Browse > Home / Cagayan de Oro / MISAMIS Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno is mum on Mayor Vicente Emano’s statement that Misamis Oriental Second District Cong. Augusto Baculio, Jr. is planning to run for governor saying he would rather talk about the developing the province and politics later

MISAMIS Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno is mum on Mayor Vicente Emano’s statement that Misamis Oriental Second District Cong. Augusto Baculio, Jr. is planning to run for governor saying he would rather talk about the developing the province and politics later

August 5, 2007

MISAMIS Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno is mum on Mayor Vicente Emano’s statement that Misamis Oriental Second District Cong. Augusto Baculio, Jr. is planning to run for governor saying he would rather talk about the developing the province and politics later.

This developed as Misamis Oriental First District Cong. Danilo Lagbas voiced his gratitude for the “kind words” offered by Emano who vowed to support his brother, Sugbongcogon mayor Benedict Lagbas, for a seat in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan this coming local elections.

But opposition leaders maintain that all these talks of politics are part of Emano’s diversionary tactic and even would facilitate more “corruption” at City Hall.

They believe that Emano is trying to spark a fight between Moreno and Baculio to pave the way of his comeback to the province.

Meanwhile, Moreno said that he would rather keep himself busy with making sure that the Province of Misamis Oriental maintains its leadership status here in Northern Mindanao.

“It’S too early to talk about politics. Tarbaho sa kita unya na kanang politika (Let us first work together and set aside politics),” he told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.

Emano said several mayors from Misamis Oriental visited his office recently to ask him as to where he would be casting his support in the 2007 Local Elections.

“They told me that Cong. Baculio would be running for governor..this is his (Baculio’s) right and nobody should criticize him for this. It’s going to be a good fight,” he said.

Moreno could either

Emano said one of the mayors told him that Baculio’s ticket is already almost complete and that it is composed of several mayors from the second district of the province except Claveria mayor Rocky Calingin who is getting married and begged for some time to properly settle-on with this new stage in his life.

Emano said he promised to support Sugbongcogon townmayor Benedict Lagbas and Gingoog City mayor Heidi de Lara who separately intimated to him that they would be running for a seat at the Provincial Board (PB) of Misamis Oriental in 2007.

Currently, only three SP members are serving their respective final term of office – SP member Alejo Butch Olano and Arsenio Kho, Jr. from the first district and SP member Pepito Gambe from the second district.

When asked for his comment on Emano supporting his brother who ran for townmayor of Sugbongcogon under the opposition’s banner, Cong. Lagbas said, “In politics there is no permanent alliance…this is a welcome move as no less than Mayor Emano share the strong convictions that my brother Benedict Lagbas could be an effective servant of the people as Sangguniang Panlalawigan member.”

The older Lagbas said he is thankful for whatever help Emano could give for his brother.

“No less than Mayor Emano believes that my brother Benedict Lagbas has a good track record and from the part of the Lagbas family, we thank him for his kind words,” he said. Mayor Lagbas is currently serving his final third term as chief executive of Sugbongcogon, Misamis Oriental.

Emano said it is also his right to run for any gubernatorial seat.

“It is my right and no one can criticize me for this as I once served Misamis Oriental as governor,” he said in the vernacular during his Mayor’s Move radio program over Sandy 101.

When asked for his comments on Emano running for governor of the province, Cong. Lagbas said, “Iya kanang katungod to (That is his right) run. Everything is possible.”

“In fairness to Mayor Emano, while we differ in terms of principles but he has all the right to run as governor for the province.”

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by Lizanilla J. Amarga

of Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro

A MUSLIM group here voiced concerns over the heightened pursuit operations against the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiah elements reportedly sighted in Mindanao and even in some Muslim communities in Metro Manila over the past months.

SUARA Bangsamoro Party vice-chairperson Amirah Lidasan said, “The successive bombings in Europe, Indonesia and most recently in Basilan

are being used to legitimize crackdowns and illegal arrests on Moro communities.”

She also criticized the joint RP-Aussie military operations

saying that it is as “violatory” to the Constitution as the Joint US-RP military operations are.

