Bataan gets zero election-related incident

BY MAR T SUPNAD

 

CITY OF BALANGA, Bataan – The recently concluded election in Bataan was so peaceful that it registered zero election-related incidents, the first ever happened in the province.

Local newsmen attributed this to the joint efforts of the PNP and Phil. Army, coupled with the professionalism and being matured by the candidates. “Of course, no matter how strong and perfect the security scheme is, if the candidates resort to physical harm and trouble, the army and PNP cannot guard every politicians’ activities,” said a local newsman.

“We have a zero election-related incidents last election,” proudly reported  Inspector Janice Piga, PNP spokesperson.

Although some candidates and their leaders resorted to bad-mouthing, below the belt black propaganda against the reelectionists, insulting, among others,  the Garcias did not bite these personal attacks against them and preferred to be low-profile and professional.

Outgoing governor Enrique “Tet” Garcia, now elected for congressman in 2^nd district; his sons outgoing congressman Abet S. Garcia, now elected governor; Joet S. Garcia, reelected mayor of Balanga City and daughter Gila Garcia, now elected mayor of Dinalupihan town, were the subject of personal attacks and insults by their opponents at the height of the campaign period.

The Garcias, however, did not react and preferred on banking more on their accomplishments and visions for the province.

As a result, the public had become more sympathetic to the Garcias and got mad with their criticizers.

The Garcias, Rep. Minia Roman and their political allies had earlier forged an agreement with the Church leaders for a peaceful and credible election, although some of their opponents had snubbed apparently the peace initiatives.

T        he Army leadership headed by Major General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., and Lt. Col. Michael Samson, commanders of the 7^th Infantry Division and 24^th IB, respectively, had even personally supervised and monitored the deployment of their soldiers in their bid to have a peaceful election.

Also, three quick response teams from the Bravo Company of the 24^th Infantry Battalion led by Lt. Nimrod Chris Lugo roamed across Bataan to thwart any violence. Three military personnel guarded each of the 14 substations of the Peninsula Electric Cooperative to ensure uninterrupted power supply, together with the PNP.

          Officials from the Department of Education who were at the forefront of the polls noted that the voting process in precincts was smooth and the time needed to cast the ballots only took a short time.

“I can safely say that in general the election is safe and orderly,” said schools division superintendent Tarcila Javier.

The Catholic Church has also expressed fulfillment over the nonviolent polls in the peninsula as Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos commended the efforts of the teachers, the Commission on Elections, Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Provincial election supervisor Gilbert Almario said the zero election-related violence report can be attributed to the continuous security operations conducted by the PNP and AFP starting the election period on January 13.

The Joint Provincial Security Coordinating Committee composed of the COMELEC, AFP and PNP was established to plan and oversee the security operations.

-Mar T Supnad

Mga beteranong lingkod bayan, wagi sa Bataan

ni Jose Mari Garcia

LUNGSOD NG BALANGA, Bataan- Idineklara na ng
Provincial Board of Canvassers (PBOC) ang mga nagwagi sa halalan kung
saan umangat ang mga beteranong pulitiko sa pangunguna ng isang
mambabatas na nangakong gagawing economic hub ang Bataan.

Uupo bilang gobernador si 2nd District Representative Albert Garcia
matapos kumabig ng 257,596 na boto laban kay Dinalupihan Mayor Joel
Jaime Payumo na nakakuha ng 82,878 na boto.

Itinaob naman ng 245,108 boto ni Bise Gobernador Efren Dominic Pascual
ang 68,340 boto ni Atty. Anthony Jay Consunji para sa ikalawang
pinakamataas na posisyon sa pamahalaang panlalawigan.

Para sa kanyang ikatlong termino, nagwagi si Herminia Roman bilang
kinatawan ng 1st District matapos siyang umani ng 93,836 na boto laban
sa dating kinatawan ng parehong distrito, Felicito Payumo, na nakakuha
ng 64,348 boto.

Si Gobernador Enrique Garcia Jr. naman ang naproklamang kinatawan ng
2nd District matapos makakuha ng 130,129 na boto. Tumanggap ang
kanyang mga katunggali na sina Leonardo Roman at Reynan Calderon ng
56,432 at 1,852 boto, ayon sa pagkakasunud-sunod.

