Baguio City council former SDS Olarte

By Julie G. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY- The city council last week collectively approved resolution 018, series of 2014 expressing sympathies and condolences to the family of former Schools Division Superintendent Jose Olarte who passed on, last Feb. 12, here in the city.

Born Feb. 15, 1925 at Agoo, La Union, Supt. Olarte acquired his Elementary Teacher Certificate (ETC) at the Philippine Normal School in Manila in 1948, Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) from the Baguio Colleges Foundation, now University of the Cordilleras in 1956, Master of Arts in Education at the University of the Philippines-Diliman in 1970 and Academic Requirements for Doctorate from the University of Baguio in 1980. Through this, he “actualized the ideals of a spirited educator, able to mold young minds into becoming productive and responsible citizens,” the resolution reads. 

Mang Joe, as he is fondly called, was married to Macrina Laranang Olarte and they are blessed with four children, 16 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

From being an elementary school teacher in Benguet in 1948 to Schools Division Superintendent of Baguio and Ilocos Sur from 1979 to 1990, he was also associate professor at BCF/UC from 1958 to 1985, and professional lecturer at UP Baguio Graduate School.

Supt. Olarte has garnered many awards through service and significant contribution to the community, namely; Leadership Recognition Award and Centennial Leadership Award by the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Baguio and Philippines, respectively; Most Outstanding President of the Philippine Government Retirees Association (PGRA) in 2007; Outstanding Senior Citizen by the Baguio Elderly Asssociation in 2004; Bronze Tamaraw Medallion Award by the Boy Scouts of the Philippines; Outstanding Citizen of Baguio in 1997 in the field of public education; Holy Name Man of the year in 1995; Outstanding Educator of the Year in 1989; and one of the the Top Ten Ilocano Educators in 1983 awarded in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

The Olartecouple were recognized in 2013 with the Outstanding Senior Citizens Community Service Award, Family category.

Supt. Olarte “has touched the lives of people from all walks of life,” as “a public educator, committed citizen, advocate of the elderly and environment and a loving and responsible family man,” with “his humble beginnings, his principles, his services, and his giving of himself,” the resolution states.

He was also actively involved in church activities; being a Knight of Columbus and a member of the Holy Name Society. Together with his wife, he was immersed in senior citizen activities, as with environmental concerns, wherein the regreening of Bayan Park was endeavored.

As Senior Citizen Official for a Day (SCOFAD), he suggested an integrated approach to the solid waste management problem of the city, in coordination with the barangays.

Supt. Olarte was also barangay adviser of East Bayan Park from 1975, and manager of Teachersville Subdivision from 1994 up to the time of his death.                   

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Housing loan available for Pag-ibig Fund members

By Carlito M. Dar  

BAGUIO CITY --  Be a member of PAGIBIG Fund now as aside from housing loan opportunity, every monthly membership contribution you will pay will add-up as your savings that can also earn annual dividend.

PAGIBIG Fund - Baguio Housing relations Officer Kristabel Asiong,  aired this invitation in an interview over  the PIA Hour radio program  at  radio station DZWT, Thursday.

 Asiong said being a PAGIBIG member, one can avail  of up to P6 million housing loan funding assistance, either for buying a lot, house and lot or condo unit, or even for house construction or home improvement that is payable in easy monthly - term payments that can be spread-up to 30 years.

 “Being a member for two years or having a total of two years monthly contribution  entitles a member for a housing loan which amount or computation will be based on the property being bought (lot, house and lot or condo) or the extent of construction or home improvement to be made and the member’s capacity to pay based on his/her gross monthly income”, she said.

 “A member can also get up to two co-borrower, preferably a relative up to second degree of consanguinity who are also PAGIBIG members,” she added.

Aside from housing loan,  PAGIBIG members will always be member and every monthly contribution payment, continuous or not, will add up to his savings and earn annual dividend.

 She urged  those who have been members in the past to continue paying their membership, even as an individually paying or voluntary members so that they can increase their savings and be able to avail of other PAGIBIG fund programs.

 For an individually paying member,  contribution is P200 per month. But Asiong also encourages members to increase their individual contribution  so that they can save more money and earn bigger dividends.

 “We also offer  multi-purpose loan to our active members, wherein they can borrow 60 to 80 percent of their total savings that is payable in two years with a very low interest of 10.75 percent per annum. The multi-purpose loan can also be renewed just after six months of payments and rebates on interest is also being offered to members who opt to pay their loan in full anytime within the two-year payment term”, she said.

 Asiong also said PAGIBIG Fund has  earned over P9 billion dividends in 2012 shared by  PAGIBIG members, including the more than 117,000 members under its  Baguio office, which covers Baguio City, Benguet and Mountain Province.

