Rodel E. Dagumampan

In the beginning of the year, I came to know Avelino Razon, thru tv and newspapers, whom many news achors and morning shows addressed as “Mamang Pulis”. Razon changed the image of PNP as friendly, smiley, approachable and trustworthy. After the event where journalists were arested and handcuffed in Manila Peninsula siege, razon becomes even more aggressive in promoting PNP. He was friendly with the media, he even have nice friendster account. That was very nice and impressive.

But Mamang Pulis just proves he is not a good liar, when he was caught lying in his last conversation with anchor Anthony Taverna in a morning show. His latest statements directly contradicts with his previous claims that Lozada and his family asked for police protection. And that he send a formal request to the PNP protection office. Which all later proven lies.

The abduction of Lozada from NAIA is a big blow to the already bad image of PNP that has been tainted with corruption, doubtedness. In the past, we only hear about officers involved in street crimes, extortion and intimidation. This time, its different. Daylight kidnapping, lying to the public, and desperate attempt to cover it up with some forcely signed documents. How can you trust officers whose command chief is guilty of lying.

Just to share with you, in Canada, they have Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), one of the worlds most recognized police force. RCMP maintains an friendly and approachable image which basically how police offices should be. Its pity, Mamang Pulis might have been looking after RCMP but his lapse and judgement and involment in the ZTE controversy made him less trustworthy…

My recent trip to Manila has been unforgettable, not for the reasons that I enjoyed it but for the bad experiences and “suffering” we had waiting for the first flight next day.

Alright it was our fault that we’re late, and this just proves that trip to manila from batangas has always been unpredictable. I know, I should have have just a leave early or checked-in in nearby hotels before my flight to avoid last minute rush. Considering the current construction works at South Luzon Express Way (SLEX), the travel time really take two fold.

How I wish that the frustration of being left behind by the flight can be lesen by comfortable waiting area or at least a baggage care-taker system at the airpoty. I travel alone and this time I have a lot of excess baggage that will not fit the taxi, I cannot leave it with just somebody else so I decided to just wait for my flight next day 5AM. Its 10PM btw, 10hours waiting here in old waiting shed, bitten with mosquitoes, sleeping with the cats. Imagine if you travel alone, you have excess baggage, you have no cash and you have find some ATM machines or buy some food. This is not possible here, unless you found someone trustworthy to look after your things.

There are no ATM machines at domestic airport. I have learned my lesson with my past trips, always bring enough cash enough to pay the price difference just in case you got late, enough so if you decide to sleepover the nearby hotel you have some money to pay it. In my past trip to Davao one time, I really had hard time finding the nearest BDO or BPI branch in the area. Manila Domestic Road has no overpass. I got hungry, I have to buy some food. I have found some fastfood and restaurant across the Cebu Pacific building. But be aware, this road is really an accident prone area. Its like playing patintero just trying to cross the road. A very busy road with no overpass! One miss and you’re really dead here. You have to have strategy like waiting for cars that signals to enter the airport so the following cars will slow down. No not cars, container trucks, trailer trucks and vans too!

As part of my checklist in my recent trip to Manila is an application for new cedula or CTC. Its been quite long time since I get one, as far as i remember that was three years ago when I started working in my first company. I was surprised when I was asked if I am employed, and how much salary I am getting, I got toungue tied and speechless. Then I asked in return why. The cashier then replied the amount i am to pay will be based on my salary. Wth!

Alright, after several minutes thinking, having some people waiting, having prepared for it, considering the recent development efforts in our town, and the corruption happening in our country, I just paid what is due. If i am surprised, the cashier was even more surprised, even her co-cashier in the office. She asked me again if I am sure about it. She asked me again if I am really sure about it. She asked me again before printing the document, the third time. That was the funny part LOL. She said she seldom encounter people pay obove 100 pesos in cedula. Btw, Rosario, my town, is a small town in Batangas where people mostly depends on relatives working abroad or agriculture.

How many Filipino lied about the purpose of getting Community Tax Certificare a.k.a cedula. I can see and I know many people lied on real pupose of document. The current salary if working, the marital status, employment status, and purpose of the document. Applicants planning to use this document told the issuing officer, its for schooling. Some when asked how much is the current salary, says they are not working yet. Professionals earning big bucks says, they only get this x amount which is just quater of actual amount they are getting.

In most cities and municipalities, this is just bounded by trust. Trust on the words of the applicant on questions asked by the municipality treasurer. In some cases, the cashier ask for some support documents like previous ITR and business registration documents.

Community Tax Certificate (CTC) a.k.a as cedula is a document prepared, issued, and paid in barangay, city, or municipal office. It is a documentary requirements when filing an income tax return, registering a new business. In some cases, this also serve as an identification document if no available ID at the time like caught in traffic violation.

From Inquirer:“A person is required to present a cedula when he or she acknowledges a document before a notary public; takes an oath of office upon election or appointment to a government position; receives a license, certificate or permit from a public authority; pays a tax or fee; receives money from a public fund; transacts official business; or receives salary from a person or corporation.

Exempted are diplomatic and consular representatives, and visitors staying in the Philippines for less than three months. They can still get a cedula voluntarily for P1.”

When was the last time you get a community tax certificate. How much did you pay?

Transcript of Lozada’s exposé: ‘Halika tawagan natin si FG’

Masyado na talaga malalim ang nangyayari ngayon. Every scandal that rocks this administration seems like a rolling wind and nawawala rin lang pagkaraan ng ilang araw or natatabunan ng mga isyu hindi inaasahan.

So ano na ngayon? Ano ba ang susunod na kabata. Uy mga pare and mare, ingat kayo dyan baka mamaya yan naman Megamall, Market-market or MOA ang bombahin. Ano kaya ang susunod na pwede gawin para matabunan ang mga isyu ngayon ay inaasahang yumanig sa malakanyang.

Nakakatawa ano, parang istorya ni Bush nun i-terminate nya ang ilang Attorney Generals. Hindi yata uso sa atin ang tinatawag na obstruction of justice. Pareho rin ang pagbabawal na umatend sa mga senate inquiry and kanyang cabinet member and pagdepense gamit ang “Executive Privilege”. Ibang klase ano, garapalan, kung walang gagalaw, kung walang kikilos, kung walang makikialam magiging okay lang ang lahat. Milyon-milyong piso galing sa buwis natin ang napupunta sa walang kwentang suhulan, bayaran at kurapson. Muntik na tayo nalubog sa 300 milyon utang na wala tayo kamuwang-muwang.

Ng una ko marinig ang balita tungkol sa pamumudbod ng pera sa Malakanyang sa mga gobernador natin, iba ang pakiramdam and I’m sure na parehong naramdaman ng bawat Pilipino tumututok sa mga nangyayari sa pulitika. Kung matandaan natin, una ng inamin ng PNP na galing daw sa pundo nila ang tig-500 thousand na maagang pamasko. Tapos meron na naman umamin na galing daw sa pondo ng Leage of Governors. Pero napanood at nakit mo ba yung bitbit ng mga governors na paper bag galing malakanyang na nakunan ng ABS-CBN. At iilan lang ang umamin ha, nasaan na kaya yun, siguro pinambili ng Expedition kasi hindi na uso ang Nissan Safari ngayon, or siguro nakabagong Fortuner yan ang mas maporma sa daan, bagay na meron hagad. Samantalang sa maraming barangay kulang na kulang ang supply ng gamot, naghihintay ang mga magsasaka ng ulan kasi masyado na mahal ang krudo para sa irigasyon.

Ano ba ang pundasyon ng political party sa ating bansa? Sagot: WALA! Mabibilang sa daliri ang mga nakikita natin mapagkakatiwalaan na mamuno sa atin. Habang nagkakagulo sila sa senado, nakabinbin pa rin ang bill na misyon pababain ang presyo ng gamot! Nagpalit ng Senate leadership sa walang kwentang dahilan, sana man lang meron isyu na pinagtalunan diba. Ngayon naman kakanta si JDV laban sa administrasyon, patunay lang na isa rin sya nanahimik na tuta, parang pelikula ano kaso wala ako maisip na magan title, lahat yata pangit. Samantalang ganito ang nangyayari, bulag at tanga pa rin tayo mga pilipino. Nagpipilit na pumila makita lang si Idol at makakuha ng wrist band. Syempre meron din yan t-shirt. Hay buhay, anak ng alamang, sabi nga nin Antony Taberna.

Nagiging malinaw unti-unti ang lahat. Ang koneksyon ng NBN project, sa CyberEducation project, ang testimonya ni JDV III, ang pananalita ni Neri. Kaso wala eh, ano ba magagwa natin, eh di wala. Patuloy lang ang buhay, eventually maayos din lahat ito. Wala naman tayo sa posisyon at kapangyarihan na baguhin ang lahat. Isang boto lang naman ang meron tayo, at dalawang taon pa ang hintayin natin. Ngayon pa lang, ingatan na natin to.

Ikaw, may tiwala ka pa ba?

Pero kahit ano pa man, gumagalaw naman tayo. I can feel our country is moving and is moving fast. It feels great to read all business news in the past 6 months, all business news are good and positive. Its almost perfect, its almost what I have wanted. But it seems, we cant have it for now…

Let’s move on, just with ourselves. Its all we can do for now. Stay positive. Live and work the righteous way and maintain it. This way we can do our part. <Sigh>

Related Reports: http://www.gmanews.tv/nbnzte