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ABRIL 23, 2016 VOL 3 NO 3
| FEATURE page 7

DUTERTE
TAPAT SA BALITA..

TAPAT SA BUHAY

BINATIKOS

SA ISYUNG PAGPATAY SA MGA TULAK

pahina 3

TAG-ARAW:
Panahon
ng sakit?

Mga kandidatong

pro-life,
nagpanukala
ng mga
alternatibo sa
divorce bill

Senatorial bet Martin Romuladez ay

nagsusulong sa masinsinang pagsusuri ng
Family Code. Aniya ni Romualdez , hindi
divorce o annulment ang makakaresolba
ng mga problema ng pamilyang Pilipino
bagkus kailangan ang masusing pag-aaral
sa Family Code sapagkat ang pamilya pa
din ang pundasyon ng isang bansa.

Nanindigan ang ilang mga pro-life

advocates na tumatakbo sa nalalapit
na halalan na kailanman ay hindi
magiging solusyon ang diborsyo upang
mabawasan ang dumadaming bilang
ng marital abuse at child beating cases
sa bansa.... pahina 3
|BALITA pahina 3

IT experts
alarmed after
Comelec website
hacking
|NEWS page 2

DOJ sets to grill

RCBC on money
laundering case

ADVERTISE WITH US (02) 404 16 12

Mobile # 09988584415 / 09333697915 / 09064594696 / 09988993498

balita

ABRIL 23, 2016

Mga magsasakang dawit Teachers group airs concern

over COMELEC adamant
sa kilos-protesta sa
stand to follow SC ruling
Kidapawan, laya na
TEACHERS group yesterday assured its readiness to serve in the scheduled May 9 national
election but expressed
concern on the serious
issues on the automated
election system (AES)
and the apparent disinterest of the Commission
on Election (Comelec) to
address the said issues.
We, teachers under
the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT)
are gravely concerned on

serious issues on the automated election system

(AES). The issues since
2010 are the same unresolved problems under a
foreign-controlled automated election system.
Safeguards remain uncertain and it looks like
COMELEC is not interested to address them,
Benjie Valbuena, President of Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT)
said in a statement.
ACT issued the state-

ment after the Supreme

Court (SC) decided to
hold an oral argument
last March 17 following Comelecs appeal on
SC decision directing the
poll body to activate the
Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) of the
vote counting machines
by issuing receipts to voters after they cast their
votes.
Earlier, the SC in a
14-0 vote ordered the
Comelec to issue receipts
- Page 6

DOJ sets to grill RCBC on

money laundering case

(Photo: Kidlat Multimedia)

Pinakawalan na ang mga

ibinilanggo kaugnay ng
kilos-protestang nauwi
sa madugong dispersal sa
pagitan ng mga kapulisan
at
mga
magsasaka
noong ika-1 ng Abril
sa Kidapawan City,
Cotabato, nitong Sabado,
ika-16 ng Abril.
Kinumpirma ni P/
Supt. Byron Tabernilla,
tagapagsalita
ng
Philippine
National
Police mula sa fact-finding
team na nag-imbestiga sa
insidente sa Kidapawan,
nakapagpiyansa na ang
lahat ng 81 magsasakang
idinetine matapos ang
bayolenteng engkwentro.
Ayon kay Tabernilla,
12 ang pinalaya noong
Miyerkules (April 13),
apat noong Huwebes
(April 14), 63 noong
Biyernes (April 15), at
dalawa noong Sabado
ng umaga (April 16).
Naantala ang pagpapalaya
sa nahuling dalawang

magsasaka
dahil
sa
kakulangan
umano
ng
mga
kaukulang
dokumento.
Matatandaang
ang
mga kasapi sa kilosprotesta, karamihan sa
kanila magsasaka, ay
inaresto matapos nilang
harangan ang DavaoCotabato
Highway
upang
ipanawagang
ibigay na sa kanila ang
nakalaang calamity fund
ng lokal na pamahalaan
matapos masira ang
kanilang mga pananim
dahil sa matinding init
ng panahon.
Ngunit naging madugo
ang kilos-protesta na
nagresulta sa tatlong
kataong patay at dosedosena ang magsasakang
sugatan.
Dagdag ni Tabernilla,
ikinulong sa ibat ibang
detention centers ang mga
inarestong magsasaka na
kalaunay kinasuhan ng
direct assault.

Labindalawang
libong piso ang orihinal
na
nakatakdang
babayarang piyansa ng
mga kinasuhan ngunit
kinalahati ito at naging
P6,000
na
lamang
matapos
umapela
ang mga idinetineng
magsasaka. Ngunit bago
pa man aprubahan ng
Korte Suprema ang
apela ng mga magsasaka,
tatlong kinasuhan na
ang nakapagbayad ng
P12,000 danyos.
Sa tulong ng National
Union
of
Peoples
Lawyers, human rights
group Karapatan, rally
organizers,
support
groups, at ilang mga local
celebrities, nakalaganap
ng sapat na halaga upang
maibayad pampiyansa ng
mga magsasaka.
Itutuloy ng Senado
ang kanilang pagdinig sa
insidente sa Kidapawan sa
ika-20 ng Abril. (Carizza
Ibaez)

The Department of Justice (DOJ) sets on April

19 the preliminary investigation on the $81
million money laundering scheme involving the
Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC)
that rocked the banking
industry in the country.
This, as Assistant State
Prosecutor Gilmari Fe
Pacamara, disclosed that
a subpoena was issued
to Maia Santos Deguito,
RCBC Jupiter Makati
branch manager, along
with four others to appear
for the preliminary investigation of the case tentatively set on April 19.
Pacarama who was designated by Prosecutor
General Claro Arellano
to handle the case said
Deguito would also be
required to submit her
counter-affidavit.
The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC)
earlier filed money laundering complaint against
Deguito in connection
with the laundering
scheme involving $81
million funds hacked

from Bangladesh Bank.