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Congress okays bill making Nueva Vizcaya mining-free

NUEVA VIZCAYA-House Bill 3667, making Nueva Vizcaya mining-free  and authored principally by Rep. Carlos Padilla of the lone district of Nueva Vizcaya, now goes to the Senate.

Padilla said there are some companies presently engaged in mining in his province.

There are also individuals doing illegal mining, he said.

Both would have to respect the mandate of the bill, if it becomes a law, he said.

He added that he has no doubt that the Senate would approve the measure, which he said would protect the beauty of the mountains and environment of Nueva Vizcaya.

The bill defines mining as extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials, including large-scale and small-scale mining activities involving exploration, feasibility, development, and processing.

It does not include gathering of sand and gravel.

It provides for penalties for violators. An individual offender would face imprisonment of six to 12 years and a fine of P100,000 to P500,000.

If the violator were a corporation, partnership or association, the officer or officers responsible for the violation would suffer the penalties.

If the offender were an alien, he or she would be deported after imprisonment and payment of fine.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) would be mandated to issue implementing rules and regulations.

The provincial government, in coordination with the DENR, would review all mining licenses or agreements and determine those to be terminated and those that may be allowed to continue until such time that the permits may allow.

Last week, the House approved two bills declaring Cagayan de Oro City and Catanduanes mining-free areas.        

Another bill, making Eastern Samar another mining-free province, is awaiting third-reading approval.

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone said there are both legal and illegal miners in his province.

However, the proposed law would not automatically stop the two existing multibillion-peso mining projects in Nueva Vizcaya – the Didipio gold-copper project and the Runruno gold-molybdenum project – as they would still be subjected for review.

Nestled along the remote mountain border of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino, the Didipio project is one of the first two large-scale mining projects approved during the Ramos administration under the 1995 Mining Act.

The Didipio venture commenced commercial operation in April last year following nearly two decades of exploration and construction activities.

The Runruno project in Quezon town is expected to start its commercial operation this year.

Their contractors – the Australian firm OceanGold Philippines Inc. for the Didipio project and the British-owned FCF Minerals for the Runruno project – are both holders of financial and technical assistance agreements with the government. – With Charlie Lagasca

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Congress probes John Hay developer over P850M debt

BAGUIO CITY – Rep. Nicasio Aliping Jr. Thursday called for the subpoena of Camp John Hay Development Corporation (CJHDevCo) officials before the House Special Committee on Bases Conversion, amid the government’s ongoing multi-billion case against the Robert Sobrepeña-led company.

CJHDevCo has been charged with owing the government P3.4 billion in lease payments in the John Hay Special Economic Zone (JHSEZ).

Out of this amount, P850 million is reportedly owed to Baguio City, as the local government has a 25% share in the rental payments.

Government records show that CJHDevCo, which had acquired the lease of 247 hectares of Camp John Hay in 1996, repeatedly defaulted on its rental obligations, despite constant demands of payment from the government and multiple restructurings of the lease agreement.

This resulted in the ballooning of CJHDevCo’s debt, and prompted the government to terminate the lease agreement in 2012.

Aside from the subpoena, Aliping also called for CJHDevCo’s submission of its financial statements from 1996 to present, as well as its contracts with locators and concessionaires, as the company purportedly has continued to earn from its operations despite its non-payment of rentals.

Aliping said “the interest of the city is very much prejudiced. Equity demands that CJHDevCo must pay the rentals or the shares to the city.”

“The staggering amount that CJHDevCo owes the city and its people could very well have been used for crucial city projects,” he added. “The people of Baguio are ultimately paying for CJHDevCo’s refusal to pay the government.”

The Baguio lawmaker had already been championing the increase of funding for various city projects, including road rehabilitation, livelihood programs and other grassroots initiatives.

Several organizations have already been given livelihood funds worth more than P1 million through a special program spearheaded by Aliping in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Trade and Industry.

Meanwhile, Bases Conversion and Development Authority

BCDA president Arnel Casanova informed the House committee on bases conversion that the unpaid rentals of CJHDC allegedly accumulated since 1996, when the lease agreement between the developer and the government was signed.

He said CJHDC had been defaulting on its lease payments since 1997.

He said the government agreed three times to restructure the accumulated debt but still, the developer defaulted, claiming it was incurring losses.

“However, we have belatedly discovered from the Securities and Exchange Commission that CJHDC declared dividends to its shareholders in 1998, 1999 and 2000. This belies their claim that they incurred losses during those years,” he said.

He added that in May 2012, the government was forced to terminate its lease agreement with the developer and tried to take over Camp John Hay, but Executive Judge IluminadaCabato of the Baguio City regional trial court prevented it from doing so.

Aliping Jr. decried CJHDC’s alleged refusal to let BCDA take over the property despite its failure to pay rentals.

