Trillanes moves to subpoena Delfin Lee PAC now state U

Punto! Luzon
www.punto.com.ph
P 8.00
Central
Volume 8
Number 50
Thu - Sat
January 22 - 24, 2015
PANANAW NG MALAYANG PILIPINO!
Guiao twits DOTC on
‘underutilized’ CIA
X’mas chaos, cancelled flights at NAIA for papal visit cited
C
By Ashley Manabat
LARK FREEPORT – “Why
are we underutilizing Clark
(airport) when there is a
demand?”
Guiao
By Ding Cervantes
This was the question
posed by Rep. Joseller
“Yeng” Guiao (1st District-Pampanga) to the
Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) during the
congressional hearing at
the House of Representatives on Wednesday
regarding the chaos that
unfolded at the Ninoy
Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last Christmas.
The flight delays and
Page 8 please
Trillanes moves to
subpoena Delfin Lee PAC now state U
For Apec. Now finished, this P4.6 million toilet is the first to be built
on Clark freeport’s historic parade grounds which serve as venue for
national and international sports events. Photo by Ding Cervantes
‘Opportunity to tell truth’
CLARK FREEPORT –
Sen. Antonio Trillanes III
has moved to subpoena businessman Delfin
Lee during the continuation of the Senate Blue
Ribbon sub-committee
hearing on the alleged
overpriced Makati City
Building II on Thursday.
Lee was mentioned
Page 8 please
Asteroid
to fly by
Earth on
Jan. 26
MAGALANG, Pampanga – The Commission
on Higher Education
(CHED) has found the
Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU)
compliant based on the
merits of its requirements relevant to its con-
version from a college to
a full-pledged university.
PSAU president Dr.
Honorio Soriano Jr. said
on Wednesday that the
CHED certification has
made PSAU now officially a state university.
The CHED in its
En Banc Resolution
No. 006-2015 declared
PSAU compliant with all
requirements set forth in
Republic Act 10605 for
it to become a state university.
On June 17, 2013,
Page 8 please
CLARK FREEPORT
- An asteroid discovered in 2004 will pass
by Earth on Jan. 26,
the closest to Earth
it can be for the next
200 years.
Engineer Dario de
la Cruz, chief of the
space science and
astronomy section of
the Philippine Atmospheric,
Geophysical and Astronomical
Services Administration (PAGASA) told
Punto that the space
rock,
codenamed
2004 BL86 is expected to be nearest at
1,198,705 kilometers
from Earth at its nearest on Jan. 26.
“That seems to be
far, but astronomically, that can be classified as a narrow
encounter,” he said,
noting that the asteroid was discovered
on January 30, 2004,
by astronomers operating the Lincoln
Near-Earth Asteroid
Research survey telescope in White Sands,
New Mexico.
De la Cruz, in an
interview with Punto,
Page 8 please
Welcome. APEC Special Senior Finance Officials’ Meeting in Clark. The officials discussed the Philippines’ proposed Cebu Action Plan, which is
medium-to long-term roadmap for a more financially integrated, transparent, and resilient Asia-Pacific region. Contributed photo
Firms in collapsed wall that killed
12 workers ordered shut down
By Ding Cervantes
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -The Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE) here has
shut down two firms where 12
workers were recently pinned
to death by a collapsed wall
in Barangay Ilang-Ilang in
Guiguinto, Bulacan.
DOLE Regional Director
Ana Dione also said her agency is set to file charges against
Number One Golden Dragon
(Golden Dragon) Realty Corp.
and Hoclim Co Construction
Corp. (Hoclim) for “all violations related to the safety and
social welfare of the workers
and affected civilians resulting
to death and injury as amended in the Labor Code of the
Philippines and Occupational
Safety and Health Standards.”
Dione issued last Tuesday
the Cease and Desist Order
(CDO) against the two firms
following inspections at the
accident site that revealed se-
rious violations of the Labor
Law.
“Based on the ocular inspection at the accident site
conducted by our team, they
found out that it was the right
side wall of the on-going warehouse construction that collapsed right above the quarters of the workers. It is approximately seven meters
high and 20 meters wide. It
happened during their lunch
break,” Dione said.
She recalled that “it took
approximately eight hours to
retrieve the victims, as the
construction firms had no response team to take immediate action during the incident.”
She noted “the absence
of supervisors such as engineers, safety officers, and the
like who are supposed to be in
charge of overseeing the construction as well as representative from the principal at the
accident area.”
“Both firms shall be held
liable. We have issued this
CDO, which is effective until
further notice to both companies because we are serious
when it comes to the safety
and welfare of our workers.
Safety should be practiced at
the workplace at all times,” Dione stressed.
The DOLE team also reported “incomplete concrete
pouring in the foot-tie beam
to strengthen the structure; insufficient reinforcement bars
and stirrups installed at the
column, beam, and wall structure.”
It noted that the “type of
concrete mixture for the columns and beams do not meet
specifications and backfilling
was not properly observed to
stabilize the movement of the
concrete wall structure. There
was also no proper evaluation
of the soil-bearing capacity.”
“There was no proper engineering and safety supervision to validate and implement
the correct engineering standards and work procedures
for the nature of work and the
volume of rain occurred contributes additional load pressure to the lower portion of the
concrete wall structure,” the
team also observed.
Dione said the CDO would
be indefinite. “The principal
and subcontractor must submit a number of requirements
including employer’s accident-illness report, incident
report, police report, medical
abstract, employment record
or contract, corrective work
methodology, and proof of salary payment and remittance
to Social Security System,
Pag-IBIG, and PhilHealth before we can consider lifting the
CDO,” she added.
Both companies have also
been told to attend a conference hearing with DOLE Technical Support and Service Division for Labor Relations and
Labor Standards on January
23 to address the issues and
concerns pertaining to the incident.
Mayor backs probe of
local hospital on death
of mom and unborn child
Punto! Central Luzon • January 22 - 24, 2015 • Thursday - Saturday
By Armand M. Galang
2
POINT OF CARE. Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda thanks the national government for
giving free premium for the senior citizens as she vows to still allot funds for
the continuation of the PhilHealth Point of Care (POC) program for the benefit
of more indigent Kapampangans. Listening are PhilHealth Branch Manager Henry
Almanon, Senior Chief Insurance Officer Beth Capuili, OSCA officers, BHWs from
the 21 municipalities and cities and Social Workers from the Regional DSWD Office.
Photo courtesy of Jun Jaso
EdPam OKs monthly pay
raise for day care workers
ANGELES CITY – In a bid to
reinforce and improve early
childhood rearing, Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan recently approved the increase of salary for 72 daycare workers assigned in all 33 barangays of
the city.
