One-thousand Novo Ecijanos workers have been assured of choice positions at the upcoming construction of a P300-billion “Entertainment City” which will rise at the reclaimed area by Manila Bay.
This disclosure was made by Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) Chairman Efraim Genuino at the Nueva Ecija Convention Center in Palayan City during the kick-off rites for the province-wide “anti-illegal drugs campaign” jointly sponsored by the provincial government, the police, military, the judiciary and the local media.
Genuine disclosed to Novo Ecijanos the establishment of the P300-billion “Entertainment City” which will rise in the reclaimed area in Parañaque City and generate some 250,000 jobs.
Saying that he was pleased by the cooperative traits of the barangay leaders who collectively heeded the call to join war against illegal drugs, Genuino offered to Governor Aurelio Umali “the first quota of 1,000 Novo Ecijano workers who will work on the ambitious Entertainment City project.
Genuino said that the work on the premier investment project of the government will start in the second quarter of this year. This is expected to generate some 250,000 jobs.
Genuine said one of the pet undertakings of Pagcor is the fight against the drugs menace. He said it is also involved in the rehabilitation of the drug victims, noting that Nueva Ecija is one of the few provinces which had built a center for the rehabilitation of drug users.
Manila Bulletin
March 27, 2009
Magtanggol C. Vilar
Saturday
UMALI-JOSON SHOWDOWN SEEN IN 2010 ECIJA GOV RACE
A battle royale between embattled Gov. Aurelio Umali and first district Rep. Eduardo Nonato (Edno) Joson is shaping up in the 2010 gubernatorial elections in Nueva Ecija.
STAR sources hinted that a head-on collision between Umali and Joson, a former governor and assemblyman, is looming in the province as Joson is merging as the top choice among leaders of the Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija. also being considered are nephew, Vice Gov. Edward Thomas Joson and his father, former four-time governor Tomas Joson III.
The Josons are eyeing to dislodge Umali who won by landslide over then-vice governor Mariano Cristino Joson in the 2007 polls, ending the clan’s 48-year grip pf the Capitol.
Edno, a former National Food Authority administrator, is undefeated like Umali. He claimed that Umali’s victory in 2007 was “tsamba” and a fluke.
Political experts consider the 2010 polls as an acid test for Umali, a lawyer, whose two-year-old administration has been dogged with allegations of graft and corruption, nepotism and perceived irregularities. His critics claimed he is much worse than the Josons, governance-wise and has surrounded himself with alleged undesirables.
The governor is also being accused of abandoning his staunch allies and supporters, including those from Batch ’77 of the Philippine Military Academy whose support helped propel him to victory in 2007.
Edward Thomas has lodged no less than eight graft suits against the Umalis before the Office of the Ombudsman.
The governor according to observers, has distanced himself from the masses and is one who is “madaling lapitan, mahirap hanapin”(easy to approach but hard to find).
The Josons, whose debacle in the 2007 polls was worsened by the reported in-fighting among them, have maintained that they are now united and ready to topple Umali from his post.
Vice Gov. Joson said that while his uncle is the leading choice to challenge Umali, anyone of them would make a strong bet for governor, given Umali’s performance as provincial chief executive.
He said the people of Nueva Ecija would measure Umali’s performance base on that of the Josons.
Tomas III, who was governor in 1992, 1998, 2001 and 2004, said he is willing to give way for Edno. “Anyway, I have long served as governor. I can be his campaign manager,” he said.
Some local officials identified with Umali’s Lakas-CMD have welcomed Edno’s bid and said they are willing to cross party lines to support the congressman.
Philippine STAR
March 24, 2009
Many Galvez
STAR sources hinted that a head-on collision between Umali and Joson, a former governor and assemblyman, is looming in the province as Joson is merging as the top choice among leaders of the Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija. also being considered are nephew, Vice Gov. Edward Thomas Joson and his father, former four-time governor Tomas Joson III.
The Josons are eyeing to dislodge Umali who won by landslide over then-vice governor Mariano Cristino Joson in the 2007 polls, ending the clan’s 48-year grip pf the Capitol.
Edno, a former National Food Authority administrator, is undefeated like Umali. He claimed that Umali’s victory in 2007 was “tsamba” and a fluke.
Political experts consider the 2010 polls as an acid test for Umali, a lawyer, whose two-year-old administration has been dogged with allegations of graft and corruption, nepotism and perceived irregularities. His critics claimed he is much worse than the Josons, governance-wise and has surrounded himself with alleged undesirables.
