“Loopholes in party-list law” Babae Ka blames Akbayan’s inaction

Press Release
By BABAE KA
April 17, 2007

MAKATI CITY, Philippines  –  Women’s party-list group Babae para sa Kaunlaran (BABAE KA) today lambasted the Citizen’s Action Party (Akbayan) for its failure to push for “pro-people and pro-poor” amendments to the party-list system law.

Sally Dagami, Babae Ka chairperson and a Waray, said that, “This self-proclaimed cause-oriented group did not even bother to introduce a bill amending the party-list law because it is benefiting from the loopholes in the law.”

Babae Ka also chided Akbayan for failing to author a legislation that would oblige party-list groups to reveal their nominees publicly.

“Anim na taon na sila sa Kongreso. Nitong nakaraang tatlong taon ay tatlo pa ang kanilang kinatawan pero kahit isang batas ay walang naipasa ang grupong ito. Ngayon sila daldal ng daldal samantalang noong may sesyon ang Kongreso ay hindi sila nagpasa ng batas na magtatakda sa paglabas ng pangalan ng mga nominado,” Dagami said.

“Sa loob ng tatlong taon, yung isang kinatawan nila ay pitong panukalang batas lang ang nagawa. Yung isa naman ay labing-tatlo, at yung isa dalawampu’t siyam nga pero puro kinopya lang naman sa mga panukala ng ibang mambabatas,” Dagami added.

The Commission on Elections last week said that the party-list system is “vague and flawed” and it should be amended.

Commissioner Rene Sarmiento lamented that the poll body is “taking all the punches” in its decision not to make public the list of nominees when it is simply enforcing the law.

“The law is flawed. It should be re-examined because it is vague. I believe Congress should pass a new law or amend the existing one to spell out the nuances of the party-list law,” Sarmiento said.

Sarmiento said Republic Act 7941, otherwise known as the Party-list System Act, only requires nominees to “represent” and not necessarily to “belong” to the marginalized sector that they claim to represent.

“What exactly does ‘to represent’ mean?” Sarmiento asked. “It could mean that being an advocate is already enough. Another could argue that the nominee should be marginalized himself, poor or financially distressed.”

Under Section 9 of RA 7941, the only requirements set for nominees are the following: must be a natural-born citizen of the Philippines; a registered voter; a resident of the Philippines for a period of not less than one year immediately preceding the day of the election; able to read and write; a bona fide member of the party or organization which he seeks to represent; and at least 25 years of age on the day of the election.

“Under the law, an aspiring party-list group only needs to meet the requirements set forth in it to get accredited. However, some groups like Akbayan has dubious intentions. They obviously want to take advantage of the loopholes in the law to gain media mileage. But the question is whose fault was it? It’s really theirs,” Dagami said.

One more top ranking NPA leader in Leyte falls

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
April 15, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  One more top ranking NPA leader in Leyte fell while one military trooper was wounded, after a five minute firefight in a military troops and communist terrorists encounter at the vicinity of Baragay Sta. Cruz, Villaba, Leyte.

Killed during the firefight was Policarpio Opo alias Memong, secretary of the White Area Committee, North Leyte Force, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee, CPP-NPA, 1Lt. Dennis Almorato, Public Information Officer of the Philippine Army informed.

Wounded was PFC Benvienido Ortizaone while recovered from the scene of incident were one (1) M16 rifle with magazine, subversive documents, and personal belongings.

It was reported that at about 2:50 in the afternoon of April 12, 2007, two platoons of Commando troopers led by 2Lt. Marvin P. Castillo and 2Lt. Alberto Dabajo while about to serve the warrant of arrest to Policarpio Opo alias Memong, they encountered more or less five communist terrorists led by Opo.

The neutralization of Opo is the latest among the ranking North Leyte Force (NLF) committee members that fell under the hands of the Commando Trooper as the deadline to dismantle the NLF is nearing towards the end of 2nd quarter this year.

Policarpio Opo is the third ranking NLF committee member neutralized this year preceded by Antonio Ramos alias Pingkoy/Mando, former Secretary of NLF last February 25, 2007 and Paterno Opo alias Noble/Loloy/Rex (his younger brother), Commanding Officer, FOC codenamed Mount Amendawin  Command, NLF, EVRPC.

