fact-finding of the murder revealed that there were several motor-riding men who were seen going near Boloc-boloc Spring on the night Williams was killed.
"It appears that there are still others who know of the crime and the police should go after them," Lim stressed.
The family of Williams told Lim of a few instances that the victim purportedly received threats to his life. In fact, sometime in January, an unidentified gunman tried to kill him while he was talking to customers at his bar in barangay Tawala, Panglao.
According to Lim, earlier this year the British man had authorized him to sell his P10-million house in Panglao as he was planning to fly back to the United Kingdom.
Williams had been separated from his Filipino wife and their only child since last year.
Lim said, forensic evidence should come out soon from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that was requested by the British Embassy to conduct its own full inquiry of the incident.
Initially, police operatives found an identification card of Gulle at the crime scene which led to the suspect's arrest.
According to the account of the suspect, he met Williams on the night of March 23 at Bojol Grill where they had drinks. The drinking session continued until around 10 p.m. at the spring, just about a hundred meters from the Bohol Mangrove KTV Bar and Lodging house where the Briton was checked in.
Gulle said he stood a few meters on the shore away from Williams and Borja when he heard the latter shout for help. The girl was reportedly on the ground lying in pain when he approached them as Williams started shouting at him.
He admitted stabbing Williams several times and helped the girl run away from the crime scene.
Williams was discovered beside Boloc-boloc Spring at around 6 a.m. the following day.
Police believed he was attacked in the spring and then dragged out to shore.
Williams operated his own luxury car business in the United Kingdom before coming to the Philippines to marry a local woman.
First posted by The Bohol Chronicle
"I am worth more dead than alive."
These were the words of slain British national Martin Williams to his lawyer days before he was murdered as he sensed somebody was out to try to kill him.
The lifeless body of Williams, 43 years old, was discovered stripped to his underwear beside Boloc-boloc Spring in barangay Mansasa, this city, with multiple stab wounds to the chest, abdomen, head and other parts of the body on the morning of March 24.
Two suspects have been arrested by the police and are being charged for the brutal crime - one Christian Gulle, 22, and a female teenage companion, 19-year old Irene Borja, both residents of barangay Mansasa.
Gulle confessed to investigators that he stabbed Williams several times after the Briton allegedly tried to rape and hurt his friend Borja on the night of March 23.
However, Williams' family and his counsel Atty. Alexander Lim said the British man could not have been killed by one person alone.
"We have reason to believe that the murder suspect did not do it on his own but had help from others," Lim said.
Williams had 14 stab wounds and several injuries on the head and different parts of the body.
"The way the stab wounds and injuries were positioned raises doubts on Gulle's confession," according to Lim.
The victim's counsel added that his own fact-finding of the murder revealed that there were several motor-riding men who were seen going near Boloc-boloc Spring on the night Williams was killed.
"It appears that there are still others who know of the crime and the police should go after them," Lim stressed.
The family of Williams told Lim of a few instances that the victim purportedly received threats to his life. In fact, sometime in January, an unidentified gunman tried to kill him while he was talking to customers at his bar in barangay Tawala, Panglao.
According to Lim, earlier this year the British man had authorized him to sell his P10-million house in Panglao as he was planning to fly back to the United Kingdom.
Williams had been separated from his Filipino wife and their only child since last year.
Lim said, forensic evidence should come out soon from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that was requested by the British Embassy to conduct its own full inquiry of the incident.
Initially, police operatives found an identification card of Gulle at the crime scene which led to the suspect's arrest.
According to the account of the suspect, he met Williams on the night of March 23 at Bojol Grill where they had drinks. The drinking session continued until around 10 p.m. at the spring, just about a hundred meters from the Bohol Mangrove KTV Bar and Lodging house where the Briton was checked in.
Gulle said he stood a few meters on the shore away from Williams and Borja when he heard the latter shout for help. The girl was reportedly on the ground lying in pain when he approached them as Williams started shouting at him.
He admitted stabbing Williams several times and helped the girl run away from the crime scene.
Williams was discovered beside Boloc-boloc Spring at around 6 a.m. the following day.
Police believed he was attacked in the spring and then dragged out to shore.
Williams operated his own luxury car business in the United Kingdom before coming to the Philippines to marry a local woman.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
First gentleman issues warning against swindlers
By Kit Bagaipo
Inquirer Visayas Bureau
TAGBILARAN CITY – First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo warned Bohol town mayors against falling prey to a swindler offering to facilitate the immediate release of funding assistance for a fee.
Arroyo issued the warning through his chief of staff, Juris Umali-Soliman, who communicated with Gov. Erico Aumentado and Mayors Telesforo Balagosa of Lila, Roberto Salinas of Catigbian, Simplicio Maestrado Jr. of Sierra-Bullones, Fanuel Cadelinia of Bilar, Gregoria Pepito of Batuan and Dan Lim of Tagbilaran City.
He said a certain Jericho Gamulo had tried to convince some mayors that he could facilitate the speedy release of their special allotment release order for a fee.
Gamulo allegedly claimed to be a close aide of the First Gentleman.
Arroyo denied having known Gamulo and maintained that he “never authorized anyone to represent him in any government or nongovernment transactions.”
Soliman furnished the National Bureau of Investigation Director Nestor Mantaring and Assistant Director Pedro Bulaong with copies of the communication.
“The First Gentleman reiterates his strong statement in 2001 that he does not meddle in governance nor does he authorize any person to make any transaction in his behalf,” Soliman said.
She said Arroyo had “repeatedly requested the heads of various government agencies, as well as government-owned and -controlled corporations to arrest people who use his name in any dealings or transactions.”
Inquirer Visayas Bureau
TAGBILARAN CITY – First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo warned Bohol town mayors against falling prey to a swindler offering to facilitate the immediate release of funding assistance for a fee.
Arroyo issued the warning through his chief of staff, Juris Umali-Soliman, who communicated with Gov. Erico Aumentado and Mayors Telesforo Balagosa of Lila, Roberto Salinas of Catigbian, Simplicio Maestrado Jr. of Sierra-Bullones, Fanuel Cadelinia of Bilar, Gregoria Pepito of Batuan and Dan Lim of Tagbilaran City.
He said a certain Jericho Gamulo had tried to convince some mayors that he could facilitate the speedy release of their special allotment release order for a fee.
Gamulo allegedly claimed to be a close aide of the First Gentleman.
Arroyo denied having known Gamulo and maintained that he “never authorized anyone to represent him in any government or nongovernment transactions.”
Soliman furnished the National Bureau of Investigation Director Nestor Mantaring and Assistant Director Pedro Bulaong with copies of the communication.
“The First Gentleman reiterates his strong statement in 2001 that he does not meddle in governance nor does he authorize any person to make any transaction in his behalf,” Soliman said.
She said Arroyo had “repeatedly requested the heads of various government agencies, as well as government-owned and -controlled corporations to arrest people who use his name in any dealings or transactions.”
Visayas gets brief power rate hike breather
By Kit Bagaipo & Carla Gomez
Philippine Daily Inquirer
The Regulatory Commission (ERC) reduced on Wednesday a temporary power rate increase it granted to the National Power Corp. (Napocor) for the Visayas grid from P1.1 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 83 centavos, a drop of about 30 centavos.
ERC Executive Director Francis Saturnino Juan said the commission issued the new rate order after it received testimony on the rate hike at hearings conducted in Cebu City Thursday and Friday last week.
However, Juan said the ERC would still hold a hearing in Cebu City on April 21 on the petition of Napocor and the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) for an increase of P1.38 per kWh in the basic generation charge in the Visayas, or an increase of nearly 50 percent from existing rates.
Last week, the Negros Occidental and Bacolod City governments filed their formal opposition to the rate increase at the ERC hearings.
Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco said on Wednesday that the provincial government would support Joemax Ortiz, a lawyer crusading against the rate increase, in filing a petition at the Court of Appeals (CA) to prevent the implementation of the provisional power rate while the hearings on the Napocor petition are being held.
“I will draft the petition to be filed by the provincial government before the CA and sign as collaborating counsel,” Ortiz said.
