The 2022 presidential derby is on

PERRYSCOPE

Perry Diaz

No, it’s not a misprint.  What we’re talking about here is the presidential race in 2022.  But while the winner of the 2016 presidential election is still anybody’s guess, whoever will be elected vice president in 2016 would be the next president in 2022.   And here is the reason why?

In my article, “Who doesn’t want to be vice president?” (August 28, 2015), I said: “Whoever wins the vice presidency would be in a good position to run for president in 2022.   Statistics show that out of the 10 presidential elections since 1946 (excluding the presidential elections during the martial law), five incumbent vice presidents ran for president in the next presidential election and won.  They were: Elpidio Quirino in 1948, Carlos P. Garcia in 1953, Diosdado Macapagal in 1961, Joseph Estrada in 1998, and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2004.  But three other incumbent vice presidents had opted not to run for president, to wit: Emmanuel Pelaez in 1965, Salvador Laurel in 1992, and Noli de Castro in 2010.”  I postulated that based on these historical data, whoever is elected vice president in 2016 would win the presidency in 2022. 

To date, there are six candidates for vice president in 2016.  However, there are only four presidential candidates: Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay, Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, Sen. Mary Grace Sonora Poe-Llamanzares (more commonly known as Grace Poe), and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte.

Popularity ratings

The latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) polls show that three of the four presidential candidates are in statistical tie: Poe at 26%, Binay at 24%, and Roxas at 20%.   The Pulse Asia shows Poe at 26%, Roxas at 20%, and Binay at 19%.  Duterte – considered the “dark horse” in the race – has ratings of 11% (SWS) and 16% (Pulse Asia).

But Grace Poe’s citizenship is being challenged before the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET).  If the SET rules that Poe is not a “natural-born” Filipino -- as constitutionally required for presidential candidates – then the citizenship case could go to the Supreme Court for final resolution.  But regardless of whether Grace is deemed a natural-born Filipino or not, the controversy surrounding her birth would haunt her during the campaign, which could become a major distraction in convincing the electorate that she is fully and unquestionably qualified to be president of the country.  But regardless whether the citizenship issue is laid to rest satisfactorily, Poe’s opponents would use it to destroy her credibility and character.    

Indeed, Grace’s citizenship problem smells like a rose to Binay, who was the frontrunner in the presidential derby until Grace entered the race.  With his popularity ratings plummeting amidst a tsunami of corruption and plunder charges filed against him, Binay is losing a lot of the points he earned during his vice presidency in the past five years.  If Poe were disqualified, Binay could bounce back in the race.   

But it won’t be that easy because Roxas would also benefit from a Poe withdrawal.  With Poe expected to lose points – or disqualified -- because of her citizenship problem, Roxas would presumably take most of the points Poe would lose; thus, outpacing Binay in the race.  With no corruption scandals involving Roxas and with Poe out of the race, Roxas would be in a good position to be elected president in 2016.  

Vice presidential race

And this brings to fore the question: Who would be elected vice president?   As of today, there are six vice presidential candidates, four of who are in tandem with a presidential candidate.  The pairings are:  The Liberal Party’s (LP) standard bearer Roxas and vice presidential running mate Congresswoman LeniRobredo; the United Nationalist Alliance’s (UNA) standard bearer Binay and running mate Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan; Independent Grace Poe and running mate Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero; and Duterte and running mate Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.

The other two vice presidential candidates who aren’t paired with a presidential candidate are Senators Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.  Although they’re both members of the Nacionalista Party (NP), they will be running as independents.  However, they are expected to “attach” themselves to a presidential candidate by way of a personal endorsement.  Trillanes has already endorsed Poe, whose popularity could benefit Trillanes by such association.  But what if Poe were disqualified? Then Trillanes will have to find another one to endorse or he might just remain unattached, which would make him like a “ronin,” asamurai with no master.   The same is true with Marcos who has yet to “attach” himself to a presidential candidate, possibly Duterte.  

Not too long ago, Marcos said that he didn’t mind being Binay’s running mate.  But when Binay offered Marcoto be his running mate, Marcos declined.  He probably realized that it would be difficult for him be in tandem with Binay, who had figured prominently in fighting Bongbong’s father, the late strongman Ferdinand E. Marcos in the 1980s.   It would also be awkward for Bongbong to be Duterte’s running mate because Duterte was associated with Cory Aquino’s revolutionary government in the aftermath of the People Power Revolution that toppled the Marcos regime.  Cory appointed Duterte as officer in charge (OIC) of Davao City during her presidency.  However, it’s interesting to note that before Bongbong declared his candidacy for vice president, he traveled to Davao City and had a meeting with Duterte. 

