1 hurt, as army overruns NPA camps in Aurora

BALER, Aurora, August 24, 2011-A Philippine Army sustained minor injury when the government troopers raided and overran a New People’s Army (NPA) camp in Sitio Balagbag, Barangay Dimanayat, San Luis, Aurora Tuesday after a fierce battle with the elements of 48^th Infantry “Guardians” Battalion, Charlie Company led by 2lt Edwin Lauro.

Lt. Col. Kurt A. Decapia identified the wounded in action as PFC Erwin Dacayo, a native of Guimba, Nueva Ecija who was already brought at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Medical Center, V Luna road, Quezon City for medical treatment and now is in a stable condition.

Decapia said that his troops were dispatched to hinterlands of Dimanayat for the purpose of giving clothes, foods and medical mission for the villagers. “The army took foot patrol for several days from Brgy. Diteki to the coastal barangays of San Luis town,” he added.

Pfc Erwin Dacayo in white shirt inside the ambulance.

At that juncture, he said that the villagers and rebel returnees of Brgy. Diteki reported the presence of the rebels in Balagbag area. He immediately called the group of 2lt. Lauro to conduct combat operation in the place; thus, the army encountered more or less fifty (50) rebels at around 6:20 yesterday morning at Balagbag area.

The army encountered the group of Gregorio Torres, Alias Ka Lenny/Jake who is the leader of the regional yunit guerilla (RYG) together with the other rebels in Central Luzon who gathered in the place to conduct atrocities in the province.

“The rebels are projecting that they are still strong and migrating to show proof of their strength. They are few, they just combined themselves as a group from different provinces to conduct atrocities here in the province, but they failed due to the early reports from the residents of Diteki,” he said.

He said that the group of 2lt Lauro overran the said communist rebel camp after an almost an hour of gun battle, believing that many rebels were either killed or injured, as blood stains were seen along the rebels’ withdrawal routes.

 
The military initially recovered from the camp of the rebels, 1 bag of explosives, 2 bags of subversive documents and personal belongings.

As of this report, an operation manhunt and blocking operation are being conducted by the 48^th Infantry Battalion against the rebels. (Jason de Asis)

Operation manhunt versus rebels in Aurora to continue

CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City, August 23, 2011-Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) Chief Major General Jessie Dellosa said that the operation manhunt against the New People’s Army (NPA) will continue to maintain the stability of the peace and order in the entire province.

“The troops led by Lt. Col. Kurt Decapia are inspired and motivated to disrupt the NPA’s extortion activities and show of force in the recent manifestation of the villagers full support to the 48^th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army,” Dellosa said, following the foiled harassment and ambush of Bayanihan Patrol Team of soldiers in Barangay Diteki, San Luis, Aurora last August 12 that led to the recovery of improvised explosive devices.

Three days after, local officials and hundreds of villagers led by Barangay Capt. Maria Fe Rios gathered at Barangay Diteki basketball court in San Luis and openly denounced the atrocities perpetrated by the NPA.

NOLCOM spokesperson Captain Jovily Carmel Cabading said that there is no let-up in the pursuit operations being conducted by government forces against the remaining NPA members.

“The army troopers are trying their best to send a message to the NPAs that they are just being used and abused by their leaders who do not want this armed conflict to end,” she said, adding that the government already re-opens the venue for a sincere “peacetalk” where rebellions will hopefully be resolved in time.

Cabading said that they send message to the rebels that there is a pressing need to give this “peacetalk” a chance to succeed, saying that these atrocities in Aurora will not help anyone achieve genuine peace.

Cabading revealed that one soldier identified as Private First Class Erwin Dacayo was slightly wounded in today’s hot pursuit operation conducted at around 6:20 in the morning.  

The elements of Charlie Company, 48^th Infantry Battalion led by 2lt Edwin Lauro caught up with the armed rebels in Barangay Dimanayat, in their temporary ‘put-up’ camp. NPA’s personal belongings and some subversive documents were left behind as they run for their lives.

