OK Nueva Camarines

The family feud between Camarines Sur Governor Lray Villafuerte and his father, Congressman Luis Villafuerte Sr. (NPC, Cam. Sur, 3rd dist.) has worsened with Cong. Louie Villafuerte co-sponsoring H.B. No. 4820 with Deputy Speaker Noli Fuentebella, Cong. Dato Arroyo and Cong. Rolando Andaya Jr. to divide Camarines Sur into two provinces.

The father, Louie, tried to reconcile with his son and agreed to visit him, but when Louie arrived at Lray’s house, he shouted at him to “get out of my house”.

Meanwhile, former Provincial Board Member Carlo Batalla has filed with the Ombudsman a case of Malversation of Public Funds against Governor Villafuerte for allegedly buying P20 million worth of fuel from a Petron station but which was not delivered.

COA has also questioned 11 expenses of the Provincial Government. Questions are being asked where the $3 million paid by “Survivor” TV series went. Caramoan town officials complain that they have not received a single cent of that payment.

It maybe the right time to create the new province of Nueva Camarines for better governance. Deputy Speaker Noli Fuentebella said the two Camarines provinces will retain their 1st class classification.

PLUNDER AT CUSTOMS. . . Port of Batangas Collector Juan Tan has been replaced for blowing the whistle by reporting that 600 containers transhipped from the Port of Manila never reached Batangas. Why? For doing his job, including reporting that Filipinas Shell misdeclared its shipments and avoided P1.6 billion in Custom taxes.

Commissioner Alvarez now claims that 2,000 not 600 containers are missing. That’s a huge number and could cost up to P5 billion in lost revenues, certainly plunder.

Port of Manila Collector Rogel Gatchalian claims he has signed receipts for the containers delivered. But Collector Juan Tan said his signatures were faked. And all the consignees were fake too. The fact is 600 or now 2,000 are missing since both Tan and Gatchalian claim they don’t have them.

Collector Gatchalian should have been relieved too, but Commissioner Alvarez instead vented his ire on Collector Juan Tan for doing his job. 2,000 missing containers? This conclusively proves that corruption at BOC under President Aquino has gone from bad to worse. Yes, there are cheaters at the BOC from top to bottom.

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CRIME RIDDEN QC. . . The driver of Maria Maxima Garin whose Mitsubishi Montero was carnapped in front of a Montessori school in Loyola Heights complains that a police officer asked him to pay P50,000 to get the car back. Unbelievable!

Abelardo Mamangon, 52, operations manager of Steel Hawk Security Agency, was shot dead, again by two motorcycle riding gunmen wearing black bonnets at Commonwealth Avenue, QC.

Taxi driver Andres Mendoza was shot dead while eating at a restaurant in Aurora Blvd., Cubao.

In nearby Rodriguez town, retired SPO2 Jovito Adriano was shot dead by two motorcycle riding gunmen. In Pasay City, another cab driver, Eugenio Lazorata Jr. was robbed and killed along Macapagal Blvd. The body of a woman inside a sack was found floating in Manila Bay in Parañaque. Regina Fernandez, a hotel receptionist from Cebu was stabbed to death and burned in a motel in Pasay City.

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GOOD CAUSE. . . The fund raising being concluded by Atty. Romy Makalintal and former Mayor Lito Atienza to buy cars for the seven bishops who returned their vehicles to PCSO has reached about P1.52 million with the latest donors being Brother Mike Velarde, Senator Bong Revilla and Willie Revillame.

It’s a good cause. Donate a few pesos. You may call Atty. Romy Makalintal at 0918-9107454 or Mayor Atienza at 0917-7933393 for pick up of your donations.

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DANAO ADVENTURE. . . The town of Danao, Bohol used to be the poorest in Bohol. From 6th class, the once sleepy town is well on the way to becoming a 3rd class municipality, thanks to young Mayor Tom Gonzaga. Mayor Gonzaga applied for a grant/loan from the World Bank program titled Community Based Resource Management to put up Danao Adventure as a new tourist attraction. It features a 1.5 kilometer Zipline cable ride, the longest in Asia above mountains and gorges 180 meters deep. The World Bank, thru the Department of Finance approved a P15 million 60 percent grant/30 percent loan to finance Danao Adventure Park with the town of Danao contributing only P1.5 million equity. Lo and behold, the zipline ride became an instant hit so much so that in one year’s time, it grossed P32 million thus, recovering the initial investment. Next to the Chocolate Hills, it is now Bohol’s 2nd most popular tourist attraction.

Congratulations Mayor Tom Gonzaga and the community leaders of Danao, Bohol. You have set an excellent example of how a Mayor can improve his town with so little resources.

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TIDBITS. . . Namfrel and former Comelec Commissioner Luz Tancangco have evidence to substantiate the Bedol claim of cheating on the 2004 Presidential Elections. Three other Comelec officials also submitted affidavits confirming the cheating.

What happened to the P80 million spent for the Truth Commission? Has it been spent despite the SC decision rejecting the Executive Order creating it?

Pagcor filed a 4th graft case against Chairman Ephraim Genuino, his sons Anthony and Erwin and Vice President Dodie King for the diversion of P3 million in cash and rice to the election campaign of Anthony and Erwin.

Perfect attendance in the Senate were recorded by Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Vicente “Tito” Sotto, Migz Zubiri and Serge Osmeña III.

PGA Cars headed by chairman Robert Coyiuto Jr. has been appointed sole distributor of Lamborghini cars.

Greetings to our avid readers Rep. Sonny Angara of Aurora, Rep. Emil Ong of Northern Samar, Vice Gov. Rodito Albano of Isabela, Kasangga Party list Rep. Ted Haresco and Fr. Mars Andres, OMI.