JUNE 29 BLOG

I wasn’t able to post news, feature articles, essays or anything in my blog for the entire month of June. My hectic day at work, home, and sidelines hooked and occupied me too much.

The fact that I have no organizer and sometimes I did not plan my work ahead of time, is certainly the reason why I failed to manage my time effectively.

One of the reasons is my assignment that took effect this June 2007. I am already a regular writer at Ormoc City Government official website at www.ormoc.gov.ph. Another is my target news stories per week for West Leyte Weekly Express should be at least eight to ten per week, and this month also I am planning to write for a national newspaper or magazines, preferably one in English and one in vernacular, as long as the deal is good.

Anyways, the month of June 2007 however, was very eventful. In the entire 4^th district there are newsworthy events that unfold elsewhere that I did not able to post in my blog but it was posted however at Ormoc website or published in West Leyte Weekly Express. These include the Fiesta activities in Ormoc, from the time that the festivities kicked off last June 12 until June 29, the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.

We and my colleagues attended the Government Employees Night, since I am presently working as one of them. My boss, the congressman however was not there, but his message was read by Councilor Sotero Chuchi Pepito, and it was truly a memorable night.

There are bad news in Kananga and Merida, some of you knew already about it. Tacloban also is preparing for their fiesta, which is of course unbeatable when it comes to pomp and pageantry. I was once in Tacloban some years ago when they celebrated their fiesta and it was truly spectacular. Baybay, Leyte and other aspirants (to become a city) is holding their plebiscites, and Baybayanons voted overwhelmingly for a resounding “Yes”, despite the opposition of the League of Cities.

Papa J of Palompon is still updating me about the happenings in Palompon, politically, socially, and anything about my hometown that I now visited only once in a blue moon. Besides there are some people that also feed me some important information about the events in Palompon like my relatives, friends, and networks, etc. The reason that I learned that the priest turned emotional in his homily, another is the conflict between CSFJ administration and some residents of Palompon, the robbery that happened in Kanghawro, but the suspects are all from Isabel (three of them are now behind bars), the PIT admin building incident (thanks God, those computers and other equipments were recovered) Kudos also to SPO1 Rogelio Subere, PO1 Rogelio G. Rojas Jr. (a good friend of mine from Barangay Sabang) and PO1 Jovie Espinido. My friend also, now an elected municipal councilor told me about the midnight appointments of some employees in Palompon LGU, the preparations of the oathtaking, and another is the interesting inauguration party which will be held separately in Palompon Social Center and Barangay San Isidro social center. Kakuyaw!!!

Sige na lang!!!

Anyways, the new school years just started, sadly I can’t teach at Syntacs college this time because of time management problem, and besides the school is no longer walking distance away from our rented house, because we already transferred at Agua Dulce, in the house owned by my colleague in media—Jun Tarroza, (some of friend thought that Jun Tarroza was the one who ran for mayor last May 2007 in Ormoc, no!? it was Jun Yrastorza, that sounds like Jun Tarroza).

Her name is Donabel....

"She is one of the campus beauties during my college days....."

The author, Gerard Reyes...at 27.

I was in the office, last May 24 in the morning when I needed the telephone number of the new PACCI manager. I dialed 338-2000 in Bayantel-Palompon hoping to get some info from the said office. I did not get the number, but surprisingly, the voice of the operator on the other line is very familiar.

Later on, I knew her to be Donabel Omega, she is one of the campus beauties during my college days in PIT, way back 5 years ago. I was already a 3^rd year student then while working also a municipal employee in Palompon, while she is a sweet freshmen student. During the Intramurals last September 2002, she was the muse of the College of Technology, while I was also the unit head of the College of Education team. I can remember her as a friendly, charming, and lovely cute little girl (chubby, I mean…) . Now she’s already 21 years old, she said, and will be turning 22 this December, I told myself that I am getting older by now.

