After getting down from a motorcycle driver by his court stenographer, Judge Orlando Velasco was suddenly riddled with bullets by motorcycle-riding gunmen. The incident took place right in front of his house in Barangay Villareal, Bayawan City last july 25, Wednesday night at 7:40 p.m. Judge Velasco, 59 and a Dipolognon served as a fiscal at the Bulwagan ng Katarungan before he was promoted as a judge in Bayawan, Negros Oriental. Bayawan Police reported that the judge took a ride with court employee Junjun Garabato after attending a birthday party when four suspects on board two motorcycles trailed them up to the judge’s house where he was shot.

Seven bullets were reportedly recovered from his body, which were from a .45 caliber pistol and four of which seriously fatal hitting his stomach, butt, thigh and legs. He was immediately rushed to the Bayawan District Hospital before he was brought to Silliman Medical Center where he died two days after. In a statement released by Atty. Jose Midaz, spokesman of the Supreme Court, the victim was the presiding judge of Bayawan RTC Branch 63.  He was reportedly covering the towns of Sta. Catalina and Basay and mostly handling cases of heinous in nature.

Some lawyer friends believed the shooting could spring from a court decision he handed down a few weeks ago. “It could be retaliation for the life term he had meted on a drug trafficker three weeks ago,” Atty. Marquez said. Prior to the incident, it was reported that Judge Velasco had already received death threats, the reason why some court employees would always accompany him home. Negros Oriental Police Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe reported that some suspects were apprehended in a checkpoint but were soon released when they were tested of power burns which turned out negative.

He disclosed that the motorcycles, which answered to the description to have been used by the suspects, were found abandoned near Sta. Catalina. He also disclosed that his office had already coordinated with the National Bureau of Investigation to organize Task Force Velasco. Recently, they have four suspects under the Task Force custody who answered to the description of the witnesses. The Task Force is still investigating as to the motive of the shooting. The judge’s body will be brought to Dipolog City, source disclosed. (Press Freedom, Vol. XIX No. 42)

 

Velasco’s last words:
‘This is a part of the job’

Philippine Daily Inquirer today reported that the slain judge from Dipolog City was still able to talk with his fellow judges when he was rushed to the emergency room of Silliman Medical Center, Dumaguete City. The judges who rushed to his side quoted him as saying ‘This is a part of the job’ and were told the attack was job-related. Judge Orlando Velasco was shot in front of his wife as motorcycle riders whirred by in front of his own house, last Wednesday July 25. The gunmen were believed to be among the group of motorcycle riders who passed through the town of Sta. Catalina. (Press Freedom, Vol. XIX No. 42)

After all the papers are prepared for its operation, ZaNorte Medical Center will soon cater to the health needs of the people. Board Member Cedric Adriatico, Chairman Committee on Health of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan recently disclosed that documents and other paper requirements were readied for the hospital’s operation which was targeted to start by the end of September this year.

BM Adriatico explained that there was a change in the name of the hospital and an upgrade in the bed capacity. The governor, Adriatico disclosed, wanted all the paper requirements to be done and in order before the operation of the hospital starts. “There is no question about the hospital equipment,” he stressed, “they are all put up.” As to the availability of doctors, he disclosed that this is not a problem since the applicants are already swelling.

It could have been published in the national papers that TVI Resource Development (Phils) Inc. will soon starts its copper and zinc production in Canatuan, Siocon, Z.N., but Gov. Lando Yebes disclosed he was not informed about it. The governor disclosed further that when he sat during his second term, he had sent TVI a letter defining the stand of the province regarding the environment, its mineral resources and its plan to get the fair share due to Zamboanga del Norte.

Earlier, the governor asked the company to submit copies of the Mineral Production and Sharing Agreement, Environmental Compliance Certificate, Ecological Profile, Reports of Annual Environmental Monitoring Accomplishment including reports on production, sales and inventory of minerals including the names of safety engineers who handle the operations. The Provincial Office disclosed that they would wait for 10 days after the receipt of the letter and they were just willing to talk with the TVI if all the papers were submitted.

Former Provincial Governor Isagani S. Amatong was recently vindicated by Ombudsman Mindanao of complaint of discrimination against their staff members filed by the Committee on Good Government of the SP.

It could be remembered that in 2004 the Provincial Administration under the former governor did not renew the appointment of job order employees who were assigned at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. When the new Provincial Administration took over, the committee on Good Government chaired by BM Anecito Darunday filed a complaint in 2005 against Amatong whom the committee charged as violating Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019. 

