Congratulations to New Engineers from CSC

Civil Engineer Board Examination given by the Professionals Regulation Commission last November 19-20, 2005.


Keyel L. Isorena and Nathaniel C. Turado 12th Place
Gilbert R. del Valle 16th Place

Other passers:

ABLE, Karen T.; ALMOJUELA, Melvin C.; ASUNCION, Dennis A.; BORROMEO, Joel V.; DELEÑA, Michael C.; GIANAN, Novelyn L.; MANOGUID, Lolita I.; MATIENZO, Alex J.; MOLINA, Mary Grace T.; OBO, Mark Vincent T.; PANTINO, Ryan T.; RAMOS, Karlo Andrew S., SARMIENTO, Lloyd B.; TABUZO, Leoncio III T.; TAJAN, Wilmar S.; TIBAR, Henry C.; TOMAGAN, Francois B.; VALEZA, Ruben Jr. D.; VALLEDOR, Gary V.; VARGAS, Lucio Jr, S.; VARGAS, Rey T.; VEGA, Julie T.; VEGA, Nieva V.; VEGA, Raymundo Jr. E.; VERANO, Terevi P.; VILLEGAS, Juvy V.; ZAFE, Maricel M.

OUR SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO KAREN T. ABLE and her parents, Viganon!

Today's RTC Hearing on Viga Mayoralty Row Cancelled

Jose 'Siksik' Torres and his counsel did not appear in the scheduled RTC hearing today, November 29, 2005 about their opposition to the "motion for the grant of writ of execution" previously filed by protestant Abelardo Abundo Sr.on the result of an earlier RTC decision pronouncing the latter as the winner in the judicial recount pertaining to the Viga mayoralty post.

Instead, the court was advised that the opposition brief expected to be filed today by Torres and counsel was mailed or about to be mailed today from the Manila Office of the lawyer for Torres.

Observers commented that the legal ploy resorted to was 'clearly delaying tactics and nothing else' that will not amount to anything to change the RTC decision declaring Abundo as the 'duly elected mayor of Viga'.

According to Atty. Arnel Sarmiento, counsel for Abundo, there are 11 established jurisprudence on the matter of 'writ of execution' in decided election cases which vest the RTC the prerogative to order the assumption of a winning candidate in a judicial recount even pending a protestee's appeal to the COMELEC en banc.

One of these cited jurisprudence is governed by Section 2, Rule 39 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure which states that "execution pending appeal should be based upon 'good reasons to be stated in a special order'. The following constitute "good reasons" and a combination of two or more of them will suffice to grant execution pending appeal: (1) public interest involved or will of the electorate (2) the shortness of the remaining portion of the term of the contested office and (3) the length of time that the election contest has been pending." (Fermo v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 140179, Mar. 13, 2000).

The RTC will release its final decision on the 'writ of execution' upon receipt of the opposition brief filed by the counsel of Torres through postal mail which is expected early next week.

No further hearing was set by the RTC.

ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!

NAIA Scam

(contributed by ALVIS)

Unbelievable!!

With Christmas fast approaching, several enterprising crooks at the NAIA have cooked up another easy money scheme to fund their Christmas shopping. A bullet or two is slipped inside bags with outside zippers and so when the poor sod claims his luggage, he is arrested for carrying an "accessory to a dangerous weapon".

But the story does not end with him in some airport detention room, no, he is carted to the Pasay police station where he has to spend the night alongside recidivists (habitual criminals) and other scums of the earth. And the place ain't no Hilton either. After 12 hours or so inside the slammer, feelers will be sent to see if he's willing to settle the case for a measly sum of 60k, that is, 60k EACH for the judge and whoever else wants to milk him dry. A little bit of haggling occurs and voila, he's a free man once again.

The above situation really happened but in real life, the bullet wasn't found in some man's luggage, it was "discovered" in a 75 year old woman's bag. And the 75 year old woman had to be carried out of the jail cell after she agreed to pay settle with the law enforcement officers. She was carried out because she could barely walk after spending the night in the cramped and stinky jail cell.

The 75 year old woman was represented by our pediatrician's lawyer husband who again had to represent her after the NAIA official found another bullet in her luggage on her way back to the US. Oh well, maybe the lola really was a terrorist or perhaps she just became a juicier target because the crooks already knew that she was willing to settle.

You decide.

