Angeles City News July 2012

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DFA: 11 more passport offices in malls to be opened before year ends

By VVP, GMA News

CLARK FREEPORT—“The national government through its agencies is the protector of the destroyer of the environment.” Thus said Sonny Dobles, President of the Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL) President, as he assailed anew the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the ongoing construction of the $400-million Korean tourism-estate project and golf course at Clark. The 36-hole golf course of the Donggwang Clark Corp. (DCC) required the shaving of “huge” portion of a mountain at the northwestern portion of Clark, said Dobles. He said at least 20,000 trees were destroyed since the DCC leased 304 hectares at Clark in 2010 for its Donggwang Sunvalley Leisure Community (DSLC) project. The CDC earlier said 128 non-endemic trees were cut and “no more trees will be cut.” Dobles showed the BusinessMirror the back portion of the DCC’s golf course in sitio Target, Sapang Bato, Angeles City. He said the massive destruction of the mountain was done and “the killing of the mountain and trees continues.” Trucks loaded with soilgravel, sand and other construction materials were seen passing by the road constructed within the DCC’s golf course area. The road and vehicles traversing it are visible from Sapang Bato, one of the two barangays of Angeles City at Clark. “Only 128 trees were cut? Tell that to the Marines. Look at the thickly forested area around the golf course,” said Dobles, pointing to the construction site separated by the Sapang Bato Creek from where he was standing on Sunday. Brown water RESIDENTS of the cities of Mabalacat and Angeles complained about the alleged erosion of the mountain where the DCC is constructing the golf course scheduled to open in January 2013. In an executive briefing on the project last week, the CDC said the entire 36 holes of the golf course will be ready by July 2013. Diosado Pangilinan, board chairman of the Mabalacat Water District who was born and raised in the new city, said he had seen “brown-colored water under the San Felipe bridge for the past several days since it rained last week.” He said that water flowing at major creeks in Mabalacat, including the area at San Felipe, “has been colorless” since the time he could remember as a child. Pangilinan said he had also seen a portion of mountain “cut” at the property of a race track at Clark. “I believe it’s coming from there [race track] and probably in other areas where mountains were cut. Of course, the sand is from Clark,” he said. Tricycle drivers at Sapang Bato said “brown water has flowing in the creek for many days in July.” “The brown water flows in torrents when it rains,” they added in the dialect. Dobles showed the area at Little Baguio, Sapang Bato where brown water flows under a hanging bridge. Little Baguio is at the lower portion of sitio Target. Dobles said the Sapang Bato Creek is near the DCC’s construction site where the brown water emanates. He also showed the Caluang Creek in the same area whose water is colorless. Calaung is at the west portion of Clark while the Sapang Bato Creek starts from the northwestern area. “The water at Caluang Creek comes from Porac town and not from the area of the DCC golf course,” said Dobles. On July 30, CDC Environment Management Department (EMD) Manager Juan Miguel B. Fuentes called the BusinessMirror and said his superior at CDC had asked him to forward all questions to the CDC public relations department (PRD). He said the new set of questions sent by the BusinessMirror on Sunday evening will be answered by the CDC-PRD. On July 11, more than two weeks before the story on the DCC project was published, the CDC-PRD issued statements to journalists via e-mail, saying the project was generally safe and was even cited and praised by the DENR’s Environment Management Bureau (EMB) Regional Director Lormelyn Claudio . The DCC, the Philippine subsidiary of Donggwang Construction, is expecting to complete the world-class DSLC estate in 2016. The golf course reportedly consists of a 36-hole golf course, clubhouse, 330-room condominium, water park, spa and gymnasium, ecopark, business center, international school, golf academy and driving range, medical clinic and drug store, hotel, casino, a 500-unit villa, and shopping arcade.

‘$400-M golf course project is killing the mountain’

By JOEY PAVIA / CORRESPONDENT

CLARK FREEPORT—“The national government through its agencies is the protector of the destroyer of the environment.”

Thus said Sonny Dobles, President of the Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL) President, as he assailed anew the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the ongoing construction of the $400-million Korean tourism-estate project and golf course at Clark.

The 36-hole golf course of the Donggwang Clark Corp. (DCC) required the shaving of “huge” portion of a mountain at the northwestern portion of Clark, said Dobles. He said at least 20,000 trees were destroyed since the DCC leased 304 hectares at Clark in 2010 for its Donggwang Sunvalley Leisure Community (DSLC) project.

The CDC earlier said 128 non-endemic trees were cut and “no more trees will be cut.”

Dobles showed the BusinessMirror the back portion of the DCC’s golf course in sitio Target, Sapang Bato, Angeles City. He said the massive destruction of the mountain was done and “the killing of the mountain and trees continues.”

Trucks loaded with soilgravel, sand and other construction materials were seen passing by the road constructed within the DCC’s golf course area. The road and vehicles traversing it are visible from Sapang Bato, one of the two barangays of Angeles City at Clark.

“Only 128 trees were cut? Tell that to the Marines. Look at the thickly forested area around the golf course,” said Dobles, pointing to the construction site separated by the Sapang Bato Creek from where he was standing on Sunday.

Brown water

RESIDENTS of the cities of Mabalacat and Angeles complained about the alleged erosion of the mountain where the DCC is constructing the golf course scheduled to open in January 2013.

In an executive briefing on the project last week, the CDC said the entire 36 holes of the golf course will be ready by July 2013.

Diosado Pangilinan, board chairman of the Mabalacat Water District who was born and raised in the new city, said he had seen “brown-colored water under the San Felipe bridge for the past several days since it rained last week.”

He said that water flowing at major creeks in Mabalacat, including the area at San Felipe, “has been colorless” since the time he could remember as a child.

Pangilinan said he had also seen a portion of mountain “cut” at the property of a race track at Clark.

“I believe it’s coming from there [race track] and probably in other areas where mountains were cut. Of course, the sand is from Clark,” he said.

Tricycle drivers at Sapang Bato said “brown water has flowing in the creek for many days in July.”

“The brown water flows in torrents when it rains,” they added in the dialect.

Dobles showed the area at Little Baguio, Sapang Bato where brown water flows under a hanging bridge. Little Baguio is at the lower portion of sitio Target.

Dobles said the Sapang Bato Creek is near the DCC’s construction site where the brown water emanates.

He also showed the Caluang Creek in the same area whose water is colorless. Calaung is at the west portion of Clark while the Sapang Bato Creek starts from the northwestern area.

“The water at Caluang Creek comes from Porac town and not from the area of the DCC golf course,” said Dobles.

On July 30, CDC Environment Management Department (EMD) Manager Juan Miguel B. Fuentes called the BusinessMirror and said his superior at CDC had asked him to forward all questions to the CDC public relations department (PRD).

He said the new set of questions sent by the BusinessMirror on Sunday evening will be answered by the CDC-PRD.