Aside from Deguito,
same charges were also
filed against four John
Does allegedly hiding under the fictitious names
Michael Francisco Cruz,
Jessie Christopher Lagrosas, Alfred Santos Vergara, and Enrico Teodoro
Vasquez.
AMLC, in its complaint, accused Deguito
of facilitating the transfer
of the laundered money
from Bangladesh to multiple accounts under four
fictitious
names-Cruz,
Lagrosas, Vergara and
Vasquez- at the RCBC
branch on Jupiter Street,
Makati City last February.
AMLC added that
from the said multiple
accounts, the money
was then allegedly consolidated into a single
US dollar account in the
name of Filipino-Chinese
businessman William Go.
The amount was then
hastily withdrawn, converted into pesos, and
transferred to other banks.
Go, who denied ownership
of the account was not in-

cluded in the complaint.

In the same complaint,
fault was pinned on Deguito saying that as the
branch manager, she allowed the opening of the
said accounts of the respondents last year based
on documents that were
verified to be fictitious
and that she even allowed
respondents John Does to
withdraw money stolen
from the Bangladesh Bank.
The AMLC also pointed out that at the time the
withdrawals took place,
Deguito already knew
that the money was stolen
from BB since there was
already a stop payment
request. Atty. Ferdinand
Topacio, Dequitos counsel, however expressed
belief that his client could
have been the fall guy in
the money laundering
case, claiming that she
could not have pulled it
off without the knowledge of her superiors,
possibly including RCBC
president Lorenzo Tan.
Tan on the other hand
put the blame on Dequito. (Miko Arnaldo)

ABRIL 23, 2016

balita

DUTERTE BINATIKOS
SA ISYUNG PAGPATAY
SA MGA TULAK

Kinundena
ng
pro-life
senatorial bets si PDP-Laban
standard-bearer
Rodrigo
Duterte sa isyu ng pagpatay
sa mga pinaghihinalaang tulak
ng droga sa isang forum sa
Aristocrat sa Manila, ika-13 ng
Abril.
Nakababahala ang hayagang
pagpanig ni Duterte sa pagkitil
ng buhay ng mga hinihinalang
tulak nang walang masusing
paglapat ng mga batas, pahayag
ni Lito Atienza, tumatakbo sa
pagka-senador sa ilalim ng
United Nationalists Allicance
(UNA).
Hindi ako sang-ayon sa
ganyang paraan, aniya sa
wikang Ingles. Yan ang rason
kung bakit ayaw ko kay Duterte.
Walang sinuman ang may
karapatang pumatay ng kapwa.
Ang pagpatay sa mga
suspetsadong kriminal nang

walang due process ay hindi

solusyon sa mga problema na
kinakaharap ng bansa, protesta
ni Atienza, dating mayor ng
Maynila.
Hindi sya (Duterte) dapat
umaastang sya ay Diyos, giit
pa nya.
Ayon naman kay Sen. Sotto,
re-electionist sa ilalim ng
Nationalist Peoples Coation
(NPC), hindi dapat parusahan
ng kamatayan ang isang
suspetsadong tulak ng droga
nang walang due process.
Maari tayong gumawa ng
isolated na penitentiary para
mga malalaking drug lords,
mungkahi ng mambabatas.
Ang mga malilit na drug
pushers, karamihan biktima ng
kahirapan sa buhay, ay maari
pang ireporma sa ilalim ng isang
programa, dagdag ni Sotto.
Nagpahayag din ng pagtutol

si Pasig City Rep. Roman

Romulo, sa pagpapatay sa
mga hinihinalang tulak nang
walang due process.
Ayon
kay
Roman,
kasapi na Liberal Party na
tumatakbong independent sa
pagka-senador, maari nyang
suportahan
ang
muling
pagsasabatas ng death penalty
kung ito ang paraan upang
masugpo ang drug-related
crimes, gaya ng rape, murder
at iba pang heinous crimes.
Sa isang pahayag, nangako
si Duterte na mabilisan nyang
lulutasin ang kriminalidad
sa bansa sa loob ng anim na
buwan.
Ayon sa kanya, mas pipiliin
nyang masunog ang kanyang
kaluluwa sa impyerno kapalit
ng kaligtasan at kapayapaan
ng mamamayan. (Oliver
Samson)