Ortiz and Romeo Lavilla, a former councilor of Silay City, represented the Negros Occidental provincial government at the ERC hearing in Cebu last week.
They have also started a signature campaign against the power rate hike in the Central Negros Electric Cooperative coverage area. “We hope to gather from 5,000 to 10,000 signatures,” Ortiz said.
The Bohol provincial government and the Bohol Electric Cooperative (Boheco) also expressed opposition to the proposed power rate hike.
In a resolution adopted on Tuesday, the provincial board called the power rate hike “untimely” because consumers are already suffering from the global recession.
The board also noted in its resolution that the increase comes at a time when fuel prices are dropping.
In a statement, the Boheco also questioned the power rate increase, saying the basis for the increase was “questionable.”
Boheco said the Napocor claimed to be in financial distress but had a P136.07-billion income in 2007.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
The Regulatory Commission (ERC) reduced on Wednesday a temporary power rate increase it granted to the National Power Corp. (Napocor) for the Visayas grid from P1.1 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 83 centavos, a drop of about 30 centavos.
ERC Executive Director Francis Saturnino Juan said the commission issued the new rate order after it received testimony on the rate hike at hearings conducted in Cebu City Thursday and Friday last week.
However, Juan said the ERC would still hold a hearing in Cebu City on April 21 on the petition of Napocor and the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) for an increase of P1.38 per kWh in the basic generation charge in the Visayas, or an increase of nearly 50 percent from existing rates.
Last week, the Negros Occidental and Bacolod City governments filed their formal opposition to the rate increase at the ERC hearings.
Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco said on Wednesday that the provincial government would support Joemax Ortiz, a lawyer crusading against the rate increase, in filing a petition at the Court of Appeals (CA) to prevent the implementation of the provisional power rate while the hearings on the Napocor petition are being held.
“I will draft the petition to be filed by the provincial government before the CA and sign as collaborating counsel,” Ortiz said.
Ortiz and Romeo Lavilla, a former councilor of Silay City, represented the Negros Occidental provincial government at the ERC hearing in Cebu last week.
They have also started a signature campaign against the power rate hike in the Central Negros Electric Cooperative coverage area. “We hope to gather from 5,000 to 10,000 signatures,” Ortiz said.
The Bohol provincial government and the Bohol Electric Cooperative (Boheco) also expressed opposition to the proposed power rate hike.
In a resolution adopted on Tuesday, the provincial board called the power rate hike “untimely” because consumers are already suffering from the global recession.
The board also noted in its resolution that the increase comes at a time when fuel prices are dropping.
In a statement, the Boheco also questioned the power rate increase, saying the basis for the increase was “questionable.”
Boheco said the Napocor claimed to be in financial distress but had a P136.07-billion income in 2007.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
“P168-M bid above board”
By Kit Bagaipo
First posted in The Bohol Chronicle
There is “no irregularity or substantial error” in the P168-million bidding for the purchase of a fleet of brand new heavy equipment of the provincial government.
This was the finding of the review panel led by Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera looking into the bidding controversy, the biggest single purchase of the province in recent years.
The result of the bid review did not come as a surprise as anti-graft watchdog Boholanos Against Corruption and Social Harassment (Bacos) already cast doubts on the integrity of the review committee which was formed by Gov. Erico Aumentado.
Two other Capitol officials, provincial legal officer Atty. Handel Lagunay and Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chair Engr. Rosalinda Yu, also strongly held confidence that the bidding was “procedurally and legally above-board”.
In an interview with the Chronicle yesterday, Herrera said the review team “meticulously reviewed the procedures outlined under RA 9184 (the Government Procurement Law) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) vis-à-vis the bidding process undertaken by the BAC.”
The finding was already submitted to the governor who will decide on whether to proceed with the award of the contract to qualified suppliers.
The BAC is still in the process of post-qualifying bids for 2 units of backhoe/hydraulic excavators with breakers; 2 units of bulldozers with ripper; 2 units payloaders; 10 units of 6-wheeler dump trucks; 4 units motor road grader; 4 units road roller/vibratory compactor; 1 unit 6-wheeler water truck with pump; and a 6-wheeler fuel tanker with pump.
On the question raised by protesting Japanese heavy equipment supplier Kowa Tsusho Ltd. that the Invitation to Apply for Eligibility and to Bid (IAEB) did not observe the required advertisement, the review committee said the BAC is not required that the advertisement should be in a newspaper with the widest distribution and readership.
The review panel considers Sun Star Daily with national distribution for general readership, which is already a sufficient compliance with law, since the newspaper is circulated not only in Cebu but also in Metro Manila and Davao City.
According to the committee, the advertisement was likewise posted in three conspicuous places and the provincial government’s website www.bohol.gov.ph.
As far as the availability of bid documents the committee found that it was already presented on the first day of advertisement.
“The BAC was prepared to issue the bid documents should any prospective buyer desire to purchase it at the rate prescribed under Provincial Ordinance No. 2004-21” the finding stated.
An investigation with the BAC revealed that it was only on January 23, 2009, after the pre-bid conference, that two suppliers purchased the bid documents.
The submission of bids, the receipt and opening of eligibility and bid envelopes up to the post-qualification stage all complied with the procedures mandated in the procurement law.
The review committee said it cannot act on the protest filed by Kowa Tsusho and the appeal for reconsideration of Pasajero Motors Corporation since the panel’s task is only to review the bidding process and find out if it conformed to the procedure provided under the procurement law.
The review committee, composed of Herrera, provincial administrator Tomas Abapo Jr., Atty. Mitchell John Boiser and internal audit service head Jerome Maniwang, affirmed an earlier finding of provincial attorney Lagunay.
However, a separate inquiry and monitoring is being conducted by the Commission on Audit (COA) on the bidding. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan committee on public accountability headed by Board Member Asther Piollo is also conducting its own probe.
First posted in The Bohol Chronicle
There is “no irregularity or substantial error” in the P168-million bidding for the purchase of a fleet of brand new heavy equipment of the provincial government.
This was the finding of the review panel led by Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera looking into the bidding controversy, the biggest single purchase of the province in recent years.
The result of the bid review did not come as a surprise as anti-graft watchdog Boholanos Against Corruption and Social Harassment (Bacos) already cast doubts on the integrity of the review committee which was formed by Gov. Erico Aumentado.
Two other Capitol officials, provincial legal officer Atty. Handel Lagunay and Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chair Engr. Rosalinda Yu, also strongly held confidence that the bidding was “procedurally and legally above-board”.
In an interview with the Chronicle yesterday, Herrera said the review team “meticulously reviewed the procedures outlined under RA 9184 (the Government Procurement Law) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) vis-à-vis the bidding process undertaken by the BAC.”
The finding was already submitted to the governor who will decide on whether to proceed with the award of the contract to qualified suppliers.
The BAC is still in the process of post-qualifying bids for 2 units of backhoe/hydraulic excavators with breakers; 2 units of bulldozers with ripper; 2 units payloaders; 10 units of 6-wheeler dump trucks; 4 units motor road grader; 4 units road roller/vibratory compactor; 1 unit 6-wheeler water truck with pump; and a 6-wheeler fuel tanker with pump.
On the question raised by protesting Japanese heavy equipment supplier Kowa Tsusho Ltd. that the Invitation to Apply for Eligibility and to Bid (IAEB) did not observe the required advertisement, the review committee said the BAC is not required that the advertisement should be in a newspaper with the widest distribution and readership.
The review panel considers Sun Star Daily with national distribution for general readership, which is already a sufficient compliance with law, since the newspaper is circulated not only in Cebu but also in Metro Manila and Davao City.
According to the committee, the advertisement was likewise posted in three conspicuous places and the provincial government’s website www.bohol.gov.ph.
As far as the availability of bid documents the committee found that it was already presented on the first day of advertisement.
“The BAC was prepared to issue the bid documents should any prospective buyer desire to purchase it at the rate prescribed under Provincial Ordinance No. 2004-21” the finding stated.
