UPLM warns against 'insidious' martial law

By Mike Banos / January 16, 2007

THE Union of People’s Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM) over the weekend warned against what it called an "insidious" martial law which is eroding the rights of citizens daily without their knowledge.

During its first executive committee meeting for the year, UPLM said the ‘‘de facto martial law’’ now prevailing in the country is even worse than the previous one declared by the late deposed president Ferdinand Marcos because there is no "formal declaration."

"This is worse," said lawyer and UPLM Frederico Gapuz. "Marcos was open, now it’s insidious. Martial law exists without formal declaration. Killings are going on with no one being charged."

Gapuz, a known human rights lawyer here, said 21 lawyers have already suffered violent deaths since President Arroyo took power in 2001, along with 47 journalists. The country has been called by international groups as the most dangerous place in the world for journalists.

In a Jan. 9 report posted on the workers.org website, Teresa Gutierrez cites a report by The International Action Center (IAC) fact-finding delegation to the Philippines which said that since Arroyo assumed office in 2001, about 730 people have been killed and 168 political leaders and activists remain missing.

Among the fatalities listed were Bishop Alberto Ramento and activists Markus Bangit, Napolean Pornasdoro, Jayson Delen, Jimmy Mirafuente, student leader Cris Hugo, and Diosdado Fortuna of the Kilusang Mayo Uno.

Lawyer Carlos Zarate, UPLM secretary general, said the killings, especially of lawyers, judges and journalists, ‘‘is anathema to a democracy.’’

"Even media, however negative, were not subject to such threats and intimidation during the Marcos years as they are now," Zarate noted. "Now human rights violators are promoted and given prestigious positions in the national government. Do you know there are now 36 former

generals in the government bureaucracy?"

Zarate expects the killings to escalate during the upcoming May 2007 elections.

"Mindanao is traditionally an election hot spot, especially the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm)," he said.

Officials of UPLM said they were forced to come out in the open for fear of their lives.

Lawyer Emiliano Deleverio, UPLM vice chairperson for western Mindanao and legal counsel for Karapatan in Pagadian, Dipolog and Zamboanga, said for five months now, he has been the only one left in the offices of the human rights group Karapatan which is co-located in his law office in Pagadian, after all the staff members of the group went into hiding because of constant intimidation and harassment from "military assets."

"They ransacked our office without any search warrant," Deleverio told reporters. "From time to time, military assets would visit the office in civilian clothes armed with firearms and threaten our staff. Military intimidation has reached a point where even judges are intimidated and all the military’s demands are granted by them without bothering to inform the opposing counsel.’’

UPLM member Beverly Musni, also a lawyer for Karapatan in Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental, said she constantly receives death and other threats on her cellphone.

As a result of the constant intimidation and harassment and for fear of their lives, the lawyers said they have taken security measures to protect themselves. They said 21 lawyers have been killed since Arroyo took over as president in 2001.

As a precaution, Deleverio said he does not tell his driver where or when his next stop is going to be, said Gapuz.

Gapuz also said he also does the same thing. "I don’t tell anyone when I go out of town to handle cases in, say, Gingoog or Bukidnon."

At least two international fact-finding missions have confirmed the killings of lawyers and judges in the country. Last June, an independent delegation of two judges and six lawyers from Amsterdam, The Netherlands and Antwerp, Belgium, investigated the violent killings of nine lawyers and one judge in the Philippines since March 2005.

The mission was initiated by The Dutch Lawyers for Lawyers Foundation, Dutch Foundation Lawyers without Borders, Amsterdam Bar Association and the Netherlands Bar Association

A later international fact-finding mission that looked into the unsolved killings of Filipino lawyers and judges affirmed the findings of previous missions about "a pattern of impunity" in the cases.

Jan Bless, a district court judge in Haarlem, The Netherlands, told a news conference that the group’s findings were based on the growing number of lawyers and judges that had been killed. The Counsels for the Defense of Liberties, which hosted the mission, said at least 13 lawyers and 10 judges had been killed during the Arroyo administration.

The Fourth Conference of Lawyers in Asia and the Pacific (Colap 4) held in Seoul in September 2005 also condemned the human rights violations in many Asian countries, including the killings of Filipino lawyers which it considers as an attack against the human rights of the Filipino people.

As of the moment, UPLM considers western Mindanao and Caraga regions, as the "hot spots" of human rights violations in Mindanao, said Zarate.

"Of the 36 mysterious bombings which hit Mindanao, why has not even as single perpetrator been identified by the government?" Zarate asked.

He said military intelligence just rounds up the "usual suspects" like in the case of the bombings at Davao’s Sasa wharf and international airport where the Muslim "suspects" were picked up without benefit of arrest warrants or evidence but have not been heard of since.

