Tagel campaigns for revival of customary politics in Benguet

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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Improving the FPIC process

 LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March Fianza

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- This discussion centers on significant changes to some of the guidelines in holding the Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) process of 2012 carried out by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
    The amendments as proposed and approved in a resolution by the Sanggunian Panlalawigan of Benguet earlier this year were sent to the commission en banc or the national officials of the NCIP for any appropriate action. The SP did not get any reaction from the commission en banc, not even a single word.
    Allegations of violations committed in the execution of the FPIC process were numerous, as admitted by NCIP personnel and the private parties involved, but these are best set aside in the meantime for future columns.
    The FPIC as a process under the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA 1997) allows IPs and Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) to wield power to give or withhold consent to a project that could affect their livelihoods, resources and communities, and enables them to negotiate the conditions under which the project would be evaluated and implemented.
    Depending on the end-result of the FPIC process; the livelihoods, resources and communities which the IPRA calls ancestral domain could be affected by the projects, programs, plans and activities of the proponent, whether private sector or the government.
    Looking at the proposal to amend the FPIC guidelines by the Benguet SP and after getting explanations from Benguet SP member Recto Alawas who spent a big part of his life with the NCIP before becoming Benguet IPMR, I found the idea worth discussing in this space.
    Prior to the approval of a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) of any tribal community, and before it is listed as such in the records of the NCIP, the people and their territory undergo a field-based investigation (FBI) process, including the formulation of their Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan (ADSDPP).
    By the way, as early as 2000 to 2002, the Iwaks of Lusod and Domolpos in Barangay Tinongdan, Itogon were already in the process of discussing their ADSDPP where, fortunately, I was physically present.    
    The amendments to the FPIC guidelines of 2012 were proposed to address the present situation where government projects were already listed in a recognized ancestral domain and known IP territory.
    Here, a full-blown FPIC process may be dispensed with especially if the government project was requested by the IP community. It is another story if the government project was not requested but it was to be implemented within the AD.
But since the project was requested by the AD and government-funded, it follows that the plans and programs related to the project were prepared and approved by the community itself.   
    If so, then the FPIC team under the concerned NCIP office could conduct validation and inspection processes without having to call for the presence of people who would be busy tending their farms instead of attending assemblies. This would save time, effort and money on the part of the IPs and the FPIC team.
    One particular change in the FPIC guidelines is that part of Sections 9 to 13 where the conduct of the FBI is undertaken to determine whether a project, its plans and programs overlap or do not affect an ancestral domain.
    The attention of the NCIP to the FBI process is being called because when the territory of the concerned IP community went through the process of identification prior to titling, the same facts and figures, records and other documents, including technical descriptions of survey plans were already gathered.
    Hence, there is no more need for undertaking the FBI within a publicly known IP territory since it was already listed under the NCIP as a territory with a CADT. It is significantly important to dispense with the FBI in AD communities to save time, effort and money.
    In cases where other concerns and activities were required by the FBI, the same could be undertaken in the Work and Financial Plan activities of the FPIC Team. Even additional documents and information about an AD community could be taken from the ADSDPP of the community and records available with the NCIP and the local government unit.
    However, there are LGUs that are not entirely covered by a CADT where only a number of its barangays or sitios are publicly known to be occupied by IPs. In this case, a field-based investigation prior to an FPIC may be conducted, after which a Certificate of No Overlap (CNO) may or may not be issued, depending on the result of the FBI.
    Another concern mentioned by Benguet IPMR Alawas was to restudy the possibility of reverting to a part in the old FPIC guidelines where only the affected community would be involved in the FPIC process and not the whole ancestral domain. Consulting the whole CADT area could bring misunderstanding and discord among members of the community.
    The SP Benguet further proposed to amend Section 22 of the FPIC guidelines so that only the principal parties such as the private company owner or officials, NOT contractors or ordinary staff, be authorized to represent the company and shall be present during the FPIC processes especially during the negotiation period.
    Thus, such company representatives must be granted authority through a company Board Resolution or Special Power of Attorney, whichever is applicable. The representative shall have the power to make immediate decisions on behalf of the company, and any decisions made must be binding to the proponent company.
    Also, that the company proponent operating in an AD territory must prioritize the ADSDPP project listings in their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and suggested that this be included in the FPIC-MOA.
    Given that the requirements and the documents were completed in the conduct of the FPIC process, the NCIP issues a Certificate Precondition. The SP Benguet resolution said, this should be issued by NCIP within 30 days upon receiving the FPIC Report and FPIC MOA from the regional offices.
    Some NCIP personnel would say that the FBI in an ancestral domain area is still necessary but that could be for personal reasons, considering the travel allowance and other expenses that they could claim from the private company project proponent.
    As for IPs inside an AD who understand how the conduct of an FBI works, they would say that it is a disturbance to their activities as joining the process could eat much of their time instead of going to work. Here, their travel expenses are not even refunded.
    The company proponent of the project will see the FBI the same way that the ICC in an ancestral domain or CADT area saw it, considering the added expenses in gathering people when all the needed information could all be taken from the AD recognition files, ADSDPP Book and LGU history book. The FBI is a redundant activity and a burden for all parties. 