An investigation with the BAC revealed that it was only on January 23, 2009, after the pre-bid conference, that two suppliers purchased the bid documents.
The submission of bids, the receipt and opening of eligibility and bid envelopes up to the post-qualification stage all complied with the procedures mandated in the procurement law.
The review committee said it cannot act on the protest filed by Kowa Tsusho and the appeal for reconsideration of Pasajero Motors Corporation since the panel’s task is only to review the bidding process and find out if it conformed to the procedure provided under the procurement law.
The review committee, composed of Herrera, provincial administrator Tomas Abapo Jr., Atty. Mitchell John Boiser and internal audit service head Jerome Maniwang, affirmed an earlier finding of provincial attorney Lagunay.
However, a separate inquiry and monitoring is being conducted by the Commission on Audit (COA) on the bidding. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan committee on public accountability headed by Board Member Asther Piollo is also conducting its own probe.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
3 kids die, trapped in fire
By Kit Bagaipo
The Bohol Chronicle
Three children had to endure their violent deaths on Monday after they were trapped inside the house as it was partly razed down by fire in barangay Progreso, Alicia town.
Charlie Maite, 6 years old; Chris John, 4 years old; and 4-month-old Christopher Ayunan were left by their parents locked-up in their house on Monday afternoon.
Trying to make ends meet, the mother, Zenith Ayunan, 28, had to attend a food handling seminar while his husband Alberto Ayunan, 32, a food trader at the Alicia Public Market. The husband used to work abroad as a seaman.
Fire officials believed the house may have been set ablaze by a safety match played around by the kids or an overloaded electrical system.
The parents could not accept the tragedy upon learning that their three children were already dead.
Neighbors told firemen that they heard shouts from the children who tried to reach out for the door lock which was on the topmost portion of the doorframe.
The neighbors also tried to rescue the children but the fire swiftly engulfed the house.
The fire alarm was received by the Ubay Fire Station at around 2 p.m. but the blaze was already uncontrollable and some parts of the house had already collapsed with the children inside.
According to the Alicia PNP, the house was built mostly on concrete and hard wood making it hard for neighbors to rescue the Ayunan children.
Initial investigation of fire officials estimated property damage at P200,000.
The Bohol Chronicle
Three children had to endure their violent deaths on Monday after they were trapped inside the house as it was partly razed down by fire in barangay Progreso, Alicia town.
Charlie Maite, 6 years old; Chris John, 4 years old; and 4-month-old Christopher Ayunan were left by their parents locked-up in their house on Monday afternoon.
Trying to make ends meet, the mother, Zenith Ayunan, 28, had to attend a food handling seminar while his husband Alberto Ayunan, 32, a food trader at the Alicia Public Market. The husband used to work abroad as a seaman.
Fire officials believed the house may have been set ablaze by a safety match played around by the kids or an overloaded electrical system.
The parents could not accept the tragedy upon learning that their three children were already dead.
Neighbors told firemen that they heard shouts from the children who tried to reach out for the door lock which was on the topmost portion of the doorframe.
The neighbors also tried to rescue the children but the fire swiftly engulfed the house.
The fire alarm was received by the Ubay Fire Station at around 2 p.m. but the blaze was already uncontrollable and some parts of the house had already collapsed with the children inside.
According to the Alicia PNP, the house was built mostly on concrete and hard wood making it hard for neighbors to rescue the Ayunan children.
Initial investigation of fire officials estimated property damage at P200,000.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
12-year old boy sees his parents murdered
By Kit Bagaipo
The Bohol Chronicle
A dispute among relatives over a piece of inherited land led to the slaying of a couple on Friday in the town of Inabanga .
The slain couple’s 12-year old son saw the violent killing of his father Francisco Piadora y Roxas, 59, and mother Leonita Piadora y Sentinales, 48, around 4:30 p.m. along the barangay road in Baguhan, Inabanga.
Based on the boy’s account, his parents were on their way home when the suspects identified as Ramon Bustamante and Constaniani Sentinales accosted them.
Bustamante and Sentinales, who are close relatives of the victims, were said to have been waiting for the Piadora couple.
Leonita sustained two bullet wounds on her forehead and was also stabbed on the chest.
Ramon, on the other hand, was stabbed on the neck, according to the victims’ son who is now in the custody of relatives after the incident.
The couple died on the spot, police said, as the two suspects fled.
Sentinales was later arrested by the Inabanga PNP in a hot pursuit operation. She is currently detained at the Inabanga Police Station. Bustamante remains at large.
The Bohol Chronicle
A dispute among relatives over a piece of inherited land led to the slaying of a couple on Friday in the town of Inabanga .
The slain couple’s 12-year old son saw the violent killing of his father Francisco Piadora y Roxas, 59, and mother Leonita Piadora y Sentinales, 48, around 4:30 p.m. along the barangay road in Baguhan, Inabanga.
Based on the boy’s account, his parents were on their way home when the suspects identified as Ramon Bustamante and Constaniani Sentinales accosted them.
Bustamante and Sentinales, who are close relatives of the victims, were said to have been waiting for the Piadora couple.
Leonita sustained two bullet wounds on her forehead and was also stabbed on the chest.
Ramon, on the other hand, was stabbed on the neck, according to the victims’ son who is now in the custody of relatives after the incident.
The couple died on the spot, police said, as the two suspects fled.
Sentinales was later arrested by the Inabanga PNP in a hot pursuit operation. She is currently detained at the Inabanga Police Station. Bustamante remains at large.
PRBank depositors have to wait until March 18
By Kit Bagaipo
Inquirer Visayas Bureau
First Posted 06:46:00 03/09/2009
Filed Under: Banking, Legacy banking group
TAGBILARAN CITY—Depositors of the closed Pilipino Rural Bank (PRBank) whose insurance claims are not yet processed by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) will again have to wait until March 18.
The deposit insurer ended on Friday its initial claims servicing operations but hundreds of depositors were unable to get their insurance claims.
Although the PDIC representatives did not reveal the number of claims already paid, they admitted that not all regular savings accounts with deposit balances of P100,000 and below were serviced.
The PRBank Tagbilaran had over 14,000 clients when the bank shut down last Dec. 12, following the collapse of its affiliate rural banks across the country belonging to the Legacy Group.
In an advisory, the PDIC said they would start distributing numbered claim forms at the premises of PRBank on March 18 for depositors with regular savings accounts, time deposits, special savings accounts and current/demand deposits.
The date on the claim form should correspond to a particular filing date, the advisory said.
Depositors are required to personally file their claims except those who are below 7 years old.
According to the PDIC advisory, claims they receive will be processed through its home office in Manila. Valid claims will be paid through registered mail to the depositor’s address indicated in the claim form.
No fees are charged for the processing and payment of all deposit insurance claims, the PDIC reminds depositors of the closed rural bank.
Inquirer Visayas Bureau
First Posted 06:46:00 03/09/2009
Filed Under: Banking, Legacy banking group
TAGBILARAN CITY—Depositors of the closed Pilipino Rural Bank (PRBank) whose insurance claims are not yet processed by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) will again have to wait until March 18.
The deposit insurer ended on Friday its initial claims servicing operations but hundreds of depositors were unable to get their insurance claims.
Although the PDIC representatives did not reveal the number of claims already paid, they admitted that not all regular savings accounts with deposit balances of P100,000 and below were serviced.
The PRBank Tagbilaran had over 14,000 clients when the bank shut down last Dec. 12, following the collapse of its affiliate rural banks across the country belonging to the Legacy Group.
In an advisory, the PDIC said they would start distributing numbered claim forms at the premises of PRBank on March 18 for depositors with regular savings accounts, time deposits, special savings accounts and current/demand deposits.
The date on the claim form should correspond to a particular filing date, the advisory said.
Depositors are required to personally file their claims except those who are below 7 years old.
According to the PDIC advisory, claims they receive will be processed through its home office in Manila. Valid claims will be paid through registered mail to the depositor’s address indicated in the claim form.
No fees are charged for the processing and payment of all deposit insurance claims, the PDIC reminds depositors of the closed rural bank.
