TABUK CITY, Kalinga - Jerome Tabanganay, 44, the hard-hitting announcer of the Radyo ng Bayan here, narrowly escaped death when he was shot at close range by an assassin as he was entering the radio station at Bulanao Norte shortly before 7 a.m. of May 15.
Tabanganay was reporting to the station for his program “Agenda” which airs from 7 to 9 a.m. when the attempt on his life took place.
Tabanganay told the media that as he was at the door of the station, a man approached him and asked his name. When he asked why, the man instead repeated the question.
Sensing danger, Tabanganay ran into the station and that was when the man opened fire hitting him behind the knee.
Although injured, the victim managed to take refuge in the engineering room of the station and would later go to the booth to call the police and the emergency health service for help.
Rescuers later brought Tabanganay to the nearby Almora General Hospital. Read more **By Estanislao Albano, ZZW
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
KARSA denounces religious groups involved in vote-buying
TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Kalinga Apayao Religious Sector Association (KARSA) which consist of nine religious denominations in the province has denounced some clergymen and churches who it alleged took part in buying votes during the last elections.
In a statement, the outspoken religious group said that there were pastors who promised the votes of their congregations to individual politicians and party list groups in exchange for material considerations.
“They themselves spearheaded campaign sorties and some of them personally distributed money in exchange for votes. They themselves led their people to the road of perdition instead of leading them to the narrow gate of heaven,” the statement said.
In the same statement, KARSA also condemned politicians who bought votes saying that with their act, they just “displayed what kind of leaders they will be in the next three years.”
The group made it known that it does not condone these religious personalities and groups on one hand and candidates on the other likening them to “termites eating up the fabric and the moral foundations of our society.”
In an interview, KARSA Chairman Luis Aoas informed that one sect had received P10,000.00 from a partylist group and another P30,000.00 from a candidate for a provincial position.
He also said that one pastor who does not belong to the KARSA had violated the arrangement with a politician to give P500.00 to each member voter by reducing the amount to P300.00.
Admitting that some of those involved are members of the association, Aoas said that they will shortly meet to decide on what disciplinary action it will impose on its members who violated their policy and advocacy against vote-buying and other illegal and immoral election practices. **By Estanislao Albano, Jr., ZZW
In a statement, the outspoken religious group said that there were pastors who promised the votes of their congregations to individual politicians and party list groups in exchange for material considerations.
“They themselves spearheaded campaign sorties and some of them personally distributed money in exchange for votes. They themselves led their people to the road of perdition instead of leading them to the narrow gate of heaven,” the statement said.
In the same statement, KARSA also condemned politicians who bought votes saying that with their act, they just “displayed what kind of leaders they will be in the next three years.”
The group made it known that it does not condone these religious personalities and groups on one hand and candidates on the other likening them to “termites eating up the fabric and the moral foundations of our society.”
In an interview, KARSA Chairman Luis Aoas informed that one sect had received P10,000.00 from a partylist group and another P30,000.00 from a candidate for a provincial position.
He also said that one pastor who does not belong to the KARSA had violated the arrangement with a politician to give P500.00 to each member voter by reducing the amount to P300.00.
Admitting that some of those involved are members of the association, Aoas said that they will shortly meet to decide on what disciplinary action it will impose on its members who violated their policy and advocacy against vote-buying and other illegal and immoral election practices. **By Estanislao Albano, Jr., ZZW
Monday, May 24, 2010
News flash: A gloomy day here at Bulanao
Barangay Bulanao, Tabuk City - At about 11:45 this morning there was a gun battle right there at the waiting shade located near beside the Mama’s Bakery or just in front of the compound of Saint Louis College, Saint William’s Academy, and Saint William’s Cathedral. The scene of the crime is also about 20 meters away from the white Carabao monument which is about 30 meters away from the newly built Police outpost. In short the incident took place about 50 meters away from said Police outpost.
There were a lot of people in that area that time who scrambled in every direction for safety. There were at least three slugs found, but according to witnesses there should be more. There were bystanders that were hit by stray bullets, one of whom is a female student who that time was taking her snacks in one of the stalls located at the Saint William’s Cathedral compound. One of the parties involved in the gun battle identified as certain “It-iti” of Barangay Nambaran was fatally wounded and was rushed by police authorities to the provincial hospital few minutes after the incident. The other parties involved who wore helmets were able to escape with their motorcycles and as of this time police authorities are still in hot pursuit operations.