Back to Dellosa, he said that it is obvious that the rebels are anti-development and so they will block any progress in the province.  The statement made by Senator Edgardo Angara lately that Aurora can be the richest province in the country because of the Benham Rise (a potential source of energy) might have fueled their (NPA) desire to disrupt peace in the communities.  

Lt. Col. Kurt Decapia emphasized that their unit is open for dialogue even in any means of communication for the fleeing NPAs who wish to surrender to the government. (Jason de Asis)

2 soldiers wounded, 1 civilian died in Zambales clash with rebels

Entrance to Ucaon, Candelaria, Zambales.

CANDELARIA, Zambales, August 23, 2011-Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) spokesperson Captain Jovily Carmel Cabading revealed that two (2) soldiers were wounded, one civilian was fatally hit and undetermined casualties among the rebels in an armed encounter before the dawn yesterday Monday at Sitio Biew, Barangay Taposo, Candelaria, Zambales.

In a telephone interview, Cabading identified the two (2) soldiers who were hit in a gun battle around 4:20 in the morning as Private First Class Antonio Alvarez and Private First Class Oliver Limbag while a courageous civilian volunteer - Christopher Bonustro was killed in action during the crossfire.

She said that the government troops encountered more or less ten member of the “Pinagsanib na Sangay ng Partido (STP) sa platoon Tarlac-Zambales” under the leadership of a certain Evelyn Munoz, Alias Ka Ched, a native of Pangasinan operating in the place.

“The rebel strategy now is migrating in an insurgency province to show proof of their strength. The rebels are only few, they combined themselves as a group more or less ten from different places then they will conduct atrocities, just like what happened in Aurora province,” Cabading said. She added that the rebels would like to trick the people to believe that they are of strong hold.

“Small groups of New People's Army (NPA) from different places gathered in an identified area then did their plan and extorting the people and other kinds of life threatening so that people would give revolutionary tax and other collectible items,” she said.

Cabading said that Major General Jessie Dellosa,  the NOLCOM Chief, wanted the civilian’s heroic deed to be given due recognition by proper authorities because he sacrificed his life in line of duty to ensure the safety and security of  the Zambaleños.

“He did not die in vain. It is a fact that the residents themselves tipped off the NPA’s presence to government forces which meant they condemned their presence in Zambales,” Dellosa said.

Government troops recovered the following items from the site of the encounter:  one (1) M14, one (1) M16, bandoleers with ammunition, documents with high intelligence value and personal belongings.

The 24^th Infantry Battalion army Chief LTC Michael G. Samson also revealed that there are NPA casualties according to the information from the residents and the bloodstains in the NPA withdrawal route are indicators of these.

Samson calls to offer medical assistance to help those NPA wounded in the area.

Samson revealed that prior to the encounter, a civilian tipped-off enabled government troops to catch up with a group of local rebels conducting extortion activities in the said area that led to the clash.

As of this report, a hot pursuit and blocking operations are being conducted by troops of 24^th Infantry Battalion versus the rebels. (Jason de Asis)

Masbate prelate ordained today

SAN JOSE, Antique, August 22, 2011―Bishop Jose Salmorin Bontolo, the third Bishop of Masbate, was ordained to the episcopacy by Jaro Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo at St. Joseph Cathedral in the heart of this bustling capital town.

Concelebrating with Lagdameo was the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Guiseppe Pinto and other archbishops and bishops from all over the Philippines.

Bantolo was vicar general of San Jose de Antique diocese prior to his appointment as bishop of Masbate.

The fifth among 14 children, Bantolo was born in November 12, 1960. His parents are former Mayor Honorio Bancaya Bantolo and Leonita Tuma-ob Salmorin. He studied at Guisijan Elementary School in Laua-an town and finished high school and college at St. Peter's Seminary, this town.

Bantolo took his Theology at San Jose Seminary at Ateneo de Manila University and was ordained to the Diaconate by then Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin on August 3, 1985. Then San Jose de Antique Bishop Raul Q. Martirez ordained him to the priesthood at the Immaculate Conception Parish in Laua-an on April 21, 1986.

