Sept. 24 - 30, 2012 Issue

‘Bistado ka na!’

Mr. Bistado submits counter-affidavit

By Ralph John Mijares with reports from Edalyn Acta

“Long live the badings (sic)!” This is how Salvador Capulot, Jr. or “Mr. Bistado” ended one of his two counter-affidavits stated on NPS Dkt. No. VI-16-INV-12H-00292 in response to Celino’s libel complaint against him.

Use of Government Vehicle

He confirmed Mayor Angel Alan Celino’s claims of him and a city councillor bringing a government vehicle to an Iloilo gay bar called Paraiso and committing a sexual act there.

Capulot said that he based his claims on an article written by Glenn Vidal Beup, a local TV personality and writer of The News Today on January 4 this year called, “Display of Arrogance”.

Said article read (in part): “A couple of months ago, a van owned by the City Government of Roxas was spotted by a reliable source along Bolilao right across SM City Iloilo.”

“The Toyota van was easily identified since it bears a signage that it is owned by the City Government of Roxas.”

Further, “top city official together with a city councillor and some of their trusted aides went inside the bar for a drinking spree.”

Sources Cited

Capulot cited another article by Beup entitled “Embarrassing Situation” in which he confirms that it was Celino and the same city councilor who went to the bar. According to Beup as per Annex 2 of Capulot’s affidavit, “I hope...the two city officials who figured out in my last week’s column will recognize their mistake and must avoid using a government vehicle while conducting an unofficial business.”

Capulot also cited that two witnesses who don’t preferred anonymity backed his allegation. They were patrons of Paraiso Entertainment Bar on or about December 15, 2011, or soon thereafter at around 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. of the next day, their waiter “whispered to us that seated in the table in front of us are VIPs from Roxas City, no other than the Mayor of Roxas City himself and a mestizo companion both of whom were also intensely watching the sexy macho dancers.”

“We were able to take a good look at the Mayor of Roxas City, whom we later came to know as Angel Alan Celino, and whom we can identify should we see him again.”, they added.

However, the radio-blocktimer denied having said in his program that, “Galuhod-luhod gid si Mayor pang-os tubo” (The Mayor was kneeling down while biting the sugarcane).

According to him, what he said was “Ang tubo gusto ko ipasiguro sa inyo didto sa Negros Occidental gina pang-os na ya” (I assure you that in Negros Occidental sugarcane is chewed/munched at).

Capulot also believed that Celino violated Section 3, Rule 112 or the Revised Rules on Criminal Procedures because for him, the complaint-affidavit and that of their witnesses “were not subscribed and/or sworn to before a city/provincial prosecutor of Roxas City/Capiz despite their availability.”

Capulot also quoted from Sigmund Freud in the latter’s “Letter to a Mother of a Homosexual” that “homosexuality is nothing to be ashamed of, it is not a vice, not degradation, neither is it an illness, and many great men such as Plato, Michael Angelo, and Leonardo da Vinci were homosexuals.” Capulot added that being one is not a crime.

As per NPS Dkt. No. VI-16-INV-12H-00293, Capulot said that his claims of Celino being absent in his workplace on Thursdays and Fridays came from “numerous text messages” to him—which he only “echoed in my Mr. Bistado program.” Also, his claim that Celino was arrested for jaywalking during his days as the city’s vice-mayor came from a traffic aide from Iloilo City.

The former RGMA Iloilo commentator said that based on his complaint-affidavit, Celino said, “I do not recall being arrested for jaywalking.” Capulot said that “he (Celino) indeed was arrested, but he just cannot remember.”

Celino and TDR’s alleged “link” to cara y cruz den

Capulot claims that Celino is “...isa sa mga protektor ni Cong. Tony Del Rosario sa iya tumbuan sa kilid sang BIR Building” (one of the protectors of Cong. Tony Del Rosario’s gambling den beside the BIR Building), he “never categorically stated that Mayor Angel Alan Celino is one of the protectors of Congressman Tony Del Rosario.”

Capulot knew of the existence of a gambling den after he received “numerous text messages” on July 22. He claimed that after his radio program, he went to Bilbao Street, between Magallanes and McKinley Streets and heard “the sounds of coins hitting the cemented floor after being toss up (sic) as well as the resounding cheers from the bettors, and I was also able to see the traffic of people in that small place where the gambling activities are being conducted.”