To date, UPLM has taken on 26 cases involving political detainees, victims of sectoral rights violations, union bustings and displacement of peasants, among others.

"There is a need to consolidate the forces of human rights lawyers in Mindanao," Gapuz said. "We need to make the people aware of the real purpose behind the present administration’s plans to encroach on their human rights such as ‘Oplan Bantay Laya.’"

A plan to organize a national union has been tentatively set for Cebu next month while the UPLM general assembly is expected to be hosted in Cagayan de Oro this coming July.

Meanwhile, Gapuz said the UPLM is also calling on all incoming congressmen to consider filing new impeachment complaints against the President over the release of convicted rapist Daniel Smith to the custody of the US Embassy.

"We are charging GMA with high treason in the case of Smith," Gapuz said. "What she did is treason! She surrendered our own sovereignty. Smith has a case pending in court, why did she have to release him? I hope Congress after the next election would initiate the necessary impeachment proceedings.’’

UPLM is a Mindanao-based group of 70 lawyers, paralegals and law students organized in 2005 in answer to the blatant violations of human rights in Mindanao.

Greens reaffirm support for Sulog but keep off from PDP bickerings

January 16, 2007

LOCAL environmentalists have reaffirmed their commitment to actively participate in efforts aimed at putting an end to Mayor Vicente Emano’s control over city hall but said they would not raise a finger to make bickering leaders of the PDP-Laban kiss and make up.

"As one of those who originally started the process of unity, we reaffirm our support to efforts to unite the opposition,’’ said BenCyrus Ellorin of the Partido Kalikasan and Task Force Macajalar. He referred to the efforts of the Socialist Union of Local Opposition Groups (Sulog) headed by lawyer Frederico Gapuz.

However, Ellorin said environmentalists would keep off from the ‘‘intramurals of the opposition groups like the PDP-Laban.’’

"When we started Sulog, we agreed that different opposition groups would settle their differences in their respective parties or groups and sit in the Sulog as a party,’’ he said. ‘‘That means that the present bickerings in some of the opposition groups are internal.’’

The environmentalists, he said, were optimistic that the bickering politicians in the opposition would resolve their differences ‘‘internally’’ without compromising the efforts to unify the opposition, said Ellorin.

He said that under the Sulog framework which Partido Kalikasan recognizes, the united opposition would be a coalition of several opposition groups and ‘‘not a monopoly of any opposition political party.’’

"We respect the processes of Sulog, and we hope that groups that committed to the unification process would respect each other as equals," he said.

Earlier, lawyer Manuel Ravanera, the Partido Kalikasan’s leader here, said his group would actively participate in the May elections ‘‘out of our sincere belief and painstaking efforts to push good and honest governance that is founded on the principles of transparency, accountability and the rule of law."

Manila reporters tried to talk capitol into giving them pocket money

By Susan Palmes / January 16, 2007

A GROUP of Manila-based reporters with Malacanang press cards tried to talk the capitol into shelling out cash in exchange for good publicity when they came over to cover the launch of the Steag State Power Inc.’s coal-fired plant in Villa-nueva, Misamis Oriental, two Mondays ago.

Capitol spokesperson Maricel Rivera confirmed this. However, she said the capitol refused to give the Manila reporters money.

Rivera said it all started when the Manila-based reporters learned that she was the head of the capitol’s press office. The same group reportedly interviewed Gov. Oscar Moreno earlier.

Later, one of the reporters reportedly asked her: ‘‘Saan tayo mamaya? (Where are we going later?)’’

Rivera said the same reporter subsequently asked for her contact number.

As a public relations move, Rivera said she hurriedly booked dinner for the Malacanang press in one of the city’s restaurants.

After the Steag launch, Rivera said she received numerous phone calls from the Manila reporters who asked if the evening schedule would push through.

She said she received another call around 7 pm. She said she told the reporter which restaurant to go and even offered to send someone to pick the group up.

But to her surprise, Rivera said the caller told her: "Never mind the dinner, we have eaten already courtesy of Steag... Kindly tell the governor that there are 16 of us here... Pabaon lang (for our pocket money only).’’

Rivera said she told the caller straight that she was sorry because all she could offer them was a modest dinner.

The phone calls stopped after that, she said.

SPI had invited local and Manila-based reporters to cover the Dec. 8 launch of the 210-mw coal-fired power plant in Villanueva town. President Arroyo was scheduled to grace the launch but she failed to come due to bad weather.

Asking money from news sources in exchange for good publicity is considered a form of media corruption. Most codes of ethics for journalists prohibit this practice because it could compromise the truth in reporting.

In the city, any victim of erring reporters can file formal complaints before the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) and/or, in the case of broadcasters, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP).