Herrera leads investigation on P168-M bid
Following persistent calls for transparency in the P168-million bidding for the purchase of heavy equipment of the provincial government, no less than Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera was designated to head the review of the bid process.
In a memorandum issued by Gov. Erico Aumentado dated March 4, 2009, the Review Committee was created composed of Provincial Administrator Tomas Abapo Jr. as vice chairman, Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Bohol Chapter President Atty. John Mitchell Boiser and Internal Audit Service (IAS) chief Jerome Maniwang, as members.
The committee was requested by the governor to complete its inquiry until March 16 and submit its recommendation for appropriate action.
"It must be remembered that the provincial government is racing against time in order to avail of the summer season to work on the provincial roads that need immediate repair and improvement," Aumentado said.
In an interview with the Chronicle, Herrera said the alleged giving of "undue advantage to preferred suppliers" has to be looked into without delaying further the procurement of much-needed heavy equipment.
"We will work on this expeditiously without encroaching on another investigation being conducted by the newly-formed Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) committee on public accountability," the vice governor stressed.
During its regular session on Tuesday, provincial lawmakers approved en masse the creation of the new committee chaired by Board Member Asther Piollo.
"The urgency of this matter however will not be at the expense of coming up with a credible finding that will also deal with possible lapses in the procurement process," Herrera added.
The vice governor assured that the committee review will also tackle aspects raised by the complaining disenfranchised supplier Kowa Tsusho Ltd.
"The supplier had declared some very serious allegations that cast doubts not only on the integrity of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) but the entire provincial government," according to Herrera.
The vice governor said the controversy would eventually implicate provincial leaders if there were indeed violations of the bidding rules and regulations and these are not corrected.
In a memorandum issued by Gov. Erico Aumentado dated March 4, 2009, the Review Committee was created composed of Provincial Administrator Tomas Abapo Jr. as vice chairman, Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Bohol Chapter President Atty. John Mitchell Boiser and Internal Audit Service (IAS) chief Jerome Maniwang, as members.
The committee was requested by the governor to complete its inquiry until March 16 and submit its recommendation for appropriate action.
"It must be remembered that the provincial government is racing against time in order to avail of the summer season to work on the provincial roads that need immediate repair and improvement," Aumentado said.
In an interview with the Chronicle, Herrera said the alleged giving of "undue advantage to preferred suppliers" has to be looked into without delaying further the procurement of much-needed heavy equipment.
"We will work on this expeditiously without encroaching on another investigation being conducted by the newly-formed Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) committee on public accountability," the vice governor stressed.
During its regular session on Tuesday, provincial lawmakers approved en masse the creation of the new committee chaired by Board Member Asther Piollo.
"The urgency of this matter however will not be at the expense of coming up with a credible finding that will also deal with possible lapses in the procurement process," Herrera added.
The vice governor assured that the committee review will also tackle aspects raised by the complaining disenfranchised supplier Kowa Tsusho Ltd.
"The supplier had declared some very serious allegations that cast doubts not only on the integrity of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) but the entire provincial government," according to Herrera.
The vice governor said the controversy would eventually implicate provincial leaders if there were indeed violations of the bidding rules and regulations and these are not corrected.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Bohol bans tarsiers display
By Kit Bagaipo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 18:13:00 02/26/2009
TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — An international wildlife foundation has lauded Bohol lawmakers for its landmark legislation banning the viewing of tarsiers outside of their natural habitats.
The praises from the Born Free Foundation, an international wildlife charity group based in the United Kingdom, came even as local businessmen who had been displaying tarsiers for tourist viewing lobbied for the scrapping of the provincial ordinance.
Despite the ordinance's passage by the provincial board last February 3, Bohol Governor Erico Aumentado had not signed the measure as of Thursday.
The Born Free Foundation thanked the Bohol provincial board for introducing the ordinance, which they called "forward thinking" and a "compassionate decision."
The letter from BFF senior scientific researcher Chris Draper was received by Board Members Alfonso Damalerio II and Esther Corazon Galbreath.
"The Philippines can be justifiably proud of this legislation, and it is our hope that other regions and countries may look to your example when considering similar legislation," Draper said.
The foundation is working throughout the world to stop individual wild animal suffering and to protect threatened species in the wild.
In a visit to Bohol last January, a television crew of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) featured the tarsiers in one of its documentary that will be shown all over the world.
The BBC crew, headed by celebrated British TV presenter and author Simon Reeve highlighted the need for rescue and care of the endangered species that are caged and displayed outside its natural habitat.
The provincial ordinance was adopted after calls to rescue the vulnerable tarsiers from its misery in tiny cages and give them lifetime care at spacious sanctuaries such as the 8-hectare sanctuary of the Philippine Tarsier Foundation in Corella town.
However, Damalerio also expressed disappointment over moves of some business establishments to block the implementation of the new ordinance.
"Instead of cooperating to return the tarsiers to the wild, most of the businesses engaged in the display of tarsiers are lobbying for the scrapping of the law," said Damalerio who is the principal author of the ordinance.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 18:13:00 02/26/2009
TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — An international wildlife foundation has lauded Bohol lawmakers for its landmark legislation banning the viewing of tarsiers outside of their natural habitats.
The praises from the Born Free Foundation, an international wildlife charity group based in the United Kingdom, came even as local businessmen who had been displaying tarsiers for tourist viewing lobbied for the scrapping of the provincial ordinance.
Despite the ordinance's passage by the provincial board last February 3, Bohol Governor Erico Aumentado had not signed the measure as of Thursday.
The Born Free Foundation thanked the Bohol provincial board for introducing the ordinance, which they called "forward thinking" and a "compassionate decision."
The letter from BFF senior scientific researcher Chris Draper was received by Board Members Alfonso Damalerio II and Esther Corazon Galbreath.
"The Philippines can be justifiably proud of this legislation, and it is our hope that other regions and countries may look to your example when considering similar legislation," Draper said.
The foundation is working throughout the world to stop individual wild animal suffering and to protect threatened species in the wild.
In a visit to Bohol last January, a television crew of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) featured the tarsiers in one of its documentary that will be shown all over the world.
The BBC crew, headed by celebrated British TV presenter and author Simon Reeve highlighted the need for rescue and care of the endangered species that are caged and displayed outside its natural habitat.
The provincial ordinance was adopted after calls to rescue the vulnerable tarsiers from its misery in tiny cages and give them lifetime care at spacious sanctuaries such as the 8-hectare sanctuary of the Philippine Tarsier Foundation in Corella town.
However, Damalerio also expressed disappointment over moves of some business establishments to block the implementation of the new ordinance.
"Instead of cooperating to return the tarsiers to the wild, most of the businesses engaged in the display of tarsiers are lobbying for the scrapping of the law," said Damalerio who is the principal author of the ordinance.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Another supplier files protest against bidding
By Kit Bagaipo
Another disenfranchised supplier filed a protest at the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) yesterday in connection with the questioned P168-million bidding for the purcahse of brand new fleet of heavy equipment.
In the face of denials by BAC chair Engr. Rosalinda Yu and a finding by Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Handel Lagunay that there is no basis on allegations of a rigged bidding, Cebu-based Pasajero Motors Corp. (Pamocor) complained it was wrongly disqualified in the bidding.
This despite having submitted the lowest calculated bid for the supply of 10 units of dump-trucks with an approved budget of the contract (ABC) of P40,800,000 among three declared eligible bidders.
Last February 18, Yu informed Pamocor through a letter that its bid failed the post qualification process on the ground that the submitted "experience of relevant/similar projects do not conform with a value of at least 50-percent of the ABC" which is P20,400,000.
In its letter to the BAC, Pamocor noted that in the Invitation to Apply for Eligibility and to Bid (IAEB) that appeared in at least three publications, it was cited that "Prospective bidders should have experienced in undertaking a similar project within the last 5 years with an amount of at least 50-percent of the proposed project for bidding."
According to Pamocor, the bid documents issued and the recent letter of the BAC notifying Pamocor of its failure to pass the post qualification process "uniformly used the phrase 'experienced in undertaking a similar project'".
