Vol 7 No 105.indd

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Punto! Luzon
Central
VOLUME 7
NUMBER 105
WED - THU
MARCH 12 - 13, 2014
PANANAW NG MALAYANG PILIPINO!
Lawyer confident CA
to free Delfin Lee today
BY DING CERVANTES
C
ITY OF SAN FERNANDO - The
chief legal counsel of arrested
real estate businessman
Delfin Lee has expressed optimism
that the Court of Appeals (CA)
would order today the freedom of
his client who has been in jail since
his arrest for syndicated estafa last
March 6.
PAGE 6 PLEASE
Farmers score glut
of imported rice
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - Farmers from Central Luzon, the country’s
traditional rice granary,
warned yesterday of a
serious rice glut in the
market arising from importation.
A joint statement
from the Alyansa ng mga
Magbubukid sa Gitnang
Luson (AMGL) and the
Aguman Dareng Maglalautang Capampangan
(AMC) said the importPAGE 6 PLEASE
PERILS OF EDUCATION. Graders precauriously perched on a tricycle on the way to their
school in Calulut, City of San Fernando. PHOTO BY BONG LACSON
Pampanga tops STL collection
BY ASHLEY MANABAT
CLARK FREEPORT –
The most progressive
province in Central Luzon which was once
dubbed by critics as “the
Vatican of jueteng” has
topped the government
sanctioned Small Town
Lottery (STL) revenue
collection for the whole
country.
A report from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO)
showed that Pampanga grossed a staggering
P386,352,016.75 in only
a seven-month period
based on the gross receipts of the STL’s average monthly sales.
Laguna is a far sec-
ond with gross sales
of P280,871,916.50 in
the same period while
landing third place is
Quezon province with
P227,277,301.42 gross
sales.
PAGE 6 PLEASE
PGKM hits DOTC’s airport
proposals in Cavite, Laguna
‘Highly vulnerable to climate change disasters’
No cover-up for jueteng, PCSO Chair Juico
says of STL. PHOTO BY BONG LACSON
ANGELES CITY -- The Pinoy
Gumising Ka Movement (PGKM)
has lambasted anew the Department of Transportation and
Communications (DOTC) after
the latter’s recent announcement
that it is looking at Sangley Point
in Cavite and Laguna de Bay as
the possible site of a new international gateway that would replace
the congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila.
PGKM Chair Ruperto Cruz
said Transportation Secretary
Joseph Emilio Abaya is “bankrupt of ideas” for insisting on an
airport in Cavite which is at sea
PAGE 7 PLEASE
BOC Clark fetes top exporters, importers
BY ASHLEY MANABAT
CLARK FREEPORT – The
top five exporters and importers here were handed plaques
of appreciation by newly-designated Bureau of Customs
(BOC) Port of Clark Acting
District Collector, retired Gen.
Esteban A. Castro last Monday.
Topping the list of the top
exporters is Phoenix Semiconductor Philippines Corp., Korea’s leading provider of semiconductor packaging which
contributed $1,377,951,830.45
or 50 percent of the freeport’s
total export performance to the
Port of Clark in terms of value
declared.
The top importer is Thailand’s PTT Philippines Trading Corp. for having paid the
amount of P648,514,717.94 in
duties and taxes to the Port of
Clark.
Also recognized were
COAM Philippines, Inc. and
Outback Five Star Clark Philippines for their special contribution to the Clark Port in be-
coming alternative hubs for export in Central Luzon through
their volume exports in 2013.
The awarding marks the
112th Founding Anniversary
of the BOC which had for its
theme: “Sama-samang makiisa sa pagbabago sa aduana.”
In his welcome remarks,
Castro said “for this year the
Port of Clark is facing a bigger challenge which is to collect P1.58 billion - higher by 80
percent than last year.”
Castro said he had “raised
some concerns over the tar-
get collection and requested for an adjustment to lower
the amount” since petroleum
revenues could no longer be
collected due to the effect of
a revenue regulation which
meant that duties and taxes of petroleum products are
paid already at the port of discharge in Subic rather than at
the port of destination which is
Clark.
Castro said the new rule
has caused a big revenue loss
to their collection as petroleum
is the top revenue source. But
The awardees with (from left) CIAC President-CEO Luciano, CDC President-CEO Tugade and BOC acting district
collector Castro. At extreme right is Deputy Collector Poneda. PHOTO BY ASHLEY MANABAT
he said the BOC leadership
insists that Clark has a good
potential and among them is
the good economic indicators
in the region that even without
petroleum revenues the target
can still be achievable.
Clark Development Corp.
(CDC) President-CEO Arthur
P. Tugade and Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC)
President-CEO Victor Jose
“Chichos” Luciano assisted Castro in handing out the
awards after delivering their
respective speeches.
Yokohama Tire Phils., Inc.
(YTPI) president Tadashi Suzuki as well as representatives
of the other awardees were
also on hand to receive their
awards.
Meanwhile, the other top
exporters were Nanox Philippines, Inc. which occupies second place and has
an export performance of
$897,123,806.12; third place
is YTPI which has an export
volume of $239,685,102.82;
fourth place is HLD Clark
Steel Pipe Co., Inc. with
$127,377,601.85 and fifth
is L&T International Group
with an export volume of
$107,374,024.07.
The second place for the
top importers was United Parcel Service International, Inc.
having paid the amount of
P569,200,814 in duties and
taxes; third place went to TIPCO which paid P56,896,179 in
duties and taxes; fourth place
was Viskase Asia Pacific
Corp. which paid P38,875,239
in duties and taxes; and the
fifth place went to Yokohama Tire Phils. Inc. which paid
P22,815,363 in duties and taxes to the Port of Clark.
