October 27, 2005

1. Dipolog City joins ‘WOW Philippines’ in Zamboanga

Dipolog city was one of the four cities in the Zamboanga Peninsula which joined the Regional WOW Philippines in Zamboanga City. OIC City Tourism Officer Cecil R. Bilog disclosed that it was a successful venture to showcase the tourist destination places here and the treasured products like bottled sardines, handicraft and bamboo craft.

Bilog disclosed further that bigwigs in the Department of Tourism were impressed by various numbers during the Dipolog Night last October 13. She referred to the presentation of balladeers Emer Gallemit, Ian Dugaduga, Rosseric Velasco and Songbird Jackielou Erojo, she also prided on the performance of Bayle Folkloric Dance Troupe and El Pueblo Dance Troupe who interpreted Dipolog’s origin through dance drama.

It was highlighted with Pagsalbuk Dancing which curently caught the attention and support of the tourism indutrsty. The regional WOW Philippines were participated in by four cities and three provicnes in the region, which ran from October 8 – 15 in Zamboanga City. (Press Freedom, Vol. XVIII No. 17)

2. For planting of evidence
WARRANT OF ARREST FOR SP'L OPN TEAM

The Chief of Special Operations Team (SOT) and six others are doomed to face death penalty if convicted in court. The warrant of arrest was issued by Judge Alejandro Canda of the Municipal Trial Court of Salug and Liloy last October 6. The members of the SOT included Etbew, SPO2 Joel Mandigma, PO1 Jorvi Romata, PO1 Khalit Dacula, PO1 Jay Gae Porferio Cenas, PO1 Melito Seriano Jr., and PO1 Marlon Elumbaring.

Clerk of Court Bida Dagumo disclosed that the warrant of arrest was issued against the seven policemen who were charged for allegedly planting evidence during the buy-bust operation in Salug, on September 22. The said policemen violated Section 29 of R.A. 9165, or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Dagomo narrated that the special Operations Team apprehended Edgar Oro-ngan of Barangay Canawan, Salug during a buy-bust operation and confiscated  small sachets of white crystalline granules known as “shabu.”

However, Etbew and company presented witnesses who were not from Canawan where the operation was undertaken.  Both witnesses Santiago Ambus and Edilberto Partoza are kagawand from Barangay Poblacion. Orongan did not claim ownership of the confiscated “shabu”; instead, he charge the members of the team for planting the confiscated “drugs” as evidence of his alleged. Superintendent Virgilio Ranes, Deputy Director of ZNPPO confirmed that Etbew and company are under the SOT of Supt. Jufel Adriatico. (Press Freedom, Vol. XVIII No. 17)

3. Adriatico lashes back at Mayor Uy

As Dipolog City Mayor Roberto Y. Uy pointed an accusing finger at Police Senior Superintendent Jufel Adriatico for the rising crime rate in the city during the recent peace and order council meeting, the Provincial Director could only grit his teeth and blamed the mayor in return. In an interview with this paper, Supt. Adriatico angrily pointed out the city mayor’s responsibility in curbing crimes within his jurisdiction, through his own PNP. Earlier Mayor Uy accused Supt. Adriatico for withdrawing a number of policemen from the Dipolog PNP without his knowledge, thus reducing the force. 

On the other hand, Adriatico pointed out that Mayor Uy cannot just wash his hands on this matter since he is the Chief Executive who is responsible for supervising the police force in his jurisdiction. He stressed that it is a very clear provision that the Local Government Code of 1991 outlined that supervision of the PNP is under the governor and the mayors.

“I was wondering why Mayor Uy blamed me for the escalating crimes in Dipolog when in fact he has Police Superintendent Tomas Mina Hizon,” Adriatico said. Moreover, Adriatico urged the City Mayor to have a “hands on” supervision with their police force since he is the one mandated by law to manage it since he is the one who knows his place best.

Supt. Adriatico even showed a statistics report of the index crime covering the period between July 1, 2004 and December 31, 2004 and compared it with the period covering January to June 30, 2005. He pointed out that in the latter period, there was a great dip in the crime rate which registered 91 incidents only as compared to the previous semester’s 163 incidents.

“This means,” Adriatic said, “we have reduced the crimes by 44%…and that is an achievement.”

He questions the poor performance of the Dipolog PNP as compared to the municipalities which have the ratio: 1 policeman – 2,000 inhabitants as to Dipolog’s: 1 policeman – 1,000 inhabitants. Furthermore he reported that there are some municipalities in the province which have zero crime rate because the mayors have managed their PNP very well.

In answer to Mayor Uy’s accusations, the Provincial Director advised him to do “hands on” supervision and do his assignment in order to curb the crimes in the city rather than washing his hands of the responsibility and blaming him. “It is better that Mayor Uy will accept that Dipolog PNP’s failure is his failure too,” he said.

The Provincial Director reasoned that he was withdrawing policemen from Dipolog City because they were promoted to PNP Chief by he gave back three or five policemen as replacement. “But if he has no more confidence in Superintendent Hizon, he can as well tell me so that I could do something,” the Superintendent said.