The supplier added that there was no instance that the term "largest single contract" was mentioned in the said communications.
With the absence of such specification, Pamocor argued that this indicates the "unqualified intention of the BAC to entertain and admit aggregate similar contracts costing at least 50-percent of the ABC", and not only of a largest single contract.
Pamocor said what was published and made known to the public should be observed and followed, or else, the intention of achieving transparency in the public bidding will be defeated.
Pamocor claims it has submitted a list of similar projects it had previously undertaken costing more than the required 50-percent of the ABC.
The supplier likewise informed the BAC of an amendment on the rule issued by the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) which states that when a failure of bidding has resulted because no single bidder has complied with the said requirement, or imposing the same will likely result to a monopoly that will defeat the purpose of public bidding, the procuring entity may qualify a prospective bidder that has qualified at least three similar contracts, with the aggregate contract amounting to at least 50-percent of the ABC.
During the post qualification of bids, the BAC concluded that three items out of the 8 heavy equipment bid out failed. This included the bidding for 2 units of backhoe/hydraulic excavator with breaker with an ABC of P16,236,000; 2 units of bulldozers with ripper with an ABC of P36,372,000; and 10 units of dumptrucks with an ABC of P40,800,000.
The BAC also revealed that four suppliers already passed on the four items bidded out.
The qualifying bidders include JVF Commercial (Quezon City) to supply 4 units of brand new articulated motor road grader with an approved budget for contract (ABC) of P34,000,000; Civic Merchandising (Mandaue City) to supply 4 units of brand new road roller/vibratory compactor with an approved budget of P14,432,000; Isuzu Cebu Inc. (Mandaue City) to supply a brand new 6-wheeler water truck with pump with an approved budget of P4,720,000; and RDAK Transport Equipment (Cebu City) to supply a brand new 6-wheeler fuel tanker with pump.
The BAC will conduct "further post qualification" proceeding on the tendered bid of JVF Commercial to supply 2 units of brand new payloader with an ABC of P17,136,000 in order to conduct "technical inspection and testing" of Holland, the firm's offered brand.
According to Pamocor, the rule's amendment should be observed by the BAC and award the supply for 10 dump trucks to them.
OTHER LAPSES
Lawyer Salvador Grupo, who represents protesting Japanese heavy equipment dealer Kowa Tsusho Ltd., said Capitol's denial of a rigged bidding based on findings by Atty. Lagunay is "just a mere scrap of paper" as this was meant for review of the governor.
According to Grupo, the BAC's admission that two suppliers obtained bid documents while Kowa Tsusho did not, only heightened suspicions that there were indeed favored contractors.
He said the presence during the bidding process representatives of the Commission on Audit, a non-government organization and the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry was also not observed by the BAC.
In a letter to Board Member Bienvenido Molina, Grupo urged the SP to "take appropriate action, including a formal investigation" into the proceedings of the heavy equipment bidding.
Another disenfranchised supplier filed a protest at the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) yesterday in connection with the questioned P168-million bidding for the purcahse of brand new fleet of heavy equipment.
In the face of denials by BAC chair Engr. Rosalinda Yu and a finding by Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Handel Lagunay that there is no basis on allegations of a rigged bidding, Cebu-based Pasajero Motors Corp. (Pamocor) complained it was wrongly disqualified in the bidding.
This despite having submitted the lowest calculated bid for the supply of 10 units of dump-trucks with an approved budget of the contract (ABC) of P40,800,000 among three declared eligible bidders.
Last February 18, Yu informed Pamocor through a letter that its bid failed the post qualification process on the ground that the submitted "experience of relevant/similar projects do not conform with a value of at least 50-percent of the ABC" which is P20,400,000.
In its letter to the BAC, Pamocor noted that in the Invitation to Apply for Eligibility and to Bid (IAEB) that appeared in at least three publications, it was cited that "Prospective bidders should have experienced in undertaking a similar project within the last 5 years with an amount of at least 50-percent of the proposed project for bidding."
According to Pamocor, the bid documents issued and the recent letter of the BAC notifying Pamocor of its failure to pass the post qualification process "uniformly used the phrase 'experienced in undertaking a similar project'".
The supplier added that there was no instance that the term "largest single contract" was mentioned in the said communications.
With the absence of such specification, Pamocor argued that this indicates the "unqualified intention of the BAC to entertain and admit aggregate similar contracts costing at least 50-percent of the ABC", and not only of a largest single contract.
Pamocor said what was published and made known to the public should be observed and followed, or else, the intention of achieving transparency in the public bidding will be defeated.
Pamocor claims it has submitted a list of similar projects it had previously undertaken costing more than the required 50-percent of the ABC.
The supplier likewise informed the BAC of an amendment on the rule issued by the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) which states that when a failure of bidding has resulted because no single bidder has complied with the said requirement, or imposing the same will likely result to a monopoly that will defeat the purpose of public bidding, the procuring entity may qualify a prospective bidder that has qualified at least three similar contracts, with the aggregate contract amounting to at least 50-percent of the ABC.
During the post qualification of bids, the BAC concluded that three items out of the 8 heavy equipment bid out failed. This included the bidding for 2 units of backhoe/hydraulic excavator with breaker with an ABC of P16,236,000; 2 units of bulldozers with ripper with an ABC of P36,372,000; and 10 units of dumptrucks with an ABC of P40,800,000.
The BAC also revealed that four suppliers already passed on the four items bidded out.
The qualifying bidders include JVF Commercial (Quezon City) to supply 4 units of brand new articulated motor road grader with an approved budget for contract (ABC) of P34,000,000; Civic Merchandising (Mandaue City) to supply 4 units of brand new road roller/vibratory compactor with an approved budget of P14,432,000; Isuzu Cebu Inc. (Mandaue City) to supply a brand new 6-wheeler water truck with pump with an approved budget of P4,720,000; and RDAK Transport Equipment (Cebu City) to supply a brand new 6-wheeler fuel tanker with pump.
The BAC will conduct "further post qualification" proceeding on the tendered bid of JVF Commercial to supply 2 units of brand new payloader with an ABC of P17,136,000 in order to conduct "technical inspection and testing" of Holland, the firm's offered brand.
According to Pamocor, the rule's amendment should be observed by the BAC and award the supply for 10 dump trucks to them.
OTHER LAPSES
Lawyer Salvador Grupo, who represents protesting Japanese heavy equipment dealer Kowa Tsusho Ltd., said Capitol's denial of a rigged bidding based on findings by Atty. Lagunay is "just a mere scrap of paper" as this was meant for review of the governor.
According to Grupo, the BAC's admission that two suppliers obtained bid documents while Kowa Tsusho did not, only heightened suspicions that there were indeed favored contractors.
He said the presence during the bidding process representatives of the Commission on Audit, a non-government organization and the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry was also not observed by the BAC.
In a letter to Board Member Bienvenido Molina, Grupo urged the SP to "take appropriate action, including a formal investigation" into the proceedings of the heavy equipment bidding.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Capitol denies "bid rigging"
Tagbilaran City, BOHOL-
Two Capitol officials found no improprieties in the conduct of bidding for P168-million worth of heavy equipment to be purchased by the provincial government.
Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Handel Lagunay conducted an assessment on how the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) carried out the procurement process upon orders issued by Gov. Erico Aumentado who earlier declared a war against corruption at the Capitol.
Said to be the biggest single purchase of heavy equipment in recent years, the bidding took the spotlight after a disenfranchised Japanese supplier filed protests to the BAC for allegedly giving “undue advantage to preferred suppliers”.
Meanwhile, during the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) session last Tuesday, provincial Board Member Cesar Tomas Lopez lashed out at the committee for its “failure to comply” with key provisions of the procurement law that again placed the provincial government “in a bad light due to the fact that the manner by which goods [are purchased] cannot face up to public scrutiny”.
However, Lagunay stressed there is “no basis to the allegation that the bidding for the P168-million heavy equipment is rigged”.
“The BAC followed the rules and procedures under RA 9184 (Government Procurement Law) and its implementing rules and regulations (IRR),” Lagunay said.