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan recently approved the appointment of Provincial Attorney Jes Gal Sarmiento Jr. and Provincial Administrator Rafael Cabanlit. The positions of the duo are co-terminus, that is to say their appointments ended when the provincial governor also ended his term last June 30, 2007.

“The governor could have been satisfied with my services,” the provincial administrator commented when he was asked to speak before the SP. On the other hand, BM Cedric Adriatico lauded Atty. Sarmiento of his recent effort to defend the province as regards its environmental protection program.

No, it was not just at the tip of the politician’s tongue. Gov. Rolando Yebes, Gov. George Arnaiz and Cong. Herminio Teves of Negros recently met with the Philippine Ports Authority to look for the source of funds for the construction of a roll-o roll-off port connecting Katipunan to Mabinay, Negros Oriental.

Yebes disclosed that he had also asked the Regional Development Council of the Zamboanga Peninsula about the resolution praying for the conversion of Pulauan Port in Dapitan City into a Port Management Office. He disclosed further that Mabinay Port in Negros has already been constructed and is now ready for use. However, the province counterpart here, the Katipunan port is still in need of P50M for its construction.

What could have been behind the move of the board of directors of ZANECO to block the appointment of acting General manager Adelmo Laput to become full-fledge General Manager? “It could have been my refusal to concede to buy more expensive kilowatt-hour meters when we could procure them at cheaper price,” the acting General Manager reasoned. He pointed out that the board passed a resolution last year specifying a “Metrix” brand priced at P1,080 per unit. 

However, he disclosed, he opted for the “AMQ” brand which cost only P648 per unit, a matter of P1,547,200.00 saving in order to supply the coope-rative’s need of 3,600 units of Kwh meters. Despite the good intentions he claimed GM Laput lamented the charges thrown against his leadership, which included mismanagement, anomalous transactions, and highly authoritative management style.

Dipolog City Mayor Evelyn Uy recently disclosed that she had written Pres. Gloria Arroyo to intervene in order to solve the dispute between Dipolog City and Zamboanga del Norte. The dispute stemmed from the province’s refusal to grant Dipolog the gratuitous permit to extract gravel and sand from Layawan River. On June 18, two city dump trucks loaded with sand and gravel were seized by the Provincial Evnironment and Development Office and the Police Provincial Office.

In her letter, the lady mayor lamented to PGMA the action of the Provincial Capitol which caused the implementation of P34M worth of infrastructure projects to stall, thus affecting the interests of Dipolognons. She also disclosed that she had personally handed her letter to the president right after her SONA last July 23. Lately, however, there was na agreement reached between the Dipolog City Government and the Provincial Government as regards the release of the two dump trucks owned by the City Engineering Office.

The Provincial Capitol recently also acceded to grant gratuitous permit the city was asking so that it could procure sand and gravel for its projects, but definitely not in Layawan River. In a letter sent to Vice Mayor Senen Angeles Gov. Lando Yebes informed that although it would grant the city government the permit to quarry, it would be in another quarry site in order to save Layawan River from more serious destruction. He pointed out that the river served as the natural boundary between Dipolog and Polanco. Since the river is the biggest drainage area of the Dipolog Rive Basin, the governor also pointed out that it was a very important source of water for household needs of the people in the area, and as such must be protected from further extraction.

It could be a difficult start for Cong. Rosendo ‘Dodoy’ Labadlabad when the 2nd district treasury was found to be drained of funds for infrastructure projects. This was how the barangay captains of Dipolog City felt when the congressman disclosed to them the status of the congressional treasury during the City Disaster Coordinating Council last Thursday, July 26 at the Miputak Barangay Hall.

The congressman informed the group of his surprise when he was told by the Department of Budget and Management that the remaining P56M was already intended for a four-kilometer road project of Siayan. He disclosed that he cold not believe such big budget for such a distance of a road. When he consulted DPWH 1st Engineering District Engr. Arturo Miñao, he was told to visit the regional office which has knowledge over this. Although P15M for so-called ‘soft projects’ was available, Cong. Labadlabad had already committed P5M – P8M to purchase equipment for Mayor Belen’s Skills Training Center. The said center has to be placed in the unused market in Galas.

The Zamboanga del Norte Parole and Probation Office (ZDNPPO) headed by Officer-in-Charge Provincial Chief Ma. Jeanette F. Requina observed the Agency’s 31st Anniversary Celebration with the theme “Community Partnership Towards Crime Prevention and Social Justice” by undertaking a tree planting activity in the Municipality of Sindangan in Zamboanga del Norte last July 24. Through representations made by OIC Chief Requina to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Honorable Mayor Bert Macias of Sindangan, five hundreSd (500) mahogany seedlings and service vehicles for the seedlings and PPO Clients, respec-tively, were generously provided to make the activity material.

