P-Noy, Mar showed
partisanship

Both President Benigno Aquino III and former LP president Manuel Roxas showed partisanship when they paid the bail of former Isabela Governor Padaca to the Sandiganbayan.

Worse, the palace even immediately released a statement of the President declaring his belief that Padaca was not guilty of the charge of graft and corruption filed against her at the Sandiganbayan.

In short, the President had arrogated to himself the title of judge in the court case.

Worse, because he has appointed Padaca to the Commission on Elections.

Simply because she was the favorite of the President, he and Roxas could have been circumspect in handling Padaca. Now, she has been tarred as a partisan member of the Comelec.

***

We cannot but be impressed by the flowering of artistry in Negros Occidental brought about by the MassKara festival.

Notice that all over the city one can see the flowering of the artistic talents of Negrenses, especially Bacolodnons.

This is evident on October 5 to 7, with the “9D Visual Artists Exhibit” the MassKara 9 Saturday night at the Gallery Orange.

The artists are Emilio Montelibano, Susanito Sarnate, Claudine Joyce Ballesteros, JR Delleva, Gwen Decena, Hilario Campos III, Roderick Tijing, Peter James Fantinalgo and Daryl Jimenea.

The entire city of Bacolod has become one artistic area, even including malls and private homes.

Credit may be given to City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor Thaddy Sayson, Eli Tajanlangit, Charlie Co, Rudy Reveche, Raymond Legaspi for what is an impressive display of creativity by Bacolod artists.

The once supremacy of Silay City as the Paris of Negros, Bacolod has gradually wrested that distinction in the last few years.

That is something which Negrenses can be proud of. MassKara has miraculously transformed Bacolod into the artistic center of the Western Visayas.

Of course, a great part of that is due to Tajanlangit and his subtle but quiet encouragement of the arts and the artists.

Again congratulations.

***

The arrest by a combined team of military and police in Mandaue City, Cebu, of suspected Calixto Vistal, commander of the New People’s Army in Southeast Negros and his wife, Jimmy Liza Badayos, with aliases Jill, Cecile and Mayet, deserves kudos from Negrenses.

They raised the number of captured rebel leaders of Negros arrested for the past two years to 15.

But some of these had been freed from jail on orders of the court after they had posted bail.

The 3rd Infantry division of the Philippine Army said that Vistal and his wife were arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest for murder issued by Judge Roderick Maximo of Branch 32, of the Judicial branch of the Regional Trial Court in Dumaguete City.

Vistal seems to have shown an extraordinary prowess as an NPA leader. He was credited with several violent actions in Bohol where he served there as island commander, reports said.

He was later transferred to Leyte were he also figured in several encounters with government troopers in 2006.

Vistal was later named commander of an NPA unit in southeastern Negros. His wife formerly served as regional party technical head.

Both are now confined at the Cebu Police Provincial jail.

Watch out for further developments on the case.

***

The members of the three Lions Clubs who participated in last week’s triple induction at the Business Inn, are still buzzing with talks about the three outstanding Lions members of the Cebu Capitol Lions Club.

This was the twin club of Bacolod Capitol Lions Club of Bacolod. although they now belong to the Lions District 301-3-2, the Cebu Capitol Lions Club members flew to Bacolod to attend the shindig. Among those present were Domingo Ting, Dick Batawang, Jimmy Dy, the president.

You can be sure that Bacolod Capitol Lions Club members will also turn out en masse for your own induction later this year, assured Bacolod Capitol Lions Club president and Noring Tonogbanua.*

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