Two security guards in Quezon City recently cried foul over the alleged “arrogance” of Vice Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista and his convoy of supporters for forcing their way inside the closed residential enclave.
The two guards, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal from Bautista, positively identified as the one who shouted at them when they refused to open the gates of the Cresta Verde Village for the group.
“Hoy, ano ba guard? Bubuksan mo ba ito o hindi?!” Bautista reportedly exclaimed while pointing his fingers at the two security personnel.
Accounts of the guards showed Bautista alighted from his Starex Van and made the remarks after the guards refused him and his convoy entry into the already “sleeping” subdivision.
“Iligal ‘yung ginawa ni Vice Mayor. Pribadong subdivision ito. Hindi dapat siya nagpumilit na pumasok,” the more senior guard said.
The security logbook of the subdivision showed the incident occurred at around 10:45 last April 14 when Bautista’s convoy reached the gate of Cresta Verde.
Three men onboard three motorcycles reportedly approached the two guards and asked for the gate to be opened.
P106-M plunder case filed vs Bautista
A PLUNDER case involving more than P106 million worth of public funds allegedly used on questionable food purchases was filed on Wednesday against Quezon City Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista before the Ombudsman.
Complainant Nicanor Royo Salameda of Payatas, Quezon City, asked the Ombudsman to prosecute Bautista for the alleged misuse of millions of government funds that should have been allocated for poverty-alleviation programs.
Included in the complaint was Quezon City Administrative Officer Ligaya Montallana who, according to Salameda, conspired with the former comedian in making the questionable transactions.
“So many lives of poor individuals like me could have been saved from poverty and death if the said millions of funds were used to improve our plight. But what did Bautista do with the more than P106-million fund of his office?” Salameda said.
In his complaint, Salameda claimed Bautista used P106,255.017 from the fund of the Office of the Vice Mayor for food purchases in 2009. Salameda said he discovered the purchases from documents obtained from the Records of Deposits, Disbursements and Checks of Quezon City for 2009.
He said it was clear that the food purchases did not undergo the necessary bidding procedures as required by law. The complainant said there were even instances when Bautista circumvented the law to avoid the bidding.
‘Same old stale, dull yarn’
LP Quezon City mayoral candidate Herbert “Bistek” Bautista, however, dismissed the complaint filed against him as nothing more than an act of desperate political gimmickry hatched by the camp of Mike Defensor.
“Mike, whatever desperate act you or your proxies do, you will not change the fact that the Liberal Party will defeat you and other administration candidates by a landslide in Quezon City,” Bautista said following the filing of another 15-page complaint before the Ombudsman by Salameda.
“Perhaps the person behind this, who is known for his mastery of deceit, should abandon the same old stale, dirty tactics,” said Bautista.
“I urge Mr. Defensor to instead come cleanly in the scandals involving billions of state funds during his stint in Malacañang instead of dreaming up ways to catch attention. This is a tired old issue that they are trying to resurrect. Since Day One, this has been the strategy of the Arroyo administration’s dirty-tricks department. We are actually quite pleased that they have finally brought this matter before the proper forum,” Bautista said.
Bautista stressed that the complaint will not derail his focus on the campaign as he shrugged off these ridiculous never-ending accusations against him, saying his lawyers have anticipated the latest move of his political opponents months ago.
“We have nothing to hide, so let the matter take its due course. We will just wait for the resolution. It is rather sad that while our campaign is centered on programs for development, our rivals would rather feed the people of Quezon City trash politics,” he said.
POLITICAL strategists of the administration were appalled by statements of Quezon City mayor Herbert 'Bistek' Bautista that he, like other stalwarts of the opposition party, is a victim of a ploy to oust him. The operators who requested anonymity said they don't even consider Bautista a major threat to the administration, adding that the former comedian does not merit their serious attention at this time. "That's ridiculous! We won't even spend a single centavo for that guy. He can do anything he wants like making a fun of himself. We won't touch him," they said. Bautista recently claimed the graft charges and other cases filed against him at the courts and the Office of the Ombundsman are all part of an administration scheme to put him down. The former funny actor said he is being discredited by the administration just like what it is doing to LP stalwarts Grace Padaca, Ed Panlilio and Estelito Mendoza. "Is he trying to say that he's a force to reckon with? Sorry for him. That's too far from reality," they added. On the hand, oldtimers from the Liberal Party (LP) were turned-off by Bautista's desperate attempt to draw sympathy from the public at the expense of the political organization. A congressman from Laguna said Bautista should not use the party for his personal advantage particularly at this stage when the political organization is experiencing major adjustments to keep it afloat. "Instead of using us, Bautista should help the party reorganize first and get back into fighting form. Right now, we believe he's only concerned of himself," the lawmaker said. "If he cannot keep his mouth shut, at least he can give some respect to the party by not making a laughing stock of himself," he added. The dismayed representative said Bautista should instead clear his name on the charges thrown against him. He said the LP is very much interested to hear Bautista's explanation about the accusations of graft, theft and dishonesty against him. Bautista has remained silent on the various charges filed against by his childhood friend, city hall employees, and concerned citizens. Instead of answering the complaints, Bautista cried political harassment by the administration.
Tension runs high among Quezon City Hall employees after a high ranking official threatened to fire them from their jobs if they did not support Herbert “Bistek” Bautista in his bid for the mayoralty of the city. This early in the rundown to the May 2010 national elections, City Market Administrator Donato Concepcion is allegedly forcing his subordinates to support Bautista. “You’re fired if you don’t!,” Matias allegedly threatened the employees who wished anonymity for fear of Matias’ reprisal. Matias is a known ally of Bautista and is also the subject of complaints because of suspected ill-gotten wealth. In fact, employees of the City have notified the Office of the Ombudsman to look into the official’s lavish lifestyle is spite of his meager salary as a local government employee . Based on the complaint filed by the Concerned Quezon City Hall Employees, Matias allegedly acquired a house worth P3 million in Baranggay Pinahan as well as a Toyota Fortuner. Despite his salary, Matias was allegedly able to buy a piece of land in Tagaytay City and even gave his girlfriend a Honda Civic as a present. Matias is also said to be a frequent habitué of a high-end nightclub and casinos. Meanwhile, employees said Matias is bent on keeping his position as a city official and many believe that he will retain his post if bautista sits as mayor of the city. Matias has been arrogantly flaunting his relationship with Bautista and has no qualms in threatening employees in his department with dismissal. 
QUEZON City mayoralty candidate Mike Defensor is eyeing for a monthly cash allowance for senior citizens as part of his program to address the concern of elders. Defensor vowed to push for a P1,000 allowance which, according to him, would help senior citizens finance their needs. "Our elders are important members of the society which should always be prioritized by any public servant," Defensor said. He said senior citizens cannot be neglected because they have contributed a lot in nation-building. A group of elders recently visited Defensor in his Quezon City office. During their meeting, Defensor vowed to promote their welfare and strengthen their sector. He explained the local government can shoulder the cost of providing allowances to senior citizens since its has a P10 billion yearly budget. Aside from the giving allowances, Defensor said his adminsitration will coordinate with the private sector to enrich institutions that would extend community-based, residential care and day services for senior citizens that include supplemental feeding and psycho-social interventions. Around 133,391 elders in the city are expected to benefit from Defensor's plan.
MIKE DEFENSOR DIDIIN SA PAGSASAAYOS NG INFORMAL SETTLERS SA QC Tiniyak ni Quezon City mayoralty candidate Mike Defensor na kabilang sa prayoridad nito ang pagtulak para sa ganap na pag-unlad ng lungsod sa pamamagitan ng pagsasaayos ng mga informal settlers ng hindi ipinapatapon sa ibang lugar. “Walang sinumang informal settlers ang dapat na ipatapon palabas ng Quezon City dahil hindi natin dapat ipasa sa ibang lungsod ang pagkalinga sa ating mga kababayan, gayundin, hindi nila ginusto na maging mahirap,” pahayag ni Defensor. Nanindigan din si Defensor na puwedeng gawan ng paraan ng pamahalaang lokal ang usapin ng palupa, partikular na ang posibilidad ng relokasyon sa loob mismo ng lungsod sa pamamagitan ng pagsusulong ng Community Mortgage Program (CMP) at aktibong pagkilos ng konseho sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatibay ng ordinansa na tunay na kakalinga sa kapakanan ng mahihirap. Batay sa karanasan ni Defensor bilang Chairman ng Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council ng mahigit sa tatlong taon, karaniwang nagiging problema ng mga informal settlers ang mga pangunahing pangangailangan tulad ng elektrisidad, malinis na suplay ng tubig, paaralan at trabaho sa bawat lugar na paglilipatan sa kanila. Naniniwala si Defensor na pagtakas sa responsibilidad ng sinumang liderato ang relokasyon sa ibang lugar at hindi ito ang solusyon upang matulungan ang mga informal settlers sa lungsod. “Titiyakin ko na ang lahat ng informal settlers sa Quezon City ay hindi na tawaging iskuwater sa sarili nilang lungsod,” ayon kay Defensor. Matatandaan na sa panahon ng panunungkulan ni Defensor sa HUDCC, naitaas nito sa 265% ang bilang ng mga pamilyang nabenepisyuhan ng CMP. Sa kabuuan, nagkaroon ng katiyakan sa paninirahan ang 882,823 pamilya sa buong bansa.
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.
(Salamat, by The Dawn)
Mike has always been dear to us since we were kids. He’s a good friend who came running when we needed him. Mike was the go-to guy even before he became Cong. Mike, and then Sec. Defensor. Many of us knew he was destined for public service. Mike was the consummate politician, a trait he developed since grade school. We thought he would go on to become president, if he didn’t disappoint the fickle Filipino public.But it seems he has. So much so that he is vilified by the media at every opportunity. His actions are always placed within the perspective of his relationship with an unpopular president. Justifiable, though harsh.
So we set up this blog. Some of us have worked with him and have seen him make what we thought were good decisions. But some of us were also there when we thought he made wrong ones. But that is how a man is made -- by the choices he makes.As his friends, the best we can do is stand by him and try to help everyone else see things from a different light.
On the campaign trail, the mayor running for re-election walks up to a house of his campaign adviser and rings the doorbell. When a small boy opens the door, the mayor introduces himself, “Hello there, little boy! What’s your name?”
“Little Johnny,” replies the small boy.
“Well, Little Johnny, I’m Mayor Hoffman. I’m running for re-election. Can I speak to your father?”
“He’s in the shower right now,” answers Little Johnny with a giggle.
“Oh! Well, is your mother in the house too?” asks Mayor Hoffman.
“Yes, she is. But she’s in the shower with my daddy,” replies Little Johnny with a snicker.
“Oh I see,” says Mayor Hoffman who pauses a moment thinking of what to say next. Then he smiles and says, “Little Johnny, can you go see if they are through now? I would like to speak to either one of them. It’s important.”
“I don’t think so,” replies Little Johnny with a big laugh.
Surprised to see the boy laughing heartily, the perplexed mayor demands, “What’s so funny, son? Is there something wrong with your parents?”
“Well, when my daddy asked for the Vaseline while they’re in the shower, I handed him the Super Glue.”
