DOE ensures no maltreatment in oil pricing

CLARK, Pampanga, February 19, 2011-The Department of Energy (DOE) ensures the public that there will be no maltreatment in setting a price in case another oil price hike becomes imperative in the recent strategic planning in Clark Freeport Zone.

DOE Undersecretary Jose Layug, Jr. clarified that it is the mandated to the energy department to monitor oil prices, however, it cannot, at any rate, dictate oil companies to lower their prices, citing that there are times when it becomes imperative for oil companies to raise prices based on the level of price of petroleum products at the world market.

Layug guaranteed that there is enough oil reserve in the country at present and that abuse in oil pricing will never be tolerated, adding that the DOE is currently looking at the possibility of conducting more oil and gas explorations, mentioning about a bill that is bent on being filed at the congress for the purpose of legitimizing more oil and gas exploration activities in the country.

Layug also said that the country has enough supply on electricity, saying that no shortage now, but when summertime comes, the demand scales up tremendously that’s the reason he encourages everyone for the efficient use of vehicles and electricity.

“We need to look at where we can fix the problem especially on electric power industry to ensure that we will not have shortage,” Layug said, reminding the public to conserve oil and energy especially during times when prices of oil and commodities rise. (Jason de Asis)

Aurorans reminisce 1735 tsunami in the celebration of the 32nd foundation anniversary

BALER, Aurora, Feruary 19, 2011-Aurorans celebrated yesterday its 32^nd foundation anniversary and the 123^rd birth anniversary of the late former First Lady Doña Aurora Aragon-Quezon after whom it was named with the usual pomp and pageantry but with a different tack: reminiscing the deadly 1735 “tromba marina” that killed 500 families and wiped out the old township.

For the first time in its annual anniversary celebrations, Aurorans led by Sen. Edgardo J. Angara, Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, Rep. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Baler Mayor Arthur J. Angara and the entire officialdom of the province formally launched the “Kinagunasan Festival, a festival of hope, a celebration of life.”

Angara-Castillo said that the historical event inspired the Angaras to translate and to interpret the occurrence into artistic dances and movements and into powerful sounds and music, the chaos, violence, merry-making, struggles, entertainment and the daily activities of the townsfolk, adding that the festival was launched to show to the public the determination of the people of Aurora to survive trials and challenges. “Not only to survive but to survive with success and rebuild their lives,” she said.

Some 115 students performed the Kinagunasan dance portraying the historic tragedy, complete with props where each of the performing students were given P1,000 each by Angara-Castillo in recognition of their feat.     

“Kinagunasan (wiped out) is the local term for the “Tromba Marina” or tsunami that hit the town in 1735. The tsunami was survived by only seven families, including the Angaras, who went up the Mt. Castillo, a neighboring hill now called Ermita Hill. A replica of the old town and the survivors are now placed at the slope of Ermita Hill. Other survivors were the families of Bihasas, Bitongs, Carrascos, Ferreras, Lumasacs and Pobletes, saying that  due to the sad episode of the villagers, the Bitongs migrated to San Jose (now Maria Aurora) and the Bihasas to Inategan (now San Luis). The Angaras were believed to be migrants who came alone with the Franciscan missionaries from neighboring provinces.

This year’s anniversary rites carries the theme: “Broadening Aurora’s Competitiveness in the Global Economy.” Yesterday’s rites started with a morning Mass at the Baler Central School and a street parade and the unveiling of the marker for Baler 400 years monument at the Baler town hall. The Angaras then laid a wreath at the bronze statue of Doña Aurora at the Capitol compound together with Ricky Quezon Avanceña, one of her descendants.   

Historians said the killer tsunami hit the town at 2 am on December 27, 1735, risings rapidly that within a few hours, even the terrain where the town existed also vanished.

Fray Jose de San Rafael, then the parish priest of Casiguran town, was on vacation in Baler when the tsunami struck. He swam his way to Point Baja to survive.

The priest recalled that shortly before the tsunami struck, the sacristan major of the convent called his attention to the rising wave engulfing the town. He considered it weird since there was no sign or manifestation of impending bad weather.

