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January 17-23, 2022
Dead issue revived! ‘DPWH flyover projects still controversial amid non-compliance to LGU guidelines’ WITH THE elections nearing, the issue of the proposed and contro-
versial flyover project in Zamboanga has been revived in the news, with
politicians running for the May polls, again riding on the topic and taking ad-
vantage of the propaganda. But the overpass proj-
ect of the Department of Public Works and Highways had been halted
since 2019 after DPWH failed to comply with Continue on page 7
Covid cases up again
Z
AMBOANGA CITY Mayor Beng Climaco has cautioned residents following the sudden spike in the number of active Covid-19 cases here and ordered stricter health protocols on the entry of travellers effective Wednesday. Climaco, citing local number of Covid-19 cases December. “With the health records, said the shot up from under 100 in Continue on page 2
Zambo rushing to open molecular lab CITY ADMINISTRATOR Mike Saavedra said the Climaco administration is working double time for the operation of the local government’s molecular laboratory. He said the City Continue on page 2
City Government photos show City Administrator Mike Saavedra, City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite and City Engineer Chris Navarro inspecting the local government-run molecular laboratory in Barangay San Roque.
A health worker from the Zamboanga City government injects a Covid-19 vaccine to a woman at the Unibersidad de Zamboanga. (Image: Al Jacinto)
Why Bongbong Marcos can’t go to the U.S. FERDINAND ‘BONGBONG’ MARCOS Jr, whose father ruled the country with a brutal and rapacious hand and whose mother was convicted of graft, enjoys a wide lead in the early polls for the 2022 presidential race. This is a Continue on page 7
Lobregat forges alliance with Marcos political party FORMER LAWMAKER Celso Lobregat and his Team Colorao forged an
alliance with the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), the political party of pres-
idential candidate Bongbong Marcos, the son of Continue on page 7
Mega Covid facility inaugurated CHIEF COVID frontliner Mayor Beng Climaco inaugurated the 320-bed
isolation facility as the local government continues to fight the spread of the
Zamboanga Peninsula
deadly respiratory virus and the threats posed by Continue on page 3
Basilan
Filipinos hold an indignation rally commemorating the 49th anniversary of the imposition of martial law by Dictator Ferdinand Marcos on September 21, 1972. (Peoples Dispatch)
Sulu
Tawi-tawi
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The Zamboanga Post
January 17-23, 2022
Covid cases up again Continued from page 1 increasing trend in cases in the city and elsewhere in the country, the public is urged anew to continue practicing minimum health standards and to get vaccinated the soonest possible time,” she said. The increase in Covid-19 infections occurred after the Yuletide holidays when the National Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) eased the country’s quarantine protocols which allowed people to move freely only to recall the order following the dramatic spike in Covid-19 cases - believed due to the Omicron variant - in the National Capital Region and neighboring provinces. The mayor, who heads the local IATF-MEID, said due to the threat of Omicron variant, all travellers entering Zamboanga City whether vac-
cinated or not must present a negative RT-PCR or Rapid Antigen test results if they come from high-risk areas or those places under Alert Levels 3, 4 and 5. Zamboanga City is currently under Alert Level 2. She said fully vaccinated travellers who come from areas with high alert levels also need to present their identification and vaccine cards, including their S-PASS short for Safe, Swift, and Smart Passage Digital Travel Management System. And for fully vaccinated travellers coming from areas under Alert Levels 1 and 2 only need to present their identification and vaccines cards, and S-PASS. “All the requirements shall be presented to the border personnel upon arrival. Inbound travellers, regardless of vaccination status, may be subjected to random Rapid Antigen testing upon entry through the airport, seaport or land borders,” Cli-
maco said. The IAT-MEID imposed the new community quarantine classifications across the country in November last year. The following are the Alert Level System for Covid-19 response: Alert Level 1 refers to areas wherein case transmission is low and decreasing, total bed utilization rate, and intensive care unit utilization rate is low. Alert Level 2 refers to areas wherein case transmission is low and decreasing, healthcare utilization is low, or case counts are low but increasing, or case counts are low and decreasing but total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate is increasing. Alert Level 3 refers to areas wherein case counts are high and/or increasing, with total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate at increasing utilization.