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

Politics has turned very personal

March Fianza

Miss Marites had spread lately that former president Duterte might run for the senate in 2025 or vice president in 2028, once his daughter Sara is impeached over the controversial P125-million confidential fund that she reportedly spent in just 11 days.
    Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, the former president and the House of Representatives were hot pancakes lately after the request for confidential intelligence funds was rejected by congress.
    Sometime last October, VP Sara requested congress for confidential and intelligence funds worth P500 million for the OVP and P150 million for the DepEd during the appropriations hearings in the House, in addition to the bigger annual budgets given to both offices for the year 2024.
    The lawmakers objected to the idea of confidential and intelligence funds for both the OVP and the DepEd primarily because it is not the work of these offices to engage in intelligence work. Slowly, the public came to know VP Sara’s request as something that was not supposed to be granted.
    Then public opinion turned against the approval of intelligence and confidential funds for both the OVP and DepEd which she represented that later led to the HoR voting against it. Speaker Romualdez had to defend congress saying their legislative action was an exclusive responsibility by the HoR which was subject only to limitations provided by the Constitution.
    The Speaker further said, the “House will not allow any person, no matter how influential or powerful, to dilute the power of the purse vested by the Constitution in Congress, and in Congress alone”.
    Since VP Sara is the former president Duterte’s daughter, he too had to come to her defense and described the House as the “most corrupt institution in the country today, dominated by hopelessly corrupt politicians”.
    Looking at how both sides felt about the situation, they had the best reasons to be dismayed – with Romualdez absorbing a barrage of criticism directed at the House, and Duterte failing to provide political backing for his daughter’s fund request.
    VP Sara’s apparently limitless need for such huge allocations in the national budget provoked public opinion and a lot of questions which led to the House realigning the budget, and finally granting the P650 million to the intelligence agencies of the national government.
    With that act, the House not only appropriated taxpayers’ money wisely, our lawmakers also saved the public funds from wasteful, inexplicable and suspicious spending.
    In the senate meanwhile, some 10 senators during one of their executive sessions wanted to restore the controversial confidential intelligence funds that were requested by the OVP. Obviously, her political allies were practicing their roles.
    But unfortunately, political alliances in a country that holds elections every three years untie swiftly and suddenly. It is because political parties are simply there for the convenience of political leaders who hold the power and the money.
    When the party has served its purpose, it dies. But it is resurrected when it forms an alliance with an already existing “strong” party. Take for example the rumored team of senator wannabes under President BBM’s Federalista.
    On the other side is the team of politicians who lost in the last presidential elections who want to recycle themselves and warm their seats in the senate again, this time with former president Duterte who said he might run for a senate seat for personal reasons and to protect daughter Sara.
    The midterm elections of 2025 have not started but the positioning and the political fighting has started to heat up. With VP Sara deliberately skipping to shake Speaker Romualdez’ hand in a recent public event, the war for 2028 has been marked.
 

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

Met woman dances in ‘bahag’

