Bared... Is Benjie riding on Aumentado-Cajes issue?

Tagbilaran, Monday, 29 March 2010

Wake-uppers:

• Actor and Bohol gubernatorial candidate Cesar Montano's son, 23-year-old Christian Angelo Manhilot was found dead in their home at Yakal St., Tivoli Royale, Quezon City on the morning of March 26 in what police said was an apparent suicide.

  Reports said Angelo shot himself in the head with a .45 pistol inside their home. One of the Montano family helpers, found his body lying on the floor. He was then rushed at the General Malvar Hospital, but was declared dead on arrival. The victim is Buboy's child with his first wife Marilyn Polinga.

  Bared's visit to Baclayon town last Friday confirmed that Angelo studied his first year at Immaculata Conception High School. He transferred to Bohol Wisdom School and later in an international school.

  
  Our hearts go out to the family of Cesar Montano
  whose son Christian Angelo Manhilot (standing,
  2nd from right) was found dead in their home on
  March 26.

  Amid rumors that Buboy is withdrawing from the gubernatorial race because of the incident, Dulce Amor, a staff of Cesar Montano for Governor Movement, said it's not true. "Tuloy na tuloy po ang laban, yung candidacy niya. Hindi siya bibitiw sa pagkagobernador. Wala kaming naririnig mula sa kanya na bibitiw siya. Sa tingin namin kalmado lang si Sir, alam namin na prayerful si Sir."

  Reacting to the incident, Cesar issued the following official statement:

  "TO OUR DEAR FRIENDS FROM THE MEDIA:

  "I received the shocking news of my son, Christian Angelo's death very early this morning while I was in Bohol. I, along with my wife Sunshine and daughter Angela, immediately flew back to Manila first thing today to be with my son.

  "No words can describe the grief that my family and I are experiencing with this devastating news. He was so young, a cheerful, thoughtful and loving son who has a generous heart and spirit.

  "I was just with him yesterday before leaving for Bohol. Little did I know that it would be the last time I was to see him alive.

  "Dr. Tony Leachon, a good friend and neighbor, pronounced Angelo dead on arrival at the Malvar General Hospital in Quezon City early this morning. Initial police investigation showed that Angelo died from a single gunshot wound in the head. We are still trying to piece together some facts pertaining to his death.

  "While I am still reeling from this tragic incident, my family and I would like to appeal to everyone to respect the privacy of my grieving family at this time.

  "Thank you very much for your understanding. May God's strength be with all of us."

  Our hearts go out to the family of Cesar Montano.  May your son rest in peace.

• A new chapter of the National Union of Journalist of the Philippines (NUJP) has recently been formed in Bohol bringing the organization to a total of 59 chapters across the nation. The NUJP-Bohol chapter is headed by Kit Bagaipo, a senior editor of The Bohol Chronicle and correspondent of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, as chairman. Yours truly is elected vice chair. Other officers are Angeline Valencia (The Bohol Chronicle and Philippine News Agency correspondent), secretary general; Dave Responte (dyRD and Bohol Sunday Post), treasurer; Roger Balabad (dyTR and Bohol Sunday Post), auditor; Ric Obedencio (freelance journalist and The Philippine Star correspondent) is the committee chair on finance; Rey Anthony Chiu (Philippine Information Agency-Bohol manager and Bohol News Daily writer) chairs the education and training committee; Ciel Remolador, a news anchor on dyRD and writes the Bohol Chronicle's "Police Blotter" is the chair on protection committee; and Bong Recimilla who writes the late breaking news for Bohol Chronicle aside from his proofreading is the media welfare committee chair. Other members are Atty. Check Baluma (Bohol Standard columnist), Weng Vallecer (dyTR news anchor), Sonieta Labasan and Paul Vistal of Lifestyle Bohol, Wenny Reyes (dyZD-Ubay) and Edward Guyano (dyTR news reporter). Rowena Carranza-Paraan, NUJP board member/treasurer and research director of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) facilitated the formation of the new chapter and election of new officers.

The answer to today's interrogative headline is: Maybe yes, maybe no. Newly re-appointed Commissioner Benjie Oliva for the Visayas of the National Youth Commission (NYC) is maybe riding on the controversy involving Gov. Erico Aumentado and Trinidad Mayor Judith del Rosario-Cajes who are running for representative in the second district of Bohol.

For those who missed last weekend's gabfest on radio (and why we are moved, if we are moved), Benjie was interviewed on dyRD's toprating program Inyong Alagad (hosted by Fred Araneta and Chito Visarra) on his re-appointment as commissioner for the NYC. He surprised listeners when he lambasted Jane Censoria Cajes, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) national president by calling her ungrateful or who has no utang na loob.

During the interview, Benjie also revealed that he was betrayed by the Cajeses twice. He also questioned the financial statement of SK and the SK National Congress 2008 which invited opposition. He also accused the Cajeses for betraying President Gloria Arroyo and Gov. Aumentado.

Jane answered the accusations in Inyong Alagad with Benjie who was on the other end of the line adding thrill to the listeners worldwide:

• On the financial statement: "We are transparent. We can give Benjie anytime our financial statement and liquidation of the SK Congress for check and balance."
• On inviting opposition speakers: "SK is non-partisan. We have speakers from the administration and opposition to balance the congress. We give the freedom to SKs to decide on certain issues."
• On there is trouble in SK at her administration: "It is not true. I beg to disagree! We are all united."
• On being ungrateful or "walang utang na loob": "I am proud you're a Commissioner again and I thank you, thank you for your help in 2007 elections pero dili lang siya ang reason why I was elected because there are many people who helped me and I thanked them."

Sadly, it was Benjie who brought back a "dead" issue regarding the complaint of the SK that he issued a bogus and falsified a DILG memorandum circular numbered MC 2007-03 dated January 11, 2008 and forged the signature of DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno. SK sought the non-renewal of Benjie's re-appointment into the Commission because of "incompetence, dishonesty and disloyalty."

"If tinuod na dugay ra ko nasuspensyo. 2008 gi-clear na sa Office of the Ombudsman. Gibalik ko sa pagtudlo as commissioner for three years," he insisted. According to Benjie, the complaint was a long-time plan of Jane and her family to destroy his name and block his re-appointment.

Jane put it on record that a complaint was never formally filed at the Office of the Ombudsman "although there was complaint letter sent to the Office of the President seeking for Benjie's non-reappointment duly signed by the members of the SK national executive board (NEB), the three congressmen of Bohol and by Gov. Aumentado."

Putting the issue to rest, Jane kept her silence. "I told Carl Gumban of SK Iloilo not to file the case, nagpakiluoy ko nga dili nalang dak-on ang issue kay higala nako si Benjie and pareho mi taga-Bohol. We keep our silence kay pareho mi taga-Bohol nga naa sa NYC. We let the time to kill the issue. He owes me an explanation. I took the risk and that's my greatest frustration."

Asked by Chito if Benjie is willing to offer peace and reconciliation to Jane and the Cajeses, he didn't answer but instead quoted Mahatma Gandhi quotes. He further said, "I am betrayed by the Cajeses not once but twice... and if the Cajeses could do it to me, to Pres. Arroyo and Gov. Aumentado how much more to the yanong mga katawhan sa Bohol."

Jane offers peace and reconciliation saying: "To Benjie, I respect you as a fellow commissioner and a fellow Boholano... please don't treat me as your enemy."

A caller, who sounded like a mother, shared: "If ang katiguwangan gani ang mag-away-away kitang mga batan-on dili sab mag-away-away. I challenge Jane to file it formally and legally. Undanga na inyong away sa publiko which is really bad. Pagresign lang mo if dili na matiwas inyong away privately."

Unknowingly, the TextKLamo hot-line was flooded with messages to join the discussion. However, Fred and Chito had to end the interview with unanswered text queries from the listeners. Interestingly, there is one text message which caught my attention that could answer why Benjie reacted that way. "He has a big crush on Jane and sadly he was not able to express his love." Is this true? Maybe yes, maybe no?!?

(Note to Benjie and Jane: The sooner you sort things out and smoke the peace pipe the better for you and for a world already mired in catastrophes, recession and dirty politics. The Filipino youth need you... and remember peace, peace, peace and love, love, love...)

I love Bohol with Kara David

Kara David is always enjoying her Bohol visit.

(This is a new segment on Bared for this summer. It will feature on people who love Bohol. For contributions, please email leoudtohan@yahoo.com.)

Her first visit to Bohol was when she was a high school student. She was able to visit some of Bohol's important tourist attractions which were not yet developed. When she had the chance to visit Bohol again, she's already Kara David, an award-winning documentary host and reporter.

Kara who pitched for Bohol's Chocolate Hills in the search for the 7 New Wonders of Nature in 2008 and can be seen in YouTube is the daughter of University of the Philippines professor/TV host/columnist Randy and Karina Anne David, who was a former Civil Service Commissioner.

Kara was named The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in 2007 and UNICEF Child Rights awardee. She is a regular reporter of GMA 7's 24 Oras, and Saksi and is currently hosting I-Witness and OFW Diaries.

Here is Kara:

Favorite places in Bohol: Chocolate hills, Baclayon church and Loboc for river cruise and Loboc Children's Choir.

Best food to bring home: Peanut kisses!

Survival tips for tourists: Love nature! Love your heritage! Kaakibat ng turismo ang pangangalaga sa kalikasan at kasaysayan. The tarsiers are one of Bohol's most precious treasures, let us be gentle to these creatures.

I love Bohol because it's a paradise where you can experience different adventures in just one island -- you can go diving, motorcycling, mountain climbing, swimming, sight seeing etc. Everything is accessible. People are very involved in tourism, active in community projects and proud of their heritage.

If Bohol was a color it would be green.

Email leoudtohan@yahoo.com.

Leo P. Udtohan

What readers think...

Also give your comments on this article

We reserve the right to remove or edit comments posted on this website. Please read our conditions of use for details. You can use <i>italics</i>, <b>bold</b>, <p> new paragraph, <a href="url">link</a>. Other markup will be removed. Use of the forums for advertising is prohibited. Enterprises located in Bohol can request to be added to the business directory.

This article has been viewed 18 times.