This 2015, the daycare
workers in the city will be receiving an additional 1,000 pesos every month.
“The city is steadfast in
its goal to support the youth
– and this is just one of the
many things that we can do to
reassure Angeles’ future.” Pa-
mintuan said.
The mayor added that the
increase is also a way to give
due recognition to the daycare
workers of the city.
“Daycare workers are truly unsung heroes. Here in Angeles, day care workers serve
almost 7,000 pre-school children. Within their vocation lies
a responsibility for society, and
it is only right to afford them
with the extra compensation
that they deserve.” said Pamintuan.
The mayor also said that
the city’s positive financial po-
sition allows them to extend increases such as this.
Day care service is one of
the major services provided
by the City Social Welfare and
Development Office for needy
pre-school children. Their goal
is to provide pre-school children who may be neglected,
abused, exploited or abandoned with their needs. Considered as second parents,
day care workers are at the
forefront of promoting a child’s
welfare and enhance his opportunity for a useful and happy life. –Angeles CIO
THINK GREEN
PEÑARANDA, Nueva Ecija – The municipal government has
rallied behind a family here in seeking a thorough investigation
of an alleged “unethical and irresponsible” treatment of a hospital on an eight-month pregnant woman which resulted to her and
her baby’s death recently.
Mayor Ferdinand Abesamis said Tuesday that he endorsed
to the Department of Health a complaint lodged by the family of
Jessica Leabres, 23, of Barangay San Josef here against the
Dr. Gloria D. Lacson General Hospital (DGDLGH) located along
Maharlika Highway, Barangay Castellano, San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija.
Abesamis said he referred the complaint relative to the unethical and irresponsible manner, as culled from the statements,
accorded to the daughter of Melinda Leabres.
“These circumstances should not be tolerated and instead
should be investigated especially so that the patient belongs to
the poor sector of our society,” the mayor said in a letter to DOH
Asst. Secretary for Special Concerns Elmer Punzalan dated
Jan. 9, 2015.
Rolando Leabres, father of Jessica, said his daughter and
the baby in her womb died after 15 hours without proper attention at the DGDLGH on Dec. 27, 2014 because of their failure to
settle the P10,000 initial charges they were billed at 9 a.m. – four
hours after she was admitted at 5 a.m. that day.
The elder Leabres said he decided to transfer the patient to
a public hospital in Cabanatuan City when hospital staff insisted
that they have to first settle the bill before conducting an operation on Jessica who was then crying hard for help.
But in in her complaint filed before the DOH, Melinda, Jessica’s mother, said she was told to pay the amount first to continue
the treatment on the patient but could only pay P1,500 that time.
“Tinawagan ng nurse ang doctor at ipinaalam dito na P1,500
lamang ang naibayad ko. Ang sabi ng nurse sa akin ‘Ayaw pumayag ng doctor, kailangang bayaran lahat bago ilabas sa ospital’,” she said.
“Dahil sa wala na kaming pera at hindi pinalabas ng ospital para mailipat ito sa ibang pampublikong ospital, ang ginawa
namin ay naupo na lamang at nagjhintay,” she added.
When Rolando, who left to look for money, returned empty-handed at about 2 p.m., Melinda alleged, the doctor who was
not named in the complaint supposedly insisted they had to first
settle the bill.
“Naroroon ang doktor nang dumating si Rolando at nalaman
niya na si Rolando ay walang nakuhang pera at sinabi ng doctor
‘Wala pa po ba kayong nahanap? Hindi puwede yung ganyan
lang. Lumalakas ang oras. Kangina pa kayong alas 5 ng umaga dito. Kapag me nangyari, hindi na namin sagutin,’” she said.
At 5 p.m. a nurse told Melinda that Jessica had to undergo
an operation (Caesarian section) lest the baby in her would die.
She was reportedly asked to prepare P10,000 to P20,000 for
such operation.
The nurse, supposedly acting on order of the doctor, allegedly told Melinda that the motorcycle that was used to bring the patient to the hospital would be enough for a deposit. This prompted her other daughter to borrow the documents and submit to
the hospital.
A staff nurse named in an acknowledgement receipt as Hermie Baniquid received the motorcycle document as pawn which
finally made the hospital allow Jessica’s transfer.
But soon, Jessica vomited blood and died at around 8 p.m.
The Leabreses believe their daughter and her baby could
have been saved if only the hospital accorded her due attention.
A male employee who claimed to be present during that incident on Dec. 27 said, however, that hospital officials, including a
physician and nurses, extended prompt attention to the patient.
“She was given all the necessary treatment, medicines and
use of hospital facilities,” he said in the vernacular.
NGCP on preventive maintenance,
4 towns in 9-hour brownout
By Ernie Esconde
HERMOSA, Bataan- The
National Grid Corporation of the Philippines on
Wednesday undertook
annual preventive maintenance in its 100 MVA
transformer here, cutting
power supply for nine
hours in four towns of the
province.
“Annual
preventive
maintenance ng NGCP
sa araw na ito kaya nagkaroon ng power shutdown sa mga bayan ng
Dinalupihan, Hermosa,
Orani at Samal,” said
Engr. Napoleon Viterbo,
NGCP district head in
Bataan, Zambales and
western portion of Pampanga.
He said that they conduct regular shutdown of
equipment. “Regular na
ginagawa ito para maiwasan ang unnecessary
power outage or breakdown ng equipment,” Viterbo said, adding “may
proper advice naman ito
sa kinauukulan.”
Ernest Vidal, NGCP
corporate communications officer, said with the
facilitation of their annual
preventive maintenance
in their Hermosa substation, the Peninsula Electric Cooperative or Penelco conducted transmission line works along
the
Hermosa-Balanga
69 KV Line.
“There will be power interruption from 7:45
a.m. to 5:15 p.m. in the
towns of Hermosa, Orani and Samal and from
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Dinalupihan,” Vidal announced.
Many stalls at the
public market in Orani used candles while
some made use of portable electric generators.
The Philippine Information Agency reported
that the towns of Pilar,
Orion, Limay, Bagac and
Orion also suffered power outage for 15 minutes
from 5 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
2 dumptruck nagbanggaan, 3 sugatan
Tumapon ang kargang uling ng tumagilid
na dumptruck na papunta sa direksiyon ng
Balanga City. Ang sasakyang kasalubong na
bagama’t nakatayo ay
wasak naman ang windshield at yupi-yupi ang
unahang bahagi.
Ayon kay Michelle
Dizon, kasapi ng Limay
Rescue Team, tatlo ang
sugatan na agad isinugod sa Bataan General
Hospital sa Balanga City.
