Mayor’s ally shot dead in NE

CABANATUAN CITY – A 42-year-old barangay councilor who has openly supported the reelection bid of a municipal mayor in Nueva Ecija was gunned down in broad daylight by a lone gunman inside a junkyard in Llanera town Sunday, the Philippine National Police reported yesterday.

          Senior Superintendent Crizaldo Nieves, PNP provincial director, identified the slain official as Nick Apan, barangay councilor of Ricarte, Llanera.  Apan died from a lone gunshot wound in the head. 

          Apan is a supporter and ally of reelected Llanera Mayor Lorna Mae Vero of the Liberal Party.

          Vero described Apan as reserved and kind-hearted.

          Apan’s killing was pulled off at around 6 am Sunday in Ricarte.

          Nieves said Apan was inside the compound which he owns when the gunman, accompanied by two others aboard three separate motorcycles, parked in front of the junk yard.

          The gunman posed as a customer while his companions served as look-outs. The suspect then drew his .45 caliber pistol and shot Apan from point-blank range  then fled.

          Apan was rushed to a hospital in this city but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

          Police have yet to establish the motive for the attack.

          Vero declined to speculate on the possibility that politics could be the motive, saying police are looking into several angles, including possible business rivalry and love triangle.

          “We have to wait for the results of the police investigation before we can make any conclusion,” she said.- Manny Galvez

Trillanes lauds PNoy for signing law to boost health research dev't

Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV expressed gratitude to President Benigno Aquino III for signing into law his proposal to institutionalize research and development in the country's health system as a way of boosting information and prevention of diseases.

 

“I am grateful to the President for signing this into law. I believe that the best defense against illness is information and prevention. Knowing what to expect, from a medical point of view, can make things more manageable,” said Trillanes, principal author of the legislation now known as the Philippine National Health Research System Act of 2013.

 

The law will institutionalize the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) to connect health research to the needs of health system, the engagement of partnerships and networks both national and international for health research development, and the sustainability of health research resources.

 

“Our country's ability to ensure optimum health for every Filipino is determined by the degree of priority we grant to health research and development activities, and this law is a vital step in attaining this goal,” Trillanes added.

 

This is one of the laws put forward by Trillanes, who won a fresh mandate in the May 13 elections. The young legislator is one of the most productive senators in the 14th and 15th Congress, having filed 734 bills and resolutions, 33 of which became law. 

KIKO LAUDS SIGNING OF ANTI-BOTCHA LAW

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan says that the President’s signing of the Republic Act 10536, amending the National Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines, will help deter the selling of double-dead meat in the market.

“We thank the President for signing RA 10536 into law,” says Pangilinan, principal author of the law. “It was our intention to update the National Meat Inspection Code and make relevant its salient features—such as imposing stiffer penalties in order to curb the selling and trading of double-dead meat in the market.”

Under RA 10536, any violator of the act, upon conviction, shall be punished by imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and one (1) day but not more than twelve (12) years or a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000) but not more than One million pesos (P1,000,000), or both, depending upon the discretion of the court.

RA 10536 also provides for some restructuring in terms of the composition of the National Meat Inspection Service, which is the primary agency responsible for ensuring that the meat that lands on families’ tables are certified and are safe for consumption.

If the offender is a public official, the penalty shall include perpetual disqualification from public office.

“Kailangang pangalagaan ang kapakanan ng taumbayan laban sa walang pakundangang pagbebenta ng botcha, na nagdudulot ng sakit at kamatayan. Buhay ang nagiging katapat ng kasakiman. Sa pamamagitan ng bagong batas na ito, umaasa tayong may masasampolan na para maparusahan na ang mga sakim at walang-kaluluwang nagbebenta ng botcha.”

Pangilinan also adds that ASEAN integration by 2015 “requires us to ensure quality meat products that are competitive with the global market.”

The ASEAN Integrated Food Security (AIFS) Framework and Strategic Plan of Action on Food Security in the ASEAN region (SPA-FS) aims to: (1) increase food production; (2) reduce post-harvest losses; (3) promote conducive market and trade for agriculture commodities and inputs; (4) ensure food stability; (5) promote availability and accessibility to agricultural inputs; and (6) to operationalize regional food emergency relief arrangements.