Mga kandidatong pro-life, nagpanukala

ng mga alternatibo sa divorce bill
Nanindigan ang ilang mga pro-life advocates na
tumatakbo sa nalalapit na halalan na kailanman
ay hindi magiging solusyon ang diborsyo upang
mabawasan ang dumadaming bilang ng marital
abuse at child beating cases sa bansa at sa halip ay
nagmungkahi ng mga alternatibong paraan para
sa divorce bill sa katatapos lamang na Pro-Life
& Candidates Forum na idinaos sa Aristocrat
Restaurant noong ika-13 ng Abril.
Kabilang sa mga kandidatong dumalo sa
nasabing forum ay si Leyte First District
Congressman Martin Romualdez, tumatakbo
bilang independent senatorial candidate
nangakong bubusisiing muli ang mga
probisyong nakasaad sa konstitusyon na
pumapatungkol sa annulment kapag nanalo siya
sa kanyang pagtakbo.
Paliwanag pa ni Romualdez, We will
review again the Family Code in line with the
annulment proceedings because pro-divorce
advocates think that we need the divorce law,
but the fact is, the annulment proceeding is very
difficult and not appropriate in our society. We
shall be guided accordingly.
Kinwestiyon naman ni Atty. Jan Louenn
Lumanta ng Pro-Life Party List ang paniniwala

ng ilang mambabatas sa legalisasyon ng diborsyo

sa bansa dahil aniya, hindi ang paghihiwalay ang
agarang sagot sa mga problemang kinakaharap
ng mga mag-asawa sa kanilang relasyon.
Ayon naman kay Dr. Dante Liban na isa
ring kandidato sa pagka-senador, uunahin niya
ang pagtataguyod ng Department of Families
na siyang tutulong sa mga kababaihan, single
parents, kabataan, at senior citizens.
Nananalig naman si Sen. Vicente Tito Sotto
III na hindi papasa ang divorce bill sa House
of Representatives dahil hindi ito hahayaang
makalusot ng mga kongresista. Pabiro pang
sinabi ni Sotto, Congressmen will not allow it
or else their wives will kill them. Dagdag pa
ni Sotto, kailangan lamang amyendahan ang
kasalukuyang mga probisyon sa annulment
sa ilalim ng Family Code upang mas maging
epektibo ito.
Legal separation naman ang suhestiyon ni Pasig
Representative Roman Romulo kapalit ng divorce bill.
The problem with the annulment is it is too
expensive and the process is too long but there
are other ways to do that there is legal separation
but there should be a valid reason before we
allow it, ani Romulo. (Carizza Ibaez)

TEAM BUHAY

For Vice President

GREGORIO HONASAN
For Senator
ROMUALDEZ, MARTIN (IND)
SOTTO, VICENTE (NPC)
ROMULO, ROMAN (IND)
PACQUIAO, MANNY (UNA)
LIBAN, DANTE (IND)
VALEROSO, DIOSDADO (IND)
For Partylist
BUHAY
ANG PROLIFE

IT experts alarmed after

Comelec website hacking
Concerns regarding the upcoming May 2016 automated
elections grew stronger after the recent hacking of the
Commission on Elections
(Comelec) website database
left election reform advocates
and I.T. specialists worrying
over the credibility of the electronic polls.
Philippine Computer Societys Toti Casio urged Comelec not to take for granted the
consequences of the hacking
and the implications the incident has brought upon the
technology in which the automated elections is about to be
run with.
Casios primary concern is
that the hackers might have left
malware and other unwanted
programs that went undetected
which may cause disruptions
come election day and may put
elections results in a vulnerable
place where it can be easily manipulated.

Despite the Comelecs reassurance that the computerized system which will mobilize the electronic polls is
no longer dependent on the
hacked database, election reform advocates remain unconvinced of the accuracy of
the automated polls.
Even the poll body itself
has not said outright that it
has completely secured its
website.
The website as viewed by
the public is an integral part
of the automated election system. Any part of the system
that is attacked, including the
website, will cast doubt on
the results of the elections,
I.T. expert Lito Averia added.
The hack is currently undergoing investigation by
the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), but there
are no recent updates regarding their findings. (Carizza
Ibaez)

editoryal

ABRIL 23, 2016

VIEWPOINTS
OSCAR V. CRUZ

Credible, acceptable,
reliable election

Editorial

Misleading public opinion

A standard-bearer insulted
hundreds of Filipino migrant workers after a local
publicist quoted words he
did not offer.
Accompanied by his picture, the line I dont need
OFW votes went viral on
Facebook, offending every
unsuspecting online overseas
Filipino worker.
Thousands of relatives and
friends got as well slighted,
hurling every insult at the
person in return.
The opinion of gullible netizens as well as the unskeptical people who were not con-

nected to the Internet but got

wind of it from online individuals got manipulated.
The objective was achieved.
The damage mounted to a
massive scale a classic example of the medias capacity to manipulate public
opinion, and ultimately influence vote.
When the color of money
blinds the medias sense of
fairness, it compromises the
integrity of the polls. When
it starts to fabricate lies to
demolish ones bid in favor
of another, it starts to demolish itself.

AREOPAGUS COMMUNICATIONS INC.

Publisher
RAYMOND BANDRIL
Editor in Chief
SKY ORTIGAS
Layout Artist
GLADYS BANDRIL
Marketing Director
Tapat is published every other Friday by

While we consider acceptable publicity of track record

and achievements for electorates reference, the media
itself becomes manipulated
the moment it starts manufacturing falsehoods.
Who else can the public
rely for information when
the most effective tool for
disseminating it misleads
them? It may not die, but
may live without a reputation.
But one thing is certain,
it will reap similar insults
when the same gullible people uncover the truth.