On July 11, more than two weeks before the story on the DCC project was published, the CDC-PRD issued statements to journalists via e-mail, saying the project was generally safe and was even cited and praised by the DENR’s Environment Management Bureau (EMB) Regional Director Lormelyn Claudio .

The DCC, the Philippine subsidiary of Donggwang Construction, is expecting to complete the world-class DSLC estate in 2016.

The golf course reportedly consists of a 36-hole golf course, clubhouse, 330-room condominium, water park, spa and gymnasium, ecopark, business center, international school, golf academy and driving range, medical clinic and drug store, hotel, casino, a 500-unit villa, and shopping arcade.

5 ‘human traffickers’ freed due to weak evidence

By JOEY PAVIA / REPORTER

CAMP Olivas, Pampanga — The court ordered Tuesday the release of five persons earlier accused of human trafficking after they were arrested by Pampanga PNP-Criminal Investigation Unit during a raid at a night spot last July 12 in Bgy. Dau, Mabalacat town.

Tuazon-Pinto of Angeles City Regional Trial Court, Branch 60 said the evidence presented against the accused are weak. The court granted the petition for bail of Php100,000 each to Tita Pormento, 63, club owner; Wilma Gomez, 33, floor manager; Ronnie Bermudo, 41, floor manager; Arsenia Cayanan, 51, assistant supervisor; and Flor Naguit, 50, manager. The Pampanga PNP-CIDU presented to the court the “marked money” as evidence in filing the appropriate charges against the club owner. But the “marked money” paid to one of the female workers at the club before the raid was conducted turned out to be negative of ultra-violet fluorescent powder when tested at the PNP-Crime Laboratory Office in Angeles City. CIDU investigators claimed the said female worker was caught having sex with a customer “for a fee” during the raid at around 1 a.m. On July 12, the Pampanga PNP-CIDU headed by Chief Insp. Fernando Cunanan raided Club Fairway following reports that the night spot was allegedly harboring minors engaged in prostitution. After the raid, Pormento and his four managers were arrested and charged with violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003. During the raid, CIDU operatives also rounded up 10 females employed as entertainers along with nine staff members of the club.

Trouble brews in Clark over $400-M Korean tourism-estate project

By JOEY PAVIA / REPORTER

CLARK FREEPORT—Somewhere in God’s Heaven, Joyce Kilmer must be beaming broadly over what’s happening in Central Luzon and other places in the Philippines (the world, for that matter), where people have begun moving in earnest to preserve one of God’s most beautiful creations, which became the subject of his immortal poem “Tree.” In Pampanga, where this piece focuses, Central Luzon-based environmentalists this week slammed national government agencies, including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Clark Development Corp. (CDC), for allowing and “even praising” the $400-million Korean tourism estate project that was put up at the sacrifice of so many destroyed trees and even portions of a mountain at Clark to pave the way for a 36-hole golf course.

Cecile Yumul, spokesman of the City of San Fernando-based group fighting for the retention of hundreds of old trees along McArthur Highway, said that “any man-made mitigation measure” would only be temporary, not to mention expensive, anytime it is destroyed by natural disasters.

Only compliance with and adherence to the natural law could solve environmental problems, she said. More trees should be planted and cutting them should be avoided by all means, especially with climate change now fast affecting the world.

Yumul was reacting to a statement e-mailed by the CDC to journalists disclosing that the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) had “cited” the Donggwang Clark Corp. (DCC) engineering methodologies and the 80-percent completion of the DCC’s erosion-mitigating measures at the area of the golf course at the northwestern portion of Clark. The CDC said at least half of the 304-hectare area leased to the DCC is for its golf course.

Yumul said the CDC and the DENR “had not learned” any lesson from the tragedies in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities in December last year, when the mindless cutting of trees caused soil erosions and flash floods at the height of Typhoon Sendong, killing more than 1,200 people.

Until we learn from the tragic lessons of the past and continue to this belief that we are mightier than nature, “we may as well sign off the existence of the human race,” said Yumul of the Save the Trees Coalition (STC).

She cited a study done by Louise Berger of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) that had recommended the reforestation of the mountain ranges surrounding Clark.

“Only that [reforestation] will prevent another disaster of gigantic proportions such as the aftermath of the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991,” she added.

‘Angeles City has taken off’ – city dad

By Joelyn G. Baluyut

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, July 27 (PIA) -- The mayor of Angeles City said during Wednesday’s State of the City Address that Angeles has taken off, being more progressive now than before.

Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said, “Yes we have taken off as 84 percent of the commitments under the city government’s contract with Angeleños (CWA) had been fulfilled as of June 2012.”

CWA is an eight-point program with 43 components aimed at strengthening his commitment to better serve Angeles City through a system of governance that is progressive and people-centered.

These programs include education, transparency and better governance, environmental protection and conservation, economic development, public health, public market, peace and order, and barangay development.

“I have never seen a community working together as zealously for the improvement of our dear city, not since the Pinatubo days when we all worked together to help Angeles City rise up from the ashes of destruction to what it is today,” the local chief executive said.

Pamintuan said, “Through the collaborative efforts of the people of Angeles ranging from my co-workers in the city hall, from the lowliest job order employee to the department heads, the members of my agenda; friends in the business and private sector, multi-sectoral groups – the urban poor, the transport workers, vendors, cooperatives, women, senior citizens, professionals, artists and cultural workers, youth and students, gay community, even school and community-based fraternities, and Muslim brother who lend a hand in many projects we have undertaken in the area of environment, health care, enterprise development, arts and culture, among others, truly, we had achieved the rate grade of 84 percent and the remaining 16 percent that will be accomplished this second semester and the following year is achievable, and we can surpass it and I believe we can do it with your support.”

“The ultimate power rests on the people. It can never be appropriated nor expropriated by any politician, or even by a government, however good the intentions are. Only you can wield it. And when you do, I know you will wield it to uphold the common good and interest. Not mine. Not anybody else’s,” he said.

“We are doing a good job now, in fact, for me, that is good politics,” the mayor said.(CLJD/JGB-PIA3)

ORIGINAL: "Angeles City has taken off" - EdPam ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, July 26 (PIA) -- Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said during Wednesday's State of the City Address (SOCA) that Angeles has taken off, being more progressive now compared to before.

“Yes we have taken off as 84 percent of the commitments under the City Government’s Contract with Angeleños (CWA) have been fulfilled as of June,2012" Pamintuan said.

CWA is an eight-point program with 43 components aimed at strengthening his commitment to better serve the public of Angeles City through a system of governance that is progressive and people-centered.

Among these programs include Education, Transparency and Better Governance, Environmental Protection and Conservation, Economic Development, Public Health, Public Market, Peace and Order, and Barangay Development.

“I have never seen a community working together as zealously for the improvement of our dear city – not since the Pinatubo days when we all worked together to help Angeles City rise up from the ashes of destruction to what it is today,” the local chief executive shared.