Medyo
natagalang
mahugot ang driver sa
pagkakaipit sa manibela ng nakatayong
dumptruck. “Sa tulong
ng Bureau of Fire ng Limay, natanggal po namin
sa pagkakaipit ang driver. Mga minor injuries
lamang ang natamo ng
mga biktima,” sabi ng
rescue worker.
Patuloy pa ang imbestigasyon ng pulisya
ng Limay sa kung ano
ang talagang dahilan ng
banggaan.
–Ernie Esconde
Punto! Central Luzon • January 22 - 24, 2015 • Thursday - Saturday
LIMAY, Bataan- Isang
dumptruck na kargado
ng uling ang tumagilid
matapos bumangga sa
kasalubong na isa ring
dumptruck malapit sa
hindi pa natatapos na tulay sa Barangay Alangan
dito Miyerkules ng umaga.
Humaba ang traffic
sa isang linya ng Roman Superhighway dahil bumalabag ang dalawang sasakyan sa pabulusok na bahagi ng kalsada.
3
O pinion
Editorial
Punto! Central Luzon • January 22 - 24, 2015 • Thursday - Saturday
El niño bonito
4
IT’S NOT hard to see who among Pampanga’s
mayors finds favour with the Capitol.
Tuesday this week, Gov. Lilia G. Pineda
formally inaugurated government facilities and
equipment worth over P26 million in Arayat town.
These included the newly-renovated municipal
hall worth P10-million, the newly-constructed
municipal police station worth P2.7 million, and a
backhoe worth P5.95 million. All reported to have
been funded by the provincial government.
The bounty coming in the wake of the provision
by the Capitol too of brand new service vehicles
to all the barangays of Arayat, as it did to the rest
of the province.
From the local government unit’s end, the
town’s multi-purpose hall was renovated at a
cost of P6 million, and its birthing station at
P1.7 million. Both sourced from the 20 percent
development fund of the municipality.
It’s not hard to see why this apparent
“favouritism” given to Arayat.
Listen to the governor: “I am happy that all
the elected officials here in Arayat are one and
united with the common aspiration of bringing
reforms and changes to the municipality which
will redound to the economic uplift of the people.”
Unity works. That has become a mantra to
Governor Pineda.
The governor has also too often cited how
Mayor Emmanuel “Bon” Alejandrino stands out
among his LGU peers in seeking from the Capitol
“projects and equipment rather than funds for the
betterment of his constituents.”
No dole-outs, plainly. And the Arayat LGU ever
cognizant of its counterpart responsibility.
Amor con amor se paga. Love begets love.
“Kayo ang pinakamabait, pinakamagandang
gobernador sa aming mga taga-Arayat,” hailed
Alejandrino of the governor.
“The provincial government headed by
Governor Lilia Nanay Pineda, is our biggest
benefactor in our mission of bringing reforms
and changes in the new Arayat, town of Maria
Sinukwan,” seconded Vice-Mayor Ramon
Changcoco.
Enough for the Capitol to grant the request of
Alejandrino for the construction of an evacuation
center at the back of the municipal hall worth P2
million.
LLL Trimedia Coordinators, Inc.
Publisher
General Manager
Editor
Marketing Manager
Layout
Circulation
Atty. Gener C. Endona
Caesar “Bong” Lacson
Joanna Niña V. Cordero
Dondie B. Ventura
Jojo Manalo/Lacson Macapagal
Business & Editorial office at Unit B Essel Commercial Center,
McArthur Highway, Telabastagan, City of San Fernando
Tel. No. (45) 625•0244 Cel. No. 0917•481•1416
[email protected] or [email protected]
http://www.punto.com.ph
Punto! Central Luzon is a proud member of
The Philippine Press Institute
acaesar.blogspot.com
Zona Libre
Bong Z. Lacson
Color Pampanga blue
GREEN WAS the color of Pampanga. Of vast sugarcane fields, rice paddies,
vegetable gardens and forested hills.
Turned red – as it birthed social unrest and
grew the communist movement.
Red still, blue and white too, at the time of
Imperial America’s domineering presence.
Yellow – with the widow, at the time of the
People Power revolution.
Grey – ash-blanketed by the Pinatubo
eruptions.
Orange, as the phoenix regenerated, reborn
from the embers of the devastation.
A kaleidoscope of colors in its march to
prosperity therefrom.
Don’t look now but blue is starting to become
the dominant color of Pampanga. SM blue that
is.
Soon as Punto! broke the news that SM
Development Corp. had – for the grand price
of P939 million – won the bid for the Paskuhan
Village, came yet another announcement that
the Sy conglomerate is “in serious negotiations
to acquire vast tracts of lands in Porac town.”
“For residential and business hubs,”
said Mayor Condralito de la Cruz of the SM
intentions. Adding that the MVP Group is
likewise in an invest-in-Porac mode.
Much earlier, SM acquired the vast Lazatin
property along MacArthur Highway in Barangay
Telabastagan, City of San Fernando along
with the iconic Essel Supermarket which has
promptly morphed to Savemore Market. The
deal reportedly costing way over P1.5 billion.
Buyer and seller in total silence though.
Count now SM’s visible investments in
Pampanga.
The longest mall in the whole Philippines that
is SM City Pampanga. Further accessorized
with Sky Ranch, hosting the largest Ferris
wheel in the country.
One more mall within a four-kilometer radius
from the first – SM San Fernando Downtown.
Even Walter Mart, hoped to take away if
only a little of the SM clientele, is now mainly
owned by SM.
Some 20 kilometers away, SM City Clark
where sited a BPO center, and soon shall have
its own hotel. Even sooner, a bowling center.
Once Mabalacat City’s biggest wholesale
store, the Ayalas’ Makro is now SM Hypermart.
Savemore, SM’s pocket supermarket,
makes its presence felt too in Angeles City and
Guagua, aside from what once was Essel.
And lest we forget, that SM demi-mall in
Apalit.
Arguably, SM is the biggest investor in
Pampanga. In volume, if not in value.
And, as the Porac mayor revealed, there is
apparently no stopping it from infusing more.
Mabalacat Mayor Boking Morales whispers
too of some negotiations with SM.
Truly, SM’s got it all. And still wants some
more?
Absent any business acumen, plain pen
pushers as we are, we can only speculate
over this uber bullishness of SM on the
province.
No, Ashley Manabat, it is not merely to bully
other investors and get the Kapampangan cake
all for itself. No matter that bullish, bully and
bullshit grew out of the same root.
SM definitely knows something in Pampanga
that we don’t. That we are not even aware of. It
won’t be the corporate mega-powerhouse that
it is if it did not.
Whatever it is we can only hope that
Pampanga’s turning SM blue would not make
our cabalens sing the blues.
