Denying reports from a credible source on PGMA's lavished meals

Filipinos here and abroad are mourning over the death of the mother of Philippine democracy, the mother of every Filipino who we fondly called ‘Tita Cory’’.

As former President Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino passed away on August 1, many of us shed tears for her.

All nations mourn for while President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her allies were in the United States for official business.

Arroyo also offered mass in states and visit the wake of Aquino upon her landing back in the country, she again offered mass in Malacanang just to show she was extending her condolences and sadness to the bereaved family.

But 5 days after the former president was laid to rest, the country was shocked after

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her party racked up a dinner bill of close to P1 million at a ritzy New York restaurant during her recent trip to the United States, according to an online news report.

Richard Johnson wrote the brief report in the Page Six “Eat and Drink” section of the NY Post online edition.
It read: “The economic downturn hasn’t persuaded everyone to pinch pennies. Philippines President Maria Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was at Le Cirque the other night with a large entourage enjoying the good life, even though the former comptroller of her country’s armed services, Carlos Garcia, was found guilty earlier this year of perjury and two of his sons were arrested in the US on bulk cash-smuggling charges. Macapagal-Arroyo ordered several bottles of very expensive wine, pushing the dinner tab up to $20,000.”

However, a Malacanang official denied that PGMA President Arroyo and her entourage enjoyed a lavish dinner in New York City during her recent trip to the United States.
Folks in the province criticized the Arroyo government because such huge amount could already help almost 3,000 poor families across the country.

The restaurant tab, purported copies of which have since circulated on blogs, showed that the Arroyo delegation had five servings of wild golden osetra caviar ($1,400), 11 bottles of Krug champagne ($5,610), and 25 orders each of the Chef’s Seasonal Menu and Tasting Menu (totaling $1,450 and $4,500 respectively), along with 17 other items.
Who was the telling the truth now?
You can also check on www.lerque.com for more information about the said restaurant.

A tribute story for the late Pres. Aquino

A human life is a story told by God. We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey. While we are mourning the loss of our dear former Pres. Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, others are rejoicing to meet her behind the veil. Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. I am extending my deepest sympathy and condolences to the Aquino family. She who has gone, so we but cherish her memory, abides with us, more potent, nay, more present than the living man.

Students of the Digos City National High School also mourns the death of the peoples fondly called ‘Tita Cory’.

Students like Mary Ann Tampadong and Reivein Fernandez, were thankful of former president's help in education especially that DCNHS is one of the recipient of a two-story science building under her administration.

Governor Douglas Cagas, who earlier asked his constituents to offer prayers for Tita Cory to survive the colon cancer, said he felt sad upon knowing that the past president had expired at Makati Medical Center.

Cagas is one of the Aquino appointee as OIC-Governor of the province after he joined the Edsa People Power revolt in 1986.

Malita town Mayor Benjamen Bautista Jr., said their family expressed their sympathy and condolences to the Aquino family.

Bautista’s father, the late Benjamen Sr., won as assemblyman of the province during the election under Aquino’s presidency.

The Davao del Sur provincial police office put the nation’s flag in half mask after the former president died.

Senior Supt. Ronald Dela Rosa, said he is one of the first Philippine Military batch graduated during the term of Cory.

“The Filipino nation mourns the loss of its true icon of democracy," Dela Rosa said.

The military’s 39th Infantry Battalion said they were sadden on the death of Cory.

1Lt. Raul Villegas, Alpha Coy commander, said now is the time that the nation will unite for peace and to always remember the good teachings of the former head of state.


“It’s sad that a former president who had done so many great things in our country just passed away. But as christians, we’re happy for her to be with our creator in heaven,” Villegas said.


Ordinary folks in the province said although they can not see the wake of the former president due to its far location, but they could offer prayers for the eternal repose of her soul.

According to them, Aquino is the true mother of democracy.

Religious sectors and Roman Catholic churches also celebrated mass and prayers in the entire province of Davao del Sur.

Is PGMA serious in not extending her term?

Is PGMA serious in not extending her term?

These are only one of the questions raised from the minds of Davao del Sur folks after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, delivered her ‘State of the Nation Address’ (SONA) in the joint session of Congress and Senate on July 27.

Arroyo in her speech throws challenging words to all her critics especially those who cast stones on her.

“To those who want to be president, this advice: If you really want something done, just do it, do it hard, do it well, don’t pussy-foot, and don’t say bad words in public,” she said.

“I never declared martial law, I will defend democracy. I never expressed the desire to extend myself beyond my term,” this line of the President now becomes the talk of the town, as many people are not convinced that an election will be held next year.

Some of the people here, like Belen Mancera, a rice trader, said she did not felt that the economic growth was established in the country.

She said rice becomes an unaffordable even if the government had supplied more rice sacks through the National Food Authority.

Telma Amor is also commenting PGMA’s word “We created 8 million jobs” because according to her, she was now tired of hunting jobs from everywhere.

“I think only those who were back-up by prominent people were hired and find a stable job,” Amor said.

Some politicians in the province admitted they missed the SONA, while they were too busy in attending the needs of their local constituents.

Governor Douglas Cagas explained he missed the SONA due to his visit in Barangay Kasuga, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur.

“I missed SONA because I am with the people there,” he said adding that he was convinced the President will extend position beyond her term.

Even the town mayor and vice mayor Jess Lumanog and Arthur Davin of Magsaysay town, said they did not heard what PGMA’s message, like Cagas they were also attending another business.

But In Digos City, Vice Mayor Joseph Peńas, said he was not satisfied with what Arroyo has saying.

"Lahat promises (all is promises. No new things na nabago, I felt Filipinos in general is not satisfied," Peńas said.

Like other officials Malita Mayor Benjamen Bautista and Bansalan Mayor Edwin Reyes also admitted they have not seen the last SONA of the President for different reasons but they did not elaborate.

Majority of the folks in the province said they really believed all the contents in PGMA’s report to the nation if the 2010 election comes.

Metro Shuttle Bus face raps from bombing victim

It was one year ago when one unit of the Davao Metro Shuttle Bus was ripped through a bomb on July 24, and during the day a case against bus firm management was filed by Abellero family, one of its victim, Friday.

Sarah Fe Abellero has died in the incident and 34 others were founded during the incident.

Atty. Johari Bańa, family’s lawyer, Saturday said they have filed cases of civil case due to breach of contract of carriage because the bus management failed to deliver their passengers safely to their destination.

Bańa said the family also asked an amount of P650,000.00 as civil damages.

Aside from the said case the bus firm management is questionable for another case of loss of earning capacity which accounts the possible wage income of Sarah Fe in her job as computer science student.

“We have sent letter to the bus management earlier but in their response they denied that they have responsibility. As a bus carrier they have big responsibility to bring their passengers into destinations safe and sound,” he said.

But the Abellero expressed dismayed after police authorities failed to arrest the suspects.

The Al-Khobar extortion group was pinpointed responsible in the series of bombings here in Mindanao.

Cor Jesu College the school of Sarah Fe also urged authorities to arrest the suspects.

Chief Inspector Anthony Padua, city police director, said warrant of arrest was already issued by the court against Salahuddin Hassan and other five suspects.

Police also launched bomb drill activities in the city’s terminal to test the capacity of policemen in responding bombing incidents, Padua said.

Big politicians duel for 2010 election?

The Election spirit is really felt now, particularly in Bansalan town in Davao del Sur.

Tensions happened after two big politicians in Bansalan, Davao del Sur nearly had lasted into a fistfight after Municipal Mayor Edwin Reyes led the forcible operation of the business bureau to padlock one of the the rice mill owned by Vice Mayor Peter Melchor Arches on Thurday.

I heard Reyes and Arches exchanging heated altercations after the vice mayor resisted to sign the notice of the closure order.

Reyes said one of Arches rice mill was constructed even if did not complied business permit and was built in purely agricultural land which was a violation in the town’s zoning ordinance.

“During the time he was the municipal mayor, he was the one who signed his business license and even constructed the building without completion of documents,” Reyes said.

But Arches said he was already processing papers although he was a little bit delayed because he really believed that Reyes was behind in some of the delaying tactics.

But Reyes said for several times he had already sent notice to the vice mayor regarding the closure of his rice mill if he fails to secure the necessary requirements.

Arches said he believed that it was politically motivated because he was running back for mayor in 2010 against Reyes.

“There were many other rice mill there who also lack of compliance but he only chosen me in fact the other issues were the industrial building created in the residential area,” Arches said.

Reyes remained he was neutral and not in political motivation as he was only implementing the basic right of law.

“People here could testify that even small businessmen we have forced them to transact legal transaction to the local government,” he said.

Arches who earlier got angry to local media after the coverage of the closure order, said he will sue the mayor and company for the shortcut method of foreclosing the gate of his building.


But Reyes said the vice mayor was already charge before the office of the Ombudsman Mindanao for abuse of its authority during his incumbency.

Arches also questioned the presence of the police officers who went together with the local government’s team.

Senior Insp. Nasruddin Tayuan, chief of town police, explained they were just implementing and to secure the peace and order.

Arches blamed Reyes for the sudden lost of job of more than 200 employees in his rice mill.

He angrily called the mayor as greed in power and warned that he will really fight Reyes in the upcoming election.

The two officials who were both in hypertension nearly in had a duel after Arches tried to get the chain to be use in closing the gate of the rice mill and will go to the mayor’s team.

But the two camps were pacified by their own supporters.

Folks here expected a more heated election campaign next year after business properties of politicians wer already touched by the present administration.

Folks fear after military arrived in town's banana plantation

Residents near the banana plantation expressed their fear after the military vehicles and its forces arrived in Poblacion area, since Friday.

Police Inspector Elmer Cabuslay, chief of town police, said residents, some residents complained about checkpoints conducted by the 39th Infantry Battalion although he said the situation is normal and no untoward incidents.


Cabuslay said the military arrived after the personnel from the Department of Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board (DARAB) together with Sheriff Aberni Buenaventura to implement the turn-over of lands to farmer beneficiaries of the banana plantation.


Lt. Col. Lyndon Panisa, 39th IB commanding officer, explained it is normal for civilian residents to react upon seeing men in camouflage uniforms thinking that a war might happen.

Panisa, in telephone interview said, they are only escorting some DAR personalities.



“Accordingly the DAR would serve the writ of execution to 133 farmers in the 399n area and 136 farmers for the 317 area” he said.

“We are here to maintained the peace and order so that no violent reactions would happen” Panisa added.

Base in the record, a long been land dispute ensued between the Davao del Sur Farmers Association (Dasurfa) and the Alberto M.Soriano (AMS) Malalag Banana Plantation, after they both claimed of their rights in the said place.

The two groups of farmers both claimed thier right in which violence had erupted inside the banana plantation in the past.

Last year, a shooting incident occurred after it was being claimed by a group of farmers leaving one person dead and two others injured when the two security agencies have encountered.

Dasurfa has staked a claim over the 317 hectares occupied by the banana company in November 2006.


Police and military said they will secure the area and that the same situation would not happen again.

Elementary kids experienced partial solar eclipse in Mindanao

The school children in Bansalan Central Elementary School went out from their classroom while falling in line to see the partial solar eclipse around 10a.m., Wednesday.

But students like Junefrey Dominguez took time to wait for his turn to look due to only one film they can used to see the solar eclipse.

“I could see that the sun tip was covered with black,” the 9 year old Dominguez said.

Joshua De Manuel, said the sun turns into orange red but he could not explained what he seen.


Flor Anne Cosare, BCES Principal, said they allowed their children particularly in Grade 3 to 6, as part of their science lesson.


The school population is 1, 638 but only selected Grade levels were allowed to see as part of their actual lessons.

Cosare said it was a rare opportunity of their students because solar eclipse might happen again in the following years.

“Actually it is their chance to see the real eclipse because they can only read it in the book before” Cosare said.

