Gov. Alvarado now officially unopposed

Alvarado (2nd from left) with Stephen Lillie, British Ambassador to the Philippines.

MALOLOS CITY—It is now official, incumbent Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado will be unopposed in his first re-election bid.

This came as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) En Banc disqualified two independent gubernatorial candidates in the province for the May 13 polls.

Lawyer Elmo Duque, the provincial election supervisor in Bulacan told PromdiNews that Comelec’s decision is based on his recommendation after he met apparent nuisance candidates last October.

“We just want to ensure that this year’s elections in Bulacan will be meaningful and will not be mockery of democracy,” Duque said in a telephone interview.

He said that last October, he had a conference with at least seven independence candidates in the province including two gubernatorial candidates, namely Jaime Almera and Ernesto Balite.

Duque explained that the conference was meant to measure the capability of candidates to launch a province-wide campaign, especially for the gubernatorial position.

It was followed by his recommendation to the Comelec Law Department which ruled on the case.

On January 17, the Comelec issued a ruling disqualifying Almera and Balite.

This decision is reflected on the Comelec website which showed that Governor Alvarado as the lone candidate for the said post in Bulacan.

“That is the final list and certified list of candidates for the 2013 elections,” Duque said referring to information posted on the Comelec website.

He added that the said list posted on the website will be the same to printed on official ballots for the May 13 polls.

Printing of ballots will start today, February 4.

However, Duque said that the Comelec will still have to decide on the disqualification case filed incumbent Representative Marivic Alvarado of the first congressional district against retired police officer Sahiron Dulah Salim.

An independent l candidate, Salim filed his Certificate of Candidacy (CoC) last October to challenge the governor’s wife in the first congressional district.

However, Rep. Alvarado filed a disqualification against Salim noting that the retired police general ran for governor of Sulu in the 2010 automated election and miserably lost.

As this developed, political old hands here said that if Salim is disqualified, the Alvarado’s will be the first husband and team candidates in a provincial elective position in the province to run unopposed in the same election.

Jose Rey Munsayac, a former board member said no governor of Bulacan has ran unopposed since the 1980s.

He said that even former governors like Roberto Pagdanganan and Josefina Dela Cruz had to face an opposition candidates during their separate reelection bids.  (Dino Balabo)

Hyleap's Youth Fest: Pictorial

Bidding for Malolos' new city hall sparks controversy

Old Malolos City Hall

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan, – The publication of the public notice for the construction of the P350 million new city hall building has sparked more controversy than helping clear the issue surrounding its bidding process which was recalled by.Mayor Christian D. Natividad last Monday.

This after the City Government of Malolos Employes Association (CGMEA) president Danilo Valenzuela stated that  the controversial project--to be financed by a P350-Million loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines using the city’s Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) as collateral-- was published yesterday (Dec.5) in another daily paper.

Valenzuela said it is obvious that the original public bidding set last Dec. 3 was flawed for failing to comply with essential requirements of posting under Republic Act 9184 or the Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and publication in a daily newspaper of general circulation.

He alleged that Atty.Carlo Jollette Fajardo and Atty. Zaldy Mendoza, chairman and member of  the Bids and Awards Committee, respectively,  are publishing the revised ‘Notice of Bidding’, in bad faith because his petition for an ‘Injunction’ to stop the bidding for the P350-Million deal is not yet decided by Malolos Regional Trial Court Judge Grace Victoria-Ruiz.

He said the Dec. 3 decision of Judge Ruiz declaring as “moot and academic the request for a TRO” to stop the public bidding also set last Monday (Dec. 3/12noon) was due to the pre-emptive move of Mayor Natividad to recall the bidding process after succumbing to allegations of deliberately concealing the project from legitimate bidders.

Mayor Natividad, who is also a lawyer,  issued a Memorandum to the BAC early Monday morning directing the BAC to issue a 'Bulletin' to all bidders and "to repeat the bidding process."   The memorandum according to Valenzuela was a tactical maneuver that pre-empted the RTC judge from issuing a TRO.

The mayor said that he made the move to erase any doubts on the matter.

Mark Lester Santos, the BAC Secretariat head and chief of the City Personnel department, went missing the entire week prior to the scheduled bidding. Prospective bidders complained that inspite of their pleadings, staff of Santos at his department only gave out Bid Documents and Plans before the close of office hours last Thursday, Nov.29. The next three days prior to bidding were holidays.

The CGMEA president said he has also filed last Nov. 29 a criminal complaint against the three lawyers, all the BAC members, including the Land Bank before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the alleged anomalous deal.—EMIL G. GAMOS

Gov. Alvarado called for donations

Let us help Mindanao.

This was the message of Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado on Friday night, December 7 before he led the ceremonial lighting of giant Christmas tree at the capitol compound.

The governor said they will send out letters to local government units and different organizations in the province to gather donations that can be sent to victims of typhoon Pablo in Mindanao.

He also ordered a simple celebration of Christmas party in all government offices in the provinces in order to save fund that can be saved and send to typhoon victims.

This developed, Mayors James De Jesus of Calumpit and Arnel Mendoza expressed full support to the governor's call.

They said they will gather donations and contribution for the relief effort of Bulacan to Mindanao.

U.S. election update: Barack Obama ekes out narrow victory over Mitt Romney in presidential race

U.S. election update: Barack Obama ekes out narrow victory over Mitt Romney in presidential race

U.S. election update: Barack Obama ekes out narrow victory over Mitt Romney in presidential race

U.S. election update: Barack Obama ekes out narrow victory over Mitt Romney in presidential race

Prosecutors oppose appointment of an "outsider"

Samonte with Lawyer and former Governor Tomas Martin.

MALOLOS CITY—Ranking prosecutors in Bulacan are opposing the appointment of a private lawyer as provincial prosecutor citing lack of experience.

They also stressed that appointing an outsider would demoralized members of the national prosecution service of the Department of Justice (DOJ), many of whom has been serving the government for 20 years or more.

In a one page manifesto, Bulacan prosecutors asked the President Aquino to give priority to members of the national prosecution service in the province.

The manifesto was signed by Rita Gammad, senior deputy provincial prosecutor, Eduardo Dela Cruz, 2^nd assistant provincial prosecutor, Antonio Buan, and Eufracio Marquez, city prosecutors of the Cities of San Jose Del Monte and Meycauayan.

All four ranking prosecutors are applicant to post vacated by former Provincial Prosecutor Alfredo Geronimo who had reached his compulsory retirement last June 7.

The prosecutors insisted in their manifesto that they have been in the service under the DOJ for more than 20 years and have devoted their lives to serve the people.

“Our qualifications, competency, hardwork and dedication cannot be ignored compared to an applicant/outsider who has no experience whatsoever as a government prosecutors,” the manifesto said to which they refer to Lawyer Renato Samonte as an “outsider.”

In an interview, Buan said that Samonte is a good lawyer, but he expressed doubts over his capability to handle and lead the national prosecution service in Bulacan.

 “He is a very good private practitioner but he was never a prosecutor,” Buan said noting that that Samonte’s appointment will cause demoralization among members of the prosecution service.

He said that for years, many of them are hoping to be promoted to higher position, along with other lower ranking prosecutors noting that “they too are looking forward for promotion, but it won’t happen if someone from the outside will be appointed as out chief.”

Buan also clarified Samonte’s earlier statements claiming that he has been appointed to the post vacated by Geronimo’s retirement.

“As far as we are concerned, he is just a candidate, because we have not seen any formal appointment,” he said.

Buan added that the President can stop demoralization among members of the Bulacan prosecution service by appointing candidates who are experienced.

He insisted that Samonte has no experience and not a member of the government prosecution service.

A long time lawyer, Samonte came from Bulakan town and has an extensive law practice in  Metro  Manila and Central Luzon spanning three decades.

He  finished A.B. Political Science at the Ateneo de Manila University and graduated from the San Beda College of Law in 1980.       

His adept skills as a trial lawyer was honed and polished during his more than 10 years practice at the Law office of Dakila F. Castro where he litigated high-profile criminal cases, one of these was the libel case filed by then President Corazon C. Aquino.

Samonte is well-remembered for the brilliancy he displayed during Day 34th and 35th of the impeachment trial of SC Chief Justice Renato C. Corona where he crossed-examined former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza.

Then lead counsel for the defense, Justice Serafin Cuevas, was blanked and rebuffed not once but thrice by Prosecutor Samonte while grilling ex-Mayor Atienze in connection with the irregularity in the sale of the Basa-Guidote property in  Legarda, Manila.  (Dino Balabo)