Stay afloat, swim or sink!

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March L. Fianza

Congratulations to all newly installed elected officials. They all started formal work last Thursday. Meanwhile, President Bongbong Marcos chose to be secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) knowing that the problem of food security is coming.
    Before that decision, I was speculating that he would personally but temporarily take the helm of the public works department until such time that a truly sincere manager is found. That would also be the case with the environment and natural resources sector.
    By taking over these departments, he would have political will and control above all that needs changing so that if things fail, he has himself to blame. The DA, DENR and DPWH are agencies that are in dire need of reorganizing to weed out bad grass.
    The DA, everytime a new president is installed and a change of guards occurs, encounters problems that take away its focus on providing the needs of farmers and fishermen who spend all years providing food.
    Food smuggling, for example, is one problem that props up its head every time the guards pretend to be looking away. It has not stopped despite a series of meetings by those pretending to be concerned.
    The president taking over the DA hands on is a first of its kind in the country. I look at it as a signal that local chief executives and those of us who can support the move should do so because we cannot just watch and float around. Whether we like it or not, we have to swim with him, otherwise we all sink.
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Breaking news! The Ombudsman just dismissed from service the former National Commission on Indigenous Peoples-Cordillera Administrative Region head Roland Calde for grave misconduct.
    Aside from dismissal, the Ombudsman also ordered the cancellation of Calde’s eligibility, the forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification from government service.
    Roger Sinot Sr., a Baguio Ibaloy and the duly selected Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) filed two complaints against Atty. Calde over the selection of the IPMR in the Baguio City Council. He received a copy of the dismissal order on June 24, 2022.
    Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer Lauren Divino-Sudweste signed the decision on March 29. A certified true copy showed that the decision was approved by Ombudsman Samuel R. Martires.
    The Ombudsman office’s graft investigation report took note of Calde’s repeated directive in creating a team to review if the November 2016 process of selecting an IPMR followed the customary law and guidelines ratified by the Baguio Ibaloys.
    The first review team upheld that the guidelines and selection process was followed. The regularity and validity of the process was also confirmed by NCIP Baguio Officer-in-Charge Atty. Harriet Abyadang. Still, RD Calde created a second review committee which rejected the selection of Sinot.
    With that, the graft investigator - prosecutor noted that respondent Calde kept passing the matter from one office to another until he was able to get a recommendation that was unfavorable to the complainant.
    The decision noted that Atty. Abyadang’s endorsement for the issuance of a certificate of affirmation for the selected IPMR was dated December 27, 2016 but Calde neglected or failed to act within reasonable time to issue the same without sufficient justification.
    NCIP RD Calde issued the certificate a year later but a few days after taking oath in January 2018 with Vice-mayor Faustino Olowan, a Baguio regional trial court issued a temporary restraining order against Sinot’s assumption of his post in the city council.
    Then the following month, Judge Cecilia Corazon Dulay-Archog of RTC Branch 6 granted the writ of preliminary injunction, prohibiting the city government from allowing the duly selected Sinot to sit in the city council as IPMR.
    Such legal maneuverings by unscrupulous lawyers and public officials who took their oath to uphold the law are deplorable. Calde’s moves may not have been of his own wishes, but the design of one with a hidden agenda. Some things are clear in the IPMR-Calde case – there are those who manipulate people and there are those who are willing to be exploited.
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Stop talking, shut up, stop dreaming!
These were seriously articulated by Baguio mayor Benjie Magalong in his speech during the 41st Annual Regular General Assembly Meeting (ARGAM) of the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) last June 18, 2022 at the Baguio Athletic Bowl.
    His words were obviously intended for people illegally appointed by some National Electrification Administration (NEA) officials who, along with their connections, continue to grab the management of the electric coop.
    He also reiterated his support for Beneco GM Engr. Mel Licoben, the seven board of directors led by Atty. Esteban Somngi, department managers and the employees of the Beneco who have certainly multiplied their efforts to protect the electric distribution company, and thanked the MCOs in attendance.
    Prior to focusing on a political career, mayor Magalong was a bemedaled police general who claimed that his experiences and assignments had put his life in danger. He told this to more than 6,500 Beneco member-consumer-owners (MCOs) in attendance.
    Citing his sacrifices then as a police officer he said, “kung hindi nyo kayang protektahan ang Beneco, tumahimik na lang kayo (if you cannot protect Beneco, then you better keep quiet). You stop talking, shut up and stop dreaming!”
    Now, with a proven overwhelming support by MCOs, elected officials of LGUs within the service franchise of Beneco, backed by congressmen and senators the likes of Win Gatchalian, I am still baffled why NEA officials refuse to back out. They must be getting a strong energy source from a backer. Whatever, the goal is the money that an EC can give once privatized.
    Recently, two issuances by the NEA which deals with the selection, hiring, termination of service/suspension for general managers of electric cooperative; and the conduct of examination and interview for applicants to the position of general managers were declared null and void in a decision on June 13, 2022 by Isabela RTC Judge Efren M. Cacatian.