After the devastation, a new town was carved on a hilly terrain west of Baler Bay with the old town named Kinagunasan. (Jason de Asis)

Sec. Alcala to concentrate to Aurora’s coconut center and other DA projects

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DINALUNGAN, AURORA, February 19, 2011-Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala yesterday said that his office and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) should concentrate to the Php216 million Aurora Province Coconut Development Center (APCDC) project in a 133-hectare public land under the jurisdiction of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) located at Barangay Dibaraybay here and other DA projects to address food security and to become supplier of coconut varieties in Luzon.

Alcala said that the research training is pompous in a coconut seed farm to produce quality seed nuts and there is a need to focus in the combined technology in the traditional and modern coconut farming.

“It is a blatant truth that APCDC serves as a great help in northern Aurora to become self-sustainable but we have to choose the best research among them,” Alcala said. “Mag-concentrate tayo patungo sa iisang layunin, mahirap kapag puro research,” he advised.

Alcala also lauded Senator Edgardo J. Angara and Congressman Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara for their efforts in building the pioneering facility that will cater to the needs for coconut planting materials in the province and in the whole of Luzon, where the Php5,816,503.41 million two storey administration building, Php1,608,050.38 million perimeter fence, Php 1,847,117.38 million access road and the Php1,101,045.52 million elevated water tank were inaugurated last January 22.

There are eighty six employees who managed and planted coconut mother palm varieties in the APCDC like embryo-cultured macapuno, tacunan dwarf, catigan dwarf, synvar, baybay tall, san ramon tall and open pollinated variety-Baler with a total of 15,553 seedlings and intercrops set.

The APCDC project started on January 5, 2008 and formally established on October 2, 2008 following the signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) of the four (4) implementing agencies such as DENR, PCA, Dinalungan LGU and the provincial government where the funds earmarked for the site development, planting of mother coco palms, construction of laboratories among others for its initial operation, adding that the funding came from the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) appropriations.

Back to Alcala, he ordered the PCA’s for the massive coconut planting and replanting, saying that APCDC will play in the development of coconut industry in the entire Luzon citing the vital infrastructure access road to Central Luzon, Quirino-Madella Dipaculao, Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Cordilleras and the Aurora ecozone in Casiguran town.

Sec. Alcala, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) director Atty. Malcolm I. Sarmiento, Jr. and BFAR regional director Remedios E. Otangco also launched the fish cage livelihood project in Casiguran mariculture park held at Barangay Dibacong here to provide alternative fish source of income and to contribute food security production of milkfish in addressing the needs of region 2 and 3.

They also visited the Dipaculao Multi species fish nursery where they said that the area in Sitio Lobbot, Brgy. Mijares is the most suitable area for nursery following the turn-over of patrol boat to Mr. Rex Magen, the project manager of Aurora Mariculture Park (Nursery, Hatchery, Sea Cage) to be used by the project to protect the area.  (Jason de Asis)

Baler “KINAGUNASAN-a festival of hope, a celebration of life” launch today

BALER, Aurora, February 18, 2011-The first launching of “Kinagunasan-a festival of hope, a celebration of life will be graced today by Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Congressman Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo and Mayor Arthur J. Angara to commemorate the significance of it in the Philippine history which will be held at the provincial Capitol in this town as part of the 32nd foundation anniversary of Aurora.

Angara was once UP president and has authored and sponsored several landmark laws for the culture and the arts, said that way back December 27, 1735 at two o’clock before the sun ups a phenomenal tidal wave washed away the old town of Baler. A tide rose at such a velocity that within a few hours even the terrain where the town existed had also disappeared.

Fray Jose de San Rafael, OFM, the parish priest of Casiguran was on vacation in Baler when the event happened and he was among the survivors who made their way up the hill of Point Baja by swimming.

He narrated that about two o’clock in the morning of December 27, 1735, the sacristan major of the convent called his attention to the rising tidal wave engulfing the town. It was a weird occurrence for there was no sign or manifestation of impending bad weather. The previous night was clear and starry. Neither were the towns of Casiguran, the mission of Dipaculao and the hamlet of Dingalan were affected regardless of the fact that these places were located along the same shorelines.