March L. Fianza

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- It has been awhile since the last time I had a meaningful conversation with then government worker and now Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Recto Alawas of Benguet.
    Our paths accidentally crossed at the IP games during the “Adivay” celebration at Wangal, La Trinidad so we invited each other for coffee and talked about present situations facing indigenous peoples.
    The instant meeting reminded me that there were indeed so many things that needed to be corrected, some of which were forgotten or deliberately put aside to gather dust in the corner of one’s office.
    I am talking about the Benguet Sanggunian Panlalawigan Resolution No. 2022-197 that discussed an incident that happened more than a year ago when the Metropolitan Theater or Met for brevity exploited the Benguet Indigenous Peoples cultural attire where a woman was shown wearing “bahag” or G-string in a performance.
    In celebrating the 50th Pambansang Alagad ng Sining, the Met showcased their artists and part of the show was entitled “Igorot” of which the choreography and attires represented the Igorots and the Cordillera culture where they showcased dancing women wearing Benguet “bahag” or “kuval” in Ibaloy.
    The “bahag” is a loincloth worn by Benguet men to cover their private parts. This is never worn by a woman as the clothing for the latter is the “tapis” which is a wrap-around skirt paired with a blouse.
    The SP resolution said the Met show was an “exploitation, misrepresentation, insult, ignorance and cultural appropriation of the Indigenous People's cultural identity”. I know what Manong Recto was driving at as he related to me what the Met did. 
In the SP Reso. 2022-197, the board members knew that the event organizers of the show could not have been aware that they were distorting other people's culture, but to the Cordillera IPs, distorting culture through misrepresentations is a serious matter.
    What the Met accomplished in allowing the presentation of a dancing woman with the “kuval” was to cause confusion and misinterpretation to those who have less or no knowledge of the Igorot culture and identity.
    Certainly, some would argue that art is boundless. But I also agree with the Benguet provincial board that sensitivity and research should be the order of the day when one's culture is the subject of “art.”
     Customs and traditions should never be manipulated to the point where it is no longer identifiable with the owner of the culture or the people it represents.
    The Benguet SP resolution “condemned” in their hearts the inappropriate use and portrayal of the “bahag” by a dancing woman in a Met show and forwarded their measure to the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA) to investigate.
    If found liable, the concerned government agencies should make the appropriate action against the event organizers. Necessary protocols in the portrayal of IP cultures should also be established for the protection of the people's rights to cultural integrity.
    The SP Reso. 2022-197 was received by NCIP and NCCA last year. The Benguet board and I are wondering what happened to their investigation if they did investigate. Maybe they are busy with other matters, aside from making some killing.
 

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Killing of politicians

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The recent spate of killing of politicians nationwide hugged the media limelight the past weeks.
    Now local chief executives want better coordination with the Philippine National Police amid concerns over attacks on politicians, the latest victim of whom was Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo.
    Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) president Quirino Gov. Dakila Cua aired his colleagues’ position in an interview with “The Chiefs” on One News TV.
    “It is really alarming for us in the local government that local officials are being targeted,” Cua said. “If they can do that to mayors, then how much more to ordinary businessmen or citizens – those brazen attacks.”
Local chief executives met with the PNP and the Dept. of the Interior and Local Government on Tuesday for a briefing on the status of the recent attacks.
    “With closer cooperation between local officials and police, and with the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) as well, we might be able to address these things better. What was stressed at the meeting was prevention,” he said.
    Cua said the PNP agreed to increase its coordination and cooperation with local executives, especially on intelligence sharing.
    “One of the things we discussed was the need for cooperation between local authorities or local officials and police. We discussed the mayors and their control and supervision of the police in their municipalities and provinces, so we can exchange intelligence,” he added.
   ***
Local executives said they hope the PNP would step up efforts to dismantle private armed groups, especially those whose members have specialized training from law enforcement agencies.
