Ecija vice mayoral protestheats up

GUIMBA, Nueva Ecija – Some 2,000 supporters of vice mayoralty bet Roseller de Guzman have called on Commission on Elections Chairman Jose Melo to expedite the resolution of the election protest he lodged against his rival, incumbent Vice Mayor Angelita de la Cruz and to install the former as duly elected winner.

In their two-page letter addressed to Melo, the petitioners, who identified themselves as the Mamamayan ng Bayan ng Guimba urged the Comelec chief to intervene in the election protest filed before the poll body by De Guzman.

The petitioners sought the installation of De Guzman as the duly elected vice mayor of the town based on the decision promulgated on Nov. 29,2007 by the Guimba Regional Trial Court.

The petitioners expressed fears the will of the electorate would be defeated by the continued non-assumption of De Guzman.

They accused De la Cruz’s camp of allegedly spreading rumors that De Guzman would not be able to assume his post because the former has “strong connections” with Melo and the Comelec.

“While we do not believe that they have strong connections with you, we nevertheless call on you Chairman Melo to give justice to the duly elected vice mayor and resolve this election protest with dispatch,” they said.

The petitioners made their appeal following reports that the election case has been submitted for resolution of the Comelec in April but has gathered dust since. -- MG

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2 suspects in Ecija killing charged

JAEN, Nueva Ecija – Police have filed murder charges before the Department of Justice against two suspects in last week’s killing of the president of this town’s Association of Barangay Captains.

Senior Supt. Ricardo Marquez, provincial police director, said the suspects, Leonilo Sarmiento and Virgilio Domingo, both of Pulong Daga, Quezon, Nueva Ecija, were tagged in the slay of Renato Fermin, barangay chairman of San Jose and Jaen ABC chief.

Fermin, an ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Bayan, was gunned down while talking to one of the suspects who pretended to be asking for a permit to raise ducks. – MG

Kin of Ilocos Sur PNP chief slain

By Liam Anacleto

CABANATUAN CITY – A policeman relative of the provincial director of the Philippine National Police in Ilocos Sur was gunned down by a lone gunman night of Oct. 26 which authorities said was tied to the lawman’s business.

Police Supt. Eliseo Cruz, Cabanatuan police chief, said PO3 Paulino Gagarin was standing in front of the Via Pharmacy near the Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center along Mabini St. when shot by the gunman at 6:10 p.m.

The victim died on the spot from a gunshot wound in the head.

Gagarin was a relative of Ilocos Sur PNP provincial director, Senior Supt. Virgilio Fabros. He was assigned with the Bulacan Provincial Police Office.

The unknown gunman sped away aboard a motorcycle.

Cruz said they were looking at Gagarin’s lending transactions as possible motive behind the attack.

The victim was reportedly engaged in “5-6,” a lending business involving usurious rates. Police recovered from the murder scene five empty shells from a .Cal. 45 revolver.

Senor Supt. Allen Bantolo, Bulacan PNP provincial director, said while Gagarin was with the BPPO, he has been detailed as a security of Fabros, a former Bulacan assistant provincial police director.

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DENR: N. Ecija flashfloods not caused by illegal logging

CABANATUAN CITY – Officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources have claimed that flashfloods which swept villages in southern Nueva Ecija Oct. 2 were not caused by illegal logging but by abnormal rainfall.

Arthur Salazar, DENR-Cabanatuan community environment and natural resources officer who holds jurisdiction over southern Nueva Ecija, said floods that hit towns of Gen. Tinio, San Leonardo, Gabaldon and Gapan City were not due to illegal logging even as felled logs and processed lumber were washed down from the mountains.

“With that amount of rainfall, naturally there would be heavy flooding,” Salazar said, disputing accusations that the flooding could be traced to illegal logging.

He said logs washed away by floodwaters were old drifted logs, not newly felled logs. “They were impounded logs which were stocked for a long time because they were never transported,” he said.

Rafael Otic, DENR provincial environment and natural resources officer, told newsmen illegal logging could not have been the cause of the floods.

Earlier, the sight of logs being washed away during flashfloods Wednesday night Oct. 1and Oct. 2 triggered suspicions these were due to persistent illegal logging in Gen. Tinio, a perennial logging hotbed.

This was also the case when flashfloods killed over 100 people and displaced 1,000 families in Dingalan, Aurora in 2004.

Otic said that while Gen. Tinio Mayor Virgilio Bote has often been linked to illegal logging activities, there was no available evidence on hand to pin the latter down.

Senior Supt. Ricardo Marquez, provincial police director, earlier said they would conduct a separate and independent investigation of the possible involvement of Bote in illegal logging.

He said he would dispatch his intelligence officer to help in the investigation of the incident

Gov. Aurelio Umali had promised to investigate the cause of the flashfloods. – MG


CSC hit for OK of gov’s aide as PIO

CABANATUAN CITY – Nueva Ecija Vice Gov. Edward Thomas Joson has slammed the Civil Service Commission for its decision upholding the appointment of a close aide of Gov. Aurelio Umali despite the aide’s lack of qualifications.

Describing the CSC decision as “dangerous precedent,” Joson said the ruling might cause chaos and confusion among local government units nationwide, particularly when it comes to the appointment of certain government officials.

“It’s a dangerous decision. It is disruptive of the operations of all LGUs,” Joson said of the recent CSC ruling which upheld the appointment of Edgardo Rillon as provincial information officer.

The CSC, in Resolution 081614 not only upheld Rillon’s appointment but also reversed an earlier decision made by CSC Region 3 director Carlos Rabang who found Rillon to be lacking in first grade civil service eligibility as well as for having no concurrence from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan as stipulated in the Local Government Code, considered the “bible” of all LGUs.

The controversy over Rillon arose after Umali designated him as provincial information officer on Sept. 21 last year.