The old folks referred to the devastated town as the KINAGUNASAN. Those who survived the catastrophic event fled and took refuge at Mt. Castillo, a neighboring hill now called Ermita.

Since the coming of the group of Fray Blas Palomino, OFM, in 1609 to the event of the Tromba Marina in 1735, there was an interval of one hundred twenty six (126) years. The records on Tromba Marina mentioned a number of families survived foremost of which were the Angara, Bihasa, Bitong, Carrasco, Ferreras, Lumasac and Poblete clans.  Because of their harrowing experience, the Bitong’s went to settle in San Jose (now Maria Aurora) and the Bihasa’s went to “Inategan”, today San Luis.

The Lumasac’s  remained in Baler and the Bitong’s traced their roots from the Ilongots, the Bihasa’s from the Aetas while the Angara’s were believed to be migrants who came alone with the Franciscan missionaries from the neighboring provinces.

Post Tromba Marina resident were either brought by the Spaniards as convent boys or menials and others were migrants from the neighboring towns of Palanan, Casiguran, Infanta and Pantabangan. They either came by the sea or by following the trails used by the Dumagats and the Spanish friars from Nueva Ecija and Quezon by way of Palanan, Polilio and Infanta.

Fray Manuel de Olivencia, OFM established the mission of San Jose de Casecnan now known as the town of Maria Aurora in 1753. It was a settlement at the junction of several rivers inhabited mostly by Elongots Casecnan to the Ilongots (now referred to as Bugkalots) meant the place where the rivers meet. The natives found their settlements by the rivers for transport and trading purposes.

The mission of Dipaculao in Ditale and the mission of San Jose de Casecnan were two (2) Ilongot communities. The Ilongots established their territorial jurisdiction in the hinterlands and the mountains and let the Dumagats reigned along the coastal areas.

After the devastation, a new town was resurrected on a hilly terrain west of Baler Bay. The previous site of the town that was wiped out by the devastating tidal wave was renamed “Kinagunasan” (washed out). Except for the memories and legend that it has left behind, the destruction of the old town still remains a mystery to this day.

This historical event became the inspiration of the Angaras to translate and interpret the occurrence into artistic dance and movements and into powerful sound and music, the chaos, violence, merrymaking, struggles, entertainment and everyday activities of the townsfolk.

Angara, who is a native of this town wanted to reflect how the survivors struggled and rise in unity and cooperation to rebuild of what remained of the KINAGUNASAN, saying that this is only the beginning for the Aurorans to keep it alive and make sure that the tradition will continue to the succeeding generations.

Aurora Provincial Tourism Officer Michael Palispis said that this year’s commemorative rites carry as its theme “Broadening Aurora’s Competitiveness in the global economy” celebrating its 32nd Aurora Day foundation  anniversary, informing the whole world of the identity of this town identity through “Kinagunasan”.

Palispis said that Baler town, located 232 kilometers north of Manila on the shore of a horseshoe-shaped coastal valley overlooking the Pacific Ocean is rich in cultural heritage not only as Quezon’s birthplace but also for being the last bastion of Spanish forces during the Spanish Revolution.

The old Kinagunasan (township) was wiped out when a “tsunami” struck on December 27, 1735, killing 500 families. Only five families survived, including the Angaras.

Several stories account for the origin of the name Baler, the most popular of which was believed to have come from the word “Balod,” a large Paloma Montes (mountain dove) that abounded in the place.

Baler, to historians, was a place where pigeons came home to roost or a place to come home to. And that no matter where Balerianos go in their search for glory and fortune, they would always hope of coming back.

From a depressed town, Baler has flourished into a progressive municipality housing a public market, a fish port, sports complex, people’s center, a P130-million integrated rice processing complex among other facilities. (Jason de Asis)

Philhealth bankrupt issue is impossible-Recto

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, February 18, 2011-Sen. Ralph G. Recto, Senate ways and means chair, yesterday said that with retained earnings of Php110 billion from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will fall to the ground as professed by the treasury department of the agency, it is impossible that it would go bankrupt, saying that “Malaking kalokohan ‘yan na malulugi sila.”