With four vice presidential candidates each in tandem with a presidential candidate, and two ronins, that would make an interesting mix of relatively young, strong-minded, and ambitious individuals, each having a distinct leadership style and an agenda on how to rule an overpopulated country that has yet to come of age.  

Who would it be?

The winner will be taking over a vice presidency that is more than just glorified go-fer for the president.   He or she can use the office of vice president as training ground for the presidency.

As I have postulated earlier, whoever wins the vice presidency in 2016 would be the next president in 2022, which begs the question: Of the six vice presidential candidates in 2016 – Robredo, Escudero, Trillanes, Cayetano, Marcos, and Honasan -- who wouldn’t want to run for president in 2022 if he or she were elected vice president in 2016?  What I am seeing in my crystal ball is that all of them, with the exception of Honasan, will run for president in 2022.  But Honasan, who might not have any inclination to seek the presidency at this time, might have a change of heart midway through his term in 2019 and decide to run for president in 2022.   Once he tastes power, he can get used to it.  Indeed, power is aphrodisiac: you taste it once; you’d want more… and more.  

With all six vice presidential harboring a desire to seek the presidency in 2022, you’d expect each and every one of them to use all resources they have at their disposal to win – by all means -- the vice presidency in 2016.  It would be shooting two birds with one stone; whomever we elect vice president in 2016, we’re also electing president in 2022.  

Yes, the 2022 presidential derby is on!(PerryDiaz@gmail.com)   

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4Phl businessmen win entrepreneurship awards

By Dexter A. See 

BAGUIO CITY – Four popular Filipino businessmen, one of them is a native of the Cordillera, were adjudged winners in their respective categories in the recently-concluded Ernst and Young (EY) Entrepreneurship Awards held in Metro Manila recently.

           

Ben Chan of Bench won the Master Entrepreneur Award and was eventually declared the Entrepreneur of the Year awardee; Narda O. Capuyan, proprietor of Narda’s Handwoven Arts and Crafts, won the Small Business Entrepreneur Award of the Year, while Dr. Milagros How of Universal Harvester bested her fellow women finalists in the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year award and Juliet Herrera of Serenitea was adjudged the Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

           

“We are elated that our patience and perseverance in innovating our handwoven products was given recognition after so many years of working out the needed improvements that gained us international exposure,”Capuyan said after she was given the award by the organizers, adding that her success represents the collective and individual efforts of Cordillerans to be recognized in the field of entrepreneurship.

          

 The 12 finalists in the Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Philippines include Santiago Araneta of LBC Express, NardaCapuyan of Nard’s Handwoven Arts and Crafts, Ben Chan of Bench, Maria Lorena Florendo of Life Data Systems, Dr. Milagros How of Universal Harvester,  Juliet Herrera of Serenitea, Albert Lina of Air 21, Cesar Mamon of Enchanted Kingdom, Manuel Osmeña of Manny O. Group, Dr. Victor Perez of the University of Cagayan Valley, Rajan Uttamchandani of Esquire Financing and lawyer Alexander L. Bangsoy of Goshen Land Capital.

The award makes a difference through the unique way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential, and recognizes the contribution of people who inspired others with their vision, leadership and achievement. Each year, the country winners of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award around the world gather in Monte Carlo, Monaco to vie for the world’s most prestigious business award, the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Chan will be representing the Philippines in the 2014 World Entrepreneur of the Year in Monte Carlo, Monaco in June 2014.

The Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines is a program of the SGV Foundation, Inc. and supporting the program as co-presenters are the Department of Trade and Industry, the Philippine Business for Social Progress, the Philippine Stock Exchange, the SCHWAB Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship and the University of the Philippines College of Business Administration.

            

The global program was launched in the Philippines in 2003. A highly distinguished panel of independent judges composed of leaders from government, business and academe evaluated the nominees in areas such as innovations, financial performance, and personal commitment to their respective businesses, employees and community.

            

The program was first introduced in the United States in 1986 by professional services firms EY to recognize the achievements of outstanding entrepreneurs within successful, growing and dynamic businesses. The program currently runs in more than 140 cities and over 50 countries. Each country sends its winner to the World Entrepreneur of the Year held annually in Monaco. 

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Baguilat supports ‘overhaul’ of ‘pork’

By Aiza Liza P. Namingit

IFUGAO Representative Teddy Brawner Baguilat has expressed his strong support for the move of President Aquino to reform the pork barrel system and consolidate development projects in the national budget.

Baguilat, a member of the Liberal Party, said that with the overhaul of the pork barrel system, congressional district representatives will have to work to secure government approval of and funding for projects and programs badly needed in their respective cities or provinces.

“The removal of the pork barrel should not prevent us from lobbying for approval of our proposals and representatives should not be criticized for doing this because a big part of our job is to get funding for our own district,” said Baguilat.