Areopagus Communications Inc.,

with business address at
1111 F.R. Hidalgo St., Quiapo, Manila
You can reach us through the following:
Landline # (02) 404 16 12
Mobile # 09988584415 / 09333697915
09064594696 / 09988993498
Email: tapatnews@areopaguscommunications.com

Website: www.tapatnews.com
All rights reserved 2016

IT has to be admitted with

honesty and candor that
Smartmatic is not really the
problem, viz., not the cause
of incredible, unacceptable,
and unreliable elections in
the Philippines. It is not
really the cause and effect
of a flawed and discredited
elections since the machines
have been acquired and used
more specifically as vote
counting instrumentalities.
The machines are made by
foreigners but basically run
by Filipinos for the People
of the Philippines. So it is
that the said machines are
used under the control of
Filipinosparticularly those
associated with Comelec.
Big or small cheating during elections in the Country,
specially in vote counting,
is some kind of a constant
in the Philippine electoral
scene. Conclusion: It is the
human agents in the elections who make Credible,
Acceptable, and Reliable
Election. In other words,
as a matter of principle, the
machines do as they made to
do so by those handling and
running them.
And so it is that C.A.R.E.
becomes a great reality or
a big farce, a blessing or a
curse of the Filipino electoratewith the presence or absence of the following signal
tenfold Integrity factor mentioned below in some order
of relevance, significance or
importance:

2. Integrity of the political candidates

3. Integrity of the Voters
List made
4. Integrity of the printed ballots used and receipts given
5. Integrity of local
Comelec Inspectors
6. Integrity of election
machines made and
adjusted by technicians
7. Integrity of election
machine transportation done by humans
8. Integrity of precinct
Comelec Officials
9. Integrity of transmission of votes as determined by the Officials
concerned
10. Integrity of the national total vote number as decided by election Officials
Considering the above
no less than tenfold Integrity requirement, is it
still realistically possible to
have truly clean and honest elections in the Philippines? Do we have to settle or be content with but
a more or less tenable and
acceptable Philippine election every time such is held
as provided by law? Do we
accept the fact that cheating of one kind or another
is some kind of an infallible
constant in all elections in
the country?

Is C.A.R.E. wherefore but

1. Integrity of the Intra- a dream in Philippine elecmuros Comelec
tions?
ECCLESIASTES 3:11
God has made everything appropriate to its time,
but has put the timeless into their hearts so they
cannot find out, from beginning to end,
the work which God has done.

opinyon

ABRIL 23, 2016

#sarisari
Prof. Michael Trias - Ang

P-Noy, Matagumpay Nga ba sa

Kanyang Anim na Taon na
Panunungkulan?
Ilang buwan na lang at mayroon na tayong baong pangulo.
Hindi natin alam pa sa ngayon
kung sino ngunit sana ang mananaig sa halalan ay yaong karapat-dapat sa posisyon. Klaro na
apat ang may tsansang manalo
ayon sa ibat-ibang mga serbey.
Lahat naman ng mga kumakandidato bilang pangulo ay may
mga kalakasan at mga kahinaan
o kapintasan. Ngunit kailangan
nating pagnilayang maigi kung
sino ang ating pipiliin. Wika
nga nila, ang anim na taon ay

mabilis para sa isang mabuting

pangulo at matagal para sa isang
masamang pangulo. Nakataya
sa susunod na anim na taon
ang kinabukasan ng isandaang
milyong Pilipino. Kaya kailangan nating tandaan na hindi
natatapos sa pagboto ang ating
obligasyon bilang mamamayan.
Patuloy dapat tayong makisangkot sa mga isyu ng ating lipunan.
Bilang isang dalubguro, kailangan kong magbigay ng grado sa
aking mga estudyante sa katapusan ng isang semester na naaayon

VICISSITUDE
April Opelac

Transnational Crimes:
A risk on the Worlds Health
The security of ones nation is
indeed likened to a health that
must be kept on its proper
state so as to keep everything
else well-working. However,
at some point, the existence of
transnational crimes is slowly
creating havoc and deterioration to the established and elusive security that the world created for its people.
Within the century, we have
seen great artists, historians,
scientists and leaders that made
us feel proud of our existence.
Yet, there are some people who
seemed to be in rage because of
their endless and vague fight
for their ideology. While the
world was built for the supposed unity of all, there are
people who chose to be on the
road less travelled- a road directed to ruin the lives of many

and to sustain their ideology

and brotherhood.
One of the devastating causes
of transnational crimes is the
alleged conspiracy of some nations. Linkages among nations
of same culture and beliefs are
indeed suspected for connection. In our country, it is not
foreign to hear illicit services
including commercial human
and sex trafficking that were
included to create human destruction. What happened to
the holy appreciation of human flesh? The proliferation
of trafficking is endangering
the lives of those innocent to
its nature, goals and outcomes.
While some are entertained by
the mere lavish of easy money, still, it brings both emotional and physical pain that
will linger forever. What is not