He acquired his M. A. In Educational Management from the Jesuit-run Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro city in 1991. He also has a Licentiate in Philosophy from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy in 1998.

Bantolo also has a degree in Applied Theology from the University of Berkeley in California, U. S. A. from 2005-06.

He served as parish priest and chaplain to Filipino communities in Rome, Italy, Athens, Greece, New York and University of Berkeley in the United States of America and the various towns in Antique province. (Melo Acuna)

US-based Filipino clergy to hold musical concert

NEW YORK, August 22, 2011―The Filipino clergy of Staten Island in New York will hold a concert to promote the forthcoming assembly of Filipino clergy in Los Angeles, California on November 8-11, 2011.

The benefit concert will feature well-known Filipino soprano, Lani Misenas, an operatic Filipino tenor, Jun Penaverde, and the popular San Lorenzo Choir of New York City.

The “Singing Filipino Priests of Staten Island” with some laity friends will also participate with some choral numbers.

Titled “Cantate”, the concert will be held on October 1st at 7:30 pm, at St. Joseph-St. Thomas Parish Auditorium, 6097 Amboy Rd., Staten Island, New York.

Coordinated by Father Erno Diaz, administrator of St. Margaret Mary’s Parish in Staten Island, the benefit concert is being organized as a response to the appeal of Bishop Oscar Solis, a Filipino Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, to help support the First National Assembly for Filipino Priests.

The gathering aims “to organize all Filipino priests serving in the USA and form a National Association… and to provide a national venue for Filipino priests to come together in a spirit of fraternity and unity, foster solidarity, and provide support for each other in our pastoral ministry in this country.”

Some 800 Filipino priests serving in various dioceses all over the United States have been invited to the event.

The general admission ticket is $25. For more information and for tickets, call: Fr. Erno (917-829-0742, Fr. Frank (718-344-3041), Fr. Gil (917-842-5169) , Fr. Vic (646-750-9463), Fr. Leeboy (718-689-0238), Fr. Anthony (646-469-8922), Fr. Deo (917-609-4830), Deacon Gary (718-727-7350). (CBCPNews)

12,500 nurses needed this year says Drilon

MANILA, August 22, 2011-Senator Franklin Drilon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee announced Sunday that about 12,500 nurses for new nursing position this year are needed by the government where the committee Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad bared to grant Health Secretary Enrique Ona an authorization to hire an additional 10,000-12,500 nursing professionals in the government workforce.

Drilon said that it aims to cut the surplus of nursing graduates in the Philippines, revealing that they agreed that between now and the end of the year, the Department of Health (DOH) should be given an authorization to hire 10,000-12,500 nurses.

During the agency’s budget hearing, there are currently 287,000 nursing graduates who are either unemployed or underemployed. Over the weekend, it was announced that another 37,513 examinees passed the Nurse Licensure Examination administered last July.

It was discovered that the Budget department disallowed the hiring of an additional 4,000 in the DOH workforce due to a ban on hiring of administrative positions, apparently due to the discrepancy with the way the Department of Budget and Management interpreted administrative posts during the finance committee hearing.

“There is glaring deficiency of nursing staff in state hospitals, compounded by the fact that the allowed staffing pattern is not actually filled up particularly in regional government hospitals, adding that our health system will be given a temporary relief due to the hiring of additional nurses,” Drilon said.

The Finance committee will determine now how many new nursing positions are needed for the next proposed budget year. (Jason de Asis)

Zambales govt passes resolution vs. Subic coal plant

MANILA, August 21, 2011—Campaign against coal-fired power plants in Subic, Zambales continues as the Provincial Board voted unanimously and approved a resolution upholding the ban of erecting a coal-fired power plant in any parts of the province.

In a statement dated 17 August 2011, Vice Governor Ramon Lacbain II said that former General and Department of Works and Highways (DPWH) chief, and now the Governor of Zambales Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., had signed Board Resolution No. 2011-149 that strongly opposes the erection of the coal-fired thermal plant in Sitio Cawag, in Subic.