Other committee members wondered why the government seems helpless in recovering a valuable asset and allowing rentals to pile up since 1996, or over a period of 18 years.

No officer of CJHDC showed up in the hearing. Company officials wrote the committee that they could not attend because the issue is pending in court.

On motion of Aliping, the committee voted to subpoena CJHDC officials to attend its next hearing.

It also required the company to submit its annual financial statements since 1996 up to last year, and all lease agreements with Camp John Hay locators, also since 1996.

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DILG sets P7.3 M water system in Kalinga areas

By Peter Balocnit

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- Three barangays  in the province are  recipients of the  ‘Water to waterless barangays’ project of the Department of Interior and Local Government being implemented nationwide.

DILG Kalinga provincial director Francisco Gamatero said P7.3 million l was allocated to the province  for level III water systems  in barangays  Santor in Rizal, Pantikian in Balbalan and Mabaca in Tanudan.

Gamatero said detailed engineering and social preparations for such projects are ongoing

DILG-CAR  is  lead implementor of the project which is expected to benefit around  700 households.

He said recipient barangays were selected based on a survey with the aid of satellite mapping and precision gadgets.

Both  the Pantikian  and Macaca  projects are allotted P2.5 million  each  source water from mountain springs while the  Rizal project  with P2.3M budget  will have  underground water source.  

“As soon as the feasibility studies are prepared, reviewed and approved, work will start to time it also with the summer months when water volume is at its lowest level so that construction of reservoir and installation of pipes are readily up-scaled,” Gamatero  said. 

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P56 M cash released to 4Ps Ifugao families

By Daniel Codamon

LAGAWE, Ifugao –A total P56,897,900 cash grant assistance  was released by  the Department of Social Welfare and Development to the beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the province for the year 2013.

WilfredaTayaban, the DSWD’s Provincial Link of the 4Ps in Ifugao, said as of October 2013, the said total amount covering the  five of the six periods of 2013 was given to 9,149 poorest of the poor households (HHs) beneficiaries for 15,629 individual beneficiaries as health and education financial assistance.

The remaining cash grant disbursement, also known as  conditional cash transfer (CCT) for the months of November and December, 2013 will be released this February.

The municipality of Aguinaldo had the biggest share of the fund amounting to P13,626,400 for its 1,353 HH beneficiaries followed by Alfonso Lista with P8,290,200.00 for its 1,462 HH beneficiaries, and  Lamut with P7,760,200.00 for the 1,102 HH.

The other towns namely  Asipulo, Tinoc, Banaue, Mayoyao, Kiangan, Lagawe, Hingyon and  Hungduan have less than a thousand HH beneficiaries each.

Eligible HHs  are entitled  to receive a minimum of P500.00 per month to a maximum of P1,400.00 per month in households with a maximum of three children eligible for the education grant.

The education grant is P300/month per child to benefit a maximum of three children aged 6-14 years old including the day care and pre-school children.

The health grant is  P500 per month to a household with a pregnant woman at the time of the registration or with children 0-14 years old.

These grants are released every two months to the HH beneficiaries for the duration of their participation in the program subject to their compliance with the program conditions such as health and nutrition where pregnant household members visit local health centers to avail of pre and post natal care and children 0-5 years old should also visit the local health centers to avail of immunization, monthly weighing monitoring and nutrition counseling.

The other conditions are education wherein children 3-5 years old should be enrolled in a day care or pre-school program and maintain a class attendance rate of at least 85 percent per month and. They should also attend at least once a month family development sessions to nurture families to meet their familial and parental responsibilities.

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Exciting events mark Baguio Panagbenga fest

By Julie G. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY – The 19th version of Panagbenga or the Baguio Flower Festival streetdancing parade commenced yesterday with Cordillera Administrative Region congressmen, Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay (BLISTT) mayors and regional directors of line agencies marching from Panagbenga Park through Session road down to the Athletic Bowl, Burnham Park.

The parade was led by Boy Scouts holding the Let A Thousand Flowers Bloom streamers, followed by the Philippine Military contingent and band, city officials, the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, Inc. (BFFFI) headed by its president Anthony De Leon, general manager of Baguio Country Club  and Baguio sister cities foreign delegation, Taebaek and Gongju cities.

The Buyagan Elementary School Magevay drum and lyre group all the way from La Trinidad, Benguet is special guest performer with their “tribute” piece, in ethnic costumes depicting and uplifting Benguet treasures and products. “Magevay,” an Ibaloi term for “robust” was thus named for its fast-growing membership since conception in the late ‘90s.    

Two other non-competing entries; Kias and Emilio Aguinaldo elementary schools followed the Magevay drum and lyre group. 

