MASBATE GOVERNOR, EXECS BACK DRIVE VERSUS PRIVATE ARMIES

MASBATE CITY—The Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) has thrown its weight behind the Special Task Force Masbate, virtually acknowledging the existence of private armies purportedly behind many of the killings in the province.

The role of the task force is vital in thwarting the proliferation of hired goons, especially during the election period, said the PPOC, which expressed its support to the task force through a resolution passed recently.

The main task of the team, created by Philippine National Police Chief Director General Jesus Verzosa, is to dismantle 10 private armed groups which state forces said were being maintained by political families in Masbate.

The move was aimed at helping the Commission on Elections in ensuring—for the first time—a clean and peaceful balloting in Masbate, where all but five of its 20 municipalities have been declared “hot spots” by the PNP.

Since it was launched on Jan. 25, the task force has disarmed and arrested several members of warring political camps, including barangay officials who were wanted for alleged murders and other henious crimes.

The task force is primarily composed of 100 specially trained commandos of the PNP Special Action Force and headed by Senior Supt. Victor Deona, who directly reports to the head of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in Southern Luzon in order to insulate them from politicians.

The PPOC, which is consist of sectoral leaders and heads of government agencies with Governor Elisa “Olga” Kho as chairperson, was prodded to pass the resolution by Catholic priest Leo Casas who explained that the instability in Masbate had the Regional Development Council thinking twice about pouring development projects into the poverty-stricken province.

“Our support and cooperation in the campaign to stamp out private armies means we want to put an end to the election violence, intimidation and political killings that impeded development in the province,” said Casas, who shares the leadership of RDC with Albay Governor Joey Salceda.

According to Casas, Salceda had asserted that pouring projects into Masbate, described recently by Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales as being “in a state of political calamity,” would put development funds of the government to “waste.”

Salceda, a key adviser of President Macapagal-Arroyo on economy, assured that Masbate would get the attention it deserved once its bloody political saga ended. (EA Delgado, PIA Masbate)

MAYON VOLCANO INCLUDED IN NEW CURRENCY DESIGN

LEGAZPI CITY — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is set to release the new design of the Philippine monetary bills and coins by the end of 2010 and Mayon volcano will be included in the new design of the bills.

Marlyn Paje, acting deputy director of BSP branch here, said that this is in accordance with the New Central Bank Act or Republic Act 7653 giving the Central Bank Monetary Board, with the approval of the Philippine President, the power to prescribe denominations, dimensions, designs and inscriptions and other characteristics of notes issued by the BSP.

Paje said the new currency design will have brighter colors and will feature the Philippines' national wonders at the back of the bills including Mayon Volcano. Currently, historical buildings are featured at the back side of the bills.

She added that the new face of the Philippine currency is to circulate by 2013. “From this year on, current bills and coins will still be considered as legal tender while a five-year exchange period for these is in place.”

BSP redesigns the Philippine currency every 10 years as a measure to avoid counterfeiters in mastering the country's bank notes.

On the other hand, Dorothy Colle of the Albay Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office said that the inclusion of Mayon Volcano in the Philippine currency will be an opportunity to promote the province.

She added that local and foreign tourists will be more familiar of where Mayon is and it may boost the province's tourist arrival which was at 235,000, a far second to Camarines Sur's roughly one million tourist arrival in 2009. (MDRama, PNA Bicol/PIA)

INTERFACING ON YOUTH TOWARDS FIRST-WORLD PHILIPPINES

LEGAZPI CITY — The Youth for a First World Philippines Initiative (YFWPI) organization, in cooperation with the Tactical Operations Group (TOG) in Bicol of the First Air Division of the Philippine Air Force, has successfully conducted a basic youth orientation seminar, dubbed “Redirecting Youth’s Idealism for a First World Philippines” last March 29, 2010 at the Bicol University.

Colonel Guillermo A. Molina Jr., TOG Bicol group commander, said the activity intends to establish firm linkages with other pillars of democracy, faith communities – Christian and Muslim and in other entities in society, including the military, police, academe, scientific community, and business towards societal, economic, political and cultural changes.

A brief orientation on the First World Philippine Initiative was also shared by Genesis Castillo, Melagne Dee Dianga and Patrick Henry who advocated for political, social, economic and cultural changes towards social democracy.

Resource Speaker Krestoric Magbanua highlighted the dynamics of insurgency and patriotism in the country.

Fr. Romeo J. Intengan, adviser of the Secretary of Defense office and consultant of the YFWPI, stressed that the youth has the power to change the nation by actively taking part in programs and activities that would contribute to nation building and development.

The YFWPI organization aims for a change from a third-world country to first-world Philippines, to strengthen their advocacy initiatives through citizen discipline, liberty, justice, education and universal strong security.

The one-day event was participated in by officers of the AFP, student leaders of different colleges of BU and organization’s members. (ALSaturninno II, CRSAFP/PIA)

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

On Raj’s stripped off the Bb. Pilipinas Universe title

This is in response to your recent PIA press release dated 4/5/2010.

There are obvious questions that the pageant organizers need to answer, such as why, if they thought Venus Raj’s birth documents were questionable, did they admit her as one of their 24 semifinalists.

Regardless of their claims of ignorance, the BPCI knew early in the preliminaries about the circumstances surrounding Ms. Raj’s birth and were fully aware of the inconsistent data that appeared on her birth documents.

In fact, the BPCI had an entire month before the coronation night to review Ms. Raj’s documents and oral history.

Even the BPCI admits publicly that the documents are authentic and that Venus submitted these documents without malice and in good faith.

These inconsistencies, however, become immaterial because they do not change the fundamental fact that Ms. Raj is a Philippine citizen, the core qualification that is required of a BB Pilipinas candidate.

The BPCI’s decision to strip Ms. Raj of her title only serves to perpetuate the myths and social stigma attached to children who are born out of wedlock, and sends the message that “it’s ok” to discriminate against people who are born out of wedlock.

The BPCI’s claim to be a charitable organization that supports children’s causes and orphanages while at the same time penalizing Ms. Raj for having been born out of wedlock diminishes their credibility.

Glenn Dyer
Napa, California