Igorot People

Bureau ofImmigration and its red tape

2011-01-22T01:18:00.000-08:00

Last November 16, 2010 my lawyer filed a motion for the dismissal of a harassment case filed against me. The judge denied the motion and gave the complainant two months to prove her case since the judge believed her alibi that she was abroad before the scheduled hearing and was not able to make it on the said trial date.

We wrote a letter to the NBI to help us know the whereabouts of the complainant but they referred us to the Bureau of Immigration here in Baguio. We made a similar request letter addressed to the regional office of the Bureau headed by Mr. Ricardo Dl. Gabochan, after more than two weeks we followed up the request. He verbally told us that they made verification if Flores Silo was out of the country on the dates specified and told us that Ms. Silo never went out of the country as claimed.

We ask the good office of Mr. Ricardo Dl Gabochan to give us a certification since it is already known that indeed silo never went out of the country on the aforementioned dates. He said that he can only give the verbal information since it is the national office that is task to give out certifications involving these matters. We made a follow up verbal request but the answer is the same.

After a week last January 7 2010 I went down to the main office of the Bureau of Immigration in manila. I brought with me a received copy of our request to the regional office. When I inquired regarding issuance of certifications, I was given a form to fill up; the regional office in Baguio did not have a form similar to this. I was then directed to submit the accomplished form at window 17. I was advised by the staff that I will follow it up after a week by calling OIC Ronaldo P. Ledesma at Tel. no.527-5380 or see him at his office at Rm. 423. I went again to window 12 and told the employee that the regional office had made a research and the subject mentioned in the request is p0sitively still in the country and if there is a way I can talk to the officer concerned because it is another expense of time and money if I will come back after a week. The employee just told me he is following orders and never bothered to listen to me. I ask him how much the amount to be paid for the said certification is and he told me its more than 1000.00 pesos. I almost fainted after hearing him. I scraped my lunch to save on expenses and the confiscatory fees demanded cramped my stomach. One week is too long to wait at this time where we can locate things and persons in a few minutes with just a few clicks.

I left window 12 and went to the office of OIC Ledesma to explain my predicament but to my surprise you have to talk to several persons before you can see a glimpse of the director. I tried to explain again the findings of Mr. Gabochan but instead the secretary or whatever cordoned sanitair bluntly told me to come back after a week. I explained to her I came from Baguio city and I would like to maximize my time I explained to her patiently the facts I gathered from their regional office but she just told me to come back after a week period. If only the regional office accommodated my request I would have earned cash to pay my tax instead of wasting my time and money at the national office of the Bureau of immigration.

Lastly the Bureau of Immigration is collecting 500 pesos as an additional for express transaction in addition to the regular charge but it’s not worth it. It is not functional as the word express connotes.

Ghost Reforestation Project of Mountain Province

2011-01-13T22:13:00.000-08:00

That in the year 2006 the Asian Development Bank provided a grant and soft loan to the Philippine government to address the environmental concerns and livelihood programs of Mountain Province, particularly Barangay Maligcong. This multimillion peso - worth project was jointly implemented by Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resource Management Project (CHARMP), an NGO, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

That in the process of its implementation, corrupt practices (as stipulated below) were discovered by concerned residents of Barangay Maligcong. On April 2006, these concerned residents decided to come out and sign affidavits confirming that indeed there were gross violations of the law, specifically the Anti-graft Law.

The concerned citizens who submitted affidavits are the following:

1. Jefrey Pursen

2. Thomas Sadcopen

3. William Todcor

4. Agustin Choykawen

5. Rosita Cobsilen

6. Brigitt Imperial

7. Elisa Carlos

That in the same year, the complainants decided to report the case to the DENR authorities. They asked the help of the Northern Luzon Coalition of Good Governance (NLCGG) who provided the technical group to help the complainants determine the extent of the reforestation projects, the Social Action and Development Center (SADC), and a surveyor as part of a monitoring body against graft and corruption.

During the ocular inspection of the sites, contrary to the claim by the barangay captain and his cohorts including the DENR, the following were discovered and confirmed:

1) That areas planted were too small compared to the actual areas developed and planted. In Sitio Pokipok alone (one area out of eight project sites that were surveyed by Mr. John Escher from Switzerland), more or less 5 hectares were planted, but the DENR and the barangay counterpart declared the project area as more than 50 hectares. The other six project places - Angtungfaw, Pudlak, Lidchan, Matu-un, Filig, Chatar, and Locutan are all misdeclared and bloated as well.

2) Coffee plantation projects as claimed by the accused at sitio Lakipan and amfomotngor are nonexistent.

3) Nurseries were seen to be still containing thousands of withered and stunted pine seedlings. A total of 9 pine nurseries were discovered in all.

4) Bunkhouses and guardhouses were only makeshift shanties contrary to the project specification.

5) Already existing trails used by residents since time immemorial were declared as the 1 meter by 7 kilometer pathway connecting the different project sights.

6) Worst among the entire claim was that the naturally growing pine trees were declared as planted by the group of Herman Farnican.

The mountains of Maligcong do not need replanting; it only needs protection from illegal loggers and forest fires.

6) The livelihood component of the project, which is citrus - growing whereby the beneficiaries were given citrus seedlings to plant in their lands, were not successful as most of the seedlings were not distributed and allowed to die. The beneficiaries were never trained technically to take care of these special plants since they are only introduced species in the locality. The overall result of the livelihood component was a failure. Thomas Sadcopen, the caretaker of the citrus nursery, was never paid in full. Because of this, he filed an administrative case against the accused. Up to the present, no payment was made and no administrative sanctions were promulgated.

During the last phase of the project, two representatives of the Asian Development Bank came to Maligcong to see and verify the reforestation project, but it is getting dark during that time so it is impossible to make a practical and independent evaluation. The complainants met the ADB representatives and wanted to tell them that the project they were trying to evaluate was almost nonexistent. There was a discussion, but these foreigners were convinced beforehand that the project existed, as said by the barangay captain and the DENR.

That a complaint was submitted to the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) and it was never acted upon. They scheduled appointments with the complainants to thresh out the differences but none ever took place because they wanted to isolate the complainants and to deal with them individually.

That the complainants reported to the municipal government of Bontoc the abuses of the barangay captain of Maligcong, Mr. Herman Farnican. The complainants had an audience with the municipal council, but it resulted in exculpating Mr. Farnican. This was understandable since he was a member of the municipal council as ABC president and he was their colleague, notwithstanding the overwhelming evidence of graft and corruption against him. This prompted the complainants and the witnesses to seek redress from the DENR Regional Office in Baguio City.

That during those instances of meeting with the regional official headed by the Regional Director, Nicanor Sapla, we were ignored despite our open manifestations. Any succeeding attempts of communication through text messages and e-mails which were never answered.

That attempts were made to get the attention of the then DENR Secretary Mike Defensor through the intervention of Executive Secretary Silvestry Affable, but the instructions of the DENR secretary to the lower offices simply went to naught.

That as a result of much ado without nothing and a waste of the complainant’s time and money, the decision to file an administrative and criminal case was made to the ombudsman in the hope that the complainants will be heard. They wanted to clear matters and prove that there really existed a ghost project in Maligcong committed by the Barangay Captain Herman Farnican, DENR Director Nicanor Sapla, and their cohorts.

That the Ombudsman docketed the case and nothing happened from the filing of the case docket no. OMB-L-A-06-0378-E at the office of the Ombudsman in Manila.

That we made twelve trips to Manila from 2006 up to 2009 t to follow-up the case at the Office of the Ombudsman. We were aided by National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) of the University of the Philippines and De La Salle University but still to no avail. A classic case of “justice delayed is justice denied.”

That in the process of collating our reports as of the present after five years of inaction by the government agencies concerned, the complainants began to suspect one another that maybe one or two of them were bought and now sided with the barangay captain and the DENR so that the case never prospered.

Additional references regarding the ghost projects:

1) NLCGG, through the president Pura Sumangil

2) SADC ,through Fr. Val Democ

3) Complainants, through William Todcor

4) UP - NCPAG

5) De La Salle Institute of Good Governance

6) Internet publications

7) Posted by Peden at 2:41 AM 0 comments

8) Letters and etc.

fitley pursen

Dear William,

Be informed that this morning a legal officer and a forester from the Central DENR has interviewed me regarding our joint complaint on reforestation. According to them their office was task by the ombudsman to investigate our complaints.

They wish to get your comments but I told them that you are in Baguio. According to them, we are given 30 days starting today to answer their questions regarding our complaints. I then gave your cellphone number as a means of contacting you or see them at the central DENR office. I tried to give them your e-mail address but they are not interested in it because their office is not connected to internet.

There is a question from them that I need to tell you; “sino ang tomotolong sa inyo sa pagprepare ng inyong complaints at saan niyo ginagawa ang pagprepare ng inyong complaints”. For the former question, I told them that no one except us three complainants and Thomas Sadcopen, and for the later question, I told them that we usually prepare our complaints at my house. With this questions, we need to have the same answer. The rest of the question is up to you but of course to the best interest of our complaints. They seem to be looking for a means of downgrading the weight of our complaints.

Jeffrey

william todcor

did you tell atty claver of this interview> pls tell me his response before I...

11/29/07

fitley pursen

> Dear William, > since Atty. Claver became vice Governor, he is always busy....

11/29/07

to fitley

ok I will try thanks!