The governor is also being accused of abandoning his staunch allies and supporters, including those from Batch ’77 of the Philippine Military Academy whose support helped propel him to victory in 2007.
Edward Thomas has lodged no less than eight graft suits against the Umalis before the Office of the Ombudsman.
The governor according to observers, has distanced himself from the masses and is one who is “madaling lapitan, mahirap hanapin”(easy to approach but hard to find).
The Josons, whose debacle in the 2007 polls was worsened by the reported in-fighting among them, have maintained that they are now united and ready to topple Umali from his post.
Vice Gov. Joson said that while his uncle is the leading choice to challenge Umali, anyone of them would make a strong bet for governor, given Umali’s performance as provincial chief executive.
He said the people of Nueva Ecija would measure Umali’s performance base on that of the Josons.
Tomas III, who was governor in 1992, 1998, 2001 and 2004, said he is willing to give way for Edno. “Anyway, I have long served as governor. I can be his campaign manager,” he said.
Some local officials identified with Umali’s Lakas-CMD have welcomed Edno’s bid and said they are willing to cross party lines to support the congressman.
Philippine STAR
March 24, 2009
Many Galvez
Friday
Go on leave, lawmaker tells Gutierrez
Nueva Ecija Rep. Edno Joson yesterday said that Ombudsman 
Merceditas Gutierrez, facing an impeachment case, should go on leave not only to gain more time to prepare her defense but also to show her sense of delicadeza (propriety).
Also yesterday, five party-list representatives – Bayan Muna’s Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casiño – Gabriela’s Liza Maza and Luzviminda Ilagan, and Anakpawis’ Rafael Mariano – endorsed the impeachment complaint, but there were fears that a number of other congressmen would think twice about endorsing it for fear of retaliation from the Office of the Ombudsman.
Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor, chair of the House committee on justice that will handle the complaint, said it was up to the congressmen with pending cases at Gutierrez’s office to inhibit themselves from the case.
“It’s a personal decision,” Defensor said.
The Arroyo administration has been accused of using the Office of the Ombudsman as a “stick to keep congressmen in line should the “carrot” in the form of pork barrel allocations prove insufficient to ensure their loyalty.
Casino told reporters that it would be better for Gutierrez to take a leave rather than have the congressmen with pending cases in her office inhibit themselves.
He said Gutierrez should be chided for her purported arrogance and uncouth manner in disparaging her accusers, instead of answering their charges.
Ocampo said he was worried that Malacañang would use its influence to shoot down the impeachment complaint, the way it did, he said, with the four impeachment cases filed against Ms Arroyo in the last four years.
Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros Baraquel, who endorsed the complaint on Monday, said Gutierrez should stop making legal threats against her accusers and instead focus on pursuing cases against corrupt officials.
Baraquel said that while she was optimistic that more of her colleagues would endorse the complaint, it could fail like the impeachment cases against the President.
“Even if we fail to get the support of one –third of the House members, we are very much ready to debate this in the justice committee,” she said.
Gutierrez had claimed that the complaint was triggered by the Ombudsman’s case against former Bukidnon Rep. Nereus Acosta, an LP member.
In a statement, Acosta said he was among those who had gathered the signatures in the complaint but that he backed out at the last minute in order not to politicize the issue.
Merceditas Gutierrez, facing an impeachment case, should go on leave not only to gain more time to prepare her defense but also to show her sense of delicadeza (propriety).
Also yesterday, five party-list representatives – Bayan Muna’s Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casiño – Gabriela’s Liza Maza and Luzviminda Ilagan, and Anakpawis’ Rafael Mariano – endorsed the impeachment complaint, but there were fears that a number of other congressmen would think twice about endorsing it for fear of retaliation from the Office of the Ombudsman.
Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor, chair of the House committee on justice that will handle the complaint, said it was up to the congressmen with pending cases at Gutierrez’s office to inhibit themselves from the case.
“It’s a personal decision,” Defensor said.
The Arroyo administration has been accused of using the Office of the Ombudsman as a “stick to keep congressmen in line should the “carrot” in the form of pork barrel allocations prove insufficient to ensure their loyalty.
Casino told reporters that it would be better for Gutierrez to take a leave rather than have the congressmen with pending cases in her office inhibit themselves.
He said Gutierrez should be chided for her purported arrogance and uncouth manner in disparaging her accusers, instead of answering their charges.
