Tuesday, November 18, 2008

MISSING THE ACTION by: Kiko Ortelano

Desperado.

I am not referring to the folk song by a great american singing group. I am actually referring to KAMBILAN and the rest of the traditional politicians of Pampanga.

After an expected (and prayed and hoped for by a good number of Kapampangans) "technical defeat" of their RECALL petition against the governor, Pampanga TRADPOLS are now on to their other dirty tricks. Imagine damanding from Apung Ceto that they be given "equal PULPIT time" during Sunday Masses where the governor is invited to attend?!!

The Pampanga TRADPOLS, specially the the whole Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pampanga, have, many times in the past, pronounced the governor as an ignoramous in governance not only on the functions of the governor but specially so of the role of the Legislative branch of the provincial government. They speak with so much bravado, that they want us to think that they not only have the experience, but also the intelligence to claim so. Joc-Joc may have run away with 728 million pesos, but the SP is an even bigger joke! Ha ha ha!

The downgrading of the salary grade levels of the BALAS boys from levels 5 and 7 to 1 by virtue of their "LEGISLATIVE ACTION" on the submitted provincial budget for 2008 is foremost in my mind. I HOPE THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR WILL PURSUE THIS ISSUE VIGOROUSLY BY FILING A CASE AGAINST THE SP with the Civil Service Commission.

Second is their dipping into the donations by a lot of well meaning groups and individuals to the Scholarship Fund drive of the Governor. Is it not enough that the SP not only intentionally sat on the budget request for the Educational Assistance Fund? Must they also hinder the distribution of the donated funds to most deserving Kapampangan youths? Very simply, the SP should just approve the requested Educational Assistance Fund Budget so that a lot more deserving Kapampangan youths can go back to college, INCLUDING THEIR NOMINEES.

Third is the SP's discussion and the initial provisioning of 25 million pesos for the Recall Petition against the Governor. It is a good thing that the Department of Budget Management was quick to tell the SP that what they were doing was AGAINST THE LAW! The SP should also criticize itself for not knowing how to perform their sworn duties and go all over town proclaiming their IGNORANCE similar to what they did to the Governor. I also hope the local Pampanga media can provide the same coverage to the SP when the latter shows to the world how ignorant they are in exceeding their responsibilities just so they can politically prosecute their governor.

KAMBILAN - now what?

Your gubernatorial candidate lost in the 2007 elections. By law, it is too early to campaign now. You may have found a way to campaign AGAINST the winning governor this early. Supporters of the Governor, however, used the opportunity to re-group, solidify their base, and fan the fire of the advocates for GOOD GOVERNANCE AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP.

Unfortunately for some of those who supported the recall, specially the incumbent local officials, they may lose their next election fight if the Kapampangans will again rise up for the righteousness of their proud race.

LUID KA!

Pro-recall group wrote to Apo Cetu

by: POKAT

After the Recount and Recall issues, now they are on Gov. Ed Panlilio's use of the Pulpit.

So sad...

The group who were advocating for the recall and resign move against Gov. Ed Panlilio, lambasted earlier for his use of the pulpit, had pointed this out in a letter sent to Archbishop Paciano Aniceto , stating that Guv Ed had been seen on video addressing the parishioners of San Matias Parish in the municipality of Sto. Tomas on the current move to recall him as leader of the Pampanga.

They also asked for the opportunity to use the pulpit to air their side on the issue of Recall against Panlilio.

The letter of petition was signed by Kambilan President Rosve Henson, Pampanga 1st district Board Member Chris Garbo, (PML) Pampanga Mayors League Spokesman Mayor Jerry Pelayo, (PCLP) Pampanga Councilors League President Raul Macalino, (ABC) Association of BarangayCaptains-Pampanga President Joel Simpauco, former BALAS supervisor Fil Rodriguez, CONSCIENCE Executive Director Armando Canda, Rotary Club of Southern Pampanga President Andres David and IBACA Foundation President Emil Miranda.

click on the image below to read the letter:

A Letter to the Office of the Roman Catholic Archbishop

Please post your comments below regarding the letter made by signed personalities:

Sunday, November 16, 2008

A Miracle Happened Again in Pampanga

"The request of the Commission for the release of additional funds for recall elections was not favorably considered due to funding constraints," COMELEC said.

In the middle of massive corruption in our country, a miracle really happened again in Pampanga. We all know how powerful the influence of the people behind this recall move but because of the Divine Intervention and crusaders for Good Governance have kept United, we won over a well organised and much funded recall plot. Real Change is really planted in our province and eventually it will grow in our beloved country. Congratulations for those who supported this crusade!

The crusade for Change to good governance and responsible citizenship did not end last May 2007 election and the downfall of this recall move, it just started now to grow and flourish.

Everyone is invited to be part of this History in the Making. Let us keep united and be Proactive! God bless Pampanga and our country the Philippines.