“Every time the Arroyo government would hype-up a terror scare, over the ASG, the JI, or the Al-Qaeda network, Muslim communities in Metro Manila automatically become targets for crackdowns and civilians are arrested without warrants,” she said in a statement to this paper.

“Now, aside from the frequent US-RP military operations held, another foreign military force steps on Philippine soil, on a clear violation of the constitution.”

Lidasan said there is this “intensifying political repression and that Moro communities have been “preparing how to combat looming crackdowns through para-legal trainings and organizing barrio paralegal teams.”

She disclosed that basic courses on the Miranda Rights and the do’s and don’t's in cases of warrantless arrests, illegal detention, and other incidents that might subject individuals and communities to human rights violations, are

being held by the SUARA Bangsamoro.

“The people must know their rights and be firm in asserting them. We are preparing ourselves and our voice and unity are our only weapons,” she said.

“We know that the military and the police will use all necessary force just to get their escape goats. To this, we will remain vigilant and unwavering along with our Filipino brethren who are calling for the end of GMA’s Strong Republic,” she added.

For their group, Lidasan said the situation in Mindanao is “far worse, all-out-wars on the pretext of anti-terror operations have caused waves of displacement rendering many Moro towns and municipalities as ghost towns.”

She recounted how the July 2001 siege of Basilan wherein more than 100 men accused of being ASG men and sympathizers have been arrested without warrants upon President Arroyo’s declaration of state of lawlessness in the area.

Lidasan said majority of these men are detained in Camp

Bagong Diwa up to the present time.

“My Moro brethren in Camp Bagong Diwa are merely pawns of the Bush-Arroyo war of terror campaign. They have been incarcerated for four years suffering from discriminatory and inhumane treatment,” she said.

The Moro leader said such has been the “vicious cycle” which started to heighten after the 9/11 incident and is a consequence of the Arroyo and Bush governments’ anti-terror drive.

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By Lizanilla J. Amarga

Of Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro

AFTER almost a month of waiting, Armed Forces’ has finally appointed another top-ranking general to formally take command of its Fourth Infantry Division, the largest military division unit here in terms of land area here in Mindanao, Fourth ID spokesperson Col. Francisco Simbajon said yesterday.

He said the Armed Forces has finally appointed Maj. Gen. Cardoso Luna to take over outgoing 4ID commanding general and recently appointed as Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Samuel Bagasin.

“He (Bagasin) would be turning over the 4ID in good hands to Maj. Gen. Cardoso Luna,” he said.

The changing of guards ceremonies would be attended by no less than Philippine Army commanding general Lt. Gen. Germogenez Esperon. It will be held tomorrow, Nov. 2 around 8:00 a.m. at the 4ID Grandstand, Camp Evangelista this city.

Simbajon said Luna is a graduate from the Philippine Military Academy and that Luna is currently assigned as commanding general of the Training Doctrine Philippine Army- Headquarters.

Earlier, Bagasin was supposed to get the post as commanding general of the Armed Forces’ Southern Command (SouthCom) but was instead appointed as Deputy Chief of Staff.

Acting as OIC commanding general during the interim period for Bagasin was his Assistant Division Commander OIC Brig. Gen. Ferdinand Bocobo.

Recently, Bacobo was appointed to the position of Philippine Army Inspector General and thus his task was delegated to former 401st Infantry Brigade commanding general OIC Brig. Gen. Rogelio Rosete.

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By Lizanilla J. Amarga

Of Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro

MAYOR Vicente Emano cried foul as to the veracity of the Commission on Audit (COA-Mindanao) Annual Audit Report – 2004 that revealed how some 311 units of service motor vehicles belonging to the City Government of Cagayan de Oro are not completely accounted for during their physical inventory last year.

“Kadaghan ba kaayo anang 311 ka sakyanan (311 vehicles that’s too much!),” he said over dxIF Bombo Radyo yesterday morning. “Kung tinuod kana willing ako nga mo-resign pagka-mayor (If that is true I am willing to resign as mayor of this city).”

