The year 2011 started on a grim note for Negros Oriental and, sadly, also ended in gloom. Negrenses were shocked to know about the passing of their beloved governor, Agustin “Tuting” Perdices, four days after the new year. Just as the country was winding up its activities for the year, killer typhoon Sendong wrought havoc on Negros Oriental, and some key cities and municipalities, a week before Christmas.

If there is one word to describe the events that have transpired in the province in the past year, it would be “ambivalent” to believers in the foreboding of events, it must be providential for Negros Oriental to begin and end 2011 with such dire circumstances, but, in the process, maintaining its resilience and not losing hope amid the seeming hopelessness, finding comfort in the fact that all things come to pass. As the oft-repeated adage goes, there’s always a rainbow after the rain.

Be that as it may, while many Negrenses would rather choose to forget the sad, most disturbing events of the past year, the learnings and the wisdom gained as a consequence cannot be underestimated. It is because these are all part of our history, something that the future generation can retrieve many years from now, and once again reprise the learning process.

Here are the top 10 stories in 2011 for Negros Oriental as gathered by the Dumaguete News Bureau staff:

1. Typhoon Sendong wreaks havoc in Negros Oriental, killing people, damaging crops, livestock, and properties

Residents of Dumaguete City, as well as the towns of Sibulan, Amlan, Valencia, and Tanjay City, awoke on Saturday, December 17, with light rains and gusty winds progressing to a heavy downpour between 8 and 9 a.m., that later cascaded into rampaging floodwaters in the city streets and in some suburban places.

While the Office of Civil Defense and PAGASA were not remiss in their predictions and other precautionary measures for an impending calamity like Sendong, lives and properties were still lost, prompting certain sectors of society to question whether preparations were not enough. PAGASA gave accurate predictions and the government agencies concerned were conscientious in their information dissemination. Unfortunately, these agencies did not realize the immensity of the typhoon that was not unlike Ondoy and Pedring. Thus, although people knew there was a typhoon coming, and had seemingly prepared for it, it still struck them like a thief in the night.

Latest reports from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the Office of Civil Defense said 10 LGUs were affected by Sendong: Tanjay, Sibulan, Valencia, Siaton, Amlan, Bacong, Mabinay, San Jose, Pamplona, and Dumaguete. From these, 37 have been reported dead, five  are still missing, and 12,260 families have been affected. Moreover, 1,036 houses were totally damaged and 3,309 were damaged partially. Damage to infrastructure and agriculture amounted to P694.4 million.

As of press time, cost of assistance has reached P9.8 million with many kind-hearted individuals and organizations continuing to show their support by means of cash and donations in kind. Volunteers are currently helping out in the repacking of donations like clothes, beddings, utensils, medicines, noodles and the like, at the Lamberto Macias Sports and Cultural Complex and at Silliman Hall.

President Benigno Aquino III visited Dumaguete on December 21 and was apprised of the situation by Gov. Roel Degamo. He also met with officials of the affected LGUs. The Presidential Security Group likewise turned over donations to the DSWD, which continues to accept donations.

2. Gov. Perdices dies of stomach cancer  

Long-time public servant Gov. Agustin “Tuting” Perdices, who was elected vice governor in May 2010, but was sworn in as governor when his predecessor, Gov. Emilio Macias II, died of stomach cancer on January 5, 2011 after only six months in office.

The 74-year-old former mayor of Dumaguete City for 18 years, son of former Gov. Mariano Perdices, was well-respected and well-loved by his constituents. His remains lay in state at the Provincial Capitol, and later at the City Hall before he was laid to rest at the Dumaguete City Memorial Park where thousands of his supporters and friends, aside from family and relatives, accompanied his hearse.

Perdices, however, also died less than six months after the death of Macias, his good friend. Macias had been unable to take his oath as governor, thus, Perdices was sworn in as governor on June 30, 2010.

3. Degamo succeeds Perdices as governor in January 2011

By a strange twist of fate and destiny, the not-so-reluctant political candidate, Roel Ragay Degamo, who won as number one Board Member representing the Third Legislative District of Negros Oriental in 2007, succeeded two major positions in the provincial government twice in a row. It is actually something for the books, prompting Degamo to himself quip: “This position was given to me by God.”

Degamo moved up from his elected position of Board Member to become vice governor when then elected vice governor Agustin Perdices became governor after Macias died. Degamo was catapulted to the governorship after the death of Perdices on January 5, 2011.

A few hours after official word about the death of Perdices came, Degamo was sworn in as the new governor on January 5 in order not to leave a vacuum in the leadership and administration of provincial affairs. As a result, Board Member Apolinario Arnaiz Jr. became vice governor.

The 47-year-old Degamo is a mechanical engineer by profession and hails from Siaton, Negros Oriental where his first exposure to politics was when he ran and won as councilor of the municipality, serving for three terms. With his battlecry, “Sa Probinsiya, Mag-Degamo Ta,” he says he hopes to achieve his four-pronged agenda, which is H.E.L.P. (Health, Education, Livelihood, Programs and Projects), for the duration of his term.

4. Former COMELEC provincial supervisor dismissed

The Ombudsman dismissed provincial COMELEC supervisor Manuel Advincula in a decision penned by anti-graft investigator Portia Pacquiao-Suson on December 16, 2011. The Ombudsman found Advincula guilty of grave misconduct, graft, and bribery in violation of Article 210 of the Revised Penal Code.

The case against Advincula stemmed from a complaint filed by then congressional candidate Edgar Teves who was then facing a disqualification case filed by Rep. Herminio Teves in 2007. Edgar Teves said Advincula asked him to pay P300,000 so the disqualification case against him will be dismissed. Advincula, however, denied that, saying he did not have the authority to decide on any bid for disqualification.

Suson, however, said that by virtue of the responsibility of his office, Advincula is liable for his actions and that his mere denial cannot be taken in his favor. She also said Teves’ complaint was substantiated and sealed the case against Advincula.

The complaint of Teves was followed by an entrapment by the National Bureau of Investigation Region 7 led by agent Jedidah Hife who brought a bag containing P50,000 on marked money to the COMELEC office on May 14, 2007. Advincula denied these and said he was in his office busily preparing for the May 11, 2007 elections when a woman came carrying a bag that she placed on top of his table.

5. Lawyer shot dead

The public got the shock of their lives when a shooting occurred in broad daylight, shortly before noon, on August 5, 2011 of a 47-year-old lawyer, Archer Baldwin Martinez, right in his office in downtown Dumaguete.

The lone gunman followed Martinez as he was going up to his second floor office with his wife, who chose to drop by a boutique located in the same building. Shortly thereafter, bursts of gunfire were heard by several people, including Martinez’s partner, Cynthia Sulit-Portugaleza.

The lone gunman, who was unmasked and wearing a ball cap with a jacket slung over his shoulders, left casually on foot towards the thickly populated Barangay Tinago.

Police operatives are still facing a blank wall in their investigations despite the formation of Task Force Archer and efforts of an offer from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines local chapter of a reward for the identity of the killer after a fund-raising campaign.

6. Businessman shot dead

Because of the small-city culture of Dumaguete where people seem to know practically everyone, crime news becomes magnified, however isolated they may be.

Thus, the killing of 65-year-old businessman, Demetrio “Pororoy” Larena III, grandson of Demetrio Larena, the first governor of Negros Oriental, was met with shock and apprehension when it occurred in the morning of October 15, 2011 in Sibulan, Negros Oriental. Larena, who lost his wife to cancer just a few months earlier, was known in business and civic circles but had maintained a low, unassuming profile.

The swift and efficient handling of the investigations by the National Bureau of Investigation Regional Office immediately led to the arrest of the family caretaker, Jerry Inocerta and his wife, Expedita. One of the identified gunmen, Jimmy Inocerta, is Jerry’s brother, while the other gunman is known only as Misael.

The Inocerta couple is now in police custody with murder charges being readied against them after the courts can determine the motive of the crime, which was reportedly “personal” in nature. Larena sustained three gunshot wounds in the forehead, neck, and chest that killed him instantly. Robbery was ruled out as a motive because his personal belongings were intact.

Larena had celebrated his birthday the day before he died.

7. City Human Resource Officer suspended

In yet another anti-graft case filed by the Ombudsman, City Human Resource Officer Ruperto Tenorio Jr. was slapped with a nine-month suspension effective July 25, 2011. This stemmed from a complaint filed by Ramon Segura who said he had given money to Tenorio for a housing project supposed to be located in Barangay Maslog, Sibulan, Negros Oriental that did not materialize.

Segura, and several others including his brothers-in-law, paid membership fees of P500 each and processing fees of as much as P13,000 each as early as January 2001. All in all, the Seguras paid Tenorio a total of P39,000.

Tenorio said he could not return the money because it was used to process the papers for conversion of the land from agricultural to residential. Segura said he learned in December 2006 that the housing project was being developed by Firm Builders Corporation owned by Teofisto Guingona III, in which neither Tenorio nor the cooperative for government employees had any affiliation.

The Ombudsman found Tenorio guilty of grave misconduct as well as violation of the Civil Service Law, which is prejudicial to his position as a public servant. He denied the charges, saying the activities of the cooperative were with the full knowledge of then Mayor Agustin Perdices, although it was not owned by the city government. He filed a motion for reconsideration, but the Ombudsman decision was to finally suspend him effective July 25, 2011.

8. NegOr is 4th most performing province

Gaining a slot in the national front in terms of performance was Negros Oriental that placed fourth among the top 10 most performing provinces in the country by the Department of Interior and Local Government, based on the past year’s performance in income and tourism.

The recognition came as a redeeming factor for the hard work and leadership of the late Gov. Emilio Macias II and former City Mayor and Gov. Agustin Perdices whose legacy is now being felt and enjoyed by the Oriental Negrenses long after they have gone.

9. Gubernatorial aspirants make plans known this early

The early bird catches the worm, as the saying goes and it is never too early for leading gubernatorial bets to make their plans known. In fact, this may augur well for these aspirants as they test the waters and get first-hand insights from the people they intend to serve.

The winds may still blow in different directions in the coming year, but veteran public servants have started to make their intentions known as 2011 was about to end.

Gov. Roel Degamo, Rep. Jocelyn Sy Limkaichong (Neg. Occ., 1st District), and former Finance Secretary and three-term Third District Rep. Margarito Teves have sent feelers that they will have a common direction, which is the highest seat in the Provincial Capitol.

Certain quarters have quoted the three top guns to have said: Degamo – “I have the resources of the Capitol;” Limkaichong – “I have the numbers;” Teves – “Then, I will work doubly hard.”

While they may be going towards the same direction, the roads that the three will take will certainly be up to them.

10. President PNoy shows admiration for Bais City Mayor Karen Villanueva

A bachelor head of state and a bachelorette city executive make good copy. President Noynoy Aquino came to Dumaguete City last September to inaugurate the Mercado de Bais (Bais Market) upon the invitation of Bais City Mayor Karen Villanueva as part of the celebration of the city’s fiesta.

What initially started out as a typical presidential coverage by both national and local media turned out to be a light moment for these two executives with some ribbing on the side.

For President Noynoy, it was akin to combining business with pleasure as he was enjoying the company of the young, smart, and dedicated mayor in an obscure city in this part of the country.*

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