How to awake the spirit of
reading and learning into
child’s all stages of life
By Dennis M. Bautista
Public Librarian I
In this generation of Information Technology, one must
be equipped the skills of
reading and learning. Consider the reading for printed story books, looking for information on any subject on a daily
basis--- from the print media
whether sourcing the periodicals, newspapers, brochures,
pamphlets and to the electronic or digital medium.
Reading is the most wonderful experienced that children should learn to value
and appreciate for an early age and sooner they become a learner and a reader. They are living in the Age
of information Technology or
Knowledge Economy. Thus,
there is a greater demand for
a higher level of literacy be-
yond basic and functional literacy. Basic Reading Competencies: Learning to Read
– sounds, signs, sights, syllable, sentences, and stories.
Reading is a main key to
the wonder and meaning. It
is an invaluable tool in acquiring knowledge by gathering information, discovering and gaining insights. The
First step to consider is the
acquired process of learning
to Read is the content, context and process, these are
the 3 elements in reading.
The thinking /learning process where a learner could
have already the inner knowledge of subject content Ex.
Ideas and beliefs. The second step is Reading to learn
is an exploring, expanding,
enriching and evolving process that adds meaning to
one’s knowledge. The young
children open their eyes and
minds to the world around
them. They have the natural
drive for learning and discovering things.
Reading and Learning are
life long learning and continuously evolved around
us. We (Teachers, Parents
and Librarians) must open
to the youngsters the world
of meaning. Let us motivate
them to love and read books
and explore the learning process though experience and
reading. Let them understand
that life is rich in meaning.
Lastly, Reading and learning is about yesterday, today
and tomorrow.
(Unsolicited contributions here are unedited, unabridged, as is.
Errors in grammar, syntax, etc, solely the writer’s. -- Editor)
Son, always tell the truth. Then you’ll
never have to remember what you said
the last time. –Sam Rayburn
Napaguusapan
Lang
Felix M. Garcia
Mapilan
binutil asin
Bayu ke isundu ining kawatasan
A ngeni buri kung idake keko’ngan,
Muna, e yu sana ipangabaldugan
Ing insultu iti kenu mang mituran.
KARING makibale a maki-kasaup
Ausan dang “katulong” keng sabing Tagalug,
(At keng Kapampangan, nyang minuna “ipus,”)
Oreni ring sukat panabilin lubus:
Ban malaut tamung kabatingan gamit,
E maski na ninu yagkat da ban manik
At paluban karing pribadu yung silid,
Agyang karing kamag-anak dang malapit
O kakaluguran deti ban kanita
Malaut malyaring miparsalanan la,
Nung sakali karing meging bisita ra
Ating magatal a gamat a’yausan da.
Antimurin e la basta maniwala,
Karing kabud namu karen mamalita,
King y ‘boss’ o y ‘mam’ me-‘stroke’ yang bigla
At king ‘jewelry box’ atin lang papakua.
Dakal nang milyari a nu’ e mu pera
Ampon alahas ken ing akulimbat da
Ding ‘akyat bahay’ at ‘salisi gang’ ngara
King anti kanyan a kaparalanan da;
At metung pang ‘modus operandi’ reti
Ya’ytang nung atin kang bayung seling TV,
O nanu mang ‘electronic gadget’ ngeni,
Asna kalagua rang akwa ring salbahi;
Kapamilatan ning sarya reng puntalan
Ing bale na mismu ning mekasaling yan,
At ding ‘katulong’ ken a pihu rang dasan
Ilang pakikuanan da reting amulangan.
At anti keni ing karelang diskarti:
Ikami pu ngara’ing tinubud ning ‘boss’ mi
Ba’miyang kuanan ing papalit nang TV
Ning ‘sir’ yu nung inya delanan mi ne’yti.
Map a map, e misdan keng atut ning kambing
Ing katulong inya ibie ne’yting tambing
At e pamu maus ba’nang atalingting
King ‘boss’ na nung tutu ing papakua ne pin.
Kasi, e na man king tutodusan ta’la
Ding kasaup, pero menasa monu la
At kaagad-agad deti manwala la,
Uling king ugaling mayap den sane la.
At e la masulit pakisabyan deti
Uling king ugaling malam la pin kasi
Miyanad at alang isipan parati
Nu’ne king kaparang tau maki-anti
Uli ning menasa anad la king mayap
A ugali ampon pamirapat-dapat,
Iting mesaglawe bage e masampat
Menasa e ra man balu reti mekad.
Inya pepauna ku na babo niti
Ing aku ala kung paturan kaniti,
Nu’ne king bage yan anti kung magsisti
Banting alisyan ing posibleng malyari!
DISTRIBUTION OF MRF MATERIALS. Mayor Edwin D. Santiago leads the ceremonial
distribution of hardware materials for the construction of materials recovery facilities
to 21 homeowners association in the city. Witnessing the program are CENRO chief
Engr. Anele David, Councilor BJ Lagman, and some barangay officials.
CSF awards MRF materials to HOAs
The City Government of
San Fernando through its environment and natural resources office has awarded building
materials for the construction
of materials recovery facilities [MRF] to some 21 Homeowners Associations [HOA] in
line with the celebration of the
Zero Waste Month.
The awarding ceremony
was headed by Mayor Edwin
D. Santiago together with SP
Committee on Environment
chairman Councilor Benedict
Jasper Lagman, and was witnessed by CENRO chief Engr.
Anele David and some barangay officials in the city.
The recipients who were
subsidized are HOAs in St.
Augustine Village, Vista Rica
Subdivision, Fiesta Homes,
Greenville Subdivision, Alasas
Village, North Breeze Subdivision, Avida Residences, Krystal Homes, Dela Paz Sur Village 2, San Isidro Village, Holy
Angel Village Phase IV, Villa
Isabel 3 Subdvision, EMS Barrio, Palermo/Felman Subdivion, Villa Lourdes, Florida Residences, Lourdes Heights Sub-
division, Hacienda Royale,
Roseville Heights Subdivision,
and Sto. Domingo Village.
This move, according to
CENRO chief Engr. Anele David, is in connection with the
LGU’s 12 point agenda that
includes environmental protection, “Malinis na kapaligiran, Fernandinong maka-kalikasan.”
She noted that, at present, there are 170 operational
MRFs in San Fernando including those who operate in all
barangays of the city.
The Ecological Solid Waste
Management Act or Republic
Act of 9003 orders all LGUs including component cities like
the City of San Fernando to
decentralize garbage collections.
“We aim to have at least
250 MRF in our city; this will
be managed by private individuals with just a minimal supervision from our part” added
David.
With this, the city’s capita
spending for garbage dramatically decreased from P70 million to just P12 million pesos
or just P12-17 per Fernandino.