He said that the company took to task the management of the PhilHealth for feeding disinformation that it would go bankrupt if its retained earnings would be allocated to addressing the healthcare infrastructure shortage in the country, stressing that PhilHealth is even about to commit a great disservice by increasing the premiums paid by members while clutching eagle-like to its “retained earnings.”

Recto said that to expand coverage and subsidize low-income poor workers they will increase the members’ contributions when they have more than enough funds.

“PhilHealth could even keep its closely guarded retained earnings and not allocate it to plug the deficit in healthcare infrastructure as long the funds would be used to increase the benefits of members,” he said, adding that we can’t be instantly charitable (to the poor members) when you don’t want to open your retained earnings for a noble purpose like reducing the shortage in healthcare infrastructure like barangay clinics and hospitals, which would benefit a great deal of people.

PhilHealth Senior Treasury Manager Evangeline Racelis in a recent Senate hearing said that the agency would practically burn to the ground if the proposed measure of Recto is enacted into law.

Recto’s bill, Senate Bill 2653, seeks to earmark one-half of PhilHealth’s retained earnings or reserve funds to the health department’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP).

“The 2011 national budget DOH’s funding for HFEP is only at P7.143 billion, but it said it needs more or less double or triple the amount to wipe out the backlog,” Recto said, adding that HFEP aimed to enhance the capacity of primary healthcare facilities such as barangay health stations, rural health centers and government hospitals, which is at the frontlines of the public healthcare system.

During previous budget hearings in the Senate, Recto said that it was no less than the top officials of PhilHealth who claimed that the state agency has retained earnings of about P110 billion, saying that now is the time to tap these funds and put them to better use.

“The DOH and PhilHealth should complement each other in improving the delivery of healthcare services to the people,” he said.

PhilHealth has a total of 21.65 million registered members, the bulk of which come from the private sector (7.41 million) as of June 2010 where their contributions range from P50 for those receiving P4,999.99 and below and as much as P375 for those receiving P 30,000 and above.

As proposed by the DOH, the contributions will be increased to 3.5 percent of the members’ salaries from the current 2.5 percent. (Jason de Asis)

Agriculture Secretary Alcala rallies support for NIA chief Nangel

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, February 18, 2011-In the midst of the reports that National Irrigation Administration chief Antonio Nangel is set to be replaced, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala yesterday manifested his full trust and confidence to Nangel, adding that President Aquino is a proven supporter of certified performers in his Cabinet as he squelched speculations Nangel, who was appointed last September, is on the way out.

“Palagay ko hindi nila gustong alisin ‘yung nagtatrabaho (I think they would never remove someone who is performing),” he said, referring to Nangel as top-level officials and employees of NIA cheered the NIA head on.

Earlier published reports said Nangel, a Novo Ecijano, is going to be replaced with two contenders being considered for the post. One of those seeking the post is a certain Dr. Rafael Apostol.

Alcala said that the reports are largely unfounded and baseless, saying these reports should not be dignified by the DA family and the public. “Ang galing naman nila, mas nauna pa silang nakaalam kaysa sa akin (They must have good intelligence they even knew it ahead of me),” he said of those behind the ouster move.

DA Undersecretary for administration and finance Antonio Fleta said that while Apostol may be qualified for the post, Nangel brings to the job his excellent track record as a public servant. “Moreover, he demonstrated his ability for teamwork and adherence to the new thrusts and objective set by this Department in line with the President’s program of governance.

He added that performance-wise, Nangel’s replacement “is not propitious at this time, given the fact that he is not only fully qualified for the job but also responding well to the problems besetting said agency.”

“So far, he has earned the implicit trust and confidence of this Office (DA),” he said.

Before he was named  to head NIA, Nangel was thrice conferred number one (1) regional manager of the year award for steering the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems as the country’s largest national irrigation systems to success in the implementation of its projects.

Alcala said Nangel is a hands-on performer who goes out to the field to keep in touch with farmers, irrigators and stakeholders, particularly in Mindanao.

