Political Cartoon

Gov’t brass caught betting in a cockfight

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

“Huwag na daw nating pag –usapan iyon (We will not discuss it),” my radio tandem Harold Barcelona, who was already on air for two minutes with the traffic chief, blurted out when I entered the radio booth of DZRD 981 Sonshine Radio.

“Huwag na nating pag usapan” means we would not discuss on air the photos of Carlito Ocampo, Dagupan City’s traffic chief, who went viral at social media Face Book after he was pictured releasing his fighting cock in a cockpit arena in the City.

“Why would we not discuss it? It’s the big talk of the town and that’s what people want to know why the Public Order & Safety Office (POSO) chief was inside the arena’s glass wall covered platform preparing to release his cock, er, rooster to duke out with its opponent by slashing each other with their “Blade of Gory”. Besides, there was nothing illegal there since Ocampo was inside the cockpit in that weekend,” I countered.

Before the second half of the program and with some seven minutes commercial break, Ocampo, a retired policeman, acquiesced to my prodding to go public and explained that the picture taken by an elected barangay official a certain Village Kagawad Decano,who was identified with the mayor’s rival, took the photos on November 19 a Saturday.

“How about the two POSO enforcers who were seen escorting Ocampo inside?” Harold posed.

“If they were there inside to inform Ocampo of a pressing problem and they did not bet, there was no irregularity there,” I retorted.

Ocampo, who was probably enlightened about my argumentation, warmed and heated up and prepared himself for a tit-for-tat of with his critics who relished demonizing him at radio and social media when he was seen inside the “bulangngan”.

He said it was not true that it was taken last December 7, a Wednesday.

“You go to the OSSBC (One-Stop-Shop Business Center), you can see there that the Tapuac Cockpit Arena opens only every weekend".

He said he was a cock fighting aficionado since he was a policeman.

The small amount he bet, he explained, came from the hard earning he got from his security agency.

“Mga ilan ang security guards niyo all over Region-1?” Harold posed.

“Mga 400,” Ocampo answered

“So kumikita pala si Kuya Lito (Ocampo) ng more or less P800,000 a month,” I mentally calculated at P2000  per guard and quipped.

“Kinsenas lang iyon,” Harold, who was poor in math, butted in.

“Hinde naman!” Ocampo coyly denied.

Ocampo said he was willing to be investigated by anybody where they could include his cockpit days when he was a policeman.

“Why make a big fuss on this, you go to the cockpit every weekend and you can see elected officials bet there for their favorite cocks,” he emphatically argued.

“Pati iyong nag picture elected government official, kasama ko ring nagsasabung,” he added.

“In pari delicto (in equal fault) pala kayong dalawa,” I blurted out with amusement.

“Saan nabibili iyang “In pare delicto”, kasamang Mortz?” Harold asked me again.

“Sa Quiapo” I told him to the amusement of Ocampo.

Ocampo told his detractors that in case he would be sacked from his post at POSO “hinde  ko iiyakan iyan, magpapa-inum pa ako!”

He said he accepted the thankless job at the traffic office because it was “pay – back time” to the mayor who played a significant part of his burgeoning business.

***

Are government officials like Ocampo allowed to gamble during weekends?

Political Cartoon

Insatiable greed of Filipinos

By Mortz C. Ortigoza 

If Senator Leila de Lima cited “human frailties” in committing the criminal case of concubinage when she had illicit relationship with her married driver, “human frailties” could be cited why government officials commit corruption, a malady since time immemorial.

If dangerous drug pushers mended their ways and avoid narcotics because they are being assassinated, I think assassination would be the deterrence for government officials to shun corruption.

BRIBERY.Bureau of Immigration officials Al Argosino and Mike Robles hold P30 million out of the
 P50-million alleged bribe money from  Gambling TycoonJack Lam on Tuesday, December 13, 2016
16 days after they received it in a restaurant last November 27, 2016. PHOTO CREDIT: mb.com.ph

Remember two top officials in the executive branch were ambushed to death recently.

How many government officials would die in assassination because of their insatiable greed to pocket public funds?

***

Son of a gun, the axiom in Filipino “Ang kapwa magnanakaw ay galit sa kapwa magnanakaw” has a grain of truth among beleaguered officials of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) who were accused by their briber to have received P50 million.