Legarda Calls for Strict Implementation of Expanded Anti-Trafficking Law

Senator Loren Legarda today stressed the need to strictly implement the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act following reports of continued proliferation of various forms of human trafficking involving Filipinos.

Legarda noted that a CNN documentary featured prostitution and cybersex as among the common forms of human trafficking acts in the Philippines, with minors being convinced to engage in such trade as they are promised with good income and a better life.

“The problem of human trafficking continues to hound our society, which is why Congress has acted upon it by creating the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (Republic Act 10364),” said Legarda, principal sponsor of the law.

“The stricter provisions of the law should be matched with its effective implementation. Our government agencies should partner with concerned non-government organizations and our police force should undergo continuous training because human traffickers have become more innovative in their actions,” she added.

The new law covers attempted trafficking and accessory or accomplice liability; protection to trafficked victims; and a permanent Secretariat to the country’s anti-trafficking efforts, among others, as well as stronger penalty provisions.

“Human trafficking, and the related problems of the illegal sex trade, forced labor, and other forms of slavery, is a complex web. Battling it requires a concerted effort from all sectors of society. We must also keep in mind that traffickers target the most vulnerable sectors of society and this is the injustice that we must act against,” Legarda concluded.

JINGGOY TO EMPLOYERS: ALLOW KASAMBAHAY TO STUDY

With days before the June opening of school year, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada is urging the employers to allow their household workers to study and secure academic diploma.

 

Sen. Estrada underscored that domestic workers, including nursemaid or yaya, cook, gardener, laundry person and general househelp, are guaranteed of the right to education and training under the recently-enacted Batas Kasambahay or Republic Act 10361.

 

Section 9 of Article II (Rights and Privileges) states that the “employer shall afford the domestic worker the opportunity to finish basic education and may allow access to alternative learning systems and as far as practicable, higher education or technical and vocational training.”

 

Moreover, “the employer shall adjust the work schedule of the domestic worker to allow such access to education or training without hampering the services required by the employer.”

 

Section 2, Article 4 of the Convention 189 (Convention Concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers, which the Philippines has already ratified) also provides that “each Member shall take measures to ensure that work performed by domestic workers who are under the age of 18 and above the minimum age of employment does not deprive them of compulsory education, or interfere with opportunities to participate in further education or vocational training.”

 

Jinggoy appeals to the employers to not deprive kasambahays the opportunity to learn more and finish at least elementary and secondary education to widen their horizon and to uplift their standard of living.

 

Sen. Estrada, Chairman of the Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, also stressed that the said privilege is even more relevant to working children aged 15 to 17 employed as kasambahay.

 

“Let us not deprive our kasambahay the opportunity to enrol in schools and acquire new knowledge and skills as a step towards a more productive, high-paying career in the future,” Jinggoy says.

 

Under the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) issued and published by the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) last May 19, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) shall also facilitate access of kasambahay to efficient training, assessment and certification based on training regulations for household services to ensure productivity and assure quality of services.

Villar hails signing of tougher law vs botcha

Sen. Manny Villar today hailed the signing of law strengthening regulation against the selling and transport of double dead meat or botcha.

 

President Aquino signed Republic Act 10536 or the amended Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines last May 15. It imposes the penalty of imprisonment of six to 12 years and fine of P100,000 to P1 million against persons engaged in the trade of botcha.

 

“Despite aggressive market raids conducted by the National Meat Inspection Service, local officials and the police, those arrested are able to elude criminal liability because the penalties are weak. With tougher penalties, we will be able to curb botcha trade,” Villar said.

 

Villar recalled that during the hearings held by the Committee on Trade and Commerce, it was revealed that some meat traders have become creative so they may pass off botcha as freshly slaughtered meat and caused people to get sick.

 

“The president should be commended for making this a priority. Botcha trade has been going on for a while despite public warnings,” he added.