Newly-designated Deputy Collector Greg L. Pineda
rounded up the program with
his closing remarks.
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • MARCH 12 - 13, 2014 • WEDNESDAY - THURSDAY
Cayetano takes role as ‘5-6’ buster
2
ANGELES CITY--To ward away loan sharks, Senate
Majority Floor Leader Alan Peter Cayetano has deviced a way to provide loan assistance to the country’s working class.
Cayetano, whose banner initiative for livelihood enhancement among Filipinos is anchored in
his “Presyo. Trabaho. Kita.” or PTK program, said
that by raising institutions which grants loans with
low interest rates can the government combat loan
sharks.
Loan shark is the term used for individuals or
companies that grants loans at steep interest rates-often times as high as 20 percent--or those commonly referred to as “five-six.”
Cayetano said “five six” has been in existence
for a long time and no law has really stamped it out.
“Usually, there are no contracts signed for the
five-six and if there were, the full interest rate is not
reflected on it,” Cayetano said.
The senator from Pateros on Monday distributed financial assistance to various tricycle operators
and drivers associations (TODA) in this city. The distribution was held at the covered court of Barangay
Anunas here.
Cayetano stressed that the problem pn loan
sharks is economic as the proliferation of these individuals or group is credited to the increase in the
number of people needing immediate financial assistance and the absence of low-interest loan facilities.
In providing the assistance, Cayetano reminded the TODA officials to make sure that the money
would be properly handled and that they will make
loan applications easy to each member.
So far, he said, initial releases of the loan assistance have been successful with many borrowers
repaying their debts on time.
Only one recipient cooperative has been noted
to be delinquent and it was only because of in-fighting between its officers.
Cayetano pledged to return to this city to grant
financial assistance to TODA in other barangays.
LOAN-SHARK BUSTER. Sen. Cayetano (center), along with Angeles City Vice Mayor Vicky
Vega-Cabigting (extreme right) turns-over financial assistance to officers of various tricycle
operators and drivers association as seed capital for their loan assistance to members during
simple ceremonies in Barangay Anunas. The project aims to save the tricycle drivers from loan
sharks. Also in photo is Anunas chairman and Angeles City Association of Barangay Captains
President Lito Ganzon (far left).
Wetland park adds boating, kayaking to birdwatching
BY ERNIE ESCONDE
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • MARCH 12 - 13, 2014 • WEDNESDAY - THURSDAY
BALANGA CITY - From sunrise to sunset, one can
enjoy in myriad ways the sea breeze and the beautiful surroundings along the wetland park by the seaside village of Tortugas here.
One can go kayaking or paddle boating and
stand-up paddle boarding along the mouth of Manila
Bay in the Talisay River for only P75 an hour.
Eat your breakfast, merienda and lunch and rest
or whisper sweet nothings to your loved ones or
friends on board a bamboo raft or balsa.
“Guests can bring food with them in riding the balsa,” said caretaker Claudia Isidro.
The boats are guided by experienced boatmen
from the fishing village and have life jackets on hand.
Resting on nipa huts by the sea and the balsa
is enough to drive away depressing thoughts while
watching the calm sea, fishing boats and the mountain from a distance.
“Ganda ng lugar ninyo. Nice to visit your place.
Magaling itong ginawa ni mayor, congrats sa kanya,” said three first timers in the place from the Philippines General Hospital. They tried the balsa and
toured the wetland park.
Children have bicycles for rent to ride and swing
to play with.
When tired of boating, visitors can go to the wetland park nearby where a tourist information center,
viewing decks and nipa cottages are sights to enjoy.
In the two viewing decks are pictures of water migratory birds frequenting Balanga from September to
end of March every year
Looking at the wide expanse of Manila Bay with
boats fishing and lush mangroves at the side of the
bay from the viewing decks are even enough to call
the day a beautiful and refreshing day.
“Maganda ngayon kaya pabalik-balik kami,” said
Dianne Alegre after her lunch at the nipa cottage
fronting the sea.
3
O pinion
Editorial
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • MARCH 12 - 13, 2014 • WEDNESDAY - THURSDAY
Passed, but…
4
LAST MONDAY, the Senate passed the
Freedom of Information (FOI) bill on third and
final reading.
“In honor of the landmark principle
enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution
that ‘public office is a public trust.’” So
explained the bill sponsor, Sen. Grace Poe
of her vote, recalling the first FOI bill filed in
Congress 21 years and eight months ago.
“It was also in the same period that the
citizens wanted to have access to information
on public debts incurred by the country and
data on the status of the land ownership
of hacenderos [landowners] and sakadas
[tenant farmers] in the agrarian reform sector,”
Poe furthered.
Poe cited the “high significance” of FOI
as “reflected in the very situation as well as
problems confronting the country at present.”
Read PDAF and DAP there.
Said she: “We simply need to pass the
law. We simply need to be transparent and
accountable. We simply need to honor that
public service is serving with honesty and
integrity. Ang pagsisilbi sa pamahalaan ay
serbisyong tunay, paglilingkod na matapat, at
pagkilos na marangal (Service in government
is genuine service, honest service, and
honorable deed.)
Senate Bill NO 1733 or People’s FOI, she
stressed, is one “that the Filipino people can
be proud of,” assuring the public that “it is
not an inutile law so we made sure that the
passed version is not diluted.”
