Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales last    Thursday ordered Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Commissioner Alfredo Po dismissed from service after finding him demanding and receiving commissions for the rentals being paid by the PRC for its satellite office in Baguio City.
In a ruling approved on May 16, Morales found Po liable for grave misconduct and violation of Section 7(d) of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
The Ombudsman imposed on Po the penalty of dismissal from service, including the accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification from re-employment in the government service.
The case arose from a complaint filed by Ernesto de los Santos, owner-lessor of a building leased by the PRC where it holds its Baguio office located at 141 Abanao Extension.
De los Santos alleged in November 2012 he went to Po’s office and was given checks representing PRC’s security deposit as lessor, during which Po demanded from him a monthly commission of P42,800.
He further alleged that on Nov. 28, 2012 in Po’s office, Po demanded his monthly commission for October and November 2012, and warned him that if he did not comply, the lease contract would be cancelled by whatever available means, prompting De los Santos to pay P84,000.
He added Po thereafter said the amount was not enough as he demanded a broker’s commission of P394,000, for otherwise he would make the release of the checks difficult for De los Santos.
After De los Santos reported the matter to the National Bureau of Investigation on Dec. 5, 2012, an entrapment operation was conducted by the NBI Counter-Terrorism Division in Po’s office at the PRC in Manila, where De los Santos delivered P394,000 to Po representing the broker’s commission.
In his counter-affidavit, Po denied De los Santos’ allegations.
He said he could not have intervened in the approval of the lease contract as he was not a member of the bids and awards committee and that he signed the lease contract as a mere witness, although he, an engineer by profession, admitted he inspected the Baguio site in 2011 in his capacity as commissioner-in-charge of Physical Infrastructure and Development.
He argued it was inconceivable for him to extort money long after the lease contract was signed.
Complainants NBI-CTD and De los Santos countered the leverage of Po was on the validity of the contract and the release of the check payments because Po was a signatory to the checks issued by PRC.
The Ombudsman ruling said the video clips taken during the entrapment operation clearly showed Po was well aware of the money placed on top of his table but never objected nor questioned the same, even as De los Santos said, “grabe pressured na pressured ako sa ‘yo…sabi mo nung una i-manager’s check ko, hindi nga lang sa Land Bank? O ito na Freddy bilangin mo na kung ok na,” and, towards the end, Po even said “thank you” before he was about to leave.
Insofar as the criminal aspect of the case is concerned, the Ombudsman had resolved it in December 2012 after the Department of Justice recommended, upon inquest proceedings, the filing of criminal cases against Po for clearly accepting the money as a consideration for the performance of his official functions as a PRC commissioner and in the nature of a commission for the facilitation of the lease contract between PRC and De los Santos.
The Ombudsman filed on Dec. 12, 2012 before the Sandiganbayan four separate charges indicting Po for direct bribery, graft, solicitation or acceptance of gifts, and simple robbery.
Po was appointed PRC commissioner by President Aquino  in September 2010.           

Congressman-elect Edgar “Egay” Erice (District 2-Caloocan) yesterday urged all newly elected local officials to join him in a “Unity Summit” in a determined bid to unify them “as election is over and it is time to work together for good of the residents and the city as well.”
In a telephone conversation with the Tribune, Erice, who was proclaimed winner in the congressional race during the recently concluded mid-term polls beating incumbent Rep. Mitch Cajayon, believed his initiative is an ideal move that would be beneficial to the city since those elected were from different political affiliations.
“The recent election had been successful and the local electorate had elected those candidates they wanted to lead them. Now it’s proper that we as newly elected officials should do our share, let’s unite regardless of our party affiliations for common good,”  Erice said.
He added the historic event will be doubly significant if the city folk along with members of non-government organizations, businessmen, students, civic and religious groups can be present during the proposed summit.
“They will serve as witnesses to this important day in Caloocan wherein all the newly elected officials who belong to different political groups will come together for a common purpose that is for the city’s progress and development,” Erice said.
The new Caloocan lawmaker has volunteered himself to organize the event which he said must take place soon so that programs and projects, particularly those that directly benefit the poor people, will be carried out without delay.
“This proposed summit is truly imperative because it will ensure unity among us and that is good for the city,” Erice, who led a motorcade yesterday wherein he thanked the residents and local voters for their support as indicated by his victory in the polls, said.
During the event, he will propose to other newly elected officials that they present their programs and platforms they all have promised during the campaign period and implement them together regardless of their political affiliations.
The ally and close friend of President  Aquino said: “Sigurado ang pagkakaisa nating lahat ay magiging magandang simulain sa patuloy na pagsulong at pag-unlad ng ating mahal na lungsod ng Caloocan.”
This early, some concerned residents were all praises for the plan broached by Erice as they challenge other local officials who got fresh mandates from the people to follow suit if indeed they do not have selfish interest and they care for the city and its people.
 

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim spent his weekend delivering wheelchairs to those who have requested  them in his office at the city hall.
The delivery of about 10 wheelchairs was made by Lim in Tondo and Sta. Cruz areas, including near City Jail, where he was accompanied by Barangay Chairman Thelma Lim, barangay officials and social welfare chief Jay de la Fuente.
The recipients included 12-year-old Lovelle Joleen Ang who is suffering from RETTS Syndrome and Shenna Pontelo, 16, who has bone tuberculosis.     
The two and the other recipients, 88-year-old Teodoro de los Reyes who can no longer walk due to old age and stroke victims Bernardo Tuson, 70; Evelyn Evangelista, 63; Eduardo Renta, 65, and Benjamin Bulan, 86, virtually cried upon the sight of Lim personally giving them wheelchairs. Three other wheelchairs were left with the requesting parties’ families since the ones in need were not home for checkup.                                                                                                                            
As standard operating procedure, Lim had each recipient put on the wheelchair and personally gave instructions to family members on how to properly use the wheelchair before personally pushing it around, making sure it does work perfectly.                                                                                                                     
Since his first incumbency in 1992, Lim had been personally delivering wheelchairs to those in need of them during weekends and holidays in the belief that providing mobility would give the physically-challenged a better chance at being productive members of the society.                                                                       
“Bakit ko idine-deliver? Kung sila pa ang pupunta ng city hall para manghingi ng wheelchair, maghahanap pa sila ng tao para samahan sila, gagastos pa ng pamasahe at aakyat pa ng hagdan,” the mayor explained.                                           
The recipients are those who cannot personally go to the mayor’s office at the city hall and make the necessary request for  wheelchairs. Their requests are usually made either through De la Fuente or their respective barangay chairmen.                                                                                                                  
The free wheelchairs are usually given to the sick, handicapped and physically-challenged who have been rendered immobile so they can regain mobility and become productive again.                                                                
Lim has already given out about 2,300 wheelchairs from children to adults and in all of Manila’s six districts.             

