VOLUME 2NUMBER 246WEDNESDAYMARCH 25, 2009

P 8.P 8.P 8.P 8.P 8.0000000000

BY DING CERVANTES

SASMUAN, Pampanga – PresidentGloria Macapagal-Arroyo willresign as president 60 days beforethe 2010 elections and appointVice Pres. Noli de Castro as actingpresident.

‘GMA for congresswoman’ Political allies in Pampanga say she could land as prime minister

BY DINO BALABO

QUEZON CITY – New York-based Com-mittee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)slammed the Arroyo administration’sfailure to solve killings of journalists say-

ON UNSOLVED JOURNALISTS’ KILLINGS

PAGE 6 PLEASE

CPJ calls for reforms in provincial judiciarying the country ranks first among peacetime democracies with highest impunityrating at 90 percent.

Shawn Crispin, the Southeast AsiaCoordinator of the CPJ said there is aneed to reform the judiciary in the prov-

inces, creation of special courts to ad-dress the killing of journalists and estab-lishment of a quick response team amongmedia groups that will document attackson journalists.

Based on CPJ’s Global Impunity In-

dex for 2009, the Philippines rank sixthamong 14 countries with the highestnumber of unsolved journalists’ murderwith 24 unsolved killings from 1999 to2008.

PAGE 6 PLEASE

BY JOEY PAVIA

MANILA – Recall petitioners inPampanga and two other areas inthe country yesterday staged arally at the Commission on Elec-tions (Comelec) office here de-

Impeach Melo – Kambilan 2 other groups rally at Comelec; exec denies sitting on recall vs. Panlilio

manding the poll body’s immediateaction on their respective petition,including that of Gov. Eddie Panlil-io.

The Kapanalig at Kambilan NingMemalen Pampanga (Kambilan),recall petitioners in Cabuyao, Lagu-

na and Mauban, Quezon protest-ed what they described as “deathof their constitutional rights” at thehands of Comelec Chairman JoseMelo. They carried placards bear-ing “Impeach Melo” and “gawin mo

She will then run forcongresswoman in thesecond district of Pampan-ga. This, in time for ananticipated shift to a par-liamentary system of gov-ernment where she couldland as prime minister.

In an interview yester-day with Punto, Pampan-

ga’s first district Rep. Car-melo Lazatin said thisscenario of events is cir-culating among some pro-administration membersof congress.

“I think she will,” Laza-tin replied when askedwhether he thought the

BY TONETTE T. OREJAS

MINALIN, Pampanga –Catholic priest and Gover-nor Eddie Panlilio isn’t yetgiving in to clamors for himto run as president in 2010even as Manila Archbish-op Gaudencio CardinalRosales saw no religiousissue on the matter of apriest in politics.

Instead, Panlilio saidhe prefers to be playing thepart of convenor now. He PAGE 6 PLEASE

PAGE 6 PLEASE

Panlilio not yetfixed on prexy bid

and several civic and reli-gious leaders are initiatingprimaries to select the re-form candidates for nation-al positions in the 2010elections.

Among those involvedin the preparations are law-yer Alex Lacson and Fr.Melo Diola, he said.

“We’re doing the out-line for a step-by-step pro-cess on how to go aboutthe so-called primaries.

Recall petitioners vent their ire on Melo. PHOTO BY JOEY PAVIA

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NI ERNIE B. ESCONDE

DINALUPIHAN, Bataan –Tinangka ngunit nabigong ipatigilnoong Linggo ang grand open-ing ng isa sa dalawang sabun-gan dito matapos igiit ng may-ari na tanging utos lamang nghukuman ang kanilang susun-din.

Nagsimula ang pagpaparis-paris ng mga maglalabangmanok at matapos ang panan-ghalian ay nagsimula ang aktu-al na sabong sa sigaw na pus-tahan ng mga mananabong.

Ilang residente ng Sta. Isa-bel sa pangunguna ng kanilangbarangay chairman na si Fernan-do Paule ang nagsagawa ng ral-ly sa bukana papasok ng NewDinalupihan Cockpit Arena bi-lang pagtutol sa nasabingsabungan.

“Ang Sta. Isabel ay tahimikna lugar, ayaw namin ng magu-lo”, “No cockpit arena in Sta. Is-abel”, sabi ng maliliit na placard.

Ayon kay Ariel Lingad, baran-gay treasurer ng Sta. Isabel,natatakot silang maulit ang gi-nawang raid sa sabungan ngpulisya noong isang taon kungsaan nadamay ang ilan nilangka-barangay.

“Ayaw namin ng sabong,maingay, magulo at ayaw nam-ing pati mga bata ay baka mat-ututong magnakaw,” sabi ng il-ang matatandang babae. Angpastoral council sa lugar ay ayawdin diumano sa sabungan dahilmalapit ito sa kanilang kapilyaat kung nagmimisa ay naririnigang sigawan.

Ipinaliwanag naman ni Den-nis Soriano, may-ari ng New Di-nalupihan Cockpit Arena, na le-gal ang kanilang operasyonbatay sa utos ng hukuman nadiumano’y nag-utos sa mayor ng

Grand opening ng sabungansa Bataan nabigong ipatigil

Dinalupihan na pagkalooban silang mayor’s at business permit.

“Tuloy ang sabong at pwedenila kaming ipasara basta maycourt order pero kung verbal la-mang hindi kami hihinto,” sagotni Soriano sa tanong na kungitutuloy nila ang grand opening.

Sinabi pa nito na sila angkauna-unahang nagkaroon ngprangkisa upang mag-operateng sabungan sa bayang ito.

Dumating ang ilang empley-ado ng licensing division ng Di-nalupihan treausrer’s office kasa-ma ang ilang kasapi ng pulisyasa pamumuno ni Chief Insp.Dario Menor, Dinalupihan police

chief.“Walang business at may-

or’s permit ang sabungan kayautos sa amin ng aming treasur-er na ilagay ang paskel na tem-porary closure order,” sabi niDominador Salang, license in-spector.

“Opening of the DinalupihanCockpit Arena is illegal,” sabi ngisang bahagi ng sulat ni Munic-ipal Treasurer Lani Penaflor.

Sinabi ni Rommel Espinola,may-ari ng isa pang sabungan,ang Dinalupihan Coliseum saSan Ramon, na ipakita lamangni Soriano na meron itong may-or’s at business permit, OK na

sa kanya. “Kami sumunod sabatas at kumuha ng lahat ngrequirements at sana ganoondin ang gawin nila,” ani Espino-la.

May kaso diumano sa De-partment of Agrarian Reform naillegal land conversion ang NewDinalupihan Cockpit Arena kayahindi mabigyan ng mayor’s per-mit.

“Mag-submit lamang sila ngmga kailangang dokumento atagad ko silang bibigyan ng per-mit to operate subalit sa ngay-on ay illegal ang kanilang opera-syon,” sabi ni Dinalupihan May-or Joel Payumo.