During his first term as Representative of the Lone District of Ifugao, for example, Baguilat allocated P35.7 million for scholarships through the Ifugao State University and the Commission Higher Education. Over P9 million went to livelihood assistance; P5.2 million for Philhealth assistance and more than P3 million for medical assistance.

Data show that more than 6,000 families were sponsored by Baguilat’s Priority Development Assistance Fund in three years with the local government units through the Social Work offices and municipal health offices selecting the beneficiaries based on their database of indigents.

On the scholarships, Baguilat prioritized education as this was demanded by the people of Ifugao. He put in almost 40 percent of his soft PDAF allocation for them.

Around 600 students were provided education assistance in 2010 and the list now runs to 1,500. The majority of these scholars attend state universities while the rest are in private universities and colleges. The scholars were based on need as well as merit.

The balance of his PDAF went to infrastructure projects identified in consultation with the Ifugao government. The funds were coursed through government agencies and the projects complied with the menu of projects allowed by the Department of Budget and Management.

Baguilat stressed that the DBM under the Aquino administration limited the areas where the PDAF could be used, placing priority on schools, roads and health facilities.

“The pork barrel has long been criticized for being prone to abuse and corruption and perhaps it is high time to reform the system. But for Ifugao, the PDAF was used to help the province since local funds are not enough to cover the needs of the people,” said Baguilat.

Thus in the absence of a pork barrel, Baguilat said that he remained committed to securing much needed funds for the province’s specific needs through government agencies.

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IPs push NCIP revamp, titling of ancestral lands

By Gina Dizon

Indigenous peoples nationwide called for overhaul  of  the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples  (NCIP) for “lackluster and non- performance of its functions to uphold IP rights; apart from  holding a  controversial record on favouring  mining companies on the issuance of  free prior and informed consent  (FPIC) certificates while ignoring FPIC rights of IPs to their lands.”

In a petition paper forwarded to  President  Benigno Aquino 111, participants  called on  government   authorities  “to  revamp  the  NCIP  to remove those who have been proven to work against the rights and interests of IPs and support a  comprehensive  independent initiative to review the  implementation of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA).”

The IPs recently met in Quezon City August 8 in celebration of World Indigenous  Peoples Day.

Executive  director  Vicky  Tauli- Corpuz  of  the sponsoring organization Tebteba Foundation said the NCIP has failed to execute its functions  in favor of IP rights noting experiences  of  IP participants  and earlier studies  of the  University  of  the Philippines- Baguio  finding  NCIP to have failed in its  functions   to implement IPRA.

UP Baguio earlier conducted a review on NCIP wherein findings were presented to Philippine Congress during the World’s Indigenous Peoples Day 2012.  

This, as Koalisyon ng Katutubong Samahan ng Pilipinas (KASAPI)  executive director  Giovanni Reyes of the KASAPI asked some 200 members gathered during the event if “NCIP finally abdicated its responsibility to IPs”.

Reyes focused his question on the slow issuance of certificates of ancestral domain titles (CADTs) since NCCP was created 14 years ago in the   adoption of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) in 1997.

Reyes in his reference to  NCIP’s record as of  December 2010 with “probably its worst record in the past three years” ,  noted that only  156 certificates of ancestral domain title (CADT) were issued to  clans  composing   4.3 million hectares  of  which only 37 CADTs were registered   composing  936 hectares. 

There are an estimated 7.5 million hectares of the coverage of IP lands in the country spread out in IP territories in the Cordillera and other parts of Luzon, and a sizable number of IPs from Mindanao and some in the Visayas.   

Some CADTs and CALTs  issued by  NCIP has been contested by opposing private claimants due to questionable  processes ignoring indigenous processes, urging participants to call on government to fast track legitimate CADTS  and a review of the issuance of certificate of ancestral land titles (CALTs)  to private individuals.  

Reyes mentioned the ironical quick issuance of FPIC certificates favouring mining companies as compared to slow issuance of CADTS  to IP's.

Cordillera Peoples Alliance chairman Windel Bolinget said NCIP failed to implement IP rights on their free prior and informed consent to projects that enter their communities.

In a separate press conference, Reyes called for the declaration of all NCIP positions vacant for a re assessment of the criteria for applications to jobs positions of said commission to include bureau directors and even commissioners.

Rep.Teddy Baguilat from Ifugao and former chairman of the congressional committee on national minorities said the problem is structural aside from the persisting issue on non –performing personnel of NCIP.  