Before, when I was only 16 years old, I can see her as a little girl playing like other children did. She did not even mind what she’s doing (wearing a mini skirt) at the age of 9, if my memory serves me right. Now she’s already a lady.

This time, I enjoy everytime I talked with her on the phone. She’s still the very friendly Donabel that I knew some years ago. The same Donabel, that flashes her electrifying smile to her friends and acquaintances, or even to a stranger like me….

Why the mayor was defeated?

The following were analysis made by some Palomponganon politicos, barangay officials, market vendors, students, and other ordinary electorates in this town. It is an attempt to understand on the defeat of the incumbent mayor of this town during last May 14, 2007 elections.

• Most of the people of Palompon are clamoring for change (kausaban), and is tired already of “too much politicking”.
• Palomponganons consider the expulsion of Vice Mayor Constantino “Tantin” Tupa as political manuevering of those who want to remove him for his post. Political bickerings among elected local officials was made known by many, and this hampered the development of this town
• The development of this town was hampered by the blocking of the incumbent municipal officials to some projects of Congressman Codilla to the barangays. The people needs this project but the mayor tried to prevent this projects to be implemented. This was evidenced by the passage of Municipal Development Council resolutions and municipal resolutions, requiring the congressman to ask permission from the MDC or the municipal council upon the implementation of projects to the barangays, where in fact other towns did not block these projects like Isabel, Merida, and Albuera.
• Some of the barangay officials and leaders were slighted when the mayor berated them in front of some municipal employees and clientile at the mayor’s office
• The mayor is sensitive to humors and intrigues againts him, and whenever he heard such comments and criticisms, “kaluoy sa tawo nga mosaway” kasab-an gyod ug insakto.
• The second term of the outgoing mayor was marked by bickerings among municipal employees, among them are department heads themselves engaging to verbal tussle and personal attacks. Mun. Treasurer VS. Mun. Accountant, etc.
• Some of the municipal employees are abusive. You know why? A barangay captain was told “paluma-luma man kag kapitan, dili man ka kamao” the municipal accountant told the capt. Then she threw the papers to the brgy. officials. It was however, settled later on.
• Some of the disgruntled employees did not vote for the outgoing mayor. Among them are those who have some gripes and sentiments related to their job and assignments.
• In hiring new employees and promoting employees, (palakasay lang) Ah! Ila na man lang tanan….panghatag pod sa lain oi! Paryentehay man lagi. A daughter of an officials is a dept. head, a sister in law of a Dept. head, a husband and wife, (Kakuyaw ani!)
• One of the iron lady is a relation to the municipal official, Siya ang nagbuot kun kinsa ang I-regular og I-permanent sa position
• Other are disgruntled loyal supporters, like those connected in the municipality that was not rewarded by the present administration. Some of them are working hard supporting the mayor’s candidacy but instead that they will be elevated to regular position, new and “malakas” employees themselves were promoted.
• Many of the loyal supporters of the incumbent mayor are now seen in the other camp like Arnel Villarente, a disgruntled market collector who was their campaign coordinator of the in 1998, 2001 and 2004 elections. Some other municipal employees resigned. Also some others who are very much identified with them before are no longer with them.
• The mismanagement of CBRMP funds was discovered by DOF during one of its audit, the controversy involved more than P 1Million. When campaign started, the camp of the outgoing mayor failed to inform the public about such accusations.
• Provincial Board Member Herville V. Pajaron drop bombshells during the Lakas CMD (Kausaban) rallies in Palompon, denouncing the anomalies of the present administrations, their allegations were supported by facts thru video presentations, thus convincing the electorates that the present administration has its lapses.
• Having Mr. dela Gente as their emcee was disastrous. His speeches are not acceptable to educated electorates and the masa, but it is accepted only in the streets and even in cockpits and peryahan. His personal attacks to Mr. Pajaron was “ not advisable” for the people will are not that dumbed. It is not advisable also for dignified candidates like them, who are mostly incumbent municipal officials to have such kind of Emcee.
• Most of their candidates engaged to personal attacks againts Tupa, Pajaron and Congressman Codilla. Instead of campaigning and winning the hearts of the electorates their campaign speeches instead defeat the purpose.
• They did not avoid “bad” words in their speeches, they were not careful enough and they did not consider the Palomponganon electorates as wise and intelligent. Even candidates are heard saying taboo words such as “kayat” “gi-jerjer” etc, which is offensive and scandalous to those educated persons who are around.
• The NPC party are not careful in selecting their candidates, one reason that they lose the election.
• The mayor’s sipsips composed of municipal employees vying for Regular and Permanent Positions (Item), Barangay officials and leaders, Campaign coordinators, Speakers bureaus etc. are sowing intrigues that Mr. So---and---So are no longer their supporters, whom the mayor also believed without verification, since they marked such electorate “nga tua na kuno sa pikas”, the said individual “nahiubos” and instead to gain the support of such voters ---wala na hinuon, sayang.
• Their own supporters were being suspected as “tua sa pikas” by their campaign coordinators, so instead of gaining support from these people, nawala na hinuon kay nahiubos na man tu siya nga gipasanginlan. Instead of addition, what happened is subtraction of supporters.
• Those person who paste “Be Honest” stickers of BCBP were suspected as supporters of Tupa, even if they are municipal officials.
• Oppositions and its supporters were subjected to harrassment like what happened to Vic Rufin of Cangcosme, Rosie Reuma of Lomonon, Chedna Romero, Turibio Piñon, a vendor in terminal named Fredo, etc.
• Because of what happened to them, many of the Palomponganons who wants to ventilate his views about the Municipality and the present administration is afraid to criticize the town officials even if it is a ‘constructive criticisms”
• Barangay captains defected from the camps of the mayor, among them are Feliciano Rodado of San Roque, Necerita Omega of Tinago, etc.