Cosare advised teachers to tell their children not to look directly to the sun if there was no eye protection being use.

The story of the two old men

I was travelling from Kidapawan City, through commuting a passenger bus, Saturday.


The weather is quiet cold due to scattered rain showers in some parts of Mindanao, In fact this is how I love most while traveling through an air-conditioned bus, because you can sleep until you reach your destination.

But instead of sleeping, the conversation of the two older men setting at my back caught my attention.

They’re talking about the body pain they felt right now.

The first old man said I could still remember when I was at my youth age, after playing basketball I went directly to refresh myself with water.

“In fact, my parents told me not to do it but I did not listen, so this is now the time that I could say there advises becomes right” he said in vernacular.

The second old man also answered that many of the youth now would not believed what does older men say.

He said that during one’s young age, no one could feel their situation now.

Until, I remember myself that sometimes I’ve been doing or even always taking a bath, even if I’m lack of sleep or even to refresh myself after reaching home from travel.

When I reach home I explore on the net and look on how ‘arthritis’ affect our bones.

Checkpoints resulted to apprehend drug traders

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency conducted simultaneous raid here and the town of Bansalan, Davao del Sur, late Monday.

The raid resulted to apprehension of three suspected drug dealers which allegedly sold dried cannabis sativa and methamphetamine hydrochloride or known as marijuana and marijuana and shabu.

Senior Supt. Ronald Dela Rosa, Tuesday said the raiding policemen apprehended one Oscar Mercado, 48, a resident of Lapu-lapu Street, Digos City.


Dela Rosa said confiscated from the suspect’s position were two sachet of believed to be shabu with an estimated value of P21,000.00 and its paraphernalia.

The suspect during police tactical interrogation revealed that a military officer which identity he never disclosed, said to be their shabu supplier .

Around 9:30p.m. on the same day, two suspected marijuana dealers were also nabbed by authorities in Barangay (village) Kinuskusan, in Bansalan town.

Senior Insp. Nasruddin Tayuan, said they were able to apprehend one Reynaldo Borres, 35, and a resident of Island Garden City of Samal and Archie Bangot, 23, both married and a resident of Tibungco, Davao City.


Tayuan said seized from the suspects position were more or less two kilos of dried marijuana leaves, placed inside a blue bag.

In an interview with suspects disclosed that the marijuana had come from a source in Kidapawan City.

Police said they apprehended the suspects while conducting checkpoints in the boundaries of the provinces of North Cotabato and Davao del Sur, after tighten security measures was launched due to continued bombing threats in the island of Mindanao.

Folks again feared for A H1N1 in Davao del Sur

City Health Officials in Digos, Davao del Sur, again warned the public to take extra measures in dealing with visitors from across the country.

This was after an 8 year-old boy, Grade 3 student of Don Mariano Marcos Elementary, was found positive with A H1N1 flu.

But it was learned that it was not only the boy, found with the virus but his aunt who was leaving with them also said to be positive.

Dr. Ronald Jumilla, City Health Officer here, said that two victims were not sent to Davao Medical Center and still undergoing quarantine treatment.

Jumilla urged all those who have earlier contacts with the victims to submit their selves to the health authorities.

The CHO said that the victims did not went abroad but it was only their family friend who came back from Japan, was believed to have carried the virus..

Never ending questions, repeated incident of battle against our brothers

I could still remember when a saw a soldier official talking to a rebel returnee in Davao del Sur last month.

Soldiers and the rebels New Peoples Army can only have a chance to know each other if once a rebel returned back to the government side.

On Sunday, Upon I wake up late in the morning, a bad news heard over the radio stated ‘Sundalo Patay, 3 ka NPA samaran human nagka-enkwentro”, (A soldier was killed and three others were hurt in an ambush by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Banaybanay town, Davao Oriental late Saturday afternoon, police and military officials said.).


Private First Class Glen Calva died to gunshot wounds after the vehicle he was riding in was fired at by communist guerrillas at the vicinity of Puntalinao village past 4 p.m., according to Major Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman of the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command based in Davao City.


That was the details of the news headliner..

Last week, 2 soldiers also hurt when they met Sparrow Armed Rebels Guerilla Unit in Matanao, Davao del Sur, while undetermined numbers from the rebels were also injured, based from the bloodstains found along the encounter site, military said.

Until when these war in our homeland becomes over?

How many lives of our fellowmen in the Philippines would die?

The government vows to end insurgency problems in 2010?

Is this the way we could ‘Heal the World’?

This is only few questions that our Lord, wants us to answer…

Who among them is telling the truth

As I have read on the banner display of the Philippine National Police, they stand to serve the people with honor and justice…


But I can still imagine until now, how come that former police provincial director in Davao del Sur, was now accused by the 6 women including policewomen, whom said to have rape and sexually molested them since 2006.

I am talking about the Senior Supt. Cesario Abrera Darantinao, Jr., who maintained the peace and order situation in the province for a year and three months.



In fact, being a police tabloid correspondent, he known to me being a good friend to all media practitioners and even to some of the men and women in uniform.

He looks so innocent of the allegations, but the six victims revealed different stories of sexual abuse made by the latter.

The story based on affidavit-complaints narrated different incidents of molesting each of them.

Darantinao, who was replaced last week, begged off from further commenting.
He said he has already consulted a lawyer to study the complaints filed by the six women.
Darantinao, who is now reporting to the Southern Mindanao police office’s holding unit in Davao City, told me that he took a leave of absence.

In her complaint, a 30-year-old policewoman said she was molested by Darantinao in his office on April 26, 2008.
The policewoman said that while inside the office, Darantinao forced her to drink beer even if she was on duty.
“Since he was my superior ... I just went along,” she said.
She said while they were sitting, Darantinao made the advances.
“He placed his left hand on my lap and ... slowly and maliciously touched my hand and inserted his fingers in between my fingers, pressing, mashing, and squeezing it constantly,” she said.
The policewoman said she tried to subtly remove her hands.
Then Darantinao asked her to get a glass of water. When she returned, Darantinao allegedly made the advances again and asked her to sleep with him.
“He dragged his chair near me and embraced me and urged me to sleep with him in his room,” she said.
After a few weeks, the policewoman said Darantinao again summoned her to his quarters.
While there, she said Darantinao gave her P500 supposedly to buy milk for her child.
“I rejected it... I was so aggrieved and so unhappy,” she said.
Another complainant, also a 30-year-old policewoman, said in October 2008, Darantinao asked her to go out with him.
She said she tried to politely decline the offer by saying she could not go because she was in uniform.
But Darantinao, she said, was insistent and offered his wife’s clothes.
“With due respect to him as my highest officer, I removed my uniform and retained the white plain inner shirt,” the complainant said.
“But he offered me the short pants of his wife and instructed me to change clothes at the comfort room inside his bedroom,” she said.
The victim said while changing clothes, Darantinao came in and suddenly pulled down the short pants she was wearing, revealing her underwear.
“I tried to stop him but he hugged me tight, with his face on my neck ... I covered my upper private parts with my hands ... he asked me if I knew how to give a massage,” she said.
Another victim, the 35-year-old-wife of a policeman, said in June 2008 she went to see Darantinao to ask him about the possibility of her husband’s transfer.
The woman said Darantinao also molested her inside his office and threatened to have her husband relieved if she refused the advances.
“I went home crying,” she said.
Another complainant said she was applying to become a policewoman in October 2008 when Darantinao also molested her.
Darantinao said he was puzzled by the delay in the filing of the complaints since the cases happened in 2008.
In their affidavits, however, the women said they were afraid to come out in the open because Darantinao was the most powerful police officer of the province at that time.
They said they only gathered the courage when Darantinao was finally removed from his post...

Guihing bridge expected to end again in August

Residents of Guihing, Hagonoy, Davao del Sur, used small banca to cross the other side of the river even if bad weather condition affects the province.

This was due to the delayed construction the Guihing bridge that links to the town of Padada town and going to other places of Central Mindanao.