There were a lot of people in that area that time who scrambled in every direction for safety. There were at least three slugs found, but according to witnesses there should be more. There were bystanders that were hit by stray bullets, one of whom is a female student who that time was taking her snacks in one of the stalls located at the Saint William’s Cathedral compound. One of the parties involved in the gun battle identified as certain “It-iti” of Barangay Nambaran was fatally wounded and was rushed by police authorities to the provincial hospital few minutes after the incident. The other parties involved who wore helmets were able to escape with their motorcycles and as of this time police authorities are still in hot pursuit operations.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Vote-buying in Kalinga scored, automation praised
TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Aside from the remarkable advances brought about by poll automation, what stands out in the minds of some residents of this province regarding the last elections was the massive vote-buying which took place.
In the capital town, there are reports that the vote-buying binges of some politicians extended to the day of the election itself.
Grocer Paul Naoy, 55, of Casigayan, this city, told the ZZW the practice of exchanging votes for material things including cash should stop because it’s the children who will suffer as a result.
“The benefits of selling votes are momentary but the effects on the community are long lasting. Once a politician who has bought votes wins, he will always find a way to recoup his expenses through corruption to the detriment of the community,” Naoy said.
Manuel Onalan, 49, a resident of Bulanao, this city, and a cooperative officer, said that the mercenary character of politics in the province has become so pervasive that when he tried to recruit volunteers for Liberal Party standard-bearer Benigno Aquino III, those he approached asked how much they will be paid.
He continued that due to their level of ignorance, 80 percent of the Kalinga electorate are vulnerable to deception, gimmickry and material enticement by unscrupulous politicians.
“It is hard to eradicate the practice of vote-buying and selling unless we now start preaching and exemplifying politics of principles and action,” Onalan said.
On the other hand, all are agreed that automation has revolutionized the electoral process for the better.
Radio ng Bayan station manager Basilio Baluyan, 54, said that during past elections, the heat generated by the exercise was felt and vented through the airwaves.
“Complaints from politicians and their supporters used to inundate the station as though the media could make decisions on their complaints. This elections, aside from complaints about missing names in the voters’ list, so far we only had one candidate who came to complain about an alleged irregularity,” he said.
Mary Anne Buslig, 63, provincial election assistant of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), said that aside from the relative peacefulness and orderliness of the elections, automation also reduced the time for the Provincial Board of Canvassers (PBOC) to complete its task.
“In previous elections, it took us at least a week to complete the canvassing. In contrast, this elections, the winning provincial candidates were proclaimed less than three days after the elections,” the veteran of elections since 1984 said.
Buslig jestingly added that automation has emptied the electoral process of thrill.
“As a substitute for election officers who could no longer take the pressure of municipal canvassing, I am used to fear, nervousness and tension. All that is gone now,” she said.
Farmer John Doclan, Jr., 42, of Casigayan, claimed that automation has eliminated cheating when elections returns (ERs) are transported from the precincts to the canvassing center because now, ERs are transmitted electronically to the canvassing center.
He, however, said that the element of suspense is now gone from the electoral process as the results are revealed right away.
Rev. John Binbinan, 43, pastor of the Assembly of God of Dagupan Centro, this city, who monitored the goings on in the Tabuk Central School for the election watchdog Bantay Eleksyon 2010, is impressed by the speed of the process but said that due to the long queues, some voters failed to vote.
He said that he noticed some of the people who came in the morning when the place was jampacked go home and that he is certain some of them did not come back.
A practicing lawyer who does not want to be named observed that with computers taking over the counting of votes, the role of counsels in the electoral process has been drastically reduced.
He said that he declined the request to represent a candidate because he will only be watching the process “as you cannot object to a machine.”
He, however, warned that with automation making it hard to cheat during the electoral process, vote-buying will become even more rampant in the future.
“A vote will cost more during future elections because vote-buying will be the only way candidates could cheat,” he said. **By Estanislao Albano, Jr., ZZW
In the capital town, there are reports that the vote-buying binges of some politicians extended to the day of the election itself.
Grocer Paul Naoy, 55, of Casigayan, this city, told the ZZW the practice of exchanging votes for material things including cash should stop because it’s the children who will suffer as a result.
“The benefits of selling votes are momentary but the effects on the community are long lasting. Once a politician who has bought votes wins, he will always find a way to recoup his expenses through corruption to the detriment of the community,” Naoy said.
Manuel Onalan, 49, a resident of Bulanao, this city, and a cooperative officer, said that the mercenary character of politics in the province has become so pervasive that when he tried to recruit volunteers for Liberal Party standard-bearer Benigno Aquino III, those he approached asked how much they will be paid.
