NEWS: Mayor CO says Cong. Olano “long Lakas inactive”, Yayong an alleged “tax evader”

jan 5

By Cha Monforte

Reelectionist Tagum City Mayor Rey “CO” Uy has named names to two of his rivals for city mayorship: outgoing Congressman Arrel Olano to have been allegedly “long been inactive for many years” in the Lakas Party, and former Governor Gelacio “Yayong” Gementiza as alleged “one of the tax evaders” in the city.
“Dugay na siya nga wa nag-apil-apil sa Lakas (Olano has long been not participating in Lakas activities),” the mayor said to Cong. Olano, who is running for mayor as independent Lakas-Kampi-CMD candidate.

In the same apparent political potshot to Gementiza, Uy also turned the table to the former governor, accusing him as “one of the tax evaders in the city” in reply to the earlier charge that the mayor has been indiscriminately raising taxes during his two terms which has accordingly turned off  a lot of businessmen in the city.

Uy said the tax issue raised by Gementiza is a “black propaganda” against him.

He said though that “he is just religiously collecting taxes” for the greater welfare of the city constituents.

The mayor also expressed woe over the virtual absence of slate of Olano as he has only two candidates for city councilors, and the “weak and incomplete city slate” of independent candidate Gementiza, describing it as “signs of weakness” of both of the candidacies of his rivals.

He though failed to described the candidacy of retired police investigator and businessman Cesar Cuntapay, who is running independent without any candidate for city councilor.

Olano earlier said that he decided to run for city mayor in the last hour “to pre-empt” Uy from drafting a Lakas city slate with Congresman Anton Lagdameo’s approved Lakas nominations without Olano’s hand of it.

Olano charged that when Lagdameo did not invite him when Tagum leaders took oath as new Lakas members when ex-Ms. Universe Margie Moran-Floirendo declared her gubernatorial bid late November right in his own District 1 at Tagum City, and when the congressman was eased out in the drafting of official Lakas slate in the city, “they made a mockery to the Lakas party that I’ve long been a member of”.

Uy, in an interview, however said he would not take any chances in the coming polls given his rivals. “Di gihapon ta magkumpyansa”.

Gementiza earlier apprised that with the running of Olano who is said to be “close to the Church and Iglesia”, Uy could be wrested of a big chunk of votes.

Meanwhile, Compostela Valley Governor Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy, in separate interview, said that he is confident of the ultimate winning of his younger brother CO, saying that he is already past of his most difficult electoral battle in 2004 when “it was against all odds” favoring the defeated mayoral administration bet Victorio “Baby” Suaybaguio Jr.

“That time CO won despite that Baby had already all- there was RDR, the PNP, the military, and others,” the governor recalled. (Cha Monforte/ Rural Urban News)

Filed under: cong. arrel olano, Former Davao del Norte Governor Gelacio “Yayong” Gementiza, mayor rey chiong uy, congressman arrel olano, tagum mayor uy, yayong gementiza

NEWS: Davnor pols dazzle groceries, foodstuffs as Xmas gifts

dec 17

Despite still harder times, several Davao del Norte politicians are moving on these days giving groceries and foodstuffs to constituents in kindling the Christmas spirit.

So as not to be interpreted, Davao del Norte District 1 Congressman Arrel Olano defused speculations that his gift-giving of grocery package consisting of rice, noodles and sardines is not for politicking purposes.

In a report of Periodico Norte, he said in vernacular that as his tradition he has been giving “give-aways every December and in fact I started giving these in September in my district”.

Since last week Olano’s house was reportedly flocked in by droves of people including children who lined up to wait for their to receive the foodstuff.

Tricycle drivers have also received insurance certificates besides the groceries from the last-termer congressman.

The same, Olano was consistent in his earlier media statement that he is a “partidista” and would not fight the present governor, vice governor and city mayor, who are all reelectionists, saying that they all belong to Lakas party like him.

But he has a caveat for this: “unless Lakas breaks up.”

Not to be outdone, the other day Asuncion Mayor Municipal Joseph Pareñas showed to the local media his stockpile of Christmas gifts, still packed groceries, ready for distribution to his needy constituents.

Where before DXDN Radyo Ukay in Tagum used to have a lot of time for commentaries, now the primetime from 7:00 to 9:00 A.M. is booked to seconders of Christmas greetings from city councilors up to the governor.

The much-touted RDR on Wheels of Governor Rodolfo del Rosario, on the other hand, is scheduled to make a lot of municipal sorties during this Yuletide Season.

In most of its sorties, provincial officials and manpower drew out various provincial services such as medical check up and medicine distribution, dental services, therapists’ massage, dispersal of agricultural products and animals, while the governor gave thousands of Philhealth cards and acted as collective ninong of mansibados (unmarried in the Church).

Sources said that the RDR on Wheels hit bumps when it drew scarce constituents begging for provincial services in municipalities whose mayors are known to be political proteges of former Cong. Antonio “Tonyboy” Floirendo Jr.

The Floirendos and Del Rosarios have had political, family and business feud which started near the time before the May 2007 polls.

MeanwHile, sour-graping pundits however said that Christmas gifts consisting of the familiar rice, noodles and sardines that have been going to barangays every election time are therefore suspect. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News)

Filed under: cong. arrel olano, dxdn radyo ukay tagum, governor rodolfo del rosario, cong. arrel olano, dxdn rayo ukay tagum, governor rodolfo del rosario

NEWS: Oyo: “I’m also eligible for Congress”

nov 12

First-termer City Councilor De Carlo “Oyo”, son of Mayor Rey Uy, said when prodded in an interview that he is also eligible to run for the congressional post that would be considered by Lakas party as vacant once its holder last-termer Cong. Arrel Olano goes out from the office by 2010.

But he said that that for now “trabaho muna bago yang politika”.
Asked if the report was true on his close friendship with former Vice Gov. Anthony Rafael del Rosario, he smiled and said that it might be because they are both young.

The young Del Rosario has been reported to aspiring for Olano’s post, while Boardmember Roger “Dangpanan” Israel has been making louder noises on his congressional ambition over the airwaves through DXDN Radyo Ukay-Tagum where Israel anchors in an early morning program.

Mayor Uy, who recently said that he still has one more term to serve, has remained silent until press time on his son’s 2010 plan.

Observers said that there seems now a start-up guessing game as to what Councilor Oyo would take a crack on by 2010, which they say may include also the vice mayoral post considering that the Davao City’s tandem of Mayor Rody and his daughter Vice Mayor Sara had already been realized and made as precedent.

Asked on his stand on the City Hall’s tiff with the North Davao College Tagum Foundation Inc., he said that the city council had thoroughly studied and discussed all the issues and their ramifications and as collegial body they ended up approving the resolutions that censured the school officials.

He admitted though that the city council has no power to contempt, even as it has the power to declare persona non grata. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

Filed under: boardmember dangpanan israel, cong. arrel olano, ndc-tagum, tagum city councilor de karlo "oyo" uy, tagum city mayor rey uy, boardmember dangpanan israel, cong. arrel olano, ndc-tagum, tagum city councilor de karlo "oyo" uy, tagum city mayor rey uy

OPINION: Dangpanan sings louder this time

BLOGISTA
By Cha Monforte

nov 12

After his recent trip in Rome where the Santo Papa lives, Davao del Norte Boardmember Roger “Dangpanan” Israel isn’t yet singing a different song. He’s still singing the same song but already louder this time.

Before his departure last month, Tagum’s veteran politician, who came from the ranks of the local media, told me in an interview that he would go into “deep personal reflection” that included on whether he would finalize his plan of running to run for the first congressional post that the last-termer Cong. Arrel Olano is finishing to serve at present.

In that interview, he said that considering his length of service as an elected official and the masteral studies on public administration he graduated, he is ready and capable to handle higher posts including that of the governor and congressman.

But Dangpanan is most interested to run though for Congress which is also being vied by former Vice Gov. Anthony Rafael del Rosario, son of Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario, the district’s recognized kingmaker.

“We still have not made an agreement on it,” he said referring to the young Del Rosario as the other party.

In his early morning radio program over DXDN Radyo Ukay-Tagum late last week, Israel, who said he had just gone from Rome in Europe, was not yet singing a different tune but was more loudly repetitious on the absence of agreement between him and Anthony.

On the airwaves, he’s either been singing “It’s not too late” or “It’s now or never” with a refrain that he could not wait to be 65 anymore by 2013.

But in a rather bellicose commentaries, Israel, also of the administration  party, announced that he would be going to the barangays and consult the people on his congressional plan “kay wa man silay gusto nako”.

He bared his plan of organizing a grassroots structure parallel to the RDR Wheels of the governor.

He also asked for indulgence from his constituents for the small amount he is giving for their solicitations reasoning on the present absence of pork barrel funds for the Davao del Norte boardmembers.

He also alleged that the capitol has been engaged on borrowing binge from banks here and there and bared that the 2009 budget for education for the thousands of provincial scholars would not be for the 2009 expenditure but for the 2008 payables to the schools where the scholars study.

But also playing coy on his plan, Israel said that “pwede pod ko nga di na lang modagan ug mag technician na lang sa FM station ni kanhi governor ug congressman Pros Amatong sa Nabunturan” as he greeted the provincial elder on the air. An FM station owned by Amatong located along the road going to the Cabidianan Capitol in Nabunturan is now reportedly ready for test broadcast.

The other day, he said he has gone in seven countries in Europe including the country-city Rome, from where he brought home a holy miraculous water he is sharing at press time to his constituents.

After I recently enjoyed listening to what appears as BM Roger’s comic cum tear-jerker and hullabaloo on his congressional plan, I imagined of the coming Tagum’s fiesta bolanteros. From such imagery it’s now either deal or no deal, or kwarta o kahon, or believe it or not, or she loves me, she loves me not. But when he makes true his threat of running for Congress, there’s then that spectacle of ruining the Lakas unity in Davnor, and one may say, nah naluke na siya. (For online edition, visit my blog at: http://cha4t.wordpress.com, for comments and reactions, email: chamonforte@yahoo.com, or ruralurbanews@yahoo.com)

Filed under: anthony del rosario davao del norte, boardmember roger "dangpanan" israel, cong. arrel olano, fofer mer cong prospero amatong, gov. rodolfo del rosario, anthony del rosario davao del norte, boardmember roger "dangpanan" israel, cong. arrel olano, fofer mer cong prospero amatong, gov. rodolfo del rosario

NEWS: Chiz Escudero riddles Davnor politicians

oct 17

Davao del Norte provincial and city officials faced baffling scenarios from Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero when he personally visited them yesterday at the Capitol, Mankilam, Tagum City.

Senator Escudero was the guest speaker for the Philippine Judges Association in the evening in Davao Davao City but he made first a side trip in Tagum City to personally visit and consult politician friends.

He made baffling riddles about the real opposition in the county citing the flip-flopping record of several wannabes for the top post in the country.
He named potential presidential bets as Senate President Manny Villar, Mar Roxas, Panfilo Lacson, and even former President Joseph Estrada.

“Sino ba talaga ang tunay na oposisyon?”asked Sen. Escudero.
He just recalled past records of presidential wannabes flip-flopping in their past dealings with the Macapagal administration.
Present in friendly roundtable exchange of friendly talk at Tahanan building at the provincial Capitol complex in Mankilam were Davao del Norte Rodolfo del Rosario, Vice Gov. Victorio Suaybaguio, Tagum City Mayor Rey Chiong Uy, District 1 Cong. Arrel Olano and others.
They were cheerfully dumbfounded of Escudero’s presentation on past record of flip-flops of the said presidential wannabes. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

Filed under: cong. arrel olano, gov. rodolfo del rosario, mayor rey uy, cong. arrel olano, gov del rosario, mayor rey uy tagum, senator chiz escudero davao del norte