Ocampo said he was worried that Malacañang would use its influence to shoot down the impeachment complaint, the way it did, he said, with the four impeachment cases filed against Ms Arroyo in the last four years.
Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros Baraquel, who endorsed the complaint on Monday, said Gutierrez should stop making legal threats against her accusers and instead focus on pursuing cases against corrupt officials.
Baraquel said that while she was optimistic that more of her colleagues would endorse the complaint, it could fail like the impeachment cases against the President.
“Even if we fail to get the support of one –third of the House members, we are very much ready to debate this in the justice committee,” she said.
Gutierrez had claimed that the complaint was triggered by the Ombudsman’s case against former Bukidnon Rep. Nereus Acosta, an LP member.
In a statement, Acosta said he was among those who had gathered the signatures in the complaint but that he backed out at the last minute in order not to politicize the issue.
Philippine Daily INQUIRER
March 4, 2009
Filing of murder charges ordered vs mayor, 23 others
Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas N. Gutierrez yesterday ordered the filing of murder charges against Gapan City, Nueva Ecija Mayor Ernesto Natividad and 23 others for the killing of two persons in 2006. 
Aside from Natividad, ordered charges were Dennis Matias, Lorenzo Rueda Jr. a.k.a. ‘Pando,’ Crisanto Mateo a.k.a. ‘Diego,’ Dalia Cruz, Romeo Natividad, Ricardo Peralta, Randy Puno, Jovert Dumlao, and 15 John Does.
The said respondents were recommended charged for murder (Art 248 of the Revised Penal Code) with the qualifying circumstance of taking advantage of superior strength, with the aid of armed men, employing means to ensure or afford impunity, with evident premeditation, use of motor vehicle and in consideration of a price, reward or promise.
The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Cristina Pascual for the killing of her sons, Ericson and Ebertson Pascual at the Gapan coliseum and cockpit arena, at brgy. Pambuan, Gapan City, Nueva Ecija.
During investigation, one of the witnesses, Virgilio Malgapo revealed that “it was respondent Mayor Natividad who masterminded the killing because of politics.” Malgapo used to work in the cockpit where the killings took place, the said cockpit is owned by the victims’ family.
He narrated that on March 10, 2006, he was contacted by Peralta, (his wife’s cousin) and relayed to him the plan. He was apprised of his role in the killings, which is to open the big gate of the cockpit to allow the assailants to enter the premises without passing through the security.
Subsequently, they were brought to the house of Mayor Natividad who gave him P20,000 as down payment for the agreed price of P100,000.
Malgapo recounted that “on the agreed date which was March20,2006, and upon signal, he opened the big gate and let the persons led by respondent Peralta enter the cockpit premises.” After letting them in, Malgapo claimed that he failed to notice where they positioned themselves. At about past one o’clock, the killing was perpetrated. Malgapo was also shot in the head.
He also stated that after his release from the hospital, as he feared for his life, he decided to hide and stay with his brother in Bulacan, and later went straight to the CIDG to reveal what he knew.
Mayor Natividad denied the allegations against him. But the Ombudsman said his defense “takes the nature of alibi which is declared as the weakest defense, the same was not given merit.”
BY JUN RAMIREZ
Manila Bulletin
March 6, 2009
Aside from Natividad, ordered charges were Dennis Matias, Lorenzo Rueda Jr. a.k.a. ‘Pando,’ Crisanto Mateo a.k.a. ‘Diego,’ Dalia Cruz, Romeo Natividad, Ricardo Peralta, Randy Puno, Jovert Dumlao, and 15 John Does.
The said respondents were recommended charged for murder (Art 248 of the Revised Penal Code) with the qualifying circumstance of taking advantage of superior strength, with the aid of armed men, employing means to ensure or afford impunity, with evident premeditation, use of motor vehicle and in consideration of a price, reward or promise.
The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Cristina Pascual for the killing of her sons, Ericson and Ebertson Pascual at the Gapan coliseum and cockpit arena, at brgy. Pambuan, Gapan City, Nueva Ecija.
During investigation, one of the witnesses, Virgilio Malgapo revealed that “it was respondent Mayor Natividad who masterminded the killing because of politics.” Malgapo used to work in the cockpit where the killings took place, the said cockpit is owned by the victims’ family.
He narrated that on March 10, 2006, he was contacted by Peralta, (his wife’s cousin) and relayed to him the plan. He was apprised of his role in the killings, which is to open the big gate of the cockpit to allow the assailants to enter the premises without passing through the security.