5
sa kanilang class performance.
Matatapos na ang termino ni
Pangulong Aquino. Dapat na
rin siyang bigyan ng grado ng
taumbayan. Pagsugpo sa katiwalian, paglaban sa kahirapan,
pagsulong sa katahimikan at
kaayusan at ang pangkalahatang
pagbuti ng kalidad ng edukasyon ito ang apat na pinakamahahalagang isyu para sa akin.
Ngunit marami pa rin ang nagsasamantala sa kaban ng bayan.
Marami pa rin ang naghihirap
at walang maayos na hanapbuhay. Marami pa rin ang nagiging biktima ng krimen at droga.
At marami pa rin ang salat sa
dekalidad na edukasyon. Ano
kaya ang markang igagawad
ninyo sa kanya? Ang halalang
ito ang sasagot kung tunay na
naging matuwid ang Daang
Matuwid o sa kasawiang-palad
tuluyan ito naging Daang Satsat Lang, Daang Kadiliman,
o Daang Pang-Dekada 70.
so forgiving to see is the system
of death that is even created to
destroy the fresh and innocent
bodies of the young. Indeed,
this is another threat to our security.
Moreover, the issue of terrorism has created a niche in the
world we live in. In our country, a firm hold on Republic Act
10168 known as The Terrorism
Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012 clearly
states our countrys stand on the
main threat on most of the nations. While the government is
serious on eradicating the bad
elements, it is still overwhelming to know that their group
grew in number each day.
In this light, the security of
ones nation is at stake. The citizens of the world should work
as one to create a better health
status for the place we live in.
The security should not only
start within the premises of a
nation as stipulated by its law.
The surrounding nations play
a vital part for the supposed
security within. True enough,
with improper guidance and
selfish motives, all the sickness,
known or unknown, will slowly
kill the nations, along with it is
its people.

Vantage Points
Atty. Rodel Taton

Peace And Respect

In the voters forum,#CleanVotePH we co-convened last
April 16,2016, different aspects and issues of being a Filipino
were tackled. My former student, a Moro and peace advocate
have vocally expressed concerns relevant to peace and
development, particularly in the region which she belongs
in Mindanao.
The conflict and the elusive peace in southern Philippines
is something, we as Filipinos, must have concern as able
bodied citizens of this country. Have you ever pondered on
this matter seriously? Perhaps because we are based in the
city-centers, or maybe because in our personal levels we
do not see a sincere and serious resolve from the so-called
representations from the governments side. We have been
in a problematic relationship, to say the least, an on and off
stage until today that we have a pushy, pessimist, intermittent
kind of handling the situation. People have become negative
in the many hues of this conflict.
Decades and decades have been dedicated to lay down
a lasting peace and the spectacles of development in the
promised land. Sad but it is true that many lives have been
offered in the name of the country, their area, their beliefs
and even our conception of nationhood. They have called on
their Allah and so do we pray to our God, if it is a call of who
is powerful, but not. Peace is immeasurable and goes beyond
religious pronouncements. Leaders have come and go but the
foundations not yet truly built have made remnants already,
imprints of good faith or lack of it in the obligations entered
into.
From the internal waters of Tawi-tawi, the matter have
even reached the Trippoli, but lapse of time can attest, the
agreements are left voices unheard or memories unwritten.
Nothing have been resolved as the anatomy of the conflict
is on a cleancher level, more than a difficult round of
settlement. We have to move forward and coexist in peace
and development in this country.
That segment of our national territory is a manifestation
of diversity where the problem lies. In the smallness of
the areas covered is a richness in culture and traditions.
The stronger cliques, sultanates and tribes are geared up to
something bigger. Amidst the stories of strife, bloodshed
and hunger, our larger and bolder stories of survival, courage
and determination to live a normal and happier life is a
continuing hope.
Perhaps, we need to rechannel our deeper understanding
of peace. Maybe we need to offer more of our listening ears
and helping hands. We need to view the sun shining than our
horror stories of bloody wars in that area. We need to actively
take part in bridging gaps and institute reforms for the better.
We need to live in affirmation that there are differences and
there are weaknesses in each of us. We must know how to
make gentle and lasting compromises. This time, and again,
we begin with respect.

ABRIL 23, 2016

New Comelec rules for discarded

ballots questioned
The Commission on Elections
(Comelec) has put into place
a new directive allowing voters
who got their ballots declined
by the voting machines to be
issued another ballot in replacement of the rejected one,
but it was met with more criticisms as to how the poll body
is going to ensure that there
will be no shortage of ballots
during the election period.
According to the new rules, a
voter may ask for a new ballot
under any of these circumstances: if the voter receipt shows a
candidate you did not vote for,
and if the voting machines rejected your ballots through no
fault of your own. Every voting transaction will be issued a
receipt and claims from voters
who will declare to have wrong
receipts just to cause trouble
will be considered a frivolous objection, with offenders to be charged with perjury.
However, former Comelec Commissioner Gregorio
Larrazabal and current Senior Commissioner Christian
Robert Lim raised concerns
regarding the new rules.
Clarifying the rules will help
enlighten the voters on what to
expect during election day ac-

cording to Larrazabal. This will

ensure that every registered
voter will not be stripped of
his/her chance to vote. Larrazabal reminded that there must
be only one ballot per voter
that is why he questions the
Comelecs capability to supply
enough ballots and make sure
that voting precincts all over the
country will not run out of it.
What Im saying is that its
better if there are protocols,
guidelines, and limitations that
will guide or that will govern
the procedures in the precinct.
Kasi theres no limit. Theres no
limit to the ballots that can be
replaced, di ba, if you ask for a
replacement? There are no set
rules on what are the grounds
to say that its the fault of the
voter, added Larrazabal.
Lims concern, on the other
hand, is how the poll body will
determine whether a voters
claim of a wrong receipt is
a frivolous objection or not.
Moreover, he explained that
there is no such thing as frivolous objections in any existing
election law and that it is not
within the Comelecs power to
enact a new regulation.
Paano mo ma-prove na frivolous siya? Hindi mo rin ma-