Alert Level 4 refers to areas wherein case counts are high and/or increasing, with total bed utilization rate and
intensive care unit utilization rate at high utilization. And Alert Level 5 refers to areas ase counts are alarming, with
total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate at critical utilization. (Zamboanga Post)
A scene at the Unibersidad de Zamboanga during the last hour of the Zamboanga City Health Office vaccination drive for walk-in residents. (Image: Al Jacinto)
Zambo rushing to open molecular lab Continued from page 1 Health Office is also fast-tracking the submission of requirements to the Department of Health so it can issue the necessary license for the laboratory to operate soon. Saavedra, together with City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Miravite and City Engineer Chris Navarro, inspected the laboratory in Barangay San Roque. He said the facility is only one of the many legacies of Mayor Beng Climaco, who is now on her third and last term, and is running for congresswoman in District 1. “The LGU-run molecular lab aims to provide free and expanded Covid-19 testing to residents, but nonetheless, those with symptoms and (people who had) close contacts (with Covid-19) are already given free testing by the LGU since the start of the pandemic (in 2020),” Saavedra said. Climaco previously asked the support of the City Council to provide a wider coverage of RT-PCR testing in Zamboanga which cost between P2,000 to P5,000. “It may not be necessarily a free-for-all grant, but at least with a wider coverage than the present free RT-PCR test given to those with Covid-19 symptoms, suspected and positive cases only,” the mayor said. She said her proposal for free RT-PCR testing is subject to the availability of test kits and once the local molecular
laboratory becomes operational. The mayor even ordered the City Health Office and the City Budget Office to come up with the policy in conformity with the guidelines set by the Department of Health and the Philippine Red Cross. But Councilor Pinpin Pareja last month said council members allied with politician Celso Lobregat slashed the proposed budget of the City Health Office from P180 million to only P80 million and this will greatly impact various health programs of the local government, especially this time of the Covid-19 pandemic. Pareja made this revelation during an interview with TV 11 and said the health budget proposed by the local government passed a rigid review, but the opposition nonetheless tinkered with the Executive Budget. Climaco earlier asked the councilors, especially those with the group of Lobregat and Rep. Mannix Dalipe, to support and approved the budget, instead of “politicizing” the funding intended for the welfare, security and health of the Zamboangueños. Opposition councilors also reduced the budgets of the different local government departments, including the Office of the City Mayor, only to introduce their own version of the Executive Budget. Politics Lobregat and Dalipe al-
lies in the City Council had previously opposed the annual budget and removed a huge chunk of funding intended for various pro-poor programs of the Climaco administration. They even trashed Climaco’s pro-poor Vida Programs which benefited tens of thousands of residents, especially the most vulnerable in the community. Climaco blamed the Lobregat and Dalipe councilors for “killing” all the Vida Programs after they removed vital funding in the Executive Budget. One such project under the program was the Largo Vida, an initiative that Climaco started in 2018 and which she originally intended to expand to over 60,000 beneficiaries. The mayor identified the opposition councilors as John Dalipe, BG Guingona, Mike Alavar, Litlit Macrohon, Khymer Olaso, Lilibeth Nuño, Cary John Pioc, VP Elago, Gerky Valesco, Jerry Perez and Monsi dela Cruz, who is now deceased. Dela Cruz and the younger Dalipe ran under Climaco’s political party, but eventually broke off ties with the mayor after winning the 2019 polls. Now, allies of Lobregat and Dalipe are running in the polls against each other in the City Council and congressional districts. The young Dalipe and the elderly Lobregat are also squaring off for the mayoralty post. (Zamboanga Post)
