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Pampanga priests hit for defying bishop’s guidelines on elections
B Y GEORGE TRILLO

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga – Devout Catholics in this province denounced some parish priests here for their “blatant disregard and open defiance” of the guidelines issued by Archbishop Paciano Aniceto in connection with the May elections.

Archbishop Aniceto earlier issued guidelines of priestly vows to steer the clergy away from partisan politics in the wake of the candidacy of Fr. Eddie Panlilio for the Pampanga governorship.

The guidelines explicitly prohibit the “use of the pulpit or the mass in campaigning for any particular candidate.”

A parish priest in Arayat openly endorsed Panlilio in his sermon during a mass in violation of Aniceto’s order.

In Sta. Lucio parish in this city, the priest was reported to have also endorsed Panlilion and even went on a house-to-house campaign.

The “gravest instance of defiance” of the archbishop happened in Magalang town last Maundy Thursday when Panlilio himself assumed the role of Christ – usually reserved to the parish priest – in the ceremonial rite for the washing the feet of the apostles, it was reported.
It was noted that upon the filing of his certificate candidacy, Panlilio was suspended from his ecclesiastical duties.

Panlilio’s very candidacy, despite the archbishop’s disapproval, has been viewed by most members of the clergy here and the laity as a “violation of his priestly vow of obedience” to Church authority.

“How can you expect him to follow the laws of men when he broke the very vow he had made before God at his ordination?” asked an officer of the parish pastoral council of the Our Lady of Sorrow in Barangay Dolores here.

“Hindi dapat mabahiran ng maruming pulitika and kadalisayan ng pananampalataya,” said a leader of the Catholic Women’s League in Barangay Puti, Masantol.

A priest in southern Pampanga, who requested anonymity, expressed “apprehension over a rift in the clergy, as well as the lay communities.”

He said his fellow priests who support other gubernatorial bets might “go the way of Fr. Ed’s (Panlilio’s) priest campaigners” by using the pulpit and ecclesiastical rites to campaign for their chosen candidates.

“If that happens, we would have the very thing of the Lord warned us against – a Babel for a Church, an institution standing against itself,” he said.

“Kawawa si Apu Ceto (the archbishop), wala man lang ni katiting na paggalang ang kaparian sa kanya,” a lay minister of the Metropolitan Cathedral here said, reacting to the disregard by the priests of his order for them not to engage in partisan politics.

Father Doy Austria, parish priest of Candaba, said that he is against the gubernatorial bid of Father Panlilio as he claimed that it is a blatant disrespect of the Church and the priesthood.
Father Doy said that this could further divide the Church and its parishioners.

Father Austria noted that the politics of men is not the calling of a priest as he insisted that priests were called by Christ to follow him. “Who are we to defy him?” he asked.

Father Austria said the government should be run by capable laymen, not by priests who were called as apostles of Christ and the Church should not be involve in running the affairs of the government.


Ilocos bets in 4 cities, 70 towns sign peace accords
BY FREDDIE LAZARO

VIGAN CITY – Candidates in four cities and 70 towns running in the May 14 elections in Region 1 signed peace covenants and attended a mass for peace in different churches in the region last week to ensure honest, orderly and peaceful polls.

Chief Supt. Leopoldo N. Bataoil, Ilocos region police director, said based on a report reaching the headquarters of police regional office, candidates in 26 municipalities in Pangasinan, 15 in La Union, and 33 in Ilocos Sur participated in the signing of covenants and the mass for peace.
The candidates in the cities of Dagupan and San Carlos, both in Pangasinan, and Vigan and Candon, both in Ilocos Sur, also joined the covenant signing.

“I thank all bishops and the clergies for their support for this endeavor,” Bataoil said.
“This peace covenant and mass for peace are meritorious achievements of every citizen here in Region 1. I’m very thankful for their support and cooperation. This is because everybody wants a peaceful and credible election,” Bataoil said.

The signing of peace covenant was a joint initiative of the Philippine National Police, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, the Commission on Elections and the Volunteers against Crime and Corruption.

The objective is to give spiritual guidance to the candidates with the end in view of conducting
peaceful honest and credible elections in the region.

Ilocos Sur Police provincial director George Regis reported candidates in Sinait, Ilocos Sur have not yet signed the peace covenant and did not attend the mass for peace.

Fr. Albert Rabi of Sinait had earlier sought clarifications from the police regarding the two activities.

In Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Director Roman Felix is coordinating with Bishop Utleg, the provincial chairman of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting and the Commission on Elections in connection with a plan to hold synchronized covenant signing and mass in the Laoag City cathedral.