    “That’s one of the things we can collaborate better, local officials and police heads. These private armed groups are easy to identify and monitor. These guys, the police know them already. The police (during the meeting) said they can take a deeper look into the matter,” the ULAP president said.
   ***
Aparri, Cagayan Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda was among six people killed in an ambush in Nueva Vizcaya province on Feb. 19.
    Alameda was with five companions aboard a van that was parked outside a school in Sitio Kinacao, Barangay Baretbet, Bagabag town, when a group of gunmen fired at their vehicle.
    A report from the police station in Bagabag said the suspects were “more or less six people” onboard a white Mitsubishi Adventure with plate number SFN 713.
    Authorities are hunting down the gunmen who immediately fled the crime scene.
    Alameda has been vice mayor of Aparri since 2019. He won a second term in May 2022 after a tight race.
    The ULAP earlier condemned the ambush as a “cowardly act” and called for justice for Alameda.
    “Vice Mayor Alameda is a friend to many of his colleagues and was well-loved by the residents of Aparri,” said ULAP in a statement on April 5.
    “We demand swift and immediate justice to assure our people that the law is able to protect them and to show criminals that the law will quickly subdue them.”
    “With the case of our vice mayor in Aparri, we have persons of interest that are being pursued by our investigators,” PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said on Monday.
   ***
News reports also said Mayor Ohto Montawal of Datu Montawal, Maguindanao, was also shot and wounded inside his vehicle along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City on Feb. 22. 
    “I would say that these are isolated cases, but still, these are killings that need to be solved and to be pursued by our law enforcement agencies in investigating the cause or the motive behind the attacks,” Azurin said.
     “We are trying to see why most of the killings of politicians happen when they’re far from their jurisdiction, so we’re advising them to continue the threat assessment,” he said.
    Azurin also urged local government officials to tap the PNP for additional security assistance when traveling outside their coverage areas.
    Earlier, Azurin ordered regional offices of the PNP to conduct a threat assessment on the local government officials within the scope of their responsibility.
   ***
In the case of the murder of Negros Oriental governor Degamo, it was “Congressman Teves” who ordered the killing, according to two of the alleged suspects now in custody of the NBI.
    Suspects Joric Labrador, 50, and Benjie Rodriguez, 45, were shown on TV tagging “Congressman Teves” as the mastermind while they were being escorted to detention at the NBI headquarters in Manila after being moved from the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame, Quezon City.
    Reports said it was unclear if the two were referring to current Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. or his brother Pryde Henry who previously held the same post.
    The two suspects said they readily agreed to the hit after Teves made them believe that their target was a drug lord in the province. Two other suspects – Osmundo Rivero and Joven Aber – are also in NBI custody. Five others are still at large.
    PNP spokesperson Jean Fajar­do said the two suspects were transferred to the NBI after they expressed readiness to give their extrajudicial confession on the March 4 attack, which also killed eight other people and wounded several others.
    Labrador claimed he had no idea that their target was Degamo and that they had originally been offered job as VIP security. The former military man said his only role in Degamo’s assassination was to secure the perimeter and that he was not in the Degamo compound during the shooting.
    Rodriguez, for his part, said they only communicated with a certain “Marvin” who directly gave them the hit order. But when asked who was giving orders to Marvin, Rodriguez said it was Teves.
    Over the years, adversaries of politicians have usually been blamed for such killings.
    There was one case wherein an Abra politician was also killed in Manila some years ago allegedly on orders of another Abra politician.
    Over the years, Abra had been considered a hotspot due to such killings. But in most parts of Cordillera, it may be due to culture that politicians don’t kill each other. 
    They slug it out in airwaves or rallies, but when elections are done, losing candidates congratulate winners.
   ***
Anyhow, developments on rising cases of political killings are being monitored by media.
    It is in times like these that credibility in reportage is when one can rely on “mainstream media.”
    It is a disgrace when vloggers or bloggers come up with their stories on such matters lacking in research and substance and spew it out to the public through their internet platforms.

