DPWH chief hit for evading Bicol media

By Manly Ugalde – September 27, 2017
LEGAZPI CITY—Members of two Bicol media organizations were disgusted by the antipathy of Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar and his officials for ignoring and evading them during his Bicol visits.

Local media practitioners cited Villar’s recent visit where they were not allowed to cover his meeting with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional officials at the Oriental Hotel in Legazpi City.

They said the two-day DPWH affair was virtually kept secret to the local media, who came to learn of the meeting only after news was leaked to a newspaper correspondent that the DPWH dinner was marred by an issue of a cockroach found on a chocolate milk served to engineers and employees of the DPWH-Bicol Planning division.

The Bicol Reporters Association and Bicol Correspondents League described Villar’s two official visits in Bicol as frustrating events, where local journalists were virtually ignored and evaded by the former Las Piñas representative “whose father and mother got big support when they asked for votes from Bicolanos”.

Local journalists wanted to know if Villar is aware that Bicol-DPWH had three top executives who were murdered in broad daylight.

They said the murders could be traced to DPWH-Bicol’s history of “rigged bidding and insider contractors” that had produced so many millionaires. However, they said not a single perpetrator was prosecuted nor placed on a lifestyle check.

Police and DPWH records show that Regional Director Nestor Tria was shot dead at the Pili Airport; Camarines Sur Assistant District Engr. Floriano Sarmiento was killed inside his office by two gunmen; and Engr. Jose Celebrado was shot dead inside the office of Project Management Office in Naga City.

In addition, former Bicol Regional Director Danilo Manalang, who was dismissed from service in 2011 for being a non-Career Executive Officer, was also killed in 2014 in Pampanga.

Bicol journalists want to know what actions the present administration are doing under Villar’s stewardship.

Journalists said Villar’s first visit to Legazpi was also kept secret to them by the Bicol-DPWH information officials.

Close to a dozen journalists even posted themselves for five hours at the DPWH regional office, where Villar would be holding a meeting with regional officials and district engineers, only to be informed later that Villar had already exited via the back door, according Elmer Bandol of Bicol Today online network.

“The secretary should be reminded that we are not criminals but media people with a duty and responsibility to inform the public,” they said.

https://businessmirror.com.ph/dpwh-chief-hit-for-evading-bicol-media-2/

TABACO CITY VILLAGE WANTS URGENT REHAB FOR NOTORIOUS MINOR YOUNG DRUG USER, ROBBER

By Manly M. Ugalde

TABACO City, Albay, 39Aaug2017 — A barangay here has been desperately urging the government for immediate rehabilitation of a young drug user-robber the police considered as a notorious member of the feared Akyat Bahay Gang.

Mico Jimenez, 13, (not his real name) has long been the subject of hate and fear among residents of Barangay Baranghawon who tagged him as a slippery robber. Mico has never finished his Grade 1, although his mother claimed she had enrolled him often during enrolment period only to drop schooling later due to misdemeanors, she told the police. Mico is the 5th among 13 siblings.

Barangay residents wonder that Mico may, one day, become a victim of the feared Extra Judicial Killings that transpires daily since President Duterte launched his war on drugs, although Tabaco has yet to come out a chilling EJK incidents compared in other cities. Mayor Krisel Lagman Luistro warned the police she does not want blood spilling in the city saying, drug users deserve justice, she prefers rehabilitations as best option if need be. Like her father Rep. Edcel Lagman, Luistro is a known anti-death penalty and a human rights advocate.

The Tabaco Police has long recommended Mico for drug rehabilitation, which Baranghawon barangay chairman Rene Realizan has been waiting to give his constituents a sigh of relief. The police could only detain Mico briefly when arrested and turned him over to the Department of Social Welfare Administration which, in turn, released Mico for his parents’ custody being a minor, according to Tabaco deputy police chief Senior Police Inspector Jon Retumban. Retumban said Mico had been also found positive in a random drug test.

Realizan said that, pending rehabilitation of Mico, the Tabaco police and DSWD should be in their custody for public interest, saying his freedom is a headache in his barangay as Mico never stop in his trade.

Many in the barangay believe that Mico parents who, claimed to be helpless on him, are enjoying the fruit of Mico’s loot, said top barangay councilman Roy Barra. He said his friend, a known businessman and former barangay chair of another barangay, was also Mico’s victim.

Barra said Mico who knew he won’t be detain long for committing a crime, appeared to be enjoying his trade adding, Mico could be doing it in complete discernment.

According to Realizan, he had already asked the DSWD in 2015, after Typhoon Glenda, to deliver the DSWD housing assistance for Mico’s family in Bacacay town where the family originated. Mico’s family makeshift along the barangay river was among those washed out by floods during Typhoon Glenda.

Realizan said that Mico’s parents came to Baranghawon in 2004 under then barangay chairman Eduardo Borjal. Borjal cannot be contacted for comment as he was, allegedly at large, involving complaint for mauling a minor. He identified Mico’s father as Jose Benitez and mother Isabela Barnedo. The couple, according to Realizan, reportedly hailed from Cagraray Island off Bacacay, Albay.