Emano slammed those who are under the perception that these vehicles could now be held and used privately by some of his close buddies.

He said this saying he himself does not have a government vehicle or a personal vehicle himself.

“Wala man gani ako sakyanan except aning gubaon na nga pick-up (I don’t even have my own vehicle except this pick-up that I am using),” he said.

Emano also hit on opposition leaders who gave their comments regarding this matter based on report contained on the 72-page COA-Mindanao Annual Audit Report 2004 (AAR-2004) certified by COA-Mindanao assistant cluster director lawyer Mariano Kintanar.

He said the opposition leaders led by his predecessor former city mayor Pablo Magtajas along with several opposition lawyers could slap charges against him should such reports are true.

“Kining mga sakay sa panahon nga mga leader sa opposition nga mi-ingon nga illegal kini inyo kanang katungod nga magpasaka sa akoa ug kaso (These opposition leaders who are saying that I have committed something illegal then it is their right to file charges against me),” he said.

The 72-page COA-Mindanao Annual Audit Report 2004 (AAR-2004) certified by COA-Mindanao assistant cluster director lawyer Mariano Kintanar revealed that there was an appropriation provided for the insurance and registration of motor vehicles.

But this appropriation was not spent which resulted to the non-registration of the motor vehicles with LTO-10 and the failure to have these vehicles insured by GSIS.

“Existing laws require that motor vehicles shall be registered with the Land Transportation Office annually,” the report reads. “Pursuant to pertinent provisions of Republic Act No. 656, otherwise known as the Property Insurance Law, said vehicles shall be insured with the Government Insurance Service System.”

COA-Mindanao reported that during their physical inventory last year, it was found that “registration and insurance of various motor vehicles used for operation were not renewed.”

The agency revealed that on January 21, 2005 they received from the City General Services Office (CGSO) the complete list of unrenewed and unregistered vehicle of the City Government of Cagayan de Oro “after we requested for the same based on our observation during the physical inventory.”

“The list discloses that 311 units of service motor vehicles were either unregistered since the time of their acquisition or no new renewal of the registration was made,” the report reads.

COA-Mindanao has issued a recommendation that Emano this year should “issue a directive to all Department Heads prohibiting the use of all unregistered service vehicles and to impound the unregistered vehicles until the same are registered.

An Emano loyalist who requested anonymity said COA-Mindanao could have been mistaken in coming up with such a report.

“Bisan ug buot pasabot pa niini kanang mga motor lang nga mga sakyanan sa syudad

Basin wala gayud kini sila mag-physical inventory ang mga taga-COA nga nag-audit kay kadako ba kaayo anang 311 ka sakyanan nga unaccounted (Perhaps the COA auditors did not really conduct a physical inventory as 311 motor service vehicles is too big a number to go unaccounted),” he aid.

Magtajas and opposition leaders former city vice-mayor lawyer Antonio Soriano, former Senate Blue Ribbon General Counsel and the city opposition mayoral candidate who filed 18 counts of graft charges against Emano lawyer Ed Tamondong said Emano could face administrative raps for this anomaly.

COA-Mindanao has issued a recommendation that Emano this year should “issue a directive to all Department Heads prohibiting the use of all unregistered service vehicles and to impound the unregistered vehicles until the same are registered.

A COA auditor who requested anonymity also revealed that until now City Hall has so far failed to fully account as to the whereabouts, status, registration at the local Land Transportation Office (LTO-10) and insurance of these vehicles at the regional office of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS-10).

She said it is “ironic” that City Hall, through the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA), traffic czar lawyer Ramon Tabor and even Emano himself, is advocating for drivers to follow all traffic laws when its officials themselves failed to do so.

“Pero ang pangutana man gyud ani kay asa na kini tanan nga mga vehicles? (But the bottomline question here is where are these vehicles now?),” she said. “Ang problema ani kung mabanga-ga or makabangga kini sila kay ang syudad mag-baguod sa gasto og luoy sab kadtong nabang-gaan (The problem here is should any of these motor vehicles crash or would crash into another vehicle it would be the City Government that would stand to lose and the owner of the vehicle would also be put through a lot of hassle).”