But until now, the superintendent disclosed that he has not received any official request for Hizon’s relief. (Press Freedom, Vol. XVIII No. 17)

 4. Wow ZamPen in Zamboanga a success!
Zanorte best and most coordinated contingent –RD San Juan
By: Roldan S. Realiza

Viva! Hora buena con el celebracion del Regional Wow Philippines, este amo el perfecto ehemplo de gran unidad y solidaridad del maga Zamboangueños. The regional showcase of “Wow, I love Philippines, Biyahe na!” is one greatest event ever organized that exemplifies the presentation of unique culture and tradition of the people in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Colorful confettis, swarming of people, banging of drums and the bravura playing of music were being packed with enormous excitement. It was truly one-of-a kind happening that embraces the concept of a festive atmosphere in the city of flowers during its opening last October 8, 2005. The presentation kicks-off with lively and multi-colored parade in the major streets of Zamboanga City. Numerous spectators and bystanders gazed upon the cheerful faces from the delegates who joined in the parade. Eight (8) delegates from the peninsula were joining in, such as cities of Zamboanga, Isabela, Pagadian, Dipolog, Dapitan and provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur and our very own Zamboanga del Norte.

In the historic Fort Pillar, where the parade ended, various staging performances from the multi-talented students and city-folks were amused by the visitors. The situation seemed like the dwelling place of old Spanish period because of local songs from a broken-spanish language (the Chavacano) had truly entertained the united officials from eight (8) cities and provinces. Governor Rolando Yebes stressed that the celebration of Wow was one of the grandest celebration of the Region, “it portrays the unity and solidarity among the officials and the people in Zamboanga Peninsula” he added.

During the event, Zamboanga del Norte presented its wealth of a must-see attractions including the pristine-sandy white beaches and stunning sceneries that had surely catches the attention of various tourists during the said occasion. Some other tourist destinations that were being showcased were the Situbo Falls, Piñahon Island, Dakak Park and Beach Resort, Aliguay Island and Libuton Cave. Along the line, Agricultural and industrial products and bottled sardines were also part of the presentation. In fact, the Zanorte Lanzones was branded as the sweetest variety of Lanzones in the Region surpassing other various lanzones from Jolo and Basilan as people from Zamboanga quoted.

Amounting over P136,000 of lanzones were sold during the six-day event. With this, Provincial Agriculturist Bernardo C. Concha took pride of the information received and was grateful of the idea of showcasing agricultural products of the province to other places in Zamboanga Peninsula. Concha said that the Regional Wow Philippines showcase was a colossal event and surely a great avenue of showing other provinces the rich and abundant agricultural products of Zamboanga del Norte.

On the night of October 15, during the presentation of the Zanorte Talent’s Unlimited, there was a tremendous response from the audience as they watched talented and artistic Zanorteans showed varieties of songs and dances. Performing during the Zanorte night were winners during the Hudyaka Zanorte battle of Festivals particulary Tribu ni Tino contingent who hails from the municipality of Manukan and also some altruist group who shared their talents freely such as the Tribu Dipag and the Zanorte Talents Unlimited headed by their dynamic choreographer Mr. Jayson Selves.

The Zanorte contingent was headed by Vice-Governor Francis Olvis who represented Governor Rolando Yebes, Atty. Ivan Patrick Ang, Mayor Eugene Caballero of Manukan, Mayor Abundio Siasico of Siayan, the Regional Tourism Council Chairman, Atty. Michael Allan Ranillo and some other personalities who are from Zamboanga del Norte but are now working and staying in Zamboanga City, to name a few were Atty. Rose Lorena Broce and Atty. May Faith Bontigao. Awed by the presentation, RD San Juan expressed that Zamboanga del Norte was the best and most numbered contingent showcasing artistic and unique presentation. He further stressed that Zanorte contingent truly amazed and enthralled the Zamboangueño crowd.

With the vibrant and pulchritudinous presentation of the Zanorte delegates, Atty. Ivan Patrick Ang and Atty. Alan Ranillo planned to request RD San Juan that the next Regional Wow Philippines Showcase be here in Zanorte. (Mindanao Star, Vol. I No.44)

5. Lando and Matoy: One heart still

He is my father in politics….and a teacher. This is how Gov. Rolando Yebes pictured Cong. Roseller Barinaga during the inauguration of 1 unit 2 classroom building at Siayan National High School.

It was observed that in any inauguration rites of any project undertaken by the provincial governor, Cong. Barinaga has always been in attendance. Even if it was the congressman’s project, Gov. Yebes has always been seen around.

Moreover, it has been observed that billboards of projects speak of the unity of the governor and the congressman as both names always appear. Earlier, it was rumored that Cong. Barinaga will be running for governor as his third term will end in 2007.

However, the announcement of the governor for the running of the Congressman’s son/daughter as representative for the second district ultimately killed the rumors, political analysts observed. (Press Freedom, Vol. XVIII No. 17)

6. Dipolog Chronicle News Feature
Domain and sovereignty

One of the many significant developments President Arroyo reported recently is the agreement reached by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on the matter of ancestral domain. We are inclined to believe that this will not differ much from the Indigenous Peoples Republic Act, which recognized the right of the IPs over the land that they presently occupy.  The IPRA lay moreover recognizes prior rights over titled properties within the sphere of ancestral domain. Doing that will puts security to those who holds title to the lands while it insures that the IPs will no longer be easily driven from the area that they occupy.

In the conflict areas in Mindanao however, the problem which will confront both the MILF and the government is how the vast tracts of lands claimed or owned by the datus be equitably apportioned to the Muslim farmers. Ancestral lands under the IPRA law are supposed to be jointly owned by have a council of elders and datus who makes the decision on how their (ancestral) lands are going to be developed. Will the landlords among the Muslims just concede their rights over the vast territories and agree to the proposal that they will just equally share with the benefits derived from the land? The ancestral domain may go beyond their fiefdom. How will they address clans’ differences?

