‘Definitely no shootout’

No less than Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has concluded that “definitely, no shootout.”

De Lima and her NBI team went to the site of the incident with two witnesses who said that there was no checkpoint, but an army truck was used to block the road.

Meanwhile, Chief Superintendent James Melad, relieved Region IV-A Police Director insisted that Coplan Armado had the approval of the Presidential Anti Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC). He said what was disapproved was the funding request of P900,000, not the project itself. The documents should show this. Superintendent Hansel Marantan claims he recovered P100,000.

There is also something wrong with the participation of 25 Special Forces soldiers in the incident.

The two eyewitnesses gave testimony that 2 persons who got out of the car and with their arms raised in a gesture of surrender were shot dead at close range.

There is truly a black mark on both the PNP and AFP, more top officers have to be charged.

The families of the 13 victims must be compensated by the government.

LACSON JOINS THE FRAY. . . Senator Panfilo Lacson joined the Enrile-Miriam word war and called Miriam a “crusading crook” who has placed her household help in the Senate payroll.

Lacson also called her a hypocrite par excellence.

Miriam earlier called Lacson a fugitive from justice, the reason Lacson fired back at her.

A truce has been called as doctors confirmed that Miriam had sufffered a mild stroke and advised her to rest and cancel all media interviews.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said there are no 13 senators wanting to oust Enrile. With only 9 session days left and so much work to be done, senators are not in any mood to change the Senate leadership which would result in no bills being passed.

In another development, Senate President Enrile recalled all Senate employees detailed to the offices of Santiago, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes.

AQUINO APPEALS FOR LP BETS. . . President Aquino opened the LP campaign for his senatorial slate at a rally in Mandaue, Cebu.

He called for support for his candidates as they would ensure the continuation of his program of reforms.

Presenting his senatorial candidates he said “I personally chose and trusted them. I am the one telling you now that we need them so we can continue to push for the development of our country.”

While the President was campaigning for the LP slate in Cebu, Senate President Enrile led 7 UNA bets – Mitos Magsaysay, Nancy Binay, Tingting Cojuangco, Jack Enrile, J.V. Ejercito, Migz Zubiri and your columnist in visits to 4 provinces – Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya in meetings attended by big crowds over 3 days.

In Cagayan, they were welcomed by Gov. Alvaro Antonio and Cong. Jack Enrile, in Isabela by Gov. Bojie Dy, Cong. Pol Dy and Vice Gov. Rodito Albano, in Qurino by Gov. Junie Cua and Vice Gov. May Calaunan and in Nueva Vizcaya by Gov. Luisa Cuaresma, Vice Gov. Jose Gambito Jr. and about 300 officials who were inducted into UNA by Senate President Enrile.

In his speeches, Enrile stressed the fact that the 2013 elections is a prelude to the 2016 presidential elections when Vice President Jojo Binay who comes from Isabela would be running.

Contrary to President Aquino’s claim in Cebu, UNA candidates are way ahead in the Cagayan Valley.

POOR HIGHER. . . The latest SWS survey showed that 54% of Filipinos rate themselves as poor, up from 47% in the last quarter of 2012.

Despite this result, Usec Abigail Valte insists that the CCT program is working and is reducing hunger.

With 3 million out of jobs and 8.5 million underemployed, certainly poverty is rising. Valte again insists that there are 100,000 vacancies in the DOLE website.

The other aspect of this jobless growth is the lack of jobs in the agriculture sector aggravated by several typhoons and floods.

POLITICAL UPDATE. . . Vice Gov. Rodito Albano has no strong opponent in his bid to go back to Congress in the 1st district of Isabela. His father, Rep. Rodolfo Albano is running for Mayor of Cabagan. Rep. Pol Dy is being challenged again by ex Rep. Monching Reyes in the 3rd district. Rep. Cristina Go is facing ex Vice Gov. Edwin Uy in the 2nd district. Rep. Gigi Aggabao is being challenged by Antony Miranda in the 4th district.

Gov. Luisa Cuaresma of Nueva Vizcaya will battle Rep. Carling Padilla for the Congressional seat. Vice Gov. Jose Gambito is running for Governor against Ruth Padilla.

T I D B I T S. . . Mayor Gani Pascual of Guiguinto has systematized his procedures. It takes only 7 minutes to get a business permit. There are now 120 warehouses located in Guiguinto.

Retired policeman Romeo Manuel has been inducted as president of the Holy Name Society of the Most Holy Trinity Parish in Balic-Balic.

Andrew Tan’s Alliance Global, Inc. (AGI) is building 5,000 hotel rooms and will create 100,000 tourism and service oriented jobs.

New AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista is talking in the same vein as all his predecessors. He says he will make armed struggle irrelevant. Well, deal with the NPA first.

Eduardo Banzon has resigned as chief executive officer of PhilHealth.

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Greetings to Gov. Bojie Dy; Rep. Pol Dy; Mayor Christopher Mamauag of Cabagan; Mayor Venus Bautista of Tumauini; Mayor Ben Dy and Vice Mayor Bartolome Mallillin of Cauayan; Mayor Amy Navarro and Dr. MM Navarro of Santiago; Gov. Junie Cua and Vice Gov. May Calaunan of Quirino; Gov. Luisa Cuaresma and Vice Gov. Jose Gambito of Nueva Vizcaya.

Also to Mayors Avelino Agustin of Cabarroguis; Marlo Guillermo of Diffun; Gerry Agsanda of Aglipay; Renato Ylanan of Maddela; Dinisio Vicmodo of Saguday and Nieverosa Meneses of Nagtipanan all of Quirino province. Also to Lloni Bosano and Cecile Guidote-Alvarez.

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Happy Birthday greetings to Peter Roxas.