Pamintuan stressed that “through the collaborative efforts of Angeleños ranging from my co-workers in City Hall, from the lowliest job-order employee to the department heads, the members of my Agenda; friends in the business and private sector, multi-sectoral groups – the urban poor, the transport workers, vendors, cooperatives, women, senior citizens, professionals, artists and cultural workers, youth and students, gay community, even school and community-based fraternities, and Muslim brother who lend a hand in many projects we have undertaken in the area of environment, health care, enterprise development, arts and culture, among others, truly, we had achieved the rate grade of 84 percent and the remaining 16 percent that will be accomplished this second semester and the following year is achievable, and we can surpass it and I believe we can do it with your support."

“The ultimate power rests on the people. It can never be appropriated nor expropriated by any politician, or even by a government, however good the intentions are. Only you can wield it. And when you do, I know you will wield it to uphold the common good and interest. Not mine. Not anybody else’s,” he said.

“We are doing a good job now, in fact, for me, that is good politics,” the Mayor concluded.(CLJD/JGB-PIA3)

Clark named one of world's best freeport, airport

By (PNA)

FPV/BAC/mec

MANILA, July 26 (PNA) -- Clark Freeport Zone and Clark International Airport ranked 8th and 3rd best freeport zone and airport, respectively, in the world by the London-based Financial Times Business Group, which is also the publisher of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDi) Magazine.

With the Financial Times ranking, the Clark Freeport Zone is now part of an elite list of freeport zones in the world, including The Dubai Airport Free Zone (Dafza), the Dubai International Financial Centre in UAE and Shanghai Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone in China.

Other top zones cited by the prestigious magazine are Malaysia’s Iskandar, UAE’s DuBiotech, Tanger Free Zone in Morocco, Freeport of Ventspils in Latvia, Chittagong Export Processing Zone in Bangladesh, and Dubai Media City in UAE.

FDi Magazine invited 600 free zones from 120 countries to participate in a survey where respondents submitted relevant data about their free zones.

Another member of the BCDA Group, the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) placed third in the magazine’s top five best airport zones in the world.

The Dubai Airport Free Zone topped the list, with Morocco’s Tanger Free Zone landing in second place.

Clark Freeport Zone was also cited by FDI Magazine in 2010 as the 7th Best Economic Potential among the Global Free Zone of the Future for the years 2010 to 2011. Clark Freeport Zone is a wholly-owned by the BCDA.

The Clark Freeport Zone, a 4,500-hectare former US military base in Angeles City, Pampanga, is set to become Southeast Asia’s logistics hub for business and tourism.

At present, there are more than 533 locators at the Clark Freeport Zone, providing employment to around 65,000 workers in the country.

Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and CEO Arnel Paciano D. Casanova lauded the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) for putting the Clark Freeport Zone at the forefront of the global investment radar.

“The international recognition of one of the country’s freeport zones is an indication that the Philippines is making waves in the global market. We are on the right track,” Casanova said.

Casanova, who is also the chairman of the Philippine Investment Promotions Plan (PIPP) Steering Committee, said the sound economic fundamentals of the country, the country’s recent credit rating upgrade, and now the ranking of Clark Freeport Zone as among the best in the world, solidifies the notion that the country is indeed ripe for new and bigger investments.

Casanova said being ranked 8th in the world is not an easy task to accomplish as he recognized the hard work done by the CDC.

“Through the years, the men and women of CDC have risen up to the challenge and succeeded in making the Clark Freeport Zone among the top freeport zones in the world,” Casanova said.

He added that “the CDC led by Chairman and OIC Eduardo Oban, Jr. is on track in attracting more investments that will translate to more jobs for the Filipinos,” Casanova said.

The recognition of CDC, a member of the BCDA Group, came at the heels of BCDA’s signing of a cooperation agreement with the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) that would help position the country as an investment destination in the Asia Pacific region.

For his part, BCDA Chairman Felicito Payumo said, “We are definitely bound for a stronger Philippine economy.” He emphasized that the country — given its healthy business climate anchored on integrity, fairness and good governance — will continue to draw attention and interest from the international community.”

The BCDA Group is composed of the Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), Poro Point Management Corporation (PPMC), John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC), North Luzon Railway Corporation (NLRC), BCDA Management and Holdings, Inc. (BMHI),Bataan Technology Park, Inc. (BTPI) and the BCDA.

Number of workers inside Clark soars to 66,223

By Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu


CLARK FREEPORT, July 25 (PIA) -- The number of workers inside Clark Freeport has soared to 66,223 as of June 30 this year, an all-time employment high since its inception in 1993, the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) said on Tuesday.

CDC’s Customer Service Department said, “The electronic sector has the biggest number of employees inside the Freeport at 14,145 followed by information technology and business process outsourcing (BPO) at 11,475.”

The expansion program of Cyber City Teleservices Inc. (CCTI) was among the biggest contributor of employment in the first semester of the year.

CCTI has expanded its operations in the last quarter of 2011 following the continuing economic improvement in the United States.

Founded in 1999, the CCTI is a holding company focused on a portfolio of BPO and contact center investments around the globe. It currently has 2,000 workers. (CLJD with reports from Clark Development Corporation)

Renal Care Unit celebrates 1st year of service

By Ian Ocampo Flora


ANGELES CITY -- Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and City Councilor Alexander Indiongco led the celebration of the first year of operations of the Angeles City Renal Care Unit (ACRCU) Monday at the Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center (RLMMC) formerly Ospital Ning Angeles (Ona), vowing to further develop the services of the facility.

Pamintuan joined officials and employees of RLMMC in a thanksgiving mass and short program highlighting the humble beginnings of the facility and its great impact to the medical needs of dialysis patients.

Pamintuan and Indiongco were joined by ACRCU head Dr. Ramon Jose Suarez.

It could be remembered that the ACRCU started offering dialysis treatment for indigent patients suffering end stage renal disease (ESRD) last year.

According to Pamintuan, initially the ACRCU started 15 dialysis units and plans to acquire more in the coming years. At an average, the facility services around nine patients a day.

“Imagine the economic relief that this facility gives to our constituents and even patients coming from outside of Angeles City. We have made the otherwise financial burdensome procedure with the reach of our constituents,” Pamintuan said.

Pamintuan said the City Government is upgrading the level of medical services being offered in the city. He added that people have committed to support the facility with further donations of necessary equipment.

Dr. Ramon Jose Suarez, ACRCU head said that the facility, along with other wards inside ONA, have greatly improved through the support of Pamintuan and the Mayor’s Desk at ONA under city councilor Alex Indiongco.

“As you can see, much of the conditions and facilities of our hospital have now seen significant improvement because of the efforts of our mayor and city officials,” Indiongco said.

“Our public hospital was also able to serve about 185,072 patients and still counting,” Indiongco said, stressing that his office, the Ospital Ning Angeles and various barangay halls have served some 44, 433 beneficiaries in free medicines.

Pamintuan also led the site inspection of the hospital.

Pamintuan said that the Renal Care Unit (RCU) of the city was able to serve a total of 170 end stage renal disease patients (ESRD) since July 2011 to July 2012. A total of 5, 248 hemodialysis treatments were also given since the establishment of the RCU.