Speaking during the weekly radio program “The Governor Reports” on Friday, the provincial attorney recommended to the governor that the BAC should proceed as “there is no basis” to conclude that the bidding is a failure.
Lagunay also recommended that the protest filed by Japanese supplier Kowa Tsusho Ltd. be resolved first before the procurement contract is awarded to winning bidders.
Likewise, Provincial Administrator Atty. Tomas Abapo Jr. also believed that the BAC and its technical working group (TWG) “have done what is right and the bidding process had been done right since the start”.
Abapo recalled how he reminded BAC chair and General Services Officer Engr. Rosalindo Yu that “the bidding should be above board” considering the huge amount involved, and “there will be pressures along the way”.
4 SUPPLIERS PASS
During the post-qualification of bids, the BAC revealed that four suppliers already passed on the four items bidded out.
The qualifying bidders include JVF Commercial (Quezon City) to supply 4 units of brand new articulated motor road grader with an approved budget for contract (ABC) of P34,000,000; Civic Merchandising (Mandaue City) to supply 4 units of brand new road roller/vibratory compactor with an approved budget of P14,432,000; Isuzu Cebu Inc. (Mandaue City) to supply a brand new 6-wheeler water truck with pump with an approved budget of P4,720,000; and RDAK Transport Equipment (Cebu City) to supply a brand new 6-wheeler fuel tanker with pump.
The BAC’s post-qualification marked the other 3 items bid out as “failed” which includes the bidding for 2 units of backhoe/hydraulic excavator with breaker with an ABC of P16,236,000; 2 units of bulldozers with ripper with an ABC of P36,372,000; and 10 units of dumptrucks with an ABC of P40,800,000.
The BAC will conduct “further post qualification” proceeding on the tendered bid of JVF Commercial to supply 2 units of brand new payloader with an ABC of P17,136,000 in order to conduct “technical inspection and testing” of Holland, the firm’s offered brand.
ONLY 28 DAYS REQUIRED
In the complaint of Kowa Tsusho, the company alleged that considering the amount and nature of the project, Sec. 21.2.2 of the IRR-A of RA 9184 should have been observed before opening of bids, which is a maximum of 50 calendar days from the date of advertisement or posting of the Invitation to Apply for Eligibility and to Bid (IAEB).
According to Kowa Tsusho, there was no ample time to prepare the bid because they only had 16 days to comply with requirements since the pre-bid conference on January 23, 2009 up to the deadline of submission of bids on February 9.
Lagunay clarified that the 50-day period does not apply to the procurement of heavy equipment as it is clearly a purchase of goods needed in the pursuit of a government undertaking, project or activity.
Thus, under the IRR-A of RA 9184, to complete the entire bidding process only 28 calendar days is required, he explained.
NO POSTPONEMENT ALLOWED
Lagunay continued that there is “no provision in the IRR-A which allows the BAC to postpone the bidding at a request of a prospective bidder”.
He said that this would only be perceived as “giving of undue favor to the disadvantage of the other bidders [who] managed to submit their bids as scheduled”.
The provincial attorney also noted that it was precisely requested by the equipment end-user that they expect to “take advantage of favorable weather conditions during which the heavy equipment will be used in the repair and improvement of provincial roads”.
Moreover, Lagunay did not find any deviation of the BAC from the IRR-A with regards to the publication of the IAEB in newspapers based in Cebu City that are being circulated in other parts of the country.
“In fact, we had participating bidders coming from Quezon City [which] bolsters the fact that the said newspapers are of nationwide circulation,” he stressed.
ABSENCE OF DOCUMENTS
On the allegation by the prospective bidder that bid documents were not provided at the time the IAEB was first published and posted nor at the time of the pre-bid conference, Lagunay said that this allegation was denied by the BAC.
According to the BAC, even as the issuance of bid documents was set on January 23, 2009, it does not mean that the documents were not available to the bidders right after the IAEB was first posted or published.
The BAC said that two bidders were able to get bid documents immediately after the pre-bid conference.
“After carefully reading letters of the counsel of the prospective bidder (Kowa Tsusho), it was found out that there was no allegation or statement that the prospective bidder ever asked for copies of the bids documents…”
Meanwhile, clarifications on some specifications of the heavy equipment to be purchased would naturally crop up during the pre-bid conference as this is the time where details of the equipment are discussed whether it is responsive to the needs of the procuring entity.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
According to Lagunay, the BAC and the TWG stressed that the specifications were only minimum requirements of the heavy equipment.
“The preferences on specifications are only descriptive but not restrictive,” he said. “Any bidder who can offer equipment with specifications which are above the minimum requirement is not precluded from participating the bid and can be ultimately awarded the contract.”
“There should be no confusion between preferred specifications on one hand and a preferred brand or bidder in the other,” Lagunay explained.
The preferred specification of an equipment is a vital factor in awarding the project, Lagunay concluded.
Two Capitol officials found no improprieties in the conduct of bidding for P168-million worth of heavy equipment to be purchased by the provincial government.
Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Handel Lagunay conducted an assessment on how the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) carried out the procurement process upon orders issued by Gov. Erico Aumentado who earlier declared a war against corruption at the Capitol.
Said to be the biggest single purchase of heavy equipment in recent years, the bidding took the spotlight after a disenfranchised Japanese supplier filed protests to the BAC for allegedly giving “undue advantage to preferred suppliers”.
Meanwhile, during the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) session last Tuesday, provincial Board Member Cesar Tomas Lopez lashed out at the committee for its “failure to comply” with key provisions of the procurement law that again placed the provincial government “in a bad light due to the fact that the manner by which goods [are purchased] cannot face up to public scrutiny”.
However, Lagunay stressed there is “no basis to the allegation that the bidding for the P168-million heavy equipment is rigged”.
“The BAC followed the rules and procedures under RA 9184 (Government Procurement Law) and its implementing rules and regulations (IRR),” Lagunay said.
Speaking during the weekly radio program “The Governor Reports” on Friday, the provincial attorney recommended to the governor that the BAC should proceed as “there is no basis” to conclude that the bidding is a failure.
Lagunay also recommended that the protest filed by Japanese supplier Kowa Tsusho Ltd. be resolved first before the procurement contract is awarded to winning bidders.
Likewise, Provincial Administrator Atty. Tomas Abapo Jr. also believed that the BAC and its technical working group (TWG) “have done what is right and the bidding process had been done right since the start”.
Abapo recalled how he reminded BAC chair and General Services Officer Engr. Rosalindo Yu that “the bidding should be above board” considering the huge amount involved, and “there will be pressures along the way”.
4 SUPPLIERS PASS
During the post-qualification of bids, the BAC revealed that four suppliers already passed on the four items bidded out.
The qualifying bidders include JVF Commercial (Quezon City) to supply 4 units of brand new articulated motor road grader with an approved budget for contract (ABC) of P34,000,000; Civic Merchandising (Mandaue City) to supply 4 units of brand new road roller/vibratory compactor with an approved budget of P14,432,000; Isuzu Cebu Inc. (Mandaue City) to supply a brand new 6-wheeler water truck with pump with an approved budget of P4,720,000; and RDAK Transport Equipment (Cebu City) to supply a brand new 6-wheeler fuel tanker with pump.
The BAC’s post-qualification marked the other 3 items bid out as “failed” which includes the bidding for 2 units of backhoe/hydraulic excavator with breaker with an ABC of P16,236,000; 2 units of bulldozers with ripper with an ABC of P36,372,000; and 10 units of dumptrucks with an ABC of P40,800,000.
The BAC will conduct “further post qualification” proceeding on the tendered bid of JVF Commercial to supply 2 units of brand new payloader with an ABC of P17,136,000 in order to conduct “technical inspection and testing” of Holland, the firm’s offered brand.
ONLY 28 DAYS REQUIRED
In the complaint of Kowa Tsusho, the company alleged that considering the amount and nature of the project, Sec. 21.2.2 of the IRR-A of RA 9184 should have been observed before opening of bids, which is a maximum of 50 calendar days from the date of advertisement or posting of the Invitation to Apply for Eligibility and to Bid (IAEB).