In the same event,  participants  questioned  the  process by which NCIP conducts its mandate to facilitate IP representative  positions to  sangguniang bodies   as per Memorandum  Circular  2010-119  providing mandatory representation of indigenous cultural communities/ indigenous peoples  in policy making bodies and other local   legislative councils issued by the  Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The DILG Circular adopted National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Administrative Order No 001 series of 2009 setting national guidelines for the mandatory representation of indigenous peoples in local legislative councils.  IPRA provides in section 16 that “the State shall ensure that ICCs/IPs shall be given mandatory representation in policy making bodies.”

Vice chieftain Marjorie Dulnuan of  Nueva Ecija said that  IP representative  positions in the municipal Sanggunian of Palayan of the  municipality had been filled up by  Nueva Ecija  NCIP provincial  director  Dario Saw-an   reportedly appointing  a certain Patricio  Fernandez without  barangay constituents’ knowledge  and thus  ignoring IP participation in the  process.    

In same  event, Dulphing  Ogan, convenor of  the Kalipunanng  mga Katutubong Mamayan ng Pilipinas  (KAMP)  said  municipal  chieftain Rafael Lantingan  of  Saranggani, Davao del Sur  reportedly placed himself as the municipal IP representative  which led Lumakas an IP  organization of the Blaan tribe in Saranggani, calls  to unseat  Lantingan. 

Ogan called on the DILG and the NCIP  to facilitate indigenous processes  in the selection of an IP representative in sangguniang bodies in accordance with the NCIP-DILG circular. 

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‘Labuyo’ leaves eight dead, hundreds of folks displaced

The death toll rose to eight as cost of damage to agriculture and infrastructure from onslaught of Typhoon "Labuyo" last week ballooned to more than P1 billion, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported Friday.

The NDRRMC said cost of damage to property and crops in the regions of Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Cordillera Administrative Region has reached P1,081,719,037.59 (P358,547,941.93 in infrastructure and P723,171,096.66 in agriculture).

The NDRRMC reported that Central Luzon suffered the most during the typhoon’s onslaught with P421,653,318.88 cost of damage to property and crops followed by Cagayan Valley with P417 million.

The agency also reported that a total of 84,571 families or 383,540 persons in the 16 provinces of the five regions were affected by the typhoon.

A total of 53 families are still in two evacuation centers while 24,605 families are staying in their friends’ and relatives’ houses.

The NDRRMC has confirmed eight people killed at the height of the typhoon while four more remained missingas rescuers recovered the body of a 40 year old woman in Isabela.

A radio report said a team of rescuers from the Philippine Army recovered the body of the woman around 11:30 p.m. last Tuesday.

The victim was caught on video on the roof top of the house while being swept by raging waters during the height of the typhoon, which caused flashflood in the area.

The NDRRMCl identified the fatalities as Joemar Salicong, 22 and Reynaldo dela Cruz, 53. Salicong was killed in a mudslide in Benguet province while Dela Cruz drowned in Nueva Vizcaya.

The missing victims were Benny Amario of Isabela and Julio Balanoba of Batanes.

The NDRRMC also reported a total of 7,100 families or 31,256 people were affected and displaced by the typhoon in Cagayan Valley, Ilocos, Central Luzon, Bicol and Cordillera Administrative Region.

The agency has pegged the typhoon's damaged to property in Ilocos region and Central Luzon at P57,459,573.58.

A big chunk of the amount, P43,130,750, was recorded in Aurora province.

The NDRRMC said that a total of 229 houses were totally damaged and 1,384 more were partially damaged during the typhoon's onslaught.

Typhoon Labuyo may have left the country, but its destruction will be felt for some time by farmers in the Cordillera, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon which incurred, by initial estimates, P438 million in agricultural damage, authorities said.

Labuyo’s onslaught in the Cordillera region, particularly Benguet, left crop losses reaching over P11 million.

Based on initial assessment, losses included P4.2 million worth of high-value crops like upland vegetables, P1.7 million worth of palay, and P5.3 million worth of corn, according to Office of Civil Defense-Cordillera officer-in-charge Alex Uy.

Agot Balanoy of the Benguet Vegetable Cooperative said there was minimal damage on vegetable farms in northern Benguet.          

In Mountain Province, Typhoon Labuyo damages to road networks reached P18,575,000 while damage to flood control structures summed up to P12,600,000.00.

Provincial Public Works maintenance engineer Domingo Pumecha reported this initial assessment was made on national road links and flood control structures of the province.

In a report, P10.325 million is needed to rehabilitate road slips and P7.250 million to restore road cuts along damaged national roads.

Clearing operations on intermittent sections are also necessary where P1 million is needed for equipments and manpower.

Various flood control structures also collapsed which will cost the Public Highways P12 million to restore.