(sent by Mr. Red Reyes)

Saturday, November 15, 2008

A VICTORY FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE! COMELEC SUSPENDS ALL RECALL CASES

Resolution 8547 promulgated last November 13, 2008, the COMELEC cited the lack of funds as the main reason to suspend all recall petitions or recall elections. As of today, the office only has limited funds and only has approximately P5 million pesos at the moment.

The office also announced all recall petitions filed will be suspended until funds will be available for the purpose of recall elections.

The request of the Commission for the release of additional funds for recall elections was not favorably considered due to funding constraints, also added.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

MISSING THE ACTION by: Kiko Ortelano

Good Things from Bad.

A good manager will always extract something positive about things that are not good.

The RECALL action against governor Ed Panlilio has created quite a stir in Pampanga. Everyone in Pampanga is a winner and a loser on this issue.

The initiators of the RECALL were able to generate so much opportunities to discredit the governor to his constituents. Even if (I do not think it will) the RECALL does not prosper, it could have generated a lot of negatives against the governor. This allows the opposition to the governor to have a better chance of beating the latter in the 2010 elections (If he decides to run again). The RECALL will also cement the loyalty of the initiators to their benefactors. This can mean continued support in a lot of terms, including financial, and the opportunity to wield so much political power, if and when their benefactors or their benefactor's "chosen leaders" wrest total control of PAMPANGA.

On the other hand, the RECALL woke-up a lot of Panlilio supporters. This allowed the emergence of a stronger group of people's organizations that came together to counter the RECALL. Civil Society Organizations who were initially believed to have fully supported the governor before, specially during the start of Panlilio's term at the Capitol, seem to have faded away during this crucial time in Pampanga. They made a lot of noises before but were alarmingly very quiet during the height of the RECALL actions and reactions.

The RECALL also allowed this emerging stronger group of people's organizations to consolidate their forces, rebuild their mass bases, and present to the Kapampangans a voice for the silent majority. The best thing about this group is the obvious synergy of support that came from different religious denominations in the country. Hopefully, the Iglesia ni Cristo can discern better next time and throw their support to a leader who will truly espouse Good, Righteous Leadership in governance.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

MISSING THE ACTION by: Kiko Ortelano

NAKAKAHIYA!

If one will objectively look at what the current Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Pampanga is doing, it will be totally embarrassing to be a Kapampangan.

Let us start with its presiding officer; Vice Governor Yeng Guiao. Guiao was a single term SP and he is now on his second term as vice governor of the province. In total he is now on his eight year at the SP. Yes he iniated actions against the Lapids on the Quarry Scam. But one objective observer should note that when he started his actions against the Lapids on the Quarry Scam, HE NEVER INITIATED ANY ACTION TO RECALL GOVERNOR LAPID! WHY?

Guiao, together with the then SP, NEVER INITIATED ANYTHING TO CUT OR DENY THE BUDGET OF Governor Lapid even during the time that Guiao already knew that there were anomalies in the quarry operations of the province. WHY?

Senior Board Member Chris Garbo is a "returnee" to the SP having served three consecutive terms before. He was a board member during the tenure of Ex-governor Lito Lapid. He has been a most vocal critic of Governor Panlilio. He is now supporting the Recall move against Governor Panlilio yet he never said a word against the Lapids specially on the Quarry Scam. WHY?

The same is true with the other board members who were either returning board members of the province or former local officials of the different Local Government units of Pampanga. WHY?

Then the supplemental budget request for the salaries and benefits of the BALAS boys have been pending at the SP for a good number of months already. The SP never questioned the salaries and benefits of the provincial quarry workers during the terms of the Lapids. Yet during the current tenure of Governor Panlilio, not only are they not approving the complete budget for BALAS, they actually (the SP) demoted the BALAS positons from salary grade levels 5 and 7 to a uniform salary grade level of 1. This actually decreased the salaries of the BALAS Boys to a measly Php254 per day. We understand that the Civil Service Commission has already unofficially stated that this is illegal and yet the SP is firm on this unjustifiable action. WHY?

The Educational Assistance Fund of the Governor is still pending at the SP for almost a year now. This was a project of then former Governor Mark Lapid that Governor Panlilio continued. Governor Panlilio even widened the coverage so that more deserving Kapampangan youths can benefit from it. In fact, even the Board members themselves were allowed to nominate their own scholars for the program. Very sadly, the SP is still sitting on the budget for this program. The Vice Governor had been justifying the non-approval of the budget for the program saying that they have been asking for justifications from the Governor's office for this. But if you look back during the term of ex-governor Mark Lapid where Yeng Guiao was also the Vice Governor, the SP never asked for justifications for the same program. Also, more than a month ago, the civil society group Kapampangan Coalition Inc. initiated a dialouge with the SP to help in the approval of the Educational Assistance Fund Budget. The two groups met for about two hours at the Capitol Session Hall and then immediately went to the tv program HAMON Central Luzon of CLTV36 and boasted that what Governor Panlilio failed to resolve for a good number of months, the SP and KCI were able to resolve in just two hours. Yet to this day and after the boast, the SP is yet to approve the budget. WHY?