 

President Aquino also signed RA 10557 or the Philippine Design Competitiveness Act. In welcoming its enactment, Villar said this will “uplift the state of our Philippine design industry by establishing a design-led economy where we may generate jobs for the people.”

 

Villar and Sen. Teofisto Guingona III authored the bill in the Senate.

 

He noted that despite the abundance of creative talents in the country, the Philippines is trailing behind Asian neighbors. He said homegrown talents are being pirated by other countries such as China, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

 

Further, he cited the likes of Kenneth Cobonpue, a known furniture-maker based in Cebu, whose creations are featured in foreign films and the success of jewelry artisan Bea Valdes and bag designer Maristela Ocampo and Amina Aranaz.

 

“It is time to put in place the enabling environment that will allow the various sectors of the design industry to increase productivity, enhance visibility in the global market, boost competitiveness and improve the level of innovation of our creative people,” Villar said.

BATAS KASAMBAHAY IRR DEFINE PROTECTION & RESCUE MECHANISMS FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada lauds the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) for defining the mechanisms for the protection, rescue and rehabilitation of domestic workers in the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Batas Kasambahay.

 

“Apart from ensuring the promotion of overall welfare and protection of around two million domestic workers in the country, we aim to lay out the general policies and put up systems for the immediate rescue and relief of abused kasambahay that we sadly hear about every now and then,” Jinggoy, the author and main sponsor of the law said.

 

Sen. Estrada cited the case of kasambahay Bonita Baran who was maltreated by her employer and had no clear idea where she will go for assistance and what she will do to get help.

 

Estrada, in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, launched a Senate inquiry into her case and incorporated its findings to the final version of the measure.

 

Jinggoy hopes that with the release and publication of the IRR of the Batas Kasambahay, cases of maltreatment and abuse will be immediately and effectively responded to, and be given proper and just conclusion.

 

Rule X of the IRR prescribes that any abused kasambahay shall be immediately rescued by a municipal or city social welfare officer in coordination with the concerned barangay officials and law enforcement personnel.

 

“Abuse” refers to any act or a series of acts committed by an employer or any member of his/her household against any kasambahay which results in or is likely to result in physical, sexual, psychological harm or economic abuse (e.g. withholding of wages), including threats of such acts, battery, assault, coercion, harassment or arbitrary deprivation of liberty.

 

Any act of abuse committed against a kasambahay may be reported to any official of the barangay where the abuse occurred, any social worker, any police officer from the Women and Children Protection Desks, or any officer of the Public Employment Service Office (PESO).

 

Section 5, Rule X of the IRR also states that “At all times, the rescue team shall ensure the full protection of the rights of the abused kasambahay and the accused while under its custody and control.”

 

Moreover, no action or suit shall be brought in any court or before any authority against any social worker, law enforcement officer, person acting in compliance with the lawful order from any of the above for lawful acts done during an authorized rescue operation or investigation or prosecution of an abused case involving a kasambahay.

 

Meanwhile, the local social welfare and development offices (LSWDOs) shall make available the following services for the abused kasambahay: temporary shelter, counselling, free legal services, medical or psychological services, livelihood and skills training, among others.

 

As a way of monitoring, there shall also be a registration system for kasambahay.

 

Section 1 of Rule IX states that every employer shall register a kasambahay under his/her employment in the barangay where his/her residence is located.  The Punong Barangay, together with SSS, Pag-IBIG and PhilHealth representatives, shall conduct a common registration of all kasambahay nationwide. A start-up registration shall be held in the city or municipal hall or plaza.

 

Lastly, the IRR also stipulates mechanism for settlement and disposition of labor-related disputes.

 

Section 1 of Rule XI states that all labor-related disputes shall be filed before the DoLE Field/Provincial/Regional Offices having jurisdiction over the workplace and shall go through the 30-day mandatory conciliation.

 

Conciliation, an alternative dispute settlement mode, is a non-litigious, less expensive and expeditious mechanism which assists contending parties towards reaching their own mutually-acceptable settlement to the labor dispute.

 

Republic Act 10361 otherwise known as Batas Kasambahay was signed into law last January 18, 2013. The same date will now be known as “Araw ng mga Kasambahay.”