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Will we ever have a law prohibiting political dynasties?

 BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

(I would like to share this article by Norman V. Cabrera, president of Kapatiran Party)
    The stubborn persistence of political dynasties continues to hound the Philippines almost since its founding as a nation. Despite the prohibition against them being written into the 1987 Constitution, generation after generation of the same relatively few families fill elected offices at every level of government.
    Every election, the consensus among an overwhelming majority of Filipinos is, “this must stop,” and in every Congress following an election, bills on the prohibition of political dynasty are introduced or reintroduced to do exactly that but to no avail. These bills merely languish in the committee handling them, hence, almost all never saw the light of day in the plenary for the last 36 years.
    Many think that the passage of a law remains impossible to achieve as long as the majority of the legislators belong to political dynasties. Even former president Rodrigo Duterte himself had admitted during an interview that proposed laws banning political dynasties will never be passed by a Congress dominated by dynasties.
    Meanwhile, the Supreme Court had previously ruled that Section 26, Article II of the 1987 Constitution is not self-executing, and thus requires a legislative act of Congress. In other words, the prohibition of political dynasties cannot be realized or put into effect until and unless Congress exercises its constitutional law-making duty.
    The Court had also ruled that the question of which laws to enact is a purely legislative function over which courts have no judicial control.
    The 1987 Constitution is the fundamental and supreme law of the land, and a framework for governance that defines how our government is formed and run. It establishes the character of our government by defining the basic principles and policies to which society must conform and to which government is accountable.
    The Declaration of Principles and State Policies commits to particular social, economic, political, and developmental goals. They take the form of judicially enforceable socio-political-economic rights, directive principles and policies that are politically binding on the government by way of commitment or intent.
    Section 26, Article II of the Constitution declares a fundamental precept in our practice of politics (“The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service”) and states a specific measure through which the same may be achieved (“[The State shall] prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law”).
    On Nov. 8, 2022, Kapatiran Party, with its chair, Edilberto M. Cuenca, and its president, Norman V. Cabrera, filed a petition for certiorari seeking from the Supreme Court a judicial review of congressional inaction in relation to the intent from the Record of the Constitutional Commission of Section 26, Article II of the 1987 Constitution.
    Petitioners argue that (1) Congress is mandated by the Constitution to enact the needed law with only the definition of political dynasties falling under Congress’ discretionary legislative power, (2) the congressional inaction is tantamount to grave abuse of discretion and unconstitutional, and (3) the Honorable Court issue a writ of certiorari for Congress to comply with its constitutional mandate to pass a law defining political dynasties as required by the 1987 Constitution.
    The 36 years of failure by Congress to enact a law defining political dynasties should not dim the people’s resolve to invoke their right guaranteed by the State under the Constitution. The country must not give up but rather find inspiration in the words of Albert Einstein, who said: “The strength of the Constitution lies entirely in the determination of each citizen to defend it. Only if every single citizen feels duty bound to do his share in this defense are the constitutional rights secure.”
    In the exercise of the respective powers of our three branches of government, all remain subordinate to the Constitution.
    Will we ever have a law defining political dynasties? Or is the 1987 Constitution impaired in this regard?