During the onslaught of Typhoon Labuyo, district engineer Wilbur Likigan ordered deployment of the district’s maintenance crew to effect “band-aid” solution on critical areas, to manually clear minor slides and to assist in the clearing of massive road blocks.

Pumecha said his crew is doing preventive maintenance work to prevent additional damages and  prepare for typhoons or heavy rains.

Assistant.district engineer Charles C. Sokoken also advised the public to be vigilant on slides and falling rocks and debris during their travel and asked that road slides be reported earlier so these could be fixed.

In Pangasinan, authorities cited partial reports placing fisheries losses at P8 million and infrastructure damage at P42 million.

In Quirino, Agaton Pagbilao Jr., an officer of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), said Labuyo’s fury destroyed P205,897,645 in agricultural crops, with corn accounting for the biggest damage at P177,460,824.

The howler, according to Pagbilao, affected 25,267 hectares of croplands, of which 15,330 hectares are planted with corn.

In Isabela, Senior Supt. Sotero Ramos Jr., provincial police director and action officer of the PDRRMC, said Districts 3 and 4 were the hardest hit by the typhoon, with crop losses initially placed at nearly P180 million.

Gov. Faustino Dy III reported that Labuyo destroyed at least 19,885 hectares of cornfields worth P138,741,314; 3,410 hectares of rice fields worth P26,555,375; banana plants at fruiting stage at P13,218,823; and vegetable farms worth P1.11 million. 

However, Dy said damage to infrastructure was negative but the water level in several areas in the province’s two cities and 34 municipalities was slightly elevated.

As of Wednesday, the water level of Magat Dam was at 191.90 meters, near the critical level of 190 meters. Its management earlier had to open one gate to let go of the excess water. – With reports from Charlie Lagasca, Luis Jose, Liam Anacleto and Pamela Fiar-odDungala

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Outstanding students in Cordillera feted in rites

BAGUIO CITY – Resplendent in their ethnic attires, and with past awardees, their parents, school administrators and teachers in attendance, 10 outstanding students with four from out-of-town educational institutions were recognized here Thursday at city 

Named Outstanding Students of the Cordillera Administrative Region (OSCAR) were Chastity Wacdagan and Leonardo Visaya from the Kalinga-Apayao State College (KASC), Ginalyn Brioso from Abra State Institute of Science and Technology (ASIST) and Luisa Gay Antonio from the Ifugao State University (IfSU) joined Jordan Luther Basawil and Ronald Bustos of the Saint Louis University (SLU), Raymond Sakiwat from the University of Baguio (UB), Julienne Fortunato of the University of the Cordilleras (UC), Nick Sibaen of the Benguet State University (BSU) and 2Lt. Prolen Bonacua from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), chosen from the stringently screened twenty (20) finalists, including: George Dieyouson Estabillo, (UB); Almira Bentadan and Ronalda Tawanna Jr., (BSU); Marchellene Caday, UP Baguio; David Dupyawon, (UC); Crisember Compas, King’s College of the Philippines (KCP); Brandon Pierre Gullunan, (IfSU); Ronalie Guzman, Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC); Mae Magranga of the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC); and Tom Braian Aguilar of SLU.           

                

The students were part of 29 nominees from schools in Baguio, Benguet, Ifugao, Abra, Kalinga and Mt. Province, and who underwent values formation activities in Lepanto, Mankayan, Benguet.

                

Aptly named Balitok (Gold), the 2013 batch through their spokesman, vowed to deliver service, coupled with education, leadership, responsibilities attached, and anchored on moral values, to their fellowmen.

Committed to OSCAR principles, Balitok batch promised to concentrate on sustainable livelihood projects in the community, boosted with a values formation and learning experience earlier mainly in Mankayan, Benguet and other agricultural, industrial and tourism areas in the Cordillera region. Video presentations as to the students’ experiences within the grass roots were shown during the program.

Before the program, the 2013 batch honored the country’s national hero as they laid wreaths at the Rizal Monument, Burnham Park.     

                

Inspirational speaker Bro. Adrian Louie Atonducan of OSCAR batch 2008, during the awarding program encouraged the young group to be passionate and be their best in their chosen careers; be they home-makers, teachers or financiers; and share their know-how anywhere and with everybody. Be models for others; be they older or younger, he asked of Batch Balitok.

Allow the “wounds of ignorance” to be healed and become  scars, and be Christ-like in life’s battlefields, Atonducan also said.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan who welcomed the group shared them his late mother’s words of advice: “Agsing-singpet ka, anak ko,” (Be Good, my child.). “Have faith, have hope and share your talents,” he added.

