Tagel campaigns for revival of customary politics in Benguet

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- For decades, campaigning in Benguet was a friendly competition. Candidates may have had differing opinions and strategies on how to address issues in the province but dirty politics was unheard of then, according to observers.

Old folks say this practice that is rooted from indigenous practices suddenly changed in recent years, however.

Gone are the days when opposing camps campaigned together and even shared resources to buy food which they eat with the community, they say.

The political scene in the province has changed and turned into personal rivalry not only among the candidates but even among their supporters, they add.

 Running on a platform of land, values, people, One Benguet, a socio-political movement, intends to bring back the customary political practices in the province.

Vice Gov. and One Benguet congressional candidate Ericson “Tagel” Felipe said while culture is dynamic and changes over time, he said there are practices that should remain. This includes preserving the positive values of the i-Benguets.

“Culture is dynamic. It changes but traditions should remain kasla diay tongtongan wenno tavtaval”, Felipe said, adding the tongtongan or tavtaval is a form of a participatory government for it allows community members and leaders to deal with issues cordially.

 “Nagpintas ti panagkakadua tayu ti pulitika. Ma-discover tayu pay ketdi nu sinnu pay ti dadduma nga kakabagian tayu”, Felipe said, recalling the past political exercises of the province where kinship played a huge role why Benguet was able to sustain a peaceful political atmosphere.

 Running on a platform of land, values, people, Felipe and One Benguet said clean politics devoid of any demolition jobs is one of the indigenous values they want to sustain in Benguet.

Ahead of the campaign period in March, Felipe urged his supporters to always be civil and avoid attacking members of opposing camps.

 In his speaking engagements, Felipe said one’s fate, whether in politics or in other aspects in life, is determined by the Almighty.

 In his speaking engagements, Felipe reminds his audience about the long-held tradition in Benguet -- that politics in the province is fair game.

 He said there should be no mudslinging and nothing should be taken personally. Felipe stressed that the end of the day, they are still one community.

“Let us leave it to God. Ti importante, saan tayu nga aga-apa”, the Vice Governor said.

 Felipe is the congressional candidate under One Benguet, a socio-political movement, and is running on a platform of land, values, people. -- Elijah

 

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Issuance of notices vs illegal poll materials up

By Ferdinand Patinio

 

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday announced that it started issuing notices to remove illegal campaign materials of candidates running for national positions Wednesday as part of its “Oplan Baklas.”

In a forum in Manila, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said sanctions await winning senatorial candidates and party-list groups in the May 12 polls who would ignore these notices.

“There are about 7,500 issues of show cause orders and non-proclamation of winners in barangay (elections). So if they want to suffer the same fate, it's okay, don't remove illegal campaign materials,” he said, referring to the candidates in the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan who were sanctioned for the same offense.

“We have already announced the addresses of the candidates’ headquarters so that the letters will be forwarded there.”

Aspirants and party-list organizations were given three days to remove their illegally posted campaign materials.

"If they will not remove (these campaign materials) in three days, we will sue them. We will just write them a letter of disqualification due to election offense, one to six years imprisonment,” Garcia said.

He added that they would no longer accept the reason that the questioned posters or campaign materials were posted or produced by their political rivals.

“We will always presume that the face on the posters, we will presume that they put it up. Therefore, we will issue them with show cause orders and then the notice to remove campaign materials,” Garcia said.

“We can suspend the proclamation, and even if they assume (office), we can remove them. We have removed governors, city mayors because we saw that there was a violation of the election laws.”

He also called on the public to flood them with pictures of illegal campaign posters through their social media accounts so the Comelec could inform its local poll body offices and take action.

Considered unlawful campaign materials are individual posters, billboards, posters, and tarpaulins exceeding 2 ft. by 3 ft.; collage-like posters exceeding 2 ft. by 3 ft.; and posters with single letters of names, when assembled to form a size exceeding 2 ft. by 3 ft.

