It was politics, politics, politics
*CARLA P. GOMEZ, GILBERT P. BAYORAN, CHRYSEE SAMILLANO, GUILLERMO TEJIDA III, NANETTE GUADALQUIVER & NIDA BUENAFE

A barrage of verbal tussles, threats and suits hogged the headlines in 2007, but these did not come as a surprise in a year that saw numerous elections.

Candidates for town, city, provincial, congressional and senate posts slugged it out in May, and in October, contenders for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan positions were at it again.

From Bacolod , to Pulupandan, to Escalante, to Candoni politicians kept the news colorful throughout the year.

And the debate over the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, and the conflicts at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital and Central Negros Electric Cooperative, also grabbed the headlines for most of the year.

Then there were the demands for Bacolod officials to address the flooding problem in the city, which, as of yearend, was still being acted on.

The Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade split, but Carapali Lualhati insisted his group remained in control.

There were also deaths from dengue and a lobby for the retention of the airport in Bacolod City after the P4.3 billion newly-built airport for Negros Occidental opens in Silay in January.

But it was not all grim in 2007 as Bacolod City and Negros Occidental won numerous national awards for the promotion of business, tourism and the improvement of health services.

Bacolod City also saw the rise of numerous businesses, including SM City, which created hundreds of jobs.

The year also saw a colorful celebration of the MassKara Festival with its latest innovation, the street party down Lacson Street that further revived interest in Bacolod 's annual crowd drawer.

The DAILY STAR editorial staff, in keeping with the newspaper's annual tradition, voted the following as the top 10 stories for 2007.

1. The battle for Malaga and CARP's future

The battle of opposing farmers groups in Hacienda Velez Malaga, La Castellana, and the question of whether the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program should be continued beyond 2008, stayed on the front pages of the DAILY STAR for most of last year.

A study commissioned by the provincial government said the agrarian reform program of the government failed to improve the lives of majority of its beneficiaries after nearly 20 years of implementation in Negros Occidental.

Pro-CARP groups dismissed the study as designed to support a pro-landlord bid to seek a halt to land distribution when the program expires in 2008.

The study said the lack of support services extended by the national government to CARP beneficiaries had prompted most of them to either lease or sell their rights to the land given them, defeating the purpose of the program.

The implementation of CARP claimed the lives of six farmer beneficiaries in Hacienda Velez-Malaga alone, which in 2007 was finally resolved with the intervention of then Presidential Adviser for Western Visayas Rafael Coscolluela and Kabankalan Bishop Patricio Buzon, after 11 years of bloody conflict.

The failure of DAR Secretary Nasser Pangandaman to coordinate with local government officials in earlier attempts to install beneficiaries at Malaga that triggered violent confrontations, drew the ire of provincial officials and mayors who declared him “persona non grata”.

The CARP is expected to remain in the news as the House deliberates and holds hearings on its future after the program expires in 2008.*

2. New government center draws numerous suits

The long-awaited construction of the Bacolod City government center on a lot donated to the city by the Gonzaga family, began in 2007 but it soon drew numerous suits that Mayor Evelio Leonardia says were instigated by his political opponents.

The construction of the P394 million government center that started in January 2007 was about 50 percent complete as the year ended.

The groundbreaking at the 5-hectare property at the Circumferential road in Bacolod City was held Dec. 28, 2006 after the Sangguninag Panlungsod ratified a contract entered into between the city and the heirs of Fernando F. Gonzaga.

Since its construction started, several complaints have been filed against city and bank officials, including the contractor, involving the project. Two cases that have been filed before the Bacolod Regional Trial Court have been dismissed, while similar cases before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas were still pending as 2007 ended.

The RTC dismissed the cases filed by retired policeman Victor Eduardo alleging overpricing and questioning an approved appropriation ordinance for the payment of the 15 percent mobilization fund. The complainant did not file an appeal after the cases were dismissed.

The Bacolod City government sought a P400 million loan from the Philippine National Bank for the government center and had been granted an initial release of P166.9 million, based on the evaluation of the progress of the project.*

3. A tension-filled year for Pulupandan folk

The battle for the mayorship of Pulupandan between lawyer and landowner Magdaleno Peña and businessman Samson Mondia saw an action-packed and tensed 2007 for Pulupandan town.

The year began with the court issuing eviction notices to scores of Pulupandan residents, including town officials allied with the Mondia camp.

The eviction notices were sought by Peña who said he was seeking to regain control of family property long occupied by squatters.

The tension in Pulupandan led to the setting up of barricades, beefing up of police forces, and the jailing of Peña and Mondia supporters.

Pena's mother, brothers and former live-in partner Marie Roxanne Recto joined forces with Mondia in his campaign for mayor.

Recto and Peña have been engaged in a long legal battle for custody of their 3-year-old son.

Peña's kin also attempted to enter their ancestral home in Barangay Ubay, Pulupandan, before the May polls and this resulted in a brawl among the brothers in the presence of the media.

On electionday, representatives of an international observers mission posted themselves in Pulupandan amid rising tension, but the polls in the town were surprisingly peaceful and Peña won the mayorship.

On May 30 he was ambushed in Pulupandan town. He sustained only minor injuries but two of his companions were killed.

The New People's Army claimed responsibility for the ambush and said Peña continues to be on their hit list.

But Peña tagged Samson Mondia, his brother, former Mayor Luis Mondia, their other relatives and supporters for the ambush, a charge they have vehemently denied.

As 2007 ended, the provincial prosecutor had yet to decide whether or not to file charges in court against those Peña had tagged in the ambush.*

4. The battle at CLMMRH

The Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital made the headlines in 2007 as its officials exchanged charges of corruption and irregularities in the bidding of hospital supplies, especially in the procurement of oxygen.

Hospital administrative officer Bryan Baylon accused Dr. Domingo Vega of being behind the irregularities and Vega sought Baylon's preventive suspension for allegedly falsifying his daily time record.

The controversy at the CLMMRH gave birth to Hospital Watch, an organization composed of representatives from different sectors which called for the Ombudsman's investigation of the alleged anomalies.

To resolve the problem, the Department of Health conducted its own investigation at CLMMRH and sent an audit team to assess the operation of the hospital.

DOH Secretary Francisco Duque also ordered Vega, Baylon, and hospital chief of clinics Dr. Benito Bionat transferred to Cebu pending investigation of the alleged procurement violations.

The DOH also sent a management team headed by Dr. Jaime Bernadas to supervise the CLMMRH operations.

While the investigation of the DOH was underway, hospital workers staged pickets at CLMMRH, calling for payment of their delayed salaries and allowances.

When Bernadas' appointment expired, he was replaced by Dr. Epifania Simbul on the management team.

Meanwhile, after his preventive suspension expired, Baylon reported back to the CLMMRH but was again ordered to report to Cebu, prompting him to file charges before the office of the Civil Service Commission and the Commission on Election claiming that the order was given during the banning period for the Barangay and SK elections.*

5. The Monico, Bing conflict

In 2007, the political scene in Bacolod City was marked by the “battle of words” between the camps of Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Rep. Monico Puentevella.

The animosity between the two parties became more pronounced as Puentevella accused the city government of blocking the operation of the Bingo outlet owned by one of his sons at SM Mall.

In defense of the city government, City Legal Officer Allan Zamora pointed out that the bingo outlet does not have a mayor's permit and its application papers were found to have erasures and inconsistencies. The closure order on the bingo outlet was executed the day SM mall opened.

While the congressman cried political harassment, Zamora stressed that the city was just implementing the law. The Bingo outlet of Puentevella's son at SM Mall still does not have a permit, and remained closed until the end of the year.

The call of the Liga ng mga Barangay in Bacolod City to allow Small Town Lottery to operate in the city became another venue for City Hall and the Puentevella's office to clash.

Despite the call from the church led by Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra to the city officials not the allow STL in the city, the Sangguniang Panlungsod favorably endorsed it.

Siding with the Church, Puentevella called on the public to support the actions led by the Church against STL. This prompted Leonardia to ask what the difference between Bingo and STL was.

Highlights of the exchange of emotionally-charged words between Leonardia's and Puentevella's camp included a challenge issued by the congressman to the mayor to a boxing bout, to which the mayor replied that he will oblige so long as they will go down to his weight of 130 lbs.*

6. The 2007 elections

The build-up to the May elections hogged the front pages of the DAILY STAR from the start of 2007. And when the noise died down after the May polls had ended, the debate on whether the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections should be held or not began.

The May polls saw the reelection of Gov. Joseph Marañon who did not have any serious challenger, and Vice Gov. Isidro Zayco who was unopposed.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia was also reelected.

The hotly contested congressional race in the first district saw the defeat of incumbent Rep. Tranquilino Carmona to returning solon Julio Ledesma IV, who got a boost on the campaign trail from his movie star wife, Assunta de Rossi.

Rep. Monico Puentevella ( Bacolod ), Rep. Alfredo Marañon (Neg. Occ., 2rd district), Rep. Jose Carlos Lacson (Neg. Occ., 3rd district) and Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr. (Neg. Occ., 5th district) were reelected. Newcomer Jeffrey Ferrer won the fourth congressional seat and Genaro Alvarez returned to represent the sixth congressional district.

The disqualifications of some bets were sought for allegedly being American citizens, and some incumbent mayors were unseated in May amid complaints of the use of guns, goons and gold.

The tight race in E.B. Magalona ended with incumbent mayor Alfonso Gamboa losing to David Lacson by 192 votes, and in Silay City , Jose “Oti” Montelibano was proclaimed winner over incumbent Carlo Gamban.

Melecio Yap Jr. defeated Alice Barcelona, wife of outgoing Escalante City Mayor Santiago Barcelona Jr., who ran and won as vice mayor. Ricardo Presbitero lost to Romel Yogore in Valladolid .

It was also all in the family for some.

Gov. Maranon's clan had five winners in the second district; Nehemias de la Cruz and Jerry Tabujara had four winners each; and it was a mother and son tandem for the Montillas in Sipalay City in the south, and an uncle and nephew team for Victorias City in the north.