“When I accidentally came to know about this project during the presentation of the SBMA [Subic Base Metropolitan Authority] Ecology Center together with Taiwan Cogen before the municipal council of Subic, Zambales sometime in 2007, I immediately relayed it to SUBRA [Subic Bay Resorts Association] which afterwards requested from the SBMA Ecology Center a presentation about the proposed coal plant in Subic Bay,” the vice-governor said in a statement.

SUBRA, together with People's Task Force on Hanjin & Subic Bay Inc. and the Greater Subic Bay Tourism Bureau (GSBTB), were the first organization that opposed the proposal.

The provincial vice chief also said that other cause-oriented groups as well as the local government of Olongapo City opposed the project. He also said that he was present during the deliberation and approval of early local government resolution that strongly opposed the erection of the plant.

Lacbain also said that he cannot recall any consultation made in connection with the proposed power plant, neither there is a strong approval for the erection of the electric-generation facility in Subic.

“I don't remember any meeting or public consultations I have attended regarding the proposed coal plant in Subic Bay where the participants accepted or endorsed the project. I was out of the provincial board from 2007-2010 but I can't recall any instance when the proponents made a presentation before the provincial board.

“I [have even] asked the board members during those period and they confirmed that no presentation was made before them during their session. Until, I was re-elected as vice governor last 2010 and had the chance to attend another presentation, this time by Aboitiz Power, before the municipal council of Subic, Zambales on the proposed project. But what surprised me is when I saw the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) issued by former DENR secretary Lito Atienza. [I am] surprised because how come the ECC was issued when I can't remember any public consultations regarding the project where it was accepted or endorsed?” he said.

The Aboitiz Group (also known as the Aboitiz & Company, Inc.) is known as one of the oldest shipping magnate in the Philippines, which traces its roots with the hemp trading in Ormoc, Leyte during the 1800s.

Aside from shipping and trade, in 1930, the Aboitiz clan had also ventured in power industry development (generation and distribution). Today the Aboitiz Group is known as the biggest companies in the Philippines and having its share in real estate development, agriculture, ship-building, and tourism, being the owner of the elite resort, Amanpulo in the Palawan Island.

Nevertheless, Lacbain and other groups continue to question the issuance of the ECC for the construction and later, operation of the plant, which the world environmentalists and scientists had identified as “the number one carbon dioxide (CO2) emitter in the atmosphere”. CO2 is considered the agent of global warming and climate change.

Coal plant in Subic: socially unacceptable

As it would pollute the air and waters of the scenic Subic in Zambales, the vice governor and the opponents of the coal plant in Sitio Cawag see the project as socially unacceptable.

“The social acceptability of the project is questionable and considering that this is the most important requirement for the issuance of the ECC. Several months after Aboitiz Power and the SBMA Ecology Center made a presentation before the provincial board regarding the project, the individuals and organizations that allegedly had accepted or endorsed the project had never submitted any documents to justify the legality of the issuance of the ECC,” the Zambales second chief disclosed.

“In fact, new SBMA Director Philip Camara was even asking for an investigation of SBMA Ecology Center Manager Ameth Dela Llana for failure to submit the list of individuals and organizations that accepted or endorsed the project, as requested by Zambales provincial board,” he added.

Fight for coal plant-free Subic to continue

Despite the fact that the prospective investors might be shooed away because of the vehement opposition to the coal-fired power plant, the provincial government even encouraged the people of Zambales to continuously oppose the proposed project by the Aboitiz.

“The people of Zambales and Olongapo must not retreat but must continue, with even more active and strong determination, to oppose this project which is being continued despite the opposition from all sectors. This project will definitely have adverse effects on our environment, health and our tourism industry in Subic Bay but in return for all these sacrifices no direct benefit will go to the people: no real property taxes, no assurance of employment, no assurance of lower power rates, no assurance of environmental guarantee fund, no specific material or financial assistance to affected neighboring communities,” Lacbain said.