 

The DoLE published last May 19 the implementing rules and regulations pursuant to RA 10361 or the “Act Instituting Policies for the Protection and Welfare of the Domestic Workers.”

 

The IRR will take effect 15 days after its publication.

Legarda’s Focus on Next Term: Better Lives, More Humane Society for Filipinos

Re-elected Senator Loren Legarda today said that working on legislation and programs that will make the lives of Filipinos better will be her focus on the next six years of her term.

“The focus of my term as a senator is making the lives of Filipinos better, primarily by ensuring that basic services reach the poorest sector and building a more humane society,” said Legarda, who will be serving her third term.

The Senator stressed that issues such as universal healthcare, education, livelihood, and disaster resilience, which are all vital to the everyday living of Filipinos, will be her main concern.

Among the priority measures she will file in the incoming 16^th Congress are the Pantawid Tuition Program, which would fund one college graduate in every poor Filipino family; the barangay disaster resilience program, which aims to ensure that every community in the country is prepared when disasters occur; and the Magna Carta for the Poor.

Other priority bills include: the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers; increasing subsistence allowance of soldiers and police; barangay health workers benefits; agricultural extension workers benefits; anti-ethnic profiling; and creating a folk art museum in every province.

“These are poverty-alleviating measures which will have greatest impact on the poorest families and significantly change the course of their lives. In my next six years as a senator, I will continue to work for what greatly matters: food on the table, education for our children, and clean, safe communities,” Legarda concluded.

Neophyte crushes grizzled pol in Ecija capital

PALAYAN CITY – A neophyte politician has been proclaimed mayor-elect in this provincial capital, beating by landslide a grizzled former three-term congressman on the comeback trail in a monumental upset.

          Arriane Mae Cuevas of the Liberal Party garnered a total of 11,529 as against the 6,931 of former congressman Pacifico Fajardo of the Nationalist People’s Coalition-Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija (NPC-Balane)  or a margin of 4,598.

          In what city election officer Westly Rey Del Fonso said is one of the most lop-sided scores in this city’s political history, Cuevas won 65 percent of the votes in the 19 barangays in this city where the Fajardos used to be political kingpins.

          However, Cuevas’ running mate, outgoing three-term Mayor Romeo Capinpin lost to Florante Mercado in the vice mayoral race. Mercado of NPC-Balane - son of former three-term Makati vice mayor Nestor - amassed 10,375 votes as against Capinpin’s 7,391 or a vote difference of 2,984.

          Cuevas’ allies won six seats in the 10-man Sangguniang Panlungsod. They are Capinpin’s son Romaric who obtained 9,630 votes; Jesusa Fajardo (9,071), Abegail Bantegui (6,409), Rogelio Piadozo (6,126), Ernesto Lutap (6,116) and outgoing Vice Mayor Moises Carmona Jr. (5,374).

          Mercado’s partymates who won were Ian Howell Guyud (7,251) and Rosalia Merez (6,828). Independent Petronio Garcia got 6,433.

          Fajardo’s defeat could signal the end of a checkered political career for one of Nueva Ecija’s acknowledged political heavyweights which started when he became mayor for three terms.

          In 1992, he became congressman in a stunning upset,  bringing down Hermogenes Concepcion Jr., a former justice of the Supreme Court in the third congressional district. Their face-off was a classic David vs Goliath fight.

Fajardo handily won reelection in 1995 and 1998. His political clout as a Lakas-CMD stalwart resulted in three consecutive three-year terms as mayor for his wife Leonora and one term for their daughter, Lorelei, a former deputy presidential spokesperson and presidential assistant for Central Luzon under the administration of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

          Fajardo ran for governor in 2001 but lost by landslide to then-governor Tomas Joson III. At the height of Edsa Dos which thrust Mrs. Aquino into power, Fajardo was appointed administrator of the Light Rail Transit Authority which he served for seven months.