Retired police colonel Wally Sombero said he gave P50 million to BI Deputy Commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles in exchanged of the release of the 600 of the 1,316 Chinese nationals detained at the BI.

 These chinks worked at the 300-hectare Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino in Clark, Pampanga of gambling tycoon Jack Lam without working permits for aliens.

The P50 million pay- off was recorded by the security cameras at the second floor and the cameras set up by the men of BI Intelligence Chief  Charles Calima at the parking lot of the of City of Dreams in Paranaque.

Calima, a former police general did not trust Argosino and Robles in the transaction, thus he did not only video recorded them in the consummation of the crime, but even attached an audio recording inside the dress of Sombero, a retired police colonel.

One of the paper bags, reports said, that contained the ten million pesos “exploded” due to the weight of the bills inside.

 BI Intelligence Chief Calima was dragged on this bribery scandal because he told the duo that their transaction with Sombero was recorded. To keep the act from exploding before the public, Argosino and Robles gave P18 million to Calima while P2 million went to Colonel Sombero.

Why a Leila, not a Rody, serves more jail time

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

 When I was in a huddle with some politicians in a recent government function, I eavesdropped on the conversation between a lawyer and his lawyer-son regarding my recent column titled “The Immoral Senator De Lima”.

I wrote there that the controversial and hated lady senator could not be sued by the People of the Philippines because her offense of concubinage was a private crime.

It means it was only Norlyn Magalanes Dayan, the wife of De Lima’s paramour her driver Ronnie, who could sue her with that criminal case and no other person or institution.

“Are concubinage and adultery supposed to be public crime?” the lawyer asked his son.

“No, it’s only rape”.

When I bumped into fellow radio commentator Ruel Camba, I told him about the lawyers and that private crime.

“Ina-antay ko lang i correct ako ng old lawyer that concubinage is not a private crime, e ni researched ko iyong anak ng bakang column ko na iyon,” I told Ruel with a funny bravado.

“This is the first time I heard about private crime, I thought all crimes are public,” he excitedly quipped.
"No, it's just like toilets, may private toilet may public toilet din," I sheepishly retorted.

Private crime, to the uninitiated who read this blog, is an offense which cannot be prosecuted except upon a complaint filed by the aggrieved party (batasnatin.com).

 Do you know that a reader, a niece of a congressman, of my blog reacted on that same column?

COP faces mendicancy problems in former narco haven

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – After he transformed an infamous “sitio” from haven of narcotics peddlers, the chief of police here faces a growing problem of mendicancy and prostitution among the people there.

Beggars in the Philippines. Photo Credit: ABS-CBN

“The guy who used to peddle shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) and earned two thousand pesos per day could be seen begging the chief of police for a bowl of rice to feed their families,” a police officer who asked anonymity told Northern Watch Newspaper.

Superintendent Neil Miro, this City’s chief of police (COP), said that even the wives of these former peddlers succumbed into prostitution to meet economic end.

“During the heyday of the illegal trade at Sitio Aling, you can even see bystanders there with toy dog breed’s Shih Tzu. Where did they get the monies in buying and feeding those pets?” the same police source posed.
Miro said that to mitigate the impact of unemployment, he already talked with friends in  the construction business in Manila and Pampanga to employ the jobless males in Aling.

Shame on you, Senator Leila!

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

My radio tandem Harold asked me the difference between promiscuous Senator Leila de Lima and West Point graduate Captain Elisabeth Campbell in the movie “General’s Daughter”.

ME: Campbell allowed herself to be screwed by Captains, Majors, Colonels while De Lima allowed herself to be bonked by security guards like Ronnie, Jomel, Warren, and whatchamacallit!

***

Senator Leila de Lima lamented recently the outcome of the probe of the House of Representatives: "As a woman, it breaks my heart that my private life and personal relationship (to her body guards) has become subject of the public and Congress' ridicule."

What a nerved for her to say that.

She acquiesced early this month her “illicit” relationship with a married driver and body guard at Winnie Monsod’s TV talk show at GMA-7.

PH CONGRESS: IN AID OF SEX EDUCATION

Solon worries on Senator's Ex-Paramour Safety

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY - A Pangasinan congressman manifested to his colleagues the safety of a former lover of Senator Leila de Lima who was arrested recently.

