Juicy news from Panay

I was in Iloilo City last weekend to attend the induction of officers of the Bacolod Capitol, Cebu Capitol and Iloilo Fort San Pedro Lions Clubs. However, I had to rush back to Bacolod because I was taken ill Sunday.

Anyway, despite my short stay there, I was updated with the latest juicy news development from Panay, especially Iloilo. But the one that touched me was the admission of Orlando Tan, president of the Cebu Capitol that he indeed cried during the civic activity at the Ati settlement in Barotac Nuevo.

"I just couldn’t help myself despite the obvious signs that the natives were being cured for the local and national government units," said Tan. This was confirmed by his companions, who pointed out that the Barotac vice mayor even tried to comfort the disturbed lions officials.

Coincidentally, the president of the Bacolod Capitol is also Mel Tan, widow of the late former president William Tan. No relation to Lando, however.

Row over stalled housing project

Another one that attracted my attention was the continuing row over the proposal to pay P14 million to Ace Builders Enterprises, which is being blamed for the aborted Iloilo City Employees housing project in Pavia.

The Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC), a local non-government cause-oriented organization, branded the move as devoid of logic and a stupid attempt at problem solving. Ace has threatened to sue the city if it fails to pay the P14 million before the end of the year.

On Wednesday, I learned that FDC held a picket in front of the city council to protest the stalled five-hectare housing project in Barangay Ungka of Pavia. The lot is owned by the city.

Mayor Jerry Trenas has set up committee, which recently started hearings on the proposal to pay Ace Builders. Trenas said the Ace Builders had terminated its contact with the city in 2002 after the city government refused to pay its fourth progress billing amounting to P5 million.

Trenas said he had referred the communication from Ace Builders to the City Legal Office.

Councilor Jed Mabilog, chairman of the SP engineering committee, said he prefers to wait for the recommendation of the committee, which has already started public hearings on the proposal.

In its 2005 audit report, the Commission on Audit (COA) ordered the city government to immediately act on the stalled housing project to avoid further losses and the deterioration of the housing units.

FDC, meanwhile, had filed a complaint before the Ombudsman in the Visayas against Trenas for allegedly violating Presidential Decree 1759, which penalizes contractors and subcontractors who violate contracts involving public works projects of the government and public officials who allow such violations.

Well, that’s the situation as of the weekend.

Manhunt for broadcaster’s killer

Mediamen in the Western Visayas are now on the expanded manhunt for Lezo (Aklan) Mayor Alfredo Arceno, the principal accused in the killing of Bombo Radyo Aklan manager Herson "Boy" Hinolan.

Western Visayas Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Superintendent Renato Gumban said Task Force USTG has been tasked with the search for Arceno.

The CIDG is also waiting for the issuance of a hold-departure order against Arceno by the Department of Justice.

Gumban believes that Arceno has not yet left Panay. He also distributed Arceno’s to CIDG units in Western Visayas and other police stations.

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Victor Fernandez had assumed the post of mayor.

Judge Virgilio Paman of the Kalibo Regional Trial Court issued Sept. 7 the warrant for the arrest against Arceno for murder, qualified with treachery.

Regional State Prosecutor Virgilio Garcia ordered the modification of the original charge of homicide against Arceno.

Hinolan, a native of Talisay City of Negros Occidental, was gunned down at D. Magma corner Mabini streets in Kalibo on Nov. 13, 2004.

Eyewitnesses tagged Arceno as the gunman. He had, however, denied the allegation.

Arceno, incidentally, was reported to have been a former member of the Military Intelligence Group (MIG) before he ran for mayor of Lezo.

Hinolan’s killing shocked not only Aklanons but also mediamen from all over Region VI, especially as he was the Bombo Kalibo station manager.

Lagdameo vs Cha-cha

Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, over the weekend stressed his position on the proposed "mode of quick fix change" for the Charter.

"The major revision being considered clearly calls for a Constitutional convention," Lagdameo stated during a press conference held at the Archbishop’s residence in Jaro District.

The press meet was joined by Archdiocesan Social Action Center head Msgr. Meliton Oso and Pastoral Secretarial Director Roberto Amaly.

The CBCP president’s message will weigh heavily on the hearts of the Catholic faithful.

Shocker over Dumarao raid

According to initial reports, the New People’s Army raid last Aug. 22 on Barangay Captain Irene Hare’s house in Bungusan, Dumarao town in Capiz, yielded four high-powered firearms.

The Nonito Aguirre Sr. Command of Eastern Panay recently came out with a one-page press release claiming that that they carted away different high-powered firearms, including an M-14, an M-16 riffle, a baby Armalite, an M-2 carbine, a caliber.45 caliber automatic pistol, one Tec 9mm Lungen machine pistol, five homemade shotguns, four hand grenades, and two ammunitions for an M-40 grenade launcher.

Hare’s household help, Rolen Rabin, told the Dumarao police that a squad of armed men, five in military uniform, barged into the village chief’s home and later introduced themselves as NPA members. The rebels later accused Hare of using the guns to arm his Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) to threaten farmers to sell their rice to him at a low price.

The NPA note also claimed that despite the record of Hare, they merely warned him and his family and neighbors.

Well, that shows you that the insurgents can wage psychological warfare just as effectively as the AFP. That should alert the military on the increasing sophistication of the Red’s tactics.