The vice governor had also stressed that there are cleaner energy sources that the government can tap and there is no excuse for pushing the coal-fired power plant erection in Subic Bay.

"Why insist on this coal-plant project, most especially in Subic Bay that must be preserved for tourism and fishery industries? For the sake of our environment, our health, our tourism and fishery and most especially our children's future—let's continue to oppose this project and finally get the cancellation of the ECC,” the vice governor said. (Noel Sales Barcelona)

Governor Angara-Castillo bats for peaceful and progressive Aurora

Gov. Bellaflor Angara Castillo and party in a souvenir
photo with the Japanese visitors.

BALER, Aurora, August 21, 2011-In the recent twin separate encounters between the army and rebels, Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo calls for peaceful and progressive province, urging the Domingo Erlano Command (DEC) rebels to return to the mainstream society.

Angara-Castillo told newsmen that the provincial government is exerting fullest efforts for the continuous spur of development and maintaining its good image for having the lowest crime rate in Central Luzon.

“I expect all rebels in the province to return to the fold of the law. I want to change their status to know that the government is sincere in the peace process. We are providing now a housing project for rebel returnees,” she said, referring to the establishment of a rebel returnees’ housing community at a two (2) hectare land in the municipality of Maria Aurora where an initial forty (40) houses will be built exclusively for former New People’s Army (NPA) and their dependents.

Angara-Castillo said that the rebels should be given the chance to know that there is a good future waiting for them if they will return to the government.

“I want to help them and ready to give what they need just like the other rebels who are now enjoying their lives,” Angara-Castillo said, explaining that she is offering rebel returnees community houses, jobs, scholarships, livelihood projects among others.

“I want a former rebel community complete with free house, facilities, schools, day care centers, chapels, health centers etc…,” she said.

Angara-Castillo said that she wanted to uplift the lives of the former rebels to feel what a family life should be living in a peaceful society; thus, I urged rebels to turn their back in the armed revolution.

It could be remembered that 21 rebels were awarded each of P50,000 worth livelihood assistance cash money totalled to P1,050,000 through the Social Integration Program (SIP) of the government. (Jason de Asis)

Aurora to be the richest province in the country

BALER, Aurora, August 20, 2011-Senator Edgardo J. Angara revealed that Aurora can be the richest province in the country, saying that the Philippines may be able to achieve energy self-sufficiency because of Benham Rise, a submereged volcanic ridge near the province which is very rich in natural resources here in Central Luzon.

“After its claim to own an undersea land almost the size of Luzon is getting fruitful, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) is currently deliberating the handover to the country of the Benham Rise,” Angara said.

The country will not only gain 13 million hectares in additional territory, nearly the size of Luzon, should UNCLOS approve the claim, but also a potentially oil-rich region.

“The Benham Rise can provide our country its own energy, and also set off the opportunity to export gas, copper and other minerals,” Angara said.

The veteran Senator said that the country can provide us for its own energy, revealing that DENR studies for the past five years in the Benham Rise showed huge methane deposits that poses the province as a possible natural gas exporter.

“Kaya nitong lunurin ang buong mundo sa dami ng mineral deposit. We are the only claimant of Benham Rise which bolsters the country’s bid to own it unlike the disputed Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal in the west side,” Angara said.

“Once UNCLOS decides the submerged mass is sitting in Philippine territory, exploration operations could start to determine the size of resources in the plateau,” he furthered, explaining that the submerged volcanic ridge was within the country's 370-km exclusive economic zone.

He recalled that the government submitted the claim to the United Nations last 2009 for the rights over the plateau which was known as a massive formation of basalt, a common volcanic rock, and is described in a study as a thickened portion of the Philippine sea plate’s oceanic crust.

It is bounded by the West Philippine Basin to the north and east, off the coast of Aurora and Isabela provinces.

“I reiterated that the province will be still the laboratory for development. This coming September the Benham Rise will be ours. The certificate of title will come out stating that the Philippines (our province) is the owner of it. (Jason de Asis) 

SC opinion on Hacienda Luisita assailed

MANILA, August 20, 2011—The Central Luzon farmers’ group, Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson (AMGL) has criticized the recent clarification made by the Supreme Court on its July 5 decision regarding the dispute in Hacienda Luisita.

