The “trusted lieutenants”

BLOGISTA
By Cha Monforte

An ex-Comval boardmember who is now out of public office said to me after reading our last week’s issue that transactions like the CISA transaction were always thrown by ex-Governor Jose “Joecab” Caballero to the Comval Sangguniang Panlalawigan for their prior authority and approval. He was one of the member of the so-called Comval SP Eight, the majority that blocked Joecab’s executive and supplemental budgets during the 2005-2006 budget wars in Comval. He said the new law on government procurement was already there existing and operational, and yet transactions like the CISA transaction of the Davao del Norte provincial government, passed to their scrutiny.

Maybe, sir, Comval’s precedent was different because ex-Gov. Joecab became already a virtual lameduck governor by your too much fliibustering and obstructionism in the SP. But “no” the ex-Comval boardmember retorted, adding, “Joecab always makes it sure there will be no legal liabilities on his part later in whatever contracts he would implement for and in behalf of the province.” The ex-BM who had three terms said that during his first and second terms he was a good, loyal ally of the ex-Gov. Joecab. He is a lawyer. I saw him only shaking his head while reading our issue bannering the headline, “AALA’s THUNDER COMES TO SNUBBED SP”.

There were evident rush and shortcuts in the awarding and implementation of the security services contract of CISA, in so far as the period Dec. 28, 2010-Jan. 1, 2011 is concerned. Why? We take Dec. 28 as more of a day of notifying, complying all the documents with a questionable e-mailed document at that, and a day of awarding. There were still Dec. 29 and 30, two days that the Capitol Triumvirate composed of provincial administrator Rufo Peligro, BAC chair and PGSO Samson Sanchez and PLO Atty. Jennifer Namoc could have appraised the sitting Acting Gov. Victorio “Baby” Suaybaguio Jr on what had happened to the bidding before the CISA guards would move in to secure the Capitol complex, but oh, my gulay! they just didn’t. Why, oh wow? So there was no Notice to Proceed sent to CISA until the supposed last day (Jan. 6, 2011) of the required timeframe to issue such under Republic Act No. 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act), when the vice gov was still the acting gov.

Since Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario signed the contract “after January 8, 2011”, as bared by COA auditor Susan Querequincia in an interview with us, the more the CISA guards are not allowed to swing their presence around in the Capitol from Jan. 1 to Jan. 8, 2011, assuming that the contract does not need a prior authority and approval from the SP.
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If I dub Boardmember Shirley Belen Aala as the “tigress” (a female tiger) in the DavNor SP, I am tempted to dub the Liga ng Barangay provincial president Vincent “Enteng” Floirendo as the sleeping lion in the same provincial board. Obviously, BM Vincent (to differentiate with the other BM Enteng- Eliot)is still on the threshold of his learning curve as a provincial legislator. Wait ‘til the lion is awake and he would no longer be silent during sessions. I saw and covered his Manong Tonyboy as a boardmember in the mid 80s and the latter showed that among equals in the SP he was oozing with influence. The sleeping lion now is preeminent District 2 congressman who would succeed Cong. Anton Lagdameo after his last/second term.

I chanced upon last week ex-Panabo City Mayor Rey Gavina in a shoe shine shop in his city’s downtown and I asked him about his bent of running as drawn by political pundits who are always meeting and plotting in the kapihan under the acacia trees fronting Panabo’s Hall of Justice. He said he’s yet hopeful that the “agreement” between him and Mayor Joe Silvosa Sr “will be implemented”. Considering the pundits’ says so that it would be a “long way for the Gamaos and Gavinas” in Panabo’s politics with no less than his son, city councilor and PCL president BM Janrey “Biboy” Gavina as a faraway city mayor after the three mayoral terms of the expected next Panabo mayor, current Vice Mayor James Gamao, starting 2016, if I were on his shiny shoes, I’d better not run for a mayoral comeback by 2013 so as not to risk the good prospect in the political careers of his kins- own son BM Biboy and brother-in-law VM James. After all, ex-Mayor Gavina had already his sweet time in serving well the city of Panabo.