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By Lizanilla J. Amarga

Of Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro

AS the whole country braces for the implementation of the Expanded Value-Added Tax (EVAT) today, militant, transport and multi-sectoral groups vowed to stage more protest rallies calling for Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to step down.

This developed as IBON Facts and Figures reported that oil firms continue to overprice oil products and that already there was a P1.92 per liter “over-recovery” last October amid other price hikes and VAT.

Transportation groups – Transportation Federation of Cagayan de Oro (Trafeco) led by Virgilio Valmoria and Solidarity Transport Alliance in Region 10 (STAREX) led by Armand Naul – both vowed separately to stage a crippling transport pahulay.

Valmoria said he is even leaving tomorrow to their National Transport Union (NTU) headquarters in Manila to properly coordinate their local efforts here in the region.

Naul for his part said their group is now coordinating with other sectors also to stage a transport strike.

“People knew the adverse effects. We upon them to join the call of dissent from the majority,” he said.

Nero Vallar for his part said though they would not be staging any protest rally today, there would be waves after waves of protests against the EVAT will be staged this month.

“Wala pa mi plano ugma. But in this coming days a series of activities will be staged against GMA’s EVAT. We believe that EVAT is like a dagger that GMA is strucking to her own heart. In the quest to retain in power and serve her foreign master she take the political suicide,” he said.

Meanwhile, IBON reported that if the continued oil price hikes and the pending implementation of the VAT on petroleum products was not enough of a burden, oil companies continue to impose unreasonable price increases on the public.

It revealed that the pump price of various petroleum products should have been reduced by around 92 centavos per liter this month instead of a P1-per liter oil price increase implemented by the oil firms, considering the decrease in Dubai crude price and the improvement in the peso-dollar exchange rate.

“The average price of Dubai crude in October of $54.47 per barrel is $2.07 lower than its September average of $56.54 per barrel while the value of the peso against the US dollar recovered by 30 centavos from P56.14 to P55.84 during the same period,” its report reads.

“Considering that for October, a one-dollar change in Dubai crude and a one-peso adjustment in the foreign exchange (FOREX) each translates to a 39-centavo adjustment in the pump price of oil products, oil companies should have implemented a rollback of 92 centavos per liter. But actual adjustments hiked prices by P1 per liter, which means that oil firms have over-recovered around P1.92 per liter for this month,” the report adds.

Overall, IBON said diesel and kerosene pump prices are overpriced by P1.12 per liter since January, which already offsets the under-recovery of the oil firms in the previous months.

“Extending the comparison between the ideal and the actual price adjustments to January 2000 until the latest adjustments this month, diesel is overpriced by as much as P4.79 per liter,” it said

“All these underscore the fact that the price of oil products, in particular diesel, which comprises 37% of the domestic market, can still be rolled back by a substantial amount contrary to the repeated claims of the oil companies and the Energy department that pump prices will not ease up until the end of the year.”

In their statement, IBON asserts that the price of diesel should be rolled back by P4.79 per liter to compensate for the overcharging of the oil companies from January 2000 to October 2005.

It states that such amount is even much smaller than the actual overpricing of the oil firms, principally the local subsidiaries of giant transnational corporations (TNCs) that dominate the local and global market.

“The estimated overpricing of IBON does not yet include the overcharging in the production and importation of petroleum, which the think tank argues is prevalent in the global market because of the commanding position of the oil TNCs over the whole industry,” it said.

“Such domination is the major reason why IBON believes that deregulating the local downstream oil industry is wrong. The government should not allow the oil TNCs to determine by themselves the pump price of their products because this system merely gives them a greater opportunity to manipulate the price of oil– at the expense of the consuming public and the economy.”

IBON suggests as an alternative is to push for a policy of strong state regulation on the oil industry through a system of centralized procurement of imported oil, maintaining a buffer fund and supply, de-privatization of Petron, and stronger state control over the exploration, development, and utilization of local petroleum resources, among others. by Lizanilla J. Amarga (2006)

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