For his part, the mayor urged the public to “become proactive in the combat
against climate change.”
“Ang isa sa mga pinag-uusapan sa buong mundo ngayon ay ang climate change,
at isa sa pinaka-mabisang
paraan para labanan ito ay
ang proper waste disposal.”
“We cannot do this alone, we
need your help.”
With the establishments of
MRFs, the waste diversion in
the city is pegged at 73%. “Sa
tamang pagse-segregate ng
basura, malaki ang matitipid
ng Siyudad sa pagbabayad ng
tipping fee. Ang mga natipid
na pondong ito ay maaari ng
gamitin sa mga programa para
sa edukasyon, kalusugan, at
marami pang iba.”
“Kung ikaw ay magtatapon
ng basura sa tamang paraan,
ikaw ay nakatulong upang makapag-aral ang isang
batang kapos-palad, gumaling
ang may sakit; ikaw ay makakatulong hindi lang sa kapaligiran, pati na rin sa iyong kapwa.” –CSFP-CIO
Pogi Lazatin files ordinance granting financial and
burial assistance to city government employees
ANGELES CITY --- Councilor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr.
filed last December 19 an ordinance that seeks to provide
city government employees
financial assistance for hospitalization and burial assistance.
Lazatin said under the ordinance, the city government
shall extend financial assistance to any employee who
suffers from sickness or injury
and is in need of medical assistance regardless of whether or not the sickness or injury
was acquired under work-related circumstances.
Lazatin explained that
since the employees are the
front-liners in the delivery of
basic services, the city government must make sure to safeguard the health and welfare
of the employees by providing additional benefits to them
such as financial assistance
or burial assistance case of
unforeseen and unavoidable
circumstances, such as sickness, injury or even death.
“Access to health care continues to be a pressing concern especially to city government employees who earn a
measly salary and who cannot afford the spiraling cost of
health services,” said Lazatin.
Under
the
ordinance,
an employee shall receive
P10,000 compensation if he
or she has lost the use of any
part of his or her body, including an eye, a hand, a foot, an
arm or a leg, and if he or she is
undergoing chemotherapy or
hemodialysis.
Lazatin stressed however
that the financial assistance
will only be availed by the employee once a year per hospital confinement.
Meanwhile, in the event of
death of an employees, his
or her legitimate beneficiary will be entitled to receive
a P10,000 burial assistance
from the city government regardless of whether or not the
cause of death is work-related.
Lazatin also clarified that
the city government will not render financial assistance or burial assistance for “injury, hospital confinement, or death resulting from intentionally self-inflicted injury, suicide or suicide
attempt, while under the influence of prohibited drugs and
while in any attempted commission of or willful participation by
the employee in any crime punishable any law except crimes
of Reckless Imprudence as defined in Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code.
Under the proposed ordinance, the Human Resource and Management Office (HRMO) shall appropriate
P300,000 annually under the
Financial or Medical Fund for
the implementation of the ordinance. –Press Release
Punto! Central Luzon • January 22 - 24, 2015 • Thursday - Saturday
Uling iting bage pagnasan isulat
e ya mu kabud na pikatsa at sukat,
nu’ne king tune bie madalas marapat
ing makanyan king e ta’ ganap pamingat.
5
6
Punto! Central Luzon • January 22 - 24, 2015 • Thursday - Saturday
7
Punto! Central Luzon • January 22 - 24, 2015 • Thursday - Saturday
Guiao twits DOTC on ‘underutilized’ CIA
From page 1
cancellations from December 24 to 26 at the
NAIA underscored once
again the immediate
need for an alternate airport, Guaio said.
Guiao urged the immediate use of the Clark
International
Airport
(CIA) during the hearing by persuading airlines, government agencies and the general
public to use it, saying:
“We have a total of 1 million passengers a year
in Clark when we can
accommodate 4 to 5 million passengers.” .
“CAAP (Civil Aviation
Authority of the Philippines) as the regulator
and DOTC should exert some influence over
the airlines to put some
flights into Clark because there are passengers there coming from
Central Luzon, Ilocos,
CAR, the eastern part of
Luzon and even those
from the northern part of
Metro Manila because it
is easier to go to Clark
than NAIA,” Guiao added.
“We are not only
helping people from central and northern Luzon
but also in Metro Manila
if we use Clark because
we are decongesting
NAIA,” he furthered.
“We are just wondering why not too many
flights are being given to
the CIA?” he asked.
Guiao
also
said
during the visit of Pope
Francis, “we have to
cancel around 300 flights
because of the no-fly
zone. But even if only a
fraction of those flights
were diverted to Clark
and the passengers will
be asked that they have
that option, I’m sure they
would have opted for
Clark.”
Guaio said the DOTC
should already anticipate ahead of time the
use of the CIA in the
coming peak seasons
by making the CIA as an
option.
A total of 10,442 passengers of Cebu Pacific
faced flight delays and
Trillanes moves to subpoena Delfin Lee
From page 1
in Pag-IBIG Fund President and CEO Darlene
B. Berberabe’s opening statement during the
hearing.
Atty. Willy Rivera,
Lee’s chief legal counsel, said this would be an
opportunity for Lee to tell
the truth about Pag-IBIG
Fund.
“We are looking for
the truth and how (Vice
President Jejomar) Binay
was handling the Pag
IBIG. If this would help in
determining the truth, my
client welcomes it,” Rivera said.
“We would like to tell
the Senate why my client
is being persecuted,” he
added.
Lee is currently de-
tained at the Pampanga
Provincial Jail in the City
of San Fernando for syndicated estafa. Lee has
denied any wrongdoing
and insisted on his innocence saying he is a “political detainee.”
The Pag-IBIG and the
Boy Scouts of the Philippines are both headed
by VP Binay being the
country’s housing czar
and the BSP’s national
president.
Several allegations
against VP Binay had
been raised in past hearings of the subcommittee, including bid riggings, receiving kickbacks during his term,
and using dummies to
advance his interest in
several companies.
Accusations of al-
leged ownership of a
350-hectare property in
Rosario, Batangas, a log
cabin in Tagaytay Highlands, and units in several condominiums in
Makati had also been
hurled against him.
The Vice President
has repeatedly denied
the allegations, saying
these were part of an
operation to diminish
his chances of winning
in the 2016 presidential
polls.
Binay was again absent at Thursday’s hearing as he had declined
several invitations sent
by both the Blue Ribbon
subcommittee and the
main committee for him
to give his side on the issues.
His son, Makati May-
or Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr, who attended the first hearing,
also refused to show up
at the succeeding hearings despite formal invitations, subpoena, and a
show cause order, saying the committee has
no jurisdiction over him
on the matter.
Makati City officials
who initially attended
the hearings followed
the lead of the younger Binay and were not
present during the latest
hearings.
Their actuation compelled
sub-committee chair Sen. Aquilino
“Koko” Pimentel III to
recommend to the main
Blue Ribbon committee
to cite them for contempt.
–Ashley Manabat
Asteroid to fly by Earth on Jan. 26
Punto! Central Luzon • January 22 - 24, 2015 • Thursday - Saturday
From page 1
8
said that the discovery
of such asteroids is significant, as they are then
catalogued in astronomical laboratories and studied for their movements.
“That way, we can calculate their orbit and know
whether they could pose
some danger to Earth in
the future,” he added.
He noted that the Jan.
26 asteroid would be the
closest any asteroid to
fly by the Earth, until the
predicted fly past of another rock, 1999 AN10,
on August 7, 2027.
The asteroid 2004
BL86 is not expected to
PAC now state U
From page 1
President Aquino signed
into law House Bill No.
4450 converting the then
Pampanga
Agricultural College (PAC) into an
agricultural university under Republic Act 10605.
Rep. Joseller “Yeng”
Guiao (1st District, Pampanga), in published reports, lauded PSAU’s
CHED certification as a
state university. “This is
a milestone not only for
the academic community but for all Kapampangans as we have another
state university that will
provide quality education
our students need. We
are all very happy about
this development,” said
Guiao.
Soriano
expressed
elation with the CHED
certification giving PSAU
fly by the Earth within
200 years after Jan. 26,
he added.
But De la Cruz assured Filipinos that the
asteroid on Jan. 26
would pose no danger
to Earth at all. “It will be
too far to be of threat,” he
stressed.
“It is unfortunate that
a full university status.
“I am happy because
after several years we
were able to obtain a
full university status,” he
said.
PSAU’s full university status was granted
only after it substantially complied with the requirements of the CHED.
A panel of experts from
CHED went to PSAU on
February 26 to 27 last
the asteroid on Jan. 26
would even be difficult
to observe except with
powerful
telescopes
or binoculars,” he also
said.
News of the asteroid has been making it
in Australia, since its flyby on Jan. 26 is also observed as Australia Day.
year to validate its compliance with its requirements.
Soriano pointed out
that aside from prayers,
it was the support of officials like Guiao and the
provincial government
led by Gov. Lilia “Nanay Baby” Pineda that
inspired them to move
forward with the conversion.
–Ashley Manabat
PCOS count can go wrong
From page 9
cians”.
In the Gen. Tinio
case, plaintiffs Aranas
and Arlan Esteban and
counsel lawyer Anicia
Concepcion
Marquez,
sought the opening of
the ballot boxes in Clustered Precincts No. 29
and 30 at Barangay Pias
and Clustered Precinct
No. 19 at Barangay Concepcion after the May
13, 2013 elections. They
wanted to prove that the
votes cast in favor of
their candidate senatorial candidate Eduardo Villanueva were not counted correctly.
Docketed as Civil Case No. 4378-13,
named defendants were
the
municipal
election registrar, municipal
board of canvassers and
the board of election inspectors of the three
clustered precincts in
Gen. Tinio.
They said they actively campaigned for
Villanueva, even went on
a house-to-house campaign, and “received assurances of support from
other registered voters”.
On election day, they
averred, they voted and
waited until the results
were released.
They were surprised,
they said, when their
candidate garnered only
379 votes in one of the
precincts and a similar
379 votes in the two other precincts.
Doubting the results
cancellations from December 24 to 26 due to
personnel issues, bad
weather, and air traffic
congestion.
According to Guiao,
the congestion at the
NAIA could have been
addressed if the use of
the Clark airport was fully maximized.
A “twin airport system” for both NAIA and
Clark airport to decongest the NAIA was proposed in 2013, but Guiao
said the suggestion was
just “lip service.”
“Walang nangyayari
sa twin airport system na
‘yan. It’s just on paper. It
is not being considered
in terms of influencing
airlines and passengers
to go to Clark,” he said.
The general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority Jose Angel Honrado
said there are “operational hurdles” that prevent the transfer of some
NAIA operations to the
Clark airport.
He did not explain
though what he meant. NOTICE OF PUBLICATION
In compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to
OCRG Memorandum Circular No.1 Guideline in the Implementation of the
Administrative Order No. 1 Series of 2012 (IRR on R.A 10172), Notice is hereby
served to the public that MARY ANN B. PULUSAN has filed with this Office, a
petition for correction of entry in sex from “MALE” to “FEMALE” and to indicate
therein the Middle Name of her mother as “DANTES” and Middle Name of his
father as “MANALO” in the Certificate of Live Birth of MARY ANN B. PULUSAN,
who was born on March 15, 1983 at San Simon, Pampanga and whose parents
are ANNABELLE DANTES PULUSAN and HERMINIO MANALO BUNGUE.
Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written
opposition with this office not later than February 6, 2015.
JEAN PAUL MALONZO
Local Civil Registrar Officer
San Simon, Pampanga
Punto! Central Luzon: Janaury 23, & 30, 2015
Republic of the Philippines
Regional Trial Court
Third Judicial Region
OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT
Angeles City
Asian Cathay Finance and
Leasing Corporation,
Mortgagee,
Extra-Judicial Foreclosure of
-versus-
Real Estate Mortgage under Act
3135, as amended
Joven G. Nucum Rep. by
FC Case No. 2014-1133
Ednor Patawaran Nucum
Mortgagors.
x------------------------------------------x
NOTICE OF Sheriff’s SALE
Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3135, as Amended filed
by the above-named Mortgagee, Asian Cathay Finance and Leasing
Corporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue
of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines with office address at Suite 1603,
Federal Tower Condo., Dasmarinas St., Binondo, Manila against the Mortgagors
Joven G. Nucum, represented by Ednor Patawaran Nucum, with
residence and postal address at No. 5126 Kalantiaw St., corner Kundiman
St., Brgy. Cutcut, Angeles City, in order to satisfy the mortgage debt therein
which as of November 25, 2014, amounts to Five HUNDRED Ninety One
THOUSAND Eighty Nine PESOS (Php 591,089.00), Philippine currency,
excluding interests, penalties and additional daily interest and penalties up to
the date of sale, in addition attorney’s fees and other charges all secured by this
Mortgage, the undersigned Sheriff IV, hereby give notice and announces, on
the 23rd day of February 2015, at 10:00 o’clock in the morning at the Office of
the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court, Hall of Justice, Angels City, will sell at
public auction to the highest bidder for Cash and in Philippine Currency,
the following parcel of land with all the improvement existing thereon, to wit;
TCT NO. 197796-Angeles City
A parcel of land (Lot 4, Blk. 48 of the subd. plan Psd-03-019431,
being a portion of Lot 698-B-1, Psd-03-006152, LRC Rec. No.),
situated in the Bo. of Sta. Catalina, City of Angeles. Bounded on
the SE., along line 1-2 by Lot 2, Blk. 48; on the SE., along line 2-3
by Road Lot 47; on the NW., along line 3-4 by Lot 6, and on the
NE., along line 4-1 by Lot 3, both of Blk. 48, all of the subd. plan
x x x containing an area of One HUNDRED Ninety Eight (198)
Square Meters more or less x x x
Prospective buyers/bidders may investigate for themselves the abovementioned parcel of land for their information and protection.
