AFTER the theft charges, Quezon City mayoralty candidate Herbert ‘Bistek’ Bautista is facing another complaint.. This time, a poor but concerned citizen filed charges against the former comedian at the Office of the Ombudsman for violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Complainant Nicanor Royo Salameda Jr, of Payatas, Quezon City based his charges on the almost P800,000 transaction of the City Hall with a food catering business that failed to pass through the necessary bidding procedures.

On December 8, 2008, Salameda said the city government represented by Bautista entered a P733,150.00 contract with Lucky Mama Food and General Merchandize for a food catering service.

Salameda said the contract was made without bidding because Bautista declared it as a ‘negotiated transaction’. Under the law, a negotiated transaction is possible only in several circumstances including a situation when there is a calamity and damage or danger to life.

According to complainant, Bautista managed to have the contract approved and implemented by claiming that the transaction was made during a calamity.

However, Salameda said there was no calamity at the time when the city hall made the food catering transaction with Lucky Mama Food and General Merchandize.

“At the time the contract was entered into by Bautista, Quezon City was not under a state of calamity and there is no known calamity that would justify the suspension of the rules on procurement,” Salameda said.

“Neither is there urgency as would justify the procurement through a negotiated contract because the authority of Bautista dates back to November 2008, and the Contract was entered into in December 2008, but the intended procurement was made only several months after (i.e. in July 2009),” Salameda added.

Because of this, Salameda said Bautista is not only facing graft charges but other administrative offenses such as Dishonesty, Grave Misconduct, and Conduct Grossly Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service.

“This prayer is further bolstered by the fact that the pertinent documents in this case is in the custody of the Office of the Vice Mayor, where the respondent holds office, and the possible witnesses are under his control and authority, thus, his continued stay in office may affect and prejudice the outcome of this case,” explained Salameda.

Prior to this, Carlos De Leon, a childhood friend and former chief security of Bautista, filed theft charges against the official and his younger brother Hero who allegedly stole his P1.8 million worth printing equipment.

Your short introduction will be here

And the rest of your post here

Naniniwala si Quezon City mayoralty candidate Mike Defensor na malaking bentahe para sa mga estudyante ang kaalaman tungkol sa makabagong teknolohiya ngayon, kung kaya pagtutuunan nito ng pansin ang pagpapalakas sa Information Technology skills ng mga mag-aaral sa lungsod.

“Sa panahon ngayon, nakalalamang ang mga mayroong kaalaman sa computer at internet kumpara sa wala. Kaya naman nais kong pagtuunan ng pansin ang pagtutulak sa pag-aangat ng antas ng mga pasilidad at iba pang kagamitang pang - Information Technology sa lahat ng pampublikong paaralan sa ating lungsod,” ani Defensor.

Nais ni Defensor na manguna ang Quezon City sa pag-hulma ng mga mag-aaral na bihasa sa IT at iba pang larangan ng makabagong teknolohiya.

“Sa kalaunan, lahat ng mag-aaral sa high school sa ating lungsod ay magtatapos bitbit ang kaalaman sa makabagong teknolohiya. Ang Quezon City ay magtutustos ng mga high school graduates na bihasa sa IT para mapaghandaan ng mga batang ito ang kanilang pag-aaral sa kolehiyo o kaya’y ang paghahanap ng trabaho,” dagdag ni Defensor.

Kasabay nito, naniniwala rin si Defensor na malaki ang pangangailangan na suportahan ng pamahalaang lokal ang mga pangangailangan ng mga guro upang palakasin ang kanilang kaalaman hinggil sa mga subject na English, Mathematics at Science.

“Para maging bihasa ang kabataan sa IT ay kinakailangan nila ng mga guro na may taglay na husay sa mga asignaturang Ingles, Matematika at Agham. Tulungan natin ang ating mga guro sa pampublikong paaralan na palakasin ang kanilang kaalaman sa pamamagitan ng mga pagsasanay at makabagong teknolohiya sa edukasyon,” ani Defensor.

Umalma sina Quezon City mayoralty candidate Mike Defensor at runningmate nito na si Aiko Melendez kasama ang daan-daang market vendors sa lungsod kaugnay sa pagsasapribado ng mga palengke na siya namang isinusulong ng liderato ni Vice-Mayor Herbert Bautista.

Sa harap ng mga market vendors na nagtungo sa kanyang tanggapan, sinabi ni Defensor na kahit harangin pa siya ng sibat, pangungunahan niya ang pagbasura sa naturang plano ng kampo ni Bautista.

Ayon kay Defensor, magdudulot lamang ng dagdag pahirap at gastusin sa mga nagsusumikap ng mga vendor ang ninanais ni Bautista na pagsasapribado ng lugar kung saan naghahanapbuhay ang mga maliliit na manininda.

Base na rin sa karanasan, sinabi ni Defensor na tumataas ang upa ng mga vendors at humihina ang kanilang benta kapag nasasapribado ang pamilihan na kinatatayuan ng kanilang mga negosyo.

“Siyempre kung isasapribado ang isang pamilihan, magiging negosyo ito ng sinumang bibili sa pamamagitan ng pagtataas ng renta. At kung mataas ang upa, dagdag gastos ito sa kanila,” paliwanag ni Defensor.

“Kadalasan, tuluyan na ring namamatay ang mga negosyo sa loob ng palengke kasi pagkatapos nilang magtaas ng presyo para habulin ang upa, sa labas na lang ng pamilihan sila bumibili kung saan mas mura ang mga produkto,” dagdag pa ni Defensor.

Samantala, umani ng pagbatikos mula kay Melendez si Bautista dahil sa pagsuporta nito sa pagsasapribado ng mga palengke. Partikular na tinutulan nito ang posisyon ni Bautista na kailangan ng lokal na pamahalaan ng dagdag kita bilang pagtatanggol sa privatization.

“Wala atang pakialam si Bistek sa kapakanan ng mga maliliit na negosyante tulad ng mga market vendors kaya sinusuportahan nito ang privatization ng public market,” ayon pa kay Melendez.

August 21, 2009

The Editorial of the Philippine Daily Inquirer today succinctly marked the ripeness of time which the country is experiencing at this point: the resurgence of the spirit of democracy.

“The assassination of former Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Jr. 26 years ago today led us, by sometimes bizarre twists and unprecedented turns, and in a mere thousand days, to the presidency of his widow, Corazon Aquino. Now, in an amazing historical coincidence, Cory’s slow death and extraordinary funeral earlier this month have led the country back to rediscover Ninoy the hero.”

Sen. Noynoy Aquino, fast becoming a more colorful character since the death of his mother, stated the call to action: have faith in democracy.

"My parents have genuine faith in democracy. They believe the key to democracy is stability of consensus in place of oppression. Now it is our turn to secure the democracy they [my parents] fought for. Alone I am weak but together we are strong. The ball is now in our hands. Ituloy natin ang laban [Let us continue the fight]!" he told the people as he flashed the familiar "L" sign for "laban" (fight), which his mother, the late president Corazon Aquino had used in her own campaign against the dictator Ferdinand Marcos more than 20 years ago.

We at Tenks Mike Blog had a friendly discussion about how history will judge our friend as a defender of democracy. On one hand, he was at the forefront of the fight against Martial Law and oppressive regimes during his youth. Yet, his association with and dedication to the present administration undoubtedly raised doubts about his ideology and commitment to democracy – doubts which are mostly knee-jerk reactions if we are allowed to say so.

One of us recalled how Alleba Politics applauded Mike when he conceded defeat in the Senatorial Elections 2007.

It said, “Yesterday (May 30, 2007), the administrator’s top defender former Chief of Staff Mike Defensor conceded defeat in the yet unconcluded midterm Senatorial race. According to Defensor, he did so in order “to ease tension” and to discourage his supporters (and in essence Team Unity [TU]) from committing “acts inimical to the essence of democracy and fair play in an electoral battle.”

I have not seen Defensor in a positive light since he started to be Arroyo’s staunchest defender. But today, I applaud him. He gave me a renewed faith on Filipino politicians. I know what he did is hard. He has, after all, been in public service for a long time.

I can only hope that the wisdom that made him concede can also be influence those who wish to commit what Defensor wants to avoid. Furthermore, I hope that the same wisdom makes Defensor realize that he is not on the losing side. Rather, he lost because he is on the wrong side. This momentary (I think) rest from public service should make him realize that in the end, a true public servant serves the public and their interests, and nobody else’s.

For now, I applaud him.”

While we may not agree with all of the statements above, we share his conclusion that indeed Mike Defensor has the heart of a true public servant.

After four hours of interesting discussion, we decided that we can never tell how history will judge our friend. However, we would like to open a discussion about the matter online to provide a forum for those who have any opinion - strong or weak, for or against - about the matter.

Let us know what you think.

by: Ma. Christina Angela Guevarra

Note: This entry was originally posted in www.peyups.com, as part of the Dekada 90 entries. We are reposting this in our blog because the writer was able to capture the highlights of Mike's history as a student activist, and at the same time, she was able to articulate the questions that most people have in their minds.

We hope this will open a forum not only about Mike, but about all former student activists who consider public service as a career track. 

_________________________

by: Ma. Christina Angela Guevarra

Kuwento lang - noong aktibistang estudyante pa sa UP ang kasalukuyang kinatawan ng ikatlong distrito ng Quezon City, pumapasok lang siya sa klase kapag may eksam o recitation. At dahil maboka at matinik magpaliwanag sa mga titser, madalas na pinalalampas ang kanyang mga "kalokohan."

Balikbayan mula sa US si Michael T. Defensor nung mag-enrol siya sa kolehiyo noong 1985. Sa katunayan, para itong pagbabalik-loob sa dating alma mater. Sa UP Integrated School (UPIS) kasi nagtapos ng elementarya si Mike. Ngunit hindi na ito ang Peyups na nakagisnan niya. Napadpad siya sa isang Pinas na nasa gitna ng mainit na kampanya laban sa diktaduryang Marcos. "Maraming protest rallies," aniya. "May mga questions na ako noon, dahil noong 1985 na nasa States pa ako, maraming news na lumalabas na hindi nakikita rito pero nakikita roon."

Dala ng bugso ng panahon, sumali siya sa isang political org, ang UP Center for Nationalist Studies (CNS), noong 1986. Mula noon ay naging aktibo na siya sa mga kilos protesta para sa demokrasya. Naging USC councilor si Mike noong 1987 at nahalal na vice-chairperson nang sumunod na taon. At dahil talaga namang napakasigasig, hinirang siyang national chairperson ng National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) noong 1989.

Bilang isang masugid na aktibistang may "hectic"na iskedyul at bagong paniniwala na rin, lumipat si Mike sa BA History kahit na isang semestre na lang ang kailangan niyang bunuin upang magtapos ng BS Economics. Problema ang naging dulot nito dahil hindi niya sinabi sa kanyang tatay. "Kaya may pressure sa akin for several years," aniya.

Pagkagradweyt noong 1992, sumabak na siya sa mas malaking larangan ng pulitikahan. Nahalal siya bilang isa sa mga pinakabatang konsehal ng Quezon City. At dahil "child-wonder" itong si Mike, naging isa rin sa pinakabatang deputadong pumasok sa kongreso. Sa kasalukuyan, nakatutok si Mike sa mga programang pang-kabataan bilang vice chairman ng Youth and Sports Development Committee. Kasama ang mga kapwa niya "Spice Boys," hayag din siyang tumututol sa Constitutional Correction and Development (Concord) ng kasalukuyang administrasyong Estrada.

At mukhang namang may pinatutunguhan ang kanyang career. Bilang deputado, tumanggap si Defensor ng mga parangal mula sa iba't ibang kinatawan. Hinirang siyang isa sa Twenty Most Outstanding Congressmen noong 1997 ng Congress Watch. Isa rin siya sa dalawang Pilipinong napabilang sa "Top 20 Asia's Most Powerful and Influential Young Leaders to Watch for in the Next Millennium" ng Asiaweek na inilathala nito lamang Nobyembre.

Ngunit nang tanungin si Mike ukol sa aktibismo, partikular sa kilusang estudyante, mukhang nag-iba na `ata ang simoy ng hangin - taliwas na sa mga paniniwala niya noong mga huling taon ng diktadurya. "Kung hindi kaliwang-kaliwa, kanang-kanan naman. Wala man lamang gitna. Maraming de-kahon na pagtingin at pananaw," hinaing ni Mike. Sandamukal na raw ang mga klase ng ideyolohiya at isyung pinakikialaman ng kilusang estudyante ngayon. Kaya marami na raw ang "nate-turn off."

Kuwento lang - pulitiko na ngayon si Mike. Kung dati rati'y nagtatalumpati lang siya mula sa likod ng inarkilang dyip o trak, ngayo'y asenso na - sa Batasan na rumaraket. At kung gaano kaanghang ang mga salitang binibitiwan ni Mike noon laban sa krisis ng edukasyon, ganoon na rin katamis ang ngiti niya ngayon sa bulwagan ng dating itinuring niyang na kalaban.

Iba na raw kasi ang panahon ngayon.

 O baka naman siya lang?

Vilma Resuma was Mike’s Third Grade teacher in Filipino at UPIS. Ms. Resuma currently heads the office of research and is also a Filipino teacher in the High School Department of UPIS; she is now 64 years old. I recently came across Ms. Resuma. I asked her if I can interview her about Mike for this blog. Here’s how the conversation went:

LC: Ma’am, teacher ka namin sa Filipino nung Grade 3 sa UPIS. Anong naalala nyo tungkol kay Mike nung panahon na yon?

VR: I remember him to be kiti-kiti. Malikot yang batang yan. But even at that early age, his capacity to lead was not lost on me. I recall he was a board leader in class and he was active in several school organizations back then.

LC: Kumusta naman siya sa klase?

VR: Mike has always been bright. He was good in class and he was very articulate and very active in recitation.

LC: Nagkikita pa ba kayo ni Mike?

VR: We last saw each other three years ago at the wake of a common friend. At hindi talaga siya nakakalimot.

LC: Ano naman po ang masasabi nyo tungkol kay Mike ngayon considering na kilala nyo na sya dati pa?

VR: Alam kong madami talagang kaibigan si Mike. When my co-teachers and I talk about him, there’s always a sense na sayang sya. Naaawa din kami kasi parang mali talaga dahil nagkaroon ng mis-association sa kanya kaya nag-iba ang tingin sa kanya ng mga tao.

Without much fanfare, Mike Defensor last week inaugurated with the President and other government officials a rehabilitated railway system that promises to decongest the nearly choked up traffic in Metro Manila.

Not even a year after becoming chairman of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Corporation, Mike has achieved what a succession of former PNR officials have surprisingly failed to do: resuscitate a vital transport system that heretofore was doomed to atrophy its way to our history books.

Indeed, tales about the train’s glory days, when even a Philippine president was able to ride one of its coaches, has entered the anecdotes of a better bygone Manila era, much like a clean Pasig River. But unlike the Pasig River, the rehabilitation of which could take a generation or more, the PNR train system looks more promising.

New air-conditioned coaches are now operating from downtown Manila’s Tutuban in Divisoria to Buendia in Makati City. In a few weeks, operations are set to cover the stretch of Caloocan to Sucat and eventually until Alabang. The PNR has also set its sights on reviving the Manila-Bicol route before yearend.

The resuscitation of the railway system is testament to Mike’s ability to get things done in contrast to accusations of him being a traditional politician. Filipinos should let his actions, more than his image in mainstream media, speak for what kind of leader he really is.

Indeed, unlike other government appointees who mostly only go through the motions of doing their jobs, Mike has been known to take every opportunity of public service to heart. Politics aside, his stint in the government has always been nothing short of commendable, from implementing the total log ban as DENR secretary to finally launching the much delayed opening of the country’s international airport terminal as NAIA 3 task force chief.

Proving his mettle yet again, he has now taken on the reins of PNR as the man with the will to get the derailed transport system back on track. The new railway system has 18 new coaches from Korea, but Mike has commissioned a local jeepney manufacturing company, Santarosa, to refurbish 30 more rusty coaches. This translates to about P2.84 billion in savings! To note, such savings did not come at the expense of the quality of the coaches, the interiors of which can be likened to luxury buses replete with no less than LCD TVs.

To sustain the project, Mike has also reached out to investors like, SM Corp. and S.T. Best Inc. to later take over the train stations and build station malls. Lacosta Development has also been tapped for a fiber-optic project on the right of way of PNR, whereas the Industrial Heritage Society of the Philippines was tasked to build a museum at the old Paco station for extra revenue.

Despite the large investment to salvage the aged railway system, Mike has been keen on making the revived route accessible to the general public. Fares start at P12 and a 30-minute ride from central Manila to the Makati business district only costs P16.

Mike has said the long-term goal is to develop a railway system like in New York and in Rome. And while the this can be easily dismissed as a long-shot, we only have to look at countries in Europe and neighboring Japan, Korea, China, Singapore and even relatively poor ones like India to know the significance of this project to our nation. In all of these countries, a railway system remains the main means of long-distance public land transportation that cuts down on much resources and promotes efficiency. Indeed, Mike sees the PNR being eventually linked to MRT and LRT lines that would make traversing all over the metropolis via commuter trains possible.

Who knows a world class train transport system just might be within our reach?—i.e. if Mike remains in the thick of things.