First blood in political battle: DOJ’s Gonzales

The claim of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago of an alleged conspiracy to have President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assassinated was certainly jarring. That’s supposed to be hatched by Senate President Franklin Drilon and former President Corazon Aquino.

The opposition promptly shot it down. Even members of the President’s political family called it fantastic.

But actually the feud between the President and Drilon has already drawn first blood last week. This was the filing of administrative charges against acting Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales by provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada of Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas.

The administrative charges included usurpation, abuse of authority, ignorance of the law and "acts that are irregular, immoral and devoid of justification."

Mejorada swore to his complaint against Gonzales before regional prosecutor Virgilio Garcia.

That development, to a certain extent, drowned out the enthusiasm for the Masskara Festival in Bacolod City, which opened yesterday with Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando Saturday as guest of honor. Fernando officially declared the festival open.

Backlash against Gonzales

Earlier this year, post Drilon’s call on President Arroyo to resign from office, Tupas aired his apprehension that Gonzales would move for his ouster from the governorship. That did not occur.

Later, however, on Sept. 12, Tupas received a letter from Gonzales asking him and Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Cecilia Capadosa to "explain/comment" on the administrative complaint filed against them by the People’s Graftwatch of Iloilo.

That move by Gonzales, asserted Mejorada, usurped the authority of the Office of the President, pointing out that administrative complaints against governors and board members fall under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President with the DILG secretary as the investigating authority.

In addition, Mejorada claimed that Gonzales arrogated the powers and prerogatives of the Office of the President, further complaining that Malacañang did not properly refer the complaint to the justice secretary.

In short, Gonzales also encroached on the powers and prerogatives of the DILG secretary.

Actually, Gonzales reportedly set up a task force to handle the case on the basis of the existing memorandum of agreement between the DOJ and the Office of the Ombudsman in November 2004.

Mejorada questioned the membership of the task force.

The imbroglio stemmed from the Graftwatch complaint filed against Tupas and Capadosa for the release of P100,000 in "ghost and fictitious" financial assistance to the Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines for a training program.

The complainants were Virgilio Sindico, Eeptie Correa, Nicolas Siat Monteblanco, and retired hotel employee Pio Lujan. But Mejorada claimed that it was not signed by Graftwatch president Msgr. Meliton Oso.

Well, that’s just the opening shot in the political war. There are explosive developments forthcoming.

In short, they just don’t talk about plots, etc. in Iloilo. They are already in the thick of it.

Masskara, etc.

MMDA’s Fernando hailed Bacolod as the City of Smiles and the city of happy people.

He joined the motorcade from the Capitol lagoon to the Bacolod Plaza. He was accompanied by the 12 candidates of the Masskara Queen 2005 search. The motorcade included young athletes, and Boy and Girl Scouts.

Masskara Festival coordinator Ely Tajanlangit said the participants in this year’s Masskara can expect a different celebration.

Among those in the crowd were Rene Hinojales, Al Melgar, councilor Homer Bais, Sanggunian tourism committee chairman Judge Thaddeus Sayson, former councilor Sonia Verdeflor and many others.

The 12 bets for Masskara Queen are Monica Coscolluela, April Lyn Villamor, Sheryl Panaguiton, Yvonne Rosario Senig, Maria Victoria Libo-on, Guade Mae Yee, Liezel Trompeta, Inidia Gonzales, Richell Otalan, Charisse Gagangso, Jay Ann Empleo, and Mae Ann Torrefranca.

6th ATOP national confab

Even without the Masskara Festival, Bacolod is already bursting at the seams with the opening of the 6th Biennial Convention of the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) at the Bacolod Convention Plaza Hotel.

Hundreds of tourism officers and councilors who head their respective SP tourism committees nationwide are participating in the convention.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano delivered the keynote address at the Island Ballroom of the Bacolod Convention Plaza Hotel.

Last Saturday, the participants were feted in a welcome dinner at the Sugarland Hotel.

Yesterday afternoon, Leo Picasso Jr., president of the Philippine Tour Operators Association, discussed ethics and business practices in selling tour packages.

This was followed by a discussion on the preservation and promotion of our culture and arts in the tourism industry by Dr. Brenda Villanueva Fajardo at the Jewels Restaurant in Pulupandan.

Last night, the Buenos Aires Mountain Resort in Bago City hosted a dinner.

Dea Que is the ATOP national president, while the one playing host is Jennylind Demerre Cordero, vice president for the Visayas and convention chairwoman. Cordero is also the tourism officer of Negros Occidental.

ADDENDA. Superintendent Vicente Ponteras yesterday turned over the Bacolod police station to Superintendent Pedro Merced. Regional police director Superintendent Dorotheo Reyes attended the turnover rites with Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia as guest of honor. Leonardia asked Merced to focus on traffic, terrorism, police visibility, community involvement, the illegal drug problem and police reforms… How Beng Choo, vice president of the Malaysia Olympic Committee, said Bacolod City and Negros Occidental have finally found their places in the ASEAN map. Djoko Pramonono, head of the Indonesian delegation, and Timor Leste chief of mission Antonio Ximenes expressed their appreciation for the hospitality of the Bacolodnons.