The seedlings were planted by the PPO clients at the carefully selected vast but idle site owned by Mr. Florante Pacatang in Barangay Dapaon. Aside from signing a Memoran-dum of Understanding with the ZDNPPO as to the care of the planted seedlings, the owner also manifested his sincere willingness to assure the growth and development of the mahogany seedlings which he believed will undoubtedly help the environment. Planting of trees is a Supreme Court mandate and in fact a condition for probation. The ZDNPPO in particular observed this mandate and made sure each probationer, parolee and pardonee under its supervision, planted trees. However, by virtue of a PPA Regional Office 9 Directive to undertake a tree planting activity as highlight of the 31st Parole and Probation Administration Anniversary Celebration, this year’s tree planting was made a big event.

Aside from helping “re-green” the environment, the activity also allowed restoration of the criminal offenders’ relationship with the society as useful and law-abiding citizens. Through the concept of Community Work Service, the activity rehabilitated clients by having tree planting as a therapeutic intervention to reconnect the offenders with nature, to inculcate civic duties in them and maybe to contribute to economic development and nation building.

Naangkon sa usa ka 21 anyos nga dalaga ang korona sa Miss Dapitan 2007 nga si Kristina Junio nga nagrepresentar sa Dr. Jose Rizal Memorial Hospital atol sa Coronation night  didto sa Multi-Purpose Cultural and Sports Center sa dakbayan sa Dapitan. Nakuha ni Junio ang

 The Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) appeared to be a hero last week as it brought out the issue of tainted White Rabbit candies. Despite having pre-empted the issue in the press however, we should not take them off the hook, because of the fact that these products were already in the market when the problem was discovered. Truth to tell, is it not the job of BFAD to see to it that harmful food and drug products should never enter the trade?

**

Just to put matters in the right perspective, the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) should have partly shared the blame also, because it is also tasked with the function of seeing to it also that no defective products would reach the market. As its way perhaps of skirting the issue, the BFAD floated the notion that perhaps the candies were smuggled, but in their wanting to be cleared of the issue, they have either wittingly or unwittingly dragged the Bureau of Customs (BOC) into the fray.

**

Assuming that the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is also partly to blame, there are at least four Departments that were negligent in this regard, namely the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Department of Transportation & Communications (DOTC) being the supervisors of BFAD, BOC and PCG respectively, plus the DTI of course. Given the wide turf divisions between these Departments, how could the general public be assured that this breach will not happen again?

**

The BFAD might have escaped the heat of public anger by speculating that the candies were probably smuggled, but that does not negate the fact that defective and potentially dangerous products also get through right under the nose of the BOC, perhaps with the full knowledge of some corrupt elements in that agency. As soon as these products get out of customs however, it should be the DTI that should continue the chain of product surveillance, but we do not see that happening either, thus placing the public interest in danger.

**

All told, we could fairly say that these gaps in the public safety chain are due to the paralysis in the coordination between and among the government agencies that are tasked with these critical functions. Sadly, we do not see an end to these weaknesses yet, and what is even sadder is the fact that these mechanisms are supposed to be part and parcel of our overall defenses against the powerful wave of inward globalization.

**

As I see it now, the problem about defective products falling through the government monitoring web is just the tip of the iceberg, as it seems now that no one seems to be monitoring or implementing the labeling rules that are supposed to be followed under the terms of the global trade agreements that we signed. As I see many products in the market that are not properly labeled, I am inclined to think that many of these products could be smuggled, as the BFAD says.

**

Smuggled or not, these products would still enter the jurisdiction of the government as soon as these would enter the trade. This being the case, consumers would still have the right to know where these products are made, even if it is only for their information, but more so if they would like to exercise their patriotism by buying only products that are made locally.

**

Better late than never, It is about time that the government would form a task force or a cabinet cluster that would see to it that all products sold in the market are compliant with labeling and safety standards. For good measure, I suggest that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Science & Technology (DOST) should be part of these groups, as the DFA could relate the problems to foreign trade agreements and the DOST could validate or oversee the technical compliance.

**

Luckily, no one has died so far from this gross negligence, but must the government wait for incidents of death before it does anything? As of press time, problems about tainted toothpaste products are also being reported. Believe it or not, even meat and poultry products could also be problematic. The list goes on, and there could be no end to it. While it may be too late to back off from our global trade commitments, it is not too late to give it another try to put the safety nets in place, particularly when it comes to protecting public health and public safety. Just as an aside, could we hear concrete government plans to reduce smuggling once and for all?