Folks who used banca in reaching the other side of the river, said they felt nervous when strong current of waters hit their banca after they remembered the flash flood last year, leaving 4 people dead and 15 survivors.


The Department of Public Works and Highways for the third time again promise to complete the repair and construction of the bridge comes July 29.

After the re-construction of the DPWH on the bridge, it took commuters to spend almost half an hour to reach the next town by riding a vehicle.

But it was believed to be impossible for the DPWH to end the project again this month since they've just finished the establishing of the first span of the bridge.

Vessel lay-ups alarmed police in Malalag Port

The 1104th Provincial Mobile Group has conducted daily sea-borne patrol along coastal areas of Davao del Sur, to ensure that cargo vessels placed on lay-ups at the seaport here remain safe.

Since January, a total of 31 vessels in which 29 of them was owned by a large shipping companies who requested anonymity for security reasons.

The idle cargo vessels were docked, due to a slump in the demand for cargo during the current recession.


Supt. Alberto Lupaz, 1104th Group Director, Wednesday told the Inquirer, said he wanted to personally check on the status of the vessels as more people were being drawn into the port to see the enormous size of the ships, while the vessels are not exempted to terror threats in Mindanao Island.

Lupaz said they are expecting more lay-ups at the port in the coming days, as the global financial crisis worsens.



He said considering the port is an open-sea they would like to do the sea-borne patrol 24/7 to ensure the safety of the vessels.

Police here no individuals could climb on the ship except for the company detailed security guard who was aboard inside.

Senior Supt. Ronald Dela Rosa, OIC- provincial police director, said they considered the province as the second class for terror attacks considering it was the center and dropping point of people coming from South and Central Mindanao.

Dela Rosa also asked the chief of police to dedicate their service not only they were being paid by the government but to consider they were also protecting the lives of their relatives.



“We must always consider that we are not only protecting public lives, but what if our own families or a relative is the next bombing victims,” he said.




He ordered not only public buses and jeepneys should be check but to include all government and public vehicles passing along the entrance and exit points of the province.

Davao del Sur strengthen alert level

Police authorities in Davao del Sur strengthen security measures as the terror threats continued to rise in Mindanao Island.

On Wednesday, after Supt. Narciso Bayogo, who holds the post as officer –in-charge of the provincial command, he was again replaced by Senior Supt. Ronald Dela Rosa, who assumed as the OIC-provincial director, after he was relieved from Compostela Valley province.

Authorities here need a senior officer who could man the entire police force in the province, his colleagues said.

Dela Rosa immediately called a command conference to discuss the peace and order situation in the province with the chief of towns’ police.




In Digos City, City Police Director Chief Insp. Anthony Padua, said they tighten the security measures along churches and public terminals.


Padua said the city has been included in the threats after three explosions rocked the city since 2006.




A bomb ripped through a Weena Bus shortly after passengers from Cotabato City disembarked on March 30 2006, wounding at least 17 people.

Last year, two series bombings also hit the Davao Metro Shuttle Bus.



The first incident will commemorates its one-year anniversary comes July 24, leaving at least 27 people wounded when a bomb exploded inside a Davao bound Metro Shuttle from the of Bansalan.

It was repeated on September 1, when another Cruiser Bus owned by the Davao Metro Shuttle Bus had just arrived at the overland terminal, from Malita town.

The incident killed six people and wounded 30 others, although charges have been filed in court but no one of them was arrested.

In Bansalan town, the nearest place from Cotabato province, authorities implemented mobile checkpoints and foot patrol along bus terminal.

Senior Insp. Nasruddin Tayuan, chief of police, said they will ensure the safety of passengers riding to different buses.




At least 8 people were killed and 17 others were wounded when a bomb also ripped through a Weena Bus, shortly after leaving overland the terminal.

Police again reminding all bus firm management to strictly implement the checking of passengers carrying baggage’s before entering the bus.

Dela Rosa also asked the cooperation of the public to monitor presence of suspected lawless elements and extra ordinary packages along their way.