Duterte at Poe,

prove eh. Impossible crime.

Wala naman power ang Comelec mag promulgate ng batas,
Lim said.
In defense of the new set of
rules, Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista tried justifying
their move.
Kasi pag maraming ganyang klaseng objection na
mangyari sa araw ng halalan
ay talagang magkakaroon ng
duda or agam-agam. So naghahanap kami ng paraan nga para
hindi ito maabuso, Bautista
explained.
As for the adequacy of the
ballots, Bautista argued that
it is not always a 100% voter
turnout, so most likely there
will be leftover ballots which
will then be allocated for
those voters who will have
to ask for another one. But
Bautista remains confident
of the computerized system
to be used in the automated
polls.
It is unlikely that any ballot
will be rejected anyway, Bautista said.
Still, Bautista said he is open
for further clarifications regarding the new set of rules
with his other fellow commissioners. (Carizza Ibaez)

tie sa pinakahuling presidential poll

Parehong nasa unang puwesto
sina Davao City Mayor Rodrigo
Duterte at Senadora Grace
Poe sa pinakabagong survey
na inilabas ng Social Weather
Stations (SWS) sa kung sino ang
mas pipiliin ng mga Pilipino
bilang susunod na pangulo.
Lumabas sa survey na
isinagawa noong ika-13 ng
Abril na mayroong 34% ang
pumili kay Poe samantalang
hindi malayo si Duterte na
mayroong 33% ng voterreference. Tinawag itong
statistical tie ng SWS.
Sumunod kay Duterte ang
pambato ng Liberal Party na
si Mar Roxas na may 16% at
si United Nationalist Alliance
(UNA) standard bearer Vice

President Jejomar Binay na may

15%.
Nanatiling
huli
sa
presidential survey si Senadora
Miriam Defensor-Santiago na
mayroon lamang 1% ng voterpreference. Ang natitirang 1%
naman ay nagsabing hindi pa
rin sila desidido kung sino ang
kanilang ibobotong president.
Mula sa 1,200 orihinal
na survey respondents, 676
lamang o 56% ang nakilahok
sa survey: 181 sa Metro Manila,
154 mula sa ibang bahagi ng
Luzon, 187 sa Visayas, at 154
sa Mindanao.
Samantala,
nangunguna
naman sa karera para sa pagkabise president si Camarines Sur
representative Leni Robredo ng

Liberal Party at running mate

ni Roxas, na nagtamo ng 30%
ng voter-preference.
Nakasunod kay Robredo
ang dating nangungunang si
Senador Bongbong Marcos na
mayroong 27%, at si Sen. Chiz
Escudero na may 26%. Malayo
naman ang agwat ng tatlo pang
tumatakbo sa pagkabise na sina
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, 13%;
Sen. Antonio Trillanes, 3%;
at Sen. Gringo Honasan, 1%.
Kagaya ng presidential poll,
1,200 din ang itinakdang
respondents para survey na ito
ngunit 648 o 54% lamang ang
sumagot: 183 sa Metro Manila,
149 sa ibang bahagi ng Luzon,
169 sa Visayas, at 147 sa
Mindanao. (Carizza Ibaez)

Teachers... from page 2

to voters as mandated under

the Automated Election Law
based on the petition filed by
former senator Richard Gordon. The High Tribunal decision came after junking the
Comelecs
petition seeking
more time to answer Gordons
petition.
Days after the decision came
out and on Comelecs appeal,
SC spokesman Theodore Te
announced that the SC decided to hold an oral argument. The Court has ordered
the conduct of oral arguments
but it will be on very limited
issues Te said. Te stressed the
issues that were discussed were
confined in an advisory that
the Court had set.
After the SC decision came
out, Comelec warned of no
election scenario if not a prolong election time. Chariman
Andres Bautista also said that
re-configuring the vote counting machines (VCMs) and its
source code would be necessary as well as the retraining of
the more than 50,000 teachers
with the recent SC decision.
He however maintained that
issuing receipt for voters is not
mandated under Republic Act

9369 or the Automated Election Law. He also said that

some 100,000 teachers that
have been tapped to render
poll duties in the coming May
9, 2016 election. Chairman
Bautista added that half of
the teachers have already gone
training while the other half
are scheduled to undergo the
same training if not for the SC
decision.
If SC decision will be followed e kailangan po nating
ikon-figure ang mga machines
at ang mga teachers na nakapag-training na ay kailangang
mag-training uli. Bautista said
in a radio interview.
ACT however said Comelec must heed the SC decision
since the people have no way of
determining if the correct program is installed in the VCMs.
This is not a simple technical matter that may prolong
the voting procedure, we are
concerned about the endresults of the peoples votes
considering those VCMs have
rejected or misread valid ballots and sent erratic transmissions of results during the
mock elections. ACT said.
(Miko Arnaldo)

