Congresswoman To Resign After Naked Photos, 3-Somes Exposed

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

A contractor in my province reacted on my news article's Projects in DPWH's Districts are Fixed. CLICK HERE TO READ

When I mentioned there the S.O.P or bribe given by a contractor who won the bid at the Department of Public Works & Highway on the multi-million pesos’ construction of government infrastructure to a congressman and the DPWH’s district engineer, he said the bribe given to a solon, National Irrigation Administration’s Provincial Manager, and others in Central and Eastern Pangasinan vary.

“Pare, don’t quote me. Ang bigayan sa Eastern Pangasinan sa construction ng school building ay 12%; Roads and Flood Construction Project 20%; Irrigation 10%”.

In Central Pangasinan, he said the S.O.P is lower.

“Geez, the greed of politicians and public officials in that part of the province is moderate,” I told myself.

---

The source said the bribe for the school project is 8%; Road and Flood Control 10%, NIA 3 % to 5% .

“Mabuti pa noong congressman si Mark Cojuangco, hindi siya humihingi ng S.O.P,” he reminisced one of the few solons in the country who rejected bribery.

During the terms of Mark and wife former congresswoman Kimi Cojuangco at the Fifth District, contractors grudgingly lauded their bribe - free morality.

"Sige na, huwag mo na akong bigyan. Iyong SOP ko idagdag mo na lang doon sa quality ng kalsada," Mark told a contractor.

But there was a conundrum: Contractors would prefer to bribe the congressmen than dealing with the Cojuangcos.

“They were very strict, they saw to it that the buildings and highways were built on the standard mandated by law”.

There was a case where Mark Cojuangco told us reporters that he chided the district engineer of the DPWH.

“Tinanong ko kung iyong mga ugat ng acacia ay tinangal bago ni semento and kalsada. Ang sabi hindi. Nagalit ako dahil magiging ampaw iyong ugat at babagsak ang semento ng kalsada doble’ gastos sa gobyerno,” he said.

When I told a congresswoman about the No Bribe Stance of the Cojuangcos, this what she told me: Ikaw naman Mortz, e mayayaman na iyang mga Cojuangcos kaya hinde na nila kailangan ang lagay.

****

A congresswoman— who is besieged because of the naked photos and “sexual threesomes” she indulged with her husband and female staff — announced recently that she is resigning from the House of Representatives.

The freshman lawmaker was also the target of a House Ethics Committee probe over allegations she was romantically involved with her current male legislative director or chief of staff.

The 32 years old solon had vehemently denied being involved with the director but did admit to a sexual relationship with a 24 years old former female campaign staffer while married to her now-estranged husband.

The openly bisexual congresswoman, we called LGBT or what the Bisayas called Lami Gihapon Bisag Tiguhang, told a reporter that she became involved with the campaign worker during the “final tumultuous years” of her abusive marriage to her husband.

“I know that even a consensual relationship with a subordinate is inappropriate, but I still allowed it to happen despite my better judgment,” she said
The pair’s relationship was first reported by a conservative online news that backed up their claims by publishing a number of steamy photographs of the lady legislature and her subordinate.

One photo showed the two embracing and locked in a kiss.

Another photograph posted by the site showed the naked solon brushing the partner's hair.

The congresswoman’s husband had no problem with his wife’s interest in the 24 years old staff because he was a conspirator.

Last week, an online news published – with the lady solon naked holding a smoking bong and wearing what appeared to be a tattoo that looked like an Iron Cross on her bikini area.

A bong is a filtration device generally used for smoking marijuana, tobacco, or other herbal substances.

Just like the arguments of the friends of Apo Hiking Society’s composer and singer Jim Paredes who masturbated online, the lady solon argued that those photos published at the internet breached her privacy:

“Having private photos of personal moments weaponized against me has been an appalling invasion of my privacy. It’s also illegal, and we are currently pursuing all of our available legal options,” she said.

The resigning elected official is Democrat California Representative Katie Hill, Amerikana po. Si Jim Paredes, mga friends niya. at iyong mga kawatan na mga public officials ang mga Pilipino dito sa article.

CLICK here for the full story and photos.