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Credits: Press Freedom is published every Saturday and entered as 3^rd class mail matter in Dipolog City. Printed by Young Printing Press with Editorial Office located at Upper Turno, Dipolog City. Tel. No. (065) 212-4343 or 212-6665

God has always been the king. The lord has established His throne in heaven and His kingdom rules over all. In Psalms 103:19, the bible says. The lord has made the heaven His throne, from there He rules over everything. The universe has never been a democracy; it has always been an absolute monarchy, for God has always been a matter of endless dispute. God has always had to fight to defend His sovereign rule against the kingdom of darkness. Even now an invisible battle rages between God and Satan for the souls of men and women. We see the casualties all around, abuse, addiction, hatred, injustice and war. No wonder it takes so long for the kingdom to come! There are two kingdoms, not one, and God’s kingdom can not come without Satan’s kingdom being destroyed.

It takes a king to establish a kingdom, which is why God sent Jesus into the world. We read the bible in 1 John 3:8, it says, But when people keep on sinning, it shows they belong to the Devil, who has been sinning since to destroy these works of the devil, and destroy it He did. He not only preached the kingdom, but he preached it. In Matthew 4:23, says Jesus, traveled throughout Galilee teaching in the synagogues, preaching everywhere the good news about the kingdom, and he healed people who had every kind of sickness and diseases. By performing these kingdom miracles, Jesus was over throwing Satan’s kingdom. Every time He cast out a demon, healed a disease, or raised the dead, he was undoing the work of the devil. If I drive out demons by the spirit of God, Jesus, said in one occasion, then the kingdom of God has come upon you, (Matthew 12:28) In this way God’s king began to restore God’s rule over God’s creation.

Bible Bites!!

Welcome
Pat M. Tubungbanua

Now, the rain is falling. Incessant and/or intermittent. What comes with the rain? DENGUE! And flood! These two are consequences. Sure because they are truly natural calamities. And, of course, man’s nature is always subordinate to God’s will. First, the pest commonly known as Dengue mosquitoes. With the growing incidence of dengue cases now reported, we should be apprehensive of this. Everybody must be alarmed at this health problem. It is gladdening that the local authorities are discussing the means to fight dengue. One-way, the say, is FOGGING. Yes. We have to do some fogging, no matter how disagreeable that may be to our noses. Also, dispose of all empty containers that will likely become breeding places for mosquitoes. It is advised also that our legs must be protected by wearing long pants. Well, since high school children are children they have to wear their prescribed uniform-short pants… But here comes now some girls who are no longer school children; but fond of wearing those very short, short pants. Ma-ayo tingali sumpayan ang inyong shorts aron ma long! Remove the sumpay only when there will be no mere dengue around. Then you can display again your shapely legs. But this depends on the eyes that admiringly look or just hungrily ogle!

Next the flood. Many, perhaps, do not realize that Dipolog is NOT highland. It is lowland. We are situated in a short of basin. If and when the floods come (and strongly feel many more are coming) we shall find ourselves floating with the debris, the rats, the garbage, and all the imaginable. Flood waters are never clean. Never healthful. They are murky and main source of skin diseases. Together with scum from the drainage canals (that don’t drain at all), everything good and bad (mostly bad) surface to mingle with human beings. And they are one. One big basin of scum.

Here’s a story…1957… In the town of San Juan the late Congressman Alberto Q. Ubay had a house rented for his constituents to stay in a while in Manila. One night heavy rains fell. Thunder and lightning. No let-up. Following morning, no more rain. But the waters rose and threatened everything, everyone-either to soak or to sweep away. They kept rising and rushing in the streets, into the houses and showed a clearly angry mood. First floors were already submerged. Everyone rushed to the second floor foe safety. Fortunately soon after, the sun peeped and calmed the angry flood waters that were already turning muddy. The rats, bug and small, were swimming, floating, and grasping at every available floating debris. Some rats somehow managed to scramble up the second floor. And the people? - The people of the house sat on the window sill facing the street. Waiting for the flood to subside. Everybody just sat and waited. The Congressman also sat and waited for the flooding to stop. Some, though, secretly feared thinking that it could be us floating out there, or wriggling and struggling for dear life… The little boy, Franklin (Dodoy) R. Ubay? Where? He was having his own fun cavorting in the dirty waters that already entered their house.

Press Freedom Editorial
Just hoping

When President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo starkly outlined in her State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday her plans for Zamboanga del Norte and the two cities of Dipolog and Dapitan, who would not be happy? The expansion of the Dipolog Airport to make it more accessible to bigger planes was a gift that many Dipolognons could always wait witho