Congratulations Koko

Congratulations are in order for Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III for winning his electoral protest against Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri.

This is the first successful protest for a senatorial seat decided by the Senate Electoral Tribunal.

It was a difficult road that Senator Koko took which involved 4 years of gathering evidence and proving fraud which cost the Pimentels an estimated P20 million in legal expenses.

Senator Koko’s determination and conviction finally bore fruit when Ex ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan and Ex Comelec Provincial Supervisor Lintang Bedol came out to confirm widespread cheating in Maguindanao in the 2007 elections.

Many friends of Koko had advised him to drop his protest and just run again in 2010 where surveys showed him as a probable winner. But Senator Koko, a No. 1 Bar topnotcher, stood by his convictions and pursued his protest. As his mother Bing said, Divine Providence.

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DIFFICULT ROADBLOCKS . . . MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari said that there will be no peace agreement in Mindanao because Al Haj Murad Ibrahim is not the leader of the majority of Muslims. He said that the Bangsa Moro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) faction now counts with more supporters than the MILF under Murad.

This was confirmed the last few days as fighting broke out in Datu Piang between a MILF group under Commander Adzmie and the Umbra Kato BIFF group headed by Commander Abunawas with 14 killed so far.

Government negotiator Dean Marvic Leonen expressed concern over the fighting and called on the MILF to discipline its forces. But recent events show that the MILF Central Committee headed by Al Haj Murad no longer control Commander Ameril Umbra Kato and the BIFF group and the Abu Sayyaf factions operating in Sulu, Tawi Tawi and Basilan.

This looks like a replay of the government negotiations with the MNLF years ago when the government entered into a peace pact with MNLF releasing funds to them, but no peace ensued because a big faction broke away for Misuari’s group and formed the present MILF and continued fighting the government.

The President must review this situation to determine if the MILF group of Murad really represents the Muslim majority.

Christian groups are also restless about their property rights which they have acquired or inherited as early as 100 years ago. What protection will they get in a MILF substate?

With the MILF rebel forces recognized as the military forces of the substate government, the Christian settlers will be helpless to prevent take over of their cultivated lands.

And after they have their substate and control of natural resources and funds what will prevent the MILF substate from declaring independence?

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PEACE AND ORDER BREAKDOWN (2) . . . Karla Paula Henry, Miss Philippines Earth 2008 was stabbed with a broken beer bottle in the parking lot of California Gardens in Mandaluyong City.

NPA rebels attacked an army patrol base in Mabini, Compostela Valley, killing 3 soldiers and wounding 3 others. PFC Leo Salcedo was killed by suspected NPA rebels in Daraga, Albay.  

Ex Postmaster Emmanuel Abello, 49, was shot dead while driving his motorcycle in Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija. Filipino American Nonato Tamayo was kidnapped and found dead in Santa Teresita, Nueva Viscaya. Retired Judge Corazon Abalos Mermeraso was stabbed to death by her houseboys and driver inside her house in Dagupan City.

Danny Delana, a member of Vice Mayor Edgar Erice’s staff was shot dead by 2 motorcycle riding gunmen at Bagong Silang, Caloocan. Erice called on the Caloocan Police to solve the killings at Bagong Silang in Caloocan.

Jackson Fernandez, 31, a supervisor of Cash Line Lending Corp. was shot dead also by 2 motorcycle riding gunmen in front of his wife and child at Commonwealth Avenue in crime ridden Quezon City.

Gold Morris Ancheta, 18 and Kevin Villagas, 20, were shot dead by 3 armed men inside a computer shop in Sampaloc.

American tourist William Levasele, 68 was shot dead in Magalang, Pampanga. Japanese businessman, Motooka Masakato, 43, was held up by a lone gunman who stripped him of his clutch bag at Pasay City.

Danilo Baria, a bodyguard of Guiguinto Mayor Isagani Pascual was shot dead inside the Mayor’s office after he shot and wounded 4 other employees.

The PNP CIDG appears to have awakened killing 7 kidnappers in 2 separate encounters. Yes, General Sammy Pagdilao is one of the more effective officers of the PNP.  

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MORE QUESTIONS ON CCT. . Over Tina Monzon Palma’s Talkback TV program, Cong. Mitos Magsaysay, Alaminos Mayor Nani Braganza and Twitter messages questioned the selection process of 2.2 million CCT beneficiaries in 6 months.

It was clear that DSWD Dinky Soliman rushed the process as she admitted that Mayors were not directly involved in the selection process resulting in a necessity to set up a review panel that have disqualified more than 155,000 enrollees so far.

Sec. Soliman claimed that she gave priority to the poorest areas claiming she recruited beneficiary families from 4th and 5th class towns with the bigger number coming from Mindanao. That raises a valid observation: Aren’t the poorest municipalities those classified as 6th class? Why didn’t she mention them? All the 5 towns of Batanes province are 6th class.

What is clear is that Sec. Soliman forgot her elementary school proverb that haste makes waste.

There is valid ground to support the view that the 2011 program be first reviewed and evaluated before we appropriate an additional P39 billion for the CCT for 2012.

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TIDBITS . . . DOT Secretary Alberto Lim, one of the “headaches” of the President has resigned for personal reasons. He should be commended for having the delicadeza to do so. He is the 2nd Cabinet Member to resign after DOTC Sec. Ping de Jesus.