While the MILF speaks of ancestral domain, the biggest barrier that they are confronted with is their clan and tribal disputes. Some Muslim scholars contend that a sure fire strategy to eliminate Muslim insurgery is to give them the independence that they asked for. They said that once gives the independence they asked for they will eventually eliminate. Nevertheless we are excited to hear that some of the most contentious issued has been addressed. The next one will be independence and sovereignty, maybe a process of disarmament and troops pullout.

There are assuring and comforting aspects in the negotiation – a strong statement from the influential members of the Organizations of Islamic countries which counsel the MILF to negotiate peace within the ambit of Philippine sovereignty. We hope that the MILF are listening and listening intently. (Dipolog Chronicle, Vol.V No.17)

7. Expanded POC meeting saddens ZNCCI

The members of the Zamboanga del Norte Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZNCCI) were not pleased with the expanded meeting of the Peace and Order Council last October 14. They observed that big officials of the Dipolog City Police Office (DCPO) and the Zamboanga del Norte police Office (ZNPO) failed to attend.

They believed it could have been a proper forum to talk about peace but Supt. Tomas Hizon and Senior Police Superintendent Jufel Adriatico merely sent representatives on their behalf. Inspector Gomersendo Calagui, Chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Section of DCPO represent Hizon and Senior Inspector Devin Ceriales, Chief Operations of ZNPO stood for Supt. Adriatico.

The members noted that both representatives just took down notes, gave recommendations but could never decide. “It was a useless meeting,” one member commented. The members of the ZNCCI wanted to hear from both Supt. Hizon and Supt. Adriatico to solve the rising crime rate in the City.

“The meeting ended but no solution to the problem was ever reached since the expected officials were not there,” another member commented. Earlier, a manifesto signed by businessmen, religious groups, officials, NGO’s urged the mayor Roberto Uy to solve the alarming crime problem in the city.

However, the POC was called but it never came to a single solution to the crime problem in the city. (Press Freedom, Vol. XVIII No. 17)

8. ‘Alternate cashier’ Estera questioned of P178,569.00

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) of Dipolog City was surprised when STRADCOM Corporation which installed the computers in its office complained that the said office failed to sent its computer fees amounting to P178,569.00. LTO-Dipolog District Officer Yusoph Ismael issued a memorandum to ‘alternate cashier’ Lenet Estera to explain why she failed to deposit the payments.

However, Estera did not anser but instead took her leave from June to September after the STRADCOM collection letter came. Thus, District Office Ismael recommended to regional office her dismissal if she failed to answer his memoranda.

Ismael disclosed that he had a talk with Estera during the first week of October and she promised to pay the amount but she claimed she had no money yet. However, Ismael was surprised when he was lately called by the barangay medication board of Turno to answer Estera’s claim that he was shaming her.

Councilor Menard Baes, chairman of the mediation board disclosed that both parties had not yet come to an agreement. Estera is presently facing an investigation conducted by the Commission on Audit (COA). (Press Freedom, Vol. XVIII No. 17)

9. Mindanao Star Editorial
Hello, Bunye?

THE REVELATION THAT MALACAÑANG is consolidating its communications and public relations machinery under Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye and the Presedential Communications Group adds fuel to the fire of public skepticism. We think the public’s wariness about the administration’s deepest motives is not centered on the idea itself. Even a staunch anti-Arroyo senator like Sergio Osmeña III admits there may be a need for it. “In politics, in public service, one of the most important responsibilities of public officials is to communicate your, vision, your message, to the entire citizenry,” he told reporters last week. “that’s why you have a spokesman; that’s why you have a Bunye.”

The problem is that the consolidation is taking place at the exact time reports of a possible emergency rule are sweeping the media. And that bunye is now in charge of it. In many respects, the genial Bunye has been an ideal spokesman for the President. He is fluent in the official languages, is almost always accessible, is normally graceful under pressure. Not least, he enjoys President Macapagal-Arroyo’s confidence; unlike Jerry Barican, the public intellectual who once spoke for the populist President Joseph Estrada, there is no similar disconnect between Bunye and the president he speaks for. They are both professional politicians.

Indeed, one can say that they both may be too professional. Since the Hello Garci scandal broke or rather, since Bunye helped break the news about the alleged wiretapping controversy himself on June 6-both the President and her spokesman have conducted themselves at times as though political survival was the only virtue. Bunye’s own role in foisting what looks to be grand deception on both the public and the house of Representatives, in the matter of the Garcillano tapes, remains under investigated. An Inquirer special report has shown that the idea of presenting two compact disks to Malacañang press corps-one purportedly fake (the Garcillano version) and the other allegedly original (the one which supposedly caught the President conversing with political operator Gary Ruado)- was hatched by a crisis announcement.

It has been more than a month since the special report saw print, but Bunye (who depicted in it as agonizing over the right thing to do) has not issued a denial or even a rebuttal. It was thus no surprise when rep. Roilo Golez called for a resumption of the joint committee hearing into the Garcillano tapes, precisely because Bunye’s continuing silence could be construed as consent: “this very serious article that enumerated very serious allegations about what supposed to be behind the Garci tape remained unrebutted and unanswered by Malacañang, especially the Palace spokesman, especially Secretary Bunye, who was liberally quote here.”

Golez, who broke publicly with the President at the height of the political crisis, may simply be looking for additional justification for his dramatic breakaway. But he does raise a valid point: by sticking to the official line that there were two CD’s and that these came into his possession in mysterious circumstances did Bunye, in fact, perjure himself before Congress?

That question acquires new meaning now- now that executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita has confirmed the plan Bunye in charge of the government’ entire communications and public relations machinery. Osmeña reacted to the news about Bunye being named the government’s “media czar” by accentuating the negative. “[There is] also the need of some people to control the news-in other words, being able to surpress what is not nice. Bunye is very good at doing the second.” (Osmeña may know whereof he speaks, having once allied with the President herself.)

But if Bunye did in fact resolve the personal agony he went through in the early days of June by embracing the crisis committee’s plan to set a cover-up in motion, then we have no choice but to heed Osmeñas cautionary words. Unless the provenance of the Hello Garci tapes is established one and for all, and Bunye’s role in it explained, every pronouncement of the new Presidential Communications Group will always be viewed with suspicion. Someone, somewhere, we will always wonder: Is this original or fake? (Reprint from PDI’s Issue dated October 24, 2005, Mindanao Star, Vol. I No.44)

10. ZANDIDAP Boy Scouts to attend jamboree in Iligan

About 2,151 Boy Scouts under the BSP-Zamboanga del Norte-Dipolog-Dapitan Council will join the 4th Regional Jamboree in Iligan City, which will open on October 23. Board member Joseph Brendo Ajero disclosed that the big delegation of the BSP-ZANDIDAP is due to the encouragement of Gov. Rolando Yebes who is presently the Regional Chairman of the BSP.

The delegation will be participated by Boy Scouts in the elementary and 80 Boys Scouts from the Secondary who will also be joining the National Jamboree in Agusan del Sur. On the other hand, the 33rd National Encampment of the Girls Scouts will also open in San Vicente, Katipunan today.

The said gathering will be attended by Girl Scouts all over the Country and some members of the World Association of Girl Guides (WAGGS). (Press Freedom, Vol. XVIII No. 17)

12. Layo ra sa tinuod
Lando vs.Matoy sa 2007?

Layo ra nga matuman ang mga spekulasyong nanggawas karon nga hayan sa 2007 gubernatorial elections magka-enkuentro ang giilang kasili sa politika sa ZaNorte nga si 2nd

District Congressman Roseller “Matoy” Barinaga ug si incumbent Gov. Rolando E. Yebes. Kini tapos mismo si Cong. Barinaga mideklarar nga gawas nga lisud, halayo kaayo ang posibilidad

13. The Way I See It
By Rikki V. Samson
SNAP ELECTION IS THE SOLUTION?

Probably about one week before PGMA appeared on TV to apologize for that infamous “Hello, Garci” episode, I had a phone conversation with former ZDN Governor Roldan “Brogs” Dalman in Manila. Among the many things we talked about was the current political crisis besetting us. I remember telling him that if I were PGMA’s adviser, I would recommend that she tell the people she is sorry and that she will call for a snap election in 3 months. She can run in the election to prove to all and sundry that she is in fact the choice of the majority. I say this because I believe Filipinos are very forgiving.

The “I’m sorry” has already been done – and that was good. Although she could have been more forthright about it pero ok ra gihapon. At least she admitted that she made that call and that it was, is and will always be wrong. The problem is she stopped there – she did not call for a snap election.

Para kanako a snap election will totally erase the doubts about her mandate. Budget!? Dili gayud ako motuo nga walay budget tingale man gani gi-plete niya uban sa usa ka barangay nga congresista ug uban pang mga opisyal sa gobyerno padulong ngadto sa Estados Unidos ang kwarta nga mamahimo na untang pundo para sa snap election. So kining kakulian kunohay sa pundo mapangitaan ra gayud ug kasulbaran kung gustohon gayud niya.

Ang problema karon mao nga ang iyang mandate is not established mao nga PGMA is “buying” loyalty and in effect has become a “transactional” President. I, for one, am privy to this because the party-list which I am currently involved with was offered quite an interesting bounty in exchange for our representative begging off from signing the impeachment complaint. (The story of this bounty is indeed of power - an interesting albeit highly contentious tale in itself which has to be told in vague terms. This led me to echo the oft-repeated question, “how far can a few voices in the wilderness travel?”)

Going back to PGMA’s shady mandate… it is precisely because of this that our political situation continues to be unstable and has, in effect,          grown from serious to probably critical. The logistical effect is that it has stunted our potential for growth. Now, should this political instability continue, there is fear that our good economic fundamentals continue to be eroded. Tungod niini, ako nagtuo nga gikinahanglan gayud and snap election para mapugngan and crises. To me an immediate, credible and acceptable solution is imperative. (The New Nandau, Vol. XV No. 17)

Credits: The New Nandau is a member of the Publishers Association of the Philippines (PAPI). Editorial office is located at 076 Quezon Avenue, Dipolog City with Tel. No. (065) 212-3794; Cell No. +639205201041

   DIPOLOGNON TODAY

14. PRESS FREEDOM: Machiavellian Theory
By Tyrone Jay V. Samson
Cage fans gear up for NBA hoopla ‘05

This is the time of the year when basketball fans all over the globe start salivating for some real quality basketball. ’tis the time of the year when obscure fans of luckless teams still see their glimmer of hope for success no matter how dim it may be. Funny it may seem, but believe me, there are quite more than a few who actually still root for Emeka Okafor and the Charlotte Bobcats. Some even cheer up for Chris Bosh and the Toronto Raptors despite Air Canada Carter’s relocation to New Jersey!

Last year, when I wrote my pre-NBA regular season column, I am truly proud to have written that the Phoenix Suns, with their new addition Steve Nash, could make it to the playoffs. And to the playoffs they went as they even tore their way up to the Western Conference Finals losing only to eventual champions, the San Antonio Spurs. Nash won the MVP, being the first true pointguard since Magic Johnson to be given such honor, and Mike D’Antoni became the NBA Coach of the Year.

However, you win some, you lose some. And for me, I wrote about Lamar Odom to have his breakout-to-superstar status year. But no thanks to the ultimate ballhog Kobe Bryant, Lamar didn’t quite lived up to his all-star capabilities. Although he managed to anchor US men’s team to the Olympics alongside Tim Duncan, his first year as a Los Angeles Laker was not that spectacular. But things are definitely about to change with Zen Master Phil Jackson back on the Laker sidelines. It looks like my vision of Kobe doing a Michael Jordan with sidekick Lamar doing a Scottie Pippen will finally bring back LA to the playoff picture.

So, here is yours truly my fellow sports aficionados giving to you my take on the 2005-06 NBA season. First on my radar screen is the Denver Nuggets, a team which has probably the best core of bigmen outside Antonio McDyess and Wallaces Ben and Rasheed of the Detroit Pistons. Kenyon Martin, Marcus Camby and Nene have not been healthy all year long last year which caused the Nuggets of a better seeding in the playoffs. Saving their season last year was former Seattle Supersonics and Milwaukee Bucks Coach George Karl. With Karl at the helm, the Nuggets went 25-4 to end the season. Tough luck for them as they faced the Spurs in the very first round. I think this will be a great year for the Nuggets. Barring any major injuries, and granting that Carmelo Anthony continues to adhere to Karl’s defensive preaching and realize that he is no Michael Jordan on the offensive end, the Nuggets can make it beyond the first round.

Then, there’s my favorite break out team this year, the Golden State Warriors. During the first half of last year’s NBA season, the Warriors never made any news. However, one trade brought in shockwaves for the team. By bringing in point guard Baron Davis, the Warriors went 18-10 to end the season. I see the Warriors as the Suns of last year with Nash. Who knows, Baron may even succeed Nash as this year’s MVP. Imagine Baron running along high-flyer Jason Richardson, now that’s one exciting tandem to watch. This will also be the first time Baron will have one-man defense thrown against him most of the time. Defenders just can’t ease on Richardson unlike Baron’s previous backcourt partners then in the New Orleans Hornets roster like David Wesley and a raw JR Smith. Those guys were not just star-quality guards in the mold of Richardson which made the opposing team focus much of their backcourt defense on Baron.

This year, the league’s best backcourt (Larry Hughes and Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards would have made a good debate, but Hughes is now a Lebron James teammate) will team up with steady role players Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy and Adonal Foyle to hopefully bring the Warriors into the playoffs. And I believe they can make it, they have Baron. Just to give you something to think about, remember the Miami Heat-New Orleans Hornets 2003 seven-game playoff duel two years ago? Okay, you all remember that game-winning clincher Wade made over Baron, but if you watched closely, Baron was definitely the one who schooled Wade all series long. Baron averaged 20.3 points and 7.5 assists that series to Wade’s 15.4 and 5.6. He also had Wade reeling trying to defend him the whole seven-game series. What made the difference was Baron did not have much help while Wade had Odom leading the Heat in scoring (16.3), not to mention Brian Grant’s rebounding and Rafer Alston’s three-point accuracy.

Another great storyline this year is the coaching movement in the NBA, specifically involving two renowned coaching geniuses in Jackson of the Lakers and former Detroit Pistons mentor Larry Brown, who now call the shots for Stephon Marbury and the New York Knicks. I can’t wait to see Phil turn the Lakers around. But I have mixed emotions of Brown turning down a workman-like Pistons team for a head-less Knick squad.

We all know how great an individual talent Marbury is. He can easily give you 20 points and 10 assists any given night, and he can rightfully back his claim of being the “best pointguard in the NBA today.” But he is not the type of impact player that can carry a team on his shoulders. Hell, Kobe wasn’t able to do that last year and Kobe was quite near Jornasque ability-wise. Marbury has developed a bad reputation of being a selfish player, and at point, that’s about the worst criticism you’ll ever get. A pointguard is supposed to be the one setting up the team’s offense and would most likely lead the team in assists. But Marbury has a shoot-first mentality and that didn’t suit well with his previous teammates in Minnesota, Phoenix and New Jersey. What makes Brown think that Marbury will suddenly turn into a Nash or a Chauncey Billups?

Then there’s everyone’s much-loved little guy, Allen Iverson. I look forward for a good year for the Philadelphia 76ers. I believe they can make a run for the top four spot in the east what with a full training camp for AI and Chris Webber to jell. The two are arguably the team’s cornerstone but the difference-maker will be the development of the Sixers young role players Andre Iguodala, Kyle Korver and Samuel Dalembert. If the three will develop into mature ballplayers then the Sixers can chase the Miami Heat and the Detroit Pistons for East supremacy.

However, the single biggest question this year is, “can anyone unseat the Spurs?” From the looks of it, the answer would be (no matter how I strongly hate to admit) is “highly unlikely.” Yes, the Heat has Shaquille O’neal and Alonzo Mourning back to team up with Wade. And they added even more firepower in Jason Williams, James Posey and Antoine Walker. On paper, they are lock to win the east, and even the NBA championship. But the Lakers two years ago had four future Hall-of-Famers (Shaq, Kobe Karl Malone and Gary Payton) but a more cohesive team in Detroit humbled that star-studded team. Individual talent does not immediately translate to championships. A team needs to jell for it to reach greater heights. Who knows, with the shaky history of both Williamses, the Heat may have made the wrong move in moving the Joneses, Damon and Eddie, for the two.

And the Spurs? Well, all they have is just a guy named Tim, who’s probably the most effective player in the game to date, Manu Ginobili, who has become more of an offensive force, and Tony Parker, who is just starting to realize his true potential in only 23 years of age. And if that ain’t enough, they brought in Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel to give them more offensive punch off the bench and Argentine big man Fabricio Oberto (Manu’s teammate) for frontline depth. They seemingly have no weaknesses. As long as they stay healthy, and with their disciplined approach to the game, the Spurs look like they will be repeat as champions. My fellow basketball addicts, we’ve got two more weeks to wait. (Press Freedom, Vol. XVIII No. 17)

Credits: Press Freedom is published every Saturday and entered as 3^rd class mail matter in Dipolog City. Printed by Young Printing Press with Editorial Office located at Upper Turno, Dipolog City. Tel. No. (065) 212-4343 or 212-6665

15. The New Nandau Guest Editorial
Useless overkill

It is definitely paranoia that drives Gloria Arroyo and her police to an overkill of “security” arrangements in the Palace perimeters due to the increase in the number of rallies being staged against her and her government. As reports then went, Malacañang gates were already “electrified” to stop any mob from laying siege to the Palace directly at its gates as early as 2001, and for close to two years now, to stop anti-government demonstrators from getting anywhere near the Palace, Malacañang has been transformed into a container yard, with containers blocking all entry to the Palace gates, along with steel and barbed wires all around, making it look like a war zone.

Despite all these security measures in place, Gloria and her goons in the police force are always deployed to stop rallyists from even getting near Mendiola, using water cannons to hose down the anti-Arroyo forces but claiming all the while that all they are doing is following the law. What law are they talking about? Because the law on peaceful public assemblies and demonstrations is clear about rallyists not having to secure a permit in public areas — and the city streets are certainly public, which makes Gloria’s no-permit, no-rally policy illegal, as this does not conform with the law or the Constitution since this policy abridges the people’s freedom to assemble peacefully.

And to make it even clearer that it is the police, not the demonstrators that violate the law, the use of water cannons to violently disperse demonstrators is banned in the law they claim to uphold. Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales really should first do his homework on what the law is on rallies and their dispersals by the police before opening his mouth to defend the police action against the demonstrators. As it has been proved many times over, violence and chaos occur only when the police start the melee, either by mercilessly clubbing the rallyists, hitting them with their shields and hosing them down.

Besides which, if such were the justified violent action of the police in maintaining order, as claimed by Rosales, he should start questioning the double-standard treatment of the police, given the fact they allowed the Hyatt 10 group and the Black and White Movement members to step into Mendiola and they certainly had no permit either. But then again, this shouldn’t be too surprising, also given the fact that bishops of his ilk practice a double standard of morality. Yet what for is all this dispersal of rallyists and all those security measures for Gloria and her Malacañang? To create the impression that these anti-government rallyists won’t ever succeed in penetrating the Palace and therefore they can’t be a pressure group to get Gloria to resign — ever? But Gloria and her goons forget something very important. They can secure Malacañang and block entry to it with container vans, but that is hardly a guarantee that she can’t be ousted.

In 2001, then sitting President, Joseph Estrada was in Malacañang. There were no electrified Palace gates and the rallies were held by the elite mob undisturbed by the police, at the Edsa Shrine, not anywhere near Mendiola. It wasn’t the rallies that caused the ouster of Estrada. It was the fact that his treasonous military chief of staff, Gen. Angelo Reyes, and his service commanders, staged a mutiny against their legal and constitutional Commander-in-Chief, in clear violation of the Constitution and their own Articles of War. This led to the success of the Gloria-bishops-businessmen and the elite’s sponsored coup d’etat.

It was also the fact that the equally treasonous Hilario Davide Jr. and his clique of justices had sworn in Gloria Arroyo as President, despite the fact that there was no vacancy in the Office of the President, as clearly, Estrada had not resigned at all — as the official documents, stating that Estrada was taking a leave of absence and officially received by the House and the Senate leaders, showed. It was the same during the Marcos ouster. The people were massed far away from Malacañang and yet in the end, Marcos and his family left, because the military had, by and large defected to the rebel side.

What do Gloria Arroyo and her aides then think they can do to continue staying on in Malacañang once the military moves against them? Not even her loyal generals will be with her and fighting for her to the death once the action starts. Of course she claims the military is loyal to the Constitution and the chain of command. That’s also what everybody thought during the Marcos years, and during the last days of the Estrada government, with that treasonous Reyes even swearing allegiance to the Constitution and the chain of command, just a few days before staging that coup. She’s a dead duck, and even her police and military generals know it. (The New Nandau, Vol. XV No. 17)

Credits: The New Nandau is a member of the Publishers Association of the Philippines (PAPI). Editorial office is located at 076 Quezon Avenue, Dipolog City with Tel. No. (065) 212-3794; Cell No. +639205201041

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  16. Press Freedom Editorial
Weak or smart?

The police recently caught the ire of many. Holdups and robbery are committed right in the heart of the city, some a few steps away from the police headquarters. The crime is like a stage drama, following the same scripts all the time.

It’s either bank depositors on their way to the bank, on foot, just because the bank is a stone’s throw from the depositing establishment. Or they are persons withdrawing big sum, again carried casually while walking along a deserted street, or while riding a motorcab when suddenly, a motorcycle-riding culprit stopped at the mid-road and grabbed the money.

Tsk, tsk. Just like that... the same turn of events every time they happened.. Haven’t the police noticed? Walwal, many commented.

But as we see police lapses more and more, we also get glimpse into their smartness little by little. When seven members of the Special Operations Team under Senior Superintendent Jufel Adriatico were charged of allegedly planting sachets of illegal drugs into an ordinary citizen, many did not wonder what had gone to them anymore.

Although we doubted in the past some arrests made due to illegal possession of prohibited drugs, today the doubt has become more nagging. If found guilty, we will ask: what are they up to?  Is it for fame?  Is it for statistics report that will prove the dip of crime rate in this part of the country?

Or is it for sheer brutality? Only the PNP know. (Press Freedom, Vol. XVIII No. 17)

Credits: Press Freedom is published every Saturday and entered as 3^rd class mail matter in Dipolog City. Printed by Young Printing Press with Editorial Office located at Upper Turno, Dipolog City. Tel. No. (065) 212-4343 or 212-6665

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NEWSPIX

17. Church minister bucks religious leaders participating in rallies

“It’s bizarre to see church leaders in the streets staging rallies and demonstrations against the government, neglecting their priestly duties in taking care of the human soul.” This was how a local church minister of one of the evangelical churches here, who asked not to be named, thought about the actions of some church leaders in agitating their flock to go to the streets.

“God controls the hearts of the kings and we are to obey authorities,” he said adding that comeuppance came to all bad leaders in the past from God himself. “With priests, nuns and pastors actively leading street demonstrations against the government, political stability in this country remains elusive,” he declared.

Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Bishop Fernando Capalla, on the other hand, recently pleaded with fellow church leaders to lead their flock to reconciliation and peace and reject vengeance, and be prepared to forgive and love their enemies in the midst of political uncertainties. Capalla added that Christians are obliged to forgive in order to attain peace.

Supporting Bishop Capalla’s stand, the minister suggested that everyone pray for our leaders so they can lead the country with clear guidance and vision from above. (PIA, Mindanao Star, Vol. I No.44)

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18.  Ruben’s Vibrations
By: Rene Y. Daymiel
Mayores Dakug Ikatampo Batok  Kriminalidad

Mayores dakug ikatampo diha sa hini-usang pagsakgang sa kriminalidad sanglit kay ang kinatibuk-ang peace and order management work usa man ka katilingbanong civil operation and supervision program nga dili lamang buluhaton mismo sa personnel force sa Philippine National Police. Gipasibaw pag-usab ni PNP Provincial Director Col. Jufel Adriatico ang maong law enforcement policy ning miaging Huebes diha sa interview silbing pahinumdom niya ngadto sa nga mayores kansang suporta diha sa peace and order operation sa matag municipal ug city jurisdiction nila molig-on pagsamot sa PNP workplans in resolving whatever barriers undermining the people’s need for strong and effective deterrents to crime incidents in Zamboanga del Norte and the twin cities of Dipolog and Dapitan.

Whatever peace and order lapses or operational oversights between the municipal/city executives and PNP station commanders, these operational gaps could be plugged up through dialogues and open exchanges of tactical work plans other than blaming each other over problems which can be resolved thru teamwork and reconciliatory policy adjustment strategy, Adriatico reiterated anew his administrative stand in his usual management settling of peace and order conflicts among executives with utmost objectivity casting aside prejudices detrimental to public interest.

He also pointed out the PNP’s need of the LGU executives’ logistical and operational support, such as patrol vehicles, gasolines, communication facilities, intelligence funds, etc., being these resources are success components in the overall campaigns against criminal elements operating in the municipal and city communities. Dugang pa niya, tataw diha sa Local Government Code of 1990 naghatag ug gahom sa tanang LGU executives to directly supervise and control the PNP operations in their respective jurisdictions in a manner that the legitimate needs and problems confronting the PNP station units are effectively and efficiently resolved at best of the community’s high peace and order delivery expectations.

The same Code, he added, also categorically empowered the provincial governor to directly supervise and control the operation of the PNP Provincial Director who in turn oversees the overall operations of the municipal station commanders. Although the city mayors have direct supervision and control of city PNP station commanders, my office has still the authority and responsibility to oversee their operations and coordinate with city officials on matters of police work especially so when my coming in is also being sought out through formal consultative arrangements, Adriatico said.

On the subject of police and population ratio, he cited the PNP’s empirical data indicating that practically all municipal units in ZN have only one PNP officer per average population of 1,300 inhabitants and some towns have painfully extreme low police population ratio of one police officer for every over 2000 inhabitants, but despite these gaps most of these towns have still very low or insignificant crime indexes. The full support of the governor and municipal mayors, the legislative people, have dramatically reduced the province’s crime rate indexes (against property and persons) from last year’s 174 incidents down to only 91 cases this current 3rd quarter-year or a sharp decline of 44%, he added.

It means it’s not much for the lack of PNP personnel to meet the ideal police-population ratio of 1:500 inhabitants, but primarily due to the coordinative efforts of the LGUs and PNP station personnel in peace and order management works. He cited the La Libertad town having a phenomenal “zero” crime case, crediting it to their collective co-operational support. He also bared interesting facts about Dipolog City’s current population of over 100,000 inhabitants being served by 96 PNP personnel force at roughly one peace officer per 1000 inhabitants.

When I assumed the PNP directorship in Zamboanga del Norte July 2, 2004, Dipolog City had only one officer and 74 personnel. By October 17, 2005, its total strength has rose to five officers and 91 personnel or a total of 96 all, he said. Some 60% of all kinds of criminal elements operating in Dipolog City transients from neighboring provinces/cities and their 40% counterparts are homegrown local felons serving them as guides or intelligence underworld networks supplying them (out of town criminal elements) data/information on local folks casually depositing or withdrawing monies from banks, including cellfon snatching, motor-napping, budol-budol robbery, etc., he said.

“Not only that fact. The city’s phenomenal upsurge of population converging in the poblacion from Monday to Saturday at daily street load peaks of at least 100,000 people (students included during school days) transacting businesses and services here are good ‘potential targets’ of criminal elements determined to carry out their plans by what chances and by all cost most favorable to them, (probably) also having their own sophisticated communication facilities – cellfons, fast moving vehicles, etc. – taking advantage on police’s operational flaws.” The city government’s good logistical support, plus the PNP’s well-coordinated anti-crime strategy and tactics, but constantly updated to suit to the city’s changing needs and complex conditions are effective law enforcing measures to substantially subdue the criminal elements operating in our community, concluded Adriatico’s press statements. (Dipolog Chronicle, Vol.V No.17)

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19. Critic’s Corner
By: Dilly Gl. Cuneta
Hoebuck and Asthma

Is hoebuck inviting trouble? Or is he playing with fire? Recently, hoebuck has been tailing, inquiring about the background of an ordinary casual worker at citadel. My God, hoebuck wants to exchange an alas with a centavo? Bucky boy, I’ll advise you to better take care of your Small Children and your beautiful wife instead of dipping into the life of a small, yet dangerous law abiding citizen.

In fact, you always filed leave of absences because your small daughter is sick. Or was this just a camouflage for the recurrence of Asthma attacks? Am even wondering why when the small lass is sick, it’s not the mommy who is gonna be absent. Suspicion is strong that it’s really asthma attacks during this very hot and then raining cats-and-dogs weather.

This kind of weather is good for botica owners – but not for respiratory system defective pipol like bucky boy. Ini-small mo ang isang ordinaryong mang-gagawa, but I tell you, hoebucky boy, his elder brother was my comrade before. Let’s just hope that we won’t reach the point when you’ll have to taste what true discipline is all about. Citadel discipline is nothing much. In fact your running roughshod over citadel rules and regulations by filing pass slips to deliver docs to the soil bank.  But then, why were you standing by at a sun-star-sea-opis at the back of the bank to spy on pretty wifey –eh?

At other times with the pass slip, you escape to the mansion atop the hill to visit the kusinera or labandera who is alone there? And citadel has to waste a very fat salary with your do-nothing messengerial work. Look bucky boy, you’ll be paid as a clerk not as a messenger, mind you. You claim to be paymaster during elections of a certain politician. You also claim you buy votes even at the mountain and hinterlands, yet you always beg off whenever there is tree-planting activity along level-ground hi-ways because you claim that your Asthma can’t take it. You don’t even join Alay Lakad cause you claim to be sick – he, he! Yet you want pipol to believe that you’re a mountain–climbing money bagger of politicians? You claim to know the hired killers of politicians and media people that you knew and saw the kind of guns that were used for the mission. So, that means you’re part of the plot, hoebuck boy?

Again, I’ll say better take care of wifey and kids rather than talk the language of real men. You claim to be witness to the broken ash tray of a police officer when the same was made with the local chief executive. Ha, ha, ha! Har, har, haw, haw. What you heard has become your own adventure story, spinning tales, buckhoe? Bay, better work with less talk, luma na yong style mo. Wala nang maniniwala sa iyong hamburger!

— oo000oo —

When edoy asses celebrate their palpak day on Friday, their declared Messiah will be there to urge inciting to chaos and unrest at citadel. Clitor will be there (but of course naman!) to rouse edoy asses to follow his bulok leadership. Alimanskik is busy sending out invitations. Tiya, how about one for me and what about your lending business at your treasurer’s opis?

Nobody to mind the store while you’re away seeking love and comfort – tiya? Tadpole pretends to be out of the picture, yet every chance he gets is spent conferring with silda and jakol and tin-tin drunken master cash-in, eh Atty. Taddy baby? Atty. Tadpole, you think you can fool Cesar Montano boy always – round and carabao-dung admin? They were not born yesterday; they can see through for they are will trained by gatpuno – as if you don’t know. Ma ondo and inday asses peace is good, but if war is inevitable then – so be it! (Dipolog Chronicle, Vol.V No.17)

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