A potpourri of complementary and neon colored flower costumes, bees and butterflies, sparkles, glitter and gossamer streamers adorned the performers of competitors: Baguio Central, JosefaCariño, Quezon Hill, Mabini, Jose P. Laurel, Lucban, Fort Del Pilar, Doña Aurora and Baguio Special Education Center. Each contingent performed their interpretation of the theme; “Inspiring The Community For a Greener Tomorrow.”

The open category featured the Ayoweng di Gangsa’s depiction of volunteerism during times of labor and celebrations in the Cordilleras; practices of the Kalinga people during planting, feasting, harvest, in complete costume by the Baguio City National High School (BCNHS)-Fort del Pilar Annex; Ampucao brgy and Camp 3’s entry on environmental degradation and re-greening; BCNHS Main’s Tribu Kalinga entry on celebrations after rituals driving infestations from their abundant harvest; Pinsao National High School’s Sakusak which focuses on protecting and preserving what deities have showered on them.

Kamora National High School, danced its way with the depiction of the Adivay festival of Benguet, a celebration of triumph of man’s relationship with earth, wind, fire and water.

For the float parade, the contingents were divided into a threesome with bands leading the way. Other guest performing bands were also present.

Among the competitors were Gold Dust Creations, Megapines Realty, GMA network, Taloy Norte farmers, Department of Agriculture CAR, International Pharmaceuticals, Phil. Seven Corporation, Allphones, Jollibee, Psalmstre, PIDC-TPLEX, MNTC-NLEX, Baguio Eco-Park, Beauche International, Smart Communications, AMA MAgsaysay, MLhullier, Le Monet Hotel and International Praise Center.

They were joined by the champion in the street dancing parade.             

Session road opens Monday, Feb. 24 up to March 2, as promenade area to the general public as with the Market Encounter; Landscaping Exhibition and Exposition, at Burnham Park and goes on until closing date.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan during the later portion of the parades thanked all cooperating bodies, groups, and volunteers who through their efforts ensured the health and safety of all participants and spectators. The Baguio City Police was augmented by personnel from the regional police office; while all emergency workforce are on hand. 

 As part of Administrative Order 20, series of 2014, issued by Mayor Mauricio Domogan earlier, the number coding for private vehicles is suspended on Feb. 24 and 25. This is to “provide local residents and visitors and their families, who come from different parts of the global village, convenient and stress-free journey around the city. “ This is to help boost the city’s identity as a premier tourist destination in the country, the AO stated.

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Globe sets exciting events during Panagbenga fest

^{BAGUIO CITY – Globe Telecom transformed the Melvin Jones Open Field into a colourful village in celebration of this year’s Panagbenga Festival. The telecommunications company also launched its Mobility Store-on-the-go and a host of exclusive offers and activities for locals and tourists.}

^{The Globe Village features food carts, gaming stations, exciting prizes, and entertainment acts from live bands, DJs and its Mobility Store-on-the-go that features the telco’s products and allows its customers to inquire and apply for postpaid and broadband plans as well as other Globe promos.}

^{One of the highlights of the four day events is the popular “Kaloka-like” contest where participants will showcase their looks and talents to win the title.}

^{Cloudfone and Samsung also joined the event as they showcased their latest roster of gadgets and mobile phones.}

^{Other activities are daily raffles open to subscribers who avail of Globe Prepaid, Postpaid and Tattoo offers.}

^{Globe Retail Transformation and Management Head Joe Caliro said that the exclusive Panagbenga offers will delight subscribers and visitors. -- David Balway and Cleo Mae Valdez}

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Ullalim trade fair sales 52%; 35 hired

By Geraldine G. Dumallig and Larry Lopez

TABUK CITY, Kalinga --Thirty five job applicants are now looking forward to their employment after they were hired on the spot  during the recently conducted 2014 Ullalim Jobs Fair.

According to Department of Labor and Employment Kalinga Chief Dr. Alexander Gumabol, around 259 applicants were interviewed during the jobs fair conducted from Feb. 12 to 13 as part of the 19th Kalinga Founding Anniversary and 2014 Ullalim Festival celebration.

The event was attended by seven recruitment agencies: Mr. Donut, Good Day Recruitment Inc., STD Overseas Manpower Services. Inc., Greenworld Placement Services, Metro Global Search international Network Corp.  and Emerald International Manpower Service Corp. They  offered a total of 1,816 vacancies.

Gumabol commended the provincial government for supporting the jobs fair which had become an annual event of the Ullalim Festival to give  a chance to the skilled workers in the province find jobs.

“We have a high qualification rate in the province considering that every year we produce skilled workers through the TESDA and other institutions. With this we could be sending more people to work which could indirectly help improve the province’s economic situation,” he said.

He explained that if a hundred individual are sent overseas in one year, this would not only translate to helping improve the socio-economic  status of  their families,  but it  would also bring dollar remittances for the province.

This  activity  could save fare and time  of OFWs during since they would no longer have to go outside the province just to look for recruitment agencies.

“Offering jobs fair would also prevent them from being victimized by illegal recruiters since only those duly registered by the OWWA are invited to attend recruitment activities,” he said. This, as the 2014 Ullalim agro-industrial trade fair sales is up by 52 percent compared to last year.  

Records from the Provincial Trade and Industry Office, lead organizer of the event, showed exhibitors in this year’s Ullalim fair raked-in P3,016,399 over the P1,973,745 sales in 2013 or an increase of P1,042,654.

 Noryn Bagano of DTI-Kalinga attributed the fair’s improved sales performance to innovations made by organizers this year.

 Exhibitors this time were given two weeks  to display their wares compared to the usual seven-days fair  that highlight the annual celebration of the province’s Founding Anniversary and Ullalim Festival on February 14.

Organizers also counted as factor the more accessible site of the fair at the side of the newly completed six-lane highway  where buyers need not travel in going up to the Provincial Capitol grounds  where the fair used to be hosted.

 Top sellers of the fair come from the gifts, toys, house-wares and décor sector with P926,619; furniture and furnishings – P839,150 and processed food and wines – P497,624.

Other performers include the sector on other products – P386,841; ornamentals – P366,165 and super Kalan – P70,000.

Bagano encouraged other exhibitors to participate in the event next year under DTI’s continuing product marketing program to promote micro, small and medium enterprise in the province

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“Awong Chi Gangsa” Unites Kalinga folks

By Peter A. Balocnit

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The Call of a Thousand Gongs (Awong Chi Gangsa) united Kalinga folks in a spectacular showdown of their cultural dance high noon of  Feb. 13 at the Kalinga Sports Complex here.

One thousand male dancers in G-strings beat the gongs in unison forming the words KALINGA SHINES in upward curved line to depict a smiling face with their 1,000 women partners clad in the native attire dance forming an outside ring.

Gov. JocelBaac considered this  event  a strong display of cooperation, involvement and unity of all local leaders and people of Kalinga.

He pictured the event as a “hair-raising” presentation and extended appreciation to the organizers that include Amelia Miranda, Bishop Prudencio Andaya Jr and Alonzo Saclag Sr.

All seven municipalities and the City of Tabuk, through their gong players performed in the unity call of the gong at the province’s naturally carved athletic bowl.        

“This is peace in the real sense as we celebrate Kalinga day with oneness and same color taste,” according  to Miranda, who initiated the  Awong Chi Gangsa.

Explaining the significance of the event, Miranda said playing of a gong in the Kalinga culture only takes place during festive occasions depicting peace, joy and celebration.

“Let the call of the thousand gongs then be a call to rid conflicts, division and selfish motives among our leaders and people towards a united and progressive province”, Miranda told  about 5,000 audience who  gathered  to watch this historical event.

Bishop Andaya said he was  unsure if there are really a thousand gongs in Kalinga and knowing that gongs are personal properties and they could not just be brought without  ritual.

But  he said he was elated it happened despite the short preparation “I believe no obstacle can ever prevent us if we come, together search for common ground to achieve peace,” the Bishop said.

The gathering of the one thousand gongs and harmoniously played all at the same time was the first of its kind in the province, region and country as it vies to listed in the World Book of Recor

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Why the is FOI Bill not gaining ground?

EDITORIAL

With the series of exposes and Senate investigations on misuse of the PDAF (priority assistance development funds by senators and congressmen among other government officials, concerned sectors are pressing both Houses to finally implement Freedom of Information (FOI) law.  

Earlier in 2013, the Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition, a multi-sectoral alliance pushing for passage of the Freedom of Information Bill, filed its own version of the measure through indirect initiative provision of Republic Act No. 6735 or the Initiative and Referendum Law.

More than half a year later, the House Committee on Public Information has yet to schedule a Technical Working Group (TWG) to consolidate different versions of the FOI bill, which includes the one filed by the coalition.

However, amid the delay in processes in the House, the group scored a victory by being appointed as member of the TWG.Former Quezon Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III and Coalition convenor Nepomuceno Malaluan, a lawyer, wrote to Public Information Committee Chairman Jorge Almonte saying “petitioners should be accorded recognition as authors of a pending FOI bill, pursuant to Section 11 of RA 6735 which states in part that: The procedure to be followed on the initiative bill shall be the same as the enactment of any legislative measure before the House of Representatives except that the said initiative bill shall have precedence over the pending legislative measures on the committee.”

Almonte granted the group’s request to be invited to the TWG. “We thank the Chairman of the Committee and we look forward to working with him and his members. We sincerely hope that our proposed People’s FOI Act will be given the same treatment and recognition that it got in the Senate,” said Malaluan.