Senior deputy administrator Antonio Galvez, one of the top contenders for the NIA post prior to Nangel’s appointment said he is for the latter’s retention. “I’m behind him all the way,” he said.

Officials of the NIA’s Association of Regional Directors and Project Managers also backed up Nangel, saying not one among their 32 members is dissatisfied with Nangel’s performance.

Vicente Galvez, ARDOMA president and NIA regional director for Cagayan Valley, said if reports Nangel would be replaced were true, these would be a terrible mistake.

“Baka naman nagkakamali sila? Napakaganda ng performance e bakit tatanggalin? (They may be committing a big mistake? He’s performing well so why replace?),” he said.

He said Nangel’s competence and qualifications are beyond question and any move to replace him would be unjustified.

Nangel said he was flattered by the expression of support from Alcala and the DA family, saying it would spur him to carry on the NIA’s mandate of providing irrigation service to farmlands all over the country for the benefit of farmers. (Jason de Asis)

Alcala blasts IRRI for attacks on government rice self-sufficiency program

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, February 18, 2011-Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala yesterday slammed the International Rice Research Institute for doubting over the Aquino government’s rice self-sufficiency target of attaining an importation free status in 2013, saying that the international agency has confined its operations only in its headquarters in Los Banos,  Laguna and does not have a grasp of the overall rice production situation in the country.

In a recent press conference following the inauguration of the brand-new P22.5-million Benigno Aquino Sr. farmers’ training center at the National Irrigation Administration-Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems compound here yesterday morning, Alcala said the IRRI does not know the reality on the ground with regards to the country’s rice situation its so-called experts do not go on the field unlike the government’s technicians.

Alcala was accompanied here by National Irrigation Administration chief Antonio Nangel, NIA senior deputy administrator Antonio Galvez, Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali and the various regional directors and projects managers of the agency. 

“They (IRRI experts) just stay in Los Banos. They don’t go around the country to get the actual situation,” he said. He noted that during the recent floods that hit Mindanao, fieldmen from the Department of Agriculture visited the calamity-hit island but the IRRI people refused to go.

“They are afraid to go there because of the floods,” he said.

Alcala made his statements after the IRRI described as “somewhat ambitious” the government’s 2013 target.

Dr. Achim Dobermman, IRRI deputy director for research noted that the government’s rice target will be difficult to achieve during the next three years because of extreme weather conditions brought by climate change.

Alcala said that the Aquino administration is focused on various programs and policies unlike past administrations which only concentrated on a single program. “In the past, if the program is on seeds, they only focused on seeds. In our case, we focus on post harvest facilities, irrigation among others,” he said.

He said the government is determined to attain its objectives by 2013 even with the Doubting Thomases who expressed reservations over the plan. “My friends in Congress have been telling me not to give a self-imposed deadline on rice self-sufficiency but we are determined to meet our targets,” he said.

Lawyer Ronilo Beronio, executive director of the Philippine Rice Research Institute, told Alcala that the institute has a new in-bred variety, 222 which yields seven tons per hectare, nearly double the current average of 3.8 tons per hectare.

Alcala said if the variety is used by farmers and yields five tons per hectare, then the government no longer needs to import rice in the future.

He also called on regional directors of NIA to closely coordinate with the irrigators’ associations in delivering frontline services to farmers towards the goal of attaining rice self-sufficiency. (Jason de Asis)

No legal basis for COA chair Villar to stay-Drilon

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, February 17, 2011-Senator Franklin Drilon said Wednesday that there is no legal basis for Commission on Audit (COA) chairman Reynaldo Villar to stay because his term has already expired and it was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments that his term is only up to February 2.

Drilon recalled that a transmittal letter dated April 16, 2008 which was signed by former Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita to the chairman and members of the Commission on Appointments; letter signed by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo addressed to the bicameral body submitting the nomination of Villar dated April 15, 2008, letter signed by Ermita addressed to Villar transmitting to the latter his nomination paper dated April 16, 2008, Villar’s nomination paper signed by Arroyo dated April 15, 2008; and a certificate of confirmation/consent from the Commission on Appointments dated June 11, 2008 clearly indicates that Villar shall serve as COA chief until February 2, 2011 only.