The CISA controversy erupted at a time when Gov. RDR visibly needs a rest, literally and figuratively. He spent about 18 hours in air travel from US to PH and here he was met on the first week of the year by a raging controversy not of his own making but by the rush and shortcuts made by his “trusted lieutenants” (to borrow words from the news that hurt SP members) to implement the CISA contract. Perhaps, if they are indeed loyal to the governor they should have cared for his health. There’s apparent work-related stress spawned by the controversy that hit all of the concerned – in both sides of the pros and cons, which could have been avoided had there were no rush and shortcuts made. Though the CISA controversy is largely now about a question of law as well as a question of fact, but, since the cat was already out in the bag when the fire in the house was started after Peligro burned the bridges anew with his vice governor in continuity of the past wranglings between them, and this time around- with the unresolved issue about the bypassing of the SP’s prior authority, the snubbing of the SP’s invitation to him, to BAC chairman Sanchez and to CISA owner Rolando de la Cruz, and the grandstanding charge from the governor- the coverage of the chasm has been extended to several questioning boardmembers, if not to the entire SP as an institution. At 76, behind the too long years of the governor’s illustrious and exemplary political career, the CISA controversy is quite certaintly an unwanted thing to come at a time when he is often guessed at by pundits to be planning for a much needed retirement from politics by 2013, as there’s sunrise early in a day and there’s sunset late in the day. Sadly, the CISA controversy is amidst us, compliments of the governor’s “trusted lieutenants”.
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For all his eye to the 2016 governorship in Compostela Valley, second-termer District 2 Cong. Rommel “Bobong” Amatong is better challenged now to establish his own identity provincewide, or particularly to the District 1. It is quite a public knowledge that Cong. Amatong won his first term because of his legendary father Pros, who was still alive in 2007 polls, and he was reelected last May 2010 polls because his stateman father Pros died and the legend of Pros Amatong was proven in the massive outpouring of grief and love of the people to him in the wake of his death due to an accident in the US. There was indeed that people’s burial of the legend-hero-stateman Pros Amatong which preceded the last May 2010 polls. Now, Cong. Amatong must extricate himself from the shadows of his late father, for what the people see in him is his father. He has to barrel through his own leadership to the District 1 like the way ex-District 1 Cong. Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora is barreling through now his own leadership to Amatong’s very hometown and bailiwick of Nabunturan, in his own legislative district. Cong. Amatong has to answer now the first question why ex-District 2 Cong. Way Kurat has already penetrated District 2, and why he (Amatong) is yet to penetrate District 1. (For your reactions, e-mail: chamonforte@yahoo.com)

Filed under: boardmember shirley belen aala, cong. rommel amatong, davao del norte COA auditor Susan Querequincia, vincent "enteng" floirendo, davao del norte COA auditor Susan Querequincia

AALA’s THUNDER COMES TO SNUBBED SP

jan 20-26, 2011

 By Cha Monforte

Hell hath no fury than a woman snubbed.

“This snub both by the executive and De la Cruz is a day of mourning, a day of distress, a day of rebuke and a day of disgrace,” declared Boardmember Shirley Belen Aala (Tagum City, District 1) in a privilege speech she delivered last Monday’s session in so thunderous voice when it turned out that the three officials whom the Sangguniang Panlalawigan earlier invited to shed light about the contract of the private security firm now securing the Capitol did not appear.

“We are for advocacy. We want to ask. Why are not we given this chance of being heard? I hope that this day of mourning for me, my birthday at that, will give a lesson to people who are trying to snub our invitation,” Aala spoke melodramatically at times at the top her voice and pledged to wear black by next Monday’s session.

Several SP members were obviously up in their arms in the last session appearing that the legislative department is going on a collision course with the executive department as triggered by the sudden privatization of security services in the Capitol which has thrown out over 60 contractual personnel from their work.