Ubaub blames Calingin over YMCA fund row

By Susan Palmes and Herbie Gomez / January 11, 2007

FORMER officers of the local Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) have spent the organization’s funds without board approval not only once but on various occasions.

Provincial prosecutor Arturo Ubaub, a member of the YMCA board, pointed an accusing finger at Councilor Alvin Calingin. ‘‘Karon lang ni nayabag... [It started] when Calingin became the president."

Calingin served as president of the YMCA here in 2005. He was the group’s 1st vice president last year.

There is bad blood between Ubaub and Calingin. Various sources said Calingin and Ubaub nearly threw blows at each other when the prosecutor questioned the use of funds for the renovation of one of the offices of the local Court of Appeals (CA) division. The CA is leasing a space at the YMCA’s Licuan property.

Ubaub said Calingin had caused the release of YMCA funds for the renovation without the approval of the board.

Later, he said, Calingin pushed for a board approval on the use of funds for the renovation.

"There were many projects that were not approved by the board,’’ said Ubaub.

Various sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said an irked Calingin stood up and dared Ubaub to a fight when the prosecutor questioned the use of the YMCA funds for the renovation during one of the board’s meetings.

YMCA president Adrian Barba confirmed that the association’s officers argued about the use of the funds.

‘‘There were different interpretations of the contract of lease,’’ he said.

Judge Maximo Paderanga, the YMCA president last year, said there was nothing wrong with the use of YMCA funds to renovate an office of one of its lessees. "It was an emergency, it should be done immediately."

Calingin, Ubaub and Paderanga were told to account for some P250 thousand which the YMCA spent to cover the expenses during their US trip last July.

The amount, allegedly released without the YMCA board’s approval, was on top of the P168 thousand set aside by the association for the registration of the Cagayan de Oro delegation to the YMCA convention in the US.

Ubaub confirmed that Judge Paderanga gave him and Calingin P50 thousand each shortly before the trip. The money was given without a green light from the YMCA board.

On Friday, Ubaub returned P20 thousand to the YMCA.

Ubaub said he no longer owed YMCA anything because the association’s board agreed to extend him a financial ‘‘assistance’’ of P30 thousand after the US trip.

"When I returned in Aug. 15, the board already passed a resolution requiring us to refund," said Ubaub. Later, the board passed a resolution giving ‘‘assistance’’ to the delegates who went to the US.

Calingin was not entitled to the assistance because he did not leave for the US while Paderanga was reportedly given a P50-thousand ‘‘assistance.’’

Aside from the P50 thousand which he allegedly received from Paderanga, Calingin has yet to account for the P168 thousand set aside by the YMCA board for the registration of the delegates from Cagayan de Oro.

Ubaub said Calingin received the money because he was tasked to register the participants.

Nine people, including Paderanga, Ubaub and Calingin, were supposed to represent the local YMCA during the association’s US convention. Only five left: Paderanga and his wife Olivia, Ubaub and his wife Loida, and Calingin’s wife Rosanna.

There were conflicting statements on the participation of the wives, particularly on Mrs. Calingin’s, to the YMCA convention. While their participation caused brows to raise in the association, a former officer of the group said the wives of the three officers are YMCA members and therefore, they are entitled to represent the group.

Barba, the present president of the group, said Mrs. Calingin was not a delegate to the US convention. However, Judge Paderanga maintained that Mrs. Calingin was a delegate.

Four others were supposed to join the delegation but failed because the US Embassy rejected their visa applications or for other reasons. They are Calingin’s brother Lester, Paderanga’s daughter Olga, one Luspo and one Pagulong.

George Goking, the YMCA auditor last year, confirmed that the association’s board set aside P168 thousand for the registration of nine people. He said the registration fee was some US$1,300 for every three delegates.

Goking said it remains unclear if only five or nine people were actually registered.

‘‘It would be premature to discuss that. We’re waiting for the YMCA in the US to tell us (what really happened to the registration fees),’’ said Goking. ‘‘The funds are subject to liquidation.’’

It was Goking who sparked the controversy when he refused to sign the association’s financial statement because of the alleged irregularities. He signed the financial report later after the Barba-led board agreed to pressure the former officers to return the excess funds.

The present YMCA president tried to downplay the reports about the fund mess.

‘‘There is no fund mess,’’ said Barba. ‘‘[It’s just that there are] no supporting papers.’’

Barba said it was just a case of Paderanga thinking that he was authorized to release the funds ‘‘because he was the president [at that time]."

He said the new YMCA board has instituted reforms that include pre-auditing of funds. He said it was also agreed to make the local YMCA general secretary, treasurer and auditor the only bank signatories.

Paderanga said there was no irregularity in the use of the YMCA funds for the US trip because ‘‘that was an official business.’’

Paderanga claimed he already accounted for the funds used during the US trip.

"I made the liquidation. For the ticket alone and the adjustments made, I spent P96 thousand,’’ said Paderanga, adding that he even spent his own money for tokens given to his US counterpart who was hosting the convention.

Paderanga said he had the right to use the local YMCA funds because ‘‘I was the president.’’

He said the fact that the YMCA board decided to give him a P50-thousand ‘‘assistance’’ only affirmed his authority to spend the group’s funds for the US trip.

Paderanga said he was entitled to ‘‘some privileges" being the YMCA president at that time. "We were official delegates bringing the name of YMCA-Cagayan de Oro."

This paper tried to get Calingin to comment. His only reply: ‘‘Ask Judge Paderanga.’’

Emano sees Yasay as Uy's likely running mate

By Mark Francisco / January 11, 2007

THE mayor of Opol town is being considered as a likely candidate for vice governor in the province.

Mayor Vicente Emano floated the name of Opol Mayor Dixon Yasay as a probable bet for vice governor under the PaDayon Pilipino in May.

This, he said, could be the scenario in case Vice Gov. Julio Uy, who belongs to the same party, pushes through with his plan to run for governor against Gov. Oscar Moreno and Rep. Augusto Baculio Jr.

On local radio, Yasay said he needed more time to think about the prospects of him seeking the pro-vince’s second highest position.

He said his other option is to seek reelection. Yasay is serving his second term as Opol’s mayor.

In previous interviews, Emano said he would neither support Moreno nor Baculio. He took a wait-and-see stance over the announcement of Uy that he was presenting himself as an alternative candidate for governor.

Last week, Uy claimed to have won the support of 12 of the 24 town mayors of Misamis Oriental.

Ex-governor Antonio Calingin said the disunity of President Arroyo’s allies in the province would give the opposition in Misamis Oriental an edge in the May elections.

Emano, Moreno, Baculio and Uy are all allies of President Arroyo.

3 officials tied to YMCA fund mess

By Susan Palmes and Herbie Gomez / January 8, 2007

A JUDGE, a prosecutor and a councilor are caught in a controversy that is now shaking the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) here over the use of the organization’s funds for a US trip allegedly without the board’s approval.

In a meeting on Friday, the new YMCA board agreed to demand the return of some P250 thousand from regional Judge Maximo Paderanga, Misamis Oriental prosecutor Arturo Ubaub and Cagayan de Oro Councilor Alvin Calingin.

At the time of the release of the YMCA funds, Paderanga was president of the association, Calingin was a vice president and Ubaub was a member of the board. Calingin is a former president of the local YMCA.

The controversy was sparked when the YMCA auditor last year, businessman George Goking, refused to sign the association’s financial report due to the alleged irregularity.

Goking said he agreed to sign the financial report during the Friday meeting after the YMCA board decided to make Paderanga, Calingin and Ubaub account for the funds that were supposedly used for an official trip to the US in mid 2006.

Goking said he attended the Friday meeting called by YMCA president Adrian Barba and asked evangelical minister The Rev. Romeo Puentespina, a corporate member of the association, to tag along so his actions would not be viewed with political undertones. The businessman is closely associated with a number of politicians and their aides.

Goking told the Gold Star Daily that the Barba-led board decided to pressure Paderanga, Calingin and Ubaub to return the money through demand letters.

‘‘If the money is not returned, my understanding is that the board will resort to legal action,’’ said Goking in a phone interview.

Goking said the funds should have been returned before the new year.

All in all, the YMCA released nearly half a million pesos for the US trip. Only some P168 thousand was approved by the YMCA board to cover the registration costs, said Goking.

But some P250 thousand more was ordered released by the judge on top of the approved P168 thousand, alleged Goking.

‘‘Paderanga gave P50 thousand each to them (Calingin and Ubaub),’’ said Goking.

But here’s the catch: only Paderanga and Ubaub left for the US.

During a YMCA meeting, ‘‘Ubaub stood up and said the records should be corrected because Calingin did not go,’’ said Goking.

Calingin confirmed this. A text message he sent to this paper reads: ‘‘I did not go to the USA. Please ask Judge Paderanga.’’

Whether or not Calingin received P50 thousand remains unclear.

Paderanga and Ubaub have yet to comment; they are out of town at presstime.

Sol Ucat, administrative officer of the association, declined to give details of the Friday meeting, the first under Barba.

But sources described the meeting before Friday’s as ‘‘heated’’ after an angry member of the YMCA spilled the beans.

‘‘A tip of the iceberg,’’ said a YMCA insider who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The YMCA’s membership here is a list of Who’s Who in Cagayan de Oro. It has over 100 members that include prominent businessmen Hong See and Stephen Gaisano.