“Villar’s appointment was until February 2, 2011,” Drilon said, adding that he was originally appointed by Arroyo as COA commissioner last February 2, 2004, and later named chairman of the agency in April 2008, replacing Guillermo Carague whose term had expired.

Drilon, a former Justice and Executive secretary, pointed out that the debates on the 1987 Constitutional Convention clearly indicate that the appointee to any constitutional body shall in no case serve in an aggregate period of more than seven years. Article IX-D of the 1987 Constitution also prohibits reappointment.

“The Supreme Court in Nacionalista Party V. Vera in 1949 and in Matibag V. Benipayo in 2002, ruled that the aggregate tenure of an appointee to a constitutional body, such as the Commission on Elections and CoA, cannot exceed the full term of seven years, whether or not such person completes his term of office,” he furthered.

“Villar’s term of office as CoA chairman expired last February 2, he cannot serve beyond his term of office even if he had served as chairman for less than three years and he cannot be reappointed to the agency because of the constitutional prohibition,” Drilon said, following Villar’s claim that he would serve until 2015. (Jason de Asis)

Angeles revenues up by 30.2 million last January

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, February 17, 2011-Angeles City government posted a 20 percent increase in revenues last January this year compared to the same month last year.

Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan reported a total of P191,248,188.25 in January 2011 that the city treasurer’s office (CTO) was able to collect compared to last year’s P160,989,724.28 an increase of P30,258,463.97.

“With reenergized revenue generating measures via a vigorous tax information campaign and intensified and honest-to-goodness tax collection efforts, we were able to surpass last year’s collection,” Pamintuan said.

The city collected P105,964,638.03 in business taxes which is 26 percent higher than last year’s figures of the same period, real property tax collection amounted to P80,086,241.87 or 10 percent, community tax P3,620,254.18 or 17 percent, and P1,577,054.17 or 45 percent increase in economic enterprise.

 
Pamintuan attributed the improved revenue collection on the restored trust and confidence of the Angelenos to the city government, saying that it was known that last year, the city government has implemented stringent fiscal management and streamlining measure in order to meet its goals to sustain the delivery of basic social services and other priority programs.

“The city government has exerted strategies aimed to maximize revenues from business taxes, fees, charges, and economic enterprises,” Pamintuan said, adding that the taxpayers had been encouraged to pay taxes on time.

“We can better serve our people if they pay the right taxes and if they do, the Angelenos ought to receive quality service from us, and this shall be delivered”, Pamintuan added, and he lauded the business community for their support and cooperation and at the same time commended the offices of the City Treasurer, Assessor, Business Permit and Licensing Office and other revenue generating agencies. (Jason de Asis)

Criminal investigation course to central luzon PNP investigators starts today

CAMP OLIVAS, San Fernando City, Pampanga February 16, 2011-A 45 day criminal investigation course will started today for the 359 police investigators coming from the provinces of Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales and the cities of Angeles and Olongapo to enhance the investigative knowledge and skills of the law enforcers.

Philippine National Police Regional Director PCSupt. Alan Purisima said that the training will be conducted in their respective provincial and city police offices, saying that the police in the region have 798 personnel assigned in various investigation units.

Purisima revealed that out of this figure, only 217 or 27 percent have formal training on investigation. (Jason de Asis)

:� H ; �Ϗ P͐ n:justify'>“The government could work out negotiations with other countries similar to the RP-Spain Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement, which aims to ensure the effective reformation and rehabilitation of Filipinos serving sentences in Spain since they will be afforded the opportunity to serve their sentences in the Philippines,” he said, adding that our OFWs serving long sentences and are awaiting death sentences in countries where no family can visit them.

“This is already a scourge to both the convicted and their families. The anguish of not being able to talk to or see their families forever is already a sentence that amounts to death," Escudero said, adding that the agreement should not be on a quid-pro-quo-basis, which means that all prisoners should be transferred to their country of origin regardless of the number of foreign nationals in Philippine prisons.

“There is a need to pursue this treaty,” Escudero said, since our countrymen are in foreign jails rather than the other way around.