Enthused Senate President Franklin
Drilon: “The disclosure of government
actions under the FOI bill will be a crucial
and effective deterrent against possible
malfeasance and corrupt practices by those
in power. The proposed legislation is our way
of acknowledging that the people’s eye is
the most potent tool against corruption in our
government.”
Okay, we believe you, Madame, Sir.
Meanwhile, at the House of Representatives
the counterpart version of the FOI bill has
remained stalled at the committee level.
The struggle continues…
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Zona Libre
Bong Z. Lacson
Living the Word
AT 77 last Sunday, March 9, the Most Rev. Paciano B. Aniceto is two years past
the age of retirement for Church prelates.
That he remains the shepherd of the
Kapampangan faithful can only be divinely
ordained.
Apu Ceto makes that classic definition of the
priest that impacted me on my very first day at
the Mater Boni Consilii Seminary eons ago –
“the best gift of God to men, the best gift of men
to God.”
He simply lives the Word. So that hearing
him is ever a renewal in faith. Like that time in
2003 when I accompanied him in his pastoral
visit to California.
“The two priceless treasures of our people,
coveted by other peoples… undiminished
in value even through our worst economic
dislocation,” Apu Ceto says of faith and family
as the defining character of the Filipino.
Live the faith. Love the family. That was
the message he brought to the hundreds of
Filipinos who came to his Masses. A message
that reached out to, and touched Americans
and Latinos too.
“Modernism and materialism, especially
in wealthy America, besiege increasingly the
very foundation of the Filipino-American family.
Against this onslaught, we need to return to our
core values and be steadfast in our Christian
faith to prevail.”
Apu Ceto refreshed the congregations with
the Filipino core values grounded on Christian
virtues – of respect for human life, love for the
elders, the bayanihan culture of sharing and
malasakit, and family prayer, especially to
those already born in America.
And anathematized abortion and euthanasia
as “pillars of the culture of death…high crimes
against the family and against God.”
“The baby and the elderly are integral
elements in the nucleus of the Filipino family.
Take them out, fission ensues, and the nucleus
suffers a total breakdown.”
In a clear jab at the pro-choice lobby in the
US: “The baby in the womb is not a simple
choice. It is a human being created in God’s
own image and likeness and therefore should
come into the world to fulfil God’s plan for him.
Man has no business playing God, usurping
His power over life and death.”
Of love and respect of the elderly: “Filipino
culture puts premium in the wisdom of age.
Thus, we take good care of our elders, never
treating them like overused rags fit only to be
shut in some retirement home, left to die alone,
and as fast forgotten.”
And recalled the attendant promise of
a blessed long life for those who subscribe
to the Fourth Commandment – “Honor thy
father and thy mother” – “so that all may go
well with you, and you may live a long time
in the land.” So the Apostle Paul wrote to the
Ephesians. So it was written in Exodus 20:12.
So it has become Apu Ceto’s apostolate too.
Prayer
And then there was his birthday celebration
six years ago – also a Sunday – distinguished
– graced, I cannot force myself to write – by
the presence of Her Excellency, President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the Reverend
Governor Eddie T. Panlilio, Congressman Dong
Gonzales, City of San Fernando Mayor Oscar
Rodriguez, and a host of other politicians and
local leaders.
“If we really pray together, (we would discern
that) one cannot monopolize truth. Truth begins
in the heart, the sanctuary of our conscience.”
Apu Ceto’s sermon searing the very soul of the
congregation.
“We need to purify and change. If we follow
that process, we will have a peaceful and just
society with integrity. You should watch and
pray that you don’t fall into temptation.”
He did not have to say it. Apu Ceto could
only mean the temptation of corruptive power –
for those in government, that which denies the
people of their right to live with human dignity.
Warning: “Our country is at a crossroad.
We are a divided people, eternally quarreling,
bickering. Some media contribute to this. We
are falling into the pit.” Ouch!
And pointing the way: “We are asking the
Lord to permeate every strata of society.
Families and leaders should work so there is
a holistic approach in the search for a real,
authentic, common good, for the progress and
development of our people.”
Ora et labora. Pray and work.
Christian life at its most essential.
“Let us pray together, discern together
so that we could know the will of God for the
Filipino people.”
He lives the Word. He is a sermon we see,
we feel, and – prayerfully – we live. Apu Ceto –
blessed are we.
Pagtatapos
ANNABELLE B. SINGIAN
SAN ANTONIO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
BACOLOR DISTRICT
Heto at Marso na naman
Pagtatapos ay makakamtan
Inasam-asam na diploma
Halos abot-kamay na
Ang angking katalinuhan
Na siyang naging puhunan
Sa pagsusunog ng kilay
Kaya umani ng tagumpay
Hindi lang pala diploma
May kasamang medalya pa
Parangal sa ipinamalas
Na kahusayan sa pagtuklas
Wala nang mas sasaya pa
Sa ama at inang dakila
Kaligayang pinagyaman
Ng anak na pinakaingatan
COMMENTARY
Felix M. Garcia
Php 502.5-M:
Panibagong
problema ni
Cong Dong
MALABSA ang katwiran ni Dong Gonzales
Sa alibi niyang siya’y “vindicated”
Sa naging resulta ng ‘election protest’
Niya laban dito kay Oca Rodriguez
Kung saan ang naging kanyang kahilingan
Sa HRET ay ipa-disqualify
Itong si Oca sa pagkapanalo niyan
Sanhi ng ‘vote buying’ na idinadahilan
Ni Mr. Gonzales sa kanyang protesta,
Gayong siya mismo yata ang anila
Itong sa puntong yan ang dapat ihabla
Ng ‘rampant vote buying’ ni Oca kumbaga?