According to Kowa Tsusho, there was no ample time to prepare the bid because they only had 16 days to comply with requirements since the pre-bid conference on January 23, 2009 up to the deadline of submission of bids on February 9.
Lagunay clarified that the 50-day period does not apply to the procurement of heavy equipment as it is clearly a purchase of goods needed in the pursuit of a government undertaking, project or activity.
Thus, under the IRR-A of RA 9184, to complete the entire bidding process only 28 calendar days is required, he explained.
NO POSTPONEMENT ALLOWED
Lagunay continued that there is “no provision in the IRR-A which allows the BAC to postpone the bidding at a request of a prospective bidder”.
He said that this would only be perceived as “giving of undue favor to the disadvantage of the other bidders [who] managed to submit their bids as scheduled”.
The provincial attorney also noted that it was precisely requested by the equipment end-user that they expect to “take advantage of favorable weather conditions during which the heavy equipment will be used in the repair and improvement of provincial roads”.
Moreover, Lagunay did not find any deviation of the BAC from the IRR-A with regards to the publication of the IAEB in newspapers based in Cebu City that are being circulated in other parts of the country.
“In fact, we had participating bidders coming from Quezon City [which] bolsters the fact that the said newspapers are of nationwide circulation,” he stressed.
ABSENCE OF DOCUMENTS
On the allegation by the prospective bidder that bid documents were not provided at the time the IAEB was first published and posted nor at the time of the pre-bid conference, Lagunay said that this allegation was denied by the BAC.
According to the BAC, even as the issuance of bid documents was set on January 23, 2009, it does not mean that the documents were not available to the bidders right after the IAEB was first posted or published.
The BAC said that two bidders were able to get bid documents immediately after the pre-bid conference.
“After carefully reading letters of the counsel of the prospective bidder (Kowa Tsusho), it was found out that there was no allegation or statement that the prospective bidder ever asked for copies of the bids documents…”
Meanwhile, clarifications on some specifications of the heavy equipment to be purchased would naturally crop up during the pre-bid conference as this is the time where details of the equipment are discussed whether it is responsive to the needs of the procuring entity.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
According to Lagunay, the BAC and the TWG stressed that the specifications were only minimum requirements of the heavy equipment.
“The preferences on specifications are only descriptive but not restrictive,” he said. “Any bidder who can offer equipment with specifications which are above the minimum requirement is not precluded from participating the bid and can be ultimately awarded the contract.”
“There should be no confusion between preferred specifications on one hand and a preferred brand or bidder in the other,” Lagunay explained.
The preferred specification of an equipment is a vital factor in awarding the project, Lagunay concluded.
War vets warned of fixers
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol -
Aging and sickly Boholano World War II veterans are warned by their post commanders to be cautious of fixers as the American government starts processing their money claims amounting to almost half-a-million pesos each.
In a meeting held yesterday at the JJ’s Seafoods Village, war veteran post commanders were advised to personally process their claims at the AFP Central Command, Camp Lapu-lapu, Lahug, Cebu City, Feb. 24 to 26, to avoid syndicates of fixers and to fast track the issuance of their checks.
The benefits provide a tax-free, one-time $9,000 (roughly P430,000) non-service connected compensation for veterans who are not US citizens, and $15,000 (roughly P717,000) for veterans who are US citizens.
All war veterans must receive their individual’s claim not later than February 16, 2010.
Rafael Bon, 86, the post commander of Panglao told the Chronicle that each veteran will be interviewed personally at the PVAO office at Centcom.
This is to ensure that they are not victimized by fixers who ask as much as a 50-percent cut with the assurance that money claims are released easily.
According to Bon, veterans who are already bedridden and physically unable to travel to Cebu City will be interviewed at the PVAO office here by representatives of the US Embassy on a later date this month.
He added that the compensation will be paid out in lump sum as soon as a claimant can present the required information and documentation upon filing their claims.
Each veteran are required to bring: two forms of identification (such as passport, driver’s license, Senior Citizen ID, Postal ID, Voter’s ID, etc.), VA Claim Number, Service Number, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office claim number, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office Pension bank account number, and US Passport (if a US citizen).
Claims from spouses, widows and children of Filipino WWII veterans will not be accepted.
The US estimates about 18,000 Filipino veterans are still alive and eligible.
Aging and sickly Boholano World War II veterans are warned by their post commanders to be cautious of fixers as the American government starts processing their money claims amounting to almost half-a-million pesos each.
In a meeting held yesterday at the JJ’s Seafoods Village, war veteran post commanders were advised to personally process their claims at the AFP Central Command, Camp Lapu-lapu, Lahug, Cebu City, Feb. 24 to 26, to avoid syndicates of fixers and to fast track the issuance of their checks.
The benefits provide a tax-free, one-time $9,000 (roughly P430,000) non-service connected compensation for veterans who are not US citizens, and $15,000 (roughly P717,000) for veterans who are US citizens.
All war veterans must receive their individual’s claim not later than February 16, 2010.
Rafael Bon, 86, the post commander of Panglao told the Chronicle that each veteran will be interviewed personally at the PVAO office at Centcom.
This is to ensure that they are not victimized by fixers who ask as much as a 50-percent cut with the assurance that money claims are released easily.
According to Bon, veterans who are already bedridden and physically unable to travel to Cebu City will be interviewed at the PVAO office here by representatives of the US Embassy on a later date this month.
He added that the compensation will be paid out in lump sum as soon as a claimant can present the required information and documentation upon filing their claims.
Each veteran are required to bring: two forms of identification (such as passport, driver’s license, Senior Citizen ID, Postal ID, Voter’s ID, etc.), VA Claim Number, Service Number, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office claim number, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office Pension bank account number, and US Passport (if a US citizen).
Claims from spouses, widows and children of Filipino WWII veterans will not be accepted.
The US estimates about 18,000 Filipino veterans are still alive and eligible.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
“P168M heavy equipment bidding a failure”
By Kit Bagaipo
Condemning the latest scandal befalling the provincial government’s P168-million bidding of a brand new fleet of heavy equipment, Board Member Cesar Tomas Lopez yesterday said the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) “failed to comply” with key provisions of the procurement law.
Rising on a privileged speech during yesterday’s session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), the lawmaker stressed the provincial government is “again put in a bad light due to the fact that the manner by which goods [are purchased] cannot face up to public scrutiny”.
“Every transaction by the government, may it be P168 or P168-million, must pass public scrutiny and the probing eye of the Boholano,” Lopez said.
Waving a copy of the Chronicle which bannered the alleged bid rigging last Sunday, Lopez said he is “shamed” by insinuations of corruption at the Capitol.
Lopez is the only member of the provincial board who is not a member of the Lakas-CMD-Kampi slate of Gov. Erico Aumentado and Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera.
According to Lopez, the bidding process conducted by the BAC practically indicated in the technical specifications of the equipment to be purchased “the description of preferred brands”.
The board member said he likewise received text messages insulting the Capitol officialdom while others pointed out that the provincial government may save money if the BAC adheres to appropriate bidding procedures.
“I do not question the wisdom of rehabilitating our dilapidating provincial road network [as] I recognize the need to modernize our fleet of equipment,” Lopez said.
He urged his fellow lawmakers to act, whether the accusations against the BAC are unfounded or not, to make sure that its transactions are always “beyond reproach”.
According to Lopez, a personal evaluation of the documents involving the heavy equipment bidding, he came up with the observation that the BAC failed to comply with Section 17.5 of Rule IV of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of RA 9184, the Government Procurement Law.
This provision requires the BAC to “give ample time” to prospective bidders to examine bidding documents and to prepare their respective bids.
The law’s provision states that in order to provide ample time, “the BAC shall promptly issue the bidding documents for the contract at the time the Invitation to Apply for Eligibility and to Bid (IAEB) is first advertised”.
Lopez presented documents pertaining to the bidding as he noted some irregular points that were also raised by the complaining supplier Kowa Tsusho Ltd, a Japanese heavy equipment dealer.