 “Our involvement shows our intention to strengthen people’s participation in legislation. With this, we commit to engage the process constructively in order to finally pass a law that will institutionalize transparency and accountability in government,” he added.

 “This is one step forward for the People’s FOI,” said Tañada, who was the principal author of the bill in the 15th Congress. “Our role here is to emphasize that this measure is not only for a particular sector, but for each and every Filipino.”Tañada said “it is high time for the FOI to be passed.”

“We’ve waited long enough. Let us not repeat the same excuses from previous Congresses. With the different issues involving the misuse of public funds, we need the People’s FOI Act to shine a cleansing light on the darkest nooks and crannies of government,” he said.

If the FOI Bill is not being ratified, the answer is obvious -- in a senator or a congressman’s SUV, mansion or high end mistress.

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The Crystal Cave shabu connection

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

BAGUIO CITY – The vicinity of Crystal Cave in this tourist resort is now emerging as center of illegal shabu trade here basing from police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency reports.

Recently, the “topmost regional priority target” of PDEA-Cordillera, top in target list of drug personalities in Baguio, was arrested with his wife, second in list, during simultaneous raids to serve search warrants in two houses maintained by the couple and their cohorts as drug dens.

***

A PDEA report said six persons, including four juveniles, were cornered during the synchronized raid at about 5 a.m., Feb.12, at Crystal Cave, Bakakeng Central, led by PDEA Cordillera regional director Ronald Allan DG Ricardo. Twenty sachets of shabu, and paraphernalia for using the dangerous drug, and a gun with bullets were confiscated.

Alleged drug den owners Yunos Darang, 39, driver, and wife, Hanipah Darang, 36, vendor, both natives of Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur, and occupants of the lower floor of an apartment located at 120 Crystal Cave, were apprehended with 12 sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia which included   plastic sachet with shabu residue,  digital weighing scale, glass tooter, aluminum tooter, burners,  aluminum foil plastic sachets for repacking shabu, aluminum foil strips among others.

***

Meanwhile, four sachets of shabu, plastic sachet with shabu residue, an aluminum foil and suspected drug money were seized during implementation of search warrants upper floor of No. 120, Crystal Cave. However, respondents of the search warrant, who were allegedly maintaining the drug den, were not around during the raid.
An adjacent house was also raided that resulted in the arrest of BashimAzis y Datumoluk, 21, native of MSU Cabangin, Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur; and JidatAzis y Benito, 18, cell phone vendor and resident of Bangon, Marawi City.

***

Also confiscated were six sachets of shabu, a Cal. 22 Colt Magnum revolver with six bullets, and drug paraphernalia.

Minors “Tyler”, 11; “Iñigo”, 12;  “Nadine”, 13 and “Marvin”, 14, were rescued by from the drug den, operated by another cohort of the Darang couple, who was also not around during the raid.

The minors were turned over to the Baguio City Social Welfare and Development Office, while cases for violation of Republic Act 9208 were referred to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Cordillera for filing against the Darang couple and their four cohorts.

***

The seized shabu in the crackdown was 11.60 grams valued at P89,320. The Darang couple, their four cohorts at large, BashimAzis and JidatAzis will be charged in court for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).

Additional criminal cases for violation of Presidential Decree 1866 as amended by RA 8294 and RA 9516 (illegal possession of firearm and ammunitions) will be filed against the Azis couple.

According to the PDEA, using minors as runners, couriers and messengers, or in any other capacity directly connected to dangerous drugs and chemicals trade is an aggravating circumstance for drug law violators as imposed by RA 9165.

***

The raid, dubbed Operation Crystal Clear, was carried out by PDEA, police regional office and CIDG agents. The report said the notorious and elusive YunosSabuyogan Darang was leader of the dreaded Darang local drug group, then a big-time supplier of shabu in Baguio City and La Trinidad, Benguet.

The Darang drug group was deemed disbanded on June 22, 2009 upon arrest of Yunos Darang in a sting operation by PDEA at Marcos Highway. He was nabbed with one of his members during the entrapment, but their cases were dismissed on April 5, 2010. Yunos had reportedly also been involved in two separate shooting incidents in Baguio City.

***

The recent raid was the second warranted search carried out by drug law enforcement agents and policemen at Yunos’ turf. On May 28, 2009, a search warrant was implemented at the residence of the Darang couple, where both evaded arrest, but one of Yunos’s younger sisters and her husband, both members of the drug group and natives of Mindanao were collared.

In addition, shabu, drug paraphernalia and chemicals, an unlicensed firearm and other deadly weapons, monitoring gadgets, and drug money bank accounts were confiscated.