Atty. Romero says that this sort of case is the third he's handled in the last few months. No surprise there, for it seems to be a very well-oiled operation and it will probably be implemented more now what with the upcoming barra ge of balikbayans coming home in time for the holidays.

So as not to become a victim, please lock your checked-in luggage, even those outside and side zippers. Or better yet, get one of those hard cases with no zippers or pockets in front or on the side. At least this way, no opportunity will be created for some unscrupulous person to slip in a little extra in your bag and thus create a little extra for himself.

Bb Catandungan 2005 Pics

More Pics >>>

Abundo's Assumption As Viga Mayor Postponed Anew

This morning, the RTC proceedings on the finality of the November 14 promulgation of RTC decision that gave Abelardo Abundo Sr the post of Viga Mayor after the conclusion of the Petition for Judicial Recount was postponed anew due to the appearance in court of an additional counsel for 'sitting mayor' Jose Torres.

After the conclusion of the roll call of scheduled cases to be heard today, a certain Atty. Bo addressed the presiding judge and manifested his appearance as counsel for Torres showing a SMS message purportedly coming from the latter.

Atty. Bo requested to hold in abeyance the scheduled proceeding as he would like to submit his manifestations on the case and explain other circumstances of his appearance.

A seemingly irritated Judge asked the lawyer if he could not submit his explanation and manifestation at that instant to which the counsel replied that he just arrived this morning and had no time to be appraised of the details of the case.

RTC Judge Agbada, as a matter of course pursuant to Rules of Court, gave them 5 days within which to file the said manifestation. Atty. Bo retorted that 5 days is too short to study the whole case. The Judge stood pat on the 5-day period given despite some objection from Abundo's counsel invoking the Rule 35 Sec 17 of the COMELEC Rules of Procedure.

Some observers commented that the appearance of the new counsel for Torres was clearly a 'delaying tactic' which is a common strategy in court cases resorted to by 'losing' parties in order to postpone or delay the execution of unfavorable decisions from the court.

Will They Resist the RTC Decision in VIGA Mayorship?

COMELEC RULES OF PROCEDURE

As applying to the Election Contest/Judicial Recount filed by Protestant Abelardo Abundo Sr. with the RTC Branch 42 against Protestee Jose Torres

COMELEC RULES OF PROCEDURE

PART VI
PROVISIONS GOVERNING ELECTION CONTESTS
AND QUO WARRANTO CASES BEFORE TRIAL COURT
Rule 35
Election Contests Before Courts of General Jurisdiction

Section 1. Original Jurisdiction of Regional Trial Courts. - Regional trial courts shall have exclusive original jurisdiction over contests relating to the elections, returns and qualifications involving elective municipal officials.

Sec. 17. Decision on the Contest. - The Court shall decide the election contest within thirty (30) days from the date it is submitted for decision, but in every case within six (6) months after its filing and shall declare who among the parties has been elected, or in a proper case, the none of them has been legally elected. The party who in the judgment has been declared elected shall have the right to assume the office as soon as the judgment becomes final.

Sec. 19. Promulgation and Finality of Decision. - The decision of the Court shall be promulgated on a date set by it of which due notice must be given the parties. It shall become final five (5) days after its promulgation. No motion for reconsideration shall be entertained.

Sec. 20. Notice of Final Decision. - As soon as decision declaring the election of the winner becomes final, notice thereof shall be sent to the Commission on Elections, the Department of Local Government and the Commission on Audit. If the decision be that none of the parties has been legally elected, the Clerk of Court shall certify such decision to the President of the Philippines and to the Commission on Elections.

Sec. 21. Appeal. - From any decision rendered by the court the aggrieved party may appeal to the Commission on Elections within five (5) days after the promulgation of the decision.

PART VII
ELEVATION OF DECISIONS TO THE SUPREME COURT
Rule 37
Review of Decisions of the Commission

Sec. 2. Non-reviewable Decisions. - Decisions in appeals from courts of general or limited jurisdiction in election cases relating to the elections, returns, and qualifications of municipal and barangay officials are not appealable.

VIGA HAS NEW MAYOR

RTC completes Recount of Votes in Viga

The Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 42 Presiding Judge Genie G. Gapas-Agbada had promulgated its decision last Monday, November 14, 2005 on the results of the recount of votes in various preincts in the town of Viga, Catanduanes and directed the 'sitting mayor' Jose 'Siksik' Torres to vacate and relinquish his position to Abelardo Abundo Sr.