Pagkat siya itong lumalabas ngayon
Na mas malaki ang naging gastos ni Dong
Sa re-election bid niyang .5 bilyon
Ang salaping napasa-kamay ng Solon
Bago maghalalan na hinihinalang
Nagamit marahil ng nag-aakusang
Si Dong ng ‘vote buying’ sa kanyang kalaban,
Gayong siya itong dapat akusahan
Ng ‘vote buying’ dahil ang perang naturan
Na nakalaan sa anong proyekto niyan
Ay di malaman kung saan napunta yan
Base sa report ng kinauukulan?
(Aba’y mantakin mong higit na malaki
Kaysa kay 2nd District Congressman Mikey
Ang nakuha ni Dong sa Admin ng Mommy
Nitong kapwa mismo niya Representante?
Kung di malakas yan kay Pangulong Gloria
Nang panahong iyong sila pa ang bida?
Pero anong naging sukli sa kanila
Kundi ng pagtawid sa kampo ng iba?
Nang kumbaga sa isang barkong naglalayag
Ay abutin sila ng bagyo sa dagat?
Iniwan si Madam bago pa lumigwak
Ang barko upang ang sarili’y iligtas!)
Di ko sinasabing ibinulsa ni Dong
Itong nawawalang kalahating bilyon,
Pero ano’t wala din namang malinaw
Na ulat kung saan yata napunta ‘yon?
Maliban dito sa posibleng nagamit
Ng butihing 3rd District Representative
Ang kuwartang naturan sa ‘re-election bid’
Nito laban dito kay Oca Rodriguez?
Kaya sa puntong yan si Gonzales na rin
Itong sa nasabing isyu ang posibleng
Maipit kapagka’ di naisumiting
Mabuti ni Sir ang PDAF niyang missing.
At kung sa talagang kinauukulang
Proyekto nagamit ay kinakailangang
Malinis at walang pag-aalinlangan
Ang ‘accounting’ na dapat isumite niyan
At kung saan pati ‘located’ kumbaga
Ang ‘finished projects’ ay dapat ipakita
Ni Dong kasama ang buong ‘team’ nila
Ng mga Engineers saka kontratista.
Upang ma-determine na hindi ‘ghost projects’
Itong kay Congressman Aurelio Gonzales
Ay naka-report na mga ‘finished projects’
Pero kung di man ‘ghost’ ay ‘over priced-rated!?’
Leadership skill: Decision-making
EVERYDAY at work we are
confronted with things to do
and choices to make. But how
should we go about arriving at
a decision? How do we know
which among a lieu of options
is the right or the best one?
Before we go to the actual problem-solving and decision-making, it is important to
come to terms with some facts
about decision-making in relation to a leader in a workplace.
Accept that as a leader you
really have to make numerous decisions each day. As a
leader you have the opportunity and the authority to decide,
so you should know how and
when to take control, how to
turn ideas into reality, and accept accountability for consequences.
Then remember that a
good decision does not happen by chance, but is borne of
intention, effort, direction and
execution.
When you make decisions
first collect pertinent information. Gather facts and ask people for advice.
Since at times, there is fear
about making the wrong decision, it helps when you imagine the best and worst case
scenarios so you would know
the pros and cons for each al-
ternative or option at hand.
Realize that there are always
a variety of options to choose
from for every situation that
you face. Lastly, it helps if you
accept that you cannot control
every outcome each decision
you make.
Detox on work overload
Quick, think about what has
you feeling tensed and upset
at work lately? Tension and
feelings of upset, and frustration are what we commonly refer to as stress. Psychologist
Hans Selye refers to this feeling as distress.
Distress is caused by
stressors like arriving late,
deadlines and getting laid off.
Dr. Selye has been known to
say that we cannot control
stressors from happening to
us, but what we can control is
our response to stressors.
Over time, stress can
cause damage to our health,
relationships,
productivity and happiness about our
lives. Good thing is our body
has a way of alerting us when
we get stressed. Some symptoms of getting stressed-out
at work include anxiety, irritability or depression. The
person can also lose interest
in his work and might have
trouble concentrating. He
could also suffer from muscle
aches, headaches and stomach aches.
So, how can we break ad
habits at work and manage
our distress? Here’s how:
• Stay away from situations
that stress you out on a daily
basis.
• Change the situation. Be
assertive and face the problem head-on
• If you can’t change the
situation, change the way you
look at the situation and think
about whether it is really upsetting or not.
• Accept the things you
cannot change.
Genesis Z. Macapagal
Angeles City celebrates
National Women’s Month
ANGELES CITY – “Womanhood should not
only be celebrated today but rather every day for women are known to be champions.”
Thus said Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan during
the Women’s General Assembly at the city’s
Bayanihan Park held in celebration of the National Women’s Month.
With the theme “Juana, ang Tatag Mo ay
Tatag Natin sa Pagbangon at Pagsulong!”, this
year’s observance aims to celebrate women
empowerment and participation as well as their
excellence in their different roles in a growing
society.
Pamintuan, in his message, expressed his
salutations to all the women who have been
continuously contributing in nation-building as
he strongly encouraged them to fight for their
rights.
He also emphasized that the city will lead a
continuous fight for gender equality.
Activities
In line with the celebration, the city has slated a free osteoporosis screening and Breast
Cancer Awareness Seminar on March 17. Concerns about laws and issues relating to women
will be tackled on March 21st also at the same
venue. On March 21st and 24th, an awareness
seminar about anti-human trafficking is slated
and is followed by an HIV and AIDS consciousness campaign on March 27. These will all be
held at the Sangguniang Panlungsod Hall, in
Angeles City Hall at Pulung Maragul.