READ MY OTHER BLOG/COLUMN:

How Mayor, Guv, Solon Steal to Fund Their Election

(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) 

STOP HAZING: Cavaliers Dialogue With PMA Cadets

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Members of the Triple A or the Philippine Military Alumni Association, Inc. who called each other “cavalier” conducted recently a pep talk with the members of the “Long Gray Line” at Fort del Pilar, Baguio City after the brutal death of Cadet Fourth Class  Darwin Dormitorio at the hands of his upper classmen.
The two day meetings primordially to foil the evil of hazing and maltreatment ensued lately in the PMA compound where the PMAAA met separately the military and medical officials of the PMA, the upperclassmen composed of the yearlings (second year), cows (third year), and firsties (fourth year), and the brunt of the maltreatment the vulnerable plebes (first year).

“Let’s shout to the whole world so our voice can be heard that we never tolerated hazing. Marinig ng ating Chief of Staff, ng Secretary of National Defense, ng ating Presidente. Hip hip hooray,” former police two-star general and incumbent Lingayen Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil (PMA Class 1976) ended his rabble rousing speech, probably minted by his nine years as congressman, with his signature cheers of several “hip hips” that the upperclassmen enthusiastically responded with their “hooray” inside the hall where they converged. 

---

Bataoil, elected this year as mayor of Capital Town Lingayen, Pangasinan, told this writer that he was accompanied in that trumpet call by former congressmen Romeo Acop (PMA Class 1970), Samuel Pagdilao (PMA Class 1979) and Gary Alejano (PMA Class 1995) and a young Army Captain Ferdinand Quicho (PMA Class 2011) who was the Cadet Captain of his class.

 When asked by this writer if the plebes who dialogue with them were still stiffed, reticent, vacillated, and muffled afraid they would be branded as “squealer” a mortal sin because it’s a sign of weakness and betrayal before the eyes of the upperclassmen, Bataoil said that in that Saturday’s afternoon to dusk meeting these Fourth Class Cadets were told by their commandant, a star ranked now, and the cadets’ baron to speak freely with the Triple A members.

“Talagang sinabi namin na noon pa not to waste our time to find a solution to this problem even the problem of hazing which stained our beloved alma mater,” the former general told this writer.

He affirmed, when I told him, that he could relate with the Corps of Cadets of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, or what they called CCAFP in brevity, because he was once a Senior Tactical Officer in 1989 when I was still a young struggling clerk of the same office’s Tactics Group under the leadership of that brawny Air Force and pilot Lieutenant Colonel Castro (geez, forgot his first name) and a dapper, er, snappy tall mestizo Army Colonel Victor Garcia whose ironed razor sharp creases uniform and his shiny black shoes impresses soldiers and cadets there.

“Maka relate kayo dahil tactical officer kayo. Sila General Pagdilao baka hindi pa iyon naging tactical officer,” I told him.

“Oo pero baron siya. He was Batch 1979 kaya ang ganda ng mixing namin. Doon sa Class of 2011 si Army Captain Ferdie Quicho baron din siya,” Bataoil, who still wear almost everyday that PMA class gold bullring, retorted.

The mayor said that he and his group wanted to eradicate maltreatment by the upper-class especially the yearlings, those second year who want to inflict what the previous year upper class had done to them, to the plebes because he was a victim of hazing too and was dismissed at the PMA when two second years manhandled a plebe.

“I was also very strict because there is a desire to maintain a level of perfection. A level of professionalism which has to be observed and complied by the plebe, by the underclassmen. When I became a second class man that was still my attitude my underclassmen to follow a high standard of performance. I was very strict”.

He said he had a nightmarish experience that shattered his dream and that of his family in Barangay Libsong, Lingayen.

“That’s what I got dismiss. I was already in my third year when two of my yearlings were involved in hazing and having been involved in hazing as the squad leader for the so called command responsibility I have to be dismissed”.

He graduated as member of Class 1976 and joined as second lieutenant the Philippine Constabulary -- the precursor of the present Philippine National Police.
Bataoil, who originally belonged to PMA Class 1975, strive to be reinstated and the leadership of the Academy acquiesced to his and those two yearlings desire.

“Luckily, we were reinstated. I became a proponent and advocate to hazing movement. Kadete pa lang ako noon advocate na ako  ng No To Hazing Movement because I went to it, shattered dreams. Kung hinde ako nakabalik hinde na ako PMAer. Pati parents ko…”.

 “Baka teacher na kayo ngayon sir doon sa Pangasinan National High School or engineer,” I cut him with a chuckle.

“Engineer ako. So I went through the experienced. I saved many upperclassmen to almost committing hazing. Sabi ko sa kanila ako na ang sasalo diyan. Baka ma-dismiss din kayo katulad ko. So pini pep-talk ko iyong mga upperclassmen, pini pep - talk ko ang mga plebes. I finally graduated,” he continued.

When I asked him if he saw plebes being manhandled by their seniors when he was a senior tactical officer, he said he surreptitiously and randomly checked the cadets at their buildings by listening if there were whimpers, agonies of pain, and whatchamacallit in their rooms.

“Kung meron humahalinghing diyan kako. “Sir, iba iyong halinghing, dumadaing” sabi nila. Sorry wrong choice of words kako. Tawanan iyong mga kadete. Anyway, that was what I did”. 

He said being a senior tactical officer training cadets he had sleepless nights because he was anxious that a plebe would be hurt by the upperclassmen.

“Bago ako matulog tinatawagan ko ang Corps Commander tinatanong ko if the Corp was okay”.

During his more than a year stint at the PMA he said no plebe died.

The still ramrod “PMAer” was optimistic that hazing and other form of maltreatment would be expunged in his alma mater.

“We believed the cadets are ready to transfer and accept changes on the eradication of hazing as they manifested all together when we were there,” he emphatically told this writer who was born and lived before with his military father on that one of Asia’s premier military schools located at Barangay Kias, Baguio City.

Isa na namang 4th Class Cadet o Plebo sa PMA ang namatay today (November 8) nalunod sa swimming pool.
Naalalala ko tuloy: ONE OF MY FAVORITE SCRIPTS AT THE U.S MILITARY WHODUNIT (MYSTERY) MOVIE'S GENERAL'S DAUGHTER DIRECTED BY SIMON ("CON AIR") WEST.

READ MY OTHER BLOG/COLUMN:

Soldiers Shot Officers Because They Hazed Them – Ex-General

(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)

Projects' Bidding in DPWH’s Districts are Fixed

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

 A former mayor and an official of a congressman said that all government projects being bidded at many districts of the Department of Public Works & Highway are fixed.

The officials, who speak on condition of anonymity, cited that those projects have been given to the favored contractors of the solon at the district in Pangasinan where the projects are intended.

“Ako ang tirador ni congressman noon. May pre-qualification bid iyan ayon sa R.A 9184. Mahabang proceso. May pass –fail criteria pa iyon documents mo. My post – qualification pa. It’s sad to say all bidding in public works lahat fixed iyon,” the aide of a solon stressed to this writer.

Republic Act 9184 is Modernization, Standardization and Regulation of the Procurement Activities of the Government.

Money exchanges hands between a contractor and a corrupt government official.

Based on his experiences those projects intended for a district need the imprimatur of a congressman who decides whom it can be awarded in a bid.

“Takot ang D.E ng DPWH sa congressman,” he said.

D.E is District Engineer or the top honcho of the DPWH in a selected number of local government units that include a city and towns or purely towns only.

10 Years Jail Time vs Cultural Property Vandal

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

When the private contractor of the Department of Education imprudently and controversially stripped to bare bones early this month the historical landmark’s Economics Building in Dagupan City that once housed United States Pacific Supreme Commander and Five-  Star Army General Douglas MacAthur during his liberation campaign in World War II, old timers and historical buff’s Jaycekeen and other stakeholders  cried “desecration”, “mutilation”, and whatchacamallit to the gall of the DepEd leadership in Manila and Dagupan City and  the private contractor, who is an ally of the city’s mayor, when they scandalously stripped off the walls and floors of the edifice and dumped them to the ground for the elements to consume.

DESTRUCTION - The two-storey bare to the bones Economics cum MacArthur Building recklessly stripped off by its walls, floors, and other materials by the Department of Education and its contractor raised furors from stakeholders in Dagupan City who cried destruction of the heritage house used as headquarter by United States Pacific Supreme Commander and Five-  Star Army General Douglas MacAthur during his liberation campaign in World War II. The DepEd said it wanted to restore the edifice to correct deterioration. PHOTO CREDIT: PNA

DESTRUCTION - The two-storey bare to the bones Economics cum MacArthur Building recklessly stripped off by its walls, floors, and other materials by the Department of Education and its contractor raised furors from stakeholders in Dagupan City who cried destruction of the heritage house used as headquarter by United States Pacific Supreme Commander and Five-  Star Army General Douglas MacAthur during his liberation campaign in World War II. The DepEd said it wanted to restore the edifice to correct deterioration. PHOTO CREDIT: PNA

RPG-7s, M-79s Fired at this Gov'nor

  

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

In a huddle with fellow media men, some of them cited that the recent ambush of former Pangasinan governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. that killed his body guard and driver and wounded his other escorts was due to the volleys of fire from high powered assault rifles M-14 and M-16.

“The ten gunmen positioned at the ambush site in a close quarter military fashion,” a radio commentator who quoted what provincial police director and Colonel Redrico Maranan told them in the earlier press conference held at the San Carlos City's police station.

I told them that the bush-whack of the former regional police director and ex- congressman in his two convoy vehicles was child’s play if one's compared how malefactors in our place in Mindanao pounced on a then incumbent governor.

ROCKET FIRE - A gun man wielding a lethal Russian made Rocket Propelled Grenade -7 (RPG-7) waits for the signal to blast in an ambush fire several convoys of the cruising  sports's utility vehicle's Chevrolet Suburbans below the buildings.

In July 3, 2001 Maguindanao Governor Datu Andal Ampatuan, Sr. (yes Virginia the patriarch of those Ampatuan siblings who killed 32 journalists out of the 58 they ordered slain) and his security escorts were on board five vehicles on their way to Cotabato City from coastal town of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao when they were ambushed by treacherous brigands.

30 Muslim gunmen, who positioned on both sides of the highway in Barangay Salimbao, Sultan Kudarat, daringly opened fire at them with Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG-7s), shoulder-borne M79 projectiles, and machine guns.

Compared to the M-14 and M-16 assault rifles used by the hired hands against Espino, RPG has a grenade that protrudes from its launch tube with a size of 40–105 millimeters in diameter and weighs between 2.0 and 4.5 kilograms compared to the minuscule 7.62 x 51 mm and 5.56×45mm  bullets of the M-14 and M-16. 

Minuses of Putting Ex Soldier, Cop to Gov't Posts

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

The downsides of President Rodrigo Duterte appointing to civilian posts retired military and police officials: They looked dumb when asked about their functions.

Look how these retirees fared on the latest Senate hearing on the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) that cause an uproar for the bungled prison released of rapist and murderer mayor Antonio Sanchez and other prisoners convicted with heinous crimes.

When Senator FrancisTolentino, a lawyer, asked Bureau of Correction Chief Nicanor Faeldon, a former Marine officer, about his knowledge on the “illegal release of prisoners before and after election” as provided by the Omnibus Election Code and Resolution 10429 of the Commission on Election, the Bucor Chief answered in the negative.

BELEAGUERED Bureau of Correction Director Nicanor Faeldon (left photo) and Bureau of Immigration & Deportation Commissioner Jaime Morente.  Faeldon used to be a Marine Captain while Morente, an alumnus of the Philippine Military Academy, was a retired police general.

“I don’t know about it,” he referred to the law that he did not understand that could make him criminally and administratively liable because he allowed to release in that period some convicts.

I could only shake my head.

Piñol Brings Good Economics at MinDA

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

No, I’m not going to expound on the cheap succulent fruits of The First Minda Fruit Festival in Baguio City brought yesterday and today by Secretary Manny Piñol who is also the chief of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

I’m going to cite here the good economic sense he brought to MinDA when he assumed office last August 20 after President Rodrigo Duterte appointed him as his point man not only of MinDA but with the nascent Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). 

FRUITS - Mindanao Development Authority Chairman and Secretary Manny Piñol (second from left) gives a free taste to a resident of Baguio City of the succulent marang fruit in the First Minda Fruit Festival in Baguio City held yesterday and today at the Pines City. With Piñol at the Burnham Park is the city’s mayor Benjamin Magalong (extreme left).

Before I delve on that hundreds of billions of pesos’ ambitious projects Piñol’s refuted at his Davao City’s speech, I was then awed in March 2018 about the proposals of then MinDA Chairman Datu Abul Khayr Alonto in Zamboanga City for the creations of these linchpin projects that could leapfrogged Mindanao from its debilitating penury.

Alonto, who died by the way in May 9, 2019, explained how much the budget needed “to catch up with the Dutertenomics target of boosting the island-region’s economy”.

In the PhP 3.757 trillion national budget for 2019, Mindanao was appropriated by PhP 585.851 billion or 4.7% lower than the 2018 share of PhP 615 billion.

Included in the proposed budget of Alonto were monumental projects that MinDA marked as priority programs which include the following:

• Mindanao-wide land transport connectivity
• Mindanao gateways
• Trans-Mindanao high-speed railway system

The three projects comprise the Mindanao Development Corridors, which also includes the Bangsamoro Development Corridor.

Also included in the proposal were the following “catalytic” projects for Mindanao:

• Tawi-Tawi Freeport and Economic Zone
• Picong (Lanao del Sur) Freeport, Airport and Industrial Estate
• Next segments of the Trans-Mindanao HighSpeed Railway Project
• Establishment of Agri-Economic Cooperative Zones in the Bangsamoro area

Here comes Piñol in his August 20 speech held at the office of MinDA in the Old Airport at Sasa, Davao City. Excerpt:

“The plans and programs are admirable with grand projects and ambitious targets. The Mindanao Railway Project, the Tawi-tawi Free Port, the implementation of the Trading Program among our partners in the BIMP-EAGA and the operationalisation of the Barter Trade are among the major programs lined up for implementation.

The questions which beg for answers are: Where are we now? How far have we gone in implementing these grandiose plans? What keeps us from realising these dreams?

Taking a closer look at the much-ballyhooed Davao-Bitung Trading to be served by a vessel capable of carrying cargoes back and forth which I understand is operating intermittently now, I realised what was absent in all of these grand plans.

We tried to build a huge dream on very weak foundations.

Before the launching of the Davao-Bitung Shipping Route attended by no less than President Duterte and President Joko Widodo of Indonesia two years ago, I do not believe that there was a careful study on the sustainability of the project. I suspect that there was simply no in-depth evaluation on whether there were sufficient products to be traded.

Taking the Davao-Bitung Shipping Route fiasco as an example of a poorly planned program, I now ask: If we build the Mindanao Railways, what goods would be transported to where?

Or, if we build the Tawi-tawi Free Port what do we offer our neighbours in the form of counter-trade; Or what goods do we barter in the Barter Trade Centre?

With these questions, I believe we should now realise that we can dream big but these dreams must be anchored on strong foundations”.

Despite the grand Mindanao Railway project coming, Pinol cautioned its inevitability:

“(Ang) Mindanao Railway project ay mag-uumpisa na. But I issued a fair warning. Magandang pangarap, pero meron ba tayong ikaka-cascade. Do we have the goods? (The railway project will push through but I issued a fair warning: It is a beautiful dream but do we have the goods to cascade?)” he said as quoted by the Philippine News Agency.

The PHP82.9 billion modern dual track, electricity-run project will cover 1,550 kilometers of the first phase of the Mindanao Railway, which would have eight stations: Tagum; Carmen; Panabo; Mudiang in Bunawan, Davao City; Davao Terminal; Toril; Sta. Cruz; and Digos City.

Since I’ve been writing political and economic column (my favorite is the amendment of the Public Service Acts to open our xenophobic economy to foreign investors) for countless of years already, Secretary Piñol was one of the very few Filipinos, susmariosep, who exposed courageously that the Emperor wears no clothes.

The emperors here were probably Alonto, members of the Regional Development Council, National Economic Development Authority, Departments of Public Works & Highways, Transportation & Communication, or others.

Of course, the hundreds of billions of pesos that will go with the construction of Mindanao Railway Project, the Tawi-tawi Free Port, the implementation of the Trading Program are patent boondoggle at the expense of the Filipino taxpayers.

 Those who crafted these profligacies should be put in a firing squad.

 Piñol was right, why not first build the production of goods and other counter trades through farm-to-market-roads, spike the agricultural production there, more fish cages, livestock and dairy, solar power irrigation and fertilizer loaning so that people there have products to reciprocate with their clients and our country’s neighbors who trade with us, too.

Now, that’s what we call good economic sense! 

READ MY OTHER ARTICLE:

Who is Stupid Between Me and This Ex-Solon, Radioman?

P'gasinan, Manila, Others Want to Host MinDA Fruit Fest

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BAGUIO CITY – Even before the successful First MinDA Fruit Festival held here, Lingayen, Pangasinan Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil and other officials of the local government units in Luzon wanted to host the tastiest but cheapest fruits from Mindanao.

According to Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chairperson and Secretary Manny Piñol, Mayor Bataoil signified his intention to host the fruits’ galore like durian, mangosteen, pomelo, lanzones, marang, rambutan, pineapple, lacatan banana, passion fruit, sweet-water or aromatic coconut and guyabano being ferried here by commercial airlines and cargo trucks from Mindanao.

Many of these fruits were sold by traders at Burnham Park and Session Road last August 24 and 25.

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chief and Secretary Manny Pinol (4th from left) poses with Baguio City Mayor Benjie Magalong (3rd from right) and the staff of the MinDA before the start of the First MinDA Fruit Festival held recently in Baguio City.

The MinDA chief asked consumers for understanding that many who joined the queue as early at 5 Am Sunday were not able to buy because the 20 tons’ supply were wiped out in just three hours.

Aside from Lingayen, Piñol eyes Isabela, Munoz,Nueva Ecija, Manila City, Cebu, Iloilo, Bicol, and Cagayan Valley as target areas for the abundance of fruits in the southern part of the country.

“In fact I talked to Cesar Chavez already the chief of staff of mayor Isko (Moreno). This will be the advocacy of the Mindanao Development Authority”.

Piñol cited that he will double the tonnages of fruits unloaded here so everybody could buy the tastiest fruits but cheaper than P20 to P30 a kilo compared to those sold by local retailers here.

ROK Fetes Warriors with Grand Concert

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

It was heart warming to see recently my 91 years old father and some Korean War’s veterans hugged and saluted by coat and tied South Korean executives at the lobby of the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo at Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in Pasay City.

“Thanks for your heroism and service in saving our country,” a Korean who just darted off from his family embraced my pa’ and other octogenarian and nonagenarian former warriors for their gallantry and intrepidity in the first cold war between the United States and Soviet Union that ensued 70 years ago.

The formal attired event attended by the diplomatic corps lead by U.S Ambassador to the Philippines' Sung Kim, government luminaries, cadet corps of the Philippines National Police, and surviving spouses of the veterans and their descendants, was sponsored by the burgeoning South Korean government dubbed as The Korean War Memorial Peace Concert that celebrated 70 years of the Korean War and mutual exchanges between our country and the Republic of Korea (RoK).

SENTIMENTAL - Some members of the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK) pose for posterity with the South Korean soldiers during their sentimental journey in June 27 to July 2, 2019 at the peninsula. The journey was bankrolled by the grateful South Korean government. Unlike the Philippine Civic Action Group (PhilCag) who did construction and medical works in the Vietnam War, these PEFTOK guys sacrificed their lives and limbs shooting out with the Chinese and North Koreans in the early 1950s war.
Fourth from left is Army Major Maximo Young, the second awardee of the South Korea's Taegeuk (Medal of Valor) after Army Captain Conrado Yap. Young award was given by the Seoul government during the June 27 to July 2 visit there.

It was showcased by the world class RoK’s Seocho Philharmoniker throught the baton of conductor Jong-hoon Bae, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, soprano Rachelle Gerodias, baritone Byeong-in Park, Canadian famous trumpeter Jens Lindeman, and other popular talents. 

Oldies Want to Preserve, Popularize Spanish-Era Warehouse

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – Old- timers called Jayceeken and a solon seek the government guidance how to conserve, develop, and popularize the abandoned concrete walls of the Philippines National Railway Incorporated (PNRI) warehouse  here.

These storied historic walls played a proud role in the halcyon days when steamed power locomotive trains snaked from Tutuban Station in Manila to Dagupan City and vice versa in November 24, 1892 up to its last day of service in 1988, according to Councilor Jigs Seen, the chairman of the Committee on Cultural Heritage and Arts of this city’s legislature.

 He explained that when the Ferrocarril de Manila-Dagupan (FDMD) constructed a 195 – kilometer railway from its main terminal at Tutuban in Manila to here, this immovable property became an architectural heritage under then railway’s construction supervisor British Engineer Henry Kipping.

Passengers posing in front of the "Ferrocarril de Manila y Dagupan" (c. 1885). Photo Credit:Wikipidea

 “ He later married one of  history characters and resident of Dagupan the beauteous Leonor Rivera – a former girlfriend of national hero Jose Rizal who visited her by traveling to Dagupan from Calamba, Laguna,’ Seen cited.

Bobotantes hit after nixing ex-judges, docs, lawyers

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – Political spectators bemoaned the loss of former judges, lawyers, and doctors in the last May 13, 2019 election.

One of them was former regional director of the Department of Interior & Local Government Romeo Prangan.

The former executive deplored the myopia of many voters who elected candidates in exchanged of twenty to one hundred pesos per voter despite their being intellectually inferior.

BEMOAN - A former regional director of the Department of Interior & Local Government bemoans how voters squandered the opportunity to elect and exploit the experiences, intellects, and talents of former Municipal Trial Court judges Florante Gabat (left) and Santiago Marcella, Jr. who failed to win their aspired
]seats in the Sangguniang Bayan (legislature) of Calasiao and San Fabian towns.

Instead of voting those respected members of the bar and medical profession to contribute their intellects to hammer laws at the Sangguniang Bayan these voters preferred those intellectually inferiors’ candidates,” Prangan bewailed to this writer about the pathetic preferences of voters to those candidates aspiring for the legislature.

He added that voters’ choice went to the gutter in last poll after they exchanged the future of themselves and their children to those financial paltry given by moneyed candidates. 

It’s Nice to Die in this City

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

When I was buying a hand of lakatan bananas in a talipapa (makeshift store), I asked the spouses who manned it if the place I was standing was part of the city of Taguig where the former lady mayor is the wife of my friend then senator and now  House Speakership’s wannabe Alan Peter Cayetano.

“Barangay Southside po ito sir. Pinagaagawan ito ng Makati City and Taguig,” the husband, a septuagenarian, told me while he wrapped the almost P100 bananas' hand (P70 a kilo) I bought.

“Nasa Supreme Court na iyang away diyan sa BGC (sprawling world class commercial hub's Bonifacio Global City) at mga barangays. Kung kayo ang tatanungin sino mas gusto ninyo?” I asked.

 Both blurted out: Makati!

Free coffin, anyone?

I told them that in my province Pangasinan many mayors there give P3000 to P5000 to the bereaved family of the deceased.

“Magkano ang bigayan sa patay dito sa Makati at Taguig?” I confidently asked them since I knew the nuances of how local chief executives forked out sums to lighten up the grief of their helpless constituents.

Mayor spends P20-M to aid VM

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

A reelective mayor spent twenty million pesos not to ensure his victory but to give succor to his vice mayoralty tandem beleaguered by the vote buying resorted by her rival in the recent poll.

“Iyong taga kabila namimili ng P250 per voter noong pakurong. Iyong vice mayor ko P250 kada botante ang kaya kaya binigyan ko ng P250 para P500 kontra sa P250 ng kalaban,” the mayor in Central Pangasinan told this writer.

He did it because his cash strapped mayoral opponent did not resort to use money to win the hearts of the vulnerable voters.

“I spent twenty million pesos because I gave two hundred pesos to sell myself to the voters and aided my vice mayor with another sum”.

Both candidates for the mayoralty and vice mayoralty are into big contracting business building infrastructure for the government.

Speaker GMA's Nephew Guico Opens to Refile New PSA

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BINALONAN, Pangasinan – The nephew of a former president and House Speaker was receptive to the call to refile her bill that will open the country for more business competition and employment.

Pangasinan Fifth District Congressman- Elect Ramon “Monmon” V. Guico III said that as long as the bill will be pro - Filipinos he will support it.

 His pronouncement ensued after this newspaper exhorted him that he refiles the amendment of the Public Service Act filed in 2017 by Pampanga Representative Gloria M. Arroyo when he joined the 18^th Congress on July 1 this year.

CONG-ELECT – Then Pangasinan Fifth District congressional candidate Ramon “Monmon” V. Guico, III (second from left) is flanked by the district bet for the Provincial Board Louie Sison (extreme left), quintessential actress Susan Roces, and Guico’s father and namesake then mayoralty bet of Binalonan Ramon, Jr. Photo was taken while they wait for the motorcade of Senator Grace Poe, prolific actor Coco Martin, Abono Party-List Chair Rosendo So, and political figures in Pangasinan in a mammoth political rally held at the Guicos’ owned WCC Aeronautical and Technological College in the town six days before the May 13 poll. Photo by Mortz C. Ortigoza 

"Ya, anything that will help the people to include the district for more development. But as long as it is not at the expense of the environment of the taong maliit na masasagasaan we will be supportive of this bill,” stressed by Guico.

 The solon’s father and namesake the mayor elect of this Eastern Pangasinan burgeoning town is a cousin of the former Philippines president.

Reason Behind Rody’s Rape Jokes at the PMA

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

I was at the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City a day after the graduation of the 261 members of the Mabalasik Class of 2019.

My sources there told me that except to President Rodrigo Duterte, the political and military brass, and the parents of the graduating class at the covered grandstand, the Cadet Corp Armed Forces of the Philippines (CCAFP) who formed the Long Gray Line at the Borromeo Field and the thousands of spectators outside of it were soaked with the untimely downpour.

Here what my sources told me that did not appear on the media as far as I’m concerned:

·         President Duterte and party arrived at the Summer Capital a day before the commencement exercise at Fort Del Pilar.

·         He and his party checked in at the plush Manor Hotel in Camp John Hay because some officials of the Presidential Security Group told my source that the president is afraid to the ghosts that lurk at some nook and cranny of the historic presidential summer palace’s Mansion House located at ‎Leonard Wood Road.

RELISH - Cadets of the elite Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City relish the rape joke of President Rodrigo Duterte during their commencement exercise last May 26. (Photo grab from the internet)

·          On President Duterte giving the diploma to two graduating cadets and was replaced by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to finish their distribution to the Mabalasik Class, my source said the president, who was seated and drowsy, was enmeshed the night before entertaining at his guest room in the Manor those electoral candidates who won the May 13   election.

“Kaya late na siyang dumating mga 10: 55 A.M na from the customarily 9 A.M start of the graduation ceremony dahil napuyat sa mga bisita,” my source whispered to me.

Docs are easy to tax than lawyers, moteliers

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

CALASIAO – Medical doctors are easy to check if they paid their taxes correctly compared to lawyers, motel owners, fishpond owners, and other businessmen , the regional director of the Bureau of Internal Revenue cited.

Director Thelma S. Milabao explained that hospitals’ staff have been reporting to the BIR these doctors’ professional fees they billed to their patients.

A motel in the Philippines.

“Medyo madali kasi. Puwede mo bantayan ang professional fee niya. Itong mga hospitals nag sa-submit sila sa BIR na kung magkano ang naibayad nilang professional fee sa doctors na nag eengaged doon sa kanila,” she stressed.

Milabao said that the agency’s personnel have a hard time implementing the tax compliance verification drive (TCVD) with the lawyers because they directly transacted with the clients without somebody like the hospital staff to report how much they received from those they gave their services.

The same dilemma, according to Milabao, the BIR faces with hotel and motel owners.

“Iyan nga pero babantayan namin at least 10 days para ma established namin kung magkano ba iyong average daily sales o ADS”.