Restrict movement of unvaccinated people: Duterte PRESIDENT DUTERTE has ordered all barangay officials to restrict the movement of unvaccinated people in their respective areas following the spike in Covid-19 cases in many parts of the country. Duterte invoked his authority as Chief Executive amid a national emergency to order the mobility restriction on the unvaccinated. “I am now giving orders to the barangay captains to look for those persons who are not vaccinated and just request them or order them if you may to stay put,” he said. The Department of the Interior and Local Government said barangay officials must follow Duterte’s order and within the bounds of the law. “The President is merely exercising his authority as chief executive under the public health emergency. He was very clear in his directive that an arrest will only be a last resort. Pakiusapan muna na pumirmi sa bahay. Barangay officials may only arrest the unvaccinated individual who refuse to cooperate and who are
leaving the homes for non-essential purposes,” said DILG Secretary Eduardo Año. Año said that barangay officials are persons in authority and are duty bound to implement the President’s directive as well as the ordinances passed by their respective local governments. He advised the public to bring their vaccination cards at all times and show it to barangay officials and police officers as proof of vaccination. DILG spokesman Jonathan Malaya said unvaccinated individuals going to work must present a negative RT-PCR test result every 2 weeks otherwise they will not be allowed to leave their homes, although they can go out to procure basic essentials or medicines. “We are doing this to protect the unvaccinated themselves because they are prone to critical illness and hospitalization and we need to protect our health care system from being overwhelmed with the exponential rise of coronavirus cases because of the Omicron variant,” he said. (Zamboanga Post)
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The Zamboanga Post
January 17-23, 2022
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Fire victims thank Beng for aid VICTIMS OF a recent fire thanked Mayor Beng Climaco for comforting and providing them with aid. The fire at Falcatan Drive in Barangay Tetuan displaced dozens of people, at least 92, according to social workers who quickly aided the victims upon the order of Climaco. The mayor rushed to the area and met with the fire victims and oversaw the distribution of aid at the covered court of the Zamboanga City High School which was used as temporary shelter. Initial government reports blamed an overheated cell phone charger which burst into flame as the cause of the fire that razed at least 20 houses. There were no reports of casualties. Podcaster Radyo Mindanao reported live at the scene and videos of the chaotic drama as neighbors tried in vain to fight the fire while women were seen crying as they fled from the inferno. The dramatic footage was uploaded on Radyo Mindanao’s Facebook page and can be accessed on this link:
Zamboanga City government photos show Mayor Beng Climaco distributing aid to fire victims on Monday, January 10, 2022. https://fb.watch/arWLtSyEPV/. Some politicians, who are running in the polls, were also spotted talking
and consoling fire victims. Photos of them in the area were later uploaded on social media. (Zamboanga Post)
Photos from the videos of podcaster Radyo Mindanao show the fire that razed at least 20 houses in the village of Tetuan in Zamboanga City on Monday, January 10, 2022.
Mayor Beng Climaco leads members of the the local Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases in the inauguration of the 320-bed mega isolation facility in Barangay Talisayan. (Bong Serondo) Continued from page 1 the new Omicron variant. Climaco, head of the local Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, was joined by other members of the Covid-19 task force. She said the facility will serve in healing and recovery of Covid-19 patients and forms part of the local government’s efforts in protecting the public from the virus. She thanked all those who supported the realization of the so-called mega isolation facility, the biggest in the region and is part of the legacies of the Climaco administration. The mayor also expressed her gratitude to all medical frontliners and those working to save others from the grave risk posed by the pandemic. The new isolation facility is located at the Zamboanga Economic Zone and Freeport Authority complex in Barangay Talisayan. Each room has an air condition unit, a comfort room and lavatory, and a bed with an IV (intravenous) pole. Climaco previously said the local government is putting up more isolation facilities and targeting at least 2,000 beds as
part of the Covid-19 response, supplementing the mass vaccination program aimed at fighting the spread of the virus. “We are boosting our isolation facilities and efficiency of ambulances,” she said. Last July, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) also turned over to the local government the 188room isolation facility at the Pasonanca Convention Center. The project is intended to augment the two quarantine tents with 20 beds also in Pasonanca which was completed in March last year. Both facilities are being managed and operated by the City Health Office and City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office under supervision by the Department of Health (DOH). But while Climaco and the DPWH and DOH continue efforts to address the pandemic and respond to the health crisis, social media trolls and black propagandists also heightened their attacks against the mayor. Climaco’s foes peddled fake news and false information aimed at bringing down the mayor. Political propagandists resorted to spread-
ing misinformation about Covid-19 and even denounced the isolation facilities in Barangay Pasonanca, saying it would put residents at risk of being infected with Covid-19 because the “virus can jump out of the tent.” They also called on Pasonanca residents to oppose the project while others have “demonized” those living near the facility to protest it. But the public’s support to the mayor and the local government remain strong. Climaco, now on her third and last term, is running for a congressional seat in District 1 and is likely to win by a landslide again due to her popularity and huge number of supporters. She has no record of defeat since joining politics in 1998 as a councilor up to 2004; vice mayor from 2004-2007; and congresswoman from 2007-2010, and 2010-2013 and won as mayor after defeating veteran politician Celso Lobregat. Even incumbent Vice Mayor Meng Agan, of the United Nationalist Alliance, and running for mayor, is supporting the candidacy of Climaco. (Zamboanga Post)
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The Zamboanga Post
January 17-23, 2022
Zamboanga Pictures in the News Local government of Zamboanga City at work. This is where your taxes go. Photos by : Bong Serondo, Joy Mangila, CHO, CSWDO and ZCPO.
January 17-23, 2022
The Zamboanga Post Exclusive
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Zamboanga Pictures in the News
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The Zamboanga Post
January 17-23, 2022
Across : 1. Dazzle 4. Stair section 8. Prayer close 12. Baseball’s ___ Gehrig 13. Lose feathers 14. Movie fish 15. Taco ingredient 17. Make socks 18. Pub beverage 19. List of candidates 20. Pencil ends 24. Wooden nail 25. Down Under 27. Shoemaker’s helper 30. Stand up 31. Soft metal 32. Lumber source 33. SSW’s opp. 34. Peach variety 36. Sugar ___ Leonard 38. Spookiest 39. Garret 41. Pilfer 42. Unbiased 43. Indirect implication 48. Healing plant 49. Steeped drinks 50. Slippery fish 51. Tear apart 52. Shoe part 53. Koppel or Williams Down : 1. Model Carol ___ 2. Court romantically 3. Spain’s cont. 4. Happy one 5. Put up with 6. Building wing 7. School group (abbr.) 8. Leg joint 9. Zoo 10. Give off 11. Musical symbol 16. Sample food 19. Watering place 20. Acquire by labor 21. Wreck 22. Declaration 23. Bread portion
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January 17-23, 2022