Realizan said that with Mico’s unstoppable nefarious trade, his request for the DSWD to deliver housing materials for Mico’s family in their original residence in Bacacay town was granted only to find the family backed to Baranghawon a few months after, with Mico backed to same activity as a robber. Mico’s father, however, is now staying in Bacacay and come to Baranghawon on weekends to deliver supply from his harvest as a farmer.

Tabaco policemen claimed they’re no longer surprised if Mico is arrested and back to jail saying, he has become a frequent Tabaco cell guest. Mico’s usually targeted only cash on his victims. Some complaints, however, revealed that Mico, who was only after cash from his targets, had already added in his modus easily- carried valuable items like laptops and cellphones.

Baranghawon residents claimed that not all Mico’s victims are reported to police, especially when victims failed to recognize Mico as the culprit, citing a Baranghawon retired teacher who complained that the suspect, who failed to destroy one of her store padlocks, did not take any easily- carried valuable items, which the police describes as Mico’s modus. [BicolToday.com]

http://bicoltoday.com/2017/08/30/tabaco-city-village-wants-urgent-rehab-for-notorious-minor-young-drug-user-robber/

Barangay officials seek rehab for young drug user, robber

By Manly Ugalde – AUGUST 30, 2017
TABACO City, Albay—A barangay here has been desperately urging the government for the immediate rehabilitation of a young drug user-robber the police tagged as a member of the feared Akyat Bahay Gang.

Mico Jimenez, 13, (not his real name) has long been the subject of hate and fear among residents of Barangay Baranghawon who tagged him as a slippery robber. Mico never finished Grade 1, although his mother claimed she had enrolled him often, only to drop schooling later due to misdemeanors. Mico is the 5th among 13 siblings.

Barangay residents fear Mico may become a victim of an extrajudicial killing, but Mayor Krisel Lagman Luistro warned the police she does not want blood to spill in this city, saying the young drug user deserves justice, and she prefers rehabilitation as the best option.

Like her father, Rep. Edcel Lagman, Luistro is a known antideath penalty and a human-rights advocate.

The Tabaco Police has long recommended Mico for drug rehabilitation, which Baranghawon Barangay Chairman Rene Realizan has endorsed.

The police could only detain Mico briefly when arrested before turning him over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Administration, which, in turn, released Mico to his parents’ custody for being a minor, according to Tabaco Deputy Police Chief Senior Police Insp. Jon Retumban.

Retumban said Mico had been found positive in a random drug test.

Realizan that, pending rehabilitation of Mico, the Tabaco police and DSWD should take custody of him, saying his freedom has become a headache in his barangay, as Mico never stops in his trade.

Many in the barangay believe that Mico’s parents are enjoying the fruit of his loot, said Barangay Councilman Roy Barra. He added one of his friends was also Mico’s victim.

Barra said Mico, who knew he won’t be detained for committing a crime, has become emboldened to commit theft.

Tabaco policemen claimed they’re no longer surprised if Mico is arrested and jailed, because he has become a frequent Tabaco cell guest.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/barangay-officials-seek-rehab-for-young-drug-user-robber/

SMALL-TOWN LOTTERY INVADES CATANDUANES

By Manly Ugalde – AUGUST 28, 2017
VIRAC, Catanduanes—Resisted for decades by past local leaderships, attempts to launch jueteng in this tiny island province have finally succeeded, with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) finally beginning its Small Town Lottery (STL) operation in 11 of this province’s towns.

The move has been strongly opposed by the Catholic Church and opponents of illegal gambling.

PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan officially led the inauguration on August 4, attended by Rep. Cesar V. Sarmiento of the lone District of Catanduanes, Vice Gov. Shirley Abundo and five municipal mayors who received PCSO-donated ambulances.

The STL outlet is located at the Eastern Bicol Medical Center at Barangay Gogon, 2 kilometers from the capital’s poblacion.

Balutan said any existing illegal-numbers game will eventually be absorbed into the STL.

Catanduanes’s STL branch finally completed the PCSO’s commitment to install every STL outlet in the six Bicol provinces. The region now has 73 outlets.

In lieu of jueteng, Catanduanes gambling aficionados have played what they call the ending game, a form of gambling based on the results of basketball games—either the PBA or NBA.

Targeted by barangay gambling advocates are mostly the poor members of the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program of the Department of Social Welfare Administration. A former provincial board member had been once identified as the ending-game gambling lord in
the province.

Early this month, the PCSO was rocked by controversy in its STL operation with illegal gambling, like jueteng, remaining unabated. The PCSO threatened to reduce the share of the Philippine National Police from STL operation due to anemic illegal gambling campaign. Senator Ping Lacson of the committee on games and amusement issued a statement last week that the PCSO is being cheated of some P50 billion a year in STL operation.

Albay was called the biggest source of jueteng money in the region during a Senate hearing on illegal gambling during the Arroyo administration. In line with this, the provincial board in a resolution sought for the stoppage of its STL operation under the Lucky 5 Prime Enterprise Corp. operator from the Tagalog region.