Makabayan Coalition and its nine party-list groups last Friday protested the Commission on Election’s recent decision to suspend the canvassing of party-list votes and the release of data to the transparency server.
Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, Kabataan, Courage, Migrante, ACT-Teachers, Katribu, Akap Bata and Piston are members of Makabayan.
The group said it is incorrect for Comelec to say only 200 precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines malfunctioned when in actuality the number is at 18,615 PCOS machines. Makabayan explained that PCOS machines are expected to perform three functions: to accept ballots, to count the votes and to transmit the results to the canvassing board. Clearly, 18,617 PCOS machines and more are defective by failing to transmit.
Makabayan president Satur Ocampo said “the suspension of canvassing of party-list votes and the release of data to the transparency server, together with the numerous instances of malfunctioning PCOS machines and the much delayed transmission of votes make the process prone to cheating by losing party-list and senatorial candidates.”
Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan alleged “that with many of the vital safeguards removed and the reported irregularities, the Comelec is practically providing opportunity to cheat.”
Ilagan said the biggest irregularity in the 2013 elections creating high public anxiety is the fact that until now the Comelec transparency count is stalled at 76.18 percent and the results of the elections at 23.83 percent or 18,615 clustered precincts with more than 11.5 million votes is unknown to the public.
Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said the Comelec ruling to suspend the canvassing of party-list votes is highly irregular, bereft of valid reason and will benefit party-list groups that are out to tamper election results.
“Why should the Comelec suspend canvassing of party-list votes when each Certificate of Canvass (CoC) sent to PICC already includes both party-list and senatorial votes?” said the Makabayan party list groups in a statement.
Colmenares argued that “it is the transmission of results and not the simultaneous canvassing of senatorial and party- list votes that is causing the delay. Our objections over the canvassing of votes of the 12 disqualified party-list groups cannot be used by Comelec as an excuse since the Commission has already decided for the provisional canvassing despite our protestations.”
Ocampo added that “compounding the public anxiety over the delayed transmission of votes is the Comelec decision to altogether stop the Transparency count because of the confusion it will create during the official canvassing. That reasoning is pure hogwash.”
“The Transparency count posted online is precisely intended to immediately inform the public of the results of the elections at the precinct level as a means to check the possible tampering in the ladderized canvassing of votes from the city/municipality to provincial and national level,” he explained.
The group said “it appears that the Comelec is allergic to public and transparent counting of votes which is crucial in ensuring clean and honest elections.”
According to Vote Report Philippines, the monitoring arm of Kontra Daya, they had received 1,043 complaints from volunteers, teachers and poll watchers. At least 46 percent or 480 cases involve PCOS errors.
Meanwhile, there were 91 reports of rejected ballots and 51 incidents of transmission problems.
“There are too many irregularities and questions right now that could not be ignored by the Comelec. Our call is for the Commission to immediately resume the canvassing of party-list votes, proceed with the Transparency count and investigate the problems involving PCOS machines, CF cards and transmission,”  Ocampo said.
The Makabayan President added, “Comelec should clean up its act and prove that no vote shaving and padding is happening behind the scenes. Instead of making excuses, it should protect the people’s right to vote, to be informed and participate in ensuring clean and honest elections.

The city government of Taguig is girding for the celebration of the 10th anniversary of “Brigada Eskwela,” a volunteer program of the Department of Education (DepEd) aimed at ensuring the readiness of all public schools and educational facilities for the yearly opening of classes in June.
No less than re-elected Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano will lead this year’s National Schools Maintenance Week, more widely known as “Brigada Eskwela,” with a slew of activities from today, May 20, to Saturday, May 25 in the city.
She encouraged all stakeholders to participate in this voluntary effort of teachers, parents and village officials at preparing the schools for the opening of classes.
“I urge everyone in the community to donate his spare time and effort for this laudable program. Our working together will ensure that our children will go to our schools, remain there and complete their education so that later they will become productive community members in Taguig,” the mayor said.
She noted that the city government takes the Brigada Eskwela seriously, so much that Taguig was named “Best Implementor” of the program in the national level by DepEd in 2011.
Kicking off the celebrations today  is a march of some 3,000 volunteers composed of Cayetano herself, students, teachers and parents from St. Francis of Assisi College in Holy Family Village to Sta. Theresa Elementary School and Bagumbayan National High School.
DepEd Special Events coordinator Nestor Ramos said upon reaching Sta. Theresa, Cayetano will actively participate in the repair of school furniture, particularly chairs and tables.
Instead of last year’s paint brush, Ramos disclosed Cayetano will use a hammer and a screwdriver to repair about 10 chairs and tables that have seen better days.
After this, he added, the mayor will extend her carpentry chores at the Bagumbayan National High School.
Bootes Lopos of the City Administration for Education said the mayor’s participation in this year’s Brigada Eskwela, particularly her attempt to mend broken chairs and tables, is a symbolic act of securing a bright future for the youth of Taguig.
All public elementary schools in the city are expected to participate in the week-long program which was institutionalized by the DepEd under DepEd Order No. 24 issued in 2008.
Last year, Brigada Eskwela gave importance to school sanitation and hygiene through the improvement of toilets and wash facilities.
Like in the previous years since she became Taguig’s highest public official, Cayetano will again distribute complete sets of ready-to-wear uniforms, bags and new pairs of shoes to public school students, from pre-school to high school starting this June.
The students will also get free school supplies like pens, notebooks for all subjects, bags, pencil cases and pad paper.
The current administration has given top priority to the local education sector.
Among other things, Cayetano increased the budget for the city scholarship program from P100 million in 2011 to P200 million in 2012 and upped the ante to P300 million this year.

