PGMA welcomes rebel returnee

LUBAO, Pampanga—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today reassured rebel returnee Felicisimo Jacobe of government protection and financial support. “Welcome into the mainstream of society,” the President told Jacobe, who surrendered to Army brigade commander Col. Jose Mabanta during the Christmas holiday. Jacobe said he asked both protection for his six children—two in their teens—and himself and financial capital so that they can start a new life as productive members of Philippine society. This 44-year old farmer from Samar said he joined the movement in 1979 after the military killed his father. He said he grew weary of fighting. “There must be a time for peace in our lives,” Jacobe said in Tagalog. Mabanta said Jacobe was the commanding officer of the Sangay ng Partido Platoon (SPP) of Pampanga, a platoon of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Pampanga. “When he came down (from the hills), he also surrendered 22 high powered firearms (M14, M16 and BAR or Browning automatic rifle). He is actually the one in charge of the entire NPA in Pampanga,” Mabanta explained. Mabanta said Jacobe will be receiving benefits extended to returnees under the social integration program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Mabanta said the Armed Forces is confident that it “will attain the policies and targets set by the President in winning back hearts into the fold of the law.”

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PGMA assures foreign media there will be no failure of election

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last night assured foreign correspondents there will be no failure of elections in May. In a dinner she hosted for the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) at the Palace, the President said she was assured by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that it is doing its best to complete the automated poll system before May. She said all the funds necessary for holding the national elections have been disbursed. The President also said she will continue to focus on her 3Es—education, economy and environment –-program for the rest of her term. The President added the country will maintain its stimulus program this year “as no other country in the world has scrapped its stimulus program.” Last year, government’s P330 billion stimulus program helped the economy post positive growth and escape recession. This year, government is expected to spend at least P100 billion but not more than P300 billion to stimulate the economy. The 22 FOCAP officers and members described the dinner as very relaxed, with discussions wide-ranging. “The President did not obviously look at any timepiece, which is her trademark,” remarked FOCAP president Jim Gomez, who writes for the Associated Press. Talks mainly dwelt on her life in Iligan City where she grew up, her three years as a professor, and her two years as a classmate of former American President William Clinton. Prior to the dinner, the President had French wine and cocktail canapés with her guests and she spoke lengthily about the late Cerge Remonde, recalling her most recent conversations with her eighth press secretary. The President was candid about her feelings over the loss of Remonde and told the FOCAP that she is flying to Cebu tomorrow, Sunday, to attend the burial of Remonde. The President deftly parried questions on politics, saying that she wanted the dinner to be light and easy as possible. On whether a peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is forthcoming, the President said negotiations are ongoing and “we are hopeful to reach an agreement very soon.”

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PGMA to inaugurate P2.3 b infra project in Mandaue City tomorrow

ARGAO, Cebu – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will inaugurate tomorrow the P2.3-billion Cansaga Bay Bridge at Barangay Pakna-an, Mandaue City. Cansaga Bay Bridge is one of the major development projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the Metro Cebu Area. It is part of the Cebu North Coastal Road Project (CNCRP), which covers the coastal barangays of Mandaue City and Consolacion and Liloan towns along the western seaboard of the island of Cebu. The project was described by the President in her 2007 State of the Nation Address as “one of the important infrastructure projects of her administration” that will serve as a gateway to the north of Cebu. An integral part of the overall road network system and the Metro Cebu overall transport networks, the project will decongest the two-lane Cebu North Road (Mandaue-Consolacion-Liloan portion).

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‘Cerge is home’, says Remonde’s widow

ARGAO, Cebu -- “Cerge is home,” Marit Stinus Remonde, the widow of Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, told reporters after a mass officiated by Fr. John Rona, rector of the Shrine of Geothotecotos in Carcar Remonde’s widow accompanied the remains of the late Press Secretary here, where her party was welcomed by white ribbons and confetti dotting the town’s main highway, some two hours after the 8:30 a.m. mass at the Malacanang sa Sugbu in Cebu City. Remonde’s remains had a brief stopover at his ancestral home in Barangay Lamacan, in time for the high noon arrival honors, mass, and public viewing at the President Diosdado Macapagal Sports Center, the biggest infrastructure project in his hometown that the late Press Secretary helped get funding for. Also on view with Remonde’s remains were the statue of Senor Sto. Nino and the Order of Lakandula (Rank of Bayani), which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo posthumously bestowed when his remains was brought for a night’s vigil in Malacanang last Thursday. The late Press Secretary is scheduled to be buried here tomorrow afternoon. Town mate Ramon Relacion, 71, said he knew Cerge’s father. He said the late Press Secretary was a bright young boy who was a consistent honor student. Virgilio Alburo, a half brother nine years younger, described Remonde as “mabait at matulungin (good-hearted and helpful).” He said Remonde’s father died when he was just six months old and their mother remarried seven years after and had seven other children. Roger Ballena, 40, said he was a student when he first worked in 1989 as a liaison officer of Remonde at the Kapisanan ng Brodkasters ng Pilipinas (KBP), which Remonde chaired for an unprecedented six consecutive terms. Ballena recalled Remonde asking him if he wanted to become a journalist or a real estate agent. “He hugged me and told me I made the right decision after I chose to follow his footsteps, Ballena said. Ballena is currently news editor of Sunstar Super Balita after starting his career at DYLA, where Remonde served as anchor of the highly rated “DYLA Interaction,” a primetime news and commentary program that set the benchmark for public affairs programming. Mayor Galeos, a childhood friend, said it was Remonde who pushed him to run as mayor of Argao, and who later facilitated many assistance and projects for their home town. Some time ago, Galeos remembered Remonde telling him that he would like to also become the town mayor. “I knew he was only joking because his heart was always with media. It was his dream to become one since his younger days,” Galeos said, as he wiped some tears away. Remonde’s widow said the late Press Secretary was looking forward to returning to normal life after the term of President Arroyo. After taking a break and spending time together, she said Remonde wanted to work with a Manila-based national daily newspaper

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Remonde, an all-time Cebuano media “great”

Cebu City ----Bigwigs of the Cebu media industry Friday night lavished praise and admiration on the late Press Secretary Cerge M. Remonde, citing him for his extraordinary efforts in raising the level of effectiveness of community journalism in the country thereby generating, they said, wide respect for provincial journalists. Editors, prominent columnists and top broadcasters of the generally acerbic media sector in Central Visayas took turns tracing the successful rise of Cerge’s media career from a lowly beat reporter in this city to become President Arroyo’s press secretary and spokesman. The Cebu media tribute for Remonde, who died last Tuesday in Manila, lasted for about three hours as his remains lie in wake at the Malacanang sa Sugbo, the official presidential residence in the Southern Philippines. Malacanang has ordered full burial honors for Remonde who also was conferred a posthumous Order of Lakandula Award (Bayani). A model provincial newsman, said media colleagues and contemporaries of the demised Malacanang press secretary, who they said had not been discouraged in his career by humble family beginnings and the marginal reach of rural journalism. They rated Cerge as one of most prominent media man in Cebu’s history. Broadcaster Leo Lastimosa, of the top rated DYLA radio who doubles as a columnist of a Cebu daily, spoke of Remonde as a persistent media worker who continues to reach out to every member of the fractious local media to encourage them in the media trade. “He is my mentor in media“ said Lastimosa who described Cerge as a unifier of the fractious and highly competitive journalism field in Cebu.” Aileen Mangubat, publisher editor of a local daily, described Cerge as one of Cebu’s top commentator and credited the latter for his no-nonsense advocacy against corruption in government, the illegal drugs trade and criminality, and even the Communist menace in the country. According to Mangubat, Remonde’s biggest legacy for Cebuanos and all Visayans as well, was as his remarkable initiatives in bringing Visayas closer to the seat of government in Manila and vice versa and providing the region greater access to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Lawyer Frank Malilong, a columnist of another top daily, recalled Cerge being a restless law student with a sharp mind for writing and journalism skills. Malilong said, Cerge outpaced many career Cebu mediamen because of hardwork and dedication. Another close friend of Cerge, Cirse “Choy” Torralba, a radio commentator, said Cerge’s friendly ways and public relations adeptness earned for him many friends outside of Cebu. “It was only upon his demise that we have seen the extent and reach of the goodwill he has developed in nearly three decades of journalism.” Friday’s media tribute drew hundreds of guests and condolers from the Cebu City who took a last glimpse of Cerge before his remains were to be brought to his native town of Argao, a two-hour ride from Cebu City, for viewing. Two former presidents, Ramos and Estrada, went to the Malacanang sa Sugbo Friday night to condole with widow Marit, a Danish citizen who is now Cebu-based and is also in the media industry. During the tribute, the House of Representatives presented Mrs. Remonde with a House resolution expressing the profound condolences of Congress Ramos said Remonde was a supporter of his administration. “Even if he has served another president, he kept on supporting me,” said Ramos. Others who attended the wake were former national police chief Gen. Ramon Montano, Cebu congressmen Antonio Cuenco and Raul del Mar, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzalez, Secretary to the Cabinet Silvestre Bello III and movie actor Cesar Montano and wife Sunshine Cruz.

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