Rep. Constantino Jaraula was its president in 1998 and has been credited for the construction of the present YMCA building in Licuan that houses a special division of Court of Appeals (CA) and a number of offices.

Founded in England in 1844, the YMCA is an international network of nonsectarian organizations that provide athletic, recreational, family, cultural and educational services to members. Local YMCAs are nonprofit corporations.

Arroyo to sound 'biggest ever' gong to signal Misor plant's launch

By Mike Banos / January 8, 2007

PRESIDENT Arroyo is set to sound a huge ceremonial gong in Misamis Oriental today to signal the launch of Mindanao’s first coal-fired power plant which is seen to give the island’s power supply a needed boost.

Arroyo is also expected to grace the capitol’s agro-industrial fair, marking the start of the province’s 77th anniversary.

Mindanao’s first ever coal-fired power plant formally comes online today, stabilizing an otherwise shaky power situation in the country’s second largest island which is home to a fourth of the nation’s population.

Germany’s former economics and technology minister, Dr. Werner Muller, and Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla would be with Arroyo as she sounds the "biggest ever" ceremonial gong to formally launch the 210-megawatt plant built by Steag State Power, Inc. (SPI) at noon today. Muller is now the chairman of Steag’s Supervisory Board.

In what promises to be one big, grand party to start off the new year, SPI is pulling out all stops and rolling out the red carpet for its guests and visitors. Sources at the Lumbia airport confirm the company has chartered two Airbus A320 airliners to bring its guests from Manila and back.

A 70-strong press contingent, including Manila-based correspondents of foreign media, will also be around to record and share the event with posterity.

Also expected to grace the occasion are local and foreign dignitaries, including German Ambassador Axel Weishaupt, Japanese Ambassador Ryuichiro Yamazaki, Steag AG management board chairman Dr. Alfred Tacke, SPI chairman Dr. Washington SyCip and SPI president Andreas Rubin.

After the launch, Arroyo is scheduled to proceed to the capitol to grace the Tabo sa Umahan agro-industrial fair marking the 77th anniversary of Misamis Oriental as a province.

‘‘Tabo sa Umahan (farmer’s market) not only serves as a venue to exhibit Misamis Oriental’s best and finest agricultural products," said host Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno. "It also brings together farmers, fisherfolk, traders and other stakeholders to discuss marketing opportunities, explore and develop the tremendous agribusiness potential of the province."

Arroyo is then scheduled to go back to Manila after the opening program and viewing of the exhibits.

The construction of the power plant started in December 2003 following the financial closure a month earlier and the signing of a purchase power agreement between National Power Corp. and SPI in 1998. At that time, SPI was known as State Power Development Corp..

The power plant, which will be fired with Indonesian coal, would supply 15 percent of the power demand for Mindanao, which has lately been experiencing weather and environmental problems with its hydroelectric power plants and rising costs of fuel for its power barges.

SPI invested US$305 million to build the power plant, and a further P30 million for social development and environmental preservation projects in an effort to fully integrate the power plant into its host communities in Villanueva and Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, and Cagayan de Oro.

Some 3,000 workers, mostly from Villanueva and nearby areas were hired during the construction phase, pumping P307 million in wages and salaries into the local economy and helping make the Cagayan de Oro port a ‘‘billionaire’’ in 2004 and 2005, with customs duties collected when the bulk of the machineries and other equipment were delivered to the plant site.

Where's Fr. Bula?

By Lito Rulona and Ben Balce / January 6, 2007

AUTHORITIES launched a search for a Cebu-based priest who went missing in Misamis Oriental.

Except for Cagayan de Oro Mayor Vicente Emano, authorities were careful not to even hint that they suspected the priest, Fr. Lucio ‘‘Toto’’ Bula, was abducted.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has stepped in after being asked by Emano and Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno.

Aside from the NBI, the police and the army’s 8th Infantry Battalion have started looking for the 46-year old missionary-priest who was last seen in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, last Dec. 31.

Bula was scheduled to take the 6 am flight back to Cebu a day after New Year’s Day but he failed to show up at the Lumbia airport in Cagayan de Oro.

Moreno said Bula could have gone to one of the towns of Misamis Oriental. ‘‘Or maybe he just wants to rest and be alone.’’

He said Bula was reportedly asked to grace a house blessing in Lagonglong shortly after he arrived in Balingasag last month. The reunion in San Juan, Balingasag, was also graced by Moreno.

Moreno said there were also reports that the priest had gone to Jasaan. He said he had this checked but no one in Jasaan could confirm this.

"Maybe he wants to be alone, maybe he’s just around, somewhere,’’ said Moreno.