The Supreme Court has said that it would not require a majority vote, in a referendum, in order to decide if stock distribution option or the free distribution of land would be good in resolving the five-decade struggle for land by the farmers and farm-workers in the Cojuangco estate.

Joseph Canlas, AMGL chairperson said in a statement, the recent opinion made by the high tribunal would only sow confusion, if not disunity, among the farmer-beneficiaries of the disputed land owned by the family of President Benigno C. Aquino III.

“The Hacienda Luisita issue is transforming the Supreme Court, supposed to be the highest deciding body of legal issues in the country, into a hesitant body of legal luminaries upholding the interest of the landlord class. We are now hearing a high court that is pushing the farm workers to fight their co-workers and tillers, instead of issuing a decision that would finally resolve the matter,” he said.

Canlas also said that the SC had made the spirit of landlord class in the country, “high and strong”, by its decision and even evaded the “rationality of implementing free land distribution” as the opinion will only precede a more feudal relationship among land tillers and the owners of lands in the countryside.

AMGL also observed that, while the High Court did not favor the stock distribution plan by the Hacienda Luisita, Inc., it did not junk the stock distribution option itself.

“The high court junked the stock distribution plan (SDP) not the SDO, thus, farm-workers who would choose ‘stocks’ would be compelled to work for it as SDO only granted the farm-workers, the ‘right to purchase’ the stocks of HLI,” Canlas said.

Meanwhile, the farmers’ alliance also criticized the continued implementation of what they call “failure”, the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Extension with Reforms (CARPER), which the Aquino ally, Akbayan Partylist and the Roman Catholic Church had pushed, years ago.

“The choice of land distribution of the SC decision would legally be through CARPER for this would compel the farm-workers to acquire an “attestation” from the Cojuangcos that they are actual “tenants.” CARPER, too, has provision that landowners have the right to set the price of land the farmer-beneficiaries would pay through amortization,” Canlas explained.

“The SC decision is firmly [giving] a win-win [solution] for the Cojuangco-Aquinos, as neither stocks nor CARPER would actually give the lands to the farm-workers. Thus, Hacienda Luisita farm-workers have only their united strength to rely on to actually till the lands such as what they are carrying on Brgy. Balete,” he furthered.

Nevertheless, Canlas said that the SC has only one option: to junk the SDO in Hacienda Luisita and immediately distribute the lands to the farm-workers.

“Unless this is realized, they should prepare for the intensifying rage of farmers and sectors who are struggling for genuine and fundamental reforms in the country,” Canlas said. (Noel Sales Barcelona)

‘Grill’ the Angaras on Apeco, lawmakers told

MANILA, August 20, 2011—A group of fishefolks has asked lawmakers to probe Senator Edgardo “Edong” Angara and his son, Aurora Rep. Sonny Angara and the family’s involvement in pushing for the approval of the multi-million Apeco project in Aurora.

The fishers’ group, Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) told lawmakers to “grill” the Angaras about the issue of Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Free Ports Authority (Apeco) as the P332.5 million (US$7,804,270.10) proposed funding for the project is being heard at the Philippine Congress.

Budget deliberation for Apeco is set on August 22.

Pamalakaya vice chair Salvador France said in a statement that the project, being anti-people and environmentally degrading, should be shelved by the lawmakers.

France said, Pamalakaya and the umbrella organization Resist Apeco! Defend Aurora Movement will extensively and intensively lobby for the scrapping of the project and will push for a probe regarding what they call “Angara clan scheme”.

“Let the Angaras explain to the people why they are pursuing the project despite the wholesale rejection of Apeco [by some groups and lawmakers] during the committee hearing. However, they should not be allowed to speak and cast their vote once Congress in plenary puts this controversial issue to vote and approval,” France said.