Leading 2013 party-list contender Buhay Hayaan Yumabong group has assured support to the bid of former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, Manila’s mayor-elect, to rejuvenate this Philippine capital so it can be more attractive to investors and livable for people.
“We’ll help him help Manila regain its lost glory,” said Buhay nominee Lito Atienza who also previously spearheaded a similar bid while serving as the city’s chief executive.
Among the proposals Buhay targets pursuing in Congress are enhancing public health services and releasing pork barrel funds directly to local government units (LGUs) instead of legislators, he said.
Atienza assured Buhay’s support to the bid of Estrada, noting this party-list group will always promote initiatives aimed at safeguarding life and improving people’s welfare.
“We advocate good governance to help boost the economy and generate better living conditions,” he said.
Estrada earlier had set his sights on transforming Manila, noting such change will help this city regain its status as the country’s leading economic and cultural powerhouse.
Partial unofficial Commission on Elections (Comelec) poll results as of 12:11 p.m. yesterday showed Buhay leading the 2013 party-list race with some 1.06 million votes.
The poll results also showed A-Teacher party-list group at the race’s second place with 831,220 votes garnered.
Atienza believes Buhay’s pro-life advocacy and stand against the reproductive health bill helped galvanize voter support to this party-list group.
“Voters supported our bid to protect life,” he said.
If Buhay wins in the elections, this group might possibly lead efforts to form a House bloc advocating such bid.
“I’ll seriously look into that matter,” Atienza said.
Earlier, Estrada had committed to enhance peace and order in Manila to help transform this Philippine capital into an investment hub.
“There can never be economic growth without peace and order,” he said after being proclaimed this week as mayor-elect of Manila, succeeding the city’s incumbent chief executive Alfredo Lim.
Erap raised urgency for the transformation, noting Manila is crime-ridden aside from being poverty-stricken and a development laggard.
“A study shows poverty incidence in Manila is high as investors in the city decided investing elsewhere for fear of being victimized by criminals,” he noted.
Estrada plans laying the foundation for Manila’s transformation by reforming the city’s police force.
He assured working to rid the force of crooks to help address corruption among police personnel and make them more effective in promoting peace and order. PNA

An estranged couple wanted by authorities for their involvement in illegal drug activities finally fell during a lightning anti-narcotics operation last Friday in Valenzuela City.
Detained were Alvin Banalnal alias Randy, 24, and Cora Sagalat, 25, both residents of A. Mabini Street, Barangay San Roque, Marikina City, Valenzuela police chief Senior Supt. Rhoderick Armamento said.
Armamento added drug charges in violation of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, were filed against Banalnal and Sagalat before the City Prosecutor’s Office.
Prior to the arrest of the couple, the police chief told The Tribune in a text message they made sure they had coordinated the anti-narcotics operations with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency so that the arrest would not be put to naught.
After receiving information about the duo’s presence along Lamesa Street, Barangay Ugong where they were said to be peddling shabu (metamphetamine hydrochloride), Armamento said he immediately instructed Chief Insp. Allan Ruba of the station anti-illegal drugs and special operations group to proceed to the area and carry out the operation to arrest the duo.
Reports said Banalnal and Sagalat were caught in possession of some 7.25 grams of shabu placed in four heat-sealed plastic sachets around 10:30 a.m. along Lamesa Street.
Armamento heaved a sigh of relief after the arrest of the couple, saying they had been wanted by the authorities and had evaded several entrapment operations laid down to get them in the past but they managed to escape until their arrest.
The Valenzuela police chief lauded his men led by Ruba for conducting the operation with dispatch which resulted in the duo’s arrest. Arlie O. Calalo