          A successful businessman before he entered politics, Fajardo has held various posts in government and the private sector, including director of San Miguel Corp. (Manny Galvez) 

Legarda Hails Enactment of K to 12 Law

Senator Loren Legarda today hailed the enactment into law of Republic Act 10533, the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, and stressed that the Philippines’ upgrade to a twelve-year basic education will make it at par with the education system and standards of other countries.

Legarda, co author of RA 10533, said that the K to 12 Law brings a multitude of benefits to the Filipino youth.

“I am happy that the K to 12 program is now institutionalized through the law which President Aquino recently signed. This law addresses the problem of poor families who have no means to bring their children to kindergarten. Moreover, the 12-year basic education cycle addresses the need of highschool graduates who opt out of the university system by preparing them for possible technical-vocational education,” she explained.

Legarda said that under the law, basic education program will now encompass one year of kindergarten education, six years of elementary education, and six years of secondary education.

The Senator added that another salient feature of the law is the use of regional or native language of learners for kindergarten and the first three years of elementary education, instruction, teaching materials, and assessment, which is important for children to better understand their lessons in the first years of formal school before being introduced to a new language.

“This enhanced system of education will ensure that our children will be prepared to enter school through kindergarten and will be better prepared to choose the path they wish to take after having finished basic education through the additional years in highschool. Furthermore, this system makes them more globally-competitive since they will no longer be forced to master their lessons in a shorter span of time,” Legarda said.

Drilon wants Comelec, DFA to explain poor participation in absentee voting abroad

Despite an increased budget allocated to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for a wider implementation of the overseas absentee voting (OAV) law, less overseas Filipinos took part in the last elections and Senate Finance Committee head Sen. Franklim M. Drilon wants an explanation from the two agencies.

“I hate to sound like a broken record, but I again deplore the dismal implementation of the absentee voting law in the just-concluded midterm elections,” said Drilon, who was one of the principal sponsors of Republic Act No. 9189, or the Overseas Absentee Voting Act, when it was enacted by Congress in February 2003. “I want the DFA and the Comelec to explain why.”

Drilon, who was campaign manager of the administration Team PNoy senatorial slate, disclosed that of the 737,759 registered Filipino voters abroad, only 113,209 voted with a voters’ turnout of only 15. 35 percent.

“This turn out,” Drilon noted, “is way below the already low 26 percent overseas absentee voting turnout during the 2010 elections. Its seems that less and less Filipinos abroad are inclined to exercise their right to vote, contrary to the intention of Congress when this law was enacted.”

“When we crafted the absentee voting law, we wanted to empower the overseas Filipino workers in the hope that at least they can influence the result of the election by electing qualified leaders," recalled Drilon. “However, the turnout is getting more and more disappointing by the election.”

Drilon, who presided over the deliberation of the 2013 national budget in the Senate in September last year, noted that P105.038 million was allocated for the Comelec and another P43.41 million was allocated to the DFA for the implementation of the absentee voting law this year.

“With only 113,209 overseas Filipinos voting, the cost of each absentee vote is now P1,310 per vote. This is outrageous. I wonder how the Comelec and the DFA can justify these numbers,” Drilon said.

During the budget hearings, Drilon recalled that he specifically directed the DFA to find ways to increase the participation of overseas Filipinos in absentee voting (OAV) in the 2013 midterm elections, amid the tightening fiscal position of the government.

After 2010 elections, Drilon lamented the poor absentee voting turnout, noting that the actual number of voters that participated in that elections totalled 153,323, which represented only 26 percent of the 589,830 registered absentee voters.

Legarda to push for ‘Pantawid Tuition Program’, ‘zero backlog’ in classrooms

Senator Loren Legarda today said that the continuous improvement of the country's education system will be among her priorities in her third term in the Senate, stressing support to the Department of Education's goal of addressing the backlog of classrooms.

Based on DepEd's records, the country still has a backlog of 50,921 classrooms in 2012.

“Karapatan ng bawat batang Pilipino ang makapag-aral, at makapag-aral sa isang kapaligirang angkop sa kanya. Sisikapin nating solusyunan ang kakulangan sa klasrum ng sa gayon wala ng Pilipino ang kailangang problemahin kung saan siya papasok at mag-aaral,” the re-elected senator said.