BY JOHNNY R. REBLANDO

SAN NARCISO, Zambales – Afather and his youngest son waskilled while her wife is in criticalcondition in a hospital after eat-ing a poisonous Blow Fish orpopularly known as butete, Sun-day evening, police said.

Sr. Supt. Rolando Felix, Zam-

Father and son die after eating butetebales Police Provincial Office(ZPPO) director, identified thevictims as Jimmy Santos, Sr.,55 and his eight year old sonJimmy, Jr., both residents ofPurok 1-A, Barangay La Paz ofthis town.

Santos wife, Arceña, 49, isstill in critical condition at theSan Marcelino District Hospital.

Inspector Danilo Dollente,OIC-chief of San Narciso PoliceStation, said that the Santos fam-ily felt dizzy after eating butetearound 10:00 p.m.

Santos Sr. was rush to thehospital but was declareddead on arrival while his sonJr. was found dead inside theirhouse.

“Mangingisda ang hanap-buhay ng biktima at ayon doonsa aming imbestigasyon, na-kaugaliaan na nilang kumainng butete at may palagaykami maaring hindi lahat na-tanggal yung nakakalasongbahagi ng butete nang ito aykanilang makain”, said Dol-lente.

CLARK FREEPORT –Officials of the Clark In-ternational Airport Corpo-ration (CIAC) yesterdayexpressed high hopesthat the P3-billion Termi-nal 2 project of the Dios-dado Macapagal Interna-tional Airport (DMIA)would be finished beforethe end of 2010.

“We will have the newterminal at the airport be-fore the end of 2010,”CIAC Vice-President forAdministration and Fi-nance and Joint VentureSelection Committee(JVSC) Chairman RomeoN. Dyoco Jr. said.

Dyoco said the JVSCTechnical Working Groupis in the process of eval-uating and checking theeligibility of the proposalof the Private Sector Pro-ponent (PSP) PacificAvia Group Inc., (PAGI)under Annex C of the2008 JV Guidelines.

Among these is theevaluation of PAGI’s de-tailed negotiations withCIAC to enhance theirproposal and the eligibil-ity check of local and for-eign partners composingtheir consortiums.

Dyoco said the JVSCTechnical Working Grouphas until March 28 for theevaluation and eligibilitycheck of the proposals ofPAGI.

He said that shouldPAGI pass the evaluationand eligibility check, itwill then undergo a Com-petitive Challenge with

Terminal 2 completion seen before 2010 endsother interested PSPschallenging PAGI’s pro-posal to build, finance,design and operate theP3-billion to P7-billionTerminal-2 project as ajoint venture partner ofCIAC.

Dyoco expressedhigh hopes that theproject would be com-pleted by September2010 should all systemsgo smoothly.

PAGI’s foreign part-ners include Selex, Egisand Leigthon, while theirlocal partners are A.M.Oreta Construction Com-pany, DHL Philippines,DRI Holdings, EGIS AVIAS.A., Pentagon Develop-ment Corporation, theBank of Commerce, and,Castillo Laman Tan Pan-taleon & San Jose.

The new terminal isestimated to accommo-date 3 million to 7 mil-lion passengers annual-ly. He said it can alsoservice long-haul com-mercial airlines of theworld in accordance withPresident Glor iaMacapagal-Arroyo’s vi-sion of making the DMIAthe Premier Gateway ofthe country.

As of March 23, CIACis in the process of se-lecting a PSP to Design,Finance, Construct andOperate Terminal 2 ofDMIA in accordance withAnnex C of the 2008 JVGuidelines and other per-tinent references and co-ordination with the Office

of the Government Cor-porate Counsel (OGCC).

The current ExpandedDMIA Terminal-1, de-signed to accommodateat least one million to twomillion passengers annu-ally, was inaugurated byPresident Arroyo in April2008 to service the grow-

ing passenger volume dueto the entry of foreign andlocal budget carriers atthe airport.

The airport is servicedby air carriers Cebu Pa-cific Air which flies toHong Kong, Singapore,Bangkok and Macau anddaily to Cebu; Tiger Air-

ways of Singapore whichflies out of Clark to Sin-gapore; Air Asia of Malay-sia via Clark to KualaLumpur and Kota Kina-balu; Asiana Airlines ofSouth Korea via theClark-Incheon route withconnecting flights to theUnited States; and, local

carrier South East AsianAirlines (Seair) whichflies to Caticlan en routeto the world famous Bo-racay Beach Island.

CIAC is currently intalks with a major MiddleEast carrier and long-haul flights are expectedto start this year.

Punto! Central Luzon is in need of one newsboy. Applicants must havea driver’s license and can ride a motorcycle. Interested parties may applyat Unit B Essel Commercial Center, McArthur Highway, Telabastagan,City of San Fernando. Look for Ning.

CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN. Even before the onslaught of the global economic crisis,most Filipinos often shop for cheaper products like pirated CDs and DVDs to suit theirbudget. PHOTO BY JOEY AGUILAR

BY ROMMEL RAMOS

MALOLOS CITY— A two-dayjob seekers boot camp willopen at the Bulacan State Uni-versity here today until Thurs-day.

Dubbed as “The Mar Rox-as Job Seekers’ TrainingCamp,” it coincides with theopening of similar trainingcamps nationwide.

Liberal President SenatorMar Roxas said the opening ofJob Search training camps isdesigned to help prepare newcollege graduates look for jobs.

“Nu’ng ako’y bagong grad-weyt, nadiskubre kong mahal-aga na mahusay ang aking pa-gharap sa interviewer, magan-da ang aking resume at ma-ganda ang aking suot na damitpagharap ko sa aking magig-ing boss. Ngayong mahirapmakahanap ng trabaho,sana’y malaki ang maitulongng boot camp na ito sa mgabagong gradweyt ngayon,”Roxas said in a statement.

He noted that an estimat-ed 490,000 university gradu-ates are expected to join thealready crowded employmentmarket in the next two monthswhen “the local economy is flatand jobs are scarce due tocompanies closing or down-sizing because of the globalfinancial crisis.”

Roxas said the new batchof job-seekers would have bet-ter chances of landing employ-ment if they are well-preparedand equipped for their job-hunting activities.

The boot camps would beopen to university graduateswho wish to polish their jobsearch skills for better and easypresentation of themselves toprospective employers.

It would also help the grad-uates with the packaging oftheir credentials.

The two-day trainingcamps would be held in 30cities nationwide, with eachcamp corridor accommodating1,000 new graduates.

Trainers of companies fromthe Business Processing As-sociation of the Philippineswould talk on issues such asjob search hints and strate-gies, Curriculum Vitae/bio-date writing and packaging,presentation of skills (oral andvisual), dress and appearance,how to answer interview ques-tions, tips on Business En-glish grammar, how to writeletters of introduction and tipsin building self-confidence.

The boot camps would beheld in Malolos, Bulacan(March 25-26); Baguio City(April 2-3); Cabanatuan City,Nueva Ecija (April 16-17);Dagupan, Pangasinan (April23-24), and Tuguegarao, Ca-gayan Valley (April 29-30).