But over DxIF-Bombo Radyo, Mayor Emano said he feared Bula was abducted, adding that he was informed that a group was responsible for Bula’s mysterious disappearance. He said the group has been identified already.

‘‘Hangyo lang ning ako. Bisan asa, unsa kalayo adtoan nako para makuha si Fr. Bula. Nakadungog man kamo, contact lang and I am willing to negotiate (This is an appeal. I will go anywhere and no matter how far just to get Fr. Bula. Since you’ve listened to this, contact me and I am willing to negotiate with you)," Emano announced on air.

Emano also appealed to the unnamed group. ‘‘Please, keep Fr. Lucio alive," he said.

Emano added that if Bula offended anyone, he must have repented already when he entered priesthood. He did not elaborate.

A relative of the priest said Bula’s three siblings were killed allegedly by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in 1982 and 1983.

Virgilio Mendez, NBI director for northern Mindanao, downplayed the abduction angle.

"We cannot discount the possibility that he just went some place to do something or that he was just invited to go to a place without anyone knowing about it,’’ said Mendez. ‘‘Kidnapping has not been established."

Mendez however formed a team to help look for the missing priest.

The NBI is coordinating with the police in the towns of Balingasag, Lagonglong and Jasaan.

"I asked them to conduct a search in these areas and not to let any stone left unturned,’’ said Gov. Moreno.

Balingasag parish priest Fr. Ricardo Dancela said Bula went home from Cebu to be with his family in Barangay San Juan last Christmas and to attend a homecoming at St. Peter’s College.

Fr. Elmer Abacahin, spokesperson of the local Roman Catholic archdiocese, said Bula’s superiors in Cebu would be coming over ‘‘to help us.’’ Abacahin did not elaborate.

Camp Alagar spokesperson Senior Supt. Rolando de la Vega said the regional police office was waiting for an official report on Bula’s case from the provincial police office.

"Until now, there is no (official) report about a missing priest," de la Vega said.

No unity, no work, threatens Sulog

By Herbie Gomez / January 6, 2007

THE leader of the Socialist Union of Local Opposition Groups (Sulog) yesterday warned bickering politicians opposed to the Emano administration, saying the alliance would opt not to organize campaign workers for any of them unless they make up their minds and unite.

‘‘Unite or we will not work,’’ said Sulog lead convenor Frederico Gapuz.

Gapuz made the threat following a word war between ex-mayor Pablo Magtajas and former vice mayor Antonio Soriano in connection with the moves of Councilor Alvin Calingin to get the PDP-Laban green light for his likely bid for the city’s lone congressional seat.

Magtajas is the PDP-Laban chairperson for Cagayan de Oro while Soriano, also a congressional hopeful like Calingin, is the party’s head for northern Mindanao.

Ex-councilor Jose Abbu, a member of the PDP-Laban, expressed his disgust.

‘‘Opposition leaders in the national level have already united, why can’t we do the same thing here?’’ asked Abbu.

Abbu however said he was optimistic the bickering opposition leaders would sit down and agree soon. He said he was referring to Magtajas, Soriano, Calingin, Councilor Zaldy Ocon and ex-mayor Manolo Tagarda Sr.

‘‘Someone has to give way,’’ he said.

He said Sulog, being the umbrella organization of opposition groups in the city, would need to decide on its candidates soon. ‘‘Sulog’s decision must be respected.’’

Sulog has yet to announce its local candidates but Gapuz said the group’s bet for congressman would need to meet certain requirements.

Gapuz said the candi-date’s record as an opposition leader would be scrutinized, and his or her position in regard to issues against President Arroyo and Mayor Emano would be carefully weighed.

Gapuz said the issues include the Charter change push, Malacanang’s calibrated preemptive response, Presidential Proclamation 1017 and the ‘‘Hello, Garci’’ controversy.

He said Sulog’s candidate for congressman would also need to show how he or she opposed the Emano administration’s controversial projects.

‘‘The question would be on what the politician did at the height of these controversies,’’ said Gapuz.

Despite the calls for unity, the opposition to the entry of Councilor Calingin snowballed.

‘‘There will be no ceasefire nor compromise on Alvin (Calingin)... I will make sure that I will make my message very clear for a long time,’’ said ex-councilor Celestino Ocio III.

Ocio and a number of PDP-Laban members are strongly opposed to Calingin because of the councilor’s participation in some of the Emano administration’s projects. Calingin used to be an ally of Emano and was among those who approved city hall’s controversial projects.

‘‘Alvin (Calingin) will not only make the PDP-Laban lose the elections, he will cheat us of our moral ascendancy to go after Emano,’’ said Ocio.

Calingin has taken his oath as a member of the PDP-Laban during the party’s recent convention in Davao city.

Abbu said he thought Magtajas, Soriano, Calingin and Ocon kissed and made up during the Davao convention.