“President Aquino has already signed the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, which would upgrade the quality of our education system through a 12-year basic education program. In line with this, we must also aim to address problems related to physical infrastructure such as classrooms,” said Legarda, co-author of Republic Act 10533, the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013.

From 2010-2012, Legarda allocated a total of 146 million pesos for 291 classrooms and school buildings in various parts of the country.

Legarda, who will be serving her third term, also vowed to push for the passage of the ‘Pantawid Tuition Program’, a bill that would fund one college graduate in every poor Filipino family.

"Ang aking hangarin, ang aking gagawin, at ang aking sisikapin sa aking susunod na termino ay magkaroon ng kahit isang diploma ang bawat pamilyang Pilipino, lalo na yung nasa ilalim ng 4Ps, para ang bawat mahirap na pamilya ay siguradong magkakaroon ng isang college graduate," she said.

Mga kandidato ng Partido Liberal, wagi sa Nueva Ecija

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija-Nagwagi ang mga kandidato ng Partido Liberal sa mga bayan ng Llanera, Carranglan, General Tinio at lungsod ng Cabanatuan.

 

Muling nahalal bilang alkalde ng Cabanatuan si Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara na lumamang ng 78,470 boto laban sa 45,761 boto ni Emmanuel Antonio Umali ng Unang Sigaw.

 

Kasabay ding naiproklama ang kanyang Biseng si Marius Garcia at linya ng mga konsehal: Jean Yasmin Cruz, Ariel Severino, Mario Seeping, EJ Joson, Bunso Roque, Jonjon Del Rosario at Lito Saclolo Jr.

 

Bukod tanging sina Janjan Cecilio, Gave Calling at Bok Diaz lamang ang nakapasok sa hanay ng mga konsehal ni Umali.

 

Samantala, sa bayan ng Llanera, nagwagi ang buong alyansa ni reelectionist Liberal Mayor Lorna Mae Vero at kanyang bise Ronnie Roy Pascual.

 

Nagwagi din ang mga kandidato ng Liberal sa bayan ng Carranglan, punong bayan Mary Abad at Bise Efren Alfonso Jr. at sa General Tinio, punong bayan Virgilio Bote at kanyang bise Ferdinand Bote. (Camille C. Nagano)

Suansing, Violago, Ipinroklama na bilang kinatawan ng una at ikalawang distrito sa Nueva Ecija

LUNGSOD NG CABANATUAN, Nueva Ecija-Ipinroklama na kagabi ng Provincial Board of Canvassers sina Estrellita “Ging” Suansing at Joseph Gilbert Violago bilang kinatawan ng una at ikalawang distrito sa lalawigan.

 

Ayon kay Lydia Pangilinan, provincial election supervisor, lumamang sa ika-unang distrito si Suansing sa puntos na 109,059 laban sa 90,125 na boto ng katunggaling papalabas na Mayor ng Quezon, Mariano Cristino Joson at 17,219 na puntos ni Renato Diaz.

 

Sa ikalawang distrito naman nanatili sa kinauupan si Violago na tumakbong walang kalaban nitong nakaraang halalan at sinolo ang 164,214 na boto.

 

Kasabay na ding ipinroklama sa pagkaboard member sina: Eduardo Rey Joson (121,000 boto), Belinda Palilio (111, 608 boto), at Eric Daniel Salazar (79, 408 boto) para sa unang distrito.

 

Sa ikalawang distrito, sina Joseph Ortiz na may 102, 982 na boto at Ed Agliam na may 87,795 na boto.

 

Samantala, inaasahan ng Provincial Board of Canvassers na matatapos na din ang transmisyon ng mga boto sa ikatlo at ikalawang distrito ng lalawigan. (Camille C. Nagano)

Noveras, Angaras proclaimed in Aurora

BALER, Aurora – Outgoing Vice Gov. Gerardo Noveras was officially proclaimed Tuesday night as the duly elected governor in Aurora, heralding the changing of the guard in the Capitol in this province where the Angaras are the political kingpins.