It was expected that all the candidates in Ilocos Norte would attend the two events.

‘Joseph Estrada’ running for town councilor in Pangasinan
BY JENNELYN MONDEJAR

BUGALLON, Pangasinan – Joseph Estrada is running for municipal councilor here. No, he is just a namesake of the former president.

But a name, a mustache and wearing wristbands are just about what he has in common with opposition leaders.

The Estrada of this municipal town is a candidate for the administration Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats. He is also an adopted bet of Biskeg na Pangasinan..

Incidentally nicknamed “Ping,” the same as opposition re-electionist Sen. Panfilo Lacson, this Estrada said he is campaigning on the platform of good governance and a corruption-free government.

His “buloy,” which here means a person having the same, was ousted from power in 2001 for alleged plunder charges and later detained as his case is being heard by the Sandiganbayan.

Whenever he goes around campaigning, the local Estrada said he tells the people his slogan as to why they should vote for him: “Hindi (h)erap, ginhawa ‘yan!”

And for more “pogi” or plus points, he said he wants to wear a wristband similar to the one used by the ex-president who rose to popularity when he was a movie active before joining politics.


Controversial Baguio City dumpsite closed

BAGUIO CITY – Acting Baguio Mayor Reinaldo A. Bautista Jr. ordered the closure of the controversial Irisan dumpsite here to pave the way for its much-awaited rehabilitation and conversion into a controlled dump.

The first phase of the project has already begun. It is being implemented by the winning bidder, the Asia Envirocons-C.B. Garay Philwide Builders.

The city government signed the contract with the contractor. Completion of the project would ensure the city’s compliance with the provisions of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.
Bautista announced the closure of the dumpsite and rehabilitation, saying it is a special project.

The city environment and parks management office was tasked to supervise the implementation of the project, supported by the city’s engineer’s office.

A technical working group of the city solid waste management board and representatives of other concerned agencies will monitor the project.

The project, which has an allocation of P18.7 million, will involve the closure and rehabilitation of 75 percent of the 2.1 hectare dumpsite, and the remaining 25 percent of the area will be maintained as residual waste containment area.

The scope of work for the project includes trash moving work, which involves the leveling and compaction of existing solid waste and spreading and compaction of the earthfill. -- DS


3 family members, helper killed in Ilocos incidents
BY JUN GUIANG AND FREDDIE LAZARO

LAOAG CITY – Three members of a family were killed on April 15 when a tricycle they were riding in collided head-on with an Izuso Elf truck in Barnagay Cabusligan, Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, lawmen said.

Investigators reported that the victims, Jonel Reyes, his live-in partner Maryjane and their son Cetric, 8, died of multiple injuries at the provincial hospital here.
John Michael, a six-month-old member of the family, miraculously survived, suffering only minor injuries.

Police Chief Dominic Guerrero said the truck driver, Glenn Trinidad, surrendered to the police station in Bacarra.

In Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, a helper at a grocery store was found dead in a cemetery near a church in Barangay 8, this city on April 17.

SPO4 Elpidio Ponce, desk officer of the Vigan City Police Station identified the victim as Joel Refuerzo, of Barangay Tamurong, Sta. Catalina, Ilocos Sur.

Ponce said investigators found a kitchen knife, a pair of slippers and two ball caps at the crime scene.

Investigators theorized that there might have been a struggle between the killer and the victim who was stabbed in the armpit.


De Venecia endorses TU bets in Pangasinan
BY JENNELYN MONDEJAR

DAGUPAN CITY – Speaker Jose De Venecia endorsed the Team Unity senatorial slate to his constituents in Pangasinan’s fourth congressional district during a three-hour TU caravan.

De Venecia told reporters he and other leaders of the province should be expected to campaign harder to further improve the poll survey results for TU bets.

Expressing confidence of serving another term as Speaker of the 14th Congress, De Venecia revealed from a 5-7 poll survey results in favor of the Genuine Opposition ticket last month, the TU slate is now leading 7-5 in the latest surveys.

“We still have to push harder to at least get 9-3 or 10-2 in the next survey and even 12-0 on May 14,” the House leader said.

He said the well-oiled local campaign machinery in administration political strongholds in the country is expected to go into high gear in the next few days to ensure a TU victory.

De Venecia and his wife Gina led hundreds of pro-administration political leaders in Pangasinan in warmly welcoming the more than 30-vehicle caravan of TU candidates and supporters who motored from Tarlac City to Manaoag where the two groups converged.