The proclamation of Palompon Mayor

KAUSABAN SA PALOMPON. Mayor -elect Eulogio "Yoly " Tupa, bringing hope to effect change in Palompon governance. The new administration will assume office on June 30, 1997, as per mandated by RA 7160.
SA KAUSABAN, ANG PALOMPON...MALINAWON UG MALAMBOON. Tupa's running mate, Atty. Lloyd Surigao vows to support the programs of Mayor Tupa and to help implement the much-needed development projects to fast track the economic growth of Palompon.
The dream team. Lakas CMD councilors was also proclaimed winners last May 16. (Left to Right) Atty. Jesus "Bong" Villardo III, NLC Director Gilbert Manongsong, Earl "Eloy" Bongbong, and retired SB Secretary Rodolfo "Rudy" Canson.
The other side. NPC councilors, (L -R) Former ABC President Mesias"Indoy" Arevalo, Re-electionist Councilors Manuel Bertulfo and Jesus "Jek" Sanchez, and newly -elected councilor Jun Roble.

4th Dist. votes 8-3-1 for Senate

By: Gerardo C. Reyes Jr.

ELECTION results from Leyte 4th District bucked the national trend as its voters favored Team Unity. Official results from the Commission on Elections reveal that Northwestern Leyte voted 8-3-1 in favor of Team Unity (TU) with Prospero Pichay, Joker Arroyo and Edgardo Angara on the top three.

Ormoc’s top three senatorial results are consistent with the national trend with Loren Legarda and Francis Escudero, both from Genuine Opposition (GO), and independent Francis Pangilinan placing at the top three. However, Ormocanons six TU candidates in the top 12: Arroyo, Angara, Pichay, Recto, Defensor and Montano.

Pichay’s media advertisements must have had an effect on Leyteños considering that he topped in three towns – Kananga, Isabel and Merida. But it was in Merida where the TU made a sweep as its voters went 11-1, dropping only Sultan Kiram in favor Pangilinan.

Kananga might have delivered only an 8-4, but its voters made sure that the eight administration bets are on the top of the opposition. They are Pichay, Angara, Ralph Recto, Cesar Montano, Michael Defensor, Vicente Magsaysay and Miguel Zubiri.

Isabel’s 7-4-1 is a hodge-podge of TU and GO placed alternately. Arroyo was number one in Palompon which yielded 9-2-1. Like in Kananga, Palomponganons placed TU candidates Angara, Pichay, Vicente Sotto, Zubiri, Defensor, Montano, Magsaysay and Tessie Aquino-Oreto on top of the opposition.

It was only in Albuera where actor Cesar Montano was number one. Albueranons produced a fairly balanced output of 7-4-1 with Pichay and Angara on the top. Other leading candidates in that town are Pichay, Angara, Vilar, Pangilinan, Arroyo, Recto, Legarda, Escudero, Defensor and Aquino. Meanwhile, out of the 67,388 actual voters in Ormoc, only 18,211 of them or 27% voted for party lists.

There are 93 party list groups from which voters can choose from. However, unlike in the national level, militant groups like Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anak Pawis, TUCP and Civac are not popular among Ormocanons.

Codillas sweep 4th district

KAUSABAN. Mayor -elect Eulogio "Yoly" Tupa was proclaimed winner in Palompon mayoral race last May 16, 2006 (12:30 midnight), defeating the mighty Oñate rule.
Leyte 4th district Congressman Eufrocino "Dodong" Codilla, Congressman-Elect Ferdinand Martin Romualdez of 1st district of Leyte, and Ormoc City Mayor Eric "Beboy" Codilla after the Proclamation at Leyte Provincial Capitol in Tacloban City last May 17, 2007, 2:00 PM.
Congressman Eufrocino "Dodong" Codilla, Sr. 4th district of Leyte defeated former Cong. Toto J. Locsin with more than 37,000 votes, the biggest margin in a congressional fight in the Visayas.

JUST as the express predicted, the 4th District is now considered a Codilla country with the winning streak of the dynasty and its anointed candidates in the six towns. This development has led to the crumbling of mighty names that dominated local politics for over a decade and the rise of promising new ones.

In the Congressional race, the family patriarch Rep. Eufrocino M. Codilla Sr. was proclaimed winner by the Provincial Board of Canvassers last May 17. He mauled challenger Carmelo J. Locsin by over 37,849 votes, the biggest margin he garnered in his political career. Earlier, Provincial Board Member Herville Pajaron predicted that the solon will win by more than 20,000 votes. Rep. Codilla’s luck rubbed on to his anointed candidates.

In Ormoc, Mayor Eric C. Codilla and his entire slate were proclaimed last May 16. This is the first time in the city’s history that the electorate voted straight for a single party. Mayor Codilla thwarted Dr. Gregorio Yrastorza’s ambition of toppling him by getting 12,493 more votes than the challenger.

In Kananga, Rep. Codilla’s son Elmer routed incumbent Vice Mayor Marciano Nahine with a wide margin of over 3,000 votes. Just like in Ormoc, the entire slate of the ruling party made it led by running mate Macario Lumangtad who beat incumbent Mayor Giovani Ed Napari. However, an incident occurred at the counting of ballots last May 14 with the missing of 114 ballots. Amorlina Capendit, representative of Lakas-CMD to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) narrated that Municipal Treasurer Rodrigo Hermoso objected to the counting of the official ballots. “What he did was to record only the first serial number of every booklet and the last number. When several extra official ballots of dubious serial numbers were discovered, he angrily tore them all despite our protestations,” Capendit said. “Our lawyer moved for individual counting where it was discovered that about 15 official ballots intended for Tongonan were missing,” she went on. A Comelec lawyer confirmed the discovery. “We traced that the missing 90 official ballots were issued to Brgy. Tugbong but the remaining 25 others could not be found,” he disclosed at past noon of Election Day. The incident prompted businessman Dodong Tan to remark: “This is the reason why we always lost to the Naparis in the past!” Comelec Officer Elvisa Chu proclaimed the winners 11:00 am last May 15. Elmer’s election signals the end of the longtime hold of the Naparis in Kananga. Mayor Napari is in his last term which is why he ran for vice mayor but lost. His late father Eduardo also served for 10 consecutive years as mayor.