A free Pap Smear and consultation for the
women of Angeles City Jail is scheduled on
March 20 to 21 which is sponsored by Councilor Maricel Morales.
On March 28, the city will hold a Hilot Wellness and Beauty Day Treat at the SM Clark
Wellness Zone where all women are welcome.
The city’s celebration of Women’s Month is
spearheaded by the Gender and Development
(GAD) Office. Interested participants for the
said events may contact the office at local 260.
AC aims to be the
most gender sensitive
Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting lauded
all the women who have been active in leadership and service. From government employees, barangay officials, NGO’s and police women present in the event.
“We all deserve to be congratulated for we
have been able to build up the women’s sector
in terms of their leadership and participation in
the government’s decision making procedures.
Angeles City’s goal to be one of the most gender sensitive city in the country is now at hand,”
Vega-Cabigting added.
On the other hand, Councilor Maricel “Marang” Morales, committee chairperson on
Women and Children’s Affairs, proudly said
that women today have been successfully paving their way to politics which only shows that
they excel in their chosen fields.
“We do not stop fighting, not only for equality
and for our rights but also the fight to give hope
to the women who are abused and help them
embrace their womanhood,” Morales added.
Rapist nasakote sa SBMA
NI JOHNNY R. REBLANDO
OLONGAPO CITY-- Bumagsak sa kamay ng mga tauhan ng Bataan Criminal and
Investigation and Detection
Team ang isang rapist sa
kanyang pinagtataguan sa
Boton Area sa loob ng Subic
Bay Freeport Zone.
Kinilala ni CIDT provin-
cial officer Chief Inspector
Ruben Tampis ang suspek
na si Armando Gavino Jr.,
32, ng Barangay Tugatog,
Orani, Bataan.
Ang suspek ay dinakip
sa bisa ng warrant of arrest na ipinalabas ni Judge
Remigio Escalada ng RTC
Branch 3 ng Balanga City
sa kasong three counts of
rape ng walang kaukulang
piyansa.
Ang suspek ay inireklamo
ng kanyang sister-in-law na
menor de edad makaraan
nitong pauli-ulit na pagsamantalahan noong 2010.
Batay sa talaan ng pulisya ang suspek ay nasa
No. 2 sa Most Wanted Persons sa bayan ng Orani.
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • MARCH 12 - 13, 2014 • WEDNESDAY - THURSDAY
Napaguusapan
Lang
5
2 patay sa banggaan ng motorsiklo, trike
NI ARMAND M. GALANG
SAN JOSE CITY – Namatay habang ginagamot
sa ospital ang dalawang
lalaki matapos magkabanggaan ang kanilang
sinasakyang motorsiklo at
tricycle sa kahabaan ng
Maharlika Highway, Barangay Abar 1st sa lungsod na ito kamakalawa ng
gabi.
Sa ulat ni SPO1 Apoli-
nario Tolentino, may hawak
ng kaso, ang mga biktima
ay nakilalang sina Jayson
Mendonez, 24, binata, ng
Barangay Burgos, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija at Mark
Grospe,23, binata, mula sa
Barangay Baloc, Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija.
Nagtamo rin ng pinsala ang kani-kanilang mga
back-rider na sina Kenneth
Mendonez,18, at Jennifer
Elias,22, ng Barangay Riv-
erside, Zone 7, Barangay
Abar 1st, sa lungsod na
ito.
Sa imbestigasyon, minamaneho ng nakatatandang
Mendonez ang isang single na motorsiklo (7248 YN)
samantalang isang tricycle
naman (PN 5145) ang minamaneho ni Grospe bandang
alas 9:40 ng gabi nitong Sabado sa naturang lugar.
Magkasalubong umano ang dalawang sasakyan
nang biglang magsalpukan at dahil sa lakas ng
banggaan nang umano’y
mag-overtake ang single na
motorsiklo at kinain ang linya ng tricycle.
“Due to impact, all of
them sustained serious injuries,” ulat ni Tolentino at
mga kasamang imbestigador.
Isinugod sa ospital lahat ng biktima, ayon sa pulisya, subalit ang driver na
si Mendonez ay namatay
ilang minuto pa lamang
ng gamutan. Kinailangang
isugod sa isang pagamutan sa Cabanatuan City si
Grospe ngunit binawian
rin siya ng buhay samantalang nilalapatan ng lunas, ayon sa pulsiya.
Patuloy naman ang
pagpapayo ng mga otoridad na mag-ingat sa pagmamaneho, lalo sa motorsiklo.
Lawyer confident CA to free Delfin Lee today
FROM PAGE 1
In an interview with
Punto, lawyer Willie Rivera said that Lee is
slated to appear before
the CA at 10 a.m. today
after he filed last Monday an extremely urgent
petition for habeas corpus with a plea for the
appellate court to mandate the Regional Trial
Court (RTC) to quash
the warrant of arrest
against his client.
“I am confident that
the CA will cause his release today. I think that
his opponents realize
victory in our case that’s
why they are rushing
with other cases against
him,” Rivera said.
In a meeting Monday
with alleged victims of
Lee at the Xevera subdivision in Mabalacat
City, Vice Pres. Jejomar
Binay, who is also the
government’s housing
czar, said three more
syndicated estafa cases
are pending against Lee
before the Department
of Justice.