The final RTC recount tally showed Abundo with 4,230 as against Torres' 4,121 votes giving the former a margin of 109 votes.

After the decision was read, a tensed up and teary-eyed Torres refused to shake hands with Abundo.

Immediately, Abundo filed a motion for 'writ of execution' of the decision which the court will expectedly grant and take his oath soon after, pending an appeal by Torres.

As will be recalled, Torres was proclaimed by the Viga Municipal Canvassing Board as duly elected mayor with a margin of 72 votes which Abundo had protested to and contested the votes received by Torres in 16 precincts in 9 barangays. A counter protest in 19 precincts in 9 barangays was likewise filed by Torres.

The recount and re-appreciation of ballots gave Abundo a gain of 5 and a reduction of 21 votes while Torres suffered a reduction of 196 votes and gained 2.

A high percentage of votes for Torres that were invalidated by the Revision Committee were 'marked ballots' that contained names of non-candidates, numbers, and irrelevant words appended to the name of Torres presumably to mark or identify the voter.

In all 15 precincts protested to by Abundo, Torres lost votes including 31 in Burgos while Abundo's was reduced in only 10 precincts. Abundo lost 5 in Begonia.

Votes lost by Torres in the revision and recount:

Tambongon -25, Batohonan -2, Tinago -8, Magsaysay -23, Burgos -31, Rizal -14, Sagrada -14, PVera(S) -14, Penafrancia -21, Quirino -7, San Jose(P) -18, Del Pilar -5, Begonia -17, Sta Rosa -12, and Asuncion -13.

Solicitation Letter on our Letterhead

If you need one like this, please download the image from our flickr acct. You may just sign your name and indicate the name of the proposed sponsor.

Joke 2: THE DAN BALIKBAYAN STORY

Ang Kasaysayan ni Dan - Ang Bicolanong Balikbayan

Dumating si Dan sa Amerika galing sa Bicol sa tulong ng kanyang kumpare na may kontak sa immigration sa Pilipinas. Medyo tagilid ang papeles kaya masyado siyang maingat. Sa makatuwid, TNT muna siya pansamantala.

Ayaw man lang lumabas ng bahay si Dan na hindi kasama ang kanyang kumpare. Eh minsan nagsawa na ang kanyang kumpare sa kaaalalay sa kanya.

"Pareng Dan", sabi ni kumpareng tinatago ang inis. "Heto ang susi ng kotse at mga credit cards.Magshopping ka naman sa mall para malibang ka. Kung may problema ka, tawagan mo lang ako sa telepono. Papasok na ako sa upisina."

Dahil siguro sa hiya ni Dan, kahit nerbyos na nerbyos siya, sinubukan niyang lumabas. Tuwang-tuwa si Dan sa
pamamasyal sa mall. Nakapili siya ng mga damit na gusto niya. Ngunit pagdating sa cashier, biglang nataranta at natakot si Dan.

Tanong ng cashier "Visa or master card".

Karipas si Dan palabas dahil sa takot ! "Aba, hinahanap ang visa ko! Baka nabisto na ako! Shet !"

Sakay kaagad siya sa kotse. Harurot! Kaso, halos wala ng gasolina ang sasakyan kaya huminto siya sa isang
gas station. Nang maglalagay na siya ng gas, biglang nagsalita ang cashier sa speaker:

"Sir, pay first please."

"Naku, patay! Papers daw! Hinahanap ang papers ko! Shet naman talaga !"

Nagtatakbo si Dan sa mga eski-eskinita hanggang makakita siya ng pay phone. Patago-tago siyang lumapit
sa pay phone.(Hingal).

"Kailangan matawagan ko si kumnpare para masundo niya ako rito."(Hingal).

Pagtaas niya ng handle ng telepono, narinig niya: "AT & T, may I help you?"

"Aba, anak ng putakti, alam na TNT ako! Buking na ako!"

Pagbaba niya ng telepono, may Americanong natakatayo sa likod niya, naghihintay upang gumamit ng telepono,
tanong ba naman kay Dan:

"Are you done?"

Napahandusay si Dan sa phone booth. Biglang bulalas, "Double shet! Alam pa ang pangalan ko. "

Nagulat ang Kano. "Hey, be cool man!"

"Naku! Alam pa kung tagasaan ako..."

Kaya sa matinding takot, nagpahuli na lang si Dan. Ngayon si Dan ay nasa Bicol na muli at binansagan na
--- Dan Balikbayan.


contributed by ALVIS