The training camps wouldbe held in partnership with lo-cal universities and universityStudent Councils. Those inter-ested in participating in thetraining seminars can e-mailkristina@brand-channels.comor text (city or place of train-ing) ,<space>, Name<space> and University wherethey graduated to 0915-199-9689 (For Globe subscribers);0919-851-8416 (Smart) and0922-554-1246 (Sun).

Roxas’ jobseekers’ bootcamp opensin Bulacan

IMPROVED COLLECTION. Governor Panlilio talks to the group of identifiers during the 2nd

batch training on General Revision and Tax Mapping Operations held at Hotel Victoria, Sindalan,CSFP. Photo Courtesy of Jun Jaso/PIO

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Zona LibreBong Z. Lacson

E d i t o r i a l O p i n i o nO p i n i o n

acaesar.blogspot.com

Business & Editorial office at Unit B Essel Commercial Center,McArthur Highway, Telabastagan, City of San Fernando

Tel. No. (45) 636•6327 Cel. No. 0917•481•1416e-mail address: puntogitnangluzon@yahoo.com

pdf file at http://www.punto.com.phPunto! Central Luzon is a proud member ofThe Philippine Press Institute

General ManagerEditor

Editorial ConsultantMarketing Manager

Administrative StaffLayout

Circulation

Atty. Gener C. EndonaJoey R. AguilarCaesar “Bong” LacsonJoanna Niña V. CorderoMa. Teresa U. VillanuevaDondie B. VenturaJose Yabut/Gilbert Mendoza

LLL Trimedia CoordinatorsPublisher

EDGAR V. MOVIDOFounder

MATAGUMPAY na inilunsad ang Calendario Bulakenyo AD 900-2007 na inakda ni Jaime Salvador Corpuz ng Marilao noong Sabado,Marso 22 sa Intramuro, Maynila.

Isang malaking ambag sa kasaysayan ng Bulacan at sa pag-aaral nito ang nasabing libro. Bili na kayo!

Aminado si Corpuz na hindi kumpleto ang mga impormasyong

itinala niya sa kanyang inakdang libro, ngunit iyon ay maituturingnang isang isang groundbreaking work mula sa isang lokal nahistoryador.

Mukhang ang ibang lalawigan sa Gitnang Luzon ay may mgaplano na ring gumawa ng katulad na libro. Abangan ang KalendaryoKapampangan!

Ang 270-pahinang libro nahahati sa 12-buwang kabanata kung

saan bawat araw ng buwan ay may nakatalang mahahalagangimpormasyon patungkol sa kasaysayan ng lalawigan at mga taongmay dugong Bulakenyo na naging bahagi ng kasaysayan.

Tingnan ninyo kung ano ang mga pangyayari sa araw ng inyongkapanakan.

PuntongBulacan

Dino Balabo

Calendario BulakenyoAD 900 - 2007

Kung tutuusin, parang isang talaan ng

mga bir thday ang nasabing l ibro dahi lmaraming kaarawan ng mga sikat na taongmay dugong Bulakenyo ang nakatala doon.

Bumili agad kayo ng kopya para makilalaninyo ang mga sikat ng personalidad na maydugong Bulakenyo.

Ilan sa mga halimbawa ay sina Fernando

Poe Jr. (FPJ), Dr. Jose Rizal, at mga datingPangulo ng Pilipinas na sina Manuel L.Quezon at Corazon Aquino.

Hindi ba kapanipaniwala? Basahin na langn inyo sa mga pah ina ng Ca lendar ioBulakenyo!

Batay sa pananaliksik ni Corpuz, si FPJ

ay isinilang bilang Roland Allan K. Poe saMaynila noong Agosto 20, 1939. Siya ay anaknina Fernando Poe Sr., at Bessie GatbontonKelley, na anak ni Martha Gatbonton ngbayan ng Calumpit.

Sayang, i i l an ang nakakaa lam ngimpormasyong iyan noong 2004 elections saBulacan. Gayunpaman, inilampaso ni FPJ siGMA sa Bulacan.

Maging ang pambansang bayaning si Dr.

Jose Rizal ay inangkin ng libro ni Corpuz namay dugong Bulakenyo dahil ang kanyanglola sa talampakan na si Maria Florentina aynagmula sa bayan ng Baliuag.

Sana, may sumilang pang katulad ni GatJose Rizal sa Bulacan.

Patungkol naman sa yumaong Pangulong

Manuel Quezon, pinagbasehan ni Corpuzang unang itinala ng historyador na si AntonioValeriano hinggil sa pinagmulan ng lahi ngdating Pangulo. Ayon sa tala sa libro niCorpuz, ang ina ni Pangulong Quezon na siMaria Dolores Molina ay nagmula sa bayanng Bulakan ngunit lumipat sa Tayabasmatapos ikasal kay Lucio Quezon.

Si Molina ay anak nina Alejandro Molinaat Petrona Manajan ng Brgy. Bambang,Bulakan, Bulacan at isinilang noong Oktubre23, 1856. Siya ay bininyagan ni PadreBalbino Bunag noong Nobyembre 1, 1856.

Ang lo lo a t lo la naman n i da t ing

Pangulong Corazon Cojuangco Aquino na sina Melecio Estrella Cojuangco at TeclaVa lenzue la Ch ich ioco ay nagmula saMalolos.

Isa sa naging anak ni la ay s i JoseCojuangco Sr., na isang mambabatas nakumatawan sa d is t r i to ng Tar lac ,industrialista at isa sa mga naunang nagtayong mga bagko sa bansa na pag-aari ngPi l ipino ay is ini lang sa Malolos noongHulyo3, 1896.

Ngunit bukod sa mga kontrobersyal na

imporasyong katulad ng nabanggit sa itaas,ang isa sa pinakamalaking kontribusyon ngCalendario Bulakenyo ay pag-uurong ngkasaysayan ng Bulacan mula sa bahagi ng1500 kung kailan dumating ang mga Kastila,pabalik sa 900 AD.

Narating ng mga Kastila ang Pilipinasnoong 1521, at dahil sa walang nakatalangkasaysayan bago ang panahong iyon,marami ang nagsasabi na ang kasaysayanat sibilisasyon sa bansa ay kasabay lamangng pagdating ng mga Kastila.

Ngunit batay sa Laguna Copperplate

Inscription na natagpuan sa ilog ng Lumban,Laguna, may maunlad na sibilisasyon sabansa partikular sa bahagi ng Bulacan mulapa noong 900 AD.

Ilan sa mga tinukoy na lugar sa LagunaCopperplate Inscription na kasalukuyang par ing matatagpuan sa Bulacan ay angBinwangan o ang Brgy. Binuangan saObando; Bukah o Brgy. Gatbuca saCalumpit, Puliran o ang bayan ng Pulilan atang Pailah na isang sitio magpahanggangayon sa dulo ng Ilog Angat sa bayan ngNorzagaray.

Hindi naging madali ang pananaliksik at

pag-iipon ni Corpuz sa mga nilalaman ngkanyang akda. Inabot lang naman siya ng10 taon sa pananaliksik.