Buoyed by the recent arrest of Paterno Opo last April 6, 2007 in Brgy Nulatula, Tacloban City by the 19th Infantry (Commando) Battalion, this development is an addition to its strings of victories against the CPP/NPA/NDF in Leyte.

LtCol Lope C. Dagoy GSC (INF) PA said “his arrest will definitely bring an added demoralization among the rank and file of the communists terrorists belonging to the NLF that is already besieged by the long sustained operations of my unit causing them misery, isolation, and hunger.”

Former speaker Nicanor E. Yñiguez, 92

By BONG PEDALINO (PIA Southern Leyte)
April 15, 2007

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte  –  The grand old man of Southern Leyte politics, former Speaker of the Batasang Pambansa in 1984, Nicanor Espina Yñiguez, passed away last Friday at 4:30 p.m. at the Salvacion Oppus Yñiguez Memorial Provincial Hospital here. He was 92.

Yñiguez died of pneumonia, according to Carlos Lerias, a grandson.

The late Speaker had been hospitalized for quite some time, sitting in a wheelchair inside the provincial hospital, and at one moment he was brought to a Cebu hospital, where his right leg was amputated for diabetes complications.

"After we (immediate family members) gathered around and said our (goodbyes), my Tatay took his last breath. He just went to sleep,” Lerias said.

He was survived by his two children and their families – Southern Leyte Gov. Rosette Lerias, her husband Victor and their three children; and US-based son Alfredo Yñiguez and his three children.

His wife, Salvacion Oppus Yñiguez, a former Southern Leyte governor and professor at the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music, died in September 2005. She was the daughter of the late Rep. Tomas Oppus.

“No Canong,” as he was called by his friends and supporters, carved a political career spanning almost three decades, from 1957 to 1986, when President Ferdinand Marcos, his classmate at the University of the Philippines College of Law, Class 1939, was ousted by the EDSA I revolt.

Twenty three years ago, Yñiguez was widely touted as a probable material for the presidency, being the number two man at that time, had it not been for the EDSA 1 uprising.

Yñiguez was the acknowledged father of Southern Leyete, having successfully pushed through a bill creating the province in 1957, which became Republic Act No. 2227, signed by then President Carlos Garcia on May 22, 1959.

Southern Leyte was inaugurated as a province on July 1, 1960, covering 16 towns, with Maasin as the capital and seat of the provincial government.

Over the years the number of towns rose to 18, while Maasin, the capital, became a component city in 2000.

Over 1.8K landowners in Region 8 receive Free Patents

By PURIFICACION S. DALOOS
April 15, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  Dreams fulfilled. Brighter prospects for the future.

These in essence, sum up the feelings and thoughts of jubilant land owners in Region 8 who have finally received Free Patents as absolute proof of ownership over their lands.

In a span of only three months, covering the first quarter of 2007, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources through its Land Management Service, has distributed a total of 1,872 Free Patents to qualified land owners in 78 barangays in Eastern Visayas. This covers an aggregate of 1,694.5259 hectares in four Eastern Visayas towns.

The town of Bontoc in Southern Leyte had the most number of Free Patent recipients with 660 beneficiaries owning up an aggregate of 670.7988 hectares distributed in 25 barangays. In Calbayog City, Samar. 484 Free Patents were distributed with an area of 587.2651 hectares. The island municipality of Guiuan in Eastern Samar also had Free Patent recipients totaling 445, including its Municipal Mayor Anna Liza Gonzales-Kwan. Some 283 Free Patents were likewise given to landowners in Tarangnan, Samar covering 134.1388 hectares.

“This is a memorable event, because the ownership of the lands by all beneficiaries will now be absolute,” testified Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan during the Handog Titulo Program held in their town on February 27, 2007.  “As a beneficiary, I am happy because my ownership of the land is absolute, not just for taxation purposes.  This provides us hope for the future,” said Mayor Kwan.

Other beneficiaries of the Handog Titulo Program shared the happiness of Mayor Kwan. A recipient of seven (7) Free Patents, Mr. Arturo Moreno, 72 years old of Tarangnan, Samar, said he was trying to control his happiness that his dream of having titles to his properties has finally been realized, fearing that his being overjoyed might affect his blood pressure and the condition of his heart.  He shared his story that he bought parcels of land in the ‘70s for only P150.00 per parcel. Then in 2002, employees of the DENR went to their place to accept applications for land titling. He paid P250.00 for each parcel of land, and now he holds in his hands seven (7) Free Patents for his properties in barangays Bangon, Balugo, Canongan, Imelda and Pajo, all in Tarangnan, Samar. He thanked the DENR as well as their municipal mayor for helping make his dream a reality.

