‘CHOOSE LIFE’
Church, anti-RH Bill groups stage prayer rally
By Ralph John Mijares
Staged in opposition of the controversial RH Bill, the rally was led by local officials and civic leaders including City Councilor Powell del Rosario, Atty. Antonio Ortiz, Mrs. Cora Ortiz, students, seminarians, Catholic Church groups, and even people from Cagayan de Oro.
During the rally, letters and position papers from several officials and church leaders were read to the public—including those by Arch. Jose S. Palma, O.P.D.D., archbishop of Cebu and Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president; First District Cong. Antonio del Rosario, Gov. Victor Tanco, Sr. and Mayor Angel Alan Celino.
Some 1,500 sympathizers, some of whom dressed in red shirts as sign of opposition sat for three hours around the Roxas City Plaza during which prayers and speeches were led and read. Red ribbons and banners also adorned he plaza's lamplights to show the resistance to the controversial legislation.
The rally also featured Dr. Rene Josef Bullecer, director of Human Life International Philippines. Bullecer cited that the Church has five contentions against the Bill—legal, economic, demographic, medical, and moral and spiritual.
Citing the Preamble of the Philippine Constitution, Bullecer claimed that Philippines is a pro-God country, and therefore, “kung gagawa ka ng batas, dapat hindi salungat sa mga batas ng Diyos” (When you make laws, they shouldn’t be contrary to the laws of God).
For Bullecer, big countries like the United States, Canada and countries in Europe and Asia are collapsing because they lack young people while countries like the Philippines and Indonesia are stable despite the recession because of the abundance of youth.
Bullecer slammed President Aquino on his claims of the economy’s growth through his efforts. He said that the remittances of the Overseas Filipino Workers the one boosting the economy of the country.
He also said that the country is not overpopulated. When a country is in that state, it would mean that people would be in literally tight conditions. He also provided statistics on population growth rates. In 1955, the highest percentage in the country was recorded at 3.1 percent; but now, it’s down to 1.6 percent. In 1960, families had an average of 8 kids while now it’s only 3.
Stressing that contraceptive pills would only endanger the life of the mother and her unborn, not to mention that they cause hypertension, diabetes and breast cancer, among others, the human rights advocate urged midwives, barangay health workers, city health office, and provincial health office, and the department of health to confess their sins for he believes that they have committed a crime through their promotion of those pills and other products with similar purpose.
Announcing to the crowd about the abrupt decision of the solons after their lunch with President Aquino, he said that once RH bill is passed “Hindi na kita maka-rally (We cannot rally anymore) because we will all be put in jail.” According to him, by the time, individuals vocal in their disapproval of the bill will be locked up for six months with a P50,000 bail.
After the rally, a Holy Mass was celebrated led by Msgr. Vicente F. Hilata, vicar general and rector emeritus of the Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion.
Panitan councilor questions mayor’s “productivity”
By Edalyn Acta and Ralph John MijaresPANITAN, CAPIZ—“I am dismayed by our mayor who, despite having had no accomplishments since her last election, is still idolized by the constituents,” Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Member Rosauro del Castillo said in his privilege speech on August 3.
The chairman of the Committee on Appropriation, budget and Finance and Appointment, Del Castillo is questioning Mayor Katherine Dequiña-Belo’s accomplishments on her term, saying: “Si Mayor wala man sang namasnga-an sang nagakatabo sa iya banwa bangud kay wala siya kabalo nga may sinumpaan siya nga obligasyon sa banwa nga wala niya gintuman.” (She has had no accomplishments because she does not know what role she has to fulfill for her municipality.)
It all started when Belo was interviewed in “Bistado,” an A.M. radio blocktime program on July 29 which Del Castillo called as the former’s “State of Municipal Address”.
Belo expressed her gratitude for the road repair in the barangays of Bahit, Tincupon, Qui-os, Ambilay, Cala-an, and Pasugue by Engr. Leodegario Labao, said to be a business associate of SB Member Rex Dorado.
On August 7, during the turnover ceremonies of a health care program in Malubog-lubog Elementary School, Belo denied these allegations made by Del Castillo and said she works hard to fulfill her obligations to her constituents.
Belo claimed that since the time she ran for her current position in 2004, she had won unopposed.
Belo also claimed that she was just “telling the truth” faithfully answering whatever “Mr. Bistado” asked her. Belo also thanked Labao because even though he is a private individual, he provides for projects that can benefit the people. She added that del Castillo is already grateful for the projects of the Liberal Party’s upcoming projects.
Del Castillo claims that Belo violated the Local Government Code which requires every local chief executive “to submit an annual report to the Sanggunian concerned on the socioeconomic, political, and peace and order conditions, and other matters concerning the local government unit, which shall cover the immediately preceding calendar year.”
“A copy of the report shall be forwarded to the Department of the Interior and Local Government. Component cities and municipalities shall likewise provide the Sangguniang Panlalawigan copies of their respective annual reports.”
Del Castillo also called Belo a stranger in her own town claiming that she is unaware of crime rate in her municipality, the cases of dengue and a potential Food and Mouth Disease case. Del Castillo also complained of the rampant gambling of tricycle drivers in former health center and the alleged loitering of some of the municipal employees at the bulangan (cockpit) during office hours.
Del Castillo cited the projects of Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Sec. Mar Roxas who spent P4 million in 2012 alone for the roofing of covered court in Cogon; the construction of a multipurpose building in Concencia and the school stages in Cadio and Tincupon.
Del Castillo said that Cong. Antonio del Rosario provided for the construction and rehabilitation of roads, buildings, and drainage system; the making of farm-to-market roads; and the provision of hand tractor and rice threshers.
Gov. Victor Tanco also helped facilitate the construction of the two-sectioned retaining wall at Banga-an-Cadio road, the concreting of one road in Balcutan; the establishment of water system in Timpas; and the repair of roads in eleven barangays in their town.
Del Castillo wished that Belo, who will be ending her term in 11 months, would think of programs that would best work for the welfare of their constituents.
‘Foul play in Capiceña’s death in Jordan’
By Felipe CelinoPeople close to an overseas worker from Capiz who allegedly committed suicide in Amman, Jordan believe that there was foul play in her death.
Marcena Gabayaran Gilbaliga, 28, died due to alleged drug overdose and hemorrhage.
But Nilda Galicto, a fellow Capiceña and overseas worker in Jordan, does not believe that Gilbaliga killed herself. Her lip had hematoma and her wrist was slashed, said Galicto, a native of Nawayan, Tapaz town. “It’s impossible (that Gilbaliga committed suicide),” she stressed.
Gilbaliga’s elder sister, Elizabeth Castro, won’t believe that her sibling committed suicide either. Castro said her sister does not have an ulcer, which appeared in the autopsy report of Jordan authorities or any ailment for that matter. She believed that Gilbaliga was beaten and forced to take drugs. “[Our] family wants justice for the death of my sister,” Castro said over a radio interview Monday.
Prior to her death, Gilbaliga was reprimanded by her employer for using the latter’s mobile phone to call her cousin who is also in Jordan. Gilbaliga died while being treated in a hospital in Amman.
It was also reported that the Gilbaliga was wearing only an underwear when she was brought to the hospital. She has been working for her present employer for two weeks. She has been missing her son, Castro said. Her body arrived in the Philippines last week and will be buried in Manila due to financial constraints.
Frenzied crowd stops celebrity basket match
By Ralph John MijaresWhat was supposed to be some 40 minutes of hoops action on August 5 at the Capiz Gymnasium was cut short after a number of spectators—mostly teenage girls—swarmed into the basketball court to get close to their favorite stars.
Scoring 65–50 heading into the final quarter, the Team Celebrity was leading against Roxas City’s Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairmen when the game was stopped by the organizers.
Kriza Fernando, Banica SK chair and Roxas City SK Federation president, said that the manager of Daniel Padilla decided to stop the game due to the rowdy crowd. Fans came to the court and swarmed to the sidelines numerous times.
Though no one was reported hurt during the rush of the crowd, SK Legislative Researcher Gilbert Fernando said that they chose to stop the game not only to protect the players but also the people watching because they considered “the possible dangers that might occur.”
Throughout the game, especially on out-of-bounds plays, they approached Team Celebrity members to hug, kiss, shoot pictures with and get autographs.
Daniel Padilla, known for his role as Gino in the ABS-CBN’s primetime show “Princess and I;” Diego Loyzaga, son of actor Cesar Montano; and Capiznon David Corro were among the members of the visiting team.
While police and SK officials were deployed to control the crowd, some fans proved to be “uncontrollable.”
After videos and photos spread on the internet, the incident gained varied reactions from users nationwide.
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