The Provincial Development Council was never convened during the tenure of the Lapids as Governors of Pampanga. It was only last year at the start of the term of Panlilio as governor of Pampanga that the Council was convened. The council is a requirement of the Local Government Code and it allows the Municipal mayors a direct participation in the determination of the infrastracture projects that can be implemented by the provincial government. Last year, infrastracture projects worth about Php3m per municipality were approved and implemented. This year, the Council's approved projects per municipality were to be Php5m each. The SP is again sitting on the approval of the budget for these. To think that the majority members of the Council are the Mayors of 20 municipalities and city mayor of San Fernando. These municipal mayors are the same mayors who are siding with the SP in their atrocious move to topple the Panlilio administration. Curiously, it is the constituents of these mayors who will benefit from the projects that the council approved and yet they have not said anything against the SPs non-approval of the budget. WHY?

Now let us look at Rosve Henson. He was a former Board Member of the Province. He is now the President of KAMBILAN, the group that initiated the Recall of Governor Panlilio. He belittles the accomplishment of Governor Panlilio specially on the huge quarry collections. He openly claims that it is not true that it is only now that the quarry collections is huge. He claims that the collections have been huge since the time of the Lapids but that it does not show in the records of the Capitol becuase the collections goes to somebody else's office or pockets. If this is really true as he claims, how come he did not do anything about it when he was a board member or even after? How come he did not initiate actions to recall then Governors Lito and Mark Lapid like he did to Panlilio this year? How come he is initiating Recall actions against Panlilio for Loss of Confidence when he never had any confidence on Panlilio ever since, since he (Henson) was the Campaign Manager of then candidate former Board Member Lilia Pineda? How come he can initiate Recall actions against Governor Panlilio for petty reasons and yet DID NOT INITIATE RECALL ACTIONS AGAINST THE LAPIDS TO WHAT SEEM TO BE CLEAR CASES OF CORRUPTION? WHY?

Why is it that no other official in Pampanga other than governor Panlilio, is speaking out against illegal gambling in the province specially JUETENG when it is open secret to all Kapampangans that JUETENG operate three times a day?

WHY? WHY? WHY?

Maybe it is true what some people are saying that the "usual sources af additional revenues" of the Board Members were cut-off by the "good governance" of Governor Panlilio. Maybe it is also true what some people are saying that the whole SP was "mobilized" by some powers that be because the Governor is an embarrasment to them as a proponent of good governance and responsible citizenship. Maybe it is also true as what some people say that the President herself is mad at Governor Panlilio because he exposed the Php500,000 PAYOLA in Malacanang and the former was so embarrassed that the governor from her own province will do the expose. Maybe it is also true as what some people say that it is the alleged gambling lords themselves who are executing these actions against the Governor because he is a staunch proponent against illegal gambling.

MAYBE ALL OF THE ABOVE ARE TRUE!

The Kapampangans have proven in the May 2007 National ELections that the proud Kapampangan race will rise to the occassion when called upon. We have failed to discern correctly, at times, in the past. But when the going get tough, we get going.

We hope and pray that the Kapampangans will not be blinded, and bought, and scared by the Guns, Goons, and Golds of traditional and dirty politicians. We hope and pray that we make those politicians who put personal matters over and above the sacred service to our Kabalens, pay for their misdeeds in future elections.

FIGHT PAMPANGA!

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Unang Rally Laban sa Recall Ginanap sa San Luis ng Among KKB Sept 15, 2008

Among KKB Executive Director Arnel Manliclic during his speech







Ang alyansa ng mamamayang organisado at naninindigan para sa ganap na kapayapaan at kaunlaran ng bayan (among-kkb) ay naitayo pagkatapos ng kampanya. Ito ang mga volunteers ni Among Ed Panlilio simula noon hangang ngayon. Sila ay aktibong kumikilos, nagoorganisa para isulong at ipaglaban ang bagong politika na nagtataguyod ng good governance at responsible citizenship.
Sa naturang rally, ang among kkb ay nanawagan sa lahat ng mga kapampangan, organisado at individual, mga negosyante, professional, alagad ng simbahan, pinunong makabayan, kabataan,magsasaka at mangagawa na magkaisa para isulong at ipagtanggol ang crusada.
TUTULAN ANG RECALL!!! LABANAN ANG CORUPTION!!!
ILANTAD AT HUBARIN ANG MGA MASCARA NG MGA BULOK NA PULITICO AT ANG KANILANG MGA KASANGA NA NAGSUSULONG NG RECALL!!!
MABUHAY ANG BAGONG PULITICA!!!
MABUHAY ANG GOOD GOVERNANCE!!!