Subsequently, they were brought to the house of Mayor Natividad who gave him P20,000 as down payment for the agreed price of P100,000.
Malgapo recounted that “on the agreed date which was March20,2006, and upon signal, he opened the big gate and let the persons led by respondent Peralta enter the cockpit premises.” After letting them in, Malgapo claimed that he failed to notice where they positioned themselves. At about past one o’clock, the killing was perpetrated. Malgapo was also shot in the head.
He also stated that after his release from the hospital, as he feared for his life, he decided to hide and stay with his brother in Bulacan, and later went straight to the CIDG to reveal what he knew.
Mayor Natividad denied the allegations against him. But the Ombudsman said his defense “takes the nature of alibi which is declared as the weakest defense, the same was not given merit.”
BY JUN RAMIREZ
Manila Bulletin
March 6, 2009
Saturday
Military operations vs NPA displace 100 Ecija families
Some 100 families in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija are reportedly starving in evacuation centers where they have sought refuge following military operations against New People’s Army (NPA) rebels two weeks ago.
The reports have prompted the Commission on Human Rights (CR) to a send a lawyer and a special investigator to Barangays Villa Rica and Masbang in Pantabangan town to investigate.
Lawyer Danilo Valdez of CHR-Central Luzon said he expects the findings of the investigating team today.
The evacuees, according to reports, are now starving, as their crops had been harvested by unidentified folk and their livestock slaughtered.
The families were told to move to the evacuation centers after the NPA ambushed last Jan.31 men of the Army’s 71st Infantry Battalion on board an M35 truck at Kilometer 5 of the national highway in Pantabangan.
The military launched pursuit operations against the ambushers, who killed a soldier and wounded two others.
In a phone interview, Maj. Charlemagne Batayola, Jr. spokesman of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division based in Nueva Ecija, admitted that some 100 families have been displaced in the two Pantabangan barangays.
But Batayola said it was the decision of the municipal officials to evacuate the villagers.
He said residents of Villa Rica were brought to a barangay hall, and those of Malbang, to the barangay high school.
Batayola, however, denied that the evacuees are starving. “They have remained abundant in relief goods from the local government. As a matter of fact, some of the Aeta families even prefer to prolong their stay at the evacuation centers because they get free food and other needs,” he said.
But Batayola blamed the rebels for destroying the villagers’ farms.
The Philippine STAR
Thursday, February 12, 2009
By Ding Cervantes
The reports have prompted the Commission on Human Rights (CR) to a send a lawyer and a special investigator to Barangays Villa Rica and Masbang in Pantabangan town to investigate.
Lawyer Danilo Valdez of CHR-Central Luzon said he expects the findings of the investigating team today.
The evacuees, according to reports, are now starving, as their crops had been harvested by unidentified folk and their livestock slaughtered.
The families were told to move to the evacuation centers after the NPA ambushed last Jan.31 men of the Army’s 71st Infantry Battalion on board an M35 truck at Kilometer 5 of the national highway in Pantabangan.
The military launched pursuit operations against the ambushers, who killed a soldier and wounded two others.
In a phone interview, Maj. Charlemagne Batayola, Jr. spokesman of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division based in Nueva Ecija, admitted that some 100 families have been displaced in the two Pantabangan barangays.
But Batayola said it was the decision of the municipal officials to evacuate the villagers.
He said residents of Villa Rica were brought to a barangay hall, and those of Malbang, to the barangay high school.
Batayola, however, denied that the evacuees are starving. “They have remained abundant in relief goods from the local government. As a matter of fact, some of the Aeta families even prefer to prolong their stay at the evacuation centers because they get free food and other needs,” he said.
But Batayola blamed the rebels for destroying the villagers’ farms.
The Philippine STAR
Thursday, February 12, 2009
By Ding Cervantes
Friday
Farmers score ‘defective’ seeds of hybrid rice
CABANATUAN CITY –Several farmers in Nueva Ecija are demanding reimbursement and damages from the company that sold them hybrid rice seeds that were defective and failed to grow properly.
Mario Imperio of the farmers’ group Bumalikat said many farmers in his village in Guimba town feared that they would not recover their expenses due to the stunded growth of their rice plants.
“They were expecting that their harvest would be very low because of the poor growth and development of their rice plants,” Imperio said.
He said the farmers were asking the Department of Agriculture to require the SL Agritech Corp., the firm that sold the seeds, to reimburse them.
They were also urging the DA to penalize the firm for supposedly short charging the government and the farmers in their agreement to supply good quality seeds to boost rice production under the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) program.
Imperio said the government paid P1,500 per bag of 20-kg seeds as subsidy. The farmers paid P2,500 for the seeds they acquired through their municipal agricultural offices.
But Serafin Santos provincial agriculturist of Nueva Ecija, said the farmers’ demand was too harsh and called it a “misplaced outcry.”
“They are no solid bases to say that the farmers who planted the SL-8 [hybrid rice] variety already suffered huge losses. In our monitoring, not one farm was found where all the plants flowered and produced grains prematurely,” he said.
“The situation in Nueva Ecija regarding the SL-8 rice plants was overblown,” he said. “The reports of the three teams monitoring the situation in the field showed that only 2 to 3 percent of the plants flowered and bore fruits prematurely.”
Santos said the farmers panicked when they saw some of their plants producing grains even though they were very young and they told other farmers about it.
“Word circulated that their plants were stunted and bore fruits prematurely,” Santos said.
He said some of the farmers, who saw some of their plants were flowering prematurely, destroyed their plants and planted another variety of rice.
Dr. Noel Mamicpic, SL Agritech vice president, said their findings, as validated by the monitoring team, showed that a small percentage of “off-type” seeds caused the problem.
“These off-type cannot be avoided. They mixed with the hybrids during production and post production,” Mamicpic said.
He said the production of hybrid rice seeds involved the crossing of three different parent plants.
Like in other seed production activities, a 100-percent genetic purity of the seeds is almost impossible to obtain, he said.
Mario Imperio of the farmers’ group Bumalikat said many farmers in his village in Guimba town feared that they would not recover their expenses due to the stunded growth of their rice plants.
“They were expecting that their harvest would be very low because of the poor growth and development of their rice plants,” Imperio said.
He said the farmers were asking the Department of Agriculture to require the SL Agritech Corp., the firm that sold the seeds, to reimburse them.
They were also urging the DA to penalize the firm for supposedly short charging the government and the farmers in their agreement to supply good quality seeds to boost rice production under the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) program.
Imperio said the government paid P1,500 per bag of 20-kg seeds as subsidy. The farmers paid P2,500 for the seeds they acquired through their municipal agricultural offices.
But Serafin Santos provincial agriculturist of Nueva Ecija, said the farmers’ demand was too harsh and called it a “misplaced outcry.”
“They are no solid bases to say that the farmers who planted the SL-8 [hybrid rice] variety already suffered huge losses. In our monitoring, not one farm was found where all the plants flowered and produced grains prematurely,” he said.
“The situation in Nueva Ecija regarding the SL-8 rice plants was overblown,” he said. “The reports of the three teams monitoring the situation in the field showed that only 2 to 3 percent of the plants flowered and bore fruits prematurely.”
Santos said the farmers panicked when they saw some of their plants producing grains even though they were very young and they told other farmers about it.
“Word circulated that their plants were stunted and bore fruits prematurely,” Santos said.
He said some of the farmers, who saw some of their plants were flowering prematurely, destroyed their plants and planted another variety of rice.
Dr. Noel Mamicpic, SL Agritech vice president, said their findings, as validated by the monitoring team, showed that a small percentage of “off-type” seeds caused the problem.
“These off-type cannot be avoided. They mixed with the hybrids during production and post production,” Mamicpic said.
He said the production of hybrid rice seeds involved the crossing of three different parent plants.
Like in other seed production activities, a 100-percent genetic purity of the seeds is almost impossible to obtain, he said.
Monday
Prayers sought for Red Cross workers
PALAYAN CITY –Senior Board Member of Nueva Ecija Rommel Padilla and younger brother of popular action star Robin has appealed to his fellow Novo Ecijanos to offer prayers for the freedom of the three members of the International Committee of the Red Cross now being held captive by a bandit group in Mindanao. Under the present circumstances, Rommel said, prayers appear to be “the only potent instrument available to us to save the three Red Cross workers and the three other Filipino teachers” kidnapped by Abu Sayyap members. “Let us join together in prayer and invoke divine intervention in keeping our brothers from harm’s way,” Rommel said. The plea for prayer was aired by Padilla in support of efforts of his sibling Robin who has been invited by the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), government and other peace-loving groups to help in the rescue of the Red Cross workers.