Classes suspended in Angeles City

By Joelyn G. Baluyut


ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, July 23 (PIA) -- The mayor of Angeles City, Pampanga suspended classes in the pre-elementary and elementary levels today in the city.

Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said, “Due to incessant rain in the past 24 hours, all classes in the said levels, both private and public, schools are suspended.”

Pamintuan also announced the possible relocation sites and contact persons in times of disasters which include 29 barangays.

The Department of Education (DepEd) said local chief executives may implement localized class suspensions or cancellations during weather disturbances in the absence of typhoon signal warnings from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pag-asa).

DepEd said local chief executives, in their capacity as chairpersons of the local disaster councils and in coordination with the national disaster council, may cancel or suspend classes in private and public schools and work in government offices in their locality through all forms of mass media available. (CLJD/JGB-PIA3)

21 members of Taiwanese-led fraud ring arrested in Angeles

By LBG, GMA News


At least 21 members of a phone and Internet fraud ring were arrested in Angeles City in Pampanga Friday in a joint operation by Philippine and Taiwan authorities.

The crime ring, led by a Taiwanese, was believed busted with the weekend arrest, according to a report on Taiwan's Central News Agency Saturday night.

"The suspects worked by impersonating law enforcement officers, local officials or customer service personnel to trick or threaten victims into transferring money to the ring. Most of the victims were from China," the CNA quoted an investigator involved in the operation as saying.

Of the 21, 13 said they were from Taiwan, while eight said they were from China. But investigators are verifying their claims since they found no passport or other document with them, the report added.

But the investigator also said many of the suspects claimed being tricked into working there through advertisements in newspapers, adding they did not know what the job entailed until they arrived in the Philippines.

Investigators said the Taiwanese members were paid between NT$30,000 (US$999.56) and NT$40,000 per month, while the Chinese members received 2,000 yuan (US$312.73) monthly.

An initial questioning also showed the suspects impersonated Taiwan diplomats at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines by using fake business cards.

Found in the raid were telecommunication equipment, lists of fraud victims, and scam guide books.

CNA quoted an investigator as saying police who raided the ring's base caught members trying to burn and destroy pieces evidence.

Philippine investigators acting on a tip from Taiwan authorities conducted the raid after a month of surveillance on the group's activities.

An investigation showed the group rented two luxurious mansions in Angeles City for P65,000 a month, sealing openings in the buildings so no one could see what was going on inside.

CNA quoted a neighbor as saying the ring moved into the mansions about two months ago and kept a low profile, with only one member leaving to buy daily necessities.

Clark airport janitress cited for honesty

By Ding Cervantes


CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines – A janitress was belatedly cited for honesty for returning P21,650 in cash and other items she found at the Clark International Airport here.

Victor Jose Luciano, president and chief executive officer of the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC), personally commended yesterday janitress Aila Orcino for her “exemplary honesty.”

Last June 29, Orcino found a brown pouch containing the money and health care, ATM and credit cards in the female restroom at the pre-departure area, and turned it over to his superiors.

Councilor wants probe on OFW’s death

By Published in the Sun.Star Pampanga newspaper


ANGELES CITY -- Councilor Jesus Sangil asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to investigate the death of a female worker from Pampanga who reportedly drowned in a hotel swimming pool in Bahrain.

Sangil said the family of Marilyn Pamintuan Bondoc, 42, an overseas contract worker (OCW), sought the help of city officials for an investigation to determine if there was a foul play behind her death.

In his letter to DFA Consul Elmer Cato, through Central Luzon Regional Consular Officer Arturo Romua, Sangil stated the case of Bondoc who died on July 9, 2012.

“The cause of her death is still in a ‘cloud of doubt’ as far as her family is concerned. In connection with the unfortunate incident, we are now seeking DFA’s assistance in seeking clear answers to the cause of her death and/ or if necessary her family is seeking justice with the tragedy to their family,” Sangil said in his letter.

“Further, we are also earnestly requesting to facilitate the recovery of the remains of Mrs. Bondoc and that it be transported back to the country and to her family. Her remains is said to be at the Al Salmaniya Hospital in Bahrain,” city councilor added.

Sangil said Bondoc’s relatives were informed that the victim went swimming in a pool hotel and drowned.

“He (Bondoc’s husband) sought our assistance thru Broadcaster Arnel Panganiban, Station Manager of dwGV-AM. We immediately called the attention of DFA Consul Elmer Cato for assistance,” Sangil said.

Sangil authored a resolution for the creation of an OFW and Owwa desk at the Public Employment Service Office in City Hall during his second term in the City Council.

Funnside Ningnangan: Famed grill landmark finds home in Angeles City

By Ian Ocampo Flora


THE BEST of Sto. Tomas town’s grilled food delights has finally invaded Angeles City with the upcoming opening of the Funnside Ningnangan in Barangay Pulung Maragul a few blocks away from Marquee Mall on July 27.

Funnside Ningnangan has been synonymous with the best grilled food that San Matias, Sto. Tomas is famous for. If Sta. Rita has its turrones de casuy and sansrival, Sasmuan its pulburon, Angeles City its sisig and Bacolor its suman and tamales, Sto. Tomas has grilled food that people from as far as Bulacan and Metro Manila would brave the long travel to Pampanga just to have a taste of.

But Funnside Ningnangan offers more with its strong line up of seafood and oriental dishes that are cooked with the fusion of Kapampangan taste in mind.

Food lovers in Metro Angeles should be thankful for the foresight of businessman Architect Jhong Naguit for bringing the famed business establishment in Angeles City. The establishment sits on a 3,200-square meter property and can accommodate large parties and events.

The long bamboo-made edifice that the Funnside Ningnangan is famous for is a wonder in itself. Made by craftsmen from Bacolor, the edifice is a fusion of Kapampangan bamboo art with the traditional “bahay kubo” architecture.

“This dining facility is bringing to Angeles City the contemporary and old Kapampangan food culture in Sto. Tomas. We hope to contribute to the culinary attractions of Angeles City,” Naguit told Sun.Star Pampanga. Naguit said they hope to register another worthwhile attraction in Angeles City’s tourism map.

After a motorcade signaling its grand opening, customers and food lovers will be able to avail of the best grilled food in town at a 50 percent discount for lunch and dinner on the opening day.

Dining at Funnside Ningnangan is a novelty of savoring the alfresco ambiance and the food being cooked right before your very eyes. Savor the best barbeque orders marinated and cooked the Kapampangan way. Short orders of seafood, oriental dishes like tempura and steaks are also available side-by-side.

Funnside Ningnangan provides that novelty experience of dining in an eclectic ambiance in the company of friends or family.

7 alien illegals nabbed

By Vito Barcelo


Immigration agents arrested seven illegal aliens in Angeles City as part of the bureau’s audit of overstaying foreigners.

Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said that the aliens were apprehended last July 5 during an operation conducted by 30 operatives from the bureau’s intelligence division.

Those apprehended were among the 92 mostly Indian and Korean nationals who were invited by the operatives for verification of their immigration status, David said.

The aliens were served with mission orders at their residences and establishments and brought to the nearest BI field office in Clark for document and status verification.

Lawyer Ma. Antonette Mangrobang, acting intelligence chief, said that of the seven detained aliens, five were undocumented, one had a fraudulent immigration document and the other one, a fugitive.

The undocumented aliens included three Koreans and two Indians while the fugitive is a Marshall Island national.

July 27 is non-working holiday in Angeles City

By Joelyn G. Baluyut


ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, July 17 (PIA) -- July 27 is a non-working holiday in Angeles City, in line with the commemoration of the founding anniversary of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC).

Ordinance No. 263 series of 2009 says this holiday which was approved by the then Mayor Francis Nepomuceno and still Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting.

INC is a nontrinitarian Christian restorationist religious organization that originated in the Philippines which was founded in the Philippines by Felix Y. Manalo, its head minister on July 27, 1914.

Manalo propagated his message within his local area, growing the INC and converting members of other religions. As membership increased, he delegated others to spread the teachings of the INC and it spread throughout the Philippines and to other countries.

By 1988, INC has grown to about 2,635 congregations called locales, in which 220 of them 67 countries outside the country.

Based on the INC website, 2.3 percent of the population of the country is affiliated with INC. (CLJD/JGB-PIA3)

Angeles opens health center for free surgeries

By Joelyn G. Baluyut


ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, July 16 (PIA) -- The city government of Angeles has opened a health center that will perform free minor surgeries and operations.

Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said surgical services such as the removal of sebaceous cyst, lymphoma cyst, tendon cyst, abcess, warts and even small breast mass will be done at the new medical facility, Medikalinga Center, for free.

Although this is free of charge, patients still needed to pass the profiling and screening process prior to their admission, he said.

The rural health physician will then assess and decide if the patient is recommended for surgery.

“This is one of the programs of the city government in line with health. We provide better health care and medical services to the people of Angeles,” said the mayor.

Medikalinga has 10 surgical beds with medical equipment for minor surgeries and operations. Operations are held every Friday until Sunday. The center is located in Barangay Sto. Domingo in Angeles City. (CLJD/JGB-PIA3)

News feature: The impact of the Clark Dev't Corp to the Central Luzon economy

By Rebecca Grace S. David


Nineteen years ago in 1993, the former military installation that is the Clark Air Force Base was transformed into the Clark Freeport Zone.

Since then, it steadily improved the economy in the region because of the influx of locators and investors which resulted in the creation of more jobs, and income from exports.

ANGELES CITY, July 15 (PIA) -- The now Clark Development Corporation ( CDC ) earned P160.392 billion or $3.912 million in exports. The top sectors which posted the highest exports include electronics - $ 3.10 billion, tires-$ 298.05 million, garments- $226.88 million, manufacturing- $131.35 million, and aviation $ 13.34 million.

The five top exporting firms are the Texas Instruments-$ 1.53 billion; Nanox Phils- $ 791.09 million; Phoenix Semiconductors- $566.09 million; Yokohama Tires Phil -$298.05 million, and L&T International Group Phil- $ 145.10 million.

As to the generation of employment, the CDC has a workforce of 64,055. Of this 8, 206 workers are expected to join the Zone when the new investments open these year.

Clark is also now a tourist destination which infuses more income and provides more jobs to the locals of the region.

The three-hectare Nayong Pilipino sa Clark is the showcase of Filipino heritage and tradition.

In here can also be found the Clark Museum and the Kapampangan Museum. The former traces the rich history of Clark through dioramas, photos, and replicas while the latter show the culture & tradition of Pampanga through the collection of artifacts and photographs.

A surge in investments, exports, and employment is expected in the coming years, CDC President Eduardo Oban concludes. (RGSD PIA 3 ).

Trafficking suspect held

By Jun Malig, Inquirer Central Luzon


CLARK FREEPORT—Police arrested a woman at Clark International Airport on July 3 on suspicion that she was behind human trafficking here. Police said Mila Austria, a resident of Cavite, was arrested for allegedly facilitating the travel to Malaysia of two women from Bulacan. Immigration officials stopped the women from leaving for lack of travel documents.

Scenic spots, tourist destinations in Clark

By clarkphilippines.com


Pampanga Clark Philippines offers a number of good scenic spots that are highly recommended tourist destinations that are frequently visited even for local residents of Manila traveling to the north for a short getaway and weekend excursion.

One of the most popular spots and places to visit is the lake in Clark. This is a good rendition of suburban lifestyle that is present in most suburban towns in USA.

P100M set for airport feasibility study

By Published in the Sun.Star Pampanga newspaper


CLARK FREEPORT – The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has set aside P100 million for a feasibility study on the Clark International Airport (CIA).

Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) president and CEO Victor Jose Luciano said the move of the DOTC will make Clark International Airport as the “main international airport of the country right after the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).”

“The Aquino government is serious in making Clark International Airport as the main gateway of the country,” Luciano said.

He said that “the government is looking at developing a long-term program such as the development of a new passenger terminal to accommodate huge numbers of passengers, as well as aircrafts for budget carriers and legacy carriers.”

“The government is determined to make Clark the main international airport that will cater to the rising number of passengers,” Luciano said.

He said CIA is the only airport in the country that has six budget carriers operating 24 hours a day.

Among them are Air Asia Philippines, Air Asia Malaysia, Seair, Cebu Pacific, Jin Air, and Airphil Express.

He said that the feasibility study is different from the P12-billion Budget Terminal being proposed earlier to the DOTC by the CIAC management.

CIAC is also in the process of evaluating the bidding of the P360-million Phase II expansion of the existing passenger terminal.

The current terminal has a capacity of 2 million passengers annually that is not enough to accommodate the influx of passengers using the CIA.

Budget carriers such as Air Asia Philippines and Airphil Express had stated earlier this year additional international and domestic flights at the airport that resulted to the growth of passenger volume.

CIAC had recorded a 54-percent growth in passenger volume in the second half of this year due to increased flights of the budget carriers, as well as full service airlines. Dragon Air, a subsidiary of the Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific, started on May 29 its daily Clark-Kong flights at the Clark Airport. Dragon Air is a full-service airline serving 130 destinations worldwide.

Passenger traffic at Clark International Airport is at 300 aircraft movements weekly. Asian Airline also operates at Clark Airport.

Expedia expands tieup with Air Asia

By Lawrence Agcaoili, The Philippine Star


CLARK FREEPORT ZONE, Philippines — Expedia Inc., the world’s largest online travel agent, is expanding its tie up with budget airline AirAsia Inc. by putting up a third localized site in the Philippines.

AirAsia Expedia chief executive officer Dan Lynn said in an interview with reporters that it has launched the Expedia.com.ph to offer a full service business helping travelers plan and book their travel online and providing a wide selection of 150,000 hotels and 400 airlines.