SAFETY. Pangasinan congressman Leopoldo Bataoil (2^nd District) appealed to national police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa to take custody of arrested former driver and body guard Ronnie Dayan when  he (Dayan)  told a congressional hearing that he had personal knowledge about the eight  million pesos given by dangerous drug lord Kerwin Espinosa to Dayan’s former mistress then Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. Photo: Mortz C. Ortigoza.

Ronnie Dayan, charged for contempt of Congress for failure to attend its hearing, was arrested last November 22 at Sitio Bato, Barangay Lacong at San Gabriel town in La Union.
“Being the father of the Second District, I feel that I am responsible for his safety including that of his family. And it is important that he is kept alive so that his testimony for whatever purposes is seen necessary be put to good use,” Representative Leopoldo Bataoil (2^nd District, Pangasinan) stressed.

Dayan told the members of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights how he received eight millions  pesos of narcotic monies from drug lord Kerwin Espinosa and how he slapped then Justice Secretary de Lima upon hearing she had promiscuous relationship with former Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) motorcycle traffic enforcer’s Warren Cristobal.

"[N]agkakalabuan na kami ni ma'am. Kesyo hindi na daw kami masaya sa pagsasama naming (sic), lagi kasing bangayan, at laging nag-aaway kami," Dayan told the congressmen who relished the revelation.

I lost my watch in a Davao City’s taxi

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

At 1:10 pm recently, I was inside a Davao City’s taxi bound for meeting with friends at a coffee shop near Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU).

“The text message was not complete. It should be MTS (Matina Times Square) near ADDU-High School,” I told the taxi driver when I hailed him for the correct destination.

The Maro taxi where I lost my Rudy Project's sports watch.

As we drove to MTS, Edwin, the driver, told me that he came from Barangay Kalaisan, Kidapawan City a neighboring village of Barangay Calunasan of my town Mlang, Cotabato Province.

As we conversed I felt the rubber strap of my Rudy Project’s watch was wet after I rinsed my face at the rest room of Aldavinco Market near ADDU.

I unstrapped my watch and put it on the upper part of my knapsack I was carrying on my laps in the front seat of the cab.

“This is quite a spacious car. Is this Toyota?” I posed.

“Yes sir, Vios 2016 model,” Edwin, who is the son of the former Barangay Captain of Barangay Kalaisan, said.

 I told him that my brother has a rubber plantation in Barangay Calunasan near his village.

When we reached the coffee house I thanked him and fished out P100 bill when I saw P75 appeared on the taxi meter.

“Kini ang bayad, sa imuha na kanang kambio (Here’s the P100, the loose change is yours),” I said in Visaya.

When I settled with my friends at the table of the coffee house, I noticed, son of a gun, my sports watch ain’t on my left wrist.

“I knew it  fell inside the taxi,” I told them as I lost hope I could no longer recover it just like what happened when one left his precious stuff in a Manila taxi.

The Immoral Senator Leila de Lima

Hindi available ang buod na ito. Mag-click dito para tingnan ang post.

Bababuyin versus Bababooey

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

United States No.1 radio shock-jock Howard Stern (worth almost $100 million a year) of the The Howard Stern Show at Sirius XM Radio did not only interview with then Citizen Donald Trump, the just elected U.S president, on the latter dalliances that became issues hurled to him by presidential rival Hillary Clinton.

The feisty Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

Stern and co-anchor, the infectious laughing black woman, Robin Quivers commented last Friday on Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte by juxtaposing Duterte’s word to the nickname of their Show’s executive director Gary “Bababooey” Dell'Abate .

Here’s the conversation:

STERN: This is just cool Bababooey’s reference. Do you guys hear this? The Philippines President Rodrigo Duarte, this is the actual interview. This is the guy whose name is Rodrigo Duar.. Duarte…

QUIVERS: Duarte!

STERN: Duarte ! Yeah. Du..Duarte and he is like in the middle of getting rid of the drug dealers in the Philippines.

QUIVERS: Yeah, it’s a real drug war.

STERN: He is killing a lot of people, and kids have been killed and he says: “Hey, that’s collateral damage, y’know he seems doesn’t fucking care but he gives a speech that it sounds like “Bababooey”. Gary, in the Philippines what does Bababooey means?

GARY: It  means…. to drive out the pigs.