Ito ay nangangahulugan lamang na saanumang gawain, kailanga natin ng tiyaga.Congratulations, Jimmy! You did well.

Napag-uusapanlangNi Felix M. Garcia

Mga barangaychairman,aarmasan?

(KARUGTONG NG SINUNDANG ISYU)

PAGKAT katulad nga ng atin nabanggitAng baril ay hindi karaniwang gamitNg sinuman pagkat doble ang panganibNa posible nitong sa ati’y ibalik!

Kasi, armasan ka ng sampung beses,Kung may atraso ka’t gusto kang iligpit,Nitong sa atin ay may matinding galitAy di tayo ligtas sa lahat ng saglit.

Walang masama sa intensyon ng ilanNa mabigyan sila ng armas kung ganyangNanganganib laban sa mga kriminalAng buhay n’yan na pinakakaingatan!

Gaya sa maraming mga malalakingKomunidad po r’yan o barangay natin;Kung saan tulad ng Angeles, ang damingIba’t-ibang taong, saan-saan galing!

Na ayon nga po sa Kapitan ng Cutcut,Kadalasan kahit sila’y iyong sakopAy di ka kilala at di mo rin halosKilala kung sino pati (labas-masok?);

Sa dahilang ubod din ng lawak patiAng iyong area of responsibility,Na di kagaya ng katamtamang lakiNg mga barangay diyan sa tabi-tabi.

Na kilalang lahat halos ni KapitanAng pagmumukha at pati na pangalan,Ng mga kabaryu o nasasakupan,Kaya madali ang mga bagay-bagay;

Na posibleng maging ugat halimbawaNg away o hindi pagkasundo kayaNitong magkaminsa’y daig pa bata,Pero ya’y madaling namang masawata.

Pagkat bilang punong barangay po nilaNa kung saan pati bata’y kilala ka,At sila mandin ay lubos mong kilalaAy igagalang at susundin ka nila.

Kaya kung anila ay kinakailangangMabigyan ng armas ang mga Kapitan,Kung pupuede ay ‘yong karapat-dapat langNa magkarun, bilang proteksyon ang bigyan.

At marahil maka-bubuti kung silaAy dumaan sa psychiatric test muna,Bago mabigyan ng baril at iba paNa posibleng ipang-abuso lang nila!

Partikular na ang ilang ‘trigger happy’Na munting kibo’t ay tina-target patiAng kung sinong makatuwaan ng dyaskeKapag nakainom r’yan ng ibang klase;

Ng ‘de bote’ o kung minsa’y alkohol langNa hinaluan ng ‘softdrinks’ ay puede nangPagtiyagaan nitong sugapa sa ganyan,Kaya’t malamang na manganib ang buhay.

Pero kagaya nga ng ating nasabi,Ano’t mangangamba kung yan ay mabutiAt walang sinumang inargabya patiBilang kapitan sa isang community?

Grand delusion“STUDY HIS ways from the start of his campaigningfor governor to his performance as governor.”

Thus said Rosve Henson, president of theKapanalig at Kambilan ning Memalen Pampanga Inc.(Kambilan) that spearheaded the move to recallPampanga Gov. Eddie T. Panlilio.

Henson was reacting to the frenzy stirred by thePhilippine Daily Inquirer of Panlilio setting his eyeson the presidency in 2010.

Advised Vice Gov. Yeng Guiao to Panlilio’s rah-rah crowd: “To ask Kapampangans is to get theiropinions. To examine the records is to be moreobjective… Be objective enough and examine thegovernor’s accomplishments in the province”

Straight from Guiao’s shoulder now: “(Panlilio)failed in all aspects because he failed to harmonizeand involve local officials and he had isolated himself.His performance has been below par in education,infrastructure development, health, amongothers…Even the imprtessive quarry revenueincrease was good only within his first year in office.Since then, quarry revenues have been plunging byas much as 40 percent.”

What accomplishments will Panlilio talk about tomerit the presidency there?

“Dios co,” as the eminent columnist Dick Pascual,a Kapampangan, is wont to say. “…it is granddelusion for the priest-turned politician to dream ofruling this country of 90 million when he cannot evenrun Pampanga…”

God’s will, invoked by the suspended priest whenhe made a go for the governorship is again anattachment to all his talks about the presidency,

“How can (Panlilio) know God’s will for himselfwhen he does not even obey his superior in theCatholic Church?”

So asked the Rev. Fr. Resty Lumanlan, SVD, inreference to the appeal – for five times – of SanFernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto for him not torun for governor in 2007.

“How can he invoke God’s will when he defied hisvery superior, when he violated his own vow ofobedience at his very ordination?”

So asked Panlilio’s brother priest, articulating thestand of the so-called prayer warriors, the group ofpriests that signed the recall petition.

Still, says Panlilio: “If people will say that I can doit, if they will say I can make it, yes.” He will run forpresident, that is.

Of course, Panlilio has always listened to people.And one Dabu is all the people.

AT NAGANAP na nga. Ang pagpapaimbulog sa pambansangpulitika ng suspendidong pari na gubernador ng Pampanga.

Magmistula mang ako na nga ang batang humiyaw ng “lobo”sa pabula ni Aesop, akin pa ring uulit-ulitin ang nasulat ko na ditonoong Mayo 3, 2007 na:

Palpak angkaparian sa pulitikaMULA SA iba’t ibang siglo sa kasaysayan ng mundo, purokapalpakan ang mga naging kaganapan sa pagtangan ngkapangyarihang pulitikal ng kaparian. Isa itong masamang pangitainsa mga Kapampangan kung palaring mahalal na guberndor angisang pari.

Walang anumang bahid personal ang lathalaing ito ukol kaykandidato Padre Eddie Panlilio. Ito ay halaw sa mga tunay napangyayari.

Noong 1494 naging diktador ng Florence angDominicanong prayleng si Girolamo Savonarolanang lupigin ng mga Pranses ang lungsod-estadong Italya. Kaagad niyang ipinatupad angmalawakang reporma sa moralidad na tangingpaksa ng kanyang mga sermon sa simbahan ngSan Marco na kanyang pinamunuan. Mga sermonna nagpasikat sa kanya at nakapagparami ngkanynag mga tagatangkilik.

Binigyan niya ng kahulugan ang pagsakop ngmga Pranses bilang parusa ng Diyos sa mga tao,at pinaniwalaan niyang siya ay isang propeta namaglalatag ng paghuhukom hindi lamang sa Italyakundi sa mismong simbahan na noo’y lunod sakamunduhan.

Ang awayan nila ni Papa Alejandro VI aynagbunga ng pagka-ekskomunikado niSavonarola na hindi lamang niya nilabanan kundiipinahayag na walang saysay dahil lipos din sakasalanan at hindi maka-Diyos ang nagpataw.

Dahil sa kanyang pagka-suwail, nawala angsuporta sa kanya ng mga Florentino, bumagsakang kanyang popularidad at siya ay inaresto,nilitis, pinahirapan at ginawaran ng parusangkamatayan sa salang pagiging erehe at iskismoo pagkawatak-watak ng pananampalataya.

Binitay si Savonarola at sinunog pa angkanyang bangkay noong Mayo 1498.

Ang sumunod sa pandaigdigang tanghalan ngmga kaparian sa larangan ng pulitika ay siCardinal Richelieu ng Pransiya, punong ministroni Haring Luis XIII mula 1624 hanggang 1642.Isinulong ni Richelieu ang royal absolutism o angsentralisasyon ng lahat ng kapangyarihan sa hari– ang pagsulong ninya sa interes ng kanyangkaharian ay nanaig pa sa relihiyon, humigit pa samoralidad o anumang prosesong konstitusiyonal.

Ang mabigat na buwis na ipinataw ni Richelieusa mga mamamayan upang makalikom ngpondong pantusta sa digmaan ng mga bansangkanyang pinag-away-away ay nagbunga ng mgapaghihimagsik sa mga probinsiya ng Pransiya.

Isa pang pari – bagama’t sa SimbahangOrthodox ng Rusya – na naging bantog sa mgagawaing karumal-dumal sa pulitika ay si GrigoryRasputin.

Ang wari’y pagpapagaling ni Rasputin sahemophilia ni Prinsipe Aleksei sa pamamagitanng hipnotismo ang nakapagpalapit sa kanya kayTsarina Alejandra Fyodorovna. May mganagsabing magkalaguyo pa ang dalawa.

Nang personal na pamunuan ni Tsar Nikolas IIang hukbong sandatahan ng Rusya sakasagsagan ng Unang Digmaang Pandaigdignoong 1915, si Rasputin at ang tsarina ang

nagpalakad na ng gubyerno sa bansa.Makalipas ang dalawang taon – noong 1917 –

matagumpay na naibagsak ni Lenin ang gubyernong Romanov, naitatag ang Unyon Sobyet atminasaker ang buong mag-anak ni Nikolas atAlejandra.

Si Rasputin? Nilason, binaril at nilunod sa IlogNeva ng mga dugong bughaw noong Disyembre30, 1916.

Sa ating kapanahunan, si Jean-BertrandAristide naman ang tumatayong pinakatanginghalimbawa ng paring humawak ngkapangyarihang pulitikal.

Ang kauna-unahang halal na pangulo ngbansang Haiti sa loob ng 200 taon nitong pagigingmalaya, si Aristide ay na-ordinang pari noong1982. (Siya ay umalis sa pagkapari noong 1994at nag-asawa.)

Isang magaling na mananalumpati, kampeonsi Aristide ng mga mahihirap, nakibaka para sademokrasya at lumaban sa diktador na si BabyDoc Duvalier na napatalsik sa isang himagsikannoong dekada ’80.

Naging pangulo ng Haiti si Aristide noong 1990subali’t nakudeta matapos ang ilang buwanlamang, tumakas at naglagi sa Estados Unidoskung saan nag-lobby para mapatalsik ang lider-militar na pumalit sa kanya.

Noong 1994, sa tulong ng Amerika, si Aristideay nakabalik sa puwesto. Dahil sa bawal angmagkasunod na termino sa pagka-pangulo, hindikumandidato si Aristide noong 1995.

Sa kanyang pagbabalik noong 2000, nakamitng kanyang Lavalas Party ang 80 porsiyento ngmga boto.

Subali’t hindi rin nagtagal ang suporta sa kanyang mga mamamayan dahil sa mga anomalya sakanyang administrasyon. Nagkaroon ng mgamalawakang protesta at armadong paglalabanhindi lamang sa mga kanayunan kundi pati na rinsa mga lansangan ng kabiserang Port-au-Prince.

Bago pa man magwakas ang kanyang terminonoong 2006, nagbitiw sa pagkapangulo si Aristideat nag self-exile. Ito ay matapos mag-alinlanganang Washinton sa kanyang “fitness to continueto govern amid a crisis which was his ownmaking.”

Savonarola. Richelieu. Rasputin. Aristide.Natatanging halimbawa ng kapariang nagdulot ngpagkariwara ng sambayanang sa kanila’ynaniwala’t nagluklok sa kapangyarihang pulitikal.Natatanging halimbawa ng kapalpakan ngkaparian sa larangan ng panunungkulang pulitikal.Pinakamalinaw na pangangatwiran o argumentosa paghihiwalay ng estado at simbahan.

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TheGossip-millerby Cesar Pambid

HALATANG hindi pinag-iisipan ni Manny Pacquiao ang mga importanteng desi-syon sa kanyang buhay. Para sa kanya, kung saan may malaking pakinabang,doon na lang at wala ng iba.

Take note na yung desisyon niya na muling lumipat sa ABS-CBN ay done inhaste, kaya ayan, publicly ay po pinagsisisihan na niya.

Maraming palusot si Manny pero hindi yan binibili ng publiko. Na kesyo rawpinag-usapan nila ng ABS-CBN na hindi pa dapat i-air yung kanyang announce-ment gayung malinaw kung ano ang nakasaad sa mensahe niya. Na kesyo pi-nakiusapan daw niya ang network na ‘wag munang i-air yun habang hindi pamalinaw ang lahat sa usapan nila.

Pakiulit nga! Ano naman kasi ang hindi malinaw sa statement niya? Di ba siyamismo ang nagsalitang Kapamilya na siya at kahit kailan di na aalis sa naturangnetwork?

If we know, naghahanap ng mas malaking pakinabang si Manny pero dahilnga binding yung kontrata niya sa Solar Films na tinangka niyang balewalain,ayun nagpadalus-dalos siya. Inakala yata niyang ni Manny pacquiaoat makalulu-sot sa ginawa niya.

Pero ayan, dahil may impluwensiya rin naman ang Solar Films, tameme si

Malaking pera ang dahilan kaya pinag-aagawan ang Pambansang Kamao

Pacquaio at napilitang muling bumalik sa itinakwil naniya.Ano, Manny, masarap bang muling kainin ang suka

mo?Heto na ngayon , balik na sa GMA-7 ang airing mata-

pos makipag-negotiate ni Manny sa ABS-CBN at pumirma ng kontrata.Humingi ng dispensa ang People’s Champ sa kaguluhang nangyari na dulot daw ng hindi nila pagkakaintin-

dihan ng Solar Sports.Napatunayan nga kasi na valid and binding ang kontrata, kaya hindi na natuloy ang negosasyon sa ABS-

CBN.Nagpahayag naman ang ABS-CBN na nirerespeto nila at naiintindihan ang desisyon ni Pacman at hangad

nila ang magandang resulta ng laban nito kay Hatton.Sari-saring reaksyon tuloy ang publiko. May nagtatanong kung hindi raw ba inintindi ni Pacman ang kontrata

sa Solar bago nakipag-deal sa ABS-CBN.Of course, kung may kontrata pa pala siya sa Solar, hindi talaga siya puwedeng makipag-deal at pumirma sa

iba, otherwise, demanda talaga ang aabutin niya.Ganu’n lang naman kasimple ’yon. Ewan lang kung bakit nagkaroon ng hindi pagkakaintindihan ang MP

Productions at ang Solar hinggil sa bagay na napakadali namang intindihin.Nagpakabobo ba si Manny at ang mga tao sa paligid nila dahil sa sobrang laki ng in-offer sa kanila ng Dos?