Palompon

In Palompon, the 15-year rule of the Oñates is put to an end with the defeat of Mayor Marcelo Oñate from former Vice Mayor Eulogio Tupa with a slim margin of less than 1,000 votes. However, four of their candidates for Sangguniang Bayan (SB) members did not make it. Carrying the campaign slogan Kausaban (Change), Tupa and running mate Atty. Lloyd Surigao won in barangays that were considered bailiwicks of the Oñates before. Out of the town’s 50 barangays, the Kausaban team won in 32 villages, according to Campaign Coordinator Arnel Villarente. In the poblacion’s 10 barangays, Tupa’s team won in eight. Villarante was the Oñates’ campaign coordinator in the past three successive elections. Incidentally, this is the first time also that Rep. Codilla won in Palompon after having been beaten in the two past elections.

In Isabel town, Gen. Saturnino Median Jr. won over Atty. Edgardo Cordeño by a margin of more than 4,000 votes. His running-mate incumbent Vice Mayor Greg Cerillo likewise defeated opposition Flaviano Centino by more than 8,000 or over 50%. Only one candidate for SB member from the other camp made it.

In Merida town, re-electionist Mayor Marthon Solaña crushed Vice Mayor Rodrigo Wenceslao who is swamped with graft charges at the Ombudsman. Just like in Kananga, the mayor’s entire slate made it led by running mate Kumar Dumagsa. They were proclaimed winners last may 15.

In Albuera, the unopposed re-electionist Mayor Sixto de la Victoria steered his team to victory led by his running mate incumbent Vice Mayor Mario Barte who beat Marino Moaña. This is the mayor’s second term. His victorious slate is made up of Dandy Cayanong, Norman Mesina, Tano Barte, Neil Zaldivar, Ige Retuya, Cathy Tolero, Romeo Junco and Antonio Salinas.

ELECTION RESULTS

FOR CONGRESSMAN
AND 4TH DISTRICT MAYORS & VICE MAYORS

MERIDA

Mayor
Marthon Solaña 7,901
Rodrigo Wenceslao 4,139

Vice Mayor
Kumar Dumagsa 5,248
Atty. Boyd Boholst 4,166
Antonio Tomogdon 1,889

KANANGA

Mayor
Elmer "Eming" Codilla 11,600
Marciano Mars Nahine 7,871

Vice Mayor
Macario Boy Lumangtad 11,162
Giovanni Ed "Nonoy"Napari 7,966

PALOMPON

Mayor
Eulogio "Yoly" Tupa 12,284
Marcelo "Baloy" Oñate 11,368

Vice Mayor
Lloyd Pajaron Surigao 11,820
Harvey Fel Piñon 9,908

ISABEL

Mayor

Saturnino "Jun" Medina 14,105
Edgardo "Dodo" Cordeño 9,864

Vice Mayor

Greg Cerillo 15,210
Flaviano Centino 6,968

ALBUERA

Mayor de la Victoria 11,525 (unopposed)

Vice Mayor
Mario Barte 9,375
Marino Muaña 4,552

CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES

Municipalities/City	CODILLA	LOCSIN	Margin
ORMOC	37,483	24,229	13,254
PALOMPON	13,261	7,538	5,723
ISABEL	12,023	6,662	5,361
KANANGA	10,981	6,761	4,220
ALBUERA	8,597	4,732	3,865
MERIDA	7,706	3,634	4,072
MATAG-OB	2,827	4,181	-1,354
TOTAL	92,878	57,737	37,849