A month later, Rabang disapproved his appointment, citing his lack of eligibility and the lack of concurrence by the SP.

In November, Rillon filed an urgent motion for reconsideration, contending that the position of provincial information officer is optional and co-terminous and is not covered by security of tenure and thus, he does not need to undergo competitive examinations.

While the CSC acknowledged that Rillon indeed lack the two requirements, it gave weight to his claims that his appointment was co-terminous with Umali and that the trust and confidence of the appointing authority (Umali) takes precedence over his lack of qualifications.

Joson, the presiding officer of the SP, said this argument of the CSC that trust and confidence must take precedence over qualifications is flawed in the sense that it has rocked the spirit and intent of the LGC which specified the qualifications and disqualifications for the position of provincial information officer.

Joson said Section 486 of the Code was very specific with regard to the appointment of the provincial information officer which states that no person shall be appointed to such post unless he is a first grade civil service eligible. The Code, he said, also provides for the concurrence of the SP.

He said that the resolution has only muddled up the issue of the legality of appointments which are often overlooked by local chief executives, citing the case of the provincial administrators in Pampanga and Nueva Ecija. -- MG

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TRO stops N. Ecija bid in collecting P1.2-B from firm over Casecnan power project

SAN JOSE CITY – Tax collection efforts of Nueva Ecija and Pantabangan town suffered a hitch after the Regional Trial Court here issued a 20-day temporary restraining order (TRO) to defer the collection of some P1.2 billion as payment for real property taxes on the giant Casecnan multi-purpose irrigation and power project. The property of CE Casecnan Water and Energy Company Inc. or CE Casecnan (owner of the project) is being re-assessed after local authorities found that the R3.8 billion in real property tax it paid in 2005 was much too small of its actual worth.

RTC Judge Cynthia Martinez Florendo, acting presiding judge of RTC Branch 39, acted on a petition for injunction and damages with application for TRO and preliminary injunction filed by CE Casecnan. Florendo granted the requested TRO, thereby restraining the provincial authorities "from proceeding with the collection of back realty taxes in the amount of R1,279,997,722.70.

The TRO is good for 20 days reckoned from Oct. 3 when the authorities received the court order.

The case stemmed from what plaintiff CE Casecnan alleged as an illegal assessment and collection of back realty taxes on its properties. Present during the hearing were defendants Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali, OIC Provincial Assessor Florante Fajardo, and Provincial Treasurer Edilberto Pancho.

Although the plaintiff presented two witnesses to prove its appeal, Judge Florendo granted a motion for postponement filed by Alejandro R. Abesamis, provincial legal officer and concurrent provincial administrator, for lack of notice to the other "necessary parties."

Abesamis was referring to representatives of the National Irrigation Administration and Department of Finance, who were not notified of the hearing. He said that they are also contemplating filing a motion to dismiss the case on grounds of forum shopping and non-exhaustion of administrative remedies available to the plaintiff.

The hearing was reset on Oct. 13.

Fajardo said the recent re-assessments made by his office was a P1.2-billion assessment on unpaid real property taxes on CE Casecnan, after the discovery of new documents showing its real worth.

Based on a reassessment made on the tax liabilities of the Casecnan dam, which the property comprises 68 percent of land located in Nueva Ecija, Fajardo said his office was able to arrive at a whopping P23 billion in unpaid taxes that accumulated since its inception in 2001.

Court records show that CE Casecnan had filed a worth of only R3.8 billion in its sworn statement it filed together with its payment settlement made in 2005. Of this amount, the municipal government of Pantabangan received a 65 percent share or R832,940,972.81, while the province got 35 percent share or P448,506,677.67.

However, a later review by the assessor’s office of newly discovered documents, upon instructions by Gov. Umali, showed a huge discrepancy in the declared worth of the properties.

The governor earlier said that he found no need for the imposition of new taxes as by merely upgrading the assessment of old taxes on real property and businesses would already be sufficient to cover the budget requirements of the province for its infrastructure and livelihood projects. -- MV

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P100 M livelihood fund setfor 1,000 Pantabangan kin

PANTABANGAN, Nueva Ecija – A cash windfall amounting to P100 million to serve as seed money for livelihood has been unveiled by the municipal government as initial funding for 1,000 poor families in this town. Mayor Romeo Borja Sr. told reporters each beneficiary family will be given P100,000 as start-up capital for family-based agribusiness livelihood ventures. He said that among the beneficiaries of the livelihood package are families of charcoal makers.

Charcoal making has been posing as a major headache for the municipal government which, however, was able to convince them to stop their illegal trade in exchange for other alternative sources of livelihood such as farming.

Borja said that the funds for the livelihood project will be sourced from the collections of real property tax being paid the municipal government by the California Energy International (CalEnergy), the build-operate-transfer (BOT) proponent of the Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project or the Casecnan Dam.

The American firm constructed the 26-km. underground trans-basin tunnel which diverted water from the Casecnan and Taang rivers in Nueva Vizcaya to the Pantabangan Dam forming part of the CMIPP’s BOT component worth $600 million. The facility was completed in 2001.

Also to be covered by the livelihood bonanza are families of 200 casual employees of the municipal government who have not been receiving their salaries for the last eight months but offered to stay on while waiting for the release of the funds.

Borja said that the 1,000 beneficiary families represent roughly one-fourth of the total number of families in the town of 4,000 families.

He said that the municipal government, while extending the livelihood aid, will strictly monitor the progress of the livelihood venture entered by every beneficiary family through a monitoring team created for that purpose. Aside from providing cash, the municipal government will provide inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, certified and hybrid seeds and other forms of technical assistance to ensure good harvest. -- MG

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Deaf-mute rescued in sex den
By Liam Anacleto

SAN LEONARDO, Nueva Ecija – Police rescued a deaf-mute and another companion following a series of lightning raids of 40 establishments along the national highway here suspected of being fronts of prostitution.