Trophies and medals were given to the outstanding students, as with tokens and certificates to the interviewers, screening committees, schools and sponsors; including Commission on Higher Education (CHED-CAR) Regional Director Luisa Valencia, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Regional Director Helen Tibaldo, Pastor Sam Galino, and Dr. Ryan Guinaran, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the OSCAR Alumni Community, Inc. Other participating schools in the CAR and sponsors, including values formation host town of Paco, Mankayan through local government unit official were also recognized during the program.

Earlier batches of OSCAR witnessed the awarding program, with presentations from the UC-Hapiyoh Mi Cultural Group highlighting the best in every CAR province with indigenous costumes, instruments and a well-choreographed dance number. – Julie G. Fianza      

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Philhealth gearing up for nat’l run for ailing kids

By Ramon Dacawi

Running enthusiasts will give their physical fitness exercise a humanitarian dimension when they answer the starting gun simultaneously here in Baguio and in 17 other cities on Feb. 17 in the four-category inaugural “Philhealth Run 2012” being mounted by the government health insurance system.

 Philhealth conceptualized the calorie-burning mass run to build up a fund for the country’s ailing children, to boost their chances of recovering from illnesses and of growing up like normal kids.

 That’s why registration fees are pegged at P250 for the 3-kilometer fun run, P300 for the 5K, P350 for the 10K and P450 for the 18K that will fire off simultaneously in Baguio, Dagupan, Tuguegarao, Clark, Malolos, Manila, Laguna, Batangas, Legazpi, Iloilo, Tacloban, Cebu, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Koronadal, Marawi and Butuan.  

 That’s why Philex Mines, one of the country’s major gold and copper producer based in Tuba, Benguet, came in as the first major sponsor of the Baguio-Cordillera leg with a P100,000 donation.

 “We hope other companies and institutions would follow suit as the run draws near so, together, we can reach out to more children in need,”said Maggie del Rosario, public relations officer of Philhealth-Cordillera based at the SSS Building along Harrison Rd. here.

 Local organizers are optimistic registration will hit the Cordillera target of 3,000 runners to help achieve the nation-wide mark of  90,500 participants.

 Half  of the nation-wide proceeds will go to the Philippine Children’s Medical Center in Quezon City as the national beneficiary of the run-for-a-cause.

 Half of what every city/regional leg raises will go to a beneficiary of the regional organizer’s choice.

 Helping Hands of Healing Hearts Ministries based at Camp 7 here in Baguio has been selected as the local beneficiary.  It is a refuge and recovery home for kids from all over who are undergoing therapy in various hospitals and medical centers in the Baguio-Benguet area.

 Among those who stayed in the home established by Claire Henderson, an Irish missionary, was her namesake, Irish Gullitiw, then a 14-year old daughter of a marginal farmer from Nueva Vizcaya who recovered from “dermatomyositis with SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus) features” that had left her unable to walk for months.

 Among the home’s present wards is 14-year old Ana Fontanilla, another farmer’s daughter from Rosario, La Union who recently received fund support totaling P38,200 to enable her to sustain her dialysis treatment for two months due to kidney failure.     

 She and other wards of the small facility will be the beneficiaries of funds the Philhealth Run will raise through sponsorship and registration fees.

Runners’ registration, which began last Nov. 17, can be either on line (https://run2013.philhealth.gov.ph) or through the form being issued by the Philhealth regional office at the 4^th floor of the SSS Building along Harrison Rd., Baguio City.

As incentives, top three finishers in both the male and female divisions will receive cash prizes of P3,000-P2,000-P1,000 in both the student and adult categories of the 3K, aside from a P10,000 group prize; P5,000-P3,000-P2,000 in the 5K; P8,000-P4,000-P3,000 in the 10K; and P10,000-P6,000-P4,000 in the 18K.

 The “Nationwide Run for Mother and Child Protection”  will mark Philhealth’s 18^th anniversary.

It recalls the spirit of “Children of Heaven”, the 1997 multi-awarded Iranian film about a boy trying to win third place in a long-distance race so he could replace his younger sister’s pink shoes he lost after fetching it from the cobbler.

 Third place had a pair of shoes as prize. Instead, Ali, the boy runner, ends up first in a bitter race to the finish line after he was tripped by a competitor.

 Win or lose, participants, together with sponsors in the Feb. 17 run will up ailing children in their struggle for deliverance from all kinds of illnesses. .

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Pangasinan gov’s legal counsel claims harassment : Jueteng on in northern Luzon despite ‘gov’t drive’

Despite an ongoing probe of the Department of Interior and Local government on the alleged involvement of Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino on jueteng, the multi-billion “underground industry” is still thriving in northern Luzon provinces. 

This, despite the Philippine National Police’s “one-strike policy” which involves sanctions for chiefs of police like being relieved from their posts if jueteng is found in their areas of responsibility.