‘‘I had thought that they agreed already... that Alvin would be Ambing’s (Magtajas’s) vice mayor and that Soriano will be the candidate for congressman,’’ said Abbu.

But as far as Sulog is concerned, Calingin is neither in nor out.

‘‘Let’s wait and see,’’ said Gapuz. ‘‘He (Calingin) met with me only once. He went to my home... with Ocon.’’

The same thing goes for broadcast executive Butch Canoy who is being eyed by Magtajas as his candidate for congressman.

‘‘He (Canoy) is not being ruled out but he is not being considered,’’ said Gapuz.

The reason for this, said Gapuz, is because Canoy has never showed up in any of Sulog’s meetings.

But Soriano, according to Gapuz, ‘‘cannot be discounted’’ because he was actively involved in opposing Arroyo’s and Emano’s actions.

There are reportedly moves in the PDP-Laban to make Soriano the party’s candidate for congressman.

Big, fatal blunder, says Emano of Uy defection

By Lito Rulona and Susan Palmes / January 5, 2007

CAGAYAN de Oro Mayor Vicente Emano yesterday faulted the capitol over Vice Gov. Julio Uy’s decision to sever his ties with the Moreno administration.

Uy emerged on Wednesday as a likely ‘‘alternative’’ gubernatorial contender in the coming May elections.

The way the Moreno administration dealt with Uy was a ‘‘big and fatal blunder,’’ said Emano, the leader of the PaDayon Pilipino party.

‘‘This unfortunate event is going to be difficult for them. This is the result of what they did to Uy in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan,’’ said Emano. ‘‘Because of their greed for power and other excesses, they almost kicked Uy out of the province.’’

Emano did not elaborate.

Uy has been at odds with many members of the provincial board, mostly political allies of Gov. Oscar Moreno.

One of the most vocal of Uy’s critics is provincial board member Oliver Actub who vented his ire during some of the provincial board’s previous sessions.

Actub, who is closely associated with Emano, has also complained about the way Uy has been handling the provincial board’s administrative affairs and the vice governor’s working habits.

While Uy is qualified to become a governor, Emano said he advised the vice governor to carefully weigh his options.

‘‘He is a sincere member of the PaDayon Pilipino but he has to handle this well because he would be going against two big groups,’’ said Emano. The mayor was referring to the warring groups of Moreno and gubernatorial hopeful, Rep. Augusto Baculio Jr.

Over DxIF-Bombo Radyo, Emano said he told Uy: ‘‘Think it over because you will be torn between two big political forces.’’

Emano said he gave this advise to Uy when the vice governor met him together with lawyer Noel Guibone, a confidant of the mayor’s. He also said Uy’s announcement of his intention to run for governor came a bit too late.

During the radio interview, Emano did not categorically say if he would support Uy if the vice governor pursues his plan to seek the governorship. Instead, Emano said he would support Uy if he runs for vice governor again under the PaDayon Pilipino or even as an independent candidate.

Emano’s son, Yevgeny Vicente, would likely run for congressman in the province’s 2nd District under Moreno’s group.

If Uy runs for governor, he said the younger Emano, who is the mayor of Tagoloan, would be a common candidate.

Uy has claimed to now have the support of a dozen towns mayors, representing half of the province’s municipal chief executives. Rep. Baculio earlier claimed to have the support of some of these mayors.

Uy’s alleged supporters are the mayors of Alubijid, Gitagum, Libertad, Initao, Naawan, Manticao, Lugait, Kinoguitan, Sugbongcogon, Binuangan, Balingasag, and Villanueva.

Those who attended the meeting called by Uy at Dynasty Hotel in Cagayan de Oro include two ex-mayors, a former vice mayor and a former town councilor.

Only three provincial board members came.

Magtajas still hoping Canoy would run

By Herbie Gomez and Ben Balce / January 4, 2007

EX-MAYOR Pablo Magtajas yesterday said he remained hopeful that broadcast executive Butch Canoy would agree to run for congressman under the PDP-Laban ticket.

Magtajas said this when he called this paper to react to a report that said he was contemplating on making Councilor Alvin Calingin as his candidate for congressman in the May elections.

‘‘Nothing is final yet,’’ said Magtajas, chair of the PDP-Laban for Cagayan de Oro.

However, he admitted meeting with Councilors Calingin and Zaldy Ocon, who is said to be eyeing the city’s 2nd top post.

Magtajas denied he has dropped former vice mayor Antonio Soriano from his ticket. Soriano, the chairperson of the PDP-Laban for northern Mindanao, is eyeing the city’s lone congressional seat.

‘‘There’s no such thing as junking because we (Soriano and Magtajas) have no agreement yet,’’ said the ex-mayor.