Diether Ocampo muling nabuhaynang mawala sa kanyang buhay si Kristine Hermosa

PAULIT-ULIT nasi Diether Ocampo sa mga statement niyang natutuwa siya at tapos na yung kabanata nila niKristine Hermosa?

We would like to infer na impiyerno nga yata ang nagging buhay noon ni Diether kay Kristine to be overlyecstatic sa pagkawalang-bisa ng kasal nila.

“I am glad that I’m alive again” ang pahayag ni Diether Ocampo sa panayam ng hinggil sa pinagdaanangmasalimuot na relasyon with Kristine Hermosa na humantong sa nullity ng kanilang kasal.

Aminado si Diet na napakahirap ng pinagdaanan niyang proseso but he’s glad na nalampasan niya ito and infact, it made him a better person.

“Tapos na ’yung chapter ng buhay kong ’yon. This time, magsisimula ako ng bagong chapter, so, I hope thistime hindi na maulit ’yung pagkakamali,” sabi ni Diet.

Aljur Abrenica tinablan sa sex scenes nila ni Ara MinaNAUNA NANG nagbigay ng pahayag si Ara Mina tungkolsa mga mainit na eksena nila ni Aljur Abrenica sa kanilangafternoon soap na Dapt Ka Bang Mhaalin. Ayon kay Ara,kinailangan niyang i-tutor ng tamang pakikipagromansa siAljur dahil nga sobrang baguhan pa ito sa mga sex scenes.

Natutuwa raw si Ara dahil nga natuto naman daw siAljur. “Ang galing niya, after na turuan ko siya kung paanohumalik,” natatawang kuwento pa ni Ara Mina.

Marami nga kasing kissing scenes sina Ara at Aljur sanaturang aftrenoon soap. Agad itong sinang-ayunan ngyoung actor, pero ginawan na raw ng paraan ng writers nabawasan ang mga ganung eksena dahil na rin sa requestng viewers.

“Talagang marami, dati sa important scene lang maykissing scene at dalawang babae pa ang kahalikan ko. Saisang eksena namin ni Ms. Ara, kinailangang i-take twodahil nagkaproblema sa audio. Ang pinakagrabe sa gina-wa namin ay yung sa pool, torrid yun,” kuwento ni Aljur.

Tinablan ba siya sa kissing scene nila ni Ara?“Oo naman!” nakangiting sagot ni Aljur. “Iniwasan kong

malaman niya dahil nahihiya ako, pero nahalata rin niya.Sabi niya sa akin mag-relax at samantalahin ko ang op-portunity, pero nahiya pa rin ako.”

Feeling ba niya sinamantala ni Ara ang kissing scenenila?

“Never kong inisip yun dahil magaling siyang actress.”Nakikita naman ng publiko na sweet-sweetan sila ni

Kris kahit saan sila magpunta. Ano ba si Kris sa kanya?“Kinakabahan naman ako sa mga tanong ninyo!” tawa

niya. Sabay sabing, “Special siya sa akin.”May mutual understanding na ba sila? “Nanliligaw pa lang ako sa kanya,” sabi ni Aljur.So there!

Gurang na ex-matinee idol kabit ng bading na TV executiveHINDI NA kami nagulat sa tsismis na kabit pala ng isang tv exec ang ngayon ay laos ng matinee idol. Noongaraw pa naman, pakabit-kabit na ito sa mga bakla. Hindi ba nagging kulakadidang din niya yung dati niyangmanager?

Anyway, mayaman nga ngayon ang ex-matinee idol dahil sa super rich ang kanyang azucarera de papa.Aba, napakalaking personahe ng bading sa network na pianglilingkuran ngayon ni ex-matinee idol. Totoo rin dawang tsismaks na siya ang paborito ng tv exec at di na yung sikat na aktor na sobrang lakas din sa network napinaglingkuran niya.

Ang balita nga, dahil mahusay kumairinyo ang aktor, nagagawa na niyang suhetohin ang bading para siya nalang ang pansinin nito. Dapat kasi, lahat ng mga guwapong lalaki sa showbiz na kursunada niya ay naibubugawsa kanya. Yes, maraming bugaw ang yumaman dahil nga sobrang laki kung magbayad sa lalaki ang tv exec.

Clue? Ay, ‘wag na lang po, hayaan na lang nating maging pahulaan kung sino ang actor na ito na mahusaymaglaro ng dyolens noong araw.

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In the Notice of Extra-Judicial Sale of our February 27, March 6 & 13, 2009issue, Transfer Certificate of Title No. 534903-R should have read “Aparcel of land (Lot 65-I of the subd. Plan Psd-03-116574, being a portion ofLot 65, Psd-035406-051105 (AR) LRC Rec. No.), situated in the Bo. OfPaguiruan, Mun. of F’blanca, Prov. of Pamp. Bounded on the SE., alongline 1-2 by Lot 65-J of the subd. Plan; on the SW., along line 2-3 by Lot 64Psd-035406-051105 (AR); on the NW., along line 3-4 by Lot 65-H and onthe NE., along line 4-1 by Lot 65-Q both of the subd. Plan x x x containingan area of FIVE HUNDRED (500) Square Meters more or less x x x.” andnot as earlier published.

Punto! Central Luzon: March 25, 2009

E R R A T U M

President had plans to runfor congress in her bid tobe later absorbed as as-semblywoman in a parlia-mentary system of gov-ernment under a new Con-stitution.

Pampanga 3rd districtRep. Aurelio Gonzalez,who was with the Presi-dent in her sorties toLubao, Arayat, and Bacol-or in this province onlylast Monday, also saidsuch a scenario was “alsoin my mind” amid thePresident’s recent unusu-al number of visits to herhome province, particular-ly in the second districtwhere she is a registeredvoter.

He declined to saymore, but added “it’s upto the public to analyzeher movements”. He not-ed, however, that thePresident has not talkedto her about such plans.

Lazatin stressed, how-ever, that “the presidentialelections wil l pushthrough as scheduled orpeople will get angry. Butit will be timed for theholding of a plebiscitethat will change the Char-ter.”

Lazatin, who is knownto be one of the Presi-dent’s close political ad-visers in Pampanga, ad-mitted, however, that thePresident herself has re-vealed such plans to him,although her supporters incongress have been talk-ing about such scenario.

The plebiscite is ex-pected to lead to a shiftto a parliamentary systemof government that wouldbe put in place immedi-ately, he added.

“Members of congress

‘GMA for congresswoman’

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FROM PAGE 1 will be come assembly-man and seven senatorswill be absorbed,” he alsosaid.

Lazatin said thisshould not pose difficultyto other senators as theplebiscite will also pro-pose the creation of 100more seats in the assem-bly, so that other senatorscould run for congress inanticipation of this.