The supposed government’s drive against the illegal numbers game is just that – all for show, according to pundits who said what government spokesmen have been airing in the media were just that – “praise releases.”

To date, sources said jueteng is still on in regions 1, 2 and 3 in northern Luzon including the Cordillera where the game is still proliferating in in Baguio and Benguet towns La Trinidad, Mankayan, Buguias, Tublay, Itogon, Tuba and Atok. 

A Malacanang source earlier said the government is now gathering pieces of evidence against a known political figure in northern Luzon and his involvement in jueteng.

In Pangasinan, Bugallon town Mayor Rodrigo Orduna who earlier accused his erstwhile boss Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino of his direct involvement in the operations of jueteng in all six districts in the province, said he was sticking to his statements.

The charge was denied by the governor, but the issue has

reportedly led to the relief Senior Supt. Mariano Luis Verzosa Jr. as Pangasinan police director.

Last week, the lead legal counsel of dismissed as “pure harassment” the plunder case filed against his client by Orduna who accused him of receiving jueteng payola.

“We see no strong case against the governor,” said lawyer Abraham Espejo in a recent meeting with reporters at the Capitol Resort.

Espejo, dean of the College of Law of New Era University, said the governor’s defense panel will use the same statements made by Orduña during a Senate investigation into the jueteng scandal some two years ago.

Espejo alleged that the complaint was “part of a demolition job against the governor waged by his political foes so they could catch up from trailing miserably in the surveys.”

The Senate had cleared the governor based on the statements of Orduña who was then called to testify in favor of Espino during the Senate inquiry, he said.

Espejo said the governor’s political detractors might suffer the legal consequences of their misdeeds.

 “The defense panel is ready should the Ombudsman recommend for a full trial on the allegations of plunder,” he said.

Espejo said despite the controversy, Espino “remains a strong ally of President Aquino and that he continues to support the Aquino administration.”

“As he supported President Aquino’s campaign in the 2010 elections, the governor is still 100 percent behind the President because he belongs to the ruling coalition. As a loyal partyman he will not in anyway jeopardize his relationship with the President,” Espejo said

Espino is a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

In Camp Florendo, San Fernando Las Union, the Ilocos Region police headquarters, Supt. JovencioBadua Jr., spokesman, said Verzosa was reassigned to Camp Crame as Senior Supt. ManolitoLabador, PRO1 deputy director for operations, took his place as Pangasinan police chief.

Orduna, who has lodged a plunder complaint, said Gov. Espino received an estimate of P900 million in jueteng money and is allegedly protecting its operations.

The DILG has formed an investigative body to look into the accusation while the Ombudsman is undertaking a separate probe.

The DILG has also requested the assistance of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Anti-Money Laundering Council and other government agencies in the investigation on Espino. 

In Ilocos Sur, only Tagudin town Mayor RoqueVersoza, Jr. has declared his town as jueteng-free.  “This town will remain jueteng free,” the town executive said while another town mayor talking on conditions of anonymity said, “mahirap mapahinto ang jueteng.”

“Only the financers of jueteng gain from its operations,” Versoza said,  adding, “if one wants to stop jueteng operations, it only takes political will.”

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Cordillera PNP gives P600k to storm victims

CAMP BADO DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet – Personnel of the Police Regional Office Cordillera donated P628, 800 to victims affected by Typhoon Pablo in Visayas and Mindanao.    Cordillera police director Police Chief Supt. Benjamin B. Magalong, gave cash worth P423, 800.00 to Leonardo C Reynoso, Cordillera director of Department of Social Welfare and Development on occasion of the 19th PNP Ethics Day celebration of regional police.

The donation was part of one day salary deduction of all police commissioned officers and voluntary contribution for non-commissioned police officers and non-uniformed personnel of the regional police office.

The amount will be used to construct shelter houses for typhoon victims.

Last December, cash of P205, 000 was already forwarded to National Head Quarters, Camp Crame, Quezon City as the mandatory contribution of all police personnel of Cordillera police as mandated by the directive of the Chief, PNP that each personnel should donate P50.00.

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Road to peace in Bangsamoro

PERRYSCOPE

Perry Diaz

The historic signing of the “Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro” was accomplished on Oct. 15, 2012 at the Malacañang Palace.   It was not the final peace accord that the parties wished for but it was a good start considering what everybody involved in the process had gone through.

The Framework Agreement would lead to the creation of a “new autonomous political entity” (NPE) called “Bangsamoro.” This would replace the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which is composed of the predominantly Muslim provinces of Maguindanao, Sulu, Basilan, Lanaodel Sur, and Tawi-Tawi; and the cities of Marawi and Lamitan.  In addition, the provinces of Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato, which are not part of ARMM, will be included in the new Bangsamoro.