But Magtajas said he and Soriano initially agreed that the former vice mayor would give way in the event that Canoy decides to run for congressman under the local opposition ticket.

‘‘The initial agreement was that he (Soriano) would slide down to vice mayor,’’ Magtajas said. ‘‘He (Soriano) knows that he is not my first choice. My first choice is Butch.’’

Magtajas said he was merely waiting for Canoy’s decision. ‘‘They are waiting for their mother to give her consent.’’

Soriano confirmed this but said he told Magtajas to give Canoy an ultimatum.

‘‘I told him that we need to know the decision on or before Dec. 31 because we can no longer wait. What would happen if the decision comes in February? That would definitely be a setback,’’ said Soriano.

He said even PDP-Laban secretary-general Aquilino Martin Pimentel III told members of the party in the city ‘‘to forget about Butch.’’

Soriano said Magtajas ‘‘has to move now.’’

For his part, Magtajas said he resents that Soriano gave him an ultimatum. ‘‘It’s as if he has the upper hand.’’

Magtajas said he started meetings with Calingin and Ocon because Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., the PDP-Laban founder and titular head, advised him to ‘‘explore the possibility of adding more people’’ in the local opposition.

Soriano said he has no problems with this. He said he is even open to the idea of having Calingin and Ocon in the group.

But Soriano said many of PDP-Laban’s members were strongly opposed to the entry of Calingin, given his past associations with the administration of Mayor Vicente Emano. Among those who are reportedly opposed to it are ex-councilors Hilario Raagas and Celestino Ocio.

Calingin and Ocon were sworn in as members of the PDP-Laban during the party’s recent convention in Davao city.

Soriano said Calingin ‘‘is going to be a problem in the ongoing efforts to unify the local opposition.’’

Soriano said a number of PDP-Laban members resent Magtajas for ‘‘doing things behind our back.’’

Magtajas, according to Soriano, has been meeting with people without informing members of the party.

‘‘He (Magtajas) should assert his leadership and listen to the other members of the party. And he should tell me if I’m in or if I’m out,’’ said Soriano.

Magtajas also denied that he junked Soriano when he ran for vice mayor against businessman John Elizaga several years back. Elizaga won.

‘‘I warned him about Elizaga’s special operations at that time but he did not listen. He only has himself to blame,’’ said Magtajas.

But Soriano maintained that it was Magtajas’s fault.

‘‘That’s not true. He was told about the special operations involving some of the barangay captains at that time. He was the one who did not listen. He was the mayor at that time and he did not protect me,’’ claimed Soriano.

Both Magtajas and Soriano said they were optimistic that an agreement would be made soon and that the disagreement would not adversely affect efforts to unite the local opposition.

Sen. Pimentel said he was aware that many politicians want to join the opposition. He said this would result in a ‘‘temporary problem.’’

"Tough decisions will have to be made," said Pimentel in an interview.

He said the local opposition is not yet ready to announce its candidates in the city at this time.

But Pimentel said the opposition should only have one ticket against the administration’s candidates.

"It would be to our disadvantage if there is more than one slate that will vie for the election against the administration," Pimentel said.

In the national level, PDP-Laban has recently coalesced with ex-president Joseph Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino to form the United Opposition (UNO), confirmed Soriano.

"Election is like a poker game. We will lay down our cards after them (administration)," said Soriano.

Valencia mayor suspended

By Gemma Tenorio / January 4, 2007

VALENCIA City––The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) yesterday served a three-month suspension order against Mayor Jose Galario Jr.

Tension gripped city hall as Galario received the suspension order that stemmed from a case before the ombudsman.

Councilor Helen Bernal was sworn in as acting mayor for 15 days in the absence of Vice Mayor Benjamin Verano who took a leave of absence.

‘‘Receiving the documents is quite different from accepting the substance of the documents,’’ said Galario.

Galario earlier questioned the ombudsman’s decision before a court which issued a temporary restraining order (TRO). The suspension order was served as soon as the TRO ceased to take effect.

‘‘I received it (the suspension order) but it does not mean that I will entertain the whole suspension,’’ said Galario.

He argued that the suspension order was served at a time when a write of injunction has yet to be issued by the Court of Appeals.

‘‘I also have the right to fight... My group and lawyers will check on it, and it is my constitutional right to go to a higher court,’’ said Galario.

He said his vice mayor would take over city hall in his absence.

It was the second attempt by the DILG to serve the 90-day suspension order. The first was on Oct. 23, 2006, but Galario succeeded in securing a TRO.

The suspension was a result of a case filed by former city budget officer Ruth Piano against the mayor.

Piano has questioned Galario’s move in detailing her to another office, but the mayor said he did it because he lost his confidence on the official.