In the event that the scheduled public auction should not take place, the
same will be conducted on 2 March 2015, at the same time and place without
further notice.
Angeles City, 19 January 2015.
Claude B. Balasbas
Sheriff IV
Copy furnished:
ontact No. 09206373475
Asian Cathay Finance and Leasing Corporation
Suite 1603, Federal Tower Condo., Dasmarinas St.,
Binondo, Manila
of the vote count, and to
validate their belief that
the results that came out
of the PCOS machines
did not reflect the true
will of the electorate,
they launched a series of
public consultations.
At the end of the consultations, they affirmed
that the number of voters who actually voted
for Villanueva was “far
greater than the number
of votes that came out of
the clustered precincts in
question”.
Joven G. Nucum
Ednor Patawaran Nucum
No. 5126 Kalantiaw St., corner Kundiman St.,
Brgy. Cutcut, Angeles City
PUNTO! Central Luzon: January 23, 30 & February 6, 2015
Notice of Extrajudicial Settlement
Notice is hereby given that Liza Euferio Fraselle, 42 years old,
Filipina, resident of No. 11-14 Teodoro St., Sta. Maria II, Balibago, Angeles City
and sole heir of Jacques Justin Marrie Fraselle who died intestate
on March 11, 2004 in Bastogne, Belgium executed an Affidavit of Extrajudicial
Settlement of his estate, more particularly described as Savings Account No.
3-374-000.00003374002008. with Metro Bank in Angeles City, before Notary
Public Virgilio S. Lansang as per Doc No. 348, Page No. 78, Book No. 022,
Series of 2015.
Punto! Central Luzon: January 9, 16 & 23, 2015
Cesar Pambid
No no kay Vina Morales ang
pag-pose nang sexy sa FHM
Kakaibang challenge para kay Vina ang role niya sa bagong teleserye ng ABS-CBN na Nasaan Ka Nang
Kailangan Kita.
Ayon sa kanya, “Kasi itong soap opera na ito, ayaw nina Direk (Jeffrey Jeturian) na masyadong drama na
nga, idadrama mo pa.. So para sa akin natsa-challenge ako sa ganyang set-up kasi nasanay ako sa mga
heavy drama.
“Dito simple lang, kung ano lang yung nangyayari sa totoong buhay, normal lang. They want na realistic
talaga yung pag-arte. Kung hindi mo kayang umiyak masyado, eh, di okey lang.
“Saka depende yon sa emosyon mo on that day at sa eksena. So do’n ako natsa-challenge. Kasi medyo
sanay ako sa dramahan. Kailangan heavy drama lalo na sa pang gabi (primetime soap). Excited ako, looking
forward ako. Ako naman, open naman ako na matuto sa ibang klaseng pag-arte din,” dire-diretso niyang
pahayag.
Samantala, masaya naman si Vina Morales na tawagin siyang “hot mama” ng showbiz. Pero hindi raw
niya kakayaning mag-pose para sa isang men’s magazine tulad ng FHM.
“Susmaryosep, parang hindi ko yata kaya yon. Masaya na akong tawagin nilang “hot mama” pero magpose sa ganun, wala pa akong lakas ng loob... Hindi ko talaga kaya, ewan ko ba.
“Parang hindi ko talaga kaya... I don’t know, ano pa bang ibang magazine? Basta ako, happy na ako na
sabihing ganu’n... ‘uy hot mama’ pero para mag-pose, talagang hindi ko pa keri.
“Kasi to pose for FHM, alam kong... Kumbaga, a little sexier ‘yon, iba sa ginagawa ko pag nagpi-perform
ako sa stage or sa ASAP.... ‘Yon yung nasa isip lahat ng tao, eh... Bear more skin, yung ganun.”
“Confident naman ako sa sarili ko, sa katawan ko. One month ko lang yung paghahandaan para balik-abs
kaagad, pero di ko talaga kino-consider, eh. Hindi ko talaga kaya...,” naiiling na pagtatapos n Vina Morales.
Three for charity
Naranasan ni Alden Richards kahit isang araw man lang ang maging trabahador sa isang construction
site nang tumulong siya sa build-a-home project ng Habitat for Community sa isang adopted community ng
nasabing non-profit organization sa Quezon City.
Inasahan niyang magiging construction worker siya sa kabahayang itinatayo pero pinaalis at pinalinis lang
sa kanya ang mga tambak na semento na nagsisilbing hadlang sa daanan ng mga tao.
Sambit nga ni Alden sa isang speaker ng samahan, nabitin daw siya sa simpleng ginawa niya. Inilipat lang
kasi niya ’yung debris mula sa Area A patungo sa Area B.
“Ang nakatutuwang sinabi ng speaker sa akin, it’s not how o kung gaano kalaki ’yung trinabaho ko, gaano
kahirap, gaano ka napagod. It’s more on kung anong ginawa mo. You made a difference, you helped in
your way, na kahit paano kung hindi ka tumulong, malamang marami pang debris doon sa site na ’yon na
dinadaanan ng tao.
“So in your way, sabi ko, tama naman. It’s the amount of effort that you gave, and not how hard the task
is,” pahayag ni Alden.
Nakibahagi si Alden sa Habitat for Community bilang bahagi ng kanyang selebrasyon ng 23rd birthday
niya. Kung naging simple lang ang selebrasyon niya kasama ang pamilya at kapatid, hindi ’yon doon
nagtapos dahil gusto naman niyang makatulong sa mga samahang tumutulong sa mga tao.
Naghahanap pa nga siya ng ilan pang outreach programs upang makibahagi bago siya umalis patungong
Europe para sa International Film Festival sa Rotterdam.
Hindi lang si Alden ang GMA Artists na binuksan ang tao sa mga charitable works dahil si Kylie Padilla at
Mikael Daez ay nagkaroon ng sariling outreach program din noong Enero 11 kung saan nakasama nila ang
estudyante ng Pag-asa Elementary School sa Caloocan City.