           

Finally, President Benigno “P-Noy” Aquino III’s relentless pursuit of peace with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is paying off.  With the Framework Agreement in place, all the players can now work together – if they can — in achieving peace, which has eluded us for decades.

           

Indeed, the circuitous road to peace took many turns and detours that seemed to go nowhere.  And each time that peace seemed to be at hand, an armed conflict breaks out between government forces and the 12,000-strong MILF rebels, pushing everybody back to square one.  It was like a “line dance” number: one step forward, two steps back, make a turn and repeat the number.

           

Now that the “dancing” is over and the parties had signed the framework, the challenge is how to achieve a lasting peace in the Bangsamoro. It is interesting to note that the MILF is not the only Muslim rebel group in Mindanao.  There are several others: at least two factions of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and the breakaway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

           

Currently, the government has an existing – albeit shaky — peace agreement with MNLF that was signed by NurMisuari and then President Fidel V. Ramos in 1996, which ended the 24-year secessionist war that MNLF waged.

           

The 57-member Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) recognizes the Misuari-led MNLF faction.  Misuari had made it known that he opposed the creation of Bangsamoro as envisioned in the Framework Agreement because he claimed that it violated the 1996 peace agreement, which MILF opposed at that time.

           

The weekend before the signing of the Framework Agreement, Misuari met with Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan – an ally of P-Noy – in Zamboanga City to allay fears that it could “spark unrest and may lead to war in Mindanao,” as reported by the media. “I was misunderstood. What I said was the ‘framework’ might be a recipe for a crisis which may include war,” he told Tan.

           

Barring any new conflict, an autonomous Bangsamoro region could usher in the dawn of peace and progress in a region long neglected – and abused – by the Central Government in Manila.  Due to take effect upon the completion of a comprehensive agreement by the end of the year, Bangsamoro will be governed by a Basic Law administered by an elected “ministerial form of government,” which I believe would be akin to a parliamentary system. The Bangsamoro Government will have an asymmetric relationship with the Central Government in Manila.

           

As stipulated in the Framework Agreement, “The Central Government will have reserved powers, the Bangsamoro Government shall have its exclusive powers, and there will be concurrent powers shared by the Central Government and the Bangsamoro Government.”  It sounds complicated but nothing is impossible if the parties are sincere and objective in making it work.

           

Furthermore, the parties agreed that “the Central Government shall have the following powers: (a) Defense and external security; (b) Foreign policy; (c) Common market and global trade, provided that the power to enter into economic agreements already allowed under Republic Act No. 9054 shall be transferred to the Bangsamoro; (d) Coinage and monetary policy; (e) Citizenship and naturalization; and (f) Postal service.”   

And the most important aspect of the Bangsamoro political entity is the following provision:  “Consistent with the Bangsamoro Basic Law, the Bangsamoro will have the power to create its own sources of revenues and to levy taxes, fees, and charges, subject to limitations as may be mutually agreed upon by the Parties. This power shall include the power to determine tax bases and tax rates, guided by the principles of devolution of power(italics mine), equalization, equity, accountability, administrative simplicity, harmonization, economic efficiency, and fiscal autonomy.”

           

Of particular interest is the inclusion of “principles of devolution of power.”  It reminds me of what the United Kingdom did to keep Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland within the kingdom and yet give them autonomy to govern their own people.

           

In my article, “Revolution or Devolution” (July 29, 2005), I wrote: “In 1998, the United Kingdom underwent a dramatic change. Through devolution, certain powers vested in the U.K. parliament were transferred to new legislative bodies in the Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. ‘Devolution’ is defined as the ‘transfer and subsequent sharing of powers between institutions of government within a limited framework set out in legislation.’ Devolution allows the ‘transfer of power’ to be done in phases or step-by-step transfer.

“I believe that a step-by-step devolutionary process in a new Philippine parliamentary government would be in the best interest of the country and the Filipino people. Empowering the provinces, or regions for that matter, by devolution would give the provinces time to mature and develop a political system conducive to the welfare of the people. And the best part of it is that devolution in each province or region would not necessarily be in the same uniformed steps for all provinces or regions. Some provinces or regions could have more power than the others.”

           

The question is: would devolution work in Bangsamoro?  Absolutely!  However, the key to successfully devolve power to Bangsamoro is to give her full economic power while allowing her to exercise the political power granted her under the Framework Agreement.

Mindanao is a rich region in natural resources.  The potential for Bangsamoro to develop into a wealthy state and progressive people is without bounds.  And as a new dawn breaks the darkness that engulfed their ancestral land, let’s give our Muslim brothers and sisters a hand as they travel the road to peace and prosperity in Bangsamoro.  They deserve no less. (PerryDiaz@gmail.com)

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