He continued that due to their level of ignorance, 80 percent of the Kalinga electorate are vulnerable to deception, gimmickry and material enticement by unscrupulous politicians.
“It is hard to eradicate the practice of vote-buying and selling unless we now start preaching and exemplifying politics of principles and action,” Onalan said.
On the other hand, all are agreed that automation has revolutionized the electoral process for the better.
Radio ng Bayan station manager Basilio Baluyan, 54, said that during past elections, the heat generated by the exercise was felt and vented through the airwaves.
“Complaints from politicians and their supporters used to inundate the station as though the media could make decisions on their complaints. This elections, aside from complaints about missing names in the voters’ list, so far we only had one candidate who came to complain about an alleged irregularity,” he said.
Mary Anne Buslig, 63, provincial election assistant of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), said that aside from the relative peacefulness and orderliness of the elections, automation also reduced the time for the Provincial Board of Canvassers (PBOC) to complete its task.
“In previous elections, it took us at least a week to complete the canvassing. In contrast, this elections, the winning provincial candidates were proclaimed less than three days after the elections,” the veteran of elections since 1984 said.
Buslig jestingly added that automation has emptied the electoral process of thrill.
“As a substitute for election officers who could no longer take the pressure of municipal canvassing, I am used to fear, nervousness and tension. All that is gone now,” she said.
Farmer John Doclan, Jr., 42, of Casigayan, claimed that automation has eliminated cheating when elections returns (ERs) are transported from the precincts to the canvassing center because now, ERs are transmitted electronically to the canvassing center.
He, however, said that the element of suspense is now gone from the electoral process as the results are revealed right away.
Rev. John Binbinan, 43, pastor of the Assembly of God of Dagupan Centro, this city, who monitored the goings on in the Tabuk Central School for the election watchdog Bantay Eleksyon 2010, is impressed by the speed of the process but said that due to the long queues, some voters failed to vote.
He said that he noticed some of the people who came in the morning when the place was jampacked go home and that he is certain some of them did not come back.
A practicing lawyer who does not want to be named observed that with computers taking over the counting of votes, the role of counsels in the electoral process has been drastically reduced.
He said that he declined the request to represent a candidate because he will only be watching the process “as you cannot object to a machine.”
He, however, warned that with automation making it hard to cheat during the electoral process, vote-buying will become even more rampant in the future.
“A vote will cost more during future elections because vote-buying will be the only way candidates could cheat,” he said. **By Estanislao Albano, Jr., ZZW
Thursday, May 13, 2010
The winners
The following winners here in Kalinga were proclaimed by the Provincial Board of Canvassers at about 1:00 AM, May 13, 2010:
House of Representative:
Manuel S. Agyao (Incumbent)
Governor:
Jocel C. Baac (Incumbent Vice Governor)
Vice Governor:
Allen Jesse Mangaoang (Incumbent Mayor - Balbalan)
Provincial Board Members - District I:
1. Dave Odiem
2. Roy Dickpus
3. Chester Alunday (Incumbent)
4. Alfonso Canao (Incumbent)
Provincial Board Members - District II:
1. Gelacio Bongngat
2. Edwardo Sarol (Incumbent)
3. GKachay Claver
4. Ludar Luyaben (Incumbent Councilor - Tabuk)
Congratulations!
House of Representative:
Manuel S. Agyao (Incumbent)
Governor:
Jocel C. Baac (Incumbent Vice Governor)
Vice Governor:
Allen Jesse Mangaoang (Incumbent Mayor - Balbalan)
Provincial Board Members - District I:
1. Dave Odiem
2. Roy Dickpus
3. Chester Alunday (Incumbent)
4. Alfonso Canao (Incumbent)
Provincial Board Members - District II:
1. Gelacio Bongngat
2. Edwardo Sarol (Incumbent)
3. GKachay Claver
4. Ludar Luyaben (Incumbent Councilor - Tabuk)
Congratulations!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Local election results
Partial unofficial election results can be viewed here for those who are interested to know who will likely to win in the gubernatorial race in Kalinga.
In the presidential and vice presidential race, Erap and Binay respectively bested their opponents in this province.
It is very disappointing that huge sum of money and other goodies were distributed by the politicians all over the place.
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In the presidential and vice presidential race, Erap and Binay respectively bested their opponents in this province.
It is very disappointing that huge sum of money and other goodies were distributed by the politicians all over the place.
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