Pag-IBIG
Fund
President-CEO
Darlene Marie Berberabe
said the three cases
are of similar nature involving anomalous sale
of housing units worth
some P7 billion at the
Xevera and Semeera
housing projects in this
province.
She said,
however, that the complainants differ.
Rivera said, however, that multiplicity of the
same cases are not permissible and that each
case has to be differed
for it to become legally acceptable. He also
said that even if the
three cases were admitted by the Department
of Justice, they would
undergo preliminary investigation yet.
“They seem to be
aware that we are going to win in our assertion that the CA verdict
dismissing the case
against my client would
be upheld. So they are
rushing with more cas-
es,” Rivera added.
At the same time, Rivera said Lee would no
longer object to being
transferred from a cell in
the regional headquarters of the National Bureau of Investigation to
a cell at the nearby provincial jail. “It’s okay so
that people would not
think there is special
treatment for him,” he
said.
Corp. filed a case against
the alleged bookie operations in their area. A
hearing on the case is
now ongoing, she added.
“They don’t want
bookies to come in,”
Juico said.
“When asked if she
believed in STL, she
said: “If it’s done right,
why not.” She said when
they first came in, the
revenues from STL operations was very low.
“So I called them
(STL operators) to a
meeting and told them,
if they keep on remitting
very low revenues, then
the PCSO would just
consider removing STL
in favor of the lotto which
turns in huge remittances.”
Juico said after that
meeting STL operators
increased to 300 percent
their remittances.
The PCSO chair said
only 16 provinces have
STL outlets but Pampanga has two because of
Angeles City, and Zambales has also two be-
cause of Olongapo City.
Juico stressed that
“we want to combat jueteng, but we only operate in 16 provinces and
our critics say we are not
successful, how can you
be successful when your
presence is only in 16
out of 82 provinces?”
“Right now we cannot
even expand because
it’s too controversial. We
would like to open more
but we are still waiting
for guidance especially
from Malacañang,” she
lamented.
Juico said among the
critics is Department of
Interior and Local Governments (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas, who is
not in favor of STL. Roxas observed that STL
operations were not successful in curbing jueteng in the country.
“But that is not even
our role. We are not law
enforcers. If there’s gambling, the DILG and the
police should go after
them. So if there are 16
provinces with STL, why
don’t they target the other provinces which don’t
have STL operations
and anything that moves
there is clearly illegal,”
she said.
“Yun and habulin nila
(They should run after
those),” she said.
Juico stressed that
STL is doing okay.
She said there is a
joke that goes around
about a Metro Manila
mayor who was proud of
the STL operation in his
area when in fact there
was none.
“Sabi niya, ‘Chairman, sa amin maayos
ang aming STL.’ Sabi ko,
mayor walang STL sa lugar mo (So chairman in
our place STL is doing
fine. I said mayor there
is no STL in your area).
To that the flabbergasted mayor said ha? ‘Wala
ba?’ (Don’t we have
one?).
Roxas and the police should go after that
mayor because obviously there is only jueteng
there, Juico said.
date of supposedly promoting and protecting
the
locally-produced
food supply,” it said.
It noted that Nueva Ecija province, which
contributed nine percent
of total palay production
in 2013, and Central Luzon which contributed
more than 18 percent of
production in the same
year are not being flooded with imported rice,
The statement also
criticized the Aquino government for “drumming
up rice self-sufficiency
when it only means increasing rice imports
and totally opposing rice
food security.”
“This
government
abandoned
protecting
local production and diverting the country to
becoming import-dependent on food, when an
international crisis erupts
disrupting importation,
we are all going to die of
starvation,” Lopez said.
He noted that the
government also imported 350,000 metric tons
of rice last year as commitment to the WTO.
Lopez
said
“We
should oppose liberalization of agriculture and
WTO as they only mean
starvation and misery for
the people of Central Luzon.” –Ding Cervantes
Pampanga tops STL collection
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • MARCH 12 - 13, 2014 • WEDNESDAY - THURSDAY
FROM PAGE 1
6
PCSO Chair Margarita P. Juico said the STL
is the “government’s way
to curb jueteng” which is
illegal and critics say it
abets corruption among
government officials and
the police hierarchy including the military.
Juico, who was guest
of the weekly “Balitaan” forum hosted by Capampangan In Media,
Inc. (CAMI) in partnership with the Clark Development Corp. (CDC)
and the Social Security System (SSS) at the
Bale Balita here last Friday, said STL operators
have agreed to abide
by the new Presumptive
Monthly Revenue Receipt (PMRR) formula
which has a computation
of “30 percent of the voting population multiplied
by P3 per bet times 30
days.” The product will
be the PMRR, she added.
In a letter to the
PCSO Board and general manager Ferdinand
M. Rojas II on January
28, STL operators in the
country agreed that if
they failed to meet the
target based on the new
PMRR formula, it will result in sanctions against
them. Suncove Corporation, which operates
STL in Pampanga and
Lake Tahoe Gaming and
Amusement Corp., which
operates STL in Angeles City, were among
the STL operators that
signed the letter.
In the know
When asked why alleged jueteng operators
are also STL operators
Juico said: “actually they
are.”
She explained that
“two years ago they
opened STL to outsiders for coverage of the
whole Philippines but
we only got a little more
than 200. So I asked why
so few? There are a lot
of provinces how come
there’s only 200?”
Juico continued, “I
even asked Ramon S.
Ang (president of San
Miguel Corp.) and (tobacco magnate) Sonny
Dominguez if they want
to get into it. But they answered we don’t know
the business.”
“So you cannot get
somebody coming in not
knowing a thing about
the business. Kasi paiikut-ikutan lang daw sila.