Quezon City’s market development and administration department (MDAD) has joined the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in installing price monitoring boards in different public and private markets in the city in an effort to protect consumers against unscrupulous traders and manufacturers.
QC markets where the price monitoring boards were installed include Cloverleaf Market and MC markets in Balintawak, Muñoz market, Mega Q-mart, Tandang Sora (Bayan) market, Litex wet and dry market, New Arayat market and the Villa Sabina market in Barangay Talipapa, Novaliches.
Assistant city market administrator Noel Soliven told The Tribune the city government is determined to protect the residents against deceptive sales acts and practices.
“Consumer protection will continue to remain a priority program of MDAD,” Soliven said.
The first round of installing price monitoring boards in QC markets was conducted in December 2012 covering 11 markets.
Price monitoring boards are set up to guide consumers on the prevailing price ranges in the market, he said.
These also help vendors on how to entice consumers through competitive pricing by creating more value for money not only for the consumers but also for the local traders.
As school opening draws near, the city government, on orders of Mayor Herbert Bautista, mobilized members of the city’s local price coordinating council to ensure that prices of school supplies sold to consumers are within the price ceiling set by the DTI.
Part of the mobilization includes monitoring of the quality of school supplies sold in the city, the officials said. Arlie O. Calalo

Campaign tarpaulins which were removed by environmental advocates after the recent elections were found to contain the carcinogenic substance cadmium.
Environmental group EcoWaste Coalition collected and detected that tarpaulins contained cadmium content up to 1,279 parts per million (ppm) in all the samples, while lead content up to 1,704 ppm in 51 samples (25 percent).
EcoWaste Coalition Project Protect coordinator Thony Dizon said in a statement the results of chemical analysis provided a valid basis for strong regulatory measures to curb the use of cadmium and lead in vinyl plastic materials.
These, according to the group, can cause adverse effects to human health and the environment. Even during its disposal, if not done properly.
Cadmium is classified as “carcinogenic to humans” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer with inhalation as the main route exposure, the EcoWaste Coalition said.
Long-term exposure to cadmium can lead to high blood pressure, age-related macular degeneration and cancer of the breast, lung and kidney, considered the critical target organs for toxicity of cadmium in humans. PNA

The Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday morning lowered its alert level to normal status in most parts of the country since the mid-term elections have ended.
PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr. said the PNP downgraded its alert level at 6 a.m. but noted that PNP units in Mindanao from Regions IX to XIII remained on heightened alert.
The PNP placed the entire police force on full alert last May 6 in connection with the May 13 national and local mid-term elections.
Under a full alert status, all PNP personnel cannot file their leave of absences as they are tasked to man their posts at any given time.
During the May 13 elections, police worked with soldiers to ensure the peaceful conduct of elections as they were also tasked to assist voters at the polling precincts.
The PNP National Task Force SAFE 2013 assessed that the conduct of the 2013 mid-term elections was generally peaceful with only one report of election-related violent incident in Sulu.
Cerbo said PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima lauded the entire 148,000-strong police force for a job well done during the election.
The PNP, meanwhile, started to recall the 30,000-strong troop augmentation force deployed to perform poll duties in the 15 priority areas listed by the Commission on Elections as perennial election “hot spots.”
Since Tuesday, the troop augmentation forces started reporting back to their respective units, offices and training schools upon completion of their poll duties detail in various polling centers. Gina Peralta-Elorde