Idineklara rin ng PBOC sa pangunguna ni provincial election supervisor
Gilbert Almario ang limang nagwagi para sa board member ng 1st
District na sina: Dexter Dominguez (92,272); Aristotle Gaza (92,201);
Gaudencio Ferrer (83,523); Rolando Tigas (77,486); at Reynaldo Ibe
(66,190).

Ang limang board member para sa 2nd District ay sina: Jovy Banzon
(118,387); Edgardo Calimbas (112,573); Dante Manalaysay (110,596);
Gerardo Roxas (100,734); at Jose Villapando Sr. (84,277).

Sa isang naunang panayam, sinabi ni Governor-elect Garcia na tutukan
niya ang ekonomiya ng lalawigan sa pamamagitan ng pag-imbita ng mas
madaming mamumuhunan sa Freeport Area of Bataan, isang industrial
complex sa bayan ng Mariveles na may halos 70 lokal at internasyonal
na kumpanya. (CLJD/JMG-PIA 3)

BY MAR T SUPNAD CITY OF

 

BY MAR T SUPNAD

 

CITY OF BALANGA, Bataan – The recently concluded election in Bataan was so peaceful that it registered zero election-related incidents, the first ever happened in the province.

Local newsmen attributed this to the joint efforts of the PNP and Phil. Army, coupled with the professionalism and being matured by the candidates. “Of course, no matter how strong and perfect the security scheme is, if the candidates resort to physical harm and trouble, the army and PNP cannot guard every politicians’ activities,” said a local newsman.

“We have a zero election-related incidents last election,” proudly reported  Inspector Janice Piga, PNP spokesperson.

Although some candidates and their leaders resorted to bad-mouthing, below the belt black propaganda against the reelectionists, insulting, among others,  the Garcias did not bite these personal attacks against them and preferred to be low-profile and professional.

Outgoing governor Enrique “Tet” Garcia, now elected for congressman in 2^nd district; his sons outgoing congressman Abet S. Garcia, now elected governor; Joet S. Garcia, reelected mayor of Balanga City and daughter Gila Garcia, now elected mayor of Dinalupihan town, were the subject of personal attacks and insults by their opponents at the height of the campaign period.

The Garcias, however, did not react and preferred on banking more on their accomplishments and visions for the province.

As a result, the public had become more sympathetic to the Garcias and got mad with their criticizers.

The Garcias, Rep. Minia Roman and their political allies had earlier forged an agreement with the Church leaders for a peaceful and credible election, although some of their opponents had snubbed apparently the peace initiatives.

T        he Army leadership headed by Major General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., and Lt. Col. Michael Samson, commanders of the 7^th Infantry Division and 24^th IB, respectively, had even personally supervised and monitored the deployment of their soldiers in their bid to have a peaceful election.

Also, three quick response teams from the Bravo Company of the 24^th Infantry Battalion led by Lt. Nimrod Chris Lugo roamed across Bataan to thwart any violence. Three military personnel guarded each of the 14 substations of the Peninsula Electric Cooperative to ensure uninterrupted power supply, together with the PNP.

          Officials from the Department of Education who were at the forefront of the polls noted that the voting process in precincts was smooth and the time needed to cast the ballots only took a short time.

“I can safely say that in general the election is safe and orderly,” said schools division superintendent Tarcila Javier.

The Catholic Church has also expressed fulfillment over the nonviolent polls in the peninsula as Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos commended the efforts of the teachers, the Commission on Elections, Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Provincial election supervisor Gilbert Almario said the zero election-related violence report can be attributed to the continuous security operations conducted by the PNP and AFP starting the election period on January 13.

The Joint Provincial Security Coordinating Committee composed of the COMELEC, AFP and PNP was established to plan and oversee the security operations.

-With reports from JM Garcia

Voters deliver straight votes

 

BY MAR T SUPNAD

 

 BALANGA CITY, Bataan- Voters in the province delivered a straight overwhelming votes not only to the group of elected governor Abet S. Garcia, but also to all their allies in the provincial board and mayoralty candidates, a record-breaking  in the history of Bataan.

This was the first time in recent history that such an overwhelming results from single a political party was voted straight by the electorate, and observers attributed this to the strong leadership of the Garcias.