STERN: Ya here, the actual Bababooey means.

(Excerpt of the tape recorded speech of President Duterte)

“Do not say that to… bastos ka sabi ko sa inyo don’t  do that kasi bababuyin ko kayo!!

So now the doors are open again, the windows are open e talagang bababuyin ko kayo!

(Stern’s staff laughed)

STERN AND GARY: Bababooey!

STERN: It’s catching.

ROBBINS: Gary’s going international!

U.S No. 1 Radio talk host Howard Stern (R) and his underling
Gary “Babaobooey” Dell'Abate.

***

“Just like in the 8.2 million population’s New York City where crime rates in 2012 plunged to 450 deaths versus the 3 million populated thriving gun-for hire province Pangasinan where killers snapped out 249 lives in the same year” I wrote in my blog in 2012.

I argued there that crime rates like bank, other commercial establishment robberies, and other crimes like mobile phone snatching, akyat-bahay, hold- up can be lowered by using the stop and frisk methods (SFM for brevity).

SFM is the situation in which a police officer who is suspicious of an individual detains the person and runs his hands lightly over the suspect's outer garments to determine if the person is carrying a concealed weapon (The Free Dictionary).

Look what we got here. A high ranking police official in the other province called me recently because he wanted to study SFM and adopt it at the province he is presently assigned.

“Ano ba iyong sinulat ninyo Kuya sa blog niyo na parang Oplan Sita (Operation Accost),” he posed to me.

“E Google Search mo iyong blog ko “Police Stop and Frisk help Lower Shooting Incidents” at marami akong data doon and jurisprudences that I incorporated,” I told him.

 I argued on my blog that SFM was necessary because of the following observations by the court in the U.S:

 1) Police need a certain flexibility in dealing with quickly evolving and potentially dangerous situations that arise during routine patrol of the streets;
 2) A rigid and unthinking application of the exclusionary rule (The rule means that a search of a person should be with the benefit of a warrant or object that was seen by a lawman to be inflagrante, may exact a high toll in human injury and frustration of efforts to prevent crime.
 3) The court made room for the idea that some police action short of a traditional arrest (through Plain View and Search Warrant) could constitute a seizure—that is, "whenever a police officer accosts an individual and restrains his freedom to walk away, he has 'seized' that person.
 Thus, when the police detective Martin McFadden took hold of John W. Terry and patted him down on that Cleveland street, the detective "seized" Terry and subjected him to a "search" within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment (where Philippine Constitution adopted it at Section 2, Article III ( Illegal search and seizure" of the Bill of Rights).
But the Fourth Amendment protects only against unreasonable searches and seizures, so the Court next had to determine whether Terry’s seizure and search were "reasonable".
 4) Reasonable search for weapons is for the protection of the police officer, where he has reason to believe that he is dealing with an armed and dangerous individual, regardless of whether he has probable cause to arrest the individual for a crime.
The court however cautioned the police to avoid using good faith or hunch to stop and seize a person.” If subjective good faith alone were the test, the protections of the Fourth Amendment would evaporate, and the people would be 'secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects,' only in the discretion of the police," the court quoted Beck v. Ohio, 379 U.S. 89 (1964).
 5) Evidence found on Terry's person was properly admitted because the search was reasonable. The detective had observed Terry and his companions acting in a manner of a stick-up. A reasonable person in the detective's position would have thought that Terry was armed and thus presented a threat to his safety while he was investigating the suspicious behavior he was observing. The events he had witnessed made it reasonable for him to believe that either Terry or his cohorts were armed.
 6) The police detective here limited his search to the outer surfaces of Terry's clothing. His searched was reasonably related for his own safety that justified the stop from the beginning. Accordingly, the Court concluded that the revolver found on Terry's person was properly admitted into evidence.
 7) The sole justification of the search ... is the protection of the police officer and others nearby, and it must therefore be confined in scope to an intrusion reasonably designed to discover guns, knives, clubs, or other hidden instruments for the assault of the police officer”.

(You can read my selected columns at http://mortzortigoza.blogspot.com and articles at Pangasinan News Aro. You can send comments too at totomortz@yahoo.com)

Duterte extols Vietnamese poacher as “ladies man”

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

SUAL – Known as lady charmer, the Philippine president grudgingly lauded one of the Vietnamese fishermen who developed an affair with a Filipina when he was in jail in Ilocos Sur.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who led the sent off here of the 17 fishermen, said that Vietnam Ambassador Truong Triey Duong whispered to him that one of the Vietnamese jailed at Vigan City, Ilocos Sur had an affair with a Filipina when he and 15 of his compatriots where locked up there.

The other Vietnamese was a minor thus presumed to be under the watch of the Department of Social Welfare & Development.

“Bumulong iyong ambassador daw. Iyong isa daw dito raw may naka uyab raw ng Filipina. Sino?! Mabilis ito? Iba ang yawa! (The Vietnamese ambassador whispered to me that one of them had an affair with a Filipina. Who is he?! He was fast. This demon is different!), the president declared before the hundreds of amused crowds from the national, regional, and municipal offices of the government who attended the first official visit of the president of the republic in this rustic and coastal town and the province of Pangasinan.

On September 8, the 17 Vietnamese fishermen on board three fishing vessels were arrested by the Philippine Navy off Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

Government authorities filed charges against them like violations of Section 91 of Republic Act No. 10654 or An Act to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing; violation of Republic Act 8550 as amended by Republic Act 10654 for poaching and CA 613, Section 37 (a)(1) & (7) for entering Philippine waters at Poro Point, La Union without inspection, admission, and in the absence of nine entry visa and record of arrival in the country.

The Philippine authorities however dropped all these charges because it was argued that the fishermen were forced to reach the Philippine waters due to Typhoon Ferdie and the southwest monsoon from the South China Sea. On October 10, the Justice Department issued a memorandum allowing them to return to Vietnam without fine or penalty.

On October 24, a joint resolution issued by concerned agencies cleared the 17 Vietnamese fishermen to sail for their home country on board their three fishing vessels.

Q & A: DSWD Sec hopes corruption on projects identified by solons minimized

 During the sent off last November 2 of President Rodrigo Duterte of the 17 Vietnamese fishermen who were detained for almost two months after “poaching” at the sea off of Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, Northern Watch Newspaper’s correspondent Mortz C. Ortigoza chanced upon Department of Social Welfare & Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy Taguiwalo at Sual Wharf in Sual, Pangasinan. Ortigoza asked her about the previous tussle she had with the congressmen who insisted that members of congress through the power of the purse should have entitlement on the identification of the recipients of government projects. He asked the Secretary if the solons continue the malpractice of conspiring with the private contractors in rigging the government bid where two of the three bidders quoted a higher construction cost thus losing the bid while receiving a bribe from the winning bidder. Ortigoza also posed to Taguiwalo if the old practice of 20 percent S.O.P, euphemism for cut, continues to be given by the winning bidder to the congressman. Excerpts:

TENSION. Lawmakers drew tension duringthe budget hearing on DSWD as they raise
concern over Secretary Judy Taguiwalo's memorandum that seeks to eliminate the culture of
 patronage. TEXT AND PHOTO CREDIT: RAPPLER.COM

Mortz C. Ortigoza (MCO): Media man ako diri, maam. Ilonggo ako. Taga diin kamo? (I’m a media man here. I’m illonggo. Where are you from?)

Secretary Judith Taguiwalo : Bacolod, indi ka Ilocano? ( Bacolod, so you’re not Ilocano?) (Her staff chuckled).

MCO: Nakapangasawa ako diri. Sa radio program ko, kinumentaryuhan ko ang ginawa ng mga congressmen sa inyo. Kay kabalo kamo, hampang nila ina mga projects sila naga identify. Sa ila ang contractors kay ginatagaan sila sang 20 percent S.O.P. Is still there a pressure from them that they should prevail on what they wanted? (I married a Pangasinense. In my radio program I discussed about the roughed treatment given to you by congressmen when you appeared at Congress. It is still their practice where they identify recipients of government projects and then received 20 percent S.O.P from their favored contractor? Is still there a pressure from them that you should acquiesce that they should prevail on what they wanted?).

SEC: Ang usapan puwede sila maglagay ng mga projects nila during the deliberation because that is the role of congress. Di ba? Pero sa implementation na post enactment na, it would be the department.

 For example, emergency shelters. Do congressmen insist for their favored contractor?

 Hinde naman…

 Hinde nila gagawin iyon...?

 Wala naman…

 Sa Aquino Administration ganoon ang ginagawa nila.

 May mga bidding iyan dapat.

Arum souped up Pacquiao vs Vargas with Donaire vs a bum

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Radio anchor Audrey Hidalgo and her tandem Mike Goyagoy of DZXL RMN Manila Radyo Mo Nationwide and Bombo Radyo – Koronadal City interviewed me recently and asked my take on the boxing bout of Bantamweight Nonito Donaire versus Jessie Magdaleno at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Sunday morning.

“It’s a non-fight and I should not be discussing it. Although Magdaleno’s knocked out (KO) ratio was 74 percent on 23 wins, 0 loses (Donaire has 60 percent on his 37 wins, 3 loses), his records showed he knocked out or technical knocked out those bums and probably tricycle and funeral parlor’s cars (psst they called that in English as “hearse”) who ferry those victims of extra judicial killings,” I stressed.

Look baby, what kinda unknown opponents Medrano had in his last four fights : Rey Perez 20 wins (W) 7 loses (L) 0 Draw (D) Vergel Nebran 14 W- 10 L- 1 D, Raul Hirales 22 W-  4 L – 1 D, and Erik Ruiz 13 W- 1 L- 0 D .

What kinds of wins and loses ratios these four bums have?

Boxing Promoter Bob Arum is indeed a snake merchant. He pulled in Donaire to soup up the lousy matched up of Manny Pacquiao versus ho-hum Jesse Vargas fight.

Vargas, my foot, he had a KO ratio of 36 percent only in a 27 W-1 L- 0 D records while the Philippines fighting Senator Pacquiao has 58 percent KO ratio in a 58 W- 6 L – 2 D.

Vargas only elite opponents in his 28 professional fights were Tim Bradley who outpointed him in June 2015 and TKO’d in March 2016 Sadam Ali (and he was not even Iraq’s Saddam Hussein) who was an olymphic U.S player.

PMYers’ feats while we wait for Commander-in-Chief

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

While waiting for the arrival of President Rodrigo Duterte last Wednesday at the wharf in Sual, Pangasinan for the send-off of the 17 Vietnamese “poachers”, I, some congressmen, Pangasinan political leaders, mayors, military and police's regional and provincial top brass were killing our time at a German restaurant exchanging pleasantries.

BRASS. Top politicians like Pangasinan Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil, military and police brass 

that include three stars Marine general wait for the arrival of the five powerful engines presidential

 Bell helicopters that carry and escort Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte for the send-off last 

Wednesday of the 17 Vietnamese fishermen apprehended by law enforcement at the Philippines’ sea. 

Photo: Mortz C. Ortigoza

“What is chocolate in German? I asked the bearded German entrepreneur who served us the chocolate crowned halo-halo.

“Van Houten,” he said.

 “How about that priest,” I glanced at the priest and the nun who had a lunch in another table.

“Priester” he said

“How about that nun? ” I posed again.

Before the German could open his mouth so he could utter “Now” the German's translation for nun, a mayor in the western Pangasinan town, who could be mistaken to be a driver of a mini-bus quipped: “Takot sa Hauten!”

***

PRESIDENT RODY. President Rodrigo Duterte speaks before the crowd mostly composed of Pangasinense before he leads the send-off at the wharf in Sual, Pangasinan last Wednesday afternoon of the 17 Vietnamese fishermen released from detention by the Philippine government.

The presidential visit was the first in Sual and the three million population province after Duterte was elected as president and assumed officed at noon of June this year.

Background was the two of the three Vietnamese vessels that would be used by the 17 to sail for six days to Vietnam. Photo: Mortz C. Ortigoza

“The president is still in Davao (City),” I heard at 1:00 pm Sual Mayor Bing Arcinue told the mayors of Western Pangasinan who were in a huddle with their Congressman Boying Celeste.

I told them it would take two hours from Davao to Clark, Pampanga in his jet and another less than 30 minutes from Clark via a helicopter to the rustic town of Sual.

Why I know it? Geez, I used to ride in Air Asia via Clark, when the mostly Malaysian Tony Fernandes’ owned airline used to service the routes, whenever I went home via Davao City.

Why I know it took 30 minutes from Clark to Sual?

When then presidential candidate Mar Roxas barnstormed San Fernando City, La Union, one of the pilots of his night capable flying helicopter told me that Manila to San Fernando City took one hour for a chopper to fly, thus I just estimated it that Clark and Sual, host of the next two biggest more than two thousand megawatts coal power plants in the Philippines, take less than 30 minutes for the five, with each powerful two –engine and four blades presidential Bell made helicopters, to traverse.

***

“Did it occur to you when you were a cadet at the PMA (Philippine Military Academy) to join the air force?” I posed to Pangasinan 2^nd District Congressman Pol Bataoil (PMA Class 1976) while he was watching with Region 1 Regional Director Chief Superintendent (one star general) Greg Pimentel, Pangasinan Police Director Senior Superintendent (full colonel) Ronald Lee while two air force’s UH-1H” Super Huey” were landing and taking off around 2:30 pm at the wharf probably for some scouting of the area or testing the gustiness from the Lingayen Gulf.

He said it never occur in his mind to be a fly boy despite the air force only had 25 percent quota for the graduating class at the long gray line in Baguio City.

“Many of us then want to be with the PC (Philippine Constabulary). We idolized the likes of Amado T. Espino, Jr (PMA Class 1972 who later became a three termed governor of Pangasinan) that apprehended top communist leaders like Dante “Kumander Dante” Buscayno," Bataoil said. 

Author posing with Navy Captain (Colonel) Erick Kagaoan and Army’s Special Forces Colonel Batle.

“Son of a gun, so the PC had the likes of Espino while the other branches of service had their heroes. Were you familiar with Army’s hero Julius Javier a goat or the last in the honor roll of the PMA Class of 1970 but became general and legendary artillery man Army General Rodolfo Canieso (PMA Class of 1956). Si Julius Javier may movie pa titled the Scout Ranger!” I enthused.

Bataoil emphatically told me the feats of Javier, an ilonggo like me.

“Even as company commander he joined patrol and engaged the Muslim rebels in Mindanao in a fire fight. There was an incident where Moro snipers were hiding on the trees in the forest and they were pinning down his troop”

Bataoil recalled how Javier ordered one of his men to run as bait for the sniper.

“Ninerbiyos ang sundalo but he had to comply while running as the sniper tried to pin him down. Javier watched where the shot came from then Javier fired at the location of the sniper”.

Sometimes the sniper, the solon explained, could not be hit and he had to order another soldier to run as bait.

“One of the soldiers feared that he would die would not comply with the order. An angry Javier then asked him to watch and fire where the shot came from as he would use himself as the running target.

After he ran, he shouted at the nervous soldier if he hit the shooter from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

“Hinde po sir,!” the soldier shouted back.

Javier asked the soldier to run as bait. The soldier hesitated.

“Javier shouted pag di ka tumakbo, ako ang babaril sa iyo!”

The former two- star police general said the poor soldier complied as Javier trained his Armalite rifle to the whereabouts of the Moro’s marksman.

“Sir, may mga tall tales about Canieso, an ilonggo and kanyonero, I heard among non-officers when I visited Awang Dinaig , Maguindanao Air Force base where my father was assigned in the late 1970s,” I said.

PMYers’ feats while we wait for Commander-in-Chief

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

While waiting for the arrival of President Rodrigo Duterte last Wednesday at the wharf in Sual, Pangasinan for the send-off of the 17 Vietnamese “poachers”, I, some congressmen, Pangasinan political leaders, mayors, military and police's regional and provincial top brass were killing our time at a German restaurant exchanging pleasantries.

BRASS. Top politicians like Pangasinan Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil, military and police brass 

that include three stars Marine general wait for the arrival of the five powerful engines presidential

 Bell helicopters that carry and escort Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte for the send-off last 

Wednesday of the 17 Vietnamese fishermen apprehended by law enforcement at the Philippines’ sea. 

Photo: Mortz C. Ortigoza

“What is chocolate in German? I asked the bearded German entrepreneur who served us the chocolate crowned halo-halo.

“Van Houten,” he said.

 “How about that priest,” I glanced at the priest and the nun who had a lunch in another table.

“Priester” he said

“How about that nun? ” I posed again.

Before the German could open his mouth so he could utter “Now” the German's translation for nun, a mayor in the western Pangasinan town, who could be mistaken to be a driver of a mini-bus quipped: “Takot sa Hauten!”

***

PRESIDENT RODY. President Rodrigo Duterte speaks before the crowd mostly composed of Pangasinense before he leads the send-off at the wharf in Sual, Pangasinan last Wednesday afternoon of the 17 Vietnamese fishermen released from detention by the Philippine government.

The presidential visit was the first in Sual and the three million population province after Duterte was elected as president and assumed officed at noon of June this year.

Background was the two of the three Vietnamese vessels that would be used by the 17 to sail for six days to Vietnam. Photo: Mortz C. Ortigoza

“The president is still in Davao (City),” I heard at 1:00 pm Sual Mayor Bing Arcinue told the mayors of Western Pangasinan who were in a huddle with their Congressman Boying Celeste.

I told them it would take two hours from Davao to Clark, Pampanga in his jet and another less than 30 minutes from Clark via a helicopter to the rustic town of Sual.

Why I know it? Geez, I used to ride in Air Asia via Clark, when the mostly Malaysian Tony Fernandes’ owned airline used to service the routes, whenever I went home via Davao City.

Why I know it took 30 minutes from Clark to Sual?

When then presidential candidate Mar Roxas barnstormed San Fernando City, La Union, one of the pilots of his night capable flying helicopter told me that Manila to San Fernando City took one hour for a chopper to fly, thus I just estimated it that Clark and Sual, host of the next two biggest more than two thousand megawatts coal power plants in the Philippines, take less than 30 minutes for the five, with each powerful two –engine and four blades presidential Bell made helicopters, to traverse.

***

“Did it occur to you when you were a cadet at the PMA (Philippine Military Academy) to join the air force?” I posed to Pangasinan 2^nd District Congressman Pol Bataoil (PMA Class 1976) while he was watching with Region 1 Regional Director Chief Superintendent (one star general) Greg Pimentel, Pangasinan Police Director Senior Superintendent (full colonel) Ronald Lee while two air force’s UH-1H” Super Huey” were landing and taking off around 2:30 pm at the wharf probably for some scouting of the area or testing the gustiness from the Lingayen Gulf.

He said it never occur in his mind to be a fly boy despite the air force only had 25 percent quota for the graduating class at the long gray line in Baguio City.

“Many of us then want to be with the PC (Philippine Constabulary). We idolized the likes of Amado T. Espino, Jr (PMA Class 1972 who later became a three termed governor of Pangasinan) that apprehended top communist leaders like Dante “Kumander Dante” Buscayno," Bataoil said. 

Author posing with Navy Captain (Colonel) Erick Kagaoan and Army’s Special Forces Colonel Batle.

“Son of a gun, so the PC had the likes of Espino while the other branches of service had their heroes. Were you familiar with Army’s hero Julius Javier a goat or the last in the honor roll of the PMA Class of 1970 but became general and legendary artillery man Army General Rodolfo Canieso (PMA Class of 1956). Si Julius Javier may movie pa titled the Scout Ranger!” I enthused.

Bataoil emphatically told me the feats of Javier, an ilonggo like me.

“Even as company commander he joined patrol and engaged the Muslim rebels in Mindanao in a fire fight. There was an incident where Moro snipers were hiding on the trees in the forest and they were pinning down his troop”

Bataoil recalled how Javier ordered one of his men to run as bait for the sniper.

“Ninerbiyos ang sundalo but he had to comply while running as the sniper tried to pin him down. Javier watched where the shot came from then Javier fired at the location of the sniper”.

Sometimes the sniper, the solon explained, could not be hit and he had to order another soldier to run as bait.

“One of the soldiers feared that he would die would not comply with the order. An angry Javier then asked him to watch and fire where the shot came from as he would use himself as the running target.

After he ran, he shouted at the nervous soldier if he hit the shooter from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

“Hinde po sir,!” the soldier shouted back.

Javier asked the soldier to run as bait. The soldier hesitated.

“Javier shouted pag di ka tumakbo, ako ang babaril sa iyo!”

The former two- star police general said the poor soldier complied as Javier trained his Armalite rifle to the whereabouts of the Moro’s marksman.

“Sir, may mga tall tales about Canieso, an ilonggo and kanyonero, I heard among non-officers when I visited Awang Dinaig , Maguindanao Air Force base where my father was assigned in the late 1970s,” I said.