Dead issue revived! ‘DPWH flyover projects still controversial amid non-compliance to LGU guidelines’ Continued from page 1 the local government requirements and its funds returned to the national government. Despite the overpass issue being dead since three years ago, the upcoming polls are likely to serve as an avenue to propagate political propaganda, but what really happened to the flyover project? Late in 2018, the DPWH conducted a traffic dry run in areas affected by the flyover project - to mimic construction works - but it drew angry reactions from motorists and commuters as well, because of the chaotic situation it created even for just a week. The DPWH in Zamboanga had been insisting for the construction of the project even without the necessary road widening and one of its female engineers even went to the extent of denouncing City Hall on a local radio station critical of the administration for the required road-widening needed to proceed with the flyover project. By July 2019, the DPWH Central Office assured the local government that it will fully comply with all the requirements for its infrastructure projects here. Undersecretary Dimas Soguilon, along with representatives from the DPWH office here, met with local government officials led by then City Administrator Apple Go and private contractors, to discuss and harmonize national and local government-funded projects. Also in the meeting were City Legal Officer lawyer Jesus Carbon, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Elmeir Apolinario and City Planning and Development Coordinator Rodrigo Sicat, and representatives from the Zamboanga City Water District, among others. Soguilon reassured the City Government that DPWH will
proceed with various projects here as soon as all the legal requirements have been complied with by the DPWH. He also apologized to the local government and sought understanding for any lapses that may have been committed by the DPWH in the compliance of requirements. Among the DPWH projects discussed in the meeting were the planned flyover inter-changes, underpasses and long span bridges to be built along the city’s major thoroughfares, particularly Governor Camins Avenue, Zamboanga Highway and Veterans Avenue where traffic congestion is heaviest. During that meeting, Carbon assured Soguilon and private contractors that the City Government has no intention of impeding any of the DPWH plans for Zamboanga, especially the flyover project, provided that the DPWH road widening project is first completed. Full Support In fact, he said, Mayor Beng Climaco appreciates the efforts of the DPWH to introduce infrastructure projects that will alleviate the lives of the Zamboangueños. Climaco previously said that the local government is supporting the implementation of national infrastructure here, including the proposed flyover project, but reiterated that there is a dire need to widen the roads affected by the construction of the overpass. Climaco said the expansion of roads is vital for the smooth implementation of the proposed flyover project so as not to further worsen the flow of traffic. The overpass project costs about P600 million and was supposed to be completed in at least 500 days, but this could be longer considering how slow the DPWH construct its projects. And in August 2019, local government officials and lawmakers said road widening and opening of new roads are far
more important to decongest vehicular traffic in Zamboanga. Rep. Cesar Jimenez also said the overpass bridge may not be pursued anymore and the mayor agreed with Jimenez for the simple reason that opening new roads and widening the streets, especially in downtown areas and adjacent barangays, are needed to decongest the worsening traffic problems due to the growing numbers of vehicles and motorists here. “We need to widen the roads first because it is very urgent for us for the passage of people in order to decongest traffic. We leave it (flyover project) to the City Engineer’s Office, Dr. (Elmeir) Apolinario (of the Zamboanga City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office) and DPWH to look at finishing the bypass road so this will also ease traffic and provide alternative route,” Climaco said. Climaco said there is a need for a feasibility study for future overpass bridge. “We are pro-development and nowadays, even our traffic management needs to come up with a plan or study to assess the impact before and after the project is implemented, and so we also need feasibility studies of flyover project in the future,” she said, citing the report of the Technical Working Group that claimed DPWH had no feasibility studies on the overpass project. Jimenez said he will work closely with the DPWH and other concerned government agencies with regards to the road projects and other alternative routes here to solve the pestering traffic problems. The flyover project became so controversial after then Rep. Celso Lobregat - who ran for mayor and defeated by Climaco in the 2019 midterm polls - insisted that the overpass bridge must be constructed immediately despite the failure of DPWH to comply with the requirements
Lobregat forges alliance with Marcos political party Continued from page 1 Dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Lobregat, a member of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, told journalists that his group is supporting Marcos’ candidacy and his running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, who is a member of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats. But Duterte’s political party in Zamboanga City is supporting the team of Rep. Mannix Dalipe being a member of the Lakas-CMD. Lobregat, who is running for mayor, said the PFP approached him to ask for support to the Marcos and Duterte tandem in Zamboanga City. The PFP, in return, will endorse Lobregat and Team Colorao candidates. He said the PFP and Team Colorao signed the deal during a recent meeting in Pagadian City
in Zamboanga del Sur province. The PFP was represented by Assam Ulangkaya, the party’s vice president for Mindanao and chairman for Membership Committee; Marilou Felicia, PFP regional chairperson; and Marikah Felicia. It was unknown how Duterte would deal with Lobregat and his Team Colorao since she and Dalipe belong to Lakas-CMD. Dalipe’s group is supporting the tandem of Marcos and Duterte. And Dalipe’s younger brother, John, is running against the elderly Lobregat. The Marcos patriarch and family ruled the country from 1965 until they were deposed in 1986 and fled to Hawaii where he died three years later. In November 1991, his wife, Imelda Marcos and her children were allowed to return to the Philippines by Pres-
ident Corazon Aquino after living in exile in Hawaii for more than five years to face charges of tax fraud and corruption. According to the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), the Marcos family stole US$5 billion–$10 billion from the Central Bank of the Philippines. The PCGG also maintained that the Marcos family enjoyed a decadent lifestyle, taking away billions of dollars from the Philippines between 1965 and 1986. The Dictator’s wife, Imelda Marcos, made infamous in her own right by the excesses that characterized her and her husband’s conjugal dictatorship, is the source of the term “Imeldific.” He and his wife currently hold the Guinness World Record for “Greatest Robbery of a Government.” (Zamboanga Post)
set by the local government. Study According to the 2021 Transportation and Traffic Management Plan Study for Zamboanga City, based on the intersection analysis and traffic projections performed, flyovers would not be required for another 3 to 5 years. However, this should not mean that Zamboanga cannot be forward looking and decide to invest in these flyovers earlier than when they will be required. The report said as early as 2015, the DPWH Bureau of Quality and Safety had conducted a traffic study that recommended the construction of a flyover across Governor Camins – Vet-
erans Avenue Extension (with widening/improvement along Governor Camins, and left-turn closure at Nunez intersection) as a viable option to alleviate the congestion in that corridor as a “long-term solution.” The technical analysis, which included a VISSIM traffic simulation model, seemed to have considered a five-year projection of conditions with 2015 as base year. However, the study further recommended that: “Any impact that can affect these results can be further studied as economic, financial, social and environmental impacts which may affect the implementation of the proposed project.” The VISSIM traffic mi-
cro-simulation model was used to evaluate the performance of both infrastructures in terms of the parameters at intersections, such as average vehicles delay and queue length, and network performance evaluation parameters also travel time. The report also said that the Study Team was not able to find other (DPWH) detailed studies (i.e., feasibility studies) in relation to the technical analysis to support the proposed flyovers in Zamboanga City. “The feasibility studies could help determine the best configuration for the flyover including the number of lanes and the geometric improvements needed at ground level,” it said. (Zamboanga Post)
Why Bongbong Marcos can’t go to the U.S. Continued from page 1 disquieting fact. It shows that undercurrents of change have been bubbling in Philippine society for years – and have now fully surfaced. In a past newsletter, I wrote about factors that have helped rehabilitate the Marcoses. There is no single explanation for this phenomenon. I am sure academics, journalists and researchers will write tomes on this phase in our country’s history and help us understand our society better. We are not unique, though, when it comes to near- or full restoration of disgraced politicians. In Peru, the daughter of a jailed ex-president, Keiko Fujimori, led the race for the presidency last year but lost in a tight runoff. This was her third run for president. Park Gyun-hye, daughter of controversial strongman Park Chung-hee, became Korea’s first female president in 2012. She was dogged by a corruption scandal, was impeached by parliament in December 2016 and officially ousted three months later when the supreme court upheld the decision. Park was then arrested on corruption charges. Bongbong and Marcos estate Here at home, supporters of Bongbong Marcos argue that the sins of the parents shouldn’t be visited upon the son. This reasoning seems to gain a lot of traction as the son is portrayed as an innocent bystander while the parents looted the public coffers, stashed these in Swiss banks and elsewhere, and fought lawsuits to keep them. What is overlooked is the fact that Bongbong himself is embroiled in at least two cases involving his family’s ill-gotten wealth and is an active participant in defending their stolen riches. The first has to do with his role as executor of the Marcos estate together with his mother, Imelda Marcos. When Ferdinand Marcos died in 1989, his heirs – Imelda, Imee, Bongong and Irene – did not pay any estate tax. At the time, the Bureau of Inter-
nal Revenue (BIR) computed the estate tax at P23.3 billion. Today, with the piling interest rate and penalty, the amount has soared to P203.8 billion. This case reached the Supreme Court. Before that, it was Bongbong who filed a petition with the Court of Appeals questioning the BIR’s tax assessment, leading the family’s defense. Here’s what former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio wrote in his Inquirer column last year: “The Marcos heirs simply ignored all the notices sent by the BIR. However, when the BIR served notices to the Marcos heirs that real properties in the name of Ferdinand Marcos would be auctioned off to pay the estate tax, Bongbong Marcos filed a petition with the Court of Appeals questioning the validity of the estate tax assessment on the flimsy ground that the BIR had no jurisdiction over the assets of the deceased Marcos because the assets were in the custody of the probate court. The Court of Appeals dismissed Bongbong Marcos’s petition on the ground that the estate tax assessment had already become “final and unappealable.” Twenty-four years after the Supreme Court affirmed the Court of Appeals decision, the Marcos heirs still have not paid the estate tax.” US warrants of arrest In the US, cases hound Imelda, Imee, and Bongbong. They are wanted in the US because they failed to comply with the decisions of a Hawaii court’s rulings on how the family’s seized assets should have been disbursed to the victims of human rights violations. Myles Garcia, a US-based writer who has followed the Marcos cases there, wrote in 2016 that a judgment, issued by a Hawaii court in 2011, “specifically for violating a US court order not to dissipate their assets, elevated the classification of the judgments against the Marcoses from ‘civil’ status to ‘criminal,’ thus making the defendants culpable of jail sentences.” I asked Garcia, via email,
what this means. He said they are “automatically ‘Wanted’ for failing to comply with the law.” Are there actual warrants of arrest? Garcia said these may have been served to the Marcos lawyer defending their interests in the Hawaii court cases. Former Supreme Court chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno wrote on this issue in her Facebook post: “Usually po, kapag may deklarasyon ng “contempt” sa isang litigant, mayroong inilalabas na arrest warrant ang korte na nag-uutos sa law enforcement authorities na hulihin at ikulong ang taong in-contempt hangga’t masunod niya ang utos ng korte.” (“Usually, when there is a declaration of ‘contempt’ versus a litigant, the court issues an arrest warrant or authorizes law-enforcement authorities to arrest and jail the person in contempt until he/she complies with the court order.”) What led to this? Garcia wrote in Positively Filipino, a USbased online magazine, the background of the cases: “In January 2011, after 17 years of the Marcoses appealing the earlier verdicts (all of which were rejected), making Philippine courts try to void the Hawaii court judgments, and all but making no effort to even meet some of the judgments, the Hawaii courts again slapped Imelda, Bongbong and Imee with another $353.6 million fine in contempt of court. It was the largest award for a contempt case ever on record, for ignoring the court’s earlier judgments and the court knowing that the Marcoses have the wherewithal to pay up. But the Marcoses failed in all their appeals of the…US judgments.” At the time, Imelda and Bongbong refused to comment on the contempt of court, the Inquirer reported. As things stand, will presidential candidate Bongbong be able to travel to the US? No, says Ruben Carranza, former commissioner of the Philippine Commission on Good Government. Arrest warrants await the Marcoses if they set foot in the US. (Marites Vitug/Rappler)
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The Zamboanga Post
January 17-23, 2022
January 17-23, 2022
The Zamboanga Post
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January 17-23, 2022
Repairs eyed in damaged rubberized track ‘DPWH, contractors commit to finish works at sports complex’
