BEHIND
THE SCENES
Alfred P. Dizon
Alfred P. Dizon
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- As the NPT goes to
press, we got a report from Camp Dangwa that the suspect in the 2008
ambush-slay of then Tinglayan, Kalinga mayor Alexander Alngag was arrested.
After hiding for more than four decades, Jaime Tochok Bulatao, 77, of Tabuk City who had a P75,000 reward for his capture was nabbed.
Kalinga police director Davy Vicente M. Limmong bared this saying Bulatao was arrested by Tabuk police after warrants of arrest for multiple frustrated murder and murder against him were issued by Marcelino K Wacas, then presiding judge of RTC 25, Tabuk.
Based on a report of Kalinga provincial police office, Bulatao was the suspect in the killing of then Tinglayan, Kalinga mayor Alexander Alngag in 1976.
Then in 2008, Bulatao was the suspect in the ambush of then Rizal, Kalinga mayor Marcelo Dela Cruz.
Despite hiding for 45 years, the long arms of law has finally reached Bulatao, the report said. “With the support of the community, police operatives successively arrested the suspect and now under the custody of the Kalinga PPO.”
***
The controversy of the Asin hydros isn’t settled yet. The Baguio City Council, during its session on Jan. 24, required Kaltimex Energy Philippines, Inc. to submit documents the company has capability to rehabilitate and operate the three mini-hydropower plants located at Asin, Tuba, Benguet the city government operated ever since the Americans ruled the country.
The company was given two weeks to submit to the council a letter signifying their interest to undertake the project, document on their financial capability, their six-month time table for the project, and company’s updated profile, a report by Sanggunian Panglunsod staff Jordan Habbiling said.
Chaired by Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda, the Sanggunian’s committee on jaws, human rights and justice will evaluate documents and present findings to the council.
Whether or not the contract between the city government and Kaltimex should be terminated is a decision the city council will make, Tabanda said.
In 2018, the city government under the administration of then Mayor Mauricio Domogan, sued Kaltimex due to the latter’s failure to fulfill its obligations. However, a compromise agreement was signed on February 2020 between the city government under the administration of Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Kaltimex.
As part of the agreement, Kaltimex paid liquidated damages worth P3.6 million and reimbursed the city government’s filing fee of P605,000.
Upon the court’s approval of compromise agreement, the city government issued Kaltimex notice to proceed in February 2020.
On Oct. 19, 2020, Mayor Magalong requested the council to enact a resolution terminating the contract on the ground that Kaltimex had failed again to commence the project. To date, the three power plants remain unoperational.
Tabanda relayed to the council that, according to the City General Services Office, it will take one and a half to two years to re-bid the project under private-public partnership in compliance with Procurement Law.
Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan said due process must take place before the city government reaches its final decision on termination of the contract, thus, the council’s invitation to Kaltimex for a forum.
Olowan, however said non-submission of documents required by the council is a good ground to terminate the contract with Kaltimex.
According to engineer Juris Awal, project manager of Kaltimex, the restrictions brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic hindered the company from bringing in project consultants and skilled workers to the city.
“We cannot do this project alone. We need to import accredited workers, and bringing them here has been a challenge due to the current situation,” Awal said.
Awal claimed the company had sent letters to the executive department starting August 8, 2020 stating the company's interest to continue the project and requesting for a joint inspection on the site.
In his letter to Councilor Tabanda dated Nov. 23, 2020, Awal wrote, “The joint inspection could have presented a suggested procedure on how the assessment will be undertaken for enhanced recording and monitoring. The joint inspection is indispensable so that Kaltimex and the city government could have mutually recorded the actual condition of the hydro facilities, its machineries, and equipment.”
Awal claimed physical possession of the facilities should have been completed had the joint inspection been granted and scheduled.
The council said it will invite Mayor Magalong in one of its sessions to discuss the matter after evaluating documents to be submitted by Kaltimex.
***
The House of Representatives has approved on final reading the bill creating a People’s Council in every local government unit (LGU) as a way to provide a mechanism by which citizens’ views and opinions in different areas of governance may be heard and considered.
With 217 affirmative votes and six abstentions, the lower chamber approved House Bill No. 7950 or the People Empowerment Act.
Under the bill, the People’s Council shall be composed of civil society organizations (CSOs) that will be accredited by the local sanggunian upon proof of submission of several requirements which include proof of existence for at least one year, proof of activities, list of membership, and officers, among others.
The People’s Council may elect among themselves their representatives to all local government bodies, boards, councils, committees, task forces, special government bodies and other similar workgroups which the local government or national laws may create.
People’s Council may likewise participate in the conceptualization and evaluation of government activities, activities, and programs of the LGU, propose legislation and participate at the committee level of the local sanggunian.
Moreover, the measure also creates a Provincial People’s Council (PPC) in every province which shall be composed of representatives from the municipality and city People’s Council within the province’s jurisdiction.
The People’s Council, however, is not allowed to engage in partisan politics and shall adopt measures to ensure that it is adequately shielded from any political partisanship or influence.
Under the Constitution, all CSOs are recognized as independent and autonomous self-help organizations and are encouraged to organize into formal cooperatives, interest groups, non-governmental organizations, among others to pursue their legitimate purposes and objectives.