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Passing of gov’t posts easier in Nueva Ecija due to family ties

 By Celso Cajucom

CABANATUAN CITY -- The turnover of leadership in local government units (LGUs) of Nueva Ecija province looks like a relay race in track and field at the Olympic Games.
    Majority of the elected and reelected officials in the May 9, 2022 elections in the province belong to the same families, making the passing of the baton evidently much easier than the short stick being handed over to political rivals outside of the clans.
    Relatives or not, the choices of the Nueva Ecija electorate were, however, the new LGU leaders in most of the 27 towns and five cities of the province have vowed to serve their constituents with dedication and honesty.
    In Cabiao town, Mayor Ramil Rivera, who was serving his second term, was reelected for his last three-year run, while his son, Kevin Rivera, was voted as councilor.
    Before the elections, the older Rivera was lauded by residents for the acquisition of 24 ambulances in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
    He was also praised for buying heavy equipment to better deal with disasters and putting up a floating market to boost the local tourism industry.
    Cabiao was honored by the Dept. of the Interior and Local Government as top performer in complying with accounting and auditing standards, rules and regulations.
    In Talavera town, former three-term mayor Nerito Santos Sr. who served from 2004 to 2012 had passed the baton to his daughter and also three-term municipal leader Nerivi Santos-Martinez (2013-2022).
    After this year's polls, Nerivi handed over the stick to his brother, newly elected Mayor Nerito "JayR" Santos Jr.
    "It's in our blood, pero mayroon silang kani-kanilang sariling plano, at hindi ako ang nasusunod kundi sila mismo at kung ano at sino siya, at ito ay nahihigitan pa nila dahil sa kanilang makabago, akma at karapat-dapat na napapanahon at diskarte, maliban pa dito ay ang taong-bayan ang siyang nagluklok sa kanila (but they have their own plans, and they will call the shots, and they can exceed what I may have accomplished through what they think is called for and achievable through their respective leadership styles)," Nerito "Nery" Santos Sr., an engineer, said in an interview with this writer.
    In Cabanatuan City, former mayor Julius Ceasar "Jay" Vergara turned over the LGU to his daughter, now mayor Myca Vergara, a two-term mayor of this city since 2016. Jay is now a two-term vice mayor in this city.
    His wife is Third District Rep. Ria Vergara.
    In the second district, Joseph Violago takes over, replacing his wife, Micaela "Mikki" Violago. In Palayan City, three-term mayor Adrianne Mae Joson Cuevas passed the baton to her daughter, newly elected Mayor Viandrei Nicole Joson "Vianne" Cuevas. Vianne's father is Vicente "Bong" Cuevas, a businessman. Despite her mother's loss in the gubernatorial race, Vianne, in her inaugural speech on June 29, 2022, also vowed to continue her mother's unfinished job of making Palayan City more vibrant, an employment center and an agro- industrial and information technology hub in providing livelihood and education and promoting health. In San Jose City, father and son were reelected, with the older Mario Salvador as mayor and Ali Salvador as vice mayor.
    Mayor Nestor Alvarez turned over the leadership of the Science City of Munoz to his sister Armi Alvarez, with him voted as vice mayor.
    Nampicuan town will be under a husband and wife, Mayor Victor Badar and Vice Mayor Remedios Badar.
Gapan City former mayor Emerson Pascual, who was elected representative of the fourth district in the province, passed the baton to his sister, Mayor Emary Joy Pascual.
    In the first district, lawmaker Estrellita Suansing yielded the congressional post to her daughter, Rep. Mica Suansing.
    In Caranglan town, Mayor Mary Abad passed the baton to his son, Rogelio Abad. In Jaen, reelected Mayor Sylvia Austria and his son, Vice Mayor Sylvester Austria, will lead the municipality.
    Reelected mayor Alex Romano and his wife, now Vice Mayor Glenda Romano, will run Lupao town.
    In Quezon town, reelected was Mayor Mario Cristino "Boyet" Joson and Dean Joson, his son, was also reelected as vice mayor.
    In San Leonardo town, Mayor Froilan Nagano was reelected and his cousin, Amerigus "Amang" Nagano, will serve as his vice mayor.
    In Pantabangan town, reelected Mayor Roberto Agdipa and his wife, Monaliza Agdipa, will also serve as vice mayor.
    Josefino Angeles was reelected mayor and his cousin, Ethel Angeles, will be his vice mayor in Santa Rosa town.
    Meanwhile, reelected Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali and his brother, reelected Vice Gov. Emmanuel Anthony Umali, led a mass oath-taking of provincial board members and mayors and vice mayors held at Crystal Waves resort in Talavera on June 28, 2022.

