(TOTEX ARCUENO)
(TOTEX ARCUENO)
The Amazing Kap, Bong!
When this image-shattering bombshell with legislators as the culprit relative to the P10B pork barrel scam was top story, cum expose in print and broadcast channels, I did not entertain an iota of doubt that the scam is true. This reaction is based on what is known to everyone that the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel of old has been an illegitimate source of wealth of majority (if not all) of our lawmakers, both in the Upper and Lower Houses!!
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Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr., Juan Ponce Enrile and Jose Jinggoy Estrada face a plunder complaints over the scam before the Ombudsman, together with 34 others to include Janet Lim-Napoles, a businesswoman believed to be the P10B racket manipulator who provided kickbacks to these legislators – to as much as 50% from the PDAF fund released to what has been found out as non-existent NGOs of Napoles.
Then privilege speeches!
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Are we impressed or are our people convinced? Based on my queries from independent observers what I got was a big flat NO! Rightly so!
Why are the privilege speeches of Jinggoy, son of an ousted President and Amazing Kap Bong not convincing?
Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada used almost an hour of his privilege speech but said almost nothing to defend his case except that of sharing his frustration why they were the only ones singled out (3 of them), because others did it? My interpretation: Right from the horses’ mouth so to speak, Jinggoy, strengthened people’s belief that indeed the scams like these is a way of life among them.
Then the Amazing Kap, also a Senator Bong, like Jinggoy Estrada, just categorically said he has not been involved in the scam claiming that his signatures were faked. But how could he now deny written documents about this scam, as revealed by Ben Hur Luy, his signatures were “all his” and the COA OFFICIAL FINDINGS.
Let’s face it that the “downloading” of funds from lawmakers pork starts with the Senator or representative “writing a letter- request addressed to either the Senate President or House Speaker on how the lawmakers PDAF were to be implemented; and how much will be allocated. All signed by them.
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The actor Bong wrote and executed a script by appearing before the Senate hearing with a toy truck loaded with stocks of clean coupon bond paper. What was his purpose? Nothing but a showbiz strategy and Bong forgets that such act can only be done in a make- believe movie script, his domain. In fact those loaded in the toy truck where not scrutinized.
A toy truck is a young boy’s plaything a revelation of the boyish Bong persona and Legislators are adults, there’s no place for boys in the august halls of the Senate of the Republic of the Philippines.
UN refugee agency highlights shelter needs of typhoon victims
TACLOBAN CITY – With the “latest wave” of heavy downpour, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) stressed the need to find long-term solutions for families displaced by supertyphoon Yolanda.
During a briefing held January 25, Joel Andersson, UNCHR’s head of Yolanda operations in Tacloban said that many families are still in evacuation centers and some are still taking shelter in tents waiting to be moved to temporary and permanent shelters.
“Agaton, a typhoon recently hit the country tested again the resilience of Filipinos still recovering from the devastation brought on by typhoon Yolanda in November. While the commitment of the Philippine government to help rebuild the lives of affected population is truly remarkable and should not be underestimated, we are reminded the need to do more for finding durable solutions,” Andersson said.
The UNHCR made the statement after receiving reports that more than a thousand persons in Guiuan, Eastern Samar had to be evacuated from tents and bunkhouses to public buildings and schools last week the low pressure area and storm dumped rains.
“The incessant rains flooded emergency shelters and strong winds that toppled tents are a clear reminded that these shelters are not equipped for long term residency and are unable to sustain heavy weather over a period of time,” he added.
“The Philippines government and the survivors should be assisted in the provision of safe and permanent shelters for people affected by this series of natural disasters.”
Citing government reports, the UNCHR said that Yolanda’s fierce winds and storm surges had totally destroyed 550,928 homes, displacing 4.1 million people along its path.
As of this week, more than 440,000 families have received emergency shelter materials such as family tents and plastic sheets. Also provided were solar lanterns, blankets, jerry cans, and kitchen sets distributed to typhoon-stricken villages in Leyte, Samar, Eastern Samar, Iloilo and northern Cebu.