Last week, the SP invited provincial administrator Rufo Peligro, provincial Bids and Awards Committee chairman Samson Sanchez and one Rolando de la Cruz, the manager of the Christian Investigation and Security Agency (CISA) which bagged the contract for the Capitol’s security services following the deactivation of the Civil Security Services by Governor Rodolfo del Rosario.

The three did not attend. Instead, a letter from provincial legal officer Jennifer Namoc was sent to the SP stating that “by the authority of the governor” the presence of Peligro and Sanchez “was not essential”.

In an interview Wednesday, Peligro said that the “it’s the governor who told them so not to attend.” He added that the CISA’s contract need not pass for approval of the SP as it is a case of procurement of services following provisions of Republic Act No. 9184 otherwise known as Government Procurement Reform Act. “We have a new law and they’re banking on the old law.” (see related story).

During last Monday’s privilege hour, Aala asked why Peligro and Sanchez cannot attend and she was particularly furious to the “snubbing” of De la Cruz.

“Is he (De la Cruz) covered by the governor’s letter that he should not attend? He should have sent a formal letter as a sign of respect… He has no respect to this august body!” Aala fumed in her impromptu speech.

Earlier, several boardmembers charged that they were not consulted and bypassed by the executive department when the contract for the security services was awarded to CISA.

Following Aala’s speech, several boardmembers took turns lamenting over the absence of the invited officials.

Boardmember Raymond Joey Millan (TagumCity, District 1) questioned who could determine “what is essential and what is not essential” as stated in Atty. Namoc’s letter to the SP.

Boardmember Alan Dujali (Panabo City, District 2) informed the body of a Supreme Court ruling about the case filed  by 4 boardmembers of Cebu SP against Gov. Gwendolyn Quisumbing as stated in the Supreme Court decision in G.R. 175527 dated December 8, 2008 affirming that there is a need to secure prior authorization of the provincial board before the governor would enter into contracts committing the province to monetary obligations.

Earlier, Dujali in his own privilege speech said that had the legislative been informed first before CISA’s entry they could have raised questions on how many personnel would be affected and retrenched.

He was concerned on what the provincial government would do to those suddenly thrown out from their work, the fathers and children especially at this time when the school year is ending.

But Boardmember Antonio Lagunzad (TagumCity, District 1) said: “This is a ticklish issue that would irritate (the executive department). If this issue is not resolved then we would not have a harmonious relationship in the provincial governance.” He called for a joint executive and legislative meeting to solve the problem.

Boardmember Hernanie Duco (Carmen, District 2), on the other hand, said that he had served 9 years in the SP before his current term but it is only this time that the SP has been snubbed by those it invited.

He added that the executive-legislative meeting is urgently needed to avert a “civil war between the executive and the legislative.”  

But Boardmember Ely Dacalus (PanaboCity, District 2) asked,” Are they hiding something? Are they afraid of interpellation (that) something wrong will come out?…How could we work harmoniously when there are many lapses committed?”

He said Peligro “was here last year even without our invitation” when the latter sought confirmation for his appointment. (cha monforte)

Filed under: boardmember shirley belen aala, boardmember shirley belen aala

Fearless Tita BM Shirley Belen Aala is fearless in her Facebook account

Aug 19-25, 2010

Not outdone yet by the young, Davao Del Norte’s senior Boardmember (BM) Shirley Belen Aala has already her own Facebook  account running and streaming hot in the web for quite sometime now.

As of Wednesday, the FB account of Tita Senior BM has already net 264 friends- and the counting.

Fearless BM Shirley, current acting Vice Governor, is having nor fear of uploading photos of her alone or of her in company with loved ones during her pre-election tours in various US states. Or she’s with friends in high places or with the Aeta children in   Sampao village in Kapalong town.

Though her FB profile listed only her sex, but the account is full of eye-catching unedited and unpretentious photos about her personal, family and civic activities.

Her ID speaks for her politics with the slogan: “MaAALAhanin sa Kinabukasan ng Kabataan”, and  just when you start browsing her photos you get a good feel that you’re in for a good trip in the net.

“I like travelling. During my political forlough, I enjoyed life. I travelled a lot of states in the US, in world-renowned tourist-attraction places. Travelling is humbling yourself. I’m humbled by it. I travel light which makes me comfortable. You stroll around wearing just anything you want, and you see people who don’t know you and who don’t ask where you come from, or you see other tourists in shorts. It’s humbling yourself,” says BM Shirley in an interview with the Valley & City Chronicle.

BM Shirley’s FB account has also photos showing her kawanggawa, just some of the services she has making within her “own first 100 days” after she was back in public service    for being elected in the last polls as Top 1 boardmember throughout Davao del Norte.

One shows her immersing with the Aeta parents and children in Kapalong whom she had given complete school supplies and school bags last June. She’s now also personally shouldering the honorarium of a Day Care teacher so that a long-abandoned Day Care building in Mesaoy, New Corella due to absence of a teacher would open up again. Or she’s with his son city Councilor Tristan Royce “Bong” Aala in their joint feeding program in the barangays.

Other photos shows her initiated endeavors in building up rapport with top officials, the Tita being the current chair of new SP’s committee on sisterhood and international relations.

She’s with Vice President Jojo Binay and his daughter Nancy Binay-Alcantara for her NoyBi connections in the last polls, or she’s with Babes Tamano or with national women leaders and other top officials.

Her FB photos in the US show only her 4th trip there. That was September 2009, springtime. She has a ten-year multiple entry visa.

She first went to Maine, a small city which boasts of its best parola (lighthouse), then in succession toured Las Vegas, New Hampshire, Boston, Connecticut and Harvard and back to Brooklyn, where her two daughters are residing and working as hospital nurses. They’re eldest Shirley Christine, 42, and  second from the youngest Nikki Trixia, 34.

She got the opportunity to attend the victory party of Manny Pacquiao after the Pacquiao-Cotto firepower fight in Mandalay Bay,  had a good glimpse of the awesome Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam, Lee Meed in Las Vegas, Grand Canyon in Nevada, went mansions hopping in Rhode Island, visited the famous lighthouse at Atlantic Ocean in Maine, spent halloween in Salem, the known Witch City in Massachussets, and toured Alcatraz Prisoner Island in San Francisco, California.

When she was there in the US, Tita BM Shi hugged so much one of her teenage apos- Zyra, daughter of Shirley Christine, a Claes Nobel scholar thus belonging to an elite international group of scholars in the US.

Claes Nobel is the senior member of the Nobel Prize family and founder of The National Society of High School Scholars.

The Nobel family established the Nobel Prizes in 1901 in order to note outstanding contributions in the fields of peace, literature, medicine, chemistry and physics. More than a century later, these internationally renowned awards continue to distinguish scientists, authors, and leaders in a world forum. Nobel wishes to continue his family legacy by encouraging young people to reach their full potential and make a real difference for mankind.

Much to her elation, despite being junked in the last polls, the Tita BM topped the race for boardmembers.

She was formally thrusted to provincial politics when she won as boardmember in the then undivided Davao del Norte serving from 1995 to 1998.

From 2001 to 2004 she served again as boardmember in the smaller province after the separation of Compostela Valley. And in the 2004 polls she topped throughout the District 1 as boardmember.

Now, BM Aala is seen a loquacious, fightingest, fearless woman legislator in the province.

“I should be fearless and straightforward as I might not be given a chance anymore to speak. So I have to speak for what needs to be spoken,” your Tita senior BM   Shirley Belen Aals tells to all and sundry. (Rural Urban News/Cha Monforte)

 

Filed under: boardmember shirley belen aala, boardmember shirley belen aala