Over the past year, AirAsiaExpedia launched Expedia.com.sg and Expedia.com.th that is the number one online travel agency in Singapore and the emerging agency in Thailand.

Expedia currently has hotel-only sites operating in Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, and India.

Underpinned by the monumental growth of tourism in Asia, AirAsiaExpedia plans to launch Expedia sites in several Asian markets over the next nine months reinforcing its commitment and investment in the region.

Lynn said Expedia has decided to offer a full-service site in the Philippines given the immense potential of domestic and international travel.

He explained that the Expedia site would be localized to meet the needs of Filipino travelers and would offer the best holiday deals in the market.

“With our full service sites in Singapore and Thailand, we are already helping more people explore more destinations, and the investments we are now planning in the Philippines and Malaysia will bring Travel For All to even more people,” he said.

He explained that the world’s largest online travel agent sees an explosive growth in the number of travelers using online services in Southeast Asia with an average of 20 percent to 30 percent.

Right now, he said only 10 percent of the travelers in the Philippines book their flights and hotel accommodations online compared to Singapore’s 30 percent.

For her part, AirAsia head of commercial Kathleen Tan said the joint venture between AirAsia and Expedia would further revolutionize the online travel agency industry.

“Just as AirAsia is committed to grow the market in Asia, this joint venture also aims to focus and tap into the evolving travelers in Asia. Through this partnership with Expedia and our future plans to invest in the Philippine market, I am confident that AirAsiaExpedia will only further spur and grow the tourism industry,” Tan said.

Jose Abad Santos Hall of Justice in Angeles, a pilot model court in Phl

By Joelyn G. Baluyut

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, July 10 (PIA) -- The newly inaugurated Jose Abad Santos Hall of Justice (HOJ) in Angeles City is one of the three pilot model courts in the Philippines where the access and dispensation of justice will be strengthened through the installation of systems and technology, the rehabilitation of the courthouse, and the empowerment of human resources.

The other two are Halls of Justice in Lapu-Lapu in Visayas and Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao.

Court Administrator of Supreme Court Jose Midas Marquez, a guest during the inauguration of the hall said, “What we have now is the fruition of the renovation of the Angeles HOJ and the construction of its Annex Building, both to world-class standards in which the World Bank funded.”

“The World Bank financed the renovation and construction of the said HOJ, the procurement of equipment, and the installation of systems and technology to qualify Angeles Hall of Justice as a real model and modern courthouse,” he said.

“Indeed the Angeles courts have come a long way, from their pre-1980 days where four branches of the Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) and two Municipal Trial Courts in Cities (MTCCs) were housed in the Angeles City Library, while the other three RTCs and an MTCC were situated somewhere along McArthur Highway to where they are now – all here in the compound of the City Hall with bigger office spaces, courtrooms and judges’ chambers, storage rooms for each court and detention areas for each courtroom,” he added.

Angeles City HOJ now rests in a 3,480-sq m land from its original area of 1,280 sq m and now boasts of a canteen, meeting rooms, multi-function rooms, maintenance room, information and technology (IT) room, library, centralized holding area for detention prisoners, medical and dental clinic, and judges’ lounge and lawyers’ center, among others.

Marquez said, “The completion of this HOJ however, is not the end of the reforms we have envisioned for Angeles City, but rather, it is just the beginning. We still have to complete the installation of systems and technology, and empower our human resources, and this is where the greater challenge lies.”

“And let it be an additional challenge for all those serving in this great hall to make justice more accessible and fair, and its administration more effective and efficient,” he concluded.

The Angeles City Hall of Justice was renamed after the fifth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines and served as Acting President of the Philippines during World War II, Jose Abad Santos, who is from Pampanga. (CLJD/JGB-PIA3)

Battle royale for mayor looms in Angeles, Pampanga’s richest city

By JOEY PAVIA / CORRESPONDENT

ANGELES CITY—A battle royale looms next year for mayor of Pampanga’s richest city. Angeles City has the largest income in terms of government taxes.

Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan got the shock of his life when upon his arrival from a recent official visit in the USA, his political ally, Pampanga First District Rep. Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin, announced his decision to run for the city’s highest office in 2013. Both are Lakas-Kampi partymates who combined forces in 2010, beating by a wide margin their respective rivals.

Pamintuan was a former two-term mayor when he made a comeback in 2010, winning by 24,000 votes over then-Mayor Francis Nepomuceno. Lazatin has never lost in an election for the past 25 years, becoming the first three-term mayor of the city. On Monday Lazatin said traders and public utility drivers had asked him to run for mayor as they complained of “exorbitant” taxes imposed by the city government.

The two-term congressman said the “high and unfair taxes” charged by Pamintuan for the past two years had adversely affected small and prominent businesses.

“I don’t want the way Mayor Pamintuan had run the government. He did not consider that life is hard for all, notably the small traders,” said Lazatin.

For his part, Pamintuan said, “I am not the problem and I want status quo” when asked by the BusinessMirror if he would be open for reconciliation with Lazatin.

By “status quo,” Pamintuan was believed to have meant his seeking re-election for Angeles City mayor and Lazatin gunning for his third and last term as congressman next year.

Lazatin said Pamintuan had increased business and other taxes “so consistently high that the [people] had complained to me.”

Worse, he said, Pamintuan had even required drivers of public utility jeepneys and tricycles to pay mayor’s permits.

“I have been bombarded by complaints of the high increase in taxes in Angeles. The city government or any government for that matter should gradually increase taxes to help businesses cope with hard times and competition,” said Lazatin, adding that in countries like Singapore, the government “even subsidizes ailing traders during crisis.”

Lazatin said he had been mayor for nine years from 1998 to 2007 but tax increases was “only 10 percent yearly.”

He said that when he first assumed his post as mayor, the city had an annual income of P280 million. He said that when he stepped down in 2007, the city’s yearly income had doubled to P500 million.

“What’s the significance of all the taxes when businessmen in Angeles had not earned at all? They will close down and unemployment will increase significantly,” he said.

In his monthly press conference on Friday, Pamintuan described Lazatin as a “worthy opponent,” adding that Lazatin “is a tradition, mystery and puzzle.”

“Perhaps only Tarzan and IC [Calaguas] know the real reason why the congressman had decided to run against me. Perhaps even IC doesn’t know it all,” said Pamintuan. IC Calaguas is Lazatyin’s congressional chief of staff and a longtime trusted aide of the congressman.

Pamintuan said the age difference between him and the 78-year-old congressman could be a factor in the election. The first-term mayor is 62 years old.

He, however, said that supporters of both his government and Lazatin should not worsen the political crisis between them.

Pamintuan, who spoke for at least 40 minutes before reporters could ask questions, said he values friendship.

“I was hurt by some friends but when they came back, I accepted them. I am like that and you could not change it,” said Pamintuan, who was included in the short and final list of contenders for the World Mayor 2012 award.