Escudero said that the government should move on it but not to condone what their deeds are but because it is the government's duty to look after the welfare of its citizens no matter if they are guilty or not, reiterating that the government should make available remedies and steps be exhausted to assist our countrymen.

More than 3,000 Filipinos abroad who are either in detention or facing criminal prosecution according to the DFA records and 70 percent are embroiled in immigration-related offenses and will be deported after serving brief sentences while the rest are in custody for crimes such as theft and drug trafficking.

78 Filipinos are convicted for drug charges and awaiting death sentences in China.

There are 630 Filipinos currently serving jail sentences worldwide for transporting drugs who are mostly dummies for drug lords where sixty two percent of them are female according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. (Jason de Asis)

Bacalzo welcomes whistle-blowers on PNP corruption

CABANATUAN CITY, February 16, 2011-Philippine National Police Chief, Director General Raul Bacalzo yesterday said that he welcomes the possibility of whistle-blowers who will expose corruption in the PNP in the mold of retired Army Colonel George Rabusa, saying that he welcomes any investigation, even lifestyle checks similar to those already conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman and the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission.

“Much as we are implementing reforms, including fiscal reforms, we are ready to face any form of investigation,” he said, reiterating that he and his men are ready to face charges that senior PNP officials also received the so-called “pasalubong” (welcome gift) and “pabaon (send-off gift). He said he is not aware of any pabaon.

“I don’t have knowledge on that. In the first place, I have never retired to even get a taste of that. And I will never try receiving that if there is any,” he said.

“The PNP will abide with any instruction coming from relevant authorities for a closer examination of its systems and procedures in its financial transactions,” he added.

Earlier, Bacalzo directed Rey Lanada, Director for Comptrollership and Chief Supt. Rizaldo Tungala Jr., Director for Finance, to render a report to congressional oversight bodies so that these can be effectively guided in their inquiries in aid of legislation.  

At the same time, Bacalzo said he would favor a proposal to set up two sets of police, one national in scope and one local but on certain conditions.

“If in case it would result to the betterment of the PNP as an organization, why not? However, there must be a clear delineation of functions so that their respective functions would not interfere with each other,” he said.

He added that the functions of the National Bureau of Investigation and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group should also be well spelled out. (Jason de Asis)

P5 million building inaugurated by PNP Chief Bacalzo and named to late Dayag who was killed by his deputy COP

TALAVERA, Nueva Ecija, February 16, 2011-A P5-million brand-new police station building named after its former police chief who was gunned down by his drunken  deputy right in front of the old police station last January 1 was inaugurated by Philippine National Police Chief Director General Raul M. Bacalzo here yesterday.

In his first official visit in the province since he became PNP chief last year following the retirement of Jesus Versoza, Balcalzo paid tribute to the late Supt. Ricardo Dayag Jr.  who was gunned down by Inspector Bernardo Castro after the former tried to disarm him when the latter fired his service pistol in front of the police station past 8 pm last New years day.    

As he fell on the pavement, Castro allegedly pumped more bullets on his back, pulled out another gun and finished him off. Castro is now in jail facing criminal and administrative charges while the entire 47 police force of the Talavera police was later relieved for failing to come to the aid of their fallen superior and then later underwent a one-week retraining course.

Dayag’s widow Lilia attended the inauguration and was promised by Bacalzo of assistance from Camp Crame. Bacalzo ordered Chief Supt. Alan Purisima to help fast-track the processing of claims of Mrs. Dayag.

Mayor Nerito Santos, a kumpare of Bacalzo, said the Sangguniang Bayan led by Vice Mayor Vince de Leon has passed a resolution naming the new police station as Colonel Dayag Building in honor of the dead comrade. The municipal government donated the lot housing the two-story building.

Chief Supt. Felipe Rojas Jr., deputy director of the Camp Crame-based Directorate for Logistics said they spent P5 million for the Class C building, P1.5 million was released during the term of Bacalzo. 

He said that the PNP is spending an average of P100 million for the construction of new police stations all over the country.