***

Yunos and Hanipah Darang had reportedly been  apprehended by PDEA agents  in 2005 in Baguio with a big volume of shabu valued at about half a million pesos, but the case was dismissed at the prosecution level.

                Investigation then disclosed that the raided Darang residence, a so-called “shabu trading post,” was also used for pot sessions at times by non-members of the group who went there to buy shabu for personal consumption.

Hanipah, then co-leader of the drug group, had also been charged for illegal possession of firearm relative to the gun confiscated at their residence during implementation of search warrant in 2009.

***

Meanwhile, sources said if some truck drivers along the Halsema Highway are reckless, these could be high on shabu. They could be either coming from Buguias or Mankayan towns in Benguet where shabu reportedly proliferates.

According to sources, “brothers from way down south” migrated to Buguias particularly in the Abatan area to cash in on the lucrative shabu trade. These reportedly have connections to the Crystal Cave group.

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Is the Filipino worth killing for?

PERRYSCOPE
Perry Diaz

On February 3, 2014, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte testified before a Senate committee what he knew about David Tan.  He said that Tan was the central figure in rice smuggling in the country.

    

A senator asked him if he knew how Tan looked like?  Duterte produced a photo of Tan that he claimed was given to him by police investigators.  When he was asked if Bangayan -- who was seated a few feet away -- was the same person as the one on the photo, he said Davidson Bangayan and David Tan are one and the same person.  He then said in front of Davidson that if he were caught smuggling in his city, he “will gladly kill” him.  Instantly, Duterte became a celebrity.

Duterte’s reputation as a “crime fighter” began in 1988 when he was elected mayor of Davao City, the world’s largest city in land area.  At that time, Davao City was called the “Murder Capital of the Philippines.”  But the killings were mainly between New People’s Army (NPA) hit squads – called “Sparrow Units” -- and a vigilante group known as “AlsaMasa” (Masses Arise).  In 1987, the NPA assassins went into hiding after the AlsaMasa killed more than 100 of their members.  By 1988, the NPA had retreated from the urban centers, and the killings stopped; and AlsaMasa faded into hibernation. 

However, in the mid-1990s, a new vigilante group surfaced.  Called the “Davao Death Squad,” or DDS, the group is allegedly responsible for the summary executions of drug traffickers, kidnappers, petty criminals, delinquents, gang members, and other lawbreakers.      

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In 2003, when human rights advocates claimed that Davao City had become the country’s “murder capital,” Duterte responded in his TV program “Gimmick for the Masses,” saying: “I admit I am 100 percent terrorist but I am terrorizing only the drug pushers, kidnappers, holdup gangs, and other criminals.”  He said, “Kidnappers, drug pushers from other places, I dare you to come over here so that I can finish you off. Davao City will be a murder capital for you. This will continue up to the end of my term.”   

Although Duterte was never proven to be associated with DDS – which was often referred to as “Duterte Death Squad” -- he had made public statements that seemed to encourage or condone those killings.  In February 2009, he told reporters: “If you are doing an illegal activity in my city, if you are a criminal or part of a syndicate that preys on the innocent people of the city, for as long as I am the mayor, you are a legitimate target of assassination.”

The spate of killings in Davao City attracted the attention of the international group Human Rights Watch (HRW).  HRW conducted a study and released a 103-page report entitled, “You Can Die Any Time: Death Squad Killings in Mindanao.”  

The report detailed the involvement of police and local government officials in targeted killings of alleged drug dealers and petty criminals, street children, and others, and described the lack of any effort by the authorities to investigate the killings and bring the culprits to justice.

But Davaoeños liked what Duterte was doing for their city.  In the Official Website of Davao City, it featured him on February 25, 2012, to wit: “ ‘Digong’, as his closest friends call him, or ‘Rody’, or simply, ‘Duterte’, may have ruled Davao City with what some call ‘iron-fist’, and rid the city of criminals.  His hatred for criminals changed Davao City; from the ‘Murder Capital of the Philippines’ to the ‘One of the Most Peaceful Cities in the Philippines’.”

***

Under Duterte’s leadership, Davao earned a string of awards, both local and international, year after year.   These accolades are a testament to his vision of a crime-free city.  It’s no wonder then that Davaoeños reelected him 1992 and 1995.  Termed out in 1998, he ran for the House of Representatives and won as congressman representing Davao City’s 1st District.   In 2001, he ran again for mayor and was elected to his fourth term.  He was reelected in 2004 and 2007.  Termed out again in 2010, he ran for vice-mayor of Davao City while his daughter Sara “Inday” Duterte-Carpio ran for mayor.  In 2013, Sarah decided not to run for reelection; thus, paving the way for her father’s comeback as the city’s mayor.  Duterte ran again for mayor and was elected to his seventh term.