Senior Supt. Ricardo Marquez, Philippine National Police provincial director, said the deaf-mute, whose identity was withheld, was rescued along with a young woman from Laur, Nueva Ecija Maharlika who was reunited with her mother a week after she found her way here to work as one of the guest relations officer (GRO) in one of the beer joints.

The raiding team, led by deputy provincial director for operations, Superintendent Peter Guibong, swooped down on the establishments on Thursday.

They were assisted by the municipal government in conducting the raids.

The crackdown against the beer joints was ordered by Marquez following reports that the flesh trade was running rampant along the Maharlika Highway in this town.

The stretch of funhouses lining the highway is long considered the “red light district of Nueva Ecija” which has been the subject of complaints for many years to no avail. Several robbery-holdup incidents were also recorded in the area during night time, victimizing travelers.


Ecija vice gov hits Umali over barbs on Joson patriarch
PALAYAN CITY – Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali, who has come under fire from Vice Gov. Edward Thomas Joson for allegedly being insincere in his unity call, has been scored anew by the latter, this time for accusing the Joson family, which ruled the province for 48 years, of “long years of pathetic governance.”

Joson, presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, said Umali’s remarks are a direct affront not only to the administration of his predecessor, former four-term governor Tomas Joson III, but also to the late patriarch, former six-term governor Eduardo Sr.

He said Umali’s remarks are uncalled for and disdains the legacies of Joson Sr., falling short of proverbially making the latter “turn in his grave.”

“When you say long years of pathetic governance, pati si Tatang idinadamay mo na (you are dragging the name of Tatang. We find this totally unacceptable),” Joson said of his grandfather. Tatang was the nickname of Joson Sr. who was governor for 28 years.

Earlier, Umali said that the province is now facing a lot of problems “brought about by long years of pathetic governance, referring to the Josons.

Joson said the incumbent governor is in no position to accuse the Josons of being pathetic in governing the Capitol. He said the governor should have confined his broadsides to the administration of Tomas III and to go a step further would be trying to portray their clan as not having done anything good.

Answering Umali’s allegations point-by-point, Joson said there was no truth to the latter’s claims of “highly immoral and anomalous transactions” at the Capitol.

These supposedly include unremitted GSIS and Pag-ibig contributions of employes, non-payment of tuition fees of 6,000 scholars in 33 colleges and universities since 2004; gargantuan cuts in the 2008 budget; the alleged questionable donation in 2007 of heavy equipment to crony mayors of the Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija (Balane), the P1.1 billion in unpaid obligations to banks, contractors and suppliers, the slide in the economic status of Nueva Ecija and the “sweeping rejection” by the electorate of the Josons in last year’s elections.

Joson said the Department of Budget and Management assumed responsibility for the payment of the GSIS contributions but failed to do so. Worse, when the contributions were not remitted, the provincial government was slapped with interests. “If there was someone at fault here, it is the national government and not Gov. Joson,” he said.

The vice governor said that the tuition fees of the scholars were all paid for, during the time of Joson Sr. and Tomas III. On the contrary, he said, it was Umali who defaulted on payments for one year after he assumed office. -- MG

GMA escort in accident released

By Liam Anacleto

SAN ISIDRO, Nueva Ecija – An Army soldier who drove a truck that formed part of President Arroyo’s convoy here on Sept. 12 and which figured in a vehicular accident that led to the death of a sexagenarian and serious injuries to another, has been freed on bail.

Sgt. Joel Sumahit, who had been detained at the police stockade in this town was ordered released by Judge Dorentino Floresta of the Gapan City Regional Trial Court Branch 35 after posting a bail bond of P30,000.

Sumahit was arrested after the Army truck he was driving as part of the convoy of Ms Arroyo and the Presidential Security Group figured in a four-vehicle smash-up along the Gapan-Olongapo Road here Friday.

Ms Arroyo flew here that day, her second in 10 days, to inaugurate a P100-million bridge named after her father’s ally, the late Sen. Gaudencio Antonino, and to attend the birthday of the latter’s son, fourth district Rep. Rodolfo Antonino.

The vehicular accident took place in Barangay Poblacion when the Army truck hit the tricycle driven by Ron-ron Tecson, which in turn smashed into a Suzuki Shogun and another tricycle.

Mayor Sonia Lorenzo told local media Tecson remains in critical condition with his doctors advising that he be transferred to a hospital in Metro Manila. Insp. Armando Cruz, acting municipal police chief, said provincial prosecutor Floro Florendo has also ordered the Army truck released.

Lorenzo said Malacañang has kept its word that it would shoulder all the expenses of the victims, including the studies of a son of one of them.

The mishap happened a few days after the PSG reportedly figured in a similar accident in Nueva Vizcaya.

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2 foreign builders tapped for huge Ecija dam project
By Liam, Anacleto

GEN. TINIO, Nueva Ecija – President Arroyo has asked two foreign builders to undertake the construction of the long-stalled P15-billion Balintingon Reservoir Multipurpose Project in this town. Rep. Rodolfo “Rody” Antonino (4th disctrict) told local media Ms Arroyo requested representatives of a South Korean corporation and a Japanese funding agency to
submit an unsolicited proposal within next week.

Antonino said the foreign investors, met with the President here last week when she attended the congressman’s birthday party in Barangay Langla.

He said that the Korean representative belongs to the KWater Corp., a firm engaged in all water projects in South Korea and which is owned by the South Korean. The Japanese entity is a funding agency similar to the Japan International Cooperating Agency, he added.

Antonino, a stalwart of Ms Arroyo’s Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), said the unsolicited proposal means that the government was not the one who sought the project but that it was subjected to the so-called “Swiss challenge,” meaning the proposal was not put up in the international community to know if there are parties interested to bankroll it.