Prior to the election, outgoing Governor Tet Garcia, newly-elected congressman for Second district, and outgoing congressman Abet S. Garcia, had forged a unification of political parties with the group of Rep. Minia Roman and Vice governor Bondyong Pascual.

Garcias’ and Roman’s group had further boosted their political clout against the Payumos. As a result, all the four Payumo- Joel Payumo who ran for governor; Tong Payumo who ran for congress (1^st district); Jojo Payumo who ran for mayor of Dinalupihan town and Tonito Payumo who ran for provincial board- were all lost by big margin of votes.

Abet Garcia garnered 257,596 votes for the gubernatorial position against outgoing Mayor Joel  Payumo, ran for governor, who collected a poor 82,878 votes.

Garcia’s running mate  incumbent Vice Governor Efren Dominic Pascual also relished a landslide victory with his 245,108 votes against the 68,340 of rival Anthony Jay Consunji, Joel Payumo’s running mate.

Expect that starting the day we assume our position, we will all work toward making this province more progressive. We will continue the programs we have and develop more to come,” said Garcia, who also served mayor of Balanga City from 1998 to 2004.

Reelectionist Minia Roman, Garcias’ ally, garnered 93,836 votes against a former representative of the same district, Felicito Payumo, who obtained only 64,348 votes.

 Outgoing Governor Tet Garcia, proclaimed representative-elect of the 2nd District, got 130,129 votes. Candidates Leonardo Roman and Reynan Calderon got only 56,432 and 1,852 votes respectively.

The PBOC led by provincial election supervisor Gilbert Almario also declared the five board members for the 1st District as follow with their corresponding votes: Dexter Dominguez (92,272); Aristotle Gaza (92,201); Gaudencio Ferrer (83,523); Rolando Tigas (77,486); and Reynaldo Ibe (66,190).

The five board members won for the 2nd District are as follow with their corresponding votes: Jovy Banzon (118,387); Edgardo Calimbas (112,573); Dante Manalaysay (110,596); Gerardo Roxas (100,734); and Jose Villapando Sr. (84,277).

Governor-elect Abet Garcia said he will prioritize the economic development of the province through inviting more investors in the Freeport Area of Bataan, a sprawling industrial complex in Mariveles town that houses about 70 local and international companies. Mar T Supnad

Cong. Ronald Singson vindicated

 

CAOAYAN, Ilocos Sur- Once controversial Ronald Singson, a member of the House of Representatives who was convicted in Hong Kong for drug charges, can now heave a sigh of relief and had been vindicated after he won in a landslide victory to regain his former post as representative of the province’s First district.

                A bachelor son of outgoing governor Chavit Singson, Ronald Singson resigned from his post in congress after he was caught bringing with him illegal drugs in an Airport in Hong Kong the other year. He was later convicted and served his term in foreign prison.

                After serving his prison term in Hong Kong, Ronald went home to his native province of Ilocos Sur, and had become silent tending to their business  until his name had again cropped up when he applied his candidacy to run again  for congressman “to regain his former post and vindicate his once tarnished name.”

                At first, his father Chavit was reluctant to allow Ronald to throw his hat into political arena as their political foes might capitalize on his drug conviction. But Ronald insisted to have his name vindicated until Chavit gave in, sacrificing Chavit’s position.

                Ronald’s lone opponent Bertrandt Baterina had in fact filed a disqualification case against the former, attacking his being a convicted on drugs. But this did not work. The public still chose Ronald.

                Still being recognized as a political kingpin in Ilocos Sur, Chavit did not seek reelection but instead gave his position to his another son, incumbent Congressman Ryan Singson (1^st district), now the incoming new governor of the province. “Si Chavit pa rin ang magdidikta at masusunod sa ma mangyayari sa Ilocos Sur,” said a local newsman.

                Ronald and Ryan won in a land slide victory but Ilocanos credited the landslide victory of the two to Chavit, who is still the province’s King maker, so to speak.

                During the campaign period, Chavit was still being mobbed by the public due to his unequalled charisma to the populace.-Mar T Supnad

Payumos, Gordons suffer defeat

 

 NOT EVEN ONE OF THEM SURVIVED

By Mar T. Supnad

All four members of the once powerful Payumo political clan in Dinalupihan, Bataan and four also of the Gordons of the highly-Urbanized City of  Olongapo and Zambales province, suffered embarrassing defeat during May 13, local polls.

In Bataan, former SBMA chairman and three-term congressman Felicito “Tong” Payumo, lost in Second time around  to reelectionist Herminia Roman (1^st district), while Payumo’s son Nonito did not make it in the provincial board.

Two other nephews of Tong Payumo –Joel Payumo and Jojo Payumo- ran but lost by big margins of vites for governor and mayor of Dinalupihan town, respectively.

Payumo’s political dominance in the province for more that four decades was lost instantly in just one political battle.

Joel Payumo, a three-termer mayor of the vote rich town of Dinalupihan,  lost to outgoing congressman Abet S. Garcia in the governorship in a wide number of votes, both in the First and Second district of the province, while Jojo, also a former mayor and board member was also defeated by Gila Garcia for the mayoral battle in Dinalupihan, ending the Payumo’s more than 40 years of political dominance in Bataan.

On the other hand, the Garcias- Enrique “Tet” Garcia  won in a landslide victory over former governor Ding Roman  as representative for 2^nd district; Joet Garcia, also won by more than 80 percent in his reelection bid as Balanga City mayor against Jimmy Bustamante; Abet Garcia, won as governor and Gila Garcia, won as Dinalupihan town mayor.

Abet, Joet and Gila are all young children of Tet Garcia, a political kingpin in the province.

In Olongapo city, and Zambales,  all the four Gordons- Richard who ran but lost his bid in Senate; former mayor and congressman James Gordon, was defeated by Jeffrey Khonghun in the First district congressional battle;   Ann Gordon was also lost to Rolen Paulino for the mayorship in Olongapo and Brian Gordon, was also defeated by Rodel Cerezo for vice mayor in Olongapo, ending the long decades of the Gordons political dominance here.   -<Mar T Supnad

DLSU awards Gov Tet

 

BALANGA CITY, Bataan- Three-term and outgoing governor Enrique “Tet” Garcia was awarded by De La Salle University with “Achievement award in public governance,” a prestigious but seldom award to its selected outstanding students.

Said Gov. Garcia in his speech, “It is with great pride that I accept the 2013 DLSU Alumni Achievement Award in public governance, especially in public education. I would have not achieved this award, were it not for the well-rounded Catholic college education that I got from La Salle. La Salle gave me the kind of education that has been my life’s work in public service in following Almighty God’s commandment ‘Whatsoever you do to the least of your brethren, you do unto me.’ (Matthew Chapter 25 Verse 40). The award comes as a most gratifying recognition of what, pardon my pride, I believe was no small achievement in solving the acute classroom shortage in Bataan.”

 

         Now running for congressman in 2^nd district, Gov. Garcia recalled that when he became Governor again in 2004, there acute problem of shortage of classrooms in public schools.

Garcia said “ Right then and there, I decided to make education, specifically the lack of classrooms, as my first priority…   

          I then applied for a P500 million from the Land Bank (LB) and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) payable in 10 years, which was not easy to get. But I had presented a good case for a good cause. Then I had the classrooms built immediately and staffed them well with teachers.”

 

“Looking back, we paid all the monthly amortizations, without a single default…” As a result, he said “Bataan became the first province with no shortage of classrooms to speak of merely 14 months after my election as governor in 2004.”

 

         He added “ If a small province like ours, with limited resources, can quickly address the classroom shortage problem, the national government throughout the country, can surely do the same.”

 

         

         Garcia recalled that  “I was then serving my stint as a three (3) term congressman when I took up the cudgels for the Department of Finance (DOF) to plug the glaring loophole that enabled syndicates to divert and then encash checks payable to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Bureau of Customs (BOC). As reported by Morgan Stanley Research, the scheme may have resulted in the loss of P380 billion every year. This translates to an aggregate gargantuan amount of P11.4 trillion for the period of 30 years that the loophole remained unplugged.”

 

“To plug the loophole, I merely proposed that draweebanks be informed of said checks beforehand, among others.

My proposal, which dated back to1998, was adopted and implemented by the national government only in October 2002when BIR Revenue Regulation No. 16-2202, dated 11 October 2002 and PHCH Clearing House Operating Memo No. 375 dated 27 October 2003, were issued. Lo and behold! The diversion and encashment of BIR/BOC checks suddenly stopped,” Garcia added.-Mar T Supnad