In Bontoc, So. Leyte, Florencio Espiritu, 73 years old of Brgy. Union, said he is happy to finally receive the title ten years after their lot was surveyed.  As long as he lives, he vows to cultivate the land to make it productive and does not have plans to sell the said land.  He also said he will religiously pay the taxes due his land. He expressed his desire to have another lot in Brgy. Mauylab titled under the DENR’s program.

Deputized Public Land Inspectors and other field implementers of the Land Management Service continue to bring their services closer to the people by actually doing office in identified barangays where Free Patent Applications are being accepted thus saving time and money for the land owners.

“Before, land title applicants would go to our office to apply for title.  Now we see to it that land titling services will be delivered to your doorstep,” Lands Regional Technical Director Ramon Unay told the land owners in Bontoc, Southern Leyte.

Regional Executive Director Alfredo S. Pascual disclosed that DENR Secretary Angelo Reyes has issued an instruction to double the Department’s effort in the distribution of titles which is geared towards increasing farm productivity and reducing poverty in the countryside.

“The title is useless unless the lands subjected of the title is cultivated and developed for economic productivity,” RED Pascual tells the Free Patent beneficiaries even as he encourages them to make their lands productive, not only through vegetable and other crops plantation, but also with high valued tree species.

“Noynoy” lauds Icot’s drive for better hotels in Leyte

By Provincial Media Relations Center (PMRC-Leyte)
April 15, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  Tarlac Representative and now senatorial bet Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino lauded Gov. Petilla’s effort in luring investors and tourists alike to the province of Leyte through the latter’s effort of improving existing hotels in the province.

The senatorial candidate, who is running under the ticket of the Genuine Opposition (GO), declared during his latest campaign sortie to the province that this goal of the governor, though seeking another term as governor under the administration wing, will have his full support in the Senate if he would be elected.

According to Aquino, Leyte and its neighboring provinces abound in natural resources that only need to be maximized to propel the area into greater economic development.

For one, Aquino said, Gov. Petilla’s effort to lure tourists by improving hotels in the province is one example of how to maximize the readily available resources that the province possesses.

“I would be supporting that goal of Gov. Petilla to improve hotels in order to attract more tourists here. Kung ano yung programa ng inyong mga local leaders dito, yun ang aking susuportahan,” Aquino said during his visit to Baybay, Leyte with Gov. Petilla before the observance of the Holy Week.

It can be recalled that part of the governor’s plan to invigorate the province’s tourism industry is to address the lack for more hotels, bigger venues and better accommodations commonly being looked for tourists who are out on vacation to relax themselves and enjoy a detoxifying respite.

The provincial government has been eyeing to improve the Mac Arthur Beach Resort Hotel in Palo, Leyte, which is one of the bigger hotels in the province at the moment which also offers a fantastic view of the historic Red Beach.

According to a report by the Department of Tourism in the province, the current market of hotels in the province is not enough to accommodate the expected influx of tourists to the area, with Eastern Visayas, together with other neighboring regions as part of President Arroyo’s Central Visayas Super region along with other dubbed as the tourism center of the country.

LCP seeks to nullify 6 cityhood laws at the Supreme Court

Press Release
By League of Cities of the Philippines
April 14, 2007

MANILA, Philippines  –  The 118-strong League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), led by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas and Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen S. Sarmiento, LCP President and Secretary General, respectively, filed a petition before the Supreme Court on Tuesday (March 27) to declare null and void the cityhood laws of six towns.

The towns which include Baybay, Leyte; Bogo, Cebu; Catbalogan, Samar; Tandag, Agusan del Sur; Borongan, Eastern Samar; and, Tayabas, Quezon were named respondents to the petition for violating Section 10, Article X and Section 1, Article III of the 1987 Constitution.

LCP has designated Puno and Puno Law Office to file the petition for prohibition in its behalf as well as the request for the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the conduct of a plebiscite in the said towns.

Treñas said the towns failed to meet the requirements provided for under the Local Government Code which technically disqualifies them from conversion into cities.