“Some senators arealready supportive of theidea,” he also noted.

Only recently, Mala-canang expressed sup-port for the proposal ofSenate Pres. Juan PonceEnrile to increase thenumber of congressper-sons from 250 to 350 al-legedly to address thegrowing population of thecountry.

Executive SecretaryEduardo Ermita said heagreed with Enrile’s rea-soning that the countryneeds more legislators “ifwe want full representa-tion.”

Talk of the President’srunning for congress in2010 was fueled anew byher visit yesterday to theisland Barangay Malusacyesterday afternoon to vis-it a farm to market road,amid another medical anddental mission for localfolk.

Since January, thePresident was noted tohave visited barangays inthis province no less thaneight times, five of the vis-its covering the seconddistrict which includeshere Lubao hometownwhere she is registeredvoter.

Unlike in the past, herrecent visits were alsomostly accompanied withmedical and dental servic-

es for the public, and an-nounced for coverage bythe local media.

Lazatin said that inthe case of the President,she would have to resign60 days before the 2010elections to be able to runfor congresswoman inPampanga’s second dis-trict.

There have been ru-mors that her son, MikeyArroyo, who now repre-sents this province’s sec-ond district in congress,would run for governor.

“In such a case, VicePres. Noli de Castro willbe acting president untilelection time,” Lazatinsaid.

He stressed, however,that if the people rejectthe proposed new charterin the plebiscite, the win-ners for president and oth-er posts in the 2010 pollswould serve their termsunder the present Consti-tution.

Last week during theinduction rites of the Pam-panga Press Club, DeCastro denied he had pre-vious information aboutthe President’s plan to runfor Congress in 2010. Buthe added “there is noth-ing wrong with that”.

Lazatin said he sup-ports the move to shift toa parliamentary system ofgovernment where theprime minister and mem-bers of the cabinet areaccountable to the wholeparliament.

“The prime ministercan be removed if themembers of parliamentare dissatisfied with his orher performance,” he said,adding that “people wouldbe supportive of thischange once they under-stand everything”.

Iraq is number one with88 cases of unsolved jour-nalists’ murders followedby Sierra Leone with 9,Somalia (6), Sri Lanka (9),Colombia (16), Philippines(24), Afghanistan (7), Ne-pal (5), Russia (15), Paki-stan (10), Mexico (6),Bangladesh (7), Brazil (5),and India with seven un-solved murder cases.

The CPJ’s “impunityindex” also showed that523 journalists have beenkilled worldwide since1998

Elisabeth Witchel, im-punity campaigner of theCPJ, said that the ratingsare based on the numbersof journalists killed in acountry divided by its ac-tual population.

She said that onlycountries with five or morecases of unsolved journal-ists’ murders were includ-ed in their list.

Witchel also noted thatthe index can be dividedbetween countries in con-flict or at war, and demo-cratic countries at peace.

She also defined impu-nity on journalists as non-conviction of suspects onthe cases of journalists’murders.

“Our records showsthat countries undergoingconflict like Iraq recordedthe highest number of un-solved murder cases andmajority of countries in ourlist belongs to peace timedemocracies where there

is actually a working judi-cial system,” she said.

On the other hand,Crispin stressed that thePhilippines ranks numberone among peace timedemocracies with highestnumber of unsolved cases.

He also said that thecountry has almost 90percent on impunity indexover the last 10 years.

“We believe journalistsmurders in the Philippineswill remain as long as thecurrent administration is inpower,” he said.

REFORMSCrispin also called for

the creation of specialcourts to address journal-ists’ murders and to reformthe judiciary in the provinc-es.

He said that based onrecords, prosecutors haveto ask for the SupremeCourt to transfer hearing ofcases to urban areas likeCebu and Makati City justto get justice.

The same was echoedby Prima Jesus Quinsa-yas, the legal counsel ofthe Freedom Fund for Fili-pino Journalists (FFFJ)who has been working indifferent cases of slainjournalists in the provinc-es, especially the case ofMarlene Esperat of SultanKudarat.

Quinsayas said thatlocal prosecutors andjudges are facing pres-sures from local politiciansinvolved in journalists’ mur-ders.

A writer for the MidlandReview, Esperat wasgunned down in front of herchildren on the night ofMarch 24, 2005 in SultanKudarat.

Her case is only one ofthe two cases of journal-ists’ murders in the coun-try that were decided bythe court where suspectswere convicted.

The other case is thatof Edgar Damalerio, themanaging editor of theZamboanga Scribe whowas murdered in Pagadi-an City on May 13, 2002.A police officer was con-victed for his murder.

In the case of Esperat,Judge Eric Menchavez ofthe Cebu Regional TrialCourt sentenced to lifeimprisonment suspectsRandy Grecia, GerryCabayag, and EstanislaoBismanos in 2006.

Despite the convictionof suspects in both cas-es, the FFFJ believe thatis not enough as the mas-termind in the journalists’murders remain free.

Based on recent datareleased by the NationalUnion of Journalists of thePhilippines (NUJP), bothEsperat and Damaleriobelongs to the list of 100journalists killed in thecountry since 1986 whendemocracy was restored,until this year.

The latest victim wasErnesto Rollin, broadcast-er from Oroquieta Citywho was gunned down lastFebruary 23.

FROM PAGE 1

CPJ calls for reforms...

Jose L. Pavia, chairman of the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists(FFFJ), opens the forum on global impunity index with a brief messageon Monday at Annabel’s Restaurant in Quezon City, while (L-R) LawyersPrima Quinsayas and Nena Santos of the FFFJ and Elisabeth Witchel andShawn Crispin of the Committee to Protect Journalists listens.

PHOTO BY JOEY AGUILAR

Basically, there would bea visioning of what we likethe Philippines to be in 15-20 years from now, list thequalities of candidateswe’re looking for, trackdown their accomplish-ments, find bases of uni-ty. We’re not starting withpersonalities,” said Panlil-io, an advocate of goodgovernance and moralleadership.

He said Dr. NicanorPerlas, a practitioner ofsustainable agriculture,has called him on Mondayto say he was interestedin running as president andif he could possibly beendorsed for that bid. Hesuggested that Perlas un-dergoes the selection pro-cess.

The reform movement,Panlilio said, could not af-ford to be fractious if itwants to make good lead-ers win and lead the coun-

try.Panlilio said Rosales

took a “more realistic,more authentic views” onhis possible presidentialbid.

The cardinal had saidthat the issue was not areligious one, but a ques-tion of character and qual-ification.

“The issue here is, ‘Isthis a person of integrity?Is this a person who won’tcheat, won’t steal, won’tlie? Is this person com-passionate? That will bethe issue,” Rosales saidon Catholic Church-runRadio Veritas on Monday.

“That’s beautiful. Kala-wak na (Broad),” Panliliosaid of Rosales’ views.

“The cardinal went tothe essentials. He lookedmore at the substancethat at the peripheries,”the governor added.