Earlier, the aforementioned groups sent a letter to House Committee for Appropriations chair Cavite (1st District) Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya and the other members of the Committee, humbly asking the solon to reconsider the disapproval of the Apeco budget in the spirit of “objectivity, fairness and justice.”

The groups opined that the approval of the P332.5 million funds for the creation of Apeco will only legitimize land-grabbing and the abuse of marine resources in the Aurora province, thus endangering the livelihood, food and housing security, and the environment of the people in Aurora and the other affected areas.

It will also undermine the security and safety of the people, as the Panlalawigang Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Aurora (PAMANA) had already reported harassments, allegedly perpetrated by the elements of the Bravo Coy of the 48th Infantry Battalion as some residents refuse to give up their lands for the project.

In case of land-grabbing in the area, some of the farmers and fisherfolks that would be affected by the reclamation are beneficiaries of the Commonwealth Government’s land reform program.

According to some reports that reached this reporter, as the project pushes through, there would be a massive cancellation of Certificate of Land Ownership Awards (CLOA) and Integrated Social Forestry Certificates, issued by the past regimes.

Aside from Pamalakaya and the Resist Apeco! Defend Aurora Movement other lobbyists against Apeco are the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), the Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (AMGL), the faith-based group Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR), the Government Employees for Genuine Land Reform, Katribu Party list and the PAMANA.

Meanwhile, the Angaras had defended the project saying that it would benefit their constituents in Aurora as it would provide more job opportunities for them. The Apeco,http://www.aurorapacific.com.ph/ said that the project proponents envision “a globally competitive, technologically advanced economic zone in the Pacific Northeast Sea Board working towards a renowned business community characterized by unified perspectives on green revolution and world-class innovation” and take as its mission to “foster national socio-economic growth and foreign business relations through the advancement of an innovative, eco-friendly and cost-efficient economic zone capable of withstanding the demands of today’s global market.”

Earlier this year, President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III had already appointed former Labor chief Bienvenido Laguesma as board director of the controversial Apeco. Another appointee for the grandiose development project is Roberto Mathay, a businessman. (Noel Sales Barcelona)

PCSO 2004 and 2007 intelligence funds still unliquidated

MANILA, August 19, 2011-Senator Franklin Drilon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee revealed that the intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) last 2004 and 2007 remained unliquidated.

Drilon who is deliberating the proposed P1.816 trillion national budget for 2012 said that the documents pertaining to the use of the intelligence funds could have been concealed by the previous PCSO board, with the Commission on Audit (COA) admitting they have yet to liquidate a still undetermined amount due to lack of records.

“We suspect that the intelligence funds were used by the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the 2004 and 2007 elections,” Drilon said.

COA chairperson Maria Gracia Pulido-Tan told the Finance committee yesterday that the former PCSO board has not submitted a liquidation of the state-run charity agency’s intelligence funds, even a certification which is the current practice of government agencies in liquidating confidential and intelligence funds.

“There are no records on file for 2004 and 2007. Interestingly, these were election years. They did not submit reports for 2004 and 2007,” said Pulido-Tan, referring to the previous PCSO board headed by ex-general Manager Rosario Uriarte, who was figured prominently in the illegal disbursement of PCSO intelligence funds.

“After a Senate hearing, it was uncovered that P150 million has been released by the former PCSO board to the former President a few months before the 2010 presidential elections,” Drilon said.

It was bared during a previous Senate inquiry on the PCSO’s intelligence funds that a total of P325 million, excluding the P150 million released during the 2010 elections, has been released by the former PCSO board from 2008-2010.

Uriarte, who served PCSO from 2003-2010, was given the sole authority to disburse intelligence funds which came from PCSO’s public relations funds. She eventually admitted that she issued and encashed the checks with respect to intelligence funds.  

Drilon said that they do not even know how much was appropriated for 2004 and 2007 because that has to be checked with PCSO; thus, there is a need for COA to submit the corporate operating budget of the PCSO for the years involved for the purpose of identifying how much has been allocated by the state firm as intelligence funds. (Jason de Asis)