TU bets former Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Sen. Joker Arroyo led the caravan which covered at least 10 localities in vote-rich Pangasinan.

First stop for the group was the Our Lady of Manaoag shrine which is famous for granting the wishes of Catholic pilgrims.

“I always make it a point to visit churches and other holy places to give thanks to God for giving me an opportunity to offer myself to my country,” said Sotto.

Earlier, Sotto, former Sen. Tessie Aquino-Oreta and former Secretary Mike Defensor were lauded by Cagayan folk when they took time off their hectic campaign schedule to visit the Our Lady of Piat church.

De Venecia, president of the country’s largest political party Lakas-CMD, joined the 10-wheel truck carrying Sotto and comedian Jimmy Santos. Gina joined Arroyo in the senator’s SUV.
TU campaign officials lauded De Venecia’s diligence and determination in pushing for a win by the administration-backed senatorial slate.

De Venecia is the lone administration candidate endorsed by the Arroyo government in the congressional race in Pangasinan’s fourth district.

A local survey conducted by TU indicated that De Venecia is enjoying a high 80-percent support from his constituents. He is being challenged by PDP-Laban bet Mayor Benjamin Lim of Dagupan City.

De Venecia said the recent survey results in Pangasinan further bolstered his bid to pursue an unprecedented sixth term as Speaker.

P3.5 billion used for Cordillera projects
BAGUIO CITY – About P3.5 billion worth of projects were poured out to the Cordillera region for the past year based on a consolidated report of the Regional Project Monitoring Committee.
This was gleaned from the reports of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of the Interior and Local Government, National Irrigation Administration, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Health, Baguio Water District, and the State Universities and Colleges.

Bulk of the projects are categorized as infrastructure projects amounting to P2.43B. These include major foreign assisted road projects like the Japan-assisted Baguio-Aritao Project, the World Bank- assisted Halsema Highway Rehabilitation Project, and the Australian Aid-assisted Baguio Water Supply Rehabilitation Project.

Agri-industrial projects, on the other hand, got a sizeable allotment of P1.025, which is mainly apportioned to the Itogon Integrated Watershed Management Project amounting to P750 million. Social projects had a meager share of P108 million.

Of the total 1,747 projects listed, majority were carry over from previous year appropriations while only 468 projects were funded from last year’s General Appropriations Act.

As of December 2006, 86 percent of the projects was already completed, seven percent ongoing, and nine percent has not yet been started.

About four percent of the projects is delayed due to a number of implementation difficulties
which implementing agencies and local government units have contended with such as delayed fund release, limited funds, slow bidding process, fund realignment, suspension of work due to unfavorable weather conditions, road right-of-way issues, boundary conflicts, and delayed project components.

However, some sectors point out that the huge carry over projects reveal the seemingly inability of some agencies to implement many projects. The impact of these big projects is yet to be assessed by RPMC.

Moreover, according to RPMC reports, not all agencies are openly reporting the status of their projects. -- PIA-CAR


98 persons in danger of rabies ‘outbreak’ in CL
BY GEORGE TRILLO

MABALACAT, Pampanga – A least 98 persons are in danger of being affected by rabies after a Good Friday flagellant in Barangay Aguso here died of the affliction last April 11, health authorities said.

The flagellant’s wife, his two children and residents now have to be given anti-rabies and other vaccines for 90 days.

Mayor Marino Morales said on April 16 that Eduardo Sese of Aguso town was confirmed to have died of rabies at the Tiglao Hospital here.

He said Sese participated in the self-flagellation tradition in his barangay on Good Friday, together with scores of other residents who shared the same blade in incising the shallow cuts on their back to allow the free flow of blood during flagellation.

“After the flagellation, he and other flagellants shared the same glass in a drinking bout,” he noted.

Municipal health officer Dr. Ma. Clara Aquino said the common blade and the common glass could possibly have transmitted the rabies virus to other people, including other flagellants.

“The confirmation of rabies as the cause of Sese’s death has prompted health authorities to trace those who might have been “exposed” to the rabies virus, and we were able to track down 98 persons, including Sese’s wife and two children,” Morales said.

Aquino said Sese’s friends said he was bitten by a dog sometime October last year and again last February, but he never had himself examined by a doctor.
Rabies often resulted from dog bites, health officials said.

The incubation period of rabies can be as long as five years, although 95 percent of those infected develop the disease within one year.

Once a patient starts to show symptoms the victim usually dies within 10 days.