ABRIL 23, 2016

features

TAG-ARAW:
Panahon
ng sakit?

uwing sumasapit ang summer o tag-araw, kabilaan ang mga outing ng mga pamilya lalo
na sa mga beach o swimming pool upang malabanan ang tindi ng init ng araw. At dahil walang
pasok, karamihan sa mga bata ay nasa labas ng bahay
at naglalaro maghapon.
Ngunit ang dalang tuwa at saya ng tag-araw ay
maaari ring magdulot ng sakit. Kabilang sa mga sakit
na popular tuwing tag-araw ay sun burn, heatstroke,
sore eyes, at stomach flu o food poisoning. Ang mga
sakit na ito ay walang pinipili at lahat tayo ay pwede
maging biktima nito.
Narito ang ilan sa mga paraan upang maiwasan
ang sakit ngayong summer:

1.) Uminom ng 8-12 baso ng tubig araw-araw

Paulit-ulit man itong ipaalala sa lahat, napaka halagang uminom ng sapat na tubig tuwing tag-araw. At
dahil mas mainit, mas malaki ang posibilidad na ma-

karanas ng dehydration. Kahit nasa loob ka lamang

ng bahay, mahalaga pa rin dagdagan ang pag-inom
ng tubig. Kung ikaw ay nagtatrabaho sa initan o nasa
labas, subukang magdala ng bote ng tubig lagi at alalahanin na uminom bawat oras.
2.) Gumamit ng sunscreen (o iwasan ang paglabas) Tuwing tag-araw, napakaraming tao ang pumupunta sa beach o swimming pool para mag-outing. Huwag kalimutan na maglagay ng sunscreen sa
katawan at mukha bago lumabas para maiwasan ang
sunburn. Kung maaari ay iwasan lumabas ng bahay
tuwing mataas ang tirik ng araw (10:00 AM 2:00
PM). Kung kailangang lumabas, mag-sunscreen at
magdala rin ng payong upang maiwasan ang sakit ng
araw sa balat.
3.) Maging maingat sa mga pagkain Uso at
mabenta ang mga street food tuwing tag-araw tulad
ng fishball, quek-quek, kikiam, at sari-saring mga
inumin. Kahit ang masarap ang mga ito, mabuting
iwasan na lamang ito lalo na kung hindi ka nakasisigurado kung kailan at saan niluto ang mga ito.
Mas madali ang pagkapanis ng mga pagkain tuwing
tag-araw dahil sa mainit na panahon. Ang paalala na
ito ay hindi lamang para sa mga street food at kainan
sa labas, ngunit pati sa mga hinahandang pagkain
para samga outing.
4.) Laging mag-hugas ng kamay Ang ating
mga kamay ay maraming nahahawakan araw-araw.
Hindi natin alam kung gaano kalinis ang mga ito, at

kapag nakusot natin ang ating kamay o nailapit ito

sa ating mukha o bibig nagdudulot ito ng sakit. Maghugas ng kamay bago kumain at iwasan ilapit ang
kamay sa mata o bibig kung maaari. Ang sore eyes
ay usung-uso sa mga bata kaya mahalagang turuan
sila ng wastong paghugas ng kamay. Maaari ring
magbaon ng hand sanitizer or alcohol na pwedeng

panlinis ng kamay kung walang tubig at sabon na

malapit.
Para sa maraming pamilya, ang summer ay panahon upang magsama-sama at mag-bonding. I-maximize ang mga panahon na makasasama ang iyong
pamilya sa pag-iwas sa sakit. Madaling iwasan ang
mga sakit tuwing tag-araw kung papanatilihin ang
mabuting hygiene, at pagkain ng tama. Tandaan na
pag-iningatan mo ang iyong sarili, iniingatan mo rin
ang kalusugan ng mga tao sa iyong paligid. (Hedda
Damasco)

ABRIL 23, 2016

SPECIAL FEATURE STORY

From Leyte with Love:

A POLITICAL BREAKDOWN OF WHAT MAKES A

MARTIN ROMUALDEZ

(Part I)