          Noveras was proclaimed by the Provincial Board of Canvassers led by Commission on Elections provincial election supervisor, lawyer Jocelyn Postrado at the packed session hall of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan at 11 pm Tuesday along with his allies board members-elect Bobong Ong and Mariano Tangson.

          A few minutes later, congressional chief of staff Rommel Angara was also proclaimed duly elected vice governor over former Baler mayor Emil Etcubanez and her aunt, outgoing three-term Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo as winner in the race for the lone House seat.

          Noveras of the Nationalist People’s Coalition garnered 47,167 votes as against the 37,312 of his rival, outgoing three-term Baler Mayor Arthur Angara of Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino.

          Noveras won in five of the province’s eight municipalities, including a margin of 4,000 in his hometown Maria Aurora. He lost in the towns of Dingalan, Dinalungan and in this town.

          Noveras’ midnight proclamation was made even with the results in the town of Dilasag not yet transmitted to the provincial canvassing center here after it was erroneously reported in a television station that the Comelec proclaimed Mayor Angara as duly elected governor.

          The controversial report of TV 5 was personally watched by the vice governor himself.

          This prompted Noveras to file a motion for his proclamation on the ground that it is no longer possible to affect the outcome of the elections even without the results in Dilasag. The PBOC granted the request.    

          Noveras said Mayor Angara conceded defeat and congratulated him. “He relayed to me his wish that I would continue to pursue the vision for development of the Angaras,” he said. – Manny Galvez

Umali, running mate headed for landslide victory in polls

CABANATUAN CITY – Reelectionist Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali and his running mate, Vice Gov. Jose Gay Padiernos appear headed for landslide victories based on partial unofficial tallies of election returns.

          Based on a tally of 1,390 out of 1,850 ERs or 74.7% covering 735,979 of 1,363,633 registered voters, Umali of the Liberal Party/Unang Sigaw Partido ng Pagbabago, obtained 416,069 votes as against 254,156 of outgoing first district Rep. Josie Manuel-Joson of the Nationalist People’s Coalition-Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija (NPC-Balane) or a difference of 161,913.

          Padiernos garnered 404,379 votes as against Joson’s brother-in-law and running mate, ex-vice governor Eduardo Joson IV’s 228,875 or a margin of 175,504.

          Umali also posted landslide victories in the 2007 and 2010 gubernatorial races over Joson-Manuel’s husband, former vice governor and outgoing Quezon Mayor Mariano Cristino and then-vice governor Edward Thomas Joson, respectively.

          Official tallies from the Provincial Board of Canvassers chaired by lawyer Lydia Pangilinan also showed Umali getting 300,133 votes as against Joson’s 174,322 while Padiernos got 290,863 to Joson’s 158,988 as of presstime.

          Pangilinan said they have yet to receive electronically transmitted results in the cities of Cabanatuan and Gapan and the municipalities of Cabiao, Gabaldon, Guimba, Jaen, Licab and Pantabangan.

          In the congressional races, Board Member Estrelita Suansing holds a wide margin over Mariano Cristino and comebacking former two-time congressman Renato Diaz in the first district.

          Suansing, wife of Customs deputy commissioner Horacio, obtained 85,469 votes as against Joson’s 71,179 and Diaz’s 13,862.

          In the third district, Umali’s wife, reelectionist Rep. Czarina is headed for another landslide win with 105,952 votes as against human rights lawyer J.V. Bautista’s 58,989.

          In the fourth district, outgoing three-term Rep. Rodolfo Antonino’s daughter Magnolia is leading the four-way congressional race with 106,813 as against 35,205 of two-term San Leonardo Mayor Froilan Nagano, the 25,759 of former two-term congresswoman Julita Villareal and the 16,871 of Villareal’s sister-in-law, former San Isidro mayor Sonia Lorenzo.

          In Cabanatuan City, Umali’s younger brother, outgoing Board Member Emmanuel Antonio, is trailing reelectionist Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara (33,529-57,118). – Manny Galvez    

LEGARDA CALLS FOR MASSIVE CLEAN-UP AFTER ELECTIONS

A day after the May 13 elections, Sen. Loren Legarda has instructed her staff, campaigners and supporters to engage in "oplan linis."