San Jose Del Monte City Rep. Florida Robes, who chairs the House committee on people participation, said that the bill “will make civil society organizations more involved in local governance and create a stronger partnership between the government and private sector and create an environment where people can participate in policy and decision-making processes countrywide.”
After hiding for more than four decades, Jaime Tochok Bulatao, 77, of Tabuk City who had a P75,000 reward for his capture was nabbed.
Kalinga police director Davy Vicente M. Limmong bared this saying Bulatao was arrested by Tabuk police after warrants of arrest for multiple frustrated murder and murder against him were issued by Marcelino K Wacas, then presiding judge of RTC 25, Tabuk.
Based on a report of Kalinga provincial police office, Bulatao was the suspect in the killing of then Tinglayan, Kalinga mayor Alexander Alngag in 1976.
Then in 2008, Bulatao was the suspect in the ambush of then Rizal, Kalinga mayor Marcelo Dela Cruz.
Despite hiding for 45 years, the long arms of law has finally reached Bulatao, the report said. “With the support of the community, police operatives successively arrested the suspect and now under the custody of the Kalinga PPO.”
***
The controversy of the Asin hydros isn’t settled yet. The Baguio City Council, during its session on Jan. 24, required Kaltimex Energy Philippines, Inc. to submit documents the company has capability to rehabilitate and operate the three mini-hydropower plants located at Asin, Tuba, Benguet the city government operated ever since the Americans ruled the country.
The company was given two weeks to submit to the council a letter signifying their interest to undertake the project, document on their financial capability, their six-month time table for the project, and company’s updated profile, a report by Sanggunian Panglunsod staff Jordan Habbiling said.
Chaired by Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda, the Sanggunian’s committee on jaws, human rights and justice will evaluate documents and present findings to the council.
Whether or not the contract between the city government and Kaltimex should be terminated is a decision the city council will make, Tabanda said.
In 2018, the city government under the administration of then Mayor Mauricio Domogan, sued Kaltimex due to the latter’s failure to fulfill its obligations. However, a compromise agreement was signed on February 2020 between the city government under the administration of Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Kaltimex.
As part of the agreement, Kaltimex paid liquidated damages worth P3.6 million and reimbursed the city government’s filing fee of P605,000.
Upon the court’s approval of compromise agreement, the city government issued Kaltimex notice to proceed in February 2020.
On Oct. 19, 2020, Mayor Magalong requested the council to enact a resolution terminating the contract on the ground that Kaltimex had failed again to commence the project. To date, the three power plants remain unoperational.
Tabanda relayed to the council that, according to the City General Services Office, it will take one and a half to two years to re-bid the project under private-public partnership in compliance with Procurement Law.
Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan said due process must take place before the city government reaches its final decision on termination of the contract, thus, the council’s invitation to Kaltimex for a forum.
Olowan, however said non-submission of documents required by the council is a good ground to terminate the contract with Kaltimex.
According to engineer Juris Awal, project manager of Kaltimex, the restrictions brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic hindered the company from bringing in project consultants and skilled workers to the city.
“We cannot do this project alone. We need to import accredited workers, and bringing them here has been a challenge due to the current situation,” Awal said.
Awal claimed the company had sent letters to the executive department starting August 8, 2020 stating the company's interest to continue the project and requesting for a joint inspection on the site.
In his letter to Councilor Tabanda dated Nov. 23, 2020, Awal wrote, “The joint inspection could have presented a suggested procedure on how the assessment will be undertaken for enhanced recording and monitoring. The joint inspection is indispensable so that Kaltimex and the city government could have mutually recorded the actual condition of the hydro facilities, its machineries, and equipment.”
Awal claimed physical possession of the facilities should have been completed had the joint inspection been granted and scheduled.
The council said it will invite Mayor Magalong in one of its sessions to discuss the matter after evaluating documents to be submitted by Kaltimex.
***
The House of Representatives has approved on final reading the bill creating a People’s Council in every local government unit (LGU) as a way to provide a mechanism by which citizens’ views and opinions in different areas of governance may be heard and considered.
With 217 affirmative votes and six abstentions, the lower chamber approved House Bill No. 7950 or the People Empowerment Act.
Under the bill, the People’s Council shall be composed of civil society organizations (CSOs) that will be accredited by the local sanggunian upon proof of submission of several requirements which include proof of existence for at least one year, proof of activities, list of membership, and officers, among others.
The People’s Council may elect among themselves their representatives to all local government bodies, boards, councils, committees, task forces, special government bodies and other similar workgroups which the local government or national laws may create.
People’s Council may likewise participate in the conceptualization and evaluation of government activities, activities, and programs of the LGU, propose legislation and participate at the committee level of the local sanggunian.
Moreover, the measure also creates a Provincial People’s Council (PPC) in every province which shall be composed of representatives from the municipality and city People’s Council within the province’s jurisdiction.
The People’s Council, however, is not allowed to engage in partisan politics and shall adopt measures to ensure that it is adequately shielded from any political partisanship or influence.
Under the Constitution, all CSOs are recognized as independent and autonomous self-help organizations and are encouraged to organize into formal cooperatives, interest groups, non-governmental organizations, among others to pursue their legitimate purposes and objectives.
San Jose Del Monte City Rep. Florida Robes, who chairs the House committee on people participation, said that the bill “will make civil society organizations more involved in local governance and create a stronger partnership between the government and private sector and create an environment where people can participate in policy and decision-making processes countrywide.”
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