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Political fireworks greet Bongbong on Day One

PERRYSCOPE

Perry Diaz

JUNE 30, 2022 marked the date of the Marcoses’ return to power in the Philippines.   It was the most remarkable comeback of one family that was booted out of power 36 years ago during the EDSA People Power Revolution and sent the Marcos family to exile in Hawaii.
    It rained that day, which seemed foreboding of the newly inaugurated 17th President of the Philippines, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.   The day’s festivities included a “show of force” by the Philippine military.  Tanks rolled down on the parade ground.  Uniformed soldiers from the various military units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines were in their best uniforms.  And across the parade ground were the dignitaries and other government officials in their best barongs to match the new President’s simple barong.
    In Bongbong’s 26-minute inaugural address, he said:
    “I fully understand the gravity of the responsibility that you’ve put on my shoulders. I do not take it lightly but I am ready for the task.  I will need your help; I want to rely on it. But rest assured, I do not predicate success on the wide cooperation that’s needed.”  He asked for the people’s help, but he made it clear that he doesn’t need their cooperation to succeed.  So what is he going to do if he doesn’t get the people’s cooperation?  Declare martial law and rule by decree just like what his father did?
A divided house
“In this fresh chapter of our history, I extend my hand to all Filipinos. Come, let us put our shoulders to the wheel; and give that wheel a faster turn — to repair and to rebuild; and to address challenges in new ways; to provide what all Filipinos need; to be all that we can. We are here to repair a divided house; to make it whole and to stand strong again in the Bayanihan way, expressive of our nature as Filipinos.”
    It must be remembered that during Marcos Sr.’s brutal regime, he amassed billions of dollars in unexplained wealth and was accused of looting the country’s treasury.  Excessive foreign borrowing plunged the Philippines into debt and millions of Filipinos were mired in poverty. To quell dissent, he jailed political opponents, shut down media outlets, and imposed nine years of martial law, which witnessed tens of thousands of human rights violations.
Defended father’s legacy
And after claiming victory, Bongbong vowed to be a leader “for all Filipinos.”  To the world, he said: “Judge me not by my ancestors, but by my actions."  Hmm…  But he went on to praise—and defended—his father’s legacy and glossed over its violent past.   
    He said his father accomplished many things that had not been done since the country’s independence.  “I once knew a man who saw what little had been achieved since Independence in a land of people with greatest potential for achievement and yet they were poor. But he got it done,” Bongbong said.  “So will it be for his son. You will get no excuses from me."
    Bongbong promised to bring the country back to its “golden age” during his father’s rule.  But the truth of the matter is: The economy was in shambles when President Cory Aquino took over from Marcos in 1986.  The Central Bank was bankrupted and was put out of business. The country’s gold reserves mysteriously disappeared and the peso lost its international monetary value.  It became worthless.
    Bongbong took over an economy that was on the brink of imminent collapse.  The exchange rate went down to P55 to the US dollar.   Taxes became uncollectable including the Marcoses’ estate tax, which ballooned to P203-billion.  How do you expect to collect taxes from the people when their own president refuses to pay his taxes?  Bongbong should lead by example.
Charter change
But on Day One of his presidency, Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. introduced a resolution to change the presidential term of office from six years without reelection to five years with one reelection. 
    It seems that he’s more interested in laying the groundwork for him to stay in power much longer.  And perhaps stay in power long enough to pass it to his son Ferdinand Alexander Araneta Marcos III, also known as "Sandro" Marcos, who is now 28 years old.  He’ll be 40 years old in 12 years and would be eligible to run for president. 
    In his resolution, Gonzales cited the “overwhelming electoral mandate” that Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte received in the May 2022 elections.
    “The clear majority mandate of our new President and Vice President would be the green light from our citizenry to proceed to the discussion on Charter change,” Gonzales said in a statement.  Well, things could drastically change by then.  There is no point in discussing charter change right away.  Why don’t they wait for a little while longer and see how Bongbong’s presidency performs.
Confidence in the future
Bongbong must be commended for his confidence in the future: “I have 110 million reasons to start with you. Such is my faith in the Filipinos.”  However, he must make sure that he delivers on the promises he vowed to deliver.  Otherwise, he’d end up with 110 million unhappy Filipinos who would bring him down like they did to his father.
    He promised food self-sufficiency as his top priority.  And he will continue Duterte’s “Build, Build, Build” despite ballooning debt.  He also promised to fix shortcomings in Duterte’s Covid response.  
    He also promised to pursue an independent foreign policy, which is questionably unrealistic in today’s geopolitical reality where small countries have to kowtow to one of the superpowers to remain “independent.”  But he was mum on human rights, low on detail, and high on false claims.
    But there are certain things that he did not talk about in his address.  He did not talk about the corruption cases hounding his family.  Will he keep the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), which was created in 1986 for the sole purpose of recovering the ill-gotten wealth from the Marcoses and Marcos’ cronies?
As of 2021, the PCGG said it has recovered a total of P265 billion, or P175 billion in cash and P90 billion in assets.  About P125 billion in Marcos wealth remains under litigation.   So far, Bongbong has not appointed new members of the PCGG who serve at the pleasure of the president.  Until then, there is no active PCGG.  Critics raised the alarm that a second Marcos presidency could undermine PCGG’s mandate.
    On his first day in office, Bongbong also exercised his veto power on House Bill 7575 creating the Bulacan Airport Special Economic Zone and Freeport adjacent to the proposed airport city in Bulacan province.  
    He justified his veto because of its provisions that "pose substantial fiscal risks to the country" and its "infringement on or conflict with other agencies' mandates and authorities."
    Marcos also said that he decided to veto HB 7575 because it would be an additional burden to the taxpayers.  He said the measure was in contrast to the government's objective of developing a tax system with low rates and a broad tax base, as it "will significantly narrow our tax base with its mandated incentives applicable to registered enterprises.”
    Incidentally, the main sponsor of the bill was Sen. Imee Marcos, Bongbong’s sister.   Hmm… Was this another family moro-moro?  Perhaps, Bongbong should have solicited expert advice instead of killing the bill on his first day in office.  It will drive away foreign investors.
    The veto is reportedly seen as a sign of animosity between Bongbong and Imee, who has reportedly been pushed to the sidelines while First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos emerges as a major power broker in her husband’s administration.   
    It seems that political fireworks have greeted Bongbong on Day One.
(PerryDiaz@gmail.com)