The UN official noted that people are still dependent on humanitarian support, particularly to rebuild their homes. About 14 million survivors, to include 4.1 million persons were displaced on Yolanda’s aftermath, according to UN.
By: SARWELL Q. MENIANO
2 drugs suspect nabbed in buy-bust operations
CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte– At least two persons suspected to be involved in illegal drugs trade were arrested by the police in separate sting operations across the region January 27.
Acting regional director Police Chief Supt. Henry Losañes informed that the intensified campaign against illegal drugs is in response to the present emphasis and demanding issues of drug law enforcement wherein drug pushers have become so aggressive in plying their trade.
“The campaign against the proliferation of illegal drugs will always remain as one of our primary concerns,” the police regional chief said.
Losañes noted that while Eastern Visayas continues to be free from big-time drug syndicates, his office will nevertheless initiate an all-out campaign against street pushers and peddlers.
In Maasin City, one Eric Salar alias Eric White, 36, was nabbed by joint operatives from the PRO8 Regional Intelligence Division (RID) and Southern Leyte Police Provincial Office (SLPPO) in a buy bust operation 3:30 p.m. on Jan.27 in Barangay Tagnipa.
Confiscated from Salar were four small plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance suspected to be methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” with an estimated market value of P2,000 and cash amounting to P1,021 believed to be proceeds from his illegal activity.
Meantime, the implementation of search warrant in Brgy. PI Garcia in Naval town in Biliran province resulted in the arrest of 49-year old drug suspect Lito Aquino.
Acting on the strength of search warrant issued by Executive Judge Eprehem of the Regional Trial Court branch 18 in Hilongos, Leyte, a police team led by Police Chief Insp. Wilfredo Amordo raided the house of Aquino that also resulted in the seizure of six sachets of suspected “shabu”, P4,000 cash and several paraphernalia that includes digital weighing scales and lighters.
Lawmen also confiscated one Colt caliber .45 and one Luger 9mm pistols and several rounds of ammunitions during the search.
The suspects were brought to police stations for further investigation while recovered illegal items were brought to the Regional Crime Laboratory Office for examination.
“We will make it sure that they will be spending the rest of their lives in jail,” Losañes said adding that drug charges were already filed against the arrested suspects.
By: PINSP ROMUEL NACAR, PIO PRO8
Almost 3 months after Yolanda People still longs for normalcy
TACLOBAN CITY- After almost three months since Yolanda struck this city, its residents are still grappling its aftermath.
In Anibong district, one of the hardest-hit areas of the city, while several of its residents have chose to repair their houses, they are still apprehensive as to where they would be relocated by the city government.
Marvin Tabatana, 33, on his own built a new house located at the back of their previous house that was damaged by Yolanda.
Instead of getting somebody to build a new house, he decided to stop driving a motorcab- for- hire(MCH),his main source of income, to personally build his house hoping that in a month’s time, it will be finished. He has spent about P20,000 for the construction of the new house.
The money that he used for the construction of their house was from the P15,000 they received from the Tzu Chi Foundation, a Buddhist foundation that is based in Taiwan.
He and his wife also earned an additional income from the cash-for-work scheme initiated by the same foundation wherein they were paid P500 each for 15 days of work.
Despite the 40-meter no-build zone policy, Tabatana chose to build the house within the same area as he claimed that the city government has yet to inform them where they would be relocated.
Dionicia Yu, 54, also of the same area, also expressed her apprehension as to what kind of life they would have once they leave the village they considered as their home for 33 years.
She, however, said that her family would abide the government’s no build zone once it would be strictly enforced.
In San Jose, another hard-hit area, Marilyn Ocena 42, said that though they were among the thousands of residents of Tacloban who left the city during the first weeks after the storm on November 8, they chose to return to their old home located at the Fisherman’s Village together with their seven children.
The family now lives in a tent after their house was totally destroyed by Yolanda.
In Costa Brava, also in San Jose, Richard Padilla, 34,together with his wife and three children, expressed hope that he would be given help considering that he lost his car which he used for his rent-a-car business.
Now, his family together with other survivors depends on the rations being given to them by the government. Just like other those who lost their houses, the family now lives in a tent.
By: LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA