DAGUPAN CITY - With dedication and sincerity, various non-government organizations vowed to render their voluntary services in keeping Dagupan a happy and safe community.
The Expanded Task Force Bantay Dagupan, created to help prevent and suppress criminality in the city was formally launched during the 59th Agew na Dagupan commemorative program on June 20 at the city plaza. The memorandum of understanding was also signed by both parties.
Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) chief Robert Erfe-Mejia said that the task force is tasked to focus its volunteer service network so as to enhance intelligent gathering and emergency response capability within the community by rendering “on call” volunteer assistance to the police authorities, the City Disaster Coordinating Council (CDCC), Peace and Order Council (POC) and POSO with focus on traffic and crowd control, and rescue and relief operations during emergencies and special events. Read more
Filed under News, Law by pdscribe.
DAGUPAN CITY - Vice President Noli de Castro will enjoy more powers than what he is enjoying right now as soon as the interim unicameral parliament opens.
This was revealed recently by House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. squelching reports that the Vice President would have no role in the unicameral parliamentary government to be set up soon in place of the bicameral presidential government.
He told newsmen in an interview at his residence here that on the contrary, the position of Vice President de Castro will be upgraded under the new set up.
De Venecia explained that the term of Vice President de Castro, together with that of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, will continue up to June 2010 under the unicameral parliamentary government initially using the unified French parliamentary model. Read more
DAGUPAN CITY - University of the Philippines College of Law Valedictorian Joan de Venecia, sister of Councilor Alex de Venecia, topped the September 5 bar exam as she scored 87.20%.
Joan took her legal management degree at Ateneo University before taking the law proper at UP.
A para-legal assistant of Sycip, Salazar, Gatmaitan, Joan is the 10th daughter of former Judge Tony and Norma de Venecia and a niece of Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr.
Atty. Joan expressed her gratitude to the good Lord and the guidance and support of her parents and her brothers and sisters, namely: Alex, city councilor; Eric, banker; Ramon, businessman; Perry, medical technologist from Florida; Agosto, immigration officer; Rosette, pediatrician in Cagayan de Oro; Blanca, immigration officer; Nenuca, businesswoman from Los Angeles; Toni Anne, B.S. Biology cum laude graduate in Ateneo University.
by Diego B. Ledda , Jr. (Editor, Downtown Lights, official weekly bulletin of the Rotary Club of Downtown Dagupan)
You call it people’s initiative or government’s initiative? Neither one nor the other can stand. The Supreme Court’s decision on the Santiago VS. COMELEC case is very clear: people’s initiative needs an enabling law in order to be acted upon, that is, in order to amend or likely to revise the Constitution. This inadequacy of the law has not changed since the Congress has yet to pass a law that will make people’s initiative work. Why the rush?
The signature campaign has so many flaws to start with. Firstly, the signatures must be verified by a competent institution and that is the COMELEC, but the Supreme Court has barred the COMELEC permanently from entertaining or taking cognizance of any petition for initiative related to amendments or revisions of the Constitution until a sufficient law is enacted by Congress. Hence, there is already a waste of time, money and effort for those who push for the amendment. Secondly, COMELEC has no Implementing Rules and Regulations that will allow them to verify all the signatures of the 5.2 million signatures including those that are not listed in the COMELEC list of voters. Thirdly, there are reports that there so many anomalies in gathering signatures where none-voters and even elementary and high school students signed.
Our government and the Sigaw ng Bayan led by fellow Pangasinense, Atty. Raul Lambino, a former coordinator of Sen. Loren Legarda, said that the voice of the 5.2 million people must be heard and followed, “vox populi, vox dei?” The voice of the people is the voice of God. Which is easier to understand, the law of man or the law of God? If the law of man is very difficult for them to understand, how much more of God’s? Does it mean that if one can generate 5.2 million it can also change the VAT law or any other laws for that matter?
When ex-President Fidel V. Ramos introduced the cha-cha, he merely asked for his term to be extended. And the people rejected it. When ex-President Joseph Estrada introduced the cha-cha, he merely introduced economic reforms. And the people rejected it. Today, GMA is asking practically the change of the Constitution. If only the government or this group will tell to the people that the rush to change of Constitution is for GMA to immediately step down from office, I believe one does not need for restiveness from the people, I guess they will go out voluntarily and sign all papers that will be offered to them.
But I guess, the reason behind the change of Constitution is deeply personal to the vested interests of few politicians. Why change a Constitution that restricts and control the actions of bad leaders. The argument that our country is not moving fast forward because of the political structure of the country is a fallacy. Ex-President Ramos, at least, disproved that myth. What we need to change are our leaders who try to make the Constitution as scapegoat out of their inefficiencies and ineptitudes.
Adopting the parliamentary form of government under the present administration will only blindly rob us faster than what we think. These people can mystify our liberties and pursue their egoistic interests in a much hasty phase. Why? Because they confuse the people about the allegory that their resolutions would be quicker, laws are easier to pass, economic progress is better achieved and as if being under parliamentary system will eliminate poverty of the people instantly.
Folks, the root cause of the problem of this country is not our Constitution, but our ghastly and horrific leaders. It is not the system of our government, but the people we placed in the system of our government. The people serving for the government must fit the needs of the people not the system fitting to the government officials.
If only GMA has not committed big blunders and mistakes, will we come into this sort of awful situation? If only she has been true to the (present) Constitution she has sworn to protect, we will not be a divided nation and people.
Amending the Constitution is OK, provided, our leaders will change their attitudes and think and act towards the greatness of this country, not act to stall themselves in a pedestal they do not deserve. But let it be done via a Constitutional Convention where the people will freely select the framers of our Constitution.
DAGUPAN CITY - The Sangguniang Panlungsod has directed the City Legal Office to sue Bugnay Construction and Development Corp. (Bugnay) to compel it to give what is due the City of Dagupan as stipulated in the contract of lease.
In a resolution authored principally by Councilor Michael Fernandez and co-authored by Councilor Jose Netu Tamayo, the SP said that Bugnay should return the Magsaysay Market area leased by the city government 20 years ago with all its improvements.
“The contract between the city and Bugnay is the law between the contracting parties and it is provided there that it is the obligation of Bugnay to insure the market,” Fernandez said.
Under Item 16 of the agreement, which was signed on April 27, 1987 by then Mayor Liberato Reyna Sr. and Bugnay president Antonio Licuanan, Bugnay “shall at the expiration of the period of the lease, turnover to the lessor without demand, the entire market building and all its appurtenances attached thereto…”
The Magsaysay Market, which Bugnay operated, was gutted by fire on September 25, 2005.
In a letter to Mayor Benjamin Lim dated November 11, 2005, Bugnay chair Manolo Uy Lim indicated his company’s intention to pre-terminate the contract of lease “in the higher interest of the City of Dagupan and its people… and hereby turnover the premises ‘as is where is.’”
Bugnay also said that upon acceptance, the City of Dagupan and Bugnay shall have no more claims or right of action against each other, either by way of damages, unpaid taxes, rentals or any other claim of whatsoever nature.
Mayor Lim conformed and accepted Bugnay’s proposal as evidenced by his signature at the bottom of the letter.
But Fernandez said that the mayor has no authority to amend the contract without authority from the SP as provided for in the Local Government Code.
“Under the New Civil Code, Bugnay is still has the liability to turnover a fully functioning Magsaysay market to the city even in the case of fortuitous event because the market is a generic object and therefore, it is replaceable,” Fernandez added.
During the session, City Legal Officer Geraldine Baniqued confirmed that Fernandez’s points had legal bases.
Tamayo said that if Bugnay could no longer rebuild the Magsaysay Market complex, it should at least give to the city government the proceeds of its insurance “because the city is entitled to that.”
“They must comply with the contract in good faith,” Tamayo said.
DAGUPAN CITY – The president of the League of Barangays of the Philippines has issued stern warning to all barangay councils in the country to first secure clearance from his office before undertaking their reorganization of officers.
James Mary Lim, LBP national president, cited the case of the reorganization recently made by barangay captains of Dagupan which was made without any clearance from his office.
Lim said he will not issue any confirmation to the reorganized Liga ng mga Baranay chapter in Dagupan City because that was done without any clearance from his office nor the proper procedures observed.
As to the alleged statement from the official of that body that they might secede from the BLP, Lim said they can not do this because they will lose their honoraria and the share of their respective barangays from the Internal Revenue Allotment.
Under the charter of the BLP, it was provided for that any reorganization done by local chapters must have the imprimatur of the national organization.
Lim said he already sent a letter to the barangay council of Dagupan not to proceed with their planned reorganization but nevertheless proceeded with it.
Lim stressed that at all times, the barangays must be insulated from politics.
City Director Expedita Callanta, of the Department of Interior and Local Government read the letter of Lim before the barangay captains but this was ignored by them.
The reorganization elected Guillermo Vallejos as president incumbent Liga ng mga Barangay president Eric Muñoz, barangay captain of Tambac here.
But the Vallejos group, it was learned, was refused to be sworn in by Mayor Benjamin Lim in the absence of confirmation from the national barangay league.
Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez, presiding officer of the city council, said the legislative body still recognizes Muñoz as ex-officio councillor until such time that Vallejos cans how confirmation from the national league and duly sworn in by the mayor.
The intramural in the ranks of barangay captains here may have serious effect on the ongoing people’s initiative to secure signature of at least 12 per cent of the total number of voters in the whole country. (PNA)
MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – Pangasinan Vice Gov. Oscar B. Lambino has denied charges that national and provincial officials paid barangay captains in order to force the to gather signatures from the people seeking amendment to the constitution.
Speaking soon after the conduct of barangay assemblies Saturday and Sunday, Lambino said the barangay officials are involved because somebody has to supervise to see to it that the signature are authentic and not forged.
This is necessary because these signatures will have to pass the Commission on Elections for it to verify whether these signatures are authentic or not.
“This was not a moro-moro. This was not the true initiative of the people, and, of course, with the help of local readers,” he said.
Explaining the barangay assemblies, the Pangasinan vice governor said there is nothing wrong with these because after all it is the people’s initiative that they were doing so that the issues will be clearly explained to the people.
“We want the people to be aware so that they will be empowered to make the right decision when the time comes, he said.
This is because the amendment will go through a plebiscite in which the people will be the final judge, Lambino added.
“We, leaders, are saying that we need a change because for a long, long time, we have been under a presidential form of government and it seems that we are not getting anywhere and is taking us too much time,” he said. (PNA)
METRO DAGUPAN – Various non-government sectors recently denounced the manner of gathering supporters to the proposed Charter Change thru people’s initiative. Accordingly, the signature campaign has no face value because few people signed and those who did, even used fictitious name and signatures.
This was stressed by Dr. Salvador T. Duque, Chancellor of Lyceum Northwestern University, Chairman, Regional Development Council and president of the Metro Dagupan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Duque said that the signature campaign done by the Charter Change proponents is questionable and useless, and participated in by only a few as the majority in Pangasinan dislike the one-day signature campaign.
Reports say that some barangay officials claimed they were pressured to gather signatures from among their constituents. NGO leaders led by Dr. Salvador T. Duque and officers of the Metro Dagupan Chamber of Commerce and Industry former Vice Mayor Jun Calaguio of Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan; national treasurer of the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc., Lelia Sy; Ping Coquia; and Atty. Alejandro Decano, have unanimously questioned the proponents of Charter Change in maneuvering results of the signature campaign through barangay assemblies whereby people from various villages are hoodwinked into signing.
Other sectors who are also against the signature campaign are church leaders, lawyers, educators, senior citizens, farmers, students and employees who accuse the Cha-Cha proponents of manipulating barangay folk in signing the questionnaire under the disguise of a survey.
Lawyer Feliciano Bautista, former mayor of Sta. Barbara and incoming national president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, during a forum on Charter Change held in Dagupan, warned the Cha-Cha proponents to respect people’s decision if they reject the proposal. He likewise advised barangay officials not to allow themselves to be captive campaigners for the signature campaign.
Dr. Duque meanwhile asked the Cha-Cha proponents to be transparent and the signatures should be notarized individually since documents not notarized have no face value, are illegal and fake. In such case, Duque said, the signatures have no effect, and that not even a million signatures can turn something wrong into right. He added that the conversion of Congress to Constituent Assembly is illegal, unconstitutional and outside the work of Congress.
Duque also cited that such move to amend the Constitution will greatly affect lawyers and law students because they will need to buy law books which is costly and be forced to study new laws. Law schools then will have to update the students and law professors.
Instead of focusing their sight on the Charter Change, Duque advised the Arroyo administration to direct resources and efforts towards the physical development of the nation such as widening of roads, better schools, new municipal buildings, farm to market roads, irrigation facilities, beautiful parks and zoos, ports, harbour and airports, in consonant with President Gloria Arroyo’s Ten Point Agenda.
Filed under News, Law by pdscribe.
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The provincial board here expressed its willingness to allow the operations of the Small Town Lottery (STL) under the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) provided that the guidelines are clear.
Four provincial board members said that guidelines must be well defined first to prevent any glitches like what happened during the ‘Loterya ng Bayan’ and ‘Bingo 2 Ball’ during the administration of former President Corazaon Aquino and Joseph Estrada, respectively.
The four are Provincial Board Membes Amadeo Espino, Nestor Reyes, John Agerico Rosario and Robert Raymundo Estrella.
In a resolution they jointly filed with the provincial legislative body, the four expressed optimism that the introduction of the STL would discourage illegal gambling operators to revive their operations in Pangasinan.
The province remains jueteng free until now, ever since mid last year as a result of a series of investigation on the illegal numbers game spurred by the strong advocacy against jueteng by Archbishop Oscar Cruz of the Lingayen-Dagupan archdiocese.
The four board members took note that the PCSO recently began test-launching the STL in Pampanga, Laguna and several other selected areas in the country.
In their joint resolution, the four board members said although the operation of the STL is still on experimental basis, it is necessary to adopt and implement strict guidelines to safeguard public interest.
They also cited the need to observe transparency in the operation of the STL and the designation of credible and qualified managers or operators.
All of them view STL not only as a deterrent to jueteng but will also create jobs to hundreds of people deprived of their livelihood when the illegal numbers game finally grounded to a halt. (PNA)
by RHEE Fer HORTALEZA
URDANETA CITY, Pangasinan - Emphasizing that the present Philippine Constitution was written by an appointed group in 1987 and not by duly elected people like the 1935 and 1973 Constitutions, 5th District Rep. Mark O. Cojuangco said he strongly believes that the charter being used by the country now should be amended.
“My question is this: If the people empowered at that time (1987) were not satisfied with the 1973 Constitution as they thought it was ’supplied’, then why did they not adopt its renewing Amendment No. 6, which was transitory provisions provided by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos which gave him power to legislate together with the assembly?” asked Cojuangco. Read more
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