Also prohibited are campaign materials that are not in designated common poster areas, which are plazas, markets, barangay centers, and similar places, where posters may be readily seen or read and with the heaviest pedestrian and/or vehicular traffic in the city or municipality.

Garcia also reported that they collected so many paper materials on the first day of the campaign period for national positions.

“The Comelec has collected so many papers today that we cannot destroy or we will be violating election laws. We will properly account what we have collected and dissolve them per region or province,” he said.

He described the first day of the campaign for national positions as “very good,” noting that there were no huge banners along EDSA and other major thoroughfares.

The campaign period for senatorial bets and party-list groups will end on May 10. -- PNA

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3 nabbed for offering ‘poll victory’ to 2 pols in Cagayan for P90-M

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan

 

ENRILE, Cagayan -- Police apprehended three people posing as information technology or IT specialists in Marikina on Monday for allegedly offering two local candidates of this town guaranteed victory in the May midterm elections in exchange for P90 million.

The three were arrested by the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in an entrapment operation in a fast-food restaurant in Barangay Calumpang.

The suspects told the politicians that they could rig the votes in their favor because they are connected with the Commission on Elections, CIDG director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said.

The suspects, identified only through their aliases as Bernard, Donnie and Ronald, posed as employees of an IT company in Parañaque City.

Police have launched a manhunt for four other employees of the IT firm involved in the scam.

The operation against the suspects was conducted based on a complaint by two politicians who are running for mayor and vice mayor in the municipality of Enrile, Cagayan.

The suspects offered their services to the candidates to ensure their victory in the upcoming elections in exchange for P90 million.

“The amount includes the payment to be given to the suspects’ contacts at the Comelec,” Torre said.

In a press conference at Camp Crame in Quezon City, Torre III said the suspects tried to extort P90 million from two candidates in Enrile, Cagayan, in exchange for their victory in the May 12 polls.

Torre said Enrile, Cagayan mayoral candidate Robert Turingan and his daughter, vice mayoral candidate Karen Kaye Tavas Turingan, were forced to seek police assistance as the suspects were the same people who offered their services in the past two elections.

“Nireklamo na sila nitong dalawang complainants natin (These two complainants approached us already) because (in the) 2019 and 2022 elections, they had already presented themselves to them but they had not availed the services of these people,” Torre said.

He said Turingan and his daughter lost in both elections, and the suspects used this as proof to convince the two candidates that they could manipulate election results.

Torre said the suspects allegedly work in a Parañaque City-based IT company that claims to be connected with the Comelec and maintains access to the automated result of the election.

He said four other officials and staff of the company escaped during an entrapment operation in a mall in Marikina City.

A follow-up operation was conducted at the suspects’ office in Parañaque City, but the employees fled before the policemen arrived.

The arrested suspects are now under CIDG custody and are facing criminal charges.

Torre tagged the group as “professional scammers” who use a physical IT solution office to make their scheme more believable.

“They have this kind of influence they are peddling, and that they are able to manipulate the machines, they will be able to manipulate the personnel operating these machines and many other schemes that, of course, are untrue,” Torre said.

In the same press conference, Comelec Commissioner Aimee Ferolino denied the suspects’ connection to the poll body.

“We already have a certification from the personnel department that these persons are not in the list of employees of the Comelec,” Ferolino said.

She assured the integrity of the May 12 midterm elections, noting that the poll results cannot in any way be manipulated.

Ferolino urged the candidates to be cautious against such schemes.

Torre said an investigation is underway to determine whether the group’s operation has reached the Visayas and Mindanao.

In an interview with reporters, the older Turingan said the group approached him during the campaign period in the 2019 midterm elections.

He, however, did not entertain the group as he believed he would win, having served as Enrile town mayor in 1992. He lost his 2019 election bid.

Turingan said the group approached them again in the 2022 elections, bragging that they helped Turingan’s rival win the 2019 elections.

He admitted that he paid the group P5 million but only to stop them from meddling in the political affairs of the municipality.

The suspects were originally asking for P90 million.

Turingan lost again in the 2022 polls.

“Ngayon, lumapit ulit sila sa amin, P90million ulit ang hinihingi, una nagbigay ako ng P500,000 then P2 million pero para lang painan sila para mahuli na sila (Now they came to us again, asking for P90 million again. I initially gave P500,000, then P2 million but it was just to bait and catch them),” he said.

“Ngayon, kahit hindi na ako manalo sa election, panalo pa rin ako kasi naipahuli ko sila (Now even if I don't win the election, I'm still a winner because I had them arrested).”

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil assured that the PNP would remain apolitical and impartial and committed solely to maintaining peace and order.

“The PNP stands firm in its commitment to professionalism, neutrality, and service to the Filipino people," he said in a statement.

Marbil said the PNP leadership does not and would never condone political partisanship within its ranks.

"Our officers have sworn to serve the public, not political interests. Any claim to the contrary is far from the truth,” he added.

He said police personnel found engaging in partisan politics would face serious consequences, “including possible dismissal, in accordance with existing policies and regulations.” -- PNA

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PNP, Comelec set 149 election checkpoints in Cagayan Valley

 By Oliver T. Baccay

 

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Tuguegarao City (PIA) – – The Philippine National Police (PNP) Cagayan Valley and the Commission on Election Region 2 established 149 checkpoints across the region to ensure public safety and security in the 2025 national and local elections. 

    The checkpoints were established with the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Army.

    There were 42 checkpoints established in Isabela province, 38 in Cagayan, 22 in Nueva Vizcaya, 15 in Quirino, six in Batanes, 11 in Santiago City, and 15 by the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 2. 

    Police Brigadier General Antonio Marallag Jr, PNP regional director, emphasized the importance of the checkpoints in ensuring peaceful and credible elections.

    He said the primary purpose of the checkpoints is to deter election-related violence and maintain a secure environment for voters, candidates, and election officials. 

    Marallag said authorities will monitor the movement of individuals and prevent the illegal transport of firearms, explosives, and other potential security threats. 

    “The establishment of these checkpoints represents a significant step in our comprehensive election security plan. Our collaboration with the Comelec, AFP, and PCG is crucial to ensuring a safe and secure voting process, and we are committed to working together to maintain peace and order throughout the election period. We urge all citizens to cooperate with our officers at the checkpoints,” the police director said. 

Marallag also said the Valley Cops and their partners are committed to ensuring free, fair, and peaceful elections.

    “The Valley Cops will continue to monitor the situation closely and adjust security measures as needed,” he added. (OTB/PIA with reports from PNP Region 2) 

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Comelec, PNP check 10 Abra towns for poll violence, rivalry

 By Liza Agoot

 

BAGUIO CITY – The Commission on Elections - Cordillera Administrative Region and police are closely monitoring Abra, historically an area of concern during elections.

Nine towns in Abra have been placed under yellow category while one is under orange category.

A yellow category means historical record of intense political rivalry while an orange category also has intense political rivalry and possible threats due to the presence of communist terrorist groups.

“We are looking into it together with the law enforcement agencies to prevent escalation of political rivalries,” Comelec-CAR Assistant Director Vanessa Roncal said Monday.

Comelec has teamed-up with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police in monitoring yellow towns Bangued, Dolores, Lagangilang, Licuan Baay, Malibcong, Penarrubia, Pidigan, Pilar and Tayum; and lone orange town Bucay.

Lubuagan in the province of Kalinga is also under the yellow category.

“Binabantayan natin (We are watching it) and if there is a need to deploy more law enforcement agents to prevent problems, then we will do it,” she said.

Police Regional Office-Cordillera chief Brig. Gen. David Peredo said in an interview that “in the past election, we had dialogues with opposing political parties for possible understanding."

He said there will also be peace covenants and law enforcement operations as possible measures, along with continuous monitoring of private armed groups.

“There used to be nine groups (but) now we (only) have four. But we continue to monitor them even if they have been dismantled. Right now, we do not see any actions from them but we do not know in the coming days so we have to be on guard,” he said. -- PNA

 

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‘Final and executory’ : Comelec denies petition vs Gov Lacwasan’s candidacy

By Gina Dizon

The Commission on Elections ruled “final and executory” denying the petition opposing certificate of candidacy of Gov.  Bonifacio C. Lacwasan Jr for the position of governor of Mountain Province in the May 12,2025 elections.

Following the motion for reconsideration filed by petitioner Johnny Lausan, the Comelec en banc in their Jan. 15, 2025 decision, ruled their resolution dated Jan. 7, 2025 was ‘final and executory in accordance with rules of procedure that a decision or resolution  of the Comelec en banc in special actions shall become final and executory after five days from receipt of resolution  unless  restrained by the Supreme Court.”

The Comelec noted no restraining order was issued by the Supreme Court within five days from receipt of the parties that would preclude the Jan. 7, 2025 resolution by the Comelec en banc being ‘final and executory’ under Comelec rules on procedure and resolution 11046.

 The MR filed by petitioner Lausan was denied by the Comelec en banc that affirmed the ruling of the Comelec First Division having denied said motion for lack of merit.

Earlier, petitioner Lausan in his complaint to the First Division December last year claimed that Lacwasan violated the three-term limit rule on filing of candidacy.

The First Division junked the petition ruling that Lacwasan did not violate the 3-term-limit in their Dec. 11,2024 ruling.

“Clearly, Lacwasan was appointed and not elected as governor of Mountain Province,” the First Division stated in their resolution.

A consequent ruling of the Comelec en banc affirmed the decision of the First Division on Jan.  7, 2025.

 Lausan in his petition claimed that Lacwasan violated the 3-term limit rule claiming that  at the end of  the 2022-2025  term, Lacwasan fully served three terms and barred from running again for the fourth time.

But the Comelec en banc ruled: “We find no cogent reason to depart from the assailed resolution of the Commission (First Division)”.

The First Division of the Comelec ruled Lacwasan was not subject to the 3-term limit rule since he assumed his position as vice governor of Mountain Province and served in that capacity in the full 2016-2019 term.

“Clearly, Lacwasan was appointed and not elected as governor of Mountain Province,” the First Division stated in their ruling dated Jan. 7,2025.

Lacwasan assumed the gubernatorial post till June 30, 2019 following the death of the late Gov. Leonard Mayaen in March 31,2016.

He was subsequently elected and won in two consecutive terms as provincial governor in the 2019 and 2022 elections.

The First Division noted Supreme Court jurisprudence citing two requisites for the applicability of the disqualification under the three-term limit.

One, the official concerned has been elected for three consecutive terms in the same local government post; and second, the official concerned has fully served three consecutive terms.

The Comelec in its ruling  also noted  section 8 of  the 1987 Constitution which stated: “The term of office of elective local officials, except barangay officials, which shall be determined by law, shall be three years and no such official shall serve for more than three consecutive terms. Voluntary renunciation of the office for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of his service for the full term for which he was elected.”

The Comelec clarified that Lacwasan “did not lose title of the Office of the Vice Governor when he was appointed as Acting Governor in 2016 as he was merely prevented from exercising the functions of his office by reason of his assumption of the post of Governor as provided for and by operation of law” when a permanent vacancy arose due to the untimely death of former winning Gov. Mayaen in the 2016 elections.

The petitioner claimed Lacwasan in his COC constituted false material representation because  he (Lacwasan)  is ineligible on account of the three term limit rule.

The Comelec en banc ruled the motion for reconsideration had no valid ground and that the assailed resolution was neither without sufficient basis found in the records nor of the law.

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