He said, “Indeed, there are no permanent friends in politics, only permanent interests.”

Alexander “Alex” Cauiguiran, the mayor’s chief of staff and a longtime aide, refused to comment when asked about politics and friendship.

“I simply follow orders. I am like General Patton to US President Roosevelt,” said Cauguiran, referring to the late decorated World War II US Military General George Smith Patton Jr., who had successful commanded troops in Europe, Sicily and North Africa. He sat beside the mayor at the middle of the press conference.

Solon wants train linking Clark to NCR ‘fast-tracked’

By JOEY PAVIA

CLARK FREEPORT—Pampanga’s First District Rep. Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin is urging the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to fast-track the construction of the train connecting Clark to Metro Manila as more airlines begin serving local and international flights at the Clark International Airport (CIA). Lazatin said Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas should exhaust all means to ensure the completion of the stalled NorthRail project.

“A fast train should also be considered to ferry CIA passengers to and from Metro Manila,” said Lazatin.

Earlier, business tycoon Manuel Pangilinan expressed his intention to invest at Clark, including the high-speed train and the new airport terminal.

Lazatin’s statements came as Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) President and CEO Victor Jose Luciano announced on Wednesday last week that the volume of passengers at the CIA had increased by 54 percent in first six months of the year. Based on the report of the CIAC Corporate Planning Department there were 547,556 international and local passengers from January to June 15, 2012.

In his earlier speech at the CIA, Roxas said President Aquino had remained supportive of developments at Clark and its airport, but admitted that the NorthRail project “is back at the drawing board.” The NorthRail will connect Clark to Metro Manila, starting in Caloocan City.

Lazatin said “transportation via land, sea and air is important” to push for major developments.

“We don’t need to stress that the creation of NorthRail will push tremendous economic activities, especially in my district,” said Lazatin, whose jurisdiction includes Mabalacat, Angeles City and Magalang. The 4,600-hectare area of Clark is concentrated in Mabalacat and Angeles.

Lazatin said the new airlines operating at Clark, including Philippines Air-Asia and Hong-Kong-based Dragonair and Airphil Express, “are very much welcome in Pampanga.”

BIRTH CENTER IN ANGELES CITY

By Franco G. Regala


ANGELES CITY, Pampanga — Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan took pride in inaugurating earlier this week the Mother Bless Birthing Clinic (MBBC) in Barangay Cutud, here, as he referred to it as one of his special projects. “This is one of the great opportunities of delivering good and proper health service to our people here in Angeles especially in making maternal and child care reachable to every family,” said Pamintuan. Governors Lilia Pineda of Pampanga and Carlos Jericho Petilla of Leyte, as well as Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Ted Herbosa, graced the occasion.

Angeles city mayor lauds renaming of Hall of Justice, Jose Abad Santos

By Joelyn G. Baluyut


ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, July 6 (PIA) -- Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan lauded yesterday the renaming of the newly refurbished Hall of Justice in honor of the great Kapampangan Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos.

In a speech, Pamintuan disclosed that “the new justice hall of Angeles is in due recognition of Abad Santos who stood and died for our country.”

“This hall will certainly add history and prestige to the Angeles City Hall grounds, which we are slowly developing into a one-stop-shop complex where our people can transact business and seek justice and redress their grievances,” he added.

Also, with the completion of this establishment, the Angeles City government will be addressing the other needs of the Angeles Regional Trial Court (RTC), particularly on the need for more judges who will help speed up the resolution of cases.

The Mayor then assured that, “ Angeles is sensitive to and is fully aware of the importance of an effective and efficient administration of justice in the service of our people.”

Meanwhile, Pamintuan led the unveiling of a new monument of the former of Chief Justice, in whose honor and memory the hall have been named. The markers were signed by the Mayor and RTC Angeles City Executive Judge Omar Viola.

Abad Santos was the fifth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines and served as Acting President of the Philippines during World War II.

On April 11, 1942, he and his son José Jr. were captured by the Japanese. He identified himself as the chief justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. Abad Santos and his son were taken to a concentration camp. When asked to cooperate with the Japanese, he refused. Although he had nothing to do with military operations, they imputed to him the destruction of the bridges and other public works in Cebu.

Before he was shot to death, he told his son, "Do not cry, Pepito, show to these people that you are brave. It is an honor to die for one's country. Not everybody has that chance." (CLJD/JGB-PIA3)

Unsolved murders haunt P-Noy admin

By Federico D. Pascual Jr.


CLARK FIELD (PLDT/WeRoam) — It is premature, and a bit unfair, to accuse the military of the gunning down Tuesday noon in Angeles City of a Dutch missionary who had been supporting Hacienda Luisita worker-tenants.

Peasant and human rights advocacy groups are blaming the military and the Aquino administration general for the murder of Willem Geertman, 67, in front of his Alay Bayan Inc. office in the L&S subdivision in Angeles.

The ABI executive director was shot in the back while kneeling. The killers, who fled on the usual motorbike, wore only baseball caps, not helmets or masks, seemingly confident they would get away with the public execution.

His murder followed the pattern of physical elimination of critics of government, but proof is needed to pinpoint the killers, the mastermind, and the motives.

  • * *

PAT CONCLUSION: It is difficult for the authorities to stop a determined killer, especially in this country where human life is cheap and where officials do not seem to care that citizens are being swatted down like flies.

The test of President Noynoy Aquino, whose own family had been a victim of state persecution, is not so much the prevention of such casual assassinations, as in solving them fast and making the masterminds pay.

The police should not take the line of least resistance by saying Geertman was a victim of robbers riding in tandem, making a big point of his having come from a bank where he withdrew a large sum and of the killers taking his bag.

But neither should the crowd in the left fringes, and their allies across the seas, cry state execution almost by reflex just because Geertman was a fellow worker and actually had a number of run-ins with the military.

  • * *

BLOODY IMAGE: President Aquino should be concerned that Geertman is being mentioned in the same breath as his family’s Hacienda Luisita. Even with his influence over mainstream media, the negative association may just stick.

Human rights groups have listed already Geertman as the 95th victim of extra-judicial killing under the Aquino regime.

Recalling the killing of 59-year-old Italian missionary Fr. Fausto “Pops” Tentorio in Mindanao more than a year ago, concerned groups said the government’s failure to stop the impunity is turning the Philippines into one of the most dangerous places for foreign missionaries.

  • * *

CCTV VIDEO: Malacañang can help allay fears of a coverup by, among other steps, ordering the San Fernando police to return intact the L&S homeowners association’s CCTV video on the Geertman vicinity that Tuesday.

As I write this, sources said the police have not returned the tape they had borrowed from the L&S. The video reportedly showed, among other things, a motorbike and a vehicle in front of the ABI office.

Fears have been expressed that the CCTV tape may be tampered with — or lost!

(The San Fernando police stepped in probably because while the L&S gate is in Angeles, the Geertman office happens to be within the San Fernando portion of the subdivision.)