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HE DEPARTMENT OF Public Works and Highways, which is responsible for the rehabilitation of the Mayor Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex, and its contractors, have committed to repair damaged rubberized track at the stadium. Mayor Beng Climaco to- damaged facilities, particularDPWH Assistant Secretary gether Vice Mayor Rommel ly the rubberized track. It was Maximo Carvajal, who led the Agan and Councilor Bong started on March 21, 2016 and turnover of the sports complex Atilano and personnel from completed on January 1, 2019. together with DPWH Regionthe City Engineer’s Office Last September, DPWH al Director Cayamombao Dia, and City Sports Division, in- Project Engineer Shadimar bragged the stadium, built in spected the inspected the fa- Jalaidi said they told the private 1992, is now back to its old glory. cilities at the sports complex contractors to immediately re- They even claimed the complex in Barangay Baliwasan. pair the damaged portion of the as “world class” after the rehaAfter the inspection, Cli- rubberized track. bilitation and Dia praised those maco’s group held a meeting Jalaidi said the contractors behind it and the perseverance with representatives from will start the repair soon be- and hard work of the men and the DPWH and contractors cause the project is still within women of DPWH-9, including RCDG Construction Corpo- the one-year warranty period the designers, the estimators, ration and R.U. Aquino Con- since the formal turnover of the the project supervision team struction and Development P199-million sports complex in and the contractor for successCorporation. February 2021. He said the cer- fully implementing the project The project is a joint tificate of completion and other that started.” The project involves the venture between the two con- bills for final payment have also tractors and they committed been withheld pending correc- construction of the oval track, ball game courts, playing field, to undertake rehabilitation of tive measures on the defects.
OPINION
Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco
‘The Baptism of the Lord’ “YOU ARE my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” This wonderful recognition of God the Father on Jesus is an affirmation which gave the Lord strength in his public ministry all the way to the crucifixion. "As our children learn behaviors and wire their brain,
positive affirmations are very effective in nurturing wellbeing in childhood. Affirming positive messages are like acts of kindness and love towards themselves that build self-esteem and self-belief which will stay with them throughout their life." Wellbeing: http://ripplekindness.org (Roxane Wilkins). I was blessed to be able to once
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again reconnect with my training in the Center for Family Ministry where I trained and finished my Masteral Study in Pastoral Ministry and Family Counseling-ADMU. It is very important to help affirm the goodness of others and let them see their value. It is important that parents and teachers affirm and recognize the goodness of children and students. To
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City Government photos show Mayor Beng Climaco inspecting the damaged rubberized track at the Mayor Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex. bleachers, toilet and shower, and other facilities. It also includes general painting works for the entire building and roofs, replacement of lighting fixtures, installation of roll-up doors, upgrading of plumbing systems, construction of new septic vault, and new gates along the Western Mindanao State Uni-
versity and R.T. Lim Boulevard. City Sports Officer Dr. Cecile Atilano previously said the 57,000 square meter sports complex will remain open to the public, except the Lanes 1 up to 4 of the rubberized track oval to prevent further damage. The stadium was damaged after it was used by the
government as temporary shelter for thousands of families displaced by the siege of 2013 when loyal supporters of Moro National Liberation Front chairman Nur Misuari raided Zamboanga and street battle lasted for three weeks leaving dozens of people dead. (Zamboanga Post)
see the good in all, will mean the capacity and potential for them to grow and reinforce these good deeds. May we learn to practice this to complement sincerely and see the goodness in others especially in times where negativity, cyber bullying find themselves eroding one's self esteem causing much destruction on the victim. What does it mean to be God's beloved like Jesus? We can only imitate our Lord despite our human limitations we keep trying. My prayer to God is to please him till the very end of my public service until the end of my life. I am a people pleaser and have to
struggle by accepting the reality that: “WE CAN NEVER PLEASE EVERYONE!” Our mission is to PLEASE GOD ALONE! The Christmas season, I
thank everyone for their generosity of sharing. All these Christmas cards are affirmations that we are doing the right thing in our mission to serve our people. (MBC)
Sulu
Tawi-tawi