Earlier, San FernandoArchbishop Paciano Anic-eto opposed the plan while

Bishop Oscar Cruz andJaro Archbishop AngelLagdameo urged Panlilioto quit the priesthood if heintended to run for presi-dent.

Rosales had said thatpeople asking a priest torun for the country’s high-est public post, which hedescribed as unprece-dented, was a sign thatFilipinos were fed up withthe usual kind of politi-cians seen every elec-tions.

Defining the priest-hood, Panlilio said, “It isto live the life of Jesus inthe world. He witnessesJesus’ compassion, humil-ity, simplicity, suffering,death and resurrection. Itis offering of one’s self sothat God and His kingdommay replace this king-dom.”

Talking of the hostilereactions he has been get-ting from politicians sincethe possible tandem ofPanlilio and Isabela Gov.Grace Padaca as vicepresident were published,he said: “It’s a repeat of the2007 elections on a largerscale this time.”

“I stick to my belief thatI’m a bugo (a person help-ing a man during a court-ship process) at this point.Luntu ya mu rin (The can-didate will surface intime),” he added.

FROM PAGE 1

Panlilio not yet fix on prexy bid

FROM PAGE 1

ang trabaho mo, chair-man” in a rally attended byKambilan officials led byits president, Rosve Hen-son.

Henson said they willsupport impeach proceed-ings against Melo shouldthe Comelec fails to prop-erly act on their recall pe-tition against Panlilio. Headded that Melo “had saton their petition” filed lastNovember.

But James Jimenez,Comelec spokespersonand director of informationand education, denied the

allegations of Henson.He said that the Sen-

ate bicameral committeehad pulled out the P50million funds for the recallelections rendering themwithout a choice but to haltthe proceedings for therecall petitions in Pampan-ga and other places in thecountry.

Jimenez said they willaccept suggestions fromKambilan and other recallproponents for “other so-lutions” regarding their re-spective petition.

But Jimenez stressedthat time is running out forthe recall petitions. He dis-

Impeach Melo – Kambilanclosed that they only haveuntil May to act on the re-call petitions.

Henson urged Jimenezto write the Department ofBudget and Management(DMB) and asked theagency if they will not beable to fund the recall pe-titions pending before theComelec.

“If the DBM says theywill not fund the petitionthat is quite acceptable.But for now, I hope the pollbody acts on the petition,”said Henson.

Jimenez said he willbring up Henson’s propos-al to Melo.

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A MULTINATIONAL SoutheastAsian journalists’ mission hascalled on the Arroyo governmentto intensify efforts to prosecutethe killers of journalists and toarrest the suspected master-minds in the 2005 killing of awoman journalist.

“We are alarmed by the con-tinuing killing of media workersin the Philippines and the inad-equate measures the govern-ment is taking to stop them,” thegroup said in an end-of-missionstatement.

“Given the prevailing senseof urgency in the impunity issueand in anticipation of an increasein the number of journalists be-ing killed as the 2010 presiden-tial election draws closer, we callupon President Gloria Macapa-gal Arroyo to take the steps nec-essary to prevent that unfortu-nate development. MadamePresident, a halt to the killing ofjournalists as well as politicaldissenters would be one theenduring legacies you can leavethe Filipino people as your termends.

“We note with concern thatdespite intensified efforts by civilsociety and Philippine mediagroups themselves to convincethe government, its law enforce-ment agencies and the judicia-ry to address the issue of impu-nity and the killings, the mur-ders, a majority of which occurin the provinces, have been con-tinuing. An average of five jour-nalists has been killed in the lineof duty in the Philippines since2001 when the Arroyo adminis-tration came to power. By the

Stopping killing of journalists could be your legacySEAPA TELLS ARROYO:

end of February 2009, the countof slain journalists had gone upto 78 since the end of the Mar-cos dictatorship in 1986, accord-ing to statistics compiled by thePhilippine-based Center for Me-dia Freedom and Responsibili-ty.”

The Southeast Asian PressAlliance (SEAPA) mission,which visited the Philippinesfrom March 21 to 24 to mark thefourth anniversary of the killingof Sultan Kudarat journalist Mar-lene Esperat, said that while itwelcomed the creation of “track-er teams” in the Philippine Na-tional Police, the Arroyo admin-istration could still do muchmore by tracking down the kill-ers of journalists and arrestingsuspected masterminds.

The tracker teams, said thePhilippine National Police in ameeting with the mission, arecharged with speedily locatingand arresting suspected killersof journalists.

Esperat, who exposed cor-ruption in the regional office ofthe Department of Agriculture(DA) and in local government,was killed in her home in Tacu-rong City on March 24, 2005.Her expose of DA wrongdoinghas been linked to the 2004 fer-tilizer scam scandal in which DAfunds were allegedly used for theelections that year.

The SEAPA mission wascomposed of Doung Hak Sam-rithy, vice president of the Cam-bodian Association for the Pro-tection of Journalists; JajangJalamudin, secretary general ofthe Alliance of Independence

Journalists, Indonesia; PraditRuangdit , secretary general ofthe Thai Journalists Association;V Gayathry, executive directorof Center for Independent Jour-nalists, Malaysia; and Kulacha-da Chaipipat, campaign and ad-vocacy officer, Southeast AsianPress Alliance (SEAPA),Bangkok, Thailand, the Head ofthe Mission.

Based in Thailand, SEAPAmember-organizations includethe Philippine Center for Investi-gative Journalism and the Ma-nila-based Center for MediaFreedom and Responsibility, inaddition to Indonesian and Thaijournalists’ groups.

The team members ex-pressed fear that the killing and

harassment of journalists in thePhilippines could spread to oth-er countries unless stopped.

“One of the reasons wecame to the Philippines on theeve of the 4th death anniversa-ry of Marlene Esperat was be-cause we believe that the cul-ture of impunity that is deeply-rooted in the Philippines couldbe replicated in other countriesin the region unless there is acommon effort to dismantle itin the Philippines. We note anincrease in the violence againstjournalists and media workersin Malaysia and Thailand in-cluding browbeating, harass-ment and mob attacks on indi-vidual journalists; surroundingmedia premises; and the kill-

ing of journalists in addition tothe use of legal sanctions tosilence the media and sup-press on-line free expression in2008.”

“The culture of impunity” re-fers to the seeming immunityfrom prosecution and punish-ment of most of the killers andsuspects in the killing of journal-ists. Only two out of the 78 cas-es of journalists killed while onduty since 1986 have been part-ly resolved in that the killers havebeen tried and convicted. Nomastermind, however, has beenprosecuted.

Journalists groups worldwidebelieve that this immunity frompunishment encourages furtherkillings.

The delegates of SEAPA Anti-Impunity Mission to the Philippines (from left): PraditRuangdit (Thai Journalists Association), V Gayathry (Center for Independent Journalism,Malaysia), Kulachada Chaipipat (Head of the Mission, Southeast Asian Press Alliance),Jajang Jalamudin (Alliance of Independent Journalists), and Doung Hak Samrithy(Cambodian Association for the Protection of Journalists). PHOTO COURTESY OF LITO OCAMPO