The future of US- Philippines alliance

Perry Diaz

LAST MAY 11, 2022, U.S. President Joe Biden called President-Elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to congratulate him on his recent election.  President Biden expressed his intentions to continue strengthening the alliance between the two countries.

    Biden said that he looks forward to working with Bongbong to continue strengthening the century-old US-Philippines alliance, “while expanding bilateral cooperation on a wide range of issues, which includes the fight against Covid-19 pandemic, addressing the climate crisis, promoting broad-based economic growth, and respect for human rights.”
    Bongbong’s spokesperson, Atty. Vic Rodriguez, said that the Philippines’ relationship with the U.S. “will get better” under Marcos Jr.’s presidency.
    Rodriguez said that the foreign policy of Bongbong would be “inclusive” while also ensuring that the interests of the Filipino people “come first and are never compromised, especially on our territorial integrity.  We will not be exclusive to anyone.”   Hmm… I think that should be directed at China and not the U.S. 
    Bongbong, however, said he would maintain the Philippines’ alliance with the U.S., and tread carefully with Beijing over a West Philippine Sea territorial dispute.
    Military deals between the U.S. and the Philippines “are advantageous to both countries,” Marcos told a virtual forum. The alliance between the two nations is “a special relationship,” and the U.S. “can do many things” to help the Philippines, he said.
    But he rejects the idea of aligning with just one country, and said the Philippines should carefully navigate its tensions with China.   “You have to be friends with everyone. You don’t want to be enemies with anyone,” he said.  Well, the Philippines has always been on friendly terms with everyone including China, which often borders on maritime disputes.
Treaty alliance
But Marcos Jr. should be reminded that the Philippines has only one defense treaty, which is with the U.S.  The U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) has been in effect since 1951.  The two countries also have a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), which was just extended recently.  They also have the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA).  In other words, the U.S. and Philippines are bound to each other like Siamese twins.  You attack one and you attack the other.   
    I think Marcos Jr. should take advantage of such military and defense arrangements.  Under EDCA, it allows the U.S. to rotate troops into the Philippines for extended stays and allows the U.S. to build and operate facilities on Philippine bases, for both American and Philippine forces.   
    However, the U.S. is not allowed to establish any permanent military bases.  It also gives Philippine personnel access to American ships and planes.
     Bongbong is eyeing a deal with China to resolve the West Philippine Sea territorial dispute.   He vowed never to give up “a single square inch” of the area where the country has sovereign rights.
Maritime dispute
The maritime dispute was one of the topics that Marcos Jr. and President Xi Jinping talked about over the phone when the Chinese leader congratulated him for winning in the presidential election.
    Marcos said he does not believe in the old thinking of the Cold War, where countries were either allies of the United States or the then-Soviet Union.
    "I think that we have to be just fine with independent foreign policy where we are friends with everyone.... We have to be good neighbors and we ask them to be good neighbors to them. It is of mutual benefit to our countries," he said.
    "We have to form alliances and partnerships because no country can do this, can recover or can change the geopolitical situation on their own. And that's why we have to forge partnerships, and those are the partnerships that will keep things stable," he added.
Continue Duterte’s policy
Although Bongbong vowed to continue Duterte’s pro-Beijing foreign policy and downplays the US-Philippines alliance, the fact remains that the Philippines is aligned with the U.S., having four defense agreements from mutual defense, to allowing U.S. forces on Philippine soil, to providing bases for American forces, and using the Philippines as a facility to store weapons.  Indeed, the Philippines is aligned with Uncle Sam in any way you look at it.
    However, he laid out his position on China, saying that he would set aside the landmark 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague ruling on the West Philippine Sea in favor of the Philippines over China.   In essence, it effectively ruled Beijing’s nine-dash line claim to the sea had no legal basis under the UNCLOS.
Bongbong’s naivete
It’s his opinion that the Philippines’ arbitral victory against China was “not effective” and that the “only practical option” for resolving the territorial dispute was a bilateral agreement with China.  He believes that he can come to an agreement with China, which just shows his naivete about how China operates on the world stage.
    Bongbong went further in saying he would dismiss any potential offer of assistance from Uncle Sam in negotiating with China, which makes one wonder:  How is Bongbong going to deal when more than 200 Chinese ships cordoned off the Whitsun Reef that prevented Filipino fishermen from fishing in the area?  
    It happened not too long ago and Duterte couldn’t do anything until American warships led by an aircraft carrier sailed through as Chinese warships began dispersing away.
    Evidently, Marcos Jr. is veering towards appeasing China hoping that diplomacy would prevail.   But by the same token, his relationship with the Biden administration is undergoing some adjustments.   He’ll never forget the day when the U.S. Sen. Paul Laxalt called the senior Marcos on February 26, 1986.  “Senator,” Marcos asked, “what do you think?  Should I step down?”     
    Laxalt, who felt a rush of sympathy for Marcos, replied, "I think you should cut, and cut cleanly. I think the time has come."
    There was a long pause that seemed to last for minutes. Finally, Marcos said softly, in a dispirited voice, "I am so very, very disappointed."
    In the end, Marcos got the bad news that his 20-year rule had to end from the senator who had brought him warnings from President Reagan four months earlier and who, he knew, spoke with presidential authority.
    Marcos Sr. then realized that without President Reagan’s support, he didn’t have a chance of survival.  He and his family boarded an American helicopter that flew them to Clark Air Base.  Then they boarded an American airplane on their way to exile. 
    Marcos had one last wish: To go to Paoay, Ilocos Norte and stay in the safety of his home province.  However, the pilot had an explicit order: Bring the Marcoses to Hawaii.
    Bongbong should—nay, must—never forget that.  History has a way of repeating itself.
(PerryDiaz@gmail.com)
 

 

 

 

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Church pushes 'principled collaboration' with Marcos gov’t

EDITORIAL

THE Philippine Catholic Church on Thursday assured newly proclaimed President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that it will continue to foster a "principled collaboration" with his government.
    In a statement, Caritas Philippines, the Catholic Church's social action arm, said it will work with the Marcos administration on initiatives that will "respect the rights and dignity of the Filipino people".
    "We will, as always, exercise principled cooperation with the government," it said.
    As such, the national Caritas added that it will support Marcos' programs that "honor the rule of law and history" and will "make government more accountable to its people".
    "With our post-election accountability program, we will hold him and all elected officials liable for all their election promises," Caritas said.
    "In all that is to come, we pray that his administration will be guided by justice, inspired by the people who elected him, and fueled by true patriotism," it added.
    Marcos was officially declared the country's next president on Wednesday. Congress also proclaimed Sara Duterte as Vice President-elect after only two days of canvassing.
    The proclamation took place at the Batasang Pambansa, in the presence of both houses of Congress.
    Marcos and Duterte, daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, will assume office on June 30.
    The RC’s “principled collaboration” with the incoming Marcos government deserves closer scrutiny as this country becomes more divided as ever.
    Times indeed have changed wherein trolls and people with evil intentions made falsehoods the “truth” and parlayed these to a gullible public. Call it “demo crazy.”  
 

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