The cityhood bills lapsed into law after the President failed to sign them 30 days after they were submitted to Malacañang.  Despite failing to meet the requirements of Republic Act 9009, these were still passed by Congress.

Under RA 9009, a town should have a locally generated income of at least P100 million annually before it could be classified into a city.  It should also either have a land area of at least 100 square kilometers or a population of 150,000.

The League argued that the cityhood laws violated Section 10, Article X of the 1987 Constitution by unlawful exemption of these towns from complying with the minimum income requirement imposed by the Local Government Code.

Treñas further stated that the cityhood laws also violate the equal protection clause under Section 1, Article III of the Constitution as it unreasonably grants special treatment to these municipalities by exempting them from compliance with the minimum income requirement impose by the Local Government Code.

The six are part of the 16 towns which sought exemption from the requirements of RA 9009. The Congress has so far approved the cityhood laws of the 15 towns despite strong opposition from the LCP.

Sarmiento said the conversion of these “unqualified” towns into cities will set a “bad precedent” and shall invite a deluge of application practically from all towns which have the same status. He said that LCP will be filing similar suits against the other towns as their cityhood bills lapse into law.

Village official in Samar shot dead

By ELI C. DALUMPINES (PIA Samar)
April 14, 2007

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  An official of an interior village of Sta. Margarita town was shot dead by two still unidentified gunmen Tuesday afternoon, police reports said.

Sta. Margarita police reported that Artemio C. Onate, 46 years old and a Barangay Kagawad of Brgy. Camperito was on his way home after taking an afternoon bath at Pambuhan River around 6 p.m. Tuesday when he was shot.

Onate sustained gunshot wounds in his head and in his left leg which resulted to his instantaneous death.

The police recovered from the crime scene 5 empty shells of cal. 45 pistol and an empty shell of 12 gauge shotgun.

No witnesses have surfaced to shed light on the case as of press time though.

But Samar Police Director Supt. Asdali Idja Abah directed the Sta. Margarita Police to conduct a thorough investigation to identify the suspects and to determine the motive behind the killing.

Lately, there has been a series of killings allegedly perpetrated by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) against local government officials who expressed support to the government’s anti-insurgency drive but the military has yet to confirm whether the Onate killing is insurgency-related or not.

KARAPATAN-Panay SecGen. ambushed, 2 other human rights defenders abducted

Press Release
By KARAPATAN
April 13, 2007

QUEZON CITY, Philippines  –  Continuing executions and abductions show "business as usual" for state security forces

The Philippine human rights group Karapatan today condemned the frustrated killing of its Panay Island Secretary General Jose Ely "Leeboy" Garachico, 50 years old, and the abduction of two other human rights defenders who were with him in Iloilo. 

The initial report gathered by Karapatan reveals that Garachico, along with Nilo Arado of Bayan-Panay and Luisa Posa Dominado of SELDA-Panay, were traveling in Oton, Iloilo last night at around 10PM when a van overtook their vehicle and shot Garachico in the neck.  The assailants then forced Arado and Dominado out of the vehicle.  They have not been located until now.  Garachico is receiving medical attention at the Intensive Care Unit of a local hospital.

Speaking at the indignation rally held by human rights and multi-sectoral organizations at the Welcome Rotonda monument in Quezon City, Karapatan Deputy Secretary General Jigs Clamor condemned the slay attempt on Garachico and the enforced disappearance of Arado and Dominado.

From March 22 to April 3 or within 13 days, 7 victims fell prey to abductions and disappearances, two of whom turned up dead; one girl was killed – in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Cavite and Compostela Valley in Mindanao.  The slay attempt on Garachico and abduction of Arado and Dominado on April 12 is the first reported incident in Panay Island.

Clamor said, "The continuing executions and abductions show that it is more than business as usual for state forces, they are doing the business more briskly and with more impunity.   We also note with alarm that the perpetrators are resorting more to abductions and disappearances now that extrajudicial killings have been condemned."

"It is as if the more the human rights community assail and protest these dastardly acts, the more the perpetrators are emboldened to commit them," said Clamor.

Clamor also said that the atrocities continue to happen despite the Arroyo government's announcements that measures are being taken to "resolve the problems."

"All Mrs. Arroyo has to do is order the state security forces to put a stop to these atrocities, if she is really intent on putting a stop to these violations," Clamor concluded.