So you end up with the
same people,” Juico
said. “So what you do is
just look at how they operate,” she added.
When asked of the
probability of STL collections being diverted to
jueteng, Juico confidently said, “not true” that’s
why they have a PRMM
which is based on how
much they should be
generating.
“Mayroong naka peg
na quota sa kanila. They
can go over their quota
but they cannot go under
it or sanctions will be imposed,” she said.
According to PCSO
Angeles City branch
manager Ma. Lourdes
Soliman, Lake Tahoe
Amusement and Gaming
Roxas
Farmers score glut of imported rice
FROM PAGE 1
ed 525,000 bags of rice
from Vietnam which arrived at Subic Freeport
last January are now
flooding the market.
“Traders now use this
rice flooding as leverage
to even depress farm gate
prices of locally produced
palay,” the statement said,
noting that the importation was part of the government’s commitment to
liberalize the agriculture
industry as commitment
to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Aquilino
Lopez,
vice-chairperson
of
AMGL for external af-
fairs, said “imported rice
from Vietnam and other
countries are not helping
us but are actually undermining our capacity
to produce our own rice.”
“If farmers face indebtedness and become
landless, lands devoted
to cultivating rice are to
decline, putting us more
dependent on imported
rice. Our food security is
systematically degraded,” he said.
The groups’ statement said that during
pre-WTO period of the
data from Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS),
imported rice only shared
two percent of the total
41 million metric tons
rice supply from 1990 to
1994, but jacked up to
about 10 percent of 226.8
million metric tons supply
from 1995 to 2012.
“It is also noticeable
that pre-WTO period rice
buffer reached to 21 percent that plunged to only
17 percent since WTO
entry. Thus, food security in rice was concretely degraded. The groups
said that the continuation of this trend would
make the region and the
country critically dependent on rice imports,” the
statement also noted.
Lopez asked: “Isn’t
it dense that our country
has the 8th largest rice
production in 2009 but
also imported the most
in the world in 2010?”
“The country’s policies and program are
weakening our agriculture, thus, no different
from putting the people
into hunger and misery,”
he added.
The statement also
lashed at a statement of
National Food Authority (NFA) Regional Director Amadeo De Guzman
that the Vietnamese rice
offloaded at Subic Freeport was to augment the
local supply in the region.
“This totally contradicts the agency’s man-
The Gossipmiller
Cesar Pambid
GAME at masayang kausap si Alice. Kinukulit na siya kung kailan niya ilalantad ang lalaking nagpapa-inspire
sa kanya ngayon.
Winner sa kanya ang matangkad na lalaki, may face value, at marunong mag-carry ng conversation.
Gusto rin niya halos kaedad niya para ‘di siya masabihang bagets killer. Pero sabi ng press, karamihan ng
kaedad niya ay may mga pamilya na rin o kaya’y bading kaya walang asawa.
Binanggit naman ni Alice na hindi niya priority ngayon ang magkaroon ng asawa. Kaya naman daw niyang
alagaan ang sarili niya at maging independent. Basta ‘pag dumating daw ‘yung right guy para sa kanya, eh,
‘di go.
Paano kung matangkad, guwapo pero walang datung?
“Bakit wala siyang datung?” gulat na tanong ni Alice.
Baka nakilala lang niya sa bar?
“Paano siya magbabayad ng bill namin, ako pa? Waley,” tugon niya.
Pero malaki… ang future niya?
“Patingin nga muna,” tumatawa niyang pahayag.
Ang alin?
“’Yung future niya,” casual na sagot ni Alice sabay tawanan.
Wala raw siyang nakikita sa showbiz na napupusuan ngayon.
Richard-Sarah balik-GMA
NAGKASUNDO na ang magkaaway na sina Sarah Lahbati
at Annette Abrogar. Sarah was on the verge of being one
of GMA’s top leading ladies after being successfully
launched in “Kokak” and being Richard Gutierrez’ leading
lady in “Makapiling Kang Muli,” so we don’t know what
came over at bigla siyang nagluka-lukahan in suing
GMA. Nadiskaril ang career kumbaga.
As one writer says: “Papataas na sana, naudlot
pa.” And now, she has to start all over again. For
starters, GMA Artist Center is allowing her to do a
telemovie for TV5’s “Studio 5 Original Movies”. But
it looks like it’ll be a tough uphill climb for her, judging
from the reactions of a netizens who post negative
reactions about her on social media.
As for Richard, no doubt his relationship with GMA
then was affected as he had to side with his girlfriend.
This must be one of the reasons why he didn’t renew his
contract with them. But now that GMA and Sarah have
kissed and made up, he can probably reconsider his options
and return to GMA. After all, he still has movie for GMA Films
which he just completed, “Overtime,” an action-thriller where
he’s paired with Lauren Young. A few days ago, Chard has
already agreed to be a guest in “The Ryzza Mae Show” and the
feedback is great.
Now that GMA is having problems with their primetime shows
that seem to lag in the ratings game, maybe they should
cook a good project for Richard. We should remember that
GMA7’s performance in the ratings started zooming up with
Chard’s “Mulawin.” We have no doubt that if they could find
a good mature material for Chard (not another telefantasya
ala-Captain Barbell or Kamandag), it would give him a very
good chance of having a second wind in his career. But
for now, he’ll be busy promoting his movie with GMA Films,
“Overtime,” an action thriller which has an April playdate.
Cristine Reyes gusto nang
gumawa ng baby
Alice Dixson
NAGING ex-boyfriend ni Cristine Reyes si Mark Herras bukod pa
nga sa magkakasabayan sila dati sa Starstruck with Jennylyn
Mercado, Yasmien Kurdi, Rainier Castillo, Nadine Samonte,
etc.
Kaya naman hindi maiwasang mahingan ng reaksyon si
Cristine hinggil sa pagkakaroon ng baby ni Mark at pagiging
unwed father nito.
“Nagulat ako kasi, daddy na siya,” say ni Cristine.
May communication pa rin naman kasi sila ni Mark at aniya,
medyo nararamdaman nga niya na may kakaibang nangyayari
kay Mark pero dahil nga bisi-bisihan daw siya ay hindi na sila
nakapag-usap pa nang masinsinan.
“Alam naman ni Mark na ’pag may kailangan siya, alam naman
niya kung saan ako hahanapin. And pamilya pa rin kami, meron
kaming grupo sa Starstruck. Lagi pa rin kaming nag-uusap. Lahat
kami, meron kaming isang group, Survivor,” say ni Cristine.
Ayon kay Cristine ay kilala niya ang handler ni Mark na sinasabi
ngang ina ng anak ng aktor.
“Handler ko siya dati,” say ni Cristine. “Model-type,” pagdi-describe
niya sa ina ng anak ni Mark.
Natanong nga si Cristine kung how would she feel kung siya naman
ang nasa posisyon ni Ynna Asistio na girlfriend ni Mark at the time na
nakabuntis ito.
“Wala. Eh, di, ganoon talaga ang buhay, eh. We have to deal with it,”
say pa ng leading lady ni Paulo Avelino sa Honesto.
Hindi ba siya naiinggit sa mga ka-batch niya sa Starstruck na
karamihan ay may mga anak na ngayon?
“Gusto ko na nga rin, eh,” natatawa niyang sagot. “Kaya nga, lagi
ko ngang hinihiram ang mga pamangkin ko, eh. Alam nila ’yun. ’Yon
’yung hinaing ko nu’n sa kanila, ‘gusto ko ng baby.’ Pero wala, bawal,
eh.”
Mga after two years pa raw siguro bago niya isipin ang magsettle down at magkaroon ng sariling anak.
PGKM hits DOTC’s...
FROM PAGE 1
level. He said Laguna
is also a bad choice
since it will not help
in decongesting Metro
Manila but would actually lend more congestion into it.
“It’s like pouring
money into the sea.
It’s a total waste,” Cruz
said explaining that
what happened to the
Tacloban airport in
the wake of super typhoon Yolanda should
be both a wake-up call
and an eye opener.
“Sangley and Laguna are highly vulnerable to climate change
devastation,”
Cruz
stressed.
But Abaya said in
published reports that
“the Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA) is initially looking at the former US
naval base Sangley
Point in Cavite as well
as the country’s largest
lake as the possible
site of the new airport
which are both near
Metro Manila.”
“Our initial feedback is that they (JICA)
are looking at Sangley
because it is within the
20-minute parameter
and is accessible. One
could also be I think
Laguna de Bay,” Abaya said.
The DOTC secretary also said the project could be under the
public-private partnership (PPP) scheme
as the government is
veering away from unsolicited proposals.
“Interested investors could join the bidding. Definitely unsolicited proposal won’t
happen,” he added.
But Abaya admitted that both locations
entail massive reclamation as the new international airport requires at least 2,000
hectares.
The PGKM pointed
out that land reclamation would have devastating effects as it
will destroy marine life
in the place which can
translate to loss of livelihood for thousands of
coastal communities.
Abaya also admitted in published reports that without land
reclamation it is nearly impossible to get an
area as big as 2,000
hectares or even 1,000
hectares that is 20 minutes away from Manila.
JICA is reportedly
conducting a site selection study for the
new international airport that is a longterm development to
be commenced and
completed in 15 to 20
years.
But the PGKM noted that Abaya will no
longer be around in 15
to 20 years and to consider a site that is both
detrimental to the environment and illogical is
absurd.
The DOTC said it
wants to put into operation a new international airport by 2027
with the joint development of the congested
NAIA in Manila and the
Clark International Airport (CIA) in Pampanga.
The PGKM, which
is advocating for the
full and immediate development of the CIA,
said the DOTC should
instead focus on what
is doable and attainable now by developing CIA which already
exists and most of all
operational.
Cruz said all it (CIA)
needs is a policy statement and direction
from the national government for its full and
immediate
development.
With that, he said,
Metro Manila which is
already bursting at the
seams will be decongested and the fully
expanded CIA will act
as a catalysts for development not only in
Central Luzon but in
the entire archipelago
because of its strategic
location.
“Why should the
fast train be only up
to Malolos, Bulacan
when there is practically nothing there?”
Cruz asked. “Why not
extend it all the way
to Clark not in 2030
but now in order to ferry airline passengers
to their destinations in
less and predictable
time.”
The JICA study
showed that “the number of passengers in
Greater Capital Region
would hit 106.7 million
by 2040, from 31.88
million in 2012.”
It expects passengers from the National Capital Region as
well as Central Luzon
and Calabarzon to rise
steadily to 49.8 million
in 2020, 75 million in
2030, and 106.7 million in 2040.
The PGKM said
Malacañang
should
waste no time in making a policy statement
and direction to realize a fully developed
CIA which can accommodate airline passengers even beyond
2040.
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • MARCH 12 - 13, 2014 • WEDNESDAY - THURSDAY
Alice Dixson di papatol
sa lalaking walang pera
7
8
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • MARCH 12 - 13, 2014 • WEDNESDAY - THURSDAY