  • * *

WITNESS: After shooting Geertman, one of the gunmen pointed his pistol at Fred Villareal, vice chairman of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines in Pampanga, when he tried to get the plate number of their motorcycle.

Villareal said Geertman and three staffers had just arrived on his Isuzu vehicle after withdrawing money from MetroBank when the two gunmen arrived.

He recalled: “I had just emailed my story, which I did on the terrace of the office when I saw the suspects holding Willem, who was then kneeling. That’s when the shot rang out. I tried to rush toward them but one of them pointed his gun at me. As they fled, I again ran after them to get the plate number, but one of them again pointed his gun at me.”

  • * *

FADING PRIZES: The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office should stop using the thermal paper of its Australian supplier and replace its equipment printing lottery tickets. It should get a printer that works with better paper stock whose print does not fade.

What dazzled the previous PCSO management that it failed to see the folly of signing a long-term contract and using thermal paper whose print fades long before the one-year deadline for the claiming of prizes?

One is tempted to ask if the fast-fading of Lotto tickets is not deliberate. Prizes that are not claimed (because the tickets had faded) automatically go to a Malacañang pot.

Every year, hundreds of million pesos in unclaimed prizes are dumped on the lap of President Aquino, making him the biggest Lotto winner without his having to buy a ticket.

  • * *

JVA REVOKED: The present PCSO board chaired by Margie Juico has moved to revoke the paper supply contract of the TMA Group of Companies Pty. Ltd. that ties up the lottery office for 50 (25+25) years.

Juico said the deal, passed off as a joint venture agreement instead of a straight supply contract, is “not within the PCSO’s corporate purpose and mandate, and is grossly prejudicial to the interests of PCSO.”

TMA has sued the PCSO to force it to honor the contract regardless of its terms that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has found to be grossly disadvantageous to the PCSO.

Aside from poring over his law books, the judge trying the case should buy a Lotto ticket and, if he wins, delay claiming his prize since he has one year to do it.

The judge could keep the ticket in his wallet or put it in his car glove compartment for a few weeks. He would discover to his horror that the numbers on his ticket had vanished — and with it his winnings.

‘Improved’ Clark Air Base proof we can manage without Uncle Sam’s help

By Fat Reyes


MANILA, Philippines—Angeles City Vice Mayor Vicky Vega Cabigting on Wednesday said the improvements in Clark Air Base showed Filipinos can manage military bases without the help of Americans.

“We are showing to the world that we can stand on our own when it comes to managing a military base and transforming it into an economic zone,” Cabigting said in an interview over Radyo Inquirer. In the interview, Cabigting also noted how the military base transformed into a center for business and investment and was now set to become a global zone. She also said that in celebrating Filipino-American Friendship Day, Filipinos should note how “we are now acknowledged not as subordinates but coequals of Americans.” For the full interview, listen to the attached audio clip from Radyo Inquirer.

London mag names Clark as top Global Free Zone

By JOEY PAVIA


CLARK FREEPORT—Firms based in the county and abroad are expected to consider investing here as a London-based financial magazine cited this free port as among “the top Global Free Zones” for 2012-13.

There are more than 533 locators at Clark employing at least 65,000 workers, according to first quarter data of the Clark Development Corp. (CDC).

The Foreign Direct Investment (fDi) Magazine published by The Financial Times Business Group cited Clark and its potentials as a world-class economic haven. The magazine also cited Clark in 2010.

CDC Chairman and Officer in Charge Eduardo Oban Jr. said this free port ranked No. 8 in the magazine’s list of global free-port zones in the world. Dubai Airport Free Zone (Dafza) topped this year’s list followed by UAE-based Dubai International Financial Centre in second place and Shanghai Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone in China for the third spot.

The other companies in the top 10 list are Iskandar in Malaysia, DuBiotech in UAE, Tanger Free Zone in Morocco, Freeport of Ventspils in Latvia, Chittagong Export Processing Zone in Bangladesh, and UAE-based Dubai Media City.

The Clark Freeport also ranked third in fDi Magazine’s top 5 best airport zones in the world. First on the list is Dubai Airport Free Zone followed by Tanger Free Zone in Morocco. The fourth spot was awarded to Mauritius Freeport in Mauritius while tied in fifth place are Salalah Free Zone in Oman and Bahrain International Airport in Bahrain.

The magazine said at least 600 free zones across 120 countries were invited by fDi to complete a survey requesting both qualitative and quantitative data regarding their free zones. The information collected was set under five categories: incentives, facilities, cost-effectiveness, transportation and best FDI promotion.

Carpio wants to clip P-Noy power on transfer of judges

By Ding Cervantes


CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines – Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio yesterday said he wants to cut presidential powers on the transfer of judges to new assignments, contrary to speculation that he would be “submissive” to Malacañang if he is appointed to lead the Supreme Court.

In a speech at the two-day convention of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Central Luzon here, Carpio cited the need for legislation so that the appointment of judges to another court will be put solely in the hands of the High Tribunal.

At present, Carpio noted that lateral transfer of judges needs nomination by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) and the final approval of the President.

“Every time a judge makes a lateral transfer, he accumulates political debts which weaken his independence,” he lamented.

Carpio also urged the JBC to find ways to reduce vacancies in various courts, noting that the overall vacancy rate in the first and second level courts is 25.6 percent.

“The vacancy rate in existing trial courts should ideally be less than five percent,” he said.

He said that “the number of courts in a locality must follow a judge-to-population ratio.” He noted that in Manila, the ratio is one first level judge for every 55,072 residents while in Makati City, the ratio is one for every 72,911 residents.

Carpio also said that not only the chief justice should execute bank waivers to verify the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) but “all other applicants to the judiciary.”


“This is not an additional qualification for the office, but merely a tool to determine the integrity of the applicant,” he said.

At the same time, Carpio urged the Supreme Court’s creation of a permanent administrative tribunal to handle administrative complaints against judges and justices instead of the present ad hoc investigative bodies.

He likewise stressed the need for better pay for judges.

“The Supreme Court must continue to find ways to improve the compensation package of judges and justices,” he said.

Police on the hunt vs carnappers

By (Ric Sapnu)


CAMP OLIVAS -- Police are now on the hunt against unidentified armed men who took a vehicle along Magalang Road in Cutud, Angeles City, over the weekend.

Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Recomono, Angeles City police director, said he has instructed investigators to ascertain the whereabouts of a Versa Utility van (CLW-975) owned by Andro Edon, 35, a businessman.

The vehicle, which was loaded with motorcycle spare parts amounting to P400,000, was taken by unidentified armed while parked in front G. Square Building at Cutud, Angeles City.

According to reports, the victim and his wife Iryn arrived at their stall at about 2 p.m., and were surprised to find their vehicle gone just an hour later.

The report said the couple is engaged in the wholesale of motorcycle spare parts, to be distributed to different motor shops in Angeles City.

The spare parts were purchased from Valenzuela City and the couple was supposed to distribute the items to their customers prior to the incident

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