a napakaraming tumatakbo sa
pagka-senador ngayong halalan,
hindi natin masisiguro kung ilan
nga ba sa kanila ang talagang taospuso ang pagnanais na paglingkuran
ang humigit-kumulang isang daang
milyong Pilipino sa bansa. Hindi natin
alam kung sinu-sino ba sa limampung
indibidwal na naghahangad maging
senador ang bukal sa kalooban ang
mithiing pagsilbihan ang bawat isang
mamamayan ng Pilipinas? Hindi natin
paniguradong matutukoy kung ilan ba
sa kanila ang kayang panindigan ang
mga platapormang kanilang ipinangako
noong silay nangangampanya pa
lamang. Marahil ay iilan lamang.
Maaaring bilang lamang sa daliri ang
tutupad sa pangako nila. Maaaring
iilan lamang ang mananatiling tapat sa
kanilang pwesto hanggang sa susunod
na eleksyon. Ngunit sa iilan na yon,
walang dudang kabilang si Martin
Romualdez doon.
Ipinanganak noong November 14,
1963 sa Manila, Si Ferdinand Martin
Gomez Romualdez ang kasalukuyang
kinatawan sa Kongreso ng unang
distrito ng Leyte. Pangatlo sa apat
na magkakapatid, anak si Martin
ng dating gobernador ng Leyte na
si Benjamin Kokoy Romualdez
nakababatang kapatid ni dating
unang ginang at ngayoy kinatawan
ng ikalawang distrito ng Ilocos Norte
na si Imelda Marcosat Juliette
Gomez-Romualdez. Mayroong apat na
anak si Martinsina Andrew, Marty,
Minxie, at Maddeysa asawa nitong
si dating beauty queen Yedda Marie
M. Kittiltsvedt, na nooy kinoronahan
bilang
Binibining
PilipinasInternational 1996.
Nagtapos si Martin sa kursong
Bachelor of Arts in Government
sa Cornell University noong 1985.
Matapos nitoy nagtamo siya ng
Certificate of Special Studies in
Administration and Management mula
sa Harvard University taong 1988.
Kalaunay nagbalik siya sa Pilipinas
upang kunin ang kanyang Bachelor of
Laws degree mula sa University of the
Philippines-Diliman.
Bago manilbihan sa gobyerno

at pumasok sa mundo ng pulitika,

nanungkulan si Martin taong 1995
bilang direktor at legal counsel para
sa CARPA Realty Development
Corporation, at bilang trustee ng
Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical
Foundation. Siya rin ay trustee at
president ng Doa Remedios Trinidad
Romualdez Medical at Dr. Vicente
Orestes
Romualdez
Educational
Foundation. Nananatiling hawak ni
Romualdez ang mga posisyon niya
sa mga institusyong ito sa panahong
kasalukuyan.
Bukod
sa
mga
nabanggit,
nakipagsapalaran din si Martin sa
larangan ng banking and finance
bilang Chairman of the Board ng
Equitable PCI Bank, at Director ng
ilang bigating kumpanya kagaya ng
Philippine Commercial International
Bank, Equitable Card Network, EBC
Investments, Inc., Equitable Savings
Bank, PCI Leasing Corporation, at
PCI Capital Corporation.
Sa loob ng halos pitong dekada at
ilang henerasyon ng mga Romualdez
na nanirahan at nanilbihan sa Leyte,
naging balwarte na ng mga ito ang
probinsiya. At para sa mga mga
magagandang nasimulan ng kanyang
amang si Kokoy at ng kanyang mga
kinanununuan, nais ipagpatuloy
ni Martin ang mga inumpisahang
adhikain ng mga ito.
Nakatuon sa pagpapalaganap ng
bukas-loob na serbisyo-publikong
naging pagkakakilanlan ng mga
Romualdez, nagpasinaya si Martin ng
mga grassroots-focused projects upang
mapabuti ang kalagayan ng kanyang
mga nasasakupan. Dahil hindi
lingid sa loob niya ang mahalagang
papel na ginagampanan ng maayos
ng imprastruktura, ipinaglaban at
siniguro ni Martin na mapapaigting
ang
pondong
nakalaan
para
pagpapatayo at rehabilitasyon ng mga
daan, tulay, paaralan, at mga pasilidad
na gagamitin para sa paghahatid ng
mga pangunahing serbisyong labis
na kailangan ng mga Leyteong nasa
mga liblib at tagong lugar. Aktibo rin
si Martin sa mga charity works, kagaya
ng mga medical at legal clinics.

Matapos hagupitin ni Supertyphoon

Yolanda ang Leyte noong 2013, dinoble
ni Martin ang pagtulong sa libulibong kapwa niyang mga Leyteong
sinalanta ng bagyo. Sa mga panahong
pinakalugmok ang mga mamamayan
ng Leyte, andiyan si Martin upang
walang sawang magpaabot ng tulong
sa abot ng kaniyang makakaya. Mas
pinaigting niya ang kanyang mga
charity works upang mas mapabilis ang
rehabilitasyon at pagtatayong muli ng
mga nasirang kabahayan at kabuhayan
sa kanyang distrito. Ilan lamang ito
sa mga proyekto ni Martin upang
mapanumbalik ang dating Leyte bago
ito sirain ni Yolanda.
Layon din ni Martin na maiangat

ang kalagayan ng mga kababayan

nating may kapansanan o persons
with disabilities (PWDs) at isa sa mga
pagsisikap na kanyang ginagawa upang
makamit ito ay ang pagkakaloob ng mga
wheel chair katuwang ang Childrens
International, Inc. sa mga kapus-palad
na indibidwal at mga biktima ng
bagyong mayroong polio at iba pang
karamdaman alinsunod sa nangyaring
pananalanta ng bagyong Yolanda.
Ilan pa lamang yan sa mga nagawa
ni Martin para sa kanyang distrito at
marami pa siyang magagawa at kayang
gawin na hinahangad niyang hindi
lamang ng mga kababayan niyang
Leyteo, ngunit ng bawat isang
Pilipino. (Carizza Ibaez)