Capulot claimed that what he said was—Angel, bistado ka na! Amo ini kung nga-a naglala ini nga sahi sang kriminalidad nga ginpanglawag naton diri sa syudad sang Roxas bangod, mga kaabyanan...once ining mga criminal nga ini, maka-income gani, maka-raket sang kwarta sa mga pagpanghold-up, pagpangawat, tanan-tanan, dira nila ginadiretso sa tumbu-an. Ginapabay-an man ina ni Mayor Angel Alan Celino. Nga-a? Kay tungod may ara man sang pagpahanugot sa Congressman sang syudad sang Roxas.”(You’re busted, Angel! As we have said, these acts of lawlessness worsened in Roxas City because, my friends, these criminals bring their loot to that gambling den whatever they gained from their holdups, robberies, and other activities. Mayor Angel Alan Celino allows them to happen. Why? Because it has the consent of the congressman of the City of Roxas.”)

Capulot said that his radio program “shall serve as an avenue to expose the anomalies, abuses, and misdeeds committed by public officials as well as commend the good deeds of performing and deserving ones as example for the public good.”

Pasiplat’ highlights Capiz’s tourism

By Alex Lumaque

More than 80 photographs depicting Capiz tourism potentials and cultural events were launched as Pasiplat, a photo exhibit at the Provincial Capitol in Roxas City.

Pasiplat, a Hiligaynon term for glimpse, is staged by the Capiz Provincial Press Bureau (CPPB) in view of the 2012 Provincial Tourism Week (PTW) celebration.

“This exhibit is a glimpse of the past tourism and cultural activities captured thru the lens of the CPPB,” said Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Officer Alphonsus Tesoro.

The pictures which are creatively displayed on bulletin boards are stylishly illuminated for the better appreciation of viewers.

The exhibit likewise features photos of local government officials in action in their programs and projects. The exhibit is complemented by a Festival Costume Showcase featuring the native costumes of municipalities of the province.

“Through the exhibit, people will also be given an idea of the different development projects of the province in line with Capiz Gov. Victor A. Tanco’sLabi sa Tanan Ang Tawo battlecry,” said CPPB head Edward Basilonia.

The exhibit will also be an opportunity for the CPPB to showcase its multimedia equipments and its well-trained manpower that boosts the information program of the province.

On Sept. 27, the exhibit was transferred to Dinggoy Roxas Civic Center (DRCC) to form part of the 1st Tourism Expo that run until Sept. 29.

13 nabbed for cara y cruz

By Ralph John Mijares

In a raid conducted by the members of the Roxas City Philippine National Police (PNP) led P/Supt. Salvador Dagoon, Jr., 13 men were arrested for playing tumbo, or cara y cruz on Sept. 25.

Said gamblers were caught around 4:25 p.m. inside an empty room near the Bureau of Internal Revenue office on Bilbao Street.

Arrested were Nelson Falcis, 50 and Guamie Agana, 42 while those seen in the vicinity were Richard Ariaga, 81; Pedro Aligno, 71; Richard Tagpuno, 33; Danilo Tenorio, 36; Richard Bacas, 40; Loreto Calanugan, Jr., 32; Arnel Sonico, 28; Roque De Felipe, 69; Donito Almodien, 35; Albert Barrera, 43; and Roger Mahilum, 36.

According to the blotter, three pieces of old .25 centavo coins and P600 were confiscated from Falcis while P312 cash was seized from Agana.

Police said Falcis was seen tossing those three coins while Agana was the betting his cash.

Except for Falcis and Agana, the bystanders were released after the investigation.

In an interview, Dagoon said they were tipped by a source which led them to launch the raid. The police chief added that it took a while for them to pinpoint the exact location of the gambling area.

At this writing, Dagoon said he does not know who operates the activities.

Driver faces raps over road mishap

ROXAS City—A driver from Balasan, Iloilo is facing charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide in relation to a vehicular accident in Sitio Libas, Brgy. San Esteban, Pilar, Capiz last week.

The charges will be filed against Rafil Dador, 27, before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office here, Senior Insp. Errol Quatche, Pilar police chief, said.

On Sept. 20, four people died when the L300 van driven by Dador rammed a motorcycle in the said area.

Police identified the fatalities as Rudy Villa, 27; his wife Ronilyn, 27; their two-month-old daughter, Robelyn; and his mother-in-law, Nelly Baclas, who were all aboard the motorcycle.

Dador was injured after his van collided into a truck parked along the road and lost control of his vehicle. He was observed to have been under the influence of liquor, Quatche said.

Dador is detained in the lockup cell of the Pilar police station.

The victims were earlier taken to the Pilar Rural Health Center but Ronilyn, Robelyn and Baclas died upon arrival.

Villa was transferred to the Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital here but also died upon arrival. Dador was brought to the Jose Colmenares Memorial Hospital in Brgy. Malbog, Balasan for treatment.