Kowa Tsusho has formally filed its protests with the BAC, chaired by General Services Officer Engr. Rosalinda Yu, and asked for a re-bidding even as the the bids committee is still on the post bid conference stage.
The Japanese firm alleged that they were disenfranchised from the multi-million bidding as the procurement process “gave undue advantage to preferred suppliers”.
Kowa Tsusho failed to beat the deadline set by the BAC as they were not given enough time to comply with “voluminous requirements”.
The provincial government will purchase an all brand new fleet of heavy equipment that includes 2 units of backhoe/hydraulic excavators with breakers; 2 units of bulldozers with ripper; 2 units of payloaders; 10 units of 6-wheeler dump trucks; 4 units motor road grader; 4 units of road roller/vibratory compactor; 1 unit 6-wheeler water truck with pump; and a 6-wheeler fuel tanker with pump.
These heavy equipment has an overall approved budget contract (ABC) of P168,296,000, as indicated in the IAEB.
In an interview with the Chronicle yesterday, Kowa Tsusho legal counsel Atty. Salvador Grupo said they will file appropriate charges in court as they have exhausted administrative remedies in trying to settle the issues with the BAC.
BAC TO RE-CONVENE
The BAC is on the post qualification stage after opening the bids last week.
According to Engr. Yu, she will still re-convene the committee this week as previous scheduled meetings did not push through due to conflicting schedules among members.
Yu had categorically denied the accusations of the Japanese heavy equipment supplier that the bidding was rigged and favored particular suppliers.
She also said that the BAC followed the maximum period of 30 days in bidding out the heavy equipment purchase.
Condemning the latest scandal befalling the provincial government’s P168-million bidding of a brand new fleet of heavy equipment, Board Member Cesar Tomas Lopez yesterday said the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) “failed to comply” with key provisions of the procurement law.
Rising on a privileged speech during yesterday’s session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), the lawmaker stressed the provincial government is “again put in a bad light due to the fact that the manner by which goods [are purchased] cannot face up to public scrutiny”.
“Every transaction by the government, may it be P168 or P168-million, must pass public scrutiny and the probing eye of the Boholano,” Lopez said.
Waving a copy of the Chronicle which bannered the alleged bid rigging last Sunday, Lopez said he is “shamed” by insinuations of corruption at the Capitol.
Lopez is the only member of the provincial board who is not a member of the Lakas-CMD-Kampi slate of Gov. Erico Aumentado and Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera.
According to Lopez, the bidding process conducted by the BAC practically indicated in the technical specifications of the equipment to be purchased “the description of preferred brands”.
The board member said he likewise received text messages insulting the Capitol officialdom while others pointed out that the provincial government may save money if the BAC adheres to appropriate bidding procedures.
“I do not question the wisdom of rehabilitating our dilapidating provincial road network [as] I recognize the need to modernize our fleet of equipment,” Lopez said.
He urged his fellow lawmakers to act, whether the accusations against the BAC are unfounded or not, to make sure that its transactions are always “beyond reproach”.
According to Lopez, a personal evaluation of the documents involving the heavy equipment bidding, he came up with the observation that the BAC failed to comply with Section 17.5 of Rule IV of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of RA 9184, the Government Procurement Law.
This provision requires the BAC to “give ample time” to prospective bidders to examine bidding documents and to prepare their respective bids.
The law’s provision states that in order to provide ample time, “the BAC shall promptly issue the bidding documents for the contract at the time the Invitation to Apply for Eligibility and to Bid (IAEB) is first advertised”.
Lopez presented documents pertaining to the bidding as he noted some irregular points that were also raised by the complaining supplier Kowa Tsusho Ltd, a Japanese heavy equipment dealer.
Kowa Tsusho has formally filed its protests with the BAC, chaired by General Services Officer Engr. Rosalinda Yu, and asked for a re-bidding even as the the bids committee is still on the post bid conference stage.
The Japanese firm alleged that they were disenfranchised from the multi-million bidding as the procurement process “gave undue advantage to preferred suppliers”.
Kowa Tsusho failed to beat the deadline set by the BAC as they were not given enough time to comply with “voluminous requirements”.
The provincial government will purchase an all brand new fleet of heavy equipment that includes 2 units of backhoe/hydraulic excavators with breakers; 2 units of bulldozers with ripper; 2 units of payloaders; 10 units of 6-wheeler dump trucks; 4 units motor road grader; 4 units of road roller/vibratory compactor; 1 unit 6-wheeler water truck with pump; and a 6-wheeler fuel tanker with pump.
These heavy equipment has an overall approved budget contract (ABC) of P168,296,000, as indicated in the IAEB.
In an interview with the Chronicle yesterday, Kowa Tsusho legal counsel Atty. Salvador Grupo said they will file appropriate charges in court as they have exhausted administrative remedies in trying to settle the issues with the BAC.
BAC TO RE-CONVENE
The BAC is on the post qualification stage after opening the bids last week.
According to Engr. Yu, she will still re-convene the committee this week as previous scheduled meetings did not push through due to conflicting schedules among members.
Yu had categorically denied the accusations of the Japanese heavy equipment supplier that the bidding was rigged and favored particular suppliers.
She also said that the BAC followed the maximum period of 30 days in bidding out the heavy equipment purchase.
Couple nabbed for drugs
A team from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) based in the province arrested a couple engaged in selling the illegal substance methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as “shabu,” during a raid yesterday in Poblacion Norte, Carmen town.
The raid in the house of Eric Manayagan, 32, and wife Ma. Socorro Manayagan, 26, yielded 29 sachets of suspected shabu granules with an estimated street value of P80,000, PDEA Intelligence Officer 3 Felimon Ruiz said.
The PDEA agents who conducted the raid with police operatives based in Camp Dagohoy this city, obtained a search warrant from Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Fernando Fuentes III.
The couple was long suspected of pushing illegal drugs in the town of Carmen.
The raiding team brought the suspected shabu granules at the PNP crime laboratory for examination as charges for illegal possession of illegal drugs will be filed against the Managayan couple.
The raid in the house of Eric Manayagan, 32, and wife Ma. Socorro Manayagan, 26, yielded 29 sachets of suspected shabu granules with an estimated street value of P80,000, PDEA Intelligence Officer 3 Felimon Ruiz said.
The PDEA agents who conducted the raid with police operatives based in Camp Dagohoy this city, obtained a search warrant from Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Fernando Fuentes III.
The couple was long suspected of pushing illegal drugs in the town of Carmen.
The raiding team brought the suspected shabu granules at the PNP crime laboratory for examination as charges for illegal possession of illegal drugs will be filed against the Managayan couple.
1 killed in warehouse robbery
A warehouseman was shot dead when robbers hit a softdrinks warehouse in barangay Cabulihan, Tubigon town Monday morning taking some P400,000 in cash and P70,000 worth of checks.
The unidentified armed assailants barged into the warehouse around 10 a.m. ordering the workers to get down on the floor.
According to warehouse employees, the lone casualty, Ranilo Bongcales, 27, a native of San Miguel town, was shot in the forehead by one of the suspects as he stood up from a stool.
Police said the Coca-Cola warehouse, owned by Atty. Antonino Jumawid, had 23 workers.
A team from the Bohol Police Provincial Office in Camp Dagohoy are in Tubigon to investigate the incident, as the angle of an inside job surfaced.
PSupt. Abner Catalla talked with warehouse employees yesterday and met with the Tubigon PNP.
The unidentified armed assailants barged into the warehouse around 10 a.m. ordering the workers to get down on the floor.
According to warehouse employees, the lone casualty, Ranilo Bongcales, 27, a native of San Miguel town, was shot in the forehead by one of the suspects as he stood up from a stool.
Police said the Coca-Cola warehouse, owned by Atty. Antonino Jumawid, had 23 workers.
A team from the Bohol Police Provincial Office in Camp Dagohoy are in Tubigon to investigate the incident, as the angle of an inside job surfaced.
PSupt. Abner Catalla talked with warehouse employees yesterday and met with the Tubigon PNP.
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