OPINION: Way Kurat responds

BLOGISTA

By Cha Monforte

jan 20

Compostela Valley District 1 Congressman Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamorais making another act consistent to his public form. He is an anchor now of his early morning radio program over DXPA FM atation of Nabunturan every Tuesday and Thursday. Well, it’s good that he has been answering charges and accusations hurled by a mosquito press Birada that is being circulated in District 1 barangays in this political season. That little newspaper I managed to get hold by chance has been carrying stories about his failed promises of giving projects to barangays in the district, his alleged non-performance as a lawmaker and his alleged personal enrichment while in public office.

That’s a good side of Way Kurat- he responds to issues and accusations as he has all the right and means to reply in our democratic system. If he chooses a hilarious music stinger in his radio program- that song of Max Survan? “Sa hinambugay magdaug ta”, to poke fun to the accusation that he has been engaged in “politika sa pagyaga-yaga ug politika sa lingaw-lingaw”, that’s fairly being consistent to his old antics of belting out comic scene-stealing dramatics in the supposedly august halls of Congress

The allegations have been rebutted each time he goes on the air since two weeks ago. At one time he even belied an accusation but admitted that he owns not four but only three sabungans (cockpits) in the district as he called the attention of Liberal Party congressional standard-bearer Atty. Jun Lopoz. The congressman is also presently developing a “modern” cockpit ala inland resort with hotel features “ala Las Vegas ” in Sta. Maria, Nabunturan. One source said that Cong. Way Kurat bought an airtime to rebut charges and at the same time promote the candidacy of his daughter Boardmember Maricar, who’s running for congresswoman under Lakas-Kampi-CMD, after the latest province-made survey bared that Maricar is now being closely trailed now by Atty. Jun Lopoz by only 3-percent margin (Maricar gets 30 % while Lopoz has 27%, while controversial ex-police officer Cesar Mancao of Aksyon-Demokratiko has only 7%).

The survey is revealing the chances of Atty. Jun Lopoz. Being an abugado, he’s being seen differently and in favorable light by the electorate. There’s this towntalk that when an abugado runs for congress he has more chances of winning than if he runs for a town councilor as in the case of Nabunturan where all lawyers lost in the previous two elections. That happened, too, for one case in both Montevista and Monkayo, and for a vice mayoral case in Compostela town in 2007 polls. But that’s different to Maco town where two lawyers won for their series of term- Atty. Charles Suelto as vice mayor and Atty. Mario Sapilan as councilor for three terms. The latter is now running for vice mayor vs. Suelto. But maybe fate would be different for now with Atty. Carlo Ancla, who almost won for councilor in Nabunturan in the last 2007 polls. He has already a pondo of votes. Had he not been junked by an ingrate clanmate who campaigned vote-for-one with his rice, Atty. Ancla could have won handily.

Also for now, Jun Lopoz volunteers have also been effectively organizing alternative leaders and volunteers in all of the District 1 villages, remote or near to poblacion, in the besides the favorable mood of the electorate of wanting change this time as they’re already tired of the many ripoffs and scams under the present Arroyo administration. And Atty. Jun and LP presidential standard-bearer Noynoy Aquino represent for this strong people’s clamor for change.

That’s spells the difference in this polls despite the logistical insufficiency of Atty. Jun. But then that’s coupled with the hope that somehow the automation in the coming elections could spring upsets and surprises that would lead in the victory of true people’s choice despite the trepidations of the old money politics. Another conspiracy theory comes up now that says that maybe the May 2010 opportunist voters would still receive money from vote-buying candidates but since their votes could no longer be monitored as they have only to pencil-shade the ballots in clustered precincts ala betting for the lotto while machines do the counting, they would end up voting for what their hearts and minds have really chosen. Di na bitaw na nahibal-an sa naghatag natog kwarta, says one wag.

BLOGS AND BITS: Noynoy Aquino is still a survey topnotcher in the latest Comval survey despite the reported inching up of the ratings of Manny Villar to that of Noynoy Aquino. Maybe that closing in of the ratings happened only in other parts of the country or maybe it’s just a manipulation of  the surveying firm commissioned and funded by Villar to do the survey that would favor him little by little to condition the people that he is, too, a winning, presidential candidate…. There are over 18,000 new first-time-to-vote voters in Davao del Norte. Presumably, these are the youths who could not be bought. That bulk of number could clinch who’ll win in a two-corner fight. To whom will these first-time youth voters vote in the case of Davao del Norte Vice Gov. Baby Suaybaguio vs.  Boardmember Dangpanan Israel ? I bet my five cents in favor to Baby as he’s handsomer than Dangpanan. Dyok!…. The Jampayas-Gonzaga alliance in Mawab town in Comval remains as both Mayor Evalina Jampayas and Vice Mayor Bingo Gonzaga seek reelection in the same tandem. Good for them- politically- as they’ll not spend in the coming polls. For four decades the Gonzaga and Jampayas clans then are arch political enemies. (e-mail: chamonforte@yahoo.com)