The process, he said, would last up to 60 days. Antonino said the President wants the project to get off the ground. “She’s quite uneasy that there was no progress on the project,” he said of the BRMP which was first planned 32 years ago.

The BRMP was first conceived under the Irrigation Development Plan for Central Luzon, a reconnaissance study by the National Irrigation Administration and ECI Consultants Inc. in 1976.

The BRMP was programmed to irrigate 14,900 hectares of agricultural lands in the eastern section of Central Luzon, covering Bulacan and Nueva Ecija using the Sumacbao River in Gen. Tinio as water source.

It involves construction of an outdoor 69 kilovolt switchyard connecting the plant with the Luzon grid at the substation in Cabanatuan City, a 140-meter long, rockfill central core dam, a 19-meter high diversion weir, 109 kms. of main canals, 168 kms. of lateral and sub-lateral canals, 210 km of drainage facilities and service and access roads.

Once finished, it is programmed to benefit 9,152 families in Cabanatuan City, Gapan City, and the municipalities of Sta. Rosa, Gen. Tinio and Penaranda – all in Nueva Ecija and the Bulacan towns of San Ildefonso and San Miguel.

In 2004, the dam cost only P5 billion. Its cost rose to P8.3 billion in 2006 and to P15 billion at present.

A detailed feasibility study made by NIA in 1983 which was financed by the Italian government proposed the construction of the dam with a reservoir capacity of 572 million cubic meters to irrigate 18,800 hectares.

Antonino said that the project has been reprogrammed to supplement the water supply requirements of the Angat Dam. “With Balintingon, there will be adequate supply of water for Angat and there will be no problem anymore,” he said.


Trader, boy killed inside their house in Cabanatuan

CABANATUAN CITY – Police are still trying to identity two gunmen who shot to death a businessman and an 11-month-old boy and wounded a relative inside their house here in Barangay San Roque Melencio on Sept. 13. In a report, Senior Supt. Ricardo Marquez, Nueva Ecija provincial police director, identified the fatalities as Ricardo Gonzales, 52, a businessman of Barangay Villa Ofelia, Cabanatuan City and Kurt Justine Espino, 11-months.

The wounded was identified as Nenita Galang, 37, of Barangay San Roque Melencio, Cabanatuan City.

Marquez said Gonzales visited Galang who was carrying his grandson when the suspects forcibly barged in at the said house and without reason fired their firearms toward the victims.
Gonzales and Espino were taken to the Dr. PJRMC Hospital in Cabanatuan City but both died due to multiple gunshot wounds, said Marquez. – Liam Anacleto

Ecija cops file charges vs 4 in ex-vice mayor’s slay

CABANATUAN CITY – Police filed murder charges before the Department of Justice against four persons tagged in the cold-blooded killing of the former vice mayor of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija last month.

Senior Supt. Ricardo Marquez, provincial police director, said Cabiao police, under Senior Insp. Romeo Ramos, lodged the complaint before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office against Tony Torres, Ponseng Canlas, a John Doe and one Peter Doe.

The four were tagged for the Aug. 14 killing of former Cabiao vice mayor Bonifacio “Boy Good”Clemente. Clemente, 54, died on the spot from gunshot wounds from a caliber .45 pistol.

Marquez said with the filing of the case, they considered the killing of Clemente solved.
Marquez said that in filing the information, the Cabiao police gathered the affidavits of Clemente’s widow Teresita and Lina Miranda who personally witnessed the killing.

Miranda in his affidavit said she saw two men riding a black motorcycle alight in front of the Jay Vulcanizing Shop in Barangay San Fernando Sur, Cabiao at around 1:20 p.m. on Aug. 14.

Clemente was calling somebody on his cellular phone while waiting for his vehicle to be fixed at the lobby of the vulcanizing shop when fired at by the suspects. -- MG

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Word war between Nueva Ecija top officials escalates

CABANATUAN CITY – His one hand may be extending a hand of peace but his other hand is swinging and about to throw a punch.

This is the scenario painted by Vice Gov. Edward Thomas Joson who accused beleaguered Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali, who is facing a slew of graft suits for alleged irregularities, of being insincere in his peace overtures and of flaunting “empty rhetoric” in his call for unity among Novo Ecijanos.

Joson, eldest son of former four-time governor Tomas Joson III, said Umali’s oft-repeated call for unity is short of substance amid the controversies hounding his scandal-tainted administration.

Joson was commenting on the provincial government’s adoption of unity as theme in the 112th anniversary of the “Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija” in Palayan City on Sept. 2.

The theme: Pagkakaisa para sa patuloy na pagbabago ng Nueva Ecija (Unity for the continuing change of Nueva Ecija),” Umali said, is timely because it is the call of the hour in the province.

He said that “at this point in time, what the province needs is unity and a step toward the direction of the government to use newly discovered knowledge and modern technology which will change our lives and economy.”

Last year, the young governor made a pitch for change when his administration adopted the theme: “Sa Pagbabago ng Nueva Ecija, lahat kasama (In the change of Nueva Ecija, everybody has a share).”

Joson said this battlecry was nothing but empty rhetoric, coming as it is from a governor who extends his hand for peace and reconciliation yet exhibits a fighting stance with members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

He told the media the governor lacks sincerity. “Salita lang yon. Ang importante kung ano ang ginagawa mo. Madaling magsalita pero ‘yung ikinikilos mo naman iba. Ipakita mong sinsero ka (This is just a word. What is important is what you are doing. It’s easy to speak but your actions are different. Show you are sincere),” he said.

He said that for one, Umali has shown an utter lack of respect for the entire SP which he (Joson) heads by refusing to heed its call for him to present his plans and programs for the province. “Umali has never faced the SP even once to present his program of government. Let’s give the SP due respect,” he said.