In the battle for the top SK and barangay posts, kin of incumbent officials were also among the winners.*

7. The PhilHealth ‘scam'

The so-called cataract “scam” caught media attention in the last quarter of 2007 when the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. formed a task force to monitor and investigate hospitals on its watchlist for fake claims related to eye cataract operations.

Task Force Kisapmata investigated the alleged padded claims of hospitals and doctors, and unethical practices in the identification and recruitment of patients for cataract operations charged to PhilHealth that violate Republic Act 7875 or the National Health Insurance Act.

The investigation eventually led to the filing of administrative cases against four doctors and three hospitals in Western Visayas for irregularities in insurance claims for cataract surgeries.

The PhilHealth complaint identified the respondents as physicians Nonito Avecilla, Miguel Sarabia, Danilo Guanzon and Leopoldo Cuaycong, who are now facing 29 charges for alleged misrepresentation and violations of provisions of the PhilHealth warranties of accreditation and the Republic Act 7875 before the PhilHealth's prosecution department.

Data of PhilHealth's Corporate Planning Department show they paid 19,145 cataract-related claims reaching around P390 million to hospitals and doctors in Western Visayas from January 2004 to June 2007.*

8. CENECO directors sacked, KEPCO-Salcon contract hit

In late February, the National Electrification Administration placed under a 30-day preventive suspension board president Eddie Guillem, officer-in-charge Noriel Bermudez, and three other officers pending the resolution of the administrative charges they were facing before NEA.

Also suspended were board vice president Jobert Tagobader, secretary Gregorio Duremdes, and treasurer Gerardo Solas.

The NEA Board cited the NEA-Electric Cooperatives Audit Department audit report and the documents submitted before the AdCom, and said the charges against the respondents involved grave misconduct and open defiance of NEA policy, orders and issuances.

In March, both Guillem and Bermudez were subsequently terminated from their posts for administrative violations. Tagobader, Duremdes and Solas, along with directors Perlito Fuentespina and Eduardo Torrecampo were ordered suspended for 31 days.

Five months later, with Roberto Montelibano as its board president, CENECO again made headlines when it entered into a controversial power sales contract with KEPCO-Salcon Power Corp. to purchase 40 megawatts of power starting 2011.

Cause-oriented groups led the opposition to the contract, calling for its cancellation and the withdrawal of the application for its approval from the Energy Regulatory Commission and the immediate negotiation with PNOC-Energy Development Corp. for the purchase of 40 megawatts from the Northern Negros Geothermal Plant in Bago City .

Montelibano had explained that the cooperative agreed to sign a contract with KEPCO-Salcon to assure consumers of sufficient power supply by 2010.

Just before Christmas, the Bacolod clergy led by Bishop Vicente Navarra issued an appeal to the ERC not to approve the power sales contract between CENECO and KEPCO-Salcon Power Corp. until further consultations with significant stakeholders are held.*

9. Politics in Escalante

Election-related incidents in Escalante perpetrated by alleged armed goons of local politicians, claimed the lives of three persons.

While communist rebels owned the deaths of two supporters of Vice Mayor Santiago Barcelona, the police said otherwise, but gave no proof that alleged private armies were responsible.

Mayor Melecio Yap who insisted there was no reign of terror in the city, contrary to claims of Barcelona , whose wife, Alice , was defeated in the mayoralty race, also called it a product of his imagination.

Angry over the killing of his supporters, Barcelona called for the placing of Escalante under “Army control”.

In the days leading to the May polls, Rep. Julio Ledesma and his allies also complained of harassment during his campaign sorties in the upland areas of Escalante.

Accusations were also hurled against the Escalante police of being biased and the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office dispatched two teams of police troopers to assist the Escalante cops in the maintenance of peace and order.

Amid the verbal exchange of Escalante officials, Governor Joseph Marañon and Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, Negros Occidental police director, called for “unity” in the city.

10. The takeover debate on the BREDCO port

The debate on whether the Bacolod City government should take over the running of the BREDCO port stayed in the news for most of 2007.

After almost three years of deliberation, the “takeover ordinance” involving the management and operation of the port at the reclamation area in Bacolod City was approved on third and final reading on Dec. 19 by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia is expected to approve or veto it or allow it to lapse into law after 10 days.

The legal counsel of the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. threatened to seek a declaration of nullity of the ordinance with preliminary injunction and damages when it becomes effective.

Leonardia decided on Oct. 12, 2005 that the takeover should be vigorously pursued after the qualified renegotiation with BREDCO failed.

The city officials believe that the annual rental of P800,000 paid by BREDCO to the city is disadvantageous, and asked for an increase.

The majority members who were in favor of the takeover said they believe BREDCO violated some provisions of the Comprehensive Revised Reclamation Agreement entered into between BREDCO, the city and the Philippine Reclamation Authority.

Bredco ceded its right to operate the port to Top Harbor International Inc.

While some of the minority who were against it believe the “takeover ordinance” is unconstitutional and unjust, others believe the contract should be rescinded if BREDCO has committed any violation.

Business leaders in Bacolod City said they are hoping that the city government and BREDCO will find a solution acceptable to both parties and avoid going to court.*

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