Kapwa ambassadors ng Save The Children sina Kylie at Mikael kaya naging bahagi sila ng programang
inihanda ng Save The Children Organization kasama ang mga humigit-kumulang na 70 bata mula edad na
pito hanggang siyam.
Binigyang-buhay ng dalawang Kapuso artists ang mga kuwento sa libro sa masigla nilang pagbabasa ng
storytelling portion.
“It’s nice seeing them smile because of what you do for them. It’s a simple thing for us, ’yung mag-act ng
konti or magbasa sa kanila. Pero its’ a big deal dahil nakikita mo ’yung effect ng ginagawa mo sa ibang tao,”
saad ni Mikael.
Pinangunahan din nina Mikael at Kylie ang isang feeding program kung saan hindi lamang nila binusog
ang mga tiyan ng bata kungdi ang mga puso rin.
“That is the way I want to extend the blessings I receive kasi these children are so pure. And I know that
helping them experience a happy childhood can be an inspiration to them,” katwiran naman ni Kylie.
Sa ngayong, abala si Kylie sa taping ng More Than Words kung saan siya ang hadlang sa pag-iibigan
ng mga bidang sina Elmo Magalona at Janine Gutierrez habang si Mikael naman ay napapanood sa GMA
afternoon prime na Ang Lihim ni Annasandra.
Tambalang Kris-Derek luto na
Kumpirmado na nga ang pag-babalik ni Derek Ramsay sa Star Cinema at bongga ang kanyang comeback
dahil ang Reyna lang naman sa ABS-CBN ang makaka-sama niya na walang iba kundi si Kris Aquino.
Sa wakas ay matutuloy na rin ang pelikulang pagsasamahan ng dalawa na matatandaang last year pa
pinaplano under Regal Entertainment.
Pero dahil nga hindi pinayagan si Kris ng ABS-CBN at Star Cinema that time, naunsyami ang proyekto.
But this time, hindi lamang mukhang matutuloy na kungdi nadagdagan pa ito ng mga producer.
Magsasanib-puwersa ang Star Cinema, Regal Entertainment at Quantum Films para sa naturang proyekto.
Sa grand launching para sa mga bagong show ng TV5 ay nakausap ng entertainment press si Derek na
nagpahayag ng pasasalamat kay Kris dahil alam niyang malaking bahagi ang kaibigan para matuloy ang
project at makabalik siya sa Star Cinema.
Gustung-gusto rin ni Derek ang concept ng movie na isang romantic comedy na alam naman nating
bagay na bagay din sa kanya dahil nga sobrang successful ng rom-com nila ni Jennylyn Mercado na English
Only, Please.
Hindi pa raw niya pwedeng idetalye ang concept ng movie nila ni Kris pero cute raw ang movie at never
pa niyang nagawa in his past projects.
Samantala, may dalawang bagong shows si Derek sa TV5, ang sitcom na Mac & Chiz kung saan ay
kasama niya si Empoy na magsisimula na sa Sunday, Jan. 25. Ang isa naman ay Extreme Challenge na hindi
pa namin alam kung kailan magsisimula.
By Ashley Manabat
PORAC, Pampanga – “Where’s the P3 million
excess bonuses?”
This was the question posed by Municipal
Councilor and Philippine Councilors’ League–
Pampanga (PCL-Pamp.) President Mike Tapang
to Mayor Condralito “Carling” Dela Cruz on the
alleged surplus in the bonus of municipal employees.
Tapang, who also serves as ex officio provincial board member, said the sangguniang bayan
(SB) approved a supplemental budget under donations and grants with the local finance committee last December where P15.7 million was approved for release for the bonuses of municipal
employees at P40,000 each.
But Tapang said the amount for bonuses only
sums up to P12 million. “Where’s the rest?” he
asked.
Tapang said he had information that the P3.7
million is allegedly used by Dela Cruz as his “discretionary funds.”
Tapang also challenged Dela Cruz to give a
detailed report on the municipal government’s expenditures.
“As it is, the mayor only gives out only general accounting or lump sum reports. What we are
asking for all along are the detailed expenditures
in the reports,” he explained.
The municipal government is reporting expenses amounting to several thousand but it
lacks details on what particular purpose it was
used, Tapang said.
Dela Cruz has said all information needed
for transparency are posted in the web (www.
poracpampanga.gov.ph) as well as in three conspicuous places in the town – the bulletin board at
entrance to the municipal hall building, the public
market and at the premises of the St. Catherine
Parish Church. Meanwhile, Tapang also denied Dela Cruz’s
allegations that he wanted to monopolize the
contracts for the development of the multi-billion
Alviera project in the town.
The mayor has accused Tapang of bringing
contractors to the Alviera project and insisted on
their exclusivity on the contracts.
“Buri da ila mu. Enaman pwedi ita (They wanted only them. That is not right),” he said.
That’s not true, Tapang said.
NE court-decided case
PCOS count can go wrong
By Elmo Roque
GAPAN CITY – Are results of the counting of votes
by the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines 100 percent accurate as purported to be?
It is a resounding “No” for at least 514 voters in Gen. Tinio, Nueva Ecija who were supporters of a senatorial candidate in the May 13, 2013
elections.
The voters, through their attorneys-in-fact, got
the nod of a regional trial court branch here for
the manual counting of the ballots in three clustered precincts that eventually revealed that the
PCOS machine’s count for the senatorial candidate they supported was short of 119.
In its ruling, Judge Celso Baguio of RTC
Branch 34, said “obviously, the (PCOS) machines
counts fell short of (the) plaintiffs expectations.”
Because of his decision, Baguio was hounded by “trouble” by way of an administrative case
filed by a Commission on Elections (Comelec) official before the Supreme Court.
The Gen. Tinio election case was decided last
March 21 but came to light anew as the reliability of the PCOS machines is being questioned by
many quarters especially in the heels of the approval by the Comelec of a contract with Smartmatic for the refurbishing of the machines.
Congress, through the joint congressional
joint oversight committee chaired by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, is also continuing with the reported digital lines discovered in some ballots counted by the PCOS machines. The lines allegedly
touched or bisected some ovals that the voters
had to shade in the ballot to indicate their chosen
candidate.
Also, former Comelec Commissioner Augusto
Lagman, who is one of the leaders of the election watchdog AES (Automated Election System)
and an IT expert, said recently that the PCOS
machines “can be manipulated by expert techniPage 8 please
Punto! Central Luzon • January 22 - 24, 2015 • Thursday - Saturday
The Gossipmiller
Mayor asked to explain
P3-M ‘excess funds’
9
10
Punto! Central Luzon • January 22 - 24, 2015 • Thursday - Saturday