Masahuri Osaki, a Japanese national tried to help by informing ADB (Asian Development Bank) of the graft and corruption.(no result)

Prepared by:

William L. Todcor

Jueteng vs. progress

2010-10-03T01:13:00.000-07:00

Jueteng aficionados claim their activities can create more jobs and other perceived beneficial claims but in truth And in fact the bets collected are part of a capital or profit of a person that should be circulating on the mainstream of economic generation that is producing more interest of the original capital as it passes from person to person in a community. For instance a fifty peso bet is collected by the collectors then it goes straight to the operator who keeps a majority of the money collected, it passes in the hands of two to three people then finally to the PNP for protection and the politician who gives his blessing to operators in a certain locality. While if the fifty pesos is not used in the jueteng it passes to many people thereby creating a chain of economic activities which ultimately is creating more jobs. An example is when an ordinary farmer who is not a habitual patron of jueteng gives the amount to his children who are attending school, the fifty pesos goes a long way providing capital to vendors, transport and other businesses where the children spend their allowance. There are more people involved in this economic activity which means more jobs because of an active entrepreneurial purpose. Jueteng is a form of an economic sabotage because it denies the government of taxes due to it. It hoards the money in the hands of a few people who use it for sinister purposes that is detrimental to the health of the nation, be it peace economy and security.

Single voting a pest or genetics?

2010-05-08T18:52:00.000-07:00

In the Philippines voting is an exercise of freedom but extremes can happen. Allow me to picture a situational in my article as follows.
Candidates come to an agreement forging a compact to include the entire line up or group among voting friends, clans, tribes and relatives. Then comes Election Day when secret ballots are cast followed by the canvassing and counting of votes and the winners are……. Of course the wily foxes!
Where did things go wrong? It is a common practice among clans and closely knitted groups like a tribe and similar groupings to vote for one candidate and excluding the rest of the group. The other candidates who unwittingly did a fair job of including all their team mates will get the least votes because they were never included by the others in the first place.
They say all is fair in love, war and politics but in this case integrity is the basic character that should be taken into consideration as foremost. A candidate who takes advantage of a situation appropriating opportunities to take undue advantage over others who follow the rules of fair play should never be in public leadership positions, because they will apply their wily and corrupt principles in all endeavors they do.
Among the clans and group who follow this kind of unfair practice find themselves fooled most of the time by the same candidate who approach them in every election wearing different masks. These same clans, tribes or groups seemingly never learn. Their ability to distinguish wolves in sheep’s skin has never been sharpened. It seems to be a hereditary aberration and it is now already a genetic adaptations.

With Governor Chavit at Baluarte

2010-02-12T02:21:00.000-08:00

We traveled to Ciudad Fernandina otherwise known as vigan which still exudes the beauty and power of the past. Baluarte a private Zoo and a fabulous park attract foreign tourists and locals alike. It is located within the vicinity of this teeming city. Governor Chavit Singson an Ilocano must have realized that regaining the glory of Vigan is to invest extensively on a landmark that will bring in lively hood and better living on this northern part of Ilocandia, the grand creation of Baluarte. His vision as a political leader is something to be admired and worthy of emulating.
We visited his residence and had coffee; I jokingly ask a favor from the honorable governor if there is the possibility of continuing the construction of the Bulaga Bridge that is supposed to connect Cervantes Ilocos Sur and Tadian Mountain Province. I informed the good governor that the officials in Mountain Province seem to neglect its construction. I ask him a favor to keep this lateral road very passable with a complete Bulaga bridge since it is a vital link and a short cut to the Ilocos Region from the land lock Cordillera region and the rich Cagayan valley. Hopefully His smile on the request will go a long, long way.

blogger arrested

2009-11-25T19:07:00.000-08:00

I am relating the facts that happened at the police precinct substation 10 located at Marcos highway Dontogan Baguio city.
That I am accusing Police station commander and others who were involved for illegal arrest, abuse of authority and a violation of my constitutional rights, that I was deprived of my liberty without due process of law under RA 7438, the revised penal code and the rules of court.

The facts of the case:
That at about 3:30pm, I was at home attending to my orchid plants, and then I noticed someone is looking around my front yard a few steps from the main door of my house with a long bag slung on his shoulder. I ask the man what is his purpose and why he is at my place and he told me if there is a way going to the other side of the road pointing the direction of Balacbac Road. I told him that he entered a private property. I ask him further if he read the No Trespassing sign but he just keep looking at me. This made me suspicious because he has also a long bag with him so I told him to go back where he came from. I followed him secretly, then I saw he is with a lady companion who was picking flowers inside my compound along the way as they exited,
I shouted at them to stop but they rushed out of my gate and as they passed by the car I am entrusted, I saw the woman hit the car with a stone and tore the car cover before going away.Prior to that, the daughter of Erwin San Luis saw her tore the car cover and was looking inside before they entered my property since the car is parked beside their house.
I ran after them and realized the woman is F S but her companion is unknown to me. So I shouted to her as she is around fifty feet away while his companion stayed behind to prevent me from further approaching her. What’s your purpose in coming to my place I keep shouting to her as she was moving away while the man kept on pushing me back, so we grappled together for the possession of his bag that contains a metal object. I suspect it is a fire arm and he is trying to unzip it. When the man knew that she is nowhere to be seen, he pushed me and started to walk fast in the direction of the main road at Green Valley where the woman went He disappeared leaving his companion alone after she ask the assistance of the police, attempts to locate him was futile she even denied his whereabouts.
I keep shouting so that the people who are playing at the basketball court will witness what is happening. The woman in the meantime was shouting invectives while she is getting away to watch out for me because I am a thief and she keep on repeating her accusations several times for my neighbors to hear, so that it was her instead who shouted slanderous language against me in the presence of several people. She even have the nerve to command them to beat me.she told the men playing basketball.
The claim of the woman that I threw a stone at her has no basis and it’s not true because I was preoccupied grappling with her male companion. Besides there were people who can witness that there was no stone thrown to her or a gun was ever poke on her since she is very far from where I was. If I had a gun at that time it would be her male companion it was directed because he was preventing me from pursuing the thief and vandal as well as a trespasser.
The claim also of the policemen that they arrested me while the incident was going on at around 4:30 pm is a lie since that was the time the woman and her male companion were long time gone already from the place of incident near my residence. I was at home then during that time as shown by my sent messages to the NBI regarding the sighting of a suspicious individual spying at my residence more than an hour ago. This text message was sent at 5:15 pm after the incident that happened hours earlier.
The truth is I went back to my house after the incident and had a snack since I was hungry many people saw me going back. I also took a bath and changed my clothes since I was wearing soiled garden attire, a white shirt and brown pants with black chinelas at the time of the incident and not the cloths I was wearing when they arrested me which is maong pants and blue polo shirt and brown shoes. The people at the basketball court will witness to that.
It was around 5:20pm hours after the incident that I went out. I took my licensed gun with me including the permit to carry. On my way to the barangay captain’s house, at about 5:30 pm, I met several policemen and the woman on my way to the barangay captain’s residence near the main road at Green valley. They took my licensed gun and told me to go with them to the police station. There were still several people around who saw the incident, a policeman ask one of those who saw the incident whom I ask to be one of my witness said that he was ask if I really poke a gun to the complainant and he shook his head saying no I did not poke a gun at her. So they arrested me without any personal knowledge of the incident, they just believed what the complainant said and disregarded everything. We were able to reach the place at around 5:40 pm.
That In the process of taking her statement they boasted to her that they responded with lightning speed and they need a Christmas bonus from her for the favor. These words came from Police officer from the station commander.
That the only time they took her statement when I was brought to the police station at around past 6:00 pm, not when the woman went to complain at their office at around passed 4:00 pm.
But before they finished taking her Statement they called for a break, they proceeded at the lower portion of the police office to have dinner with the complainant. After a while they came up and told me that we go for medical checkup. I told them to wait for my lawyer so I can make my request since my cell phone has no load and the battery is dead one of them was kind enough to get a load for me but the others would like rush up since I cannot make contact yet because I am still charging the cell phone.[ I was only able to contact my lawyer when I was incarcerated and the time of my detention has lapsed]. But they said never mind tell your problem to the court. We proceeded to Baguio general Hospital for check up. Then we went back to precinct Police station 10, I was hoping they will take my statement because I keep on insisting that it was the woman and his companion who violated my rights and what I did is to protect myself and property. But they refused to grant my request and told me they are sleepy. Prior to that I told the station commander of pcp 10 baguio city to take my statement because I am also complaining the illegal acts of the woman, that in truth I had no gun during the incident I was struggling with her companion and at the time the acts were being committed as alleged by the complainant. It is only after the incident that I went home and change my clothes and took with me my licensed gun with permit to carry for my self defense just in case since it’s getting dark.
That I told the policemen at precinct 10 headed that F S has no authority what so ever to meddle with my work but I am the one with full authority with a General Power of Attorney. I even told them that her claim to be the niece of my employer is not true and there is no blood relationship I have documents at home to provr these. But they just laugh at me. a police man at the precinct told me also that if you have any question, give them to the fiscal.
That I told the policemen that the woman is acting bizarre because she is so jealous that Mrs. Rumbaugh entrusted me her properties even her car and not to her but they told me I am making up these stories.
That I insisted many times to them to take my statement since I am also a complainant but they refused
That my constitutional right was violated under Article 125 of the revised penal code, RA 7438 and those found in the rules of court. In my case they told me I am guilty since I poke my gun at the woman without investigating if it’s true or not. The station commander said we don’t need to take your statement because you poke you gun at her, he was speaking as if he was a firsthand witness to the incident that happened between 3:00 t0 4:00 pm of November 18 2009 near my residence and then immediately arrested me thereafter which is a fabricated lie.
That they entertained the worthless documents and lies of the complainant. When I requested that I will be accompanied by them to my residence so that they will see the destruction of the woman proving that she and her male companion are trespassers, thieves, vandals and a slanderer also there are witnesses available to prove I did not commit a crime but it was all in futility, so I believe there was prior agreement between these policemen and the complainant to frame me up as shown by the spot report and their affidavits as well as the surrounding circumstances which is full of inconsistencies specially the following;
1] The time of the arrest, they claim its 4:30 pm when in fact it is hours after. It was long way after the incident that the arrest was done and without warrant. The truth is many of the witnesses are within the vicinity that saw what happened and were questioned by the policemen, if I did really poke a gun at the complainant and they said no, that they saw no gun with me at the time of the incident. But these policemen were only interested in arresting me and not the solution of the crime committed. If only they listened to some of the witness to the incident it should have been the woman that was in quested. But these police officers have not used prudence since they were more interested in the Christmas bonus from from the complainant.
2] That the sworn statement of the woman dated November 18, 2009 is pre signed by the city prosecutor, since during the preparation of her statement until her signing at precinct 10 the complainant and me were there all the time until around 9:30 pm. So she could not possibly go out to see the fiscal.
3] That the arrest was not immediate as stated in the affidavit of the police men, in fact it was done hours later, and furthermore they did not even see the incident. The date that they witnessed the incident and the arrest according to their affidavit was October 31 2009, which only shows that these policemen are good in fabricating dates and time to suit their interest.
4] The receipt of my licensed gun that they took last November 18 2009 should state the exact date and time they took it and have it in their custody, but why was it dated November 19, 2009 a day after they took my gun. Why did they changed the date?
That I informed them to talk with the nbi assigned to the case of f.s. for estafa but Police the officers refused to answer a call I made to this NBI officer. Instead they accused me by saying; I poke a gun at the complainant as if he was present at the time of the incident at around 3:00 to 4:00pm. Right at his desk he told me I am guilty which violates constitutional principles.
That I told them I am a freelance journalist so they will consider my position that the complainant is making up what she told them. But they simply are turning deaf ears to me.
That I told them to contact cidg,PCP 4 at EPZA or nbi to verify the background of the complainant who is accusing me but they just simply ignored my request.
That they refused to listen to me and favored the woman that trespassed my place steal my flowering plants and destroyed the car cover of the fortuner I am using and hit it with a stone. They believed the story of the sexy woman without looking into the root cause of the incident and there is ample time to do it.
That the woman has other purpose more sinister in spying at my place. She really meant to harm me and my family because a woman from Abra province reported to the NBI that she overheard her contacting a gun for hire to kill me. She was even showing my picture to people in abra that I am a bad person.
With all of these things that happened to me by officers of the law who simply do not know the rights of human beings should be dealt with severely and accordingly so that innocent people will not be in jeopardy because of their biased views especially when they are given favors in cash or in kind. They are leeches who take advantage of situation to milk people who are accused of a crime.
Because of a policeman’s wrong perception of people and crime incidents, I was being paraded in public with handcuffs seen by many people is a humiliation beyond my acceptance. It has a wrong repercussion in my memory pulling me down to the category of beasts. An officer of the law who abuses their authority then trample on my freedom has no place in law enforcement but should be relegated to civilian duties. Deprivation of my liberty even for a moment out of mistake can be understandable but if it was done with malice it is unacceptable.
The undersigned wishes to Request for their suspension while the case is pending to prevent undue influence by these policemen against my witnesses.A case in now being prepared against these police men as of this time. the accused is out on bail.