Mrs. Dayag later told newsmen that she has not forgiven Castro yet for killing her husband. “As of now, hindi pa siguro (not yet),” she said. As a single parent, she said she is doing her best to make both ends meet for their five children left by her husband, including his eldest who is taking up law at St. Louis University in Baguio City.

Bacalzo, who was provincial director here in 2001, said the 135,000-strong police force is now undertaking a rigid retraining course in line with the back-to-basics policy of the PNP. He said had the Talavera police been retrained much earlier, the incident involving Dayag would not have happened. “This is the first time that a whole police station undergoes training from the police chief to PO1 (Police Officer 1) to develop camaraderie,” he said.

He added that the back-to-the basics campaign involves two components namely the virtue of courtesy and discipline and good manners and right conduct; and basic skill of policing.

He said police officers even to the level of provincial directors are asked to demonstrate in front of guests the proper way of arresting people.

Bacalzo admitted that the first two weeks of January was the most trying for the PNP when 14 policemen were involved in eight high-profile cases. He said, however, that in spite of these controversies involving lawmen, they were just a small fraction of the 135,000-strong police force.

“In fairness to our good policemen, I still believe that they are performing their jobs well,” he said, adding lawmen should not get distracted by these incidents but to consider these as lessons learned. 

Bacalzo later administered the oath of office of the new officers of the Association of Police Chiefs of the Philippines. He was also awarded a plaque of appreciation by the municipal government. (Jason de Asis)

Angara-Castillo donates fisher folks fishing materials in celebration of “Araw ng Mangingisda”

BALER, Aurora, February 16, 2011-Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo donates three (3) fish smoking chamber (tinapahan), 10 bottom set gillnet and a live fish container and souvenir t-shirts for the fisherfolks of Aurora and the 119 fishermen who joined the “baler bay angling contest 2011” led by Provincial Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Officer (PFARO) chief Victoriano San Pedro held at Brgy. Sabang beach yesterday here.

Angara-Castillo said the importance of fishermen in the everyday lives of Aurorans especially in delivering fresh fish in the market, saying that they are the pillars of businessman and buyers purchasing their products, as they say all of them are the real hero for showing to the world that they are using traditional fishing and not illegal fishing.

The lady governor added that the open type fish smoking chamber aims to promote and intensify processing activities in Aurora to produce value added products as additional income through provision of fish processing equipments to the small scale fish processor by the provincial government of aurora and PFARO.

She also directed PFARO chief San Pedro and Brgy. Captain Benedicto Isaguirre to submit to her office the names of the Baler Anglers club, Inc. and the contestants who joined yesterday and last year in order to give scholarship for elementary, high school and college who really needs it, adding that she requires the duo to submit it to her on the month of May, and directs them to create livelihood projects that is feasible in the said barangay where she manifests her willingness to give personal cash money for the start up of their chosen business for fishermen.

San Pedro said that the events started 5 years ago after the consultation with the fisher folks to conduct it every year to promote aqua tourism and sustainable development in the province, saying that Aurora is really a paradise which maintains the traditional method of fishing and ensures fresh fish.

“Although that the province has too much reefs, he is planning to have artificial reefs here in Aurora for the house of the fish for the anglers and make sure that they will continue promoting natural method of fishing,” San Pedro said, adding that this artificial reef is a human-made underwater structure, typically built for the purpose of promoting marine life and improve hydrodynamics for surfing or to control beach erosion.

“We will use bamboos for this artificial reefs designed to provide hard surfaces to which algae and invertebrates such as barnacles, corals and oysters cling, the accumulation of marine life in turn provides intricate structure and food for assemblages of fish,” San Pedro explained.

Meanwhile, results of the contest in connection with the 32^nd Aurora Day Celebration of “Kawilan sa Dalampasigan”. Special cash prices were awarded to Joseph Ajinto, Geronimo Carrasco and Efren Belen for best in fishing attire, Eulogio Duldulao for oldest Angler with catch, Alvin Cailing who received fastest catcher and youngest angler with catch, Virgilio Aganad for smallest single catch and Joseph Ajinto for the biggest catch. For the over-all major prizes, Ana Macanili won the third place, Francis Villamora for second price and the 1^st price was awarded to Joseph Ajinto. (Jason de Asis)