He said immediately after the commemorative rites for the Nueva Ecija Day was over, Umali called a press conference attacking the SP members for allegedly blocking his programs.
Joson said that on a personal level, he and Umali may not be able to settle their differences but said they can work together professionally but that the latter has been doing it the wrong way.

“It is only in our work as public servants that we can possibly agree on, but he has been doing things that are the opposite of what he is trying to promote which is peace and reconciliation,” he said.

Umali earlier called for unity among the province’s political leaders, primarily the Josons then lambasted Joson who he accused of playing “cheap politics.”

In a strongly worded press statement, Umali threw the gauntlet on Joson to heed, if not lead, on his call for unity.

Umali was reacting to Joson’s accusations that his call for unity was “empty rhetoric,” describing the latter’s remarks as a “below-the-belt shot.”

Umali said it was Joson, eldest son of former four-time governor Tomas Joson III, and not him who lacks sincerity in answering his call for unity, noting that as the second ranking provincial official, he (Joson) should be the first to heed, if not lead, his call for unity.

Umali said Joson’s comments are meant to create divisiveness among Novo Ecijanos which the province can least afford at this time when they are facing a lot of problems “brought about by long years of pathetic governance of the past administration.”

Stepping up his attacks against the Josons, Umali said the vice governor should know better as their clan had been at the helm of the provincial government for five decades “until they have been rejected by the people during the 2007 elections.”

Umali cited a litany of what he claimed are “highly immoral if not anomalous transactions” during the Josons’ watch among which were unremitted Government Service Insurance
Systems amortizations and Pag-ibig contributions for housing, policy and loans; alleged non-payment of P63.9-million worth of tuition and other fees of 6,000 scholars in 33 colleges and universities since four years ago and unpaid obligations to banks, contractors and suppliers worth P1.1 billion.

Joson laughed off Umali’s verbal attacks, saying his claim that Nueva Ecija’s alleged economic backwardness was farthest from the truth. He said during the campaign period for the 2007 polls, Umali had been harping about the reported dethronement of the province as rice granary.
Yet, he said, the governor had the audacity to claim credit for Nueva Ecija’s becoming top rice producer for 2007 in full-page advertisements in newspapers.

“He claimed Nueva Ecija is now top producer of rice when he became governor when the statistics he used in claiming the same was culled during the administration of Governor (Tomas) Joson,” he said.

Ecija gov, two officials charged for loan scam

By Liam Anacleto
CABANATUAN CITY – Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali, facing many graft suits for alleged mismanagement barely a year in office, was slapped with another one.

Vice Gov. Edward Thomas Joson filed another graft case against Umali before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly entering into a loan agreement with the Land Bank of the Philippines without the required authorization from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

Joson, eldest son of former four-time governor Tomas Joson III, filed the complaint-affidavit before the Ombudsman’s central records division Wednesday afternoon.

Also named in the suit were provincial treasurer Edilberto Pancho and Regina Nimes, department manager and head of the Nueva Ecija Lending Center of the LBP.

“Hindi ko alam kung papano niyang lulusutan ito. Masyadong damaging ang evidence (I don’t know how he could get it through. The evidence is too damaging to be ignored),” he said.
Joson in his complaint accused the respondents of committing gross violations of RA 3019 or the

Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Section 468 of RA 7160 or the Local Government Code and of grave abuse of discretion, misconduct in office and irregularity in the performance of their duties.

The complaint sought a prayer for the preventive suspension of the respondents pending decision on the case.

Joson in the complaint, said Umali, by himself and without authority from the SP, requested for a drawdown from the provincial government’s approved P370-million with the LBP allegedly to finance the construction of the Gapan District Hospital and the Eduardo L. Joson Memorial Hospital in Cabanatuan City.

The ELJMH is named after the vice governor’s late grandfather, former six-term governor Eduardo Joson Sr.

The loan was approved by the Land Bank, led by Nimes on Nov. 23,2006 when Joson III was still the governor.

The loan was for the establishment of a P370-million Omnibus Term Loan Facility to finance various projects of the province contained in its Local Development Plan.

Records of the case, a copy of which was obtained, showed that on Dec. 11, 2006, the SP then headed by Joson III’s younger brother, then vice governor Mariano Cristino Joson, passed Resolution 420-S-2006 ratifying the loan agreement executed between the provincial government and LBP.

Joson III subsequently signed the Notice of Loan Approvals sent by LBP.

Joson noted in his complaint that Joson III was specifically and exclusively authorized by the SP to sign, execute, endorse and deliver any promissory notes and related documents regarding the transaction.

But after Umali took over, the complaint stated, he requested the LBP on Aug. 7 for a drawdown of the approved loan for which Nimes required him to submit the required documents.

However, it added, Umali was able to induce Nimes to facilitate his request for a drawdown from the OTLF without requiring him to submit three vital SP resolutions namely, one approving the projects, another authorizing Umali to ask for a drawdown from the provincial government’s approved loan with LBP, and a third resolution authorizing him to sign the documents pertaining to the requested drawdown and to receive the proceeds.

“Respondents Umali and Pancho signed for and in behalf of the province the loan documents knowing very well that their acts are not accompanied with the above-stated documents,” the complaint stated.

In the case of Nimes, the complaint cited that she allowed herself to be persuaded, induced or influenced by Umali to release the money without requiring him to submit the mandatory documents in violation of the OTLF’s terms and conditions and the provisions of the LGC.

After the requested drawdown was illegally and invalidly released, Umali proceeded with the construction of the GDH and the ELJMH, Joson said.

The vice governor stressed that Resolution 420-S-2006 passed by the previous SP specifically and exclusively authorized only then Gov. Tomas Joson III and that the incumbent members of the SP never passed a resolution granting Umali the same authority vested in the former governor.

Joson also decried that Nimes, in having the OTLF approved, required Joson III then to submit an SP resolution. “It is quite surprising why this time, Nimes did not require Gov. Umali to submit a Sangguniang Panlalawigan resolution of the same tenor,” he said in his complaint.

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DPWH worker slain; ex-vice mayor nabbed
By Liam Anacleto

CABANATUAN CITY — A Department of Public Works and Highways worker here was shot to death last week by an unidentified man near a gasoline station in Barangay D.S. Garcia, this city.
Senior Insp. Danilo Eduardo, chief investigator of the Cabanatuan police, identified the victim as Edwin Wycoco, 47, resident of Villa Cecilia (Phase 2), this city.

The victim was a son of retired Assistant City Prosecutor Pacifico Wycoco, now chief of the City Legal Office, and twin brother of Barangay Chairman Edward Wycoco of Sta. Arcadia here.

The victim was reportedly walking towards his red Zuzuki multi-cab parked near the Fuel Zone gas station adjacent to city’s multi-purpose parking terminal when the gunman fired several shots at him at close range.

The police found six shells of Cal. .45 bullets at the crime scene.

Meanwhile, former Nampicuan (Nueva Ecija) Vice Mayor Luisito Verayo y Sanchez was nabbed Tujesday by policemen at a checkpoint in Bliss, Barangay Cabaducan East, Nampicuan town for possession of a Cal. 45 pistol with 10 rounds of ammunition.

He was unable to present any document for the Strayer Voight Inc.-made firearm.
He was charged with illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

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‘Nueva Ecija gov’s security an overkill’
By Liam Anacleto

CABANATUAN CITY – A security overkill with the presence of platoons of fully armed bodyguards and a cordon sanitaire surrounding Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali has turned off many Novo Ecijanos who gave him an overwhelming mandate in last year’s gubernatorial elections.

Residents said Umali’s security cordon would put to shame the Presidential Security Group of both President Arroyo and former President Joseph Estrada combined.
Church officials and concerned citizens said the presence of dozens of many bodyguards encircling Umali has alienated the governor from the masses.

A Catholic priest said Umali has gone “paranoid” (distrustful) of people coming near him over supposed death threats and Novo Ecijanos could not get near him in the process.

“Praning na siya pagdating sa security (He’s paranoid when it comes to security),” the Church official said.

He said the governor’s excessively huge number of bodyguards has been causing disorder in some public functions he attended, or was invited to.

The Church official recalled that Umali was invited to a recent gathering. He said two days before the event, the governor’s advance party arrived at the venue and started sifting the place for supposed bombs. “Ocular inspection lang daw sabi nila (They said it’s just an ocular inspection),” the official said.

Not contented with the advance party, he said the governor sent another group a day before the actual event, causing unnecessary alarm to the host.

The Church official said that even food preparations for the event where Umali would be the guest were severely affected because of the large number of bodyguards.

He said during a recent occasion, the host invited the governor and prepared food for only 20 members of his entourage.

However, around 80 bodyguards of Umali arrived, resulting to the shortage of food.

A husband of a prominent former public official in Central Luzon even remarked that with the presence of so many bodyguards, Umali had shown signs he was scared stiff of his life, amid the supposed death threats. “Duwag siya kung ganoon. Hindi siya matapang (He is timid. He is not brave),” he said.

The Church official said when Umali is at the provincial Capitol in Palayan City, his visitors have to pass through the proverbial eye of the needle before they could get near, or talk to him because they are screened thoroughly.

The governor’s aides would often say to visitors, “me death threats kasi si Boss (Boss has death threats),” referring to Umali.

Ex-Ecija V-Mavor slain ambush

By Liam Anacleto

CABIAO, Nueva Ecija – Motorcycle-riding men gunned down a former vice mayor of this town afternoon on of August 14. Senior Supt. Ricardo Marquez, acting provincial police director, bared this saying former vice mayor Boy Good Clemente, 51, was standing in front of a vulcanizing shop in Barangay San Fernando Sur where he parked his Starex van when two motorcycle-riding men shot him with a Cal. 45 pistol in the back at around 1:30 p.m.

Clemente died from four gunshot wounds. Details about the killing remain sketchy and have yet to determine the possible motive.

Clemente’s killing sent shocked residents to this town where he had no known enemies.

Cabiao, hometown of the late National Bureau of Investigation director Reynaldo Wycoco and former Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez, has had no history of killings of local officials.

Mayor Abundia Garcia, a close ally of Gov. Aurelio Umali under whose Lakas-CMD party Clemente ran for reelection in 2004, said the killing was an unfortunate in this town considering that the victim was good.

Clemente was elected vice mayor in 2001 when Gloria Crespo-Congco was still mayor. He ran for reelection under Garcia’s ticket but lost to the incumbent, Mar Simbillo.

Garcia said prior to the incident, Clemente confided to her he was having problems with the cockpit arena he was operating.

“He said he got involved in a feud involving the cockpit so I warned him to be extra careful,” she said. Garcia has created a task force to dig deeper into the killing and has offered a reward that could lead to the arrest of Clemente's killers.

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Probe pushed on CLSU failed orchard project

SCIENCE CITY OF MUNOZ, Nueva Ecija – A prominent pomologist sought last week an investigation into the failed orchard project of the Central Luzon State University here which he said could have resuscitated the country’s fruit tree industry. Bernardo Dizon, more popularly known as “Ka Bernie” said Congress should investigate the pomology section of the CLSU which performance has been a dismal failure because the school administration failed to exert a sustained effort to improve on its “ancient and backward technology.”

If managed properly, he said, the fruit tree industry could have served as top dollar-earner considering the high demand for fruits.

Dizon said the university’s Board of Regents, should take pains to conduct a parallel investigation of the failed orchard project and other anomalies.

Dizon said since a decade ago, he has already called the attention of CLSU authorities to look into the failed plant technology being practiced inside the campus.

He added had authorities replicated the technology already in place at the CLSU which he introduced in 1993, Nueva Ecija and Central Luzon would already have been reaping the benefits of this technology. He said several thousands of seedlings he provided the university in the early stage of his stay there have all died because they were denied watering.

He added that through his technology, the university could produce its own stocks of fruit free seedlings. – MG


N Ecija mayor on murder case: Political harassment
CUYAPO, Nueva Ecija – Mayor Amado “Jong” Corpuz Jr. accused his detractors from the Lakas-CMD of engaging in political harassment for orchestrating the filing of a criminal complaint for murder against him before the Department of Justice in connection with the cold-blooded gunslaying of the former secretary of the Sangguniang Bayan. Corpuz dismissed as politically motivated the charges that he ordered the killing of Angelito Espinosa, ex-Sangguniang Bayan secretary on June 4. “They are out to unseat me. This is orchestrated by my political enemies,” he said.

He urged Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali to keep his hands off the murder case which he claimed was set up by the latter’s partymates at the Lakas-CMD. “I hope that Gov. Umali will steer clear of this case which is the handiwork of his men from the Lakas-CMD.”

Corpuz issued a statement after a tricycle driver who supposedly witnessed the killing of Espinosa, hinted the mayor ordered the victim’s killing and even reportedly gave the firearm used in the killing to the suspect, Carlito Samonte, the mayor’s bodyguard.

Espinosa was shot dead following a heated altercation with Samonte at the municipal compound the morning of June 4. Samonte, also known as Kuratong, tried to escape but was collared by Cuyapo police chief Supt. Danilo Fernando and two of his men following a brief chase. Police reports said the argument was triggered when Espinosa stared “maliciously” at Samonte who confronted him. Espinosa tried to pull a gun from his waist but was beaten to the draw by Samonte.

Espinosa died from two gunshot wounds. Police later recovered the two firearms owned by Samonte and the victim, a Colt caliber .45 pistol and a 9 mm which were later both found to be unlicensed by the Firearms and Explosives Division based in Camp Crame.

A criminal complaint was filed against Samonte before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office which was later forwarded to the Regional Trial Court. Corpuz was not included in the original complaint but was later named in a supplemental affidavit by the alleged witness, tricycle driver Alexander Lozano.

The Provincial Prosecutor’s Office has set a preliminary investigation of the case next week. In his supplemental affidavit filed with the DOJ, Lozano said he was on his way to the office of Vice Mayor John Diego when upon reaching the mayor’s office, he saw Corpuz fuming mad and cursing a certain Lito while talking to Samonte.

Later, he quoted the mayor as telling Samonte “P__ Lito ‘yan, birahin mo (That P___ Lito, take him),” while allegedly handing over a stainless gun to Samonte. Lozano stated in his affidavit that Corpuz must be referring to Espinosa who, he said, earned Corpuz’s ire for helping municipal employees lodge a complaint against the mayor for nepotism and other charges. He said he told Espinosa to be careful because the mayor was after him.

Moments later, Espinosa was shot dead.

Lozano said he did not link Corpuz to the killing at first because he feared for his life. Corpuz said the killing of Espinosa was the offshoot of a personal matter which should not be tolerated to involve an innocent third person like him.

He said the incident was a spur-of-the-moment thing induced by heated argument, negating treachery nor any premeditated killing.

Corpuz said Lozano’s affidavit is “biased, is an afterthought, full of improbabilities and conjectures.”

He said that Espinosa never committed any wrongdoing against him to warrant his ordering him killed.

He also denied giving the supposed stainless gun to Samonte which was allegedly used in the killing as evidenced by the fact that the gun recovered from the suspect was a Cal. 45 pistol. -- MG

Cop chief offfers to quit over gov's nab

CABANATUAN CITY – Senior Supt. Napoleon Taas, former provincial director of the Philippine National Police in Nueva Ecija, offered to quit his post over grumblings of Gov. Aurelio Umali who kept nagging PNP Chief Avelino Razon Jr. for his relief.

A source said Taas was not relieved from his post contrary to reports but offered to be relieved because Umali kept badgering Razon for him to be replaced.

“Sumbong ng sumbong si Gov. Umali kay Chief PNP kaya minabuti na lang ni Col. Taas na umalis na lang (Gov. Umali kept on reporting to Chief PNP so Col. Taas deemed it wise to just go out),” the source who was privy to the eveNts leading to Taas’ relief, revealed. The source said Razon tried to convince Taas to stay put.

“Hangga’t ako ang Chief PNP ’di ka maaalis diyan (For as long as I am the Chief PNP, you won’t be removed in your post),” the source quoted Razon as telling Taas but the latter politely refused.

The source added Taas consoled himself by saying he had served the province for a minimum of six months which, he said, was enough.

Taas’ decision to quit the provincial directorship was bared after local businessmen in the province lamented his relief, and asked Razon to explain the move.

Earlier, Nueva Ecija Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Kenny Bansale said Taas’ relief was unjustified since he had advanced Razon’s Mamang Pulis program in the province, brought down the crime volume and introduced innovations never before achieved by his predecessors.

Because of this, Bansale, said, the morale of police personnel was high and the business community in the province achieved peace of mind.

The source said before Taas was relieved, Razon had dinner with Umali and asked the latter why he kept asking for the police official’s relief.

The governor failed to come up with a logical explanation.

A few weeks back, Umali, the provincial chairman of the ruling Lakas-CMD, also reportedly asked President Arroyo to have Taas relieved for which the latter reportedly replied: “Bakit hindi ba nagtatrabaho ang PD mo (Why, is your PD not doing his job)?”

Umali acknowledged to the President that Taas was doing his job. Earlier, the provincial Chamber of Commerce was reported as having urged chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. to explain the sudden removal of Taas whose performance was rated satisfactory by a high-ranking police official in Central Luzon.

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109 leaders bolt N. Ecija party; join Lakas-CMD
By Liam Anacleto

GAPAN CITY — One-hundred-nine political leaders, including this city’s vice mayor, six councilors and 103 village officials, 13 of them barangay chairmen, have bolted the Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija (Balane) and joined the Lakas-CMD in a move that rocked the city’s political groups.

Lakas-CMD provincial chairman Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio M. Umali, whom the officials took their oath of affiliation, described the mass transfer as a healthy sign that Novo Ecijanos really want a change in the political setup that is blamed for the lethargic situation of the province.

The leaders of the mass change of political affiliation formerly belonged to Balane, the province’s major political party chaired by former vice governor Mariano "Boyet" Joson.

It was learned that Gapan Mayor Ernesto Natividad, an original Lakas-CMD member, may yet join the party hoppers in early August. Thirteen of the 23 barangay chairmen here changed their party affiliation.

The city council here is now composed of five Lakas members and five Balane members with the presiding chairman, Vice Mayor Christian Tinio now a Lakas-CMD stalwart.

The reason for the political exodus is the alleged "lack of concern of the original party leaders for the welfare of their constituents that contributed to erosion of their bailiwicks."

The highest leader of the group is Vice Mayor Tinio. The five councilors now with Lakas-CMD are Eliser Padiernos, Amang Alvarez, Diomy Matias, Joe Mendoza, and Orlan Oanes.

The affiliation ceremony which was held in the compound of the house of Vice Mayor Tinio on Maharlika Highway in Barangay Bayanihan here was witnessed by Board Members Teresita Patiag, Zaldy Matias, and Edmond R. Abesamis and Lakas-CMD party secretary Gay GP Padiernos and former vice governor Oscar Tinio.

Barangay San Nicolas Chairman Rodel Matias, vice president of the Gapan’s League of Barangay Chairmen, voiced his group’s sentiment that they chose to join Umali who was described as "yung nagmamahal sa mga bayan, yung nagmamahal sa mga mamamayan."

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Ex-worker main suspect in murder of gas station guardBy Liam Anacleto

CABANATUAN CITY – Police have identified the prime suspect in the July 23 break-in at the Petron gasoline station in Barangay Aduas Sur here which led to the killing of a young security guard. Police Supt. Eliseo Cruz, Cabanatuan police chief, identified the suspect as JR Santos, a former employee of the gas station.
A manhunt has been launched for the capture of Santos.

Cruz said Santos has been tagged for the murder of security guard Christopher Aquino, 19, of Barangay Ganduz, Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija. Aquino was employed with the security agency Regent Protective Service, Inc. Aquino’s blood-spattered body was found lying inside the comfort room adjacent to the gasoline station’s office at 5 a.m. that day. He bore a one-inch incision on his left eyebrow.

Cruz said Santos was terminated as an employee in February after his employer found out he had been swindling his boss of earnings from the gas station.

He said Santos was able to tamper the gas meter by inserting a chord in the gas pump which showed erroneous reading. Because the gas pump has been tampered with, the actual gas sold to consumers would not reflect in the company’s computer.

With this, Cruz said, Santos was able to pocket the money paid for by vehicle owners who would gas up at the station. The anomaly was later discovered by the management which fired Santos. Cruz said it was possible Santos broke into the gas station’s office and burned the evidence necessary in the filing of a case against him by management.

He said his men are still gathering additional physical, testimonial and circumstantial evidence, including fingerprints that would help pin down Santos and his cohorts.

Missing couple found in well

STO. DOMINGO, Nueva Ecija — The search for the missing couple Rolando Gonzales, 60, and his wife Imelda, 56, relatives of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, ended May 31.

They were found in a 22-foot-deep well in Sitio Ilog Baliwag, Barangay Sto. Rosario, this town.

The bodies of the victims were identified by Balanga City police chief, Supt. Benjamin H. Silo Jr., as Rolando Gonzales y Batong Bakal, and Imelda Gonzales y Valencia, both residents of Balanga City, Bataan.

The well was first dug up on May 27 but the rains that fell in the area made digging difficult that authorities had to use a backhoe. The couple had been missing for 41 days.

The last place they were seen together was at the Balanga Cathedral. Reports indicated they were abducted after they attended mass at the Cathedral in Balanga City.

The exhumed bodies were reportedly identified by a brother of Rolando, 41 days after they were reported abducted after attending mass in Balanga in Bataan on April 20. The exhumation of the bodies was witnessed by a team of operatives from the Nueva Ecija Crime Laboratory headed by Inspector Marissa D. Areola, Scene of Crime Office team leader.

Cabanatuan Cty Assistant City Health Officer Dr. Jun Concepcion, said in his autopsy report that the Gonzales couple bore three stab wounds each in the different parts of the body.

He also stated the bodies appeared fresh and not bloated indicating they were killed only "a few days ago.

“The bodies, having been immersed in water, could have preserved their bodies, he added.

Concepcion also noted in his autopsy report the man’s hands were tied with his mouth covered with packing tape.

Meanwhile, the woman’s arm and leg were hit with a blunt object. Concepcion also collected "bone marrow samples from the left femur of the victims as well as hair strands" for DNA examination.

The bodies were taken to the St. James funeral parlor in the town on June 1. They were later brought to Bataan for disposition.

The well was being used by native farmers in providing irrigation in their farm lands in the area.

One of the kidnappers pinpointed the location of the grave to the Balanga police authorities after their arrest.

According to Senior Supt. Manuel Gaerlan, Bataan police director, they got a lucky break when one Allan Lopez, 35, of Magalang Pampanga, one of four arrested suspects in the kidnap of the Gonzales couple in Dinalupihan, Bataan, confessed and pointed to the grave.

The Gonzales couple was reportedly engaged in money-lending with mostly market vendors as their customers.

The kidnapping was originally intended merely to scare off the couple to drop their demands for a P900,000 indebtedness but later led to the asking of a ransom.