Tandag killings, QC, too

CBCP President Bishop Nereo Ochimar of the Diocese of Tandag has charged that the PNP has closed its eyes to 44 murders in that city believed to be perpetrated by a local politician and his family’s private army. It’s not even in the police blotter. And the Provincial Director has refused to investigate the killings.

In Quezon City, killings escalated as two businessmen were shot dead on two successive days by four armed men riding in tandem on two motorcycles. Chinese trader Shao Huai Huang, 46, of Greenhills was shot dead in his Toyota Fortuner at the corner of busy Gilmore and 4th streets, Saturday morning at 10 a.m.

On Sunday, using the same modus operandi of two motorcycles blocking his Honda CRV, businessman Samuel Pangan, 48, of Greenland Subdivision, Marikina was killed at the corner of Doña Nicasia and Samsung streets in Barangay Commonwealth on Sunday morning. Recall the two previous killings of Teresita Teaño and Sheryl Agnes Sarmiento in QC.

These are very serious situations. PAOCC Chairman Jojo Ochoa must order an investigation here.

In Maguindanao, Datu Lucman Mastura and Datu Maruf Mastura who belong to the influential clan of former Congressman Michael Mastura were shot dead by hooded gunmen using M-16 rifles who barged into their house in Sultan Kudarat town. Six neighbors of the Mastura brothers were wounded.

A staffer of Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, Jonathan Ignacio, 37, was shot dead while sleeping inside his house in Prudencio St., Tondo, Manila. No one is safe inside one’s home these days.

Manila International Container Port (MICP) reports a series of robberies of cargo vessels anchored at the Port of Manila.

Agelino Itable, riding in his motorcycle was blocked by a holdupper in another motorcycle, took his money and jewelry and shot him dead in Altura St., Sta. Mesa, Manila. Korean Jung Moon Seok, 23, was stabbed by two holduppers in Iloilo City.

Thirty NPA rebels raided the Philex compound in Sipalay, Negros Occidental and burned a truck and bunk houses.

A 56-year-old STL operator, Don Ramon Preza, brother of Tiaong, Quezon Vice Mayor Rolando Preza was shot by two unidentified men in separate motorcycles while driving along Maharlika Highway. Barangay Kagawad George Cuaresma of Barangay San Andres was shot dead in Sanchez Mira, Cagayan.

Before it were patients robbing and raping dentists. Now it’s a barber killed by a haircut customer. Ferdinand Caling, 31, was shot dead inside his barber shop in Barangay Imelda, QC.

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CONTINUING SMUGGLING. .Nueva Ecija farmers led by onion growers federation president Armando de Guzman have again complained that 540 metric tons of onions from India and China are smuggled weekly into the country.

This is proven by the drop two weeks ago of onion prices in the market to P23 a kilo. Locally grown onions are produced at a cost of P40 per kilo and therefore, cannot compete with the smuggled onions. Local onion growers have lost P100 million in unsold stock for the last four weeks.

The resumption of smuggling of onions in mid June is reportedly part of the last two minutes drive of incumbent Customs officials who are expecting a change in the Customs leadership.

Meanwhile, the 595 containers transhipped from Manila to Batangas but never reached Batangas are still unaccounted for. While Commissioner Angelito Alvarez ordered investigation Chief Fernandino Tuason to conduct a probe, so far no report has been submitted. With 595 containers missing, that’s just too much. Garapal talaga!

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IDLE CASH. . The existence of a P77.2 billion fund on deposit in the Department of Energy bank accounts coming from Malampaya royalties is the best argument against new taxes. There is also the P200 billion Coco-levy funds which are also undistributed and are in the bank.

I would estimate that there is a total of at least P200 billion lying idle in the bank accounts of different government departments. I know for a fact that there are millions of dollars deposited by Embassies and Consulates abroad coming from visa, passport and consular invoice fees.

As finance committee chairman of the Senate for several years, we were surprised that average utilization of their budgets by government departments was only 65-70 percent.

Most new tax proposals raise on the average P10 billion only. No need to raise taxes, just use money of the government already in their possession.

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TIDBITS. . .US unemployment rate rises to 9.2 percent. Obama’s disapproval rating on job creation now at 57 percent vs 37 percent approval rating. Misguided stimulus spending and businessmen not hiring are cited as causes.

In the Philippines, the economy needs to add 50,000 jobs a month to catch up with population growth, now reaching 92 million.

DPWH has launched a rain water collection system in Northern Samar to provide water for three elementary schools. It will also reduce flooding in the area.

Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian of Valenzuela City is one of our more active city executives. He took time out to convince Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos to take down the Philippine Volcanoes in briefs from Edsa. He also appropriated funds to build 225 classrooms. He also provides free notebooks to students, lesson planners for teachers and school supplies for kindergarten pupils.   

Martin Lichauco, son of the late DOTC Sec. Josefina Lichauco, has emerged as one of the country’s top venture capitalists. An economics graduate of the Ateneo, he got his MBA from the Arthur D. Little School of Management in Boston.

A special hello to Ike and Penny Gutierrez, Tommy and Renee Donasco, Ado and Alice Miranda, Albert and Vivian Yang, couples who regularly read our column.

Greetings to Mayor Fernando Lamas of Mauban, Quezon and his residents on the occasion of their 6th Maubanog Festival culminating on Mauban Day on July 15.