Provincial board members claimed they are disturbed how jueteng and bookies could exist with impunity to defeat the government’s STL with President Duterte ordering the PNP and local government executives to dismantle all illegal numbers game.

Gov. Al Francis Bichara Spokesman Danny Garcia claimed the despised online gaming of Meridien Vista Gaming, which allegedly served as a front for jueteng since 2009 actually dismantled its operation on June 25 following the launch of the Albay STL in May.

Information gathered showed STL card-bearing bet collectors have reportedly been moonlighting for jueteng in collaboration with old jueteng bet collectors in the barangay who now use cell-phone texting to collect bets and remit collections to STL bet collectors. In turn, the STL bet collectors remit only a fraction of their collection to the STL operator.

PCSO Deputy General Manager Florante Solmerin in a radio interview in Legazpi said the STL bookies in Albay was a result of the quarrel among partners of lucky 5 Prime
Enterprises Corp.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/small-town-lottery-invades-catanduanes/

Security threat cancels Asean meeting in Bicol

By Manly Ugalde – AUGUST 21, 2017
LEGAZPI CITY—A credible security threat has forced the cancellation of the five-day Asean Ministerial meeting in Bicol scheduled to start on Tuesday, August 22, at the Albay Misibis Resort.

Rep. Joey S. Salceda of the Second District of Albay said the decision to cancel the Asean meeting in Albay was reached by the Asean Committee on Security.

Earlier, the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bicol said security preparation for the five-day Asean delegates’ meeting was all set ready amid the escalating operations of the Communist New People’s Army (NPA).

Salceda said he received a letter from Ambassador Marcian Paynor that top officials of the Asean 2017 National Organizing Council (NOC) had reached a unanimous decision to recommend cancellation for the Albay conference after it received an intelligence report that the NPA has deployed 800-ready improvised explosive devices in Camarines Sur and neighboring provinces. Albay is an hour-ride from Camarines Sur.

The intensified NPA operation in Bicol resulted in an encounter with government troops in Sorsogon on August 8, where two soldiers were killed. A succeeding encounter took place in the island of Catanduanes on August 10 when heavily armed rebels ambushed two police-patrol cars in convoy escorting 10 drug surrenderees. The rebels used an improvised explosive device that followed a gunbattle with a responding police team that killed two policemen and wounded two others, including the police chief.

The Asean delegates meeting for the Albay venue has been transferred to Metro Manila.

The cancellation of the 2017 Asean conference in Albay was a sad development, Salceda said. The first Asean summit in 2015 for the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (Apec) scheduled in Albay was canceled due to bad weather.

Salceda is the proponent of both the Apec and Asean conferences in Albay.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/security-threat-cancels-asean-meeting-in-bicol/

Bicol all set for Asean conference on Aug. 22

By Manly Ugalde – AUGUST 21, 2017
LEGAZPI CITY—The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bicol said roads are ready for the Asean summit meeting in Manila this year.

Albay is one of the venues of the series of conferences of Asean delegates to be held at the Misibis Beach Resort for five days that starts on Tuesday August 22.

DPWH Regional Director Danilo Versola met with his 16 district engineers and maintenance officials to ensure the roads are clean and ready, complete with traffic signs. The massive road widening has aggravated the severe traffic congestion near the Legazpi Airport’s Daraga section to Camalig of the Second District, which is part of the Maharlika highway.

Then-Gov. Joey S. Salceda strongly lobbied to include Albay in the series of meetings of delegates when Manila became host of the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (Apec) in 2015 with Misibis as the venue. Despite Albay’s preparations, Malacañang canceled the Albay Apec delegates’ meeting three days before the awaited December meeting due to severe weather condition.

The Philippine National Police reported 7,427 vehicular accidents in Albay covering the period 2015—2016 despite the full-blast road widening. Last year the province’s vehicular accident was placed at 3,863, Albay Police Spokesman Senior Police Inspector Art Gomez said.

“We hope the Asean conference of delegates in Albay would push through, barring an unforeseen event,” said Salceda, who is now the representative of the Second District. Misibis Resort is located in the Cagraray Island off Bacacay town in the First District.

Security preparation for the Asean delegates is in place, Bicol PNP Regional Director Chief Supt. Wilfredo Gardiola said.

A source from the DPWH regional office, however, said last Saturday they’re hoping the traffic problem in the First District of Albay is cleared with the simultaneous constructions and widening of a dozen of major bridges in the 35-kilometer highway route covering the towns of Santo Domingo, Bacacay, Malilipot, Tabaco City, Malinao and Tiwi.

The source who asked not to be named for lack of authority to talk said that, with the simultaneous constructions and widening of the bridges in the First District, road congestion remains a problem with the still unremoved squatters near roads, such as the manufacturing of tricycles in Malilipot town and neighboring Tabaco City.

The DPWH regional director urged the three Albay district engineers to closely coordinate with local authorities to see to it the roads are free from solar drying of palay and other agricultural products, a practice the First District is noted for.

Albay is the home of regional centers based in Legazpi City, where Asean delegates are expected to stay during the Asean conference.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/bicol-all-set-for-asean-conference-on-aug-22/