Filed under: atty. jaime m. lopoz, Boardmember Maria Carmen Zamora-Apsay, cong. way kurat, congressman way kurat zamora, maricar zamora-apsay

OPINION: Pre-SONA piece from the provinces

BLOGISTA

By Cha Monforte

july 24

President Arroyo missed Comval and Davao del Norte in her State of the National Address (SONA) last year. To recall, she did almost mention Comval when she announced of a forthcoming manna from Malacanang for Agusan del Sur. It was about a big, impact project.

Before she did her SONA last year, various regions in the country reeled from typhoon and flood calamity. And to soothe down regional pains, we heard of her claims on dazzling accomplishments from exacting more taxes via the Value Added Tax, while damning the global fuel and food crisis as causes of the country’s ills. For that- she “cared so much for this nation”. Imeldific statements, just like the original who said she cried so much for the country’s poor.

What our provinces now want to hear from the President this coming Monday are her assurances that she would actively work to provide opportunities and investments for mass livelihood and jobs for our people. Without the abundant gold resources and the learned endogenous mining skills of our people, our provinces, most of all Comval, must have been so devastated by crimes against properties, which our local police have nonetheless failed to stump out the way our local bisaya tabloids report about these daily. Likewise, policy statements on the peace and order situation in our provinces particularly with regards to the rising crimes against persons are also much wanting now, and this inevitably relates to the efficacy of police organization in the provinces.

We would not hesitate to listen if the President would also give the Palace’s policy pronouncements, nay even good development intentions on Diwalwal, knowing that there’s now more silence than thunder about what the national government has been doing especially in Level 600 underground since when there was that direct government mining takeover over six years ago. It’s still foolhardy now to expect for government transparency now as even trhe Philippine Mining Development Corp (the NRDC before) keeps to be scarce of its public presence. And corollary to this, her policy statement on people’s mining activities that continue to flourish down in Comval and other mineralized provinces in the region is most wanting. A mere mention on people’s mining in Mindanao provinces could immediately connect the President particularly to the people in Comval, Davao Oriental, Agusan and Surigao provinces. Pa-gwapa points ka naman sa amin Madam President, at least on this score.

BLOGSBITS: Three or four SONAs ago, I was bedazzled by the ostensible gold pendant the President wore while in her dark green gown suit. Seen over ANC, she was sparkling, so presidential. But that was when her rule was not yet smudged by so many issues, ripoffs and scandals of the day…..Word has it that Laak Mayor Rey Navarro is engaged in mining at Pamintaran, Comval’s new gold rush site. Pamintaran is in highland Maragusan. It’s just cool endeavor as the mayor comes also from an upland town…. Last 2 gambling has proliferated in Davao del Norte and Comval. I don’t know what our authorities are doing to stump out this vice. See no evil, hear no evil?…. Until now we still don’t see any financial report on the last liga congress of the Federation of the Association of Barangay Captains in Comval. Paging FABC chair and Boardmember Abundio Cubio. Many Comval barangay officials are wanting to see your FS report…. At the rate there’s deafening silence in Comval District 2 political front, ah that past row between Vice Gov. Ramil Gentugaya and Boardmember Maricar Zamora-Apsay, then we expect no more noise about it til November? But then Atty. Jaime “Jun” Lopoz, oldest brod of Boardmember Dexter Lopoz, is coming his t-shirts that he is kursunada! to run against BM Maricar for the district’s lone congressional post. Well, Atty. Jun was a student and youth leader before of Mindanaowide stature, has a down-to-earth, charismatic, makamasa personality. He first worked with the Ombudsman for Mindanao after passing the bar exams, for which BM/Atty. Dex was challenged to proceed to law after becoming a registered nurse. Why not? In that case, BM Maricar and Cong. Way Kurat could not claim they got the plum and perks-blessed Cong position without a rival, and with all the District 1 Comvalenyos just sitting or lying down in 2010 polls, while grabbing it, proverbially. (For your comments and reactions, text 09069104553 or e-mail chamonforte@yahoo.com)

Filed under: atty. jaime m. lopoz, boardmemeber maricar zamora apsay, Congressman Way Kurat, laak mayor rey navarro, last in davao del norte comval, mt diwalwal, Pamintaran, atty. jaime m. lopoz, boardmemeber maricar zamora apsay, Congressman Way Kurat, laak mayor rey navarro, last in davao del norte comval, mt diwalwal, Pamintaran