            Legarda, a staunch environmentalist, said all her regional political officers will be responsible for cleaning up and gathering her campaign materials like posters and tarpaulins in every city and municipality across the country.

            In order not to put to waste these campaign materials, the senator plans to donate them as recyclable materials.

            She also plans to mount an exhibit in the Senate to showcase arts from trash.

            “The trash or garbage from the campaign has an effect on the environment. It behooves all candidates to instruct their campaigners and supporters to gather their trash and practice proper waste segregation,” she said.

Legarda is the principal author of the Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which  provides for recycling as well as segregation of garbage at its source, segregated transportation, processing, treatment and proper disposal of solid waste.

She said local government units (LGUs) should also be at the forefront of this massive clean-up drive after the elections.

Public school teachers in CL ready to give “full degree of service” this election

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, May 13, 2013-Public school teachers have taken a break from the preparations for the full implementation of K to 12 curriculum this coming school year in order to give their  “full degree of service” for the midterm polls.

“As practiced, our personnel will give its full degree of service quality to the citizenry. We have already organized election task forces at the regional and division level” said Department of Education Regional Director Isabelita Borres.

Around 15,800 public school teachers in Central Luzon will go on duty for this election or 35 percent of the total workforce.

“We are now giving P3,000 for the honoraria plus P500 for transportation allowance and extra P500, that is about P4,000 per teacher” Borres added.

There is also an insurance of P13,000 in case there are minor accidents that may transpire and as assistance in terms of harassment.

Central Luzon has 5,823,044 registrants for the midterm polls the third biggest in the archipelago. 

Bulacan has the most number of voters in the region at 1,497,873 followed by Nueva Ecija with 1,363,646; Pampanga-1,239,372; Tarlac-692,948; Bataan-456,648; Zambales- 444,202; and Aurora-128,355.

Southern Tagalog remains the nation’s most vote rich area with over eight million followed by Metro Manila with 5.9 million. 

Meanwhile, Some 1,429 local positions will be up for grabs in Region 3 consisting of 21 congressional seats, 7 gubernatorial, 7 vice gubernatorial, 68 provincial boards, 130 mayoral, 130 vice mayoral, and 1,066 councilors. (Joelyn G. Baluyot)

Police, Army nab six armed men in Bulacan

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan, May 12, 2013-Six armed men, who are allegedly members of the New People’s Army (NPA), were nabbed on Friday at a Commission on Elections (COMELEC) checkpoint in Villarama Highway, barangay Bitungol in Norzagay town in Bulacan.

 

“The group, who converted a civilian vehicle into a military type transport were apprehended by the combined elements of Norzagaray Police and 56^th Infantry Battalion” said 7^th Infantry Division (7ID) Public Affairs Officer Captain Mark Anthony Ruelos.

 

According to initial investigation, the group was headed to the municipality of Doña Remedios Trinidad (DRT), also in Bulacan, to initiate election fraud activities.

 

Confiscated from the apprehended men were one 6x6 truck that was illegally painted with military green, one Hummvee, colored desert storm fatigue, and a white Montero Sport SUV with no plate.

 

The vehicles were reportedly loaded with two M653 rifles, one .45 cal and 9 mm pistols.  Also onboard the vehicles were Dumagats.

 

Charges, which include illegal possession of firearms and violation of COMELEC gun ban, were immediately filed against the considered extortionists while the Dumagats were released for lack of evidence.

 

The group as well as the recovered firearms and vehicles were brought to the Bulacan Police Provincial Office headquarters for proper disposition and further investigation.

 

“I would like to congratulate the 56^th Infantry Battalion, the Philippine National Police and other stakeholders for successfully neutralizing what we now consider to be just remnants of these lawless leftist groups and performing once more what you have recently achieved in Bulacan. Hopefully with these accomplishments and incomparable efforts of our men in uniform, I believe that we can have an honest, credible, and fair midterm polls this coming Monday,” 7ID Commander Major General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu)