SAN JOSE CITY - This is for the record.
With a meager budget of less than P10,000, a city councilor pursued his political ambition and won a mandate for a seat in the provincial board.
For another record of sorts, San Jose City Councilor Joseph Ortiz was the only Lakas-CMD bet for the province’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan who survived, as all the nine others were candidates of the Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija-Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino coalition.
Ortiz was a newsman and former member of the congressional staff of Second District Rep. Elueterio Violago before he run for councilor nine years ago. During the recent campaign, there was no singlesticker or T-shirt to promote his candidacy in the district, which covers the cities of San Jose and Muñoz and the towns of Lupao, Llanera, Rizal, Pantabangan, Carranglan and Talugtog.
“Wala po akong pera para magpagawa ng stickers, hinihiling kong idikit niyo na lamang ako sa inyong mga puso,” Ortiz would tell electorates during campaign sorties of his fellow Lakas-CMD candidates, particularly of congressman-elect Joseph Violago, which he would join.
“I also want to make a difference. Ibang pulitika na ang basehan ay pagkatao kakayahan at karanasan,” he said. “Pulitika na dapat patas sa mayaman at mahirap,” he added.
But to manifest his sincere interest in public service, Ortiz produced flyers that were photo copied for dissemination, which contained a summary of what he wanted to do and why deserved to be elected. It included his profile and achievements as councilor of San Jose since 1998, a 9-year stint that translated into some 1,013 ordinances and resolutions. He also served as national treasurer of the Philippine Councilors League during this time.
Ortiz was president of the Parish Pastoral Council, District Warden of the Knights of Columbus Council 4073, President of Cursillo in Christianity, a brother at the Catholic Charismatic Movement and Lay minister, among others.
He was a correspondent for the now defunct Philippine Daily Globe, and columnist in a local newspaper, Isyu Ngayon.
But before his stint in public service, Ortiz worked in a rice mill, was a jeepney conductor, a janitor in a travel agency and a vendor at the PNR bus station. As a councilman, Ortiz sponsored programs and activities that benefited workers, housing, social services, agriculture, fire and safety, cultural enrichment, revenue generation, among others. - Armand M. Galang
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
New landscape of Nueva Ecija politics
CABANATUAN CITY - A new political landscape is expected to develop in Nueva Ecija with the election of Third District Rep. Aurelio M. Umali of Lakas-CMD as the new governor, with senior board member Edward Thomas Joson of Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija-Kampi as vice-governor.
Umali was proclaimed by the provincial board of canvassers headed by Atty. Emmanuel Ignacio, provincial election supervisor on Sunday, as the winner in the May 14 gubernatorial race having garnered 434,445 votes as against his rival, Mariano Cristino Joson’s 314,335 votes.
The younger Joson, meanwhile, garnered 392,031 votes to win the vice gubernatorial fight over Jose Taruc V who got 327,015 votes.
Umali said the mandate that the Novo Ecijanos gave him only confirm that the province wants change. “This is a vote for change,” he told reporters.
Ironically, as governor, Umali has to work at the provincial Capitol where most people belong to the party of the Josons. Besides Joson as vice-governor, political observers noted that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is filled up with members affiliated with Balane-Kampi, except for Second District’s Joseph Ortiz (Lakas-CMD).
The board members-elect are Rommel Padilla, Eric Salazar, Cesar Cucio (First District), Wilfredo Munsayac, Ortiz (Second District), Raqueliza Agapito, Melchor Morales (Third District) Teresita Patiag, Zaldy Matias and Romanito Juatco (Fourth District).
For the Congress, Umali has two allies and two from the Josons. They are Congressmen-elect Eduardo Nonato Joson (First District, Balane), Joseph Violago (Second District, Lakas), Czarina Umali (Third District, Lakas) and Rodolfo Antonino (Fourth District, Balane-Kampi).
Meanwhile, in Talavera, the son-in-law of TU senatorial candidate Tito Sotto and actress Helen Gamboa, and the actor brother of action star Robin Padilla proved their showbiz connection working to their favor when they emerged winning the recently concluded midterm elections in Nueva Ecija. Not as lucky though was Barbara Milano who lost her bid for reelection as Talavera councilor.
Francis Vincent de Leon, 29, husband of Quezon City Councilor Lala Sotto (3rd district) won by a landslide as vice-mayor of Talavera with 23,142 votes over his rival and reelectionist Vice Mayor Maritess Gaboy’s 17,714.
He ran under the banner of Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija-Kampi as running mate of re-electionist Mayor Nerito Santos who won another mandate.
In his campaign, the business administration graduate from De La Salle University de Leon used the slogan “Manugang ni Tito Sotto at Helen Gamboa.” His wife, Lala, who also appeared in at least five movies during her younger years, joined him in some sorties in Talavera. His father also served as councilman of Bongabon, Nueva Ecija.
Actor Rommel Padilla, brother of Robin Padilla, also won big as member of the Nueva Ecija provincial board representing the First District. He obtained more than 104,000 votes topping the roster of elected board members. Padilla’s mother, Eva Cariño, is from Barangay Nagmisahan, Cuyapo.
But while de Leon and Padilla were a hit, former sexy start Barabara Milano, whose real name is Anabel Ramos, failed to receive a fresh mandates as councilor from her constituents in Talavera town. Milano who run under Lakas-CMD was elected number one in the race for a council seat in 2004. This time around though, she emerged ninth for the eight-member council election. -Armand M. Galang, The Manila Times
Umali was proclaimed by the provincial board of canvassers headed by Atty. Emmanuel Ignacio, provincial election supervisor on Sunday, as the winner in the May 14 gubernatorial race having garnered 434,445 votes as against his rival, Mariano Cristino Joson’s 314,335 votes.
The younger Joson, meanwhile, garnered 392,031 votes to win the vice gubernatorial fight over Jose Taruc V who got 327,015 votes.
Umali said the mandate that the Novo Ecijanos gave him only confirm that the province wants change. “This is a vote for change,” he told reporters.
Ironically, as governor, Umali has to work at the provincial Capitol where most people belong to the party of the Josons. Besides Joson as vice-governor, political observers noted that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is filled up with members affiliated with Balane-Kampi, except for Second District’s Joseph Ortiz (Lakas-CMD).
The board members-elect are Rommel Padilla, Eric Salazar, Cesar Cucio (First District), Wilfredo Munsayac, Ortiz (Second District), Raqueliza Agapito, Melchor Morales (Third District) Teresita Patiag, Zaldy Matias and Romanito Juatco (Fourth District).
For the Congress, Umali has two allies and two from the Josons. They are Congressmen-elect Eduardo Nonato Joson (First District, Balane), Joseph Violago (Second District, Lakas), Czarina Umali (Third District, Lakas) and Rodolfo Antonino (Fourth District, Balane-Kampi).
Meanwhile, in Talavera, the son-in-law of TU senatorial candidate Tito Sotto and actress Helen Gamboa, and the actor brother of action star Robin Padilla proved their showbiz connection working to their favor when they emerged winning the recently concluded midterm elections in Nueva Ecija. Not as lucky though was Barbara Milano who lost her bid for reelection as Talavera councilor.
Francis Vincent de Leon, 29, husband of Quezon City Councilor Lala Sotto (3rd district) won by a landslide as vice-mayor of Talavera with 23,142 votes over his rival and reelectionist Vice Mayor Maritess Gaboy’s 17,714.
He ran under the banner of Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija-Kampi as running mate of re-electionist Mayor Nerito Santos who won another mandate.
In his campaign, the business administration graduate from De La Salle University de Leon used the slogan “Manugang ni Tito Sotto at Helen Gamboa.” His wife, Lala, who also appeared in at least five movies during her younger years, joined him in some sorties in Talavera. His father also served as councilman of Bongabon, Nueva Ecija.
Actor Rommel Padilla, brother of Robin Padilla, also won big as member of the Nueva Ecija provincial board representing the First District. He obtained more than 104,000 votes topping the roster of elected board members. Padilla’s mother, Eva Cariño, is from Barangay Nagmisahan, Cuyapo.
But while de Leon and Padilla were a hit, former sexy start Barabara Milano, whose real name is Anabel Ramos, failed to receive a fresh mandates as councilor from her constituents in Talavera town. Milano who run under Lakas-CMD was elected number one in the race for a council seat in 2004. This time around though, she emerged ninth for the eight-member council election. -Armand M. Galang, The Manila Times
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Foreign observer denies report
CABANATUAN CITY - Disputing earlier reports circulating in the province of Nueva Ecija that a foreign observer was shot and killed, the team leader of the International Observer's Mission '07 debunked the ugly rumors, saying, "We feel safe in the countryside."
Reached through his mobile phone, American Larry Emery informed this reporter that this "ugly report" is fathest from the truth, saying "We feel safe in the countryside and, hopefully nothing much more than a stomachache will befall their group."
Together with their local counterparts here, the "Compact for Peaceful Elections," led by Jigs Claymore, Emery expressed confidence nothing untoward will come to them well knowing that Filipinos are hospitable people and reasonable to a fault.
It was learned that on election day, the foreign observers group paid courtesy to officer-in-charge of the Nueva Ecija police Senior Superintendent Alfredo Caballes.
Caballes said he offered the foreign observers group security but which they declined.The foreign observers observing the conduct of election here were were Australians Jason Grant Bray, Nathah Paul Woodard, and Swiss Lars Granberd.
They had a briefing with the various members of the "Compact for Peaceful Elections."Meanwhile, Comelec provincial election supervisor Atty. Emmanuel Ignacio urged NAMFREL to proceed with its own canvass of the votes cast and to finish it as soon.
"We have to proceed with and finish the canvassing as soon as possible to take the heat off from us," he said. - MAGTANGGOL C. VILAR
Reached through his mobile phone, American Larry Emery informed this reporter that this "ugly report" is fathest from the truth, saying "We feel safe in the countryside and, hopefully nothing much more than a stomachache will befall their group."
Together with their local counterparts here, the "Compact for Peaceful Elections," led by Jigs Claymore, Emery expressed confidence nothing untoward will come to them well knowing that Filipinos are hospitable people and reasonable to a fault.
It was learned that on election day, the foreign observers group paid courtesy to officer-in-charge of the Nueva Ecija police Senior Superintendent Alfredo Caballes.
Caballes said he offered the foreign observers group security but which they declined.The foreign observers observing the conduct of election here were were Australians Jason Grant Bray, Nathah Paul Woodard, and Swiss Lars Granberd.
They had a briefing with the various members of the "Compact for Peaceful Elections."Meanwhile, Comelec provincial election supervisor Atty. Emmanuel Ignacio urged NAMFREL to proceed with its own canvass of the votes cast and to finish it as soon.
"We have to proceed with and finish the canvassing as soon as possible to take the heat off from us," he said. - MAGTANGGOL C. VILAR
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Elections in Nueva Ecija: DOJ panel formed to probe Bloody Jaen incident
CABANATUAN CITY - A panel of prosecutors have been formed here that will conduct the preliminary investigation on the cases to be filed in connection with the April 26 violent incident in a road blockade near a political rally in Jaen town that claimed the lives of a candidate for councilor and a police escort, and injured 17 others.
To-date, at least four separate cases for murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder have been filed by the camp of Jaen ex-Mayor Antonio Prospero Esquivel with the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor here.
Named respondents in the cases are: Nueva Ecija 4th District Congressman Rodolfo W. Antonino, police Inspector Gamilo, SPO2 Hermenigildo "Gil" Eduardo, PO1 Modesto Catacutan, PO1 William Catacutan and several other "John Does,"
According to Prosecutor Floro F. Florendo, Provincial Prosecutor officer-in-charge, the preliminary investigation of cases I.S. Nos. 07D-1011, 07D-1012, 07E-1038 and 07E-1047, will be conducted by a panel of prosecutors composed of Assistant Provincial Prosecutors Felicisimo Villaflor, Eddie Gutierrez and Dionisio Ledda Jr.
During an interview, Region 3 police director Chief Superintendent Ismael Rafanan said that the soon-to-be issued findings of the "Task Force Jaen" formed to probe the April 26 Jaen incident will be a "no-holds barred" finding of the group.
He said that the third version of the investigation has been submitted only last Monday and he said he expects the full report to be ready latest Wednesday, or within the week.
"Masaktan kung sino man ang masaktan, ma-pulis o sino man siyang malaking tao, kakasuhan natin ang mga iyan kung ito ang lalabas sa ating imbestigasyon. Siguradong walang white-wash dito." ("The investigation we are conducting will spare no one, be he a police officer or somebody big. If he is found guilty in our investigation he will get the full force of the law.") - MAGTANGGOL C. VILAR
To-date, at least four separate cases for murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder have been filed by the camp of Jaen ex-Mayor Antonio Prospero Esquivel with the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor here.
Named respondents in the cases are: Nueva Ecija 4th District Congressman Rodolfo W. Antonino, police Inspector Gamilo, SPO2 Hermenigildo "Gil" Eduardo, PO1 Modesto Catacutan, PO1 William Catacutan and several other "John Does,"
According to Prosecutor Floro F. Florendo, Provincial Prosecutor officer-in-charge, the preliminary investigation of cases I.S. Nos. 07D-1011, 07D-1012, 07E-1038 and 07E-1047, will be conducted by a panel of prosecutors composed of Assistant Provincial Prosecutors Felicisimo Villaflor, Eddie Gutierrez and Dionisio Ledda Jr.
During an interview, Region 3 police director Chief Superintendent Ismael Rafanan said that the soon-to-be issued findings of the "Task Force Jaen" formed to probe the April 26 Jaen incident will be a "no-holds barred" finding of the group.
He said that the third version of the investigation has been submitted only last Monday and he said he expects the full report to be ready latest Wednesday, or within the week.
"Masaktan kung sino man ang masaktan, ma-pulis o sino man siyang malaking tao, kakasuhan natin ang mga iyan kung ito ang lalabas sa ating imbestigasyon. Siguradong walang white-wash dito." ("The investigation we are conducting will spare no one, be he a police officer or somebody big. If he is found guilty in our investigation he will get the full force of the law.") - MAGTANGGOL C. VILAR
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