AIRTIME ROBBERY

2009-07-20T16:44:00.000-07:00

The smart way to do business is to steal, is it? I call it a large scale estafa when millions of users unwittingly are being robbed with their eyes wide open. An example like in this instant case is when the expiration time of sim loads just disappear or shortened by the telecommunication companies acting as servers; this is stealing, plain and simple. I presume the people in the national telecommunication commission are receiving a rebate of their airtime loss, since there was no or unsatisfactory action whatsoever to curb these Mal practices of the rich telecoms companies.It has been for many years until now. Their technical capability to monitor compliance is ever doubtful.
Just imagine one million users who bought loads worth one hundred pesos, before it is all used up, suddenly there appears a message that sending has failed or a voice recording informing the cell phone owner that there is not enough balance left. But honest to goodness I for one knew I have still twenty five pesos left and I believe others who are similarly situated have the same amount lost in thin air too. Those balance that were taken if totaled can come up to roughly twenty-five million in just a few seconds multiply that in repetitions and you get ten to twelve digits in cash, again multiply it to seconds, minutes, hours, days, months and years. Surely you will lose tract of the figures. Literally it’s raining money at the main offices of these telecoms companies and they are getting away with it. Probably the national telecoms is helping them knowingly or unknowingly. The people keep spending more on these communication needs while sacrificing others that ought to be given equal attention. These acts of the telecoms companies is an economic sabotage that must be dealt with, wise or otherwise.

Why the Igorot Governor got very rich

2009-07-17T00:02:00.000-07:00

When a country is ruled by good men prosperity abounds. But when tyrants and vampires occupy elective and public positions the country mourns.
Allow me to relate to you a few truths I came across with my little adventure among some politicians and their underdogs. How they manipulate and channel public funds to suit their personal needs.
Before an election the incumbent Governor will gather his cohorts and leaders from the capitol, Municipalities and barrios. The purpose of the meeting is to assess their logistics and capabilities. Employees who owe their employment to the governor are obliged to provide their contribution some are even pressured to obtain a loan to provide him more campaign funds. Contractors and business men who will support him are promised they will partake of the internal revenue allotment of the province amounting to several millions. This is the beginning of a string of corruption a public official commits.
During the campaign period huge cash is spent and much labor is contributed to the governor. Public employees campaign secretly in his favor. This is the second stage of corruption.
When the votes are cast and the incumbent governor wins, not unusual especially if there is a massive vote buying. This tge third stage of corruption.
Upon assumption of office the governor will meet with his executive committee composed of the Provincial accountant, Budget officer, treasurer and others whose interest are at stake. In this meeting the usual agenda is how and where to spend the internal revenue allotment of the province. Usually most of the suggestions that crop up are the juicy projects that are very profitable such as pathways, gyms, daycare centers, waiting sheds widening of existing roads and ripraps. All of these people work in unison to achieve their hideous plans. The provincial accountant justifies the expenditures to make all of them appear legal, accepting spurious receipts to liquidate certain transactions. While the budget officer advices the governor the many source of funds and how to spend them profitably. Meanwhile the treasurer will release with ease the pet project payments. This is the fourth stage of corruption.
The day starts with the bidding of projects as planned by the governor and his henchmen. The processes seemed legal since all the requirements were fulfilled. There are a million and one ways to go around the law specially the local government code. Loopholes are always available since most law makers are connected in one way or the other in these questionable dealings. You see the law allows as many bidders as possible to undertake certain projects but in the end only the people connected to the governor wins the bids. This is already a done deal you know, its payback time. I call this the fifth stage in corruption.
The moment projects are paid, twenty to thirty percent of the gross cost of the project is remitted to the governor, a time honored tradition among thieves and corrupt people. How about the provincial board a body that approves the budget ordinance, they should check these projects whether or not they are beneficial to the people? Actually some of those projects included by the governor to be accomplished are funded by the pork barrel of the board members so that they are more interested in pleasing their adherents just like the governor and of course their percentages too! This is the final stage of the corruption that completes the cycle.
I concentrated on the governor since his irresponsible and uncalled for acts are the same in every respect to all public officials even to the smallest unit of the government, the barrio.

Freedom….. Of tyrants and corruption?

2009-07-09T05:01:00.000-07:00

Talk about being free, not everyone have the same outlook do they? Invaders come and go freedom snatched as our forefathers watched; pent up anger and tears swell yet deeper they were pushed to hell. How I wish freedom is like the sunshine, bright and warm, a smile and an embrace of a mothers arm. Shall I compare it to a soft blowing wind, cold yet refreshing my dreary face? Or to a gentle falling rain that washes my sadness and pain? Oh freedom what a grotesque definition they made out of you…. man made and unnatural. Raging waves smashing the shore creating white sand beaches lined with smooth glittering pebbles. It is like a ravaging storm that drives away the smog. Should the citizens mourn before they are allowed to dance, cry before being joyful, be in the bosom of the long dark night before seeing the morning light or beaten before given a morsel of bread? Where does freedom take its side? the ordinary citizen who toil the soil, work in the deep recesses of the earth, run the toxic industries, raise food for all, and pay taxes for the government to spend? Freedom is on the side of the rulers. They pass, interpret and implement the laws promoting or limiting freedom even converting a right into a privilege. Only the moneyed people are benefited by the bills that guarantee freedom. What an irony to drive away the invaders from outside that trampled our freedom but greater are the conquerors that enslave from within, neither bullets, canons nor the most sophisticated weaponry can harm. Corruption controlling the legislators, magistrates and executives is now the tyrant that rules. In its hands they are but fools. They are fed with greed, pampered with pride while hypocrisy is their guide. Like lycanthropes they live among humans deceiving and preying on their innocence. A tyranny of rulers stealing freedom from the commoners…….

A handshake with a presidential aspirant

2009-06-11T22:54:00.000-07:00

A friend text me to hurry up and see her at Venus Park view Hotel in Baguio City, she told me the Metro Manila development Authority czar is having a press conference and if I am interested to meet him, so without hesitation I heeded her call.
When I entered the hall of the hotel the press conference was finished but he was still talking to a group of farmers from Benguet and Mountain Province. As I listened to him he is a soft spoken and amiable guy but behind that facade I could sense an aura that exudes firmness and determination. Maybe I was influenced by daily media coverage on television and the news papers how he was able to transform a complex and ugly metro region into a decent and manageable one is a factor. Testimonies by word of mouth of people directly and adversely affected by his implementing policies who hated him yet ultimately praised his actions when they saw the end of his means is another influencing matter.
I compare him to a doctor who does a painful surgery with a sharp knife purposely to remove the malady and to heal the ailing patient. This person is removing a social cancer in a sick society as mentioned in Doctor Jose Rizal’s el Filibusterismo. It’s success can result in a healthy nation.
I heard him say that if only every one do their work well, then we achieve a healthy society. He molded a legacy for other leaders to emulate but the senate and congress are deaf and blind to follow suit. They are more interested in grandstanding and promoting their self interest. Some do not care spending millions of pesos to promote themselves as the good guys, pro poor and for the masses but without a legacy to back up their willingness to overhaul a sick nation.
What is the use of looking good when a nation that needs an economic and social order? I believe at this time we need a hero (BAYANI) not procrastinators and pretenders who only aggravate our ailing society. Can Mr. Fernando who does what he says become the next president of the Philippines? Why not.

Governor charged for thirty three counts of estafa

2009-01-29T15:41:00.000-08:00

March 3 2008 the provincial prosecutor of Mountain province Moises c. Ayochoc endorsed to the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon a case record of a case of Estafa Thru Falsification of Public Commercial Documents 33 counts under Article 315 in relation to paragraph 4 and 6 of article 171 of the revised penal code and violation of paragraph c. section 4 of R.A. No. 6713 against the incumbent Governor Maximo Dalog of Mountain Province and several accomplices. This complaint was filed by Harry C. Dominguez by submitting tons of documents to validate his claim. The case was docketed as OMB-LC07-0119-A AND OMB-L-C-07-0120-A. The Ombudsman made an order last March 9 2007 addressed to the governor and others listed to answer within 10 days from the receipt of the complaint. Yet, the lingering issue that haunts every tax payer and concerned citizen is the very long time the Anti-Graft Bodies should dispose these cases stack piled in their offices. This case arose from a fictitious sale of an over priced ambulance by a private person who is not engage in the business of supplying vehicles much more so with ambulances to the provincial government of Mountain Province. That provincial funds was used to pay the ambulance in question with the approval of the governor himself.Now,there are rumors that if you want your case to stay forever at the office of the concerned agency you just pay them and your case will be placed at the bottom of a huge pile of cases scheduled for investigation. They say that if you pay more, your case goes to lowest of the piles, so that the scheduling is indefinite. These allegation hopefully does not hold water but it seems its the other way around because the governor is still in office continuing his practices.

Flip-flopping Elected Provincial Officials of Mountain Province

2008-10-25T13:49:00.000-07:00

It’s almost a year now after the death of the incumbent Mountain Province Congressman Victor Dominguez, the Province since then was administered by the congressman of Kalinga as a care taker congressman until a new one is chosen through a special election, The provincial officials who are supposed to look after the welfare of their constituents would rather prefer that a stepfather take care of them not minding if they are exploited in the process. According to those who are advocating for an election, like the MAMAPKE and other individuals, they are dismayed by the lack of action of these elected officials.
The Provincial board passed a resolution last year calling for an election but they did not approve an appropriation ordinance to support said resolution. According to Ciriaco Filog, one of the advocates for an elected replacement said that Governor Maximo Dalog who was amenable to the special election was waiting for COMELEC to make a written memorandum that in case the Province will spend for this electoral exercise, roughly about three million pesos, the COMELEC should reimburse the money spent. He also said that congress should declare the position of the office of the congressman for Mountain Province vacant. Still he added a third hurdle, about his apprehensions of misspent public funds if these two conditions are not met. Lastly he could not include in his executive budget the appropriation for the special election because of the three above mentioned reasons.
Since there is an overwhelming clamor for a special election by the constituents of Mountain Province, petitions as well as resolution were forwarded to the concerned officials. The lingering questions the people as tax payers are echoing yet fall on deaf ears. Why can’t the provincial board take cognizance of these issues and take action and appropriate a budget to finance the election since COMELEC categorically stated there is no fund available. On the other hand for the past year the provincial Governor should have lobbied at the office of the COMELEC to get the memorandum of reimbursement, he should have lobbied at congress, if not then simply include in his executive budget appropriating for the expense of a special election. The province of Isabela did it when there was a vacancy in the province. There are other precedents that happened similar to the case of Mountain Province and the officials can take actions following the other provinces when vacancies occurred as a result of permanent incapacity or death of their officials.
Passing a resolution by the provincial board without an appropriation to back it up is like giving birth to a baby without giving milk to sustain life. There are so many alibis available when the Provincial Governor designated to do the task of a special election just simply do not like it to prosper.
The voice of the people is the voice of God, these are a favorite quote of the provincial Governor, and the people are speaking of a special election he should listen to them because it’s God’s voice.

LEFT ALONE TO SURVIVE

2008-08-16T02:54:00.000-07:00

Last august 11, 2008 I visited Baggao, a remote eastern municipality of Cagayan near the pacific coast. It is adjacent to the vicinity of the famous Port Irene where many imported cars are available. The purpose of my trip is to visit an Igorot relative at the same time an opportunity to see the place. Baggao is a farming community with rice and corn as their primary product for home consumption and to supply the market too. The people augment their income by raising domesticated animals in their backyards, they complain that fertilizer and labor is very expensive. The farmers borrow money to finance the farm but after the harvest almost all the product goes to the creditor. They are lucky if there were no typhoons otherwise these farmers will be more debt ridden. Middlemen buy the grains at very low price too so that the margin of profit for the laboring farmer is very small. Some got frustrated and left their land and found odd jobs other than farming, they contend that at least they are receiving wages every week, unlike the farm where they harvest once a year while it is under the mercy of nature. Visibly there are no factories to process their products they are transported to Isabela or Manila for processing and packaging.
Long stretches of dirt roads with few patches of cemented ones inter connect the different barangays. Bridges are unreliable as many cannot withstand the rising of the strong current during the rainy seasons. The Barangay folks claim that the infrastructure like the bridges and the road network should have been well done and finished long time ago but because of the slow pace of construction and the corruption of the projects made the work substandard. They claim that equipments are brought to the project site but will just stay there for long periods without accomplishing much.
I observed many communication towers owned by the telecom giants of the Philippine like globe and smart companies are everywhere but most of them are for text and calling use only, I tried to access the internet using my cell phone but I get a response telling me that the service is not available.
The government rely on the advertisement of these companies that every place in the Philippines is inter connected to the world via internet is a bombastic claim with empty results. The Government totally believes the claims of these companies without counter checking if they are telling the truth or not.
These few observations with some personal interviews are just a tip of the iceberg. Many projects are not actually helping the people of the community but for the benefit of the meddling politicians and their dummies.
It is timely for the local residents to take the initiatives to submit petitions and urge the leaders of the province to look for the interest of the locals. These officials should be coached to submit these petitions and resolutions to the national office for the record. The congressman will follow it up in the legislature and work it out because that is the reason he was voted for.Let our demands be heard by making noise to the over centralized government in a peaceful way.

Remembrances at Lepanto High School

2008-07-31T03:16:00.000-07:00

Reminiscing those high school days is nostalgia indeed. All that is left are wishes and memories, yet a smile unquenchable remains at the corner of my lips to muse. I would sit with my classmates on the grassy slopes of the High school grounds and enjoy our lunch. Chatting merrily as we view the clean airstrip of the mining camp, we shouted at the top of our voice as if the people of Cervantes Ilocos Sur and Tadian Mountain Province can hear us over those horizons. Climbing trees that abound on the campus is fun but falling is certainly not, yes these are the gems of childhood. Unforgettable impressions glittering in my memory as years go by.
The single most powerful and compelling force that kept my interest in attending school is so called puppy love. I was infatuated with a pretty girl who is my classmate, revealing her can create repercussions arising from jealousy, is it obvious? Maybe not [laughter], just looking at her innocent face makes me happy and inspired. My infatuation was so intense that I dream of her many times, in my dreams we were holding hands going to school, sometimes my imaginations go wild and she is entangled with it. As I ponder those feelings of youth, how ridiculous they were, it’s really funny guys.
There is the Junior-seniors prom; it is one event that earmarks the transition of a kid’s emotion into an unchallenged stage. I attended the occasion with a borrowed necktie and oversized pants, at first it didn’t really matter. I thought it’s just like a Christmas party or an ordinary happening. But on the night it occurred, the girls literary became ladies, their makeup and attires made them so attractive! Every girl has a peculiar beauty to behold and dancing with her is bliss, an ecstasy. If only you can see my happiness as I danced with my crush, the dance floor, an ordinary pavement has magically transformed into soft clouds under our feet. Her smile so sweet and enticing, I can feel the soft touch of her delicate fingers on my shoulders and cold shivers run down my spine as I held her close to me. We danced to the envy of blinking eyes until the last tune of the inspiring music!
Then graduation usually illicit lots of mixed emotions I wished it never happened because being in high school means extraordinarily happy life. I am with my parents and I feel secured, fear of being alone in college is overwhelming. But life has to go on and the inevitable has to come. Leaving a memory of high school and shedding a part of experience filled with vivacity of life is not easy.
In my waking moments I can hear the echoes of laughter coming from the campus; my classmate’s faces are so alive and vibrant in our high school uniforms. These are very amusing moments I treasure in my life, memories, memories and more memories. Though I can’t remember all the names of my dear classmates, their faces never fade. Smiles they gave me seem to come alive every time I come across one of them in moments of inspiration.

Trapped for Corruption

2008-07-24T00:47:00.000-07:00

I received a message from a reliable source who refused to be identified as he is not authorized to release a report, that a top provincial Bureau of Internal Revenue officer, a certain Mr. Josefino Ong was caught red handed extorting money from James Lingbanan a resident of Bauko Mountain Province Philippines. Police operatives from the local Philippine National Police under the leadership of P. Supt. Pedro Laganse Ganir from Ilocos Sur and his men conducted an entrapment operation after a complaint was filed to their office. It ultimately led to the arrest after the entrapment of the Provincial BIR chief of Mt. Province. Prior to his arrest, there were numerous complaints against him but no one reported them to the authorities. It took the courage of one individual to nail the culprit who had been victimizing tax payers for his own enrichment and others who are responsible for his assignment to this locality. Others are encouraged by this arrest to file affidavits to support the cause of the complainant.This is very positive on the part of the tax payers who are frustrated by corrupt people in the government. But sometimes I pity this guy who is forced to extort cash and goods since he is pressured by his superiors to make money for them yet they remain Scot free. He is doing these illegal activities to repay for the lucrative job given to him by these superiors. A BIR personnel I interviewed after he was reassigned to a lesser position told me that the reason for his relief from work was due to the fact that he is too honest. He cannot give gifts to his immediate superiors who expect something in return for his stay in a favored position. Hence, here in the Philippines we need trappers of corrupt people who are free from the recommendations of politicians. Appointments for government positions must be overhauled reflecting the merit system but free from the clutches of politicians.The reason is obvious, meddling hands should be prevented by law and must be applied squarely to all without bias and prejudice.

Justice Denied

2008-07-08T00:45:00.000-07:00

Lawyers that I knew
Indeed a master of the law
Upholding justice sacredness
Standing in uprightness
To them I ran for help
When tongues of injustice slurp
They cradle me awhile
From evils snarling fangs
But there is the other side
Mask in hypocrisy
Looking so nice and clean
Upon the law they lean
To make the sharpest claws
Inflicting untold sorrows
Upon the widows and ignorant
Choosing neither young nor old
To satiate their own desires
And suck blood upon my sorrow
Hence no glimpse of tomorrow
A nation full of slithers
To whom shall we look upon?
Thus hope is all gone
As men who uphold the law
Use it to kill anew

Lying Regional Director

2008-06-07T00:44:00.000-07:00

Last April 2008 the regional director of the Department of public works and highways of the Cordillera Administrative Region acknowledged before a leading television station the ABS-CBN, that 79.61 % of the phase 1 project cementing the Baguio Bontoc road in Mountain Province is accomplished while the Phase two of said project is 90.67 % accomplished.Today is June 2008 and looking at what the honorable regional director pointed out it would mean the whole stretch of the Mountain province dirt road is cemented and there are only a few kilometers more to patch. I happen to pass by the road in question this month of May and saw the works accomplished, it is a sorry sight since the project has a long way to go. An ordinary citizen can immediately detect that one third of the multimillion road work project is just barely accomplished. Yet we find the Regional Director telling the nation and the people of Mountain Province that the work is almost done. When ask about some doubts in his sweeping statements, he challenged those people at the ABS-CBN to accompany him to the sight. So I made a counter statement to the same TV station and challenged said regional director to invite local media in Mountain Province and non government organizations to inspect the site with him. Up to the writing of this comment the challenge remains because we believe that still only a third of the road work is done and millions are being drained and wasted. This is just another example of justifying liquidations of millions of pesos and denying the people the benefits of the taxes they paid.

A Consumer or a Producer Nation?

2008-02-14T00:42:00.000-08:00

In Mountain Province Philippines,they are proud of the Lang-ay festival that is celebrated on april 7th every year.This is good in many respect because it showcases many cultural miliu of every tribe in the province.The festivities lasting for a week is one stop shop to those who would like to visit the tribes of Mountain province in one setting.The only problem is the lang-ay wine that the present administration claim as a success, it is beset with lack of raw materials to be processed,so that the wine makers are importing from other provinces the raw materials for their production. Why is there lack of raw materials? Partly to blame is the province whose geographical area is 80 percent ravines and the provincial government who uses their 20 prcent developement fund on projects such as purchasing luxury vehicle,spacious and beautiful confrence halls,gyms, waiting sheds even if not needed,other buildings and the enumeration goes ad infinitum. The support for agricultural production which is the real need to make the province a producing one is not a priority, that is the reason why there are no raw materials to process.
The scenario in the national level is parallel to the local government unit like the Province. Officials have neglected how to help the majority of the filipinos to be productive but concentrated on helping a few big industries and prolifirated the importation busines.The philosphy behind these mindset of many public officials by allowing the country to be a consumer republic rather than a producer one is simply because many Filipinos are abroad sending money back home for their families and relatives to spend on the goods and services owned by our very own politicians.

The Ugly Side of Baguio

2008-02-08T00:39:00.000-08:00

It is ironic the government officials and employees of Baguio city hall are so confident that they are doing their work well , they keep on promoting the beauty of the city being the summer capital of the philippines. But alas! railings in their sorry state is a common sight, protruding rusty iron abounds on side walks specially at the city market and garbage along the roads with stinking odour fills the air. The city officials are mayopic they need an eye doctor.

Best Among the Best

2007-11-07T00:37:00.000-08:00

Rafael Cachatar of Maligcong Mountain Province Philippines was given a citation by the Lepanto Consolidated Mining company for his exemplary performance in mine safety. He was my mentor in the Boy Scouting movement during the 1970's, he provided our group with readiness and capabilities as real Boy scouts. Being an employee [retired] of the gold mining firm he used his skills as a scout master to provide safety measures for the underground workers as well as those who are working at the surface. Admittedly, it was during his time as a safety inspector that accidents in the mining camp was very minimal thus earning his record as the best among the best when compared with other safety inspectors all over the country. Hopefully such good work of this man will be emulated by others not only his fellow safety inspectors but by the government workers as well, who must work out to be the best among the best of good deeds in their bureau.

Barangay Election In Mt. Province

2007-10-21T00:35:00.000-07:00

Let me relate some of the practices done during elections of the smallest local government unit specially in Mountain Province but usually it's almost the same throughout the Philippines except in highly urbanized places. The more relatives a candidate, he has more chances of winning even though he is a gambler and a drunkard or a petty thief. The usual reason if their integrity is questioned is answered in a very positive way, they would say that if these candidate will win they will stop being a thief because he has some allowance from the government so he won't steal from the civilians anymore.How about the gambler? well, he won't gamble the wife savings because he will have a source to capitalize on his vice. The drunkard will now be ashamed to be pissing on his pants in public places if he is elected because he is now a public figure. The electorates are always forgetful specially when given a small amount or a gift from the politician, or they were invited to his birthday party which usually fall before the election. Pretending to be very helpful a month before the election day is the most common gimmick these politicians do to win the people to their side. Surprisingly these politicians are always back all the time, they have mastered the art of politicking. They are in the government service to buy the people, fool the people and off the people.

2007-10-08T00:33:00.000-07:00

Five years ago I was talking to Eric Singson,the Vice Governor of Ilocos Sur that time, I ask him if they have plans to create a lateral road link artery for Mountain Province and Ilocos Sur. He answered by describing a plan to connect Vigan, Sagada and Banaue as a major lateral highway connecting three provinces and three regions.HE said, that the highway will be traversing the famous Tirad Pass at Del Pilar, down to the municipality of Quirino Ilocos Sur then up the municipality of Besao and Sagada then to Bontoc Mountain Province where it will link with an on going road concreting towards Banaue Ifugao.Its a good plan though, Its a short cut to the Cordilleras grunting there is a ferry boat from Manila to Vigan just like those old Spanish days. From Vigan to Ifugao will be a short yet historic and picturesque trip. Well, just like this writer Eric was just dreaming that someday the Highway will soon be realized. Yes because even the bridge connecting the town of Cervantes Ilocos Sur and Tadian Mountain Province Was done halfway across the river towards Mountain province side and up to this day it's still unfinished, the last time I saw the bridge was six years ago and until now the project was abandoned with the construction materials rusting away. The Igorots and Ilocanos who are supposed to benefit from this very important bridge have to wait for eternity maybe for the bridge to be finished, the government should make it a criminal act when a contractor abandons his project, this is an economic sabotage and should be dealt with severely, but many lawmakers will not allow it because they are the men behind these dummy contractors.

BAGUIO STOCK FARM TELLS A STORY

2007-09-16T09:03:00.000-07:00

A sleeping vast tract of land comes to life as Baguio livestock farmers join hands with the department of agriculture and the National Dairy Authority to establish a privately managed livestock venture by farmers from the surrounding locality. So from a rusting Baguio Dairy farm comes a bustling productive land as government through the enterprising spirit of a few government employees who still retained their idealism to be of service to the people, one of them is a woman veterinarian who was the organizer of the cooperative, she encouraged private livestock raisers and investors within Baguio and Benguet to form an organization purposely to raise animal live stocks and produce dairy products too. During my recent visit to the site I was greatly amazed at the transformation of the stock farm, from an almost abandoned and ill maintained grassland is now a clean and wholesome place to visit. Cows and horses can be seen grazing on the mountain slopes, tall grasses are trimmed and used as fodder. People are seen lining up to buy fresh milk every morning but the demand for fresh milk is more than what the milking cows can supply. This kind of lively hood is what the Philippines need to prosper as an agricultural country. Senator Ramón B Magsaysay gave a support fund from his priority development fund of one million pesos to purchase pregnant island born dairy animals and initial operating expense of the project that has an initial proposed budget of three million six hundred seven thousand and seven hundred fifty pesos for the initial phase. With this kind of venture where private and government sector work together as in this instant case where management is purely in the hands of private managers while the technical aspect and other facilities available is from the government, represented by the National Dairy Authority and the Department of Agriculture, there is a balancing factor to curb the excesses of those who are in government, who do not have real interest in its progress because they are only interested in their salary and sidelines.

The Insured and the Uninsured in the Philippines

2007-09-12T01:08:00.000-07:00

Ms. Lorrie Rumbaugh, a balikbayan, an owner of a Fortuner with plate number zem 604 bought from Toyota Quezon avenue, Inc., figured in a traffic accident last September 19 2006 at Dapitan St.cor.KanlaonSt. Quezon City. The car was insured to MAPFRE, The insurance agent of Toyota Company, located at Acacia avenue Madrigal Business Park Ayala Alabang, Muntinglupa city was supposed to pay the cost of repair. So Ms. Rumbaugh had her damaged car estimated by the same car company in the amount of 21,480.00 pesos and promised to make the necessary repair on the damaged car, but it was never fulfilled as of to date. They told her so many alibis; for not doing their obligation. It is better if I should have not reported to this company that I figured in a car mishap and saved lots of money and precious time rather than believing their well planned lies that made me visit their Toyota office so many times, I lost tract of the exact number of days that was wasted going in and out of their office, now I learned a lesson that there is no difference between the insured and uninsured for I didn’t benefit from either, she said.

An Igorot Discourse

2007-09-08T07:53:00.000-07:00

It is now election period in the Philippines to fill up local positions and twelve senatorial slates, the polls will be on may 2007.Most of the poor electorates are eagerly looking forward to receive instant cash for selling their votes. It is the busiest time for vote selling and vote buying.This is the best opportunity to get back the taxes undelivered to them in the form of basic services that were long overdue. The winnable candidates are the rich whose family is in the political business for generations while the poor principled ones will never make it.Huge amount of wealth were accumulated by these politicians from graft and corruptions while they were in office, the purpose is continuity of power through vote buying. In mountain province, Philippines ninety eight percent of the inhabitants are Igorots whose lively hood is agriculture. The province is categorized as fourth class, one of the poorest local unit in the Philippines. This miserable condition is not due to lack of funds from the national government but due to the priorities of development were on non essential infrastructures and almost nothing in agriculture. Actually these government projects are implemented to justify the liquidation of huge expenditures because the rest,the amount of about fifty percent of an implemented project went into the pockets of these politicians. To continue their power they see to it that the people will remain poor and make it appear that these politicians are the only source of hope and money.They do this by keeping them hostage through poverty. when election time comes the voters will demand money and the politicians will readily give them. Anyway they will surely recover the amount when they assume office. This is the reason nobody complains, its because they are also a part of the corruption process by being bribed.
The Igorots including me will bear with this kind of system until we are no longer dependent from these corrupt leaders for food,hospitalization, clothings and shelter. The unmonitored campaign expenses of the politicians will show how powerless the commission on election on the fraud being committed. The expenditures too will tell the extent of graft and corruption that will take place after the election is over. Our laws made by these leaders are complex and vague with so many loopholes so that they will have a way to recover their huge expenses.
In the past a family composed of five voters can get a sum of money in the amount of eight to ten thousand pesos plus two sacks of rice from one candidate or an average of five hundred pesos per voter so that in mountain province there are one hundred thirty five thousand voters, multiply that with the money given to each voter plus the food expenses and other expenditures incurred.It will be a huge sum of money to recover. The only way to do that is to meddle with government transactions and create changes,justifications,re-alignments of government funds and projects and profit from it. I call these the mafia in the provincial government of mountain province.
The politicians know that a hungry population won't care for good platforms or good characters,the goodness of a man is measured on how much money he can give. There are only few voters who believe otherwise and there are always the losers.

DEAF COMPUTERS

2007-09-08T07:46:00.000-07:00

Friday, February 2, 2007

DEAF COMPUTERS

Living in a society where different government agencies were created to help its citizens in their plight against cruelties and injustices is the best expectation that an ordinary person can receive from his government. To test the claims of many agencies whether local or national,look up at their email addresses and find out that most of these email posts won't answer back when sent mails. Two days ago I sent a letter of inquiry to the office of the ombudsman, www.ombudsman.gov.ph and www.doj.gov.ph to inquire about a complaint of graft and corruption we filed eight months ago against some personnels of the DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES and a BARANGAY CAPTAIN OF MALIGCONG BONTOC MOUNTAIN PROVINCE. I kept on opening my emails for a response but I received none at all. I mentioned only two agencies in this article and its up to the reader to find the others at www.THE AGENCY.gov.ph. Broad bands nowadays are common and are found even at the most remote barrios. This computers are vital links to the central government and will help the citizens from expensive travels, red tapes and other inconveniences. To follow up documents to the central offices is a financial horror specially the residents of far flung localities, that is the reason why the poor complainants never get the appropriate services. But why do we have deaf computers in government offices?...

THE MALIGCONG MOUSE

2007-08-06T04:52:00.001-07:00

A pesky four legged creature hated by humans because of its destructive nature is called mouse.The most common term used by Igorots to identify these pesky creatures is otot. In maligcong terms otot[mouse] is given a particular name depending on peculiarities they exhibit. So that a very small one is modlay,a cute little mouse is inkhi, a small size mouse with long snout is called a cantive, they like to cut and destroy clothings. A big mouse is called monatan, while a big destructive one can be called fangser also.

Sniffing Dogs Needed in Government Offices

2007-06-30T01:06:00.000-07:00

I just attended an anti corruption seminar at Lasalle university in Manila. It was funded by the Asia foundation purposely to equip the Northern Luzon Coalition on Good Governance,an umbrella organization of different monitoring groups in region 1,2 and CAR. The seminar is primarily aimed at customizing corruption prevention, tools, modules for engaging Local Government Units in Northern Luzon. The two day workshop was very educational on my part because I was able to realize that corruption can only be contained in our government if the top leaders will genuinely initiate reforms to curb the corrupt practices being done in the country today.The seminar reminded me of our plight to help the government catch some people involved in pocketing millions of pesos from the proceeds of a ghost reforestation project in Maligcong Mt. Province PHIL. but its ironic because they seem not interested in catching the thieves! These government offices in charge of prosecuting culprits move only when someone is diligently following up the case who traveled far from the province, what happens if he gets tired sick or is dead? The law gives ultimatums for answering requests and motions but it is not effective if no one complains,its impossible to be filing complaints in every office because every office have the same practice. why cant the government place sniffing dogs to expose the rotten practices?Why can't the government check all its agencies if their web site is functional so the citizens can help sniff too they can be helpful. I tried emailing the Ombudsman,Department of justice and the commission on audit regarding our plight of very slow action on their part but until this day we got no feed back. You have to go to their office personally only to be informed that the office is waiting for the response of another office before it will move. Complainants traveled for long hours to these offices yet the pain they encountered is never reckoned with.

Pastors, Priests and lay leaders supported massive vote buying in MP

2007-05-26T18:01:00.000-07:00

On the guise of good Samaritans the rich politicians approached these church leaders and donated huge sum of money for certain projects of the church members. Knowing full well that the good intention of the giver is purposely to get the votes of their flocks, they accepted the gift offering making it morally wrong. I believe no amount of confession can justify these practice of accepting bribes from politicians. Worst thing that happened was the distribution of money to the church members as if they are receiving legitimate pay cash. This was done a day before the election last May 14 2007 by no other than the pastors themselves!
These people who call themselves workers of GOD usually frequent the den of rich politicians selling their flocks for votes. On Sundays they preach as if they had not been feasting on the table of the devil, they even pray for its prosperity, what an irony. What on heaven and moral authority can they claim now to preach salvation and good deeds when they cannot distinguish evil money from the good one? I mean detecting good from evil is a pastor’s job to impart to the innocent flocks, yet what are these we see and hear, supporting corrupt politicians and promoting corruptions?

How to Ripen a Revolt

2007-05-21T01:03:00.000-07:00

Rebellion has many faces and leaders of governments can't make a face of it.
Disregarding those we already know that make rebels commit crime of rebellion, Allow me to point out some attitude that the masses consciously or unconsciously project and I consider it a rebellion in the making.Take for instance the apathy and lack of concern of the people to the call of leaders for unity,the people see the hypocrisy of leaders who are in power so that instead of heeding their call it is a thumbs down as a result. WE see top officials grandstanding and showing off their ability, but the people know better many of them are in office to protect their vested interest. People become rebels in their heart when leaders are liars and hypocrites. Every word they say although with honest intent are received with crossed fingers. How to ripen a revolt? well, allow the existing government to continue its corruption then it will self destruct. This is a peaceful revolution if others don't succeed.

INAYAN YA KASIYANA, TABOO AND HOPEFULLY

2007-04-06T05:06:00.000-07:00

Inayan, is an Igorot term which means taboo, bad or a violation. It is also an expression uttered to warn someone not to execute an evil plan, break an existing custom and beliefs. It is a general term uttered when faced with danger too Inayan! [shock!]. Inayan di man-akew ya men-patey[It is bad to steal and kill] Inayan di switiken di gobyerno[Don't corrupt the Government] Inayan di mangbakas si ugali [It is a taboo to violate a belief] Inayan has some variations when used in different situations as shown in the examples above.

Kasiyana is another igorot word that is dramatically used to comfort and give hope even though everything is hopeless. It is uttered with the utmost sincerity to ease the pain. Generally, it can be expressed by anybody but specifically it should be used by persons who are realy sincere in their heart. A hypocrite should not use this word of hope for it will just negate its true comforting message. "Kasiyana et matago ka"[you will live] "kasiyana et gumawis ka [you will get well soon]. But when a thief says," kasiyana," it would necessarily mean "hopefully I won't be caught".

Karma at the Deparment of Public works and Highways

2007-03-24T01:02:00.000-07:00

They say that all things a man will do to their fellow men will always come back to him whether it is bad or good.When Rudy Camarillo was the former chief accountant of the Department of public works and Highways mountain province engineering district in the year 1980, it was during that time that the DPWH of Ifugao sold some bridge materials to the DPWH of Mountain province engineering district, being the person who is responsible to sign the documents, since Mr. Gasmenia who is suppose to do the work was on leave, so Mr. Camarillo affixed his signature on said bridge documents. He said that in all innocence he signed because he thought it was a legitimate transaction, since it was a customary document proceedure during those times. He did not know according to him, that the bridge sold by the people of the Ifugao Engineering district to the mountain province engineering district were stolen bridge materials, a big blunder on his part. After sometime a complaint was filed against the district engineer and several companions for falsification of public documents, Mr. Camarillo was pleaded in the complaint because his name was found at the illegal document, the case dragged for many years at the Sandigan Bayan and the appellate courts, Camarillo did not attend the proceedings because he believes that he is innocent, that his companions will not include him as he did not partake in the proceeds of the crime. Then finally the verdict came out and he was declared guilty as the others as well. So he just kept quiet and accepted his fate,years passed and all his companions including the complainant died except for a certain Roland Ramirez who became a preacher. Camarillo was hospitalized for kidney trouble and was on dialysis for many months, he said he prayed to JESUS CHRIST to make him live longer to prove to the people concerned including the Department of Justice and the Office of the President that he is innocent yet there is the miscarriage of justice. Rudy Camarillo survived the dreaded kidney desease and surviving with out a retirement benefit during his twilight years since it was forfeited. But still praying that karma and miracles still abound and he hopes to get one someday before leaving his earthly life.

DEAF COMPUTERS PART 2

2007-03-19T22:14:00.000-07:00

SCHOLARSHIPS IS ONE WAY THE TALENTED FILIPINO CAN GET A DEGREE IN A CHOSEN FIELD. I AM ONE OF THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE A BENEFICIARY, SO I BROWSED MAGAZINES AND NEWS PAPERS TO FIND ONE. I CAME UPON A DOST INVITATION FOR A SCHOLARSHIP IN A MAGAZINE, I WAS VERY HAPPY AND TRIED TO FIND THE ADDRESS AT AN INTERNET CAFE, I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO DOWNLOAD THE NEEDED FORMS SO THAT I WILL FILL IT UP TO BEAT THE DEADLINE BUT THE THE COMPUTER ALWAYS DISPLAY THE FOLLOWING, THAT THE WEB PAGE CANNOT BE FOUND. I DOUBLE CHECKED THE EMAIL SEVERAL TIMES BUT I GOT THE SAME RESULT, I TRIED TO CHECK THE INTERNET CONNECTION AND ITS ALRIGHT, TO SATISFY MYSELF I OPENED THE OTHER DOST OFFICES AND THE WEB SITES ARE OPENED EXCEPT THIS OFFICE; [PLEASE READ THE PARAGRAPH BELOW].
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Sec. Estrella F. Alabastro of the Department of Science and Technology announces 400 scholarship slots for master's and doctoral degrees for school year 2007-2008 under the Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program (ASTHRDP). The scholarships are open to Filipino citizens, not more than 45 years old, in good health and have passed the admission requirements for graduate studies in any DOST identified institutions.

According to Secretary Alabastro, there are three program categories where students may apply to.- MS/Ph.D. in S&T priority fields of study; MEd/Ph.D in Science and Mathematics Education and Straight BS-MS Program.

Dr. Ester B. Ogena, Director of the DOST-Science Education Institute said that the S&T priority fields of study being offered are Biotechnology, Basic Science, Materials Science and Engineering, Medical & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information & Communications Technology; Microelectronics, Earth and Space Science, Agriculture, Forestry & Natural resources, Fisheries and marine Science, Environment and Science and Mathematics Education.

This program is a concerted effort of DOST, its various councils and institutes to accelerate the production of high-level human resources needed for S&T activities especially in the area of research and development. For almost 50 years now, the scholarship programs of DOST have produced quality S&T human resources who are now participating and assuming leadership roles in the S&T activities of the country.

Qualifiers to the scholarships will be awarded free tuition and other school fees, monthly stipend, transportation allowance, book allowance, group accident insurance and thesis/dissertation allowance.

Interested applicants may secure application forms at DOST-SEI, 3rd Floor, PTRI Bldg., General Santos Avenue, Bicutan Taguig Metro Manila. Forms may also be downloaded from this website. For more information about the ACTHRD, contact the DOST-SEI at telephone numbers (02) 837-1359; (02)837-1333; (02)8390083; or visit the website at www.science-scholarships.ph.

WILL SOMEBODY HELP, I WOULD LIKE TO USE THE INTERNET IN MY TRANSACTIONS WITH THE DOST BECAUSE I HAVE NO MONEY FOR TRAVEL AND LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE EXPENSE. THE INTERNET IS THE CHEAPEST I CAN AFFORD.

Corruption is a Custom

2007-03-11T01:00:00.000-08:00

Philippine laws on criminal justice provide protection of the accused by maintaining the principle that they are innocent unless proven guilty. This will give them the benefit of the doubt, that they are presumed innocent until the final verdict. This presumption is taken in its all encompassing aspect so that looking into the possibility of the commission of corruption or other crimes is doused by the waters of disbelief of investigating officials. Complainants are portrayed as pesky, disgruntled and sour graping individuals. This kind of outlook by many Filipino leaders should be reversed and consider reported anomalies a cause for an immediate investigation of the complaint, yet still the presumption of innocence is observed. Corruption is so rampant in most government offices that filling a complaint involving its officers is kicking the pricks. Benefit of the doubt that public officials are doing their job well and clean is a principle giving a cloak of protection to white collar thieves in the government organization. Stealing government money, properties and other items from the government is not considered a sin by many. This kind of moral decadence is increasing daily so that nationalism is just a byword spoken without encouraging effect. Now,fellow Filipinos and Igorots, should we just look at our corrupt public servants tear our nation to pieces and leave everything to,”k sera, sera whatever will be will be”?

MALIGCONG GHOSTS

2007-03-07T03:37:00.000-08:00

Stories of the unknown have always fascinated man ever since, how they affected the social,psychological and even their political decisions. The interference of these spirit entities are regarded as a blessing or a curse,depending on the outcome of the offering and the corresponding requests. Every place have their own ghost story to tell,maligcong, a member of the igorot tribe is one among the many who, until this day believe on a number of ghosts that are active in their locality. The Anito is considered a friendly ghost because they believe these are the spirits of their departed kins. when a person is about to die, his soul is seen among the rice terraces, a Fotattew holding a torch of fire. The natives believe that the soul of the person who is about to die is making his last round of inspection of his properties.According to those who witnessed these apparitions, they will know who the guy who is about to die when the fire holding ghost will go back to the house of this person. The anitoes dwell at the papattay, located at the upper portion of the community among the old trees. The elders who are entrusted the priestly duties come to this place called the papatayan to offer animal sacrifices to appease the anitoes. After the rituals were performed the elders believe that good health, harvest and blessings will follow when these things were accomplished. As there are good and bad spirits the maligcong people believe in the presence of bad ghosts called the Gegedchay,these are nasty spirits who dwell the precipice near the community. when these Gegedchay enter somebody and posses the person, its called Sadsadayyan, the person's eyes are red and glaring,he becomes uncontrollable and dangerous. The Pacheg is a ghost that steals the soul of a person who are in their sick bed. residents claim that whenever a person is very sick the pacheg would appear, his height is enormous of about twenty feet with human form, It stays near the house of the sick person and ran away carrying the soul of the sick person.
However these ghost whether they are good or bad can cause sickness to any person who cross their way. The only way to know who caused this ailment is to consult an elder of the community, usually an old woman,she becomes the medium between the living and the spirit world. She will give the instruction for the sacrifice as demanded by ghosts. Chickens, pigs or dogs are the favorite sacrificial animals. These are butchered and parts of it were reserved and brought to the place where the sick person met the ghost, with other items demanded by the ghost.
I mentioned just a few ghost that play major roles in the life of these maligcong igorots, how they manage life surrounded by a demanding spirit world. However some are trying to rid themselves of the ancestor worship by embracing the Christian faith. Yet the ghosts still span around manifesting themselves in many forms and ways planting fear to whoever believes in them.

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Igorots Versus Racism

2007-02-22T00:59:00.000-08:00

The Philippines is populated by various groups of people who almost look similar in all aspect except when they wear their traditional costumes but ordinarily all Filipinos are similar whether they are Tagalogs,Ilocanos,Visayans,Muslims,Igorots,aetas and etc. An Igorot however is always projected as ugly, unkempt, rugged and undisciplined among the other Filipinos. In fact even one of the Philippine's great statesman and well known diplomat said that Igorots are not Filipinos,in the movie industry igorots are always projected as ugly, dirty and undisciplined, television networks are depicting the igorots in a totally different and confusing background, artworks show them as funny and idiotic. these are some of numerous instances where Igorots were maligned in pubic fora, movies, TV and other media outlets by no other than their Filipino brethren. No wonder some Igorots would rather hide their identity and let his kindred suffer the stigma inflicted by the other groups including aliens as well.
For many centuries that passed,very little is known about the igorots except those misconceptions imputed to them. The high mountains and rough terrains protected these people from constant contact with the outside world so that there was no change in their dress code and social adaptations of other cultures. They developed a culture peculiar and unique that an outsider can only make external assessment but not the psyche that envelope these igorots. The long isolation of these people from the outside world did not diminish their intelligence nor their wisdom, the truth is, they developed a sustainable food production methods that the Philippine government thought it's obsolete and tried to change them. Now, it is encouraging the Igorots to go back and maintain the old ways since it is more profitable and sustainable in the long run. These igorots created rice terraces and complex water systems that require an excellent degree of intellectual capacity, songs,chants,and poetic expressions that entails good memory and analytical mind, art creations that are unique and unrivaled, there are more to tell but let modesty aside as I am carried away by emotions in defence of my fellow igorots. The law makers should put teeth on laws that prohibit discrimination's and enact new ones that prohibits discriminatory broadcast, TV, movie and theatrical shows that directly or indirectly place the Igorots as a lower kind of people. If the other nations are discriminating against the Filipinos let us not entertain these kind among our selves and allow charity to begin at home.

tribal murders

2007-02-20T03:37:00.000-08:00

The cordilleras is one of the northern hinterland regions of the Philippine archipelago. It is occupied by various tribes and sub tribes who maintain their independence from one another and at times engage each other in a tribal war. Innocent victims have lost their lives from numerous senseless cold blooded killings that can happen anytime, peace and order is very illusive and still far from being resolved despite the advance of technology and education. There are contributory factors that are hindering the peace initiatives of concerned citizens who are weary of tribal killings. Firstly, the tribes cannot forget the murdered tribe members who were killed by the other tribes. Generations will pass but the clamor for revenge is handed down to the younger ones till their death is avenged. Secondly, the law enforcers who are members of a tribe are protecting their tribe mate whenever they are involve in troubles with a member of another tribe. In other cases a police officer will walk away from his duty to save or protect human lives just to prevent his tribe from being involved in future troubles. At this point in time they are so ineffective that crimes are never solved and the culprits are not arrested though publicly known. Thirdly, after a tribal killing the leaders of the tribe together with local elected leaders gather and try to come up with a resolution. In most cases the payment of a blood money to the victim's relative is enough and the criminals go free. The payment of blood money should be punitive to prevent the wrong doers from committing more crimes but the total contribution of the culprits is just a small portion, the bulk of the amount is a contribution of the community and from the coffers of local government. These practices should be stopped because it is just a temporary solution of a case but did not solve the problem. They are actually encouraged to commit another crime because they did not feel the pain of punishment. Fourth, The murderers are given a heroes welcome by their tribe after a tribal killing, the women would hang decorations on the neck of these criminals during a celebration and the young ones are encouraged to follow their steps of bravery. Fifth, the tribal community is a perfect hiding place of the culprits who do not know what is justice since the protection of their tribe member is paramount to anything else. they would utterly disregard the crimes committed no matter how horrible it may be. These and other social difficulties on the part of the government and the communities need extra attention for indeed human dignity is violated against the poor and innocent victims who have died without Justice.

Water Controversy in Bontoc

2007-02-14T00:57:00.000-08:00

Patch up and cover up best describe the Bontoc waterworks project in mountain province Philippines. This project cost the Philippine government 60 million plus pesos of tax payers money.It was conceptualized during the term of congressman Roy Pilando of the lone district of Mountain Province. The purpose was to provide a potable water supply to four barrios of Bontoc namely Caluttit, Poblacion,Bontoc ili, and Samoki. Mainit an upland barrio of Bontoc was identified as the water source because the local residents were amenable to it. The project was ready to start then but the opposition of certain groups against the project was filed to the office of the Department of public works and highways holding the project in abeyance.Its implementation was stopped because it was overtaken by the 2003 national election. When congressman Victor Dominguez took over he initiated the the realignment of the project from Mainit to Bayyo, another barrio of Bontoc. This was the start of a series of demonstrations by the Bayyo and Bontoc people who were against the transfer of the project. Series of consultations were conducted to iron out their differences, it was during these consultations that the engineers of the DPWH presented a very attractive technical plan that divided the opposition for some time. Immediately thereafter the waterworks at Bayyo that started raising eyebrows. Hardly did the project project made a headway when the people renewed their resistance against the project due to violations of agreement by the DPWH and the good congressman. Another reason for the opposition are as follows, first,the people had bad experience regarding the use of questionable plastic pipes a few years back when plastic pipes were installed to carry potable water from Talubin to Bontoc. Every now and then the pipes would burst causing lots of inconveniences to the populace specially to the business sector and the hospital. Ultimately nothing was left of those plastic pipes because they were replaced with G.I. pipes. Now the DPWH are again installing plastic pipes that experience taught them is impractical. It is practically spending 60 million pesos for nothing and wasting taxpayers money. Second, the DPWH engineers presented a proposal that is a bit acceptable but in the implementation of the project it is totally different. This maneuvers of the DPWH is contrary to the informed and prior consent provision of Philippine laws and international principles. They tell one thing and do another, obviously the purpose of this is for profit.
The author believes that a test must be performed on these plastic pipes to analyze whether or not the plastic pipes are safe. That there is no guaranty that the project is operational for 50 years as promised by DPWH engineers.who is to blame when the project becomes useless? The first project was useless and no one was answerable. Three years ago these problem started and again it was overtaken by another election in 2007, maybe this can go on and on.Before we know it this controversy will just be forgotten and the poor Igorot beneficiaries will just sit in silence and sleep on a nightmare and wake up as if nothing happened.

foreign aids and developement

2007-02-13T02:41:00.000-08:00

Meddlers on the spending of government funds are frowned upon by the community, in fact some were harmed and others were threatened because they were critical of substandard project implementations.We had very bad experience with the community people in barrio maligcong Bontoc mountain province regarding our fight against the corruptions and misspent foreign funds .

Me and my companions filed a case against our barrio chairman and members of the department of environment and natural resources for misappropriating five million pesos, a part of a multi- million loan-grant by the Asian development bank for reforestation project in maligcong bontoc mountain province. The purpose is to help in the reduction of the green house effect that is endangering the earth. But the people who are supposed to benefit from this project which include of course their future generation do not see the good side of its success. Their eyes are focused on the small amounts given to them and a few crumbs of bread distributed. They hated us for our exposure of the anomalies but are blind to the millions pocketed by these corrupt people.
They were willing to sign affidavits to support corruption even though the evidence of corruption is very clear[video/photos]. We brought our case to the Sangguniang Bayan of Bontoc for investigation but it was dismissed, the members of the municipal council including the vice mayor decided to support their colleague for political reasons and for indirect benefits they received. We were not satisfied with our municipal leaders so we elevated our case to the ombudsman, that was almost a year now yet there was no concrete action on the case. We followed it up personally,by emails and through notarized letters yet there was no viable answers, Philippine laws mandates a certain number of days to act on verified complaints submitted to them, yet there was no action until now, a classic example of justice delayed is justice denied.

Foreign aid continue to pour to the Philippines but not to the Filipinos, the documents tell the Benefactors everything is clean and well done but the physical evidence of corruptions are shouting at the top of their voice!. To those who have ears please listen to the silence of the igorots.

WT round up

2007-02-08T03:14:00.000-08:00

Before anything else, I would like to thank Google and its people for allowing this kind of media outlet to people who cannot afford media mileage. News and other information are the monopoly of selected few individuals and corporations specially here in the Philippines. The rich get the juiciest part of media coverage while the majority of the ordinary citizens are on the limelight only when tragedy strikes. The television and radio stations are confined mostly on advertisement and concentrated on self promotions with lopsided interest while more priorities are relegated to the background. with Google let the voice of the dumb be heard to all the four corners of the world. Let then the four winds carry the good news to all people, to the igorots wherever they may be.

Peden