 After he was elected mayor in 2013, Davao City received another accolade: The world’s “fourth safest place” in a poll conducted by the website Numbeo.com.  Out of 349 entries, Davao City was the only metropolis in the Philippines that made it to the “Top 10.”  The result was posted online, which was lauded by netizens all over the country.  Some of the postings said, “Duterte for President.”  

***

Last February 12, President Benigno Aquino III was in Davao City to attend a summit meeting of the leaders of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).   According to reports, Aquino did not smoke in compliance with Davao City’s strict “no smoking” policy.  He also ordered his convoy to adhere to the city’s speed limit policy.  This elicited reaction from Duterte who told reporters, “We have a law-abiding President.”

But even his daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio was not exempt from these policies.  Last month, the police reportedly arrested her for violating the speed limit policy. 

Back in 2002, an article appeared in TIME Magazine that tagged Duterte as “The Punisher.”  It portrayed him as mayor, legislator, judge, jury, and – possibly – executioner, all rolled into one.  It’s a reputation that he built over the years, which transformed his city from a haven for criminals to one of the most peaceful places on Earth.  Indeed, after more than 25 years in public service, Duterte has yet to mellow out as an anti-crime crusader.

But notwithstanding all the good things that had happened in Davao City, one wonders if Duterte’s use of the Machiavellian aphorism, “The means justifies the end,” was compatible with democratic principles, which begs the question: “Is the Filipino worth killing for?” (PerryDiaz@gmail.com)

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Binay is guest speaker in Bauko Begnas Festival/Sagada driver shot dead

HAPPY WEEKEND 

by Gina Dizon

SAGADA,MOUNTAIN PROVINCE - Northern Sagada resident and driver Christopher Waya-an  Balicag, 48, married was found slumped  and dead in the driver’s seat of his vehicle rammed  at the roadside here at sitio Tabbak,Bangaan evening of February 15,2014. 

Police reports from the Sagada  Philippine National Police revealed that  a cell phone call at 5:20 pm on February 15 was received by said office about an accident at Tabbak urging  PNP  officers  led by SPO4 Johnny Paleyan aided by some members of the Sagada Environmental  Guides Association (SEGA) to proceed to the  site of the reported incident. The team met a vehicle rushing the victim to the nearest St Theodore’s Hospital where victim was pronounced dead on arrival. 

The victim’s medical certificate noted that gunshot wounds were grouped into: three on the right and four on the left portion at the back of the victim’s head and exited on the frontal area of his head. 

Progress investigation led by senior police inspector Benedict Gang-aoen noted that the passenger jeepney started from Sagada around 4 pm on February 15.  Remaining two passengers alighted at sitio Palidan while the victim proceeded home to Tabbak. Sworn statements from the victim’s daughters stated that they found their father’s vehicle rammed in the culvert ditch and their father lying face down with blood oozing from his head.

Police investigation finds murder was committed on the victim though motive of the killing was not yet established. 

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan condemned the killing of Balicag and challenged all concerned on the early resolution of the case. 

xxx

In Bauko, also in Mountain Province, Vice President Jejomar  Binay shall be the guest speaker during the municipality of Bauko’s celebration of its Begnas Festival March 13-15, 2014.

This was made known by Bauko mayor  Abraham Akilit  during a press conference with members of the Montanosa Press Club last  February 13. 

Other  dignitaries  to attend  the festival  include regional director of the Department of  Tourism  Purificacion Molintas   as guest speaker on March 14 and  congressman  Maximo Dalog to  grace the occasion on March 15.  

The Begnas Festival aims to promote the municipality’s  attractions including Mount Polis and Mount Binandilaan as potential trekking sites. There are  indentified 50 plus tourist sites including among others  the Spanish Trail at   Bagnen Proper, pottery and Pandey rice terraces at Bila, and Paradise Falls at Monamon Norte. 

A trek to Mount Polis is scheduled during the festival to jumpstart its trekking sites. 

The three day event shall be also promoting its products including the popular juice wines and organic veggies.

Akilit said some 150 organic farmers are cultivating organic farming and shall eventually let other farmers to practise organic farming. This vegetable town produces tons of vegetables supplying the country with green fresh vegetables with neighbouring veggie producing town of Buguias, Benguet. 

Akilit hopes vice president Binay shall support programs of the municipality one of which is watershed preservation.

Bauko is the headwaters of the mighty Chico River irrigating thousands of ricefields downstream including the rice- producing towns of Tabuk, Isabela and Cagayan along with waters joined from tributaries of Sagada, Sabangan, Bontoc, Sadanga, Tinglayan Kalinga.  

Protection of the watersheds of Bauko is a priority program of the municipality, the former regional director of  the National Irrigation Authority Abraham Akilit said. 

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